History of the Zora, Part Three: Miracle of the White Scale
"Our scholars say that in the distant past, Zora's Domain had a king with no special talent for the art of war. What he lacked in skill with a blade, he made up for in love for his people, and especially love for his queen. One day, news reached the king of a horde of monsters gathering in the Zodobon Highlands. The king steeled himself for war to protect his people, but the queen knew how ill suited for the task he was. Worried for his life, she wove one of her own scales into his armor, hoping that her love would protect him in battle. It seemed for a time that the tide of battle favored the Zora and that all would make it safely home. But the cunning Lizalfos general saw an opening and seized it, driving the king's forces into a corner. Just when the general's sword was ready to crash down upon the king, a miracle took place. An errant sunbeam reflected from the scale on his armor blinded the Lizalfos, stopping the deathblow from falling. This was the chance the king needed to rally his forces and turn the tide, taking down the general and securing victory. This came to be known as the Miracle of the White Scale, a scale that only female Zora posses. It was this miracle that began the tradition of Zora princesses crafting armor for their future husbands." ~King Dorephan
Chapter 4
Memories Awakened (part 1)
The sun sets slowly over the horizon, its warm rays are fading fast, yet there's no sign of the scorching heat relenting anytime soon. That's because this heat isn't coming from the sun.
It's coming from...
THE BURNING LAVA SETTING THE VERY AIR ITSELF ON FIRE!
That's right; my quest to free the three remaining Divine Beasts has led me to the scorching trails of Death Mountain—an active volcano. In my journey to Goron City to gather information on the corrupted Divine Beast Vah Rudania, I've been treading the rocky paths of Eldin all day while withstanding the blazing air hot enough to burn a human's skin right off just by being here. The only way a Hylian can even survive out in these extreme conditions is either by wearing fireproof armor or by using special elixirs that protect you from burning. Because I currently lack the said armor (which can only be bought at Goron City—the very location I require fireproof armor in order to reach in the first place!) I must rely on the latter option.
Unfortunately, I didn't figure this out until after I had began my trip up the flaming mountain trails. And let's just say I reeeeeeally would have appreciated a fair warning so I'd have been better prepared.
Well, okay, someone working at a stable I had stopped at along the way did warn me about this beforehand and tried to sell me some of the aforementioned fireproof elixirs, but I just took her to be some kind of pushy saleswoman trying to con me into buying yet another unnecessary product I don't need, and so I paid her no mind and went on my way unprepared as I was. I know that probably doesn't sound like a smart move on my part, but in my own defense; when you've already been conned into buying some ordinary bananas for a crazy price as many times as I have—only for the pushy jerk selling them to turn out to be a Yiga assassin trying to kill you—you generally learn not to trust anyone trying too hard to sell you something.
However, I quickly realized after my clothes had caught fire and burned to a crisp as soon as I got near the volcanic mountain that she may have been telling the truth after all. Being forced to run back down in my underwear while crying my flaming head off like an idiot wasn't exactly one of my most rewarding moments in this quest as the hero—nor one of the most dignified. That woman really wasn't kidding when she insisted I'd regret trying to reach Death Mountain without her elixirs!
After making my way back to the stable (and getting various strange looks from random weirdos who, for some odd reason, acted like they've never seen a burnt guy running through the wilderness in his underwear before), I made sure to buy a full pack of those fireproof elixirs from the very woman whose initial warning I had failed to heed (earning myself a condescending laugh from her in the process) before redressing myself and heading back up the fiery mountain. My original plan was to reach Goron City before sundown and have plenty of time to ask around about Divine Beast Vah Rudania, but having to turn back around like that has really put me behind in time. Not to mention I also ran into several fire-breathing monsters trying to kill me every step of the way, including this gigantic, flaming bolder-monster called an Igneo Talus that just seemed to have a really strong, irresistible urge to want to make me into an overcooked pancake for whatever reason...
Not that I can blame it, really. I haven't had pancakes myself in, like, forever! If it's a craving for hot pancakes that drove that Igneo Talus to take such drastic measures, then I can totally relate.
I just kinda prefer not to BE the pancake. You know?
Anyway, although the hour has grown late after my series of unexpected setbacks, and daylight is fading fast, the sight of many Gorons at work tells me that I have arrived at my destination at last: Goron City!
...Or have I?
I have a look at my surroundings. Something about the local architecture strikes me as...odd.
More specifically; the lack thereof.
