Ever since she had woken up in the near pitch-black of the shrine, Mipha had been okay with the silence that had pervaded the air around the Hylian Champion. Now though, as they made their way through the Divine Beast, she wished that he would say something. Anything really. Even small talk would have been a welcome change.

All she wanted was something to break the tension she was feeling.

The way their earlier conversation had ended left her feeling unsettled. She couldn't put her finger exactly on why she needed him to understand, just that she needed him to comprehend its meaning. How he hadn't already put the pieces together was lost on her. She had told him it had been crafted for the man she intended to marry and, considering how large Zora were compared to him, it should have been rather obvious that it was intended for him and no one else. Or at least, intended for a Hylian.

What made the issue even more problematic was that she knew that Link had a bit of a romantic in him. She had a few memories of him bringing her flowers that he had picked along the way, or hiding baked goods and other treats safely among his things so that he could sneak them past her younger brother (who had a penchant for stealing them if he found them).

Though she had little evidence, Mipha suspected that not even Kodah had received similar gifts from him.

Of course, if he had no memories, then he may not have had enough information to put it all together. Still, it was a bit of a stretch. The armor clearly would not fit a Zora.

Or, perhaps he did suspect but had chosen to say nothing on the matter.

Mipha would have shaken her head in an attempt to dispel all the thoughts if it wouldn't have made her more ill.

Finally, knowing that she had to make him aware before they entered the main control room, Mipha stopped in her tracks. Link stopped as well, asking her a question with his gaze. "There is something I need you to understand."

"…?"

Why here? Why now? Surely there was a better time. "It's about the armor you're wearing."

Link frowned as he looked down toward his outfit.

Mipha took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves before she did her best to get the words out.

"...It's okay." As always, Link's voice was quiet, though thankfully, it lacked its usual stoicism. It was softer than normal and conveyed an empathetic quality she was unused to hearing. It wasn't that he normally lacked empathy, he just rarely showed it anymore.

"No, it's not," she replied quickly, finding it more and more difficult to keep her anxiety in check. Setting her hands on her chest, she took a few deep breaths trying in vain to soothe her agitated nerves. "Link…"

The Hylian Champion said nothing, simply watching her silently.

"Link?" she called again, hoping that the sound of his name would convey everything she wanted to tell him.

"Yeah?"

He remained just as clueless as before. "Do you… do you really not know who that armor was made for?"

She could see it in his eyes. Could see how realization was starting to dawn on him; however, it wasn't enough. She needed him to fully understand and she needed to be the one to help him understand. "Surely you understand that it would never fit a Zora." Pausing, she prayed for the strength to get the words out. "I made it for you."

All that could be heard was the sound of moving water. Link stared at her, having completely withdrawn behind a blank expression.

"I'm not asking you to make a decision now!" Mipha explained quickly, the situation exceeding her capacity to handle it gracefully. "I simply needed you to know. I… I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

Link said nothing, his face perfectly blank.

"…Link?"

"… The control room." The Hylian Champion moved around her, making his way toward the room in question.

She tried to reach out, to say something, anything that would help him to understand; however, words failed her as Link continued walking into the next room, body incredibly stiff.

'I should have told him sooner. I should have told him. I should have-' With great effort, Mipha silenced her overwhelming inner voice. Taking a moment to blink away tears and push down her hurt and fear, the Zora Princess followed after her fellow Champion. No matter what happened between them, they still had a duty to fulfill for those that were left.

So, with a heavy heart and lead feet, the Zora trod after Link, her steps creating small ripples in the thin layer of water that covered the floor of the room. A sense of foreboding descended on Mipha with every step, causing her to quickly forget the pain of the last few minutes. Though she didn't remember much of Ruta, something in her was crying out, warning her of something that was wrong. It was more than just the change in Ruta's behavior. She could only conclude it was the source of the sickness that infected her Divine Beast.

Her skin stung as her scales raised themselves up as far as her physiology would allow. Her body was doing everything in its power to warn her of the impending threat and protect itself.

"Can you feel it?" Link asked, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.

"Yes," Mipha answered, her grip on her trident tightening considerably.

