Chapter 63 - Sharing Secrets
Summary: In the Calamity Timeline, Zora Prince Sidon shares some news, prompting a visit from Astra.
It was early afternoon as sunlight streamed through the tall open windows of Astra's office, casting a warm glow over the room. Astra sat at her desk, engrossed in her reading, when there was a gentle knock on the door.
Astra looked up to see Myra, Queen Zelda's Royal Secretary and Chief of Staff, standing in the doorway. "Yes, Myra?" she said kindly.
"A Zora just delivered this letter for you, Highness," Myra said, stepping into the room and handing Astra an envelope. "I thought it might be important."
"A Zora delivered it? That's unusual, isn't it? Don't we usually receive mail by way of the Rito or Hylian post office?"
"Yes, but the Gerudo and Zoras occasionally prefer to handle their own message deliveries, especially if they're important."
"I see. And what about the Gorons?"
Myra chuckled. "Oh, the Gorons don't bother with letters. Paper would burn up before they could even begin to write on it, and nobody wants to deliver stone tablets."
Another reason Tabs would be handy, Astra thought as she laughed along with Myra.
"Good point, and thank you," said Astra as Myra handed her the envelope and returned to her desk.
The envelope was addressed to Princess Zelda at Hyrule Castle, and the return address bore the royal Zora seal, an insignia inspired by the design of Goddess Nayru's symbol. Astra opened the envelope to reveal a message from Prince Sidon.
Dearest Astra,
I trust you are well and enjoying your reign as Hyrule's princess, which has brought joy and hope to the whole kingdom.
I am still deeply grateful to you for revealing what you did about my sister. Both Father and I take comfort from it. Now, I believe it is my turn to reveal some family news.
I have been courting a charming woman named Tona, who has a bubbly personality, for some time now. We grew closer after she approached me one evening while I gazed at my sister's statue, something I still often do. To dive right in, Tona and I fell in love and recently became engaged. My father is thrilled, though he still chides me for taking so long. And as both my father and I consider you family, Astra, I would be honored if you could make time for a visit and meet Tona before our wedding next month.
I am certain you will enjoy meeting Tona. She remembers your father quite well, having first met him while she was swimming at the mouth of the Zora River during our search for someone to calm Divine Beast Vah Ruta with Shock Arrows. She also laughs, saying she is a bit embarrassed now to recall speaking with Link as a fervent member of my old fan club.
Aside from wanting you to meet Tona, I have another reason to meet with you. I seek your permission to share with Tona the secret about my sister you shared with me, under the condition that she not share it further. I would prefer not to have secrets from my wife, but I will respect your wishes if you or Queen Zelda have some reason the information cannot be shared.
Please do try to visit amidst your numerous responsibilities. There is no need to make an appointment as family are welcome any time.
With warm regards,
Sidon
Prince of the Zora
Astra stood up and walked over to Myra's desk, holding the letter in her hand.
"Is Her Majesty available, Myra?" she asked.
"Yes, Highness, she's just reviewing some reports. But I was instructed to interrupt her whenever you wanted to see her anyway," replied Myra.
"Thanks, I'll go ahead in then," said Astra.
She gently knocked on Zelda's open office door before entering.
"I received a letter from Prince Sidon," Astra began, handing the letter to Zelda. "It seems he is engaged and wants me to meet his fiancee. Also, he seeks permission to share what I told him about Mipha."
"Oh, this is wonderful news!" Zelda exclaimed as she read through the letter. "Please congratulate Tona and Sidon for me. And I have no problem with him sharing the secret of the other timeline with Tona. Were my husband alive, I would have already shared it with him. However, let's continue to preserve the secret of who your mother is."
"Understood," said Astra. "I would like to visit Prince Sidon and Tona as soon as possible."
"You should, and why not go today?" asked Zelda. "I think a visit there might be a good distraction for you from Fallon's absence. When is Fallon due back from the Gerudo region?"
