Link sat there sobbing for what seemed like an eternity while Zelda did her best to comfort him in her arms. The cold winter storm upon the mountain was unforgiving and sent even the local critters into their shelters. The Princess was grateful that they had a makeshift roof above their heads, and that while her hero's sadness was anything but ideal, she was at least relieved that it happened in a convenient place.
'If only I wielded Mipha's Grace, but yet again, her powers wouldn't be able to mend these kinds of wounds. Poor Link, I didn't mean for things to end up like this.'
Truth be told, her decision to ascend Mount Lanayru held a multifaceted objective. Returning to the Spring of Wisdom, even if it didn't grant her its blessing, was an important resolution for closure to her mission. However, she was also keen on assisting Link in restoring his memories and of mutually supporting one another. They were among the last relics of a civilization lost to time, and the only ones alive who could truly understand one another's circumstance. After everything that her appointed knight had done for her, regarding protecting her at every turn despite her repeated rejections and scorn, standing as a pillar of support during her times of emotional distress, and after being sealed away for a century and losing all memories, traversing Hyrule to vanquish Ganon and save her once more, she felt that her debt could never be repaid. She wanted her turn to protect her knight in a blue tunic.
Zelda knew and observed Link's abilities to restore his memories throughout his journey. The images in the Sheikah Slate were especially helpful, but he was also able to recall episodes triggered by familiar scenery, objects, or likenesses. He regained a basic outline of who he was before the Calamity, but the smaller, flavorful slices of life were missing. All fighting and no writing makes one a dull Hylian, Purah once told her. Her new cause was to re-assimilate Hyrule into a peaceful path, and there was no better place to begin than with its one-Hylian army.
Her selection of Mount Lanayru was due to the significance of the conversation they held there. It was among the last peaceful episodes they held together, and the closest she ever got to finding the truth missing from Link. She had a hunch about the answer to her question, but she still couldn't conclusively deduce it, so she asked anyways. She had hoped that he could remember his special someone and that she could learn her identity, just out of curiosity, and also for more selfish reasons. She didn't want to see her courageous knight cry.
"Link, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel like this when we came up here."
Her hero started to dry himself up and tried breathing normal again as he attempted to regain composure.
"It's quite alright. In fact, in a way I'm glad we came up here. There were certain questions on my mind and this most recent memory answered them." He paused, taking a moment to look deeply into her eyes. "Thank you, Princess-"
"Zelda. You may call me Zelda. You've earned the right to shrug off the formality after this entire ordeal."
"Thank you, Zelda. I'm honored to be at your side and to have you support me as I will support you. Destiny could not have chosen a better counterpart."
His Princess smiled at the last statement and started to get up, but Link felt a sting when he uttered it. The legends say that the Hero and the Princess are destined to fight Ganon whenever and in whatever form it appears throughout time. The cycle will repeat infinitely, with Ganon re-emerging again and the fated pair defeating it again. While the Calamity can be defeated, it can never be destroyed, which bothered him greatly.
'Was this all just 'destiny?' The carnage, the destruction, the lives lost: was this all the will of the powers that be?'
Destiny was a double-edged Master Sword. On one side, it gave Link the confidence and the courage to traverse Hyrule and confront Calamity Ganon, as it told him that he would inevitably prevail and he needn't worry about failing in his duty. On the other hand, it made him feel cheapened in the grand scheme of things. Sure, he was a grand hero who overcame every obstacle and solved every puzzle, but he felt like a marionette, a powerless plaything of unseen actors. There were good people who lost their lives because of fate: they didn't deserve to lose their lives, or worse, be subjected to years of torment, only to have their deaths ultimately be in vain when the force that caused them is incapable of being held accountable or put down.
'In my ideal world, we should all be empowered to choose our own destinies, Hylia be damned.'
He missed Mipha most of all. She was a kind, pure soul who didn't deserve to die. She was always willing to heal his wounds and to put herself on the front lines of any adversity that came in front of them. He was willing to do anything to hold her in his arms and be reunited with her red form. Unfortunately, he couldn't simply fall on his sword to join her in the Spirit Realm, as he had to rebuild the Knights of Hyrule from scratch and oversee the restoration of the Castle. By then, he would be a decrepit old man, unfitting and unworthy of a love so pure.
'Goddess, give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.'
"Zelda, there's something you should know. Something I never answered to you before the Calamity."
"Oh?" The Princess turned around, genuinely surprised at this sudden statement from Link. She figured that with his burden finally released from his shoulders, he should feel more at ease to open up. However, she didn't think that simply returning to this spot would trigger a memory to swell inside his mind so easily. Still, she was hoping it was what she thought it was, which would prove one of her theories. "What are you referring to?"
"You had asked me, on this very spot when we ascended this mountain a century ago, if there was anyone in Hyrule that I had my eye on. I finally regained my memory of that day."
A mix of emotions was going through her mind right now: relief, suspense, and anxiety among them.
"Mipha. Princess Mipha was the one I had my eyes for, before the Calamity."
Zelda was taken aback by this confession. It had sprung more questions than answers, but those would have to wait for another time. She could tell he was just beginning to piece things together on his end as well.
"I'm sorry Link, I truly am. I'm at a loss for words right now, but at least now through your actions, her soul was finally permitted to rest in peace." She moved towards him once again for another embrace.
"It's okay, I'm not entirely sure when, or why, or how I developed these feelings for her, but it can only serve to enrich my experiences. I'm glad to have these memories restored so we can build a new world that she would have been proud of."
"Well said, we cannot repeat the past, after all."
'But we should be able to.'
"Link? One last question. I'm aware that you may not remember everything yet, but from what you still know, how close were you and Lady Mipha?"
"Let me tell you the story behind this Tunic she made for me before the Calamity…"
"So, you're telling me that baby Sidon has grown up?"
