Um slight question...can't we um…just say a disclaimer now that covers the rest of the story?
I mean its just really annoying don't you think?
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"Well now! Eye drops for Biggorron eh?" King Zora said, "Well let me see here…"
The robust Zora looked over the prescription form meticulously.
"Well you might say that we have them…but you might say we don't as well. We definitely have the ingredients…"
The King thought for a long while and Link waited for him patiently.
"You freed the Shopkeeper correct?"
Link nodded.
"Alright then, here, take this to him and he'll give you an eyeball frog. You then will have to hurry to the Laboratory in Lake Hylia, the biologist is a friend of mine. He will make the eye drops for you. You must hurry though, at outside temperatures, the frog will be sure to spoil quickly."
Link nodded again, "Is there anything else I can do for you my lord?"
The king paused and stared at Link, "Yes actually…I was wondering where my daughter is. I hate to give you the task of finding her, but she disappeared when my domain froze over and I've become very worried for her."
Link smiled inwardly, "I believe that she has gone to the Water Temple to try and solve your domain's problem…"
King Zora stared at Link suspiciously.
"That's all I know," Link added quickly.
"Hm…I see, so she has gone to the Temple…I do hope she's alright," the king then pulled out a tunic and tossed it down to Link where it landed on his face.
"That's a Zora tunic," the king said, "It is the least I can offer you for freeing me from the ice."
Link rapidly pulled the tunic of his face and gazed at it for a moment. It was crafted just as perfectly as his Kokiri Tunic and was of the same design. The only difference was that its color was a deep navy blue.
"It's enchanted to allow you to breath under water so you won't choke, resist the pain of depth's pressures, and it will also keep you warm in water's freezing temperatures," The King explained.
Link looked skeptically at the blue tunic but quickly pulled off his Kokiri Tunic and replaced it with his new one.
"Many 'thanks my lord." Link said with a gesture of obeisance.
The King waved it off, "There are no thanks necessary." He said, "Just make sure it comes to good use and good luck with the eye drops."
Link dismissed himself from the stand then went down to the shop to collect the eyeball frog. As soon as he stepped in he was given a grand "Welcome!" from the shopkeeper.
"What can I do for you Master Link?" He asked.
Link pulled out the prescription, "I need an eyeball frog for eye drops."
The shopkeeper took the prescription and identified his lord's signature, "Well your in luck!" He went into the back of the shop and talked as he did so. "This is the only one we have! The frog was preserved by the ice in the domain so it kept for seven years, and the little guy just thawed out!" The shopkeeper returned with the frog wrapped in wax paper.
Link took it and looked at the poor beast. It was dead, of course, but its eyes were still wide open and it almost smiled back at Link with its huge red and convex mouth. Its eyes were huge and were a pale blue and its skin was a perfect green.
After looking at it, Link wrapped it back up and packed it away in his item sack.
"That won't keep long after you leave the domain," The shopkeeper warned.
"How long do you think I'd have?" Link asked.
"I'd say no less than three hours," Came the reply.
Link gaped at the shopkeeper.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Get going!" The shopkeeper said with a definite look of amusement.
Instantly, Link bolted out the doorway and headed for the exit of the domain.
"Link! Be careful! Your going to—" Navi tried to say.
Link slid off the platform and landed face-first on the frozen pool.
"Trust a blonde for your everyday stupidity…" Navi cursed her partner's ill attention span and flew down to help him to his feet.
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Link jumped off Epona who collapsed instantly afterward in her fatigue. He ran over to the door of the Laboratory and threw it open. Inside, the biologist was collecting water samples from the tank, and fell in with a loud splash when Link burst through the door.
"Wahhhhh!" The biologist screamed as he broke through the surface and clambered to the edge of the tank. He looked around to see who had the temerity to scare an old man with a weak heart.
"A simple knock would suffice you mangy lout!" The biologist screeched waving a wet fist at Link.
