Previously…
Bazz had the Fanclub send Link a box of goodies, much to Link's embarrassment and horror.

Link then experiences a frightening realization that he might be gravely ill. A dangerous fever sends him back an forth into dreams of the past twisted with reality. And amongst this confusion, two strangers try to help him and his soul finally awakens.

-Only obvious key points will be summarized. There are likely moments of an Unreliable Narrator or Sneaky Foreshadowing.-

CHAPTER WARNINGS: Body Horror (mild) and Self Exploration (semi graphic description)


"Get out and put these on. You should be stable enough to dress yourself." The tall woman dropped a towel with a ball of clothing at the foot of the tub. Her words were hard like her glare, these were commands not suggestions. "Then you will eat. Understood."

Link nodded, though all he wanted to do was lie down and remain still for a few more hours. Not that the bath tub had been particularly comfortable. But he wasn't getting any peace anytime soon.

"Speak up or have you forgotten how?"

[Not that you likely understand.] The young man's irritation growing, this Gerudo was throwing around demands, but offering no reasonable explanation. Actually, she had thrown him around physically yesterday from the flickering memories he could recall.

"Join us in the kitchen when you're done, don't take long." She had said more, but Link didn't catch it as she left the room.

Link groaned and carefully lifted his waterlogged body from the tub, both hands and feet pruned beyond belief. It made standing and grabbing things feel weird.

Taking his time with drying off, he could already feel the warmth coming back to his chilled skin. Looking over his body he did not find any trace of the glowing marks. Had his soul truly shown itself after all this time, after four and half years? Such beautiful light that had dance across his skin felt like distant dream. Though in the end, Link was unsure if he could fully trust any of yesterday's memories.

The kitchen was not hard to find as he could see it from the bathroom door. But walking there was a different story, every few steps had him fumbling like a foal. He didn't fully understand it, his legs were steady and his mind felt clear. Perhaps his muscles were still numb from the cold water.

"Good morning." The Sheikah woman greeted him happily over her mug as she waited at the table. It appeared that most had already been set with fruit, toast, sausage and oddly, two teakettles. He could guess there was something more as the Gerudo was tending to something over the wood stove. Smells like eggs. He thought before taking a set across from the expecting mother. "You look like you are doing much better than yesterday."

That was something he could agree on and nodded; he was a lot better than whatever illness befell him. He stared at the food laid out and his stomach grumbles, definitely hungry from not eating since two nights ago. But Link truthfully wasn't interested in eating and the potent smell of everything didn't help much either.

"Would you like tea or milk?" She offered, but quickly frowned when he shook his head. "Just water then?"

[I don't want anything, thanks though.] He signed lazily, knowing that she wouldn't understand, though doing so anyway.

Both jumped when a hot pan was dropped onto the table, the vibration nearly sending some of the tableware over the edge. As the very angry Gerudo stared down the Hylian wipes her hands upon her apron ever so slowly. "I really don't care about what happens to you when you leave. But I won't be having anyone dying under my roof, even if that means I have to force feed you."

Link stood up with haste, nearly knocking the chair over. He has about had it with this woman's unprovoked attack on him for being here. She was the one that grabbed and brought him to her home in the first place! [Then why bother saving me the other morning!?]

"Honestly, the only reason I saved you was because I thought you were Sheikah." She scoffed.

"Mani-!" The Sheikah woman burst in outrage, but was unable to finish as her wife quickly placed a hand over her mouth. Though hushed gently by the Gerudo, the hand was quickly swatted away. The smaller woman's eyes speaking all her anger and disappointment in silence, she would not stay quiet for long.

[So you do understand me.] He stated with a bitter look, both their eyes meeting a levelled glare. [If that was the case then why not say that earlier!?]

"Not that you can remember, voe. Consider it a favour for keeping things simple with a fever, deranged Hylian."

"ENOUGH. Both of you sit down this instant! Or Hylia help me, I turn you both into frogs!"

Her wife sat down immediately, but while Link had been taken off guard from the soft-spoken woman's sudden outburst, he was not really intimidated. Just what kind of threat was that anyways? It wasn't like she could actually do that. So, he remained standing, half tempted to just leave, but he didn't know where they had taken his belongings.

