The Legend of Zelda, its characters and locations are all property of Nintendo. Any and all OCs and original locations belong to me unless specifically stated to belong to someone else.

The Voice
8 - Big words for someone with a pancake for a head!

Waking up was like being hit repeatedly in the face with a brick, the accompanying headache and feeling of vertigo barely being registered in favour of the pure existential dread that filled Link upon realising that, yes, he would have to continue his quest.

Had Link been any other man, he would have protested this fact. Likely with a prolonged, loud shout of "No!" to the heavens, or just a good, old-fashioned anguished scream to the effect of "Argh!".

However, Link wasn't any other man. He was Link. And therefore, all he did was squeeze his eyes shut and give out a moan he hoped didn't sound too much like a whimper, even if that was the noise he wanted to make, and then open his eyes, resigned to his task and taking to it with the relish of a man walking his last mile.

Come to think of it, there wasn't any guarantee, was there, that he'd survive all this even if by dint of some miracle he managed to complete the laundry list he had to go through before he could even think of going near Hyrule Castle and challenging Calamity Ganon. Presumably, Hylia herself would descend at that point, because he'd need an even bigger miracle in that case.

The ceiling was unfamiliar. Blue and silver metals, arranged in delicate patterns and swirls. Honestly, just waking up with a ceiling over his head was strange—he'd gotten used to waking up with the sun (and the lovely serenade of Sheik's voice screaming at him to get up), damp from the morning dew, back aching because the ever-present tree roots that seemed to spontaneously grow overnight, directly below his spine. It almost made him wonder if that was Hyrule itself showing its displeasure with his failure to stop Calamity Ganon.

It was unsettling, because he couldn't quite remember how he'd ended up here...or where, for that matter, here was.

At least he was lying on something soft...and moving? Carefully, he poked at the mattress beneath him, blinking up at the ceiling in confusion when it gave way beneath it...and then sprang right back up, causing a ripple of movement through the entire surface. It was like...floating on water? As if in response to his pondering, the mattress made a sloshing sound that more or less confirmed that he was, indeed, lying on water.

He tried to sit up, remembering too late that his ribs were most likely cracked or broken. Or so he thought. The movement was surprisingly easy, nowhere near as painful as he'd remembered... There was pressure around his torso, and he looked down to find bandages wrapped around his ribcage. They had a light red hue to them, but it wasn't blood...almost like dye...

Then, as if this was a logical stop-off point, his brain decided to remember where he was. Zora's Domain. He'd come to help the Zora with the Divine Beast, and he'd been speaking to King Dorephan and Prince Sidon (and some mean, old Zora whose name he couldn't remember) when he'd...he'd...

Link groaned, hiding his face in his hands. He'd passed out in front of the king, hadn't he? He'd not only managed to offend the king by having forgotten both him and his beloved daughter, but he'd just about ruined any credibility he had as a hero by bloody fainting in the middle of the throne room, and Sheik had...

He paused, looking around him. The room he'd woken up in was...well, the word room didn't really do it justice. Chambers was a more apt description. The bed he was lying in was absolutely massive, standing on a slightly raised platform, overlooking the rest of the room which contained, of all things, a pool of water in one corner, and several pieces of furniture of various sizes. Some chairs large enough for Link to drown in, a sofa so small he'd likely break it if he tried to sit on it...but nowhere could he see what he was searching for.

The slate. It was gone.

So was his armour, for that matter. Only his smallclothes preserved his dignity (what little there was left of it).

The cold feeling of panic filled him, then. He remembered Sheik's voice speaking just before he'd passed out, saying Link was injured, that he'd been dead on his feet and...and...

Once more his face found sanctuary in the palms of his hands. Sheik had called them all idiots. He'd gone and lambasted royalty like they were a bunch of commoners. Link wondered why he wasn't dead yet. Surely such an insult was usually punished with death? And as for Sheik...well, maybe they'd just thrown the slate in the river for his transgressions.

Had he the time, Link would have spent the next couple of hours fretting and worrying about both his and Sheik's fates. His mood would have taken a turn for the much worse (as unlikely as that seemed to him now), and perhaps, with some luck, his heart would have given out and put a peaceful end to him.

However, just as he was about to try and get out of the bed (and actively resisting a seemingly innate desire to jump on it), the large doors at the other end of the chambers opened...and in walked Prince Sidon.

He was speaking to someone in hushed tones, staring intently down at something in his hands. "Is that true?" he asked as he shut the doors behind him.

Link stared at the prince's back, unsure if he the prince was addressing him, or someone else—

"You'd better believe it, Sharky," Sheik said, sounding smug. "One arrow, five bokoblins and one moblin. It went through the fire and struck one of their powder barrels. You should have seen their faces when it lit up." He chuckled. "Not that they realised what was happening before it was too late."

