Chapter 1

The expanse of vegetation was slick with dew pearls, glimmering under the streaks of light as the sun slowly sailed across the sky. The blades of grass tossed and turned as the morning breeze swept past, causing the drops to sliver down their stalk of grass. The warble of the songbirds, carried through the air, heralding the promise of a new day.

Link always believed the mornings were evil. Regardless if the immoral parties were knocking at his door. The task of having to force oneself to rise with the sun was unbearable. From the mighty waves of light, blinding his vision, to being reminded of the endless objectives that clutter his agenda. It was no wonder he loathed mornings. Despite his nightly visits with the ghouls of his past, the hero was devoted to his prolonged resting phase. Whether it be on a warm bed or the rugged earth, he won't stir when he's plunged into the depths of his slumber. Perhaps that's why it took him a century to arouse.

Cool air met his face in a gust, filling his nostrils with the honeyed scent of the flowers growing nearby, stirring the boy awake. His eyelids fluttered open revealing a set of crystalline irises that glimmered when coming into contact with the sunlight. Vibrant colors blurred his vision, causing the male to blink-once, then twice-his pupils dilating as it adjusted to the blinding light. When his vision gave away to the familiar cerulean skies, dotted with the flurry of clouds his breath came out in a short gasp. With the strength he possessed, he pushed himself off the ground and scanned the area. His gaze shifted from the panoramic view, to the ground, finding his cloak discarded.

His eyes narrowed as he picked up the article of clothing. He pressed the fabric against his nose, recognizing the familiar scent that mingled with his. "Where?" His bated breath echoed through the vacant space, as the heavenly winds carried his words to the ears of whatever Gods above. As if Hylia was heard his silent pleas, the splash of water greeted his senses. He whipped his head over to the shallow water, in which the morning mist and canopy of trees obscured his view, and whence came a strange noise- a melodious murmur and a soft rustle.

Almost instantly he found his bow and quiver of arrows resting at the base of a tree, next to his boots. He strapped the quiver to his back and made his move. He stealthily made ways towards the stream, cautiously avoiding any leaf, twig, or unturned Korok stone, as the threads of grass tickled his bare feet. When he was a few feet away , he crouched down, hiding in the wisps of the fog. He squinted his eyes, finding two figures amongst the crisp clear waters of the creek. Instead of poising his bow he waited, silently, patiently. It wasn't long before the fog dispersed as the shafts of sunlight bathed the world with its entirety and revealed the scene that unfolded before him.

Her body basked in the highlights of the sun as a light breeze flowed through her golden tresses. Her pants rode up to her calves as the shallow waters lapped against her legs. Her watchful gaze was settled on the pristine white Stallion before her. Such simplicity, yet with the ethereal glow enhancing her features she was absolutely breath-taking. The wavering mirror beneath her reflected the vast sky above, giving the illusion of a Goddess standing on the heavens. It seemed almost like a distant dream, a familiar memory long forgotten...

Ilia...

Link felt his insides flutter when the name resonated from within him. He found himself in a daze as he watched her brushing the horse's soft mane with her careful hands. The white hair rippled through her gentle fingers like the rolling clouds. She patted down the horse's coat, "Take the time to soothe your mount-"

"That's the only way it will know how you truly feel."

No, it's Zelda.

The princess whirled around to find the hero standing at the bank. She smiled softly, pleased that he was able to recover that memory.

"Good morning sleepy head, glad to see that you're finally awake." Came her soft voice. A good morning indeed, it seems the Champion might consider altering his initial thought of the dreaded morrow. The hero smiled at the pet name. "Sleepy head?"

"I'm only implying what is true. Need I remind you what happened on the day of your promotion to my appointed Knight ceremony?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I remember that you were annoyed." He can recall that memory with ease. He remembered the tone in her voice, vexed, accompanied by the weariness of having to go about reciting the ceremonial texts, that her father urged her to memorize. Link found her in the library, days upon days on end when Daruk had enlightened the King with the ritual procedures that the Goron had witnessed as a child.

"Well," She turned away from the hero. "That was indeed true, but that wasn't even the first part of it. You overslept, again. I had to ask Revali to wake you. He wasn't very fond of it."

"Did he...spat a letter at me?" Link asked. He didn't know what came to mind when he asked. Zelda could only blink at the absurd question. "If that means he yelled at you then I wouldn't doubt it." Her gaze then fell on the bow he held in his hand before she internally sighed. Must the knight always be precautious about everything.

"But anyways, I washed Nayru, isn't his coat something to marvel at?"

