PART EIGHTEEN - A BLADE OF HONOR

There was a light touch of water on the tip of his nose that stirred him. Opening his eyes, he found himself staring up at a leek in a metallic seal on the ceiling. He realized he came from that ceiling and remembered what he was doing.

Someone groaned besides him and he glanced over to see the princess, dry and well, just like him.

He winced when he got up, the wounds he suffered from Mathilda still ached. "Hey, Ruto," he said, his voice rough and tired. How long have they been here sleeping?

He shook her shoulder roughly and called out her name. "Link?" She mumbled sleepily. Slowly, her eyes opened, a bit logy until they widened. "Is this…?" She breathed out, sitting up.

They were in a circular dank room, lit only by torches shrouded in pure blue light. It was quiet with the occasional sound of water dripping from the ceiling.

"We actually made it," Link said, with the beginning of a laugh but it soon dawned to him that his head felt empty. He noticed his cap was gone and with it a certain fairy.

Ruto's eyes widened when she saw Link tapping on his head in panic. She looked around frantically, gasping. "Where is she? Don't tell me the current—" Ruto stood up and looked around. "Katie?!"

"I'm sure she's fine," Link replied. No way he could get rid of that sprit that easy. He already tried that. "She's probably with the Guardian."

"How do you know?"

Link gave her a brief summary of a similar scenario that happened in Lost Woods Temple with the Guardian Desmond. It did calm her down. "If you sound so sure…but why doesn't the Guardian come out to help us? We are here to warn them after all."

"Excuse me I also need to get my gem." He noted her glare. "Look the only way we can get to the Guardian is if we get through this trail. It can't be a trail if you talk to the one who made it in the first place."

"But my home is in danger!"

"Desmond only appeared after I finished the trail so maybe it's the same here?"

"You don't sound too sure."

"Hey, I only went through one of these." Link groaned. "Now I need to solve all the bloody puzzles again."

Really why were people obsessed with puzzles? Just give him the Boss Key and let him finish it.

"I'm coming with you."

The idea didn't sound entertaining. "This is a trail for one person so I'm not sure—"

She snorted. "You think I'm going to sit here like some damsel in distress and let you have all the fun."

Link frowned. "But—"

"This trail is made for the hero," she pointed out. "And since you're no such thing then surely it's fine if you don't go by the rules."

Even if she had a point he didn't like the idea of exposing her to any danger. But then again she was always strong headed when it came to her home. He can't cajole with her otherwise. With an exaggerated sigh, he gestured to the door. "Well, ladies first then."

He loved how she looked taken back. He never agreed with her ideas so quickly and she even looked ready to argue. "Oh what a gentlemen."

Link tapped on the door and it lifted up on its own much to Ruto's amazement. "Just stay close," he told her. "I can tell this place will be a pain."

"You should worry about yourself."

"It's kind of hard to do that when I made two vows."

A dark bloviated corridor was stretched as far as his eyes could see with some white mist curling from the ground. His boots sunk into a few inches of water and he let out a curse. Well, what was he expecting at the bottom of Hylia's Lake?

But it did feel strange to touch water again. The whole experience with the scale was just so mind blowing. Was he really at the bottom of the world's deepest lake?

The corners were decorated with spider webs and more torches flickered with blue light, making the water glimmer like sapphires. As soon as they both stepped out of the room, the door behind them slammed shut startling Ruto but not surprising to Link since he expected the temple to lock them out from the most likely safest room.

"Yeah, you get used to that. Just wait till you see where they hide their keys."

She cleared her throat, turning a bit pink. "So long as you know what you're doing." She then glanced at him. "What are we doing exactly?"

Link rubbed his hands. "Well, first thing to do is explore. Every detail counts. We need a map and we need a compass. They're both in chests, don't ask me why I really don't know, then we need to take care of the boss."

"What?"

"Trust me it gets better than this. Apparently the main goal of this trail is to go through shit just to beat some big monster that the Guardian can't get rid of." He snorted. "So much for being a damn Guardian. What the hell are the doing, just sucking their thumbs and waiting for some hero to do their shit?"

"How do we beat this…boss monster?"

"If it's anything like the first one then it should be a little easy since you just have to use the weapon this temple gives you. I don't know. I just went through one of these and Katie only told me a couple of things."

Ruto glanced at the creepy corridor with a shudder. "Alright, then how do we reach this boss monster?"

"Remember the compass? Once we get that, chests will start appearing on the map. In one of those chests will be the Boss Key but we don't know which one so we have to open them all up.

She looked uneasy. "This is a rather laborious task. I almost feel sorry for you."

"I feel sorry for me as well."

Her eyes went over to his hilt and he knew what she was going to say. "What about the holy blade?" She crossed her arms. "And I'm not seeing the one I bought for you."

Link chuckled nervously, scratching his head. "Yeah, Mathilda got a good one on me."

Ruto wasn't amused. "Are you serious? How are you supposed to fight? Or are you expecting me to save your idiotic bum?"

He just grinned. "Relax, I'll just take the weapon from the first monster that jumps on us." His smile lost its confidence when he looked around. He could handle ominous vibes, the corridor was dark and cold but he could handle that. What he didn't like was silence—no footsteps, no snorting of Bokoblins or Moblins, no squeaking bats, nothing of the sorts. Pure silence was never a good thing. "Speaking of monsters, we should've seen one by now."

"Link, please don't test our luck."

Too late.

