Lake Hylia was by far the most popular attraction in Hyrule, even surpassing the city. People of all races from Hyrule and also the border countries journeyed there daily to view its beauty and partake in its wide array of entertainment, from fishing to boat trips to Zora-watching. As such, the aptly named Town on the Lake was extremely prosperous for an averaged sized town.
It was here that Link and Malon rested before setting out on the next leg of their journey. They had been traveling since sunrise, and it was getting close to lunchtime. They stopped at the local inn, The Swordfish and the Shield. Link ate his potatoes and beef heartily, as Malon alternated between sipping her soup and asking questions. "What are the Zoras like? Are they really seven feet tall with cold, clammy skin and sharp teeth? Do you think they'll mind my coming with you?"
Link smiled and dabbed at his mouth with his napkin. "Slow down, slow down. First of all, they aren't seven feet tall, at least most of them aren't, and they're teeth are only a little sharper than ours. And for the most part they're nice, if a little arrogant. They don't like outsiders too much, which is why they rarely show themselves. I'm on good terms with their queen, though, and I've helped them out over the years, so they don't really mind me. As long as you stay close, you should be fine."
Malon finished her soup. "Exactly how are we supposed to get all the way north to Zora's Domain through Lake Hylia?"
"Well," Link said, throwing some money on the table and standing up. "If you're ready to go, I can show you right now." Malon nodded and followed Link out of the inn. They stopped briefly at the stables, where Epona was waiting. Link took down his pack and removed several items, including a blue, shiny tunic and hood, a mask that looked remarkably like a Zora, and a shimmering sword with roses and runes etched over the blade. He took his and Malon's cloaks and wrapped them into the pack and lashed it back on the saddle. He whispered something in Epona's ear, and the horse nipped lovingly at his and Malon's hands and headed back north out of the town.
"She's going north to wait for us at the mouth of Zora's River. She should be there right around when we finish our business there."
"Will she be safe?"
"Don't worry," Link said, lifting the gear, "She's fought her own share of battles alongside me. She'll be fine." He handed the strange sword to Malon. It was surprisingly light, and she had no problem lifting it.
"What's this for?" she asked, examining it with awe. She had never seen a sword like it. As the light hit the blade, the colors shimmered from black to pink to purple to green.
"Protection." Link looked extremely serious as he said this. "I'm hoping you won't have to prove it, but you might have to put those sword skills Ingo taught you to good use."
Malon nodded solemnly. Satisfied, Link threw the tunic over his shoulder and hooked the mask to his belt. "Well," he said, "Off we go."
* * *
They had walked out of the town, towards the ruins on the coast of the river. The rubble had been a huge fortress once, Necron's in fact, during the First War hundreds of years ago. Like everything else from that time, only stones and moss remained. A small group of Hylians was touring the site, but Link and Malon ignored them, jumping the low metal guardrail and heading down to where the rock met the water.
"Are we supposed to be down here?"
"Nope."
"What if we get caught?"
"Don't worry. I've been doing this for years."
He led them under a small outcropping of rock, out of sight from the tourists. Link handed the tunic to Malon. "This," he explained, "Is a Zora's Tunic. It's made from their scales and lined with a species of seaweed bred to filter oxygen directly to the skin underneath it. The hood fits over your face and does the same thing, feeding air through your nose and mouth. It feels a little funny at first, but you'll get used to it."
Malon looked at the tunic apprehensively. "You mean it's going to cling to my skin?"
"Basically, yeah."
She hesitated momentarily, but eventually she took it from him. It was smooth in her hands, almost slippery. "You'll have to take off your blouse for it to work though," he said, blushing slightly in embarrassment. He turned his back to her, and she laughed at his discomfort.
"I take it you don't travel with girls very often?"
"Occasionally, and even then they're usually princesses or brats who won't wear anything unless it's custom made, or at the very least silk."
She quickly shed the garment and threw the new tunic over her head. Almost at once, she felt the seaweed cling to her skin. It was uncomfortable, as the tunic pulled tight against the curves of her upper body. She left the hood off for now.
"What about you?" she asked. "How are you going to hold your breath that long?"
Link grinned. "You might want to turn away for this," he said, bringing the Zora mask slowly to his face. Malon just watched, and as soon as the wooden mask touched his face, she wished that she had followed his advice. He threw his head back, and his body grew stiff. Immediately, he keeled over, clutching his stomach. His shot up and Malon almost screamed when she saw the mouth of the mask open in a silent scream. Link's body began to change, growing leaner, the skin paling and changing into scales. Fins grew out of his forearms and calves, and his melted into the top of the mask, becoming one with it. The transformation only lasted about half a minute, but to Malon it seemed infinitely longer. When it was over, Link straightened and looked at her. His scaled skin was pale blue, with green pigments where his hat had been. His once sky-blue eyes were now balls of inky blackness.
"Told you you might want to look away." His voice was soft and bubbly, like there was water caught in his throat. The tone was almost the same, but not quite. For once, she was speechless, and he couldn't help but laugh. "Don't worry," he assured her, "It's me. My spirit's just joined with that of Mikau, a Zora I met once in…" he hesitated. "Far away. Anyway, it's me. Now, I'm going to need you strap your sword tightly on your back. The metal won't rust, so don't worry about that."
That wasn't exactly what Malon was worried about. Regardless, Link went on. "Now put the hood on and climb on my shoulders. Zoras can swim about thirty, forty times faster than the fastest Hylian, so it'll be quicker that way. We should be at Zora's Domain in a couple hours." Still shocked, Malon obeyed and strapped the sword to her back. She put the hood over her head, and once again felt the fabric cling to her, this time tiny appendages invading her nostrils. She could see Link through thin lenses in the hood. She climbed on his shoulders and he stepped out from under the rock. "Hold on," he warned, and he leapt into the water.