Without incident, the two Champions crossed the room and reached the massive control panel at the end. Stopping at the foot of the massive mechanism, Link cast her a glance as he maintained his hold on his weapon. "Ready?"

"As ready as I can be." Mipha turned to face the large room. Devoid as it was of any place in which to hide, the Zora Champion still kept her eyes trained for any trace of movement. She even went so far as to look up, scanning the vast ceiling for any traces of the threat they were to face. She shuddered as she noticed a few dark purple eyes with glowing, yellowish-red irises staring at her. She was about to point this out to her companion, but an explosive gust of wind, followed by a grunt from Link cut her off. Spinning around, she saw a giant, black cloud erupting from the terminal as Link stumbled back.

Threads of blue light shot out of the terminal, racing overhead.

"Waterblight…" For the first time since leaving the Great Plateau, Mipha heard Zelda's voice calling to her. "Waterblight…"

Link and Mipha followed their path, turning to look at where the threads gathered in the center of the room, spinning together to form something that had crawled forth from a nightmare. Garish purple skin interrupted by segments of ancient technology, red veins crisscrossing across its body like a spider's web, a long red mane, and a single mechanical eye focused on them. The massive, floating torso screeched, sending a chill through Mipha as it activated a giant spear made of light.

"Waterblight is a phantom of Ganon. It was created for the sole purpose of killing the Zora Champion and turning the Divine Beast against us. One hundred years ago, its interference nearly killed Mipha and almost led to the destruction of Zora's Domain. I have held it in check as best I can but it is up to you two to destroy it. I have faith that together, you two will defeat it. May you be victorious."

Zelda fell silent and all hell broke loose.

Link stepped between Mipha and the Blight as it charged them, weapon bearing down on them. Link raised his shield, fully aware of how pitiful and minute it was compared to the spear the Blight wielded.

"Jump!" Mipha cried out.

Despite the urgency in her voice, both Champions waited until Waterblight's spear lunged toward them before leaping to the side. Link dove left, tucking his head as he rolled over his shoulder and sprang back to his feet while Mipha opted for the right. He wasn't entirely comfortable separating; however, it would at least open the opportunity for one of them to attack where the Blight was unprotected. So, he leapt off the platform that the control panel sat on and, landing on the water-covered floor with ease, proceeded to rush the Blight. He assumed, from what Zelda had said, that its singular goal would be to kill his friend. He planned to buy her at least enough time to put a little distance between it and herself.

To his surprise, the Blight only showed a passing interest in the red form that was darting opposite him. Its eye was trained on him as it withdrew the spear and readied to defend itself.

Link closed the distance between them, thrusting quickly with his blade. As he had suspected, the monster dodged by rising above his range. Link let his momentum carry him forward, tucking and rolling underneath the Blight. Though he had known an attack was coming, he hadn't been prepared for the power it would have. The attack missed, but the force was still enough to turn his practiced move into an uncontrolled tumble. Link finally stopped, reflexively curling up and covering himself with his shield. The expected blow came, slamming into his shield with unbelievable force. The Hylian Champion was sent flying across the floor, limbs sprawling as he landed in a heap.

Link grit his teeth, willing his battered body into motion. With a grunt, the now-winded Hylian climbed to his feet as he heard a shriek of pain from the monster.

Apparently, it had cared so little about Mipha that she had managed to sneak in and land a strike, buying him a moment to recover.

Waterblight spun around, looking for the Zora Champion. With its attention off him, Link pulled out the Slate and created a bomb. Kicking it toward the monster, he waited until it was in range to detonate it, throwing Waterblight off balance and sending it careening toward the control panel.

"Are you all right?"

Mipha was standing next to him, her trident missing.

"I'm okay. Where -"

"Its back. I threw it when it tried to chase you." Link looked over toward the monster.

Across from them, the Blight had recovered and was managing a glare with only one mechanical eye. Link couldn't shake the feeling that he was still the center of the monster's attention.

The Hylian Champion handed Mipha the Slate before sparing a glance at his shield. In the blink of an eye, he discarded the now useless hunk of wood and metal. Watching Waterblight like a hawk, Link edged forward.

"What are you planning?"

"Getting your trident back."

In the middle of his second step, Waterblight reared back.

"Move!" Link wasn't sure who had yelled it.

