#midrule link

Let's start with Stray and Crown.

Stray is of course wary of everyone immediately. That is his default! Boots, of course, smelling a Younger Person goes right into big brother mode, which Stray hates. Don't big brother him, don't parent him, don't anything him, tyvm. Which makes Boots so sad :( how does he befriend and take care of this kid... (The answer: don't be a mother cucco or a goody two shoes and then hope for the best. Unfortunately Boots is usually kinda both of those things.) At the very least, there are a few uhh plot secret things the two may be able to bond over. Hashtag trauma things.

Crown would mostly just think Boots is good-looking and nice HAHA. She might tease Stray a little over it, but only a smidge, because she knows it's a sensitive topic. Oh, I think she'd like to meet his sheep though. Sheep are pretty cute. And Stray would follow them around the whole time, if the two were separate and not with her in his head. He shadows her as much as he can for a long while; he doesn't like being away from her for long, especially if she's around other people. Kinda over protective, though he's certainly got good reasons for it. And she usually doesn't mind it.

Stray would have absolutely no interest in Boots' Zelda. The only Zelda he has any interest in is his own, and even that only forms depending on how far into his adventure he is lol. Crown on the other hand would find it kinda neat to be able to speak to another princess, and one of the past, no less. She's never been all that into history (though she doesn't dislike it either) but now that she's had her own experience with a hero and adventure and all that, I think she'd be a lot more willing to listen to Boots' Zelda's info dumps on past heroes.

Stray might find Gerudo Link interesting just because he's so different from what he's familiar with. He's never seen a male Gerudo before! He barely actually saw any female Gerudo, if he saw any Gerudo at all (his story is a big WIP after all). Mostly, I think if he had the chance to see Gerudo fight, he'd want to learn from him. He's a well-trained warrior, after all, while Stray was just Doing His Best the whole time. No one taught him! And he got very good, having to fight as much as he did, but that doesn't mean he can't get better. He'd feel better if he got more training, and post adventure, he can't get much out of the current royal guard because honestly, they've not been working very hard at being prepared for battle. He can wipe out any of those soldiers while sparring because they've all been slacking! So he'd probably want Gerudo to teach him stuff.

Crown would absolutely 5000% tease him about the height difference between the two, and Stray would throw it right back. They're both absolute shorties, and Gerudo Link, despite being short himself for his race, is like, way tall compared to them. I think Crown would enjoy watching the two spar and watching Stray learn. She'd sit there with Love and the two could chat on and off about their adventures and their Links while watching their boys. Stray, of course, would have no interest in Love and would turn down and ignore any attempts to reach out to him she would make, which Gerudo would definitely chide him for. He'd... Begrudgingly be polite, at least, after that.

I think Stray would do alright with Poncho. He's from a poor background like Stray is, and he's like. He's chill. Doesn't talk much, doesn't bug Stray, doesn't much of anything at all. Stray might find him boring sometimes, but also a good one to just go chill next to when he's stressed. They can sit in silence or Stray can say some things and feel not judged about it. I think Crown would feel a bit awkward with him though. She cannot get a read on him for the life of her and she's not a fan of that.

I don't know Poncho's Zelda very well yet, unfortunately, so as I'm sure you've noticed, I've not been including her in any of these 😔 Maybe one day... Maybe one day....

Boots and his Zelda

Boots wants to take Stray under his wing so bad it's almost pathetic. He loves kids. Stray gives off kid vibes so hard and it's killing him that he's so snappy at any attempt Boots makes to bond! He'd be trying everything. Come look at these animals! Come meet Epona! (Oh, horses kinda scare him? He's never been around a horse this close before? Oh now that he's had the chance, he's coming to like them? Oh. He likes Epona way more than me. Well... That's fair, I guess, can't even blame him for that 😔) now I can picture Stray visiting him JUST to hang out with Epona 💀 the sheep might be kinda interesting to him too... He's not a big fan of dogs and cats though because there are a lot of strays wandering his home area and it sucks to see them starve too. Anyway, if somehow Boots or Stray broached The Spoilers Topic, maybe that would soften Stray towards him, and Boots would be like. Devastated this kid went through something remotely similar to what he experienced. He's only two years younger but... But still. It's sad enough he had to save the kingdom at all when he's just a kid.

