A/N: Guess who's back! Back again! nagami's back! Tell a friend!

Ryo: nagami-sama! How was (beep-the-place-nagami-went-to-beep)?

A/N: MUY BIEN! It was gorgeous, I wish I could've stayed longer, but o'course I missed my beloved USA. =D In other news, two new pics: lian-ne of DeviantArt drew Seth, and yuumei finished the picture of Brian and Hayarpi—THE LINKS ARE IN MY PROFILE! GO LOOK AT 'EM BOTH!

Niagra: We finally get to see what Seth looks like neck down~ and all three "White Collection" pictures are finished, so ya'll go go go!

A/N: Ahh, it took a year, but it was so worth it. They're all so gorgeous... and like I said before, those white outfits/colored hearts pics aren't just symbolic images; they are from a future scene in this story. :3 Ooooh suspense... kinda! But yeah. And uh, I think that's it.

Link: Long chappy to make up for the wait. Let's do thiiiis!

A/N/Ryo/Niagra/Link: W00T!

-:: Last time ::-

Nicole shook her head. "Sorry! I'm okay, I was just, zoning out there. Uh, what're we doing? Pinnacle Rock, right? C'mon, let's GO!" she forced out a cackle and jumped into the ocean.

Hayarpi blinked. "Huh? I thought she couldn't swi—"

"OH YEAH I CAN'T SWIM! SOMEONE HELP MEEEEakjddgurglegurgle...!"

The earthlings fell over. Link jumped in, grabbed her arm then pulled her back to shore. He held out her Zora Mask. "Yeeeahh. Put this on first."

Nicole sweatdropped, slapping on her Zora Mask along with the rest of her friends. With the golden seahorse in hand, they jumped into the waters of Great Bay and headed towards Pinnacle Rock.

–

` Great Bay :: The Second Day + 10:25am `

–

"You've learned the New Wave Bossa Nova! It's the melody taught by the Zora children that invigorates singing voices!" Ines cheered in the middle of the lab after the Zora eggs hatched. She reached over and kissed Gilbert's cheek. "Thanks for letting me say it this time."

He grinned. Link held up his sparkly ocarina. "Hm, singing voices? So you mean..."

"Yes, Link." Gilbert burst into song. "Can we pretend that aiirrplanes in the night sky are like SHOOTING STA—"

"NO, WE CANNOT!" Brian, Ines and Hayarpi screamed into his ear, obviously quite tired of that song. Who isn't?

Tatl ignored them as usual, turning to the Hylian. "Looks like we gotta visit Lulu. C'mon, we're almost to the Great Bay Temple!"

The team nodded, leaving the lab. GB scientist grabbed Link's wrist again though. "Young sir! Did you read that book I gave you?"

"No; why, is it really important that I have to read it asap or something?"

"Er, no, but—"

"Okay, then I promise I'll read it later," Link reassured, taking his hand back. "Thanks for the help!"

And with that he followed his friends. GB scientist sighed. "Tch. Fine. Have the plot play out nagami's way, then..."

Hehehe!

–

` Zora Hall `

–

"RUTOOOO—"

The Zora held up a sign. 'NO, I'M LULU'

Brian sheathed his sword. "Oh yeah."

Hayarpi went forward. "Lulu, good news! Mikau gathered all your eggs back together again, and they hatched and are safe in the scientist's lab," she explained, smiling at the Zora's relieved expression. "And now he has a song for you..." she looked behind them.

Link was stuffing his face with... guess what? "MMPPFFHh! I love these shrimp chips man, HAIL YEAHH—"

Tatl snatched the bag away. "EAT LATER!"

"Aw finneee..." he went up to Lulu and started to sing. "Can we pretend that aaiirrplanes—"

"OTHER SONG!" the earthlings twitched madly. Why did Link have to have a knack of remembering songs after hearing them once?

"Oh, my baaad!" he took out his guitar, strumming the New Wave Bossa Nova.

Lulu nodded, singing with the guitar riff, feeling the familiarity of the song. But suddenly the ground started shaking. Everyone looked around, then screamed like old ladies as the island behind them rose to reveal a gigantic turtle with sleepy eyes. It yawned, smiling at the group. "MMMHMMHMM! I slept verrrry well!"

"That's nice, but who are you?" Gilbert raised an eyebrow.

"I just realized this when I opened my eyes. The passing of days is quite quick, isn't it, Lulu?" the turtle looked to the Zora. ("Why does everyone ignore me," Gilbert sniffed.) "Yes, Lulu, it's nothing to be surprised at. Although my eyes were closed in sleep, I still see everything that occurs in this ocean."

Lulu stared at him blankly.

"... Hmm. It seems Lulu is confused."

The team fell over, hard. Tatl flitted up. "Yeah, 'scuse me. I don't know who you are, but I think you're related to the Great Bay Temple?"

"Indeed I am," the turtle grinned. "Call me a type of guardian."

"Nice. How can we get to this temple?"

"Ah, so you know of your mission! Well then, the open seas of Great Bay have need of your might. If you would climb onto my back..."

Tatl nodded, already flitting towards the gigantic reptile. The others bust out their hookshots to aim at the trees on the turtles' shell. Link aimed his hookshot too, but a new voice stopped him. "Ah, wait!"

He turned, seeing Lulu coming closer.

She smiled. "I wanted to thank you for rescuing my eggs..."

"Whooaaa, your voice!" Link cheered. "It's like, back!"

"Yes it is," the female Zora laughed. She put a hand close to her heart. "I can feel them now. They truly are safe, and I just wanted to let you and your friends know how much I appreciate it..."

"Awwww, you're like, welcome," Link grinned. "It was totally nothin', wo-maaaan."

