Author's note we finally meet the Goron champion the goal was to write the opposite of Yunobo self-assured but indifferent.
Disclaimer I do not own the Legend of Zelda or its characters while this takes place in the world of Breath of the Wild the trailers for the sequel to that game progressively render this story even more non canon to the series owned by Nintendo.
Chapter XXV A Conference of Champions.
Sidon weekly crawls out of a large basket shaking, this time the flight had been turbulent and the Prince had lain down to avoid looking over the basket the only reason Sidon had not barfed over the side. Sidon is grateful he had avoided an arrangement sure to annoy his flying feathery friends, holding the cantankerous vessel. Mutually deciding that the prince is unfit to speak at present the brothers who had carried him to Dragon's Rest depart with their hated basket.
Closing his eyes and taking several deep breaths, Sidon lethargically rises to his feet upon hearing a familiar yet slightly deeper voice. Opening his eyes the familiar blue cloak pattern is just visible under the famous tarpaulin cloak. "Is everything ship shape Sidon , it looks like you had some expired sweets." Dorado is speaking from personal experience between sneaking pies from the Reypha family restaurant and occasionally forgetting to check the inventory in Mendo's market, the brown zora commiserates with his mentor. "Hold me steady as we enter the domain and it will pass. I am recovering from my flight there is nothing to worry about, my friend. I tend to stay sick for longer than others, the doctors say my immune system is susceptible to more diseases, than most as my body never fought off anything growing up." They are just now making their way through town and Sidon begins to fake wellness, by standing straighter, smiling, and waving. "Is that from Mipha's treatments? I have never heard of any ill affects from her power. Even in her di…scourse." Dorado sends a quick prayer to Hylia thankful he had stopped short of admitting his familiarity with the diary. Too preoccupied with his discomfort the Prince ignores his former apprentice's faux paus. "No 'ill affect' is not the right phrase more so an unintended consequence of having a miracle worker healer. Sometimes we do not understand how deeply we affect things and can fail to account for all outcomes. For example, Karlovaa has had to isolate the sandseal project for that very reason Purah is unsure what could happen if sandseals were let loose into such a complex region." Karlovaa had come to the forefront of Sidon's mind because he sees the throne room's exterior, he can now tell everyone what she said. Sidon is a little surprised that Dorado is not the least bit winded from assisting him for such a great distance. Sidon disengages his stomach finally settled. Two guards vaguely familiar to Sidon usher in the Champion duo.
"She said yes to the proposal though she wants to wait until after breeding season for the wedding. She was very firm on that point I was against it she won me over by mentioning we can coordinate the gerudo guests' arrival in the domain better that way." Guffawing heartily Dorephan teases his son, "She will win you over frequently, that girl is as spunky as queen Riju you should get used to it." "How about your honeymoon destination Sidon my mom will want to know that more than anything about the wedding." Winking at the impetuous little zora Sidon relinquishes the sought-after information. "She wants to show me around the desert it is one of the few Hyrule locales I have never been to, and it does not get more private than a dessert." "Someone needs to hang around with Baz less his sense of humor is rubbing off." Patting the future king on the back gently the discussion shifts to coronation details too intricate to relay here. A more suitable topic is the Champion's conference.
"Sidon, give me some advice on how to get along with the other champions. You have known them for decades no one knows as much as you do." Hopeful for a shortcut to impress his more experienced peers Dorado pleads with wide eyes. His hopes are dashed by the wise monarch who sees a learning opportunity. " Come now Dorado form your own impressions of them Sidon may not be accurate in his assessment." Sheepishly Dorado is forced to take his time spent reading reports written by his new coworkers from when he was still Sidon's apprentice, and come to his own conclusions. Dorado sets to the task like a detective weaving a profile from the facts he has gathered. Tapping his foot rhythmically the young 'sleuth' starts with the one who wrote the most detailed reports, figuring he would be the easiest conundrum to solve. "Vestus pays attention to details, is competitive and loves discussing Dragon's Rest. Bacta also loves her people and is dutiful to them and her Grandmother all of her reports are early and in order. Sidon feels the need to share a tidbit he knows Dorado is unaware of interrupting he says"She is also the most battle tested of the Champions Riju over saw her training and the desert has more monsters than the other regions do not provoke her." Dorephan chuckles quietly his belly jiggling with the effort, he is envisioning the famous incident when Bacta had slapped the Rito warrior. Gulping with anxiety Dorado finishes with the Gerudo warrior in few words. "Jarak's reports are muddled, disordered, it seems to be more from carelessness than anything else rock crumbs always litter them." "Well done lad, I study history and there are always points of debate among scholars learning about someone through writings is an incomplete process but still helpful." Beaming from the praise he seldom geys from the kind old zora Dorado meditates on the advice packaged within the compliment. Seeing the lateness of the hour the old king, the heir apparent, and their trusted warrior retire for the night eager for their upcoming day full of preparation.