Once again diving despite his shoulders protests, the Hylian was up and sprinting toward the monster as its spear sailed past him. He didn't put himself at risk looking back. Mipha was no stranger to battle and would have seen what was coming just as she had the first time.

As he closed the gap yet again, the monster wound up for a wide sweep. Hitting his knees, Link slid under the spear, feeling the wind from the attack whip through his hair.

Managing to get his feet beneath him, the Hylian leapt to his feet and spun around. Springing up, the Hylian grabbed hold of the Lightscale Trident and ripped it from the Blight's body. Waterblight lurched forward with a scream. Recovering with startling speed, it whipped around and reared back to strike.

And then another detonation sent it reeling. Finding Mipha, Link threw the trident in her direction before rushing toward the Blight.

The Hylian Champion swiped at the enemy, cutting through its rotting flesh. Waterblight screeched, haphazardly retreating once again.

Link gave chase, catching a red blur out of the corner of his eye.

The Blight screamed, its cry echoing across the room. In a flash, it disappeared into blue threads which raced away and out of sight.

Wordlessly, the two Champions stood back to back, desperately scanning the room. Though Link didn't share Mipha's connection to Ruta, he could still feel something looming over him. Link could see nothing out of the ordinary and, judging by Mipha's silence, she saw nothing either.

Then, Link caught sight of a blue thread racing above.

"Above!" Eyes darting upward, Link watched the Blight reform. Glaring down at them, it screeched again as it raised a hand, palm glowing.

The sound of rushing water could be heard. Looking down, Link could see the water level was rising. The Hylian, feeling a small burst of panic, searched desperately for anything that could stop the room from filling. With every second, his ability to move was hindered further until he would only be a hindrance to Mipha.

"The platforms."

Link looked over his shoulder.

"The platforms are designed to rise with the water."

Peering toward where she gestured, the Hylian saw a platform rising slowly out of the water. Knowing what the Zora Champion had in mind, Link waded through the water toward the rising structure, keeping an eye out for any sudden moves from the Blight. To his surprise, Waterblight continued hanging far above. Its inactivity allowed Link to reach the platform quickly and safely. He clambered up, not tearing his gaze away from the monster.

Waterblight tilted its head as he leveled his sword at it. Suddenly, it screeched once more, holding up a hand. Several pieces of ice, from shards to blocks to spiked balls, appeared around it. With another shriek, the pieces of ice were sent racing away. Rather than descending on him though, they flew toward the water, where Mipha had chosen to continue the fight.

Unfortunately, he didn't have the chance to lend the Zora any aid. Waterblight descended on him, lashing out with its spear. Again, the Hylian Champion sprang forward, dodging underneath the blow. Dropping his blade, Link drew his bow and nocked an arrow, loosing it quickly. Even as he readied yet another arrow, Link chastised himself for his negligence with a bow. While the brief time he'd spent analyzing Revali's technique had helped him to improve marginally, he could tell that his speed and accuracy were nowhere near the Rito Champion's.

Despite his lack of skill with the weapon, Link's arrows struck true. The monster recoiled, brushing the arrows off; however, it drew no closer to him.

Link drew and nocked another arrow. Before he could release it, Waterblight attacked with a small, targeted swipe. The arrow went wide, allowing the blight to strafe to the side safely. Advancing quickly, the blight was now on top of the Hylian Champion, its light-based spear raised high. Dropping the bow, Link darted forward and grabbed his sword.

Link took a swing at Waterblight but his blow was disrupted as the creature's strike slammed into the platform. The impact caused him to stumble forward.

He managed to steady himself just as a hand with dead, purplish skin wrapped around his throat. Link's already indignant lungs were screaming as Waterblight lifted him, far above the platform. Black spots danced across his vision as he lashed out with his blade weakly, but with little force and no leverage, it bounced off the monster's skin without so much as a scratch. Dropping the blade once again, Link gripped the monster's hand with his own, trying to break its grip even a little.

The Blight studied him as he struggled fruitlessly for a few seconds. Finally, it leveled its weapon at him.

But it didn't attack, as though it were waiting for something. Glancing away from Link, the monster looked around the control room.

