Home: Night…
A 7-year-old boy with brown hair and hazel eyes yawned as he walked down the stairs dressed in his green pajamas. He passed dull yellow walls with white trim, furniture he was told both his parents liked, and pictures of him with his dad.
"Come on." A familiar, masculine voice spoke soothingly.
"Daddy?" The boy called out sleepily.
He peeked around the corner and saw his dad sitting with his legs along the couch, a laptop in his lap displaying what looked like a video of the boy's mom. His dad had a broad build with medium length blond hair and hazel eyes. He wore blue jean shorts with a brown shirt.
Just as it had been for a few weeks now, his left leg was in a cast while two crutches were nearby. The boy could just make out his mom on the laptop. She was visibly pregnant with shoulder length brown hair and blue eyes. She wore grey sweat pants and a stretchy shirt.
It seemed that earlier 'Come on' had come from the laptop as his dad's voice continued, yet the actual person just watched the screen. "You know this is my kind of job, and it pays pretty well to boot."
"I know." The mom sighed and covered her eyes as she couldn't help the tears welling up. "I'm just worried."
"Hey, hey. I promise I'll be careful, okay?"
His dad noticed him entering the room, prompting a stop the video and moving to a normal sitting position as he set the laptop on the cushion next to him. "Silas, what are you doing up buddy?"
Rather than answer, Silas looked at the laptop. "Why was mom crying?"
While his mom was unable to be here physically, dad had plenty of videos stored up which allowed him to know her to some extent. The times she'd end up shedding tears always made Silas feel sad too.
"She was just a bit worried I'd get hurt on the job." His dad glanced at his broken leg. "Guess she was right."
"Oh, I know!" The answer seemed simple to Silas, and even though dad couldn't go back to make this choice, he could just make it now. "You could find a different job, Daddy. One that's less dangerous."
"That's a good idea." His dad smiled and ruffled his son's hair. "It's just…Someone has to do this job." He leaned forward. "When I know people will be in danger, and I can save them, I would reach out to help. Even if I put myself at risk, I feel it's the right thing to do, ya know?"
Before Silas could respond, everything went dark.
Group Home: Early Morning…
Silas, now 17 years old, opened his eyes to a room not unlike any other in the building. It was white with a bed, desk, and window. The other rooms contained several boys younger than him who were snoozing. He now wore green pants with a matching tank top.
Silas silently sat up and swung his legs over the side of his bed before running his hands through his hair. "Been a few months since I dreamt of dad." He sighed before shaking his head. "At least now they don't wake me any early than I normally get up."
He got to his feet and looked out the window catching sight of the rising sun before moving to prepare for the day. A good thing about being an early riser was the fact he never had to compete with the others for the bathroom and shower.
Later Morning…
Silas was at the table, drinking down the last of the milk from his bowl of cereal, when a typical morning began. The caretakers, as well as teens they got to help in exchange for a few bucks, began corralling the younger children down for breakfast.
Among them were those just under Silas' age who didn't care about the incentive. While not a mad house, there was a sense of chaos, and chaos was something Silas didn't typically mind. Though, he wasn't up for it today.
He merely stood up and approached the sign-out sheet near the front door. After filling out all the information, one such line being the number of the flip phone he'd be taking that day, Silas pocketed one of the flip phones and stepped out.
Providence, Rhode Island: Later…
Silas walked along the sidewalks and roads where it was applicable, though had no real destination in mind. This wasn't tied to the dream he had as even before losing his father he enjoyed a good walk with no real destination.
He passed by various houses and stores before ending up outside a GameStop, which had various posters displaying the latest games they had or would have soon. One such game was The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.
"Man, just last year Tears of the Kingdom came out." Silas remembered. "Unless this game has been in development for a long time, I can't imagine it'll be the same form of open world. Though the fact I hear we'll play as Zelda is a change."
Silas was a huge fan of the Zelda series and knew there were instances you could play as Zelda. Prominent times that came to his mind being both Hyrule Warriors games.
"I'd be interested to see what can be done with a whole adventure as Zelda." Upon opening the door, there was a brilliant flash of light which forced Silas to close his eyes. "Gah!"
?
When Silas was able to open his eyes, he could only look on in disbelief. He stood atop a purple platform which only had one pathway forward and was surrounded by a white void. He slowly turned, his eyes wide at everything, before seeing there was no doorway behind him.
"This is no GameStop…" While obvious, it was the first thought which came to Silas' mind.