"In four more days," answered Astra with a sigh. "If I were Fi, the sword's spirit, I could also give you the exact hours, minutes, and seconds."
Zelda chuckled. "Well, regardless, I think you should take this opportunity to go. Nothing is pressing here at the moment. Do you still have the Sheikah Slate? I assume you would want to use it."
"Yes, it's in my room and definitely the only way to travel," Astra grinned. "I'll go then, pass along your well wishes, and tell you what I learn."
Astra paused at Myra's desk, quickly explaining that she was leaving for the day. Then she hurried down the stone steps to the residence level and her room, changed into her travel outfit, and retrieved the Sheikah Slate from a dresser drawer. Calling up the map, she activated the device and a moment later found herself standing at the travel gate of the Ne'ez Yohma Shrine in the heart of Zora's Domain.
Astra was happy the shrine was in a somewhat secluded area of the Domain with only two startled Bright Eyed Crabs for company. Appearing out of nowhere amidst a group of people could be quite alarming for them. It reminded her of a conversation with her father when she was sixteen.
It was a sunny afternoon, and she and Link were walking alone together in Hyrule Forest Park. It was one of the occasions he wanted to prepare her for what he suspected would happen: that she would be sent back to fill the void he created when he left his original timeline. Her father preferred to keep active when they spoke, as he seemed to think better on his feet.
"As we discussed before, sweetheart, your first contact should be Dr. Purah. She is extremely smart and could greatly help you as she has lived through everything. I would assume she still resides at the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab - if she hasn't blown it and herself up," said Link.
"Funny, Dad," laughed Astra. "Did you and Dr. Purah get along well back then?"
"We did in the end," said Link."We actually grew closer after I knocked her flat on her back."
"What?!"
"It was accidental and happened shortly after we defeated the Calamity. I was still living at Hyrule Castle back then, and Zelda wanted me to consult with Dr. Purah about something. Zelda was too busy to go herself, and Dr. Purah still looked like a child, so she refused to travel anywhere. Anyway, Zelda loaned me her Sheikah Slate, and I used it to teleport to the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab. Unbeknownst to me, Dr. Purah happened to be outside the lab at that moment and was standing on the travel gate medallion. As I began to materialize, a burst of energy knocked her clear off of the portal and flat onto her back. She was unhurt, but I was quite surprised to see her lying on the ground when I finished materializing. She took the matter with good grace, though.
"I always knew the Sheikah Slate travel feature must have a way of ensuring the host's integrity upon teleportation completion. And now, thanks to you, Link, we have verified it experimentally," she joked as we laughed.
As Astra adjusted to her arrival, the air was alive with the sound of cascading waterfalls, rushing water, and bustling conversations from the plaza. Astra made her way up the stairs to the level just below the throne room, where she paused to exchange words with one of the guards on duty who recognized her at once.
"Welcome to our Domain, Your Highness," said the guard. "How may I be of service?"
"Thank you. I would like to speak with Prince Sidon if he is available," said Astra.
"Of course, Your Highness. Please wait while I inquire," replied the guard with a respectful bow before hurrying up the steps to the throne room.
Moments later, he returned with Prince Sidon at his side.
"Astra! So good of you to come and so promptly," said Sidon as he vigorously shook Astra's hand.
"Of course," said Astra. "Zelda and I offer our congratulations and are very happy for you."
"Thank you! Tona is off once again discussing catering the wedding with her brother Cleff, who runs the Coral Reef general store," said Sidon. "She should be back any minute. Do you mind if we wait for her here? My father is taking an afternoon nap at the moment. He, um, grows tired more often now."
"Of course," said Astra. "So, you had a fan club back in the day?"
"Yes, it feels silly now," laughed Sidon. "Tona, Tula, and Laruta were among the members. I didn't know about it until Tona told me. Ah, here she comes now."
Astra turned to see Tona approaching them with a big grin on her face. Her skin was a shade of red that almost approached lavender, and she had large, bright yellow eyes that sparkled with excitement. She wore a stylish green gemstone necklace and matching bracelets on her wrists, and the underside of her forearm fins were light blue tipped with yellow.
