And I'm back! The last few months have been quite a whirlwind but I'm happy to be revisiting this story. I have admittedly been interested in other things apart from Zelda, and as such haven't been invested in writing this story much at all. I sincerely apologise for that. But in general, when I write these chapters, I want them to come from a place of personal interest rather than doing it as a chore. I feel I'd be doing you all a disservice otherwise. At any rate, enjoy the chapter!
Urbosa's ethereal spirit stared out in the distant horizon, Hyrule Castle appearing as nothing more than a speck from her vantage point atop Vah Naboris. Her Divine Beast sat on a high mountain just east of Gerudo Desert. Its head was trained directly at the swirling mass of dark malice known as Calamity Ganon as it prepared to take aim with its ludicrously powerful laser beam.
Its telescoping legs lurched forward, maneuvering it into a crouched position. The ear-like appendages on either side of its robotic face rotated forwarded and extended outwards, generating a large orb of glowing red energy between them. With a massive burst, a red energy blast shot out of the orb, eventually colliding with the cloud of dark malice surrounding the distant Hyrule Castle. A low, menacing wail seemed to emanate from the dark cloud, echoing across the landscape.
"Nabooru…" Urbosa said out loud, as she made her way to the top of Naboris's head and crossed her arms with pride. "...Legend of the Gerudo, celebrated over ages…" she glanced down and smiled at her Divine Beast, now back in her rightful possession due to Link's efforts. "And you, who were named to honor her - you are a legend as well. Isn't that right, Naboris?"
The beast shuddered slightly, as if acknowledging her praise.
"The bitter essence of defeat from a century ago still sits upon my tongue," Urbosa continued. "But that is now in the past." Her face scowled in slight disgust. "It was written that Calamity Ganon once adopted the form of a Gerudo. And that… will make this victory all the more satisfying. I like that. Now… I can take this personally ..."
She continued to gaze out in the distant horizon in solemn reflection of the inevitable war still to come. With two of the four Divine Beasts now back in the hands of the Champions, Calamity Ganon's efforts to resist would surely escalate from this point on. However, she truly hoped - and indeed, she believed - that Link would ultimately find a way to destroy him once and for all.
"Once we've established a lock on that thing… it will be up to Link to keep Ganon occupied until the moment we unleash our strike." She grinned to herself with pride, practically licking her lips with glee.
"That moment… is going to be so delicious!"
"I don't suppose you intend to argue with me about sticking around again, huh?" Link stared up at Paya, grinning, as she sat upon her newly-acquired rental horse. They were at a crossroads now, two weeks into their journey through Hyrule field, and the Sheikah warrior now seemed unsurprisingly hesitant to depart from his side.
"I um...w-well, no. I don't," Paya said. "I've already made my decision after all…" She bit at her lower lip, hoping in vain to conjure up more appropriate parting words for the occasion. But she was simply unable. "I think… that I would just be a hindrance to you from this point on anyway," she finally said, with a hint of sadness.
Link closed his eyes and shrugged. "I see. Don't get me wrong Paya, I… appreciate everything you've done. Truly I do. But the last thing I want is to put you in harm's way. Again." He averted his eyes briefly as he spoke. "I think it's in your best interests to get back to Kakariko... I'm sure you're needed back home."
In their two weeks of travel, it was understood between the two that Paya would be departing. In spite of her rather impressive performance back at the Yiga Clan hideout, the young Sheikah ultimately realized that she wasn't truly prepared to assist Link in his remaining journey after all. She felt completely out of her league, and admittedly overwhelmed by everything that happened inside Vah Naboris. But more than that, there was something else she needed to do anyway - something she felt was for more urgent than continuing to get in Link's way any longer. She stared down the winding road that would lead her back towards Kakariko Village, and she sighed as she recalled her encounter with Mipha's spirit back in Vah Naboris.
"Please… watch over Link for me…" the ghost of the Zora princess had said, way back inside Vah Naboris. Paya shook her head at the memory. It seemed that, in the end, she wouldn't be able to keep her promise to Lady Mipha after all.
Link continued to stare quizzically at Paya, who seemed suddenly preoccupied by her swirling thoughts. Despite all they'd been through in their brief time together, Link himself also struggled to find the right parting words for Paya. And with her sudden silence growing all the more awkward, Link simply decided he'd try to break the tension with a bit of lightheartedness. He smiled at her warmly.
"By the way… I have one last question for you, before you go."
Paya's snapped back to the present and turned to Link with a shy smile. "Y-Yes, What is it?"
Link's eyes narrowed to a slight sneer. "Why… did your parents decide to name you 'Paya' anyway?"
Paya offered up her own mild sneer in return. "Ah, well, Link. That… is a secret to everyone!"
But Link just stared blankly for a while in response. It seemed her efforts to be cheeky flew right over his head. Eventually he shrugged, rolling his eyes as he did. "Ha, I'll bet it's actually because you've got some kind of papaya-shaped birthmark on your butt or something!"
Paya's face instantly turned radish-red. And Link's eyes widened with realization. Seemed he'd hit the nail on the head, so to speak. Oops.
Paya abruptly bucked at her horse's ribs and began to ride away in embarrassment, leaving a bewildered Link in the dust behind her. But after letting him stew a bit, she finally offered a parting wave in his direction, which he happily returned with a relieved smile.
Soon, the rapid gallop of Paya's horse slowed to a steady trot, and she turned her attention back to the road, growing lost in her thoughts of Mipha yet again. Truly, her encounter with the Zora princess - not to mention her experience of the distant memories Link had shared with her - had left quite an indelible impact on her. Paya's heart ached for the two, and she lamented all that they'd lost in the wake of Calamity Ganon's attack a century ago. But her mind quickly turned to the ancient Sheikah texts hidden away inside Impa's home. There were piles upon piles of documents and artifacts, most of which had not been examined for several decades in the wake of the great Calamity. She'd begin her research there.