Zelda was chuckling as Link regaled her with stories about his adventures in the Zora Domain, prompted by his recent memory. He told her of the tale where he fought the Great Octorock and proved himself a valiant hero, and she could only think of how proud Mipha would have been of her younger brother.
She was shocked to learn about how close Link and Mipha were before fate tore them apart. She knew that they were childhood friends, but marriage? The Hylian Princess had spent untold hours laboring to crack open his brain only to get short soundbites, and he seemed even less emotive around the Zora Princess in group settings. To be frank, she didn't think he had it in him, but something told her that there was more to this story. Before they knew it, they had reached their destination.
A large, flat area adorned by elongated sticks of ice lay before them. In the center was a shallow pool, yet the water wasn't as cold as one might expect. A large idol typical of shrines to the Goddess Hylia was present, and in the pool, was an engraved stone with the Triforce on it. The scene looked identical to what graced the Princess a century ago when she initially climbed the mountain with Link for its blessing.
With one notable exception.
"Hello there, fellow travelers! It's quite rare to see others at such a peak!"
Two Hylian travelers were also at the summit. They called out to the two blondes when they made eye contact.
Zelda was the first to respond. "Hello there! We weren't expecting fellow travelers up here! I hope the monsters weren't too ferocious!"
"Princess Zelda, is that you? We are honored to be graced with your presence!" The other traveler responded, as they both took a knee.
His partner spoke up, "Actually Princess, it's an amazing coincidence that you're up here. We're a couple of traveling merchants and we wanted to offer you our amazing product! Comfortable pantaloons that can keep one warm and cool in any environment!"
Both travelers stood up, and Link finally noticed their attire. They wore the traditional Hylian tunics, but their pants were dark colored and form-fitting. They did indeed look comfortable, but showing off every dip and curve of their legs made him uneasy.
Zelda made similar observations before responding. "Wow! I wasn't expecting to purchase anything while I was up here. What do you call them?"
The travelers smiled, "We like to call them Kohga Pants."
"Zelda, duck for cover quickly."
She was surprised at the interjection by her knight, but his tone made it sound serious.
Before she could grasp for a response, she noticed that the two travelers in front of them were reaching behind their backs for something. She didn't like the look of the situation, and knew where this was going.
A chuckle of laughter filled the air as the duo disappeared in a flash of smoke. In their places were two tall burly men dressed in red and black. Each of them was equipped with a large, thin sword, and their faces were covered with a hood and mask. The mask had a symbol similar to the teardrop of the Sheikah Slate, but upside down and red. These were two Blademasters of the Yiga Clan, a group of Sheikah that pledged themselves to Ganon.
"Insolent whelps! We will sacrifice you to avenge Lord Ganon!"
Zelda did as she was told and ducked for cover behind one of the ice pillars. Link unsheathed his sword and took a battle stance.
Link made the first move and made a quick lunge toward the Blademaster on the right. He made three slices with his blade before the fourth send his foe flying backward. The other Blademaster tried to make a blow from behind, but a red aura permeated around the Hero. When the blade connected, the aura flashed and hit the offender with an equal reaction. Daruk's Protection had saved him once again.
Link hit his initial foe again for four more slashes, but then found himself backed into a corner. He started parrying their blows, but knew he couldn't keep this up forever. He made a dash through the duo, but only after activating Daruk's Protection for another charge. He turned to face his foes in the open, one looking worse for the wear.
In frustration, the worn-out Blademaster muttered some words and placed something in the ground. It started making its way towards Link, with a gush of air erupting from the ground. He jumped on it and used his Paraglider to gain elevation. Smiling, he took out his bow and aimed at his targets.
In a scene that made it look like time itself froze, the knight aimed three arrows at his adversaries. Two of them landed in one Blademaster, knocking him to the ground. The third made eye-contact in the mask's bullseye, cracking his mask. The remaining Yiga was noticeably more irritable towards the tide of the battle.
Link was growing more confident as the battle raged on, with the Yiga taking several more blows. However, when it seemed that he was on his last legs, the Master Sword failed to connect, giving its would-be target time to regroup. As he raised his katana to make a strike, Link activated Daruk's Protection once more, with the familiar red glow around it.
'It's over.'
Or not.
Daruk's Protection shattered, but Link still flew a short distance. He wasn't mortally wounded, but he still took some damage in spite of his invulnerable shield, which puzzled him. It felt more like a thin slice than an impalement, but a cut was a cut.
'Something is wrong here. I need to end this now.'
He raised his sword and started putting himself into position. As the Blademaster closed in on him, Link spun around with blade in tow, unleashing a Spin Attack. This last move defeated his foe, leaving a horizontal cut across his mask, and his defeated form on the ground. Slowly the sliced Blademaster picked himself off the ground, motioning for his comrade to raise their hands, and both of them disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
"Link are you okay? Let me check for bleeding." Zelda had finally arisen from her perch, concern for her friend was all on her mind.
"I will be fine. I just wasn't expecting to see the Yiga Clan act so bold." He sheathed his sword and dusted himself off.
'I also need to figure out what's wrong with my divine powers.'
Along his journey across Hyrule, Link had completed hundreds of trials, puzzles, and tasks in order to test his abilities and bring peace to the shattered kingdom. In his quest to calm the Divine Beasts, he was heartbroken to find all his fellow Champions to have met their demise, but each one imparted onto him their signature abilties. Master Revali of the Rito granted his Gale, a powerful updraft spawning beneath one's feat to allow the user to soar into the air. Lord Daruk of the Gorons shared his Protection, an ordinarily impervious barrier that shields the user from all manners of attack and retaliating with an equal force. Lady Urbosa, Chief of the Gerudo, unleashed her Fury, a potent shock of lightning at the fingertips. Last, but certainly not least, Lady Mipha, Princess of the Zora, bequeathed her Grace. In an ultimate testament to her love for the Hylian, it proved to be the most powerful of them all: the ability to completely heal one's wounds, and bring back the Hero from the brink of death itself.
