The King knew little about the attacks. The only information he could provide Link and Zelda with was that a band of about twenty intruders busted into Zoras' Domain and began destroying things and attacking the surprised Zoras. Luckily, the Zora warriors managed to drive out the enemies with no casualties on either side. Not surprisingly, Link volunteered to travel to Zoras' Domain to assess the situation. Also not surprisingly, Zelda decided to accompany him.



Link and Zelda wasted no time getting started on their journey. As soon as they'd packed their saddlebags and changed out of their royal finery(not wanting to call attention ot themselves), they saddled their horses and departed.
Leaving Hyrule Castle Town was not as easy as they hoped. Outside one of the shops, a group of preadolescent boys were setting off the bombs they'd purchased. A cucco ran in front of Epona and exploded, sending feathers flying. The horse was understandably spooked, and reared up, nearly sending Link flying off her back.
"What was that?" Zelda asked, bringing her horse to a halt.
"Haha, looks like you noticed our cucco bomb," one boy said. "Just tie a bomb to a cucco and watch it burst. It's quite fun."
"It also scares horses," Link remarked dryly.
"And it's cruel," Zelda added, longing to slap the little sadists but remembering to keep her composure. "Exploding chickens are not funny," she sniffed, heading in the other direction.
"Maybe it's not such a good idea to let children purchase bombs after all," Link muttered to himself



Aside from the exploding cucco, nothing hindered Link and Zelda's progress to Zora's Domain. Not until they tried to enter anyway. Link pulled out his ocarina and played the song of the Royal Family. Nothing happened. The waterfall remained blocking the entrance. Link tried again. Maybe he'd hit a wrong note. Still nothing. Suddenly, they heard laughter coming from somewhere nearby. They turned to see two Zora warriors smirking at them.
"Think you can fool us with the same trick twice?" one grinned.
"What?" Zelda cried, surprised.
"Idiot, don't act innocent. Some of your evil allies already tricked us into letting them in by playing that song. That password does not work anymore with us," the other added. "How do we know you're really associated with the Royal Family?"
Zelda was about to protest, but instead asked, "Your enemies...somehow learned that song?"
"There are traitors among us," replied a third Zora, arriving on the scene.
"Aren't you Oturr?" Link suddenly inquired of the newcomer. "I recognize you. You were at my wedding!"
"I thought you looked familiar, Prince Link, Princess Zelda. Those two didn't recongize you?
"Oturr, sir, we only heard the song and gave them the response like you ordered."
"Yeah," the other guard agreed. "We didn't get a good look at them."
"What happened here?" Link asked, puzzled by the whole situation.
Oturr replied solemnly, "You must know by now we were attacked. Someone played the song of the Royal Family, and we opened our portal as usual. A gang of about twenty stampeded in and began destroying things and attacking anyone in sight."
"Did you see the attackers?" Zelda questioned further.
"Yes. They were a mixed group, mostly Hylian and Gerudo, but a few Gorons as well. Two or three were our own kind. The traitors must have taught these fiends the song. Luckily, we chased them out without any deaths on our side. They kept yelling about 'vengeance on the Sages' and 'Gerudo traitors', so we believe them to be Ganondorf's minions. After they'd gone, we evacuated all the Zoras except a few warriors. Unfortunately, we are forbidden to speak the location aloud."
Link nodded in understanding. "Not too long ago, Nabooru mentioned exiled Gerudos. I wouldn't be surprised it was them behind this. And it's common knowledge that Ganondorf's supporters believe the Gerudo to be traitorous. I wouldn't be surprised if Gerudo Valley is their next target."



There was no further need for Link and Zelda to stay. After thanking the guards for the information, they departed.
"Where should we go now? The Gerudo Valley?" Zelda inquired.
"We ought to at least check on them," Link agreed. "I doubt your father expects us back for a few days, anyway."
The Gerudo, unlike last time Link and Zelda visited, recognized their guests immediately and led them directly to Nabooru's chambers.
"Nabooru is a far superior leader to Ganondorf," one guard remarked.
"At least Nabooru doesn't send gangs of thugs to attack the Zoras," Link grumbled.
Nabooru greeted them cheerfully. "Greetings, friends. Thanks to you, all is peaceful here."
"It may not be for long," Link commented solemnly.
Nabooru looked shocked. "What could possibly go wrong? Ganondorf is locked in the Sacred Realm, Twinrova is dead. Phantom Ganon has been destroyed, and any Gerudo remaining loyal to Ganondorf has been forever exiled from the valley."
"It's those exiled Gerudos that are the trouble," Zelda informed her.
"Are they in some way connected with the attack on Zora's Domain?" Nabooru asked, worry spreading across her face.
Link nodded. "Them, and a mixed band of Hylians, Gorons, and Zoras. Apparently, traitorous Zoras taught the song of the Royal Family to this gang."
"They're believed to be attempting to harm the Sages," Zelda added. "And the Gerudo."
Nabooru snorted indignantly. "They still think we're traitors, that's no secret." Her tone and expression softened. "I thank you for the warning. I will alert the sentries to this threat. By the way, it's getting late. Feel free to make yourselves at home."

Zelda looked uneasily around the valley. The sun was beggining to set. Despite Link's earlier comment, she couldn't help but wonder if her father would worry when they did not return by nightfall. Not only that, but she and Link were assumed to be with the Zoras, not the Gerudo. She approached Link with her concerns.
"You may be right," he admitted. "If something disasterous happened, anyone sent to notify us would probably not know where to find us. But there is nothing we can do. Even if we left now, the gates of Hyrule Castle Town would be closed."
"True," Zelda replied," but have you forgotten your ocarina?"
"Ocarina? What would I...." Suddenly, he realized what she meant. "Of course. Why didn't I remember? Just let me tell Nabooru we're leaving. It wouldn't be polite to disappear without warning."
---
Although no song allowed direct travel to the castle, the Prelude of Light brought them close enough. Understandably, the people inside the Temple of Time were a bit startled when two horses and their riders appeared out of nowhere. The shock didn't last long, though. At this point, it would have taken far more to surprise the citizens of Hyrule.
The trip from the temple to the castle was too short to be eventful, but the guards at first refused to believe that these two were truly the Prince and Princess.
After much shouting, the guards finally noticed their mistake.
"Fools," Zelda grumbled.
"I think our disguises worked a little too well," Link commented.
Upon entering the castle, Link and Zelda learned the King had retired early this evening, as he was feeling poorly.
"I'm worried," Zelda confided to Link on the way upstairs. "You may have noticed my father coughing from time to time. He's had that cough for several months now."
"It may only be allergies," Link replied, hoping to ease her anxiety. "I've also heard that colds can last for prolonged periods of time.
"I hope you're right," Zelda answered. "I hope you're right.
Later, Zelda seemed to have relaxed. Link thought she was asleep, until she mischeiviously began tickling him.
"Nice try, love, but I'm not ticklish." he grinned. Zelda pouted in mock disappointment, whacking him playfully with a pillow. "You're no fun!"
"Who says?" Link responded, returning the blow. "Why are you so silly all of a sudden?"
"I have no idea, but it beats being worried all the time!" She socked him again.
"Easy, easy!" Link laughed. "I'm delicate, you know!" He swung his pillow again.
"You dare hit a lady? Take THAT!" Zelda laughed, bopping him upside the head with her pillow.
All their noise had attracted attention. Impa poked her head inside the room.
"Aren't Your Highnesses a bit old for pillow fighting?" she asked.
Her response was, of course, pillows flying straight at her.