Note: I went back and made corrections/added details to the previous seven chapters a week ago.

I'm also planning a new cover which should be done soon.

Next chapter will be Feb 3rd.

[Words: 2304]

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Chapter 8:

Zora's Domain

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Since leaving arriving in Lanayru, Lynk learnt:

1) Lizalfos are better taken out by range or stealth.

2) Sidon is Mipha's sister.

3) And…Sidon does not blame her for Mipha's death.

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If Lynk had to choose what, since waking up, had been the hardest thing she had faced was—it would be the damn journey to Zora's Domain.

The only thing she could say was: "Thank the Goddesses for Fairies."

Because she had used two of the five she had safely stored inside the Slate.

Lynk's also eternally grateful that Wolfie seems to have quite the thick skin because he had definitely been hit or shocked a few times but easily shook it off.

…she'd try and inquire about it later, but the language block was going to be a challenged. However, on the bright side, knowing that Wolfie wouldn't be killed by an arrow hitting the wrong place was a reassurance Lynk hadn't realised she needed.

Sidon greeted her at the end of the bridge, grinning widely, "Welcome back, Lynk, to the pride of my people: Zora's Domain. You spent many summers here growing up."

Many summers; shimmering hues of blues in the sunsets, the rushing and splashing of water.

"My father, King Dorephan, will wish to see you. This way."

Lynk trailed after Sidon almost absently as she took in the sight of Zora's Domain—it was the most beautiful place she had ever seen. She glanced at every Zora she passed and there was one that did a double-take, eyes widening—did they know her too?

Lynk hurried after Sidon when she realised she was falling behind. As she climbed the stairs, Lynk spotted a statue in the centre, she recognised the features from Leona's drawings.

Mipha.

Her chest tightened and Lynk dragged her eyes away from it, unable to look at it any longer. She took a breath and rest a hand on Wolfie's back.

"Father," Sidon greeted, "I have brought someone that can help and you won't believe who it is!"

Sidon waved her on and hesitantly, Lynk stepped up onto the platform, fist clenching Wolfi's fur.

The king was by far the largest Zora there was. A dark navy blue and donning a red sash with golden rope, silver jewellery and blue gemstones.

Lynk could recognise the style of jewellery as the hairpiece from Mipha.

King Dorephan sat forward, eyes widening in shock, "Well, a pleasant surprise this is, dear Lynk. A hundred years have passed and yet you stand before us having not aged a day."

"Lynk has explained that she was placed within an old Sheikah construction that…" Sidon hesitated a beat, he cleared his throat, "That brought her back from the brink of death. She has returned to us to free Vah Ruta from Ganon's control but unfortunately, her time within this Shrine has robbed her of her memories."

Thank the Goddesses for Sidon, there would be no way Lynk would have been able to get any of those words out again. Trying to explain to Sidon was hard and a complete mess and she's thankful Impa and Purah already knew what had happened.

"Robbed you of your memories?" King Dorephan's gaze returned to her, sorrow etching itself onto his face, "So you not a single memories of anyone? Your father? The Princess? Mipha?"

Lynk faulted at the names and shook her head, "I—I don't. I'm sorry."

The elderly green Zora that stood off the side bowed his head.

"Then we can only pray your memories will return to you in time, dear one," King Dorephan sighed, "But it seems despite your lack of memories you're still striving to help no matter what. Thank you for coming to Zora's Domain, which is in danger of vanishing because of Divine Beast Vah Ruta. I shall do you the courtesy of speaking bluntly, we alone cannot stop this beast. Vah Ruta has the unique ability to create an endless supply of water. Of late it has been mercilessly spouting water into the air. As a result, this area has been plagued by heavy rains.

"For us Zora, water and air are as one, so you would not think this would be quite so critical of a problem. Sadly, the rains have filled the eastern reservoir nearly to the point of flooding. If the reservoir bursts, as it soon will, I fear immense danger will befall not only Zora's Domain but also the area downstream from us. There, Hylians lives are in grave danger."

