#four colours

[links-in-time]

I realised the other day I had never drawn the different colours! So of course I had to rectify that.

Please enjoy a chaotic pillow fight that Red and Blue are definitely winning. Green didn't realise it was a competition (he has now) Vio would either like to sleep or get on with reading his latest book.

[puddlestories]

FS Selkie Romantic Head-canons

Colours + Shadow x GN Reader (no gendered pronouns or description)

Idea: some head-cannons on the boys as selkies as well as some more romantic scenarios with a Reader and how the relationship may be effected by their new selkie qualities.

CW: talk of death, no major character death.

5.7k words; not proof-read

The colours and Shadow are selkies.

Continuation from my selkie origin post, the colours became selkies through drowning, a broken heart plus water= round bouncy boys type scenario. /lh

Shadow, on the other hand, is a selkie due to the fact his form reflects Link/ the colours.

I do see Shadow as more of a changeling than a shapeshifter, transforming into different people (mostly Link and Vio during their adventure) rather than animals.

The change in their soul magic, split by the four sword elements causing a new permanent boundary that can be merged between them all to create Four, now with the addition of the water’s influence, salt water now permanently engrained within their magic like a ripple in a pond.

Imagine a cell, fluid, in this case, water, within, reflecting and rippling and a thick boarder surrounding, this is what their magic aura now looks like.

Adding onto the idea of the four sword elements having influence, Blue and Vio were accepted easily by the selkie magic, Blue the element of water and Vio earth, both of which are a balance to each other, our planet a balance of earth and water.

Red would have been difficult, fire not having a positive reaction to water, however, since Red went to the docks and into the ocean willingly, he opened himself up, made himself more receptable.

Green was a special case, he didn’t willingly die like Red, and wasn’t as easily accepted as Blue or Vio but the storm was his gateway instead. The storm and begin so deep into the sea helped to strengthen the pull of the magic, this combined with the fact in was the last of the remaining boys, the grief of losing the others drawing them closer.

Plus, I like to think that he did actually want to join his brothers, though not as violently, no one wants to feel pain, as referenced by the fact he was mostly held back by responsibility and his consideration for the feelings of others.

I also wrote in my post about how there were voices within the water, plus in an alternate draft I had the idea of actually seeing shadows or movement in the water to solidify the implication that his brothers were already in the water, as a way of acceptance. I also had the much darker idea of seeing his brother’s faces, Blue or Red bloated within the water drifting towards him but decided to give him a more peaceful ending.

I did also have the idea of writing how Shadow would die with Green, both within the water, Shadow tied to him with no other colours or simply to try help him despite having no corporeal form etc. but we’ll allow at least one of the boys to live, especially since Shadow already died once, we’ll give him a chance.

Now, this may be seen as a little angsty but after the actual selkie origin post I believe this isn’t as bad depending on your perspective: the boys have amnesia. To explain, the boys once they have become selkies are now much older, the time shifting away from Hyrule and towards more modernity, and they don’t remember their old lives as vividly as we would remember our own, childhoods as blurry as most people, only a few vivid memories, but their adulthood is also burry or is limited to a few selected memories and events.

Actual angst that no one can take away from me, is that Vio is affected the worst by both memory loss and nightmares, plus his curse is weaker, both an advantage and disadvantage. Vio is able to be away from the water for longer but when a seal his animal instincts are much stronger and took him many years longer than his brothers to communicate and gain a semblance of control- why, you may ask: because his body was buried on land, removed from the ocean and buried in his element, earth, surrounded by soil rather than the cursed water his fellow brothers rot in.

Shadow retains all memories of the boys and their lives since his perspective was already skewed, seeing outwards from the colours’ shadows, light blurring his vision and vision low to the floor distorting what he could see, audio also sometimes muffled- therefore, because he already had limited memories (no childhood) and a distorted view of reality, he kept his memories, though his behaviour became more intensified.

In this example, it means that he’s much more protective of the boys, as usual, but also begins to develop outside feelings, something he hasn’t experienced before, something that blossomed and rapidly exploded when they saw you- yes, that’s right, I’m making him a low-key yandere... and also ace questioning because I can.

Now, as for the actual romancing:

If you meet during Hyrule age years, then you meet through a trip into town, this is the time period where the boys are most likely to be spending more time in their Hyrulian forms, although this wouldn’t be the case in their own time period, seeing a dead man walk isn’t really a popular hobby, however, enough time has passed for those who knew them personally to pass away.

Within Hyrule the gifts and interactions would differ drastically.

Gifts would consist of pretty finds within the water, mostly within the ocean but limited to along the coastline, think of Hyrule being roughly ¾ landlocked. Although it isn’t very reasonable or manageable, it would be very cute for the boys to try and take old weapons or shields, some damaged and dumped, others simply rusted and lost to attempt to restore for you, especially those that still hold a glinting shine within the water. Weapons may be too far gone, but shields and jewellery are perfect gifts, shields buffered and undented, jewellery un-rusted and shined.

I believe that there are three main gifts that they have brought you. An old shield, not old in the sense of worn and unusable but old as in a relic or artifact, extremely rare and valuable rusted away in a higher area of water, lost years before during a lower terrain settlement. A hand-held mirror, a shard of the glass lost to time, the remaining cracks sealed together by coral that had grown across a corner, the rest of the glass perfectly useable, though the frame the main focus, a twist of leaves and roses at the top, hanging lilies of the valley down the sides and handle, once a pale white gold. An ornate belt, weaved links of gold, encrusted with the occasional ruby every three or so links, a simple overlapping pattern with a small but detailed carved buckle with a small scene of a young boy within a small sailboat, waves raised high- quite fitting really.

The boys within Hyrule still have a good mental semblance of men, though memories still blurred, so they’re able to maintain jobs, more likely to be physical labour jobs and fishermen, able to use their hidden abilities away from watchful eyes.

They partially own a house with their wages, an old house too close to the water, a vast distance away from the closest farmhouse, even further from the nearest town. The house is small and repaired by their own hands, their wages used for repairs and to maintain a small side enclosure of cuccoos and a single cow, greatly cared for and simply to help self-sustain themselves.

In other words, a wonderful live and situation to be in for a Hylian marriage… just saying, and yes, I plan to write much more detailed courting for Hylians.

If you met the boys during a more modern time:

Much more animalistic in their behaviour.

You’ve most likely met the boys within their seal forms; obviously not even realising that they are anything other than animals, selkies merely a folktale and not commonly known depending where you live, meaning most people, unless very interested in fantasy stories would look at a seal and think of it becoming a person- well okay, maybe a very unstable person too, unless I’m missing out.

They mostly live within the water during this time, no longer able to afford to maintain a house on a fisherman’s wage and the regulations on sustainable fishing varying by area, previously having a strong reliance on self-sustainability and trade.

Here is where Vio being affected differently helps out. Vio is able to venture further onto land and stay away from the sea for longer, meaning he’s able to research new laws, look at houses and building permissions, gain access to materials to build and discuss with groups around town, mostly farmers and fishermen communities of their options.

Possible idea of an older woman who sees what she assumes to be a homeless young man, looking sickly (having been away from water) with pale, cyanosed skin (selkie skin taking more vitamins and colour than his Hylian skin, as well as the blue colours simply being a slight selkie trait) so she asks him for assistance.

Now all Links, are not immune to the call of a quest, even as small as errands for an old, frail lady. So, she asks him to catch her a certain fish, then another, and another; she would fillet and cook the meat herself and invite him to join her each night, also offering a place to sleep, an offer he only accepted rarely and after knowing her for two years on his long stays away from the ocean.

The unfortunate relevance is that this lady had no family and was quite tight on her remaining funds, no longer able to weave silk lace, what had afforded her the house, limited by severe arthritis; now she had no one to assist her, until a young man took the offer, unknowingly allowing her main focus, her to help him. One day, she passed, a letter written in a neat cursive left by her bedside, a light dusk from where it had sat untouched for weeks; only found by a concerned neighbour who hadn’t seen her within her garden for a full week.

Within that letter, a house was left to Vio, and as such, with that, left to the group of colours, able to begin again and slowly merge back into society.

Whether you live close to the ocean or are simply visiting the area, it’s natural to go on a walk or want to see the views close by, whether the view is normal to you or a rare sight, the calmness would attract many people.

It’s here, on this beach walk or sitting enjoying the noises and/ or calm breeze that the lads see you for the first time.

Here we insert that you have common sense and do not approach or play with random wild animals, but they still enjoy the view of you or any cute or kind interactions you do, for example: spending time with a pet if you have one and have brought them, the former but with children if you have those, maybe simply helping out someone passing or an animal, going for a swim, sitting and drawing or meditating or anything you do, really. All you need to understand is that they are drawn to you, if you don’t see the connection then don’t worry, it forms later on through interactions.

In the end you will always be theirs, and they yours. It will happen in this reality and the next.

When you walk away, they all bounce along after you and softly nibbling at your clothes to try make you stay, in Shadow’s case, purely out of curiosity, this is the turning point as you decide to continue visiting the cute seals at the beach slightly scuttling away because, again, wild animals.

Despite this caution, the group all continue to bounce up the beach and follow you home.

Seeing someone followed by a line of seals is a funny thought.

Finally, what we want, selkie courting:

Red:

Red falls in love like it’s a fairytale, the moment he feels that spark, he’s all in; he’s the type to be daydreaming, doodling hearts in the margins of maps, Vio brings back from his trips into towns, a niche collection Red enjoys despite the issue of living in water, a small local cove hidden by a magic veil filled with their treasures before they gained the house, as well as doodling within the sand, humming when he thinks of you.

I also believe him to have a really nice voice, definitely the type who would make a lovely siren if in any other AU.

He tends to wear his emotions openly, this isn’t really too much of a secret to his brothers nor others from his previous life, but he is confident in these emotions, no one can put him down for what he feels, nor allow him to feel shame for being a man nor what some tried label as a “cry-baby”- now only Blue occasionally teases him with the name affectionately, always ready to be returned with the tease of being a “knuckle-head”.

So, his affection is incredibly obvious, blushing when you touch, but grinning like a mad man whenever you say his name, you might as well have asked him to marry you, although if you ever did he’s probably too far in his head and daydreams to notice; if he did realise then you guarantee there is still no words from him, though you are both definitely on the floor, tackled in joy.

Red is the type to bring seashells back from the beach because “it reminded me of you”, even if they’re cracked or plain, he still loves them and loves you. Might be a subconscious reassurance that he, and the others, are good enough, insecurities dulling their personalities or highlighting their flaws, shrunk down to a basic personality of the “emotional cry-baby”.

You love all their flaws, not broken but different and unique, without a few cracks you wouldn’t have your boys- literally.

He loves physical closeness: hugs, holding hands, forehead kisses etc.- he feels most secure when he can touch or be near the one he loves.

His bond as selkie partner would be full of wonder, your own fascination with his seal form inspiring him deeply, often asking questions about what it feels like to swim or dive deep into the sea, unable to do the same or at least live the same experience if you were to use magic, or, if in a more modern world, learn to dive with equipment.

He would be terrified of losing his selkie skin having read the legends about it being stolen, from a disgust before his death reading about terrible people, to a sudden real-life fear for his own partner, not like he distrusted you but the idea of losing it himself no matter how likely from forgetfulness or having a wrong sense of trust to someone. Knows you would guard it like a sacred relic if entrusted with it; he’d definitely cry at this show of trust.

