It took them hours to convince Darmani that they were coming back for him. Once they had manage that, they began to travel down to Lake Hylia. Malon has to share Link's horse since Mikau is borrowing hers (to her delight.) Dekii pulls at the blue hat on his head. "How is this suppose to help us breath again?"

Mikau smiles as he points at the Zora tunic that everyone except him is wearing. "It is woven with the finest material and Zora scales. The scales themselves have a spell on them that allows others to breath under water when the scales touch the body."

Dekii writes this down and puts the parchment and quill back in his hat. "Interesting."

Link couldn't help but laugh. Since they left the forest, Dekii has been asking a lot of questions about the outside and tends to write everything down from words he don't understand to the most interesting facts. He is after all nine. Malon thinks he is the cutest thing she ever saw and Hana and Anya would even throw their Sheikan pride out the window for him. Link's smile turns to a frown as they approach Castle Town. Hana and Anya exchange glances before riding up to either side of Link. Navi lands on Dekii's hat as Mimi clicks uncomfortably. Mikau and Quill take note of Link's face as they approach the gate. He know the guards will announce his presence the moment he enters the town. Sure enough, Link hears a guards voice from on top of the gates. "Lower the bridge! Link has returned!"

Link sighs as they enter the town with people coming up to greet them. Link avoids making eye contact as Mikau, Quill, Hana, and Anya try to keep the crowd at bay. Dekii looks around at all the people, half-frightened and half-amazed. Shadow tries his best to keep up with Link as people come rushing out of the castle to meet them. They make a path for the King and Zelda to get through. Sheik and Impa are not far behind them. The King reaches Link and smiles. "Link, I'm glad to see you are okay. We were frightened when you along with many others suddenly disappeared from the castle."

The Kings smile turns to a frown as he realizes that Link is avoiding eye contact. Link simply nods, really wishing that he is left alone. He finally opens his mouth, but his voice sounds forced. "I'm alive but I'm far from okay."

Hana and Anya exchange looks before Anya decides to continue for Link. "Ganondorf has betrayed us all and has managed to get his hands on the Triforce of Power. All those that left the castles, with the exception of Link, are traitors to us all. We had to apprehend Jeric when he tried to recapture Link. He is being held back in the Sheikah Caverns."

The Kings eyes slowly widen as this news hits him. Zelda clasps a hand to her mouth as Sheik and Impa's faces turn murderous. Link simply keeps his eyes fixed on the top of Dekii's hat. Talk begins to ripple through the crowd at this news. Link can feel himself get heavier as he hears the way they are talking about Ganondorf. Dekii, sensing Link's sadness, decides to move the conversation along. "We are on our way to the Lake to dispel the darkness there. We have already done so in the mountains and forest. It is the only way to drag Ganondorf out in the open and put a stop to this. Can we collect supplies here and be on our way?"

The King nods as everyone dismounts. Link clutches Dekii to him as he refuses to make eye contact with Sheik and Zelda who approach him. The King heads back to the castle with some of the group as Zelda, Sheik, and Impa follow Link and friends to the market place. Sheik reaches up to put a hand on Link's shoulder but Link pulls away. 'He was with me when I was captured. He might've been the one to drug me. I can't let him get too close. I can't give him the chance to get me alone.' Sheik looks hurt as Hana and Anya talk with Impa about what has been happening. Hana finally looks up as Link pulls from Sheik. "Don't push it Sheik. He was like that to us too and it took us a while to regain his trust. He only truly trusts Dekii, Darmani, and Mikau."

Sheik looks at her quizzically as Mikau answers. "Dekii is the tiny scrub in his arms, Darmani is a Goron who is right now back at Zora Domain to keep up a bargain we made with the king of Zoras, and I'm Mikau."

Sheik's brows furrowed. "Why is he like that?"

Anya answers. "Ganondorf is Link's caretaker and father-like model, remember? Jeric use to be close friends with you and him, remember? You were with him during his time of capture, right? The Gerudos will follow Ganondorf to the ends of the earth, you see? Put the pieces together. It doesn't take a genius to see that his trust in people is thoroughly shaken."

