A/N: Temple chapter

It's not very fancy but meh *shrug*


As Ganondorf stared at the mask, he heard footsteps approaching him. He had barely looked over his shoulder when he was given an armful of Zelda, dropping the mask to support her.

"Gan!"

"Zelda. Link."

Link gave a wave and a smile.

"Are you all right?" Zelda asked, looking up at Ganondorf as she pulled back. "I heard what Revali did."

"I'm fine." Ganondorf shook his head. "It was my own fault for wanting to find the temple so badly."

"These are your friends, hm?" Arctic asked, leaning forward to get a better look. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Zelda bowed. "The pleasure is all ours, sir. Thank you for saving him."

"Oh, no. It was no bother. Now the question is how to allow you to accompany the hero to the temple…" Arctic leaned back, rubbing his chin.

"Hero?" Zelda questioned, frowning then looking at Ganondorf for explanation.

"They believe I'm their hero," Ganondorf said, bending to pick up the mask he had dropped. "I'm supposed to defeat the beast in the temple."

Link stared at the mask in Ganondorf's hands, a haunted look briefly crossing his face.

Zelda didn't know about any hero, but if there was a temple…

"How do we join you?"

"You would need masks of your own," Arctic rumbled. "I have the Death Masks of two of Icebreaker's most loyal guards."

The Zora reached behind him, grabbing two masks with similar features and handing them to Zelda and Link.

"This will allow you to travel to the temple without magic."

Zelda turned her mask this away and that, staring at it in interest.

Link appeared as if he were going to drop the mask like it had personally offended him.

"Iceberg will show you to our kingdom's edge and help you with the power of the masks."

Iceberg grunted, striking his chest twice with a closed fist before bowing. Then he turned and walked off.

Glancing down at the mask once more, Ganondorf followed the Zora.

Zelda trailed after Ganondorf then looked over her shoulder to see that Link hadn't moved from his spot. "Link? Are you coming?"

Link startled, glancing at Zelda then staring at the mask in his hands. He dropped it as if it had burned him, taking a step away and shaking his head. I can't. I'm sorry.

His hands were shaking as he signed.

I'll sit this one out.

"Sit it out? Link, we need you at the spring. It won't work without all three of us."

Link shook his head more, keeping his gaze averted from Zelda. I can't. I'm sorry.

Zelda frowned then nodded. "All right….if you change your mind, you'll be able to find us, I'm sure."

Link nodded, looking to the side.

Zelda bit her lip then followed the direction Ganondorf had gone in.

Link watched her leave then glanced at the mask laying on the floor. He looked away, closing his eyes to block out the images of a moon falling and wide yellow eyes staring into his soul.

Iceberg and Ganondorf were waiting for Zelda at the edge of a bridge.

"Where's Link?" Ganondorf asked when he noticed the lack of blond.

Zelda shook her head. "He's not coming."

"Hm. I hope the spring works with just two of us."

"Me too."

Iceberg gave a grunt to get their attention. "Put masks on. Then jump forward."

Zelda looked out at the black expanse before them, seeing a faint shimmering.

A magic barrier was holding the water back from enveloping the domain.

Ganondorf glanced down at the mask in his hands before he flipped it around, setting it against his face. He expected some sort of physical signs that the mask was working, but all Ganondorf felt was his skin prickling and pressure against his ribs.

Looking down at his hands, Ganondorf saw the deep red scales that now covered them. Gills were pressed against his chest, the scales on his chest and belly cream-colored.

Ganondorf felt the tail that now protruded from the back of his head shifting side to side as he glanced his new body over. He noticed the three foot horn jutting from his forehead, but couldn't feel its weight. He did feel minute vibrations around him, coalescing at the tip of his horn then running down to the base as he processed the movements.

The Zora moving in the domain behind him.

Ganondorf looked at Zelda to see if she was ready and saw a golden Zora with swirled white scales. Her form reminded him of Iceberg and wondered if they were the same type of Zora.