The first three of these powers had three "charges" or instances of use, before he needed to wait for them to be used again, which could in theory be used indefinitely. In the last skirmish, it felt like he got two and a half charges out of Daruk's Protection rather than three. It's not that he was complaining, but the change was sudden and without warning. He may not have noticed it, as their powers weren't called upon since the final battle with Ganon. The pondering would have to wait for now, but the swordsman kept the thought in the back of his mind as he followed his companion.
The two climbed the path to the side of the Spring as the storm had subsided. While the clouds obfuscated sight, it was still quite a view from the very top of Mount Lanayru. Zelda was taking images like mad, while Link took in the sights around him. He looked towards the northwest, and noticed something peculiar.
The blue glow of Divine Beast Vah Ruta was missing.
To Zelda's dismay, the great dragon of wisdom was not at its perch at the time.
"Work faster you maggots!"
The sound of whiplash filled the air. Scores of workers were scurrying about in a dark, underground place. The scene would be completely dark without the red paper lanterns adorning the walls. The workers all wore a red and black uniform, with their faces covered with a white mask bearing the Yiga insignia.
The workers were divided into different tasks. Some of them were applying hammers to a hard, dark surface on multiple tiers, elevated by a network of wooden planks and ladders. Others were moving unmarked materials around the cavern. A few of them held pieces of parchment and were communicating with the others as they looked around.
The site in the center was a formless entity, unknown to all but the select few privy to the final designs of the project. Material that resembled tan-colored stone lay at the open base, with what appeared to be black tube-like fixtures interconnecting them. Even for the Yiga, who were accustomed to working in dimly lit environments, it was quite difficult to visualize anything in this worksite.
At the top of the cavern was an ornate wooden room with glass windows. Inside was sitting an unusually large, buff man wearing the familiar attire of a Yiga Blademaster, except his outfit was completely black. He was treating himself to a helping of Mighty Bananas when two poofs could be heard from the other side of the room.
"Report."
The Blademaster with the cracked mask spoke first. "Master Shiba, we encountered the Princess and Master Kohga's murderer as per your orders."
"And? Where are they, or their corpses rather, Jeel?"
"Well you see, we uh were soundly beaten within an inch of our lives. We were unable to recover the Slate."
The big boss spun around in his chair, facing his subordinates. "So, you are telling me, that you have not only failed your tasks but brought dishonor to the Yiga and fled like cowards?" He took his empty banana peel and threw it at them.
Both beefy Blademasters started quivering, until the other one, with a horizontal slash on his mask, spoke up. "M-master Shiba sir, we fought with everything we had learned and he still thrashed us on that mountain! There was nothing the two of us could do!"
Shiba was about to give another verbal beating, but he had a thought and struck his chin. 'Nothing the TWO of them could do, hmm.' "Very well. As for your punishment, you are to spend the rest of the week laboring in the pit."
"But Master Shiba!"
"It is willed! Jeel and Keel, do not be like those who cross the Yiga Clan!"
"Y-yes sir!" Both of the Blademasters vanished in a cloud of smoke, leaving the Yiga boss to himself.
'As long as we keep working on THAT project, we should still be in good shape. Soon none shall cross the Yiga again!'
The blonde duo reached the entrance of the Zora Domain, which was an elaborate blue walkway towards the settlement. It was clear that countless Luminous Stones were applied in the construction of the entrance, as it was nothing short of elegant. It was as beautiful as Zelda remembered. They dismounted their horses as they walked down the corridor.
Although Zelda made a great effort to spread the word of both Ganon's defeat and her return, she still encountered a surprisingly small number of Hylians on the main roads as they traversed through the eastern parts of the kingdom. Impa had advised her that the races were still licking their wounds from the century of Calamity and were going to be hesitant to accept a sovereign that none of them were alive to remember. She proposed a tour of Hyrule in concert to her investigations in order to reinforce their ultimate triumph and the return of the Princess. The ones that they crossed paths with were generally receptive and relieved so far, but the rest remained to be seen.
Link looked up as they entered the Domain, and confirming what he saw on the mountain, Vah Ruta wasn't on its perch above when it was taking aim on Ganon. His heart sank but nevertheless kept moving.
Eventually they reached the other side, and were stopped by two Zora guards.
"Halt! Who goes there?" The male guard stated firmly. He was a tall brown Zora holding an impressive spear. "Oh, it's just you Link! How was the final battle against Ganon? I'm sure it was a fight to remember!"
Link cracked a smile. Rivan was a great character, and even though his memories with him and the Big Bad Bazz Brigade were abridged, the Zora always knew how to brighten a mood.
The female Zora studied Zelda with curiosity. "Who might you be? I assume you are a friend of Link the hero, correct?"
The Princess gave a warm smile. "You could say that. I am Princess Zelda and we are touring Hyrule to rebuild a post-Calamity society."
"You mean THE Princess?" Rivan chimed in. "Dunma where are your manners? Take a knee!" Rivan quickly brought himself to the ground in a respectful position, while his counterpart, shocked for a moment, motioned to do the same.
"I can assure you that the formalities aren't necessary, you two." She began to chuckle. She was glad that at least so far that her return was warmly received, but suspected that the wounds wouldn't go away anytime soon. "I'm here to inspect Vah Ruta and meet with King Dorephan and Prince… Sidon?"
Rivan snapped up immediately. "Of course! I will send for the prince immediately your highness!"
"I assure you that won't be necessary. Besides, I enjoy taking a stroll through the beautiful Domain!"
"One last question," Link finally broke his silence. "Where is Vah Ruta now?"
