Squatch squelch squatch.
"My bone," Mina sighed from her spot on Midori's shoulders, "is soaked."
Her noble steed snorted. "Your bone is soaked?"
"Totally," she affirmed. "Soaked entirely through and washed out. I've made this mountain my broth."
She glanced down to see what effect this ponderous statement had had just in time to see Midori's face redden. She didn't know what thought he'd just had, but she didn't give him time to recover. She hunched over as much as she could and murmured, "You're hiking through my soup."
That did it. Face still red, Midori snorted again before letting out a full-on belly laugh. Mina joined him, relieved to let a little of the tension from the past few hours fade.
Turned out, mountains still hecking sucked. Oh, sure, the hike itself wasn't bad. Actually, if it wasn't for the constant drizzle, it would have been quite pretty. The trail wasn't too steep and had a gorgeous view of the river. There was even a constant breeze that, again, would have been lovely without the rain.
But no, the hike had to be ruined by rain and monsters. The persistent drizzle had waterlogged the landscape, and plants drooped into slowly-expanding puddles everywhere she looked. Mina was grateful for her cloak; she wasn't sure what it had been coated in, but it worked wonders against the rain.
And then there were the monsters. The prince hadn't been kidding when he said they liked to use electricity. They'd run into more lizalfos—an entire camp of them, actually—and the slimy-skinned skinks had been armed to the teeth with electric arrows! Yaomomo saved the day again with her magic grounding rod, but it still sucked.
There was one moment that stood out above all the others though. They were talking to Sidon on a bridge—well, they were on a bridge; he was in the river below them—when the Zora had broken off to warn them about an ambush. The warning came just in time; a pair of moblins had snuck up behind them.
The fight should have been easy. Link and Yneria had clearly fought the monsters before, and Midori wasn't no slouch either. She actually stopped to watch him bounce around the first moblin, that weird green lightning from his Quirk occasionally arcing out to zap it.
Unfortunately, she was so distracted watching them deal with the first moblin that she forgot about the second and was abruptly reminded when she caught a flicker of motion out of the corner of her eye. She tried to dodge, but the monster managed to clip her leg with the tip of its club. The force of the blow sent her spinning across the bridge. She winced as she came to a stop; those moblins sure could pack a punch! Her leg throbbed from the blow, but she didn't think it was broken. It was gonna be sore for sure later. As it was, her leg almost gave out when she tried standing back up.
For a few moments, things had looked bad. Mina could barely stand, let alone dodge, and the moblin was bearing down on her again. She wouldn't have made it if Midori hadn't blasted into the monster with enough force to send it screeching over the railing. The memory of the creature's screech fading away before abruptly being cut off made her shiver.
Even though it sucked, her leg injury did have one upside. Once he'd seen that she was having issues walking, Midori had helped her splint it before hoisting her up onto his back and giving her a piggyback ride the rest of the way. She put up a token resistance, but she was all too happy to snuggle up and hold on.
Mina was brought back to the present by a shout from ahead. At the top of the ridge, Yneira had reappeared. Mina couldn't make out what the mercenary was saying over the steady downpour, but based on how enthusiastically she was splashing water around with her gestures, it was probably something about them hurrying up.
Midori seemed to agree. "Think she's found something?"
"God, I hope so," Mina said fervently. "I'm so done with this rain, and you totally need a break. Here—get me to the top of the ridge and put me down."
"Y-you sure? What about your leg?"
"It's fine, Midori; it really doesn't hurt anymore." She chuckled as her steed shifted around to give her the stink eye. "Okay, it's a little sore, but I'll walk it off."
"If there isn't anymore climbing, I'll let you down."
There was a firm tenderness to his tone that made her protest die in her throat.
Squelch squatch squelch.
"All right. Thanks, Midori."
She rested her head on top of his and just tried to enjoy the rest of the short hike. Something about the position was really soothing, and she felt some of her anxiety slip away with the rain. For his part, Midori did his best not to jostle her while he worked his way up the slope, just subtly shifted her around as he worked to keep his balance. When they were only a few feet from the top, he called out to Yneira, "What did you find?"
Even in the dank gloom, Mina could make out the woman's smile beneath her hood as she gestured grandly at something behind her. "I present to you, Zora's Domain!"
As the duo crested the ridge, Midori pulled up abruptly. From somewhere behind them, Yaomomo gasped. Mina didn't pay them any mind; she was too busy staring at the marvel in front of her.
