"A longer yarn, we shall spin
Resurfaced love shall begin
A Princess' role will fit in
Alongside the hero's twin"
…
"Zo-ra! Zo ra ra!"
Sidon was an incredibly gifted orator. Even in the darkest and dreariest times, the boastful Zora could muster the most inspiring of motivational messages. Whether the topic was a battle or simply mopping a floor, he could not only raise the spirits of those involved, but make the role seem interesting. It befitted his role as the newly-minted King of the Zora Domain: the people's King.
Those notes were needed on this day, as he anchored the eulogizing of his father, King Dorephan, atop Toto Lake, just north of the Domain. His passing had hurt the Zoras, who were accustomed to the familiarity of his tenure, but they easily transferred their faith into his successor. Their doubts and depression bottomed out, then sharply uplifted as the fallen one was finally lain to rest.
As per tradition, and his dying wish, Dorephan was to be buried in the sacred burial waters of Toto. He would not only rejoin his late Queen, who had left the living world far too soon, but also be in a position to watch over the Domain, just as Vah Ruta had once done the same. The most prestigious of the Royal Guards, led by Bazz, were permitted the honor to serve as pallbearers, bringing his casket to the water's edge.
Just off to the side, Mipha and Link watched as the son tried to keep composure as he embraced his father one last time. Link kept his stoic face as per usual, but Mipha was quite different. Her amber eyes were glistening with beautiful, clear tears of the deepest sadness. She told her companion not to worry about it, but it still killed him anyway.
Noticeably absent from this ceremony was Zelda: Sidon had sent his couriers searching high and low along the main roads to inform her of his father's fate for the entire week, yet not one had returned to confirm the delivery, nor had they seen her once. It was quite odd indeed, but they couldn't afford to postpone the funeral any longer. The King would proceed as planned but knew that she would doubtless have come had she known the circumstance.
He took in one last deep breath before heaving the casket into the Lake, where it drifted steadily toward the center. Due to the magical enchantments, it floated perfectly on the water's edge, before steadily sinking into the ruins underneath. The cycle was complete, and the tormented old soul would finally find rest.
The crowd almost immediately dispersed. None in the huddled masses saw the hooded Hayek perched upon a hill off and away from the commotion. His expression gave a visage of sadness and grief, one that, to a trained eye, he had much experience with.
Today was a good day.
That was the thought permeating through Link's mind as he relaxed in the pools directly beneath the Domain. It was a quaint spot with mounds of damp soil and large puddles, connected to the town by a singular ladder. The lack of sunlight, brought on by the structures above, provided a comfortable respite from the intense rays and permitted an interesting habitat for life to form. It was an easy spot for collecting food for the townsfolk, and an even better spot for some privacy.
He could feel the load slide off his shoulders as he grew ever more comfortable. The long treks away from home, the never-ending fights, the makeshift campfires and scavenging for food: the thrill of the wild had its allure, but taking a break was nice too. Having a makeshift plan for every sunrise kept his interest, but there came a point where the continuously unexpected would regress into monotony just the same. The best part, however, was how he was spending this time.
The Hylian was incredibly comfortable, laying down by a fairly large mound off to the side. His head lay on a pair of red and white legs: his face pointed upward toward his Zora companion. Mipha herself was seated upright with her legs just ankle-deep in the water surrounding them. Her hands gently stroked Link's blonde locks while he rested in her lap, taking in the texture of each follicle. As much as she loved looking into his deep blue eyes, she also cooed over his peaceful expression asleep.
The past week had been filled with a marathon of events, of which were spawned in the wake of Mipha's revival and her father's demise. Link was forced into isolation as Mipha was dragged into meeting after meeting, encounter after encounter, by the myriad Zora who adored her and requested her for her role as Princess. It was understandable that her people would have missed her so much, since most of them were alive during the Calamity, but it made Link feel left behind. It wasn't that he was jealous of not being in the center of the action, a role he was all too used to yet not wanting for abdicating it, but it botched the reunion he so craved with his childhood friend, his eternal guardian, the one he adored so much, yet couldn't quite figure out why.
Not that it mattered, at least to him.
The fruition of the funeral, and the subsequent mass departure of Zora that followed, gave the couple some much needed free time. At last came a day where Muzu wasn't dragging her off to a meeting, or an old friend reconnoitered with her to show admiration, or the people paying their respects to her. Mipha didn't resent the attention or the publicity one bit, but her personality wasn't geared toward the spotlight. She wasn't a charismatic leader like her brother, which was why she fully supported him as the successive leader of their people, despite her being "older" and higher in the dynastic order.
Speaking of Sidon, Mipha gleefully regaled to Link the latest misadventures of her dear little brother. Upon his ascension to the throne, Jiahtao and Seggin saw it fit to place the Zora crown upon the young King's head. They carefully dragged the ornate headpiece, itself weighing as much as the average Zora, and attempted to place it on Sidon's head. As they heaved and rested the object, it slid and forced the ruler to the floor. It was much too big for his head, even if it was tradition, and it mandated the Zora craftsmen to design a custom version of it to fit his head. In the meantime, the King replaced the royal blue plumage on his forehead with a violet one, which both indicated his rank and fit his style.
Mipha and Sidon grew incredibly close in their weeklong reunion, with her serving as his closest confidant. He informed her of plans to remove Mipha's grand statue in the center square of the Domain, in light of her rebirth, as it was unfitting to honor a living royal with a monument in their honor. They had plans to eventually replace it with a statue of King Dorephan, who had watched over the Domain for over a century and would continue to do so in death. Mipha, humble as she was, agreed with this statement, stating that she wasn't seeking valor or prestige, and she deeply thanked those who honored her. However, numerous protests by commoners and elders alike forced this plan to drop, much to her chagrin, and the statue of her father was to be constructed on a platform on the north flank of the palace. The detractors claimed that despite her rebirth, Lady Mipha had made extraordinary sacrifices and exhibited unparalleled grace before the Calamity, and she would always be worth paying homage to. It would take a couple years to be complete but end up just as grand as her monument was. Link smiled as she fretted over the issue.
Some of the artisans attempted to even take measurements of Sidon, who was flippant at the notion. They claimed that he could drop dead at any time, just like his father before him, and it was for the best that they prepare early. He simply responded with his trademark pose, insisting that he still had a hundred years left in his prime, and a couple centuries after that before he would make the final drift downstream. Ledo eventually gave up and went straight to work on his father's monument.
Speaking of royal headaches, the notables of the realm also pressed the young King on another issue: marriage. Despite Sidon's youth, the elders were precautious about any sudden tragedies that might befall him, and the line of succession afterwards. Lady Mipha, after all, had been taken from them before she could reach full maturity, so there was no better time to plan for the future than the present. They insisted that he could marry anyone who he desired, since there was no need for a political marriage to shore up relations, but he must marry, and soon. He joked to his sister that he finally understood Zelda's predicament on being pushed under the wedding bells so soon, and that they could have something to bond over. He didn't think it would be a problem to find a suitable partner: he had his own fan club after all.
