It was bad.

Ralph had seen or heard the results of Calatia, Ordon Village, parts of North Hyrule, the Zoras of Lake Hylia, and Lorule, but that was the aftermath. But seeing Labrynna in the midst of war and destruction, it was equally saddening and enraging. Even as he flew into the country's airspace, he could see the ruined Crescent Island, and where exact it hit. The old Moonlit Grotto, a lair on the island. From there, if not vaporized, was ruins of the island, but if the Imperials had some humor, it was showcased here. Crescent Island, named because the inner regions form a crescent, was now literally a crescent-shaped island.

"Dear Goddesses…" Oren had awoken from their long journey, and like Ralph was witnessing the work of the Imperials in action for the first time. She too took in the near eradication of the island, and then looked east. In the water were smaller isles, and like the much bigger Crescent Island, they too suffered from the Imperial's work. "Ralph, what was down here?"

Ralph looked east, silent for a moment. "...Zora Village."

Oren felt sorrow for her kind, as she once more saw her race fall victim to the Imperials. "No… Not again."

"Nayru, is this recent?"

Nayru nodded. "The Zoras were fighting for their home when I left. But King Zora escaped to the mainland beforehand, and I made sure Jabu-Jabu got away. I hope others did as well."

Oren glaced at Nayru, and despite her sorrow, hearing that the ancient Zora deity was safe made her happy. "Thank you, Oracle."

"My pleasure. It is my job to protect Labrynna, even if I am failing right now. Deities are included."

"Sir! The Sea of Storms!" Ralph, Oren, and Nayru looked north a tab bit, just where they were instructed. The Sea of Storms, named for the treacherous whirlpools in the watery region, was normally inhabited by Zoras, but a much, much larger newcomer made its home there. It was none other than the elephant being Nayru had spoken off. It stood there, taunting the kingdom of Labrynna, spewing water into the air. Ralph had barely noticed the torrential rains, and knew that the beast was the source of it all. He knew how to shut it down, but with his limited eyesight due to the rain, he trusted one who can see in water. "Oren, do you see what could be the control unit. Whatever looks like what Link described?"

"No, but it must be on the inside. The machine has an interior that I can see."

Damn. That changes things. His original idea was to just land on the beast and take it out, or hit it from the air, but going in was a different thing altogether. He'll need time to plan. "Ladies and gentlemen, make course for Lynna City. Get rested, but be ready at any moment. We'll take the fight to the machine any moment now." A chorus of affirmatives followed, Ralph leading his troops to the capital. As they came closer, Ralph let his eyes wander to the fallen Black Tower. Many centuries ago, it was the beacon of true love of a queen, and the instrument of evil for a sorceress. Now it was the burial ground for his mother and many others. He tore his eyes away, for the time for mourning would come later.

"She would be proud of you, Ralph. Her and your father both."

"Would they? After all I had done, running away to a war in a distant land and let's not leave out what I have done many a night. Yes, I am sure King Cap'n and Queen Ambi would be proud of their son."

The large group had soon arrived in Lynna City, but while the Loftwings settled within the city, Ralph directed Moosh to the castle. Nayru and her Loftwing continued to follow Ralph, both landing in the castle courtyard. Ignoring the knights rushing around the place, Ralph leaped off Moosh, helped Oren off the bear, then sent his ride away. He made way for the castle, where a man, a woman, a large Zora, and a Goron stood. Before continuing his journey to them, Ralph turned to Oren and Nayru. "Oren, I have a job for you."

Oren nodded. "What is it?"

"Go into town, see if you can find a weakness to the elephant. Getting close to it won't be easy, and we're damn sure ain't getting in if it has defenses of its own. But there has to be a way to take it down. Find it."

Oren smiled. "Will do." She left quickly, leaving the new King of Labrynna and the Oracle of Ages alone. Nayru faced her old friend as he continued to watch the Zora leave, and reached a hand out to him. She intended for his shoulder, but instead, it landed on his cheek.

"Ralph..."

