just because i'm doing artfight doesn't mean i'm stopping the linktober legacy series! skyward sword this month (thank you linktober mods for making it just one game in july lol). they're cuties in every design but these ones are especially cutie-pie i think
@linktober legacy: link's awakening/echoes of wisdom
echoes of wisdom! despite being the newest mainline game, it still had a LOT of redesign to choose from. all with such nice palettes, too. blue & purple my beloved
Ahem we were a little bit busy with our show but had a Legacy calendar at the ready. Make something related to these games for June! Feel free to join our live canvas too.
Create on a shared canvas in real time. Magma is a drawing platform for artists and teams to sketch, collaborate, and grow together.
You ran with Link through the University, higher and higher. “Yeah, we found Zant,” Link said into his phone, “he’s headed up to the Royal Ballroom! Meet up and we’ll take care of him.”
You smashed another monster with your tail before it could form. “Who knew he’d be so fast with those stupid shoes and helmet?”
Link cleaved through another monster. “He’s trying to trap us, isn’t he?”
“Most likely. I bet Ganondorf is up there too. We’ll have to change the plan.” A tall monster with a giant eye rose from the shadows. “Beamos!” You shielded Link from the monster’s laser with your wing as he shot a bomb arrow over your shoulder. You started to run again, but a Wallmaster appeared, grabbing your tail. Link quickly stabbed it with his sword.
“Thanks,” the two of you said in unison.
You ran through an undercroft as you climbed higher along the corkscrew path up the University grounds. As you burst out beside a pond, hulking Geozards leapt from the pond, snarling as their fins flared. The ambush had you off guard and before you could move, you were surrounded. You fought to push away, but you and Link were overwhelmed. Your mask was torn away in the struggle, as you tried to sink your own claws into the monsters. As claws clashed, little by little, your bandages were being torn away. Finally, you got enough room to blast the fish warriors in the face with flames. You stumbled away as your attackers screeched, trying to get back to the water. Link broke away from his and quickly dispatched the rest with his sword.
While the monsters were gone, the pain lingered. You sunk to your knees, wincing. Your scales were sore and aching. They had spread over your entire body, covering all of your burned skin, but that didn’t stop the sunburn-like ache under it all. “Navi? Are you okay?”
“Need to keep going, he’s getting away…”
“As if! Sit down and catch your breath. You’re not gonna beat him like this.”
“I’ll be fine, just… forgot how much those bandages were helping.” Your wings and tail twitched as you took deep breaths, pushing past the pain.
Link knelt beside you. “You said Maple helped you when you first transformed, let’s go find her, maybe she can fix it? Or maybe Venus?”
“Link, if we wait we’ll give them a chance to regroup. We need to keep going. I’ll be okay.”
“But… what if you transform?”
You looked down. Transforming fully seemed all but a certainty at this point. “If I do… I know you’ll bring me back. You always have before.” The dragon must have agreed, as your tail began to wag uncontrollably as Link got closer.
Link rummaged in his pocket, pulling out a small bottle filled with red liquid. “It’s… not much, and definitely not like Venus’ magic, but I thought I’d get it for you, just in case. Good thing, huh?”
“Thanks,” you said softly, accepting the red potion and taking a sip. The potion was concentrated, so the taste was a bit intense, but it at least helped to ease some of the pain. Once you had finished, you found Link shoving a protein bar at you. “Really?”
Link frowned. “You didn’t have enough last night. You’re gonna need your energy if we’re gonna fight Zant, Ganondorf, and their boss.”
You took the protein bar, noting that Link had given you his favorite flavor. “Thanks Link.”
“Just glad I can take care of you for once,” he said with a lopsided smile. “Though… gotta say, three big fights back to back is gonna be dangerous for any of us. Sure, we’ve got Venus and Ralon to heal us up, but it’d be great if we could break it up a bit more.”
You chewed the bar thoughtfully. “Actually… we might be able to. I think I know a way we can get Ganondorf off the board. Gimme your phone?”
Link tossed it to you and you quickly shot off a text. You tossed him his phone back. “Okay, let’s go!”
==============================
You caught up to Zant just outside the ballroom in the beautiful gardens at the highest level of the University. “No more running Zant!” Link shouted. “Stand and fight.”
“Did it occur to you I might be bringing you here to trap you?” Zant sneered, only to get shot knocked over by a bomb arrow. Pillars of ice rose around him.