"Um…sorry," Link said sheepishly and then proceeded to help the old man out of the water tank.
"No respect I say! Nothing!" The old man was still ranting by the time Link pulled out the eyeball frog.
The geezer's face suddenly lit up when he saw it, "Oh my! An eyeball frog! What a wonderful treat!"
Link's face twisted up in confusion, "What? Um sir? That's—"
"Send my thanks to King Zora. I haven't had any gourmet foods in such a long time!"
Upon hearing the doctor's intentions Link tried to intervene, "Sir! That's not for—"
"Oh ho tonight, I will dine on fried frog eyes!" The biologist licked his lips.
"Sir!!!" Link nearly shouted.
"Don't you talk to me like that young man, your little bribe was working up until now!" The man turned around with the frog and took out a frying pan from under his desk, "Bah! Insubordinate whelps! No respect for their elders nowadays!"
"Sir! That frog isn't supposed to be eaten!" Link cried desperately.
The old man dropped the pan, "Eh? Then what's it for?"
Link scrambled to get the prescription in his item sack. When he held it out, the old man's giddy countenance instantly turned somber and disappointed.
"Eye drops? Oh what a pity! I thought I could finally dine on the finest food in Hyrule tonight. Why didn't you say something?"
Link grimaced, and he started to hear stifled giggles emitting from inside his hat.
"Well alright then! Comeback in two hours and I'll have the eye drops ready," The biologist said.
Link lumbered out the door and heaved a sigh of relief. Navi came out of his hat with a smirk on her face.
"You need to learn some respect for you elders Link," She grinned.
Link didn't respond but instead just gave her a dirty look and surveyed the lake. He knew it had changed, but he didn't have the time to actually get a good look.
Link noticed that the water level of the lake had decreased dramatically and the slopes that had formerly been submerged in water were now exposed and barren. The lake was drying up obviously, now that Zora's fountain no longer functioned normally. Link also noticed a heavy population of Tektite monsters in the dried bowl, which meant that the temple was obviously emitting some dark aura.
Suddenly Link was aware of a strangled wail. He looked around from his vantage point and found Epona doing something remarkably similar to crying.
Immediately he ran down to her to see if she was all right. When he reached her, she was laying on her side near the dried brim of the lake with her tongue hanging out of her mouth.
"She's thirsty!" Navi said needlessly.
Link instantly bolted down the bowl towards the water.
Poor Epona, Navi said to him telepathically, she was thirsty from the ride and she probably went to the lake's edge thinking she could get a drink…
But she found the lake almost dried and too steep of a decent to get to water. Link finished for her.
Slowly, the sky began to cloud as he came nearer and nearer to the water's edge, then it began to rain, bolts of lightning scarred the sky and the ensuing thunder shook the ground. Link's eyes flared, as he knew the demon inside the temple was hard at work.
He reached the water's edge after cutting through several Tektites that decided to creep up on him. Then Link was put in a real conundrum, he had nothing to carry the water in. He thought his shield might suffice, but thought again when he noticed it shallow features. It was Navi who provided the answer.
"Link…Take off your hat." She said flatly.
Link gave her an awkward glance.
"Do it!" She urged him.
Reluctantly, he took off his long hat and let his hair spill out. Navi started to laugh but stopped when Link gave her a "shut-up-before-you-die" look.
Link then knelt down and scooped up some water in his hat then looked at it with a confused expression on his face.
"What is it?" Navi asked.
"My hat…it's…blue," He said haltingly as he sprinted up the hill. The skies began to clear and the rain stopped as he retreated.
"You can't seriously mean you didn't notice until now…" Navi said in disbelief
Link looked at her, unsure about how to reply to her.
"For the love of Din!" Navi exclaimed, you mean that you didn't hear King Zora say the tunic was enchanted?"
Link gave her the same look.
Navi sighed, "It changes to the color of the tunic that determines the owner's duty."
