Sidon paced the misty bridge leading towards Ploymus Mountain, nervously waiting for Link and the Princess to return. The children had already arrived, stating that Link had saved them and the Princess. Yet, as the orange light of twilight grew dull as the night sky took over, neither of the Hylians stood insight. Had the Princess been injured?
"Your Highness..." One of the Zora guards called out, watching the large red Zora walk from railing to railing. "Should we do something?"
Sidon stopped pacing, looking out towards the mountain.
"I have faith in both Link and the Princess to return safely. However, if worst comes to term, we will send a search party out for them." Sidon said, turning and walking back up the bridge towards the Domain. Many Zora had crowded by the bridge entrance, quietly awaiting the Princess's return. Murmurs of worry rumbled through the crowd as Sidon returned up the bridge without either of the Hylians next to him.
"Please do not fret!" Sidon called out to the Zora Masses standing at the base of the bridge. "I'm sure they are both fine and will come back unharmed, just as the three children have. Please go back to your daily-"
"Prince Sidon! Look!" a Zora called out. Sidon turned back towards the misty night bridge. Far across the end of the bridge, two small figures started to appear as they walked across. Sidon beamed as Link and Zelda came into view.
"Link! Princess!" Sidon called out jogging back down the bridge towards them. Zelda, slowed her walking just a bit, allowing Link to get a few steps ahead of her as Sidon picked up the small comparatively small Hylian into a bear huge.
"Y-Yes Sidon! We're okay!" Link managed to cough out with the Moblin sized Zora arms crushing him. "Please put me down now!"
Sidon happily put Link down with a smile as he looked behind Link towards Zelda.
"Princess, it is wonderful to see that you are alright. In fact..." Sidon took a moment to inspect Zelda, eyeing her from head to toe as she stood awkwardly. "You happen to look even better than before..."
"T-Thank you Sidon..." Zelda said quietly. However Zelda's gaze wasn't towards Sidon, but at her own Hylian boots. The villagers had been silent. How could she blame them? In fact, they were probably waiting to crucify her for willingly walking the three children of their into danger...
"Princess!" Three little voices called. Zelda blinked a few times before looking up to see the three Zora children pushing through the crowd. The children made their way through before running across the bridge and jumping on top of her.
"Wait wait wait!" Zelda cried as she tumbled under the weight of the children all at once. She managed to push herself up into a sitting position, with a bit of effort, with the children on top of her.
"We're sorry!" The children cried as they clung to her. "We didn't mean to get you hurt. Please for give us!"
Zelda stared down at the Zora covering her body before awkwardly wrapping her arms around them as best she could as she looked up at Link. Link smiled at her before turning towards the crowd of Zora. Zelda's gaze slowly made its way to the crowd of Zora that had made their way down the bridge.
The crowd stood only a few meters from Zelda. Sidon stared at the crowd, his face with no emotion on it. Zelda looked down and patted the head of the Zora children, who looked up at her in fear. She smiled.
"Thank you for the concern. I have to face the consequences of my actions now..." She said quietly for only them to hear. The children nodded as they climbed off of her in understanding. Zelda stood, lightly dusting herself off before clasping her hands in front of her and bowing.
"I'm... I'm sorry for the trouble I have caused," Zelda said as she bowed, her face pained with guilt and fear of the Zora rejecting her. However, instead of ridicule and shouts, all Zelda heard was silence... Until eventually, the sound of slow clapping started to build up. Zelda's eyes furrowed in confusion as she slowly looked up. The Zora were... clapping for her?
Suddenly two Zora made their way through the crowd, standing in front of Zelda. Tumbo and Keye's faces fell as the two Zora grew closer. Zelda looked up nervously at the two tall Zora, expecting them to say something about her poor judgement, however all they did was bow.
"My name is Mei, and this is Fronk," The female Zora said amidst her bow. "We are those two's parents. We wish to thank you kindly for protecting our sons."
Zelda blinked.
"W-What?" Zelda said, unintentionally a bit rudely. She hadn't meant it to come out that way, but were they thanking her? For what? For why? Zelda, her eyes widening slightly realizing her rudeness shook her head just a bit to reorient herself.
"N-No, it was my fault they had gotten into danger in the first place. I shouldn't have said I could handle a matter I couldn't. It was poor judgement on my part-"
"No," The male Zora, Fronk, said simply. "From what those children told me, they didn't tell you at all what you would be fighting in hopes you would be able to 'take it on'. If anything, they had put you in danger. We sincerely apologize. and thank you so much for protecting our children. That beast is fierce, only Lady Mipha of the Past and the Hylian champion link have been able to deal with it together, and as of recent, Link alone has been the only person able to fight it alone."
"You held off for as long as you could. The children told us how much of a beating you took. You held out for as long as possible until the Hylian Champion came. Thank you... Thank you so much."
