For the longest time, Sidon hated his older sister Mipha.
To everyone's eyes, she was perfect in every capacity. She was beautiful, she was compassionate, she was charming, and of course, she was graced with the ability to heal almost any wound. Many Zoras thought she was one of the three goddesses reincarnated. She was worshiped, people practically threw themselves at her feet, and when it was declared she was to become Champion of the Divine Beast Vah Ruta, the Zoras lost their shit.
And who was Sidon? He was just a boy when Mipha died. He barely understood what happened to her, why the world became the way it did.
As he got older and slowly matured into puberty, that's when the comparisons began.
I heard he can't heal. I guess the goddesses overlooked him. Maybe he's not worthy.
Look at him. Mipha was beautiful, brimming with strength. This boy is too loud, always breaking things.
Did you hear the rumor? He likes to talk to Hylians? Doesn't he know Hylains were the reason why our precious princess is dead? Goddess, I wish they took him instead of her...
It wasn't Sidon's fault he couldn't heal. It wasn't his fault Mipha died. And he certainly was not going to apologize for trying to find help outside of their kingdom. He was a prince, dammit, and no matter the vitriol thrown his way by his own people, he was going to do everything in his power to help them.
It took a long time for Sidon to let go of his hate. It took even longer to bring himself to look upon Mipha's statue without flinching, trying to remember who she really was, what she would've wanted.
In Sidon's arms, he carried the man whom Mipha had expressed marrying. This was Hyrule's champion, the prophesized Hero of Time, and even more, this was his friend. Sidon will not waver. He will not fail.
Good lord, though, he wished he had Mipha's healing ability. He'd trade his crown for that.
In arms, Link shifted. His eyes struggled to open.
Sidon looked up to the goblins. They weren't paying attention to him. They were too busy pointing at a boar down by a hill, expressing of wanting to eat it.
"Link," Sidon whispered to him. "Hang in there, my friend. I will get you out of this."
Link breathed heavily. His lips moved, trying to speak.
"Save your strength. As long as these creatures don't see you as a threat, you will remain-"
Link mumbled something.
"What was that?"
Sidon lowered his head to hear better. What he heard turned his blood cold.
...kill... me...
Sidon jerked up, horror etched out on his face. "No. I will not... how... how can you even ask me of that...?"
Link shook his head like Sidon didn't understand. Speaking took all of his strength and Link fell back into unconsciousness.
Goddess. Sidon pulled Link closer to his chest, suddenly more afraid than ever. Was Link in that much pain? Was he suffering so horribly he wished for death?
Sidon couldn't imagine himself ending Link's life. But wasn't that the point of a prince? To make decisions nobody else can make? Even if Sidon managed to get away, he still didn't know where he was, how far away a doctor was. For all he knew, he was simply delaying the inevitable and was forcing Link to suffer needlessly.
Like watching a fish struggle to breathe on land.
Goddesses, Sidon begged, looking up to the sky. Princess Zelda, Mipha, anybody, please, please help me.