"This is not how I envisioned I would take the throne. I thought Mother and Father would pass it to me when I was of age, but that's not the case anymore. The thoughts and dreams of a fifteen-year-old prince are nothing to a nineteen-year-old king… A lot of things have gone differently than I thought." He took Nayru's eyes into his own, relishing her touch. It had been so long since it was just the two of them… Then he looked to the crowd at his door. He remembered he had a war to win. He took Nayru's hand off him slowly, letting go after a brief moment. Side by side, the Oracle and King of Labrynna walked over to the group anticipating them. First to meet them was the man with the weirdest hairstyle seen on the masculine form. It looked like a bird was trying to fly off his head. He looked like a fat clown, with his small eyes, large red nose, and his crooked mustache. He had a red shirt with a blue handkerchief hanging out the most pompous collar Ralph could dream off, pink pants with a green belt and an orange wrap around the waist. At his feet, he wore red and orange striped socks with light green shoes. Had the situation not been dire, Ralph and Nayru would have shared a laugh.

"Your Majesty… Welcome home…" Not even the man could fake pleasure at seeing his liege home. The others didn't as well. Ralph was quite happy they didn't because he wasn't up for such falsehoods.

"Mayor Plen, King Zora, Goron Elder, and Oracle of Seasons. Good to know you all are safe."

The Oracle of Seasons, Din, a dark skinned woman that resembled a Gerudo woman except for her red eyes, smiled at her title. "Good work, little sister. Now let's finish what we brought him here for. We have an invasion and a flood to stop. Hopefully, the prince is ready for the call of a king."

Ralph knew Din was not serious, but given the situation, this might be the first time that he knew that the Oracle of Holodrum was not her normal jovial self. Her eyes looked dead serious, her tone stern. All he could do was keep his confidence. "I am, Din."

She nodded. "Then let's get moving."


"All reports suggest that we cannot engage the beast by sea, which the Zoras have done twice. Even if we could, only the Zoras can navigate the Sea of Storms. We possess no weapons to hit it from afar."

Ralph looked from Mayor Plen to the Goron Elder. "What about Bomb Flowers?"

The Goron sadly sighed. "No. We did that, but if there was any damage to the beast, it was minimal."

Ralph bit his lip. "So nothing worked? There are no exterior weaknesses?" Everyone else uncomfortably stood in place, causing Ralph to sigh heavily. He knew there had to be something. The first beast on Death Mountain was weakened due to a sap of power, so could it be done again? No… Hilda and Oren took away the power added to the beast. The lizard had its own power, one that couldn't be taken. So what else? Wait… It is pumping out water, and that meant that it had to suck in water, right? "What if we cut off the flow of water?"

King Zora waved that away. "We tried that, but there's no clear way how it gets water in. It might be possible it creates its own."

"Well, has there been a moment in which it ever stopped spewing water?"

Everyone except Nayru and Ralph looked to Din, the latter two following the others' gazes. The Oracle of Seasons nodded slightly. "Yes, there was a moment. I created a thunderstorm using the Rod of Seasons, and zapped it with lightning. However, it was only for a few moments."

Ralph held up a fist, smirking. "That's enough of a weakness for me. But there has to be a reason as to why it went down temporarily. Where do we hit it?"

"Shiny spots." Ralph looked down to the charm around his neck.

"Oren? Have you found something?"

"Yes. I was listening to all that squabble, but no one mentioned on how certain parts of the beast glows. You won't be able to see it from the castle, anyway."

Mayor Plen went to the large window in the room the six people were in. "That… That must be its weak spot."

Ralph agreed. "How long has it been glowing?"

"Not too long. But it wasn't when we got here, that I know."

"Then we make haste. Oren, gather the troops. King Zora, I need your people for one final assault. Nayru, you are with me. Everyone else, dismissed."

Din tapped the table. "What's your plan?"

Ralph shrugged as he proceeded to leave the room, Nayru right behind him. "I'll make it as we go." The Oracle and King of Labrynna raced back to the courtyard, making it their in record time. Playing his flute, Ralph recalled Moosh from wherever the bear went as he continued to run into Lynna City. It had only been an hour since he arrived, and in the next hour, Labrynna would win a battle.


Stopping at the beach of the city, Ralph and Nayru (back on her Loftwing) rejoined the Labrynna Air Force as the troops prepared for the decisive fight. Moosh had just spotted his master, the blue bear landing not too from from Ralph. Zoras lined up along the beach, eager to avenge their home, and amongst them was Oren. Once she spotted him, Oren ended her conversation with her kind and made her way to her friend. "We're almost ready, Ralph. What is it that you have planned?"

