Summary: Link struggles to recall the thefts from his former timeline and comes up with a plan to do so.

It was a late evening in Zora's Domain as Mipha spoke with her longtime friend Laina.

"Congratulations again!" said Mipha. "It's been a terrific party, Laina, and Link and I both look forward to attending your wedding."

"Of course, Miphy," laughed Laina. "I see your husband is over by the snack table."

"Yes, that's his favorite spot," laughed Mipha. "But this is the last dance coming up, so I'm going to tow him back onto the dance floor. Thanks again for having us."

"You've been such a good friend for so long. It means a lot to me you came," said Laina. "And you had better be there for my wedding!"

They hugged, then Mipha went over to Link.

"Last dance, sweetheart," said Mipha.

"Oh, already?" said Link after he swallowed a handful of cooked snails.

They held each other close and danced, and when the music stopped, they shared a kiss. Then they said their goodbyes and began the walk home.

It was a clear, calm evening as Mipha and Link held hands and finally reached the bridge that led to the path up to their house by Mikau Lake. The party had lasted well into the night, and everyone at home was no doubt asleep. The chirping of crickets and the intermittent hoot of an owl were the only sounds besides the increasingly loud splash of the waterfall as they neared the small lake. Link had been quiet most of the way back.

"I especially enjoyed Laina's party, didn't you, sweetheart? She had music more suitable for our generation, and there was wave after wave of songs we could dance to. I hope she has the same type of music at her wedding...," said Mipha, but then she noticed Link wasn't paying any attention and instead was staring at the ground as they walked, lost in thought. She stopped walking and tugged at his hand.

"Hello?"

"Huh? Oh, I'm really sorry, sweetheart," said Link, snapping out of his reverie and turning to her as he gently squeezed her hand.

"Are you okay, dear? You've been acting very distracted most of the day. What's on your mind and bothering you?"

"I shouldn't let it bother me, but it's those thefts I told you about earlier that I learned of on our ambassador call. They've been preying on my mind ever since. It's frustrating! I vaguely remember something like that happening before, and if I can only recall more details, it might help solve these crimes. I'm pretty sure I learned about the thefts after I awoke from the Shrine of Resurrection, you know, the other timeline."

"Is it possible you wrote about them in your journal?"

"It's possible, and I'll certainly check, but I doubt it," said Link, shaking his head. "I used my journal to help organize recovered memories about events that took place before I was placed in the Shrine. But things I learned on my own after I awoke from the Shrine I recorded in a log on the Sheikah Slate I had at the time. Whatever I learned about those thefts would likely be on that Sheikah Slate. But that Sheikah Slate no longer exists, of course. So, I have to rely on my memory, and it's been frustrating. I keep thinking I'm getting close to remembering something, but then it slips away."

Mipha sighed and put her arm around him.

"I know how persistent you are when you're tackling a problem and how you never like to give up. But you know it worries me when you think back to that timeline so much. You risk having nightmares again, sweetheart, and it hurts me to see you suffer from them."

"Yes, you're right, and I remember you telling me that," Link admitted.

"Do you also remember how distressing it was after we married when you would sometimes wake up screaming in the middle of the night? You finally discussed the situation with Dr. Purah, and she told you that the only cure she knew of was to avoid thinking about the other timeline and focus on what really happened now. She hoped that might eventually clear up the confusion in your mind."

"I know, sweetheart, and I've been generally following her advice, which has worked well so far," said Link. "I even tried to avoid talking about it when Mila used to ask me what happened. But now and then I have to think back, like remembering which Shrines were which during the last invasion or about the Eventide Island Shrine."

"That's true, but I can't help but worry whenever you do that," said Mipha. "I felt so helpless when you awoke shaking from a terrible nightmare."

"Just your being there for me helped," said Link as he put his arm around her. "The worst nightmares were about losing you."

They embraced and kissed, then Mipha spoke again as they drew closer to their house.

"I understand you may have knowledge about these thefts sunk deep in your memory, and I know it's unrealistic for you to stop thinking about them altogether. Just don't obsess over it, okay?"

"Okay, and you're right — I don't want to put you through all that again. Let me clear my mind and give it a rest for now. I'll stop remembering and try to enjoy the moment."

"I can help you with that too, by the way," said Mipha, as they both laughed and resumed their walk home with their arms around each other.

But all the thinking that day about his prior timeline did affect Link that night. After he fell asleep, he had a vivid dream about his first visit to Zora's Domain after awakening from the Shrine of Resurrection. As always, he wasn't sure later if the dream was utterly faithful to actual events, but it seemed very real as he dreamt it. And at least it didn't wake him up.