As if the Divine Beast had sensed the conversation, it roared loudly, shaking the ground beneath their feet. The sound echoed and Lynk felt it within her bones.

King Doraplan sighed, "Your princess, Zelda, often studied the Divine Beasts. That is, in the time before the Great Calamity. According to her research, the orbs located on Ruta's shoulders are mechanisms that can control the water it generates. However, they require electricity to work. These orbs are clearly out of control now because there is no electricity coursing through to stop them."

Sidon chimed in, "Seggin, who is quite shock resistant for a Zora, hit one with a shock arrow. Sure enough, it slowed the water for a bit. Unfortunately, as an aquatic race, we Zora are terribly vulnerable to the power of electricity. Perhaps because we could not safely strike it with enough electricity at once, the water soon returned to its full force. That is why I went in search of a Hylian that would assist us."

It was a good thing Lynk was great at archery—or great that her body could remember she was great at…whatever. This was getting annoying the more she tried to get her head around how her body remembered but her brain didn't.

"Lynk, I am certain you have already figured this out, but we need you to use shock arrows to get those orbs working properly again. I will aid you in any way I can, of course."

Lynk nodded, "Princess Zelda, hmm, spoke to me when I first awoke from where she's held up within the castle, told me—told me to board the Divine Beasts to appease them from the inside."

"Princess Zelda?" King Dorephan hummed deeply, "It seems not all is lost then. If the Princess was able to speak to you, then she is still alive."

Lynk nodded, ignoring the dread.

"The events of one hundred years ago cannot be altered, it is true. But if we regain control of the Divine Beasts…they may yet prove useful in sealing Calamity Ganon once and for all.

Lynk nodded again, that was the plan. She'd even gotten an idea of the order in which she wanted to beat the Beasts.

Sidon smiled widely, showing off his sharp teeth, "Once it has stopped rampaging, you can easily climb inside it."

Again for a third time, Lynk nodded.

"Thank you, Lynk. Truly. We are in your debt," Doraphan smiled, "Perhaps we have something that may also be of use," he turned to Sidon, "Would you take Lynk and show her Mipha's last gift she was unable to present to Lynk?"

Sidon's eyes widened in clear realisation but Lynk was just confused.

"Of course, father!" Sidon moved, gesturing for Lynk to follow, "Come, my friend."

With one final glance at the King, where he gently gestured for her to follow Sidon, Lynk did so. Wolfie trot alongside her.

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Lynk was led to a room and as she stepped into, realised it was a bedroom, but it hadn't been touched in a long, long time; like one couldn't step in here without being assaulted with memories of a painful past.

…Mipha's bedroom?

A water bed, a small mountain of pillows. One wall…

Lynk's feet took her to the wall and her breath was stolen from her.

A picture.

It was her and Mipha and—another woman. She and Mipha were clearly children, the woman had long fiery red hair and bright blue eyes.

Sidon stepped up beside her.

"The woman, who is it?"

A beat.

"Your mother, Helkura. I personally never got the chance to meet her but I never heard a negative thing about your mother."

This…this was her mother? She was beautiful. Lynk blinked back her tears at the ache in her chest, she sniffled.

"Here," Sidon held a blue tunic with silver armour on it.

Hesitantly, Lynk took it from his hands and allowed it to unfold. It felt like silk beneath her fingers. The armour shoulder plates glistened brightly like the jewellery Sidon was wearing. "What is it?"

"It's a Zora tunic, as long as you wear this, you can ascend waterfalls just like a Zora."

Lynk frowned, "But why was Mipha going to gift me this?"

Sidon sighed and turned back to the framed painting sadly, "A Zora Princess will craft custom armour for the one they wish to marry."

Lynk almost dropped the tunic, heart stuttering in her chest, breath lodging inside in her throat. She swallowed, "Marry?"

"…Yes," He whispered, "My sister had plans to propose to you before the Calamity struck."

A sob worked its way up her throat, her eyes burnt again and so squeezed her eyes closed. She forced herself to take deep and even breaths to not work herself up or allow herself to burst into tears.