Link didn't have the time nor the ability to contemplate its action. His only concern was trying to escape his opponent's grip before he passed out. His fingers grew stiff and heavy and what little strength he had was fading fast.

As what remained of his vision started to fade, he saw Waterblight's eye flash on him as it prepared to finish him.

He felt himself being jerked, causing his oxygen-deprived mind to wonder if the final blow had already been dealt. Then, a flash of red as the blight looked away. The pressure around his throat disappeared, allowing his desperate lungs to take their fill of air greedily. The dazed Hylian fell through the air, barely hearing the unnatural scream just before he hit the water.

Once again, the Hylian was aware that he was no longer breathing, but he couldn't find his way up and out of the water. Mindlessly, he clawed at the water until he felt a pair of arms wrap around him. Something about the embrace was familiar. Comforting. Giving in, the Hylian Champion allowed the arms to hold him as his vision faded entirely and everything went dark.

…

…

For the second time in quick succession, air exploded into his lungs. For some reason, Link, who couldn't form a coherent thought, was grateful for the pain.

He wasn't sure how long he was out for, only that at some point, his ability to see and hear returned to him. Slowly, his thoughts began to take shape once again. Eyes darting around, he found himself laying on his side, head resting on his arm. Not far away, he could see the contents of his stomach floating on the thin layer of water that covered the floor.

It took him a few seconds to process what had happened. Blacking out as he had made him worry about Mipha. Though she would have had to intervene, that didn't mean she had saved him unscathed. He needed to make sure she was okay.

With a grunt, he sat up.

"Are you all right?" Mipha was kneeling behind him, concern and exhaustion etched in the scales of her face.

"Yeah…" He wasn't sure what else to say. So he looked away.

He could feel her desire to say more. Could feel the hurt that his averted gaze had caused. But he didn't know what else he could do. There was something in him that was angry that she hadn't told him about the meaning of the armor he was wearing. It wasn't cruel or malicious but he liked to think that she knew him. And she had known that he would have refused to wear the armor she'd made until he was ready to accept it fully, her proposal included. For her to allow it to be presented to him without his knowing its intended purpose was painful, regardless of her reasoning.

And yet, there was another part of him that understood and almost agreed with the decision. He knew as well as she did that none of his alternative solutions would have worked. Knowing her as he did, she had made an impossible decision and had chosen the path that she believed would protect her people. Had he been in her shoes, he probably would have made the same choice. And, he couldn't bring himself to be truly angry with her for making a choice that she had likely not wanted to make.

And, if he were to be truly fair to her, she had tried to tell him earlier, but he had shut her down. He should have let her tell him earlier. He should have asked more questions.

Then, there was the fear. With so many holes in his memories, he couldn't be sure of what all he thought and felt for her. The thought of binding his life to someone else, especially someone so dear to him, was near terrifying. What if he wasn't strong enough? What if he couldn't come through at a critical moment for her. After all, he had failed his mother and his village. The only reason he had survived was because he had hidden away while the rest of his home had been destroyed and his people killed.

He wasn't willing to put her at risk like that.

He could feel how his silence was causing her pain but opening his mouth only brought more silence. For some reason, his voice failed to obey him.

"We… we should restart Ruta's core."

Link clenched his jaw. He could hear it in her voice. "Yeah."

Rising, Mipha took the Slate, trying and failing to not show the devastation she was feeling on the inside.

His heart broke a little and, as she turned away, he once again tried to reach out.

And his voice refused to respond just as it had before.

Mipha climbed the ramp, giving him one last, pained look, before using the Slate to activate the control panel.

A shudder passed through the Divine Beast, its accents changing from red to a soft blue; however, Link noticed none of this. He only had eyes for the Zora that was framed by the control panel as his vision dissolved in a gold flash.

Despite the commotion that had encompassed the Domain earlier, something akin to tranquility had returned to the city, though it was a far cry from what had made the city famous. Even though the battle had ended hours ago, Captain Bazz had advised the King to keep the city on alert for a while longer. Trusting him, Dorephan had ordered that everyone, save the knights and a few essential persons necessary to keep the upper city functioning, remain in the submerged city.