Zelda and Sheik exchange looks as Link hurries to a stall to purchase more arrows. Link then feels arms around him as he jumps. "Mila!"

A beautiful rich girl smiles up at him. "Hello Link. I was so worried that you were gone that I thought I might end up searching for you."

Dekii giggles as Malon, Hana, Anya, and Zelda all "humph" behind them. A knight appears behind Mila. Link knows this knight as Shiro. "Hi Link. Trust me when I say she's not kidding. She kept demanding I search harder or she'll go look for you herself."

Link can't help but smile. He knows that Mila hasn't changed a bit. Sheik is glad that Link can still find some happiness. Quill and Mikau walk off to buy food as Mila and Shiro talk to Link. Link is soon taken aback by Mila's proposal. "What?"

"I asked if I could come with you? I heard about your talk with the King of Zoras and I think you need someone skilled in politics with you. And don't worry, I can defend myself."

"In a dress?"

"It takes real skill to fight in a dress, skirt boy."

"It's a tunic!"

"Anyway, you could use my help in politics, translations, and I'm a good healer. Why am I asking you? I'm going to come whether you like it or not."

Link looks at her with a look of shock. Hana and Anya brake out in to laughter as Shiro shares Link's look.

The next day as they leave Castle town, they wave goodbye to Zelda and Impa as they go with extra horses to their new allies. There is no way Shiro is going to let Mila go on this dangerous adventure without his protection, and Sheik wants to try to reform Link's trust. Dekii is still with Link as he is finding Link's arms the most comfortable for travel. Link sighs. What's with the extra baggage? 'What could I do? They wouldn't take no for an answer.' Pathetic. Your just screaming for attention since we left the forest. 'Am not!' Are too! Face it! You love the pity and the false hope that you can change that monster. You love the attention you get from this so you don't have to face him alone. You are a pathetic coward. 'Why are you so mean suddenly?' I want you alive, but it's gonna be hard if you turn suicidal once your stupid stubbornness and need for attention gets your friends killed .'What?' You heard me! I have been watching and you are only dragging them into danger by making them pity you. You're safe because Ganondorf wants you alive, but don't think he won't hesitate to kill one of your friends. 'He wouldn't!' He would! Face it Link! In the end, you either face him alone or face life without your friends.

Link's eyes widen in fear as Dark's voice vanish into the back of his mind. Dekii feels Link's arm tighten around him and looks up to see Link staring straight forward with a look of horror on his face. Dekii stares as his eyes sadden. Something must've gone through Link's mind to scare him like that. Dekii will find out soon enough.

They reach the lake soon enough as Mila is talking up a storm with Malon and Mikau has got himself engaged in a friendly chat with Quill and Shiro. Anya, Hana, and Sheik remain on their toes as they begin down the cliff side to the water's edge. Once they reach the water Mikau stops the group and tosses extra Zora tunics to Sheik, Shiro, and Mila. "The horses go no further. You will need these to breath underwater and Shadow and Mimi should stay behind. Link, are you ready?"

Link nods as he slides off of Epona. His thoughts were still on what Dark Link said. He turns to find Sheik and Shiro with the tunics already on and Shiro putting his armor back on. Mila comes out from behind some trees, wearing a blue dress that was possibly her Zora armor. Link heads to the water's edge as Mikau dives in. Dekii looks at the water wearily and begins to skip aross the top of the water instead before standing a good five feet away on top of the water. "Doesn't feel too bad."

