A/N: Uh…. I didn't mean to leave this waiting for 10 months. Sorry about that. Unfortunately, it's probably going to be a while before the next chapter, too. I started a new job a few months back, and it leaves little time for writing. And of my projects, this is one of the hardest to work during breaks, due to the work involved with writing the temple exploration. Still, I hope to have another chapter out before the end of summer. Enjoy.
Ice World
An eerie howl echoed around the icy cavern. The dull thud of many sets of heavy paws followed. Ruto stumbled across slick ice, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her fins – once beautiful but now torn and bloodied – waved uselessly behind her. A pack of Wolfos followed closely, yipping and slobbering, snapping at her heels and fins whenever they drew close. She felt teeth graze her fin, threatening to yank her back. She pushed herself to run faster, and with an extra burst of speed she pulled ahead. But she knew it was only a matter of time before they caught up.
Ruto slid to a stop in a small, dark chamber. A shallow pool of water stood at the other end, appearing to give off a soft light. Light that refracted in the large ice crystals that blocked her path. Where there were no crystals, stalactites and stalagmites instead blocked her way.
A dead end.
She heaved, clenching her fists, and began to back away, staring at her reflection in horror. The wolfos would soon be upon her. And once they arrived? They'd rip her apart, just as they had her people. She clenched her fists tighter, anger blazing through her veins. No, she couldn't just give up. Not after everything that had already happened. She thought of the guards, and their grim expressions as they told her to run, that they'd hold the enemy off. Sacrificing themselves for her. And what had she done for them? Nothing.
For the lives of her people, she wouldn't go down without a fight.
With one final big gulf of air, she whirled around, focusing what little energy she had left. One hand stretched out towards the pool of water, trembling. There was a brief pause, then the water snaked towards her in a fast, lashing tendril, gathering around her to swirl like a vortex.
The first Wolfos entered the room, but she was ready for it. Her hand shot forward, and so did the tendril, lashing at the wolfos' muzzle like a whip. It yelped and reeled back, stumbling into a wolfos behind it. The water returned to her, then she sent it again, striking at the wolfos with as much force as she could muster. One whimpered and backed up, the rest were a bit less keen to attack prey that fought back.
But bending water to her will was exhausting, and she couldn't keep it up for long. Soon, her blows began to lose power. Then she lost control of some of the water, which splattered across the already slick ground. The wolfos began to press forward again, powering through her increasingly desperate attacks.
So, this is how my people end, is it? Ruto thought grimly.
She squeezed her eyes shut, expecting claws to rip open her throat.
Instead, she heard several whizzing sounds, followed by a yelp, then a dull thud. She peeked one eye open, then gasped. At her feet, the leader of the wolfos pack lay dead, his body beginning to burn away in a mystical fire. Several knives were buried in his back, and one deep in his neck. Several more yelps followed as the remainder were picked off.
Then her savior revealed himself, walking calmly towards her.
"Princess Ruto?" Shiek asked, his voice quiet and eyes betraying no emotion. "I am glad to find you alive."
Ruto blinked. "Aren't you–"
Sheik cut her off with a wave of his hand. "No time. Come, I will escort you out of here. You must make haste to the water temple, before Ganondorf discovers you survived."
Tall pines shivered in the wind, growing so thickly together that they blotted out the sky. Golden needles squished underfoot, softening the sound of Link's footsteps. A dense fog permeated the forest; he could only see a few feet in front of him.
"Skully?" Link called out, though his voice did not carry far. No response, not even the slightest sound, followed.
He continued walking silently, calling out occasionally. But his calls continued to go unanswered.
Suddenly, he stumbled on a rock and fell forward, unable to catch himself before he hit the ground. Pine needles uncomfortably scratched against his bark and poked into his eyeholes. He groaned, slowly pushing himself back to his knees, then froze.
Ahead of him was a small, twinkling light that seemed to cut through the fog.
"Navi?"
The light began to fade, as if fleeing. Link stumbled to his feet and staggered after it, but it retreated further still.
"Navi, wait!"
Tree branches and bushes tugged at Link as he rushed past, tearing at his tunic and threatening to drag him back. He grunted, tugging and pushing forward.