Learns to enjoy it most when he can wrap you both up together.

The glamour of his selkie skin shows as a slightly oversized coat, in almost a short trench coat style.

He writes silly love poems inspired by ocean tides and compares their eyes and appearance to many cliché, but sweet, things such as the skyline, coloured shells, coral, tidepools and songs.

His favourite dates involve swimming together or just lying on the beach, curled under a blanket or his selkie skin watching the stars and waves; can definitely name at least twelve constellations.

If his partner ever gets homesick, if away from the sea, Red would help them return, even if it means being apart, because love, to him, is about supporting their happiness, even if it hurts him to be away from you, practically a second home to him, starved for your touch like he yearns for the waves.

“I don’t think I could live without you, you understand, right?”

Green:

Loves to take you on spontaneous adventures, leading you to hidden beaches eroded by the cliffsides, blue skies above you, the above land unsafe to traverse for others. Sometimes, he even drags you into the sea for impromptu swimming races, if you can swim, encouraging you to dive deep, even though you’ll never be quite as adept as he is.

If you can’t swim, he’s the best teacher, strong arms to keep you safe and secured, simply letting you enact the motions whilst he does all the work of treading water.

Green delights in sharing the beauty of the ocean with you, showing you how to read the tides, pointing out the glowing plankton at night, and even taking you on moonlit swims where the water sparkles like stars.

Green’s devotion is as vast as the ocean, a very cliché but much needed comparison. Once he’s in love with someone, he’s completely loyal and devoted to creating a shared happiness between you, and he makes it clear by staying close, protecting you when you’re in his territory; doing everything he can to make you feel safe and cherished- the same you do for him.

Green loves to tease you, splashing with waves or playfully nudging you underwater, though only if you’re a confident swimmer or someone not afraid of water, if so, he may still lightly splash you though only small sprays and always below your chest, more a tease than a challenge, though feel free to splash him back as violently as you wish; even jump and pounce on him. He can’t resist showing off his seal-like agility, performing acrobatic twists and turns within the water, an overdramatic response, just to see the look of amusement on your face.

Green is incredibly curious about your country and time period, what he can remember of Hyrule being so different from the glimpses he sees beyond the water, as well as the treasures he finds lost among the seabed. He asks endless questions about land-dwelling customs, human traditions, and ways of life, his fascination reciprocated by your own questions and curiosity.

When you’re on the sandy beaches together, Green wraps you within his selkie skin, with his arms then securing you within, like a cocoon of security, letting you curl up and relax together, feeling the warmth of both the setting sun and each other’s presence.

His selkie skin is slightly different than others, looking almost like a styled hood, if you asked a passerby, some may say they see an animal face, like a design print whilst other see a small, thin rim of fur on the edge of the leather, a textured cloak.

Every gift he gives you feels like pieces of his heart, small fragments of the ocean you share between the divide, each you accept feeding his confidence.

Green loves to sing for his partner, even if he’s not the best at it, it’s simply more for fun or to make you laugh, a lilting, melodic tune that echoes the rhythms of the sea. He’s never more in his element than when he’s singing under the stars, with the waves as his background vocals, zero shame in his less than perfect performance. You find comfort within his voice, even when you sometimes can’t understand the words.

Though deeply protective of his lover, Green understands the importance of freedom. He knows they cannot live in his world permanently, so he accepts that they must part sometimes- though every parting feels bittersweet, he always promises they’ll meet again, no matter what.

“You’re safe here, with me, with us.”

Blue:

Blue has a hard time admitting he’s in love, Link’s other emotional half, a fierce loyalty and embodiment of his instincts to prove himself and protect those he cares about; this then twists and unfortunately projects as a closed-off persona, unwilling to expose himself or his brothers to harm or possible heartbreak, staying in his comfort zone, and in this zone, includes his emotions and emotional capacity.

He might even deny his feelings at first, but his feelings run as deep as the sea his selkie family lives within, the deep waters having formed his new reality.

He’s protective, he knows this, sometimes overbearing, but it comes from a place of wanting to keep them safe, especially in a world where selkies aren’t common knowledge- especially in modern times where magic isn’t a common aspect of daily life, well known or even believed to exist by some; leading this to be greatly misunderstood.

He’s fiercely loyal, he would fight gods or dive into the deepest trenches if it meant protecting the one he loves.

His love language is acts of service, still shining through after his change, shown through acts as simple or complex as fixing things within his Hylian form, or staying up all throughout the night to keep watch during storms, even when within the safety of the house; including maintaining a secret place where his brothers can safely transform along the beach, later turned into Red’s little cove.

Pretends not to care about romantic gestures, tsundere coded in private without shame, we all know he just wants more kisses for being cute, but he secretly cherishes every shell bracelet, sea glass trinket, and salt-swept kiss you give him- your dedication to appeal to his own interests apparent.

You previously even brought him a metal chain bracelet with shiny stones within and metal engravings, hoping to replicate the metalwork gifts you were given previous, but unfortunately, it’s mostly kept to a table within the house, his bedside table to be exact so he can look at it daily, he didn’t want it ruined by the salt water.

Sits quietly beside you whilst you speak, no matter the subject, never interrupting, just soaking in the moment like it’s holy, even when silent.

Despite stating that he’s being more rational minded, he likes to believe in selkie legends and written stories that talk about how selkies for life bonds, how some seek out and love the unknown and strange, and hopes that one day that could be him, and that one day he could be happy despite his current state. A “guilty” lover of romance novels, he says in his defence, yet simultaneously reads them publicly with no shame.

Though, he also just wants someone to love him, not what he is, if being a selkie is what brings him a partner then he can accept that, but if they only want a creature and not him then you can believe he wouldn’t even need to both with them, his brothers already vetting from a distance- though luckily this wasn’t needed with you, though still regarded with a health level of distrust at first.

Asks his partner to tell stories passed down through their family, or those that interest them, using the moments to just know more about you and to learn more of the greater world and the changes over the years. Even enjoys when you read selkie stories at the beginning of your relationship, gauging your reactions- you both form a small reading club of all categories and talk of your favourite characters and creatures within more folklore or fantasy themed stories.

100% partakes in sailor gossip of old folktales within the area, one old man is his favourite, who he could even be convinced would be a selkie himself.

Has a selkie skin which resembles that or a thick woven blanket, perfect to be hidden within a bedroom upon a high shelf or as a throw- perfect for privacy and warmth.

May disappear into the sea for days or weeks, you wait, no questions, no guilt; just trust. When he returns, you greet him like he never left- something he appreciates greatly since he sometimes feels insecure, worrying he can’t follow them into the depths of the land, the same as they can’t follow him below, that they’ll return to the greenery for good- it takes time for him to believe they chose him fully.

One night, he swore under the stars that he’d never take their freedom away, not even for love and he meant it.

“We’re meant to be together.”

Vio:

Leaning into his portrayal in the FS manga, Vio’s love is quiet in words but intense in action, we would overtake the world for your sake, do anything you wished and make terrible jokes as he went. He expresses it in the things he does, the tea he travels far to purchase and shares with you to soothe your voice after all the talking you do, filling the silence for you both, the waterproof pouch he designed to protect the tea leaves he holds on his waist ready to be opened at your demand.

If you don’t like tea, I see him as bringing you fruit or fancy cuts of meat depending on what you are able to or like to eat, travelling as far as needed to secure the items or discover what social links he needs to fulfil the quest.

He has read every known legend about selkies and likely discovered a few new ones whether through their own experience or meeting new people, especially sailors, who have many stories to share, he never assumes they are true but some he can see repeated through scribes, artwork or even through his experience- he likes to discover what’s true for them and loves to share this knowledge with his partner.

Vio doesn't really feel large surges of emotion often, meaning he’s especially not one to fall in love easily, only ever happening twice, but when he does, it’s absolute; seeing their love as a pact, a deeply rooted bond beyond words.

Speaks softly to his partner, especially when they’re overwhelmed or homesick- the calm in the storm, the lighthouse guiding them back to the cliffs and beaches, welcoming those across land and sea.

He respects the liminality of their being, how they exist between land and sea in a different way that they do, appreciating the duality of your bonds and worlds, and honours that idea with space, reverence, and never clinging too tightly to your idea of freedom, his own able to be stolen from him too easily.

Vio learns selkie songs from old stories, adapts music he’s heard from towns, songs by sailors and whisperings of fellow ocean life, and writes them down in a journal, preserving their culture like a sacred text. He asks for your permission to share it with you, insecurity in his voice and musical ability, though wishing to fulfil his urge to prove himself and be able for you to experience any of it.

He worries, quietly, about what it would mean if they ever left the ocean for good, preparing himself for that, even if it hurts, because he values their autonomy above all else.

If ever given his selkie skin, you never touch it without asking; if he could he’d have crafted an enchanted seal around you both, hidden and safe from the world, a private moment between you both.

I see his coat as another large blanket, though slightly thinner than Blue’s, instead more shiny on the surface, the glamour unable to be any stronger, so he often has to leave it behind in the cove, guarded by his brothers when travelling away.

Vio would often just sit with them in silence, reading a book while they nap beside him wrapped in his coat, fingers lightly brushing through your hair.

When they’re far away, he writes them letters he never sends, and bottles them with wax seals, setting them adrift into the sea, hoping that if he were unable to ever see them again, that one might find its way back to them.

“Your heart is mine, and mine is yours.”

Shadow:

At first, Shadow would keep his lover at a metaphorical arm’s length, reluctant to let anyone too close. He is protective of his emotional state, fearing that showing weakness will make him vulnerable. But over time, his lover's kindness and patience wear down his walls, and he starts to let them in, though he still struggles to articulate his feelings.

Shadow's love isn’t loud or brash. It’s found in the quiet moments: watching the moon rise over the sea, sitting in silence together while he gently combs through their hair with his fingers after they’ve spent the day by the water, or simply holding hands in the dark- small moments to others but the world to him.

Shadow tries to court you the most suave way he knows how: seal noises, bringing you fish and pretty rocks etc. in his Hylian form he was already quite simplistic in his methods themselves with very complex reasoning behind it; add this to a selkie Shadow and this man is the definition of “please accept my rock and love me” /lh

Ironic, but fitting, is the most likely to bring you a cool rock that turns out to be a small geode or bring you lots of sea glass, got to stay with a mirror theme here /j

Unfortunately for him, but very understandable for both you and him when he actually remembers he is currently a seal, this fails, as you obviously can’t understand- you notice the other lighter seals seem to be laughing at the darkest seal, hands slapping their bellies, bouncing in place like a cartoon.

You find it cute and giggle, you aren’t a monster and have eyes unless you’re blind then I’m sorry, description= round with big black eyes, now you understand; the seal’s previously shifty, embarrassed, eyes suddenly turn to you, large and shining as if love-struck.

My gosh he has big eyes, they’re like beads, bigger two fingertips placed together that just shine even in the dark, it would be freaky it they weren’t on an animal which is basically a circle with arms.

