"Sidon, my cherished kin. You must take up my secret stone and honor the vow I made to the Sage of Time. Fight alongside the swordsman Link and human (Y/n)."
Ruora finished as light once again filled the area by holding out both of her hands.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The three opened their eyes as they were once again back in the Water Temple, with the secret stone still floating in front of Sidon, who remained silent. Link looked to Visru, who was looking further skyward. "It's my destiny to fight by your side." Sidon finally said, catching Link's attention, "I came here so that I could save Zora's Domain...but it looks like all of Hyrule will need my help! I'll do all I can. Just as my ancestor did. I will accept this secret stone!"
Sidon then held out his hand as the secret stone turned a crystal blue and engraved the symbol for water, signifying the bond. The stone then attached to his hand, creating an engraving on his glove for it to fit him. He then turned around as he called out, "I am the Sage of Water. Behold! This is my new power!" He then held his hand skyward as a bright spirit blue avatar of him came out in a watery shield, before breaking it and landing softly on the ground next to the Zora Prince.
Sidon then got down on one knee, catching Link's and Visru's attention as he said, "Here, Link! Your hand." Link slowly extended his hand to Sidon as he then gripped it in both of his, firmly shaking it as he said, "I, Sidon, the Sage of Water, swear that I will fight by your side. Please accept this. It is proof of my vow!" The avatar of Sidon then vanished into his secret stone as he began to glow with blue energy. Link watched silently as the energy faded into his arm as the two let go, and the energy created a ring on his index finger, turning a bright green with the symbol for water being engraved on it.
The avatar then came out and stood by Link's side as Sidon got back up. "With that ring, you'll always have my power with you!" Sidon said as Link elbowed Visru after hearing him snicker. Sidon didn't pay any mind to it as he said, "We're partnered up again! All right, let's head back home."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
You groaned as you stretched before stepping outside the inn in Zora's Domain you'd woken up in. "Just be careful in future..." The Zora healer said as you replied, "I'll try to, but you never know in Hyrule these days." You then walked about the courtyard of the domain, looking at the statue of Link and Sidon from their escapade with Vah Ruta. You could then sense a rush of air as you turned your attention to the waters below the domain. What was once murky water was now fading to blue once again, and all the dirt and grime around the domain began to evaporate as the whole place soon returned to its pristine look. "I have a feeling I missed a lot..." You muttered as you looked about.
Soon, Link, Visru, and Sidon returned to the Domain, happy to see that you were now fully healed. They then explained what had happened while you were recovering, with all of you soon returning to the throne room to see King Dorephan healthy as ever. "Link! Visru! Sidon! Welcome back!" Yona said as she walked up to the three of them. King Dorephan chuckled as he said, "Link, Visru. Thanks to your courage, the inhabitants of Zora's Domain are safe once again. No words could express the depths of my gratitude. Thank you, heroes. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you."
The two appeared to take it all in stride as Dorephan turned to Sidon, "As for you, Sidon... Though Link and Visru certainly played a key role, your own efforts to save the domain were nothing short of magnificent. I have always believed in you, Sidon. 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." You were in shock at what you'd just heard, as was Sidon. "Father... This is so sudden..." Sidon said, still in brief shock.
"No, it only seems that way." Dorephan replied, "In truth, it has been heavy on my mind for some time. 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." You felt like you were getting hit with bombshells left and right as Sidon was deep in thought. "Me... The king?" He said in disbelief before he locked eyes with Yona, and the two stared at each other for a while before they both nodded and he said, "Thank you, Father! I will not let you down! I swear it."
"That's the spirit, my boy!" Dorephan said joyously, "Now! Accept your place upon the throne. The finest swordsman in all of Hyrule and his companions shall bear witness to this momentus occasion!"
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Soon, every Zora in the domain was gathered in the plaza as Muzu meekly called out, "Silence, everyone!" They all looked up to see Sidon, now wearing a crown fit for him with Yona by his side, and the three of you watching from the sidelines. Sidon raised his hand as he said, "I hereby inherit this crown from my father, The Exalted Dorephan. From this moment on, I shall be king of the Zora! At this same precious moment, I ask that you also open your hearts to your new queen, my beloved Yona!"
The crowd cheered as Yona stepped forward, "The sludge threatens us no more. We are once again free to swim through crystal waters beneath azure skies without fear. We could not have achieved this without our dear King Sidon, our heroic Sir Link, the Zonai Visru, and all of us who call the domain home. I am so proud and so very grateful to count myself among the Zora of this domain. However! This does not mean that all matters have been resolved." "Right you are, my love!" Sidon continued, "So long as darkness lurks in the depths of Hyrule, this peace we have fought so hard for could vanish like a bubble on a needle. We shall not allow that! It is now time for the Zora to help Link and his companions prevail! Everyone, I ask that you lend them your strength! Doing just that shall be the first task that I and my partner in life and in leadership shall undertake as your king and queen."
