You are the keeper of your memories

[timesensitive]

Sender: Link
To: Everyone
Subject: Passive dream nightmare recording


The castle was long abandoned before you entered it. Before you even knew of it's existence and long before you were even born. It's a miracle one can even still find the entrance, hidden as it is amongst the trees and behind a gate and a natural labyrinth designed effectively enough to both keep things out and in. Ivy and moss have taken over most of what the trees have failed to hide, integrating themselves into the building's walls in some places and tearing them down in others.

It's a bit less green inside, but not much. But what it lacks in greenery it makes up for in darkness, and not just from a lack of light. Upon stepping into the large central room, there's an overwhelming feeling of evil. Of fear and hatred and dread and wrongness.

You're not scared.
You're never s̴c̷a̴r̸e̷d̶.

You're in here to find someone, after all. You need to find them before the atmosphere inside escapes to the outside, along with anything that's been corrupted by it. There's whispers and giggles that seem to come from everywhere and nowhere behind you, above you, right next to you, and no matter how fast you turn, you can't catch their source. There are four torches in the center of the castle, set into the floor of the castle's foyer, all with a different-colored flame, and there are torches all throughout the halls lit with those colors. The whispers seem strongest near those torches, but no matter how close you get, you can't understand what they're saying.

You're n̸e̷v̷e̵r̸ scared.
But you're terrified.

The longer you spend inside the castle, the more it seems to change around you. You've gone through this hallway at least three times now, and been up and down this set of stairs. The torches have changed colors and now appear to be illuminating puddles of reddish-purple sludge. The inner courtyard is covered in it to the point that it's almost impossible to make your way through without stepping in some portion of it. But you do, inevitably, and the minute your boot sinks into the sludge, it's stuck there and suddenly you're pulled down into it.

The castle is gone now, and all there is is darkness and silence, except for your breathing and your own thoughts.

You take a step forward.

"You think a boy like you can defeat me?"

It's not a whisper, it's loud and clear as anything. You know who that voice belongs to and as soon as you think that, a large portrait frame materializes in front of you, blank inside as the space around it before a figure appears in and steps out from it. You need to defeat him, you have before.

But now you can't even lift your sword. And he knows this.

His laughter is what wakes you up.

[Outside of the dream, Link is in his treehouse and won't realize he's shared anything until told as much.

Comments

sender: zelda2

[foremother]

[ It is a nightmare that is not her own. That much is true, and yet, like all things that have been placed upon her shoulders, she takes it into herself. This overgrowth is not something she knows, nor this castle, this labyrinth, but it rings full and solemn to her. The back of Zelda's ears ring with understanding: It is not her own, but it is her's. In the same way H̸̢̋̈͌ỷ̴͇̘̹̠͙̣̖͆̆̋̾̔̈́̾̅̽̕͜l̸̨̡̺̱͎̫̹̞̮̃̋̐͛̐̉ͅi̷̧̢͕̞͔͉̰̣̺̙͉͓̙̗̺͍͊͐̀͛͝ạ̸̹͔̹̳͔͉̣͚͕̘̖̱̩̻͚̈́͐́̔̎̃̚̚͘͝'s has always been her's.

It is not Demise. Even so, it is. It is truly him.

Because she sees the name, and she remembers Sheik's words in that lonely, empty corridor. ]

Hey, there, sleepyhead. Is this letter your alarm?

[ She doubts it! But might as well open with a joke. Familiarity for her own selfishness' sake. ]

You left something over on these journals. Try not to panic about it. The important thing is if you're well or not. Will you let me know as soon as you can?

[timesensitive]

[While he doesn't find the joke amusing, he does find it somewhat comforting, since she's not the only person he'd expect to say that to him. It does take him a few minutes to even get over to the journal and put pen to paper to respond to her.]

Thanks. I'm well. Mostly. [Unfortunately for Zelda, while his journal corrects most spelling errors, it does not correct not-so-great handwriting.] It's just a nightmare...I get them a lot.

[foremother]

[ Every Link has probably had bad handwriting, really. If he could see Skyloft Link's notes... ]

That's awful! [ A twinge of guilt overcomes her, just as much as her own anger does. Maybe he wouldn't have nightmares if not for her... ] It's not going to work. Let's work on that. I always likes a glass of warm milk after a nightmare. What do you say?