"And in layman's terms that means…"
"It matches the Zora tunic because the tunic is meant to go under water, thus the hat is endowed with the same properties. Ether that, or whoever enchanted the tunic had a sense of style."
Link rolled his eyes and ran up to where Epona had been able to sit herself up a little bit. He opened his hat and watched her drink it up in a single gulp.
"Sorry girl," Link said stroking her mane, "I guess I've been pushing you a little hard haven't I?"
Epona snorted loudly and nuzzled Link as a sign of mild forgiveness. No matter how hard she tried, Epona couldn't get mad at her master.
Link cautiously helped his steed to her feet and led her slowly to the laboratory, where he then put her down in the shade by the bean plant.
The biologist was collecting purified water from the tank when Link burst through the door and made him fall in again.
"Wahhhh! Again!" The biologist said as he broke through the surface and clambered to the edge of the pool.
"Oh…uh…sorr—" Link started.
"That's twice young man!" The biologist shouted as the water started evaporating of his head. Now are you going to tell me why you disturbed my work and nearly gave me a heart-attack?!"
"I said I was sorr—"
"It's becoming monotonous!"
"I said—"
"You haven't even apologized yet!"
"SORRY!" Link nearly blew the old man over.
More stifled giggling emitted from Link's hat.
"No need to shout. I can hear perfectly you know," The biologist said with unscrupulous honesty.
A twitch-mark appeared on the side of Link's head, "May I borrow a bucket and some of your water?" He said through smiling teeth.
"Ah! And may I ask what it is for?" The biologist asked.
"My horse is exhausted from our journey," Link explained.
"Oh! Well then in that case of course! There, over there," The biologist said pointing to an aluminum trough, "I used to use that when combining large quantities of potions and letting them mature, I have no need for it anymore."
Link thanked the old man and easily carried the light trough outside to where Epona was resting, then made several trips inside to fill it with water.
After Epona quenched her thirst and Link had played her song to lull her to sleep, Link stood up and stepped on to the bean plant nearby. It took him up above the house and levitated there for a second. Following Navi's orders, he jumped of and rolled onto the roof. Then the bean plant suddenly shot off in the direction of the fishing pond, and followed the rim of the lake. Link took his eyes off it and walked over to the tall ladder.
The ladder that led to the uppermost platform was at least forty feet tall; nonetheless, Link began his ascent to the heart-piece.
Halfway up the ladder Navi suddenly spotted something.
"Hey Link! Look!" She said pointing behind her.
"What is it?" Link asked squinting in the sun.
"I don't know! The sun is blinding me!" Navi replied.
Link allowed himself a hand off the ladder to block the sun. He saw a black bird descending from the sky to attack him. Frantically, he tried to get his hands on the ladder so he could climb down.
Link cursed his curiosity as the bird's talons dug into his shoulder and caused him to fall down to the roof.
Inside and below, the biologist was tediously adding the right amounts of purified water to his potion near the water tank when a sudden and loud 'thud' caused him to fall in again.
They say curiosity killed the cat…Link thought, as he lay sprawled out on the roof. Sorely, he got to his feet and slew the menacing bird with his bow, as well as other birds that threatened his accent to longer life.
Slowly, he began the climb back up to the platform that held the Heart-Piece, and made it safely.
Once back down on the ground Link stepped on the bean plant once more, but this time he let it take him all the way to the fishing pond on the north-western side of the lake.
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"Woah! Dude! You're that little fairy kid from seven years ago!" The fisherman exclaimed.
"You recognize me too huh?" Link asked.
"Unfortunately, it's impossible for me to forget," the fisherman said lowering his head.
"How so?"
"Business is really bad," the man explained, "You've been the only Hylean client I've had in seven years! With the exception of a few Zoras that popped in every now and then, and even still they only paid in more fish. And on top of that, my hair…but um, just forget I said that."
"How have you gone on living then?" Link asked cocking his head.
