Authors note There are some things we just assume about the land of Hyrule for example, that the royal family always has a daughter yet, I do not think it is ever specified that is the case. If the royal family does always have a daughter, it is a nice contrast to Gannon's origins as the extremely rare male.

Disclaimer the Legend of 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 fantastic games that inspired it.

Gigantic Optimism Chapter XX Royal Preparations

Queen Zelda is in the nursery preparing it for the new arrival who is due in a month her two assistants are installing the crib. A beautiful hand carved heirloom , passed down through generations of the family. It was engraved with the baby's future name Zelda, on the front, the royal family symbol on its left, and Hylia's likeness on the right. Extremely cognizant of the importance of the object Aliquis handles it with the care of a captain piloting another man's ship. Bunia could easily carry the object alone if not for the Captain's wish for caution. "Zel, I've been wondering what if the baby is a boy? Is there a second crib that does not bear the Princess' name? Rocking in the chair she has occupied for the entirety of her supervising, of the shipmates Zelda pauses to breathe before remarking. " It is a good question Captain typically the first born is a girl, with boys being more common in later pregnancies though during stretches of peace a single son has occurred. Yes there are other cribs perhaps we should get one in case it is a boy. Mother was always ready for more conflict, but I have always hoped for peace." "No that will not be needed highness, the babe can spend one night in a crib with the wrong name, I doubt the tyke can read." Boon grins hoping his semi-serious jibe gets him out of moving another crib. Laughing gently Zelda dismisses her helpers, who will soon be meeting King Stefano about a matter regarding the Gentle Breeze. She would have them bring in a second crib after the meeting they deserved a break.

Meanwhile Sidon is tangled up with Karlovaa, the Gerudo is thrashing around in the water Sidon trying to help her stay afloat. The pair have been courting for several months as the two interact they learn ever surprising facts about each other, Karlovaa learns that Zora love to sleep in water, that her darling, hates horses, and can skip a stone off into the horizon without fail. Sidon likewise learns that her favorite fruit is the mighty banana it not only prevents cramps but increases strength a great resource for an athlete, she prefers her hair up, and prays daily. Nothing could prepare him for what he had learned this morning. Karlovaa cannot swim! It was unthinkable sure Link had been slow in the water but he at least could swim before he ever set foot into the Domain, and zora swim directly after hatching, while in their tad pole stage before they even grow legs. Which means Sidon is a bad teacher, advanced techniques he knew handily, but how someone can be ignorant of the natural ability to float is a mystery to zora kind. Hence the current debacle of a lesson, taking place in the Akala sea.

Karlovaa dressed in a borrowed one piece bathing suit on loan from one of the sheikah researchers, stationed at the lab has been alternating between moments of brief buoyancy followed by panic and thrashing for the past hour, finally Sidon helps her to shore where a thought occurs to him which he has to share, "When we visit father we can try Rallis pond it is a lot calmer, are you certain you can make the trip by sea dear, I know I will be carry… "she stops him with a look "Yes if you can carry Link while getting shot at in the rain you can carry me that far, besides Shalsis can follow us part of the way. Sidon had been worried she would not care about the danger there was still a piece of that thrill seeker in her after all. "Okay can we try something first." Bending over Sidon motions for her to climb on, she hops aboard the broad shoulders and gives a little shriek as Sidon lowers smoothly into the water and tows her leisurely around the bay. The prince is concerned for the wellbeing of his passenger at first, incrementally the serenity of the water and Karlovaa's increasing gaiety erode his concerns. Soon it is time for the couple to depart, Karlovaa disembarks to retrieve a leather satchel in which to place her belongings to preserve them from the water. Mainly a change of clothes after securing the waterproof container the woman leaves her final instructions for Batma, glad that the initial steps of breeding had been smooth enough to allow this personal trip away.

Before they embark in the water Karlovaa asks a question biting her lip in anxious apprehension of receiving a disappointing answer. " My, Prince Sidon, will your father approve of someone like me? I mean you could have any zora and I cannot imagine being queen of a Kingdom so foreign to me. Everything you have said or wrote about him was so kind yet…" The silence that follows is purposeful, Sidon is allowing for any other unspoken doubts to bob to the surface gently on the current of quiet. "When we get there I want to show you something it should remind you of that Uvo character you told me about, and allay your fears, there is nothing to worry about." A half smile lingers on the zora's face his next thought bringing joy for the truth in the statement brings the prince great comfort. "When we work together we cover eachother's faults, that is why our completely at odds backgrounds compliment the other together we can do anything, Link and the late Zelda were so different personality wise and in giftings yet they saved hyrule twice with their mutual support." Once in the water Karlovaa much comforted slips into the welcoming arms of sleep. Sidon reassured he had said the right thing to assuage her worries the swimmer single mindedly surges through the waves in order to make good time. When they reach the shore Sidon gently wakes his companion yawning, she begins to unpack her garments and a towel to dry herself off with.

