The small procession finally reached the outside of Zora's Domain. The carriage holding the Royal Hylian Family stopped outside of the main long bridge that led to the Domain itself. They got out and walked in with a warm welcome. The Zora were expecting them and greeted them kindly and guided them to King Dorephan. Alvar and Zarya had to follow them along with three of the six soldiers, while the other three guards stayed to guard the carriage.

Before Zarya left she turned around to Link one last time, "Stay out of trouble, and stay safe. You may explore the domain and swim, but make sure someone goes with you. No swimming alone. Don't go exploring outside the Domain by yourself, and good luck making some new friends! But don't talk to suspicious people either. If you want to go exploring and swimming with a new friend, let me know and meet your friend first. Okay?"

"Yes mother."

With that she walked off, leaving Link by himself. He stood planted and stared. The home of the Zora's was beautiful. He had never seen so much blue in one place. He stared with his mouth gaping open as he took it all in. The architecture was unlike anything he had ever seen. The way the clean, sparkling water radiated off the blue stairs and pillars was breathtaking. He looked at the many surrounding waterfalls and listened to the roaring waters. He smiled when he saw the distinct shape of fish that seemed to top the domain. He observed the Zora people themselves. He watched as some young Zora's swam in the domain, and admired as some even dared to swim up the waterfalls surrounding the domain. He saw some Zora children playing tag and laughing in the Domain square.

"Fish Hylians," he mumbled to himself grinning.

"Well what are you waiting for kid?" one of the guards called out to him. Link simply shrugged.

"What I would give to go swimming right about now," another guard sighed. He leaned against the carriage lazily. He was elbowed by another guard to stand up straight. Link decided that it couldn't be that bad. Swimming sounded like a great idea, he just needed to find someone to go with him, and that meant making friends. The idea made him feel nervous and shy. He walked into the Domain and wondered what to do first. Several Zora walked past him, and he spotted some Hylian travelers as well. He felt a light breeze as some Zora children ran past him playing some game. He could smell food being cooked, and it smelled like cooking fish.

"That would make sense with all the good fishing nearby, but wouldn't the fish people be offended? Kinda like the way you're not allowed to eat eggs in front of a Rito in case you offend them?" Link pondered. 

He kept walking around and explored a bit. He saw inns, shops that had food and clothing, and even small forms of weaponry. He walked up to the highest level and saw two tall Zora guards standing outside a large room. He reasoned it was the Zora throne room.

"How boring it must be to attend those meetings when you could be swimming outside," Link thought to himself. And he wasn't the only one to be thinking that either. He hadn't noticed the red-colored Zora maiden leaning against the pillar fumbling with her trident.

Mipha hated meetings and managed to sneak out of this one. She would much rather swim or train outside. But when she got out of attending, she forgot that she had made no plans with any of her friends who were preoccupied with activities arranged assuming she was at the royal meeting like she technically should have been. The Zora Princess simply decided she would go swimming by herself.

"Ouch! Stupid slippery floors!"

Mipha was snapped out of her daydreaming to look behind her at the source of the sudden exclamation. The source was a six-year-old Hylian boy who had slipped and was sprawled out on the floor. She giggled at his clumsiness and grabbed her trident then ran to help him. Link was laughing at himself on the floor and appreciating the way the cool water felt on his back.

"Are you alright?" she asked when she was standing next to him. Link's focus quickly shifted and he looked up at her. The way his big blue eyes stared at her curiously melted her heart immediately. She extended her hand to him and he accepted it.

"Thank you miss," Link said gratefully. He straightened his shirt then looked up at the Zora who was much taller than he was.

"Your welcome. Why are you covered in so many bruises and cuts?" Mipha asked as she noticed Link was indeed bruising in many places.

"Oh, those are from sparring with the soldiers on the way here. I love to swordfight!"

"You sparred with soldiers? Wow, I'm impressed."

Link ruffled his hair bashfully at her compliment, "Oh it's nothing much, but I am bruised....." Link trailed off as he looked at the cuts that had escaped his attention until then.

"Would you like me to heal you?" she tentatively. Link's eyes widened.

"You could heal me? How would you do that? With bandages like my mom?"

"No not like that. Here, let me show you." Mipha gently grabbed his arm and put her hand over the biggest bruise on it. She focused and went quiet and Link watched in awe as the wound disappeared from his arm.

"Woah, how did you do that?"

"Healing magic," Mipha smiled.

"You can do magic? That's so cool! I heard that the Zora princess could do magic too!" Link said excitedly. Mipha giggled at his clueless statement. She continued to focus and finish healing Link to the best of her ability. When she finished she stood up, then staggered backward, but managed to not fall over.

"Are you okay?" Link asked.

"Oh, I'm fine. Using my healing magic for extended periods of time can make me feel a bit dizzy and tired though," Mipha replied as she sat down to rest for a second. Link plopped down next to her and admired her trident. Mipha looked down at him and realized she never asked for his name.