“Did it occur to you we were a step ahead?” Ralon said with a smirk as he and Corbus stepped out from a gazebo in the garden.
Before Zant could find his footing again, he was clobbered to the ground. “Comin’ through!” Aryll laughed, grabbing him by his long dragging sleeve and whipping him around into the ice pillars.
Zant broke free, backing away with a handspring. “You… you brats! I will not have you make a mockery of me!”
“Aww, but it’s so fun,” Aryll pretended to pout. “Is the big bad general sad that he’s outclassed?”
“I’ll show you!” Zant charged forward straight at Aryll, twin swords appearing from his sleeves. He was stopped short by two other swords, as Avil stood in his way. Zant bounced back, only to slam into a large stone arm.
Professor Komadoh laughed from the stone Zelda’s shoulder. “I suppose we should’ve expected this. After all, the stories say you had to hide behind your other monsters when you fought the Hero of Twilight. I just didn’t expect someone to be so pathetic.”
“You… you…” Zant stomped his feet and screeched in anguish. “You won’t be laughing once I get more reinforcements!” He started to run, but smacked into a wall of golden light.
“Oh you’re not going anywhere.” Venus rose over the edge of the dropoff. “Boys, leave him to us!”
“Thanks everyone!” You shouted. You took Link’s hand and ran through the doors.
The University’s Royal Ballroom was formerly known as the Sanctum, the once throne room of Hyrule’s Royal Family. The University had since turned it into an event space for galas or for graduation; though tonight, the space was left open and empty. Despite improvements for modern conveniences, it had largely remained preserved. The thrones still looked down upon the ballroom, and there were large verandahs and balconies that gave one a beautiful view of all corners of Hyrule. One such balcony was occupied; a man with fiery hair stood on the south end, looking out over Castle City and Hyrule Field towards Gerudo Desert.
“And so the hero and the prince arrive…” His rumbling voice shook you. Ganondorf turned from the overlook towards you. He shed his robe, revealing a dark set of armor beneath. “I’ve been waiting for you to arrive.” He descended the steps toward you, regal yet something about him seemed almost wistful.
“How about we skip all of this and just jump to the part where you tell us who your boss is?” you said.
Ganondorf watched you with amusement. “Funny how even after all this time, you sound much like your ancestors.”
“Not that you would know, you’re just a reflection of the past, diluted with time and details lost to history.”
“That’s the funny thing,” Ganondorf said. “I may not be the same Ganondorf, and sure, some of the details may be wrong thanks to stories being twisted… but sometimes stories exaggerate. Heroic deeds become more impressive and villains become more heinous. So, little dragon, can you imagine what years of being Hyrule’s greatest nightmare does?” He laughed, low and menacing as a swirling vortex of darkness engulfed the ballroom. “Ganondorf, the Demon King. Ganondorf, the Undead God. Ganondorf, the King of Thieves. The title matters not. I can be all of it at once.”
He rose into the air spreading his arms. Almost carelessly, he flung a spell towards you. Link raised his shield just in time to stop a blast of magic from hitting you, reflecting it with the Mirror Shield. Ganondorf batted the magic away, singeing a stone column. A double-ended trident appeared in his hand and he swung it down, sending a horde of Fire Keese towards the two of you. You quickly smashed through them with your tail.
Ganondorf flung his spear at Link, who dodged in time. He shot another blast of magic at Link, and this time Link batted it back with his sword. Ganondorf now drew a large claymore, knocking the magic back. The ball of energy bounced between the two, giving you just enough time to slink back and spread your wings. As Ganondorf knocked the magic back, you flung yourself towards him, knocking him out of the air. You pinned him to the ground, fangs bared. Just as you were about to strike, he disappeared. He reappeared above you, knocking the magic burst down and into your back.
“Argh!” You winced as the magic crackled around you, legs going numb. Ganondorf slammed down in front of you, striking you with the flat of his claymore into a column and pinning you with it against the stone. His other hand forced your head away from him to prevent you from breathing fire on him.
“Underestimate me at your peril,” Ganondorf sneered. Yet, despite being pinned, you started to laugh. Ganondorf frowned. “I admit dragon, this is new…”
You looked at him through his fingers, a faint chime playing across the room. “You’re not the only one who’s back from the dead.”
