[Image Description: A series of 4 lineart drawings of Linked Spirit Rinku at different times. The first Rinku kisses Rosa, holding her up "Don't be gone, like, too long, ok?" Rosa says. The second is Rinku sitting on a log, smiling sadly, while Marin leans over next to them, wings on her back. Their reflection is a seagull and Rinku looking down, hair obscuring their face. Third is Ravio holding Rinku's hand, smiling, "It's been a pleasure, my friend" he says. Rinku looks wide-eyed at him. Fourth, Rinku stands in front of LS Marin, nervous while she raises a hand to their cheek, "It's you from the Dream." she says. End ID]
Summary: Link is the Hero of Legend, an adventurer who fought Ganon, rescued maidens, controlled time and seasons, fought Ganon again, and Ravio gladly sought out that Hero when he could. But before all that: Ravio was… just a scared kid, with a lot of people expecting him to be more while a war for the Triforce broils over Lorule.
Linked Spirit AU Ravio's version of alttp- but literally no need to know the au tho, its pretty much just Lorule alttp
Warnings: canon character death, violence, angst
Ao3: here!
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The Legends of Lorule speak of a Golden Land… in which lays the triforce, a divine object, left behind as the great goddesses ascended to the Sacred Realm. Lorule prospered under the shadow of the Triforce, a golden mirror of the sacred. However, the Triforce held a wish making power. Soon people began to fight for such power. The desire to hold the mighty triforce drove many to madness, undoing the very order and unity it was made to represent. The royal family have kept it secured against intruders, where none can touch it. But war brews in Lorule. Many aim to take the Triforce, even if it means dismantling the throne. Sickness, thievery, and distrust is sewn into the land. A strange haze of evil seems to hang in the air, waiting to strike…
“Ravio… I am Princess Hilda of Lorule… The Wizard Drahnim has destroyed all but one barrier to the Triforce, I am the last seal… You must find me… Help me… Please.”
Ravio startled out of bed. He fumbled hastily with blankets and stumbled out of bed, nearly tripping over himself.
“What are you doing?” his uncle asked, frowning softly. He secured a leather bracelet to his wrist and a sword to his back.
Ravio took in a deep, calming breath, “I… had a nightmare.”
“Go back to bed,” he said, voice steady and sure, “I’m going out, I’ll be back in the morning.”
“...Where are you going?” Ravio asked, shuffling closer. He looked up with big green eyes, hoping for a hint of reassurance. His uncle frowned.
He turned around, running a nervous hand over his pink-blond hair, “...I’ll be back. Just stay inside tonight.” His uncle opened the door to a howl of wind and rain, and shut it, disappearing into the night.
Ravio took a step back away from the door and crawled back into bed, wrapping his blankets around his shoulders. It only made sense, to stay inside, as his uncle said. The howling winds were treacherous enough, let alone whatever else lay behind the door. He curled up into his blankets, considering how to occupy his mind away from the downpour and the dream.
“Help… me…please,” The voice from the dream whispered again. Weak, with a sense of broken pride in the words. As if she had exhausted all other options.
Ravio took in a deep breath, covering his ears, “Look mysterious voice, I’m sure this is super important, but perhaps you can find another person who’s better built for-”
“I’m in the castle dungeon… HURRY”
He yelped at the urgency in her tone. He jumped out of the bed, racing over to grab his hood and boots. Stumbling, he got up to the door, then paused. A lantern. He half tripped over himself. He leaned half his body into the chest to grab the lantern. He raced out of the door, tugging the hood closely around his face, nearly covering his eyes. The downpour of rain obscured his view and beat down on him hard. Ravio nearly ran into a tree.
“Ohhh this is a bad idea- bad idea-” He gasped his breaths, turning to find the proper path to the castle. He cowered behind a bush as he spotted a soldier pass. He didn’t need anybody else telling him to go home, or else he would just do it…. At least it was the right spot. He looked around and dashed across the grounds of the castle, weaving through until he was able to find a pathway obscured by a bush.