"Incredible," Sidon said, his voice in utter awe, staring down at the slate, which was cradled carefully in his hands.

Link stared at the pair, who hadn't noticed him being awake yet, in disbelief. Were they...talking civilly to each other (more surprising on Sheik's part than Sidon's)? And discussing Link's exploits? And Sheik was allowing the prince to touch him without shrieking obscenities? And Sheik wasn't pointing out how that particular incident was entirely an accident?

He'd been aiming for one of the lookouts, but the stupid thing had ducked just as he'd let the arrow go. The end result was favourable, of course, but it had still been a profoundly embarrassing experience, and Sheik absolutely loved to bring it up whenever he could.

"The loot in that camp funded a week's worth of trekking through rough terrain," the Sheikah said. "Would've lasted longer, if he didn't eat like he hadn't seen food in years..."

Sidon chuckled. "A big eater, then?" he asked turning around.

"I have some stories for you, Sharky, that will horrify and impress you and, and...oh, hello Link."

Sidon paused, looking towards the bed. His and Link's eyes met, and a horrible moment of prolonged, awkward silence began as the Hylian and Zora found it impossible to look away from each other. Link was blushing, realising he'd been wrong to think Sheik had decided to actually help maintain his reputation as a hero for once, only using that incident as a springboard for making fun of Link's eating habits.

He got hungry, all right?!

Sidon's mouth was slightly open, his eyes not remaining as still as Link's, seemingly studying what little of Link's skin was visible above the sheet.

It wasn't a pretty sight, Link knew. The Shrine of Resurrection, for all its wonder and ability to heal mortal wounds, had not done much beyond the actual healing. As a result, Link's body was littered with scars of varying shapes and sizes—some little more than paler patches of skin, others deep gouges that were surely the result of having pieces of muscle and flesh forcibly ripped out of his body, then regrown by the Shrine. There was one particular scar on his chest that looked like a large, circular burn, radiating outwards. If he wasn't entirely wrong, he'd probably taken the full brunt of a Guardian's laser at some point, and that was its legacy. Likely the blow that had finished him off, in the end.

Paya had gasped when she'd first seen them back in Kakariko, horrified at the extent of his injuries. She'd then tried to cover up her horrification, but that only made it worse. Link had been relieved when he'd covered them up again with the armour.

He expected the same reaction from Sidon...but the only visible indication of the prince even noticing was a slight wiggle to the tail-like fin on the back of his head...almost like it was...wagging?

"He-hem!" Sheik cleared his throat pointedly. Link never ceased to be confused by the concept of a voice doing that. It was better than Sheik calling someone an idiot, though.

"Ah, Link, you are awake!" Sidon said, shuffling awkwardly. "How are you feeling?"

"B-Better," Link said, unsure if he should be vaulting out of bed to greet the prince properly (was he, as a Hylian supposed to kneel? Or would a bow suffice?) or remain where he was, awkwardly holding the sheets to prevent them from exposing more of his scarred body. "Th-Thank you."

"That is a great relief, my friend!" Sidon said, grinning, the awkwardness from before seemingly forgotten. "We were quite worried when you collapsed in the throne room, but your companion has been instrumental in caring for you." He held up the slate, and once more Sheik was strangely quiet about being handled by anyone other than Link.

"You were lucky your ribs were only bruised, Link," Sheik said seriously. "A quick round of potions, and you'll be right as rain—no offence, Sharky."

"None taken," Sidon replied, not even grimacing at the nickname. If anything, he seemed to relish it.

Link looked between the two of them. "H-How long w-was I o-out?" he asked, surprised that his voice wasn't the gravelly mess he'd expected it to be.

"Going on twenty-two hours, thirty-four minutes," Sheik answered immediately. "So, a day, more or less."

"S-Sorry..." Link said, dropping his gaze to his lap. A whole day. He'd lost an entire day to this debacle. If that didn't cement the fact that he was unfit for this role, he wasn't sure what would. Bruised ribs and a little fatigue, and he passed out? Pathetic...

"Please, do not apologise," Sidon said hurriedly, ascending to the platform, standing beside the bed, depositing the slate on the bedside table. He towered over it, and Link. "If anything, I should be the one to beg your forgiveness. I did not think it through when you arrived, so eager was I to get you to my father. I should have realised you were injured." Sidon kneeled by the bedside, utter regret in his face. "Please forgive me, Link."

Link's brain had ground to a halt in the face of a prince kneeling before him, begging for his forgiveness, when all he'd done wrong was to be a little too eager to present the hero he'd found to his king. The embarrassingly abrupt end to the audience was all on Link for letting himself get distracted, for being too slow...for not being better.

