Hey, sports fans. Here's a Zelda fic for your reading enjoyment! It's got action! It's got adventure! It's got intrigue! It's got LINK. And it's TWO WHOLE CHAPTERS LONG! (That's right—I've got the whole thing written, although I'm going to wait a few days before posting Part 2. Bwahahahaha.)

So this is set in the TP universe, with minor tweaks. It doesn't actually matter too much, though. I cover all the important character relationships in the exposition, so EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW TWILIGHT PRINCESS (OR EVEN ZELDA FOR THAT MATTER) YOU SHOULD READ ON.

Pandering for readership?

…Maybe.

The Prince's Mother

It was some time after dark. The children had gone to sleep hours ago, but the adults were staying up for a few beers and some light conversation, Link among them. Rusl had arrived from Ordon just after supper. A few weeks ago, the children of Ordon—including Rusl's own son, Colin—had been kidnapped by dark creatures appearing out of nowhere. When he received word that they were safe and under the protection of Renado, the shaman of Kakariko Village, he made the journey to visit his son and generally check up on things.

Link hadn't realized until the moment his old mentor walked through the door, dripping head to foot from the relentless rainstorm, just how lonely he had been these past few weeks. Telma and Renado were unceasingly kind, of course, and there were the children to remind him of home, but they didn't make much conversation. Besides, the title of "representative from Ordon" seemed to have passed, unspoken, to Rusl, and Link had to admit he was glad. He might have been miffed by the arbitrary transfer of authority if he hadn't been so relieved to have some of his recent responsibilities lifted from his shoulders.

The four of them talked for a while as the rain continued to pound on the tin roof of Renado's house. Rusl updated Link on the goings-on of the village, and Link shared what he had learned about Ilia, the mayor's daughter, who was staying at Telma's bar in Castle Town. Rusl frowned to hear about her memory loss, but he seemed confident that she would regain it. "All she needs is a little motivation," he said. "A jump start. It may take some time, but eventually she'll see something, hear something, that will trigger old emotions. Something from her village, from someone she cares about…"

He didn't need to look at Link for it to be understood who he was talking about. Link felt his ears grow warm, and he looked down at the table.

Three full pitchers of ale had been emptied when Rusl clapped Link on the back and announced he was turning in for the night. The rest of the table rose with him. "I've set up a bed for you in my room," said Renado. "I'll show you."

Link followed Rusl up the stairs, but he paused at Ralis's door. "I'm just gonna check on Ralis," he said.

Rusl frowned. Ralis, the prince of the Zoras who lived north of Lake Hylia, had been injured in an attack on the Zora Domain not long ago. His mother, the queen, had been killed, but before her soul passed on, she had asked Link to make sure her son was safe. This had all been related to Rusl upon his arrival. Now, he sighed. "The boy's sick," he said. "He's going to heal just as soon whether you're watching him or not."

"I just want to check on him."

"You need your rest."

"I'll be quick."

Rusl gave him a reproving look, but he said, "Don't be up all night," and apparently satisfied by Link's earnest nod, he followed Renado to his room.

Even in sleep, Ralis looked troubled. His blue skin was tinged green, his eyes were creased shut, and his mouth was ajar. His breathing was quick and rasping, and the gills below his cheekbones were quivering, wide open, chapped and red from lack of use. Link lowered himself into a chair at the head of the bed. Ralis was whimpering. Having a nightmare, it seemed.

"Hush," said Link. He put a hand on the boy's forehead. "Hush, Ralis, it's okay. You'll be okay."

His skin was cold and rubbery, like a piece of seaweed hung to dry.

"You're okay, Ralis. It's all going to be okay."

Ralis turned his head. His eyelids fluttered. "L-Link?"

Link took his hand away, suddenly guilty. He hadn't meant to wake him.

Ralis slowly opened his eyes. He moaned softly. "Link," he said. "I'm glad… you're here."

Link smiled. "Go back to sleep, Ralis."

Ralis swallowed. "Water," he said.

