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“Lady Yona, dear Sidon. She is your bride to be!”
Sidon stared.
“Huh…?”
Sidon is only a few decades old when he meets Yona for the first time.
He had hidden behind his sister’s legs, shy, yet curious about the new arrival in his home.
Mipha had been speaking with Yona for some time now. The latter had looked down, at some point in their conversation, and noticed his little figure hiding behind his sister.
She had crouched down to her knees, and looked at him with awe.
“Oh!” Mipha had laughed. “This is my brother Sidon, Yona.”
Yona smiled softly, giving him a small wave.
Sidon yelped, and hid further behind her legs.
Yona covered her mouth, a smile definitely on her face, and Mipha sighed.
“Sidon… Don’t be shy. Yona is my friend. She’s nice, too. You’ll like her.”
Yona shook her head fondly. “It’s fine. He can take all the time he needs. I’m a stranger to him, aren’t I? It’s natural that he feels wary around me.”
“You’re quite the saint,” Mipha smiled. “Patience with no bounds, I’d say.”
They both laughed, and Sidon giggled.
Mipha smirked, “Funny, aren’t I?” Sidon nodded vigorously, and Yona smiled.
”He’s very sweet,” She remarked. “He seems to love you to bits.”
Mipha grinned, scooping Sidon into her arms. “You do, don’t you Sidon?”
Sidon gasped, and grinned brightly.
The girls laughed once more, and that is how Sidon met Yona.
“Lady… Yona?” Sidon repeated, tone unsteady. “Lady Yona, the Zora Princess?”
His father laughed, booming and loud. “Who else would it be? She’s a perfect fit for you, son! You’ve known her for centuries as well, I’m sure you’ll both rule Zora’s Domain wonderfully!”
Sidon smiled. It was weaker than usual.
”Thank you, Father. I’ll do my best as future king.”
Back then, Yona and Sidon would play with each other as to pass the time.
She found out that he loved to collect seashells, and he found out that she loved to sing.
Yona had named Sidon, ‘Shelly’ in regards to his hobby, and he called her, ‘Melli’ for her wonderful singing voice.
Mipha would join them as well. Sidon thinks she loved seeing her younger brother and friend get along.
As they grew older, the time they had spent together were less and less.
It didn't mean that they didn't love each other, though.
He still remembers how they used to make necklaces with the shells they collected. He still has the ones Mipha and Yona made for him in his room. He doesn't wear them anymore, though. He had grown too big for them.
Mipha’s necklaces were left by her statue. Sidon hopes that Yona still has hers.
“Sidon,” Yona says. She looks at him differently now, he can feel it. It makes him feel like worms are crawling beneath his skin.
”…Yona,” Sidon says. He looks at her differently now, he has to. It makes him feel dirty inside. Dirtier than the sludge falling from the sky, polluting their waters.
Yona bows, “I am humbled to be your bride.” Sidon feels like he is rooted in place. This is not Yona. This is not him. They are not getting married. They can’t be doing this.
”Same as I,” He says. The air is tense. Their dynamic is shattered, the relationship that they had built over centuries ruined and desecrated.
Sidon feels sick.
Yona looks the same as she always has.
It was years until Sidon had saw Yona again.
She was the same as he remembered her. Her green scales, and striking yellow eyes. Pink and blue fins on her arms and waist.
There was soft smile on her face, excitement brimming beneath her skin.
”Sidon!” Yona had yelled, running toward him. “Oh, how big you have grown!” She wrapped her hands around his waist, and he laughed, wondering where all the time had gone.
He, of course, had pulled her into a hug. “Yona…” He said. “I missed you.”
Yona laughed, “I missed you too.” She smiled, burying her face into his chest. “Say, where is Mipha? I thought she’d be with you?”
Sidon had stilled, for a moment.
”…No one told you?” He asked, but he could not feel his mouth move. Yona had titled her head to the side. “Hm? Tell me what?”
”Mipha is dead, Yona. She has been for years.”
Yona had stared at him. She stared, and stared.