The color in the man's face drained a little bit, "Fish…" he replied flatly.
Link smiled ruefully for the fisherman, "So…do you think I can fish for awhile?" he asked.
The man behind the counter smiled and handed him a fishing pole, "Of course," he said, "Just bring your fish to me when you're done and we'll weigh it in."
Link paid the shopkeeper twenty rupees then walked over to where the little stream of water filled the pond. He looked at Navi expectantly.
"What?" She asked nervously.
Link mentioned to the pond with his eyes, "Go," he said.
"What?"
"Go…the biggest fish…go find it."
"W-why?" Navi asked unnecessarily.
"Hey," Link said sympathetically, "can you help it if you look like a bug on the surface of the water?"
Navi's light dimmed considerably and she began to look nervously in between the water and Link, praying to see signs of second thoughts.
When she found none, she lowered her head and flew very idly to the center of the pond where she perched on the log. She looked back at Link and heard him muttering something of "revenge" and "waited seven years for this." He was smiling viciously and waved happily as she looked at him in sheer terror.
Yeah…that's right Link, just smile…I'll get you back for this, cheater! Navi thought to herself.
That is if you live through this, Link thought with satisfaction.
A drop of sweat ran down Navi's head, she had temporarily forgotten she was telepathically connected with her partner. Reluctantly, she started to look for the biggest fish.
There were many small fish around the lilies and water grass bordering the rim of the pond, but Navi sensed that it would take something huge to coax the fisherman into giving away anything valuable.
Again, there were two or three bigger fish loitering around the poles of the rotted fishing bench, arranged in such a way that made it look like they were conversing.
That left one fish out of the picture. Navi gulped audibly and slowly descended to the surface to look under the giant log.
The biggest fish wasn't there, but he was mingling with a bunch of young fish in the center of the pond. He spotted Navi, and turned toward her. Navi gave a small shriek of terror and flew back into Link's hat at breakneck speed. The big fish obviously recognized her, and he now seemed compelled to wait for her at his usual spot. He was bigger and smarter now too, which made him all the more intimidating to Navi.
"So, which one is it?" Link asked.
" Fish…is…the…under...log…" came the distorted reply.
"Ok…let's try that again, but this time try to get the words in order."
Navi swallowed and calmed herself down.
"Under the log," she said, "his usual spot I guess. If he breaks free he'll go back to the center of the pond."
Link smiled and cast the line to the area just in front of the log, "Huh," he said, "I wonder how big that little sucker got."
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After thirty minutes of trials and errors, Link finally hooked the lunker for the last time. Many times he was simply too strong for the line and broke free. Other times, he proved to be smarter than most marine life and turned his attention to the young fishes at the center of the pond. It only took Navi to act as "the bait" and coax him into range again. Landing the enormous fish took a grand total of seven minutes. Seven agonizing minutes of which, Link was pushed to the limits of his strength and at the same time, his dexterity and flexibility for the line. But as every story has and ending, and as every legend is toppled by another, Link landed the twenty-pound fish.
He brought the fish over to the fisherman and set the fish on the counter with an audible "thud."
The fisherman looked up and stared at the huge fish, "I'll be damned," he said, "You landed the pride of the pond!"
"Is that's what it's called?"
"I-uh, suppose you'll be wanting to take this with you?" The fisherman asked weakly.
"And what am I going to do with it?" Link asked nonchalantly.
The fisherman paused and he picked his head up, "I've offered a special deal for some time," he explained, "If you catch a fish over ten pounds you can take it home with you for only twenty extra rupees…I also have a prize for the one who could catch a fish over sixteen pounds…seems you've done it again fairy boy."
Link winced hearing his common nickname, "I wont take the fish, I think he deserves to live the rest of his life."
The fisherman stopped in mid-motion from pulling out kitchen utensils and quickly replaced them before Link saw.
"I will take this prize you have for me though," Link said.
