Summary: Thinking about Laray's loss, Link wonders about the path his own life might have taken had he been unable to reunite with Mipha. Everyone enjoys a late breakfast at the house on Mikau Lake and recalls their favorite songs at The Cross Currents concert. After an afternoon with Epona, Link gets together with the Big Bad Bazz Brigade for a round of drinks and some reminiscing. Mipha and Link begin working to introduce Laray to some acquaintances, hoping she will make new friends.

For a change Link was the first one awake. The house was quiet, so he knew the children weren't up yet. And Mipha was still sleeping peacefully right next to him.

Mipha wasn't breathing, and he smiled, remembering the first time he noticed that. He should have realized but didn't back then that Zoras don't need to breathe when they sleep in water: their gills take over. But as an air-breathing creature, his instinct when someone stopped breathing was to quickly try to revive them, which is what he did the first time he noticed it with Mipha. It was right after they returned from their honeymoon, a time when they were alternating each night sleeping in a traditional bed and a pool of water until he became comfortable sleeping in water. He had awoken in the water with Mipha and noticed she wasn't breathing. He cried out her name and shook her awake. She thought it was funny at first, but his heart was in his throat. She did sympathize with him afterward, realizing the scare she had caused him, and so soon after he had just lived through losing her. But he was used to it by now.

He closed his eyes and relaxed, remembering everyone had a late night after the concert and would probably sleep late. And everyone had a great time, even Laray. He would have to spend time with Laray and introduce her to some people she could hopefully make friends with. He sympathized with her, someone who lost a loved one so young in life. How could they help Laray move on? It was actually only by the grace of Hylia and Purah's genius that he was not in the same situation.

And that made him think about what path his life might have taken if he was in that same situation. His life was so intimately bound to Mipha's for so long now it was hard to think back and imagine anything different. But what would his life be like if Purah had been unable to restore the Temple of Time?

Would he have gone through life alone? That was entirely possible, maybe even likely. He was used to being by himself back then. He had wandered alone throughout Hyrule and grew comfortable doing it. If so, where would he have lived? Would he have lived out his days in his little Hateno Village house surrounded by memories? He was comfortable living there. It was quiet and secluded, and he found it conducive to doing his writing. And Dr. Purah sometimes still worked at the lab nearby. He could visit her now and then.

Or would he perhaps have lived by Zora's Domain, to be near his old friends and Mipha's father and brother, two people who shared a love of Mipha and didn't mind reminiscing about her whenever he wanted to? At least in Zora's Domain, he would have some company, and it was where he would have lived had things gone as planned. It always made sense for him to live there if he married Mipha. She had family there and was next in line to be their ruler. He had no reason to be anywhere else with her.

Or would he have gone back to Hyrule Castle and continued to serve the Hyrule Royal Family? There he could do his part in helping to rebuild Hyrule. He had actually done that for a while but had gotten bored and restless. Zelda didn't need his protection anymore, or his company either, other than to reminisce. She was so busy with her duties as a young Queen back then.

Or perhaps would he have never settled down anywhere, reverting back to being a wanderer?

Given what he remembered of his state of mind back then, being alone seemed the most likely scenario.

But was it possible he would not have gone through life alone? Would he have finally moved on from his feelings for Mipha, remembering her as his first love, but eventually finding love with someone else? If so, who would that other person be? Of course, it could be someone he never met before. But what about the people he already knew back then?

He knew his relationship with Zelda had grown to the point she had feelings for him. He never went down that path with her. But what if he had? Would that relationship have worked out?

After the Calamity, Zelda was the more level-headed and realistic of the two of them. She accepted everything that happened to her and to Hyrule, and her instinct was to immediately look to the future, to move on and work to rebuild Hyrule for the good of her people, as a leader should. He was the more sentimental one, thinking of the past, but his excuse was his memory. Zelda remembered everything that happened, he only recalled bits and pieces, hardly anything at all. So, it was natural for him to want to fill in the missing pieces of his past. People who never lost their memory couldn't understand how tormenting it was to go through life that way. It wasn't just being sentimental, it was being naturally curious, too. And as he explored his past, time spent together with Mipha kept popping up in his head. And the more that happened, the more he needed to know about that special person in his life.