"Good riddance," Link muttered to himself as he finished off the last Lizalfos he could find on his way to Zora's Domain. Those electric arrow-wielding Lizalfos were a nuisance and had required some care. Taking on an entire camp of them at once was reckless, so he took them out one by one with arrows whenever he could or battled one or two at a time if he had to. He gladly collected any unspent arrows from the battlefield afterward and then went on his way. Whoever traveled this path would be safer now, he thought. Well, at least until the next Blood Moon.

His dream suddenly skipped ahead, and he found himself standing in the throne room at Zora's Domain. Prince Sidon was waiting for him there, but he was most impressed by the looming figure of the huge Zora King seated before him. He noticed that besides the King and the Prince, a Royal adviser named Muzu was present as well.

He was shocked when the King recognized him and said they had met many times in the past. The King, in turn, was equally shocked that Link remembered nothing of him or his daughter. This cursed memory loss was so frustrating! He barely knew who he was!

But once everyone else knew who he was, Prince Sidon and King Dorephan eagerly sought his aid. Muzu, however, kept glaring at him with hate in his eyes and blamed him and his fellow Hylians for all that had gone wrong. Excellent way to start out, he thought.

When they finally came to discuss appeasing Divine Beast Vah Ruta, it was his turn to surprise them again. He explained that Princess Zelda was still alive and had already tasked him with appeasing all four Divine Beasts. So, of course, he was ready to help them deal with Vah Ruta.

After several more words, the King did something unexpected. He turned and reached behind where he sat, then turned back, holding an unopened gift. It was a beautifully wrapped package tied with blue ribbon and sealed with Nayru's symbol. Link watched as the King paused for a moment and stared past him, looking down toward a statue visible in the central plaza below. Then, the King looked back at Link, smiled, extended his hands, and offered him the gift.

"Now then, allow me to offer you this gift as a show of faith," said King Dorephan. "So long as you wear this, you can ascend waterfalls just like a Zora. Please, take good care of it."

He heard Muzu throw another fit as he took the package from the King, and it was clear he was expected to open it at once. He broke the seal and carefully unwrapped it. Folded neatly inside the package was an exquisite set of silver and blue armor. It showed great care in the making, and he doubted he had ever seen anything like it before. Or had he? With his lost memory, who could say?

But there are senses other than sight. And as Link held the armor out before him to examine it, he detected a slight fragrance that had lingered on the garment somehow, preserved inside the sealed package. It was a sweet scent, pleasant, and he liked it at once. It stirred something deep within him, some feeling he did not yet understand, a childhood memory perhaps. But how could that be?

He remained lost in thought as Muzu stormed off, and the Prince followed Muzu. But before leaving the throne room, Link put on the armor and was surprised how perfectly it fit. Had the King known all along that it would? And he loved the faint fragrance that the armor gave off. What a pity it would wash off on his first swim.

Then Link awoke, and he saw Mipha was already awake, floating beside him and smiling at him. And he knew exactly where the scent he dreamt about came from. He laughed once and then smiled back at her.

"Good morning, we both slept late," said Mipha, as she brushed some hair back from his face. "And you look as happy as a clam at high tide as they say in the North."

"Good morning, sweetheart, and you're using North Hyrule Zora expressions now?"

"Why not? They're part of the family now," laughed Mipha.

"By the way, you smell really nice!"

"Do I? I don't recall you ever telling me that."

"I just remembered it," said Link.

"Um, I think you'll have to elaborate," laughed Mipha, which Link did, and ended his story with a kiss.

"So I guess not all dreams from back then are bad as long as I wake up in time," said Link. "But I'm famished! We didn't have a proper dinner last night. They only served party snacks, and most of them were raw. I'll catch our breakfast fish this morning."

"That's sweet of you, dear," said Mipha. "And yes, I'm in no hurry to eat."

"Very funny," said Link as he tickled her, and she laughed, then he climbed out of their slumber pool. "I can catch fish much faster now. Be right back, dear."

"Meet you in the kitchen," laughed Mipha.

The rest of the morning was uneventful and included a council meeting with King Dorephan. Mila was still busy working on converting her notes on the Hyrule invasion into a coherent story. Midon and Lapha remained at the Royal Ancient Tech Lab, working with Purah and Robbie. Linky and family were on a picnic together and sightseeing. It was after lunch that Mipha and Link again discussed the thefts while strolling to Ralis Pond.

"I narrowed it down a bit as to where and when I must have learned about the thefts," said Link. "I think it most likely occurred in Central Hyrule. So, it was probably something I came across early in my travels when I journeyed from the Great Plateau to Kakariko and then Hateno Village."

"That helps," said Mipha. "Any ideas as to next steps?"

"Speaking of steps, I thought that perhaps if I retraced my steps as best I remember them, perhaps something will come back to me, jog my memory," said Link. "Visiting locations used to help me recover memories. Maybe it will again if I concentrate."