Sure, there stands an occasional tent pitched here and there, but not a single house in sight. Is this really what the Gorons consider a 'city'? I approach one of the local workers to ask him where I am.
"Excuse me, sir..?"
The Goron I address doesn't appear to have noticed me. He continues to chisel away into some rock with his pickax. I tap his shoulder to get his attention as I address him louder. "Sir..?!"
I have apparently caught his attention this time; the poor guy nearly jumps out of his skin. "Bah! You scared me!" he says with a jolt. "What is it?!"
"What is this place?" I ask him.
"Take a look around," he says to me. "This is where we dig up ore. We call it the Southern Mine."
I glance again at my surroundings. "The Southern Mine?"
The Goron nods before turning back to his work. "I need to concentrate while I'm workin'," he says while politely shooing me off. "If you wanna talk, come see me when it's nighttime."
"Wait..." I address once more before I'm dismissed. I pull up the map on the Sheikah Slate and show it to him. "How far to Goron City? Can you point it out?"
"Hm? Goron City?" He glances at my map and quickly points to a location a considerable distance away yet. "It's right around there; at the foot of the volcano. Just keep goin' down this road and you'll get there in 'bout an hour or two—dependin' on how fast you move."
Another hour...or TWO?! I feel my face drop at these words. "Alright, that'll be all then..." I say to the Goron. "Thanks for your time." He nods and resumes his work, eager to finish up before it gets too dark out; a feeling I can relate to very well at this moment, although I obviously won't be having the privilege of achieving that desire today. It looks like I won't be reaching Goron City until after nightfall after all...
I sigh quietly to myself and continue on my way. However, I soon spot another Hylian out here trailing off the path a short ways. This is unexpected; to see anyone who isn't a Goron all the way out here while Death Mountain is so dangerously active like this is quite the unusual occurrence. I can only wonder what drives this fellow to brave the burning air. He's not a member of the Yiga, is he? I decide to approach him to make sure he's harmless.
He appears to be scanning the ground as if searching for something. "Are there any over here?" I hear him mutter to himself as I get closer.
"Hey. What's up?" I ask him casually, taking care not to show any sign of suspicion.
"Oh, hey! Perfect!" he says excitedly at my greeting. "You showed up at just the right time."
"Oh, really..?" I say, wondering what he could possibly mean by that. Even if he IS an assassin hunting for the head of the Hero, he'd be a fool to strike here where there are so many witnesses present...
Fortunately, that doesn't appear to be the case. He nods innocently and explains his intentions; "I'm on my way back from Goron City but forgot to buy souvenirs. I wanted to capture some of those fireproof lizards that live here on Death Mountain, but those suckers are quick."
Ah, so he's just a businessman hunting for lizards? That sounds pretty harmless.
"Say, you look pretty speedy," he continues to me. "I bet you could catch a ton! If you bring me 10, I'll even give you some heat-resistant armor. So, what do you say, buddy? Help a pal out of a jam by capturing me some fireproof lizards?"
I smile at the offer. Judging the look of this guy, he appears pretty sincere. I've had more than enough encounters with the Yiga by now to quickly tell the difference between the honest folk and a disguised assassin, and I find no deception in this fellow. "Leave it to me!" I answer him.
"Great! Thanks, buddy!" he says with a fist-pump. "Just 10 fireproof lizards should be enough. You can probably find some right around here!"
Next thing I know; I'm diligently searching the area for the lizards he seeks. After all, this is a pretty good deal we're both getting. I know for a fact how difficult these lizards are to catch but I've had enough experience that I can pull it off rather efficiently now. They can be used to make some very useful elixirs, including those that I am currently relying on to survive this scorching heat of Death Mountain (although it IS pretty gross to have to drink), and so they are quite valuable and can fetch a good price. I can see why he's hunting them. Meanwhile, that armor he is offering me is just as valuable; with it, I'll be able to manage out here without having to depend on the elixirs, so this will definitely be worth my time!
—Unless, of course, he's just scamming me... Better hope that's not the case!
Still, I don't mind taking a moment to help someone out. Granted, I AM going to be disappointed if I'm being lied to, but I since would have agreed to help even if he hadn't promised me anything in return, I guess it's not really a loss for me either way. I'm really hoping that he does keep his word, of course, but I'm just going to have to wait and see.