I might not be able to keep my promise to Lady Mipha, she thought. But perhaps… I can help Link in some other way...
Finally content with her decision, Paya rode confidently down the road, eventually appearing as no more than a distant speck to Link. And once she'd finally disappeared, he immediately walked back towards the nearby stable to check on Epona one last time. For a small fee the stable owners had agreed to watch over his horse for the time being. After all, he felt it would be far more efficient to simply teleport to his next destination now that Paya was gone.
Link produced a handful of apples from his bag, feeding them to Epona as he brushed her silky mane. "It's okay old girl," he said to her. "I'll be back soon." Epona neighed back in acknowledgement, licking Link's face with her large tongue before returning to her meal. Link patted her head one last time, then walked back from the stable fence towards the road behind him. He whipped out his Sheikah Slate, made a few taps here and there, and his finger soon hovered over the shrine of Ne'ez Yohma. This particular shrine was located deep inside a place that he'd longed to visit again for quite some time now, ever since his encounter with the elders back on the desert island where he'd previously met his demise:
Zora's Domain.
It was finally time to return home.
Link glanced around himself and made sure the area was clear. But before he could press down on the screen and begin to teleport, something nearby caught his eye. Link turned his head, his eyes widening with the shock of familiarity.
He saw… a walking tree. One that vaguely resembled a portly, mustached man. It was the same plant-like creature that he'd seen on his way to Kakariko months before.
Except this time, it was speaking to him.
"Yahaha! It's you again!" the creature said. "Can you see me?!"
Link stared after the strange treelike being for a few seconds. Then he shook his head.
"Nope."
He abruptly tapped the Ne'ez Yohma icon on his slate, causing him to erupt into a shower of blue sparks and swirling lights.
And then he was gone.
A familiar feeling of weightlessness settled into Link's being as his body dematerialized, teleporting rapidly through the ether in the direction of Zora's Domain. His thoughts were scattered, disconnected. Visions of his newly-acquired memories swirled through his mind, filling his heart with endless joy and bottomless sorrow.
And suddenly there was silence. Nothing but darkness surrounded him. He tried to gather his thoughts, but there was nothing. But he found himself enjoying it, really. For one merciful, fleeting moment he knew only peace. Contentment, quiet, serenity, and-
"G-GWAAAAH!"
Link opened his eyes. The sound of rushing water and shouting suddenly filled his ears, as a familiar scene of the carved blue stone and tiled floors of Zora's Domain crossed his eyes.
And in the center of the chamber he now found himself in was… a startled goron?
"Where in Hylia's name did you come from?!" The goron said. "I was just examining this… weird-shaped building here and then I-" He stared after the topless Hylian before him, then quickly put two-and-two together.
"Ahem, sorry about that. Uh, the name's Reagah. Good to meet ya!" He extended a hand in greeting, which Link returned with a smile.
"Ah, well Reagah, I… am Link. And I…"
"I already know!" the goron interrupted, with a laugh. "You're all anybody talks about around here!" He glanced around the large, flooded room and shrugged. "Besides, it's rare to see your kind around here. Figured if any Hylian was visiting here, it would be you!"
"I see," Link's arms found their usual place on his hips as he examined the goron. This was the first one he'd encountered in-person since waking up from his slumber. Although Reagah was a bit smaller than Daruk had been, he was still quite an imposing specimen indeed. Link briefly glanced up. Atop the goron's head was a tall, gray clump of hair tied in a band. On his back was a rather large knapsack, nearly twice as big as Link himself.
Which means…
"I take it you're a traveler?" Link offered.
"That's right!" Reagah said. "And a bit of a fighter, to bootI Was actually... recruited by Sidon a good while back. Cuz I can touch shock arrows. But I also weigh… well, a lot. Ha ha! So he decided I was too big to carry on his back. Pretty mean of him to say, right?"
"...Actually, I'd say that's pretty accurate," Link deadpanned.
"Rude!"
"Also accurate."
"Ha! Well, anyway," Reagah continued, "I was exploring the area for a long while and eventually decided to make my way up here after all. But by then, 'ol Vah Ruta was already tamed! Looks like you beat me to it!"
"Sorry about that…" Link said, insincerely. He paused for a moment, then decided he'd change the subject. "Are you from Goron City? I'm… actually headed that way next, Vah Rudania is my next target. Can you give me any information that might help me out?"
"Goron City? Born and raised!" Reagah replied. "As for information… hmmm…." He scratched at his large chin absentmindedly. "Well, it's… uh, super hot there. Unlike here…"
"That's a given…" Link said. "And…?"
Reagah stared at Link for a moment, then shrugged. "That's all I got, sorry! It's been a while since I've visited home. A long while. Afraid I don't know much more than that."
"I see. Well... nice meeting you Reagah. See you around…" He began to make his way towards the stairs, when his new goron friend suddenly shouted from behind him.
"Wait, wait! Hold on, I think I do have something…"
Link spun on his heels, staring back up at Reagah.
"There's… something I heard about in my travels," the goron said. "Some kind of ancient tech lab, just east of Death Mountain in the Akkala region. I heard they might have something there that can keep your kind from getting… well, incinerated by the heat. Might be a bit of a longshot though…"
Link stared at the ground in thought.
'Akkala'...? Ah… that's right…
He recalled that Zelda had mentioned that region as the location of the Spring of Power in his recent memories. And though his recollection of the past was still rather fragmented, he knew deep down that he'd been to Akkala before, all those years ago.
Well, well! Looks like I have several reasons to head that way now… he thought.
