#evanescenthero — independent and selective LINK - OCARINA OF TIME / MAJORA'S MASK — established June 2026 — adored by STARRY (25+, she/her) — may contain triggering content — mutuals only — beta editor
RULES
MEMES
Well, at least he realized how it sounded. He wasn't as naive as she feared.
An evil King. It really did sound like something out of a storybook. But between the Kokiri Forest, the fairy, and that large arse clearly magical stone -- it felt really unlikely.
This seemed like a story she wasn't meant to get caught up in, and she wouldn't -- if not for the fact that his lad was so young.
"-- I believe ye." She looked around, triple checking to ensure that there was no one else around. There wasn't, but now Mei was paranoid. "I'd rather ye be makin' shi-- stuff up, personally. Whatever ye've been tasked with sounds...important. Beyond me."
She paused, and then frowned, waving away the gem as he put if back.
"And dinnae show that tae just anyone! People'll just see it's valuable an' try an' steal it!"
"Someone already tried to steal it at the market."
Once the pouch with the emerald was secured back at his waist, he looked up at Mei. "Really? You believe me? That's good." With the limited interaction he'd had with adults so far, Link had come to realize just how little they thought of kids. It was like they thought they were silly and didn't have anything worth saying. One man even said he had a "head full of nonsense" because he said he wanted to meet the princess.
"I won't show anyone else, but I felt like it would be okay to tell you." She'd given him free milk with chocolate in it and listened to him even when she didn't have to. He leaned forward, elbows on the counter and cheeks in his hands as he felt the weight of this responsibility push down on him a bit.
"I thought it would be easy to meet with the princess, but I didn't realize how big of a deal that is." The Kokiri didn't know much about how the outside world worked, so he was learning as he went. "I need to meet her tomorrow because I'm afraid if I leave it too long, bad things will start to happen." What if the Evil King was getting closer to taking over just because Link was taking too long in delivering the Kokiri Emerald?
"Ten rupees each. But since you're clearly going to be --" In over your head "-- quite preoccupied on your journey, how about I sell you two for fifteen?"
He trusted the boy could do enough math to see that he was being very generous.
"Yeah, I can do that!" Yes, even at this age, Link was all about a bargain. He also enjoyed haggling, but Navi said he had to choose who to do that with because some of the shopkeepers around here didn't like him all that much. He pulled out his wallet and grabbed two blue rupees and five green ones.
"And I don't have to bring the bottles back? I can keep them forever?"
He liked to use his empty bottles to catch bugs and pink fairies.
"Link," Zelda repeated, the name's single syllable echoing itself within her mind as she attempted to recognize her visitor. Her eyes studied his every feature and movement, how he unveiled his head of blond hair to her, the striking green of his tunic and cap, the way he kept speaking to her like an old friend, like someone he had been looking for and finally found.
She had met plenty of new faces since the twilight's first appearances, mostly local leaders of different regions looking to find out about how Hyrule would defend itself. With these new faces came names to remember, and oftentimes she fell short in recognizing them again after their second or even third time in the castle. Being unable to recognize yet another face in front of her only added on to the guilt, but, if one thing was for certain, she'd never met this Hylian before, at least not in the castle.
"I apologize, Link, I'm not quite sure I know you," she responded, eyebrows furrowed with confusion as to what brought him here in the first place.
Out of everything he had said to her so far, Zelda had clung on to two words, "You're safe." Sure she was, in the confines of her castle surrounded by the royal guard who would devote themselves to protecting the princess. But, her kingdom, whom she regarded as a part of her, was not. Any civilian, regardless of where they were from in Hyrule, would express their concern and fears about the spreading evil. Link's reaction only made her wonder if they were speaking of the same danger.
"Seven years? Have you encountered the twilight, Link?" The amount of time alarmed her. It'd been a mere few weeks since she first received report of the twilight in Ordon Village. Seven years ago, she had just recently been appointed to the throne. What would she know about the twilight from back then?
