Here's a preview of my Linked Universe fic: When Darkness Comes.
Link sighed in relief as the Lynel finally went up in a cloud of purple smoke. Although he didn’t have much need for the supplies anymore now that his second adventure was over he still liked to collect whatever loot he could. Sidon called it hoarding, but Link thought of it more as being prepared. Crazy shit went down in Hyrule all the time so it was never a bad idea to be prepared for anything. Besides he might as well reap the rewards since he did kill the Lynel after all. Sure it was easy with how many times he had done it now, but it’s the effort that counts. He always liked to get rid of the monsters around Zora’s domain as soon as he could after the blood moons since he lived in the area now. It was always good to be cautious since the Zora military wasn’t exactly their strong suit.
As he picked up the stuff dropped by the Lynel and stored it away in his Purah pad he heard some splashing from the direction of the waterfall leading up to Tal Tal peak. Link whipped around ready to defend himself against whoever or whatever he could hear coming this way, but immediately relaxed when he saw it was just Sidon, King of the Zora.
“Hello my Pearl,” he greeted Link with an easy warm smile as he bent down to place a kiss on Link’s head
“Hello love. What brings you up here?” Link asked curiously as normally Sidon left him to his own devices when fighting the Lynel.
“I saw a fire and I wanted to check that you were alright,” Sidon replied a bit worriedly as he inspected Link for any injuries.
Link chuckled lightly as Sidon finished his inspection of his Hylian husband. “I’m just fine. I’m tougher than I look, love.”
“I know I just wanted to make sure because the fire was bigger than it normally is,” Sidon said as he picked Link up from the ground.
“I was just taking advantage of the updraft today. I promise I’m alright though really,” Link insisted.
Sidon gave him a bit of a suspicious look since Link was known to hide injuries, but eventually he conceded. “Alright shall we get off this mountain then?”
“You are such a worrier I could’ve gotten down myself,” Link scoffed playfully. He knew Sidon didn’t mean anything by it, but he was self-sufficient, he did go on two adventures essentially on his own.
“Yes, but after you almost hit those rocks at the bottom last time…I just worry,” Sidon said innocently.
Link sighed fondly. “Alright off we go then.”
Sidon smiled at this as he walked them both to the far end of the summit before wrapping Link up in his arms and diving off into the water below. There was barely even a splash as Sidon’s sleek body entered the water in one smooth movement. Zoras really were beautiful in the water and as Sidon swam across the East Reservoir with Link still held protectively in his arms he couldn’t help, but admire how beautiful his husband was.
Swimming over to the waterfall closest to where the throne room lies Sidon zipped up the rushing water and jumped up onto the smooth surface of the luminous stone path. Once safe upon solid ground Sidon set Link down gently on his feet taking great care to make sure he didn’t slip on the puddle of water Sidon had brought with them.
“Thank you for the ride love,” Link told Sidon as he took the red Zora’s hand and kissed the back of it.
“Of course my Pearl. I’m always happy to do it,” Sidon replied with a grin. “I’ll take any chance I can get to hold you.”
Link giggled at that and they began walking toward Sidon’s study. As they came to the split in the road that would mean their parting so that Link could go to the armory for another sword Sidon stopped him abruptly. Looking up at Sidon’s face he tilted his head and the timid smile there. “What?”
“Do you know what today is?” Sidon asked him coyly.
Of course Link remembered, how could he forget it was their first one after all, but why not have a bit of fun. “Hmmmm, is it your birthday?” Sidon shook his head. “Is it my birthday?” Another head shake. “That’s good then because you would think I would remember my own at least. Let me see…Is it pancake day?”
Sidon huffed in annoyance. “No, why would I be reminding you of pancake day? You really don’t remember what today is?” He looked a bit wounded and Link decided it was time to stop playing clueless.
Link chuckled good naturedly. “Of course I know what today is. It’s our first wedding anniversary. How could I forget? I was just teasing.”
“You are a mean husband,” Sidon pouted, sticking out his bottom lip for added effect and Link just laughed.
“I’m just the worst aren’t I?”
“The absolute worst,” Sidon agreed even as he bent down to place a lingering kiss on Link’s lips. “I have a surprise for later tonight though. Once you’re done ridding the domain of monsters and I finish up all my royal paperwork we’ll have the night to ourselves.”
