Zelda
"What have you done?"
Zelda cannot believe her father's...body stands as one of Ganon's minions. Link seems unfazed, or he knows just like her that this is not the real Link of Calatia, just his body being inhabited by evil. Honestly, that's not what Zelda is truly asking. How the wizard managed to resurrect the dead is what she wants to know. Shade isn't tied to some blood curse like Ganon was (which Zelda suspects this wizard is responsible for using the Triforce in Vaati's stead), so how did he animate the body? Dark magic would be an obvious explanation, but Zelda doesn't sense it in her magic-less father's body.
"Technology. You might remember a phenomenon about half a week ago centering from the direction of Death Mountain? That was me, using the technology of the Yiga to manifest Ganon's essence into a being. It worked, and your friend there was a great subject for a test. But the test was not for my master, but for the Hero of Hyrule."
"So you did bring Ganon back," Link questions.
The wizard's cheeks rise to indicate smiling. "So astute, Hero of the Resistance. Yes. Vaati killing your predecessor would have sealed Ganon's fate for a couple of generations, mind you. A blood sacrifice of either killer was needed alongside the fallen mental state of both Hero and Princess, but with Queen Zelda stoned and old Link's blood all but gone once he reached me, I needed a new plan. Vaati seeking your Wisdom and you fighting him off was the perfect stage for my plans. You distracted him long enough for me to touch the Triforce, thank you Princess. I took his wish, I took his experiment, all for the glory of Ganon."
He loves to hear himself talk Zelda thinks to herself. With his loose tongue, she might be able to learn of the Prince of Darkness' plan. "Tell me, wizard, when does your master plan to show his face? Based on his phantom's strength, he isn't waiting to regain that."
"The name is Agahnim. As for Lord Ganon's timetable, you seem so eager to die. But it is why I'm here. In two days, my master begins his crusade, first through poor Saria Town. He invites you to come and do your thing before he marches to Vaati. In two days, this war ends."
"We only three days removed from Vaati's wish," Link whispers to Zelda as he turns her away from their enemy. "Ganon attacks the fifth day, two days too early."
"I know...and I'm about to do something stupid." Zelda does indeed have an insane idea, one that is just as dangerous as fighting a war on two fronts. However, it is the enemy that suffers, not the rebels. She looks to Link, hoping that she will be dissuaded. "Link… I know that you're hurting. You think you're hiding it well but I know you best. That anger you have for Vaati, for what he did...for two days you distanced yourself surely because of it. But this plan, I need your approval, I need you to separate your feelings and give me your most honest answer."
Link slowly nods. "Okay. What is it?"
"We have Ganon delay his attack by two days, to the seventh day. That is the first part. Do you agree with it?"
"It gives us more time to prepare. Sure."
"It also has some strategic value. Vaati will fight Ganon, vice versa, and we get the spoils. Smart thinking, Princess." Zelda looks down to Ganondorf, who looks up with one open eye. He's up and heard everything that is important.
"Fine. The second part, I'll run by you two later, once we rescue Midna."
"Why then?"
"Because Midna is the fourth piece to this. She's 'the coin.' As the Sage of Light and the Princess of Twilight, she commands two powers that we separately have. If we're going to win, the four of us must be together." Zelda turns around, coldly staring at Agahnim. "Tell your master that we invite him to meet us in four days. He told us himself he wants a good fight, but he also wants the Triforce, no? It is no good to me to fight him two days before it means anything to us. But on four days from now, he will have his fight. His final fight for Hyrule." She eyes her father's body. "Is what you say true, that my father's soul is separated from that body?"
"Yes."
"Then I guess it matters not to me. You'll just pay for desecrating a dead man's body. Now go, wizard, before I send a different message to Ganon."
Agahnim chuckles. "You're talking might big for someone who's-ARGH!" The Dark Wizard drops to his knees as Link and Ganondorf step to Zelda's side, their respective weapon pointed towards the wizard after a dual projectile attack.
"She said leave."