Until shortly before the Calamity no one knew about his feelings for Mipha. He was so quiet and reserved that even Mipha wasn't sure about them. And Zelda never knew about Mipha's feelings for him, either. Did anyone? Daruk suspected it from the way Mipha looked at him when they took that group picture after the Champions Inauguration ceremony. And Urbosa seemed to realize Mipha had feelings for him, but Zelda was her favorite, and she kept reminding him his duty was to protect Zelda at all costs as if to make sure he had his priorities in order. Revali was too full of himself to notice anything about Link other than his inferiority to him in combat, at least in Revali's mind.

Anyway, would Zelda feel the same about him after she learned how close Mipha and he were, perhaps on the verge of getting married? Or, since Mipha was gone, would she even care? But what about him? Could he have fallen in love with Zelda? Possibly. They already had a special bond, and had grown close. He had seen her short-tempered side when she was frustrated, but also her vulnerable side as she struggled to gain her power, and even more so when she broke down in despair, blaming herself for the failure of all their plans. He admired her intelligence and her scientific knowledge. She wasn't playing at being a scholar, she really was a scholar. And she was a kind and caring person, as well as beautiful. So, if he got over his feelings for Mipha or never recovered them, it was very possible he and Zelda might have ended up in love and together.

But what if not? Were there other people he might have ended up with?

Well, there was Impa's granddaughter, Paya. She was a kind, sweet person who apparently had a crush on him, and was quite cute. He certainly liked her and enjoyed talking with her. But she was so incredibly shy and nervous around him, though she could be direct enough if she found him out late at night or too close to her diary. Maybe a simple, peaceful Sheikah life would have been a good choice for him after all he had been through. Impa would probably accept him. Well, he guessed it was possible.

Who else was there? Riju seemed to care about him to some extent and welcomed his return to Gerudo Town anytime after his mission with Ganon was over. But she was too young, a child really. Maybe after she grew a bit older, something might work out. But how could he even start a relationship with her? Would he have to keep sneaking into Gerudo Town disguised as a woman? Or would the Gerudo Chief have to meet him at the bazaar? It would be a weird situation. Not that he would mind living there. He loved the beauty of the desert second only to that of the Domain. It was his second favorite place in Hyrule. And he had great respect for Riju. She was put into the challenging position of becoming Gerudo Chief at so young an age and was doing her best to live up to her responsibilities. And she was quite beautiful, too, with something of an exotic air about her. It might work for him when she was older, but he had no idea if it would work for her. Riju was a long shot, but she was undoubtedly the most exciting of the alternatives to Zelda.

What about someone from Zora's Domain? His other girlfriend, Kodah, was happily married by then. The only other person he could think of from there was his childhood friend, Gaddison. He liked her, but she had never shown any interest in him. On the other hand, she didn't seem to have any attachments to anyone else, either. But could he really marry someone from Zora's Domain with Mipha's father and brother living there? Would they view that as a betrayal of Mipha's memory? Or would they understand, and welcome him as a part of their community, as he should have been had things gone the way they wanted? And how would he feel every time he looked up at Mipha's statue in the plaza? Could he really move on with anyone else somewhere he was reminded of Mipha every single day?

Those were all the women he could think of that he had enough contact with to say they knew him. Of all of them, he thought only Zelda had deep feelings for him based on the time they spent together and all they did together. So, Zelda was the most likely person he would have ended up with if he ended up with anyone. Anyway, all these thoughts were undoubtedly very presumptuous, as if all of these women would be thrilled by his attention.

He opened his eyes to find Mipha looking at him. She reached out and gently touched his cheek.

"Good morning, sweetheart," said Mipha. "You certainly looked deep in thought. Care to share any of it?"

