Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Marin considered herself a fairly average person. Her life was simple, she didn’t have any real problems, she just lived on the small island of Koholint with her father.

All of that changed one summer morning, as she went for a walk along the beach. It was a nice day out, and she found herself stopping to collect seashells along the way. While grabbing a particularly pretty one, she noticed something in the distance. It was green and pinkish, and she rushed over to see what was the matter.

It was- a person?

She ran faster at the realization, sprinting down the shoreline to the poor sailor. Or at least, she assumed the shipwrecked stranger was a sailor, because why else would someone brave such treacherous waters in a storm?

For some reason, there were pink feathers along the shoreline, standing out against the yellow sand. She raced past them, coming up to the downed Hylian.

Because it was obvious that’s what the stranger was, what with his pointed ears. He didn’t seem to show any signs of water inhalation, but she wasn’t going to risk it. She dragged the stranger fully out of the water, scooping him up gently.

As she was lifting the stranger up, she noticed. Bright, pink and black wings coming out of his back. She had never seen anything like it. The wings made it a bit difficult to carry him, but she managed, carrying him gently to her house.

Her father looked up from his book, jumping in surprise when he saw the stranger in his daughter’s arms.

“By the Windfish, Marin, what happened?”

She set the Hylian gently down on the bed, removing the shield off his arm carefully, as to not wake him up. “I found him along the shoreline. I’m not quite sure what happened, but look! He’s Hylian! Did your book say anything about Hylians having wings?”

He shook his head, picking the book up and showing it to her. “Nope. Most difference I can find is pointed ears and a stronger affinity for magic.” he flipped forward a few pages.

“Nada. Sorry, hon, I've got no idea.”

SHe sighed, blowing a stray piece of hair out of her face. “Blast. Well, I suppose we’ll just have to ask him when he wakes up.”

He chuckled. “I suppose so.”

Link felt like his head was filled with cotton, blinking as he adjusted to the light. Where was he?

He shot up, blindly reaching for his sword, but it was nowhere to be found. There were people in the strange new area, were they friend or foe?

One came up to the obviously panicking Hylian, talking gently and calmly. “Hey, glad to see you’re awake. I found you washed up on the shore. What happened?”

She looked quite pretty, a pink hibiscus flower tucking back auburn hair next to tanned skin. He blinked, blushing slightly. “I- I got shipwrecked. There was a storm. Where am I?”

“You’re in Mabe Village, on Koholint island! My home sweet home!” She giggled. “Must’ve been quite a storm. Tell me, do all Hylians have wings or are you just special?”

He blushed again. “Uh, just, just me. It’s said to be a mark of a hero, and of Hylia’s favor.”

“Handsome and heroic,” she teased, “The complete package! Well, stranger, what’s your name?”

If his face wasn’t red, it was purple. “Uh, Link. My name’s Link.”

“Well, Link, let me show you around the island!”

Link woke up in a start, pain coursing through his nerves, like a buzz-blob sting, but much stronger. He attempted to push himself up, only to fall as fresh pain coursed through his arms. He pulled off his gloves to see lightning marks running down his arms, almost reaching his fingertips. He followed the scars up to the tips of his wings, which had apparently acted as a lightning rod. He looked over his shoulder to call for help. Marin would know what to do.

Marin.

He was flooded with grief, fresh and raw and the kind of grief you don’t know what to do with, because there's nothing you can do about it, it’s your fault.

It’s his fault.

He killed Marin.

“And hey, if i’m a seagull, we can go flying together! Link and Marin, against the world! Doesn’t that sound fun?”

He couldn’t even bring himself to look up as the Windfish flew through the air, soaring over him and landing in the water.

He could bring himself to watch as a seagull flew past him, seeming to come from the windfish. Although it was probably just hidden by the giant whale, he couldn’t help but hope that the dream god had granted her wish, and that Marin was soaring over the clouds as a seagull.