“I get you all to myself for the whole evening?” Link said salaciously. “Sounds like a dream come true.”
“Better hurry with those monsters then,” his husband said with a wink. “Meet me in our private dining room at 7pm tonight.” And with that Sidon planted a final kiss on his Pearl’s lips and turned to head for his study.
Link watched him go until he was out of sight then with a dreamy sigh he turned to finish his task of getting a new sword. His habit of breaking weapons really was inconvenient at times.
As much as Link loved Zelda he was happy to no longer be her appointed knight. After training this last round of troops she had relieved him of his duty and not so subtly told him he was free to be with Sidon. It was hardly a secret that Link had had feelings for the Zora Prince, now King since they worked together to tame Vah Ruta. Unfortunately both of them were nervous wrecks and terrible at expressing their feelings. Both were familiar with the sting of rejection and neither of them had wanted to risk it for fear of losing a best friend. Not to mention Sidon ended up in an arranged engagement to Yona while Link was recovering on the Great Sky island under the watchful eye of Rauru.
Sidon had been ecstatic when Link had returned alive and more or less intact, but he then felt trapped by his engagement. He had longed for so long to tell Link how he felt only to have the chance taken when his father engaged him to Yona the second Link was gone. His father hadn’t had bad intentions, but Sidon was a loyal son and more importantly a loyal King. The engagement was only called off because Yona confessed she didn’t want to marry Sidon. Turns out they were both gay and it took them far too long to realize it.
Yona was with Gaddison now, but she often stepped in to help Link and Sidon with any Royal duties that might require a female touch. She was appointed ruler in the case that both Link and Sidon might not be able to perform their duties. She was one of their most trusted allies.
Link thought back over everything that had brought them to this present. They had so many obstacles to overcome, but it had all been worth it to finally have this happy ending. It was really more of a beginning though. They had their whole lives to look forward to many more anniversaries to celebrate. Hopefully kids to raise together, but right now he needed to get his head out of the clouds. He could reminisce with his love later.
Right now he needed to focus on the task ahead. Grabbing one of his favorite Zora swords, simple yet sturdy, a good shield and as many arrows as he could carry he set out for the nearest monster camp. He had quite a bit of work to do so he best pace himself.
Malon yawned once more as she walked toward the cuccoo coop. She had woken up a bit late, but of course she was still as tired as she was when she went to bed. It seemed pregnancy was both a blessing and a curse. Some days she felt on top of the world, positively glowing. Other days she felt like actual horse shit. It seemed today was going to be more of the latter unfortunately.
All thoughts of her exhaustion fled her though when the amusing sight of her Link stumbling out of the cuccoo coop covered in small scratches caught her attention. She couldn’t hold back the small chuckle that bubbled up through her throat at the sight of it. The new cuccoos had finally hatched and it seemed the mama birds were still quite territorial over them especially with Link.
“Oh dear, I thought I told you to let me handle the cuccoos for now,” Malon said as she approached her husband. She loved him very much, but sometimes he could be a little stupid especially regarding self preservation.
Link looked a bit embarrassed, but what he said next melted Malon’s heart. “I didn’t want to wake you. You’ve been tired lately so I thought you might benefit from some extra rest. Also I know you didn’t sleep well last night because of the nausea.”
He really was so thoughtful. It was one of the things she loved most about him. “You are so thoughtful Link,” she replied as she stepped forward to give him a kiss. “Thank you. Next time though I think you should leave the cuccoos until I wake up. I don’t want to come out here only to find you’ve been killed by flightless birds. I’m pregnant, not disabled Link,” Malon pointed out good naturedly. “Besides if we work together the quicker the chores will be done which means you can dote on me sooner dear husband.”
Link smiled ruefully at her. She was only around 3 months or so at this point so the news was quite recent. Malon had been experiencing a bit of morning sickness, but it was quite mild compared to what most of her friends had experienced. Unfortunately her assurances that she was in fact fine and so was the baby did little to quell Link’s anxiety. He was always more cautious when it came to her health than his own which was something they needed to discuss, but not now.
“I really do appreciate your concern dear and I love you for it, but it’s not necessary,” Malon insisted as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “At the moment I’m doing fine and so is our baby.”