Reagah noticed Link's blank stare, holding up his hands defensively. "Sorry about that... Link. I know that's probably not really helpful to you-"
"Oh no, it's a big help! Seriously!" Link paused for a moment, considering Daruk's typical greeting in these situations. "Thanks for the tip, brother!" He reared his hand back, then slapped Reagah's backside with all his might.
"OUCH!"
As expected, it didn't take long for word of Link's return to spread like a tsunami through the confines of the Domain. Link silently made his way to the throne room, making sure to offer a wave or greeting to any of the dozens of Zora who ran over to greet him with excitement. He couldn't help but notice the conspicuous absence of the elders of the Zora council, however. He'd have to question Dorephan about that later.
"Link! My boy, it is so good to see you!" The booming voice of the Zora king echoed, as always, through the chamber of the throne room as Link arrived. The curious group of Zora all departed to give Link some space as he offered a courteous bow to the king. But Dorephan waved him off.
"Now now, you know you can spare the formalities around me," he said. "You are family, after all!"
Link looked up at the large, smiling face of the king, and grinned in return. His hands found their place on his hips as he spoke. "Point taken. It looks like Muzu isn't around to complain about my lack of manners anyway!"
"Wahahaha!" Dorephan laughed heartily at Link's statement. "Well, about that…" He motioned his hand as he spoke. "Now that Vah Ruta has been tamed, the elders of the Zora council saw fit to resume our annual conference with our fellow domains. It has, after all, been several decades since we last made any contact…"
Link frowned slightly. He'd been looking forward to seeing the elders again, especially after their last encounter on the remote island where he'd nearly met his demise. Still, he found himself relieved that the group had indeed made it back to the domain safely.
"Link…" Dorephan said, his mood suddenly changing to match his. "I heard all about your terrible ordeal on the island. And I must offer my sincere apologies. If we had only considered your emotional state after taming Vah Ruta, perhaps you'd-"
"Not at all," Link interrupted, shaking his head. "I'm sorry to have caused you to worry, with my disappearance and all. I wasn't in a good place, and I… well, I'm much better now. Let's just chalk that all up to my… teenage hormones acting up." He grinned widely, producing yet another chuckle from the great king.
"Aha! Well, then we shall let the past be the past. And I have to say… it's good to see you in great spirits again…" he waved his hand in the air in front of him, causing Link to turn his head behind. Just outside the throne room, an enormous group of curious Zora stood by. They stared back with expectant, hopeful eyes. Link swallowed nervously as he caught sight of them. He knew what was coming.
"I found it necessary to check on your mood…" Dorephan explained, "...before opening the floodgates again!" At this, the rush of Zora swept into the room, crowding around Link and showering him with a jubilant cheer.
Much to Link's surprise, the enormous king himself suddenly stood up from his throne. His head rose higher and higher into the air, practically touching the large domed ceiling of the throne room. He towered over Link, staring down at him with warm glee.
"As you likely should already know, it is quite customary for a new fiancé of the princess of the Zora... to have a formal banquet held in his honor. Is it not?" He slowly crouched down to one knee, placing his large hand gently on Link's shoulder with a wide smile across his face.
"Welcome home, my son."
With the announcement of the banquet in Link's honor, scheduled to take place later that evening, Link suddenly found that he had a bit of time to kill. So he first made sure to complete the trials within Ne'ez Yohma shrine, having not had the time to do so during his last visit. After a brief stop at a small statue of the goddess Hylia to pray, he made his way over to Dento's empty workshop. He quickly lit the forge and began to work of repairing his ceremonial trident.
The work was difficult, and he found himself sweating profusely from the heat of the forge. But as he repeatedly beat his hammer against the heated metal of the trident, he found the monotonous work to be rather meditative in a strange sort of way. He pounded away in a frenzy, throwing every ounce of his frustration and heartache into each strike. His well-toned muscles glistened and flexed with every pound. His grunts echoed loudly throughout the interior of the Domain, occasionally drawing the attention of one of the dozens of Zora scurrying to and fro as they hurriedly worked to prepare the market area for the banquet. Fortunately, they knew better than to interrupt this frustrated Hylian Knight in the middle of his work. And as Link continued on into the afternoon, he nearly missed the looming presence sneaking up just behind him.
"Not to be rude," Link said abruptly, without bothering to turn around. "But there is something I really need to finish before tonight's banquet. So if you don't mind, I- OOF!"
A pair of large, red-finned arms wrapped around Link's torso from behind him, lifting him high into the air. A crackle of familiar, powerful laughter filled Link's ears as he spun his head around to face the sharp-toothed grin of…
"Hello!"
...the Zora prince Sidon.
"Warmest greetings, my incredible and wonderful friend! Or should I say, my brother ?" Sidon said, still clutching him tightly. "It's quite lovely to see you again!" He dropped Link to the floor with a splash, and the Hylian boy spun on his heels to shake Sidon's hand. "Same to you, Sidon! It's good to be back…"
Sidon smiled. "The moment I heard of your arrival I swam straight up the river at near light-speed to greet you!" He peeked his head Link, staring back at the lit forge and clutter of tools behind him. "Though it appears I've interrupted your work. Might I ask what you are working on?"
Link glanced behind him. "Ah this… well…" he gulped loudly. "During my travels in the Gerudo Desert, I seem to have seriously damaged the ceremonial trident. As well as… Mipha's armor."