Then suddenly, he was free. But he was falling again. This time, the ground disappeared beneath him, sending him tumbling through an endless void.
And then he jerked awake with a gasp. But he was still falling. He landed on his back in a thorny bush, and after a moment, struggled to reorient himself.
The forest around him was no longer foggy, nor was it the pines he'd been wandering in his nightmare.
The scuffling sound of movement overhead made him tilt his head up. Hanging upside down from a branch was Skull Kid. Glowing amber eyes stared at him, flickering with concern, before Skully swung around upright. There, he continued to peer down at Link.
"Nightmare," Link said bluntly. He shuffled, then climbed to his feet. He hesitated, then added, "I'm fine." It was a lie, but he didn't want Skully to worry.
It had been a day since they left the gorons. They'd skirted the outskirts of Kakariko, then stopped in a thicket at dusk to rest and take inventory of their supplies. Other than his nightmare, all seemed to be going well.
Link clambered back into the tree, getting to work gathering up all his equipment. Skull Kid watched him silently for a moment longer before flashing a cheeky grin and leaping downwards. He landed with a thud then spun around and looked up with that same smile.
"So. Where are we headed next, again?" Skully asked.
"Zora's Domain," Link answered quietly, no longer looking at Skull Kid.
Skully grimaced. "Sounds wet. But better than that volcano. How long till we get there?"
"A day. Maybe two if we travel slowly." He slung a bag over his shoulder. "We better get going."
Without waiting for a response, Link began pushing his way through the underbrush, unwilling to look back at Skull kid.
The sun crept across the sky as they crossed Hyrule Field. Skull Kid kept upbeat, trying to make conversation. Occasionally, he would cartwheel ahead, then turn and wait for Link to catch up before walking by his side again.
Link, for the most part, did not reply.
They reached the canyon that led to Zora's Domain at sunset and, after a brief rest, set off again before the sun had risen again. As they walked, Link kept his gaze on the ground. After they leapt across a small gap, though, Skull Kid moved to cut Link off.
"Oh, come on, Link, why the long face? We're out of that nasty volcano and water's not too bad so long as you don't let yourself get waterlogged. What's there to be down about?"
Link stopped and did not look up. Skull Kid stared a moment longer, then said, "C'mon, Link, you've been acting all funny. It's no fun! Besides…" He trailed off, dropping his gaze. And clenching his fists. "I'm worried. About you. First the forest, and then everything at the volcano. Just… Are you okay?"
Link did not answer right away. He looked up, then down at his feet. When he looked up again, he flashed a shaky, uneasy smile. "No. I'm not okay. But that's okay. I have to be strong because everyone is depending on me, right? So don't worry about me."
Skull Kid's expression turned grumpy. "Okay. Who hurt you now? I'll beat 'em up."
Link was silent a moment longer. He shook his head slowly, then began to walk again, trying his best to hide his stormy thoughts. His attention turned to the path ahead of them.
The last seven years had not treated the dilapidated path upriver well. The stone path was deteriorating, and parts where the stone remained were overgrown with weeds and bush roots. Link and Skull Kid were forced to pick their way over the uneven ground to avoid tumbling into the rushing river.
Though the sun had nearly reached its apex, thick grey storm clouds were rolling in and beginning to blot it out. A chilly breeze blew down through the canyon, and the first signs of frost clung to the grass.
"Huh, weird time of year for snow," Skull Kid commented. "Was it like this before?"
Link shook his head and looked up at the dreary sky. Something was very wrong.
He hurried ahead, stumbling over stones as he broke into a light jog. His gear clanged and clattered in his bag, but soon even that was nearly drowned out by the howling of the wind. By the time they had reached the familiar waterfall, there were snow flurries in the air, swirling around the two skull kids, but melting before they landed.
Link reached into his bag, retrieving the familiar ocarina, and recited Zelda's Lullaby. But the waterfall did not split and continued to thunder into the pool below.
"Well, now what?" Skull Kid asked.
"It's supposed to open." Link stared into the waterfall. Beyond, he could just barely make out the shape of the hidden corridor. But the pounding water offered no hopes of jumping through. And unfortunately for Link, there was only one alternative he could think of.
A feeling of dread filled his core as he turned to Skull Kid. "We'll have to use magic and warp inside."