"Astra, please meet my fiancée, Tona. And Tona, this is Princess Zelda, who informally goes by the name Astra," said Sidon.
"Very pleased to meet you, Your Highness," said Tona. "Sidon has spoken highly of you."
"Thank you, and I am pleased to meet you as well and offer my and Queen Zelda's congratulations," said Astra. "And please call me Astra."
"Forgive me, but if Sidon hadn't already told me you are Link's daughter, I would have guessed it immediately. You definitely take after him, Astra," said Tona.
"Shall we adjourn to one of the gazebo structures and talk?" said Sidon. "Oh, and forgive me, Astra - are you hungry, or would you like any refreshment?"
"Thank you, I'm fine," said Astra. "But talking would be nice. I'm always eager to learn more about my father."
The three of them climbed up one of the waterways to a structure overlooking the plaza and sat down.
"If you don't mind, Tona, could you tell me about your meetings with Link?" Astra asked.
"With pleasure," said Tona. "The first time, I was on a mission to find a Hylian near the mouth of the Zora River. It was no easy task, as I had never encountered a Hylian before and had only a vague idea what they looked like. I was told to check for long ears and no fins. The day dragged on with no sign of anyone passing by, leaving me alone. So, I took advantage of the quiet and indulged in some much-needed swimming."
Tona took a moment to catch her breath before continuing. "Then, as luck would have it, I spotted someone nearby while enjoying myself in the water. Excitement bubbled up inside me as I shouted out to get his attention. I could hardly contain my enthusiasm when he approached - for he had pointed ears and lacked fins. He must be the elusive Hylian that Sidon had been searching for! Without hesitation, I directed him towards Inogo Bridge upstream, where Sidon was waiting."
Sidon interjected at this point in the story.
"This all happened so long ago now, but I can still remember it vividly," said Sidon. "I immediately recognized Link as a Hylian when he arrived at the bridge, his striking features and pointed ears giving him away. Somehow, I sensed he must be the one destined to quell Vah Ruta and save our people. But it wasn't until my father pointed out his true identity that everything fell into place. Link confirmed his mission to appease Vah Ruta from Princess Zelda and explained he had been asleep for a hundred years and had lost his memory. My father wasted no time in bestowing upon him the armor my sister had crafted for him so many years earlier. Muzu, ever the skeptic and distrustful of Hylians, spouted steam over this decision, but even he couldn't deny the perfect fit of the armor after Link put it on."
A sense of nostalgia washed over Sidon as he recounted these memories and paused momentarily.
"It was when Link gazed upon the statue of my dear sister Mipha that a spark of recognition ignited in him. He remembered some of their time together and, with renewed determination, set off to obtain the Shock Arrows needed to recharge Ruta with electricity. Soon after, I helped him shut off Ruta's water creation, and Link bravely appeased the Divine Beast, freeing my sister's spirit and saving not only our Domain but much of Hyrule from being flooded. But I should stop there and let Tona continue."
"There isn't much more to tell," said Tona. "Sometimes Link saw and overheard me in the plaza with Tula and Laruta - a Prince Sidon fan club meeting. He stopped to talk with us once but then pretty much left us alone. Tula was so jealous that I was the one who found Link for Sidon, for Link must have approached the Zora River from the north instead of passing through the Lanayru Wetlands where Tula was searching. Or it's possible Tula missed him, as she admitted later she had been fooling around a good deal in the water. Link made a big splash here when he accomplished what he came for, and we all cheered for him. Of course, none of us younger Zoras remembered Link from before, as we all hatched after the Calamity. But we heard Kodah and Gaddison knew him pretty well, and he had some guy friends, Bazz and Rivan, too. Sidon later told me that his sister had been in love with him, and it was sad that they never had a chance to be together."
"It certainly affected my father deeply," said Astra.
