Alternate title: drowned rat meets goddess on earth.
~*~
All it took was one moment of distraction, one suspicion that something more insidious was happening than a singular monster that was out of place, and he was swept away. Dragged to land, left to suffocate.
And suffocate he does.
His arms tremble as he desperately tries to flip himself over. Something is wrong (wrong wrong WRONG!). Why aren't his gills responding? Are they filled with sand? Bound shut by this stupid sail?! He remembered that poacher trying something similar to him. Something about it speeding up the process and preservation benefits. But why leave him on the beach, so close to the water that he can practically--
(Don't. Don't think about your tail. How it feels split in two and how even the slightest stir feels like being caught in a spike trap. Don't think about how you can't--)
A hand on his shoulder, and the world violently flips around. The stranger is shouting something at him, but everything is too bright and the world hasn't stopped spinning.
"-- there! Calm down, I'm going to--"
Instinctively he gasps and then chokes.
"Breathe. Come on, ~listen to me~."
"I'm trying!" Legend snaps back. Stupidly. He is wasting breath. He can't breathe, he can't, he can't, he -- "--can't, my gills they're--" His voice gives out.
Is it just him or is the world growing dimmer again?
"Gills? Wait, nevermind that. Take a deep breath in."
"I don't--"
"Okay, okay. I'll teach you. ~Listen well~. Expand your chest."
His chest feels like splintering apart.
"Good. Good. Now try again and suck in some air at the same time."
Suck in air...? Won't that make him drown on air? He doesn't..
A pinch. "Hey! Stay with me!" Right, right... He sucks in the air. "Good! Now hold.
"3... 2... 1...
"Slowly blow the air out. Yes! just like that! Now let's take another breath together."
Breathe in.
3... 2... 1...
Breathe out.
You're doing great!
Breathe in.
3... 2... 1...
Breathe out.
Breathe in.
3... 2... 1...
Breathe out.
...
Somehow... he breathes.
It takes a few more attempts before the pressure finally alleviates, but when it finally does, Legend can't even find the energy to feel relieved. Exhaustion overpowers everything except for the soft voice still patiently sweet talking him into discarding everything he knew about survival.
Are they another mer? That can't be. Mers don't breathe air (don't think don't think don't think). Just where is he?
He pries his eyes open and sees--
Sapphire eyes.
Hair like blood coral.
A landdweller who smiles at him with the face of a goddess.
Oh.
Maybe he did die after all. That would explain suddenly being able to breathe air.
~*~
Mer au Marink have been swimming around in my head for the past week and if I didn't get them out of my head I would start chewing on my own arms <3
Notes:
The global events of LA in the mer au are explained in this post (special thanks to @mobgabriel)
Despite the violent way Legend was flung from his home by Cia's water currents, the hat stays with him because of divine intervention (Me. I am divine intervention. I like legend with his silly blue hat in case that wasn't clear already)
Marin really is the prettiest girl in the world. You're really lucky legend.
yes Marin accidentally used her Siren Voice on Legend in the above snippet. Luckily for the both of them, it's less affective on him because of him being an actual mer (a royal one at that). So to Legend, she simply sounds louder when she used her voice that way.
Why didn't Nightmare drag Legend away? a) Marin found him before they could intervene and they can't have her catching on to their presence (too late Marin already knows you suckers) b) Marin finally showed signs of her Siren Voice after months of nothing when she was coaching Legend into breathing like a land dweller. They finally have new data!
While the majority of the work of taking down Nightmare was done by Marin and Legend, the Koholint island inhabitants certainly helped. Most of them are kidnapped people who were memory wiped with a few exceptions: Mr. Write and Grandpa Ulrira (in charge of communications. Mr. Write didn't know what he signed up for and Ulrira came to regret his work. Both are still working for Nightmare because they don't know how to stop) and Grandma Yahoo (cleaning lady that defected long before Marin was set free on Koholint. Has been looking after Marin and Legend)
Legend and Marin, after Legend catches on to the truth, have been exchanging secret messages in code and during their dates to avoid suspicions, while the residents help further conceal and sniff out clues on ways to sabotage Nightmare's labs and other weak points. With Legend going off to destroy stuff, Marin drawing attention and the rest of Koholint covering their tracks. Things work out pretty well!
(Madam MeowMeow had to be restrained lest she try to storm headquarters with only BowWow and her rolling-pin)
All this to say: I want this adventure of have small town mystery vibes.
Nightmare may have shut down all communications from and to the island, but there is one thing they have not accounted for: the Fairy Queen living underneath their island who has been sending signals out at sea, which Phantom then picked up on while she and Spirit were searching for clues on Maladus. Just in time to rescue everyone as the island sinks at the end of LA.
I'm debating on the role of the windfish here too, though their power would be definitely be different in this au. Them being there would also lay a bridge for Legend (or Marin!) to be the cameo Link in Wind's Phantom Hourglass adventure. I haven't played that game yet but maybe I'll get some ideas later. The Owl that serves the windfish would be an excellent spy for the Koholint residents!
Martha, the mermaid in LA, is still there but has been hiding in the lake ever since Nightmare claimed the island, barely daring to show herself. She and Legend become friends naturally.
aaaaaand that's it for me! Feel free to drop suggestions or ideas (though I'll probably be slow to answer ;w;)!
a) You're in luck I am in the midst of refining some doodles of them (they won't leave me alone, drawing those two being cute together is comforting to me during stressful times)
b) AAAAA i love that!!!!! I know nothing about PH, but this is fantastic! once again amazed by your ability to connect things together.