Reaching into his pouch, Ralph pulled out a bow and a quiver filled with arrows. He had restocked for the journey to North Hyrule, but it seemed it will be useful for now. Throwing both around his shoulder, he began to outline his plan. "Where are the shiny nodes?"

"Upon the legs of the beast, where it connects to the main body. I count four. Can't miss them. Leading up to them are waterfalls, which must be a way to expel excess water possibly."

"Hmm… Oren, can you swim up waterfalls?"

Oren nodded. "Yeah, why?"

Ralph smiled as he leaped aboard Moosh. "I have my crazy plan."

Oren chuckled as she saddled herself behind Ralph. "I won't have to get in a shameless dress again, will I?"

Ralph smiled. "Unless you want to, but I cannot afford to be distracted while I am riding you." Oren's face morphed to confusion, not knowing whether Ralph was joking with an innuendo or not. Ralph didn't explain himself as Moosh walked to the front of the pack of Loftwings, allowing Ralph a view of the distant elephant to the north and of the crumbled Black Tower. Then he turned to his troops. "Riders, Zoras, the plan is simple. All of you will be the distraction. On that beast are four weak points in which I will hit myself with electric arrows. Once we are close, break formation and fly or swim. The beast is sure to defend itself. Once we shut the beast down, there is an undetermined timetable as to how long that it is. Find a safe entrance, wherever that might be, and if it isn't possible to reach me, find some weird-shaped thingy that looks important. Destroy it, and we'll come home as heroes. Are we ready?" All troops, man, woman, and Zora, cheered. Pleased, Ralph turned to Nayru, who was situated at his side. "Just like old times, huh? The two of us, doing something stupid yet daring."

Nayru chuckled as she turned her Loftwing to the north. "The last time we did something stupid yet daring, someone didn't know how to confess he liked a girl. And thought it was okay to use tongue for the first kiss. You should have seen it Oren. He stuck his tongue out to initiate the kiss."

While Oren gasped in surprise and laughed, Ralph frowned in embarrassment. "Make sure that does not come to Hyrule. Plus I was...twelve. You bit my tongue too."

"You learned quickly. Never did it again for the next three years… Hopefully never again."

While Nayru sadly looked away, Ralph looked forward to the horizon. Not the time to look upon their much better days. "Yeah. I learned, thanks to you." Ralph looked back to the riders behind him, and nodded. "Let's take down some Imperial scum! Moosh!" The bear roared and took flight, and the Loftwings followed suit. The Zoras trailed behind, swimming in the river that lead from the city to the open sea to the north.


Soon, all forces were making their way to the beast either above or within the Zora Sea. Now with a better view, Ralph could see the glowing pink orbs at the top of the machine. He folded his lips, silently praying that tonight would be a success. They'll only get this one chance.

"Ralph."

"Yes Nayru?"

"She told me herself that she was proud of you, despite what you might have done. You going to Hyrule to assist in their war was the spark of hope that she saw in you. Had your father lived to see it, Her HIghness knew he would've felt the same. Also… She wanted to apologize for breaking us apart."

"When… When did Mother tell you this?"

"When the beast first targeted the Black Tower. When she told me to go for you, she told me this."

Ralph nodded. "I forgave her a long time ago, as I had my father when he was dying." Turning to Nayru, he figured by her face she was holding something back. "Is that all?"

Nayru nodded but turned away. "You'll have to live to hear the rest."

"I plan on it." The Labrynnians were halfway to the beast, and it noticed the incoming force as well. Its roar echoed across the sea. At the front, under the trunk, several blue lights appeared, thankfully visible during the rainy night, and with the spotlights each rider had on their Loftwing, the birds could see it too. One a at a time, each light appeared to pop off the beast, approaching the group fast, which could only mean one thing: It was attacking.

"Everyone! Fall out of formation!" Everybody spreaded out, only Ralph, Nayru, and the Zoras still directly heading for the beast. As the lights became more detailed, it was found out that it was huge ice blocks the beast was firing. Moosh and Nayru's Loftwing dodged the first set of blocks, with only a few coming their way due to the others aiming for the other riders. Now it was the time to enact Ralph's plan. "Oren, you ready?"