Boots would introduce him to his siblings too. I think Kara would find a moment alone with Stray and be like "my big brother can be so suffocating sometimes can't he. Here's a sandwich for having to deal with him" and Stray would be like hm 🤨 alright I guess she's not so bad. And Boots would be devastated to see that Stray seems to like his sister more than himself. What is her secret!! Boots is usually so good with kids what happened here!! I think Stray would be alright with the twins though, he might enjoy seeing what mischief they get into, and I think he would form a secret soft spot for Ava. Or maybe not so secret at all.

Crown would get along well with Kara I think. Again, it's the comfortableness of joking about their Links. Swapping funny stories and whatnot. She'd find Ava adorable, and I bet Ollie and Ellie could win her over too.

Boots' Zelda is of course a history buff, but to meet someone from the future is super exciting too! One day THAT will be history! She's meeting history that hasn't even happened yet! So she'd be interested in both Stray and Crown and everything that happened to them. Stray of course would want nothing to do with her, which Zelda would think is kinda cute/funny because in many ways, he would remind her of when Boots was younger. She'd get along well with Crown though, especially because both like to tease their Links.

Unfortunately, she won't be able to get much information from Poncho, and once she realizes he doesn't like to talk, she wouldn't push it and would just be polite with him. I assume she'd turn to his Zelda for info instead, but idk how much she'd be able to tell aside from some basics about what led up to the event and some after stuff, because from what I know at the moment (subject to change), she spends a lot of time locked away. So she wasn't present for a lot of it :P

Boots would be just fine with Poncho. Like. I could picture Poncho helping him out with some stuff and they go back and forth between quietly working together and Boots chattering while Poncho listens. If he didn't know that Poncho wasn't talkative around anyone, he'd worry he was doing something wrong, but if he knew okay, he just doesn't really talk, he'd be fine. He'd certainly question why on earth kids who have not even come of adult age yet are being forced to save the kingdom though. Where are the adults. What's going on.

Boots would definitely be curious about Gerudo Link. He actually has met many Gerudo women and wound up earning permission to enter their town if he so pleases but like. Tbh they're kinda intimidating LOL I'm not sure he ever goes back ever haha. So he'd probably be kinda interested in asking what life is like for Gerudo Link. And also! How do they handle the desert! How do they survive there! It sucked to travel through it! I think they could get along pretty well. Go traversing through the woods near Boots' place. Gerudo is admittedly interested in the world outside of the desert. So many plants and animals! I can imagine them wandering and chatting and just like. Chilling. Swapping culture info.

As far as Love goes, Boots would be like woah. She's so sweet and friendly and nice??? Hey Zelda why aren't you more like her- (gets smacked) but then actually he wouldn't know how to handle her niceties because there's a certain kind of sweetness he's used to girls using on him only when they're interested in him and like. Even knowing Gerudo and Love are A Thing it would still put him on edge just because. He doesn't. He doesn't know how to handle it fjgkkgk makes him feel awkward, even knowing she doesn't intend it like that!

Boots' Zelda would be curious about what life is like for Love. Like, after her adventure is over, she's the only royal left, so now she has to rule the kingdom. And yes, she fell in love with Gerudo Link and blah blah but how does she REALLY know he's the one? How does she know he'll be a good fit or ruling Midrule? How do they plan on balancing that when he's also supposed to be the king of the Gerudo? What would Love do if she fell in love with him but knew he'd actually be a Terrible Ruler? And of course she'd be so fascinated that there are other worlds out there, as that puts more stock in the debatably true story of the Hero of Legend (or possibly another hero, the records aren't clear) going to some sort of mirror world. Maybe it was Midrule! Or maybe it was somewhere else entirely, since Love doesn't know of any stories similar to what she's telling her. But it's certainly fascinating.

Gerudo Link and Love

Gerudo would think Boots is kinda cute. Not in a weird way but in a. Like. Wow look at this kid. He's so... Funny and reactive and interesting and it's fun to be around him for sure. He's happy to answer any questions Gerudo Link might have, and asks plenty of his own. He's interested by what it's like to be a big sibling (and absolutely enamored by Ava. She's? Actually the cutest thing alive he's pretty sure? Kara is kinda fascinating too. So that's what teen girls are like? Was his sister anything like her at that age? If only he could have been around her back then to find out. And the twins are fun, they remind him of stories he's heard about the twins back home, maybe that's just how kids around that age are.)

And Boots' Zelda is kind of fun. When he watches her interact with Boots, the ribbing reminds him a lot of Evala, his sister, actually. But this girl is one for books, not battle. It's also interesting to see the major differences between this Zelda and his own Zelda. They're like night and day in many ways.

