Wanted to finish Red and Blue together, but I've been fighting for my life on Blue's piece and I've been real busy as of late so, here's Red by himself! This adult Red design belongs to @spadeprincesss who let me draw him! Thank you again for letting me do so when I had barged into your DMs and begged at your feet like a mad man! I am so (not) normal about this au!
Warnings: grief after major character death, violence, stabbing
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The Links had taken several detours of their incessant helpfulness, which Shadow mostly stayed out of. He had no need to take part in fighting creatures of darkness like himself for blindly terrified villagers. Or seemingly randomly moving boulders out of the way of caves. Shadow watched with crossed arms, snickering or mocking them when they struggled.
“Okay, that's it. I can't look at that face and hear that voice at the same time anymore today.” Green huffed, gesturing at Shadow grinning in his Original Link disguise. He picked up a force gem, “I say we stay in that abandoned house up ahead for the night and finish the rest of the way through the swamp tomorrow.”
“Eh, ya'll might not want to stop here.” Shadow hummed.
“Why?” Red asked, looking around confusedly.
Shadow shrugged, whistling as he walked ahead to the house. Blue huffed and rushed up after him. “Don’t you dare go walking out of our sight.”
They walked inside, ancient floorboards creaking. There was nothing inside beyond sparkling dust dancing in the dimming light of the sunset. Shadow kicked the dust, glancing at the four walls. Four windows. Four doors. Plenty of escapes. Plenty of ways in.
Green sighed, already unfurling his bed roll, “Okay. Who's gonna watch him first?”
“What, we have to watch him at night too?” Blue whined, “Not even sleep is sacred anymore.”
“Oh please, I'm a creature of darkness, you won't be able to see me in the night anyway.” Shadow grinned in such a way that did not belong to Link, stretched unnaturally over sharp teeth.
Red looked nervously over him, brows furrowing. “I'll do it. The fire rod will help, too.”
“I can not wait to see his hair on fire,” Blue cheered, rolling out his own bedroll, smoothing out the edges to perfect corners.
Shadow shrugged, letting himself slip into the shadows of the room, vanishing from sight. Red gasped, glancing around.
“Wh- did you loose him already?!” Green whined, sitting back up.
Shadow grinned from his place within Green's shadow on the ground, only for Red's foot to suddenly stomp onto his shoulder. Shadow blinked, looking up at him.
“Red what are you doing?” Blue grumbled.
Red just smiled back. Shadow almost felt unsettled himself. He allowed himself back into the Light. Green screamed, flailing back as Shadow appeared halfway under him. Red's foot raised off his shoulder gently.
“Hylia's feathers.” Green grumbled. “Don’t do that to me.”
Shadow rolled his eyes, sitting back up. “How'd you spot me?”
“Your smile and eyes show back up in the shadow you possess.” Red explained with a self satisfied little grin.
“Creepy.” Green mumbled.
“Agreed,” Shadow said, despite being fully aware Green was not thinking about Red.
Green huffed, kicking Shadow until he moved out of the way of his bedroll. Shadow allowed himself to roll over and lay on his stomach as Red sat down across from him.
The night settled and two Links had fallen asleep with surprising ease. Shadow guessed that was just natural to them all, like Link as a whole.
Red's gaze was just shy of lazing. He shook his head, blinking awake, and sighed.
He glanced at the other two. Curious, secretive glances. Shadow propped himself up on his elbows, brows furrowing.
“...You didn't actually k- kill Vio. Right?” He finally whispered, soft with tentative hope. It was quickly doused in black tar as Shadow's features grew flat and sullen.
“I can lie, if you'd prefer,” Shadow said, forcing a smirk.
Red frowned, curling up slightly. “I just. I can't picture it. I- I mean, you- you've only sent people away before. The Maidens, Zelda, the Knights- you took them away but you've never-”
“I wasn't thinking.” Shadow rolled onto his back, looking at the ceiling.
“Why didn't you try to kill us, last night? Why help Malon? Why stay?” Red’s eyes pleaded with him. He swallowed thickly.
“Maybe Vio cursed me.” He chuckled darkly, “It's the one thing that'd make sense. He manipulated me like every other creature from the Light. Some curse to make sure I had to care.”
He grit his teeth, “Even though he was supposed to care about me.” He hissed, “He was supposed to be mine.”
“You can't just claim him.” Red whispered, almost accusatory. He froze, for a moment, looking deep into Shadow's glaring gaze. His voice was sharp but warm. “At least not without claiming everything he's connected to. That's not how that works.”
He felt like complaining would get him nowhere. So he ignored the concept. He had a better answer for the other questions now, anyway.
“I wanted to see how it felt.” Shadow whispered. Red tilted his head, confused. “To be a hero just because you could. I wanted to find out if he lied about that too.”
Red hesitated. Like he was unsure if he'd want the truth. “...Did he?”
