Link was practically carried by Mipha and the guard captain as they walked over the last bit of the bridge. He had one arm around Mipha and one around the captain. They set Link down onto a nearby bench beside the stable they'd created for Hylians. Link painfully grabbed a hold of his leg as the arrow moved slightly. He felt pain shoot from his thigh as he slammed down onto the bench and groaned in pain. He shook his head to clear his mind and regretted it as his headache worsened.

The stable was made of the same blueish-silver metal as everything else. There were hints of luminous stone speckled throughout the metal. It was, simply put, three walls with a convex semi-circle for a roof. There were half walls that rose up in perfect unison inside of the small shack. That's where the horses would go to feed and have any water there would need. Epona wandered around near the stable—her reins dragging on the ground. Someone would eventually coax her into one of the stalls, but for now she wandered idly.

Mipha crouched down beside Link. "You're crazy! We could have stayed with you and helped!"

Mipha began looking over him as the flabbergasted guards brought Epona to the stable or lurked around gawking at Link. Many people had seen the marksmanship and skill he had displayed but they had also seen his unlucky fall. Even though it was a bad idea to begin with, the Zora's were all convinced that it was just a stroke of bad luck—no matter how much Link tried to convince them otherwise.

Link looked up with a grin and bloodshot eyes at the persistent worrying of Mipha. He knew that she wasn't angry at him; she just didn't like to see him in danger. Link frowned as pain spiked from every inch of his body. Maybe he should play things a little safer next time.

"You know I couldn't put you in danger."

"Don't forget that I saved you at the end."

Link furrowed his brows, he was optimistic that he would have killed the Bokoblin before it could create a killing blow on him. Of course he knew how bad condition he was in and wasn't 100% sure. Either way he liked to keep his pride. Link was about to voice his thoughts as Mipha grabbed hold of the arrow embedded in his thigh.

"They say surprise will take away most of the pain…" Mipha spoke uncertainty as she tried to get a good grip on the slick arrow. It had already been broken in half and she was trying to get a solid grip. But it was also sleeked by the blood and rain, which didn't help her situation.

Link looked at her in dismay and then back to the arrow. He grit his teeth and spoke through them, "are you sure about that?"

"Sort of, either way I can't heal you with that thing still in there. So… on three?"

Link nodded his acquiescence to her. She took a deep breath and started the countdown.

"Okay… one... two... three!"

Link had his eyes shut as he heard the end of the countdown. He held his breath in anticipation while waiting for the flash of pain. He held it for a couple seconds and realized something was wrong. Mipha hadn't pulled out the arrow.

Link opened his eyes in confusion and looked Mipha. "What's taking so-" Link shut his mouth instantly as Mipha finally pulled out the arrow-she'd intentionally delayed pulling it out.

Link pushed air of out of his lungs silently in a surprised gasp of pain. He leaned back and slammed a fist down into his other leg, trying to take his mind off of the sudden, searing pain. Mipha quickly clasped both her hands over the wound and started healing it.

She looked up apologetically saying, "Sorry, but you were distracted."

Link bit his tongue and closed his eyes nodding his head painfully. He knew she was right. But it didn't mean he had to agree with her.

More and more people were beginning to gather around and gawk at the arrival of their royalty. All the Zora's would constantly make a big fuss about the entrance for royalty. But this was a scene they didn't want to see. Mipha let out a minor sigh of relief as she didn't see Sidon anywhere nearby.

Mipha looked up quickly at the captain of the guard and he jumped at her look of displeasure. He waved his hands and shouted to everyone gathering around, "nothing to see around here! We'll answer questions later but for now return to your daily lives!"

People muttered and began to slowly walk off as they kept their eyes on the injured prince and his princess.

Mipha slowly lifted her hands off Link's thigh and saw the arrow wound had fully sealed up. It left a neat little scar that could be seen through the torn fabric. Mipha looked Link up and down and decided the rest could wait until they were in a more private area. It wasn't good press to show the Champion so beat up just shortly after arriving.

It was only minor cuts and bruises that remained. The Zora armour would be able to slowly disperse her healing powers and heal all his wounds equally. She presumed they'd all come from the nasty fall she witnessed as Epona basically threw Link off her back.

Link looked up slightly from his exhaustion and saw Mipha stand up looking at him expectantly. He motioned to stand up, but Mipha suddenly shoved him back down. He looked at her in pained worry as she glared at him. He couldn't tell what she was thinking. It was a mix of motherly protection, anger and love. She leaned closer to him with a serious expression.

"Next time, let me come with you. I'm not separating from my Champion as easily as that ever again. Now come on, we need you to be cleaned up before everyone in Zora's Domain gets to goggle at you."