Love thinks Boots is a very sweet boy! She kind of wishes she had a little brother like him. And she's a bit overwhelmed by his Zelda. Like. She's got a lot of questions. Some of them are very hard questions. She worries... That this girl is too stuck in her head and hopes she doesn't end up sacrificing her happiness for it.

Gerudo be very interested by Stray. Like... He's a little punk for sure, but he likes the gumption he's got. He's impressed that this little squirt wants to learn from him and is really stubborn about it. He can get knocked down plenty during their lessons but he just gets back up and demands to keep going. Gerudo actually has to call stops sometimes because the kid will overdo it otherwise, which uhhh is kind of worrying tbh. But he's impressed by him for sure. Love kinda wishes he'd open up and soften up - it's hard to see him so... Prickly. Because clearly he's been through a lot and he's just so young and it saddens her. She wishes she could do something to help.

Everything that's happened to Crown also saddens her. She can relate to family members going astray, and it's just... She kinda wants to adopt this girl as her sister LOL. And Crown I think could actually come to kind of see her as a loving big sis if they got to spend enough time together.

Poncho BREAKS HER HEART! Yes, he's quiet and hard to get to know, but there's something kind of small and resigned about him that reminds him of how she used to be, and how she sometimes still struggles not to be. The idea of people turning on such a sweet kid is just awful. He's diligent and helpful and expects absolutely nothing and she just wants to give him the world and make everything okay for him.

Gerudo Link also feels bad for him. But also is so so impressed by him. Like all along his journey, he had people to protect and care about and do this for. He was initially just doing it for his own people, who he loved and who loved him. Poncho... Poncho was fighting to save a kingdom that hated him. That takes a special kind of strength. It's amazing to him and he wishes the kid would see that in himself.

Bonus:

The bad guys!

Everyone, and I mean everyone would be incredibly disturbed by Furorin (Stray's bad guy). This guy was? Stealing people from their bodies? And? Using their bodies like vessels, puppeting them around? That's horrifying????? Furorin of course would just be like. Still high and mighty in his reasons, they don't get it, this is for the good of the kingdom, blah blah blah. Boots would be ready to murder him. Gerudo Link would be ready to murder him, but perhaps in a less violent and painful way than the temperamental extraordinarily protective Boots. Poncho... Would not show any of this like the others, but it would make him kind of nauseated to think about. He's dealt with Not So Nice People, and so knowing the primary goal started because of Not So Nice Nobles like.. he gets it's hard, but that's never an excuse for this kind of behavior. He hates to think there are people out there who justify terrible actions for "doing good" because honestly, that's what so many people in HIS kingdom has done and it's just overall disappointing. Someone stop this loser :l

Boots' Zelda is honestly just so sad that the kingdom fell into the state it did that even brought this sort of desperate response on. She'd feel bad for Crown, not knowing until it was too late, and do her best to give her pointers. In the meantime? Go get em Boots. Go crush that despicable freak. Actually, save a piece for her. It would feel good to stomp on his hand with a high heel or something at least.

Love wouldn't want to go even near the guy, but it would deeply upset her. Why would the king do what he did, why would this scientist then take things so far, why can't people just... Be good? Is it so so impossible to just be good and do right by others? It's kinda depressing :/

As for Veskaris, there's so much like. Are you seeing this guy??

Stray thinks he's so stupid. Like he was back home dealing with a very smart and very clever enemy but this guy is just? So dumb? So full of himself and stupid? Boots how did you not kill this guy day one ("Don't say that, says Crown, stupid does not mean he's not powerful! At least Furorin only had his technology. This guy can just do horrible things with the snap of a finger!" But admittedly like. It's hard for her to take this guy seriously. Their villain felt like a precise knife with a hint of like. Mania. This guy... This guy is a circus that shoots cannons at the audience. It's kinda crazy.)

Gerudo would also be like. ?????????? No wonder Boots is a nervous wreck sometimes. This guy would drive anyone mad. Ganondorf was a very straightforward bad guy. I'm going to kill people and take the Triforce, badabing badaboom, simple. This... This fruitcake... What. What. What's actually wrong with him. He's really?? Annoying???? Love would be like ... I don't... I try not to judge people quickly but... he... He's super annoying and a total freak.

Even Poncho can't help but give Veskaris a sort of judging look, and then Boots a kind of pitying look.

At this point, Boots is almost embarrassed. Like dang... Making me feel kinda self conscious that my villain is such a freak. And Veskaris is like EXCUSE ME? YOU FEEL EMBARRASSED OVER MY GLORIOUS EXISTENCE??? ARE YOU FOR REAL???