All these responsibilities, and all this pressure being thrust on her brother, made Mipha grateful that it wasn't happening to her. She cherished her privacy and was squeamish about being bold and brash in public. As she twirled strands of golden hair between her fingers, the Princess smiled and thanked the Goddesses for her good fortune, and for what she had been given. To have met her demise, and despite that, being given a second chance, made her happy beyond words.
"Link…"
The Knight on her lap had his eyes closed, clearly enjoying the respite after a week of mourning. She didn't want to disturb him, but the topic was of great importance.
"Link…" she said, a little louder.
Still, he wouldn't budge. It was starting to show the first signs of irritations in her mind. Her high was starting to fade.
"Wake up, Link…" her recent refrain being more forceful than the previous.
This time, he budged. Bringing his hands to his eye sockets, Link rubbed them gently before slowly opening them, revealing his curious blue eyes. He said nothing, simply looking upward and smiling at what was in front of him.
"Do you remember what I told you the other day, about the materials we would need for the Zora Armor?"
Link wasn't one for details, he was too preoccupied with his companion's rebirth, and the loss of his father-figure, to have paid much attention to the Zora Armor. He wouldn't let her know that.
"I was able to compile a list of what we would need to sew a new set. Most of the basic items are within the periphery of the Domain. These shouldn't be of any significant chore to obtain at all, but I need to personally inspect everything to ensure it's of appropriate quality. It will be an exciting mini-adventure to say the least."
Link didn't break eye-contact and grabbed her right hand within his. He gently stroked the cool, slippery flesh on her fingertips as she spoke. Despite the circumstances, Mipha didn't fail to blush at the gesture, but she continued.
"From that point forward, it gets more difficult. We can assemble the basic clothing from what we gather here, but the rest of the suit requires us to travel. The plating must be made out of silver, which can come from certain Stole Taluses. The scaled mesh on the upper half comes from dragon scales, which will be even more difficult to acquire. Finally, the gemstones that dot the frames are to come from Luminous Stone deposits in the Eldin Region and be sent to a skilled Gerudo Goldsmith for refinement. I'm afraid I won't be able to accompany you on that mission, which saddens me."
He too was sad, but he squeezed her hand in response, reassuring her that he was committed to this quest.
"Once all the materials are gathered, I can remove my White Scale and begin sewing. From there, we need a Fairy's blessing, and the Armor will be complete."
He nodded in response, accepting the new quest laid in front of them.
The whole situation still seemed surreal to her. If this was an elaborate dream, then she didn't want to ever wake up. Still, the quest to remake the Zora Armor wasn't the "adventure" that she had in mind all those years ago, but she would still treasure every moment of it. She wouldn't squeal though: she was dignified and proper, not one of her brother's fangills- er, girls.
"How about we have lunch?"
Mipha snapped out of her daze, returning to Hyrule and seeing Link sitting upright next to her. She shouldn't have been surprised, not with the glutton in her company.
"Absolutely."
She was surprised the thought hadn't come across her before now. She had felt full of energy for the past week, a concept neither familiar nor explicable to her. At first, she chalked it up to reality being better than her dreams, so she dreaded going to sleep. Nor had she any desire to eat even the smallest morsel: she would eat out of pleasure, but her morning hunger pangs were virtually nonexistent. She wasn't going to tell Link: turning down food was grounds for disownment to him, or it might as well be. She had also desired to try his cooking, which was supposedly legendary.
Mipha brought herself to her feet, pulling herself upward with Link's help. She couldn't wait to see her knight in soon-to-be Zora Armor protect her once again.
"Report"
Back at the Yiga Secret Hideout, Jeel and Keel knelt once more at their master's feet. Beneath them, the Divine Beast-to-be was coming along at an alarming pace. Its legs were thoroughly coated in the Sheikah manila mesh indicative of the other Beasts. A hollow belly was finished, berthing room for assortments of mysterious objects to be hauled on top. The wooden scaffolding stretched tens of meters high, approaching the ceiling of the cavern. Above all, the workforce seemingly exploded: all the monster workers who had been lain within the "dying hall" after collapsing had been resuscitated by the Blood Moon and rejoined the still-living laborers in their round-the-clock work.
"Master Shiba, we located the missing Slate as you ordered, and the individual responsible for taking it." Keel put forward.
The buff master was unphased, not moving from his seat, which faced the construction below rather than the visitors speaking to him. "Indeed? Has his head rolled to the ground floor to boost workplace morale?"
"Well, you see, Master Shiba…" the stammering in Jeel's voice was a dead giveaway, but Shiba remained an enigma. "That individual was none other than Link, the vile swordsman who trounced us and ended Master Kohga."
"So, what you are saying, is that you do not have the Slate in your possession."
Both Blademasters took a huge gulp.
"Two weeks, you two. I gave you, my finest Blademasters, two weeks to find the Slate. You know full-well what was on the line, and yet you failed to even die in combat. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
The hulking Shiba rose from his throne, reaching for his weapon of choice. He extended the colossal weapon over the flame, which illuminated its details. It was a body length sword, ebony colored, with silver and red accents and details trailing from the tip to the hilt. The Knights of Hyrule had once referred to it as a Royal Guard's Claymore, and it was among the last of its kind.
It was truly an embarrassing and hilarious sight to see two Yiga Blademasters, although not as large as their master but muscle-clad in their own rights, cower like dogs. It was only when the jet-black Shiba's feet reached their faces when Keel made a final frightened plea for clemency.
"M-master Shiba! We did not come back empty-handed. Please a-accept this as an offering."
He pointed behind him, which prompted Shiba to shift his gaze to the large sphere within the room. He hurriedly glazed the ball with his hands, scantly believing what was in front of him.
"You," he continued. "How in Thyphlo did you get this?"
"Link abandoned it near the Beast Vah Ruta."
"Abandoned? This? Does he know that it would shut off the Beast?"
The two underlings gave puzzled expressions to each other as their leader rambled on to himself.
"Should we tell him that the Beast sank beneath the waves?"
"It what?"
Jeel and Keel resumed their groveling, fearing another outburst.
"In order to complete Vah Ganona, we need the unique energies of the four Divine Cores, and the activation of the Slate empowered with Ganon's essence from the night of Blood. With this in tow, we are only as close to completion as we were before, but its procurement is not to go without plaudits. However: the collateral damage of losing that Beast puts us in a bind. We need resources to continue our production, resources that are in limited supply and can only be scavenged."
"Rise, Jeel and Keel."
Both shot upwards, taking extra care to not let even the slightest slump ruin their posture.