She kept grabbing at her headtail to get it to stop moving, appearing embarrassed.

Her sword remained at her side and when Ganondorf checked he saw that his blades had remained with the transformation as well.

Iceberg nodded at the two then gestured to the exit beside him.

"Are you ready?" Ganondorf asked, looking at Zelda once more.

"I don't know. This feels unnatural."

"Everything about this is unnatural, Zelda." Ganondorf jumped forward, passing through the barrier and into the water beyond.

He had expected to be assaulted by freezing temperatures, but the water surrounding him was temperate. He supposed it was because he was an ice Zora.

Beside him, Zelda flailed as she burst through the barrier, flipping once before coming to a stop.

Ganondorf smiled as she struggled to right herself.

Iceberg came out last, floating towards them. "I will show you to temple."

Ganondorf helped Zelda then followed after Iceberg, watching how he swam with his arms by his sides, feet propelling him.

Once he adopted his form to mimic Iceberg, it was a lot easier to keep up with the stoic Zora.

Zelda fell behind, struggling to keep up with them.

Ganondorf slowed to a stop, arching over her to adjust her hands. "Like this."

"How are you doing that?" Zelda asked, watching Ganondorf swimming with apparent ease.

"Stop thinking like a Hylian. Let your Zora instincts tell you what to do."

Zelda made a face at the suggestion.

Zora instincts? They weren't Zora though. Well, they were temporarily, but it didn't make a difference.

Ganondorf shook his head as he watched Zelda battle internally before he slowed to a stop, glancing around.

His eyesight had adjusted to the darkness of the water and now he sensed movement nearby that screamed fish, spiking a predatory drive within him.

Iceberg slowed to float towards Ganondorf. "Hungry? You not eat for long time. Want to hunt?"

Ganondorf hadn't eaten for a long time and his stomach growled to remind him of it.

Iceberg nodded and swam off in the direction of the fish.

Ganondorf followed with Zelda bringing up the rear.

The movement practically vibrated his horn as they got closer to the source and Ganondorf soon spotted the small school of glowing fish.

Iceberg shot towards the fish first, snagging one in his mouth as the others scattered.

After a few seconds, the fish returned to congregate.

Iceberg gestured to the fish as he bit into his catch.

Ganondorf stared at the fish, not sure if he was fast enough to catch one. He lunged toward the fish which scattered at the sight of him. He tried grabbing some with his hands or snapping his teeth at others, missing in both instances.

As the fish gathered together again in a spot further away, Ganondorf sighed at his poor hunting skills as a Zora.

A flickering of movement caught his eye and he tried grabbing at it only to miss. There were no fish around him, but the flickering persisted.

Ganondorf turned in a circle in an effort to catch whatever had his attention, headtail waving in irritation.

Zelda chuckled at his struggling before moving forward, setting a hand on his horn. She pushed it down then slid off the fish that had gotten skewered on the tip. "There you go."

Ganondorf smiled as Zelda gave him the fish. He sank his sharp teeth into the fish as Zelda snuck towards the fish to get her own.

It took about five times before Zelda caught one.

The three ate their catches in silence before Iceberg continued to lead them to the temple.

He swam down until they reached an underwater cave. The opening was too square to be natural.

Iceberg gestured to the door. "Here is temple. Be careful."

Ganondorf nodded and the Zora swam off, leaving Zelda and Ganondorf alone.

"How do we get the door open?" Zelda asked, moving closer to inspect the door.

It wasn't locked but it appeared difficult to open.

"Hmm." Ganondorf stared at the door before he tried to pull it up.

The door didn't budge.

Staring at the door intently to see what the trick to opening it was, Ganondorf saw a small notch in the center.

"I wonder…?"

Backing up, Ganondorf lowered his head and moved forward slowly until his horn made contact with the door.

He twisted his body a bit and felt something within the door move.

As Ganondorf moved back, the center of the door caved in before splitting into fourths and sliding open, granting them access.