Legend gasped as he woke up from his dream, tears running down his face. Beside him, Ravio was sitting up blearily. “Bunny? What is it?”

He caught sight of Legend's face, his husband furiously trying to wipe away his tears. “Oh no," he said, "that same dream again?” At his nod, Ravio opened his arms, letting the weary hero collapse into him. Legend merely sobbed for a few minutes, holding onto Ravio tightly.

He sniffed, trying to wipe his tears on his sleeve. “I -she would’ve loved you.”

Ravio smiled, running a hand through Legend's hair. “You think so?”

“I know so.”

Chapter Text

“... But I believe you are well prepared for this.”

Link’s heart felt ready to die as the Blight readied its spear. He drew his sword, wincing at the low durability it had. The Blight swung its spear in a long arc, attempting to cleave Link in two. He jumped over the wide swing, keeping himself in the air for a few moments. Huh. That was still weird.

He ducked and dodged around the Blight, his wings catching water in between his feathers as he fell into the water. He was just thankful they were waterproof. 

As his sword broke on the blight’s arm, the air seemed to fill with acid. Ice rose from the floor as the Blight roared. 

He didn’t stop his barrage of furious anger, shooting arrow after arrow, throwing bomb after bomb. Tears formed in his eyes as he fired relentlessly. At last, the final blow was dealt. An arrow through the eye. 

It screamed as it collapsed into a spiral of pink malice, decaying rapidly. He couldn’t help but feel a burst of ugly satisfaction as it gave one last agonizing wail, disappearing as if it had never been there. 

But it had, hadn’t it? 

And Mipha was gone. 

Sweet, caring Mipha, who was always there to heal his wounds. 

The armor couldn’t have been made for anyone else, could it?

There were even slits in the back for his wings. 

He felt himself burst into tears, as he absently followed her instructions. Mipha’s ghost appeared right in front of him as he activated the main console. If he used to be good at controlling his emotions, he certainly wasn’t now. 

“Oh, Dear Link, don’t cry. You have freed me. I can be at peace now, knowing you are here to bring an end to Ganon.”

She smiled serenely, holding her hands to her chest. “I want you to take this, as a symbol of my gratitude. As a spirit, I have no use for it. It would fill my heart with joy to know that My magic could protect you, even after death. Please accept; Mipha’s Grace.”

An orb flew into his chest, lighting his whole body up with light, if only for a second. A strange, yet familiar magic flowed through his nerves, and he knew. This was her magic. 

He couldn’t do anything but stare for a moment. “Th- thank you.”

She smiled. “Of course.”

Link’s wings were cramped. He couldn’t take his wings out of the Flamebreaker armor, unless he wanted to have his wings burnt to a crisp. And now he was fighting a lava monster on the roof of Rudania. Great. 

He narrowly dodged as a rock was thrown from the attacking creature. Furiously, he threw a bomb at the offending Blight, knocking out a chunk of its health. He quickly got into the groove of battle, attack, dodge, attack, dodge, shoot, repeat.

At about half-health, the second stage started, and the Blight started to collect the air around it for an attack. 

Hm. 

Link pulled a bomb out of the Slate, throwing it towards the vortex. As soon as it got close enough, Link detonated it. 

Wow, that was effective. 

He rushed forwards, nearly tripping over himself as he forgot about the difference in balance with his wings pinned. 

He recovered quickly though, getting a few good hits in before the Blight recovered. It roared, trying the same attack strategy again. Link attacked the same way, bringing it down to about a quarter health. It abandoned that strategy then, resuming its old one. Link quickly took it down, smiling to himself as it screamed an ugly, horrid shriek. 

Good. 

He walked over to the console, smiling as the Beast’s colors turned from sickly pink to cool blue. 

“Nice job, Little guy.”

His eyes filled with tears once more as he turned to see Daruk, smiling and waving at him. 

