Heroes of The Four Sword
is a The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Fanfic based on the manga.
A well-known hero and knight-in-training, Link had never needed any help in saving Hyrule. But when Princess Zelda and the Shrine Maidens decide to check on the seal placed on the legendary Four Sword, everything went wrong. With the princess being held captive by the Wind Mage Vaati, and a sadistic shadow out to destroy the kingdom, Link had no choice to but to draw the blade. Unfortunately, the blade split him to four alter-egos with different parts of Link's personality.
The one trait they share: Link's reluctance to work with a team.
This fanfic contains examples of:
- Action Girl: Princess Zelda seems to be this as when Shadow Link attacks, she manages to scare him off with Din’s Fire, and protects Link with Nayru’s love.
- Adaptation Expansion: It’s an expansion of the manga, which was an expansion of the game. It also grants so backstory into the characters for example, Link’s parents are both named and his mother was revealed to have been a Dame.
- Badass Cape: To establish that he’s the leader of the Links, Green gets one. This is also a reference to the First Hero.
- Big, Bulky Bomb: Shadow Link had the ability to use them in the game, but it was removed in the manga. Apparently, the author of the fanfic decided to give them back to him… and he’s more than happy to use them…
- Big Damn Heroes: Happens in the very first chapter, and is implied by the author to happen quite few more times.
- Continuity Nod / Mythology Gag: A lot in this fanfic.
- The very first chapter features Telma’s Bar, with Telma’s descendant (who is named after her) running it. There is even a minor reference to Jovani and the fact that there’s a secret passage to Hyrule Castle in Telma’s Bar.
- The names of Link's parents are Arn and Medilia.
- Zelda's dream is described so vaguely that it's reminiscent of Zelda's dream in Hyrule Warriors.
- While Zelda's main attire matches with the dress she wears in the game, her battle attire is similar to her Hyrule Warriors counterpart.
- In the second chapter, Link notices a glowing symbol on Zelda's hand during the ritual on the Four Sword.
- The four Links themselves are references to other Zelda titles, as they take on the appearance of the heroes of the past.
- Dreaming of Things to Come: Like most of the Zeldas, this one starts the plot because she had a dream.
- Kill It with Fire: Princess Zelda seems to like Din's Fire, and since this is an adaption of the manga, Red will most likely indulge this a little as well.
- Kleptomaniac Hero: The sword Link uses in the first chapter isn’t his sword, it was Valenzuela’s. It was also implied that it wasn't the first time that had happened...
- Lady and Knight: Zelda is the Bright Lady with Link as her White Knight.
- Lady of Black Magic: Princess Zelda. And she's not afraid to prove it.
- Literal Split Personality: Just like the manga, each of the Four Links represent a different aspect of the original Link’s personality.
- Royals Who Actually Do Something: Princess Zelda is fully prepared to do whatever it takes to protect her kingdom.
- Twin Desynch: Shadow Link is described as having a darker skin tone, with purple hair like he does in the manga. The other Links also are described as having physical differences, such as different hairstyles or, in Green’s case, height. On the writer’s Tumblr, it’s revealed that the heroes appearance is based on different heroes of the past – Red on Link from Skyward Sword, Blue on Link from Twilight Princess, Vio on Link from Ocarina of Time…and Green is based on the First Hero in the Skyward Sword prequel manga.
- Warrior Princess: Princess Zelda seems to be taking this up, wearing armor similar to her Hyrule Warriors counterpart (though slightly different).
- The Wise Princess: Since the Triforce seems to be included Princess Zelda fits this trope as per usual.
