Her father was the highly respected king of Zora's Domain. Her mother, a nurse, was beloved for her healing nature and her quiet, gentle attitude.

After her birth the Zora princess quickly grew into a bright and gifted young girl, taking after the queen in almost every way. Her mother had loved her dearly, and Mipha loved her too. She was her mentor, her friend, her queen… her heroine.

Since childhood, Mipha possessed ethereal healing abilities. Though the effectiveness of this power was uneven and inconsistent at times, she used it frequently for the care of wounded soldiers - and for many other medical needs that arose throughout the bustling domain. This ability, combined with her natural skills as a traditional nurse, made her a beloved figure amongst the populace.

One day, tragedy struck. The Zora queen fell ill while giving birth to the future prince Sidon. And from then on, Mipha felt a tremendous sense of guilt and helplessness at being unable to use her powers to save her mother. The death of the queen affected every citizen of the domain quite deeply. But none so much as the princess herself. And from that day forward, the young Zora princess resolved to hone her healing powers to their maximum capabilities - if only to ensure that she would never lose someone she loved ever again.

Soon, she reached the age of receiving lessons from the royal family's order of knights. She was adored by the entirety of the Royal Guard - especially the Demon Sergeant Seggin, who saw something quite special in the princess. When eventually pressed about receiving more advanced lessons in spearmanship and combat from this talented sergeant of the Royal Guard, she had immediately responded with a simple, quiet proclamation:

"When shall we begin?"

Her radiance grew, as did her skills with the Lightscale Trident. She displayed a natural gift for spearmanship, and her seemingly limitless capabilities soon became the proud envy of even Seggin himself.

As she entered her primary growth stage at the age of forty, Mipha's serene, maternal nature grew all the more prominent. Left without a mother to care for him, the baby prince Sidon soon came to see his big sister Mipha as both a motherly figure as well as a dear friend. And alongside King Dorephan, Mipha raised the young Zora prince into a wily, hyperactive, and loving child…

"Sidon. I will not tell you a second time. Fish are to be eaten, not to be used as weapons…"

The young prince danced and spun on the dining table, a Hyrule Bass clutched tightly in his hand. His friends roared with laughter around him, dodging his hasty and playful swipes.

Although Mipha truly had no problems with Sidon's frequently silly antics - finding them quite amusing, in fact - she figured it was better for him to be scolded by her rather than their volatile attendant Muzu…

Not that Sidon really cared either way.

"That is incorrect, my dear sister!" he replied, as he fenced the air around him with the flopping, dead fish. "It has been said that our ancient ancestors did precisely that. It is my desire to honor the legendary fish wielders of old!"

"...That may very well be true…" Mipha replied. "...But not at the dinner table. Please. Regardless of facts, you are now ten years old. You must act the part…"

She glanced over at Muzu, who nodded approvingly at Mipha's scolding. He seemed properly appeased - much to her relief. She nodded back at him, then leaned in carefully to whisper to Sidon as he pouted in front of her.

"...But if you absolutely insist on goofing around like this, perhaps you will join me in some… 'fishmanship' lessons after dinner?" She winked.

Sidon's face lit up with excitement, then quickly morphed into a serious stare as he retook his seat back at the table. "Ah yes yes, very well my dear sister," he said. "Please excuse my terrible manners…"

Seemingly satisfied, Muzu crossed his arms and smiled at Mipha.

"I am quite impressed, Lady Mipha. You seem to grow in maturity and grace with each passing day." He turned his attention to Sidon, who now sat quietly in his chair, nibbling at his dinner. "As for the young prince … I do believe that a necessary punishment is certainly still in order…"

Mipha frowned at this, though Sidon managed to maintain his composure for now.

"After all," Muzu continued, "What good is being part of the royal family, if you never learn to conduct yourself in a manner worthy of respect?" He stood up from the table and made his way to the washroom nearby. "I shall think of an appropriate penalty for young Sidon in due time. Please excuse me a moment…"

Once Muzu was out of sight, Mipha glanced at Sidon. She gestured at the salt shaker in front of them with her thumb. A glint of recognition flashed across Sidon's eyes, and he grabbed the shaker and quickly darted under the table. As their fellow Zora looked on, Sidon popped up onto Muzu's chair on the other side, and began pouring a heaping amount of rock salt into his water goblet. The other Zora - and Mipha herself - barely contained their abrupt laughter as Sidon quickly made his way back to his chair and resumed his meal as if nothing happened.

Muzu soon returned to the dinner table, his posture somehow even more arrogant and proper than usual as he smiled mischievously at the Zora prince.

"I've got it!" Muzu said, sneering happily. "We shall have extra writing practice immediately after dinner, with a few extra pages of work for tomorrow's math lessons thrown in. How does that sound, Master Sidon?" He sat himself down at his spot, unfolding his napkin back into his lap carefully before continuing.

"Perhaps you will learn, in time, that the dinner table is no proper place for your shenanigans." Now quite pleased with himself, Muzu reached for his goblet and began to take a sip...

"Oh, Muzu…" Sidon finally said, shaking his head.

PBBBTTTHHHH -

"...Why do you always have to be so salty ?"

A fountain of saltwater sprayed from Muzu's mouth as the entire assembly roared with laughter around him. Even Dorephan himself, quietly observing the unfolding scene up to this point, was chuckling heartily with his trademark laugh.

