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#and the Zora’s Domain is in Lanayru
loaf-of-cheese · 1 year
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A few weeks ago I made this map with some better general goddess worship borders!
It’s essentially so the Golden Goddesses get some love, and Hylia doesn’t hoard it all like a jerk. This is very general in new borders, but it’s mostly divided up among the races.
Ritos are mixed, and worship both Din and Nayru, the Gorons are hardcore Din fans, the Gerudos(when not worshiping the seven swordswomen) are fans for Farore, and with how secluded the Zora are to outside influences on religion, they really only worship Nayru.
For example, a Goron may exclaim, “Holy Din!” A Rito may say, “By Nayru, or, “By Din’s graces.” A Gerudo may say, “Farore, give me strength.” And a Zora may, like a Rito, say, “By Nayru.”
Now, you may notice an odd imbalance in popularity for Nayru, but that’s because her worship is more confined to the Lanayru region and the Hebra mountains, due to those places similarities to her power, but that only means you’re more likely to find a completely devoted Nayru follower, than say a Din follower, due to Din’s influence being more widespread, and Nayru’s being more secluded.
Hylian are still worshiping Hylia though, because they’re basic, but this was mostly just to give some variety to exclamations in regions instead for everyone talking about Hylia, when she wasn’t even the cool one.
If I ever post a fic here, this will probably be what I go with, so if a Zora starts exclaiming about Nayru, this is why.
(Also if you’re wondering, Hylia is number one is worship spread, Farore is number two, Din is a close three, and Nayru is number four)
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botw-photography · 2 years
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Sidon about Mipha and Link’s relationship
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jauffre · 1 year
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TINY BREATH OF THE WILD (x)
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autistic-sidon · 1 year
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Okay so with the existence of Yona confirming that there are other Zora Domains with their own Royal families, there is no way in hell the one in Lanayru is just called, "Zora's Domain."
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thezoraprince · 1 year
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i’m not the best at gif making, butttt here’s some anyway <3
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baileyboo2016 · 10 months
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welp i ran out of options…🤷‍♀️
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rrover · 1 year
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fish people fan
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atwas-gaming · 1 year
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twitch
Zora's Domain tonight! Ew, what is that stuff, anyway???
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kaiapanito · 2 months
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❄️ Link in Mount Lanayru ❄️
Which region is your favourite in Tears of the Kingdom? Mine is always Zoras Domain even if i can’t ride a horse there. Akkala is a close one.
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ofcowardiceandkings · 10 months
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so in those [mumble mumble] years between BotW and TotK, the Zora replaced the weathered and unreadable monuments with new history writing by Sidon, and their contents have left me hmm emotionally compromised ??
i was gonna list em out in full but then i read them all and Sidon waffles so much bless him LOL
full transcripts below (+ the 11th monument in the Domain itself) expect Sidon being an adorable goof, Zora Deep Lore, waterbending, SO much gushing over Mipha and Link, Zelda being a sweetheart, and surprise Yona content !!!
just for clarity, i've highlighted the first word of each on-screen chunk of text ... i love Sidon so much but he's so verbose i kept missing the full log lol but im glad he went all in, its earnest, descriptive and poetic :') 💙 RIP the stonemasons ...
Learnings of the Zora, Part One The Waters of Zora's Domain As told by Prince Sidon
Long, long ago, right here in Lanayru, incredible transformations, both subtle and drastic in nature, shaped the land. The tall mountains birthed clouds, these clouds cried tears of rain, and this rain filled our deep valleys past the brim. In time, this overflowing water became the Zora River, which bred waterfalls that fell and nourished the vast Lanayru Wetlands. Perhaps it was inevitable that my Zora ancestors, who wandered in search of precious water, would finally settle here. The mountains of Lanayru are blessed with high-quality stone. The structures built from said stone are solid yet refined. Just like the Zora and our domain, our buildings exist in harmony with the water. It is a beautiful symbol of our way of life. If you go to the edge of the domain, close your eyes, and listen closely ... you shall be greeted by the gentle sound of water. This kind, soothing sound is a testament to the happy life the Zora are so grateful to have found here. As one born of royal Zora blood, my duty is as clear as it is unshakeable. I, Sidon, swear here and now ... I shall protect our home with my very life, that the gentle sound of water may never cease in our beloved domain.
Learnings of the Zora, Part Two The Legend of Ruto, Our Great Ancestor As told by Prince Sidon
It is written that long ago there was a strong-willed Zora princess who was as meandering as a winding river. This princess, who was dearly loved by her fellow Zora, was noble as she was innocent. Her name was Ruto. One day, a powerful and wicked man tried to take over Hyrule and brought great ruin to the once-peaceful Zora's Domain. Our tales speak of falled Zora soldiers drifting down the river as it sadly reflected the chaotic retreat of the terrified Zora. Princess Ruto bravely fought back her tears and she bore witness to the tragic misery unfolding in the domain. Even amid her heartbreak, the Zora princess did all she coult to help the weak and elderly escape. Next she swam against the river's current and climbed the mighty waterfall to challenge her foe. The details of this fight have fallen victim to the haze of time. Few details remain. Still, it is said she was aided by the princess of Hyrule and the hero of legend, and together they saved Hyrule. So the legend goes. I, Sidon, prince of the Zoram cannot help but ponder these events as I listen to the Zora children play in all their innocence. As Princess Ruta's descendant, it is my fate to carry the torch of her brave acts into tomorrow and beyond. I shall not fail.
