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Chapter Text

‘How deep does this go?’

The echo of footsteps bounces off the tunnel walls, reverberating in your ears. Your eyes warily take in all the details, your sole light source being the torch that Zelda holds in her hands. The fire casts shadows that dance along the rock, the dim lighting playing tricks on your eyes. You keep checking over your shoulders, feeling as if you’re being watched.

As the pair of you descend further down the stairs there’s a wispy mist on the ground that wraps around your feet. Every step you take pushes the red substance away from you, but it seems that the deeper you walk into the cave, the more of this mist awaits you.

“This strange gloom keeps getting thicker…” Zelda takes note, glancing at you over her shoulder, “we’ve been descending for a while now… these tunnels are deeper than I thought. What could be down here?”

After what feels like an eternity of walking down rubble and stairs you find yourselves in a slightly more open area. It’s a cave, deep below the castle, and naturally formed rather than manmade as the tunnels have. You notice some luminous rock embedded deep in the stone, casting a faint blue glow- though the princess’ torch easily overpowers this. There’s a shallow pond as well, though you know better than to trust water that’s sat for too long.

“I never imagined this was all deep beneath Hyrule Castle…” the princess mumbles as you walk, her eyes curiously examining the cave, “you know, when I was a child, I asked my father if there was anything below the castle. He told me there was, though seeing it for ourselves or even discussing the matter was forbidden. No one in our family knew anything more than that.”

“Huh,” you reply, raising a brow, “your father said that?”

You mull over this as you continue to walk through the cave, quickly finding yourself at another old stone staircase. The deceased king was not someone Zelda spoke of often, and you remembered very well the tumultuous relationship she had with her father before the Calamity. You had never liked the man, detesting the way he had treated his daughter. This investigation must have been somewhat staggering to have her bringing up old memories of him.

“I can recall what my father said, even now. ‘No one must ever venture beneath the castle- not even one of us.’ He said this warning had been passed down through my family for as long as anyone could remember,” she continues as you march down a new tunnel, “however, we need to continue to explore this underground area, forbidden or not. The source of the gloom is down here somewhere.”

Though you would hate to admit it, there was a tinge of fear in the back of your mind when you attempted to imagine what this source may be. Ever since leaving Lookout Landing, you had been theorizing on what could be causing all of these problems. It was your hope that it was mere remnants of Calamity Ganon, and nothing more, but something within you whispered that this wasn’t the case. Anxiety had been gnawing at you for this entire expedition, eating away at you the further you descended.

“The gloom that has been causing people to fall ill… here it seems almost misty and not concentrated enough to harm us,” the princess examines as she gazes down, “we’ll keep going. With it coming up from beneath Hyrule Castle… we do not know what waits below, so we need to be ready for anything. But I know I’ll be okay with you, _____.”

You give her a smile. It was nice to know that her confidence in you never wavered, even if you yourself were beginning to have doubts. After what had happened with Prince Sidon and his engagement, Zelda has been nothing but supportive of you. You were incredibly grateful for it.

“Let’s go solve this mystery.”

The cave narrows once more as you step into what seems to be another man-made corridor. You’d be lying if you said you weren’t beginning to feel somewhat claustrophobic down here. You couldn’t even begin to imagine how deep beneath the surface you both were. You weren’t even sure what time of day it was, or how many hours you had already spent investigating.

A sudden ringing pulls you out of your thoughts.

Zelda calls out your name and you stop in your tracks. “The Master Sword,” she gasps, “it must be sensing something!”

You reach behind and grasp its hilt, slowly unsheating your sword. The blade glows, casting a pure light onto the narrow walls. If the sword is reacting like this, something must be wrong.

“I knew we had reason for concern. Ever since the end of the Calamity, the castle has fallen into neglect. But I never could have imagined anything like these tunnels were hiding here. We must be careful as we move deeper,” the princess instructs.

You nod and continue to walk. The further you go the more stale the air becomes. It makes you wonder how long it's been since a Hylian last walked these halls. Centuries? Millennia? With how old Hyrule was, you couldn’t be too sure of the answer.

As if things couldn’t become odder, you soon find yourself in another corridor- though this one has carved architecture and statues. Most are toppled over and have crumpled into rubble, but a few stand somewhat intact.

“Spooky,” you mumble, taking in the details that can be seen with torchlight.

Zelda quickly walks past you and crouches before one of the fallen pillars. As she holds the torch close to it you’re just barely able to make out faded runic text and inscriptions. Though, you wouldn’t have the faintest clue of what it might say.

“These are ruins from an ancient civilization…” the princess whispers, mostly to herself, as she examines it, “wait… something is written here. This looks like writing from the Zonai!”

You tilt your head, “Zonai, hmm? I think once we solve the gloom problem we could have Tauro come and translate for us. Last I spoke to him he said he’d unlocked some more of the Zonai alphabet.”

As you speak Zelda seems to quickly become distracted by another carving in the room, quickly dashing over to it. You can’t help but find her curiosity charming as you follow behind her.

“Oh! Look at this… these carvings… I’m sure they’re Zonai in origin! I’ve seen designs like this in my studies,” she explains as she unhooks the Purah Pad from her belt, “it’s said they possessed godlike powers and had a prosperous civilization in the sky. Many history books tell us about the Zonai, but none gives us the full picture. Much is still unknown about them. Ah- but I’m sure you’ve heard the same from Tauro, haven’t you?”

With the Purah Pad, she takes a photograph of the statue. It appears to be some kind of animal, though the geometric style of carving makes it hard to discern exactly what the beast is. Your best guess would be that it was a dragon, based on the ruins you had explored in the Faron Region in the past.

At the end of the hall are more statues, though these are taller and more humanoid than the rest. They tower over you, depicting some kind of long-limbed race dressed in robes. The feature that stood out the most to you was their long, folded ears- while Hylians like yourself had long, pointed ears, these were on a whole other level of peculiarity. Zelda takes a photo of these as well.

“Do you think this is what the Zonai looked like?” Zelda asks as she puts the tablet away, “they seem so different than us, and such large ears… how did ruins from a civilization in the sky end up here beneath the castle?”

She seems to silently ruminate on this question for a moment. You find yourself wandering the same thing, and yet, you have seen the Zonai ruins in Faron before. But all written records of the Zonai described them as a race that thrived on mythic islands in the sky. How could their remnants have ended up on the land, or even beneath the land, in Hyrule?

As your thoughts wander the princess begins to walk once more, “it looks like the path ahead goes even deeper. Let’s continue.”

You pass through a room with even more statues of the Zonai. The figures stand tall, and with the ominous lighting cast by the torch, you can’t help but feel somewhat intimidated by them. You could only imagine what they must have looked like in real life all those years ago.

When you pass through a new doorway you’re stunned by the size of the chamber you enter. Before you get a chance to properly explore there’s a sudden flapping of wings on your right side. A trio of Keese flutter about but when they spot yourself and Zelda they fly into a panic. Before any of them can cause damage they’re quickly disposed of by a few quick swings of the Master Sword.

‘What are Keese doing all the way down here? There’s nothing for them to live off of… unless…’

“You’re not hurt are you?” Zelda asks as she runs over.

You reassure her with a grin, “I’m fine, just a couple of Keese.”

Once she’s examined you and deemed you free of injury she nods with a smile. Then she turns her attention to the rest of the chamber you both stand in and she gasps softly. Large relief sculptures decorate the walls, each depicting some sort of scene.

“Look at these murals,” she murmurs, slowly walking toward the wall. The light of the torch brings out the details of the figures. “The written histories of the royal family include stories of a great war fought long ago. It was a conflict between allied tribes and someone only ever referred to as the Demon King.”

The title of ‘Demon King’ on its own sent a subtle shiver down your spine. You couldn’t imagine what atrocious acts one would have to commit to be given such a name.

“Is it possible? Do these murals depict the same legend?” Zelda asks, dashing to the end of the wall where the illustrated history begins.

The first of the sculptures depicts a figure much like the sculptures you’d seen before, tall and long-eared. The figure appears to be floating in the sky, surrounded by mysterious objects. Beneath them, smaller figures stand with their arms linked together. “This is similar to the statues we saw earlier- a Zonai. And these figures below look like Hylians,” the princess explains, “this depiction certainly suggests that the Zonai descended from the heavens.”

The next sculpture shows the Zonai figure joining hands with what appears to be a Hylian woman. Those same mysterious objects float above the pair, only two this time, however. “It is said that my ancestors, the first of Hyrules royal family, were born from a union with gods who had descended from the heavens,” Zelda continues, “these murals tell a similar story, and if they are accurate, then the gods mentioned were the Zonai… they must have forged a relationship with the Hylians of that time, working together to establish the kingdom of Hyrule!”

The third mural fills you with a sense of dread. It shows an imposing, long-haired figure and the Hylian woman from the previous sculpture. The new figure is removing one of the objects from the woman and a red aura envelops the two. “This figure… he seems to be stealing something of incredible power from the young kingdom,” Zelda assesses, “this all aligns with what I’ve read during my studies.”

The princess runs to the next mural, even more excited to decipher them, “and then this- it shows the Demon King! And a fierce battle against him!” The sculpture depicts the same long-haired figure from before, though now he seems empowered. That same red aura seems to emanate from him, and on his side of the battlefield are hoards of monsters, some you recognize such as Bokoblins, and others that are foreign to you. Armed Hylian figures attempt to fight against this evil army, though it seems many would fall in battle.

“If the creature depicted here really does represent the Demon King, then… incredible! This mural must be the great war recorded in the royal histories! This is the Imprisoning War and the vents that led up to it!” the princess recites excitedly, turning to you with a large grin, “this is a huge discovery!”

Her passion is contagious and you can’t help but chuckle as she fumbles for the Purah Pad on her belt. You grasp onto the torch, allowing her to grab the tablet with both hands to take more photos for documentation. “Slow down there,” you smile, “this is still an investigation, not a trip for historical research.”

“I know, I know- still, you must admit that this is quite invigorating,” she retorts, lifting up the tablet. 

As she takes the pictures her attention is drawn to the rest of the wall. There appear to be more murals, though the rest are covered up by rubble and debris. Perhaps they could someday be uncovered, but it would require careful excavation. You wouldn’t want to risk damaging the sculptures by just throwing a bomb and seeing what would happen.

“It seems as though the rest of the murals are obscured,” Zelda notes, taking the torch back from you, “I wonder, just what is this place? Maybe we’ll find more answers farther ahead. Let’s keep moving deeper.”

She gestures to another doorway at the end of the chamber. You can’t help but notice the gloom grow noticeably thicker now, forming in clouds on the floor rather than thin wisps of mist. Though Zelda’s pure joy and passion for the history of the kingdom had distracted you momentarily, that anxiety quickly returned. All of your instincts were screaming at you not to continue further.

But you pressed on, nonetheless. 

The next stairwell you find yourselves in is even narrower than the last, the walls feeling as if they push in on you. As you march forward the gloom at your feet wafts through the air in waves. The air has changed from stale to musty, likely from all of the years of moisture being trapped so far down below. Zelda walks behind you, the light of her torch being the only thing that allows you to peer down the steep decline.

“This gloom keeps getting thicker,” the princess says as you continue to descend the steps, “I… don’t like the look of this. But we must find our answers.”

It takes everything within you not to turn tail and run. To grab Zelda’s arm and drag her out with you. To plead with her not to continue. The Master Sword on your back hums, as if it’s giving you a warning, as if trying to send you a message. You swear you can hear whispering in the air, like a symphony of minuscule voices. Whatever is lurking here should not be disturbed.

Yet you continue downward.

The tunnel seems to grow narrower and narrower, the amount of rubble and debris at your feet increasing the further down the stairs you go. Your chest feels tight as if the stone around you has begun to choke you. Finally, finally , you reach the bottom of the steps and find yourselves in a large open space once more.

But the sight you see shocks you.

An inconceivably large cavern is hidden beneath the castle. In the center is a rocky platform. And… something… or someone is laid in the middle of it. A bright swirl of colors rises from the center, a mix of blues and greens that seem to be attempting to fend off the red gloom. The gloom appears to be the strongest here, a thick ebbing cloud of it rolling off of the rock and stone.

“What the hell…” you gasp, eyes wide as you look around.

“What is this place?” Zelda asked, standing beside you at the edge of the cliff. She seems to hesitate before turning to look at you, “let’s continue… but we must be extremely careful.”

You nod your head despite all of your instincts telling you to run, “okay, let’s go.”

As a pair, you approach the rocky platform, curious to examine what lies in its center. “What is that?” the princess asks, cautiously approaching it. You stay close behind her, eyes quickly darting around the large chamber.

You only grow further confused when you see the center of the room. A mummified corpse lay suspended in midair, his skin grey and taught and stretched dry across his body. He appears to have been dressed in jewelry and adornments, although time has caused the gold to fade, but you assume he must have been someone of importance.

If the corpse wasn’t odd enough, the detached arm was even stranger. A glowing arm grasps onto the chest of the mummy, holding it up in the air. The swirling runes and lights above it stem from the arm itself. Though you don’t recognize its power, whatever it is appears to have been strong.

‘How long has this been down here,’ you wonder, wary to approach the mummy when you realize how thick the gloom has become.

Just as you get closer there’s a cracking noise and you flinch. The arm which had been gripped the corpse topples over, falling to the ground with a thud. Something bounces off of it- a gem, one which looks a bit like the objects that had been portrayed in the murals. It skids across the rocky floor before landing near Zelda’s feet.

Before you can say anything she leans down and cautiously picks up the stone. It emits light in her hand, which slowly begins to grow brighter and brighter. It’s almost bright enough to distract you from the sudden thump you hear-

The thump of a heartbeat.

You watch in horror as the mummified corpse begins to writhe and twitch, joints and muscles popping and twisting as he stretches his torso and arms. You gasp, repulsed by the sight and sounds. Just as you attempt to reach forward and grab the princess’ arm, the mummy suddenly slumps back, lifeless.

Your racing heart begins to calm down, but the peace doesn’t last long. The corpse’s neck and jaw twist and suddenly the aged face is staring you down, mouth agape. His eyes suddenly fill with color, glowing red pupils glaring back at you. You notice that on his forehead he has a stone similar to the one the princess holds in her hand.

Before either of you can move, gloom bursts out in the form of tendrils- one of which immediately targets Zelda. With a grunt you dash forward, using one arm to grab your sword and the other to push the princess behind you protectively. Just in time, you manage to parry the attack, pushing back the dark energy with your blade.

You successfully protect Zelda, however, you’re helpless as the gloom shoots toward you. It covers the blade of the Master Sword before crawling up your arm, soaking through your tunic and clinging to your skin. The entire right side of your body sings in pain and you hiss, feeling as if your skin has caught fire. Desperately you attempt to pull your arm back, but it feels as if all of your strength is being sapped from you as the gloom encroaches further upon your body.

On its own, the gloom seems to dissipate and you stare down at your arm in shock. It's as if the skin has been burnt to a crisp, blackened as singed at the edges of the wound. You consider yourself lucky that adrenaline is pumping through your veins, otherwise, you’d be feeling the full brunt of the pain right now.

The gloom seems to have stained the blade of your sword as well, red remnants sticking to the metal and the hilt. The tendril moves to strike once more and you react. Despite how terribly it hurts you swing your injured arm, attempting to parry once more.

There’s a shrill shattering sound and you watch in disbelief as the blade shatters on impact, shards flying in all directions.

Your breathing grows ragged as your eyes dart to the ground. You stare at the broken pieces of the blade before flicking your gaze back to the hilt of your sword. All that remains is a damaged sheet of metal, barely the length of a dagger.

The Master Sword. Your birthright, your destiny, the physical manifestation of your duty. The goddesses had chosen you to be the sword bearer, to protect the people of Hyrule. It was a sacred weapon cured with pure, light energy, bestowed upon you by the Deku Tree.

And it was broken. Your destiny was broken.

You do not have time to mourn, that will have to wait. You hear the princess call out your name as the corpse, this wretch before you, begins to move and speak of his own accord.

“Was that the sword that seals the darkness? A blade that shatters so easily against my power cannot save you from me,” he says, voice hoarse from all the years he seems to have been trapped down below. His body once again creaks and groans as he forces his torso upright, bright red eyes still staring you down.

“Zelda…” he hisses out, and you hear the princess gasp before he continues, “you, who carries that fragile sword are _____. Rauru placed his faith in you, and that was all you could do?”

‘Rauru?’ you think, still gripping onto your injured right arm. The adrenaline has slowly begun to fade, and with how much strength the gloom seemed to sap from you, it’s becoming difficult to stand on your own two legs.

“How do you… know our names?” Zelda asks nervously.

Rather than respond, this mysterious figure leans back. He puts his palms together and creates a large, swirling mass of dark energy. Your eyes widen, fearful he’s planning another attack. You have no weapon to even attempt to block once more, so instead you put your body between him and the princess. Should he attack, you’ll be the one to take the blow.

But he doesn’t. Instead, he pushes his arms upward. A pillar of gloom and mist is propelled, the force pressing against the ceiling of the cavern. You watch in shock as this man, this seemingly ancient corpse, uses an unfathomable amount of strength to push all of the rock upward. 

You can’t even begin to comprehend how this is possible, there must be hundreds- potentially thousands of tons of rock above you. How could he possibly be moving it all?

However, you don’t have the time to ponder these questions. The stone flooring of the platform you stand on begins to shift and shake dangerously. You barely manage to keep your footing as you watch the rock beneath the mummy crumble, falling down into the abyss below. The figure falls along with it, being consumed by the darkness of the chasm.

You crumble to your knees, chest tight with anxiety. Your vision has grown spotty, the burning pain on your right side overpowering all of your other senses. The princess calls out to you- but it’s a scream from her lips that grabs your attention

You’re unable to react in time. The ground has continued to break apart, this time forcing a rift between the two of you. Zelda screams as she falls back, eyes wide as she looks up at you with desperation. It takes every remaining shred of willpower within you to lunge forward, reaching out with your injured arm.

You both fall off the side, but the distance between you is too great. Your injuries are too grievous. Your body is too weak.

It’s as if time slows to a halt. You reach your arm out further, ignoring the symphony of agony this causes you. You feel your fingers barely graze her hand-

But you don’t catch her.

She continues to fall into the inky black darkness below. You call out her name, screaming , tearing your throat apart as you watch her fall farther and farther. A golden glow envelops her and within the blink of an eye… she’s gone.

You begin to hyperventilate, the stale air, dust, and debris filling your lungs painfully. Your eyes sting as the tears well forward. But your whole body is jolted to a stop when something grabs your left arm, catching you in mid-air.

When you look up you realize it’s the disembodied arm from before. It glows a gentle-blue green as it wraps its hand around your wrist, lifting you with ease. Your brow furrows as you look up in confusion.

You’re too exhausted to question what’s happening. The pain is too overwhelming. All of your adrenaline has been used up as your eyes roll back and fatigue washes over you.

Everything fades to black.

Prince Sidon paces back and forth, a nervous expression etched onto his features. He walks along the length of the throne room, and on his back is the Lightscale Trident which his father had recently gifted to him. Though Dorephan would not say it, Sidon knew that this was a peace offering after the prince had been forced to go through with the royal engagement.

An engagement that was now completely thrown off course.

It had been days since the Upheaval, days since mysterious rocks and debris had begun to fall from the sky. While the palace of Zora’s Domain had been spared, the roads, waterways, and highlands surrounding it were not so lucky.

Sidon’s now-fiance, Lady Yona, had arrived on the first day of the disaster, along with two of her ladies-in-waiting named Khira and Chroma.

It was a diplomatic disaster in the making. The prince couldn’t even begin to imagine the wrath they would have to endure from King Sola if he learned that his precious daughter was suddenly embroiled in a kingdom-wide catastrophe. Everyone within the domain was doing their part to ensure Yona was made comfortable.

For her part, Lady Yona seemed to be quite calm in spite of the circumstances. Ever cheerful and collected, even in such a terrible state of events she seemed to know the right words to say to help the prince keep his cool.

“Sidon, please do sit down,” she gently pleads with him, “the survey team will return soon, I’m sure of it.”

King Dorephan had instructed a team to survey the land and judge the damage that had been caused by the fallen debris. They had yet to return, causing everyone within the palace to suspect the damage was worse than they feared.

“It is not that,” the prince sighs, turning to face her, “well, I suppose it is a part of my concerns. I also worry about the other parts of Hyrule. There has been no response to the correspondence we sent to Lookout Landing.”

Yona smiles at him, softly patting his arm, “you’re worried about the Hylian knight, are you not?”

Sidon’s eyes widen slightly. The topic of his- the Hylian who had accompanied him for so long had become a taboo topic within the palace. Once Lady Yona had arrived in the domain it seemed as if all of the elder Zora, save for Muzu, seemed to want to ignore any mention of the Champion. 

“... perhaps,” he responds, his voice a whisper, “oh, I cannot lie. Yes, I am gravely concerned about her safety. With no word from the landing and no letter in response from Princess Zelda, it causes one’s mind to wonder.”

She looks up at him with concern, “I understand. Is there anything that can be done to soothe your nerves?”

The prince opens his mouth to respond but quickly shuts it. He knows what the answer to this question is. The only thing that would help to calm him would be to see you, to see you safe and healthy and happy.

Rather selfishly, he knew what would soothe him would be to hold you in his arms once more. To lovingly whisper your name, to call you his love, to kiss you sweetly. But he had forsaken his right to do so.

Sidon is quickly pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of approaching footsteps. At the entrance to the throne room, a group of Zora come running in, led by Captain Bazz. The dark grey Zora quickly locks eyes with the prince, a grim expression on his face.

“Well?” Sidon asks, quickly walking toward them, “what news do you have?”

Bazz hesitates momentarily before gesturing for a soldier behind him to hand something forward. Sidon quickly recognizes it as a newspaper. The captain unfolds the stack of papers, eyes skimming the page before he speaks again.

“It’s…” Bazz starts, voice somber, “about Zelda and _____…”

The prince feels his heart skip a beat at the mention of your name. “Go on,” he urges, “what has happened to them?”

It’s as if the room is silent enough to hear a pin drop. No one moves, no one even seems to want to breathe. The silence is only broken when the captain reads off of the front page.

“Princess Zelda and Hylian Champion: Missing ,” Bazz reads aloud, “soldiers in Lookout Landing report that shortly before the Upheaval, the princess and her knight had ventured beneath Hyrule Castle. They have not been seen since and as such have been reported as… missing .”

Sidon staggers backward, a shuddering gasp escaping his lips. The whole room has their eyes trained on him, looks of concern and worry. The prince feels Lady Yona gently place a hand on his back to support him.

She speaks his name, but there’s nothing more than a shrill ringing in his ears as he attempts to process this information. You are missing. You, who he gave his heart to, promised so much of himself to. You, who had once looked up at him with eyes full of adoration.

You were gone.

“Sidon?” someone asks, the words finally getting through to him.

“... I have to go,” he utters, pushing through the crowd and quickly bounding down the staircase. Several people call out to him but he ignores each and every one. He marches down the steps and into the plaza, where he’s swiftly stopped in his tracks by his own father.

“Son-” King Dorephan says, looking down at him, “what is the meaning of this.”

“Father, I must go,” he pleads, “I need to find her, please do not stop me-”

The prince is acutely aware of the attention he’s drawn. The eyes of guards, councilmen, and citizens alike are all staring at him.

The king falters, swayed by the desperation on his son’s face, “Sidon- I understand, but you are needed here.”

Sidon shakes his head, “I need to do this, I-”

Suddenly, the sky seems to darken. The prince halts in his tracks, going silent as he tilts his head up. To his horror, streams of an unknown substance begin to pour down from the mysterious islands in the sky. The citizens of the domain begin to panic as muddy sludge begins to infect the streams, large globules of it landing on the land with resounding thuds.

A monstrous roar rings out and the prince watches as the guards, along with his father, begin to arm themselves. His face is forlorn as he takes in a deep breath, grasping the Lightscale Trident in his hands He locks eyes with Yona, who looks down at him from the railing above.

“My lady, please, find shelter!” he calls out to her.

She shakes her head in response, “no, I will do all I can to help this domain. Let me aid you, Prince Sidon!”

As the prince watches disaster unfold around him, a deep sadness settles in his heart. He is bound to his duty, to his people, to his role. 

He cannot leave Zora’s Domain. He cannot look for you.

Chapter Text

Drip. Drip. Drip.

You stare at the cold stone floor you were sat on as you attempt to get a hold of your surroundings.

A new place. The room you had awoken in felt ancient. Large roots had burrowed their way through the ground and walls, small twigs and plants peeking out in the cracks of the floor. The air was chilly, and it didn’t help that you were only dressed in undergarments and rags. A quick glance around the room tells you that there is only one exit, a doorway on the wall ahead of you which has overgrown vines hanging in front of it.

A new voice. Something, or you suppose someone , disembodied had spoken to you. Whoever it was, they had known your name, speaking to you once you woke up. They even mentioned Zelda, which had caused your ears to perk up. They explained that despite the severity of your wounds, you were able to escape with your life. However, part of your body had been so critically damaged that it had to be replaced.

A new arm. It was an immediate shock when you woke up, your body immediately recoiling from the unfamiliar sensation. Your right arm was changed, from the fingertips up to the span of your shoulder. It was charcoal in color, a thin layer of fur that felt somewhat rough when you touched it. Rather than fingernails your right hand now had something a little more akin to pointed claws. Along with the arm came a series of banded jewelry that wrapped around your arm and small rings on each of your fingers.

You told yourself it was better than having to get an amputation. Just remembering the feeling of the gloom creeping up along your side sent chills through your body. But the feeling of a replaced limb was odd and jarring. You slowly moved each finger, examining them, as if your brain was trying to rewire itself to the new ligaments, joints, and nerves. 

You knew that you were upset. But you couldn’t waste time by trying to figure out your new limb. You had to figure out where you were, and most importantly, you needed to figure out what had happened to Zelda.

It is only when you stand and face the room’s exit that something shimmers, catching your eye.

Slowly you walk toward the object. It’s something metal and reflective that has been embedded into one of the roots. The end of it is blue, like the hilt of a sword, and-

A shuddering gasp racks through your throat, and you clap your hand over your mouth (though you recoil at the odd texture of the fur).

The Master Sword.

Your hand trembles as you reach out to grasp it. Your right hand, still foreign to you, wraps around the hilt and you gently pull it out of the root. While the sword’s handle seems mostly intact, it is the blade that has suffered the most from the gloom attack. The majority of the sword’s length has been shattered, and what remains is rusted and decayed. With your left hand, you trace your fingers over the emblem of the Triforce, the symbol of the goddesses, which has luckily been left untouched.

A tear rolls down your cheek. Then a second. You sob as you cradle the sword in your hands. Your life’s purpose had been destroyed, and you were not sure if there was anything you could do to fix it.

“Maybe- maybe if I speak to the Deku Tree,” you whisper as you cry, “or- or I could visit the goddess statues in the springs-”

If Zelda were here she could tell you what to do. Surely there would be something in her studies, something in the literature of the castle which could help. But she wasn’t here. You had lost her. 

She was gone.

Zelda had fallen into the cavern beneath the castle. Or at least you think she did, but as she was falling she was covered in a golden glow. But the fall had been caused by that mysterious mummy lifting the rock.

The mummy…

You had no idea what or who he was. You knew not of his goals or intentions. You were not even sure how long he had been below the castle, trapped beneath layers of dark tunnels and stone and earth.

One thing was for certain. All of this was his fault. The gloom, the sickness, your arm, your sword, your best friend. It was all his doing.

The longing sadness in your heart quickly morphed into something else. Your eyes narrowed as you stood up straight, wiping the tears from your face. You stretched out your right arm, feeling the weight of the damaged sword. You could feel your heart begin to pump in your chest as your nerves flared, a fiery new emotion running through your body, energizing every limb.

Anger.

No, it was so much more than anger. You felt rage. You felt wrath. Most importantly, you sought revenge. Revenge against this mysterious man who had taken everything from you.

You move through the strange building with purpose. As you attempt to find an exit you come across sculptures with runic text inscribed on them, almost identical to the ruins you’d found beneath the castle. Zonai ruins. You discover an odd piece of ancient technology that reacts to your new right arm. When you hold your palm up to the platform it activates a set of cogs that open a new doorway for you.

Eventually, after a short hike, swim, and climb (where you notice you feel significantly weaker than before, a side effect of being attacked by gloom), you find your way out. Sunlight greets you at the end of a long tunnel and it almost brings a smile to your face. Your feet carry you to the end.

You were not sure how long you had been asleep for, but based on the soreness of your muscles when you awoke it must have been an entire day at the very least. You couldn’t wait to stand in the sun again, tired of being stuck in caves and caverns. Your body sought the fresh air, you wanted to stand in the fields of Hyrule and take in a deep breathe, stretch out your arms, and-

At the end of the hallway, you skid to a halt. Your wide eyes scan your surroundings, unable to believe what you are seeing. The wind blew past you, chilling your skin and making you shake as you looked down-

You were in the sky.

Thousands of feet above the ground, standing on the edge of a skinny little platform that somehow, miraculously, was floating. It took everything in you to remain calm and not start hyperventilating or panicking. Though there was a thick layer of clouds preventing you from seeing the land below, there were a few sites you could recognize. The peak of Death Mountain, the range of Hebra Mountain, and the span of the Gerudo Desert.

This wasn’t the only island in the sky either. As you spun around there were a plethora of other floating archipelagos scattered across Hyrule. All of them are odd shapes and various sizes.

‘Where did all of this come from? How long was I asleep?’

Two weeks.

It had now been two weeks since the Upheaval. Zora’s Domain had been in disarray since, and this disaster with the endless sludge rain had only made matters worse. Not only had all the rivers and waterways become infected, but on the first day the sludge appeared a monster had come with it. King Dorephan himself fought the beast off but had become grievously injured.

With the king unable to rule as he healed, it was Prince Sidon who had to take the lead. The prince had been working tirelessly ever since to ensure his people were fed and safe. The primary problem they faced is that the sludge seemed to be toxic to Zora, meaning the infected waterways were inaccessible to them. An infection of the scales could easily be healed by the nurses in the palace, but if the sludge was stuck in someone’s gills or ingested it could lead to permanent injuries- or worse.

After securing a reliable food source the next step was to find a solution for cleaning the water. Many things had been attempted, from using netting to pouring elixirs into the water, but nothing had been successful. That was until Prince Sidon recalled an ability that he had recently discovered he possessed.

Water manipulation. Like his sister and his mother before him, Sidon had the ability to will flowing water to follow his commands. He could direct it, shape it, and even use it as a shield or to enhance the strength of his weapon. Where Mipha had used this skill for acts of healing, the prince would be using it to clean the infected water.

With his ability to manipulate the liquid, he was able to pull the clean water out of the sludge and separate the two. Thus, after thorough planning and discussion, it was decided the prince would be stationed at the top of Ploymus Mountain. This mountain contained the water source from which the vast majority of waterways in the domain flowed. The recently constructed Mipha Court was atop the mountain as well, a beautifully carved fountain named after the prince’s beloved sister.

The plan had been a success thus far. With Sidon working diligently atop the mountain, the water that flowed between the peak and down into the palace’s lake below was clean and safe for Zora to traverse through. With the water being cleansed, nurses could focus on healing the affected citizens as the guards and council worked to find a solution to the overall problem.

Unfortunately, there was a negative side effect to all of this. Prince Sidon was exhausted. He had not had a full night’s rest ever since the sludge had begun to fall. The only rest he allowed himself was in incredibly short bursts, perhaps an hour at most before he would immediately return to his task. Along with the lack of his sleep, he was barely eating, deciding it more important to continue cleansing the water.

The symptoms of the strain he was putting his body through were obvious. He would frequently feel hunger pains, lose his balance, and feel faint. His arms were sore from having to constantly hold them out to manipulate the water. He had no doubt that visibly he must have looked exhausted as well.

In his mind, he was sure that this would all be worth it. This was his duty, his responsibility, by birth he was sworn to this. He could not ask anyone else to perform this task, it would fill him with too much guilt. Lady Yona had already offered multiple times to assist in cleansing the waters. He had told her no as well, even after quite a bit of insistence on her part.

His father was sick, and according to Muzu, he was making no progress in healing. His darli- the Hylian knight was missing, and even after two weeks there were no advancements in the search for her. At this point, if anyone else he knew were put in harm's way or lost to him he feared the pain it would cause in his heart.

“Prince Sidon!” a voice calls out.

Sidon jolts, pulled away from his thoughts. It was midday, judging by the sun’s position in the sky, and for the first time in what felt like hours, he moved his gaze away from the infested water he had been cleansing. He tilts his head and glances back, greeted by a familiar face.

“Bazz,” the prince greets him, though his voice is slightly hoarse, “my friend, how are you? Have you any news?”

“I’m well, although I should be the one asking you that question,” the captain retorts, “you look… tired. Have you eaten today?”

The prince shakes his head, “no, I’m far too focused on my task. Besides, I fear if I do attempt to eat I will not be able to stomach it.”

“I thought as much,” Bazz responds, “which is why I brought you this.”

The grey Zora holds a hand out toward the prince. When Sidon looks down he realizes that Bazz holds a bottle, the liquid that swirls within it is a deep magenta hue. A hearty elixir.

“Thank you, but I must focus on-”

Bazz quickly interrupts, “no one will be upset if you stop for just a moment. Please , prince. You’re going to harm yourself if you continue at this pace.”

Sidon hesitates, his gaze returning to the water he stood in. He had his duty, but even he knew his limits. His body was pleading with him, showing all the signs of depleted energy. With a sigh he lowers his hands, the blue glow in his palms fading away.

He takes the bottle and uncorks it. For just a moment he observes the drink, watching it swirl and shimmer in the sunlight. Then he tilts his head back and greedily drinks the whole of it, while it may not have tasted stellar it went down his throat with ease. Almost immediately he could feel the effects of the medicine, the soreness of the muscles in his arms dissipated and the cloudiness of his fatigued mind cleared up.

As Bazz takes the bottle back he says, “sit, for just a minute, I can’t imagine how long you’ve been standing here.”

The prince accepts the invitation, though it’s not as if he needs permission to do so- just some gentle persuasion. Even better than sitting, he chooses to lay down in the fountain. The cool, clean water washes over him, refreshing his scales and soothing his nerves. He takes a moment to breathe in deeply, eyes looking up at all of the mysterious floating islands in the sky.

“Now,” Sidon says, glancing toward the captain, “is there any news?”

Bazz nods, “some Zora who feel unsafe within the domain have been attempting to find passageways to go west of the Lanaryu region. They hope to seek refuge in Lookout Landing if the conditions there are faring better than ours here. However, the rivers have sludge-infested water, and many of the land roads are blocked off as well. This means some have chosen to go north, using the waterfalls to travel to Akkala.”

Sidon mulls over this, “it is sad to know our citizens are choosing to leave, but, if there are safer places to shelter elsewhere I do not blame them for choosing to do so. Hopefully, once we have this disaster solved, they can all return home. How about my father, how is he faring?”

The captain grimaces, “not well, based on the brief conversation I had with Muzu.”

“I see,” the prince replies with a frown, “I can only hope our healers find a solution to this sludge poison soon. And…”

His voice trails off. He knows what he wants to ask, but he fears the answer he will be told.

“Prince…?” Bazz replies expectantly.

“Princess Zelda and her knight,” Sidon continues, a tinge of hopefulness in his words, “is there any news of them? Any word from Purah in the landing?”

A small glance downward from Bazz is the only sign Sidon needs to know. “... there’s nothing, is there?” the prince sighs, voice faltering, “I am not sure how many more times I can handle being told that.”

The prince feels a hand on his shoulder, an attempt from his friend to comfort him.

“Do you think… do you think I’ve made the wrong choice, Bazz?” he asks, staring down at his hands.

“If I can be frank, I really don’t think you made the choice at all,” the captain responds, “from the outside looking in, it very much felt forced upon you.”

