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Chapter Text

“What was Mipha like?”

“How do you mean?”

Link frowned, staring into the distance as he tried to form the right words. His horse - a white steed, supposedly related to Zelda's horse a century ago, who he named Mayo to Revali's chagrin- who he had taken to give Epona a bit of a break after her sprint to Tabantha, calmly followed along the path, only occasionally tossing her head as the blinding sun slowly gave way to dusk, which painted the gatepost (A whole outpost? Maybe even a town?) ruins a strong orange. It faintly reminded him of a memory he had remembered, way back on the Great Plateau, of when a pre-Calamity guardian fired at Zelda. Link shook his head and returned his focus to Mayo, steering her clear of a broken down wagon. He patted her neck again and spoke.

“I have a few memories of her,” Link explained, tone dipping toward mournful. For a moment, the hand petting Mayo seemed to bear a glove of fish scales, the same blue of the armoured porgy he catches glimpses of in eastern rivers. The sight sours his voice more so. “We were close. She'd tease me about you, and dress me up like a doll, and… But I just don't know much about her.”

Fi pulsed comfortingly, the warmth barely reaching through his tunic but her steady body of dragon-forged metal bumping against him, as Revali remained quiet. Both are probably for the best as a blue bokoblin chose that moment to strike, emerging from inside a ruined building with a wild shriek, stolen traveler’s sword rusted and held high. Mayo reared back and Link quickly flipped off, drawing his Sparrow Bow as he went. Bullet Time consumed him, leaving him stranded in mid-air, firing arrow after arrow; for a moment, as the arrows flew through time but did not yet make their mark, the only thing Link had to show for his effort was the creaking of his bow. And yet still, when he landed, the monster was dead, leaving him to cheerily scoop up the drops.

Revali, with the brief hazard out of the way and the question still hanging in the air, said, ”She was our healer, to put it simply. We relied on her more than we probably should have, and I definitely had to have her fix a few feathers every now and then. Mipha was more than that though, deft with the spear as she was. Scary women, her.”

Link snorted and promptly got buffeted by some strong wind. Though he briefly tipped over and shivered at the chill it brought, he laughed again. Before another western breeze could shoot past, Link swung back up onto Mayo, who shook her mane in irritation, and pulled a placating apple out of the Slate. Mayo took it happily. Link teased, “The Great Revali, scared of Princess Mipha.”

”Rude; you would be too if she literally snapped at you with those teeth. Besides, all the women were terrifying. Mipha, Urbosa with her lightning and insistence of being our mother, and the Princess just because of the sheer power she holds politically and spiritually.”

“Scared,” Link repeated with a grin, beckoning his horse forward again and past a puddle of light dancing over the remains of a fountain. Korok, he mentally marked..

”I hate you.”

“Aw, I love you, too.”

Link knew he had laid down to go to sleep, nestled in the ruins of Gatepost Town -as dubbed by the map- as Mayo fought with some teasing crows and the wind swirled around them protectively. It is because of this that he's surprised to blink his eyes open to find himself staring at a mirage of silver and blue. A dream, then. A memory, hopefully.

He turned, looking around for some kind of recognizable sight, and caught a glimpse of red. He zeroed in on that and soon recognized the familiar form of Mipha, crouched down in front of another red Zora, this one much smaller, and an equally small black Zora. Link tilted his head and approached, a fondness he could not yet grasp choking him.

“And remember,” Mipha was saying, voice scolding but still light with what may have been affection or laughter, “do not go up to Shatterback Point. It's very dangerous up there, and even the best of our soldiers struggle with the beast it holds, understand?”

The children -guppies, Link supposed, or small fry- nod rapidly, too large fins flopping behind them. Mipha giggled, reaching out to pat both of them on their heads. They light up like blue nightshade in the dark. The wet sound of Link's shoes against the watery stone below alerted the three of them of his presence.

Mipha glanced up first, golden eyes searching with a warrior’s keen gaze before they brightened, gleaming. Like this, she looked less like a warrior and more so a lynel about to strike its prey, and Link could instantly see why she might be considered scary. When he blinked, Mipha was on her feet, approaching with a wide grin.

“Link,” she greeted joyously. She clasped her hands in front of her chest, jewelry chiming, and added, “It is wonderful to see you here. I suppose congratulations are in order, though, Royal Escort.”

Mipha's tone was teasing, yet Link's face remained blank. He's not surprised at the flash of annoyance that's directed at his past self's apathy before a dear friend, at the choking feeling in his throat, though from fondness it may come, but it isn't as if he can do anything about it now. All he can do is restore what has been lost and hope Mipha's willing to start again. As is, all he does is nod.

At the very least, Mipha seemed to take no offense. Her smile dimmed somewhat, however. She took a step forward, then, and asked, “May I ask, is there any chance you aren't here on official business? It would be nice to spend some time together again.”

Link raised his hands to answer. Though he cannot see what he signed, he knew the gist of what he said, The Princess is here to see your father. Short and to the point, though it lacked any additional information that would've normally come with such a statement. Was there any chance that could've been a sign of familiarity, that Link was confident Mipha would understand his chopped answer, or was it simply a Royal Guard’s habit of relaying information quickly? He kept his gaze locked on Mipha for an answer, searching with what may have once been curiosity but what was now desperation.

“Oh?” Mipha frowned- not very reassuring. The red guppy came up behind, clinging to her leg and peering up at Link with eyes the same striking gold as Mipha's- distracting. Sidon, Link's brain helpfully supplied- useful but momentarily unwanted. “Whatever for?”

Silently, Link raised a hand and pointed. All three of them -four, counting the second guppy, who's name Link’s brain did not choose to supply- look up and follow where his finger is pointing. There, atop blue mountains and standing out against the midday light, is a Divine Beast. It's in an odd shape, an animal Link can't identify, and its lights are out. Even so, it certainly appears divine, and the power it gives off is indisputable. Mipha made a noise of understanding.

“Ah, yes. That does make sense. We actually recently found some records in the underwater parts of the domain which call the Beast ‘Ruta’. The Sheikah seemed quite interested in that, as well as our records of the first Calamity, seeing as we have the best as the oldest living race,” Mipha said. The guppy at her heels cooed.

Before the conversation could continue further, before he could glean more information of the past and before Mipha had a chance to ask more questions, another Zora approached. He was much taller than both Mipha and Link, dressed in silver armour and with a spear in his hand. He bowed when he drew near.

“Lady Mipha, Prince Sidon, Sir Link; King Dorephan is requesting your presence in the throne room,” the soldier explained, head down and expression grim. Mipha frowned briefly, then turned to Link with a smile.

“Would you care to escort me, Sir Link?” Mipha asked, holding out an arm. Link took it easily as Mipha took hold of Sidon's small hand, and the three of them began their march toward the Zora King.

It was raining when Link next asked about Mipha. He was in one of Hyrule’s many swamps, Mayo safely resting at Wetland Stable and the Daka Tuss shrine sheltering Link. Lizalfos scuttled about, chittering to each other and stabbing fish through with their boko spears. Revali's presence at the back of his head is dim, distant. Link speaks to him anyway.

“She knew me before,” Link mumbled into his knees which were pulled up to his chest, damp cloth against damp cloth against cold skin. He wrapped his arms around himself tight as a brief flicker of confusion came. He added, “Mipha. She knew me before I was Zelda's knight. I think before I drew the Master Sword, too.”

Revali doesn't respond again, which Link huffed at- he knows very well that there's nothing else to be doing on Medoh right now. Fi, at least, ever the darling, answered with a few chimes.

“So she did,” he repeated. Link leaned down to tuck his mouth against his knees, giving him the wonderful view of his grass stained pants. Faintly, he wondered how he was going to get them clean. The rain continued to fall in torrents. A wizzrobe cackled in the distance.

Mipha knew him from before Before.

Mipha was the Zora Princess and the pilot of Vah Ruta.

Mipha had -has?- a little brother named Sidon.

Mipha was the healer of the Champions, but could also hold her own in a fight.

Mipha knew Link liked Revali before Link knew.

Mipha…

Link huffed again, this time in annoyance. He still knew practically nothing about Mipha. He doesn't know how he felt about her, why they were friends, what she liked, anything. Link knew, at least, that the circumstances regarding Mipha are different than Revali, but it still feels like such a disservice to have so few memories of her.

Revali -finally, that prick- threw in his two rupees. ”If I would have to guess, you will probably regain more memories of her at Zora's Domain. The nature of your relationship with her was unclear, but you two would wander off when we were in Lanayru, so I imagine most of your actual interactions were there. In any case, Zora are long-lived. You'll find someone there who knew her personally, and they can probably help jog a few memories loose.”

“Oh, look at you finally being helpful,” Link tilted his head back against the wall of the shrine with a coo. He made note that Revali did make some good points, but he's not above being a menace despite that. “And here I was thinking you ditched me, beloved husband.”

”Yes, well, you are on the other side of the Kingdom.”

“So? I have a piece of your soul.”

“And I have the rest here. What's your point?”

Link rolled his eyes, unfurling from his ball position. He shot back, “You're the one who said we're stuck together now.”

”That's not what I said and you know it. You can use my Gale anywhere, I only have to deal with you when Medoh can see you.”

“I want a divorce.”

”No.”

Link was running. His breath was coming out in harsh pants, making his chest ache terribly. There was something in both of his hands, one cold and hard and the other wet and warm. His vision blurred, obscured by rain and something dark, which made seeing in the already pitch black light an even greater feat. Somewhere around him, someone sobbed, though he was pretty sure it wasn't him. A flash of light and an explosion sounded a moment later.

Link nearly slipped, and he risked a glance down. Below him is marshy ground, a mix of mud and dirty water. A lotus crunched under his boot just as a drop of blood fell down. Link jerked his head up as he was hit with a realization.

Sure enough, in the distance is the overtaken form of Hyrule Castle. A magenta beast swirled around it, roaring as thunder clapped around it. Houses to the east, further in on the swamp, are engulfed in flame. Another Guardian fired a laser, though Link cannot tell from where. Behind him, Zelda choked on another sob. The night of the Calamity.

“Link,” she gasped, pulling on his hand. Link did not slow his rapid pace, but he did spare a glance over his shoulder, wet hair sticking to his cheek and making his vision even worse.

Zelda was a mess, to put it lightly. There was mud -he hoped it was mud and not blood- smeared across her cheeks, her eyes were bloodshot, her hair was a knotted mess and soaked through to the point of being brown, and her once white gown was now a muddled gray. With her free hand, shaking though it is, she pointed toward the marsh, past the burning village.

Link followed her finger and his steps nearly faltered. Ruta, who he knows was once a proud blue, is colored crimson. Her lights flickered before growing even stronger as her head rears up, extending the front of her high into the sky. Lightning cracked down, and so does a barrage of rain heavier than it was just a second ago.

Link ducked, turning his head forward again while Zelda cried out. They continue their run. Zelda sobbed out Mipha's name. Link's chest tightened further, now for a different reason.

Link was starting to think he hated Lanayru.

Even with Revali's Gale, it's nearly impossible to get anywhere. Everything was wet, the rain never stopped, nearly every lizalfos he had come across had had electric arrows, and he was pretty sure the smell of wet dog was never going to leave his tunic ever again.

And now here he was, staring up at Wetlands Tower with an unreasonable amount of rage.

He debated with himself for a long moment on how badly he needed the Tower. Purah would want him to get them all, he knew very well. As is, this one might be better off waiting until after the rain cleared some.

Which it hasn't.

For three days.

Link heaved a sigh and crouched down. He grimaced, mud and wet grass clinging to his hands and seeping through his already soaked pant legs. The feeling only lasted a moment before Revali's Gale flared up, but it was still a moment too long. And then he was in the air and his troubles were thankfully left on the ground.

As the wind twisted around him, shooting Link's paraglider into the sky and sending a nearby frog flying with an echoing croak, Revali gave him a look that implied he knew what Link was thinking and was only barely refraining from calling him stupid. Link stuck his tongue out, and the wind promptly stopped.

Link yelped as his paraglider dipped a bit. He swung his feet out, maneuvering closer to the Tower. When he felt he was close enough, he let go of one of the paraglider's arms and threw his arm out toward the Tower. He grabbed on to it and nearly slipped, the wet Sheikah tech a pain to grab on to. Link gritted his teeth nonetheless and weaved his arm through the glowing blue gaps of the tower. Then, with a bit of wiggling, he managed to grab the Sheikah Slate with his arm and allowed it to put away the paraglider. Both hands free, Link now had the ability to ever so slowly climb the little bit that remained of the Tower, which he painstakingly did.

When he finally managed to pull himself to the top after nearly falling six times, Link was gasping for breath and his arms burned. His legs were no better. To make matters worse, the bird who decided to rest on his head as he climbed pulled on his hair as it flapped away. Link miserably, pathetically, groaned into the blessedly dry stone of the Tower's floor.

“I hate Lanayru,” he said aloud. “Too much water.”

Fi glowed warm against his back.

“I'd rather it be a desert,” he told her in response, pushing himself up. Link shook himself off like the wolves around the river bends and unclipped the Slate, pressing it to the pedestal. It glowed, though nothing happened, causing him to frown. Link reached out and picked the Slate back up. He shook it, trying to dislodge any water that may have gotten in. Nothing changed, however, and he eventually took the Slate back and opened up the map. “Oh.” He said. “I'm an idiot.”

He had already gotten this Tower. Back when he had been near Kakariko and the Lanayru Promenade, he had wandered over and grabbed the Tower and Daka Tuss shrine, both with a frenzied speed that came from his desire to make it to Rito Village. And then promptly forgot about them both in the ensuing week. (Which, he suddenly thought, was definitely something he should bring up to Purah. Being unable to remember recent things, struggling to remember his life before the Calamity, and catching glimpses of Past Lives with startling clarity- well, it raised some questions, and several possible concerns for later.)

At the very least, it explained why Daka Tuss shrine was already lit.

Link quashed down the swell of embarrassment -and Revali's amusement- and clipped the Slate back into place. He turned east, toward where the map says Zora's Domain is, and noticed two things.

The first was probably the more pressing concern. In the distance, rising out of a giant lake, was Vah Ruta. She was still that sickly orange-red. Her… nose thing raised up further, reaching towards the Heavens and spraying water high into them. Like in a memory Link could faintly recall, the rain comes down harder. He grimaced.

The second, more immediate concern is the Zora on the Tower with him. Link blinked, staring at the other who peered over the side of the Tower with a nervous expression. Was he here last time? Surely not- Link couldn't have been that desperate. But, then again…

Link was really starting to wonder if the Shrine of Resurrection messed with his memory recollection in general.

He shook his head and wandered over, making sure his hands were preemptively raised in surrender in case the Zora panicked. As soft as he could manage while still being heard over the downpour, he said, “Hey, are you-”

The Zora screamed and leapt away from the edge. He whirled around, jerking his head this way and that to find whoever startled him. Link remained standing still until the Zora spotted him and slowly relaxed, flared fins settling and bared teeth hiding once again.

“Aha, hello,” the Zora stumbled out. “Sorry, I've been a little antsy since, erm… How'd a Hylian end up all the way up here?”

“I climbed,” Link answered, which is technically the truth. The first time, at least. He waved a hand toward the Zora, and then vaguely toward the rest of Hyrule. “How did you end up up here, though?”

The Zora heaved a heavy sigh, shoulders slumping and fins drooping. He said, “I was on a scouting party and took a break on that hill down there. Next thing I knew, the earth was shaking and I was all the way up here!”

He's been here since the Tower rose? Link frowned, trying to count the days since he woke up. It's kinda unclear, given how he's been far too stressed trying to get memories, the sword, and Revali back to pay attention to the passing of time, but… “You've at least been up here for weeks!” Link exclaimed, ignoring the other revelation that, yes, he was that desperate and blind. “Why haven't you gone down?”

“Aha,” the Zora laughed again, picking at a few scales this time. “See… We Zora are fishfolk, so we aren't in the air much and I'm… I'm afraid of heights.” Ah. “I tried calling for aid, of course! I can see Prince Sidon from here, but he can't hear me!”

Sidon is- Link is halfway to turning to try and look before he jerked back around, reminding himself in a voice that sounds a bit like Urbosa's to focus on one thing at a time. He grabbed his Slate again and summoned some food. Out comes some meaty curry which he immediately shoved into the Zora's hands. Link knows he won't miss it -he doesn't even remember making it- and whoever this guy is clearly needs it more. And maybe he can make a decision when he's less hungry.

Link said, “I can't help you get down, but I can give you some food until you get the courage to do it yourself. Will this be okay?”

“Oh! Yes, indeed, strange Hylian. Normally I prefer fish over deer meat, but- ah! Strange Hylian!”

With the Zora's distressed screams behind him, Link flung himself off the Tower. His paraglider snapped open with a crack mirrored by a clap of thunder, and then he began his sail to the supposed location of Prince Sidon.

”I'm glad to see you have friends, little guy,” a booming voice says with a roaring laugh, both of which seemed to shake Link’s very bones. He only had a moment to register his shock before his body looked up and met the bright blue eyes of Daruk, who was grinning down at him. Yet another soul waiting for him to hurry and do his job. “Was worried you kiddos weren't getting along, but you and the little lady are doing just fine!”

Link blinked and turned back forward, trying to take a guess at who the little lady was supposed to be. Before him is a red and orange settlement, built of volcanic rocks and metal. The air was hot, by far warmer than it had any right to be, but seemingly not enough for him to need protective gear. It reminded him of the memory atop Death Mountain, leading him to the assumption that this must be the settlement where the Gorons live. It doesn't seem the most attractive place for tourists, but the Gorons seem mighty happy with it.

The same can't really be said for their little gathered group.

Most notably, Urbosa and Revali, who appear to be arguing, which is definitely a concern. Urbosa stood with her arms crossed, chin up and eyes glowering at Revali, who stood atop a rock with ruffled feathers. Link caught a few snippets of “ungodly heat” and “better than having to wear boots” and decides he doesn't want to know.