And honestly he's disgusted that there are so many Links!!! Why are there so many heroes!!! They're like! Bugs! Ants! Flies! Too many, shoo shoo! No wonder Ganon warned him about a boy named Link. One was enough trouble, he does not get paid enough to deal with four! He does not get paid at all!!

And then King Ganondorf.

That guy.... That guy gives almost everyone the chills. It's. Weird to see him look human. (Gerudo is confused to find out he was like? A pig guy? For the others? Huh? Well. It's suitable, he supposes. And how strange for Love to think of her brother as just a 100% purely evil pig guy when he at least started out nice in her world...)

But there's. He's just. That's a man who will do anything to get what he wants. There are absolutely no boundaries for him, no morals. Not anymore. It's... Scary, to be sure, because it's different when he looks human.

Even Furorin wasn't exactly jumping to go killing people. He was more about trapping them. Once he got desperate enough, he'd hurt people, yes, but he also firmly believed Ganon would fix any harm he did to reach their goal because that's what he was promised. Well, he didn't exactly have qualms hurting nobles, though killing any felt like a step too far. But he still had some moral guidelines.

Poncho, however, is not put off at all by this man. The followers of Ganon were just as merciless. If anything, they had an edge of extra cruelty sometimes. Like a bitterness towards the hero due to the hero previous Poncho. Even many people in the kingdom were eager to try and kill Poncho. Like. That's nothing new to him. Which uhhh is very worrying to everyone else. They're all pretty horrified to find out the kingdom was against him like that.

At least this King Ganondorf mostly considered killing people a means to an end. The followers of Ganon were still pissed about the trouble that Hero of Hyrule put them through. :P no easy deaths there. Granted, that was also, in a way, what kept him alive, but still.

And Ganondorf, well, I don't think he'd think much of these guys at all. They're nothing more than pests that get in the way. That's it.

I think Boots would get along great with Twilight. A ranchhand who cares for goats is certainly different than him dealing with sheep, but there's definitely overlaps and I think they'd be able to talk a lot about that. Comparing and contrasting experiences. Lamenting fighting off foot rot during rainy season, dealing with the more ornery of the bunch, sharing stories about which one is the sweetest... And then they'd probably end up talking about dogs and cats too, and then Older Sibling stuff, herding younger ones around, ending fights, etc. They honestly have a lot in common. There's another thing they absolutely could bond over should that info ever come to light but unfortunately that would be a spoiler. Sis will probably be able to figure it out if she thinks about it. Don't tell anyone, sis, it's a secret to everybody (for now).

Boots would also get along with Wind, though any time he gets Too Big Brothery, I doubt Wind would be fond of it. Stop defending me when I can take care of myself conversation 2.0. Boots would try hard to respect that afterwards. It's hard though. I also think Boots would come to like Hyrule quite a bit. Can't exactly pinpoint why?

I could see him looking up to Warriors (his grandpa was a knight and he always looked up to him!) because he feels like everything a knight should be. Except his stupid shoes, he loses a lot of points for that. But that aside, he seems very cool and knightly to Boots. And if Wars ever got comfortable enough to get relaxed and goofy around him, he'd like him even more.

I am gonna include Boots' Zelda here simply because she's a history fanatic and the history of heroes is her favorite thing in the world and she'd be over the moon and back to have the chance to meet even a single one of these guys. HOWEVER the one she'd be most eager to meet would be Legend, because that's the one she knows the most history of (they're in the same timeline, and Boots' time comes right after TFH, so, since Legend has been like. Combined with the ALBW/TFH hero, that would make him the most recent hero in history) She has like, kinda idolized him to some extent growing up, but mostly she just wants to know what details are true, if anything is incorrect, what could be misinformation over history, what happened during these gaps of missing records, etc etc. I think that would fluster Legend a lot LOL he might answer a few questions but then he'd probably get overwhelmed and Boots would try and save him from the situation he is all too familiar with. Wind would probably be more than happy to share, and his tales would perplex her because? Nothing about this is something in history she's ever even heard of, and he said he comes after the Hero of Time saved the world, and there isn't really anyone by the title of hero of time she knows of, but rather, a boy that was gifted the use of time travel, who tried but failed to save the kingdom... Absolutely sends her down a rabbit hole of research since Wind insists he won and then left - left the whole timeline apparently. Now she's got a million more questions, Time would probably be her next victim... Yeah. You get the idea.