All of the Zora once again cheered on as you felt empowered by the prospect of them telling you to keep going. Soon afterward, the three of you returned to the throne room with Sidon and Yona. "First things first, my friends." Sidon said the moment you entered, "Regarding the whereabouts of Princess Zelda... When I obtained the secret stone, we saw a vision of that woman...the Sage of Time. I am certain it was far more than a passing resemblance. That was the Princess Zelda whom you and I know so well. As for the Princess Zelda who appeared in the domain and attacked Father... Could it be that the princess we saw in my ancestors era and the one my father saw in this era are not one and the same?"
"From what we've gathered in our travels so far, that's my current working theory." You said as you then looked over to Visru, who had distanced himself and was now standing outside the throne room. You began to hold suspicions as you walked over to him. "Do you know something about our current predicament?" You asked Visru, who was lightly startled upon hearing your voice. "Oh! Uh... Not really anything that would be helpful..." He said as he turned to you. You squinted your eyes as he turned away, holding his head low.
"Please promise that you shall once again grace our fair Zora's Domain with your presence sooner rather than later!" Sidon said to Link, catching your attention, "Whatever comes to pass, know that you and I will always be connected...by the power of a sage, no less!" Link then turned to leave after saying farewell as you walked up to him. "Am I hearing that correctly?" You said with a smile quickly forming on your face as you looked to Link's hand seeing the newly engraved ring. "Liiink, you charmer!" You said as you playfully slugged his arm, with him rolling his eyes as he said the three of you should get back to Lookout Landing. He also paused before mentioning another idea he had, leading you to ask him to go on.
He explained that if the fights were going to keep getting harder as they went, they would very likely need the Master Sword. "That's going to be a bit of an issue though..." You said as you held your chin, "We have no idea where it went after it faded into that golden light back on the sky island."
Link then suggested that the geoglyphs might hold answers, mentioning how he spotted one while at the Water Temple, also mentioning that he'd noted down the general area of all of them. "Well, it's as good a place as any to start. What do you say, Visru?" You said as you turned to the Zonai who had been walking behind the two of you the entire time. He appeared to be thinking about something before he said, "You know... I'll head to Lookout Landing and wait for you there. I'll also see if I can scrounge up anything that might be useful for the future."
Link nodded as he said farewell, but you still had some slight doubts about Visru, feeling like he was hiding something... But you put the thought aside for now as the three of you split off.
It didn't take long for you and Link to arrive at the geoglyoph he'd spotted, finding it to be in the shape of a secret stone. The two of you approached the pool of water as the symbols on your hands activated, and you entered the memory.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The seven sages stood with Rauru inside the aincent temple in the canyon near the Rito settlement as the Aincent Zora, Ruora stepped forward as she spoke, "King Rauru... We just received word that the last free village in the Gerudo Desert has fallen." The group was disheartened as she continued, "At this rate, The Demon King's army will overwhelm us." Rauru, with a solomn look in his eyes said, "I understand. Our only hope is for me to defeat The Demon King."
"Rauru." Mineru spoke up, catching his attention, "The Demon King... He is not someone you can stop by yourself." Rauru shifted his stance to face his older sister. "But don't forget..." Came Visru, who was standing next to Mineru, "You are not alone. You have the Gerudo, Goron, Zora, and Rito leaders, as well as Zelda..." The five others nodded confidently to him as he panned his view. "And of course...you can count on us." Said Mineru.
Rauru lowered his head as he thought for a moment before looking up and saying, "There is something I'd like to show you all." He then turned to the door, with a symbol on the front which he placed his hand to, activating it as the door opened to an inner chamber... with four more secret stones waiting. "Zonai...secret stones..." Said the Aincent Rito as the group moved into the inner chamber. Rauru then turned to them as he said, "Stand with me. I need all your aid."
The four leaders were led to the stones which they all held out their hands for. And when they shrunk and appeared before them, with a soft touch, the stones changed color and chose a spot on their respective leader. An earing for the Gerudo Sage of Lightning. An ankle bracelet for the Rito Sage of Wind. A belt for the Goron Sage of Fire. And a glove for the Zora Sage of Water.
As they all stood upon the central area, with pedestals for all of them, they all declared, "We all, gathered here, swear on our lives to serve Rauru, the King of Light."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
You and Link finished viewing the memory as you both looked at each other. "Alright. What's next?" You said as Link borrowed the Purah Pad, pointing out one in the shape of a Molduga not far from where you initially dropped from the great sky island.
And with that in mind, the two of you set off once more, determined to uncover the full story, and find the Master Sword.