"Never forget the importance of our task. Our people are dying out, and only through this project can we have any hope of survival in this new age. Our last intraclan birth was ten years ago, and the child died last week."
Shiba sheathed his Claymore on his back, effortlessly moving it without any sign of discomfort.
"Our allies have made tremendous progress on Vah Rudania in the Eldin Region, and we need to ensure that it completes without any interference. As you can see, all the recent additions since your last departure have come from it alone. You two are to travel to Death Mountain to handle any allies the Gorons may call in."
"Yes, Master Shiba!"
"Now go, before you fail again."
"Oh, master, a word."
"Yes?"
"When we spied on the vile Link, we noticed a Zora woman with him at Vah Ruta. She was young, beautiful, and appeared to wear the trappings as some sort of noble or royal figure."
"That's impossible, the Zoras haven't a female in their royal line in a hundred years. The last one was Lady Mipha, the pilot of Vah Rut-"
Oh.
"Are you two certain that this was what you saw?"
"Y-yes!" They replied in unison. "They were in the center of a brilliant red vortex coming from the Blood Moon."
"Go, you two."
The duo vanished instantaneously, leaving the autocratic clan master to himself.
Every Yiga had committed the story to memory at this point, and it drove them to insanity. Ever since the Calamity had struck Hyrule and Ganon shared his grace with them, the Yiga had begun to suffer hardships. Every generation, less children were brought into the world, the elderly among them suffered accelerated health problems, and vitamin deficiency infected even the healthiest of warriors. It had not affected them much, since the Blood Moon would revive all of them who followed Ganon. At first it seemed like Hylia herself was taking vengeance on them, but it became viewed as a curse and a blessing.
Times would change, and that view would flip to being a blessing and a curse. Since Calamity Ganon's defeat, the Yiga were forced to confront their problems alone. With most of them infertile, and their kind on the run, it seemed to be only a matter of time before their people would die out. Though not as capable a leader as Master Kohga, Shiba's iron will drew what remained of the Yiga Clan together in an effort to save their kind from the ruins of history.
Only the top-level Yiga brass were privy to the full details, but Shiba's plan, to restore Ganon to this realm and restore the Blood Moon's perpetual immortality, was suggested to him by a mysterious stranger. He knew not of what he was or his motivations, but his notes didn't lie, and led to the discovery of the red Sheikah Slate.
They couldn't afford to cower to their Kakariko cousins, to intermingle with the Hylians. To do such would erase all remnants of Yiga culture, of their proud history and distinction. It would make no difference than them dying out on the field of battle, and the Clan agreed with his sentiment. It wasn't much of a debate: those that disagreed had long since abandoned the Clan or died trying. All they could do now is wait, for time was no longer on their side.
The last piece of information was quite the game changer. If what the duo said was true, and Lady Mipha were to walk the earth once more, then maybe the power of the Slate wasn't as far-fetched as he imagined. He would still need it within his possession for it to work, but he grew more confident in his scheme than ever.
The old man was right after all.
Scott's horse slowly trotted down the hill when he took in where he was. At the base of the hill, he could see the ornate bridge leading into the Zora Domain, and in front of that, the open area where he first met Sir Link.
He was still preoccupied with the events that had transpired over the past week.
'On the first day since the rise of the Blood Moon, Zelda had taken Scott, and Paya, into the fields just south of Kakariko Village. According to the Princess, there weren't too many hostile enemies in the region, and it guarded an important route, so it only made sense to start there. He remembered being unsure of himself in the absence of his idol Link, but he promised to do his best to impress her.
Paya had joined them as well, suggested by Link. She was even less sure of herself than Scott was, and she repeatedly had to state to the group that she was fine. Her condition didn't improve as she didn't have a mount like the other two and had to ride on Scott's. At least her white hair and beet red face complimented Fitz's black frame and his color scheme.
He took in the sights alongside the road as they pushed southeast. Along either side, mossy ruins doted the landscape, showing off the last vestiges of lost civilizations. The campfires present within them indicated that they weren't abandoned: from what Zelda told him, they were frequent abodes for Bokoblins and Moblins. They were more likely out hunting for food at this hour, but their presence sickened him deeply.
They spent half the day patrolling the area, yet they still had failed to come upon any monster. Was Zelda wrong? Did someone else get to them first? A picture is worth a thousand words, but a thousand pictures couldn't satisfy a single question. According to Zelda, they would soon approach Fort Hateno, which was the boundary for their patrol that day, before turning back. Just before they would reach it, she said that they would reach an area of much significance to her. She said the Sheikah Slate designated it as the Blacherry Fields.
Once the group pulled up to the Fields, Zelda froze in shock. Scott and Paya weren't sure why she chose to stop. They looked around, but only found an empty field, devoid of anything of interest.
"They're gone!"
"What's gone, Princess?" Paya asked.
"The Guardians are gone!"
Before Scott could get a word in, Zelda nudged Sayre and galloped to the center of the empty field. He noticed that there were several empty craters in the earth, suggesting that something large recently inhabited them. He couldn't tell what they were: there wasn't a trace of anything left behind.
He remembered from his conversation in the Zora Domain that the "Guardians" were constructs designed by the Ancient Sheikah to fight the Calamity, but they ultimately turned on the Hylians. None of that lined up with how the Princess reacted now. Wouldn't it be a good thing that these monsters were gone?
"It's almost as if they were picked clean... but who, or rather why, would anyone do this?"
"I beg your pardon, Princess," he spoke. "But I'm not sure I fully understand. Why is this place significant?"
"A hundred years ago, Link and I were stranded here, and ambushed by a squad of Guardian Stalkers. Their broken husks littered this field, in the craters you see before you. That was how it was just days after we sealed Ganon away. Whoever did this had come recently, which unnerves me. I don't know who would do this, or why, but they don't decompose like fallen trees."
He turned back to the holes and scavenged through them, trying to find any hint of whom the Princess spoke of. Aside from the occasional scrap of some strange metal, he found nothing. Over his shoulder, he saw Paya nervously peeking into the holes through the holes in her hands, shielding her face. Poor girl.
"P-Princess! Come quick! I think I f-found something!"
He scurried over to where Paya had searched, meeting Zelda who was already with her. It was merely a red Bokoblin, slumbering peacefully, blissfully unaware of its surroundings. He took a breather: it wasn't a significant threat, and he could let his guard down for a moment.
That is, until Paya slipped and fell backward.
"Ouch!"
For a granddaughter of a legendary stealthy warrior, subtlety didn't seem very strong with her.
The sudden sound popped the nose bubble of the snoozing snout. The red monster quickly jumped to its feet, shifting from side to side to assess the surroundings. It noticed Paya on the ground, rubbing her back, and pointed dramatically at her.
Her face quickly grew white at the realization, but it was too late.
It growled fiercely and quickly. It took a moment for him to take in what was happening, the ridiculousness more than any intimidation factor on his part, but Scott reached for his sword with the intent to finish the deed quickly.