The windfish just being of a species of magical ocean flying whales makes the whole world even more whimsical. You know floating island (as in island that are not anchored and really are just floating?), I bet that lots of those are carried / created by various windfishes. I wonder what those mythical places are like, since the windfish was hijacked pretty early on by Nightmare.
I was also thinking of letting Sky be the cameo Link for Wind Waker. With Sky being completely in the dark about the land folk and Wind being pretty close to it but also kind of out of touch about it (remember Wind's blind belief in the shore children XD). If Wind had a penny for every time a Link with experience dealing with a flying-whale-with-parasite showed up to help him, he'd have two pennies, which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice. If I later change my mind about the WW cameo, I'll move sky to PH :P.
The Linked Universe Chain plays a round of Never Have I Ever. Unfortunately for them, Wind has chosen chaos. >:D
Author's note: This version of the game is one I used to play at camp. More info is in the comments!
Do not repost this story but feel free to use the tumblr reblog button!
>>><<<
"Never have I everā¦ kissed a pig!"
Wind shot up from his place in the circle, glaring daggers at Warriors. "That's blackmail!!!"
Warriors laughed and shook his finger. "Ah-ah-ah! Rules are rules, Sailor! Least we forget that you were the one to suggest we play this game in the first place."
Wind took Warriorsās place in the center of the clearing, grumbling the whole while. Around him sat a ring of eight heroes on bed mats, each looking more mirthful than the last.
"I'm sorry... what?!?" Legend snorted.
Wind held up his chin. "It was a dare, and I'll have you know I won 100 rupees that day!"
"By kissing a pig?!?"
"I regret nothing!"
Wind stared down the group of older heroes, already forming a wonderfully devious plan of revenge. He knew he'd only get a few of them to stand if he went with his idea, but the sight of Warriors's smug, traitorous grin made him all the more determined to try.
Staring Warriors dead in the eye, Wind gave him an absolutely evil grin. Warriors paled. The knight looked very much like a man who'd just bet his last savings on something foolish, and Wind, pirate as he was, was an excellent gambler.
"Never have I ever... kissed a girl~"
"Why youā!"
Warriors turned scarlet and bolted off his mat, Wind flying to replace him with a storm of victorious laughter. The sailor spun around, eager to watch his chaos unfold.
As he expected, loverboy Sky and the married Time were dashing out of their seats, trying to swap places and bypass Warriors entirely. But then, something wonderful happened.
Twilight stood up.
This was already enough to make the scuffle pause, but in a flash so quick that hardly anyone saw him, Legend took off running. He slid easily into Twilight's place, refusing to look at anyone.
Twilight panicked. With his spot now taken he was in the line of fire, and there was no going back. He bowled into Time, wrestling him for Sky's place as the Skyloftian dove into Legend's. Warriors was now making a beeline for Time's spot, and with the others distracted, it seemed like he was finally home free.
But then.
Oh, but then.
Hyrule careened past, blushing like mad and dead set on reaching Time's mat before anyone saw him.
Warriors cried out as Hyrule made him lose his balance. His arms windmilled forwards, loosening his scarf. Hyrule's foot snagged. The heroes tripped.
And, with all the elegance of a fish out of water, Warriors flopped straight into the cushioning of Time's bedroll.
Behind them, Twilight caught sight of Hyrule's empty mat and slid to it in an instant, leaving Time free to take Sky's place.
Hyrule shot up, dread seeping into his eyes as he silently died inside.
There were no more seats.
"No. Way," Legend balked.
"Hyrule?" Wild pulled back his hair in shock.
Four couldn't keep the grin off his face. "Well, this is just about the last thing youād expect!"
"Ha! 'Just a lonely traveler' indeed!" Warriors scoffed in disbelief, sending the healer an enormous smile. "How long have you been lying to us, Hyrule? And just who is this fair maiden lucky enough to receive your... passionate affections?"
Hyrule's eyes turned to saucers. "N-NO! That's notāIt's! I-i-it was an accident!!!"
Twilight fought to keep a straight face. "You kissed a girl... on accident?"
"Yes! No...? S-she kissed me!"
Laughter trickled through the camp as Time leaned forwards. His eye was sparkling. "Did you kiss her back?"
"H-HUh?!?" Hyrule went scarlet.
Wind wheezed and doubled over, overcome by the masterpiece unfolding in front of him. This was going so much better than expected. So much better.
Poor Hyrule could have been drowning, the way his arms flailed through the air.
"No! She'd just been... I mean I'd just saved her and... she thought I was... I don't know???"
"Hold on, hold on. 'Saved her'?" Four repeated. "You mean to tell me you kissed your Zelda?"
"She kissed me!" He reminded him. "Waitā"
"Ooooooh~!" Several of the boys cooed, Legend and Warriors letting out long, flirty whistles.
"Agh, NO!" Hyrule shouted. "She wasn't Zelda! I mean, she is, her name is Zelda, but not the one Iā" he somehow became even redder. "S-she was under this spell for ages, see? And I rescued her and sh-she was disoriented and she just kindaāShe's my Zelda's great great great-something aunt!"
The others stared at him with slacked jaws.