Muzu glared furiously at Sidon. The young prince immediately bolted from the table as his angry attendant chased after him, screaming and shouting with incredible anger.

Still laughing, Mipha shrugged to herself.

So much for avoiding Muzu's wrath, she thought.

...But what good is being a part of the royal family… if you never get to have any fun?


"Sir, if I may? I have a question for you…" Mipha stood at the foot of King Dorephan's throne, a large bundle clutched in her small arms.

Dorephan smiled down at his young daughter. It was fairly typical of her to address him formally, a bad habit that he could never seem to rid her of…

"Of course, my dear Mipha! Ask away. There is no need to be so proper..."

Mipha smiled back. "Thank you father. My question pertains to something I found when I was cleaning out one of our storage rooms below…" she dropped the bundle, and began to unwrap it carefully.

"I thought that this might have once belonged to you… but I could not be certain. It is, well… it is a bit small . With all due respect."

From inside the package emerged a beautiful Zora armor set, dark purple in color, with red and gold jewels adorning it. The entire torso area was covered in scale-like chainmail, and the pauldrons and wrist guards were black in color, giving it a rather aggressive look. A single white scale was sewn dead-center of the chest, framed in with metal accents.

Dorephan began to laugh cheerfully, as Mipha handed the armor up to his waiting hands.

"This, my daughter, is one of my most valued possessions. It was an engagement gift, presented to me by your mother many decades ago…" He looked down at himself and grinned.

"...Several hundred pounds ago as well! Wahahahahaha….."

Mipha stifled a laugh, and glanced up at her father's face with a look of genuine curiosity. "Engagement?" She asked, "I had always assumed that it was the role of the male to take the initiative to offer marriage to his partner…?"

Dorephan shook his head. "While that is true of many couples here, and indeed most other races, some Zora couples choose to uphold some of our older traditions - particularly, the members of the Royal Family. Your mother and I were no exception!"

Mipha's face brightened with interest and excitement, as Dorephan continued.

"Do you wish to hear the tale of how this custom began?" He asked her. Mipha nodded her head, and took her usual seat in front of her father. His stories remained an endless source of entertainment and knowledge for her incredibly inquisitive mind…

"Excellent! Well, then…let us begin. In ancient times there was once a king who had no special talent for the art of war. What he lacked in skill with the blade, he made up for in his love for the people, and especially his love for the queen.

One day, a horde of monsters gathered in the Zodobon Highlands. Word of this reached the king, and he hesitantly steeled himself for war to protect his people. However, the queen knew how terribly ill-suited for the task this king was. Now worried for his life, she wove one of her own scales into his armor, hoping that her love would protect him in his upcoming battle.

As the battle began, it seemed that fortune favored the Zora, and that they would make it safely home after all. But a cunning Lizalfos general saw an opening, seizing it quickly and driving the king's forces into a corner. Just as the evil general's sword was ready to crash down upon the king, a miracle took place. One errant sunbeam reflected from the scale on his armor, blinding the Lizalfos and preventing the deathblow from falling upon him.

With this new chance, the king rallied his forces to turn the tide of battle, defeating the general and securing victory. This came to be known as the Miracle of the White Scale - a scale that only female Zora such as you possess. It was this very miracle… that began the tradition of Zora princesses crafting armor for their future husbands!"

He paused for a moment, as he stared carefully at the armor in his hands, seemingly swept away by its memory.

"When your mother presented this armor to me… it came as a real shock. While I had known from the beginning that she was the only one for me, I had never imagined that she could be so bold." His large thumb began to caress the white scale adorning the center of the armor. The king sighed quietly.

"The white scale is more than just a mere symbol of her affection, however. And even more than a simple embodiment of her desire to protect me, at that. It represents... a connection - an unbreakable bond. A part of your mother is with me always, even after her death. It is the promise that we'll be together. Even until the end of the age." He paused suddenly, staring down at his wide-eyed daughter. He smiled graciously at her.

"I'm sorry my dear. Perhaps you are too young to understand..."

But Mipha most certainly understood. Though she was still quite childlike in appearance, her mind and spirit were both wise beyond her years. She shook her head.

"I understand quite well father," she said. "And it is a beautiful story indeed. Though I do have yet another question…"

"Please, please, ask away!"

"...Despite knowing that you will be reunited with mother in death… do you still feel the pain of losing her, just as I do right now?"

Dorephan smiled back, and closed his eyes. "Of course, of course, my dear Mipha. Every single day, every hour, I miss her dearly. I long for her presence. But that does not stop me from loving her just the same."


"...If he happens to turn out like you when he grows up," Mipha countered, "I might be better off marrying a Lizalfos."

The Captain laughed heartily as he smiled down at her, his blue eyes beaming with their usual intensity. Even in parenthood, he had yet to shed his playful, rambunctious nature. And as always, he absolutely had to get the last word…

"Perhaps you should !" he replied. "A sick side of me almost wants to see how those babies might turn out." This silly image produced a giggle from the Zora princess, though she did her best to stifle it. The last thing she wanted to do was encourage him in his teasing ways…

The gallant young Captain continued to laugh as he glanced around the town square of Zora's domain. A group of Zora - both young and old - had begun to gather around him. He had only just arrived, eager to catch up with his old friends - and eager to share stories of his reckless and entertaining travels. It had, after all, been at least five years since his previous visit.

The group soon seated themselves in a half-circle around him, awaiting his epic tales of adventure. He turned to face his audience, as Mipha took her own seat on the floor in front of him.

