seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from China
seen from China
seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from Germany
seen from Taiwan
seen from Germany
seen from Germany
seen from Russia
seen from Germany
seen from Germany
seen from Germany
seen from South Korea
seen from South Africa
seen from Brazil
seen from United States
seen from Brazil
Some people (Zelda) might assume dogboy Link would be one of dogs that hates taking baths, and gets all dramatic about it just like how he gets dramatic about the vet.
But no, for all that Link likes rolling around in the dirt and mud like any other dog, he also likes being clean. He's a long-haired doggo, bro. Gotta keep that silky golden fur maintained or it gonna cause him problems. More than that, bath time is me time. He's got himself a nice big tub for relaxing in, expensive soaps and doggy shampoo, some real nice brushes and combs, maybe even light some candles to set the mood, and he's got a nice collection of rubber duckies going on there too!
If anyone is problematic about bath time here, it's Zelda. For all that she liked to claim to be independent, she was a Princess and was thus raised a princess, ie: waited on hand and foot since birth. She knows jack-shit about taking care of herself and is prone to tunnel vision when she gets stuck into a project. Heck, she'd forget to eat if Link wasn't constantly feeding her, much less bathe!
The haircut wasn't a whim or intentional decision. It had to be done coz she didn't take care of it (as someone else had always done that for her) and it ended up all matted.
Also remember that dogs have a better sense of smell than humans. Imagine your beloved pupper running up to greet you after having been away, only to recoil in disgust coz you smell so bad. This has happened to Zelda.
It's just his canine instinct!
Bad boy gets his dogs out.
Still thinking about dogboy Link. But unlike the previous post where it's botw I'm thinking in context of Age of Calamity.
Soo, the Royal Guard dogs would have had a much stricter training regime than the standard knight and military, since they're gonna be around royalty and the like. Also botw Link apparently got the Master Sword when he was like 12 or 13? But Age of Calamity Link didn't get it until after they had gathered the champions? (I guess coz its an alternate timeline?) So this Link grew up without the added pressure of being a hero on top of everything else.
He's still a well trained military dog, but a little less formal and stiff. His trainers give him head pats and tummy rubs and treats for doing tricks and being a good boy, after all.
Anyways... I just have this one scene in my head...
Zelda likes dogs but doesn't get many chances to interact with them so she's awkward around them, especially dogboys like Link as the only ones she's likely been near are the stiff scary looking royal guard dogs. So like, maybe during or after the trip to the tech lab, say Link is called over to Zelda. He'll kneel as he's been taught and she tells him "Up" as in "stand up", except "Up" to Link means jump up on me for cuddles and kisses and "Aww, who's a good boy"! And he knows he's definitely not allowed to jump on the princess, but she said "up" so he's confused for a minute.
And it's really lucky the other guards are nearby watching and are like "oh no" coz they can see him hesitate and then slowly start wagging his floofy tail when the princess smiles encouragingly at him. Also remember that this boy is in full plated armour! They're fortunately able to intervene before disaster can strike.
Ah but later on...
Link is not in full plated armour this time, but he did just get off of training and thus is covered in dirt and sweat. Zelda arrives and calls him over when he kneels she once again, rather awkwardly, says "up" to get him to stand. And this time Link is still a bit high on adrenaline from training, also he is too excited from being called over by his new favourite person in the whole entire world, to really think things through. No one reacts in time to stop it as Link throws himself on the princess of Hyrule who of course, goes toppling over with a squawk coz she was not expecting that!
Cue half a dozen knight rushing over all apologetic and rapidly trying to explain how he's a friendly dog, and he used to jump on people so they trained him to only do it when given the command "up", and they're so sorry, he's not usually like this but he really likes you your highness!!
Zelda be like "It's fine, no harm done" being super embarrassed and trying to calm herself down. While Link is panicking like "Oh god did I really just do that!?" He fortunately gets away with just a scolding, and then is teased about it for weeks afterwards. And Zelda never makes that mistake again.