He whined a little and took in a deep breath as he jumped into the dark passage. His boots were muddy against the stone of the castle. Ravio swallowed, slowly following the passageway. He heard someone cough and he stumbled backward, flattening himself against the wall. The large shadowed figure ahead slouched against the opposite wall, and eventually fell entirely against it. Ravio’s eyes strained in the dark. “Uncle?”
The man looked up at the sound, “...Ravio?” he coughed again, “Boy, come here”
Ravio inched closer, eyes widening at his uncle's state. Wounds deep, clothing staining darkly. Ravio took a step back again. “Un-Uncle- What- what do I-”
“No, come here. I had hoped to protect you from destiny, but it appears I can not…” His uncle reached up and grabbed his small hand. It marked him red. “Take this bracelet-” he pushed the old leather bracelet and a sword into Ravio’s hands. “I hope it will protect you….”
Ravio looked at him wide-eyed, fumbling with the sword and pushing it back into his uncle's hands. “No- no no, I can’t do this!”
“Find the princess….she is…your-” With a slow rattling breath, his uncle fell limp.
“Uncle?” Ravio shook his shoulder, “She’s my what? Uncle?” He shook him a few more times, frantic, "Uncle wake up! Wake up!" He looked around. Ran back towards the opening he came through. But the passage was obscured again, and there was no stairs or ladder. He jumped and strained, but it was futile.
He stood under the passage entry, glancing back at the limp figure. “Uncle?” He asked quietly, voice breaking. He dabbed at his face, pulling his hood closer over his head. Quietly, he walked back to him, gently leaning to press his forehead against his Uncle’s. He sobbed, sniffling and gasping his breaths. “I love you,” he whispered, “I’m so sorry-”
He let out a breath. He stood and turned to run down the passage.
Ravio quietly sneaked into the castle proper. Carefully, he tiptoed along the edges of the walls, hiding behind a statue. He watched the soldiers patrol the room, eyes flickering across their path. He waited until their backs were turned, and rushed across the room, the heat of lava warming his face.
He raced down a hall and took the first door. The one straight ahead was locked. He turned to the door on the right. The door clicked behind him. In front of him, a soldier turned and looked at him.
“Intruder!” he announced. The soldier raised his sword. Ravio screamed, raising his hands up to shield his face. He stumbled backwards in a panic, back hitting the wall. A twang of power. The bracelet glowed a vibrant purple hue. The sword hit the purple light and a painted sword clashed back against it. Ravio stared wide-eyed. The soldier attempted another swing, and the magically drawn sword mirrored its arch, clattering against it again.
Ravio stumbled away from the wall, eyes flickering to the key on the soldier’s belt. The magical sword vanished. Ravio circled around the soldier, snatching the key and scrambling to the door, fumbling to unlock it.
“Halt!” the soldier shouted.
Ravio shut the door with a slam and jumped back as a thunk rang against the door. He scrambled to lock the door again.
He heaved his breaths, and glanced at the bracelet. "Ah." He whispered, swallowing. "That's what you do. Never would’ve imagined that."
He closed his eyes, letting himself rest for a moment… The voice came back, “Where are you?! Hurry!”
“My heart needs to restart! Come ON,” Ravio shrieked to the air. He turned to the locked door ahead and tested the lock with the soldier’s key. The door clicked open. He sighed in relief. He slipped through and began the rest of the journey to the dungeon.
He followed twists and turns, hiding behind statues, throwing pottery to distract soldiers and scrambling deeper and deeper into the castle. He found the dungeon nearly on accident, stepping down the stairs to avoid another soldier’s view. He glanced into the room, a barred cell visible in the corner. Ravio slowly inched down the rest of the stairs, leaning around the corner of the wall. A soldier with a flail stood guard beside the princess’s cell. The keys jangling against the soldier's hip.
