Chapter Text
“I know... that we'll meet again, dear brother.”
“Yes. You're my beloved sister... and our hearts will never be apart.”
Sidon took one last glance at Mipha, committing the softness of her eyes to memory before he vanished into fragments of light. He disappeared the same way he had materialized, whizzing through the air without knowing where he might land.
When he came to and had made sure his feet were on solid ground, he opened his eyes.
The first face he saw was his sister’s.
He had come back home, that much was clear. Before him stood the statue he often visited at night. The glow of luminous stone soothed him, and the carefully carved sculpture kept him from forgetting Mipha’s face. The same face he had seen only moments before–warm, comforting, proud–now sat rigidly atop the monument.
Sidon heaved as his knees hit the ground.
“Prince Sidon!”
“You’re back!”
Sidon’s head swam as the Zora guards swarmed around him. He couldn’t understand a single word; the dizziness overpowered everything else.
“Call the medic!”
“Tell the king His Highness has returned!”
He squeezed his eyes shut. His height, which had always been a boon to him, became a burden to the soldiers carrying his heavy frame into his quarters.
Sidon felt a modicum of relief when his body sank into his personal pool; the cool water soothed his aching body, but nothing eased the heaviness in his chest.
The medics tended to him carefully, quietly, until he fell into a deep sleep.
A small, warm hand roused Sidon from his slumber. Fingers traced lines over his skin from his crest to the tip of his tail fin.
Sidon opened his eyes to find Link staring at him from above, smiling softly. His head was nestled between Link’s knees as the champion sat on the edge of the pool, dangling his feet underwater.
Sidon lunged at him with a splash and cradled Link to his chest.
“Beloved!”
The pair landed with Sidon on his back and Link straddling his abdomen. He leaned down and touched his forehead to Sidon’s.
“Sidon… Are you alright?”
Link changed his mind and refused to let Sidon answer without looking him over, checking for injuries.
Sidon couldn’t help but chuckle when Link inspected his fins for any scratches, bites, or gashes.
“I am fine, my dear. I am missing nothing but food in my stomach.” He made to get up but Link held him down.
Link shook his head. “I’ll be back with food; you should rest.”
The champion stood and made his way toward the exit until Sidon caught him by the hand. His red claws covered the small hand entirely.
“Do not deprive me of your company just yet. Please.” He spoke softly, “I would rather not be by myself, tonight.”
There was no hesitation from Link as he returned to the prince’s side. “I can stay as long as you need me to.”
Sidon brushed the hair out of Link’s eyes. “A single night will do; any more than that would be purely out of self-interest.”
Link caught the hand petting him and kissed the inside of Sidon’s wrist. His cheeks turned a shade pinker than they had previously been. “You’re allowed to be selfish.”
“No, love. I have already been selfish in ways you cannot understand.”
Sidon pulled Link over to the Hylian bed and took a seat. Link had his own quarters in Zora’s Domain–King Dorephan had insisted on it–but Sidon had a feather bed installed in his own room anyway.
“I have stolen you away without knowing.” Sidon shook his head, “No, that is not right. I was, and still am, fully aware.”
Link gave him an anguished look. “What happened when you were gone?”
Sidon avoided meeting his gaze.
“I was in Rito Village when Teba went missing,” Link continued, “Saki, his wife, asked me to look for him since his leg was still causing him pain and she was worried about him. I searched all over the Hebra mountains until I came down to a stable and received a missive saying Riju was nowhere to be found.
“I checked in Eldin just to make sure, and no one had seen Yunobo either. All the guards were in a panic when I got here.” Link cleared his throat. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know where to go.”
Sidon reached for his hand. “If it’s of any comfort, I had no idea where I was going, either.”
“Zelda was the only one keeping a level head. She said she was in Central Hyrule when the Divine Beasts began to glow, and we deduced that was when you all disappeared. She didn’t seem too worried, but I…”
“Link?”
Sidon called his name once more after a moment of silence.
Link closed his eyes and swallowed hard. “I could never face your father if I lost you, too.”
The air around them felt impossibly heavy.
Always.
It always came back to his sister.
Sidon took a deep breath. “My love, it is because of you that we are all still here. Calamity Ganon would have done away with everyone in Hyrule had it not been for you and Zelda. It was your strength and your courage that saved us, and it is what saved my dear sister in another time.” He smiled, “It is because of you that she is alive.”
The prince explained the situation as best he could, leaving out minor details such as the burnt bass and the squabbles between the tiny robot and the other Link. He did not know the specifics of their time-traveling, but he made sure to tell Link how they worked together to prevent the untimely deaths of the Champions.
Link listened attentively, his eyes trained on Sidon’s every expression.
“I still am not quite sure how it happened, but I am glad it did, for I had the chance to speak to my sister once more. How I wish you could have been there, though.”
“I don’t… I don’t know what I would have said to her,” Link hesitated. “I remember her as fondly as I remember the rest of the Champions, but I’m afraid that’s all.”
Sidon stifled a laugh. “I was too young to know at the time, but she was hopelessly in love with you.”
Link’s cheeks blushed a deep pink. “Sorry.”
“She wanted to marry you.” Sidon pressed further.
Link hid his face in his hands. “I know.” He peeked at Sidon through his fingers. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because,” Sidon leaned down to speak in Link’s ear, “I want the same thing, if you would do me the honor.”
The prince nervously awaited the answer when Link pulled him into a swift kiss, followed by another, and another.
“Well, what do you say?”
Link beamed at him, “Lurelin Village is beautiful this time of year.”
Sidon looked at him in confusion. “Hm?”
“It’s the perfect place for a honeymoon.”