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Little feet create a pitter patter along the stone flooring, scales of his tail tapping along the rougher edges. A glance towards an open window lets him know it’s dark outside now, just as he’d hoped. The great halls of the Palace he travels are illuminated in a blue hue that could only be provided by the Luminous Stones that shine through the Domain. They line the vaulted ceiling in such ornate patterns. While the stones don’t provide a lot of light, it’s enough to keep venturing further.
Many years of failed escape attempts in the night with his sister have taught him just how careful he needs to be. These halls are enormous, meant to give passage to those far larger than he is, but with that comes the hardest part. So few objects line these halls as decorations causing the red of his scales to stand out stark against such a light blue. If he doesn’t stick to the shadows he will be easily spotted.
The guards posted outside his father’s room have rotated since he’d last glanced out the peephole of his own chamber door. The meal cart that sits nearby makes it clear the doors have remained locked, the same way they’ve remained for the past week. He comes to a halt across the hall, his little fingers curling inward to his palms at his side. As desperately as he wishes to go inside to give his father comfort, this is his only chance to try and get out. If he doesn’t take it now, it's unlikely he will get another opening. The guards have only grown more restless.
He keeps moving his way further down the hall, until he reaches the big expansive room. The throne rooms he’s been told, the one with the really large chair that father usually sits in all day. Tonight, it is clear of people; as it has been most hours of the past week, only serving as a passageway for the servants and guards who have business deeper in the Palace.
Here he can be less careful, foregoing following the circular walls to instead just jog through. If no one is here now, then no one will be anytime soon. Those still working this late at night have been tending to only use covered hallways or heavily guarded passages.
Light skirts across the floor to the wider berth of the open entrance, shining brighter in the dark blue of night then the golden light the sun casts during the day. It is at this entrance that he works to squirm his way towards the nearest wall, pressing his scales as close as he dares without them scraping. The night aids in creating shadows from the tall pillars about the walkways outside, and it's these shadows that he must keep under. A grand staircase leading down towards his escape being the only thing unmasked in the night.
Turning around, he makes sure to pluck up his dragging tail, holding it tight in his little hands. If he trips it’s all over, and he’s a grown boy now, he’s learned many harsh lessons of how easy it snags.
Outside there are more guards posted than he’s ever seen in his life before this past week. No one’s told him why, even though he’s sure he’s used his best manners when asking anyone he could. It’s just endless tension everywhere. It’s suffocating and he refuses to drown in it any longer.
He startles at a grumbled call that sounds out from the long hallway behind him, darting his little golden eyes toward the direction it came from while shuffling closer to the ground.
“Prince Sidon please, I am tired, this is not a game we will be playing tonight just because the air is tense. Wherever you are hiding, you need to come out now.” An exasperated voice sighs, one he’d recognize anywhere.
It belongs to Muzu, the royal adviser. The ray has been like a hawk this past week, crumbling apart from more than age and yet still finding the mental capacity to make sure the young prince does not leave his sight. There has been no one else free long enough to watch the boy, and while Muzu does little to offer comfort, he has at least been a presence. He’s made the little Prince not feel so alone. However, he’s also been negligent and quiet, clearly annoyed and upset to even be the babysitter in the first place. It’s not like the little Prince asked for one anyway, but he hasn't gotten much say in anything this week.
Sidon feels awful to deceive Muzu, but if he’s to escape the Palace grounds then it is a necessity to do so. Turning back towards the night sky, he takes a deep breath, releasing it with a muffled shutter. Below the grand staircase looms an expanse of silver-plated walkways. To the right a long bridge leading towards a staircase that seems never ending, one he knows will take him to the cliffs above.
The Prince dashes down the stairs. It is the only place there is no shadow to cover, so he makes sure to stay close to the outer railings. Clawed feet tap lightly upon each step. He rounds the corner of the last step and quickly ducks underneath the staircase. Gills flaring at the sides of his torso, golden eyes frantically scanning the area. There are guards at almost every entrance, but they have shifts. His big sister told him that a good army always rotates to make sure they are well rested.