Rising high into the air at the end of the canyon they'd been following was one of the most impressive structures Mina had ever seen. It was built from the same green-blue and silver stone as the bridges they'd passed over, except on a much grander scale. The bridge into the city was flanked by a wall that seemed to run the entire perimeter of the massive structure. Short, open towers jutted out from the wall at even points, providing some protection for the Zora guards.
More immediately noticeable, however, was the giant piscine statue that loomed over the city. Actually, it might have been part of the city, and "giant" was much too small a descriptor for something that was easily half the size of the entire structure. It was hard to tell from this distance, but Mina was pretty sure that the rear of the walls actually gently sloped into the monument.
"It's gorgeous," Yaomomo breathed, and Mina had to agree. Something about the Domain reminded her of the pictures she'd seen of the Sydney Opera House… if it had been designed by fish people.
Link's quiet laughter pulled her attention down from the building, and she saw him watching the three earthlings. "What's so funny?"
"Just you three," he chuckled. "You remind me of my first time seeing the Domain. It's vague, sure—more a dream than a true memory. Everything seemed so much taller back then."
"Don't feel bad," Yneira said. "My reaction was much the same; I just got to have it in private."
"Well, beautiful or not, the Prince is waiting for us," Yaomomo said, taking the lead. "And I, for one, would like to see if they have anything that's out of this rain."
"Amen, sister!" Mina exclaimed before tapping Midori. "You can put me down now. I don't think we're climbing anymore today."
"Okay."
He crouched and let her down, and she gingerly took a couple of steps. She gasped as lines of fire ran up her bad leg. It felt like when she'd torn the muscles in her leg during dance class, except somehow more demanding. She leaned on her spear for a few moments until the pain started to fade. After a few more cautious, limping steps, she sighed in relief. 'Oh good, at least it's not broken.'
After another moment, she glanced at Midori. "See? I can do it. Just need to be careful."
He looked unconvinced. "We should see if the Zora have a doctor; that moblin hit you pretty good.
"Aw, you're worried!" Mina touched her heart. "That's sweet. I'm fine, but you're kinda the expert on breaking bones. If they've got a doctor, we can ask her. Though this is medieval times; maybe she'll give me bone-hurting juice or something."
That got the laugh she was looking for. She took a few more test steps before firmly hobbling her way toward the bridge. Okay, "hobbling" may have been an exaggeration; really, she only had a slight limp. But the way Midori hovered nearby, trying and failing to be cool and collected, and the occasional stabbing pain as she stepped wrong, definitely made it feel worse.
Soon, the squelch of boots in mud turned to the thunk-splash of boots on puddled stonework. This bridge had the fancy poles every few meters as well, but unlike the last few bridges, each of these housed a light of some kind. Mina squinted into one as she passed, but all she could make out was some kind of glowing rock. Maybe she could get one from the Zora as a flashlight?
Splash splash splash splash!
Mina's attention was drawn away from the lights toward the far end of the bridge, where an enthusiastic Sidon was jogging toward them. Within moments he had reached them, coming to a stop with a splash as he hopped into a particularly large puddle. With his usual bombast, he gave a very theatrical bow.
"Friends! I've been waiting for you! Welcome!" Straightening with a grin, he threw his arms wide. "Behold the pride of my people, Zora's Domain! Now I shall introduce you to the king. Hurry, this way!"
"Hold on, Sidon," Link said evenly, "we have injured that need tending."
"I'm not injured!" Mina exclaimed as all eyes turned to her. "The moblin just clipped my leg. I'll be fine once I walk it off."
"Y-yeah, and you agreed to have a doctor look it over," Midori said.
With another, more subdued splash, Sidon was kneeling by her side. "Your leg, you say? May I…?"
Mina blinked at him. Even kneeling, he was taller than her. "Um, sure?"
She squeaked as the Zora swooped her up into his arms. "We'll stop by the inn first. You can rest there, and we can send the priest in to check up on you! Don't worry; he's familiar with medicine as well. Come on!"
Before she could fully process his words, Sidon had set off across the bridge, leaving the others gaping in his wake. "W-wait! Can't I come meet the king?"
He flashed her one of his dazzling, shark-toothed smiles. "Of course! But there will be time enough for that later. I'll take one or two of your companions to meet with him tonight—Link, I think. I feel drawn to him, for some reason. The rest of you can meet with him in the morning!"
Mina huffed, but she could see his logic. "As long as I get to meet your dad at some point, that works."