"But I'm happy for him that he eventually found someone else and royalty besides since you are his daughter and a princess," said Tona.
"Well…," Astra began, but Sidon spoke up first.
"Perhaps this is as good a time as any for you to reveal what you told me, Astra," said Sidon. "But this must be kept secret, Tona. Only my father and I know of this here in the Domain."
"I give you my word," said Tona.
Astra explained the other timeline as she had done for Sidon, including showing Tona a picture of Link and Mipha together.
"Amazing! Unbelievable!" said Tona when Astra finally finished. "I would never have imagined such a thing were possible."
"It is all very unbelievable," said Astra. "If I didn't experience it for myself, I would never believe it either."
"Since we are sharing secrets now, Sidon, perhaps you should share your other one," prompted Tona.
"Yes, of course, you're right, sweetheart," said Sidon, shaking his head.
Sidon leaned in closer to Astra and lowered his voice. "There's one more thing I didn't mention in my letter," he confided. "My father finds himself often nodding off to sleep now and feels he is getting too old to continue ruling. With my upcoming marriage to Tona, he sees it as the perfect opportunity to abdicate the throne and pass on the crown to me. However, we both know this may cause tension with the elders who have been close to my father for many years. That's why he wants to speak with them privately before making the announcement. So please keep this to yourself and Queen Zelda until then."
"Of course, and congratulations again," said Astra. "That will be quite a challenge, marrying and taking on the duties of ruler simultaneously."
"But it also means I can help him as Queen, and that is my intent," said Tona as she gazed affectionately at him.
"I'm counting on it, sweetheart," said Sidon as he squeezed her hand. "Your support means everything to me. And, of course, I can still benefit from my father's wisdom."
Astra smiled at the loving couple looking to support each other. At least Sidon had a chance to grow into the role of becoming ruler, not like this timeline's Zelda, who had it thrust upon her suddenly when she was only seventeen. And Sidon would have a Queen with whom to share the burdens and a father from whom to seek advice. It only made her admire Zelda more for what she had accomplished alone.
"It would mean a lot to my father if you could stay and join us for dinner," Sidon continued. "We all enjoy your company, Astra. And if he were to find out that you were here and didn't stop to visit him, his feelings would be hurt."
"Of course, I will gladly stay," Astra replied with a warm smile. "Your hospitality always makes me feel welcome and at home in your beautiful Domain."
"We can never forget the bravery of your father, who saved us all during the Calamity," Sidon remarked. "In the following years, he and I formed a strong bond. He would often come to visit and learn more about my sister. It meant so much to my father to see how much he still cared for her, for he knew how much she loved him."
"Yes, he did and still does," said Astra. "Now, with your permission, I would like to spend some time alone at East Reservoir Lake before dinner. Much as you remember your sister by visiting her statue, East Reservoir Lake helps me recall my father and family."
"Of course, Astra, whatever you wish," said Sidon. "I will send someone for you when it is time to return for dinner."
"Until dinner then," said Astra as they all rose. "And congratulations again."
Together, they walked back to the plaza before Astra headed east and climbed the long stairway to the northwest pier of East Reservoir Lake. Then she made her way to the small shelter with a bed and sat down.
Gray clouds had drifted in on a steady breeze from the Lanayru Sea, hinting at approaching rain. But there was no sign of thunder, so it would likely be one of those gentle, steady rainfalls so typical of the Domain. The large lake was peaceful, only the soft splashing of waves against the pier breaking the silence. A pair of Bright-Chested Ducks floated lazily not too far away, providing her only company.
Closing her eyes, Astra could recall fond memories of swimming and playing here with her father's Zora family. Their acceptance of her as part of the family always touched her deeply, especially Mipha's. Astra realized how hard it must have been for Mipha to come to terms with her husband having a daughter with another woman - especially one she admitted being so jealous of when Link was Zelda's appointed knight. She could recall one memory of being here, a time Link also shared a memory with her.
It was a warm but cloudy afternoon, and she had been playing water tag in the lake with everyone else.