The fisherman gave a heartless laugh, "Yeah sure, why not?" He reached under the counter and pulled out an embroidered case. The fisherman then lifted the cover and removed a gold scale and handed it to Link.
"This is one of the late Gold Zora's scales," the fisherman said, "He was prince of the Zora's a decade ago but died in a duel with the Dark King."
Link raised an eyebrow, eager for more information, "Prince of the Zora's? He was Ruto's brother?"
"Indeed. They say a gold Zora is naturally enchanted from the time of birth. Many tend to develop skills for music, but Prince Seito was well learned in fighting and battle tactics in the water…which ultimately led to his doom."
Link nodded and stared at the scale. As he held it in his hand, a bubble or some sort of reflective gelatin substance seemed to envelope it. He tried to touch the substance, but it was as diaphanous as the very air around him.
"What's so great about it anyway?"
The fisherman's chest swelled in pride, "Prince Seito gave it to me himself. It was on accident really but I hooked his wrist while fishing in the lake…I helped him get free and tended to his wounds. We became friends after that."
"Why are you just giving away your personal possession then?" Navi asked.
Like all, the fisherman stared at Navi before responding, "Because," he said firmly, "Seito, my good friend is dead; and I have come to no use with that thing. I tried my best to help in the resistance, and that scale was my only real weapon; however, Ganondorf doesn't fight in water. Plus, seeing as how my business is failing, I wanted to give it away to someone who could really pay Ganondorf back and put it to good use. That way I could dry up with the lake and have no regrets."
Link's eyes flared, "And what makes you think I will even get close to Ganondorf?"
The fisherman smirked, "Heh! One doesn't carry the mark of a Hylian Knight on his back for nothing," he said pointing to Link's shield and sword.
Link frowned, "So are you going to answer my question? What does this do?" He said waving the scale.
The fisherman smiled, "That will allow you to dive about eight meters without having to surface again."
Link grimaced in dismay. He knew he already had two items that would more than compensate for the scale. The fisherman didn't seem to notice though.
"I wish you luck fairy boy." The fisherman said taking the giant fish back to the pond.
After that, there was nothing more Link could do. He tied the scale to the chain holding the Forest medallion and left the fishing pond for the last time.
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"Hey old man!" Link said as he walked through the door.
The biologist was at the other end of the lab and was gathering more water samples when Link came in. Upon hearing his voice, the old man doubled up. His neck disappeared, and turned his head to Link with narrowed eyes and a jutting lower lip. He didn't fall in this time…amazingly…instead he had made himself a safety line by tying a rope to the wall and wrapping it around his waist.
Suddenly Link smelled something cooking and looked frantically at the iron stove of the lab. He was relieved, then sickened by finding frog legs splattering in the frying pan. He expelled his nervous breath and turned his attention back to the biologist.
Seeing as Link did nothing wrong, the biologist frowned, "You're lucky I'm a man of ingenuity boy," he tapped the rope around his waist, "Thanks to your little run-in's, I prepare for the worst."
Link smirked as the rope unraveled itself and caused its owner to fall in the tank with a satisfying "splash."
"I meant to do that…" the biologist muttered as he clambered to the edge of the pool.
"Right…" Link muttered just as quietly, "At least you know how to swim well for someone your age."
The biologist gave Link an indignant look that quickly faded away. He laughed, "Ho ho! That is true young man…I used to be a real swimmer in my prime…well diver anyway."
"A diver?"
"Yes, yes…I used to be able to dive to the gate of the Zora's Temple! Now I am only confined to this tank in which I dive regularly to keep my strength."
"You can dive to the bottom of this tank?" Link asked incredulously.
"Ah!" The biologist said in delight. He removed his thick overcoat and then gracefully dived into the tank. Link and Navi watched in stupor as the old man kept swimming and touched the bottom of the tank.
Man that's creepy…Navi and Link thought in unison.
The biologist broke the surface, climbed out and put his overcoat back on. He laughed again.
