#and change the Zora Sapphire bit to be water instead because it

[silenceoflink]

Back in 2017, back when I was a baby artist, I drew something to celebrate the release of Breath of the Wild, the most recent and groundbreaking Zelda Game. Well, with Tears of the Kingdom fast approaching, I decided to re-draw it. Paying tribute to the first 3D Zelda game, Ocarina of Time, I celebrate the new game.

[roxannarambles]

(slight sidlink) paella

(a/n: just a scene with link visiting lurelin village,  because I was just there in the game and imagined how it might go.)

Life in Lurelin Village was an exciting one; as a fishing town on the shores of the Necluda Sea, it was always bustling with activity in an ever-changing environment. At times the fishing was abundant and life was as easy as the relaxing, salty breeze. Other times, roving bands of monsters or stormy weather meant that life was much more tumultuous. However, in either case, Kiana felt blessed to live here with her family. No matter what the tides brought their way, it was always bound to be interesting.

As it turned out, today the tides had brought them something especially interesting; a traveler the likes of which she had never met before. As she busied herself with rinsing rice to prepare for dinner, she listened to her husband conversing with the strange new visitor.

"I have to say, Link, when we first saw you approach, we were all positively convinced you were a young Zora coming by to visit. It's remarkable armor, just amazing. And you moved so gracefully, just like them.”

Their guest, a polite young Hylian man, stood there looking somewhat bashful at Sebasto's praise. He was a striking image, in a full suit of scale armor and some sort of skintight, waterproofed fabric that perfectly mimicked Zora skin. Along with the scale armor were silver metal pauldrons, greaves, bracers and tassets, all beautifully marked in intricate patterns. Perhaps the most striking was the headpiece, which perfectly completed the illusion that the man was a Zora, complete with a finned head and crest armor. One of the fins was even pierced with little silver hoops. Kiana had never seen anything like it.

And Sebasto was right. That late afternoon, when they'd spotted his figure at sea, swimming gracefully among the waves and using a silver spear to skewer some pesky Octorocks, they had thought him a Zora who had strayed from the Domain. But what washed onshore instead was a young Hylian man with an energetic aura, earnest, sapphire-blue eyes and a surprisingly gentle voice.

He now spoke with that mellow, gentle tone as he replied,

"You have contact with the Zora, then. That's good to hear. I haven't talked to many Hylians yet who know much about them."

Sebasto smiled.

"Oh, yes, we have a fair bit of contact with them, actually. They often journey to this part of the sea on their fishing expeditions, you know. We trade with them sometimes, too. They provide a lot of freshwater fish for us, and in turn we give them our sea fish. They're especially fond of the porgy. Friendly, good people, the Zora-- although, now that I think about it, we haven't seen much of them lately."

Kiana poured her rice into the cooking bowl and interjected,

"It's been almost a month now. There's a rumor going round that they're having trouble with their dam, so maybe that's to blame."

The man named Link nodded.

"They were, but it was recently resolved. So maybe you'll be seeing more of them again from now on."

Kiana eyed the stranger, who seemed to have a knowing glint in his eyes. Her husband spoke eagerly,

"So you've been up that way? What do you know of the whole business, friend? We're always hungry for a story or for news here."

Their guest looked a little hesitant, but then he said,

"Well, it's sort of a long story, but . . . basically, their divine beast, Vah Ruta, had returned to the Domain and began to pour endless amounts of water into the East lake. The dam nearly burst, but they managed to get the beast back under control."

"My word," Sebasto marveled,

"We've heard stories of the beasts, of course, but we've never laid eyes on one ourselves. Do you know how they managed to tame Vah Ruta?"

Link fiddled absent-mindedly with the beaded sash on his armor, looking a little uncertain. He answered,

"Umm, well, they needed to hit it with shock arrows. The jolts interfered with its circuitry, apparently. I'm no expert, really, but that's the gist of things."

Sebasto laughed and looked delighted.