And so he began.

He captivated the Zora with story after story, described his numerous encounters with incredible creatures from far-off lands, told them of suspenseful and dangerous battles, kept them on the edge of their seats the entire way.

Mipha shook her head in disapproval. This man is going to get himself killed some day… she thought to herself, as he recounted a story of a wrestling tournament with the gorons on the lava-soaked surface of Death Mountain. Numerous were the perilous situations he had often found himself in, and Mipha knew that his careless nature had the potential to lead him on a dangerous path of inevitable destruction...

Still, she appreciated the rousing entertainment. Even if her worry only grew for the safety of the reckless young Hylian - whose responsibilities now included looking after his young, small family.

"...And with a well-placed kick, I sent the goron careening down the mountain face. And thus, I was the champion!" The crowd of Zora let out a cheer of amusement as he finished this final tale. "As for my prize, well…" he reached into his bag, producing an enormous bag full of strange-colored rocks.

"Rock candy! Enjoy!" Another cheer erupted from the crowd as the Captain handed out a seemingly endless amount of sweets. Prince Sidon in particular was completely beside himself with excitement. He immediately devoured a handful of candy, stimulating his already heightened state of hyperactivity. Mipha shook her head in disapproval at this, abruptly standing up to approach the Captain as he beamed at the shouts of praise and adulation heaped in his direction…

"Ever one for the spotlight, I see," she said, crossing her arms. The Captain rubbed his head sheepishly, as Mipha continued to speak.

"On behalf of all of us at the domain, I sincerely thank you for the gifts. Though I must express my disapproval at your feeding Sidon so many sweets at once…" she gestured towards her brother, who was now spinning on his head like a top and shrieking like a maniac as his friends egged him on.

"...He is going to be like this for several days now, most likely."

The Captain laughed heartily in response. Despite Mipha's irritation towards him, the deep tones of his voice warmed her heart.

"That was precisely my intention!" he said. "Crazy Sidon is the best Sidon, I always say!"

He looked down at the young Zora princess, grinning wildly.

She's really grown… he thought to himself. She's beginning to look just like her mother… A pang of sorrow briefly crossed his heart as he reflected on memories of the king and queen of Zora's Domain, and the close friendship he had maintained with them in his youth. But he caught himself before going too far with that somber train of thought...

"Ah, that reminds me!" he suddenly said. "I have something for you as well!"

Mipha shook her head. "If you think you can simply bribe your way out of this one, then I hope that you-" She paused. From inside his bag, the Captain produced a small box. And inside it…

...A delectable looking chocolate cake from Hyrule Castle Town.

Her favorite.

"You were saying?" he offered.

"...All is forgiven." she replied.

As Mipha began to gorge herself inelegantly on the gift, the Captain took the opportunity to tease Mipha even further.

"You know… I meant it when I said you'd be a great wife for little Link someday…"

Mipha rolled her eyes. Of course he'd waited to pester her again until she had a mouth full of cake. She chewed quickly, and prepared for her next rebuttal...

"I can tell he's going to have a taste for Zora women." the Captain continued. "He's already got an appetite for fish, after all!"

His efforts to tease Mipha were in vain, however. She quickly swallowed her food, and turned her attention to him.

"I will worry about that later," she said, calmly. As for right now… you had better watch out for Sidon..." She pointed behind the Captain, where her crazed brother was charging straight towards them, mouth agape.

"...He has an appetite for Hylians , after all."

CHOMP.

"YOWCH!"

The Captain let out a cry of pain, as Sidon's sharp teeth clamped down hard on his bottom. And finally, Mipha burst out laughing at the scene. There was never a dull moment with the Captain around. She truly was quite grateful for his presence, teasing ways and all.

Not that she'd ever tell him that.

Besides... she found herself hoping that, in his next visit perhaps, she would finally get to meet this cute little Hylian boy she had been hearing so much about...

So... his name is Link, she thought to herself as, she took another bite of cake. What a nice name.

She glanced up at the Captain, who was tossing the wide-eyed Sidon up in the air like a ball.

It's a strong name... for who will most certainly turn out to be a strong person.


"I must admit that I was… hesitant at first," she said. "But I am starting to believe that I am going to enjoy this quite a bit."

Having agreed to spend more time with the young Hylian boy, Mipha found herself walking alongside Toto Lake, which was situated high up on a mountain just north of the Domain.

"I still can't believe you haven't been camping before!" Link cried out. "You haven't really lived until you've spent a quiet night under the open sky!" He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and sighed. "Me and my dad used to do this every single weekend! Well, I mean, when he wasn't busy that is…"

Mipha smiled. Link's exuberance, his excitement, and his adventurous attitude were all quite infectious. And it eased her heart to see that he was finally beginning to work through the deep pain in his heart from the loss of his father, the Captain…

She sighed at his memory. We never did get to learn his name in the end, she lamented. She quickly shook the thought from her head, turned her attention back to Link.

"And I don't suppose," Mipha said, "That you have an agenda for our little 'camping' trip today?"

Link grinned up at her with his crooked teeth. "Nope! That's the fun of it! It's all about the thrill of adventure. You never know what's going to happen!" He began to peer through the water near them, his eyes eventually fixating on a small hole near the bottom of the lake. "Where do you suppose that leads?" he said, pointing towards it.

Mipha glanced over and shrugged. "I am not sure. As I said before… I am not at all familiar with any of the surrounding areas here-"

SPLASH.