The Zora King would wait a few more hours before allowing those that lived above the lake to return. According to what the Rito had said, what remained of the Lizalfos had been fleeing as fast as their legs would carry them; however, he had reluctantly pointed out that his vision was not the best in the darkness and that what he had been able to make out was based largely on the few shock based weapons he could spot.

Dorephan had no doubt the monsters were scrambling to get away as fast as their legs could carry them. Prone to embellishment as he could be, Sidon had given a surprisingly meek recounting of the battle. The Prince likely knew that his father would be displeased by his decision to lead a regiment himself with no protection against the shock weapons. Dorephan's feelings on the matter were complicated but he couldn't say his son's decision was necessarily wrong. Regardless, from the sounds of it, the mountain of a Goron charging them down and arrows raining from above would have been enough to rattle any army.

And if what had been shared with him was true regarding their return, they hadn't even been at their strongest.

To think his daughter had been chosen to stand among them. It was his pride as a father and king to know that his child was strong enough to be one of them. It was also terrifying to know that despite their supposed power, they needed her.

He would not deny that he experienced the urge to forbid her to leave the Domain.

But he knew how important it was to not only the world but to her as well, that she saw to her duties.

His thoughts now focused on his daughter, the Zora King turned his gaze toward the young woman standing next to him. "How are you, my dear?"

"... Um..."

Dorephan frowned. She had been distant ever since she had returned and he knew when she was holding back tears. What was more, he had not seen Link since Mipha had come back. He had managed to extract enough from Mipha to know that the Hylian had survived the horror that had awaited them in the Divine Beast. But, much like her brother, she had been far scanter with details than was typical of her.

Which led him to wonder what had happened aboard Vah Ruta.

"I take it you told Link about the armor."

"Yes."

He said nothing more as he looked out one of the massive windows. He didn't have to ask more questions to know that whatever was said, it had not gone well. As curious as he was, the King had no intention of pulling more information out of his daughter. Not when she was clearly hurting. He knew all he needed to about what had happened during the fight.

Now all that remained was to hear Link's official answer.

The subdued silence that had fallen over the room was maintained as father and daughter waited.

Thankfully, Link didn't keep them waiting long. The Hylian Champion padded in quietly, the armor that Mipha had painstakingly crafted held under one arm. He presented himself before the King and Princess, his eyes cast down to the ground and his expression unreadable.

"Good evening, Link."

"Yes, good evening," Mipha agreed with a nod, not looking at the friend he remembered her cherishing in her youth.

"Evening."

Dorephan didn't allow another bout of awkward silence to fall over the room. He already had a good idea of what was to come and he had no wish to prolong either of their hurt. "I understand that my daughter has already explained the significance of that armor to you as well as why it fits you so well."

Link nodded, still refusing to look at either of them.

"Though I believe I already know your answer, I still need to hear it from you."

"..." Taking a deep breath, the Hylian Champion finally looked up to meet Mipha's eyes. "I can't… I'm sorry." Taking a step forward, he held the armor out to the Princess.

Mipha accepted it, looking too dejected to even emote. Dorephan watched, his own heart in tatters as he witnessed it. He had watched them grow up together, seen the way her eyes lit up whenever her first true friend had been brought up in conversation, seen the excited energy whenever she had the chance to spend time with him. He had watched fondly as that friendship helped her overcome some of her shyness, led to new friendships, and helped her develop as both a friend and a Princess.

And as time had passed, he had watched those platonic feelings deepen and become something altogether different. He had thought those feelings were reciprocated.

Had he been wrong?

Link stood there awkwardly for a few seconds before turning away. Though he had not been excused, the Hylian Champion made his way out of the throne room, only stopping in the massive doorway to send one last, sorrow-filled glance toward Mipha. For a moment, he looked as though he wished to say something more; however, he remained silent as he turned back toward the door and left the throne room entirely.

"... Well, that is that."

"Mipha," the King said, trying to get his daughter's attention.

"If you will excuse me, I think it would be best if I -"

"Mipha!" he repeated, putting a bit more force into his voice than he intended. It came out loud enough that the guard standing outside of the room poked their head in and scanned the room briefly. Thankfully, the guard was quick enough to read the room and retreat.

The Zora Princess was pulled out of her dejection and stared at him with wide eyes. "Y-yes?"

