When Link and Navi regained their sight, they found themselves before the Goron City. The air around them was far cooler than it had been before, practically a cool winter breeze in comparison. The stench of rot and evil no longer flew on the wind either, the earthy smell of Death Mountain like a lovely flower in comparison. Physically, the peak of the mountain also changed. Where before there was an ominous and otherworldly red ring, the familiar circle of smoke had returned.
Another thing of note was that the sun had clearly just risen an hour or two prior. Just how long had they been in the Fire Temple? It hadn't seemed like an overnight experience, but the morning rays of the sun didn't lie…
Best not to think about it.
Link felt a weight in his arms, and when he looked down he realized he was once more holding the Megaton Hammer. The weapon was unmarked by the fight with Volvagia. At least it had been one thing he could save…
But it wasn't something he could hang onto, the weapon of the Gorons. Looking to the city entrance, he silently marched forward, Navi following obediently and remaining as quiet.
The city was still empty, it seeming the freed Gorons not quite yet returning from the top of the mountain. Assuming their trip from the Chamber of Sages was instantaneous, it'd still take the people of the mountain a few hours to get back.
Just as Link wanted.
He didn't want to talk to any of the Gorons. Yes, he cared for them a great deal, but he couldn't bear to face them. As he looked around near the entrance, he noted that the Goron named after him had to still be in hiding somewhere. This was what he preferred, the Hylian kneeling down and placing the Megaton Hammer on the floor. Not the best way to treat a sacred item, but Link couldn't bare to face any of the people he had just barely saved.
To his horror, he saw a figure peek out from one of the far tunnels. It was the Goron named after him, but he was too far to call out to the two. Navi didn't seem to spot the mountain denizen, focusing on her own companion. Link…couldn't face the Goron, and he wouldn't talk to him.
Feeling like a disgusting coward, he turned back and ran out to the mountain, Navi following him, unaware of the Goron that had appeared. "You sure you don't want to rest? It seems like we were in there all night…" The fairy said, glancing at the rising sun as she and her companion started their descent. At least the trip down was easier on the boy and would be faster as well.
"I'm sure. I don't want to stay here." The mountain just provided bad memories for Link. So many Gorons, Darunia and Rohan especially, had died and he felt it was his fault. At least partially. He wasn't so deluded that he didn't blame Ganondorf for these atrocities. But if he was the Hero of Time, shouldn't he be saving everyone? It seemed half of Hyrule had perished because of the seven years he had to wait.
He just hoped the Zoras were okay too…
"At least agree to stay overnight in Kakariko…" Navi lightly pleaded. "We were in that horrible place all night. You need rest! It's a long trip to Zora's Domain anyway, so if we leave first thing tomorrow morning, we can reach it by sundown if we hurry."
Link was indeed very exhausted. It was only his drive to get away from the Gorons and his perceived failure that allowed him to move regardless. His eyes stung with lack of sleep, and his muscles ached form the constant movement. Darunia's powers may have healed his wounds and his tunic, but his energy had remained sapped, and it felt as though iron weights were tied to his limbs.
But that didn't stop him.
He realized that Navi was right, but the idea that he could be a day late to save someone itched at his brain. His exhaustion, though, increased with every step he took, and he wondered if he could make the trip all the way to the Domain at all without resting first. Sighing lightly, he gave a nod. "Okay, fine. But we'll leave right at sunrise, right?"
"Right! I promise! First thing tomorrow!" Navi insisted, just glad that Link agreed to her proposition. She knew things were still a bit awkward between them, but she was noticing that he still at least took her advice. The things he had said in the Fire Temple had hurt her though, especially about her leaving…but this was hardly the time to talk that over.
The rest of the trip was without real incident. Whatever creatures Ganondorf's curse had laid on the mountain had probably went with it. Even so the two avoid the crevices and caves, the things lurking within too weak to sunlight to venture out to hunt. Tektites blocked their path on a few spots, but the two either went around or Link dispatched of them if the trail wasn't wide enough. He may have been tired, but the large bugs still proved little issue for him.
In roughly half the time of the trip up, maybe more, Link and Navi found themselves in Kakariko Village again. The first thing they noticed was the oppressive atmosphere that still lingered. Just as before, the two felt lingering eyes on them. When they looked around, though, no one in particular was watching them. It seemed as if something was gazing intently at them from all angles…
If the curse of Death Mountain hadn't caused these uneasy feelings…then what had? Something unusual was going on in the village, and it had distracted the two enough that neither noticed someone walking in their direction. At least, until, the figure bumped into Link.
"Oof! Hey now! You just popped out of nowhere!" The person said, stumbling back a bit and nearly falling over. His voice seemed quite familiar…
"Oh…Sorry…I…" Link murmured, getting a good look at who he bumped into. His jaw nearly dropped when he realized he knew this man! "…Talon…?"
Yes, it was the owner of Lon Lon Ranch and father to Malon. The years seemed unkind yet also a bit kind to the rancher. He had somehow managed to gain a bit of weight since the boy and fairy had last seen him. There were some speckles of grey in his facial hair and what little hair he had on his head. The rotund man looked at Link in confusion. "Hm? Eh? Do I know you, young man? Those clothes look a bit familiar, but I can't quite…" Talon muttered, trailing off as his face scrunched lightly in thought.