Link sighed and nodded. “I know I’m just a little anxious about it all. I think it might be the first time dad jitters.”
“That’s understandable. I won’t lie, I put on a good face, but I’m a little bit terrified,” she admitted and Link gave her a relieved smile. “You’ll be a wonderful father though. I think everyone in the Chain would agree with me on that.”
They both smiled at each other as Link planted a kiss on her lips. It had been over two years since the Chain had gone back to their own eras. Since all of their adventures were over they knew that they were probably all relatively safe in their own time as the threat of Ganondorf and other demons no longer hung over their heads, but that didn’t make them miss the boys any less. Especially Twilight who in the time they had known him had stolen his way into a special place in both Link and Malon’s hearts.
Malon also had a soft place in hers for Wild. He was boisterous and lively even despite his troubled past. Wild held so much guilt over having failed, but all Malon saw was a young man who gave up the peace he would find in death to fight for his world and his friend. They had bonded over cooking and their appreciation for the attractiveness of both men and women. She really hoped that it had worked out with that Prince Sidon of his.
They loved all of the others so dearly and the hardest thing they ever had to do was say goodbye. Malon was just glad that it got to be in their era so that she had a chance to say one last goodbye before they each stepped through their own portals to be transported back to their time.
She was broken from her reminiscing by Link’s next comment. “If only we had Sky here. He’s great with the cuccoos and it certainly would save me a few injuries.”
Malon chuckled and opened her mouth to agree, but a loud crash from the barn had them both whipping around then looking at each other before they carefully began to approach. As they slowly and cautiously walked toward the barn Link picked up one of the many swords he kept around the ranch for such an occasion. He held it defensively in front of him with practiced precision that could never atrophy as he put a hand protectively in front of his wife.
As they got closer though they could hear familiar voices. “Ow you’re on my fucking foot Twi!” Came a voice that sounded a lot like Legend’s
“Well it’s not my fault you were sucked in before me!” A voice that sounded like Twilight complained. “Take it up with the portal!”
“Wind you’re pulling on my hair!” That was definitely Hyrule.
“Everyone stop your whining I’m getting a headache,” That was for sure Warriors. Always the voice of reason if her Link wasn’t there.
The couple stood frozen in shock before they took off running through the barn door and sure enough laying in a pile of hay were seven other Links if she was counting correctly. Silently she checked each of them off: Legend, Hyrule, Twilight, Warriors, Wind, Four, and Sky.
“Holy shit,” her husband breathed, but it must have been loud enough even over the commotion of seven grumpy Links who had obviously been launched through a portal on the ceiling to whip around and look at them.
“Time!” Twilight was the first to process who was standing there looking at them in disbelief and he surged forward to wrap his mentor in a big hug.
“Twilight?” Time said still a bit in shock as he returned the hug. “How are you all here?”
“Portal,” Twilight said and Time huffed.
“Yes I assumed that, but why?” Time asked a bit impatiently.
“No clue, but I can’t say I’m not glad for something to break up the monotony,” Twilight replied as he stepped forward and offered Malon a hug as well. She excitedly stepped forward into his arms and hugged him tightly.
Malon sighed happily as he squeezed her tightly. “It’s so good to see you again!”
The others had finally picked themselves up from their involuntary cuddle pile and hugs were distributed as they happily greeted the couple whose barn they found themselves in.
As Wind approached to give her an enthusiastic hug she noticed right away how much older he looked. “Oh my goodness, do I know you young man?” She asked jokingly. He grinned from ear to ear as he was pulled into a firm hug. “By the goddess you must be, what 18 now?”
“17,” Wind said proudly as he pulled away.
“And taller too. Looks like you turned into quite the strapping young man,” Malon commented and Wind beamed at her.
“Thank you miss Malon!” Wind replied happily.
After she had gotten a hug from each member of the Chain she looked around to find the missing Link. “Where’s Wild?”
The Chain all looked at each other and shrugged. “We haven’t gotten him yet. We’re not sure what’s going on,” Twilight said and she could tell he was a bit anxious that the cook hadn’t joined them yet.
“I’m sure he’ll be joining us next,” Time assured him. “This is perfect timing actually though. I was just saying I could use some help with the cuccoos.”
She huffed at her husband, but Sky’s face absolutely lit up. “I assume the coop is still in the same place?”
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