The Hero's Path

by LuxDragon

A retelling and reimagining of Breath of the Wild with Age of Calamity elements added. Will be AU eventually. Pre-Calamity.

2. Zora's Domain

Central Hyrule – Mabe Village

"He's just a boy!" Marin hissed. Her glare was frosty, bordering on permafrost.

Revan should've known that the gambit wouldn't have worked. She was appalled that Link had been hurt and aghast that his injuries were caused by fighting grown soldiers and knights. She gave them both a dressing-down about their irresponsible behavior, before settling down for dinner, though her icy stare remained throughout the night.

The next morning, Link tried to plead the case to his mother, but she immediately knew what he was up to and ushered him out the door to play so she and Revan could speak privately.

"I think the travel will be good for him," Revan argued. "He shouldn't remain so insular among Hylians. And the Zora, prideful as they are, aren't like the arrogant Rito or the boisterous Gorons. Plus, Zora's Domain isn't that bad. Not cold, not hot… just wet. I could think of worse places to take a boy. I could finally teach him to swim, and where else but Zora's Domain can he get first-class training?"

Her glare did not relent, nor did she find humor in his words. "And how long will this posting be?"

Revan sighed. "Perhaps a year? This is a request from the Zora royal family. The Knight-Commander picked me specifically to be Hyrule's envoy."

"Why the interest?"

"I wasn't told," Revan admitted. "It's likely a personal favor of some sort. The group is small. I'm taking my squire, Cowan the tracker, and if you'll permit it, Link as well."

Marin huffed and looked out the window. She could see Link playing outside with his friend Ilia. Currently, Link was hefting a bucket full of feed to take to the horse stables, while Ilia carried some brushes and a bucket of water, all under the stable hands' watchful eyes. Link was raising a filly he had completely fallen for. Ilia, ecstatic to help, joined in when he had told her about it. Marin could imagine the tales they were weaving; how the filly would grow into a mighty steed that would carry Link off to all manner of adventures, while cared for and tended to by Ilia.

"Marin? Love?" Revan probed gently.

"Do you think you can really be responsible for him?" she asked. "Look at the state he's in."

"I admit, I got a bit carried away, but you should have seen him," Revan said. "At four years of age, he was holding his own against veterans, Marin. It won't be long until we have knights clamoring to have him as a squire. I'm sorry he got hurt, but you see him out there now. He's happy, he's still playing, and he's keen to come with me to explore Hyrule. Zora's Domain is a fine place to take him. I wouldn't suggest it if it weren't true."

Marin sighed and turned back to her husband. "I suppose I've been monopolizing Link, since you're always out on deployment. It's only fair that he spends a bit more time with his father to even the scales."

Revan took her hands. "Thank you."

"But promise me that he stays in Zora's Domain. No running off to find any sort of danger, understand?"

"Of course."

Marin's loving grasp on his hands tightened, assuring him that a reckoning would be due if he didn't heed her words. "Promise me."

Revan cleared his throat under the piercing stare Marin was levying at him and nodded solemnly. "I promise."

~o~O~o~

Lanayru Province – Zora's Domain

Link's widened eyes may become a permanent expression if he kept it up, but he couldn't help it. Zora's Domain was nothing, nothing, he had ever seen before. It was all water, and elegance, and natural rock formations, and manmade structures, and—

"So this is Zora's Domain. It's beautiful," a feminine voice commented. "It's like we walked into a different world from Hyrule."

Next to him was Sortiliena Serlut, though she had told Link she preferred to be called Liena. She was one of the prettiest girls he had ever seen, enough that he was almost always a gibbering mess when she even glanced in his direction. With long brunette hair tied into a stylish ponytail, violet eyes, and an elegant aristocratic face topped off with a radiant smile, it was little wonder Link had quickly developed a crush when they were first introduced.

She, too, was also enraptured by their surroundings, though she kept her expression better controlled. Older than Link by several years, she served as Revan's squire, training to become a knight herself. Unlike Revan's preferred style with spears, she opted with the traditional sword and buckler shield.

"You've never been?" Cowan asked. He was their tracker and guide through the wilderness. A middle-aged set man with a fondness for nature over the hustle and bustle of town life, never mind the bigger cities, he made his living taking people through the wilds of Hyrule to their destinations.

Liena shook her head. "Other parts of Lanayru, but never Zora's Domain."

"And just think, your first trip here, you get to meet the royal family," Revan said.

"It's nice here, as are the Zora," Cowan said. "It can get a bit humid during Din's Season, but I think they prefer it that way."

"Why were you posted here, Sir Revan?" Liena asked.

"There was a Lynel causing trouble for the Zora," Revan answered. "It came armed with lightning arrows. Those things hurt, but Zora are particularly vulnerable. It terrorized the Zora enough that they called on His Majesty for assistance. A team of knights were asked to handle it."

"And? You did, right?" Link asked.

"We did, Link," Revan patiently said. "It was a team effort. Lynels are not to be trifled with. Underestimating one could very well be the last mistake you ever make."

"Wiser words never spoken," Cowan sagely said. "What color was it?"

"Silver. Devious thing. It took us months to corner it and strike it down," Revan said. Down the path, he spotted several Zora approaching them and started to dismount. "Link, listen to me. When we meet the royal family, under no circumstances are you to disrespect them, understand?"

Link looked confused, but hesitantly nodded. Of course he wasn't going to do anything to make his papa look bad. He allowed himself to be picked up off of Kae's saddle and placed on the ground.

"Is there a reason you're telling him this?" Liena asked, giving voice to Link's jumbled thoughts as she dismounted as well.

"King Dorephan… Let's just say he's a larger-than-life figure," Revan muttered. He gathered their mounts' reins and handed them off to Cowan. "Do not stare at him, and maintain decorum. We represent His Royal Majesty of Hyrule."

Liena nodded seriously. Link uttered a verbal confirmation, though his imagination began wondering what his father meant.

"Well, my job is done," Cowan said. He gathered the horses' reins and tied them together before attaching the lead to his own mount. "See you when I see you."

"Thank you, Cowan," Revan said. He shook the tracker's hand. "Safe travels."

"Goddess protect," Cowan said. He nodded and waved at Liena and Link before turning around and going back down the path.

When they reached the Zora, one of them asked, "Excuse me, but are you Sir Revan?"

Revan nodded. "I am. This is my squire, Sortiliena Serlut. And this is my son, Link."

"Hello," Link said.

"Greetings," Liena added.

"Well met," the Zora soldier replied. "I am Sergeant Seggin. We are here to escort you the rest of the way."

"Lead on," Revan said.

Seggin nodded. "You are leaving your mounts?"

"Our tracker has them. He'll be taking them to the Woodland Stable," Liena answered.

Nodding again, Seggin turned on his heel. "Very well. Let us be off."

Link trotted along next to Liena. So far, the last few days had been nothing short of an adventure. They had gone from Hyrule Castle, past Romani Plains, between Crenel Hills and Crenel Peak before arriving at Luto's Crossing. They had gotten to camp out under the stars, cook their meals over an open flame, and listen to Papa's and Cowan's stories of Zora's Domain and the surrounding Lanayru Wetlands.

