Announcements and hub for gift exchanges focused on the Legend of Zelda Extended fandom: including general LoZ, game-specific, Linksmeets AUs, and Linked Universe. We run our own exchanges and promote others!
This blog will post announcements and updates for our hosted exchanges, reblog gifts given in our exchanges, and promote exchanges not hosted here. Asks open for exchange questions or ideas, messages and mentions open for other exchange promotions.
Each hosted exchange will be listed and linked on this pinned post. Rules and FAQ for specific exchanged will generally be written on AO3 itself.
"Legend of Zelda Extended Community" is meant to encompass game- or manga-specific fandoms like BotW or Four Swords, spinoff fandoms like Linked Universe, and other Zelda-related stories such as Original Legends.
Parent collection on AO3
Current hosted exchanges:
none at the moment
Future hosted exchanges: (not a definitive list)
Non-Linked Universe Linksmeet AU exchange: coming early-mid 2026
Whump-focused LoZ exchange
Possible future hosted exchanges:
Continuing flash exchanges (short deadlines, small minimums)
Summertime LU exchange
Summertime Four Swords exchange
Helpful posts:
Past exchanges
General FAQ
Rules of thumb for exchanges hosted here: (these are correct for all hosted exchanges unless otherwise specified in the exchange's rules)
Everyone is invited to join, the only restriction is that you have an AO3 account and can access the website. Use the guides and FAQs here if you do not know how to participate in an exchange.
Any kind of plagiarism, including use of gnerative AI, is strictly prohibited.
Art and writing are both welcome.
Some exchanges will have restrictions on ratings and warnings for simplicity or theme, but most will be as open as possible on that front.
Not commenting on a gift given to you (provided it does not violate DNWs) will result in your being barred from future hosted exchanges.
Gifts are now revealed on the AO3 collection! Be sure to go support our creators by checking out the works gifted, and some of the source material that inspired this exchange after that. Remember that works are anonymous through May 10th!
A big shout out again to @loz-extended-gifting for collaborating on this project with us here are Expanding Hyrule. It was a learning experience for our team and a blast to participate in.
Gifts are now revealed on the AO3 collection! Be sure to go support our creators by checking out the works gifted, and some of the source material that inspired this exchange after that. Remember that works are anonymous through May 10th!
A big shout out again to @loz-extended-gifting for collaborating on this project with us here are Expanding Hyrule. It was a learning experience for our team and a blast to participate in.
This exchange is for authors, artists, and creators with Original Legends—Links, Zeldas, Ganondorfs, and Beedles that have adventures outside the purview of the usual games, mangas, and other media. You will sign up to create one piece of art, writing, or other media for someone else's Original Legend, and someone will be assigned to you!
You can find more information on AO3 here.
Other pertinent information includes:
You may choose to write a working summary of your Original Legend to help your creator understand your story and characters.
You may choose to create a sort of NPC character in the world of your recipient's Original Legend to help you create something.
The minimums are 2,000 words, a polished art piece, or something of a similar caliber.
You must have an AO3 account to participate, but invitations are available if you need one.
Sign-ups are open until March 15th, and assignments are due April 26th, with works and creators revealed after that.
Matching complete! You should be getting an email soon with your assignment! Please keep the rules in mind, reach out with any questions, and aim to post your gift before April 26th! :)
This exchange is for authors, artists, and creators with Original Legends—Links, Zeldas, Ganondorfs, and Beedles that have adventures outside the purview of the usual games, mangas, and other media. You will sign up to create one piece of art, writing, or other media for someone else's Original Legend, and someone will be assigned to you!
You can find more information and the open sign-ups on AO3 here.
Other pertinent information includes:
You may choose to write a working summary of your Original Legend to help your creator understand your story and characters.
You may choose to create a sort of NPC character in the world of your recipient's Original Legend to help you create something.
The minimums are 2,000 words, a polished art piece, or something of a similar caliber.
You must have an AO3 account to participate, but invitations are available if you need one.
Sign-ups are open until March 15th, and assignments are due April 26th, with works and creators revealed after that.
We have also made a small change to the rules—if you do not have an Original Legend of your own but would like to participate in the exchange (beyond just "treating" participants), you can request an OL you did not create, as long as you have the creator's permission!
We're collaborating with @loz-extended-gifting for an Original Legends Gift Exchange!
