Paya handed Impa a small mug filled to the brim with water. "Here you are, Grandmother."

"Thank you." Impa took the mug and tipped it to her mouth.

Paya sat on the floor, adjusted herself to be more comfortable, and watched as Impa slowly sipped at her water. Several times she almost spoke up to request that Impa return to the story, but she knew that was what her grandmother was expecting her to do and refused to fall for the trap. After some time, the mug was finally empty and Impa sat it down beside her. Paya had not moved from her spot.

"Are you waiting for something?" Impa asked teasingly.

"Yes, Grandmother," Paya responded. "I would like to hear the next part of your story."

"Ah, yes, that." Impa shifted in her seat and tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I believe we are now at the point when the hero enters the story." Paya tried to hide her excitement. "His name was Link, a name shared by many heroes chosen by the sword that seals the darkness. His father was one of the king's personal guards, as was his father's father and his father's father's father before him. It was expected that Link would be trained in the ways of the sword. What was not expected was just how talented he would become…"

When he took the throne, King Rhoam had made it his mission to forge closer relationships between the Hylians and the four other races of Hyrule. The rock-like Gorons were easy-going people who traveled the world, while the Gerudo were always seeking alliances, regardless of their reliability - the idea of war excited them as much as the idea of peace. The bird-like Rito and fish-like Zora, however, were much harder to sway.

The Rito live far north, in the equally icy and isolated Hebra region. Although nowadays the path to Rito Village is much easier to navigate, it was perilous a hundred years ago, as the flying Rito have little need for paths to walk upon. Similarly, Zora's Domain is hidden past a twisted road inhabited by many monsters, surrounded by tall mountains and waterfalls on every side. It took a dedicated fellow to reach either of these locations. Fortunately, King Rhoam and his subjects were, indeed, quite dedicated.

The Zora had been preparing for the arrival of the Hylians for some time. Many of the older Zoras remembered the deep-seated hatred the Zoras held towards Hylians - though no one is certain where this hatred came from - and were reluctant to forge peaceful relationships with them. However, the younger King Dorephan and his daughter, Mipha, had no such prejudice and were looking forward to making such powerful allies.

"Mipha," one of the Zora princess's friends, Gaddison, called as she approached. "Are the Hylians here yet?"

"Not yet," Mipha replied. She was trying to remain calm, although she was easily as excited and impatient as Gaddison was. "Kodah is watching for them."

"I don't understand why you're so excited to see them," Rivan muttered as he walked up to the princess and Gaddison.

"Rivan! Were you eavesdropping again?" Gaddison questioned.

Rivan didn't answer. "My father says Hylians can't be trusted."

Gaddison sighed. "Yes, we've all heard what the Zora Knights think of Hylians. Has he ever actually told you why they can't be trusted?"

"Well… no," Rivan replied sheepishly.

"If he can't even justify his prejudice, why should we care?" Gaddison smirked proudly as she waited for Rivan to develop a counterargument. Before he could even try, Mipha stepped in between them.

"Our personal feelings on the matter are unimportant," she said, trying to defuse the situation. "My father and King Rhoam have already agreed to have the meeting. What matters now is that the Zora make a good impression. If the Hylians choose to betray our trust, that is on them, not us." Rivan and Gaddison didn't seem to appreciate this abrupt end to their debate, but they didn't argue against it.

"Mipha!" Kodah shouted as she came running. "They're almost here! I can see them!"

Gaddison clapped excitedly. A smile breached Mipha's face, but she refused to let her emotions get the best of her as she leaped into action. "Kodah, Gaddison, Rivan, send for Trello and Muzu. They are supposed to welcome them at the gate. I will inform my father."

"Yes ma'am," Rivan responded as the group split.

Mipha reached her father's throne in record time, due largely to her excitement. "Father, the Hylians are almost here."

"Excellent," King Dorephan said. "Get Sidon. I wish to introduce the two of you, then you are free to do as you wish."

Mipha nodded before disappearing deeper into the Domain where her brother was being watched by some of the older Zora women. By the time she convinced him to stop playing and come with her to the throne room, the Hylians had arrived and one of them was already speaking with Dorephan. Mipha and Sidon stood quietly by the door until they were noticed.

"Lord Tarin," Dorephan said, motioning towards his children. "I would like for you to meet Prince Sidon and Princess Mipha."

"A pleasure," the man, apparently Tarin, said, bowing to Mipha and Sidon. Sidon flashed a sparkling smile while Mipha blushed and nodded. She took a moment to look at the rest of the group. Tarin was joined by a woman around his age and a young boy, no older than six. Mipha figured he was their son.