And his adventure had barely even started!

Seggin wasn't one for conversation. He barked orders and maintained a steady pace. Occasionally, Link would have to jog to keep up, but made sure never to complain. One of the other Zora, Trillo, was much nicer. He talked to them about the surrounding landmarks in Zora's Domain, such as the Bank of Wishes, Ruto Lake, Rutala Dam, the East Reservoir Lake, and the Great Zora Bridge. Link paid close attention, hoping not to miss a thing.

The grandeur of Zora's Domain only increased as they got closer and closer to its heart, prompting some commentary from the Hylian guests and prideful boasts from their Zora hosts. After crossing the Great Zora Bridge, they neared the throne room. Revan subtly took Link aside to remind him of his manners when meeting royalty.

Link barely had time to acknowledge him when someone announced their arrival.

"Your Majesty! I present Sir Revan Faron of Hyrule and esteemed guests!"

Link tried not to stare. He really did. His papa had sternly told him not to stare. And not to be rude. It took supreme effort, more than Link had ever taken in his young life, but he managed to avert his gaze.

King Dorephan really was an enormous figure, easily the biggest person Link had ever seen. Tall and very… wide; just big. Really big. It was hard not to stare at someone so large when there was almost nowhere to look but at the monarch sitting above them.

Thankfully, Link found his gaze meeting a red-hued Zora standing nearby. She—at least, Link assumed she was a girl—met his eyes and gave him a friendly wave, a gesture he returned with a small smile. Next to her was a younger Zora, who was holding her hand with his left while pointing at them with his right excitedly. Link waved at him as well—again, guessing that the younger Zora was a boy.

I should ask Papa about this stuff. It's hard.

"Welcome, Sir Revan," King Dorephan said.

"Your Majesty," Revan said. He bowed deeply, as did Liena. Link hastened to do the same. "It is a pleasure to see you again and an honor that you requested me by name."

"The honor is ours," King Dorephan said. "My daughter, Mipha, has begun her trident training. When last you were here, you impressed us greatly with your skill. Such skill would be beneficial for my daughter. We ask that you impart your knowledge to her."

Revan glanced at Mipha before returning his gaze back to King Dorephan. "Your Majesty, you flatter me. I would be honored to provide tutelage for the princess."

"Excellent! You will be compensated for your trouble, of course," King Dorephan said. "Accommodations, meals, and wages will be provided—for you and your party."

"Pardon my lapse in manners, Your Majesty," Revan said. "Allow me to introduce my squire, Sortiliena Serlut. And this is my son, Link."

"Liena, please, Your Majesty."

"H-hello, Your Majesty."

"Well met," King Dorephan said. "I am sure the journey has been long. Your rooms await. We shall sup tonight and discuss details."

"A fine plan, Your Majesty. We thank you for your generosity," Revan said respectfully.

"Mipha, if you would show your new instructor and his entourage to their quarters?"

"At once, Father," Mipha said.

Link distantly noted that his guess that Mipha was a female Zora was right on the money. He also found that he liked the sound of her voice. It was gentle and soft.

"Greetings. I am Mipha," the Zora girl said.

"I'm Link." He took her hand in a delicate handshake. "Wow, you're the first princess I've ever met!"

"Link!" Revan said scoldingly, though he couldn't keep the smile off his face.

Jumping, Link turned back to Mipha. "Oh, I mean, your, um, royalness?"

"Highness," Liena corrected. She eyed Revan. "Kings and queens are dubbed 'majesty', princes and princesses are called 'highness', and nobles beneath the royal family are usually 'lords' or 'ladies' or 'your grace', depending on rank. It's more complicated, but that's the gist for now. Some things to keep track of, since we'll be here for a while."

"Your h-highness," Link said.

Mipha let out a small laugh, light and musical. "Please, Mipha will suffice, Link. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Same!"

"Link…" Revan said before sighing. "Never mind. An honor, Your Highness. I hope to prove competent in our lessons going forward."

"I have heard much of your prowess, Sir Revan," Mipha said. "If but a portion of those tales are true, the honor to learn under you would be mine."

"I can vouch for his talents," Liena said. "And between you and me? I am not saying that just because I'm his squire."

"Good answer," Revan said jokingly.

Mipha smiled. "If you will follow me?"

Again, Link found himself craning his neck in as many angles as he could manage to take in all the sights. After all, Zora's Domain would be home for a while, so it was best to learn all he could. He was already missing his mama, but the promise of adventure occupied most of his thoughts and feelings.

"And here are your quarters," Mipha said. "We made adjustments to take into account your Hylian backgrounds. Liena, we have separate quarters arranged for you next door. If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to ask."

"I'm sure it will be fine," Revan said.

"Wow! Is that water inside our bed?!"

"I think it is. Huh. That's different."

"I wonder what happens if we jump on it."

"Then you'll learn how the Zora sleep."

Revan shook his head as Mipha giggled.

"Thank you for the hospitality," Revan said to his newest pupil. "Shall we discuss our schedule?"

"Over dinner, perhaps," Mipha suggested. "We are preparing something as we speak. I'm sure after your travels you must be famished."

Revan barely suppressed a groan when Link's eyes lit up at the mention of food. "Thank you. That sounds lovely."

Mipha curtsied. "I shall leave you to unpack. Bathing pools are down the hall and to the right. I shall personally accompany you to the dining hall when preparations are complete."

"Thanks!" Link said, already eager at the prospect of real food over travel rations.

"Thank you," Liena said kindly.

After Mipha left, Liena cocked her head at Revan. "Didn't teach Link how to deal with nobles yet?"

"He's nearly five," Revan said. "I was hoping to let his permanent teeth grow in first before we learn the fine art of hifalutin. Besides, not all of us have the benefit of being born to nobility, Sortiliena."

The reminder effectively rendered her speechless as she blushed furiously. All she could mutter was, "Not by choice."

"No, we don't get to choose our families," Revan said, "merely our actions."

"True enough," Liena said. "I'll see you at dinner. I need to wash off this travel dust. Till then, Sir Revan."

"Till then."

After Liena left, Link asked, "Did I do something wrong, Papa?"

"No, nothing of note, boy," Revan said. "You're young, so you can be forgiven for much, as long as the lesson is learned. Don't worry, I'll teach you what I can."

Link nodded. "Okay. Um, Papa? Can I go exploring?"

Revan shrugged off his bags and rolled his shoulders in relief. "I don't see why not. Be sure to be on time for dinner… not that you need any reminders of that. But be sure to wash your hands before eating, clear?"

"Yes, sir!" Link said happily. He scampered off, imagination alight with wonders that awaited him.

~o~O~o~

Link wandered the open-air corridors of Zora's Domain, marveling over its unique architecture. He had thought Hyrule Castle was impressive, but there was something about Zora's Domain that captivated him. The people were kind, too, waving at him and offering friendly directions when he got turned around.

