Watcher Navo was a weird man. Perhaps it had been preordained; after all, he'd been a hatchling of a lengthy line of Watchers, those Zora deemed worthy of keeping watch over, not merely the reservoir, but of Vah Ruta herself. Such an activity might have demanded a certain level of oddity, perhaps; it often required a certain level of separateness from the other Zora, if only due to the amount of attention to detail.

The water levels, so incredibly important when the basin was basically home to a massive water-producing machine, had to be monitored at all times. With the detail of a skilled mathematician, with only the entirety of Hyrule upon their shoulders, the Watchers had to maintain the most delicate of balances; too much water and the reservoir would overflow, causing a traumatic effect not only to the higher beings of Hyrule, but to every form of life, yet too little, the receding waters would fail to be high enough to exit, should the land require water in a drought, or for unfulfilled seasons of crops that might threaten starvation.

Another matter of immense importance came to the maintenance of Vah Ruta itself. Having spent, apparently, the duration of its existence halfway beneath the water's surface, the Watchers were routinely expected to clear debris or chip away rust whenever it began to form, another task that seemed tailor-made for the people inhabiting the same realm. This was all before the interior maintenance, which required all the same care, as well as tending to the basin itself; a truly laborious task, one that Navo himself had, after enough years, had turned into something of a labor of love.

That very thing, however, was what made him such a trusted man for the task, even if it were to become something of a detriment. Coming from a line of Watchers, all bred for the task, Navo had been expected to offer at least one child to arise in his stead to be anything of a worthy successor to serve Vah Ruta, but between his odd mind already, as well as his eyes, only for the Divine Beast's care, it soon enough became a problem as the man aged with nothing of an heir.

This had all transpired before Mipha's own birth, however; by the time she'd come up into the world of the Zora, Navo's spouse had already passed away as a result of her first, and only spawn. However his bride had managed to take the man's heart, Mipha had only ever known him as ever more cloistered within his awkwardity, his affections for Vah Ruta further calcified, as if to make up for no longer having a wife. Sadly, as a result, he progressively bored a strenuous relationship with his daughter, now a child, who often went on being raised by the other Zora in preparation for guiding the reservoir in the future.

"So, please, just- Don't take any offense," Mipha explained as she concluded her tale, "He's a good man. A very good man. Just- His heart had already been scarred by being alone for so long, so after losing somebody who meant to much-"

She sighed, lowering her head in respect, "It's not you guys. He's like this with everybody."

Traversing the soggy earth that made up the pathway from Zora's Domain to the East Reservoir, the Champions couldn't help but admire the immense sheet of solid architecture that seemed to tear through the earth before rising up toward the endless heavens above, making up the western edge of the mighty reservoir. Revali, specifically, stroked the plumage at his neck with interest, his narrowed eyes sizing up the gigantic show of technological prowess.

"Don't worry," Link assured Mipha, breaking the Rito from his deepening thoughts, "Perhaps the goddess knew about this encounter and brought Revali to us in order to prepare us for scathing critiques and off-putting dialogue."

Revali's head fell to the side in astute reply, "I understand your attempt to insult me, Hylian, though I would argue thick skin is needed in this world. I would not apologize for granting unto you a more resilient hide."

With a boisterous vigor, Daruk began to chuckle, patting his arm proudly as he eyed Link, "Guess I do got'ya beat there, Brother!"

"I do mean within yourself, Goron," Revali confirmed with a hint of revulsion in his voice, "Despite my valiant composition, I never would have reached my current state of grandeur had I not the wherewithal to press on whenever I was told to roll over and perish."

Shrugging, Revali boasted easily, "Perhaps this man here, Navo- He's overcome much in his life, yet he still stands boldly at his post. His ambition may yet be made of sterner stuff."

Mipha couldn't help but smile weakly at such a hopeful description made of one of her people, yet she ultimately knew that Revali's opinion might very well change soon enough. Not a moment later, the reason for the Rito's declaration became rather clear.

"Unlike this Hylian, here," he muttered, offering a presenting hand in Link's direction, "Given any accolades by little of his own merit."

Link challenged lightly, cocking his head toward the Sword slung beneath his backpack, "Hey, I did fifteen sit-ups before trying my hand at this Sword."

"Pah! and then you resort to humor," Revali complained.