She smiled back. But even as hippie-d out Link was at the moment, he had to notice the hint of sadness in her expression. "Well anyway, good luck." She took his hand. "May the Goddesses watch over you... Heroes and Heroines of Time."

Link blinked. The earthlings on top of the turtle exchanged confused glances. Their "ostentatious" titles—but how did Lulu...?

Then their eyes widened as they realized.

She knew Mikau wasn't around anymore.

Link's eyes softened as the realization came to him as well. He reached over, wrapping his arms around the Zora in a firm hug. And Lulu embraced him back, closing her eyes tightly.

A warm wind brushed against the shore.

–
–

Everyone climbed off the turtle's back. They had arrived at an underwater entrance with braziers, a few barrels, a white symbol on the ground like the other temples and finally a door.

"Good luck, heroes. I will be here if you need me," the turtle reassured.

The team nodded at him and turned, pushing the blue door. It opened and let the seven through.

"Welcome to the Great Bay Temple," a Skulltula beside them greeted.

They eyed it. "Uhhh... thanks?"

Everyone looked around. Directly in front was a huge waterwheel. The room had an insanely high ceiling, and there were pipes of various sizes and colors, switches, levers, odd contraptions, moving devices, rushing water, enemies everywhere, and the strong smell of metal all around...

Silence.

"What time is it again," Link mumbled.

Brian looked at his watch. "Second day, almost 2pm."

"..."

"... Uh, Song of Time?" Ines coughed.

Link took out his ocarina. "I feel bad for wasting a cycle, but I doubt we're gonna finish this in a day and a half..."

His teammates sweatdropped but nodded. Dammit, time limit!

"Here's the plan. Rest now, reset, then go back here?"

"You have to rest?" Tatl sighed.

"Well yea—"

"You absolutely HAVE to?"

"Want us to knock out while fighting monsters?" Ines rolled her eyes.

The fairy just pouted as Link played the Song of Soaring. Why did humans require sleep? Such a waste of time.

–

` South Clock Town :: Dawn of the First Day + 6:00am `

–

"Well, that's always a trip," Gilbert sweatdropped as the seven wandered out of the clock tower, refreshed & ready to go!

"Oh yeah, I'll get supplies first since we're going straight to the temple," Ines reminded. "West Clock Town, right?"

"Yeah; can I go with you?" Gilbert asked.

Ines reached over and laced their fingers together. "Awww of course, darling!" The two started skipping away westwards.

"Hurry up lovebirds, we literally don't have all day!" Tatl yelled after them.

Then suddenly, Link gasped. Everyone else looked at him. "I just remembered something!" He looked at Nicole, who still hadn't said anything within the first 1,000 words of this chapter, which was pretty odd by her standards. "You."

Nicole blinked. "Wazzap?"

"C'mere."

"Why?"

"We need to talk."

Nicole suddenly looked panicked. "About what?"

"You know. C'mon!"

"NO!" She turned around and bolted away, waving her hands like a headless chicken.

Tatl and Brian sweatdropped. Hayarpi looked at Link. "Were you gonna ask why she's being mute?"

"Weeelll, that was the plan, since I don't wanna start a temple with weird buried issues like we had at Snowhead—"

"WE'RE SORRYYYY!" Brian and Hayarpi sobbed and latched onto Link.

The Hylian twitched. "IT'S OKAY SHEESH LET GO—"

"OWCHIES!"

The four looked up. As Nicole was running away screaming, she didn't see a boy walking hurriedly the opposite direction, looking distracted; the two ended up crashing into each other, the girl yelping as she fell to the ground.

"Gah~!" the boy with an odd yellow mask yelled as he fell too. He saw the girl and immediately scrambled up, apologizing as he held his hand out. "Ah, I-I'm sorry! I should've watched where I was going..."

"Actually that was my bad too," Nicole laughed sheepishly, taking his hand and being heaved to her feet. She eyed his mask. "How cute, is that a Pikachu mask?"

"Pika-what?"

The rest of the group ran over to them. Link had crouched down and picked up a red envelope with gold décor. He turned it over, examining it a bit... it was addressed to a building in East Clock Town, and for some reason, it looked kinda familiar...

"Uh, that's mine," the masked boy snatched it away rather quickly. He eyed the black-haired girl. "Anyways, you're okay?"

Nicole blinked. "Yeah, just fine—"

"Good." He waved. "Well, bye!"

"See you later!" Nicole waved back.

"Doubt it..."

"Wha?"

"Nothing."

The group watched as he ran off, sticking the letter in a mailbox before running back up the ramp he came from.

It was quiet.

Link's eyes narrowed at the mailbox. So familiar, but he couldn't place it! Now he knew how Nicole always felt... oh yeah, speaking of her—

"We're back!" Ines announced as she returned, Gilbert holding up a few paper bags. "Okay, we ready?"

"As ready as ever," Tatl sighed, harassing Link again for his Ocarina of Time. "C'mon, chop chop!"

The Hylian swat her away as he raised his instrument. Guess he'd have to ask later...

–

` Great Bay Temple `

–

"Okay. Let's try this again," Link laughed as they stood in front of the entrance.

"I will be here if you need me," the turtle behind them repeated. Then it looked around, raising an eyebrow. Déjà vu?

Ines glanced at Gilbert. The Hispanic boy 'oh!'-ed as he remembered. "Hey, guys?" he suddenly spoke. The rest of the team looked at him. "Remember when Ines and I went to get supplies at that shop? We met a weird scarecrow there... and uh, don't be shocked, but... it seems like he knows some stuff about the Song of Time."

Everyone gasped. Tatl flitted up. "Like what?"