"Circuitry! What strange wizardry. Aren't the beasts massive? Imagine going up against one just with arrows!"

Link just shrugged a little and smiled faintly.

"There are some brave warriors among the Zora."

"Very true," Sebasto agreed. Kiana stopped pouring fish stock long enough to fix Link with a curious look.

"You never did say, though-- where did you learn all this? Were you actually in the Domain?"

Link nodded. Then, as an afterthought, he added quietly,

"That's where this armor comes from, actually."

Sebasto said,

"Ah! That makes sense. The craftsmanship matches theirs exactly. It must have cost quite the pretty penny, considering the quality."

Link laughed nervously, looking mildly uncomfortable. Kiana was interested in something other than armor, though. Forgetting her cooking for the moment, she sat down on one of the stools and asked eagerly,

"Could you tell us what the Domain is like? I've always wanted to know."

Link looked at her and then smiled, immediately more relaxed.  

"Sure. I might not do it justice, but I can try."

His expression melted into something warm and serene as he seemed to cast his memory back. Eventually, he answered in a soft, meandering tone.

"It's . . . beautiful there. It sits tucked between the Lanayru mountains, a valley filled with waterfalls and pines. The entire town looks like one giant sculpture carved from stone. Everything there shimmers during the day and glows during the night. When you stand in the middle of it all and close your eyes, you can feel everything moving . . . the flow of water is like blood, a sort of lifeforce, I mean. And the Domain is the heart of the valley."

Kiana remained quiet, enamored with Link's description. The young man sighed pleasantly.

"I like that the air is so fresh there, and cool. It's very comfortable. Very relaxing. And the waters, clear as crystal."

He glanced around a little and gestured.

"Similar to here, in some ways. There's a lot of that same feeling. I like it here too."

Sebasto beamed at that.

"Glad to hear we stack up well against it!"

Link nodded.

"You'd like it there, I think. Probably would feel a kinship. And the people, they're wonderful, of course."

Kiana couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. As much as she loved her home, the thrill of travel to such a place was undeniable. She asked,

"Did you talk with them much?"

Link affirmed,

"Yeah. They're a proud race, unparalleled craftsmen and skilled warriors. Full of very bright people. Stubborn, sometimes, but still kind."

Yes, that seemed to match her idea of the Zora. Link still seemed lost in thought on the subject. He murmured,

"And some of them, so passionate . . . almost like a raw force of nature. I've never met anyone so strong and yet so kind-hearted. He's . . . um,"

Link rubbed the back of his finned head, suddenly stopping and looking embarrassed.

"A friend of yours?" Kiana deduced, curious. Link agreed vaguely,

"Y-yeah. I made a lot of friends there."

Kiana nodded. She was pretty sure the young man was blushing a little, but she didn't push it. Instead she said,

"It's wonderful you made friends. I have to admit, the way you talk about it, I wish Sebasto and I could go visiting there."

In a serious tone, he answered,

"I could show you, if you'd like."

Kiana exchanged a look with her husband and they laughed.

"Some day," Sebasto said wistfully,

"Not today, though. Our fishermen haven't been up to that area in a very long while. Not since the Lizalfos became such a problem in the region."

"We couldn't leave the children right now anyway," Kiana said, smiling as she glanced further down the beach where her two sons were playing.

Link amended,

"Some day, then. I'll be happy to guide you when you're ready."

Kiana said sincerely,

"Thank you, Link. That's something I'll look forward to."

Sebasto agreed,

"We've always held the Zora in high regard. It would be wonderful to bring our people closer together."

Kiana stood, returning her attention to the meal she'd been neglecting during conversation.

"A Zora warrior once saved a nearby fishing village, in Hateno Bay, actually," she said, gathering up vegetables to chop.

"A long time ago. We all love a good fish tale, so some of us still tell the story to this day."

Link looked surprised a few moments before recognition crossed his face.

"Oh, right, I'd forgotten about that. I, um, I think I might know that story?"