Hyrule realized what that sounded like and furiously backpedaled, "WAIT! Wait! She wasn'tāthe spell preserved her! She's still young and beautiful and all that!"
Wind was struggling for air at this point, laughing so silently and violently that Wild had to check if he was ok.
Meanwhile, Hyrule was eating his words.
"Young and beautiful?" Legend grinned. "Sounds like a good deal, traveler!"
"Ahh, young love!"
"What mysterious yearnings the heart bestoweth!"
"Pfft, oh Hyrule..."
"Heh, have you asked her great great-something niece for permission to court her yet?"
"Yeah, Hyrule! What does your Zelda think about all this?"
Hyrule groaned, withering away behind his hands.
"Or could it be..." Twilight's face lit up as a thought struck him. "Speaking of the younger princess Zelda..."
The traveler froze.
"...maybe her ancestor isn't the only maiden to catch our traveler's eyeā"
"NEVER HAVE I EVER HERDED GOATS!!!"
Twilight didn't even try to fight Hyrule as the blushing boy scurried past him, plopping down between Sky and Legend and curling into a ball.
"I hate this game..." He muttered behind his arms, just barely audible.
Legend nudged him affectionately.
Sky leaned closer, nestling the boy under his arm and sailcloth. "Our honesty is our greatest weakness in this game, I'm afraid," he smiled gently.
Twilight chuckled, then surveyed his audience. The rancher crossed his arms. "Hmm... Never have Iā"
"Whoa whoa whoa! Wait a second!" Wind interrupted. "What about you and Legend?"
"He's got a point, pup," Time nodded sagely.
Twilight pretended to think about this for a moment. "Hmm... what do you think, Legend? Feel like sharing a secret today?"
"No comment," said Legend.
"Thought so. As for me?" He looked Time dead in the eye, daring him to challenge him, "What happens in Ordon stays in Ordon."
Time burst into laughter.
Wind scrambled to pick up the subtext. "Wait! Butā!"
Twilight shouted to drown out Windās words, "Never have I ever stuck my nose into someone else's business!"
That was a bold-faced lie, and everyone knew it.
Regardless, they all stood up.
>>><<<
End of fic!
Hope you liked it! Feel free to drop a comment if you did or have questions ^u^ (Check the OG tags for bonus lore, lol)
Extra Note: I am a childrenās book/family friendly author, so please keep all comments Safe For Work (no swearing please!) I want to do my best to make this a place for everyone. Cheers!
based on a real situation (guess which one's me -_-)
bonus:
(The back of the book says:
Some of us have the bad luck of being hunted by some cult that wishes to resurrect their demon lord, and while it is not at all uncommon, measures must be taken.)
Warriors had a plan- bring Legend to meet his therapist so they could learn more about his new coping mechanism.
{cw: minor self harm from biting one's fingers and digging nails into skin due to anxiety. it is quickly stopped and no permanent harm is done. to skip, stop reading at 'Upon opening the door to Legend's room' and start again at 'Legend gave a quiet sound of protest'}
Warriors had a plan.
The next time they ended up in his Castletown, he was taking Legend to his therapist so they could learn about what was going on with the Vet and if it really was what Warriors thought it was. Perhaps he'd also check the library as well, to see if he could find something there. And, if the Vet was amenable to it, maybe he could see about buying Legend something for when he was in that mindset.
He had a feeling Legend would appreciate something he could cuddle and hold onto. Wars remembered how the younger boy had clung to his scarf when he'd gotten that bad cough a week ago. Legend had clutched it close, burying his nose into the fabric and running his fingers along the embroidery. Perhaps something with texture would be good.
However, until they did end up there, he would just have to keep doing his best with what he had. Legend hadn't had any complaints, but then he was clearly still unsure about everything that was happening when it came to his... condition? Warriors still wasn't sure what to call it; another reason to speak with his therapist.
Legend deserved to be able to let go and relax every once in a while, and if this was the best way to do it, Wars was going to do his best to help. He was determined to make the experience, if it happened again, as positive as possible- mainly because the first time had been so frightening. He didn't want his little brother anxious and afraid every time it happened.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was another three days before the next portal appeared. The Chain had cleared all the monsters they could find from this era, and were ready for a change of scenery.
Warriors blinked as he exited the portal, not expecting the bright sunlight that greeted him after the dim, cloudy sky they'd just been under. Once his vision cleared he looked around, spotting the walls and spires of what looked to be someone's Castletown. A field stood between them and the city, blessedly free of monsters, only a few rabbits and foxes darting by as birds swooped overhead.
Looking closer, he was able to make out the symbol on the banners waving from the walls of the city. He grinned.
"Looks like we're in my era, men!" he announced. The declaration was met with cheers and sighs of relief. Whenever they landed in the Captain's era close enough to his Castletown, he always welcomed them up into his apartment for however long they were able to stay. It was a welcome reprieve from travel, and one they always accepted.
The nine of them were quick to cross the field and enter the gate into the city. Warriors led them through the bustling streets, taking care to avoid the more crowded areas. Soon enough they had made it to the Captain's apartment by the castle. Warriors ushered everyone inside, taking a moment to give a warm smile and wave to the few passersby before following his brothers, as eager to be off the road as the rest of them.
"You all know the drill; go ahead and get settled in. I'm going to write up a report to the Queen and let her know we're here. I'll join you when I'm done."