Seeing no reason not to be truthful, Link gulped lightly. "I…It's Link, sir." He felt nervous talking to the rancher, just as he had seven years ago. Despite being in a bigger body, the boy still got a bit uneasy talking to people, especially adults. "I visited the ranch once…"
"Ah!" Talon exclaimed, eyes lighting up in recognition. "Fairy Boy! You're all grown up! And you still have that fairy friend of yours!" His tone was jovial, clearly happy to see Link and Navi again.
The nickname stung a bit, even though Link knew that neither Talon nor Malon meant anything bad by it. It just reminded him that he wasn't supposed to have a fairy, and he never would. Swallowing his pain down, he kept a mask of stoicism on as he addressed the rancher further. "That's right…"
"You still remember that nickname?" Navi piped up, just as surprised as Link to see Talon all the way in Kakariko Village.
Chuckling, Talon gave a nod. "Oh, sure! For a long while, Malon talked about ya every day! She kept wondering when you'd show back up…"
For some reason, this knowledge that Malon had talked about him made blood rush to Link's face. His chest tightened too, and he gulped again as his mouth felt dry. "Really? She…did?"
"Oh, yeah! She was real upset when you didn't come back. She took a real liking to ya!" Talon explained, chuckling yet seeming oddly sad too. "Say…where were ya all this time?"
Navi tittered a bit as Link clearly got nervous about Malon's attitude towards him. He had tried to hide his flustered state, but she could see right through her companion! At the question of where Link had been, she cleared her throat and piped up. "We've…well, we had some important things to do, so we couldn't visit…" It was sort of true, at least.
Talon hummed at that, raising a brow. "It's been a mighty long time. Seven years…but hey, it's really none of my business."
"What are you doing all the way over here anyway? It's pretty dangerous to go across Hyrule Field." Navi couldn't help but inquire.
That sad look in Talon's expression returned. With a sigh, he rubbed the back of his neck. "Well…ya remember my brother Ingo, I'm sure. Not too long ago, he took over the ranch and…well, he kicked me out."
"What? Really?" Link asked, surprised at that. Ingo had been…leas than pleasant, but that seemed pretty excessive! "Why did he do that?"
"I don't rightly know." Talon responded, sighing lightly. "He's just changed recently. Got a lot meaner. More ambitious. He always had a cranky side to him, but this was something else! I'm just glad he let Malon stay there. The ranch has stayed pretty safe these last seven years. At least she'll be alright."
Link was glad to hear Malon was okay at least, but it sounded like a pretty sad situation. Maybe there was something he could do? Of course, he knew he had a lot of other things to do…but maybe one of the other Temples would be in the direction of the ranch, and they could stop by!
"Would…you want us to check in?" Navi asked before Link could, seeming to read the boy's mind.
Talon's eyes lit up, hope replacing the sadness in them. "Really? You'd do that for me? That's awful swell of you two!"
"We can…maybe help Ingo let you back in." Link said, not sure how he'd do that. But Malon was his friend, so he wanted to help her and her father reunite.
"Yeah, and we've got some things to do, but if you meet up with us there in a few days…" Navi wasn't sure how they'd help either, but Link had done so many seemingly impossible things, so saving a ranch would be easy for him! At least, that's what the fairy thought. "I'm not sure what we can do without you being there." It was a dangerous trip…but Talon had went across Hyrule Field once on his own, right?
Nodding, Talon puffed out his chest like he was trying to impress the boy and fairy. "Alright! I'll try and make my way over. I'll meet you there, alright? Thanks again, you two!" With a sort of extra spring in his step, the rancher went on his way, head held a bit higher as well…
"How will we help them, exactly?" Link asked when Talon was out of earshot. He wanted to help, but he had no idea what to do in this situation. It wasn't like he could hurt Ingo and make everything better, right?
"Mmm…We'll think of something. But I did say to wait a few days because we need to go check on the Zoras first." Navi replied, knowing that Link would want it this way.
And the fairy was right. Link wanted to help Malon, but the Zoras were probably in just as much trouble as the Gorons, so they took priority!
With their plan in motion, the two went shopping once more. They were practically out of Rupees by the end of it, stocking up on arrows, food, water, and making it so Link had four full bottles of Red Potion once more. After that, the two used the last of their funds to get a room in a small inn.
As he rested on the bed, his gear shed and by the wall, Link sighed through his nose. "Do you think the Zoras are okay, Navi?" He asked, staring at the ceiling. Link couldn't help but think about Rohan. If he had left the Lost Woods just a day or two sooner, the Goron would probably still be alive…
"I can't say for sure." Navi admitted, sighing herself as she nestled onto Link's folded up hat. "Ganondorf is so powerful…so we should prepare for something like with the Gorons. I hate to say it, but it's the realistic way to look at it."
Link was afraid she would say something like that. He thought to Ruto especially, hoping that the Princess was okay. Of course, he wanted all the Zoras to be okay, but she had been the one closest to him.
"Can't stay up worrying about it, or we'll never get any rest." Navi said, curling up and closing her eyes. "I know it's hard, but try to get as much sleep as you can. We'll go right as the sun rises, okay?"
