Chapter 30 - Near and Far
Summary: Link has an infrequent nightmare. Mila feels lonely at home as Mipha and Link continue to help take care of their new grandson Lanka in North Hyrule. Midon and Sheikah scientist Aldora spend time together in the Faron Region.
It was evening in North Hyrule as Mipha and Link climbed into one of the private slumber pools behind Faray's throne room. The water was fresh and at a perfect temperature, deliberately intended to relax.
"Ah! You can never get too much water time!" exclaimed Link as he sunk into the pool. "Another tiring but exciting day with our cute grandson. He gets bigger every day. But I have to admit my fins are drooping now. He wore me out."
"That's because you're like a little kid, going all out when you play," laughed Mipha.
"But it's so cute when he copies our movements," laughed Link. "I had to keep from bursting out laughing when you made that spiral move, and he spun around."
"All part of his learning, dearest," laughed Mipha. "You didn't get to see those times when I taught our children."
"Yes, I'm sorry I missed it."
"Get some rest now, sweetheart," said Mipha. "We have another busy day with Lanka tomorrow. And it's so wonderful we're a Zora couple now and can enjoy our grandson's underwater experience together. Being married to you as a Zora is a dream come true for me."
"I didn't realize you wanted to marry a Zora so badly," said Link.
"Don't be silly!" laughed Mipha as she caressed his cheek. "I never said that. I wanted to marry you. But you being able to become a Zora is like an unexpected gift, a happiness unlooked for."
"I'm glad too," said Link. "I agree it was the right thing to do."
Then he leaned forward, and they kissed goodnight.
"Love you," said Mipha.
"Love you, too," said Link. "I should tell you more often because you mean everything to me, sweetheart."
"You can never say it too often," laughed Mipha.
Then Link closed his eyes, and after a few moments, he was fast asleep.
"Whoa, boy! There, there," said Princess Zelda as she gently reined in her magnificent white horse at the entrance to Hyrule Castle and petted him on the neck.
It was mid-afternoon, and she and Link had just returned from a brief trip to the Hyrule Garrison.
"Well, that was a pleasant, if somewhat abbreviated, ride!" said Zelda as they dismounted. "I wish we could have ridden longer, but Father wants me home before dinner to discuss matters."
"I enjoyed the ride as well," said Link. "But I agree that Storm and Epona barely broke a sweat."
"I know," laughed Princess Zelda as she petted her horse again before handing him over to an attendant. "Oh, before I forget, I won't be needing your services tomorrow, Link. I plan to spend all day with Purah here at the castle, discussing some of her recent research. So please feel free to do as you wish."
"Thank you, Highness," said Link. "I haven't been to Zora's Domain in quite some time, so I think I'll head there before it gets too late."
They said farewell, and Zelda entered the castle. Then Link fed Epona one of the apples he had been carrying, hopped onto her saddle, and they were off.
"We need to hurry if we want to get there before it's too late," said Link as he urged Epona forward. "I'm hoping to see Mipha before she goes to sleep."
Epona enjoyed a fast gallop, so she gladly picked up the pace. Link's hair blew in the wind as they raced across the open grassland.
"I wonder how Mipha is doing?" Link said as much to himself as Epona as they rode east through the Romani Plains. "I often visited her, and we would play games, chase bugs or frogs, swim and talk. Those were fun times!"
Link paused as they slowed to make their way across the Orsedd Bridge, then Epona resumed galloping.
"Mipha's a wonderful person in so many ways, Epona. She's so kind and caring. And you wouldn't believe her swimming! It's incredible! She makes swimming look so effortless and graceful. It's beautiful to see!"
Link began to recall some occasions when he had watched Mipha swim, how elegantly she handled herself in the water, and how cute she looked the whole time. Then he sighed.
"Sadly, since the King assigned me to guard the Princess and all, I've been hard-pressed to find any free time to visit Mipha. It's been way too long since I last saw her. I hope she's well and not too upset at me for not visiting more often."
Link paused again, lost in thought, as they rode south past Zelo Pond, then he continued.
"You know, though she's usually very mild-mannered, Mipha can lose her temper if she has to. For example, she used to scold my friends and me when I was younger for some of our reckless Bazz Brigade escapades. But we all deserved it, and she did it out of kindness and concern. She's really the sweetest person in all of Hyrule!"