"I vow that you will, Ashido! I believe that he will find you and your companions fascinating. For now though, allow me to give you an abbreviated tour of the Domain!"
And a tour it was. Now that they were inside the walls, Mina could see that the Domain really was one giant structure. Arching pathways spiraled around the central plaza leading who knew where. Small waterfalls dribbled out of man-made—or Zora-made, rather—ponds and cascaded into the lake below. On the far side of the plaza, she noted several doorways and openings, one of which seemed to have the glow of a Shrine behind it. Sidon pointed out a few shops and the barracks as he jogged, but the city seemed to be lacking any kind of houses.
That question and others slipped her mind as she caught sight of what was clearly the centerpiece of the Domain. In the center of the plaza was a statue of a Zora holding a trident—female, if the figure and size meant anything. The statue seemed to have been constructed from more of those luminous stones; the whole thing glowed with a dazzling brilliance that emphasized the figure's beauty.
"Who is that, Sidon?" she asked as they passed the statue.
Sidon paused, glanced at the statue. His cheerful eyes darkened a little. "Beautiful, isn't she? That is my sister, Princess Mipha. Father had the statue made after she perished in the Calamity."
Mina gasped. "Oh no! I'm sorry."
Sidon shook his head as started walking again. "You couldn't have known. She died a hero, fighting for control of Vah Ruta. It's sad; I think she would have really liked your group."
He fell silent, and Mina didn't try to break it. She could barely fathom how her life might be different if she had a sibling; she couldn't begin to imagine what it would be like to have lost said hypothetical sibling. The closest she could get was her classmates, and the thought of losing any of them twisted her stomach in knots. 'Well, maybe not Mineta. Jury's still out on that one.'
Sidon didn't break his silence until he had stooped through one of the openings into a blessedly dry room. A small fire crackled merrily in its place in the hearth, providing the entire room with a surprising amount of warmth given its open walls.
Through an archway on the other side of the room, Mina could see a Zora sitting behind a desk, fiddling with something. She had to stifle a giggle as he glanced up for a moment as they entered before doing a double-take and straightening completely.
"Prince Sidon! How may I be of service, your highness?"
"Good evening, Kayden!" Sidon said as he gently set Mina down. "This young lady and her companions are guests of mine and in need of a place to stay. Would you be able to spare five beds?"
"Of course! With Ruta's downpour, we haven't had many customers." The clerk squinted at Mina. "Forgive me, young lady, but I've never seen a Hylian with such bright skin before."
"And you won't," she said cheerfully. Man, limp-leaning without trying to limp-lean was hard. "I'm from far away, and I'm hardly the weirdest-looking person. My gran-gran looks like a moth person."
She jumped as Sidon's booming laugh filled the room. "I knew you and your companions were interesting! Yes, we will have to talk more later! For now, Kayden, could you show Ashido to a bed and send for Kapson? Her leg was injured on her way here, and I would like him to look at it."
"Yes, sire! Miss Ashido, if you could wait for just a moment while I make a note here, and I will show you to your bed."
"Yeah, no problem." Mina looked up at Sidon. "Thanks for the ride, Si-guy! You should probably go get the others though."
His eyes widened before he began to laugh. "Huahaha! Si-guy! I love it! Yes! I shall go collect your companions and send them your way, huahahaha! Later, once this whole thing is sorted, I would love to hear about your homeland!"
As she watched him go, still laughing, she heard Kayden chuckle. "That's our prince," he said fondly. "Never could sit still, even as a tyke. Now, if you'll follow me Miss Ashido, I'll show you to your room."
Trekking through Zora's Domain was a surreal experience for Link. Many of the Zora greeted him by name and told him about what they'd been up to since he last visited. He would have called them crazy, except for fleeting impressions and feelings—fishing with one of them, practicing spears with another. A scent, a meal shared. Flashes of red and feelings of attachment and closeness. Clearly, he'd spent a lot of time here once.
Irritatingly, none of it was strong enough to remove the block in his memory. He knew he should know these people, should be thrilled to see them doing so well. But he just wasn't. He let the frustration bubble for a moment before sighing. 'One day, I'll remember my life.'
Thankfully, Sidon had come back fairly quickly. The prince seemed more eager than ever to have them meet the king, but this desire was caught up in trying to play a proper host. After a brief discussion, it was eventually decided that Link and Yneira would accompany him while the earth kids went to go check on their friend. Once they left, he followed Sidon up the grand, sweeping staircase into the throne room.