"Got you! You're it, Midon!" shouted Mila.
"You missed me, Mi," exclaimed Midon.
"I tagged you on your left forearm fin," argued Mila. "Next time, do you want me to tug it until you blow bubbles?"
"I clearly saw Mila tag you, Midon. Don't cheat," said Lapha.
"I think this is a good time for this tired Hylian swimmer to take a break," said Link, breathing hard.
"Come on, Dad!" Mila exclaimed. "You just don't like being caught. Linky is still playing."
"That's because Lapha is helping him," Link laughed. "And he's a better swimmer than me anyway."
"Actually, I could use a break, too," said Astra.
"Then take some time to rest, dear, and catch your breath as you put it," Mipha chuckled. "And Astra, please keep him talking so he doesn't fall asleep."
"Very funny, sweetheart," Link replied as he playfully splashed water at Mipha, and she splashed him back.
The others resumed playing while Link and Astra made their way to the canopy covered shelter. Then they sat on the edge of the bed alongside each other, looking out at the lake.
"I'm glad you could visit, sweetheart," said Link after a moment. "We all love having you here, and it's especially special for me to have all my children together."
"I love being here, too, Dad, and always have a great time," said Astra. "Your whole family makes me feel welcome."
"Because you're part of our family too," said Link as he gave her a quick hug.
Just then a gentle rain began falling.
"It's nice that they built this cozy shelter with a bed here," said Astra.
"I imagine it dates back to when the Domain was a popular spot for Hylians to visit," Link said. "You could have a family picnic or small party here.
"True, but it feels more like a romantic spot for lovers or even newlyweds," Astra commented. "The lake is very secluded most of the time, isn't it?"
"Yes, you're right," Link nodded, his cheeks slightly pink. "I sometimes forget how quickly you're growing up. Mipha and I did share some…very special moments here."
"We can change the subject if you'd like, Dad," Astra teased. "You're blushing too much."
"I can feel it," Link laughed. "But this spot does hold a special place in my heart. Imagine discovering you were engaged to someone and didn't even know it."
"Really? Now you have to tell me the story, Dad."
"In my original timeline, where we lost everyone, Dr. Purah was able to craft a Timeshift Stone three years after our victory. Zelda let me use it to travel 120 years into the past and visit Mipha here. By then, I missed her so very much, more of my lost memory having returned. But very far from all of it. To my surprise, I learned from her that we had gotten engaged just a week before during my previous visit. Which made me happy in a way but hurt all the more knowing what would happen and being forbidden to tell her for fear of making things worse. I had to pretend I knew all about it. Anyway, we spent an afternoon and evening together here and fell asleep in each other's arms in this bed. Zelda thought letting me see Mipha one last time might bring me some closure over her loss and let me move on with my life. After all, we didn't know if we could ever get the Temple of Time working. But it had the opposite effect on me."
"That must have been very emotionally trying for you, Dad," said Astra. "I'm amazed you could hold it all in seeing someone you loved so much after all that happened."
"Well, I couldn't, really," Link admitted. "Mipha sensed right away something was wrong with me. But I was lucky she was too happy for the unexpected visit to press me, and we just enjoyed our time together."
Astra smiled, pulling herself back to the present as rain started to fall. The drops pattered against the roof and stone pavement, creating little ripples on the water's surface. Her father would have loved it here now and might very well have fallen asleep to the soothing sound of the rain. She lay down on the bed to relax, for she also loved the sound of rain.
As she thought about her father, she realized how hard it was for children to imagine their parents as young once just as they were. But it was here at the lake that a young Link and Mipha must have spent romantic moments together before they even had a family. But speaking of timelines, time was marching on now, and the older generation was giving way to the next one. Sidon was taking over for his father, and Zelda was grooming her to take over for her someday. But not yet. Then, as she closed her eyes, she drifted off to sleep to the soothing sound of the rain.
Astra was awoken by a guard's voice calling her.
