My name's Christina, an artist and writer who loves fantasy, great stories, and animals.
Cue that Lego commercial "HEY!" I've started self-publishing! If you enjoy my work and would like to support me, I've begun writing and illustrating books for kids (of all ages). Check out my publishing site, DappleGreyBooks.com to learn more and see purchase options. I love creating stories and have many ideas for the future, so be sure to follow this blog or my Instagram for book updates!
Rules for the blog:
• This is a Safe for Work blog (that includes no swearing please!)
• Reblogs are ok (especially direct ones) but Never Repost any of my work
• Ask if you're unsure about anything art-related or want to know more about a concept! I love to talk art/writing & answer questions ^u^
• Side Note on asks and comments: Keep all asks and comments Safe For Work (No swearing, please! I create things for all ages).
•Please comment and like 💚 directly from the og post in case Tumblr does weird things again! This is the best way to make sure I see any comments, & lets me know you're reading/what you enjoyed!
What to expect:
• Fanart, comics, concept art, concept stories, short stories, original works, and more!
• My fanworks usually center around the Legend of Zelda right now, and some other action/adventure/puzzle franchises on occasion like Ninjago, Nancy Drew and Layton. There's plenty of things to find! ^u^
• Doodlesaur. I will never be parted from my tiny, cookie-loving mascot.
Want a shortcut? My art tag is #Doodlesaur Doodles ! 🦖
And here's my Fanfiction Master Post ! 🦕
Other common tags for art, fandoms and such below!!!
Every art piece I've made: #Doodlesaur Doodles
Artworks made before the blog went live: #Old art from the ruins
ALL my writing works, WIPs, full stories, etc.: #Doodlesaur Drabbles
Random thoughts and ramblings: #Doodlesaur Rambles
Answers to asks, tags, and reblogs: #Doodlesaur Answers
Updates about my book can be found at both: #Dapple Grey Books #An Assembly of Animals
Doodlesaur!!! #Doodlesaur (His family and general world building is at #DoodleLORE!
Common fandom tags as of late: #The Legend of Zelda #Linked Universe #Skyward Sword
Christian and God-based posts and praise: #God is good
Soooo.... Ocarina of Time getting a remake for the 2nd time. How are we feeling? 😅
Did Link look uncanny to anyone else? I am really curious about it but I need to see more to really say if I'm sold on the art. I don't think Zelda's ever been this hyper-realistic before! Which I think is great to experiment with at least once, every game is unique, I just hope we still return to some more stylized things later down the line. EoW was really pretty and cute so I haven't lost all hope, haha.
That said! THE TAPESTRY was really pretty!!! And the MUSIC!!! AAA!
Sky’s heart soars in familiar arms. Meanwhile, the Chain gets their own dose of culture shock.
Author’s Note: SKY ERA WOOOO!!! These last 3 chapters are some of my favorites!!! Also of note: A little bit of a timeskip! This chapter’s actual place in LU is left vague, but it's been a while since the ranch, and some actual comic stuff has taken place off-screen, maybe as far as "Heroes Legacy" in the LU archive or beyond? This story was always a fun speculative addition anyway so I like keeping it loose ^u^ Extra lore details are in the Post-Chapter Author’s Note, so don’t forget to check it out!!! [Linked Universe belongs to @jojo56830 / @linkeduniverse , and The Legend of Zelda belongs to Nintendo of course.] Happy Reading!
Masterlist | First | Chapter 10 | Chapter 12 (coming next week!)
(💚Please comment and like directly from the og post in case Tumblr does weird things again! Tumblr reblogs are ok but Never repost, thanks! <3)
>>><<<
Weary bones and heavy boots stumbled through the portal. The Chain’s adventures since the ranch had been long and taxing, both on the body and the heart, and they were beginning to take their toll.
Sky panted with his hands on his knees, allowing his eyes to remain shuttered from whatever monster-filled era they'd ended up in this time. His ears picked up vague sounds: Warriors catching the smith as he swayed in the underbrush from a headache, Hyrule and Wind gasping at new places to explore, Time's boots pacing as he checked on his boys, Twilight and Legend brushing off his fussing, and Wild taking stock of the weather and asking if anyone needed an extra cloak.
Sky paused to let the air around him sink into his skin. It was much cooler here, not a seasonal chill, but rather something more akin to the freshness brought about by thinner air. Were they halfway up a mountain, perhaps?
He took a deeper breath, surprised by how easily the air flew into his lungs. The taste of it was earthy and sweet. It was a vaguely familiar combination.
"Sky?" came Warriors's voice, chain mail rustling as he drew near. "Everything all right?"
"Yeah," Sky nodded, standing up and stretching. "Just catching my..."
Sky opened his eyes, and the weight that had dragged down his chest dispersed in a single, whispered, "...breath."
Massive, ivy-laden trees stretched towards the sky on grand spiraling trunks. All around him, the bright golden-green hues of leaves in sunlight painted the ground, dusting the rich, colorful caps of giant mushrooms that grew between the trees. The forest possessed a vibrancy that made even shadows burst with purple, and standing there after so long made Sky feel just as bright. It was as if he'd been filled with inexplicable strength, refreshed in body and mind.
He took in another greedy breath, letting the familiar coolness radiate through his bones. He smiled. A laugh danced on the edges of his sigh.
He knew these woods.
He was home.
...and so was she.
Heart pounding, spine tingling in excitement he didn't dare contain, Sky let his body take off through the trees.
Several alarmed heroes charged after him.
"Sky! Where are you going now?" huffed Legend.
"I think we might be in his Hyrule!" Warriors called back.
"You mean," The traveler corrected with a grin, "whatever Hyrule was before it was Hyrule!”
“Ooh, ooh, the Surface, right, Sky?” Wind guessed excitedly.
Sky glanced behind him to see all his friends jogging along with him. "Yeah!" shouted Sky. "It's the Surface, now hurry! Follow me!"
“Hey!” Four laughed from Twilight’s back, “Shouldn’t we be waiting for Epona at the portal?”
“She’ll catch up to us later, don’t worry,” Twilight reassured him, adjusting his hold. “If we can catch up to Sky, that is!”
"I never thought we'd be asking the sleepyhead to slow down!" Wild snorted.
"And why should we?" Time chimed in. "Go get her, Chosen One!"
Time's support filled Sky with glee. With his smile stretched wide and legs practically skipping, he flung himself towards the little settlement that he knew was waiting just ahead.
In just a few moments, the trees began to thin. The others had caught up to him by then, Wild choosing to dance around Sky's heels to egg him onward. As if he needed more reason to run. Sky could feel his body slowing, but his spirit soared, especially as the rich, leafy gardens of the Surface came into view.
"Hey, is that—?"
"It's Link!"
"'Hey, Link!”
"Who are those men?"
"Are they chasing you, Link?!?”
Sky laughed loudly at the notion, waving both his arms gleefully to his townsfolk as he raced by. His smile seemed to calm their nerves, but further chatting would have to wait. If he lingered too long, the whole settlement would be on top of him, and he had somewhere to be.
At least, that was his plan, until a burly shape tackled into his side.
Sky squawked as Groose lifted him off his feet with one arm, using the other to drive his knuckles—affectionately—into his head.
"Where's the fire, little buddy?" Groose bellowed, laughing as Sky squirmed against his fist.
"ACK! Groose, lemme go!"
"Why? So I can knock ya' over with a feather once I putcha back on the ground?"
To prove his point, Groose suddenly released him. Sky wobbled as his feet hit the dirt, his frantic sprint finally taking its toll on his body. Grumbling, Sky tried not to cough as Groose caught his arm.
"Funny," he panted.
"Well hello to you, too," Groose simply grinned. "C'mon, Link, ya gotta trust the Groose here! I'm the kinda guy who looks after my buddies, after all. You really want your girlfriend to see you shriveled up on the ground like a wet remlit?"
"Heh, maybe your buddies should be looking out for you, that tackle was brutal," Sky wheezed out a laugh. “And she's not my girlfriend."
"Right, right. Fiancée~ Ooh, fancy word!"
Sky punched him in the gut, though he knew Groose hardly felt it. "Like you're not thinking about asking the same thing to a certain Item Check girl I kno—"
"UP BUP BUP!" Groose frantically waved his hands in front of Sky's face. The Chosen Hero smirked as his lumbering friend glanced around for eavesdroppers—or perhaps, and more likely, Peatrice. Finding neither, Groose pointed a nervous finger in Sky's face. "N-now listen here, that's confidential information! You can't just go blabbin' about sensitive topics like that! After all we've been through?"
Sky snorted. Nevertheless, he crossed his heart and patted Groose's arm. "I'm just teasing, don't worry. Although... you have to admit it's great blackmai—AAH!"
"WHOOPS! Back into the noogie we go!"
"ARG, HEY!"
Sky's ears burned as the other heroes chuckled at his predicament. He'd asked for this, he supposed, but it was still a relief when another, familiar voice cut through all the madness.
"Groose, let him breathe!"
Sky popped out from under Groose's arm, beaming at Pipit as he approached. The yellow-clad knight took one look at Sky's mop of windswept hair and shook his head.
"We just can't keep you out of trouble, can we?" he said with an exasperated smile.
Sky shrugged. "Comes with the territory."
"Ha!" Pipit clasped him on the shoulder. "It's good to have you back, Link."
"It's good to be back."
"I'll bet." Pipit then shifted his gaze to the eight strangers nearby. "Now, are you going to tell us who your tagalongs are, or should I be worried? I don't recognize them from any of the islands."