The Hylian nodded silently, getting situated in bed as he continued to stare at the ceiling. Worry and fear picked at his brain as he wondered what horrors Ganondorf might have unleashed on the Zoras. Did he curse Lord Jabu-Jabu again? Did he resurrect some ancient monster to eat them? Or did he just…kill all of them?
All seemed likely, and Link couldn't help but have visions of injured or dead Zoras fade in and out of his mind's eye. Still, he screwed his eyes shut, trying to get some sleep. Not knowing how much time passed, exhaustion overtook him, and he soon drifted into an uneasy slumber…
Just as Navi promised, she and the Hylian left for the Zora's Domain first thing the following morning. They had a quick breakfast, recovering from their fitful slumber, and then departed just as the sun peeked over the horizon.
Thankfully, the Domain wasn't too far away from Kakariko Village, and they were going alongside Zora's River within a few hours. Visually, nothing had changed since the two went there seven years ago. Nothing major, at least. No signs of monsters or curses anywhere around them. They had to deal with the occasional Octorok, but that aside the trip was uneventful.
At first.
As the boy and fairy trudged along, they finally noticed a change past the halfway point along the river. It was starting to get chilly. More than that. It started getting pretty cold, to the point that Link started to shiver lightly. But that was very unusual, as the sun was still out, and it was the middle of the day! It had been pleasantly warm when they left, even before the sun fully rose. Though, they did notice some grey, miserable clouds starting to hang over their heads.
"Navi, what's going on…?" Link asked, looking about and masking his worry. He had to try and remain stoic, to not let his weakness show! It was so difficult with the awful experiences he had, with the losses he kept having to endure…
"This isn't normal…" Navi replied, not feeling quite as cold as Link. As a fairy, she was naturally warmer than Hylians, so the temperature didn't get to her as easily. Of course, fairies had their limits. "I think this has to do with Ganondorf. Keep your eyes peeled and your sword ready."
Link already had his sword and shield out, having kept them ready since leaving Kakariko Village. Just in case they ran into horrid beasts. Until that point on the journey, he just had to block some incoming rocks, but who knew what lied ahead?
Soon after Navi mentioned the terrible Gerudo, they started to feel a familiar sensation in the air. The heavy, sickly sensation that coincided with any curse of Ganondorf's hit them. This one was accompanied by stinging cold rather than smothering heat. The temperature dropped further with every inch the two went, soon snowflakes started to float to the ground and frost covered the grass that crunched beneath Link's boots.
The Hylian started to see his breath, not used to things being this cold! There was winter in the Lost Woods, but it was always a lot milder than this. Even the falling snowflakes barely made an appearance, as if the magic of the forest made them lose their way from the heavens to the ground. He wanted so badly to rub his arms, to try and warm himself up, but he had to keep his weapon and shield at the ready!
It seemed such tools were unnecessary, though. As things got colder, Link and Navi noticed that the Octoroks stopped appearing. Chunks of ice started to become visible on the river, and soon after a sheet of ice covered the surface. Aside from the boy and fairy, it seemed like nothing at all was alive this far upriver. No bugs. No birds. No Octoroks or any other beast.
The area felt dead.
In the Lost Woods, monsters infected the forest and the area outside the Temple. On Death Mountain, creatures roamed the trail and Ganondorf's minions took residence within the Fire Temple. At the river, it seemed the conqueror of Hyrule choked the life out of the area. The intense cold seemed to slow everything down, Link and Navi moving slower while only the snowflakes moved at reasonable speeds, the snowfall getting increasingly intense.
Navi nuzzled up under Link's tunic. Not just for her own sake, but so she could share her natural heat with her companion. Every bit helped, especially since the cold temperatures simply got lower as they went with no signs of stopping.
"Can the Zoras deal with this kind of cold?" Link asked, snowflakes sticking to his hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes as a constant stream of his own breath puffed in front of him. His body was practically quaking because of how cold he was, and the very wind bit and tore at him while his lungs ached from the freezing air he had to take in. The Hylian couldn't imagine staying in a place so terribly cold for even an hour, let alone living there!
"…I…I don't know…!" Navi admitted, shivering as well. The cold was piercing through her natural warmth, the fairy feeling bad for her companion, knowing it was far worse for him. "I hope so! We have to keep going, though!" No chance that Kakariko Village had gear for this sort of weather. Winter in Hyrule was fairly tame, and she had the feeling any sort of warm clothing was already distributed amongst the people, and few would consider sharing.
Link, fighting through the wind and snow, trudged onward silently.
It felt as though time went as slow as the river was. Which was to say, not moving at all. What was at first a thin sheet of ice over the river was clearly the river itself frozen solid. Link could, if he wanted, stand on top of the ice and jump up and down with all his strength and would most likely not even leave a crack.
Eventually, however, they reached the Domain. The mighty waterfall that had once blocked the entrance to the home of the Zoras was gone. The water up above which created the barrier was frozen solid. Anyone could simply enter the Domain…if they got past the cold, of course.
Link and Navi prepared for the worst, bracing themselves as they leapt across the gap and into the Domain. The cold inside was as intense as the cold outside. There was no wind or snowfall, but it seemed as if the very rock around them radiated freezing temperatures. Then, to the horror of the duo, they saw all the ice.