Now for Stray, he'd 100% feel most comfortable with Hyrule. I feel like I might have mentioned this in a post once, but Hyrule looks very plain and down to earth compared to the others. Sky has a lot of clothing and layers, beautiful embroidery, which to Stray, speaks money, and he is automatically distrustful and not fond of people who are wealthy. Plus, Sky clearly cares a lot about the Master Sword, which makes Stray feel bad about the state of his Master Sword that needs (or needed depending on how far into his journey he is) a lot of repair. It's not his fault it for forgotten and abandoned and wound up like that but it's embarrassing nonetheless. Like his era is somehow a reflection upon himself.

The captain is obviously wealthy, look at that scarf, look at that armor, and so of course is Time, and to have so many brightly dyed colors on his clothes, so must be Four! Wild has SO MUCH STUFF, an overwhelming amount of food at all times, and also fancy embroidery. Legend too, with all his rings and pretty things. Heck, Twilight's chainmail is gold colored!

Wind is like. Okay. Because as a self proclaimed pirate, Stray can assume anything fancy he has could've been stolen. Plus he kinda reminds him of kids back home but like. An older version of some of them, which is weird because there's a maturity there that weirds him out in how unfamiliar it is, but then moments where it kinda feels like dealing with one of the kids, but he can't treat him like he does them and... It's complicated.

Even appearances aside, Warriors is too controlling and nosy, Twilight tries too hard to befriend him like he's some kinda stray animal to coax, Time is Too Adult and he can't get a read on him, Sky is Too Nice and he doesn't trust that, Legend, well, he's fine with his personality. He can snap back. He doesn't really care. Wild... Well. That's complicated for various reasons. He doesn't dislike his personality, he actually kinda likes him, but for multiple reasons has this mix of like jealousy and guilty feelings with him... It's complicated, just like Wind is complicated. Four keeps Studying Him and it's weirding him out.

Hyrule though... Much more simply dressed. Everything about him screams that he came from very simple and humble origins. He lets Stray sit next to him without trying to push conversation or anything. He might offer a hand but doesn't do so in a way that comes across condescending or pitying to Stray. There's just something about him that makes him feel much more comfortable, so he's stick pretty well to his side any time he can't just be alone. Crown thinks Warriors and Twilight are nice and charming and she's annoyed that Stray is so flippant and rude with them. 😤

Gerudo Link... My first instinct is Warriors. I think there's a few things they've got in common that could gravitate them towards each other, but those are deeper things that neither might ever share. He could definitely get along with Wild. He does love getting into mischief and I think that they would love to have some fun together. They both strike me as resourceful since, well, obviously Gerudo Link has the Triforce of Resourcefulness, but Wild not only lives off the land but has a million ways to get stuff done? It feels right.

Funny enough, like Stray, I think Poncho would initially gravitate a bit more towards Hyrule. Something about him feels oddly homey in a weird sort of way. And they do have a lot in common! Living off the land with very little assistance, being hunted down, living a life on the run/hiding... And if his adventure is over, then technically having access to living in the castle but probably preferring being outdoors most of the time anyway lol. And with Hyrule inevitably comes Legend, and honestly, Poncho would like him a lot too. He's blunt and generally honest and that puts Poncho at ease. He likes knowing where he stands with people. He doesn't like false niceties or placating gestures. It puts him on edge. Also I think sometimes Legend would remind him of Gaidi. Like harsh but with a soft center. Insults you affectionately and then rushes to protect you. I imagine the bonds would only grow once they piece together (and I doubt it would take long) that he comes directly after Hyrule in the timeline.

Actually that makes me think... Stray would actually be so distraught to find out Hyrule comes after him. Does that mean he fails his adventure? Or even if it's already over, all their efforts to restore the kingdom for a better future fails? What he doesn't know is the progress they make in bettering the kingdom for the rest of their lives is what helps sweep in the Golden Era. Nothing beyond that is their fault at all, but he'd be worried about it.

As a bonus, Gaidi would love Time and Wars, and be intrigued by Hyrule until she figures it out properly. Now she's got a half brother, she decided, and that's pretty cool.

Another bonus is I think if Kara spent more than like 5 mins trying to be a polite host or visitor around them, she'd see pieces of her idiot brother in just about all of them and any semblance of polite girl would vanish. She's scolding, she's jabbing them with pointed younger sister insult remarks, she cannot be tamed and tbh is actually kinda intimidating to some of them. Like dang okay she's not to be messed with. I actually have never considered her hanging with them and it's a really funny concept now.