Learnings of the Zora, Part Three The Great King Dorephan As told by Prince Sidon
Several springs after I lost my dear sister, Mipha, a large group of Lizalfos attacked the domain. It mattered not that this was my first true battle. The expectations of those around me weighed heavy on my shoulders. The absence of Mipha, who had always been there to encourage me with loving kindness, was like a spear to my heart. As for my own spear, though I was highly trained for its use, it seemed to only cut the air and slash the water's surface. I was taken off guard by a surprise attach from three Lizalfos hiding at the water's edge, each with their blade fixed on me. I knew that my time had come ... and that is when the three Lizalfos disappeared, as quickly as they had arrived. In their place, I saw the towering figure of my father, the great King Dorephan, who had just bested my foes with ease. "Sidon, my son," he said firmly. "You allwed your heart to falter. That is the quickest way to fall on the battlefield." His words cut deep, but as I stood on the brink of dispair, a familiar gently encouraged me. "Your king needs you." Many soldiers later attested they were certain they had also heard the sweet voice of Mipha on that day. From then on, my heart was true and my resolve firm. By lending strength to our king, we were able to save the domain.
Learnings of the Zora, Part Four Two Sisters of Different Blood As told by Prince Sidon
When I was young, I had an irrational fear of strangers. I was particularly bashful around Yona. Paralyzed, even. She was already so mature in manner, and she treated me like a little brother, even though we were not related. There came an unseasonably heavy rain that quickly flooded the river. Us children, who were playing there, were swept away. I was battered by the water's strong flow, my fins helpless to resist. It was Yona who dragged me to the safety of the shore. The water continued to swell as the shore waned, but Yona was unflappable, sweetly comforting me as I shivered in fear. It was Mipha, my dear sister, who finally showed up to rescue us with other Zora adults in tow. I still remember Yona's face as she gazed up at Mipha in admiration. My face must have looked the same as I gazed at Yona. As a child, I had two big sisters. One by birth and one by chance. Yona looked up to Mipha, and I was in awe of them both. Before I knew it, years had passed, and my feelings for Yona became more difficult to quantify. Then, one day ... My father informed me that the amazing young woman who had once been a like a sister to me was to be my bride. Perhaps these feelings and memories are too dear and private to commit to history, but such is the tale of this Zora prince.
Learnings of the Zora, Part Five The Zora Armor She Left Behind As told by Prince Sidon
For some time after I lost my beloved sister, even in the light shining on the water seemed dark and dreary to my eyes. But as they say, time heals all wounds, no matter how deep. I can now speak of her with a smile, as is only fitting. I shall now tell the tale of the Zora armor that my sister crafted for her future husband, as per our ancient custom. One dark day, the domain was in great peril, and I sought help from a traveling Hylian to save our home. He was sparing with his words, yet I trusted him at once. As fate would have it, he was a childhood friend of Mipha's. My father, King Dorephan, troubled by the domain's suffering, requested his help. The swordsman agreed without hesitation. Father bequeathed my sister's Zora armor to this courageous soul, along with her hopes for the safety of the domain. The armor fit Link perfectly - so perfectly that councilman Muzu, who then harbored a hatred of Hylians, could not object. My sister had already left this world, and with her went the dearly held intentions that she had instilled within that special armor. Yet, with Link's help, she shined a light on the Zora in our hour of need, reaching between worlds with gentle fingertips.
Learnings of the Zora, Part Six The Story of Mipha Court: The Beginning As told by Prince Sidon
There was once a terrifying monster on Ploymus Mountain, loosing shock arrows on all who dared to cross its path. It was of utmost importance to drive the beast away, but as the Zora are weak to electricity, our efforts were futile. That is when a lone Hylian arrived at the domain. This swordsman who was sparing with his words ... his name was Link. Unlike us Zora, he was immune to shocks! Well perhaps that is an exaggeration, but one thing is certain. He was very brave. After careful preparation, he ascended Ploymus Mountain and defeated the foul beast all by himself. As if in celebration of newfound peace, clean water mysteriously began flowing at the top of Ploymus Mountain. That is when many Zora, if not most, voiced support for building a place that all could enjoy in that formerly frightful spot. Yet the many tree roots and stones made this task tricky, leading to a focus on the no-less-difficult matter of the name. "Zora Park" was too obvious. "Ploymus Park" only conjured images of the former terrors found there. When I candidly asked whether we should focus on the hard work at hand rather than the name, they all turned my way. "Prince Sidon," they asked. "Surely you must have a good suggestion?" To that, I fell silent, and stayed so for a long while. I shall write the conclusion of this story on another monument.
Learnings of the Zora, Part Six The Story of Mipha Court: The Conclusion As told by Prince Sidon
The first half of this tale can be found on another stone monument. If it is not too much trouble, I advise reading that first. I now present the conclusion. When posed with the task of naming this storied location, I, Prince Sidon, fell silent. After a time, I timidly proposed the one and only name that came to mind for this place of newfound peace. I suggested that we name it after my beloved sister who had long been lost to us ... Mipha Court. I worried they would think I was unfairly favoring my own family's legacy by naming it after my kin. A hush fell over the group. After a time, one of the stonemasons raised his voice in agreement. More voices joined his, one after another. The idea was embraced whlly, and the craftsmen all returned to their work. Though the work was grueling, from then until the completion of Mipha Court, the air was filled with laughter and singing. This incident drove home to my very core how much everyone loved my sister. I hope one day to inspire such admiration. If there is ever to be a Sidon Court, I must work tirelessly to earn that honor.