"So who are you and what brings you to Zora's Domain?"

"My name is Link! My parents had to escort the royal family to a meeting with King Dorephan of the Zoras. My dad is the royal guard of King Rhoam of Hyrule and my mother is an attendant to Queen Zara. On the way here the Yiga Clan attacked us, but my dad fought them off with his soldiers! This isn't my first trip here though, it's my third but I can't remember the others since I was a baby then." Link took a breath after he finished talking and smiled.

"What's your name?"

"Mipha."

Link gasped and his eyes grew large. "Wait, Mipha? As in Princess of the Zoras Mipha?"

She laughed at his response. "You got it, Link, that's me."

Link rose and bowed. His parents told him all about etiquette around royalty, and he was taught using proper titles and bowing were essential.

"No no no. I will take no formalness of the sort. There is no need to bow, I want to be your friend," Mipha exclaimed quickly. She hated un-needed formalities. Link saw this and straightened up immediately.

"So I can just call you Mipha and not have to bow or anything?"

"Yes please."

Mipha stood up and shook off her hazy feeling. "So since this is your first official trip to Zora's Domain, would you like a quick tour?"

"You would give me a tour?"

"Yes, it would be my pleasure."

Link smiled a wide, goofy-looking smile, but then it faded quickly.

 "What's wrong Link?" Mipha asked when she saw his smile fade.

"It's just that I would have to have you meet my parents first. Would you mind? I promised my mom that if I went exploring or swimming with anyone, that I would make sure she met them first."

Mipha smiled, "Of course, I understand. Your parents are most likely in the back of the throne room standing guard. Let's go!" She then started to walk to the throne room with Link trailing her. When they reached the entrance, the two Zora guards recognized her immediately and let down their guard. They walked in and saw the Zora and Hylian King talking. The queen and princess were most likely taking a walk since one of the Hylian guards was missing from the three that originally came. He was escorting the two members of royalty. Link pointed out to Mipha his parents that were in the back, quietly talking to some dark green colored Zora, who looked like he was around middle-aged for a Zora. Mipha smiled.

"Those are your parents? The Hylian couple talking to Muzu?" She asked.

"Who's Muzu?"

"Oh, of course. How silly of me to ask. Muzu is the dark green Zora. He is my personal instructor, teacher, and close friend," She explained. Link nodded in recognition and they walked over to them. When Alvar and Zarya saw their son walking toward them with Mipha, the princess of the Zora's, their mouths dropped open. Zarya was the first to recover and elbowed Alvar to straighten up and stop gawking. Both Link and Mipha giggled at their shocked reaction.

"Mom, Dad, look! I made a new friend!" Link said excitedly. Mipha smiled and extended her hand. Alvar and Zarya bowed.

"No, please. As I explained to your son earlier, I do not want such formalities. Please rise, I honestly try to avoid them when I can."

Zarya and Alvar rose immediately. "I did not know you had such humble preferences, Your Majesty. I'm sorry," Zarya said, still in shock.

Mipha shook her head, "Please just call me Mipha."

Alvar lost his embarrassment quickly and regained his dorky sense of humor. "So then, 'Just Mipha', it is my honor to meet you." Alvar shook her hand with a friendly smile. Zarya felt embarrassed of him.

"She said to call her by her real name, not get super comfortable around her, pull a bad dad joke, and embarrass our family's name," Zarya hissed at him. Mipha laughed loudly then covered her mouth and looked around her, almost forgetting that she was in the throne room with a meeting commencing.

"So anyway, is Mipha allowed to give me a tour and take me swimming and exploring?" Link asked.

"If Mipha wouldn't mind," Zarya answered, looking at the Zora.

"I would love to, it will be no trouble at all. We will get going then, since we don't want to disturb the meeting and be distracting," Mipha quickly responded.

"Bye mom! Bye dad!" Link waved and then ran off out of the throne room in his excitement. His parents thanked the Zora princess one last time, then she ran out to go catch up with Link.

"When I said make a friend, I never thought he would bring back the Zora princess," Zarya whispered to Alvar. He smiled and nodded his head. He didn't see it coming either.

Mipha led Link around the Domain so he could get a good feel for the place. She walked him around the town square and told him about some of the Zora that they passed by. She told him of Kapson, the Zora priest who married engaged couples. She pointed out Bazz, the Zora who helped train her to fight so well. She told Link about Dento, the Zora blacksmith.

"Oh and there's Kodah! She's one of my best friends! Here come on, I'll introduce you to her!" Mipha exclaimed suddenly as she pointed to a young red Zora maiden who looked around her age. Link had no choice if he wanted to meet Kodah or not because Mipha simply grabbed his hand and dragged him toward her friend, who waved when she saw her.

"Hey Mipha! What are you doing? I thought you had a meeting to attend?" Kodah asked.