Link reached behind him for the pitcher and glass on the nightstand. Ralis pulled himself to a sitting position and took the offered glass, sipping gently.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better," said Ralis. He attempted a weak smile. "Actually," he said, "I have a favor to ask."

"Sure," said Link. "Whatever you need."

Ralis licked his lips. "Promise you won't say no?"

Link paused. "Well, let's hear it, first."

"Take me to see my mother."

Link raised his eyebrows. "Your mother?"

"I have to go to her. Tonight. You have to take me."

"Ralis, your mother's—"

"Dead, I know." Ralis's eyes no longer looked glazed. They were deep and fierce. A warrior's eyes. "But you saw her, yes? After her death… She came to you. She told you to find me."

Link felt a pang in his chest. He couldn't deny this. "Yes, Ralis," he said. "But she's gone, now. Really gone."

Ralis shook his head. "No," he said. "I have to see—" He interrupted himself with a bout of violent coughing. Link leaned forward, concerned, but Ralis waved him away. "I have to see for myself," he said hoarsely.

"You're in no condition to go out there," said Link. "It's been pouring all day."

Ralis gave a quivering smile. "I like the water," he said. "Please, Link. If there's any chance she's still… still here, I have to see her. Talk to her. One last time." His breathing quickened. His fist, clenched around the comforter, started to tremble. "I promise, I won't leave my bed again. Just take me to her grave. I just have to know."

Link stared at the boy, small and weak under his blanket, but with the determination of someone much stronger. He had a feeling Ralis would go whether Link were with him or not. Link sighed. "Just this once," he said firmly. "And we have to be quick. Telma'd kill me if she found out I let you outside."

Ralis brightened visibly. He nodded. "It won't take long," he said.

As they stepped out onto the front porch, Ralis under cover of a cloak and Link with his lantern in hand, it was clear that the rain had worsened. It was falling in sheets, and Link could barely see the ground before him. He turned to Ralis. "This isn't a good idea."

Ralis shivered as an icy wind rolled through the covered porch. He gritted his teeth. "I don't care. I have to see her."

"All right," said Link. He wrapped an arm around Ralis's shoulders, his best effort to provide a little extra warmth, and the two of them set off across the village.

Ralis moved slowly but steadily. He clung to Link with both arms, his head tucked down out of the wind, and he didn't speak for the duration of their walk. Link took care to avoid potholes in the road that were gathering puddles. When the wind picked up, he stopped and clutched Ralis's head to his chest, shielding him before they continued. He didn't know much about how the Zora body functioned, but he could tell from the boy's short breathing and constant trembling that high winds and rain were not going to be conducive to his healing. They had just reached the mouth of the cemetery when Ralis's legs gave out. He collapsed against Link's hip.

"Ralis!" Link stood the boy back up. His legs shook violently, but they managed to support him.

"Sorry," whispered Ralis. "I'm fine. Let's keep going."

They made it to the end of the cemetery, and Link helped Ralis crawl through the narrow passage that led to the Zora family tomb. On the other side, they were protected on all sides by towering rock walls, and the wind was much less fierce. It was still raining, though, and it was still freezing.

Link got to his feet and helped Ralis up. Ralis's eyes shone at the sight of the tomb. Situated on the other side of a broad pool, it was tall and white, and it seemed to be giving off a soft glow in the darkness. "Mother," he breathed.

He released his hold on Link and took two steps forward before falling again to the ground. Link bent to help him, but Ralis pushed his hand away. "Mother!" he cried. "I'm here! Mother!"

The only sound was the wind whistling across the rocks high above them and the sound of rain striking the surface of the pool at their feet.

"She's gone, Ralis," Link said softly.

But Ralis would have none of that. "Mother!" he cried again. "Mother!"

His words echoed in the hollow air. His eyes became frantic. Before Link could register what was happening, Ralis had hauled himself to the edge of the pool and thrown himself in.

"Ralis!"

The boy surfaced, his teeth chattering, and he struck out toward the marble tombstone on the other side of the pool. "M-Mother," he sputtered.