Silence stretched between them. Skull Kid stared at Link with his arms at his sides. "Are, are you sure there's no other way?
Link shook his head. As far as he knew, this was the only way into Zora's Domain. The only route that they could take, at least. He considered his options for a moment, then turned to take his sword, sheath and all, and passed it to Skull Kid.
"If… if something goes wrong, you have to keep this away from me," Link started, his voice quiet, but serious. "If I lose control, it will be harder for me to hurt you if I don't have this."
Another silent pause passed between the two boys. Then Skull Kid nodded and grabbed hold of the sword, clutching it tightly to his chest. "See you on the other side." Then he was gone in a flurry of leaves, leaving Link alone.
Link turned his attention to the waterfall and did his best to clear his mind of the fears plaguing him. He didn't want to do this. What if something went wrong? But he had to. Not for himself, but for everyone else.
You've got this, just focus and don't lose yourself.
He leaped forward. The world seemed to swirl around him, and then his boots landed on hard stone.
Immediately, pain shot through his chest like a searing flame. Link reached up to clutch at the old wound. It felt hot to the touch. His eyes flickered as a voice echoed in his mind.
It's time to come back, Link. You can't run away from yourself forever. It's only a matter of time before you lose control; wouldn't it be better to just give in?
No! You can't control me! Link yelled back in his mind, but he crumpled to the ground. He was vaguely aware of Skull Kid shouting something at him, but it felt distant.
You can't fight me forever, the voice retorted, even as the pain began to fade. Sooner or later, you'll have to give in...
Then the voice was gone. Link remained on the ground for a moment while he recovered. Then he stood up and turned to Skull Kid, who was still clutching the sword tightly against his chest.
"Are you… okay now?" Skull Kid asked.
Was he? Link hesitated. The pain was gone. But he still feared that he'd suddenly lose control. But he had to be strong. For everyone else. So he nodded. "I will be. Let's go."
Skully held out the sword, which Link accepted and quickly slung over his shoulder. He gave his friend a quick nod, then turned to walk down the entry hall.
The sound of the waterfall faded as they walked further in. There was an ambient, dim glow in the walls of the darkened hall, but the torches were out, and seemed like they had been extinguished for some time The only other source of light was the glow of the skull kids' eyes.
Greater darkness yawned before them as the hallway opened into the main hall. Their footsteps echoed, but otherwise they were greeted by nothing more than deafening silence.
"Spooky," Skull Kid mumbled. He ran his hand along the stone wall, fingertips just barely brushing the rugged surface.
Link turned his head and nodded, then yelped as his foot caught on something rigid. He fell on his stomach with a loud clatter that echoed cacophonously through the chamber. Groaning, he sat back up, turning back to see what tripped him.
Another yelp escaped his mouth. He clasped both hands as if trying to contain the sound.
He was sitting atop a dried pool of blood. The pawprints of some animal trailed out of it, and several splatters surrounded it. As his gaze moved to the center, he saw the source; a zora lay on their back, eye's glazed and mouth hanging open. Teeth marks of some savage beast marred their body, and it seemed as if their throat had been torn open.
Link quickly averted his gaze. He didn't want to look at them.
Slowly, he climbed back to his feet, shaking. Silently, he continued up the path towards the royal chambers, Skull Kid following close behind with an abnormally quiet and serious demeanor. Along the path, they came across several more zora. Many were dead, maimed just like the first. Others seemed perfectly fine, if not for the fact that they were encased in glittering red ice.
The royal chambers had not gone unscathed. The bodies of several Zoras lay about the room, some still clasping weapons. The king sat in the center, also covered in several layers of the red ice.
Dread settled in Link's chest, weighing him down. The curse burned in his chest. If he had been stronger, could he have prevented this?
Skull Kid lightly nudged one of the bodies with his shoe. It appeared to be frozen to the ground. He shook with a rattling noise, then turned back to Link. "So… now what?"
Now what indeed? Link glanced at the ceiling, struggling to come up with an answer. "We should… probably see if Jabu Jabu is okay. Ganondorf attacked him before."
"Who?"
"Giant fish. Ate me. Long story." Link turned to climb the slope towards the exit behind the king, remembering the last time he'd been here. Last time, he'd had to sneak by, suspected of causing trouble. Now there was no one to stop him.