"He went around in riddles," Ines sweatdropped. "But basically I think he said that if we play the Song of Time twice, we'll jump forward half a day... and if we play it backwards, then we'll slow down the flow of time itself."

Everyone STARED.

"... I said not to be shocked," Gilbert laughed stupidly.

"THAT IS EXTREMELY USEFUL INFORMATION," Tatl gasped, grabbing at Gilbert's face. "LISTEN. THIS COULD HELP US FREE THE GUARDIANS EASIER. MAKE OUR ENTIRE QUEST FASTER! SO YOU BETTER NOT BE JOKING WITH US, OR ELSE I WILL POUND YOUR PRETTY BOY FACE IN SO FREAKING HARD—"

"We ain't joking, and get your paws off my hunny!" Ines twitched as she pried the fairy off.

Hayarpi tilted her head. "Well... if you think about it, it'd make a lot of sense for those effects to happen since the Song of Time has that kind of control anyway..." She looked to Link. "Maybe... we can test it now?"

Everyone exchanged glances. The Hylian nodded, taking out his ocarina again. "Well it wouldn't hurt, right?"

"As long as you don't play the jumping-forwards song, why not," the fairy nodded.

Link sweatdropped. Down, A, Right; Down, A, Right...

Everyone was shrouded by a familiar, soft white light. But instead of falling through a tower of clocks like they usually did when going back in time, the clocks surrounded the team so that they stood back to back with each other.

Then it seemed as if gravity got stronger, weighing the team down slightly as they swayed to the sounds of ticking...

Everyone fell over.

"NOW THAT WAS A TRIP," Gilbert muttered, eyes spinning.

"I feel fine," Tatl laughed at the rest of the team who'd collapsed. Apparently time-alteration doesn't affect fairies—lucky for her!

Link sat up, rubbing his head. "So, how do we know if it really slowed down?"

Brian looked at his watch again, observing the second hand. It moved like normal. "Well this didn't change..."

"I guess we can just look outside when we're done and compare it with Brian's watch later," Hayarpi suggested. "Either way, we should just get this temple started!"

Everybody nodded, proceeding past the first door. The seven were greeted with the colorful pipes and contraptions all around.

Silence.

"... I led the first one," Ines murmured.

"I led the second," Hayarpi added.

"And I have dibs on the last," Nicole coughed. "So either Brian or Gilbert."

"What the—you can't do that!" Brian grumbled.

~* She can do that. *~

Brian almost fell over at the ceiling. "Not fair, Keikya!"

~* Teehee! *~

"I have a feeling this is my dungeon," Gilbert declared, stepping forward. "Y'know, like how Ines's was Woodfall and Hayarpi's was Snowhead... so yeah, just follow me, everybody!" He looked at his friends.

They stared back, looking kind of scared.

Gilbert almost fell over. "Oh come on! I'll lead really good!"

They continued to stare, unsure... but Link nodded. "Well... if Gilbert really feels this is his dungeon, then we should be okay, right guys?" the Hylian laughed sheepishly.

The rest of the team nodded slowly.

"'Kay then... lead the way," Link coughed.

"Let us know if you feel any conflicting feelings regarding direction," Tatl muttered to Brian. The Spanish boy nodded.

Gilbert was looking around. "Okay, lessee..." he spotted a yellow switch on the water. "Ooh!" he slapped on his Zora Mask, swimming over and flipping it.

Everyone watched as the yellow waterspout that was turning the large waterwheel died. The wheel froze.

Silence part two.

"... I have a feeling that's supposed to be on," Hayarpi murmured sheepishly.

Gilbert sweatdropped and turned the switch again, the waterspout reactivating. Then he went over to his friends and looked around, trying to think of a way that'd lead to the next room. "Uuuuuuhhhhhhhhhh..."

–

` 30 Minutes Later... `

–

"... Uuuuhhhhhhhmmmmmmm—"

"YOU'RE FIRED!" Tatl blew up, shoving his face aside.

Gilbert gasped and shoved her back. "NO, I GOT IT!" he pointed to an underwater switch that nobody had ever seen before. "That's the one we should flip! And then that spout," he pointed to a waterspout at the right. "should activate, giving us access to the path on the second floor. And when we're on top of the platform, kill that Big Skulltula in the southwest, and pop the balloon underneath the platform we're standing on right now to free two of the stray fairies, which'll be purple."

Everyone STARED.

"I'll get the switch!" he grinned, hopping into the water.

"... Toldja not to underestimate him," Nicole murmured.

"YOU SAID NOTHING!" Everyone else twitched.

And so the team did everything Gilbert said, making it to the next room.

–
–

"AAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!" everyone screamed as they were whirled around in the mad current.

"THIS WAY!" Gilbert yelled, ducking into an exit. The six followed, being spit out into another room.

"Dude, not fun," Brian grumbled as he climbed onto a platform. The group shook off their nausea, killing some things in the room before proceeding out the other passage.

A map, a compass, a key and more crazy water currents later...

"I think I'm gonna be sick," Link gagged as they appeared in another room. Nicole handed him some Airborne. "Uh, what is that."

Then Hayarpi pointed to a door in the corner. "Hey, a locked door!"

Everyone climbed up from the water and entered. Immediately after their first step the door barred shut behind them. Tatl eyed the bars warily. "Tch. We know what this means..."

Ines made a face at the green goo dripping from the vents on the wall. "Ew. What is that?"

"Sewage?" Hayarpi muttered.

"Smells like updawg in here!" Nicole exclaimed.

Link eyed her. "What's updawg?"

"... AAAAAHAHAHAHHA!"