"You what?!" Sidon's face curled into a furious scowl as he pointed a clawed finger directly in Link's face, causing him to raise an eyebrow. "How could you?!" Sidon shouted. "Those items are so incredibly precious to us Zora, and you disrespect my dear sister's name by destroyingthem without care?! For shame, my brother…"
Sidon's eye twitched slightly, betraying his true emotions. And finally, his angry facade cracked abruptly as he erupted in boisterous laughter. "A-haha! I jest, I jest!" He placed a hand on Link's shoulder. "These are weapons and armor after all," he said, gesturing towards the work bench. "I'd be more furious if you weren't using them at all! Though I'm disappointed that Mipha's handywork wasn't up to standard…"
Link exhaled quietly. "I see… for a split second there I thought you were actually angry. Your acting is pretty awful, by the way..."
Sidon rolled his eyes, then laughed again. "Oh Link, I could never, ever be mad at you! Especially for something so trivial" He stretched his arm out in his trademark pose and grinned. "I mean...have I mentioned how incredible you are? And how thankful I am? Because you are! And I am!" He paused for moment, then crossed his arms. "Actually Link, there's a reason I came to see you. I wanted to show you something…" he reached into the bag he was carrying, rummaging through its contents carefully. "We were recently going through some of Mipha's old things. We'd left them alone for many years after her disappearance. I suppose that we… wished to refrain from invading her privacy in the hopes that she would someday return to reclaim them…"
Sidon briefly paused his search, staring out at a distance waterfall for a while, and Link was surprised to see a pained expression cross the normally upbeat Zora prince's face.
"Ah I… well, that's actually… inaccurate," Sidon said. "The truth is… my father and I simply weren't strong enough to face the reality of her demise. However!" He turned to face Link, wiping a tear away from his eye. "With your recent return, and with the knowledge of Mipha's spirit watching over us now… we finally gathered up the courage! There were many things we found, mostly letters and such, but one thing stood out. It's… aha! Here it is!" From the bag, Sidon produced a small, nameless book. He opened the cover, showing Mipha's signed name on the first page.
"It's her diary! Who would have thought she'd actually kept one!" He approached Link, placing the book in his hands forcefully. "And after consultation with my father… we decided that we'd like you to have it! Given that you're her fiancé now, I believe it is rightfully yours."
Link reached over and carefully took the book from Sidon's outstretched hands. He spared a glance at Sidon's face, surprised to see that the brave Zora prince was actually crying.
"I'm sorry, Link," Sidon muttered. "It's unbecoming of me to show you such a side of me, but…. I miss her. Truly, I do. It has been so long since her passing, yet it only feels like a few days have passed since then."
"You and me both, my friend," Link said. He reached up and held Sidon in a strong embrace, which was gratefully returned. After a brief moment, Link pulled away and began to examine the book. As he flipped through the pages, a smile settled onto his face.
"You know…" he said, "I wonder how Mipha would react if she found out I was looking through this…"
Sidon paused for a moment in careful thought, then flashed a sharp tooth grin. He balled his fists, softening his expression. "Don't read it!" he suddenly shouted, in the most feminine voice he could muster. Despite the circumstances, Link found himself laughing uncontrollably, for what felt like the first time in decades.
As the sunny afternoon gave way to night, Link continued to work on his damaged equipment. Sidon joined in on the work, and even the members of the Bazz Brigade slowly began to file into Dento's workshop. Their guard shifts completed, they too began to assist Link with the heavy repair work. And in no time, it was all finished.
"That was way harder work than I expected," Rivan said, wiping his slick forehead with his arm. "Sure am glad I stuck with the military, instead of becoming Dento's apprentice. I'm not cut out for blacksmithing at all."
Gaddison rolled her eyes. "Well, you're not exactly a top-notch guard either. Didn't I catch you napping on the job once?"
"I-it was one time!" Rivan shouted, as Link and Sidon laughed loudly in the background. "And ol' Sergeant Seggin never let me hear the end of that one anyway. I've paid my dues."
"Yeah well, you still owe me for that!" said Bazz, as he helped Link put Dento's tools away. "You wouldn't believe how hard it was to convince my dad not to force you to swim two hundred laps around the Domain. Again."
By the workshop entrance, Rivan's purple-scaled daughter Dunma held her hands up in quiet acknowledgement of her father's shortcomings. Link held back a snicker at this.
"Okay okay, fine," Rivan said. "Can we please stop talking about this? You're making me look like a total idiot in front of Link…" He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly as he said this.
"Oh, don't worry," Gaddison said, "looking stupid is pretty much second-nature for you." She pulled Rivan into a headlock and began to rub his head with her fist playfully. "You don't need our help for that!"
As Gaddison and Rivan continued to fight, Bazz walked over with Link to examine their handywork. "Not a bad job, if I do say so myself," he said. He carefully rubbed his black hand over the chest of the Zora armor. "With the extra plating, this thing's sure to last several lifetimes." He lifted it up and tossed it to Link, who quickly donned the armor in one smooth motion.
"And I'm quite glad to see that Mipha's scale is still intact as well!" Sidon said. "Though I'm told that the white scale is one of the toughest substances in all of Hyrule!"
"Be that as it may, I hope I won't be testing the limits of that any time soon," Link said. He patted his armor down and crossed his arms. "I'll be sure to take better care of this going forward…" As he glanced around the room, he smiled at all of his old friends. "Anyway. I want to thank you all for your help. It really means a lot. I have to say… it's been a pretty lonely road so far… and it's honestly a comfort to be able to be here with you again. Even if it's only for a short while…
"Aw, don't get all sentimental with us now!" Gaddison said, releasing her headlock on Rivan. She walked over towards Link, towering over him as always, and patted him gently on the head. "We still have a full night to catch up with each other! After all, there's nothing in all the world like a crazy Zora banquet! Just have some fun with us, like old times!"
"Exactly," said Bazz. "In fact, you'll be positively sick of us by the time morning comes! I doubt you'll ever feel lonesome again after another wild night with this bunch."