Link had already dropped his gear, diving into the water and making a beeline straight for the underwater hole.

Mipha shook her head and smiled to herself.

Reckless, impulsive, courageous… just like his father. She quickly dove in after him.

Though he'd only been living in Zora's Domain for four months now, Mipha noted that Link's swimming had already improved greatly from his daily sessions with his friends. Naturally, she had no trouble keeping up with him. But she was impressed nonetheless as he darted effortlessly through the water, and into the mouth of the underwater cave.

The interior was pitch black as they entered, but a distant light shone in the distance. Mipha hoped it was an air pocket within the cave… Link was notorious bad at holding his breath after all.

Soon, they reached the light and breached the surface simultaneously with a splash.

"That was awesome!" Link cried, gasping for air. "I thought I was going to die for a second there!"

Mipha rolled her eyes at his recklessness. "I would hardly describe your potential drowning as 'awesome', but-"

"WHOA! Check it out!" Link ran down a nearby path, which Mipha could now see was lit by an enormous vein of luminous stones. Their blue glow illuminated almost the entire cave, reflecting its light off the damp, eroded walls.

"It's another cave!" Link shouted. "Where do you think it leads?! I bet it goes on forever!"

Mipha smiled at Link's excitement. "Well then…" she replied, "I suppose we'll just have to dive in to find out-"

SPLASH.

Link had once again dived abruptly into the water without hesitation. And Mipha once again shook her head and smiled as she chased after him.

This marathon of swimming, exploring, and diving continued for several hours, as the pair penetrated deeper and deeper into the cave. Fears of danger gave way to the excitement of adventure, as they began to discover ancient ruins, strange fossils, and odd treasures that had been long lost to the passage of time.

Soon, they entered into a mysterious chamber. The entrance way was marked with the ancient seal of the Zora, three crescents facing back-to-back. The walls of the chamber were cracked and worn away with age.

And at the center: two caskets, also near-destroyed with time. A cluster of luminous stones had penetrated one of the chamber walls, bathing the room with its eery glow. As they approached the caskets, the pair nearly jumped in shock.

Inside was a pair of ancient Zora skeletons, male and female.

Link and Mipha glanced briefly at each other, a look of wonder growing across their faces.

"I wonder… how old these two are now," Mipha thought out loud.

"I'll bet they are older than the ancient hero himself!" Link said. He looked carefully over the two skeletons, then suddenly raised his eyebrow in curiosity. He pointed at the male Zora.

"What's he wearing?" he asked.

Mipha looked over, and finally noticed it. An elaborate piece of armor adorned the torso of the skeleton. It was quite unlike her father's, that much was apparent. But clearly visible on his chest - a single white scale was carefully sewn in.

"Well Link... that's Zora armor." Mipha explained. "It is part of an old tradition that is said to have started with some of my ancient ancestors. I wonder… if this might be the very couple that started it in the first place! Though, that is probably just my mind jumping to conclusions..."

She turned to Link, and could immediately tell that he had about a million questions for her. So before he could begin to ask, she decided to give him a brief synopsis of the story her father had told her years before, of the tradition of the Zora armor.

The simple story captivated the young boy, and he stood there patiently and happily as Mipha relayed the tale to him. She wasn't nearly as good of a storyteller as her father was, not even close. But Link seemed to pay no mind to it.

"As for the white scale itself…" Mipha finished, "It is meant to show that the presence of the princess is always with her beloved. She will always protect him. She will always be with him. This is her sincere promise of absolute devotion to the man she loves."

As she ended the story, Link paused for a minute, deeply pondering her words. After some time he finally broke his silence.

"Well I have to say," he said, with a youthful, innocent smile, "that whoever you end up giving armor to... is going to be the luckiest guy in the entire world!"


It had been one month since Link's departure from Zora's Domain, and his return to the Knight's Academy. For Mipha, it felt like an entire year.

The pain of his absence had yet to wear off, and the freedom she now had in her summertime study break only seemed to highlight the absence of her dear Hylian friend. She missed his presence… the deep tones of his genuine laughter… his intense and loving stare. She missed his incredible sense of humor, his contagious optimism...

And it didn't help that Muzu constantly found the need to scold her for her apparent absentmindedness.

"Where were you at dinner today, Lady Mipha?" he demanded, as she walked down the northeast bridge leading into the heart of the domain. She had just finished a long afternoon walk to herself, visiting some of the old places where she and Link had spent so much time.

"Oh, well, I… my apologies Muzu." Mipha said. "I was not aware that I needed to report on my whereabouts at all times…"

"That is not the issue here, young lady," he snapped. "You have grown ever more despondent since the summer season has descended upon us." He suddenly stopped, folded his arms behind his back. "You may be on break from your studies… but that does not mean you are on break from your duties as a princess of this domain. And that includes your presence at every formal gathering in the square." He sighed. "I simply cannot understand your aloof behavior. And just when I thought you were finally free from the influence of that Hylian nuisance …"

Mipha fought back the urge to lash out verbally at Muzu for his slight.

She barely managed it.

Instead she continued right past her overbearing attendant, choosing to take the high road for now. Muzu brought up the rear behind her, continuing his rant as he did. But she easily tuned him out, leaving herself alone with her thoughts once again.