With that the Chain dispersed, Warriors heading to his office. He did need to write that report, it was true, but he lost had another goal in mind- writing a letter to his therapist. Hopefully Dr. Richelieu would be available the next few days so he could see about making an appointment for the Veteran. If not, he could still check the library. There had to be something that had what he was looking for.
It didn't take long to finish the report, or the short letter to go with it, more personal than the professional military account. He and Zelda had become fairly close after the War, and he liked to let her know how he was doing when he could. He kept it short, however; longer letters could be written later, after he had a chance to settle in and get things taken care of.
Then it was time to write Dr. Richelieu. Warriors sat there for a time, alternating between hovering the pen uncertainly over the parchment and staring blankly at the wall. Despite coming in here with a plan, he found his words failing him, leaving him hesitant and unsure of what to do next.
Finally he sighed, dragging his hands down his face tiredly. 'I'll just- write whatever comes to me. I can try to make it make sense later. I just need to write it.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Richelieu,
Hello, it's Link. I'm writing to you to request an appointment sometimes this week - the sooner, the better.
However, this appointment is not for me. I am not sure how much you know, but I am currently traveling with a group of other Heroes, all from different points in time. While I'm sure all of them would benefit from speaking with you, I have worries about one in particular.
An... incident occurred, several weeks ago, that left him in severe distress. As a result, he entered a more childlike state for a time. Something similar happened about two weeks later, when he fell ill with a bad cough. Neither episode (if that is the right word for it) lasted more than a day, but he was distressed and upset in the beginning both times before gradually becoming more relaxed and comfortable. He is particularly attached to myself in that state, and as such I have been looking after him to the best of my ability.
I recalled you mentioning something similar as a coping mechanism, back when we were still trying to find something that worked for me, but I am unsure just how similar they are. Thus, my writing to you.
Whether you are able to help or not, I would appreciate any information you can give. I am also planning to visit the City Library and see if I can find anything there.
Regards,
Link Taylor
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A reply came the next morning.
Warriors was nursing a cup of coffee and blinking the sleep from his eyes when there was a knock on the front door. Groaning, he pushed himself away from the counter and made his way over, rubbing his eyes.
He opened the door to find a postman (it took him a moment to register that it wasn't the postman) holding out a letter. "Captain Link Taylor?"
"Uh- uhm, yes, that's me. Thank you." Warriors took the letter and returned to the kitchen. Slumping against the counter, he opened the envelope and unfolded the parchment inside.
The familiar scrawl of his therapist greeted his eyes and he felt immediately more awake.
Link,
Thank you for reaching out to me. While I would prefer if you came to see me more often, I understand that your responsibilities come first.
As for your companions, feel free to direct them my way when you can. I'm sure I can manage to get through to at least a few of them. (I managed to get through to you, after all.) If not, I have several colleagues whom I can recommend.
As for the incident, that is a troubling situation. From what you've told me, yes, it is similar to one of the coping techniques I brought up back then. However, that one is done by voluntarily entering a childlike state of mind; what you've described sounds akin to a trauma response. Still, I'm proud of you for handling it and being there for him for however long it lasted.
Should he agree to come in for a session, I am available for the next three days after lunch, as well as in the morning on the third day. If that doesn't work for you, feel free to let me know and we can work something out. As for the Library- I am unsure how much information you will be able to find there. Mental health and anything related to it are not usually among those subjects that are popular with most of the public.
Should you still decide to see what you can find, I wish you luck.
Best regards,
Dr. Lydia Richelieu
Wars felt the air leave his lungs in a rush of relief. One less thing to worry about.
...Now he just had to convince the Veteran to go with him to see his therapist. To make him face what was going on with him, and see if there was anything they could do to help.
Warriors grimaced. He was not looking forward to it. Still, Legend was his brother, his friend. Warriors wasn't going to leave him to suffer this alone.
He read through the letter a few more times, trying to figure out a way to bring up the topic. Footsteps in the hall distracted him, and he looked up to see the Vet entering the kitchen, eyes still half-shut and a yawn escaping his mouth as he shuffled over to the cabinets in search of something to eat. Wars mentally thanked and cursed the goddesses for shoving such an opportunity at him so soon.
He waited until Legend had sat down and eaten a bit before taking a deep breath and joining him at the table. The younger hero gave a half-hearted wave when he registered his presence but otherwise didn't say anything. It was only after several minutes of silence- save for Legend's chewing and Wars' nervous tapping- that Legend lost his patience.
"Alright, out with it. You've been fidgeting for the past, what, five minutes? Something's up."
Wars faltered, caught off-guard by Legend's blunt forwardness. He flailed a little, trying to find the words; Legend's unimpressed gaze boring into him the longer it took. Finally he took a deep breath and held it before letting it out in a gusty sigh.
"...Alright. I sent a letter to my therapist yesterday and actually got a reply this morning." Legend's brows went up in surprise and Wars quirked a smile. "I wasn't expecting it either, haha. But, well. The reason I wrote to her was because of- certain events lately that I wanted her opinion on. I didn't give any specific details," he rushed to explain when his brother looked confused before realization dawned. "I asked her if she was available any time soon or if she could give us any information about it. As it turns out, she's actually available after lunch for the next three days, and in the morning on the third day. So, if you feel up to it, I thought it would be a good idea?"