They continued on toward Zora's Domain. But few would call the rest of a journey uneventful if it included taking time to destroy all the electric arrow wielding Lizalfos along the way, including an entire camp of them, sentries first. But Link especially hated those Lizalfos for the harm they could cause to electricity-vulnerable Zoras. And by now, his extensive sword and archery experience, combined with his unique flurry rush ability, made him virtually invincible against any such lesser foes.
It was a clear early evening by the time Link finally pulled up at the far end of the Great Zora Bridge, and he left Epona to graze. Link at once made his way into town, nodding hello to the guards who greeted him until he reached the entrance to the plaza, where stairs to his left and right ran upward to the slumber pool level. He could see some Zora children making their way to the slumber pools, ready to call it a day, while several adults were busy chatting or shopping in the plaza.
Link was about to climb the steps on his right when he heard Mipha's voice to his left. He knew her sweet voice anywhere, and he joyfully turned to greet her. But the smile fell from his face when he saw her.
Mipha was holding hands with a tall blue Zora knight, and they were walking down the stairway together. As he stared at them with an open mouth, Mipha suddenly noticed him, and she turned to her companion.
"Oh! This is a nice surprise! Come meet my dear friend, Link," said Mipha as the couple began walking toward him. "I've known him since he was a child, but you know how fast Hylians grow up."
Link was in shock and kept glancing between Mipha and their clasped hands. He felt sick to his stomach and took a deep breath. So Mipha had a boyfriend now?
He took another deep breath as he tried to cope with this unexpected situation. Well, he shouldn't be surprised Mipha met someone. And if he thought about it, it would be more surprising if she hadn't! She was such a wonderful person, so kind and caring. And she was beautiful too, besides being a Princess. Who wouldn't love to have her as their girlfriend?
And then he at once blamed himself. Why hadn't he tried harder to visit her more often? Why had he taken their relationship for granted? Why hadn't he told her of his feelings, how much she meant to him? Did he expect her to wait forever for him? Now he would bitterly regret his stupidity for the rest of his life!
Then Mipha's words interrupted his thoughts.
"Link, it's nice to see you after such a long time, and it saves me from writing to share the good news," said Mipha after reaching the bottom of the stairs. "This is my fiancé, and we are to be married in a few weeks. I hope you will be happy for us. And though I know how busy you must be, I hope you will find time to attend our wedding."
And then Link jerked awake and gulped air, not sure where he was at first. He turned to see Mipha floating asleep beside him. But his sudden movement disturbed her, and she awoke too.
"Another nightmare, sweetheart?" said Mipha. "It's been a long time since you had one."
"Yes, but this one was different," said Link as he reached out to hold her.
"Are you okay?" said Mipha as she returned his embrace.
"Yes, I'll be fine in a minute," said Link, still breathing hard. "My subconscious mind must still not be working right, not coming to terms with the new me. I'm still jumbling Hylian and Zora memories … and fears."
"But I know you're getting better, sweetheart," said Mipha as she caressed his cheek. "You hardly have these bad dreams anymore. I'm sure it will only take a bit more time for your mind to adjust. Do you want to try falling back asleep? Or would you rather talk some more first?"
Link paused for a moment.
"Maybe just talk for a bit more first," said Link. "I'm afraid if I go back to sleep too soon, the dream will continue. And I definitely don't want to see the next part of that dream!"
"That's fine then," said Mipha, as she held him in her arms.
Link paused for another moment, then spoke up.
"Um, sweetheart … did I tell you I loved you soon enough?"
"Why do you ask me that now? It was not soon enough for me, but we got there eventually! I'm not complaining."
"But when would have been the ideal time to tell you? I mean, from your point of view."
"The best time to tell me was when you felt ready to tell me," said Mipha. "We had the sweetest moment together at Veiled Falls."
"I know. But I guess I could have told you sooner, right?"
"Only if it came from your heart. As for me, I knew beyond a doubt I was in love with you after we slew the Lynel on Ploymus Mountain."
"Yes, right, I remember. And I felt the same way, and I wanted to tell you then, but the guards your father sent looking for you interrupted us."
Mipha gazed into his eyes for a moment.