“Aw, Don’t cry, Little Guy! We won! Or, well, you won. That’s good! I owe ya big for this one. Here, I want you to have somethin of mine. It’s not any good to me anymore, so you can use it. It’s my ultimate move, Daruk’s protection! Ready?”

At Link’s nod, he banged his fists together, sending a red ball of power rushing towards him. It flew directly into his chest, sending him skidding as he activated it. 

An invulnerable shield, passed down across generations, going all the way back down Daruk’s family line. 

The goron smiled at him, taking the helm of Rudania with a grin. “Get goin, little guy! You got a princess to save!” 

It was so cold up on Medoh’s deck. How did Revali not freeze to death up here? The Blight was readying a giant cannon, and Link tensed in anticipation. It fired, but he was long gone, dashing through the air like a bullet. He fired arrow after arrow,  hitting the Blight in the eye once, twice five times, feet never touching the ground. 

The cannon clipped his wing, burning a few feathers off of his wing. That was close. 

“Dodging might be wise.”

“No shit, birdbrain!” Link yelled, knocking a few more arrows to shoot at the Blight. Revali’s disembodied voice scoffed as he shot, and Link could feel him glaring at him. 

“Do you want my help or not?”

“If you decide to be helpful, let me know!”

He fired the finishing shot into the Blight’s canon, smiling to himself as it exploded, grotesque pink pouring out of the creature, before disappearing. He turned to the panel, activating it with a sigh. He turned to face Revali, and oh. 

He thought he was done crying. 

“I suppose, you have proven yourself worthy of- Link? Oh no, why are you crying?” Revali looked around the deck, as if it would have the answer to comforting his friend. “Uh- Link, don’t cry! It’s unbecoming of the Hylian Champion. You’re embarrassing yourself!” 

Link chuckled, although it was watery. “Whatever you say, Revali.”

The Rito preened, smirking with an air of superiority. “Yes, quite. Now, as I was saying before you oh so rudely interrupted me, I suppose you have proven yourself worthy of obtaining my power. A special talent I have called: Revali’s Gale!”

The orb came rushing towards him, blowing him upwards with a start. He was caught off guard for a moment, blown upwards before he moved out of the way. He glared at Revali for a moment, before laughing, wrapping Revali in a hug. The prickly Rito attempted to pry himself away from Link, but he was locked in a death grip. Eventually, Link let go, and Revali was admittedly reluctant to let go. 

“Kick Ganon’s ass for us, alright?”

“You got it.”

“Fight for your life. And it’s death!”

Okay. Link could do this. He’s fought three Blights already. He adjusted the straps on his armor, modified to allow his wings through. Not that the Voe armor had much on his back anyways. 

He drew the Master Sword, glowing light reflecting off of his armor. He readied his shield as the Blight charged him, rushing up before he could respond. 

He moved out of the way enough to avoid a fatal blow, but the spear pierced through his arm, cutting through the skin like paper. 

He readied his shield and tried again, dodging successfully that time. He landed a few glancing blows on the Blight, but not nearly enough for its health to go down in a significant way. 

They continued like that for a while, with Urbosa’s voice ringing through the halls occasionally. 

When the Blight was at about half-health, something in the air shifted. Suddenly, Link was relying on his flight a lot more. Giant metal rods came flying from the ceiling as the Blight roared.

Link dodged around the poles, activating Magnesis and redirecting the Blight’s lightning back at him. It fell, and Link swooped in, furiously hacking at it with all his might. It screamed, Malice pouring out of its body. 

Link adjusted the rings of the Divine beast to be right side up again, stepping up to the console and activating it with a tap of the Slate. 

And then Urbosa was standing in front of him. 

Once again, he couldn’t hold back his tears as he saw the last champion. 

“Oh, Little Fox, it’s alright. We have much left to do still. I have something to help you along your journey. I want you to accept; Urbosa’s Fury!”

The last Champion’s Gift flew at him, swirling around him as his body accepted the new magic. 

“All you do is snap your fingers.”

