#kae replies

Thank you! :D

I've been playing around a bit with what color I would make the sash, if I do decide to use it. I actually kind of like it being sky-blue — I feel like it works well with his Air element. Although it does kind of look like the Champion's clothes from BotW, and between that and the necklace, Blue might not be too happy at Green stealing his color ^^;;

I also tried a version in light brown with green accents which I think is nice, and a version inspired by Minish tails that I probably wouldn't use for Green but might use for MC Link!

@lunardeercat

My go-to advice for any “how to draw [x]” type question is usually to study photo references …of course, when it comes to dragons and other mythical creatures, this presents a bit of a problem.

Since you can’t look up real photographs of dragons’ talons, the next best thing is to find photos of similar structures on similar animals.  This could vary depending on your dragon’s design, but as a starting point I would recommend looking at human hands, lion/cat paws, bird talons (especially birds of prey), and lizard/alligator feet.

(Photo sources: human, lion, eagle, alligator)

When you’re looking at a photo, try to break it down into component shapes – starting with the largest, overall shapes, and then moving towards smaller, finer details.

For hands, I usually start with the palm, then the shape of the fingers all together as one piece (often broken in two by a line denoting the knuckles), then the last joint of each fingertip, then each of the individual fingers, and finally the small details like finger nails, wrinkles, etc.

Here’s an animated version, in case that helps you visualize the process better:

After studying the creatures you’ve chosen to base your dragon on, you can blend their traits together to create something new.

Immediately after their adventure (assuming an AU where they stay separate), everyone is pretty thoroughly occupied with rebuilding. They spend a lot of time clearing rubble, sorting out what can be salvaged from destroyed buildings, etc.

In the slightly-longer term, they continue training as knights. They're in this sort of awkward middle space where they are still too young to be considered full knights (and their dad has always been pretty adamant about not letting Link skip ahead), but they've also spent so much time around the knights since Link was an infant, and they are also now heroes of Hyrule. So they're not quite full knights, but they're still higher ranking and more experienced than the other trainees (and, frankly, most full knights).

So they do still have some classes with the trainees, but at other times they're the ones doing the mentoring. It's also not unusual for the them to go on missions together, if there's been monster trouble somewhere in Hyrule.

Over time they each start focusing more on their own strengths and interests, too:

Green helps his father with the logistical side of being captain of the knights, and is being tutored on diplomacy (something Link never paid much attention to before xD )

Blue spends a lot of time in the training fields, both honing his own skills and teaching others

Red focuses on practicing with his magic, at first out of anxiety of losing control of it, but he soon discovers a passion for the ways fire can be used constructively, such as metalworking, glassblowing, etc.

Vio, of course, spends a lot of time in the library, both doing his own research and helping the librarian there. Occasionally Zelda will ask him for help gathering information she needs for some decision. Usually through legitimate channels. Usually.

This was originally almost pure comedy, but I added more to the beginning and it became hurt/comfort / angst-with-a-happy-ending instead ^^;;

-----

Blue sat on a bench outside the infirmary, scowling down at his hands. Blood crusted under his fingernails, and he picked at it. He couldn't tell if it was his, a monster's, or—

(He had been the closest one, when that wizzrobe's spell hit Green square in the forehead and he toppled like a felled tree. Blue had been the one to catch him.)

23 - "Is it okay to hold you this tightly?" & "brushing strands of hair away"

Affection prompts || Hurt/Comfort prompts

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Is it wrong of me to hold on this tightly?

The thought lurked in the back of his brain as he pored over his research.

It was the most persistent of his fears, the one he couldn't seem to shake. 'What if I fail? What if I can't do this?' — those thoughts he simply refused to entertain. He would bring Shadow back because he had to, because he would allow no other option. 'Could' was not in question. But 'should'...

A strand of hair fell into Vio's face, tickling as it brushed past his cheek. He swiped it away with a scowl, as if doing so could dislodge the nagging thought.

It didn't help.

Selfishness. That's what this was, at least in part.

There were plenty of good reasons to try to bring Shadow back: because it was right, because Shadow deserved a chance at a life of his own, because Shadow had been lonely, because Shadow had saved them, because Shadow hadn't deserved to be trapped permanently in the Dark World for the attempt.

But he also wanted to bring Shadow back because he missed him, and he wanted to see him again.

And it would be perfectly understandable if Shadow did not want to see him, after everything he had done.

He shoved the thought aside — even knowing that it would return again — and forcefully brought his attention back to the book in front of him. The important thing was that Shadow be given the choice.

---

The symbols etched around the edge of the mirror glowed to life.

It wasn't The Mirror — that had been one of the first leads Vio had tried, but the original Dark Mirror had been shattered beyond any possible repair. This was a new mirror, forged from a few of the surviving shards, from Moon Pearl dust, from over a years' worth of careful calculations. Less of a 'fountain of darkness,' as Shadow had called the original, and more of a gateway.

It's his choice if he wants to step through or not, Vio reminded himself, as he watched his reflection disappear, replaced by swirling dark fog.

For agonizingly long moments, nothing more seemed to be happening.

Just when Vio's heart was starting to sink, the fog began to swirl faster. It seemed to become denser, more concentrated. Taking on a vaguely humanoid shape.

The smoky figure moved closer, approaching the glass. It raised an arm, the vague shape of a hand pressing against the mirror's surface.

And then pressing through.

The fog coalesced as it emerged, indistinct darkness giving way to skin and sleeve — arm, shoulder, torso.

A flash of red eyes, sudden movement, and Vio only just had time to wonder if he was about to be punched, before he was wrapped in a hug.

The force of the collision had him rocking back on his heels. Shadow's arms wound around his chest, squeezing firmly, warm and solid and alive. Vio let out a choked little noise, somewhere between a gasp and a sob.

Shadow drew back — not far, but far enough to look Vio in the eyes. "Did I hold on too tightly?" he asked, brows drawn together in concern, one hand reaching up to brush strands of hair out of Vio's face.

Vio shook his head, pressing his cheek into Shadow's palm as he did so. "No," he whispered, past the lump of emotion in his throat. "Not too tightly at all."