While the little royal is not one known for watching and listening, this past week has only given him time to do so. Nothing but watching from the large window of his chambers at what goes on in the Domain. The guards are like clockwork, and he has figured out what time they will make their transitions based upon the moon’s setting in the sky. It is a small window they leave, but he’s sure he’s faster than them. The Prince carefully watches the Guards as they walk down the expanse of the bridge, and meet up with a new pair of guards that have emerged from the sleeping pools.
With a sharp intake of breath, he bolts. Making his way as fast as he can along the shadowed side of the now clear bridge. Just as he gets to the juncture of where stone meets grass, his little legs decide to give out on him. Sidon skids hard, tail taking most of the impact and causing him to flip over from its weight. That’s gonna be a scrape hard to hide from anyone upon his return.
Sidon has no time to look himself over, and just as quickly as he’d tumbled, he’s back up and running. His tail dragging causes him to wince at every uneven patch of dirt it hits.
A glance behind himself is all it takes to tell him the guards have finished their briefing, and the new set is approaching to claim their posts. He needs to get to the staircase towards the reservoir now, where the sounds of the falls should cover his tracks.
The stairs leading up to the reservoir are agonizing to climb. Halfway up the young Prince finds himself having to use his hands to scramble forward. Like those silly dogs in the stories the Hylians tell, just to make it to the top. The Moon is brighter than it was before by the time he reaches the top, and it’s all he can do to lift his head to get a glance at the expanse of the water in the water at the dam before him. His gills are fluttering, trying desperately to take in breaths as deep as his lungs.
There is a bed that sits in the middle of the dam walkway, overlooking the dock that leads to the water where the sunken form of his sister’s beasts resides. Back when he was smaller, his sister used to sneak with him up here for stargazing. He’d inquire about what that beast was like; and with a smile to her face, she would recant the most wonderful of stories to him
Frustrated tears slip down his face, little breaths becoming shorter. He moves to rub a small hand at them. It’s all infuriating, and he’s not sure what to do anymore. This is the last place he’d seen her, and he’d been hoping to find her lounging about, but clearly he’d been mistaken to hope that would be the case. Now he can’t even begin to fathom where she might be, but there is only one other being he can ask.
Slowly, he pads his way over to the bed, using the bedsheets that hang to hoist himself up upon it.
This place is the equivalent to a gravesite, or at least that’s what Muzu called it when he’d asked last week to be taken here.
Sidon had been so convinced at the time that there was something he could do. Maybe his sister was worried about her beast, or maybe she’d been held captor within it. Mipha had spoken to it so many times that maybe he could rationalize with it to release her. After all, she’d always told him how benevolent her beast was, it was more than reasonable to try to ask it to release her right? Muzu hadn’t thought so though, and he’d simply stopped answering his questions.
At the time, it wasn’t worth pushing the conversation. He’d been too tired after that first day, staying up all night with the guards hidden in the underwater caves deep below the Palace. No one had been willing to even converse with him besides Muzu. All that he was told was to stay alert and stay awake, that it was the king’s orders. So he did, as diligently as any young Prince would. The outcome had led to the harsh thumps of the ground above sounding all throughout the night; before dying out suddenly with a loud trumpet.
A day later he’d been brought back to the surface, swiftly guided under Muzu’s care only to be promptly shuttered in his chambers. No one would answer when he asked where his sister was, or why his father refused to leave his own chambers.
“Where’s Mipha? You have her right?” He shouts, voice breaking with a whine.
“It’s not nice to take people, she has a family, she has the Domain. She needs to come back!” He screams, shouting out to the tip of the trunk that’s still sprouting out from the reservoir.
There is no response, and while he’d so desperately hoped he could connect with it, silence fills the air.
Instead, the only response he receives is his own body betraying him, little hands shaking and breaths becoming harder to take. He grabs at his tail, tugging it close around him in a small ball. Tears streaming down his cheeks and stinging his cold skin.
The world feels like it’s falling apart, his place becoming so distant. The waterfalls sound muffled, and the skin beneath his scales feels itchier than the damp dew has ever made it before. This festering feels a little familiar. Like the time he’d gone up to face the Lynel on Shatterback Point, with nothing but a spear he’d hardly been able to lift from the ground. All he could remember was pointing it towards the beast before his body felt strange. It was as if every nerve lit on fire and his mind grew foggy. The next thing he could recall was his sister hugging him close, so glad he was alright.