To this, the Bazz Brigade all laughed loudly in unison. Link even managed a friendly smile as well. And yet... he struggled to shake an awful feeling that was brewing deep inside of him. He couldn't quite put a finger on it… but it seemed that some part of him was incredibly restless. It was as if he somehow didn't belong here anymore. As if too much time had simply passed him by, and simply thrown him by the wayside. He quickly shook the feelings away.
"Well Link, if you're ever truly feeling lonely," Rivan said, "my daughter Dunma over there is still single…" He gestured with his thumb towards the rather unassuming purple-scaled Zora still standing nearby.
Dunma's face curled into a look of pure horror.
"Excuse me?!"
"I am honored to have the privilege of addressing all of you. Not just as a friend… but as a member of your family."
The assembly grew quiet as Link began to speak. After several minutes of poking and prodding, he was finally convinced to speak to the expectant crowd of Zora gathered together for the evening's feast. And although Link had certainly inherited his father's affinity for spinning stories, he'd initially found himself at a strange loss of words. But after a bit of silence and contemplation, he continued to speak.
"The pain I feel from Mipha's death is deep. But it's something I've really only had to deal with for a few months now. I can't even imagine what an entire century of heartache feels like…"
He stared up at Mipha's statue above him, its likeness of his dear friend producing a genuine smile in him. And he continued.
"I can offer you very little in the way of comfort. But just know this: I loved her. Just as I love all of you."
The crowd of Zora all sighed happily with pleasure at Link's words. The feeling was, of course, perfectly mutual.
"Meanwhile, I have a responsibility now, to right the world of all its wrongs and to atone for past mistakes. I want you to know that I will defeat Ganon once and for all, and see this thing through to the end. No matter what it takes. I want you to know… this is not the end of all things, but the beginning of something beautiful and exciting. And with that…"
He held his glass up in a toast.
"To Mipha," he said.
"TO MIPHA!"
The feast began in earnest, with native Zora delicacies of raw fish and snails as well as several barrels of expensive liquor being passed around the table like clockwork. After a while, Link's voracious appetite finally caught up with him and he found himself gorging on plate after plate of delicious food - much to the delight of his Zora brethren. As the night wore on and the drinks flowed like rushing water, the joyous feast inevitably gave way to boundless drunken shenanigans.
Like father like son, I suppose, thought Link, as a greatly inebriated Bazz spouted off playful invitations to fight towards anyone within earshot. A split second later, Bazz found himself on the ground, tapping out of a painful armbar courtesy of Link - the only person both brave and sober enough to challenge him in such a state. After several violent wrestling matches with some of the Zora army's other strongest warriors, the competition quickly moved to the enormous lake below Zora's Domain, where furious swimming matches became the main event of the evening. In a fit of insanity, the drunken Bazz even dared to challenge King Dorephan himself to a race. He was promptly tossed aside in the King's wake like a leaf against a tidal wave. It seemed old Dorephan still had some incredible power behind his equally incredible girth.
The evening gave way to late night, and the tight-knit members of the Bazz Brigade each took turns telling stories and reminiscing of days long past. Link told them of his travels, his struggles, and his hopes for a brighter future. They listened with honest and earnest intent, riding the tale of Link's adventures like a trip on the back of a flailing Molduga. Link couldn't help but laugh at the fact that, after all these years, his friends were still the same old suckers for a well-told story.
But before the evening was over, Link abruptly bid his friends an early 'good night,' helping the drunken Bazz up off the floor. He felt a somber sense of déjà vu as he helped walk the poor Zora guard back to his quarters to sleep. After all, it was quite reminiscent of all the times he'd done the same with Bazz's father, Seggin - but with the glaring absence of a certain red-finned Zora girl helping to bear some of the weight on the other side.
A bed had been prepared at the inn, courtesy of Link's old friend Kodah. Knowing this, the tired Hylian decided it best to turn in early for the night. Having previously regained his vivid memories of the Champion's night out in Castle Town, he felt that he'd experienced enough drunken misadventures for an entire lifetime. Even if those escapades had taken place over one hundred years prior.
But instead of passing out from his exhaustion, he tossed and turned for hours, unable to get even a wink of sleep. His mind raced with his recollection of the events of the day, and he mourned the fact that he'd spent most of his time back in the Domain feeling out-of-place in a strange sort of way. And as the hours went on, the commotion outside of the inn gradually faded to the calm silence of night. The mesmerizing sound of flowing water overtook his mind, eventually focusing his thoughts on memories long past. His mind began to replay the aftermath of the experience in the Merry Moblin all those years ago. He recalled the warmth of his conversations with Mipha, the soft feel of her outstretched hand, the look of her sleeping face bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, and the heartache from his past now lost to the merciless passage of time.
He suddenly jumped to his feet, pulled his newly-repaired Zora Tunic on over his head. He knew he wasn't about to get to sleep anytime soon. And the stillness of the night only seemed to prolong his pained reflection of his recovered memories. So he began to make his way down the watery paths of Zora's Domain, hoping to focus his mind on his next objectives.
There were now two more Divine Beasts yet to reclaim: Vah Rudania of the Gorons, and Vah Medoh of the Rito tribe. With any luck, he'd be able to tame them rather quickly, and then set out on his ultimate mission of exacting vengeance on Calamity Ganon. But if his previous encounters thus far had been any sort of indication, luck most certainly was not on his side at the moment.
Clutching Mipha's Diary, he carefully thumbed the soft cover in contemplation. He'd put off reading the thing for a while, and still wasn't quite sure that he should. But after some careful consideration he decided now was as good a time as any.
So much for taking my mind off her… he thought to himself. He took as seat right there on the wet ground, and began to read the moonlit words of his dear friend, Lady Mipha.