The throne room was elegantly simple. It was nestled under the great fish statue that adorned the Domain and was furnished with a single piece of furniture: the king's throne. While a few Zora mingled in the room, Link's attention was drawn to a single Zora at the end of the room.
The king was massive. He towered over Sidon's already considerable height by several times and looked like he could swallow Link whole. Layers of muscles rippled under the outer folds of blue and white flesh as he moved. His face was carved with deep laugh lines and scars; clearly, the old king had known great happiness and sorrow.
Beside the king and talking up at him was what Link thought must be a very old Zora. His scales were yellowed with age, and the skin beneath sagged and sank. The figure was rail-thin with, perhaps, the oddest head of any Zora, that of some kind of ray.
Behind him, Yneira whistled quietly. "Malice, but he's a big man. Wouldn't want to tangle with him."
Link privately agreed, but said nothing. Again, he was catching glimpses of his past—More flashes of red, a soft voice—but he couldn't hold on to any of them long enough to get solid information.
Both figures stopped talking and turned as Sidon approached. His father leaned over to confer with him privately. After a few moments, he nodded and sat back, and Sidon waved them forward.
"So you are the Hylians that Sidon brought here," the king rumbled in a voice so deep that it sounded like a small earthquake. "You did well to come all the way here! I am King Dorephan, ruler of the Zora."
Link instantly liked the man. Something about his presence inspired confidence. He bowed. "Your Majesty, I am Link, and this is my companion Yneira."
Yneira bowed as well.
"Welcome to the both of you! Forgive me, but you said your name is Link?" Dorephan mused. "Surely not… Hm? That object upon your belt... is that not a Sheikah Slate?"
The king leaned forward, studying him intently. Link did his best to remain at ease under the king's gaze. After a moment, Dorephan started to chuckle. "Now that I have gotten a good look at you, I know exactly who you are. You are the Hylian Champion, Link!"
Gasps filled the court, followed by a flurry of whispers. Link noted that while most seemed excited, a few—all of them older Zora—were less than pleased with this revelation. Sidon's voice rose above those, quickly swelling to fill the room with his laughter.
"The Hylian Champion? You can't mean THE Link? THAT Champion?" As his father smiled, Sidon let out another full belly laugh. "So that's where I've heard your name before! What a fateful coincidence that we could cross paths!"
"I cannot believe it," Dorephan mused. "The Hylian Champion has appeared before us! Ah… So many memories! My mind is overflowing with nostalgia, my friend. I'd heard a terrible rumor that you had fallen in combat, but it appears you managed to survive. Extraordinary!"
"Survive, yes, but at a cost." Link tapped his head. "I've lost my memory."
Another flurry of whispers broke out. Yneira leaned over to him and whispered, "You lost your memory? What happened?"
Link's response was cut off as the king leaned forward, eyes wide. "Come again? You say you have lost your memory? But surely you must remember my precious daughter, Mipha, yes? You do, do you not?"
He shook his head. "I'm afraid not, your Majesty. I've recovered a few fragments, but I remember almost nothing about Zora's Domain and its noble inhabitants."
Dorephan sighed. "I cannot believe it... Have you truly forgotten my dear Mipha as well? You and Mipha were so close... Yet you do not remember her? Did you see that statue on your way in? Does gazing upon Mipha's immortalized form still not jog your memory?" When Link shook his head, the king sighed again. "Well, perhaps your memory will return in time. I dearly hope so."
"Father," Sidon interjected, "I don't believe discussing my sister is helping matters at the moment. Link seems confused."
Link breathed a quiet thanks as the king diverted from his line of questioning. He wished he could remember, but if what Dorephan was saying was true, he had a feeling that his memories of Zora's Domain would bring nothing but pain.
"Oh? Yes, of course. But first, it is worth noting how remarkable it is that Sidon brought a Champion here without realizing it! That is quite a feat, my boy!" The king's laughter echoed off the walls, almost shaking the chamber with their intensity. "That is a good one! Link, I doubt not that you and your companions have endured a great many trials. Still, I must ask you to hear my plea.
"Now then. Hero... I must inform you that Zora's Domain is in danger of vanishing because of Divine Beast Vah Ruta. I shall do you the courtesy of speaking bluntly. We alone cannot stop this beast. Will you lend us your strength?"
Beside Dorephan, the old manta Zora stirred from whatever shock had previously kept quiet. "What? King Dorephan! My liege, please do not speak so! To ask Hylians for help... Why, the very thought curls my fins!"