Daruk grinned, "You say that, yet so much of what you say is hilarious!"

"Unintentionally, I'm sure," replied Revali with a tame voice, "I'm still attempting to understand the last one."

Link was quick to bring Daruk to a halt, "Best you don't bring this up. The less he knows, the more amusing his words will be."

"Just keep your feeble attention on my presentation, Hylian. Soon enough, when my name is etched upon the very stone upon which histories are written, none of your quips will be remembered," Revali shrugged, turning his attention to the wall of the reservoir, "Just like this grandiose construction here! See how it tears through the very firmament that contains so many of this world's life? I shall do the very same!"

"I, for one, admire that resilience," Zelda spoke up happily, "I know very little of your culture, admittedly, but I do understand enough to know how you came into this world and how you've persevered! Like I told the others back at Sanadin- it's why I selected you!"

Link turned toward her, "Selected?! I thought we just asked for whomever their Elder could afford?"

Sticking out her tongue, Zelda teased, "Gotcha!"

Nodding reverently, Revali explained, "Yes, my parents abandoned me before I had even hatched. Such things for us Rito are particularly barbaric; nobody would have me. So from my own existence as a hatchling, I made my own way in this world. You'd be wise to recognize such abilities as you transition into kingship."

"Oh, I certainly will!" Zelda exuberantly replied.

Urbosa replied, "It's an unfortunate way to begin a life, I'll grant you that."

"Bah, I don't require any sympathy," Revali immediately halted her, "I've amassed much experience and ability so that such things are no longer afforded me! You only need to see the man I am today."

Smirking, Link shook his head, "Oh, trust me, we have."

Before Revali could retort, Mipha's bright timbre carried an unfortunate topic as she spoke up, "I hate it for you nonetheless. We Zora care for all our children, regardless of parental ownership. In fact, it's nearly a collective thing to begin with; all our taddies sleep amongst all the other Zora as if they are bred up by everybody, as they quite honestly are."

She smiled lightly, "Even after my mother passed, it was nice to know I had so many people to turn to… I hate that you hadn't the same ability."

A quick scoff left Revali as he shrugged, "Such things would have only impeded my progress, if not stripped from me the very drive I hold now. Examining myself now, my mother abandoning me must have been the best thing to happen to me."

The collective mood gradually began to dim at such words, though Revali didn't seem to notice, his eyes simply returning to the ever-growing cliff of solid, smooth ore that only increased in radiance as they approached. Zelda turned to catch Mipha's head having fallen, smiling only with the most heart-wrenching of weakened smiles as she strode along. She reached over to gently hold onto the Zora's shoulder, causing Mipha to jerk slightly in surprise as her head bolted upward to match Zelda's soft expression, knowing that the two of them, without a mother, couldn't have so readily accepted a fate that Revali had. In some ways- in many ways- the two of them would be mourning well on into their lives.

"P-! P-! APPROACHETH!" came a sudden, shrill outcry from up ahead, a rather lithe Zora rushing in their direction as they quickly slammed a hand into the sliding visor of their helmet to yank it shut, hiding their face behind a mask of metal, "Who approacheth the Reservoir? WHO?!"

He came to a halt not a few strides away, spreading his feet into a defensive posture as he threw is arms ahead of him, aiming his spear in the direction of the Champions. Despite his helmet, much of his body was quite readily exposed to combatants; even though Link was aware of how powerful scales could be, he knew how foolish such a thing might be if a Zora sought protection.

"WHO?!" he repeated, jabbing the air with his spear as Mipha hurried to the fore.

"N-Navo!" she shouted in worry, "It's just me!"

A tepid growl came from the man behind the iron helmet, "H- H- How do I know you're not an im-…POSTER? Eh?!"

Daruk scratched his head as he turned toward Mipha, "How're you supposed to-"

"SI-! SILENCE!"

The Zora suddenly jabbed his spear at Daruk, poking rather roughly at the Goron's stomach which forced a confused glance from Daruk, "Hey now!"

"Y-YEAH! There's m- more where that came from if you remain in- inso- in-SOLENT!"

Daruk's face fell with worry as he examined the jittery man before him, Navo's body immediately whipping to the side in self-defense as Mipha created movement, reaching up to her neck to pull apart one of her necklaces before offering it to the man.