Dunma responded to this question this time. "After the Calamity disappeared, Ruta moved back to the reservoir on its own. We don't know why, but it has parked near the dock which makes entering it much easier."
Link let out a sign of relief. He would finally get to do what he wanted after all, but it would come later. The duo thanked the Zoras before moving forward into the main square.
Zora Domain was an ancient, beautiful city with gentle streams of water flowing throughout the walkways. It was designed in an elegant tiered system of circles and swirls, with glass and Luminous architecture adorning the various layers. In the heart of the Domain, a large elegant statue stood. The features indicated that it was a female Zora, an elegant and beautiful one at that, wearing jewelry and wielding an impressive trident. The timeless beauty of Lady Mipha was a sight to behold.
But it wasn't the only sight.
Before the statue was a tall, red Zora male. Even among the tall Zora, he visibly towered over every other person within sight. As the duo came closer, they could hear words he was muttering to himself.
"Mipha, dear sister… I wish you were here. I miss you terribly." The large Zora started weeping as he leaned on the statue. "Did you see it? Link was able to finally defeat the Calamity! You were always right, to believe in him! I know what you must have seen in him, and you couldn't have chosen a finer man."
"Prince Sidon!" A familiar voice came from behind him as he turned around. There he came face to face with his favorite Hylian.
"Link! It is so good to see you!" Sidon lit up and moved to embrace Link in a bear hug, which was warmly reciprocated in a rare act of the Hero's emotiveness. "Congratulations on slaying that foul demon! Have I told you how amazing you are, and how grateful I am?" Zelda couldn't help but smile at the sight, and got a good look at the Zora in question.
Sidon was a tall, muscular Zora who was clearly distinguished amongst his peers. He possessed bulging muscles that complimented his slim physique, which was ideal for swimming. He wore ornate jewelry similar to the engravings on Mipha's statue. A fine handkerchief was tucked in beneath the collarbone. Around his torso hung a thin blue sash with the royal emblem of the Zora. At his side was an ornate blue short sword. The most distinguished feature, however, was the infectious smile. Zelda remembered the adorable little Sidon from before the Calamity, and the pure innocence had clearly survived the test of time.
In a way, the Prince was a beautiful specimen.
She soon snapped herself out of it. He was a fish man, after all.
"Prince Sidon, it's amazing to see you after all these years!"
The Zora turned to face her, studying her face. "You, what is your name? You look very familiar, but I can't place it."
"I am Princess Zelda, Prince Sidon. You've grown up so much, it's incredible!"
"Princess! It's true, you're alive! And you haven't aged a day! Remarkable!" His arms were open in aghast.
"Prince Sidon, I am pleased to meet you and I would love for us to get to know each other more, but I've come to the Domain to meet with King Dorephan and inspect Ruta, which has stopped working for some reason. Is it correct that Ruta somehow moved to the reservoir on its own?"
"Hmm yes it's true. We have our engineers and guards keeping an eye on it around the clock, trying to learn everything we can, and finding any relics from my sister that we can. It's both awe-inspiring and unpleasant, to say the least." The blondes could sense a tone shift in his voice as he completed his sentence. "We cannot thank you enough for finally defeating Calamity Ganon! I will show you to the throne room where you may speak with my father."
"That's amazing, thank you Sidon!"
"On the contrary, Princess," Sidon raised his left arm into a crooked fist and loosed a toothy smile. She could see a sparkle in his teeth. "The pleasure is all mine!"
Link grinned as he followed him up the stairs, with Zelda not far behind. Unbeknownst to either of them she was shaking her head yet again.
"Princess, I hope you don't mind me asking, but how did you survive being trapped with Calamity Ganon itself for a century, without so much as a scratch?"
She could sense the sudden change in tone in the young Prince's voice, a concern that she felt was related to Mipha somewhat. It brought her pangs of survivor's guilt, but she knew that he did not mean for that to happen.
"To be quite honest, I'm not entirely sure myself."
The conversation with King Dorephan went much smoother than Link expected. The boisterous king, the big blue alpha whale that he was, extended a more than welcoming hand to Princess Zelda, as well as the Champion himself, for defeating Ganon. He indicated that he would be more than honored to renew the pact between the Hyrule Kingdom and the Zora Domain for mutual cooperation, and granted the two access to Vah Ruta.
Muzu, the King's elderly council, was much less enthused with the arrival of Zelda. It was true that he came to terms with Link after his heroic deeds in appeasing Ruta and honoring Lady Mipha's memory. However, his existing prejudices against the greater Hylian population persisted, and none held a greater object of his scorn than the royal line of Hyrule, whom he placed the greatest amount of responsibility for the Calamity and Mipha's fate. She was the one, after all, who pushed so hard to force the ancient Sheikah technology onto Hyrule.
"Blasphemy! By Nayru! Your majesty, if any Hylian is to blame for the catastrophe of century's past, it is this woman in front of you!"
"Mind your manners, Muzu." The hulking whale-king bent over from his throne to talk down to his advisor. "Did you not lay the same proclamations towards the brave knight at her side?"
Realizing that he was outnumbered and utterly defeated, Muzu bent his head in defeat, muttering words under his breath.
As the trio approached the reservoir where the Divine Beast resided, they bumped into the familiar faces of Bazz and Gaddison, two other Zora with whom Link bonded with before the Calamity, under the Big Bad Bazz Brigade with Rivan. Zelda was quite amused with her knight's childhood antics and impressed that his presence made such an impact with every person he met. They bode them farewell, promising to meet each other again soon.
Gazing onto the familiar scene of the East Reservoir Lake, Link noticed a change that was all too familiar. In the lake stood a massive construct with blue lights and an elongated trunk on the front, which was lowered for the tip to rest on the shoreline. There stood Divine Beast Vah Ruta in all its glory.