“But in the end, it was still my decision… I said yes to the engagement. And it has pushed _____ away from me. Perhaps if I hadn’t said yes, perhaps if I had been with her then she wouldn’t have-”

Bazz quickly cuts him off, “you cannot possibly be blaming yourself for her disappearance. No one knows what has caused them to go missing. Don’t be so absurd-”

“I know it’s not true-” the prince groans, “I know this- and yet my heart aches so painfully as if it were my doing. As if this were my fault. All I can do until she is found is pray that wherever she is, she is safe.”

“I am sure she is,” Bazz replies, “she’s a capable fighter. Whatever is happening, she’s likely the most well-equipped in the whole kingdom to handle it.”

Sidon sighs, standing up and putting his arms out once more. Effortlessly he is able to bring the blue glow back to his palms, the water before him reacting to his power. It was time to return to his duties.

“I truly hope so,” he whispers to himself, “with all I have, I hope she is safe.”

‘I really hope this works.’

You stare up at the doors before you. Tall, wide, with dragons carved into them. Carvings you had become all too familiar with during your three days on the Great Sky Island. You had attempted to open the doors before, but you lacked the strength. The encounter with the mummy and the gloom had weakened you significantly more than you thought.

The Great Sky Island had been an enigma to you. A giant mass of land floating high in the sky above Hyrule. You were joined by the spirit of Rauru, who identified himself as the source of your new right arm. He had saved you after the attack beneath Hyrule Castle. Rauru, you quickly realized, was a Zonai, bearing an uncanny resemblance to the statues you and Zelda had come across.

You’d spent your time roaming the land and fulfilling new shrines. They reminded you of the Sheikah Shrines, but Rauru explained that these were far older. It was likely that the Zonai from ages ago had inspired the technology of the Sheikah. 

Completing four of these shrines had given you four new abilities, which you had to use your new arm to access. Ultrahand, which allowed you a telekinetic ability to lift and move objects into the air, as well as bind them together. Fuse, which allowed you to attach a wide variety of objects to your weapons, shields, and even arrow tips. Ascend, which gave you the rather freaky ability to jump up and push your body through solid objects so long as there was a flat platform for you to stand on at the very top. And finally, Recall, which allows you to target an object and send it back in time.

Recall was the oddest ability. You had not received in a shrine, but rather, at the Temple of Time. In the temple, you were met by a shimmering vision of Princess Zelda. You had run toward her excitedly, only to realize it was a mere mirage. But the vision had held its hand out and bestowed this time ability upon you.

You had also spent your time being educated by Rauru on various matters of the Zonai. He introduced you to constructs, ancient robotic creatures crafted by the Zonai to fulfill various tasks. The constructs taught you about your new battery cells, which would allow you access to Zonai Devices. There were many times during your journey across the floating islands that you would find Rauru lost in thought, and contemplating. Though you weren’t sure exactly who he was, it was clear he seemed to harbor regret in his heart. Many of his words seemed to mourn the loss of his people and civilization.

Now here you were, in front of a set of doors that acted as a barrier to the outside world. You had prayed to the goddess statue after completing the four shrines, and it felt as if a weight was lifted off of your shoulders when you had. Rauru had told you that with every Shrine of Light you completed, it would help you combat the gloom that your body had been tarnished by.

You take in a deep breath before you press your palms to the door and shove. Your right arm begins to glow a bright green, and this same light begins to flow through the runes on the door. Though it saps your strength you continue to push harder, heart pounding as you watch the light swirl and rise up through the dragon carving.

Just when you think you’ve reached your limit, there’s an audible click. You press forward, your feet carrying you as the doors finally begin to move as well. Dust and debris fall from the ceiling, signifying how much time has passed since this entryway was last used. You’re greeted by the beginning of today’s sunrise, thin wisps of an orange glow starting to appear on the horizon.

You feel a presence and glance to the side, unsurprised when you see the figure of Rauru’s spirit standing alongside you once more.

“Ah, good,” he smiles, nodding his head at you, “I see you have managed to open the door. You haven’t fully recovered yet, but that’s to be expected- you were almost beyond saving… by visiting the shrines and receiving their blessing, you have mitigated some of the corruption’s effects”

You glance down at your right arm. When you look up at Rauru, even in the form of a spirit his arm is a ghostly match to your own. You were able to put two and two together and realize that he was what was keeping the mummified man trapped deep below the castle. It gives you pause, wondering just what exactly this man must have sacrificed for powers such as these.

When you look back up you find that he gazes down at you with a gentle smile, “though our time together has been brief, I am so happy that we finally met… you are exactly as Zelda said. I’ve done everything I can for her. Now it is up to you.”

There are so many questions you have for him, so much you need to know. How could he possibly have known Zelda? He speaks of her with a fondness that only close familiarity could bring. How was she able to tell him about you? How had he given you his arm? Who was the being beneath the castle?

Just as you open your mouth to speak, he says one final thing to you.

“Brave Hylian,” he says, looking toward the rising sun, “I have no doubts in you. But I notice that your heart and soul are filled with rage. While I do not blame you for this, please take one final word of advice from me.”

His spirit is fading quickly, and you panic as you reach a hand out towards him.

“Do not act on your own, no matter how angry you become, no matter how greatly you seek revenge against your foe,” he says. Though he is calm, you pick up on the seriousness of his tone, “you have allies, you must seek out their aid. Look to your friends. You are not alone, _____.”

He fades away far too quickly, you barely even have the chance to utter a goodbye. You breathe in deeply, eyes stuck staring at the spot where the Zonai spirit had once stood. With the back of your palm, you wipe your cheeks before turning your attention back to the road before you.

It’s a floating pathway, though the stone is cracked and broken and uneven. You traverse it carefully, fearing the worst should you fall right off the edge. With no paraglider, you have had to be extremely careful with the heights you jump from. As you hop up and ascend through a rocky platform, you notice a glowing light at the end of the path.

You jog towards it, curious to examine it. There’s a lifted pedestal in the center of what looks like was once a pavilion. Atop the pedestal is a glowing, golden orb of light. Just as you bring your hand closer, a rune on the back of your palm begins to glow. Recall.

The golden light grows brighter and at the same time, there’s a ringing in your ear. You gasp. The Master Sword was responding, for the first time since you’d awoken. You quickly grasp the hilt and look, and though the blade is damaged it still attempts to shimmer with blue light.

When you hold up the sword it gently hums, as though it’s reacted to the golden orb. As if it’s trying to tell you something.

“You want… to go into the light?” you ask, cradling it gently.

The blue light of the sword, though dim, attempts to flash brighter.

Cautiously you hold out the sword. The golden orb takes it, and you watch with wide eyes as the Master Sword is lifted into the air. There’s a click, the sound of Recall being activated, and in an instant, the glow disappears.

Along with the Master Sword.

You choke, reaching out, but all you grasp is empty air. It had taken your sword from you. You quickly calm yourself down, the golden glow didn’t seem malevolent, and your sword had responded positively to its presence.

This must have been a good thing. Surely . Though it pained you to be without your trusted blade, you had to convince yourself it was what was for the best.

The ground beneath your feet rumbles, and just for a moment you recall how it had felt beneath the castle. When the ground shook and forced you and the princess apart. Luckily nothing nearly as drastic happens here, as you quickly realize the source of the sound.

A dragon bursts through the layer of cloud, a piercing roar leaving its mouth as it flies higher into the sky. You recognize the dragon, though it’s not one of the three which you’ve seen from the ground. This one had been flying around the Great Sky Island for the last few days. 

At first, you thought it might’ve been Farosh, the protector of the Spring of Courage. But you soon realized this wasn’t the case. This dragon had a beautiful, golden mane of hair that flowed along its head and back. Along its spine were a series of turquoise crystal-like spikes, which reminded you somewhat of luminous stones.

“Gorgeous,” you murmured, watching in amazement as it soared higher and higher.

Beneath you the thick cloud cover dissipates, finally granting you access to see the land below. A relieved sigh escapes you once your gaze lands on Lookout Landing. At the same time, you’re unable to stop your eyes as they flick toward the East in search of Zora’s Domain.

Due to the distance, it’s far too hazy to make out the details. But there’s a pounding in your heart when your eyes settle on the Lanaryu region, gaze trailing over the shape of Ploymus Mountain and the surrounding highlands.

You force yourself to tear your eyes away. Looking directly below the platform you stood, thousands of feet below was a large lake. Large enough to catch your fall with no problem. You’d jumped from great heights before, but nothing this daunting. You take a step back and breathe in, soothing your nerves.

“I need to find Zelda,” you say to yourself, “this is the first step.”

You count the beat of your heart. One, then two, then three. There was no time like the present.

You leap over the edge.

Chapter Text

The cool water of the lake caught your body. You find yourself submerged, eyes stinging as you look at the surface above you. The water bent the light of the rising sun, causing it to bounce and move across the floor of the lake. You use your legs to push off of the gravel and force yourself upward, taking in a breath of air once you swim up.

You manage to drag yourself to the water’s edge, practically crawling onto land where you then fall back and collapse onto the ground. Your chest rises and falls quickly, the adrenaline of jumping from such great height slowly fading. The grass tickles your skin as you stare up. The Great Sky Island is distant now, a hazy silhouette far above you. It was still a tad difficult for you to comprehend that you had been all the way up there, and now you were back on the solid ground of Hyrule.

Unfortunately, with the adrenaline being sapped from your veins you suddenly found yourself feeling incredibly weak. It wasn’t only from the corruption of the gloom on your body, it was also from the fact that your rest had been minimal these last three days. It wasn’t easy to sleep when all you had was a tiny campfire, the rags on your back, and the cold air. Beyond that, you hadn’t eaten much either, save for the apples and mushrooms you’d been able to roast over the open flame.

Your arms shake as you attempt to push yourself up off the ground. You stumble to your feet and reassess your surroundings. It was easy to spot Lookout Landing, the tower which was attached to the fortress stood proudly on the horizon. It was impossible to miss.

Beyond that, however, was Hyrule Castle. You gasp as you look at it. The majority of the castle, as well as the ground it stood on, had been lifted up into the sky. Thick clouds of gloom poured out of the chasm beneath it. This must have been the result of the actions the mummified man had performed.

Your hands curl into fists as you glare at the structure. You wanted to find him and off him yourself. You wanted to make him regret everything he’s ever done and plans to do. You wanted to inflict pain upon him which was tenfold what you’d been made to endure.

But you knew you couldn’t. You didn’t have the strength. Nor was such vengefulness becoming of a trained knight, sworn to the princess and the goddess Hylia. Still, you couldn’t lie to yourself. The angry and spiteful thoughts lingered in the back of your mind, impulses that you knew better than to act upon.

With a heavy sigh, you begin to trudge through the fields of central Hyrule. Your resources were limited. All you wore was some old clothing you’d found while on the island, an odd robe and sash, and a pair of flimsy sandals. Your weapon was a rusted sword that you had used your new fuse ability to combine with the horn of a soldier construct. It wasn’t much, but it would be enough to fend off the few Bokoblins you came across during your trek.

Admittedly it felt rather humiliating that a battle with a simple red Bokoblin could take the wind out of your lungs.

It felt like a mercy as you approached the entrance to the fortress, the gate coming into your view. You were caked in mud, dirt, and some specks of your own blood since a few monsters had gotten the better of you with their own weapons. You desperately needed to rest. Two Hylian men stand guard at the moat- two of your trainees. Once they spot you they light up and come running toward you.

Drozer, a brunette, gasps loudly, “captain? It’s you! You’re back! Wh-where have you been?!”

The other soldier, a redhead named Burwar, seems shocked. “Last anyone saw of either you or Princess Zelda was when you went to investigate the gloom… and then the castle rose into the sky, and everyone’s been so worried about what happened to you both!” he exclaims, “Purah has nearly worn herself out trying to figure out where you two went. Please, report to her right away! She’ll want to know you’re alright.”

Breathless, you attempt to nod and say, “I will, thank you.”

You walk across the plaza of the fortress. It seems as though everyone’s eyes are immediately drawn to you. There are whispers and murmurings, some even go so far as to point at you- no, not you, at your new arm. Self-conciously you find yourself attempting to hide the limb, using your left hand to cover part of it.

Quickening your pace you walk up the stairs to the second floor of the landing. As you approach the laboratory you realize someone is standing outside of it- a young Shiekah girl. She turns and spots you, quickly perking up and bounding toward you. Her white hair bounces with every step she takes.

“That hair! Those eyes!” she exclaims, adjusting her glasses, “duh- duh- Doc! Doctor Purah! The knight! The knight has returned!”

There’s a sudden clatter inside of the lab, items seemingly toppling over and footsteps rushing across the wooden floor. The door is suddenly swung open and you’re greeted by a familiar sight. Purah huffs, having to adjust her goggles which had fallen askew. She examines you with wide eyes. 

“Okay, now where have you been? _____… you’re not a ghost, are you? Hey…” she trails off, her gaze trailing down to your right arm. Once again you find yourself feeling somewhat embarrassed by it, nervously flexing your fingers. Purah hums, “that looks interesting… alright, one step at a time. What exactly happened?”

You explain everything to her. Your expedition, the ruins beneath the castle, the murals, the mummified man, the gloom. Zelda falling into the chasm, you jumping after her, her disappearance, the arm that had caught you. How you awoke on the sky island, how you’d traveled across it and completed the shrines. Rauru, the constructs, the Zonai technology. The disappearance of the Master Sword and how you’d lept to return here.

She nods as she listens, and you can practically see the cogs turning in her mind as she processes all of the information. “The castle rising up… that must have been at the same time as the rest of the islands in the sky appearing,” she wonders aloud, “not to mention, all of this extra debris falling from the sky as well. Then… wait, wait a minute, you’re saying you came from up there?!”

Purah points to the Great Sky Island, far up in the distance, in obvious shock. You shrug your shoulders slightly and say, “yes, I know, I’m confused about it too.”

Her heel taps the ground as she continues, “this Rauru you met… I think that’s what the first king of Hyrule was named. Are they one and the same? So much of this doesn’t make sense- yet. But I’m certain that mummy you found under the castle must be related to the Upheaval. The castle, the ruins, the mummy must be connected to it somehow.”

“As for Princess Zelda…” she sighs, “you say that on the Great Sky Island there was a voice? Her voice? It compelled you to look for her?”

You nod your head sternly.

“That means… she must still be alive! Maybe she’s trapped beneath the castle and needs our help…” Purah theorizes, her eyes flicking up and meeting yours. There’s a look of sympathy on her face before she utters, “well, that settles it. I know you only just returned, but I need you to meet with the search party up by Hyrule Castle. They’ve been searching tirelessly for you two.”

“On it,” you respond almost immediately. Of course, you would do whatever it took to find the princess. There was no question about that.

“The captain in charge of the search is Hoz. We thought him to be one of the most qualified in your absence. Work with him to find the princess as quickly as you can,” Purah explains, “I know that mummy may still be lurking somewhere around there. Which is concerning, to say the least, but we have more immediate problems to deal with right now. I’m counting on you!”

You turn your attention back to the castle toward the north. There was an ache in your body and an uncomfortable twist in your stomach. Your body was craving rest and nutrients, you knew that. But you also needed to find Zelda. And if there was even the slimmest chance she was at the castle, then a nap and some food could wait.

Briefly, you step into the laboratory, rifling through the belongings you thankfully had left here. Though the small bed in the corner practically beckons you to lay in it, you force yourself to ignore it. You find something more suitable to wear, trousers and a tunic. Specifically, you select a tunic with longer sleeves, to thankfully cover up some of your right arm. You hated the attention it was drawing to you. You tug on a pair of boots but before you can walk out the door you catch your reflection in the mirror.

Pausing, you stop to stare at yourself. You look worse for wear, with dark bags beneath your eyes, and skin dry from having spent so much time at such a high altitude. Curiously you tug the collar of your tunic down and examine your collarbone and right shoulder. The skin where your new arm connects is patchy, the charcoal-colored fur melding awkwardly with your natural skin tone. With a sigh, you fix your shirt and look away.

‘I’ll worry about that later.’

After strapping your makeshift sword to your belt you leave the fortress. Marching north you walk through the ruins of Hyrule Castle Town, briefly pausing at a Shrine of Light to gain access to its travel point. You do not enter it to complete whatever the shrine puzzle is, though, there are more important matters to attend to. At the large gates that block the castle road, you hesitate.

You did not want to admit it, but the thought of venturing into the castle- or beneath it- once more made you feel nauseous. You would do it, of course, if it meant finding Zelda. But you couldn’t ignore the pit of anxiety in your stomach. After what had happened with the mummified man, you never wanted to be trapped so far underground ever again.

With a roll of your shoulders, you lift your right arm and call upon the Ultrahand ability. The arm glows as power surges through your veins. You’re able to latch onto one of the massive gate doors and you wrench your arm back. In turn, the door swings open for you, a feat you would never have been able to accomplish with the strength of a single Hylian.

Standing guard is another soldier you recognized, a blond named Raseno. As you begin to walk he stands up straight, shoulders squared and spear help defensively. “Hey!” he shouts, “this area is off-limits while we conduct our search for Princess Zelda and Captain _____. You can’t just come wandering in here like that-”

The man pauses, eyes going wide as he finally takes a moment to look at you and register your features. You raise a brow at him, folding your arms over your chest.

“C-captain? It’s you?!” he exclaims, “I’m sorry! I had no idea that you had returned! Wait… if you’re back, then does that mean we don’t need the search party anymore? You should go talk to Hoz- he’s leading the search efforts here from the first gatehouse up ahead. It’s at the very end of this road.”

You nod before you continue your trek up the road. Gloom seeps from the ground in thin wisps that you kick away as you walk. You pass by more soldiers, all of whom seem to be keeping the various entrances and exits of the lower levels of the castle blocked off. The rest of Hyrule Castle, however, looms high above you, the land mass casting a shadow from its new placement in the sky.

Finally, you reach the gatehouse. You walk inside it and find a small camp set up within its walls, with various tents and supplies scattered about. Within it, you find some more Hylians, though these you do not recognize. They’ve dressed themselves in makeshift armor and armed themselves with random weaponry, but these were not any of your trainees. They explained that they had heard of the princess’s disappearance and had volunteered themselves to aid in the search efforts. You commended them for their bravery.

One of the men stands in the corner and seems to be assessing some swords. You walk over curiously and ask what he is doing. The Hylian introduces himself as Purpen before turning his attention back to the weapons, “these ones are decayed as well. During the Upheaval, all the weapons- swords, spears, claymores, you name it- suddenly decayed.”

He continues to explain, “I’ve explored many regions in search of weapons that might still be intact. I found none. At this point, I’d be surprised if there were any intact weapons left in Hyrule. They’re also a real pain to repair, so the best thing to do is strengthen them.”

You walk to the rack of weapons and grab a sword, balancing the hilt in your hands as you examine it. The metal of the blade was stained with blemishes. You recognized it immediately, it was the same way the Master Sword had been tarnished during your encounter beneath the castle. It seemed that once the Upheaval had begun, this gloom had spread across the land and caused all of the weaponry to decay at the same time.

After a brief discussion with the men, you make your way to the top of the gatehouse, using Ascend to jump straight through the bricks of the building. It’s here that you find Hoz, who’s donned a soldier’s helmet now that he’s taken up the role of leading the search party. You can’t help but smile at seeing another familiar face.

You clear your throat as you approach him and the man shakes his head. Similarly to Raseno, he speaks before looking at you. “Sorry, but I’m in the middle of something…” he trails off before his green eyes finally meet yours, “... huh? _____? Is that you? You’re alive! And all in one piece, it looks like.”

‘Yeah, all in one piece,’ you think, casually tugging on the right sleeve of your tunic.

“Does that mean Princess Zelda is safe too? What a relief-” he begins to celebrate, but you quickly cut him off.

“No- she’s not, unfortunately,” you sigh, gaze downcast, “I traveled here on my own. We got separated during our investigation, but now I’m searching for her as well.”

Hoz nods, “I see… well, maybe I don’t, I am a little confused. But that doesn’t matter right now. What matters is continuing our search for Princess Zelda. I am relieved to see you come up here and help us out though. We needed some good news. The sheer amount of gloom has gotten overwhelming. Our work carries on, but we’ve been a bit dead in the water.”

Suddenly there’s a gasp. Another soldier of yours waves his arms before pointing and yelling, “c-captain! It’s Princess Zelda!”

You each whip your heads in the same direction. Squinting, you peer into the distance, following the arm of the soldier. Your gaze lands upon a broken part of the castle’s walls, a figure standing atop the crumbling stone. The figure looks almost exactly like Zelda, aside from the clothing- she wore a dress you had never seen the princess in before. But aside from that, it was her , you couldn’t have mistaken it for anyone else. Your heart soared.

“Princess Zelda! She’s safe!” Hoz cheers beside you.

The princess turns her head skyward, looking above her and spreading her arms out. Your look of excitement fades to one of concern and confusion as you watch her slowly begin to float into the air. Her body is surrounded by a golden light, not too dissimilar to what you had witnessed in the cavern beneath the castle. Before any of you can react she disappears in a flash, particles of golden light floating higher up into the sky.

“... oh,” you mutter, staring at the spot where the princess had once stood.

None of this made any sense.

Hoz sighs beside you, “wait… what… you saw that too, right captain? You saw Princess Zelda turn into light and… just… fly off? How strange… this… this is an emergency situation! Why would she leave without saying a word to us… We need to let Purah know about this as soon as possible! Considering what we just witnessed, I think it makes sense for us to withdraw, but it will take a bit. Please, you must tell Doctor Purah about what happened here as soon as possible.”

As the soldier had been speaking to you, you had begun to rock back and forth on your legs. You had already been exhausted during your entire trek up to the castle and the gatehouse, and it seemed that the fatigue had finally caught up to you. You blinked rapidly, vision darkening as you wobbled momentarily. Just as you began to fall forward, Hoz quickly moved to catch you before your head could make contact with the ground.

“Captain? Captain!” Hoz asked with concern, helping you sit down. He snapped his fingers in front of your face, shaking you out of your daze.

“Sorry… sorry, just-” you mumbled, struggling to keep your head up, “I’m… really tired. I can get back to Lookout Landing. I have, uh, a teleport.”

You sleepily tap the Purah Pad which you had hooked onto your belt.

“Are you sure you can make it back on your own?” Hoz replies, kneeling in front of you.

You manage to give him a shaky thumbs-up. Though he doesn’t seem to be fully confident in that response, he relents. You take the Purah Pad and idly tap a few buttons. You pull up the map and hover over the shrine in the castle town ruins. You knew it was smart to get access to it.

Once you tap the icon your body is filled with a familiar feeling. Blue light envelops you and you quickly start to feel lighter than air. Your form is whisked away and before you know it you’re standing atop the sandy entrance to the Shrine of Light.

On auto-pilot, your feet carry you back to the landing. Your entire body ached, all your muscles begging you to lay down and sleep. But you had a job to do, and you were stubborn, and you would not rest until you figured out whatever the hell was going on here in Hyrule. Because now it seemed to be so much more than just the princess’ disappearance. There were many pieces to this, like one giant puzzle, and you would be damned if you weren’t able to solve this.

The sun has begun to set as you push open the doors to the fortress's northern entrance with sore arms. You trudge up the stairs to the second level. Purah and Josha both turn to face you, clearly expecting new information from the search party. 

As you open your mouth to speak you’re suddenly overcome by another heavy wave of exhaustion. You stumble forward. The last thing you hear as you collapse is gasping and a cry for help. Then the drowsiness overwhelms you, and everything goes blank.

There’s a hand atop your head, gently brushing down the side of your cheek. Your eyes slowly flutter open, and you glance around. You sharply inhale as you wake from your slumber, the scent of dust and stone filling your nose. When you raise your head your eyes make contact with a pair of golden yellow ones.

“S-Sidon?” you sputter, the confusion evident in your voice. Where were you? How had you both gotten here?

The Zora prince smiles at you, his hand caressing the side of your face. It’s embarrassing how you immediately lean into his touch. “Did you rest well? We should continue on our venture,” he murmurs before standing up straight.

“Venture…?” you repeat. You mimic his movements and stand as well. As you look around you realize that you’re surrounded by rock- you’re underground.

“Yes, our journey to find the princess,” Sidon responds, as if it’s obvious, “don’t tell me that you’ve forgotten, little one.”

You shake your head, “no, no I just… I don’t understand… how did we… when did we?”

You had just been in Lookout Landing. How were you beneath the castle? And when had Sidon joined you?

“So many questions, dearest” he chuckles, patting your head, “you must still be tired. But we must continue. Now, where is your sword? I feel we may need it the farther we travel.”

“My… sword…” you mumble, reaching behind you. However, your hand grasps at empty air. There is no sword on your back. When you pull your arm back and stare at your empty palm you’re shocked to see normal skin- not the fur of your replaced arm. “The Master Sword,” you mutter, “I… I lost it.”

“Lost it? You lost the darkness-sealing sword?” the prince repeats, and you feel a deep sense of shame at the incredulous expression he gives you. With a sigh, he continues, “no matter. We shall find another way to search for the princess.”

You allow him to guide you through the cave. Marching through tunnels and rooms which felt as if they should have been a familiar, but there was a haze. Not all of the details were fully there. As if there were gaps that needed to be filled in. Even when you looked up toward Sidon it seemed as if he was hazy as well. Not all there.

Your eyes stayed glued to the prince as you walked behind him, trying not to stumble over the uneven ground. Even in the dim light of the cave, his bright red scales stood out. Part of you was tempted to reach out to him, to hold his hand or grasp his arm. He was so close and yet he felt so far away.

“Sidon…” you whisper, voice shaky, “I’m confused. Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be in Zora’s Domain… with your people… with your… fiance.” Your heart aches as you utter the last word.

The Zora tilts his head, peering over his shoulder at you, “would you rather I have stayed behind? I would have thought you would have preferred me to be here?”

“No! No, I just-” you quickly respond, “I don’t know. I don’t know what I want. I thought… I honestly wasn’t sure that I would see you again… after what I said, I…”

You trail off, your hand hovering just inches away from him. You desperately longed for him. To hold him, to talk to him, to be with him again. It wasn’t your choice to make, and you had told him to fulfill his duties to his people. Yet here you were, foolishly and selfishly wanting him once more.

The prince pauses and you quickly retract your hand. He turns to look down at you, his eyes flickering across your figure. “Dearest,” he murmurs, slowly approaching you, “my sweet Hylian, I-”

He gets cut off and a rush of air whips past you. The smell in the cavern suddenly turns foul, and you barely have time to meet the prince’s eyes again when he suddenly chokes, lurching forward. You watch in horror as a cloud of gloom bursts forth from his chest, it burns his body the same way it had burned your arm.

“Sidon!” you scream, reaching out to him. His eyes are wide with fear, and just as your fingers graze against his hand he disappears in a flash. You’re left alone in the cave, with no light and no weapon.

The cloud of gloom only grows bigger, wrapping around you with a vice. Your chest rises and falls quickly and you feel the smoke wrap around your throat. As you choke and gasp for ear there’s a thundering laughter that fills the cavern and causes the walls to shake. A haunting voice that mocks you, as the ground begins to crumble, and your lungs start to squeeze, and-

You wake up with a start, shaking as a cold chill runs down your back. You’re hyperventilating, heart drumming against your ribs, fingers gripping the blankets that covered you. Blankets? You look around in confusion, assessing your surroundings. You were in the laboratory of Lookout Landing.

Think. How had you gotten here? You went to the castle, you spoke with the search party, you saw Zelda, you’d meant to speak with Purah. And then you’d passed out from exhaustion. Purah must have brought you inside.

You drag a hand down your face once your heart calms down. ‘How embarrassing,’ you chastise yourself.

At the very least you did feel more energized. You’d needed the sleep, even if you’d only achieved it in a very roundabout way. You’re sure your body was grateful for the revitalization. You slide off of the mattress and move across the room, redressing yourself in a new tunic. Just as you find the mirror to look at yourself, the door swings open.

“Oh! Thank goodness you’re awake,” Purah beams as she walks inside. She quickly rushes over to you, her heels clicking against the floor. She fusses over you, brushing dust off of your shoulders and grabbing your chin to look at your face as she says, “we were all so worried! If I’d known how tired you were I wouldn’t have sent you to the castle so soon, and-”

You cut off her rambling with a smile, grabbing her shoulders to soothe her. “Purah, I’m alright,” you say with a smile, “but thank you for taking care of me. How long was I asleep?”

“Ah, not too long,” she answers, letting go of you in turn, “about half a day. It’s morning now if you look outside.”

“I see,” you mumble. Although, now that you’ve asked that question, it makes you remember that there was another piece of critical information you hadn’t discussed yet. “Purah… how long has it been since Zelda and I went beneath the castle?”

‘How long was I missing? How long was I stuck on the sky island?’

You can see the hesitation in the scientist before she answers. Her eyes flicker away from you and her grin drops momentarily. “It’s… it’s been about two and a half weeks,” she answers, “as far as I know, the entire kingdom is aware of your disappearance. The news had time to spread.”

A shaky breath escapes you as you nod, covering your mouth with your hand and looking down toward the ground. The entirety of Hyrule knew. You assume it was the newspaper that had informed everyone. Your mind wanders to a certain Zora. How had Sidon reacted to the news, you wonder. Concern? Disinterest?

There’s a twist in your stomach and you grimace. Hunger pains. Purah seems to sense this and she perks up.

“The chefs have already started cooking today,” she offers, “breakfast should be ready in the shelter. Why don’t you go and eat something? Then we can discuss what comes next.”

“And what might that be?” you respond curiously.

“The skyview tower, the chasms,” she answers, counting them off on her hand, “and… the regional phenomena.”

‘Regional phenomena huh… that can’t be anything good.’

Chapter Text

Cool air blew past you, your legs hanging over the edge of the island cliff. You watched the clouds float by below. You ran your fingers through the grass, which you’d noticed was an odd golden-yellow color while up here in the sky. The shadows around you swayed as the tree you sat beneath moved back and forth in the breeze. You take a bite out of an apple (a golden one, which you’d found while scavenging this same sky island) as you ruminate over the events of the last few days.

After recuperating in Lookout Landing you assisted Purah and Josha in the activation of the new Skyview Towers. Purah had designed them using the old Sheikah technology, these would be the replacements of the old towers, collecting map data and changes in the land of Hyrule. She had made them with good timing as well, they would be powerful enough to map the data of all the new sky islands as well.

The process of this data collection, however, was an entirely difference experience. With the Sheikah Towers, you simply had to climb to their peak and then scan the pedestal. With these new Skyview Towers you would be, for lack of a better explanation, launched into the air. The first time you experienced it you’d been caught completely off guard. 

Purah had given you a new paraglider and you stepped onto the platform. Suddenly robotic arms had shot out of the ground, no doubt repurposed from guardian parts. They’d grabbed you and attached a spool of cord to your belt which plugged into the Purah Pad. Before you could react you were launched into the air, a good thousand feet at the very least. 

It had been terrifying, yet, simultaneously quite beautiful. The land of Hyrule had always been full of gorgeous sights, and seeing it all from so high up in the sky was thrilling. You’d been able to collect the data, giving you a detailed map of Central Hyrule and its sky. Then you soared down through the air, using your paraglider to make a somewhat graceful landing in the front of the laboratory. Purah had been thrilled, and you promised to continue activating each tower to fill out the map.

You sigh as you pluck a blade of grass from the ground, rolling it between your fingers. Far below you on the ground, you could see a gaping hole in the land. A deep dark chasm with a steady stream of gloom pouring out of it. Apparently multiple of these had appeared all over the land during the Upheaval. You had worked with Josha and the scientist Robbie to explore one of them.

When you’d lept into your first chasm it had made your skin crawl. The walls of the rock were covered in a thick layer of gloom, and the descent was long- miles beneath the surface of Hyrule. You’d landed in a place called the Depths, an entire layer of the land that had been previously unknown. 

You had worked with Robbie for a handful of hours, discovering Lightroots which would illuminate the darkness. The cavernous depths were expansive, full of flora and fauna which were brand new to you. Long-bodied fireflies and purple rosebuds which would burst into puffs of smoke on impact. You’d pocketed a fair amount of this material for use in battle in the future.

Unfortunately for you, nothing in the Depths seemed to be something that would aid you in your search for the princess. Robbie unlocked the camera rune on the Purah Pad for you, and you allowed yourself to wander for a few hours. But when nothing showed up that would help you understand Zelda’s disappearance or the Upheaval, you returned to the surface.

It was then that Purah informed you of what was being called the ‘regional phenomena’. Days after both you and the princess had disappeared, four of the primary settlements around Hyrule became impacted by disastrous new problems. 

To the north, the Goron had halted all of their mining operations and Hylians in the volcanic region were reporting food which was making the Goron act strange. To the west, the Rito were suffering from a severe cold snap, and a blizzard had been swirling above the Hebra mountain for two weeks now with no signs of stopping. Then to the south, the Gerudo were fending off a seemingly permanent sand shroud, where the locals reported that new monsters lurked in the desert.

What Purah had told you about the Zora in the east had you the most concerned, however. Sludge had begun to rain down from the skies, and it had contaminated their rivers and water sources. Beyond that, the sludge seemed to be killing off the wildlife and poisoning the Zora that came into contact with it.

You couldn’t even attempt to kid yourself, you were worried. The water of Zora’s Domain was a lifeline for its people, and if it had become polluted you weren’t sure how long the Zora would be able to withstand against it. You had immediately thought of Sidon, the concern for him ebbing in your mind. How was he handling the disaster? Had he fallen ill as well?

It’s why you found yourself sitting atop this cliff. The map on the Purah Pad says that you’re in the North Necluda Sky Archipelago. From this vantage point, you could look down at Hyrule, and when you flicked your gaze to the northeast you had a perfect view of the Domain. The palace stood proud among the highlands, but the sight of mud and sludge raining from the islands above it made you feel sick.

As your eyes trailed across the pristine architecture of the domain you couldn’t help but think. Would you even be wanted there? After the engagement and your subsequent fallout with the prince, you weren’t sure if you could handle seeing him again. The emotions were still too fresh, too raw in your heart.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” you mutter, flicking the grass away, “there are people in need. Can’t just sit around and wallow in my shame.”

‘Besides, I have a feeling that investigating each of these phenomena can help me find the princess.’

You toss the core of the apple aside and look down and the land below you once. If you were to glide north it would be a straight shot to the Lanaryu Wetlands, and from there you could travel on foot along the Zora River to reach the domain. You would need to be sure to cook some elixirs as you traveled, unsure if the sludge would have an effect on your body as well.

‘No time like the present.’

You push yourself off the cliff and soar through the skies.

There were new monsters.

In Lookout Landing, you had been warned of this. Ever since the Upheaval there had been reports all across the land of previously unknown beasts. Some of which matched descriptions in ancient texts, but hadn’t been seen in thousands of years. You could only assume that when the mummified man lifted the castle and his gloom infected the land, it had brought new enemies along with it as well.

Some of them were easier to handle than others. Certain camps of Bokoblins would have a bigger, meaner-looking Boss Bokoblin that tagged along with them. While their size was intimidating, they were just as stupid as their subordinates, and could easily be disposed of with a few well-timed hits. Flying monsters named Aerocudas soared through the air, and there had been multiple times where you’d been gliding and one had attempted to dive toward you. Luckily they seemed to be as weak as Keese were, a single arrow to the head being enough to take them down.

Your first encounter with an Evermean had given you quite a fright. You had been traveling south through Hyrule Field when a tree suddenly uprooted itself and began barreling toward you. After the initial scare, you were able to quickly fend it off by using fire fruit to light it ablaze. In many of the new caves lurked a new creature called Horriblins, gangly-looking beasts that crawled along the walls and would throw stones at you. They weren’t too smart either and their attacks could be easily dodged.