"You mean you want to recreate your travels from when you first awoke from the Shrine of Resurrection?"

"Yes," said Link. "I want to imagine things just as they were back then."

"Do you have to pretend you forgot all about me?"

"Very funny, you're quite the comedian today," laughed Link. "I mean, I know things are a lot different in Hyrule now than they were in those days. But it's the only thing I can think of doing. I have a pretty good idea of the route I took. As I said, my first destinations were Kakariko and Hateno Village, so I can start my journey from the Shrine of Resurrection and make my way toward those locations. What do you think of my plan?"

"Other than your pronouns, it sounds like a splendid plan," said Mipha.

"Huh?"

Link paused for a moment.

"Oh, I mean we, of course, not me," said Link. "Actually, it should be fun, even romantic, for the two of us to spend time together traveling around Hyrule a bit."

"I'm so glad you thought of including me," teased Mipha. "When do we start?"

"If Father doesn't need us, how about tomorrow? The sooner I work on this, the sooner I can get it off my mind. I should probably tell Zelda my plan, though."

"Yes, she can play along and send you mysterious messages along the way to urge you on," said Mipha.

"I can tell this is going to be one fun trip with you," laughed Link, shaking his head.

Then they both laughed, kissed, and resumed their walk.

Meanwhile, Purah, Robbie, Lapha, and Midon had been reviewing pictures from the Sheikah Slate recovered from Eventide Island and been having animated discussions about them. The issue was where to expend effort digging for lost Sheikah relics.

"We have to be practical, Dr. Purah," said Robbie. "Some of the most interesting pieces of technology are pictured in places they can't possibly be located now. So, in my opinion, it would be a waste of time to excavate there. Remember, this project will compete for funds, and we can't afford too many failures."

"I understand that," said Purah. "But digging up something uninteresting isn't the best use of time and resources either."

After some further conversation, Robbie spoke up again.

"Let's concentrate on these two areas," said Robbie. "The Faron Region and the area near the Forgotten Temple."

"Yes, those both look promising," said Purah, rubbing her hands together. "I'm getting excited! Let's write up a proposal to put before Queen Zelda for approval and to allocate funding for the excavation work."

"Notice the plural again, Princess Lapha, whenever there is administrative work to be done? It's let 'us,' not let 'me.'"

"Very funny, but you know I'm terrible at preparing formal requests," said Purah. "I liked the old days when you could simply go in and talk."

"I'm joking," laughed Robbie. "We will be happy to work on it."

That evening in Zora's Domain, Mipha and Link explained their plans to King Dorephan.

"It's no problem, and I can spare you both at the moment," said King Dorephan. "You plan to start on the Great Plateau and follow your old path, Link?"

"Yes, Father," said Link. "I'm hoping somewhere along the way it will trigger a flashback or something that reminds me of what happened."

"And how do you plan to travel?"

"Motorized Cycle," said Link.

"We can take turns driving," said Mipha. "And we won't go too fast."

"Well, be safe, but enjoy your time together," said King Dorephan. "Spending time with family is wonderful, but it's also good for you to get away and spend some time alone with each other. And if you learn anything about the person responsible for these thefts, do nothing reckless. Let the authorities handle the matter."

"We'll be careful, Father, and we will look out for each other," said Mipha.

"Then I wish you well and good luck," said King Dorephan.

They said goodnight and returned to their house for the night. They found Mila waiting to speak with them.

"You're going tomorrow?" Mila asked.

"Yes, sweetheart," said Mipha.

"I can go with you, keep you company," said Mila. "It would be an opportunity for me to record some history."

"The history of what didn't happen anymore?" said Link kindly. "I know you mean well and why you want to go with us, sweetheart, but Mom and I will be fine. You should just concentrate on your work."

"Am I that obvious?" laughed Mila. "At least Tab me every chance you can, or I promise I will come after you! And please don't take chances. From what I understand, you may not even know if you run into this thief as nobody knows what they look like."

"True," said Link. "But we will do nothing reckless, like snooping around and asking questions, drawing attention to ourselves. We're just touring Hyrule together and hoping some memories will return to me. If they don't, then I will give up. I know it's kind of a long shot."

"He means it's kind of a pearl find," said Mipha. "Really, Mila, don't worry about us, and just concentrate on finishing your history project. We know how to take care of ourselves and each other."

"All right," said Mila. "I'll say goodnight then. I love you!"

"Love you, too," said Link and Mipha.

Then they each embraced and kissed goodnight, and Mila returned to her room.

"You knew she would worry, right?" said Mipha.

"Yes, I knew," said Link. "I'll Tab her at least twice a day to put her at ease."

With that, they went to their room and to sleep. Tomorrow their journey would begin.