Chapter 12 – A fishy experience
"Last one there is a foul snake! " Mipha shouted after she had sprinted off.
Link just smirked as he sprinted after her. She had quit the head start as she turned around on the staircase leading to East Reservoir Lake. She had a quick look at Link, who had almost caught up to her as she increased her speed. Mipha reached the top of the staircase first and ran to the pier. Just shortly before she reached it Link sprinted past her and shouted "I win!" as he reached the pier first.
Mipha arrived shortly after him. Out of breath she propped herself on her knees and caught her breath before she spoke.
"But...i...nearly...got...you."
"Are you already out of breath?" Link teased her.
After a few moments Mipha regained her breath and rose as high as she could while she looked him in the dead in the eyes.
"If I would, I would be a bad teacher, wouldn't I ?" she replied with a smirk on her lips.
Link just gave her a smile before he sat down and began taking of his boots.
"So then, I am completely in your hands, my dear." He said while he began taking of his shirt and trousers.
"First you should start with some warm ups. After that we...we...ehhh..." Mipha drifted of as Link followed her advice and began with a few stretches, his muscles clearly showing. For some reason she had began drooling at the sight of Links muscles in action, since he had comforted her with her crisis. She was almost like in a trance as he snapped her back to reality.
"Mipha? Mipha? Someone home?"
"Ehhhh what?!" she snapped back as she noticed what had happened.
Embarrassed she quickly turned around while she mumbled out an apology. Link chuckled a bit as he finished his warm up and jumped into the water, a loud splash following him. Hearing the splash Mipha turned around, just to be met with a gush of water drenching her completely.
For a short amount she just stood there on the pier as the water dropped of off her, her gaze fixed on the chuckling Link. Then a devious smile played across her face as she jumped in the water with herself and threw gushes of water against her Hylian.
They both jumped through the lake as they splashed each other with the crystal clear water of the Reservoir, laughing loudly and enjoying their little game. After about 15 minutes of this they both calmed down and began with the reason they had come here.
"So, did I understand that right. You want to observe my swimming technique and want me to help you stay on track so you can be better of when training Zoran Guards, did I get that right?" Mipha asked as she floated in the water, just a few centimeters away from Link.
"That is basically what my plan is, yes." He replied to her, which was only partly true.
Of course this one of the reasons he came with her to the lake on their free day. But the other reason he came here was to distract her.
Around the time they splashed each other with water back in the domain a big red Zoran was fiddling with the key to enter a certain bedroom. With a click the lock finally opened and Sidon released a breath he had hold in as he slowly opened the door.
He knew that no one was here except him but he was still pretty on edge for some reason. He slowly closed the door behind him and locked it again. He was now alone in the room. It was as if the room itself pressed down on him as his legs began shaking. He didn't knew why he was so nervous.
Sidon took a deep breath and with a determined mind walked towards the wall of the room with Links bag standing on it. As soon as he sat one foot to the ground he immediately slipped and crashed head first into the floor.
Back at the lake Link was working on his technique. They had started with improving his skills in the water. Even though he was already a good swimmer there is always room for improvement. He was swimming laps across the lake. From one end to the other and back, all while he was swimming as fast as he could.
Meanwhile Mipha was swimming beneath him, observing his movements. Since her aquatic abilities she had no problem following him on her back . And beneath the water Link also couldn't see herself gauging at him. Mipha was so glad he couldn't see how red she had became while they started this.
After around 5 laps from end to end Link needed a break. He stopped and sat down in shallow water near the pier. Shortly after a red head bobbed out of the water and moved towards him.
"You were pretty good. You have remembered a lot of what I thought you and your stamina is amazing." Mipha praised him.
"Thank you very much." He replied, a bit out of breath.
Mipha smiled at him before she continued explaining to him what she had observed and what they could work on.
Sidon by now had reached the bag on the far end of the room. His face a little redder then usual and now had an interesting pattern of a little spiral on it. He still couldn't believe that he crashed head first into the floor as he entered the room.
Shaking that thoughts aside for now he opened the bag and began searching. Link once told him he had his bag enchanted by a Korok. According to that his bag was way bigger on the inside then it looked from the outside.
