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English
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Published:
2021-03-17
Updated:
2025-05-22
Words:
2,115
Chapters:
3/?
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26
Kudos:
183
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First Impressions

Summary:

Prince Sidon's courting is about as smooth as a Goron's back.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Chapter 1: Testing the Waters

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

"You!" The Prince called out. "Are you a Hylian?"

"Uh, yes."

"Marvelous! If I may ask—that bat you have on your back there—may I see you wield it?"

"Um, sure?"

"Terrific! Just as powerful as you are beautiful! You will be perfect!"

"For what?"

"I hope I don't appear too forward, but I would like to request that you and I return to my home at the Zora's Domain and marry so that we may procreate and birth a school of strong children that shall one day ru—" You swung your bat, striking Prince Sidon in the side, sending him toppling over and stumbling into the river.

Before he could even recognize the events that just took place, you took off running in the direction you came.

By the time Sidon resurfaced, you were well on your way down the rocky path.

"Wait! Hylia—I mean Miss Hylian!"

Your mind raced with adrenaline as you made your way down the narrow riverside path.

Suddenly out of the water leaps Sidon soaring through the air before returning underneath. 

"Please—!”

“—The Zora kingdom and I require your aid!"

"Leave me alone!!" You shrieked, turning and grabbing the boomerang from your backside and flinging it his way.

He ducked into the water, narrowly dodging it before continuing.

"Please be careful, Hylian, the path is slick and you may—” The boomerang returned spinning around only to bounce right off of his pointed fin.

You cursed yourself before taking off again as he retrieved the floating wooden weapon. "I believe you dropped your, eh... spinning toy! Hylian!"

His warning barely reached you as your foot skid awkwardly along the dull, rocky ledge, sending you tumbling head first into the water.

Notes:

Read this chapter on Tumblr here!

Chapter 2: Casting A Net

Notes:

After many years, I provide you with the long awaited chapter two! While it wasn't necessarily my intention, I've managed to write two more nearly completed chapters with more planned for the future.
Just like Chapter 1, I hope the humor in these bite sized chapters is enough to hold y'all over until the end!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Prince Sidon wasted no time making his way over to you as you broke the surface. As quick and nimble as you were on land, under the water, you looked panicked, splashing and flailing as the Zora River's currents dragged you underneath.

In one quick motion Prince Sidon managed to grab hold of you. His massive hands easily eclipsed your body as he curled his arms beneath you, surging upward, seamlessly parting the water's surface.

You coughed and hacked, clinging desperately and albeit, a bit painfully, to the Prince's dorsal fin.

"Are you alright, Miss Hylian? You took quite the tumble into the river. I apologize if my forwardness intimidated you."

"P-please. Just put me down—on the ground.”

"As you wish." He nodded, paddling his way to the smooth, rocky riverbed.

You shivered uncomfortably as you climbed your way out of Prince Sidon's arms, your clothes thoroughly soaked while he waded with a rather concerned look on his face.

"Miss Hylian?" He replied, suddenly meek now. "If I may be so rude as to ask… you do not happen to know how to swim, do you?"

You clammed up, suddenly indignant as his words had struck a fuse with you. "Wha—of course I can swim! I can swim perfectly fine!"

"Ah, my apologies. So you do not know how to float, then?" He offered—a much kinder concession in his mind.

"First you chase me into the water and now you're insulting me? Wow, what a charmer."

"Oh no, no!" Prince Sidon climbed from the water, his height easily doubling your own as he rushed to your side. Goddess Hylia—he was even bigger up close.

“I believe I made a rather clumsy first impression. I don't believe I've ever properly introduced myself." He cleared his throat. "I am Prince Sidon. Son of King Dorephan, Prince of the Zora, Future Leader of the Zora Kingdom.” His face practically sparkled with pride and his smile did, quite literally that—sparkle. Despite the spectacle of the moment, these words meant practically nothing to you.

"Please. Allow me to sincerely apologize! Accompany me back to my home of Zora’s Domain and I'll see to it that you have a splendid time."

