Zelda handed the wrapped package to Link as they rested on the log where the Moblin had been. Link gave her a questioning look.
"Go ahead. Open it."
He unwrapped a small package covered in worn parchment and a ribbon, and he slowly pulled out the Champion tunic from Impa, sending a pain of a returning memory to his head. "I recognize this! But it's from a hundred years ago! It looks nearly brand new. How did you...?"
"Impa gave it to me back when we were in Kakariko Village. She restored it for you, Link. She told me to wait to give it to you once you remember your first core memory, and since you have remembered Mipha, it was time."
Link was in wonder as he stared at the light blue tunic she had made for him so long ago. He took off his Hylian tunic as he smirked at her and replaced it with the new one. Zelda couldn't hold in her gasp. This was how she remembered him, in the tunic he always wore, the tunic in which they made so many memories together. The tunic he wore in my archery lessons…
"You okay, Ari?" He was smirking.
Zelda blushed. "I—it's just that I think you'll look good in it, that's all!" She was flustered, and he grinned. "Oh, will I? Then I'll put it on for you." He smirked at her as he removed his armor, showing off his bare chest and replacing it with the Champion tunic.
Zelda looked out from above where they were sitting on the hill over the breathtaking blues of Zora's Domain below. The majestic Great Zora Bridge caught her eye; it was the narrow bridge that was the main entry point for the village. The bridge had always taken her breath away with its cerulean and cyan blue hues and elaborate architectural designs that decorated the rest of the beautiful settlement. She was so glad to share the beauty of it all with Link, who was staring in wonder at the enchantments in front of them, seeing it all for the first time—in this life, at least.
Their eyes were drawn to a figure below running toward them from the end of the bridge. It was Prince Sidon, who quickly reached them on the hill.
"Please! Follow me. King Dorephan, my father, wishes to speak with you!" he shouted as he came closer. He had a big smile on his face as he arrived, and he grabbed them both by the hands as the three of them raced toward and across the Great Zora Bridge. He led them straight to the town square, stopping at the bottom of the blue marbled stairs leading up to the King's throne.
"May I have a minute please, Prince Sidon? I'd like to unlock the travel gate at that shrine so we can easily return here. The path here was intense, and we'd like to avoid having to take it again."
"Sure Champion Link, whatever you say!" Prince Sidon said as he ran off. Zelda giggled, and Link disappeared.
Several minutes later Link returned, carrying a brand new Silver Longsword on his back that he found behind the shrine. They were ready to ascend the stairs leading to King Dorephan. Prince Sidon was standing on one side of him, and a short, older dark green Zora was standing on the other, holding a staff.
Guilt panged Zelda right down to her very core, seeing the majestic whale-like Zora king again. She remembered the promise he asked of his daughter Mipha before agreeing to allow her to pilot Vah Ruta. Even after a hundred years, she could still hear the words her father said. "I will allow you to pilot this Divine Beast under one condition: You must promise me you will return safely."
She tried to conceal the tears that were in her eyes as they approached. The large Zora king sitting on the throne greeted them. "Ahh! Welcome to Zora's Domain! I am King Dorephan. It warms my heart to see you have both made it here safely." He turned to Zelda and gave a slight bow and a wink of his eye. Thankfully, Link didn't see his wink and thought he was being polite and thought with his unusually formal greeting to a commoner.
He turned to Link. "Master Link, it is my privilege to see you in Zora's Domain again. I heard an awful rumor that you had fallen in combat, but it appears you have survived, like Prince Sidon here told me! I didn't believe it until I saw you with my very own eyes. Extraordinary! Although I understand from my son's words that you may not remember who I am."
Link stared up at King Dorephan and took a bow, lowering his eyes in respect. "I apologize, Your Majesty. I do not remember you, but I do remember your daughter, Mipha."
Zelda's heart broke at the name of the Zora Champion spoken aloud in front of her father.
The king laughed boisterously. "Wonderful! You and Mipha were so close. Her statue in the town square guarantees she will never be forgotten." He looked down sadly for a moment, then composed himself.
He turned to his son. "Prince Sidon, it was quite the feat for you to bring a Champion here to help us. Well done, my boy!" The prince looked embarrassed at the unexpected praise, and Zelda noticed the royal advisor rolling his eyes.
