Chapter 73 - Family Secrets
Summary: In the Victory Timeline, Link feels more in control of his water rapture tendencies. Linky and his family wonder why Tila has become withdrawn and unapproachable, and Tila confronts Faray about her issues with maintaining a secret from her husband.
The morning sun shone through the windows of the family house by Mikau Lake as Mipha, Link, and Mila sat around the table for a breakfast of freshly caught Hyrule Bass.
"You know it's great not having to search for the best recipes," said Link as he savored a bite of fish. "I never knew plain fish could be so delicious."
"See how many hours of unnecessary cooking would have been saved had you been a Zora," teased Mipha. "You could have freed Hyrule and rescued the princess much earlier."
"Very funny," said Link. "Now you're starting to sound like Revali, who thought the original hero back in the era of Skyward Sword should naturally have been a Rito. 'Who needs Loftwings?' he mocked after completing the simulation. But if my taste in food wasn't so … um … eclectic back in the day, I would never have impressed Daruk with my appetite."
"Eclectic? More like indiscriminate," laughed Mipha.
"Anyway, I hope you're feeling better now, Dad," Mila said with a hint of concern. "No more desire to wander off alone and bask under the spell of a waterfall's music?"
Link chuckled sheepishly. "I still feel the urge, but I have better control of it now. I guess I'm still coming to terms with all the many aspects of being a Zora. I had no idea water experiences would be so intense, and I hope I didn't cause too much of a spectacle."
"Don't worry, sweetheart. We came in time to rescue you from any embarrassment," Mipha reassured him with a smile. "And we know it's difficult for you to adjust to so many new experiences. It takes time."
Link smiled as they all took another bite of fish, and then he brought up a new topic.
"By the way, is Midon at home? It's unusual for him not to be up by now on a workday."
"He returned home late last night from North Hyrule after visiting Tiray again," Mila explained. "I heard him before I fell asleep."
"I hope he hasn't gone through another breakup and is hiding in his room like last time," Link mused. "It would be tough for him to handle another failed relationship so soon."
"And you would know that how? Have any girlfriends ever left you?" Mipha playfully teased her husband.
"You know my memory isn't the best, sweetheart," Link replied with a grin.
Mila continued the teasing, "Especially with Mom when it comes to things like past girlfriends."
Link absentmindedly shook his head, almost hitting Mipha with his tail fin before realizing what he was doing. Then he thought for a moment before responding,
"Well, I once feared I might have lost you, dearest," said Link to Mipha. "When I replaced the Link you knew and loved with one who forgot all we did together, I thought you might never accept me as the same person. That hurt."
"Fair enough, sweetheart," said Mipha as she squeezed his hand.
"But as for Midon, I don't think even he could manage to cause a breakup so quickly," Mila insisted. "He and Tiray have not been together all that long. Besides, he quickly got over Larena, and they had been seeing each other for years. At worst, his ego would suffer from a breakup now. But I heard him humming 'Fin to Fin' on the way to his room last night, which shows he was in a …um…romantic mood."
"Do I know that song?" Link asked.
"It's more popular with Zoras my age and younger, Dad," Mila explained.
"All good points, Mila, but still, I am a bit worried about him," said Mipha. "Would you mind checking on him?"
Mila rose from the table and made her way to Midon's room.
"Midon? Are you okay?" called out Mila to the closed door.
"Yes, I'm fine, Mi," said Midon. "I got up early and ate already. I'm just busy working now. I have a lot of projects to catch up on, including some things that are due today."
"He's fine," said Mila as she returned to the table. "He says he's busy working and has things to catch up on. Which probably means he neglected work with all the time spent with Tiray."
"Good to hear he's okay," said Link after swallowing another bite of fish.
Mipha nodded, relief evident on her face. "I'm also glad he's alright. Though I worry about him working too hard to compensate for lost time."
"He'll be fine, Mom. I've seen him do this before," Mila comforted her. "And he needs to learn his lesson and remember you can't swim with the current both ways. He needs to prioritize his time. But I plan to work from home today and check on him later - bring him lunch so he takes a proper break."
"That's sweet of you," said Mipha.
"And I'll find out how things are going between him and Tiray," Mila added with a chuckle. "Tila is very interested in how her friend Tiray is doing."
"Speaking of Tila," Link interjected, his brow furrowing slightly, "Have either of you noticed anything… different about her lately? I messaged her asking if she had any recent pictures of Lanka to share, and she just said sorry, no, she's been too busy. She's never acted like that before."
Mipha and Mila exchanged glances, their expressions turning thoughtful.
"Now that you mention it," Mila said slowly, "she has been a bit withdrawn lately. I suggested getting together for a swim the other day, thinking it would be a chance to catch up on things in person, but she declined, saying she had no time."