Lightning erupted from around where he snapped, spiraling outward. Urbosa left to the control room, Link leaving to head back to Gerudo town. 

As Ganon roared, the beams fired at him, dropping his health to half. As he made to attack, he felt the Champion’s Gifts flow through his blood. 

It was time to fight.

Chapter Text

Link was tired. It had been so long since he had seen the sun, it seemed to burn his eyes as he stumbled along the path. He couldn’t stand up without help, leaning mostly on Orville for support. He stumbled on a small stone on the path, nearly taking them both down as he tripped. 

“Sorry,” he mumbled, voice hoarse from screaming. Orville merely wrapped his arm under his shoulder more securely, shooting him a reassuring smile. 

“It’s alright, dear. Nobody expects you to be in any sort of fighting shape right now, just focus on walking with me, okay?” 

He nodded slightly, increasing his grip on Orville. They slowly made their way to their house, holding each other tightly. 

Finally, they came to the clover covered lawn of their house, entering the door with a sigh. Link marveled at how little had changed. There were even the same pictures on the walls. His heart ached at how different he was than the last time he was here. 

His legs finally gave out as he tripped onto the carpet, narrowly avoiding hitting his head on the table. Honestly, he was surprised it had taken this long. He tried to push himself up, but his arms weren’t strong enough. Orville scooped him up, setting him on the sofa gently. 

Link sunk into the cushions, wincing as he put pressure on his wings. 

His wings, oh goddesses, what would Orville think of his wings?

Orville seemed to sense his panic, lifting him up so the pressure wasn’t on his wings anymore. “You know that nothing they did to you would make me love you any less, right? Nothing.”

He winced again. Orville really knew him too well, didn’t he? Slowly, cautiously, he opened his wings. 

They were truly a horrible sight to behold, bloody broken and torn. There were large patches where guards had ripped out handfuls of feathers, highlighting the broken shape of the wings. Large gaps in the connective skin were lined with blood, some years old and some that had just healed. Orville gasped softly behind him. 

“Oh, Darling, I’m so sorry.” he started to brush his hands through the feathers, taking care not to touch any sore spots. Pulling out a medical kit, he started to meticulously bandage the wounds, cleaning them and then wrapping them. 

It hurt, though Link tried to hide it. He wasn’t successful, if the murmured apologies coming from behind him were any indication. 

Finally, the last bandage was wrapped around his wings, and Orville was free to bandage the other injuries Link had sustained during his time in prison. 

He moved around to face him, taking his hands in his own with a sad smile. “Darling, can I see your wrists please?” 

He moved the long sleeves over with a grimace, revealing ugly shackle marks on both wrists. Orville grimaced at them, tearing up. He poured more of the wound cleaner onto a cloth, gently patting down the marks. Murmuring gentle nothings, he rolled bandages around both wrists, gently kissing them once he was done. 

They smiled at each other, hesitantly but full of love. 

“Do you need another pillow? Tea? An icepack? You look like you could use another pillow, i’ll get you one”

“Orville, Honey bun, Light of my life, if you bring me another pillow I’m going to throw it at you.”

“You are a useless, crippled NOTHING of a hero! You cannot hope to defeat ME!”

“Maybe not,” Link said, tightening his grip on the goddess sword, “But I can slow you down.”

He charged, swinging his sword over his head in a mighty Skyward Strike. Their swords met in the middle, waves of energy rolling off of them as they dueled. The world crumbled around them as they traded blows, huge chunks of earth peeling off of the surface and floating upwards. 

Every time Demise swung his sword, Link was there to meet him. But Demise was a god, and Link was still mortal, and badly injured at that. Slowly, the Demon God pushed him back, forcing him to defend more than attack.

 One well placed blow, and Link was flying backwards, crashing into a mound of rock along the battleground. He stumbled, pushing himself upwards with some difficulty. He charged once more, determination replacing all other emotion on his face. 

Blow for blow, they met each other. But, Link was faltering. His body was trembling with badly-concealed weariness as he continued to fight. Demise noticed it too, forcing his advantage. 