Dekii then allows himself to sink into the water. The rest follow. Link is fascinated to see Shiro swimming in the armor and Mila swimming well in a dress. He shakes his head and turns back to see a giant temple ahead at the lake bottom. It is a magnificent piece of work with many Zora designs and a symbol of Naryu on the door. Mikau pushes the door open and motions them to come inside. The swim into a chamber and head up to a platform that is floating on the water. Once everyone is above water, Mikau stands on the platform and reports. "Welcome to the water temple. We are in the alter room where we leave offerings for the goddesses and our own ancient god, the Wind Fish. Beyond that door are rooms filled with our most sacred treasures but there is also a maze with mechanisms and traps to protect the treasure. It is made so only a Zora passes. Unfortunately there is a third mechanism added to keep the weakest Zora's at bay. We need claw shots, two to be exact, and there is one on each of the opposite sides of the temple. The center chamber beyond this point is the main room where we will return to many times. To get to where the darkness is harboring, we will need to flood the entire temple, which will take the opening of four hatches situated at the roof of the temple with hatches at four different locations in the temple. I will lead you to the first hatch. From there we're going to have to wing it since it is the farthest that anyone has ever gotten in this temple. Any questions?"

"Nope!" chirps Dekii as he writes it all down on the parchment that was surprisingly dry and places it back in his hat. Link looks at this with great curiosity but passes it off as they swam through the door into a huge chamber that was lined with ivy and had a four five floors with a pillar dead center of the room. Link looks up to see a door on the fifth floor of the pillar with no ivy or flooring in reach. Link suddenly realizes why they need to flood the temple. It is the only way to reach their destination. Link blinks as he realizes that the rest of the group is swimming to the ledge. He follows and climbs the ledge as Mikau heads to a door. "The first one is fairly easy. We only need arrows and bombs. Once the first floor is flooded and we can reach the second floor, then we work on the first claw shot. Do you have those iron boots Link?"

Link nods as Mikau smiles. "Good, we'll need them to get the clawshots."

Mikau then leads the way in as everyone follows. He directs Malon to shoot her bow at one pillar and Link to shoot another simultaneously. Link soon finds out why. They are in front of a gate and the keys to open it are on the pillars. The gate opens to admit them access to the room. Link blinks at the sight of all the gears, elevators, switches, and platforms in the walls. Link groans; this is going to be a long day.

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Link slumps to the floor as Mikau opens the first hatch. Without Darmani, Link had to be the one to place all the bombs and he was also the only one with bomb arrows. That mix in with the fact that he is without Shadow and have to take turns to carry Dekii, Mila, or Malon through some of the more tricky passages and he is tired. He curls up and shivers from the cold that the water caused. Dekii sits on his lap and snuggles against to help Link warm up. Hana and Anya sit down on either side of Link as he pulls out a small pendant with ancient desert writing on the edges and a symbol of the desert goddess in the center. "What's that?"

"Proof of being a Gerudo. It was given to me when Ganondorf took me in. Back then I would call him Ganny. Ha, even now that memory makes me laugh. I didn't start calling him Master until I was fifteen. By then I had come to truly respect him. I just wish it was different."

Sheik nearby nods. "I agree. He had a great life as leader to the Gerudo. He also had you; a great son and pupil. Honestly, even though I had my suspicions about him, I was caught off guard by his betrayal. I was actually praying that he wasn't the one."

Link looks up at Sheik as Sheik smiles at him from behind his cowl. Link can feel a smile tugging at his lips as he hears his shadow again. You are wasting time! Get of your lazy ass and get your rear in gear. Link sighs as he gets up. Everyone looks at him quizzically as he dives back into the water. Mikau looks up ap finally talks. "We should continue."

Everyone follows Link back to the main room.

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Shrio pulls Mila to safety as the rest of the group fights the biggest skullfish they've ever seen. It is like a giant shark skeleton. There were a few organs in its ribcage and rotting flesh hanging off the bones and burning red eyes. Link swims to the side as it rams the wall behind him. It is too fast. Only Mikau can keep up with it. Dekii is hopping around on the surface watching everything unfold beneath him. Hana and Anya dodge as it swam past, heading for Link again. It wants the boy since its master wants him. Link swims off at the last second and heads to the other side as he frantically tries to evade the fish. Mikau throws some jabs at it but it felt nothing. It swims at Link again who now has no time to dodge. "LINK!" Sheik swims out of nowhere and shields Link from the fish as its sharp teeth pierce the Sheikah's skin. Link eyes widen. "Sheik!"