Somewhere along the line, he found Liena, freshly bathed and exploring, herself. They walked together for a time, pointing at things of interest, before Mipha found them. She offered to give them a detailed tour.

When they came towards one of the many pools inside Zora's Domain, she grasped Link's arm and pointed at another red-skinned Zora.

"Ah, and there's my younger brother, Sidon," Mipha said.

Link grunted but held back his yelp. He endured the pain from one of his many healing bruises to look at the Zora prince. "Hello, Your Highness!"

Sidon tilted his head at Link before shying away behind one of the older Zora.

"Forgive him, he's a bit timid," Mipha said. "I'm sure he'll grow out of it in a few years."

"He's very cute," Liena said. She gave Sidon a gentle smile, hoping to ease his discomfort.

At this point, Mipha noticed Link's expression. She immediately let go of his arm. "I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"

"Hmm? Uh, no," Link hastened to say. He rolled up his sleeves. "Just recovering. See?"

"Forgive me, but are those bruises?" Mipha asked.

Link nodded and looked down at his arms and legs. They still hurt a bit, but he felt he could tough it out. Sadly, his papa told him that under no circumstances was he going to train until he healed up, which might be weeks.

"Yeah," Link simply said, abashed.

"May I ask how it happened?" Mipha asked.

"Training, I guess?"

"You… guess?"

"He got it sparring against full-grown soldiers a few days ago," Liena answered. "He was challenged by over a dozen knights and soldiers to a series of practice matches. And he actually won a number of them."

Mipha blinked and turned to Link. "Truly?"

Link nodded. "I mean, I lost a lot, too, but it was fun!"

Giggling, Mipha considered the boy in front of her. "You bested grown adults?"

"His swordplay was something to behold," Liena said. "He'll be a fine knight when he grows up."

"I hope so!" Link said, his imagination running wild at the prospect.

"I wish you the best of luck, then," Mipha kindly said. "If you like, I could heal you?"

"Oh, I already packed my salves. I have to put them on every morning and evening," Link replied.

Again, Mipha giggled. "I think my methods are much better than mere salves."

Link tilted his head. "What are your methods? Can you try?"

"But of course," Mipha said. She took one of Link's hands and, with her other, covered one of the larger welts. Blue motes of light, almost taking the form of water droplets, appeared. It swirled around, covering Link's arm. After a minute, she stopped and smiled. "All done."

Link lifted his arm and experimentally moved it around. "Oh wow! It doesn't hurt anymore!"

Liena leaned in and inspected his arm. "Incredible."

Link looked at Mipha in wide-eyed wonder. "That was amazing! Can you do it again?"

Laughing, Mipha took his other arm and started healing him. "Certainly."

~o~O~o~

"Ah, that was some good fish," Link said when he and Revan re-entered their new quarters.

"You say that now, but the Zora's primary diet is fish, so you'll be sick of it in no time," Revan said. "Come on now, get yourself cleaned up and ready for bed."

"Okay!" Link grabbed his things and scampered off to the baths. In short order, he trotted back into their room, squeaky clean.

"Make any friends?" Revan asked kindly as they settled in for the night.

Link nodded excitedly. "I joined a gang!"

Revan sputtered a bit before taking a moment to rethink Link's proclamation. "All right… tell me more…"

"It's called the Big Bad Bazz Brigade," Link said, stumbling slightly over the words. "There's Bazz, Rivan, Gaddison, Mipha, and Sidon! Oh, and me!"

Hearing that Mipha and Sidon were members of this 'gang', Revan relaxed and chuckled. "Good for you, Link. Glad that you're making friends around your age—I mean, other children."

"Bazz asked me to teach him swordplay tomorrow, too!"

"Is that so?" Revan asked. It still boggled his mind that Link was such a prodigy in swordsmanship. Even now, he was still wondering how to cultivate Link's talents accordingly. And responsibly. "I'm sure you've got a lot to show him."

"I hope so," Link said. He carefully crawled into his bed, taking time to adjust to the odd sensation of fluid motion beneath him. "I'm just teaching him the stuff I remember seeing the other knights doing."

"Well, swords aren't my strongest point, but I remember how to use them all the same," Revan said. Like Link, he was careful to get into the strange water-filled mattress before pulling the covers over himself. "If you need help, don't hesitate to ask me."

"Father? Can I watch you teach Mipha tomorrow?" Link asked.

Revan absently nodded. "Good night, Link."

"Night!"

~o~O~o~

In the weeks that followed their arrival, Revan was pleased that their transition to their new home had gone smoothly. Link had adjusted to life amongst the Zoras better than Revan could have hoped. At first, Link had been content with just watching as he and Mipha went over drills and tactics, but at Mipha's request, he had participated in their lessons. Soon after, Link had followed the Zora Princess as she attended her other classes under the tutelage of Muzu. The wizened advisor had kindly started teaching Link how to read and write in addition to the political maneuverings that Mipha was currently studying, something Revan was grateful for. It wasn't a surprise to see that Link was also learning how to swim with the younger Zoras, though Revan had had to quickly explain to Link that Hylians did not swim naked if they could avoid it. The boy had been confused, especially since the Zora were only barely modest themselves, but complied all the same without too much fuss, much to Revan's relief.

It had soon become a common sight to see Link running around with his new 'gang' as they went on childish adventures and caused minor trouble around Zora's Domain. The boy had even somehow corrupted Mipha into causing mischief occasionally with the advantage of being able to charm their way out of punishment—Mipha was far too loved by her people to be angry at. Some of the games included swordplay, which Link was teaching to the others. The Zora guardsmen couldn't help but notice that the techniques Link employed were more refined than children should have been capable of. Revan had to avoid paternal pride-fueled boasting.

One of the more emotional moments Revan had was celebrating Link's fifth birthday among his new friends. The event was made even more special with Mipha's attendance, which sparked the attention of Zora's Domain. Many had come by to wish Link a happy birthday, which the boy accepted with cheer.

Really, the only complaint Revan had was the disappearance of some of his clothes one day when he'd had them sent out to be washed. The castle servants had apologized profusely for the problem and had them replaced, so it was hardly a trifling matter.

Lately, though, Link and his friends were nowhere to be seen. Link would show up to Mipha's lessons, watch or partake in their spearwork, and then vanish. When questioned, he was evasive and secretive. When Revan would try to press, Mipha would show up to distract him, allowing Link to escape—no doubt she was in on whatever secret Link was keeping. There were no reports of mischievous trouble, no stories at dinner about any new discoveries, or boasts about their latest adventures.

Needless to say, Revan was suspicious.

It was easy enough to task a few of the Zora guards to be on the lookout for the youths. A few discrete inquiries revealed that they often left through the eastern gate towards Mikau Lake.

Which was where Revan was waiting when Link and his friends showed up. When they saw him, they looked at each other, around themselves, and at their feet.

"And where were you off to?" Revan asked pleasantly.

Link shuffled a bit in place. "Just exploring the woods a bit, Papa. The guards check it regularly, and there's no dangerous animals there."

"Oh, and what's in the woods?"