A warm sensation tickled in his pocket. He winced when he pulled out the Pirate's Charm. The gem was glowing and radiating immense heat, forcing him to juggle it on his hands with a yelp. With each second it glowed brighter, grew much hotter and started to steam, turning blue to white. He soon had it passed to Ruto who querulously stated that she didn't want it and was now juggling it. The gem then was dropped into the ankle-deep water. Immediately the water where it had fallen began to boil and steam. Link and Ruto both took a step back.

"Is that normal?" Ruto asked, the discomfort squeaking in her voice.

A powerful light beamed out too strong to be seen directly. He shielded his eyes with his forearm and Ruto followed suit. When the light died, Link wished he kept his mouth shut.

"Ta-da!" Like a magician who preformed a surprising trick, she spread her arms wide with a snake tangled around her body. "You thought I wouldn't miss the show, my lovelies?" Mathilda sang gleefully.

"Shit," Link said.

Shit indeed.


Katie wasn't having the best time of her life. She wasn't with another Guardian as Link presumed and she sorely wished she were. She wished that this entire experience would be just like Desmond, away from violence and the stress. Or better yet, she should be at Link's side, guiding him through the temple like she was supposed to do. It's finally her chance to show him how useful she really was.

"Curses!" She shouted when the same horde of monsters that have been chasing her for the past hour finally caught up.

The room she was occupied in was enormous made of entirely of water and with only a few stepping stones to cross over it. There were piranhas in the water, leaping out and nearly snapping her from the air. Since she had been flying frantically for hours in sheer panic, the strength in her wings were nearly drained making it a struggle to go any higher.

She was zapping in and out of rooms using odd pipes to squeeze her way through. There was a whole network of those strange pipes, and it took her to several rooms but none with Link and Ruto. She couldn't find them anywhere.

She couldn't recall on what happened or how she got separated from them. All she could remember was being sucked into a pipe and everything went black. She had to leave behind Link's cap, which was too heavy with water to carry.

What was a small fairy to do? She's not cut out for this type of work!

She noticed there was a platform higher up which could only be reached by a hookshot. Katie guessed that one of the items from this temple is a longer hookshot, similar to the Hero of Time.

The monsters were ever so persistent. Chasing her were Moblins, Like Likes and Boboblins. No matter where she turned to, every corner of every path she always found a hideous creature that would join the others in pursuing her.

The flapping of her wings were slowly ceasing and the trepidation rose inside of her in shades of pink and white. If only Link were here so he could clobber all of them! Ruto would carry her safely in her hands and the three of them would stay together in this cursed temple.

In a desperate attempt, Katie squeezed through a crack on the wall and prayed to everything holy that nothing would see her. She could see their shadows dancing and could hear them snorting in confusion. They stood there for a moment before moving on to the next room, obliviously passing by her. Thank the Goddesses.

In the next few minutes her wings regained their strength and now she cautiously fluttered at the ceiling, other the monsters' heads.

The Water Temple had been her favorite temple and she was so excited to guide the hero this time. She knew she shouldn't despise the Goddesses' creations but heavens help her she hoped to find the nearest exit.

After wondering around in what felt like forever, she noticed a brown chest on a higher platform. She squealed out of delight as she came for a closer look. It could be a map or even a compass. This could be her chance to prove herself.

Opening it was an ordeal, as she had to whack herself on it to get it open. The chest was resplendent once it open and the light were much too bright to look at directly. Once it deemed down, she eagerly looked only to be disappointed.

Inside was nothing more than a small hammer. "What is this?!" She complained

That made no sense. Hammers were found in the Fire Temple, usually made of steel too. What was it doing in the Water Temple, which has rooms that can only be accessible by a long hookshot?

And more importantly where is the mini boss?

So many questions and so many disappointments, this wasn't at all like her books or any of the previous hero's journeys as well. The hammer weighed her down but it was still of use. The top was outlined by blue, matching the handle as well. The designs were so lost on her. It looked nothing like the hammer the heroes once used. It was way too small, almost as if it were made for her.

Perhaps she could take it to Link and let him deal with all of this mess. Figuring out puzzles was her job and doing the work was his.

Something moved behind her and she turned just in time to see a monster with a sword raised up. She fluttered out of the way with a yelp and because of its miss the Bokoblin nearly lost its balance. Katie took the opportunity to swing the hammer down and watch the monster fall off the platform.

She giggled. "It might not be so bad."

As if to challenge that statement, a Moblin approached her. With an enormous wooden shield, an inarguably large belly that danced whenever it moved, it went at her. The hammer made it difficult to move upward quickly and so she skirted to the right.

Growling at her, he moved again and his movements were slow and predictable. She dodged again and fustigated its head numerous times before it collapse.

"Take that!" She yelled at the pile of black flakes. "That's what happens when you mess with the fairy of the Goddesses!"

If only Link could see her now! Maybe she won't need him after all.


"I thought that thing could be used only for communication!"

Mathilda giggled at Link's dismay. "Oh it was until Charles did a bit of an upgrade." She was bouncing the gem with her hand and stuffed it into her pocket. "Didn't think you'd be stupid enough to take it, hero, but I always knew you were a greedy boy."

She played him. This bitch

Even after her fight with the wolves, she was still doing well and Link despised her to the core. He was still hurting from that fight.