"Yeah, Link, don't tell me you replaced us already!" gasped Groose, dramatically clutching his heart.
The rest of the heroes smiled fondly as Sky waved off his teasing friends. Wind in particular was glancing between Sky and Groose with huge eyes.
Subtly, the sailor mouthed, Is that the guy?!?!? and Sky had to bite back a laugh. He nodded, watching a lopsided grin grow on the boy’s face.
What a legacy for the Groosenator, thought Sky. He'd have to introduce the two properly, soon.
He turned back to see Pipit staring expectantly at him. Suddenly unsure of how much he should disclose about the future, Sky fumbled, "Umm... they're allies of mine. Other, ah, fighters? Sorry, it's complicated. They're all trustworthy! It's just..."
Pipit and Groose turned to each other with raised brows. "Hero business?" they supplied.
Sky deflated in relief. "Yeah. Hero business."
He glanced away from his classmates, dismayed to find a small crowd starting to form, just as he'd predicted. Sky tried not to be upset by the sight, though it would make things more complicated if they all decided to hammer him with questions. At least it wasn't all of Skyloft.
Although, he thought selfishly, still glancing through the settlers, the one Skyloftian he had been hoping to see wasn't among them.
"Something on your mind, featherhead?" smirked Pipit, reading him like a book.
"I think I know what it is," Groose grinned, definitely as payback. "Or maybe... who it is?"
"Guys," Sky groaned.
"Well, if he hadn't been so focused on rushing into town at the speed of sound, maybe he would have noticed who he passed by on the way in." With a knowing sparkle in his eye, Pipit nodded his head towards the space just over Sky's shoulder.
Sky's heart pounded. Rapid footsteps. It couldn't be... Did he dare hope...?
The Chosen Hero spun around just in time for a flash of brilliant blue and silky blonde to crash into his chest, enveloping his world in gold.
And suddenly, everything was her.
Zelda.
She was covered in soil from the garden and smelled like the market at harvest time, but she was here, alive, and still perfectly, unmistakably his.
A ridiculous laugh tore out of Sky's chest. Shouting her name, he flung his arms around her waist and lifted her into the air. Joy seeping out of every seam of his tunic, he spun her around, delighting in the glittering laugh that bubbled out of Zelda's mouth.
"Link! Link! You're back!"
"I'm back!"
"Oh Link," she laughed against his head, sending him over the moon, "Oh, I missed you so much. Here, let me down a second—"
"Nuh-uh!"
"What do you mean, nuh-uh? I'm getting dirt all over your tunic!"
"Don't care!"
"Link-"
"I love you."
Zelda let out an airy breath, just as exasperated by him as she was giddy. "You can't keep me up here forever."
"Says who?" Sky challenged, matching the fiery spark in her eyes. From here, they looked bluer than the waters of Lanayru's lost sea. How did I come to deserve her?
"Says me," Zelda interrupted his thoughts. "And don't you give me that pout, you're holding me too tight and I have stuff I want to say to you."
Reluctantly, Sky brought his fiancée's feet to the ground, only for her to whisper in his ear, "Besides, it's easier to kiss you now."
Sky's grin outshone the sun. Seizing her waist, he peppered fervent kisses along her cheek, his heart filling with joy as she giggled and squirmed with no real intent to get away. Oh how he yearned to capture her lips, to hold her to his chest and spend hours simply living in her presence, but he held back in light of the many eyes he knew were still pressed upon them.
As if to prove his point, he caught Legend gagging in the corner of his eye.
"Ugh, get a room!" groaned the veteran.
Time tousled his hair. "Hush you! They're young and in love, let them be."
"No, no," said Groose, "Bluebird's got a point there."
"Bluebird...?" Legend scowled, adjusting his cap.
Groose ignored him. "They're young! In love! And annoying about it!" The man pretended to shudder, earning a few chuckles from the nearby Skyloftians.
"Fair," Zelda quipped. "But it takes one to know one."
Sky wheezed as more laughter bounced around the settlers. While Groose's engagement plans were still shrouded in secrecy, his courtship certainly was not.
Groose, knowing this full well, simply threw up his hands and smoothed back his pompadour in one move. "Can't help it if the Groose is now full of love at all times. But at least you don't see me spinnin' my girl around in the middle of town like a lovesick kid. Besiiiiides…"
Groose directed his signature smirk and raised eyebrow towards Pipit, “Karane and Mr. Married Man over here aren’t exactly subtle, either, are ya, lovebirds?”
Sky doubled over into Zelda as Karane whistled at Pipit from somewhere in the crowd.
Pipit’s face went Loftwing-red. “I-! You-!!!” He pinched the bridge of his nose, not quite succeeding in hiding his smile. “Can we just focus on getting Link and his friends settled in, please?”
The burly knight gave Sky and Zelda a wink and turned to the crowd. "All right, folks! Show's over! Give the loverboy a break, his heart can't handle this much excitement!"
Pipit laughed off his blush and joined him. "There will be plenty of time to catch up with Link later, but Groose is partially right. I'm sure his journey has been long and taxing. Let's give him and his allies some rest and respect, and return to our own tasks."
Various grumbles, welcomes, and well-wishes sailed through the air as the crowd dispersed. Sky sighed, letting the tension he didn't know was there roll off his shoulders.
Zelda took his hand and squeezed it. "C'mon, Sleepyhead. Let’s take you and your friends somewhere quieter."
Sky smiled at her, soaking in her warmth and wisdom. "Ok." He nodded his head to the other heroes. "Follow us!"
The looks of wonder on his friends' faces were not lost on Sky as they meandered through the growing settlement. Time and Twilight gushed over the way some houses had been built into or around large trees. Four was pointing out arched doorways and grassy roofs, excitedly jabbering to Wind about how they looked familiar. Wind did his best to listen, but it was clear his eye was set on finding more of Groose's wild prototypes.
Legend and Wild were chatting about the gardens and the foods that grew there. Hyrule breathed deeply, enjoying the peace brought by the wind and bird calls. Warriors sighed his agreement. The captain looked more at ease than he'd been in a long time.
It filled Sky with pride, the way they took in his homeland. And this isn't even half of it, he thought excitedly, biting his tongue. Wait until they see Skyloft!
In a few more steps they'd reached a quiet, secluded corner of the settlement, where the very first houses of the Surface had been built. His, Zelda's, and Groose's, in honor of their expedition here. They strolled up to the front of the middle house—Sky's—where a few large trees shaded the yard and roof in dappled light.
Sky glanced over at Zelda's house. Seeing no sign of life in the windows or yard, he asked, "Where's Headmaster Gaepora?"
Time made an odd face at the name, but Zelda cut him off. "Oh! Father's up in Skyloft in a meeting with Professor Owlan, Oolo, and Stritch."
"Stritch?" Sky balked, looking nearly as baffled as Time. "Why?"
Zelda laughed. "They're trying to cross-reference old agricultural texts from before Skyloft with the gardens we have now. Stritch is there because he wants to raise a small insect army to fight a new pest that's been showing up, but they're not sure if it will 'throw off the ecosystem' or something, so they're up there debating it."
Sky groaned, leaning against one of his trees. "That sounds... complicated."
“That’ll be us one day,” Zelda smirked as her fiancé groaned again. “But, as exhausting as that sounds, we're not here to worry about that right now."
Turning towards the wayward heroes, she opened her arms and smiled with a warmth that seemed to call upon the sun itself. Indeed, a sliver of light had slipped through the leaves, lighting up her hair from behind and turning it as golden as starlight.
When she parted her lips, the air felt pure and heavy all at once, and Sky knew that whatever words Zelda was about to speak would not be hers alone.
"This is a place of rest for all of you. Weary travelers of Surface and time, ease your hearts and rest your bodies. This era is one of peace. There are no monsters to fight, nor battles to win. A break like this is long overdue, and each of you is more than worthy to receive it. Please, let us thank you for all you have done and for all you will overcome."
For a long moment, the heroes were rendered silent under the weight of her words. Warriors and Twilight exchanged confused glances. Time put a hand to his chin. The more magic-sensitive among them stared at Zelda like she'd just pulled a campfire out of thin air, but Sky mostly ignored their wide eyes. Carefully setting his hand on Zelda's back, he watched the brightness in her eyes, the formality in her posture, felt the borrowed magic from a time long gone. And then—there. All in one moment it dissipated. Zelda blinked, taking in a big breath as if she were waking from a long sleep. When she noticed all the eyes upon her, she smiled awkwardly, and looked away.
"You're an oracle." Legend stated, breaking the silence.
Sky and Zelda looked at each other, then back at the young hero. "What do you mean?" Sky asked him.
"It's... someone directly connected to a specific goddess," Legend tilted his head. "Like... a mouthpiece and extension of that deity, but someone who's also mortal and lives on earth. I've met some. Your magic connection feels the same as theirs; deep, permeating. It's... completely surrounding you. And it's strong."
"So that's what it is," Hyrule whispered, seeming to connect several dots in his head.
Wind looked confused. "What goddess's magic is that, though? It sort of feels the same as when Tetra uses light magic to make a bow."
"It's Hylia's," said Wild, barely over a whisper.
Zelda stared at him for a moment, and for that brief second, Sky saw that flicker of ancient magic in her eyes again. It felt more sorrowful this time. Sky wondered if she was seeing a vision of Wild's era.
Just as quickly as the light appeared it flickered out, and Zelda looked away. "Oh... well..." Zelda twined her hands. "That all may be true, but even still. Please. Just call me Zelda here. It helps... make sense of it all."
"Of course," Four said gently. "Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Zelda."