Also! Zelda being embarrassed about treating Link like a dog coz he's also a boy, and a fine looking boy at that! Like she sees other people give him tummy rubs but when she finally works up the nerve for it she like "I'm touching a boy's belly!" and just sorta combusts.
Welp, previous post was kinda sad so here's a happier one!
Post Calamity, Zelda be chillin' somewhere (maybe at a stable or something?) when she sees dogboy Link holding something in his mouth. She be like: "What have you got?" and he comes running up and spits out a frog in her lap. He's got that doggy grin, all pleased with himself like: "I got you a present!"
When she squeals everyone is expecting her to freak out but then she's babbling away excitedly. She does scold Link for carrying it in his mouth coz that could have hurt it. And then she gets really mad coz he wouldn't even lick that frog for her last time and now he goes around carrying one in his mouth and drooling all over it!? The outrage! And don't you dare run! We're doing some tests! C'mere!
The reason pre-calamity Link was grossed out by the frog was due to childhood trauma. As a puppy he ate a frog once and got really, really sick after. It was a rather unpleasant experience (the frog itself was kinda gross and so not worth the trouble) and he has disliked frogs ever since.
Post calamity Link has no memory of this and thus has no opinion on frogs either way. He still would rather not eat a live one though, but will try it if it's cooked.
Lately it be like: no thoughts, only dogboy Link...
I reckon Impa is one of those people that loves animals but animals don't like her. Dogboy Link would never let her pet him, he'd either dodge out of the way or do that thing some cats do (dunno if dogs do it too) where they push your hand away with their paw. One time he just slobbered all over her hand and she reacted so strongly he started doing it every time her hand got close to him.
Post calamity, Link finally lets her pet him. Mostly coz she's a little old lady now and denying her head pats would be real mean. Of course by this point she's a bit too old to be making a fuss about it.
Purah liked to tease Link. She'd be like: "Do you want this ball?" and watch the way he'd vibrate on the spot all his attention focused on the ball in her hand, but unable to move coz he was on duty and he was a good well trained dog that won't abandon his post for anything. She'd often tease him like this, sometimes even pretending to throw it and laughing as his head would snap in that direction. She'd get him so riled up but would always take the ball away without giving it to him. Pre-calamity Link swore vengeance and had been quietly plotting his revenge before everything went down.
Post calamity, Purah has every intention of teasing Link again, except the reaction she gets is big fluffy dog jumping on her all: "OMFG BALL! Yes!!! Yes, I want the ball!" and at 6 years old she is not tall enough to hold it out of reach even standing on the table. Nor is she strong enough to keep a full grown over-excited doggo at bay. She tries the fake throw thing to get him to back off, but he comes bolting straight back and practically tackles her to the ground. End the end, Link gets the ball and Purah gets a face full of dog slobber.
Aaand we're back with some spontaneous dogboy Link thoughts I had randomly!
So you know all those challenges like "get your dog ready for a walk and pretend to forget them" or "tell your dog not to eat a treat and see their reaction"? Imagine Zelda trying these on Link.
With the pretend to forget you dog one, upon seeing her close the door on him he just sits and whines, feeling utterly betrayed. Zelda (having snuck back around the house to peek in the window) hears his crying and feels so bad she comes back immediately. He refused to forgive her for ages afterwards and sulked for the rest of the day, even after going on an extra long walk to all his favourite spots around the village and getting so many extra treats. For several days after he was extra clingy while also managing to ignore her at the same time.
With the the wait to eat the treat one, he sits there drooling, occasionally whining and pawing at the treat, staring at it with such intensity it seems like it might actually catch fire or something. The sight of him visibly struggling to restrain himself is quite pitiful and Zelda ends up letting him eat it sooner than planned. He descends upon the treat with such fury and gusto that reminds her of piranhas devouring their prey. Still, he was a good boy that waited so he got all the pats and praise.