"Um, I was just wondering what my life would be like if, well, if Dr. Purah had been unable to restore the Temple of Time," said Link.

"And did you work all that out?" said Mipha. "I would love to know it."

"I feel awkward talking about it with you," said Link. "I was just thinking of Laray and about losing someone you love. Then I realized how close I came to forever being in that same situation. And thinking about what could be done to help Laray, I began to wonder how I would have coped if there was no hope of us ever being together. Do you really want me to talk about that? I'm actually sorry now I even thought about it."

"Not if it makes you uncomfortable," said Mipha. "I just wondered what was on your mind. If I had to guess, I would think you and Zelda would be living happily ever after in Hyrule Castle by now. I actually thought there was a chance that might happen anyway, even with me still around. So, without me, I think it's a near certainty. Am I right?"

"Either that or living alone is where I ended up, but it took me longer to get there," said Link. "I guess it is pretty obvious, isn't it? But I really can't imagine being happier than I am right now with you and our family."

"As for me, I am thrilled for example that I was able to share a tender moment with my father last night," said Mipha. "It wasn't very long ago I never dreamed I would ever see him again. We have each other, Link, and a beautiful family. Our lives have been truly blessed. I don't ever want to speculate on how they could have been different."

"You're right," said Link. "It was stupid of me, and I'm embarrassed about it. But you asked, and I never want any secrets from you. I hope I haven't hurt you."

"Should we get up and start thinking about breakfast for everyone?" said Mipha. "There are eight of us here now, and I don't want people to have to catch their own fish. Can you get some from the market while I get things ready here?"

"Of course," said Link. "Kiss?"

"Why not?" said Mipha. "Or are you speculating whom you would have been kissing now?"

"I did hurt you, didn't I? I'm sorry. I should be spending idle time giving thanks for having you and our family. But you know you are my one and my only true love, Mipha, and have been my whole life. Forgive me."

"Alright," said Mipha. "It did hurt a little, but I understand. I'll be fine."

They kissed and Link headed to the market. In Link's rush to the store, he didn't pay attention to one of the guards he passed. But then he heard a voice from behind him that he recognized.

"Hello Captain, I think you're out of uniform," said the guard. Then he began laughing.

Link turned around and then realized it was Bazz.

"Bazz! Nice to see you," said Link. "So, Gaddison shared the picture of me wearing the Royal Guard uniform? I knew she would."

"And we all had a good laugh," said Bazz. "But the Brigade is getting together tonight. Gaddison said to let you know about future meetings, that you might be able to join us. I hope so. You can find us in one of the structures overlooking the plaza."

"I should be able to," said Link. "If I buy drinks will you guys forget about my outfit?"

"It might help," laughed Bazz. "We'll put it to a vote over those drinks."

While Link was gone, Laray woke up and made her way to the kitchen.

"Lady Mipha, I mean Mipha, good morning," said Laray. "May I help you in some way?"

"Good morning," said Mipha. "Maybe you could help me set up for eight people. It's going to be a little crowded, but I think we can all squeeze in. Link is picking up fish for everyone. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, very well," said Laray. "And I had a great time last night, the most fun I have had in ages. Thank you so much for inviting me."

"Morning everyone," said Lapha as she entered the kitchen. "Everybody else still sleeping?"

"Yes, good morning," said Mipha. "But I think they'll be up soon. Dad is getting some fresh fish from the market. When they smell that, or his cooking, they'll be up soon enough."

Link returned with the fish and started cooking two of them for Linky and himself. Linky was up next, then Midon, and last Mila and Tila. When Tila entered the kitchen, Laray bowed her head.

"Mistress Tila, good morning," said Laray.

"Good morning, Laray," said Tila. "I hope you enjoyed yourself last night."

"I did, Mistress Tila," said Laray. "And I thank you and Her Majesty for letting me stay here."

"It was more my sister than me," said Tila. "But we both want only the best for you. And, please, you can dispense with my title while we're here."

"As you wish, Mistress Tila," said Laray. "I mean Tila."

