WISDOM * SAGE

     HIS FIRST STATEMENT almost had her resign herself to the fact that she would just have to find out in time, but then he offered to show her. zelda was tempted to step closer as the magic began it’s work, however his hesitance was clear, and so she kept her distance, watching closely as the murals shifted in time with his tale. 

     HER FIRST THOUGHT when he mentioned a tyrant was calamity ganon. but, that was an idea that quickly left her mind. after all, the calamity was no tyrant, simply a beast who had given up on his humanity long ago. and so, zelda concluded, this hyrule was being tormented by a different evil. a different ganon, or perhaps something else, zelda couldn’t quite say.

     IT WAS INTERESTING to note that many of the changes to this hyrule weren’t the way this world was originally, that it had been changed by the unstable triforce. it immediately brought up questions. had her hyrule and massoh’s once been identical? would an incident with the triforce in her world change hyrule just as much as this one had been changed? would they be identical again, if they ever had been?

     THEY WEREN’T THINGS she could study in any way, of course, but it was nice to think that she may have gathered insight into what could happen. but those were questions she could look into later.

     ❝ and this…tyrant is who we’ll be facing? ❞ 

     ‘UNTIL RECENTLY’ MEANT that this tyrant had been freed, whether they had escaped themselves or someone had released them, they were no longer bound by the seal that had kept this world safe. she was unsure if her own sealing power would work, not being of this world, and so there had to be a second plan.

    ❝ how were they sealed away the first time? perhaps there is a way we could replicate that again. ❞

“Yes.” He hopes to just leave it at that. He isn’t sure how to explain to Zelda that it’s a version of herself that they are facing. Or at least, it originally was. This time’s zelda was...no longer the princess, queen, they all once adored. Tainted by too much malice and rage within the power triforce, transformed by dark magic. He’s not sure if she even looked too much like a hylian anymore, with how she had looked when they had sealed her away. But he leaves that thought in the back of his mind, canceling the magic and causing it to fade.

“The sages did the seal the first time, with the hero.” He shifted slightly, towards her pile of books to see if any of them even included the sage’s. There’s a thought in the back of his mind that he should mention that he’s a sage, that could easily be woven into this character he’s created. But he can’t be sure Zelda will just take that without asking a million more questions. He wonders if....his Zelda was this curious, once upon a time.

“But the tyrant has the power to corrupt the sages. There is a way to free them, but I’d rather not put them in harms away once again. At least, not until we can weaken the tyrant significantly.” His shoulders slump slightly. He wouldn’t put Aryll in harms way ever again, not if he can help it. 

He picks up one of the books, another one written by his father,  “Another reason is that...the sage’s don’t have long life forces. Their lifeforce is drained by the triforce as it continues to try and stabilize itself.” He sighs, handing the book to her. “This one...explains all of that.” It explained the history of the sages, the succession ceremony - and while it was risky, his father had put in his own notes - a journal of sorts. But, he knew what was written - he had read every single one of his father’s books - and it should be safe to give to Zelda. He only talked about his own succession, and Aryll’s later down the line. There was nothing of him in there.

Nothing...

there’s something wrong. the boy had come off as timid and shy since the moment time had noticed him, but it was different now. more extreme. the way he held himself wasn’t just unsure anymore, but … ashamed? something deep and personal that he couldn’t hide away.

time frowns at that. he can understand reluctance, confusion even – goddesses only knew how lost he’d been on his own journey, gaining the pieces of his destiny and putting them together as he went along. the doubts and fears he’d held even as he pushed forward with all the courage that he had - and then some. but to actively refute his destiny? to rebuke it? time’s frown deepens.

“ no? ”  he asks, brows furrowing at the way the boy shakes his head.   “ you aren’t the hero? ” then why did he wear the green garbs? how had saria’s song warped him here? why would the goddesses make them meet if he wasn’t?

He takes a deep breath as the hero infront of him voices his question. It only made it harder. Harder to admit aloud, admit to himself. Was this why he was sent here? To face the truth? He looks down at his hand again, 

“I...” He tries again, but his voice shakes. Instead he pulls at the glove over his hand, revealing the triforce mark on his hand. When he did a faint glow came from the mark - but it wasn’t the side associated with courage. He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment. This is much more painful than he realized it would be.

Finally he opens his eyes again, but he can’t bring himself to look at the other. “I have the triforce of wisdom. I’m no hero.” He wanted to be though, oh how he wanted to be. It was why he was trying so hard to keep up with the training others were giving him. But when it came to magic, when it came to his major role...he was stuck.

this verse is still in the works but I wanted to point out a few key points

Power zelda’s seal was broken by a couple of the citizens of hyrule who still believed she was in the right and wanted her back to be their princess. They had found out that the Queen had lied about the princess dying and went to find where she was sealed and released her.

