Chapter 4: Dampening Hopes
"Come with us. You'll be safe."
The voice came from a woman with an evil smile, a bloodied blade in one hand, the other offered towards him.
The boy shook his head quickly, fearfully, before turning to the his home.
The boy was too young to comprehend the fact that he should be running away, as far as he could. He could only think of how home was safe. Home was where his mother would cook meals and his father would tuck him into bed, telling stories of heroes long ago.
He opened the door, and froze in place as he came upon the gruesome sight. Blood pooled on the floor, the bodies laying on the floor side by side. The evil men looked at him with vicious scarlet eyes, burning forever into the boy's mind.
"You'll never escape."
Link jolted awake, panting heavily. A splitting headache was making it extremely difficult for him to focus. His eyesight was failing him, everything around him blurry and dark.
Words rocketed about in his mind, though he forced them, and any thoughts, out of his mind.
He drew a few deep, calming breaths to compose himself. Don't think about it. Just breath. Focus on breathing…
"An external force seems to have interrupted your sleep," Fi stated in the darkness.
Don't remind me… Link drew in another calming breath.
"Your heart rate spiked during exposure," Fi observed. "I suggest-"
That's enough, Fi! Link could already feel the calm he had found slipping away, his breathing once again quickening, shifting to a minor panic attack.
There was complete silence in the room besides the breathing of the two other knights… and Link's own panicked breaths, of course.
Link's vision became clearer after a few moments of blinking away the bleariness. The walls felt as if they were closing in. His eyes would not receive the moonlight filtering through the curtains, the darkness instead reminding him of the-
No! Link scolded himself, forcing himself to breath slower.
I need to get out of here. Fresh air and the outdoors would jolt him out of the past. I need out. He stood, hastily making his way to the door, purposefully leaving the sword beside his bed.
"Are you avoiding this topic for a specific purpose?" Fi asked, stopping Link in his tracks.
Yes. Link replied, mentally groaning.
"What is that specific purpose?"
Link drew in a deep breath, not knowing how to respond.
"Could it be that fear inhibits your speaking capabilities about said topic?"
I already told you that I don't want to talk about it, Link thought firmly. He walked the final length between himself and the door, opening it as silently as possible.
The door swung out to the faintly illuminated Zora's Domain. Glowing stone was beneath his feet, on the walls, in the ceiling… Link remembered how awed he'd been as a child, when he'd first seen the domain at night.
"I must admit that I was not aware that you were here."
Link whirled around to the location of the voice, and there stood Princess Mipha, sitting down upon a nearby bench.
"Princess," Link greeted.
Mipha smiled gently. "You know that you don't have to call me that, Link."
I need something normal, Mipha! Link's mind screamed. Can't I at least address you by your title?
Link decided that to actually voice those thoughts would be extremely rude.
At his silence, Princess Mipha stood up. "So what is it that brings you to the domain?" It was then that the Zora princess interrupted herself with a chuckle. "And in the Royal Guard's uniform, which I recall you… what was the word that you used?"
"Despise," Link said, deadpan.
"Ah, yes," Princess Mipha said, nodding.
"It is… quite a long story, Princess Mipha," Link said. He was especially glad that he had left the Master Sword inside - Princess Mipha would find out eventually, of course, but she didn't have to know yet.
The Zora princess frowned slightly. "Is there something wrong?"
Link merely shook his head, forcing a small smile. If it was an injury, he would gladly tell her, but there were some wounds that couldn't be healed from the outside.
One week later...
Mipha kneeled atop the waterfall, watching her young brother, Prince Sidon, play and splash about with his friends, far below.
She turned her gaze to the horizon. She could feel darkness brewing, like a stormy cloud before it finally bursts. This strange anxiety in her heart… she did not understand it.
Mipha had been alive for around fifty years, and though that was extremely young for a Zora, Mipha had learned much.
However, despite her knowledge, she could only guess that the darkness on the horizon was this "Calamity Ganon" that had been spoken of much in the past fifteen years.
She found it saddening that Link, and so many others, had to grow up with such a darkness. He had seen much shadow in his life so far, and had matured and grown to withstand horrors some people couldn't even fathom.