He looked around nervously. Surely he could do something to avoid this. The lamp. He threw the lamp across the room. It landed with a thunk and rolled into a banner, catching the fabric on fire.
"What the-" the soldier swore several times, and fumbled to attempt to put the fire out. Ravio dashed forward and unlatched the key loop. The soldier turned at the sound. “You!” he shouted. Ravio ducked and dashed into an open cell. The soldier’s flail grated against the bars. The soldier growled and followed him into the cell. Ravio dropped to the ground, rolling out of the way of another swing. He rushed to lean against the cell. He grinned awkwardly at the solider as he turned to look at Ravio. He let out a wordless shout as Ravio shut the door on him, and locked it. The soldier roared and swore, crashing his weapon repeatedly, almost blindly, against the metal.
Ravio could've nearly laughed and cried at the same time.
He raced to the Princess's cage and fumbled with the lock with numb hands.
“You- you found me” the princess whispered as she stood, trembling. Her eyes watching his each move carefully, “I sensed you were near…” she said, she gripped his hand, hard. Her brows furrowed in determination, “Ravio, listen now and listen well. The wizard is magically controlling all the soldiers in the castle.” She spared a brief glance at the captured soldier, “…My father is likely doomed. We must not trust anyone. The wizard is a powerful and formidable opponent. Do you understand?”
Ravio stared, eyes wide. He nodded silently.
“We shall find an escape in the throne room. We will need to go as soon as possible, before he detects us.”
"He-he knows I'm here?" Ravio whispered, panicked. “We have to go into hiding! I have to-”
Hilda shook her head, taking Ravio's hand. "Not yet. Thus, why we must hurry. This way."
Hilda led the way through the Castle. However, whatever struggle she had with the wizard before had clearly taken its toll. Ravio fumbled to push her back to hide from soldiers and tiptoe through the lava-filled halls. He created distractions with hastily thrown objects. The Princess found pathways to direct them.
Finally, they reached the throne room. Hilda took a step back. "We must push this back. I can not do it alone."
Ravio nodded. Straining, Ravio stumbled and shoved against the stone. Hilda pushed her whole body weight into it. The passage opened. He sighed in relief. "Almost thought I'd be too scrawny to help," he chuckled awkwardly.
"You are scrawny." The Princess confirmed, walking through.
Ravio blinked, then stumbled after her.
They weaved through dark passages. When the rats got too close, Ravio screamed and flailed his lantern at them. The rats ran, and the Princess tried not to giggle.
Ravio pulled the lever to open the door, straining.
“Princess! You’re safe!" A familiar voice announced softly. The keeper of the Sanctuary tilted his head as he spotted- "Ravio?”
Hilda stepped forward, “It was Ravio who aided me to safety." She turned to him, "When I was captive the wizard said, “Once I’m finally done with you, the path to the Triforce shall finally reveal itself” she looked down, brows furrowed, “Ravio, we must not let the land of Lorule fall into further chaos. If he releases the seal my family placed on the Triforce, evil power will overwhelm this land. Before that happens… before it’s too late… we must destroy the wizard before he destroys all of Lorule!” Hilda exclaimed.
"But- but how?" Ravio whispered, "I'm just-just a kid."
"You came to my summons, it proves you are the Hero of Legend. You must."
Ravio looked down, frowning.
The Sanctuary keeper grabbed Hilda by the arm. "Good, now that you've found him, nothing can stop Drahnim from bringing the triforce to us."
Hilda hissed, thrashing, "This is madness! You can't truly believe anything good will come of it?!"
"Dear Princess, the royal family has kept the wish-granting powers of the triforce to itself for too long. We deserve our share."
Hilda bit the keeper. He yelled, clutching his arm. Ravio rushed forward to pull Hilda away, and ran.
The pair raced through the rain and dark. The keeper shouted behind them. "We will find you! Don't think you can hide!"