"Princess, it's time to join King Dorephan for dinner," the guard said as she opened her eyes.
"Oh, thank you," Astra replied, immediately rising from the bed.
The rain had stopped, and she followed the guard down to the throne room where King Dorephan, Sidon, and Tona were already present.
"Astra! It is always a pleasure to have you here," greeted King Dorephan upon her arrival.
"Thank you. I hope I didn't make you wait," Astra responded politely.
"Not at all," reassured Sidon. "Tona and I just arrived ourselves."
Tona, Sidon, and Astra each sat on one of the benches, and a waiter brought out a dish of Hyrule Bass for each person, with Astra's specially cooked to her liking. As the meal was served, the conversation flowed in the peaceful, warm atmosphere of the room.
King Dorephan inquired, "So, Astra, how do you like serving as Hyrule's Princess now?"
"It's different from what I've trained for my whole life," Astra responded. "But it's important for me to assist Her Majesty and learn the responsibilities of ruling a kingdom."
King Dorephan nodded, his gaze shifting towards Sidon. "Sidon and I will also work on that together," he added. "He said he mentioned my intentions to you earlier. But first, we have a wedding to plan, and I am looking forward to it immensely."
"I'm sure the entire kingdom is excited as well," Astra replied. "A royal wedding is a momentous event."
The conversation continued through the meal and beyond until it was getting late.
"I should be going," said Astra. "I have work tomorrow and mustn't stay up too late."
"Of course, forgive us for keeping you so long," said Sidon apologetically. "It's such a pleasure having you here that time flows like a torrent."
"Yes, the time goes too fast, and I hope you will visit more often," said King Dorephan.
A soft smile spread across Tona's face as she added, "I, too, have thoroughly enjoyed our evening together, Astra. I hope we can get to know each other even better in the future."
"I shall certainly make it a point to return here more often," said Astra. "It seems quite a lot can happen between visits. Thank you for a delicious meal and your generous hospitality. And congratulations once again. Good night."
Astra left the throne room and sought out a quiet area. She then utilized the Sheikah Slate's travel function, instantly appearing at the Saas Ko'sah Shrine located above the castle docks. From her vantage point, she could see two delivery boats being unloaded by workers below. Astra climbed the steps to the library and was pleased to find Captain Hawkins on duty once more. With a smile, she greeted him as he looked up from his duties.
"Hello, Captain," she said playfully. "I hope you won't have to report me this time."
Hawkins returned her grin. "No need this time, Highness. You're not out past curfew, and I hear you're now in charge of castle security. So, really, I'd just be reporting you to yourself."
Astra chuckled. "Actually, your report did me a great favor. It made me realize I needed to be more careful. Her Majesty gave me quite the talking to after that incident."
Hawkins nodded in understanding. "Glad I could help. Would you like me to accompany you to your room, Highness?"
"No, thank you, no need to take you away from your post," Astra declined politely. "I'll go straight there. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Highness," replied Hawkins.
Astra continued on to the residence area, and as she stepped into her room, she eagerly shed her travel clothes and slipped into the soft comfort of her sleepwear. She smiled as she opened the window, greeted by a cool evening breeze that carried with it the remnants of earlier rain. The clouds had cleared, revealing a vast expanse of dark sky dotted with a bright, almost full moon and sparkling stars. From her window, she could see Castle Town below, its few late-night stalls still bustling with activity but slowly winding down for the night.
Her gaze turned towards the southwest, where Divine Beast Vah Naboris perched atop Spectacle Rock, its massive silhouette barely visible in the moonlit distance. She knew that Fallon and his unit were camped somewhere in the vast desert, likely near the Kara Kara Bazaar. Only three more days until he returned to her side, and they could catch up on lost time. Or, as Fi would remind her, she could continue working towards fulfilling the other part of her mission. And that might well prove the more challenging one, as relationships were more complicated than combat.
With a quiet prayer for everyone's safety and well-being, Astra closed the window and crawled into bed, quickly drifting off into peaceful slumber.