"Guess your horn is the key," Zelda muttered, swimming through the hole.

Ganondorf grunted as he followed behind her, glancing around.

The inside of the temple was enormous and circular. The ceiling was domed and had two slots, allowing water to cascade in like a waterfall.

Above the waterfalls, ganondorf saw two targets and he hummed to himself.

Zelda was busy looking at the water beneath her, spotting three floors.

Small jellyfish sparked below them, but didn't seem intent on moving towards them.

She poked her head out of the water. "There are floors beneath us."

"I'm assuming then we need to lower the water level then to get to the boss room."

Zelda nodded, staring at the waterfalls. "What do you think we have to do?"

"I think we have to hit these targets." Ganondorf pointed to the targets at the top of the waterfalls. He moved closer to one, dipping underwater briefly before swimming up the waterfall. At the top he pushed out of the water, striking the target with his horn.

He splashed into the water below and waited for something to happen.

"Maybe we have to do it at the same time?" Zelda suggested.

"Perhaps."

Zelda swam over to the second waterfall, looking over at Ganondorf.

Ganondorf gave a nod and together, they swam up the waterfalls. Zelda hit her target with her sword as Ganondorf hit his target with his horn.

There was a thud as they landed in the water.

Slowly, the water level lowered until a walkway racing the circumference of the temple was revealed. Along the walkway, shellblades hopped along and stranded skeleton fish flopped.

Above the floor was a target on the right waterfall while a button was above the other waterfall.

The right hand waterfall appeared to be stronger than before and Ganondorf figured only he could swim up it.

"I'll take this waterfall. You take the one with the button."

Zelda nodded and moved over to the left waterfall.

Once again, they swam up at the same time. Ganondorf destroyed the target above him while Zelda hit the button.

Instead of lowering like they had thought, the water raised until it halted near the top of the temple, a walkway slightly out of reach.

"It raised?" Zelda asked, looking around the new level. "How do we get it to lower to the third floor?"

Ganondorf spotted a door frame on the ledge and pointed to it. "In there, I imagine. We may need to reverse the water flow."

"Oh….that makes sense."

Ducking beneath the water, Ganondorf swam down a bit then propelled himself up until he breached the water. Flipping once, he landed on the walkway, water dripping from his fins.

Zelda rolled her eyes at the theatrics then dove down before swimming up so she could follow him.

Ganondorf opened the door and allowed Zelda to go in ahead of him.

The room beyond contained a small area of water.

Ganondorf jumped into it, swimming to the bottom and noticing a valve.

The arrow was pointed up.

Ganondorf swam around the valve, creating a miniature whirlwind which slowly began to turn the valve until the arrow pointed down.

"Got it?" Zelda asked when Ganondorf leaped out of the water.

Ganondorf nodded. "We should be good to go."

Leaving the room, they repeated the same waterfall trick to lower the level to the second floor.

No targets were on the waterfalls, but there was a a button on the walkway.

Zelda got out to press it and the water lowered to reveal the third floor.

"All right. We're getting somewhere," Ganondorf said as Zelda dove back into the water.

Along the walls were murals of a Zora leaping out of the water along with Zora doing mid-air turns and twists.

"I guess we have to do it at the same time?" Zelda guessed, staring at the murals.

Ganondorf hummed with a nod. "I imagine so."

Memorizing the pictures that the murals showed, Ganondorf and Zelda dove under the water before breaching it, arcing past each other.

They repeated the diving and breaching, doing barrel rolls or calculated flips as they passed each other. Ascending the waterfalls, Zelda and Ganondorf pushed off the walls behind them to launch themselves at the opposite waterfall, completing the swim to the top to strike the targets.

The water level raised to the second floor.

Zelda groaned as she landed in the water, slapping it with her hand, headtail waving angrily. "Are you kidding me? We have to do this again?"

Ganondorf chuckled as he jumped onto the walkway, opening the door.

Under the water was another valve that he reversed.

