In the embers of twilight, the princess makes a pledge to her unlikely friend — one in which she swears to give her life for him, as he did for her. But they both know her death is not something they can afford.
Link has suddenly reappeared after being missing for years and is tasked with protecting Zelda's jeopardized soul! The two both are in tune with their ancient souls, capable of using them for important magic things such as changing their hair color (they're both brunettes until they use too much magic, then it goes silver/gold).
With the Light & Time event (which I hosted on @loz-untold-myths, my original TLoZ stories blog) concluded, I wanted to share all the pieces I did together as a series! The original posts themselves have some color-corrected versions, but here they are as I originally illustrated them. ^^ I loved experimenting with Zelink at different stages, and getting to include Aryll and Aidan!
These are among the first pieces I've completed with Clip Studio Paint! It's been a learning curve, but maybe one day I'll get the hang of it.
“Your Highness, we are over the moon to know you're safe. Quickly— Let us get you somewhere warm. Another storm looks to be brewing soon.”
Zelda’s eyes dart to the sky. It is cloudy, glum— but nothing out of the ordinary. How can they tell there will be more over the horizon? Days like this are usually the more fortunate, bringing only a light snow.
Before she can make much of it, she's being nudged along towards one of the cottages. Something she's used to, of course, but not with a band of strangers!
The princess peers back over her shoulder and spots that Link isn't being brought along. His lips part to speak up, but he goes unheard. She can't quite put a name as to why, but this wills her to— quite literally— put her foot down. She lets out a huff. “I appreciate the help, but my— uhm…” Zelda shoots a glance at Link once more. A fragment of her hesitates to call him a partner, and the other to call him a mere escort. “My friend and I need a moment, please!”
The Mage's Lantern — Chapter 9, The Lady of Kakariko
The dark cloud consumed the room, swirling around the two destined to destroy it. The hero still attempted a broken breath— but the effort proved futile. Zelda murmured his name too many times to count; it was nowhere near enough to coerce his pain away.
Over Link's haphazardly rising and falling chest, the princess could see the phantom of another man— not Agahnim nor the other demons— but a stranger. A stranger who stared her down with a disturbing golden glare and a malicious smile. It was as if he relished seeing her this way— seeing Link this way.
Although he did not move an inch, he mouthed something: words that were incomprehensible, but repeated by the beast that hid him. “The hero chosen to slay me… the only failsafe to your undoing…. and that was all he could do? Foolishly shield a lost cause with his body? Challenge my minions with an incomplete sword? What a pathetic excuse for a warrior!”
And to his followers he roared, “Scatter across this land! Slaughter every last Great Fairy or Oracle, every last soldier of Hylia, and submit them to the fate of this unrealized hero!”
The demons at last let the second layer of disguise chip away, reduced to three monsters of their own. With pure devotion they heeded his command, and to the corners of Hyrule they went to bring forth the queendom’s withering.
But the princess hardly processed the warning. Deep down, she recalled her brother’s words… and, in a horrific sort of way, she understood that they both knew a different truth. The Great Fairy’s talk of sacrifice was barely breathing in her arms— fading fast— but she was merely a child tasked with an impossible burden, as her brother said. Nothing made her feel it more so than the way she wanted time to reverse— just to bring Link back. What a selfish thing it was! Would the queendom not have been saved had Link been the one left to fight this beast?
Can you tell I couldn't decide between colors??? This piece really threw me for a loop between finishing the designs for both outfits shown, figuring out the pose, and finding colors I liked. I wanted the composition to be wonky and all that, but if I ever redraw this I'm going to even put the Dark Beast's maw at an angle. I honestly wish I could have managed to make it look like the official art for Calamity Ganon instead, but I couldn't make it work with this style. Maybe eventually, though...
Anyway, bye Link. Spoilers by the way. This piece is more symbolic than anything, aiming for the Breath of the Wild parallels! This scene looks a bit different in the story. ^^
It's not too late to participate if you'd like! This event isn't strict at all. Find more info here! (And everyone else's entries as they're added)!!