Learnings of the Zora, Part Seven The Prince and the Swordsman As told by Prince Sidon
The rain always stops ... except when it does not. This humourous saying was once repeated with a soft chuckle around here. Then, one day, heavy rain started falling in the domain, and no matter how many days passed it did not cease. Although the Zora are a water-dwelling sort, we came to miss the warmth of the sun and dry winds upon our backs. Alas, as fervent as our desire was, we had no means of stopping the cause of this unprecedented disaster. When all had given up hope, I, Sidon, took it upon myself to invite a Hylian to the domain. This young swordsman of few words was named Link. I trusted him at once, sensing great devotion in his kind eyes. It was immediately clear that my instincts were correct. Thanks to Link, we were able to face the thread head on. Our battle with the source of the disaster was intense by my newfound friend and I refused to yield until we finally triumphed. Sometimes, writen words flow so much more readily than those spoken ... Link, my dearest friend, you are an unparalleled swordsman, and I admire you so very much. He may lack fins and gills, but it matters not. This hero among heroes exudes magnificence tempered with steadiness. Though we are different, our hearts both yearn to serve a higher calling. I learned much from him, and I am eternally grateful. As I recall my best friend, it occurs to me that though the rains have ceased, perhaps a true adventure never does.
Learnings of the Zora, Part Eight The Princess of Hyrule As told by Prince Sidon
One that despicable disaster had ceased to plague Zora's Domain, a distinguished yet humble lady paid us a visit. This young woman who appeared with Link at her side was none other than Princess Zelda of the royal family of Hyrule. "I beg forgiveness," she said earnestly. "Because of the royal family, Princess Mipha ..." She paused, unable to continue. Small, silent teardrops tumbled down her cheek and hit the floor, one after another, each saying a thousand unspaken words. She gently wiped her eyes and lifted her gaze to meet the king's, speaking kind words of gratitude for Mipha's sacrifice. We knew well that what had transpired was the result of a decision shared by the Zora and by Princess Mipha herself. There was no need for the princess of Hyrule's apology, and even less so for her sorrow. King Dorephan, along with the rest of the Zora, were moved by the depth of Princess Zelda's sincerity. She had held that unthinkable disaster at bay for nearly 100 years with nothing more than the sheer force of her own will. Yet she was not prideful. She dutifully set to work, traveling across Hyrule to secure cooperation for the kingdom's restoration. She was adored by all, yet so humble. She possessed an inner strength, but now I am not so certain. I feel a strong calling one day to acquire this same sort of strength within myself.
Learnings of the Zora, Anecdote One The Solid Water and the Fluid Spear As told by Prince Sidon
The Zora are not associated with water because of our dwelling place alone. We each also, to varying extents, possess the ability to actually manipulate water. We use this gift for many purposes. We use it to swim faster, to achieve mighty leaps from the waves below, to gather fish, and so much more. For me, the true awakening of this ability that many of my childhood chums already possessed came upon me quite suddenly. One day as I was training at Veiled Falls, the rain slickened my grasp, causing me to drop my spear. I reached to grab it, but it was already too far away. Soon it would fall to the bottom of the cliff, never to be seen again. I knew that I must take old of it, and at that moment, droplets created a stream extending from my outstretched hand. The water stream twisted and turned until it finally took hold of my falling spear and deftly returned it to my grasp. In that moment, the water was solid and my spear fluid. This sensation forever changed my approach to spearplay. I was reminded of how my sister, Mipha, described it ... and everything clicked. Water and spear became as one. Gaining yet another layer of admiration for my dear sister, I devoted myself to my spear training from then on.
Learnings of the Zora, Anecdote Two The Great Task Entrusted to Me As told by Prince Sidon
I, Sidon, was entrusted with the great task of renovating the Zora stone monuments that had fallen to ruin. There are 11 stone monuments total find in and around Zora's Domain, including the one you are now reading. The former text written by my father, King Dorephan, could not be salvaged, and so sadly it had to be replaced. Despite my royal blood, whispers abound that it is improper for someone my age to write over the king's glorious words. Ah, but do they not realize that it was King Dorephan himself who ordered me to undertake this restoration project? Father says it is not set in stone that I shall be the one to inherit the throne, as it is not a matter of blood alone. If we ask the eternal skies above whether I am fit to rule, they shall remain silent, and so we must look to our fellow Zora. He urged me to use these monuments to share my learnings and speak to our people straight from my heart. Father is older and wiser than I. His sage advice is a gift. As such, I have inscribed my thoughts upon these 11 stones. I do not know how far-reaching my words shall be, but it is my hope that they will reach whoever needs to hear them most. Until one of the descendants writes over my musings many years from now, I pray they resonate with whoever reads them.
WELL there we are, thanks for the history lesson Sidon you absolute sweetie fhjdkdjf i have thoughts and feelings and emotions but i wont make this post any longer than it already is but i love these characters byeeeEEE
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frost-link · 10 months
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Any Headcanons for sidon x reader who is a mermaid/siren (she/her)
(What a lovely idea! I would love to! Since you had also requested a different one, asking how they met; I'll combine them in this one!)
Sidon With a Fem!Mermaid S/O
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How you met:
Sidon had first spotted you when he was at Tarm Point. What he had initially thought was a hylian in the water, turned out to be something else. For he had seen your face for a moment, before you dove into the water, revealing your vibrant scales and fins. He was completely shocked at the sight of you. He had never witnessed someone like that before. It felt like a dream to him, surreal. However, it was only for a moment.
He thought that he would be able to shrug it off, however he was wrong. He was consumed by your being in his sleep. You were in his dreams, appearing as a radiant, yet mysterious blur.
This went on for a week before he decided to return to Tarm Point only to find that you weren't there. Throughout the following weeks he kept coming back, however you still were nowhere to be seen.
He had given up on looking for you until there were rumours in the Domain. Multiple had claimed to see something at Lanayru Bay.