Not all the new foes were so simple, though. Disgusting things called Like Likes hung from the walls, their fleshy bodies could contort and their mouths would open to reveal several rows of teeth. They’d attempted to swallow you hole multiple times. The tricky part of fighting them was that you had to wait for them to reveal their weak point, a glowing orb in their mouths which acted as a tongue. Once that was struck you could get rid of them, they were more of an annoyance if anything.

When passing Lake Hylia you had taken a small glance at the long bridge and witnessed a new horror. It was a dragon- but it was nothing like the majestic creatures that flew in the skies. No, these were Gleeoks, multi-headed dragons that could spit flames, ice, or electricity. They were massive and terrifying, and you knew immediately that you would not take a chance getting near one until you had regained more of your strength.

Currently, you were just past Inogo Bridge, attempting to continue your journey to Zora’s Domain. At any other time, you may have paused at the bridge to fondly reminisce about when you’d first met Prince Sidon. When he’d leapt down and excitedly requested you aid his people in taming the Divine Beast. From the very start, he had been so charming.

However, you didn’t have time to reminisce- rather, you were currently staring at the river in disgust. The once pristine blue waters had turned to a gross, murky brown. Globules of the sludge were scattered about, blocking sections of the road and dripping down the side of the mountain range.

“Shit…” you grumbled, staring at the path before you, “how am I supposed to get through any of this?”

You make an attempt to carry on. You grimace as your boots sink into the muddy sludge, the substance slowing you down and inhibiting your ability to walk. ‘If I can just make it to the cliffs I can get enough of a vantage point to glide above the road,’ you think, trying to make a plan.

Just as you round the corner of the road and begin to walk uphill, there’s a sudden shriek.

It sends a shiver down your spine, freezing your blood in your veins and making you whip your head around in a frenzy. The screams persisted, causing your ears to ring in pain. ‘What is that-’ you attempt to question, but your eyes quickly find the answer.

In front of you, gloom begins to pour out of the ground. The mass of black and red swirls and bubbles, causing you to stumble backward in shock. You watch in horror as the gloom grows in size and something- no, multiple things begin to grow out of it. Long limbs, each taller than you, jut out of the gloom. You quickly recognize these as grotesque arms with hands as they continue to form.

Your heart pace had quickened. What were you even looking at? You had never seen anything like this before, not even during the Calamity when malice had infected the land. You attempt to take a quiet step back, thinking that you can get away without drawing their attention-

You thought wrong.

Each of the hands turns, and you realize they each possess a large eye in their palms. The eyes glow menacingly as they zero in on you, locking onto their target. There’s another shriek, this one loud enough that it feels like it blows out your ear drums. Then, they lunge.

You attempt to turn and run, your feet moving faster than your mind. But the sludge that covers the road slows you down. You’re entire body feels chilled, the hairs on the back of your neck standing up straight. Everything within you is willing you to run , to move, to sprint, anything-

There’s a tight grip around your waist and you’re yanked backward. You screech, kicking and fighting as the hand pulls you toward the puddle of gloom. You can feel the strength of your body slowly being leached away. You’re wide-eyed, feeling like an animal of prey caught in the maw of its predator.

The hand drops you and you scramble, attempting to crawl away to safety. Then another one grabs you- this time wrapping its fingers around your throat. You cry out as you’re slammed into the ground, your windpipe being squeezed of precious air. The rest of the hands wriggle and writhe, each of their bulbous eyes staring at you as you’re held captive against the dirt.

It was toying with you- as if sapping you of your energy and tossing you around was some kind of game. What in Hylia’s name was this thing? The sense of terror and doom it filled you with reminded you of Calamity Ganon- a beast you never wanted to remember again.

You’re panicked, your own hands clawing at the ground in an attempt to escape. 

You’re frantic, eyes darting in all directions as you look for any means to assist you.

You’re desperate, every ounce of strength you’d worked so hard to regain is being stolen from you yet again.

The pain in your neck is impossible to ignore, the hand’s grip tightening more and more. Your nose flares, attempting to breathe- but it’s not possible with the way you’re being asphyxiated. You had to act, and it had to be now .

With a strangled grunt you lift your right arm, willing forward the power of Ultrahand. It begins to glow green and your eyes flicker about- looking for something, anything, which you could use to fend for yourself. There were some rocks scattered about the edge of the river, and though it wasn’t much you would have to make do.

The power surges in your arm as you try to focus on the rocks. Your arm shakes as you latch on, fingers outstretched. When you finally grasp the rock with your ability you scream, twisting your arm and launching the projectile directly at the hands. You manage to strike one in its eye and all the arms flinch in return- including the one that had its grip on your neck.

As soon as its hold loosens you scramble away, running on pure adrenaline as you head straight for the water. If you couldn’t run with the path blocked by sludge, you would have to swim instead. You drag your body to the water and submerge yourself, not caring about its state- you’d rather swim in a polluted river than be grabbed by one of those hands again.

You paddle away towards a rock that juts out in the center of the river, far enough from the shore to be out of their reach. The hands attempt to follow you but hiss as soon as they come close to water, shaking in anger. You watch as they stalk along the river’s edge before eventually, thankfully , they give up. The gloom dissipates. The hands are gone.

You greedily take in gulps of fresh air, raising a hand to touch your neck. The skin is tender, no doubt bruised after the encounter. That’s something you would have to worry about later. Warily you turn your head to look at the path in front of you once more.

‘I’ll need to find another way to get to Zora’s Domain.’

After some thought and planning, you decide that you’ll take a more roundabout approach to reaching the domain. You’d retraced your steps across the Inogo Bridge and headed north instead, deciding to hike up the side of the mountain. It would take you to Upland Zorona, and while more strenuous than walking, there was significantly less sludge blocking the way.

It took you a fair few hours to climb to the highlands, although your new Ascend ability was a massive help along the way. You also spotted another Skyview Tower atop the mountain. Getting more map data seemed like a rather good idea, you figured it would likely help you solve the problem with all this sludge. 

Luckily scaling up this way also meant the amount of monsters you came across was minimal. A few Aerocuda had to be shot down and a handful of non-threatening Chuchus were easily sliced through. Nothing as horrific as those Gloom Hands. You wanted to keep it that way.

Finally, you reach the plateau of the highlands. You approach the tower, which seems to be surrounded by thick, muddy sludge. It was covering the door as well, which would prove to be a problem for you. You had no way of getting rid of it. Just as you approach the stairs to investigate, a feeble voice calls out.

“... help… please, help me…”

You whip around and search for the source. Your face drops when you realize that there’s a Zora trapped beneath the sludge, unable to move. But as you rush over to them you realize that you know that voice, and you recognize those dark grey scales.

“Bazz?” you ask, hurriedly rushing to his side, “Bazz, can you hear me?”

He attempts to lift his head but is unable to turn and look at you. He wheezes, voice weakened, “this filth fell upon me so suddenly… I could wash it away… if only I had some water…”

‘Water… where the hell do I get water,’ you think, trying to find a solution. You knew that if you kept walking through the highlands you would find Toto Lake, but there was no guarantee that the water would be clean. Besides, you didn’t want to leave him, every second he spent in the muck was another second he was being sapped of his energy.

As you look around for something, anything , that could help, a bushel of fruits catches your eye. A small plant that bore several odd-shaped fruits that were green and blue. You sprint over and grab one of these fruits, pulling it off the vine and shaking it gingerly. You could hear a sloshing sound from within the fruit as if it were full of… water.

You throw one to the ground experimentally and watch as it bursts into a wave of cool… refreshing… water!

“Bazz!” you call out, running back to the Zora captain, “Bazz, I’ve found something.” You lob another of the fruits on the ground beside him. The relief was palpable as it burst and washed away the mud that he was trapped beneath.

He slowly pulls himself up and off the ground, rising to a sitting position. You noticed that his scales were still stained by the brown filth of the sludge, but otherwise, he seemed like he was going to be alright. 

“You saved me,” he says gratefully, chest rising as he struggles to breathe in, “how shameful that this should happen to me, captain of the guard. Unbelievable… after the Upheaval, all this filth suddenly began falling from the sky… it sullied the waters around here and in Zora’s Domain. Everyone is at their wit’s end because of it.”

He lifts a hand, carefully touching the gills on his side before he continues, “that is why I set out to investigate the surrounding area myself. To think I would fall prey to falling sludge myself… just thinking of it makes my scales bristle… my gills still feel so unclean. If you had not sprayed me with water, I shudder to think what would have happened to me…”

You offer him a smile, “well, I’m just glad I was able to get here on time. Will you be alright? Do you need my help to get back to the domain?”

The captain shakes his head, “no, no. I’ll just need a short break. I wasn’t trapped for very long, luckily.”

He looks up at you and you notice him hesitate before he speaks again, “... how have you been, Hylian?”

You know what he’s really asking about. He’s not wondering how you’re feeling today, he’s wondering how you’ve been holding up ever since the engagement. “Fine,” you answer, though you know it’s a lie, “I’ve been… fine. I’m more concerned about all of the Zora. I’ve come to help with this sludge problem.”

Bazz nods before suddenly jolting with a gasp, “this is going to be such a shock! Everyone thinks that you’re missing still- you must go and share the news right away! Oh, Prince Sidon will be so happy to hear- and the princess, is she alright?”

His smile fades when he notices your downcast expression. You shake your head, “no… Zelda is still missing. I… we are still looking for her.”

“I… see,” the captain mumbles, “well, in any case, it is good to know that you are safe. The domain will welcome you with open arms as always.”

This statement makes your heart swell with warmth. You give him a nod and a goodbye before turning your attention back to the Skyview Tower. With your newfound knowledge, you use one of the fruits, a splash fruit, to clear the sludge from the doorway.

Once you tap the Purah Pad to the pedestal you ready yourself for the launch. At exhilarating speeds you’re pushed up and into the sky. What immediately catches your attention is an array of large islands in the sky and the sludge that falls off the edge of them. No doubt, that is the source of the Zora’s predicament. 

The tablet in your hands captures its new data, the screen showing you a new map of the region. Once the map is filled out you disconnect from the cord and pull out your paraglider, floating freely through the air. You set your sights on the domain and soar downwards, determined to solve the mystery of this phenomenon.

Once your boots land on the smooth floor of the Great Zora Bridge, you’re able to further assess the situation. Even the water which flows through the palace has been tarnished, polluted by the mud from the sky. The beautifully carved architecture of the domain is stained as well, just as Bazz’s scales had been.

As you approach the plaza you can see some Zora lingering, but not nearly as many that would usually be present. Guards lean against their spears, exhausted, and the children are nowhere to be seen. As you pass through the gateway you see a group of three Zora women who you did not recognize. They seem deep in a tense conversation.

“Ugh… I am so sorry,” one of the women, a Zora with deep burgundy scales, apologizes, “everyone has been treated now, but we have used up all of the splash fruit.”

The woman beside her, a Zora with violet scales, speaks up, “there were more injuries than anticipated. Please accept my apology…”

The third Zora, one with green scales whom the previous two were both facing, shakes her head politely, “you have nothing to apologize for. You did what had to be done. Most importantly, I am grateful that everyone is alright. Now, if we could only do something about that statue.”

The green Zora turns, and her eyes light up when she notices you standing there. You’re caught off guard momentarily, her golden jewelry and adornments immediately signifying she is someone of a higher ranking. Her features are kind and her long fins sway as she addresses you, “hmm? You there, are you a traveler? I am sorry that I did not notice you until now. I was focused on a matter of great importance. Zora’s Domain is in troubled times at present due to the sludge falling from the sky. Things have finally calmed down, at least for the moment. However, this palace remains covered in muck.”

She sighs gracefully as she turns to face the centerpiece of the plaza, “such a shame, as this particular statue is so incredibly important to the Zora of the domain. We were just discussing how we need to wash away the sludge. I apologize that I cannot provide a great deal of hospitality- but please, do make yourself at home here.”

You immediately notice that she speaks as if she’s not from here, talking about the local Zora as if they were a different group. This makes sense to you, as you’re certain you would remember having seen her before, with her uniquely shaped fins and accessories. A thought nags in the back of your mind… could she be…?

‘Now’s not the time to focus on that,’ you chastise yourself.

When you turn your attention to the statue you’re perplexed. Even when covered in sludge you could immediately tell that this was not the statue of Mipha that you were so accustomed to. It was taller at a different angle. Luckily, you’d pocketed some of the splash fruit from the highlands. You angle your arm and toss the fruit, watching it wash away the mud.

Admittedly, your jaw drops when the statue is revealed to you.

It’s an intricately carved depiction of the prince, his arms outstretched and his head held high. You cursed yourself for thinking that even in the form of stone he was undeniably handsome. That wasn’t all, however, because also carved into the stone was… you . Dressed in the Zora armor, riding on the back of the prince. No doubt the artwork was taking inspiration from when you and Sidon had worked together to stop the Divine Beast’s tantrum.

Your jaw tightens as you stare at it. This had to be some kind of a joke. A mockery. After everything you’d endured, you come back and you find this . A statue honoring the bond between you and a man who you weren’t even allowed to have- all because of an arranged marriage. You’re ashamed at the way it makes you seethe internally.

Behind you, one of the Zora women gasps, “the sludge!”

When you turn you see that it’s the woman with green scales. She excitedly walks over to you and beams, “I see you managed to wash it away! That statue is a symbol of hope for the Zora… it is very precious to us. Thank you so much for cleaning it up! In truth, that statue depicts the majestic forms of the pair who saved the cherished domain in the past.”

You smile, but in your mind, you want to do nothing more than slap yourself in the face. Of course , there was no ill intent behind the creation of the statue. The whole of the Zora people wouldn’t punish you in such a cruel way. You were simply projecting your insecurities.

The burgundy Zora grins, “that is right! Beloved Prince Sidon of the Zora and his very best friend… Lady _____, the heroic Hylian swordswoman!”

You can feel your entire body freeze up at the statement. None of the women seemed to have realized who you were yet- and in all honesty, you wanted to keep it that way. It was embarrassing enough to be staring at a statue of yourself. Not to mention, the words ‘best friend’ made you bristle and wince.

You’re almost surprised when you look at the green-scaled Zora and see the faint grimace on her face as well.

If the burgundy Zora notices your expressions, she doesn’t make mention of it, continuing to grin and clap her hands together, “it is simply wonderful, is it not? How I would love to meet her someday.” Her eyes focus on you and your shoulders tense as she examines you. “Say, you have a similar stature to the Hylian hero. Similar eyes as well… oh my, and you are also a Hylian… and you carry a sword…”

‘Oh no.’

She continues, eyes wide, “... wait. Could it be…”

Very hesitantly you raise your head and sheepishly smile. The three Zora seemed to be coming to the same conclusion, and there would be no use in hiding it. “Ah, yeah,” you mutter, crossing your arms, “that’s me. Hello.”

You had never felt so awkward in your entire life.

“You’re _____? The swordswoman of legend?!” she practically squeals.

The violet Zora clears her throat, narrowing her eyes at her companion, “ahem! Please remember to mind your manners, Chroma!”

The burgundy Zora, Chroma, bows her head, “oh! Um… please accept my apology.”

The green Zora nods her head, and in her eyes there’s a look of sympathy that you don’t quite understand. “Yes, please pardon our rudeness,” she nods, placing her palms together, “I am quite surprised to learn that you are the Hylian knight. I have heard mention of you nearly every day since I first arrived at this domain. I am…”

She hesitates. You can see her eyes dart away before she sighs and continues, “I am Prince Sidon’s fiance. My name is Yona.”

It takes all of your willpower to not visibly react to this information. You keep your mouth shut, lips pressed into a polite smile. She had to have known exactly who you are, exactly who you once were to Sidon. You couldn’t imagine the prince ever hiding that information from her.

“Ah,” you reply after a moment of tense silence, “it’s nice to meet you.”

“I am truly honored to have the opportunity to meet you,” she continues, “I had heard that you were missing along with Princess Zelda. If I may ask, what brings you here?”

There’s no point in keeping anything to yourself. You explain everything to the trio. The expedition beneath the castle, the mummified man, falling into the chasm. You detail your journey from the sky islands, to Lookout Landing, and now to the domain. The three women seem to be in awe of your story.

Yona shakes her head solemnly, “to think that such a thing took place beneath Hyrule Castle. And now you are traveling the kingdom to investigate.”

The violet Zora, who introduces herself as Khira, responds, “so your search for Princess Zelda is what brought you to this domain?”

Yona hums before saying, “in that case, feel free to investigate the area around the domain as thoroughly as you see fit. Oh! I have an idea! If you do not mind, I ask that you please go and meet with Sidon. I am certain that he would be delighted to see you. He can be found at Mipha Court, which is at the peak of Ploymus Mountain.”

You’re unsure how to respond. A voice in your head wants to say no, that you’re not ready to see him again. At the same time, there’s another voice, pleading to see the prince. You’re saved from having to speak up when Khira looks up instead.

“Lady Yona, it is time. I fear we must be going now,” she says.

Yona nods, casting one last look at you, “forgive me, _____, but I must be on my way. However, should you need anything during your stay, please do not hesitate to let me know. I am determined to be of assistance to you the best I can.”

You watch as she walks away, conflicted. You couldn’t bring yourself to be mad at her. You had once thought that if you should ever cross paths with Sidon’s fiance that you would be furious. But she was so kind, even before knowing exactly who you were. There was an undeniable pain in your heart as you’d conversed with her, however.

A pain that might never go away.

With a huff you turn and look up, eyes finding the peak of the mountain. The location of Mipha Court. The location of Prince Sidon.

You couldn’t run from your feelings forever. It was time to meet him again.

With no Zora armor, you were unable to swim up the waterfalls that surrounded the palace. You’d have to find a way to get to the mountaintop on foot instead. You were beginning to regret giving the armor back to the prince.

Luckily you had the travel point at the Skyview Tower. After teleporting there you’d been traversing along the highlands, fighting off Bokoblins and Lizalfos as you hiked to the peak. As you fended off these foes your mind was swirling with thoughts.

How were you going to greet him? How could you avoid a disastrous encounter? Do you pretend that nothing happened? Keep him at arm's length? Give him the cold shoulder? Every scenario you ran through in your head seemed awful.

By the time you were walking along the edge of Toto Lake, you were groaning to yourself. Every part of you was tense, nervously anticipating the conversation that was to come. Your thoughts were so loud in your mind that you almost didn’t hear a sputter from the lake.

You stop, staring at the murky water. A steady stream of sludge was falling from the sky above, keeping the lake thoroughly polluted. You stay quiet, ears strained to listen for the sound once more. 

Something- no, someone , coughs from beneath the muck.

You quickly jump into action, wading through the water and searching for the source. “Hello? Hello!” you call out, “say something so I can find you, please!”

No response.

Your heart pounds in a panic. All you could see was mud and filth. You reach your arms into the sludge and reach around in a desperate attempt to find them. When you had found Bazz, he at least had enough of his face and gills exposed to be able to breathe. Whoever was stuck here was completely submerged.

When you’re unable to feel a body you begin to lob splash fruits. But it feels as if it’s in vain, for every mound of muck that’s removed, more sludge falls from the stream to replace it. “Please,” you say desperately, “please, who’s here- please-”

That’s when you spot it. 

A small teal limb sticking out of the sludge.

You lunge forward and reach into the muck, grabbing onto the body. With all your might you heave backward, arms strained as you work against the strength of the sludge. You grit your teeth and pull harder and harder until suddenly the mud lets you go free.

With a yelp you fall backward into the shallow water, holding a frail body in your arms.

You look down and realize that you’re holding a young Zora, a little boy, with teal scales. He’s still covered in quite a bit of the sludge so you grab another splash fruit, breaking it and allowing it to wash the majority of the mud off of his body. This reveals a pattern of stripes along his long fin.

With a grunt you hoist him up and carry him to the edge of the lake, laying him down in the grass to further assess him. You press your ear to his chest and listen, sighing in relief when you hear his heartbeat. It’s faint, but it’s there. The boy breathes shallowly, face contorted into a look of pain.

You quickly realize why. There’s still sludge trapped in his gills- and you had no way of removing it without risking harming him.

‘Shit. I have no idea how long he was stuck there. Where are his parents? Is he poisoned- is he-’

There’s no time for questions. You need to find help and you have to go now . You lift the boy into your arms and begin to sprint. Luckily, even for a child, he’s rather small, if he could stand he’d likely be at about the height of your knee. You jog through the highlands, making a point of avoiding the scattered camps of enemies.

Your breathing quickens as you run up the slope to the mountain peak. Surely there must be someone who could aid you- a soldier- a nurse- a healer- anyone .

You cradle the boy to your chest. He was far too young for this- too young to suffer such a cruel fate. You had to cure him- you had to. “Help!” you yell as you approach the court, “help us! Please!” Your throat strains as you exert your vocal cords, but you couldn’t care less.

When you finally reach Mipha Court you don’t even have the chance to be stunned by the change of scenery. What was once a flat plateau, the home of a dangerous Lynel, was now a beautiful pond with a silver fountain. You immediately noticed the handful of Zora running to aid you, all clearly alerted by your screaming.

As you move forward to explain, that’s when you see him. Radiant red scales, glittering silver jewelry, golden-yellow eyes brimming with concern.

Prince Sidon.

Here's a drawing I made of the young Zora boy so y'all can have a better idea of what he looks like (plus a doodle with Sidon for scale)! I'll discuss him more in the notes

(If the image is failing to load, this link should work)

Chapter Text

He speaks your name.

It’s as if the entire world stops revolving around you. There, just a few meters away, was Prince Sidon. His eyes meet your own and it feels as if it would be painful to look away from him. Your breath hitches in your throat, which doesn’t help with the soreness from the way you’d been screaming. Quickly you force yourself to snap out of this daze, remembering the situation you were in.

“Please,” you plead once more, practically stumbling through the grass as you approach the Zora, “this little boy, I found him in the lake- there’s sludge in his gills, I can’t get it out-”

Your voice trembles as you speak and your eyes sting with tears that you hadn’t realized had begun to flow forth.

A soldier- Gaddison, you realize, walks up and holds out her arms, an offer to take the boy into her care. Your arms shake as you begin to hand him over, not due to lack of strength, but rather out of fear. You are terrified of the outcome, worried beyond belief for this little Zora’s life.

“Wait,” a voice speaks up suddenly, “please, give him to me. I believe I should be able to aid him.”

You’re stunned because once again it feels as if the wind has been knocked right out of you. That voice, Sidon’s voice, it was a complete contradiction to your soul. How could something be so soothing and yet simultaneously so nerve-racking? Still, you force yourself to look up, as your emotions are not the priority at this moment.

You suck in a breath as you approach the fountain. The silver and blue architecture has been forged into the familiar crest of the Zora; a tri-circle shape that traps within it a flow of pure water. Or at least it would normally be pure, fresh water if it weren’t for the waterfall of sludge raining down from the sky islands above. The muck taints the fountain, turning what should be crystal clear liquid into a disgusting slop of filth.

It’s only upon closer inspection that you realize Sidon’s arms glow a gentle blue, all too similar to the glow of his sister’s healing abilities. You watch with curious eyes as he, somehow, seems to be able to manipulate the water. Separating the sludge from the fresh water. Your eyes widen as you realize that it’s him keeping the muck from the sky at bay. He’s the one preventing the entirety of the domain from being overrun by the poisonous filth.

‘How long has he been doing this,’ you wonder as you walk closer, ‘has he been sleeping? Eating? Even just sitting to rest?’

It is only when you’re standing just an arm's length away from the prince that you finally look up once more. His silver collar and cuffs reflect the light of the sun, practically making him glow. There’s an expression of sympathy on his face as his gaze flickers between you and the small Zora in your arms. You’re still holding him protectively, cradling him close to your chest.

Gently he holds out his arms, taking his attention away from the flowing muck. “Here,” he says softly, “allow me.”

Without meaning to, you hold your breath as you step into the fountain, the cool water soaking through your clothing and boots. You stand before Sidon and carefully lift the boy up, treating him with all the care in the world. It takes a significant amount of willpower to not react when you feel the prince’s hands and arms brush against your own. You watch as he takes the small Zora into his arms, and due to his height, he makes the young boy seem even smaller than he already is.

Sidon steps into a deeper section of the fountain and kneels. He submerges his body in the water and lowers the young Zora with him. You watch with bated breath as he sits, allowing the fountain to flow over the little boy’s aquamarine scales. The prince has a look of intense concentration on his face as he focuses on the child, the blue glow returning to his palm as he hovers his arm over him. It’s as if he’s searching for something, slowly moving his hand over the boy’s torso.

His eyes widen and you watch as he clenches his palm into a fist and flicks his arm back. You gasp as the movement causes muck to fly out from within the young boy’s gills. The little Zora coughs, curling onto his side as he inhales painfully.

The prince eases him further into the water, holding him so that the gills on his torso are submerged. “Breath,” the prince says in a soothing voice, “breath, young one, you’re alright.”

Your legs move before your brain tells them to, kneeling in the water beside Sidon and looking down at the young boy. Ever so carefully you lift an arm and touch your hand to the little Zora’s head. Gently you run your hand down across his scales, similarly to how you’d run your fingers through the hair of a Hylian.

“It’s okay,” you murmur, luckily able to disguise the fact that your throat feels tight with emotion, “you’re safe. We’re here, just keep breathing.”

Ever so slowly the little boy’s racing heart seems to calm. His heaving chest slows as you help him regulate his breathing, watching the way his gills flutter as he takes in the oxygen through the water. Your own breathing stutters when you feel him reach a hand up, latching his small fingers onto your arm as he seeks out comfort.

The little Zora tilts his head and you watch as he slowly blinks his eyes open. Youthful eyes look back into your own, his golden irises full of both curiosity and exhaustion. He seems to stare up at you as you continue to gently run your palm along his head and fin. You offer him a gentle smile, palpable relief in your chest.

What you fail to notice is the way Sidon glances at your hand, his eyes wide with confusion.

‘He’s safe. He’s okay. Thank the goddess.’

Your eyes flick upward and realize that the prince is staring back, though he seemingly averts his gaze as though he’d been caught.

‘No. Thank Sidon.’

Once again you find your body acting on its own before your mind instructs it to. “What did you do?” you ask in a soft voice, not wanting to disrupt the young child, “how… how did you do that?” 

In all the scenarios you’d imagined of what might have been the first words you’d utter to the prince upon seeing him again, those certainly didn’t come anywhere close. You had imagined a plentitude of things; passionate reunions, fiery arguments, tearful encounters. Never once had you thought that what would bring you together again would be partially due to a young child in need. Perhaps the distraction was needed, though, as it would help you avoid stumbling over your words like a fool upon seeing the Zora prince again.

Sidon seems almost taken aback by the question. As if he, too, had not expected you to ask him those words. But he quickly recovers and offers you a gentle smile before lowering his gaze back down to the boy in your arms. Looking at him up close you’re able to take in a few more details about his appearance- primarily how absolutely exhausted the man looks. There are deep bags under his eyes and his scales, typically brighter with their crimson hue, seem duller than normal.

“Water manipulation,” he answers, matching your soft tone, “the same as my mother and dear sister. However, where they were more inclined toward healing, I seem to be able to use it to will the water to follow my commands. It is how I have been cleansing the water atop the mountain here.”

He momentarily gestures to the flow of muck from the sky islands above. You realize warily that with him devoting his attention to aiding this young Zora, the filth has slowly been encroaching upon more of the freshwater. 

“I’ve been using this ability to cleanse the water,” he continues to explain in a quiet voice, turning his attention back to you, “I find that I’ve been able to separate the muck from the water which flows down into the domain. Thus, I’ve been able to keep the palace partially protected. It ensures that my people may rest easy without the threat of illness until we find a way to stop this endless downfall.”

His eyes meet your own and you notice a momentary stammer in his words before he continues, “with this young one, I was able to use my powers to find the contaminated water within him. We Zora do not have lungs like you Hylians, instead, we breathe by taking in oxygen through our gills on our torsos. With the way the muck dirties the water, it had lodged itself within him rather than cycling through. I was able to use this water manipulation to remove it from his body. We shall closely monitor him to ensure that he shows no signs of poisoning, but luckily it seems that he was able to be treated before he could grow sick. Thanks to you, of course.”

You shake your head and avert your eyes, “no, please don’t thank me. After all, you’re the one who truly healed him.”

He tilts his head, a look of furrowed confusion on his face, “but it was you who brought him here. If it weren’t for you I imagine he would still be stuck in the muck elsewhere-”

“Please-” you interrupt him, guilt lashing within you. After everything that had occurred in the last few weeks, the last thing you felt worthy of was praise . You had lost your strength. You had lost your sword. You had lost the princess. You felt that you had not earned any thanks and to hear them made your stomach twist and writhe uncomfortably. “Just… don’t. Not now.”

Sidon shuts his mouth, lips pulled into a thin line. You can tell he’s displeased but neither of you will argue, and certainly not with this young boy in your grasp. Before either of you can speak again the little Zora reaches up with his hand, making a grabbing motion toward you. There’s a small smile on your face as you use your free hand to reciprocate. He reacts excitedly, wrapping his small fingers around your own. Rather cutely the tail of his headfin seems to wag beneath the water.

“He’s quite young,” the prince says, a grin on his face as he watches the little boy interact with you, “I cannot pinpoint his exact age, but if I were to compare it to how Hylians grow I’d say that he’s at a similar stage to a toddler… far too young to be without his parents, yet…”

Sidon’s words trail off and there’s a pang in your heart as you come to the same realization as him. For a child so young to be found all alone in such a precarious situation… you feared that his parents may have met a similar fate- or worse. You cover up the ache by smiling at the little Zora once more. The last thing you wanted would be to scare him whilst he was still recovering.

The prince returns to his full height and steps away, though you can overhear the quick conversation he has with his guards. He gives them two sets of instructions, the first is to take the little Zora down to the domain where he can be overseen by nurses. The second is to arrange for a search of the boy’s parents in the waters that surround the domain and highlands.

You hear your name and glance over your shoulder. “Bring the boy here, please,” another soldier, Rivan, asks kindly, “we shall escort him to the palace to receive medical attention.”

With a nod you slowly rise, wrapping your arms around the child and cradling him carefully once more. Now that he’s able to breathe properly and has regained some of his senses, he giggles and seems to find some excitement in being carried. His little grabby hands cling to your clothing, bright eyes staring up at you as you walk away from the fountain.

This becomes a problem when you attempt to hand him over to the guards.

The little Zora immediately grows fussy, shaking his head and tightening his hold on you. It causes you to stammer, both confused and embarrassed by the situation you find yourself in. A small child clinging to you as if you were some kind of a mother.

You attempt to soothe him, “hey, it’s okay, you’ll be alright. They’re going to help you. I promise I’ll go and visit you, but they have to take care of you first. Okay?”

Whether or not the little boy can even understand the words you say to him, you don’t know. But your gentle tone of voice seems to be working, his grip slowly loosening as he raises his head. His golden eyes blink at you, and your heart breaks a little when you see the tears that’ve begun to gather.

“Shhh, it’s alright,” you murmur, using one hand to brush away the tears before they stain his cheeks, “you’ll see me again soon, I swear it.”

The young Zora opens his mouth, and for just a moment you think he’s going to speak, but instead a string of babbles and coos comes out. You think you catch a few words that he attempts to say, but it seems as though his speech isn’t developed enough yet. Either way, he’s still adorable, and you seem to have pacified him enough to be able to hand him over to the guards.

This time he doesn’t put up a fight, allowing Gaddison to take him into her arms.

“I’ll get him down to the tide pools right away, there we will be able to monitor him,” she informs you, “would you like to say bye to the Hylian champion, little one?”

The little Zora scrunches up his face in concentration, sticking his tongue out as he attempts to speak, “bbpb… pbhh… bu-buh-bye!”

It takes an enormous amount of your willpower not to squeal over his cuteness. You want to maintain at least a sliver of your dignity after all. Instead, you opt to wave your arm (your regular arm) and say goodbye in return.

Gaddison takes her leave with the young boy in tow. As they walk away you can overhear the child excitedly repeating ‘bye’ over and over again, seemingly thrilled to have added the word to his vocabulary. You can’t help but laugh softly, the sight warming your heart.

With the distraction that the young Zora offered gone, however, you’re left with a new problem. You’re still standing close to Sidon, and you can practically feel the way he continuously flicks his eyes to glance at you. Your shoulders tense and there’s a writhing coil of emotion inside of you.

‘What is this feeling?’ you ask yourself, hesitating to turn and face the prince, ‘ah… right. Awkwardness. This was inevitable.’

As you finally turn and look up at him, that ache in your chest suddenly returns to you. The pain in your heart which you had felt while speaking with Lady Yona. The pain that had been following you for weeks- or, rather, years at this point. You nervously clear your throat.

“Prince-”

“Champion-”

You had both attempted to speak at the same time, interrupting one another without meaning to.

“Sorry, go ahead-”

“Apologies, I did not mean to-”

And then you did it again right after. Your face feels as if it’s on fire, your embarrassment must have been palpable. You would enjoy nothing more than to dig a hole in the ground and hide within it right now.

The prince sucks in a breath, pausing for a moment before he says, “... it is good to see you. I received word that you had gone missing and was beside myself with concern. Whatever could have transpired?” 

You do your best to explain the circumstances of the last few weeks in as few sentences as possible. You’d lost track of how many times you had told this story by now, and you could only imagine that you would have to do it at least a dozen more. It is no less shocking the tenth time than it was the first, however, and you watch the prince’s eyes widen as he listens to you.

“To think something like that could have taken place beneath Hyrule Castle. And afterward, you mysteriously awoke on a sky island… the sky… could it be that the sky is the key to everything after all?” he murmurs, and seemingly sees the confusion on your face before he explains, “ah, my apologies. I have actually been wondering if those floating sky islands could be the source of the falling sludge. It is why I have tasked a Zora historian with investigating ruin fragments and all historical documents related to the sky.”

He continues, “as for me, I am not at liberty to leave this spot at present, as I am uniquely qualified to deal with the sludge here.”

‘Right, he’s the one purifying the water. He’s keeping his people safe.’

But your eyes trail over his figure and study him once more. You knew why he was doing this, it was his duty after all. A responsibility to his people. But your brow furrows and you feel that feeling of guilt returning once more, grimacing as it takes hold of your thoughts. “Prince Sidon…” you mumble.

The utterance immediately captures his attention.

“... you look tired,” you say softly, though you wince when you hear the obvious sadness in your words.

He hesitates before slowly nodding his head, casting his gaze aside, “I… I am.”

“How long have you been doing this?” you ask, gesturing to the fountain.

“Nearly three weeks now, I believe, although I must be honest I have… frequently been losing track of the time,” he replies.

Three weeks. He hadn’t stopped to rest in three weeks. The confession made you feel sick. Why were you so upset over this? You had been working nonstop ever since you had awoken on the Great Sky Island. Surely there were other people amongst Hyrule working just as hard ever since the Upheaval as well.

So why was it that when the prince stood here before you, visibly exhausted and overworked, it tugged on your heart in such a painful way?

You knew the answer to this, of course. But you didn’t want to admit it. Not now, anyway, not when there were far more important things to be focused on.

“I have been taking short breaks for rest where possible,” he explains, “though, they are never very long, as the sludge will begin to encroach far too quickly. And I have been drinking elixirs so that I may keep my strength up. But, I must stay. If I leave this court, the muck will quickly overtake all of the remaining waterways of the domain. My people will grow ill and it would kill off the remainder of our food sources. That is why I cannot afford to leave here, no matter what.”

“Is there no one else?” you ask before thinking, “no one at all? The councilmen? Your father?”

The prince shakes his head, “none of the councilmen nor my father have this ability. Even if the king were able to do so, he is… unwell. Lady Yona has offered her assistance, as she can manipulate water as well, but I have told her that I prefer for her to remain in the safety of the palace where she can heal those who have fallen ill.”

You do your best the ignore the sickening feeling of jealousy that swirls in your thoughts at the mention of his fiance. Instead, you choose to nod, not daring to open your mouth. You’d prefer to avoid a scenario where you utter something you may regret.