"Nayru?" He asked curiously as he approached the princess. "That's the name you given him?" He dipped his feet into the cool waters of the stream, before wading towards the Stallion and his rider. The horse tossed his mane, splashing water about, and stepped towards Link as he stopped at his side. "The same name I given his grandfather all those years ago..." She answered, looking at the hero with hopeful eyes. When he didn't respond she casted her face downwards. "I suppose you don't remember that either."

There was a pause that followed as Link tried to fish into his mind, piece together memories, even if the blurred images didn't make sense. He just wanted to understand. He didn't want to let her down. He didn't want to let anyone down for that matter.

"Don't force it, Link." Zelda murmured as she placed a comforting hand on the Champion's shoulder. Link tensed causing the princess to withdraw her hand quickly. She turned away from him as a wistful smile graced her features. "I know it's the name of the Goddess of Wisdom, a name unfitting for a male horse. You see, I was always in the library, indulging myself in legends of old and splendor, so that name resonated with me. And the afternoon of my birthday when we raced to Mount Lanayru, it made more sense as to name him that. The chalk white mountain reminded me of his coat, the massive terrain resembled his mighty legs, and the jagged edges represented his mane." The hero listened intently, fascinated by the reasoning behind her choice.

If only he could remember how that day felt like. The wind whipping through their hair as their horses were hoof to hoof as they galloped through the field. Fleeting glances and the chorus of their laughter carrying through the atmosphere. He willed his mind to recollect, but he could only remember unfavorable events of her birthday, the defeat of the Champions, the rise of Calamity Ganon.

She then shook her head and broke into a short laugh when she found him staring at her. "It's foolish I know."

"N-No it's not." He quickly interjected, before he turned to heave Nayru's saddle from the shore. "It's actually very thoughtful..." He added as he laid the saddle on the stallion's back and strapped it tight. Zelda knitted her eyebrows together as she reached for the bridle. "Do you really think that?" Without realizing it, Link went over to pick up the bridle at the same time, and accidentally folded his hand over hers. "Yes." He replied, allowing his gloved hand to linger upon hers. They exchanged awkward glances before Zelda took the initiative to break contact, permitting the hero to take responsibility of the bridle and strap the embellished equipment on the stallion.

"I'm going to pack our things. It's a quarter to eight, I believe. If we leave now and eat on the way, then we'll make it to Zora's Domain just before lunch rolls in." Zelda quickly pieced together words, looking anywhere but Link's piercing blue orbs, as she went to go collect her boots by the bank.

Link nodded in agreement before he patted the horse's muzzle and pulled the leather to guide the stallion back to the campgrounds to prepare for the voyage ahead. It wasn't long before they hit the road, leaving their horses near Inogo bridge.

Their morning continued on in silence, except for the small talk here here and there, initiated by the princess, and the occasional "Do you need help getting up here?" or the "Are you sure you don't want to take a break?" from Link as the pair trekked across the rugged terrain that made up the winding path towards Zora's domain. Link was ahead, leading the way whilst Zelda trailed behind, capturing pictures of the flora and fauna that resided near the Zora river. It wasn't until they traveled through Tabahl Woods once more did Zelda break the silence.

"Huh?" She was panning the slate when the camera focused itself on an object, nestled on a heap of leaves. Seconds later the word 'arrow' appeared on the screen. Zelda stared at the screen for a moment, her gaze shifting from reality to the lens' view, checking if she was indeed seeing the feathered shaft on the ground. Slowly, she strayed off the path and approached the weapon, watching as the tapered, sharp end of the instrument glimmered under the light filtering through the treetops. Judging by the blue-dyed fletching protruding from the shaft, Zelda could easily identify that it belonged to the hero. She narrowed her eyes when she noticed monster spoils next to the discarded arrow, a Bokoblin fang and horn.

She picked up the fang and brought it towards the light, examining every nook and cranny of the tooth. There wasn't very many cracks, and it was moist with Bokoblin saliva. At least that's why she believed it was slick with a liquid coat.

"No wonder..." She muttered to herself. The sun shifted, and a looming shadow slightly shaded the ground. Zelda froze in her spot when she noticed the new presence. She willed her powers to manifest within her, but was only met with the familiar emptiness that pervaded like all those years ago. Curse her powers for dwindling when she needed them the most. She glanced at the arrow next to her, and quickly grabbed it before whipping around to point the weapon at her intruder.

Alarm flashed across Link's shadowed eyes when he found Zelda holding an arrow at his neck. "Princess?" Came his soft, muddled voice as he stared at the girl. She was trembling. She let out a sigh of relief and dropped her hand to her side. "Gods Link, you gave me a fright."