Many of the Zora made comments.
"I thought it was a hylian at first, before I saw her having the lower half of some kind of sea creature!"
"Maybe it's a Zora-Hylian hybrid?"
"I originally thought she was potentially a threat, however the way she was washed up on the bay, I didn't think so."
This had completely alarmed Sidon, he was quick to go to Lanayru Bay just to see you, and make sure that you were okay.
He finally saw you after weeks of thinking about you. He was quick to return you to Zora's Domain; to the infirmary. Zora Healers had taken care of you immediately. After a couple of days, you finally woke up.
Turns out you had spotted him too with the same feelings. You wanted to see him more closely. Which is how you wound up on Lanayru Bay, away from the ocean.
Over the next few weeks, you both got to know each other. You both shared personal stories, about your lives, and how it was different living in the ocean v.s. the domain.
Sidon was the first to confess to you. He first found himself falling in love by how he would stare at your (f/c) scales. How you gently swayed your tail fins in the water. When you gently touch his fins, comparing it to your own. It was the small things that really lured him to you.
Headcanons:
Sidon absolutely loves to go swimming at the Reservoir with you. He likes doing different tricks in the water for you to watch, vice versa.
If Sidon playfully splashes you... Oh man is he in for something. You use your tail fin and absolutely send a giant splash back, the power you have in it SCARES him.
Sidon will find himself staring at you when the rays from the sun hits your scales and glistens in the light. He can't help but find himself lost in your vibrant beauty.
He's fairly embarrassed by this, however you absolutely enjoy teasing him about it. The first few times when he spoke with you, he would forget that you didn't have "legs". He would usually just see you from the waist up in the infirmary's water. He would think you're a hylian for a hot minute.
"Aren't you coming, (Y/n)?"
"Do you think I can just walk out of the water?"
"..."
Whenever you go somewhere with him that involves leaving the water, he always picks you up bridal style and holds you close.
At night, when he's stressed from his duties, you will sing him lullabies to help him sleep. Sometimes you would also just tell him stories about your home in the ocean. The different kinds of fish, coral, etc. This always puts him at ease.
Sidon absolutely loves it when you wrap your tailfin around him. It never fails to make him feel flustered.
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ot3 · 1 year
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How much of Link/Sidon is just people simping for the shark man and using Link as a self insert for that, and how much does it actually feel like a genuinely well set-up potential romantic pairing? Never had the time to play botw or totk (swamped with schoolwork) so this has always intrigued me.
Asking because you occur as the tumblr user with the most based opinions on these sorts of matters.
On one hand, in general, link as a silent protagonist doesn't have the easiest time developing a rapport with NPCs enough that I could confidently say any of them are "well set up romantic pairings". the vast majority of his characterization outside of how you the player interpret him comes from the memories feature in botw, which is understandably very focused on his relationship to Zelda rather than NPCs he has yet to meet. However. With that said. There's yaoi there for real. Sidon is immediately so obsessed with link he's like omg bestieeee hiiii ^_^ like that shark dude loves him
In totk u go to the zora domain and Sidon has had a statue of link riding on his back put like front and center in the city. Sidon has a fiance in totk but this does nothing to dissuade me because imo Sidon is the kind of guy who doesn't think it's cheating to kiss the homies and I think his fiance seems based enough to agree. He and link are both busy guys so do I see a committed relationship working? Probably not. But does he drop in to lanayru every now and then to swing? Absolutely. I believe this.
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triforce-of-mischief · 9 months
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Not Yet
Summary: Legend doesn't have to trigger his phobia again until he's ready. That's what Warriors tells him, at least.
Word count: 4,070
AO3
Warnings: needles, vomit
Reblogs > Likes!
The portal deposited the heroes on the outskirts of the Lanayru Wetlands, and Wild warned them that they might not reach true civilization during this trip. Both Zora’s Domain and Kakariko were a few days’ travel away, but the Wetland Stable was an hour or two down the road. It was better than nothing, so the group agreed to head there and get their bearings.
They had hardly reached the main road when Wind shouted excitedly, pointing to a figure approaching from the south. Legend squinted, making out a blond man riding a sturdy brown horse. The stranger slowed as he reached the heroes, calling out a greeting that Wild happily returned.
“Everyone, this is Spoone,” Wild said. “He’s a good friend of mine, and the best doctor in Hyrule.”
Legend tried to suppress a shiver. Spoone was just a man, and seemed to be a nice one at that. Legend couldn’t let Spoone’s occupation ruin his opinion of him before they even truly met. So what if he was a doctor? That was… fine.
“The only doctor in Hyrule,” Spoone corrected good-naturedly. “Not counting Doctors Calip and Robbie, whose medical skills are… lacking, anyhow.”
“I’m sure you’ll find an apprentice soon,” Wild said with a grin. “You’ll need all the help you can get to find a use for those scales, right?”
“Ah, yes! I almost forgot that you haven’t heard the news,” Spoone said, one hand absently resting on a pouch at his hip. “Through minimal trial and error, Director Purah and I were able to develop a formula that will change all of Hyrule for the better.”
“Wait, what’s going on?” Four asked.
“I’m glad you asked, young man!” Spoone smiled down at Four, and Legend snickered as the teen stood a little straighter. “You see, it’s been my life’s goal to collect even a single scale from the great dragon Naydra. It’s said that her magic can cure any illness, and the thought of delivering that kind of widespread protection is almost too exciting to bear. I had nearly given up hope, but one day Link descended Mount Lanayru with more scales than my horse could carry. I brought them to Hateno, where Director Purah and I transformed them into this.”
