Past the crumbling stone of lost souls and between the rocky walls that build the mountain, a hidden spring flourishes with sparkling waters. Although there is peace and tranquility with the twinkling of the ripples that reflect the stars, this little pocket hides grief. At the edge of the water, sitting before a scaled grave, a young prince escapes from all the darkness spreading outside these cavern walls. One grave stands from a loss long ago yet his sorrow is twice fold for the ones he did not get to say farewell to.
The world of Twilight Princess gave us an elegant and enhanced design of the water based race, Zora’s, and a gorgeously designed royal family to go with it. Prince Ralis, son of the late Queen Rutela and King Zora, bears bluish purplish scales and jewels that speak of his royal heritage. Most notably, upon the golden necklaces and chokers, a familiar symbol sits close to his chest. A triangular pendant similar in design to the Zora Sapphire. Much like his ancestor who bore the sapphire in the past, Ralis holds a unique head shape that stands out amongst the other Zoras. Instead of the long tail like structure many Zora have, Ralis’s is short and curved upwards. Perhaps Ralis still has some growing to do. The Prince after all is still a child, but in the world of darkness and war, that does not mean he is free from the weight of responsibility that comes with being a royal.
As Zant’s forces rained down upon Zora’s domain, Queen Rutela sent her son, Prince Ralis, to seek help from Princess Zelda. The road to Hyrule Castle was a dangerous one, even more so for a Zora who required water to rejuvenate their bodies. Met with trouble along the way, Ralis was left abandoned on the side of the road, passed out and growing sicker with every moment. Even so, Queen Rutela saved her son from a frozen existence or worse, joining his father on the other side.
As Link, we first meet Ralis long after these events. Link discovers the young Zora sick and weak in Telma’s Bar within Hyrule Castle Town. Ilia, Link’s lost friend, is the one that found Ralis on the road and brought him to safety and with nothing else to consume her mind, dedicates her time on trying to figure out how to help heal Prince Ralis. The doctor in Hyrule Castle Town, Dr Borville is unable to help, blaming the different biology of Zora’s kind. Fortunately, the well connected Telma knows of someone in Kakariko Village who can help Ralis and Link has arrived just in time to volunteer as a bodyguard for this escort mission.
In Kakariko Village, Ralis is brought back to good health but with it the reality of all that he has lost. Zora’s Domain suffered great damage and many losses but worst of all, his own mother has passed on. Ralis expresses their feelings of failures, that they weren’t able to do the one thing his mother told him to do and now she is gone. Consumed by grief and heartache, the young prince wallows beside his father’s grave and avoids speaking to anyone in the village. His confidence has been shattered and feels he may never find the strength to rule his people.
Little does the prince know that he still has some skills that will help save Hyrule. In Zora’s Domain, Ralis is famed for his fishing skills. In particular is ability to catch the notorious Reekfish. Even his Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy speaks of Ralis being the best Reekfish Angler of all Zoras. According to a couple of Zoras swimming by, Ralis is thought to be the only Zora who can catch Reekfish. Little do they know Ralis just has access to some valuable bait. Speaking to Ralis reveals that Reekfish can only be lured with a valuable coral which he happens to have as a set of earrings. For everything Link has done up until that point, Ralis doesn’t hesitate to give Link one of his earrings so Link can catch a Reekfish.
Seeing Link over and over again, sacrificing everything to save Hyrule, becomes a source of inspiration for Prince Ralis. In a dream, Ralis sees his mother who tells him to trust Link for Link will save Zora’s Domain. Listening to his mother and watching the young hero, Ralis finds the confidence to return to Zora’s Domain and resume his responsibilities. Though still shadowed with sadness for a while, upon realizing that the spirit of his mother watches over him, he feels less alone and rules with light in his eyes once more.