All the water in the Domain was frozen solid. What was worse was what was in the ice. Zoras. Dozens upon dozens of the fishy folk of the area were trapped within the ice. Each one had expressions of horror or pain on their faces, clumped together in groups as though forced into the water by unseen forces. Even the Zoras outside the water were frozen, thin layers of ice coating their bodies and making them seem like sculptures rather than living beings.
The boy and fairy felt horrible as the terrible, dead silence deafened them. There was no sign of any sort of life anywhere. No matter how they strained their ears, they heard no noise anywhere. Not even the dripping of water, as it was so cold that any and all liquid was turned to ice.
"HELLOOO?!" Navi yelled out, desperate for some sort of response. Her call echoed out into the Domain, the ice shouting back her plea almost cruelly as the shout soon got swallowed by the cold. After that, there was silence. No returning call from any Zora or any sign that anything living besides the pair resided within the Domain.
"Navi…What…Are…Are they alive…?" Link asked, unable to keep the horror out of his voice as he slowly walked forward. The frozen, terrified stares of the Zoras seemed to follow him, his mind tricking him into seeing their eyes track his every moment.
"I wish I knew, Link." Navi responded, horror present within her own voice as she shivered both from the cold and from disgust. How could anyone do this…? Even the children weren't spared, their small forms stuck within the ice, their mouths opened up in silent screams.
"What do we do…? How can we help?" Link was stumped, not having any ideas. He couldn't bomb the ice, it'd hurt them! And something told him the ice here was cursed, and something as simple as bombs wouldn't help anyway.
Navi thought for a moment as she tried to ignore the sights around her and the cold piercing her very being. "I'm sure this is connected to the Water Temple, over at Lake Hylia. It's surprising that Ganondorf's cursed magic could reach all the way from there to the Domain, though." There was that passage that she and Link discovered, which they couldn't even use given the ice blocking it up. Perhaps Ganondorf somehow used that? It hardly mattered, really.
Teeth shattering, the cold make Link stutter lightly as he spoke, his body shivering more intensely than before. "So, we leave? Go to Lake Hylia?" It would be unfortunate to just up and turn around after all the time it took to get there. And…he also wanted to see for himself if anyone was around. No signs of life made itself known as they walked through the Domain, but still let himself hope. He wouldn't admit it out loud, but he was also keeping his eyes peeled for Ruto…
"No. Not yet." Navi said, pressing up against Link to try and warm him up some more. "We should check to see if Lord Jabu-Jabu is okay. Maybe it can help us somehow?" Navi wasn't entirely sure how the fish deity would manage this, but it was worth checking out just in case!
Nodding, Link went forward, trying to just focus on the path ahead and ignoring the Zoras. Navi would direct him, remembering the way to King Zora's throne room from seven years prior.
When the two reached the monarch, they stopped and stared. His situation was…different than the rest. Unlike all the other Zoras, their king was trapped in a prism of ice. It was a large and solid structure, trapping him in a devastating cold prison.
"Not even King Zora got out okay…" Navi muttered, furrowing her brow in worry. "Why did Ganondorf do something like this...?" Was the Gerudo truly just that evil?
"No sign of Ruto either..." Link noted, looking about the room. Indeed, King Zora was entirely alone, the Princess nowhere to be seen. Had she, perhaps, managed to evade the fate of her people? If so, where would she have gone? Lake Hylia? Did she, like Saria and Darunia, seek to cleanse out a cursed Temple alone? It was a troubling pattern that Link deeply hoped would end here.
"I don't know. She could've been elsewhere, maybe. Or she's somewhere we didn't check." There was so much to the Domain they hadn't explored, after all. "Either way, we have to go check things out! Come on!" Navi left Link's tunic, flying ahead and leading him onward towards where Lord Jabu-Jabu resided.
At least, where the deity had resided.
When the boy and fairy reached Zora's Fountain, they saw very little aside from ice and snow. The massive body of water where they had encountered Lord Jabu-Jabu was empty save for massive chunks of solid ice. There was no sign of the god that had resided there, and there was nowhere where it could have gone. Was Lord Jabu-Jabu another deity that Ganondorf had slain with his dark magic…?
Navi was disturbed at the lack of the massive fish god. If its corpse had been there, that would in a strange way almost be better. It would be a sign that Lord Jabu-Jabu had been there at all. But…there was just nothing but ice and snow. No corpse. No bones. Nothing that suggested that a deity had once called Zora's Fountain its home.
"Is…Lord Jabu-Jabu dead…?" Link asked, frowning heavily despite himself. Had another god died because he hadn't been there to help? He had saved Lord Jabu-Jabu once before, but letting it perish in the seven years he was essentially asleep was unacceptable to him!
"There's no body…so it's really hard to say." Navi remarked, looking around as if such a large presence could somehow be missed. "I don't know where else it could go, though…"
"Do we go, then? To Lake Hylia?" The boy was pretty desperate to get out of the cold, and to get away from all the horror around him…
The fairy hummed, an idea hitting her. "Wait! No…I have an idea…" Navi had realized something, a thought that never struck her when they were in the Domain seven years prior. "I think there may be a Great Fairy nearby…"
A Great Fairy? Here? Navi had never mentioned that! "What makes you say that…? You never said that before."