He wasn't covering any distance. His limbs were too weak to carry him. He struggled for a moment to stay afloat, but he soon gave in to the welcoming depths of the pool. Link blanched as he fell out of sight.

"Ralis!" His voice rebounded off the stone walls, cracked and desperate. He scanned the water frantically, but Ralis's form was hard to make out. It was only a slightly darker blob in a sea of black, and it was growing fainter as the boy sank.

Link had barely reached his decision before he was stripping off his tunic and boots. He flung them unceremoniously to the side. In only his leggings, and without a second thought, he dove headfirst into the water.

Ralis was a Zora. He had gills. Link knew he could breathe perfectly well—he'd practically lived in a lake his whole life. But Link had no idea how deep this pool went, and if the boy passed out underwater, there was no telling if they would be able to reach him. He was still sick, and Zora or no Zora, he wasn't going to get any better lying unconscious at the bottom of a pool.

Link couldn't see a thing in the black water. He forced himself downward, striking out with all his strength, feeling the bubbles rush past him, and he knew he was moving quickly. But there was no sign of Ralis. His lungs began to burn, and he had to return to the surface.

He tossed his head out of the water, spluttering. Treading water, he looked for the spot where the boy had disappeared. He squinted into the depths for something, a trace of movement, a solid shape. But there was nothing.

He felt the adrenaline begin to course through his veins. He took three steadying breaths, then he filled his lungs and dove down again.

Ralis had to be here somewhere. He had submerged right here, and there was no current to pull him. He should have dropped straight down, unless…

Unless he was swimming.

Link jerked his torso in the direction of the tomb. Ralis couldn't have gotten very far, but if he was still struggling to see his mother, perhaps he had drifted this way, just slightly. Link kicked his legs as hard as they would go. His chest was feeling tight, and the pressure was building around his ears. He was far too deep at this point, and there was only so much further he could go. There was no sign of a floor yet.

He clenched his abs and commanded himself to find a bit more strength, to hold on for just a second more. Ralis was right here, he had to be right here, there was nowhere else for him to go—

And then—

There, just off to the right, a glimmer of blue-green. Link jackknifed in the new direction, and the glimmer became a finger, which was attached to a hand, and there was the thin, floundering arm.

Link grabbed Ralis by the wrist, pulled him forward, secured his own arm around the boy's chest, and kicked off for the surface. Despite the pounding in his ears, Link heard Ralis's voice, weak and pitiful.

"Link," he murmured. "Let me go."

He was awake. He'd be okay. Link kicked out harder, pulled faster with his free hand. His muscles ached. His head felt light. And his lungs… His lungs couldn't hold out any longer. They were about to burst. Involuntarily, he took a sharp breath through his nose, which he spluttered back out immediately. He took another automatic breath. The water swirled into his throat, splashed down into his lungs. He was fighting for consciousness. And still, there was no sign of the surface. No glimmer of moon, no stars.

And then his hand shot free into the icy air. Link's head followed. He drew in deeply, and again, he got mostly water. This time, though, there was a hint of oxygen. A bit of clarity returned to his brain. He kicked toward land. His legs were made of rubber. He breathed again. Air and water. He pulled with his free hand, kicked, pulled, kicked. Breathed. Spluttered. Kicked.

His hand knocked against the ground. The ledge was higher than expected. He swung his arm upward, but his fingers barely brushed the grass so far above his head. He felt a wave of panic. He couldn't reach. He couldn't get out. The water sloshing in his lungs was suffocating him. He might go unconscious at any moment, but he had to save Ralis. He had to make it out of here, for Ralis. He swung his arm up. Swung again. And again.

He felt dizzy, but he swung again. He couldn't even touch the grass, now. He swung again. His hand flopped uselessly against the muddy bank. His eyes rolled. He took another mouthful of water. He clutched Ralis against his chest and swung his arm one last time.

He barely had time to register the hand clamp his wrist against the dirt before everything went black.