Legend didn't answer for a long few minutes; he simply stared down at his plate, expression unreadable as he tapped the table with thin fingers. He breathed in, held it, then let it out in a long exhale.
"I- want to be... mad. I think. I-" He bit his lip, still not looking up at Wars. "I don't- I don't really know how to feel. About- this. I mean- It would be... nice, I guess? To get some answers for- you know. But... at the same time, I..." He swallowed.
"I-I'm scared," he whispered.
Wars reached across the table to grasp one of his hands, rubbing his knuckles reassuringly. "That's okay, you can take your time to decide if you want to go or not. If you would prefer only I talk to her and you stay here or go shopping or something, that's fine. I just want you to know you have the option."
Finally Legend glanced up and gave a faint smile. "...Thanks. Uh, can- can I think about it?"
"Of course." With one last squeeze, Wars let go of Legend's hand and stood. "I'm going to go get ready for the day and then perhaps walk around the city for a bit. Feel free to join me if you wish."
Legend nodded and Wars took his leave. He hoped that Gerudo bakery was open today; their talk had left him craving something comforting and he had always liked their gulab jamun.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Legend came up to him that evening, hesitant and shy. He tugged on the Captain's sleeve and Wars followed him to the hallway before Legend paused, fidgeting awkwardly. Wars waited patiently for him to speak.
Eventually the younger boy took a breath. "O-okay. I, uh, I thought about it, like you said. Um. I think- maybe. Therapy would be a good idea?"
Wars smiled, setting a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Thanks for letting me know. I'm sure it was difficult. Do you want to go tomorrow or another day?"
Legend quailed, clearly not having thought that far ahead. "Uh- um. Tomorrow? Cause otherwise I'll probably just- lose my nerve." He laughed nervously.
"That's fine," Wars assured. "I'll write Dr. Richelieu and let her know we're going in tomorrow. Go have dinner and let yourself relax a bit. I'll let the others know and come get you when it's time to go tomorrow."
Legend nodded and Wars gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze before letting go and stepping away.
"G'night, Wars."
"Goodnight, Vet. Sleep well."
~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day dawned bright and clear.
Wars rose and stretched, taking his time to get ready for the day ahead. Their appointment wasn't until two, so he could take as long as he liked. He had a filling breakfast of eggs, bacon, and warm rolls, giving the Champion special thanks for the food; he hadn't been able to keep his pantry stocked with all the traveling this quest was putting them through.
After eating, he washed up before stretching out in the den for some reading. It wasn't often he got time to himself with so many travel companions, and he wanted to make the most of it.
He read for a few hours, until the clock chimed one, and he realized he had yet to see Legend today. Wars put his book away and went to find him.
He hoped his brother had been able to relax and get some sleep; he knew how anxiety could latch its hooks into the boy and dig deep, making him an anxious wreck if not sufficiently distracted from the source of his nerves.
Upon opening the door to Legend's room, Wars was greeted with the sight of Legend sitting on his bed with his knees drawn up to his chest as he gnawed at his fingers. His other hand was wrapped around his legs, nails digging into the skin.
"Ah- no, none of that," Wars admonished gently as he hurried forwards to pry Legend's hands away. He had to hid a wince at the deep red marks from both teeth and nails. Luckily it didn't seem as if any of them were bleeding, which was good.
Legend gave a quiet sound of protest and tried to tug his hands back but Wars held firm. "Biting yourself isn't good for you, bun."
The nickname, however, unintentional, made Legend start and look up at him. Wars smiled. "Hey. Time to get ready to go. I'm guessing you haven't had anything to eat yet today? You'll start feeling better once you have something in your stomach. Come on, up you get."
He gently pulled Legend up and off the bed. The other went- not willingly, but rather let himself be moved and guided into day clothes before being led down the hall to the kitchen. Wars sat him down and rummaged through the cabinets for something easy to eat. Whenever Legend got like this it was best to give him easy and simple things, whether it was food or something to occupy his hands, bring him out of his own head.
A stray thought crossed Wars' mind that perhaps when Legend got like this it was also his brain going small. He'd have to remember to bring it up to Dr. Richelieu.
Thankfully it didn't take long after that for Legend's gaze to clear, and he began to look a little more alert. He pushed his plate away and moved to the sink (only a little unsteadily) to wash up. Once he was done he turned fo Wars, smiling unsurely.
Wars returned it before gesturing to the hallway. "Ready to go?"
Legend took a breath and nodded, expression set. Wars waited patiently while the boy went to out in his boots and grab his hat. The rest of the Chain had been informed of their appointment, so there would be no questions of where they disappeared to for however long it took, though no one knew the exact details.
Legend reappeared and the two of them set off. Dr. Richelieu's office was about fifteen minutes away, and the streets weren't quite as full as usual, so the walk was peaceful and quiet.
Then they arrived to the building where they were welcomed in by Dr. Richelieu with a warm smile. Wars sat down on one of the chairs, watching as Legend tentatively sat in the other, glancing nervously around the room.
Dr. Richelieu closed the door before sitting down at her desk. "Hello," she began. "Link may have already told you, but my name is Dr. Lydia Richelieu. I have been Link's therapist for several years now."
Legend nodded, mumbling a greeting as he alternated between staring at her desk and the room around them. Dr. Richelieu took no offense, well-used to such behavior.