From there, a few feet away, Zelda stood beside Impa. They are both hovering over the Sheikah Slate, squinting down at it and gesturing at random. On a metal table in front of them is a diamond. There's even less context there.

And finally, watching Link in turn, is Mipha. She has her spear -though, he is pretty sure that's a trident- out and is leaning on it. When their eyes meet, Mipha ducked her head quickly and glanced away, hands tightening on her spear-trident.

Ah, Link thinks.

Daruk laughed again and gave Link a painful but friendly pat on the back. “Gotta say, I'm surprised you're such a charmer, little guy! By the time we defeat the Calamity, you'll be getting marriage proposals all the way to Gorondia!”

Link has no idea what a Gorondia is.

Despite that, and the fact that his past self has expressed practically no emotion ever, Link found himself blushing. It startles him out of the memory.

Link stumbled as the memory faded, leaving him to fall heavily onto soaked ground. He sneered down at it and leaned back enough to wipe his hands on his pants. At this rate, it would probably be easier to go to Hateno and buy a new pair. Not that he really has the money for it, but it would also be a good excuse to visit Purah. She was definitely overdue on an update, anyway

A shadow chose that moment to loom over him. Link lunged backward out of what was either fear or honed instinct, hand flying toward the Master Sword, only to falter as his grip landed. The figure is… large. Giant, actually. They are red, and have golden eyes, and are grinning at him with too sharp teeth. Seeing Link falter, they throw their arms out wide. What probably should've been threatening comes off as overly-friendly.

“Hello, my friend!” They shouted, voice like Daruk's but accent like Mipha's. Link's brain buffered- “You are a Hylian, yes? Perfect! I can tell just by looking at you that you are a noteworthy adventurer, and so I must ask for your aid! See, my home has been threatened by a ferocious foe, and we need the aid of a Hylian. May I ask for your assistance in this matter? Oh, wait- I forgot to introduce myself! I am Prince Sidon of Zora's Domain! And might I ask your name, Hylian swordsman?”

Link's first coherent thought is: Wow. He talks a lot.

Link's second is: Man, Sidon got huge.

His third: Huh.

Chapter Text

“I'm… Link,” Link answered after a long moment of his brain continuing to buffer. He signed along, finger spelling his name, and tried to wrap his head around Zora sizes. How could all of his memories of Mipha be of her either being shorter or the same height as him, while the Zora on the tower had a good two feet on him, and now Sidon… To put it simply, Link had seen houses smaller than the prince.

“Link…” Sidon repeated slowly, squinting back through the rain. “Strange. It sounds almost… familiar.”

Link smiled back. He wondered if this is what he's like from the outside when he's catching a glimpse of something familiar, from a time so long ago it might as well as be a past life, and yet is unable to reach it. Simultaneous hums from the Master Sword and the back of Link's mind come at that. He reached out to pat Sidon's arm.

“It's a common name,” Link said, which he is pretty sure is true. It's be more surprising if it wasn't. And anyway, it wasn't like he had -or could remember- any family name to give. “You said there was a beast?”

Sidon grimaced, but then quickly flashed a grin. It's very nearly blinding, even in such stormy weather. “Ah, my friend, does that mean you will help us then?”

Link bobbed his head. “Yeah,” he answered, his own smile widening to a grin as he watched Sidon light up impossibly further. “I was in Tabantha last week helping them out, so I can help you, too.”

Sidon blinked. “Quite the adventurer you are, my friend. But, ah, I was not aware any of the others were having such difficulties as well.” He grimaced. “Perhaps I should've, given the… nature of our problem.”

As if to make her presence all that more known, a deep roar shook the earth. Link stumbled, grateful for Sidon -evidently exhaustedly used to this- steadying him with naught a stumble of his own. They both look up in time for Vah Ruta's red glow to illuminate through the rain.

“That,” Sidon said grimly, “is the beast.”

“The Divine Beast Vah Ruta.”

“Yes. She-... It was once our guardian, or so the elders say. I myself was too young to remember it as such, and it has been still and silent for decades. However, very recently, in fact, it had awoken. We took it as a gift at first, a blessing from the gods who deemed fit to return her to us. And yet…”

The shaking stopped, and the glow dimmed to the regular brightness of that malice colored poison. Link turned back to Sidon, “What do you need me to do?”

“Get to Zora's Domain, first and foremost.” Sidon raised an arm and pointed past the bridge. “This path will lead you to it. Unfortunately, due to the rain and recent uptake in monster activity, the trek is perilous. I can keep watch from the water, but that's all I can do.”

“Don't worry about that. After what I've been through so far, a walk through some mud is easy,” Link waved him off, only to immediately jump a foot into the air. Beside him, just a little to the left, is a giant rock. In the river, glaring at him with all its might, is an octorok. Sidon threw a spear at it, killing it quickly, then turned back to Link. Link gave him a thumbs up. “Easy.”

Sidon laughed, “I admire your determination, my friend. Though perhaps I should give you this, just in case.” He reached into a pouch on his hip, adorned with silver much like the rest of him, and pulled out a bottle. Inside it is probably the brightest yellow liquid Link had even seen, and that does not fill him with any sort of faith.

Link took it nonetheless, letting the Sheikah Slate register it for his peace of mind. According to the Slate, it's a low level electric potion, meant to help resist against electricity and the likes. Link frowned down at it.

“Many of the monsters around here wield lightning arrows, as you may have noticed,” Sidon explained. He waved toward the path again. “Zora are weak to that sort of thing, however Hylian potions have no effect on us, and as such that potion would be wasted on me. I hope it aids you in some way.”

Link nodded and gave another thumbs up. Sidon must take this as permission to leave as he is leaping into the water of the river the next seconds. He waved, then darted upstream with terrifying speed. Link watched him go, then took a deep breath.

“Alright.” Link said with a clap of his hands. “Let's cheat our way through this.”

Link crouched down on the tinted stone of the bridge, which was mostly covered with rainwater and not mud. An octorok continued to slink its way closer, giant eyes glaring, and further up the pathway a lizalfos settled down with a spear. Link heard a bland ”This is your worst idea yet.” from the back of his head and promptly paid it no mind.

He shot into the air. He didn't go as high as he would like due to the storm's wind and the lack of a Tower as a buffer. Link got high enough, however, to sail over a large chunk of the pathway. A few octoroks took pot shots at him but were unable to aim high enough. A bokoblin hissed. Link landed far away from them all.

“I've been meaning to ask about that,” he said aloud, failing to wipe rainwater off the paraglider. It goes about as well as expected. “How come the monsters seem to be getting stronger if I am, too? Shouldn't they be getting weaker?”

Fi answered as Link hopped across a rough patch of the river, smooth rocks sticking out of the water and acting as a buffer to the fish trying to swim downstream. Link swiped a few. Fi said, It is likely the Calamity's doing, Master Link.

“How so?” Link asked. He turned a rocky corner, squinted upward, then crouched down again. He's shot into the air and was carried a few dozen feet once more.

You have successfully freed one of the Divine Beasts, beings that the Calamity had ensnared for the last century. It is possible that, upon realizing its hold had weakened in that regard, it strengthened everything else it had ties to. The other Blights, monsters, and pools of gloom, Fi explained as Link landed.

“Gloom?” Link repeated, ducking around a few trees as the lizalfos in the river spit. The tree he ducked behind splinters at the spit ball, and Link grimaced. He pulled out his Sparrow Bow and pulled it back, aiming with a shock arrow at the ready.

Malice, Fi belatedly corrected herself after Link let the arrow fly. The lizalfos all scream as they are electrocuted. They fall limp, dissipating into tails and horns. Link left the drops and ducked under a hill's odd outcropping.

“That's… an odd difference,” Link muttered. He wrung out his tunic in vain before he left the overhang. Before him is a hill, one slick with mud and wet grass. A wizzrobe's hat peaked up in the distance. The smoke of a fire -probably an enemy camp- somehow floated skybound. Link grimaced yet again.

”If we are talking about strange occurrences,” Revali cut in with a tsk, ”has anyone mentioned how annoying it is to listen to you talk to your sword?”

Link frowned. “And why is that? She's plenty nice!”

”I'm sure. As is, I cannot hear her, and it does make listening to your little one-sided conversation a nuisance.”

Link's frown deepened. He briefly bent down to scoop up a stamina shroom. He echoed, with no small amount of confusion, “You can't hear her?”

“No. Link, only the Chosen Hero can wield the sword, why would anyone who's not him be able to hear it?”

“Zelda could.”

”Could she?”

It isn't said as a challenge, just mild curiosity, but Link still held in immediately answering. He wanted to say yes, without question. And yet ”Tell Link” he wondered ”You're saying he can still” if he's remembering wrong ”Tell me, Hero, can you hear it?”

“No.” Link answered. “No, I guess not…”

Fi remained silent. Revali hummed. Link shook his head.

“It doesn't matter,” he declared. He stood, rolling his shoulders, and glared at the hill. “I haven't seen Sidon yet, so we probably still have a while yet to go. Revali, if you would?”

”Oh. No, I don't think so.”

“And what does that mean?”

”We really need Purah to check on your memory. Didn't I tell you that there is a limit to how often you could use my Gale?”

“...Did you?”

Revali doesn't deem to answer that, which Link supposes is fair. Still, it left him to traverse the rest of the way to the Domain by himself. Continuing to glare at the hill like it personally wronged him, Link grabbed the Slate off his hip and clicked on the map. He finally tore his gaze away from the hill to stare at the screen. He's… very far. If he were to fly south-east over the hill, he'd be about a quarter of the way to the Domain. As he was right now, however…

“Mipha,” he muttered to the rain, “forgive me, but… I hate Lanayru.”

Link slid down the hill. His sleeves are still a bit crispy from the wizzrobe, and he's about ready to cry if he hears or feels anymore squelching of his boots in the sticky earth. Ruta hasn't cried out in a while, which is both a blessing and a curse. Link sighed, summons the willpower to take another step, and-

“Link!” A voice, decidedly not coming from inside Link's head, called out.

Link went rigged. His hand strayed to Fi immediately, blue eyes flying about. The only other people who call his name are the Sheikah, who do not leave their respective sanctuaries, and the Yiga, and if Link had to fight one of those problem causers like this-

It's Sidon. Link about melted with relief. He raised a hand anyway, waving back as the rush of adrenaline from his momentary scare dwindled away. Who knew having such a bad ten minutes could put him so on edge?

Sidon, grin widening, waved as well. He didn't seem to mind the fact that Link doesn't step closer, and in fact seemed perfectly content to yell at the top of his lungs. Gills? Sidon yelled out, “Well done, my friend! You've made excellent progress!”

“It certainly doesn't feel like it,” Link shouted back with a laugh. “Your paths aren't exactly linear.”

“Ah, no, I suppose not. See, Zora use the river ways to travel, so the path was a very… delayed thought,” Sidon gave an almost embarrassed laugh. He reached a claw up and scratched at a luminescent cheek as he did so.

Pushing away the brief thought of ‘Mipha would be proud', Link heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Is there any chance I can ask for a lift, then? At this rate, I'll be more of a drowned rat than a swordsman by the time I make it to Ruta.”

Thankfully giving Revali no time to say that Link already is a drowned rat, Sidon shook his head, fins flapping. “Not unless Hylians have developed the ability to breathe underwater since the last time I checked,” he answered apologetically. “The best way to avoid the monsters is to swim beneath the waves and, well, there isn't much air there.”

“...What I'm hearing is that if I figure out a way to breathe underwater, you'll give me a lift,” Link summarized with a grin.

Sidon laughed. “Yes, that is a fair way to put it. If you find a way…”

Master, Fi chimed in, right on time. I know of several ways for non aquatic races to sustain themselves underwater for prolonged amounts of time. Do you require them?

Link's grin widened, and he gave Sidon a wink. “Leave it to me. I'll be more fish than man in no time!”

Sidon barked another laugh, then nodded. “I look forward to it then, my friend,” he said. Sidon raised an arm then, also coated in luminescent dots, and pointed upstream as he did earlier. “About halfway I will meet you again. At that point, should you have accessed a way to breathe below sea-level, I will carry you forward!” He waited until he received Link's nod before he darted away. He was out of eyesight before Link knew it, leaving him with a talking magic sword.

He waited a beat. And then another.

“Alright, Fi. What do you got?” Link asked, tilting his head up toward the storm clouds. He blinked away the water that landed in his eyes, listening to the answering chimes.

Many of the previous actions needed to breathe underwater are unable to be replicated anymore, which leaves us three options. The first manner would be to acquire Zora gear made in the traditional fashion. While many Zora outfits now are made with either silver or as a proposal gift, they would be unsuited for the task at hand. Fi began to explain. Link frowned at the answer.

“That doesn't seem very possible,” he mumbled, biting his lip. He looked back at the ground and crossed his arms, adding, “I don't even have any normal Zora gear. I don't know where I'd find one traditionally made.”

”You likely wouldn't,” Revali chimed in. A gust of wind blew past, brushing Link's wet bangs back, and then, ”Excluding the century of torment, the Zora rarely made traditional armour. Mipha mentioned the last pair to be made was likely around the time of the last Calamity.”

“Which… was 10,000 years ago.”

”Correct.”

Link sighed, “Alright, definitely not that one then. Option two?”

Option two would require obtaining octorok guts. As they have the means to hold a large quantity of air, they would be beneficial to traversing underwater. Boiling them before use is recommended, however.

“Oh. Yuck. What's option three?”

The final option available requires making a water breathing potion. It calls for an octorok gut as well, along with a muddle bud. The steps include: remove the gas sacks from the muddle bud, boil the remaining leaves, filter, boil an octorok gut-

“We'll do option two,” Link said miserably, already pulling out his Sparrow Bow and marching back toward the river. The laughter he got in reply blends into the background after the first few seconds.

Sidon, upon watching Link stumble towards him in the tattered clothes he had taken from the Shrine of Resurrection, soaked to the bone with several octorok guts clutched in his hands, looked somewhere between concerned and amused. Amcerned. Concused.

”Confused.”

Link ignored Revali, and Fi's subsequent agreement. He stalked toward the river where Sidon was waiting and raised the guts high. He called out over the storm, “I have a solution!”

Sidon bobbed his head and swam forward. His odd expression hadn't changed much, but who could really blame him? When he approached the shore where Link stood, Sidon asked, “What might those be for, my friend?”

“Air pockets,” Link explained, wiggling the guts. “Supposedly it'll help me breathe underwater.”

“...Supposedly?”

“Well we won't know until we try!” Link chirped. He waved his free hand in a passable ‘go on’ gesture. Sidon complied, turning slightly to give access to his back. Link carefully slid on, took a deep breath, and shoved the opening of the gut in his mouth.

It was… an odd experience, to say the least. The taste was unpleasant, even though Link had done his best to clean off anything gross, and it wasn't like monsters dropped blood and gore when they die. It was fishy but a little to the left. Perhaps this was what bad fish tastes like? Of course, that was to say nothing of the texture.

Rubber. Fi supplied. The texture you are feeling would be described as rubbery. Then, as a follow up: Rubber was typically used in what is now referred to as the Era of Legends. Zora flippers, most notably, were made using it. Rubber was also used to make armor that resisted electricity with the similar level of a potion with the same effect.

Link nodded, unable to respond with his mouth full and hands clinging onto Sidon's shoulders. He hardly would've had any time anyways, as a second later Sidon dove beneath the water.

Link instinctively closed his eyes and held his breath. When he soon found himself with the burn of his lungs, he gasped in a breath despite himself, only to find himself mercifully breathing still. The guts were working. With that, he flickered his eyes open to take in the view of chillfin trout and glass like rocks as Sidon shot them toward Zora's Domain, toward Vah Ruta.

Toward Mipha.

Link could feel the frustration running through his veins and knew he was beyond livid even without having to glance at the way his hands trembled. They were white knuckled as well as he attempted to wrap thick bandages around delicate hands that were covered in red and white scales.

And blood.

“Link-” Mipha tried again with a sigh. Link cut her off with a shake of his head, refusing to stop in his work. He never wanted to see Mipha all but throw herself in front of anybody like that again, and he most certainly did not want to hear her insist she was fine, or that her own wounds would heal fast due to her magic anyway.

Mipha sighed again.

Around them, the people of the Citadel continued to move with purpose, hardly paying a single thought to the two Champions. A captain barked a handful of orders with a voice that could rival Daruk's. His men responded quickly, their voices a cacophony that still managed to meld into the Citadel like they belonged there. A moment later, the clamoring of armor joined the noise.

Link pulled away from the bandages -having tied them off with his best attempt at a bow- with a sigh. He closed his eyes briefly at the sting that came with not blinking for a while. When he opened them again, he found Mipha admiring the handiwork.

“You've gotten better at this,” she softly observed. Mipha flipped her hands over to stare at the bow, and then smiled a sad thing. “I wish you didn't have to.”

Though Link's expression remained still, his frustration grew. He shook his head and then raised his hands to sign, “I'd rather have to sew someone back together than to force too much on you.”

Mipha's smile turned to something more exasperated, rather than sad or even fond. “Link, my dearest friend, I am a healer. It is my duty to take care of anyone for any care they need, no matter what,” she reminded him. Mipha reached a hand up, carefully moving her fingers to trace along Link's jawbone. “Above all, I am a princess just as much as Zelda is. Caring for those below my station to better their lives is what I must strive to do.”

“You shouldn't have to,” Link shot back, movement harsh and jerky. Mipha opened her mouth to argue and he shot a hand forward to cover her mouth. Only when she slowly blinked at him did Link remove his hand to continue on, “You are still young by Zora standards. Why do you constantly remind the princess and me to be teenagers while you are not extended the same luxury? You deserve to take a break now and again.”