“Can we go to your room?” She asked him in a small voice, and Sidon had nodded.
Yona cried into his arms that night. They shared stories about her, and all the wonderful and dreadful things she had done to them.
”I loved her,” Yona confessed. “I knew she loved someone else, but I didn’t care. If she was able to find her own love, her own happiness, then I would have been satisfied. But I was a fool in love. I thought I’d have more time with her. Now she’s gone.”
Sidon was speechless. He couldn’t find the words he wants to say, so he conveyed it through his actions.
He wrapped his arms around her, letting Yona sob into his shoulder. He rubbed her back soothingly, whispering platitudes into her ear.
Sidon had loved Mipha too. Not the same way Yona did, but he loved her.
Her loss still ached in his soul. Everyday without her felt duller.
But Yona needed him.
So he’d be there, as her younger brother, and help her through this.
She was his elder sister for all those centuries, wasn’t she?
“Oh, love. You need a break, please stay.” Yona says, and Sidon feels like he is on the verge of throwing up.
”Lady Yona… I— I need to go. The waters needs cleansing. The more I stay here, the more Zora’s Domain is in danger.” He explains, before rushing off in a hurry.
He reaches Mipha’s Court eventually. He pants, and pants from the exertion, and throws up into a bush.
He still feels dirty.
Sidon found out that Yona had composed a song for Mipha.
She had shown him while they were talking in his room.
”It was a love song, actually.” She said, a faint smile on her face. “I had never sung it to her, for obvious reasons, but… maybe I could perform it to her by her statue sometime.”
Sidon had agreed, of course. Yona’s plan was perfect, and he was certain that Mipha would have loved it, wherever she was.
“I, ah… Still know how to sing, if you’d have me,” Sidon offered, with a flush on his cheeks. He was never a good singer, but he always had tried. Yona liked it when he sung, and Mipha did as well.
Yona lit up, “Yes! That’s perfect, thank you Sidon.”
It was noon when they had finished climbing Ploymus Rock, and when the time came, they sung.
They had sung their hearts out by her statue, the sun setting into the horizon, painting the sky in beautiful orange hues.
For the first time since her death, Sidon cried.
And Yona was there with him when he did.
“…Link…?” Sidon asks, his voice wavering and eyes watering. “Is it really you?”
Link smiles softly, and nods. ‘Yeah. It’s me. I’m sorry I was away for—‘
Sidon lunges at the hylian, lifting him up from the pool. “Link… Link…” He repeats like a mantra, squeezing him tight. “It’s good to see you, my friend!” He sniffs, “I thought you died, please… please, never do that again!”
Link is still, but he hugs Sidon back, tighter than he had ever done before.
I am here. I am alive.
Sidon was swamped with work, his father deciding that he was old enough to handle it.
He was to be king someday, of course.
While he was in his room, filing work, someone had knocked at his wall.
He looked up.
”Link!” Sidon yelled, leaping out of his seat, grinning.
Link waved. ‘Hi Sidon! I was traveling near Zora’s Domain so I wanted to stop by and say hi! So, hi!’
“Oh! Do you have to leave soon, then?”
Link shook his head. ‘Nope. I’m just hanging out, exploring the places I couldn’t explore before, because of the stress of all the divine beast stuff.’ He waved his hand. ‘You know.’
”I see, I see.” Sidon said with a pensive look on his face. “I haven’t seen you in a while, so how about we catch up?”
Link smiled, and started to sign about all the things he had seen and all the adventures he had gone on since the Calamity had been defeated.
His eyes had sparkled with barely concealed wanderlust, and his hands flew everywhere as he tried to describe every single emotion and experience he had felt.
Sidon felt a bit jealous of his best friend. He had never been on an adventure before, let alone on as many or as daring as Link had gone on.
So, he soaked in everything that he could from the other, letting every sign and expression on Link’s face be itched into his mind.
’Say, Sidon.’ Link signed, ‘You should join me sometime! I think we’d have lots of fun together!’