Mipha wondered if the man had felt a single moment of peace in his entire life. It brought her great sorrow to think that the one whom she had given her heart to was constantly suffering.
"Princess Mipha," A voice said from behind Mipha, pulling the Zora out of her stupor. Mipha turned her head, tightening her grip on her trident, before relaxing at the sight of the newcomer.
"Princess Zelda," Mipha greeted with a soft smile. Mipha had expected this visit since the letter, which had filled her in on the subject of this meeting.
"I apologize if I interrupted anything," Zelda said with an apologetic smile. "I was told I could find you here."
"Yes," Mipha said, turning back to face the sky. "It is one of my favorite places." One can see the whole of the domain from here.
"It is quite beautiful," Zelda agreed, who had made her way to Mipha's side. "I expect you know what I'm here for?"
Mipha turned to Zelda and smiled. "The Divine Beast, Vah Ruta. You need someone to pilot it, and I am more than willing to do so."
Mipha felt that, had anyone else been chosen, she would've fought to pilot the beast herself. She had felt a… connection to it from the first moment she saw it. She had felt that, if she did not do it, she would regret it forever.
Zelda smiled. "Thank you, Mipha."
Mipha tilted her head with a sincere smile. "It is my pleasure, Princess." Mipha stood and looked to Zelda curiously, clutching her trident tightly. "May I ask who the other chosen champions are?"
Zelda nodded. "The champion of Medoh is Revali of the Rito. He is the only one we've had the opportunity of reaching other than you as of now, and he accepted. The others planned are Lady Urbosa of the Gerudo, for Naboris, Daruk of the Goron, for Rudania, and…" Zelda trailed off.
Mipha was confused. Were there not four Divine Beasts? Why, if there was a fifth, then it could only be the bearer of the sword that seals the darkness.
Mipha gasped softly in realization. "The sword has been drawn?"
Zelda gave Mipha a confused look. "I thought that you had been told."
"Why would that be so?" Mipha asked.
"My father…" Zelda began slowly, as if trying to phrase it properly. "My father sent him to deliver your letter. For publicity."
"I'm afraid that the messenger delivered it to King Dorephan, who then gave it to me," Mipha said with a slight shake of her head. "I did not have the opportunity to meet him."
Zelda sighed. "That defeats the purpose of publicity if he merely hid the whole time. However, if my memory serves me right, he has visited the domain many times before," The princess added helpfully.
"Perhaps I'll recognize the name," Mipha suggested.
Zelda looked thoughtful for a moment. "If I recall correctly, his name was… Sir Link Equitem."
Mipha sucked in a surprised breath. No, I must be hearing wrong. The goddesses would not do such a thing to one that has already suffered so much.
"Have you met him, then?" Zelda asked.
Mipha hesitated. "I…"
"Mipha!" A voice echoed from the bottom of the waterfall.
Mipha looked down, and there was Sidon, looking up at her. She could see the colorful blurs that were his friends swimming away, answering the calls of their parents.
"Sidon! Do you want to come on up here?" Mipha called.
"Mipha, isn't he still too young to swim up this big waterfall?" Zelda inquired.
Mipha stepped forward before glancing at the princess. "One day, Princess… I must leave him," Mipha said softly. "To face my fate with Ruta." She smiled reassuringly, before proceeding to jump into the waterfall's stream of quick water.
She surfed downward with ease, from her years of experience, before diving to skip the last stretch with practiced grace.
She treaded water silently as she turned towards her brother, the pounding of the waterfall roaring and echoing around them.
"Join me," Mipha said with an inviting smile. Sidon paddled slowly towards her. "We'll go together so you can get a feel for it."
Sidon grabbed onto her back, holding tightly.
"Are you ready?" Mipha asked gently.
Sidon nodded, albeit nervously.
"Then let's go!"
Zelda watched in awe as Mipha swam up the waterfall as if it was no more than swimming down the stream of a slow moving river. The young Prince Sidon was grinning and laughing jovially. Mipha made it to the top in seconds, launching out and landing with cat-like grace.