"Nothing, just stuff," Link said a bit too quickly.

"Link," Revan intoned sternly.

The other Zora children—the Bazz Brigade or some such nonsense—looked up at Revan as well but remained silent. Link shuffled in place, clearly uncomfortable with the look his father levied at him.

Unable to take his judgmental gaze any longer, Link trotted over to the eastern gate.

Revan followed, though he noted that the other Zora children followed at close distance as well.

As Link said, they had gone into the small woodland area, not the nearby lake. They hadn't even gone that far in, only just past the tree line. There was a makeshift tent erected, though.

"And what is that?" Revan asked. "Were you camping out here?"

"No…" Link mumbled.

"So, what is it?"

Link moved the flap aside to reveal a wolf cub. It was sleeping inside a wooden box padded with various clothes… that Revan recognized as his own, the ones he had thought lost in the laundry.

The cub woke up at the disturbance and let out a wide yawn.

"What is this?" Revan asked.

"We found her on the shore of the river," Gaddison, one of the Zora children, said. She squirmed under Revan's gaze a bit. "I mean, Link and me found her. She was all by herself and weak and sick, and so we took her here, and we've been nursing her back to health."

"She's been doing really good," Bazz said, speaking up when Gaddison didn't want to speak anymore. "Link told me about her, 'cause he couldn't keep coming when he had lessons with you and Mipha. But I got lessons, too, so we decided to get the gang together and take turns looking after her."

"I see…" Revan said. He looked at the cub again. Her fur was largely black with white highlights on her head, flanks, belly, and paws. He turned back to Link. "And… what do you plan to do with this wolf?"

"… keep her…" Link mumbled.

"No," Revan said immediately.

"Please, Papa!" Link begged. "Please, please, please! I've been looking after her and training her and everything!"

The other Zora children immediately clamored for clemency, each of them surrounding him and pleading for him to change his mind.

Revan felt his resolve crumble. They were all looking at him with doleful looks. Each time he made eye contact, another brick was knocked off. He turned away and tried to maintain his position. "I said no!"

Now the blasted wolf cub was making whining sounds, each chord plucking at his heartstrings like a master lyrist. He made the mistake of looking at Link, who was now holding the wolf in his arms like it was a big puppy with tears running down his cheeks. Even the cub looked like she wanted to cry.

Goddesses, just strike me down now.

His resolve finally shattered, Revan heaved a sigh and prayed he wouldn't regret his decision. "Fine."

The assembled children let out raucous cheers and crowded around him, thanking him profusely. The wolf cub, excited by the chatter, jumped out of Link's arms and started running around them in circles, letting out enthused yips.

"You'll be responsible for her?" Revan sternly asked.

"Oh yes, Papa! I really will!"

"I can't believe I'm agreeing to this…" Revan muttered. "Your mother will have a fit when she hears about this."

"We need to give her a name!" Gaddison cried out. "Link, have you picked a name?"

"I'm calling her Ammy!" Link answered.

"Ammy? Don't you mean Amy?"

"Nope, Ammy!"

"Weird, but okay," Rivan, the last of the Zora children, said. "I mean, she's your pet, so call her whatever."

Link grinned before the expression changed into something shyer. "Papa? Can we bring Ammy home?"

~o~O~o~

And so, that was how Revan was saddled with a new pet in their shared quarters. At least Link wasn't running off to the woods every day. In Ammy's defense, she was incredibly intelligent. Revan had been sure that Link couldn't take the challenge of raising a pet, let alone something as wild as a wolf, but he hadn't given the boy enough credit. He remained diligent, patient, and determined to make Ammy the best pet a boy could ask for… with surprisingly successful results.

When Ammy relieved herself in their room once, Revan sternly ordered Link to clean it and to keep doing so if Ammy continued to make a mess. Link did as he was told immediately before launching into Ammy's training to avoid misbehavior like that again. There hadn't been another incident since. Later, Revan caught Link teaching Ammy on what were and were not appropriate objects to chew on, followed by several commands such as sit and stay.

Grudgingly, Revan had to admit that having a pet was doing Link wonders. Seggin, the Zora master-at-arms, had commented that while Link was training Ammy, the cub was reciprocating by teaching the boy the rigors of responsibility. Instead of causing trouble as he and his friends were often doing, they were looking after the cub and training her and were having fun doing so.

Despite his earliest reservations, the situation turned out better than Revan could've imagined. At the very least, Link carried with him a determination that most would never achieve.

It was hard not to feel proud of that.

If he had to be honest with himself, Revan had worried if he was capable of being as good a father as Marin was a good mother. His occupation didn't exactly allow him to properly imbue him with the skills necessary to raise a child. Early on in their journey, he had often felt like he was at a loss as to what the best course of action was regarding Link. Still, he wasn't a coward, and this was his son. He gamely met each challenge and muddled through as best he could.

His musings ended when Ammy energetically bounced around the corner and skidded to a stop in front of him. She obediently sat on her haunches, tail wagging, tongue out, all while looking at him expectantly.

Rolling his eyes, he knelt down and obligingly rubbed her head. "And where's Link, hmm?"

As if summoned, Link barreled around the corner and just barely stopped in time before he could collide into them.

"And here he is," Revan said, bemused.

Link was sweating, doubled over on his knees, and taking big gulps of air. "Wow… she's gotten… fast…"

It looked as if Ammy was grinning. Revan blinked at the wolf before shrugging it off as his imagination. "What were you two up to?"

"E-exercise," Link said, still panting. He finally stood straight and took a few more breaths. "There's a storm outside. Since we couldn't walk outside, I have to walk her in the halls instead."

Revan nodded. Even now, the halls echoed from the savage winds outside. Currently, all the shutters and doors outside were closed, so it was hardly a surprise that Link and Ammy had to find other ways to entertain themselves.

"Don't worry, lad. I'm told the storm will break in less than an hour," Revan said. "You and Ammy will be able to play outside later in the morning, though if she gets muddy, you're bathing her."

"Of course, Papa!"

"Good lad."

Link started rubbing Ammy, who quickly rolled onto her back to present her belly. "I didn't know that puppies could be so fast."

"Everything is a game to them," Revan said. "I remember thinking the same thing when you were a pup… oh, couldn't be a year ago now. It got worse when you learned to climb the cupboard. Your mother almost had a heart attack."

Link looked like the picture of innocence. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure," Revan replied before chuckling. "Come on, then. It's time for practice."

Link nodded and gestured to Ammy. "Heel, girl."

Obediently, Ammy trotted up to Link's left leg and maintained pace as they walked the halls of Zora's Domain.

"Looks like she's coming along fine," Revan said.

"We're trying really hard," Link said proudly.

"It shows," Revan replied. When they reached the training hall, Mipha was already there.

Ammy barked before bolting off to greet her. She accepted the puppy's attention with patience and grace.

"Get your spear, boy," Revan said. "And keep Ammy out of the main ring when we practice, clear?"

"Yes, sir!" Link said before scampering off.

