The land of Hyrule was a place unlike any other. It sported a variety of unbelievable landscapes that offered something exciting around every corner. If you managed to get to the right vantage point, you could turn one direction and see a vast expanse of scorching hot desert, and then turn another direction and see a large, active volcano. Or maybe a dense field of wetland, or a forest surrounded by a foggy haze. This diversity even extended to the life forms that dwelled these environments, from the amphibious Zora, to the humanoid birds that were the Rito, to the rock-skinned Gorons, and many more, ensuring that there would always be interesting company of some kind. The size and scope of Hyrule would prove more than daunting for any explorer. But it also made it a haven for those with the right skills, attitudes, and desires for adventure and discover.

Such was the case for the blond-haired, blue-clad figure standing atop one of the higher peaks of the area he was currently in. His tied-up hair was gently blown in the crisp breeze, as did the looser flaps of his clothing. He wore a stern, neutral expression on his face, and a large, powerful sword on his back. Said sword was the clearest sign of just how much importance this figure held to the lives and settings surrounding him. But right now, he was trying to block all of that out of his mind, focusing instead only on the view before him.

Link, Knight to Princess Zelda, chosen Hero of Hyrule, and wielder of the sword that seals the darkness, relished moments like this when he could get them. He could just appreciate the beauty of his surroundings, thinking of the possibilities that each area offered, the amazing secrets that the wild held, just from his view atop a peak next to the Mogg Latan Shrine. It was a welcome respite from the trials and stresses at hand, while also a sad reminder of a life just out of reach.

From a young age, Link had trained relentlessly to be the skilled knight that he now was. Even as a toddler, he had shown potential to be the best swordsman Hyrule had ever seen. But as he grew older, he started to notice how many people were watching him, as if anticipating him to achieve some sort of miracle. It turned out that they were correct when he ended up pulling that legendary sword out of its rocky sheathe. And just like that, the pressure he'd felt just to be a great knight multiplied exponentially. For it meant that he was the Chosen One, the hero meant to stop the dreaded evil that was reincarnated time and time again. And endless cycle that he wound up being a part of now. Needless to say, it wasn't very common that Link felt at ease, at peace.

More times than he'd like to admit, Link would wish he had failed to claim that sword. He would wish that he could just be a knight, no more. Then he could at least have at least part of his life free, able to traverse the land more often, able to perhaps purchase some land and build a life of his own. But above all, he wouldn't feel the crippling degree of weight on his shoulders. It was this burden that prompted him to put up walls around himself, becoming closed off from almost all outward emotion. Additionally, while Link hadn't forsaken speech altogether, he used it far less often than when he was a smaller boy. And when he did speak, it would often be in a low, quiet, methodical manner, almost as if he were afraid to go beyond that and risk exposing the fact that he was a human being, rather than the great, perfect legend that he was supposed to fit into. He felt it his duty to bear the burden alone, silently.

Such was the curse of destiny, of being a chosen one. His path was made for him, rather than Link being able to make it himself.

"Lost in thought, Link?"

The boy turned his head at the voice, which came from Princess Zelda. The young woman was smiling amusedly at him. If she was feeling the same burden Link was, she was surely better at hiding it. Link just gave a tiny smile and made a head gesture that seemed to say "Guess so."

The princess walked up to where he stood, looking out in the same direction he had been. "I can't say I blame you. Being up here, realizing just how small we are compared to this great land. It's breathtaking, to say the least." She turned to him, and curiously her expression of awe seemed to only increase if anything at the sight of him. Not that the oblivious Link could notice.

"Hopefully on our travels, we'll be able to see it all eventually," the princess expressed.

That brought a new shimmer to Link's blue eyes, as well as an uncommon breaking of silence on his behalf.

"Perhaps." One word, but coming from the soft-spoken champion, it spoke volumes about his hopes and ambitions. He looked back at the princess he'd come to call a friend, and the two just drank in the moment as the brisk wind blew through the duo's blonde hairs. Zelda's face, however, was a bit more heated through it, especially seeing her knight so calm. Moments like this could very well make everything all worth it … that is, assuming they succeeded in their tasks.

Link had been tasked to essentially be Zelda's bodyguard, a job that, as with everything else, he took very seriously. And at first that was difficult to do, given her cold, harsh demeanor towards him, seeming to stem from a bitterness that Link could just vaguely identify. But somewhere down the line, she seemed to have warmed up to him, being far kinder and friendlier in his presence. This not only made the job more bearable, but it also allowed him someone he could turn to as a friend, and who seemed to understand the burden of his position more than almost anyone else.