As I continue hunting for fireproof lizards and thinking about the armor I may be getting for this, I pause for a moment to caress the Zora armor I'm already wearing. It's not heat-resistant but it remains my most treasured possession of all. As my fingers trace around the white scale sewn into the breastplate like a precious gem, my mind races back to the day when I first received this treasured armor from King Dorephan back in Zora's Domain...
Which is also the day I at last managed to recover the first of my lost memories.
Memories...of Mipha...
After my audience with King Dorephan in the throne room, I had walked back down the stairs of Zora's Domain to the lower plaza after Sidon and Muzu. The armor still tucked under my arm so no one would have to see it in my possession, I carried it with feelings of guilt weighing on my mind. Even though it was by the king's orders, I still didn't feel right at all about taking claim of the armor made by Lady Mipha for the man she loved. I also hated the fact that I couldn't remember anyone or anything even though I was apparently once quite close with several of these Zora.
Believe it or not, but even having accidentally dropped and wasted that last fish from my delicious skewer a few moments earlier was actually beginning to feel trivial in comparison!
I quickly found the two Zora men bickering by the foot of the statue in the plaza's center, as expected. "I don't care what you say!" I could hear Muzu shout, still fuming with anger.
"Muzu... Please listen..." I heard Sidon say, trying to calm the infuriated elder but to no avail. Their quarrel was interrupted and attention turned towards me as I approached.
Muzu immediately gave me a cold scowl. "Hmph. You came all the way here, but it was in vain. I have no desire to speak with you." I hadn't really prepared anything to say, but it was already obvious that any words to escape my mouth would only fall upon deaf ears.
Sidon spoke up; "Listen well, Muzu. There is something you need to know," he said with a stern and serious countenance, all of his usual cheeriness and enthusiasm now replaced with an authoritative tone of utmost sobriety. "He who stands here...the man called Link...is the one whom my sister, Mipha, had feelings for. I was only a child then, so I did not know it myself at the time. But it is so. I grew up hearing my father tell stories, some of which were about my sister's undying love for a Hylian named Link."
Wait. WHAT..?!
Muzu and I both jolted back in utter shock. "What?! No..." said the elder in disbelief. He looked about ready to have a heart attack! He stood agape at this unthinkable news. We both did. Neither one of us knew how to react. I initially wondered if Sidon was merely pulling the grumpy elder's leg, but there was not the slightest glint of mirth in his eyes; he was dead serious.
I... I can't believe it... I'M Mipha's beloved?! This beautifully-crafted armor in my hands... the guy she actually made it for...is ME?!
Muzu at last broke out of his daze; anger and denial raging in his eyes. "You cannot fool me with such a fanciful lie. Not this Zora!" he vehemently protested before shooting me a death-glare. "How could Lady Mipha possibly have feelings for a Hylian like him?! The facts are clear. He remembers nothing. Even when he looks upon Princess Mipha's statue..."
"It is the truth, Muzu," said Sidon soberly, though with a small tint of somberness in his eyes. "Though you never knew it, he was ever in Mipha's heart."
The two Zora men continued to debate the matter back and forward with flustered objections coming unceasingly from Muzu in denial only to be countered one after another by calm reassurances from Sidon. But I Didn't really hear much more of it. My enthralled gaze remained fixed solely on the statue before me...
Lady Mipha...
Everything else seemed to fade from my senses. Every word to be exchanged between Sidon and Muzu was completely drowned out. The sculptured Zora woman looming over me in the pouring rain was the only thing in existence to me at that moment.
Was I really her beloved?
Those stone, lifeless eyes almost seemed to stare right back into mine, somberly returning my gaze as if pleading... Pleading for me to remember.
Mipha... Princess Mipha...
My heart began to pound. Many things soon washed over me as I stared in awe upon that magnificent statue; familiarity... emotion... memories.
Yes; memories... Cherished memories finally beginning to return...
Memories of my days of youth spent sneaking off to Zora's Domain to spend some extra time with my best friend; memories of swimming beside a graceful princess who always treated me just like one of her own; memories of sparring practices held with a trident-wielding champion whose skills as a warrior were rivaled only by her kindness of heart; memories...of Lady Mipha...
MY Mipha...
A distant and fuzzy memory washed over me... A memory from the day when I first laid eyes on a Zora...