"Well, things were a bit different before. We sort of got rushed into things with Lord Jabu-Jabu, and then when we were done here, we thought the quest was over." Navi explained. With no future legs in the quest, as far as they knew, seeing the Great Fairy would be pointless. "I'm not even sure one is here. I had heard rumors that a Great Fairy was somewhere hidden, somewhere near the Zoras. Near where their god once lived would be the most hidden place here! Just…hold on here, let me go and scout things!"
Before Link could even argue, Navi zipped off into the snow and wind. The weather was too thick for him to even see where she went, nor the rest of Zora's Fountain. If there was a cave around, he certainly wouldn't be able to spot it from where he was. Risking the danger, he put the Master Sword and his shield away, rubbing at his arms quickly to try and warm himself up, if only a little bit…
Mere minutes later, Navi returned, diving under Link's tunic without a word. She had been pretty cold too, and the Hylian's body temperature helped her a bit just as her own hear aided him. "I think I found something…a cave with an odd power from it. It felt like a Great Fairy's, but…weaker…" The one on Death Mountain had been weakened, so it would make sense that this one had her power drained as well.
"We should check it out, then…" Link said, picking up his gear. "She'd help us, right? Especially with this curse…"
"I'd hope so." Navi said, pointing out the right direction to go, having the Hylian walk along the outer banks of Zora's Fountain. "Maybe she'll even give us some advice on how to help the Zoras!"
Link hoped so too, feeling he needed all the help he could get. He was just a kid! This was all so much for him. Too much for him. Had there really been no one else more capable than him? Someone else this destiny could have been forced upon? These heated thoughts did little to warm him up as he slowly made his way around the massive lake, knowing that slipping in would be a disaster…
As with the path alongside Zora's River, there was nothing of real note. Nothing living that the boy and fairy managed to see. No monsters, no wildlife…nothing. Somehow this body of water wasn't entirely frozen solid like the river was, but they saw no fish in the water or anything of the like.
Before too long, the duo reached the cave that Navi had found. Indeed, Link felt an energy radiating from it. It was a strong energy for a Hylian, but he somehow was able to tell that the energy was of a weakened, tired nature. Whatever was radiating the energy was potentially dying!
"I peeked inside, but it seems like the Great Fairy is a bit far in." Navi warned. "I…I think I felt something bad too. Cursed energy. A different kind, but…it's hard to tell…" Cursed energy was in the air all around them, never leaving as the two entered the Domain.
Link wasn't entirely sure what Navi meant exactly…but he'd keep his guard up just in case. Taking a deep breath, he walked inside, his fairy companion staying under his tunic.
Right away, the two let out a noise of alarm. It was cold outside, by the river, inside the Domain, and at Zora's Fountain. But this area…it was almost unbearable in how freezing it was! The cavern around them seemed to radiate coldness, spewing low temperatures at the two as Volvagia breathed fire.
"F-F-Farore above!" Navi exclaimed, shivering intensely as she tried to cuddle up closer to Link, desperate for more heat. "I-I only p-p-peeked inside, I didn't r-realize it was so cold…!"
Link was shivering far more intensely than his naturally warmed up companion, almost dropping the Master Sword as he stared ahead. Somehow, the area around them was lit up despite the lack of torches and sunlight. It was clear, though, that there was ice everywhere! It seemed as though the cavern itself was made of it, or perhaps simply coated in it as there were pockets of normal stone and rock along the path. Icicles hung from the ceiling, however, and it seemed like nothing living could possibly survive within the cavern for too long.
That just meant they had to be fast!
That was easier said than done, of course. The ever-biting cold around the boy and fairy made it hard for Link to move. Navi kept in his tunic, trying to warm him up as best she could as he trudged forward. It practically felt as though his joints were freezing over as well, each step seeming to take an eternity to accomplish.
The cavern around them seemed just as dead as Zora's River, the Domain, and even the Fountain. As they went forward, there was no signs of life anywhere. Keese, at most, could be living in the cavern normally, but there was no sign that any had ever resided there. Not even bones or preserved corpses of any sort of frozen creature cropped up.
As before, Navi almost would have preferred to see some sort of evidence that life could exist in a place like this for some sort of extended period of time. But luckily for them, they had to just get to the Great Fairy and leave. Surely her own fountain was warm enough to help Link on the journey out. And, surely, the Great Fairy would let the two stay there for just a little while!
"H…How are you holding up, Link?" Navi asked after a few minutes. The cavern was straightforward, no forks having cropped up at all since they entered. "Just remember, you can play one of those songs Sheik taught us to get out of here!"
In all honesty, it was quite tempting for Link to warp to Death Mountain's crater at this moment. He almost found himself missing the intense heat the cursed mountain had brought! "I…I-I think I can make it…!" He replied, teeth still chattering as he walked. It was much more tiring than a regular walk, but the Great Fairy on Death Mountain had made the last Temple even remotely possible for him to get through. To him, it seemed more than worth it to see if this one could do the same.