She had been one of two people that would be able to lower his defenses like that. The other person, as it turned out, was his next destination once he and Zelda returned to Hyrule …In the beautiful realm of Zora's domain, a burst of bright red zipped through the water with tremendous speed and skill. It eventually breached the surface, revealing the form of a lovely young woman sporting red and beige skin, a fish-shaped head, and a light blue sash across her torso. She contrasted brilliantly with the bright shades of blue that surrounded the advanced, watery structures that her people called home. With glimmering architecture that was fit for royalty, an array of ascending pathways leading to many amenities, and all of it surrounded by lush waterfalls and towering cliffs, the figure smiled at the beauty that never ceased to entrance her.

This figure was Mipha, princess of the Zora and one of the four Champions chosen to assist the chosen hero and Hylian princess in their destined battle to save the world from being plunged into darkness. Being so crucial to such a monumental effort didn't sit easily with her, especially when it was piled on top of the many other obligations she had to her subjects. Every day felt like her head was reeling, and the meek Zora found herself second-guessing more frequently if she could possibly be up to the task. Thankfully, though, she had plenty of support and encouragement, whether it be from her family or the Zora people in general. Her father in particular never failed to make her feel loved no matter how she fared, and that allowed her to still go through many of her days with renewed determination and hope that everything would turn out okay.

But there was one other being who gave her a unique kind of determination: the chosen hero she was meant to assist, Link.

Link had spent many days of his youth in Zora's domain, practically considered family by many of its denizens. She still remembered the first time he showed up amidst a group of outsiders. He'd been an adorable - albeit extremely reckless - child that Mipha quickly grew a soft spot towards. But his training eventually caused his visits to their home to become increasingly infrequent, and the two sadly went years without seeing each other. As it would turn out, however, their fates would bring them back into each other's lives once more. While Mipha was certainly surprised to hear that Link had pulled that sacred, fabled sword, she was more looking forward to reuniting with him.

But when they did meet, she was quick to realize that things would not be the same, nor could they ever be. Link was no longer a bouncy little boy whose height barely reached her waist. He was now practically an adult, at least full head taller than her, a result of Hylians aging faster than Zoras. And while she'd expected this to come with more maturity, she wasn't prepared for just how much he had changed. Link wouldn't speak nearly as much as before, relying more heavily on non-verbal gestures. He wore a neutral expression on his face almost like a mask, and carried himself far more seriously. He just seemed so distant, and it hurt her heart to think that his years had caused him to grow cold, even to her.

But as she got to spend more time with her friend due to their intersecting duties, she saw that this wasn't all that was left of him. Slowly but surely, the traces of who he used to be reemerged from the stoic walls he had built, obviously no longer so childish but still recognizable. That boyish smile came back, he spoke more often, she discovered that he could have quite the dry wit, and it seemed like being with her was making him happier than he'd been in years. To her relief, it was clear that he had still carried a special place for her in his heart. It was just now matched with a newfound maturity and sense of duty. While their interactions were briefer than before, Mipha was thrilled to have him back in her life.

However, she soon found herself with a few new reasons why. Link had become a unique source of comfort for her when the stresses of her many duties felt like they were overwhelming her. The two had spent hours talking through what they've been through and how much they felt the weight of their lives. Link admitted that he'd become more silent out of fear that he'd tarnish his image as the great hero, and Mipha acknowledged that as loving and supportive as her family were, they could never truly comprehend how concerned she felt about all this. But additionally, she was quick to notice that Link's growth and physical maturity had turned him extremely attractive. His flowing hair, his dashing face, and the outline of his chiseled form that could be vaguely made out under his Champion's clothing made that undeniably clear. On top of all this were the same endearing traits that Mipha had been fond of in Link as a younger boy. They just had now manifested within a skilled, handsome young man.

No matter how much she denied it, it was clear: she'd grown feelings for Link. And the more they interacted, the more those feelings were blooming into love.

But insecurity held her back from making a confession to him. For one, who knows if he was already married to his job, unwilling to make way for any future with her or move into the Zora domain permanently? For another, she was a Zora and he was a Hylian. She didn't have any insecurities about her appearance in general, but she didn't know if Link would be interested in a wife of a different species. Would he prefer the touch of skin over scales, of flowing hair over her bare head? Would he be turned away by the fact that she would be unable to give him children of his own? Especially when he had a gorgeous Hylian woman practically attached to the hip at nearly all times, one who could provide him with everything she couldn't? How could she ever compete with any of that? It didn't matter how badly she wanted him; she saw very few ways that he would want her the same way. And for those reasons, she would always hold back on telling him how she felt, no matter how many chances she had or how many times she tried to summon the courage.