"We're in good hands here," Wild smiled softly at her, and to Sky's delight, Zelda matched it with her own.
Legend looked at Sky again, piecing a puzzle together in his eyes until his expression bled into a big smile. "Leave it to Sky to woo the world's most powerful oracle into marriage."
Sky flushed as Zelda giggled, dramatically grabbing her fiancé's shoulders. "Oh yeah, he completely swept me off my feet, I couldn't take my eyes of him!"
Sky snorted as she fluttered her lashes at him. "If anything, Zelda, you swept me off of my feet—"
"Aww."
"—by shoving me off of Skyloft."
Zelda gasped and punched his arm. "No fair that was only a few times!"
"It was enough to count!"
Time's chuckle interrupted them both. "I see you two have much to catch up on. But tell me, are introductions in order, or has your clairvoyance filled you in, Zelda?"
"Oh!" Zelda waved her hands. "No, please, tell me your nicknames so I can put a name to a face. Letters and visions only do so much."
Quickly and eagerly, each Link shared his nickname or series of titles, Wind and Wild looking particularly pleased with themselves the whole time. Predictably, the humble traveler was the last to speak.
"Hy-rule..." Zelda's eyes widened when she heard the name. Sky hadn't told her what Hyrule was named after in his letters, but that look in her eye... it was almost as if she'd remembered something important.
"Um... hello?" waved Hyrule awkwardly.
Zelda blinked out of her stupor. "Oh! Hi! Yes, sorry... Hyrule..."
Sky took her arm. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah! Yeah, I'm ok!" Zelda laughed, despite the nervous energy now buzzing under her skin. "I... haha. It's just kinda funny. I was going to tell you after your first letter but I wanted to wait to say it in person."
"Say what in person?" Sky prompted.
"Well... the night before I first heard from you, I couldn't sleep, so I was... ah... thinking over the names, again, Link." She shot him a meaningful look, weaving her fingers tightly around his.
Sky's heart quickened. Had she really...?
"Names?" Twilight asked.
"What kind of names?" Wind squinted, suddenly looking very suspicious.
"Not for a baby, if that's what you're thinking," Zelda giggled as Sky and Wind suddenly blushed. "Not yet, at least. I meant place names, like for the Surface?"
"We've already got one!" called Groose in the distance, walking towards his workshop with a beam of wood on his shoulder for who-knows-what purpose.
"We are not calling the Surface 'Grooseland'!" Sky called back, feeling his heart melt back into mirth.
"Your loss!" Groose shouted. "When you come to regret it—and you will—don't come crying to me!"
"Noted!" Sky yelled.
Zelda laughed as Groose disappeared behind his house with a swagger. "Anyway," she continued, "I was thinking about it, and felt like the name of the Surface should reflect the powers that made it. So I was brainstorming a lot of variations: Godsland... Goddessteppe... Hyland..."
Sky felt his face splitting with a smile. "And...?"
"And my current favorite," Zelda beamed at the traveler, "Hyrule."
The wind seemed to taste sweeter the moment she uttered the name. Fresh, cool Skyloftian air blew through their bodies, stirring up leaves and sunlight and glazing the new buildings with a sense of sparkling purpose and pride.
Hyrule tousled his own hair, fidgeting under the attention that was now aimed at him. Twilight nudged his shoulder, and the traveler laughed, averting his eyes to the sky... where his gaze froze in absolute shock.
Hyrule let out a sharp, strangled noise, face growing pale as he pointed past the treetops with a shaking hand.
The other heroes shot to attention. In a blink, they flung their hands to their sword hilts with eyes blown wide, hurrying to catch a glimpse of what had rendered the traveler speechless.
Sky had expected a monster. Perhaps another kargarok, or a hinox from Wild's time.
He had not expected several cries of alarm at the sight of the glowing, brilliant triangles that blessed the very ground they stood upon.
"Is that the TRIFORCE???" Legend screamed.
Time turned to Sky in abject horror. "Where are its GUARDS?!?"
"It's just... hanging there, out in the open..." Hyrule stumbled backwards, looking two seconds away from a panic attack.
"Whoa..." Wind breathed. Four gaped in awe beside him.
"I—wha—How did we not see that before?!?" shouted Warriors, pulling his fingers through his hair. "Were the trees really obscuring it that much? Just—the ACTUAL Triforce is... what?"
Twilight had gone so pale that his face markings looked like coal. He said nothing, could do nothing but form incomprehensible sounds of utter disbelief. Sky's gut grew cold at the worry in Twilight’s eyes when their gazes met. Behind that blinding blue, terrible knowledge swarmed.
It was akin to the look he would sometimes give to Time.
"So that's what it looks like."
Every single hero turned to Wild in horror.
"What do you MEAN 'that's what it looks like'?!?" Legend demanded.
Wild shrunk back. "I-I just, I never saw it in person during my adventure, ok??? A-and if I did before, I don't remember."
As he spoke, Wild scooted closer to Sky, gulping audibly. He glanced at the Chosen Hero. "Now I know how you felt when you asked about who Ganon was,” he murmured. “Sorry, bud. This feels kinda awful."
"And you!" said Legend, pointing at Sky, "Explain why the world's holiest artifact is being displayed up there like a festival wreath?!?"
"I—now hang on!" Suddenly under the fire of his friends' eyes, Sky floundered for an answer. "It's not some… festival wreath! The Triforce—it's holy to all the people of Skyloft, a symbol of the goddesses watching over us! No one here would dare—"
"Sky."
The clearing went silent as Time spoke up, his eye—no—eyes blown wide and haunted. He stared at Sky without blinking. "The Triforce is the most powerful object in existence. To have it simply sitting there for anyone to take advantage of, when the toil so many of us had to go through just to secure its location was so great... I can't... do you realize how dangerous this would be in any other era—?"
Sky didn't know when, but at some point, Zelda had walked forward, and now held fast to Time's hands.
The air was heavy again.
"I did not speak falsely when I said this era is one of peace," she soothed. "Whatever is to come, whatever future the Triforce has in store, will have its time and place. For now, do not disregard the trials which the Hero of the Sky faced in recovering the Triforce for his people, for he knows as well as anyone what it is like to toil and bleed for such a blessing. For now, in this generation, the Triforce blesses this land, and this land protects the Triforce."
With a blink, Zelda came back to herself, suddenly looking very small. "But... thank you," she continued, "for letting us know about... the risks. W-we do have Sheikah guarding it, if that helps."
Just as quietly as Zelda had, Time lost all of his fight. Slowly, his blind eye closed, and his hunched shoulders dipped. Gently, carefully, he squeezed Zelda's hands, looking upon her in much the same way Gaepora would when his daughter was distressed.
"Forgive me, Zelda," he sighed, long and deep. "And you as well, Sky. This is your era. I know in my heart you will protect the Triforce. I just ask... be cautious. Be wise. Do an old man a favor."
"You're not that old," Sky spoke quietly. He felt his own shoulders beginning to relax, though in his mind, he could not quite push back the bubbling thoughts of, curse; your fault; too slow.
Time seemed to pick up on the weight in Sky's chest, and attempted a smile. "No, I'll allow it."
"Time's finally admitting he's old?!?" Wind grinned, pouncing on Time's levity like a hungry remlit.
The Hero of Time shrugged. "I suppose I've gotten used to the nickname."
"Well!" Zelda shook herself and clapped her hands. "We... have some things to add to the 'Settle the Surface' list! But for now, Link—er, Sky—is right. The Triforce is our symbol of hope here, a gift from the goddesses as we forge a new land. And if anything does start to smell rotten," she gave Sky a wobbly smile, "I doubt anyone would get very far with our resident Mr. Evil-Slayer around."
Sky took her hand and drew her closer, pressing his shoulder into hers. "It's you they should be worried about," he said, his voice more gravelly than usual. "Your wrath is the stuff of legend."
When Zelda laughed softly at his words, even if it was no more than a breath, she made it seem like a cloud had finally dispersed under the bright light of the sun. It seemed to lessen the fears of the other heroes, too, if their collective sighs and chatter were anything to go by.
But as Sky stared back into her eyes, he could not find the same contentment. Zelda's face was calm and determined, but he caught the way she bit at the corner of her lip—something she did when she when she fretted over a problem, and when she overworked her brain. She didn't deserve to fret over this now.
Tenderly, wordlessly, Sky rested his forehead against her temple, willing away her troubles and fears as if he could scare them off with a sword. His heart melted when he felt her return that pressure, letting out one of her tiny, fluttering sighs as she did so. His hand clasped hers more tightly.
He must have lost himself in that moment for far too long. Through half-lidded eyes, Sky caught Warriors raising an eyebrow before coughing into his fist.
"Well then," grunted the captain. "If Zelda's divine knowledge has already assured us of our safety, I find myself inclined to agree with her. While we're here in an era of peace, I propose we make the best of it. Let's leave Sky to his catching up and restock what we need here."
"And explore?" Wind asked with pleading eyes.
"And... explore," Warriors conceded. "WITH a buddy system."
"Why do you always look at me and Hyrule when you say that?" Wild scoffed, already dragging the traveler away from the clearing.
Twilight tore his eyes from the Triforce, and after one last, softened glance at Sky and Zelda, set his attention on Wild. "The fact you have to ask that says wonders, cub."
"I'll go with them," Legend volunteered. He gave the Triforce a wary glance as well, but when he looked back at Sky, his face was mostly back to its normal level of snark. "Have fun 'catching up', lovebirds," he teased, giving them an honest thumbs up. Sky caught the unsaid, Sorry for being snappy earlier, and nodded to him, never blaming him in the slightest.