"See?" she asked with a smile.

The soldier readily stepped back as she slowly offered her hand, a rather quick, violent movement as far as Navo was concerned, before examining the ornate jewelry for a moment, stepping only so much closer to better eye the piece. Quickly, his head jarred upward toward the others, retreating another step before readying his spear once again.

"And-! And them!" he demanded, a shaky tenor hiding in his authoritative tone, "What do I make of- of them?!"

Mipha quietly offered as she pulled her arm back into herself, "They're my friends. This is-"

She pointed along in introduction.

Daruk nodded.

Urbosa, arms crossed, simply pursed her lips in hastening thought if the man before her were to strike in a sudden, brazen show of aggression.

Revali's eyes remained strained, as if in disbelief that he'd defended this man only a moment earlier.

Link blankly looked up, unsure of what to make of the current situation.

Saved for last in a show of respect, Mipha finally introduced, "And this is Princess Z-"

"P- Pyu- Putrid Hylians! All of them!" Navo weakly asserted as his eyes traced the two swords on Link's person, "Muzu's said as much!"

Mipha countered with a soft tone, motioning toward Link, "But Link has been here before. Remember those Hylian bands that used to visit?"

His body shivering, Navo's masked head whipped back and forth between the two, finally locking onto Link, "D- D- Does he- know the- the evopha? Huh?!"

The Champions' head all turned quizzically toward Link as his pack hit the ground, sighing lightly as he broke through the group toward Navo's direction as the Zora suddenly raised his spear, breathing heavily enough for the air to ring as it passed through the grates of iron in his visor. Mipha watched hopefully, though with worry, knowing what was about to transpi-

Navo unleashed his arms like a bowstring, his spear careening through the air toward Link's chest before the Hylian immediately injected a burst of spin into his movement, whipping to the side as he hopped into the air, forcing his foot atop Navo's spear and directing in straight into the ground as he fell in the grand display of a graceful parry. As his feet hit the ground, however, Link slipped upon the moist surface below, falling backward with a THUD as he lay there seething.

"Oww…"

Still with a weak stammering, Navo's voice reappeared with a new curiosity, "You know to parry like a Zora."

"It's- gah! …been a while," Link offered as Daruk stepped over to help him up.

Navo turned to the others, "What of you all?"

Immediately recoiling, Zelda's arms flew against her chest in fright, eyes widening at the thought of emulating a soldier, though Urbosa immediately stepped forward with a chuckle, "I haven't a clue what that was! but no time like the present to learn, eh, fish boy?"

"F-Fish boy..?" Navo wondered, confused, before readying himself beneath Urbosa's mighty and fierce posture.

Before much else could incur the wrath of her father, Mipha stepped forward with a sigh, "Okay. Urbosa, step down. Navo, calm down. I know your intentions are true, but-"

"My in- in- ten- intentions are to do what I've been d- doing, proudly, for decades!" Navo clarified, his hands still straddling the hilt of his spear with a tightness that revealed the spongy skin between the cracks of his scales.

Mipha sighed, her lips curling thoughtfully, "How's Gaddison?"

"Gaddi-" Navo paused, his voice tinged with shock as if not having anticipated such a direct question, "She- She's fine. I, uh-"

Suddenly at ease, Navo lowered his head, "One of- She- A tutor brought her up here the other day. She, uh- I don't remember the last time she wanted- to see me."

Her smile falling into a something of a regretful expression, Mipha spoke up quietly, "Did it go well?"

"Y- Yeah…" the man nodded slowly, "She'd brought- She had stuff for a picnic, so- I taught her the v- various parts of Vah Ruta, so- so she'd, uh-"

Mipha bowed her head in acknowledgement, "I know. I'm happy for you two."

"Th- Tha- Thank you," Navo answered in kind, "What, uh- What events bring you here today?"

Taking a moment to consider how to progress, Mipha attempted to tactfully ask aloud, "Well, the Princess here, Zelda-"

Zelda raised a hand with a crooked smile, wiggling her fingers hers in something if a playful wave.

"-she's a scholar of sorts, so we've all been sort of exploring and learning all that we can about the Guardians, the Sheikah, the Divine Beasts-"

Even before she finished, Navo's glare grew sour, forcing Mipha to reorient her question mid-stride, "so, you know, I figured who better to ask than a Watcher themselves when it came to Vah Ruta."

