Link rushed across the eccentric blue and silver bridge towards the entrance to Zora's Domain, an unconscious Zelda still on his back.
"Halt!" One of the two Zora guards said, both holding their spears up in the rain.
"Move, Rivan!" Link yelled, jumping over their spears. Rivan and Dunma, the second female guard stared in awe as Link leaped.
"L-Link? Sorry, we didn't know- Link what's the rush? And who is that!?" Rivan called out, however, Link was already rushing up the stairs towards the Seabed Inn. Link's stamina was already starting to wane, still, he pressed up the water-flooded stairs.
"Kayden! Kodah!" Link panted towards the owners of the inn, his knees giving out from carrying Zelda. She definitely wasn't heavy for a human, but still enough to give way after carrying such a distance.
"Link?" The beige-colored female Zora, Kodah called, turning from the bookcase.
"Link, what's on you- By the Goddess Hylia, is that a girl?" Kayden asked, rushing from behind his desk to aid the Hylian knight. At this point Link's knees were shaking, giving way to the weight.
"Link, don't worry about Rupees, lets just get her into bed... These burn marks... What happened?" Kodah said, Kayden helping Link carry Zelda to the bed.
"A... Wizzrobe hit us... from behind..." Link gasped as he caught his breath, Zelda now laying in the waterbed.
"Link, this isn't who I think it is..." Kayden started. Link sighed. Of course, most of the Zora would remember her.
"It is... but keep it quiet for now." Link said, having collected himself. "Do we have any Zora that's good with healing?"
"We have some I believe, but these are electric wounds," Kodah said, the Zora now examining Zelda's burns. "Zora usually don't tend to electric wounds. Most Zora hit with electricity usually die..."
Link growled quietly. It was his fault. He didn't remember the Wizzrobe. He didn't shoot it fast enough.
"Kayden, grab Link a chair would you?" Kodah asked. Kayden nodded as he walked out of the inn to find a stool.
"Is there anything I can do to help you Link?" Kodah asked. "Should I inform King Dorephan and the Prince that you've arrived?"
"No... No, I'll let them know I'm here in the morning. Just... just let me stay like this for a while." Link said as Kayden walked in with a stool. Kodah nodded.
"Don't worry about the beds for tonight. It's on the house, you did daube the Domain after all." Kayden said as Link sat down.
"Thanks, Kayden... I appreciate it." Link said solemnly, without looking at him. Kodah and Kayden looked at each other before exiting the inn for the night, leaving Link alone with Zelda.
Link watched as Zelda's chest rose and fell silently, the sound of waterfalls and rivers flowing in the distance. He couldn't believe he had let this happen on their first adventure after the Calamity. How could he have forgotten the Wizzrobe? He was distracted. Distracted by her beauty and her charm. And that's what got her hurt. He was supposed to be a Knight, and yet here he was acting as if he had never had any kind of training before. He couldn't even blame the Master Sword.
This was on him.
"Link... I know you're upset right now but, we need to let King Dorephan know you are here. He has been expecting you to arrive..." Kayden said, staring down at the seated Knight hesitantly. The rain had stopped, and the light of morning was now shining through the pillars of the Domain as Link sat in front of a still unconscious Zelda. Bags were under his bloodshot eyes as he hadn't turned away for even a moment. Link nodded.
"I shall inform the King and the Prince of the condition of the Princess." Kayden said, with a bow, trying to act as professional as possible with Royalty in the room. Link nodded his head slowly.
"Make sure the King and Sideon are the only ones who know Zelda is here." Link said almost monotone. Kayden nodded as he left the inn, heading up the stairways of the Domain.
Not even ten minutes later did the eccentric Moblin sized Zora come barreling through the entrance of the Seabed Inn.
"Link! I came as soon as I heard! Is this the Young Princess?" Sidon, Prince of the Zora, said worriedly as he took the other side of Zelda's bed. Link nodded with tired eyes.
"This is most certainly not good. Even our best healers wouldn't be able to heal these either... They'll heal with rest but they will leave scarring. No other Zora, even myself, haven't been gifted the healing abilities of my sister..."
Link's eyes widened at the sound of Sidons sister.
"Sidon! Do you remember how Mipha would use her healing?" Link asked suddenly, directing his gaze away from Zelda for the first time since he had arrived, now looking at Sidon. The large red Zora shook his head.
"Unfortunately I do not remember. If my elder sister had told me I was too young to remember. But why would that help you here? Her ability would have been passed to the afterlife along with her, should it not?" Sideon asked. Link gulped. He had never told Sidon or King Dorephan that he had seen Mipha's spirit. A pang of guilt rang through Link's already guilt ridden consciousness.