Once she is clothed in a dry raiment Karlovaa leads Sidon on delighted at a chance to see the domain for the first time, her first sight of the tiered aquatic landscape takes her breath away. She hardly knows where to turn the elegant roofs, the beautiful steps or the twinkling luminous stone so reminiscent of fairy light. Sidon sighs relived that his city was evidently a wonder to his dear Karlovaa.

As they enter Sidon gives a command to a guard in zora to Karlovaa's initial shock this passes when she reasons that royal business may be conducted in that language to decrease the likelihood of plans being intercepted. The guard is long gone before the Gerudo finishes her musings. When they approach a statue of a fierce yet kind looking Zora lady a protector and ruler of the domain is the dominant impression on Karlovaa she turns to give these descriptors to Sidon and one look at the change in his countenance convinces the astute vai that this is Mipha Sidon had mentioned her breifly. "Unless it was an old flame." the longer she looks the more she feels unconvinced by this argument it must be Mipha the protector of the Domain no of Hyrule. They stop by a Luminous stone chest equal to its neighboring piece in both simplicity and beauty. The guard from the entrance awaits holding a small chip of rock Sidon takes the bauble gently cradling it like a jewel from the desert.

Laying the chip into a depression in the chest a click is heard, and the lid is open, inside is a tunic and armor set of dark blue "This is here as it was her last gift to Link pick it up Karlovaa and tell me father will not approve of you." It was a challenge something she had never heard from Sidon she lifts the armor feeling a lump in the breast plate, Karlovaa ascertains what is sown into the lining unbeknownst to her the only remnant of Mipha's body. Replacing the engagement suit with surpassing care Karlovaa utters a single "Oh." A tear falls discreetly landing in the chest. As they lock the chest back and replace the garment. Karlovaa is surprised she had never heard of a relationship between the Aora princess and Hylian champion. Sidon escorts his guest to the inn a precaution to prevent an early encounter with his Majesty.

Karlovaa had made the mistake of splurging for the water bed, the unfamiliar structure was proving uncomfortable the novelty of the setting was not improving the experience at all. "I have to stop buying the most luxurious option just because it is more expensive." This was a long running issue for Karlovaa stemming from her lack of means as a child, and while a minor flaw any self perceived defect whether actual or fictitious, is enough to increase her anxiety for the morning's meeting. "Sure he was okay with a Hylian courting Mipha but Link was no average Hylian he had been exceptional. How can I compare to that? It certainly does not help that I began to pray to him, this must be how Riju felt trying to measure up to Urbosa." Thoughts of her elderly friend ease that restless mind and Karlovaa finally captures the elusive prey that is an untroubled sleep.

The following morning Sidon accompanies Karlovaa over to the King's court hand in fin they glide smoothly, to the entrance where Baz and Reypha have the privilege of safeguarding the king, Baz motions for the arrivals to stop as his partner gives the reason. "The King is composing his latest entry into the history of the Zora, we are not sure what is prolonging this attempt, he usually is finished by now." "If I know my father, he is agonizing over how to accurately render the way Dorado beat me by wedging my gigantic tail under the rail in a net without causing undue embarrassment. His account of me covered in Octorock gore and the contents of the beast's stomach was surprisingly tasteful. Father always puts things in the best way possible I think that is why he understood Meezu so well." "Putting things in the best light is hardly a fault dear, now do I know you from somewhere? Karlovaa is addressing Baz in the telltale tone of someone who is unable to place their nebulous acquaintance and is bothered by the vague sense of familiarity. "No mam are you from Tarrey Town? I visit there quite a bit now that my family seldom finds the time to see me." Sidon steps in before they can run the gamut of acquaintances they barely remember. "I think I can help you were both at Link's funeral, that is the only time you would have been in proximity to each other." "Oh yeah you were all standing by the tomb, talking about old times." Baz corrects the young vai glad they had solved it, "Actually, we were discussing an odd happening the casket had jewels placed on it. We were all trying to figure out why it occurred or who the perpetrators were. " Baz states simply. Before any speculation could take place there is movement from the royal chamber, ultimately it is a signal for Baz to usher the guests in.

As they enter the throne room the same table that is infrequently placed in the room for food has been set up on the table is a compartmentalized chest holding the king's writing utensils. Stopping in front of the table, Sidon and Karlovaa bow to the king in reverence as Baz gives the royal introduction the prince sighs in relief he had forgotten to brief the racer on proper etiquette, but her time with Riju holds her in good stead.