[timesensitive]

[Always a constant. Blond hair, blue eyes, bad handwriting. Also dork personalities.]

I've never tried that before. [Mainly because he doesn't always have milk on him, especially here, where he doesn't actually keep a lot of food in his house at any given time.] I can try it. But I'll have to go find some milk.

[foremother]

[ They really are all dorks. ]

No, silly! [ Her penmanship quickens— she really is laughing on the other end. ] I can bring you some. It just so happens that I've found the perfect ingredient for warm milk recently, too!

action;

[sagesurvivor]

["The Sage is a girl I am sure you know."

He told himself it was necessary, then. He tells himself it was necessary now. Dangling the fate of his friend before him like a carrot upon a string, speaking with just enough ambiguity to arouse his curiosity and propel him forward... it was all for the purpose getting the Hero to move. Hyrule had changed drastically without him, so Sheik would hang a fixed, shining star in his path, a goal he would never forget or ignore no matter how overwhelming those changes were. One he would be certain to see through to the end, and his victory over which would bolster him to see the other challenges he would face through just the same.

It was necessary, but that doesn't make him feel any less sick to his stomach as the Forest Temple haunts the dreams of Reverein's populace.

...

Sheik does not write to Link through the journals. To do so feels... insufficient, somehow. For what, he's not sure; there's only one thing that can be done to truly make up for all the suffering Link has gone through for their sakes, but that is something that must wait until after Ganondorf has fallen and the Sages' seal has been put in place. Until then, his company is the only offering he can make, paltry as it is.

Not that it means he's going to go about it like a normal person, no. Some time after Link wakes from his nightmare, he will hear the soft, melodic plucking of familiar harp strings coming from somewhere below his treehouse. Sheik sits among the roots of said tree, a somewhat groggy adolescent tapir nodding off at his side. Whether Link wants to acknowledge his presence or would rather have nothing to do with the one who put him on the path to that frightful and haunting place (Sheik wouldn't blame him), it's entirely up to him.]

[timesensitive]

[There's no part of Link that blames Sheik for doing anything besides being kind of weird in general--as if he's a good judge of what that might be--and talking in riddles more often than just plainly. But he's been one of the best guides he could ask for, a great motivator, and a good source of general advice most of the time.

As such, his presence is very welcoming, even if it's not noticed for a few minutes even after he's arrived and put his fingers to his instrument. Link's arrival downstairs is subdued and when he approaches Sheik's spot, he looks a bit disheveled, though he at least tries to fix part of that and pull his hair back.]

G'morning... [It might be morning, but isn't very good.] ...You got it too? [The dream, he means. He's hoping that Sheik might be here for some entirely different reason, though.]

[sagesurvivor]

[Link chooses to join him, and Sheik's heart breaks a little as he notes the weariness writ upon his face as he does so, such a far cry from the boy who once snuck his way into the castle courtyard, bright eyes full of wonder and curiosity. A part of him is tempted to reach out, to help him brush his messy hair into place, but it is a part that is easily stifled and ignored. Instead, his fingers find the dozing tapir's fur as they fall away from his harp, and the creature at his side huffs with contentment as it wriggles into a more comfortable position.

He hears the hope that runs counter to his words in Link's voice, and his brow furrows with regret.]

... I can pretend I didn't, if you would prefer it.

[It's an honest offer, made without judgement. What's one more lie on top of all the others he's telling already? Especially if it is one Link wishes for him to tell.

... Somehow, he doubts the Hero will take it, though.]

[timesensitive]

[He's not sure what he would do if Sheik actually showed noticeable affection or really didn't keep him at arm's length. As much as he'd like him to and pesters the man about being weird and cryptic, in all likelihood, he'll get to that point and not know how to proceed.]

I don't think that'd really help...

[Because they'll both know it isn't true.

He takes a seat nearby, mindful of the small creature snuggled up to Sheik's side so he doesn't sit on it, and actually reaches out to gently pet its fur with his fingertips.]

Is this yours?

[sagesurvivor]

[As expected. Sheik sighs, softly, quietly, with Link's denial, but not out of disappointment. He just... doesn't know how else to fix this, and that's almost all of what he's been focused on these past seven years. How to fix things. It's uncomfortable, not immediately knowing how to do that.