"I'll hurry before you test Link's patience." Growling, the wizard picks himself up, vanishing along with Shade's reanimate body. With the two of them gone, the three youths relieve themselves of their stress. Ganondorf sheaths his sword, facing his Hylian companions in slight annoyance. "Now that we're through with that, I spoke with Ralph. They're entering Ruto Town now, but in the short conversation I had with him, I sensed something was amiss."
"They can handle it," Zelda says as she folds her arms. "We just need to handle everything with Midna. How long is the journey there?"
"You know that side of South Hyrule better than I do. It is about late afternoon, early evening here. Do you know where the Lion is?"
Link shrugs. "We know its south of Ordon Village, but that's it. We possibly can find it from there."
"Then it is settled. We'll warp to Ordon, set camp there for the night, then look for the Lion in the morning." Zelda nods this to her companions, though she sees the hesitation on Link's face. It's been two months since they were torn from their hometown and its destruction. She doesn't want to go back a second time, but Link's been back twice now. This will be the first time, however, they make camp there.
She doesn't expect either of them will get a peaceful night's rest.
Oren
"This is unexpected."
"No, this is creepy."
Oren turns to the Loruleans, a finger to her mouth. So far, they've entered the city undetected, which is the issue. As the two of them have stated, it is unexpected and creepy. The worse thing is that Oren isn't picking up any magical presences. "Ravio, do you sense any life?"
"No," Ravio whimpers. "That's the crazy part. I can dictate between life forms, and there is not a single Zora besides you or Octorok here."
"I can attest to that judgment," Riju exclaims. "I don't sense any spirit of sorts."
Oren turns to the royal redhead standing beside her. "I don't understand. How could there be no one here? I accept my people being dead and gone, but the Octoroks?"
Ralph nods. "Well, if that's the case, we'll head immediately for the palace. Link and the others are done in Midoro, we should be able to join them." Oren and the others agree with Ralph, following him towards the palace at the end of the street.
The palace of Zora's Domain is made of pure crystal farmed from the area around the Domain. For being the largest building in the town, it is nor much larger than the Temple of Time in size, being that it only houses the throne room and the housing for the royal family. There's little damage to the building and to the town that surrounds it, which Oren is grateful to see but also makes her curious. Rauru Town, before its decimation, lied in ruins; Nabooru and Kasuto Town were the same as reported by Ravio. Why does Ruto stand deserted yet nearly as perfect as she remembers?
As they come up to the palace, Ralph turns to the Loruleans and Riju. "You three stay out here, in case something wild happens while we're inside. We'll get this trident if it is in here."
"Yes sir," Hilda sarcastically chants as she, Ravio, and Riju turn around and face the town. Sighing, Ralph beckons Oren with him. A few sets of stairs later, they're at the doors to the Zora palace. They share a silent glance before the king pushes one of the slabs of crystal inward enough to let them enter. Oren steps inside first, her eyes instantly adjusting to the dark. Ralph draws his sword, igniting it so he can see. His reaction is expected.
"Wow, it is beautiful."
Oren nods. "Yes, it is."
Ralph walks along the side, staring at a row of statues that commemorate past kings and queens of the Zora. He stops at the latest one on the queens' side of the chamber. "Is this Mipha?"
Oren steps beside him. "Yes, it is."
"I see where you got your looks from."
Somehow, that got her to smile. "Thank you. She wouldn't have liked you, though. Ruto would."
"Why?"
"Mipha was, besides being Queen, a stickler with herself on the issue of men. There was only one man for her, and he's the reason so many of us escaped. Ruto, no matter where she was in Hyrule, was quite...promiscuous."
Ralph chuckles as he turns away, heading for the throne. "You are implying I would have sex with a Zora?"
"I seem to recall you might have. No, I definitely know because we were both there quite a few times."
Ralph rolls his eyes. "Sure. I believe you. Now my light isn't helping much here, so can you see if the trident is… Oren?"
Oren stopped moving three steps ago. To answer Ravio, she can see the throne perfectly, and as she predicted, the Trident of Poseidon is there. "Ralph, light the room up."
"Oren, is something-"
"Just do it!" With a spin attack, Ralph sends a low power wave of fire around him, igniting several candles that light the room due to the structure's ability to reflect light. As the brightness rises, Ralph catches Oren's tense face as she faces the throne. She gestures to it, in which he turns his head and his sword to it.