The source of her strange behavior was hardly a mystery to her. She knew precisely why she was feeling so isolated, so disconnected with present concerns. But with Muzu's insistent scolding and scorn nowadays… she now wondered if it were somehow wrong to feel this way at all...

The days soon passed, giving way to weeks. And in time, the minor incident was soon forgotten by Muzu. Soon, Mipha's studies resumed once again. She found that simply burying herself in her work and in her duties provided a much-needed distraction from her confused mental state. So at the very least, she was able to hide her emotions from Muzu in this way - and that was good enough for now.

One day, King Dorephan summoned Mipha to the throne room for a brief discussion. Though Muzu insisted on being present, Dorephan barred him from entering. This was a conversation between father and daughter - one that he realized he should have had many months ago…

As Mipha took her place in front of the king, he sat straight up in his chair as he prepared to speak.

"I believe, that you already know what this is about," he began. A rare look of austerity was present on his face.

Mipha nodded calmly as she began to speak.

"I am sorry, father," she said. "I have been lax in my duties, and quite lazy in my studies. But I assure you, it's only a-"

"It's Link, isn't it?" he interrupted.

Mipha froze.

He knew…

Dorephan grinned widely at her reaction.

"My dear… I am your father. I am not ignorant to the emotional state of my children. I knew from the very start, that you and Master Link carried a special, unspoken bond between each other."

Mipha returned her father's smile. Though it did little to ease her sense of loneliness, his knowledge of her predicament somehow lifted some of the guilt from her shoulders.

"I want you to know…" Dorephan continued, "That there is nothing wrong with the way you feel about him. Absolutely nothing. I want you to find great strength in your affection, not guilt. Do you understand?"

With those words, a feeling of incredible warmth filled Mipha's heart. She suddenly ran up and hugged her father, and his enormous arms wrapped around her too, returning the gesture.

"You will see Link again, that much is certain," he said, his voice low and comforting.

"But for now you must take courage, my daughter. You must be strong. After all...

Shouldn't there be no fear... in love?"


Mipha sat at the desk in her guest room at Hyrule Castle, reflecting on the eventful day. Social gatherings had always exhausted her energy, without fail. And although she was truly pleased to have finally met her fellow Champions, she was also quite happy to get some time to herself in order to recharge. Especially since she hadn't a single moment of rest since her arrival in Castle Town earlier that day.

Leaning over her desk, she scribbled away at a blank sheet of paper with a quill pen. She was planning out her spearmanship training session for the next morning, laying out the sequence of events and exercises she wished to review with the talented members of the Hylian Royal Guard. Mipha had to admit… that she was a bit nervous. As an introvert, she never did handle large groups of people very well. And she wasn't particularly confident in her ability to instruct a group of complete strangers either...

But she reflected on the words of wisdom that Seggin often repeated to her during their trip here:

"It is simply a matter of removing yourself from the equation entirely," he'd said. "Detachment is key. You are merely a channel for the lessons that need to be conveyed. Remember this, and you will have no problems as an instructor. Get out of your own way, have faith in your abilities!"

With that thought, Mipha smiled. She supposed that Link was doing the same thing with his own objectives as a Captain of the Royal Guard - completely removing his own fears and doubts from his consideration.

She just hoped that his quiet aloofness was not a sign of his taking his detachment too far in that direction…

Feeling satisfied with her written plans so far, Mipha allowed herself a quick break. She took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair. Finally relaxed, she glanced over at the opposite end of the room, where an enormous collection of flowers - courtesy of Revali - sat untouched. She rolled her eyes and giggled quietly. What in the world was that silly Rito thinking?

She didn't even like flowers.

Her thoughts quickly turned once again towards Link, and to her desire to see him. So far they hadn't had a single chance to be alone together, no opportunity to catch up on their long two years of separation. Her heart longed for his presence.

And she found herself hoping that - like a scene from some lame fairy tale - he would somehow find a way to sneak over to her room to see her that night...

But she shook the silly thought from her head. There was absolutely no way that could happen. He had his duties after all-

THUMP THUMP.

A knock on her door.

Mipha's heart stopped briefly. Her imagination ran wild with hope and desire.

Link!

Could it be?

...

...No, no. Of course not.

"Yes? Is that you Muzu? I'll be right out," she called.

Still, her heart was pounding. Muzu should have been sound asleep by now.

So maybe, just maybe this really was-

CLOMP CLOMP CLOMP-

The distant sound of footsteps. She could hear them outside of the guest chamber as she made her way to the bedroom door…

KNOCK KNOCK-

"Routine patrol, may we enter?" Muffled voices outside of the common room...

Mipha paused for a moment in confusion. Why wasn't Muzu answering them?

A small slip of paper suddenly slid under her door as she approached it. She picked up the note and gently opened her bedroom door, entering the common room-

-just as the chamber patrol burst inside the main doors.

In spite of her shock at this bizarre scene, Mipha remained calm.

"Can I help you, gentlemen?" she asked.

"Just a regular patrol madam, we - ah, looks like we forgot to lock the window... " said one of the guards. He stuck his head out briefly before swinging the windows shut and locking them with a loud click.

Mipha tilted her head as she stared at the windows of the common room. It was rather peculiar. Those windows had definitely been shut before she'd gone off to bed. Her fingers rubbed the note in her hand absentmindedly…

Well, well. It would seem we had ourselves a welcomed intruder, she thought, happily.

The first guard wiped his brow as he and his partner began to exit the room. "Please pardon the intrusion, madam. Good night." They bowed cordially as they exited, shutting the door behind them.