As a selkie, Shadow is fiercely protective of those he loves, but his protectiveness is tinged with an air of distance. He doesn’t want to see his partner harmed, but he doesn’t want to be needed too much either, a lie of course, it’s more so that he doesn’t know how to be needed, only to be used by others and discarded. There’s a constant tension within him, a desire to shield them from the world’s dangers, but also a reluctance to hold them too close for fear of being rejected like those in Hyrule and even his own creator.

Shadow’s dark side, his tendency toward brooding and isolation, means that he sometimes feels he can’t fully share his life with another. He knows his otherworldly nature, previously his creation in the dark world and now his seal form, is something his lover may never fully understand. His love for them is genuine, but the idea of them being part of his world, to truly understanding him, sometimes feels like an impossible dream. Still, he craves that closeness, even if he doesn’t always know how to make it happen.

The ocean is simultaneously Shadow’s sanctuary, his escape, and his prison, too similar to the mirror he was once sourced from, but when he’s with his human lover, it becomes a place of shared wonder, not just solitude. Shadow takes them out into the depths of the water, allowing them to swim alongside him, and in these moments, he feels connected to you on a deeper level- the water, his new home, feels more like theirs when they are together.

Shadow keeps his selkie skin hidden, tucked away in a place only he knows; to give it to someone would be a monumental act of trust, and he wouldn’t do so lightly. If his lover ever sees his selkie skin or if he ever allows them to touch it, it’s because he’s finally allowed himself to be vulnerable with them in a way he never has before- his skin represents not just his new soul form, but the part of himself he keeps hidden from the world, that he has kept hidden for many, many years even before the incident.

Definitely has no glamour over his coat, at most he wears it like a hood or covering over his shoulders and hair, draping down his back.

Shadow is often overwhelmed by a sense of melancholy, being the one to have the most complete recollection of their life, even if distorted, and sometimes he’s afraid his human, not a monster nor Hylian, lover will understand his darker moods. When he’s feeling like a ghost of the ocean, distant and cold, he fears that their love will falter, but his lover always finds a way to remind him that they care, even on the hardest days.

Your support is unwavering, though Shadow’s pride sometimes keeps him from asking for it.

Shadow isn’t someone who can be around all the time. Sometimes he needs to retreat to the sea, to a space of his own, even away from the colours, overwhelmed by being around others, noise and simply having to be perceived, phantom judgement lingering over his shoulder, needing space to think and clear his mind.

He doesn't always explain why he pulls away, but you understand that it’s not because of a lack of love, but more so a different portrayal of emotional maturity, the only way he knows how to control his outbursts and understanding, it’s just part of who he is- a creature of the water, with a need for solitude, however, each time he returns, the reunion feels like a breath of fresh air when suffocating for so long.

Though Shadow can be aloof, when it matters most, he’ll be there. If you or anyone else is in danger, he becomes the most formidable protector, his darker side, the one he’s been hiding from them, becomes a weapon in their defence. He’ll go to any lengths to keep them safe, even if it means sacrificing his own comfort.

Shadow doesn’t speak of it, but the love he has for his human partner is fierce and undying, even in the silent depths.

“I won’t fail you, I promise you that.”

(Bonus) “Yandere” Shadow:

Crack idea: the colours all stack on each other to lift Shadow through your bedroom window, they are supportive of his courting, and you’re confused how this seal got in your house.

You cuddle into the pile with the seals or Shadow in human form after a date, turns the ending to crack as you realise the weirdness of being surrounded by the scent of the icy breeze, ocean salt, the fresh blooms from your window and… fish, lots of fish.

Shadow trying to stalk you but being a bad yandere, not being sneaky because he just wants to be close to you, being unable to intimidate you into a date since he’s all gushy and flustered (you still accept because he’s so cute); being clumsy and stumbling when he sees you when he was trying to stealth attack someone etc.

Shadow is fully capable of being a yandere, but he just gets so soft around you that he gets all dorky cute and “head-empty”- you give him an extra kiss for being so cute and he always goes bright red.

-

As always thanks for reading, suggestions and criticisms are always welcome.

No fun fact today, but I can tell you my current writing plans:

I did plan to write out a full scenario of the yandere Shadow, possibly a bit more serious and actual yandere.

I do plan to write about Hylian courting, with inspiration from other posts.

Some LU wing AU for my friend lost4pandora who created said AU, shall tag them properly once I write the post.

I have also received prompting from friends for some NSFW which I do have a few ideas for but they may be smaller posts, so you may see that in the future.

Plus I have gained permission for a small fic based on a comic by ovegakart for Link, Zelda and Ganon, so shall again tag properly once I write this as to not bother anyone.

[evelhak]

Old art #22: Redraw

First time I tried digital drawing, I recreated a page originally drawn by my friend from the comic I mentioned last time. (For some odd reason, I did it in English, probably because I was trying to learn it better at the time.) It's fun to see how far you've come!

[rapidpixeladventure]

I have been studying the pixel art of the wonderful @ramheadedgirl They do these incredible scenes using limited palettes using only 4 colours and I wanted to try my hand at it.

 Not perfect but a good first attempt on my part. It takes a lot of time and thought in terms of what colours can be used. Tumblr has a lot of amazing pixel art and I want to improve my own skills moving forward.

[puddlestories]

Body Swap AU Extras + Four/Colours Kissing- Head-canons

Four x GN Reader (no gendered pronouns or description)

Idea: some bullet-points based on my previous writing, some reasonings for what happened and some simple writings on an alternate scenario; featured are: the original writing, if you both kissed (as well as featuring the colours), and if you both hid the swap from the group.

CW: talk of allergic reactions (no actual harm caused); pre-marital kissing /lh. Just a small post as apology for part 2.

3.9k words; not proof-read

The original story:

You and Four were originally both stationed at the outer circle of the camp, Four attempting to buff a deep scratch out of his shield, engraved deep within the cosmetic detail and you sat watching, occasionally staring into space.

It was once Twilight and Legend went to patrol that you both began a small conversation, discussing different sights you’d seen along the way, occasionally asking questions as to certain meanings of plants or their uses as well as the popularity of areas to Hylians- Four explains that most people don’t really travel so most areas are okay to inhabit.

Camp had not yet been set up, waiting for an all clear from the two lads who’d left for safety reasons, giving the ability to quickly retreat- though obviously that didn’t happen.

Only a few tarps had been hung between branches to block the sweltering sun from you all; the open area causing a slight divide between the groups as the tarps became separated between different areas of trees

Despite the scouts not yet giving the signal of safety, people like Time, Warrior and Hyrule began to remove some armour- the weight too much after a long tiring walk, or the leather far too uncomfortable in the heat for Hyrule.

Exhaustion from walking and heat exhaustion, combined with the strategy of the monsters left the camp unaware of the severity of the impending danger, they’d fought with less equipment before and been in more dire situations.

The fight wasn’t easy, strong monsters combined with overwhelming numbers and a strategy to boot- they were victorious, but it took time, enough time for you and Four to become separated from the rest.

As for the others after the fight, Sky was able to have his wound wrapped and a red potion poured within to decrease the chances of infection, his wound needing stitches with the potion not being enough to fully heal him since it went too deep. Luckily enough it wasn’t positioned to hit any nerves, meaning that whilst he’d be out of commission for a week or two, he’d be approved to fight again once his stitches could be removed.

Wind was the worst injured, others mostly were just exhausted and with cuts and many bruises.

Wind having seen slashed through his gastrocnemius muscles, would have all of Hyrule’s remaining magic poured into him, as well as two red potions, him unable to stomach a third. The wound would take even with proper healing at least a month for all the muscle fibres to reconnect and he’d need daily stretches and physiotherapy to ensure he didn’t walk with a limp.

Though being younger he didn’t fully grasp the consequences, sometimes skipping his exercises and straining himself too much when the group was forced to move onward- he later walked with a slight limp the rest of the journey, ironically only fixing itself two years in when he broke his ankle climbing a slick rock in Wild’s world.

Now, differing from the actual chronological order here’s where we start skipping and getting to Four:

To start with, when you both swapped, Four awoke from the spell first, he was still extremely groggy and out of it, because of that he didn’t initially notice that Blue was gone.

Usually after a portal the colours become a bit muddled, each experiencing the transition differently, some becoming sick, others dizzy and some sometimes passing out.

Red was extremely dizzy, Green feeling like he wanted to vomit, their body lurching and curling forward, eyes tightly closed.

Vio was still only just waking up, and because of that, they originally thought that Blue was unconscious, that’s why he didn’t respond to any questions or mental probing.

Once they, saw you approach them, in their body and they realised the situation they immediately panicked, thinking about how this magic could possibly effect you both- he’d already been impacted by the magic of the four sword as well as the Minish, his shorter stature and separated mindset, the colours, it had changed him permanently; for that, he feared you’d both be stuck.

As soon as they discovered Blue was with you the fear doubled, this time it was a different fear.

Would you be terrified of someone who had multiple people within them, inside their mind- would you think they were crazy or dangerous?

What would happen to them, to Blue- would they lose a part of themselves, would Blue fade without the magic of the four sword, would they fade since they weren’t in their original body?

In an attempt to not fully panic themselves with unknown outer scenarios (that they had zero influence over), they focused on you, their surprise, you were okay with it,

You accepted them without question, a confusion fading into an uneducated understanding, one based purely on trust.

Just that moment shifted their understanding of you, placing you as a safe space, someone trustworthy with their entire being.

Their secret exposed without their consent, unable to plan who it was revealed to and how, no time for physical nor mental preparation- they were vulnerable.

They were vulnerable in a way others wouldn’t understand, placing them in front of you, placing them within your own personal space too, within your head; both of you being shoved into each other’s space and privacy with no intention to do so.  

However, you accepted them all, and it truly was them all, once Shadow revealed himself, Vio mentally kicking Green at the time he said that, still extremely out of it when they first saw you.

Shadow was a lovable menace through the dungeon, curling around your ankles as you walked, a cold breeze up your back and his dark fog stretching and shooting across the floor and walls as you went around corners acting as a look-out.

You struggled at times going through the dungeon, feeling separated within the body, struggling to control alongside Blue, but most times you both worked as a pair.

You both bonded through struggles, as well as the other colours through teamwork and guarding each other; the acceptance of his secret and greatest friend increasing your relationship from a friendship, formed by mutual understanding with you being misplaced into Hyrule and Four feeling separated from his family; unable to split around the others.

After the fight within the dungeon you comforted the colours, all overwhelmed with the situation, the possible loss of their brother and friend… someone they possibly consider as more than a friend, someone they want to know more.

How would they live without their other piece?

Would they be a broken puzzle and morn his loss, or would they all fade away, no more Link meaning no more colours?

You comforted them, wiping their tears and holding them close.

In that moment he could have held you tight, held you for longer, but he had to pull away, a small voice whispering about your possible discomfort, another stating about being vulnerable, not negative but if you’d want someone more stable, more masculine another voice whispered only to be shut down by the others. They were plenty manly even with tears down their face, besides, you wouldn’t think like that.

If anything you found them quite cute, you would say pretty but saying that to someone in your body did feel a bit weird, but despite your eyes (which you could admit sparkled in quite a pretty way in the orange glow of the fire rod) looking back at you, their mannerisms were very sweet.

During the fight with Link in the orchard, and Blue later merged back with the others that they all saw and heard about the ultimate trust you placed in them all, allowing Blue to take control, your lives on the line during the fight.