Ruto shook her head. "No, you can't be here," she uttered. "You can't…"

Mathilda faked a pout. "And here I was, missing you greatly." She smiled widely at Link. "I can't tell you how happy I am that you took the Pirate Charm. I wouldn't know what else to do. I mean no one but the hero could have gone to the temple. Charles might have killed me, you see, he's not very fond of losing."

Link groaned. "Oh my days, just what do you want, lady? I'm kind of busy."

"Oh don't worry I won't take up much of your time. And as for what I want, I think your princess there knows exactly what I tend to do."

Ruto was motionless, only staring at the grinning commander. Her eyes darkened and without a second thought she lunged herself to the enemy with her spear. "Leave my people alone, you monster!" She screamed.

Mathilda moved quickly to the side with no trouble at all. The spear dug deep into the ground and the madness left Ruto as she panicked and tried to pull it out. This left her wide open for the commander to deliver a fatal blow. It was Link's hookshot that snatched Ruto away before Mathilda could get rid of her.

"I love that look," the commander purred at the princess. "That look of fire in your eyes princess. Oh your amber eyes look so stunning!"

Link had to use duress to keep Ruto away from Mathilda. "I'll kill you! By the Goddesses, I will kill you!"

The commander grinned. "Now is that how a princess should present herself?" Mathilda clicked her tongue and waved a finger. "No, no, no, not at all but now that I think about it after tonight you won't be a princess of anything. In fact, might I crown you the Princess of Bones tonight?"

Link shoved Ruto behind him. "You're dealing with me now. Leave her and her people out of this."

The snake reverted to its' whip form. "How about you try and stop me, hero?"

The only other weapon he had at hand was his bow and arrow. Ruto aggressed again at the enemy much to Link's dismay. She attacked with such contravention that Link never knew she had in her. Mathilda was having the time of her life, easily evading any and all attacks, kicking the princess whenever there was an opening for her.

Even with the both of them attacking, they still couldn't scratch Mathilda.

Link never fought with someone on his side before, always preferring to remain a lone wolf. So he didn't know how to fight with someone's help but even then he knew they were doing a poor job at it. They fought out of sync, out of element; both had the same intentions but carried them out in different ways. Even when Ruto took the most blows it was her irascibility that ignored through the pain.

They're not winning this fight, he knew this well when he saw nothing but complete animosity in her eyes, it didn't represent her at all. It was almost like she was another person. Her continued persistence to defeat Mathilda made circumvention damn near impossible. She wouldn't listen to one word from him and Mathilda was always coming between them so he never had the chance to smack the princess to her senses.

Ruto was kicked again by Mathilda and toppled over Link. Water soaked his tunic and the air was punched out of him. The princess quickly got on her feet, her legs and arms covered in cuts and blood but that didn't concern her. Her safety and her life meant very little to her.

Link brought it upon himself to grab her by the arm, making sure to put enough pressure in his grip to divert her attention from the commander. "Are you crazy?!" He yelled in her face. "Use your head for once!"

"She can't be in this temple!" Ruto's eyes flickered with fear. "Link, please, we need to stop her before she—"

Blood exploded on her face. It splattered on Link's stunned face. It felt like everything was in slow motion and he was helpless to do anything. All he could do was stare at her with wide eyes. Ruto was on her feet, a look of surprise on her. No scream of pain, nothing. Just that big 'uh oh'. Her body crumbled, leaning against him and she would have slid off if his arm didn't go around her waist.

Link just stared in horror at Mathilda who pulled back her bloodied whip and laughed in victory. It was Ruto's muttering, her eyes lolling in their sockets that assured him that she was still alive.

He brought his eyes back at Mathilda and they burned with hatred. He didn't care for this domain or for their king but Ruto….

"You're going to wish you haven't done that." The venom dripped in his tone. A part of the rational side of his head screamed for him to run. He was in no condition to fight.

Just as Ruto have been earlier, Link was too bent on the idea of watching Mathilda die to listen to any logic. He laid Ruto on the side and lunged at Mathilda with his dagger at hand. He wanted to crack her head like an egg and watch her suffer. The idea of her screams and her cries made him grin sinisterly.

Mathilda didn't move and only stood there with her arms crossed. If Link had been in his right mind, he would have noticed her without that blasted snake. It came at him from behind, tying around his neck and bringing him to his knees just in front of her heels.

"Hello, darling." She used her heel to gently lift Link's chin so that he would meet her eyes. "You know I've really come to like your face, so handsome and square, just the right shape. I might get Charles to hang your face on my wall."

She was going to him and then kill Ruto or perhaps let the princess drown in her own blood. Dammit. He should've escaped when he had the chance, they could've found a place to hide. Link gurgled out for air and glared up at her. She had to be the vilest women he had ever met in his life.

With one swift of his wrist, the dagger came in too fast for Mathilda to react. It went across her leg, opening wound larger than he had anticipated. He didn't think his dagger would do anything but then again she was Hylian. No amount of dark magic or strength would change that.

The snake loosened around his neck as it withered in pain like its master. He was sorely tempted to bury the dagger deep into her skull and use the snake to beat her to death. The sadistic idea thrilled him but it died down when Ruto's soft voice cried out, so small that he had nearly missed it. Time to split.

He threw the princess on his shoulder, praying that she's still alive and that she won't let him do all the hard stuff.

Mathilda was outraged and yelled that he'll pay dearly for that.

"Oh shut up!" He couldn't help but say. She suffered through wolves, she took a dagger to the heart and fell off the freaking cliff two hundred feet above Hylia's Lake and now she's crying over a wound. Boo fucking hoo.