"Right, um. Sidon, I have something to tell you... I should have told you when it happened but my memories were too fragmented to think about it or... care, honestly. "
Sideon gave Link a confused look as Kodah brought in a stool for the Prince.
"Thank you," Sidon said, holding a hand up to the female Zora. "Please, leave us be for a moment."
Kodah bowed, along with Kayden from the other side of the room, before both exiting. Link returned back to staring at Zelda.
"I uh... I met Mipha's ghost, back when I released Vah Ruto from it's corruption. That's how the Divine Beast fired that day, Mipha's ghost was piloting it. All she said was she was happy to see me one last time, and that I needed to save Princess Zelda. Now that the Calamity is gone, I don't think her spirit is still there, nor do I know if you would have been able to see it. Sorry... I should have said something."
"Link... That does nothing but put my heart as ease." Sidon said with a smile. Link's glance shot up from Zelda to the large red Zora Prince. "My sister... If there was any regret she could have had, it was the mission she had wasn't fulfilled... and she didn't get to see you one last time. Not only did she finally complete her mission, but she got to say goodbye to you. Her spirit is now at ease. If anything I should be thanking you again Link."
Sidon bowed slightly in his seat, Link staring at him with a pained expression.
"But... But you maybe could have seen her again! If I had-"
"Link, my Hylian brother, listen to me here and now." Sidon said, sitting up with a rare expression of true seriousness. "From what you told me during your time here to save Divine Beast Vah Ruta, and your other regular visits here, you were not yourself. You still had much to figure out, from the Calamity, to the other Beast, to saving the Princess. Not to mention your own missing memories. No one should fault you for being distant or in a hurry. If anything you were in that hurry and still helped many of the Zora here with considerably small issues. You are one of my Best Friends, and one of my most trusted at that. Please do not feel the need to apologize."
Link looked down clenching his fist. He had already defeated Calamity Ganon, and yet the weight of the world had never felt heavier. Not telling Sidon or Dorephan about Mipha, not knowing still how to respond to Mipha's love, Zelda and her injuries, the actions he had been taking against his code with Zelda... The guilt... Link's knuckles turned white with pressure.
"Link." Sidon called out to his friend. "I know you have many thoughts in your head right now, but we need to address the matter at hand. The Princess... You brought up my sisters healing power for a reason. You have some idea do you not?"
Link exhaled, collecting himself and returning to his almost monotone state.
"When I met Mipha's spirit, she said she gave me the power of her healing... Mipha's Grace. However it only activates when I myself am injured near death. The other Champions spirits gave me a power I could control at will but... Mipha's reacts on its own accord, as if it has a will of its own. I can't harness it. It's as if it only wants to heal me alone. Maybe there was some secret to it? I was hoping maybe you could tell me..." Link said.
Sidon blinked a few times with surprise.
"That is amazing, there Link." He said after a few moments. "To even imagine that my sister's will still lives on through you with her power... One would consider that piece of her still alive in a way." Sidon said with a small smile.
This did not help Link's conscious, however now was not the time.
"However, as I stated before... I have no recollection of what Mipha did when she used her healing. One thing is for sure though." Sidon looked at Link in the eye. "My sister, if given the chance, would heal whoever she could. She may have loved you, but she isn't selfish enough to only heal you alone. Not to say that in a bad way at all, if anything-"
"There may be a way for me to harness the power and use it on others..." Link mumbled. "Just like the others."
Sidon nodded with a shining smile. "I wouldn't be surprised if that were true!"
Link looked at his hands. The power of Mipha's Grace was there... He could feel it. But how did he get it to work on by his own will?
"While, It seems as though the Princess should be fine after a few days of rest," Sidon continued. "If you want to try and heal her as soon as possible, maybe you should try speaking to my father."
Link looked up at Sidons enormous royal eyes.
"He has been awaiting your arrival after all. Be warned though Link, too much stress can lead to rather... rash, actions. The Princess will be fine after rest, she is no Zora. Hylians have stronger resistance to electricity, and she seems to have had a fairies influence. Do not burden yourself to strongly, I feel the Princess wouldn't be to happy with you if you did. However, if you still wish to speak to my father for more information on Mipha's powers... Then I shall watch over her for you."
Link looked at Zelda's resting face. He took a deep breath before standing.
"Thank you Sidon... I shall go speak to King Dorephan..."
...