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English
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Part 2 of Facets of a Being
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Published:
2023-09-20
Updated:
2023-10-06
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1,953
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3/?
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The Ancient Wilderness

Summary:

Link enters the portal, and finds himself in a land from the very, very distant future. He is greeted by two strangers plummeting to their doom into the water, and quickly finds himself chasing after them.

Or, the second part of Facets of a Being! Wild joins the chain!

Chapter 1: [References]

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: Kin

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

      All they could see was darkness. Frigid water surged up around them, consuming their form as they sunk into the deep water. The only warmth they could find in this abyss was the hand holding theirs, clutching it like a lifeline- and perhaps to them it was. That connection of warmth and love was what they had worked for all this time, and was the only thing keeping them going.

 

Such was the fate of the hero and the princess, sinking deeper and deeper, losing consciousness as they drifted. This sinking was familiar to the hero- they knew it quite well. The Shrine of Resurrection had felt similar to this, in the beginning. Cold, unfamiliar, and unforgiving. Despite the painful memories of that place, they pressed on, dragging the other warm body closer as best they could.

 

It had been years, so many years in that unforgiving freeze, but eventually, towards the end, it warmed. The familiar presence of unfathomable warmth slowly layered over them, winding around the pair and supplying a slight breath of air to the hylians.

 

These were some of its children’s creations, it knew, and were created as they were for a reason. Still, it wondered why they chose to limit their bodies when under water. It had seen many such beings perish in the cold depths of the water, but it simply had to intervene this time. No matter the make of these two, their spirits belonged to things far older than the goddess who they were in service to. 

 

It cradled them momentarily, allowing the briefest respite to their arduous journey, before a shadow loomed over the surface of the water. It knew, instantly, this hylian was not meant to be here. It could feel it’s kin growing restless, rising to greet the new essence, old and familiar yet new. The hylian dipped their fingers into the water, tremors of restrained magic flooding into It’s domain.

 

As much as It longed to hold its precious child for a moment longer, this hylian would supply the proper care they needed. Offering the slightest force behind its movement, propelling the cradled pair up towards them. It sank deeper, farther down into the depths of the abyss, greeted by its curious and worried kin. They remained ever present, wearily watching over the duo their children had forsaken.




      For the longest time, the Ancient Ones remained separated from the antics of their children. Countless Deities roamed, though few would manage to remain untouched by the world. The only rule set in place was a rule to control the passage of power between Gods. Should a mortal slay a god, they would take on their immortality. 

 

At first, the gods looked down upon this rule. Surely, their predecessors didn’t think them so weak as to fall to a mortal? That was when the first of the gods was bested. Possibly the strongest of them all, a master of war and destruction, transformed into the form of a man for his arrogance.

 

He came to terms with his humanity, and found people to care for and cherish- only for it to once more be ripped away. His entire family, every human he dared to love, ripped from life in an instant. In his rage, his divinity returned to him, and he waged war across all those who dared to wrong him.

 

Still though, he was bested, and was cursed to reside in a mask as his name was lost to the history books as nothing more than a bloody stain. After that, the gods were careful. They kept themselves away from humans, for fear of falling victim to something similar, leaving who they previously considered their brother to rot.

 

There was Nayru, of Wisdom, Farore, of Courage, and Din, of Power. The Golden Goddesses, creators of the Triforce. Next was the twins, Hylia and her counterpart, Lolia. Where Hylia stood for light, Lolia stood for darkness. Finally, came Demise, the spirit of chaos and utter destruction. 

 

Of course, these Ancient powers knew of their children and the children who came after them- they had created them and were always watching, after all. They simply didn’t see it as their place to interfere with their children’s creations and squabbles. But as time passed, they noticed something.

 

Hylia, who had loved her creations, initially the Skyloftians, now the Hylians, had grown distant. The creatures she doted on and adored enough to give up her divinity to save the world she and her sisters shaped, she began to look down upon. Initially, she did all she could to defend them. Then, in her fight with Demise, those cursed words were uttered. Each reincarnation of the boy she had fallen in love with in her human form would be destined to battle against Demise in weakened, mortal forms.

 

As each princess was born, blood of the goddess running through their veins, and each hero emerged to defend them, she grew more and more resentful.

 

The Ancient Ones stepped back into the lives of their children after Farore came to them, pleading for their help. She showed them the broken duo, Princess and Hero, life leaking out of the knight in red rivulets as the girl screamed, holding him close. Farore had begged Hylia to intervene- that princess was of her own blood, and bore her mortal name! That knight would serve her devoutly, save her world and people! But the Goddess of Light’s eyes were cold, tired as she watched the duo.

 

She shook her head, claimed they were not ill prepared to take on these challenges, and turned her back on them. Farore’s powers could mend only the body, not the mind nor soul of the hero, but the hylians were already prepared for that. A tank, in a sealed cave, for a hundred years. Farore couldn’t bear it any longer, rushing to her ancestors and finding comfort in the beings she considered to be her parents.

 

They could not retrieve the original soul the body held- Death was a protective thing, curling tightly around its soul's much like a dragon to its horde. But the spark of Farore's magic could be instilled in something else, so a new soul was woven. They became enamored with the spirit they crafted, and watched over them, alongside the Golden Goddesses, through their journey. 

 

Even through their second adventure, they watched over them, assisting in any way they could, in place of their once warm, ever loving daughter. Their knight could not escape his destiny, but they would not be returning this hylian to their daughter. Their Wildling was kin, now, and would be treated as such.