He knew there'd be a slaughter tonight if she managed to catch them.

Water was everywhere, leaking from the ceiling, flooding the ground till it reached his ankles. The halls were endless. He kept making turns, hoping to lose them but Ruto's blood left a trail for Mathilda. As he festinated frantically, he could hear the patter of Mathilda's footsteps coming in close.

He stopped and his heart stopped with him. Dead end. He didn't know what to do from here. How can he survive with Ruto with him? He did make an oath to keep her safe. Not like he'd let her die if he didn't but what more could he do at this point?

Suddenly, Gilly tied herself around his neck once more from behind. Ruto slipped off his shoulder and he was pulled back. The dagger fell from his hand and he inefficiently tried to squirm his way out. The snake pulled him right to Mathilda's feet once more and the commander cracked a smile akin to a killer.

His hopes of escape died as she brought up her heel, intending to break his skull and end it there.


Katie takes it back. She needed Link and Goddesses help her she needed him now.

She was faced up against a Yellow ThuThu, a nascent creature that evolved from Chuchus. They come in varieties of different types and sometimes they might even be of use. Red ThuThus were expediency as they are also red potions. Hopefully Link and Ruto run into them but yellow ones were the most irritating ones.

But the Green ThuThus were the most dangerous out of all of them. Hopefully, Link and Ruto would never cross paths with one. Without Katie's guidance and knowing how stupid Link could be, they could be in trouble.

Katie debated that this was the worst day of her life. While she considered meeting Link the worst day of her life, today ranks pretty close to that.

The grotesque monster was a massive big blob of slime that tried in vain to keep its shape. The yellow ThuThu are often slow to detect enemies, they wouldn't notice anything until it came to their faces.

And like a fool, she ran into one and its sole red eye, its weakness, fixed on her. It body was in the shape of an arc as it tried to shuffle at her. Even when she had the advantage since she had the higher ground and speed, it flung bits of itself at her. One caught her and stuck her to the wall. The hammer fell to the side as the monster approached her slowly.

She had to flutter vigorously to free herself before the monster could grab her by what looked like an arm forming from its side. The thick substance was still on her, clamming her wings together. She had to flutter hard to keep to the air but like a drunken fly she kept swooping down losing her balance.

"It's all over me!" She whined, turning green. Each type of ThuThu had different effecting slime. The bright yellow one was harmless, unlike the darker ones that spark with electricity, but their slime could be dangerous if not wasted off. If left untreated, it would harden to a rock and freeze their victim in place, allowing any other monster to finish them off.

The fairy quickly plunged herself in the water that infested with piranhas. The slime at once melted off her and she absconded before those little pesky fishes could have a taste. The yellow ThuThu was in no rush. In fact, it completely forgot about her and resumed back to staring at the wall.

"Die! Die!" She yelled as her hammer went directly straight into its' eye.

This temple was doing something to her if she started to enjoy listening to the monster's screams. Oh Goddesses help her, had Link's sadistic side rubbed off on her?

The monster has finally been defeated not without exploding into more slime and further covering her with an extra layer.

"I hate everything!" She yelled into no one particular. Why does everything have to be so annoying for her? Being an adviser was supposed to be easy!

Again, she returned to the water much to her chagrin. As if to further irritate her, a piranha successfully latched itself to one of her wing. She squealed out of pain and panic, rushing over to one of the torches with the fish hanging off her. There was a smell of flesh burning, and at last the creature released her.

Thankfully, it would take more than that to rip a fairy's wings off. That's the Goddesses' fairy for you!

She shuddered sickly by the smell. Now to find Link and Ruto and let them deal with all this madness so she doesn't have to do anything.

How were they handling this, she wondered. Link would probably whine about the temple's puzzles, he'd try to convince Ruto to stay behind but knowing her she was way too stubborn to let him do all the work.

Katie was concerned for Link and about the Master Sword. True they were rid of Mathilda but that doesn't change anything. Link needed to bond with his sword since both of them were tainted, according to Desmond. How can Link bond with it when the sword was still hostile towards him? They need to grow together so that they can both be cleansed at the Pond of Phoenix in Geruodo Desert.

Link doesn't understand that he needed the sword to complete this temple. Oh why was everything so complicated?

With a sigh, Katie lifted up the hammer from the ground and exited the room via pipe. This room, similar to the other room, had deep ponds with ravenous piranhas.

Katie gasped when she noticed something shimmering on the other side of the room. Floating above the monsters that tried to reach out for her, she came upon a door. It was unlike anything she had ever seen. Normally, a door would be sealed in shut behind a cross of chains with a large lock on it. This one not only had one but three chains, each of different color and each chain of colors had their own locks corresponding to them—one blue, one red and one yellow. All of them glowed ominously making her shiver.

She never read something like this before. One door requiring three keys? Since when has a temple ever demanded three keys for one door? Something important must be behind it. She can sense it.

Next to the door were several levers and she decided it would be wise to leave it alone and let Link deal with it.

Katie didn't see the monster in time. A Moblin had snatched her from the air, the hammer clanged as it fell to the ground. "Hey, let me go!" She demanded.

The monster did just that but only when she was in its mouth and swallowed down its thick gullet. Katie was screaming as loud as she can when she found herself trapped in a muscular bowl. It will only be a matter of time before stomach acid melts her away and the very thought of that infuriated her.

"Let me out!" She screamed. "Let me out! This isn't fair!"