"One." Crossing her arms as she began.

"Dearest, please." But her protest went unheeded.

"Two."

"Your body won't be able to handle the strain so close to birth!" Fear beginning to reveal itself for the first time Link had seen in the Gerudo.

"Thr-" Stopping as the man finally sat down, her expression softening into a weak smile. "Thank you. Now let's all eat and talk after there is food in our bellies."

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

With a fork, Link flicked the small round of meat back and forth on his plate. He had barely managed to swallow the only bite he took, but it wasn't like it tasted bad, the meat had been wonderfully seasoned. He just didn't want to eat. The warrior had succeeded in finishing the small spoonful of scrambled eggs, half a piece of toast and three slices of fruit. Eating because you have to, not because you want to, makes the whole meal a chore. His body seemed to agree with him as his insides tensed in reply. I hope I don't throw up after this.

The only thing he might have enjoyed was the mug of hot milk with a few drops of honey. The hot silky drink had done more to wake his senses than the sour scent of the tea the Sheikah was having. Nonetheless his hosts; feeling more like captors at the moment, seemed to be satisfied with his progress.

The white haired woman gave her wife an elbow to the ribs, narrowing her eyes at the taller before gesturing to Link. With a restrained grimace, the Gerudo looked to the man and hesitantly began to speak. "Forgive my behaviour, your… state reminds me of the weakness I once bore. It aggravates me that I was just has helpless to the phase you went through. Thankfully though, I don't need to worry about others like yourself passing it onto me anymore."

[So it isn't Ganon's Blight…] Link gave a huge sigh of relief, he knew deep down it was never the case. But it was a huge weight lifted to hear that someone else had experienced this and was just fine. [Then this illness only affects a person once?]

A perplexed look quickly shattered her mask of irritation, almost seeming to be stunned for a moment before she could gather herself enough to respond. "Uh…no."

To which Link expressed his own confusion. [But you said that you were once affected by this, meaning you have grown immune. Or are you saying that I need a cure?]

"Technically…? I wouldn't go as far as calling it a cure. And I don't know how it affects others like yourself, but I believe that you are stuck with this your whole life."

[How did you become unaffected then? There isn't much difference between a Gerudo and a Hylian.] The man felt like the more questions he asked the more bewildered the woman got and was slower to answer him.

"I formed a soul bond…" Now the Sheikah woman's cheeks turned pink as she glanced back and forth between them, only getting half the conversation.

How did this topic come up? Shaking his head, Links irritation was starting to return. [How does… How does that have anything to do with this topic?]

"Do you have any idea what you are…?"

[I'm Hylian. Male if you need details.] Putting as much sarcasm he could physically muster into his gestures and expression.

"I don't really mean race, but sex has a lot to do with it. I don't know the Hylian words for it specifically. But I wouldn't be so sure about your claim as male, I doubt that you explored your body completely… or had someone do it for you. Well, not that you can remember before a couple years ago. Right, Link? Memory loss must be such a pain." Oh how her smirk made him want to knock her out of chair. Just who does she think she is? Like she could understand what it was like to lose everything of your person.

"Link? As in the Hylian Champion, the Hero that slayed Calamity Ganon!?" The smaller gasped and covered her face with her hands. "Oh Hylia, forgive me. I saw something that was not meant to witness."

"Relax, you're a healer. It's not something that you haven't-"

"It's not that, his soul! There's no doubt that he has a fated bond given by the Goddess! What if the Princess-"

[I'm not done talking!] Link waves for their attention, agitation making his temperature rise. [And I am getting very tired with dancing around. Just tell me what is going on already, enough with the toying. I have work to get back to.]

"Fine, I shall make this quick and painless for us both. You present as a voe, but you're actually a vai." But quickly earned a sharp slap on the shoulder from her wife. "Ouch, what was that for!? He asked for a direct answer!"

"I don't care! I don't ever want to hear you say it that way ever again! How would you like it if I said that you may look like a woman, but you're really a man!? We both know that's not true and you getting me pregnant doesn't change that either!" She was so upset, that she had tears in her eyes.