"Do me a favor."

Ralph turned, frowning. "What?"

Oren smiled as she leaned back. "Don't make it weird. I don't need the extra weight." She fell off Moosh, diving into the water with a laugh. Ralph looked to Nayru, who was smiling as well.

"Hey, you brought a beautiful Zora along, and you suggest it. I don't know how you could, though, but if you can get past the fins on her head, I guess you can." She looked back, seeing the Zora Princess come up to the surface. "See you later, Your Majesty."

Ralph smiled. "See you later, Oracle of Ages." Nayru smiled as she diverted her flight to join the other flyers in the diversion. Meanwhile, Ralph kept heading forward. He was almost ready. "Alright Moosh, I want you to stick close to Nayru, alright?" The bear growled playfully. "No, she is not my girlfriend...just the ex-girlfriend I was forced to break up with… Yes… You do that, old buddy. Now I'm out. Oren!" Oren rushed to Ralph's side and leaped up. Ralph grabbed a hold of Oren, and down they went to the water. Luckily Oren didn't break the surface, with only Ralph's lower leg get damp in the process. He held onto the fins on the side of Oren's head, but if it bothered her, she didn't protest. Not like he had anywhere else to hold to.

Those fins were the only proper place, since Ralph need to sit up, not lay on Oren's back. Since they were almost the same size, Ralph barely fit on her torso, just enough that Oren's legs would be able to propel her. It was hard to stay still, Ralph swearing that his butt will be sore from having it bump against Oren so many times. Thank the Goddesses they were in an calmer part of the Sea of Storms, or this would be a bumpier ride.

The fins were truly the only proper place.

Clearing his head, Ralph focused on the incoming ice blocks. Apparently, they weren't truly ice, as when they made impact, they explode like a bomb. Taking bow in hand, Ralph placed an arrow and aimed at an incoming block as best he could.. "Keep steady, I'll take care of the ice."

"That's one way to break the ice between us and the beast."

"Oh, you got jokes now?" Ralph fired, the arrow hitting its mark. Yep, the ice went out with a boom.

"I got more than one, maybe I'll tell them all before we freeze."

"Whatever. Incoming." As Ralph spotted three ice cubes, Oren shifted to the right, making her way to the front left leg. However, it seemed that the beast knew their plan, as it fired a cube to cut them off. Thankfully Oren didn't have to out to Ralph, as he shot it down. UNfortunately, it got a little close, rattling the pair but not disturbing them too much. Oren then made a huge arc, angling herself to line up perfectly with the water falling out the leg.

"Shock Arrows ready?"

Ralph took out another arrow, imbuing it with electric magic. The tip glowed a soft yellow, with little sparks shooting out of it. He placed the arrow on the bow and held on with his free hand. "Yep."

"Hang on tight." Oren dashed for the waterfall, and leaped up. Ralph slung both arms around Oren's waist, careful to not shock her with the arrow as she made the journey up. This was slightly scaring him, just a bit. He would never admit that out loud, though. They were almost to the top, and Oren called out to him. "Get ready! Hope your legs are as good as your arms as squeezing the life out of me."

Ralph had no time for rebuttal, as Oren came to the top of the waterfall. Using all her strength, she kicked hard to vault herself in the air. Ralph quickly adjusted his arms, aiming for the orb on the first leg. He fired as Oren began her fall, and held back on for dear life. He might have screamed. Might.

Once they returned to the water and got moving again, they could hear cheers coming from the air and the sea. They looked to the node Ralph shot at, seeing that it was now yellow instead of pink. It had worked. But the beast was far from out of the fight. Five cubes appeared on its side, all looked destined to meet with Ralph and Oren. But not only that, monsters began pouring out the beast. Keese and Kargoracs raced towards the Royal Air Force, while Octoroks swam towards the Zoras. The Imperials were fighting back, now that a weakness had been exposed.

"Ralph, I don't know if I can handle this and Octoroks."

"Don't worry, Oren. I got you." As he stated that, he spotted an Octorok coming for them, and as it leaped into the air, Ralph shot it down, its smoky remains showering him and Oren.

Oren chuckled as she came around to the beast's right side. "Damn, you know how to make a girl swoon."

"I figured that out. And I think we're clear."