Why was this happening to her? Navi never faced such difficulties!

Katie had done all she could to be an adviser by socializing less and studying more. She memorized all types of the temples, their puzzles, their riddles everything as a good adviser would do. Link wasn't here as he should be, which had never happened to Navi before, he was a sadist which he shouldn't since he was a hero and the sword doesn't work which also had never happened! Heck, there was even a hammer rather than a long hookshot!

Why was her journey so much different than the other heroes? It didn't seem fair. No, it wasn't.

Her color turned from red to blue. She was incompetent from the start. Of course Link would do well without her. The entire kingdom didn't need her anyways. No one thought very high of her in Hyrule Castle, which was understandable since no one liked being yelled at for missing a speak of dirt on their armor or for making a measly mistake.

They must be glad to be rid of her. They didn't think she wouldn't notice that relief in their eyes, that 'thank Goddesses she's leaving' look they exchanged to one another. Did…did no one miss her?

A sob muffled from her. Heat had begun to sweep into the stomach and it was the beginning of digestion. If she died right now, would no one care? If she somehow returned to Zelda, would the guards be dismayed to see her still alive?

"No one wants me." The words choked out of her as she sobbed helplessly. Maybe this was for the best. Maybe she should just be digested and rot away in feces. This world doesn't need her anyways. There would always be other fairies the Goddesses would bestow upon Link, other more capable fairies more lovable and smarter than her.

There was a pungent smell of acid and the heat was beginning to feel unbearable.

"Why don't you come out?" Zelda, at the age of five, had asked. Her eyes were big and full of wonder as she gazed up at the fairy.

Katie's sob slowly ceased as she reminisced how the little girl opened up to her. Zelda, to Katie, represented everything good in this world.

"Zelda," the fairy cried. "Zelda, I'm so sorry. I failed you."

The princess adored everything around her, often forgetting the rules of being a lady and showed such thrills and excitement. If she saw Katie now what would she say?

Katie, I'm so disappointed…

The fairy cringed. No, Zelda would never say something like that. To every negative thought she'd always say, "X! Giant big X!" This was her saying as a child. She'd cross her fingers together to make the letter X.

Over the years, they had formed an unbreakable trust and respect. Zelda would be the person Katie would turn to. One night, Katie expressed her anxiety and doubt over the fact of being the hero's guide. What if she failed? What if she led the hero to his downfall?

"I know you would do everything you can! You study much harder than anyone in my life! If anyone could do it it will be you!"

Everything I can, Katie thought as she watched something yellow filling up the stomach. Had she done everything really? No, she hadn't. If she had she wouldn't be crying and giving up.

She did not put up with Link and his atrocious behavior just to be eaten by some a disgusting beast. Zelda was counting on her after all. Even if this whole kingdom hated Katie, she had a job to do and that was to perish evil alongside the hero.

Katie fluttered around, hitting the muscle walls of the stomach for the monster to stir. She could hear the beast groan, its whole body vibrating. Katie didn't stop there and carried on being something she was rather good at: a nuisance.

The whole stomach rumbled unhappily and she prepared herself. The monster barfed her out and she was thrown directly on a lever, triggering it at once.

She didn't know what the lever does. It could either change something in this room, maybe open a secret door, something. There was one thing she did know though.

And it was that she would do everything in her power to save this kingdom, if it was for Zelda, Katie would gladly do it. Even if it means getting covered in slime, and being stuck in this horrid temple on her own and even putting up fro Link. For Zelda, Katie would die for her.


Dust settled off from the ceiling as the ground rumbled. The celling parted to allow something metallic to descend down. It would have crushed Link's head had he not been fast enough. It was just before Mathilda could murder him and she stopped to look up at the ceiling.

Link moved quickly while she was distracted. He brought up his foot and managed to get her right in the face. There was a satisfying sound of a bone breaking and he couldn't help but laugh in the moment. The snake hissed in pain and released him.

Before what seemed to be a gate came on his head, he quickly crawled right by the princess' side, and he watched the gate separate them from the commander and her snake. The wall was made of brick, old and worn off, but still strong enough to keep Mathilda at bay.

"You shitty bastard!" Mathilda snapped from the other side. "You think you'll live long enough with me around?"

"Well, I'm still here, aren't I?" Link taunted with a laugh but his smile vanished when he remembered Ruto. Blood formed around her like a halo. The water in this part of the hall was a little less deep, and bloomed to red.

He rushed over to her side, gently lifting her head and laying her head on his lap as he frantically went through his medical supplies.

From the other side, Mathilda was going crazy. The sound of the whip kept making him jump. The gate looked pretty sturdy though since it didn't move an inch.

So while she kept herself entertained, Link paid his attention to Ruto. Ripping a part of his sleeve with his teeth and the herbs he got from Hatino, he quickly went to work. Ruto remained motionless and he was starting to fear for the worst. The only thing that assured him was her incoherent mumbling.

He laid the princess's head as gently as he could onto the water and watched her breath. Granted it wasn't his best work, maybe he tied it too tightly or added too much medicine. He just hoped for the best.

Behind the wall, Mathilda must have gotten into her thick skull that she couldn't get past.

"Hey, bitch, you tired already?" Link called out with a grin.

There was nothing from the other side and Link found a small hole he can peek through. Dammit, she was still there. The blood that cladded on her nose was satisfying to look at. His eyebrows furrowed when he tried to figure out what she was doing. It seemed like she was speaking to her pet snake in a low voice.