The pond was frozen.
The surface was smooth, covered both by ice and a layer of snow. Or almost, smooth, rather. A path of churned up snow snaked across the lake, leading toward a cave in the distance.
"Should we go there?" Skull Kid asked. "Seems dangerous." He paused, then his beak twisted into a smile. "But that sounds exciting."
Link didn't answer, his gaze turning to the ice. Was Jabu Jabu down there, trapped? Was he even alive?
Skull Kid's smile faltered as he followed Link's gaze. "Jabu Jabu is a big ol' spirit, right? I'm sure he's fine."
"Maybe…" But then again, Ganondorf had killed the Deku Tree, who was surely just as powerful as Jabu Jabu, right? Link's gaze lingered a moment later. "Come on, we should go back inside. At least until we decide what to do."
He turned, then nearly jumped out of his bark, They were no longer alone.
Even with the cloth obscuring his face, Sheik's breath still puffed and swirled away in a frozen mist. He stood quietly, watching the two Skull Kids, waiting for them to approach him. As Link stepped forward, Sheik looked wistfully back towards the royal chambers.
"If you came here to meet the Zoras, you wasted your time… This is all that is left…"
Skull Kid let out an indignant huff. "You're the one that told us to come here!"
Sheik dipped his head. "I had hoped it would not be too late. But I was wrong. With one exception, the Zoras are now either dead, or sealed under a thick sheet of ice. I managed to rescue the princess, but… she is now on her way to the Water Temple."
He paused and sighed, shaking his head. "This ice, just as much of the problems you've faced thus far, is created by a curse." Link's chest burned. "The monster in the Water Temple is the source of the curse." His scare threatened to ignite in flame. "Unless you shut off the source, this ice will never melt." Link reached a hand up absentmindedly, placing a hand over the dark sap that sealed the old wound.
"You must have courage Link. Courage to face the danger and save the Zoras. Courage to face your own demons."
Link's thoughts, unfocused by the haze of pain, drifted towards another subject entirely. Before Sheik could retrieve his harp, Link blurted out, "Where's Navi?"
Sheik blinked. "Nave is… not here. She has her own tasks to accomplish."
"Oh…" Link lowered his head. Was she avoiding him? It felt like she was avoiding him.
A/N: Uh…. I didn't mean to leave this waiting for 10 months. Sorry about that. Unfortunately, it's probably going to be a while before the next chapter, too. I started a new job a few months back, and it leaves little time for writing. And of my projects, this is one of the hardest to work during breaks, due to the work involved with writing the temple exploration. Still, I hope to have another chapter out before the end of summer. Enjoy.
Ice World
Skull Kid looked at Sheik, the pricks of light that served as eyes narrowing as he tilted his head.
"The way you said that is kind of suspicious."
Sheik ignored him, instead facing Link. "Listen, I know you're not happy but you need to pay attention. Not only is this next temple important to saving Hyrule, it's important to saving you as well."
That made Link listen. "What do you mean?"
A sigh escaped Sheik. He shook his head, then took a step forward, getting down on one knee to be eye-level with Link. "This is about your curse. The challenges that the remaining temples will throw at you are going to be rough, and they'll only be more dangerous if we don't purify your spirit now, before it becomes too strong.
"The Water Temple is known for its purifying waters. Though reaching them may be dangerous, it is our best hope of healing you. Besides, you must wake the sage there for your quest anyways. If we act now, you can take care of both, kill two birds with one stone."
Two birds with one stone. Link didn't know if he liked the sound of the saying. Like he was doing something harmful. But perhaps he was worrying over nothing. He had a job to do, things to fix. And he wanted this pain out of his chest, this pain that made him want to hurt others.
Link did not look up. "...Fine."
Sheik nodded to him, then stood up, retrieving the harp from his hip. He brought his hand up to the harp, then paused. "Time passes. People move, change. Like a river's flow, it never ends. A childish mind turns to noble ambition. Young, reckless love becomes deep reflection. People grow old. Change. Live and die. Yet, it's not the same for you, is it? It still does you good to reflect upon yourself."