As Link did as he was bidden, Revan considered his options on what to do with Link. It was readily apparent that his skill extended beyond swords early on when instruction began. His work with spears was already exceeding Mipha's, despite the age differences and length of time Mipha had been practicing. She made no drama out of it and was even in awe of Link's prowess, especially considering how young he was. Still, something had to be done to cultivate his talents. Firstly, Revan would have to speak to Marin. That conversation alone would take effort. After that, he had to consider who could help him train Link and determine the depths of his talents. And finally…

Well, Revan had no idea.

Perhaps a talk with the boy about his future.

Seeing Ammy lying down at the side of the room and his pupils standing at attention, Revan shelved his thoughts for another time and began another day of training.

~o~O~o~

Mipha managed to contain her cry of surprise, disguising it as a grunt when she met the mat once again. To his credit, Link looked mildly contrite and extended his hand to her.

She allowed herself to be pulled back onto her feet.

Yet another loss.

It was humbling, to say the least. She had already been traditionally trained in trident combat prior to Sir Revan's arrival, so it wasn't as if she was a stranger to sparring. However, to be bested by a Hylian who was, more or less, the same age as Sidon was a surprise.

She couldn't hold any negative feelings, though; not with the earnest looks Link kept giving her.

Revan nodded approvingly. He took Mipha aside to point out the flaws in her technique. Then he would do the same for Link.

He ran them through similar drills and physical exercises. As he had been instructed, he did not hold back simply because Mipha was royalty. The conversations Revan and she shared were long and detailed. In contrast, the conversations between father and son were brief, though she wasn't privy to what was exchanged.

She supposed it was normal, though. She wasn't the victor of the matches, so more instruction would be given to her.

After lessons were over, she thanked Sir Revan, who returned her gratitude with a smile. Link had happily bounced off with his pet wolf after cleaning himself, leaving them alone.

"What troubles you so, Sir Revan?" Mipha asked softly.

Startled at the sudden inquiry, Revan said, "Ah, nothing of concern, Your Highness."

"Something to do with Link?" she astutely asked.

"How—? I mean, yes, Your Highness," Sir Revan said.

"Please, speak your mind," Mipha said. "I am at your disposal."

Revan looked conflicted before sagging his shoulders. "Uh, I'm just wondering what to do about him."

"Is there something wrong with him?" she asked, concerned.

"Nothing specific or dramatic, I assure you," Revan answered. "No doubt you saw his skill with the spear?"

"First-hand," Mipha dryly replied. "His talent is undeniable, that much is true. Dame Serlut told me that he bested grown Hylians before your arrival."

"I never saw anything like it," Revan said. "A mere slip of a boy, beating grown men. The rub? I don't think I ever saw him pick up a sword before that day."

Mipha blinked. "And what of the spear? Surely you taught him a little before arriving here."

Revan shook his head. "The most dangerous thing in his hands I ever allowed him to handle was a fork. It wouldn't be for a few more years before I would consider giving him lessons."

"Incredible," Mipha murmured. She began to understand Revan's interest now. "The way he fought, I thought he had been practicing for months. If I did not know his age, I would have assumed years."

"Weeks," Revan muttered. "He's only been practicing the spear for days. And he's this proficient in a few short weeks."

"Extraordinary potential," Mipha said. "You must be proud."

"I am, I truly am, but he's still a boy," Revan said. "I can see him getting bored with the spear already. There isn't much more I can teach him. I can see it in his eyes. He's a good boy, so he's doing as he's told, but I can tell that he wants to move on, to try different things that will keep him occupied."

"And… you do not know who you can turn to," Mipha said. "You are wondering how to cultivate his talents responsibly."

Again, Revan looked shocked before chuckling. "Quite astute, Your Highness. Boredom can result in recklessness, arrogance, conceit… these are things I want to avoid, but he's clever. He'll realize how good he is soon enough. I just… I just want what every parent wants; I want him to be a good man."

"I can see how that might be a daunting task for a concerned father," Mipha said empathetically. "Have you spoken to Link about it?"

"Ah, not yet," Revan muttered. "I was hoping to have a better plan before approaching the topic."

"I suppose your wife does not know, either."

Revan shook his head.

"If I may offer a suggestion?" Mipha asked.

"Of course, Your Highness."

"Perhaps you should start with your family. Link especially, since it is his future you are pondering about," Mipha said. "It could be that both Link and your wife may offer suggestions that you all could agree upon, rather than unilaterally deciding for yourself and attempting to sway all to your decision. Listening to the opinions of others is an important hallmark of communication."

Revan took a moment to process that before he smiled. "You do your race proud, Your Highness. You will be a wise queen one day."

Mipha smiled back. "Thank you."

At that moment, one of the Zora guardsmen entered the training hall. "Ah, there you are, Your Highness."

Mipha turned to their new arrival and inclined her head. "You wish something?"

"Uh, we're having a bit of trouble locating the young prince, Your Highness," the guardsman said, abashed. "I'm sure it's nothing, but we feel that His Majesty would like to make sure, rather than assume… I thought perhaps he would be with you…?"

Mipha shook her head. "I have not seen Sidon since breakfast this morning."

"Thank you, Your Highness. My apologies for bothering you." The guard deeply bowed before running off.

Mipha grew slightly concerned. It must have shown on her face, because Revan placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Why don't we make sure as well, hmm?"

Mipha gratefully nodded. "Yes, thank you, Sir Revan. Shall we?"

~o~O~o~

Link laughed as he tugged hard on the rag he and Ammy were fighting over. The puppy was growling cutely as she tried to wrest the prize away. Link maintained his grip and pulled back, causing Ammy to slide clumsily along the smooth floor as she tried to change direction.

"Link, a moment?" Revan asked.

Link stopped pulling, though he held on, leaving Ammy to regain her footing and give the rag a few insistent tugs. "Yes, Papa?"

Revan approached him, but his eyes were observing the assembled children, the Big Bad Bazz Brigade, minus Mipha and Sidon currently.

"Oh, good. You're all here," Revan said. "Have any of you seen Prince Sidon since breakfast?"

Everyone either shook their heads or answered in the negative.

"Any idea where he is?"

Same answers as before. All of them started sharing concerned looks.

"Is something wrong?" Bazz asked.

Mipha entered the room, took a look around, and frowned. "Not here, either?"

Revan shook his head. "We can't seem to find the prince. Do you have any idea where he could be?"

All the children looked at each other and either shrugged or shook their heads.

"All right. If you see him, let one of the guardsmen know, all right?" Revan asked.

"We can help look," Rivan said. The other children clamored promises of assistance before scattering, without waiting for an answer.

Link giggled. The serious atmosphere had prompted Ammy to stop playing and sit on her haunches to observe passively. Link tapped the side of his leg. "Let's go, Ammy. I'm sure we can find Sidon!"

Barking cutely, Ammy followed Link as they dashed off in a different direction.

As they wandered the halls, Link saw that several Zora citizens, galvanized by the rising anxious environment, were calling out for Prince Sidon. News of his disappearance travelled quickly.