The Young Prince found himself so lost with this feeling, consumed and removed from the world.
A shout calls out, the sound mixing with that of the static growing within. It’s not until a rough hand grasps at his shoulders does this spell seem to break. He turns quickly and sees an arm outstretched beside him.
He bit down on this arm, hard.
“Goddess Above!”
It’s a taste of iron that has him retracting his teeth. Wide eyes staring up at the Guard before him, a spear clattering to the ground causing him to nearly jump off the bed. He knew this Zora; it was one his sister and that Hylian boy had always hung around. A guard in training still, but his father was the drill sergeant. Bazz, if he recalls his name right.
Oh sweet Hylia, what had he just done? Had he really bitten someone? A swipe of his tongue over white fanged teeth confirmed it, and somehow, he found himself beginning to sob all over again.
“I didn’t- I’m sorry- I’m sorry- I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to, I-.” Sidon’s little hands gripped onto his tail and he curled further into himself, body convulsing as he hiccupped. He shuffled back further in the bed and smashed himself as far into the pillows as he possibly could. He’d been caught, and to top it all off he’d hurt someone. All he wanted was to come out here to try and get some answers, seek some guidance on where his sister had gone.
“I had no idea children your age had such sharp teeth.” the black Zora grumbled while rubbing over the puncture marks, eyes glancing up to catch sight of the young Prince.
“Oh…”
Slowly, Bazz moved closer, pulling himself further on the bed. This time, he used the sheets as a guard, working to bundle the boy up before pulling him out of the pillows and against his chest. There were red droplets scattered about, and a quick sniff of the air told him that the blood found outside the path leading up came from Sidon. That was his fear when he’d seen it, after the royal guard had been sent out to look for the missing Prince. Bazz’s hands fished lightly into the sheets, and pulled out the boy’s tailfin. A large scrape, trailing from his front to his back dorsal fin. Blood was still flowing, but it wasn’t heavy. Something they would need to address, but he could let the boy calm down first.
Sidon, to his credit, didn’t bite Bazz the second time he touched him. Instead, he’d gone still, locking his limbs into place as he was shuffled around. Only once the guard seemed settled and content did the Prince finally react. His little hands gripped up tight to the edges of the sheets, and he rolled slightly to face the guard’s chest.
They sat there for a while, Bazz’s hand moving up and down the young royal’s tail as he’d seen Princess Mipha once do for him.
Bazz wasn’t good with kids, but it’s not like he could haul Muzu up here, and it’s doubtful that ray would bother to be tender at this hour. Besides, it wasn’t like he could willingly move the Prince right now anyway. Not when he’d hauled his little body out to Vah Ruta’s resting place with who knows what monsters lurking about in the shadows.
“It’s alright my Prince, I’m not mad. It was an accident. You know your father is very worried about you. He’s got every guard scouring Zora Domain in search of you. What made you so upset that you felt you needed to come here?”
Sidon shuffles around a bit, holding the bottom of his tail close to his chest, wincing slightly as it agitates his wound. As much as he wants to be an adult and to act dignified, he’s well past doing so tonight.
“Mipha.” He whispers out, casting his eyes over to the trunk sticking out of the reservoir.
“Muzu said she’s gone, that Ruta took her. I came…. I came to ask Ruta to give her back….but they won’t listen to me. They won’t even acknowledge me….Mipha needs to come back, I am sure this is the cause of Father’s confinement and I- I still need her.”
And it begins to feel as if what little was left of Sidon’s strength breaks. The look Bazz is giving him is the same one he’s gotten from Muzu, from the other caretakers and elders in the Palace. He doesn’t want this pity, this sadness. He starts to squirm, trying to get away, but the black Zora holds on tighter. Quickly, he gives up his antics and settles back down.
Taking a deep sigh, Bazz slowly works to unravel the sheet from the Prince. It feels wrong to know all this time no one has sat down with the boy and explained to him just what is going on. It’s been a week since she’d been taken from them, and while everyone else within the Domain knows the truth of this tragedy, Mipha’s own brother has been left alone to try and figure it out himself.
