Author's note Time to bring it together if the dominoes fall right, I did my job no wait scratch that my hobby, I did my hobby well.
Disclaimer Zelda is owned by Nintendo including monsters, characters, creatures. races, and locations. This is an unoriginal work not canon to the series and unlicensed it is intended as a supplement to the sublime games that inspired it.
Gigantic Optimism Chapter XVII The Tale of Two Moves
Thwack! Phft. Thwack, Phft. The cacophony of two repeating sounds drone on the metronome effect would be complete if not for the squabbling taking place between the last two zora at the range. Built by the Rito after their visit the range consists of two rows of targets and cleared grass in front of Rallis pond, the first row of padded targets is at half draw length, the second is at full draw. Thwack is a sweet sound, to that pair a brown zora and his green companion of the same species. Growing tired of their current bickering the archery practice continues in silence. A third bullseye precedes the next glorious thwack, trying not to look too conceited Reypha waits for the ominous phft the harbinger of a bad miss. Dorado finally draws the optimal weight and hits the target his projectile lodging in the top of the target, technically in the scoring zone. Dorado retrieves his arrows wishing to retire for the day, the longer they were out here the likelier he would be to execute an abysmal if not embarrassing shot. Looking up from his task Dorado no longer sees Reypha, in the clearing peeking behind the targets the setting sun casting an iridescent glimmer over the becalmed waters of the pond. In the shimmering waving light a glean of green pinpoints Reypha's location. Forgetting his quiver where it lay Dorado dives into the pool quivering with excitement.
The second competition of the day their favorite childhood game Dreach, is set to begin. The game is simple both Zora dive to the bottom then push off breaching in a long jump out of the water the highest leaper wins.
This contest is comparatively even with Dorado winning two out of three matches. Panting on the grass the successive switches from gills to lungs plus the physical exertion, renders Dreach a physically taxing game for zora and an impossible physical task for humans. "If your archery improves like your Dreach game has since we were kids, you could hit a bird from full draw. As opposed to the top of the target" Wryly contemplating his piece of the conversation before giving it, Dorado replies "Well my swimming was improved by lugging barrels behind me I, could try that for archery if you think it would help. His deadpan delivery not deceiving his friend she charmingly laughs at his jest, with the little chuckle her air deprived lungs allow.
A heavy tread interrupts the picturesque moment, Sidon bursts into the clearing "What is it sir." Exclaims Reypha forgetting the Prince's dislike of the honorific a muttered appeal of" Sidon" issues from Dorado. "Nothing is amiss I would like you both to accompany me to Tarrey town tomorrow, a friend of mine needs some assistance moving there. Will you both come with me" Reverting back to formal language and flushing slightly Sidon fails to hear Reypha's mistaken use of the word 'sir' choosing to await their answer to his query. Acquiescing in their own way they give different responses. "We would be overjoyed Sidon" Relates Reypha, Dorado expresses joy at returning to his hometown. "Baz finally moving to see his mother's family more?" "Something like that, Dorado. I appreciate the help we will depart shortly after dawn on the sea route the tide will be favorable then. Dorado can you recruit your old shipmates upon our arrival? a goron would be immeasurably useful." Dorado's countenance falls incrementally, "Sorry Coach, Mom sent me a note recently among the usual travel recommendations she mentioned Boon and Captain Aliquis left to visit his family he is from Lurelin the rumor is boss will soon be an uncle." Jumping in anxious to avoid any fuss Reypha preemptively mollifies Sidon with her next remark. " The three of us your friend Craddison and Shalsis will be more than enough surely." "Yes it should not be too rigorous an undertaking, more hands make a lighter burden, yet it is possible to…" "Have too many cooks in the kitchen." Reypha coolly, finishes the thought for the prince the idiom a favorite of her father's.
Meanwhile, there is a disturbance at the gate of the palace a Goron and a Hylian are barred from entering the castle. "Sir, your friend is not permitted; the invitation only lists yourself and your family, if you want to come in and take the matter up with the King you may do so. We cannot let anyone but the most trustworthy subjects in on this manner." The guard was adamant on this point, the stamp on the letter was confidential and his orders were clear. Leniency would not happen for anyone especially not a smelly seaman. "Son how much do you know about Goron culture? For in their ancient customs dating back since before the divine beasts, we are family." A dim memory from school blazes to light in the guard's mind "You are right Mr. Aliquis you both may proceed." Standing aside the guard is still brushed away as Aliquis is sore on not being called captain.
