Ten Years Together: Prologue
Thanks to Dragon-Eternal for drawing Zora Megumi! Source: / art / Com-1-2-734453372 deviantart dot com
Megumi's Inn
"So, what's the story?" Soma asked as he was preparing dinner for them. From the looks, Megumi could tell it was a refined version of the Goosefish Dobu-Jiru Curry dish that she made during the Autumn Elections.
"As hard as its to believe, I was sent to the realm of Hyrule" Megumi opened, "We suspect it was related to that awful experiment you served me."
"That doesn't make sense" Soma shook his head, "Go on."
"Anyway, I landed in Zora's Domain, where I met Link and Mipha" Megumi continued, "From there, I became the Innkeeper as well as molded myself into a warrior granted the title of 'First Guardian of the Zora'."
"I see" Soma chuckled, "So, that DLC for Breath of the Wild is actually true."
"What DLC?" Megumi pondered. She figured her interference in the Hyrule world would affect the game, but she was still curious.
"A couple of months after your disappearance, Nintendo launched a poll for an Alternate Universe DLC, where the highest voted champion would be saved. Mipha won out and thus they created the DLC known as "Mipha's Grace". It's a story about a Navy Blue Zora named Megumi, who perished in Vah Ruta but saved Mipha. If you complete the DLC and then start a new game, you have Mipha as a companion along with a whole new set of story and dialogue" Soma answered in a sad tone, "This actually happened to you, didn't it?"
"Yes" Megumi somberly answered, "I met my end in Vah Ruta, trapped in the beast for a hundred years until they freed me. It was a gift from the Goddesses that I am here now."
"Bless them" Soma smiled, "But, what about your Zora status?"
"Oh, well...spiritually, my soul was the same element as the rest of the Zora: Water. Biologically, I've always had the traits of a Zora, but they remained dormant until the ambient magic of Hyrule activated them. In other words, I would've been a Zora had I been born in Hyrule in the first place. My death sealed that status, as even the Goddesses were unable to change it nor does Earth have the ambient magic to turn me into a human" Megumi explained.
"Well, I guess I will need to make a few phone calls then" Soma sighed.
"To whom?" Megumi tilted her head.
"First, all your friends who miss you dearly" Soma stated, "Then to the CEO of Nintendo and the Prime Minister. I need to make sure you can live a life without too much hassle, but your existence as a Zora will bring unwanted attention. This means we will have security detail large enough to protect a world leader."
"Oh" Megumi looked down, "So, you have the same fear as I did?"
"Once I believed that you were the same Megumi I always knew, it was going to be inevitable" Soma sighed, "Dinner is ready."
"That smells really good Soma" Megumi smiled momentarily, "But...there is one more thing you need to know...I will only be in the flesh for ten years. After that, I must return to the spirit realm." Soma squeezed his eyes shut, fighting to keep his tears in check.
"You're on borrowed time, given that you've already died, right?" Soma said with a sad smile.
"Essentially, yes" Megumi said with a down crescent face.
"Let's just ignore the inevitable" Soma dismissed, "We've got ten years to make up, including our wedding. You still want to be a mother, correct?"
"Yes, very much so" Megumi graced him with a smile, "Of course that does mean Earth will have a second intelligent species...but I think we can handle that paradigm shift."
"Again, I've got it covered" Soma smiled, "Come, let's just enjoy this meal together." She nodded in agreement.
Two Days Later
"Megumi!" Yuki cried as she tackled her friend, "I've missed you so much!"
"Likewise" Megumi giggled, "You've grown a bit, haven't you?"
"Well, um" Yuki blushed, "I had surgery..."
"Oh dear" Megumi sighed, "Nevermind that, may you let go of me?"
"Of course, I'm sure the other Polar Star girls want to see you too!" Yuki sheepishly replied. The two girls walked outside, where Ryoko and Erina stood. Along with them were the rest of the Polar Star crew, Hisako, Shinomiya, and Hinako.
"Megumi-chan~" Hinako squealed as she gave the Zora a crushing hug, "I was so worried about you!" Suddenly, Erina and Shinomiya doped slapped the older woman, prying her free from Megumi.
"I know you miss her, but that's not a reason to suffocate the dunce" Shinomiya scolded.
"Dunce?" Megumi retorted, "Tell me, who was it that beat you in the BLUE finals?" This time, Shinomiya doped slapped his junior for reminding him of his loss.
"When did you develop such a sharp tongue, Megumi?" Erina sighed as Hisako tended to the lump on the Zora's fish head.
"A bird brain named Revali" Megumi sighed, "His overconfidence and persistence drove me insane."
"So you really were in Hyrule" Ryoko stated, "And everything that Soma explained is true..."
"Regretfully, yes" Megumi sighed, "But can we not talk about it, you've already grieved for me enough from what I hear. I just want to relive the good times I had with y'all."
"Y'all?" Erina chuckled, "I haven't heard you speak in your native dialect in a long time."
Megumi laughed, knowing she purposefully slipped into her old accent. For her, it was a gesture of normalcy in a world that no longer would remain normal.
"So, when is the wedding?" Shun asked bluntly. Megumi blushed, not expecting that question.
"Two months after the initial media storm settles" Megumi coughed, "We want to hold it privately and away from nameless eyes."
"Fair enough" Hisako spoke up, "With you being a Zora, I'm sure the instant international celebrity status will be overwhelming."
"Of course" Erina interjected, "You will not be alone, as we've got your back."
"Thank you" Megumi smiled, "It means a lot to me that my friends still support me, even though I've changed in many ways."
"Why would we abandoned a dear friend?" Marui adjusted his glasses, "Because you're a merwoman now? Actually, your status as a Zora will probably bring you more people who got your back. The Zelda franchise has an international fanbase, many of whom take action against anyone who would cause you harm."
"True" Megumi chuckled, "But "fan" is also short for fanatic, so there is the counter issue."
"Now, Now" Satoshi spoke up, "This isn't the time to be worried by small things. In fact, we should be celebrating your return. How about we have a party, like old times sake?" There was an agreement all around, causing Megumi to smile in joy.
"I would like that" Megumi clasped her hands together, "I've missed you all, dearly."
"We do too" everyone else said in unison.
After a hundred years of misery, everything was right with Megumi's world.
She would make the most of her last ten, she knew.
A/N: And this is the prologue for this story. If you're reading this with a confused look on your face, go read the prequel "Mipha's Grace".