"With everyone looking, how come we haven't found him?" Link wondered aloud.

Ammy whined and nudged his leg gently.

Link idly scratched her ears before sidestepping another Zora that was yelling Sidon's name, his voice mirroring the echoes of many others joining the search.

"We need a better way," Link announced. "Let's go, Ammy!"

Link dashed down the halls. Ammy ran after him, enthused at the sudden burst of speed.

Link wandered into the royal wing of the domain. There were a pair of guards standing at attention, though their faces were uneasy. At Link's approach, both inclined their heads.

"Master Link. Any news of the young prince?" one of them asked.

Link shook head. "It looks like everyone is searching for him now, not just guards."

The royal guardsmen shared uncomfortable looks. "We have not seen the young prince since this morning, when Her Highness Mipha took him to breakfast."

"I guessed that. People would've talked to you already," Link said with a nod. "Can we go inside? I'm hoping Ammy might be able to do something."

Again, the guards shared a look before one of them shrugged and nodded. "You may enter. Please be careful with the prince's belongings."

Link nodded and walked in, Ammy obediently following along. Looking around under the guards' watchful gazes, Link spotted a small weapons rack, with tiny tridents on it. Walking over to it, Link noticed that while the weapons were metal, the tips were very blunted, making them no more dangerous than a training spear. There were four slots but only three tridents. One was missing.

Link picked up one of the tridents and offered it to Ammy. "Smell, not bite. No games, Ammy."

Ammy whined, hoping to play fetch, but under Link's stern look, she trotted over and, with nose twitching, took several probing sniffs.

"Got a scent, girl?"

After a few more seconds, Ammy barked before smelling the floor. She started for the doors and walked off, much to the guards' delight.

"She has something?!" a guard asked.

Link put the trident away and jogged after Ammy. "Maybe! We'll see!"

Ammy's pace was quick, as usual. Link was lucky that her head was down and was more focused on sniffing than running, or she would be gone in no time. Ammy first entered the grand hall, where they had breakfast. Since Link was often eating among royalty, Revan had tasked Liena with teaching Link proper manners in the presence of nobles, including the use of so… many… utensils.

Not to mention curbing his usual eating habits.

Mipha was already there when they arrived. She looked up, relieved to see them. "Link, I'm so glad you're here! There hasn't been any sign of Sidon anywhere!"

"Well, he's really small, so it's not hard for him to hide," Link said. "We'll find him. Ammy and I are on it!"

Mipha smiled, though it was a bit strained, rather than her usual gentle expression. "I was retracing our steps, but sadly, Sidon and I went separate ways once breakfast concluded."

Link nodded. "It explains why Ammy came here—oh, we better go. Looks like she picked up the scent! Let's go!"

Ammy scampered out of the dining hall, forcing Link to follow or risk losing her. Mipha, without better options, followed as well.

They made a few turns, stopped in a few random rooms, but ultimately entered the main hall. Ammy had to sniff around the smaller pools of water near the back of the massive room, where the other children swam. After smelling around the pools and getting distracted by the children wanting to pet her—Mipha shooed them away and asked the caretakers to corral them—Ammy abruptly started going towards the east gate.

Link noticed that the doors were open again and that the storm had indeed ended.

Without hesitation, Ammy continued onward, but once she reached the middle of the bridge, she started circling as if confused.

Link walked up to her and started rubbing her flanks. "Anything, girl?"

Ammy looked up at him before sniffing the bridge again. Eventually, she walked over to the railing, where far below was the main body of water Zora's Domain resided upon and eventually emptied into Zora River, which led into Hyrule Field.

Link looked over the railing at the water below. "Um…"

"Goddesses," Mipha breathed out. She looked at the guards that were stationed at the other end of the bridge and waved them over.

One guard remained at his post, while his partner ran toward them.

"Highness!" she said, snapping off a salute.

"Prince Sidon. Have you seen him here?" Mipha asked quickly.

"Yes, Highness, but only earlier this morning," the guard said. "There was a strong rainstorm this morning. A small landslide came down from Ploymus Mountain and damaged the gate. We were forced to repair it. While I was coming in to get materials, the Prince was standing over there—"

She pointed at the entrance of the bridge, towards the main hall.

"I personally ushered him back in. The winds were a bit strong. I didn't want him to be blown off," she said. "I already recounted this with Sergeant Seggin."

"And where did you take him?" Mipha asked.

"Back to the children's pools."

"You said you had to repair the gate," Link said. "Does that mean you had to get stuff to fix it?"

The guard glanced at him uncertainly before turning back to Mipha questioningly.

"He's with me. Answer his questions," Mipha ordered.

"Yes, that's correct, as well as clear the debris," the guard said.

"Does that mean there was a time where you weren't there? Both of you?" Link asked.

The guard looked mildly affronted before a horrified realization cracked along her features. "Oh no… I bumped into Desmin when I went to recruit help and retrieve tools after escorting the prince… he must've thought that I would return to hold our position while he would rally people and materials for repairs…"

"And… the storm was still going…?" Link asked before looking at the railing in dread.

"Link! Princess!" someone yelled.

Hearing their names, they turned to see Revan and Liena walking up to them. "What are you doing here? Any sign of the prince?" Revan asked.

"Um… I thought Ammy could sniff out his scent," Link said. "She led us to the East Bridge. And then we just heard…"

"The bridge was momentarily unguarded!" Mipha cried out. "And there was a storm this morning! Ammy stopped partway on the bridge. She lost the scent!"

"The winds were strong this morning," Liena muttered, trepidation laced in every word.

"If Sidon managed to sneak back out—?!"

"We must rally a posse and search for the young prince at once!" Revan shouted.

Mipha nodded and rushed off to gather the guards.

"Link, you stay here," Revan said. "Go back to your friends."

Link nodded. "Okay, Papa."

Satisfied that things were in hand, Revan and Liena ran off, leaving Link and Ammy standing alone on the bridge with the guardswoman that had spoken to them.

"This is my fault. I should've returned to my post," she said to no one in particular.

"Maybe you should help?" Link suggested.

Startled, she looked down at him before resolution flared in her eyes. "Yes, I must make up for this mistake!"

She ran back to her fellow guardsman, said something that Link couldn't make out, then ran back down the bridge, past him, and into the main hall.

Link followed at a more sedate pace while gesturing Ammy to follow. He reached into his pocket and produced a dried apple slice for the cub to munch on. "Good girl."

Ammy enthusiastically ate the treat.

News of what may have happened to Sidon spread like a flood. Guards from all over were being called in to search the waters and nearby areas. Over a dozen Zora dove off dedicated platforms to quickly enter the water and swim downriver. Link and Ammy scampered out of their way while looking for Bazz and the others.

They found the gang cloistered with the other children and under watch by some adults. Link darted towards them.

"Hey, Link!" Rivan called out. "Any news? We got pulled out of search duty and sent here."

Link nodded gravely. "Ammy's nose led us out the East Gate. She lost the scent halfway across the bridge. It looks like he might have fallen off the side."

