It was obvious Muzu disliked Faron. She guessed as much even without his speaking a word. Disapproval radiated off of him from the moment she set foot before the throne. So it was no surprise when he at last voiced that disapproval, even less surprising when he stormed out. Sidon quickly offered to try talking things out with him, racing after the old Zora without even waiting for a response. Faron followed him soon after at King Dorephan's behest.

She could hardly blame Muzu for hating the Hylians based on what she'd heard. She was even less inclined to blame him for showing not a sliver of faith in her. She wouldn't have been terribly thrilled either with an amnesiac 'hero' who remembered little more than her own name and childhood and how to swing a sword decently well. It'd made the shower of praise from both Sidon and the King particularly uncomfortable.

Worse still were the frequent mentions of Mipha, the former Zora princess. Every time her name was spoken, Faron's chest would squeeze painfully, yet she couldn't even put a face to the name. She'd only caught the commemorative statue in her peripheral vision on her way to see the King and subsequently hadn't made out any of its features. So when she saw Sidon and Muzu arguing by said statue, she hesitated.

Was it worse not knowing? What if the opposite was true? What if she did remember, and it made that instinctive pain inside her that much worse?

There was only one way of knowing for certain. She forced her feet to carry her down the staircase.

Muzu and Sidon didn't even notice her approach. She stopped several feet away, letting her eyes roam over the gracefully posed statue before settling her gaze on its face. Its expression spoke of a gentle warmth and selfless pride. Faron chest tightened once more. Suddenly, the soft blue colors of the statue started to change, morphing into a bright red contrasting against solid white, the eyes turning a deep shade of gold. Faron eyes widened. She knew it was only in her mind, but it seemed so real. She took a step forward, her breathing shaky, a subtle trembling beginning to take root in her limbs.

Then it hit her like a landslide. One memory after another came surging in, like water bursting from a broken dam, tumbling over one another, overlapping, yet each incredibly sharp and distinct.

Mipha shyly attempting to introduce herself, all their conversations, their shared promise, Mipha's encouraging words, the touch of her healing powers, warm and desperate embraces.

And the way Mipha had looked at her just before the Calamity...before her death.

Faron's trembling violently increased, making her legs buckle beneath her. She crashed to her knees, sending up a splash of water. Sidon and Muzu were subsequently jarred out of their conversation, both heads turning toward her. But Faron didn't even notice them. All she could see was Mipha, all she could feel was the overwhelming, horrifying guilt.

A wailing scream tore out of her mouth, reverberating through her body. More heads turned in her direction, but she ignored them as well. She sucked in a ragged breath and screamed again.

Suddenly, a solid form enveloped her, sturdy arms entwining her in a shockingly gentle embrace. That gentleness reminded her so much of Mipha that Faron instinctively clung to the figure, sobbing against them with no care for restraint.

"I didn't get to say goodbye," she choked, "I never got to keep my promise..."

"I miss her terribly as well."

It was Sidon's voice. The drastic change from eccentric enthusiasm to quiet grief was so startling—and strangely comforting—that Faron's sobbing effectively stopped. She remained as she was, unable to let go of the comfort she derived from him, and Sidon seemed content to keep giving it.

"Muzu, listen," he said, Faron feeling his head shift to face the old Zora, "There is something you need to know. This woman, Faron, is the one whom my sister had feelings for."

The world seemed to stop.

Feelings? As in—she...?

She hardly dared even think it. Mipha, of all people, purely kind and perfect—could she really have felt that way?

About me?

"I was only a child then, so I did not know it myself at the time," Sidon continued, "But it is so. I grew up hearing my father tell stories, some of which were about my sister's undying love for a Hylian named Faron."

Love.

Hearing the word spoken aloud made something click into place in Faron's mind. It was suddenly so clear. That look Mipha had given her just before the Calamity had befallen them...it had seemed familiar, yet somehow different, something she hadn't seen directed at her since before her mother's death.

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Mipha loved me.

The realization sent another wave of clarity crashing over her.

And I...I loved her.

She'd never had the chance to truly recognize it, much less tell Mipha.

Now she never could.

Muzu was voicing his protest of the revelation, but his words sounded muffled and far away. Faron pulled free of Sidon and climbed to her feet, dimly aware but grateful for his hands hovering by her arms, ready to catch her in case she fell again.

She gazed up at the statue again, whispering, "I'm so sorry."

There was a brief silence.

Then Muzu spoke, "I believe your grief is real, Hylian. But that does not mean Mipha had any such—" He glanced at Sidon. "Feelings for you."

Faron nodded understandingly, still keeping her eyes on the statue. There was another stretch of silence, then Sidon blurted something and ran off, returning shortly thereafter with something in his hands. Faron couldn't see much more than its blue and silver colors until Sidon reached them and held it up for closer studying.

It was a stunningly beautiful tunic, sleek and formfitting. Sidon held it out to her.