Besides, as you had to continuously remind yourself, this journey was not about you and your petty emotions. This was about protecting the people of Hyrule and locating Zelda.

When you pull yourself out of your thoughts you realize that Sidon is staring at you. But, not at your face. Instead just below it.

“... what in Hylia’s name has happened to your neck?” he asks in shock, and you notice the horror in his eyes.

In all of the commotion, you had completely forgotten about the bruises. You tentatively raise your arm, the right one, and drag your fingers beneath your jaw. There’s a subtle soreness, the long nails irritating the skin, and you flinch momentarily. “Right,” you sigh, “these are from a fight with a monster.”

This seems to catch him off guard, “what monster could have possibly done that to you?” 

You don’t exactly enjoy remembering. The writhing, twisting Gloom Hands. The way they’d sapped the little strength you had regained. The grip one of them had gotten on your neck. The way you’d nearly suffocated by the river.

“You haven’t left the domain ever since the Upheaval, have you?” you reply, answering his question with a question.

He shakes his head, still not pulling his gaze away from your damaged neck.

“Well, I regret to inform you that there seem to be some new beasts on the prowl,” you continue, “Boss Bokoblins that lead camps, Horriblins that lurk in caves, Aerocudas that stalk the skies. But the thing that did this to me-” 

You clench your hand into a fist, and without noticing the charcoal fur begins to glow a subtle green hue. “This was from a creature made of gloom. Giant… arms that sprouted from the ground. One of them got me by the neck. I managed to get away, but… I wasn’t able to defeat it. I had to run.”

Sidon nods his head slowly, though his shoulders are tense. His eyes swim with emotion that you’re not fully able to understand. “And…” he starts, his voice quiet, “... what of your hand?”

“My hand?” you repeat, but quickly you realize what he’s talking about. You glance down at the limb and swear quietly when you realize it’s glowing. You weren’t attempting to activate any of your abilities, you weren’t sure why the arm was reacting like this, “it’s more than just the hand. It’s the whole right arm. I… I was gravely injured when we found that mummy beneath the castle. I was rescued, but my arm was beyond saving.”

“It has been replaced?” the prince continues to question, “but- how- and with what-”

“Why are you so concerned?” you bite back, and there’s a snarl to your words that you didn’t intend.

“Am I not allowed to be?” he retorts, and though his speech is tired there’s a very clear tone of challenge in his voice.

You bristle, rolling your eyes and crossing your arms, “well, I would think that it’s rather inappropriate, isn’t it? You’re the one that’s engaged, after all.”

There’s an evident bitterness to your words that makes you want to cringe at the way you’re behaving. But you speak before you think, slipping up and allowing your emotions to get the better of you. When you see the expression on Sidon’s face, one of hurt, you instantly regret it.

The prince falters momentarily before speaking up once more, “what exactly are your intentions here? Do not misunderstand me, I am glad to know that you are safe and no longer missing… but why have you come to Zora’s Domain?”

Your tension loosens and you drop your arms, “... because Zelda is still missing. I won’t rest until she’s found. And when Purah informed me of these regional phenomena, well, I knew that I wasn’t going to just sit around and do nothing. I’m here to help.”

This answer seems to cause Sidon to think. He goes silent, raising a hand to his jaw and staring off into the distance. Then, his gaze lifts and he looks upward into the sky.

“Say… does it not seem that Princess Zelda’s whereabouts might be related to the floating sky islands and the ruins?” he asks aloud, “if so, perhaps you should go and speak with our historian Jiahto. His many years have blessed him with great wisdom. It is quite possible that he could provide you with some useful information. At present, you should be able to find Jiahto continuing his investigation west of Toto Lake.”

You hum in response and nod your head. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. Hopefully solving the problem with the sludge would bring you closer to finding the princess. Just as you begin to turn on your heel and walk away, however, the prince speaks up once more.

“By the way… I hope you know that I am truly happy to see you again,” he says softly, settling his gaze on you once more, “you may visit me anytime you like. Your presence is never anything less than welcome and appreciated.”

This makes your face flush. Internally you’re screaming. How dare he. How dare he continue to be so courteous, so kind, so thoughtful, so handsome, so charming, so- so incredibly frustrating, knowing the distance that has been wedged between the two of you. He was engaged to be wed. You had met his lovely fiance. How dare he be so- so-

So nice .

Thus, Sidon returns to his duties. The blue glow appears on his arms once more as he turns his attention to the task at hand. You watch out of the corner of your eye as the water is cleansed once more.

You utter a quiet goodbye before retreating from the plateau. Your sights are set on the large lake once more. Hopefully speaking with this historian and getting some clues would be able to help you take your mind off of this damnable prince.

Chapter Text

‘Stand upon the land of the sky fish, and behold its lofty view. Among the floating rocks you see, a droplet waits for you. Through this droplet shoot an arrow with the mark of the king. Do this task and you shall reveal a most wondrous thing. See the watery bridge’s resting spot with your own two eyes… that which connects the Zora to the people of the skies.’

These were the words carved into a stone slate near Toto Lake. You’d had to assist Jiahto in repairing it, as when the Upheaval occurred the stone had shattered. He’d encouraged you to seek out King Dorephan and request his assistance, although he mentioned something about the king ‘investigating’ the sludge from the sky.

As you returned to the palace of Zora’s Domain, your thoughts were swirling. The slate had only given you more questions than answers. A sky fish? A droplet? The mark of the king? Clearly, this was some sort of puzzle, but you feared that you lacked the pieces to make up the whole.

You silently wander through the domain. Everywhere you looked there was muck from the sky staining the once pristine architecture. The Zora people all seemed exhausted, and the sight saddened you greatly. While the children seemed in relatively high spirits, the adults within the palace were constantly having hushed conversations and sharing worried looks. 

The fear and apprehension were tangible, and you longed to be of assistance to them. Yes, looking for Princess Zelda was your main priority- but you would never be able to rest knowing people were in need and that you could help them but didn’t. No matter what it takes, you were determined to solve this sludge problem.

An immediate roadblock stood in your path, however: King Dorephan was nowhere to be found.

The throne room which was typically graced by the patriarch’s presence was empty, aside from a few kids who were playing in the pool at the foot of the throne. Anxiety nagged at the back of your mind. ‘Something’s not right,’ you think, recalling your conversation atop the mountain, ‘shit, didn’t Sidon say something about his father being unwell?’

As you retreated down the staircase you tried to think of a plan going forward. Who could you speak to that would help you track the king’s location? If you returned to Mipha Court you could perhaps ask Sidon, but the thought of facing him again so soon made your stomach flip. Maybe you could seek out a council member- although if you were being honest with yourself, the last thing you wanted to do was speak with an elder.

You sigh when you realize what you’re going to have to do. You’ll have to speak with Lady Yona.

The tide pools beneath the throne room trickle gently as you approach them. Each of the three pools of fresh water has Zora lying within them, and you instantly realize that this area is being used as a makeshift medical ward. The ill Zora, sickened from the sludge, are being cared for by the palace nurses. The operation is being overseen by Yona, as well as her two ladies-in-waiting Chroma and Khira. This makes sense, considering all three possess healing abilities through the manipulation of water.

Your boots pad against the smooth stone as you approach, and it draws Khira’s attention as she glances over her shoulder toward you. 

You can hear Yona speak, though it’s mostly to herself. Her palms glow blue as she hovers her hands over one of the ill Zora. “Phew. This sludge really is quite stubborn. I dearly hope our patients recover soon,” she sighs, a dejected expression on her face.

“Lady Yona,” Khira pipes up, “the Hylian knight is here at last.”

‘At last? Have they been waiting for me?’

Yona pauses and turns, her eyes lighting up with recognition as she meets your gaze. “Oh! You really came! How fortuitous,” she beams, “I was hoping to speak with you about an item of great importance.”

Your head tilts to the side in confusion. “Oh? I actually came to ask some questions, but…”

As you trail off awkwardly, Yona steps out of the tide pool and walks beside you. Gently, she guides you away from everyone else, and you realize that this is a conversation she’d rather not have overheard. You sense apprehension from her before she continues, her eyes flicking to the side before she whispers, “it’s about… an item which you entrusted to the domain. Your Zora armor.”

It’s difficult for you to hide the reaction this pulls from you. Your eyes widen and your breathing stutters. “The Zora armor?” you repeat, nervously clenching your hands together. 

Yona nods, and though a small smile graces her face you can see the pity in her eyes, “the repair is complete, so it’s prepared to be bestowed upon you once more.”

“I, um… I don’t recall requesting that the armor be repaired,” you reply, crossing your arms over your chest. In fact, you can perfectly recall what you had said the last time you held that armor in your hands. You had begged Sidon to take it from you, you couldn’t bear to keep it because it reminded you far too much of him.

She glances away from you momentarily, and you quickly realize that she is looking up toward Ploymus Mountain. As though choosing her words, she slowly explains, “there was some… insistence , er, someone advocating in your stead that the armor be repaired and returned to its rightful owner.”

Surely, she must have been talking about the prince. The revelation caused an odd mixture of emotions to surge through you; joy that he was thinking of you, sadness that he felt compelled to return the armor, anger that he was going against your wishes. Rather than forcing an answer out of you, Yona gives you some mercy by instead continuing the conversation.

“If you’ll follow me, we can retrieve the armor from the workshop,” she smiles, pointing toward the stairs.

“I- uh-” you stammer, and your hesitation is obvious. You were conflicted, on the one hand, you knew that regaining the ability to ascend waterfalls would no doubt be incredibly useful for your journey. On the other hand, this armor was imbued with so much emotional baggage that it made your head spin. You had to make a decision though, and quickly, not wanting your indecision to be visible.

So you relent and say, “alright, let’s go.”

You trail behind the princess, anxiety eating away at you. A small, nagging voice in the back of your mind spoke venomous words into existence. What if this was some kind of cruel trick? What if she sought to make a fool out of you? What if this was all a lie, and there was no Zora armor to speak of?

Could she be stringing you along? Was this an attempt at humiliation? After all, her marriage was a rather important one, and you were likely the only person in all of Hyrule who posed a threat to her. Your rushing thoughts come crashing to a halt once you enter the doorway to the workshop. 

“I’m so honored to reunite you with this item, dear Champion,” Yona says, holding the clothing in front of you, “your armor is as good as new! Please, take this along with our well-wishes. I am so happy that I was able to return it to its pristine state. It is a… precious piece of armor, after all. Please use this well for your investigation into Princess Zelda’s whereabouts!”

You take the armor into your hands and gently run your fingers over the scales and metal. She was right, it looked brand new, just as it had years ago when you’d first been gifted it. You feel rather ashamed for having assumed the worst of her. You painted a picture in your mind that saw her as a vindictive and spiteful woman when she truly seemed to be anything but. Perhaps you were the one who’d been vindictive and spiteful.

“... why are you doing this?” you ask her in a quiet voice, not wanting to be overheard.

Her smile drops momentarily.

“I’m sure you’re well aware of the circumstances under which I returned this item to the prince,” you continue with a sad sigh, “I’m sure you must be aware of everything , I don’t think he would have hidden anything from you. So why treat me this way? Why be so kind to me when I’m nothing but a threat to your union?”

Yona takes in a deep breath and shakes her head, before gesturing for you to walk with her. You carefully fold the armor and tuck it beneath your arm, walking beside her as she guides you to the upper level once more. There’s a look of contemplation on her face before she nods and speaks her mind.

“It saddens me to hear you speak so lowly of yourself,” she says, and it thoroughly catches you off guard. She must see the confusion on your face as she continues, “before I arrived here, I had heard nothing but good things about you- from Prince Sidon, of course. But even here in the palace, if your name is spoken it is because the people of this domain sing your praises. You’re a hero, not just to them, but to many of Hyrule’s citizens. I won’t let my, er, arrangement impact the way that I view you.”

The pair of you arrive in front of the goddess statue and you mull over her words. It hadn’t occurred to you that she would have taken any of this into consideration. You knew that in reality, you’d been allowing your jealousy of her engagement cloud your thinking.

Lady Yona glances around, hesitating for just a moment before she explains, “as for your… unique relationship with Prince Sidon… if either of us should be feeling any semblance of guilt, it should be me. I’m well aware of his affection for you- he is madly in love with you. This whole business with the arranged marriage has caused him so much pain, and as his friend, I see it as my duty to aid him where I can. This includes assisting you and ensuring that you still feel welcome.”

“It’s not like it’s your fault either,” you quickly interject, “you didn’t plan the arrangement, neither of you had a say.”

She smiles, though it’s rueful, “well, I suppose, but that doesn’t make it any more fair to you.”

Her words make you flinch and you cast your gaze aside. It wasn’t fair. Nothing had been.

“Now, you said you had a question for me?” she reminds you.

“Oh, yes,” you perk up, gladly accepting the distraction from your confused emotions, “I need to locate King Dorephan, it’s about the investigation into the sludge. Do you have any idea where he might be?”

At the mention of the king, Yona visibly falters. “Ah, he is… indisposed right now,” she answers cautiously, “though I must apologize, I am not at liberty to share his exact location.”

“... oh,” you mutter, disappointed by her response.

“ But ,” she continues, “if you wanted to learn in a more roundabout way, I would recommend seeking out the children. They can’t help but overhear everything the adults say, after all.”

Your brow furrows. Of course, the kids playing in the throne room. Perhaps they would know something about the king’s whereabouts.

You thank Yona for help and begin to turn on your heel, but the princess suddenly calling out your name calls your attention back to her.

“Ah, before you go, there is someone who would like to see you,” she says with a grin.

Confused, you allow yourself to be guided back to the tide pool infirmary. Yona leads you toward the back of the room where you see a nurse sitting with a much smaller Zora in the water. Your eyes widen when you realize that it’s the young boy you’d found in the lake.

The little Zora makes an excited babbling noise when he spots you, stretching his arms out of the water and reaching his hands toward you. You ask for the nurse’s permission before sitting at the water’s edge, smiling as you reach your left hand out to the boy. He wraps his smaller palm around one of your fingers and giggles at you.

“We believe he’s going to make a full recovery,” the nurse explains to you, “he’s showing signs of a healthy appetite already and has responded well to all of our cognitive tests, so we do not think he has any internal damage. Both you and Prince Sidon were able to help him just in time.”

Your heart swells with relief as she gives you this news. The young boy slaps the water playfully, his golden eyes focused on your other hand as well. Allowing him to examine you, you bring both your hands in front of his face. He stares at them intensely, his gaze flicking back and forth between each palm, clearly confused by the stark difference between your arms. 

Deciding to entertain his curiosity, you fish through your small travel pack and pull a piece of flint out. You hold the rock in your left palm and watch as your right arm begins to glow. The little boy’s eyes widen in surprise, and only more so when you use your Ultrahand ability to lift the stone into the air. He squeals with excitement as you move the flint around, and you can’t help but grin. Even if your new arm gives you a lot of grief, at least it can make him laugh.

Lady Yona, who had been watching with a smile on her face, speaks up behind you, “he’s been rather talkative, though he can’t quite say words yet, he’s still rather young. But we thought you might’ve liked to see him since you were the one who found him. The squad of guards is still searching for his parents, but no word from them yet.”

“I see,” you mumble, setting the flint aside and putting your hand in the water (to which the young boy excitedly paddles over and starts to play with your palms). “I’m just happy he’s safe. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I couldn’t have saved him…”

Yona kneels beside you and thoughtfully nods her head, “yes, I understand. He seems to have become quite attached to you. Gaddison said he got rather fussy when you tried to hand him over.”

This pulls a small laugh out of you.

“As you can see, we do not yet have a name for him,” the princess continues, “we were hoping for the boy’s parents to be found, but since there are no signs yet we thought it might be a good idea to choose a temporary name for the time being. I wanted to ask if you have any ideas for a name.”

You sputter, whipping your head around to look at her, “wh- huh- me?”

She nods politely as if this is at all normal.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” you ask, flicking your gaze to the little boy (who is now blowing bubbles in the water), “I wouldn’t want to impose. I- I don’t even know the first thing about the tradition of Zora names.”

“I trust you to pick a good name,” she responds with a genuine tone.

You focus your attention back to the boy and give him a smile. A name… it was a request you’d never been given before- and frankly, it felt like a heavy responsibility. Names were incredibly important, they had meaning and history behind them. You didn’t want to pick anything plain or foolish. You racked your mind for ideas until your train of thought landed on Sidon and his family.

The Zora royal family had a long lineage of having names selected from music. You decided that you would choose something which reflected the same. 

“Allegro,” you answer after a moment of silence. You lift a hand and pat his head, an action which pulls a laugh from him. 

Yona hums and repeats the name, as though testing it, “Allegro… yes, I quite like that, I’ll make a note of it for the nurses.”

You huff out a sigh of relief, glad that you’d received approval. “Can you say Allegro?” you ask him with a grin.

The young boy seems concentrated as he focuses on what you say. You repeat the name a few times, splitting up the syllables. Though it takes a few times, eventually he mumbles something akin to ‘Awehgo’ and you decide that it’s close enough. It’s only once you glance up and see that the sun is beginning to set on the horizon that you realize quite some time has passed.

Although you’d love to continue to keep an eye on the young Zora, you knew you still had a job to do. You try not to let yourself be too sad as you step away from the tide pool. You give him one last pat on the head and say your goodbye, to which he excitedly says “bye!” in return. Yona bids you a farewell as you walk away, Zora armor held tight in your arms.

It was time to find the king.

“A spot with clear water?” “Somewhere between Ploymus Mountain and the domain!” “Behind the waterfall-” “A secret entrance!”

These were all snippets of a conversation you’d overheard from the older Zora children. They’d been playing a game, though to you it seemed as if they were playing out the events of a battle King Dorephan had fought. Regardless, the outcome of the battle didn’t seem favorable, so you pieced together the words of the children and it led your next destination.

Mikau Lake. The lake had a large waterfall flowing into it, one of a series of falls that flowed from the top of the mountain. You stared at the water fondly, recalling a time during Sidon’s Divine Beast trials. Both of you had ascended these waterfalls together and you start to fondly remember it- before a sinking feeling settles in your stomach once more. That was in the past. You could not- would not do it ever again.

With a sigh you look down at yourself, examining your new- or, perhaps, old armor. The Zora armor sat snug on your body, perfectly fitted to your figure. The scales along your arms were a familiar texture, and the silver cuffs were almost nostalgic. The armor came with gloves for both hands and though you considered covering your right hand for the sake of your insecurities, you realized it would impede your abilities. So your right hand would have to stay uncovered, but at least the rest of your arm was hidden from prying eyes.

You catch your reflection in the water of the lake and stare. Something seemed missing about the armor, and you weren’t sure what. You had the gloves, the shoulder pads, the cuffs, the tunic, the belt- but you gasp when you realize what you were looking for. The silver armband, the one Sidon had gifted you so long ago, the one that always used to sit snug on your bicep. Of course, you had lost it during the ambush from the Yiga Clan, but you had worn it so often that seeing the Zora armor without it felt off to you.

With a groan you shake your head and begin to wade through the water. Now wasn’t the time for ridiculous thinking. The waterfall roars around you, the sound of the water becoming louder than your thoughts. You squeeze your eyes shut and walk through, hoping that this was the sanctum the children had been whispering about.

When you step out on the other side the sight before you is astounding. Brilliantly carved columns stretch high above you and luminous stones light the way further into the cave. The water and architecture were spotless, untainted by the sludge from the sky. It had been protected not only by Sidon’s efforts in Mipha Court but also due to the benefit of being sheltered by the cave.

You progress through the cave, using the armor to ascend a short waterfall. The feeling was odd, it had been so long since you’d had to do so that you’d forgotten the feeling. It was no less invigorating, however. You land upon a staircase and make your way further, trickling water and condensation causing a rhythmic pitter-patter . However, your admiring of the sanctum is quickly cut short once you arrive at the top of the steps.

King Dorephan is sitting before you in a large chair, not unlike his throne in the palace. Though you’re relieved to have found him, that relief quickly turns to horror as you realize the state that he’s in. His body is littered with bruises and scars and his scales are tainted with the muck from above. His breathing was haggard and he seemed to barely be able to keep his eyes open. The sludge glows and shifts along his form with an ominous purple glow.

He was sick.

“King Dorephan!” you exclaim in a panic as you rush forward, and you realize that Muzu, his faithful advisor, is standing by his side.

“Is that you?” the councilman questions with an air of suspicion, “so it is… how did you find this place? What cruel ploy are you plotting?”

You’re stunned by his accusation, so much so that you stumble backward. It was so unlike him- while many of the elders looked down on you with disdain, you thought that surely Muzu had grown to have a better opinion of you over the years. But perhaps you’d thought wrong…

From his seat, the king speaks up, though his voice is strained, “hold, my ever-loyal Muzu. If you speak in such a way without explanation, the champion here will only be confused as to what is going on.”

You swallow nervously. Clearly, there was something that you weren’t aware of.

Dorephan attempts to sit up straight, but you can tell the action causes him pain. There’s a pang in your heart as you watch, unable to do anything to help him. Surely there must have been attempts to heal him already- if he was stuck here like this, then the poison must have already afflicted him.

“Hello, _____. It has been some time since we last spoke,” he sighs, and though his eyes are softened you can see a hint of sadness in his expression, “I had received word that you went missing along with Princess Zelda. Why have you come here?”

You give an explanation of all that had happened to you, though this time it is significantly shortened- you fear that if you take too much time, his illness will only grow worse. He nods his head as he listens, a grim frown settling on his face.

“Well, well… to think that such a thing should transpire for the hero of Hyrule and Princess Zelda…” the king trails off.

Muzu, on the other hand, scoffs, “you expect us to believe that Princess Zelda simply disappeared, just like that. Do not sully our ears with your lies! I saw Princess Zelda with my own eyes just days after the phenomenon at Hyrule Castle took place!”

Your brow furrows with confusion. ‘What in Hylia’s name is he talking about? He couldn’t possibly have seen Zelda… unless… unless it was like the incident at the castle when she disappeared into a flash of light…’

“Calm yourself, Muzu,” Dorephan gently chastises his advisor, “her eyes betray no hint of deception. She remains a trusted friend of the Zora. There must be an explanation. I will now tell you what happened when we last saw Princess Zelda, as well as the reason behind my seclusion here in the Pristine Sanctum.”

“We encountered Princess Zelda days after Hyrule Castle ascended into the sky. Floating islands appeared as if from nowhere… sludge and fragments of ruins began raining down. Muzu and I had left the domain to investigate these strange occurrences. That is when it happened. Princess Zelda descended from the sky accompanied by a sludge monster. What happened next took us by surprise… she then unleashed the beast upon us.”

You were completely stunned by this. It made no sense. Not only had they seen the princess, but she had attacked them? This couldn’t be right- surely, surely there must have been something else. Someone else? Anything else? You were sure that Zelda would never do such a thing.

“King Dorephan valiantly vanquished the threat. However… he was gravely injured by the sludge during the battle,” Muzu continued, casting his gaze to the floor, “as for Princess Zelda, she vanished without a trace. If word got out that Princess Zelda lost her mind and harmed the Zora king… the resulting turmoil would be devastating. That is why we are temporarily remaining hidden within this sanctum.”

He was right. If anyone thought that the princess of Hyrule had attacked another leader it would spawn untold amounts of chaos. And it seemed that, until now, no one but the two of them had been aware. Not even Prince Sidon- he had only been informed that his father was sick. 

“According to your story, Princess Zelda disappeared suddenly in the depths beneath Hyrule Castle,” Dorephan said softly, “on the other hand, she suddenly appeared near Zora’s Domain and unleashed a monster upon us. The waters of truth have become murkier still, but from the Zora perspective, one thing is clear.”

“It all leads back to the sky. The disaster, the sludge, the monster, even Princess Zelda. It may well be that the answer to these riddles can only be found skyward… Sidon ordered Jiahto to investigate, I wonder if any progress has been made…”

“He has!” you quickly pipe up, “we were able to uncover a stone slate near Toto Lake with mentions of a relationship between the Zora and the people of the skies. It says something about the ‘mark of the king’, which is why I came looking for you.”

At this, the king smiles, “ah! So you have already spoken with Jiahto! The mark of the king, you say… indeed, I do know of it. This refers to a Zora king’s scale. One of my scales, in other words. I have heard it called by the name you mentioned in an ancient ritual. However, none remain who know how it was used… If this particular scale of mine may prove useful to you, by all means, take a few.”

You watch as he lifts a shaky hand to his arm and plucks a few small scales from his bicep. You wince at the motion, cautiously approaching him as he holds his arm out to you. The scales are a brilliant blue with a pointed tip, faintly shimmering in the light from the luminous stones.

He notices your apprehension and chuckles, a genuine hearty laugh, “there is no need for restraint! This is nothing to me. If you run out, simply return and acquire more.”

You bow your head respectfully and utter your thanks, gently tucking the scales away into your bag.

“After all that has transpired, and after much reflection, I have come to a realization,” Dorephan sighs as he settles back in his chair, “I must truly be getting on in years to have allowed a mere monster to catch me off guard. Perhaps… the time is nearing for me to pass the title of king on to Sidon.”

Your eyes widen at this, your heart skipping a beat in your chest. If the prince were to ascend to the throne then… then that would only mean that his engagement to Yona would be certified as well, for she would become the queen the moment that he became king. You’re sure that your expression must be betraying you, you look away before either of them can see your shock.

“King Dorephan…” Muzu says gently.

“In any case, that is a matter for another day, after the chaos surrounding the sludge has quieted,” the king continues, turning his attention to you, “please inform Sidon about my situation and about the king’s scale. Tell him there is no need to worry about me. Tell him that he must go forth and do what needs to be done.”

You face him once more and nod firmly. Just as you begin to step away, though, the king utters one last thing.

“If I may…” he starts, his expression drawn into one of concern, “I do want to say that… I am sorry for how everything has transpired. I did not once want any harm to befall you or my son, but… it seems this arrangement has caused both of you a substantial amount of pain. I regret that I could not have been of more assistance…”

You open your mouth to respond, but quickly shut it tight. You do not trust yourself to speak wisely, nor do you trust your voice to remain unwavering. Instead, you politely bow, whisper a quick farewell, and then retreat from the sanctum as fast as your legs will carry you. Your heart pounds as you rush through the waterfall, and a quiet sob racks through you as you kneel in the water of the lake. 

That apology from Dorephan threatened to be your breaking point. You allow yourself a matter of seconds to feel the rush of emotions. A wave of sadness washes over you, tightening your throat.

“Dammit,” you hiss under your breath, weakly hitting your fist against the lake bed, “... king. He’s going to be king. I should be happy for him- why can’t I be happy for him?”

You groan as you force yourself back to your feet. You splash your face with cool water, you double-check your supplies, and then you turn your attention to the mountaintop above you. It was time to return to Mipha Court.

You were going to have to face Sidon again.

Chapter Text

With the Zora armor you’re easily able to ascend the waterfalls, the series of which help bring you near the top of Ploymus mountain. You shake the water off of your body and secure your bag of supplies before starting your trek up to the plateau. By now the sun had set, and in its stead, a quarter moon was hovering in the sky. Your mind is racing as you walk, the noise of your swirling thoughts competing with the chirping crickets and the grass that crunched beneath your boots.

To say that you were confused would be an understatement. The mummy, the phenomena, Zelda, and the sky. They all seemed to be connected but how ? You were growing frustrated, as if the answers were being dangled just in front of your face but you couldn’t reach them. How could the princess have possibly reappeared to attack King Dorephan? In the same vein, how did she appear at the castle only to disappear into a flash of light? Who was that mummy beneath the castle, and how had his awakening caused this entire mess to start with?

You groan, dragging a hand down your face as you trudge toward Mipha Court. The answers to these questions would have to wait, for now, you needed to focus on the sludge problem. Warily you cast your eyes upward to the sky, glaring at the streams of filth that flow down to the ground.

As you approach the fountain you can see that the prince is still awake- and of course he is, he’s dedicated himself to cleansing the waters. Though the light of the moon illuminates him beautifully, there’s a pang in your heart when you see the exhaustion that’s visible on his face. Your eyes flicker across his figure momentarily as you recall the king’s statements in the sanctum.

Sidon would be king soon. And that was just a fact you were going to have to contend with.

He glances up once he hears you approaching, and a small smile graces his face as he lowers his arms. It seems as though he opens his mouth to greet you, but the words get lodged in his throat. His eyes widen as he looks down at you and he stammers before quickly averting his gaze.

‘What was that about?’

“Ah! That… that is the Zora armor,” he says softly, nervously clearing his throat, “... it truly is perfect on you. I- I have no doubt that it will help you in your search for Princess Zelda!”

‘Oh. Right. The armor.’

You feel a tad flustered and awkwardly tilt your head, feeling heat rise to your face, “y-yeah, it fits great, and it feels brand new. I’m sure it will be a great help.”

He slowly nods his head, allowing his golden gaze to settle on you once more, “speaking of, have you found anything?”

You recite the statement found on the stone slate Jiahto had uncovered. Then you explain how you’d searched for the king and he’d bestowed his scales, the ‘mark of the king’, to you. Tentatively, you also reveal the cause for Dorephan’s absence. While the king hadn’t chosen to inform his son himself, you thought it would be best for him to know the truth. 

Sidon’s eyes widen as he responds, “what…? You say the monster that attacked my father was unleashed by Princess Zelda? What could that possibly mean?” He pauses, a flash of confusion crossing his face. “Well, for now I fear all we can do is take my father at his word and try not to let our concern overcome us. Thank you for telling me about my father.”

You nod your head and place your hands on your hips, “well, what do you think we should do now?”

He turns his attention away from the water, the blue glow in his arms fading. He glances upward as he says, “Princess Zelda descending from the sky, not to mention the monster and that filthy sludge… it seems our course is skyward. We now know that the mark of the king written of on the slate refers to my father’s scale.  The only remaining mystery is that of the land of the sky fish and the floating rock in the shape of a droplet…”

“Stand upon the land of the sky fish…” he murmurs, repeating the words from the slate, “that must be referring to an actual location of some sort. I am sure that if we locate this ‘sky fish’, it will lead us to this supposed ‘droplet’! _____, if you find any leads, please let me know at once.”

His golden gaze settles upon you once more and he gives you a look of confidence and a smile. You shuffle your feet and nod in return, ignoring the way in which your heart skips as he looks down on you. As you bid him goodbye and step away from the fountain, Yona’s words echo in your mind.

“I’m well aware of his affection for you- he is madly in love with you.”

But was this still true? Even after you had pushed him away, could his heart still possibly hold the same affection? You wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t, you’d told him yourself that he had his duties and you had your own. 

Did you still feel the same way about him?

You take a quick peek over your shoulder and look back at the Zora in question. Your heartbeat quickens as you gaze at him, subtly admiring the curves of his body. His biceps flexed as he used his water manipulation to separate the muck from the fresh water. You couldn’t deny the way your face warmed up as you stared. It was also undeniable that you longed to be in his arms once more, how you wished for him to call you his, how you were desperate to be able to kiss him and not feel guilt or shame-

‘Alright. Yes. I still love him. But now’s not the time to be worrying about that.’

For now you needed to turn your attention to solving the mystery of this supposed ‘sky fish’. As you walk down the grassy path you unhook the Purah Pad from your belt and examine it closely. From the ground, you were unable to spot anything that aligned with the description from the slate, but perhaps the map of the area would provide you with a little more assistance. 

The pad’s map was split into three layers: the sky, the surface, and the depths. Whenever you would activate one of the Skyview Towers it would use the collected data to fill in the map for the surface and sky- however, to uncover more of the depths you would have to physically traverse Hyrule’s dark underbelly. Your fingers glide across the smooth screen, carefully examining the map of the wetlands and domain. Nothing seems out of the ordinary, so you flick upwards and swap to the sky layer.

The Purah Pad had carefully mapped the mass of islands in the sky above Zora’s Domain. Some small, some large, and notably there appeared to be a large mass of islands closely grouped together directly above the palace. You pinch your fingers, zooming in closer on the screen. Your brow furrowed as you narrowed your eyes and-

There .

A floating island a little to the east of Ploymus Mountain. It was one larger body of rock surrounded by a multitude of smaller fragments. But the largest island in the small, sky archipelago resembled a-

“Sky fish,” you realize, looking up from the device, “it’s not a creature, it’s an island.”

You jump into a sprint, skirting along the side of the plateau as your eyes scan across the sky. Your boots skid to a halt at the cliff side and you catch your breath, gazing up at an array of floating rocks. The northern end of the island had a stream of water flowing off the end of it, and you decide that this is your target. After maneuvering to the highest ground you could find, you run off the edge and utilize your paraglider to float through the air toward the island. Once you're within arms reach of the waterfall you’re able to use the Zora armor to swim upward (though the fact that there’s no water beneath you to catch you should you fall is a tad nerve-wracking.)

Once you’re standing atop the floating mass you have to reorient yourself. The small sky island is caked with muck and filth, but luckily you had a few splash fruits on hand to clear a path for yourself. The island was tiered and had staircases, as though it were once a part of a larger structure but had broken off at some point. As you wander around and investigate, you recite the words from the slate once more. 

“Stand upon the land of the sky fish, and behold its lofty view. Among the floating rocks you see, a droplet waits for you. Through this droplet shoot an arrow with the mark of the king,” you mumble, looking at the field of smaller rocks which sat in the air around the island. You found the ‘sky fish’ and you possessed the mark of the king, but what could this ‘droplet’ possibly be?

The smaller rocks were beautiful, made up of various shades of blue and green that shimmered in the moonlight. They seemed to be floating gems, shards of a larger node perhaps. Your boots softly thud against the smooth stone floor as you march up the stairs. ‘These have to be a part of the solution somehow,’ you muse, ‘but how? None of these contain water…’

As you walk across the highest platform you notice how the rocks seem to shift depending on where you’re standing. Your perspective is altered as you move back and forth along the island. You look at each rock individually and grow frustrated as none of them seem to offer an answer to your questions. Your heels skid against the ground as you turn suddenly, growing frustrated, but just as you make this motion your eyes make a connection.

A cluster of the rocks begins to connect- not physically, as they each float far apart from one another. But from where you’re standing your perspective makes it seem as though the rocks connect to one another, like puzzle pieces. As you step closer to the edge you can see that the rocks make up a shape: the outline of a water droplet.

“Oh…” you softly gasp, your fingers fumbling as you grasp your bag. You reach inside and produce the scales King Dorephan had bestowed upon you. Using an arrow from your quiver you utilize your Fuse ability to carefully connect the two, thus making it so that the scale will act as the pointed tip of the arrow. 

‘The mark of the king,’ you think as you grab your bow, ‘I wonder what Sidon will look like once he ascends to the throne. Will he inherit his father’s crown and sash?’

With a heavy sigh you put an end to these thoughts and square your shoulder, setting the arrow in place and drawing back on the string. You exhale softly as you line up your shot, staring at the formation of droplets. One arrow should hopefully be enough.

“Do this task and you shall reveal a most wondrous thing. See the watery bridge’s resting spot with your own two eyes: that which connects the Zora to the people of the skies,” you whisper, letting the arrow loose.

It soars through the air, flying through the center of the rocks. The floating stones glow green in response, a sign that you’ve seemingly activated something - you just weren’t sure what. Your arrow continues to fly, farther than you’d ever seen one go, soaring farther and farther in an arching line. You lose sight of it, realizing that it must have landed in the eastern reservoir- the large body of water where Divine Beast Vah Ruta had once stood.

There’s a distant rumbling and your eyes widen as a beam of light shoots up and out of the lake. It was a greenish-blue hue, identical to the color in which your right arm would glow. In the dark of nighttime, it was a spectacular sight, and you could imagine that it must’ve been visible for miles in any direction.

“I need to show Sidon,” you say aloud, though there’s no one around to hear you.