“Stay, my Prince.” he orders, before clearing his throat with a small gruff. “Mipha used to keep bandages in the chest at the end of the bed here for Sir Link. I’m going to grab those. You’ve got a rather nasty cut, the last thing you need is for it to get infected.”
Since Mipha is no longer here to heal you, goes unspoken
Bazz is quick about fetching the bandages, keeping the boy in his sight in case he decides to run off. But Sidon has no such plans, instead shrinking in on himself. The Prince clearly recognizes he won’t get far if he takes off, and while he won’t look Bazz in the eye, his head is tilted to listen.
The Zora Guard makes his way back over, sitting beside him and turning the boy to face away. It’s slow work, careful to clean the wound with some water before he begins wrapping it. To Sidon’s credit, he is well behaved for wound dressing. The boy doesn’t even flinch when Bazz is sure this abrasion stings pretty fierce. Pain is not a new concept to any of them, but for a Prince whose sister healed every scrape he ever received, he was expecting a bit more for dramatics. Instead, Sidon is still and solemn, eyes flickering back every now and again just to see if the guard is still working.
When he finishes, he tucks the end of the bandage in on itself, pulling the boy to sit in his lap and ruffling the sheet to drape over the Prince’s shoulders.
“She’s gone like mother… isn’t she?” Sidon’s voice ghosts out, little hands moving to clasp back at his tail now that it is done being fussed with. The little Zora hunkers down, and it is clear to Bazz that he has picked up the clues left in silence, maybe the words in hushed whispers from servants of the Palace. If he’d been in denial, this last plea to Ruta has broken any hope left.
They sit in silence for a bit, Bazz unable to give a response that won’t be earth shattering, and Sidon too closed off to bother with asking further. There is no way to tell a child that their loved one is gone, and it feels more unfair now that the young Prince has experienced so much death and heartache. The word is turning only towards destruction. Their princess falling is just the catalyst for the Zora Domain. Part of a greater threat now swarming the vast lands of Hyrule.
As Bazz works his hands gently up and down Sidon’s exposed headfin, little sobs stutter back up.
It is a good hour before Sidon goes still. Bazz can feel the even pants of warm even breaths against his scales. Slowly, he bundles the boy close, keeping the sheets tight and over his headfin as he gathers his forgotten spear in his free arm. The Zora Guard goes slow, making sure his movements are steady as he travels down the steps and finds his way back in the Domain proper. The guards who have worked close to the palace this past week have heard nothing but gripe from Muzu on how the Prince has refused to sleep. If he can prologue the return to give him a couple more minutes, it is something he will do.
Things are hectic in the Domain proper, hushed whispers mill about the mingling citizens as the other guards are darting still in search of their liege. Bazz shuffles Sidon enough to cause the sheet that covers his headfin to fall to the boy’s shoulders. Glancing around, he quickly catches sight of Seggin, his father. The Sergeant quickly takes notice and gives hushed signals out to the guards to relay a call off for the search. There is a small smile of relief clear on his face. The Domain will not be losing the remaining heir tonight.
“He’s exhausted.” Bazz whispers once he’s closer, holding the boy a bit tighter as little arms snake around his neck. “If you’ll permit, I’d like to bring him to the King before giving a report.”
Seggin only moves to give Bazz a curt nod, motioning towards the staircase leading up to the throne room. “King Dorephan has been frantic; he’s come out of his chambers ready to search for himself, but the council has managed to talk him into staying in the throne room for news. I am sure he will be relieved to see the young Prince.”
His father places one hand on Bazz’s spear, pulling it from his grasp. The other moves to place the sheet back over the young Prince’s head. “I’m going to round up the rest of the guards, report can wait until morning. Make sure you see a healer yourself, kid. That bite doesn’t look deep, but I’d be remiss if I didn't still worry. The Prince is a shark. Hammerhead at that, and has got a tougher bite than most.” With a small smirk, Seggin turns away, leaving the young guard to feel a bit defeated. It’s not like the kid meant to bite him.
