Scattering petals

Link & Zelda

Chapter 26: Zora decree

When Princess Mipha of the Zora shall take a decision that could alter Hyrule's fate


Author's note: Happy new year, my beloved readers! May 2023 bring us health, love and new goals to achieve. Meanwhile, let's continue with the story, shall we?


Zelda would have never imagined a fish-like creature could be so adorable. She had never been one to drool over a newborn baby or similar. On another occasion, she would just have ignored the sight and, if demanded of her, care to drop a gracious compliment for the creature. Nothing more.

But Prince Sidon's round cheeks were too cuddly to resist the warm-like sensation that filled one's chest whenever witnessing a tender view. Furthermore, he grinned widely as soon as he spotted the princess's admiration. Not only was he a precious little zora but also a pure being of humble demeanour. Plus, the feathery accessories on top of his head swung in a funny way every time he paced forward to try and attack his opponent. He had been 'practising' his spear skills with his own appointed guard and Link for almost half an hour now. One could judge only by the sight of it that the childish prince was harmless. His fighting basics, however, showed that he already aspired to become a great warrior. Child's game aside, obviously.

Meanwhile, Zelda and Mipha stood by the fountain in the main square, watching carefully the boys' fake battle.

"Prince Sidon is obviously her sister's brother." The hylian princess complimented, not managing to get much more small talk beside the occasional commentaries.

Princess Mipha was rather reserved. Her shy-like behaviour made it difficult to read her emotions. A tint of cordiality stained her grateful smiles with a hint of coldness, causing Zelda to feel emotionally distant from the Zora heiress. It was a downside as she needed all of her convincing skills to achieve the domain's implication in choosing a Champion for their representation. To be honest, the hylian princess wasn't sure about the mission's process. While King Dorephan had authorised a visit to divine beast Vah Ruta, he hadn't shown the intention to assign a pilot for Hyrule's alliance against The Calamity. Yet, as Link would add. He, on the other hand, was determined to achieve their purpose. And, furthermore, was confident about Mipha's will to participate in the war.

Seeing her untroubled form limited Zelda's imagination about the Zora princess on the battlefield. She reminded her of calm waters, unbothered in the shallow though cluelessly deep before the spectator's sight. As much as she tried, her mind couldn't picture a minimum expression of violence in her despite the Zora spear she carried. In her opinion, the healer role fit her more accordingly. Not just because of her magic. It was her reassuring appearance and welcoming hands, always happy to attend to whoever found in need of it. Not a single sign of tiredness ever crossed her ideal facade. She was fit to inherit the domain's throne.

If Zelda possessed a whole inch of Mipha's talent in handling the sealing magic, she would turn out as the most confident person in the world. Deep down, she understood why King Dorephan wasn't willing to put his heirs' life in danger. Both were a valuable part of the amphibious kingdom that assured a brighter future for the Zora society. But that wouldn't be possible if Calamity Ganon and his malice achieved victory over Hyrule. Then, no rulership would be left to uphold. That was why Zelda needed to make them join the alliance. And she had a lot of points in her favour:

First of all, Vah Ruta was fully functional. While other divine Beasts such as Rudania and Naboris had required a thorough examination, the elephant-like machine was already prepared to battle. All of its combat functions were unlocked and Princess Mipha was an excellent pilot. Ancient technology was always a positive reinforcement to Hyrule's crown.

Second of all, despite not having heard Mipha express it for herself, Link assured she was elated to become the last champion. If there was one being opposed to her participation, it was her father, King Dorephan. The Zora princess, apparently, had been trained in the art of war all of her life. Her fighting skills were known all around the domain so she was more than enough to fit the representative's role. Who better than the heiress to Zora's domain to show leadership and bravery during times of calamity? Accepting the pivotal task would improve the chances to win against Ganon and earn respect among Hyrule. Even as an exclusively political move, aiding King Rhoam was a promising strategy for the domain's future. Improving communications, augmenting the trading activity, fomenting good reputation… It would suppose the beginning of a brighter era for everyone, not just central Hyrule and its allies. Zora took pride in a strong sense of duty and respect for the history, laws, and leadership of their people. They do not often stray far from water, so interaction with other races tended to be limited. Typically, the only Hylians allowed in this central hub were official messengers of the Hyrulean royal family such as Link's father. That could change now thanks to their cooperation. Though Zelda knew beforehand that those were not the hidden reasons why Mipha's father denied her an active role as champion in the war. It was a personal matter. That was an issue more complicated to solve. There wasn't much a kingdom could offer in exchange for endangering an heir's life. That was the part Princess Zelda still had to figure out. There had to be something she could do to make King Dorephan change his mind…

"Big bad Sidon is after you, Linny!" One of the female Zora yelled out suddenly, causing the priestess to raise her eyes back to the improvised battlefield. That nickname…?!

Apparently, the chosen hero was more familiar with the Zora people than she already believed. Being a close friend to Mipha was already enough of a surprise but as much as she tried, Zelda couldn't help but find herself astonished upon each revelation. Even Sidon interacted with all of his trust in Link, allowing him to raise him up from the floor from time to time.

Either way, she acted as formally as instructed for a princess and made a reminder to tease her knight about the nickname later in private.

"He is truly determined." Mipha commented out of nowhere. Her soft voice turned the sudden intervention into a mere embrace in the form of words. Zelda couldn't miss the way she looked at Link. "One can never guess what destiny intends us to become. But Link, instead, looks like he has been prepared to face adversity for his whole life. To think it was just a few years ago when he was just a careless child..."