Predictably, Time lingered the longest by the Triforce, and Sky didn't doubt that the older knight would spend his time wondering about its security. In Sky’s mind he knew that protectiveness was due to Time's journey, but maybe it wouldn't hurt to ask the dragons and Levias about more safeguards soon.
Four took Time's hand and guided their leader to join the others. The smith waved goodbye to Sky as he went, and Sky returned it, waiting a few moments before glancing over at Zelda.
Dangers, dragons, the Triforce... Sky pondered, taking in the pinch in Zelda's brow as her own thoughts swarmed into a tempest. All problems for later.
As his friends slowly set off to explore the town, Sky slipped his hand around his fiancée's arm, leading her over to the wooden bench that sat gently under one of his trees. He'd carved the bench himself last year, one of the biggest things he'd worked on, built for quiet mornings for himself, visitors, and—mostly—for his soon-to-be wife. They sunk onto the soft cushions together, stretching their tired limbs with matching, weary sighs.
For a moment, all they heard was the rustle of wind through leaves. Little birds twittered and sang to each other in the branches above, jumping through the green, shifting canopy with joy and ease. What freedom they had, Sky thought, to not be burdened with worldly woes. Though if the goddesses cared for even the birds’ little souls, he reminded himself, as he'd done so often on his journey, how much more did the deities see and care for their chosen people?
Beside him, Zelda sighed again, rolling her sandal-clad ankles in the cool Surface breeze.
"You ok?" Sky asked, finally breaking the silence.
"Well,” she murmured, “I've got more to think about, now."
As Zelda started to chew her lip again, Sky took her hand, leaning into her line of sight. "You've also got someone to help take your mind off of it."
"Oh?" Zelda nudged her shoulder into his. "Like you're going to be any better, Mr. Worrywart?"
"Hey, I thought I was Sleepyhead, king of daydreams and putting things off?"
"That's your alter ego" she tapped his nose. "But... honestly... It would be nice to put off thinking about the Triforce a little longer. Even though that might be a little impossible, now."
"Hey, 'for everything, a time and place', remember?" Sky said softly, rubbing his thumb over her hand. "We'll figure it out like we always do. We have each other now."
"We always have," she smiled, her eyes softening. "And always will. I know I intend to keep my vows."
Sky laughed, genuinely, at the sparkle in her gaze. "Forever and always," he agreed.
"Even when we're old and you're grey."
"Wh-Hey!” he sputtered, nudging her. “What about you?"
"I will have lovely white hair, thank you!"
Sky blew a raspberry as he laughed again, leaning against her as she fell into giggles beside him. When their eyes met, they were filled with a familiar hopefulness and light, and suddenly, things didn't seem so pressing anymore.
He'd almost forgotten how long it had been since they'd had a moment of peace like this.
Sky blushed as they drifted ever closer to each other, pulling each other in like magnets. Zelda really was the most beautiful woman alive. Sky glanced behind him at where his friends had been standing, but couldn't see much over his shoulder.
"Are they gone?" he murmured softly into her ear, just loud enough for Zelda to hear him.
"Not yet," she hummed, matching his blush.
"Now?"
"Still not yet."
"They're walking so slowly," Sky grumbled, slipping his hands around Zelda's waist.
"Shh," she tucked a strand of hair behind his ear, letting him lean into her touch. "They're almost gone... almost... a little more...
"Ok now!" Zelda threw her arms around his neck, giggling like birdsong. "All clear!"
Sky pulled his fiancée against his chest, beaming at her with all the adoration he could possibly muster. They both had a long way to go to settle the Surface, and plenty of challenges to face. But for now, those worries were carried far away by the breeze of their new homeland, allowing the founders of Hyrule to finally, finally sink into a deep, long kiss.
>>><<<
Masterlist | First | Chapter 10 | Chapter 12 (coming next week!)
Author’s Note: Haha as you might have noticed, I took a few creative liberties! At the time of writing, I actually forgot if Skyward Sword had any mention of sealing the Triforce away again once Link finds and uses it, and was under the impression it remained out in the open as a blessing for a while. I can’t exactly recall if that conflicts with SS dialogue, because I think it might in retrospect, but there ARE Sheikah guarding it from the shadows! If it does need to be sealed away, Zelda, Link, Groose, and the Sheikah will be right on it.
Also, elephant in the room: Zelda. I tried to leave the exact nature of her power open-ended, so if you want to read Legend’s guess as close but not quite the full picture you certainly can. As for me, I’ve never really been a fan of the whole reincarnation thing… Personal biases aside, it creates a lot of complications, especially if you throw the manga First Hero into that… so I personally like to think of Zelda as a very powerful oracle who can act as Hylia’s vessel/messenger and access some of her powers, memories, and visions, yet she’s also completely mortal and her own person. BUT! Please feel free to interpret the Zelda-Hylia connection however you like!
Wow I loved writing this chapter. I love writing the Skyloftians so much. It’s like coming home, especially now that I’ve been playing the game physically and growing to love them even more! Also Groose/Peatrice is an amazing pair I don’t know how it grew on me so much and I have GOT to write or draw them getting together some day, haha. Karane/Pipit are so cute, too; I just had to include them!
ALSO ALSO NEXT CHAPTER IS ANOTHER HUGE FAVORITE OF MINE, WOOOO!!!!
Extra Note: I am a children’s book/family friendly author, so please keep all comments Safe For Work (no swearing please!) I want to do my best to make this a place for everyone. Cheers!
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aaaaaa I'm so happy with how the colors turned out in this!!! This is my banner art for my one shot fic Skipper's Retreat! You can read it now HERE! It was really fun painting all the little robots. I've been playing through Skyward Sword and it was wonderful to finally draw these two together like this ^u^
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In a room so full of memories, Link tries to help Fi see things in a new light.
Author’s Note: Waaahooooo impromptu Skyward Sword fic!!! I just got finished with Skipper’s Retreat in my Skyward Sword playthrough, and it absolutely hit me in the gut with emotion. I actually found myself tearing up a bit as I sat in the space, listening to the music and reading between the lines. Most of this fic mirrors my exact experience, even if I’ve embellished some dialogue here and there. Shout out to @dailyskordfacts for the post here that inspired the last portion of this fic! And, also, game spoilers for anything in Skyward Sword leading up to Skipper’s Retreat. Happy Reading!
Check out my Masterpost of my other fics!
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>>><<<
“HYAH!!!”
With a flash of a sword, the last of the arachas withered into purple smoke around Link’s feet, rendering the sandy doorway free of their presence.
“Some welcoming party,” Link shivered, still feeling the needlelike scorpion legs crawling up his back. He sheathed his sword. With the threat now cleared, he could properly enter the little faded cabin that rested at the top of Skipper’s Retreat. Hopefully the sea chart Skipper wanted would be easy to find.
Link had not been prepared for the state the room was in when he finally crossed the threshold.
The little cabin, once the captain’s humble home and respite, now lay in ruins. Dust and sand spilled over every inch of the circular floor, climbing halfway up the walls, and where the piles ended, chipped, crackling wallpaper and mosaic began. The faded colors rose towards a rusted skylight grate that spilled a meager swath of sunlight upon the room. Knicknacks like wooden butterflies and other strange items hug from the ceiling, some oddly reminiscent of children's toys.
Link firmly pushed away the sinking feeling in his gut. Children this deep in Lanayru Desert was improbable at best. Only robots had ever populated this spot, and robots didn't have children. Right? Speaking of...
Two deactivated robots had crumpled in the back of the room, rusted beyond repair. Maybe they were part of Skipper's crew? Had they... been waiting for him to return to this place? Link frowned and called upon Fi for analysis.
She appeared in a swirl of dancing light. “This robot is part of the LD-301 Series of artificial life-forms,” she explained. “As just one of a number of mass-produced robots, it was not assigned a name.”
Link’s stomach twisted.
Her description was factual, no different from the ones she gave to any common robot. So why did Link suddenly and desperately ache for a Timeshift Stone?
He had seen dozens of these fallen robots on his journey, but something about these two in particular made their fate feel… wrong. Maybe it had been the way Fi called them "nameless." Maybe it was the heavy quiet weighing down the atmosphere. Maybe it was how kind and genuine Skipper had been to him so far, leaving Link to wonder if there were other robots that shared Skipper’s kindness, ones Link would never have the chance to meet.
Regardless of the reason, Link knew exactly what he needed to do next. As if in a trance, he solemnly retrieved his gust bellows and began to sweep the room.
Cleansing air rushed past the sand and ushered the dust through the door. Link, for once, minded the pots, not breaking a single one as he blew away the ancient sand. He took special care around the robots, making sure each was spotless, and finally moved on to the edge of the room where portraits peeked out from their sandy blanket.
Link’s heart leapt to his throat as he uncovered the paintings’ subjects.
There was Skipper, of course, his hands raised happily towards the sky. Other paintings were gorgeous seascapes, with sunsets and blue skies reflected over more water than Link could comprehend. Grand ships in their prime sailed off to new worlds—Link wondered with a pang if those lands would ever be discovered again—and right next to a grand blue and gold chest… was a painting of the crew.
Link had never seen so many robots all in one place. Their hands were thrown high like Skipper’s, the proud captain in the middle of the jolly crowd preparing to take the wheel for them. None of the robots had mouths, but somehow, Link knew they all were smiling.
He dragged his hand against the wall as he wandered towards some papers pinned up a few feet away. Link traced an inlaid gemstone with his fingers. Even the walls had sea charts on them, faint lines marking pathways to forgotten lands and oceans lost to time. Link smiled sadly at little scratches and carved waves. So much character for a little room.