Your feet carry you faster than your brain even instructs your body to move. With the paraglider, you’re able to easily hop off of the island and glide back to the plateau atop the mountain. As you approach Mipha Court, however, you’re surprised by the sight you see.

Yona had traveled up the mountain and was in the middle of a conversation with the prince.

Once you land you’re able to hear a fragment of what’s being said.

“It is far too dangerous for you to be here!” Sidon insists, his expression laced with concern.

“I came here because there is something I need to speak with you about,” she responds, “I have been thinking for quite some time- oh! Hello there, champion.”

Your eyes awkwardly flicker between the two of them. It was difficult enough to hold personal conversations with them separately- but to talk to both at the same time felt like an entirely different challenge. You nervously clear your throat and nod your head in greeting.

“What has happened?” Sidon asks, his gaze settling on you, “did you figure something out?”

You do your best to explain, but it’s difficult for you to ignore the pounding in your chest. You hadn’t imagined that it would be so strange to speak to them both at the same time. It was anxiety-inducing as if you’d been thrown into a fight or flight response. Frankly, all you wanted to do was fly away and hide- but there were more important things to deal with. Though your voice is noticeably tense and stilted, you manage to tell him what you discovered.

“So you solved the ancient stone slate’s riddle, and a pillar of light appeared?” he asks, shocked by this revelation, “if the words upon the slate are correct, a path to the sky may open up if we investigate that location… well done, _____! This is a huge development!”

Beside him, Yona hums gently and lifts her hand to her chin in thought, “I see… dear Sidon, I think that you should go with the champion to investigate that pillar of light. As I was just about to say, for a long time, I have been concerned that you are holding yourself back and not acting as freely as I would have expected.”

Your eyes widen and you turn your head, suddenly feeling as though you’re caught in a conversation that you should not be a part of. As though this was a private affair which you were intruding upon. Suddenly the ground has become awfully interesting and you stare at the dirt, nervously crossing your arms. If you could conveniently disappear into thin air, you would .

“But, if you and _____ join your powers, I am certain you shall be able to overcome whatever danger awaits,” she persists.

With your head turned away you’re unable to see the way the prince looks at you. You’re unaware of his lingering gaze and the deep longing in his eyes. He has to force himself to stop, to snap his attention back to the princess.

“That is undoubtedly true. However…” he trails off.

Yona speaks up, “whatever is troubling you, Sidon? Why are you hesitating so?”

This is all too much for you. There was an affection in her words, and though you’d been told that it was you who he cared for you still couldn't bear to hear it. You stumble backwards and away from the two. “I- I should go,” you stammer, “you guys can discuss, uh, whatever it is you have to talk about. I’ll come back later.”

You can hear the prince call your name out and you want nothing more than to be able to run straight into his arms- but you can’t . To attempt to get any closer to him was foolish and you knew that. Your feet are barely able to carry you a handful of steps before a sudden tremor shakes the ground.

A monster crawls up through the earth, the large mass suddenly erupting before you. You gasp and step back, your arm instinctively moving to grab your sword. Momentarily you’re reminded of the gloom hands that had previously attacked you, though luckily there was no gloom to be seen. Whatever this beast was, however, it was covered from head to toe in sludge.

You hear a shout from the prince behind you but there’s a pounding in your ears that leaves you unable to process what’s being said. As you walk backward you stare at the monster and attempt to analyze it for any weaknesses- it seems to be shaped similarly to a Like Like, but with the muck acting like an armor you couldn’t locate a spot to attack.

A hand on your shoulder makes you jump, but as you tilt your head you realize that it was Prince Sidon standing behind you. You meet his eyes and he gives you a confident nod. “Please,” he urges you, “I must ask that you fight at my side once more! It is a mighty opponent, certainly, but we must not falter. When an opportunity presents itself, call out to me. I shall use my power to envelop you in water, thusly shielding you from our foe- and you may shoot forth the water as an attack as well!” 

With a tense nod, you turn your attention back to the monster, crouching into a defensive position. With the beast being so close to the fountain, there were other lives at stake. Of course, the guards could defend themselves, but Yona and her two assistants had no weapons to speak of- and none had made mention of ever having trained in combat. Not to mention, you were incredibly concerned about Sidon himself. If this was similar to the creature that had harmed his father, you dreaded the idea of the prince falling ill with the same poison.

The monster writhes before spitting up balls of muck into the air, covering the ground around itself with the substance. You tried to think of a plan quickly, knowing that the splash fruit you carried could dispel the sludge- however, you only had a finite amount. However, if the prince could bestow his water manipulation to you, perhaps it too could counteract the filth.

“Sidon,” you say sternly, not taking your eyes off of the monster, “give me the shield, I need to see if I can get rid of the sludge.”

“On it!” he affirms quickly. 

You hear a rush of water and are momentarily stunned as a wall of liquid envelops you. It’s a hollow sphere, allowing you plenty of room to breathe and move. Tentatively you reach a hand out and touch the water, your fingers pushing against the rushing water. It was warm, like the feeling of ocean water that’s been heated by the sun. Your heart skips a beat when you realize that, like this, Sidon is protecting you.

Carefully you step forward, anxiously watching the beast in case it chooses to make any sudden movements. You tighten your grip on your weapon; a traveler's sword fused with a blue Bokoblin horn. As you walk closer to the monster it spits up more balls of sludge, attempting to hit you, but you’re able to sidestep them and narrowly avoid getting struck. 

Once within range you angle your arm back before flinging it forward- similarly as you had once done with the Master Sword. However, instead of emitting a beam of light, it resulted in your attack being infused with the water from your shield. You trade the defense for offense, watching as the water creates a wave that rids the ground of sludge and lashes against the monster.

The beast writhes and roars as its armor of muck dissipates. You see that it is, in fact, a Like Like- though this one appears paler than those you’d found in caves. Knowing what the creature was gave you an advantage in battle, as you now knew exactly where its weak point was. Out of the corner of your eye, you spot a flash of movement and realize Sidon is sprinting forward, brandishing his trident.

“Wait!” you shout, “it’s skin is too thick, your spear won’t make any impact! You have to wait for it to stick out its tongue!”

This halts the prince in his tracks and you notice the look of confusion on his face. Surely the instructions must have sounded strange, but regardless he still listened to you. As the Like Like wriggled and prepared to launch more muck, the pair of you gave each other looks of confidence. It was as though you communicated silently, each agreeing on the same strategy.

You each flank either side of the monster to divide its attention, and the creature seemingly struggles to focus on a target. After weakly spitting up a few more balls of sludge it finally reveals the glowing, bulbous weak point in its mouth. “There!” you shout, quickly drawing your bow and taking aim.

Swiftly you strike the tongue and watch as the Like Like collapses, open and vulnerable to attack. The prince quickly takes advantage of this, easily sidestepping the muck that littered the ground and gracefully twirling his trident in his hands. With unparalleled elegance he attacks, using the spear as an extension of himself to repeatedly strike the monster. You’re so distracted by his movements that you nearly forget to dole out some damage as well. Luckily you have enough time to land a few hits with your sword before the beast recoils and defends itself once more.

The pair of you have a strategy now, repeating the previous steps in an effort to take down this foe. Sidon gives you a shield of water which you use to dispel the Like Like’s sludge armor, then after its weak point is struck you can attack it at full force. All the while you both do your best to avoid being hit by its muck spitballs. After a few more rounds of this you finally, thankfully, watch the monster collapse into a heap and slowly sink back into the ground.

Your chest heaves as you attempt to catch your breath once more- though you were improving you still sorely missed the strength that had been sapped from you beneath the castle. “Goddesses… what was that,” you huff, sheathing your sword and trudging back to the fountain. 

Simultaneously, Sidon bound forth, seemingly invigorated with energy after the battle (you could only assume it was a rush of adrenaline because he had seemed exhausted just minutes before). “You did it, _____! Take that, foul beast of the sludge,” he cheers, a grin on his face as he looks toward Mipha Court, “is everyone alright?”

You can see Yona standing at the edge of the fountain and she smiles at you. Behind her were her two ladies in waiting, Chroma and Khira, who had seemingly taken over the task of purifying the water. “We are unharmed,” the princess says with a nod as she approaches you.

The prince sighs gratefully, “thank goodness. Lady Yona, if something had happened to you… I…”

There’s a pang in your heart that you desperately try to bury.

“In any case, it is possible that another monster will appear. I suggest that you return to the domain at once,” Sidon continues with urgency in his voice.

“Thank you for the sentiment, Sidon. However, more importantly, we must consider what Lady _____ spoke of earlier,” she retorts with a gentle shake of her head, “the pillar of light that she said appeared at the reservoir begs to be investigated. This may be our opportunity to learn the cause of the sludge falling from the sky or even Princess Zelda’s whereabouts. Leave this place to us, Sidon. Your darl- er, the champion needs your help getting to the bottom of this mystery.”

Her slip-up practically makes you flinch. Surely, there was no chance that she had nearly said that aloud. To call you Sidon’s ‘darling’ was crossing a line- but to do so publicly with others in earshot could be disastrous. The prince reacts as well, his eyes widening as he attempts to stammer out a response.

“W-well… of course it would be best for me to accompany her. However, I cannot leave you alone in this dangerous place!” he pleads.

Yona crosses her arms, and though her expression is kind you can hear a tense tone in her voice, “did you not entrust this task to us already? We will not be on our own for long. We shall be just fine.”

The prince shakes his head in an attempt to argue, but seemingly can’t find the words. All he can bear to utter is a simple, “but…”

“Sidon…” sighs the princess, her gaze gentle as it settles upon him, “I truly appreciate that you worry so for my safety. It speaks to the kindness in your heart. But you are the prince of the Zora. One day, you will lead the people of your beloved domain. I can see right through you, whether you want me to or not. You are yielding to the fear of losing someone you love again.”

You find yourself hanging on each word she says, and you can’t help but feel that there’s a double meaning to her sentiments. You were well aware of the prince’s fears, you’d witnessed firsthand the anxieties he held which stemmed from the loss of his dear sister. However, when she spoke of him losing someone he loved, you were fairly certain that she wasn’t speaking of herself… rather, she was alluding to you.

“You must overcome your past and face whatever the future holds with courage,” she urges him.

Though you don’t dare to look directly at him, for you don’t trust yourself to hide your emotions, in your peripheral vision you can see the prince cast his gaze to the floor. He mumbles something quietly, another utterance of doubt in himself. It pains your heart to see him so unsure of himself when he usually thrived with confidence.

“Enough is enough! You are not acting like yourself!” Yona loudly proclaims, and it’s loud enough to catch you off guard and equally startle Sidon. She pauses momentarily before softening her voice, “you must leave this place to me. Sidon… do not get lost in the past. You must keep moving ever onward. Just follow your heart, as you always do.”

‘Follow your heart,’ you repeat her words in your mind, ‘... follow your heart…’

In the corner of your eye, you can see the way the prince looks toward you- and you have to force yourself not to look back. Not now. You couldn’t bear it.

“Like my old self…” he says softly,  “like I always do…”

Would he follow his heart? Would you follow your own? You weren’t sure of yourself anymore.

“It is alright, I swear it,” Yona insists, “I… we… we are not going anywhere.”

Beside you Sidon whispers, just barely loud enough for you to be able to pick up on his words. “I see… and there it is, clear as day… I was giving into my fear… I…”

Suddenly he jumps up, a beaming smile on his face as his eyes twinkle with excitement, “you are right, Yona! I will not give in to this fear! Nor forsake my trust in you! I will leave this place to you, my dearest friend!”

Before either of you can respond he spins on his heels and turns to fully face you, giving you his all-too recognizable grin. “Off we go, _____! To the pillar of light! Let us blaze on ahead!” he cheers, nodding his head assuredly. 

He steps aside to speak with the guards, no doubt giving them instructions to protect the princess and her assistants as they work to cleanse the waters. As he does so you hear a happy sigh and flick your gaze back to Yona. Her kind eyes meet your own and she smiles, ushering you closer.

“It seems Sidon has finally put his doubts behind him and returned to his usual fearless self. I am so glad,” she says softly, “all this time he was clinging to regret over being unable to save his precious sister, Mipha… poor, tormented Sidon. And to think, he was unknowingly paralyzed from taking action because he feared- well… I’m sure I needn’t have to say it aloud.”

You nod in affirmation, flickering your eyes back toward the prince. He was speaking animatedly with the guards, and though he was still showing visible signs of fatigue he seemed far more awake and lively than before.

“Please, take good care of our dear Sidon,” the princess utters gently, placing a hand on your shoulder, “he means so much to his people…”

You place your hand atop her own and offer her a smile, “of course…” Your mind briefly flashes back to the times when you hadn’t been able to protect the prince, but you bury those anxieties quickly. You exchange farewells and begin to walk away, but Yona calling out your name once more pauses you in your tracks.

“One last thing, champion… you should not give in to your fears either,” she says calmly, “I think that… if you both look to the future, you will make an excellent pair.”

You furrow your brow as you mull over her words. “An excellent pair… in combat, yes?” you reply.

She laughs softly, clasping her hands together, “of course, in combat.”

‘Surely she’s not implying that I- that we- no, I can’t think about this right now, I have to focus on the task at hand.’

Once the prince has finished instructing his guards you walk together toward the staircase connected to the fountains. The steps would lead you straight to the edge of Ploymus mountain, an easy vantage point to reaching the eastern reservoir. You walk side by side in silence and you nervously keep your arms glued to your sides, as though you might reach out to him if you don’t remind yourself that he’s not yours to touch anymore.

At the top of the staircase, you find yourself face to face with the state of Mipha, realizing that this is where she was now located. The princess smiles down at you fondly, her ethereal form elegantly depicted in the carved stone. You offer her a wordless greeting and a smile, her presence helping to calm you even now. Beside you Sidon acts similarly, whispering a small greeting to his sister as you walk past.

Now at the edge of the platform, you gaze down at the massive lake, its once pristine waters tainted by the sludge from the sky. The glowing light created by the arrow was still present, making it easy to show the prince your next location. “That’s where we need to go,” you say, “but the stone slate had no explanation about the light. Once we’re down there, I have no idea what we’ll have to do next.”

“I have an idea, but I won’t know for certain until we’re down there,” Sidon replies with a nod. He glances at you, his eyes illuminated by the moon, and he smiles. “Well, little one, are you ready?”

You sigh shakily but nod in reply, “ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s meet on that broken platform near the center of the reservoir.”

The prince grins and you watch as he gracefully leaps off the cliffside. You peer over the edge and watch as he soars further and further, before finally landing in the water with a large splash. Just below the surface, you’re able to see a blur of movement, signifying his swimming form.

You take in a deep breath as you unfurl your paraglider. You would be working alone with Sidon, a thought that simultaneously thrilled and terrified you. Hopefully, your poor heart will be able to survive this excursion. 

Before you can begin to think too hard and change your mind, you run off the edge and glide down to the reservoir below.

Chapter Text

Your boots land upon an outcrop of stone that sticks out the water- likely a remnant of damage caused by the upheaval. A heavy sigh escapes your lips as you fold your paraglider and look up. The prince stands at the edge of the ‘island’, staring up at the pillar of light.

“So that is the clue for reaching the sky,” Sidon marvels, gazing upon it. It casts a green glow across his body, an odd contrast to the crimson of his scales. As you move to stand beside him you do your best to ignore how your heart seems to drum faster. Nervously, you dig your nails into the palms of your hands.

Suddenly, there’s a voice. It’s faint and distant, but there’s no mistaking it. A voice which calls out to the prince himself, a voice that comes from the heavens- the sky. Sidon looks up, craning his neck to find the source- but to no avail. 

“Just now… what was that?” he questions, concern etched onto his features. When he looks down and meets your eyes you can only match his confusion. He falters, before muttering, “never mind. Now is not the time for flights of fancy. Just where could that light be coming from…”

As you both turn your attention back to the water you remind him of something said on the cliffs above. “You mentioned having an idea?” you offer.

This brings a grin to his features, and you ignore the tinge of happiness it brings you to see his joy. “Yes, indeed,” he responds, “if my theory is correct, we have a surefire way of locating the source of this light.”

Before you can ask for clarification, he jumps.

You gasp as you run to the edge and peer down into the murky waters. With the reservoir’s contamination, you struggle to find his form beneath the surface. Your breathing hitches as you begin to panic- and just when you begin to debate jumping in yourself he finally resurfaces. With wide eyes you watch as the prince rushes through the water, circling around the pillar of light. He has enough speed to pull the water along with him, though you could only assume that he must have been using his skills in water manipulation as well.

The prince redirects the flow of water and begins to create a whirlpool. Over the roar of the rushing water, you can hear him yell- not a sound of pain but rather one of sheer power. It’s an astounding sight, and you watch in awe as the whirlpool begins to reveal the base of the reservoir.

“It’s just as I thought!,” you hear him shout, “I can see an entrance at the bottom of the lake! I’ll make a path for you! Dive in!”

Wasting no time you nod and leap forth, diving into the currents below. The Zora armor assists you with swimming through the rushing waters, though you’re sure to take in a big gulp of air before going beneath the surface. After a few seconds of swimming downward, you find a hatch on the floor of the reservoir. Since you cannot see through the murky water you have to feel around with your hand instead, finding the latch and using your Ultrahand ability to wrench it open.

You follow the flow of water down and find yourself falling into what seems like a cave. A pool of water at the bottom catches you, thankfully, and you sputter as you pull yourself up onto the rocks. As your eyes adjust to the darkness, you’re astounded by what you find. 

It’s not a natural cave, but rather a series of constructed tunnels underground. There’s handmade architecture beneath your feet, and though it’s crumbling you recognize the handiwork of the Zora people easily. Using your right arm, you create a source of light to help you see. With its faint glow you’re able to read some lettering etched into the wall.

“Zora waterworks,” you mumble to yourself.

Glancing back, you wait to see if the prince is going to follow you. Then, logically, you realize that he can’t. It’s his whirlpool that granted you access here in the first place, and without that, he wouldn’t be able to enter the same way you had.

“Well,” you sigh, an air of disappointment in your voice, “suppose I can’t be too greedy.”

As you work your way through the series of tunnels, clearing blockages and allowing the water to flow, you have an internal battle with yourself. Here you were, with a duty to the kingdom and a responsibility to locate Princess Zelda, and instead, you’re moping because the prince isn’t with you. You curse yourself, mentally chastizing what you perceive to be foolish actions.

‘Prince Sidon is engaged. He will be a king soon. He will be married soon. Pull yourself together.’

In spite of your frustration, you manage to find the source of the light. In the center of the waterworks was a pillar of stone, and you’re able to use the water to help bring you to the top. The glowing green light seems to be coming from what looks to be an ancient Zonai pedestal. You would have to ponder the historical implications of this another time- for it was incredibly confusing to you that the Zora and Zonai and Hylians of the past seemed to have been intertwined in some way.

Your right arm, Rauru’s arm, glows as you hold it up to the pedestal. The light glows even brighter than before, and though you’re unsure of what exactly happens you’re able to hear a new rush of water in the lake above. Clearly, you’d done something . And it isn’t until you resurface in the water of the reservoir that you see what’s happened.

A massive waterfall pours from the islands in the sky above, larger than any waterfall you’d ever seen before. Your jaw drops as you stare up at it, caught entirely off guard as you struggle to pull yourself up onto the stone platform once more. A pair of hands- Sidon’s hands, reach down and hoist you up onto the small island.

“A waterfall! A waterfall descended from the sky!” the prince says excitedly, holding your hands in his own, “what happened down there? Is this your doing?”

His scales are cool, or maybe your skin is just hot. It feels like it had been ages since he’d held you like this, yet simultaneously it seems like only yesterday when this had been a common occurrence. Or perhaps it was simply your brain tricking you, with how often you’d been cycling through your memories of him.

You sputter, eye flickering between his face and your hands which are still in his grasp . “I- I- there was a Zonai device, I think, I was able to make it respond to my arm and-”

Mercifully, he cuts off your stammering, “so you activated a mysterious device in the ruins, and then the waterfall appeared… ah! I believe I understand! To a Zora, a waterfall is no different from a path. That must be the meaning behind the ‘watery bridge’. Yes, it must! If we climb this water, we shall ascend into the sky! I knew you could do it, my belief in you is as well placed as ever.”

You fluster, suddenly forgetting everything you’d chastised yourself for in the waterworks below. Now all you could focus on was his praise, his hands, and the fact that his eyes had met your own.

But then, the faint voice from the sky returns. “... here…. come here… come to me….”

“It is happening again… is someone calling to me?” the prince asks, tearing his gaze away from you to peer upward once more, “well… in any case, we now have a path forward. All that is left is to press ever onward. With your Zora armor, you should have no issues ascending up the water, yes?”

You glance down and mutter, “oh, yes, I should be… fine.”

Sourly, you bury the memories of the times when you and Sidon would swim through the water together rather than separate. But now it would be rather uncouth. With a huff you step away, pulling your hands out of his grasp much to your dismay. You don’t let yourself look up at the prince out of fear of seeing disappointment on his face.

“Let’s get going then,” you say as you approach the water, trying to force some encouragement into your tone.

Side by side you enter the waterfall and quickly begin your journey upwards. The prince easily outpaces you, soaring through the currents as he ascends to the sky. As you swim upwards, hundreds of meters above the surface, an odd sensation overtakes you. Your body begins to feel… lighter?

When you reach the sky island you find your answer. This particular set of islands is imbued with gravity-defying properties. Every step you take brings you farther than you expect and when you jump you easily clear your own height. As you walk forward you do your best to scope out your surroundings. 

This archipelago isn’t too dissimilar from the others you’d explored, the key difference being that it was covered in piles of muck and filth. In the distance, you could spot a few soldier constructs patrolling and made a mental note to warn the prince about them. Eventually, you meet up with Sidon once more, who’s stood staring up in awe at the series of sky islands.

“How incredible… what is this place? My body, it feels light as a feather!” he marvels, turning to look at you.

“I don’t fully understand it, but it must be related to all of this old Zonai technology,” you reply, hopping forward toward him.

“This is a strange place indeed, but right now we must focus on locating the source of the sludge,” he retorts with a nod, “what say you, shall we divide and conquer?”

Just as he begins to walk away you react. “No-” you say, far too quick and a tad too loud. He turns on his heels to gaze down at you, a quirk of a smile on his lips and a glint in his eyes. “I mean,” you huff, searching for an explanation, “you’ve never been on one of these sky islands, and there are new dangers you’ve never faced, not to mention you still seem exhausted after all that work you’d been doing in Mipha Court.”

He begins to speak, but you can’t stop running your mouth. “I simply can’t let you go alone here, what am I supposed to do if you get injured? What would I even say to your father, or the council, or to Lady Yona- we’re both weaker than we used to be, so it only makes sense to combine our strengths instead- I don’t even have my own sword anymore, just a few weapons I’ve cobbled together with this damn arm, and- and-”

He utters your name, stern enough to capture your attention but soft enough to prevent you from flinching. You shut your mouth.

“It sounds like a fine idea, young one,” he says with a grin, “shall we?”

You sigh and stiffly nod, having thoroughly embarrassed yourself. “We shall,” you reply simply.

As a pair, you traverse through the array of islands. The more you discover about the ancient Zonai’s technology, the more it amazes you. Machines that create large bubbles of water help you travel across the archipelago, the low gravity making it so you can practically swim through the air. At first, you try to conserve the splash fruit you’d brought with you, but after locating a Zonai device that produces an endless stream of water you’re able to use it to your advantage to clear the poisonous sludge. 

When Sidon isn’t marveling at the sights and staring down at the world below, he’s diligently fending off soldier constructs. With his spear he’s able to make quick work of the enemies, allowing you to focus on finding a path forward. You also catch him staring at your right arm multiple times, watching intently as you use your abilities to lift devices and forge weaponry.

It would have been fine. It would have been simple, even, working together to investigate the muck. There was just one teeny, tiny problem.

The touching .

Him lifting you up to help you climb a wall, you grabbing his arm to make sure he doesn’t lean to far over the edge. Your fingers brushing together when you handed him an elixir. His hand hovering at the small of your back as you pointed to the palace of Zora’s Domain on the land below.

It was driving you insane. Should you acknowledge it or leave it unspoken? It certainly didn’t feel appropriate , what with your history, but at the same time it felt all-too natural. You couldn’t decide how to feel, angry or thrilled? With your mission to solve the domain’s problem with the sludge, you had far too much on your mind to decide right now.

Right now you were taking a short break beside a shrine. You sit on the floor with your back against a stone wall, staring up at the largest of the islands above you. Multiple streams of filthy muck seemed to be pouring off of that island, and you could take a guess that this was where you would finally find the source of the sludge plaguing the domain.

In your grasp you hold a glass vial, and using the sharp nails of your right hand you easily uncork it and take a swig of the swirling green liquid.

“What have you got there?” Sidon asks curiously, tapping his trident on the ground as he takes a seat beside you.

You tip the rest of the bottle back, downing the rest of the drink before answering. “Energizing elixir,” you sigh, stowing the glass back into your small travel pack, “keeps me alert.”

The prince stares at you intently, a faint look of concern on his face as he does. “Young one,” he says suddenly, “have you been sleeping?”

It was a mirror to the question you’d asked him at Mipha Court. You let out a haggard breath and lean back, resting your head on the cool stone. “No,” you reply, “well, barely, ever since the Upheaval. I’m too busy trying to find the princess… and…”

“And?” Sidon inquires, leaning on his arm to get a better look at you.

“And then there’s the nightmares,” you hiss, pinching the bridge of your nose, “if I even try to get a wink of sleep, it’s never restful. I dream of being beneath Hyrule Castle again, of seeing that mummy, of losing my sword, of- of-”

Of losing you . The words are unspoken but they rest at the very tip of your tongue.

He nods glumly, “... I see. I have scarcely had the opportunity to rest these last few weeks as well, but I fear if I were to sleep that the same fate would befall me. I shiver to think of the visions that might plague me in my dreams.”

“Yeah?” you retort.

“Yes,” he says, simple and sharp, his eyes locking onto your own. It’s in that instant that you realize he’s talking about you . That he’s worried about having nightmares about you , just like you have about him.

You decide in that moment that the subject needs to be changed before you can do or say anything you may regret. You clear your throat and shift to the side as you think of something, anything, to say. “So, what’s up with the new statue at the palace? Who’s idea was that?”

The question causes his shoulders to stiffen and he averts his gaze- and for just a second you swear that you can see the faintest of blush on his face. “Ah, well,” he starts, drumming his fingers against the stone floor, “I cannot take credit for the idea. When we started on the construction of Mipha Court we knew that we would want to move my dear sister’s statue there, to immortalize her both in name and figure. Then the question was raised of what statue might take her place in the plaza of the domain.”

“Who’s idea was it then?” you ask, raising a brow.

“It was a vote ,” he answers, tilting his head to the side, “a vote by the people of the domain. It was scarcely even a question, they were all quite certain that they wanted to commemorate those who saved them from the terror of the Divine Beast.”

“So… us,” you huff a laugh, “and the council, they were fine with that?”

“They weren’t thrilled ,” Sidon retorts, a small smile peaking at the corner of his lips, “in fact, I had to have quite a few arguments with them about it. They weren’t all too pleased about a piece of art honoring a non-Zora, but I was able to sway them by showing them how our citizens dearly respect you. They wanted to honor you, and though it took some time the elders were able to be convinced to approve of the sculpture’s creation.”

You nod slowly, not feeling surprised by any of that information. It seemed even in the form of a hunk of rock you wouldn’t be able to gain the council’s approval. Before you can begin to mull over your less-than-positive feelings about the Zora elders, however, the prince asks you a question.

“And you? How do you feel about the statue? You are its subject, after all.”

Your lips pull into a tight line and you look to the ground. You don’t exactly want to explain to him that your initial reaction was to seethe, to look upon it in jealousy and anger. You choose to twist the truth instead. “Uh, you know, fine I suppose. It’s humbling to have a piece of art be made in my honor, I can’t say that it’s ever happened before. I, well, um…”

You trail off when you glance up and see him looking down at you, golden irises catching the moonlight. “You hate it, don’t you?” he asks, still smiling, though this time it’s much more sad.

“What, no-” you quickly retort, shaking your head as you lie, “I don’t hate it, it’s beautiful, I just- it’s… it’s…”

“It’s a reminder of what we cannot have,” he sighs solemnly, placing his hand beside your own.

His fingers inch closer, a hair’s length away from your own. You hesitate, before ever so slowly shuffling and finally closing the gap. Your breath hitches and your heart skips a beat. As quickly as it happens you pull away, retracting your hand as if it’d been on fire. In a flash you’re on your feet, shaking your head as you walk away from the prince.

“We can’t do that,” you groan, practically stamping your boots against the floor, “we can’t-”

“But I-” he calls out, standing to follow you, but you swiftly interrupt him.

“But nothing, Sidon,” you retort, uttering his name like a hiss, “what do you expect of me? We can’t do this! You’re- ugh , you’re so incredibly frustrating, for Hylia’s sake you’re engaged! What do you think you’re doing? What am I doing- I’m supposed to be looking for Princess Zelda, and instead, I’m on the verge of flirting with a prince to be wed-”

You feel as though you could rip your own hair out while you rant, anger and embarrassment and resentment all pouring out of you at once.

“And- and I can’t just be some kind of secret, I refuse to be some- some- some toy that you can play with when no one is looking, just for you to go back to your wife at the end of the day. Understood?” 

When you finally turn to look at the prince once more, he’s stood far away. There’s a look of contemplation on his face as he looks away, peering over the edge of the island and down at the domain below. Slowly he nods his head. “Understood,” he says with a resigned tone, “I could never do such a thing to you, dearest.”

You sigh stubbornly and cross your arms, “Sidon, you can’t call me that-”

“Please,” he pleads, eyes brimming with emotion as they meet your own, “ please . Grant me just that one honor. If I cannot hold you or cherish you in any other way, allow me to at least call you by the title which you deserve. You are that which is dearest to me.”

You hold his gaze, choking back the tears that threaten to fall. It hurts so terribly, the last thing you ever wanted was to push him away. You hesitate, attempting to hold your steely disposition, but the facade quickly fades away. “Fine…” you answer him, voice barely louder than a whisper, “you may.”

He offers you a somber smile before bowing his head, “thank you.”

You sniffle, looking back up at the largest island above. “... Don’t mention it. Now, let’s get moving.”

When you finally reach the summit, you’re astounded by what lies before you. A series of interconnected islands, each with complex Zonai technology. At the far end were five massive water jugs. In front, however, was a fountain of bubbling filth. Muck violent shot out in all directions, dirtying these sky islands as well as the land below. 

You’d tracked down the problem’s source.

“How magnificent… to think that such a structure was floating in the sky above our own Zora’s Domain,” says in awe, gazing upon the ancient architecture, “look, up there! That is surely the source of the sludge. I am certain of it.”

“It has to be,” you nod in agreement, tentatively walking across the stone flooring to approach the fountain, “but I can’t see any way to stop the flow.”

The prince hums, lifting a hand to his chin, “if we could only make use of that water…”

He’s referring to the water jugs, hopefully containing fresh water. That’s when your eyes finally settle on the Zonai pedestal, similar to those that you had been able to activate previously. As you walk up the steps it reacts to your right arm, lighting up with glowing green runes. When you touch the light with your fingers, two things occur. 

The first is you’re given access to this island’s teleport, accessible via the Purah Pad. The second is that the five jugs were tipped forward- though only one contains water, pouring out and on top of the fountain of sludge. For just a moment you think that’s it- that you’d fixed the issue. But nothing is ever that easy. As soon as the freshwater stops pouring, the muck returns at full force.

“Oh! But, it seems it did not work…” Sidon frowns, crossing his arms, “but you saw it too, did you not? Using that mechanism did have an effect!”

“It did, but there wasn’t enough water,” you respond with a sigh.

Before either of you can deliberate further, that distant voice returns once more. Though it’s no longer faint at all, instead, it felt as if the being was speaking right before you.

“Cherished kin… this is the source of the pure waters of Zora’s Domain, use your power to turn on the four faucets, and you can collect water here. Heed my words…”

‘Kin?’ you think to yourself. 

“It happened yet again,” the prince gasps, looking around as he searches for the voice’s source, “only this time, I heard the voice loud and clear!”

You look back up to the water jugs, “four faucets, hmm? It must be some kind of puzzle to solve, like the shrines and the Divine Beasts.”

The prince claps his hands together, “I see! If we turn those on, we can acquire more for the water vessels! Right, let us get to work together!”

Sidon’s grin is contagious, so much so that you can’t help but mirror it. “Let’s,” you say with a nod.

He chuckles, and the sound of his laughter is one which you’ve dearly missed. He grabs his trident and twirls it with a confident smile, “nothing shall best us here. With our powers combined, there is nothing in this world that can stop us.”

It was just as Lady Yona had said to you on the surface down below. You and Sidon made for an excellent pair. You could only hope that her words would continue to ring true.

As you and the prince begin to explore the area, one dubbed the Wellspring Island by the Purah Pad, the sun just barely begins to rise above the sea in the distance. Rays of golden light begin to streak across the sky, bringing warmth to the cool nighttime air. Once you arrive at the top of a staircase, the sunlight allows you to see a figure in the sky that had previously been hidden.

“Oh my,” Sidon gasps, looking out into the distance alongside you, “that’s one of the dragons which roam these skies, is it not?”

Far away in the distance, gracefully gliding through the air, was the same dragon that you had seen before departing from the Great Sky Island. Its golden mane of hair captured the sunlight which highlighted its form. Along with the glowing crystals along its back, there was a spectacular glowing light flowing from its forehead as well.

“Yes, it is,” you reply, admiring its beauty with a smile, “not one which I recognize, though. The other three are tied to the goddess springs around Hyrule, but this one is new to me. I haven’t had the chance to look through any old parchments to find a record of this one.”

“Regardless, it’s an awe-inspiring sight. Absolutely breathtaking,” the prince grins, glancing back at you.

You stifle a laugh, “indeed. Now then, we’ve got to figure out how to get that fresh water flowing. Let’s get going.”

So I'm going to explain this a bit more in the ending notes, but I thought it would be fun to show you guys what I imagine my own reader-insert to look like while I write this story !!

Don't let this impact how you view your own insert, cause I do my best to avoid giving the reader character any sort of physical description so that everyone can insert themself or an OC. I just wanted to do a little doodle of what I envision while I write aha



(If the image isn't loading, this link should work)

Chapter Text

Traveling through the water temple gives you an odd sense of nostalgia. The grand architecture, the ancient technology, and the intricate puzzles. It was impossible not to be reminded of your time in the Divine Beasts, solving the mysteries and secrets of the machines. Of course, it wasn’t entirely the same. This time you had soldier constructs to fend off and Zonai devices that would react to your arm. Rather than gloom you had poisonous much that needed to be avoided.

And this time you had a companion fighting alongside you.

Sidon’s assistance was immediately a huge aid to you, even if you might not have wanted to say it aloud. With all the internal battles of emotion you were having, you almost thought it would have been easy to trudge through the temple alone. But you knew better than that, and you knew that it would be foolish to turn him away now- after how far you’d already come. Besides, with the strange voice that had called out to him and referred to him as ‘kin’ you knew that he was integral to solving the problem here at the wellspring.

Together you discover that to activate the other four water vessels that you must activate a series of cogs- rather, they resemble water wheels more than anything. 

The first of these is hidden behind a wall of raging flames, but with the shield of water that the prince is able to grant you you’re able to run through without injury. On the other side you find a switch that deactivates the fire, allowing Sidon to join you. Using your right arm you manipulate several hoverstones: Zonai devices that can suspend themselves in the air using the energy from your battery cells. Using these stones you find an orb that solves the puzzle, granting you access to the first water wheel.

When you both return to the main area you see that two of the five water jugs are now pouring over with fresh water.

“Well, it’s progress,” you hum, pulling an apple out of your travel pack. You were beginning to feel famished, but the last thing you wanted to do was pause to cook a meal.