The man retrieved a small box from the pouch and angled it so they could see. Rows of tiny vials were lined up inside, each filled with a cool blue liquid.
“Medicine?” Four guessed.
“Correct. A single dose of this stuff will prevent a hyrulian from falling to any of the diseases that spread across the land, or cure them if it’s otherwise too late.”
Warriors stared at the admittedly unimpressive number of vials. “And… this is enough to treat every person in Hyrule?”
“Yes, it is,” Spoone confirmed. “Rather than brew the scales as an elixir, we were able to implement a medical technique that has only recently been discovered since the Calamity. All I have to do is collect a fraction of a vial’s contents and inject it directly into the patient’s bloodstream via a hollow needle.”
Vaguely, Legend heard Warriors suck in a sharp breath. The captain’s words were muffled by Legend’s own heartbeat pounding in his ears.
Of course. Of course.
This doctor had reinvented the very thing that was the cause of his phobia and all of its related trauma. Legend just couldn’t catch a break. He knew what would come next.
Warriors was still trying to speak to him, but Legend ignored him in favor of listening to Time.
Their leader was oblivious to Legend’s predicament, saying, “That sounds like it could be incredibly useful for a group like us. If we could travel without fear of our entire party falling ill…”
Spoone responded in the affirmative, offering to administer the medicine once they arrived at the stable. Time agreed, waving the heroes forward as Spoone led the way. Legend started to follow, walking on numb legs, and jolted when Warriors gently grabbed his shoulder.
Warriors waited a moment, holding Legend back until the others were out of earshot. “Not so fast, Lege. I saw how you reacted. If you’re not ready yet-”
“It doesn’t matter if I’m not ready,” Legend whispered. His voice would break if he spoke any louder. “This is for the good of the group. Imagine how much we could get done if none of us get sick, Wars- I can’t ruin that just because I’m a coward.”
“You’re not a coward,” Warriors reminded him. “You’re not mentally fit to go through this, so I’m not going to let you. That’s an order.”
Legend knew that this was a dangerous game, pitting his stubbornness against the captain’s protective streak. Still, he pressed on despite the part of him that begged to accept this mercy. “I’ll be a liability. I could be the one holding everyone back. Wouldn’t it be easier t-to-” His voice gave way, and he mentally cursed it for giving Warriors the proof he needed.
“We’re a team, Lege. When one of us isn’t at their strongest, we cover their weak spot. In this moment, that means sparing you from unnecessary stress. We still have a lot of work to do before you’ll be truly ready for this. Until then, and always, we have your back.”
Legend sighed, finally letting himself feel relieved that he wouldn’t have to go through this… yet. The relief was gone as soon as it came as he remembered that this was only a temporary solution.
“But it’s gonna happen eventually, it-”
“Listen to me, bud. Nothing’s happening today, ok? Right now, you don’t have to do anything.”
“Okay… promise?”
Warriors pulled him into a quick side hug. “Yeah. Promise.”
Legend shoved him away, grumbling about how they needed to catch up to the others. Warriors easily agreed, choosing not to comment on the flush blooming on the tips of Legend’s ears.
Four was walking slower than the rest, and Legend matched his pace as Warriors jogged to the front. The smith took a moment too long to notice Legend, obviously preoccupied with his thoughts.
“He said you don’t have to, right?” Four said, and Legend nodded. “Good.” He fell silent for a minute, and Legend realized that he was walking much closer than he normally did, almost letting their hands touch.
“And how’re you holding up?” Legend asked.
“I’ll be okay.”
Legend frowned, not liking Four’s subdued tone. “You sure?”
Four debated his next words, then sighed before admitting, “Red is crying.”
“What? If you’re not ready either, I’m sure you can-”
“No… I can do this today. We know how to calm him down.”
Legend chewed his lip, wondering again if he should just get it over with now. A wave of anxiety and nausea answered that question.
Four’s next step brought him even closer to Legend. Four grabbed Legend’s hand and Legend gave it a comforting squeeze. “We’ll be okay,” Four repeated.
Legend didn’t know who exactly Four was referring to, but he believed him.
They caught up to the rest of the group, and Four left to check on Sky. Warriors was talking with Spoone as Wild and Wind chattered nearby. Legend joined them, unaware that it was a bad idea to tune into the younger boys’ conversation.
“I was one of the subjects of Spoone and Purah’s experiments, so I know what it feels like,” Wild said. “It hurts, more than a bokoblin club but not as much as a lynel charge. It kinda feels cool, you know? Monsters usually leave surface scratches or wide wounds but with an injection, you can feel the needle going in your arm.”
“Cool! I can’t wait to get to the stable!” Wind chirped.
“Wild, Wind!” Warriors snapped. “That’s enough.”
A gentle voice came from beside Legend. “Breathe.”
���I am,” Legend gasped.
“Not enough.” This was Hyrule, nudging Legend’s shoulder. “Don’t pay attention to them, just take deep breaths. There’s nothing to panic about.”
“I’m not-” Legend stumbled, suddenly weak from a lack of oxygen. Din dang it, he was panicking, and that stupid phantom pain in his arm had returned in full force.
“That was uncalled for,” Hyrule muttered, holding Legend’s arm to keep him upright (and, unintentionally, driving the pain away). “How about some revenge after this is over?”
Legend noted that Hyrule was nervous too, though he was good at hiding it. He indulged the traveler’s need for distraction, helping him concoct a plan so epic that it would take multiple days to prepare. They were laughing by the time the stable came into view, having momentarily forgotten what was about to happen there.