The Hylian looked confused. Everyone else slapped their foreheads. "Aaaanyway..." Tatl looked around the room. "WHEEEERE'S the mini boss already? Hey come out come out, wherever you a—" she shut up when something bouncy landed on the Hylian's head. She made a face.

Link blinked at her. "What?"

The earthlings looked too, then promptly screamed. "AAHHHHHH!"

"WHAAAAT!"

"EEWW THE THING ON YOUR HEAD!"

The blond gasped. "WHAT IS IT?"

"WE DON'T KNOW, BUT IT'S GROSS!"

"EWWW!"

"AAHHHH!" the earthlings screeched and ran away.

"AAAHHHH! AAAHHHHHH! WHAT'S ON MY HEAD? AAGGGHH! HELP MEEE!" the Hylian ran around in circles.

Tatl made a face. "You guys help him! What if it eats him or somethi—"

"NOOO I DON'T WANNA GET EATEN—" Link shut up as a pink thing landed in front of him. "Eh?"

"AHHH! ANOTHER ONE!" the earthlings screamed from a corner.

"Look, it's coming from up there!" Hayarpi pointed upwards.

Everyone followed her gaze... and made even more grossed-out faces. "I-Is that... a gigantic green eye," Gilbert gulped. Everyone else nodded slowly. "Surrounded... by other, smaller pink gooey eyes..." Everyone else nodded again. "Dude. Sick. In a bad way, I mean."

"How DAAAARE you!" the eye squealed like a fat lady in an opera. The team screamed, ultimately freaked out as it detached itself from the ceiling.

"We can take this!" Ines reassured as the pink bubbles formed a shield around the gigantic eye. "M... Maybe."

But then IT moved towards them.

"GYAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" everyone screamed and ran to a corner.

But of course IT followed.

"GYAAAHHHH!"

"No wait, we be WARRIORS!" Link forced himself to stop, turning around and unsheathing his sword. "DIE, FOUL BEING!" he raised his sword to stab at the bubbles, but before he could do any damage another bubble popped off and stuck to his arm. He ran away screaming the opposite direction trying to shake it off.

The earthlings sweatdropped at him but nodded, unsheathing their swords. Fine, might as well! They ran towards it. "AAAAYIYIYIYIYIYIYIYIIYIYI!"

"Take this!" Gilbert slashed at the eye. One popped off and started following him. "AAAHHH!"

"DIE DIE DIEEEEE!" Brian yelled as he tried prying three off at a time. But it simply wouldn't do and only one would pop off. "Gah! This is a waste of time—there's millions of little bubbles on it, how are we supposed to...!"

"IDEA!" Hayarpi grinned all of a sudden. She held out her hand. "Make sure your footing's firm, guys!"

Link blinked. "Why—" he shushed when Hayarpi waved her hand, and a burst of wind came forth from her body. A small tornado started forming in the room. The Hylian tried running away, but in the end he was too much of a slowpoke ("HEY!") and he got swallowed up in it. "WAAHHHH!"

The Armenian girl gasped. "NOOO, LINK!" She waved at him sheepishly. "Sorry?"

"HEEEELP!"

"Link!" Nicole gasped, jumping forward. She focused for a moment before firing her magic.

Link looked relieved as he saw the energy, thinking it'd be similar to when she protected him with her magic in Snowhead. "Oh, thank Din—" he shut up though as he was suddenly electrocuted by the energy. "AaaAhZZZjaklsjdaaAZZZ!"

Nicole looked appalled. "AHH! I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO THAT!" She waved at him sheepishly too. "Sorry?"

Brian slapped his forehead. Ines sighed in exasperation. "Sheesh, guys!" She snapped her fingers. Some roots burst out from the floor and grabbed Link from within the tornado, canceling out the electricity as well before putting him on the ground gently. (Ines seemed to have the most control over her powers.) She ran over to the blond. "Linkeh! Still alive?"

Link twitched. "Barely, yeah..."

"Sorry Link!" Nicole called out again. She looked at her hands, though. Her element was magic, which she noticed called forth two things: electricity and wavelengths. The electricity was used as offense, via a stinging silver ray. The wavelengths were used as defense, like her dome, or to cancel out another magic attack...

She clearly intended to use the wavelength. She'd never called out the wrong medium before, so why...

"Nicole, you okay?" Brian appeared beside her after popping a few more bubbles.

"Kinda—" she eyed him. "Whoa, you're asking me that?"

"What, is there somethin' wrong with asking?"

Nicole sweatdropped. "No, but usually you don't care—"

"YOU INSINUATIN' THAT I'M A BAD FRIEND!"

Nicole sweatdropped even more. "NO! THE HECK MAN—"

"You GUUUUYS!" came Gilbert's sob. "I CAN'T DO THIS BY MYSELF!"

Everyone looked—the entire time the rest of them were attacking and talking to each other, Gilbert managed to destroy the majority of pink bubbles so that now the gigantic green eye was showing. They blinked. "Actually you can, hun!" Ines laughed, taking out an arrow. "Aim at the eyeball?"

"Yups," Tatl filed her nails.

When the chance came, Ines fired, striking the eyeball dead center. It howled like a dying chihuahua but it wasn't done for yet—it turned to the group, enraged eye dripping with green goo.

They stared at it with even MOAR horror!

Then it charged.

"GAAAAHHHHH!" everyone screamed as they ran away.

"NiCOOOLE! This would be a good time for your magiiic!" Link yelled, still a little bruised from being electrocuted earlier.

Nicole eyed him guiltily but nodded, aiming her hand. Energy burst from her palm, but when it collided with the eyeball it only stumbled, but no electricity had emitted. Her magic had turned back into wavelengths. "Eh? What the—! BUT I WANTED ELECTRICITY THIS TIME!"