The day before the coronation the Champions have arrived this is a mere two days after Sidon's return. Dorado is not concerned with the Champion meeting however for his mother had been the first guest to arrive Kora could have been the last just as easily. She could enjoy traveling and get distracted along her journey or if urgency was needed, she could travel through backroads with only the essentials at a blistering pace. Somewhere along her trip she had picked up a hitchhiker, a rotund Goron in a bucket hat. "Thank you Kora for the introductions, I have been trying to reach the Domain for some time but became lost after I lost then recovered my drum." This kind soul is Uvo glad to be in a new location after his wanderings. "You must have come in for the coronation than, Uvo." "No this is the first I heard of it." A stunned silence settles on the intimate breakfast, a meal finished without another word passing anyone's lips.
After the repast Uvo asks about the guests expected to be there upon learning of the rest of the champions recent arrival he offers to tag along to the meeting only because of his relationship with Bacta does Dorado agree "Well I do need someone else there to take a picture." Thinks Dorado he calls to his mom as he and his sidekick leave "Make sure to give Sidon the latest update on you know who. Sidon has only been away from her for a short time he is kind of worried about the sandseel project." Acknowledging, that she heard her son the romantic traveler resolves to update the prince while she mechanically clears the table.
The other champions are waiting for Dorado on account of his delay from entertaining the bard. Vestus and Bacta are discreetly on opposite sides of the clearing in front of Rutah Jarak is in a ball asleep, completely lost in deep fanciful dreams. His head is pear-shaped and the simplest description is to imagine a large specimen of that variety of fruit perched, on a squat rock. Generally, impressions of the peculiar shaped goron's appearance never drift far from the fruit on a stone comparison. The quiet fair-weather day had worked it's spell well on the drowsy Goron, following the expectations of the two other champions. This is the scene when Dorado and Uvo make their grand entrance, by rambling nonchalantly up to the group.
Dorado reaches out to Rutah accessing the connection preparing to request a lift to the top for himself and the champions. In a flash the brown zora observes reactions from the three other champions, Vestus is wearing a grandiose smirk full of confidence, Bacta has tensed, in preparation ready to launch into action, and Jarak tilts over to unfurl from his sleeping position. Uvo whose main asset is his voluminous memory, is oblivious to all but Jarak's reaction. "Take it easy brother. Do you need help looks like a bad cramp, it happens to all of us as we get older adding rock salt to your diet regularly will clear that right up." Helping the other Goron to his feet Uvo stops to heave upwards. Jarak speaks for the first time that day "Come on, every goron knows 'a pinch of salt a day keeps the cramps away'." Now that all are settled Dorado figures it is an opportune time to begin the meeting proper. "We should get started everyone, on the trunk please, unless Vestus wants to fly up." "I can ride up, I see no sense wasting energy if this is like the last time we convened this could go all day." "It better not the coronation is the whole reason I came, seemed only fair after all the stuff Sidon has been to for us." Jarak grumbles the sentiments of the other regions champion's exactly, while oblivious to the fact. During the ride up Bacta yells loudly, above the tumultuous din of mechanical whirring, "Who is the other Goron!"
Dorado introduces Uvo ceremonially, then the meeting begins. There being little space to stand the group stands awkwardly they slowly become accustomed enough to the odd situation of their situating to begin the meeting. Dorado asks for reports as the first order of business, when none are forthcoming, he begins his own. Each goes in turn none of the reports have any alarming situations all appears well. Instead, all of the speeches simply confirm Dorado's early impressions of the other champions. When every report was finished Dorado opens the floor for new business. Bacta broaches a topic often on her mind one she felt powerless to enact on her own. "I am concerned about central Hyrule our reports today have made it clear that we have no idea what goes on in the region now. This tactic of occasional meetings worked when the Hylian champion and queen were involved now we need some type of liaison to report to us. On both occasions that Gannon attacked he came from Hyrule castle, Our predecessors were caught off guard the first time and they had two Hylians updating them constantly." "I think we should go farther we need to survey those catacombs beneath the castle as well. No one alive have even been down there." Jarark finished with his piece harrumphs grumpily. Aghast Dorado urges caution, "No one has been down in those tunnels for good reason Jarak. Link and Zelda went down there for research and almost brought about Hyrule's destruction. Besides if the four of us go and something happens who is going to operate the divine beasts? They are programmed to accept one user at a time I do not think we should take the risk unless there is imminent danger down there maybe when we have a new Hylian Champion to do the field work." "If Purah could devise a way for us to teleport using Sheikah runes then the four of us could do both tasks investigate the threat and respond." This idea from Vestus seems agreeable to the rest of the group and Dorado promises to bring the matter to Purah's attention. Feeling confidant after his previous idea was well received Vestus begins to introduce a second matter for discussion.
"While Purah looks into that we need to be sure we can cover all of Hyrule for what guarantee do we have that Gannon will return in the same place?" "Where else could he appear? we certainly need to cover the Yiga Clan hideout it is always possible they set up a clandestine way to resurrect him." Stressing the word need Bacta convinces the others that she is right. Uvo speaks up, "I can think of several places the great fairy fountains for one, outside Kakariko village, any of the Zonai ruins I can compile a list for you." The last order of business is the most frivolous of all of them Dorado is very excited about it though. Leaning forward in anticipation the young warrior beams, "We need a name for our group any suggestions?" They never really come to an agreement but, the good natured debate lightens the mood. The meeting ends with a group picture taken by Uvo. While good the picture feels staged as if they were all there simply out of obligation.
Authors note 2; Next week is the coronation time for our little lionel fighter to grow up.