Shadow closed his eyes, swallowing. He supposed he was like Red. He didn't know if he wanted the truth.
What was more painful? Vio the traitor, lying to protect himself, who never cared about him. Or Vio who understood Shadow better than himself and who Shadow killed anyway. It was easier. The uncertainty. Ambiguity.
“I guess that's why I'm staying,” he whispered.
Red stared at him, a curious and confused sort of soft. …It felt just a little bit like Vio. Not quite fully. Red was missing some quality to it.
“Do... Do you want a hug?”
Shadow blinked, looking at him with furrowed brows. “What?”
A clattering rumble sounded outside. Shadow sat up.
“Er. I mean-” Red began to backtrack, stumbling over words.
An arrow crashed through the window, making Red shriek.
“There they are!” Shadow announced,“I was wondering when his troops would notice us.”
“Who's troops?!” Red exclaimed, stumbling to stand up.
“What is going on?” Blue whined as he sat up from his sleep with a groggy frown.
“The blue knight, duh.”
“You didn't tell us the blue knight was HERE?” Blue shouted.
“I told you we shouldn't stop here. Po-tay-to po-tat-o.”
Green whined and rolled over. Another arrow sailed in and struck where Green used to be. Shadow cackled at the luck.
Red did not believe in luck clearly. He shrieked, leaping to grab Green and yank him into a stand.
“Hate you hate you hate you-” Blue growled as he grabbed his sword and shield.
Green grumbled with sleep as he looked out the window at the army marching toward them. He leaned heavily on Red with a burdened sigh. Finally he grabbed his weapon. “We got a plan?”
A beat of silence lasted a moment too long as they all waited for a voice that wouldn't come.
“I say we just go smack them.” Blue offered.
“Sounds great.” Green agreed. Three heroes rushed out the door, directly into danger, as they were prone to.
Shadow rolled his eyes, allowing color to bleed back into himself. He strolled out the opposite door. The idiots barely thought about covering their backs.
Arrows sailed past his ears, and several armored soldiers clattered toward him with swords raised.
Shadow tilted his head... He could have fun with them, actually. He grinned at the mind controlled creatures of light. Pathetic and useless a lot as they were. They were never a match for Link and certainly wouldn't be for Shadow. Especially in the dark of night.
He side-stepped one attack, grabbing one’s tin can head and swinging his momentum to smack with another.
A sword sailed toward his back. He back flipped, landing on the blade. He cackled and jumped on it, forcing the blade to the ground, the man falling with it. Another swung at his head and he ducked, grabbing his arm and yanked down. They crashed into a tumble at his feet.
He stepped onto one of their backs, and casually stepped down. An arrow sailed into his shoulder. He glanced at it.
His eyes flicked back to an archer. He grinned. In the blink of an eye he was there, grabbing the archer and yanking him down to the ground. He stole the bow out of his panicked grasp, raising it and crashing it against their head. Wood splintered with a satisfying crack. The soldier groaned.
Another set of soldiers rushed toward him, and he ducked a sword, grabbing one around the waist and spinning with them like a dance. He let go, letting the soldier stumble and fall into another. A domino of bodies.
A blade slid into his middle. Shadow impulsively grabbed the blade and froze for half a beat. Regular blades didn't sting nearly as much as the Four Sword. That was good to know. He turned his head to look at the soldier, a sharp smile stretching on his features. “Tickles.”
He shoved the blade back at the soldier, forcing the pommel into their chest. They grunted, stumbling back, and Shadow twisted their blade arm and yanked the sword out of their grasp. He dropped it, kicking them down to the ground with the rest of the groaning pile.
He grabbed the sword from his belt. Energy thrummed in his hands. Bright and dangerous. He strode toward another set of soldiers. He danced with the blade, crashing it against the dull human crafted work. Breaking one sword with a brilliant force. The True Four Sword was far more violent than his shadowed mimicry. Golden and sharp and pure power.
He kicked one to the ground. He relished in the slight burn of energy. He disarmed another. Loved the pureness of it. Precise and thoughtless. He crashed the pommel into one behind him. The rage channeled into movement and power. He crashed against another knocking them to their back.
A manic cackle escaped his lips. Heart of shadow pounding with fury and power. Pulsing in his ears. He raised the blade over the prone soldier’s throat.
His arms locked on him.
He stared at the armored face.
He didn't care if they died. They were nothing to him.
Why couldn't he move?
Shadow flipped the blade around and struck them with the violet pommel instead.
His eyes flickered through the field, the soldiers were all sprawled on the ground with groans and whines.
He glanced at Vio's Sword. It was so warm against his hand. Shadow swallowed, taking in heaving breaths.
“No. Nope. No-” Shadow sunk into the darkness, and rushed to the house. He slid down the dark wood.
The Dark was quiet, gentle. The house creaked ominously, a groan reflecting the Light's shaking and clatter.