"WHY YOU TRIPPIN', NIC!" Ines screeched.

"YO I DON'T KNOOOW!"

Link twitched at his friends, yanking out his bow. "Fine, if not magic, then the old fashioned way!" he stopped at a corner, aiming at the eyeball until it was coming his direction. The eyeball noticed the stray member, changing its course to ram into the Hylian. Just when it was five feet from him however, Link fired, embedding another arrow into its pupil.

The eyeball howled again, backing up into the center of the room. Link looked to the others. "Guys, finishing kill!"

"But you usually do the finishing," Hayarpi sweatdropped.

"WHATEVER JUST STAB IT!"

"HAYAAAAAAA!" the earthlings screamed, running forward and stabbing the eye repeatedly and kicking it and punching it. Eventually it was reduced to a gross, oozing pile of... mushy green stuff.

Link made a face as he watched his friends back off, seeing green goo drip off their clothing. "... I said stab, not maul..."

Gilbert walked towards him. "Link. Gimme a hug?"

"No man, you're covered in eye goo—" he started running when Gilbert ran towards him. "GET AWAY!"

"AWWW, C'MON LINKEH! HUG ME LIKE A MAAAAN!"

The rest of the team turned as they heard a sparkly chime. Six chests appeared in the middle of the room. "Ooh, what do we have this time?" Tatl flittered over, kicking one open. Out floated... THE ICE ARROW!

"DA DA DA DAAAA!" everyone sang as they held it above their heads.

"What a cool item; no pun intended!" Hayarpi giggled, tucking the arrow spell in her pocket. "Shall we move on?"

"Please," Brian mumbled, grabbing Gilbert and Link and dragging them out of the room. The girls followed. Though Brian had to look back at the black-haired girl, who was still looking at her hands worriedly. Link did the same; the two exchanged glances...

–
–

"Gross, yuck, eww, lalala, this is nastyyy," Ines sang as she used the temple water to slather off the eyeball gunk.

Hayarpi pointed. "Missed a spot."

"Really?" the Colombian girl paused for a moment... before completely just dumping her head in the water. Gilbert reached over to help wash her hair again. Hayarpi and Tatl sweatdropped at them heavily.

Behind them, Brian was squeezing his shirt dry and Link was wiping the Gilded Sword. And in an odd instance, Nicole was alone on the other side of the platform, running some water through her hair to cleanse it. But her hair was fine really; the two eyed her expression looking slightly dazed...

Brian looked to the blond, nudging him. Link pointed at himself. Brian nodded. "Since I always make fun of her she doesn't take me seriously unless I'm annoyed."

Link almost fell over. "You need to work on that, then."

"Hmph."

"But okay... how 'bout you guys?"

"We'll go ahead," Hayarpi popped up next to them with the other three. "Since we flipped that one red switch we need to check if anything else in the temple changed."

"Oh... then..." The blond looked over.

Nicole was kicking her feet in the water. Slowly. It was weird; she never did anything slowly. If at all it was at a rapid pace, almost frantic, never knowing what she was really doing... but now...

Link nodded at the others. "'Kay, we'll catch up."

"We'll send Tatl to find you when you're done," Gilbert grinned as they walked off.

"I ain't your errand fairy!" Tatl snapped, but followed the four earthlings anyway.

The Hylian sweatdropped. He wandered over to Nicole, standing beside her.

She looked up at him. "Link?"

"Hey," he grinned, taking a seat.

"Sup foo," she grinned back. But then she looked around. "Wait... where'd everyone else go?"

He frowned a little. She didn't even notice them leaving; and usually she'd be the first to say, 'Hey! Why'd everyone ditch us? Those traitors!' or something like that... Link paused for a moment, thinking.

Ah, okay... he knew how to initiate this...

"Listen..." he started. "When we were fighting the gigantic eyeball earlier, your powers were kinda..."

She hung her head. "Sorry for electrocuting you."

Link pat her back. "It's okay!"

"No, it's not!" she sat up, looking at her hands. "I never, ever called forth the wrong medium before. And I would never, EVER electrocute you, Linky-poo, not even on accident! I'm confident of this gift Keikya gave me, but that one time... for some reason..."

Link nodded, but had to tilt his head a bit. Confidence was one thing, but how can she say that she'd never do something, even on accident? Accidents always happen... as if there was a condition that'd assure her she'd never accidentally injure him—

"Maybe I'm losing my touch?" Nicole cackled heartily. Then she immediately hung her head again. "Or well. I was never at a 'prime' anyway, so..."

The Hylian sweatdropped. She was making herself depressed; time he stepped in. He cleared his throat. "Hey, yanno what? Farore visited me in a dream last night."

"Did you tell her I said hi?"

"How was I supposed to know you wanted to say that until now," the blond laughed. "But um... that's not what she came for. She told me something about all your powers..."

She eyed him in interest. He continued.

"Y'see, when the Goddesses of Termina gave you your 'gifts', all they did really was awaken your innate powers. Like how the Triforce of Courage is to me, the Goddess Pieces are the same to you guys. The powers should come naturally without any problems. Buuut... the only time you'd have issues controlling them, are when you're uneasy..."

"As in... shaking, cuz you're scared?"

"Err, no... more like, in here." He pointed at his chest. "In your heart."

Link glanced over at her. Nicole was staring down at the water again.

"You've been kinda quiet lately... aaanndd... it'd suck if your powers keep backfiring on you during the rest of this quest..."

She nodded guiltily.

"Sooo... is something bothering you?"

"..."