Ravio and Hilda ran and ran. After what felt like an hour, Ravio skidded to a halt and tugged on Hilda's dress. He looked around quickly, before directing the Princess to a small cave. The pair stumbled in, and Ravio quickly collected vines and plants to cover the entry with. Hilda slumped against a wall, sliding to the floor.
"You… you need to find the bow of light. To fight the wizard," she said. She coughed and shivered. "There's three pendants- if you can-"
"I'm not leaving you," Ravio said quietly. He walked over to her, "You're tired, and hurting, I'm not going to leave you alone."
Hilda looked at the ground. "It's our destiny, to protect Lorule."
"As long as he doesn't find you, how much can he do? Right? You're the last part of the seal. You said so. I can't leave you."
She covered her face in her hands, shoulders shaking. Ravio shuffled to sit next to her, pulling his lamp close to warm them. Hilda leaned gently against him, sighing lightly. An uneasy quiet settled over the night. Ravio stared into the dark, musty cavern, as he felt Hilda’s body lax into a fitful rest. He did his best to remain awake and vigilant, looking around intently. Tears slipped down his cheeks. He balled his sleeve into his hand and rubbed at the tears, swallowing thickly.
[Image Description: A colored line-up of various Legend of Zelda characters for the Linked Spirit AU. The characters read left-to-right: "Marin, she/her, pre-Hyule Warriors" is a young redhead girl with a purple cloak and maroon and white dress. She has her hands politely held in front of her. "Groose, he/him, Skyward Sword" is a redheaded man with his hands on his hips, wearing a blue tunic and a green caplet. "Greg Moblin, he/him, LoZ 1" is a large gold bulldog like moblin holding a flower in his hands. He wears a red shirt and pants, with a green poncho. "Purah, she/her, Breath of the Wild" a young teenager wearing a black poofy skirt and a tan shirt and coat with red accents. She has a red streak in her white hair, posing with her hand next to her face. "Tulin, he/him, Breath of the Wild" is a pullet age white Rito with one arm as a wing and the other arm ends with a Wind Waker style hand and wing 'sleeve' "Aror, he/him, Twilight Princess, Crossbow Training" is a child Twili oc with red hair and wears a green over the shoulder wrap over a white tunic. "Midna, she/her, Twilight Princess" is a older Twili, with long fluffy ears wearing a black and teal collared cape, She wears a dark purple skirt with a grey fur trim and a wolf head belt clip on the side of her hip. "Medli, she/her, Wind Waker" is a teenaged white Rito, her red hair in a ponytail. She holds a hand to her chest. "Aryll, she/her, Wind Waker" is a young teen with her hand raised excitedly. She wears a purple skirt with a skull pattern, and a blue shirt with flower patterns. She has the Wind Waker's starter sail wrapped around her waist. "Ol' Niko, he/him, Wind Waker, Spirit Tracks" is an elderly man, smiling with his hands on his cane. He wears a red and white stripped shirt with a blue vest. "Gulley, he/him, A Link Between Worlds" is a blond child wearing Link's Cap and a matching green vest over his yellow tunic. He has his hands on his hips. "Ravio, he/him, A Link to the Past, A Link Between Worlds" is a teenager with dark hair that fades into light blue. He waves, winking, wearing a floor length purple robe and dark purple blue. "Grandpa Smith, he/him, Minish Cap, Four Swords Adventures" is a greying beared man, drying his hands on a cloth. He wears a long leather apron over his green tunic, and wears a green bandana. "Skull Kid, he/him, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask" is a Skull Kid wearing a orange hat and tunic, with green shorts, collar, and gloves. He has a v like mark on his forehead. He holds up a horned skull mask in front of him. "Lady Alma, she/her, Wand of Gamelon" is a young woman with short red hair and a tiara. She raises a hand to her chin dantily, wearing a teal shirt and darker teal skirt. End ID]
A few "NPCs"
I can't say ALL of them will make an appearance in the comic, actually, but these are NPCs that are important to the Links, in one way or another, while also having a few significant design differences from canon (thus why no Linebeck or spryte lol.)
