The difference between Iliandra and Iliana will make sense, promise. It actually gets explained in the prologue, or at least very heavily hinted at. But here’s the story anyway.
Iliandra- loses the genetic hero lottery in appearance, but does get everything else from the ancestors. (Shout out to the person who pointed out the wolf thing before in an ask because that totally slipped my mind, you’re great and I love you) Unfortunately, Iliandra’s parents become super greedy and power hungry when they discover she can play the Ocarina and make it work, and beats her until she agrees to use the Ocarina for whatever they need at the time to earn more money.
She runs away from home, Retah- bless her soul- sacrifices herself to revive her… as fairies tend to do in the games.
At that point in time, Ilianawas dying in her universe. Same soul, just split.
Hylia (who returns to goddess hood after Skyward Sword’s Zelda dies) snatches Iliana’s soul and basically mashes her half with Iliandra’s. Iliandra is so badly traumatized from her childhood that most of her memories are just buried,so “Iliana” is technically the one in control.
However, due to this, Iliana is unaware that Iliandra has a pair of little brothers that were left in Lurelin, and does not find out about them until waylater when she’s traveling with Link and the two kiddos just body tackling her, begging her to steal them away since the parents were now taking their rage out on them. She takes them to Zora’s Domain, asks Sidon for help, and he’s more than willing to shelter them.
The last frame was mostly just because I really wanted to draw angry Sidon??? But uhhhh if there had to be a scene taking place it’s probably after the abusive parents visit Zora’s Domain (being merchants) and discover Iliana there.
They probably lashed out, demanding where the twins are and that she either give them the Ocarina or come with them, and while Iliana can normally handle herself (she travels with Link, and she’s an incredible archer. She killed a Lynel out of sheer determination since it made her angry) Iliandra’s trauma keeps her frozen in place and unable to retaliate.
So Sidon (and the royal guard, yay, Bazz) to the rescue! And he’s more than little angry.
Also, plot twist, unbeknownst to Iliana the necklace was actually also a proposal gift from Sidon via Zora customs and she has no idea until the encounter with Iliandra’s parents, and he snaps at them for daring to attack not only one of the Domain’s heroes, but also his betrothedand therefore have insulted the Zora royal family.
Fun Fact: similar to how Time’s blue tunic lets his breathe underwater, the necklace Sidon had made for Iliana was designed to do the same as our girl can not swim to save her life and she has a bad habit of nearly drowning. She did drown, actually, which is how Iliana died, and is on the verge of drowning again when she meets Maiju and then, later, Link.
Which makes Sidon, a shark prince, as her love interest even funnier and more ironic. The necklace also gives her some protection against the cold.