Mipha's lips thinned as she stared at Link for a few moments more. Eventually, she turned back to the chaos of the Citadel, observing the way maidens hurried around and scouts rushed to their commanders. She said, “If I am not at my best, doing all that I can to help, people will die, Link. I saw too many die already, my mother chief amongst them all. I refuse to let another fall when I have the ability to save them.” Mipha shook her head, fins trailing after the movement. “Even within our group, I am only not the eldest due to Daruk's sturdiness. I am fifty, and can handle this better than-”

“You're only older than Urbosa by, what, four years? And even so, age doesn't matter much when our races mature differently.” Link argued. “And, while I never met the Zora Queen, I doubt she would want you to work yourself to death over your grief.”

Mipha was silent at that, eyes flickering away from Link's now still hands to continue watching the bustling. What may have been several minutes had passed before she closed her eyes and nodded. She said, “Yes… I suppose you are right. I will- I'll make sure to think on this, and to try and let others take some of the load.”

Link reached out. His hand landed on Mipha's shoulder, and golden eyes flickered back to him once again. Slowly, as gently as he could to convey the smile he wanted to send, Link signed, “That's all I can ask for.”

“My friend,” Sidon murmured, back rumbling with the vibrations of his voice and drawing Link's attention away from the tireless frog who followed alongside them. “We are here. Welcome to Zora's Domain!”

Link blinked and lifted his head just in time for them to breach the water's surface. He shook his head, shaking his soaked hair around, and let the octorok guts fall out of his mouth. Raising his head, he squinted past the sting of his eyes up at the towering civilization of silver.

It seemed somehow smaller than it had in his few memories of the Domain. Perhaps they had remodeled, but it filled him with dread to wonder what might have caused that to begin with. The water was crystal clear, however, and small songbirds clung to crystal bridges as they sang. Even from where he was, Link could hear children's laughter. It was almost like the rain was not caused by a rampaging titan but the skies themselves.

And Link was here to make sure that, one day, that would be true again.

Link dug his nails into the scales of Sidon's shoulder and nodded, though he knew the other couldn't see it. “Let's head on in, then,” he said aloud, brimming with determination. Fi responded faster than Sidon, happily humming; Sidon was just a beat behind her.

Sidon darted forward all of the sudden, sailing straight towards a waterfall. Link ducked, choked on some water that splashed up, and yelped anyway when Sidon shot up the waterfall. He gaped at the action, far too stunned to speak.

They reached the top of the waterfall quickly. Sidon jumped, flipped, and landed with grace, Link somehow -very suddenly- in his arms. His grin was blinding when he looked down to ask, “Enjoy the ride, my friend? I must admit, I'm more used to carrying the guppies, so I'm afraid my experience with carrying someone fully grown is limited.”

“No, no, it was fine, just-” Link flailed about. Sidon quickly sat him down, not that that did anything. Still waving his arms around, he asked incredulously, “You can swim up waterfalls?”

Sidon blinked back quietly, golden eyes wide and curious and wow, he and Mipha really did look similar. Titling his head to the side like a confused stable dog, Sidon answered, “Yes. We Zora have always had the ability, hence why we tend to live under deep bodies of water connected to a waterfall.”

Master, Prince Sidon is correct. Zora -and Parella, an ancient species closely related to the Zora- typically live beneath waterfalls or in deep lakes, preferably both. On occasions, being separated from one option will result in traits roughly akin to split evolution. This was likely how the Rito came about. Fi chimed in.

Link hummed. That was… quite a bit of information.

It also gave him the chance to be a pest.

He reached back, practically waving his arms above his head soul-wise to gain the attention of his absent husband. When he felt Revali shove back, Link mentally asked, “You and Mipha are related?”

“No more so than you and Zelda would be,” Revali answered. “Why? What did you do?”

Before Link could get a chance to defend himself -or continue his original train of conversation, for that matter-, Sidon clapped his hands together. Link's attention back on him, he threw his arms out wide and asked, “Well! Are you ready to meet my father?”

“Your father, the king?” Link repeated. He glanced down to his clothes, soaked and mud covered, with several blades of grass clinging to his pants.

…Well, he had met Hyrule's very own King Rhoam naked, so-

“Sure,” Link sighed. “Let's go meet your old man.”

There is a difference between Rito Village and Zora's Domain, Link noticed quickly.

Where even the fledglings -for as polite as they had been- had been wary of the threat circling like a hawk, the guppies are loud with their laughter as they jump in the accumulated puddles. Where the Village's shop had shown all they had, the few stores in the Domain clearly kept most of their stock secured and hidden, preparing for a flood that sweeps away all that stands. Where all the warriors who could fly high enough had been rallying to shoot Medoh out of the sky, the soldiers here grimly stand guard, occasionally sparing a glance to where an old Zora is repeatedly shocking himself with an arrow.

So different, Link thought, but still terrifyingly similar.

Sidon laid a hand on Link's shoulder and gently steered him away from the old fish and up the stairs. They were slippery, and Link was pretty sure if it wasn't for the guard rails and Sidon's support, he'd have fallen down them repeatedly. As is, they climb in silence only broken by the whispering of young girls huddling together until they reach a large entryway.

With one last reassuring squeeze, Sidon pushed forward and entered first. Link could hear his voice carry, “Father. Council. I have found a Hylian who is willing to help us in our endeavor to soothe Ruta's anger.”

A nasally voice scoffed. “Prince Sidon,” the voice drawled, somewhere between mocking and disgust, “surely you jest! Hylians are cruel, selfish people. They took your sister away from us, using the same beast that now plagues us now, and yet you-”

“Muzu! You have not even met this Hylian! Regardless, what does any of that matter? Hylians do not live centuries, nor was it them who revived the Calamity,” Sidon argued back. “Father, I beg of you. Link will help us, I am sure of it.”

“Link?” A low, smooth voice repeated. Something sparked in the back of Link's mind. He went to reach for it, only for the voice to start up again, “Sidon, where did you find this Hylian?”

“Inogo Bridge, father. He's a swordsman who was traveling through. I told him of our plight, and he agreed to help, even claiming to have helped the Rito previously before arriving here, in Lanayru.”

“A swordsman… Bring him to me, I wish to see for my own eyes who this Link is.”

“Of course. Link?” Sidon slunk back just enough to beckon Link in. After a deep breath, and then another, Link forged forward and followed the prince in.

The room was large. Towering. Humongous. It was decked in the same silver and glowing gemstone that much of the Domain was, though large blue drapes hung from the ceiling. Around the room were various Zora, all old and wrinkly, sneering at him with fins flared. In the center of the room, high above them all, was a giant Zora decked in sapphires and red cloth. Said Zora shifted down when Link entered, staring into his soul with ancient eyes.

“Ah, so it is you,” the giant Zora -the one with the low voice; Sidon's father- rumbled. He smiled then, showing off sharp teeth that would look like a threat if it were not for the way the corners of his eyes crinkled. “Link, treasured guest. It had been some years since we last met.”

…It probably should have occurred to Link earlier that he had met Mipha's father. He had been close friends with her, and was at least around Sidon every now and then. It would make sense he had met and even talked to the Zora King, who was very much still alive, unlike the late Queen. Unfortunately for everyone present, Link's ability to recall wasn't great.

He was saved from responding too soon, thankfully, by Sidon perking up. His eyes lit up as he gasped, snapping ramrod straight. “Ah!” He shouted. “Of course! That's why the name Link was so familiar! You share the same name as my sister's companion.”

“He does not merely share a name, dear son of mine,” the Zora King said with a laugh. “He is the very same knight. Link, forgive my son's naivety. It truly is good to see you once more.”

Link waved his arms about wildly, silently debating with himself. He ended up clasping them together and dipping down in what he hoped was a passable bow. The fond laughter he got in reply was a good sign. Straightening back up with a smile, Link said, “It's good to be back. I just wish it was under better circumstances.”

“Yes,” the Zora King somberly agreed over the surrounding council's raised voices. “I wish it was so, as well. But it is a small joy to hear your voice has returned to you. Pray tell, where have you been this last century? I see you still have your sword, however…”

Link finally grimaced at that. He lifted a hand to scratch at his cheek, attempting to figure out how to best explain this. He sighed after a long moment, deciding to just go for it. “I was… Uh. Sleeping. When the Calamity struck, I had died. Or, well, almost died? I'm a little confused on that part. Anyway, the Sheikah put me in the Shrine of Resurrection with a hope and a prayer, which ended up working. Good news: I have several recounts of the run down and am here to help! Bad news: I… lost my memories.”

The silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity. It was stressful, but far more preferable to the yelling that started up seconds later, shattering the quiet like a hammer to an ore deposit.

“You filth!” Muzu -probably Muzu, anyway; he had the same voice as the one Sidon all but told to shut up- snapped, fins trembling with rage and shoulders shaking. “How is it that you get a second chance and yet our beloved Princess Mipha died for nothing!”

“This is wonderful news!” Sidon shouted with a grin. “We have the hero of legends here to calm Ruta and bring my sister to peace! A chance to stop the Calamity and its evil once and for all, as well!”

“How can this be?” Another Zora -this one blue with a yellow sash hanging from around his neck- asked with a gravelly voice. “This Sheikah had claimed the Shrine was unfit to be used at the time of the Calamity's revival…”

“Those damned Hylian and Sheikah! Look at what their ingenious technology has done to this kingdom! I say we throw this boy out and find a way to do this ourselves.” Yet another blue Zora -this one with a slightly oranger sash- snapped.

And then, overtop them all: “THAT IS ENOUGH!”

Everyone froze, Link included, and turned nearly as one to stare up at the Zora King. The king's hands were clenched into fists, and his face was grim. His voice, on the other hand, was much softer when he again spoke.

“Link. You said you have lost your memory. Tell me: my daughter -my beloved Mipha- how much of her can you recall?” The Zora King asked, tone mournful and eyes just as sad. Link's heart clenched for him, but he could not bring himself to lie.

“I knew we were childhood friends,” he answered. “I knew Sidon was her younger brother, and that her mother's dead. I know she was deadly with a spear, that she was Ruta's pilot and the best healer of the kingdom because of her powers. She was scarily good at reading people's feelings before even they knew about them… And I'm afraid that's all.” At the expressions full of grief and anger, Link impulsively decided to break out the big guns: “But I also know she can still be saved.”

The yelling was cut off this time before it could truly begin. The Zora King slammed his fist onto his throne, silencing the councilmen who had opened their mouth to speak. Slowly, ever so slowly, he said, “I beg of you to not give us false hope. Zora are long lived, but to survive this…”

“She didn't survive,” Link carefully explained. “She and the other Champions had all died before I went down, but… When I woke up, I had this gut feeling that I could still save them. Then in Hateno, Purah had let slip something about the Shrine of Resurrection being connected to a fifth Divine Beast. It didn't seem like a jump to think that the four Divine Beasts awake now also have a way to heal their pilots.”

“You went to Vah Medoh…” the king murmured in realization. Link nodded.

“Yeah. I was right: they're still hanging on. By a thread, and it's getting desperate, but should I succeed in defeating Calamity Ganon…”

“My daughter… I'll have my daughter back…”

“You cannot truly believe this- this wretched liar, Your Majesty!” Muzu cried over the king's tearful joy. “Keeping her just out of reach like this- first it's defeat the Calamity, then it's get Hylia to answer, then it's find the lost powers of the gods! They'll give us false hope and string us along, killing more of us with each day.”

Sidon stepped forward into Link’s peripheral. It was then that Link was hit with the realization that, oh yeah, this was probably hitting Sidon like a cart full of sheep. A glance over showed clenched fists and rapidly blinking eyes- a prince barely holding it together. Sidon said, voice on the cusp of wavering, “Muzu. I understand you have your reservations, but what reason does Link have to lie about his dear friend being alive?”

Muzu scoffed. Still sneering, he hissed, “You cannot fool me! That despicable knight never cared for our Lady! He was- he was using her! A stepping stone to get to all the power his Hylian heart desires! And then when she was no longer useful, he led her to her death!”

“Muzu, that is enough,” the king rumbled yet again, more exhausted than the last. “Your concerns are warranted, but I have watched Mipha and Link grow alongside each other. I do not believe Link ever wished her harm. If he says she can still be saved, I am more than willing to take that risk.”

Muzu bared his teeth further as he made a hissing sound. It's pretty impressive, considering Link didn't know Zora could do that. Fi, almost immediately in response, helpfully informs him that stingrays have the ability to make clicking noise when under duress, and it's likely Muzu can hiss due to difference in vocal cords. Link nodded long, only to zone back into the actual conversation when Muzu pivoted and stalked out of the throne room.

The Zora King sighed, “Sidon, I loathe to ask…”

Sidon quickly bows, a sharp thing. He mumbled a quiet, “Of course, father,” and was out of the room before Link could blink. Slowly, the other councilmen follow.

Link watched them go silently before turning back to the king, whose hand was covering his face. Neither of them said anything for several long moments until finally the king raised his head, eyes toeing the line of bloodshot, and whispered, “Thank you, Hero of Hyrule. I had feared… It is of no matter. You will fight Divine Beast Vah Ruta for us, yes?”

Link nodded his head, trying for a smile. “Without hesitation.”

“Then I thank you again, and ask for you to forgive Muzu. He's… not very fond of Hylians.” Link failed to cover a snort; the king gave a bemused smile. “Yes, indeed. Perhaps give him another chance, and go help Sidon. You may regain your memory by walking around and terrorizing the elders again.”

“I… take it that happened a lot?”

The king chuckled, “It is truly a miracle my daughter is considered to be a beacon of serenity, for all the chaos you two caused.”

Link could almost imagine it. He snickered at the thought of a younger Mipha dragging a little blond kid up a slippery slope, the both of them struggling to reach a patch of swift violets. Link shook those thoughts away and bowed once more. He said, “I'll stop the rain and bring news of Mipha in exchange for one question.”

“Oh?” The king frowned, a furrow appearing between his eyes.

“...What's your name?”

Ears and cheeks still red, and King Dorephan's laughter continuing to ring out, Link hurried to make his way around the bend to where the plaza supposedly was. Link had no actual idea if either Muzu or Sidon would be there, but the best place to start a search was always the center of a town.

He shook his head, ridding himself of the remaining embarrassment, and fully turned the corner only to-

Freeze.

There, in the center of the plaza, filled with playful guppies and grumbling elders, was a statue of Mipha. Sidon and Muzu were there too, but-

The eyes weren't right. Sure, the statue was lifelike enough. The same graceful stance, the same thin fingers, the same soft smile. But the eyes- they lacked warmth, the golden glow of determination, the mischievousness around the edges. It truly was just that: a lifeless statue.

And like that, it hits him.

”You have my blessing, by the way,” Mipha murmured, small hands lit alight by her magic. She did not look up as she healed, instead keeping her head tilted down to stare at her work, making the two sources of light shining upon her catch on her jewelry. Said jewelry shifted as Mipha did, her work done and golden eyes raising with a smile to accompany them. “For your marriage with Link.”

Link Revali jerked back, unable to go too far with a wing still held hostage by the Zora. He buffered for a moment too long as he stared back incredulously. Then he said, “I… don't want to marry Link.”

Mipha made a motion akin to lifting an eyebrow. She let go of Revali's wings and shifted to sit more comfortably, folding her hands in her lap. Turning her gaze out toward the field at large, with swaying herbs and thistles, Mipha spoke again, “You don't need to play that game with me. I have long accepted that Link and I will not end up together. His heart will never lie with me. The Princess should be a bigger concern, but, well, she hasn't even realized her feelings for Link, either. A proposal would lighten all of this misery, at least.”

“That's great,” Revali shot back shortly. He stood and snapped his wings out quickly to make sure everything was in working order. Satisfied, he turned back to Mipha to add, “Except for one tiny little detail, Highness. I don't want to marry Link. I don't even like him.”

Mipha tapped a claw to her chin. Mildly, she asked, “I can safely assume you were the one to teach him how to shield surf?”

Revali crossed his wings to disguise the motion of patting down a few feathers that had bristled at Mipha's tone. He jerked his head to glare out at the field then as well, beads hitting against each other at the swift motion, and answered, “I was, yes. I hardly see what that-”

“And you seemed pleased enough to see him with his mother and Aryll.”

“What does that have to do with-”

“You haven't tried to shoot him this month.”

“Do you hear yourself?”

“You even willingly allowed him to board Medoh, a treat the Princess and Sheikah rarely have the privilege to do.”

“That's entirely Medoh's-” Mipha gave him a sharp look, and Revali obediently fell silent. For all of three seconds. “Look, the bar is on the ground here. I don't want him dead anymore. Yippee. How in Valoo's name does that equal me wanting to marry that self-important idiot?”

Mipha shook her head with a sigh. “Nayru help them,” she whispered as if he couldn't hear. Louder, she then went on, “Give Link a gift.”

“A gift,” Revali repeated dryly.

“Yes, Revali, a gift. A present. Something nice. You'll be surprised with the results.” And with that ever so helpfully cryptic message, Mipha pushed herself up. She ran a hand over her sash, smoothing it out, and then pivoted, heading toward where Urbosa and Daruk were setting up a picnic, and leaving Revali no less confused than he was at the start of the conversation.

Link suddenly jerked out of the memory with a gasp, pins and needles crawling up his arms and legs. Breathing was a little weird, his head was definitely spinning, and everything before him was way too bright. He quickly closed his eyes again and let out a shaky breath. He was… pretty sure that that wasn't supposed to happen.

“No, it wasn't.” Revali faintly agreed. Then, “Huh.”

Chapter Text

As usual, they are hardly given an opportunity to immediately deal with whatever that was. Sidon, appearing before him all of the sudden, shook Link with a fearful expression, which most definitely did not help with the way everything was still spinning.

“Link!” Sidon cried, concerned expression a sharp contrast to Muzu's nearby hatred. “Champion! Are you well?”

Link waved his hands in what he hoped was a placating manner, trying to figure out somehow to explain that weird feeling while still reeling. Still, simultaneously, he managed to bob his head and answer, “Yeah, I'm fine! Sorry, just… a flashback, I think.”