"Link wrote to me about a few... I believe 'incidents' is the word he used, and asked if I could share any insight I might have." Legend's ears flicked up and then back and he fidgeted nervously. "First, I would like to clarify some things. Would that be alright with you?"
There was a beat before the younger hero nodded nervously. Dr. Richelieu smiled. "Alright. So, the first time this occurred was... When? What caused it?"
"There was a battle," Wars answered. "Our opponents were stalfos, darknuts, and wolfos. I was fighting several of them when I heard a scream and saw the Veteran-" he gestured at his brother- "cornered by about five darknuts and twice that many wolfos. I made my way over as quickly as I could but by the time I got there he had lost his sword and was on the ground, backed up against a tree. There wasn't any time to see if he was alright until the battle was over, and by then he was fully in a childlike mindset. It lasted until sometime during the night, as he was back to normal when he awoke."
Dr. Richelieu nodded, making notes as she listened intently. " And the second time?"
"I'm not sure what prompted it the second time, but he caught a bad cough due to dust on the road and it escalated until we reached an inn. Most of us went down to dinner while he slept and ended up staying up late. When I got back to our room, he was curled up with my scarf, so he must have awoken and grabbed it at some point. He spent most of the next day childlike, only coming out of it before dinner."
"I see. Thank you for telling me." She turned to Legend next. "Do you know what caused these episodes?"
Legend took a breath, clenching his hands in his skirt. "Th- the first time it was- I d-dont like knights. Or wolves. S-so in the fight, when there were so many, I... I was scared. Then I lost my sword and it wa- it was like I was a kid again, when Aghanim cursed th' knights t' go af'er me." He swallowed, ears pinning back. "The, umm, the sec'nd time it... I- I don't like bein' alone. So when I woke up an' it was dark an' there wasn't anyb'dy there I didn't like it. I saw Pa- Wars' scarf an' grabbed it so I didn't feel so alone. Then I woke up an' he was there an' he took care o' me until I felt better."
Dr. Richelieu hummed, making a few notes before looking up. "Thank you for telling me. So, it seems to me you're experiencing a form of trauma regression. This happens when the mind cannot cope with something that happened in the past or is happening in the present, and regresses to a younger state. This is usually involuntary. Does this sound familiar?"
Wars nodded, thinking over what he remembered of Legend's regression... episodes? Both had happened because he was scared or upset, and the situation reminded him of something similar when he was younger.
Beside him, Legend let out a quiet sort of whine but nodded. He fidgeted in his chair, running his fingers along the hem of his tunic as he bit his lip. Wars realized that his brother was acting a lot like he had when he was regressed. Was just talking about it upsetting him? He turned to Dr. Richelieu, intending to ask, but his therapist beat him to it.
"It's normal to feel small when speaking about regression. Let me know if you want something to play with or you need to stop, okay? There's no judgement here."
Legend nodded, staring at his lap. Wars reached over to place a hand on his arm in an attempt at comfort. His brother leaned into the touch with a sigh. Dr. Richelieu smiled at the sight before continuing.
"Now, trauma regression is not the only kind of regression. That tends to be what's called 'involuntary regression.' It can also happens when you're feeling anxious, upset, angry or other strong emotions, or perhaps your mind simply slips into it without your knowing. There is also 'voluntary regression,' which is done on purpose; whether that's to relax from a long day or get in some play time, it's all up to the individual." She paused to let them take in the information. "One can regress to a variety of ages. The most, hmm, popular I suppose I could say, are young child to babe. However, you can also regress to a teenager or young adult. Regression can happen at any age and you can regress to any age. Can you tell me how old you feel when you regress? Do you know?"
"Umm. No- not big."
"Not a big kid?" Legend shook his head. "So, small? Do you have a specific age?"
"Nuh-uh. Jus' small."
"Toddler? Babe?"
Legend shrugged, pulling his feet up and wrapping his arms around his legs. Wars spoke up, seeing that his brother was clearly finished speaking. "I'm not sure, but he does seem to lean young from what I've seen. Toddler seems about right, though I think there a few times when he went younger."
Dr. Richelieu noted the information with a nod. She tapped her pen against the desk a few times in thought. Glancing at Legend curled up in his chair, she pursed her lips. "Link, have you considered getting anything to help with his regression?"
Wars made a so-so motion. "I have, but when I brought it up, he asked if he could think about it. So, no, I have not gotten him anything yet."
"I see. Perhaps you could get one or two things, see how he feels, and go from there."
"Maybe. Lege?" Wars turned to his little brother, trying to catch his attention. "Would you be okay with me getting something for you?"
Legend hummed, rocking a little. For a moment Wars worried he wouldn't get an answer, then there was a quiet "...m'kay."
"Wonderful. If you like, I can do some searching to find places that sell things suited for regression and send you a list?"
"That would be great, thanks." Wars smiled gratefully.
Dr. Richelieu returned it before she became serious. "Now, there is one more thing I would like to talk with you about. Both of you, please." She tapped her desk until Legend looked up and she shot him a quick smile. "I'm glad you two are comfortable with each other, and while I am unaware of the exact dynamic regarding your regression, it seems you have a healthy relationship. However, it is important to keep in mind boundaries- by which I mean what both of you are and are not comfortable with and rules to follow. This can be as simple as nicknames, a set bedtime, or just 'listen to your caregiver when they say something.' I would suggest writing them down so you can both have them to reference. Does that make sense?"