She took advantage of the world still being in disarray and unbalanced from her first attempt to take over and drew upon new powers (still working out the details), which made her much more powerful to the point Ganon and Link knew they were going to need help.

they decided to call up on the other links, zeldas, and other notable figures of legends as it seemed that because of the role swap - they were just as unbalanced and might not be able to take care of the situation by themselves.

link hides his identity for a number of reasons - as does ganon. knowing of the roles they were originally supposed to play - they weren’t sure how anyone they would bring would react to role swap, so they’re trying to hide it until they can’t anymore. They’ve simply been referring to power zelda as ‘the tyrant’.

and by ‘hiding it until they can’t anymore - means that ganon doesn’t show his face infront of those link has called until absolutely necessary. wisdome link and him have a mental connection and keep eachother updated on what they’re doing so Ganon doesn’t have to be right by his side all the time.

»  ❝   rainingwisdom .

Calamity ganon? Those words simply couldn’t connect in his mind. He knew where he had ended up was….different. But..this different? It was almost impossible to comprehend. Almost. He looks away, not seeing her reach up to her arms as he tries to connect it with what he does know from his own home - his own time.

“In….In a way.” He mumbles, finally looking up again. He wasn’t sure how to explain how it was different, maybe it was simply the name attached to it - ganon or zelda. king or princess. such a shift caused everything to be different, and everything to be even more of a shock the more Link learned.

He finally pushed himself off of the wall and took a hesitant step or two towards her. “how…did that start?” He mumbled. How did any of this start? How did it get this bad? Was this the future he was really working so hard towards?

𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒔     malice looked like , just how different it was.   she wondered if the source would remain the same as well , with him as wisdom’s bearer.   made her speculate who the other two bearers were , a zelda and ganon.   but which held which ??   the questions she wanted to ask about his world but she kept her mouth shut.   now wasn’t the right time.   ❝  we don’t know. it’s always been around, sealed away by our princess and the hero. but it comes back after a while.  ❞

❝  are you alright though? this seems to have hit you hard.  ❞

Sealed away by the princess and the hero? It makes his stomach turn. He’s still getting used to the fact that his normal wasn’t....wasn’t relevant. Zelda’s name, her legacy, was something good here. Something boils in his blood at the thought of the princess, though, and he looks away from her for a moment as he tried to calm himself down.

“It’s just.....” just what? Too different? So much worse than what he was thinking? Just thinking if  it even mattered what he did if it ended up like this? “Alot...to take in.” 

link eyes the flute in the boy’s hand before it’s tucked away. did that mean the songs of time and storm and all the other magic imbued melodies were needed, in this boy’s time too? link frowns a little at that. songs held so much power … but so much weight as well. and every song added to it, tacked on a new responsibility to the journey. he can only hope whatever’s awaiting the boy in front of him is nothing like the horrors of termina. may the goddesses watch over him, he thinks to himself, noting the unsure and timid way the boy steps forward and speaks. he tries not to think about how the goddesses watching over them is precisely what gets them into these situations. 

he listens instead to the boy speak about saria and her song, her memory. something in link’s chest cracks open at that, spilling open and warm and filling him. it leaves him a little breathless, but in a good way.  “ she is. ”  he says, so surely and confidently. he glances down at the ocarina in his hand, its beautiful gleam, not speaking of how he too, had been lonely and sad, and that was the reason he’d been found here, playing her song. he lifts his head to look at the temple again, his smile soft and bittersweet, sad … but relieved. happy. saria may have been forced to awaken as a sage, leave the kokiri and the forest to eternally watch over the forest temple and seal ganondorf away, but … she wasn’t forgotten. she was loved by all, even in another time. just as she should be.    “ i’m sure there’s nothing she’d love more, than to know that. ”  

he clears his throat after a moment, breathing in deeply but silently, and braces himself. he pockets the ocarina, taking care in doing so.  “ so. ”  he begins, turning around, and pins the boy with his eye again. it’s intense, but not guarded or suspicious in the way it had been just minutes ago. something has changed, shifted — he knows what he has to do, the goddesses had this happen for a reason. saria’s song is proof of that. “ are you him then? the hero? ”  

Who was this man, to speak of Saria as if they had known each other? She had been dead for---

Well, maybe it isn’t the best idea to bring that up, considering he did speak of her in such a way. There was also the question of when possibly this could be. Could this be a time where she was still alive? Could he meet her? Did he even want to? How much more expectation would be placed on him if he did--

The other’s words pull him out of his spiral, jumping ever so slightly as he turned towards the other. The look in his eye was different, at least, and Link found himself becoming calmer faster than before. Though ‘calm’ is a term used loosely. He was still on edge, especially with the question.

The Hero.