And the Hylian was beginning to wonder if he had been brought to a mad house. Everything that had led up to this point and now this nonsense? A woman getting another woman pregnant? That's crazy… It's just not possible, a man had to be involved.

...Ny..M..Ph... Distorted words echoed briefly with a flickering image of a young man he could not put a name to.

Link winced from a sudden strong cramp and pressed a hand to his pelvis. Much like dropping a torch in an autumn grassland, a blazing heat spread through his body rapidly. With the daunting return of the prickling at the back of his neck, becoming an itch that bloomed across his back.

No… no, no, not again! Eyes widening in abrupt anxiety, but the vertigo was already affecting him and things were quickly beginning to fade at the edges. He knew someone had grabbed him, possibly picked him up, though if they spoke, he heard nothing. Nothing but the pounding of a drum.

What is happening to me? Someone tell me! Tell me what I have to do, tell me what I need…

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

The cooling water felt wonderful on his burning skin, he laid there for a few moments. Though Link nearly jumped from the tub when he opened his eyes to find the married couple looking down at him. Still feeling unsteady from the unfamiliar sensations coursing through his body, he managed to speak. [How long…?]

"About an hour, shortest time yet. I'm sure the blackouts will eventually stop once your shock goes away." The Gerudo was showing an odd face like that looked like pity. "Experiencing this again for the first time and having no knowledge of it at all seems to be taking quiet the toll on your mind."

[Tell me, if you know… Please, just tell me the truth. How do I fix this?]

"There is no fixing this, Link, it's a part of who you are… And there isn't much either of us can tell you, we only know the basics of how your body works. You would have to find someone that is like you or a healer that is well experienced."

[A healer won't be difficult. There are lots at the castle.]

"You mustn't! You can't go around Hyrule openly speaking of this to just anyone! It must be done in secret."

[Why?]

"Because the Hylians are the most barbaric of all people when it comes to our unique bodies… They are either too frightened or forcing their beliefs onto others. A hundred years is a long time for most races and during times of strife, terrible people do terrifying things. I do not know all the reasons nor stories, but I know for a fact that the current mask used to hide their crimes is Ganon's Blight."

[Wait, you're saying that the people that become sick with the fever that is spreading across the land, aren't sick. But going through- through whatever this is, what I'm experiencing?]

"Yes, I am certain that there is likely no sickness. These people were out there all along, but with the monsters disappearing, there is no other way to hide the killing. I personally have been at the end of that blade many times throughout my life and if not for-" Her eyes left him to look at the Sheikah for the briefest of moments, "for the love of my life. I would have been dead a long time ago."

[But many have been saved, they have been brought to a safe zone for treatments. I've saved many myself.]

"Treatments or experiments?" She asked sadly, unable to look him in the eye.

The question made ice grasp around his heart. He had saved them, he had made sure that they were taken to a safe place. Right now there were the best healers tending to the sick, working with researchers to develop treatments and knights; that he personally trained, to protect them all. Link shouldn't have any doubt about this and yet here he was beginning to question what he has been told.

If they were all really like him, in this state and not plagued by the remaining taint. Then were anyone of them truly safe, how many lives did he place in harm's way? Oh Hylia. Does the Princess know? Is she the one looking over the quarantined, making the decisions? Or is it someone working in the dark behind all our backs?

[How long does this state last?] Trying to stay calm and work through this. First Link needed all the information he could get, if he charged in without a plan. The perpetrator could do something drastic to cover their tracks. He didn't want to lose any more innocent lives, not after all the hard work and suffering he endured to save this land.

"A day or two from the few I have heard about."

[Tell me everything that you know about people like us, all the differences and little things matter.]

"Why suddenly so serious?"

[Because if there truly is no sickness spreading through the land and it is nothing but a made-up plan to take advantage of those suffering! Then I am going to right the wrong I have caused and make the ones responsible pay for their crimes in full.] Link clenched his teeth together and just about growled in furry. If someone dare think that he could be used like a puppet to bring harm to the innocent, they were sorely mistaken.