"You! The Gerudo!"
"Hi." Immediately afterward, the palace doors are forced open, allowing the Sages of Shadow, Spirit, and Forest to enter in a hurry. They must have sensed the newcomer, the Gerudo girl sitting too comfortable on the Zora throne. She holds the trident in her hands, holding it like a beloved possession.
"Koume?" Riju asks inquisitively. "No, Twinrova. What are you doing here?"
"Chilling, hehe." Twinrova sets her eye on the Zora princess and the Labrynnian king, smirking deviously. "Hmm, you look quite delicious, Your Majesty. The man, of course. I hear Zora tastes awful unless you're an Octorok. Poor things."
So she knows about them. Oren steps forward. "What happened to the Octoroks? I thought they took over."
"Yes. In retaliation for Sage Ruto's involvement in Darunia with the original Sages, we sent the Octoroks her to exterminate the Zora. They did occupy the Domain for a while. Until two months or so ago, they were here, then once it was made known that they failed to eliminate the new Sage of Water, Mother, my sister and I killed them all. In a way, we avenged your people, Princess. You're welcome. That was before we knew about Link and Zelda, of course." She stands up, twirling the trident. "Now as for why I am here, definitely not to stop you. No, we know you're preparing to fight us and Ganon severely undermanned, and His and Her Majesty has ordered we do not attack you. Father seems ecstatic to have you rebels become stronger."
Twinrova tosses the Trident of Poseidon to Oren. She catches it, but the Zora Princess is still confused as to what is happening. It seems...so easy. "Why help us? I do not believe you're doing this to make our lives easy."
"Hehe. No, but you see, Mother expects to meet with His Majesty, Ghirahim and I have an appointment with my own family, and I'm sure Father expects Hero and Princess." Twinrova turns to Riju as she rises from the throne. "But as we fight, a bigger problem comes to the rise. A...familial problem, I shall put it. So indeed, you are wary to trust me, but the issue you should be worried about is Zant. Without my brother's girlfriend at his side, you guys are powerless against us, that was proven back in Darunia. If Midna was there, I think the situation would have changed, agreed? Maybe with her… This war would be over, your rebels would be alive and victorious, and-"
Ralph fires a fiery beam at Twinrova, catching her off-guard and pushing her through the throne to the floor. As she smolders in place, the King of Labrynna glares angrily as he points ignited weapon at the Imperial princess. "Say her name one more time, I don't care who you're related to, I'll kill you right here, right now!"
"Wait." Riju steps between Ralph and her cousin, curious as to what she means by "a familial problem." "What problem do we have? Is Ganondorf okay?"
Koume grunts as she lifts her torso up."Your beloved is fine. But the problem I speak of is the root of our family's, no, our people's trials and tribulations. Ganon is back in the world, he's not just that apparition you fought back in your hometown. By the surprise looks around me, I can see Ganondorf didn't tell you such vital information."
Riju frowns. "I thought it was just his ghost that was around. But the demon himself… That is impossible...yet possible because the seal by Zelda's parents is-"
"For all intents and purposes, that seal never broke, for the former Queen of Hyrule is still alive. Something the present Hero forgot to share as well. But her low state of consciousness weakened the seal for all these years, so Ganon's power slowly built up over the years. No one detected it. When we fought on Death Mountain, there was a definite presence of Ganon, but still, it was too low for us to be bothered. Of course, then, we didn't know the previous Hero was alive, thus keeping the seal somewhat intact. That leads us to this moment, no Hero of Hyrule to keep the seal up, Ganon freed via the Triforce in exchange for your fellow rebels' souls, that was caused by a betrayal of one of Father's minions. If you think we're are evil, consider us the shadow compared to the darkness that approaches."
"So why are you really here," Oren asks. "You come to us, give me my sister's trident, but why are you here?"
Twinrova sighs as she stands up. "Sages, I come at the king and queen's behest to ask you for something that I believe isn't worth it. In light of Ganon's return and our shared purpose to eliminate him… King Vaati...proposes an alliance between us and you."