I was only four years old at the time, so I don't recall much, but I faintly remember being brought to Zora's Domain in the company of a group of Hylian soldiers for some reason I barely grasped. I didn't really understand it, but I guess there was something unusual about me that someone in the Royal Guard said should be tested and that someone among the Zora would know more about it. I was amazed at the sight of so much water flowing everywhere and the glowing rocks that illuminated the domain, but even more so, I was astounded to see all the tall, aquatic people who looked like fish. Their king was kind and fatherly, their children seemed intelligent beyond their years, but there was one individual I soon met that day who particularly stood out from the rest...
The princess.
She seemed significantly older than me (I would have guessed her to be about 11 or 12 years old, give or take...though I was later proven to be quite wrong, as the Zora age at only about a third of the rate that Hylians do). Her scales were a deep crimson color and her eyes a radiant amber. She seemed pretty shy around the adults but opened up freely to the small child that was me. Her smile was prettier than the sunrise and as loving as that of my own mother. She introduced herself to me as Lady Mipha and we immediately became fast friends.
Being the accident-prone child that I was, I had several cuts and bruises here and there that were apparently quite noticeable. She was quick to point them out and asked to have a look at them. What she did next left me in utter amazement; by merely holding her hands over my wounds, a soothing glow emitted from them that numbed the sting. As the serene light from her palms faded, so did all signs of my wounds. I had never seen such magic before. My admiration for this kind princess instantly doubled and I was filled with intrigue. I thanked her earnestly and received the most endeared smile in return. Although my memories of the rest of that day remain a blur, the impression she made was one that would forever remain etched within my young mind even as I grew older. I saw many new things that day and had made a new friend who showed great kindness and possessed amazing powers that I could barely wrap my head around. When the time came to return home, I already couldn't wait to see her again.
And I would get that chance soon enough...
As time went on and the years passed, visits to Zora's Domain became increasingly frequent for me as I grew old enough to officially train in the art of swordsmanship. I was commonly brought to practice together with the Zora children in their spear-training, where I would put my skills of combat to the test against theirs an try my hand at spearmanship myself. It was quite the challenge to keep up with them, since they all had so many more years of experience behind them than I possibly could yet. After all; not only were they a lot bigger than me, since I did start training at a pretty young age and also never was very big among others my age anyhow, but even the Zora who were my size were still thrice my age due to the differences in our respective lifespans, meaning that they've all had a lot more time than me to gain experience! Nonetheless, I was somehow able to come out on top in a decent number of sparring matches myself, so I guess it wasn't as unfair as it sounds.
The main thing I struggled with, however, was being accepted... Being so much younger than the rest, I was looked down upon in more ways than one and really had to push myself to prove my right to train with kids so much bigger and older than me. And of course, being a Hylian made me a complete outsider to the Zora, which naturally meant that I'd be the object of much attention whenever I trained with them. Having so many eyes constantly on me, just waiting to see how badly I might fail, put me under extra pressure to keep up with the others. Not the slightest mistake I made would ever go unnoticed...
Nor unpunished.
Wishing to be treated with equal dignity, I would constantly try to prove myself by trying to outdo those who looked down on me as the outsider I was. And in the process, I would often wind up injured from my own recklessness. Whether it'd be from challenging the best spearman in class at his own game on my first day of training with a spear, jumping from a high-dive when I could barely swim yet, or even taking up a dare to pick a fight with a monster in the wilderness, I would do one stupid thing after another in a foolish attempt to gain the respect of my Zora classmates. And every time, I would only end up hurting myself...both physically and egotistically. A fitting end to meet for my recklessness, I suppose.
But every time, a certain someone would always be there... That very Zora with eyes like amber and a smile sweeter than even the sweetest of honey who had befriended and healed me on my first visit to the domain; she was always ready and willing to heal me yet again without hesitation the minute she saw me hurt.
Mipha.
The magic touch of her hands quelled the pain and closed my every wound, and then those very same hands would wipe aside my tears as she spoke to me softly; reminding me to be more careful and reassuring me that I would always have value in her eyes whether others saw me as impressive or not. It was not long before she took me under her wing and privately tutored me in the way of the spear herself. She proved to be a great mentor, as her own skills were unrivaled by any of her peers due to having been personally trained since her youth by none other than the legendary Demon Sergeant Seggin himself. Having gotten in so much extra practice in spearmanship with a senior student like her, I soon climbed my way up the ranks and got to be as good with a spear as I was with a sword, scoring me a place among the top students myself.