Link kicks the monster fish as he begins to see red. He pulls out his sword and stars to slash and stab every part of the fish he can reach. His fists shatter the ribcage and his sword cuts open the few organs it does have. Link is blind with rage as he continues to kill the now dying skullfish. He keeps at it for what seemed like hours until two pairs of arms grab him and pull him mercifully away from the fish. Link struggles at first but then falls limp. Hana and Anya pull him into their embrace as they drag him to the surface where Quill has carried Sheik.

Once on land, Link breaks down into Hana and Anya's arms as Dekii and Malon look Sheik over. Dekii reaches into his hat as Navi floats low over the wounds. "Looks like he is badly cut up."

Dekii nods as he pulls out a bottle with a fairy in it. He opens it and allows the fairy to fly over Sheik's body. Sheik moans as his wounds heal. Link brakes from the twins and hurries over to Sheik. Navi lands on his shoulder. "Don't worry. Fairies can heal wounds. Sheik will live just let him rest."

Link nods. Then he gets up and turns to Malon. "Watch him while I get the clawshot."

Malon nods without speaking. Link begins to climb the wall of vines as Dekii clings to his back. Mikau, Hana and Anya follow while everyone else stays with Sheik. Navi flies over to Malon as they watch Link scale the wall. Link gasps for breath as he reaches the top. He looks up to see the chest. Link scrambles up and walks over to it as Dekii climbs up to his shoulders. He opens it to find the clawshot inside. He rushes to the edge as Mikau, Hana, and Anya reach him. "Hey Malon! We found the first clawshot!"

Malon smiles but that quckly changes as a skulltula hits Link from above, knocking Dekii back to his back and pushing Link off the edge. Link turns in midair and aims at the vines. He releases the claw as it grabs onto the vines and Link is swung into the wall, ramming his head against it in the process. Link blinks a couple of times as darkness reach him. He can feel his grip on the clawshot slipping. He falls...

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Link opens his eyes to see he is floating in darkness. Even weirder is the fact that his tunic was now white instead of blue. Pathetic! Link looks up to see Dark Link floating across from him. "What happened? Where am I?"

Dark shakes his head. You hit your head and was knocked out cold. We are in your, or should I say our, subconscious. I brought you here to talk to you."Talk? About what?" Your friends have to go! "What?!" Look at what happened to Sheik! That was your fault since the fish was after you! Think Link! Who will be the next to get hurt trying to protect you? How long will it be 'til someone is killed? Who will be the first to die? How many will die before you finally get the message of how merciless Ganondorf really is? You are an imbecile for even letting Dekii follow you this long. For the love of goddesses Link, HE IS ONLY A KID! Ganondorf has been lying to you for fifteen years! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL! THERE IS NO TURNING BACK! ARE YOU REALLY THAT DESPERATE TO LOSE ALL YOU HAVE LEFT? WELL?!

Dark is panting as Link stares at him as the reality of these words hit him. He looks at Dark as he feels tears reach his eyes. He finally lets out a sigh in defeat and stares at his hands as Dark continues to glare at him. He then talks to Dark in a quiet, rather dry, and tired voice. He continues to stare at his hands. "I'll lose them once were are out of the water temple. Then we will head to the desert next and see if I can expel the darkness there. I hope the Gerudos will still listen to me."

Dark nods as his features soften. Good. Do not worry for you are still not alone. I am still here and I am almost strong enough to begin holding my own form. It won't be long 'til I'm out there fighting along side you. There is also Vaati. "Vaati?" Yes. Even though he works for the enemy, He is atleast trying to keep you alive 'til you find your own way to their master. Now, you should be waking up.

Link can feel himself lift into the air as he continues to stare at Dark. He is pulled into bright light as one last thought reaches him. 'I'm sorry guys. I can't lose anymore.'