Sidon jolted, waving his hands. “I’d love to, Link. But I don’t think I can…” He rubbed the back of his head. “My father has work for me to do, and I can’t just abandon my duties at the Domain, you see?”
Link made a thinking sound, before snapping his fingers. ‘Be right back,’ He signed, before rushing off.
Sidon stared at his retreating figure, wondering what he was up to, before he shrugged, resuming his work.
It was a while later before Link returned, grinning from head to toe.
‘Your father said you could take a little break, for all that you’ve done for this place.’ He signed, a proud look on his face.
Sidon gaped.
”Link… I…” Sidon stuttered, at a loss for words. “Thank you.”
’No, thank you! I get to travel with my best friend! That’s the best thing that could happen to me!’
Sidon flushed, before laughing. “You’re such a charmer!”
They left Zora’s Domain that afternoon. Sidon had never seen and experienced so much in his entire life.
Sidon frowns. “Lady Yona! It’s far too dangerous for you to be here!”
Yona stood her ground. “Darling, I came here because there is something I need to speak to you about. I’ve been thinking about this for quite some time…”
She blinked. “Oh, hello there, Link.”
Sidon clamped his mouth shut, and turned to the side.
Link stood there, his eyes wide, a sheepish smile on his face.
‘Hi Yona. Hi Sidon.’ He signed. ‘I’m not interrupting something, am I? Sorry…’
”Don’t worry about it. Did you figure something out, my friend?” Sidon asks, and Link explains.
Sidon gasps. “You solved the ancient stone slate’s riddle, and a pillar of light appeared?! So if we investigate, we may be able to find a path to the sky…”
Sidon grins. “Wow! Well done, Link! This is huge development!”
Yona hums, “I see…” She nods to herself. “My dear Sidon. I think you should go with Link to investigate. For a long time, I’ve felt as if you’ve been holding yourself back and not acting as freely as you could. But, my love, I am positive that if you and Link join forces, then you shall be able to overcome any danger that awaits you.”
Sidon bites his cheek, ”That… is true. However…”
“Sidon,” Yona says, and Sidon’s eyes widen. “Why are you hesitating?”
”I…”
The soil behind them bubbles, and he gasps. Shielding Link and Yona away from it.
A monster with several sharp teeth, and a singular, squishy body erupts from the soil. He hisses.
”That monster is covered in soil! Could it be the beast that harmed Father?”
”Don’t worry about us, Sidon,” Yona says. “We can handle the water, go on, protect us.”
Sidon hesitates, before he nods. “Yes, you’re right. It’s up to you, milady!”
Yona smiles at him, and he is reminded of simpler times.
Link looks at him expectantly, and Sidon grins. “If you need me to shield you, call me and I will do so. Now let us go!”
Yona visited the Domain more often, after learning about Mipha’s death.
With the three of them being so close and all, it was no surprise that the remaining two would seek out comfort and closure from each other.
They collected sea shells by the lake. Reliving their old memories.
Yona lifted her hand to the sky, holding up a Cowrie shell.
”Do you think we could make more necklaces?” She asked, and Sidon nodded. “Of course we could, I think I may have string in my room.”
Yona laughed, “Fantastic! I would love to make one for you, and one for Mipha, just like old times.”
“Oh,” Sidon breathed. “That’s a good idea. I’d love to do that too. We could sit by Mipha’s statue at her Court.”
Yona clasped her hands together, “Yes! Let’s go there tonight, so we have to pick up the pace with the shell collecting!” She said, a fire burning in her eyes.
Sidon smiled, “Right now, you’re more of Shelly than I am, Yona.”
Yona let out a startled laugh, “‘Shelly…’ I had almost forgotten about those nicknames.” She turned to look at him, “Let’s do it again, they were pretty sweet, ‘Melli…’ so cute!”
Sidon flushed, and he rubbed the back of his head. “Well, Melli, I named you that when I was only a thirty years old, so I have an excuse!”
He pointed at her with his conch shell, “You, on the other hand, were centuries older than I was, but still named me ‘Shelly’!”