The red monster had other plans. It made a dash out of the hole and to a medium-sized rock. Beside it was a small horn, an instrument the monster bellowed into enthusiastically. It didn't last long: the Sheikah Swordsman made quick work of the herald, but it was too late. The Siren was set out.
From the hills, the plains, the forest, and the river, groups of Bokoblins and Moblins came out of the woodworks. They brandished an assortment of clubs, swords, axes, and spears: all eager to claim some fresh prey. Scott motioned to take a defensive position on one of the larger mounds. He thought the high ground would be valuable in the face of such odds, no matter how little it may be.
"I-I have your back, Master Scott." Paya unsheathed the Traveler's Sword given to her by Link, nervously taking a position at Scott's rear. She looked onward from behind him.
Most surprising to him, Zelda did not seem anxious at all by the oncoming horde. She calmly walked toward the central clearing, unphased by the snarls or the shouts. There was at least a dozen of them, and they would soon be within arm's reach, and battle would be joined. He wanted to leap at her side to shield her from harm, or at least call out for her to protect herself, but he had a sinking suspicion that there was a method to her madness.
He was right.
At once, the Princess raised her right hand to the sky. The hand was surrounded by a shine of pure light. The whitest and most pale light anyone had ever laid eyes on snowballed on that point. It was painful to watch, yet it felt strangely warm and soothing on his skin. He raised his shield to cover his eyes, while he could feel Paya clutching closely behind him.
The monsters were slightly spooked by the array of light, taking turns pointing and growling at the display. Their faces turned white when they noticed a trio of golden triangles take shape just in front of the ball of light. Scott thought to himself that he had seen this design before, but he couldn't place it at that moment in time. That moment would stick out to him for the rest of the day, and every day since then.
That was the moment when it became too late, for them.
The ball became much more spherical, much more sharply round and defined, a ball of pure white light. It shone much more intensively, its rays grew much warmer, and expanded exponentially faster than before. In the blink of an eye, the ball grew so great that it swallowed hole all the monsters that came too close. It accomplished all this and more, miraculously without consuming any of them along with it. It expanded to its zenith, before quickly receding into an incredibly tiny ball of light. The light faded away, petering out to the four winds.
He had to take a double-take on the aftermath. All the monsters had vanished, with only their abandoned weapons to prove they ever existed. Zelda's hand stopped glowing, and she lowered it, gripping it with her left.
"That was incredible, Princess Zelda!"
He was about to rush over to congratulate her on the miraculous act, but his dash was impeded by something… heavy? He looked down and saw Paya leaning on his leg.
The white-haired girl had passed out.
Scott knelt down to catch her in his arms. He checked her vitals, and she seemed perfectly fine. Zelda scurried over to him, concern covering her face.
"Is she alright?"
"She seems to be, but I don't think she'll be waking up anytime soon."
"We should get her back to the Village. Our work here is done."
He gingerly picked up the young Sheikah woman, hands snuck under her shoulder and legs, and started walking toward their horses.'
That was roughly a week ago, yet he was still getting adjusted to Zelda's magical powers.
Paya had been left in the Village with Impa to recuperate while the two of them pressed onward. As Zelda mentioned before, she wanted to carve a route to the Zora Domain and reconnoiter with Link. They would circle back and check on Paya before setting out again. It was probably her first experience in a real battle, so she deserved a second chance. In addition, the Princess insisted that Link's presence would… help her recovery, so to speak.
In the meantime, Zelda had gone mad like a young boy who had just discovered how to run. Every chance she had, she insisted that they go off the beaten path to hunt for more monsters. It surprised Scott that she was the one with boundless energy, while he struggled to keep up. Daily, they would encounter groups of them, ranging from a pair of Moblins to a gang of Lizalfos, and Zelda would work her magic on them. They didn't stand a chance.
Scores of them were cleansed, and he didn't have to lift a finger. He worried about whether he, or even Link, would even be necessary at this point. He wouldn't let the Princess know this.
Both rode up to a familiar hill and saw the magnificent Zora Domain before them. Neither of them could posture an answer as to why a slew of Zora were exiting.
"This looks like a good spot for lunch, don't you think?"
Link and Mipha had reached the base of the waterfall to the west of the Domain, and the resting place of the Dagak Keek Shrine. It was a fitting scene, and one that Link was keen on revisiting. He noticed the dark platform was still situated in the pond, emitting its soft blue glow. He had previously taken the Ceremonial Trident and performed a "sky dive" as the Rito called it, which essentially meant he recklessly leaped from a great height, nothing barring him from the earth's gravity but his own flesh. He impaled the trident in the center of the platform, which released the Shrine from the depths. A clever mechanism, but a welcome one.
Mipha wanted some seclusion from the rest of the world. The entire week prior had been filled with persistent alternation between her father's fate, her duties as a Princess once more, and greeting her fellow Zora, both new and old, in public. As a result, she had scare little time to spend with Link, which burned her, but made times like these all the more special. She knew that she'd have more time later, but after a century of waiting, she was eager to speed things up, however possible.
The other factor was that this particular location would be a prime vantage point for viewing the rest of the valley. From there, the Princess could point out different areas to gather materials for the Zora Armor. This was going to be a working lunch, something her companion dreaded, but she wouldn't let any time go to waste. It was a terrible habit she inherited from her upbringing.
Only one caveat remained, which was the fac t that since Link no longer possessed his Zora Armor, he was land-bound… and couldn't join her at the top of the waterfall, her favorite spot. It saddened her deeply, but it was part and parcel of their racial disparities, and she loved him anyway. All the more motivation to push herself harder… and him as well.
The Zora walked toward the glowing platform while the Hylian unfurled his belongings and began to setup a campfire. She looked down on circles and grinned, knowing what the blue represented, and tapped the tip of the Lightscale Trident on the center. She looked up toward the falls, and then back at him, before speaking further.
"Link, what did you have in mind for a meal?"
The blonde shrugged, reaching into his satchel almost blindly. In an instant, he pulled out the largest slab of red meat she had ever seen. It was almost as big as his torso. His elegant, athletic, well-defined torso. How did he get that in there?
She had to shake her head to stop staring at the slab of meat in front of her.
"I actually had an idea for lunch, if you don't mind. Have you heard of the Extra Mighty Porgies?"
Link shook his head, with a clear interest in his eyes.
"They're a fish unique to the Lanayru Region. They're found almost exclusively in the midst of waterfalls, so they're only privy to the select few Zora athletic enough to capture them. There's no guarantee that they still swim in these waters, but I'd like to at least try to find a few. They would be a delightful treat."
He took only a moment to think about the idea before nodding rapidly. She covered her giggling smile.
"I'll only need a few minutes, I need only to stretch my fins."