The song that followed as gentle, calming, repeating like a ripple over water. Swelling in volume and in note before resolving in a satisfying manner. Link slowly pulled out the ocarina, letting his fingers brush over the holes as he pictured the notes in his head. Then he brought it up to his mouth, letting out a steady breath of air. But the wind snatched away his notes, making the song feel so much more lonely. And for a moment, he felt truly helpless and alone.
Then he remembered that Skull Kid was here. With him by his side, he would never be totally alone.
Sheik nodded and put his harp away. "Right. If you are ready, we should leave at once. I know a shortcut to Lake Hylia, where the temple is. And with the water level of both here and Lake Hylia so low, even we can go through it."
With that, he turned and headed back into the royal chamber. Link hesitated for a moment before beginning to follow. Skull Kid watched Sheik for a moment, before sighing and shaking his head. His voice was mutinous. "It's not like you'll give a choice, is it?"
Link paused, nervousness making his body tingle. "You… don't have to go, if you don't want to."
But what would he do if Skull Kid did leave? Would he have made it this far if he had made the journey alone? Would he continue to have strength and resolve?
Fortunately, Skull Kid shook his head. "No way I'm leaving you alone." He turned his head back towards the entry to the royal chamber. "He helped you before. And I know you have to do this. But I still don't really trust him. You've been dragged into way too much crap that never should have been your responsibility. THe only responsibility we should have is staying not dead and putting spiders in Mido's bed."
Link smiled weakly, knowing Skully was both complaining and trying to cheer him up in his own way. It wasn't helping much, but he didn't want his friend to feel like his effort was wasted. So he laughed a little and continued walking. "Come on, we should catch up."
Water splashed around Link's boots, making ripples every time he moved. The light of his eyes reflected on the moist, stone walls that had been carved into a square tunnel. Small specks of some glowing substance speckled the walls, providing a dim source of light.
The floor began to slope downwards, and soon the water was up to his waist before the ground became flat again, slowing the group as they were forced to wade. Behind him, Skull Kid grumbled something inaudible, though link could guess it was a complaint about the water.
"You best get used to the water," Sheik warned as the tunnel began to slope upwards again. "The water temple is under Lake Hylia. Even though the lake is practically dry, there's bound to be parts of the temple that are flooded. You'll likely have to swim a lot to navigate the temple as it is."
The ground began to slope upwards, and soon they were out of the water entirely. Light appeared up ahead, and after a moment or so more, they emerged into sunlight. The ground around them was mostly dry, though there were patches of mud here and there.
Sheik led the way across the dirt. Here and there, dead aquatic plants dotted the ground. And there was a stench of rotting fish that permeated the area. He pointed towards a sheer rock wall near the center of the lakebed. There, the ground sloped downwards. Two carved stone pillars surrounded an opening lined with stone bricks. Water up to Link's waist surrounded the entrance, which sloped downwards into darkness.
"That is your destination. The water is deep enough that you'll have to swim to enter." Sheik hesitated. "I know your kind doesn't have to breathe… But I know there are other difficulties being underwater for too long. So, I have a gift for you."
Sheik tossed a bag from his shoulder. It landed in front of Link with adult thud. He reached down to pull open the bag, discovering a blue tunic and pair of rough tan trousers. There was a second set as well, and a single pair of heavy, steel-toed boots.
"I found the boots while rescuing Princess Ruto," Sheik explained. "They might be useful, though not as much as the tunics. It-"
"Great," Skully groaned. "More scratchy clothing."
Sheik gave him a scathing look. "As I was saying... It won't be as useful as the Goron Tunic, but it should protect you from the worst of the water's effects."
Link held up the tunic, giving it a skeptical look over. He wasn't sure he was convinced by Shiek's words. But he didn't complain. "Thanks," he mumbled.
Sheik nodded to him, watching as Link began to wade into the water. "Godspeed, Link. I hope this Temple brings a peace all of us desire."
A part of Link hoped it would. But the faint burn from his chest, which had grown just a bit stronger as they approached the temple entrance, gave him his doubts. He thought of the task ahead of him. He thought of Navi. Of Saria. Of everything else that had happened since he first left the forest. He had already done so much, but there was still much he had left to accomplish. And he had a feeling he wouldn't find peace until his quest was complete.
...If he could find peace after everything that had happened.