Ha. 

His left hand rubs over his gloved right one as he looked away. The triforce mark on his right felt as if it was burning as he thought. How to even explain this mess? He didn’t even want to believe it himself. And yet....

“I’m not...--”

Why was it so hard to admit?

“That’s-”

The words are lost in his throat, tears were almost stinging the edge of his eyes. 

     HER EYES LANDED on the coat, studying it for a moment with something that wasn’t quite confusion, but it’s twin. it was easy to forget, sometimes, that this wasn’t her hyrule, and so things were different. and, while she hadn’t spent much time in the forest–––– with the exception of returning the master sword to it’s pedestal–––– what she remembered was a cool, peaceful breeze and sunshine peaking through the trees.

     BUT, HERE, IT rained often. Even when the weather was clear, humidity lingered in the air from early morning to evening. but, even though she had spent a few days in the climate already, it was difficult to remember until the rain was already upon her. this, at least would help. zelda took it carefully, lips upturning into a smile at the soft chiming of the little bells on it before she put it on.

     ❝ thank you. ❞

     HER EYES DRIFTED to the small stack of books she had borrowed as the princess turned over his question in her mind. ❝ the villagers here are very kind and eager to help, however i fear that there is only so much i can ask them before they begin to wonder just where i came from. ❞

     AND, SHE CERTAINLY couldn’t tell them she came from another hyrule. that would just lead to more questions, maybe even fear, and that was the last thing she wanted. she tried not to ask to much of massoh–––– while the coat on her back was more than enough to prove that he didn’t dislike her, she had been able to deduce that she wasn’t his favorite person–––– but, it seemed as though now she had no choice.

    ❝ is there anything you might be able to tell us about the history of this hyrule? maybe it’s legends? anything that might help us with what we’re up against. ❞

They would start asking, they already had started asking. The children at least, were always very curious. Being named leader of the village had not swayed them in asking him questions, wanting him to entertain them. Somethings never changed. But gaze rising from the books on the table, he realized that all too much had. He only wished to protect them from all that ‘change’.

At her own questions, Link hesitated. The legends didn’t matter in this situation, there was a shift, a shift no one could have predicted or controlled. ‘Just tell her’ he hears a voice slip into his mind. How? How could he tell her--

“There are.... alot.” He mumbles, shifting through the books. Did none of these have what he wanted to say? No, no of course not. There was only so much in Saria’s Solace. They were, in almost every sense, cut off from the outside world. Not a lot of knowledge made its way this deep into the swamp, into the lost woods. He hummed for a moment before looking at his hands.

“I can show you...” He decides, looking at his hands. Magic, no matter how much he hated that could do it to begin with, would help in this situation. He steps away from the books and over to her. He dared not get too close, for fear that she would see his blue eyes and everything would be revealed. His hands glowed and before her, inbetween them, a ring appeared. Inside showed flashes of different stain glass murals - obviously depicting those of the triforce. 

»  ❝   rainingwisdom .

He had seen malice before, his mind replays memory on memory of the monsters that plagued his land, destroyed his village. The darkness and sludge that had grabbed ahold of him and dragged him down to the depths.

But no matter how many times he had seen it, it was terrifying. And it seemed….different, somehow. 

They were finally away from the cursed sight, and Link felt as if he could finally breath, releasing a shaky sigh and leaning up against the closest solid surface he could get his hand on. His eyes go to his hand aswell - the triforce mark hidden under a glove, but he seemed all too aware of its presence at that very moment.

“What….” His voice was hoarse, both from not used to using it and from being at a loss for words. What had they just seen? What was she?

𝒑𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒅𝒐𝒎’𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅 , 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕     have seen malice before , this form of it was different.   it had intent.   and with him being wisdom’s child , he didn’t have the courage that he from other timelines had , to face it head-on.   he truly was different.   for now , she’d watch as he rested against the wall , confused and terrified by what he had seen.   and she’d remain silent , until he spoke.   there was no need to break this silence.

❝  malice. calamity ganon’s malice.  ❞     she was unsure of what his question really was , with how it broke off but she could only guess it had to do with what they say.   she felt her own malice , which clung beneath her skin flare up at the mention , causing a hand to drift towards it , squeezing her arm as a means to calm it.     ❝  is it so different to what you know?  ❞

Calamity ganon? Those words simply couldn’t connect in his mind. He knew where he had ended up was....different. But..this different? It was almost impossible to comprehend. Almost. He looks away, not seeing her reach up to her arms as he tries to connect it with what he does know from his own home - his own time.

“In....In a way.” He mumbles, finally looking up again. He wasn’t sure how to explain how it was different, maybe it was simply the name attached to it - ganon or zelda. king or princess. such a shift caused everything to be different, and everything to be even more of a shock the more Link learned.