Her lips moved slowly and quietly. Link caught the words: Boss.

He didn't like the sound of that but at least they were leaving. He sat back next to the princess. Well, it wasn't like he can do much. They're still stuck in the dead end and Ruto was still unconscious.

He sat next to her going through his bag. Much to his surprise, the food she packed was still dry and edible. He wolfed down a sandwich, and took a sip from his watered-down sake.

Ruto's face was still pale and Link tried to dismiss the fear growing inside him. Mathilda also lashed at his head back at the graveyard and he had suffered what he considered to be the worst ever headache. He'd settle for a hangover if only to never experience that again.

What if she had brain damage? The apothecary had told Link that he was lucky he's still alive. What about Ruto? What if she never wakes up?

"Dammit, you idiot," Link gritted, as he went through his already limited supplies of herbs from Hatino to heal his own wounds. "What the hell were you thinking?"

No reply. He really hoped it wouldn't be permanent. He let out air through his nose and watched her eyes behind her eyelids move. She was dreaming and whatever she was having wasn't a good dream.


Ruto remembered her mother as everything she ever wanted to be: elegant, patient, benevolent, and intelligent. Ruto had none of these those. She doesn't even have her father's expertise on military or his tactical skills. Then how was she their child?

Her mother kissed her forehead and told her that Ruto had something that both her parents possessed and it was this quality that proved she was indeed their daughter: compassion. She loved her people more than anything in this world. She fought for them when monsters raided their home; she spent her time to be around her people, she donated every rupee she ever earned for them.

It was her love of her people—her mother explained to her—that proved that she was her daughter and that one day she will be the pride of the Zoras. The heart of the Zoras. The City's Sapphire.

They had this conversation at the last week of her mother's life. The last day her mother lived was the day they had went to Hyrule Castle to see Princess Zelda for her birthday.

Oh what a precious gem Zelda truly was. Ruto knew she'd love her from the moment she laid eyes on her. Perhaps if things had been different she would've been honored to treat the bundle of joy like a little sister.

They had a feast that day. King Edmond and King Ranlyn, both fought side by side for years and both good friends, continued to speak in loud volume of their greatest achievement. Well, it was her father that did the most talking; Kind Edmond was nodding and smiling. The Queen just rolled her eyes at the men making both Ruto and Zelda giggle.

What was the last conversation they had?

They were talking about flowers. Yes, Ruto remembered that and how pointless it was but curtsey demanded it. She kept nodding, pretending to be interested but she found herself listening to her father's tales.

Zelda had organized the castle's garden all on her own and Ruto's mother expressed her great appreciation while also saying that if things were too difficult Zelda should ask for help. This entire evening was just utterly pointless that Ruto wished she could indulge in her father's terrible jokes.

"They never saw it coming!" Ranlyn bellowed with laughter. "Oh what a day!"

"Indeed." Edmond chuckled. Unlike her father, Edmond remained imperturbable. He was the very image of patience and integrity. A moment hadn't passed by in his presence where Ruto would often take glances at him in wonder.

How could a man be so strong in just a form? Edmond didn't have her father's muscular built; he was a child when compared to the mighty Zora king who was nearly the size of a carriage. But King Edmond may perhaps be stronger than her father. Just lying behind those amicable eyes was a warrior. The King of Hyrule wasn't an expressive man; he was calm, composed and polite.

The queen once again pretended like she was annoyed at their garrulous behavior but a smile betrayed her. Her husband and Edmond often do this, often abandoning formalities the moment they were left alone.

The queen cleared her throat and returned her attention to Zelda. "I do hope that you would come with us one day to the Zoras' Domain," she said kindly. "We have a garden of our own, not that we made it ourselves but I'm sure you'll love it."

Ruto could imagine someone like Zelda loving Zoras' Domain. She looked like the kind of person who would love anything. She sat in a seat that was too big for her and her legs dangled down. She tried to appear as calm and cool but Ruto knew that there was a wave of energy that came off in kicks under the table. If she would ever be dismissed, Zelda would rush off to her garden or in the armory. Ruto realized she wasn't the only one bored by her mother's conversations.

Ruto recalled on how her father laughed that day. He sounded so carefree, so happy that it made her heart ache just thinking about it.

"I heard that there was fairy living here," Ruto said suddenly, hoping to stir away the pointless discussion.

Her mother snapped her a look and Zelda's eyes dropped. Ruto apologized feeling penitent by the look in Zelda's face but the little princess didn't take it to heart. She went on to say that the fairy's name was Katie who spends her time in a tower rather than around anyone. Both the Zoras decided not to question on the matter.

"A toast," Edmond said as he lifted his goblet up. His voice came out orotund and powerful. "To our guest and may the Goddesses be with us all."

Everyone followed suit and returned the cheer. Zelda, being six, had her goblet filled with fresh juice instead. She smiled at Ruto giddily and the Zora princess returned it wholeheartedly. Perhaps after this, she might take the little princess out for a little walk, see the gardens for herself.

This was the last moment Ruto saw her mother smile at her. Her father rarely ever allowed her to drink but now it was her time. It wasn't like he could stop her in front of the king and her mother knew this, that's why she smiled mischievously and winked at her.

At first everything was normal. They continued to have a normal boring chat on when is the appropriate time for Zelda to visit their domain. It had been so excruciating that Ruto even wished something would happen.

Then it happened.

"Are you alright, mother?" Ruto asked, concerned when her mother began to cough.