"P-Please," he said, forcing himself not to reach out and touch the prince's shoulder (the urge was strong, for some reason). "N-No apologies n-needed."

"Nevertheless, I have failed in my role as a host," Sidon said, bowing his head slightly. "I will not let that happen again. I swear that to you, Champion."

Champion.

Another title he had to live up. The surviving Champion, at that. Sidon's sister had been one, too. Link wished he could remember her.

"M-My armour," Link said, unable to bear the weight of Sidon's earnest, almost eager expression. "Wh-Where is it?"

"Oh!" Sidon exclaimed, standing upright. "It was taken to be cleaned and repaired—there was quite a bit of mud. I cannot imagine the fights that led to its state!"

"Yes, fights," Sheik muttered on the nightstand.

"E-Er..."

"I will fetch it for you immediately," Sidon announced, already for the doors. "You must feel naked without it, like all warriors! I will be right back!"

The doors slammed shut once more, and Link stared at them for a long minute. Had he been this slow to absorb events like this a hundred years ago as well? Or had he taken it all in stride like a powerful, confident knight was supposed to?

"How are you feeling, really?" Sheik asked.

"O-Overwhelmed," Link admitted, letting himself fall back on the mound of pillows beneath him, surprised to find himself enjoying the way the water-filled mattress bobbed up and down beneath him now that he was used to it. "E-Embarrassed."

"Yes, well, passing out in the throne room was hardly your finest hour, I agree," Sheik said mercilessly. "But that was hardly your fault. Sharky's the one responsible for that, on account of not letting you catch your breath after arriving here."

"Wh-What happened a-after I...?"

"Well, I decided to bring the hammer of truth down upon everyone there for neglecting your well-being—"

"Y-You y-yelled at th-them," Link corrected.

"I yelled at them," Sheik acknowledged, "which they didn't expect at all, I might add. Their faces were priceless. Sharky's, in particular. Bet he didn't expect me when you said you weren't alone."

"N-No one e-expects you," Link said, not sure if he meant that to be disparaging or joking. Maybe both. "J-Just like th-they d-don't expect m-me."

"The King was embarrassed, I think, for not noticing an old friend clearly not being at his best," Sheik said. "Sharky couldn't apologise enough. Arranged you to be brought to his room and treated as best they could. Turns out the Zora have detailed medical knowledge on most races, so they knew how to look after a Hylian."

Link heard maybe half of that sentence. He'd stopped listening at his room.

This was Sidon's room? This was Sidon's bed?

"What's wrong?" Sheik asked. "Your temperature is rising."

"N-Nothing..."

There was a long pause. Sheik's screen dimmed. Link hoped to Hylia that he wasn't thinking about what Link feared—

"You know, Link," Sheik drawled, "you can't really hide such things from me. I notice them, whether I want to or not."

"I h-have n-no idea wh-what y-you're t-talking about!"

"Your stutter got worse."

"Sh-Shut up!"

Unsure as he was of the many skills he was forced to employ on his quest, Link knew he had fucking mastered the art of denial!

"Wh-Why Sh-Sharky?"

"Because he looks like a shark? Have you seen those teeth? And his head?"

"Hm..."

"Zora biology is an interesting subject, actually. I won't bore you with the specifics since you're still recovering, and my database is far from complete, but I have a few theories."

"Wh-What about?"

"Well, if our dear Prince Sharky, nudist extraordinaire, does indeed share ancestry with the great sharks of the oceans..."

Link felt his stomach sinking (it was becoming a familiar sensation these days, thanks to his companion) as he waited for Sheik to grow tired of his theatrics.

"If he does!" Sheik said abruptly, annoyed that Link wasn't rising to the bait. "Then he, the prince, ol' Sharky, has, between his legs, no less than two—"

"S-Stop!"

"...I wonder if they're proportional—"

"Sheik!"

It took Link about half a day before he felt strong enough to leave the bed (Sidon's bed! No wonder it was so huge!) in the early morning and leave the chambers. He chose not to put his armour back on quite yet, unsure of where he stood in terms of being a hero at the moment. Instead he wandered the domain's walkways, relieved to find them relatively deserted so early in the day.

"The rain hasn't stopped since we got to this region," Sheik noted as Link gazed up at the massive, eastern dam. He kept to the walkways that had roofs, not willing to get his only set of tunic and trousers wet. "We really need to stop Vah Ruta—the Zora aren't the only ones who will feel the effects if that dam breaks. By my calculations, the resulting flood will have devastating effects all over southern Hyrule. And the damn beast won't stop with that, continually generating an endless amount of water until it drowns all of Hyrule, and then the world."

"S-Stakes are h-high," Link said.

"That they are." Sheik sighed. "Are you up to it? Things won't get any easier from here, you know."

"I kn-know..."