Not long after Link answered, Navi felt something. A…presence. Not the energy of the Great Fairy, but something more sinister. "Link! Look out!" She called, not even sure where the danger was coming from.
Still, Link instinctually took Navi's advice and leapt backwards in an act of blind self-protection. He nearly slipped and fell on the icy floor, but he dodged an unusual attack. Coming from the wall, a torrent of freezing wind burst forth. It barely missed Link, but he could practically feel his blood solidify just by being near it! As soon as the attack started, it ended.
"What was that?!" Link exclaimed, looking to the wall, but simply seeing ice. How could something like that happen…?
"Look closer! Keep moving!" Navi exclaimed, spotting just what had attacked. It wasn't that the wall had attacked, but a creature of ice that blended into the wall! It was an unusual foe, one that seemed to be a massive, horned humanoid face tall as Link. It truly did seem to be made entirely of ice, no skin or bone or anything organic on it at all.
It took Link a moment to see it too but felt terrified as the ice creature slowly turned on the spot. This time, he heard it inhale and moved out of the way as it unleashed another torrent of icy breath. Luckily, it seemed to move quite slowly. Link felt the blood rush through his body as his life was on the line, his ability to move properly more restored.
Since the creature moved so slowly, Link was able to close the distance easily before it could swivel around again. Swinging the Master Sword with all his strength, he found the ice surprisingly easy to shatter. With a disturbing, humanlike groan, the beast fell into icy chunks on the ground.
Panting and staring at the icy remains, Link looked to Navi. "What was that thing…?" A creature of ice? It wasn't anything he had ever heard of…but he had recently fought a creature that seemed to made of fire…
"I think that may have been a Freezard." Navi remarked, staring at the remains as well. "I didn't think they were real, but…clearly I was wrong. The stories I heard said they were demons of ice that only lived in the coldest environments…but Hyrule was never cold enough to have any. At least…until now, I suppose."
"How many other creatures you don't know exist are you aware of?" Link asked, snipping a bit. First the Flare Dancer and now the Freezard. He'd have to have dealt with both regardless, but knowing what he was getting into would be a very different story…
Sighing, Navi shook her head. "I mean…I don't know. None that'd live in a place like this." She could at least be a bit sympathetic to his annoyance. Ganondorf proved time and time again that his magic brought seemingly impossible or extinct creatures to life. A part of her wondered if the Gerudo truly had created beings like the Flare Dancer or the Freezard to life simply by his own magic and knowledge of old legends…
Link decided to just let it go, not wanting to linger in the icy cavern for any longer than he had to. As it turned out, that had not been the only Freezard in their way. Two more were encountered further into the cavern, but Navi had been keeping an eye out for them. Thankfully, neither were able to hit Link with their horrific breath attacks. The fairy was sure that if either had hit him, even the Great Fairy's tunic wouldn't protect him. The legends said that the breath of a Freezard could freeze a fully grown man solid in mere seconds, his entire being transforming entirely to ice through evil magic.
Best not to see if the legend was true.
After what seemed to be hours, Link and Navi found themselves in a sort of clearing in the cavern. The floor was spotted with patches of ice but was mostly of rock and stone. Before them was the yawning maw of a separate room. The way ahead radiated with a noticeable, albeit seemingly weakened energy. It had to be the Great Fairy! They had made it!
As Link, Navi still in his tunic, approached the cave, a sound made him halt in his tracks. It was a deep, menacing growl that came from his left. Turning, sword and shield at the ready, the Hylian quickly saw the sound's source.
There was a smaller cave entrance, easily missed and almost blocked by frozen stalagmites. Emerging from the opening was a creature that surprised both the boy and fairy. It was a Wolfos, orange eyes leering, and teeth barred in a snarl. This Wolfos was different than the one encountered in the past, however. For one thing, it was almost twice as big, somehow maintaining a healthy weight in the frozen cavern it lived it. Perhaps due to Ganondorf's magic? The other feature was far more striking, the Wolfos adorned in almost blindingly white fur.
"A White Wolfos…?!" Navi exclaimed, rising out of Link's tunic so she could float above the inevitable fight. "Why is there a White Wolfos here?! There's nothing for it to eat, so how did it survive…?"
Link, on the other hand, hardly cared about why the White Wolfos was there and how it survived. He just assumed it was something Ganondorf did, maybe the beast was guarding the Great Fairy? The Hylian didn't give the beast a chance to attack first, marching forward and making sure to miss the patches of ice as he readied the Master Sword. Swinging his blade, the attack missed as the creature dodged to the side.
It swiped its huge claws at Link, the boy barely able to raise his shield in time. The claws scraped against the metal of the shield, nearly staggering the Hylian as the mighty blow managed not to hurt him. He had to keep his eyes going between the floor to miss patches of ice, but also keeping attention on the White Wolfos.
Link making sure not to slip slowed him down, enough for the White Wolfos to strike again. Unfortunately for the beast, it aimed for the Hylian's torso, and its claws weren't as strong as the magic of a Great Fairy. The attack bruised at Link's chest, but his tunic and skin weren't torn, and no blood was spilt! It did stagger him again, however, and he wasn't able to counterattack.