"You sound like you're trying to justify not sharing your feelings with me sooner. But it was fine when you did, sweetheart. You don't need an excuse."
Link paused for another moment.
"Okay, but I have another question. Did I have any rivals for your affection back then?"
Mipha again looked into his eyes.
"No, you were my only love, sweetheart," said Mipha. "I was the one worried about a romantic rival, that you would fall in love with your Hylian Princess. Don't you recall reading my diary?"
"Uh oh," said Link.
"No, no, I'm not upset anymore, not for a long time now," laughed Mipha. "But I wrote there that my heart was drawn to yours, and I began making the armor for you soon after our Lynel encounter. What is prompting all these questions? What exactly happened in your dream?"
"I dreamed I visited you after guarding Zelda only to find you engaged to someone else, some Zora knight you didn't name. It broke my heart."
"I see. Well, you're my Zora knight now and my one and only love, dearest," said Mipha as she caressed his cheek.
"And you're mine," said Link. "Always and forever."
They kissed.
"Now relax and get some rest," said Mipha. "You won't want to miss any time babysitting Lanka. He's at a cute age."
Link nodded, closed his eyes, and fell back asleep as they held each other.
The next morning in Zora's Domain, Mila was sitting alone at the breakfast table in the house by Mikau Lake when her younger sister Lapha entered.
"Good morning, Mi. You're up early. Everything okay?"
"Hey Laff, sure, all fine," said Mila.
Lapha looked at her sister for a moment and then spoke up.
"Okay, now tell me what's wrong," said Lapha.
"I guess you can still read my feelings! Sit down and have your fish first," said Mila. "I left a fresh Hyrule Bass in the kitchen for you."
Lapha retrieved the fish, then sat down with Mila at the table and took a bite.
"Tasty!" said Lapha. "Now, tell me what's wrong."
"I don't know. I think I'm being silly sometimes. But it's a combination of things, I think. For one thing, the house being so empty gets to me. I'm used to at least Mom and Dad being here, but they've been in North Hyrule for months now. I know I could stay in Linky's old room at Hyrule Castle when I work there, but that's even worse. I'm glad at least you and Midon are with me here in alternate weeks."
"Mom and Dad will be back soon, Mi," said Lapha. "Lanka is getting big enough that Tila and Linky won't need their help anymore. Haven't you seen how big he's getting in the pictures Tila sends?"
"Yes, he's so cute!" said Mila. "I feel a bit embarrassed admitting how I feel about this, though. I'm the oldest child in the family, technically an adult now, yet I seem to be the one who misses Mom and Dad the most."
Lapha smiled, and she understood perfectly, as their mother had explained it once. She recalled the conversation now that had happened when they were much smaller.
"Mom, why does Mi worry so much about Dad when he goes away?" Lapha asked. "I mean, we all worry to some extent, but she gets so emotional. I find her sometimes crying for no reason."
"Well, I worry about him too, sweetheart," said Mipha. "But it's the healing magic she inherited from me. It makes you care for others in a special way and want them to be safe and well. You grow more sensitive, and you feel people's absence more keenly."
Then Lapha's mind returned to the present.
"But you've always been the most sensitive of the four of us, Mi, and the one who always worried most about anything happening to Mom or Dad. So, it's understandable their absence affects you more, and it's nothing to be ashamed of."
"Well, okay, there's that," said Mila with a sigh. "But it's the work too. Ever since your team uncovered that hall of heroes beneath the Forgotten Temple and the hero quest simulations, we've been sending volunteers into the simulations to update our knowledge of those ancient times in Hyrule. Then we have to revise our history books accordingly. I know I have help, but I like to review everything, and it's getting to be overwhelming!"
"Calm down, Mi," said Lapha. "It sounds like you need a break. I think some time off from work would help. Maybe you should visit North Hyrule and see Mom, Dad, Linky, and his family."
Lapha took another bite of fish.
"You're probably right," said Mila. "It's just that whenever I take time off from work, it feels like I have even more work to deal with when I return."
"And that's why you need to make sure you have enough help and to rely more on your editors," said Lapha. "Don't feel you have to review everything yourself. You're a bit of a control freak, you know."
"I am?"
"Don't you remember Mom telling stories about when you were very small and you tried to herd frogs?"