Shadow swallowed the first gasps in an attempt to calm. But a wail echoed in the dark regardless.
“What do you WANT from me?” He cried, his fist slamming against wood. The darkness absorbed the blow for him. Physicality was always harsher in the Light. The Dark cradled him like the only mother he’d known.
Neither Vio nor Ganon responded…
Shadow hated silence.
In alien au, who would Tommy rank from favourite to least favourite?
oh it definetly fluctuates
in the beginning of the fic, it was:
1. phil
2. wilbur
3. techno
tommy hated techno because of how strong and scary he looked. and it didnt help it seemed like techno could barely tolerate tommy
on the other hand phil was barely the favorite only by default in that he was around tommy the least (trying to let his human "settle in") so he wasnt harassing tommy and freaking him out
currently id say its more like:
techno
phil
wilbur
wilbur is harassing tommy a lot so tommy chafes under the attention
meanwhile techno, even though hes scary doesnt really try to pet or hug tommy or anything. he lets tommy come to him which tommy likes.
phil again, is because he barely interacts with tommy so far lmao. right in the sweet spot
THIS WILL ALSO BE A VERY LONG POST!!! The rest is under read more!!!
LINK (GREEN) :
he/she/they
4’10
Hylian
Holds the Shekia Slate
His tunic is now slightly green
Still isn’t quick to talk, and he rather stay quiet. Though, after the four gather, he opens up a bit more.
You can’t tell what emotion he is feeling most of the time.
Takes pictures for Zelda
He enjoys cooking and experimenting with different types of food
RELATIONSHIPS:
Vio: Link has opened up to Vio the most, so he can trust him quite a lot.
Blue: Feels a bit sorry for him at first, but they like to tease each other now.
Red: Link feels comfortable around Red, he likes talking about animals and food with him.
Shadow: Link feels empathy for Shadow. He understands that it is out of Shadow’s control to be possessed by malice.
VIO :
he/they
5’11
Half Rito
Lives in Rito Village
He started studying Hyrule culture and history after he resurrected
Not a Rito soldier, but they are pretty good at archery
One of his leg bands have the same colors of the four heroes
Preferably eats fish, but they will eat other foods if he has too
RELATIONSHIPS:
Link: Vio is close to Link, he helps him with puzzles, and let’s Link talk to him about whatever. Vio likes sharing the stories of Hyrule to Link since Link forgot most of them.
Blue: Gets a bit fed up at Blue, Vio sees him as a bit rough housy.
Red: Vio likes Red, They see him as a strong kid who really has gotten more independent.
Shadow: Vio is the closest to Shadow. (interpret this anyway you want)
BLUE :
he/him
6’7
Half Zora
Shark-like teeth
Lives outside Zora’s Domain
Works as a Zora soldier
He uses brass knuckles, and he isn’t afraid to punch the shit out of monsters
He eats fish and only fish
RELATIONSHIPS:
Link: At first, Blue blamed Link for turning the other 3 into mixed species. He gave up on that quickly and became nicer to Link. They now like to tease each other.
Vio: Blue doesn’t really like Vio. He’s too rational and smart headed for Blue.
Red: Blue actually looks up to Red, they like to train together.
Shadow: “Boogie Man”. Blue doesn’t trust Shadow one bit.
RED :
he/him
3’6
Half Goron
Lives in Goron City
He studies magic and plays with the kids in Goron City
He uses a Firerod
He chipped his tooth by slamming into a rock :(
Eats rocks, they have to be softer than normal rocks, he will gladly eat other food though.
RELATIONSHIPS:
Link: Red wants to make sure Link is looking on the bright side most of the time! He likes talking to Link about the new animals they see, and food they can possibly make.
Vio: Red likes it when Vio tells stories. Vio is very nice to him, so he likes him.
Blue: He loves training with Blue! Red finds it odd that Blue is a bit jealous of him.
Shadow: Red finds Shadow a bit scary :(
SHADOW :
he/him
5’10 (7’10)
Half Malice
pointy teeth and Fangs
The four found him outside Kara Kara Bazaar at midnight, he was possessed by malice, but the four saved him
He has a malice cloud that follows behind his physical form
He cannot be in light, so he follows behind the four’s shadows when they are exploring. When it becomes night, he gets excited to be outside
He uses dark magic, he can transform, stretch his form, and float, but due to the malice, he can only do these for short periods of time
RELATIONSHIPS:
Link: Link treats Shadow and the others like other people and not copies of himself, Shadow is very appreciative of that.
Vio: Shadow likes Vio. Vio helps calm down Shadow after a malice outbreak, and is overall very gentle with him.
Blue: Shadow loves teasing Blue. He calls him “Pretty Boy”
Red: Shadow finds Red small and intimidating.
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And that’s all! expect to see a lot of these idiots!! I hope you guys like them as much as I do X)