Navi wasn't going to just float there and wait for the fight to go on, however. Unlike a number of recent opponents of Link, the fairy knew the White Wolfos couldn't catch her. Flying into its face, the fairy shouted a warning to Link as she let loose a burst of light. Link closed his eyes, but the White Wolfos wasn't quite so lucky. It let out a pained howl as it was temporarily blinded, swinging around wildly as it attempted to hit either the boy or fairy.
Link would wait for his moment to strike. He assumed the White Wolfos' back was as sturdy as the regular variant. So, he would wait until its stomach was open. After a few moments, the creature's weak spot was wide open as it readied a massive swipe. Charging in quickly, the boy drove the Master Sword into its stomach.
Once more, the White Wolfos let out a pained howl, the magic sword practically burning it along with piercing its flesh and organs. Link stepped back and avoided the desperate swipes of the beast as it fell to the icy floor.
He felt his stomach drop at the familiar scene. Before him was an injured Wolfos, the creature unable to stand from its wounds. The White Wolfos let out a pained, pitiable whimper as it tried to stand up, only to collapse once more.
"Oh…Not again…" Navi whispered to herself, too quiet to be heard. She knew just what was going through Link's mind, what this would remind him of. What could she do, though? She knew he'd never want to leave the beast to suffer and die on its own. That was too cruel for him. Instead, she suggested the opposite, trying to help him. "Just…Just do it quickly, Link. It'll be worse off if you don't."
Link knew she was right, but he found himself frozen. Not from the cold around him, but from the disgusting coldness from inside. Saying he had gotten used to killing was a strong and inaccurate statement to make…but it had gotten somewhat easier as his quest went on. He hadn't felt this strongly about finishing off a foe since the first Wolfos, and he knew exactly why. The Hylian practically felt he was in the Lost Woods once more, staring at the dying foe on the grass before him.
Withholding a sob, Link approached the White Wolfos and raised his sword up. Giving out a cry of effort, he drove the blade into the creature's neck. It thrashed weakly, whimpering and growling out as the life drained from it.
Soon, it fell still.
The Hylian stared at the corpse before him, the ice and stone around it running red with blood. He couldn't stop looking, panting heavily and tears threatening to run down his face as the self-disgust he felt nearly overwhelmed him.
Navi went over to her companion, placing a hand on his cheek. "It's okay…It's not suffering anymore…" The fairy said, trying to comfort Link as best as she could. "Come on…we have to see the Great Fairy, okay?"
Link didn't say anything. He didn't even glance at Navi as he turned away from the corpse. Shuddering heavily, from the cold or his emotions he couldn't tell, the Hylian marched into the cave they had braved the cold to reach.
The fairy sighed heavily, close behind and wishing she could do more to help…
As it turned out, it was warmer within the Great Fairy's Fountain, albeit not by very much. There was still a noticeable chill in the air, and Link especially found himself shivering as he looked about. It seemed the fountain was free of any icy buildup that had covered so much of the Zora's homeland. Even the water in the fountain still bubbled and flowed.
With a flash of light, a figure emerged from the sparkling water, silent in its appearance. The Great Fairy looked just like the one from Death Mountain, as it turned out. Same face, some general body shape, same hair, same lack of clothing, with only vines covering her body.
The magical being also looked exhausted, just as the one on Death Mountain. It seemed as if she hadn't properly slept in weeks, though apparently her vines were enough to protect her from the cold. She didn't shiver as she floated on her side, nor was her breath visible in the frigid air around her.
"I thought I had heard a commotion outside…" The Great Fairy mused, seeming to struggle to keep her voice steady and the exhaustion out of it. "But what are a Hylian and a lesser fairy doing in such a place? I, The Great Fairy of Magic, have not had a visitor in quite some time. This land is cursed, and the Zoras' fate should have been a sign to turn back."
Link, at the very least, felt a bit warmer. Not just because of the magic, but blood rushed to his face at the sight of the gorgeous being before him. "That's the thing…we want to help." He said, wondering just what the Great Fairy may do to aid them, if anything.
"Surely you know of a way to unfreeze the Zoras, don't you? Or if not…can you help us?" Navi asked respectfully. "We have a long quest ahead of us, and any help at all would be much appreciated…"
The Great Fairy hummed, looking the duo over as if sizing them up for what lied ahead. "Alas, I cannot aid the Zoras. If I could have, I would have by now. It may be hard to believe, but the curse blighting the Water Temple has reached even this far. But I can see you are a Child of Destiny, and I will aid you."
As with the other Great Fairy, this one seemed to feel the need to change position as she granted a boon. She stood up in the air, opening her arms wide as if to embrace Link, much to Navi's annoyance. Both she and the Hylian felt a surge of energy touch them, and before long it faded.
Not feeling too terribly different, Link looked down at himself. "I appreciate your gift, Great Fairy, but what did you give…?" The Hylian asked.
"A gift you will soon need." The entity explained. "The Water Temple will be flooded, and you will need the ability to breath underwater. So long as you wear that tunic, Hylian, you will be able to breath water as if it were air. You too, young one, have this ability too."
Navi wasn't expecting to be a part of the gift but gave a polite bow. "Thank you, Great Fairy, we're grateful for your boon!"
