candybox | OPEN POST: Rauru - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

[uhhhh he's in Ellipsa now and he's outside the Newbie Arrival Point looking lost, at which point Evangeline sees a hot furry and swoops in.]

Hi! Did you just get here? I know it's a lot to take in at first.

[Rauru looks perplexed by his predicament, holding the phone he's been given in a clawed hand. He's much taller than her, with a floor-length mane of white hair, large ears that twitch as she speaks and green eyes that pick her out as she approaches.]

I did. Are you a native to this land? I'm afraid that even after having matters explained to me, I will need some time to adjust.

[He's so tall and so cute and she's delighted.]

Not a native - I've been here a few months now. But I'm happy to help answer any questions you might have.

I think most of my pressing questions have been answered... but why don't we walk and talk, and you can tell me about yourself?

[There's a small burst of green light, and his phone vanishes for the time being. He can simply conjure it back later when he wishes to inspect it.]

As for me, I am Rauru, King of Hyrule.

Evangeline, working as a researcher here. I should've guessed you were royalty, you have that kind of majestic aura.

[The last time she talked to a member of royalty, it was Lelouch and she told him he looked like a dweeb. But that's different.]

That's kind of you to say.

[He smiles, as they begin to walk. So she's a scholar of a kind, it seems.] What areas do you research?

Here, mostly potion development. At home I specialized in energy production through work with monsters, but that field doesn't really exist here.

It sounds interesting, all the same. I would enjoy seeing a demonstration of some of your potions, should you ever have the time.

I'd be happy to! There's potions for all kinds of things, I'm sure I could find something you'll like.

What is Hyrule like?

In my time, and for most of my reign, it was a peaceful and prosperous land, inhabited by many varied peoples. I... did my utmost to maintain that prosperity.

[Ominous as that is, he decides not to elaborate any further, though his fondness for Hyrule is still evident. He eyes Evangeline.]

And your world? Is it inhabited by a great many monsters?

...It really sounds nice. [A little wistful, rather than the cheer she's been exuding.]

The Outskirts of the City are full of monsters, but even in the City proper, it's not peaceful or prosperous. I couldn't tell you if the monsters or the people are more dangerous overall.

I see. Then, perhaps it's a blessing that you've been brought here where you can be safe.

[He smiles again, hoping to lighten the conversation once more.] This world isn't without its own share of threats, from what I understand, but day-to-day life here is at least peaceful.

It really is. And I don't mind making it a little safer for people where I can, too. -I hope you enjoy it here too.

Thank you. I admit that without my duties or my people here, I find I am at something of a loss, but I am sure I will find purpose. The locals seem to place great significance on us harnessing our seasonal powers, for example.

The powers are a big one, and there's quests for defeating monsters and making things safer in the Segments if that's more your thing. I've found some fulfillment in making sure people don't turn to stone, personally.

[by banging them]

[Though Byleth took to the Divine Pulse like a fish to water, even fish were at the mercy of the capricious mood of the current. He could not be arrogant and overindulgent - he had to do the equivalent of skimming the surface, not allowing himself to stay still for too long, lest a riptide snag him by the ankle and haul him under.

...so of course, this is something that eventually happened.

In his defence, it wasn't hubris that had caused it, it was complacency. He had begun to overly rely on the Divine Pulse in lieu of actual swordplay, and it was when he had done a casual slide into the river of time, intending to swoop back out two seconds further along that he... slipped. In a manner of speaking.

It was falling without actually falling, a nauseating swoop in his belly as the Timestream's current swept him under without so much as pausing. It was indifferent to him, uncaring where it dragged him into what felt like every rock downstream, until it abruptly spat him out with little to no ceremony. He was weightless and disorientated, seeing nothing but brilliant blue skies spread out before him, a stark contrast to the dark, dreary sky he had been fighting under. Wind snapped at his cloak, and he felt the tug of gravity behind his navel, pulling him downwards.

How strange, he thought, dizzy with confusion, how far along did I-]

'WHAM!

[He hit the ground - hard.]

[Rauru had split off from his hunting party, having gotten distracted by the sight of something falling from the sky. It happened, sometimes: with the decline of the Zonai and the sky islands left uninhabited since his descent to Hyrule, he had left the islands in the hands of Mineru's many constructs, but it was inevitable that even with their care, things would fall into disarray and occasionally out of the sky. As a Zonai and as king, it was his responsibility to deal with any problems that might cause, few and far between though they were.