[Image Description: A lineart 3 panel comic of albw Link and Ravio. Panel 1: Ravio sits curled around his bag on the ground, Link kneeling in front of him. "Sorry I didn't mean to-" Ravio smiles, "Ah it's fine Mr. Hero- I wasn't asleep long was I?" "...No." Panel 2: "Come on. I don't want you sleeping on the ground," Link says. Ravio gets into Link's bed, bunny ear flopping over Link's face, who snorts "snrk- would it kill you to wear something less Massive to sleep?" Ravio retorts, "Maybe. You don't know." Link says "Pft- good Night." Panel 3: Ravio sits up in the bed, lifting his hood to look at a sleeping Link. "Please be safe" he says, text small to indicate a whisper. End ID]
I do have like, a whole fic surrounding this I still haven't finish-finished, so here's a little comic for now. (I had another snippit in an ask response earlier actually)
For the screenshot redraw challenge! You don’t have to do all of them lol.
[Image ID: Three screenshots and a drawing based on the last screenshot. The first two screenshots are Phantom Hourglass Link and Linebeck looking at Stone Tetra, and Wind Waker Link and Medli sitting in the King of Red Lions boat. The last screenshot is of A Link Between Worlds Ravio lounging on the ground, Sheerow hovering over him, saying "You got done in, eh?" In the drawing, the perspective is shifted to behind Link, instead of top down. Link looks over their shoulder with a sigh, looking tired. Their blond hair is fading to pink. End ID]
I forgot what's on which spot in the shop lol. Thanks for the screenshots!
[Image Description: 4 colored drawings of Linked Spirit AU Ravio in his own version of Link's Awakening. 1st: Ravio smiles at Lorule-version of Marin, who has teal hair. She wears a light blue dress with red trim, and a dark blue underlayer. She wears a green diamond necklace and ribbon. Ravio holds a small wood magic rod. 2nd: Ravio stands on a platform, in front of a massive version of Sheerow, with two wings, a long serpentine body, with two birdlike feet. Sheerow's eyes are closed, curled up. 3rd: Ravio leans on a broken piece of driftwood, looking up at a tiny Sheerow, who appears like he does in ALBW. Ravio smiles brightly. A teal-headed seal pops her head up from behind them. 4th: A fully shaded drawing of Sheerow in both the ALBW form, and full-size form. End ID]
I think I've mentioned that Rinku's version of Ravio also had versions of ALTTP, OoX, and LA. Sheerow is Ravio's version of the Windfish, who's power was greatly reduced by the lack of Triforce. So Sheerow stuck with Ravio!
[Image Description: a line art 4 panel comic of Alttp Link and Ravio. Panel 1: [Dark World] Link holds Bunny Ravio in his arms. Ravio says "I wish I was like you..." Panel 2: Link smiles at Ravio while holding his magic mirror up to him. Ravio sees his reflection as a human who looks like Link. "Wait WHat-" Ravio shouts. Panel 3: [Hyrule] Link stares at an empty space labeled "not here" with a bunny symbol for Ravio. "... bunny guy??" Link asks. Panel 4: [Lorule] Ravio, Human, holds his arms over his head complaining "I could have gotten HIM to do this adventure stuff!!" End ID]
And then ages later, Ravio did. And Rinku just lowkey forgot about that weird bunny dude that ditched (aka got sent to a different world) as soon as they were out of the dark world smh
[Image Description: Linked Spirit's Rinku and Ravio, wearing each other's outfits from ALBW. Rinku lifts Ravio's bunny hood over her head and lifts the skirt slightly, looking down at it with a quizzical look. "How do you move so well in this?" she asks. Ravio grimaces, looking at her, arms crossed. He wears the classic green outfit. "How did you survive in the cold??" He asks. End ID]