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

So there are women capable of conceiving a child with another woman, like a man could, but unlike a man. They still look and feel like a woman in every way. Consequently, they are unable to bear a child themselves.

The Gerudo culture apparently has the highest regard for women like this. The closet expression of what women like this are called in his language, is Pure Blood. In the ancient history of their people, there were never any men born among them nor was there ever a need for men. Pure bloods were almost as abundant as regular women and it was over great lapses of time did the pure bloods slowly fade out. A male outsider was more fertile than a pure blood and thus was easier to have children with. Sometime long after, it was more common to marry outsiders, a rare occasion would happen with the birth of a Gerudo male.

On top of all that, people like a pure blood Gerudo and people like himself react strongly one another. Normally the pure blood's intentions are triggered by the other, first by scent and then touch or sound. However, these intentions are entirely instinctual and are no means consensual to either party. Accidental crossing of paths in Link's state often leaves both people in an element of deep anguish with an unwanted soul bond.

While neither of them had information on Rito, Goron or Zora. Sheikah are apparently very similar to Hylians, but Link was unable to get anything more than that. He might not have any choice but to ask Impa as she was the only one likely to both know and share those kinds of secrets.

Then there was what he was told about himself. None of anything he had learned had been easy to take in and self-acceptance was something else altogether. The Sheikah healer had theorized that due to the high stress and grave wounds that he has continuously sustained over the years, his body repressed its full capability till now in order to focus on staying healthy. But… no matter how much he looked, from his shoulders down to his feet, he was a man. Sure, he was not as broad shouldered as some and not noticeably as stocky with muscle, but leaner was better when you were looking for more dexterity.

I doubt that you explored your body completely.

The Gerudo's taunt came back to team up with doubt as he spread his left hand over his abdomen. What was there to explore, he could see everything clearly. He had penis and a set of testicles just like all the other men.

or had someone do it for you.

He shook his head to chase off those words. So what if he had never lain with anyone, he wasn't interested in it or anyone at this point in his life. Nor did his curiosity branch as far as to try and explore himself physically. There were plenty of other things he had to get done than to shut himself up in his room. Unlike some of his knights in training, whom he has caught in places around the castle alone or with another.

I really don't need to remember the things I've found people doing in places they shouldn't….

Link let himself slide down to dunk his head underneath the cold water. This was another thing about his body, this fever of sorts that lasted a day or so. It had been described to him in a simple, yet animalistic term. His state of extreme warmth, disorientation of the mind, heightened senses and unknown urges was bluntly titled; 'in heat'. According to what he understood, this would likely happen every month and would change his body odour to boldly announce to everyone within sniffing distance that he was fertile.

Makes me sound like a dog…

At least cool water helped take the edge off and clear his head a little. When finally came up for air and sat upright once more, he found himself staring at his legs. Discovering himself strangely hesitant, Link couldn't recall the last time that he felt this way about anything. It was his own body, there was nothing to be unsure about, yet here was this small feeling of anxiety. He clenched his teeth in frustration when his legs twitched from his own hands being rested upon them.

Pull yourself together.

If he wanted to end this, to have proof that it wasn't true, he would have to feel for himself. A place that he couldn't see clearly and never paid much attention too. Behind his genitals, underneath the pelvis.

Lifting his right hand, Link lightly touched the lower point of his inner thigh and feeling the firm area as he carefully came forward. It kind of tickled, but his body was so tense that he didn't even titter. However, when he reached behind his scrotum, his whole body gave a jolt and he pulled his hand away. Even his heart quickened from surprise.

I don't think I felt anything. Trying to reassure himself and took a deep breath to slow his heart down, not wanting to freak out for no reason.

Returning his fingers to where they were, resisting the reflex to pull away when his body jolted again. Waiting a moment before thinking over the feeling, it was like a cut without the pain. Flinching yet again when he slipped a finger just past the opening of the cut, the flesh underneath was almost plush to the touch. It reminded him of the backside of his bottom lip.

All the way to his knuckle, unable to go further and still the passage continued on. It was a phantom sensation, feeling slight pressure and yet unable to relate that it was a part of him. The touch of the wound felt real around his finger, but the flesh didn't belong to him, it was like it was someone else. Adding pressure to feel more clearly had an unforeseen repercussion.

