At Zora's Domain, the local healers were working on healing the company's injuries. Naturally, the healers were helping.
Sidon turned out to have not been as badly injured as he seemed, and Link had recovered surprisingly quickly. But everyone else didn't seem like they would get better without taking time.
Time they did not have. "Well, it looks like it's down to us to free Vah Ruta," Linhardt said.
Link nodded his head, but then frowned. "Is it really wise to risk your lives? You're the healers."
"It's better than letting you try to free Ruta alone," Mercedes insisted. "Dorothea is a healer, and she can train more healers. We can't train another Hero."
Link nodded. "All right. Sidon? You have a plan?"
"I do," Sidon nodded. "But there is one thing we need first."
"Wait," Edelgard said, from her hospital bed. "My sword. Take it."
"Take your sword?" Link asked. "Why?"
"Was in the Vault," Edelgard explained. "Was more useful than other weapons during Blood Moon. Might be enchanted...to fight Ganon..."
Link nodded and took the longsword from her kit.
On the way to the palace, Link noticed that Flayn seemed a little distracted. "Flayn? What's on your mind?"
"The fight with the Lynel...all our friends were injured. They could have died," Flayn said.
"But they didn't," Link reassured her. "They all survived, because you protected them."
"And because of you," Flayn said. "You finished off the Lynel."
"I did," Link admitted.
"It's just...I have seen battle before Hyrule," Flayn admitted. "And many times, I was not this fortunate. I have lost good friends."
"And you're afraid we won't always be this successful," Link realized. Flayn nodded.
Link pursed his lips. "Maybe what we need to do is make sure we get better. We don't have time for training now, but we can do some training before we leave Zora's Domain."
"I believe that would be wise," Flayn agreed.
Sidon, Link, and the four healers returned to the palace. "I should kill you where you stand for endangering another member of the royal family," one of the older guards spat at Link.
Sidon swiftly moved to stand between Link and the older Zora, reaching out and placing a hand on his shoulder. "I went of my own volition, Seggin. Link did not encourage this. In fact, he actively tried to discourage it."
"But Prince Sidon, your father forbade you from—"
"I am well aware of my father's commands, thank you," Sidon said, his tone growing cool.
Seggin scowled. "Did you at least get the Lynel's shock arrows?"
Link took the Lynel's quiver off his back, showing the shock arrows within.
Seggin muttered and let them enter the throne room. The chamber within was largely empty, with the exception of King Dorephan, Sidon to his right, and Muzu to his left. The older Zora scowled at him when he entered, which he tried to ignore, focusing, instead, on Dorephan's smiling face.
"Welcome, my friend," King Dorephan said, leaning forward as he entered. "My son tells me that you have been victorious in your quest. That is twice now that you have slain such a creature in service for the Zora—a feat that will most certainly be recorded in our histories for generations to come."
Link frowned, but nodded. "Thank you, your majesty. But I could not have killed the Lynel without the rest of the Rising Sun Company."
King Dorephan smiled. "I am aware. And we will ensure your friends recover from their injuries as quickly as possible.
"And, as for my son's actions, though I cannot say that I approve of his disobedience…" King Dorephan looked towards Sidon, whose smile faded. "I also cannot deny the service rendered by both of you. Reckless, it may have been, yet I can hardly blame him. It is the duty of a king to protect his people, after all, and I have participated in my own share of dangerous battles. You shall make a good king one day, Sidon."
Sidon seemed to swell at this praise, looking up at his father gratefully. "Thank you, father, though not anytime soon, I would hope!"
"I should hope not!" King Dorephan laughed before turning his attention to Muzu. "Muzu, do you have the armor?"
"I do, your majesty," Muzu said, his voice tense. "But are you sure you wish to give this to him? It is a treasure to the Zora, after all, and he—"
"We have already discussed this, and my position is firm. I wish to give it to Link."
As he watched the exchange between them, Link found himself confused. Armor? Mipha? He didn't know what to make of it all. Finally, Muzu, chastised, turned and retrieved a neatly folded bundle of clothing. Sitting atop it was a simple headpiece—a silver helmet with a blue hood draped over it. Link met Muzu at the bottom of the dais, reaching out and taking the clothing—which felt much too light to be considered true armor.
"I do not believe she would object to my giving this to you with the hopes that you wear it when you go on to tame the Divine Beast," King Dorephan said. "It will enable you to swim up waterfalls."
"Swim up waterfalls?" Marianne asked. "How is that possible?"
"You are hardly the only ones with magic at your disposal, young mage," King Dorephan said.
"Interesting," Linhardt mused. "I think this merits further study."
"Ridiculous! This is completely absurd!" Muzu protested. "Countless generations of Zora princesses have gifted that armor to the one they have chosen to marry! Princess Mipha made that suit of armor with her own hands! It is far too important to entrust to a shady Hylian! He may be a Champion, but Princess Mipha had no such relationship with him. So why should he receive such an honor? This is just too much, my liege! I do not understand it one bit!"
Muzu began to storm off, but he halted in his tracks when he heard the king's next words. "The armor was made for him, Muzu."
"Impossible!" Muzu protested. "That would have to mean..."
"That he was the one she intended to marry," King Dorephan finished.
"With all due respect, your majesty, I do not believe you," Muzu said.
Link looked at the armor. Did Mipha really intend to marry him? Was the armor actually for him?
There was only one way to find out. "Is there somewhere here that I could change privately?"
"Certainly," Prince Sidon said, leading Link to a storage closet.
Link changed into the Zora armor. It fit perfectly. There was absolutely no question that it had been made for him.
Truth be told, that only made him feel as if he shouldn't be wearing it even more.
He exited the storage closet, and Sidon pointed him out to Muzu. "See? The armor fits him perfectly! That proves it had to have been made for him!"
"Ridiculous! It doesn't..." Muzu trailed off as he tried and failed to find a single place that the armor didn't fit Link perfectly. "I see. You are right. The armor does fit him perfectly. It...was made for him. He was the one she intended to marry."
Link frowned. "That's just it. I don't know if I returned her feelings." In fact, from what little he did remember, he didn't think he did, but he decided not to say as much. He sighed. "You are right, Muzu. I shouldn't be wearing this armor."
"Regardless of whether you returned her feelings, the armor was still made for you," Muzu admitted. "Wear it, Hylian, and honor her by it."
Link looked at King Dorephan, then at Sidon. Both seemed to agree with Muzu. "Okay. I will wear the armor," Link agreed.
"Good," Sidon said. "Now, I believe we have a Divine Beast to tame."