"An outsider came to stay with us at the domain today - a Hylian child of only ten years of age. He is the son of the our deceased friend, the Hylian Captain. The child's name is Link, and he made quite a first impression. He was curious and full of energy, with a ready smile. Are all Hylian children that way? One thing that surely sets him apart is his swordsmanship, which I hear is exceptional. He has even bested adults. He must be somewhat reckless, however, just like his father. He was covered in bruises and scratches. Wishing to be helpful, I attempted to heal his wounds for him. The way he curiously looked up at me with big, round eyes, was absolutely adorable. But it pains me to say that I was unable to heal him. It seems my healing magic is still yet unstable. Perhaps soon I will be able to figure out why."
"Link has been staying with us for quite some time now. It feels as if his height increases roughly an inch per day! And with it, so too grows his recklessness. He nearly died attempting the infamous dive off Shatterback Point. But something incredible happened in the aftermath. I discovered the true extent of the capability of my healing magic. His impact with the surface of the water had surely left him crippled for life, that much had been certain. I have healed countless soldiers in the past, and never had I dealt with so severe an injury as his. Yet there he now stands, good as new and reckless as ever. I believe… that I have now discovered precisely what triggers my abilities. And to be quite honest, I am not so sure what to make of it right now."
"A Divine Beast was excavated from Zora's Domain. This one is called Vah Ruta. The first time I laid eyes on Ruta, I was surprised by how cute it was. It's so big and round, with a long, awkward nose. According to the Sheikah who found Ruta, Divine Beasts require someone worthy to control them. It's fun to imagine someone piloting this enormous beast in the distant past. I wonder who will have that honor next."
"The King of Hyrule and his daughter, Princess Zelda, paid special visit to the domain. The princess asked me if I would agree to pilot a Divine Beast. She told me she needs my help to face the Calamity. My heart knew at once what to do, so I agreed without reservation. Calamity Ganon must not be resurrected. If he is, there is no way to ensure the safety of my people, or of anyone. I do not know what will happen. All I know is that if there is anything I can do to help, I must try. I must protect Hyrule.
Upon my acceptance, we quickly met with the Zora council to discuss the selection. After much deliberation, Father finally gave his blessing for me to be Ruta's pilot. He believes that the threat of the Calamity can no longer be ignored. The Zora must play their part. He seemed on the brink of tears when he made me promise to return unharmed. My eyes burned with tears as well, so I simply nodded. Seggin could hardly look at me. Muzu left partway through. I feel awful for putting them through this, but I must do what I can to help Link. I could never forgive myself otherwise.
Speaking of which, Link came to visit the domain! The timing could not have been any better. It feels like forever since he was here last, but it has only been about two years. He no longer resembles the child I first met. He is now an accomplished knight. I am so proud. However... He doesn't speak as much anymore, and smiles even more rarely. He is still the kind soul I knew, but something has changed. I asked him if something had happened, if something was wrong. He told me of his experience at the Knight's academy, of the intense bullying and suffering he endured, simply for being associated with the Zora. And it seemed even he was surprised by his own silent demeanor. After a couple of days he slowly regained the energetic and youthful nature he once possessed. Still, there is an air of distance that persists around him, and a growing weight of responsibility that appears to weigh heavily in his heart. Perhaps it is his newly acquired height, but I feel he is ever looking past me, into the distance beyond..."
"Link and I decided to go camping together. It had been ages. While we sat together in our favorite cave, we heard an unusual noise outside. Link insisted I wait behind, but I stubbornly stayed. Suddenly, a Lynel attacked us! I was struck by a shock arrow during the fight, sure that we would both meet our end. How silly of me to doubt. With a sure hand and a fierce gleam in his eye, Link helped me to defeat our foe. His spearmanship was swift and graceful. I was fascinated by the beauty of his movements. Though I should have been terrified, I could not help but feel safe in the presence of my dear friend. His kindness and determination to help those in need... His strength and skill... My heart is drawn to his. I am doomed."
Link closed his eyes for a brief moment. A mixture of sorrow and joy flooded his heart, and he couldn't help but feel guilty for violating Mipha's privacy like this - even if he already had Sidon's blessing to do so. It was almost as if the Zora princess was right there in his head in that very moment, blushing with embarrassment at the thought of this nosy Hylian violating her innermost thoughts.
Still, his morbid curiosity ultimately got the better of him. So he wiped a small tear from his eye and continued to read.
"Link visited us for the third time, and something unforgettable happened. I experienced something wondrous, a beautiful moment in time I shall treasure forever. I am grateful to the princess for allowing me some time alone with Link inside of Vah Ruta. I felt that I was finally able to break through his silent, stoic demeanor. For a brief moment, the weight of our responsibilities melted away in the peace and silence of that single night together. I saw a flash of the boy I once knew, the confident grin of the man I love. And I even managed to get a few measurements in the process as well! Perhaps I will finish crafting the armor sooner than I thought."
"Today was the Champion Celebration at Hyrule Castle. It was an honor to take part. However... Honestly, I do not remember much about it, other than a brief interruption by a rampaging ancient Guardian. Link and I were, after all, rather… exhausted from the previous night's activities - courtesy of Urbosa. Though I was shocked then by our relatively high tolerance for alcohol, I do not think I am too eager to recreate such an experience any time soon. Still, Link and I shared yet another unforgettable moment together. I just hope that the next time will not require such high levels of drunkenness!"
"Today, my white scale came in. I have officially come of age, and am a fully realized Zora adult. As such, I can finally complete that special armor for Link! I am confident it will fit him perfectly. The Champions have been traveling all across the land together. There have been numerous opportunities to present the armor to him, but… well, we keep getting interrupted by a certain blue-winged Champion. And even when we have some time to ourselves, I do not seem to possess the nerve to propose! So I am beginning to wonder... should I really go through with it? According to the old legend, long ago a Zora princess fell in love with a Hylian swordsman. Perhaps there is hope. Zora princess of the past...please lend me your courage-"
"Linny! Is that you? What are you doing up so late?!"