"Ngh!" A pathetic excuse of a gasp passed his lungs quickly as he was being run over by a tidal wave of revived senses. Like being struck by lightning, his nerves were tingling all over his body. At first it was refreshingly chilling before the blooming burst of heat from his lower hips.

By the time his mind cleared from the shock, Link realized that he was soundlessly struggling to breathe. His legs trembling and body shaking uncontrollably as his core pulsed strongly to the rhythm of his heart. On the surface, it felt as though his insides were twisting, but under his hand he knew that they were twitching.

Half from anger, half from something else, Link ripped his hand away. Needing something to ground himself to, both hands grasped desperately to the edge of the wooden walls of the tub. But his body only seemed to retaliate against him more, leaving this ghost like feeling that his finger was still there.

Just stop already, nothing is there! He cried out, trying to drown out images slowly coming forth. Too twisted to be a memory. That's not what I want! Stop! Don't think about that!

Link forced himself back under the water and held himself there as long as he could, till he had to gasp for air. Then pushed himself back under, trying to clear his head and distract himself from the truth. Having learned what he had been needing, what he had been reaching out for. He may not want it, but his body did. Here, here, here his body seemed to beg as it throbbed.

It was true. While he had never touched a woman, he little doubt that what was there was not much different. There was a passageway that led to a womb, his womb. He could be impregnated, grow and birth a child.

Pregnant. Blue light flashed across his skin as his soul manifested itself, triggered by his heightened emotions.

Link could become pregnant with another man's child, possibly a woman's too if she was able. He wanted to believe that it was panic and fear he was experiencing, not excitement and joy. No, it was more logical for man to freak out and breakdown in a situation like this.

The stinging of his eyes had to be from terror, from a nightmare that he had awoken to. Link wasn't built to be a mother, he was built to be a killer.

His touch wasn't gentle, it was rough.

His heart wasn't compassionate, it was militant.

His soul wasn't pure, it was blood stained.

Submerged and curled up at the bottom of the bath, hands grasping painfully at the sides of his head. He couldn't allow himself to be setback by something like this, he had a wrong to right, a duty to fulfil. Link then repeated a mantra that he had used many times before Calamity Ganon was defeated.

My will and mind are of the people, the innocent. My body is theirs to guide. I am not a person. I am a weapon. I am a shield. My flesh and bones can be repaired. I require nothing that does not suit my mission. I will fulfil my goal by any means necessary.

I am not a person. I am a weapon. I am a shield. I am the Divine Beast of Hyrule.

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

The sun was a few hours from setting as Link stepped out from the cabin and according to his map it was a little ways west of Dalite Forest. Not that far off from where he collapsed and was found. He was certain that he could make it to the stables before night fall.

"Here, take this with you." The Sheikah woman offered a small bundle, that was no doubtably food. He gave a nod of thanks and tied it to his belt. Then she softly added with a concerned frown. "Are you going to be okay?"

[I'm fine, I'm familiar with the signs and I'll learn how to handle them.]

"He'll be able to take care of himself." The Gerudo piped in from the doorway, still uneasy about him walking away and knowing their whereabouts. Originally she was going to blindfold him and drag him far from her property. But that was before gaining him as brother-in-arms, she wouldn't go as far to call him an ally yet. Not knowing what he would honour more, the new council and Princess Zelda or their kin suffering in the shadows.

Link really didn't know what else he could do at this point to prove his loyalty, he had already given them all the information on how to contact him discreetly if they needed him. No one at the castle would think anything of it if he went off duty for a day or two. Zelda was practically begging him to take some days off from training the last time it had been brought up.

[I do have one question that went unanswered.]

"You're not getting either of our names."

[Not that, something I asked your wife. Could you relay the question for me?]

"We'll see, what is it?"

[Why did your soul change colours?] He was not expecting the Gerudo to smirk at him in amusement, but did not express any reaction to further please her.