Link reached the first posted message and squinted to read the faded text:
Dear Captain, Thanks for everything, zrrt! Yours, the crew, vrrrrrm.
Link’s chest somehow grew warm and cold all at once. Of course Skipper would save a note like this. There was a lot of love behind it. Link moved on to the next message:
Dear Dad, Good luck at work, vrrm!
The air completely left the room.
Link’s heart skipped a beat, so many dreadful puzzle pieces snapping into place, because those were toys, children's toys, and decorations built for Skipper’s... Link took a step back and blinked rapidly. He didn’t even question how it could be so. He just knew it to be true.
And just like that, the room felt less like an old house, and more like a memorial.
The gravity of just how old this room was sunk upon him like a dirge without a melody. He could no longer deny the obvious.
Everything in the desert was gone. It had been for a long, long time.
The little robot he'd saved at the mining facility was gone.
Skipper's crew and family—two of which now lay discarded and vacant on the floor—were gone.
Skipper himself was dead.
He had been deactivated long before Link had even been born.
It was all a bit more existential than Link had been prepared to deal with that day.
Feeling his limbs turn to lead, Link lowered himself onto the lone stool that sat in the middle of the room. Reverently, he turned his gaze to the faded portrait of Skipper. Funny how he'd only just been introduced to the captain, and now mourned him and a crew he never met.
"Master."
Link jumped as Fi's loud chime shocked him out of his daze. Clutching his heart, he glanced up at her now corporeal form, gasping a bit. "H-huh? What is it, Fi?"
She stared back at him with her blank, emotionless eyes. "I recommend waiting until after you have achieved your objective before taking a rest. First we need to find the sea chart."
…Right. Duty first, Link grimaced, and couldn’t help the way his heart sank and mourned. Fi was right, of course, and he knew it. He knew. Impa's warnings were still fresh in his mind, after all. But with Zelda in Impa's proven care, safely on the other side of a gate of time, Link had at least hoped that Fi would have allowed him a moment of silence in this place so heavy with memories.
Memories. Time. Link had never felt them weigh so powerfully on his soul.
He drew out a long, deep sigh that felt like it reached his boots, and slowly dragged himself off the stool.
The sea chart was right where he'd expected it to be. The bright turquoise chest was hard to miss in such a dilapidated room. At least it seemed to have protected the old sea chart tucked away inside, as the pages were much crisper than the crinkling letters on the walls. Link carefully placed the map in his bag.
Once again, Fi's chimes filled his ears, and again he turned to listen.
"Master, look over there."
Link felt his face grow more somber as he followed her gaze. Skipper’s crew waved back at him, oblivious to their fate.
"That is the ship containing Nayru's Flame," she concluded from the painting. "There is a 90% chance that the synthetic life-forms assembled here are the crew. As I have determined that the map you hold is indeed Skipper's sea chart, we are now one step closer to locating the Flame. Let's take it back to him."
Link looked back into the spirit's unblinking eyes, feeling his heart twist for his companion. What sort of existence was it, he wondered for a moment, to know so much and yet feel so little?
"I detect you are... disappointed, Master Link? I had expected this information to be useful to you."
Link smiled sadly at her, patiently shaking his head. "No, no. I'm not disappointed, just..." Weary? Overcome? Would she even understand what those feelings were, or just mistake it for needing physical rest? "It's just... a lot. All of this." He gestured to the wall.
Fi tilted her head. "You are... overstimulated?"
Link breathed out, pleasantly surprised at how close her assessment was to the truth. "Yeah. That's almost it."
"You are overstimulated... by paintings?" Fi cast her gaze around the room, reassessing its contents. Finding nothing of note, she turned back to Link. "I do not understand."
Instead of trying to explain his feelings and inevitably failing, Link tried a different approach. He pointed to the painting of the crew.
“What do you see in this painting, Fi?” he asked, slowly.
“Was I not clear before in my description of the subject matter?”
“No, no, I can see what's obvious, that is Skipper and his crew,” Link nodded at the painting. “I'm just trying to get you to look more deeply at it.”
“More deeply, Master?”
“Well, yeah. Think about it. What do you suppose getting a picture together meant to Skipper, or his crew? Why would Skipper keep it in his cabin?”
Fi paused for a moment, processing his question. “...One could surmise the picture was an object of great importance to him that he wished to keep close,” she said slowly.
Link's heart leaped with hope. "Yeah! Yeah, it holds a lot of sentimental value, doesn't it? A moment from day long past... What else, Fi? Can you see why it's sentimental?"
When Fi failed to respond in favor of simply staring at the painting, Link backpedaled. Trying to speak more in her language, he probed, "What can you... analyze about the moment this painting was made? About the crew? About Skipper?"
Fi continued to stare at the painting in silence. After a few moments, Link figured he’d pushed her too much, and the wind began to leave his sails. Well. At least he’d tried to get her to understand. Link was contemplating heading for the door when suddenly, very slowly, Fi spoke again.
"…The image would indicate that the ship's captain spent many happy days among his many crew members.”
Her eyes were still glued to the robots as Link spun around, staring at her in shock. The hope in his chest burst like a ray of light, spreading through him in an instant. “Yeah, yeah it does, Fi,” his voice wavered with pride. “They all look very happy.”
“They were all closely connected.”
“Yeah,” Link breathed out. “If I had to guess, this picture probably reminded Skipper of simpler days, before he was alone. Before… he had to face the monsters by himself."
Link shook his head, trying to focus on Fi’s breakthrough instead of the way Skipper's story sounded so, so familiar.
Fi glanced back at him a moment—almost quizzically—before returning her eyes to the waving crew. She studied the picture quietly for a long time, as if trying to see past its canvas. After a few seconds, Link realized that she was too preoccupied to say more, so he left her to her analysis and ambled back to the stool.
Link dropped onto the seat with a weary sigh. His arms were killing him after using the clawshots so much, and it felt good to let his throbbing limbs droop for a while. Funny how easy it had become to forget such discomforts while on a time crunch. Well, maybe that was less “funny” and more “worrisome,” but it was a problem for later. For now he would rest his body, and maybe… his eyes… too… … …
A gentle glowing blue light roused Link to his senses before he could fully nod off. After shaking himself awake and breathing in deeply, Link blinked blearily up at Fi.
“Hey. Sorry,” he apologized, rubbing his eyes.
Fi was… oddly slow to respond. “…A report, Master.” She turned her face to the grate in the ceiling. “I have detected a bug infestation in the upper area of the house.”
“A… bug infestation?” Link repeated, feeling very confused as he glanced up and saw nothing but the grate above him. He tried to ignore the decorations.
Fi simply nodded and spiraled back into the sword on his back, leaving him without further explanation.
Link groaned as he started to piece together what a “bug infestation” probably meant. Having fought a few arachas already, he could only assume that there were a fair few of them crawling all over the roof of Skipper's house. Great.
A bit disappointed that Fi had reverted to her no-nonsense way of speaking so soon, Link resolved it was time to go. He stood, stretched his arms and back, and made it to the door before pausing to glance around the room once last time. After sending up a small, silent prayer for Skipper and his family to find peace, Link turned the doorknob and left the room.
The sound of cicadas and swirling wind hit him as soon as he was outside.
“All right, let’s get this over with,” Link murmured, quickly finding a box to climb. He crested the first level of the house and braced himself for hordes of scuttling legs.
The roof was empty.
Link blinked, hauling himself up so he could stand. He walked a full circle around the level to double-check, and still no arachas. Had he missed something?
Link stopped at the foot of a clump of vines and followed them up with his eyes. There was one last tier of the roof he could investigate, though it offered very little room for a supposed “infestation”. There were no monster sounds, either. In fact, the only noise he could hear besides the wind was the persistent buzz of cicadas…
…Hang on a second.
He climbed the vines as quickly as possible. Sure enough, the highest level was completely clear of arachas. The buzzing, however, was only getting louder, leaving no room for doubt as to just what kind of bug had made its home at the top of Skipper’s Retreat. Link slowed his pace to a crawl as he tip-toed around the smokestack in the center of the roof, desperate to catch a glimpse of them.
Beautiful cicadas clung to the smokestack, chirping their chittering calls to all that would listen. For a brief moment, Link considered pocketing them, but it almost felt wrong to take them from this place. So, he simply crept as close as he dared, studying their glistening black and gold bodies and letting their rattles flow through him.
He smiled. Musical insects never failed to put him at ease. They reminded him of his home, a place so full of music and laughter.
Of Zelda’s music and laughter, he amended with deep yearning.
Maybe that was why cicadas were now one of his favorite insects.
Link gasped. And Fi knew that.
Some mix of disbelief and pride soaked through his bones. Is that… is that why she…? He turned his head, trying to study the hilt of the Goddess Sword, which remained suspiciously quiet.
Link let out a breathy laugh, a grin splitting his face. “Thank you, Fi. This made me really happy.” He ran his fingers over the hilt. “I really needed this today.”
The sword chimed under his touch, and Link was convinced her glowing flicker was brighter than usual. Its warmth spread through his body, giving him the strength he needed to stand up straight.
Link made his way down the roof, stepping out onto a platform where a zipline waited to escort him back down to Skipper. He breathed in the desert air, the breeze ever so faintly tinged with the salty smell that surrounded the Timeshift boat in its pocket of ocean. It was time to move on. It was time to find the Flame.
Link gripped Fi’s hilt once more, squeezing it as if he were holding her hand.
Together, my friend. We’ll do this together.