It was truly peculiar since you could look inside a GameStop. He'd seen people inside, workers and customers. Silas tentatively approached the white void, only to be stopped by nothing. Walking around the platform showed there was no give, save the only path forward.
"The door is gone as I have a request for you."
Silas stopped and looked around for the ethereal voice, though it came from everywhere at once.
"Follow the path and let us speak in person. After hearing me out, if you deny my request, I shall return you outside that GameStop."
"Who are you?" Silas asked. "What is this?"
"I would prefer we talk about that in person."
"What if I don't want to speak with you?" Silas asked. "What if I just want to return now?"
There was a far less bright light behind him, seeing Silas turn toward it. Now behind him was a doorway leading back to outside that GameStop.
"It's an understandable view. If you wish to return without hearing me out, you can walk through that doorway."
"Is this a dream?" Silas promptly pinched himself until it hurt. "Nope, I felt that. I also don't think someone is messing with me. The people I thought of as friends haven't stayed connected, so I don't see them pulling off something like this for me.
I also don't think I'm dead." Regardless of what this was, he turned his attention to the doorway. "If I step through there, seemingly whatever this is ends." He approached the doorway, stopping just before it. "You'll return me if I come hear you out?"
"You can leave now through that doorway, or I give you my word you shall be returned after denying my request. If you were to accept it…well, that is a different matter altogether. One best reserved for then."
Silas still didn't know what to make of this, which left him with curiosity. That alone was enough for him to back away from the doorway and turn towards the path.
"I'll hear out this request of yours." Silas voiced.
There was no response beyond another flash of light behind him. The teen looked over his shoulder to see the doorway was gone. He then turned back to the path and proceeded down it, keeping his eyes peeled for any indication something wasn't right.
Ultimately, nothing changed. Silas couldn't wander into the void and continued to walk along purple platforms. Eventually, he came to the end of the pathway where there stood a double door made of intricately carved stone, an interweaving web one might use to connect plot points.
"Why would I have been pulled into anything like this?" Silas wondered for the first time, the initial shock of 'where' and 'why' having lessened to an extent.
The doors slid open to reveal a large, purple platform. Though, unlike everything before this, there was something in the middle of this platform. It was ethereal shards surrounding three spheres of light.
"Welcome."
This time, Silas could tell the voice was coming from this thing.
He approached it. "Now that I'm here, who are you and what is this place?"
"I am one of countless Watchers, and this is the End of Existence."
"The End of Existence…" Silas muttered, stunned as he gazed around once more.
"Like every Watcher, I am tasked with keeping balance within the multiverse."
"The multiverse is real?" Silas asked.
He'd investigated what a multiverse was when Ben 10 started delving into it. While the show gave a good explanation, what he learned helped him have an understanding. Obviously not in the way people who studied and theorized did, but still an understanding.
"Indeed, it is. From your world to all works of fiction, they exist somewhere. There are the true universes, 'canon' which then branch off into by-products. Those are 'what-ifs.' Ideas are all the same, so they are just as real.
Like the fiction you consume, those people feel and bleed. While those stories would be considered 'non-canon,' I would like to pose a question. Given all that I have said, do you think the people within these worlds aren't real?"
Silas thought back to all the fiction he consumed in his life, the ways in which those characters could make people feel. All of it was the work of their creators, yet now he was being told those were real. Not only those, but what could have branched off.
He hadn't really partaken in what if content himself, but he's seen them on the pages whenever he accessed Youtube. Not to mention he's heard fanfiction was another form of the same concept. He had to assume those characters felt just as those of canon and he did.
"It's hard to wrap my head around the idea anything and everything now exists." Silas admitted. "Provided the multiverse does exists, it is just something we haven't seen. I do not think the absence of sight means something isn't real, so they'd be just as real."
"It is good to have that confirmation."
"You claim to be a Watcher, so shouldn't you know what I'd say?" Silas asked.
"By-products are created in many ways, one such being choices made. There are countless possibilities, nothing is determinant. Your answer to my question cemented the decision I have made."
"To present a request to me." Silas figured.
"Exactly. Now, we are as fallible as anyone. Despite the job we hold, we are not above mistakes. Another Watcher entrusted this job to someone unfit, and it created a mess. He sent an unfit soul to the world of Remnant, as you may know it RWBY.
This soul was meant to pass on, not be given a second chance at life. When we send a soul to a world, we bestow onto them a boon. Sending a soul is another way to create a new by-product.