"Now, to business." The king cleared his throat. "Please, hear my plea. I believe my son here already told you of the problem we are facing with the Divine Beast, Vah Ruta. It threatens our village, but we alone cannot stop it. Will you lend us your strength?"
The Royal Advisor could no longer keep his mouth shut. "What? Surely not, my liege! To ask a Hylian for help...why, the very thought of it curls my fins!" Zelda was shocked at his insolence, but she controlled herself.
King Dorephan replied, "Muzu, I expected more from you. It is rude to speak of our guests in such a manner."
Prince Sidon piped in, his language no longer colored with childlike wonder and innocence, but regal and professional confidence in front of King Dorephan. "Our guests are here because I have invited them here. We have no choice but to rely on the aid of trustworthy Hylians. Have we not already discussed this? I have no doubt in my mind they are the key to saving our home. If I'm not mistaken, the Council has already reached that same conclusion." His sudden new way of speaking surprised Zelda, but as royalty herself, she understood why. She spoke much differently around her father in public than she had around her friends.
King Dorephan spoke. "Indeed. Link is a Champion, and this young lady is quite the formidable warrior as well…or so I have heard. Muzu, will you not allow yourself to set aside your differences and band together to save our village, nay, perhaps all of Hyrule from the unending waters of Vah Ruta?"
Muzu was still not convinced. "Have you forgotten already, my king? We cannot trust these lowly Hylians. A hundred years ago they abused the power of the Sheikah and turned Hyrule into dust! And that isn't the least of it..."
Zelda took a deep breath. She didn't like the tone of his voice or what he was saying in the slightest. Muzu knows I'm the princess and yet he still speaks this way! Control yourself, Zelda.
Muzu hung his head, then raised his voice. "It is their fault that Lady Mipha was lost to us!" He gave Zelda and Link a glare, not caring in the least who they were. It took all of Zelda's might not to visibly or audibly react to the blame he was putting on them for Mipha's death, along with his misplaced, unwarranted hatred toward her race.
King Dorephan and Prince Sidon could sense Zelda's understandable rage bubbling at the surface, and the King became angry at Muzu's outburst.
"Muzu! Enough! I will not allow you to speak of our guests in such a manner. I admit I have had my own misgivings about Hylians in the past, but surely you will not allow your prejudices to get in the way while in the company of a...lady and a Champion." He almost said "princess" but stopped himself in time.
The Zora king continued. "Listen here, Muzu. If the East Reservoir floods, not only are Zora lives in danger, but Hylian lives downstream are threatened as well. We have the same goal."
Suddenly the roar of the Divine Beast shook the ground with a deafening blast of an elephant's trumpet call.
"That is the Divine Beast Vah Ruta, crying out again," said Prince Sidon.
King Dorephan explained. "Ahem. Princess Zelda herself often researched the Divine Beasts, and according to her study, the orbs located on Vah Ruta's shoulders control the water it generates. She even fixed it for us once." He winked at Zelda, but Link was oblivious, taking in everything the royal Zora was saying and trying to ignore Muzu's verbal assault. Zelda winced slightly at the reminder of when she last saw Mipha alive.
The King continued explaining. "Those orbs on Vah Ruta require electricity to work. They are out of control now because there is no electricity to stop them."
Prince Sidon chimed in. "One of our soldiers who is fairly shock resistant for a Zora hit one with a shock arrow. Sure enough, it slowed the water flow. Unfortunately, as an aquatic race, we Zora are much too sensitive to electricity. The water soon returned to its full force, perhaps because we couldn't safely strike it with enough electricity at once. That is why I went in search of a Hylian who could help us, and I found you two!" Breaking his professional act in front of the king, he raised an arm up in victory and smiled widely. Zelda thought she even saw his teeth sparkle when he said it. She nearly giggled at his signature smile she had last seen when he was a child.
King Dorephan went on. "I'm sure you've already figured this out, but we need you to use shock arrows to get the orbs working properly again. Please, I beg of you, help us stop Vah Ruta's destruction!"
Link addressed the king. "To be honest, Your Majesty, we were already planning to enter the Divine Beast. We were journeying toward Zora's Domain when Prince Sidon met us along the way."