Fi chimed brightly behind him.
>>><<<
End of fic!
Check out my Masterpost of my other fics!
Author’s Note: I can’t remember now if this is one of the first times Fi describes something in emotional detail (referring to Skipper’s many happy days with his crew), but it’s one of the first that stuck out to me, especially after being smacked in the face with “get back to work” after I made Link sit down before getting the sea chart at Skipper’s retreat. 😅
ALSO (and because I just did this in-game) freeing Skipper’s crew from the Sandship must have been a HUGE mood booster for Link. He made a difference in Skipper’s life and got to have him reunite with some of his crew, at least! Asfdhjgfkh the robots are so cute, y’all, I love them ^u^
Extra Note: I am a children’s book/family friendly author, so please keep all comments Safe For Work (no swearing please!) I want to do my best to make this a place for everyone. Cheers!
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Surprise! Almost done with a Skyward Sword Skipper's Retreat fic!!! Tried to get it out today but it wasn't in the cards; expect to see it tomorrow! Then next week it's Grounded time!
Edit: You can now read the fic Here!
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Saturday God moment: So this morning, I was having -10/10 worst cramps of all time. They've never been that bad before, so much so I briefly wondered if I was dying or needed the hospital >_< Got to the point that in the midst of it, I audibly cried out, "God please take this away, I can't take it anymore!" Y'all. Y'all the pain immediately went from a 10 to a 7. It wasn't gone but it was manageable. I kinda sat there dazed for a minute because if that wasn't God working in that moment I don't know what it could have been. 😌
...Also never give in to cravings the day before and eat a bunch of sugar I am 100% sure that's why these were so bad today. Take care of your health friends. >w<
On an unrelated note Skipper's Retreat broke me a little 🥲Oh my goodness there's SUCH a somber air in there, and such good visual storytelling. And the dialog with Fi in there struck me in a very interesting way...
So yesterday I got through the Skyward Sword Lanayru Shipyard and beat the giant scorpion (it was quite spooky, but I already died to that thing twice in the first dungeon, so I was determined and beat it first try without fairies here >=D) Anyway, I finished the fight, Fi told me there was nothing else to see, and I left.
Only to get curious and reenter the battle arena because I wanted to give the room another look.
And then I burst into laughter, because I kid you not: after one full real-life minute, Fi appears and promptly states,
"A report, Master. I calculate a 0% chance that searching further in this location will lead to the appearance of the ship."
Fi and the game just told me to stop looking for stuff and wasting time I'm in stitches 🤣🤣🤣
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I DID IT LADS/gn I FOUND OUT THE TRUE MEANING OF THE FIC NAME
HA! Well, I suppose it could be one of many valid interpretations! >u< Congrats you found the secret one ^u^
In all seriousness I named it based on Sky getting a crash course in life on the the Surface without Skyloft to fall back on (like a bird that's been grounded), and maybe also a bit of Sky just being a rather grounded guy in general. And now I can say it's also because Time grounded him, hehe >u< (Grounded chap 10) Thanks!
I love Ninjago dragons. Well, I love dragons in general, but Shintaran Ridgebacks are especially lovely ^u^ I like to think that their ability to grow and shrink is a magical defensive strategy. They remain the same maturity in either form, but the two forms offer different benefits. Want to become hard to detect, walk through smaller spaces, and appear less threatening? Small form is perfect for that. Need to protect yourself or loved ones, require more strength in general, and need to fly farther distances? Large form it is! They have natural armor in either form, and warm feathers layered over long, adapted finger bones, a bit like Ambopteryx or something between a bird or bat. In either form, Chompy is beloved by Vania!
No Dragons Rising spoilers in the comments please!!!
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Hey I love Masters of the Mountain quite a bit >w<
asfdhsjhfk Vania is wonderful. She's so great, I love her personality and the chemistry she has with Cole. Her excitement to explore is infectious! They very much have Zelda and Link energy. Sometimes I'm hesitant when new characters are introduced to long-running series (especially ones hinted to have feelings for a main character), but I feel like Vania easily could have shown up in the earlier seasons. And the music and dragons and Cole himself shining so brightly as a character... what a fun season ^u^
No Dragons Rising spoilers in the comments please!!!
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Chapter 10: Sky Rides a Horse and Everybody’s Scared
Thanks to Time and Epona, Sky’s feeling much better. In fact, he might be a little TOO better, someone check on Twilight’s heart…
Author's Note: It's time to get things off the ground! ^u^ Sky's in for a wild ride =). Y'know, as I was writing I just used the LU excuse that Talon was out delivering and staying in Castle Town a few days, but if he came home while the Chain was still there, I think he and Sky would really get along (loves cuccos and naps and horses? Perfect bonding material!) [Linked Universe belongs to @jojo56830 / @linkeduniverse , and The Legend of Zelda belongs to Nintendo of course.] Happy Reading!
Masterlist | First | Chapter 9 | Chapter 11
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>>><<<
"Look out, Wind!"
"Gangway!"
Sky hopped out of Wind's path on one foot, his other foot stuck halfway in his boot. Wind ran past him through the dining room with his tunic over his head, arms flailing as he tried—and failed—to pull the clothing past his eyes.
Malon laughed and came to his rescue. Catching Wind's arms before they smacked her in the face, she found the tunic's hem, twisted it, and yanked. With a small "oof!" and a frizz of messy curls, Wind's head popped free of its prison.
The sailor grinned past the flush on his cheeks. "Thanks Miss Malon."
"You're welcome," she smiled back. "I know y'all are excited to see Sky ride today, but does that really warrant this much of a tizzy? Y'all've been buzzing like bees all morning."
"Ugh, we woke up so late, though," Sky grunted, shoving his boot on. He sent a silent thanks to Malon for catching his shoulder when he wobbled.
"Yeah, why'd they let us sleep in like that?" Wind groaned. He brushed some of his sandy hair to make it slightly more presentable. "I get Sky sleeping in, but they just left me up there!"
"Hey, I wanted to wake up, too, I'm not missing this!" Sky replied.
"You both needed the sleep, simple as that," said Malon. "The others noticed that, and did you a kindness. Appreciate that. You've got plenty of time."
Sky and Wind nodded, letting her words sink in and untangle the knots in their stomachs.
"Now, Sky hon, if you're riding for the first time, I'd leave that nice cape of yours indoors. You don't want to get yourself twisted in the saddle," said Malon. Then she added with a wink, "I'd also be a shame to stain that white fabric in the unlikely case you fall into manure."
Sky snorted and unclasped the sailcloth from his shoulders. "Wise words," he said. "Thank you. Oh, and..." he scratched his head. "Thanks. For that vegetable omelet this morning, and... for last night..."
Malon squeezed his arm. "Honey, you thanked me already by enjoying the food and getting a good night's rest. Now go on and get, you boys enjoy yourselves out there!"
Sky and Wind glanced at each other and grinned.
"Race you to Time!" shouted Wind, already speeding out the door.
"Hey, hold on!" Sky laughed. "Thanks Miss Malon—hey, aren't you coming out too?"
"Yep, just have a few small things to tidy then I'm there. Now go! Catch that boy and tell him not to run around the horses!"
"Yes ma'am!" Sky saluted, and dashed out to grab Wind.
Wind had stopped to wait for Sky and yelped when he saw the knight speeding towards him. The sailor tripped and started running again, but Sky had an ace up his sleeve.
Sky's stamina was poor, and everyone knew it.
But boy, could he sprint.
The gritty earth kicked up around him as Sky shot forwards in the morning light. The fresh taste of morning air fueled him, filling his lungs and sparking his excitement all over again.
Today he was going to fly.
He might have already been flying, with how his feet barely hit the ground. With Wind's golden hair shining like a beacon, Sky dashed for his target, shouted in delight, and tackled him to the ground.
Wind squealed as Sky rolled to shoulder the fall, locking Wind in his arms.
"Let—GO! What gives?" Wind grunted as he struggled. "You're supposed to be—hngh—slow! Grr!"
"Malon said no running around the horses!" wheezed Sky. "And no means—OW! Uncle, uncle!"
"That's what I thought!" said Wind, releasing Sky's arm from where he'd twisted it behind his back. He stood up in a rush and got exactly two steps before Sky grabbed his ankle.
Wind hit the dirt, and Sky grabbed on even tighter.
"Oh, c'mon! That's it!" With a mighty war cry, Wind unleashed his fury, scrambling madly for any way out of Sky's arms. Sky struggled to keep up with him, if only because he was laughing too hard to breathe. It soon turned into a contest of Sky's droopy dead weight against Wind's youthful ferocity. Neither side was winning.
"Having a good time, are we?"
Sky and Wind froze. Warriors was standing over them, hands on his hips and his eyes twinkling.
Sky gulped. "Uh..."
"FREEDOM!" Wind shot out from Sky's arms, taking full advantage of the distraction. He made a beeline for the riding field, but Warriors grabbed him by the collar before he could go anywhere.
"HEY!"
Sky shook with another bout of laughter.
"Didn't Malon tell you not to run around the horses?" asked Warriors. "They frighten easily."
Wind's face scrunched up. "Uuuuuuuugh."
"Well?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'll be careful and walk. Now will you let me go already? You're stretching my shirt!"
Warriors obliged.
"Bye!" said Wind, already three paces away. To his credit, he did walk—even if it was the fastest walk Sky had ever seen.
The captain reached a hand out and helped Sky to his feet. "Ready to ride, oh Knight of Skyloft?"
Sky dusted off his pants. "More than ready, Captain."
"Good man!" Warriors clapped him on the back. "Let's try and catch up to that sailor of ours."