"Sharky's pledged his support in the fight, which is better than nothing, but the other Zora are...sceptical. Or, I should say, the older Zora are sceptical, especially the ones following Muzu."

"Th-The older...?"

"The ones who were here a hundred years ago, when Ganon corrupted the Divine Beast and slew Princess Mipha...and saw the lack of success on your part. Sharky told me about it. They certainly know how to hold a grudge. Muzu keeps egging them on, too. Says you're weak, that you passing out in front of the king is just another sign of your inadequacy as a hero, and a damning indictment of the Hylians as a race." He paused. "Breathe, Link."

Link took a moment to steady himself and to take proper breaths, glad that Sheik noticed the panic setting in before he himself did.

"You good?"

"Y-Yeah..."

"Anyway, Muzu has it out for you, so I'd be wary whenever he's around. He won't have kind words for you. Nasty ones, rather. Big, nasty ones." He snickered. "Big words for someone with a pancake for a head."

Link couldn't help but snort at that. "Sh-Sheik..."

"No, I will not be gagged by you for this," Sheik said firmly. "What happened wasn't your fault, and for this old sardine to go off on you for it is not acceptable. If he opens his big mouth, I will open mine...and we both know which one of us will have the most endurance in a verbal duel."

Only because you scream louder than everyone else, Link thought, touching the slate gently. He wasn't sure how else to show affection to a voice in the slate. As Sheik seemed to dislike anyone but Link (and, for some reason, Sidon) touching him, he assumed it was some sort of privilege. If he didn't like it, then Sheik would surely let him know?

"A-Anyway," Sheik said hesitatingly. "I will shout them all down if I have to!"

Link, encouraged by the lack of (hostile) reaction, smiled and touched the slate again, little more than tapping the edge beneath the screen, but he definitely saw the screen dimming in response.

"Th-Thank you, Sh-Sheik."

"Don't mention it. Literally. It will ruin my reputation."

Link watched the pair of Zora guards as they continued on their route. One had a considerable spring in his step from the conversation he'd just had with the Hylian Champion, happily recalling the time they'd met a hundred years earlier, swimming together.

"So," Sheik said, "apparently you spent a lot of time here when you were younger?"

"A-Apparently," Link said, wishing he could remember it. The way the guard had spoken, it made it sound like Link had been but a child himself back then, clearly not a knight yet.

"Grew up, almost."

"P-Possibly."

"Surrounded by, and living and swimming with the fishies. Maybe that's how you got close to Mipha, as the king claims?"

"Y-Your p-point?"

"Just curious," Sheik said innocently, which meant his question was about as innocent as a cat surrounded by canary feathers. Link had no idea what Sheik was after this time, however (other than it most likely being at his expense), so he did not rise to it.

Continuing on his way, Link was at least a little happier to know that not all the Zora hated him. Just the ones who'd been old enough to know how badly he'd let them all down. Hopefully, he'd be able to prove himself in their eyes soon enough, when he took on Vah Ruta.

The sun would be rising right about now. The storm clouds above the domain ensured no one saw it, however, hanging dark and dreary like a lid over the region. Lightning continued to flash, and thunder rumbled menacingly. The denizens of the domain had yet to rise—and Link didn't blame them. It was hard enough to do it on a bright, sunny day. He couldn't imagine how difficult it was when day in and day out only offered the same, rainy misery that had plagued them for years. Link could barely stand it, and he had only been here for two days, one of which he'd spent sleeping!

There were guards out and about on patrol, but save for the one who'd known Link before, they were either too busy with their duties, or wary of him.

He reached the main square below the throne room, stepping out into the rain. He'd already gotten wet, and he was bound to get even more soaked when he set out again. He stepped into the ankle-high water and headed for the statue of Mipha, stopping in front of it, gazing up at its face.

She looked gentle, just like Sidon had described her. But also strong. The spear she held was impressive-looking, and Link could only imagine the skill with which she wielded it—one did not become a Champion for nothing.

"She was inside Vah Ruta when Calamity Ganon attacked," Sheik said quietly. "The Zora cling to the hope that she is still alive in there, somewhere."

"C-Could she b-be?" Link asked.

"I don't know," Sheik admitted. "She was the only person capable of piloting the beast, so why would Ganon keep her alive? If she broke out and retook control...no, I don't think Ganon was stupid enough to capture her. I believe the Zora are setting themselves up for disappointment. You need to be ready for that, when you return. Some will not accept that you freed the beast, but not her."

He talks as if it's a foregone conclusion that I'll succeed, Link thought. He appreciated the optimism. At this rate, Sheik was going to become the optimist of the two, which was a scary thought indeed.

"Good to see you out and about."