"Father I present to you Karlovaa a former sandseal racer, currently the head of the Akala Sandseal Research facility and the woman I am courting." Staring at Karlovaa with pride and excitement he waits for his father's reaction. "Glad to finally meet you Karlovaa I have been wondering who my son has been seeing these few months for he has been happier now then I have seen him in some time. Come closer so I can thank you properly." Karlovaa approaches the throne nervously only to have a reassuring hand placed on her shoulder. "As thanks for making my son joyful again you do not have to use the proper titles for I am honored to be in your presence. Now son you left something out of the introductions while my memory is not as reliable now it is still better than most for I recognize the young lady's name, Karlovaa dear, would you like to see the results of the experiment you both assisted with?" Still processing Doreaphan's simple act of kinship and respect the researcher pauses for a moment before replying good humoredly, "It is funny you should mention it Doreaphan Sidon's scans were seen by everyone involved but he has never seen mine." "Perfect this is another way to get to know you better I will have Baz fetch the pictographs and we can all look at them together. I think I will gain a new appreciation for them if I see them with their subject present." Sidon reluctant to see the images says nothing for he is unable to see how to refuse such a benign request.

Staring at the images Sidon is ashamed of his previous attitudes he had been fearful that these alternate versions of Karlovaa would somehow affect his feelings but, now he knows that they are just images the real Karlovaa is looking at his father and telling him about their meeting on the road to Purah's lab. That is the real Karlovaa and he would accept no substitutes when her anecdote ends the Gerudo turns to him her eyes alight with humor and he kisses her quickly forgetting his father for a moment. Witnessing that brief kiss Dorephan recalls his wife and knows that it will work out for he sees the same level of commitment in their display of love that had been present in his own.

Sidon ends the kiss by pulling softly away "Father is there anything else you need from us, I do not want us to take away from your appointments and I would like to check on Dorado as well." "I am going with you seeing Rutah would be a joy." With a quick wink Karlovaa receives permission from Sidon in a literal twinkling of an eye. "Yes son there is a matter the Rito are curious to how many they can expect at the statue unveiling at Dragon Rest village in several weeks they have offered to fly our guests there if we wish it. Anticipating her incoming invitation the Gerudo states "If we traveled traditionally it would be impossible, I cannot be away from the project that long especially as we want to begin breeding then, but a Rito flight would work." Seeing no issues her Zora companions agree.

As they leave Dorephen lumbers over to his table and removes the historical documents, Dorephan's love of history had been cultivated early it was a zora tradition for the heir to the throne to take over some position in the court to learn more about the court, due to providence the current historian had sought to take an apprentice and the rest well was history. This tradition was partly the reason Mipha had been eligible to become champion it was the only position she had wanted. Dorephan had started his apprenticeship by, simply chronicling current events until he understood why things were recorded for posterity then he had graduated to ancient documents. Dorephan had not liked how the parchment would not even last a zora lifetime and had introduced stone tablets copying the contents to the new medium. Because of this the king was familiar with most historical documents. Striking his torc hard the king summoned Baz, "Captain bring me the historical documents to the time of King Rallis." Aware of the extreme seclusion of the Gerudo during this historical era there were no records of the hero of the time interacting with them for Hylia's sake! Dorephan decided Rallis' time would make a good stopping point for his research. "and the marriage records of the zora priests that correspond to those dates." "Right away your highness." Rushing off Baz collects the Big Bad Baz Brigade to haul the humongous pile of tablets and books of marriage records the king would require. As he makes room for the incoming pile Dorephan replaces the tablet he had been working on. That particular tablet was ongoing transcription of a record of the carnival of the salvation of termina as told by the manager of the zora band the Indigo-Gos "Reypha when Baz returns I want him to collect everything we have on the IndiGo-Gos and the great bay zora!" How could he have forgotten about the Great Bay Zora and their run in with Gerudo pirates? There was no other period in which Zora and Gerudo had lived in such proximity. It was the obvious place to look for another Gerudo Zora couple.

"Oh and Reypha please see to it that in the future, Karlovaa is accommodated in Mipha's old room. It is the best we have to offer, and I doubt Mipha would object to her brother's beloved using it when she is not using her room." Reypha is happy to oblige and is prepared to tell Dorado that the meeting between Karlovaa and the king had gone well.

Authors Note 2

Yes, there is a rather obvious problem with transporting Sidon by Rito but, I want the solution to be reacted to there rather than in the previous conversation about it. Next week our protagonist duo travels to Dragon Rest and the Hyrule/Lumkin family usher a little one into the world. Sincerely 4Coyote