Yona threw a hand over her mouth, muffling her giggles.
”This is so dumb,” She laughed, tears pooling up in her eyes. “Gosh, I can’t believe the best I could do was ‘Shelly’.”
Sidon looked away, before his face scrunched up.
He then laughed so hard, he fell into the water.
”Link!” Sidon cheers, his face lighting up. “You did it! Take that you foul beast of sludge!”
Link grins back at him, hands clasped together.
”Is everyone alright, Lady Yona?” Sidon asks.
Yona nods. “Yes, we are unharmed.”
”Thank goodness… If something were to happen to you, I…”
He sighs, “In any case, it is possible that another monster will appear. I suggest you return to the domain at once—“
”Sidon,” Yona says, cutting him off. “The pillar of light at the reservoir begs to be investigated. This may be our only opportunity to learn more about the sludge falling from the sky, or even Princess Zelda’s whereabouts.”
Yona smiles, ”Leave this to us, dearest Sidon. We are able to handle ourselves.”
Sidon looks away, “Lady Yona, I… I cannot leave you alone in this dangerous place!”
Yona shakes her head fondly. “We won’t be on our own for long. We shall be fine, and also,” She asks, grinning. “Don’t you trust me?”
Sidon frowns, “Of course I do! I just…”
”Sidon… I truly appreciate the concern, it speaks to the kindness you have in your heart, but you are the prince of the Zora. One day, you will lead the people of your beloved domain.”
She takes a deep breath in, “I can see right through you, whether you want me to or not.” She smiles sadly, “You are yielding to the fear of losing someone you love again, are you not?”
She steps forward, and takes his hands in hers.
”You must overcome your past, and face whatever the future holds with courage. We all must.”
Sidon is trembling. He doesn’t want to… he won’t…
”I…” He says, and he cannot say more.
Yona sighs. ”Sweet Sidon… Do not get lost in the past. You must keep moving forward. Follow your heart, as you always have done.”
”…Follow my heart,” He whispers. “Mipha always…”
Yona hugs him. “It’s alright. I swear it. I won’t be going anywhere.”
”I see…” Sidon says, soft and quiet. “I was… I was giving in to fear once more, I…”
”Yona.” He says, will steeled. “You’re right. I won’t give in to this fear, nor will I forsake your trust.”
He steadies his heart, and smiles.
”I leave this place to you, Melli.”
Yona’s eyes widen, and she smiles back.
“Oh Shelly…” She whispers. “We’ll all be cheering you on, here in the Domain.”
Sidon hugs her tight, and she does as well. Then, he sprints off to the reservoir.
I don’t have to live cowering in fear anymore. This is the path I want to take.
Yona and Sidon sat at Mipha’s Court, looping spools of thread through sea shells.
Yona gasped, “Mipha loved these!” She held an Abalone Shell. “Plain and unassuming on the outside,” She flipped it over. “But beautiful on the inside!”
”Very, very cheesy, but Mipha was always like that, wasn’t she?”
Sidon smiled, “She was, yes. Extremely sappy too. If she were here right now, looking at us, I swear to you she would be crying her eyes out.”
Yona laughed. “Oh, you truly are her brother. She would, wouldn’t she?”
They continued to piece together sea shell necklaces, until they ran out of shells.
Yona sighed. “That’s the last of them, I think.” Sidon hummed, “I think so too…”
”Let’s leave them by the base of her statue,” Yona said, leading Sidon towards her.
“Here,” She placed a necklace in his hands. “You give that one to her, and I’ll give these!” She smiled, holding two necklaces in her hands.
Sidon huffed, “Wanting to gain her favor? I was always her favorite you know, as her brother—“
Water had splashed on his face, and Sidon blinked.
”Oops.” Yona said, a sly look on her face. “I suppose… my hand slipped.”
Sidon grinned. “Oh, you are on!”
Yona yelped. “Wait, wait, wait, Sidon, I— AHHHH—!”