"Captain why are we here? You promised to tell me when we were inside." Evading the question with a partly true statement the captain dithers "Well you get to meet my other brother today Boon and his beautiful wife. I have not seen them since the wedding, but we keep in touch." "What does your brother do here" Increasing his stride he asserts, "Best to just meet him hurry now that guard made us late." They round a corner the rug pushing up slightly as the crewmates slide to a halt. "Brother! You made it I was coming to check for you. The main guard does his job a little too well." As he is gathered up in an embrace, that was part tackle part hug, Aliquis gasps "Fen take it easy on your older brother or Boon will hug you even harder." Dropping him gently, "Sorry, Al and just because you are my brother does not mean you can leave off my title. It is King Fen to you, never mind though you and Boone need to come meet Zelda we need the help." They see Zelda seated on a cushioned throne looking every bit three months pregnant. Including the oft spoken of glow that supposedly crowns expectant mothers with a radiance. "Who else knows" "Just the other kingdom leaders though I get the feeling Paya knew before Stefano did." Elucidates the queen in answer to Aliquis' query. "Zelda and I wanted to let my family know first but once we became aware Paya knew we told the other leaders out of fairness." King Stefano mentions this almost squeamishly Aliquis is still his elder brother, consequently he receives a modicum of respect from the king. In the palace congratulations are exchanged, plans are laid for the visitors to stay till the baby comes, outside the guard enters Aliquis and Bunia Lumkin into the register.
Karlovaa and Batma are outside the latter's house the new arrival wishing to leave her belongings at her temporary residence, her friend had graciously offered to put up the ex-racer until Karlovaa was settled. They are looking at an odd sight, Dorn and the lovely Beatrice are in a specially designed cage with a sand floor, wheels and somehow a small tree. Sheikah runes dot the surface of the cage.
"I appreciate your help on this as an advisor Batma I needed a breeder's input before Purah would agree to my proposition." Twisting her foot on the ground absently the breeder concurs vehemently, "I should say so dear, trying to breed sandseals outside of the desert for the first time needs a second opinion. It is a shame that Purah women forbade us from introducing them into the wild surely six sandseal would not wreck the ecosystem? Now onto important matters how did you get a Patricia Standard?" Pointing at her oldest sandseal who is nuzzling the Patricia Standard ,Karlovaa tells the story minimizing her role as much as possible."That was all him the charmer wooed her while Gosi trained Dorn and well Beatrice is a bit of a brat, they could not really use her after that. They were going to offer me a medal for dealing with the molduga but, I suggested her instead". Still listening Bata looks a little crestfallen fighting a molduga put her dream of owning an example the best sandseal bread further out of her reach. "Selling it as the chance for a palace sandseal to be a part of the first wave of Akala sandseals clinched it. Now that I have satisfied your curiosity, I want to head to the lab site we have two other pairs to settle plus the lab equipment." Karlovaa finishes her speech hurriedly. Beginning to walk next to the cage Batma gets in the last word, " All those Sheikah techs probably have no idea how to handle a seal come on." Galvanized into action Karlovaa hurries to follow the breeder.
The site is easily found Sidon and Purah who is giving directions to the prince, certainly helped the searching duo succeed. Laying on Akala beach are six stables with no roofs in a circular pattern surrounding a corral, "Finding the best sight given the tide, was tricky Karlovaa nothing the land scanning rune could not handle though. With the other lab so close the location is ideal, for oversight welcome to my research staff." The new employee shook hands with her employer Karlovaa officially the head of the new Akala Sandseal Research lab. The lab itself is separate from the pens built on the grass beside the corral, the unfinished building is only adequate as a storage space for the diagnostic machines and foodstuffs. "Wait Batma let me help you with Beatrice, she needs a delicate hand" "Between the two of us we might have one delicate hand." Rejoins the retiree brusquely upon the scientist's arrival at the cage.