"Your… home?" You asked, distrustful. He nodded energetically and you pondered that thought for a short moment.

"Do you have any beds there?" You replied flatly.

"Plenty!"

"Alright, fine. I'll go." You conceded, exhaustion tinging your voice. "I've had enough surprises for one day."

"Splendid!" He smiled triumphantly, baring his mouth full of pointed teeth.

"Just, no more funny stuff, alright? No more talk of babies."

"Oh, that's fine. Us Zora only wed strong swimmers." He smiled, rather innocently.

You balked, prepared to offer a reply when a rather stealthy Octorok leaped from the river bed sending a rock crashing right into Prince Sidon's stomach.

He lost his footing, falling head first into the river’s currents.

"That'll do." You smiled.

Notes:

Read this chapter on Tumblr here!

It's been 4 years please clap!!
drawing of a man smiling with his arms spread wide as tears shoot out of his eyes comically while he's surrounded by sparkles. Art by @IRASUTOYA

Chapter 3: Reeling it In

Notes:

Content Warning: This chapter discusses the death/loss of a sibling. Though brief the discussion is sentimental and heartwarming with all the typical humor already established thus far!

Chapter Text

Nothing about this day was making sense. In addition to happening upon a giant fish man— or rather him happening upon you— you now find yourself standing in front of a gargantuan fish man sitting on a throne.

The goddess Hylia no longer creates mountains this big. What right does she have creating Zora this way?! You were almost terrified to move from your place beside Sidon, for fear that he'd lean down and snap him up whole.

“Son.” He nodded, voice deep and bellowing. “Who is this honored guest you've presented to me?”

“This is my father, King Dorephan, King of the Zora Kingdom.”

You were unsure how to dignify such a title, offering a slight bow, just enough that you didn't nearly vomit.

“And Father, this is…” He sputtered, growing nervous under the attention. “Oh — I apologize. I appear to have… forgotten your name.”

“You never asked for it.” You replied bluntly.

“AH— forgive me! What is your name please, so I may introduce you.”

“It's Y/N.”

“Thank you. Father, this is Y/N. She is the Hylian I intend to procreate with to birth a strong school of children—”

“—HEY. I never agreed to that! And what happened to getting married first!?”

“I do not intend to insult you, but your proven lack of ability to swim has urged me to reconsider my initial proposal—”

The quite literally booming laughter of King Dorephan interrupted your bickering, urging you to cower behind the seemingly pint-sized prince.

“Sidon. Is this another one of your long winded jokes? Surely you must know that Hylians and Zora cannot procreate?”

“What?” Sidon gasped.

“What.” You grunted irritably.

“B-but Mipha and Link—”

“Zora and Hylians have shared romances for time immemorial! It's true. But we've never proven the ability to genetically reproduce. It's… simply impossible.”

“But…” He grew quiet, dropping his head. “But how am I to prevent our population decreasing? To prevent the Zora race from dying out once we run out of birthing females?”

King Dorephan balked.

“This is not an issue currently plaguing our people, Sidon. In fact, female Zora have a larger window of fertility than males and…” He seemed to pause, as if coming to a sudden realization. “Have you been listening to Dento’s conspiracies again?”

“Well, yes! But he—”

“Uh… sorry to interrupt this little chit chat, but I was told I could have a bed.”

“Indeed. I am very sorry that my son here has bothered you, Y/N. Sidon has a tendency to become a bit overzealous when it comes to the livelihood of our people. Which is all well and yet, considering he'll be taking over rule after me.”

You couldn't even trust this guy to give you directions, let alone run an entire kingdom.

“Sidon. You've imposed your will upon a Hylian and in the interest of making amends, invited her as an honored guest with the intention of having children with her. Is that correct?”

With his actions stated so plainly like that Prince Sidon felt an overwhelming sense of shame wash over him.

“Yes… that is correct, Father.”

“I'm very disappointed in you, Sidon. Dento’s teachings and your sense of self-righteousness has led you astray. I believe you owe Y/N here an earnest apology.”