Muzu scoffed, disbelief now scrawled across his features even as he jerked his head to once more face Mipha's statue. Sidon, meanwhile, appeared to grow even more concerned.

“A flashback? Like a memory?” He asked. At another of Link's answering nods, Sidon lit up a bit. “Ah, I see! Seeing my sister's face jogged a memory, yes?”

I don't know, Link thought desperately, willing his face not to scrunch up. And I can't ask aloud unless I want you to think I'm crazy, but if I stay silent too long I'll get the same reaction! Revali must've agreed with that sentiment, as he didn't dare say anything to delay Link’s response. Fi also refused to chime, which was also probably for the best.

Out loud, he decided to answer as close to truthfully as he could. With a helpless wave of his hands, Link said, “Yeah, I got a memory of Mipha. She… was always trying to be helpful, even to those who didn't want her help.” Which Link was pretty sure included Revali more often than not. He ignored the blast of chilled wind that buffeted through the Domain’s court. “And for as gentle as she always appeared, she didn't tolerate nonsense.”

Sidon’s beaming grin had mellowed into something softer. Something bittersweet. How often did he hear about his sister? Were the elder Zora too grief-stricken to speak of her, or perhaps too biased to mention anything other than her being a beacon of serenity? How many memories did Sidon even have of his sister- what with him being so small when the Calamity struck. At those heartbreaking thoughts, Link couldn't help but give his own sad smile.

“She liked to tease,” he added, thinking to that memory he had gained early in his days off the Great Plateau. “About crushes. And becoming a royal guard. Once, she and Urbosa did my make-up and dressed me up. So far all the time that she did need to be a proper Princess -to fulfill her duties and help as many people as she could before the upcoming battle- Mipha was still a young girl.” Link’s ear twitched at a murmured voice, and again he spoke, “She also wasn't a fan of Swift Violets in her tea. Said they made it too sweet for her.”

A watery (hah) left fell past Sidon’s lips. He quickly raised a clawed hand to his face, and Link turned away to give him some semblance of privacy. His eyes landed on Muzu, whose anger seemed to have drained from him, leaving him like a deflated octorok- droopy. Around Sidon’s muffled sniffle, Link could hear Muzu murmur, “Oh, Lady Mipha, forgive me for the bitter Zora I've become…”

”Well that seemed promising,” Revali muttered with a ghostly nudge. Link hummed an agreement as he turned back to Sidon, who had seemed to have dried all of his tears, even if his expression was one of deep melancholy. Link took a deep breath and stepped forward, lying a hand on Sidon’s arm.

“I want to help save Mipha and free Ruta, and your father gave me permission. Please, Sidon. What do you need me to do?” What do I need to do get my memories back? To save Zora’s Domain? To bring some peace to King Dorephan? To get one step closer to fixing a mistake a century too late?

Sidon looked down at Link, golden eyes now filled with what Link would dare to call hope. When he spoke, there was no denying the steel will behind the words. “Here's the plan…”

When Link rode Sidon up the waterfall, it was a experience filled with water up his nose and a slippery grip. Even so, Sidon was skilled, and cleaved through the moving waters with practiced ease, flipping them up and onto the luminous stone walkways with grace befit royalty. The knowledge that all Zora had the ability, and the subsequent realization that it was their goddess-blessed scales that allowed them to do so, seemed so distant when faced with the new goal of taking down an electric-wielding Lynel.

And yet here Link was, practically soaring up at giant waterfall, choking on fast moving water and chilled to the bone. It was not an enjoyable-but-startling experience; rather, this felt much more terrifying and definitely less controlled. Every few seconds, Link could feel himself slip, tumbling back down toward sharp rocks, and only kept going through Fi’s encouragement and gentle instructions. His drenched hair stuck to his skin. His pants were disgustingly soaked through. He might have to get rid of his boots.

Through it all, Link found himself repeatedly apologizing to the idea of Mipha in his head because by Hylia, he definitely preferred flying to swimming.

Revali didn't even bother trying not to laugh. It was distant and muted, as he was growing further the farther toward Ruta Link got. Perhaps the storm was blocking Medoh’s vision? Or maybe with Mipha’s spiritual residue all over Lanayru, it blocked out other spirits? Link supposed that answer would come with the rescue of Urbosa and Daruk. He shook his head of those thoughts and Revali’s amusement, very nearly plummetting again had it not been for Fi’s sharp chides.

But, finally, he did make it to the top. The force of pushing himself up launched him into the air the moment there was nothing to fight against, leaving him briefly suspended in freefall. Despite the dark clouds overhead and the continued downpour, he felt like he finally got a breath of fresh air. Link savored it for the half-second he got, and them allowed his paraglider to carry him to soggy grass. It squelched beneath him, sinking his boots into it, and Link shivered in disgust.

Yanking his feet free with even more gross noises, Link forged forward toward the second, much smaller waterfall. Supposedly the one that would lead him to the top of Mt. Plymouth. To where he would get as many shock arrows as he could find.

”You could've gone back to the village,” Revali commented. ”I'm sure Harth would've made some, had you asked.”

“Sure, but then you would've snarked about me being too coward to fight a Lynel,” Link shot back. He waded through the lake, swiping whatever lotus and fish he passed on his way to the bottom of the waterfall. Even from feet away, the mist sprayed at him, coating his already damp face. At this rate, he’ll never dry off. “By the way, how are the different elemental arrows made?”

”Well it isn't like it's hard to infuse Chuchu jelly into things, and elemental Chuchus are naturally occurring, especially in an era like this. Though, depending on the fletcher, they'll either carve a sort of case for the jelly to be stored within, that will activate upon contact, or they'll simply magically infuse the arrow tip, which means the arrow is always active, in a sense.” Came the answer as Link forced himself toward the waterfall. He began to swim upward just as Fi added her own two rupees.

In addition to that, ancient people had different methods. Because their Chuchus were rarely elemental -and even then, they were more often than not strictly shock Chuchus- they had to resort to other methods. Luckily, for quite some time, fruits had elemental property, and could simply be tied into an arrow shaft. Like jelly inside the arrow, these fruits were also activated upon contact. Outside of eras where these fruits were readily available, mages of each race were specifically required to tie elements to arrows.

“Oh, so like-” Link began, only to cough as water rushed down his throat. He gasped a breath of air as he lifted his head just above the splashing water, and managed to choke out, “So like how Medoh has flowers that also went extinct in the rest of Hyrule?”

Yes. Fi chimed, a blessed warmth against his back as her constant talking warmed the blade. It is likely that when the Divine Beasts were buried, they carried seeds for these fruits. While they went extinct in the rest of Hyrule, these seeds slept alongside the Beasts until they were awoken a century ago.

Overtop Fi, still unable to hear her voice, Revali also answered, ”The sundelions can't be fused to arrows in the way jelly can, and even if they could, they'd be closer to light arrows with their ability to purify types of poisons. Naboris had shock fruit, however, which can be used in place of electric Chu jelly.”

Link flipped out of the water and stuck the landing, but only just. He let out a shaky laugh at both himself and the overlapping voices in his head. When they were both done, and he had changed into proper armor rather than the Zora tunic (handcrafted by Mipha, apparently, and oh if that didn't make him feel like he was doing her a disservice by being unable to remember her…) Link said, “We really need to find a way to let you hear Fi, Revali. And if I get any more ghosts in my head, I'd rather if they didn't talk over each other.”

I'm sure that can be arranged! Fi chirped.

Revali, meanwhile, scoffed, “You brought this upon yourself, now deal with the consequences. Regardless, how do you plan to take down the Lynel?”

Link sighed and dropped his hands onto his hips. Tilting his head up to stare at the small hill, with already visible shock arrows littered about, he answered cheerily, “We’re gonna find out.”

Apparently, the plan ended up mostly being “run and pray”. The Lynel was fast- scarily fast- and it was all Link could do to stay out of its sword’s range. Unfortunately, if he got too far, then the beast would pull out it's arrows, and that wasn't good for a variety of reasons. As such, all Link could do was flip out of its way and attack when it took a moment to gather it's bearings. All the while, he was getting scolded like a toddler with their hand in the cookie jar.

“Is this the best you got, Hero?” Revali snapped in what Link at least knew was him trying to be encouraging. “You took down a shard of the Calamity. Surely this isn't that much of a challenge!”

“I'm doing my best!” Link gasped out. He jumped out of the way of another one of the Lynel’s charges, rolling through the mud. He grit his teeth in irritation as he quickly wiped wet grass onto his pants, then tightened his grip on the Master Sword. He rushed after the Lynel, who had paused after nearly running into a tree. It stalled long enough for him to swing onto its back and start slashing. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, and he was thrown off its back before too much damage could be done.

”No you are not!” Another shout as Link activated the Gale and shot into the air to avoid a fiery death. The Lynel continued breathing fire as Revali took the moment to gesture aggressively down towards it, ”You took one down when you were four; you can do it now!”

Link entered bullet time as he pulled the Sparrow Bow off his back. He aimed and fired once, twice, by the third time he was dropping out of the sky and landing with another roll. As he stood and began running around the Lynel, eyes never wavering from its grotesque face, Link yelled, “I'm not four anymore!”

“Which should work in your advantage, stupid!”

Link hissed out a breath and swung Fi out wide. Somehow, a beam shot out, forcing the Lynel back a few steps. Link barely took a moment to stop and question it. He darted forward and again swung up onto the Lynel's back. It started thrashing, but he was just as quick with every stab of the Master Sword. And, when it inevitably threw him off, Link entered bullet time again, shooting arrow after arrow.

”Better,” Revali relented.

Link dropped to the ground, landing on his tiptoes. With his momentum, he pushed off, breaking into a sprint. The Lynel reared its head and let out a bone-rattling roar. The air became hot, too hot, like when he had risked climbing part of Death Mountain for a memory. It was enough to make him slide to a stop with a frown. Fi answered his unspoken question with a rushed, Master, it would be wise to get as far away as possible. Quickly.

He did as told. With a quick crouch, Link was again thrown into midair. This time, Revali had nothing to say, and the two of them instead watched as the Lynel reared back and then slammed its hooves into the ground. In a wide circle around it, flames erupted from the ground. Watching on, Link couldn't help but mutter, “How…”

”How could Windblight wield the wind? How do Chuchus become elemental? Why do four of the six races of Hyrule have innate magic in their ruling families?” Revali gave a semblance of shrug as he faded out. Link began floating back down to ground that was both burnt and damp. Revali's voice continued on, “It is the will of the goddesses, I suppose.”

“Well, in that case…” Link dropped from the paraglider. In the same action, he slid the paraglider onto his back and the Master Sword off. As the ground rapidly approached, he swung Fi up. He landed, and the sword's blade was smacked against the ground. It created its own version of the Lynel's circular attack, sending a shockwave out in all directions. Link stood and shook the sword of any stray pieces of grass. “Fi? Does Hylia take criticism?”

The Lynel, having been buffeted by the shockwave, stood slowly. Hopefully that was a sign it was weakening. However, that did not mean it had given up its fight. The Lynel reached onto its back and pulled off its bow. Link was quick to reach into his inventory and yank out the potion Sidon had given to him when they met at Inogo Bridge. Even so, he barely had time to down it before the arrows were being fired. As Link dodged, electricity sparking at his heels, Fi answered.

Sometimes. She answered. Usually, She has to live through an experience first, such as ensuring the Hero's Spirit reincarnated or realizing that living in the skies was not as ideal as one would assume. Occasionally, She will simply do things for Her favored. An example would be waking me several generations earlier than planned.

Link ran, never once pausing as even more arrows sailed toward him. There was no wind skewing their aim, and Link could once again only assume he was too close to Ruta for another spirit to have so much sway. As is, he found himself grateful for Sidon's forethought to give him the potion, otherwise Link probably would've been toast by now. Or… Whatever food could be cooked with electricity. That might be a question for Zelda, when they manage to seal away the Calamity.

And they would, provided Link could take down this stupid beast.

“In that case: the next time we see a goddess statue, I have a complaint about Lynels,” Link muttered beneath his breath. He then charged forward. The Lynel aimed. At the last second, Link rolled forward, out of the way of the arrow's arch. As the bubble of electricity fizzled, Link slid beneath the Lynel, thrusting up. The tip of the Master Sword impaled the Lynel's throat, and it howled in response, lifting its front hooves high. Link barely rolled out of the way as it stomped down.

Except, with him now in close range, the Lynel suddenly switched from its bow back to its sword, slashing sharply to the left. Link yelped as it grazed his side, forcing him to stumble back and press a hand to a sluggishly bleeding wound. He had the faintest thought that Mipha would consider it terribly irresponsible to put such a dirty hand on a fresh wound. Link giggled at the thought.

”If you don't want to lose an arm, I suggest you focus, Link,” came the sharp scolding that those giggles earned. It may have been the furthest thing from Mipha's gentle disappointment that Link could've gotten at the moment, but it got the job done. Link ducked beneath another swing and threw out stasis.

In an instant, the Lynel was as unmoving as could be, giving Link the perfect opportunity to get to his feet. But stasis on large objects only lasted so long, and Link was just out of range of another sword swing by the time stasis broke away with the shattering of glass. It was far enough, though, letting Link aim the Sparrow Bow right at the Lynel's face. His own arrow shot out and pierced between the Lynel's eyes.

”Now!” Fi and Revali shouted simultaneously, and Link did not hesitate to follow through. He drug the Master Sword alongside the side of the beast as he ran to its back, and when he hopped atop the Lynel, the sword was repeatedly sliced through muscle and flesh alike. Until, finally, the Lynel dropped down. It disappeared into a puff of smoke.

Very well done, Master Link, Fi hummed as Link flopped to the ground with a heaving sigh. He nodded to her words, though he's a bit busy being exhausted. And this wasn't the end by any means- he still had to fight against Ruta's defenses and then Waterblight itself. At least with the Rito, Teba set the bar so low it was touching the ground, what with how little the man trusted Link. But here- here they all have faith in Link, which certainly shows in more ways than one.

”Link,” Revali chided, “your job is far from finished, and you've already kept Mipha waiting this long. Get up.”

“I need the arrows,” Link muttered in reply, though he made no move to stand up. He really should though, and not just for the reasons already listed, but because he's going to have such a pain trying to wash grass stains out of his pants. “And we need to talk about the memory thing that happened in the Domain.”

"And we will. But first, Hyrule needs you to not drown in a puddle of Lynel guts. Get up, Link.”

And so he did.

”It might be because our souls are intertwined now,” Revali commented as Link floated down to the rendezvous spot Sidon had pointed him towards. ”The weird memory, that is. Honestly, it's very likely that with each of us you free, you'll end up getting more of our memories.”

Link offered a grunt in response, shifting his grip on the paraglider to let himself angle further away from Ruta's lake. It wasn't like he knew how to respond to that- the fact that tying his souls to the others to keep them alive for a few more months would give him more memories, which still weren't his own! How was he supposed to deal with memories of past lives and his companions, while still unable to remember his father's face, or know if he had one at all?

How was he supposed to grapple with the guilt that five of the people closest to him have had their lives stripped away from them, with only remnants left of what they held dear, all because he died?

It was something he hadn't really sat down to think about. Since he's awoken, all Link has heard about was his and Zelda's and the Champions’ duty to rid Hyrule of the Calamity. All he's heard was that they were bonded by a shared goal, and they died by that same goal. But there was more to it than that. Link himself had had a sister and a mother, and Mipha also had family; what about the others? Did Urbosa have children -biological children- that she hid away in the desert, who have been long dead? Did Revali have any siblings? Was Daruk, aged as he was, a grandfather to a handful of pebbles?

Did it really matter anymore if they did?

Link's mother and sister were dead- and if they weren't, they were well past a hundred, with likely no memory of him anymore either. Sidon had to grow up without his sister. In Zelda's case, her father was just a ghostly specter and her home was crumbling. And the others… Well, if they had any family, they were almost certainly gone as well.

Gorons have the capability to live as old as Zora, provided the correct standards are met. Fi chimed, likely in an attempt to cheer him up. Link huffed a laugh.

“Thanks, Fi. I'll have to check when we go poke at Death Mountain,” he said. Link descended down over the crystal dam and snapped the paraglider away, plummeting to the surface. At the last moment, the paraglider popped back open with a crack, letting Link land smoothly and quietly upon the slick surface. By some grace, his shoes were holding out enough to keep him from slipping. “And I guess I'll just have to make some room in my head for those memories.”

”After watching that fight with the Lynel, I imagine there's more than enough space.”

Link rolled his eyes, “Thanks, ‘vali.” His eyes settled back on the surroundings, searching out the bright red of Sidon while stubbornly ignoring Ruta's sickly magenta. He found the prince near the center of the dam, where a long point extended into the water. For whatever reason, there was a bed nearby, sheltered beneath a pavilion. Link spared it a confused glance on his way over, asking aloud his previous train of thought, “By the way, did you have any family?”

”The only other option would be that I sprouted from the ground like a deku shrub,” Revali answered dryly. Link would like to point out the fact that he had no idea what a deku shrub was -the koroks were the Great Deku Tree's grandchildren right; were deku shrubs the middle step there? He chose to just hum, tapping at his Slate to replace his more armored set of clothes with the Zora tunic. ”...Though, it is said one of the past heroes might have been one.”

Link paused, blinking down at where his finger hovered over his old pants he had gotten from the Shrine of Resurrection. Mildly, he said more than asked, “What.”

“Before the Zora lost their scales and grew wings, even before the legend of the poisoned waters came about, supposedly there was a hero who lived amongst koroks and deku shrubs. A child born of Farore’s forests.” Link went through with the motion of grabbing his pants, then set his Slate for cryonis, wary of the water even with Sidon’s speed and might. Next, as an added precaution when going up against an overtaken Divine Beast, he switched out his Sparrow Bow for the Lynel Bow he managed to swipe. An ear twitched along Revali’s phantom words. ”Of course, only so much faith can be put on legends that old, but it is also said that the hero’s descendants never strayed far from that very same forest for fear of death.”