The Princess stated that this Beast was the most fascinating of the quartet since it could create an infinite supply of water. With so much of Hyrule covered in the after effects of ruin and malice, having such a plentiful resource on hand would be invaluable, not to mention the projects that could be undertaken with its help. She imagined irrigating the Gerudo Desert and turning it into lush grasslands like Central Hyrule, among other ambitious ideas. She planned to continue her research from before the Calamity to figure out how it was able to conjure an infinite amount of a resource out of nothing, and if it could transfer to other realms.
Of course, when have the ambitions of the Hylian royal line to use ancient technology to alter the landscape ever steered the world wrong?
In a scene that startled both Hylians, the Divine Beast was surrounded by Zora guardsmen on all angles, from the pier, to the walkways, the hills, and the reservoir itself. In front of the entrance to the Beast stood a dark, elderly Zora with a stern look. Link recognized that Demon Sergeant anywhere: Seggin was, as always, highly critical of even the most minute detail.
"Sergeant Seggin, your attention to detail never fails us! I humbly thank you." Sidon called out for Seggin, who shifted his gaze toward the approaching group. Zelda was perplexed by the stern, elderly Zora who likely witnessed countless battles.
"Nothing gets past this Zora. As long as my gills still hold breath, no riffraff will ever lay a finger on our treasure, I swear it on Nayru." The Sergeant was curt and to the point, typical of a well-disciplined soldier. He looked beyond the Zora prince to see his two companions behind him: one was Link the Hero who calmed Vah Ruta's endless downpour and had trained his son Bazz in swordsmanship. Though he placed the blame for Mipha's fate on his shoulders, the Hero had redeemed himself by putting her soul to rest and ending the Calamity. The other Hylian, on the other hand…
"Well I'd never thought I'd see the day, Princess Zelda. I suppose you are to thank for this wonderful contraption that has cost us so much."
"Please Sergeant Seggin, I am sincerely sorry for the devastation that the Divine Beasts have wrought upon the world, I could never have foreseen what they could have done in the hands of Ganon." The old Zora's frown was as stone-cold as ever. "I was meaning to ask, why is there such a large presence guarding Ruta?"
"Hmph" Seggin, unconvinced as ever, turned his form to face the Beast once more. "While that scoundrel Ganon was finally beaten for good, the fallout from the Calamity still lingers in these lands. It's still a lawless world out there, Princess. We received reports that the Divine Beast of Death Mountain was ransacked the other day, so the King elected to place Vah Ruta on constant watch. We are still searching, trying to find any artifacts of Lady Mipha undiscovered as of yet."
'Death Mountain? Daruk. I hope that nothing terrible has happened, but we will have to investigate later.' The knight thought to himself as he listened to Seggin.
"Has anything been stolen from Vah Ruta during this time?"
"Nothing gets past these eyes, Princess. Last night we caught some hooligans trying to sneak aboard the beast. I scared them off with a Lightning Arrow!"
"Seggin, I know you are shock-resistant for a Zora, but if you go overboard with those then it will bode dire consequences for you!" Sidon showed a genuine balance of concern and shock.
"It matters not, my Prince. I would rather fall than allow any more Hylian riffraff from laying a finger on Lady Mipha again!" Link could feel this last statement was directed at him, but it put a question through his mind. Hylians were the ones who attempted to infiltrate the Beast? What is going on here?
There was a rotten fish in Lurein Village, that was for sure.
"As you can see, Princess Zelda, the end of Ganon did not purge evil from the world, but together," Sidon turned, delivering his signature pose to Zelda. "We can craft a better one!"
The large Zora then turned back to Seggin. "Don't worry, Sergeant, I pledge that nothing will come to harm Ruta or my sister's memory. Please allow these two inside once more."
"As you wish, your highness," As wary as Seggin was of the Hylians not unlike the elderly Zora of the Domain, his duty as a soldier never permitted him to raise a fin against royalty. He motioned for the Zora guardsmen to move, clearing a pathway onto the Beast.
The interior of Ruta was a sight to behold, and a monument to the skill of the ancient Sheikah engineering. The entrance hosted a large barrel-vaulted atrium with tan-colored walls interwoven with darker shades, the signature style of the Sheikah tribe. Deeper inside, massive gears and chains dotted the machine, and an ever-present flow of water gracefully glided throughout. There remained no inhabitants save the ruins of the guardians Link had destroyed on his last visit.
However, the first thing the trio noticed upon entering was the smell, which was a mix of sulfur and burnt hair. The nasty odor was typical of areas infested with Ganon's Malice, and one could never forget a stench so sour. Even after completely purging a section of the Malice, the stench would linger on for untold amounts of time. Zelda had become acclimated to it during her century-long sealing of Ganon, and Link was too fixated on his mission to pay much mind to it. The Zora Prince could be seen struggling to hide his intolerance for the odor for the benefit of his company. The stench was a constant reminder to the three of its significance as a tomb for its pilot.
"My father noticed roughly a week ago that Ruta was no longer at its perch above the Domain. It was a day before a courier arrived to inform us of Ganon's defeat, which had happened two nights before his arrival, so we surmised that the movement was indicative that my sister's role was fulfilled. When we learned that it returned to the old reef, he ordered it searched for anything of significance relating to her. Unfortunately, we haven't found anything as of yet, not even a spare trident." Sidon stopped and allowed his companions to take in their surroundings.
Link felt guilty at his last sentence. He had thoroughly looted the place and acquired one of Mipha's spare spears. At the time it felt like vindication to use it against Ganon's minions, but it broke easily.
"Say Prince Sidon," Zelda motioned to ask one of the most burning questions on her mind. "From our understanding, Ruta's water empties at the end of its nose. Have you found the source for its ability to create an unlimited supply of water?"
"Ah Princess, I'm afraid we haven't discovered just how this beast can create an unlimited something out of nothing. We've even searched the bowels to find any oversized water tanks, and found nothing. We did stumble upon a hatch near the back end of the nose, but the door glows orange and cannot be opened to us."
