It is midday by the time Link and Aloy return to Kakariko Village to inform Impa that they had accomplished their task.
"Now that you have seen some of the princess's memories," Impa said to Link, "you must have started to remember certain things."
She reaches down alongside herself. "Here. I will hand this over to you now, before I forget."
Impa hands Link something blue and he holds it up to reveal that it is a blue tunic with intricate white embroiderment at its edges, with part of it worked to form a sword on his chest.
"This is something of yours that I have been keeping safe, by request of the princess," Impa said. "The clothing was specially made for you when you became a Champion, please handle it with care."
Link informs that he will try it on and walks upstairs as Paya is still below. Aloy notices Paya watching Link ascend the stairs with that keen look in her eyes until he is out of sight.
"Hey Paya, are you imagining what he looks like without clothes?" Aloy quipped slyly.
Paya squeaks as her face turns blood red and covers it with her hands. "A-Aloy! Wha-What immodest th-things are you s-saying?!"
"Paya came to me the other day and asked me for some medicine because she was feeling something in her heart," Impa added mischievously.
"G-Grandmother!" Paya squalled through her hands as she falls to her knees.
"Oh, so she's come down with an infatuation I take it?" Aloy snickered.
Link comes downstairs, now dressed in his blue tunic. He raises an eyebrow upon noticing Paya's reddened face still twisted from embarrassment as she rubs her own arms as if cold.
"That's the tunic he was wearing in my vision!" Aloy marveled.
"Since you are both finished here, it's best you go on your way," Impa said.
Aloy and Link bid goodbye to Impa and Paya, and leave. Once outside, Link takes out the Sheikah Slate to get a fix on where to go next and decides to go to Zora's Domain, showing the direction they need to go.
"Then it's that way," Aloy said while pointing to her right, past the inn and at another entrance/exit to the village, and head that way. Along the way, Link confides that he had taken longer because he was reading Paya's diary.
"You naughty boy," Aloy chuckled as she slaps his shoulder. "So I was right, she really does like you. But in case you haven't noticed, she's got a bad case of shyness. And since she mentioned you and Zelda together, she's probably taking it all in stride."
They head out of Kakariko Village on their way to Zora's Domain by heading out the back end that overlooks a grassy incline called Sahasra Slope. Their walk is not casual as they see Bokoblins off in the distance riding horses and need to get as far from them as possible while crouching low in the long grass so as not to be spotted. It is slow going, but they soon reach the bottom without incident and enter the Lanayru Wetlands, a swampy region comprised mostly of extremely shallow water with an archipelego of islets. There, they fight off Lizalfos and manage to enter a Sheikah Shrine named Daka Tuss for a breather. The interior has pools of water with scoops that Link had to use his Magnesis upon in order to manipulate a ball into opening doors and even draining a pool so that they could reach the monk for their shared spirit orb. Back outside, they fight their way toward the end.
And then it got rough . . .
"Ah, Link," Aloy said apprehensively as she looks at something distant as she reads it with her focus, causing Link to look where she is looking.
It is an active Guardian, worse it is moving around upon tentacle-like legs. At first, it is distant and does not look to be a threat. That is until it turns to look in their direction with that single glowing red eye and it starts running toward them.
"I've fought machines bigger than that," Aloy said as she takes her sharpshort bow and a tearblast arrow.
As the Guardian quickly gets ever closer, a thin red beam shoots out of its eye and is trained upon Link. The beam thickens and its eye flashes. A bright blue beam shoots out, but Link had been expecting this and uses his knight's shield to deflect it back at the Guardian. It scores a direct hit upon the Guardian, causing it to stagger. Aloy releases her tearblast arrow and it also hits the Guardian, where it sticks in and the droning buzz is heard, causing the tearblast arrow to explode to further damage the Guardian and cause it to fall over. She next takes out her ropecaster and runs toward it with Link alongside her. She shoots one end of the cable rope into the Guardian, then shoots the other end into the ground. She repeats this until the Guardian is tangled and immobilized, unable to move and get any clear shots.
Aloy puts her ropecaster away and takes out her spear and attempts to override it, only to discover that the override does not work on Guardians either.
"It definitely is a different technology than of my world," Aloy fumed. "Now let's bust this thing up."