Link was proud that he didn't jump in surprise when Sidon spoke, suddenly standing beside him. He was looking at the statue as well, with a melancholic expression. His head fin, which was usually wagging with excitement, was still for once as he regarded the likeness of his sister with sadness.

"She always spoke about you," the prince continued. "I was but a child back then. Barely coherent. But I remember her...and her voice. She spoke your name often. That was why I remembered it, more so than your status as Champion." He looked down at Link. "She must have cared for you greatly."

"I...I w-wish I c-could r-remember..."

Sidon nodded. "I am sure you will, sooner or later. In the meantime, I have something for you." He held out a piece of garment. It looked like armour, but where one would expect to find plate or leather, there were delicate-looking scales, shimmering as lightning struck nearby. "This is Zora armour," he said as Link gently took the garment from his hands. "This will let you swim and move like us in the water—even up waterfalls. It will come in handy when—"

"Watch out," Sheik suddenly said, startling them. "Pancake head incoming."

Had he actually been quiet this entire time? Link hadn't noticed...he'd been too busy focusing on Sidon's words. And his voice. And his...

"Pancake head?" Sidon asked, confused.

"My prince!" Muzu said as he approached them, hunched over and scowling. "A fine morning to you!"

Sidon watched the elderly advisor for a moment, and then something appeared to click into place in his head, and Link saw the corners of the prince's mouth twitching in an attempt to hold back the grin. "Ah, I see," he said quietly. "Pancake head. Very amusing."

"Glad you think so, Sharky. Wait, do you even know what a pancake is"

Sidon looked embarrassed. "Not really, but I assume they are flat, like Muzu's head?"

"Lucky guess."

Why were the two of them getting along so easily, Link wanted to know. When they'd met two days ago, Sheik couldn't stop making fun of the prince or disparaging him. Now, they were like...friends? It was a difficult concept to wrap his head around.

"Muzu, good morning," Sidon greeted when the advisor was finally close enough to join them.

"G-Good m-morning," Link greeted as well, but the advisor wasn't even looking at him, his attention riveted on Mipha's likeness.

"I always come to pay my respects to Lady Mipha in the morning," the advisor said. "To honour her memory. She was taken from us far too soon."

Link couldn't help but feel that Muzu was saying this just to make him feel worse than he already did. Unlike the other Zora, Muzu referred to her in the past tense. He likely already considered her dead. Link clenched his fists.

"Muzu," Sidon said sharply. "Please do not bother our guest."

"I am merely speaking my mind, as I always do in this spot, every morning," Muzu said sourly. "It is not my fault if the Hylian does not appreciate my candour." Finally, he looked at Link, another barb surely on the tip of his tongue...but then he spotted the bundle of armour in Link's arms, and his eyes widened. "That...that armour!"

Link looked down at it. Was there something special about it? Apart from apparently enabling him to swim up waterfalls, that is?

It clearly had to be, judging from how discombobulated the advisor was looking between Link, the armour, Sidon, and then back to the armour, mouth opening and closing as the harsh, clipped words spilled out of it in the wrong order.

"That is...she...cannot...he won't...that is!" He pointed an accusing finger at Link. "How dare you touch that with your grubby fingers?!" he all but shouted. "That armour was made by the princess, and you taint her memory by even looking at it, you—"

"Muzu, that is enough!" Sidon interrupted, stepping around Link so that he stood slightly between Link and the other Zora.

Link found Muzu's words mostly washing over him, gone and passed. He had imagined something much worse, but the advisor was clearly too angry to truly think up stingers. All Link could do was hold the armour a little closer, admiring the elegant stitching with awe. Mipha had made this...

"My prince, this is completely unacceptable!" Muzu tried. "It is one thing to provide food, medicine, and shelter to a Hylian—that is basic hospitality—but it is another entirely to gift him armour, much less that armour! You know that was meant for the person the princess intended to marry!"

Link choked, almost dropping it.

Sidon stepped back and straightened his back until he was at his full height (had he been slouching before?), glaring down at Muzu. "You mean to say you did not know, Muzu?"

"Know what, my prince?" Muzu asked, teeth grinding together as he glared at Link.

Sidon sighed, gesturing to Link. "He who stands here...the man called Link...is the one whom my sister had feelings for. I was only a child then, so I did not know it myself at the time. But it is so." He glanced back at Link, smiling for some reason when he was met with the sight of a Hylian teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown. "I grew up hearing my father tell stories, some of which were about my sister's undying love for a Hylian named Link."

"Do you think that's actually true?" Sheik asked quietly. "Or is he just pulling this out of his arse?"

Muzu stepped back, looking devastated. "What?! No..." He stamped his foot in the water, creating a large ripple. "You cannot fool me with such a fanciful lie. Not this Zora!" He shook his head. "How could Lady Mipha possibly have feelings for a Hylian like him?!"