Sidon I am grateful for this, is your father satisfied with your progress I was unsure you could afford to take time out to help me with this." Sidon sighed relieved this is the cause of her nearly imperceptible anxiety. "Father is glad I have managed to help a joint Gerudoh and Sheikah research project. I want to hear about that Molduga fight you mentioned some time ago." Rising up and down on the balls of her feet Karlovaa darts towards the lab. "Follow me we can discuss it while we catch our breath. I would hesitate it to call it a fight, if you do want to see a brawl stay idle, either of the pair unloading Dorn could throw the first punch." "Race you." Is Sidon's challenge eager to show off for the beautiful vai he sprints for the lab.
Inside Dorado, Shalsis, Reypha, and Cradd, are all pitching in moving barrels of mighty bananas, crates of apples, some machinery, this last item causing some distress with the two or three lab techs supervising the move. "Sidon, when you said we were moving a friend of yours I thought you meant a chest of drawers maybe, ugh, a vanity, , not crates of animal feed." Catching sight of Karlovaa the young zora closes his mouth no other rebuttal needed. "Now you know why I wanted a Goron" Sidon grunts hefting a crate in each hand, he takes several steps placing the bulky objects in the corner of the room. The next hour is spent on the crates and machines a short break is called before the moving crew starts on setting up the individual pens. During which Karlovaa recounts her exploits with the Molduga. Finishing the tale with her guffaw of a laugh and this observation, "I could do without the nickname though Being compared to a giant three eyed slug was not the end I had in mind for my career." "It seems to me like you could do a lot worse than ending as the queen's favorite jockey. Perhaps a bad nickname is not as bad as you think." "Shalsis you always try to see the best outcome on our way over here you were calculating how fast we could prepare the lab." Cradd mentions his goal oriented brain striving to steer the others on task. Reypha seeing the value in this opinion puts it into her own words. "The wood worker is correct we should move to clean out the mobile cages the sandseals should be in their pens now." Once they were outside Karlovaa and Shalsis rush for Dorn's cage for he and Beatrice are still inside the spoiled Patricia Standard is refusing to budge. Completely unsure how to handle the beasts the four others sanitize the remaining cages.
Sidon is with Cradd he is mentally distant mechanically sweeping, his limbs moving automaton like, with little input from the prince. "I really have loved working with the crew it has been a great job and…." Cradds voice is reduced to background droning now Sidon is transported. His mind is on Karlovaa how happy she was, this move would brighten her mood after the attack he had felt a certain despondency in Karlovaa's letters. Sidon begins to hum Outside Gerudo City. Before he reaches the chorus Sidon knows his feelings have moved past friendship her happiness was improving his mood more than a friend's joy ever had. The torc should have been his first sign, yet something today had done it. "The Molduga it is just like Mipha, If that is the case I have it bad" Reasons Sidon, "She only became shy after the Lionel incident." Specifically Mipha had only fallen for Link after he had slain a Lynel substitute one monster for another and the similarities are stark.
"Like I was saying my swimming ability is much improved…." Finishes Cradd. Sidon is on another track he has to tell her how he feels as soon as possible time could be so short, how to do it getting her alone would be near impossible. "What to do?" screams Sidon's inner voice till "Now I am out of a job what should I do." Cradd had been so busy building up to this question Sidon's inattention had gone unnoticed. " uh Cradd does the lab have anyone to maintain the place keep the fences mended and such? I mean the main building is not even finished Dr. Purah should know if your wood skills could be of use." "I will go ask her now! Craddison departs eagerly, to take Sidon's advice Sidon is now literally alone with his thoughts rather than just metaphysically alone with them.
"Sidon you have to see this" grabbing his attention Sidon follows Karlovaa's voice curious as to what is happening. "Look Beatrice is eating out of Shalsis' hand no one else could get her out." Sidon is jerked by his hand directly up to his former protégé. "Impressive" blusters the prince unsure if feeding a sandseal took skill or not. "You bet it is she is the most persnickety animal I have ever seen. Shalsis You have to work for us it will save us so much time." "I appreciate it but…" "Come on you will have plenty of help, your very smart you can figure it out Shalsis you may be a natural or it could be due to a special connection. I mean you are both blue" Smiling Shalsis surrenders "I guess that settles it. Shalssi your newest recruit reporting for duty mam!" With a salute that would make her father proud Shalsis accepts the job tending to Beatrice.
