"You wrote all this down?" the older purplish Zora Jiahto asked roughly, looking through the now torn out pages with the monument inscriptions written down. Zelda nodded, her hands clasped in front of her as she stared down at her now slightly worn out Hylian boots. Link, stone faced, watched from only a few feet away. The two had just arrived at Jiahto's monument in the Domain early the next morning, and Link insisted that Zelda give the journal to Jiahto herself since she did most of the work.

"Y-Yes... Link thought it would be a good idea to write it all down for you; he actually did the first three pages. I asked if he wanted assistance and, well, I hope we got it down correctly." Zelda said. The last time she was in front of an older Zora Councilman, she was quite torn apart at every angle. Zelda awaited the rude comments Jiahto was bound to make, however none came. Jiahto simply grunted.

"Well... thank you kindly for your assistance." Jiahto said. "It was very thoughtful of you to help Link with this endeavor. I'm positive if you didn't offer your assistance it would have taken Link another bundle of months to get these to me."

Link raised his hand and scratched the back of his head while Zelda's head bolted up to look Jiahto in the eye. He was thanking her? A Zora Councilman? Jiahto seemed to pick up on Zelda's confusion and sighed.

"Look here, princess. It is true that the Zora Council does not see you as fit for the title of Queen of Hyrule as of now. While this remains true, that does not mean we do not see room for improvement. Even now, with your actions in helping Link and other achievements you have made, I can tell you care greatly for your people, Hylian or not. And you care for more reasons than just the crown. You said you had no intention of taking the crown up anytime soon. We believe that was for the best, despite how unsure of an answer you gave at the meeting." Jiahto said, in almost a professional voice. Zelda looked down in embarrassment.

"I don't plan to take the crown anytime in the near future. I-I'm sorry for my behavior back then. It was very unprofessional of me-"

"However," Jiahto started, cutting Zelda off, "many of us would like to apologize for putting you in a situation such as that. While we have our thoughts on how the Calamity should have been handled a hundred years ago, they are all from a professional standpoint. We do understand you were only seventeen. It was a large burden to bear for such a young girl. Sidon was right, you hadn't a mother to teach you. It must've been hard."

Zelda, tears starting to form in her eyes, nodded.

"Muzu is a tough one. We believe, while he has recognized his misplaced anger for Link, he is coping with the loss of Lady Mipha by finding a new person to blame for her death. If anything, he should be blaming the Calamity, not those who tried to defend us from it. Again, on behalf of Muzu, the Council sincerely apologizes for his actions." Jiahto finished with a slight bow.

"I do believe if you show not just the Domain, but all of Hyrule not how great of a person you are, then Muzu will come around eventually. Such as he did for Link. Until then, as thanks for writing down the monument scriptures, please, take this as payment."

Jiahto, from behind his back, pulled out a clear-like gemstone. Zelda's eyes sparkled.

"A diamond? Are you sure, Councilman Jiahto?" Zelda asked, lightly taking the gemstone from Jiahto's grasp. The Zora nodded.

"Please do. Now, I shall be taking my leave. I have a lot of work to do with these pages. If you'll excuse me." Jiahto started off towards his study. Zelda turned excitedly towards Link.

"Link, Link, look! A diamond! This could get us a lot of rupees!" Zelda proclaimed happily. Link snorted. Zelda hadn't earned a single rupee since she had been awakened. Zelda finally wasn't broke.

"Zelda, I told you I would handle the finances. Keep that for yourself." Link said, starting to walk towards the Seabed Inn. He had more rupees than he knew what to do with already, however Zelda gave him a look as she walked after him.

"Link! You're used to only paying for one person! There are two of us now, and I'd like to help you where I can! In fact, we should really have a conversation about finances later... For now can you put this in the Slate?" Zelda asked, raising the gem in her hands. Link nodded, taking the gem from Zelda and allowing it to fade away into the familiar blue light of the Slate.

"Well then... I guess it is time for us to leave the Domain," Zelda said, a bit of sadness in her voice. Link smiled a bit as he slightly nudged her arm with his elbow.

"Hey, we'll be back. After the Divine Beast, we need to research the past. Princess Ruto from the past is a good lead. We'll come back when it's time to delve into that," Link said. Zelda smiled at Link.

"You're right. We will have to come back eventually. I do believe we should research the Divine Beast first. The monks clearly are pointing us in that direction." Zelda said. "So, Link, which beast should we head to next?"

Link raised an eyebrow. "You want me to choose our next place? Usually you would decide where to go next."

"Well, yes that is true, but you're supposed to be showing me fun things along the trip!" Zelda said with a smile, though she had begun fidgeting with her tunic again. "So I believe it would be best for you to choose."