Link's race was spoken of in a tone reserved for vermin.

"The facts are clear," Muzu continued, suddenly looking smug. "He remembers nothing. Even when he looks upon Princess Mipha's statue..."

"It is the truth, Muzu," Sidon insisted. "Though you never knew it, he was ever in Mipha's heart."

Link gazed up at Mipha's statue, trying to shake off what Sidon had just revealed (or lied about, for all he knew). Muzu was right. As long as he himself did not remember anything, it was all just hearsay and speculation. There was no proof of anything. Mipha gazed back down at him, smiling.

Remember her, damn you, Link thought. Remember her! Do it! Give me back my damn memories! I am tired of not knowing who I am!

Give them back!

"...I was thinking..."

"...always such a reckless child..."

"...I was always willing to heal your wounds..."

"...what we'll be up against..."

"...if anyone tries to do you harm..."

"...I will always protect you..."

Link was on his knees in the water, cradling his head. It ached and ached, like something was trying to claw its way out. He groaned as the images and sounds and smells and feelings all exploded out of nothing.

She...she had...

"...can you hear me?! Link! What's wrong?!"

Sheik's voice was miles away, and he couldn't force himself to answer, his jaw locked from the sheer pain of the memory reasserting itself in his mind. A large hand was gripping his shoulder tightly, the other rubbing across his back in a soothing manner, but he could barely feel them.

She had been so kind...so loving...he had always been able to come to her with his problems, of which there were so many, and she'd always listened and comforted him, and...and...

"M-Mipha..." he gasped, wrestling with his desire to curl up and die, making his body straighten until he was once more looking up at her statue. How could he forget her? How dare he forget her? He felt the warm tears rolling down his cheeks, intermingling with the cold, merciless rain.

"Link," Sidon's voice spoke, almost directly into his ear. The prince was crouching beside him, looking worried. "What is the matter? Are you unwell?"

"Link, your heart rate went through the roof! What happened?! Are you all right?!" Sheik demanded, sounding close to panic.

"Hmph, you are quivering like a hatchling," Muzu said, looking a little unnerved by the display. "Whatever is the matter?"

"M-Mipha," Link repeated, still staring at the statue. "I...I r-remember..."

"What?!" Muzu exclaimed. "Do not mistake me for a fool, Hylian! There is no way you remembered her just now, when it is most convenient." He shook his head, causing his fins to flap around and spray the surrounding area with water. "In any case, without any solid proof, I cannot possibly take you at your word! If you have any such proof, now is the time to show it."

Link's head was being hammered from the inside, and though the memory of Mipha was but a fragment, the idea of this...this sardine claiming his relationship with her hadn't been close was...infuriating. He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to shut up, for once. What would have come out right then...well, it would have made Sheik's worst comments look like child's play.

"Do so," Muzu continued haughtily, "and I...I shall tell you how to get shock arrows! You need them for Vah Ruta! Yes, as well as anything else you wish to know."

But what good would Link's memories do, when Muzu clearly wanted physical proof of what Link had been to Mipha and...and...

Link paused, looking at the armour, which had been balled up in his fists, protectively placed on his lap.

Mouth set in a firm grimace, he stood up abruptly, nearly throwing Sidon back, and causing Sheik to give a surprised shout. He yanked off the soaking wet tunic, exposing his scars for all the world to see...and then put on the Zora armour.

The scales slid against his skin, the shape and fit moulded perfectly to fit his. No adjustment needed to be done—it fit him like a glove. The pauldrons and gauntlets, too, slotted neatly into place, leaving Link looking every bit the warrior he'd once been.

He couldn't help the defiant look in his eyes as he put his hands on his hip, giving Muzu as good a look at the proof as he possibly could.

Mipha made this for me, he thought. It wouldn't fit anyone else. She'd make sure of that.

Muzu appeared to be in shock, looking intently at the armour. "That...that armour was made by Lady Mipha by hand...and...and yet it fits you perfectly...what is the meaning of this?"

Sidon sighed, apparently catching on. "Now you understand, do you not?" he asked, almost sounding...sad? "Now you know who her heart belonged to, and who she made this special armour for. The fact that this armour fits Link perfectly should be proof enough that Mipha made it for him, and him alone!" Sidon crossed his arms, glaring down at Muzu. "You have always disliked Hylians, even before the Great Calamity. That is why Mipha never told you." He extended his arms in an open gesture. "Now that you know, you must promise to help him save us all, Muzu. Please," he said in a pleading tone, "tell us where we can find the shock arrows."

Looking defeated and resigned, Muzu regarded Link closely. "Hmph," he grunted, "I never would have imagined she would make that special armour for one such as he..." He looked away, up at Mipha's face. Whatever he was looking for, he seemed to find it in that kind view, for he then sighed, nodding. "I do not approve of asking for help from a Hylian, but I suppose it is our only option at this point."