"Where... where have you come from? I don't think we've met."
Something was wrong. Very wrong. Zelda wasn't behaving the way he expected. Of course, a lot could change in seven years, but she didn't recognize him at all. His brows furrowed as he attempted to come up with an answer that would make sense. Was it possible this was related to the Sacred Realm? Could the power that propelled him seven years into the future somehow have a negative effect on Zelda? A consequence that forced her to forget him?
She genuinely appeared alarmed, so he thought it best to take a step back, calm himself, and think it over. He forced a smile, hoping to offer some reassurance even if he felt his heart clench. "I might have been mistaken. I apologize if I came across as too intense."
She spoke of twilight as if it were something beyond the fading of light after a sunset. He shook his head. "No, I don't think I have. What do you mean by twilight?" It seemed they would have a steady stream of questions for one another, but he was fine with that. If it helped them get to the bottom of their mutual confusion, then he'd answer every single question she had for him.
"I'm from Kokiri Forest, near the Lost Woods." His blue gaze searched Zelda's face for any recognition, hoping that if he reminded her of certain aspects of his life, then he'd see it all come rushing back to her. He was about to tell her that it had been a shock to learn that he was Hylian and not Kokiri but was quick to catch himself. It wouldn't do the situation any good to bombard the princess with information that she was struggling to recall. He decided to try a different approach.
"Are we still in Hyrule? And you're Princess Zelda?" If he could establish the facts first, then they could work from there and figure it out together.
Death Mountain? That was an awfully grim place for a child so young. Clearly, he was no ordinary boy.
"I do! A common variety, but certainly the kind that could assist you on such a perilous journey," he nodded, and moved to a nearby shelf. The potions were at the very top, far higher than the boy's height -- and Sylvain had no desire to see him start to climb it. So he plucked the crate of potions off the shelf and took them down, holding them out.
"The red ones help you regain your vitality -- that is, they heal minor wounds, aches, and burns. The green ones revitalize your ability to cast spells. And the blue...well, that does both. But the blue ones are quite expensive because of that."
"I can't do spells." So, the blue and the green weren't needed. Link wondered if he'd be able to learn magic, but that seemed like it would be hard. Who would he even learn it from? He looked at the red one. If it healed injuries, then that would be the best one, especially if he were to climb a mountain.
"Does it cost a lot?"
He had thirty-three rupees the last time he counted. At first, Link thought that was a lot, but everything in this town was expensive, and Navi said he had to budget, which meant that he had to save up for important things and not waste it on stuff he didn't need.
With the last notes of the Requiem of Spirit fading around him, Link opened his eyes to find that the song Sheik had taught him had indeed taken him back to the Desert Colossus, like he'd promised. He was back in his younger body, which was something he wasn't used to after spending so much time as an adult, but he'd adapt once he got accustomed to using his old equipment again.
He needed to find the Gerudo woman named Nabooru, who he'd been told knew all there was to know about the Spirit Temple. The Gerudo from the future told him that she'd be found in the Desert Colossus, but that was in that time. What if she wasn't here in the past? It was a risk he would have to take, since he'd met a barrier when trying to explore as an adult.
With Navi also keeping an eye out, Link retraced his steps back towards the temple. The surrounding area was still packed with monsters as it had been in the future, but he fought his way past them using his old Kokiri sword. In a way, it felt nice to use it again even if he would miss the power the Master Sword held. Upon reaching the massive stone structure, he nearly stumbled on the stairs, his shorter legs unable to take two at a time like before.
"Someone's here," Navi alerted just as he headed past the archway that would take him to the entrance. He followed her bobbing light as she directed his gaze towards a figure close by, her striking red hair instantly catching his attention. He hurried forward despite it probably being wiser to take a slower approach around the Gerudo as an outsider; he just couldn't help his eagerness and wondered if part of that was because of his current child form.
