: ivChapter Text

Time begins to slow down after Sidon has been gone for an hour. Link doesn't know what to do with himself in the time being, so he lays down on the bed, the open feeling seeming to suffocate him, preventing him from falling asleep.

With a frustrated sigh, he sits up in bed, and looks to the door.

Should I search for him? Link wants to ask. Then again, this is a requested meeting with the king – how could Link interfere with that?

So he decides to busy himself elsewhere. With his clothes and hair now dry, Link grabs his slate and heads out the bedroom door.

Sidon never said he couldn't go out and explore a bit. It wouldn't hurt anyone if he did. Though it would be bad if he gets lost...

Link holds his slate close as he steps outside and looks down both ends of the hallway. Guards are posted, but Link is sure he wouldn't actually get stopped by them. He holds his head slow, Sheikah slate hugged close to his chest, and steps passed the guards without any problem. Link exhales his stress, and continues forward.

Zora's Domain seems bigger at this time of day – less crowds, he wonders. He follows his own path, based on the path Sidon had taken him through earlier that day, and he finds himself wandering at the entrance to the domain where the statue stands.

Link looks up at Mipha's heartbreaking smile. Why is she so familiar?

Gears turn in Link's mind as he pulls out the Sheikah slate.

Of course! The mystery girl in the picture! He opens the picture on the slate, and stares with wide eyes at the figure in the fog. It has to be her, he thinks. That's definitely her frame, and for it to be taken on a pathway to Zora's Domain? That's her, that's Mipha!

Just as Link is about to turn around to run back to his room, he's stopped. He nearly bumps into an elder Zora, skin fading in color, wrinkles lining his face. The Zora scoffs. "A Hylian paying respects to our dear Mipha?" He eyes the Sheikah slate in Link's hands. "That's..."

"Link!"

A voice booms from the level above him. Sidon has returned, and makes a show out of it by flipping off the balcony and to Link's side.

"Muzu, I'm terribly sorry. I left Link unattended, I should have come back sooner-"

"Enough, my prince," Muzu says with a lift of his fin. "I've seen enough. This boy... he's special, can't you see?"

Sidon grins, a bit of proudness in his tone as he speaks. "Well, yes, I'd certainly like to think so."

"The slate he carries hold many mysteries," Muzu continues. "Perhaps some will be uncovered here."

The elder Zora gets a final close look at Link's face, making the Hylian step closer to Sidon.

"Time will tell, my prince. Take good care of him."

"Absolutely, elder. No harm will come to Link as long as he remains in my care."

With a final scoff, the elder Zora turns and slowly paces away.

Sidon sighs deeply, turning to face Link and gets down on his knees to meet Link at eye level.

"Please excuse him. He's been here for a hundred years, he must be starting to lose it," Sidon laughs. "My dear, you've left the room just as I was returning. I was worried that you had gotten lost, but-"

Link chuckles and leans forward to lightly kiss the snout protruding from the prince's head.

"R-right," Sidon laughs nervously. "You can handle yourself, I know. I do need to share a word with you, if that's alright. I'd be happy to escort you back to your room."

The prince rises to his feet and Link grabs onto Sidon's arm as they walk back to the guest room.

When they return, Sidon holds the door open for Link to enter. Nothing has changed in the room, besides the velvet box sitting on the bed.

"I had something made for you," the prince smiles. "You need not take it back to Gerudo Town, since there's no water there... Ah, perhaps opening it up first and an explanation after would work out best..."

Link quirks a brow and approaches the box as though It's some sort of treasure chest. With a snap, he flips it open, and his eyes widen.

Sidon has given him a silver choker, adorned with sapphires. The silver almost looks like lace, with sapphires thrown in for color and added beauty. His lips part in awe.

"It's magic," Sidon explains as he steps toward the box. "It'll help you breathe underwater. You'll be able to swim as we Zora do."

Link looks at Sidon, then back to the choker.

"It's sort of a prelude to your next gift."

There's more?!

"There's a place that I wish to show you. A very special place. It would honor me if you'd join me tonight, by the spring where you learned to swim."

Link couldn't refuse. He nods his head eagerly, and reaches a hand down to touch the center sapphire of the choker.

"Wonderful. I'll be at your door at midnight. Rest well, my sweet."

-

Midnight comes, and Link is ready. He's wearing warm clothes, the gifted choker still staring at him from the dresser. He debates putting it on now, or waiting for Sidon to arrive first. Just as he begins to reach for it, there's a silent knock at the door.

That must be him.

Link opens the door for Sidon to enter.

"Here, allow me," he offers as he picks up the choker. Link turns his back and lifts his hair for Sidon to fasten the choker around his neck. The silver hugs his skin perfectly, as though this choker was fit for him. "My, my. Beautiful." Sidon turns Link to face the mirror, and leans forward to place a kiss at the Hylian's shoulder. "Well then, off we go. Quietly, though."

Link nods – as if being quiet would be a problem for him – and follows Sidon out the door.

They make it through the domain without being questioned. Sidon leads Link toward the spring, and points down.

"We'll be going below the surface, and we'll be under for quite some time. Don't fret though, the choker will allow you to breathe under the water."

Link nods in understanding.

Sidon grins and takes a dive into the spring. Link steps in, and grabs onto Sidon's shoulders as they both descend.

It takes Link a moment to get used to the choker. He feels his throat closing, but then he gasps, air somehow filling his lungs. Sidon looks over his shoulder, and Link gives the prince a thumbs up, earning himself a relieved smile in return.

Sidon uses his legs and arms to swim down, until they come up to a hole in the wall. Link didn't know this was even here – but Sidon obviously did. It looks to be a tight fit, so Link holds closer onto Sidon, who twirls them in.

It's dark and enclosed. Everything that gets Link's heart pumping in an uncomfortable way. The tunnel seems never ending.

But just as Link starts to panic, light fills the closed walls of the tunnel. Link looks down and gasps – the colors of Sidon's fins and scars are glowing! An array of purple, yellow, and blue contrasts against his red skin as they swim on through the tunnel. The added light eases Link's nerves, and he's able to carry on without any obstacles.

Sidon picks up speed in swimming, causing Link to hold tighter, until they finally reach the surface.

They surface out of a lake outside of Zora's Domain. This is officially the farthest Link has traveled, as much as he can remember.

Sidon lets them float up, and Link brushes his soaked hair from his face.

"Well, sometimes the bioluminescence kicks in," Sidon laughs as the lights continue to shimmer, taking them both to shore where they could sit. "I hope it didn't startle you."

Startle him? Link wants to say that it's the most beautiful thing he's ever seen, but just shakes his head.

"You never cease to amaze," the prince breathes. "That picture you showed me - it was taken from this end of Zora's Domain. More specifically, this lake. I'm curious, do you remember anything?" Link shakes his head and unfastens the Sheikah slate at his hip. "Mipha used to bring me here as a child, a way to escape our father when things became overwhelming."

Link slides his Sheikah slate to Sidon, who looks down at the picture in question. Link points to the figure in the fog.

"Why, that's-" Sidon's eyes widen. "That's her! Undoubtedly, that is my sister. This is amazing, Link! You're on the path to recovering your memories."

Link smiles, and pulls the slate back to his side. With a sigh, Link leans against his glowing prince. In turn, the Zora lifts a hand to brush Link's hair from his face.

It doesn't take long until Link has his eyes closed, face lightly nuzzling against Sidon's side as the prince wraps an arm around his small frame.

Aside from Sidon's glowing, the stars shine bright in the night sky, giving a sense of peace and protection as the two dose off on the shore of the lake.