Zelda waited outside and once Ganondorf returned she pressed the button on the wall.

The water level finally lowered to the fourth floor.

Jumping back into the water, the two searched for their next objective and spotted a giant valve sitting in the venter of the floor.

"What do we do with this?" Zelda asked. "It looks too large to open alone."

Ganondorf shook his head then pointed to a chest.

Zelda went over to it and opened it, pulling out a pale blue bracelet.

"A bracelet?" Ganondorf muttered. "What the heck do we do with it?"

Zelda shrugged, looking the bracelet over. She spotted Nayru's symbol on it. "It's Nayru's Vambrace, I think."

"What?"

"It's said Nayru had vambraces to control ice. She could make ice blocks or even grab certain objects."

"Why do I have the feeling that wasn't left here on accident?"

"Because nothing we find in the temples is an accident," Zelda said, sliding the bracelet on her left wrist.

It glowed slightly, tightening around her wrist before flattening and spreading out a few inches to create a forearm guard.

"Cool," Zelda and Ganondorf said at the same time.

Ganondorf swam back to the huge valve, staring at it. "I think we both have to do it."

"Will we be strong enough?"

"I hope so."

Zelda nodded and swam to the other side of the valve.

Together they began to swim around it, their movements pressing the water against the handles.

Gradually, the handle creaked then began to move. Off to the side, a piece of floor began to twist open, expelling even colder water.

Ganondorf and Zelda stopped, moving closer to the opening to stare down into the dark abyss that greeted them.

"The boss is down there," Zelda whispered. "I can feel it."

"Let's not keep him waiting then," Ganondorf said, heading down into the hole.

Zelda bit her lip then slowly followed.

Even with their heightened eyesight and the spots beginning to glow along their arms, it was difficult to see.

The tunnel they were going down opened up into a chamber and Ganondorf glanced around for any sign of the boss.

"Maybe it's dead?" Zelda whispered, still searching for signs of the boss.

"No. It's coming."

"Ẉ̬̜̥̯̗h̹̥̘̯ỳ̭̯͈,̲̞̗̺͎̯ ͞h̩̱͢e̟͎̣l̙̙͍l̮o̮̱̩ ͉t̶̖͈h̺͕̞͙ͅer̦̺̯̦͔͡e̵͈͚̮̱͈̞,̱̟̻͕̺́ ̮̤̭͓͎̼͙ợ̟̲l̤̰̪͔̹̪d̡̖̼̹̭̖̦ ͇̭̰̖f̢̹̩̪r͇ị̫̤̗̥̗e̥̗n̥͔͓̤d̶̥̳," a warped voice crackled. "I̶͔̪̣̣̘͚ ̡̫͓̤͎̞ͅh̫̬̱̜͇͈a̜͙̺͙͉̙͔v͜ȩ ̥͎̩̩̕b͕̗̱̲̜͓͇e̷͇͍̻̹̠̮en͜ ͕̦͙͉̫a҉̤̦̣͎̱͚͔w̙̮̲̼̩̟a̳̝̖͉̤̲i̸͖̺̞t̼i̥̭͍̪̺͞n҉̻̺g̢̗͚͓̘̩͙ ̪y̵ͅóư̼͚̺̬̼̹̼r̜͟ ͚͉͓̱͇a̳̘̠̰̲ŕ͉̥̦͖͈̖̮r̫̫͖̀i̷̝v̴͖̗a̺̞͈̼͉l̛͚ͅ ͈̙̥͓͖̭ͅfor̢̤̬̮̫̺̲̖ ̡̪̘s̳͞ò̞ ͎͔͚̀l̢̟o̷͓̺̼̱n̙͖̗̼̱̤̬g̳̰̘̻̗̺.̱̩̰̯̫͟ͅ"

A spot of light appeared in the darkness several feet away before it brightened to reveal what appeared to be a giant fish that reminded Ganondorf of Aurora. Its fins were longer than average, ending in long finger-like appendages.