With grace that only a Princess carried, Mipha took a stunning backflip down to the falls beneath them. She was fast. Faster than Epona, or any horse he had even ridden. When she said a few minutes, she meant it, which was good to know.
Link turned back to the matter at hand, which was constructing their camp site. He had foraged for a pair of logs for seating, which were in scarce supply at their elevation. They weren't in the best quality either, with one full of cracks, but they would do. The other log was in much better condition, and he would leave it for Mipha. He took a moment to rest and started flipping through his Sheikah Slate again.
Link knew that he would have to address the topic with Zelda eventually. She was a clever Princess, and would find out eventually, so it would do him best that she learned on his own terms. The fact that Mipha is walking Hyrule once more would be insurmountably more complicated. The issue was, he wasn't the most verbose individual. He claimed to not talk very much because of his burden, but that was only partially true. His continued silence had handicapped his conversational skills, and the way he would word things could be taken… the wrong way, to say the least. Having a conversation with Mipha could help, not to mention consulting Urbosa, who was close to the Princess and was quick-witted herself.
Barely a moment passed since he holstered the Slate once more, did his hands become preoccupied with another object: a Red Rupee. The blonde looked up to see where the startling thing came from.
"Hello, Sir Link! I'm glad you're alright!"
"S-Scott? Where did you come from?"
Link knew his reunion with the Dark Knight would be inevitable, but not at this venue.
"We trekked the long way up this mountain, and for Din's sake it was slippery! I'm surprised I kept up with the Princess, to be honest."
Link's eyes narrowed. "The Princess? She's here?"
The ebony-clad man nodded with a smile. "She sure is!"
"Link! Are you alright?"
As if on cue, Zelda appeared from behind Scott and pulled Link into a deep embrace. This completely surprised both knights present, and it was a contest to see who was more uncomfortable. Link was frozen in a state of shock, which betrayed the gentleness and care the hug brought. Scott was cycling through a rainbow of emotions, ranging from the aghast expression on his face, to the red rush of embarrassment on his cheeks, to the nervous jitters on his legs, and his hands covering his eyes.
The Princess had no time for stocky emotions, save for a solemn, sympathetic condolement for her dear friend. She pulled back and gave him a deep look with her emerald eyes. Recalling what he was playing with just moments before, he quickly adjusted his posture, bringing his right side to the front to bring less attention to his left.
"Link, I'm so sorry about Dorephan, I figure that you must be devastated."
Link let out a deep sigh. He was worried that something worse would be on the horizon, but he would just have to get used to the leisurely troubles and travails.
"I'm alright, thank you" was his reply. Her face shrunk to a tight pout.
"Thank goodness, I've been worried sick all week long. The King's death has taken its toll on all of us, believe me, I know."
Link saw the genuine look of concern in her eyes. He was reckless and selfish to have rode off so hastily without her and to drive her to worry on his behalf, or so he felt. He looked over at Scott, who was still timidly hiding in shame, but quickly corrected himself to an astute, modest pose to bring respect to the situation. He shifted back to her.
"If you don't mind me asking, why, or how, did you two get to the Domain?"
Zelda's expression morphed into a coy smile. "You're not the only gifted Hylian in the realm, you know. I utilized my magical powers more than once on the way here. The roads in these parts are quite safe, and I've made sure of that."
Scott continued where she left off. "It's true. We could have been here much sooner, but the Princess insisted that we inspect every nook and cranny for stray Bokoblins and Lizalfos. She did all the work herself!"
'Everything?' Link thought. 'She sure has changed quite a bit, or was she always this way?'
"We were surprised we couldn't meet you, and we worried that you had already left the Domain on… Epona." Zelda placed a particular emphasis on the end, which sent jitters down Link's spine. "I didn't see her on the way in, so I take it that she's in good care."
She continued. "Disregarding the stragglers on the bluffs above, I can assure you that this region is now safe. With any luck, the Zoras should be secure enough to send assistance along the waterways. I... also met with Sidon." At this moment, she paused once more, dipping her face downward. She averted her eyes to the ground, cupping her chin between her index finger and thumb. "He told me what happened…"
Off to the side, Scott gave his usual pout upon hearing his name.
He was in for it now.
"…you did everything you could, I'm so sorry Link."
The blonde was home free, at least. But it didn't feel like a relief.
Why?
Because her face seemed swollen and depleted. It was as if she were crying without tears.
"He was… like another father to you, I know. I can only imagine the grief his passing had caused you, but you are not alone. I've also known this feeling of loss, Link."
Suddenly, she grabbed Link's hand. It was cool to the touch, or rather his hands were warm. In either case, the gesture surprised him, and he scrambled for a proper reaction to the situation he found himself in.
"I know this is a moot point, but I hope you know… that if you ever need a shoulder to rest your head on, to weep into, you have mine. It was my error to have placed all of our hopes and ambitions unto you, to treat you as this all-powerful scion of providence that solves all of our problems without any maintenance on your behalf. You are a gifted Hylian, but at the end of the day, you are still a Hylian, and I wish to start viewing you as such."
'Memento mori, Link.'
The conversation was going much better than he could have hoped. He was certain that Zelda would have raked him over the coals by now, but he had underestimated her good nature. Or had he merely forgotten it? He was happy to see her being okay: he hated to see her cry, after that day.
He had almost forgotten about Scott. He was fascinated with the cauldron fixated above the campfire, aweing at the broth inside. Link mentally slapped himself: he had forgotten to teach Scott how to cook! He remembered the promise he made in Kakariko Village to do such, but he never got around to it. Now would seem like an opportune time to do it. But on the other hand, it wasn't.
"Zelda, there was something I needed to tell you," Link said, barely containing the urgency in his tone. He needed to mention the Slate to her. He didn't feel fully prepared in how to present it, and why it took so long to mention, but lack of preparation hadn't impeded his adventures before, it wouldn't start now. It would also become a necessity very soon, and he wanted to get ahead of that story.
"Just give me one moment, I believe I dropped one of my pouches over there."
A few more seconds wasn't much, but it was much more preparation time than Link gave himself. His only issue was that he couldn't think: he was too fixated on the sound of distractions abound. It varied from the familiar, such as the rustling of the grass as he walked and the racketing of the cauldron over the fire, to the melodic chirping of the birds and the gushing water beneath them.
The gushing water gave way to an explosive splash coming from north of their camp. By now, all three had looked towards its source, and froze upon visualizing the slender red figure before them. The red figure was dressed in ornate gold finery, unique to the natives of Hyrule. It carried with it a silver truncheon in one hand, and a satchel in another.
After a moment, Scott made the first comment to break the silence.
"Sir Link, does this lady look familiar to you?"
Link took a deep gulp and nodded. "Yes, her name is…"
"M-Mipha?!" Zelda uttered, dropping everything in her hands.