"Come here, child." Extending a hand, he picked his daughter up and held her close. Lowering his voice, he said, "I know you are trying to be strong, but you need to take a moment to grieve. Tomorrow, you will need to be strong again and carry on but for now…" He hadn't finished and she was already beginning to shake, quietly sobbing into his chest. "For now, let it out."

He, too, grieved. One of the curses of a long life was becoming familiar with loss, especially when one lost their soulmate at such a young age. The pain wasn't quite the same but some elements were similar. And that was enough for him to hurt for her. He, too, had lost a future with one he loved so dearly and had to face a future he had not planned for.

And so he held her as she cried, murmuring words of comfort to her even as he empathized with her and was reminded of his own grief.

Eventually, Mipha's sobs faded and she was breathing evenly. Knowing that they could not remain as such forever, Dorephan finally set her down.

"I know it is late and that you may be exhausted, but there is something I would like for you to consider. Go speak with Anora or Urbosa, if she is awake." He set a hand on the crest of his head as he leaned back. "As much as I wish I could be everything that you need in a parent, I simply do not know enough about being a woman. Perhaps they can provide you with some comfort or insight that I cannot."

Words were still beyond her, but she did manage a nod.

"Good. I will see you in the morning?"

"Yes, father... " She wiped at her eyes then looked up at him with her best attempt at a smile. "Thank you."

"Any time, my dear," he replied warmly. "Why don't you leave the armor with me for now? I think it may do you some good to be separate from it for a while." Mipha complied, clearly still a little numb as she wordlessly handed the armor over. Then, she turned away and made her way out of the throne room. He watched as she departed, his smile fading to a thoughtful frown as she too disappeared.

Now that he was alone, Dorephan had a moment to reflect on what had happened, particularly the few words that Link had spoken.

"I can't…"

Even if much care hadn't been put into the choice of words, it was still quite telling. If he was correct, then the issue wasn't that Link was opposed to his daughter's proposal. Instead, there was something that the Hylian believed would harm her if he did accept. Of course, there were a variety of problems that could have led him to believe such a thing and he wouldn't presume to believe he knew all of the things that were on Link's mind.

But that didn't mean there was nothing he could do.

"Tottika," he called.

The guard in question was quick to enter and present himself before the king.

"Please find Laflat and let her know I wish to see her immediately."

"As my king commands." The knight turned on his heel and went to see to his task, leaving Dorephan to stare at the armor and consider the problem that had been presented to him. Hopefully, his daughter would find it in her heart to forgive him for interfering in something that was not his concern.

And hopefully, she could forgive Link for a moment of weakness.

"If you don't find your way over to that bed in the next few seconds, I'll call some of your knights in here so they can watch me knock some sense into you before strapping you down until you've gotten a good night's sleep. Now, which will it be?"

Urbosa's eyes cracked open to see an aging pink Zora leaving her side. With a grunt, the Gerudo Champion pushed herself up so she was sitting. She hissed as the movement caused her head to pound. Ignoring it and the ache in her muscles, she looked around to figure out where she was.

Last she remembered, she and the others had just killed the white Lizalfos. Now, she was laying in the middle of a row of occupied beds as a few non-combatants milled around with purpose. Some were changing bandages or applying salves while others helped to feed those who were still too injured to do so themselves. Urbosa watched this for a few minutes, giving her still recovering body time to adapt to the new orientation.

After a few minutes, she tried to climb up; however, the aging pink Zora reappeared beside her. The nurse set a hand on her shoulder, pushing her back down. "You need more rest before you're ready to stand again."

"I just need a moment to- "

"Lay back down? Don't worry, I can help you with that." Though she wasn't terribly strong, the Zora knew how and where to apply pressure as she began pushing the Gerudo Champion back down.

"Not what I was going to say," The Gerudo Champion stated, not in the mood to attempt one of her usual jabs. Instead, she placed her hands on the edges of her cot and used them to support herself as she pushed back against her. "Besides, there's too much to do," she grunted, Either the nurse was stronger than she had given her credit for or her body was weaker than she had thought.

"What's this?" Anora asked, sounding so casual despite holding down a full-grown Gerudo. "I would have thought you reached adulthood by now, yet here you are behaving like a hatchling."