"My sister made this. Put it on. It should fit perfectly."

"Prince Sidon!" Muzu snapped, "You go too far! Countless generations of Zora princesses have gifted armor to the ones they have sworn to marry! You know Mipha made that one there with her own hands! You cannot simply—"

"Muzu," Sidon cut off his tirade, "If you'll wait, you will see." He turned back to Faron. "My father was planning on giving this to you. My sister...she would've wanted you to have it."

Faron was stunned. Slowly, she accepted the tunic, running a hand over its soft, light material.

"She made this..." she echoed, recalling Mipha working tirelessly on some unknown project during their trip to the Spring of Wisdom, desperately hiding it away when Faron came near.

She hardly even knew me, but she wanted to spend her life with me.

Faron felt tears returning to her eyes.

"Thank you," she murmured, retreating to a private place so she could change into the tunic.

She couldn't help but stare at it for some time, thinking of all the care Mipha had taken in crafting it. And as she pulled it over her head, feeling the material gently hugging her body, it felt like wearing an embrace from Mipha. Faron wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold onto the feeling. The only thing that got her moving again was knowing Sidon and Muzu were waiting for her. She reluctantly returned to them.

Muzu was struck nearly speechless at the sight of her.

"What in the—what is the meaning of this?" he gasped.

In contrast, Sidon simply smiled, his eyes lingering on Faron a moment before turning to the elder Zora.

"Now you understand, do you not?" he queried, "The fact that this armor fits Faron perfectly should be proof enough that Mipha made it for her and her alone! You have always disliked Hylians, even before the Great Calamity. That is why Mipha never told you."

Muzu turned away, trying to mask the inner turmoil in his eyes, but Faron saw it all. Guilt, anger, disbelief—she was well familiar with all of them.

"I need...some time...to think," Muzu said brokenly.

Then he walked away. Sidon made to go after him, but a light touch on the arm from Faron stopped him. She shook her head.

"I'd be upset too if I were him," she admitted, "Just leave him for now."

She exhaled heavily, running her fingers absentmindedly over the ornate silver gauntlets of her new tunic.

"I remember you," she murmured, gazing off into the distance, "Mipha mentioned you on more than one occasion. She was—" Faron smiled sadly. "—very proud."

She looked up suddenly to find her own grief reflected in Sidon's eyes.

Goddesses, those eyes...

They're so much like Mipha's.

"I know," Sidon said quietly. He lifted his gaze to where Vah Ruta could be seen spewing water high into the air. "I still try my best to make her proud, even though she's—"

He stopped. Tears threatened to overcome Faron once more.

This understanding they shared—so complete, so easy—it was priceless. That understanding had been denied to Faron after the loss of her mother, at a time when it proved crucial. But having it now, Faron couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude, of comfort. It almost made the pain bearable.

She sucked in a shaky breath, following Sidon's gaze toward Vah Ruta and blinking away her tears.

"Whether Muzu agrees to letting me help or not," she said, "I have to face that divine beast."

She ran her fingers across the pommel of the Master Sword.

She had awoken in the Shrine of Resurrection to find it waiting there for her. And recalling now how she had first succeeded in claiming the Blade of Evil's Bane, she thanked the stars that Zelda had decided against returning it to its pedestal in Korok Forest.

She held back a grim smile. The reality was that without the sword, she would most likely be treated as she deserved—an insignificant nobody.

Yet Mipha had seen something in her, even without the sword. And for that reason, she had to see through the task Zelda had given her.

Like Sidon, she still needed to make Mipha proud.

"Of course," Sidon agreed, his characteristic enthusiasm returning in the blink of an eye, "And I am fully prepared to assist you!"

"No," Faron said, turning toward him, "I couldn't forgive myself if anything happened to you. I'll manage."

Sidon seemed taken aback.

"I won't hear of it!" he protested, "As Prince of the Zora, I am equally responsible in dealing with this threat!"

"I'm not good at protecting people," Faron insisted, her tone rendering more bite than she'd intended.

Still, it did nothing to dissuade the Zora Prince.

"I will not stand by and allow you to face that divine beast alone!" he said, "I appreciate your concerns, but this is something I must do, for my people...and for my sister. Surely you understand?"

Faron's insides twisted. She hadn't expected that same understanding she'd felt so grateful for just moments earlier to be turned against her so quickly.

That's just my luck, isn't it?

She sighed heavily, "Yes...I understand."

"Besides," Sidon pressed on, "If I am not there, who will protect you?"

Faron smiled despite herself.

He's so much like Mipha...

"Okay," she said, "We'll do it together."

Sidon positively beamed, snatching up one of Faron's hands and clasping it firmly between both of his.

"Let us both do our very best to make my sister proud!" he urged.

Faron swallowed hard. It was almost as though he could see right through her.

And—somehow, some way—his upbeat confidence was starting to feel infectious.

"Yes," she said quietly, "I'm sure we will."