"Excuse me?" Hearing his younger voice echo in the space nearly made him flinch. This time traveling was starting to mess with his head. "Are you Nabooru?"
Tagged by: @vierandancer - just us swapping tags over here
Tagging: anyone! tbh i don't have enough followers rn
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✔ — Link is a little baby man. little baby. little little baby man. little baby.... baby man
✔ — Link is oblivious to any and all romantic interest someone may show them
✔ — Link scarfs down food
✘ — Link watches their parents sleep
✘ — Link will remind others in the midst of peace how evil they're being
✘ — Link forgets to eat sometimes
"I--" He was being truthful. This wee lad had shown up with a fairy speaking of the Kokiri and pouring skulltula tokens out of a bag like they were spare Rupees!
All right, Mei. This really isnae any of yer business-- She would treat it just like she did the patrons who came in and out of her bar, rambling about their sob stories. Just because he was a child didn't make any difference!
...
"Uh. Not in Castle Town, no," she cleared her throat, carrying on. "But I've heard -- Kakariko Village, way up near Death Mountain--" What was she doing, telling a wee boy about Death Mountain!? -- "Supposedly there's someone there who trades in 'em."
Frowning, she leaned more heavily on the counter.
"Link --" Damm it, the moment she uttered his name she knew it was going to be impossible not to care. Like naming a cucco before sending it to slaughter. "-- They dinnae just let anyone intae the castle. Especially not tae see anyone o'the Royal Family."
Death Mountain. That was what the big mountain was called? He'd seen it on the way here—it was pretty hard to miss it—but Navi had said they didn't need to go that way. Maybe after he spoke to the princess, he'd go to Kakariko Village and trade his skulltula tokens.
He broke out of his thoughts when Mei said his name in a way that sounded serious. His eyes, still so full of wonder, raised to hers as he quietly listened, catching on to the tone shift.
"I know. I already saw the guards outside, and when I tried to tell one of them I had to get in, he laughed at me." Which he thought was mean for no reason. He'd caught on to the fact that the royal family was a really important family and that they were protected for some reason. The way the townsfolk talked about them made it seem as if they weren't easy to meet.
"I really have something important for the princess, though. I know I sound like a dumb kid who's playing around, but I'm not. It's serious." He'd been debating whether or not to let Mei in on the reason he needed an audience with Princess Zelda. It would be okay, wouldn't it? Mei wasn't the bad sort, and she wouldn't try and take the Kokiri Emerald if he showed her it.
"I have to give her this." He reached into the pack he'd been traveling with and pulled out the emerald. It glowed with a mystical power, even without light shining on it. "It's hard to explain, and I don't know everything yet, but this emerald is important in stopping the Evil King who wants to take over Hyrule..." Link trailed off, realizing that saying all of this probably wouldn't matter. That she probably wouldn't believe him all because he was a kid and kids said silly things and liked to play make-believe.
"...Never mind. I know it sounds like I'm making things up." He went to tuck the emerald away again, feeling a bit regretful that he'd perhaps revealed it to someone when he shouldn't have.
The fresh air of Hyrule Castle's courtyard certainly helped to quell some of Princess Zelda's intruding thoughts, but, she couldn't quite shake off her most recent dreams. These visions had become more bothersome as the days passed, granting her sleepless nights and moments in the day where she felt like she couldn't concentrate at all. At the same time, Hyrule needed its leader more than ever due to the growing threat of the spreading twilight, a darkness that was beginning to plague the light.
In her brief moments of quiet, she would think of her parents and what they would do. Her memories of them were bleak, and if she was lucky enough, she could dream of her childhood again and feel reassured by their warmth and company. While they had taught her how to live and love, they hadn't been around long enough to teach her how to rule, or so she thought.
Perhaps this had been a test from them all along. She would stare up at the sky and wonder if they were watching, hoping for some sort of sign to know she was doing the right thing.