Perhaps it was due to her upbringing, her knowledge of the situation, or the nature of her rebirth, but the Zora was the least emotionally exaggerated figure on scene. One wouldn't tell from her cracked intonation alone. "H-hello Princess Zelda."
Mipha knew that, by chronological order, she was the eldest of the quartet present. Age was usually accompanied by features such as authority, wisdom, and experience. During her lifetime, she would frequently invoke these skills to assist her people whenever she met them, and she was praised for her abilities as well as her unparalleled kindness.
Her wisdom and experience here, however, were nonexistent.
This meeting was built up within the back of her mind for the entire week since her return, and she knew that no amount of preparation would fully ready her for their reunion, but this sudden juncture still felt too early if that were even possible. It was a hard culture shock to shift from the periphery of Link's subconscious to the back of her own horse, as Link put it, but the remedial exercises could only come in time.
Zelda was oblivious to all this knowledge and charged directly at her friend. She pulled Mipha into a deep hug, unsure of how else to respond. The Zora was touched, and lightly returned the gesture as the two knights looked on.
"Is it really you…?" Green eyes look upward while the Hylian Princess was arched over, rubbing teardrops from her cheeks.
"Yes, Princess, it is" was her reply.
"But how? I was sure to sense your spirit from within the Castle Walls…"
A nervous laugh came from Mipha's lips, as she tried to break eye contact. "It's a bit of a complicated story, I'm sure we would be happy to tell you later."
Zelda momentarily broke her embrace and turned back to the blue-tuniced warrior himself. Her infectious smile shone brightly to the Hylian, who was talking with Scott over the fire, and watched him wave back. It was at this point where her smile turned to a frown, one missed by all, when the realization struck her.
Hyrule's next queen remembered the words she shared with Link at the height of Mount Lanayru and brought them into their current context. He had promised her that they would be spending some time together after their ultimate victory, but that never came to pass. She wanted to console her friend for his renewed grieving, give him the time he needed to go through the motions, and come out with some closure. Her intentions were selfless and good-natured in her mind, but her emotions still burned in the back of her subconscious. Fate's hand was cruel, but when paths diverged, both roads can lead to new journeys, as Impa once said.
With Mipha not only here, but tangible, audible, and alive, to say that their dynamic would change would be a gross understatement. She was just as lively and healthy as she were before that fateful day, and she had appeared at an extraordinarily convenient time with her father's passing. Zelda thought to herself that she should be happy that another anchor from the halcyon days of the past had returned, in an era when they were in increasingly diminished supply. Yet another emotion tugged on her coattails.
Tinges of stress strained the edges of her eyelids, yet the action was entirely subconsciously driven. But even as she shook her head to wear off the feeling, Zelda could tell things were much different. In many ways, Mipha represented what she wanted for herself. She was calm, intelligent, soft-spoken, held a deep mastery of her abilities, and was well-respected by her people. It wasn't much of a challenge to figure out why Link was focused on her, but pettiness was unbecoming of the next Queen of Hyrule. She didn't want to wish any ill-will on either of them, but she knew… that they would be spending much time together. It probably added to the explanation of why Link had spent much time in the Domain.
Speaking of which, Zelda noted that Link wasn't surprised at Mipha's emergence. At all. Coming from a Hylian who professed a deep affection for her, this was strange. Or maybe he already knew? She didn't know either way, but she did know that something was up. It would have explained the arrangements Link had made when she had arrived. An isolated lunch for two? It wasn't a major blow on its own, but the matter would have to be addressed before their return home.
Meanwhile, Mipha had extended her bag toward Link, who accepted it greedily. Scott looked over his shoulder to get a better look.
"I was able to catch six Extra Mighty Porgies. We'll have enough for everyone it seems."
Link nodded in appreciation. He took the brown purse and emptied it over the cauldron, with his protégé eyeing it with curiosity. He then shifted his eyes to the gift-giver, standing tall and straight with all the respect he could muster.
"Uh, excuse me," Scott cleared his throat, quickly gaining her attention. "I beg your pardon for a moment. Your name is Mipha, if I may be so bold?"
She was startled, placing a hand to cover her lips as her eyes stretched out. "Yes I am. I'm surprised you learned so quickly, Sir Scott."
Now he was the one who grew uncomfortable. "Oh, don't mind me. I was just…" He scratched his head while mentally spit balling some sort of explanation that would sound palatable. Never mind the fact that all floated ideas were essentially gibberish. As he scratched his head, a frequent tell that he was in deep, nervous thought, he jolted in his position.
"What a second. How did you know my name?"
"I know a lot of things, Scott. Or rather," she glanced over at Link, who was examining some of the greatest fish fillets he had ever seen. Never before had he held such tender meat. "…the right people."
Scott let the words float through his mind as he watched Link prepare what looked like some sort of nutty seasoning to the fish. He knew he was supposed to be learning how to cook, but he couldn't concentrate at the moment. He turned back to Mipha and tried to ameliorate his own situation.
"I have a question, Mipha. You seem to be well-acquainted with Link, and you seem very familiar to me, yet I cannot place it. Your attire is much different from the rest of your race, so I assume you hold an important role."
The response came not from her, but from the chef. The words were muffled due to a wooden pick between his teeth, but enough was audible for him to make out, "she's the one from the Statue I showed you, remember?"
'Way to go, Scott the know-not,' floating among his thoughts. He immediately fell to one knee and brought his head directed to the ground, in part to show respect, in part to hide his self-pity and shame.
"Please forgive me, Lady Mipha. I have spoken out of turn and not shown you the proper respect that a Princess, the sister of the King of the Zora Domain no less, merits."
Mipha reflectively released the quietest groan she had ever sounded and rolled her amber eyes. These formalities were tiresome among her more aggressive past suitors, and she didn't start longing for them now. "It's quite alright, Scott. There's no need for you to beat yourself up on account of this, of all things. I mean it."
"But Princess!"
"There will be no 'buts' from you. I command you to carry your head high and with merriment. Is that understood?"
Seeing himself utterly defeated in this situation, and to another member of the Zora ruling caste no less, he stood and submitted. "Yes, Lady Mipha."
A partial victory was still a victory, as Link told her before. She gave a soft grin to her new company.
Scott pulled himself together and turned to assisting Link with lunch. He liked her much more than her brother, who he found insufferably well-mannered. He was at a loss for the proper mannerisms, especially around people who he held in such authority and respect. He was brought up to always show the proper respect for ladies and gentlemen of rank and station, yet these three were always so casual, especially around each other. Maybe he would learn why in time, but for now, he did as Sir Link told him, and retrieved some Goat Butter for the dish. As he did, one last thought rung through his mind.
'I could have sworn that Sir Link said she was dead.'
Zelda was pleased to see the others get along in such an animated way. It was almost like they were part of a family: something she didn't imagine ever thinking ever again, yet here they were. A hard smile forced its way across her face as she shook her head.