Sure, it didn't happen overnight, and I did still get a lot of ridicule from some of the Zora jocks I trained with for some time yet. But no matter how badly I'd make a fool of myself trying to fit in, Mipha was always there to stand up for me. Nobody would ever even think about doing anything to upset the beloved princess, which means no one would dare to mock someone whom she personally cared so much about. She was my healer, my mentor, my comfort, my protector...my friend. When everyone saw that their own princess had accepted me just like any Zora, it was not long before they did too (although some did so only reluctantly, but others were very genuine). After they gave me a chance, I soon found myself with a close circle of Zora friends who welcomed and accepted me just like one of their own. I had even grown my hair out solely so I could style it in a way that would resemble a Zora: having long sidelocks and a ponytail to match the fins and fishtail respectively that extend from a Zora's head.
As the years went on and I continued my training with sword, spear, and bow, my Zora friends and I continued to grow closer all the more. I often spent more time at the domain than necessary just to hang out with them, and it was not long before I was a member of the 'Big Bad Bazz Brigade' in spite of my smaller size. As a Hylian, however, I aged much faster than my Zora friends and soon caught up with and eventually even surpassed them all in physical growth; no longer was I the smallest of the group, nor did anyone look to me as a child anymore. Despite being the youngest, I looked more grown-up than any of them! It was a little awkward, to be honest...
But no matter how many friends I had, none could take me from the quality time I'd always reserve for my best and most beloved friend of all;
Mipha.
It was she who first made me feel welcome at Zora's Domain. It was she who opened the hearts of the other Zora to accept me when I was an outsider. It was she who healed my wounds whenever I'd hurt myself, sparing me from having to spend several weeks recovering...and quite possibly saving me from having to face an injury-induced retirement from my training altogether. I would have never became the person I was, nor made the friends I had, if not for her. She was more like family than a mere friend, and she meant more to me than words could say. From the very start, she took to me like a little brother, and I always looked up to her like a big sister. However, as I continued to grow so much faster than her and the other Zora, things slowly and subtly began to change in the way we looked at each other...
No longer did she tower over me like when we first met; by the time I was in my early teens, we already looked to be about the same age in spite of her being 3x older than me, and before I knew it, I was soon the one standing taller than her. The more I matured -both physically and mentally- the more I grew onto her level of living and thinking. That reckless child whom she had taken under her wing those years ago was gone and replaced with a boy aged enough to be counted among her peers. Neither one of us was senior nor junior to the other anymore; we both now saw each other as equals in maturity, each possessing our own unique sets of skills and talents that the other might not. And although the admiration I felt for her never lessened in the slightest, it eventually began to take on a new shape... a change in tone that I could never quite put into words.
The day I first saw her loving smile and felt her gentle touch, the feelings that resonated within me were much like those I had for my mother; I saw in her an older individual bearing a vast amount of knowledge, experience, and capability beyond my childish comprehension. She was something beyond me that I could only look forward to being able to emulate one day when I, too, would eventually be grown-up enough in a seemingly far-off future that I could only yet dream of. But as I grew old enough to see and interact with her at her own level, the chemistry between us gradually evolved into something entirely different. That very same smile of hers was now an entrancing thing of unrivaled beauty that I couldn't get enough of. Her touch sent a shiver down my spine that made my heart race. She was no longer that older girl whom I could depend on to protect me in my mother's absence; she was my most precious and reliable partner in this unpredictable journey called life whom I wanted nothing more than to share it all with in both good times and in bad; to protect and support her for as long as I live...
Unfortunately, fate appeared to have other plans in store...
Thanks for reading! ...And I am SO SORRY about how long it took me to finally update this story again! It's been, what, almost a year now?! Man! I'm terrible! For the record, though; I actually have had this chapter just about finished for the past several months now. The reason I hadn't uploaded it was mainly because I haven't felt very satisfied with how it turned out and wanted to improve it but couldn't figure out what to do differently. I still feel that it turned out rather mediocre at best but this hiatus has gone on long enough. Mediocrity is better than nothing, I guess...
One of the issues I've had with this chapter is its length; it was over 9,000 words! o_0' For this reason, I decided to split this chapter into two parts. The next one is pretty much finished already and should be uploaded sometime within this next week or so. It's kinda weird to have to split this scene while it's still in the middle of a flashback (especially since it's pretty much a flashback within a flashback! LOL) but that's just the way it has to be right now...
Anyway, my thanks to anyone who is still following this story even after such a long hiatus! I know the updating has been slow, but promise you; I will NOT be abandoning this project.