Chapter 53: Marine Research Laboratory
With Crow and Stitch slung over each shoulder, Link wandered along the coast of Sunrise Bay until he noticed a dome-shaped house on wooden stilts out in the tide-pools with a metal structure on top that resembled a hook. Curious, Link placed Crow and Stitch on the beach before donning his Zora Armor. Then he swam over to the house and climbed up the ladder that led up to it. Inside, there was a large tank filled with various fish and there was an old man in a blue robe who was examining them.
"Take your flippers off before you enter, young man," said the old man without turning. "I don't like my clean floorboards getting wet."
"Oh, sorry, sir," Link said and removed the flippers from his Zora Armor. "Do you happen to know where Professor Nautilus lives?"
"I am Professor Nautilus," said the old man as he turned to face Link. "What is your business with me?"
"Raoole told me that you might be able to help," Link responded sheepishly. "There are two unconscious Watchmen on the beach that I defeated who now resemble acquaintances of mine, and if you could give me an idea of where to find the rest of the Medley Fragments that would also be helpful."
"What makes you think I know any of that?" Professor Nautilus answered cautiously. "I'm a marine researcher, not a historian. Go bother someone else."
"Please, Professor Nautilus," Link pleaded. "I'm not a spy for Zelda. My name is Link and I'm the Hero of Infinite Possibilities."
Professor Nautilus chuckled. "Do you really expect me to believe you? Anyone can dress in a green tunic and call himself the Hero."
"But can anyone carry this around?"
Link unsheathed the Master Sword and presented it to Professor Nautilus. Intrigued, the Professor examined the sword carefully.
"Either this is the original Master Sword, or a very good forgery of it," Professor Nautilus concluded. "But if it is real, then show me something that a fake wouldn't have."
"How about this?" Link pointed the Master Sword at a nearby pot and shot a Magic Blast at it.
The pot exploded into several fragments which scared the fish and made Professor Nautilus jump slightly.
"By the Goddesses," Professor Nautilus murmured. "You really are the Hero of Infinite Possibilities. How did you come to know Raoole?"
"I helped him find his father seven years ago," Link said as he sheathed the Master Sword.
"Then you must've been fairly young, judging by how you look now."
"I'm the same age as I was before."
"But that's impossible!"
"I traveled through time thanks to a Puncture Zelda had created when she got kidnapped by Mayor Ganon."
"So you knew her before she became the current Mayor. What was she like?"
"She was, uh, sweet, considerate, and very bold."
"Hmm, if that's the case, I wonder what Ganon did to her before he died."
"When did Ganon die?"
"Seven years ago, I believe."
"Then it must've happened after I fell into the Puncture."
"It seems so, based on your story. Now you said you've defeated two of Zelda's Watchmen?"
"Three, actually."
"How did you defeat them?"
"Well, it wasn't me exactly. The first Watchman seemed to waver when one of the Medley Fragments was played by a girl who turned out to be a Wind Sage, and then the same thing happened again when Raoole played a Medley Fragment."
"I see, then Raoole was a Sage all this time. So the Watchmen must have had something on them that weakened them to the power of the Medley Fragments when they were played by Sages."
"Yes, they had Shadow Crystals."
"Shadow Crystals!" Professor Nautilus exclaimed. "Take me at once to the Watchmen-in-question, boy!"
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At the beach, Professor Nautilus examined the unconscious men's backs where the Shadow Crystals were embedded. Link watched him nearby while occasionally glancing at the setting sun and the menacing moon.
Then after several minutes of examination, Professor Nautilus said, "It's terrible what Zelda has done to these men, Link, regardless of what she was like in the past. Using dark magic to enslave these innocent people to her will, and then making them do horrible things to keep the citizens of this city in constant fear. Perhaps this Skull Kid fellow who wants to bring the moon down on us is justified."
"No, he isn't!" Link snapped. "He's just a madman who's interested in causing nothing but trouble that doesn't benefit anyone but himself! If I can find the Wind Sages and have them stop the moon, that'll be one less enemy for Skyloft to deal with. As for Zelda…I don't know what I can do to change her now. All I've got so far is this thing called the Time Gate."
"Ah, yes, the Time Gate," Professor Nautilus mused. "Professor Phosile talked about it many times before he was executed. Legend has it that the original inhabitants of Skyloft built the Time Gate from fragments of an ancient artifact which had the ability to transport one back through time. Perhaps you should focus less on what you can do for Zelda now and more on saving her in the past."
"I guess that would make sense, but do you really think it'll work even if I put it back together?"
"That's for you to find out. As for where the next Medley Fragment is, I believe it's somewhere in the Kokiri District. But it's been a long time since I've read about it, so I don't remember the exact location."
"But it's enough to give me a start. Also, do you have any ideas for how I can remove the Shadow Crystals from the Watchmen's bodies?"
"The only solution that comes to mind are the Tears of Light."
"Tears of Light?"
"Water that is said to have been blessed by the Light Spirits, who once banished the Twilight Realm from Hyrule long ago. They appear as glowing drops, but most have been collected in special jars called Vessels of Light. A lot of them are stored in the Hyrule Castle vaults, but I believe some were brought to Skyloft."
"So where are they?"
"I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me if Zelda has them."
"Yeah, she'd probably think ahead like that. But thanks for the advice anyway, Professor Nautilus. Look after the Watchmen while I'm gone, okay?"
"Sure thing, Link, and I'm sorry for lying to you earlier. These are dangerous times, and I didn't want to suffer the same fate as Professor Phosile."
"I understand, Professor, so I'll make sure that his sacrifice wasn't in vain!"
To be continued…