"A hatchling?"

"Yes. I've seen many a hatchling grow obstinate when it's time for them to sleep."

"I suppose almost everyone would seem like a hatchling to you, eh?" Urbosa managed a small chuckle even as her strength faded.

"Oh yes, especially those who behave like them," the Zora answered with a pointed look.

A firm push was enough to overcome the last of Urbosa's strength. She fell back into the cot as the nurse lifted her legs back up onto the mattress and threw the thin blanket back over her.

"Now, shall I tuck you in, or are you capable of laying in bed on your own?"

"I think I can manage on my own."

"I would love a demonstration," Anora replied dryly. "Now, leave tomorrow's troubles for tomorrow. The city will still be here, as will your friends… as will the weight of the world." She set a hand on the Champion's shoulder with another pointed glance. "It was never my role to bear that burden, but it sounds quite heavy. I imagine you'll need all the rest you can get."

Urbosa said nothing. She hated to admit that the nurse was right. It didn't stop her from giving the older woman a dissatisfied frown.

"You may pout all you like but I can see in your eyes that you know I'm right." She leaned in, her small smirk melting into genuine compassion. "... I understand. It's hard, watching them, isn't it. A part of you wants to step in at every opportunity to help them, doesn't it?"

"You really have seen many a hatchling."

"You didn't expect me to reach this age in this profession without seeing at least a few dozen, now did you?"

"I suppose not."

Both women laughed quietly. After a moment, the nurse straightened slowly. "Now, I expect you to show some sense and stay in this cot."

"I may do just that."

"Luckily, if you do happen to wander off, I know some knights who could track you down. They also happen to owe me a favor or two." She gave the Gerudo a wink. "That's what happens when they ask for your silence regarding certain… incidents."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Excellent. Now, if you will excuse me." Anora left her side, walking with purpose toward another bed.

Urbosa stared up at the ceiling. Despite her exhaustion, she was unable to sleep and so she found herself drifting. Her thoughts flowed freely, not stopping on any one idea, concept, or memory for any length of time. Though she had reason to be concerned about her friends, Urbosa had a feeling that she would have been made aware if something had happened.

So, the Gerudo Champion relaxed, allowing her lethargy to lull her into a near-comatose state. A number of strange conversations with people she had never met, sights she had never seen, and memories she had never lived floated across her consciousness. Her mind was too far from lucid for her to ponder any of it. Instead, she was quick to accept all of it as real.

"- He didn't say a word?"

"... He didn't. I think he may have tried, but…"

Urbosa came back to reality slowly, needing a few seconds to identify the voices. One was noticeably worn and contemplative, the other youthful and full of hurt.

"I'm sorry, my dear." That was the nurse again.

"There's nothing to apologize for. Clearly, he doesn't feel the same." Urbosa perked up as she recognized Mipha's voice, helping her reach lucidity more quickly. With a grunt, she sat up.

"Urbosa? Please, take it easy." Mipha was beside her, helping her to scoot back so she could lean against the headboard.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. I'm glad to see that you're okay. How is Link?"

Mipha paused for a fraction of a second, her face freezing in a pained grimace before a mask slid covered it. "He is still recovering but he will be just fine."

"And you?"

Mipha pursed her lips before trying to respond; however, Urbosa was quick to point a finger at her with an impatient frown.

"You were about to lie."

"Did she purse her lips?" Anora asked.

"Yes." Urbosa didn't tear her gaze away from the Zora Champion.

"I like this one."

"Thank you," Urbosa replied with a nod in the nurse's general direction. "Now, how are you?"

"... I have been better."

Finally, Urbosa's eyes flicked toward Anora, who was watching them both impassively. Though the nurse said nothing, her silence said everything the Gerudo Champion needed to know.

"He gave the armor back, didn't he?"

"How did you -" Mipha silenced herself. "Father told you, didn't he?" she asked quietly.

"I had already figured it out," Urbosa sighed as she shifted into a more comfortable position. "He just confirmed it." Urbosa chuckled as her fellow Champion looked at her weakly. "Neither of you are that subtle."

"No…" Anora hummed thoughtfully. Urbosa was surprised by how troubled the nurse was by this development. "He was always such a sweet and thoughtful boy, although…"

"You know him?"