He stepped forward and bowed his head to Link. "I am a proud Zora," he said. "That means I must take responsibility for my unwarranted behaviour towards you. As promised, I shall tell you where you can collect as many shock arrows as you will need..."

"Link, breathe," Sheik said as Muzu walked back the way he'd come, ascending the steps to the throne room.

Link released the breath he didn't realise he was holding, his ribs making their intense dissatisfaction known. He wasn't sure how long he'd been holding that breath, nor if he'd actually said anything for the rest of the conversation after he'd put the armour on, but Muzu was gone...and now he knew where to go next.

"You did well," Sidon said gently, his hand coming to rest on Link's back once more. He liked the feeling of that hand. Reassuring. "Come on...breathe..."

"Do as he says, Link," Sheik said just as gently. "Breathe...come on...follow him..."

"I...I'm s-sorry," Link stuttered. "I d-didn't m-mean...I c-couldn't r-r-remember!"

"It is all right, Link," Sidon said, carefully pulling Link to his feet. "Come on, let's get you out of the rain."

Every step was heavy as lead. Remembering Mipha, and the confrontation with Muzu...it had taken every last bit of energy he had. There was nothing left to draw on. Sheik remained silent as they walked, and Sidon was patiently guiding Link back towards his chambers.

"Blood pressure's dropping," Sheik said suddenly. "He's about to pass out again. Sharky!"

"Right."

Sidon waited until they were out of sight behind a pillar and, in one smooth movement, reached under Link's knees and lifted him up, supporting his back with his other arm.

"W-What...?" Link, barely coherent at this point, muttered.

"Just taking a shortcut," Sidon said cheerfully as he more or less sprinted back to his chambers.

"...I'm not sure if he ever will recover fully," Sheik finished from his spot on the bedside table.

Link was out like a light, curled up in the middle of Sidon's massive bed. He'd refused to take the armour off, but Sidon had managed to persuade him to remove the belt, gauntlets and pauldrons, at least, leaving him in the scale shirt, so he'd at least be comfortable.

Sidon sat on the floor in front of the table, bent over so his eyes were exactly at the height of the screen, having listened intently the entire time.

"It sounds...difficult," the prince said after a moment's contemplation. He'd probably not expected Link's situation or mental state to be in such dire straits. It was only Sheik's careful and meticulous instructions and explanations that had kept Sidon from panicking when Link had, more or less, passed out once more. "And you believe this to be a result of his healing slumber?"

"I have no reason to believe otherwise," Sheik said. "Granted, I only know what I have learned since meeting him in the Shrine...but based on what the King of Hyrule told us...well, I find it hard to believe Link has always been like this. I can only assume the Shrine only saw fit to heal his physical wounds, ignoring the obvious trauma he's been through in his mind. Or perhaps it's just a normal side-effect of sleeping for so long." Sheik sighed. "We won't know until we reactivate the Sheikah tower network and I can access the entire database—specifically the parts of it that concerns the Shrine."

Sidon nodded, taking it all in. He didn't pretend to understand it all, and had asked more than one question underway. Sheik found that refreshing. While he didn't have much patience for fools, he had even less for those who pretended to be otherwise. He'd gladly educate the Zora prince if it meant he'd slowly stop asking stupid questions.

Not that the prince was...bad. Not the sharpest tool in the shed, certainly, but he made up for that in persistence, a cheerfulness so pervading and unrelenting it could give Sheik a headache, and...remarkable kindness. And a liking for a certain hero that was impossible to miss.

That last bit, Sheik had to admit, made him dislike Sidon a bit. He wasn't entirely sure why. Not like anything would happen there. Surely it would be too awkward, what with Link having been more or less engaged to Sidon's sister. Or perhaps that only made it more exciting? Oh Goddess, why was he speculating about this?!

It was none of his business who (or what) Link got up to in that way. It was a little interesting, maybe, but that was purely from a scientific viewpoint.

Right?

Still, he wasn't sure what the little sting he could have sworn he felt when Link had smiled warmly at the prince meant.

"And you?"

Sheik hesitated. "What about me?" he asked.

"You've told me a great deal about Link," Sidon elaborated. "But I hardly know anything about you, Master Sheik."

"Please don't call me that," he said. The title didn't suit him, in his opinion.

"My apologies," Sidon said, inclining his head. "Sheik, then?"

"That is better, yes. There isn't much to say about me, I'm afraid. I am Link's companion—"

"You do yourself a great disservice by saying that, Sheik," Sidon said, giving him that same grin he had dazzled Link with when they'd first met. "I will gladly admit that I do not understand what you are entirely, but I can tell there is far more to you than you are willing to admit...perhaps even to yourself."