Various cries of shock surrounded him as they simultaneously pestered him for more details. He tried to answer what he knew, but there was little he could add beyond what he had already said.

Eventually, they all fell silent as they considered the ramifications of what had happened.

"Sidon might be okay," Bazz said. "Mipha's been teaching him how to dive."

"Yeah," Rivan said. "He'll be fine. Right?"

To avoid answering, Link looked around. The hall was quieter now. It was as if most of Zora's Domain had emptied as every available hand dove into the water to search for Sidon. No doubt Link's father and Liena would be searching the land to see if Sidon would wash up somewhere.

Link frowned when a thought occurred to him. "Wait, there was more than just wind. There was rain, too…"

"Yeah, so?" Rivan asked.

"Maybe… maybe the storm blew Sidon's scent off the bridge, but not Sidon," Link wondered.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, maybe the only reason Ammy lost the scent was because the scent was carried off by the rain and the wind and washed off the side. Maybe Sidon crossed the bridge instead," Link replied. "Maybe he really went looking for an adventure."

"Adventure?" Gaddison repeated. She went pale, paler than a Zora normally would be.

"Gaddison?" Link probed. "What's up?"

"Oh no," Gaddison wailed. "This is all my fault!"

"What? Why?" Bazz asked.

"I was talking to Sidon at lessons this morning! About how I'd get rid of the Lynel on Ploymus Mountain when I grow up," she cried out with wide eyes. "Sidon looked really excited. I just thought he liked the story!"

Bazz's mouth fell open. "Wait, you don't think—?"

Link jumped up and looked around, but he couldn't find any adults he felt comfortable speaking to. All the guardsmen were already gone, along with his father and Mipha. The only adults left behind were teachers or caretakers, but Link didn't know them. He was closer to Mipha's tutors. Even then, none one of them would know how to fight a Bokoblin, much less something as frightening as a Lynel.

"I'm going to get someone," Link announced. He started to run off, but one of the teachers blocked his path.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked.

"Ammy needs to do some business," Link quickly said, and he pointed at his pet. "There's a towel in my room I let her use to pee and poop on when she's not allowed outside."

The teacher blinked and glanced down at the wolf.

As if on cue, Ammy let out a small whine and circled in place.

Uninterested in cleaning up wolf urine and waste, the teacher nodded. "Okay, head to your room. Either stay there or come back here, okay?"

Link nodded back. "Okay!"

Leaving everyone behind, Link felt a little guilty lying—his parents had always said that lying was bad—but he told himself that it was important. Instead of going to his room, he and Ammy entered the training hall. He walked up to the spear rack with the battle-ready weapons, not training spears.

Steeling himself with a courage he didn't know he had, Link picked up one of the spears the guards favored and headed out for Ploymus Mountain.

~o~O~o~

Sneaking out was easier than Link could have hoped for. He was tempted to lock Ammy in his room to prevent her from causing a scene and getting them caught, but he felt that she would be overly noisy if left alone. With little choice, he took her with him, and to his surprise, Ammy maintained silence throughout their excursion.

The guards at the East Gate were gone, likely with the search party. He and Ammy crossed the bridge and went into the forest where Ammy had once been hidden in. Upon nearing Mikau Lake, Ammy perked up, ran forward, and started scratching the muddy ground.

When Link caught up, he let out a cry of glee. In the mud, there were small footprints, easily distinguishable as a Zora's. Link put his own boot next to the print and saw that the track was smaller than his own.

"I was right! Sidon made it across!" Link said. "Can you smell him, Ammy?"

Barking out an affirmative, Ammy started forward again.

Link hefted his Zora Spear and followed closely, occasionally getting glimpses of Sidon's tracks.

Link found himself worried when they left the woods, going past Lulu Lake, and to a very steep incline. It had been recently made, probably from the landslide, which led directly up Ploymus Mountain.

"You think he climbed up here?" Link asked.

Ammy snorted and let out a quiet whine.

"Okay…" Link muttered. Without any fanfare, he started climbing. Ammy hopped up and clumsily followed.

It was rough going. Link felt his arms and legs scream in protest as he struggled to navigate around loose rocks, muddy layers, and treacherous dirt mounds. It felt like forever, but he finally reached the top of the mountain. Ammy was panting, too, looking as miserable and dirty as him.

"Looks… like… we both… need a… a bath…" Link gasped out. He staggered over to a wet patch of grass and collapsed on top of it face-down. Ammy decided to ungraciously plop on top of his back.

Their impromptu rest was interrupted by a menacing growl. Ammy immediately jumped off of Link and let out a tiny growl of her own.

Sadly, to Link's ears, it was closer to cute than frightening. Shushing her, Link strained his ears. The growl could be heard again, but it seemed far away, only just in earshot.

Link readied his spear and moved through the foliage, being careful not to step on stray branches.

As he approached, Ammy let out a tiny snort, sniffed the ground, and changed direction.

Link wanted to whisper to her to stop but didn't want to risk making any sounds. He was about to reach out and pull her back when he noticed a tiny Zora footprint. Changing course, he chose to follow instead.

It wasn't long before he heard muffled crying. Ammy crouched low. Link slowly approached the source of the sound, hoping it was who he thought it was.

A sigh of relief escaped his lips, which he quickly stifled. He had no idea what was out there, whether it be a Lynel or something else, and he had no desire to find out.

"Sidon!" Link whispered. "Over here!"

The tiny Zora prince looked up and sniffled. Upon seeing Link, he broke out into a wide grin and quickly waddled to him.

"Let's go, everyone is—"

Link never got to finish. A terrifying roar reverberated in the area. It felt as if the sound was bouncing around in his chest.

Looking around frantically, he spotted the Lynel at the far end of the grove. Worst yet, it saw them as well.

Seeing the body it possessed, it took Link all of a fraction of a second to know that there was absolutely zero chance they could outrun it.

"Ammy, get Sidon back!" Link ordered. He ran into the middle of the field and readied his spear.

The Lynel snarled in response and drew a wickedly large sword, the size of which easily dwarfed the young boy, and even some older men.

Link tore his eyes away from the massive weapon to study the first Lynel he had ever seen in earnest.

The top half was in a shape resembling a Hylian, though the description was nowhere near accurate; a brown-colored barrel chest, two rippling brawny arms, topped with a head that was more animal than man, adorned with a wild mane of hair, and extremely sharp teeth complete with malevolent eyes. The bottom half, however, was eerily reminiscent of a horse: four legs with hooves and a long, muscular body with a tail.

Link had to swallow to restore moisture in his dry throat. Fear threatened to overtake him, especially when the beast roared again, loud enough that he felt like his very soul was about to be torn from his body.

However, just as quickly as the fear came, it was immediately washed away. Link held his spear in the same ready stance he had observed his father teaching to Mipha, and prepared for the fight of his incredibly short life.

In response, the Lynel held its weapon aloft, its intentions clear: one swipe to cleave the tiny boy in two with nary a thought.

If he strikes me just once, even a glancing blow, it's all over. For all of us.