"Excellent!" the King was thrilled. "Wait. What did you say? You wish to enter the Divine Beast?"
They both nodded.
The king thought for a moment, then spoke, his voice growing quiet. "My dear Mipha suffered and perished at the hands of the great monstrosity within Vah Ruta. Are you certain you wish to face this same great evil?" He was looking down at them curiously from atop his perch on the royal throne.
Zelda and Link both looked at each other, then up at the king. "We do, Your Majesty," Link told him earnestly.
King Dorephan studied them. "I suppose the events of one hundred years ago cannot be altered; although, perhaps if you are able to regain complete control of all the Divine Beasts, they may yet prove useful in sealing Calamity Ganon once and for all. You have my blessing."
Prince Sidon chimed in. "I'd like to help, if I may. Once Vah Ruta has stopped her rampaging, you can easily climb aboard my back. Shall we appease Vah Ruta together? The three of us?"
Zelda and Link nodded their agreement.
"Thank you both, truly," said King Dorephan, addressing Link and Zelda. "We are in your debt. Our meeting was surely nothing short of destiny. And please, allow me to offer you a gift as a show of faith." King Dorephan brought out a chest piece of Zora Armor that had been sitting in a box next to him. "Champion Link, this armor will allow you to swim up waterfalls just like a Zora when it is equipped."
Link's face lit up. "Amazing! Thank you, Your Majesty!"
King Dorephan turned to Zelda. "I sincerely apologize, kind lady. I do not have any female Zora Armor, unfortunately." Prince Sidon looked uncomfortable, but nobody noticed.
Muzu's protest rang out. "King Dorephan! Surely you do not intend to give this outsider the Zora Armor? Countless generations of Zora princes and princesses have given Zora Armor to the one they wish to marry! Princess Mipha made that one with her own hands! It is far too important to entrust to a shady Hylian! He may be a Champion, but Princess Mipha had no such relationship with him, so why should he receive such an honor? This is just too much, my liege."
King Dorephan raised a hand. "Please, Muzu. Set aside your anger for the moment. I hear you have discovered the location of these shock arrows. Will you please tell our guests where they can acquire them?"
"Never!" With that, Muzu turned and stormed away.
King Dorephan was apologetic toward Link and Zelda. "That insufferable Muzu is not easily swayed once his mind is made up. You must understand, he was in charge of educating my dear daughter, Mipha. She means a lot to him, just as she does to us all. Ever since we lost her to the Calamity, he has grown to despise Hylians. I hope you can forgive his rudeness. Hmm...but what shall we do? I tasked Muzu with finding the shock arrows we will need to appease Vah Ruta, and now he has rushed off in a huff."
Prince Sidon told them not to worry and motioned for Link and Zelda to follow him. King Dorephan addressed the prince. "I suppose that means you're going to tell Muzu the truth?"
Sidon nodded, and after a sigh the king motioned his permission for Zelda and Link to follow him. The Zora prince led them to where Muzu was standing in the town square, underneath Mipha's statue.
Muzu glared at them. "I have no interest in speaking with Hylians anymore tonight, or ever." He turned his head away.
Prince Sidon pleaded, "Muzu, hear me out. That Zora Armor was crafted for Master Link. Mipha made it for him specifically."
The three of them started wide-eyed at Sidon, and Zelda's thoughts ran wild. Mipha loved Link? I guess that makes sense. She was always so nervous around him, kind of like Paya.
"Yes, it is true. Mipha loved Master Link, but her untimely death prevented her from ever telling him."
"Nonsense! I will never believe Mipha would have such feelings for a Hylian!" His voice was angry, and Link was turning redder than a Hylian shroom at the notion of being Mipha's love interest. Then again, from the memories he had of her, it made sense to him; he couldn't believe he never saw it. He certainly cared for Mipha as one of his closest friends, but his feelings did not go beyond that. As he thought about it more, he realized that was because he loved someone else—he just didn't know who. She would likely be in the Spirit Realm by now anyway, or too old to remember me.
Prince Sidon continued. "I was only a child then, so I did not see it at the time, but it is so. I grew up listening to my father's stories, some of which were about my sister's undying love for a Hylian named Link."