"Orange? That's peculiar. Link didn't you say that you encountered Sheikah pedestals that glowed orange, and then turned to blue when you applied the Sheikah Slate?"
The knight nodded. "More often than not, they opened the doors to various shrines which tested my physical and mental abilities. I also used the Slate to wrest control of each of the Divine Beasts."
"We should bring the Slate to that door you mentioned. It might hold new clues on how everything works. Lead the way, Prince Sidon!"
Both royals started walking towards a staircase nearby, but Link felt something tugging at him. He figured that since the Beast had been cleansed, and with the great Sidon with her, his detail wasn't in any danger should he wander off a bit. He felt relieved at spending some alone time within the Beast once more, this time without any of Ganon's minions at his heels. It allowed him to spend more time thinking about Mipha, which both hurt and comforted him.
A million thoughts coursed through his head as he walked through the hallowed halls. How did he develop his feelings for Mipha? What were they like during childhood? Why didn't he save her from the Calamity? Why didn't she acknowledge anything when he met her spirit? Possibly the most painful of them all, when would he ever have a chance to speak with her again?
Before he knew it, Link was standing on the exterior of Ruta. He could see the pristine blue waters of the reservoir, and the awkwardly long nose was extended completely straight. The crisp air was a breath of relief and a welcome change from the Malice-infested cabin. He made his way towards the very end of the snout, which started to raise as he reached the end. The nose finally stopped rising just as the flat end reached a parallel position to the water below. A loud growl from Ruta accompanied the movement, a signal that it was locked into place. He took a seat on the edge, and just realized now that it was sunset.
'This reminds me so much of that memory. Of everything I regained from my past, this was my favorite.'
Link recalled the day when he was alone with Mipha on Vah Ruta, on this very spot, at sunset. She was tending to his wounds while talking about their childhood days. She called him a reckless child, a moniker he was still proud of and spent everyday to live up to it. He could tell that she was nervous about something, but at the time he couldn't figure out what. He assumed it was about Ganon, which was something he shared similar trepidations with. He remembered that he didn't think much of it, but that he did care deeply about his oldest friend.
'As much as it warms my heart to remember, I still have the feeling I'm missing something. That memory feels incomplete…'
The knight wished he could spend more time enjoying the view and the nostalgia, but certain individuals had other plans. At once a large gush of water started emanating from Ruta's trunk, which drenched the Hylian. If that weren't enough, the nose started moving up again, which sent him flying downward towards the base. One could say he was fortunate enough to have a cushion as soft as his head to break the landing. A massive bruise and ringing reverberated in his head, but he eventually got up, cursing under his breath.
He wanted to unleash a diatribe on Zelda, who he assumed was responsible for ruining his moment, but why did this fall seem so familiar? He took another look at his surroundings. Ruta's nose was extending ever upward, crossing the setting sun while the golden light illuminated on the shimmering water. It was nothing short of beautiful. It truly took him back…
A familiar scene played through his mind.
Link was sitting atop Ruta's nose as it rose higher into the air above the reservoir. The beautiful sunset over Zora Domain never ceased to impress the Hylian. Aside him was Mipha, the Zora Princess who piloted the Beast. His right arm was stretched out and held in her left hand. Her right hand was held an inch from his arm, and a familiar blue glow surrounded it. He was looking intently into her golden eyes, and she was smiling.
"I was thinking…" she began. "This reminds me of the time we first met… You were just a reckless child, always getting yourself hurt at every turn."Everytime, I would heal you, just as I'm doing right now."
That much was true: he did have a habit of consistently getting himself in over his head with his herculean labors, akin to a small dog barking up a storm. He made a slight grin at this statement. He also felt guilty calling upon her powers like he did, as if she was a bountiful river from which he could draw water at will.
"I thought it was funny how, being a Hylian, you looked grown-up so much fast than I did."
That much was true: Mipha was doubtlessly older than him when he first entered the Domain, and for the longest time she seemed to be a giant, while he was simply a rambunctious little fairy to her. He felt a strange tug internally for reasons unknown, but it drew him to turn his face closer to hers and look more deeply into her eyes. The first thing he noticed was her increasing nervousness.
"I was… I was always willing to heal your wounds, even back then." It was as if she could read his mind. He knew she was trying to ease his mind about relying too much upon her, but it couldn't take away the guilt of imposing upon someone so near and dear to him. Her voice was cracking as she spoke, which tugged at his heartstrings, but why?
He followed her gaze further south to his arm, which was starting to show signs of recovery. In a moment, the large cut on his right arm rapidly closed up, and she released it from her grasp. No amount of application of Mipha's Grace ever ceased to amaze the Hylian, and his arm looked as good as new. He shook it a bit and marveled at both impeccable resources seated next to him.
"So, if this Calamity Ganon does, in fact, return, what can we really do?" Her gaze shifted toward the waters below, the shimmering orange ripples dancing around Ruta. He could sense the concern in her voice, but something was telling him there was more on her mind.
"We just don't seem to know much about what we'll be up against. But know this that no matter how difficult this battle might get… If you- "Her gaze shifted back toward him, this time with a much more comfortable expression. "If anyone ever tries to do you harm… then I will heal you." As soon as those words escaped her lips, the Zora Princess broke eye-contact once more, her gaze fixated on her lap.
"…No matter when, or how bad the wound... I hope you know, that I will always protect you." That statement almost brought a reaction from Link. That was a kind of pledge that he would make to her, not the other way around. It's the knight who shields the princess, not the other way around!
One thing that didn't escape his view was that his old friend was shivering, her hands held together in an almost heart-shaped gesture. He knew that the weather wasn't very cold and she wasn't wet. Still, he listened on. "Once this whole thing is over, maybe things can go back to how they used to be when we were young. You know…"
Suddenly her face turned back to Link's once more. He could see her golden irises and familiar, soft smile: reassuring signs to Link from his boyhood days. "Perhaps we could spend some time together."