Link glanced to his left. Ammy had led Sidon behind a boulder, and they were both prepared to run if needed, though whether Sidon possessed the speed or coordination to be able to outrun the Lynel was up in the air.

I have to win!

The Lynel let out a low growl, its hooves carefully tromping the ground. Link immediately took stock of the situation.

There was no way he could block any strike. The Lynel's sword was enormous, and the monster itself seemed to have muscles upon muscles. Its biceps alone were bigger than Link's entire body. If their weapons clashed, the spear would easily snap, along with his tiny arms. Fighting head-on was equally out of the question. If Link wasn't careful, the Lynel might be able to seize the shaft of the spear and wretch it away and leave the young boy unarmed without a hope of victory.

Speed and cunning. It's way bigger than me, so it has to work harder to try to hit me. It'll try to use its hooves to trample me instead. Much easier than sword attacks. I have to strike at other weak parts besides the main body… bodies.

While it was Link's first time seeing a Lynel, he had heard knights all speak in hushed whispers about the frightening foe during his visit to Castle Town. Only the most boastful knights spoke brashly about Lynels. Even Link's father maintained a healthy dose of respect and fear about this particular breed of monster.

Tired of waiting, the Lynel charged forward, sword primed to strike.

Link waited and merely ducked low. He could feel the wind of the strike breeze past his back, but his opponent missed. There was a split-second window open, and Link seized on his chance. From his low position on the ground, he thrust the spear up toward the horse-like underbelly.

His strike was true, and the sharp weapon dug into his enemy, though the muscle was thick and prevented his attack from going too deep. Rather than try to force the spear in deeper—he knew he didn't have the strength for something so foolish—he twisted the spear and pulled hard, letting the barbed sides tear out more flesh and open the wound more.

Link hopped up and danced away, keeping his spear ready but drawing it closer to himself, to prevent the Lynel from seizing the shaft.

Far from being hurt, the Lynel appeared even angrier than before. It twisted its blade around for a backhand swipe.

Again, Link used his size advantage to run under the attack, under the Lynel's body, and stabbed upward, hoping to find a part of the horse body that was more vulnerable with less muscle.

The spear was driven deeper in this time, but not deep enough. However, the Lynel was hurt, and it reared back on its hind legs. Link screamed as he was lifted into the air, unwilling to let go of his weapon. However, through his panic, an idea burst from the depths of his mind. As the Lynel was coming back down, Link kicked out his legs, shifted the shaft of the spear, and made sure its butt was aimed directly at the ground.

The idea worked. Using the Lynel's own weight, the spear's butt struck the ground and now forced its way deeper into the Lynel; the weapon itself was almost upright, with little Link wrapped around the shaft, shaking it as hard as he could.

Instead of roaring, the Lynel seemed to shriek with agony. It started bucking forward and backwards. Link wrapped his whole body around the spear now, blood soaking his clothes as he tried to either pull the weapon out or drive it deeper in.

Eventually, his own weight won, and the spear was wrenched free from the bloody wound.

With the offending object removed, the Lynel ran off to get some distance. Link had to roll to the side to avoid being trampled. Springing to his feet, he spun the spear briefly, flicking the blood off and readying his weapon once more.

The Lynel, surprisingly, circled around Link cautiously. The gash on its underside was deep, and judging from the way it was gingerly moving, it was painful but not debilitating.

Link darted forward, giving the impression that he was going on the attack to provoke a response.

His opponent didn't disappoint. It leapt forward. Instead of leading with its sword, the front legs were aimed directly at Link, with knobby knees preparing to strike.

Link nimbly jumped to the side and stabbed one of the legs.

The Lynel shouted in rage, both from the missed attack and the spear embedded within its body once again. Link's attack wasn't deep, but it was yet another bleeding wound that showed how the fight was faring.

The sword came down once more. Again, Link sidestepped the rage-fueled diagonal strike, one that could have sheared him in two from shoulder to hip had it connected. This time was different, however. It was as if he could feel time slow down, his senses heightened, his movements sharper, and his body flowing.

Surrendering to the instinct that gripped him, Link thrusted his spear over and over and over, deliberately aiming at the Lynel's horse-half joints. The spear penetrated skin and muscle. After four furious, rapid-fire stabs, time resumed its normal pace. Shrieking, the Lynel's front left leg gave out and it tilted.

Link danced away, running for the hindquarters but not quite behind, lest the Lynel use its powerful rear legs and kick Link into defeat. Again, the spear tip found its mark in one the back legs this time.

The Lynel, crippled, roared in denial as it tried to stand once more for battle. Not giving it the chance, Link twirled the spear around, as if he had been learning for years rather than weeks. The Lynel, sensing its doom, tried to block or grab Link's weapon, but he dodged its flailing arms, gripped the shaft of the spear, and rammed the tip deep into the Lynel's left eye. Savagely twisting twice, Link pulled the weapon out before the Lynel could get a grip on the offending object, aimed for the screaming maw, and thrusted deep once more, putting in all the power and weight his five-year-old body could muster. The Lynel instinctively brought its sword around in a horizontal slash to cleave the boy in two in a desperate counterattack. Link merely leapt above it, but the action caused his aim to go astray. The tip of the spear went deep into its left eye once more. Link pulled the spear out quickly and held it ready.

Somehow the Lynel managed to get back up on all four of its hooves, but it was thrashing wildly, forcing Link to back away.

The Lynel's hands were covering the wound, ichor seeping between its fingers. The sword that had tried to cleave Link lay in the grass nearby, forgotten. Eventually, the Lynel turned and ran away.

Breathing heavily, Link held himself ready for almost a minute, his eyes tracking where the Lynel had run off to, in case it wanted to come back to finish the fight, or at the very least reclaim its sword. Thankfully, neither happened, and he found himself relaxing.

A small gasp reminded Link why he was fighting: not for his own sake, but for someone else's. He whirled around and saw that Sidon was safe. He, too, looked shocked at what had happened. Eventually, the young prince grinned widely, showing all his teeth, before charging forward and wrapping his tiny arms around Link in the biggest hug the little Zora could manage.

Link smiled back and patted Sidon on the head. "We should go back. Everyone is worried. Mipha and your father most of all."

Still tucked into his chest, Sidon nodded.

Ammy trotted up to them. In her mouth was Sidon's tiny training spear. Link took it and handed it back to the young prince. "Time to go."

Sidon nodded and took his spear back.

As they left Ploymus Mountain, Link couldn't help but wonder what he was going to tell everyone when they returned.

Papa. Papa will know what to do.

~o~O~o~

Author's Notes:

I should probably mention that prior to (re)playing Breath of the Wild, I was remembering a lovely classic Okami, which was sitting in my Switch home screen, staring at me. Amaterasu was nicknamed 'Ammy', and the name was stuck in my head when I was writing this, so there we go. And yes, I totally have a full-heart Twilight Princess Wolf Link amiibo, and I always summon him (except against big monsters, of course).

Sortiliena Serlut is directly based off a character in Sword Art Online, and I absolutely loved her character design. Not ashamed of it.