Link raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Yneira grumbled to herself about "ungrateful sandsnakes," but it was low enough that, Link hoped, their hosts hadn't heard.
"Muzu," the king chided. "I expected more of you. How can you still protest?"
Sidon was equally unimpressed with the older Zora. "Muzu! It's rude to speak that way to your king and his guests. Link's here because I invited him! With such unprecedented rainfall, we have no choice but to rely on the aid of a trustworthy Hylian. Have we not already discussed this and arrived at that very conclusion?"
"Indeed!" Dorephan shook himself, almost like he was shaking off water. "Link is a Champion, through and through. As things now stand, Zora's Domain—Nay! Perhaps all of Hyrule—is doomed to be swallowed by the sea. This is bigger than all of us, my friend. Zora and Hylians alike must put aside our differences and band together."
"Have you forgotten already, my king?" Muzu sputtered, nearly incoherent with rage. "We cannot trust these lowly Hylians! They abused the power of an ancient civilization and turned Hyrule into what it is today! And that's not the least of it! It is their fault that Lady Mipha was lost to us..."
All the fight seemed to go out of the man, and he slumped over, defeated. The court fell silent save for a few sniffles. Yneira leaned in and pitched her voice as low as she could. "As angry as I am about being called a 'lowly Hylian,' I feel for the guy. Sounds like this Mipha was something else."
Link nodded, but didn't respond. A memory had started to surface—something about pain, and then warmth that took away the pain—but he couldn't pin it down. It slipped away again as King Dorephan let out a loud sigh. When he started talking again, his voice was quiet.
"Link... Divine Beast Vah Ruta has great power. It has the unique ability to create an endless supply of water. Of late it has been mercilessly spouting water into the air, plaguing the area with heavy rains. For us Zora, water and air are as one, so you would not think this would be quite so critical of a problem. Sadly, the rains have filled the eastern reservoir nearly to the point of flooding. If the reservoir bursts, as it soon will, I fear immense damage will befall not only Zora's Domain...but also the area downstream from us. There, Hylian lives are in grave danger.
"The Divine Beast Vah Ruta... Your princess, Zelda, often studied the Divine Beasts. That is, in the time before the Great Calamity. According to her research, the orbs located on Ruta's shoulders are mechanisms that can control the water it generates. However, they require electricity to work. These orbs are clearly out of control now because there is no electricity coursing through to stop them."
"Seggin, who's quite shock resistant for a Zora, hit one with a shock arrow," Sidon said eagerly, clearly trying to keep the subject steered away from his sister. "Sure enough, it slowed the water a bit. Unfortunately, as an aquatic race, we Zora are terribly vulnerable to the power of electricity. Perhaps because we couldn't safely strike it with enough electricity at once, the water soon returned to its full force.
"That is why I went in search of a Hylian who could help us! I am certain you have already figured this out, but... We need you to use shock arrows to get those orbs working properly again! I will aid you in any way I can, of course. Please, heroes, I beg of you and your companions. Help me stop Ruta's rampage of destruction!"
Looking around at all of the hopeful (and glowering) faces, Link couldn't help but chuckle. "Your Majesty, even if you hadn't asked, I would have helped. I'm under direct orders from Zelda herself to stop Vah Ruta."
King Dorephan gasped, and hand leaping to his chest. "Whaaat? Princess Zelda herself instructed you to appease the Divine Beast? So then... the princess is still alive?"
Yneira seemed to share his shock. "You knew the princess was alive? Why didn't you say anything sooner?"
"Yes, in Hyrule Castle. I didn't say anything because she's containing Ganon as we speak. No one can touch her save the Calamity itself, and I would very much like to make sure it can't do that."
"I do not believe it... You both were alive this whole time!" The king laughed again, and some of the prior gloom dissipated. "The events of one hundred years ago cannot be altered, it is true. But if we can regain control of the Divine Beasts, they may yet prove useful in sealing Calamity Ganon once and for all!"
Sidon lit up the room with his grin. "I did not know you had such grand ambitions, Link! Wondrous! Naturally, I shall help too! Once it has stopped rampaging, you can easily climb inside it. Let us appease Ruta together!"
Link grinned in return. "I'm in, and I think our other companions will be as well."
"Yeah, I'm about it!" Yneira said. "Let's kill this thing. Or appease it."
The king sighed again, this time in obvious relief. "Thank you. Our goal is the same. That means our meeting was nothing short of destiny. Now then, allow me to offer you this gift as a show of faith."