Sidon released her hand and Mipha knelt down, touching her hand to his face. Zelda felt a bit uncomfortable, as this seemed like a personal interaction. "Sweet Sidon. Should fate ever part us, I'm counting on you to protect our beloved home from harm," Mipha said solemnly. "Can you do that for me?"
Sidon nodded slowly.
Mipha smiled sincerely. "I believe in you." The sadness vanished in an instant. "Now, shall we try one more time?"
Sidon grinned, revealing his sharp teeth, and nodded excitedly.
Mipha laughed, and Sidon joined along. However, in their joy, Zelda couldn't help feeling worried… Mipha had spoken as if… she knew that darkness was approaching - that some shadowy outcome was upon them…
Zelda shook her head. She was overthinking things. She would want to ask her brother in case anything bad happened - after all, they were going up against the incarnation of evil.
But… if Zelda didn't unlock her powers… no death could be more certain.
I am so mad at myself right now. I had almost finished this whole reply, as well as the grammar check and such, but then I HAD to close out as I was changing tabs! Gosh darn it, Ari! Why do you always ruin everything?!
So, if you notice any errors (I'm too lazy to go through it again, and I need to update the story today), please do point them out! I recall fixing a few sentences that didn't make sense and such, so, if you saw/see anything, please tell me!
We've got some juicy details, in this chapter! And who agrees that baby Sidon is adorable? Nobody? Oh, come on! I know there are some Sidon fangirls out there!
I think it's time to reveal what the original translation for Link's surname is. Are you ready for this EPIC-NESS?! Well... you'll have to work for it! First, you have to search "translate English to Latin" in your search engine. Enter the word "horseman." You're welcome.
Sorry if your reply is shorter in this draft of the Author's Note. I'm being lazy about it. Anyway, onto the replies! (The secret review phrase is water. Are you seeing a theme yet with these Zora's Domain chapters?)
bladeofthebookworms: It is truly a wonderful phrase. It is also one of the few Spanish phrases I know off the top of my head. But now I have Google translate, so... soy un sandwich. There we go! I can speak Spanish! MAGIC! I'm pretty sure that if I drew the Master Sword, I would look around, put it back, and walk away like nothing happened (XD). Thank you for your support!
aso083: Hey! Do not underestimate the power of dehydration! It can kill you with heat stroke! ...This is totally some sort of new pokemon I just invented. ANYWAY, I'm getting off topic (as per usual). HEY! I can see you laughing! Don't judge the last names!
AddyBOTWfan13: I actually like him, too! He's so cocky and infuriating that it's great! He has a well developed personality. I can see him helping an elderly woman across the street with his chest puffed out. He's not bad like most people think! He's just... prideful. To be fair, Fi was in BoTW for a small bit of that last memory. I remember falling off the couch and screaming at my brother, and he was like "What the heck is wrong with you?" But then he saw it, too, and we both started theorizing things and nonsense. Good times. I still wish Fi played a bigger role, though. I'm so glad that you look forward to this! Wha- no, that wasn't a Zelda quote. Obviously, Zelda was the one that quoted me. Duh. XD
MeaninglessMayhem: ...I seriously want to do that, now. I'll have to see where I can fit it in. XD
notaname (sure it is! ...wait... I made that joke last time): Secret review phrase can be used however you want! You can hide it in the review, you can state it - as that one saying goes, "Whatever floats your boat." I couldn't do a ton of stringing together in the last one because it was already finished when you wrote your review. However, I have been working on it in these later chapters! Weekends? Hmm... I'll see what I can do, but for now, it seems that Mondays have been working the best for me. We'll see what happens! The Zelda in Smash Ultimate is the princess from A Link Between Worlds/A Link to the Past... I think. I could be wrong. When they revealed Smash Ultimate (after the thirty second snipit trailer), I believe they said that yes, they chose the Zelda they used because the one from BoTW is not much of a fighter, what with being scholarly and all. I also think they didn't want to have to make a new move set, animations and all, that would actually fit BoTW Zelda. Like I said before, though, I could be wrong. I'm not an expert (XD). I hope you enjoy the future chapters!
And that's everything! I thank you all for all of your support!
Sincerely (Meh...),
Ari