Ruta howled a pained noise; the rain fell in torrents. Link could see Sidon wilt- sympathy for what belonged to his sister, or faltering determination in the face of its rampage. Fi filled in the gaps, The Hero of Time did indeed grow up under the watch of the Deku Tree and the inhabitants of Kokiri Forest. He was not, however, a deku shrub, korok, or Kokiri. As for his descendents, the only notable one was the Hero of Twilight, who did indeed grow up in the forest, but did not stay. The talk that the descendants never left the forest for fear likely stems from the fact the Hero of Time fell in battle some time after his adventure. That is only one of the timelines, though.

Link slid his Slate away, confident in his preparations, and shook his head. “Timelines, deku shrubs- none of that answers my question,” he muttered, mostly to himself as he forged through the downpour and toward the prince. “Who else do I have to apologize to for failing?”

”Link…”

“Link!” Sidon shouted simultaneously, having turned around to pace only to spot Link. He waved, the motion more of a blue than anything, and Link obediently jogged over, spraying puddle water onto his new pair of pants and shoes. It wasn't like he expected them to stay very dry anyway. At his approach, Sidon asked, volume never dimming, “My friend, did you get those shock arrows safely?”

Silently, Link reached behind him and into his quiver. Upon touching the wet air, the shock arrows sparked to life, lightning licking at his fingers in a way that called to his memories of Urbosa. Nevertheless, Link waved them in the air victoriously, a grin to match Sidon's strewn across his face. When Sidon clapped his enthusiasm, Link saw fit to add, “Zora’s Domain will also be Lynel-free until the next Blood Moon.”

Golden eyes were quick to widen. Sidon was quick to surge forward, hands a fluttering with concern and reprimands spilling from his lips, “You fought that man beast? Alone? Link, my courageous friend, I commend you bravery, but if I may be so blunt: that is so incredibly dangerous! What were you thinking?”

Link tore his eyes away from the worry he was faced with, focusing instead on Ruta. So close to the water where she resides, it looked as if every drop of rain she produced was as malice-laced as she is; from the red visible through the raindrops to the magenta light in the lake’s reflection. Slowly, Link raised a gloved hand to his chest, resting his fingertips on the Zora emblem sewn onto the tunic. He thought back to when Sidon handed it to him-

”I grew up often hearing tales of my sister, and the swordsman she was so fond of,” Sidon had said after they had gone over the plan for a second time, ironing out the final details needed. Muzu had turned away some time ago, grumbling this or that, leaving Link and Sidon alone beneath Mipha's statue, where even the guppies had long abandoned at the late night. “I can remember… at the time, it felt like that swordsman was stealing my dear sister away from me, but after the Calamity, after hearing stories of them in the aftermath…” He shook his head, fin flopping about. “My father would always tell me of Mipha’s kindness, her determination, her love. All attributes she poured into a final gift.”

“A final gift?” Link repeated. He followed Sidon’s gaze to Mipha’s face, as if there he would find the answers to his questions. The luminous stone remained unblinking.

“Yes.” Sidon nodded. “We have treasured it for all this time, keeping it safe.” Suddenly, Sidon turned back to Link with an intense look. Just as abruptly he asked, “Tell me, what do you know of Zora courting rituals?”

Link’s mouth was suddenly a desert, and he found it shockingly hard to swallow. Heartbeat in his ears, fingernails digging into his palms, he croaked in answer, “Not as much as I should, if I had to guess.”

Sidon nodded, as if that was to be expected. It probably was, and not just because of the memory loss issue. He said, “Long ago, back when Hyrule was first becoming dangerous as a warning to the Calamity’s revival 10,000 years ago, we had a king. He was wise and resourceful, but he was no fighter. Nevertheless, with monster attacks on the rise, he led our army to the forefront.”

This was not going where Link expected it to. Did Zora have some kind of trial by combat in order to win another’s hand in marriage? Did Link do that for Mipha, before he even pulled the Master Sword? Or was this something about dying in battle, something both Link and Mipha achieved.

Hm.. achieved was a poor word to use there. He shook his head. Sidon continued.

“Little did the king know, his queen had done something to his armor the night before.” Sabotage. That's why the Zora elder’s hated him. They thought he purposefully killed- “She had sewn one of her own scales into his armor: a pure white scale, sharpened to a point, and lain over his heart.” Oh. “Thus, when the king went to battle amongst the setting sun, right as the head of the lizalfos pack was about to strike the killing blow, a ray of light caught that pure white scale, blinding everyone in the area. The king used this to his advantage and turned the tide of the battle into the Zora’s favor.” Sidon’s eyes, which had glazed over amidst the story, sharpened again, like he was the lizalfos general about to strike the final blow. And perhaps he was. “From that day on, dozens of Zora princesses have sewn their beloveds armor of their own scales. And my sister, our beloved Mipha, had sewn her own tunic for the swordsman she had fallen in love with.”

The floor dropped from underneath Link’s feet. The blow had landed.

That… didn't make any sense. Mipha had known Link was crushing on Revali, had apparently even encouraged Revali to return those feelings. And through all the memories… it was as if she was his sister, not a lover. How- no. Why would Mipha have made him a courting gift? Link desperately searched through his memories, trying to find an excuse, a reason for this. Mipha was always so focused on her duties- maybe she felt she had to marry the Hero she had grown up with, for appearances sake? Or maybe she had misread something, and thought Link’s little crush had fallen through, so she had made him a gift to lighten the heartbreak. Could it have even been as simple as a good luck charm, something to wear into battle in hopes that it, like the one in the story, could save his life?

Sidon allowed Link only a moment to process this earth-shattering knowledge. He beckoned Link as he stepped away, an order disguised as a polite request spoken aloud, “Please, follow me. I will fetch it for you; my sister's last gift to you.”

-and said, “I just wanted to help out. I owe the Zora much; a lot more than I realized or even remember. Ruta is a basic kindness- I want to do all I can to help out outside of bringing Mipha back.”

Horrifically, Sidon looked as if he was about to cry at that. His hands settled, finally landing on Link’s shoulders and squeezing tight. And then, to Link’s complete and utter shock, drew him into a suffocating hug. Sidon said, probably into Link’s hair based on the way his entire self vibrated at the words, “I thank you, Champion of Hyrule.”

“Hey, it's no problem,” Link replied, though it sounded a little choked with how tears were also springing to his own eyes. His hands rose to pat at Sidon’s power back- the highest he could reach. “I need to make up for lost time anyway, right?”

Sidon wasn't given the opportunity to respond to that. Instead, Ruta did: again howling in rage as she threw her nose high into the air, so high that her front legs even rose a little. The water level rose at the displacement, splashing at the edge of the pier. Link and Sidon watched it fall back in silence, well aware of what that meant.

“Are you ready?” Sidon asked, grim and quiet.

“More than you could ever know.”

Chapter Text

“Do you remember the plan?” Sidon asked once Link had clambered onto his back. They were already rushing towards Ruta, which made it a bit useless to ask now, but they had been a bit busy having emotions on the pier. Link did remember anyway, so he simply nodded, grip tight on Sidon’s shoulder and his other hand hovering at the ready to grab either his Slate or bow. Sidon gave his own nod, “Good, then watch yourself. Ruta will respond the second we get into range.”

‘Into range’ was somehow closer and farther than Link had assumed. Where Medoh had reacted whenever someone had so much as graced the edge of her sky, Ruta waited until they were drawn into her immediate area, which was the ‘much closer’ part of Link’s surprise. His ‘farther’ surprise came from how Ruta's defense mechanism activated immediately, as Sidon had said it would, rather than letting them draw near under the guise of simply being aimed at like Medoh had. And by activate-

Link’s hand dropped to his Slate, ripping it off his belt and raising it high. He was thankful he had thought to preemptively switch to cryonis. Ruta fired entire blocks of ice, perhaps as large as Sidon himself, straight for them. And then, bafflingly, they did not immediately drop; instead, they all but defied gravity, chasing after Sidon at startling speeds.

“Can you handle them?” Sidon called to Link, swerving and jumping through the ripples Ruta’s actions brought.

“On it,” Link answered. The Slate was raised toward the ice cube, and with one click, it seemed as if the ice had shattered on its own. Link was swift to return the Slate back to its spot and draw his bow; Sidon, meanwhile, shouted a word of praise and booked it toward the waterfalls spilling from Ruta. As they approached at breakneck speed, Link loosened his hold on Sidon and raised his legs until he was all but kneeling on Sidon’s back. Then, once the waterfalls were in range, he jumped.

Link rose with much more grace compared to his ascent to the Lynel. It was still rough, likely never being as perfect as one who could go so far as breathing in the water, but it no longer brought a bucket of water to his eyes and throat. Still, all of that hardly mattered, and it was over soon anyway. Link shot out of the waterfall and hovered for but a moment above Ruta. He gasped in a breath, and entered bullet time.

His shock arrows were notched and then fired. He dropped out of bullet time, paraglider in place of his bow, and watched the arrows land. They sparked along their flight, and once they hit the wet technology of Ruta’s orbs, they fizzled in a large area, hopping between water droplets and turning a quarter of Ruta into a party for electric lizalfos. Only when the orb dimmed from bright pink to a dull gray did Link let his paraglider go, dropping him back into the reservoir with confidence Sidon will catch him.

And he did. The moment Link hit the water, Sidon was scooping him up and darting out of Ruta’s reach. “One down! Great shooting, Link,” Sidon cheered, beginning to make a loop around the Divine Beast. Ruta, taking offence to either the circling or the attack, rumbled a warning, summong even more ice. Sidon darted out further into the reservoir before resuming his lap, asking Link, “Ready for round two?”

“Whenever she is,” Link answered. His Slate was already raised, cryonis chiming at the ready. Thankfully, at least so far, this attack was proving to be much like the one on Medoh. Hopefully this didn't follow the exact path Medoh’s took and Sidon manages to get out unscathed. King Dorephan may be surprisnginly forgiving, but Link wasn't sure how long that forgiveness would last if Link got both of his children wounded.

Link blinked back against the onslaught of rain, refocusing on the battle as more ice appeared. It seemed, with Ruta now aware they weren't going down easily, she had chosen to summon harsher attacks. Three large cubes stared Link down. He grit his teeth. Sidon muttered a warning lost to the wind. The cubes shot forward, one by one, only to be lost to Link’s own defenses.

“In we go,” Link called out, Slate again slipping away. Sidon bobbed with a nod, twisting around to aim for the next waterfall. Again, Link was carried skyward. Again, Link fired. Again, electricity overode the Divine Beast’s mechanisms. Link dropped from the air, landing on Sidon with a surprised grunt from both parties, and spoke words he probably shouldn't, “Not to jinx us or anything but… doesn't this seem too easy?”

“Yes.” Sidon made a worried chirping noise, lifting his head to stare at Ruta’s shifting parts. “When we launched our own attack, she was much more vicious. Could it be my sister sensing your presence and fighting from within? Or perhaps you really are just that good, Link.”

Link huffed a laugh. “You really give me too much credit.” Despite his words, he couldn't help but wonder at Sidon’s point, even if they seemed far fetched, and so he was quick to turn his questions inward, to the spirits he knew could interfere, “Could Mipha…”

It is unlikely, Fi answered, short and to the point. If the pilots had any sway over the Divine Beasts, casualties would be far below what they currently are. As is, it is very likely that you are ‘just that good.’

Revali, for all he still couldn't hear Fi, was quick to contradict her, however. ”It's possible,” he said as three spiked balls of ice were suddenly summoned. Link felt Sidon jolt beneath him. The rough texture of the Sheikah Slate was reassuring under his fingertips. ”Excluding the fact that I've been set free and can help pull the burden of the blights from the others, you know as well as I that we can interact with the outside so long as it's around you, even when under the blights. Mipha very well might be able to feel you and is expending her strength making a final stand to protect you and her brother.”

“Revali,” Link muttered. “That's a really sad thing to say.” The knowledge- the assumption- that even now Mipha was fighting with what little strength she had left… It really put into perspective how much faith the princess had in him. It was heartbreaking and terrifying and Link should really be focusing on the fight-

Sidon jumped and flipped, barely dodging an attack while Link barely held onto Sidon. Link made up for his folly by quickly taking down the next two balls. He needed this to not go like Medoh, to not let Sidon get hurt. He couldn't fail, especially not with the knowledge that Mipha was restraining Ruta already to the best of her abilities. With that in mind, he clenched his jaw and lept at the waterfall before Sidon could get as close as he had before.

“Link!” Sidon shouted.

“It’s alright!” Link yelled back with a confidence he certainly didn't feel. “I've got this!” And with those parting words, Link desperately, messily climbed the waterfall. He knew rushing like this was dangerous- logically knew with the distant part of him that was a Royal Guard that this would get them all killed. And yet, despite it all, Link couldn't find it within himself to stop. After all, the sooner he got this done, the sooner Mipha could rest, the less likely Sidon would have time to get hurt. It seemed worth the risk, so he continued to haphazardly climb the waterfall until he broke into the air once again, bow drawn and arrows notched.

Except that Ruta was clearly growing as desperate as Link was. When he dropped, and was consequently swiftly picked up by a scolding Sidon, Ruta had already summoned her next attack. A row of those spiked ice balls, aimed and already firing, barely a breath between each release. Link hissed a frustrated noise, fumbling with his Slate while still trying to keep ahold of Sidon. The first ball gets entirely too close for comfort, to the point where Sidon briefly bobbed underwater in an effort to get himself and Link away, but Link managed to shatter it in time. More prepared, the second two quickly fall as well.

“That was a close one,” Sidon gasped out, somewhere between giddy with adrenaline and shaky with shock. His next words are more even, “Only one more to go. Please don't throw yourself at Ruta again.”

“Aw, ye of so little-” Link doesn't get the chance to finish. Fi burns with a warning. Revali, sharp, now a barely tangible precense in the back of his head, shouted his own warning. Link whipped around, eyes searching for the threat they see but he cannot, and found it quickly. Ruta hadn't fired off only one of its defense mechanisms this time. This time, she sounded the alarm and fired both. Three more orbs were far too close, and Link had scarcely a second to breathe, let alone switch back from his bow to Slate-

”ABSOLUTELY NOT!” a deafening-a familiar- Mipha’s voice echoed all around them. No, perhaps it would be better to say through them. Link felt his bones rattle, could see how Sidon’s own ripples clashed with Ruta’s as the Divine Beast trembled. The ice shattered, falling into ice shards in an instant. For a moment, everything stilled, even the air through Link’s lungs.

Then, just as quickly as the pause had come, it had ended. Ruta wailed a pained noise before settling, motionless and without color, back into the reservoir, all of her orbs dim. The rain stopped, only a few droplets falling delayed. Sidon, quiet and small and sad, whispered, “Sister…”

Tears already falling, mixing in with the dampness on his cheeks, Link echoed the sentiment, “Oh, Mipha…” He shouldn't have panicked, Link knew this. He should've stayed calm and stuck to the plan. But by Hylia, does he not regret it, not with how Sidon stilled for a moment, eyes closed, as if he was playing back and savoring the echo of Mipha’s strength. Not with how Link still couldn't stop the tears from falling. But he also knew that the sooner he boards the Beast, the sooner they could have Mipha back for good. With that in mind, he gave Sidon’s head a pat, coaxing, “Ruta-”

“Right.” Sidon’s eyes flew open. He cleared his throat, said again, “Right.” Together, they swam toward Ruta’s sunken entrance.

Link stumbled as Ruta’s systems came back online. Sidon had already swam off, wishing for Link’s best and again begging for his sister’s return. Link chose not to point out the fact they were both already crying, and nothing substantial had even happened yet. Ruta was already back to producing rain. Revali’s presence was so distant, Link would've thought the bond tethered if not for the wind still swirling about his feet when he crouched (and he had checked.) Thankfully, Fi remained constant and present. She acted as a tether while Link wandered into Ruta, not quite attached to his body.

As if to extend a helping hand once again, no matter how little it was deserved, Mipha spoke, words soft but still reverberating through the cavern of Ruta's stomach. “Oh, Link… I've held out hope for so long to once again see your face, and here you are. It brings me such peace to have managed this wait.”

“Hey,” Link said in turn, smiling up at the ceiling. Flecks of malice sprinkled through the air. The room was chilled, as if encased in the very ice Ruta used as a defense. The Slate pulsed impatiently. “I'm sorry I took so long. And thanks for the save; I know Sidon appreciated it.”

”Think nothing of it,” Mipha said lightly, a hint of laughter coating her words, and Link’s smile faded with the knowledge that Mipha would laugh if she had the strength to do so. ”I would not allow an extension of myself to hurt my brother, or you, of course. And you needed to heal; I would have gladly waited another century if I knew without a doubt you'd return to us.”

Link shook his head, “You shouldn't have to.” Mipha hummed a displeased sound, and Link was quick to drop the topic before it caused her anymore pain. Who knew how much it cost her to even temporarily halt Ruta. Link glanced around the room while he asked, “The guidance stone is…?”

A terminal, nestled behind a locked door and a puddle of malice, lit alive. Mipha said, ”The map has been emprisoned, just as I. Truly, I can't help but wonder the Calamity Ganon’s intelligence. But I know you can make it, Link.”

Link nodded, humming his own confirmation as he examined the room. Water beneath the gate- he could use cryonis. But how to get rid of the malice… There! An eye of malice flew open beneath the water, alerting Link of its presence. Lynel bow still equipped and laced with shock arrows, the attack was a bit overkill. After the day he's had, however, Link felt he deserved it. Cryonis was used and forming a pillar of ice before the last flakes of malice could flutter further away. With another beat, the Shiekah Slate was resting in the guidance stone, happily taking in the information it had to offer. As he waited for the beep, Link said, “It is a concern. The fact that it learned from last time… Even if Zelda’s powers had awoken when we needed it to, in the months leading to the attack, would it have really mattered?”