"Oh! I forgot about that," laughed Mila. "Anyway, maybe a trip to North Hyrule would do me some good."
"Do us some good," said Lapha. "I'm coming with you."
"What about supervising the Faron excavation work?"
"Midon and Aldora can manage," said Lapha. "In fact, Midon is getting along very well with Aldora. She has a newer Tab version than we do, and Midon told me he is very interested in learning more about it."
"Is that all he's interested in? Aldora is pretty cute!"
Lapha and Mila both laughed.
"I think he's still seeing Larena, though I haven't seen them together in a while. But we'll have to ask him next time we see him," laughed Lapha. "Now, let me finish eating, and we can plan our trip north."
Meanwhile, it was a sunny late morning in North Hyrule, and Mipha and Link were babysitting, swimming with their several-month-old grandson Lanka in a small cove close to the seashore. It was a perfect spot for Lanka to swim, as the water was not as turbulent as the sea, but it was still home to schools of small fish he could chase to enhance his swimming skills. Mipha and Link spent most of the time underwater with Lanka, following him as he swam, watching him stop to stare at things, enjoying him trying to copy their movements, and listening to his cute high-pitched sounds. Finally, after some time, Link signaled he wished to surface to say something.
"Yes, sweetheart?" said Mipha.
"I just wanted to say the high-pitched underwater sounds Lanka makes now are so cute!" said Link. "They even sound musical."
"I said that you would enjoy listening to them now that you can actually hear them," said Mipha. "We're a musical race, and those sounds are a Zora hatchling's way of developing their echolocation ability."
"You know, hearing Lanka makes me feel like I missed out on a special part of our children's growth, being a Hylian at the time. You never told me about the cute sounds they make when they're this age."
"Why would I tell you about something you couldn't experience, and knowledge about it would only make you feel sad?" Mipha asked. "You couldn't hear them as a Hylian."
"I know, but I'm beginning to feel a little sorry for myself now," said Link.
"Oh, really?" said Mipha. "Well, if you want to feel sorry for someone missing out on child-raising, you should feel sorry for me."
"What do you mean?"
"At least you're getting to experience this part of a baby Zora's life as a grandparent. Do you forget we have a Hylian child too? I worked hard to raise him as a Hylian mother would. But I could never experience some things about raising a baby Hylian, like nursing him."
"Oh! That's true. I guess I never thought of that," said Link.
"Mm-hmm. So, be happy about what you have and enjoy this phase in our grandson's life."
"You're right, as usual," said Link.
Then they leaned forward and kissed, after which they both dove underwater to play with Lanka some more.
Meanwhile, far to the south, a typical Faron thunderstorm was raging, with huge bolts of lightning and peals of thunder that shook the ground. At the first sign of an impending storm, the excavation workers had left to find shelter in the nearest rest area, while Midon and Aldora took refuge in a small cave near the latest dig.
"It's frustrating having to suspend excavation work so often because of storms," said Midon. "At the Forgotten Temple, we were inside and not at the whim of the weather."
"Yes, but this is a much bigger excavation area," said Aldora. "So it would take longer to explore it, even in the best of circumstances. And you, of all people, need to stay safe and be careful of lightning."
A crash of thunder interrupted their conversation.
"Um, I've noticed that you have a new Tab model, Aldora," said Midon. "I'm a bit curious about it."
"Yes, it's a prototype, but hopefully will be available soon," said Aldora, taking it out. "Besides being a bit more compact, it can create three-dimensional images of objects. That's one reason Master Saldon insisted I have it, to transmit three-dimensional images of any unusual artifacts we find back to the scientists at home. Here, take a look."
Aldora handed her Tab to Midon.
"Wow! It's smaller and lighter," said Midon. "How does that three-dimensional feature work?"
"Well, the way normal Tabs work, they record the brightness of light waves and can faithfully portray colors. But this Tab also records additional information, such as the phase of the light wave, and can render depth as well. It's cleverly designed."
"Yes, indeed," said Midon. "I have to admire the technology you have in the north. It's fascinating."
Aldora smiled as Midon handed her Tab back, and another crash of thunder shook the ground.
"Looks like we will be here for a while," said Aldora. "Anything else you would like to know?"
"Yes, lots," said Midon.