But at least petting furry little creatures rarely seems to make things worse. As Link reaches out to the tapir, Sheik returns his free hand to his harp, plucking a few strings idly and letting the tones echo through the forest. The tapir, in turn, opens its eyes briefly, the red, green, and blue jewel-like spots around its face catching in the low early morning light as it lifts its head to peer at this New Person giving scritches. It seems to deem Link acceptable, as a moment later it flops back down, stretching as it returns to its nap.]

... I would hesitate to call it "mine." It cannot return with us to Hyrule, when the time comes. [He never refers to the Hero of Time as "his Link" for a similar reason.] But... it was influenced by the memories I showed the future's Princess of the Temple of Time, so. I suppose it is not entirely inaccurate.

[Which is a weird, cryptic, and long-winded way of saying, "yeah, kind of."]

I have been calling it "Tem."

[And also, "I am not good at naming things."]

sender: link

[skyglider]

[The dream wakes him in the middle of the night, heart pounding, an echo of laughter ringing in his ears.

It's not the first time this has happened.

Fragments of the dream are familiar; enough that Link is able to put pieces of things together in his mind. Whether it's the same Demon King he's encountered in dreams and at home or a different one...the echoes of laughter are so viscerally familiar that he cannot let them go. The deep, primal fear that prevents you from lifting your sword against it...

...

It takes him a few minutes to shake off the feeling, but when he does, he goes right to the journal. It takes him a little while longer to figure out what to say, pen tapping restlessly against his wrist at first.]

Link?

[Hah. There's something about writing that that he can't get used to. And yet it's somewhat comforting, all the same.]

Were you dreaming just now?

[timesensitive]

[It's a good thing that he's experienced some dreams from other people, or else he'd be panicking a bit more at the idea of sharing his own with everyone else. As it is, he's still panicking both from that and the dream itself. He doesn't miss waking up from a nightmare completely alone.

Well, not completely, since he still has transplanted and native residents he can go bother in a pinch, but he doesn't know enough people to do that to.

Link's handwriting is usually messy, but it's a bit worse at the moment with more smudges and shakier letters.]

I was. You saw it too?

[skyglider]

I did. I'm sorry.

[He knows as well as anyone how invasive it feels, knowing your private thoughts have been broadcast like that.

There's a pause. He does not know what else to say, not really, except that once more they seem to be kindred spirits in their fight and their struggle. The similarities seem...uncanny, in ways.

...]

Would you like company?
I made some rice balls earlier that need to be eaten.

[If in doubt, food is the great equalizer.]

[timesensitive]

It's

Don't worry, it wasn't on purpose.

[Most likely. Link doesn't seem like the kind of person who would poke around in other people's head just for fun to him, so he gets no blame.]

I would. Should I find you or are you coming here?

[skyglider]

Alright.

[He would argue, but...Link is a little like him, he thinks; neither of them would ever blame the other for something like this. It doesn't make him feel less guilty, exactly, but it helps.]

I'll come to you.

[True to his word, a while later there's a knock at Link's door. Special delivery!]

Sender: Zelda

[multidisciplinary]

[ There's something deeply unsettling about this place that makes even the insatiably curious princess want to turn right around and flee. Link's fear reverberates in her heart, causing Zelda to toss and turn fitfully in her sleep while gripped by his nightmare. On its surface, this stone fortress looks just like any of the other ruins scattered around Hyrule, places Zelda fearlessly charges into in pursuit of ancient knowledge. But there's evil here, a vile hatred rotting deep inside—waiting, festering.

The voice that pierces the eerie darkness sends a chill straight through her. She's never heard this voice before, she's sure, but thanks to Link, she recognizes it instantly—Ganondorf. She wants to shrink back from him, to flee the Demon King who has haunted her nightmares for months on end, but Link is petrified and so too is the princess. Only able to look up at the figure, the urge to fight and the urge to flee warring in the hero's mind as he faces the ancient evil that has menaced Hyrule since time immemorial.

It's only when Link is freed that Zelda is as well, sitting bolt upright in her bed and immediately clutching the stone hanging from her choker. Ganondorf... Zelda already knew from Sheik that the Demon King rose to power in his and Link's era, overthrowing the King of Hyrule and driving the young princess into hiding. She knew Link faced him (and would have to again)... but seeing it through his eyes, feeling it through his heart, makes the burden of the hero's destiny hang that much heavier upon her.