He wanted to return that trust placed in you once you were all merged back together, you protected them, accepted them, and they will protect you.

Returning to the forest, they were relieved that there was no immediate damage or side effects to either of you aside from your headache and his fatigue.

What he didn’t appreciate was the interruption.

If you did kiss (Four):

Your first kiss together would be extremely shy and awkward. (I love all other content regarding Hyrule having different courting rituals, so I’d love to write a separate post on that and all the boys.)

Four had never kissed anyone before, originally too proud as Link to kiss anyone, he was going to be a knight, he had to focus; then after the spilt they had been both far too absorbed in their work as well as far too insecure with their new development to engage with anyone else- their grandfather and father both knowing this and trying to encourage him outside at times and to maintain relationships.

The kiss was angled and soft, lips lightly brushing, the occasional push of lips from Four, noses bumping and chin brushing foreheads, his hair framing you both behind a thin curtain.

He was warm, lips chapped and his upper lip slightly thin, but lower lip plump and encased against yours.

His ears flapped lightly afterwards, a large grin on his face and bright red spread across his cheeks, ears and neck.

After the kiss he just continued giggling, lost in his own word, grin held tight on his face.

Blue:

To start, he has a slightly malformed hand, the bones within once broken from a forging incident, his hammer dropped onto his hand; luckily, he still has all movement, just hand cramps occasionally from strain where the muscles didn’t reconnect and heal properly due to a lack of proper medical care.

His injury relates to how he shows you his affection, acts of service and showing off occasionally, however he has to be careful of his hand.

He wishes he could hold your hand 24/7, but his muscles cramp if his fingers remain interlocked with yours for too long; he did try simply cupping your hands together but even that didn’t work, hands getting sweaty so he would wipe them constantly worried of grossing you out.

The type of guy to lift you up as he kisses you, height be damned, though not always possible with his hand.

Rests his hand on the back of your neck as you kiss, pulling himself up and you downwards into him.

I’m convinced he’d be the most likely to let you pick him up instead but you can’t say a word to anyone else.

To see vs to say is his ideology- if someone saw you both kissing he’d be the proudest guy around, chest puffed in pride that he has you and that you’re willing to kiss him, that you enjoy kissing him and love him.

Will praise you to the moon and further, Blue is lost in space.

However, if someone were to be told of you both sharing a kiss, even if just a light tease or remark from another in the group he’d become extremely flustered, eyes wide and glittering, cheeks puffed and ears wiggling.

He’s too cute really.

You’d eat him up if you could, well and maybe you did.

Deep passionate kisses and would kiss for an hour if you’d allow it.

Honestly, I’d place money to say he’d kiss you until he passed out if it was possible.

Green:

Another passionate kisser.

Most likely to learn what the term “making out” means, and will hold to that standard, honestly his favourite way to kiss you.

The more passion, the better, the more heat and movement the better- he’s got to show you his prowess and dedication to the task!

It’s like neither of you can stay still, stepping back, brushing the desk, back to the wall, his back to the wall, walking back across the room etc. just leading each other around, pressing into each other and the kiss itself creating a dizzying dance of movement.

Your first kiss I see him as someone who kept his eyes open, hands by his sides until a few seconds in, hands lifting but not touching you.

Poor boy was in shock that this amazing person who he has had the largest urge to court has kissed him?!

Yes, you had to kiss him, not the other way around, he would be far too shy to initiate anything with you- a brave honoured knight who can’t even stutter out his feelings, though he does make them quite obvious in his actions, allowing you to know to act first.

If you’re too shy to initiate, then the other boys are taking the lead for you both.

Tripping either of you (though they are most likely to trip Green instead, they wouldn’t want to hurt or embarrass you, their brother in arms though is a free sacrifice).

Setting up dates, whether planned together or on both your behalf, neither of you have the confidence.

During trips out around Castle Town or the local woods and hiking trails, no kiss shared.

The boys tried many scenarios, from different outfits planned for you both by stealing other clothes out of your wardrobes, to planning different dates and environments; they even involved other people such as restaurant owners or local shopkeepers to make comments to you both- a psychological attempt, to “plant a seed” Red stated.

Once there was a close call- Green falling onto you, knocking you both to the floor, his arm behind your head to protect you, chests pressed tight together, sharing each other’s breathe, and… your lips not touching.

Vio was one nerve away from walking over and shoving Green’s head down into yours /lh.

In the end, you both shared a kiss away from the others, likely after a knight dual that Green won, a shy reasoning of a reward for his victory.

Red:

A man who knows what he wants.

Zero anxiety and zero shame- judgement from others is nowhere near his radar, and even if the idea passed his mind, it was quickly brushed away with no care.

Definitely more aware of his surroundings; the most likely to kiss you in public or in front of the others.

If you’re embarrassed, it makes him feel even better, maybe even a bit risqué, though if you were ashamed, it’d hurt him.

All you need to do is tell him of your discomfort and he’d be more than willing to leave any kisses, especially the more feet sweeping passion at home, or at least as close to home as he can hold back.

Forest kisses, hidden corners, by the fountain, inside the forge, out front of the house etc. he does not care, all he cares for is you.

Known as passionate in his interests by the locals and seen as a valuable knight but this new side certainly reinforces and makes his label as a minx widespread and known by all.

Pulls you place to place hand tightly held by his own- if you’ve asked for more privacy, you only partially win, others won’t see your acts of love, but they will certainly know when they will occur, Red always pulling you away, the signs written far too big and bright for others not to know.

Especially after he came back one day, a massive dorky grin on his face.

Want a man who will sweep you off your feet metaphorically or literally? This is your man.

Always armed with a surprise bouquet of flowers where possible, a stray wildflower when out on the road, or sometimes even just brings a flower home from his walk to or from the knight’s training grounds on his days away from the forge.

Immediately blabbed to his grandfather the second you got together.

Laid on the floor on his stomach, feet kicking in the air behind him style, Grandpa Smith and Red having a gossip session, grandpa wildly excited to see his boy’s happy; he can’t wait to meet you.

Vio:

Someone others see as quite stoic and reserved, seen as the one without emotion or care, in reality he’s just much more reserved in comparison to Red and Blue, both the boys much more outward in their emotions.

He’s quite a romantic, originally thinking of himself as someone who no one would like, especially not romantically.

At times he’d go back and forth, questioning himself as to whether he was even interested in relationships, if he cared to talk to someone everyday and share so much time or possessions, whilst other times he craved affection and someone to be so close to, someone who would understand and accept him.

Definitely head-cannoned as autistic and possibly ace(sexual), and no, the autistic isn’t because he likes books and is smart, it’s in reference to his emotional understanding and experience.

Whether he is ace or truly someone just unsure of himself, that’s for him to decide, either way it doesn’t make him any different or take joy from relationships any less. He feels his autism doesn’t help his difficulty with his emotions and wants, feeling his emotions more “flatlined” and mellowed, but still there.

In a relationship with you he would always make sue to reassure you of his commitment and affection for you; you make him comfortable, to sit in silence together or to share interests and physical affection.

However, please do reassure him too, he gets self-conscious that he isn’t enough or isn’t pleasing you in this relationship, having read too many relationship stereotypes in stories, far too curious for his own good, hoping to see himself within books to prove he wasn’t broken.

Also takes far too many stories to heart, gossip from customers within the shop or even within dark corners of the library, harmless advice and good meaning discussions hitting a more negative space in his mind.

Kisses are always private but someone who will always brush his knuckles against yours in public and sit close to your side.

Likes to jokingly refer to them as smooches to see you smile, will passionate kiss you, head tilted and using his height to his advantage, standing below you and pressing upwards, preferably pinning you in place by your hips or lightly pressed against a wall- this man will stand on his tip toes if need be, he has no shame when it comes to seeing that adorable shine in your eyes after a kiss.

Shadow:

The epitome of a pigeon- seen as dirty trash by many but merely misunderstood by those who used and abandoned him.

He’s soft and sweet hiding behind a mask of cocky indifference.

Seen as unable to do simple tasks and always marked down to be an evil or unwanted presence, but despite his three sticks of a nest he learns fast, adaptive to everything he sees and is told- his actions may seem stupid or unneeded to others but he’s from a different place and had to learn and adapt to different threats and environments.

Admittedly a bit gullible, but you would be too if fed lied all your existence and isolated to a dark realm.

Fiercely loyal, and I do mean fierce, if anyone were to approach during any of your meetings, not just your kiss he’d growl and snap his teeth their way, eyes reflecting a glistening red.

He’s one to hold you close when you’re intimate, whether sitting and reading (to him, he hasn’t learnt his Hylian yet), or sharing a hidden kiss.

He has major abandonment issues and a big case of imposter syndrome, whether he deserves to be in your life; if he’s good enough.

Shadow claims that he’d kiss you in front of the others to assert dominance or as a “prank” to make them uncomfortable but the poor body is a bit too shy for that often, though he did do it once- the others teasing you both but he didn’t understand the sarcasm, stating he wouldn’t kiss you before your wedding, Shadow misunderstanding that as  bad thing, he kissed you, lips pursed and harsh against yours, a long peck, eyes scrunched tight. Afterwards he was panting from adrenaline and stress, glaring at the others with an extra huff of how he loves you and the others are simply jealous.

Regular kisses on the other hand, are often hidden away behind trees or in building alcoves, soft pecks and the rare long smooch, face completely flushed dark but maintaining a sly smirk- just don’t tease him, let him think he’s smooth (he is) and in control (he isn’t).

Alternatively, imagine if you stayed in the field but still got swapped?

If you both became swapped and only left at a distance with Four, then chaos would ensue.

You’d both originally be shocked, of course, but soon great ideas, and chaos, would ensue.

The idea shared between you all would be how long until others would notice, or what tricks you could both do and if you could pull them off in each other’s bodies.

The prank was Four’s idea- at least that’s what you’d claim as defence.

He’d take all the blame without question, finding the situation far too hilarious.

It was those tricks that left Four folded to the floor, a failed backflip, laughing loudly, voice loud and unmuffled. It was nice to see him so free and happy.

Honestly, it’d take a few days for the others to notice.

Four not as loud or boisterous in the group and you with your slight confidence issues of fitting in we’re always on to be the centre of attention.

You were both able to sit together and lay your bedrolls close, your previous friendship not raising any flags of suspicion.

It was only during the dawn of the third day that they finally realised, during dinner you were all eating a meal of meat and mixed vegetables, Wild adapting different bowls to the needs of others, placing fish for Wind and removing radishes from Warrior.

During this dinner it was when you grabbed a bowl with green peppers, taking a bite before Wild could turn around, only to send him into a panic.

Wild freaking out about upsetting Four, whether through a dislike of taste or texture would be a blow to his dedication as the group cook, his worst fear of a possible allergic reaction being the main catalyst.

At that point you both confessed, feeling awful for pushing Wild (he pushed himself, to be fair) to the verge of a panic attack, stating you were fine, Four commenting it was a hatred for the pepper, not an allergy to try placating him.

With the knowledge now spread around camp in the chaos, it was Legend who immediately moved to your side, gripping your wrists and twisting, eyes flittering over your body and locking to your eyes.