He waved, and another Zora, this one young with gray scales, hurried forward with a small bundle wrapped in white-green cloth, which he handed to Link before fading back to the side of the room. Mystified, Link glanced at Sidon, who just kept grinning. "Go on then; it won't bite!"
Link arched an eyebrow, but did as requested. As the wrapping fell away, he found himself holding what looked like a bodysuit made out of blue scales, with leather pads carved to look like scales over the thighs and upper arms. Bits of silver adorned the suit, with small clasps and hooks that he recognized as armor attach points.
"I… thank you, your Majesty," Link said.
The king smiled. "Think of it as an investment. So long as you wear this, you can ascend waterfalls just like a Zora. Please, take good care of it."
A hiss filled the room as the king finished speaking. "King Dorephan!" Muzu cried. "Surely you don't really intend to give this outsider the Zora Armor! He may be a Champion, but 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!"
The old Zora stormed out. From the look he gave Link, it was clear that he would have drowned the Hylian if he thought he could have gotten away with it. A few of the other Zora left as well, muttering and shaking their heads. Beside him, Yneira seemed a little stunned by this display of emotion, but she didn't move. Link watched them go before being brought around by another kingly sigh.
"Hmph. That Muzu is not easily swayed once his mind is set." Dorephan shook his head. "You must understand; he was in charge of educating my dear daughter, Mipha. Naturally, she means a lot to him... just as she means the world to us. Ever since we lost her to the Calamity, he has grown to despise Hylians. I hope you can forgive his rudeness. Hmm, but what shall we do now? I tasked Muzu with finding the shock arrows we will need to appease Vah Ruta. But now he has rushed off in a huff..."
Sidon stepped forward. "Don't let his words concern you; I'll work this out with him. I shall return shortly!" Without waiting for a response, the prince turned and hurried out after the old man.
"I'm not worried, your majesty," Link said simply as Sidon disappeared down the stairs. "We've faced greater odds, and I think I can understand Muzu's anger. Even if Sidon cannot persuade him, there should be another way of getting shock arrows."
"We have a few," Yneira said quietly. Link glanced at her; she seemed more subdued, as if she were thinking something over. "The lizalfos guarding the pass had a few. And I think, if I understand her abilities correctly, that Yaoyorozu may be able to help with that problem as well."
"Your optimism heartens me." Dorephan leaned forward and peered over their heads, mumbling to himself in a voice so deep that Link couldn't quite decipher what he said. After a moment, he leaned back again. "Muzu is most likely at the square down below. Would you mind going down there? I would like you to try to speak with him. Before you do, change into the Armor."
Link glanced at Yneira, who shrugged, before looking back at the king. "Your majesty?"
The king shook his head. "Humor me. If it is as I expect, all shall be made clear shortly. Ovi will show you to a room where you can change; I know Hylian social norms are different from ours."
Another wave, and gray Zora reappeared. "If you would follow me, Champion," the servant said.
Link did as instructed. Behind him, he heard the king address Yneira. "I'm sorry, miss Yneira, but we don't have any more Zora Armor available…"
Dorephan's voice faded into an indistinct murmur as Ovi led out a cleverly disguised servant's door in the side of the room. The door opened into a short tunnel that opened into the outdoors with a pair of doors on either side.
"These rooms are usually used as storerooms or clerks' offices," the servant explained as he peeked inside the right door. "But they also serve for situations such as this. This room is empty, Champion. If you'll step in, you may change before carrying on with the king's errand."
With a look at the servant, Link slipped in. True to the man's word, the room appeared to be a small office. There was a desk with some slates on it, and a shelf with some capped tubes. There was even an ornate vase that looked like the perfect place to hide something.
Link stared at the vase for a moment before giving himself a shake and changing. As he'd suspected, the suit was a single piece from the feet to the neck. The feet ended in webbed toes that he somehow knew would work perfect as flippers, and the fingers were slightly webbed as well. The headgear took a moment to figure out, but eventually he got it situated in place.
When he was done, he couldn't help but marvel. The suit fit like it had been made for him. It wasn't too tight nor too loose, and it didn't restrict his movement at all. He took a couple of test swings with his sword, careful not to hit anything in the room, before nodding. Yes, this would do perfectly. Satisfied, he stuffed his extra clothing into his magic bag—the thing's capacity never ceased to amaze him, and the korok, Hestu, had suggested that it could get even bigger—and slipped back out the door.
Ovi eyed him critically before smiling and nodding. "Yes, I believe I understand His Majesty's plans now. If you head out this tunnel and turn right, you'll come around the front of the throne room."