Ganondorf looked confused, only to be blasted across the room and into a wall. The Guardian ran after him, with Purah in tow. Ganondorf brushed off some stone rubble as he stood, breaking into a demented grin. “The pathetic knight… Is a replica really enough to defeat me?”
King. The Guardian said, drawing his sword. And nothing better to kill a copy than another copy.
“So be it… I’ve longed to have another battle with an opponent who could truly test me,” Ganondorf growled, leveling his sword at the mechanical knight.
And so we shall… after this. The Guardian shot forward in the blink of an eye, dodging Ganondorf’s sword. He grappled Ganondorf, locking him in a bear hug. Purah now!
“Right!” Purah snapped her fingers, and the three began to glow.
Good luck, grandson. Link. The three turned into ribbons of blue light, spirited away somewhere to have their duel far from the University by Sheikah teleportation. With that you and Link were left alone.
“How long do you think we’ll have to wait for the boss to show up?” Link asked, holding the Master Sword tightly.
You couldn’t help but growl, your back starting to arch. “They’ve been here the whole time… I can feel it, but I can’t tell where.”
“Very good,” came a disembodied voice. It sounded layered and distorted, as if speaking with the voice of every villain they had brought forth with the Tri Rod. “At least becoming a dragon has taught you to pay attention.”
“Show yourself!” Link shouted.
The voice ignored him. “Where did you take Ganondorf? I figured you’d want to fight him.”
“There is no Ganondorf!” you shouted. “He’s a fake, just like the others.”
“Actually,” a voice said, stabilizing as one voice, “I prefer the term, Echoes. That was what our dear ancestor called them after all.” Zelda stepped out from behind the thrones, holding the Tri Rod.
“Z-Zelda?” Link asked. “What… what is this?”
“So, you did have the Tri Rod.” You glared at her across the throne room. “Veran, Zant, Yuga, Malladus, all of them Echoes too. I should have known the Tri Rod would work best in the hands of someone descended from its original wielder.”
“I suppose if anyone would’ve figured it out, it would be you.” Zelda’s voice dripped with contempt.
“I… I don’t understand,” Link said.
“Of course, you don’t,” Zelda said. “You’re an idiot. You’re lucky your precious Navi was here to keep an eye on you since you ran off. You were supposed to stay with me!” Link glared at her. “It was going to be such a perfect fairy tale. A monster, a princess, and a hero and the return of a glorious kingdom… and the power to make things perfect forever. It would have been so much easier if our stupid ancestor didn’t banish the Triforce from this realm in the first place, but a girl learns to make do.”
You felt like you were going to be sick. “You want the Triforce just to live out your princess fantasy?!”
“Oh please, it’s more than a fantasy. You and I both know our family was meant to rule this land. Look around you! It’s not like anyone could stop me. Imagine if someone else attacked, these idiots wouldn’t know what to do. It’s just a mercy to save these people from themselves. We’ll reset the clock and bring Hyrule back to a better time. My plan was perfect… if it wasn’t for you two. Link, you’re a hero, you’re supposed to slay the monsters.”
You’d never seen Link look so disgusted, even when under Yuga’s spell. “You turned Navi into a dragon so I would kill him?”
Zelda shrugged. “I needed just the right person to play the part. Someone who’s heart was filled with enough jealousy and envy, but also the innate power of the royal family would create a terrible monster. Then, I could make sure everyone turned their attention to that monster, blame it for everything. Strange things happening? Legends coming true? Of course, the idiots out there would pick the monster. Instant angry mob and a perfect distraction while I continued my work,” she said but her smile turned sour. “But Veran had to miss, and you got lucky getting help to slow the curse.”
“Jealousy and envy… of what?” Link asked, turning towards you.
You tightened up, but you didn’t want any more secrets. “Of you,” you said quietly. “I thought you and Zelda were dating… and I wanted you to be my boyfriend instead.” Any doubt instantly washed away and Link’s eyes sparkled.
Zelda rolled her eyes. “You two are disgusting. But I figured I should be flexible and even if you were working with Link, I could use you to find the Light Force. So I waited. I knew you’d gather the three sanctions from the Goddesses. Unlocking the Temple of Time was supposed to open the way to the Sacred Realm and the Triforce or at least the Light Force! Yet, all it unlocked was a stupid sword!” She kicked over a pot. “So I figured the real entrance must be hidden under Snowpeak, so I sent an Echo to invade it. But it wasn’t there either. So where is it?!” She roared. “Where is the Light Force that I rightfully deserve?!”
