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Zelda was certainly impressed with the Zoras’ repurposing of Ploymous Mountain.
“It looks absolutely wonderful,” she said, turning to Sidon with a smile. “You’ve done very well.”
Sidon returned his sparkling, toothy grin.
“High praise, Princess—but, in all honesty, much of the credit must go to our dear Link,” he admitted. “First, for slaying the Lynel here, and then for clearing all of the sludge.” He sighed. “If he wasn’t your appointed knight already, I’d have asked him to serve as one of mine—he would certainly grant me much peace of mind as I begin my reign as King of the Zoras.” He glanced off of the cliff, smiling as he saw Link in his Zora armor, entertaining the local children in the East Reservoir Lake.
“I wouldn’t sell yourself short, Sidon,” Zelda said. “I have all the confidence in the world that you will be a great king—you’re already a great Sage of Water.” A flicker of sadness crossed Sidon’s face. “What is it?”
“The Sage of Water—the original one who fought in the Imprisoning War…” he sighed. “Didn’t you think her voice sounded so much like my sister’s?”
Zelda let out a quiet gasp.
“I didn’t even think—!”
“You had plenty on your mind as it is, Princess—I certainly don’t hold it against you,” Sidon assured her. “But hearing her voice made me realize just how much I miss Mipha.” He glanced back at Zelda. “Perhaps it is selfish of me to say this, but I am glad you managed to find a way back and return to your true self.”
“…How could that be selfish?” she asked.
“…Because you’re the only other one who understands.”
He glanced back at Mipha’s statue, and Zelda suddenly understood, turning in the direction of Hyrule Castle, which had descended back to the ground after Ganondorf’s defeat.
“You’re right,” she admitted, after a moment. “Not only do I miss my father, but now I also mourn Rauru, Sonia, and Mineru. Before all of this, I had only just heard of their names, but after getting to know them, and seeing firsthand what they did to try to keep Hyrule safe… They were my family, too—however distantly so—and I shall miss them as I miss my father.”
Sidon glanced back at the princess, biting his tongue, for he knew of the other timeline, where King Rhoam and Mipha had both survived, and Zelda had been able to make amends with her father. She had never gotten that here—and instead, she mourned more than she ever had before.
“…Perhaps, in another time and place, things worked out differently, for both of our families,” he said, knowing he couldn’t reveal the whole story.
“Perhaps so,” she replied. “But we are in the here and now, and we must carry on and do our best for Hyrule—it is what they would have wanted.”
Sidon nodded. Indeed, they would do their best.