Depending on what boon they wish for, it can further diverge that by-product. For instance, this person wished to receive the Spirit Darkness from Hyrule, Legend of Zelda, becoming it reborn within Remnant."
When it came to RWBY, Silas had heard of it but never got into the series beyond the four trailers. His knowledge concerning the Legend of Zelda was far vaster. It was exactly this knowledge which told him people were in danger.
"So, you're telling me someone was Isekaid into Remnant as Ganondorf?" Silas summarized.
"Close. While a change in appearance is not necessary, he did request to be Volga. I will say, if the unfit Watcher did anything right, it was the fact that soul must grow his power rather than being given everything at once.
Anyways, by nature of his request, the history of Hyrule, every Zelda game, is now what comes before the history Remnant. In essence, it has stitched the two together. It has also led to history very well having the chance to repeat in certain areas."
"Given everything you've told me, I can only assume your request is that I take the Spirit of the Hero." Silas reasoned. "Though you haven't completely explained why, I can assume it is down to balance."
"Correct. The Spirit of Darkness has no bearing on his decisions, but the soul allied himself with whom most people would consider the villain. Given he should not have had this chance, it was decided to balance the scales by finding someone to oppose him."
"What makes me the best choice?" Silas asked.
"You are one of a handful, so it doesn't have to be you. If you accept, you'll be given the history of the world, within reason, and Spirit of the Hero. Additionally, you'll receive an Aura, Semblance, way to find temples, and things needed to live there.
You'd start with appropriate weapons for Remnant, know how to wield them, and know how to fight. Other tools you might have seen from past heroes will have to be found and trained with, though you'll have the ability to learn them fast.
"With this person having the Spirit of Darkness and you being able to declare a villain in this world, I can imagine a lot of people stand to be hurt without intervention, right?" Silas asked.
"I foresee a great deal of pain and death without any form of intervention."
Upon hearing that, what Silas' father once told him ran through his mind.
"When I know people will be in danger, and I can save them, I would reach out to help. Even if I put myself at risk, I feel it's the right thing to do, ya know?"
That only applied if this Watcher was being honest. For all Silas knew, this entire time, he was being fed words to manipulate him into whatever this Watcher wanted. Even if everything were legitimate, he'd be pitted against another person.
While his father's words could apply to this situation, Silas was certain they were never meant to be applied to the fate of a universe. Even with this doubt, even with the things Silas may have to do, his gut was telling him exactly what he needed to do.
"I accept your request." Silas couldn't grasp the full picture of what this Watcher had seen, but he had been given enough to decide. "That said, what happens back on Earth without me?"
He didn't want a panic over him suddenly disappearing.
"It'll be as though you never existed to those still living. That said, this is a request. Once you've dealt with this other soul, I will pull you here and can return you to Earth. It'll be a one-time decision on whether you want to go back or remain in Remnant."
If Silas were honest, he had no one to return to. The people he thought of as friends didn't bother to stay connected while he no longer had a living family. Even if he had that, Silas didn't think his answer would change. With his answer given, a white doorway appeared past the Watcher.
"Now, take this doorway. It is intended to drop you off at what could be an advantageous location. If you fail to take advantage of it, you'd just have to find your own way. Good luck."
There was much Silas could ask, though most of it would be answered by stepping through this portal and receiving what boons he would get. Even without that, part of him still couldn't believe this was happening.
"Regardless, I accepted this request, so I'll follow through." Before leaving, Silas did think of one question he could ask. "I assume the Triforce will exist. As the one with the Spirit of the Hero I get Courage while the Spirit of Darkness gets Power. Who will have Wisdom?"
"I cannot say."
"Kind of figured, given what he's told me prior." Silas thought as he walked to the doorway.
At this point, he could still backout; however, he didn't like to think his words were so meaningless. Even though he didn't dare backout now, Silas couldn't help but think about the fact he'd have an unearned start compared to anyone else on Remnant.
"The only fighting I've done was at my school, and a schoolyard fight hardly compares to things I've seen in fiction." Silas noted, his mind now turning to death.
That's not to say he was ignorant to the concept of death. No, he wasn't counting what he's seen in fiction or losing his father. In a way, his father had familiarized him with the concept given the nature of his job.
"Come to think of it, provided everything checks out, this Watcher gave me a lot of information on what happens when someone does die." Silas realized.