The Great Fairy hummed again, as though amused at their reactions. "Yes…I'm afraid that's all I can do. Should my energy be less drained, I would grant you immunity to the cold. But…you managed to get this far, so I'm sure you'll be able to return just fine. Now…I must rest. Farewell, and lest destiny guide you…" With that, the Great Fairy descended into the water, vanishing in a flash of light.
Link hated the idea of destiny but didn't say anything. With no further reason to linger, the two left the fountain. Their boon had been helpful, but both had hoped for a bit more help, but it was better than nothing at all.
Once more, they were struck with the cold air of the cavern, Navi diving into Link's tunic. They moved quickly past the corpse of the White Wolfos and onto the path back through the icy cavern.
As they went and turned a corner, a shocking sight met them.
Before the pair was Sheik, standing in the middle of the path. Unlike the Hylian and fairy, he did not shiver, and the cold didn't seem to bother him at all. Just like in the Lost Woods or within the crater of Death Mountain, the mysterious youth seemed unaffected by the world around him.
"We meet once more." The Sheikah said as a brief, formal greeting.
"Sh…Sheik…?" Navi asked, practically expecting him to be an illusion. "How are you here?! It's so cold!"
It took the two a moment to realize that as the Sheikah spoke, even his breath didn't appear in the air. "I have my ways." He answered in a frustratingly cryptic manner. "This monstrous spirit within the Water Temple has created this ice. I'm sure the Great Fairy told you this. There is simply no way to melt this ice without cleansing the Temple that is within the lone island of Lake Hylia."
"Sheik, have you seen Ruto?" Link asked, saying the first thing to come to his head. The Sheikah seemed to know so many things, so maybe the fate of his friend was one such thing…
"Ruto is safe." Sheik replied, red eye boring into Link's once more. "I was able to save her, perhaps her ability as the Sage of Water allowed the ice around her to be dispelled. I've tried, but the other ice I've yet to find any way to penetrate."
Link felt a wave of relief wash over him, even the cold air around him barely bothering the Hylian as a huge weight was lifted from his shoulder. "But…where is she?"
"Isn't it obvious? The Water Temple. She went there to stop Morpha, the dark spirit that resides there." The Sheikah explained. "But…I asked her to wait for you. She should be waiting outside the Temple for your arrival. I felt you'd want this."
The Hylian felt a sting of terror as Sheik spoke, but once more relief bloomed as news of Ruto waiting on Link became evident. "Thank you…I really appreciate that…" It made him wonder if Sheik somehow knew of what happened with Saria and Darunia. It'd hardly surprise him.
"Yes…" Sheik took his eye off of Link, gazing about the icy cavern around the three of them. "Time passes, people move. Like a river's flow, it never ends...A childish mind will turn to noble ambition. Young love will become deep affection. The clear water's surface reflects growth." The Sheikah spoke as if reciting a poem.
Link was a bit confused with the mysterious youth's words. Love? What love? Saria had and the Hylian shared many memories from his childhood, and Darunia's friendship persisted as Sheik spoke of. But what did Ruto and love have in common?
Navi, on the other hand, had to resist laughing. She had been able to tell Ruto's true feelings for Link quite easily. It'd be a bit of an awkward reunion, but they'd cross that bridge when they came to it. For the moment, the fairy stayed silent and let the two have their talk.
The Sheikah redirected his gaze to Link as he took out his harp. "But now I will teach you a new song. One that will whisk you to Lake Hylia. This is the Serenade of Water…"
As with their previous meetings, Link took out the Ocarina of Time and prepared to play. The song that Sheik played echoed throughout the cavern, as if the ice itself sang the song rather than it coming from the harp. It was a calming, smooth piece that made some of the anxieties Link let temporarily dampen. As usual, he found himself getting the tune of the song right away, and the duet they made was absolutely gorgeous.
When the music stopped, Sheik put his instrument away. "Link, we will meet again…"
Before Link and Navi could do anything, Sheik took something from his pocket and threw it to the ground. The flash of light was particularly blinding this time, the ice magnifying it greatly.
As the duo's vision returned, Navi let out a noise of annoyance. "I hate that…Why does he do that…?" Many things about Sheik spurned Navi's curiosity, but she felt the Sheikah wouldn't answer her questions even if she asked.
Link nodded in agreement, blinking rapidly to help get the spots out of his vision. "Since Ruto is going to wait…can we see if Lon Lon Ranch is okay?" They had told Talon they'd be there within a few days…
"With that song Sheik taught you…I think that's okay. Talon may not know the full extent of what's going on at the ranch." Navi knew Link would be worrying about Malon, and the fairy worried too! That, and if Ruto was going to truly wait for them, an extra day could hardly hurt…
The Hylian was relieved to hear that, and an idea struck him. Taking out the Ocarina of Time once more, he let out one last shiver. "I'll send us to the Temple of Time. I don't know if I can stand this cold much longer…" Link didn't feel he had it in him to make a return trip with how freezing it was.
"Good idea, that will bring us a lot closer to the ranch too!" Navi agreed, eager to warm up.
Pushing asides his worries to focus, Link played the Prelude of Time. He just had to make sure Malon was okay, then his quest could continue without further interruption, he'd hope. In a brilliant flash of golden light, the boy and fairy were whisked away to the Temple of Time...