The smaller Zora turned to you, his head turned down, obscuring his eyes as he fell into a kneeling position, nearly scaring you shirtless, before he began.

“Y/N. I see now that I was deeply misguided and evidently unwilling to accept your rejection of my proposal, despite your many attempts to deny me. I must ask that you please accept my most thorough and humble apology.”

As much joy as it'd brought you to receive justice, you'd seen this man grovel enough.

“Prince Sidon, I will accept your apology… as long as you agree to feed me.”

He looked shocked, a glimmer returning to his face as he, for the first time since apologizing, looked up at you.

“Truly? Yes— of course I shall!”

“Then I forgive you.”

He leapt to his feet, such a genuinely giddy reaction almost made you burst into laughter.

“Oh, thank you, Y/N. I'm forever in your favor—”

“I expect you to see to it that Y/N is provided with exceptional treatment and our finest accommodations, understand?”

“Yes. Father.” Sidon answered, looking a bit dejected, or perhaps embarrassed. A pink blush decorating his cheeks. You'd actually find it cute if he hadn't spent the better part of your entire time knowing him, terrorizing you.

Perhaps it was the humiliation of his father's scolding, or the weight of his own actions, but Sidon’s much less chatty now. Instead, assuming a more formal tone as he enters a sort of tour guide mode, talking at length about all the beautiful sculpting that decorates the location and its rather extravagant—yet boring—history.

You're distracted by the laughter of little Zora children running around, almost nearly your height.

Are they gonna grow up to be Sidon's size? Or worse yet—King Dorephan?! The thought is haunting, but as you descend the stairs, you can't take your eyes off the glimmering blue sculpture nestled in the middle of the children's play area.

Almost as if transfixed by the gleaming monument, you completely interrupted his musings, asking. “Who's this?”

He follows the direction of your hand toward the statue, assuming a brilliant smirk.

“That,” He beams proudly as he assumes his spot in front of it. “Is Lady Mipha. Princess of the Zora.”

Before you could inquire further he continued, as if called to speak.

“She is the love of our people. As a kind soul and a gifted healer, she became the Champion of the Zora, receiving the honor of piloting the Divine Beast, Vah Ruta, in the fight against the creature known as Calamity Ganon. The fight of which, concluded with her ensuing death. I know her most prominently as my beloved and endearing older sister.”

“Oh, I'm sorry for your loss.”

There was a reverent look in his eyes as he gazed up at her. “I spend much of my evenings looking up at her stone effigy, speaking to her.”

You reached into your collar, pulling free your polished stone necklace. A gift from your own sister. 

You had to force the words forward, the lingering sadness nagging in your throat tasted bitter. “I also lost my big sister.”

The shadow of his head turned in your peripheral vision as you thumbed at the gemstone. A gorgeous ruby amulet.

“I'm very sorry for your loss.” He answered back, a previously unheard softness to his tone.

“Is your necklace a tribute to her?” 

“Yes. Ruby is her birthstone—or rather—it was...”

You didn't anticipate the feeling of his palm against your shoulder, or the spring of warmth it ushered throughout your skin.

“It is.” He nodded. “She is still with you, always. Just as my sister Mipha is still with me.”

His hand moved to cradle his chest as he closed his eyes.

“When I think of her, my chest feels tight. It squeezes , as if she's giving me a hug, like she once did. That is how I know she is still with me.”

“I… think I can feel it too.” You swallowed down the emotion tinging your voice before you continued. 

“She was everything I wasn't. Graceful, righteous, and poised—a natural born leader. Where I'm… awkward and stubborn and naïve.”

“Perhaps we are more alike than we initially seemed.”

You looked up to see his twinkling grin and you couldn't help but smile.

“Because we're living in our older sister's shadows?”

“No. You are in her shadow, I am standing in the light.”

There was a brief moment of pause between you before his brain finally managed to make the connection.

“Oh — I see that was a joke… I do not find that funny.”

For whatever inconceivable reason to him, that genuinely made you laugh, and hearing that brought a warmth to his heart.

Notes:

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