"That was lucky…" their voices trailed off. "If Captain Link ever found out about the windows…I can't even imagine how he'd..."

Now alone in the common room, Mipha made her way back to the window and unlocked it once again.

In case he comes back… she thought, smiling to herself.

She settled back into her room, and began to read the note. A wide grin spread on her face as she read its contents. Her hunch was correct - it had definitely been Link.

'You never did answer my question about how your healing powers improved so quickly, ' the note said.

Mipha sighed. The message was simple. Straight-forward. Right to the point. Yet it conveyed so much more than its contents.

Through-and-through... this was classic Link.

As she retrieved a blank slip of paper and began to craft her response, she heard another knock on her door. And her imagination ran wild with excitement once again.

...Perhaps I will get to answer him in-person instead!

She stood up and sprinted across her bedroom, nearly tripping on the rug as she did. She burst out of the room, right into the open arms of-

Sergeant Seggin?!

"OOF, ah... well, I'm quite happy to see you too, my dear. What a night!" The Sergeant nearly stumbled over as Mipha pulled away. She examined him up and down, and sighed.

Seggin was completely drunk, having just returned from a late night of festivities with his old war buddies. And he wasn't exactly trying his best to hide the fact either.

"I presume… that you have you been drinking tonight?" Mipha asked him.

"Oh, well, only just a little bit!" he hiccuped, holding his thumb and forefinger about an inch apart. "Just to… take the edge off, you know? Now…" he glanced around the common room in confusion. "Where… in Hylia's name... is my room?"

Mipha shrugged, guiding Seggin to his guest room like a mother leading her child.

"Let's get you to bed, Sergeant," she said. "A bit of water and some rest, and you will be good as new tomorrow."

After putting him to bed and fetching a glass of water, Mipha returned to his side. Seggin downed the water quickly, though not without splashing it all over the bed first...

He is worse off than I realized, Mipha thought. Her nursing instincts immediately kicked in.

As Seggin laid on his side, Mipha's hands glowed blue with energy. She used her healing powers to reverse the damaging effects of the excessive amounts of alcohol in Seggin's body. And after several minutes of this, the inebriated Sergeant fell sound asleep.

After refilling his water glass and placing a damp cloth on his forehead, she kissed her dear friend and mentor goodnight, and quietly shut his bedroom door behind her.


"I simply do not understand the excitement. He is merely a Hylian. What is all this unnecessary fuss about?" Muzu frowned at the group of young Zora who had gathered around Mipha in the town square of the domain.

Seggin, Muzu, and Mipha had only just returned from their excursion to Hyrule Castle, and Mipha was currently informing her friends of Link's pending arrival at some point in the coming months. Despite herself, Mipha snapped back at Muzu. She'd simply had enough of his excessive complaints.

"The fuss… is no concern of yours , Muzu." Mipha said, sharply. The other Zora gasped at her outburst, but Mipha stood her ground. "This is a conversation for Link's friends. Not for those who have zero concerns about him."

But Muzu was unfazed. "Facts are facts, Lady Mipha," he said. "That Hylian boy didn't even acknowledge your presence the entire time we were there. Some friend he turned out to be! Just as I expected, he-"

"Why are you here?" Mipha asked. "'Facts are facts,' Muzu. You did not express any care about Master Link the entire time he was last here. If you are so insistent on cutting him down, then there is no place for you in this discussion."

Though taken aback at this uncharacteristic outburst, Muzu maintained his poise. "Very well then! I shall take my leave. But mark my words, Lady Mipha. We will be having a discussion about your unruly tongue. I can promise you that. "

With an upturned chin, Muzu spun on his heels and left the group without looking back.

"Wow. That… was totally awesome!" Sidon cried, jumping up and down. "I have never seen you so angry in my entire life! Unbelievable!" He punched the air in front of him with proud excitement.

Despite Sidon's encouragement, Mipha immediately felt a bit of shame at her treatment of Muzu. She would certainly have to find a way to make amends later-

"Is it true what Muzu said?" asked Rivan. "Did Link really ignore you for your entire visit?"

Mipha shook her head. "That was… inaccurate. To say the least. But…"

She paused briefly, considering her words carefully.

"...Link is… different now. Quieter. Aloof. Focused. He has new responsibilities and worries that are much bigger now, and we should respect that." She looked over the confused faces of her friends and peers before continuing. "I wanted you all to have a fair warning of this for his upcoming arrival…to avoid any potential tension that may arise."

"There's no way!" Bazz said. "That doesn't sound like Link at all! Well… I guess maybe the focused part does. But quiet?"

"Exactly," said Gaddison. "I truly can't imagine a silent Link. He didn't seem all that different the last time he was here…"

But Mipha knew. The small changes in his demeanor were already present during his last visit, though it was obvious that their peers were not exactly as tuned in with Link's subtleties as she had been. This fact made it all the more important that she spell it out for them now…

After some discussion, the group was convinced. They went their separate ways, reconvening at dinner time later that night. Despite their knowledge of Link's new persona, the entire domain was still abuzz with excitement of his future return, and their conversations flowed throughout the dining table - much to the chagrin of Muzu.

"You treat his arrival as if he were a king ," he said with irritation. "Your excitement is wasted on one such as he. I guarantee, when he arrives you will all be no more than a mere afterthought to him…" he reached over and took a sip from his water goblet.