"That memory loss must be a real big embarrassment, just how much did you lose?" But her teasing was cut short by the scowl that came from her wife and recomposed herself, though was still clearly pouting. "He wants you to answer his question on why your soul changed colours last night."

"Huh? Oh, that!" She smiled brightly at the Hylian warrior, possibly too much excitement than Link could handle right now. "That was because the one I am soul bound to was close by, we are marked by sharing colours and patterns. The stronger your bond the more you take in from your partner-" She had much more to share, but Link raised a hand to stop her.

[Thanks. I don't need to know all the details, it's a marriage thing. I got it.]

"Um?" Looking away for a translation only to find her wife shaking her head and returning inside. Confused and turns to find that Link had vanished. "…I almost hate my people's enhanced clothing some days."

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

While the monster was no Octorok, it certainly had been a problem. And the people had been right to call for his aid instead of the Hylian Guard. There was no doubt that the land based warriors would have either drowned or been forced to retreat.

Coming to the surface, just off the coast of Aris Beach, Sidon carried two of their wounded that were left unable to swim. They weren't too far off from Lurelin Village, the proper medical equipment and other supplies had been left there before the battle. The wounded will make it.

"Prince Sidon." Revan called to him, a bit battle worn himself and seemingly irritated. "Allow us to carry the wounded back, the captain has gone AWOL again."

Sidon sighed softly, it wasn't direct because he was the prince, but he knew that this soldier was asking for help. The captain of the royal guard and army was rather young for the position, often doing irresponsible things. Such as this, the battle was won and the captain could be collecting a trophy or something as silly as treasure hunting.

"I understand, I shall look for him. Do not wait for me, I want the wounded seen to at once." Carefully passing on the two unconscious zora to Revan and another capable soldier. Then allowed himself to sink back into the ocean below, before swiftly swimming off towards the battlefield.

The scent of blood was still heavy in the water, even with the strong current pulling it back out into the vast open sea. Overlooking the area from above, the neighbouring sea life was already helping themselves to the free meal. The schools of fish obstructed most of the view so he swam in for a closer look. Most of the smaller species took off from his approach, clearing the massive corpse of the creature they had slain.

But no sign of- Eyes suddenly locking onto a black tail darting off into cliff like rock formations just beyond the site. Sidon quickly pursued not wanting to lose sight of him for too long. Only to barely see him dive down over a ledge as the prince twisted around the corner.

"Captain Bazz!" He called out, not wanting this to turn into a long game of chase. Sadly, his loud voice was not as effective underwater as it was above and his call went unheard. A game of chase it is…

Diving and climbing over reefs and rock formations. Bazz was surprisingly nimble with quick turns and finding places to slip through the rocks, with Sidon's size it was not so easy. More than once underestimating his space or over powering his strokes left him with no choice, but to twist last minute and propel off the rocks. Sometimes it just enough to scrape by, others he ended up going the wrong direction altogether.

Bazz was certainly making it rather hard for the prince to keep his title of the fastest swimmer of Zora's Domain. Always leaving just the slimiest sights of his black tail disappearing from sight, Sidon had yet to see anything else. It almost felt as though he was being taunted.

Till the larger zora finally closed the gap and grasped the tail before Bazz ducked around another corner. Possibly a little too strongly than he should have, it was a semi sensitive area, but did not let got when the other fought back.

"No, I do believe that is enough fooling around, Captain Bazz…" Sidon trailed off when he yanked the man by his head fin from around the rock wall. Only there was no body attached to said head and said head was no zora. It was a twilight shark. While Sidon felt somewhat humiliated, he could see how he had mistaken the shark's black and grey spotted tail for a zora fin.

"Terribly sorry, I mistook you for someone. I hope I didn't give you too much of a fright, little one." And let the shark go, watching as it darted away. Then he chuckled. "Though, this would be a story Link would enjoy I'm sure."

Now it was time to find the real Bazz. Swimming back to the surface to find out just how far he had been led astray, Sidon was quite astonished where he ended up. If he recognized the land formation correctly, it was Ibara Butte, which meant that he was sitting in the waters just off of the Komo Shoreline. Not wanting to waste any more time, Sidon dived under the waves and made his way back towards Aris Beach, hoping to spot the man on the way there.