Sidon dumped waves and waves of water onto her, and she screamed in surprise. He laughed, his chest heaving at the exertion.
Yona was dripping wet, but she burst out in laughter as well.
“I see! So this is the clue to reaching the sky…”
Sidon hums, “The light is shining from below, so it must be…”
”Aha!” Sidon gasps, “I have an idea!”
He leaps from the end of the ledge, Link shooting his a concerned look his way, and he grins as he falls, hitting the water.
“Ugh, gross…” He mumbles, spitting out the murky water. He then speeds up around the glowing light, faster, and faster, and faster…
“There’s something at the bottom of the lake!” Sidon shouts. “Don’t worry about anything else, I’ll make a path for you! Just dive in, Link!”
Link nods, before taking a swan dive into the middle of the whirlpool.
Sidon watches as he’s dragged down the centre of it, before disappearing from sight entirely. He bites his lip.
I hope he’s okay…
It’s a while before anything happens. Sidon waits, and waits. Until the floating islands above him start to shift and move, and something underneath as well…
“Woah!” He yelps, feeling stone underneath his feet. It rises, and rises, higher and higher, until it stopped.
Sidon steadies himself, before he gapes. “A waterfall! A waterfall has descended from the sky!”
A hand taps on his shoulder. Link!” He smiles, and Link waves back. “Was this your doing?”
Link nods, and Sidon runs to hug him tight.
”You’re the best, Link! I knew you could do this!”
He looks at the waterfall, at himself, then grins, kneeling.
Sidon holds his hands behind his back, “For old time’s sake?”
Link huffs a laugh.
‘Of course.’
It is months of radio silence from Link before Sidon had grew concerned.
He first sent a letter to Purah at Lookout Landing, then to Impa at Kakariko Village. Both sent him letters back that Princess Zelda and Link haven’t been seen for weeks.
Sidon blanched, the moment he read both letters, his grip on the papers tightening.
”Goodness.” He sighed, rubbing his temple. “What am I going to do with you, Link?”
Yona came by, later that day. She was humming as she walked around the Domain, looking around.
”Sidon?” She asked. “Are you okay? You look quite pale…”
Sidon jumped, turning back. “Yona? I…” He hesitated. “It’s just, my best friend, he…”
Yona frowned, then took his hand, leading him away. “Let’s go somewhere else. I think a change of scenery would benefit you greatly.”
Sidon complied, lost in his thoughts, and they had left to go to a secluded hill near the Domain.
”When I was younger, I liked going here for some space while visiting the Domain,” Yona smiled. “Neither you nor Mipha ever had knew about this place, but now you do! Great, isn’t it?”
Sidon looked past the hill, and at the sky and land below them. The view was gorgeous.
“Yes, it is,” He said. “Ah, I never finished what I was about to say, apologies…”
Yona shook her head, “Don’t worry. I understand. Take your time now, we have all the time we need.”
Sidon hesitated, before slowly speaking.
”My best friend, you know of him, I assume. He and I saved the Domain from Vah Ruta’s rampage, and the statue at the front of the Domain…” He looked down. “It’s of the both of us, when tried to protect this place.”
Yona looked at him silently, and smiled, urging him to continue.
”Ah… He, he disappeared, a few weeks back, along with Princess Zelda,” At this, Yona gasped. “I have… No one has any idea where the two of them had went, and it’s driving me mad.”
And Sidon continued to speak of Link, his best friend. Not the Hero of Hyrule, not the Hylian Champion, but Link, who had loved to take him adventuring, the Link who loved to tease him relentlessly, and the Link who had seen him for Sidon rather than the Zora Prince.
This is the Link Yona learned about, and he hoped she liked him as much as he did.
“Link! Do you feel it too? My body feels as light as a feather!”
He jumps, and flies higher up into the air then he’d ever done.
“This is amazing! How could this even be?”