I had my chance to tell him, yet I didn't … Perhaps it's for the best, Mipha thought bitterly. Perhaps these fantasies should remain just that.

She simply had to steel herself. Link was supposed to be at the domain by the end of the day, and she had to push these foolish desires down. For both of their sakes.The following morning, slowly making his way to Zora's domain, the young man in question was having similar thoughts.

After having dropped Zelda off at Hyrule Castle, Link was off on his own, as the task he'd been called for didn't require Zelda's assistance … at least not enough to convince the king to let her go with him. He likely found it more useful for Zelda to focus on unlocking her divine powers.

And on his journey, the boy's thoughts constantly dwelled to the Zora princess he was on his way towards.

When he was a child, Link was very attached to Mipha. With her having warmed up to him so quickly, was similarly quick to grow a deep affection for the "nice fish lady", as he'd so eloquently put it. And the adventurous kid he was, young Link had wanted to take her on all sorts of wild antics and quests. Link smirked at the memory of how silly he had been, practically driving Mipha up the wall at times. It got even worse when she also had to look after her equally-rambunctious little brother. Nevertheless, she always found a way to make him feel safe, especially in the many instances where she would use her mysterious healing abilities that went unexplained even to this day. All in all, the time they'd spent together made for a strong big-sister-little-brother relationship that he would always hold dear to him.

Now that he was older, however, that relationship was different. Initially when they were reunited, Link tried his best to retain the front he'd built for himself. He couldn't show weakness, couldn't show his burden to anyone else. But in the presence of the Zora princess he'd been so fond of, the princess who was still just as sweet, generous, and calming as he remembered her to be, he could only hold out for so long. Even more than when he was with Zelda, the front was fading away, and they'd begin interacting in the way old friends should. With him being older and more reserved, their time together was of course never going to be the same as it was before. But it was a good different in Link's mind, and felt no less special to him. It was like a piece of his carefree, childlike innocence came back, mixed in with something new …

Mipha retained everything he remembered her for: the graceful way she carried herself, her lovely, eloquent voice, her charming humility. And of course, how she still insisted on healing him every time he so much as got a bruise, promising to always do so at any cost. To have someone so steadfast in their protection of him, especially in contrast to her more adorably shy demeanor, was enough to make his heart swell. As a near-adult, Link was able to see and think about all of these characteristics of hers on another level, and fully appreciate just how wonderful of a person she was. Plus, anyone who denied that Mipha was beautiful was either a liar or delusional. Even as a kid, Link knew this. But she wasn't just pretty in the same way that a toddler would find a rainbow pretty anymore. It now went much deeper, with him able to admire many more details of her beauty. Her face was pure perfection to him. Her legs were toned and powerful, her form elegant, her skin a striking shade of red. When added to every other reason he admired her so, along with their history, and Link made a startling realization of just how much he cared for the Zora.

But every time he admitted it to himself, Link would grimace and sigh sadly. He had to remind himself why it was foolish to even consider taking things further with Mipha. It would only get in the way of what needed to be done for Hyrule. He needed to keep himself vigilant, unwavering. Everyone was counting on him, and he couldn't let them down because his personal feelings got in the way. Besides, why would she want a Hylian like him anyway? With their different lifespan, he'd grow old and die before she even hit the second half of her life. What kind of life would that be for her?

The saddening thoughts made Link lose his appetite, a notion that no one would have thought possible with his gluttonous eating habits.

Stop doing this to yourself. You have a duty, a destiny to fulfill, and she has hers. The two of us … it just wouldn't work.

… It couldn't work.The Legend of Zelda franchise, the image used, and all characters and settings portrayed, all belong to Nintendo.

Originally uploaded on October 1, 2019.The start of my longest, most ambitious fic so far! This is a story containing Link/Mipha CiD as well as solo distress for each of them. Obviously none of their time in ropes has started yet, but in my continued quest to make these stories feel like "legit" fanfics, I'm hoping that storytelling and emotions will be the proper bridge into what you've all come to expect from me! I admittedly am not too thrilled with this first part looking back - it's a bit too surface-level of an introduction - but the rest of it turned out much better in my opinion. :)

It was really cool to be able to delve into the heads of these two, and kind of sneak in the commentary on BOTW's portrayal of fate that I'll surely delve more into as the fic goes on. Link was particularly interesting to interpret due to his minimal amount of visible characterization in the game. I made attempts to balance between how he was portrayed in the game and a more "realistic" approach to the character. And while Mipha was easier to characterize, her own doubts and worries also deserved more attention that I was hopefully able to do justice throughout.

Thank you for checking it out, and hopefully those who continue on this journey continue to enjoy it!