Right. Time went by differently for the zora race. Their extensive lifespan gifted them with a unique way to sense time's passing. Despite that, Princess Mipha seemed to recall vividly those memories alongside Link. It was obvious that she treasured the childhood moments she spent with the hylian hero. Quite an uncommon trait since it was common for the species to lose track of time. But her knight was valuable for the Zora Princess. As if the past scene she had witnessed hadn't been enough, the current situation now showed solid proof.

In fact, Mipha's glance towards him was filled with complicity. Full of love.

And, to be honest, Link wasn't making it difficult to awaken those thoughts within the pair of princesses. Showing his talent in handling kids was an excellent, though unintended strategy. Sidon adored him. And he let his softer side show among the playful training they were performing. The age gap, or more like the size difference, turned the view into a touching scene. Especially when Link's big hands caught the little Zora prince and lifted him up effortlessly. The sound of his laugh too was a manly though tender sound that caused Zelda to let out a sigh.

If the hylian princess could see through Mipha's eyes, she would realise that the Zora heiress was also aware of the feelings blossoming inside her. The love for the boy was, perhaps, a fact that bonded them closer than their future in common: wearing the crown and ruling their respective lands. It wasn't appropriate, however, for neither of them nor the cause Hyrule pursued. The romantic feelings, after all, turned them into direct rivals for the object of their affection. There was no way it could be used as a connection to convince Zora's domain to cooperate in the war, was it?

No matter the answer to it, the strategy was clear: Zelda needed to achieve Mipha's agreement on becoming a pilot and, later, ask for King Dorephan's blessing. But the decision had to be made by the person in question first. Only then, the situation would convince the Zora's monarch into accepting the initial proposal.

It would be a major success in Princess Zelda's account. It could buy her some time to remain unbothered. All in all would result in more effective praying and, as a result, bigger possibilities to awaken at once her sealing powers. It all was clear in the princess's mind but much more complicated in bringing the plan to life according to her wishes. At that moment, she decided to continue the small talk about a distant topic, something casual. Not much casually, the focus of the next sentence was Link again.

"He was born to become Hylia's chosen one." The hylian princess assured, agreeing with Mipha's previous affirmation. It was true, nobody else could ever dare to take his place. "The Master Sword chose him and Hyrule needs a hero to defend the kingdom from the forces of evil. He is the ideal hylian champion-..."

Zelda would have carried on with the speech but Mipha's expression transformed all of sudden. Her calm appearance switched into a surprised one as much as her diplomatic demeanour tried to coat it. It was reflected in her eyes that she wished to speak. Some kind of doubt was clouding the way to her serene behaviour. And so, Zelda waited for the inevitable question:

"Your Highness, does that mean Link is not just your appointed knight? Will he have the 'Champion' title bestowed upon him as well?" And just like that, the topic of the conversation just couldn't have evolved into a better scenario. Zelda finally found the opportunity to talk about Vah Ruta's piloting proposal without making the topic seem forced.

"He will be promoted, yes." She confirmed.

The chosen one, the carrier of the Master Sword, the princess's appointed knight, the hylian champion... Link had become a lot of things in a fateful turn of events swiftly. Zelda couldn't imagine the burden's weight on his shoulders. If being the kingdom's princess was overwhelming sometimes for her, imagine for a common knight like him. Taking advantage of Mipha's empathic personality, the hylian princess expected her to reach the same conclusion. If she truly loved Link, her will to aid him in battle should be expressed soon. Just by the mere thought of accompanying him or showing support. Love became the main booster of decisions and impulses in society. It had to work.

"We will be fighting alongside Gerudo Spirit Urbosa, Goron Vigilance Daruk and Rito Confidence Revali." Zelda pushed further since Mipha's expression was rather still yet. "There's just a Zora representative missing."

Despite the serene facade, Princess Zelda spotted a hint of worry staining the zora's expression. As wrong as it sounded, she had accomplished causing uneasiness in Mipha. Many layers of silver jewels and cerulean stones may adorn her but it still wasn't enough to eclipse her potential as a fighter. She knew it too. The flaming cyan in her glance was undeniable.

The conversation, however, would take an unexpected turn as Mipha asked the next question:

"Do you think Sidon will ever be ready to take my place if I fall in battle?"

It was a sorrowful thought to imagine the playful prince grieving her sisters' death. But there have never been exceptions in war. Death didn't discriminate between sinners, saints, loved, abandoned, brave, cowards… Despite this fundamental truth, the out-loud reflection was shocking nonetheless. Princess Zelda listened closely and, after some moments, decided not to give a futile answer but ask another question:

"How much are you willing to risk, Mipha?" Zelda's eyes travelled back to Link, revealing unconsciously that he was the chosen one. Not Hylia's, but hers. Unluckily, the hylian princess wasn't the only one who desired the knight's heart. Mipha mimicked her and sighed while staring at the keeper of the sword. The holy princess left no place for misunderstandings.

"Becoming Vah Ruta's pilot or not, my fate is to fight for the domain's prevail. Ganon's eventual resurrection brings enemies and monsters to attack the region ever so often. As their Princess, I won't allow the zora to fight for me as I stand beside my father's throne." She explained further, now staring into Zelda's eyes with deep conviction. "Even if I don't claim the champion title, I am still determined to defend our people until my last breath."

Princess Zelda realised she had stopped breathing some seconds ago. The caught-up air finally founds its way out of the heiress' body as she tried to process Mipha's declaration. Link had been right: she was willing to fight for Hyrule's future. The main theory had been confirmed: denying the zora pilot's assignation had been all King Dorephan's doing.