Patting Sidon’s back with a few quick circles. “Let’s get you back to your father, yeah? I hear he’s very worried”
The walk up to the Throne room is louder than expected, King Dorephan’s booming voice takes over most of the space. Loud enough to rouse the boy with distressed whines. Bazz is quick to place one arm over his head, shushing him while quickening his pace.
“I still do not understand how he simply vanished from this palace. There are guards posted at every entrance of Zora’s Domain, and you mean to tell me he slipped out? I want him found immediately! I cannot wait here in silence any longer, I refuse to lose another child to this damned war!”
“My King, I apologize for speaking out of turn but please lower your voice, the young Prince is alright.” Bazz whispers out as he crests over the last few steps and into view of the throne. The room grows silent, every Zora inside still as they watch Bazz step further inside, the foreboding form of their ruler more so than the rest. “He was asleep moments ago and I’d rather keep him this way. Prince Sidon is just as exhausted as the rest of us.”
He steps closer than the rest of the royal guard, favoring the King’s large right hand. The Zora is enormous as it is, but sitting upon his throne nearly touching the ceiling is a shock every time he walks so close. King Dorephan’s enormous size helps little in how fragile he looks now. Worn ragged by the mourning of the loss of his beloved daughter, and now the agonizing worry over his only son. It's clear to Bazz he’s anxious to hold Sidon close, but before the King makes a move, he flinches. Eyes darting just a bit out over Bazz’s arm.
“I’m fine, my lord. I spooked him, that’s all. He reacted as any child would.”
Bazz is careful to pull the sheet back from his head, revealing the Prince’s bandaged tail. “I’m pretty sure he took a tumble on his way out, I’d keep him out of the water for a couple days, but I tended to his wound myself, it’s nothing serious.”
“Thank you for ensuring the safety of my precious son.” The King says as close to a whisper as his voice can produce, two large fingers stretching out to lightly tuck the sheet back over his son’s head. The younger Zora shifts the child around, taking care to gently pry the Prince’s small arms from around his neck and sliding him over to the King’s hand.
Slowly, the Prince rises up to an impossible height, being quickly nestled into a strong hold at the King’s chest. Sidon shifts, eyes flutter briefly and his nose sniffs at the air, but he quickly settles back down as soon as he realizes who’s hold he's in, letting slumber take over.
“Where did he venture to?” King Dorephan questions, voice nearly inaudible with his hushed deep tone.
“The Reservoir” Bazz softly replies. “Tried to plead with Vah Ruta for return his sister. He understands deep down what has become of Princess Mipha, your majesty. However, I do not think he wished to believe it. He’s absent minded sometimes, but he’s no fool. The boy wants hope above anything else.”
Moving to stand at attention, the Guard gives a huff, clearing his throat. “Forgive me if I am stepping further out of line to say so, but in our time of mourning, you should do so with the young Prince at your side. As much as all of Zora’s Domain is shattered, and your heart aching so deeply, Prince Sidon needs guidance. Having his father be that guide might be enough, now that the late Mipha cannot.”
With a quick bow, Bazz turns and makes his way down the grand staircase, rubbing gently at his arm as he goes.
“Muzu, please see to it that a healer is sent to Bazz’s chambers. Have any reports on the status of Hyrule prepared for me come dawn. You are relieved of the watch of Sidon for the rest of the night. The rest of you, please retire to your posts.” The King orders out, waving his free hand to dismiss Muzu and the guards from the throne room.
Dorephan sees no point in returning to his own chambers, and he fears the enclosed space may only cause more fright to his son. Instead, he settles into the throne chair, watching as a couple Guards post themselves just outside the entrance. The King places his son up upon his structured shoulders, keeping Sidon tucked close to his neck. He will not be sleeping anymore tonight, but Hyrule be damned if Sidon will not at least get some rest.
There is no peace with war, there is suffering and sacrifices. Hyrule is only beginning to experience this plight. Much like Zora’s Domain is battling with great sorrow, the rest of the lands are dealing with the same. Princess Zelda, her trusty Knight, and all those who piloted the Divine Beasts have now moved on. It is up to those remaining to flourish in whatever the Calamity now brings.
However tonight there will be hope. Hope for a bright day in the years ahead. One where they can all smile in remembrance of what they’ve lost, and what his son will now lead.