"Sorry..." He murmured. His gaze then shifted to the fang that Zelda was holding in her opposite hand. "Is this a bad omen?"Zelda asked when she took notice of his eyes fixed on the tooth. "When I felt something brush by yesterday...that was the arrow wasn't it? And the purple smoke, was the Bokoblin..."

Link never uttered a word. Zelda took that silence as his approval. "This arrow, it is your is it not? Should I be afraid to ask you if this wasn't the first time this occurred?"

The hero shifted his eyes away from her, and the princess sighed. "Why hide it from me?"

"I had to protect you."

Of course. Now Zelda was the one with her tongue still.

They continued their voyage in complete silence, save for nature's choir, humming into the afternoon. By the time the pair were at Luto's Crossing, lunch rolled by and they took the opportunity to take a break and devour the rest of the preserved mushroom skewers. The two were leaning on the railings listening to the babbling waters as they munched on the shrooms.

It was far too quiet for Zelda's liking. Peaceful, yes, but only proved as a reminder that she still haven't cracked the hero's icy shell. She gave into the temptation to speak but was greeted by the pleasant surprise of Link's voice.

"I remember...when I first learned how to swim."

Zelda blinked at the unexpected statement. She looked up from her half eaten mushroom to find the hero staring at the water running below the bridge. "What happened?" She asked.

"I got pushed into Ruto Lake. I almost drowned."

"Who did that?" She asked, alarmed. She can recall everything that Link used to mention about his childhood before, and yet she wasn't aware of this.

"I can't exactly put names to faces...but I know that...Mipha saved me." He replied as his eyes fell on Vah Ruta, resting atop the mountains. It's once luminous serene blue pattern was now pulsating red, and it's once standing frame was crumbled on the ground. It's been like that for the past few days, just before they set off to Zora's Domain. Zelda followed his gaze and clenched her fists. She could vividly remember the divine trumpet, diminishing to merely a buzz when the mechanical elephant collapsed. "That's when I first met her…"

"O-Oh." Zelda paused. That's why... "That's a relief."

Link nodded. The silence pervaded for a moment before Zelda heaved a sigh. "Do you…miss her?"

The hero pondered at the question for a moment. "I can't say. There's not much I can remember to determine if…I…" He trailed off.

"If you truly miss her." She finished for him. "Perhaps you would like to know more about her?"

"No." He shook his head, causing the Princess to raise her eyebrows skeptically. She was certain he would be curious about Mipha. Perhaps it was due to the fact that it was through Zelda's eyes and not his own. Maybe he thought that she would feed him false information of the late Zora princess.

"Why?" She knew to be careful of what she asked Link because she didn't want to cause more unintentional damage to his mind, but the syllable slipped from her mouth before she was able to forbid herself from prying.

His gaze didn't meet hers as he stared beyond her. It wasn't until he kneel did realization dawn upon her.

"Link!" She whipped her head around to find the familiar red scales upon a Zora. With the regal garbs he possessed and his crimson plates, anyone could put two and two together and see that this was the Zora prince, Mipha's younger brother. Curse herself for the lack of awareness. She stood there muddled, as she darted her eyes back and forth between the men. Zelda didn't know whether or not she should bow because of her previous status, but she considered the weight of respect and inclined her body before the prince.

"Don't!" The prince exclaimed, "An exquisite young woman shouldn't drop before any man. Please stand, both of you."

Zelda looked up at the Zora prince and tilted her head. "Pardon me?"

"It's as I said, you don't have to bow before me. Any friend of Link's is a friend of mine." He flashed his pearlescent white teeth, almost blinding Zelda's vision.

She wore one of her gentle close-lipped smiles in return, "I truly am honored, but it's a sign of my utmost respect, for assisting Link after he had awoken. I am sincerely grateful."

"I appreciate the chivalry, but please…" He thrusted his hand forward, towards the princess, and she gratefully accepted his helping hand. She shivered slightly, he was cold to the touch, yet it didn't come off as a surprise to her. She read a book that contained the study of Zora biology. He was cold-blooded, an ectotherm.

After she stood upright, with her hand still in his, he brought her feeble hand to his lips, and he lightly planted a kiss. It was like ice against her flesh. From the corner of her eye, she swore she saw the Knight flinch.

"I am Prince Sidon of the Zoras, a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. May I ask what is your name?"

She withdrew her hand, bringing it to her side. "I am Princess Zelda Hyrule." The gentle thrum of her voice was like a melodious song in the men's ears, as she carefully stated her name, a name that seemed to have no importance in this new age. And yet she possessed an aura of such grace and authority, as if it was necessary to bow in front of this woman. Who knew, after one hundred years she still retained the attributes of what a princess should be endowed with.