Link collapsed onto the waterbed behind him. He didn't notice that the bed had been completely remade since he'd been there last. Link was too exhausted to notice anything at the moment.

He flinched when he felt a damp cold cloth press against his forehead. Mipha smiled as she looked down at him saying, "Don't be a wuss. Now sit up and let me heal the rest of these cuts and bruises."

Link grinned, knowing she was overselling himself. He'd guessed that Mipha enjoyed taking care of him. He also he enjoyed having her close with him. It was a win-win scenario and there was no way that Link wasn't going to take advantage of that. However, all thoughts of enjoying her gentle touch faded as did all other thought—He was too exhausted to think.

Link weakly raised a hand saying, "Do you mind if I sleep? I could really sleep right now…" his words drifted off as he leaned back further into the water filled mattress.

Suddenly, he felt re-invigorated and his eyes opened more easily than earlier. If felt as if they weren't being weighed down anymore.

He felt wide awake as he sat back up straighter than he had before. Too bad, he'd actually been looking forward to sleeping. He looked down at Mipha's hand clasped over his chest and the soft glow from his armour. It was soothing as it slowly healed all his cuts and bruises.

Mipha spoke innocently, "Whoops, looks like you won't be getting to sleep for a while now."

Link's shoulders slumped as he said; "Now that's just rude."

Mipha grinned as she watched the ugly yellowish spots begin to disappear as she said, "Just try to be more careful next time okay? That was a risky decision."

Link cracked his knuckles saying, "It was, I'll admit that." He looked down as Mipha concentrated on pumping energy into Link's wounds. He placed a hand gently over hers and asked, "Did you have any problem getting here?"

She shook her head saying, "Nothing other than a Moblin that almost landed on us."

"Yeah… sorry about that."

Mipha smiled as she took her hand slightly off of Link and looked him up and down. There were spots of dirt and splattered blood that would have to be washed off but all the cuts disappeared. She also made sure that she had put a little extra energy into the armour to keep Link awake for the next while. They still needed to check in with her father as their entrance to Zora's Domain had been completely ruined.

She looked at Link and studied his face as he inspected his armour. She was glad he was okay and thought about the odd connection they had. He instinctively put himself in danger and she enjoyed having someone protect her. But Mipha also took pride in taking care of, and supporting, others, which is what Link deeply enjoyed. She drifted out of her thoughts as Link started inspecting the armour closely.

"What are you doing?" She asked with a tilted head.

Link answered without looking up, "It's not damaged is it?" Mipha smiled at the care he was taking at preserving the armour. She'd heard about how he always destroyed his equipment. Yet here he was, making sure he didn't damage the armour she'd given him. She pressed the cloth against his jaw and wiped away a small line of dirt.

Mipha tried to keep contain her affection as she spoke. "It's perfect, don't worry."

He looked down at her and said softly, "Thank you."

Mipha smiled back and said, "You're welcome, although you will need a bath. After all, my father is the king."

Link looked down at himself saying, "Yeah... I probably do."

Mipha flicked her eyes at the closet door saying, "there's one at the end of there. There's a hidden compartment on the back wall. Just push against it and it should just open up like a regular door. It's where I usually get ready for the day or hide from unwanted visitors. You'd be surprised how often that happens." Link bowed slightly in thanks and stood up stiffly. He knew exactly what she meant by the last part. Zelda always had messengers arriving with news she already knew or someone that needed an irrelevant task done that she just didn't have the time for. Link grinned as he knew that Zelda would kill for a secret room inside of her own bedroom.

He rubbed his sore leg as he put his fully body weight on it. It was still sore, but didn't flash with pain anymore. It felt more like a cramped muscle. "That's gonna hurt for a while."

"You did fall off of a galloping horse."

"Really? When?"

Link re-entered Mipha's main bedroom as he dried off his hair. He had brought along all his clothes and belongings with him and had a pair of his beige trousers on as he dried off his chest and hair. He laid the towel on the edge of the bed. It was now that he realized it wasn't a shallow pool any longer. Since they'd left, it had been completely replaced by one of the beds you'd find at the inn. It was a flat mattress that was filled with water. There was the elegant, yet simple, silver designs ever-present on the sides of the frame. Link raised an eyebrow realizing that she had most likely premeditated the decision to change it, knowing he'd come to live in Zora's Domain. Did she really know before I did? Wait… did she convince me to come here? Link shook his head as conspiracies began to run rampant. He looked to Mipha who was sitting at her desk.

She was leaned back in the chair with both her legs up on the desk. She looked more like a schoolgirl than a princess as she scribbled in the small diary in her hands. She slammed it shut immediately when Link spoke.

"So you had an entrance planned?" Mipha glanced up in surprise and started forward when she saw Link without his shirt.