Sebasto grinned,

"Have you? It's one of our sons' favorite tales. Let me know if it sounds familiar: There once was a Fell Octorock, whose tentacles stretched for miles along the coast; and when it inflated its mantle, it blocked out the very sun. Many fishermen went to confront the beast, but each one failed to return . . ."

Link smiled widely but didn't stop Sebasto, so he carried on.

"The Octorock seized each in his tentacles and inhaled them whole; its pull was as strong as a typhoon, and anyone within range was powerless to escape. Before long, entire fishing vessels were swallowed up into its maw, and the people had no idea what to do. It was unsafe to go fishing or to even go near the shores. The people of the village prayed to the Goddess Hylia for help."

Kiana chuckled at Sebasto's enthusiasm while she diced onions.

"But then one day, a Zora appeared in the village-- an enormous, powerful warrior with scarlet skin and glistening teeth. His name was Prince Sidon, and he said that word of the villagers' troubles had reached him all the way in the Domain. Without any hesitation, he charged the Man-Eating Octorock, snarling and stabbing with his silver spear!"

Link had perched on one of their seats and was watching with a great deal of amusement. Sebasto gestured dramatically as he recounted.

"The Octorock spat huge boulders at the Prince, but each time the Prince dodged out of the way deftly. Just when he was about to deal a fatal blow, the Octorock swallowed him up, like so many of the others. All the villagers thought they were doomed. But as they watched, suddenly, the Octorock seemed to convulse in pain. Then a silver glint appeared, poking out of the beast from within. It was the tip of the Prince's spear! He was still alive, and had stabbed the beast in the stomach over and over!"

Kiana used her knife to push the diced vegetables into the cooking pot, commenting wryly,

"I think he knows the story, dear."

Link laughed, but Sebasto just took it as reason to finish, with as much flare as he could.

"In agony, the Octorock spat him back out and tried to flee, but the Prince seized one of its tentacles and yanked it back, then tore into the monster and finished it off with some mighty twists! The villagers held a feast in the Prince's honor, but for many months afterward, pieces of the Fell Octorock washed onshore . . . as a reminder of how close the town had come to destruction."

Link clapped at Sebasto's theatrical conclusion, still grinning.

"A little different from the story I heard, but beautifully told."

Sebasto shrugged and said,

"Well, stories are bound to change a little as they're told."

Kiana hummed as she stirred the pot.

"Mmm, yes. But if there's any truth to it at all, then we owe a lot to that Zora Prince indeed."

Link glanced away, looking strangely conflicted, for some reason. Then he muttered something, but Kiana couldn't quite catch it.

"What was that?"

Link looked back to her, and repeated sheepishly,

"I, um, I've met him. Prince Sidon."

Sebasto stared, incredulous.

"What? Link . . . with respect, I remind you this was many years ago. My father claimed he was only a young boy when this happened."

Link smiled lightly and said,

"But the Zora are a very long-lived race. Have you not heard this? They can live well past a hundred."

Sebasto blinked.

"Oh," he said, "Of course. I have heard they can live to be quite old. So that means . . . Prince Sidon still lives? Or, is he King by now?"

Link shook his head.

"Still Prince. His father Dorephan is hale and hearty."

"Goodness," Kiana mused,

"How nice to be blessed with such vitality."

"Well this is wonderful," Sebasto cheered,

"You've actually met him! You have to tell us-- is he anything like the stories?"

Link paused, considering. Then he admitted,

"Yeah . . . he really is like that."

Kiana smiled. Her husband enthused,

"Our sons will be happy to hear that!"

Link added hesitantly,

"But, stories like that, they don't really capture who a person is. Only just some small piece of it. He's not just a Zora Prince who did something heroic. He's . . . a really amazing person, too."

As Kiana looked at Link's wistful expression, something clicked in her mind from earlier.

"Is he your Zora friend, then?"