She lurched her way toward the camp once more. She would have said something, but Link and Scott seemed pre-occupied with the culinary arts, and Mipha was studiously examining the husks of the fish left behind. She didn't want to butt in on alien arenas, so she attempted to keep herself busy and blend in.
She knew of one thing to do but shuddered at the idea that she was ready for it.
"Link," Zelda spoke, "I'm going to retrieve some of the Ancient Arrows from your quiver."
He was clearly too busy to fully grasp the gist of her words but gave a tacit nod while returning to work. Sighing in relief, she continued down her path.
It was an ideal time for the swap, as all of his arms were laid to rest beside the impromptu log-bench behind him. She kept her head down and her demur discreet, hiding the idea that she was never this giddy since the nights before her birthday, when she would sneak around the Castle to peak at her presents. But these weren't simple presents: they were weapons of mass destruction.
With the full mastery of her divine powers, Zelda didn't exactly need those arrows, but the novelty of the Ancient Sheikah civilization didn't wear itself out on her just yet, and they might prove useful down the line. She dug deeply into the quiver until at last a handful of these magical arrows emerged from the deceptively full arrow holster.
Having taken most of these arrows for herself, the Princess considered her task complete, and was prepared to rejoin her friends for the meal. As she placed everything away and stood up, upon turning around she took one lingering look at Link, admiring the simple happiness and the effects of released stress happening upon him. His happiness would be enough to overcome her feelings, she surmised. Her focus went blank when she saw something on the back of his Champion's Tunic.
White lines, in an almost detailed pattern, across the back end of his Tunic. They almost clearly resembled the design she sewed on her scarf. Upon closer inspection, it was confirmed to be the likeness of Vah Ruta.
Why did her heart just shut down in a cold snap just now?
"That was absolutely delicious!"
Scott had vocalized what was on everyone's mind: Link's cooking was excellent. In other news, the sky is blue.
After many minutes of experimentation, Link had finished his newest dish, one he was highly proud of. It was Mighty Porgy Meuniere, which blended the Porgies with Acorns, Goat Butter, and Tabantha Wheat. It was so delectable that Mipha, sitting next to Link, struggled to balance her enthusiasm in consuming the meal with her usual dignified poise. Link's counterpart on the other side ate like an uncultured barbarian. Zelda, however, ate in an unusually quiet manner. It did not go unnoticed amongst the others, but they said not a word.
It was at the conclusion of their meal where Scott enthusiastically volunteered for cleanup duty. Only after he had collected all of the leftover debris did Zelda pop the question bugging her for too long.
"Link, may I ask you a question?"
The aforementioned Hylian perked up and nodded in anticipation.
"I'm sure you know what I'm about to ask of you." Her body started shivering as she sat on her log bench, and she had to clench her hands in her lap in order to stabilize herself. "I'm not entirely sure if I'm parsing this correctly, but if you may, please tell me of what transpired in the past week that led to… this situation?"
Mipha could feel an aura focused on her with the last statement, and scooched closer to Link for support. Of whom was supporting whom, that is unclear. What was made as straightforward as one of Revali's arrows was that Link hadn't the silver tongue of a legendary merchant, as indicated by the awkward silence that followed while he collected his thoughts.
"I'm not sure how to put this, but it all started with this," he reached to his side and unsheathed the red Sheikah Slate, presenting it in all its glory to Zelda.
As Link gave his best explanation for the events that had transpired, centering around the Slate, he couldn't feel the usual emotion he inferred from Zelda in previous conversations. It was as if he were speaking to a blank slate, yet he continued as he were. Unbeknownst to him, she was as unsurprised at his recent revelation, as he was at the return of Mipha just moments before. She didn't raise any protest when he mentioned teleporting to the Domain from the Wetland Stable, or anything more than a murmur when he described his adventure in Vah Ruta. She didn't reveal her judgment and let him run his course.
"I have one more question, Link." She didn't reveal all her cards just yet, but Zelda was fuming inside. She was going to have a serious conversation with Purah upon her return, that was for certain. As for Sidon, his complete dodging of the fact that his only sister walked the earth once more was a glaring betrayal. But if that was a betrayal, then what was this?
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
"What do you mean?" He responded.
"I completely understand your motivations, and your desires from this new device. You know where I stand on the potential, both good and bad, from using such means. You also know what I would say about such magic, but it's too late for warnings now, isn't it?"
So far, so good. This wasn't the verbal upending that Link was anticipating.
"But I thought that we were close… that I was someone that you could confide these secrets with. I thought at the very least that had some mutual trust between us. Even if we didn't see eye-to-eye on it, you know I would have fully supported you."
"But I believed the opposite," he retorted. "I earnestly didn't think that you could handle the information, or that you would sternly object to its dubious origins, especially with the aftermath of the Guardian's co-option by the Calamity."
"Firstly, I'm much more resilient and persistent than to let myself give up on progress and bring the Iron Sledgehammer to everything that could be touched by Ganon."
"Second, do you truly take me to be so weak that a simple idea will give me pause? That my mind is fragile that I must be shielded from the dark realities of this world? That you must hide the truth from me?"
Both Link and Mipha started to shrink back in their seats. They weren't sure Zelda was aware of it, but her intonation was growing irater with each word. The warrior looked to his childhood friend for support, but she gave a puzzled look telling him that she couldn't think of anything to say either. He turned back to the more physically uncomfortable Princess across from them.
"I never lied to you about the existence of the Slate."
"A lie by omission is a lie all the same, Link!"
"That wasn't my intent at all. What you said is true, that the red Slate came from dubious origins and its consequences were unknown. But were any ill to befall anyone, I'd much rather be the first to take its wrath before any fallout were to reach your majesty's feet. It's merely my duty as your knight."
Consequences. Duty. Knight.
Your majesty.
These were the words that hummed through Zelda's mind. She had been shown a lot of information in less than half a day, much of it saddening, but this was different. She didn't feel depression from these words. Nor happiness. Neither regret nor the familiar heart-skipping phenomenon when she was alone with him. It wasn't an unfamiliar emotion, but it was quite a long time since she felt such a feeling.
It was anger.
"Link, you are my appointed knight, and as such your duty is to protect me from any and all physical harm that may beset me in these lands. That is for certain. When it comes to the faculties of the mind, of metaphysics, you need not shield me from the uncertain realities. I may still have a lot to learn, but I've accumulated a great deal of wisdom in my years, and I would have been more than happy to share the burden with you. If reuniting you with Mipha was your goal, I would have been in your corner every step of the way, even if it failed."
So much strain was indexed between Zelda's furrowed brows, her crinkled nose, and rosy cheeks, that she could feel an irritating sensation flanking both valleys between nose and cheek. She brought a finger to her face to rub it, only to pull it back and notice they were tears. Not tears of happiness, nor tears of despair.
