obscure Linked Universe fic recs
I’ve been wanting to make a post like this for a while, giving some spotlight to some authors and fics that you don’t usually see on rec lists :D I’m going to be focusing on one author (bc i’m a big simp lol) but please add on any obscure fics or authors you love! (please, please refrain from adding new or popular fics: I like popular fics too, but this is a space to give lesser-known authors some love!)
@lightning-of-farosh, also found on AO3 by the same name, is one of my very favorite authors in the Legend of Zelda fandom.
You may also know them as Grim-Revolution on discord! Grim mainly writes fics for LOZ games from the downfall timeline and the amount she knows about the first two games constantly blows me away. Her works are full of stunning imagery and lively dialogue, and the kind of flowing, poetic prose that takes nothing away from the clarity and lends everything to the soul of her work. However my favorite part of her writing has to be the characterization: the characters’ inner dialogue, quiet intelligence, flowing interactions and tangible feelings… when they hurt, laugh, or love, you really feel it. She absolutely shines in the Hurt/Comfort genre, and I can’t recommend her work enough.
fair is foul (and foul is fair): her most recently completed fic, this is an AU of the Linked Universe AU where the Links meet Legend for the first time… only he’s a little different. Legend has been studying under Syrup the witch since his last adventure, and he’s hung up his sword and shield for good when the others find him–or so he thinks. This is a reflective, joyous little piece full of lovely imagery and bonding between the boys: Sky, Warriors, Wind, and Hyrule all play an active role, so fans of those boys will love this! The last chapter is an author’s note that gets into Grim’s writing process, her thoughts on the story and its meta, and shows pictures from her fic-planning journal
Tiny Adventures: basically, bunny Legend, but before there was ever even a hint of it happening in the LU comic! this was the first fic of Grim’s that I read, live-written on the LU server a whole year ago (wow, time flies!) and I still come back to reread this for some comfort. A wizzrobe bunnifies Legend, and Hyrule ropes Four into helping him turn him back into a hylian before the others notice! Shenanigans ensue, Hyrule turns into a fairy, Four turns into a minish, and the three go on aptly named tiny adventures together :D Hyrule is a badass, Legend is a softie, Four is just dragged along for the ride (RIP his stew 😭), there is bonding, action, and so, so many cuddles. so many cuddles. Check out the sequel too for more fun!
The Boy of Mud and Stitches: I read Tiny Adventures first, but this was the fic that sold me on Hyrule and Legend as characters, and why their dynamic was so rewarding to read! Hyrule and Legend are not lost when they are ambushed by monsters in a forest, and Hyrule saves the day like a badass (this is a running theme in Grim’s fics even when she’s whumping on him, and it’s so good) when Legend is caught in a trap. Their interactions throughout this fic are charming, hilarious, and touching, and if you like reading fics about these two bonding, or want to know why people do, this is the fic for you
Pomegranate Stains: this fic is similar to the above, but heavier on the hurt of the hurt/comfort, for all you whump lovers out there (I see you!). The LU group is taken to the darkworld, and Legend is caught without his Moon Pearl …only he doesn’t turn into a bright pink bunny this time, but a huge, unwieldy, and mournful dragon. This fic is gorgeously written, full of clever symbolism, and I don’t often cry when I read, but this fic got me. I love the casual way Hyrule tosses around awesome magic, the dark, creeping dread tempered only by determined hope, and I adore the catharsis of the open ending. This fic hurts in the absolute best way.
all the flowers in my house (are made of plastic): *banging pots and pans together* I heard y’all liked LGBT headcanons??? Yeah?? Me too! It’s Warriors and Hyrule’s time to shine when their asexuality and cleverness is what saves everyone from a sorceress who uses seduction to control people. As an ace person myself, it is so cool seeing this framed as a kind of superpower rather than something the characters angst about! (If you’re icked out by sexual content, no worries! Mind the tags, but the fic doesn’t contain anything you wouldn’t see in a T rated cartoon with a similar premise)
and she’s got so, so many more, featuring Ravio, Four, Time, and others, and including utterly soul-wrenching character studies, delightful little bonding scenes, and lots of the kind of itty little drabbles that suck you into an entire world despite their brevity, can be found on her tumblr, linked above! She is frequently around to answer questions and chat with people, although she doesn’t post often. Though…. keep an eye out for when she opens drabble requests! ;3c