”...Perhaps not. It is likely that we Champions still would've fallen in our Divine Beasts. But you and the princess- I am sure, had you two both been prepared, that you could've taken the Calamity down even without us.”

The Slate beeped. Link removed it from its pedestal, glancing briefly at it to confirm he could move the long nose of Ruta and the number of terminals he needed. When it was clipped back to his hip, Link said, “I don't like the idea of abandoning you four to those… things. Even with the destruction and misery it caused, I think I'm happy it turned out this way.”

Mipha was silent for a moment as Link turned around, taking in the lever to his left and the large doorway to the control unit directly in front of him. He glared at the control panel as if the blights inside would feel his scorn. The SOS sounded faintly in the background. It did nothing to soothe anger brimming within.

”For all the grief my death has caused, I have to say the same,” Mipha murmured in reply. Link shot the ceiling a questioning glance as he moved toward the lever, magnesis instantly active and pulling on the metal. He waved his arm out wide, pulling, and Mipha continued, ”Do you remember how often you used to talk? Back when you served the Royal Guard? Or even before that, truthfully… it seemed as if, from the moment you pulled that sword on your back, the sweet, curious boy I once knew was gone.” Link spared a glance back to the Master Sword, an item and being who had brought him only comfort since he awoke from the Shrine of Resurrection. ”Well, I'm glad to see you so lively again, is all.”

The lever turned and turned, lifting up a platform that eventually revealed a terminal. Link stepped forward and tapped it, watching as it lit blue. Four to go. Aloud, he asked, “I wanted to ask about that. What can you tell me of… Before? Of us? Of you?”

It's a beautiful day: sun high in the cloudless sky, casting warmth down on the early spring day. Frogs jump through ponds, a light breeze blows through the lotus, and songbirds sing from the trees. Link stopped his determined march to breathe in the smell of the wind, fish and swift violet-scented. The Master Sword was a heavy weight in his hand. Soft footsteps approached behind him.

“Link,” Mipha hissed, scolding and breathless. “No matter how strong you are, to fight a Lynel is reckless at best and stupid at worst!”

Link spun around on his heel. Jamming the blade of the Master Sword into the soft soil below, his hands were free to sign, “Then turn back. If only I get hurt, that will be better than you following me into danger.”

A fire lit in Mipha's eyes. She stepped forward, jabbing a clawed finger into his chest. He hardly felt it through two layers of cloth and his chainmail. Mipha snapped, “I am not some helpless maiden! You should know better than anyone that I've been trained to fight since before you were born!” The fire dimmed, and she drew her hand back to clasp it against her stomach. “At least… at least let me be there to heal you, should worst come to worst.”

A long moment passed in which neither of them said anything. And then Link drew his sword back and turned around, silently resuming his march. A half-beat passed, then Mipha followed, not quite jogging but close to it to keep up with Link’s long strides. Together, they walked up Mt. Plymouth, neither saying a word. Several long moments passed before they heard the earth-shaking roar of the Lynel.

“Watch yourself,” Mipha whispered, suddenly gripping her Lightscale Trident. “It is deft with its shock arrows, and when enraged, it can consume the mountain top in flames.”

Link gave a quick nod and even quicker, “Stay.” In an instant, he was up and charging at the Lynel. It didn't noticed him at first, giving him ample opportunity to jump onto its back and stab his sword through flesh and muscle. The Lynel noticed him then; it howled in rage, flinging itself upwards and then bucking. Link flew, landing in a roll. The Lynel charged. Link refused to move.

“Link!” Mipha shrieked, emerging from behind a rock. She didn't run so much as use the moisture in the air to propell herself forward. But by then, Link was already moving.

He had waited until the Lynel was nearly atop him, and then hopped to the side. Time slowed. Link dashed forward and stabbed, sliced, and diced the Lynel’s front. When time seemed to resume, Link backflipped twice until he was out of range of the Lynel’s pained flailing. Mipha arrived at his side.

“Are you hurt?” She asked in a rush, hands already glowing with her grace. Link shook his head. Mipha frowned. The Lynel bellowed, and the air grew warm.

Mipha was quicker on the uptake than Link was. She grabbed his wrist in a shockingly strong grip, dragging him after her as she hurried behind a tree, one littered with shock arrows. Link grabbed a few. The Lynel slammed its hooves into the ground and -sure enough- consumed the immediate area in flames. Link threw his arms around Mipha, acting as a shield even while the tree covered (struggled to) them both.

The heat in the air dimmed. Link let out a breath. Mipha pushed herself away from him, mouth drawn into a tight line. Their eyes met, and they both quickly came to the same conclusion:

Let's finish this.

The second terminal was visible immediately upon entering the second floor. In a wheel, turning through the power of water, it sat, only lighting up when level with the ground. Link watched it, noting the slow movement and where the source of the water appeared to be coming from. It was a simple thing to tap away at his Slate, silencing the water source with a block of ice. The wheel stilled; the terminal was still alight.

With a joyous flurry in his chest, Link hopped over the water filled dip and into the wheel. He grabbed the edge of the terminal for support amidst the uneven ground, and claimed the second of five. So far so good.

Mipha echoed that thought, ”Very well done, Link! Only three more to go.”

“I do do my best,” Link responded, bowing with a flourish to empty air. In truth, he should probably figure out where to direct his sass and whatnot when conversing with the spirits of the Champions. But for now, he had a much different, more sombre topic to bring up, “Hey… Mipha?”

“Yes, Link?”

Link flipped the Slate back to his hip. Using the terminal as a makeshift seat, letting his eyes wander through the rest of Ruta and mark points of interest, he said slowly, “Revali said… He said it was you who wanted to keep the SOS a secret. Who wanted to keep me in the dark regarding how much you all are suffering at the hands of the blights.” He tapped along to the SOS, wiling the Sheikah stone beneath his fingers to absorb the weight of what it sung. “Why?”

Mipha took a long moment to answer. The silence is filled with the rushing of water spilling from Ruta. With the creaking of moving parts. With only one soul breathing. Then she answered, ”I did not want to burden you more. No, Link, let me finish… We did not know the state of your being upon waking up- we did not even know if you would ever wake up. But then you did, and you were so curious, so driven; it reminded me of the young boy who came to Zora's Domain all those years ago, clinging to his father's leg but still gazing at me with those large, adorable eyes. I did not wish to see you wilt under the pressure like you once did.”

It… is certainly a very succinct answer. Link learnt a lot from it: he did have a father; he was once a very happy child; Mipha was once again trying to protect him. It was sweet, in a painful sort of way. It hurt, in a love-filled sort of way. Link stopped tapping the SOS. His hands came together in a mockery of Zelda’s desperate prayers, folded in his lap

“I will do… everything that's within my power to make sure I free you, and bring the Champions back from the dead. I'll make myself worthy of deserving your sacrifices,” he swore. The water beside him rippled in time with Mipha’s weak laugh.

”My dear hero, you already are.”

“-wonderful it is to be an accessory to a sharp stick,” Revali was yelling, bright eyes angry slits and feathers standing on edge. Link stared back, unmoving, not even daring to breathe. There's claws buried deep in his arms, and he can only assume they belong to Mipha. Daruk’s voice comes from somewhere to Link’s right, trying to get them to calm down. Behind Revali, Link can see Zelda, hands in fists, with Urbosa reassuringly at her back. “I have yet to see anything ‘sacred’ from either you or that blade. Quite frankly, are we even sure you are the goddess’s chosen like you claim?”

“Kiddos…” Daruk tried yet again, only to be promptly ignored as Revali forged onward.

Revali's wings snapped open, then returned to his side in what Link was starting to realize was less of a nervous habit and more of an irritated one. The Rito snapped, “And aside from that, what can one man and a sword do that a goddess in human form, four deadly weapons the size of cities, and an army of mechanical soldiers cannot? Legends mean nothing in the grand scheme of it all!”

“That is enough!” Mipha shouted on Link’s behalf. She stepped forward, teeth barred, though she didn't release Link’s arms. “Even if Link was not an accomplished swordsman by the age of four -which he was- and even if that sword was not the one of legend -which it is- then who are you to deny the history of 10,000 years ago? Who are you to place your faith in a one-time-in-history solution rather than the one before us now, who's in countless tales throughout the ages?”

Revali twitched with a fleeting look, but did not back down. He shot back, “I can place my faith in Medoh because we are one, not unlike your own bond to Vah Ruta, Princess Mipha. I cannot place my faith in this knight because I have yet to see what is so grand about a twig of a Hylian!”

Mipha went to argue again. Link would be worried about her using her sharp tongue and teeth for more than just words if it wasn't for the blood pumping through his ears and causing a very loud distraction. Mipha didn't get the chance to, anyway; Zelda ripped herself free of Urbosa’s grasp and stepped forward into the argument. Face set and hands still balled into fists, the princess said, “Personally, Lady Mipha, I find myself agreeing with Champion Revali.”

“Little bird,” Urbosa sighed. Peak disappointment. Exhausted parent.

Zelda shook her head. “The sword is one of a kind, there is no doubt about that. But to seal away the Calamity?” She glanced to Link, expression turned sour for but a moment. “And as for Link himself… Revali worded it in a way I would not, but yes, are we certain someone with so little… everything can beat back the power of an ancient evil?”

Link didn't need to glance at Mipha to know she wanted to say a few choice words, mostly aimed at Zelda’s lack of alternative, at the lack of anything else holy. She remained quiet, however, and Link was amazed at her ability to keep calm and gentle in the face of… this.

Urbosa stepped forward then, taking no arguments from anyone as she ended the current one. With a hand on Zelda and Revali's shoulders, she pulled them back and away from Mipha and Link. She said all the while, “Now, now. It's going to rain soon- let's find shelter and we can continue this argument after we’re warm and have some food in us, hm?”

Daruk was quick to pick up where she left off, “Some food and maybe a show, if you lot really want to see what the little guy can do! And he's okay with performing, of course!” He shook with his laugh, and even the ground rattled. Link couldn't help but wonder if Daruk and Urbosa were going to try and parent the rest of them for as long as they were stuck together. It was a funny thought.

Though they didn't look pleased with the idea, the other three backed down. Zelda turned and stalked off, her hair flying about wildly in the pre-storm wind. Revali, similarly, scoffed, and took to the air, presumably to seek out the closest shelter. Mipha still refused to let go of Link, and he caught her mumbling under her breath, “We are supposed to be in this together. Would it be so hard for them to at least pretend to get along with you?”

Daruk and Urbosa coalesced, talking to each other in whispers. Mipha shook her head and glanced up to Link, only to pause in what Link could only describe as befuddlement. To what Link could not guess, at least not until Mipha started talking.

“Your face is all red. Were you also that angry or…” her hand raised to cup his cheek, eyes searching and lips pulled into a frown. Against Link’s better judgement, he glanced up, to where Revali had flown. A moment passed. “Ah,” Mipha let out, evidently amused. Link shot her a look, only to find her just as amused as her voice suggested. A hand flew to her mouth, muffling giggles. Link could only stare in confusion.

The third terminal was a bit trickier and required a better grasp of timing. Link watched the wheel go around no less than four times, figuring out the best time to stasis the ball so the door to the terminal stayed open. He didn't want to be trapped in the terminal box, going around in circles for the short remainder of his life. Though, it would probably take him longer to starve to death than it would for the blights to get him.

Link shook those thoughts off and smiled up at the ceiling when a wordless nudge pushed against him. “Just thinking,” he answered Mipha. The ball fell back into the pedestal, drawing his attention to it. He drew out the Slate, waited just a second longer, then activated stasis. The Slate beeped in warning. Link stood at the edge of the platform, waiting with baited breath until the terminal’s box reached a decent distant. He jumped-

And landed, crouched halfway atop the terminal. Link let out a breath and thankfully only had to wait a second longer before the terminal began to glow, allowing him to slap the Slate against it.

”Three down!” Mipha cheered in a single breath. Well, not breath. Exhale of energy? Link wasn't sure. Speaking of…

The Slate beeped in warning again. Link hopped out of the terminal right before it slid shut again, landing in a deep puddle below him. He stood, shaking his hands free of water, and asked, “By the way, how does it work? Being a spirit?”

“I suppose…” Mipha began, hesitated, then started again, “I still feel like me. Everything’s here, and I don't feel like I'm missing anything. I still breathe from habit, after all. It just… I'm confined, like there's something pushing in on me. I cannot close my eyes and sleep; even if I do close my eyes, all I see is my death, of the suffering Ruta is causing.” She stopped again. Link wasn't sure if he wanted her to continue. She did anyway, ”It hurts, Link. I don't know what it is- if it's the malice eating away at my soul, if it's the wounds my body sustained, if it's Ruta’s pain- I don't know. But oh, it hurts so much. I just want it to stop!”

The last few words came out like a cry. Link suddenly felt very selfish for being thankful she stopped Ruta’s attacks back with Sidon. It felt even worse that the question originally came from Link’s curiosity on why Revali’s spirit felt so faint.

Fi, silent to all but him, letting him stay oh so selfish, chimed, It probably is the Calamity’s influence. If what Champion Mipha is saying is at all accurate, then their souls will naturally draw away from the malice when freed. While it's unclear on whether or not they can fight through it, it's very likely none of the Champions will be able to assist in another's Divine Beast, or Hyrule Castle, for that matter.

“Oh,” Link said aloud, to both Mipha and Fi. Really, what more could he say?

Link peaked around his father’s steel-plated leg, staring up in awe at… everything. The whole place was giant, so much bigger than the other knights described, and one of the buildings even looked like a giant fish head! Though there wasn't much color, which made him a little homesick, the people more than made up for it. His father was even talking to one of those colorful people: one coated in that same lifeless silver but who's scales were as green as grass.

Link gaped up at the Zora. He only closed his mouth when his father settled a heavy hand on his head. The Zora looked down toward Link as his father said, “And this here is my eldest, Link. Link, would you like to say hello to our hosts?”

Link blinked once, and then again. Then he jumped out from behind his father and rushed over to the Zora, smiling up at him with his missing tooth smile. “Hi!” Link chirped. “I'm Link.”

“Oh?” The Zora’s shoulders and fins shook with his laugh. “Well hello, young Link. Tell me, how old are you?”

Link paused, mouth again agape as he counted in his head. Then, as proud as could be, he held up his hand, “I'm five!” Link’s father let out a deep laugh. The Zora smiled indulgently.

“Is that right? Well, do five year old Hylians like princesses as much as I hear you do?”

Link frowned, considering. Aryll liked princesses, sorta- more their pretty outfits than anything else. Did Link like princesses?... The stories his mother told with the princesses who fought alongside past heroes were pretty cool. So, yeah. Link probably liked princesses. He looked back up at the Zora and nodded rapidly.

“Good, good. Then perhaps you'll enjoy meeting our dear Princess Mipha while I escort your father to the king, hm?” Link again nodded. The Zora looked back up to the knights, probably to ask Link’s father for permission to. Then, the Zora turned toward the Domain proper and called, “Lady Mipha!”

“Yes, Muzu?” A soft voice answered. Link peered around the Zora and felt his eyes widen as they landed on another splash of color, this time in red. The young Zora -probably young; she was tiny- was adorned in silver much the same as the rest of her people, but unlike everyone else, she had cloth the color of courser bee hives hanging around her neck. The Zora got closer, her own bright gold eyes landing on Link, and said, “Oh! Father's guests! Should I go fetch him and mother?”

“No, no, my lady. I was merely wondering if you'd like to show this young one around,” Muzu answered, turning around to beckon Link closer. Link did as asked. Mipha cooed, crouching down to Link’s height.

“Of course. It would be my honor,” she said, nodding to Link’s father. Then she turned back to Link and raised a surprisingly sharp hand to Link’s cheek. Despite how dangerous she looked, her touch was soft. “What's your name, dear one?”

Again, Link answered, “I’m Link! Five years old!”

Mipha giggled, “Well, Link who is five years old, would you like to go see the market?”

The fourth terminal required Ruta to move. Link grimaced at that realization, staring down at Ruta’s map and well aware of Mipha's silent presence hovering around him. He should move Ruta- needed to, in fact. But the pain it would cause Mipha…

“Do it, Link. I'll be all the better for it in the end,” Mipha coaxed. Link knew she was right, knew that if he got this terminal then he'd be one step closer to freeing her spirit. Even so…

“I'm sorry,” he whispered, before pressing the button on his Slate. Ruta reacted in turn, crying out as her nose was lowered until it was almost flat. Link waited until it stopped before he jumped off the platform, paragliding down until he found a stable place by the terminal to land. When he was settled and confident, he whispered another apology and pressed the button again. Ruta raised back up. The terminal at the top of her nose lit up.

Link pressed the Slate to it. Mipha said, “Like I said: think nothing of it. You do what you must, Link, and I trust you with my life.”

The Slate chimed. Link croaked back, “I still don't know why.”

”I grew up with you, silly. I've watched you hone your already powerful skills, draw the Master Sword, and become Princess Zelda’s own appointed knight. Even excluding your abilities in combat, you are kind and smart. You are driven. You love so fiercely.” Mipha hummed an amused sort of noise. ”So fiercely. And you always do everything in your power to help those in need. The princess would not still live if not because of you, Revali would not be free without you, without your drive Urbosa, Daruk, and I would stay entombed in the sights of our murders. So yes, Link, believe me: I trust you more than I can put into words.”

Link shook his head. “That makes it sound like I'm some sort of-” Hero. But he was, wasn't he? At least according to Rhoam. To Impa. To the spirit within the goddess blade and Hylia Herself. “...more than I am,” he finished lamely.

The air shifted around Link, not in the way it did in response to Revali’s desires, but in the way it did when a spirit was emoting. Or trying to, in this case. Gently, as if in coaxing a wounded animal, Mipha said, ”In truth, Link, that's just barely scratching the surface. There is so much more to you than you know.”

