Dehydrated yet Deadly
The two heroes entered a dried up Water Temple. "This is definitely not what comes to mind when I think 'Water Temple,'" Marcus stated.
"Looks like Ganondorf wanted it dry for some reason… but why?" Link wondered aloud.
"Possibly to kill all of the Zoras that lived here."
"But they were already taken by the darkness."
"That's true…"
But they had no more time to chat. Just then, several Zolas surrounded them. How they could survive without the water, the duo didn't know, but they also didn't care. They drew their swords and prepared for battle. The Zolas jumped on them, but they easily sliced them away. It was easy, too easy.
"Ganondorf's goons don't stand a chance against us!" Marcus declared. "Let's go! We have to take care of the cause of the darkness here!"
"I wonder what it'll be this time…" Link said.
They advanced through the dungeon and were met with more Zolas. They did a simple spin attack each, and the enemies vaporized. Soon, they came across a small opening, which they both had trouble squeezing through. On the other side, it was as hot and as dry as Gerudo Desert. Link and Marcus were surprised to see it this way. Four Peahats were hidden in the ground, three Moblins were in the center, and two large Darknuts were waiting for them at the door across the way. So many monsters placed here, no doubt by Ganondorf.
"Well, what should we start with?" Marcus asked.
"Let's save the Darknuts for last, so try not to get their attention," Link replied. "The Moblins will be easy, but the Peahats get pretty violent…"
"Alright."
With that, they dove toward the Moblins and destroyed them within minutes. The Peahats, however, had been provoked. "Heads up!" Link shouted. They each sliced at their separate Peahats. Soon, the Darknuts were all that remained. "Alright, I'll take the one on this side, and you get that other one."
"Deal."
The two split up, and got the attention of their separate enemies. Link sidestepped and jumped to slash the back of his. Meanwhile, Marcus rolled under his and poked his sword in his back. Both of them lost a piece of their armor. One down, an almost unlimited amount more to go. Link hopped over his enemy's head and drove his sword into him. Marcus rolled around the side of his and sliced upward. Another piece of armor fell for each. The two heroes went back to back. Nodding to each other, they waited for the Darknuts to strike. They quickly dodged the attacks and hit their separate enemy's back. The last piece of armor fell, and the rest of the battle was easier. A single strike more did the trick, and they received a key for their efforts.
Using the key, Link and Marcus advanced through the door. There was a narrow tunnel. There were no lights anywhere, so it was pitch black inside. "What kind of key leads into a cave?" Marcus asked, annoyed.
"You haven't been on many journeys, have you?" Link responded.
"Alright, know-it-all, where are we supposed to get a light?"
Link pulled out a small lamp. "Luckily, I keep this with me at all times nowadays." He smiled smugly. "One must always be prepared for situations such as this."
"Oh, shut it…"
Link laughed and guided them through the cave. Keese kept annoying them and diving in, but they swung their swords and destroyed them. Soon, they reached the end and began to smell what seemed like rain.
They stepped through the hole made after Link moved aside a boulder. There, in front of them was a small, shallow pond of water. They came into the room and stepped into the water. It came up to the opening of Link's boots.
"The water's back," Marcus said.
"Yeah," Link hesitated. "But why? I have a bad feeling—"
Just then, a giant sea dragon came down from above them. "What the…?"
"Great, the monster in charge of the darkness here!"
"What's your plan now, Hero?"
"Its back. We have to get onto it and slice its head!"
The dragon would not make that easy. It flew up and circled around, then came down to try to bite their heads off. Marcus struck it when it went after him and with a cry, it landed hard in the small pond. Link ran up to it and jumped, facing his sword downward. It went right through the muzzle of the monster. He missed because the enemy dodged. However, now it was unable to bite them. Link left his sword in it and called to Marcus.
"You have to do the final blow!" he shouted.
Marcus held his blade at the ready. The monster dove down to hit him with his long tail, but Marcus sliced at it. The dragon fell once again, and Marcus hopped onto his back, jabbing the sword into the back of its neck. "You're finished!"
The dragon was defeated. It disappeared into a cloud of black smoke, just as the other one did. "I don't understand," Link stated. "Why would Ganondorf place a water-dwelling guardian if he was going to dry up the place?"
"Good question," was all Marcus could reply.
The duo left the Domain, only to find Prince Miru standing there to meet them. "My mother contacted me, saying that you were here. I thank you for all that you've done."
"It was no problem!" Marcus grinned.
"Well, we can't waste time now," Link said. "We have to get rid of the rest of the darkness!"
"The ranch needs you," Prince Miru told them. "They have been attacked by many monsters. They need help."
"The ranch!" Marcus exclaimed. That was his true birthplace, before he moved to Kakariko. He even had a young foal there that he would soon train to ride one day.
"Then we have no time to lose!" Link determined. "To the ranch!"