Slowly, Link nodded. Kiana quietly reconsidered her assumptions about the young man. Perhaps not just a humble traveler, considering he had befriended Zora royalty. Then again, perhaps the Zora Prince was just a very welcoming sort of fellow. In either case, their guest seemed to be full of surprises.

"Well! It sounds like you've had some incredible adventures during your travels. I did promise I'd teach you my paella recipe, though, and instead we've been running our mouths at you. Would you like me to teach you now?"

Link looked at her in gratitude.

"I would love that."

Sebasto stood and told them,

"I'm going to go track down our children. I think they've run off to those ruins again Garini is so taken with."

Kiana called after him, amusement in her tone,

"Be sure to tell them if they return covered head to toe in seaweed again, they're going for a dip before they get to eat."

"Yes ma'am."

A gentle calm settled around them after Sebasto left, punctuated only by the seagull cries. Kiana glanced up to notice the sun was very near the horizon now and would soon set-- more time had passed than she'd realized.

"Tsk, we'd better get going on this. Come here, Link, let me run you through the steps I've already done, first."

Her guest came to stand beside her, and she gestured to one of her clay pots of ingredients.

"You start with the fish stock. Good stock gives an important foundation for the dish. We usually use Mighty porgy bones, they're very meaty. Bones, sliced onion, parsley, peppercorns, simmer around 30 minutes. Skim off any of the crud that rises to the top, and strain everything when you're finished. Cheesecloth works best."

"Um, what if I don't have cheesecloth?"

Kiana hummed in thought a moment and concluded,

"Well, use cotton fabrics, then. Anything clean, really."

Link perked up.

"Great. I can do fabrics. Maybe not the clean part, though."

Kiana frowned, but he urged,

"What's next?"

"Um . . . the vegetables are next up. You'll want around half an onion, a couple peppers, three cloves of garlic, four diced tomatoes. You'll want everything chopped very finely and sauté it in goat butter."

She gestured to a bag of Hylian rice beside them.

"Three cups rice. You'll want to rinse the rice first so that it will cook fluffier. Add your salt and your porgy and hearty snails-- make sure to clean those snails well, first, get all the sand out. I'm adding the snails now."

Link nodded and seemed to take mental note of it all, while Kiana worked to finish rinsing off and adding the blueshell snails. She commented,

"Sometimes we might throw some chicken sausage in, but only if I happen to have some on hand. But really, porgy and the snails are excellent all on their own. Oh, I forgot--"

She turned and glanced around the little table beside her that held her spice jars, then picked up a little one.

"Some folks like to add the threads of Swift Violets. It adds a very distinctive flavor, and puts quite a spring in your step. But it's expensive stuff, so we usually do without it-- I'm all out right now."

Link narrowed his eyes and rubbed his chin. After a moment, he asked,

"What do you think about adding Goron Spices to it?"

Kiana considered that.

"That would probably be very good; we always enjoy the added heat when we use extra peppers. I'm afraid Goron Spice is pretty hard to come by too, though."

The young man wordlessly went over to the leather saddlebag that was sitting on the ground, digging around for something. Quickly, he returned with a glass bottle containing a red powder, proudly holding it up and offering it to Kiana.

"Oh, wow. Thank you, Link. I'm surprised you were able to get a hold of this."

She removed the cork and gingerly sprinkled the paella with the spices. Cheerfully, Link urged,

"Add as much as you want!"

She laughed.

"All right. Tonight's meal will pack a punch."

She made sure to be more liberal with her seasoning.

"If you don't mind me asking, where did you manage to buy this from? I'd love to add this to my usual roster of spices, but the traders who visit here rarely have it."

Link rubbed his neck and gave her a little half-smile, then said,

"I, ah, got it in Goron City, actually."

Kiana's eyes widened.

"Truly?"

Link nodded. Kiana exhaled a short laugh.

"You really are full of surprises. I know that you're a traveler, but still-- Goron City is an incredible destination. I hear there are rivers of lava and air that singes your very skin. I didn't think anyone but Gorons could even survive there. How on earth did you manage?"