Together, Aloy and Link rain blows upon it, as melee weapons clang against the Guardian. They keep attacking. The wires begin breaking away, freeing up more of the machine. They manage to slice some of its legs off, causing it to fall over, further immobilizing it. Link ends up breaking his broadsword and has to use an iron sledgehammer to bust it up more.
Finally, the Guardian begins flashing and the duo back away quickly. The Guardian explodes.
"Argh, that thing was a tough as a Sawtooth," Aloy groaned.
Link collects the parts left over by the Guardian and the duo continue onward, fighting off more Lizalfos. They come upon something huge lying down and asleep.
"Wha-What is that?!" Aloy whispered.
Link whispers back that it is a Hinox and they sneak by, only for a twig to crack underneath Link's foot. The Hinox stirs and sits up with a grumble.
"Fine!" Aloy rasped irritably. "Let's go trampling through the countryside and announce our presence to all!"
The Hinox stands and notices them, then starts striding toward them. Aloy thought those Moblins were huge, but this creature bearing down upon them with each step is large enough to easily pick up a Moblin in one of its enormous hands. It's obese belly hangs out and on its head are long white fringes of hair, with bristles on its chin. Above its boar-like snout is a single huge eye that blinks vertically instead of horizontally. It wears a loincloth and has a traveller's claymore for a necklace. The Hinox grabs a nearby birch tree and pulls it up out of the ground.
"Hoo boy, it's using a tree trunk for a club!" Aloy exclaimed as she takes out her blast sling this time, while Link takes out the knight's bow.
Aloy fires explosives at its eye while Link shoots bomb arrows. The Hinox groans with pain and does a pratfall. Aloy takes this opportunity to take out her tripcaster and shoot an armed line in front of the Hinox. The Hinox recovers and it gets back up to chase them once again. It trips the line in front of it, causing it to explode. Once again the Hinox does a pratfall and this time Aloy takes out her ropecaster to use on it. Since this is not a machine, the arrowed ends also double as weapons as they stick into the Hinox. The Hinox roars in pain as the arrowed ends are stuck in its flesh and the other ends are in the ground, immobilizing it like the Guardian.
The duo take out their ranged weapons once again. Link his knight's bow and Aloy her blast sling once again and together they lob arrows and explosives respectively into the Hinox's eye. Link's bow finally snaps and Aloy continues lobbing explosives until the Hinox finally falls over dead.
"Teamwork, Link," Aloy sighed. "Teamwork."
Link nods with approval. He gathers what he can from the Hinox, including the traveller's claymore that it wore as a necklace.
"I've noticed that every weapon you've collected so far ends up breaking on you after repeated use," Aloy noted.
Link admits it to be so, then expresses his amazement that her weapons had yet to break either.
"When hunting machines," Aloy answered, "always make sure your weapons are stronger than their hide."
They continue onward, crossing a crude log bridge.
"Oh! There's two! Here! Over here!" Someone called out to them from nearby in the water. They look to see someone floating there and waving to them. Aloy winces at them as there is something odd about the person.
"Oh! Hey!" The person called again. "This the first time I've seen two! I'm Tottika of the Zora! Aren't you two Hylians? You ARE aren't you?!" His tone ecstatic. "Yes, I can tell! You are most certainly Hylians!"
"Well, he is, but I'm not!" Aloy called back. "I'm from another land!"
"Either way, as fate would have it our Prince Sidon is looking for a Hylian," Tottika continued. "The prince is at Inogo Bridge right now. Will you both consent to go and see him? I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to," his tone now indecisive. "Though . . . I'd kind of like you two to go even if you both don't want to . . . Hm, yes! It is decided" His tone now firm. "You will both indeed go and see the prince, even if you both really don't want to!"
"I wonder what he'd do if we didn't?" Aloy said dryly to Link.
"Prince Sidon is at Inogo Bridge just over there!" Tottika called as he points elsewhere. "He is upstream on the Zora River, which lies to the east of here! You will find him near that tower! Hylian, and the other! I am counting on you!"
Link and Aloy resume their walk and reach dry land on the other side.
"Funny, we're just on our way to Zora's Domain," Aloy quipped.
The duo continue up the road and encounter a fork in the road, of which one part has a river flowing down past it. Looming over them is another Sheikah Tower on top of a high steep hill of which one of the roads is heading toward. They go down that road and soon see a bridge spanning the river up ahead. It looks to have been carved entirely from fluorescent blue stone, with lines and angles to give it an exotic appearance. There are lamp posts lining its side barriers and what look to be watchtowers on either side at the front of the bridge that widen as they rise upward.