"The food is ready," said Link. "Should we all sit down now?"

"Now, did anyone not have a fantastic time last night?" said Mila. "It was the most fun! They really know how to please an audience."

"I think everyone had fun," said Mipha. "My favorite part was an older song called 'Waves of Love.' Your grandfather remembered 'Lakebed Lullaby.'

"I think we all have our favorites," said Midon. "I liked 'Storm Surge' and 'Reef Revelry.' They have a powerful beat that draws you into the rhythm of the song.

"And I liked 'Click On' said Lapha. "It felt like I was part of the song, and the vibrations were so, so exciting."

"You know, the audience at the Coliseum is going to miss out on all the water songs," said Mila. "Only Zoras get the full experience."

"I think they substitute some other audience participation songs," said Tila. "They do a variation of 'Click On' where you clap your hands instead. But I agree, it's not the same. That's another reason I was so excited to see the concert here. That and the company, of course."

"Speaking of that, Tila, I admired how nice you looked last night," said Mipha. "Your jewelry was quite stunning. Was there any special reason you wore such an exquisite set?"

"No, Lady Mipha," said Tila. "I just wanted to look my best."

"I see," said Mipha. "I thought perhaps there was someone special in your life here. I mean, if you have a boyfriend here you are more than welcome to invite him to join us during any of your visits here."

"Thank you, Lady Mipha," said Tila. "That is very gracious of you, and I will certainly keep that in mind. At the moment I don't really have a boyfriend."

"Don't advertise that," said Midon. "The line to meet you will reach Ruto Lake."

"I'm not looking for one right now either, Midon," said Tila. "But thank you for the compliment."

"Well, this is another day off," said Link. "All of you have plans?"

"Meeting Kendal for lunch," said Mila. "Tila has to return to North Hyrule."

"Swimming with Larena this afternoon," said Midon.

"Linky and I are playing with friends on the lower level," said Lapha.

"Well, be safe and enjoy yourselves," said Mipha. "The older folks here will find something to do without bothering any of you. But you have classes tomorrow, so be home at the usual time. No late night antics."

Mipha and Laray planned to meet with some of Mipha's friends today. They thought it would be an excellent first step for Laray to meet some new people. So, Link was on his own. He thought he would go check on Epona and her filly. The weather was good today, and a ride would be fun.

Kendal was waiting for Mila in the plaza, and Mila and Tila went over to join him.

"I'm off to home," said Tila. "Nice seeing you again, Kendal. Say goodbye to everyone for me, Mila. Hope to visit again soon."

Mila and Tila hugged, then Tila waved to her guard, and they headed off for the journey back to North Hyrule.

"So, are you hungry, Princess?" said Kendal. "I was hoping we could catch lunch just beyond the first waterfall."

"Not hungry yet, we just had a late breakfast. But you should eat something," said Mila. "Race you there!"

And they both dove into the water below the Domain.

Later that day after Midon finished eating lunch with some school buddies, he waited for Larena by Ruto Lake. Then he saw her approaching holding hands with her little sister, Karena. She came up to Midon, and they kissed.

"Sorry, the only way I could get out was if I agreed to watch my little sister. My parents are busy today. Hope you don't mind."

"Of course not!" said Midon. "We can all play together. I have a little sister about the same age."

"Where are we going?" said Karena.

"Well, where do you like to swim?" said Midon.

"I like East Reservoir Lake," said Karena. "The big elephant there is fun to look at."

"Let's go there, then," said Midon. "Did you know my Mom can drive that big elephant?"

It was early afternoon by the time Link made it to Foothill Stable. He heard Epona whinny as soon as he arrived. She must have smelled his presence. He went over to her and found her filly next to her. He brought carrots for both of them, then petted Epona.

"Can you spare a short time away from your little girl to take a ride with me?" said Link. Epona nuzzled his hand.

"I'll take that as a yes," said Link. "I don't know how many more rides we have left, girl. Let's enjoy this one."