Gifters and giftees will be paired at random, which means the participants may be assigned an OL they're not familiar with yet. It will be a great chance to discover a new work and to share yours, but we're aware that time is a thing that exists and reading a whole work is a big ask. After all, some of our members have epics under their belts!
So! We're challenging all of you to give us a summary of your Original Legend. Help us and our challenge participants #EH Sparknotes It so we can get a quick look at your work. How short or how long is entirely up to you, as well as whether it contains any spoilers or not. And while you're at it, check out the details for the gift exchange and sign up to support the community.
If you would like some help and pointers, click the read more for some suggestions and an example summary.
One way to incorporate the essential elements of your story is to think of your summary in four parts: the setting, the main character(s), the plot and the tone/genre.
The setting describes your Hyrule, or wherever else your story takes place. This can be very short, especially if your setting is very similar to a familiar one like one of the games, or it could be a bit longer if you feel that a bit more information is needed. This is also where you can introduce other world building elements such as new species.
Next, for your main character(s). Since we're aiming to help someone create fanwork, a visual description could be very useful along with their main personality traits or anything else you feel is relevant: their heritage, their family, their background, etc.
Next, the plot. This isn't meant to be a full description of the full plot with all spoilers! Rather, you could think in terms of what your main character(s) need or want to do and what's going to be in their way or cause complications.
Finally, the tone or genre. Is your story a romance, an adventure? Is it light and fluffy, or dark and angsty?
Following those four parts, here's a potential summary for Breath of the Wild.
One hundred years ago, the Kingdom of Hyrule was devastated by Calamity Ganon. Not all was lost: ruins dominate much of the kingdoms but settlements and stables acting as way stations for travelers can still be found. Dotting the landscape amidst the ruins are remnants of old Sheikah technology: mysterious shrines and structures, as well as some surviving units of dangerous mobile weapons that had been meant to defeat Ganon but had been corrupted into his service and laid waste upon Hyrule.
Link knows nothing of all that when he's waken by a strange voice and finds himself in the shrine of resurrection, with no memory of who he is at all. He's a short and lithe young man with long messy blond hair tied into a half ponytail at the base of his neck, brilliant blue eyes and a face that hasn't quite left childhood behind yet. And he wakes up with nothing to his name: no memory, no weapon, no clothing save for some dark underwear.
The voice that woke him up soon asks him to save Hyrule, and the request, the voice itself, is an anchor and a purpose all at once. The courage that has always been his main trait reasserts itself quickly and he sets off, following the voice's guidance and that of a mysterious old man. This is the start of a long journey full of trials, some engineered to train him and some intent on killing him, that will take him all around the vast Kingdom as he gradually rediscovers his own past as well as that of the Kingdom, and where his deeds will demonstrate that he is indeed the light of Hyrule.
A long form adventure with some scary moments and canon typical violence.
This exchange is for authors, artists, and creators with Original Legends—Links, Zeldas, Ganondorfs, and Beedles that have adventures outside the purview of the usual games, mangas, and other media. You will sign up to create one piece of art, writing, or other media for someone else's Original Legend, and someone will be assigned to you!
You can find more information on AO3 here.
Other pertinent information includes:
You may choose to write a working summary of your Original Legend to help your creator understand your story and characters.
You may choose to create a sort of NPC character in the world of your recipient's Original Legend to help you create something.
The minimums are 2,000 words, a polished art piece, or something of a similar caliber.
You must have an AO3 account to participate, but invitations are available if you need one.
Sign-ups are open until March 15th, and assignments are due April 26th, with works and creators revealed after that.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Summary:
The ship of the Epona was dark with pale sails, the style old to Four's eyes but in a strange way: not old as in aged, but old as in it belonged to the time period in which he was born, a Smith's son when Hyrule was a small kingdom, not now, five hundred years in the future when he was the adopted son of a Knight in a broad and prospering land. Besides the style looking out of place next to the ships beside it, the Epona was in excellent condition and well cared for...
Which only made sense, Four supposed, for the transport of a Great Fairy's human agent who'd called him to join their crew.
Rated T for some body horror, danger, and past death, but otherwise one of my more chill pieces really!
Written for @loz-extended-gifting, where I got the absolute delight of being matched with @zarvasace who I already write too much for LOL. It was fun to be set the assignment of "Design catnip." Have a fun teaser of an LU AU, I don't know if I'll do more or not with it but it was fun to design!