"So you're the old magician that was corrupted by your own black magic," Ganondorf muttered. "How does it feel to be trapped as a monster?"

"Y̮̝̜͢o͉͓͈u̹͎̼̪͙ ̧w̸o̞̠͜u͝ld͕̬͜ ̛͖̥k̝͢n̴̪̬͇̰o̗̗̯̬̱w ̼͖̱̮͔̠̥a̭l̤l̞̀ ́a͖̥͈̥̘͟b̼͍͉̫̼͡o̙͚ư͉̺̥t ̭͇͟t̛̩͓ͅh̛̦̺̦̬a҉̗̻̬t̼̩͈̝̠,͏ ̗͓̤̗̗͇̀w͠o͜ṳ̢͔̦͖̱͕l͓̜d̮̭n̛̞'̞̫͍̮͠t̷ y͏̗͎̱̱o̺͈̼̯͓̗̺u̶,̧̘̼͈ ̢̪͓̪G̮͍̟̖͡ͅa̩̲̪̜̞̥̫n͏̬o̮͈̠ṇ̟͔̳̗ͅd̯̣o͙̰̜̲̭͖̹r͈̺̖͇̕f̨ ͏͍͈D̰͍͖r̥̰͔̹a̪̭̩̱̪ͅg̼̟͙̗m̞ͅi̟r̸e̯͔͖̼ͅ,͠ ̙̜Ḏ̯̺͔̝̪͍em̢̗̖͕͔̯͇̩ó͚̰̠̪̩̼n̸͇̙ ̨̙̩̯̤̗ͅĶ̦̠̺̻̥̥i͚̜͎ǹ͓̞̲̣̘͙͎g̣̱̻͜?" the magician snarled. "Y̖̣̲̯͉ͅo͡ų͎̹ ̢̦͇̣̟̫͎m͍͙͖̗̯̣a͇̯y͓̯͞ ̨̱w̶̰̥͈̤̹ͅę̩͉̩a͙r̰̠̻̻ ̕t̶h̖e̡͕͇̰̟ ̥͚̼̟̝̮͘f̨͙a̧̟͍̝͍̝c̻̲e̗̲̭͈ ͡o͇̬̣̩̩̦̫f̹͕ ͎͙̖t̘̺̞̼̤̝̀ḫ͉͖͇̯͕͠a̜͉͔̺̪̜̩t͍̪͍̟̱͓̜ ͔̟̪̱̹̰̟o̸ḷ̗d̸ ̣̼͘f́o͙̤̥̣̻o͎̫̗̱͙͓ͅl̩͖̣̭̫ͅ,҉̟̻̦̯̝̦ b̹̬u҉̗͍͍̰̬̼t͓͎ ̴̭̤̱͍I̱ ̰̰̠͍c̞͍͕̘̲̀ͅa͓̲̦͙n̤ ̜͍́s̫̻̥̫̱e͕̭̖͉̫̥̭e̤͎͓͎̟ ̢̯̞ͅr̶̭̣̠i̹͇̺͍g̪͖̜̱h͍͙̖̦̩t ̲̝̼̝̦pa͎͇̻̦͈̕s̴̰̝̼͎͖̼t̥ ̷̳̬̬̭ͅi̬̹͜t̲̣̥̫̪̀s ̤m̤͚͍̲̟̘a͖̲g̞ì͇̬̝̠̤c͓̺̖.͕ ҉̝̤͍̩͈I͈͙ ̢͈̦̹̝͓h̩̪e̦̞̩̻͈͔͉lp͔͙͉͍͡e̪̞͕̙̠ͅͅḏ̴̥̝̝̯̜̥ ̮͓̮̟̣̮͡c̦͔̣̥͖̲̗r̤̘̝̮̯̲e͓̘̳̥̟͓͔a͓͚̟͈t̹̮͘e̙̜͖̫ ̨͓t͚̝̭̯̦̩̣h̦͍̞e͏͈̲̣͇ ͓̣D͍̯̠̞e̖͖a̮̮̹̪͜t̴̲͔̰̘̲̳h͖̱͔͕ͅ ̦M̵͓̜̬̪̫̜a̟s͖̘̙̭ͅk̯͕̫̞͇ͅs̯̖̘͕͔̳̻͠,̭͍̭̰͕̹̖͡ ͈̫̹̙̻̗͈a̡̘͓f̸̜̤̞t̘̙̤͠ͅe͉͈͕̜̫̝͖r̀ ̧̠̙̹̱̜͍a̯͙̩l̩̺̠͜ͅl.̲͡"