Mipha laughed, "I managed to escape it. But I made a new Hylian friend! Kodah, meet Link. Link meet Kodah." Mipha sidestepped so Kodah could see Link, who was hiding behind Mipha. He smiled shyly.

"Well hello Link! It's nice to meet you!"

"Nice to meet you too."

Kodah smiled, "Would you mind if I called you Linny instead?"

Link's smile widened, "Sure! I don't mind. But may I ask why?"

Mipha rolled her eyes playfully at her friend, "I'll tell you why Link, because she's weird and has a weird obsession with making nicknames for people she meets."

"I am not weird! It just fits him! You're just jealous you didn't think of it first!" Kodah retorted.

"Jealous? Jealous of who? I'm trying to see who I'm supposed to be jealous of...." Mipha started to mock looking around her for the person she was supposedly jealous of. The three laughed.

"So anyway, how long are you going to stay here at Zora's Domain Linny?" Kodah inquired.

"I will be here with my parents for three days."

"Well that's not that long now is it? You should make the most out of your time here then. I would join you two, but I have to go. I promised my dad I would help him run some errands. So you two have fun, I'll be free tomorrow though! I will talk to you guys later! Bye Mipha! Bye Linny!" Kodah smiled and waved, then ran off. Link and Mipha waved back, then continued to walk around.

"There are two more places I want to show you."

"What places are they?"

"There is the music room, and my personal favorite room, the kitchen. We'll go to the music room first, then grab a snack. Healing really makes me hungry."

"Being healed makes me really hungry," Link said with a goofy smile. Mipha laughed and led the way to the music room. When they got there, Link gasped in astonishment. He looked at the different instruments set up around the small room. The Zora were renowned for their great craftsmanship, and their instruments were no exception to this. Each was a certain shade of blue and handmade. There were violins, guitars, flutes, and even drums. But the one that caught Link's attention was the piano. He walked up to it and ran his hand over the top of the piano lid.

"Do you play the piano?"

"A little bit. My mom gives me lessons. She's a really good piano teacher!"

"Well do you think you could play me a song then? I would love to hear you play something!"

Link's face turned a bit red and he ruffled his messy hair, "Oh, I mean I could. I haven't been playing for that long. I'm not that good at performing, especially in front of others."

"Well not with that attitude! I won't judge, I'm sure you're great. It's only in front of me, I believe that you can do it!" Mipha smiled encouragingly. Link smiled back and sat down on the bench and carefully opened up the lid. He took a deep breath and started to play a short song that he loved and knew well. 'The Song of the Mage Saria', or more commonly known as 'Saria's Song'. It sounded something like this.

https://youtu.be/6S5FCsZjjp0

After he finished, he closed the lid and smiled. "How was that?"

"That was a great performance Link! For one of your age, you never cease to impress!"

Link's smile widened, "Thanks!"

"Of course! Now come on, let's go sneak a snack from the kitchen!"

The two left the music room, and started off to the kitchen, in hope that they could sneak some food. When they got there, they saw no one was guarding the kitchen. They walked in  cautiously and looked around them.

"Are you sure we're allowed to do this?" Link asked.

"As long as we don't get caught," Mipha whispered back. Link was too short to reach the top of the tables and counters and was jumping as high as he could to get a good look at what was on top of them. Mipha laughed softly while watching his futile attempts. She grabbed two cookies from one of the tables and handed one to Link.

"Thanks!"

"No problem! Now come on, let's get out of here before someone sees us."

"Too late."

Mipha and Link spun around, to see a dark green Zora leaning against the wall next to the door.

"Oh good, it's only you Muzu," Mipha sighed in relief.

"Getting out of meetings to sneak cookies, eh? What type of example are you setting for your little brother?" Muzu teased.

"Oh please, Sidon is just learning to walk. He's too small for me to set any examples."

"And when he is big enough?"

"He'll make a great apprentice in the art of getting out of meetings and stealing cookies." Mipha laughed.

"Who's Sidon?" Link suddenly asked. Muzu looked him up and down, head to toe, and gave him a look Link couldn't quite decipher.

"Sidon is my baby brother. I would show you him, but he's sleeping right now. But you will have to meet him. He can't talk yet and is just learning to walk, but he's adorable."

Link nodded and smiled. "It's nice to meet you Mr. Muzu. My name is Link!"

"Nice to meet you too," Muzu responded to him coldly. Mipha gave him a look.

"Well now that we have our snack, let's go Link. What do you say to swimming?"

"I love swimming! Can we go now?"

"Yes, we'll go to my favorite swimming spot. Bye Muzu! I'll see you later!" Mipha waved to him and he smiled and waved back. Link waved goodbye to him as well but Muzu only offered him a cold stare in return. Link shrugged it off and followed Mipha out of the Domain. She led him to one of the waterfalls surrounding the domain. It was called the Veiled Falls, and it was one of her favorite places to be in all of Hyrule.