“Indeed,” the prince replies, momentarily glancing your way as you take a bite of the fruit. If he too was hungry he didn’t make note of it. Instead, he turns to look out across the land, peering down at the surface below. “I wonder… what is it like down there right now? Across all of Hyrule. You’ve informed me about the new threats of monsters, of course, but what of the people? What of the other towns? How are they faring under these new circumstances we find ourselves in?”

You pause, thinking before you answer. The truth was that you weren’t sure, it felt as though you’d been traveling at a breakneck pace ever since arriving on the surface. Far too focused on aiding others and locating the princess. 

“I… I don’t know,” you mutter after a moment’s quiet, “well. Lookout Landing is fine. If anything, they’re more fortified now than ever. But Purah informed me that Zora’s Domain, along with the three other major settlements, are all facing unnatural phenomena that have put the people at risk. And I don’t even know what might be happening in Kakariko or Hateno or even Lurelin… everything’s happening so fast… I’m just trying to get everywhere. To help everyone… you know?”

Sidon nods, “I understand completely. I’ve rarely afforded myself a moment's rest ever since the Upheaval. Far too many Zora depend on me… far too many lives hang in the balance…”

His voice wavers, and you know exactly who he’s thinking of. His father. You can picture King Dorephan in your mind so clearly, still unsettled by seeing him so sickly and pale on that throne within the sanctum.

You try to change the subject. After momentarily digging through your pack you pull out another apple- though this has a crisp, golden skin. A unique apple that you harvested from one of the sky archipelagos. You then jut your arm out toward the prince, offering the fruit to him.

“You have to be hungry by now,” you say matter-of-factly, “it’s not a three-course meal, but it’s something.”

Sidon laughs softly, taking the apple and holding it up to admire the way it reflects the sunlight. “Thank you, dearest,” he replies, “it’s rather pretty, it almost feels like a shame to have to eat it.” But eat it he does, sinking his sharp teeth into it as he takes a bite.

The two of you snack in silence, and you take the chance to view the map of the temple on the Purah Pad. In your head you formulate a plan, examining the terrain that surrounds the three remaining terminals for the wellspring. They were on separate floating islands rather than being connected to the main area as the first had been. But, you had a feeling that with the low-gravity you’d be able to find a way across.

When you return your attention back to the prince he’s just about finished with his apple, left holding only the core in his hands (and you try to ignore how your eyes are drawn to the small dribble of juice down his chin). “Well,” you clear your throat, hooking the tablet back onto your belt, “shall we explore the rest?”

Together, you work your way through the Great Wellspring. To unlock the second of the water wheels you need to figure out how to transport a large orb between two separate islands. As you find a solution the prince fends off a captain construct, and you nearly let yourself get distracted as you admire his spearmanship. Despite how exhausted you both were he could effortlessly hold his own in battle, gracefully lunging forward with the Lightscale Trident as he pierced his foe. Luckily, after the construct was slain you were able to keep its horn for crafting a new weapon in the future.

It doesn’t take you much longer to solve this puzzle, and you’re happy to activate the next water wheel. Simultaneously the third water vessel opens with a stream of water beginning to pour out. “Two down, two to go,” you sigh as you return to Sidon’s side, hands on your hips, “the others are on the other side of the temple.

“Then allow me to escort you,” he replies with a chuckle, making a show of bowing his head as he extends his arm toward you.

You roll your eyes as you playfully shove him in response, “no need, prince. C’mon.”

After traveling across the main island and dodging a handful of Chuchus you ascend another waterfall. At the top, however, you come face to face with a Like-Like. Unlike the one you’d fought at Mipha Court, this one didn’t have an armor of sludge, instead its body was coated in flames- making it easily susceptible to your splash fruits. It’s quickly disposed of as you move to the next marked point of the map.

This puzzle involves you having to use your Ultrahand ability. You haphazardly construct a spinning cog that uses the force of a small water fountain to generate electricity. As soon as you see the current running across the floor you jump in front of Sidon, pressing a hand to his chest as you force him to step backward. With how vulnerable the Zora were to anything electric, the last thing you needed right now was for him to get injured. When he gently places his hand atop your own, though, you quickly find yourself retracting it. You struggle to get rid of the heat on your face as you complete the current, unlocking the next water wheel and activating the fourth vessel.

‘Just one more, and the sludge will be gone, and this whole problem will be over,’ you tell yourself as you trek to the final area, ‘then I can keep looking for Zelda.’

After a short climb, you find yourself at a large pond, the center of which holds the activation terminal for the final water jug. The issue is that the pond was surrounded on all sides by constructs, soldiers and captains alike. It seemed as though the further you progressed through the temple, the more of them would be summoned. You do your best to handle them from a distance, as a well-timed arrow to the eye will knock them back into the water- and constructs can’t swim. To no avail, however, as it seems with everyone you take down a new one spawns to take its place.

“Alright then,” you grumble, casting a sideways glance to the prince, “new course of action. I run to that spinning tower because I bet that will unlock the next water wheel. You watch my back- make sure nothing, y’know, shoves a spear in me or anything like that.”

Though you laugh at yourself, Sidon looks less than enthused. Perhaps it was a poorly timed joke, considering the amount of times you both had been injured in battle- specifically by spears. And those were all occasions that you’d prefer not to reminisce about. Certainly not when you’d been stabbed by a Lizalfos, certainly not when Sidon had been attacked by the Yiga-

You force yourself to focus on the task at hand.

You sneak along the side of the water, kicking aside some of the small Chuchus that tried to crawl near you. You both move quietly, trying to avoid drawing the attention of the bow-wielding soldier constructs. The tower at the center of the pond has a fast-spinning component on top, far too fast for you to be able to sneak inside of it in any way. But as you stare at it you can see small blips of something within it- something covered in sludge. You had to get rid of the muck somehow.

Unfortunately, you were too busy trying to think of a plan that you didn’t see the arrow being aimed at you.

Before you can react, Sidon is calling out your name. You feel a strong arm wrap around your torso and tug you down onto the ground. You watch with wide eyes as a flaming arrow goes flying above your heads. You find the source, a captain construct that’s docking another arrow. Your arms move faster than you can think, grabbing your own bow and aiming for the eye stalk. You’re able to shoot first, knocking the construct back into the water.

Once the foe disappears you can still feel yourself buzzing with adrenaline. You let out a huff of air, looking down as your brain finally catches up with your physical movements. You were leaning back against the prince who was now kneeling on the stone floor. His arms were still wrapped tightly around you, pulling you against him as you still kept a tight grip on your bow. 

Nervously you cough, looking up at Sidon as you say a small, “thanks.”

He slowly nods, the irises of his eyes formed into thin slits as he gazes around to assess any further danger. Once he seems to deduce that everything is safe he looks down, meeting your gaze. “Of course, dearest,” he murmurs, gently loosening his hold on you, “I had to… I couldn’t-”

You place your hand on his bicep and look away. You understood why he had to grab you in such a way, you understood his impulse. If he was in imminent danger you would have acted in a similar fashion. Even still, you detested the way it made your heart pound in excitement when you knew he shouldn’t have been putting his hands on you in such a way. The hesitation is obvious as you pull away from one another, slowly rising to your feet once more.

‘Pull yourself together and focus,’ you internally chastise yourself, grimacing as you focus on the tower once more.

Once you get close enough you’re able to utilize a few hover stones to give yourself some leverage. Using your ascension ability you’re able to hop up directly through the stones, something which the prince watches with a curious fascination. Now, you find yourself balancing atop the floating rock, staring at the spinning tower as you draw your bow once more. 

“If I can just time this right…” you whisper to yourself, taking in a deep breath as you raise your arms to aim. With Fuse you attach a splash fruit to the tip of the arrow, narrowing your eyes as your eyes focus on the target. You watch it closely. One spine, a second, a third, a fourth. You time the revolutions in your head.

You breathe out. You shoot. 

When the splash fruit makes contact and washes away the sludge you sigh with relief. Now you’re able to see a glowing orange switch inside of the spinning component.

“Brilliant shot, little one!” Sidon cheers from down below. You smile in response, giving him a thumbs up.

You perform the same trick, carefully aiming and shooting another arrow. The light switches to green, signifying your success. The water drains from the pond and a hatch opens, giving you access to the final terminal and final water wheel. You peer over the edge down at Sidon and grin, shouting out, “finally!”

The low-gravity lets you hop down gracefully and as a pair you run over to the final cog. Once more you’re enveloped in the water shield that the prince grants you, using the water to spin the water wheel. In response, the last of the five vessels begins to overflow.

“You did it!” Sidon beams with excitement.

“ We did it,” you correct him, nudging his side with a grin.

The prince smiles bashfully before nodding his head toward the central island of the wellspring. “Okay, they’re all filled up! Now we just need to use the central device.”

It was about midday now as you returned to the first pedestal, the one that allowed you to tip over the water jugs and drown out the muck. As you stare up at it you reach into your travel pack in search of another energizing elixir. You grumble, however, when you realize that you’d already drank the last one you’d brought with you. You really needed to get some proper sleep soon.

Beside you, Sidon sighs dreamily. “Being up here makes me long for my days of exploring once more.”

The days when he had been traveling with you to train the pilots for the Divine Beasts. Years ago. Days that you preferred not to think about.

You clear your throat before replying, “it is pretty nice on these sky islands. There’s so many of them, though, to be frank they intimidated me when I first saw them.”

A small grin reaches his lips as he gazes up, eyes curiously searching for the plethora of floating islands in the distance. “They’re immensely fascinating, aren't they? I’m sure every being walking the surface has had their attention captured by the new presence. Have you been able to survey any of them, little one?”

“A few, though I can’t take credit for any of the mapping. That’s all thanks to the Purah Pad,” you respond, casually tapping the tablet on your hip, “but the handful I’ve been able to explore have been interesting. It’s an odd feeling, though, standing in a place that was once probably full of life but is now abandoned. All the old buildings and constructs are just sitting around, waiting to be used. Like, it’s so clear that there’s so much untapped history. It’s the same in the depths.”

“The depths?” Sidon repeats, curious.

Oh. It hadn’t occurred to you that you hadn’t told him about the depths yet, nor the fact that he’d been so busy with matters in the domain that he was wholly unaware of an entire third layer of land beneath the surface. ‘Well, he’s in for a bit of a surprise.’ You grab the Purah Pad and open the application, scrolling downwards to reveal the depths map. The few Lightroots you were able to document flash on the screen, but they’re dwarfed by how much land you had yet to chart. 

“It’s a whole new region beneath the surface,” you explain to him, watching an expression of shock flicker across his face, “during the Upheaval there were chasms that opened up across Hyrule, which is how we can access it now. Lookout Landing has put together a crew to explore the new land. I went down there myself, it’s a strange place. All sorts of new plants and animals and-”

“Is it safe?” he interrupts you, obvious concern in his eyes.

You hesitate. It isn’t, of course, and you’re not going to lie to him about that. But nothing that you did was safe - it came with the territory of being the princess’ sworn knight. So the sudden question was off-putting.

You were tired.

“I- well… no. No it’s not,” you retort with a frown, “I mean, it’s a long fall, there’s gloom that saps your strength, camps of monsters- but I deal with the same dangers if I’m anywhere in the wilds of Hyrule. Why does it matter?”

Sidon falters, sensing that he may have struck a nerve. “I simply worry for you-”

You narrow your eyes, turning to step backward and away from him. Though it isn’t wise your first instinct is to say, “my safety is none of your concern-”

“I would argue otherwise-”

“Well worry about yourself!” you practically erupt. All of your stress, all of your pain, you knew he wasn’t the true cause of it all but you were exhausted of the rollercoaster of emotions that it put you through. And as the words left your mouth you regretted it, but you could hardly stop yourself. You were so exhausted, and every encounter with him only left you more confused than the last.

“And worry about your wife ,” you add on, spitting out the title as if it were venom.

He practically jolts backward with a look of disgust from your tone. Now he reflects your anger, retorting with, “it matters not if I’m simply engaged still. Lady Yona is a dear friend of mine and you will not speak of her in such a way. Where is your respect?”

You scoff, ignoring the stinging pain in your throat as you bury your emotions, “respect? Don’t talk to me about respect . Do you know what I’ve endured in the past two weeks? My best friend is gone- again! And I couldn’t save her- again! My sword, my destiny, has been destroyed . My arm has been replaced with strange ancient technology that I don’t even understand-”

You were so tired.

The prince tries to get another word in but you swiftly cut him off as your rant continues, “I- I can’t handle this damn back and forth that you put me through. I have so much I need to worry about- the last thing I need is to be constantly reminded of the scraps of a relationship that could never be! We can’t be together, Sidon! At this point, I think it would hurt my heart less if you simply treated me like a stranger, that way I wouldn’t have to be constantly reminded of your affection for me-”

In your exhaustion and anger, you’d thrown your arms up, and you were swiftly cut off guard by the sound of the pedestal activating. Your right arm had touched the Zonai device without you meaning to do so. There’s a rumbling of water as the mechanisms of the wellspring activate.

Your chest heaves as you turn and look up, tears threatening to spill as you watch the water vessels tip over. You knew you’d messed up, you knew you’d have to apologize. But at the very least all of this muck would finally be gone. At the very least the Zora would be safe. Sidon would be safe.

The streams of fresh water come rushing down, ridding the fountain of all of the filth that had been clogging it. What you don’t see is the ball of muck that goes flying above your heads, landing in the plaza behind you. “The sludge dissolved,” Sidon gasps behind you. But his voice is quiet. Unhappy. You can hear it immediately. “The domain is surely safe now…”

A shrill shrieking pulls both of your attentions. You each spin on your heels and look to find the source. That’s when you spot it, the single piece of sludge that survived. It bubbled and festered in the middle of the island, and suddenly something- someone , shot up out of it.

“Shit,” you quietly curse, arming yourself with a sword.

“Not good,” the prince hisses at the same time, immediately grabbing for his spear and getting into a defensive position, “this strange creature must be responsible. Get ready!”

Something small and fish-like lands in front of you both, with a squid-like face and flailing arms. It doesn’t seem to be much of a threat at first, and that almost causes you to lower your guard. But then it uses the sludge to its advantage, creating a shark-like form for itself. The muck shark roars, creating a wave of filth around it.

“Water,” you say, throat still tight from your rant. But now you needed to focus, the little spat would have to be put behind you for now. “We need to get rid of all that sludge with water. I have splash fruits, you have your abilities.”

Sidon nods, a fierce expression on his face as he stares down the land shark, “yes, absolutely. Should we try and split up to-”

You’re quick to shake your head, “no, if any of that sludge gets into your gills you’ll get stuck out there. We have to stick together. And we need to move… now!”

The shark- squid- sludge monster- thing lunged forward, gliding across the stone and leaving a trail of muck in its wake. Your previous fatigue is overridden by the adrenaline that now courses through your veins. You grab Sidon’s arm and run in the opposite direction, attempting to put distance between him and the monster. 

“My water manipulation,” he urges you, “use it as a shield and attack it with a wave of water!”

He envelops you in the sphere of water and you focus your gaze on the sludge creature. After sucking in a breath of air you run toward it, avoiding the trail of muck it left in its wake. Using both hands to grip the sword, you yell as you fling it forward, the protective bubble dissipating as it shoots forward in tandem. 

The shark is struck and is momentarily stilled. You take advantage of its vulnerability to pull a splash fruit from your bag and launch it directly at the monster. With this attack, the sludge body disappears, leaving only the small fish-like body of the real creature. The little squid thing panics, its arms flailing about as it runs away from you. Now Sidon takes the opportunity to attack, dashing forward with his trident and attacking.

Your legs feel as if they’re on fire, your body’s exhaustion catching up with you mid-battle. You wince as you push through the pain, running to join the fray. As you begin to slash with your sword, however, the small monster jumps away and back into the sludge. Now, it spits more balls of filth into the air.

“Sidon-” you gasp, watching one fall right toward him, “Sidon, move!”

You run in front of him and shove him aside, hissing in pain as the sludge hits you instead. Though most of it landed on your armor, some of it stains your face and neck. It strings terribly, and you grit your teeth as you try to wipe it away.

The prince calls out your name but you shake your head, squinting as you attempt to refocus on the monster. It’s regained its shark form now, quickly swimming across the floor of the island and circling back toward you. You feel a strong hand wrap around your right arm, and this time it’s you who has to be guided away from the creature’s attacks.

As you run you fumble with your free hand, grabbing another splash fruit and puncturing it with your thumb. You let the water flow down onto your face, offering yourself some temporary relief from the poison of the muck. “Damn,” you mutter, “it got me good. But we just have to do that again, that sludge is its shield. It’s defenseless without it.”

The prince comes to a halt, turning and kneeling before you. He puts his hands on your shoulders and looks at you with sad eyes. “And what if you get hit by it again?” he asks with concern.

“Then I will deal with it-” you retort, but his grip on you tightens and grounds you.

“Stop that,” he says sternly, pleading with you, “ please , beloved, I care about you far too much for you to be risking your life like this-”

You’re both interrupted by the shark roaring once more. This time it spits out a beam of the sludge, and your eyes widen as you start to run. You each are able to dodge the attack but it unfortunately puts you in different directions, now separated. The shark begins to move once more, this time toward the prince, and you know you have to act.

With another splash fruit fused to an arrow, you take aim. Your legs wobble and your knees threaten to buckle, fire coursing through your veins as you straighten your arms. You had to make this shot. Your heart pounds in your chest, brow furrowing as you watch the monster approach the prince.

You shoot. You could almost cry from the relief you felt when the shark cried out, halting in its tracks. Sidon then takes the lead, using his own water-based attack to pull the creature out of its shark disguise. Once again left tiny and defenseless, it attempts to run around to avoid the prince’s attacks.

It hops from one pool of sludge to another, before making the unfortunate decision of landing within your reach. You give it a nasty glare before stepping forward and sticking your sword right into its side. The monster, which up close you can see slightly resembles an Octorok, pitifully cries out. As pathetic as its body is, so is its death, it wriggles and writhes on the floor as its body starts to deflate.

Then, in a puff of air, it’s gone.

Your shoulders sag as you stumble backward, taking in a haggard breath as you look around. Slowly, but thankfully, all of the sludge begins to fade away. Every puddle, pile, and stain fades into the air. Even the muck that had landed on you in the battle disappears, and the stinging pain goes along with it.

With the adrenaline gone you practically collapse into a heap on the floor, crumpling to your knees. You lean on your hand, blinking rapidly as the fatigue washes over you once again. As the exhaustion returns so do all of the emotions 

You hear the padding of footsteps as the prince walks over to you. Your vision fills with red as he kneels before you once more. You feel a gentle hand atop the back of your head. He whispers your name.

“... I didn’t mean it.” you mumble, throat tight as you speak.

Sidon is silent for a moment and you fear his rejection. But instead, he moves to hold your chin, slowly lifting your head so that you look up at him instead. His eyes, gold and bright with the light of the sun, reflect your own sadness.

“I didn’t mean any of it,” you continue, tears finally sliding down your cheeks, “I don’t want to be a stranger to you. I want to be reminded of you, always, I think about you all the time. I want to be with you. I… I lo…”

He inhales sharply.

“I love you,” you choke out, voice cracking as you do so, “I love you so much it hurts -”

He pulls you into a tight hug, his arms wrapped securely around you as he pulls you against him. Your face is wet with tears that stain his scales but he seems not to care. You can hear his heartbeat and you can feel the way he shudders as he holds you. He breathes shakily as he presses a kiss to your temple.

“I love you too,” he whispers, rubbing soothing circles into your back, “and I am so sorry. For everything.”

You sob. For the first time since the engagement announcement, you let yourself fully relax into him. You don’t pull back, you don’t hesitate, you don’t flinch. You let him hold you. It was all you wanted.

And you were no fool, you knew you couldn’t have this forever. You still had to return to the domain, return him to his father and the council and his fiance. But, you had him for right now.

You would let yourself be held by him while you still could.

Chapter Text

You’re unsure how much time passes while you’re held in Sidon’s arms. If you would allow yourself to be truly selfish, you would never have wanted this to end. But, you still had your responsibilities. Both of you did. Sidon had his people to return to. You still had to find your best friend.

So, slowly, you pull away from him. With the back of your hand, you wipe your face, the short fur of your right arm scratching against your skin. Attempting to compose yourself you clear your throat, weakly smiling at the prince. He reciprocates, smiling despite the lingering sadness in his eyes.

“We should get going, shouldn’t we?” you mutter, struggling to rise to your feet again. Your body felt sore , from the days of traveling and fighting- not to mention how little rest you were getting. You were barely fending off your exhaustion by this point.

The prince says your name, capturing your attention. “Look there,” he says, grasping your arm to gently guide you, “there’s something shining- there, above the fountain.”

Your eyes follow in the direction, and you're silently stunned when you see it. A floating stone in the shape of a teardrop. The same stone you had seen etched into the murals beneath Hyrule Castle, the same stone that had been present on Rauru’s arm when you’d found the mummy. Nearly identical to the one you had seen in the Temple of Time before receiving your Recall ability- before seeing the vision of Zelda. It glowed brightly, beckoning both you and Sidon to approach.

Side by side you walk up the steps, noticing the way that the prince gazes up at the object in awe. You nudge him gently, urging him to approach the stone. He glances at you for reassurance before nodding, taking a step forward. As he does so the teardrop shrinks in size, quickly floating through the air to hover in front of his face. The prince gasps, before he hesitantly lifts a hand to touch the surface of the stone.

There’s a sudden flash of light, so bright that you have to raise an arm to cover your eyes. Blindly you reach out, searching for Sidon. Once you find his arm you latch onto it, holding onto him as the environment around you shifts. As the light dims your eyes adjust, looking around to find a misty field similar to the interior structures of the Zonai shrines. 

A voice speaks out, the one that you had heard calling out to you throughout the entirety of the wellspring. But now, it’s clear: a woman’s voice, loud and clear as it echoes through the air. “Sidon, my cherished kin.”

You both look forward, stunned to see another Zora standing before you. She has dark grey scales, her body adorned with golden jewelry and an elegant sash that sits along her torso. Her face, however, is obscured by a Zonai mask that resembles an elephant- reminding you of the Divine Beast Vah Ruta. “That voice again,” Sidon murmurs, holding onto you as he stands up straight, “you’re the one we’ve been hearing this whole time?”

The voice who had been guiding you this entire time, the one who had been calling Sidon her ‘kin’- you could finally see her. The attire she wore seemed ancient to you, similar to what you had seen Rauru’s spirit wearing on the Great Sky Island. This could only lead you to assume that, like him, she was someone from the past. 

As she speaks you struggle to pay attention, but with your fatigued mind and exhausted body, it was taking all of your energy just to keep yourself standing.

You hear the praise that she has for Sidon, listening as she compliments him on his ability to control water and his skill in fighting. She refers to him as the ‘pride of the Zora’, and you feel the way he tenses up as he listens to her. It’s only when she utters a familiar title, the ‘Demon King’, that you feel yourself instantly perk up.

“You bested the monster that sullied our domain, but it was a servant of a greater evil- the Demon King. His true purpose was to prevent you from obtaining the stone that you just found- my secret stone,” she explains, gesturing to the stone that rested atop her hand- a replica of the one that had appeared before yourself and the prince.

“That stone that you are wearing?” the prince clarifies, his eyes wide as he hangs on to every word she says.

“Yes. And it is important you know more about the stone and the Demon King. So listen closely to what I have to say. It concerns the Imprisoning War and the destiny of our people,” she replies, the urgency clear in her voice.

“Though we Zora live long lives, this all happened in a time ancient even to us. The kingdom of Hyrule was still in its infancy. A great evil, the Demon King, appeared. He invaded Hyrule and sought to cut the new kingdom’s time short. But Rauru- the first king of Hyrule- brought me and five other warriors together to oppose him. Rauru entrusted us with the means to fight the Demon King. Treasured artifacts called secret stones that amplify the power of those who carry them. As the Sage of Water, I bore a secret stone and fought alongside my fellow sages in battle. However, the Demon King’s power was overwhelming. Even my strongest defenses could not stop his ferocious attacks. In the end, our leader realized it would not be possible to defeat the Demon King outright. He chose to end the battle by sealing the Demon King away… sacrificing himself in the process.”

All of this new information sends your thoughts swirling, struggling to process. You try to think back to the sculpted murals beneath the castle, the one’s Zelda had described to you. So much of what this Zora ancestor aligned with what was depicted in the caverns down below. 

When you had found the mummy, the hand that was holding him in place must have been Rauru’s. The stone that Zelda found must have been a secret stone- Rauru’s secret stone. If Rauru had imprisoned the Demon King then- 

‘The mummy below the castle is the Demon King. And he’s woken up,’ you realize, recognition flashing across your face.

There’s another shift in the light as the environment changes around you once more. This secret stone- whatever it was, it had the power to not only let you communicate with Sidon’s ancestor but give you a glimpse into the past as well. You gaze around, realizing that you’re looking at a version of the water temple from many, many years ago.

The Zora woman continues to speak, “the rest of us survived, and it was not long after that climactic battle that someone came to see me. Her visit would make the destiny of the Zora crystal clear. It was another of the six sages- the Sage of Time.”

When you see this supposed ‘Sage of Time’, you gasp loudly. Your hands tighten their hold on Sidon’s arm, and the prince looks down at you with concern. Zelda- your Zelda, your best friend, your princess, is standing there in the past. She looks the exact same as she had when you lost her beneath the castle, save for the fact that she was dressed in ancient garments rather than her usual manner of dress.

Her voice rings out as she speaks to the Sage of Water, and it nearly brings you to tears.

“The magic restraining the Demon King will eventually be undone. When that happens, a noble swordswoman will oppose him. We must help. Lend her your power… she will need the Zora’s control over water.”

Sidon’s ancestor nods thoughtfully, the jewelry on her elephant mask shifting as she nods her head. Confidently she declares, “the course of the Zora’s future is clear. It would be our honor to aid in defeating the Demon King. I swear to you that, when the great evil returns, the Zora Sage of Water will awaken once more. The Zora people and their sage will fight alongside your swordswoman.”

The environment shifts again, and you quickly lose sight of the vision from the past. Your heart clenches painfully in your chest as Zelda disappears from view. The mist returns, swirling around you as the ancient Zora warrior bids her goodbye.

“That is everything there is to share of the Imprisoning War and of the destiny of the Zora… Zora’s Domain is once again safe, thanks to you. However, the Demon King continues to threaten all of Hyrule,” she concludes, “Sidon, my cherished kin. You must take up my secret stone and honor the vow I made to the Sage of Time. Fight alongside the swordswoman.”

A bright light blinds you once more, and you stumble backward. You nearly trip over your own feet, but luckily Sidon is able to catch you before you do. You realize that you’ve been returned to the Great Wellspring, with the secret stone still hovering silently in front of the prince. 

“Are you alright?” he asks quietly, wary of the way you were swaying on your feet.

You nod, “I’m fine, I think. I just need to get some rest soon.”

Though he doesn't seem entirely convinced, he relents. “If you say so, dearest,” he murmurs, gently placing his hand on your shoulder, “then as soon as we’re able, I will ensure that you can get the best sleep possible.”

“Only if you do too,” you retort pointedly, “ you haven’t been sleeping either.”

He laughs softly, “you’re quite right about that. Very well then. I promise that I will get rest as well, little one.”

Then, he returns his attention back to the stone that floats in the air before him. You can’t quite read his expression, it’s a combination of something stern and something solemn. He seems to take a deep breath before speaking once more.

“It’s my destiny to fight by your side,” he says, voice unwavering as he does so.

He’s quiet as he bows his head, deep in thought as he contemplates the task before him. His silver adornments clink softly as he tilts his head to glance at you, the faintest of smiles playing on his lips as he does so. “I came here so that I could save Zora’s Domain… but it looks like all of Hyrule will need my help! I’ll do all I can, just as my ancestor did. I will accept this secret stone!”

His declaration causes a reaction to occur within the stone. Its hue changes, shifting to a bright blue color rather than a simple white. Some manner of sigil is carved into its surface- something ancient and unreadable to you, likely writing left over from the days when the Zonai still roamed Hyrule. The prince lifts his hand, offering to the stone, and it immediately responds by shooting forward and attaching itself to the fabric of his glove. You watch with awe as it does so, marveling at the new aura which seems to surround Sidon.

He was stronger, you could immediately detect it. These secret stones, whatever they were, the effect was immediate. Pure power seemed to ebb from him, blue light emanating from the stone which now sat comfortable atop his hand.

“I am the Sage of Water,” he says confidently, turning to face you with a beaming grin. He flexes his arm before jutting his hand upward to reveal the ability granted unto him by the secret stone, “behold- this is my new power!”

You weren’t sure what you expected to witness. His water manipulation being magnified, or perhaps an enhancement to his spear that could be granted by the stone. Instead, you watch with wide eyes as an avatar, a copy , of the prince reveals itself. It matches Sidon in practically every way physically, aside from the fact that it was made up of a shimmering blue light rather than his true colors. 

This copy of Sidon leaps into the air with a flourish, performing one of the prince’s signature flips before landing on the ground in front of you. When it stands at full height it- he- it is forced to tilt its head down to peer at you, considering it retains Sidon’s stature. You stare in awe as you meet its gaze, and instead of finding the prince’s warm golden eyes you’re met with a pair of glowing white ones.

“... oh… sweet Hylia,” you quietly swear, looking up at the avatar.

Sidon- your Sidon, not the copy, bends a knee to kneel before you. He gives you a reassuring smile as he reaches both his hands out to you. He speaks with clarity as he makes a request of you, “here, _____, your hand.”

There’s no hesitation as you reach out with your right arm, allowing him to take your hand into his grasp. He holds it firmly, giving you a handshake before making another declaration.

“I, Sidon, the Sage of Water… swear that I will fight by your side. Please accept this… it is proof of my vow.”

You could practically blush at his words. This meant more than just a simple vow between warriors, you were well aware of that. This was Sidon swearing his life to you, to fight side-by-side with you. Honoring this vow meant dedicating himself entirely to you, body and soul. 

It was a vow that could not be made lightly.

The copy of the prince disappears in a blink of light, one that quickly returns to the secret stone on his hand. You watch as the blue light from the stone fills his body before it seems to trickle down through his arms, transferring to your own. The light concentrates in your right arm, before gathering and flowing to your hand- then to your palm- then to your ring finger.

There, a rune appears, sitting neatly on your finger as if it were itself a ring. The rune bears a symbol that matches the one which was carved onto Sidon’s secret stone. He had bestowed you with a new ability. The rune blinks, awaiting activation. When you touch the ring its light flashes once more, and in response the avatar of the prince appears at your side.

“With that ring, you will always have me- … my power with you,” he explains, stammering over his words. He stands up straight once more, looking at the copy of himself and seemingly regarding it. “And I will do all that I can to aid you.”

The irony of his rune, the symbol of the Sage of Water, sitting on your ring finger is not lost on you. If you weren’t so tired, perhaps you would have been more flustered about that fact. You touch the ring fondly, allowing the avatar to disappear into the air once more.

The pair of you walk away from the fountain. Now, with the sludge monster felled and the fountain cleaned, you were able to admire the wellspring in all of its glory. Your feet shuffle along the smooth stone floor as you trail alongside the prince, absentmindedly clutching your right arm. At the entrance to the Water Temple you both stop, and the prince glances down at you with a fond look.

He breathes in a deep sigh, taking in the fresh air. Content, he says, “alright. Let’s head back home, shall we?”

You gaze up at him, silently admiring the way the sunlight reflects off of his armor. Now that he had acquired a secret stone, there seemed to be a new air about him. He seemed more confident, more energized. Now, more than ever, he seemed to embody the true nature of being a Zora warrior and prince.

Then your mind flashes back to what his father had told you in the sanctum: “I must truly be getting on in years to have allowed a mere monster to catch me off guard. Perhaps… the time is nearing for me to pass the title of king on to Sidon.”

Prince Sidon would not be a prince for very much longer. If King Dorephan were to stay true to his own words, he would be stepping down all too soon. His son’s ascension to the throne was imminent- meaning that his marriage to Yona would be certified soon as well. 

Sidon would be married, and there was nothing you could do to change that.

Emotion swells in your chest as your breath hitches, a sense of panic rising within you. The prince seems to notice your distress, concern flashing on his face as he turns away from the temple entrance to look at you. You try to speak but you can’t force out the words, struggling to make eye contact with him as you try to think of something , anything to explain your behavior.

He says your name softly, and the mere mention is enough to make you break.

“Sidon,” you mumble, your voice barely louder than a whisper. No one else was around to hear what you might say, and yet, the next words you wanted to utter felt forbidden. If you had more energy you might have even felt ashamed.

“Sidon… kiss me. Please.”

You scarcely have the chance to even register what you had said. Not even a moment to reconsider, to apologize, to walk back your statement. In a flash of movement the prince is kneeling before you- and then you feel his hands quickly holding either side of your face- and then-

He’s kissing you.

You can feel your legs tremble beneath you as soon as he does, and you nearly fumble as you grasp onto him- your lips locking with his own. Your hands hold onto his arm, eyes fluttering shut as you let him hold you closely. The kiss is desperate, nearly frantic, with both of you clinging to one another as if you would never be able to again.

And, that very well might have been the case.

Your hands find the silver neck piece of armor and you loop your fingers around the material, using it to try and ground yourself. You hadn’t even realized that you’d started to cry until you felt his thumbs swiping away the tears on your face. Through whimpering breaths you manage to whisper his name between kisses, the two of you only pulling apart when you needed air. 

It takes everything in you not to sob as you speak, barely a hair’s width away from him as you do so. “I can’t ,” you cry, voice wavering, “I can’t lose you again.”

He moves his hand, bringing his thumb beneath your chin and gently tilting your head up. His eyes are brimming with tears as well and he sucks in a shaky breath before replying. “I know. I know, and I-” he seems to choose his words carefully before continuing, “... I won’t let it happen again.”

“But the engagement-” you attempt to retort, but he swiftly cuts you off.

“My love, do you trust me?”

His words are stern and in spite of his emotion his eyes had steeled with focus. The question caught you off guard but slowly you nod in response. “Yes,” you answer, and despite everything that had occurred it was the honest truth, “with my life, I trust you.”

Visibly he seems to relax, smiling as he presses a kiss to your forehead. “Good. I’m glad. I know it’s taken… time,” he seems to hesitate as he says this, “and I’m sorry for that. But- but I have a plan. And if you’ll have me-”

“You’re all I want,” you say quietly, which pulls a chuckle out of him.

“And I you,” he reciprocates, “now, I know we’ve enjoyed our time here away from the palace. But, we do need to return, beloved.”

“... I know,” you whisper. You wanted to be selfish. But time was running thin.

He presses another kiss to your lips, and you can tell that he takes his time before pulling away one last time. “Let’s go home, dearest,” he murmurs, moving his hand down to lace his fingers with your own.

You do your best to give him a confident smile. But you knew that once you were back in Zora’s Domain, you were going to lose your access to him. Still, you nod, allowing him to guide you. “Let’s go,” you reply, preparing yourself to return to life as it was before.

“A great wellspring, a temple of ancient technology, and a monster that controlled the sludge? How alluring! I am so proud that you and Prince Sidon were able to dispel this evil from the land!”

You smile as you shovel another spoonful of rice and fish into your mouth. Nearly a full day had passed since you’d returned to Zora’s Domain. After a full night’s sleep, a thorough bath, and a few meals, you were finally feeling refreshed and energized. Across from you sat Lady Yona, who had been marveling as you regaled her with the details of your journey to the water temple. 

“I’m just glad to be back,” you say with a small laugh, “and that the sludge is gone, of course.”

“Yes, and I’m overjoyed to see the land returned to its former glory,” she replies, “and the palace is pristine once more again, I’m unsure I’ve ever seen the flooring shine so brightly.”

You tilt your head to the side and grin, “you should have seen how reflective the floors were when Bazz forced his soldiers to do cleaning duties.”