"Not a very patient one, is he?" Sky smiled.
"No, but then again, he is a youth. And between you and I, I think we all deserve a bit of levity... don't you?"
Sky noticed Warriors's sharp eyes trailing over him, and caught his unspoken question.
"Yeah. It feels nice." The Skyloftian nudged him. I'm ok now, Warriors. Thank you.
The captain brightened, and before either of them knew it, they'd arrived at the center of Lon Lon field.
Two horses stood saddled and ready by their masters in the inner ring. Twilight’s Epona was busy using the rancher as a scratching post, but when Time's old mare caught sight of Sky, her ears flicked up in delight. Her whole body expanded as she drew in a mighty breath, stretched out her neck, and let out a long, loud whinny.
Wind jumped back and bumped into Sky. Sky patted his shoulder.
"Good morning!" Time called out to them both. "You two certainly look bright and alert."
Hyrule did a double take when he saw the dust coating Sky’s and Wind's hair. "What happened to you two?"
"Wind was running," Sky explained.
"I was gonna stop before I got here," huffed Wind.
"Sky," Twilight called as if nothing had happened, "you'll be riding the old man's Epona today. I'll be right beside you on mine. We're all saddled up, so head over here and we'll show you how to mount."
The captain placed a hand on Sky’s arm before he moved. “You’ll do well,” he said, smiling wistfully at the horses. “I can see how much they trust you. Have fun out there.”
“In other words, you’re missing your own horse and are looking forward to living vicariously through me?” Sky raised an eyebrow.
Warriors wilted dramatically. “Yes, goodness, I miss my horse,” he breathed out all at once. “But I am excited for you, truly. First time is always a joy to see. Good luck, Sky.”
The Skyloftian grinned as Warriors patted his back, and he skipped off towards the horses.
"Don't die out there," smirked Legend as Sky passed.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Sky winked. "I can't spend all those rupees you tossed me if I'm a ghost!"
Sky didn't need to see Legend's face to know he was rolling his eyes.
Approaching Epona like he'd been taught, Sky patted her left side and listened closely to Time and Twilight. The older knight showed him how to double-check the girth. The rancher demonstrated how to grip the reins, mane, and saddle, and how to spring up from the stirrup for a safe mount. Time helped Sky get his toe in the stirrup, and with one mighty heave, the Skyloftian knight swung himself onto a horse for the very first time.
As soon as Sky settled in the saddle, he forgot how to breathe.
The breeze blowing past his face was cool and familiar. Between his weight pressing him into the saddle and the large, gently breathing animal beneath him—an animal that was acutely aware of his presence just as he was aware of hers—it all felt like heavy déjà vu. Suddenly he was back in Skyloft, preparing for a standing Loftwing takeoff with the wind at his back. Sky couldn't wipe away his grin.
“...y? Featherbrain, you in there?”
At the sound of Legend’s voice, the Chosen Hero blinked himself back to the present. “Yeah." Still smiling, he let out a shaky laugh. “I… I’m home.”
The others looked a bit confused at that, but Time seemed to brighten. He stroked the nose of his beloved steed and fixed Sky's hold on the reins. “You ready to ‘take off’ then?”
Sky nodded enthusiastically. As he did, Time’s Epona swiveled an ear to listen to him, her muscles tensing and her feet shifting in the grass. Sky was amazed. She’s picking up on my emotions just like Loftwings do. Time was right!
“Ok…” Twilight began, studying Sky’s posture. “Sit up a little straighter, Sky—good. Now you’re gonna ask her for a walk. You can say it with words, but it’s best to urge her forwards by squeezing—
“—squeezing my legs and leaning forward slightly?” Sky cut in, heart racing. No way. No way, it’s EXACTLY like riding a Loftwing…
Twilight opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He looked at Time in utter surprise. “You’re sure he’s never done this before?”
Time’s eye sparkled. “Well, maybe not in the way we’re familiar with, but he does seem to know what he’s doing, doesn’t he?”
Sky matched his grin, practically shaking with excitement. Let’s go let’s go let’s go!
Twilight still didn’t look very confident. He gave Sky another once-over. “Well…”
C’mon c’mon c’mon!
“…your posture is pretty sturdy…”
I want to FLY, Twilight!
“…Fine. I’ll be right with you, though. Just start her going with a small—”
“HYAH!!!”
“SKY, NO!”
But it was too late. Before anyone could blink, Sky and Epona were hurtling into the outer field at full canter, not a care in the world as they flew by their onlookers. Epona’s hoof beats were much bumpier than Sky had expected, but after a few dizzying moments, he was able to safely match her gait with his hips. Instinctively, he shifted his weight to the balls of his feet as he leaned forward, gripping the reigns and Epona’s long, flaxen mane.
Memories of clouds and red feathers swirled through his senses, lighting Sky’s heart ablaze. In that moment, he was just Link again. And he couldn’t get rid of his smile.
>>><<<
“Sky, you idiot, come back!!!” shouted Twilight, galloping after him.
“Does he have a death wish?!?” Warriors yelled as the heroes watched the horses fly away together.
Wild began to run after them only to get caught by Time’s hand.
“Wh—Time?”
“Watch.”
Seven heads turned back to the field to see Sky hurtling towards the ranch’s outer fence.
“Oh, no no no!” cried Hyrule. “Horses can’t fly, Sky!”
“I can’t look!” shouted Wind, grasping onto Time’s shirt and burying his head into his back.
“You may want to reconsider,” said Time. “Watch his legs!”
Sure enough, Sky had shifted. One leg went slack against the saddle as his whole body leaned smoothly away from the fence. Epona—such a good, clever girl, Time thought—knew exactly what her rider was asking for, and leaned with him, never even touching the fence.
Twilight shouted something and pulled his horse to a stop in the middle of the grass, glancing back at the other heroes. Time watched him fling his arms up in disbelief, as if to say, What the heck am I supposed to do with him now, Old Man?
Time simply laughed.
"Hoo, boy! Look at those two go!"
Several heads turned to see Malon hurrying towards them, her eyes glued to the carefree new rider. "You're sure this is his first time?"
Warriors shrugged, "It's currently up for debate."
"I don't know if I should be more impressed or terrified," Four admitted.
“I’m starting to lean towards impressed,” Legend shook his head in disbelief.
Malon nudged Time as she came to a stop beside him. Quietly she murmured, "I don't think I've seen Epona that frisky in years, Link."
Time felt his heart swell. "Me neither, even when I've ridden her."
"Aww, you jealous?"
Time shook his head. "Not at all. Seeing them like this is rewarding enough."
As Epona kicked up her heels, Sky out-smiled the sun, and the other heroes cheered and bit their nails, Time simply stood still, soaking in the moment. Peacetime was a rare blessing best savored with friends, after all. And with his wife at his side, for now, he allowed himself the freedom to just be.
>>><<<
Sky, meanwhile, was having the time of his life.
He hollered in delight as the wind whipped past his face, filling up his lungs the way they were always meant to be filled: by breathing cool air at top speed.
He was so excited he felt like standing on the saddle, and would have, too, if Twilight hadn't stressed how important it was to use his legs to guide his horse. Party pooper. Well, never mind Twilight, here was another curve!
Sky leaned as far as he dared in the saddle, asking without words for Epona to make the turn. She felt his weight and acted upon it, smoothly gliding around the curve and down the next stretch of dirt. Sky shifted forwards. Epona understood his need for speed, and happily complied.
He enjoyed the sound of his friends' cheers when he whisked past them.
As Sky and Epona cantered through another tight turn, Sky's wild heart gave him a crazy idea. Time had once said something about Epona being a star fence-jumper in her prime. And jumping made you airborne, even if just for a second. So by that logic, he could make a horse fly...
Without another thought, Sky steered Epona towards the center fence.
As soon as she noticed where she was heading, Epona’s gate transformed. Her muscles tensed with excitement. Her gate stiffened and quickened until she was no longer in a canter but a gallop. Sky nearly fell with the change in gate, but he caught himself at the last second, leaving his fear behind in the outer field.
Let's go, Epona!
The other heroes shouted in alarm from inside the central ring. Their small forms shuffled about until they were forced to scramble out of the way of the oncoming horse and rider, waving their arms the entire time. Even the Old Man's expression had changed to worry, but by the time Sky could actually see his face it was too late to stop.
As if he would have stopped, anyway. Sky could feel the way Epona thrust her powerful hooves into the ground, determination seeping out of her from her ears to her tail. And if she believed she could still jump a fence, then Sky believed in her with his whole heart.
He didn't fight her. He let her fly. Free to do as she pleased, Epona bunched up her muscles, shifted her gait, tilted Sky and the entire world with him, and took off from the ground with one giant, magnificent LEAP!
For a moment Sky was sure she'd sprouted wings. For just that second, time slowed to a crawl, and between Epona’s tawny wings Sky was safe and weightless. He could see them soaring off into the clouds like he and Crimson would, touching the clear blue atmosphere and breathing in the chill of thinner air. Sky spread his arms. They were flying! They were free! They were...
...hurtling back towards the ground?
Uh oh—
Sky was not prepared for the sudden THUD of Epona’s hooves when she landed on the other side of the fence. With his hands thrown out, he had nothing to hold on to, and before he knew up from down he was bounced roughly out of the saddle and sent sprawling into a pile of scratchy hay.
The impact nearly took the wind out of him. Everything hurt. But a Skyloftian knew how to fall, and there was only one thing running through Sky's brain.
That was FUN.
