Hyrule Castle Sanctum. It was arguably the most important room in the entire Hyrule Kingdom. The seat of all Hyrule's power resided within this room: its throne. This hallowed space bore witness to all the most important discussions and decisions. Throughout the history of Hyrule, ambassadors of all races would come here to the sanctum to meet with the reigning monarch to discuss the issues of the day..

In the present moment, there was no greater issue than that of the impending war.

Queen Hylia, flanked by royal guards, sat upon her throne. All around the edges of the Sanctum, the members of the Royal Council, each with a security detail of guards, sat in their own chairs, all facing inwards towards each other and the great empty space in the centre of the room. Beneath Queen Hylia on the floor below, a Sheikah representative and a team of scientists also stood in attendance.

There was a bustle in the room. Many were concerned that a meeting had been convened in such haste. Others were certain that whatever was to be discussed would eventually end in war.

Every Royal Council member, distinguishable from the guards by their colourful robes, took their seat around the chamber. Once they had all gathered, the door to the Sanctum was closed, and Queen Hylia rose to her feet.

"Silence all." she commanded. As the room fell quiet, she looked around to each member of her council, sitting upon their ornate chairs. "Before we begin, I would like to thank you all for agreeing to convene at such short notice. The matter of which we will discuss is one of grave importance. As we all know, Hyrule once again stands on the verge of war. The Zora have been refusing access to Vah Ruta for a very long time, and there are now signs that they are preparing for an attack on the castle."

This was news to the council: the entire room broke out into a concerned, hushed wave of voices:

"Attack?"

"So soon?"

"But what are we going to do?"

"Silence!" Queen Hylia called out once again, quelling the growing mania in the room. "I know this news brings great concern to many, but let me be clear: as Queen, my first and foremost priority is to prevent this from happening. As we know, the Zoras have recently been suffering from an Lynel infestation that has taken place on Ploymus Mountain. We have strong reason to believe that their activity is driving the Zora and their king, King Repherhan, to leave the domain and strike us in retaliation. They have petitioned for our aid, and as of yet we have not unanimously agreed to offer it."

"It is quite simple," one of the younger male council members spoke, arms folded. "They must restore access to Vah Ruta. Then we will aid them."

A few voices of approval came from the crowd. An older council member stood up.

"Surely they won't grant us access until we help them?" He suggested. "I would suggest we speak with King Repherhan and agree to defeat the Lynels together. Then we may be able to discuss Vah Ruta sensibly."

Another few cheers, but not necessarily more or less than his fellow council member.

"We have debated this many times," Queen Hylia interjected. "Until we have three-quarters of the council in agreement on a particular action, it shall not be taken. And as of yet, we are still too divided about whether to aid the Zora. While this happens, the Zora themselves edge closer and closer to a breaking point, and we may very soon be under attack. The peace that we have presented in this kingdom for over a century...is once more at risk. Therefore, my fellow council, I have invited a special guest to speak with you all this morning, to impart on you her wisdom and experience, and to help us break this deadlock. Ladies and gentlemen of the council, I give you...Lady Mipha, one of the original Champions, and deniers of the Calamity." she announced.

The room shared a collective gasp. As incredulity and surprise swept through the room like wildfire, the doors to the sanctum were opened. On the other side, cane in hand and dressed in a spare Hylian robe, was Mipha. By her side, taking her free arm, was Tekmo, who was taken aback by the scale of the event he was witnessing. He looked into the sanctum to be greeted by a sea of speechless faces.

Mipha, on the other hand, felt calm. She knew that she had been alive for so long that her and her fellow Champions would have passed into legend by this time. Therefore she could appreciate to some that she appeared to them now, still very much alive, as a living legend.

The doors closed behind her, and she and Tekmo walked to the centre. As she walked, she heard the voices around her:

"I don't believe it…"

"Can it really be her? Mipha?"

"The Zora princess of legend…she walks among us!"

Reaching the centre of the room, with all eyes of the council members upon her, she looked up to Queen Hylia. Acknowledging her presence, Queen Hylia now raised her hand, slowly bringing a hushed silence to the room once more.

"Lady Mipha, we humbly welcome your presence here today." Queen Hylia announced, almost thriving off the shock that was rippling around the room. From above, it appeared that Mipha was almost surrounded by all the Royal Council members and their guards, as well as the castle guards. Tekmo leaned into Mipha's ear.

"Do you need me to stay here, Lady Mipha?" He whispered.

"It's alright, Tekmo," Mipha replied. "I'll be okay on my own."