Certain that Link is no longer asleep, Zelda picks up her journal from her bedside table and pens him a message. He may want to know that his nightmare has been broadcast to the other dreamers. ]

Dear Link,

I regret that I must inform you that your nightmare has been shared through the dream lanterns and that I, and likely others, have witnessed it. I apologize for my unwitting intrusion on your privacy.

[ Zelda pauses briefly as she considers how best to continue. ]

Would you like to talk? Often, when I woke from my own shared nightmares, corresponding with my friends helped to settle me after the experience.

Kindly Yours,
Zelda

[timesensitive]

[He sees Zelda's name appear as a writer in his journal and in a half-asleep moment of confusion, considers that it might be his own Zelda. He's met her before, and knows that she looks like what his era's Zelda might as an adult, but she isn't.

Not that he has any problem with her. She talks about things he doesn't quite understand--like 'mechanical' beings--but that's alright.]

Dear Zelda,

You don't have to apologize. I should apologize for sharing a nightmare like that with anyone.

[Is it weird to copy her format as a response? It seems like the right thing to do.]

I would, please.

-Link

[multidisciplinary]

[ The way Link mirrors her letter format in his response brings a little chuckle to Zelda's lips. Few people tend to write with the same level of formality as Zelda. It's almost as though he's mimicking her, much like the Hateno school children do sometimes.

But her amusement is fleeting in the face of the subject matter. ]

It was the De Ganondorf, was it not?

[ Zelda has to force her hand to write the man's name, rather than calling him the Demon King, as she prefers. (It may not be his name in Link's era.) Just writing the name makes her stomach roil; how she hates him. ]

[timesensitive]

Sort of.

He sent a phantom version of himself to fight me once. That's the one I was dreaming about.

[Not that they're that much different from one another.]

[multidisciplinary]

[ A phantom? But in the dream, it seemed so real. That must take incredibly powerful magic... ]

It seemed so real. No wonder you were scared.

[ She pauses for a moment to consider her next words. ]

But it's all right to feel that way. To tell you the truth, I am scared of him too.

sender: revali

[updrafting]

[Admittedly, when he sees the name Link, it's not this Link he thinks of first. hat's probably why he pays it any mind in the first place. But as the dream continues, it's clear enough that whatever this is, it isn't from the Link from his time.

It's a different sort of curiosity that keeps his attention, once he realizes that. Is it rude and nosy? Most definitely. But he'd be lying if he said even now, he wasn't curious about what this other Link was all about.]

So, that place. Was it only a dream, or is it somewhere that actually exists for you?

[.........sorry, no comfort, just nosiness here.]

[timesensitive]

[You're very helpful, Revali.

He's actually not unhelpful since his nosiness grounds Link somewhat and makes him think of how the place was in reality--no Malice everywhere and a far less confusing layout.]

It exists. It's an overgrown ruin in the forest...I don't know what it was originally...people might have lived there before they left or became ghosts and Stalfos.

It's a temple now.

[Don't ask him how that works, he'd never even seen it before charging in to try to rid it of its corruption.]

[updrafting]

[He's super helpful. The most helpful, in fact. Number one hero birdman here.

But it's interesting to him, just how long Hyrule's history must be. Even from the air, he's never seen a place near any forest that might line up with this ruin. So much has been lost and forgotten to time, he supposes.]

Temple or otherwise, I can't recall anything looking like this in my own time. There aren't many temples around Hyrule that I can recall.

[timesensitive]

There are several that I know of. One's inside a volcano...underwater...that one in the forest...

[If the Shadow Temple is any place of worship, that's news to him. That's just the Sheikah torture dungeon.]

I think there's one out in the desert too, but I've never been there.

[updrafting]

Volcanoes and underwater tend to be out of reach if you aren't a Goron or a Zora.

[Which is to say, he has no idea if any temples might somehow still exist there. If they haven't been melted or something in the volcano.]

The desert is about as pleasant as Death Mountain. There isn't much to see out there, and if it's anything like my time, you'll be out of luck for any chance of relaxation. Not even Champions are allowed in Gerudo Town if they're male.