But just as he was passing Martha's Landing, Sidon felt faint spark. It startled him so badly that he stopped and drew his sword as he looked for the threat. However, he saw nothing that could have been the source and it seemed to have vanished- there it is again!

Quickly realizing that he only felt the sensation when he was looking directly at the coast. Sidon had never felt something quite like this before, while mildly reminding him of a shock arrow, it was no way near as powerful. His curiosity had been captured and he followed the weak electric feeling.

At first was like being pulled along by a single line of thread, but it gradually became rope. He lost it a couple times, having to stop and spin around before found it again. It almost felt like it was alive in a sense, a spirit maybe? With the spark now much stronger, it was more of an electrical current, while it irritated him, it did not hurt.

Sidon was probably searching for a good half hour before he found the source. An entrance in the large coral reef, he was almost too big to fit, his armour scraping along the walls. It turned out to be a grotto, the ceiling had gaps big enough for his hands to fit through scattered all over, plant life of all sorts and colours painted the space. He was so distracted by the wonderful little world that he had found that he failed to realize that he was not the only one here.

"I thought I told you that I wanted to be left alone! I am trying to pray! Now do not make me tell you again or are you going to make your Prie–" Their eyes met and all became silent.

Sidon wasn't sure what to say, he was awestruck. Here was a woman like none that he had never laid eyes upon before sitting in the bed of sea grass. Her skin shimmering as though it were made of silver, embedded with pale sapphires of varying sizes, eyes made of amethyst. Her tail fin was short as a child's, though round like a clam shell and atop her head many thin, long fins that reminded him of locks of hair.

She wore a decorative head piece made of ivory beads, carved with unfamiliar designs and cut rubies. Her garment was of deep crimson, loosely draped over her front, held up by an assortment of jewellery to match her headdress.

Realizing that he had been rudely gawking, he sheathed his blade and raised his hands to show he meant no harm. "F-forgive me, I did not mean to stare nor trouble you miss!"

"You have not troubled me, stare as much as you wish…" The silver zora seemed to be in some sort of shock, perhaps she had never seen a red zora before? After a moment she got up and swam a little closer to him, a curious yet excited look beginning to show. "How… How did you find me? This place is well hidden and only one man knows this location."

"I can't quite explain it myself, I felt drawn here. Like there was energy calling out to me. Ridiculous, I know."

"By Prima." She said breathlessly, grasping her pounding heart with both hands, suddenly overwhelmed with joy. "You have answered my prayers, a saviour and beyond words I can express, you have given one of lineage."

"Saviour, me? I will offer whatever aid I am able, but I am afraid that I do not understand. Are you in a state of peril?"

"Me and what is left of my people. Many are wounded and sick, we have been swimming for so long I am not sure how many of us will make it through the month." Her glow beginning to dwindle with the thought of death approaching.

Now, he couldn't have that and determined to make the young lady smile once more, he perked up. "Fret not, Princess. Your people shall endure!" Sidon gave her his renowned, bright smile and placed a hand upon his heart. "I, Prince Sidon of Zora's Domain, welcome you and your people. I offer refuge and perhaps you could in kind tell the King of your journey."

It certainly did the trick and she was once more full of delight. "Yes, of course! Thank you for your generosity, your grace."

"Think nothing of it, it is not every day that you hear of other Zora Kingdoms! Let alone meet one quite so unique, if I may be so bold. The silver is lovely."

"U-unique? Me?" Her spotted cheeks flushing pink. "Oh, no not at all. All of our people are silver, red is far more worthy of praise. Red is the colour favoured by Prima."

"Prima?"

"They are the Deity we worship."

"That is quite the flattery you give me, but I am in no way Godlike. I am merely a humble Prince." Sidon chuckled and then remembered that he had yet to learn her name. "May I have the honour of knowing your name Princess?"

"Oh! Um, Yanun… But you may call me whatever you wish, your grace."

"Please, call me Prince Sidon. A Princess should not have to address another of the same stature as though I am above you." He then gave a polite bow of his head. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Princess Yanun."