He smiled and nodded. He was promised by the King that should Calamity Ganon return and they were successful in slaying the beast, he would be rewarded with a generous bonus, including indefinite paid vacation. The first thought that crossed his mind was reuniting with Mipha and spending time with all their old friends, including the young Prince Sidon. He genuinely enjoyed her company, and he couldn't wait to shrug off this burden and just veg out with her once again.
He noticed a tinge of red on her face, but figured it was the setting sun taking its nap behind the mountains. He turned to face the sunset once more, enjoying every moment of this scene. He knew it was among his last days where he wasn't joined at the hip with Zelda for months, if he was lucky. He was glad to spend a peaceful day with a good friend. But there was something about this silence that was off-putting. Sure, he was the silent swordsman who could spend entire days without uttering a word, but he felt like there was something that was supposed to be said, but wasn't.
"W-well, the sun is about to set, so I guess we should retire for the evening." He turned to face her and could sense a tone shift in her voice. As the Princess got up, he noticed a satchel draped around her shoulder that he hadn't before. He was curious as to the contents within it, but it would unfortunately have to wait for another time. He could tell that she wasn't in the mood for such a conversation, so Link elected to spare his friend unneeded grief.
Suddenly something started to go wrong. Ruta's nose started making rumbling noises, and a gush of water emerged from the tip beneath them. The Beast's nose also started to increase in elevation, removing their firm footing. Link attempted to grab onto something, anything, to keep him from falling off, as well as to keep his childhood friend from descending as well. He latched onto one of the edges, thank Farore, but as he reached to grab Mipha, she fell downward face-first towards the base. Fortunately, the nose didn't rise too high, so the landing wasn't going to be serious. However, an injury was an injury.
Mipha couldn't decide what was more embarrassing: that she fell down the trunk of her own Divine Beast, that Link now had an unabridged view of her posterior, or that the contents of her satchel escaped the bag and were in full view.
"Mipha, are you alright?" The typically silent knight let out a call for concern for his friend and fellow Champion. He descended to check on her, and noticed that something escaped her bag. He motioned over to pick it up and bring it to her.
Upon closer inspection, the item he retrieved resembled a deep blue tunic. It contained intricate markings and designs on the sides. The shoulder pads were an elegant silver and diamond-shaped with the seal of the Zoras on each one. They were held to the main tunic by what appeared to be scaly webbing. In the center beneath the collar was an ornate bejeweled necklace, with a diamond-shaped brooch in the center, and with in a silver scale which rested within. He attempted to fold it up for her convenience, and as he was doing it, he noticed that it looked similar in size to his own Champion's Tunic. It was nothing short of a masterpiece.
"Are you okay, Mipha? That fall looked like it hurt. Also, you dropped this." He presented her with the tunic as he helped her up. She made every effort to avoid eye-contact with him.
"T-thank you Link." She hastily retrieved the tunic, but not without the knight noticing her entire face was deep crimson. "W-w-we should really head back to the Domain now…"
In most circumstances, Link would never say much more than what he just did. He had already exhausted his daily allowance for verbs just now. In this instance, he could tell that something was wrong, and that she knew something that he didn't. Knowing full-well that this may be the last time they may ever get a chance to be like this, he uncharacteristically pushed forward.
"Mipha, this armor looks amazing! Did you make this for me?"
"O-oh that?... I…" She couldn't make up her mind on whether she should turn to face him, or turn away to hide the Death Mountain of heat on her face. At this point, Link put his left hand on her right shoulder, and as she turned to him, she could see his reassuring look. She started to take deep breaths for a few moments before continuing.
"Link, this is quite embarrassing to admit, but yes, I had crafted that armor for you. T-the reason I didn't give it to you was because of its significance."
"Significance?" Like was genuinely puzzled. In all his times in the Zora Domain, he saw many brave Zora warriors go into battle with armor not unlike what Mipha held in her hands now. He always dreamed of one day wearing one of his own, and here she was, going through the trouble of fulfilling his dream. She was definitely one of the greatest friends he could have ever hoped for.
She let out a sigh, before taking one last deep breath and turning to face him, her glowing yellow eyes meeting his pure blue ones. "In the Domain, the Zora have an ancient tradition where Princesses painstaking craft Zora Armor by hand for their future husbands…"
Speechlessness did not justify the ghastly visage on Link's face. "Mipha? W-what's going on? What do you mean "future husband?"
He could see her head starting to descend, before quickly turning up to revisit his gaze. "This wasn't how I planned to tell you this, and I know this is sudden, but there's something I've wanted to tell you for the longest time. I've known you since you were but a child, but as you grew older, I started to see you in a different light. Your stature, your courage, and your dedication to help those around you made my heart melt. You've grown into this incredible person, and what I'm trying to say is… I'm in love with you, Link."
In all his years of training with the Hyrule Knights, nothing prepared him for this moment. He wasn't a talker, that was for certain, but this situation was vastly dependent on his words, and he had none. This was a lot to process, and unfortunately, they didn't have a lot of time to do so. He prayed to the Goddesses to guide him through this.
"Mipha, I- "
"Link, no matter how you answer, please know that my opinion of you shall never decrease, and I will stay to my word where I will always protect you, and I will always heal you. All I ask is that you look deep into your heart and give me an honest answer."
An honest answer? He didn't even know the answer himself. The only thing he knew was that he wasn't ready to make a commitment like this, especially one he just learned about. He had so much already stacked on his palette: preparing for Calamity Ganon, protecting Princess Zelda, uncovering the mysteries of the Sheikah. How could he possibly handle the demands of romance as well?