Mipha was always been around fit, and fairly muscular, Zora men when she trained with her trident. And seeing as how Zora's didn't wear traditional clothing, she would often see their bodies quite clearly. She'd never thought it odd or all too appealing other than just their normal looks. Yet somehow, seeing Link without the armour on felt different—it felt like a rare privilege. Maybe it was because she never really got a chance to see him like this.

She smiled, pleasantly surprised, and leaned back into her chair while trying to hide her blush. She scanned his body as she spoke.

"I am royalty you know. I wanted to be able to show you off instead of having to heal you from an arrow you stabbed into your own leg."

Mipha regretted her words as Link immediately frowned and put on the silk shirt. She saw it as a punishment as Link stood straight up and looked at her.

"Well, I like the idea of being shown off. And that arrow was not my fault. I just had a stroke of misfortune."

Mipha nodded and stood up saying, "alright alright, either way I assume you're feeling better now?" Link nodded and she spoke with a hint of exhaustion. "Good. Because it's getting late, so let's just talk to my father and be getting to sleep soon, okay?" Link slipped the Zora armour over his head and clasped it into place. He pulled the internal straps tight and saw it gently glow.

He sighed saying, "I'm not gonna be able to sleep tonight."

Mipha grinned sheepishly as she opened the bedroom door saying, "Oh, no need to worry about that. You won't be wearing it to bed anyways. Will you?"

Link raised an eyebrow at the obvious question. "I guess not."

Link left all his belongings in Mipha's room as they glided down the steps. She made sure to make Link walk slowly in case any of his wounds weren't fully healed.

It wasn't long before they exited the door of the palace that led up the winding staircase to the bedrooms. Lura was waiting outside the door and anxiously greeted Mipha and Link. She said, "And how's the couple? I heard about what happened out on the bridge. Although I can the story is distorted already as they say you stood on horseback while shooting." The Zora scoffed, "As if that's possible."

Link looked away and coughed to clear his throat. Mipha linked her arm with his saying, "Oh it's possible. That's what really happened."

Lura stopped in surprise and apologized quickly, "please forgive me your highness, I didn't realize tha-"

Mipha waved it off with a laugh saying, "You know you don't have to call me 'your highness.' And a little secret, he actually stabbed him self when he fell."

Link flicked his gaze over and glared at the both of them in frustrated silence. Lura grinned without looking at him saying, "It'll be our secret," Lura adopted her usual caretaker voice again, "Is there anything you need before I head to bed?"

Mipha shook her head saying, "No, go right ahead Lura, thank you. Actually, do make sure Sidon is actually asleep and hasn't snuck out like last time." Lura nodded and grinned at the memory. Sidon was, and always has been, against the notion of a bedtime.

Mipha bowed slightly as Lura curtseyed. Then Mipha strode off, basically dragging Link behind her as she did so. He caught up as she said, "Let's speak to my father and then we can relax until tomorrow. Healing like that just saps my energy you know."

Link sighed thinking, I could relax now. However he didn't say anything and followed Mipha's quick pace towards the throne room.

Dorephan seemed intimidating as ever as Link strode in behind Mipha. He looked up at her father and felt smaller than usual in every conceivable way. Link was used to being shorter than most people, but this was just insulting.

The room itself was like being inside of a huge egg. Arches replaced doorways and silver decorations lined the pearlescent walls. Link noticed a couple guards once in a while as they patrolled. He also saw that they had all their eyes on Mipha and himself.

Mipha stopped and Link did likewise. They were on the large platform that had only three steps up to it. Anyone who spoke with the king would customarily be on this platform unless they were a consultant beside the king. However, it was not customary to bow before the Zora king. It wasn't frowned upon but not required. Out of habit of his service to king Rhoame, Link got down on one knee and lowered his head.

It was customary in Hyrule to always bow to the King when he entered the room you were in or vice-a-versa. Being the Princess' body guard, that lesson had been taught, and re-taught, many times to Link. It was almost second nature to bow to royalty. But this was not the case for the Zora's. They weren't very big on customs, at least not as much as the Hylian's are.

Link waited for Dorephan to start talking but he never did. Link felt heat on his back from the cold stares from Mipha and Dorephan. He heard her whisper softly, "You don't need to do that." Link looked up in surprise at her and then slowly towards King Dorephan.

He had a large grin as he spoke to Link saying, "She's right you know. No need to bow before me like that. Although, I do appreciate the respect."

Link stood up flustered and brushed off his knees. He stood up straight and glanced back to Mipha, noticing she was calm and relaxed. He blinked twice and tried to relax his shoulders a little. Although he wasn't sure if he felt any more relaxed as he looked up to literal whale in front of them.

The large Zora smiled and said assuredly, "You'll get the hang of things around here quickly Link, don't worry. From what I've heard, you're already building quite the reputation around here." Link raised an eyebrow and Dorephan continued. He gestured towards where the main bridge would be outside of the throne room saying, "Gossip travels quickly."

