Zelda watched as one of the waterfalls fell from a stone ledge of the Domain, peacefully falling into the water below them. She sighed, leaning against a railing. Sidon was right, she wasn't asking Link what was going on through his head. She had just assumed he was stressing out because of his duties, even called him out on it on their trip here. Never once had she actually asked him if something was bothering him.

She had been with Link for weeks now, living in the same house, him teaching her about survival and everything else under Hyrule's sun. Zelda had noticed that Link was being rather distant and quiet. She knew the idea of her traveling the way he did would bother him but she assumed it was just Link being stubborn. Was there more on his mind?

She had noticed he was constantly looking at the Master Sword. Before it always felt as if the sword was... a part of him. It seemed as though it felt natural to him as if he understood it without needing to think. Now it was as if he and the sword were in... Disagreement? Or is Link not trusting of the sword in some way? Could he still hear it? Was it still talking to him?

Not to mention he did bring up he didn't like the idea of talking about Mipha to her father. Was Mipha on his mind? Did he feel something for her and his memories came back? Was Zelda herself being around causing Link pain? Was she being too... familiar with him?

All of this was stressing herself out, and this was just speculation! What on Earth could Link be going through? Zelda had been taking it easy, enjoying her newfound free life. Sure... The thought of eventually having to recreate the kingdom later on in life was in the back of her mind. And of course, the death of the Champions, and especially her father, were on her mind as well. And to top it off, the fear of losing Link had only grown thanks to that Guardian attack.

If anything... Zelda should have been the one to understand him and notice more was going on... Was she just being ignorant? Or did she really not understand her knight? No... Not that. She understood her Knight. Was it her... Best Friend she didn't understand?

Even with all these new, arguably even greater, responsibilities... The one thing different she had now than before the Calamity, was time. Now that she had the ability to focus on other things, was she not taking enough time to understand or listen to Link? Or maybe she wasn't used to having to give someone else attention, just expecting them to open up because that's how it was before when she was in power?

Zelda groaned as she put her face in her arms, leaning even more heavily against the railing. This was new. This was hard. She wanted to understand Link, and Sidon had told her to listen. But... How does one listen properly?

"Your Majesty," An old voice called. Zelda sorely turned, her body still aching from the lightning, to see an elderly stingray like Zora. "King Dorephan, now that you are awake, has requested your appearance in his presence."

Zelda blinked, staring at the old Zora.

"Muzu? Muzu is that you?" Zelda asked, a small smile returning to her face, however, the Zora shot her a resentful glare.

"Do not speak to me as if we have a kind past your Majesty," Muzu said sharply.

Zelda's eyes fell just a bit. Muzu had been Mipha's teacher back a hundred years ago. When they had met, Muzu didn't seem to take to Zelda too nicely, however, the times he did smile in her presence was when he was talking about Mipha's extraordinary abilities when choosing her for the title of Champion.

"I may have falsely directed my anger at Link, which I sorely regret after all he has done for us. You, however," He squinted at the Ex-Princess disapprovingly. "You were the only piece to fail that day a hundred years ago. Everything leads back to the Royal Family of Hyrule being inadequate. King Rhoam and his inability to properly lead a Kingdom,"

Zelda straightened, her eyes growing with rage. He dare insult her father? He did everything he could for the Kingdom, even losing his life to protect it! Zelda opened her mouth to retaliate, however, Muzu's next words came crashing down on her raging spirit.

"And his failure of a daughter who couldn't bring out her powers until the situation was too dire to save anyone. Including the King himself, her beloved Knight, nor our Mipha. Maybe if they had your powers, the Champions would have had a fighting chance. So no, do NOt speak to me as if we were even acquaintances a hundred years ago. Now come, the King is waiting." Muzu finished as he turned his old back to her, walking towards the throne room.

Zelda's throat grew dry as a pain in her chest grew, the words sinking in like daggers into her heart. No amount of electricity could match the pain she was feeling now. Her head lowered, she followed the old Stingray.

"Princess Zelda!" The King boomed with a smile as Zelda slowly entered the throne room behind Muzu. Sidon stood next to his father, smiling his usual smile, however his smile faltered when he saw the look on Zelda's face. Immediately Sidon glanced at Muzu, who was now focused solely on the King standing in the midst of the Zora Council surrounding the room, and back at Zelda.

"It is good to see you alright and well Young Princess," Dorephan boomed from his chair. "Even with the important matters at hand to discuss, the most important discussion on that list starts with this: Are you alright after that nasty Wizzrobe attack?"

Zelda nodded. "Thank you for your concern."

"Now, I believe we do have matters to discuss regarding your return. I have already spoken briefly to Link about these events,"

Zelda felt a single heartbeat. That wasn't the name she really needed to hear right now.

"While we do refer to you as Princess Zelda... I hear from Link you are not going to reclaim your title as Monarch of Hyrule?" Dorephan asked. Zelda shook her head.

"Not at the moment, no."

"At the moment?" Muzu repeated. Zelda jerked her head back, glancing nervously at Muzu, who glanced back with slitted eyes.

"I... I, Um...Well, I..." Zelda stuttered as she jerked back towards Doraphan, who was looking down at her with a curious glance, a few beads of sweat falling down the side of her face.