Both you and Yona have a laugh over this. And you think to yourself that this is nice , it’s nice to have a friend to share stories with. If you could force yourself to forget that she was soon to be married to the love of your life, this would be nice .

You hide your momentary frown by dipping your head down and finishing your meal.

After a moment’s silence, you look up once more, pushing your plate away. “That little boy, Allegro,” you speak up, “how is he doing?”

Yona clasps her hands together as she says, “oh, very well! He has made a full recovery, as have the rest of our patients with the disappearance of the sludge. Our nurses even deemed him healthy enough to allow him to play with the other children.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” you smile, “I’ll have to make sure I see him before I leave… has there been any progress in finding his family?”

At this, her expression falls, and an immediate sense of dread fills you. “Well,” she starts out, hesitation in her tone, “the guards performing the search did indeed have findings, but they weren’t good. You had found Allegro in the waters of Toto Lake, a lake which has connecting waterfalls to the north. When the soldiers searched those rivers… they found the body of a Zora woman with markings on her tail identical to those of Allegro’s.”

Your stomach drops. “They found… a body?”

Lady Yona nods solemnly, “yes, it seemed that she too had succumbed to the sludge and that the current of the river had washed her away. By the time the guards had found her… it was too late.”

“Did anyone recognize her?” you ask, “any relatives? Any friends?”

She shakes her head, “no, it seems that she and Allegro were both new to Hyrule. Perhaps visitors from another Zora kingdom.”

“... so what’s happened to the woman?” you reply after a moment of quiet.

“She was given a burial at sea, as is tradition for us Zora,” Yona answers quietly, “it was always believed that since we came from the ocean, it is where we should return at the end of our days.”

Your teeth worry at your bottom lip as you think this through. With a dead mother and no other family to speak of, that only leads you to one conclusion. “I see. But the boy, he’s orphaned then. Is there any way to… has anyone offered to-” you huff as you try to collect your thoughts, “... who is going to take care of him?”

Yona fidgets with the golden cuffs on her arms as she ponders your question. “For now, he will likely remain under the care of the nursing staff until a more permanent solution can be found. Such as adoption, should we find a willing caretaker for him.”

Her eyes settle upon you, and you pale momentarily once you realize what she’s implying. She means you . That you could become Allegro’s caretaker. 

You stammer as you try to find any excuse, “I- I couldn’t possibly. I have my- my duties, I travel far too often. I’m still searching for the princess- I- I’m unsure if I even have a place to call home right now. I wouldn’t even know the first thing about raising a- a- a Zora!”

And yet, in spite of your insistence, you do find yourself considering it. In a perfect world, maybe. With the princess found, with Hyrule safe, with the land at peace once more. Could you be a parent? Could you raise this little boy?

But this wasn’t that perfect world.

“You have far too much on your plate right now, trust me I understand,” she responds, offering you a warm smile, “but I do ask that you consider it. That young boy seems to absolutely adore you. He opens up when you’re around, he becomes far more talkative… it’s a joy to see. I know you have your duties, champion. But, just think about it, won’t you?”

You sigh, shutting your eyes before you answer. “... fine. I’ll think about it.”

After cleaning up Yona escorts you to the plaza of the palace, and there you find a peculiar sight. Prince Sidon is seated at the base of the statue having found himself surrounded by the children of the domain. The kids were all excitedly vying for his attention, and you quickly figured out why: they wanted to know more about the new, shiny stone on his hand.

The prince had a beaming smile on his face as he spoke, explaining to the little ones that the stone granted him strength and power. That his control of water was ‘stronger than ever’, and that it would empower him to be the best warrior he could be. You smile as you watch, only to feel something tug on your pant leg.

When you glance down you’re met with a pair of bright golden eyes and teal scales. “Allegro! Hello there,” you greet him with a smile.

The young boy grins, bearing his sharp teeth as he tries to speak. ‘Ha… huh… hi!”

“Good job, little man!” you congratulate him. He reaches his arms up, flexing his hands in a ‘grabby’ motion. You recognize it immediately, the universal symbol for wanting to be lifted. You reach down and wrap your arms around his torso, pulling him up into the air and balancing him on your hip. He’s clearly excited, the tip of his tail wagging as his hands grab onto your armor.

As you hold him up you walk closer to the prince to listen in on the conversation.

“It was a fierce battle,” he explains, using showmanship flair as he tells the children about your adventure, “this was a foe unlike any I had seen before- but the Hylian champion and I fought valiantly!”

The children ‘ooo’ed and ‘ahh’ed as he spoke, each eager to hear stories from a warrior. Just as Sidon begins to share the details of your fight with the sludge monster, he glances up and notices your presence. His eyes soften as they settle on you, a smile on his face as he quickly stands up.

“Champion,” he says, bowing his head respectfully.

“Prince Sidon,” you reply, gesturing to the boy in your arms, “you remember Allegro, right?”

“Of course I do!” he chuckles, gently patting the young Zora on the head. The little boy giggles, grabbing onto Sidon’s much larger hand. “Such a brave young one, he is. And I must say, I think you’ve chosen an excellent name for him.”

This makes you blush, “oh, who told you that I picked it?”

“A little birdie did,” he replies with a playful wink.

“Ah, it was Yona,” you nod, rolling your eyes at his antics.

Before your banter can continue, a voice from above the plaza calls out to you. “Prince Sidon and Champion _____! Your presence is requested by the king.” When you look up you see that it’s Muzu looking down at you from the balcony above.

You nod, shouting back, “be right there!”

Your attention is turned back to the little boy in your arms. “Alright, buddy, I’ve got to get going,” you say, moving to set him back down on the ground. His immediate response is to pout, whining as soon as his feet are touching the floor again. You give him a sympathetic smile, “I’ll be back later, I promise. Why don’t you go and play with your friends?”

He gives you a small wave before looking back at the other children. They welcome him into the group with open arms again, already discussing their new ideas for games. Clearly the older kids have been inspired by the prince’s stories, as they debate who should be the ‘sludge creature’ and who should be the ‘knights’. 

Quickly you ascend up the stairs and make your way to the throne room, following behind the prince’s footsteps. Once you enter the room you see that Muzu and several members of the Zora council are standing on one side of the throne. Prince Sidon moves to stand on the other, with Lady Yona at his side. You have a place on neither, so you stand before the king instead.

Dorephan seemed to have healed quickly once the sludge was gone, now taking his seat within the palace tall and proud once more. The king gives you a smile before he speaks, waving a hand to address the room. “Dearest champion. Thanks to your courage, the inhabitants of Zora’s Domain are safe once again. No words could express the depths of my gratitude. Thank you, hero. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

You feel bashful as you accept his praise, bowing your head in response. It’s easier than attempting to stumble over your words and try to find a way to match his gratitude. 

Then, the king turns toward his son. “As for you, Sidon… though _____ certainly played a key role, your own efforts to save the domain were nothing short of magnificent. I have always believed in you, Sidon. Now, you have unequivocally proven your worthiness to bear the crown. That is why I shall joyously take this opportunity to pass the throne to you.”

Your heart skips a beat. This was it. It was happening. Your eyes widen as your head shoots up and you look toward the prince. He looked nothing short of astounded, having to stop himself from letting his jaw drop.

“Father,” Sidon gasps, shaking his head, “this is so sudden.”

“No, it only seems that way,” Dorephan responds, “in truth, it has been heavy on my mind for some time. Sidon, my son… it is time to ascend the throne as the new king. Take Yona’s hand, and as one, lead Zora’s Domain to a brighter tomorrow.”

You stumble backward, and your face heats up in embarrassment when you realize that you’ve drawn attention to yourself. Multiple of the council elders look at you with clear disdain on their faces, Yona has a look of sympathy, and when Sidon’s eyes meet your own you have to force yourself to look down at the stone floor.

“Me… the king?” you hear the prince ask. There’s a tense moment of silence before he says,“... thank you, father. I will not let you down! I swear it.”

You hear a round of applause and cheers from the council as you feel your eyes become hot with tears, sucking in a deep breath and shutting your eyes tight.

Dorephan chuckles loudly. “That is the spirit, my boy! Now! Accept your place upon the throne. Even the finest swordswoman in all of Hyrule may bear witness to this momentous occasion!”

‘No. No I can’t- I can’t-’ you start to panic inwardly, watching as everyone begins to move out of the throne room. You couldn’t bear to watch this. You knew it was going to happen, but this was so soon . You couldn’t watch him receive the crown, you couldn’t watch him take Yona’s hand in marriage. 

The council begins to gather the citizens of the domain into the plaza. Your hand moves of its own accord, reaching for the Purah Pad on your belt. Your breath hitches as you unhook it and glance at the map. Your fingers hover above a travel point- you’re not even sure which one, you just needed to be anywhere that wasn’t here .

‘I’m sorry Sidon. But I need to go.’

You touch the screen. Light begins to surround you as you’re whisked away. No one sees you as you disappear into thin air.

“I don’t know if I can do this.”

“Of course you can, you’ve been preparing your entire life for this.”

Sidon’s hands practically shake as he holds the crown. What was once a symbol of his father’s title had now been passed onto him. He swallows nervously, acutely aware of the crowd of people that have gathered to watch his coronation.

In front of him stands Lady Yona, who offers him a look of compassion as she straightens out the sash across his chest. “You are more than ready to take on this task,” she reassures him, “your father thinks so, I think so, and so does the council. You have everyone’s support.”

“I thought I would have more time,” he sighs, “I thought… well, you know what I want to do. Do you think this will go well?”

Yona smiles, pressing her hand to her lips, “well, it’s certainly going to be unconventional. But these are trying times. Perhaps a bit of change is what could be best for your people.”

Sidon hesitates before he lifts the crown and places it atop his head. It matches the silver jewelry of his adornments, the collar around his neck and the cuffs of his arms. He spots his reflection, making sure to straighten out the new headpiece.

“How do I look?” he asks, glancing back to Yona for her opinion.

“Like a king,” she grins at him, “now let’s go, your people are waiting for you.”

Taking in one last deep breath, he nods and flashes a smile. As the two approach the balcony which looks over the plaza, he can hear the advisor Muzu attempting to control the crowd. “Silence, everyone!” calls out the elder, stepping aside to let them take center stage.

Sidon straightens out his back, giving a look of confidence as he stands before the people of the domain. His eyes skim over the crowd, searching for you. He thought you would be easy to find, and yet, he can’t seem to see you. He falters momentarily, before beginning his speech.

His voice rings out loud and clear as he speaks. “I hereby inherit this crown from my father, The Exalted Dorephan. From this moment on, I shall be king of the Zora!”

The crowd cheers for him, children and adults alike. Behind him the Zora council gives a respectful round of applause, clapping their hands together. Sidon looks over to Yona, who stands beside him. She gives him a nod as she silently mouths to him ‘ keep going ’. They had discussed this ahead of time, she was there to support him.

His eyes look back to the crowd. He hesitates. He knows what he must do, and he knows that this will change everything . He knows the council members will become upset with him, and he can only hope that his father will forgive him.

With his arm he gestures to Yona, encouraging her to step forward. He can hear the excited whispers and giggles. This is the moment many had been waiting for, the moment when a new queen would finally be announced.

“At… at this precious moment, I ask that you also open your hearts…” he pauses momentarily, heart pounding in his chest. There was no turning back now. 

“I ask that you open your hearts to my most trusted advisor and new head of the Zora council, Lady Yona!”

Here's a doodle of Allegro as a prize for reading everything :)

(If the image is failing to load, this link should work)

Chapter Text

An exasperated sigh escapes you as you stare down at the blade in your hands. It was a weapon you’d fashioned using the horn of a slain Black Lizalfos, fused to a damaged sword you’d picked up some time ago. You had just finished sharpening it- rather, you’d sharpened it about four times as you let your mind wander. It would be a fine weapon, for now, until it inevitably broke. A decent sword, but nothing could compare to the one you had lost so many weeks ago.

You had been able to silence your racing thoughts ever since leaving Zora’s Domain. In your head, you kept a mental tally of the facts: you had lost your arm and it had been replaced by the arm of the Ancient king Rauru. The mummified figure you had found beneath Hyrule Castle was the Demon King and he was now awake after a long imprisonment. Zelda had disappeared after receiving a secret stone. Secret stones were objects that gave the bearer great power. The princess had appeared in the past as well as in the present, though you only saw her from a distance.

The most recent fact of your life was that you now had a… companion.

Prince Sidon’s avatar.

“No, that’s wrong,” you mumble as you sheath your sword, “he’s not the prince anymore. He’s a king now.”

Though you hadn’t stuck around for the coronation, you knew this to be a fact. Not only because you fled moments before the announcement, but also because when you summoned the Zora’s avatar you could see that the silent, blue figure now had a crown atop his head as well. It seemed that the vow from the sage would update in real time. 

Currently, you are sitting on the field of a small sky island. Frequently, you had taken to returning to the sky, as the crisp air helped you calm down and think clearer. The added benefit is that no one else in Hyrule could bother you when you were up so high above the clouds. The privacy was a welcome addition to your life.

You weren’t entirely alone, however. Standing a few feet away was Sidon’s avatar. He was silent, almost unnervingly so. The real Sidon was nearly never so quiet, and to have a version of him that could not speak felt uncanny. His vacant eyes glowed dimly as he stared off into the distance, though you knew that he was constantly alert despite seeming so calm. He had already proven useful to you, helping you fend off a camp of monsters that had caught you off guard.

Setting the sword aside, you huff out a breath of air as you turn your head to face the copy of the sage. “I wonder,” you mumble, running your fingers along the blades of grass, “can you even hear me?”

Almost immediately, the avatar’s head turns to find your voice. He gazes down at you, though he is still silent and unwavering in his stance.

“Maybe I should reword that,” you sigh, “I know you can hear me. Can you understand me, though? Are you processing any of this? Or are you simply sort of… autopiloting?”

He tilts his head to the side. Still, there is no response.

You feel disappointed, though you’re unsure what you were expecting- or, perhaps, what you were hoping for. At least, that’s what you want to convince yourself of. Deep down, you knew that it would have been perfectly convenient to have another version of Sidon. One for yourself, a walking, talking, living, and breathing copy that was just like the Zora you loved. It was an incredibly selfish thought, one that you knew better than to cling to. Still, it wasn’t going to help you soothe your aching heart.

“Forget it,” you groan, pushing yourself up off of the ground and collecting your belongings, “there’s no point. You’re not a person, you’re a- a- a weapon. A vow. A promise made, I suppose. But that’s it. You’re not him.”

You want to delude yourself into imagining that you can see a hint of emotion on the avatar’s face. A pout of the lips, or a furrowed brow, or a downtrodden expression. It doesn’t happen, but maybe if you stare hard enough, you can convince yourself that it’s the case. 

“We should get moving,” you mutter, mostly to yourself but loud enough for the avatar to hear you as well, “I think we’re going to the Gerudo Desert next. The sandstorm looks far too big not to be causing issues.”

You secure your weaponry and sling your travel pack over your shoulder- newly restocked with elixirs and enough food for a few day’s worth of meals- with how much chaos the land had been thrown into due to the Upheaval, you were never too sure when was the next time you would have access to a stable or settlement. Standing at the cliff’s edge, you gaze down below, charting your next route that would take you to the south of Hyrule.

For just a moment, you let your eyes flicker to the side, though. It was impossible not to allow your gaze to wander back to Zora’s Domain. As you prepare to leap off the edge, you can’t help but wonder.

‘How is Sidon feeling after his coronation?’

The council’s meeting room was in complete and utter turmoil. Various voices were shouting over one another as scrolls and pieces of parchment were scattered across the table as the elders desperately attempted to search through the palace’s archives. In spite of how chaotic the room was, there was a smile on King Sidon’s face.

He had completely subverted the rules. Gone against tradition, gone against the elders, and gone against even his own worries. And it was all for you.

“This is completely outrageous!” shouts a councilman from across the room, “you cannot ascend to the throne without a queen- you cannot undo the terms of your engagement!”

Lady Yona, who was sitting calmly at the table with an equally relaxed smile, simply tilted her head in response. “Oh, but he can,” she responds, picking up one of the scrolls and unrolling it in her hands, “there is nothing in the historical texts that states otherwise. There is no previous precedent that goes against him. The ascension to the throne with a spouse was a mere tradition, and there are no binding rulings in its favor. And, he is the king now; the law of the land is his to decide.”

Sidon and Yona had both been sure to thoroughly pour over the texts in the archive before making this decision. In Sidon’s favor was the fact that he had been forced to read through the broad amounts of literature many times over in the past at the request of the council. All of that reading had done him good, as now he was equipped with all of the knowledge to back up his last-minute change to the coronation proceedings.

On the king’s other side was Muzu, and the elder could do no more than let out an exasperated sigh at the scene unfolding before him. “You know, this will have all of them in an uproar for the next month, at least ,” Muzu chuckles dryly, “but, I will say, I am proud to see you stand firm in your beliefs.”

Sidon feels his heart swell at this. His mind had been set, he knew what he would have to do to ensure that he wouldn’t lose you. But he had been incredibly worried about losing his family in the process. Would his brash decision to circumvent the traditions of the royal Zoras cause him to sever his ties? But thus far, seemingly, it had caused no damage. He hoped that he could maintain it that way.

Deciding that enough was enough, though, the king stands up at the table. Once he does so, a hush seems to fall over the room, with all the bickering council members ceasing their arguments so that they could turn to face him. The majority of them seemed displeased, but they would still have to follow the protocol and listen to what it was that Sidon had to say.

“I know that many of you are unhappy with me,” he starts out, keeping an even tone, “and I know that it may take some time to come to terms with the choice that I’ve made. But my decision is final. I have read through our historical archives a multitude of times. I know them like I know the scales on my own hands. There is nothing in our domain’s past that states I cannot ascend to the throne on my lonesome.”

A voice shouts across the room, “but it is tradition!”

“Tradition is nothing more than a recommendation,” Sidon retorts, a statement which draws a wave of hushed whispers. “There are no laws, no decrees, and no rulings that say I must have a spouse when I ascend to the throne. So, for the time being, I will be unwed. Consider this my announcement that the engagement between Lady Yona and myself is, henceforth, called off.”

This causes yet another small uproar, which Sidon raises a hand to silence.

“With Yona taking up the mantle as head of the council, I trust that she will be treated with the utmost respect and regard by all of you. Her assistance to us will be critical; not only does she have insight to offer, but having her here will help us maintain one of our most critical alliances,” the king continues to explain, warmly smiling at the Zora beside him.

Lady Yona speaks up, stepping up to the table, “I am thrilled to take on this responsibility and begin working with all of you. Zora’s Domain is my home now, and I feel so blessed as to have been accepted with open arms. It is my hope to continue forging a path forward into peace and prosperity so that this domain may continue to shine as brightly as it always has.”

A small wave of murmurings floods across the room once more, though this time, they are more positive. Sidon brings an end to the meeting, bringing attention to how late it is. Once all the council members file out of the room, he lets out a deep, exhausted sigh.

“Tired?” Yona asks with a small laugh.

“Very,” Sidon replies simply, walking beside her as the pair leave the meeting room.

“I think you did quite well,” she murmurs, keeping her voice low as they walk through the halls of the palace, “they’ll come to terms with it eventually. It’s shocking, but all change is.”

“I’m glad you think so,” he chuckles, “I do not regret my decision by any means, but it has filled me with quite a bit of anxiety. To know that you and others support me, though, is a great help.”

Yona grins, clasping her hands together, “I do hope you know that I’m quite proud of you! You’ve followed your heart, and that is something I do not think anyone can blame you for. What’s important now is that you continue to follow your heart, wherever it may take you.”

“Meaning?” Sidon asks, his pace slowing as they approach the bedchambers.

“You know very well what I mean,” Yona laughs, casting him a sideways glance, “after all, is there not a swordswoman who may want to know about the availability of the king?”

He feels his face flush as he smiles bashfully. But his dear friend did have a point. He had done this for you- but when would you learn about subversion at the coronation? He had no way of easily contacting you during your travels, and he knew not when you would next arrive in the domain. Would you learn from a newspaper? From the gossip of a stranger? Or would he be able to confess the news on his own someday?

“You’re quite right,” he nods, “and I will be sure to follow through with that. In terms of the engagement, however, won’t your father be upset with you? The deal has effectively been called off.”

“The next time that I see him, I shall convince my father of the value of my position as chief advisor,” Yona responds with a confident look, “I see no reason why our allyship cannot persist with me as chief advisor compared to being the queen consort.  If he cannot see that I am perfectly suited for this role, then he is a fool.”

Sidon’s eyes widen, though he laughs all the same, “bold words, my friend. It is getting quite late, though, and I need not want to keep you up late at night with my worries. I will see you tomorrow, Lady Yona.”

She bows her head in response, “rest well, King Sidon.”

He laughs at the sound of his new title. It was going to take some getting used to. Once inside his bedchambers, he allows himself to finally, after a rather long day, decompress. A deep sigh escapes him as he removes the crown from his head, holding it delicately in his hands before he sets it down atop his desk. 

One day down, though a lifetime as king awaited him in the future.

As he readies himself for sleep, he feels an unfamiliar tug in the back of his mind- and it confuses him greatly at first. Quickly, though, he reasons that this was an effect of the vow he had made to you. Seemingly, if you were to summon his avatar, he could feel that action from a distance.

This brought a smile to his face, knowing that even when he was in the domain, he could be of help to you. Protecting you. You dedicated so much of yourself to protecting Hyrule, he wanted to ensure that there was someone looking out for you.

He could only hope that wherever you were, you were safe. And that someday, hopefully soon, he could have you in his arms again. That he would be able to call you his once more.

“ Alllllll I need to do is get my fingers on a Bubbul gem, then I’m sure to turn into a Satori! And the rumors are true, there are creatures in these caves called  Bubbulfrogs, and they glow just like a Satori. Gaaaw, but I didn’t think they would be up sooo high on the walls or run about all nimbly-bimbly like that.”

Standing before you was an odd-looking Hylian- though not unlike one you had met before. Koltin was his name, the little brother to Kilton who you had befriended years ago. Similarly to his sibling, Koltin had an odd obsession. Where Kilton was fixated on all things monster-related, Koltin had his mind set on a creature called the Satori- so much so that he had dressed himself to look like one, with glowing face paint and antennae.

“You’re Kilton’s little brother, yeah?” you ask once he finished his spiel, standing before him and his stand with you arms crossed, “I’m interested in helping. But why a Satori?”

“It’s simple, really,” he replies, in a simple tone as if this were all obvious, “I dream of becoming a Satori! You know… the creature of myth! Piercing eyes… blueish-white fur… oooh, how I’ve admired them since I was a wee Koltin! And then I read these ancient texts and they told me how to transform myself- transform me, Koltin - into a Satori!”

You raise a brow at this. The idea of transforming one’s own body was taboo. It was something that you had only read about in fictional texts from the past, and it was a concept that was severely frowned upon. To change one’s own body is to forsake one’s self- but it was something you occasionally found yourself pondering. It has lingered in your mind ever since the day that Kilton had secretly explained the Zora mask to you. 

“Well, if it’s caving you need I can do that no problem. I can probably track down some Bubbulfrogs,” you reply, thinking about the various caverns you’d explored ever since the Upheaval, “in fact… I’ve probably found one or two already.”

“If you get hold of a Bubbul gem, pleeeease give it to me! I’ll give you a treasure in trade, I swear,” he pleads, clasping his hands together and grinning- something which lets him bare his sharpened teeth.

You take a moment to dig through your satchel, sorting through the various valuable gems you had collected while traversing the land. Mostly, you had been hoarding quite a few gemstones that you planned to sell in Gerudo Town for a profit, knowing well that the jeweler there would always give you the best prices for any precious minerals you managed to collect. Hidden among the pile of topaz and rubies, however, was a glowing, pale blue gem about the size of your palm. You’d acquired it in a cave after shooting an arrow at what you now knew was a Bubbulfrog (at the time, you assumed it to be a new enemy).

“This is one, right?” you ask, handing the crystal over to him, “I got it from a frog in a cave not too long ago.”

“Th- th- th- that’s a Bubbul gem!” he exclaims, stammering over his words in excitement as he quickly snatched the gem out of your grasp, “that perfect shape, and the faint blue glow… it’s a real Bubbul gem! Real as can be! Now I can transform into a Satori just like the ones I adore! Thank you so very much! Please, take this gifty in return!”

From his cart of goods, he produces a mask that resembles a Bokoblin. You quickly recognize it as being one of the monster masks that his brother Kilton had sewn and created. You chuckle softly as it’s handed over to you, idly playing with the floppy ears atop the cap.

“We’ve collected all sorts of monstrous treasures- that is, monster parts and goods that make you look like a monster,” he explains, though he keeps his eyes trained on the crystal in his hands, “but at last! The time has come- time to gobble down the Bubbul gem! Cheers, and bottoms up.”

He chomps down on the rock, a clacking sound ringing out through the air that makes you flinch in discomfort. He breaks the gem into smaller pieces before swallowing, an action which seems as though it takes a substantial amount of effort (you don’t imagine that crystal matter goes down the gullet easily). After eating, he looks down at his body, searching for any sort of difference in his form. “Gwah? My body isn’t changing… but I do feel a strange sensation washing over me,” he says, mostly speaking to himself, “it can only mean one thing… I’m on the way to becoming a Satori! And that means more Bubbul gems! I need more of them!”

You slowly nod, a plan formulating in your mind as your eyes glance up to look at all of the goods he had in stock. “I can find more for you, of course. I have one thing to request in return,” you reply, quickly drawing his attention back to you, “your older brother once told me about a set of masks in his possession; I can only assume you have access to these too. Not these monster masks. They’re masks that can change a person’s body.”

Immediately, you see the way Koltin’s expression falters. He seems to grow nervous, anxiously clasping his hands together as he averts his gaze. “Oh…” he mumbles, “ those masks.”

“Yes,” you reply simply. You knew it wasn’t right, but if he was going to ask favors of you, then you knew you wanted something in return. Kilton would never lend one of these seemingly forbidden masks to you, but perhaps his little brother would be more malleable. “The Zora mask. How many Bubbul gems do I need to get for you to trade it to me?” 

He grumbles quietly, and you can hear the barely audible whispers as he seems to do the calculations. You could tell that he was weighing his options- he knew that his brother wouldn’t approve of the Zora mask being given to you. But he was desperate for the Bubbul gems at the same time. He eyes you warily before making his decision, “at least fifty. Based on the minimal effects, I suspect this is how much I will need.”

This pulls a small hum out of you. Fifty individual caves and fifty individual Bubbulfrogs would be no easy feat. But to satiate your curiosity and learn more about this mysterious mask, you’d do it. “Deal,” you retort, “I’ll keep an eye out for you as I travel. Have a nice night, Kilton.”

As you walk away from the Hylian, continuing down the road to the next stable, a sense of guilt gnaws at the back of your mind. You knew that this was a fool’s venture, surely the story behind the mask couldn’t be true. And yet you felt so drawn to it, inexplicably so. If the story was true, if this was a mask that could turn you into a Zora- what would you even do? Stroll into Zora’s Domain and collapse into Sidon’s arms-

“He’s married , for Hylia’s sake,” you groan, chastising yourself as you drag your feet along the path.

It was too good to be true, and that’s what you would attempt to convince yourself of. But you knew very well that it was a cause you would continue to chase. At the very least, you knew you wouldn’t let this distract you from your real goal.

You needed to find Princess Zelda. Something was off, you could feel it in your gut. Between seeing her floating at the castle and then being told that she had attacked Dorephan- you knew something was wrong. 

Even if you had to scour all of Hyrule, you would find her.

Your rupees clink softly as you set down a handful on the table.

“I hope you rest well tonight, champion. With this sandstorm, we’ve had very few travelers this far into the canyon. All our beds are vacant- save for one, the leftmost bed is occupied by the blonde gentleman.”

“Thanks, Piaffe,” you reply, giving the stablehand a nod before entering the building. Having four walls around you would be a pleasant respite from the gritty wind outside. You hadn’t even entered the true desert yet, and there was so much sand in the air that you had to wrap your face in cloth to protect it.

You decided that you would spend one night in a stable before venturing to Gerudo Town. If you had to trek through such a dangerous sandstorm that limited your visibility to mere inches, you wanted to ensure that you were fully rested. As you toss your belongings onto one of the free beds, you glance across the room. True to Piaffe’s word, there was in fact one other traveler who would be spending the night.

‘Who else is crazy enough to come to the desert in a storm like this,’ you wonder, half laughing as you slowly peer over to investigate.

Whoever it was, they were in quite a state. The curtains around the four-poster bed hadn’t been drawn shut, and they seemed to have practically collapsed atop the mattress. You could tell they must have fallen asleep in a hurry, because their armor was still attached and their rusted sword was haphazardly cast aside on the floor. As you walked over, you were able to see his hair- unruly and blonde and splayed out in all directions around him. Then you get a peek of his pointed ears, the small scars on his cheeks, and when you finally see his face, you gasp.

“Link? What are you doing here?”

Chapter Text

You drop a wooden bowl on the table with a clatter, pushing it toward the man sitting before you. Steam rises from its contents, a warm stew of chicken, rice, and vegetables. Though his eyes are tired, you can see them brighten at the sight of the meal.

“Eat,” you say sternly, “and then we’ll talk. You look like a mess, I don’t even want to begin to think about how long you’ve been traveling Hyrule for.”

Link quickly digs into the food, shoveling heaping spoonfuls into his mouth with little regard for his manners. As he does so you take stock of your inventory, going through your mental checklist of the supplies you’ll need for the desert. With how brutal the sandstorm seemed to be, your main concern was your hydration, so you made a note to refill your canteens with fresh water. In terms of clothing and armor you would have to make do with what you had already, and if you got too hot you’d have to utilize things like ice fruits until you could find something to better help you combat the heat.

After bartering with the stablehand you’re able to purchase some more rations for your journey. By the time you’ve finished up your small list of chores, the blonde has finished his meal. With a heavy sigh you take a seat across from him, practically collapsing into the chair. You were tired as well, but first you needed to sort out your subordinate.

“So,” you prompt him, “what’s the story?”

Through a rather tired combination of signing and gesturing he explains to you that he had been on the move ever since the news of yourself and Zelda going missing occurred. He tells you that he had hardly been sleeping or eating, focusing solely on traveling as he desperately searched for any signs. He had even attempted to go down into the massive chasm left behind after Hyrule Castle rose into the sky, but the gloom emanating from the depths was far too overpowering and left him ill afterwards.

As he communicated all of this to you, exasperated and weary, you could read the emotions on his face clearly. The princess’ disappearance had him distraught. He was running himself ragged in an attempt to find any trace of her.

You, of course, related to him entirely. But where you were searching desperately for your best friend, he was searching for a woman he so-clearly had strong feelings for. Whether or not he had even realized those feelings yet, you could read them in him as clear as day.

Once he’s done you slowly nod your head, your concern evident on your face. “I see,” you mumble, folding your hands and setting them on the table, “sounds like you’ve had a tough few weeks. I could say the same. Of course, I’ve been looking for Zelda too, but I’ve also been trying to help people suffering since the Upheaval happened. There’s some nasty stuff out there.”

You explain all that you had seen ever since meeting the mummy. The sky, the depths, and the crisis of muck in Zora’s Domain. You tell him about the ancient waterworks and the water temple. You detail the fight with the monster that had been causing all of the sludge in the first place. As you speak you skirt around discussing Sidon, avoiding describing your interactions with him and giving minimal explanation about the fact that he had sworn himself to you as a sage.

As you speak Link listens, his eyes widen as he takes in the story. Though he’d been traveling across Hyrule, he had been tunnel-visioned on locating the princess. Aside from knowing about the chasms which had opened and the falling debris from the sky, he had been unaware of the worst effects from the Upheaval. 

“That’s why I’m here now, to go to Gerudo Town,” you continue to explain, “I want to find a solution to quell this sand shroud. But also, I’m looking for more clues about what might have happened to Princess Zelda.”

What you omit from the conversation, though, was the ‘sightings’ of the princess that had happened. When you had seen her at Hyrule Castle, how she had allegedly summoned a monster to attack Dorephan in Zora’s Domain, and how you had seen a vision of her in the past when Sidon had received his secret stone. You chose not to tell Link about these, at least not yet, because to you something seemed off . Why would she float away from you, why would she attack the Zora king, and why would she appear in the past?

The last thing you wanted to do was give Link false hope, and you didn’t want to cause any confusion or panic if the word spread about these sightings of the princess.

Link hums, staring at the table momentarily before lifting his gaze. The look in his eyes is fierce and determined, in spite of the deep bags that gave away his fatigue. He lifts his hands and quickly signs: let - me - come - with - you.

You must have made a face, some manner of disgruntled expression, because he immediately seems displeased before you even have a chance to respond. “Link, you can’t come with me.”

Frustrated, he signs once more, though this time it’s much more firm: why - not - I - want - to - help.

“Look at you,” you retort, leaning across the table to make your point, “you’re exhausted. You’re working yourself to the bone and you’re in no state to assist in an investigation. If Gerudo Town is going to be anything like Zora’s Domain was, there are more threats waiting for us. You’re in no shape to fight.”

Link’s reply is simple, but effective: you - would - do - the - same.

This makes you pause. He was entirely correct, even if you didn’t want to admit it. Still, despite being a soldier in-training beneath you, you considered Link to be a civilian still. There were levels of danger you had endured that you couldn’t risk putting him through. “You will return to Lookout Landing and you will rest ,” you instruct him.

He raises a brow and crosses his arms before simply shaking his head- an undeniable no . Refusal to obey your orders. 

“ Link ,” you stress his name, “I’m serious- this isn’t going to be like training in the fields. We are dealing with monsters summoned by some of the worst evil this land has ever faced. You’re not ready-”

“Please-” he says, his voice hoarse and heavy with emotion.

The sound of it stuns you. In all of your years training him you had never heard him speak. You knew that he wasn’t mute, nor was there any damage to his throat or voice. Zelda had once made mention of hearing him speak when they were once in private. For whatever reason, he chose not to speak publicly. For him to finally speak now implied a great deal of importance to his plea.

“Please let me go with you,” he pleads, “I need to find her.”

Your eyes widen before you force yourself to look away, a frown on your face. You couldn’t fault him, you knew what must have been going through his mind. His desperation to save Zelda in part mirrored your own desperation to aid Sidon- and that was a similarity that you loathe to admit. Anxiously you gnaw at the inside of your cheek before sighing deeply, your shoulders dropping before you give him your response.

“... fine,” you relent, “we’ll leave early, before the sunrise, I want to avoid the heat as best as we can. So get to bed and sleep, you’re going to need it.”

His face lights up as you speak, his excitement palpable as he practically jumps out of his chair. He rushes back to the bed he’d paid for, seemingly sorting through his gear in preparation for the journey ahead. With a small groan you rub your temples, anticipating the stress that was awaiting you. You knew Link was far from helpless, he was a skilled fighter who had bested you many times while sparring. But this was far different from your practice, and it would be miniscule compared to the small horde of monsters you had once seen him fight.

You needed to relieve the tension you could feel building in your muscles.

“Piaffe,” you call out to the stablehand, “does this stable have communal showers?”

A few other stables throughout Hyrule had separate buildings to bathe in, and you had taken advantage of this many times in the past. But the Gerudo Canyon Stable had less land than the rest, due to how few people traveled this far south with horses. It was outfitted with fewer amenities because of this.

“No, we don’t, sorry,” he replies with an apology, already having begun closing the front desk for the night, “but if you travel a little farther west into the canyon there’s a natural spring that pours out the side of the mountain. Many travelers before have used it to bathe since it’s fresh water.”

You thank him for letting you know before returning to your belongings. You grab a change of clothing and something to dry yourself off afterward. ‘A quick shower will be nice,’ you think to yourself, ‘especially considering this sandstorm I’m about to enter. Who knows when’s the next time I’ll be able to feel completely clean.’