“You want the power of Hylia…” you muttered, thinking all the way back to what Maple had told you when you first transformed. “But you didn’t get it. The Royal Bloodline doesn’t go through you, it goes through me. That’s why you made sure I got transformed, isn’t it? Because I wasn’t just a threat to you and Link, but to your plan to get power.”
“Like I said,” Zelda smirked, “I needed just the right person to play the part.”
“Every bit of opposition out of the way, huh?” You said, as another realization hit. “Is that why you also made sure Link’s skills were slipping? Sabotaging his studies and his training? You didn’t want him to be anything more than a toy, and someone you could toss aside if they got too dangerous.”
“What?” Link gasped. He looked up at Zelda in shock; your cousin merely glared.
“There’s one more thing,” you said, as everything was coming together for you. “What I don’t understand is how you were able to make so many Echoes at once. All of the stories mention how that Zelda could only summon a few at a time.”
“Maybe I’m just more gifted,” Zelda preened.
“Or you’re getting help.” Zelda flinched, if for a second. You allowed yourself a moment of smug pride before focusing. “Zelda… you don’t have to do this. You can give this up. You can still break free.”
She looked at you with venom. “No! I’m not stopping now. Not after you got your hands all over my boyfriend.”
“I am not your boyfriend, and I never have been,” Link said in a low warning voice.
“No, because you were too busy making googly eyes at him. Why Link? What does my stupid cousin have that I don’t? I’m far prettier, more popular, richer. You could’ve had everything!”
“But you don’t love me and – wait.” Link froze as the final piece of the puzzle slid into place. “C-cousin…? Zelda only has…” Link paled. He spun towards you, frantic. His hand shook as he reached out to you. “…[Y/n]?”
You took his hand, gently running your thumb over his knuckles. You gave him a weak smile. “Hey.”
“N-Navi… you’re… you’re [Y/n]!”
“Always have been. I’m sorry, I couldn’t tell you.”
“All this time…?” Link murmured, hands shaking.
“It hardly matters,” Zelda said. Her words were like a bucket of ice, and the two of you glared at her. “All of this is going to be gone soon. So what if the Light Force wasn’t in the temples or the mansion or even here at the castle? I’ll just have my monsters tear through every last bit of the country until I find it. I’m going to wipe Hyrule clean and then when the world is still, I know I’ll find it.”
“You’re crazy if you think we’ll let that happen,” you said, as Link slowly slipped from your hands.
“As if I need to ask permission. I’m the one with the Tri Rod. I don’t care how many Sages you know or what little toys you have to fight my soldiers with. I can always make more, I can always curse more people. And each one pushes you closer to losing yourself, so all I have to do is wait. I have nothing but time, and when you finally crack, I – urgk?!” Zelda looked down in horror to see the Master Sword through her chest.
“How dare you,” Link said in a low growl, slowly growing louder. “You… you’re responsible for all of this… all because you were jealous?! All because you wanted a kingdom that’s been long dead?! How dare you do this to him!” With a roar, Link ripped the Master Sword free and slashed it across her throat.
Zelda’s body fell limp to the ground, only to disappear a moment later. “An Echo?” You said. “No, no, no, we have to find the real one! If we don’t stop her, she’s going to basically nuke Hyrule! She’s got to be around here somewhere...”
Link just stared at the spot where Zelda’s Echo once stood. “I… I can’t believe she did all of that to you.”
You stopped and turned to Link. “To me? What about to you? She was horrible to you.”
“She was, but you’re her family. And what about your dad? Sure, she didn’t do it directly, but she caused him to be transformed too.”
You sighed. “I know, and I’m sure it’s gonna take me a long time to truly understand why, but we’ve got bigger problems right now. We need to stop her, and I know someone’s helping her that’s way more powerful than I originally thought. If we don’t stop them now, Hyrule might be just… gone. And with a rogue Goddess running around, the rest of the world won’t stand much of a chance.”
“You’re right, we’ll find her,” Link said, but you could tell something was still on his mind. “Um… first though. Navi, I mean, [Y/n], you were in love me?”
You blinked and after a beat, nearly shouted, “Link, there’s no ‘were’ about it. I love you! I’ve been in love with you for a long time. Why would you ask?”