Tekmo nodded discreetly and let go of Mipha's arm before walking over to the Sheikah scientists at the other end of the hall. Mipha leaned heavily upon her cane, just about managing to not use both of her hands.

"I have invited Lady Mipha here today to address the situation we all face." Queen Hylia explained. "Until this moment, Lady Mipha had remained in exile. But now, more than ever, she has been called upon once again in Hyrule's hour of need. As such, I shall cede the floor; Lady Mipha, please begin your address."

"Thank you Queen Hylia." Mipha spoke, bringing another ripple of excitement through the crowd. They never thought they would see the day when one of the original Champions would speak.

At this moment, time seemed to slow for Mipha. She looked around her surroundings briefly. Every eye, stunned, shocked or intrigued, lay upon her. It had been so many years since she had last felt such a number of eyes on her, ready to hang onto her every word. But the feeling felt instantly familiar. This was what it was like, she thought, when I was young.

When I was a princess. When I was a queen.

She closed her eyes. She knew history's hand was resting upon her shoulder. But she did not feel scared, or nervous. Deep within, she came to recognise the old, steely resolve she had built during the Calamity.

And like that, she stood up straight, hardly relying on her cane. She felt her energy surging: for a moment, she felt somewhat young again.

"Distinguished members of the Hyrule Royal Council...Queen Hylia...please let me begin by saying that I wish I wasn't here." she started, to some curious glances from the crowd. "Over a century ago and longer, I made the decision to abdicate the throne and with it my leadership of the Zoras. That decision was the most difficult decision of my life. I had taken that decision at a time when tensions threatened to boil over into violence, very much like the situation we are all in now. And yes, do not be mistaken: we are all in this." she warned.

As she spoke, she slowly turned to look at each council member directly in the eyes. They looked back, listening intensely. She had their complete and undivided attention.

"My intention was to vanish from this world, and allow Mipha to fade into legend. I had never wished for a moment like this to come to pass. So allow my presence here today to mean one thing, above all else: the peace we have long preserved is in peril. And we have very little time to avert it."

Looking up to Queen Hylia:

"I was originally tasked by Impa, who is still amongst us, to speak with King Repherhan...my grandson." Mipha said, prompting another round of bustle amongst the crowds. "I know what he has done to you, and I know what you are doing in return. In some respects...it is a very simple conflict. But the way things are, there is no resolution. The situation will deteriorate, and eventually, King Repherhan will strike this kingdom with the vitriol he has allowed to build within him. I say to you, distinguished members, that we must avoid this outcome at all costs. My presence there today should be taken to believe that there is still action that we can take to prevent the impending disaster that threatens to unfold."

Mipha looked back down, and continued to work her way around each of the Royal Council members, each in their ornate wooden chairs. She did not move from her spot once, but she stood as a commanding presence from the centre of the sanctum.

"What I am proposing is clear," Mipha spoke, allowing her voice to carry through the sanctum and into the ears of everyone in attendance. "An infestation of Lynels on Ploymus Mountain is driving my people closer and closer to drastic action. Regardless of the situation with Vah Ruta, the Lynels must be defeated. There is no other feasible way forward with the time we have left to avert this crisis. Therefore my proposition is this: we assemble a force of our strongest warriors, and defeat the Lynels on Ploymus Mountain."

As soon as she started her proposition, a discussion started to break out among the room. Amidst the noise of talking, Mipha could hear some of the council members also speaking.

"Perhaps King Repherhan may come to the negotiating table if we rescue them from the Lynels."

"There is no chance, the man is too stubborn. We just shore up our own defences!"

"Lynels are incredibly strong creatures... we'll be sent to our deaths!"

"Nonsense; our best soldiers are more than a match for those Lynels!"

Mipha, completely enveloped by the sounds of the feverish discussions around her, looked up to Queen Hylia. She was looking back down at Mipha, her expression as calm as ever. With a gentle smile, she nodded, as if to say that Mipha could continue. With her own smile, Mipha nodded back.

"I understand that this is not an easy request to make," Mipha continued. Her voice caused silence to befall the room again. Many within the room couldn't shake the feeling that when they heard Mipha speak, it was as if history itself was talking.

"Diplomatically, it may be difficult to accept. Why continue to help those who would not return this help? Why assist those who have only sought to block and deny? People of Hyrule...it saddens me to no end to see relations between Zoras and Hylians at such a crisis point."