The longer he watches, however, the longer he realises it isn't ordinary island debris falling out of the sky, but a person. He runs from the trees across the field, but he's far too late to even attempt to snatch them out of the sky with his powers, and they crash to the ground with a force that must certainly be fatal.

He approaches, his heart in his throat... and spies a green-haired man with strangely rounded ears and a somehow unmangled body. He crouches beside him cautiously, aiming to check his pulse to see if he's still alive.]

[The impact had more than rattled Byleth, driving all the wind out of his lungs and leaving him utterly insensate. This wasn't the first time he had endured a tremendous fall, and as always, his body had gone utterly lax moments before he had struck the ground. It was as instinctual as it was involuntary, making him feel almost paralysed with how unresponsive his body was for several uncomfortable moments. Logically, he knew this was his body's way to protect him from the impact, but it was still an incredibly unnerving and petrifying experience.

But, fortunately, the lax numbness slowly eased, and Byleth managed to twitch his fingers and slowly stir as his body went from "play dead" to "oh god I think my entire being is a bruise". Shock-absorbent or not, as Sothis once called him, that had still been a very big fall even for him.]

Ngh... what...

[He opened his eyes, blinking the wobbling spots from his vision to see... a... goat? Man? Goat man? Man goat? Had the fall given him a concussion and crossed several wires in his brain somewhere?]

[The goat man? Man goat? Is studying Byleth with wide eyes, ears perking, stunned that he's both conscious and capable of speech.]

Are you all right? You took an immense fall.

[Even that description seems like an understatement. He doesn't want to move him just yet, realising how dazed he is and that he might just make his injuries worse. By the same token, though, leaving him alone out here in the field when none of his party are close by would be out of the question.]

[The goat-man was speaking, and no matter how much Byleth blinked and squinted, his appearance didn't change. He looked very solid and real too, so after his moment of blank confusion, Byleth decided to simply accept what his eyes were seeing. He had larger concerns such as:

There was clearly no battle waging around them. Birds were chirping and aside from the goat-man, their surroundings were peaceful. There was no scent of fire and ash and the ozone of cast lightning, and the sun was in a different position. Therefore, it was clear that Byleth's Divine Pulse had not carried him scant seconds into the future - but potentially more. Far more, if the battle was clearly well and over and goat men walked the earth.

Troubling.]

Mn... I'm fine. Just winded.

[Slowly, he pushed himself up into sitting position. His body was sore, and he was likely to have a very nasty bruise on his back later, but otherwise his bones weren't broken and his limbs were all in working order. He had, however, somehow lost his sword at some point during his chaotic travel through the timestream, which meant his only weapon was the dagger at his belt and his own magic.

He set that aside as a lesser issue, deciding to get his bearings first (all while keeping a wary eye on the goat-man at his side). He looked around, expecting to see the few prominent landmarks he saw on the battlefield-

And did not recognise his surroundings in the slightest.]

I don't recognise this place.

[Just winded, he says, as though that fall wouldn't shatter even the toughest Goron to pieces. Rauru draws back and rises to his (considerable) height as the man recovers. This stranger from the sky looks like no Hylian he's seen, so perhaps asking him how he can't recognise Hyrule Field, of all places, is a foolish question.]

You are in the Kingdom of Hyrule. Do you recall where you came from, before you fell from the sky?

[He's staying close, just in case the man keels over, but he seems to be handling himself well for the time being.]

[The Kingdom of Hyrule? The name didn't ring any bells, but Byleth didn't know much about Fódlan's geography outside of the main nations and the border regions that had the most jobs for mercenaries. Adrestia, Faerghus, Leicester, Sreng and Almyra, those were the ones he mainly knew.

Had the Divine Pulse transported him physically as well as temporally, then? He didn't know that was possible... hm. Troubling. He'll need to get his eye on a map somewhere.]

I was within Adrestia's borders, not far from Enbarr.

[He slowly pushed himself to his feet. His movements were a little stiff, but once he was standing, he gave himself a little shake and seemed to have bounced back perfectly fine from his 'little' fall.]

On the continent of Fódlan. Where is Hyrule in relation to that? This doesn't seem to be one of the small islands that border its coasts...

I'm afraid I don't recognise the names of even one of those locations, and I must tell you, this is no small island.

[He strokes the beard-like fur of his chin, mulling it over. Of course, there is much even the Zonai never learned about the world beyond Hyrule, or perhaps that knowledge has been lost with the decline of his people's civilisation... He wonders, still determined to help.]

I can consult our maps and archives to see if any contain the places of which you speak in relation to here... but in the meantime, I believe you should have your injuries seen to. Will you come with me?