A chorus of footsteps hurtled towards Sky. Legend was the first to reach him, falling to his knees and grabbing Sky's sore shoulders. "What the heck, Sky?!? I was only half-kidding, I said DON'T die, weren't you listening?"
Legend's eyes were wide with worry and exasperation over his fallen friend. The Skyloftian smiled and patted Legend’s hand. "Sorry I scared you."
"You didn't—! I mean! Well... just shut up and don't do that again!" Legend grumbled, seizing Sky's arm and helping him stand.
"Yes Sky, he's prone to heart attacks, remember?" Warriors called as he jogged over, not-so-subtly glancing Sky and Epona over for injuries. His smooth voice certainly did not match his frantic gaze.
"Not the time, Cap," Legend groaned.
Hyrule pushed past both of them. "Whoa Sky, you went flying, are you ok? That looked like a bad fall."
"I'm fine! I'm fine, really!" Sky held the traveler back with a laugh. "No broken bones or anything, trust me, I'd know."
Hyrule bit his lip. "...You're sure?" he glanced between Sky and at Legend.
"He's fine. But he's in a lot of trouble," grumbled the veteran.
Hyrule sighed deeply. "Phew. In that case..." his hazel eyes sparkled, "The captain's right, Sky. Don't do that to Legend, he's a veteran, fragile heart and all that. You could say he's the real old ma—AH!" Hyrule ducked when Legend went to grab him.
Sky didn't get much time to laugh at their bickering. As the rest of the heroes approached, Sky looked up, and his eyes immediately met Twilight’s. The rancher’s icy blue stare sent a chill down Sky's spine.
He could freeze over Eldin Volcano with one look, Sky gulped.
Twilight stomped up to him. "What were you thinking?!?"
"Bold of you to assume he was thinking," Four snorted.
Sky felt his cheeks burn when he couldn't dispute that. "I—I, uh..."
Twilight's arms flailed around Sky as if he wanted to shake him but was holding himself back. "Sky! You—arrrghhhhh!"
Sky laughed nervously. "Well... you know what they say. Practice makes perfect?"
Twilight was fuming. "Not. Jumping!" He dug his fingers through his hair. "We weren't doing jumping! Just normal riding, a-and you were pushing that, too!"
"At ease, rancher," came Time's deep, calm voice. "I think he's learned his lesson."
Sky couldn't tell what Time was actually thinking behind that imposing stare. He was stern, but maybe he was holding in a laugh? No, in this lighting he looked really mad... oh boy Sky could have really hurt his horse, couldn't he? But then there was Malon behind Time looking... impressed? Amused? So maybe things weren't so bad. Sky preferred the not-so-bad option.
"Learned his lesson?" Twilight repeated. "Has he?"
The rancher rounded on Sky and actually grabbed his arm this time. "Don't you do somethin' like that ever again, y'hear me? For your sake and Epona's."
Wild raised his hand from where he’d gone over to check Epona's legs. "Um. But what if he's on horseback being chased by monsters and has to jump over a log to get away?"
"Or somebody traps him and a horse in a really tall fence?" Four added, also raising his hand with a grin.
"I—stop encouraging this, you know what I mean!" Twilight turned back to Sky, suddenly pleading like a worried puppy, "...Right? Please?"
Sky noticed Legend hovering by with that same mother-Loftwing look. Touched by how much they cared, Sky put on his best "I'm ok!" smile and let it stretch wide and bright. The adrenaline still coursing through his body may have also contributed a bit.
He held up a hand. "I solemnly swear to never jump on horseback again, unless I'm being chased, trapped, or given explicit permission and/or training by Time and Twilight. Better?"
"Much," Twilight deflated.
"Y'know, foolhardy as that was," said Malon, "you kept up some pretty good control out there. Epona looks right as rain, too."
Wild gave a thumbs up and patted Epona’s side. She neighed happily, much to the relief of the Hylians.
"With a little more practice, I'd wager it won't be long until we've got ourselves another horse champion." Malon nudged Time in the side. "He might even beat your racing record, Fairy Boy."
"Not a chance," Time smiled. "Especially since he's going to be sitting out for a little bit."
Groans of protest filled the field.
Time held up a hand to quiet them. "Sky, after that stunt you pulled I want to give your body and your mind a rest, you understand?"
And give my bad behavior a time out, yeah, Sky realized. Still, Time had a point. His lungs were kind of killing him after all that excitement and the fall. He nodded reluctantly. "Fair is fair."
"Good. Now that we've come to an agreement," Time turned towards the sailor. "It's Wind's turn."
"WHAT?" Wind gasped as the others started another uproar. "Wait, no. Absolutely not, did you see the way Sky went over that fence???"
"What's the matter, Sailor? You could do it! Don't tell me you're scared," Warriors prodded.
"Am not!" Wind flung out his arms. "It's just that maybe I don't want to go flying through the air like Sky! Ever think of that?"
“Sky is the farthest from an example of a good student," Twilight drawled, glaring at their wayward horseman.
Sky tried to look innocent as he picked straw out of his hair. Epona helped him by eating it.
Twilight sighed. “If you take things slow and actually listen," he glared at Sky again, “then you’ll be fine, Sailor. We’ll take it easy.”
Time came up behind him. “My old horse is feisty, but she’s always been a good judge of character. She’ll recognize what speed will be best for you, Wind.”
Wind’s judgmental squint was enough to rival Legend’s. “Uh-huh. You sure? ‘Cause she just jumped a fence and Sky fell off.”
“Which she only did because Sky encouraged her. Does he look the least bit upset about it?”
Sky’s crazed smile was still plastered on his face. “I have no regrets.”
Twilight groaned.
Wind bit his lip, a smile twinkling in his eyes as he looked back at Time. “No, I guess you’re right.”
“Trust Epona,” Time grinned. “That’s one of my greatest philosophies.”
True to Time's word, Epona and Wind got along like a pair of old friends. Despite the sailor’s initial doubts about horses, Twilight's presence and Epona’s steady gate soon put the boy's fears at ease. Wind was a determined student, too, furrowing his brow as he listened closely to Twilight's instructions. And his focus paid off.
It wasn't long before Wind was trotting all by himself down the outer field, a wide, brilliant smile shining on his face.
Sky tried not to be a little jealous that Wind was the better student between them. That was ok. Sky had trained on his bird for far longer, and now it was the sailor’s turn to enjoy that first rush through the air. The Skyloftian smiled, remembering his own first flight. Wind would hold this day dear for the rest of his life.
And judging by the way Time and Malon were eyeing Hyrule, Wind wouldn't be their last student.
...Which probably meant Sky would have to wait even longer to get back in the saddle. Great. He itched at the thought of staying still, and yet...
"You've got to learn to slow down and smell the wildflowers! There's a time and place for urgency, buddy."
"None of us have a problem slowing down for someone in need."
"Let us look after you."
"Master Link," chimed a far-off memory, "the energy inside you is nearly depleted. I strongly advise you return to Skyloft and rest your mind and body. I will watch out for you there.”
“The world can wait a few hours, Sleepyhead."
Maybe staying still was exactly what he needed to do right now. And as Wind dismounted and Hyrule was called forward, Sky smiled at the traveler and pushed him towards Epona.
"Good luck out there," he said. "Oh and apparently fence-jumping is taboo, so don't do that."
Hyrule snorted. "Thanks, Sky."
Time informed Sky that his riding ban would be over after Hyrule's turn. And that was fine with him.
He was busy enjoying a moment of peace.
>>><<<
Masterlist | First | Chapter 9 | Chapter 11
Author's Note: Growth for Sky! Don’t look now but I think he’s actually starting to understand how to slow down and enjoy things one step at a time >u< Although, please never jump a horse that isn't yours without permission, especially if she's on the older side 😅 All of the horse-owning Links made sure Sky understood that before the day was done >u< Sky got the memo and won't be trying any stunts on her again, though if anyone could convince Twilight to give him proper jumping lessons then it would be Sky, haha. Also if you noticed the movie reference in the illustration you get a cookie <3
Extra Note: I am a children’s book/family friendly author, so please keep all comments Safe For Work (no swearing please!) I want to do my best to make this a place for everyone. Cheers!
(💚Please comment and like directly from the og post in case Tumblr does weird things again! Tumblr reblogs are ok but Never repost, thanks! <3)
Grounded Chapter 10 is almost ready to post!!! I think I need a little more time to iron some things out though, so the posting time will be moved to 4pm est today!
I'm also gonna take another gap week break after this. After the break, we'll see our heroes enter into all-new terrain! Well, all-new to 8 of them, at least. 3 chapters left after chapter 10, can you believe it?
(🤎Please comment and like directly from the og post in case Tumblr does weird things again! Tumblr reblogs are ok but never repost, thanks! <3)
Aw no, I'm sorry to hear things have been rough 🥺 Praying for you and your family, I hope y'all are able to find peace despite whatever's going on 🫂💙 And please let me know if there's anything I can do to help! 🥺
@hero-of-the-wolf
Thanks so much Emmie 🫂🫂🫂 Peace is the word of the day for sure. And yesterday wasn't too bad! Felt like it was a little easier, and I know things will eventually ease again, it's just sort of a weird time for the whole family. Ah! Thank you so much, biggest thing anyone can do is simply send us a prayer for wisdom, peace, energy, stability, etc. And an added prayer for my grandfather; the doctors are deciding how best to treat him because he has a mild/moderate cancer and make that decision soon (happens to be on my birthday, Maybe that's a good sign??? idk).
I'm blessed by some beautiful birdsong and fog this morning, at least! Hope you have a peaceful Memorial Day, as well. Hugs!