You either passed on or were given the chance to be reborn in another world. That was a comforting thought, in as far as his parents went. Anyways, regardless of how prepared Silas was or would be, he stepped through that doorway and was blinded by light again.
Before time, when the world existed in the void, three goddesses descended.
Din, the goddess of power.
Nayru, the goddess of wisdom.
Farore, the goddess of courage.
Din, with her strong flaming arms, created earth and cultivated the land. Nayru blessed the earth and gave the spirit of law to the world. Farore, with her rich soul, produced life who would uphold the law. The three goddesses, their labor completed, departed for the heavens.
In the wake of their departure, they left an item of immense power. A legendary triangle called the Triforce, said to grant the wish of anyone who possesses it. If one were pure of heart, the world would usher in a new, golden age.
Conversely, if a being of corruption were to possess it, the world would be thrown into eternal strife. At some point, a demon of darkness appeared and unleashed total devastation wherever it went. Many champions tried to slay the monster, but none succeeded.
The Demon's rampage continued unchallenged until the goddess Hylia took a patch of land and launched it into the sky, sealing the Demon Lord away. Centuries passed before a boy descended from the clouds garbed in green. He sought a friend who had fallen below the clouds.
Through his journey he would forge the Master Sword, the Sword of Evil's Bane. Only the pure of heart could wield it, and if evil were to touch it, they would be destroyed by the light magic imbued within it. Using the sword, the Hero of the Sky slew the Demon Lord.
In his last moments, the Demon Lord swore revenge upon the hero and princess of light. Thus, began the Reincarnation Cycle of the Hero, Princess, and Demon Lord. Centuries passed. The Kingdom of Hyrule was founded as the Hylians expanded and thrived.
The Hero, the Princess, and the Dark One were continuously reborn and engaged in fearsome battles. One legend spoke of a hero that could shrink to microscopic size. Another spoke of a hero that crossed time to defeat the Dark One.
Still another speaks of an eternal twilight ended by a hero that could control the law of nature. Just three of the countless legends told. In time, the Dark One tired of its constant defeat. By breaking the cycle, it gained power to slay the Hero and the Princess.
The Hero, severely wounded, was put into a century-long slumber as the Princess kept the Dark one imprisoned, but his reign had ravaged a once prosperous Kingdom. When the Hero awoke, he was rewarded with the destruction of his home, and the death of his dear friends.
Joining forces with the Princess once more, the Dark one was finally slain, but the damage was already done. Hyrule had fallen into a state from which it could never recover. The world would soon follow as two brothers emerged.
The older brother sought to create while the younger brother sought to destroy, and their conflict, long after the lives of the Hero and the Princess, would ravage the world until no life remained. After centuries of fighting, the two brothers compromised.
Utilizing the ideals of creation, destruction, choice, and knowledge, they created humans and bestowed upon them magic. The younger brother also created his ultimate creatures of destruction in the Grimm. For millennia, Humanity thrived.
Then, through the actions of one human turning many against the brothers, all but that human were wiped out. Both brothers then took their leave, the younger one flying straight through the moon and raining debris on the planet. As it often does, life finds a way.
Modern Humans, lacking in magic, and Faunus appeared on the planet. They had strength, resourcefulness, and a way to control the very elements via crystalline structures aptly called Dust. With weapons and Dust in hand, civilization was reborn for the third time.
The italized section is a generalized overview of the history of this Remnant. Essentially, everything Legend of Zelda, from Skyward Sword to Breath of the Wild, happened. As then indicated, Hyrule fell into ruin. While not explicitly stated, the brothers then come from the Ever After an indeterminant time after Link and Zelda pass on. The brothers then rage their conflict across the land until coming to a compromise, only after invertedly extinguishing what life there was.
From there, it pretty much follows the RWBY timeline, though with a great deal of ruins and such left from what was there during the magic human's era. Why not just have the Spirit of the Hero be within Jaune or utilize Link? Well, I've never really written an OC Isekai before, and this is ultimately the direction that felt right to me. As I am the author, I wouldn't write anything that didn't feel right or fun. Simple as that.
All this said, leave a review if you're interested. Also, don't hesitate to PM me if you have ideas. I mean on basically anything concerning this story. You could tell me what Zelda games to utilize, pairings (for Silas, RWBY, JNPR, and so on), extra RWBY content of official & unofficial status (Ice Queendom, Vale of Darkness, Grimm Eclipse, and so on), dungeons...Well, I think you get the point.