So, indeed, the zora princess desired to become Divine Beast Vah Ruta's assigned champion. Zelda, however, could recognise the reason that was holding her back from speaking up: respect towards King Dorephan. As a daughter, the hylian princess had experienced feeling unsure about her own thoughts and opinions too. Deciding on a whole kingdom's system was already enough pressure. Speaking decisions like piloting a divine beast, nevertheless, was a much bigger statement. Zelda understood how intimidating that may result. Especially, if the king had already taken a decision about a certain matter beforehand. The years of experience, social status, parenthood and strict protocols in royalty were many factors that usually altered positive father-daughter communication.

Despite the resemblance of their situations, the hylian princess couldn't help but feel, once more, envious of Mipha. She had never given any reason for zora's domain to doubt her role as a future ruler while Zelda had been lashed with constant pressure about awakening the sealing powers her whole life. Furthermore, King Dorephan and Mipha got along quite well, at least in the kingdom's eyes. There were no public matters holding the zora princess back. Zelda couldn't say the same for herself. Plus, the queen's loss caused Rhoam and Zelda to grow colder while Dorephan, Sidon and Mipha had only been pushed closer to support each other at the lack of their mother figure.

Mipha's great capacity for empathising granted her the ability to read Zelda's mind. She surprised her with the next words as she read the burden Hylia had bestowed upon the holy princess.

"Worry not, Princess Zelda, for I will convince my father to allow my participation as Ruta's pilot." Mipha assured.

The asphyxiating weight on Zelda's shoulders disappeared at last. Her surprised expression caused Mipha to giggle and nod to confirm her intention. Now it was Zelda's turn to smile with relief. It took her some seconds to find her next words as the emotion clouded her judgement for a while.

"Hyrule is incredibly grateful to count on your aid, Mipha." The hylian's hand travelled to her chest as a subconscious sign that proved her sincerity. The common understanding brought the zora to hold her other hand with care. Zelda felt the need to appreciate her alliance further as it had granted her some recognition. Her strategy around the Divine Beasts and its Champions had finally come true. All nations would finally be united to fight against evil forces. "I must thank you both on the king's behalf and personally. Your contribution increases our chances against the Calamity considerably."

Zelda was now beginning to see why Link liked so much the zora princess. Her kind soul was capable of relieving any victim from harm or uneasiness through healing powers or personal attention. She couldn't tell which was the source of the soothing sensation filling her body. One thing was for sure, it was being channeled by the hold of their hands together. Having experienced such a revelation in her own skin changed her point of view about the zora heiress. Mipha could become a close friend of hers too if she was willing to share a bond with her as Link did.

"There is no better way to protect the domain rather than with Ruta's functionality." The amphibious girl continued. She had a point. If the zora race was willing to aid in the war, either way, their princess would be much safer fighting through piloting the Divine Beast.

"It is the least I can do to fulfil my duty. And hopefully, please Hylia's will by your side."

Princess Zelda guessed Mipha wasn't referring just to her company. The object of her desires was Link. And not just that. The zora princess was willing to risk her life in order to accompany Link during his fight against ancient darkness. That was an act of true love.

What Zelda didn't know yet was that her current thoughts were also a sign of devotion towards her knight. Not only because she had witnessed his happiness while staying at Zora's Domain. Also due to her predisposition to resign to her own happiness at his side if Link someday decided to reciprocate Princess Mipha's feelings for him.


Sidon was deeply merged in the dream realm when his sister finally decided to leave his side. Daybreak had yet to gift the domain with golden rays of sunlight and Mipha still hadn't gathered enough courage to have a word with her father. She couldn't delay the conversation anymore. Not only because of the kingdom's sake but also because Princess Zelda and Link were awaiting for her to make the next step in order to conclude their diplomatic mission.

Deep down, Mipha knew King Dorephan wouldn't deny her wishes. If she asked him to become one of Hyrule's Champions, he would accept. He had never been a restrictive parent to her or Sidon. She knew all of his decisions had been for the greater good, especially for his heirs. She wasn't surprised when he rejected King Rhoam's petition about piloting Divine Beast Vah Ruta. Of course, the thought of his own daughter taking his place in the war was an obvious option though nobody dared to suggest the alternative. In fact, if she recalled, Mipha never got to express her own opinion on the matter. Until now.

She was aware of how much the zora race appreciated her. Love and admiration had never been missing in her political life. Furthermore, she trusted each one of the dwellers with her own life. Nobody among the domain's court would ever renounce her presence around, not even for the kingdom's sake. It was expected of them not to mention the reasons why their princess was the ideal candidate to pilot Vah Ruta. Despite their silence, the facts still possessed enough sense to consider it a solid option. Moreover, it was the right thing to do for her people in exchange for the trust they put in her on a daily basis.

As a matter of fact, Mipha had been raised with proper morals. Not only she was the Zora Princess to someday become the ruler of the wetlands but also to accomplish the role of protecting her land and its people. The domain may not have been the richest kingdom nor the most popular destination among Hyrule but one thing was clear: she was willing to put her life at stake to ensure its prosperity. A member of the royal family should be the first in line to fight any foes their way. And as a rightful heir to the zora throne, she had to become an example of hardship and valiancy for their people. Monarchy would become useless if she didn't. A future queen had to make sure safety was provided and, if that was not the case, defend tooth and gill with it. Her father would be the first one to understand her reasons, for sure. Though that wouldn't keep him from feeling sorrow by means of her sacrifice.