Link laughs. ‘I heard Zelda and Purah talk about this once, I think it’s something called gravity? I can’t really remember the rest of it, though…”
Sidon gives him a pensive look, “I see… Gravity, how curious.” He shakes his head, “Ah! Anyways, we should locate the source of the sludge immediately! Let’s split up to cover more ground.”
Link nods in agreement, and they set off in separate ways.
Sidon traverses through the floating ruins with awe in every step he takes. It’s fascinating to be up here, he thinks, as he jumps up another waterfall.
He flies so high, that he can feel the wind hitting his face, soaring through his fins.
It feels amazing.
Finally, he arrives at the final island, floating higher and farther than the rest of them.
As he touches onto ground, he looks around, before seeing Link.
”Link!” He shouts. “We’re both here, I see! Did you climb up the waterfalls as well? Weren’t they simply amazing?”
Link laughs, ‘Yes! I did! They were so fun! My heart was racing when I flew into the sky like that!’
“Same here!” Sidon smiles. “Now let’s get going! That waterfall seems to lead to a place further than here.”
Link nods, and jumps for the waterfall. Sidon does as well, and up they go.
They reach their destination, finding a spring with water gushing out of it. Sidon stares at it in awe, and Link’s gaze flickers everywhere.
Link rushes forward, and places is hand on some green glowing runes. Sidon blinks, watching it all unfold in front of his eyes.
The structure above them creaks, before one out of faucets pour out water, slashing onto the sludge blow it. It disappears, before the sludge reforms, still as disgusting and dirty as ever.
”Huh…” Sidon hums. “The water must have not been enough…”
Cherished Kin…
Sidon jolts, looking around.
This is the source of the pure wagers or Zora’s Domain. Use your power to turn on the four faucets, and you can collect water here.
Heed my words…
“Where did that voice— Oh!” Sidon nods to himself, “If we turn on the four faucets, we must be able to acquire more water for the water vessels!”
He grins, “Alright! Let’s get to work, Link! Together, there is nothing in this world that can stop us!”
It was a few weeks after Yona had left the Domain, that his father had called him to his throne.
”You called me, Father?”
His father smiled, his voice booming and loud;
“Yes. I have great news, you are to be wed, dear Sidon!”
Sidon blinked, his eyes wide and surprised.
”To who, Father?”
His father opened his mouth—
“What is that thing?!” Sidon yells. Link has a disgusted look on his face, vaguely irritated as well, for some reason—
The creature spits out sludge, forming a shark monster. It falls into it, and they both sink into the ground, it’s fin the only thing showing.
Sidon stands his ground.
”Get ready! Let’s go Link!”
Link nods, and readies his bow with a splash fruit. Sidon readies his spear, and their run towards it.
They both shoot, spraying water onto the creature, and it writhes, before disappearing. The purple octopus flails out of it, limp on the ground.
Link takes out a weapon that looks like two spears stuck on each other. Sidon stares at it for a moment, questioning the absurdity, before aiming for the enemy.
“Take this, foul beast!” He yells, putting his full force onto the thing, and it screams. Link does as well, his teeth clenched.
The purple octopus reforms it’s sludge shark, eventually, and Sidon growls.
No mercy.
When your sister dies, all alone, trapped in a stone beast of mechanics and Sheikah-blue,
When your best friend falls into a coma, woken up with a hand that is not his, his princess lost once more,
When your sister is gone, replaced with a bride who is not her, and will never be his,
What can he do? Who can he even choose?
“Link! Watch out!” The purple octopus flies into the sky, spitting out sludge everywhere.
“Ugh… The sludge is everywhere, we have to clear it!”
Sludge falls from the sky, and Sidon scrunches his face in disgust. The creature also uses this to it’s advantage, swimming and jumping through each puddle as it goes.
”Goodness,” Sidon says. “It’s able to swim through the sludge, that’s going to make it hard to catch…”
Expectations are placed upon us, and we are forced to make a choice.
The best decision we can make, is none. The only options we are presented with cause irreparable losses.
But we don’t have to conform. We don’t have to do as they say.