“I want a new name,” Mipha said to him suddenly, on a rare day where the Champions and Zelda could explore Hyrule. Of course, it was listed officially somewhere between ‘a pilgrimage to enhance the bonds between those chosen by the Crown' and ‘expedition in search of yet uncovered statues worshiping the golden goddess, Hylia, at bequest of Princess Zelda.’ Regardless of their reasons, they were taking it as a vacation of sorts, and Link could not possibly understand why Mipha decided to apparently approach him about life-altering decisions during it.

“I'm not great at suggestions,” he signed in reply. “Aryll even said that I shouldn't change my name because I'd end up choosing something like ‘Leaf’.”

“Wha- no, not like that.” Mipha waved her hands about in front of her, exasperation written all across her face. They both ignored Impa’s cackle as she hurried past them, arms full of camping supplies. “I meant in regards to the name you've given me. You know, like how Revali’s is signed with freedom, and Daruk with strength. Mine has been water since we were young, and I was simply wondering if… if I could get something a bit more grown, I suppose.”

Link blinked quickly as understanding washed over him. He had given Mipha her name -a simple one: the sign for water, and then m- back when they were young and Link had simply been learning Hylian Sign for the fun of it, and not out of necessity. The other Champions- well, they had all come into Link life when he was far older, so of course their names would reflect Link's age. It seemed fair to update Mipha’s.

“What do you have in mind?” Link asked.

Mipha frowned in consideration, eyes turning to follow the others in their steps. Urbosa's long but slow strides to keep pace with Zelda, who walked quickly but measured. Impa hurried alongside them now that she's caught up, stepping in just her tips toes. Daruk lumbered after them, heavy and uneven, slowing when he started to go too fast and his body threatened to tumble into a roll. Revali circled above them in lazy, restless circles.

Mipha answered, “Daruk’s is in regards to his power and natural desire to see us all from harm. Revali’s is from his Rito nature of refusing to abide by Hylian law. Urbosa's is her power, as well as her position as Zelda’s parental figure…” Urbosa's was a new one. Before, Link had simply signed the word for chief and then a u. It had swiftly changed to lightning mother when Urbosa proved to be just that. “So I suppose mine would be in regards to my grace, or perhaps the Zora’s swiftness in water?”

Link raised a hand in a so-so motion. “Doesn't have to. They didn't have much of a say on their names anyway.” He nudged her then, gentle to make up for how his face could not express his teasing. “And anyhow, none of them have known me as long as you have. You get special privileges.”

A peel of laughter broke through the group. Daruk was the only one to turn back to them, grinning wide as Mipha continued to giggle away. When her laughter faded enough for her to talk, Mipha said, “Goodness am I glad I'm the only one who heard that. Say things like that in the wrong company and people would get ideas.” Unfortunately, it looked like an idea came to her anyway. “Ah, how about…”

The fifth and final terminate required some maneuvering. First, he had to rise up Ruta's nose so he could hop onto the roof, the very same one he had previously bombarded with shock arrows. Then he had to drop back down a level -but only one; otherwise he'd have to do it all over again. And then, he had to open a hole in Ruta to allow water from above to fall in. And finally, the most painful part, Link had to repeatedly adjust Ruta until the water from her nose was able to cascade through the hole, taking out the ring of fire surrounding the terminal.

Belatedly, Link wondered why Ruta even had a circle of fire function. And besides that, why did she have a hole specifically for putting said fire out?

He shook his head. With a slight hop over the drenched flame entender, Link tapped his Slate against the terminal.

”That was the last of them,” Mipha’s words echoed through him again, thruming with relief and fear that consumed Link’s own grief and anger. ”The main control unit was on the first floor, though you should be able to access it from where you are now… Be careful, Link.”

“You don't need to worry about me,” Link chirped as he scrolled through the Shiekah Slate. He may not know what the blights would bring to the fight, but he was decent at being prepared. The Master Sword was already settled on his back, and the Zora armor would probably be needed, but he did switch back to his good pair of pants and the Sparrow Bow. “You said it yourself: I've been doing this since I was a kid. What's one more fight?” Though he probably should've made some extra food, given the gapping would in his side he’s been ignoring, or not have given that one meal to the Zora on the tower. Link wondered if he was alright. “But, I do have one more question…”

”Ask away.”

“The Zora armor,” he began slowly, hand smoothing over the scales on his other arm. “It was a joke, wasn't it? Because the name we chose for you-” His hands lifted. One, held out open in front of him; the other a loose fist by his chin. In a single motion, he brought the lifted hand down, opening it as he went so his two hands could clasp together. Then he held his two hands out in front of him and made the motion of a wave. “Wife. Ocean. That was what we settled on, and you made the Zora armor to play into it.”

”So you do remember… Yes, it was originally intended to be an extension of the name. We had known each other for so long that it would not be unexpected for us to wed, anyway. I do not know if you remember all of this, but you even helped with the creation of the tunic, giving me your measurements and ideas for the design.”

“Sidon and the older Zora seem to be under the impression that it was an engagement gift.”

”It is not that surprising, given the old Zora legend. The both of them, actually- one to commemorate the king living by his wife’s scale, and the other of a Zora princess who fell in love with a Hylian hero. I do not fault them for coming to this conclusion. Even so, you were always captivated by the ability to fly, and I… well, I'm not sure it really matters. It never would've actually worked between us,” Mipha explained. It made so much more sense than anything Link could've come up with, and he finally felt at ease with his questions and concerns regarding Mipha now answered. And yet…

Link shook off his curiosity. Mipha’s love life -unrequinted or stolen or lacking- could wait. For now… His eyes drifted over to the control panel, now awake and waiting. For now, he had a monster to kill.

Chapter Text

The SOS had long since stalled, replaced by the SAD as the blight grew further enraged at Link’s pestering. The rain was still falling. Everything seemed thick with apprehension. The Slate pulsed in time with the control panel. This was it.

“Ready?” Link asked Mipha. Asked Fi. Asked himself. The Slate hovered over the panel, not yet daring to touch it but ready to slam down in case of hesitation. The water on the floor rippled. Fi pulsed. Link let out a breath. Zelda's voice whispered in his head: all engines go.

Link slammed the Slate onto the panel and threw himself back. Malice stretched out of the panel, writhing and fuming, an inhumane screech consuming every noise that once was. And then it clustered, hatred given form mixing with stolen Sheikah technology, until it resembled a moblin’s form- too large at the top for such a small body. A hand shaped itself out of the mess of malice, raising high and pulling on even more of Ruta’s engineering, until finally a mockery of Mipha’s Lightscale Trident appeared. Waterblight, the scourge of Vah Ruta, murderer of the Champion Mipha.

”Be careful,” Mipha urged as Link mirrored Waterblight’s action and withdrew the Master Sword. ”It has deadly range, and will use Ruta against you once more. Now, Link! You must not fail!”

He had no intentions to.

Waterblight howled, shaking the room, but Link refused to be thrown off balance. He was already moving by the time it threw its spear, rolling forward as the weapon embedded itself in the now sealed off doorways. With his momentum, Link shot to his feet and lunged forward with Fi. The tip of her blade sunk through Waterblight’s flesh like a spoon through jello.

Jello? What was (Grandma, hobbling forward with a bowl of volt fruit jello- Aryll, standing on her chair, hands on the table, still so small as she bounced with energy- Link, tearing his eyes away from the Lurelin seaside to hurry and grab bowls- a korok laughing from a bed of leaves atop a cupboard-) jello?

Fi chimed, scolding him to focus. Link was quick to obey, drawing the Master Sword out of the beast's body only to start hacking away at the malice clinging to ancient tech. Presumably, should he manage to separate the two, Waterblight’s power would weaken…

It didn't matter. Fed up with being diced and sliced, Waterblight summoned its trident back to its hand. Then, without warning, plunged in into the floor, eerily similar to the attack from the Lynel much earlier that day. Only this time, Link didn't manage to avoid it. The shockwave alone sends him tumbling; the disturbed waves simply buffer him down once again.

”Link! Are you well?” Mipha called in concern. Link pushed himself up, spitting up water as he went. Waterblight watched.

“I'm good,” Link answered. He grabbed Fi and rose fully, twirling her in his hand. Waterblight, seeing it's last move worked best, rose its trident again. When it slammed it down, however, Link managed to flip over it. While Waterblight was busing pulling itself back upright, Link charged forward and began attacking again. “Just-” stab “trying to-” swipe at the arm “figure out-” sheath the Master Sword and hurry away “its attacks.”

Waterblight howled again. The gap between ancient parts and corruption oozed malice- so Link was at least making good progress. Not enough, however. Waterblight showed proof of that when it again threw its trident at him, forcing him to hop to the side. It sunk into where the wall met floor. Link, knelt where he landed, pulled out the Sparrow Bow and fired, aiming straight for the blight’s eye. The arrow landed. Waterblight fell in a pathetic display.

In a fluid motion, the Sparrow Bow was replaced by the Master Sword and Link was running. Instead of charging in with a lunge, Link hurried all the way to Waterblight's face plate, where he could repeatedly beat Fi into it. The Master Sword pulsed with holy light. The malice writhed. And yet still it refused to change it's attacks, to turn more defensive. It wasn't cornered yet, and that wasn't good for Link.

“Mipha!” He cried, hacking away as the blight arose. “Any tips?”

Waterblight bubbled with rage- chunks of corruption spitting and popping before landing in the water with a dull splosh. Mipha answered, ”In truth, I likely can not give any solid advice.” Waterblight twisted, squirming as it tried to hold the wound closed with the rest of its body. ”Remember that it took me by surprise. I had no opportunity to create a strategy or even get a good look at my opponent before it began striking me down.”

“Which meant its back to square one:” Link heaved a sigh, “Keep stabbing.”

And so he did just that. As Waterblight got itself under control and readied the next attack, Link took off, running in a wide circle as he waited for Waterblight to choose an attack. It did, flinging the trident out. Link froze, watching it come towards him, and took a deep breath. If this was just like a Lynel -a beast he had apparently been fighting since he could walk- then surely…

The trident was a hairsbreadth away from him. Link opened his eyes and side-hopped. Time slowed.

“There we go!” He cheered, letting instinct take over and lead him to Waterblight. The Master Sword moved at incredible speeds, taking out entire gashes of the blight’s body. When time resumed and Link hopped away, Waterblight, too, fled. Up to the ceiling in a mass of Sheikah blue, that is.

Link stepped back, eyes never drifting, but he did take the moment as a short break. His chest heaved. His hands were shaking. Waterblight reformed, flipped upside down and glaring from the highest point in the room. To make matters worse, with one raise of a clawed hand, Ruta rumbled beneath Link’s feet, flooding the room with water. Link cursed, swimming quickly over to a thankfully raised platform before Waterblight thought to attack.

But even with the quickened speed, Link only just made it to the platform before Waterblight swung its trident out, a form of ice blocks summoned in the trail it made. Link let out a sharp breath through his nose and grabbed the Slate off his hip.

Master, Fi beckoned. The shard of the Calamity is using the terrain to its advantage. While you could simply dispel the ice using the runes within your Slate, please note the shard does not appear to move while an attack is underway. The attack on Vah Ruta also proves this.

“Meaning?” Link asked. The first ice blocks shot forward. He put it out with cryonis anyway.

Meaning it would be wise to shatter all but one block, at which point stasis would be more beneficial. If you shoot it back at the shard rather than try to shoot at it while it's amidst another attack…

“We can end this more efficiently.”

It made sense, plenty of it, and Fi had yet to steer him wrong. Link held the Slate up, shattering the last few cubes, but drew it back to change runes as the final one flew toward him at an accelerated speed. His lips thinned. Then, as it neared his feet, stasis was up and running, freezing (too bad Revali wasn't here to make fun of that pun) the ice in its tracks.

Rather than use the Master Sword, Link again drew the Slate close to flip through it. An old boko bat -one that's probably been in there since he left the Great Plateau and been promptly exchanged for his actual sword- was summoned in the very same Sheikah blue that Link would probably never be able to look at the same again. Gripping the bat in both hands, he spun one his heels. The bat repeatedly hit the block, just as the Slate repeatedly beeped. When stasis shattered in time with the bat breaking into splinters, the ice cube flew-

Right into Waterblight's face.

Master Sword back in his hands in the next moment, Mipha cheering softly from the sidelines, Link hopped back into the water, swimming as fast as the Zora armor would allow toward his target. He clambered onto the platform Waterblight had previously been hovering over and leaned over it to stab at the not-yet-corpse floating in the water. He got a few good hits in before the cycle began anew.

”You're doing so well, Link! Just a little more- I know it!”

Given how long round one has taken… well, Link wasn't quite sure about that, but he appreciated the trust Mipha had in him. Trust he apparently deserved far more than he believed. But that, along with a growing pile of other things, would have to wait until Waterblight was actually dead and not hopefully-dead-soon.

Link stepped back onto the platform, now no longer at risk of slipping, and followed the orb of light as it flitted about the room. Finally, it landed on the platform diagonal of him. This time, ice balls spawned, just as they had during Ruta’s final attack.

Perhap Mipha was right about this being over sooner than he thought…

“Thank Hylia I have you, Fi,” Link muttered, knowing that without his sword this would've been excruciatingly longer. As is, two ice balls fell to cryonis and the third was held in place by stasis. A traveler’s sword swiped from beneath Kakariko’s waterfall was sacrificed to the fight. The ball went flying and Link was swimming before Waterblight dropped down.

Water splashed high into the air as Waterblight fell and Link rose. Link wasted no time in drawing Fi once more, but rather than go about hacking and slashing like he had been, he flipped her blade. His other hand clasped around the Master Sword's hilt -fit perfectly for his hands eons ago- and lifted the blade into the air. He said, with all of his grief and anger and determination coated thick around every syllable, “It's time to end this.” And then he plunged the Master Sword into the belly of the beast.

Waterblight squirmed around it but Link pressed his full weight against the sword, embedding it in deeper. The room rippled. Link twisted Fi and the holy blade, shining with the collective power of three dragon-gods left to guard the land ores found deep in the confines of a palace, created to mirror Hyrule in place of the destroyed Scared Realm Her past heroes, loved and cherished as they were, despite how many hated Her for what She stood for centuries bathing in a sacred forest, burnt away chunk after chunk of malice. Until, finally, all that was left of Mipha’s murderer was flakes of red ash…

”Did you win?” Revali asked as his presence wrapped back around Link, warm and familiar and missed. Link was standing in front of the control panel, listening as Ruta drained itself of water and the platforms lowered. He was meant to be gathering himself, preparing to stare at another failure and have a long overdue talk. In reality, he may have drifted off on his feet.

“I think so,” Link mumbled in answer, eyes flickering open with a huff of laughter. The control panel, now free of Waterblight, stood glowing and orange and harmless. The Slate was clenched tight in his hands as he gave it one more glance, just to be certain, though that trail of thought faded away as his gaze focused on the top of the panel, where it seemed the ‘petals’ closed together. There was… “It's the Divine Beasts. See there? On the top? It's all four of them.”

”Link.”

Link winced at the tone. “I know, I know…” There was no use stalling anyway; Mipha had waited long enough. They all have. Link took one last deep breath before tapping the Slate, completing the full registration of Vah Ruta and completely ridding her of all the poison. His ear twitched at a droplet landing amongst the pool.

”I always hoped… I always believed that you would return to us someday. And though, a few months ago, I had nearly given up hope, awash in a sea of tears as I came to terms with the fact that my spirit would be trapped here for eternity, I'm so happy to see I was right, and to witness what wonders you've accomplished, Link. You really are the Hero Hyrule needs,” Mipha spoke, as gentle as always, but now no longer due to a weight upon her soul, merely from choice. Link turned to face her, breath catching as he watched her gracefully glide across the water's surface, royal emblems sparkling ethereally and Champion's sash unblemished. And here Link was, wet hair sticking to his cheeks and dressed in clothes that almost definitely smell like wet dog. Mipha smiled joyfully nonetheless, hands clasped against her breast, fins flying in a wind not known to Link.

But his own personal wind wasn't far behind. It did, however, nudge at him impatiently. Link flapped a hand about as if that had ever stopped Revali in the past. Despite this, he did as pushed, stepping forward with his own smile, “It's good to see you again, too, Mipha. I just wish it hadn't taken so long.”

A will-o-wisp floated dangerously downward until it brushed against the surface of the water. It was smothered instantly. Mipha shook her head, ”You are here, and Ruta is free. In the end, that's all the matters…” A spark of amusement shown in her bright eyes, and she turned around, beginning to walk up the stairs and toward the entry point of Ruta. Link panicked and hurried after her, only to falter as Mipha dropped down on the stairs rather than push deeper inside. She gave the spot beside her a pat, ”You have questions? Then let us sit and talk. You know, like old times.”

Link blinked at her in befuddlement. A moment later, he sat down beside her. Well, fell would've been the correct term, but it wasn't like he had much control over his body’s fading adrenaline anyway. Now beside Mipha, resisting his every urge to lean his head against her transparent shoulder, Link asked bluntly, “You were in love with Zelda, weren't you?”

If Mipha was surprised, she didn't show it. ”I was,” she answered. ”Perhaps still am. Regardless, Zelda often regarded me the same way she did you: a reminder of her own failures. It never would've worked out.”

Revali scoffed. Link had to agree with that sentiment. “Mipha, Revali hated my guts for what I'm almost certain was the majority of them time we knew each other. With some of the memories I've gotten, I'm pretty sure he even tried to kill me at some point,” he shot. “And we're married. Like, he's willingly stuck himself to me through life and death. You definitely could've made it work- still can, even!”