"Well, I suggest we go straight to Death Mountain then," Link said simply. He took the Sheikah Slate off his belt and started staring at the map as they walked. "It's the closest Divine Beast, and we can visit the Akkala region. I think you'll love the scenery... and you would be able to visit Robbie-"

"ROBBIE!" Zelda called out suddenly. "LINK, I COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT ROBBIE!"

"It's honestly amazing you can forget about someone as eccentric as him..." Link said, still outlining the map. "You need to go see the Great Deku Tree, too. He misses you. Have you forgotten him as well?"

"You're one to talk," Zelda said, bringing her fingers to the bridge of her nose. She had forgotten Robbie... but not the Deku Tree. "I figured we would visit the Deku Tree on our journey, seeing as he is usually asleep. I wanted to meet him when I could prove I was strong. Someone wanted to be just a tad overprotective, though."

"I was thinking we could teleport to Robbie," Link said, choosing to ignore Zelda's comment. "It'll save us some time, then we can explore Akkala for a few days before traveling into the unbearable heat of Death Mountain."

Zelda noticed the unusually happy smile on Link's face.

"What is it?" Zelda asked, a confused look on her face. "Why do you look so overjoyed about that?"

"Oh, you'll see..." Link said with a grin. He couldn't wait until Zelda put that on. Zelda gave Link a look, but chose to leave it alone. Whatever he was planning, it didn't seem to be right now. No point in worrying now.

The two arrived at the Seabed Inn, where Kodah and Kayden were discussing their own finances.

"Ah, Link and Zelda, welcome back. I hope things are well," the large male Zora said happily as he went through his papers. "Staying another night I presume?"

"Actually Kayden, I do believe it is time for us to part from the Seabed Inn. It's time to leave Zora's Domain," Link said. "Thank you for allowing us to house this long."

"Why, it was our pleasure! Besides, you forced us to take your money even though we offered you guys a free stay. It's not as if you were freeloading." Kayden said. "It's sad to see you go, but I figured you guys would be leaving soon."

Kodah glanced over at Zelda with a smile. Kodah raised her thumbs, signaling a silent question towards Zelda. Zelda returned the thumbs up with a smile.

"Well, we hope to see you again. You guys best be on your way!" Kodah said happily. Both Link and Kayden stared at her.

"Why, you would think we were running them off," Kayden said curiously at the female Zora, however Kodah smiled.

"Nevermind that, but I do know Link and the princess have... quite the adventure ahead of them."

Zelda, who had started packing, felt a blush fill her cheeks.

"W-Well the Divine Beast won't study themselves!" Zelda said with a nervous laugh. Kodah chuckled.

"Come dear," Kodah said. "Let us go make sure Finley is alright, shall we?"

Kayden, taking the hint, decided to lay the finance papers down and walked out the Seabed Inn with Kodah, leaving the two Hylians alone in the room.

"You know, they keep treating Finley like a child. Apparently she should be a full adult Zora, but she hadn't had a growth spurt yet. Poor girl..." Link said casually. Zelda, not listening, sighed. The idea of fun on their travels had completely engulfed Zelda's mind thanks to Kodah. The way she made it sound; it almost sounded as if Kodah was implying that they would-

"Zelda? You doing alright?" Link asked, teleporting items into the Sheikah Slate. Zelda burned a bright red.

"Yes, Link! I'm fine, thanks for asking!" Zelda said. Was she really thinking like that at a time like this? Wasn't there an order to these things? Zelda groaned to herself.

This was going to be a long trip.

"So you're on your way are you?" Sidon asked, standing in front of Mipha's statue. Zelda smiled at Sidon. Her hair, now in a large braid, traveled past the extents of her backpack and rested against her now thoroughly cleaned Hylian tunic. Link nodded, the usual Master Sword and Hylian Shield on his back.

"I shall let my father know," Sidon said. "I thank you again for all your assistance with Vah Ruta and Zora's Domain. As you know, you both are welcome here at any time."

"Thank you, Sidon, it was wonderful to see you again. You've grown quite mighty while I've been away. Mipha would be extremely proud of you." Zelda said. Sidon gave his signature sharp smile.

"Your words grace me, Zelda. You have a safe trip now-"

"Wait, Sidon!" Link called out suddenly, rather loudly. Zelda was rather surprised at the sudden outburst, however Sidon matched Link's unusual energy.

"What is it my friend!?" Sidon called out enthusiastically.

"Is it true you got swallowed by an Octorok?" Link asked. Sidon's smile grew even larger.

"Completely whole! I shall tell you the tale next time you are in Zora's Domain. Looks like the princess is ready to go." Sidon said with a chuckle. Link turned to Zelda, who raised an eyebrow.

"Alright, alright," Link said with a chuckle. Zelda smiled as she grabbed onto Link's arm as he reached for the Sheikah Slate.

"Goodbye, Sidon! Until we meet again!" Zelda said as Link tapped the blue icon of the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. Sidon waved as the two of them disappeared.

...