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Note for reading: Any text that is slanted (like this) means that Mipha is either thinking or communicating non-verbally.

Chapter 3

Mipha POV

It's all happening too fast.

We knew this was coming, but I had hoped we had more time. Now we must all do what we can to protect Hyrule. It is imperative that I return home so that Ruta and I can help Link.

Daruk, Urbosa and I had made our way through the Lanayru Promenade and past Spider Nest Moutain. We encountered a few monsters along the way, but they were easy enough to deal with, even without weapons. Once we passed the West Gate on Lanayru Road, we had gone our separate ways. Due to the large expanse of water in his way, Daruk had to go the long way with Urbosa to get to his Divine Beast. After saying a brief goodbye, and running past Rabia Plain, I jumped into the Rutala River and swam towards Zora Domain as fast as I could.

My comfort zone has always been water, but with my nerves as bad as they are, even my own element doesn't seem to be enough. In an effort to calm myself, I begin to ponder the namesake of the river I'm swimming in. Apparently, this river derives its name from a Zora queen of the past. One who lost her life during the Era of Twilight. We know little about this period since it predates even the first Calamity. The few stories we have talk of shadows invading Hyrule and plunging our lands into darkness. According to legend, the queen entrusted her only child to the hero of the legend before being executed as an example.

Another Zora Queen taken too soon. Not unlike mother.

To be completely honest, I don't remember much of my mother, even if by Hylian standards we spent more time together than most kids and their mothers. She passed not long after giving birth to Sidon, so he wouldn't have any recollection of her.

I try to avoid thinking of her, memories can be quite a morbid thing when they involve your deceased loved ones. Her death was unexpected, as she was in perfect health leading up to her death. However, every now and then, a scent or phrase will transport me back to my childhood, with my mother singing and rocking me to sleep.

I wonder…if my mother could see me now…would she be proud? Would she be terrified, as I am now? Or would she be steady and courageous, like the Queens of the past?

As I get closer and closer to Zora's Doman, I pass through Ruto Lake.

Ruto….A Zora Princess like myself, and a Sage as well. She fought against evil with the princess and the hero. She was the inspiration for the very Divine Beast I was selected to pilot. My father once told me that one of the reasons that he agreed to allow me to pilot Ruta was because I reminded him of Princess Ruto. I don't see many similarities between us, besides the fact that she had feelings for the hero of her time. My accomplishments seem plain in comparison to hers.

Finally, I arrive at my home and find things to be quite chaotic. Everyone seems to be in a frenzy as if the domain itself was on fire. It seems Ganon's awakening was felt even here.

"It's Princess Mipha! " one of the female Zora cries out.

A smile crosses each of my people's faces as they look at me. Seeing their faces makes my heart grow heavy with love for my people. While I am happy to see them, I can't help but feel as if I am undeserving of their trust and admiration, but regardless of how I feel, I cannot let them down.

"What's going on Princess?"

"Is this the Calamity?"

"Are we gonna die?!"

"Where's Linny?"

"I-um-well-" I try to answer each of their questions, but there are simply too many of them.

"GIVE HER SPACE!" A voice I knew all too well cried out, and each of the Zora surrounding me quickly dispersed. Behind the crowd, was an older Zora gentleman, Muzu, my teacher and dear friend.

"Princess Mipha, are you alright?" Muzu asks, cradling my hands and scanning my body for injuries.

"I am well Muzu, no need for alarm," I say with a smile. All the other Zora's see Muzu as some grumpy council member, but few know just how gentle he can be when he wants to.

"No cause for alarm?! The Earth is shaking, Princess! Explosions have been spotted coming from Central Hyrule! "

"Explosions? From Central Hyrule?"

"Yes! Apparently, Castle Town has nearly been destroyed."

My heart sinks. Has Calamity Ganon really done that much damage already? It didn't seem possible. Weren't the Guardians supposed to be protecting Castle Town?

"Mipha, tell me," Muzu says, looking into my eyes "Is this… the Calamity Ganon?"

"...Yes Muzu, he has awakened," I answer grimly

Something flashes through Muzu's eyes, something I never thought I'd see on him.

Fear.

Then, he abruptly grabs my arm and starts pulling me

"Muzu, what are you doing?" I ask, struggling to free my hands. As it turns out, Muzu has quite the iron grip.

"We need to find your Father, he must know about this!"

"You must tell my father of the current situation, but I must go to Vah Ruta!"

Muzu looks to me again, "But princess, it's not safe!"

I nod "Indeed it is not, but I must do this Muzu, you know this."

Muzu turns away from me, "it's those blasted Hylians!" He snaps.

His back is to me and his fists are shaking, "I don't trust them at all, let them fight their own war!"

I place my hand on Muzu's shoulder, "This is our war. You felt Ganon's power, he won't stop at the Hylians. Every living creature is in danger, Ganon means to destroy this world and everyone in it." I say

Muzu turns to me and his face has soured "Don't you go talking to me like I'm some starry-eyed youngster! Your 300 years too soon to lecture me on anything young lady!"

I let out a soft laugh, which seems to soften Muzu's features.

"Of course Muzu, my mistake," I say with a smile.

Muzu furrows his brows, "Well, if this is what you must do, then there's not much an old Zora like me can do to stop you." He says dejectedly.

My smile disappears, as I finally see all the pain that I've put Muzu, and no doubt my father through as well. The guilt is like a vice grip on my heart.

"Are you sure you can't at least come to see your father? He's worried sick about you." Muzu asks hopefully

I pause and look towards the throne room. I want to see my father so desperately, as well as my brother. But before I can answer, Zora's domain echoes with a mechanical cry.

Ruta. She's calling out to me.

"I can't Muzu. I'm sorry."

Muzu, seeing the look on my face, lowers his face in disappointment.

"Very well, I will inform your father of the current events, you make your way toward Ruta," Muzu chokes out, unable to look me in the eye.

I nod silently, as I'm struggling to hold back my own tears. I start to walk towards the East Reservoir, but before I do that, Muzu calls out to me.

"Princess!"

I turn around to face Muzu, who is now holding something in his hands.

"Forgetting something?" Muzu chuckled as he hands me my Lightscale Trident.

I blush with embarrassment as I take the trident from him and strap it to my back.

"Some things never change," Muzu says with a sad smile.

I bow formally to my former teacher and run off towards East Reservoir Lake. My last image of Muzu is him scolding some soldiers with more fury than a Lynel.

Thank You Muzu,

For Everything.

And that's Chapter 3! For those of you who know your Zelda lore, you'll notice that Ocarina of Time and Twillight Princess references earlier this chapter. I decided against having Mipha meet up with Sidon or Doraphan, as I felt we got enough scenes like that in BOTW and AOC. We didn't however get any scenes with Mipha and Muzu, who was supposedly very fond of Mipha (hence him being so pissy when we first arrive.) Now, I'm still kind of new at writing semi-professionally, so my dialogue, transitions, and emotion might be a little stiff. I'm trying to improve, and a great way for me to do that is if you could leave reviews regarding your thoughts on this chapter! Any and all thoughts are appreciated, and if you have any requests for future stories, please let me know!

See you in the next chapter!