Sidon gently squeezed her shoulder.

"You meant everything to each other," he hums softly, "My father and Muzu would always tell me tales of how it was clear from a very young age that you were both meant for more. But fate, unfortunately, had other plans."

Lynk clutched the tunic to her chest, rasping: "Thank you."

"Of course," a hesitant beat, "Muzu will know the best location to find shock arrows, I'll go find him. Give you a moment to yourself."

Then Sidon left her and Wolfie in the silences of the abandoned bedroom full of to many painful memories that Lynk could not remember.

When she could no longer hear Sidon's footsteps, her knees gave out on her. She crashed to the floor, blood rushing from her face and the sob finally escaped.

Wolfie cooed and nudged his forehead against hers. Lynk's hands found his fur, she clutched tightly and buried her face into his fur to muffle the sound of her sobs.

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The sensation of rising in the air—the kaleidoscope of reds, yellows, and oranges of the sunset.

"I was thinking…this reminds me of the time we first met," a soft and gentle voice echoed. It was filled with fondness and humour, "A wild child… always getting yourself hurt at every turn and every time I would heal you. I thought it was funny how, despite being young, you tried to look so grown-up."

The sensation of warmth spread across her face, her shoulders shook with laughter, "I'm not going to deny my, ah, 'adventurous days' as dad likes to call them."

That sweet voice joined Lynk with her laughter before it trailed off.

A flash of concern filtered through her, "Is something the matter, Miph?"

A sigh filled the air, "I have been thinking. About this Calamity Ganon. If in fact, he does return, what can we really do? We just don't seem to know much about what we'll be up against."

The sunset become her focal point, the sight seared into her brain. She could feel her fingers as they were wrung together; rough calluses against skin, "We're not sure what to expect. Art and writing left behind showed a battle fought with more than just out past selves…Zelda and I have been talking about it, we hope that in the case she's unable to unlock her power, that the Divine Beasts and Guardians will help exceptionally."

"We can only hope and pray."

The weight of a head on her shoulder; the sun continued to disappear behind the horizon—

—"Lynk?"

She was brought back to the present to see Sidon's and Muzu concerned gazed.

"You went silent so suddenly, my friend," Sidon continued.

"I—"

Lynk wasn't sure what that was—a memory? It was nothing more than sensations and voices and—nothing had been clear. Nothing like she had been hoping but—it was enough.

"Did you remember something?" the was hope in Muzu's gaze.

"I think," she whispered, "But…I don't know what to make of it."

"Don't force it," Muzu murmurs gently, "Doing so will only be counterproductive, child."

Lynk nodded.

Muzu pointed east to the largest mountain, "That tall mountain over yonder…it is called Ploymus Mountain, and there you will also find Shatterback Point. A terrifying creature has made its home up there. This awful beast shoots volley after volley of shock arrows. Even a single one could be fatal to a Zora."

Sidon turned back to Muzu in alarm, "Hm! You mean that Lynel? He is a man-beast, that one!" Sidon's gaze shifted to Lynk, "That beast does indeed wield shock arrows. That is certainly one way to collect them quickly. He is vicious, to be sure. But I am certain you'll be able to do it."

"In order to appease the Divine Beast, I estimate that you will need…at least twenty shock arrows. Do you think you can gather that many?"

Lynk frowned—she couldn't remember what a Lynel was but from Sidon's description it wasn't a monster for one should easily dismiss. She nodded—she had the Sheikah stealth gear, so if she needed to sneak anywhere, that would be useful.

"If you ascend that east waterfall, it will take you up close to the top of the mountain. It would be good practice for the Zora Armour."

Lynk nodded again and glanced to Wolfie, before darted off, listening to her companion rush after her.

Lynk's first memory!

Also, I see that while we don't see how much time Link in canon spent at Zora's Domain, Lynk on the other hand, spent lots of time and had seen Zora's Domain as a second home. Lynk's face was well-known among the Zora and I see her relationship from before would affect the elderly Zora in the present. Meaning the different reaction by Muzu. Hope it seems somewhat realistic?