The sudden exclamation was the closest thing she could regard as a sign. Alarmed, Zelda turned in the direction of the noise, auburn tresses flowing with her long white skirt, not quite recognizing it as any of the castle staff or her royal cabinet who requested her presence. While the man before her had recognized her right away, she was left dumbfounded for a few moments, head tilted in curiosity as she tried to make sense of a familiar warmth in her chest.
When she woke up from some of her visions, she felt cathartic, seeing sights and colors that felt like they were of importance to her, but not having the answers in front of her quite yet. Despite not having solutions, she would know deep down the difference between good and evil, what signs were meant to guide her and others that were there to haunt her.
"I-I'm sorry, who are you?" Her first instinct was to question, a wonder in her eyes that wasn't often there, mostly because of how much time she spent working. Had it been anyone else, she would've also asked how they'd ended up in the castle, and also have them escorted out immediately. But, her look was one of trust, willing to listen to her visitor to learn more about him.
The sudden surprise that caused him to call out had gotten the best of him, but this was just one of those situations where he couldn't help himself. It was Zelda. She was really here in front of him! However, it was the way her lovely face shifted into an expression that paired curiosity with bewilderment that caused his next words to die in his throat, forcing him to rein in the wave of excitement that now flowed through his veins.
"It's me, Link." His voice held that same quiet admiration that was purely reserved for Zelda, like he couldn't quite believe he got to know her. It wasn't because she was the princess, either. It was more than that. Her title, while obviously important, didn't mean as much to him as the woman who carried it with such grace and maturity despite the constant pressure.
He whipped his hat off to hold it between his gauntlets but wasn't really sure why he'd done so. Maybe it was to give his restless fingers something to do. "It's been a while, but you still recognize me, don't you?" It hadn't even occurred to Link that the Zelda from seven years in the future wouldn't recognize him. Not when he wore this green tunic and hat he was known for. Added to that, Link liked to think he'd made an impression on her. Even before he'd taken on the quest to find the Spiritual Stones, even before he'd discovered she was the princess, they'd spent an entire day playing in Castle Town.
"You're safe..." It was like that realization hit him squarely in the chest, enough to draw a sigh of relief from the young man. Zelda was safe, and just knowing that would give him a boost in strength and motivation to continue on and see this life-changing quest to its end. The hat was jammed back on his head again, and he grinned.
"Have I changed a lot? I guess seven years is a pretty long time." He couldn't blame her for the momentary confusion, especially when their reunion happened in a way that neither of them probably predicted. His grinning mouth softened and changed his face into a look that could only ever be directed towards Zelda.
-- Hm! What was that little voice form under there? Sylvain's expression melted from something tentative to his usual pleasant expression.
"Do you, now? Well. This is an Emporium, young sir," He was not going to address him as anything else, unless names were exchanged. "An Emporium is, ah... a complicated word for a store that sells a little of everything.
"Is there something in particular you might need?" He tilted his head, eyes honing in on the hat. "Or perhaps something for your little friend there?"
"You heard Navi?" It wasn't like he and Navi tried to keep her existence hidden, but sometimes people got too nosy about her, and it made things uncomfortable. He lifted his hat to let her peek out, even though it was hard to see her tiny figure due to the constant glow around her.
"I dunno. Do you have anything that fairies need?"
"I don't need anything," Navi said, but she still floated closer, right over the counter to scan the items. "But it's worth looking at what's on sale for when we go to Death Mountain."
Link stepped closer to the counter, rising up on tiptoes to see over. "Oh yeah, I was going to look for... potions." Yeah, that was the word. Potions. For the bottle he had. He looked at the shopkeeper. "I found a bottle, and Navi said I can use it for potions to keep me going when I go further away from towns. Do you sell potions here, Mister?"
"Good afternoon, young sir," he greeted the boy politely, albeit with hesitance. Already he was coming out from around the counter, ready to body block the curious thing from any unsafe goods available on the shelves. He was already sweating, but he couldn't show that!