"... Well that's a dumb question, obviously something's bothering you," The Hylian sweatdropped at himself. He didn't have a lot of chances to really console anybody, so it's not like he had a lot of experience...

The girl gave a sigh. Link tried again.

"I think if you say something... then you'll feel better."

A small pause. Then Nicole reached into her pocket, withdrawing her notebook. Link blinked, surprised at its appearance. What, was she gonna write it down or somethi—

He almost fell over when she took out a pen and opened a page. He eyed the note as it was shoved in his face.

'I wanna tell you but I can't say it out loud.'

Link blinked.

He held his hand out. Nicole gave him the pen. Some scribbling, then Link handed her back the note, smiling sheepishly.

'I can read, can't I?'

She had to smile too. The blond grinned and nudged her shoulder.

After a moment Nicole opened a new page, giving a big sigh... and then started to write.

–
–

Meanwhile, the other five were wandering around the temple looking for any changes. "This place is the same," Hayarpi said as she peeked into a previous room.

Next room. "Nothing here either," Brian grumbled.

Next. "Same," Ines yawned.

Five rooms and no changes later...

"GYAAAHHHH!" Gilbert yelled in exasperation as he fell to his knees and pulled at his cobalt hair. "This temple is so... so... CONFUSSSINNGGG!"

"As are all water temples," Ines sighed. "Seriously, why is it always like this! Dammit, Nintendo!"

"What's a 'Nintendo'?" Tatl asked.

The earthlings looked at each other. "Uhhh..."

"An ice cream flavor," Gilbert murmured.

Ines, Hayarpi and Brian gave him 'WTF' looks. He shrugged. "What? Y'know, Nintendo-flavored ice cream... tastes kinda like mint, chocolate and uh... mushrooms... you can only get it from this guy named Mario! He has this pet, its pink and round, and it eats everything. His girlfriend always gets kidnapped! Y'know?"

"..." Tatl scoffed. "Sounds unappetizing."

"Speaking of ice cream, I'm kinda hungry," Ines sighed, sitting down. "I could use a frozen treat right now."

"Frozen—waitasec." Gilbert grabbed Ines by the shoulders. "HONEY, YOU'RE A GENIUS!"

"Thanks!" Ines giggled. She looked over at Hayarpi and Brian with a '?' look.

Gilbert whipped out an ice arrow. "Do you guys think this'll work on water?"

"Unless chemistry betrays us, it should," Hayarpi nodded.

"AWESOME! 'KAY GUYS FOLLOW ME!"

–
–

"Wazzaaap!"

The four earthlings sweatdropped at the sole blue Chuchu standing in front of the 2nd red switch.

"Wazzaaaap!"

Then they blinked, turning around at the new voice. Link and Nicole were standing at the entrance, the Hylian waving. "Hey, found you guys!"

"We were searching for hoouurrss!" Nicole sobbed, draping herself over the nearest person, which happened to be Brian.

"It always HAPPENS to be me!" Brian twitched. He eyed the black-haired girl though. "You're back to normal?"

Nicole grinned. "Yeah, kinda!"

"... I don't know whether to be relieved or annoyed..."

"Awww Bwian!" she cackled and squeezed him tighter.

"GAH NIC LET GOOOO!"

Hayarpi giggled at them. Ines laughed. "Sheesh Brian, she's your sister, get used to it!"

Behind them Link gasped. "Wha? Brian and Nicole are siblings?"

"No, but they kinda look alike so it's a running joke we have," Hayarpi sweatdropped at the Hylian. "Don't be so gullible, Link!"

The Hylian sniffed.

"Just kidding. Gimme a hug!"

"Yaaaaayy!" The blond squee-ed and tackled the Armenian girl happily.

Ines and Gilbert sweatdropped at their friends. What was going on again? Ines 'oh'-ed as she remembered. "So! Everything's really ok?"

Link nodded, gesturing at Nicole. "Yep, she wrote an essay about it."

"Writing it out made me feel a lot better," Nicole sweatdropped. "I'll show you guys later. But yeah I'm good now!"

"You should get an LJ or something," the blue Chuchu advised.

"I know huh." The girl did a double take. "Wait a sec—A CHUCHU!" She unsheathed her swords. The Chuchu squealed in horror.

"Wait, don't! It seems nice!" Gilbert sweatdropped, lowering Nicole's sword.

"Nice?"

"Yeah!" Gilbert looked to the Chuchu, then gestured at the red switch behind it. "Uh, if you don't mind, can we go to the switch?"

"The wha?"

"Switch! Behind you!"

"Switch behind me?" it looked, gasping. "OAHHH! There IS a switch behind me! Like, sure!" it hopped aside, making room.

Link raised an eyebrow at its kindness. "Err... thanks..." he approached the red platform, but then noticed there wasn't a ladder to climb it. He looked around; no hookshot target, no stairs... he turned and eyed the Chuchu again.

It was smiling at him. ":D"

Hayarpi was still looking around. "Weird. How do we get up there, then? There's really nothing here besides the... jiggly... blob..." she drifted off and eyed the Chuchu too. Everyone followed her gaze.

The Chuchu grinned wider. ":D"

"..." Link took out his bow.

":D?"

The Hylian coughed. "C... can you stand over there?"

"Huh? Next to the platform?"

"Yeah..."

"Okay!" The Chuchu hopped over. ":D"

Everyone looked down. Link raised an ice arrow. "I'm sorry."

":D For what—"

The blond fired, turning the Chuchu into a block of ice.

"D:"

Everyone sobbed, muttering apologies as they climbed the ice block and flipped the switch on top. They looked around, watching as the water started pumping through the pipes. Nodding, they climbed back down and reached the doorway again—

"Bye guys!"