"That must be the bridge," Aloy said. "And a beautiful bridge at that. Hey, look up there." As they see someone on top scanning around. "You don't suppose that's the Prince Sidon he mentioned?"
Link quips that there is only one way to find out and they continue on their walk. They walk up the road that will lead them into Zora's Domain and encounter a portion that had washed out to be replaced by part of the river. That is when Aloy finally takes notice of the rainfall. She had been so focused on their battles that she neglected to notice it beforehand.
They jump into the water and swim to the other side, then crawl up the embankment and continue onward toward the elegant bridge.
"Say, hey there! Young ones! Up top! Above you!" The watcher called in a clear authorative though mellow twang.
The caller suddenly jumps from the top of the tower, causing Aloy to gasp at the distance he is falling. He lands before them easily and straightens. Aloy thought that Hylians looked strange, or even the other monsters for that matter. Although with the monsters, she simply chalked it up to them being hostile. But a being now stands before them looking downright bizarre. A male, or at least looks it, with a humanoid body and a fish tail. At a casual glance, she mistook his head for a helmet, but it is actually shaped like a fish. His skin is dark red with white running from face down to his inner arms and thighs. He is long torsoed with long arms, but disproportionately short stubby legs. He is mostly nude, but is dressed in a decorative sash and various intricate metal adornments. Despite his stubby legs, however, he stands twice as tall as either Link or Aloy as they have to crane their necks to look up at him. His eyes are a piercing yellow.
Is this . . . what Zora's are?! Aloy thought with bemusement as she has her focus read him as a Zora.
"Pardon the entrance, but you're Hylians, aren't you?" the Zora male asked politely. "I was hoping perhaps you'd both have a moment to talk."
Link states that he is, but that Aloy is not and is from another world.
"Aha! But you are a Hylian!" The Zora stated proudly to Link. "Yes, I knew it! Oh, pardon me," his tone apologetic, "I am Sidon, the Zora prince! And what are your names? Go on, please tell me?"
"Aloy," she said simply, with Link following suit.
"Aloy? Link?" Sidon said curiously. "Your names are Aloy and Link? What fantastic names!" His tone ecstatic, then ponders. "Hmm, though I cannot shake the feeling that I have heard the name, Link, somewhere before," then in a more jovial mood. "Well, in any case, they are strong names! To be honest, I've been watching the both of you. I've seen the way you two work. I can tell by how you carry yourselves that you are not ordinary people. Link! Aloy! You must be strong warriors amongst your respective kind, correct?!"
"That's right," Aloy said, with Link echoing her sentiments.
"Aha! Just as I suspected!" Sidon proclaimed. "I am a Zora Prince, after all. I have an eye for talent that is unparalleled!" As he makes a broad smile that reveals subby, but needle sharp teeth, causing Aloy to wince. "Yes! Exquisite! I have been searching for someone like you two for a long while. A man and woman like you, Link and Aloy, who carry themselves with power! Right now, Zora's Domain is in grave danger because of the massive rainfall coming from Divine Beast Vah Ruta!" As his tone turns desperate. "Please, promise you will help us! We need your strength, warriors! Won't you please come to Zora's Domain with me?"
"We were just on our way there," Aloy said.
"Wow! Really?!" Sidon exclaimed happily. "Thank you, Link, Aloy!" you are indeed the man and woman I thought you were! Now Zora's Domain will be saved for certain! No time to waste! Hurry up and head over! Because of the rain, the cliffs are too wet to climb. To reach the domain, you both will need to go straight along this path. As you are not Zoras, I know you both are unable to swim up the river. As such, the path to the domain may be a bit treacherous. You both likely have a tough fight in store-there are monsters up ahead that attack with electricity."
"Shocking," Aloy said sarcastically, and Link gives her a wry look.
"Don't give up! I believe in you!" Sidon proclaimed as he makes that toothy grin once again.
Sheesh! He really needs to stop smiling like that! Aloy thought sarcastically.
"Oh! That's right!" Sidon exclaimed as if he had forgotten something important. "I have something that I would like to give to you!" As he reaches behind himself from what must be a beltpack. "This is just a small trinket to show that I have faith in you."