It didn't took Sidon long to find the shining blue armor. The craftsmanship his sister had used to create this astonishing piece was still surprising him every time he saw it. He shortly ran his hand above the soft blue scales before he grabbed the armor and walked towards Miphas dressing room. He entered the room and wanted to put it back where it belonged as it hit him a second time. He forgot where Mipha had hid it.
With the few tips from Mipha Link had improved his technique a bit. It wasn't much but learning and improving skills took quite some time, as he knew best. For today he was done with improving his technique. He was now observing someone on a whole different level then him. He had dove underwater to witness the immense speed and agility of Mipha.
Through the crystal clear water he could see every bit of movement, every twitch and turn without any hindrance. The only problem he had was his need for air. He had never been decent at breath holding so he had to dive up to the surface quit often, and every time would loose a bit of the magnificent view.
Even though he could follow most of her movements it was almost beyond his mind how Mipha managed to pull them off. It just showed him on what kind of different level they to where concerning their swimming skills.
After he had returned from the surface once more he was surprised to don't see Mipha any more. He turned around but couldn't find her anywhere. He dove back up to the surface but couldn't see her from their either. He almost began worrying as he felt something gripping his legs and with a gust of strength pulling him downwards. He managed to catch a breath before he found himself on the bottom of the lake. In front of him he could see a smiling Zoran princess as she wrapped her arms around his torso.
All feelings of worry leaked from his mind as he gently put his arms around her waist while she snuggled herself against his neck. They remained for a bit of time, floating underwater in each others arms until Link slightly tapped her her to signal his need to breath. Mipha took her head away from his neck and with one strong kick of her legs they both were at the surface, where she snuggled her head back to its former position.
"This feels so relaxing to be here, together with you." Link whispered into her ear as they floated on the surface.
"I hope you didn't forget why I gave you this little demonstration, did you?" she replied with a little smile.
"No I didn't, and I appreciate your help. I really do. Although we might need to do this a few more times."
"After your performance I wouldn't have let you of the hook so easily anyway."
They both laughed after this.
"Its getting a bit late." Mipha said as she looked at the golden sky.
"Its getting colder soon. I don't want you to catch a cold here. Common lets go back home." Mipha said as she slowly moved them both towards the pier.
Link had a quick look at the sun, but was sure Sidon had been finished by now. They reached the pier and Link began drying of and got clothed again before they both walked back towards the domain.
Sidon had panicked by now. He had searched the entire room but found nothing and his memory wouldn't help him either. The sun began setting and the two would probably soon be back again. He had to finish this as soon as possible otherwise he and Link had a very big problem on their hands.
But no matter how much he searched he just didn't find anything. Ultimately he collapsed at the wall and sank to the floor, already trying to think of a way how he could explain all of this. With frustration he slammed his fist against the wall as he heard the sound of his punch echoing behind the wall. That's when he suddenly remembered.
As fast as he could he peeled of a little shard of the wall ornament to reveal a little place behind it, just big enough for the armor to fit inside. As a little child he had once seen Mipha hide it here during the time she still worked on it. He quickly placed the armor inside and placed the plate back before it, until with a little click it connected with the rest of the wall. He stood up and made sure he had left everything the same as he had found it and left.
He locked the door back behind him and just wanted to move away as he heard the footsteps and familiar voices of Link and Mipha coming up the hallway. He panicked as he quickly looked for a place to hide. He sprinted behind a pillar on the end of the corridor and hid himself behind it as best as he could.
He waited until he heard the clicking of the lock and heard the two enter and close the door behind him. As fast as he could he now ran past the door and down the hallway.
Link had already switched to his sleeping attire and laid in bed waiting on Mipha. They had eaten earlier and were now both getting ready to bed. Mipha had went into the dressing room to get ready for the night herself.
As Link laid there in the bed looking at the ceiling he could hear a little thump coming from the dressing room.
"Is everything okay Mipha?" he asked concerned.
"Yes don't worry, I just knocked over a shelf." she replied.
Shortly after she joined him in the bed, where she put her head on his chest. She could clearly hear his heart beating beneath it as she closed her eyes while Link tucked them both in.
"Good night."
"Good night."
So here is the other part of the chapter. As I said I originally wanted to post them together but I didn't wanted to keep you guys waiting for to long. I am very happy to see the ongoing stream of views favourites and follows and would like to thank you all for the ongoing support. If you want to give me feedback just write a review. I promise to answer every review I get. Now then see you next time. Bye :D