They turned around. The Chuchu was grinning, and unfrozen! They sobbed in relief. "YOU'RE NOT DEAD!"

"Why would I be. :D"

Hayarpi 'phew'-ed. "Wow, I thought by freezing him, he'd explo—"

Link covered her mouth. "Errrrr, no reason!"

The Chuchu nodded. "Mmkay. Good luck on your quest! :D"

Everyone laughed, hugging it slightly before leaving. Just because one looked like an enemy on the outside didn't make them one...

–
–

In one room the team encountered a big frog, in which Tatl gave them very useful advice:

"That's a Gekko. It gets itself all worked up and then it just runs around. I hate it."

The team fell over at her. Brian's eye twitched. "How about its weakness?"

"Like I'd know."

"USELESS!" Ines yelled.

"ExcUUUUUUse me, but if it weren't for ME, then BLAHBLAHBLAH—"

"Well yanno IF YOU WOULD BLAHBLAHETCETERA—"

Nicole attempted to shove them apart while the rest of the team sighed, taking out their bows.

A few minutes later...

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" everyone screamed as they froze the gigantic jelly on the ceiling, and now it was falling to crush them!

"Physics, people!" Hayarpi twitched as she used her air powers to whisk everyone to safety. They 'oh yeah'-ed, changing their strategy.

Even more later...

"Ribbit," a little pink frog croaked after the team had defeated the Gekko.

The girls squee-ed. "How cuuute!"

Brian kicked it. The rest of the team gasped in horror, but then the frog hacked out a big golden key with a red jewel in the middle. It croaked at Brian in thanks.

"Well, all we need to do now is find the boss!" Brian grinned, picking it up.

"Uh, yeah," Gilbert laughed as he led the team back outside. But then he realized; they'd visited every accessible room in the temple so far. Nothing really changed or looked different, nor were there signs of a boss door anywhere.

He gulped.

Maybe if they walked around for a bit, they'd find something new...?

–

` A Few Hours Later... `

–

After hours of wandering around the temple, everyone was back in the first room.

"You guys?"

Link looked up from dumping his head in the water. "What."

"Uhhhhmmm..." Gilbert put the dungeon map down. "I... don't know where to go."

Pause.

Brian grabbed his collar.

"AHH DON'T KILL ME—"

"WHY DIDN'T YOU ADMIT THAT EARLIER!"

"I DIDN'T WANT TO DISAPPOINT YOU GUYS AS A LEADEEEERR!"

"I WOULD'VE RATHER BEEN DISAPPOINTED INSTEAD OF WANDERING FOR HOURS FOLLOWING SOME BLIND GUY!"

"Hey!" a random blind guy sitting on top of a red pipe snapped.

Brian eyed him. "No offense."

"None taken." The man stood and walked off.

But the team gasped as they watched him. The man walked completely off the red pipe, but instead of falling into the water far below a waterspout in the corner caught him and spit him back onto a platform. The group sighed in relief.

"Anyway." Brian held up Gilbert's collar again. "Give me back my 5 hours—!"

Link stuck himself between them. "HEY!"

"WHAT!"

"... Is it just me, or was that waterspout not working before."

Everyone blinked. They looked, spotting how the waterspout led to a red platform, with a red switch on top. "Yaaay, thank goodness for the disabled!" Gilbert cheered, yanking Brian off before hopping over and flipping the switch.

The seven watched as the red spout beneath the waterwheel started up. However, since it was on the opposite side of the yellow spout, it canceled out the counterclockwise movement and the waterwheel stuck.

Everyone stared.

They looked at the red spout. They looked at the yellow spout. They looked at the waterwheel, then the red switch they just flipped. Then they looked around the room, spotting Skulltulas, pipes, and the yellow switch from earlie—

The blue-haired boy hopped off the platform, diving into the water and swimming to the first switch he flipped in this entire temple. He grinned at his friends.

They grinned back.

"Mwahahaaha! I'm on a roll!" Gilbert cackled as the yellow spout turned off, allowing the red spout to turn the waterwheel the opposite direction. "Hehehe! This should be a piece of cake from here on out!"

–

` A Few More Hours Later... `

–

"I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GOOOOOO!" Gilbert sobbed as he stomped on the dungeon map like the defeated temple leader he was.

"I HATE WATER TEMPLEESSSS!" Brian screamed as he kicked a pipe. It burst open and spit water at him. "OWW! GRRRRR!" he started beating the pipe up with his bar mace.

Hayarpi ran over to calm him down while Ines went to her own boyfriend, patting his arm. "Aww it's okay, Gilly-hun! At least we found the boss door and flipped a green switch..."

"... Which did nothiiiing," Nicole sing-songed. Gilbert crouched into fetal position. Ines took out her hookshot and started chasing Nicole around the room.

Link laughed at them though; he'd take insanity over angst any day!

But of course, Tatl was flitting around impatiently. "Dengit, can't we have a hint or something!" She started yelling into the room. "Hey, SEEEEETH!"

"WHERE!" Nicole gasped, then squeaked as Ines got to her and tackled her into the water.

Tatl ignored them and kept yelling. "SETH, DENGIT! I KNOW YOU'RE HERE SOMEWHERE!" The fairy darted around the corners of the room. "Come out and tell us what to do! HEY! ARE YOU LISTENING? GAHH! WHY DO YOU NOT COME WHEN WE ACTUALLY NEED YOU—"

She squeaked as she barely dodged a random ice arrow. Her eye twitched as she turned on the team.

"WHO DID THAT!"

They stared back in confusion, none of their bows out. Tatl blinked. Then she heard the sound of something freezing, turning to see the top of the waterfall had frozen over, giving access to a ladder it'd been blocking.