What was he supposed to say to that? Yes, perhaps there was something more to him than he had told Sidon so far (such as the possibly artificial nature of his existence), but he had no idea what Sidon was referring to other than that.

"You'll have to elaborate a little on that, Sharky."

The nickname was meant to be a little insult, his way of showing how lackadaisical and irreverent he was in his approach to...well, people. Sidon had liked it, grinning like an idiot the moment he'd heard it. He liked it so much he'd just accepted Sheik's quick explanation of who he was (and not even demanding an apology for calling his father an idiot). He'd even taken to picking up Sheik and carrying him around, like he was just some sort of...of...of pet!

(Strangely enough, the prince carrying him around wasn't nearly as egregious as when, say, Purah did so. The less said about what it felt like when Impa handled him, the better).

"I do not wish to presume too much, but I have to admit I am curious," Sidon said, leaning a little closer. "Just what is your relationship with Link?"

"I...do not understand the question?" Sheik said slowly. "I am his companion, his guide. I help him with whatever I am able—"

"Sometimes coaching him through panic attacks?" Sidon asked.

"...er, yes?"

"Calming him down when he feels overwhelmed? Perhaps offer words of comfort? Looking after him when he is unable to do so himself? Show him unconditional support no matter what difficulties you face"

"What's your point?" Sheik asked testily.

"I am just trying to understand," Sidon said.

"Well, it's all that, with a side of impatience for idiots like you!"

Sidon grinned. "I am glad to hear that. You are a good person, Sheik."

What was the matter with this shark? And why he did look so...triumphant?

"I imagine Link appreciates greatly your presence at his side. Waking up to your voice must be pleasant—knowing that he is not alone on his arduous quest."

...did Sidon just say he has a pleasant voice? Clearly, he hadn't been paying attention when Link had passed out the first time. Sheik was pretty sure his tone had reached a pitch only audible to dogs at that point. What part of that was pleasant?

"He is a remarkable person, isn't he?" Sidon said, looking away from Sheik and to the blissfully sleeping Link on the bed. "He's been through so much...and yet he carries on. He has the heart of a true warrior. You both do."

If Sheik had a body, he was sure he'd be shuffling his feet awkwardly. "There is only so much I can do as a voice," he said.

Maybe something was slowly slotting into place in his mind, but it was positively glacial in its pace. He had an inkling as to what Sidon was...hinting at, or pursuing, but he...he couldn't...didn't...

Sidon cleared his throat and stood up. "I am sorry," he said, frowning. "It has been...a long day. Emotional, and I am asking questions I shouldn't. Forgive me."

What was with the fishy prince and his sudden mood swings? Sheik could barely keep up with him. And all those questions... If Sheik didn't know any better, he'd assume that...no. No way!

"You like him, don't you?"

It was one of those questions that always, no matter when or where, always elicited a reaction from people. It had worked on Paya. Sheik wondered if she'd retrieved her knife yet. Then she'd turned the situation around on him...somehow...and he was still going over that one in his mind from time to time. He still wasn't entirely sure why it had upset him so much.

Sidon definitely had the reaction Sheik expected. And it annoyed him a lot. The prince faltered, his mouth opening and closing a bit, a definitely blush colouring his already red cheeks even redder. He cleared his throat and stepped away the bed.

"Now you presume too much," Sidon said weakly. No venom there. Embarrassed at being caught. But the triumph Sheik expected to feel (or feel as much as a potentially artificial being could feel) wasn't there.

If anything, he felt a little bad for the prince...and annoyance, but not the usual kind. He wasn't sure if it was directed at Sidon or Link or...possibly himself. Eugh, he was going to give himself a headache at this rate, which was quite an accomplishment.

"My apologies," he said...and actually meant it.

"I cannot help it," Sidon said. "There is just...something about him." He sounded more like he was trying to explain it to himself. "Perhaps that is why Mipha...oh, no..." He turned to give Sheik an apologetic smile. "Forgive me, Sheik. I need a little time to think. Will you be all right on your own?"

"You know how loud I can get," Sheik said, trying to inject a little levity to the mess he'd created. "I'm sure someone will hear me if something happens."

"That is good—I will be back later to check on him...and you, of course."

"Sidon," Sheik said. He hadn't even meant to, but his mouth—er, speaker—kept talking without consulting his brain. "There's nothing wrong with it, you know. And...you're not the only one."

What am I even saying?

Sidon took in the words, thinking them over. A little bit of the cheer from before returned, and he nodded. "Thank you, Sheik. I will go speak to Father, let him know that we will be making progress very soon. I'll be back soon."

"Take your time," Sheik said, wishing he would.

He had a lot of information to analyse.

Short vignettes I said. It'll be fun I said. And then my brain produced this monstrosity.