With Legend’s vast experience with magic and spells (and curses), he was able to share his findings with Hyrule and Time to find a possible cure or reversal spell to your ailment.

If you could say so yourself, the headache after was killer.

The magic, yes, but the lecture you received from the others for keeping it a secret was far worse- to be fair, they had a solid argument, what if you’d both gotten stuck?

All I can tell you with that, is that Four wouldn’t have complained.

---

Thank you to those who read my original post, thank you to those who liked/ hearted, and massive shout out to those who followed me and my friend Silver especially for re-blogging.

I will be writing some more simple ideas for romantic pairings, especially Four and Shadow, so worry not, there will be romance, hopefully actual good romance /lh.

[puddlestories]

FS Selkie Origin (Intro)

Colours x GN Reader (no gendered pronouns or description)- written with no reader in this part, but an introduction to the selkie aspect)

Idea: a search for moon pearls creates a series of events of which alters the boy's lives forever, whilst others try make it through, another has a completely different idea, an idea involving a legend of selkies.

CW: talk of death and drowning, unfortunate spoiler.

8.9k words; not proof-read

The breeze was strong that day with a biting chill which reminded Red of the blizzard he traversed back during their original adventure on his search with Miss Fairy. The sand was much less stable than the frozen caves as it moved beneath their feet moulding into an imprint of their worn leather boots with each step along the beach.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t say that he’d enjoy the beach anymore, it was ironic really, he was still fine with snow and storms, especially when at home with his family, but the beach was somewhere he couldn’t bare to be. Luck for him, there was a pier further off the bend, the darkened wood splintered and rotting in places, connecting straight to the rocky soil of the coast, the area abandoned, once used for large fishing hulls, now the area left for a population period, only cargo boats seen in the distance towards the beach pier and town-side dock.

The sun still stable, though low, in the sky, hovering a distance above the coastline, he could practically lift his hand and cup the sun between his grip and the gap of the wavering orange, the reds and deep blues of the sky mixing around his fingers, the still sun strong against his skin. If not for the splinters in the wood below him, he knew he’d easily fall asleep, the rush of the waves, heat of the sun and the creak and groan of the weakened wood, poles remaining stable and rooted deep below. Though it wasn’t deniable that he was dozing off, head bobbing as if tied to a fishing line; eyes blurring in and out of focus- vertigo taking hold in a faint cradle.

"It has to be here somewhere, I'm sure of it" muttered a deep voice occasionally clicking their tongue paired with gravelled grumbles, tired, entering the late hours of the day and despite a previous full night of sleep, or so he’d say, his rigid four insomnia gifted hours fulfilled, the time passing in a coiled pattern, slow in the moment yet slow in retrospect- it was nearly time for sundown, still a couple hours before midnight.

Further along the stretch a shorter man turned and scowled, "how sure, Vi? We have been searching for hours now!" He grumbled again, the bags beneath his eyes seeming to darken further along with the sun the longer they stayed on the beach. They would only have roughly another hour to search, eyes flickering to the sun’s position waiting for it to dip any lower, having to take into consideration their journey back to the trail and then home, plus they’d now need to go to the pier a small distance away to collect Red, who he could see was laid back, legs dangling. He chuckled a little, his brother was definitely sleeping, whining earlier of staying awake all night to crochet a new project he was on, insisting that he had a time constraint with Green’s selected birthday approaching, the day of their knighting ceremony.

Blue hoped they’d be able to go home soon too, wanting some warm food and a good relaxing hour in his bed before sleeping, those last few pages of his current book awaiting him in those drowsy moments. Vio’s determination wasn’t a surprise, he was fully prepared to have to wind his brother down, there was always tomorrow, his determination blinding him in the moment from outward environmental changes, blind to the dwindling time and basic idea of being able to return to the beach- it wouldn’t vanish overnight, they may just have to wait until noon for the tide to retreat, the ocean growing more rampant over the past couple weeks as the moon entered it’s perigee, it’s orbit growing closer.

"I'm telling you, Blue, I've been researching and reading about the moon pearls for months now- the books I've read, along with my previous research, means that they're likely produced from plants. If my theory is correct--" "only a theory?!" "--then the plants will be found along the coasts blooming near the salt waters."

The rebuttal slipped from his lips though no aggression intended, simply loose from exhaustion. Another huff could be heard, forceful and deliberate, clearly meant to be dramatic and audible. Despite the noise, Blue continued down the coastline occasionally brushing through the sand and pulling away seaweed in search for the desired flora and it’s budding fruit of labour- Vio smiled, his brother could scowl and act tough but after all those years he still couldn't hide his care in his actions it seemed.

The search continued onwards into the last weaning hours, and continued afterwards into a blanket of approaching darkness, both men losing focus on the time and sun’s position, lost in their task, until the sun was merely draped along the horizon, less than a quarter remaining awake, lulling down beneath the waves and stretching that last mile of deep orange. It was with that fire-like glow that Vio noticed it, noticed them, pastel blue, gleaming so softly. There within the darkening water, a shallow basin of sand, sat small, budded spheres mostly hidden within a tangle of long black capsules- moon pearls, their unique gleam of shimmering iridescence revealing their true nature, setting them apart from any sea glass or regular pearl, though he thought for a moment, he wouldn’t mind bringing Blue a pearl gift one day as a thank you for his effort, he believed he’d enjoy it, a rough yet sensitive guy with such a delicate gift brought another more delicate smile to his lips.

With a grin he walked closer, water splashed upwards at his sudden harsh entrance and seeped into the thick white cloth of his leggings staining them a light grey, clinging into a transparent film around his calves and joints where the fabric didn’t pool with the water weight and remained tight to his skin. The sea floor curved downwards at the bank, so he stepped forward carefully and reached out. Unfortunately, he was not close enough.

Deciding the water was not too deep, he stepped down into the basin, the sand dark and sinking his boots further, the leather encased, and then pulled, a suction forming around his feet

Vio sucked in a rapid breath. A shuddered exhale followed. The water was much colder than he expected, that was for sure.

Still determined he reached forth again for the stem, fingers stretched forward, torso tilting forward, feet remaining planted in place but only grasped water. Leaning forward even further brought him closer, teetering dangerously, feet unable to shuffle forward further to balance his weight, his other hand lowering down to brush the sand, an attempt at an anchor, to brush the pods but the pearls were still hanging away from him- they swayed in the current mockingly.

Another laboured step forward, entire body requiring reposition, dragging his feet out the sand, now laid atop the sand, weight shifting with the tumbling current, sand kicking up with the motion. The water pushed forward too, the pearls finally swaying into Vio's fingers, with a quick push forward he curled the orb into his palm. A victorious smile and shuddered breath left him, deep relief at his success and discovery, more research ideas already entering his mind, or at least they would if he wasn’t so cold, thought pushed into the back of his mind and filed away for later; now he just wanted to get out and home, sitting in front of the fireplace and changing out of his clothes sounded too good at that moment.

Then it happened. With a step forward, shuffling his feet to find purchase in the sand, he unknowingly stepped forward into a riptide, the rolling water hidden by dispersed sand and up kicked debris.

The sand tilted and caved under the soles of his boots, and slid down the steep bank, rolling into the foam of the waves that surrounded him. Loose feet tumbled and kicked against the sand finding no purchase, no grip; no stability.

With a quick rush, his head went under the waves- no time to breathe. No time to yell.

The water rolled and coiled around him, pounding against his flailing limbs, and pressing the air out of frozen lungs. Bubbles filled Vio's ears, it felt like water had flooded his brain, pain encasing him, no air to breathe, no room to think, and no time to scream; the water sweeping him away in a rapid harsh motion, strength unwavering tossing him around in a death spiral, body flipping around and slamming into the sand bank, fingers sometimes finding the air above the water, but no relief to fix his position to swim upwards, or downwards; to break to the surface.

In that moment he had no control, but if he could, he’d have wished to have gone quietly, simply swept into the waves and dragged away to sea; if he had to die, he’d have wished his loved ones wouldn’t too.

Nevertheless, the water forced itself apart as a second body entered the fray, Blue surging forward towards his brother, unknowing of the hidden danger of the riptide, the darkening sky hiding the signs of the water’s movement. With blind hope and emotion, his fingers clawed at the water trying to grasp the other, but with one gulp, the riptide swallow him too, dragging them both far out into the water, Vio falling unconscious from hypoxia, unable to reach back to his brother.

Even with all hope, Blue couldn’t see him, ripped away, water sharp in his eyes, darkness encasing him, it was too late, the water too strong. The ocean too deep.

The water clasped onto them and pulled against their weight, their clothes soaked and growing heavier, their limbs weakening with exhaustion and their lungs filling with water. Bodies too heavy and the surface too far.

Cold, now pale, fingers brushed through the foam, clenching and stiffening into ice. The sun now hidden beneath the horizon, unwilling to witness such an event, as two men, mere boys to many who loved them, too young for such a fate, laid beneath the waves in a deep sleep and stretching that last mile of the deep dark waters. That fire-like glow smothered and suffocated. Lured to the ocean as the last remaining light of their eyes was, too, consumed whole.

If it was possible, he would have cried.

---

Receiving the new was difficult, that’s the only word he could think to use.

Red had been awoken later the next day by the sun in his eyes, finally peaking around his shield of thick hair, back sore from stiff wood, light, superficial cuts to his arms and a nasty splinter too. It was with extreme confusion that he sat up and looked towards the sky- the sun was high above him and the sky a light, perfect blue.

At first, he believed he was still dreaming, a false awakening, since he knew his brothers would never leave him, they wouldn’t even leave him sat alone at the table without saying where they were going or asking if he was okay- so where were they? Sweeping his gaze along the quiet, sandy beach, crawling his eyes further up along the pebbled ground into the transition of the dirt and grassy hills- they were nowhere to be seen. He turned back to the water, a waning hope that they were still searching in the water, possibly camping overnight- though why would they leave him on the pier- or perhaps he’d been far too sleepy and imagined the night had progressed farther than it had- but again, it was morning and had at least been into the afternoon before he’d gotten sleepy.

Lifting his feet onto the pier, leggings and shoes slightly damp from the splash of waves overnight, he began flexing his muscles, legs dead from the awkward position. Powering through the sensation of needles and static in his legs, he rolled onto his knees, forcing himself onto his feet. Running along the beach, occasionally stumbling across loose piles of sand or hidden holes, he ran for a solid half an hour, knight endurance training coming into use, up and down the length of the beach, even peaking around the wall of rocks towards the left curve of the beach, the cliffside blocking the rest of the way. In both directions, his brothers were nowhere to be seen, dread pooled in his stomach, the urge to vomit bubbling into his throat, tightening around the rock of discomfort lodged in his oesophagus.

Against all logical sense, Red returned home, puffing with exhaustion, running and speed walking when too tired back home, muscles in his legs burning with lactate. He burst through the door, the lock not positioned, he hoped that meant they were home, Vio had the spare key after all, though there wasn’t much of a reaction to his loud entrance, no looks from the boys in the kitchen, or a yell from Blue or Green through the window to the back garden or upstairs from the bedrooms. So that’s where he searched next, starting on the second floor so as to not miss them if they were to move from a room, he searched the upstairs hallway, just one long stretch, from front to back: Vio’s bedroom and study, Blue’s bedroom, Green’s room and study, the bathroom, and then his own room. With no success he moved downstairs, the open kitchen was easy to see as empty from the bottom of the stairs and doorway, turning the corner, the living room was open and empty too, moving into closed off areas he searched the downstairs toilet, knocking first of course, their father’s old study and the forge. Finally, he moved outside to the garden and shed.

