A hundred years ago, the evil being known as Calamity Ganon took over Hyrule Castle. Thanks to Princess Zelda's noble sacrifice, the creature was contained and everyone lived on. However, the land had not been purged of the corruption. The Divine Beast Vah'Ruta was not freed from Ganon's control and remained a threat to whoever stepped too close.

Lately, the weather around Zora's Domain had gone from bad to worse. Undoubtedly, Vah'Ruta had woken up.

"It is truly a dire situation we're in, Muzu…" King Dorephan put his hand on his forehead, troubled by the recent events and concerned about the safety of the Zora tribe. He knew his whispers could barely reach the ears of his advisor. The graceful droplets that surrounded Zora's Domain had given way to an everlasting downpour. The sound of water crashing on the walls made every word hard to hear.

For days, the King had not seen the sun. For days, dark clouds obstructed the clear blue sky as the water beds kept on rising because of the rain. If this were to go on, the village would be flooded in no time. And that would be the most catastrophic outcome. The Zora had nowhere to go, nowhere to settle.

"Muzu…" King Dorephan started, now addressing directly to the old Zora in front of him. "How long do we have...?"

"Your majesty," Muzu replied, "we have managed to bring a stop to the flood in the inner parts of the domain. The dams have been partially opened to let out more of the water. As you feared though, those measures will not be enough to save us. In the end, we only have a few weeks to put a halt to this… inconvenience."

"We are facing a major crisis, Muzu…" the King sighed. "As a last resort, we should at least inform our fellow countrymen of what is happening."

"Will all due respect, my liege, you should do well to remember that the ones who put us in this mess in the first place are the Hylians! We cannot trust them!"

"We do not have time for those petty hard feelings, Muzu! They were our allies and they remain faithful and loyal friends! The scourge that fell down upon us is all Ganon's doing. If not for the courage of Princess Zelda, you and I would not be speaking here."

"It was only the Princess's duty to protect us all. We cannot expect the other Hylians to do the same for us. Remember what happened to Lady Mipha! That is what History has told us! We, of the council, will find a way to stop Vah'Ruta. Do not worry, your majesty… We will save our people…"

Without looking for Dorephan's consent, Muzu turned around and walked back slowly towards the council headquarters. The grudge he bore towards the Hylians was understandable, albeit very misplaced. It was true the Divine Beast had turned against them and sealed Hyrule's doom. It was also true the King's daughter Mipha had perished while trying to appease it. Yet, Dorephan had never blamed the Hylians for his loss. He knew the one-sided and futile hatred would bring the Zora nowhere. Only he and his son Sidon knew better. The prince had told him he would seek a solution by himself, as he felt the council would disapprove his suggestions. Bringing only a handful of his subjects with him, Sidon had gone to check on Vah'Ruta's behavior since dawn.

"I hope everything is alright on your part…" King Dorephan muttered worryingly.

Sidon swam up the waterfall with ease, not breaking a sweat at all. He used to exercise like this every day when Mipha was still alive. Everyone called him the best swimmer around, and his skills were the real deal. The Zora prince reached the top of Lulu Lake in no time. His followers had a hard time keeping up with his unreasonably fast pace, with some of them still down at Mikau Lake, at least a couple hundred feet below.

Even though they had left the domain early, he was not exhausted in the slightest. They had begun their journey from the Veiled Falls, went up the mountain and surveyed the area around their hometown in a clockwise rotation. The damage caused by the rain was gradually getting more severe, thus confirming his doubts on Vah'Ruta's involvement in the weather. Sidon did not need any rest at all, he simply revised his plans while waiting for his comrades.

Torfeau was the first to join him, the female soldier had undergone a thorough training and her stamina was unmatched. Then came Gruve, a very observant fellow whose eyes could spot the smallest crack on a faraway slope. The elder Seggin ascended the waterfall afterwards, he had lived long enough to witness the fall of Hyrule and the betrayal of the Divine Beast. Now, his resentment towards the Hylians led him to perfect his archery, to become the vengeful spirit that will take down Vah'Ruta once and for all. Tula and Tona splashed the water gleefully as they arrived. Sidon always found the former's carefree character both amazing and annoying at times. Nevertheless, she never once failed in assisting him. In the same way, Tona's actions could bring more trouble than anything but her concerns for her friends' safety had made her a valuable partner. A bit late to the party, Ledo caught up after struggling with the strong current. The poor craftsman was carrying a bag full of luminous stones he had harvested earlier on Upland Zorana.

"You finally made it, Ledo." Sidon teased. "Are you all right? I told you it would have been better to gather the stones at a later time."

"No can do, Your Highness. The domain needs materials to be repaired, I cannot postpone the delivery, it could then be too late."

"I guess you are right. Anyway, you must not overexert yourself. You are much needed. It would pain us all if we were to lose you. The same goes to everyone present here! It is my duty to protect you and I shall see that we all come back together."

"What do we do now then, Your Highness?" Seggin asked with eagerness.

