What if: The Prince of the Zora

Chapter 4: The past

I opened my eyes. Where am I. I thought drowsily. I looked around the room and realized I was at the Zora inn again. But this time, I was in my Champion's tunic.

I held the master sword on my back, which was strange since I had returned it to the Korok forest after Zelda turned back human.

I walked out of the Inn and gasped. It was Mipha's statue. The statue that had been there when I woke up from my slumber. And the one 100 years ago.

"Good morning, Link," said a voice softly. I turned around. It was Mipha. "Mipha? But you I-" My mouth snapped shut.

I remembered what Muzu had said. But that meant I had traveled back in time. To 100 years ago.

I took a few deep breaths. "Link, are you alright?" Mipha asked with a concerned expression. There was a lump in my throat.

"Yes, Mipha." I said with a small forced smile. A small Zora walked by. It was Sidon. This couldn't be possible without Zelda's magic, right? "Let's go eat breakfast." We walked to the throne room, where King Dorephan sat not retired Dorephan. KING. "Ah, hello, Link," He boomed.

I wanted to say something snarky, so bad. Since he got me into all this. But Muzu said not to say anything of the future. So again, I forced a smile and waved.

We walked to a round table where Sidon sat. There, a young Muzu helped him cut his food. I scowled. He scowled back.

Right, he must hate me since I'm Hylian. I thought. I sat down with Mipha and grabbed a fish to eat. After eating, we went outside again.

"Are you ready to go swimming?" She asked.

I nodded. We jumped into the water and swam to the waterfall. I rode Mipha's back up a waterfall. Still in a shocked state.

"Come!" She tugged onto my hand. She led me to East Resovoir Lake. Where King Dorephan had pushed me.

Maybe this is a dream. Yeah. I liked that explanation. I pinched my arm hard and winced. Nope, definitely NOT a dream.

I felt tears welling in my eyes. I was somehow in the past. And this was my chance to fix this.

We jumped into the water, and I laughed. "Race you to the other side," She challenged.

As a soldier, I had incredible stamina. I felt like I could swim forever. We sped under Ruta's legs. I hadn't seen her in 8 years.

We must've swam for a while because before I knew it, the sun was setting.

Ruta's trunk lifted us.

Mipha's hand tenderly touched my arm. I winced. There must've been a scar there. "Link, did you get hurt?" She asked.

"No, I'm fine, Mipha," I lied. She rolled up my sleeve and gasped. "Link!" She yelled. I shrugged innocently. She socked my shoulder.

"I'm already injured, Miph," I laughed. Her hand hovered over the wound. Blue light appeared over my arm. As it wove the thread of my scar together.

"I was thinking, this reminds me of the time we first met. You were just a reckless child. Always get yourself hurt at every turn." She said.

My eyes widened. It was this memory. "Every time, I would heal you, just as I am doing right now." She continued.

"I thought it was funny how, being a Hylian. You looked grown up so much faster than I did. I was-I was always willing to heal your wounds, even back then."

The scar disappeared. "So if this Calamity does, in fact, return, what can we really do, we just don't seem to know much about what we're up against." She said worriedly.

She glanced at her hands. "But know this: that no matter how difficult this battle might get, if you, if anyone tries to do you harm, then I will heal you. No matter when, or how bad the wound, I hope you know that I will always protect you, " She said to me.

"Once this whole thing is over, maybe things can go back to how they used to be when we were young. You know, perhaps we could spend some time together." She said, looking into my eyes.

This was my chance. Maybe things would change. "Of course, Mipha." I said tenderly. Mipha's face brightened. I felt a ripple as time changed from its original course.

Something big must be about to happen. "Link, I- I have something to show you." She said.

My eyes widened. She's going to show me the armor. I thought. She walked down the trunk and grabbed something I didn't see. Then she came back up.

It WAS the armor. "Link," She said softly with a smile. "Love of my life, will you marry me?" She asked, holding out the armor. I smiled. "Yes, Mipha," the joy in her eyes were so bright I almost fell.

I leaned in closer, arm around her shoulder, and pulled her into a kiss.

She literally melted into the kiss. I felt like I could never pull away. This was the true love of my life. But finally, she pulled away.

"We must tell Father!" She said happily. "Mipha wai-" she dove into the water. I chuckled to myself. Maybe the past isn't so bad after all.

Linelineline

"Absolutely wonderful!" King Dorephan said with a smile. Muzu gasped. "This is insanity Lady Mipha! A Hylian? To marry you!?" He yelled angrily.

"Muzu, calm down. I truly love Link. And he loves me. Remember the Zora princess who fell in love with a Hylian swordsman?" She asked.

"And the hero abandoned her for a farm girl!" He snapped back.

"I would never abandon her," Link said, offended.

"Muzu, if you loved me, you would accept this!" Mipha said.

"I'm trying to protect you from foolish Hylians!" He snapped. "Muzu, this is her true love. If you can not accept this, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave, " King Dorephan said.

Muzu faltered. He looked between me and Mipha, then bowed his head in surrender. "As you wish, Lady Mipha," He said.

"Link, as tradition for a fiancée, you will feast with us," He said.

Linelineline

The feast was....... awkward. Mipha had a forced smile, Sidon kept winking for some reason, Muzu glared at me the whole time, and Dorephan was just flat out awkward.

But it was totally worth it when we were done. We went to Mipha's bed, which was on top of the dam, and chatted for hours.

"I'm so glad we're together, Link." She said. I smiled. "Me too, Mipha, me too," I pulled her into a long kiss as my arms wrapped around her neck.

She gave me a mischievous smile. "Now," She said. "Time for the fun."

I laughed as we lay on the bed. This will be interesting.