"Thanks, Ovi."
"My pleasure. And Champion? The elders have long memories, but they mean well."
'So I've gathered.' Rather than answering, Link just nodded and slipped out of the hallway. He immediately discovered that the suit worked wonders against the rain; he could feel it plinking off him, but he himself remained dry. It was nice, but he might see about combining it with a cloak if he had to wear it for too long.
Within moments, he had descended the staircase back into the square, where he could see Sidon and Muzu arguing by the statue of the princess. As he jogged up to them, Muzu glanced at him, narrowed his eyes, and shook his head.
"Hmph. You came all the way here, but it was in vain. I have no desire to speak with you," the Zora grumped.
"Listen well, Muzu," Sidon said, sounding sterner than Link had heard him. "There is something you need to know. This man, Link, is the one whom Mipha had feelings for. I was only a child then, so I didn't know it myself at the time. But it is so. I grew up hearing my father tell stories, some of which were about my sister's undying love for a Hylian named Link."
Muzu's face twisted, and he clutched at his chest. "What? No, you cannot fool me with such a fanciful lie. Not this Zora! How could Lady Mipha possibly have feelings for a Hylian like him? The facts are clear; he remembers nothing! Even when he looks upon Princess Mipha's statue..."
"It's the truth, Muzu! Though you never knew it, he was ever in Mipha's heart."
As Sidon and Muzu started bickering in earnest, Link looked up at the statue and really studied it for the first time. The accusation that he didn't remember the princess stung, but it was true. He couldn't remember.
Something in the statue's eye glimmered. He squinted at it, trying to make it out in the rain, when something in his mind clicked. A glimmer of a memory flickered into existence, and Link seized it, pulled it, refused to let it go. Unlike the other traces, this seemed to want to be remembered, and as he pulled on it, it rushed at him and washed him away in its current.
[:][:][:]
He winced as Mipha's healing magic began to take effect. The two of them were sitting on top of Vah Ruta's trunk. Or the tip of it, rather; the Divine Beast had curled its trunk upwards to give them a platform to rest on. It was a beautiful evening, really, even given his present condition.
He'd been on his way to visit the Domain after being given a brief reprieve in his duties when he'd run afoul of some lizalfos. He'd dispatched them easily enough, but one had managed to get the jump on him and slashed up his sword arm. Mipha, Goddess bless her, had taken one look at the wound before rolling her eyes and inviting him to come sit with her while she healed it.
As she worked, Mipha began to speak. "I was thinking… This reminds me of the time we first met. You were just a reckless child, always getting yourself hurt. Every time, I would heal you—just like right now.
"I thought it was funny how, being a Hylian, you looked grown-up so much faster than I did. I was… I was always willing to heal your wounds. Even back then."
It was true; Mipha had been there for him almost since the beginning. He'd spent much of his youth in the Domain and had gotten to know the princess and her brother—and many of the younger Zora, really—quite well.
Mipha had fallen silent as she focused on the healing. It was always the oddest sensation, feeling his wounds close. Not unpleasant—quite the opposite, actually. It was like his body was humming, harmonizing with itself. None of the pain or itching that accompanied normal recovery.
After a moment, the pleasant sensation faded, and Mipha removed her hand. He flexed his arm around before nodding in contentment. He smiled his thanks at Mipha and could tell she understood. She shifted herself so that she was leaning against him. Or as much as she could allow herself to, being a princess and all. He shifted in his place to try and be a more comfortable post to rest on.
Mipha sighed in contentment and stared out over the Eastern Reservoir. After a moment, she started speaking again. "So if this Calamity Ganon does return, what can we really do? We just don't seem to know much about what we'll be up against."
That was true. The stories and legends weren't terribly clear. Some of them were even contradictory, stating that Ganon was a force of nature or just a man with immense power. He shrugged.
The princess seemed to be picking her words carefully. "But know this: no matter how difficult this battle might get… if you—if anyone ever tries to do you harm—then I will heal you. No matter when, or how bad the wound… I hope you know that I will always protect you."
"I know—" he started before coughing. His voice was hoarse from disuse. He took a quick swig from his waterskin, careful not to jostle the princess, before trying again. "I know you will. You've always been there for me, and I couldn't do this without you."
"So you admit it!" Mipha exclaimed mischievously, playfully pushing him over. He chuckled as he sat back up, only to find that the princess had swung around to face him fully. She stared at him with those big, expressive eyes that he loved so much.