Hyrule’s snickers trailed off as they gathered in front of the stable, falling silent as he and Legend watched Spoone dismount. The doctor handed his horse’s reins to Wild, who led it to the man at the front counter.
“It should only take me a few minutes to get everything set up,” Spoone announced. “Please come inside if you’re ready and willing.”
With that, Spoone entered the tent, leaving the heroes to mill around and send each other glances that said, Well? Go on!
Legend noticed that most of the others were starting to pair up, the more confident heroes taking the nervous ones under their wing. Wind had gravitated to Time, and Four to Sky. Legend nudged Hyrule forward, pointing him to Twilight. The rancher ruffled the teen’s hair before pulling him close, making him giggle. Warriors glanced at Wild before stepping closer to Legend.
“Stay outside the tent, all right?” Warriors said. “There’s a cooking pot over there, you can sit there until we’re done.”
Legend nodded and watched Warriors go to where Wild was waiting. The champion led the way into the tent, the rest of the heroes filing behind. Legend waited for the last pair to disappear behind the flap before walking over to the cooking pot.
A man was sitting near the pot, and gestured for Legend to join him. He wore a stable hand’s outfit and was meticulously polishing a torch for some reason. The man looked curiously at Legend’s sword and shield as the vet set them beside him.
“Nice baby sword, pal,” the man said. “I bet it can’t even keep a flame going. What’s its name?”
Legend couldn’t care less about indulging this weirdo, but it was a sufficient distraction from what he imagined was happening inside the stable. He sighed and lifted his sword, letting the blade catch the light just so. “She used to be known as the Master Sword, but now she’s the Tempered Sword.”
The man scoffed. “Well, it’s nothing compared to my weapon of choice! For I am Yolero, the hero of legend chosen to wield the Master Torch!”
“Hero of Legend? Yeah, right,” the veteran laughed. “I’d double check your history books if I were you.”
Their banter continued for a few minutes, but Legend’s mind started to wander. His ears pricked in the direction of the tent though he didn’t know what he was listening for.
Yolero noticed Legend’s lack of attention, changing the topic so fast that it took Legend a moment to adjust. “Say, why aren’t you in the tent with the rest of your gang? Don’t you care about protecting people and all that?”
Legend flinched, mentally cursing himself for doing so. “I’m… not ready today.”
Yolero huffed. “Why’s that?” “I’m just not. Not like it’s any of your business anyway.”
“Hmm.” Yolero leaned back, a calculating smirk on his face. “You’re not scared, are you?”
Legend gave him a silent glare.
“I mean, that would be pretty pathetic. A well-armed guy like you, too much of a coward to go in there and let a doctor stick a needle in your arm.”
Legend hissed, fingers gripping the wooden seat instead of clutching his suddenly aching arm.
Yolero’s eyes narrowed, knowing that he had Legend trapped. “Just as I thought. You’re scared and weak and willing to take your team, maybe all of Hyrule, down with you.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Legend growled.
“Prove it then,” Yolero said, pointing at the stable.
“I have nothing to prove to you.”
“Suit yourself.” The look on Yolero’s face said that he knew that he had won.
Legend tried to ignore him, taking deep breaths and staring at the castle in the distance. His ears twitched again, expecting to hear something.
When he was young, he had sat in the examination room, white knuckling the table as he listened to sobs and screams from the other side of the thin walls. He stuck his fingers in his ears, pretending that he couldn’t see Uncle’s look.
No such sounds came from the tent. The youngest of them was nearly fourteen, plenty old enough to have some dignity. Legend was the only one who still acted like a child. A child and a coward who was taking the easy way out.
Warriors wasn’t going to be happy.
Before he could lose his nerve, Legend stood up.
Yolero had the nerve to act surprised. “Well, look at that. Maybe you’re not as much of a wimp as I thought.”
“Shut up,” Legend grumbled. “I’m doing this for me, not you.”
“Just go in there already!”
“I am!” Legend snapped, taking a step forward that was more shaky than he would like to admit. He could feel Yolero’s eyes on him as he walked over to the tent and reached for the curtain concealing the interior. There was no backing out now. He pushed the curtain aside, eyes darting to every corner of the stable.
Wild and Wind were sitting on the floor, laughing and poking each other’s arms. Warriors and Four watched them, the smith wrapped in the captain’s scarf. Legend was relieved to see Four’s small smile. Sky was seated at the table, head pressed to the wood while Time rubbed his back.
Then Legend looked to the back of the stable and saw Hyrule.
The traveler was leaning against Twilight, who held his hand in a firm grip. Hyrule’s eyes were closed, his lips pressed into a flat line. Spoone sat in front of him, at such an angle that Legend could see what he was doing.
There was a needle in Hyrule’s arm.
It only took a few seconds but Legend stood there, paralyzed, as he watched Spoone administer the vaccine. As the needle emerged from Hyrule’s arm, a surges of nausea told Legend that he had witnessed enough. He tore his eyes away, momentarily crossing gazes with Warriors. The captain’s expression of horror (and was that anger?) registered for a split second before Legend’s hands flew to his mouth and he stumbled out of the tent.
Legend barely made it to the woods behind the stable before he collapsed, the contents of his stomach lurching up his throat to spill on the ground. He retched and coughed, unable to hear footsteps running toward him. A sudden hand on his shoulder made him jump, but another hand was already pulling his hair away from his face.
“It’s ok, it’s just me- just get it all out, all right?” his helper soothed, and Legend identified Four’s voice. The pitch was higher than normal, too- closer to Red’s voice. Great.
Four held Legend’s hair back until the vet finally exhausted himself, then waited as Legend spat the rest of it out. “All done?” Four asked.