Notes:

drops this and runs

hehe meet my silly little hc of the pantheon for this story!! Idk if i missed any gods, but these were all I could think about who would like- hang out. so. yk.

Also, i know dogSHIT abt the real god lore, so i made it up! sometimes it be like that.

Live Laugh Love Fierce Deity- if yall want I can do more about him bc i think hes siiiiilly

ALSO ALSO- OK, I know we love Sun in this household, so i need to make it known, that for ALL of Sun's life, she never really considered herself Hylia, and Hylia doesnt consider herself as Sun. It feels like an out of body experience for both thinking about their time as the other, and when Sun passed on, Hylia returned to her divinity. So, oops hylia mean. The statue, at least for this story, that speaks when Wild prays n stuff is Farore doin her absolute best. Nayru was also upset at Zeldas treatment, but couldnt bring herself to talk to Hylia abt it. Dins just chillin, and Lolia's busy taking good care of her people.

Chapter 3: Discovery

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

      When their soaked face met with the fresh, cold hair, they gasped. Zelda was draped over their front, eyes closed, pulse thrumming weakly in her wrist that was held tight by their hand. Arms wound around both of them, and a shaky voice was muttering above them. Blurily, they looked up, but the exhaustion and water weighed them down. 

 

“It’s alright- oh, Hylia- here I’m going to lay you down.” The figure stuttered out, quickly and gently rolling them onto the grass. He moved to detengle them from Zelda, but their grip was unbreakable.

 

“Please I- we need to get the water out of her lungs.” They pleaded, and finally, they unwound their arms from Zelda’s waist and wrist. The man sighed in relief, before leaning over Zelda, presumably to do just what he said. Wild, though, could barely focus.

 

Their eyes drifted shut as they felt the winds roll across their body in an attempt to soothe them. Despite not knowing this man, Wild knew he was not Yiga. They also knew that no harm would come to Zelda from him, as strange as it might sound. Their travels had taught them that their gut reaction was always right, and his reaction to the stranger  was to sink into his embrace and never let go.

 

Which was maybe a little unnerving, as they had only felt that way about a few people, those they had apparently known in the past or those whose souls called to them. Again, the wind brushed through their hair, and they let their eyes fall shut. Wild closed their hands around the grass and took a deep breath, before slowly rolling over.

 

Zelda was breathing, but shuddering in the cold. The man hunched over her was also panting, holding an empty vial with a slight green residue. He leaned back, tugging a cloth off his shoulders to wrap around her, before wincing when it was also just as wet. Dirty blonde hair fell into his eyes as he fumbled in his backs, searching for something- anything, to warm them both. During his fumbling, their eyes met.

 

“Oh! Oh, I thought you had passed out-” He said, shifting closer to inspect Wild. He winced upon discovering the large, extensive scars running down the side of their face, but tried to mask it. Wild didn’t mind. Such a look was common on first meetings with Hylians. The Gerudo saw them as trophies, something to be proud of. The Gorons thought it displayed their strength. The Zora fretted, but usually calmed down once they saw nothing could be done. The Rito praised them, after smothering them in comfort and affection of course. Hylians, however, were terrified. Pitying. They winced and groused and cooed over the pain they must be in. Wild could tell this one was trying very hard not to do the same.

 

“What’s your name? I can try and find some proper help- well, maybe the bellows would help.” He devolved into muttering, and Wild looked over at Zelda once more. Zelda. Zelda who was herself again, who had no tears running down her draconic face, who had two legs and two arms and no horns.

 

Who was stirring. Instantly, Wild was up, reaching for her hand as she let out a soft noise, quickly latching onto their hand. The stranger inhaled sharply as she opened her eyes, still twisted and reminiscent of her eyes as a dragon. For a moment, she didn’t react, merely looking at Wild with soft, confused eyes. Then she gasped, throwing herself forward and sending them falling backwards onto the ground.

 

“Link!” She breathed out, and Wild melted into her hands, feeling their own eyes water. Zelda was the only one with the right to utter that name. It wasn’t something they felt uncomfortable with, or despised. It simply felt like a lie coming from anyone else. Everyone knew them as Link, the knight and hero- but that person was gone. The only time that name felt like anything other than a curse was if it fell from Zelda’s lips.

 

When she smiled softly at them and told them she knew they weren’t the same, and that it was ok. That she loved them just as dearly as her departed knight, and that his name was just as much theirs. They could only bring themselves to believe it when she said it. But, she could also tell them lava was edible and they would believe her in a heartbeat. They were very lucky she had not yet used this power for evil.

 

The duo was too lost in each other to notice their savior had gone very, very still. His mind was racing, staring at them as his mind short circuited. She had called that stranger Link. She had the same golden hair, gentle eyes, and sweet glow of love around her as Zelda did. Internally, a dark, booming laugh resonated through his body.

 

“I told you, Chosen Hero. My wrath will not know the limits of time. You have doomed them.” 

Notes:

offers you a baby update

 

Woooo! Fun Wild Facts! They use any pronouns, but consider themselves a they/them. So sometimes itll be he, or she, and depends on whos thinking abt them.

In my brain, Wild could hypothetically talk, but they just dont, because its been so long and they arent good at it. Their voice is raspy, and they dont reeeeally know how to talk. They understand everyone fine, its just the speaking that fucks them up. So, nonverbal language and sign is VERY important for them.

Past Wild was a he/him! So when we talk about THAT link, hes a dude-

Wild calls themselves Wild because the world calls them its Wildling. <3

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