He hands Link a bottle full of a yellow liquid.
"It is a drink that will increase your resistance to electricity," Sidon explained.
"Only one bottle?" Aloy asked.
"Unfortunately yes," he answered apologetically. "I am not sure why, but its effects do not seem to work for Zora. Perhaps because it was made specifically for Hylians."
"And yet you just happen to have one," Aloy said. "Not only that, I'm not a Hylian, notice my ears. So that means it might not work on me either."
"So I see," Sidon mused. "But it should work wonders for you though, Link. I shall go on ahead and make sure there is not anything strange going on where you both are headed. I'm counting on you both!"
He next leaps high and backward, somersaulting through the air, then lands in the river and swims away unseen.
"That was a strange guy," Aloy quipped. "And a strange being too. Zora, eh?" Then looks up at the Sheikah Tower. "So do you want to get up there first?"
Link states so and they cross the bridge. Once across, they begin their climb up the side of the hill where the Sheikah Tower is located. It is a difficult climb, having to contend with Bokoblins along the way. They reach the Sheikah Tower and begin their climb of it. Once they reach the top, they encounter another Zora, also a male, but with dark blue in his skin. He is tall, but not as tall as Prince Sidon.
"Wow! I cannot believe it!" the Zora exclaimed upon seeing them, then reins himself in. "Excuse me! Yes, you two! I am Gruve of the Zora! It is apparent that you are travelers, but may I ask what brought you here?"
"We could ask you the same?!" Aloy mused incredulously.
"Hm . . . How very astute of you! An excellent query indeed!" Gruve mused. "I, by order of Prince Sidon of Zora's Domain, am searching for Hylians. Or I was . . . but then I fell asleep. I awoke to a loud noise and awful quaking and now here I am."
"Now I understand, the towers rose," Aloy said to Link.
"I'd like to get down and be on my way, but I'm simply too high up!" Gruve said. "I need to figure something out. Prince Sidon is down at the bridge below, but for some reason I cannot seem to catch his attention! But you two! You are Hylians, yes?"
"He is, but I'm not," Aloy answered. "And as for Prince Sidon, we already met up with him before we came here and he explained the whole situation surrounding Zora's Domain."
"Well then! My luck is improving!" Gruve stated happily, then on a more serious tone. "Perhaps I should swallow my fear and jump to the river below. Then I could return to him! He must be worried sick."
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Aloy said. She also wanted to add that Sidon never mentioned this Zora, showing that he was not thinking of him, but held her tongue.
"You're right! I'm too high up!" Gruve said fretfully. "I'll likely meet the gods of the ever after before I ever see Prince Sidon again. Mr. Hylian and Miss . . . whatever, I must apologize . . . It will be some time before I can get back to Prince Sidon. Please, you must leave me here and go on ahead."
"You could try climbing down through over there," Aloy suggested as she thumbed back at where they came up.
Gruve walks over to the opening and peers down, then gives a start. "That still looks so high up! Although I can see that there are platforms going all the way down . . . Very well! I shall begin my descent!"
Gruve bends down then turns and carefully begins his slow descent. Aloy and Link walk over to watch the Zora climb down the side of the tower and onto the first platform below.
"Ah, that's better!" Gruve called back up. "Now I'm feeling more confident!"
Link warns him that the rest of the way will be more difficult as he will also need to climb across to be safely over the platforms properly. Gruve begins climbing across and heads down the tower, going out of their collective sight.
"I hope he makes it," Aloy said.
The duo keep watching, hoping that the Zora will be okay. Time ticks on and it seems as if hours are passing them by. After what seems like half an hour later, a familiar figure backs away from the tower while looking up, then waves up at them.
"He made it," Aloy sighed and they wave back down at Gruve, who next turns and walks away.
Link gets up and walks toward the Sheikah Stone as he takes out the Sheikah Slate. He places it within the holder and it turns around and lies the Slate flat. The prongs on the top of the tower rise, showing that it has been activated. The Sheikah Stone glows blue and forms a drop of fluid at its end so that it drops down onto the Sheikah Slate with a splash. The platform ejects the Slate and Link takes it back out. Together, they study the updated map. They see their point of existence on the map, and their point of destination that is at the end of a long curvy road through the mountains with the Zora River running through.
"We have a long ways to go," Aloy said. "So let's get started."