Mipha nodded, her golden eyes filled with concern. "I've noticed it too. She hasn't wanted to join us for a family get-together here or in North Hyrule. She said Tara has too much schoolwork to spare the time."
Link sighed, "I'm glad it's not just me. I was starting to worry I'd done something to offend her without realizing it - perhaps lacking in some aspect of Zora etiquette."
"I'm sure that's not it, though it warms my heart to hear you admit you might be lacking in etiquette," chuckled Mipha.
"Huh?"
"You used to lecture me about my manners, worried I would offend Hylian sensitivities with my raw fish dining habits. Remember, sweetheart?" Mipha replied.
"Blessed Nayru! Do you ever forget anything I did wrong?" laughed Link as he squeezed her hand. "That was ages ago, dearest!"
"It doesn't feel all that long ago to me, sweetheart," laughed Mipha as she squeezed his hand back. "I live on Zora time, as you do now, too. You'll soon start to feel the passage of time differently."
"Well, I hope you also remember the good things I did," chuckled Link.
"I do. But it's more fun to tease you about the others."
"Anyway, maybe Tila's just going through some rough water right now," Mila suggested. "She must be dealing with something stressful, perhaps work-related."
"I hope it's not due to any disagreement with her husband," said Mipha. "They've always gotten along so well."
"I think she would confide in me if it were something like that, wanting to chat about how to calm the waters between them. Anyway, as I said, I'm going to be working from home today," Mila continued, wanting to change the subject. "What are you two doing?"
"Your father and I are attending a council meeting this morning," Mipha replied, her tone becoming more formal. "We're discussing some proposed changes to our trade agreements with Castle Town merchants. It could run long because Father is still reluctant to cut off discussion."
"Well, while you're both out, I'll keep an eye on Midon and ensure he doesn't work himself to exhaustion," Mila assured them.
"Thank you, Mila," Mipha said warmly. "You're always so thoughtful."
"Just like my Mom," Mila answered with a smile. "Oh, and sometimes my Dad, too."
"Thanks for remembering me," laughed Link. "But I'll concede your mother is more famous for caring behavior than I am."
As Link and Mipha left and made their way to the throne room, they discussed the upcoming meeting.
"I hope we can reach a consensus today," Mipha sighed. "These negotiations have dragged on far too long."
"Agreed," Link nodded. "Though I understand your father's desire to hear all viewpoints. It's part of what makes him such a respected leader."
As they entered the chamber, they were greeted by King Dorephan's booming voice. "Ah, there you are! Come, come, we have much to discuss."
The meeting proceeded as expected, with various council members presenting their arguments for and against the proposed trade changes. Link found his mind wandering occasionally, still preoccupied with thoughts of Tila's strange behavior.
Meanwhile, in North Hyrule, Linky prepared to walk their daughter Tara to class after the family finished breakfast. Breakfast recently had been more subdued than usual, his wife Tila not picking up on conversations but giving short answers, her mind seemingly elsewhere. That had been the trend lately. Something had changed, and he didn't know what it could be.
He recalled the most recent example from last night when he tried to discuss matters.
It was evening, and both children were asleep. Usually, that was a time he and Tila could be together as husband and wife, but she seemed focused on her Tab.
"Everything okay, sweetheart?" Linky asked.
"Yes, just catching up on meeting minutes before tomorrow. I want to be prepared."
After a pause, Linky continued.
"Tila, have I done anything wrong?"
"Not that I know of," Tila replied, looking up from her Tab. "Have you?"
"Not that I know of either, but you've been rather… um … distant lately. Like you're deliberately avoiding me."
"How can you say that? I'm sitting right here beside you," said Tila.
"You know what I mean. Not physically distant but … emotionally."
"I have a lot on my mind, dear. You knew when you married me I had royal obligations. I hope you still understand that."
"Of course I do. And is that what this is all about?"
"Yes, exactly - royal obligations," said Tila. "Why don't you go to our room, and I'll join you there later."
"Okay, sweetheart. Love you."
"Love you, too."
He went to their room, but by the time she must have joined him, he was already fast asleep.
Linky shook his head and returned to the moment. After saying goodbye to Tila and Lanka, they left the house.
But as Linky walked Tara to her class, he still couldn't take his mind off Tila. Her recent behavior was so unlike her, and he struggled to understand what could be causing such a change.
"Dad, is Mom okay?" Tara's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
Linky looked down at his daughter, surprised by her perceptiveness. "What do you mean, sweetheart?"
Tara shrugged, her fins rippling slightly. "She seems sad lately. Or maybe just… different?"
Linky sighed, unsure how to respond. "I think your mom has a lot on her mind right now, with her royal duties and all. But I'm sure she's fine."