Sidon yells, slashing his spear. Water gushes out, and a path of sludge is cleared. He nods to Link, and the other jumps, flying into the sky, and aims his weapon downward.
Water engulfs the area, washing all the sludge away, and the creature screams. It’s cries pierce Sidon’s ears, but they persevere.
Link slams his spears into it, and they shatter, shards shining a blinding blue. He grits his teeth, struggling to take out another weapon.
Sidon roars, yelling as he throws his spear into the creature, impaling it to the ground.
Link’s eyes widen, and he grins as he pulls the spear from the creature. He breathes in, and readies himself, stabbing the thing with all the power he can muster.
The purple octopus screams, and steps backwards, wavering and unsteady.
It falls to the ground with a sick squelch, and starts to ooze out malice. It withers, turning gray, before it explodes.
Sidon loves as easy as he breathes.
Mipha had told him that when he was a guppy.
When presented with the choice of who was his favorite, from both Link and Yona, he had grinned, picking them both.
Mipha had given him a soft smile back then, picking him up and hugging him.
“Sweet Sidon… Whatever happens, through thick and thin, promise me this, okay?”
Sidon nodded vigorously, a grin on his face.
”Keep loving people. Keep caring for them and keep worrying about them.”
Mipha smiled.
“We may be alone in this world, but we are never unloved.”
”Never.”
The sludge disappeared, slowly but surely. Sidon watches the display in awe.
”Amazing…” He murmurs. He walks up the steps, stopping before a stone glowing a serene bright light.
It moves towards him, and he stares at it, for a moment, before taking it.
It flashes white, and he shields his eyes.
Visions of the past flicker through his mind, and he knows.
He understands, and smiles.
”So it’s my destiny to fight along your side…”
Sidon nods, “I will accept this secret stone! I’ll help protect Hyrule and everyone I love!”
The stone rushed to him, embedding itself into his glove.
He looks at it, turning his hand around, before getting down on one knee, holding his hand out to Link.
”Please Link, your hand.”
Link smiles, and nods, extending his hand, and Sidon holds onto it.
”I, Sidon, Sage of Water, swear that I will fight by your side. Please accept this. It is proof of my vow.”
Power rushes to Link’s new hand, and he gasps, as a new ring reveals itself to him. Sidon grins.
”With that ring, you will always have my power with you!”
Link flushes, ‘Why’d you have to kneel like that, though?’ He rubs the back of his head. ‘It’s like… you know… especially with the ring too…”
Sidon looks at him for a moment, before exploding in laughter.
”You— You are so easily flustered, my friend.” He grins, “Now let’s head back home. We’ve had a long day.”
Link pouts at the teasing, but he rolls his eyes fondly, walking away with Sidon to the Domain.
Sidon is loved.
He knows this, and has known this for quite a while.
He will never be left behind by the people who love him.
No matter what he does, or where he goes, they’ll always be there.
Sidon can only pay it forward, their blessings and best wishes they’ve sent to him.
He can make it better for them. He can make it better for himself too.
He doesn’t have to live in fear. Not now, and not in the future.
”Shelly!” Yona whispers, wrapping him into her arms.
Sidon smiles. “Melli…” He says, hugging her too.
”I’m so glad you’re safe, when the sky had started to shake I was so worries I thought… Oh, Sidon,” She says. “Thank you. Thank you, and thank you too, Link. For saving us, for keeping him safe.”
Link jolts, and blinks, and he smiles. ‘Oh, it’s no problem! I’m just happy to help, honestly.’
His father laughs, booming and loud.
Sidon jolts, and he looks up.
”Your own efforts to save the domain were nothing short of magnificent, dear Sidon.” He says warmly. “I have always believed in you, son.”
Sidon gasps, his eyes tearing up. “Father, I…”
”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.”
Sidon blinks, waving his arms.
“Father, this is so sudden…!”
His father smiles, “No, it only seems that way. In truth, it has been heavy on my mind for quite a while.”
”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.”
Sidon stares. “Me… the king?” He looks at Yona, who smiles at him, nodding her head.