"I know everyone who's spent any length of time here. Especially one who helped in gathering herbs for my healing elixirs." She smiled wistfully. "He did also spend quite a lot of time here before Mipha mastered her powers."

Mipha, while certain no one was paying her any mind, was allowing her emotions to show. A few unshed tears glistened as she clenched her fists in her lap.

Urbosa said nothing on the matter. "So, I assume you know about his history as well."

"Yes. Quite unfortunate." The nurse frowned, her own eyes darting to Mipha for the briefest moment.

"And has Mipha here told you about our memory loss?"

"This is news to me." Anora was suddenly upon them both, tilting her head back so she could look into their eyes while one hand gingerly prodded her head. "Mipha, did you suffer amnesia as well?"

"Yes, but many of my memories have returned."

Anora withdrew with a thoughtful expression. "Interesting. If returning here restored your memories then it likely wasn't caused by physical harm, nor would it be a degenerative disease." The older woman shook her head and refocused on them both. "Did Link also have this issue?"

"We all did," Mipha answered.

"He's had a few memories resurface," Urbosa said with a frown. "None of them have been good from what I can tell." Urbosa sat up with a grunt as she reached out to Mipha, taking the girl's hands in her own. "I know it hurts, but I think this may be for the best… at least for now."

A mix of hurt and anger flashed across Mipha's face.

"She's right," Anora murmured. "He may be stuck in a cycle of misery right now and, if you two were to be wed, he may very well drag you down with him."

"He isn't - he wouldn't…"

"Not intentionally, no," Urbosa agreed as she wrapped an arm around the Zora Champion and drew her in. "But, that doesn't change the fact that he isn't in a place where he can handle a responsibility like that."

"I know." Mipha looked down, taking a deep breath before relenting. "I know you are right, but…"

"But that doesn't make it any easier," the Gerudo finished for her. She rubbed Mipha's back silently as a somber silence fell over the trio. Eventually, though, as was her nature, Urbosa felt the need to lighten the mood, if only a little. "Now, about his refusal to explain himself."

"You were awake for that?"

"I was. I'm sure that Anora would agree with me that such a thing is entirely unacceptable."

"I do agree on both counts," the nurse said.

"Both?" Urbosa asked, a little curious.

"He should have explained himself and you -" the nurse continued as she pointed toward Urbosa, "-should have been asleep, not eavesdropping."

"I don't think it qualifies as eavesdropping if you were standing directly over my bed."

"Now isn't the time for you to be pedantic, hatchling."

Shrugging off the older woman's words, Urbosa turned her attention back to Mipha. "Here's what I think we should do: I'll hold Link down, and you punch."

Mipha blinked at her, a mix of horror and shock slowly creeping over her expression. "No!"

"You hold him and I punch?" Urbosa asked with feigned surprise. "I must say, I rather thought you'd prefer to do the punching."

Mipha didn't have the chance to respond as Anora piped up. "A clever ruse but no, you may not leave the infirmary until tomorrow morning at the earliest."

"Then bring him here. I can hold him down without standing up."

"My goodness, you do like to test boundaries. Perhaps I should have that sullen Rito friend of yours come and help me strap you down. I'm sure he's mature enough to handle such a task gracefully and wouldn't gloat about it for years to come."

"And here I thought you were skilled at reading people," Urbosa replied dryly.

"Of course I am. That's why I suggested him rather than the inebriated mountain."

"You would have more luck getting her to cooperate with Daruk." Mipha's quiet observation surprised both women, who stared at her for a moment before they broke out chuckling. It wasn't long before they were laughing heartily, although quietly. Mipha, who hadn't been expecting such a response, wasn't far behind.

Eventually, their laughter died away and Urbosa relaxed back against the wall, content to listen to the two Zora chat quietly. Though she could still see Mipha trying to mask her pain and turmoil, it was good to see that she was at least making an effort to pick up the pieces and move on. It would take some time and patience but soon enough, she would return to her normal self.

After a while, Anora was called away to help with a few patients, leaving the two Champions alone together. With the nurse suitably distracted, Urbosa leaned toward Mipha and whispered, "how hard do you think it would be to sneak out while she isn't looking?"