[Byleth reeled slightly, flummoxed at the thought of no one knowing Fódlan... but, it was but one landmass in a large world, according to Sothis. If he knew nothing beyond Fódlan, then it stood to reason other regions knew nothing beyond their borders either. But the implications of that...

How far had he travelled, unintentionally? Either he had travelled halfway across the world, with no way back... or had been launched so far into the future that Fódlan now went by another name entirely, with a whole new race of people! How was he meant to return from that?

He felt lightheaded just thinking about it.]

...injuries? I'm... [he shook his head, forcing himself to focus.] I'm fine. As I said, I was only winded...

[He paused, eyeing his helper with a more scrutinising gaze now. He didn't sense any malice from him, but the fact was he was a complete stranger, and an unknown species at that. He became more visibly guarded.]

...and, I don't know who you are, or your intentions.

Ah... I'm sorry. Perhaps I have been overly presumptuous.

[He inclines his head slightly, ears lowering, by way of apology.]

I am Rauru, king of Hyrule. My intentions are only that you find your bearings in an unfamiliar land, and that you remain safe and well. If you are truly not injured, I will take your word for it.

[But he would be a poor king not to ensure the wellbeing of a visitor, all the same, he thinks.]

[A king? What was a king doing aimlessly roaming around what seemed to be a very large field? Even King Dimitri tended to have a few of his retainers trotting at his heels (mostly to keep him in line and stop him from launching himself headfirst into the nearest pack of enemies), but this 'Rauru' was alone. Byleth even quickly did another scan of his surroundings to double check.]

...I see. I'm Byleth, a mercenary. It's strange that you're out here by yourself. Isn't that dangerous for you?

Dangerous...? No, I assure you, it is quite safe. I am one of Hyrule's strongest lines of defence.

[With the Secret Stone hanging from one hand, glowing a gentle white, he'd have no problem dispatching an enemy, though he realises that to Byleth he must look unarmed, save for his teeth and claws.]

But it is kind of you to worry. My hunting party is not far from here, so I will rejoin with them and return to the castle.

( Zelda's found herself in thought moreso than usual as of late. It might not be something that can be helped -- despite this being her home, she feels more like a fish out of water here more than she ever had in the past. There may be a sense of familiarity that comes with being here, but everything feels so different.

Still, the King and Queen have done what they can to make her feel at home. She's grateful to them... But, she hopes that her stay can remain shortlived. There are people who need her at home -- Link was waiting for her at home.

At this moment, she's in the garden -- looking over the silent princesses quietly. They were far more abundant here in the past than in the future... They truly were a bit of a mystery, even now.

Though, she stops when she hears approaching footsteps - turning looking towards Rauru with a gentle expression. )

Your Majesty -- I apologize if I'm intruding on any plans. The garden here is so beautiful. I couldn't help but want to admire it up close.

Edited 2023-05-30 01:42 (UTC)

[As an honoured guest, Rauru had given Zelda her space to think and reflect, realising she had much to consider, about her present and the distant future. Sonia seemed to intuitively understand the young woman in a way he could never attempt to emulate, and so at times, he would give the two their space, as well. Still, he wanted to support her all the same, and when he sees her gazing out at the flowers in the garden, he decides to approach. The silent princesses are the same in his era as in hers, never truly having been domesticated. That they grow here at all, wildflowers amongst the more cultivated flowerbeds, is only down to chance.

Hearing that she had been admiring the garden, he smiles at her as he comes to stand beside her, then looks out at the garden.]

You're not intruding at all. This garden is one of Sonia's greatest joys, and we would both be delighted for you to share in it.

( If he had told her that he had wanted to give her space, she'd thank him -- but tell him it was not needed. Rauru was company she enjoyed having. He's already done so much as it was to make sure that she was comfortable, and she was grateful for it.

But... there was a smaller of her that couldn't help but think -- while she needed to get back to her own time, being here was quite literally a one in a million chance. She was always interested in history, but experiencing it all for herself...? If she's to go back home, she has so much to reveal to everyone. )

The flowers of Hyrule are beautiful -- no matter what time period they grow within. ( She responds softly. ) Forgive me if this is something you're already aware of, but... we've only just begun to realize how much potential they have to help others with a variety of different things.

I was aware of a few that had medicinal properties, but even then, these are things I learned from Sonia.

[He smiles. Another thing she and Zelda share in common, perhaps.]