”Thank you, Father! I will not let you down, I swear it!”
He hesitates, “But… could we speak in private, for a moment?”
His father blinks, “Oh! Do you have something to say, my boy?”
”Yes, I do.” Sidon nods, will steeled. “It is of utmost importance as well, so I’d like to ask for a place where no one will be able to enter or eavesdrop from.”
His father laughs. “Yes, of course!” He stands up, and smiles. “Follow me, son.”
Sidon nods, and urges both Link and Yona to follow him.
They stare at him in confusion, before doing so.
His father leads them to a place behind a water fall, spacious and well hidden.
Sidon gasps when he sees it, and Yona does as well. Link hums, and nods to himself.
’I was here, last time.’ He signs, ‘Your father gave me his scales to complete the riddle with.’
”Curious…” Yona says, and turns her gaze to the place.
His father walks up, and sits on his throne.
”So, Sidon.” He asks, “What do you need to speak to me with?”
Sidon breathes in, and breathes out. He looks his father in the eyes.
”What do you know of the nature of Yona and I’s relationship?” He asks, and Yona gasps. Link tilts his head in confusion.
His father hums, “I know you both have known each other for centuries, and are both quite close in terms of your relationship. You, Mipha, and Yona were quite inseparable back then.”
”Why pick her as my bride?”
”She was the closest person in your life who I knew of. I knew she would make you happy, and you would as well.”
”Why did you not consult me on this?”
”I thought you would be happy with this decision, son,” His father says. “Are you not?”
Sidon bites his cheek.
”I… I would have been happy, if I hadn’t seen Yona as a sister, for all those centuries ago,” He confesses. “Until now as well, actually…”
His father gapes. He continues, “I even spoke about it in ‘Learnings of a Zora, Part Four Two Sisters of Different Blood.’”
”To quote, ‘She treated me like a little brother, even though we were not related,’ and ‘As a child, I had two big sisters. On by birth and one by chance.’”
He bows deeply. “I’m sorry, father! I should have mentioned something sooner, to avoid this whole misunderstanding— But I… I…”
“Sidon. Look at me.”
Yona stands in front of him, her hands on his face.
“It’s okay. It’s not your fault.”
”King Dorephan,” She says, voice serious. “I understand why you had chosen me as Sidon’s bride, we were inseparable as children, and still are as adults, but my feelings for Sidon are not, in any capacity, romantic.”
She takes in a deep breath.
“In all honesty… Calling him my ‘love,’ and my ‘darling,’ made me feel sick. It was disgusting, to call the person you loved as a brother, for all those centuries, those frivolous pet names.”
“It didn’t help that I had loved Mipha as well, while she still lived. I… Sometimes, I would see her in him, and it would hurt me. It would hurt so much.”
She looks down.
”So please, please reverse your decision. I cannot marry a Zora I do not love, let alone my younger brother!”
His father is silent.
Link watches them with wide eyes.
”I…” He speaks. “I am truly sorry, to the both of you.”
His father gets down on his knees, and bows deeply. Sidon and Yona both gasp in surprise.
”I had made an unmistakable error in my judgement. Sidon, Yona… I will not make you go through this loveless, and blasphemous marriage. I am sure the Zora people will understand, they love you both tremendously, with all their hearts.”
”Father…” Sidon whispers, and Yona bows as well. “Thank you, King Dorephan. Thank you…”
Link looks at them all with his jaw hanging.
’What the fuck. What the fuck. But congratulations?’
Sidon laughs. “Apologies, Link. You were probably very confused, were you not?” The hylian nods vigorously, and Sidon shakes his head. “In all honesty, you were only here for moral support…”
Link gapes.
Yona laughs so hard she falls into the water, and Sidon scrambles, helping her up.
”Figures, huh?” She says, still laughing. “You fell in last time.”
Sidon snorts, “I did, didn’t I?”
Link laughs at them too, and later, his father’s booming laugh echoes through the cave as well.
Sidon is surrounded by the people he loves, and he is happy.