"We climb up Ploymus Mountain, up to the Shatterback Point. From there, we can survey our surroundings as well as the East Reservoir Lake where Vah'Ruta resides. I assume it is not a very long way from here, but I shall ask that you watch your steps. The rainfall has made the path slippery and muddy. I also do not know what awaits us ahead so we must stay vigilant. Gruve, Torfeau, you are the ones with the best sight, you lead the way."

"On it, Your Highness!"

The two of them stepped forward, their spears out and ready. The trail had indeed been drenched by the rain but the gravel scattered here and there had rendered it very traversable. Slowly but surely, the party reached a panel indicating the direction of the Shatterback Point. So far, they had encountered nothing dangerous, only small creatures such as lizards, snails and butterflies.

The Zora gathered near the panel, waiting for everyone to catch up, then resumed their walk with the same formation. Tona had taken some of Ledo's luminous stones, effectively reducing his load, so that he did not waste his efforts on carrying the weighty mineral.

The hike was no small feat for a tribe mostly living by the rivers and Sidon found himself astounded by the determination his followers were showing. No one was complaining, they all seemed focused on the task they were given. Everyone was aware of the threat the Divine Beast could pose, all of them were happy to help the prince on his mission.

Soon, they reached the top of the mountain and were about to get a glimpse of the small plateau ahead when something caught Seggin's eyes.

"Hold up!" he shouted.

His companions froze in their track and turned their heads towards the old man. Sidon went to his side, looking for what had alarmed him. Seggin was staring at the tree next to him.

"What's wrong, Seggin?" he asked.

"… A shock arrow… This could be very bad, Your Highness…"

Seggin closed his trembling hand on the enchanted weapon and pulled it carefully out of the trunk. It sent a spark of lightning as it left the tree, and although Sidon was standing at a reasonable distance from the old soldier, he could feel the lethality of the electricity converging on the metallic tip.

"Such overwhelming power…" he whispered. "Seggin, what do you intend to do with this arrow?"

"Your Highness, that thing may come in quite handy if we were to fight some monstrosity up this hill. Indeed, it may prove fatal to any of us. However, one who is accustomed to its usage such as I am can use it without worry."

"I agree with him, Your Highness," Gruve supported. "The power of the storms is contained within the head of the arrow. The wooden part remains harmless. You are a skillful archer, I believe it is within your abilities to make use of it."

Sidon understood well their reasoning. Yet he was not sure whether he could confidently shoot that kind of deadly tools. Another question lingered in his mind, the answer to which could very well put all of them in a precarious plight.

"Why would a shock arrow be stuck on a tree here?"

"I had a talk with Marot about this matter some time ago," Tona started, "among the creatures living in this region, only three races have shown master marksmen appear. The Zora tribe cannot withstand electricity, so that brings the count back to two. One of which would be the Hylian race."

"I highly doubt it to be a Hylian's work," Torfeau interrupted. "None could have business on the mountain here. Seeing as there was no arrow on the path here, that archer wannabe should still be up there."

She pointed behind her back towards the Shatterback Point.

"It can only be one other creature then…" Tona concluded with anguish.

Sidon had feared it as much as Tona did. She was most certainly talking about evil beings who would blindly charge anyone trespassing their self-claimed territory.

"Lynels…"

"This is bad…"

From the look on their eyes, Sidon knew the trial awaiting them would be difficult. The experienced soldiers did not let their fear show but he could feel their anxiety. Fins sweating, lips shivering, teeth clenched, signs of uncontrollable dread. The others had no real idea what Lynels were, only rumors of the destruction they caused had reached their ears.

The Zora prince thought quickly of a way to avoid unnecessary fighting, but he himself had never seen one up close. Ultimately, he had no choice but to send Gruve as a scout while everyone else walked closely behind.

Sensing the need of moving fast, Tula offered Ledo her hand and carried a set of luminous stones as well. It was clever of her, Lynels were known for their speed. On the way to the beast's land, Gruve found several more shock arrows that Seggin gladly took as his own. The more he had in his quiver, the safer they would be.

"Gruve, can you spot him?" Sidon asked.

"I see nothing… He must be somewhere behind the rocks, hold on."

Torfeau and Seggin crawled to his side, trying to catch an eye on the man-beast. The three stayed still and silent for a couple minutes. No one dared to disturb their concentration, any false step and everything would fall apart.

At long last, Gruve broke free from his inactivity and pointed at one of the rocks on the left. The Lynel came inside Sidon's field of vision. Half humanoid with a lion's face and half horse, the beast thumped the soil with its mighty hooves as if to send a warning to the Zora group. His roar shook the ground, a deafening howl as fierce as the humongous blade he brandished in his right hand.

Sidon and his crew were paralyzed by the sudden outburst, though it did not look like he had noticed their presence. The Lynel was now roaming around its territory, his savage and wicked weapon sheathed behind his back. The three Zora on the lookout stepped down out of his bow's range and reunited with the others.

"A nasty sword, a shield as sturdy-looking as steel, an enormous bow and multiple shock arrows in its quiver," Torfeau commented. "As much as I hate to admit it, there is no way we can take that monster down."