And so, Princess Mipha left the dormant figure of her little brother behind to finally face her destiny: pilot Vah Ruta, the Divine Beast to whom she had always felt attached. Was it because of the origin of its name? Maybe not, but she preferred to leave the answer open to personal interpretations. If faith and history could be of help in understanding her decision to fight, then so be it. In hard times like Calamity, hope was the last thing the zora could lose.

Her tracks paused, however, as soon as she detected the sound of Link's voice downstairs. The unusual tones of him contrasted with the familiarity of Princess Zelda's conversation.

Mipha had never been one to eavesdrop until then. The situation left her no choice but to hide. Not in a malevolent way but with the intention of avoiding interrupting the casual scene between knight and princess. Besides, the column of luminous stones was closer than her way to her father's throne room and she wouldn't want to become a nuisance for their honoured guests.

"A bright-eyed crab, Link!" Zelda's enthusiastic yell could have woken Sidon and half of Zora's domain really. The zora princess would have never guessed her feminine voice could ever be so loud. Along with the volume, nevertheless, there was also a hint of cheerfulness. Mipha couldn't help but peek at the situation to witness the reason for her mood for herself.

The hero of Hyrule was leaning over the edge of the water, chasing an aquatic creature with his hands. Taking a closer look, the zora princess was finally able to identify the species of crab that Zelda mentioned. Its desperate run made the water swirl in hypnotizing spheres that were broken by Link's quick motions in an attempt to catch it. Meanwhile, she was holding a stone tablet in her hands, -the sheikah slate, as she referred to-, in order to take true-to-life images of the animal. Its functionalities were unknown to Mipha but still, the sight was enough to get an idea of what the hylian pair was up to.

By the time Mipha blinked, Link had already managed to trap the crab between his hands. He lifted the specimen up in the air as if it were some kind of trophy and Princess Zelda triggered a flash of light that allowed the device to immortalize, -with a picture-, the creature. Despite the snap sound from the piece of technology, it remained safe. Though the intense light coming from it made the master sword gleam and forced the amphibious girl to close her eyes as Zelda continued with her living being research.

"Another one for the album." She heard her say. When Mipha opened her eyes, however, the hylian heiress had already finished.

The domain was painted by a cyan veil of serenity that fused with the sound of the hylian guests' voices. Having them around, especially Link, infused hope among the zora. Even Muzu, that rarely showed an expression of minimum contentment, was elated to receive her childhood friend. It was recomforting to have an old friendship's support during times of calamity. It was solid proof that despite the race's longevity, some matters would never change such as the stability of the Hyrulean alliance, the light emanating from within the luminous stones all around the domain or the peaceful sound of the cascades' water surrounding Lanayru's lands.

Well, that recent example didn't last long as a splash broke the lake's surface. Mipha could clearly hear Link hissing as the bright-eyed crab used its claws to pinch one of the knight's fingers as a self-defence mechanism from his numerous attempts of intrusion. The attack caused his instincts to drop the animal, -safely-, back to its natural habitat. Unfortunately, its return brought drops of water to fly around. A reasonable amount ended on Princess Zelda's lap, who sighed at the sudden coldness hitting her clothes. Her royal gown was left with several stains of liquid in it though its folds of clothing had protected the sheikah slate from any damage from the water's contact.

"Sorry." Link's muttering was loud enough for the zora princess to hear. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly as Zelda processed the moment. She made intense eye contact with the hero as he apologised again.

Finally, the hylian princess let out a small huff mixed with a hint of a giggle. The reaction was closely followed by the swift movement of her hand drowning in the water to splash back at Link. It was now his turn to grunt in surprise before the unexpected action from someone like Princess Zelda. To be honest, Mipha wouldn't have guessed her next action either. She was as shocked as Link while seeing how she teased back at him. Her aim had accomplished to soak the hero's light brown hair causing the long bangs to stick awkwardly in front of his forehead.

"We are even." Despite the Princess' declaration, Link brought his gloved hand back into the shallow water once more. He defied her with a playful glance. He possessed the same look as he had while interacting with Sidon earlier. It was tender, full of complicity. And Zelda somehow reciprocated his feelings despite the warning of her words: "Don't. You. Dare." She repeated at seeing the knight's counterattack. Was he really allowed to interact so formally with Princess Zelda?

Mipha wondered further as she decided to leave the hylian pair on their own. The sounds of the next splashes were muffled by her own steps on the way to King Dorephan's throne room. She could have never guessed his behaviour in private after seeing how Link's young adulthood had granted him a tint of still seriousness. Her concern towards his emotional well-being vanished as she realised that he enjoyed his new duty as the princess' appointed knight, -maybe in excess-, the zora champion thought bitterly. No, -she had no right to determine that- as long as Link was happy with his life. Mipha knew her turn to propose a future together would eventually come and it could symbolise a new beginning for both zora and hylian species as well as a promise of love and joy in their personal life.

Seeing him act so freely around Princess Zelda, nevertheless, had awoken uneasiness within her chest. When did they grow so close? How much time did they spend together already? He hadn't left her side not even a second during the previous day. And the situation didn't seem to change now that midnight was near its peak. Did she ever stand a chance against Hyrule's royalty? Even if he reciprocated Mipha's feelings, would he be willing to give up his life as the Princess' escort to start a new journey by her side at Zora's Domain?