Blow after blow, Link struggled to keep up as Demise attacked relentlessly. With one final desperate swipe, he shot a sword beam straight into the eyes of the Demon King. 

Crying out in agony, Demise dropped his sword as he reached to clutch his eyes. As Link rushed forward to attack, The Loftwing descended from the skies, landing next to Link. 

“Fledgeling, what are you doing? We must make haste to the skies, lest you be left behind!” 

Link grimaced, attempting to tighten his hold on his sword. “I can buy you all some more time. I’ll be fine, get the civilians to Skyloft!”

The Loftwing scoffed, tripping Link onto his back. “Absolutely not, none of that self sacrificing bullshit. You have somebody to go back to, Link. I’m not going to be bringing him your dead body. We’ve already brought the rest up, now STOP STRUGGLING!”

Link stopped trying to hop off of Crimson’s back as they took off to the skies, Crimson circling the Goddess as she glowed with golden light, smiling at the newcomers. 

ẅ̸͉̥́̉e̶̹͆̾l̷̰̼̽c̴̦̃͠ǫ̴̉͐m̴̞̽ȇ̷̪,̶̨͍̉ ̷̧̂̿m̵͖̖͑̎ŷ̷͎́ ̸͕͛b̴̀̈́͜͜r̸̬͆a̸̙̐v̴̻̝̒̔e̸̖͋ ̴̲̽͝ĥ̸̢e̵r̶̲̚o̵͙̫͛.̶̥̃ ̶̢̎̅C̵̫̖̆̂ṟ̷̩̍i̸̹̘͋m̷̰̑ͅs̴̢̲͂̉o̷͇̊n̵̜̖͆,̶̧̖̌̋ ̸͈̾ȳ̶̯o̵͉̅̈u̷̳͐͑ ̵̘͐͝ḫ̴̤̀ā̸͉͛v̶̧̾ë̶̯̳́ ̵͖͇̀̾d̶̨̦̃͐o̶̖̗͗̍n̵̞̠͗e̸͙̋̄ ̵̠̇ͅw̶̜̚e̸͕͂͘l̵͚͛̕l̸̻͗̀ ̴̬͆ṫ̶͈̜o̴͇̚͝ ̷̻̾̿b̸̬͉̓̐r̴̖͝i̷͈̞̿͝n̶̡̻͝g̴͈͔̿ ̵͖͒h̴̟́͐i̴̼͕͆͐m̷͙͚̔̅ ̵͎̱̃́h̷͓̍̈́e̴̫͊r̶̞̞̋ȇ̴̲̺.̴̛̗̽ 

Her voice was hard to make out, seemingly filtered through the golden light. Crimson nodded, landing on a small piece of earth flying upwards along with the others. He gently shifted to slide Link off, flying back to the Goddesses side. “Take care, Fledgeling. Have no fear, we’ll meet once more someday. Be with those you care for, and make haste. Those injuries don’t look good.”

Link smiled through his tears. “This is nothing, you should have seen me a month ago.”

“I did. They weren’t aiming to kill. Demise was. Go to a healer, Link.”

“Alright, alright,” He relinquished, raising his hands in the air. “Where do you get off mother henning me?”

“When you stop being a self-sacrificial idiot. Goodbye, Fledgeling.”

“...Goodbye, Crimson.”

As the Loftwing took to the skies, The small patch of dirt converged with a larger island, with a small group of people there. Link couldn’t keep awake for much longer, passing out as they merged. Strong, gentle arms caught him as he fell, and he could just about make out someone’s voice as his head filled with cotton. 

“It’s alright, Darling. Rest now, we’ve got you.”

His dreams, mostly so terrible, were pleasant that night, showing races through the sky with other winged people, skirting the clouds as the ground was repopulated. He wasn’t sure what it meant, but it seemed like the goddesses still had much to do in his lifetime. 

But for now, he rests.