Suddenly, you found yourself trapped against the wall between Link’s arms. There was a rather unique fire in his eyes, one that looked less like Link’s flirting but soft puppy eyes and more like being stalked by a wolf. “You’re telling me I could’ve asked you out before all this, and I could’ve been dating you this whole time?!”
“I… maybe,” you said softly. “Though I don’t think we would’ve been ready for it until now. I… I didn’t think you really noticed me back then. And I’ll be honest… I kinda just worshipped you blindly before.”
“Fuck that,” Link said, “We would’ve figured it out.” He kissed you, almost bruising your lips with the forcefulness of his passion. Yet, as he kissed you over and over, deepening it each time, you started to feel teardrops on your cheek.
You gently broke the kiss. “Link, what’s wrong?” you asked as you stroked his hair.
“You’re here,” His voice cracked. “You’ve been here the whole time. You’re… you’re here…”
You pulled him closer, holding him against you. “I’m sorry Link, I wanted to tell you so badly.”
“I… I’m gonna fix this. I promise, I’ll get you back to normal.”
“I know, you’ve said that since the beginning,” you said with a toothy smile. “Just wish I could have told you when this was done.”
“Doesn’t matter to me,” Link said. “I told you I love you no matter who you are.”
“I love you too, Link,” you said. You wanted to stay there just a little longer, but a glint over Link’s shoulder caught your eye. You quickly wrapped your wings around him and dodged as a blast of magic nearly hit you both. “Really? Not even a moment?”
“Why would I?” Zelda said with a glare. “Oh well, I’ll just make myself a new Link, an Echo who isn’t going to go running off with my cousin. As for you two…” she said, creating a new Echo of Veran. “Can’t have you running off and getting in my way. So I’d appreciate it if you two kill each other now, okay?” You prepared to run, when suddenly you were hit in the back with a blast of magic. The Zelda and Veran before you disappeared, with two more, the real ones, behind you. Suddenly, your vision began to swim, releasing Link moments before you fell to your knees.
“[Y/n]!!” Link cried.
Acid and flames burned in your throat. Your bandages fried under the onslaught of magic. Your horns grew and grew, growing barbs like thorns and wrapping around your head, some curling back and some curling forward in a terrible demonic bramble. Your body cracked and shifted as you were forced to change. You could feel the dragon inside you screaming as well as it was forced out. Soon, there was nothing left, your clothes shredded and your body replaced by a dragon with black and gold scales. King Argarok had arrived.
And yet…
“Why isn’t he moving?” Zelda asked. “He should be a bloodthirsty monster!”
“[Y/n]?” Link asked, tentatively walking forward. “C’mon, you know it’s me, right?”
King Argarok remained completely still and silent.
==============================
A/n: So, Zelda’s been behind it all the whole time… but is she alone? Congrats to everyone who called it, I figured everyone was going to lock in their answers after Chapter 23 when I tipped my hand on the Echoes, but a lot of you were thinking it long in advance. I didn’t want Zelda to be too sympathetic because I didn’t want the twist to come out of nowhere, though if I were to rewrite this from the start, I might make it a little less clear.
Onto the subject of Story 4… upon tallying the votes across the three places I post, we have a winner! Interestingly, we actually had an upset close to the end. Congratulations to Chat Noir/Adrien Agreste! We are finishing Monochrome everyone! Second place goes to Sidon, getting very, very close. Third place to Adaman, better luck next time. Thank you to everyone who voted! Hope you’re all excited as I am to dive into this story in the fall. If your preferred story didn’t get picked, please don’t worry. Every story idea that makes it to the poll is one I believe in and would like to try writing someday. So, it might not be next, but you may see it in the future.
Next time… something’s not quite right…
Vaguest statement possible for the next chapter, I know.
Hello everyone, once again, I'm returning to @linktober Creator Con 💖 the event is packed with artists and panels, check the site to buy access tickets and check the markets (I'm in Target Town this year!)
I won't be able to stream like I used to, but you can check my Ko-Fi and Inprnt for goodies 💖 (or open my AO3 profile that day for an update...)
@linktober legacy: breath of the wild/tears of the kingdom/age of imprisonment/age of calamity
surprise! may linktober part 3! the ancient hero & his princess are a link and zelda too, right? (well, probably??) really i just wanted to draw more wild era designs, they're so good. and blue. 6 designs this month and they're all blue