He gazed upon her form once more. She was quite beautiful for a Zora, but not until now had he ever seen her as more than just a good friend. He certainly enjoyed her company more than his other companions, but he chalked that up to her quiet demeanor complimenting his own. He didn't have a lady back home, and he wouldn't be caught dead courting Zelda either. His mind told him that this was too sudden, but at the same time, his heart was telling him something different.
'If only I had more time…'
Time…
'That's it!'
With an enlightened look on his face, he faced Mipha dead in the eyes and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Mipha, I've known you for almost my entire life, and you are one of the things in this world that I treasure. You are sorely important to me and I want you to know that."
"Yes!..." Her expression was noticeably lightening up, eager to hear him continue.
"I do have one question though, why did you make such a sudden move now, of all times?"
"Oh," she turned her head, gently brushing out of his grip. "I noticed… that you were spending much more time with Princess Zelda, and I began to worry. My love for you was infectious, much like my little brother's smile. The Princess is quite beautiful, the fairest in all the land, and above all that a Hylian. You were spending countless days alone with her, bonding and traveling together, and I felt like I couldn't compete."
The knight could hear her voice cracking during the last sentence, and he noticed tears starting to well up in her right eye.
"I… I loved you for so long, Link. You were the only person I've ever felt safe with. Others have given me laughs and enjoyment, but at the end of the day, I just want to turn to someone who lets me know that tomorrow will be a better day. I came under the impression that once this ordeal was over, you would be head-over-heels for Zelda, and I could do nothing to earn your attention. Even getting you to speak is a major test of strength!" Her tears were now cascading like the falls of Zora Domain, with a mixture of sadness, anger, and jealousy in her normally soft tones. She quickly collected herself.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made that outburst. I never get like this unless Sidon is rummaging through my room."
"It's okay, believe me." This time, Link pulled her into an embrace. For a moment, the Princess turned ruby red before the knight pulled back a bit from the embrace. His arms were still around her, with amber eyes meeting sapphire. She had to use every ounce of focus to hold back a squeal. Mipha's face was steady.
"This has been quite unexpected, as you can tell. To be honest, in all my years I never once noticed these feelings you held for me. If you are asking for my engagement today, I would have to tell you that I'm not ready, and I cannot accept this."
"I see," her face now became downcast as she shifted her gaze towards the ground. Just as the life seemed to drift from her body, her face was brought back to gaze at her companion, propped up by his index finger. He had a mischievous grin on his face, which filled her with perplexity.
"However, the main reason being that I don't want the fairest lady in all of Hyrule to become a widow so soon." This statement completely immobilized her. She had no choice but to let him continue.
"Besides, I don't think I'm ready for marriage just yet, and I haven't a chance to see you in that light. Let me answer with a counterproposal, if I may." By now, her eyes were as large as the moon. She could only nod for her childhood friend to continue.
"When Calamity Ganon is finally defeated, King Rhoam promised me indefinite paid leave, which will release me from Zelda's captivity. The first thing that I'm going to do is travel to the Domain, and we will spend some time together and travel across the land. I want to give this a shot."
She couldn't hold it in any longer. She squealed as she tightly hugged him. "Yes! It would be my pleasure! But how would you get past my father? Muzu thinks you're going to steal me away."
"That's the plan. Besides, I will simply tell him that I've been tapped to become your own appointed knight. I am the most qualified, after all."
She giggled at the idea of Link, the silent wielder of the Master Sword, escorting her as they explored the world, together. Her fantasy was finally become a reality.
"One more thing? It would probably be best to keep this a secret from everyone, even your father. I don't want anyone taking advantage of our relationship to use against us."
The Zora was a bit saddened, but understood the Hylian's words. "It's a deal then, my knight."
"Your knight in shining Zora Armor, my lady."
At this point, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his lips to hers. She stood on her toes, but held firm. The swordsman was shocked, but warmly returned the embrace.
Link awoke from his trance, checking his surroundings. The sun had long since set, and Ruta's nose was resting in a lowered position. The great Beast had calmed down for now, and no signs of fluctuations were present. Looking down at his clothes, he noticed they were completely dry. In addition, he felt no more pain from his fall, nor was there any semblance of evidence of the fall, or the gush of water prompting it, marking the area.
He unfurled the Zora Armor from his satchel almost immediately. He brought the blue fabric to his face as he wept once again. A vortex of happiness and tragedy befell the Hero once more at this sudden revelation. The warm embrace, the excitement, they all felt too real and too familiar. On one hand, he felt relieved and happy to have retrieved these memories and learned about what this world once was. On the flipside, a rush of anguish filled his mind, reacting to the cruelty of a beautiful world being presented to him and then forcibly ripped away. At the very least, the monster who caused all this was gone, but why did she have to die?
As he picked himself up and prepared to re-enter the interior, he began his search for Zelda and Sidon. Surely, he wasn't out for that long, and they wouldn't think of leaving the Beast without at least notifying him. As he navigated through Ruta, he quickly realized just how difficult it was to maneuver without controlling the Beast, or having a Sheikah Slate handy. After several minutes of searching, he concluded that they had indeed left the vessel.
'Great. I've lost my detail and my friend. What do I do now?'
As Link was pondering to himself in the central atrium, a glow started emanating from the interior of the Beast. The Hero followed the glow and found its source. The room was a low, flat chamber with stairs leading down to it. Along the floor were four glowing squares evenly spaced with Sheikah Runes. The upper wall had alternating panels of glass and Sheikah Wall illuminating the rear end of the Beast. In the back center of the room lay a flower-shaped conduit, with a pedestal in front of it, all blowing blue. It was the central control unit, the room for piloting the Divine Beast.
The same room where Link fought the scourge of Vah Ruta, Waterblight Ganon.
The same room where Mipha died.
He shuddered as he descended from the stairs and returned to this place. He had questions that needed answers.