Although his skittish nature seemed to have been quelled, it only seemed to have heightened Navo's skepticism, his eyes narrowing as they ran along the line of foreign beings standing before him. The Zora shook his head plainly in reply, gripping tightly onto his spear as if anticipating an unwelcoming reply from the others.

"Not without the approval of my lee- liege," Navo concluded, "I apologize, Lady Mipha, b- but I cannot afford even your word any con- sid- consideration on this matter."

He eyed the others, "Foul beings lurk where you least expect them to."

"Now hold on-!" Urbosa challenged before Mipha's voice rose to interrupt her.

"Thank you, Navo. We did not mean to be a bother," she turned to the other Champions, "We'll inquire further with my father and return tomorrow."

Navo's shoulder twitched, "Perhaps you should w- wait longer than that to ask. Word along the stream is that King Dorephan is en- tertaining a rather seedy character in his chambers. Some even have said the guest was completely cl- cloaked in robes, guided by an entourage of even more menacing individuals."

Mipha's brow furrowed curiously, unsure of how to take this rumor. She instinctively turned toward Link, who shrugged in reply, before returning to Navo.

"Thank you for letting me know. I already have Tovar gathering what he can from the Domain ranks. If word has spread even out here to the Watchers, it mustn't be a benign sort of gossip," she explained with a down turned tone in her voice, unsure of what had arrived in her home.

Navo nodded, "I a- apo- apologize if I've caused any t- trouble."

"Maybe not to her," Urbosa suddenly charged with a pithy tlne, earning Navo's ironclad glare.

The sun had begun to set as the Champions returned to Zora's Domain, with Mipha remaining rather fretful as they'd made their way back atop the pristine material that made up the entire platformous design of the grand location. Link could tell she was forcing herself to keep from fleeing ahead of the others, biting back her energy to retain that group-energy, though perhaps it had also been some apprehension at the thought of what might be happening. Her form was slouched forward, as if ready to pounce, even as they all rounded the ramp way that would take them just outside Dorephan's chamber.

"What do you think it might be?" Urbosa asked aloud quizzically, "Seems rather odd that they'd arrived before we had, yet that Zora at the head of the river spoke nothing of their presence to his own Princess."

Mipha sighed, "They must have been Zora, in that case; it's the only reason Hakes wouldn't have thought it necessary to mention."

"And at that," Zelda surmised in studious fashion, "Navo had said the lot of them had seemed rather seedy, right? You think they might be that Niq squad?"

Link shrugged, "They're a fringe group, so I doubt their ability to gain King Dorephan's attention for such a dramatic length of time."

"True," Mipha agreed quietly to herself.

Her hand raised to her chin, fingers stroking her skin there, Urbosa asked Mipha with a serene authoritativeness, as if in the same vein as an instructor, "Are you afraid..?"

Such a question was off-putting, yet as Mipha clamored for a reply, she soon discovered that she certainly had harbored something of worry, weakly admitting as much as she answered, "I mean… It's so out of character for my father… Not extending an audience, I mean."

"Your father's wisdom is known even to us Gerudo," Urbosa nodded helpfully, smiling brightly as she swift gave the Zora princess a pat upon the shoulder, "I'm sure whatever has him subdued, it is merely for the sake of the people he leads."

"-Here comes Tovar," Link suddenly perked up to get the others' attention, though Revali only gave a critical scowl as the high-ranking soldier approached.

The older man nodded respectfully, earning the same from Mipha, before beginning, "I asked all of my soldiers, and the ones who saw the procession mention a handful of six Zora escorting another cloaked figure, which seemed to bear the silhouette of a Zora themselves, though some were not sure. They wouldn't answer to anybody but the Council of Elders, so they were taken to the Chamber for an audience with Dorephan, though any eavesdropping was ceased not a few minutes in. Muzu had the entrance sealed."

Tovar gave a skeptical glare toward the huge precipice of tail fins that covered Dorephan's Chamber, "Mapor was guarding the area. He said Muzu's face was not one of a calm man."

Worry crept further up Mipha's spine as the Champions turned toward the Chamber, following Tovar's lead as the entrance to the Chamber suddenly began to open, majestic doorways split apart as a small chorus of ragged-looking Zora began to stroll out back into the general space of the Domain. Their faces were brusque, scales torn, scars painting so many of their bodies, one's dorsal fin ripped half-off while yet another had nearly the entire fin atop their head torn off.