Ganondorf rolled his eyes. "I'm aware. I never got your name. I imagine the Zora didn't want to speak it."

The magician sneered, shaking his large head with a growl. "M̹̜y̶͓̻̯͉̼͍̼ ̱͍͎̬͈͙n͕̣̟͍̭a̢̬̤̬m̻̝͓̮̱͝ḙ̮̟͎͉̲̀ ̪͝w̼̫͡a͔̫͎̪s͚͕͔ ͝F̷̳̳̞i̹͚̝̬ͅs̜̰̥͎̹͜h͡e̷̤̣̤ͅr.̮ ̹̠Bu̡͕̟͙t͚͔͍ ̫̝̥̖̣̳͜n͈̺̱̳̘͕o̧͉̠̼͎̫w̵̗͚͉͈̜̣ͅ ̛̳I͖̬̻͖͇̮̠ ̨͇̣̤̱͙̰̞g̖̲̤͕o̦̕ͅ ̢̲̩̰b̛y̲̫̝͔͈̩ ͔̭̱͓A̸͍̝̤̳b̴͓y͎s̶̝͕̞̯̤ͅͅs̡͈̳̬̣."

Abyss began to slowly circle the two and Zelda moved closer to Ganondorf.

"I̡͔'̩̯v̢̳̜̼̰e̵̳̼͚̫̻͉ ̀a̭͚͖̕l̻w̼a͇̯̳ͅy͎s̘̰̤̯̝͉̀ͅ ̦̬w̧̳̥͍͔͓̦a҉̥̮̬͔n̹̜ţ̰͇e͚̻̖d̕ ̸͙̪̞͉̱̺̟to̲͙ ̸͇̲̞̰t̮̫͈̞as͏̰͍̞̪͔̝̳t̹̰̞̱é̩̳ ̯͈th̘e͚̲̤͈̯̯͚͝ ̛̙f̩̲̙̰̠̩̺͢l̶͔̩̱̳ḙ̥͙̬̥̜s̗͖̱̱̝̲̰͘h̭̟̮̪͖̮ ̹̙͙̼o͇̗͔f҉̰̫̱̜̟ ̟̹͈̯ͅa̲ ̡̪̣̯̼̤͇͔ḓ̮͍̗̺̣̀e̹̥̘̭͔m̶͈͙͉͍͇o͕͜n̴̙.̞̥̥Ą̲̰͉n̟̮̗͝d ̻͎̗̯͝a̠͎̮͙̪͔f͚̦̻͓t̬̹̖̹͘e͡r̡͎̝̠̣̘ ̟͕̞͈͔b̀e͙̼̟̺̳i̡̟̘ṇ̙͇͜g ̢l̩̳̻̮̻o̻̹͔̤c̶͈͎̤͖̦͙̼k̺̞͙̞̻͎̺e̺͖̲͉̞͈d̻̥͈͞ͅ ̶̞̬̣͓̥u̠̟̝̯͍͡p͙̹ ͙̱̝̞͠i̳͚̫̙̰n͔͚͡ ̬͘he̥̲r҉̮̤ḛ͙̥̼̭̀ ̠̜f̨͙̩o͠r̝͕̣͔ ̛̖̞a̳͇͎̻̼͙̠͞ge̛͉s̱̳,̭̬͎͙̖ ̗̘I̫͎̙͈̫͎̞'̼̖̳̗̗m̨̬̠̻ ̟̻̻͍̟s̴̬̙̖̪t̰̘͇͙͍̯̮a͇̱̬̖̮r̜v̭̥ị͇͙͉̯͢n͉̣͍g̦͖̥̬̲͈̰͟!"