"Here we go!" Oren lined herself up again, swimming to and up the waterfall of the back right leg. As she broke the waterfall, Ralph aimed at the orb at this location, gave his arrow some magic, and released. This time, he saw his work completed. Two down, two to go.

As they swam away from the leg, Ralph gasped as the beast unleashed a new attack, this time in the form of a spiked ice ball. Three hung from the side of the beast, and one by one they fell into the water, following them. "Oren, I'm going to need for you to go faster."

"I can't!"

Well, more arrows to waste. "Guess I got to do everything! Aren't you the Sage of Water? Why can't you just break these damn ice blocks instead of me wasting arrows? Or, you know, as the Sage of Water, use the water to move faster?"

"Maybe because I'm carrying a human on my back trying to dodge not only exploding ice but Zora-hungry Octoroks! I need concentration, which I am devoting elsewhere!"

"...Good point." The last spike ball was dispatched, but as they came around back to the beast's left side, more sprang to life. They were between the rebels and the back left leg, and didn't waste a second homing in on the pair. Ralph wouldn't be able to hit them all in time, and Oren couldn't out maneuver them on the water's surface.

"Ralph, do you completely trust me?"

Ralph didn't like Oren's worried tone as she twisted her torso. "Yeah. Why?"

"Just close your eyes." Ralph didn't know why, but didn't have a moment to answer as Oren surprisingly forced her lips onto his. Ralph, shocked (pun not intended) by Oren's action, didn't reciprocate even as she leaped into the air and dived underwater. That's when he realized what she was doing as he returned the kiss, as she was giving him air to breath, not randomly making out with him. He heard the impact of the ice cubes above him, then Oren began her ascent back to the surface. She didn't break the kiss until they were both above water, immediately resuming their course.

"Umm...smart thinking."

"Yep." Both of them were not feeling good about what just happened, but they set that aside as Oren headed up the waterfall. Seconds later, they returned to the sea, the third orb now yellow. Only one remained.

The water now was a mixture of bodies and blood from Zoras, Loftwings, and humans. Sadly, monsters didn't leave remains, but their numbers were falling too. The quicker they got to the node on the front right leg, the quicker this battle was finished.

"Ralph!" Down came Nayru, fear written across her face. "Monsters have made it to the island!"

"What? How?"

"I don't know. What should we do?" Ralph looked to the beast, it preparing its final assault with both sets of ice ready to take out the boy and his fish. He couldn't abandon it now, But neither could he abandon his people. The soldiers on the mainland would need help. "Nayru, pull back. Give the order to retreat to the mainland, and defend it. Both human and Zora."

Nayru followed Oren and Ralph, helping the latter take out the ice blocks and balls. "What about you?"

"Oren and I will finish up here."

"Then I am staying with you, or it's suicide for you and here."

"Nayru, we have the same job, to protect and defend the people of Labrynna, but we must do it differently. If… If I join my parents, then I need you to lead them. There's no point of both of us risking our lives here."

As she destroyed the final ice cube, Nayru looked at Ralph, his face not wavering from his words. He really wanted her to return in his stead. She sighed, and looked up to the final orb. "Okay, I will. But you better return, you bastard, or I will go back in time to make sure I never fell in love with you, and so be it, I'll do the same to you."

Ralph smiled. "Then I suggest you do that now. Now go!" Nayru nodded, and began flying away towards Labrynna. He could hear her orders within her charm, and the remaining flyers began to follow her, taking down any monster that dare followed. The Zoras, still combating there squid foe, slowly began to fall back as well. Turning to the final orb, Ralph patted Oren. "Giddy-yup."

"Neigh." Oren darted towards the final waterfall, swam up it, and vaulted into the air. Ralph aimed true, and the electric arrow zapped the fourth node. As a result, the beast began to roar and shake, the rotating parts of its head paused, and the trunk fell into the water. For a moment, as the rains began to quell, the beast was still.

Oren waded in the water, Ralph smiling weakly to himself. "We did it. Well, I did it, you just were the pretty sidekick I rode upon. But hey, I'm willing to share credit."

"You better."

Abruptly, the beast began to rise, and as Oren and Ralph came upon the left side of it, they could see a platform unfold from the body of the beast and lower into the water. "Well, that takes care of finding a way inside."

"Guess the beast has an inner beauty."