Link shut the book instantly, placing it carefully inside his bag as he climbed to his feet. Kodah was approaching him from down the path, a look of worry apparent across her face.
"Ah Kodah, it's nice to see you," Link said, nervously. He hoped she hadn't caught a glimpse of what he was reading, but it seemed she was quite preoccupied with her own worries. "Is something wrong?" he asked her.
"Oh I, um, it's no matter. I don't want to bother you with something so minor, I'm sure you have better things to-"
"Spit it out," Link said. It was rare to see Kodah in a state outside of her usual bubbly self. Something was definitely wrong. "I'm more than happy to help," he said, "if there's anything I can do."
Kodah paused for a moment, then offered a pained smile. "Okay, if you insist. It's… my daughter. Finley. She's…" she paused for a moment, "well, she's gone missing. Ever since the banquet, I've been up all night searching for her." She looked away, scoffing mildly. "For her to go somewhere without telling anyone… I swear, she must get that from her father!"
Link frowned. He'd met the young Finley at the banquet, but only briefly. She was a small Zora, especially for her age, but seemed to act more like an adult than her own mother at times. Still, for her to be missing without telling anyone was not quite unlike Kodah herself. Link decided not to point that out.
"I'm sorry to hear that…" Link said. "Although… I seem to recall her saying something odd last night. 'I want to find a prince of my own, just like Lady Mipha!' or something like that…"
"Really!" Koda said. "Then… hmmm… I wonder... if she's on her way to the Bank of Wishes again. That silly girl…"
She stared down at the now-puzzled Link, and shrugged. "Linny… I hate to ask this of you, but would you mind checking downriver for her? I don't doubt that she can handle herself, but if something has happened to her, then-"
"I'm on it." Link said, flatly. "I'll let you know right away if I find anything." He spun on his heels and began to walk towards the entrance to the Domain. "It's safer if I go by myself anyway, what with all the lizalfos out and about."
"Oh Linny, thank you, thank you!"
Koda watched as Link disappeared into the darkness, sighing to herself with a smile.
"Just as gallant as I remember you…" she said, to nobody in particular. She stared up at the nearby statue of the late Zora Princess and shook her head.
"You sure are lucky, Lady Mipha."
It seemed Kodah's suspicions were correct. After making his way downstream, encountering a few shock arrow-wielding Lizalfos along the way, Link finally found young Finley loafing around the Bank of Wishes on the shoreline of the Zora River.
"Carry… my thoughts… to him…" she whispered, scarcely noticing the Hylian Warrior quietly floating down on his glider behind her. She appeared to be praying to a small red cylinder in front of her - one which carried ornate gold etchings across its surface.
"Excuse me-" Link began, as he folded up his glider and began to approach the red-scaled Zora girl. Startled, the young Finely spun on her heels and gasped.
"Oh! You surprised me! I didn't expect to see anyone out here so late!" Link rolled his eyes at this. Blissfully ignorant, just like her mother, he thought. If I'd been a Lizalfos instead….
"Do you have a wish for the water fairy as well, Link?" Finley asked. She examined him up and down and shook her head. "Oh, never mind. I suppose not. If you did, you'd have a letter to send!" She paused for a moment, then smiled. "Wait, does that mean you're… a servant of the water fairy?"
Link shrugged. "I'm pretty much everybody's servant these days. So I guess that's right."
"Oh really!" Finley said, crossing her arms bashfully. "How lucky!" She swung her small hips from side to side as she stared up at Link. "If that's the case, I have an important request for you! Once I release this," she patted the surface of the red cylinder behind her, "I'd like you to follow my love letter and get to know whoever picks it up. Once you do that, please report back to me so I can find out what kind of person he is…"
Link glanced downstream, then back at Finley. Why not just go yourself, lazy girl-
"I know, I know," Finley said, "you're probably thinking, 'why not just go yourself, lazy girl?'"
Link raised an eyebrow, and Finley smiled. "I'm right aren't I?"
Link held his hands up in defeat. "Yeah, yeah, you got me. But more importantly, I can't just leave you out here on your own-"
"Yeah, I guess," Finley interrupted, "but my mom always tells me not to venture too far out."
"Your mom doesn't even know you're out here," Link deadpanned. "If you've gone this far, might as well finish the job, right?"
Finley frowned for a moment. "Y-you… do have a point there." She rubbed her small chin with her hand for a moment, then grinned. "Okay! If you'll escort me to wherever this letter goes, then it's a deal! Although, I have nothing to offer you as a reward-"
"Don't worry about it, let's just get this done. Ready?"
Finley nodded. "Ready!" She kicked the cylinder straight into the water, and the pair was off.
As expected, the two soon encountered a variety of monsters in the river, including octoroks and lizalfos. Fortunately, Finley was quite agile in the water, and she did her best to stay out of trouble as Link dispatched their enemies with relative ease. They continued following the letter floating swiftly downstream, passing through small forests, under bridges, and through narrow canyons. And in no time, the pair found themselves floating through a massive wooden fortress above the river - the same fortress where Link had first encountered Sidon several months prior. Dozens of zombified lizalfos - courtesy of Ganon's blood moon - lingered above on the planks of the floating fortress. But they seemed to take no notice of the armor-glad Hylian and his little Zora friend floating in the water beneath them.
Soon, the red cylinder containing Finley's love letter was beached on the bank of a small pond, just underneath a tree. There, a strange traveler sat by a small campfire, the letter now in his hands. So engrossed by the letter's words was he that he didn't notice Link and Finley approaching him from the water.