The introduction complete, Sidon began tugging at Mipha's arm. "I'm sorry. I believe this little one would like to return to his play," Mipha said.

Fortunately, Tarin and his companion were understanding, but as Mipha and Sidon left, the Hylian boy tugged at the woman's arm. "I want to play, too," he said once he had her attention. Upon hearing this, Mipha stopped and turned back to them.

"I'm sorry, Lady Mipha, but do you mind entertaining Link?" the woman asked.

"Of course not," she said, smiling. She was actually quite excited to interact more closely with a Hylian.

"His name is Link?" Dorephan asked thoughtfully. "After the heroes of legend?"

"That's right," Tarin said. "His ancestors have served the Hylian Royal Family for generations. Link has already begun his sword training to become a knight himself when he's of age."

"At such a young age?" Mipha asked before she could stop herself. Once she realized what she had said, she blushed deeply - as far as she was aware, this was normal for Hylians. Fortunately, Tarin didn't seem offended.

"He shows a true talent," he said. "He's bested even some of the king's strongest knights."

Mipha was more enthralled than ever with this energetic young boy. The woman nudged him towards the Zora princess and he boldly offered his hand to her. "Hi. I'm Link," he said.

Mipha couldn't help but giggle as she shook his hand. "It's very nice to meet you, Link. Would you like to meet my friends?"

Link nodded eagerly and took Mipha's hand when she offered it. With Sidon on one side and Link on the other, Mipha headed back into Zora's Domain, listening vaguely to her father's conversation with Tarin as she did.

She soon learned that Link was easily entertained. Just being around Zoras excited him, which gave Rivan an excuse to show off. Gaddison and Kodah were just as amazed by everything they saw Link do.

"They said he's already a talented swordsman," Mipha mused as Link and Rivan pretended to spar.

"Really?" Kodah gasped.

"Is that normal for Hylians?" Gaddison questioned.

Mipha shook her head. "Based on how his father described it, I'm assuming not." Before the conversation could continue further, Link slipped on a more slippery portion of the floor. The girls rushed to his aid.

"Are you alright, Link?" Kodah asked as Gaddison reprimanded Rivan for not being more careful.

"Uh-huh," the boy insisted, though he rubbed the arm he landed on.

"May I look at it?" Mipha requested. Link reluctantly held his arm out to her. As she pushed his sleeve up, she was surprised to see many bruises, more than could possibly have formed from such a minor fall. "What have you been getting into, Link?" she asked, though she hardly expected him to answer. He didn't. "Would you like me to heal these for you?" Link blinked at her innocently.

"Maybe he's never heard of healing magic," Kodah mused.

Mipha giggled. Healing magic ran in the Zora family, but she supposed it may not be common around Hylians. She held her hand just over the child's arm as a brilliant blue light formed in her grasp. The bruises quickly faded away. Link's eyes were wide as he watched. "Does that feel better?" Mipha asked.

Link nodded, then pulled up his pant leg. "Can you heal these, too?"

By the time Mipha had finished healing all of Link's wounds, King Dorephan's meeting was over and Link was taken home. Left alone with her thoughts, Mipha pulled out the diary gifted to her by Kodah that she had yet to use and began to write down her experiences with Link. She wasn't certain she would ever use it again, but now seemed like a good time to try and start.

"What are you doing, Mipha?" Dorephan asked from his throne not far away.

"Just writing down my thoughts," she explained. "Link is a very special young boy. His soul is kind, and he's so curious…" She paused, tapping the table with her pen. "His smile was so bright, so genuine… And yet… I sense there was a sadness deep within him. I can't place it." A grim expression crossed Dorephan's face, but Mipha didn't notice. "I'm quite curious about the swordfighting skill his father described. I wish I had gotten a chance to truly see it."

"His father?" Dorephan asked. "Mipha, do you think Lord Tarin was the boy's father?"

"Was he not?" Mipha asked. Thinking back now, she realized both Tarin and the woman had black hair and pale skin, while Link was slightly tanned with blond hair. Perhaps she was too hasty to assume. "My mistake."

"Mipha… The boy's parents were sent to meet with me, as well. His father is one of the king's most trusted knights."

Mipha was confused. "Then where were they?"

"On the road, they… they were attacked by the Yiga Clan. They fought to protect him."

Mipha's eyes widened as she realized what her father meant. Mere hours… no, perhaps mere minutes before meeting the Zoras, Link had watched his parents be brutally slaughtered by criminals.

She couldn't bring herself to write it down in her diary.

"You're awfully quiet this time, Paya," Impa mused. "Something the matter?"