Legend shivered, feeling Four rest his hand on his back to rub small circles. He stared at the mess beginning to soak into the dirt and opened his mouth to speak, but a pathetic whine grated out instead. Hot, angry tears burned Legend’s eyes, from pain and embarrassment and gods knew what else.
“Don’t try to talk if you’re not ready,” Four tutted. “Can you stand? We should get you cleaned up by the river.”
His legs shook like a newborn foal, but Legend managed to stand. Four took his weight without complaint, supporting the older teen as he led him down the hill to the riverbank. A sullen silence hung over Legend as he washed his face. He could tell that Four was full of questions that Legend wasn’t in the mood to provide answers to.
The sound of boots tromping down the hill saved Legend from that conversation.
“Lege… I told you to stay outside the stable.”
Oh no. A scolding from Warriors was way worse.
A heavy sigh. “There’s a man by the cooking pot who’s laughing his head off. I don’t suppose he had anything to do with this?”
A rush of fury gave Legend enough strength to stand again, but Four pulled him right back down. “Let him handle it,” the smith whispered, a blue gleam in his eye.
Legend didn’t even want to hold any pity for Yolero. If anything, he wished that he could go with Warriors himself. There was no way that Four would let him in this state, though.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, even after Warriors had gone. The air surrounding them was… awkward, almost tense, with only the river’s steady flow to cut through it. Finally, both of them attempted to speak at the same time.
“Lege-”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
They both winced, Legend tearing a fistful of grass from the mud and Four reaching up to tap his feather earring.
“Do you… need some alone time?” Four offered quietly.
“Yeah,” Legend whispered. He stared straight ahead, only his ear flicking back as Four stood and hesitantly returned to the stable. He watched the sun shimmer on the water as it flowed over and around rocks and fallen tree branches and the occasional fish. It was a mesmerizing sight, mirroring the erratic whirl of Legend’s own thoughts.
He had known that he wasn’t ready, he had known that he didn’t have to face his fear yet. All it had taken was a few barbed comments from a stranger and he had marched right into the stable and made an absolute fool of himself. What had he achieved? What had he even hoped to achieve? Absolutely nothing, that’s what.
His ears, trained on a lifetime of paranoia and hiding, detected the rustle of something approaching from behind. Tiny feet, definitely not Sky or Warriors. Legend doubted that Four could sound that small even at his sneakiest. So who…?
Something soft and furry nudged his wrist, and he yelped at the unexpected touch. The sensation vanished with a jingle of magic. A few sparkles floated past Legend, then another flurry of them appeared above his lap along with a glowing blue bunny. The vet yelped again but the bunny was undeterred. Calm yellow-orange eyes stared up at him, and he blinked.
“What… what are you doing?” Legend whispered, afraid to move in case he scared the bunny away.
One of the creature’s antennae (ears? antennae) twitched and it plopped down, resting its head on its paws.
This was clearly some kind of magical rabbit, and his deeply hidden instincts were rousing with a gentle feeling of kinship. The little one must have sensed his brooding and come to help him feel better.
“Are you here to cuddle?” Legend asked, tilting his head a little. “Have you come to smother my storm cloud? I won’t blame you if you don’t want to be near me… I do it on purpose, sometimes, project my bad mood so I can deal with it myself. At least Wars and Four know better than to be around me when I’m like this.”
The bunny huffed.
“Yeah, yeah, I know… it’s just easier for me, okay? For them, too… they shouldn’t have to be responsible for my messes.” Legend laughed bitterly, soft enough that he didn’t disturb the bunny on his lap. “And what a mess I’ve made this time. I’ve ruined the group’s chances of complete immunity, Wars is about to give some guy the scolding of his life…” He swallowed, grimacing at the sour taste. “And I left a literal mess for some poor stable hand to find. I deserve to stew in my own misery for a while, don’t you think?”
He felt a pressure on his leg, like the bunny had tried to thump its foot but forgotten that it was laying down.
“Don’t give me that… here, will it make you happy if I pet you?” Giving the bunny plenty of time to escape, Legend stroked its silky blue fur. Sure enough, he felt it begin to happily purr.
“This is ridiculous, you know that? I acted like an idiot and what do I get out of it? A rabbit to vent to and cuddles by the river.”
The bunny simply nuzzled Legend’s hand, and he sighed.
He wasn’t sure how long they sat there, his thoughts gradually calming as he focused on the simple task of petting the bunny. The sun shone differently on the river, refracting pink and orange by the time a voice came from the top of the hill.
“Legend? Wild’s almost done cooking, are you ready to come back?”
Legend stayed silent, making a shooing motion with his hand. This, of course, had the opposite effect and the vet heard Four jog down the hill.
“C’mon, please? Wars wants to talk to you-” Four froze as he reached Legend’s side and the bunny came into view. He flapped his hands excitedly and squealed, “Eeeee- it’s so cute! Can I pet it?” His hand darted out and the bunny’s antennae flattened before it disappeared in a shower of blue sparkles.
“No-” Legend whined, reaching a hand out to empty air.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-”
The bunny materialized on Legend’s lap once more, staring at Four warily.
Legend sighed in relief, resuming the gentle strokes down its back. “You have to be slow and gentle. Let it learn to trust you before you touch it.”
“Sorry…” Four repeated as he crouched beside Legend. He offered his hand to the bunny, who sniffed it then bowed its head. Four smiled and gave it a gentle pet.
“Are you feeling any better?” Four asked softly.
Legend grunted, not looking up from the bunny.
The smith bumped his shoulder. “You know we’re not mad at you, right?”
Legend gave him a flat stare. “You don’t have to lie to me. I made a scene and a fool of myself… you shouldn’t have to put up with this.”