“I’ll be back, Link” you shout over your shoulder as you leave the stable, “don’t wait for me to come back, get some rest already.”

Quick on your feet you trek west through the canyon. You manage to move far enough away from the opening to the desert that the wind lightens, and so does the sand blowing through the air. After a few more minutes of wandering you find the spring that Piaffe had mentioned to you- a small fountain of water trickling out from the rocks of the mountain. It poured over an outcrop of stone, causing it to resemble a naturally formed shower. The water pooled into a small pond on the ground, only about as deep as your calves, the air in the desert likely evaporated the rest of it in the daytime.

The spring was nestled into a smaller corner of the canyon, but it was still a relatively open area. This late at night you knew there wouldn’t be anyone traveling the roads, and with the nearby sandstorm the canyon seemed practically deserted. Still, you knew that there may be monsters to worry about. You needed a way to guard yourself, even if the shower would be brief.

You spare a glance down at your arm, noticing that the ring Sidon’s vow had given you was reflecting the moonlight.

‘I could have his sage avatar stand watch. As far as I can tell it’s only a weapon, and it automatically senses nearby threats. I’ll have him guard the area while I hop in for a quick wash.’

Delicately you tap the rune which sits upon the face of the ring. In a flash of light the avatar appears, a copy of Sidon which stands silently before you. He blinks, the blank glow of his eyes staring back at your own as you gaze up at him.

“Um… hello,” you say softly, still unsure of how to speak to him, “I have a favor to ask of you. Do you mind standing guard? I just need you to keep an eye out for a few minutes. Just stay put and stand right there… I guess. Right where you are.”

There’s no response, as always, but yet you still found yourself waiting to see if the avatar would ever speak. Instead he blinks once more before turning away from you, looking out toward the rest of the canyon. ‘Well… I suppose that must mean he understood me?’ you think, stepping away from him slowly and returning your attention to the water.

You strip your clothing off quickly, setting your tunic, trousers, undergarments, and boots atop a nearby rock. Your sword is placed near them as well, just in case. As you step into the water and move beneath the trickling spring you let out an audible sigh, enjoying the feeling of cold water on your warm skin. You scrub off any dirt and grime that had built up during your time in the canyon, pick out sand from beneath your fingernails, and thoroughly rinse your scalp and face. Even after weeks of living with it, it still feels odd to cleanse the new arm you were given- the texture of the fur was so dissimilar to the skin on the rest of your body. You feared that you would never get used to it.

As you wash off, Sidon’s avatar does as he was instructed. Standing where you asked him to, keeping a keen eye on the area around you. The faint blue glow of his form washes over the area, a decent source of light as the moon was only half-filled tonight. As he turns his head to survey you’re fairly sure that he can see you, as well, keeping an eye out to ensure your safety. If he had any sort of conscience you may have felt charmed by this- though if he truly did have a conscience then you primarily would have felt embarrassment about bathing in such close quarters. But the avatar seemed to be nothing more than an empty vessel primed for combat, despite your wishes.

Once your shower is done you dry off and dress in a clean, fresh set of clothing. Once your boots are tugged on and your sword is grabbed you give a small shout to the avatar. “Alright, all done, you’re relieved of your duties now,” you say, a joking tone to your voice. There’s no response from him, he merely silently turns to face you once more. After a short pause you sigh, “man, I truly must be tired if I’m bantering with you now. Okay. Back to the ring you go.”

A quick tap on the ring dismissed him, and with his glow gone the area suddenly seems much darker than before. A short jog brings you back to the stables, and as you walk through the closed curtains you see that all of the oil lamps had been blown out for the night. In the dark you manage to tip-toe back to your bed, putting away your clothing before crawling beneath the covers. As you lay your head on the pillow, you think ahead toward the next leg of your journey. 

You worried about what dangers might await you surrounding Gerudo Town, you hoped that Riju and all of her people were safe, and you prayed that this may bring you another step closer to finding Zelda.

Though you toss and turn with stress, you’re soon able to doze off to sleep. With only a few hours to rest, you hope to savor every moment. In spite of yourself, your dreams are once again plagued by a certain red-scaled Zora…

… Sidon wakes with a start, his heart pounding out of his chest as he sucks in a breath of air frantically. The pool of water that he sleeps in is disrupted, waves splashing against the walls as he flails momentarily. His face was hot , truly his entire body felt hot, and he groaned as he dragged across his face. He pulls himself out of the water, sitting on the edge as he attempts to calm his racing heart.

Ever since he had attained his secret stone and you had left the domain, the new king had stumbled across a revelation. There must have been some manner of connection between him and the sage avatar he had given you, beyond it being an extension of his powers. 

He had quickly realized that whenever he slept, if the avatar was summoned by you, he’d be able to see through its eyes. Faintly, as if dreaming. Somehow the avatar was able to share its vision with him, only when he was at rest. 

At first Sidon didn’t mind this. In fact, it thrilled him somewhat, being able to get a glimpse into your adventure- and more importantly for him, it was a way to ensure your safety. He could sleep soundly at night knowing that when he did he’d be given a way to see that you were still alive, still traveling, still searching for the princess. 

But it took only a short few days for him to realize a flaw in this. Because you seemed to be completely unaware of this quirk with the avatar. At the very least, if you knew that Sidon could see through its eyes when he slept, you surely didn’t make any note of it. And he had become certain of this fact tonight. You didn’t know. You couldn’t know. Because you had chosen to have the avatar stand guard as you bathed.

His hand covers his mouth, a heavy sigh escaping him as he shuts his eyes. The image would be burned into his mind, just the mere glimpse of you standing there beneath the water. He could remember every detail, every curve and contour of your form, even in what felt like a dream he was mesmerized by the way your hands glided along your own body. He should have felt shame for the fact that he had bore witness to this and yet- and yet there was a small voice at the very back of his mind that revelled in it. 

An airy chuckle escapes him, laughing at the predicament he had seemingly put himself in.

“Of course, the moment you leave me I am cursed with visions of you,” he whispers to himself, “only able to see you. Never able to reach out and hold you. I cannot even speak to you, only able to listen when you talk to that copy of me. What horrific irony.”

What at first seemed to be a gift from his vow was now becoming torturous. These visions at night haunted him, keeping you constantly out of reach from his grasp. He was beginning to question himself. Was this some manner of punishment? Were the goddesses above so cruel as to do this to him, to keep you away from him? Did they not understand that everything he had done- he had done it in an effort to fix his mistakes. 

He had done it all for you .

There was no use in attempting to go back to sleep now. He drags himself away from the pool, quietly padding across the room to peer outside the window. To the east he could see the faintest streaks of orange being to appear on the horizon, the earliest indications of morning. No one in the domain would be awake at this time, save for the guards who were performing their duties overnight. It was as good a time as any for him to go wandering, allowing his thoughts to ruminate. 

Sidon gets quickly dressed, drawing his sash across his chest and sliding his various adornments onto his neck and arms. His hands hesitate, just for a moment, as he reaches out toward the crown which is perched atop a small pedestal on his desk. Newly coronated, he still felt quite odd wearing the king’s crown. Once the ceremonial trident is securely sheathed along his back he leaves the room, making sure to softly shut the door behind him. 

He walks through the halls of the palace in quiet contemplation, no real destination in mind as his feet carry him aimlessly. Soon he’s left the palace, walking across the plaza, and is soon walking down the pathway of the Great Zora Bridge. It is only when he arrives at the exit that he hears a voice sharply call out his name, quickly pulling him out of his thoughts.

“Sidon! Where in Hylia’s name are you going at this time?”

Bazz was standing guard near the very front of the domain, a rare occasion where he was taking part in the night shift. The captain had been sat atop some of the larger rocks, though he quickly hops down once he sees the monarch approaching. Spear in hand he jogs over quickly, concern etched into his expression.

“Oh, Bazz,” Sidon says softly, glancing up toward his friends, “worry not, I simply needed to take a walk. I wasn’t going to wander far.”

The guard nods with a knowing expression, “you’re thinking about something awfully hard, aren’t you? Let me ask… where is she now?”

Sidon confided in Bazz about nearly everything, which meant that his dear friend was well aware of the visions which had been plaguing him. He lets out a sigh before answering, “what I saw in my dreams tonight is that she is far, far south of here. Near the Gerudo Desert. Something terrible seems to be afoot, there’s a rather massive sandstorm. I’m sure that she will be seeking out the Gerudo chief tomorrow to try and help their people.”

“But she’s safe?” Bazz prompts him, leaning against his spear.

“Yes, she’s safe,” he replies, “rather stressed, it seems, but safe.”

The captain gives his friend a sympathetic look, “this will all blow over soon enough, I’m sure of it. All these issues caused by the Upheaval will be solved, the champion will locate the princess, and everything will calm down. We just need to hold it. It is not the first time we have seen Hyrule thrown out of balance.”

“I know, I know,” Sidon mutters, casting a glance downward to look at the glowing blue stone on the back of his hand. His secret stone glimmers, radiance and power emanating from it effortlessly. “You’re right. We will get through this. I’m merely-”

“Impatient?” Bazz offers, a grin on his face as he gently teases his friend.

Sidon matches his smile, “one would think. I fear as I grow older I may be losing the patience I once had. Perhaps as time passes I become more selfish as the days pass.”

“Oh, please,” the guard replies, making a dramatic show of rolling his eyes, “you’re hardly old, don’t speak like that. In terms of selfishness… perhaps a little, the stunt you pulled at the coronation was rather unprecedented. But you would never do anything if it would cause harm to the domain. The council may be upset, but I think in the future we will look back and see that rejecting your marriage to Yona was for the better.”

For a moment, this makes Sidon stop and think. Then he slowly nods. “I truly hope that you’re right,” he whispers, “I know that my decision was practically unheard of. And the elders are rather cross with myself and Lady Yona about this decision. But someday… someday we will look back and see that it was the right choice.”

The two men sit and chat for a while longer, watching the sunrise on the horizon. As the day arrives the domain begins to bustle with life, families swimming up from the water and the storefront opening up. From across the bridge chatter can be heard in the plaza as children run and play. When the changing of the guard occurs, Gaddisson approaches and greets the pair, bowing her head in respect to the king before switching positions with Bazz.

“So, your Majesty, what are your plans for the day? Any kingly duties to tend to,” the captain asks as he and Sidon return to the palace.

“I need to respond to some correspondence we received from Lookout Landing,” he replies, thoughtfully tapping a finger to his chin, “Doctor Purah was requesting soldiers to aid them as it seems that the amount of monster camps in Hyrule Field has increased significantly. With our sludge problem resolved I thought that it would be a fine idea to assist. After that, my father asked if I could join him on a hunt in the highlands. Now that he has retired from the throne he has a considerable amount of free-time on his hands, it seems.”

“Sounds like a relaxing day,” Bazz replies, before being interrupted by a yawn, “and it seems that this is my sign to retire to bed. The sun has risen, and I will be promptly hitting the hay, as it were.”

After sharing a laugh the two men bid each other goodbye before going their separate ways. Now that domain was more lively he took his appearance into account, making a point to walk with his back straight and head held high. He’s sure to greet everyone he passes, to check in with the shop owners, and entertain the children when they run up asking questions. Soon enough he makes his way to the tide pools, finally finding the Zora he was searching for.

“Hello, young one,” he says as he kneels beside the water, “how are you today, Allegro?”

The little boy grins excitedly once he sees the king, splashing water as he quickly swims over. He wraps his small hand around one of Sidon’s fingers, babbling softly as he stares up at him. “Ba-ba!” he shouts, eyes wide with curiosity.

“No, it’s Sidon,” he replies gently, attempting to teach the boy his name.

It’s in vain, however, when the boy simply repeats “ba-ba” before turning his attention to a snail that crawls along the side of the pool.

There’s a fond smile on Sidon’s face as he watches the boy swim in small circles around the pool. He couldn’t help but feel reminded of you every time he came to visit Allegro, after all it was you who had found the boy and saved his life in the first place. He recalls the desperation and urgency you had when you begged for help to save him from the sludge, and he remembers your gentleness when you had worked with him to heal the boy’s sickness from the muck.

A soft sigh escapes him. He knows he must return to his duties soon. As he walks through the palace back to his chambers he can’t help but think of you once more. Surely, you were still safe, wherever you were now. He hoped that despite the raging sandstorm that the desert was treating you well.

Gerudo Town had been abandoned.

At least this was how it seemed when you arrived at the front gates and saw that there were no guards. Your trek across the desert had been difficult, even with you and Link leaving the stable early to avoid the midday heat. What you hadn’t realized was how cold the sand shroud would make it at night, you had to bundle yourself in layers to be able to make it to Kara Kara Bazaar safely. At the bazaar you were able to rest for a short while, and it was there where you were able to speak with some Gerudo women to be given advice on how to venture further.

You were warned that the shroud was bad enough to throw off your compass, so the Purah Pad would be of no use to you. But what was more concerning is that a few guards mentioned ‘strange creatures’ to you. They warned you that something was lurking in the sands, something new- likely as a result of the Upheaval. They told you to travel with caution.

With no compass and little-to-no visibility you both had to move forward slowly. Luckily within the shroud you found several air vents, large gusts that you could take advantage of with your paraglider. You were able to fly up above the cloud of sand for a few short moments to reorient yourself, and with each gust you could slowly travel closer and closer to the town.

It was when you finally arrived at Gerudo Town that the mystery only grew further. There were no guards, no civilians, not even the usual sand seals that would laze about near the entrances. When you peered inside past the gate you could see that the town had been ravaged by the sand shroud, several buildings were buried beneath piles of sand and many trees and overhangs had been knocked to the ground.

“This is worse than I thought,” you say to Link as you take shelter beneath the front gate of the town, “I was going to tell you that you’d have to wait outside the gates but… well… there’s no one here.”

The Hylian tilts his head to the side in confusion.

You roll your eyes, “don’t you remember? The Gerudo have a law that forbids men from entering their city limits. You wouldn’t be allowed to come in and meet Riju with me. Unless, I don’t know, we put you in some vai clothing and… lied… hmm.”

Link’s face goes blank as you stare at him. The gears in your head turn as you take in his figure before you firmly nod. “I’ve got an idea, c’mon,” you instruct him, grabbing onto his arm and crossing the threshold into the town.

You quickly sprint across the town square, taking further note of all of the damages. You find the front of the clothing store, pushing aside debris and wood to enter the building. “Hello?” you call out, hoping to see any signs of life. This is where the seamstress and her assistant would usually be. “Hello?” you say once more, hopeful.

There’s no response.

In the dim lighting Link signs to you: what - are - we - doing?

“Finding you a disguise,” you reply as you begin rummaging through the shelves, pulling out various pieces of fabric, “you’re a little short, and not too bulky. I think we can pass you off as a Hylian vai. A woman.”

He stands in the center of the room with wide eyes, staring at you incredulously. “What?” he croaks out, surprising you once more with the sound of his voice.

You laugh as you find a matching pair, a cyan top and billowy pants. “You have two options, pretend to be a woman or be forcefully thrown out by Buliara and her guards,” you reply, tossing the clothing in his direction, “you choose what you want, I would say that the former is smarter. Now I’ve just got to find a veil for you.”

The blonde groans and you chuckle at him once more. You bicker, mostly with yourself, as you attempt to find the outfit that would suit him the best as well as hide his boyish features. As you help him get dressed you begin to formulate a plan in your mind, thinking of the best places to start searching for the Gerudo people.

What you don’t notice, however, is the rustling of bones in a nearby pile of debris.

Chapter Text

“Okay, I think if we pin this here behind your ears… then it covers part of your face, and helps with the disguise,” you explain, speaking softly as you help Link put the Gerudo veil on. Though he seems exasperated he complies, understanding that this will be necessary to help him remain in the town. You fret in front of him, styling his hair in an attempt to pull off the feminine look.

As you back away from him you nod, “I think this is good. Yeah. This could work. Now we’ve just got to find some shoes that fit you and-”

Deeper into the shop something gets knocked over.

Both of you whip your heads around to try and find the source of the noise. Your whole body tenses, you were sure that you had thoroughly checked the building and you had done plenty of sniffing around while finding clothing for Link. You exchange a nervous glance with him.

“Hello? Saula?” you call out for the seamstress, “is that you?”

There’s no response but you hear someone take a step. Your hand flies to the handle of your sword, and likewise Link grabs his weapon off of the table. You slowly side step, cautious as you try to peer into the dark corner of the shop. “Who’s over there?” you ask, raising your voice, “if you’re in need of aid then we’re here to help. Where are the other Gerudos? What’s happened to the town?”

You hear a shaking sound- a shambling, stumbling, stuttering noise. It makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. Your grip on the hilt tightens as you take a tentative step forward. The only light in the room is a small oil lamp which you had found and lit but it wasn’t enough to give you complete vision. “Show yourself,” you demand, a warning, “who’s there?”

What steps into the light causes you to take a quick step backward. It was no person but instead a monster- one you had never laid eyes on before. A body walked slowly toward you made of exposed bones and sinew and muscle. Glowing bug-like eyes stared at you as it approached, its mandibles clicking ominously. Though it was slow that made it no less terrifying to look at. 

“What in Hylia’s name is that-” you gasp, eyes wide.

Link lunges forward, the fabric of his new clothing fluttering behind him. He lands a solid strike across the foes chest, one which would be enough to topple any other monster of this size- but the creature seems unfazed. The metal of his sword merely grazes across the exterior of the monster’s chest as it continues to stagger forward, long arms swaying as it moves. What at first looked to be flesh is unharmed, the metal ringing hollowly after the ineffective slice.

“It’s some kind of exoskeleton,” you observe, grabbing Link’s arm and pulling him away as you attempt to assess the situation, “like a… bug of some sort. It’s like armor, we need to find some way to penetrate.”

The pair of you skirt around the room, keeping close to the wall and carefully stepping over piles of clothes and debris as you try to think of a solution. How to kill a giant humanoid bug creature? Other monsters you had faced had far more obvious weaknesses, perhaps the sole exception being the gloom hands which had attacked you in the wetlands. You still paled at the thought of those, nervously remembering how helpless you had felt strangled and pinned to the ground. 

You did not want a repeat of that incident, you could not face another foe which you couldn’t defeat.

That’s when a glow catches your eye, the lit oil lamp on the table. You tear your gaze away from the monster, momentarily watching the flicker of the small flame. Immediately you reach for your travel pack, shouting a warning to your companion before producing a fire fruit you had harvested from the sky islands. It’s warm in your palm as you reel your arm back, grunting as you lob the fruit at the creature.

As soon as it makes contact with the monster the fruit bursts, causing flames to scatter along its body. The beast writhes, making a terrible screeching noise as the dark exoskeleton becomes a lighter beige color. Its arms and legs curl up, not unlike the limbs of a swatted fly. “Link, now!” you instruct him, “it’s weak!”

The blonde leaps forth and swings his sword with a flourish, repeating the slice across the chest from before. This time it’s effective, the wound dealing enough damage that the monster crumples to the ground in a heap. What’s left of its form dissipates into a cloud of smoke, leaving behind what appears to be the ribs of its body. Too bulky for you to carry right now, but perhaps usable for a fused weapon in the future.

Both of you stand where the monster was felled and you suck in a breath. “Well… if these things have invaded Gerudo Town… I can only hope for the safety of the locals. C’mon, grab your things, we need to get moving.”

Once you’ve gathered your things and ensured that Link’s disguise was plenty convincing you’re on the move once more. Together you explore the ruined town, keeping a close eye out for those bug creatures as you do so. Everywhere you go you find signs of interrupted life- meals left half-eaten, unmade beds, children’s toys strewn about on the ground. The emptiness caused a pang in your heart, to see the place devoid of its lively women and culture felt so wrong.

It feels like mercy once you find something new- something warm- something with light. The staircase that would usually lead up to the throne room has been carved out, revealing a tunnel that lets you descend into the sandstone foundation of the palace. Link follows closely behind you as you walk down the steps, and you feel nothing but relief at the sight before you. Beneath the castle was some sort of shelter, carved out into the earth. Behind a guarded gate, you could sense the signs of life- women chatting, children laughing, the smell of food wafting through the air. All of the anxiety in your heart lifted instantly. 

At the entrance, you’re stopped by a guard and instructed to name yourselves. “_____, Hylian Champion and knight to Princess Zelda,” you answer, giving your title as well. You glance to the side to look at Link, who nervously meets your gaze, and you choose to speak on his behalf.

“And this is one of my soldiers, she’s been under my tutelage. Her name is…” you trail off, just for a moment, cursing yourself for not thinking of a fake name sooner. “... Linkle,” you finally decide, choosing to ignore the way his blue eyes sharpen into a glare.

The guard immediately perks up once you introduce yourselves and she quickly bows her head, “champion, it is very good to see you, though the circumstances could be better. You’ve reached the entrance to the Gerudo shelter. Here, please step inside little vai, you are welcome to share our food and water.”

A large stone door moves to the side granting you access. Inside you’re able to see the small underground community that they’ve created. All of their stores and homes had migrated downwards and they had decorated to the best of their ability with potted plants and tapestries on the walls. Torches and multicolored lanterns were strewn about to keep the halls brightly lit. There was even a statue of the goddess Hylia to use for prayers.

“Stay close, don’t wander,” you whisper to Link as you both step inside.

You’re greeted by the women, guards and civilians alike. You grin. as a group of young girls goes running past and you’re able to hear them talking excitedly about their school assignments. As you walk in a circle to admire the space your eyes finally land on a familiar face.

“Buliara,” you call out her name, waving a hand at the captain of the guard, “it is good to see you.”

The tall Gerudo approaches, setting her claymore aside as her painted lips pull into a smile. “It has been some time, champion. For you to come all this way, enduring the strange storm that plagues us…” she trails off, brow furrowing in concern, “well, you must have some important news to share.”

As you had done so many times before, you recount the basic facts to her. Though you had made your way back to land, Zelda was still nowhere to be found. The guard frowns as she nods her head in understanding, “the princess of Hyrule is still missing? We had heard of the events at Hyrule Castle, but this… things are dire indeed. Still, I am impressed you made it here through the storm that surrounds Gerudo Town. The sand shroud settled on us some time ago. We sent out patrols to try to determine what was causing it, but… a swarm of monsters- creatures called gibdos- suddenly appeared, attacked our troops, forced us to retreat. The gibdos have even made their way into the town.”

That explained the state of things on the surface, the absolute ruin of the town, and the bug-like monster you had faced off with. Gibdos. Even just the name of them made you want to recoil in disgust.

Buliara continues, “as a result, everyone was evacuated to this shelter for their safety. As someone charged with protecting Gerudo Town, I am ashamed at our current situation. This is all to say that, although I wish I could help you search for the princess, now is… not a good time. I am sorry.”

“I see, and I understand. Much of Hyrule has been thrown into chaos, I have witnessed it firsthand. It’s why we’re here, to try and help” you reply, peering around the shelter once more. A notable figure seemed to be missing, one who you were quite anxious to meet again. “Say, where is the chief?”

“Lady Riju is currently training- she is trying to become strong enough to save us from this disaster. If you are hoping to speak with her, you should visit the ruins to the north,” the captain answers, her expression softening as she speaks. There was once a time when Buliara would have rejected the idea of the young chief training in combat, let alone do so alone during such a disaster. It seems that the pair had made strides since the last time you visited the desert.

You decide that it’s best to take a quick break, just a short rest so that you and Link can eat and rehydrate yourselves. After purchasing a meal from one of the stalls you both sit by a fountain in the center of the room, eating roasted meat and slices of hydromelon as you plan what your next moves will be. You’re able to overhear some of the children whispering and giggling as they openly admire the Hylian beside you.

“Look at her hair-” “She’s pretty-” “I wish I was blonde like that-”

You nudge Link with your elbow and he rolls his eyes, but even with the veil you’re able to see the red blush of embarrassment on his face.

Once you’re fed you begin talking to the locals, primarily seeking out the soldiers. If the chief was training above ground then surely there must have been a safe way for her to get to the ruins. You’re informed of a cave system connected to the shelter and begin your search there. They called it the Valley of Silent Statues, its namesake derived from the stone statues of women warriors that seemed to be built into the architecture. You guide Link through the cavern, keeping an eye out for dangerous pits of quicksand that threaten to pull you under. Though you were sure the cave held many secrets waiting to be uncovered, your priority was locating the chief.

You use the Purah Pad as a compass, picking the direction that will carry you northward. Eventually, you find a trail that begins to lead you upward, back to the surface. You can already sense a shift, the air underground was warm but still, and now as you move upward you can begin to smell sand and silt in the wind once more. As you turn to speak to Link a thunderous noise rattles you, loud enough to shake the ground above your heads. A second follows, both of you jumping in response as rubble bounces down from the ceiling.

“That’s not normal lightning,” you mutter, grabbing onto his arm. 

He tilts his head in confusion, signing with his hands to ask a question: what - do - you - mean?

It’s too focused, too concentrated. When a third crack of thunder follows you’re sure of it. You’re reminded of a Gerudo woman you knew long ago, one who you had temporarily inherited powers from. You reminisce momentarily, snapping your fingers as a fourth lightning strike occurs above. Rather than explaining, you choose to grab Link’s arm, grinning as you run up and out of the cave- back into the cloud of the sand shroud.

Squinting your eyes you manage to trudge through the sands, wincing at the grit that whipped against your body and dug into your skin. You manage to make out the shape of crumbling buildings and follow in their direction, Link following closely behind. It seems you’ve made the right choice because soon enough you come across a sand seal- a blue one, to be precise, the prized companion of the young chief. You pat Patricia on the head and ruffle her fur, earning a happy snort in response.

Another strike of lightning brings your attention back to the ruins before you. As you walk around a pillar you finally see her and breathe a sigh of relief. Riju, the young Gerudo chief. In both arms, she wields scimitars, weapons which she now utilizes to harness her lightning powers- signifiers of her royal lineage. Her once long hair was cut short, just above her shoulders- and though she wouldn’t admit it aloud you know that she had done so out of admiration for Zelda. The young girl looked up to the princess like a sister, you weren’t surprised to see her copying the other as siblings tend to do. Though she had grown since you’d last seen her, now about your height, she was still just a young girl in your eyes. Strong and intelligent, but young all the same.

You overhear her talking to herself, muttering in disappointment as she says, “missed again… can’t hit my mark. Won't do anyone any good.”

“Anything I can do to help?” you interject, and it seems to startle the chief as she turns to face you.

Her eyes widen, then quickly soften as they find your form. “It’s you…” she gasps happily, “this changes things, I didn’t expect to see you here. But then, you always show up in unusual times.”

She sets her weapons aside, allowing you to wrap your arms around her in a hug. She truly had grown, it feels like only yesterday that you were helping her train to pilot the divine beast- a duty she would never get to take part in. But you could see now that she had continued to train even in your absence, no doubt under the guidance of her captain. She overflowed with confidence now, when she had once seemed unsure of herself at times.

“And who is this?” she asks once you step away, looking toward your companion.

Link waves his hand as a hello, still choosing not to speak. “One of my soldiers who’s been assisting me,” you answer tentatively, and the chief seems to notice your hesitation.

“She can’t speak?” Riju asks.

You sigh, placing your hands on your hips. You knew better than to lie to her. “She… is a he ,” you explain, “Link, he’s a dear friend of mine and Zelda. We’re both here together looking for her still. Sorry, but I did sneak him into the town.”

To prove your words he reaches up and lowers his veil, letting the chief see his whole face.

Riju giggles, covering her mouth to stifle her laughter. “I see, and it’s alright, I know you meant no harm. This secret will be safe with me, so long as none of the others learn about this voe. But you’re saying that Princess Zelda is still missing?”

Solemnly you nod. Beside you, Link covers his face once more with a downcast expression.

“I understand how you’re feeling, Zelda is a dear friend to me as well. I will do everything in my power to help you,” she replies, a look of fondness crossing over her face as she seems to reminisce about the princess, “but to do that, I need to bring a quick resolution to a problem we Gerudo are facing. 

You deliberate, both sharing details about your experiences. She explains more about the sand shroud, just as Buliara had, talking about the strange connection between the weather and the gibdos. You point out that there was strange weather all across the land of Hyrule, and you had no doubt that it was tied to the disappearance of the princess and the Upheaval. You discuss the gibdo themselves, how they were difficult to battle, but this is when Riju interjects excitedly.

“Were you watching just now?” she asks, grabbing both of her scimitars once more, “I’ve been practicing striking that dummy over there with lightning. If I can aim the lightning well, I think it may be an effective weapon against the gibdos. But this technique is… unrefined. I only recently discovered it and still need more practice. I want to master this power so I can use it to defeat the gibdos. If I can do that, we can investigate the source of this sand shroud and search for Zelda as well!”

And so you help her train. Together you devise a technique, where you would shoot an arrow and she would use it to focus her powers. Wherever the arrow landed is where she would allow her lightning to strike, and with your precision it meant that she was easily able to strike the straw-stuffed dummies in no time. Link watched with great fascination, the Hyilian seeming rather excited to see other forms of combat than just sword fighting.

“Yes! I’m getting the hang of it now! The gibdos won’t stand a chance against this power,” Riju exclaimed happily, turning to face you with a wide grin, “I can’t thank you enough for your help.”

Before you get a chance to accept her thanks, though, a distant voice rings out. It’s faint, you’re hardly able to understand what it says, but you know you hear it. Riju hears it too, it seems, as she turns around in search of the course. You’re reminded of the voice that had beckoned Sidon into the sky, the voice of his ancestor in the water temple.

Riju looks back at you, confusion etched into her features, “what… was that? It didn’t sound like any noise the sand shroud has made, that’s for sure… you heard that too, right? It was-”

“Chief!” another voice shouts, cutting through the air. One of the Gerudo guards comes running, kneeling before the chief at the end of the ruins, “we’ve received word that a swarm of gibdos are attacking Kara Kara Bazaar! Buliara is already on her way there!”

“She’s already… alright, understood. Thank you.” she addresses the guard before turning back to you and Link, “you two, we’ve got to head to Kara Kara Bazaar at once! I must ask for your help again. My lightning and your guiding arrows make us a formidable pair. Let’s show those gidbos what we’re made of!”

You watch as the chief runs off, whistling for her sand seal before dashing away across the dunes- the sand shroud quickly obscuring your vision of her. Luckily you had found a shrine of light at the bazaar meaning you had a quick way to travel with the Purah Pad. But before you teleport, and before you prepare Link for his first instance of teleportation, your thoughts give you pause.

The events unfolding in Gerudo Town were feeling eerily similar to what you had seen in Zora’s Domain, and the distant voice you had heard was the last piece of proof you needed. There was now no doubt in your mind that a secret stone would be awaiting Riju- and that she, like Sidon, would become a sage who would aid you in your journey. 

You flicker your eyes down to the rune on your hand, considering summoning his avatar. If there was an oncoming battle you knew that his water manipulation would come in handy. It caused a slightly sour taste to sit on your tongue. Sidon was no weapon. He was a person- a person you held dearly in your heart. You knew that he and this avatar were separate but when they looked so similar, a perfect copy, it was impossible for you to keep them apart in your mind.

With a huff, you push him out of your mind. There were pressing matters, you’d have to think about him later.

“Alright, Link. Take my hand,” you instruct him, holding out your palm with a wry smile, “we’re fast traveling.”

Sunlight filtered through the clear river, water trickling peacefully from above. Golden eyes focused, staring intently at the trout that swam down below. Light bounced off of their scales in a colorful array, creating easy targets. His body stills, muscles tensing as he prepares himself. Then he lunges forth.

Sidon easily catches a fish in his mouth, his teeth sinking into the flesh of a trout. It fights back, only for a moment, before going lifeless in his maw. He kicks his feet against the river bed, swimming upward in two quick strokes. Once he breaches the surface he grabs the tail of the fish and tosses it ashore, adding to a small pile that had already been caught during the hunt.

“Well done, son. If you keep this up you’ll have caught enough fish to feed the entire domain,” a deep voice chuckles from the shoreline. Dorephan, no longer king, sits relaxed by the river as he delicately polishes a Zora sword.

Lifting himself out of the river, Sidon laughs softly as he sits down on the bank. “I would hope so. All of that business with the muck depleted our supplies significantly. Now that our waters are clean again the fish seem to have returned once more,” he replies.

His father nods, “yes, indeed. And it’s thanks to that Hylian knight of yours.”

“Yes… thanks to her,” the young king sighs, voice softening as he thinks of you.

They both fall silent, the air filling with the sound of nearby crickets and the rushing water of the falls.

“My son… I owe you an apology,” Dorephan says, though there’s obvious hesitation in his voice, “I am deeply sorry, to both you and the champion. I know how much pain these last few years must have put you through. But I was short-sighted, blinded by my fears of losing a valuable alliance. I did not think… I did not take into account that…”

He trails off, and Sidon is stunned to see such a vulnerable display of emotion from his father. All his life he had known the other Zora to be a strong, disciplined, yet charismatic leader. Kind to his people and fearsome in the field of battle. Sweet as a parent yet also traditional, knowing that above all else his duty to the domain is what was most important.

“Father-” he attempts to speak, though he is quickly cut off.

“No, no. Let me speak. I owe this to you,” the patriarch insists, “I did not place my faith in you as I should have. I can see now that you have been crowned that I was a fool. The fate of this domain, its people, and its alliances are in good hands. Both you and Lady Yona have seen to that, even if your methods were untraditional. I should have done more to support you. And for that I am sorry. I did apologize to the Hylian Champion, once, but even an old man such as myself knows that it is not enough for all of the pain I helped to cause.”

There’s a pang in Sidon’s heart, both of sadness and joy. Never once had he held any true resentment against his father- he understood the heavy weight of responsibility which the crown bore. Though it angered him at times, he knew why his father had taken the actions he had. In spite of everything he grins, “I accept your apology, wholeheartedly. However please know that you cannot take the full blame. There are… others whom I have qualms with.”

A look of confusion flickers over the retired king’s face.

Sidon sighs once more though this time with an air of frustration. “The part that the council has played in all of this is undeniable. While I acknowledge that they were all doing their jobs, fulfilling their responsibilities by obeying our ancient traditions and preparing me to be king, they did immense harm at the same time. Harm that they have done for years now. I hear how they speak to her, father. Their prejudices. I see the pain it causes her. Our people, my citizens, have all welcomed the Hylian Champion into the domain with open arms. We- we have a statue of her, for Hylia’s sake-”

He pauses, having to take a breath. His voice had begun to rise in anger. He attempts to calm his nerves before he continues, “despite all that she has done for us, so valiantly fighting to keep us safe, I know that the elders will never accept her. Not willingly. It is still my intention to marry her someday. I long for her to be my betrothed. But how can I, in good conscience, continue to court her knowing that the council will continue to cause her such strife?”

Dorephan hums, crossing his arms as he tucks his head down. He seems to think, deep in contemplation, before he speaks once more. “I see. And I understand your concern. The members of the council are old, older than I, and they have seen Hyrule over many eras. They remember a time when Hylians and Zora were not allied, a time when our forefathers refused to bend a knee to the royal family of Hyrule. This time has long since passed but the elders still seem to be stuck in their ways.”

“You have already shown that you are an unconventional king,” his father continues, smiling with humor, “if anything, now is the time to continue to be untraditional. You have nothing to lose, you know that the other Zora will approve of you. Court her, son. Pursue the swordswoman. Perhaps the elders will change their minds. And if not…”

The young king perks up in interest, “if not?”

Dorephan chuckles with a shake of his head, “well, I shall put it this way. You are the king now, and you have already chosen Lady Yona to be your chief advisor. You can change the council as you like. Perhaps knowing that their careers as councilmen lie at risk might make the elders change their tune.”

Sidon’s eyes widen in understanding and he can’t help but laugh, “yes, I see what you mean.” He gazes down at the stone on the back of his hand, watching as the blue gem reflects the sunlight. A reminder of the vow which he had sworn to you. 

“I will change their minds. I will make them accept her, no matter what it takes.”