After all the work is done the group is getting water sans Dorado and Reypha who have sneaked off for some ocean swimming. With the two new hires shadowing their new boss Sidon had been unable to sequester Karlovaa for his chat. Now the muse has taken pity on him and the Prince has an inspired scheme, currently the group is in the last stable soon the Domain subjects will have to return. "Karlovaa have you ever heard the story of my battle with the giant Octorock?" Heh hem, a small squeak like noise interrupts the prince "Cradd can you take me home Mr. Mendo probably needs help closing up" Understanding his cue Cradd plays along immediately. "Righhhhht we cannot keep Mendo waiting, we both need rest we start tomorrow. Nice meeting you Karlovaa thanks again." Echoing her friend's farewell the two take their leave. "I really need to tell some other stories that was not supposed to work that well!" Shocked Sidon pauses internally questioning his story telling skills "Sidon? Can we wait on that you and I need to talk and we are finally alone." While speaking she lifts up and unhooks the torc around her neck "One reason I invited you Sidon is to ask why you gave me this?
Outside the two zora who traveled with Sidon are talking to Purah all of whom are preoccupied with a new arrival upon spotting the new guest the Tarrey town natives stroll over to greet Aftson " Here are our newest workers, have you two seen, the Prince or our new Lab head? The mayor has some exiting news to share." Instantly Craddison decides to cover, he knows Sidon had tried to get rid of them he even, suspects why. This knowledge colors his response to Purah's attempt to find the absent crew members. "Chief you can go ahead and tell us his highness is retelling one of his favorite encounters with a monster, it could be se some time before he is ready." Turning Dorado desperately urges the mayor to heed Craddison's advice "Yes leave them be I can pass it on whenever he mentions that fight it becomes longer, if he is interrupted, he just starts it over, I will tell him during our return trip." "Very well the castle, has publicly announced that Queen Zelda is pregnant. The baby should be here in six months, provided all goes well." Thinking aloud Reypha exclaims "Oh another Hylian Princess!" Squealing, in joy she acerates her speaking, "The royal bloodline will continue Hylia is still with us, she has not withdrawn her blessing, maybe there will be a new hero." Conjecture follows ranging from celebrations at the castle, whether it would be twins, how long the magical powers would take to develop, not one thinks of their absent friends.
Sidon is having trouble; looking Karlovaa in her eyes, she just stands there, the torc hanging off her pointer finger. Adamantly expecting an answer, calmly her skin smooth, her expression an illegible blank slate, her eyes daring him to confess. " I thought you would like it and I bought it, with how far away we were I needed you to have something to remind you of me, that is important." Tossing the torc in the air she recaptures it, deftly in her other hand. Glancing at the memento she asks "There was no other reason? It is not a zora thing?" Leaning closer Sidon sees a hard look deep in her eyes it gave the impression of a stonewall.
Projecting his voice out of a desire to be understood, he confesses, "No it is not a zora ritual and it was for a keepsake, at first, after today it is something else seeing you again like this I know we can make this work." The wall crumbles and out of the rubble staggers an unspoken inquiry. "Us Karlovaa we can make us work." She smiles "I needed to know Sidon, after those letters I began to feel attracted to you and, I needed to know you felt the same way. That I am drawn to the real you not one I built up, in my head." "Oh Karlovaa this is real, you know that as well as I do." She deflates in relief shoulders stooping, knees unbending, her grip loosening. "Fine you can help me put this back on now, it is the first gift you ever gave me." Taking the torc Sidon walks behind Karlovaa attaching the necklace gently than he embraces her, from behind, her hair brushes his scales, the only sounds are their synchronic shallow breathing. Then they share a tender moment warm in the cold stable happy to be together. Karlovaa turns, to steal, a goodbye kiss a mutual keepsake sweet and sublime.
Authors Note two Here I want to thank an author not one I recommend her stuff is very niche and can be problematic due to when it was written. I also have not read all her work so I cannot give a blanket endorsement anyway. She is an extremely early detective novelist and is most likely in the public domain worldwide I am talking about Anna Katherine Greene. Most of the descriptive writing for Karlovaa here was me copying her style, I love how she described her characters. I could not have gotten through this section without her it seems fair to acknowledge her here. I also tried to emphasize Dorado and Reypha as friends here hence the childhood game scene and jumping out of the water just seems like a natural game for zora to play.
Sincerely 4Coyote.