Noone.

It was only with a dejected stumble and a stressed groan, that Red returned into the house, stumbling forward into a slumped seat on the living room sofa, thick woven blanket sliding down on one side from the force, folding onto Red’s hip, the other half pinned by his thrown back head. After another groan, and a wet hiccup, attempting to hold back tears, the door opened, a light creak, the top hinge needed oiling, on Blue’s to-do list for this week, he shot up, running on unstable legs, throwing himself around the corner and collapsing onto the unaware individual who’d entered the house.

“What’s wrong, Red?” They exclaimed with a shocked shout, thrown back against the still open door, both now on the floor, Green sat partially out the doorway with Red seated atop his lap, legs wrapping around his waist, hands clenched around his back, tears pouring fourth.

It took three attempts, with coaching and encouragement from Green, patting and rubbing his brother’s back, “they’re gone, I can’t find them.”

“Find who?” Green whispered, an unknown lingering doom following him from the knight’s quarters that early morning and along the walk home, his eyes moving into the quiet house- a house of which if anyone knew the boys, was never quiet, always mumbles or talking, hammering or the crackle of fire from the forge, the rhythmic steps from the floor above.

Red simply continued to cry, his chest heaving harder, struggling to breath, transitioning into hyperventilating, Green continuing to hold him close and encourage his breathing to slow, or at least to breath at all.

“Green, I can’t—Vio, Blue, we were—we were at the beach—I can’t find them,” his voice breaking at the end, sobs continuing, words gasped and forced out between each struggled breath, “I can’t find them.”

With a desperate attempt of reassurance and reasoning Green continued to comfort Red, confusion settling upon his shoulders, going through similar reasoning, where would they have gone, why would Red be home alone, but perhaps they’d gone out, he hoped. He hoped for something he couldn’t believe in with confidence, and later, when Red finally calmed down enough to speak, he explained how he’d been alone on the beach, Green becoming increasingly worried, assuming previous he’d been home alone, all possible scenarios and explanations falling through his shaking fingers.

It had been a few days with no return of the others, imagination going wild, hoping for word from Zelda that they had been sent on a monster hunt or rescue without word, the letter sent remained unanswered. Both boys cried, one in the other’s arms, a terrible feeling suffocating within the house, the other within the confines of their room, throwing themselves into work as much as possible, paperwork unfortunately, despite all unwilling to leave the other again.

It was expected, a possible scenario, but far from expected to become reality, his brothers were found deceased, it was something that should have never happened. They were all heroes, and some continuing to pursue full-time knight hood after their adventure, others simply maintaining their training, it was expected they’d one day fall in a battle, or die much later in life from age or disease, but to be told they’d been found within the water was far, far from a scenario in his overactive imagination.

The three knights who’d approached the door where all holding their helmets to their sides in respect, two of which Green knew, having trained alongside their squadron and worked alongside his father during missions, the third was young, freshly knighted from last fall’s ceremony, he assumed, his face not familiar. All spoke their apologies and sympathy, heads bowed. It was the younger of the two that Green recognised, a young man in his late 30s with a dark beard and longer hair, Artura. The man went on to explain how they’d been found by a fisherman who’d gone out around the cliffside to test the levels of fish in preparation for the later months when fishing would resume to ensure sustainability and the health of the ecosystem, it was in one of the large cast nets, designed to catch and release fish without trapping fins or harming scales, a softer refined rope, that it pulled on a heavier weight. A portion of the net was floating, something that shouldn’t happen, Green knew what was coming. Net ropes tied to the rails, the fisherman had withdrawn the net, heaving the mass onto the deck and unravelling the netting, he saw something abnormal, not just a show, as apparently those weren’t the rarest, it was the bent hand, fingers poking out the woven diamonds; he had found a body, the trapped carbon dioxide and fluid causing the body to float within the first days of decomposition.

Those words hurt Green, a metaphorical stab to the heart, yet the pain so real, to refer to one of his brothers as a body, he knew why logistically, they had been unidentified until now, but it still hurt. Artura continued on with his small tale, recounting what he had been told, words chosen carefully, yet still far too harsh and ridged: setting aside the fish trapped along with the corpse, the fisherman looked at the clothes, the face- though far too bloated, tongue inflamed and pushing outward, skin slimy from decomposition of the skin, he would never say that to the them- and with the unique identifiers of a small round broach holding a now tattered cloak, torn from rocks on the ocean floor, and the pattern on their clothes, they had found Vio.

With this news, destroying those remaining in the household, permission was granted from the King, the entire bay was to be searched, all boats to be aware of any nets or traps within the water, as well as extra boats deployed with the sole purpose to sweep the sand beds.

More days passed, turning into weeks, the gases of decomposition guaranteed to now be released, decomposition quicker in water, amplified further by the salt water, as well as skin and tissue eaten and pecked at by ocean wildlife; as the days passed, they knew he wouldn’t be found in good condition, that is if they were ever found. With the lack of buoyancy of the body, Blue would have sunk within the depths, making him harder to find.

As weeks passed with no discovery of their brother, ships and nets continuing to be sent out by order of the King in Zelda’s honour, hoping to find her friend and the country’s hero, the Smith household began to fray.

With their father pulled away on a long-distance, cross-country mission by the crown, despite attempt to bring him home the situation required his experience, no other captain able to replace him at that time, those able out on other missions themselves, that left the boys and grandpa Smith to act as support and mediator as the fights began. At first, both lads were simply grieving and heart broken, thrown into their own coping methods, Red abandoning all creative projects aside from baking, comforting himself with food and time with either Green or his grandfather when he was available, where as Green began to isolate himself after a while, the constant presence of Red, the inner conflict in his head and the fact his father couldn’t be home was too much. Zelda did try to visit at times to coax Green out of his room, but with her increasing duties of multiple squadrons out on missions, outrage and panic of whether the Four Sword Sanctuary’s magic would hold with two heroes gone, and plenty smaller issues that had continued to add up.

Smith spent the majority of the week with the boys, mainly Red due to his clingy nature and Green’s distance, but the others days, beginning at three days a week and slowly becoming five days a week as orders in the forge piled up with no one else to complete them, he had to be away working, unable to give his full attention to them both.

It was when their grandfather was away at the main, larger forge closer to town, that they began their first fight; it wasn’t intentional, they were both just to bottled up, both brimming with different types of emotion, clashing together due to a lack of communication.

Green snapped first, it began as an inner conflict, the fact he wasn’t there with them all at the beach, maybe he should have convinced them not to go, though he knew that would be an impossible challenge with Vio once he was determined to do something; then even more ridiculous he though back to their adventure, if he’d never used that moon pearl in the dark world temple then maybe Vio wouldn’t have needed to search today, maybe if he’d helped in the research, even if useless, they’d have searched a different day and the tides would be different. Maybe, just maybe, he’d have had some impact and been able to avoid this all from happening, whether a past action or a recent action, maybe he could have stopped this all. Yet with his inability to properly grieve and receive support and comfort, his brain began to twist this conflict outwards, ink bottles broken, books thrown and chair leg snapped as it was thrown across the room. What if it was Red’s fault? He knew it was wrong, but his brain filled itself with harsh hypnotising whispers, what if he sent them home when he got tired, what if he helped search so they left earlier or brought them home together; what if he never fell asleep? In a twisted way that he couldn’t explain, it was because he hated himself so much in that moment that he began to blame Red, because he was so useless that he couldn’t have any impact, that maybe if it was Red’s fault that he could actually have an effect, have had a chance to save them all if he’d just taken that day away from the barracks.

With the bubbling storm, no amount of outward rage calming his emotions within, he eventually exploded. It was early one morning, Smith had left for the forge, knocking on Green’s door to alert him, and later, once he’d heard the door close, Green stepped out of his room for the first time in a few days, to make food in the kitchen rather than having lunch and dinner left at his door. Due to the early hour, he didn’t expect Red to have been awake, having hear their grandfather knocking and Green leaving his room, with that he left his own room seeking comfort from his brother, not just about the others but about the fact he hadn’t seen Green and was becoming concerned.

At first, Red simply snuck down to the kitchen, not wanting to disrupt Green, but he couldn’t hold back, stepping forward to talk. What he should have done was ask how he was doing, ask if he was okay, he obviously wasn’t, but to use the sentiment, or to ask if he needed anything, instead he made a mistake.

“What’re you doing?”

Green turned and let out a light sigh, slowly turning to Red before looking back towards the empty bowl in front of him, no energy to actually light the fire nor move from the counter as planned.

“Dad isn’t going to be home for roughly another month, a letter came a few days ago. Blue still isn’t home yet either…” A sharp crack emanated from the kitchen, a chip falling from the bowl in front of Green, a long line running up the side. Instead of falling quiet at the action, Green’s head bowing down to the counter, hand moving away from the bowl, a small line a blood down his palm unseen to Red, he cupped his face and eyes. “They’re still looking though, they go out in pairs now for three-week periods, the boats are due to come back this week so—”

“Shut up!”

Red fell silent, small tears budding at the corners of his eyes, Green didn’t look at him, keeping his face covered.

A loud harsh sob fell from Green’s lips, dry and peeled from stress picking away at himself, turning towards Red in a fast fluid motion, a small coat of blood smeared on his cheek, diluted and running down his chin and neck with fat tears.

“He’s not coming home! They aren’t going to find him, Red, it was a miracle enough they found Vi. They shouldn’t even need to find him,” his voice lowering with his last sentence; it was with Red’s stuttered reassurances that he snapped again, “they wouldn’t need to find them if they weren’t on that beach, if we didn’t need that stupid moon pearl and especially not if we’d seen what had happened, if I’d been there I could’ve maybe, I could’ve—” he sobbed again, knees locking and torso falling forward slightly, shoulders hunched.

“They will, they’ll find him! There’s nothing you could have done, Green.” Stepping forward he placed his hand on his shoulder.

Silent Green stepped back, slapping Red’s hand away, “yeah, you’re right, I couldn’t have done anything, but you,” he sobbed harder, falling to his knees, torso finally collapsing in on himself, “you could have done something, you were there, if you didn’t fall asleep then maybe you could have.”

Silently crying, Red knelt down at his brother’s side, “it’s not okay, but we will be, we’ll be okay.” Unknowingly he was right, neither of them had enough experience with water nor were strong enough swimmers to have the ability to get out of a riptide, they both had strength and endurance but to be able to pull out two unconscious men the same size as them wasn’t a chance with a high enough percentage that they would survive, the possibility of all four of them perishing that day was clear to them both, clear to Green and Red, they knew yet still felt extremely guilty for not being able to change anything.

-

Though maybe they would meet again, after all, haven't you heard the stories? A very specific tale.