The queen waved her hand dismissively. She hacked into her closed fist, trying for a smile when her daughter asked if she was well. Her coughing didn't lessen but it became loud enough to even distract the two proud men from their conversation.

"Bring her water at once," King Edmon ordered.

"Mother." Ruto's voice rose in alarm. Something wasn't right here.

Ranlyn pushed himself out from his seat. "Elena—"

The veins on her mother's hands turned a ghastly shade of purple. Her mother started to clutch her own neck and was gagging. Zelda covered her mouth with eyes wide in horror.

"Mother!" Ruto shrieked, as the queen fell back from her chair and would've hit the ground if it weren't for husband.

King Edmond stood up and snapped at one of the guards. "Fetch the apothecary at once!" He bellowed and his voice made both Ruto and Zelda shrink. He was a man that rarely ever used his voice like that. The little girl had her ears covered, too horrified to listen to anything.

Queen Elene struggled to speak, one of her hand was around her neck and the other was reaching out as if begging for help. The floor tiled a bit in Ruto's eyes and she had to lean on the table for support. This can't be happening. This had to be a dream.

She sat by her mother's side and a wave of nausea crawled on her neck. A smell, an unforgettable smell reeked off from her mother: a smell of something sweet yet metallic at the same time.

Ruto had never seen her father so vulnerable. His eyes filled with tears as he held onto his wife. "My love, what's wrong? What's happening to you?"

Foam came out from her lips and now the purple substance was traveling up her neck through her veins, making her skin blemish.

Her webbed hand reached out to Ruto and Ruto was crying. "Mother, please no," Ruto whispered. "Please, please, no don't leave me. I swear I will do as I'm told, I'll be a better daughter, I'll marry anyone you want, I beg you." She gave a shaky laugh as her hand tightened around her mother's. "I'll do my studies without complaints, I'll train hard, I'll do anything…" It was a weak and a pathetic attempt but she was desperate. She was willing to sacrifice herself just to save her beloved mother.

Elena clutched her daughter's hand and gripped it. Even though there was pain in her eyes they still held love.

Edmond was frozen in his place, face gone pale as he waited for an apothecary but Ruto knew that look on his face that it would be too late then. A Sheikah had escorted out Zelda.

Ranlyn's tears dripped on his wife's face. "Elena, my love, please…" He was rocking her in his arms.

Ruto bit her bottom lip hard enough to draw out blood. She gripped her mother's hand in vain to convince herself that her mother was still alive. She was still alive and she was holding on her daughter's hand. But deep down, Ruto knew her mother's hand had loosened and if Ruto let go of her hand she would see that. She was so determined to keep her hope that she kept clutching to her mother's hand, convinced that she was still there even though her hand went cold. The apothecary came in but he wasn't needed.

"Who did this?" Ranlyn said quietly. And Ruto had hated him because of the way he spoke in that dead tone indicating that he had accepted that wife was gone. "Who would ever…my own wife…she has done nothing…"

"We will find out," Edmond had said with so much conviction in his voice that Ruto believed he would. "On my word and honor, I will find out whoever done this."

Ruto still wasn't convinced that her mother was gone. She noticed a man standing there with a robe of an apothecary and snapped at him, "Why are you still standing there?! Can't you see that she's dying?!"

"Ruto, dear—" Her father tried to say but she cut him off.

"How are you giving up like this?!" Ruto yelled at him as a sob wracked throughout her body. "We can still save her." Then to the apothecary who remained pale, "Help her! Isn't that your job?!"

The man looked over at his king uneasy but Edmond paid no mind to him. There was nothing but commiseration in Edmond's eyes. "She's gone."

Ruto glared at him. It's a bad act to yell to this man but Ruto was blinded by anger. "If you don't help her then you're a traitor to us!" She tried to keep back from sobbing but it kept getting in the way, shaking her words. "You-you will be traitor if-if you don't help her." Edmond was shaking his head with his eyes closed. "She's still —we can still save her." She tired for a smile and shook her mother's hand to prove this and nodded. "Look. She's not dead."

Even when she was saying such a thing, she never bothered to look into her mother's face to see for herself. Deep down she knew the truth but the childish side of her, the one that always acted so reckless, refused to believe it. How can her mother die so easily from just one sip? It would have been better if she died more meaningful, more heroic than this.

And who, by the Goddesses, who would do such a thing? To her own mother? Her kind, benevolent mother who has never harmed a soul? Ruto didn't believe it. She refused to believe it. No one in this world could be so cruel to the point of murdering such a kind soul.

"Princess Ruto, please—" He tried to say but she wouldn't have it.

She couldn't bear the sympathy in his eyes, his ever so gentle voice and the way his hand tried to reach for her. "You need to save her!" Her tempestuous cry so loud that her throat burned. He flinched back by her out burst. "Can't you see that's dying?! Why aren't you helping her?!"

King Edmond held a straight posture, wearing his regal robe with a large crown nested on his head. He was a slender figure; even with his salt and pepper hair he still was handsome in a way. Ruto couldn't help but feel intimidated. There was power in his stature, power but also wisdom and kindness. Other than Zelda, King Edmond was another Hylian that she still admired even now.

But at that moment she saw him as a traitor. He was too calm and too calculated and it made her feel like she was crazy.

Ranlyn took his daughter in his arms. "She's gone, my daughter," he whispered into her ear.