Thoughts had been clouding Mipha's mind long enough for her to realise her father's presence before her. From what the zora princess could realize during the fragility of her trance, the King had been on his way to his private study on the middle floor when he stumbled upon his daughter. Now he looked rather concerned about her deep state of mind.

"I was about to give the evening some closure." King Dorephan used the time stamp as a conversation starter though the bond with his daughter didn't leave a place to swim about the bush. "Is there something you wanted to talk about?"

"Actually, yes." Mipha really appreciated her father's transparency. In the same way it brought relief upon expressing her mind out it also granted him the capacity to read his daughter's emotions. He knew the topic of their conversation would eventually come. None of them was clueless about addressing the lack of a zora champion. "I request your blessing to become Vah Ruta's pilot, Father. I shall grant my aid in the battle against The Calamity."

Silence befell the domain's common area. Its Princess' chest sank in sorrow as soon as she witnessed the King's resignation in his expression. It was collateral damage to her purpose, though. Necessary yet bitter nonetheless.

"I expected the day of your sovereignty to come. Just not like this." Dorephan, as ruler of the domain, knew firsthand what conflict among vital forces could cause. And Mipha was supposed to become the strong leader of the next generation. Putting her life at risk was unthinkable from a father's perspective. Yet, from a King's point of view, it was a great source of pride over the princess' values and motivations. His parenthood, however, forced him to make his daughter think twice about it: "I must ask: do you comprehend what war may take away from us, from the zora?"

There was nothing King Dorephan could say to make Mipha change her mind about the matter. She had already forecasted all of his possible answers to her petition. And asking for his blessings was just a cordiality that would hopefully make the acceptation's process more bearable for her father and Sidon. It was already decided. Remaining neutral in such conflict was not an option at that point.

"As well as I understand what it shall bring us too." She replied as she had rehearsed in her mind. "I refuse to stand by and do nothing. Fighting is what my heart deeply craves."

A deep sigh echoed through the domain's open space. Despite the King's longevity, it had been a while since Mipha last heard his father express his internal weariness out in the water. She understood the sorrow plaguing his heart but in the same way, Dorephan had to also accept his daughter's plea.

"If that is your wish, I'm afraid I have no right to deny it." The zora patriarch finally nodded though uneasiness could still be scanned through his daughter's eyes. Mipha remained silent as a strategy to keep her father talking. She needed to know his mind would be at peace if the occasion to put herself in danger arrived someday. "The Zora will be grateful and pained at the same time when they hear about your decision but, as your father and the King, I have no other choice but to honour your initiative. And also ask you to be careful whenever engaged in battle."

King Dorephan brought his hand forward to motion for his daughter to come closer. Mipha, familiar with that gesture, walked to the monarch's arms to receive a tender embrace. His calloused hands felt much more desperate on her smaller frame but the zora princess, deep down, craved that hug as much as her father did. Despite the warmth of the moment, the heiress couldn't help but felt her father's overprotection over her as if she were Sidon.

"Father, I am not going anywhere yet." She reminded him, closing her eyes to feel as if she still were a little zora.

Unluckily, the public show of affection never lasted long. Father and daughter broke their embrace to take a step back. The night's chill howled through the space between them. King Dorephan didn't struggle to find his next words thanks to the peacefulness of the night. After all, he was the domain's monarch. Now that he was informed of the princess' role in the battle, he had to take care of the rest of the tasks around the kingdom to defend its lands.

"I expect your role in Princess Zelda's lines can grant the zora some knowledge about what we are up against. The domain will need to arrange preparations when The Calamity arrives."

Little did Dorephan know that Mipha was looking forward to standing beside Link, not Princess Zelda. It had been him, the hero of Hyrule, who had boosted her decision to become the zora champion. Zelda's words had also convinced her, of course, but they hadn't been a decisive matter. On the other hand, Mipha knew that piloting the Divine Beast increased their chances of defending her lands and its people more efficiently. And, if she had to add something more, the last reason would involve the possible existence of the spirits above watching over Hyrule: zora ancestors, divine souls or even Hylia herself. They would be pleased to see her active role in the fight against Calamity Ganon. And, in exchange, she would make sure to pray for her beloved ones' safety.

"There is no need to worry, Father. I will be taking care of all of you with Ruta." Mipha assured him. She wasn't insecure about her piloting skills. She knew of a bond's existence linking her to their Divine Beast. She would even dare to affirm she had been born to become its pilot. The zora princess knew it since she had first seen the machine being unearthed during her early childhood. Her inner sensation, however, was not exclusive to Mipha. King Dorephan nodded in agreement.

It wasn't until he dismissed her that the king allowed his body to release the tension. He couldn't blame the hylian visit nor the mythological origins for the upcoming war. The kingdom's alliance with their neighbours would force his hand to offer the zora's cooperation eventually. And along with having its princess become one of King Rhoam's Champions, Mipha had just doubled the bet. After all, she did what he had failed: find the necessary courage to answer Hyrule's call. It wasn't an act performed out of compromise or survival instincts but made out of love.

Becoming Vah Ruta's pilot would be Mipha's greatest act of love towards Zora's domain even if she managed to return unharmed and rule for many centuries. Nothing else could ever beat her sacrifice.

"I know you will fight, my daughter." King Dorephan muttered to himself as he watched his daughter head to rest for the night.

Mipha remained clueless at her father's most recent words. Despite the obvious contradiction, she was glad to be of help to the Hyrulean crown. If battling in the war was the only way to become worthy of the hero's recognition, she shall fulfil the task and return to her home with all her pride. All of it while holding Link's hand if she was lucky enough. Defeating Ganon would hopefully be their first step to a brighter future.