The young man shrugged a little, as if it wasn't really a big deal.

"It's not so bad. The Gorons make some very nice flameproof armor for Hylian tourists. There's also these elixirs you can make that are surprisingly effective. You can't go jumping into the lava or anything, but they keep your skin from burning off or your eyeballs from boiling inside your own head."

Kiana tried to envision that while she fed some wood into her cooking fire.

"It sounds, um . . . lively."

Link smiled. He admitted,

"It's nowhere near as comfortable and pleasant there as some places, it's true-- but, even Goron City has its own sort of beauty. And the land may be harsh, but the people are good."

Kiana studied Link as she stirred her cooking pot, wondering what drove this mysterious young man. After a bit of silence, she said,

"You travel all over, but tell me, Link-- where is home to you?"

Link didn't answer right away; there was a distant, wary sort of look in his eye. But then he turned and gave a quick smile.

"Well, home is wherever I happen to be at the moment."

Kiana chuckled.

"Very poetic, I like that."

In the silence after that, Kiana found her curiosity still pushing her, though.

"But . . . what of family? Don't you have any-- where do they come from?"

Link's gaze grew glassy again. After a bit, he murmured,

"It's . . . something I'd rather not talk about, really."

Kiana immediately felt bad.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Link-- that was too personal of a thing to ask, anyway. I didn't mean to bring up something sensitive."

Link gave her a reassuring smile.

"It's fine, don't worry about it."

There was a span of awkward silence. Kiana tried to think of what subject to switch to so she could make up for her blunder, but Link beat her to the punch.

"So I'm looking forward to seeing how this recipe goes down with everyone the next time I'm in the Domain."

Kiana covered her cooking pot with the lid so it could finish cooking, then turned to him.

"Do you think they'll like it? I'm not very familiar with Zora cuisine, other than their fondness for fish."

Link settled back down on one of the stools.

"They usually just eat raw fish, actually. It makes up the bulk of their diet. But they do practice a little bit of cooking, too, especially for fancier occasions-- with some surprisingly diverse stuff. I think they might really enjoy your paella."

Kiana felt a little swell of pride.

"I'm happy you have confidence. I hope my recipe can do our little village proud. I'd love to give something like that to our Zora neighbors."

"Yeah," Link said, looking content.

Kiana thought about how happy Link looked whenever he spoke of the Domain. She smiled, a playful glint in her eye.

"Will you be showing the recipe to the Prince, as well?"

"Ahm . . ." Link ducked his head a little.

"Yeah, probably. If you don't mind, of course."

She sat down on her own chair and said,

"It would be an honor. I'm sure you'll do a wonderful job preparing it for him."

"Yeah, hopefully," he agreed, fiddling with the beads on his sash again. Kiana's smile increased a little.

"So from what I've heard about this Prince, he's a magnificent warrior, a wonderful leader, and a kind, caring person . . . is he handsome, too?"

Link balked, glancing away and stammering,

"I, uh-- I don't-- that's sort of--well that's sort of subjective, I don't really, uh . . ."

"Well, subjectively speaking, then," Kiana grinned.

At this point, she was confidant the young man was definitely blushing. After a beat, he deflected,

"He has a fan club dedicated to him in the Domain, so I think the common consensus is yes."

Kiana's brows bounced upwards.

"Oh, my, an entire fan club. And is the handsome Zora prince not yet betrothed?'

Link seemed terribly eager to no longer be in the conversation, but he answered in a strained tone,

"I guess not, no."

"Hmmmm," Kiana chuckled, "Well, it sounds like whoever he ends up choosing will be awfully lucky . . . he sounds like quite a catch."

Link crossed his arms and looked at her, indignant.

"You brought this up just to make that joke, didn't you?"

Kiana laughed.

"Also because I'm just a nosy person. But I'll stop teasing now. Sebasto should be back soon with the kids, and then we can get you well-fed and prepared for your journey tomorrow."

She regarded her guest kindly.

"Wherever it is that journey takes you next."