Abyss shrieked, the light extinguishing and plunging the area back into darkness.

"What do we do?" Zelda whispered. "How do we fight something we can't see?"

Ganondorf could feel Abyss moving but he couldn't pinpoint the exact location. "I think we're going to need the vambraces. Just follow my lead."

Zelda nodded, keeping an eye out for Abyss.

A light appeared several feet away, catching Ganondorf's attention.

"There!" He pointed towards the light.

Zelda immediately held her hand out towards the light, holding onto the vambrace with her other hand.

A red line of light shot from the vambrace, wrapping around the light.

Abyss shrieked as he became visible, shaking his head to try and free himself.

While Zelda struggled to keep herself steady, Ganondorf shot towards Abyss, drawing his swords and executing a barrel roll, blades slicing several cuts into Abyss as he passed.

Abyss screamed as thick black blood seeped into the water. Another shake of his head and he broke free of the vambrace's bind, light snuffing.

"We wait for him to show his face again," Ganondorf muttered as he moved to Zelda's side.

Once again, they kept an eye out for Abyss and after nearly a minute, Abyss's light reappeared.

Zelda used the vambraces to grab ahold of the light and Ganondorf moved to strike Abyss until Abyss broke free and disappeared.

They repeated the process a third time, more inky blood floating in the water.

When Zelda caught the light on Abyss's forehead a fourth time, Ganondorf was about to draw his swords when Abyss shrieked, "En̨̖̹̘̘o͓̼̣͓͡u̖͓̮̠̬̦ͅg̪̹͝h̵͕̱͕͉̣ ̛͍͖͙o̝f҉͙ ̦͔̘͓̦̥͝ͅt̟̖͚̮̼ḫ̮i̤̹̭s̺̺ ̺̗̪͍̰̜ͅf̬̼̻̬̝̘̮ǫ̟̦o̧̰͓̳̰̻̥̼l҉̞͙ͅi̷̯̱̻̲̪̖s̭̙̮̠͔̮̠h̤̦͍̯͔̹̕ͅn͖͕̗e̴̯͙͖͕̤̥s̯̗̝͎̩s͚̦̳!"

With a sharp shake of his head, Abyss dislodged the vambrace's hold before swimming towards Ganondorf with a snarl.

Ganondorf moved to the side to avoid the charge, but Abyss turned his head sharply.

Ganondorf felt the teeth close around his horn before he realized what was happening, Abyss crunching through the horn like it was nothing.

The pain blinded Ganondorf as he gripped his forehead where the horn stub remained.

Abyss turned and shot straight towards him, mouth wide open.

A blur darted at Ganondorf, yanking him out of the way of Abyss.

"Link!" Zelda gasped when she saw the golden Zora holding onto Ganondorf.

Link gave a thumbs up.

"Took you long enough…" Ganondorf mumbled, the pain radiating through his head subsiding until it was a throbbing headache.

Painful, but bearable.

Link smiled, not at all offended. Sorry I'm late.