PBBBTTTHHH-

A fountain of saltwater sprayed from Muzu's mouth.

"SIDON!" he cried, as he immediately sprinted around the table to chase after the wily Zora prince.

"It wasn't me! It wasn't me!" Sidon shouted as he ran away, Muzu following close behind him, screaming in rage all the way.

Mipha rolled her eyes, replacing the salt shaker back at the center of the table.

Sorry Sidon… she thought. She glanced up at her father, and was surprised to see that he wasn't smiling. He looked down at her, a stoic look on his face. But it wasn't a look of disappointment. Rather, it was one of deep concern. Though she didn't know it quite yet.

"Mipha… I wish to speak with you after dinner. Please meet me in the throne room…"

Uh oh.

All her life… Mipha had never once been punished by her father. But her recent outburst and mistreatment of Muzu had surely pushed him over the edge.

Well… I suppose I deserve it. It was inevitable.

As dinner ended, Mipha found herself standing in her usual spot in front of her father, who seated yet again on his enormous throne.

"What is it, father?" Mipha began.

Dorephan closed his eyes, crossing his arms across his enormous chest.

"I heard about your… incident with Muzu earlier."

Mipha cringed. So it was about that after all…

"And once again," he continued, "I know precisely why you are acting so strangely." To Mipha's surprise, her father began to smile down at her as he spoke.

"Your white scale is coming in soon, is it not? You are approaching the end of your growth stage, I believe."

Mipha's eyes widened. This thought hadn't occurred to her at all. She was so busy worrying about her responsibilities as the Zora champion, so busy worrying about Link…

Dorephan held his hand up in offering.

"If there is one thing that has been made clear from watching you and Link grow up together… it is this: Your heart belongs to only one man."

Mipha continued to stare after her father. His words were certainly true, and she had no reason to shy away from her feelings anymore. So she smiled back as Dorephan continued.

"So I suppose that, with the chaos surrounding our preparation for war with Ganon, now is the ideal time to figure out precisely what you intend to do about it."

From behind him, her father produced his old Zora armor. He stared down at it quietly, before pointing towards it with his finger.

"As I said before… your white scale will be coming in due time. In the tradition of Zora princesses of old… perhaps it would be appropriate to begin crafting your armor set."

Mipha's eyes widened again. She knew precisely where he was going with this...

"By presenting your armor to Link... wouldn't it say a lot of your desire to protect him in the upcoming battle?" he winked. "...Among other things?"


Princess Zelda stood on the entrance platform to Vah Ruta, bearing a rather flustered expression on her face. The scene before her: the Zora princess and her Hylian guard, cuddled under a blanket on the ground...

"- Ahem !- Erm… Excuse me... I'm sorry to interrupt-" Zelda said.

Immediately, the pair was roused awake, sitting up and yawning at the same time. They glanced over at each other, and then at Zelda.

"Yes. Um, Link!" Zelda's hands nervously found their place on her hips as she spoke. "I regret to inform you, but… we seem to have an emergency on our hands. It's about Vah Naboris…"

Link frowned suddenly.

"While you and Lady Mipha were having your… extra study time with Vah Ruta last night, I noticed some issues with Vah Naboris's energy readings on my Sheikah Slate," she frowned back at Link. "While I have greatly enjoyed our juncture here… time is unfortunately no longer in abundance. We must depart immediately…"

As she fought off her disappointment, Mipha glanced over at Link - and immediately regretted it. Even as he regressed back into his stoic persona, she caught an unmistakeable glint of utter despair in his eyes. Zelda didn't seem to notice this.

"I have already gathered my things in preparation for the journey. I suggest you make your goodbyes to your friends rather quickly before our departure… shall we go?" She climbed into the small rowboat she had arrived in, waiting for the pair to join her.

As Zelda had addressed Link, Mipha couldn't help but notice that the princess had some slight difficulty with maintaining eye contact with him.

Why in the world... is she so flustered? She wondered, as she and Link gathered their things and climbed into the boat. Have we done something to upset her?

Of course, Mipha could have easily swam back to the domain rather than taking the boat back with them… but she found it appropriate to take any last-minute opportunities that she could to spend time with Link. Whatever the case, Zelda didn't question it.

As they quietly rowed back to the domain, Mipha continued to ponder Zelda's emotional state, as well as her inability to use her sealing powers.

And she began to put two and two together.

Perhaps… Zelda's inability and outright refusal to process her affection for others was the true cause of her issues. It was possible that, as it was for Mipha with her own healing powers, letting her love flow freely was precisely what she needed to do in order to unlock her abilities.

And maybe… just as he had been for Mipha...

Link himself was the ultimate catalyst.


Mipha had nobody to blame but herself, of course. She should have known better than to rely too heavily on Dento for the construction of Link's gift. After all, he'd recently been contracted to build a massive set of weapons for the Hylian Royal Guard.

Still, without his assistance, she was taking much longer than anticipated to have it built. And much to her disappointment, there was no way this replica trident was going to turn out as good as the original.

And it certainly wouldn't be completed in time for the next meeting of the Champions, now only a short three weeks away. She'd be departing in just two days - not nearly enough time to finish.

Perhaps… I have overstretched myself just a bit, she thought, as her mind slowly wandered back to her time with Link on Vah Ruta several weeks prior.