"It's unfortunate," Seggin added, "but I agree with Torfeau. We are too ill-equipped to fight him."

"What are we going to do then, Your Highness?" Ledo questioned.

The Zora prince crouched, deep in thought. Truthfully, he could avoid the risks and perils. The party could go back now and leave the Lynel alone. What would that accomplish though? Sidon had come all the way there to spy on Vah'Ruta and a scoundrel, terrifying as he may be, would not stop him.

He had resolved to find a way to put an end to the downpour. The only thing that made him hesitate was concern for his subjects.

"I am not going back," he told them. "We are dealing with an emergency. I need to see what the Divine Beast is up to. Whatever I discover might change everything. This is where we part ways. I cannot have you follow me when this Lynel is around. Ledo, I am counting on you for the repairs. Torfeau, I trust that you will make a fine report to my father. Tell him everything. Go! Now!"

"Your Highness, that is an order we cannot follow!" Torfeau argued.

Sidon stared at her with wide eyes. The thought of this diligent soldier disobeying him had never crossed his mind.

"With all due respect, Prince Sidon, we knew full well beforehand of the danger surrounding this mission," Tula added. "We will not turn back on our liege. We are staying with you."

Moved and taken aback by the sudden revelation, Sidon fell speechless. Anything he might have said in order to persuade them would prove vain and meaningless. This was their decision alone. Deep down, he felt happy and glad that he had brought them along. They were not only his subjects or his followers, they were his most trusted friends and companions.

"All right then, we shall see what Vah'Ruta has up its sleeves. Let's go!"

"What's the plan, your Highness? The Lynel still stands in our way."

"Simple. We sneak past him."

"How are we to accomplish that?" Gruve wondered.

The scout reported his focus to the plateau, searching for the Lynel. His endless roaming offered the party almost no room to maneuver. With seven members, the chances of getting across without giving themselves away were close to null. What's more, Sidon's height worked to his disadvantage. The prince would have to keep a very low profile and walk in a crouched position to fully hide behind the rocks.

"Seggin, I take it you know how the Lynel makes his round, do you not?" Sidon asked.

"Yes, Your Highness. Lynels are proud beasts. They will circle around their territory in a determined path and though their senses are always on alert, their gaze is always set in front of them. Shall he cast his eyes away from us, then is the moment we must proceed forward."

"The rain may cover the noise we make as we run and the mist will hinder its sight," Tona added. "We can make it."

"All right. We know what to do. Get the plan in motion."

The Zora ran to the first rock nearby. The rain had worsened so much there was no risk of being heard by the Lynel. Soaked from head to toe, Sidon straightened up a little to check on the foe.

He was walking away.

Sidon signaled the others to stay close to the cliff while moving towards the Shatterback Point. Torfeau, Tula and Ledo ran to the rock on their right, and then to the next after having made sure the Lynel could not see them. They were now halfway through the plateau.

"You three join them first," Sidon addressed Seggin, Gruve and Tona.

And so they did. The Lynel was watching down the other side of the mountain. It was now Sidon's turn to dash to his companions. Better now than never. The evil creature would turn and face his way very soon and Sidon could not afford being spotted.

His followers were eagerly waiting for him. The thought of leaving him alone had them worried to the core. Sidon jolted directly to their side, not even trying to conceal his presence behind the first rock.

It turned out to be a wise choice as the Lynel was now making its way to the path the Zora had taken to reach the summit of Ploymus Mountain.

The group had to face a difficult situation. There was no usable cover between the Zora and the passage to the Shatterback Point and the fiend could easily intercept them if they were not careful enough. To top it all, the ground had become muddier and more slippery because of the hard rain.

"Our course of actions is limited, Your Highness," Ledo summarized. "We can try to make a sprint for it right now, or wait for the Lynel to return where he was moments ago."

"Either way bear the same risks," Gruve went on. "Though, I've kept my watch on the beast. If what Seggin said is true, he won't come to us and will merely pass in front of the rock. We stay still and quiet, he will not be able to tell we're here."

Sidon dared look out of the corner of his eyes and witnessed the four-legged creature approaching steadily. Everyone was waiting for his orders. He sat down his back against the rock and put one finger to his lips, asking the Zora not to make any sound.

In the end, the party opted for the second plan and tried to stand as still as a statue. Moving for even an inch was forbidden.

Gruve's statement proved to be correct, the Lynel had not gone to the edge of the plateau and did not get a look behind the rocks. No one had foreseen the man-beast would stop only twenty feet away from them and let out a blaring roar. The fear showed on Sidon's followers' faces. The savage howl had startled Tona and Tula so much they jumped, the luminous stones they were carrying scattered noisily on the stony parts of the ground.

They panicked and hurriedly picked them up, afraid their mistake had given themselves out. Sidon prayed for everyone's safety. Had the Lynel heard? Had he noticed?

A ferocious grunt. Footsteps getting louder with each step.

He was coming.