Children can sense weakness and immediately exploit it.
"I'm not a sir, sir," Link spoke, genuinely perplexed as to why a kid would be called that. From her position under his hat, Navi explained that sometimes adults called children that as a sign of politeness and respect.
Oh. That made more sense.
Expression quickly shifting into a grin, he looked up at the shelves just past the counter. It was hard to see given his height, but he was able to look at the higher ones. "What do you sell here, mister? I've got some rupees." He really did this time!
Grass tickled his nose as he slowly came to, his chin throbbing from where he'd smacked it on the ground. He raised his head to figure out what had happened and why the process of going forward in time, which he'd done countless times before, had felt different this time.
Link pushed himself up and fully took in his surroundings. This isn't the Temple of Time. It looked like a courtyard... but not one that he was familiar with. At least, it wasn't how it should look. The courtyard in his future timeline didn't even exist after Ganondorf completely destroyed it. But there was a castle, and the only castle that it could be was Hyrule Castle. Yet, it shouldn't look like that. It was intact and normal, not the monstrosity that it had become...
This isn't where I'm meant to be.
Link wasn't sure where he was or what had gone wrong to send him off course, but it was clear that there'd been a mistake along the line. Maybe he'd played one of the ocarina notes slightly off and was now in some parallel timeline? Or another world entirely?
"Navi, where are we?"
But he was met with silence and his head shot up, searching for his fairy companion who was nowhere to be found. A sudden panic gripped his heart in its icy clutch, but he fought it back because losing his cool wouldn't get him anywhere. She was probably still back at the Temple of Time and wondering where he'd gone.
All right, time to find out exactly what was going on and how he could get back. However, just as Link turned to find the courtyard's exit, he came face-to-face with a tall and regal figure who stood a short distance away. Immediately, his heart skipped a beat and his jaw dropped, eyes widening.
A tilt of the head, confusion settling in on the young boy's features. Lying? He wasn't a liar! Did it sound too unbelievable to be the truth?
"No, I'm not lying, and I'm not a bad kid." Well, he used to get into trouble sometimes (a lot), but that was only because Mido started it and he was just sticking up for himself. But this was different. He hadn't been around adults a lot, but Link knew not to lie to them.
"Skulltulas like dark and creepy places, so kids won't really come across them unless they wander off and get lost somewhere." Link unclipped a pouch from his waist and tipped out its contents. Four tokens shaped like Skulltula fell into his palm, small but impressive with the way they emitted a faint golden glow. "But do you know what I can do with these? They were left behind after I killed some skulltulas that had golden backs." The tokens were shaped like the skulltula and emitted a faint glow. "They seemed important, so I just took them."
A fairy! Well, that made more sense. Meiko had heard of fairies in Hyrule, but she had never seen one. Now she knew.
"Aye, comin' right up," she moved to pour a pitcher of cool water into a small glass, and set that down on the counter. Once she had, she looked over the pair of them again.
"So. Yer no from Hyrule. Ye were sent here by a great tree with yer wee fairy friend tae speak with th'Princess," she recounted. "Because ye have somethin' for her?"
It was pretty elaborate for a child's made-up story. But maybe she just didn't have much of an imagination at his age.
"Yeah, that's right." At least she was following along pretty well. Link took another drink of his milk while Navi had her water. It was okay for them to take a break like this, right? They would need to regain energy if they were going to make it into the castle tomorrow.
"I come from the forest... the Kokiri Forest." He tested the name out to see if Mei would recognize it. If not, then that would probably answer his question about whether or not people on the outside knew of its existence.
"The Kokiri aren't supposed to be able to leave. We were always told we'll die if we do, but I think I'm okay because I was sent out for a special reason." The Great Deku Tree must have used the last of his magic to cast a protective barrier around him. He paused despite wanting to ask questions of his own; Navi said that he sometimes got carried away and didn't give people time to respond.
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