"Hile and Toko said they wouldn't have allowed them entry under normal means," Tovar spoke gravelly, the group of him and the Champions with their eyes glued to the shady collection of battle-scarred Zora, finally followed by the same cloaked figure, stepping out covered in ornate, thick robes, even covering their face. Another Zora, easily the least scarred of the bunch, so much so that he might even be called pristine, held the figure's arm and guided them as if the one within the shroud were truly sightless beneath those sheets.

"…however," Tovar muttered, "At least one of them used to be among us Zora here at the Domain."

Daruk, his face curled in consternation, wondered aloud, "Are there Zora who aren't from here?"

"Not many, so far as we know," Tovar replied cooly, "We've had a few undesirables forced into exile, oftentimes because of them being a nuisance or violent to others. That said-"

The shape of a head beneath the cloak turned upward, only barely, turning to the side as if to examine the ground beside them as they blindly continued on- almost in the direction of the Champions.

Mipha felt a chill.

"-I wouldn't doubt tribes have sprung up elsewhere as a result. Much how Hylians have other settlements. It would make the membership within the Niq more clear," Tovar finished with a heated breath.

The figure dropped its head once again as its guide gripped their arm tighter, the young man peevishly turning his head to examine the Zora inhabiting the Domain, most of them watching with suspicion of the out-of-place guests. As they approached the stairway that led down to the vestibule, the two guards there keeping wary glances upon the arriving entourage. The largest Zora of the bunch, a massive, burly sort, threw his shoulders toward them, his presence enormous enough to cause the two soldiers to recoil as the guests progressed, laughing amongst themselves with a jockish air.

"They certainly don't look friendly," Urbosa surmised with a pithy air, scowling as she did so.

"Not at all," Zelda confirmed with a low tone in her voice, sizing up the small school of Zora trouncing along as if they owned the place.

Not long after the entryway had become vacant, Mipha began forcefully stepping up the ramp to find her father for an explanation, Tovar quick to follow her with his eyes as she strode up to the guards there with a regal air reverberating along her scales.

"I need to see my fa-!"

"He said he would take no more visitors," the guard, Mapor, interrupted, his powerful voice immediately surrendering itself to a soft tone as his shoulders slumped, not thrilled at having to say such a thing to his princess, "I'm sorry Lady Mipha."

She watched him with a critical stare, though her brow was furrowed in concern, more in an effort to show him that she wasn't angry at him, merely frustrated by the situation, before whipping her head around her shoulder to watch the strangers saunter off out of view as they made their way down the staircase.

A deep breath overtook her as her eyes remained still.

Who might they have been to bring her father, the King, to silence?

A/N: I understand that, on the whole, people don't seek out fan-fiction to read about original characters (which is unfortunate since, when I wrote 'Scales', I never knew I'd write 'Tale', so I used up all the in-game people in that story wherein Link MEETS them, so they can't very well be introduced here!) so hopefully any and all of my OCs are enjoyable or captivating enough for you guys to get some sense of attachment or amusement out of them- I just don't want them to be out of place if at all possible.

That said, as shown in the 'prologue' of this Vah Ruta part of the story, Dolare, Mipha's 'brother', becomes the main antagonist, and while I originally thought of him to be a simple antagonist, giving the Champions most of the character stuff in this part, as I've constructed him in my mind, he's become SO much more of a character that'd I'd love to explore while he's in the story here.

So, my question for you guys is basically how willing are you to read up on original characters versus in-game characters? I would love to do some flashback chapters on Dolare, which will obviously be 90% my own canon for the most part, but if you guys aren't interested, I've zero problem sticking to the story as-in and leaving my OC stuff pittered in throughout instead of being so focused on.

I'll leave it up to you guys in terms of suggestions or thoughts! I know there's a stigma toward OCs, but if you read my other stuff, you'll quickly find that I have no problem making my OCs vulnerable, interesting, and deep characters whom I've zero inhibitions about killing off if need be xD On my social media (same username as here) I'll often contemplate these problems, so if you'd like my thoughts, you can go check those out and see some of what I have in mind for Dolare if you're interested :D