Their intimate healing session, among other things, had left such an enormous imprint on her mind. She'd gotten far more from him than she had expected that day - not least, a set of accurate measurements that she'd needed for her other project…

She grew mildly embarrassed on the inside, as she remembered her hands gently sweeping the young Hylian's back muscles. She had to admit… that she may have been copping a bit of a feel there.

She turned her attention to her other project, hidden away in the storage room below the Domain: a beautiful set of Zora armor, being built perfectly to specification.

Mipha began to pour in some last-minute work on the armor, carefully and meticulously sewing in scale after scale onto its shoulders and chest. She crafted it dearly, for the man that she loved. For her Hylian hero, her Hylian muse…

...and perhaps someday soon… her Hylian fiancé .

Of course, she had reasons to be fearful of the slight possibility that he would reject her.

Yet at the same time, she had absolutely no doubt that he would say yes.

After all… She thought to herself.

Shouldn't there be no fear... in love?


A vast, swirling vortex of emotion. The deepest of sorrows.

Infinite, endless, bottomless darkness. The familiar pangs of regret and unfulfillment.

These were the memories of Mipha - the memories of a life cut tragically short by powers of evil and malice. Painful reminders of a time that could have been, that would never be.

Her memories danced and spun across Link's mind, filled his heart with both love and grief, before returning back to pure nothingness. It would always, always return to nothingness.

Then suddenly, a light. Blue in color, warm to the touch.

It filled the very essence of his being, flooded him with life, warmed his heart, comforted his soul.

Muffled noises echoed through his dulled hearing...

"..."

A muted voice.

And he recognized it. How could he ever mistake it?

"Open your eyes…"

"Wake up, Link."

...Mipha!

The blue light faded, replaced by a brilliant pure white that overwhelmed his senses, blinded his vision. And after some time, his sight slowly returned to him. He was breathing, seeing, hearing… floating...

Then she was there.

Mipha was there.

And in that moment, he simply knew.

Mipha's healing blessing - the purest manifestation of her life, her love, and her grace - had given him life once more. Just as it had always done. Just as it always would do.

A wide grin spread across his face.

"Hello, Mipha," he said.

She smiled back.

"Hello, Link."

The sound of her gentle, comforting voice broke him down immediately. He looked down at his feet and closed his eyes. His tears fell like great drops of rain from his face.

Was this real?

Mipha opened her mouth to speak.

"I have to say…" she began.

He looked up at her, still grinning, eyes still full of tears...

"...it is so good to see you smiling once again."

Link cautiously moved in towards Mipha. He reached out slowly with his hands… hesitating... before quickly pulling her into a tight embrace.

She was most certainly real. He could see her, feel her… hold her.

And he didn't want to let go. Not again.

"How…" he asked, now cupping her small face between his hands. His eyes stared deeply into hers.

"How in the world are you-" she held a clawed finger to his mouth, immediately shushing him.

"Now Link," she said.

"...Did I not once promise... that I would always protect you...?"

The vision disappeared around him. Link awoke with a gasp.

He was standing up on the beach all alone - save for the bodies of dead bokoblins, and an enormous blobby mess that was once a Hinox.

Dark bloodstains marked the sand all around him - his blood. Yet here he was, alive.

He examined himself, felt his back for the open wound where the arrow had entered his heart… Nothing. Just bare flesh, not even a scar remained.

He rubbed his face, felt the warm moisture of fresh tears. Link paused for a minute, then chuckled at himself.

Always getting myself hurt at every turn... indeed.

He took a couple of steps forward, half expecting his once-broken leg to collapse under his weight again. He made his way back to the enormous campsite to retrieve the orb that would finally end this damned trial for good.

Wiping his eyes as he walked, Link found that his tears simply wouldn't stop. But for the first time in what felt like years , they were tears of profound joy.

His encounter with Mipha's spirit had lifted an enormous weight from his chest, had filled him with life and love. To have seen and experienced the memories of the woman he loved so much… to have her soul bared to him… He just knew in heart, that he would have the strength to go on.

His words of comfort to King Dorephan had been true after all, he and Mipha were one now. She was still with him, still watching over him; and most of all, united with him. He had to live, had to carry on.

For her sake.

...and for all of Hyrule of course.

Link stared up at the clear night sky, and peacefully sighed.

"Thank you, Mipha…" he muttered under his breath. "Thank you..."

Perhaps it was just a trick of his ears or merely his imagination. But the few precious words he heard, quietly trailing off the wind's breath, were unmistakeable.

"...It is my pleasure..."


Thus ends the depression arc! And 'Season 1', I suppose.
We're basically at the unofficial halfway point of AFooW, and as such I'd like to take the time to thank all of you for your continued readership. Some of you have been here from the very beginning on AO3 (I'd name names, but I don't want anyone to feel bad for being excluded, haha). It makes me really happy that I've been able to entertain all of you guys with this wild story thus far. The feedback has been truly encouraging, and I appreciate your comments and reviews. I read over every single one. It means so much, and I thank you again.

Anyway. I hope to continue to provide more gripping tales of this epic adventure, and to shed more light on this tragic romance between our reckless young Hylian and our favorite red-finned Zora girl. I'll do my very best, I promise.

'Season 2' will begin in earnest in a few days, starting with Chapter 21: Surface. With that, we enter the recovery arc. It should prove to be a bit lighthearted to start out, though we will once again find ourselves on a nonstop roller coaster to the very end once we hit Gerudo Desert.
Hope to see you soon! Thanks again for your readership, and for your tremendous patience.

-James