She was quiet.

"..."

"Thank you!" Hayarpi called out to the room, giggling.

Gilbert stood up. "OH! Frozen waterfall gave me an idea. FIRST THAT LADDER, THEN FOLLOW MEEEE!"

Link nodded, plucking Ines and Nicole out from the water. Off they went... again!

–
–

"Ahh, thank goodness for mysterious amethyst-eyed guides," Ines sighed in relief as they reached the final room again. The green spout was finally working, giving access to the boss door.

"Seriously. Took us hours, but here we are!" Link looked to his friends. "All fifteen fairies?"

Nicole held out a glowing purple bag.

"Quivers loaded?"

Everyone held out a bunch of arrows.

"Magic filled? Healthy hearts? Enough bombs, how about Deku Nuts—"

"JUST OPEN THE DOOR ALREADY!" the earthlings twitched.

Link cackled, taking out the boss key and sticking it in the door. It twisted, the lock fell off, and the seven entered a small chamber with a hole in the ground.

"Ooh, Dodongo's Cavern déjà vuuuu," Gilbert laughed at the hole. He started walking around it, inspecting.

Hayarpi looked down. "Eek, it looks deep. Okay, this is what we'll do so we won't break any bone—"

"AGH!" Gilbert yelled as he tripped on air, falling right in.

Everyone gasped. "GILBERT!"

"AAAHHHHH!" In Gilbert's frenzy he grabbed the back of Brian's shirt.

"WHATTHEHELLMAAAAN!" Brian cursed as he fell.

"HONEEEEY!" Hayarpi screamed, losing all common sense as she dove after him.

"DON'T DO IITT!" Link grabbed Hayarpi's leg but fell anyway.

"LINKY-POO!" And Nicole didn't have any common sense in the first place, so in she went.

"... Dammit, peer pressure!" Ines finally hopped in too. Tatl just followed them as if it were a normal thing... which was likely the case for her. Was it weird that she was getting used to these freaks?

Everyone screamed like little girls as they fell, then finally landed in a gigantic body of water.

Link coughed as he surfaced, scanning the new area. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What the... why are we...?"

The rest looked around too, seeing how they had landed in what looked to be the middle of Great Bay. However it was slightly different; the GB scientist's lab was gone, replaced with a tiny rectangular platform. Also the water was darker, the sky was overcast with dreary clouds, and fog littered the entire area...

Ines eyed the surroundings warily. "I am not liking this impending sense of doom all over."

"GURGLEGURGLE,someonehelpALKDFKJDFS...!"

Brian grabbed Nicole and dragged her to the platform, the girl gagging as she sat up and coughed out water. He sighed. "You seriously need to learn how to swim!"

"S-Sorry? (cough,HACK)"

"Uhhhhhh, you guys!" Hayarpi suddenly said loudly, voice shaking.

Link looked at her. "What is it?"

"I..." she gulped. "D-Don't panic..."

"You're the one that looks like you're panicking," Ines sweatdropped.

The Armenian girl held back a sob. "Yeah, b-but that's cuz... I think... t-there's something... on my leg."

Everyone froze.

"Sting ray?" Gilbert gasped.

Brian elbowed him. He looked to his girlfriend, going towards her. "Honey, just stay calm...!"

"A..."

"Breathe, Hayarpi!"

"A...!"

"Think happy thou—"

"EEEKKK!" Hayarpi burst out screaming, flailing insanely in the water. She made a dash for the tiny platform Nicole sat on, hopping on it too, then the two of them looked horrified as they spotted what was hugging her leg.

"Hi." A baby red shark smiled.

"AAAAAAIIIIIIEEEEEE!"

"DIIEEEE~!" Nicole screamed, aiming her hand at it. Energy shot out, knocking the shark off Hayarpi's leg and back into the water.

"SHARKS! SHARKS! AAAAHHHHHH!" everyone else sobbed as they all scrambled for the platform.

Tatl's eye twitched. "IDIOTS, YOU ALL WON'T FIT ON THAT TINY—"

"AAAAHHHH!" everyone screamed as they all ended up falling off the platform due to all the shoving.

The fairy pulled at her hair. Everyone was back in the water; but then suddenly Ines screamed, feeling something against her waist. She looked, spotting another baby red shark snatching something off her waist before swimming off. "Hey—HEY! COME BACK WITH THAT!"

"Wha? What happe—" Link shut up as he watched his own Zora Mask be pick-pocketed. "No!"

"GRR, LET GO!" Brian fought the shark over his, but another one headbutt his chest, forcing him to let go and the other shark to swim away with its treasure.

By then Gilbert, Hayarpi and Nicole's mask were gone too. The water started to shake. The little platform rose out of the water, reaching three stories in the air before just floating there. Nicole sobbed as she sat on Gilbert's shoulders, reaching a hand towards it. "Nooo... my salvation...!"

"That's okay. I'll end your suffering quickly."

Everyone froze, slowly turning around in the water.

Gyorg smiled a sharp, toothy smile at them. "'Sup."

"..."

No Zora Masks. No platforms. One of their team members couldn't swim, and it was strategically dumb to use any of their weapons while swimming at the same time.

And there they were, in the dark water, surrounded by baby sharks and a Gargantuan Masked Fish.

"... WAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" everyone sobbed and started swimming opposite directions.

Well, they were screwed.

A/N: XD;

Link: How mean. XD

A/N: What? A challenge is good once in a while... teehee!

Ryo: Heh, well anyways... everyone make sure to check out the drawings as usual!

Niagra: Yep~ please review, and thanks for reading!

A/N: 'Til ze next chappy!

- nagami c.