"Ha! If you can do that, I'll give you something ten times better than those eyedrops!" He said.
Link grinned and walked over to the edge of the tank, "Alright then." As he was about to jump in the biologist interrupted him.
"Ah-ah-ah," He said waving a finger, "take off that tunic first."
If Link showed the faintest sign
of defiance, it faded quickly and he took off the tunic then dived in. He swam
as he would on the surface of the water, but straight down. With the aid of the
gold scale, he was able to reach the bottom easily.
As he broke the surface of the water and climbed out of the pool he suddenly
became aware of the old man who was gaping at him with his mouth wide open.
"Young man," he said, "you just touched the bottom of the tank there."
Link wrung his hair out and peered at the biologist sidelong, "Yeah? What of it?"
"That's amazing! Seventy years in this realm and I have known no Hylian to do that!"
Cheater…Navi said to Link silently.
The biologist went on, "Such a great feat! You must be rewarded!"
Link raised an eyebrow as the man went to an old chest, "Rewarded for touching—"
Link stopped when he saw a heart-piece being withdrawn from the trunk.
Well that works I guess, Link thought, but why do people just put them away?
Beats me…Navi returned, equally amused with the biologist.
"Here young man," the biologist said tossing the heart-piece to Link, "I suspect you'll be needing that more than I will." The biologist then bustled over to the table where the eye drops were ready. Link eagerly walked over to the table and received the eye drops.
"I must warn you young man, I've been short of preservatives ever since the lake started drying up…" The biologist faded off.
Link held up the star-shaped vile away from his body and peered though it, "How long will it last?" Link asked nonchalantly, this had happened one too many times.
"I can't be for certain, but at this temperature I'd say you'd have about four hours."
A bead of sweat ran down Link's temple and he peered at the old man out of the corner of his eye, "You must be joking…" Link said.
The biologist chuckled, "You're young and strong, you can do it. Best of luck to you young man." With that, he turned around and tended to the burning frog legs.
Link ran outside to where Epona was waiting for him. This time however, he didn't rush to jump on her saddle and ride off; instead, he stroked her long forehead.
"This is the last time I will ask such a ride from you girl," Link said, "Should I have to do it again, I will run myself."
Epona snorted in acceptance and bolted off as soon as he was on her back.
As they exited the lake area and entered Hyrule Field, Navi spoke to Link.
"And so what are you today Link?" She asked.
"Today?" He laughed, "Today I am a postman."
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There's really nothing special here, just another long in-betweener. The old oaf is of course put in for comic relief if you're into all that fancy terminology. Speaking of which, a friend of mine said she didn't understand any of the fancy words I like to put in. I'm gonna go out on a limb here, but I'm guessing many of you don't know either. What do I have to say for myself? Go get a dictionary! If there's a word you don't understand, look it up! You never know what you might learn. ^-^
.
Arnath Nightblade: uh yeah…about that. It was two hours after I posted when I was playing Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy and was choosing the "hilt" of my lightsaber…funny how something like that just jumps at you lol. A helm mostly refers to a helmet but can also mean the hilt, guard and crest of a broad sword, but you're right, hilt is the right word. As for grammar, well…it's not exactly my foray (said the writer).
Anthony Bault: I've found I really enjoy writing this fic, but I've also found that I've almost completely abandoned my other fics…oh well lol.
Greki: I know how that is…it really sucks lol. One thing though…you don't have to be sorry for not reading my fic lol. It's merely a book that's opened whenever. ^-^
JIJ: Yes…indeed the reunion of the two will be…interesting lol.
titianadragon: Eh heh heh…live for the drama. It's contradictory though…I happen to be one of the dullest people you could meet.
Lizai: Well, I was just thinking…he would most likely be a leading candidate, whether any of us wants to admit it lol. Even still, a Zelda Movie would be the best thing since beef jerky. ^-^
Thanks Again! Keep the reviews coming! ^-^