"Once this whole thing is over, maybe things can go back to how they used to be when we were young," she said quietly. "You know, perhaps we could spend some time together."
He smiled down at her and pulled her into a hug, chuckling again at her quiet meep. "I would like that. Very much."
[:][:][:]
Link gasped as his eyes snapped open. Beside him, both Sidon and Muzu were looking at him with concern.
"What's the matter, Link? Are you unwell?" Sidon asked.
"You're quivering like a hatchling," Muzu harrumphed. "Whatever is the matter?"
He ignored both of them as he waded through the deluge of memories. He remembered. The times training Bazz with the sword, testing "waterbeds" with Kayden, playing games with Gaddison. He remembered learning at the feet of the elders—yes, even Muzu, who was actually just as grumpy and aged now as he had been a hundred years ago.
But most importantly, he remembered Mipha. The resemblance between her and Sidon was strong, though her features had been much softer, her face rounder. Her solemn eyes had held a quiet mirth, as if she knew some grand joke that she was too regal to fully indulge in. She'd been wonderful and loving and supportive—a friend in the truest sense, one that, had history played out differently, would have become more than a friend.
And now she was gone.
Link drew in a shuddering breath before looking at the two Zora. "Mipha… I remember her."
"WHAT? Do not mistake me for a fool, Hylian!" Muzu sneered. "There is no way you remembered her just now, when it's most convenient. In any case, without any solid proof, I cannot possibly take you at your word! If you have any such proof, now's the time to show it. Do so, and... and I... I shall tell you how to get those shock arrows! Yes, as well as anything else you wish to know."
"Proof?" Link said quietly. "You want proof? Are the scars on my body not proof enough? Are the hours I spent sitting at your feet learning with her not proof enough? No? Well then, look—actually look—at what I'm wearing. Here is your proof."
"Hm? You really think changing your clothes is going to make me…" Muzu's scorn died in his throat as he finally recognized his outfit. "What in the... That is the Zora Armor from before! Lady Mipha made that by hand... and yet it fits you perfectly! What is the meaning of this?"
"Now you understand, do you not?" Sidon murmured. "Now you know who her heart belonged to and who she made this special armor for. The fact that this armor fits Link perfectly should be proof enough that Mipha made it for him and him alone!
"You've always disliked Hylians, even before the Great Calamity. That's why Mipha never told you. Now that you know, you must promise to help him save us all, Muzu. Please... Tell us where we can find the shock arrows we need. Knowing you, I bet you've already figured it out."
Instead of responding, Muzu turned to look up at the statue. For a long moment, he was silent. Eventually, he said, "I never would have imagined she would make that special armor for one such as he... I do not approve of asking for help from a Hylian, but I suppose it's our only option at this point."
He turned to face Link and bowed his head. "I am a proud Zora. That means I must take responsibility for my unwarranted behavior toward you. As promised, I shall tell you where you can collect as many shock arrows as you will need." Turning his head, he pointed at a mountain peak looming up over the gloom covering the Domain. "That tall mountain over yonder is called Ploymus Mountain, and there you will also find Shatterback Point. A terrifying creature has made its home up there. This awful beast shoots volley after volley of shock arrows. Even a single one could be fatal to a Zora."
Sidon's eyes widened. "Aha! You must mean that Lynel! He is the man-beast, that one! That beast does indeed wield shock arrows. That's certainly one way to collect them quickly. He's vicious, to be sure, but I am certain Link and his companions will rise to the challenge."
"We are." Link studied the two before shaking his head. "I'll need to discuss how to proceed with the others. Thank you, Muzu, for sharing what you know. If there isn't anything else, I'll take my leave now."
Link slipped away before either Zora could respond. He didn't head for the inn; instead, he made his way through the maze of bridges that he finally remembered toward a small ledge outside the main structure. The guards at the final bridge saluted him as he went by, and he nodded in return.
The ledge in question ran in a narrow strip along the side of the mountain before opening up into a small plateau that was mostly filled with a pool. A waterfall dozens of feet high crashed down into the otherwise calm surface, and in the center of the pool, a pedestal that Link now recognized as being related to the shrines glowed orange.
It was on this pedestal that he and Mipha had spoken about a future together. He'd given her a silver ring, after Hylian tradition, and she had shown him the suit that she was making. The suit he now wore. He sank down onto the center as a hundred years of grief washed over him. Away from everyone else, he allowed the tears to fall in memory of his fallen Champion.