Tara nodded, though she didn't look entirely convinced.
"Maybe you could talk with her about it, Dad?"
"I'd like to, but she seems reluctant to be alone together. Whenever I suggest doing something, she has some excuse, like going over meeting minutes, visiting Aunt Faray, or spending time with Lanka. But I'll keep trying."
As they approached the school, Linky reached out to give her a hug.
"Have a great day at school, okay, and don't worry about anything. I love you."
"Love you too, Dad," Tara replied, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before darting off to join her friends.
Watching her go, Linky felt a pang of worry. If Tila's behavior was troubling their daughter, he needed to try getting to the bottom of what was wrong.
After Tara entered the school, he turned back toward home. He would try again to see what Tila had on her mind if he could. But when he arrived home, the house was empty, and he noticed a message on his Tab he had left behind at home.
Took Lanka to visit Fa. Love, Ti.
Linky sighed and sat down. They hadn't passed each other, so Tila must have taken the long way round - probably to avoid him. What was going on?
Meanwhile, Tila was meeting with Faray while Lanka napped in one of the pools adjoining the throne room.
"This isn't working for me, Fa," said Tila in frustration. "Keeping this secret from my husband is not only hurting our marriage but also my relationship with his family. I fear it will all end badly. I want to swear him to secrecy and tell him."
Faray's expression remained stoic, "Since when have you struggled to keep a state secret, Ti? We've withheld advanced technology from Hyrule before, and you never had any qualms about it."
"This is different," Tila replied. "I'm not talking about sharing something with all of Hyrule - just with my husband."
"But by telling your husband, aren't you simply passing on to him the burden of keeping this secret? He will be torn, just like you are, between wanting to share it with his family and staying loyal to his promise. And what about Princess Zelda? Your husband served as her personal guard, and they grew close. He would sympathize with how much she must miss her sister Astra and want to tell her too."
"I understand your concerns, Fa. But keeping a secret from siblings, parents, or friends is vastly different than withholding it from a spouse. When we Zora marry, we have an innate desire to be completely open and honest with each other. You would understand that better if you were married yourself."
"Ouch," Faray winced at Tila's words. "But I get your point."
"I'm sorry, Fa. I didn't mean to be rude. Of course, I've sworn loyalty to our kingdom, and as its ruler, I will abide by your decision. But it's painful for me to hide something like this from my husband. I feel like I'm lying to him every time I see him. Maybe I should be more like our sister with less of a conscience. Sopha could look you in the eyes and effortlessly lie through her fangs all day long."
"I'm very glad you're not like her!" said Faray, then paused to think for a moment.
"It's funny, Ti, but the only times you and I have argued over the years concerned your husband, even when he was still only your boyfriend. Remember when he got into a fight in Castle Town with those guards who insulted you, and I wanted to keep you away from Hyrule to stay safe? But you wouldn't hear of it. Love is a pretty strong emotion, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is."
Faray paused for another moment, then continued.
"Fine, you can tell your husband," said Faray with a sigh. "I never like to stand in the way of true love. But please stress the need for secrecy. If this gets out, I don't know what will happen, but one thing is for sure: Master Saldon will have a fit."
"Thanks, Fa," said Tila. "I knew you would eventually understand."
"I understand about my dear little sister," laughed Faray. "Had I said no, I suspect you would have defected to their domain and told him anyway. I would hate to lose another sister."
"You could always ask the Sheikah to clone me like Sopha."
"Let's not even joke about that," Faray sighed. "Her sentence ends in seventeen years, and she'll be free to be among us once more. And her clone will be free twenty years after that. I hope they've both changed."
"I don't think I will," said Tila. "I can never forgive her for what she tried to do."
They hugged goodbye, and Tila retrieved Lanka, who was still asleep.
As Tila made her way home with Lanka sleeping peacefully in her arms, her mind raced with thoughts of how to approach the conversation with Linky. She knew she had to be careful in her explanation, balancing the need for honesty with the importance of maintaining secrecy.
Upon entering their home, she found Linky sitting at the table, a concerned expression on his face. He stood up as she entered, his eyes searching hers for any clue to her recent behavior.
"Tila," he said softly, "I'm glad you're back. I was hoping we could talk."
Tila nodded, gently placing Lanka in his slumber pool before returning to face her husband. "Yes, we need to talk. There's something I need to tell you, something I've been keeping from you."
Linky's expression shifted from concern to a mix of worry and curiosity. "What is it? Whatever it is, we can face it together."
Tila took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation ahead. "It's nothing terrible, but what I'm about to tell you is considered a state secret by my sister. Before I say anything more, I need your word that you will not share this information with anyone - including family.