"Hello there!" Link said. The traveler glanced up, and Finley quickly dashed behind Link's legs, peeking out shyly from the side.
"Oh hi!" the traveler said. He climbed to his feet and approached Link. "The name's Sasan! I've been camped out here for a little while now…"
Link looked the man over and shrugged. He was dressed plainly, with a simple blue collared shirt and white pants. His hair was short and brown, his ears long and pointed like most Hylians. His eyes were incredibly beady, and Link found himself almost having to squint in order to see them properly. In short: he wasn't much to look at.
But really, Link thought, who am I to judge?
Link shook his hand. "Well Sasan, I… am Link. And I…" he glanced down at Finley behind him. "...Am a... servant for the water fairy?"
Sasan laughed out loud. "Well, Mister 'Water Fairy,' or whatever, I have a random question for you. You ever been to Zora's Domain?"
Link couldn't help but laugh out loud at the question, much to Sasan's surprise.
"You could say I'm acquainted with the place…" Link said with a grin. "In fact, I've been following this letter down the river from there to make sure it ended up in the right spot…"
"I see, I see," replied Sasan. "So is it pretty far from here?"
"A short ways up the river, actually. Why do you ask?"
Sasan approached Link and crossed his arms. "Well to start, I want to thank you for delivering this letter to me! I've been corresponding with a lovely Zora by the name of Finley, giving my replies to travelers heading to the Domain."
Link raised an eyebrow. The man appeared to be in his thirties, judging by his face. He glanced back down at the still-hidden Finley and shrugged. In reality, she was probably in her thirties as well; even if she didn't quite look the part.
"Well, if you've been writing to her for so long," Link said, "what's kept you from visiting her in-person?"
Sasan rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Well, the thing is…. I lied to her. I wrote that I was a buff traveler." He flexed his small arms weakly and sighed. "As you can see… that's a bit of an overstatement."
"I'll say."
"Yeah… and she said she wanted to meet me, but…" Sasan looked away. "I can't help but feel that she'd be disappointed with the truth-"
"THAT'S NOT TRUE AT ALL!" Finley jumped out from behind Link, running up to Sasan. "You're… you're… so handsome!"
Sasan's face turned bright red with embarrassment. "You really think so? I-" He paused. "Wait, hold on... are you… Finley…?"
"In the flesh!" she said. She was hopping up and down with sheer excitement. "I'm so happy to finally meet you! My soul mate!"
Sasan crouched down to one knee, holding Finley's small hands in his own. Link couldn't help but feel a bit… uncomfortable with the situation. He wasn't particularly good with mushy romantic stuff. But he continued to awkwardly observe the scene unfold in silence anyway.
"It's… so great to finally meet you Finley," Sasan said. "Though I sort of expected someone… taller."
Finley sighed. "I'm sorry… because we Zora age differently from you, I'm sort of in that annoying stage where I look like a kid… but I'm actually a young woman! I hope that doesn't… bother you-"
"Not at all!" Sasan said. "I'm… sorry that I'm not quite up to standard myself…"
Finley giggled out loud. "Well then. If you promise to work out and build those big muscles you told me about, I promise to grow into a big, beautiful Zora! My growth spurt should be coming any day now! You'll see!"
Sasan smiled happily. "It's a deal! My darling…"
Link groaned loudly.
The group made their way back up the river towards Zora's Domain. It was the break of dawn now, which meant Link would soon be making his way Northeast towards the Akkala region. But first he had to make sure this helpless couple made it home safely…
"Link, thank you so much for everything…" Finley said as they walked. "If it wasn't for you, I'd have never met the love of my life!"
"I also want to thank you," said Sasan, "for giving me that extra push! I appreciate it!"
Link was hardly listening, and simply nodded in response. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the long journey ahead, with everything he'd had yet to accomplish… and most of all, with echoes of the words he'd read in Mipha's journal. He glanced over at the unlikely couple, then laughed to himself.
I suppose Mipha and I looked like a pretty strange pairing ourselves, way back then… he thought. With that in mind, a question began to form in the back of his head. After a moment he decided to ask it out loud.
"Finley?"
"Yes?"
"I wanted to ask you something."
"Anything, my dear hero!"
"Does it… bother you at all that… well, I mean, with Zora lifespans and all, do you think-"
Finley held a hand up to interrupt him. "You're wondering if it bothers me that I'll outlive Sasan, right?"
Link nodded. "I hadn't put much thought into it, all those years ago. So I guess I just wanted to get a Zora's perspective on things..."
Finley sighed. "It's true…" she looked up at Sasan and smiled. "I will certainly live far longer than he will… but!" She glanced back at Link. "It will be worth every single minute! And I will always cherish the time we spent together… until I rejoin him in Hylia's presence when I die too."
Link couldn't help but smile back at Finley. He found it humorous that he was taking comfort in the naive words of a young child.
Then again… he thought, I suppose wisdom knows no age… does it?
Finley returned Link's gaze. "I mean, it's just like you told us, right?" she said. "Death... is not the end of all things… but the beginning of something beautiful and exciting."
Thanks for your patience! Didn't mean for it to take so long to update, but I'm happy we're finally moving the story along. Lots to come on the horizon, and I still intend to see this all the way through. Here's hoping you won't have to wait as long for the next one! See you in Chapter 32: Footsteps.
I wanted to give a special thanks to one of my readers, CapriciousCupcake55, for doing some fanart for the story! It means a lot to have such patient fans, and I feel like his piece really captured the feel and mood that I'm going for in this story. Sorry for Fanfiction readers, but I can't post links in here. You can view the piece on this story posting on Archive of our Own, however! I encourage you to check it out!
Thanks again, CapriciousCupcake55.