"I had spent… my entire life preparing to address difficult decisions. Day after day, my father and instructors would force me to read, to lecture me on royal dilemmas and the responsibilities of leadership, including consequences. I had never felt more alone… until I met you. I had thought that after everything we had gone through, you could trust my emotional constitution to stand tall next to yours."
The silence at the break between words hurt the ears. Even Scott, who had only recently joined their retinue, could feel the emotional weight crushing the four of them. The others felt that they were trapped in an extended Stasis while she parsed more words.
"I get it, it's only natural for you to come to my defense, and your intentions were nothing short of noble. It is your eternal duty, as my appointed knight."
'Phew' At least this would blow over soon, Link thought.
Too soon, perhaps.
Because Zelda was picking up her belongings. Her Royal Guard's Bow was holstered on her back once more, just as her quiver snaked its way around her belt.
"…which is why it needs to be changed."
'Huh?'
"Sir Link, last of the Knights of the old Kingdom of Hyrule," she continued, in an unusually formal tone. "By the powers vested within my father, the late King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule, you were appointed the personal knight of myself, Crown Princess Zelda, in the name of combating Calamity Ganon and safeguarding the realm. On behalf of the Kingdom, you have my eternal gratitude. With the threat to Hyrule vanquished for generations, your task is now complete."
"Link," Mipha whispered. "Is she doing what I think…?"
"As reward for your service, you were to be granted indefinite leave from your duties and a retirement to a life of leisure. While I cannot currently provide the latter, the former is completely within my power, which I shall grant, effective immediately."
Even Scott was shocked. "Princess Zelda," he pleaded, "surely you jape?"
She wasn't.
"It is decreed. As Crown Princess, wielder of the divine magic of the Goddess Hylia and through right of the Hyrulean Royal Family, from henceforth, Link shall no longer be my appointed knight. You are dismissed."
Zelda wasn't finished, as she turned next to Scott. "As for my personal safety, it will be of no consequence. I have decreed that Sir Scott, the first in the new line of Hyrule's Knights, shall serve as my personal escort in your stead."
None could believe the words being uttered in this scenario. Not in a million years. Yet here they were, and for what? The only question was who had the best reaction. Was it Link, the silent wielder of the Master Sword, giving a pale look to the Princess with mouth agape, yet no words leaving his mouth? Was it Scott, who was immediately thrust into the spotlight involuntarily, and now overshadowed the one he viewed as his idol? Or was it Mipha, whose amber eyes bulged out of their sockets, her usual pomp as unstable as riptide, and her head-tail being thoroughly petted by her hands?
The latter finally found the courage within herself to stand tall against her sovereign, her legs jittering as she stepped forward, between Link and her target audience.
"Princess Zelda," she said. "I'm not entirely sure of what's going on, but you surely know as well as I, that Link meant no offense toward you, and he remains fiercely loyal to Hyrule's Royal Family above all else."
Zelda didn't even look back at them as she walked off. "I'm not so sure about that, Mipha. The Champion's Tunic that I sewed for him tells me that his loyalties lie elsewhere."
'…and that I'm no longer his Princess. The light has been eclipsed by the three moons.'
It took a good minute for Scott to realize that he had been standing completely still, as if he were a spectator to a dream, and only noticed it when Zelda had almost stormed out of sight. He hastily walked up to Link, who looked completely downtrodden and refused to raise his head from its droopy position and bowed before he was to take off. He turned to Mipha, looking for any guidance or understanding for a scenario none of them asked for.
"Sometimes, time is the only sedative, my mother used to tell me." Mipha had by now interlaced her left fingertips with Link's right, to comfort him. "Don't worry about us, we will keep the eastern portion of the realm safe. Please look after the Princess until we meet again, Sir Scott."
Without saying a word, the aforementioned Knight nodded one last time, before heading off after his Princess. At the very last second, he noticed something glimmer on the grass beside the campsite. He moved over and bent down to pick it up from the overgrown glades.
It was the Sheikah Slate. It's brilliant blue aura indicated that it was Zelda's, to be specific. She would definitely need this.
The Sheikah hurried after her with all deliberate speed, but his gaze was firmly fixated on the Slate. He could never know that such a small device, or rather a copy of it, could lead to so much frustration. He had only seen it briefly in action, but its works far betrayed the mere size of the tablet. He particularly liked the phenomenon that occurred when the lights shuttered out, and he could see a reflection of his face in the center. The reflection was in black and white, so he mentally joked to himself that he was gazing at Sir Link himself.
The last part filled him with a sensation that he never felt up until now. As he looked deeper into the reflection, his mind started replaying the exchange that had just occurred at the camp. As Zelda's words grew more pained and isolated, so too did his thoughts grow more hurt and irate. He had never seen his Princess, someone as wise, caring, and mentally capable as her, in such an emotionally charged display, and he hated that. What good was an appointed knight if he couldn't protect the Princess from all forms of harm, physical and emotional?
For the first time, he imagined himself drawing his ebony blade at the climax of the exchange, to challenge the metaphorical cad who had inflicted such mental distress upon his lady to a duel. What's more, he imagined himself stabbing Link through the heart. The boundaries of his vision started to turn a bright, dark rouge, and his grip on the Slate grew ever tighter.
Thwack!
The sound of Scott colliding face first into a tree trunk grabbed even Zelda's attention. He never had a chance. The bruise was well-deserved.
"Are you okay, Scott?" The Princess immediately rushed to his side, bending down to place a hand over the bruise.
He looked over to her, noticing the genuine look of concern on her face, but also the trail of dried tears and the creases of her furrowed brows. He felt guilty taking even a moment of her attention for himself.
"I will be fine, I am grateful for your aid, my Princess, but please don't waste your energies on me."
His words did him no good, and he sat still for a minute while she cleaned him up with a cloth. With that matter settled, both stood up and prepared to descend down to the town below.
"Oh, Princess, you forgot this." Scott reached to the ground and presented the Sheikah Slate to Zelda, who upon viewing it gave a… disappointed look?
"I don't need that device any longer. You may keep it if you wish."
It was strange, coming from someone who was as forward-thinking as her, but Scott wasn't one to disobey orders. He took the Slate and placed it within his pouch for the time being. He was sure that she would change her mind eventually, so it did no harm to care for it until that day arrived.
A/N: I apologize for my long hiatus, but I hoped you enjoyed this chapter.
I had initially taken a break from writing to reassess my style and pick apart places for improvement. Needless to say, there was a never-ending list. I've taken what each of you had said into deep consideration as I wrote this chapter. Which probably explains why this was the most time-consuming one to write so far, but we should only produce and present our best work. Hopefully this time everything will make more sense and the writing will be clearer. It will be especially important in regards to Mipha.
Just note that in this story, not everything is as it seems.
Cheers!