Mipha found her gaze sinking slightly to the floor, as the sadness enveloped her heart once again. "For us to ensure that history does not repeat itself, we must learn from it. It brings me great pain to see our house divided. You must remember, even though none of you in this room have ever experienced it for yourselves, that there was a time when our house was fully united. One nation, united...against the Calamity."

A complete silence now hung in the sanctum.

"Many years ago, I fought heart and soul for a future in which we all, regardless of our races, could live together in harmony. I gave every sinew I could possibly muster to defeat an evil so malicious, so hateful, that even today the images of its terror are burned into my memory. I can never forget those that I fought against, and the cause they stood for. They stood for the destruction of us all, the end of peace...they stood for calamity. Above all else. And so, I fought with my life. I piloted my beloved Vah Ruta, as my contemporaries piloted their respective Divine Beasts, and together we fought so that all of you could stand here today. The other Champions…my friends...have long since departed this world, and I sometimes curse my longevity as a Zora that I should remain far beyond their own time."

"If I am to represent something to you all today, distinguished council members…" Mipha stated, looking back up, as determined as ever. "Then let me represent the unity between Zoras and Hylians that is so gravely at risk of being irreversibly destroyed." Mipha now spoke with passion. "Let me be the representation of the bond that Zoras and Hylians can once again share. Let me be the representation of the peace that I once fought for, and that we all once fought for... together! And should you still be grasping, then let me represent myself as living proof"

Mipha's voice dropped to a quiet, reflective tone, drawing her audience in. "Let me be living proof to you all, that the bond between a Zora and a Hylian can be amongst the most special of bonds. For I once loved a Hylian like yourselves…"

Everybody in the room knew the Hylian Mipha spoke of. He was one revered as a legend amongst their own.

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Ralis Pond shimmered brilliantly against the setting of the warm sun. The pine trees, awash with life, cast long looming shadows across the ground.

By the edge of the pond, Mipha lay peacefully. Around her were wrapped the arms of the man she loved more than any other: Link.

Since the Calamity's end, Link had kept his word. He visited Zora's Domain often to see Mipha, when time away from his duties allowed. Each visit filled Mipha's heart with joy and excitement. The two spent their spare time together blissfully, and Ralis Pond had come to be their secret getaway. The two would come here frequently, and allow themselves to become lost in the deep passions of love.

Mipha could feel Link's breath gently on the nape of her neck, and huddled closer into him, holding the arms that gripped her even closer. In the quiet after the storm, she wanted to be as close to him as she could. Even in the domain, there were eyes on them, and such closeness would surely be unfitting of a future Queen.

But here beneath the shade of the pine trees, they were okay. They could give their love to each other here, by the quiet pond, away from the hustle and bustle of the domain.

"... Mipha?" Link said quietly.

"Yes, Link?" Mipha replied. She felt safe in her lover's arms, the dying sun's gentle warmth cast over them both.

"I think we're gonna have to head back to the domain soon…" he hummed. "It's getting dark."

Alas, Mipha thought. The hardest part of any day with Link was the end of it. How she wished they could stay as they were right there and then, forevermore.

"Oh...not yet…" Mipha murmured, snuggling closer to Link. "Let's not go back just yet. Let's stay...even if just for a few minutes longer."

"Mipha…" Link chuckled. "What are the others going to think if they see us both coming back this late?"

"It will be okay…" Mipha said. "Let them think what they wish to think."

Mipha then turned within Link's arms to face him, wrapping her free arm across his body. She kissed him softly, and looked deeply into his eyes.

"This is so wonderful," she uttered. "I'm so happy when I'm with you, Link. I sometimes wish I wasn't of royal blood, so I could spend this time with you so much more freely…"

Link responded by kissing Mipha, and pressing his forehead softly against hers.

"I know what you mean…" Link said quietly. "But I guess in a way, it makes all the times we are together even more special."

They kissed again. Link brought his hand to Mipha's face, caressing it.

"Listen, Mipha," Link said. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Of course," Mipha replied. "What is it?"

"Well…there's something I want you to have."

Mipha watched as Link rustled around for something in his satchel, which was lying nearby. She could hear the jangle of a little chain, and Link pulled his hand out. He was clutching something small in his hand, but Mipha could not see what it was.

"I was thinking about how things have been between us since the Calamity ended. I know that we... haven't spent all that much time together." Link spoke. "But...I can't deny that the time I've spent with you has been the happiest of my life. By far. So...I want you to have this."