Red had searched everywhere, Vio’s room, his own bookshelves and the local library, even travelling down the hills to Castle Town to search their greater library to try find what he wanted. A book of spells and legends, though most importantly, how legends may be real or what they may be based off in real life; from tales years ago of diseases, extinct animals and simple stories morphed through time there was one entry that he held dear during his mourning process. An entry that his brothers had all read together one night during a sleepover, during the first week back home after their adventure, when they were still all jumpy with fresh trauma. With a lantern turned onto a low stream of oil and oxygen to keep the light low, Blue scared of the dark after his experience with the Poe, all huddled under one blanket, Red gaining bad memories from the cold and all cuddled together, whether a toss leg or intwined arm for Green and Vio, not wanting to be alone, they read a story together. It was late into the night, the moon shining through their window onto the two mattresses tossed and pushed together on the floor, piles of blankets folded together, they found the story of selkies.

Lost souls at seal, formed into the appearance of a seal, in this particular story, it was stated as the lost souls of those who drowned at sea. Although feeling silly and childish, Red clung to this story after the discovery of Vio’s body, hoping both his brothers had gone to sea to be reborn, not wanting to think too hard on the detail of lost souls- where they lost as their bodies where not found, lost as they didn’t like how they died or lost mentally in a struggle in life? The first option meant he couldn’t find Vio again, the brothers separated as Vio was buried within the sanctuary grounds in honour. The second gave him hope but simultaneous sadness, he didn’t want them to be in pain no matter how likely it was. The third was troublesome, too many aspects and factors he couldn’t control.

Red knew, he knew all too well. Desperation chilled his heart and filled his lungs with water. He couldn't breathe between his heartfelt sobs- so full of pain yet burning with hope.

He knew the story, he’d read it daily, multiple times some days, the ink now smeared in places and the pages crumpled from his tight hold, smushed to his chest in a hug as he cried, or fallen to the floor on nights he cried himself to sleep.

Blue's room had felt so empty when he'd slept in his bed, felt so cold with no strong arms to hold and comfort him after a night terror, no scolding voice to hide his brother's affectionate gaze in tired eyes.

Vio's room had felt so empty when he'd sat at his desk, too bright with the curtains left open after Green's concern for his brother's eyes reading too often in low light, before he became isolated to his own room, too quiet without his brother's muttering, telling him stories and information about his latest project as they sat shoulder to shoulder.

He missed his brothers.

Though it was during one of those silent nights that he wandered aimlessly within his sibling's room. It was one of those nights he found the book on folktales again- it was a coincidence really, it laid partially open in an upside-down V, pages folding against the wooden floor wedged under Vio's bed. Red thought it must have been a book Vio was reading at night and dropped before he left for the beach, that day.

Shaking fingers clawed at the leather cover and tightened against fragile paper. He took the book with him back to Blue's bed and curled himself within cold sheets, book firming in his grasp.

Red didn't read often, used to his brother's deep voice threading words into such beautiful pieces for him, but tonight, tonight he would read the book his brother last read and sleep in the place his other sibling slept. Where they could never sleep again.

Red learnt the stories. Desperation bleeding penned ink into a burning hope, a suffocating hope. He knew it was silly. He knew it was childish. He didn't care.

He decided he’d fulfil his role in this tale, mind twisted deep into a spiralling depressive desperation, he’d bring his brothers back, or at least he wouldn’t have to live without them. They were one, created from Link and evolved into their own entities, they were meant to be together, it was fate. He would fulfil his fate, Green would understand, he told himself.

Each day, each night, he told himself it didn’t have to be that day, the ritual repeated every night after the third month of waiting, the third month of agony. It didn’t have to be today, if you were going to do it, why today, why tonight, can’t it wait until tomorrow? Think about it, the opportunity won’t leave if you wait a night, just wait at least one more day.

Green would understand.

Grandpa Smith would understand.

Father would understand.

He was going to make it okay. Silently leaving his bed in the middle of the night, tucking the blankets and cleaning the floor, moving any clothes to his basket by the door, the finally, finished crochet hammerhead shark for Green completed and left neatly on his pillow with a note. Then he changed his mind, socked feet turned back, grabbing the plush, it was instead left by Green’s door, awaiting the morning. Downstairs he passed the kitchen and walked to the door, slipping on his leather boots, the soles still dirty, not cleaned the night before, adjusted Blue and Vio’s shoes on the rack, brushing the light dust on the toes, and he walked out the door. Unable to lock it behind him he hoped it would all be okay until morning, the crime rate low in Castle Town and even lower so far up the hills into the forest.

He walked along the green of the grass, took shortcuts through trees and bends, until he arrived at his destination, over pebbles and a small hop over the sand onto old creaking wood. By the time he reached the end of the pier, his journey reaching its end, the moon was low again, reaching the early hours, the day soon to begin, grandpa Smith soon to wake up, to begin his routine, wash his face and make his way past Green’s room. Would he know what the plushie meant or would he wait until after he’d eaten to check Red’s room? He searched before he even began his routine, a sinking feeling in his heart. Would he care when he found his room empty, whenever he checked? He was filled with a terrible panic, the second he found the house empty awakening Green, both going different directions, alerting the guards the first moment they were able.

The breeze couldn't chill him as deeply as his frozen heart, rotten wood straining under his weight, groaning with the roar of the tide far behind him now, waves crashing around the wooden poles. Gaze solid and piercing the ocean, he allowed that ice to fill his lungs, water to roll from beyond to embrace his entire body. Firm wood was now absent beneath worn leather boots, cold water bled warmth into his skin, needles puncturing deep but mental comfort a thick blanketing shield, and wrapped cloth softly around.

Finally. A warm embrace. The deep rushing of water whispering tales within his ears; waves wrapping warm and strong around him.

Red knew, as he lulled gently, he'd finally sleep alongside his brother's tonight.

They wouldn’t mind, they’d understand.

-

After that night of searching Green returned to his room. Instead of searching like some others would believe, he returned to his room, broken.

The door hadn’t opened in five days, lunch trays left untouched, only two of five dinner trays taken in, one not even finished. Green knew what had happened, not that his brother had gone to the ocean, but that he was gone forever and not returning.

Behind the door, Green sat in the dark, cross-legged on the floor of his bedroom, his back pressed against the wall beneath the window. He kept the curtains closed. The light bothered him—made everything too real. The silence, though, wasn’t any better. It let his thoughts echo loud, like voices bouncing through an empty house.

Three brothers.

He had lost three brothers.

His heart was shattered to pieces, guilt from Blue and Vio still strong, yet he tried comfort himself that there was nothing he could do, but Red brought a whole new crushing wave of emotion- it truly was his fault. He’d probably seen how awful or useless his brother had been and left; he truly was the worst.

Four brothers all meant to be one were now separated beyond veils far out of their control, he truly couldn’t live on like this, yet he couldn’t bring himself to end it either, weight crushing upon his shoulders.

His grandfather had lost his grandchildren, his father losing his children, even worse that he was forced away by duty unable to properly grieve, even if he was surrounded by support from his squadron,  his closest friends who has battled together, grown with together and been in the worst situations, the men he trusted most, he wasn’t home, he wasn’t with his father or remaining son. Instead, he was out in a field or forest clearing, temporary barriers hoisted for defence and tarps tied across the space for shelter- he wasn’t at home in familiar comfort, now quiet, lonely comfort of his remaining family.

His father, still attempting to be strong for the both of them, sent letters, his penmanship slightly shaky despite the many attempts at writing in his neatest script, the occasional smudge of ink from a tilted hand or fallen tear, the paper lightly crinkled as it was left to dry before sealed into an envelope. He tried reassuring Green that they could all work through it all, that it was difficult, but time would help, that he remembers losing Green’s mother and their older son that Link never met, lost young before his own birth. He knew the pain of loosing family, and that hurt Green more, he’d lost his family once and now it had occurred all over again, they were his sons, he should have never lost them before he himself passed, he should have only had to consider his father’s passing, not this.

He must have written to his grandfather and Zelda, too, or so he convinced himself, their genuine concern felt undeserved, appearing at his bedroom door. His grandfather returned more than daily, sometimes just sitting outside the door, lightly knocking and talking to the boy within, conversations about anything, the garden, him cleaning the house, what he’d cook later, customer interactions, and so on; he never mentioned the other boys, not in reassurance, nor even on search progress, for Red nor Blue. He returned at least twice a day, even taking time away from the forge, for lunch and dinner breaks, using the smaller space attached to the house to remain close by for emotional and physical emergencies and comfort, eating his meals outside the door too in an attempt of company. Maybe he would appreciate it, and he hopes his grandfather knew that he did.

Zelda also turned up to his house, at least once a week, at times knocking loud and proud at the door greeting his grandfather, sometimes in the company of a guard or two, metal plate armour clinking along with heavy footsteps in the corridor below; then others she’d be let in voice hushed and exhausted, only a light, almost inaudible to Green, knock heard, having most likely snuck away- it made him emotional.

He was so happy everyone would come out of their way to spend time with him and show how much they cared, but it twisted his gut that they had to disrupt their own schedules and plans to attend to him.

It almost felt like he carried the burden that he couldn’t let them lose another loved one, that he had to appear strong to everyone, especially the public, expecting a hero. The quadlet had won over a portion of the public in different sectors, in support of the group once seeing and leaning of their skills and personalities, others still stuck in their ways, rejecting the new and the use of magic, some would even say cursed magic. The part that hurt the most was that people no longer expected Green, they expected Link.

Just one hero.

Just Link.

-

Being here felt sickening, only months of therapy and support of his family and Zelda keeping him standing, it was only because of them he’d even made it this far towards the location, finally pulled away from overworking himself.

The ocean was a bittersweet place for his family. Blue found peace in the waves, sparing against Green after a long day of knight work at the castle within the shallow waves, a battle between brothers being swept and knocked away with laughter and shallow waves of resistance. Vio exploring the shorelines for different species of plants and aquatic wildlife he read about, some more complex from deep within the castle archives compared and studied against the new books within the library; pages still with the fresh scent of ink, leather still shined and filled with flowery scholarly words. Red mixed between running alongside Vio, collecting shells and rocks more for their aesthetic than research purposes or pulling scarred fingers through the sand, shallow tunnels of water and mindless patterns to be washed and smoothed again by the ocean as the tides rose once dark.

Now it was more than just the sand washed by the waves. Waves he almost imagined his brothers within Blue never retrieved, body rotting and becoming one with the water, pieces flaking, clothes floating and animals eating his flesh, he had become part of the ecosystem. Despite no official confirmation Green believed Red was with him too, never found after the night he disappeared.

No footsteps followed him in the sand. No voices calling out or disturbances within the waves- it was not quiet though. The lack of footsteps didn’t always mean he was alone, he knew this was unique for his family but it brought the small comfort that despite only hearing the waves and harsher winds in his ears, he wasn’t alone. Green’s shadow twisted and coiled around his legs as the sun weaved between clouds and shined across the sand and along weathered rocks. This changed the further he walked down the beach. Sand was kicked up and trenched in lines down towards the ocean as crates and barrels were rolled and dragged through. Perched at the water stood a large crusader ship, decorated like a mare with ribboned strings and crossed banners, white sails shining bright for the royal family. She rocked slightly in waiting, calm yet rearing to sail along the country boundaries and fly toward the horizon- a month journey, one-way to a neighbouring country to Hyrule, royal matters was all he knew, at least that was all Zelda had told him, insisting he was needed to keep her company and defend her, she also threw in, despite the small squadron of guards for the ship and her actual lack of meetings written within her journal. Green knew Shadow wouldn’t be the most enthusiastic if he could criticise, being incorporeal was a barrier enough, being confined to a boat for months would’ve had him floating along the wooden beams- the thought alone made Green chuckle.