Linky's eyes widened, but he nodded solemnly. "You have my word, Tila. Whatever you tell me will stay between us."
Tila took a deep breath before starting to explain. "You're familiar with the concept of your father traveling back in time and creating another timeline in Hyrule, right? It's the one we believe your half-sister Astra was sent to?"
Linky nodded, remembering conversations with Lapha about it.
"Well," Tila continued, her voice dropping to a whisper, "the Sheikah here know that the other timeline is not completely separate from ours. There is a way to cross between timelines, at least partly."
Linky's eyes widened in amazement. "That's unbelievable! How is that even possible?"
"I don't fully understand the technicalities, but it has something to do with our land being temporally isolated from Hyrule in the distant past," Tila admitted.
"I see," Linky said, furrowing his brow in thought. "And I'm assuming this is why you've been distant lately? Keeping this secret?"
Tila nodded.
"Yes, until I couldn't bear it anymore and asked Fa for permission to tell you," she said.
"It would mean so much to those who have lost loved ones if we could communicate across timelines," Linky said. "It's hard to know about this and not take action. But I'll keep my promise."
"I knew you would," Tila said with a smile. "And Fa wouldn't have agreed unless she trusted you too."
"I'm just glad things can return to normal between us now," Linky said. "I kept wondering what I did wrong to upset you and couldn't figure it out."
"I apologize for putting you and my family through that," Tila said sincerely. "But I'll make it up to you."
"Just being back to normal is fine enough for me, sweetheart," said Linky as he took her hand. "Being with you is already a dream - you don't need to do anything more."
"That's sweet, but I don't mind," Tila laughed. "I'm looking forward to it too."
"But not now," she added as Lanka awoke and started splashing. "Let's all go for a swim in the lagoon, and Lanka can practice chasing fish."
"And I can practice chasing you," laughed Linky.
As the family made their way to nearby Jabu Lagoon, Tila felt a weight lift from her shoulders. The secret she had been carrying was now shared with her husband, and though it wasn't a complete resolution, it was a step towards normalcy in their relationship.
Lanka squealed with delight as they entered the cool, clear waters of the lagoon. The little Zora immediately began darting after small fish, his movements still clumsy but improving with each attempt.
Linky and Tila watched their son with pride, occasionally offering words of encouragement. As Lanka became more engrossed in his fish-chasing game, Linky turned to Tila with a mischievous grin.
"So, about that other chasing…" he began, his eyes twinkling.
Tila laughed, a sound that Linky realized he had missed hearing these past few weeks.
"You'll have to catch me first!" she teased, diving beneath the surface with a graceful flip of her tailfin.
Linky plunged after her, relishing the familiar game they often played. As he pursued Tila through the crystal-clear waters of the lagoon, he felt a surge of joy and relief wash over him. The playful chase, a game they had enjoyed countless times before, now held a deeper meaning. It was as if the invisible barrier that had formed between them over the recent past was finally dissolving.
As always, Linky marveled at Tila's grace and agility as she darted between swaying clumps of seaweed and colorful coral formations, her scales shimmering in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the surface. He pushed himself harder, determined to catch up to her.
Just as Linky's fingers brushed against Tila's tailfin, she made a sudden turn, spiraling upwards towards the surface. Linky followed, bursting out of the water moments after her.
Breathing heavily, more from excitement than exertion, Linky wrapped his arms around Tila. "Caught you," he whispered, pulling her close.
Tila's golden eyes sparkled.
"So, what are you going to do with me?" she teased, nodding toward Lanka, who was still playing.
"I guess hold the thought for later," Linky laughed. "And the longer Lanka plays, the sooner he will need another nap."
Tila smiled mischievously and gave Linky a quick kiss before diving back underwater. Linky followed, his heart feeling lighter than it had in days. They swam side by side, occasionally brushing against each other playfully as they watched Lanka continue his attempts at fish-catching.
As the afternoon wore on, Lanka's movements began to slow, his earlier enthusiasm giving way to fatigue. Tila swam over to her son, scooping him up in her arms.
"I think someone's ready for another nap," she said softly, nuzzling Lanka's cheek.
Linky nodded in agreement. "Let's head back home."
The family made their way out of the lagoon, Lanka already half-asleep in Tila's arms. As they walked, Linky couldn't help but reflect on how much had changed in just a few hours. The tension that had been building between them had dissipated, replaced by a renewed sense of closeness and understanding.
Once home, Tila gently placed Lanka in his slumber pool, the little Zora barely stirring as he settled into a deep sleep. She turned to find Linky watching her, a tender expression on his face.
"Now, where were we?" Linky asked as he took her hand. "Tara won't be home for some time yet."
"Exactly where I want us to be - in my loving husband's arms," said Tila as they made their way to their room.