The zora princess' smile didn't last long. Link and Zelda had already left upon Mipha's return downstairs. Two small pools of water at the tiles' edge were the only sign that they had been there. She had expected to find him training amongst the darkness as he had been doing that couple of days during their visit. That night, nevertheless, was an exception to the temporal routine as he had already left. Presumably by Princess Zelda's side.

Mipha's heart skipped a beat as she decided to go rest. Maybe some time alone would aid her in finding the right words to confess her love to Link. If she ever got the opportunity to speak alone with him again before they left.


The meal with King Dorephan granted the hylian pair the much-needed energy to make their way back home. There was no reason to delay the return to Hyrule castle once zora's domain publicly announced Princess Mipha's role as Vah Ruta's pilot. The reactions had been diverse: some supported the girl's courage while others prayed for their heiress to be careful during the Divine Beast's control test. Either way, the general success along with Zelda's guidance had lifted everyone's spirits. Despite her lack of experience, Mipha had proved to be a natural at piloting the elephant-shaped machine. She had even achieved to make it rain through the system's trunk, causing the zora to cheer and celebrate her abilities. That had been one of the main reasons why the King had rewarded them with a feast on the main square. Link eventually had to give in and allow staying despite forecasting a tempest over Lanayru region.

Princess Zelda ate some steamed fish as she listened to Muzu's account. He possessed a prodigious memory and was able to explain how Link had defeated a silver lynel several years ago on Loymus Mountain. She didn't know if it was true to reality or just the old zora's exaggerative manners but, apparently, her appointed knight had already become a skilled swordsman at the tender age of seven. The hylian princess didn't doubt it though the occasional mention of Link's nickname had caused her lips to draw a discreet smile that didn't go unnoticed by the knight. Little did he know that she was planning on teasing him during their trip together to Hyrule castle.

"It's nice to see how some things never change." Mipha commented at the mention of her healing magic being used upon Link's wounds after the combat. Her next sentence, however, erased Zelda's smile as if a wave of rain had just poured over her. Not because of the meaning but the way the zora princess looked at him while saying so: "If anyone ever tries to inflict you harm, I will be by your side to heal you."

The hylian princess had never witnessed such a loving glance before. If she did, her memory couldn't recall the same image of her parents as protagonists. Mipha, nevertheless, offered a sweet expression that stained Link's cheeks with a slight blush that didn't go unnoticed by Zelda. It was love's pure image.

The rest of the banquet carried on without any relevant announcement. She limited herself to becoming a spectator and listening to the zora stories and legends. Apparently, due to being used to using their princess' magic to heal, nobody dared to question the ability to awaken the sealing magic within Zelda. The benefit of the doubt was appreciated though it didn't prevent the hylian heiress from feeling dejected. The same sensation of dolefulness clouded her senses as she watched how Mipha and Link interacted from the distance like the other day at the cliff. There was nothing wrong with the way Mipha spoke with him or in how she used any excuse to touch his arm but the Princess couldn't help it. Jealousy filled her chest with sharp thorns that made her insides twist in a way she deeply disliked. It was not what a good person would feel. Anyone else would be glad a friend had a romantic interest. Zelda, however, was torn with worry and uneasiness, wishing she could occupy the zora's place by Link's side.

"How selfish of me." She thought to herself bitterly. There was no way she could unlock Hylia's powers if her mind kept betraying her like that. That kind of sensation wasn't worthy of receiving a divine gift to save her kingdom. No wonder why it was taking her so long to unlock magical abilities.

And so, Princess Zelda spent the rest of the midday comparing herself to Mipha. It was even more painful this time now that she was aware of those feelings' origins. There was no denying the truth.

She yearned for Link. There was nothing she could do to stop the feeling. Her heart fluttered each time she spotted him around. Her skin felt ethereal sparks anytime they coincidentally caressed their fingers together. And what was worse: Zelda regretted not having felt it sooner. She couldn't even bear the thought of past moments that now would bring her to her knees: that time he saved her from the Yiga, the closeness of their bodies while they hid in the library, his mouth on the handkerchief as he tied it around her hand… Just recalling made her body burn in a way she had never imagined.

In fact, such was the intensity of her thoughts that those scenes sometimes went further while sleeping. Confessing the exact number of times she had dreamed with him was impossible at that point. But it was the only thing that kept her from losing her mind. Not like she had a choice. Hylia's spiritual path required her to stray from human affection's desire. It was simply impossible yet erasing her craving was out of the question too. She had no other choice than to forget about Link. Maybe Mipha was doing her a favour. If she claimed his love, Zelda would be free from human bonds that kept her from reaching the demanded purity Hylia required to grant her the sealing powers.

Time went by differently for her until the time for their farewells came. Preparations for their journey had been finished and, despite the lack of their mounts, the landscape seemed willing to grant Link and Zelda a quiet trip back home.

Princess Mipha accompanied them all the way through the great bridge. The hylian Princess stayed at a proper distance as Link said his goodbyes to the zora heiress. The girl's big amber eyes showed the obvious hint of sadness over him leaving but, judging by the way she held her fist tight on her chest, she was hoping for destiny to join them soon.

The zora champion struggled to find her last words but, eventually, she did release her will through them in a very discreet way.

"Once this whole thing is over, maybe things can go back to how they used to be when we were young. You know-..." At that point, Zelda's blood had already stopped running. Her heart pounded painfully against her chest. "Perhaps we could spend some time together."