Mipha reached out to lay a weightless hand over one of Link’s own. Perhaps it was habit from an age long gone, when Link only talked with his hands, or maybe it was for comfort. Whatever the case, her eyes crinkled as she said, ”Link, forgive my saying so, but you and Revali worked out because you both have complete opposite ways of dealing with emotions and -excluding the burdens you put on yourselves- have little pressure to keep up appearances once the Calamity is felled. However, Zelda and I… Well, Zelda has always been under immense pressure due to her carrying the blood of a goddess, and now that it has been unlocked, even if her father still lived, she will ascend to Queen. That puts a lot of eyes on her. And I-”

“Feel the completely ridiculous need to be perfect all the time,” Link sighed, thinking back to the hustle and bustle of Akkala Citadel and of a conversation held between shaking hands. He wrinkled his nose then, “Wait, is Muzu homophobic? Is that his issue?”

Mipha shot him a weird look. Revali cackled. Fi gave off the impression of sighing.

Following Fi’s sigh with one of her own, Mipha said, “No, not as far as I'm aware. Hylians have the strictest rules of who can be what or wed who- the rest of us do not have such rules, Zora included. The bigger issue would be cross species relationships-”

“Ah, yes. The Hylian-phobia.”

“-which, regardless, would be meaningless anyway. My father has already given his permission time and time again, and his word is law. So no, that has nothing to do with it. It just…” Mipha trailed off, staring into the distance toward Ruta’s stomach. It was clear that that was meant to be the end of the conversation. Link added one final thought nonetheless as he reached over to cover Mipha’s hand, the one already lying atop his other, and held it there despite how there was nothing there to actually hold.

“Well, for what it's worth, I think you two could make it work, once the dust has settled and you've all been returned to your homes.” He grinned. “In fact, I'll even set up the date and be there with you if you need me to! But you are going to make an effort, okay? Even if it fails.”

Mipha let out a very un-princessy snort. “I fear what will happen if I deny you this. I promise, Link,” she nodded. Then, she tilted her head and changed the topic to ask, “Revali is with you, yes? Tell me, how did he go about the whole… soul-binding thing? I will admit that I didn't have much understanding of how this is supposed to play out.”

“I'm not entirely sure,” Revali admitted for Link to relay. ”It wasn't like I could practice it, after all. Really, it just happened, sort of like how Urbosa described her magic.”

“Instinct then,” Mipha hummed to herself. She pulled her hand free of Link’s grasp to clasp with her other in front of her. Link doubted she was praying, but she did seem to be focusing. Almost as if she was willing her soul to shatter so she could give a bit to Link. Nothing happened for a long moment, and she dropped her hands to her lap with a sigh. Link smiled sympathetically.

“I guess that means it's time for more questions, huh?” Link snickered. “Let's see… I understand the Zora armor now, and the whole love thing… I know we met when we were young, and have been close friends since. I had a father… who was a knight?”

”The captain of the guard, from what I understand,” Mipha answered with a confirming nod. ”When we were young, he smiled a lot. I can remember only because you and him had the same smile. Aryll, too. But as time passed- not long after you drew your sword, in fact- he grew distant. Colder. I'm not sure if it was for the same reason you grew mute or not, but that's how it was.”

Link pulled his gaze away from her to stare at his feet. Water had been soaking into his boots, and he had finally resigned himself to going to swing by Kakariko or Hateno for a new pair afterwards. Hylia knows that this wasn't the first time in the past twenty-four hours where his boots had been soaked. He was getting side-tracked. He said, “I see…”

Mipha flicked a finger. The water rippled, then threw itself upwards into a spout. Just as quickly as it formed, it fell. Mipha added grimly, “I heard he was stationed at Akkala Citadel in the days before the Calamity arose. Your sister had sent a letter, commenting as much, and had said how she was going to make her way there, with a stop at Zora’s Domain to see me and Sidon.”

Akkala Citadel… in the days before the Calamity's revival. Link had yet to be that far north, but something told him that that sentence might've as well been a death one. Revali answered that unspoken question, ”Akkala Citadel has been a location of defense for centuries- possibly since when the last Calamity attacked. Dozens of guardians were unearthed there, and more in the surrounding area were moved there for ease of access to researchers. If I had to guess, after the tech was overtaken…”

The whole place would've been blown off the map. Link closed his eyes; swallowed.

“Did Aryll ever…”

“Not that I'm aware of.” The knot in Link’s chest loosened at Mipha's gentle reply. ”She did not arrive in any of the days leading up to Zelda’s birthday. Unless she had arrived at the Domain the day of, then she had yet to make it even to Lanayru.”

Which meant she was safe. Which meant she lived. Link’s breath out was shaky.

(He ignored the fact that Fort Hateno was littered with destruction. He ignored the flash of a walker through the wetlands to the west of Lanayru. He ignored the thought of who knows how many vicious monsters who razed towns where the guardians could not immediately reach.)

“Then, another question…” Topic change. “What's jello?”

Mipha blinked. And then laughter like bells echoed throughout the halls. It was a lovely sound, and one his body so deeply missed.

Hours passed in which Mipha tried to split her Grace and Link got questions answered. He learned that Mipha's favorite food was chillfin trout, and she liked the color blue. He learned his favorite food used to be pumpkin stew, and that his grandmother -and mother’s side of the family- had been from Lurelin, which is where Aryll got an obsession with pirates. He learned of childhood trips to the eastern coasts, where they chased crabs and whispered legends. Together, they talked about anything and everything as Mipha focused, chest glowing and will-o-wisps dancing.

Occasionally, Fi or Revali would throw in their own comment or jab. But for the most part, Link and Mipha were allowed to catch up, to spend time together like they hadn't for years even before their deaths. There was a peacefulness in the air that Link hadn't gotten to truly experience since he woke up. Unfortunately, it was unlikely to last the night.

As their conversation -one of old clothes saved from childhood years and a disgruntled Sidon- drew to a close, Link tilted his head up and back, glancing to the doorway to his right. The rain has stopped, that was true, yet the sky was dim. Night had fallen. Link had spent hours within Ruta. He grimaced at the thought.

“Sidon probably thinks I died in here,” Link commented.

”Ruta's soothed, isn't she? I doubt anyone thinks you're dead. Dragging a body, maybe. Dead, no.” Revali oh-so-helpfully chimed in. Link shivered at the thought of a body- of the bodies of the Champions within their beasts- of the grim possibility of having to take their decimated corpses back to their people-

”Sidon…” Mipha murmured, forcing Link to turn back to her. ”I never thought to ask- not with the assumption I'll be returning to them- but how is everybody? Sidon, my father, Muzu… The children, though I suppose they'd be all grown now. I wouldn't be surprised if Gaddison is on her way to being captain of the guard!”

No face appeared at the mention of this ‘Gaddison’. Link probably needed to talk to everyone once he got back to Zora’s Domain- to reassure them about the rain if nothing else. He answered Mipha, “Muzu and all of the elders have developed a fierce hatred for Hylians, believing it was us who led you to your death. Which, in a way, we were.” Link shook his head. “Your father seems fine. He misses you, which is obvious to everyone, but he seems to have a comfortable reign on everything. And man, is Sidon a ball of energy. He reminds me of a stable dog- happy to see everyone and so wanting to help… Admittedly, I hadn't talked to anyone else while I was there, but the guppies all seemed happy enough.” A memory popped up, and Link added with a grin, “They even erected a statue of you; it's right in the middle of the Domain.”

Mipha’s shoulders jolted. Her wide eyes shot to Link. “They did what?” She squeaked.

Link raised his hands as if he could mime the statue’s outline. He ended up just kinda waving them about as he explained, “It's huge. Made out of luminous stone, so with the rain it acts like a beacon of light. It's definitely sculpted with love, but it doesn't quite manage to capture all of you.”

Mipha dropped her face into her hands, mumbling something incoherent. Link tipped his head, watching her, fond, amused, and warm. Her will-o-wisps flickered at her embarrassment, dancing faster around her and growing bigger. The area around them brightened just the slightest. Link sat up straight with a blink. What…?

Mipha, similarly, snapped back upright with a surprised, “Oh!” The light got brighter; the will-o-wisps spun faster, and before he knew it, Link was staring at a shining orb encasing Mipha’s Grace. Mipha held her hands out, accepting the manifestation of her powers, and laughed a small thing. “I suppose I was overthinking it, then. Nonetheless- Link, will you accept?”

“Of course,” Link nodded. He pushed himself to his feet, wandering a few steps back toward the control panel before pivoting, staring back at Mipha, who stood waiting. When they stilled, Mipha nodded, and pushed her Grace forward. It shot to Link, and he freely accepted it, letting it wrap him in the cool breeze of spring, the light smell of blue nightshade, and the familiar sense of familiar love. It soon settled. Fi let known her confirmation of the transfer, and of the miraculous healing of his wounds.

”With this, should you become gravely wounded ever again, I will be able to heal you. However, depending on the distance, it will take some time for me to gather the power once more. But through it all, I will be right there with you Link, as I swore to be when I accepted the role of Vah Ruta’s pilot,” Mipha swore. Another laugh, ”Revali was right: that did seem very natural.”

“I'm hurt; I can't believe she doubted me,” Revali drawled.

Link settled a hand against his chest, over his heart, where he could almost pretend to feel the swirl of the other two souls intertwined with his. And the several spirit orbs he had to deliver to Hylia, alongside a complaint about Lynels. He said, “I know you'll be with me from here on out, and if you're anything like Revali, there'll be a comment every chance you get-”

”Hey!”

“-but is there anything you want me to tell your father, or Sidon? I'll even take requests for Muzu, though that'll require a payment.”

“Tell them…” Mipha began, brushing past Link to lay a hand over the control panel. Ruta responded instantly, rumbling with what Link would dare to call a pleased noise, gears and wheels beginning to spin as the Divine Beast started to make for a spot to aim. “Tell them I will be home soon… That I love them, but will not apologize for the choices I made.” She turned to him, fin flapping over her shoulder. “Promise me you'll tell them that?”

“I said I would, didn't I?” A sharp pulling on his being; Link glanced down to see the same golden light that had pulled him from Medoh. Zelda’s interference. “It seems like our time is up. Unless I nearly die again, this is the last time I'll see you until the final fight.”

The golden glow had nearly consumed him entirely, yet Mipha’s voice still reached him, ”So long as I can be of use to you and Zelda, that's all that matters to me. Be safe, hero.”

Chapter Text

”I will admit, it's good to see you again. It was… unnerving to hear your distress call come in before I could even reach Medoh’s control panel.”

“It's wonderful to see you, too, Revali. You know, you can simply say you do care about us.”

“Absolutely not. Unlike Link, I have a reputation to maintain.”

“Of what? Being a prick?”

“No- well. Hm. Yes, probably; among other things. “

“Unfortunately, I think that's a moot point at this point, considering who you married!”

“Ah-”

“My best friend and one of three other people who understand the burden of piloting a Divine Beast! Got engaged! And married! Without telling me!”

“And Link didn't believe me when I said you were scary…. Look, to be fair, we did immediately die afterwards-”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?!”

“I don't know!”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“I'm not going to apologize.”

“...I’d be stupid to expect you to. You have far too much pride.”

“Well, if it's any consolation, Link also didn't realize we were married for a while.”

“Revali, that's not a consolation.” A sigh. “Quite honestly, Link’s whole amnesia thing is heartbreaking. I'm beyond glad his voice has returned to him, of course, and I imagine Zelda will likewise be much freer when this is all over, yet I find myself mourning what once was. He likely won't remember summer afternoons with Bazz and Fronk, looking for tireless frogs for Tona, nor the times Aryll and his mother were with him and his father, spending time in Goponga Village as they waited for new orders, trying the blend of foods. The times the six of us spent together, growing closer as we learned the workings of the ancient tech and searched for a trigger for Zelda’s powers have been lost to him as well.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. He's regaining them- some of them, at least. And even if he doesn't, there's plenty of people to tell him. You and your people, Zelda and the rest of us. Impa. Purah. Robbie, if he's still kicking. And Aryll, if she still likewise lives. My point being: it'll be fine.”

“...Rito are a communal people, correct? So you helped raise the fledglings? Please tell me you weren't in charge of their motivational speeches.”

“Wha- hey!! I'll have you know I'm great with kids!”

“That's not what I asked, is it?”

A flick of braids. “Does it matter? It's not like that era hasn't been long past for a while now.”

“Weren't you the one just saying that not all that's been lost will stay that way forever?”

“This is… different. Link doesn't remember much, so he has no idea what he lost. And your people live centuries naturally. Rito, however, do not, nor did I have any family anyway. There's no one there to remember me, other than what parts of my legacy get past down through song. So, again, does it really matter what used to be?”

“And what of Daruk? Urbosa? Zelda? Does everything they cherished mean nothing now?”

“We've met Urbosa’s sister and niece- don't try that one with me. Zelda has you -you did promise Link, after all- and Urbosa and Link and the Shiekah. And Daruk mentioned a pebble a few times. Din knows whether that means he had a kid or a nice rock roast, but even if he didn't have a kid, Gorons are remarkably chill and see everyone as a brother. I imagine he’ll be fine.”

“Oh, I see. So you're the exception to the rule, as always.”

“No, I just have nothing left. Besides Link, of course.”

“You do not wish to forge something new?”

“With people who have the faces of those I grew up with, long dead? With people who only know me faintly through echoes of words?”

“...Revali, I missed my brother growing up. I did not get to see him climb his first waterfall or catch his first fish. All of the children in the Domain, I lost so much time with, to the point where they likely have kids of their own. And my father is old, whatever time I have left with him will be little. That does not mean I will give up on cherishing my people.”

“I doubt you'd be so convicted if everyone you just named had been dead for twice your normal lifespan. Regardless, I didn't say I'd give up on them. I just… need some time to wallow, as Medoh would no doubt put it. To grow used to the fact that there is nothing left of my home besides the physical place.”

“You… you talk of Medoh as if she is sentient.”

“...She certainly seems to be. Perhaps it's left over from the last Rito Champion, or perhaps the ancient Sheikah were stealing souls from the afterlife for their creations, but Medoh has opinions on everything. Which fruit is the best, who's allowed to board her and when, how I spend my free time- though, it seems to change on whether she's a nagging parent or a clingy child. Ruta is-?”

“Less so. All I get from her is faint feelings. Fondness, apprehension, curiosity- things like that. I felt it is, in part, what made it so easy for us to bond. But from what I understand, Rudania was the trickiest to master.”

A shrug. “Maybe it's a personality thing? Ruta’s emotions are dim and you keep a firm hold on your emotions. Medoh is moody, and admittedly so am I. I wonder, with how Rudania seems to be rampaging like he is, if Daruk and Rudania just didn't mix?”

“I suppose we will find out soon enough. Link is planning to head to Death Mountain next, yes? After his farewells to Sidon and Father?”

“So he says. The Slate had a picture from the Spring of Power, however, and Robbie is supposedly a bit north of that. I imagine it'll be more of a trip to Eldin with a heavy detour to Akkala.”

“Ah… and with Akkala Citadel there…”

“It's an emotional wreck waiting to happen.”

“Oh, dear. I suppose it is a blessing he came here first, rather than make a loop around Hyrule. I worry what would happen if he were to go there without any support.”

“And what am I? A decoration?”

“Forgive me, but I do believe we already covered the fact that your ability to deal with things is lacking.”

“You really don't hold back when there's no witnesses, huh?”

“I have had a century to stew in my buried anger over how you treated Link so long ago. It was bound to happen eventually.”

“But you were the one to set us up together?”

“Because it made Link happy. Haven't you noticed that much of what I have done is for his benefit? It's the least I could do after he went through so many hardships so young.”

“Mipha, do you realize how sad that sounded? Anyway, how'd you know it would make Link happy? From my point of view, I tried to kill him, yelled at him a bunch, you said I should give him a gift, and then we were together. At least three steps were jumped over to get us there.”

A laugh. “He thought you were pretty, especially when you were livid. I didn't quite understand it at first- not until I started to develop feelings for our stubborn princess- but I do know that he was smitten since the murder attempt.”

“Hm. At least we know for sure that Link doesn't have Wisdom. I think even common sense might even be off the table.”

“You have to admit, it was surely Courageous of him to fall for someone like you.”

“Stupid, more like.”

“Really? I'd argue it was the best for the both of you. Link needed someone to let him be free around, someone who was not bound by rules and expectations, and you needed someone to ground you so you didn't fly off to find whatever lies beyond the clouds. I think the rest of us needed it to happen too; you know, a little bit of hope for the future when the present seemed so bleak.”

“Optimistic.”

“Simply what I saw…… Link appears to have my Lightscale Trident now. I had wondered what had happened to it.”

“He has my Great Eagle Bow, too. It's not surprising that it fell after I nearly lost a wing to Windblight. Is it possible that your trident got washed away with the streams?”

“It would've had to have been after my death. I held onto it until my last moments… Though, if the Divine Beasts did manage to save us, it might've been possible for them to shake our weapons free. I loathe to think what would've happened if Link had to fight against our Beasts, killers, and signature weapons.”

“That is a disturbing image, one that thankfully did not come to pass with the two of us. But Medoh hovers above the village, and Ruta’s rivers lead back to the Domain. The others… Naboris, either in the far reaches of the desert or atop hazardous cliffs, and Rudania, whose home is one of lava. It's not likely their weapons were saved.”

“Have faith in the Gerudo, Revali. They are strong warriors and would do much for their Chieftess. But yes, Daruk’s is a concern. I suppose that's added to the list of worries we will bear until Rudania is freed.”

“Well then you should have faith, Mipha. Link's got that covered, right? And he's got the two of us making sure he doesn't burn to a crisp.”

“We can also ensure Daruk and Urbosa hold out long enough for Link to get there… Ah, speaking of, how is Link getting into Gerudo town?”

“...Divine intervention?”

“Hm.”

“Come on, let's be real. He puts his hair down and wears some decent clothing for once in his life, and I'm sure he could pass as a girl.”

“Or…”

“Or?”

“No, nevermind. He'll figure it out. Let us just take things one day at a time. For all we know, that's all we have left.”

“How cheerful! Let's do it.”

“Just hang in there a little more, Daruk… We're on our way.”