I myself had most often relied on Zonai technology and constructs for many things, that until I met her, I had not often considered what the natural world might offer us as well. Perhaps you could teach me some of what you know?

( There's still so much that she doesn't know. History books tell her that the Zonai came from the heavens. What could life have been like for them before they had arrived in Hyrule? Saying that Zelda was interested in that answer would be an understatement. She's always loved learning, but learning from the past could truly be beneficial to Hyrule when she returns.

At the least... She believes that Link will find a way to resolve what has happened where she cannot. )

Me? ( Zelda tilts her head, looking surprised at the request. ) ... I would be honored. Both you and Queen Sonia have been so kind to me. That much is the least I can do to repay you.

[ When Link awoke on the Great Sky Island, he had nothing but ancient rags draped over his body and a foreign arm. Now, as he materializes in front of the door to the Temple of Time, the weight of his equipment sags from his shoulder strap. It has been several long months. He's fairly sure he's pieced together what has happened, and he knows that he's almost there. Only a few more things need to be done before this can be over — again.

But something is weighing heavy on his mind. Well, many this are, but this one thing can only be addressed by a very specific person. The problem, of course, is that he has not seen a glimpse of his person since leaving this Island the first time, and only as a spirit. Will he show himself again, if Link seeks him out?

He is willing to try, willing to wait and see. Link's leather boots tap on the ancient floor as he walks to a discarded hunk of stone and takes a seat. With the renewed Master Sword unsheathed and laying across his lap, he glances up at the grand, high ceiling, and the pedestal where he received Zelda's stone. ]

Your Highness. Are you still here?

[At first, when Link addresses him, nothing happens. It seems there is no reaction at all, and he remains alone on the island, with little more than the constructs for company. But if Link is patient enough, a little while after the bell chimes the hour, motes of light begin to gather before him, reforming into the spectral form of King Rauru he had seen vanish those many months ago.

The ancient king is surprised, a little, to be called back here, but he was at least able to gather what little of his strength he had not given away in order to do so. Perhaps the Temple, too, made such a feat easier.]

I have never left your side, Link. [He smiles. It's unclear if that's a small, rather literal joke regarding his arm -- or if he really had been watching him all this time. His eyes travel down to the Master Sword, and his smile softens a touch.] For you to make it this far... You have truly excelled at the task imposed upon you.

[ Coming here just before the bell had barely been more than a passing thought, a relatively minor consideration when pondering how he might be able to speak to Rauru again, but as the visage of Hyrule's king forms in the air in front of him, he's quietly thanking himself for remembering their idle conversation in the days he spent on these islands. That feels so long ago to him now. How long must it feel for him?

Steeling himself, he rises back to his feet, a sign of respect. There's so much weighing on his mind at the moment; otherwise, he might have smiled at the light joke. ]

Sir.

[ With a serious look in his eyes, he holds up the Master Sword, level with the ground. He isn't showing it to him so much as gesturing with it. They need to have a talk. ]

Did you know about... about what had happened with this Sword?

[ He knows by now that Rauru gave his life prior to Zelda receiving the sword in the past, but that doesn't tell him whether Rauru as a spirit knew. ]

[Rauru's smile fades slightly in response, where he hangs in the air before him.] When it vanished here at the Temple, I had my suspicions. But I am not all-seeing -- I had no way of knowing her intentions with the Sword. More of a hope, I suppose.

[In life he had never come to a solution on why Zelda had been sent to them, and even when the sword disappeared, he could only speculate on how she might intend to restore it.]

The only true information I possessed was Zelda's unwavering faith in you. In that regard, I chose to place my faith in the both of you, as well.

[ Considering his answer, Link looks down at the Sword again. Its polished blade shines beautifully in the crisp morning sunlight, reflecting the blue expanse above. Green zonai gylphs glow softly along its length, an imprint of the material fused and absorbed within it. ]

Zelda gave up everything to return this Sword to me. [ he says, softly. ] Not just to me... to us. To everyone, to Hyrule itself...

[ With a sigh, Link returns the Master Sword to its scabbard. As he does, his eyes linger on the zonai ornamentation winding around his arm — Rauru's arm — and the black skin underneath it. The rings around each of his fingers glow with the power of the awakened Sages. ]

It's only a matter of time before he faces the Demon King. But... what's going to happen to Zelda, when it's all over...?

OPEN POST: Rauru - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

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timey wimey shenanigans (3hopes version)

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preemptive spoiler warning for totk

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types some random bullshit from the recesses my brain

aw yea random bullshit

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comes back to this now that i have finished the game!