AO3 collection link with all details and rules here.
Status: closed, posted, and revealed!
The purpose of this exchange is to create a new AU for someone! This can be a short story, a slightly longer story, some character designs, or anything in between. (The minimum is art+500 words or 2000 words.)
Sign up opens December 21st
Sign up closes December 31st, matching soon after
Assignments due January 31st (one-month creation period)
Works revealed February 4th
Creators revealed February 11th
All you need to sign up is an AO3 account and a willingness to create!
AO3 collection link with all details and rules here.
Status: sign-ups closed. Assignments due Jan 31.
The purpose of this exchange is to create a new AU for someone! This can be a short story, a slightly longer story, some character designs, or anything in between. (The minimum is art+500 words or 2000 words.)
Sign up opens December 21st
Sign up closes December 31st, matching soon after
Assignments due January 31st (one-month creation period)
Works revealed February 4th
Creators revealed February 11th
All you need to sign up is an AO3 account and a willingness to create!
Gifts revealed but still on anonymous! This is an excellent time to comment, gift any treats for prompts that catch your eye, and generally revel in a job well done!
AO3 collection link with all details and rules here.
Status: sign-ups closed. Assignments due Jan 31.
The purpose of this exchange is to create a new AU for someone! This can be a short story, a slightly longer story, some character designs, or anything in between. (The minimum is art+500 words or 2000 words.)
Sign up opens December 21st
Sign up closes December 31st, matching soon after
Assignments due January 31st (one-month creation period)
Works revealed February 4th
Creators revealed February 11th
All you need to sign up is an AO3 account and a willingness to create!
Assignments due in approximately 6 hours, 12AM Jan 31st in MST! If you need an extension, up to three days beyond, please let me know so I know we don't have to assign a pinch hitter to fill your assignment. We all look forward to seeing what you've created!!
AO3 collection link with all details and rules here.
Status: sign-ups closed. Assignments due Jan 31.
The purpose of this exchange is to create a new AU for someone! This can be a short story, a slightly longer story, some character designs, or anything in between. (The minimum is art+500 words or 2000 words.)
Sign up opens December 21st
Sign up closes December 31st, matching soon after
Assignments due January 31st (one-month creation period)
Works revealed February 4th
Creators revealed February 11th
All you need to sign up is an AO3 account and a willingness to create!
Linked Universe New AU Gift Exchange: sign-ups open!
Here is a link directly to the sign-up form
Here is a link to the AO3 collection profile page, which has all the information about rules and answers to questions like "what is an AU?"
Here is a link to the Tumblr masterpost, which has dates but no information not present on the AO3 profile.
Sign-ups are open from now, Dec 21st 2025, to Dec 31 2025. Questions can be directed to the modmail on AO3 or this blog. :) The only requirements for this exchange are that you are willing to make something LU, make the deadline, and have an AO3 account!
Linked Universe New AU Gift Exchange: sign-ups open!
Here is a link directly to the sign-up form
Here is a link to the AO3 collection profile page, which has all the information about rules and answers to questions like "what is an AU?"
Here is a link to the Tumblr masterpost, which has dates but no information not present on the AO3 profile.
Sign-ups are open from now, Dec 21st 2025, to Dec 31 2025. Questions can be directed to the modmail on AO3 or this blog. :) The only requirements for this exchange are that you are willing to make something LU, make the deadline, and have an AO3 account!
Linked Universe New AU Gift Exchange: sign-ups open!
Here is a link directly to the sign-up form
Here is a link to the AO3 collection profile page, which has all the information about rules and answers to questions like "what is an AU?"
Here is a link to the Tumblr masterpost, which has dates but no information not present on the AO3 profile.
Sign-ups are open from now, Dec 21st 2025, to Dec 31 2025. Questions can be directed to the modmail on AO3 or this blog. :) The only requirements for this exchange are that you are willing to make something LU, make the deadline, and have an AO3 account!
AO3 collection link with all details and rules here.
Status: closed, posted, and revealed!
The purpose of this exchange is to create a new AU for someone! This can be a short story, a slightly longer story, some character designs, or anything in between. (The minimum is art+500 words or 2000 words.)
Sign up opens December 21st
Sign up closes December 31st, matching soon after
Assignments due January 31st (one-month creation period)
Works revealed February 4th
Creators revealed February 11th
All you need to sign up is an AO3 account and a willingness to create!