"N-no." Her sob cracked out from her heart. "No, you don't know that. She needs a apothecary, father, she's suffering."

"She's not suffering. She's gone, my dear."

Ruto decided to take a look and finally face the truth. How she wished she hadn't. Now, six years later, Ruto could never look at another picture of her mother without recalling how she looked like the last time.

Foam dripped down the side of her mouth, her eyes were tinted red, and every vein had been turned to purple and her skin was red and swollen. Ruto's bottom lip quivered. That's not her mother. That's not her beautiful, regal mother. That's someone else.

Her father pulled her away and buried her head into her shoulder. "Don't look," he told her.

It was too late. She could still see that dead face with her eyes closed. She wasn't crying anymore but was stunned, paralyzed by what she just saw. Her mother was gone and it finally clicked. She didn't know how to handle it. And now the apothecary was in fact needed since she passed out.

"Oh mama," Ruto cried. "Why did you leave me?" She opened her eyes to meet a pair of sky blue eyes that stared down at her with concern.

Link was behind her head. The bangs hanging down from his hair and his lips had crumbs of bread. When she opened her eyes, he quickly pulled himself back. She tried sitting up but was met by a powerful headache that made her cry.

Link sighed. "Take it easy. You've been out for a while," he told her. With his help she managed to lean against the wall and he offered her sandwiches. "Here, I know you're hungry."

She wasn't even listening to him. The painful memory repeated over and over in her head. Fresh tears filled her eyes and she let out a cry, leaning on his shoulder much to his surprise. The old wound ripped open and grief once more caged her heart in a never ending torture. Her shoulders shook as she cried so hard that her words came out incoherently.

Why did she die? Why did she have to die? It wasn't fair. Other children still had their mothers. Why did the Goddesses saw fit to take hers? It wasn't fair. None of it was. She still had so much to live for, she still hasn't seen her daughter married or crowned, she needed to see that. Ruto wanted it so bad she nearly screamed.

The anguish pain sat on her chest like a stone, making each breath unbearable. It was always present, no matter how many tears she cried or how long time flowed, it was still there.

'Uhhh' were the only words coming out from Link.

After a couple of minutes, she got in control of herself and realized what she was doing. As if he was hot, she moved away from him. His shoulder was wet from her tears and he clearly looked uncomfortable. What was she doing? Link was not someone to confide in. He didn't like emotions.

"I-I'm sorry," she said, sniffing. She figured he might tease her for this.

He waved a hand in a gesture to forget about it then showed her the sandwiches. "Food?" He frowned when she nimbly shook her head. "I know you're hungry."

Again she shook her head. She didn't know if her stomach was strong enough to hold it.

Link tried to be patient but she could hear it slipping in his tone. "Look I went through a lot to make sure you'd still be breathing. Now can you just eat one already?"

Just for his peace of mind, she gingerly took one. It's been so long since she had cried this way. She had no idea how famished she was and she ate the rest of the sandwich they had. Link didn't complain even though he only ate one sandwich, so long as he had his sake of course. He did offer some but she refused. Ruto could never enjoy the taste of alcohol; she could only remember that smell of her mother's death.

"What happened?" Her voice came out watery and languid.

Link blew out air through his nose as he leaned against the wall. He was drenched to his soaks. Had he been sitting by her side, tending to her? She felt flattered. He always complained about getting drenched.

"A lot but we don't need to worry about that crazy bitch right now." Link looked at her with an expression she didn't recognize. "So…you…" He cleared his throat and looked away, rubbing the back of his beck. "You doing alright, fish bait?"

He knew she hated that nickname yet even in a tender moment he still called her that. Ruto realized he tried to mock her in order to mask his concern, something he wasn't so used to expressing. A little smile played on her lips. Why does he always prefer to play it tough? She could never understand him sometimes.

"I will be." Her finger touched her forehead and she left something sticky. "What did you use?"

"Yeah, yeah some herbs I got from Haitno," he said dismissively. He opened a folded cloth to show her his rudimentary supple of thin herbs. "They work damn well."

It worked wonders. Already the lenitive herbs had almost closed up her wound. Now she just had to suffer through the headache.

"I think Mathilda is going for the boss," he told her. "Not sure what she's after but I'm thinking something big."

"Something big indeed," Ruto said bitterly. Now she felt it, the anger that she never before experienced in her life. It came in like fire burning inside her chest, threatening to suffocate her if she didn't release it. "I can't believe she's actually here. That-that—" She winced when her head hurt.

"Take it easy."

"I'll kill her if it's the last thing I do."

"Then you'll end up being no better."

Ruto just laughed in disbelief. "Oh since when do you have any morals?"

He sighed. "I don't but you do. You…you're honorable." He turned away. "And I'm not. So if you kill her it's not going to be pretty." He looked at her. "What is she planning? You know what she's going to do right?"

Ruto closed her eyes. She could still see her mother's face, her mother's beautiful perfect face tainted poison. "Mathilda is planning to kill this entire domain the same way my mother has been murdered. She's going to poison the source of Hylia's Lake, the Spring of Life. That's what she plans to do and we need to stop her at all costs or I truly will be the Princess of Bones."


Just to let you guys know about Katie and how she could use a hammer now I don't remember which game exactly but in one of the LoZ games there was a part in where you get the hammer but your fairy would be the one to use it when you land attacks. Again I don't remember the game, I remember playing it but it was so long ago.

Anyways, what do you guys think of the chapter? Leave your thoughts in reviews!