“That’s not true,” Four hummed. “Nobody blames you for panicking, and Wars made Yolero tell him what happened. He tried to bully you into doing something you weren’t ready to. We just want what’s best for you, and that means letting you take things at your own pace.”
“My pace is too slow. I should’ve been able to share the protection but because I’m not ready, we have a crack in our ranks. I’m just a burden-”
“You. Are not. A burden.” Four’s voice was low and serious, but he poked Legend with every word. “We look out for each other, okay? We need you to look after yourself too.”
The bunny grumbled agreement, and Legend groaned. “I’m not going to win this fight, am I.”
“Nope! You’re just going to have to accept the fact that you need to be patient with yourself, and we’re going to keep reminding you of that.” Four gave Legend one last poke. “But seriously, losing everything must have made you hungry.”
“It did,” Legend admitted. “Wild’s cooking sounds really good right now.”
“Come on then.” Four stood and offered his hand.
The blue bunny gave Legend a final nuzzle before bounding away, a trail of sparkles leading to thin air in the blink of an eye. Legend took Four’s hand and let the little smith lead him back to the stable, where Warriors wrapped him in his scarf (despite half-hearted protests from the grumbling teen) and assured him that Yolero had been sent packing to the Riverside Stable.
“Spoone said that he understands why you couldn’t join us today, and he can see you whenever you’re ready,” Warriors told him. “You don’t have to let fear guide your actions, all right? Please let us help you, bud.”
Legend bit his lip to prevent his scowl from turning into a smile. His brothers could be annoying, but it was nice to know that they wouldn’t give up.
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somer-writes · 5 months
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Please lore dump about your fic. Please 🥺
YES FUCK!!!! ok so i really want to talk about ordon-hyrule!!
so we know there are 4 light spirits, 3 of which are named after the goddesses (lanayru, eldin, faron) and a fourth which is ordona. SO i think this could mean that ordon was (a) not commonly subscribed to the hylian faith and (b) independent from hyrule. hylians specifically have pointed ears to hear the goddess but ordon is exclusively populated by humans (which we do see both in hyrule proper).
therefore h/c is that ordon was brought into hyrule within the current dynasty of the royal family (likely preceding king harkinian since rusl lives in ordon but we know that he's from hyrule originally.
the current dynasty has overseen civil wars (since at least time's birth per the manga) and imperialism (hyrule absorbing ordon, death mt, and the zora domain)
Fun Facts!!
-> ordon is both the province/territory and the name of Ordon Village. for political logistics the crown declared ordon village (the closest to the border) the capital.
-> ordon has no centralized government and is instead a series of scattered farming villages with local mayors who convene cyclically from village to village. ordonian fashion is commonplace but the style of knot used to tie the sash is a good tip off on which village an ordonian comes from
-> ordonians are largely spiritual. no central power, no central religion. most of them don't worship hylia as a goddess but instead treat her as a regional deity of hyrule. they instead offer prayers/offerings to river/forest/etc spirits
-> ordon and hyrule share a common tongue (with some dialect/accent inconsistencies) but ordon's written language came long after hyrule's. ordon has a largely oral tradition (folk tales are extremely important to passing down their history). ordon's common alphabet has a few quirks. ch/sh are written using the same symbol, rather than a 'w' they use 'vv', 'll' is common in place of a y or ie.
-> ordon is not difficult to get to but the easiest way is the long way. ordonians don't typically venture into hyrule but their crops/wool are so valuable that merchants come to the province for them. ordonians usually trade for stock rather than purchase. it's likely sera spent some time in hyrule or set up the shop as a savvy way to attract merchants
-> hylians look down on ordonians as being "simple folk" mostly for their accents and how simple ordonian dress seems (although sash tying is something most hylians can't do properly)
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hollysoda · 11 months
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The jokes about Zora’s Domain replacing Mipha’s statue with one of Link riding Sidon are funny until you realise it probably symbolises how after the Calamity was vanquished the Zora probably found it in themselves to try and move on. Many of them were still mourning Mipha 100 years on from her death, and at the end of botw Zelda says she wants to visit Zora’s Domain to reassure King Dorephan that Mipha’s soul is at rest (or whatever she actually says, it’s something about giving the king some peace of mind over his daughters passing so you get the gist). I like to think that not long after that visit work begins on Mipha Court. Obviously the Zora still want to mourn and remember Mipha, but their current goal is to embrace the present, and honour the heroic deeds that a) saved the domain and b) saved Mipha’s spirit. Besides, Mipha’s statue is right on top of Polymus Mountain, so her presence is always watching over the domain and pretty much all of Lanayru and those who still want to mourn her can do so. It’s kinda sweet really :)
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mochiobonio · 13 hours
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dancing in the dark, with you between my arms sidlink edition
Link dragging Sidon away from the extravagant party in Zora Domain while they're celebrating Link defeating Calamity Ganon and the two would just vibe and talk besides the waterfalls in Lanayru,
then some fairies play music for them and not wanting to miss out this opportunity, Sidon tries dancing with Link, the two having trouble at first but they continued and tried synchronizing as much as they can but failing, just laughing at how silly they look
Link just dancing to the beat while Sidon, been taught how to dance properly from a young age, joins in. Fireflies surrounding their dance floor as the light makes Sidon all the more beautiful, getting distracted Link bumps into Sidon and the two fall onto the wet grassy floor, chuckling to each other. After the laughter died off, the two looked at each other, feelings started brewing and they just, slowly press each other's forehead to each other, the Zora Prince whispers underneath his breath, something only the Hylian can hear
"You're perfect..."
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