"Yes, we will keep that in mind. Thank you." Glancing over at Legend, Wars saw he had that look on his face that said he was reaching the end of his tolerance for something and made a decision. "I think we should be going now. Thank you for seeing us on such short notice." Standing with a grateful smile, Wars reached over the desk to shake Dr. Richelieu's hand.
"Of course. I'll send you that information as soon as I can. Have a good rest of your day, both of you." The doctor stood and opened the door for them, giving Legend a kind smile and wave goodbye as Wars led him out.
The walk back to the apartment was quiet. Legend stuck close, clinging to Wars' arm nearly the whole way. The Captain had a feeling there was going to be lots of apologizing later- he'd have to reassure Legend it was fine, and that he was allowed to act on his childish urges.
...Perhaps he could do something to help with that. They were due a shopping day soon, and there were certainly enough shops that should catch Legend's eye, regressed or not. He'd just have to steer them that way, perhaps nudge Legend in just the right direction... Yes, that should work. He could always go out again later, with that list Dr. Richelieu promised him, and do some extra shopping,
It took Legend tugging at his arm to break out of his musings and realize they'd made it home. Wars smiled down at his little brother (? he'd have to figure that out) and opened the door.
Wild greeted them as they passed by the kitchen, wrist-deep in dough. Fruits and flour covered the counter; Wars had a feeling they would be having pie with dinner tonight. Legend would be pleased.
Wars moved towards the sitting room but Legend resisted. When he turned to see what was the matter, the boy was drawn into himself, eyes darting towards the hallway that led to the bedrooms.
"You don't want to go in the sitting room?"
Legend shook his head.
"Would you prefer to go to your room?" A nod. "Alright, we can do that."
He led Legend down the hall, but to his surprise the boy pivoted towards the Captain's room instead of his own. Inside, Legend made a straight line for the bed and plopped facedown, curling up with a pleased hum. Wars gently removed Legend's boots, then his own before sitting beside him and running a hand through pink hair. The actions earned him a happy chirp and he felt his heart melt.
A wave of adoration washed over him and Wars couldn't help the smile that crossed his face. There was a part of him that still couldn't believe Legend trusted him enough to share and care for this part of him.
Dr. Richelieu's advice on boundaries echoed in his mind and he sighed. Better to do that sooner than la term though he was loathe to do so when Legend was so clearly comfortable and happy. Still, he'd rather get it done.
"...Hey, Lege, we should talk." Violet eyes blinked up at him, slowly beginning to lose their softness and Wars hurried to reassure him. "It's nothing bad, I promise. I just... wanted to figure out boundaries like Dr. Richelieu suggested. Do you think you're up for that now or would you prefer to wait?"
There was a beat before Legend pushed himself up to face him, already beginning to fidget with the hem of his tunic and bite his lip. Wars felt bad for being the reason for his obvious anxiety, but this was important. In an attempt to offer comfort he laid a hand between them and after a moment Legend hesitantly took it, gripping tightly.
"Wh-what, um, what do you wanna talk about?" His voice came out small and trembling.
Wars squeezed his hand reassuringly and Legend managed a small smile. "Let's start with names. Nicknames. What are you comfortable with? Do you want me to call you anything or just use your name?"
Legend hummed quietly, chewing his lip as he thought. "Mmm... I, uh- I liked it when you called me bunny," he confessed quietly. "Maybe stuff like that?"
"Variations of bunny?" Wars clarified. Legend nodded. "Okay. Anything else?"
"Hmm... Dunno."
"Alright. We can try a few things and see how you feel. As for myself, I told you I don't mind you calling me 'papa,' and I still mean that. How about clothes? Do you have anything you want to wear? Do you want me to get you anything specific?"
"...I like soft things. Bug clothes. Um. Pr-pretty things." Legend rocked side to side. "Most o' my clothes're back home. So... may-maybe?"
Wars nodded. "I'm sure we can find something. Hmm. What else...? Ah. Is there a way you want me to treat you when you're small? You seemed to like it when I held you and when we cuddled when you had that cough. Is there anything else you want me to do, or is there anything I should avoid?"
Legend picked at the blanket as he thought, brows furrowed. He was quiet long enough that Wars began to think he wouldn't get an answer. Finally, he let out a long breath and spoke.
"I'm not really sure. Um... I guess like a- mn. Like a little- little kid? I don't- I- I kind of have an idea in my head but I don't really want to- want to say it out loud. It- I'm not. Sure if I want that just yet."
"Okay. Thank you for telling me. I think that's probably good enough for now. We can figure out more later, as well as see about writing it down." Wars gently tugged his brother forwards into a loose hug; Legend went easily, allowing Wars to wrap his arms around him.
The two of them sat there for a minute or so before the younger boy shifted, moving so he could rest his cheek against Wars' chest and look up at him. "Wars?"
"Yes?"
"Could- would it be okay if I, um... If I was small 'gain?"
Wars felt a swell of pride at the question. It was clear Legend hadn't regressed on purpose at their appointment, and then Wars had brought him out of it for their talk, but he was willingly trying to get back in that headspace. Wars smiled and gave in to the urge to press a kiss to the boy's brow. "Of course, bunny. Go right ahead."
Legend gave a small squeak at the nickname and buried his face in Wars' chest. Wars could feel his smile, and after a few moments Legend relaxed and went completely limp.