"What? No! You cannot fool me with such lies. How could Lady Mipha possibly have feelings for a Hylian like him?"
Zelda clenched her fists at Muzu's cutting words. She wanted to smack him over the head with Link's Silver Longsword, but she thought better of it. She didn't particularly want to start a war with the Zora race.
"It is the truth, Muzu. Though you never knew it, Link was always in Mipha's heart. Allow me to prove it to you. Master Link, will you please equip the Zora Armor? Show Muzu how it fits."
Link hesitantly brought out the armor from his Sheikah slate and took off his Champion tunic, much to Zelda's delight. She stared at his muscles that were already bigger than they had been, and she liked the view. He smirked at her, then put the Zora Armor on.
"You can see it with your own eyes. This belongs to Master Link." Prince Sidon insisted.
Muzu looked closely at Link, examining him up and down. "This cannot be! Lady Mipha made it by hand, and yet it fits you perfectly!"
In actuality, it was slightly loose, but not noticeably so. Link was glad his muscles were at least developed enough to where the armor wasn't obviously too big for him.
"Now you understand, do you not?" Prince Sidon questioned Muzu. "Now you know who Mipha's heart belonged to and who she made that special armor for. The fact that this armor fits him perfectly should be proof enough. You have always disliked Hylians, even before the Great Calamity; that is why Mipha never told you. Now please, tell us where we can find the shock arrows."
Muzu sighed, and his voice was softer. He sighed deeply. "I never would have imagined Mipha would make that special armor for one such as he. I do not approve of asking for help from a Hylian, but I suppose we have little choice." He faced Link and Zelda directly. "I am a proud Zora. That means I must apologize for my unwarranted behavior toward you. Forgive me. I will tell you where you may find shock arrows to subdue Vah Ruta's fury." He lowered his head, then continued.
"Make your way to the top of Ploymus Mountain. I must warn you; a Lynel awaits, ready to send his shock arrows at anyone who dares to approach. You must defeat it, and you will be free to collect the shock arrows on the mountain."
Zelda's heart froze. No! Not a Lynel! She knew the fearsome lion-centaur beasts better than she cared to. The only thing she feared more than a Lynel was the Yiga Clan, but only slightly.
Muzu continued. "Be warned. The savage beast shoots volley after volley of shock arrows. Even a single one would be fatal to a Zora, and injurious to a Hylian."
Prince Sidon agreed. "He is a vicious man-beast, to be sure, but I am certain Link will rise to the challenge." He bumped a fist to Link's shoulder.
Zelda spoke up. "I'd like to help!" She was afraid, but she wasn't about to let Link face the Lynel alone.
Prince Sidon squeezed her shoulder sympathetically. "I'm sorry, but you must not help him this time. The battle must be Link's fight. The massive Lynel Sword and Lynel Bow it carries are fearsome, and Lynels rarely miss. If you get hit once with a shock arrow or with its weapon, it very well may send you careening clear off the top of the mountain."
Zelda was horrified imagining Link in that much danger. "No, please, allow me to help! I can hide!"
Muzu chimed in, surprisingly with a hint of kindness in his voice. "My lady, Lynels can sense your presence from long distances, so hiding would prove fruitless. Even if it weren't foolish to accompany him, there is only one piece of Zora Armor, and it belongs to him."
Prince Sidon looked uncomfortable again at the mention of the Zora Armor.
Muzu went on. "Link must ascend the waterfalls to reach the top of the mountain. With the heavy rains, climbing the cliffs would prove impossible; therefore, swimming up the waterfalls is the only viable path."
Zelda was beside herself with worry and tried with all her might not to allow the tears forming in the corners of her eyes to flow. Link clasped her hand, and Prince Sidon put an apologetic hand back on her shoulder. "Come," said Prince Sidon. "The hour grows late. Please allow me to show you to the Champion's Quarters. You may sleep in Mipha's old room tonight."
Muzu started to protest, because Princess Mipha's room had always been off limits, but he held his tongue.
As they walked away from Muzu, Zelda's tears were freely flowing. They reached Mipha's room, and she immediately crawled into the waterbed with Link and cried herself to sleep in his arms.