"Ạ͉n͉̫̠̮͝o͔̠̹̺̟̱͙t̤̖͇̲̻̼h̘e̞͇̮̯̩̦ͅr̩̼̞ ̥͇̫͓͉͝one̶̦̗̤̹?" Abyss snarled, glaring at the group. "I̵͈̟̫͍͕t̛̩̣̬͈ ̜͍̰m̜͕̻͇̝̬̱a͚̹̞̤̺̘̝ṯ͢ṯ͔͇͔̖͕̮͠e̻̺͖r̟͎̬̀s͙̫͖ ̺͟n̵̳̱̥̦̱̱̙o̧̰̜͉t͔̯̠̺̕.̨ ̠̱̞̟̱̻͇͝Y͢ͅo̵͖͎̲̥̯͉u͏̬̲̫͖͕̮ ̬̫t͕̭̗̗͕̖ẖr͖͓̜͇̩̗͞e̥̬͇e ͇̞͕̥̩w͙̕i̭̣̣l̻͙̰͇l̳̰̰̺̗͢ͅ ̲k͍͠e̡̮e̸̥̠̻̙̰̥p̞̠͝ ͙͚̤͕̯̘m͇̭̖e ̨͕s̼͉̤̫̥͚͟a͓̝͚̹̬͙̱t͍̟i͜a͚̱̲̙̳̯t̗͖̹̟e̸ḏ͎̹͇̻̯ͅ ̙̞̼̙̪͞f͚̠͎̩o̟͉̹̫͕̱̗r̦̹͙ ͏a̤̝͙̘͎͠ ̖̼̪̺͙l̤̯̪̲o̭̦̠̮̘̗̝n̸g̳̪̝ ̱̗̯ͅṭ̨͔̱̥im̛̦̬̥̠̙̹̘ḛ̛̟."

Ice blocks formed in front of Abyss.

"What do we do with those?" Zelda asked as the ice was shot towards them.

"You said the vambraces can make ice, right?" Ganondorf asked. "Find a way to use that to our advantage."

Together, Link and Ganondorf swam toward the oncoming ice, using their blades to destroy the blocks while Zelda figured a way to turn Abyss's own attack against him.

Zelda hit the vambrace to try and get it to work before holding it out towards one of the ice blocks.

A blue line raced towards the ice block, a forcefield wrapping around it.

Zelda moved her arm to the side, bringing the ice block with her, then she swung her arm back.

The ice block struck Abyss's head and he shrieked, the rest of the ice blocks vanishing.

Ganondorf took advantage of Abyss's stunned state, attacking him with Link right behind him.

They backed off when Abyss shook his head, ice blocks forming once again.

With the rhythm down, the three managed to deal a fatal blow to Abyss, Ganondorf slicing off his antennae while Link and Zelda drove their swords through his forehead.

Abyss shrieked, thrashing before going limp and slowly beginning to sink.

Off to the side, a door slid open to reveal a tunnel.

"So what took you so long?" Ganondorf asked as they swam towards the tunnel.

Link shrugged. Not sure. Mask creeped me out. Think it had something to do with one of my past lives.

"Something to do with the masks?" Zelda hummed. "I wonder what…"

"Well, whatever it was, we're almost done."

Link nodded.

The tunnel opened up into a chamber which held a spring, the rest of the water blocked off around it in a bubble.

"This is a spring?" Zelda murmured as they passed through the bubble. She felt the water and it was pleasantly warm.

"Another spring down," Ganondorf said, heading into the spring.

Link followed behind him and Zelda came in last.


He could feel the seal holding him weakening again. He had been put back in the first time he had broken free, but not this time. This time he would succeed in finding her.

He broke free, pulling himself from the depths of the seal.

Hylia!

He had to find her.

Hylia!

He tried catching her scent, but it was faint.

HyliaHyliaHYLIA!


Ghirahim smirked as he held his sword almost mockingly.

He wasn't going to lose this guy again. Not when he was so close to finding Zelda. She was close; he could feel it.

Ghirahim was just being a nuisance now. Ghirahim wasn't going to find Zelda or the Gate of Time. Not while he was there to oppose the demon.

Gripping the handle of the Goddess Sword tighter, he lunged at the demon lord.


Impa glanced at her and slowed down a bit. "We can rest here if you want, Your Grace."

She almost collapsed in relief.

Impa sat beside her.

"I don't get why we have to do this again. We already did the springs."

"In your time," Impa murmured. "For the ritual to be complete, you have to also bathe in the springs of this era as well."

"Seems stupid to me," she mumbled, crossing her arms.

Impa chuckled, smiling slightly. "Yeah. Hylia would have thought the same way."