The clapping grew louder as the Zora bowed even lower. The clapping grew louder as the zora cheered for Zelda on the bridge. Zelda stared in shock. She was... Receiving praise? Before, she had only heard rumors of the people a hundred years ago do nothing but look down on her for not awakening her power, and rightfully so in her eyes. This was... This was...
Zelda looked awkwardly towards Link, who was leaning against the bridge railing with his arms folded as he shrugged with a smile. Zelda turned back towards the crowd, choosing to bow.
"It was really nothing! Honestly! But thank you!" Zelda called out.
Sidon smiled greatly as he looked through the crowd of clapping Zora.
"Let's give the Princess a Zora Cheer! ZO ZO!"
"RA RA RA!" The crowd cheered. Sidon looked down as Zelda grew red at the unfamiliar praise choosing to just look down at her feet. Sidon laughed as the Zora continued to cheer as he looked through the crowds. Due to his large height, Sidon did notice a familiar elderly Zora walking away from the crowd. Sidon smirked just a bit.
"Alright then my fellow Zora!" Sidon called out over the masses. "I believe our Champion and our Princes need rest. It has been an unbelievably long day for the two of them. Please enjoy the rest of your night each and every one of you."
The crowd slowly dissipated as Sidon, Link, and Zelda remained. Zelda waved at the leaving family of Keye and Tumbo, Laruta following her friends with the parents guiding. The children waved back as their parents pulled them away.
"You did a good thing Princess," Sidon said as he watched Zelda wave, her smile sweet and gentle. "Sure, next time maybe you should ask more questions... But you protected them with all your heart, and that's all the Zora could ever ask for."
"Well... I am a researcher at heart," Zelda said as she watched the children be dragged away. "Asking questions is a bit of a passion of mine. And Sidon please... Call me Zelda. I don't want the Royalty title for now. It just... Doesn't fit."
Sidon raised an eyebrow as he smiled. "Understood, though from your actions today, I would say your more than worthy of the title of Princess, and most certainly Queen. If that ever happens."
Zelda gave a simple laugh at that.
"Maybe... One day. But not for a long while."
"Well then!" Sidon said, looking towards Link and Zelda. "You guys head back to the Inn and rest. As much as you guys are probably eager to head into the Divine Beast,"
Zelda's eyes lit up, while Link yawned, putting his hands behind his head.
"Rest is vital. Please, rest today, and then enjoy your research on the Beast tomorrow. More looking at you Zelda, I remember your eagerness to get into the Divine Beast even when I was little a hundred years ago. That Sheikah attendant of yours basically had to drag you away back then."
Sidon laughed as Zelda grew red. She huffed as she walked towards the Seabed Inn. Link, still yawning, started after her, however Sidon put a hand on his shoulder. He turned tiredly and looked up at the large Zora.
"I know you're tired, you've been up ever since Zelda got struck by the lightning the night prior, however I do have a question. Zelda's scars... Did Mipha give her regards?"
Link stared into Sidons eyes before smiling and walking off, hands in his pockets. Sidon smiled as he followed.
The elderly stingray stood in his study, looking at all the teaching books he had used when training young Mipha way back when, only to be disturbed by the sound of the Princes voices.
"I know you saw it Muzu. Her scars, they've been cured. The only magic healing that could have possibly accomplish that was Mipha's Grace." Sidon said as he stood at the entryway to Muzu's room. Muzu just barely turned his head towards the Prince.
"You do realize haven't you? Whether they notice it or not, those Hylians are falling for each other," Muzu said quietly. "Link... He has the Zora Armor. Mipha had him in her heart. He is the last thing she has. And that Hylian girl wishes to take that away. The Royal family choosing her to pilot the Divine Beast... And then the Princess of that Royal Family couldn't even do her part, resulting in Mipha's death. And now, a hundred years later, she is taking the lover of the person she failed."
Muzu turned his full body to face the Prince.
"How are you alright with that?" Muzu asked. Sidon sighed as he looked out towards the Ice statue.
"Muzu... We know of Mipha's feelings. But we never knew of Link's. Even Link, due to his memory loss, does not remember how he felt. My sister made that armor before confessing her love to him. He may not have even known back then." Sidon turned back to the old stingray.
"Link is a person. Not a memory of Mipha for you to keep. It is not Link's responsibility to keep the memory of her, nor is it his responsibility to uphold her love just because he has been informed of it. And besides..."
Sidon turned his large body to exit.
"You know better than I do that if Zelda's wounds were healed by Mipha's Grace... Than she too, wishes to see that love blossom. Whether its for Link... Or for them both."
Sidon left, leaving Muzu to stand alone in his thoughts and memories.
...
Kenlair here.
I just wanted to say this is my favorite chapter so far.
Kenny Boi.