He placed the item in Mipha's hand and let go. Resting there, in her palm, was a small golden necklace: three small pearls of sapphire encased in a golden triad. The symbol of the Zoras.

Mipha felt her face flushing red, and she struggled to hold tears back as she looked upon the gift. Vision blurred with tears, she looked back at Link.

"L-Link... it's wonderful…" she stuttered. Link instinctively wiped the tears from her eyes and clasped her hand in his. "It's such a beautiful gift. I...hah! I almost feel guilty that I haven't gotten you anything in return…"

"I love you, Mipha." Link hummed. "That feeling is all I'll ever need. No gift could match it."

"Link."

Mipha had suddenly sat up, almost with a sense of determination. Link sat up slowly as well, a little confused.

"Everything okay?" he asked. He saw Mipha take a deep breath, and then shuffle close to him and take his hands.

"There is something I want to give you too," Mipha said. "Sadly, it is not with me here, but it is back at the domain. But there is something you should know...a tradition in the Zora royal family that I wish to tell you."

Link wasn't quite sure what to expect, but nodded and mentally strapped himself in for the ride.

"Long, long ago, a Zora princess fell in love with a Hylian. To commemorate her love for him, she crafted a suit of armour for the Hylian, and stitched within it one of her own scales as a symbol of her love. As such, it is now tradition in the royal family for the women to present a suit of specially made Zora Armour, a-as a way of...p…p-pro…"

The words were suddenly stuck in her throat. She knew deep down in her heart that this was what she wanted; why was her body defying her? She tried to say the words and finish the story, but instead sat completely floored by her own nerves. An insurmountable wall of her own doing confronted her, and she immediately questioned whether the courage was enough to surpass it. Why couldn't the words just come out, she pleaded to herself.

But despite her nerves, Link simply smiled and spoke: "Yes, Mipha."

Mipha sat, almost stunned, trying to understand what Link had said.

"...What?" She said at last. Link suddenly let out a hearty laugh, causing Mipha to blush. "W-why are you laughing?"

"Oh Mipha…" he sighed. "I love it when you get all tongue tied and shy on me like that. I'm saying: yes, of course I will."

"You will…" Mipha uttered.

"Marry you, Mipha!" Link finished, almost matter of factly. But his face was serene and soft with love, and Mipha started to feel herself melting inside as well.

"L-Link…" she said, almost reduced to a whisper.

"Mipha," Link said quietly, his face touching gently against hers, eyes locked together. "I knew from the start that you had made that armour for me. And that you were one day going to ask me to marry you. And so I'm saying yes, Mipha. I love you more than anything else in Hyrule, and I'd love nothing more than to be your husband. So yes, Mipha: I will marry you."

As if a dam were breaking, Mipha felt all of her love and joy break out of her like an uncontrollable outpouring. She let her tears flow freely and she embraced Link as tightly as she could. Link, feeling somewhat emotional himself, hugged back just as tightly.

It was the happiest day of Mipha's life.

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"I loved him more than I had ever loved anything else in my life then. Such a love was only matched by the love I have for my children…"

Mipha noticed as she told the audience of how she and Link came to be wed that some of them were drying tears from their eyes.

"These days, I cannot see my children. And my beloved Link...he has long passed away. I leave peacefully in isolation and exile. And the decision to abdicate the throne, and go into exile...was taken so that relations between Zoras and Hylians could continue to prosper. We Zora are a stubborn, proud race, and at times it has not served us well. Even now under the terms of my exile, I cannot see my family. We communicate through letters. Even my brother, Sidon...I know nothing of his life or what he is doing at this present moment. I have lived alone, all this time."

But Mipha did not allow tears to fall this time. She looked up to Queen Hylia, determined.

"But I gladly chose this sacrifice, if it meant that peace could continue as it had before," she stated. "And it did, until now."

Everybody in the room looked on in silence and awe. Mipha stood proud and determined, almost as if she were giving an address in the time before the Calamity itself.

"People of Hyrule, hear me loud and clear!" Mipha announced. "Let us not allow the legacy of my fellow Champions be in vain. Let us not allow Link's legacy to be in vain. And Princess Zelda herself: her legacy must not be in vain. We must defeat the Lynels of Ploymus Mountain, and put an end to the catastrophe that awaits us."

With a final turn to Queen Hylia, she said: "That is all I have to say. Thank you."

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Shortly after her address, she and Tekmo were in her guest quarters preparing their transport to depart the castle when they heard the news: the vote to engage the Lynels was a success. Every council member voted in favour of the motion.

It was going to happen.