"Is everything... Alright, Princess?" Dorephan asked. Zelda blinked a few times.

"Y-yes everything is um... Well... Yes. It's just... I Uh... well,"

"Muzu, what did you say to her?" Sidon called out suddenly. Muzu scoffed.

"Exactly what the Council has thought ever since the Calamity. It was wrong of us Elderly Zora to blame the Master Swords Chosen Hero Link as blame for Mipha's death,"

Sidon's eyes furrowed at the sound of Mipha's death.

"Link did all he could. But this one." Muzu pointed a webbed finger at Zelda. "It cannot be argued that the Princess failed in her duty to protect her kingdom when the moment was most necessary. Only when the damage had been done was the Princess able to do anything with the gifted powers handed down by the blood of the Hyrulian Royal Family through the bloodline of the Queen. However, without the Queen's guidance having left us early, the poor ruling of Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule, and the inadequacy with using the ancient Sealing Powers of Zelda Daphnes Hyrule, not only did the Zora, but all of the other Races and tribes of this Ancient Kingdom have suffered their losses at the hands of a menace with an ancient solution that this girl couldn't figure out. Had it been the Queen of Old, Zelda Nohansen Hyrule, we may have been protected. It seems,"

Muzu once again stared at Zelda.

"The adequacy of the Hylian Royal Bloodline ended with the Queen's Death."

"Muzu! That is utter nonsense!" Sidon said loudly stepping forward."She is a seventeen-year-old girl! No one her age should have had to bear the thought of defeating an Ancient Evil such as Calamity Ganon! Have you forgotten that the only reason this Kingdom wasn't completely swallowed whole by that beast was because of the Princess protecting us all for the past hundred years!?"

"And you believe we should treat that as a grace? That was her responsibility in the first place!" Muzu shouted. "Do not come at me with giving grace and thanks for something that should have been handled a hundred years ago. I will give in and accept giving thanks for the last hundred years, but that does not mean our opinions have changed that she is unfit to take ruling over this Kingdom once again!"

"She hadn't a mother to teach her!" Sidon shouted.

"AND NEITHER DID LADY MIPHA, YET SHE FOUND A WAY TO CONTROL THE DIVINE BEAST! THE OTHER CHAMPIONS COMPLETED THEIR GOAL, AND LINK WAS ABLE TO ACQUIRE THE MASTER SWORD NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE!" Muzu shouted, stamping his foot to the ground.

"SILEEEENCE!" King Dorephan shouted, standing from his throne. Everyone silenced immediately.

"While the King of Old's judgment can be questionable, that does not always translate to the Next of Kin," Dorephan said, sitting once again in his seat. "I too made mistakes in the past regarding the Calamity. I first rejected the idea of my daughter Piloting the Divine Beast Vah Ruta. It took a great deal of time to accept Mipha as a Pilot or a Champion. If I had accepted it sooner, maybe Mipha would have been more prepared for the battle that came after."

"While I agree, the young girl in front of us is currently not fit to take the ruling of the current state of Hyrule, it sounds as if she has the maturity to understand that things have changed. You will not be taking your title until you understand this new age of Hyrule correct?" Dorephan asked Zelda. Zelda, who had been staring at her feet for most of the discussion, barely nodded. She understood all too well. Dorephan was bailing her out.

"Then hopefully after your travels, you will be able to make a name for yourself yet again and prove that you are an adequate ruler of this land yet again. In the meantime, this is a perfect transition into the other matter we have summoned you here today. The guardian of our Domain, the Divine Beast Vah Ruta, has ceased to function. We have also noticed that even with the Calamity's defeat, the monsters have yet to disappear. I have already given Link my theory, I'm sure he can fill you in. However, maybe the two are connected. If there is anywhere to start your journey into understanding your powers, your responsibilities, and the journey ahead, this first task of understanding the Divine Beast may be beneficial to you. Do you accept?"

Zelda simply nodded, still staring at the ground.

"Yes."

"Very well. I grant you, along with Link, access to the Divine Beast Vah Ruta yet again. Please do what you can. However, before you go, I would like to have a private word with you. Please leave." Dorephan directed at the council and Sidon. The council filed out the room, leaving Zelda and King Dorephan alone.

"I do wish to apologize to you about whatever it is Muzu has said. He did the same thing when Link came to pay us a visit when he first awoke." The King said. Zelda looked up, a few tears running down her face.

"Everything he said was true," Zelda said. "I failed..."

"Princess, there was nothing more you could have done. You and Link, as well as the Champions, did the best. I was going to ask you to talk and look after Link, but after seeing you, I do believe my request has changed. Please look after each other. I believe the two of you need each other in these upcoming times."

"But what about your daughter's feelings?" Zelda said, her legs shaking. "I... I..."

"Knowing my daughter, and seeing the repercussions of the actions she gave even as a spirit... I do have to say I believe she would wish the two of you happiness. She not only cared for Link but for you as well Zelda. Please keep that in mind."

Zelda looked down sadly, multiple thoughts swirling in her mind.

"Yes... Thank you King Dorephan..."

...