And after saying so, the zora Princess leaned against him and used her amphibious arms to hug the chosen hero.

It was Zelda's turn to stop breathing as well as she witnessed how Link blushed at the physical contact. He returned her affection with a gentle caress on Mipha's back. And Zelda felt the verge of tears clouding her sight.

Oh, how she wanted to take Mipha's place and curl up against her knight's touch.

In Zelda's perception time went by awfully slowly even if it was just a short hug. Her left hand travelled up to her own bicep subconsciously, sheltering herself physically from the view. She wasn't sure anymore. It had been a while since someone had embraced her so truthfully as the zora princess did. And Link didn't seem against it no matter the girl's social status, race or age. Then, why wouldn't he treat her the same way? Was he somehow still resented by their initial disagreements? Or did he just return Mipha's love? Sometimes things were as simple as that and they had been lucky enough to not stumble upon unrequited love.

Once they finished, the hylian heiress had to focus in order to return to reality's realm. Unfortunately, both Link and Mipha looked rather worried about her expression.

"Princess Zelda, are you alright?" The zora princess was sincere in her question. Her knight too did seem concerned.

"Of course." She replied, masking her true emotions under a cordial facade. "It has been a pleasure to stay in the domain. And I have to thank you again for accepting our role as Vah Ruta's pilot."

"The pleasure is mine." She continued politely and then turned to face Link once more: "Take care of him."

Zelda had to blink once before her mind processed that Mipha's petition was directed towards her and not Link. The sentence felt awkward to hear though, just because there was no malice in her words, the hylian princess decided to follow along and gift her with a smile.

"Honestly, I sometimes forget he is the one protecting me." Lie. But it wasn't alarming enough for the knight to speak against it. He interpreted the comment as another teasing intent, so he just shrugged, causing the zora girl to laugh.

"Well, then." Mipha's manners remained even in the most informal of situations. The hylian princess really had a lot of things to admire from her. Not just the talent but also the capacity to put her heart aside and speak with her head. Perhaps she was most fitting as the village as embodiment rather than herself, Zelda thought intrusively. She possessed way more magical talent, fighting skills, capacity to concentrate and temper to rule over her lands fairly. "I hope safe travels bring you back home." She continued after the indecision of choosing the last words.

Saying so and after a few cordialities, Link and Zelda left on foot. They followed the river's course as it was a sure way to get back to central Hyrule. They wouldn't stay the night at Kakariko's village as they did on their way to the domain. The urgency to return and inform King Rhoam of the successful mission was way more important than having some hours to rest. Despite Princess Zelda's plan triumph, she wasn't feeling a particular sense of happiness filling her heart. In fact, if she had to describe it, 'drowning' would be a more correct term rather than another verb. Yes, her mood was as unreliable as the river's water that could either help zora swim up the current or difficult the task. Just that her inner turmoil liked to bother her tasks more frequently. Dealing with emotions became harder with each step the hylians took.

Speaking of which, Princess Zelda could notice her knight's glance piercing the back of her neck. The sensation surrounded by such silence reminded her of their first trips together. He also was currently walking three steps behind her, which she had always disliked. Why wouldn't he just escort her by her side? Being an overthinker, she failed to keep the question to herself. After a few more steps, just halfway Lanayru, Zelda finally spoke:

"We're far beyond following the royal protocol now." The Princess spoke, turning her head to glance at the hero behind her. He had furrowed his eyebrows, which showed his confusion about the recent matter. "We can stand side by side, you know?" She continued but it didn't seem to clear Link's mind.

"You mean literally?" He felt the need to ask before assuming the princess' abstract thoughts.

"Yes, Link. Right here." She motioned, amused and frustrated at the same time because of his constant worry about keeping all interactions respectful even in private. That matter, however, seemed to come and go as he relaxed or grew comfortable with her company which, right now, wasn't the case. He hesitated before closing the distance just halfway forward.

Zelda chose not to push the matter though she changed her mind after some more minutes in silence.

"You and Princess Mipha seem close." She commented as if it were the most casual topic of conversation. Nothing like talking about a friend's platonic crush while walking through the riverside.

"She is nice." Link nodded, close enough for Zelda to catch his motions by the corner of the eye. He, instead, could detect something was wrong with her. "And has always been there." Added later, concerned about her brooding attitude.

The Princess sighed, defeated. There was no way to switch her mood to better. It wasn't logical and, as much as she played the thought in a loop, she shouldn't feel this way about her escort. Doing so was bringing her to behave selfishly and, though the word popped up in her mind several times in a row now, it was also creating a twirl of jealousy that made her heart ache. And the worst part was that Link didn't notice. Or that was what she thought. If she paid more attention to her surroundings, Zelda would have seen the knight's concern over the incoming tempest. Not only did the princess suffer from clouded judgement as the sky had slowly darkened along with her thoughts. The heavenly realm faded into grey shades as midday allowed for the early noon to come. Though she didn't suspect it, Link did notice her preoccupation.

"Let's not take a step backwards." He suddenly pleaded, raising her voice as thunder divided the sky in two. It caused the heiress to stop her pace to turn and face him. His bangs moved along with the wind's direction. His deep blue eyes were glowing despite the lack of sunlight. The initiative's weight suited him well. She almost fell into a trance while staring at him. "I don't know what's wrong but if I did something that made you upset, I'd like to know."

"No, Link, it's not your fault." Zelda replied almost automatically. The words had escaped her lips before she could help it. Despite the clarification, the knight seemed as clueless as before.