"The lovely Goddess herself." The charming Zora's smile stretched ever so slightly and he inclined before the princess, to which she dismissed with a raise of her hand. "Please, Prince Sidon, I am of no importance to this generation. I'm only a ghost that remains inside everyone's memory, I would appreciate it if honorifics weren't used...because what is a princess without a castle?" She attempted to jest, but it came out as if she requires the finer things to be considered a princess.

Prince Sidon only let out a hearty chuckle."But it's truly an honor! We must celebrate this reunion with a feast!"

Zelda pondered at the thought of dining with the Zoras. She had picked up from her studies that the aquatic beings were omnivorous and consume even fish. She shuddered at the thought, it was like cannibalism. And what disturbed her even more was the fact that she had fish for dinner the previous night.

"That won't be necessary." Came Link's vocals. Zelda almost forgot he was there. "That's right..." Zelda chimed in. "We're actually here to request an audience with King Dorephan."

"I'm afraid I am unable to do that." The Zora replied. "Father is denying entry to any visitors into Zora's Domain. "

"But-"

"May I suggest returning at another time?" He cut the Princess off but then smiled apologetically. "Pardon my manners, but father requested me to ward of any tourists." His voice was now serious. Link took notice of the Zora soldier from the corner of his eye, scrutinizing the three. It was until then did he realize the situation at hand. Zelda parted her lips to speak, but surprisingly Link beat her to it.

"I understand. Any suggestions on the fastest route to Great Lanayru Spring?" Link asked, his calm composure startling the princess.

"The fastest route is from the East Reservoir Lake." The prince advised, and Link nodded his head and thanked the Zora for the new piece of information before the Champion ushered the princess across the bridge, towards Ruto's mountain.

It wasn't long until they strayed far from the watching eyes of the inhabitants of the land, when Zelda whirled around to face the Champion. "What was that about? He was acting fishy."

Link cracked a smile at her choice of words. "He's meeting us at the Lake."

"I am well aware of that, but did you see the soldier?" Link nodded. "Do you think Vah Ruta malfunctioning could be the cause of this?" She asked and the Knight shrugged.

"This shouldn't even be happening in the first place. You removed the blight from all Divine Beasts. Calamity Ganon is dead. He should be, there's no way that-"

"Relax." He rested his hand on her shoulder and she sighed, finding comfort by the simple touch. He was right, she shouldn't be so worked up. There is a logical explanation to this. After all, the Divine Beasts are over a millennia old, after blasting the castle, it shouldn't be a surprise that they would be defective.

But still, it wasn't a reason that the Zora should nullify their access into the Domain. Did it not occur to them that this was the Champion? The one who repaired Divine Beast, Vah Ruta. The very young man that was a friend of the late Zora Princess... Did something occur during the course of which Link and Zelda were recuperating in Woodland Stables from the long awaited battle?

"Princess." Link's voice brought her out of her thoughts, and she sighed softly. "Sorry." She murmured before they continued their trek, towards the top of the mountain. It wasn't until they reached the peak did Zelda question the hero's motives. "I thought we were going to the lake." She stated as she watch the hero reach into his pack and pull out a neatly folded cloth with wooden bars protruding from the sides . "We are." He replied, as he assembled the retractable paraglider.

He held it over his head, so that it can catch wind, inflating the cloth so that it shaped into an arc. Link then crouched down and turned his head to the princess, finding her glaring daggers. "Get on." The hero stated nonchalantly.

"Get...on?" She scoffed as the syllables escaped her lips. "This is suicide, Link!" She exclaimed, and the hero chuckled softly, finding amusement in her reaction. "Would you like to walk all the way there?" He asked, preparing to fold the paraglider back into the respective place.

"No." She replied sighing.

"Do you trust me?" It was a challenge.

She bit the inside of her cheek, frustrated by his calm composure. At that moment she recalled a book about the monsters that used to exist long ago, Monsters Through the Ages. It was like she was faced with those wicked, vengeful spirit that she read about, and she was being offered a choice of life and death.. What were those beings called again? Right, Poes..."Yes but...I don't trust you with that thing."

"Would you like me to cling on you while you steer then?" Now he was just being a tease. But Zelda actually was glad that he wasn't giving her one-worded answers. It was those rare times where he would be quite talkative.

He was still crouching, when Zelda heaved herself on top of the hero. Link flinched from the unexpected contact. She was incredibly light. He stood up with ease as she shifted behind him. She wound her hands around his neck, and locked her knees to his side. She felt like a re-dead.

"Are you sure this is safe?" She asked wary about her decision.

"I never tried this with two people."

"What?!"

Before she was able to unlatch herself from Link, he ran and jumped off the ledge.