Mipha squinted saying, "I assume you feel that we should improve the security around here? Especially for the road?"

Dorephan looked down wanting to object but saw the look on his daughters face. His mouth shut with an audible click and he looked at Link. Dorephan knew that Mipha could easily change his own mind. He almost felt bad for Link knowing that he wasn't going to be able to make his own choices for the rest of his life. Key word there being almost.

Dorephan opened his mouth again to say, "Yes… I think that is a good idea. Maybe the previous head guard of Hyrule security could help us with that." Link grinned slightly knowing that Mipha was giving him a great opportunity.

"I might have a few ideas. Everyone seems a little… relaxed… around here."

Link chose his words carefully to avoid offending the Zora's. Mipha nodded at the specificity and looked back to her father. He nodded exasperatedly and rubbed his chin. He stopped and changed the subject from his soldiers incompetency and back to a, hopefully, more lighthearted topic.

He leaned forward slightly asking, "So, how was Hyrule Castle? Any complications?" Mipha nodded saying, just one or two. But other than that, the castle and its hosts were splendid and welcoming." Dorephan looked at her expectantly, rolling his hand for her to go on. Mipha held herself high as she said, "just a new Hylian guard that was getting a little too close for comfort."

Dorephan squinted slightly in anger as he leaned back against his throne. He knew what she meant by the way she stressed the word "close." He hated the thought of someone trying to grab at his daughter. Mipha spoke quickly before he got the wrong idea of Hylians, "…but Link showed him how a Hylian should act and what a Champion is really made of."

Link looked thankfully over at her as she defended him and the rest of Hyrule castle. Although, he wasn't sure if she meant his Zora title, or Hylian title, when she said "Champion." He assumed it was the Zora rank and looked back up to the king.

Dorephan relaxed slightly knowing that nothing had come out of that encounter. He saw how relaxed Mipha was and decided she would have spoken differently if the man had gotten as close as Dorephan was imagining. He shook his head and asked, "What's the other thing that happened?"

Mipha looked at Link and then back to her father saying, "Dark Link happened."

"The attack failed?!" Dark Link stepped forward in fury towards the injured Bokoblin in front of him. The creature immediately regretted being the bearer of bad news and wished he had kept his mouth shut. It realized now why no one else had been willingly to tell Dark Link about the failure.

It tried to speak, "he was alone as he-" the creature was cut off as the back of Dark Link's hand slapped harshly across its cheek.

The Bokoblin stumbled and its leg seared in pain as it applied pressure on it. Looking back up with a hand on the stinging red mark, he saw Dark Link furiously looking down at him.

He shouted, "of course he was alone!" He has a master sword!" Dark Link reached back and slid out his own sword. It hissed with the familiar sound of leather on steel as he drew it out.

The sword itself was an exact replica of the master sword that Link also carried—except there were two distinct differences. The blade itself was tinted black and had no indication that it would ever glow. That was the first difference. Dark Link pointed the tip of the blade at the Bokoblin asking, "Do you know what this is?"

When the creature shook its head, Dark Link admired the blade and spoke of the second difference to Link's blade. His eyes glinted and his red pupils seemed to pulse as he said menacingly, "It's known as the sword that seals the light."

A silence grew in the tent and the candles flickered as the Bokoblin looked down in shame. Dark Link turned away saying, "of course he saw you coming and sent the princess to take the river. You know this blade will grow dark whenever someone who serves the light is nearby. That means that his sword will shine whenever someone who serves darkness is nearby. Capiche?"

The Bokoblin opened its mouth to say,

"Yes, I und-" it was cut off of by Dark Link.

Dark Link swivelled on his heels and shouted with more authority than before. "Did I say you could speak?! No I don't think so." He waited for the Bokoblin to stop quivering before he turned away and held up the Master Sword.

Dark Link tilted the blade to shine the candlelight off of it saying, "This blade can turn red also." He looked ominously down at the bokoblin asking, "Want to see how?" The creatures eyes grew wide and it was about to open its mouth in protest. But the Link was faster and swung the blade towards the Bokoblin's neck.

A second later, Dark Link watched the silver Bokoblin head roll to towards the other side of the tent—it was stopped by a table. He looked at his blade and grinned as it was clearly dripping red.

He spoke, half to himself, "My Deku tree put up more of a fight than you did."

Dark Link let the sword point fall slowly as he looked at the terrified Lizal beside him. He always had a messenger in his tent ready to go anywhere that Dark Link desired. Dark Link motioned for him to leave the tent as he sat down to wipe off his blade. He spoke quietly with an ominous tranquility.

"Get me another, more competent, commander."