"But there is something bothering you." He affirmed more than asking.

The princess felt the situation escaping her control. If she wanted to remain discreet, the topic should change soon. Luckily -or not- for her, plenty of insecurities plagued her mind constantly so it wasn't difficult to redirect the knight's attention under another pretext.

"Has it ever been any different?" She asked rhetorically, silencing the knight's lips as he thought about it. There were a lot of possibilities that fit the answer: her lack of powers, faith or support. And probably other topics could also be attributed to it that even Zelda herself didn't know. If she had asked, Link's mind would have travelled to the popular opinion around Hyrule's stalls in agnostic people's mouths. He wouldn't say a thing to avoid hurting her, however.

The chosen hero would have carried on until closing the matter. The weather, nevertheless, had a different plan.

A drop of water fell upon Link's head as a warning to the upcoming rain. He sighed with concern and looked around to find a temporary shelter. His eyes travelled to a small path on the side that led to a couple of statues and a tree big enough for them to sit under its leaves and protect their bodies from the pouring. His hand reached for Zelda's without even making eye contact. The princess allowed his touch to guide her into the spot, hurrying behind his urgent steps. She felt relieved and deceived at the same time as contrary emotions filled her mind more than ever lately. She was hoping for Link to push the matter forward and show that sweet interest in making sure she was comfortable as much as she wished for the conflict to stay away from them.

Only because it was about Zelda's comfort, Link made sure to find a proper seat beside the rock statues.

"Stay here." He motioned, only letting go of her hand after rigorously making sure she was safe under the tree.

Instead of sitting down at the empty place beside her and mimicking the statues' position, Link got up to stand at the edge of the tree's shelter. He stayed at the border between the rain and nature's embrace. Zelda could swear that some drops stained the knight's tunic as he unsheathed the Master Sword.

And just like that, Link began his daily training. Despite the lack of enemies, he kept on striking at the air. The sword's edge gleamed with each attack as he swung the weapon from one side to another. No matter the rain or how hard the climate challenged his exercise, the knight carried on with the physical workout. His hands naturally fit the sword's handle and, despite the weapon's weight and size, he was used to fighting with it. It was like the sword had been made especially for him to keep or, more accordingly, like Link had been born to carry it.

Zelda didn't know if it was because he had been training lately or just for the view, but she swore to witness the knight's improvement with her own eyes. Her mind reached an instinctive conclusion: everybody was better prepared than her. In fact, she wasn't even ready to face any kind of conflict. There had been no minimum sign of improvement or progress in her daily devotions. Hylia seemed to favour Link in her place. Perhaps his natural talent at swordsmanship ran in the family though Zelda could say the same about her inherited powers. They were her supposed birthright, after all. And despite dedicating her whole life to awakening the sealing powers, there was still no sign of them. Link, as the carrier of the sword, showed quite the contrary. His form was full of precision that awoke a mesmerizing gaze upon the princess.

It wasn't just his looks or the way he panted with each blow. Not even how his muscular arms tightened the grip around the sword's base. It was a result of the pure effort he performed each day.

"Your path seems to mirror your father's. You've dedicated your life to becoming a knight, as well. Your commitment to the training necessary to fulfil your goal is really quite admirable." Zelda's words brought the knight to watch the princess from the corner of his eye. "I see now why you would be the chosen one."

The rain's music worked as an interlude between those words and her next question. The choice of words wandered in her mind for a few seconds. Feeling her escort's attention on her made it hard to focus on what to say yet she couldn't help but question his personal opinion on the matter.

"What if one day you realized that you just weren't meant to be a fighter? Yet the only thing people ever said was that you were born into a family of the royal guard, and so no matter what you thought, you had to become a knight." At this point, Link's whole attention was on her.

Anyone could swear her preoccupations found their origin in the amount of failure Princess Zelda had to face every day. But only she knew what her question really referred to.

Her heart wanted to claim a life full of joy and beauty. She craved a future with endless love and inspiration that could grant her a million reasons to live and follow her dreams unconditionally. Someone like Link -reliable, caring and strong- would be the perfect match for Zelda. That place, the idea of a perfect tomorrow, only existed in her mind for now. Instead, she was sentenced to face hardship and death as long as the calamity threatened Hyrule. There was no point to daydream while living in such a pitiful universe. A Princess like her had to honour her faithful oath to Goddess Hylia and obey the King's command above all else.

"If that was the only thing that you were ever told I wonder, then…" The intense eye contact made her words slowly vanish its volume, almost camouflaging with the raindrop sound. "Would you have chosen a different path?"


I took the liberty to modify some popular expressions into zora jargon. Thumbs up if you spotted some of it during the reading of the chapter. Worldbuilding developing strategies, I guess? I don't exactly know, but this chapter is one of the longest I've ever written for Scattering Petals. As you already noticed, the chapter ended right after the recovered memory #11: Shelter from the storm. One could say this is the closure to the first character arc but you will see soon why Mipha's debut took place after Zelda and Link's reconciliation.

By the way, there is a new cover image for this fanfic! If you are reading this in Archive of our own, unluckily, you won't be able to see it on the site. The link to see the fanart, however, is here: stellaprim / art / Scattering - petals- cover- Zelink- Fanfic- Cover- 942760320

I put in a lot of effort and it took seven hours for me to finish this piece! I hope you like it as much as this new chapter!

Once again, allow me to wish all of you a happy new year! Know that I read all of your reviews even if they are commenting on the very first chapters. Receiving a notification makes my day.

Yours, Stella.