This was needed though.

With determined pestering from the princess and slight blackmail of being placed on probation from his guard captain position (decided by both Zelda and his father) and even any forge work from his grandfather swayed Green into accepting his place by the princess’ side. The hero. The chosen knight.

Previously a shared title.

His brothers may have been supportive and promised to write in an effort to promote him to travel but now he relied on the pestering of others. He felt rude thinking of it as “pestering” but after weeks of isolating himself to the forge and house he knew they meant well. “For your own good.” He knew it was true, he needed to go outside; he just wished it wasn’t the ocean.

Before Green even stepped up the wooden ramp, he already felt the tightening of sea sickness in his gut. Stomach tight, head rolling, and eyes squeezed shut; a deep breath and up he stepped.

Leather boots on weakened, waterlogged wood, the pale blue water glittering below, he felt even more sick. Another breath. Another step. A higher pitched voice called from the railing above: the princess. Waving a hand towards her knight and beckoning forward, “I almost believed you had abstained, sir knight,” her voice light but words pointed, “a voyage cannot begin without all aboard, no?”

A sharp nod and hand to heart, “apologies, m’lady. We may sail, no?” The light tease earned a soft giggle. The princess turned, eyes softer and soul lighter, another beckon and further onto the deck they traversed.

Below the boat thrust forward as hands pulled ropes and chains from within wrapped sails and watered lows; the crew bustling with swift calculated motions, actions completed in sequence. It was finally loud again, no empty bedrooms and creaking doors but voices, footsteps, and loud hollers across the deck. The ocean may have looked empty and more isolated than those wooden plank walls but with the sharp ice clawing along his feet and echoed whispers running along his back, he knew.

Lonely in a crowd but never alone, never lonely, with claws and ribbons in his shadow. It’d be a long journey; he knew that too. A long time to heal and think but there, right there in the shade of the mast, he wouldn’t be alone. A hero is never alone. A shard of a mirror will always return to the sand it was forged from, smoothed, and weathered among the waters once more.

It hadn’t taken long into the journey until the sea had turned against them.

Waves heaved and crashed against the hull, sending shudders through the ship’s frame like a wounded animal trying to stay upright. Lightning split the sky above, illuminating the now pounding rain in sharp bursts of silver, while thunder roared like the fury of Hylia was unleashed. The ropes tied along the railing and high above to the flag poles snapped in the wind along with the waxed wood creaked under the pressure.

Green could barely see through the deluge, but he didn’t need to. He felt it, the panic, the weight of the storm pressing down on them, and the danger rising around it all. With great haste he ushered the princess towards the cabin of the ship, set up as her quarters for the journey, now to be used as a refuge.

The crew ran around, back and forth along the deck, staying close to the centre of the deck, grabbing flailing ropes, securing sails tied within the nets above and securing all cargo that was above and below deck to create an equilibrium against the hulking waves, not to test the strength of the waters and the possibility of the ship capsizing.

With a rush and a yell of a young captain, who had to prove himself, authority he directed Zelda across, closing the distance towards the awaiting door, until a large wave curled and burst against the side of the vessel, unfurling across the deck, slickening the already battered floor, another rush sweeping at their tumbling feet, the ground unsteady beneath them.

With another lurch of the ship, Zelda slipped within the rush of water, body thrown sideways in the momentum of stumbling feet, Green’s hand of safety torn from her back and pulled in the retreating water. With another tumble, now far too close to the banister, she fell down into the high rise and fall of the dark waters, only a crack of lightning revealing her peril.

If the world could pause in that moment, it would still feel like only he saw her fall.

"Hold on!" he yelled out of instinct, unheard between the yells of the crew, thick rain and thundering from the clouds above, diving toward her without care for himself.

But her hands were already slipping through the railings, her scream was swallowed by the thunder; without thinking, without hesitating, Green lunged forward and leapt after her, into the dark, screaming mouth of the ocean.

The water was a shock, ice-cold and violent, it hit him like stone and pelted him time and time again, even the first few feet below the cracking surface- his breath was knocked from his chest as he plunged beneath the surface. For a terrifying second, he couldn’t see her, just the churn of white and dark, the sound of his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. Then a flash of dark fabric once a light pink tainted by the water and darkened by the lack of light around them, an outstretched hand, bubbles escaping a mouth trying to scream. He wanted to tell her to hold her breath, not to panic but she had already been placed at a disadvantage, Zelda was smart, she knew that struggling would harm her in the long-term, but as she’d been thrown and smacked across the banister and water’s solid surface the air had been stolen from her lungs leaving no air to hold for buoyancy or survival below the surface.

He kicked hard, extreme effort to fight between the strength of the water’s claws dragging him back and forth, circulating the water from above, with the rush of a downward wave, cutting through the water until Green’s hand found her arm, he pulled her close. She struggled at first, not against Green but to try assist him to correct their movement, to face upwards towards their salvation, to struggle for purchase against their momentum, arms flailing, he helped steady them both, wrapping his arms around her waist and kicking toward the surface.

Above them, the storm raged, but he could see the shape of the ship, a ghostly silhouette rocking against the sky. The weight of his own clothes dwarfed by the boulder of Zelda’s gown; weight amplified by the water latching to be woven within.

After a few minutes of struggle, vision darkening at points until cracks of lightning pushed through, they surfaced together. She gasped, choking on rain and seawater, Green held her above the waves with all the strength he had left.

"Grab the rope!" someone shouted from above, their voice only heard as if an illusion due to the now visible outline of two figures above leaning over the wooden bars, both seemed to have rope tied around their torsos and an extra rope hung between them ravelled around the openings in the carved wood. He couldn’t tell who it was but he thanked them mentally none the less.

Ropes dangled from the side of the ship, swinging wildly, Green pushed Zelda to grab the rope first, coiling the rope around her wrists after he failed to tie a knot around her waist with the pushing of the waves. Arms reached down, and the princess was lifted, first by her waist, then her arms and onto the safety of the deck. Turning over her shoulder, exhausted and held tight by a member of the crew, her eyes met Green’s for a single heartbeat, wide with fear and overflowing with gratitude.

But before he could reach up to follow, something tugged at his leg.

At first, he thought it was a drifting rope. A loose knot from the ship, trailing behind like a forgotten anchor tail, but it moved. It wrapped around his ankle, then the other, until it coiled and tightened as he struggled.

He thrashed, reaching toward the ship, kicking hard. The water spun, waves crashing above him. A second line, or something that felt like a rope, sensations dulled in the cold, battering water, twisted around his thigh. Panic surged in his chest, heavy and hot. He twisted, trying to see if it truly was it rope, or a form of extremely long or loose seaweed, maybe even a lost fishing net. The ocean offered no clarity, only shadows and twisting, blurred motion.

The surface began to drift farther away, he reached up, but the water pulled him down; his body drifted, his eyes forced shut, stinging with salt and sore from strain, the sea turning silent and still, the lower he drifted, the colder he became and the more dulled his senses, save for the low hum of what wasn’t thunder, but what seemed to be voices.

As if the ocean itself was remembering him.

-

As always, thank you for reading and criticism is always welcome. For this piece I'd love for it to be a transition into some x reader head-cannons (therefore the tags) but those will be posted in another piece.

Fun fact:

Alternate (original planned) ending: the ship enters a storm, and Green is thrown overboard trying to take the princess into the cabin or dives into the ocean and drowns when lifting her onto the ship after she fell. He can see the shadow of the boat above, the darkness of the sea below and the reflection of the water around him which disorientates him. Instead of being able to swim to the surface either a loose rope from the ship ties and drags him or long foliage from the seabed traps around him when he flailed when disorientated. The shadows begin spinning showing that Shadow desperately tries to save Green but is unable- as he loses consciousness, he sees multiple “masses”/sea creatures circling him, it is implied that these are his brothers turned to selkies.

[evelhak]

Old art #21: Four Colours

I love talking about this old project. We drew this exchange impro comic with the childhood friend my last repostober post was about, when we were 12-16. We sent the pages to each other with our letters, and that was our way of continuing to do art together after I moved away from my birth town.

Basically, it's our version of W.i.t.c.h. and Winx club type of magical girl stories. Except... we really didn't give a crap about the magic part of the story. We drew so much about the characters' ordinary life that it's hilarious how every once in a while it's like a side note... "Oh yeah, I guess we should do something about our magical mission, huh. Anyway, I'm really stressed about the math test tomorrow." Lol. I guess in that sense it resembles h2o more than it does those other series? They're mostly just living life. Except they don't really get into funny incidents because of their magical secret. It's really mostly just school, friendships, family, dating, for some reason a singing contest two of the characters win and become famous (LOL exactly what 12-year-olds would come up with), with some resemblance of a plot sometimes.

Yes, the comic's name was really just "Four Colours" and yes, the characters were colour-coded and their colour was in their name. They had colour related powers and with absolutely ridiculously over-dramatic names, like, seriously, I can't even say them, even now that I'm mostly endeared by the stuff I wrote as I kid. (My dear KnB's got nothing on these 12-year-olds. It was that bad.)

The magic plot was basically that there was this random village somewhere(?), where people were dying because of some magical disease and these four girls were chosen to climb a magical mountain and unite their colours at the top of it, and that's how the village would be saved. Sounds completely ridiculous, but when I think about it, I guess it's not completely uncreative from kids that age. (But the chosen ones sure let the village suffer for a long time.)

Obviously, as we grew, we just ditched the most ridiculous stuff, and some parts of the end of the story when we were 15-16 aren't completely horrible.

The story was full of generic and unexplained villains, weird anatomy, for some reason it always started raining and someone pointed it out for no reason, there was a character who was a real dramatic romanticised curse magnet, another whose breakup with a guy she'd only known for a few months haunted her for more than half of the 500-page story, another who was co-dependent on the dramatic curse magnet and made everything about her, and the one who both me and my friend had apparently decided was the least interesting character because she did practically nothing.

But these are the stories that make you grow into a writer, you know? And I still love these characters. I have plans to rewrite their story in a completely different way that brings out those interesting personalities that had to suffer from this horrible story.

And like I said, some of it is not that bad, and is interesting to me. Like, there's this character who sees everything magical that happens to them through a religious lens, and that is neither confirmed nor debunked at any point in the story, and none of the others ever argue about it with her even though they clearly don't see it that way, they never even say anything like "oh well, that's her", because that's just so her, that no one has to even mention it. It's just her way of seeing the world, and she never really pushes it onto others either. I like that. And there are some fairly interesting psychological consequences some characters suffer from because of their powers, which is something I always want to see in stories, and also is pretty clear unintentional exploration of neurodiversity from me when I didn't know anything about it. Some powers are also clear unintentional explorations of trauma.

I also experienced some of the first insane flow states with this story. One time I stayed up all night and drew 40 pages in that one sitting.

Anyway, this is just another story that will never leave me and probably explains part of my taste for writing about the everyday lives of extraordinary people.

[dottchy]

Blue on blue, heartache on heartache