"No, Grandmother," the girl replied. "I suppose I was too enraptured."

Impa chuckled. "You always have preferred the stories of Link."

Paya tried not to blush. When it was clear she was failing, she changed the subject. "Link and Mipha were close friends, weren't they?"

"Indeed," Impa said wistfully. "And, as I'm sure you know, the Zora life cycle is much different from a Hylian's. So it wasn't long before Link was, in mind and body, the same age as Mipha…"

"Did you hear about Vah Ruta?" Kodah asked eagerly. Link, now sixteen, had paid another visit to Zora's Domain, and Kodah had come up with the idea of a picnic. Gaddison, Rivan, and Bazz had declined, preferring to train with their weapons, but Link, ever the glutton, was more than willing, and Mipha rarely let an opportunity to spend more time with him slip by.

"I'm sure he has, Kodah," Mipha said, a slight giggle in her tone. "Remember, he is one of the Hylian king's knights." Link didn't speak, but he smiled and nodded at both girls.

What Link didn't realize at the time – at least, not that he ever expressed – was that he was quickly becoming the center of a love triangle that would damage their friendship for many years to come. Mipha was quiet about her feelings, which she didn't entirely understand herself, but she and Link had much in common in their personality, so it was inevitable that the more hotheaded Kodah would become jealous when her own feelings surfaced. The more attention she perceived Link lavishing upon Mipha, the more jealous she became, until…

"That's enough!" she shrieked and jumped up.

Mipha and Link were both surprised by her sudden outburst. "Kodah, what's wrong?"

"You don't think I see what's going on between the two of you?" the girl hissed back, which only served to confuse her companions more. "I'm tired of being a third wheel! So I'm drawing the line. You have to choose, Link. Do you want me… or Mipha?"

"Kodah!" Mipha gasped as she and Link got to their feet.

"Well, Link?" Kodah said, crossing her arms and ignoring Mipha. "Who will it be?"

Link rarely spoke anyway, but even the most talkative of Hylians would have been left dumbfounded in this situation. Any words he may have wanted to say were not to be formed. But this was, evidently, enough of an answer for Kodah, who shortly thereafter stormed off in tears. Link started to go after her, but Mipha stopped him.

"When she gets like this… it's better to give her some time alone," she said meekly, still confused and concerned over what just happened. "And it would be a shame to let this food go to waste."

Link glanced in Kodah's direction once more before sitting down and continuing to eat.

"But this wasn't like most of Kodah's emotional outbursts," Impa continued. "This was more important to her and she stood her ground firmly. The heart can be a stubborn thing." She lowered her eyes, as if remembering something. "This was the last conversation she had with Mipha and Link before the Calamity attacked."

"How awful," Paya interjected, barely a whisper.

"Indeed," Impa agreed. "But despite her heartbreak and the tragic loss of her two best friends, Kodah was not unhappy. I hear she's found new love in Zora's Domain and she and her husband run the inn. But enough of her. This is a story about Link and Mipha."

"Your meeting with King Rhoam is soon, isn't it?" Mipha asked quietly. As had become more common recently, Link was staring off into the distance, though the occasional slight nod let her know he was still listening. "I'm sure he has a task of immense importance for you. Ever since you first came to Zora's Domain, I knew you were destined to be great." She studied Link's features as a cool breeze blew through, gently displacing his somewhat unruly sideburns. "You'll be busy after this meeting, I imagine. Going off on important quests and all. It might be some time before we see each other again." Link finally met her gaze. She was lost in the sea of blue for a few moments but once she looked deeper, she found sorrow, concern, and even fear. "Has something happened?" she questioned in a whisper. "Is something wrong?"

Link held eye contact for a few silent seconds before finally breaking it and continuing to stare off at the distant sunset, gently shaking his head in response to her question. Mipha knew he was lying, but wasn't sure how he would react if she pushed the issue, so she chose to look at the sunset as well, wondering if perhaps she would see whatever it is that had caught his attention. As they sat, only the wind and their breath making any sound, Link gently allowed his fingers to rest atop hers. Mipha almost flinched at the sudden contact, but it steadied her breathing to be in sync with his. She knew the gesture likely had no romantic implications, but she gladly took it for what it was: a promise.

"This meeting with King Rhoam," Paya interrupted. "What was it?"

Impa sighed, shaking her head. "Now, child, you're distracting me. There's a certain order to how I must tell you these things…" She stroked her chin thoughtfully. "Ah, yes. I believe I skipped a part."

"What did you skip?"

"The first meeting of the hero and the princess, of course."