Shifting to sit more comfortably, Wars maneuvered Legend so he could properly hold him in his lap. His boy Legend chirped happily and settled further against him.
"I'm proud of you," Wars murmured into soft pink hair. He was answered with a quiet rumbling purr. They spent the next few hours cuddling quietly, content in their bond as caregiver and child, until Wild came to fetch them for dinner.
Ravio and Link bonded a ton through food. Ravio took up cooking as an apology for indirectly forcing Link to go on a quest to save two worlds. He thought that apart from providing him with the weapons that were necessary, he could at least feed him some baked goods.
Link begrudgingly put up with Ravio until he started warming up to him. The food did convince him he was a bit trustworthy with some of his stuff.
As they started getting closer they did begin talking more. Ravio really likes to talk. He talked with Hilda a lot during his time in Lorule Castle and his occupation as a merchant does put him in tons of situations where he needs to communicate.
When Link came home from Lorule there were rare times he would stay and sleep. At first Ravio just slept on the couch to stay away from Link (as he still felt the need to hide his identity), but at some point both just slept together to remove any unfairness and guilt.
Sometimes Ravio wouldn't sleep at all, but he would just stare at Link like a freak when he was absolutely sure he was alsleep (and so he could stop hiding his face and take a breather). Eventually he would get up and do smth else for a while at the dead of night.
By the next morning, the two act like nothing even happened.
Extra: Ravi likes sweet things so things like honey glazed meats and such. Anything sweet and savory. And then for deserts he likes things like cobbler. He makes apple cobbler with the apples from Link's apple orchard. For drinks, mostly herbal teas brewed from fruit leaves.
A lipsync animation I started at the beginning of the season and just got around to finishing! Iām pretty out of practice when it comes to 2D animation (I usually do 3D) but I thought it would be fun to get back into the swing of things by animating to some hermit clips :D
Some lore about magic Iām cooking up. This is in reference to the era the lbl boys and sae dads found themselves in and tcod. I didnāt use every race, just some reoccurring ones and this that appear in these eras plus zonai and minish. If the games contradict this in anyway I am closing my eyes and not looking.
Some extra tidbits:
Humans are an ancient people, and were left behind on the surface when Skyloft was first made. Thatās why thereās so many and why they have established kingdoms. I used Edmund from Love at Twilight as an example.
Gerudo have no magic, save for some exceptions like Nabooru, who is a sage. I have them being very big and strong. Fully-fledged Gerudo tend to stay in Holodrum rather than Hyrule. Theyāre actually super chill. I used a character I havenāt shared yet named Remelia, Remmy for short, who is the Gerudo chief in tcod.
Characters like Daruk and Darmani are highly respected amongst all Gorons even if theyāre not chiefs because of their magic (Darukās protection and Darmaniās spiky thing when heās rolling around). I used Darohn from my whumptober fics. He doesnāt have any magic.
Rito I imagine are kind in between in terms of magic. Itās def crazy seeing a rito with magic, but itās not the rarest occurrence ever. In this era theyāre super isolated and have their own king in tcod. I used some hummingbird-inspired rito I designed a while ago. He has no name so he is just referred to as āsome guyā
Half Gerudo can be born with magic and most have a tiny bit. But if a half gerudo has no magic it wonāt kill her. This really is the case for any mixed child with magical and non magical parents, but itās easier to use half Gerudo cuz thereās more of them. I used the jeweler from my āZelda tries to get her ears pierced but is terrified of needlesā comic as an example.
Hylians are magical creatures and cannot survive without it. Not much to say about them since theyre the main race. I used tcod Link :)
I have different kinds of zoras! The river zora that are seen a lot in the downfall timeline, the lake zora that take after tp and botw zora, and sea zora that take after oot and mm zora. I used princess Kaia and Prince Rali whom I havenāt introduced yet, but theyāre important characters in tcod! And some guy again lolll. Iām using magic from Mipha, Sidon, Qia, and Mikau as references. Along with the river zora that breathe fire at you.
It makes sense if male Gerudo are the one exception with being born with magic for Gerudo. I also see them as smaller and weaker than normal Gerudo, but Ganondorf is an exception to this. I guess Sooga too lolll. Male Gerudo are kind like normal humans. I used tcod ganondorf.
Gosh Sheikah to me are what Gerudo are for other people. I LOVE the Sheikah and find them fascinating. Theyāre a terrifying people being used by the royal family to do terrible things. Theyāre all super powerful, and donāt have much of a desire for power. Sometimes. I found Impaās line in skord how the purpose of her tribe is to serve Hylia, and Iāve kinda milked that for the Sheikah. If theyāre not helping Hyliaās descendants then theyāre pathetic excuses for Sheikah. And the royal family does not want them to be more powerful than them, so they donāt actually know the extent of their power. Anytime itās shown itās snuffed out (the king after the calamity essentially oppressing the sheikah and leading to the creation of the yiga clan). They use so many forms of magic that I couldnāt even list them all. I didnāt even mention immortality. Theyāre so special to me I love the Sheikah. I used Evann for an example!
And I bunched together Zonai and Minish together since Zonai come from Minish. Rito come from Zora too but theyāre different enough, physically and magic wise. But yeah Minish are very powerful, able to do very impressive feats at their tiny size. But theyāre so sweet and kind that they only use it for good. And not much else to say about the Zonai. Theyāre extinct. I used Ram and Pachi for examples!
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