They sank deep into the lake, and Malon could barely see a thing in the darkness. Shortly, though, they came to an even darker hole in the side of the lake, and entrance of some kind. Link pointed in that the direction, and with one powerful kick they were off. Malon was amazed at how fast they traveled. Link seemed to cut through it like a hot knife through butter. Hanging on tightly, surprisingly warm under the tunic, she watched her surroundings as they zoomed by. It was brighter in the tunnel, due to some strange lichen she couldn't name that gave off a soft light. It was beautiful, as she saw fish and coral and underwater flowers of every shape in size. If they had had the time, she could have spent hours examining them all. Link would occasionally name some of the more exotic specimens.
The journey passed quickly. In what seemed like no time at all, Malon spotted the ending of the tunnel, which led into a brighter area of water. Link slowed as they neared, and as soon as they were out he headed for the surface. "Just before we hit top, let go and start treading water," he said, his voice clear in the water. As her head broke the surface she did as she was told. Even before he surfaced, Link was removing the mask, and the head that broke the water was his own. "I don't think the Zora's would take to kindly to another Zora they didn't know," he explained.
Malon drew back the hood, her skin tingling slightly for a minute. She looked around in amazement. They were in a deep cavern, with many walkways and passages branching out into the walls. The pool they were in was at least as large as Lake Hylia, and from what she could tell, even deeper. The room was illuminated by a huge crystal centered in a hole in the ceiling, and light reflected off the water shimmered against the walls.
They swam to a beach on one side and sat for a while on the sand. Malon's hair was soaked, as were all of Link's clothes, though he didn't seem to mind. He hooked the mask back onto his belt and looked around. "That's odd," he muttered.
Malon looked at him questioningly. "What is?"
Link stood up and wringed out his hat. "Nothing enters this place without a Zora there to meet it. Something's wrong. Now that I think about it…"
Malon sniffed the air and discovered what he meant. "It smells awful here. Kind of like…"
"Dead fish." Link started up the path behind them, Malon following quickly. The place was quiet as a tomb. There was no sound whatsoever save the sound of waves hitting the walls.
"Where do the Zoras live?" Malon asked, trying to break the disturbing silence. "I don't see any houses or anything."
"Most of them live underwater, in that pool we came out of." Link's eyes were darting from side to side, taking in everything. Something was definitely wrong. They continued their ascent to the throne room. They were there in a few minutes, and it to was empty.
Malon scrunched her nose. "The smell's worse here."
"You're right." He paused for a moment, his eyes falling on a passageway behind the dais where the monarch would sit. "Come on," he said. "I think I know where everybody is."
* * *
Having spent all eighteen years of her life on a farm, Malon had seen many animals in various stages of death and decay, but nothing in all in her experience could prepare her for what she saw when they exited the tunnel. They came out into a small fountain on top of a waterfall, with a large stone deck looking over a rather large pond. Covering the deck and surrounding the pond were over a thousand Zoras, most of them crying or holding loved ones close. In another time, Malon would be amazed at finally seeing a Zora, their sleek, scaly bodies shining in the dimming light, but now all she could focus on was the overwhelming smell and the horrifying sight that became more clear as she and Link made their way to the front of the crowd.
A huge fish, almost the size of her entire farmhouse and barn combined, covered in jewels and gold was lying in the pool. Or at least the top half was. Everything from the front fins back was gone, and the pool was littered with blood and guts.
"Goddesses," Link whispered, his mouth open in astonishment. "Lord Jabu-Jabu…" He turned to the nearest Zora, a female. "What happened here? What happened to Jabu-Jabu?"
She turned on him fiercely. "Leave, outsider. Now, before that option is taken from you."
Ignoring her, Link turned to another. "Where's Queen Ruto? I must talk to her." This one, a strongly built male, was a little more willing to explain.
"She has gone to the Hylian Palace, accompanied by her husband Zakro. She left as soon as our lord was found like this."
"Link! Hero of the Water!" An aged voice called out from the crowd, and Link and Malon turned to face an aged Zora parting the crowd. He was leaning heavily on a tall walking stick.
"Miza," Link said, heading toward the old Zora. "What happened here?"
Miza shook his head and motioned back towards the tunnel. "Not here," he said. "Emotions are high, and I do not think they would take kindly even to you." Malon looked around, and saw what the old Zora meant. Many angry Zora faces were facing them.
"Alright," Link agreed. "Lead the way."
* * *
"It happened three days ago," explained Miza, Queen Ruto's royal mage. "A group of worshippers found Lord Jabu-Jabu like that, and there has been a constant vigil since. Zoras from all over Hyrule have come. Our nation is in turmoil, and Queen Ruto and Sir Zakro have gone to the Palace to seek the aid of Princess Zelda."
"Why Zelda?" Link asked. "What's wrong with the king?"
Miza looked away uncomfortably. "The palace has done a commendable job of covering it up, but the truth is the king has fallen deathly ill. Out greatest physicians are already at the palace trying to find a cure. The cause seems to be magic related."
Link was too shocked and upset to say anything. He had been in the palace just several days earlier, had felt Zelda's presence, but he hadn't thought it would be such a big deal to miss seeing her that once. Apparently he was wrong. Regaining his composure, he said, "So tell me more about this thing that killed Jabu-Jabu. Does anybody know where it went?"
"In fact, the beast now rests in the cave at the rear of the fountain. A party of our finest soldiers went to slay it, lead by Sir Zakro himself. Only Zakro returned." Miza lowered his head.
"What is it?" Malon asked quietly.
"According to Sir Zakro's description, the beast is a dragon."
"Impossible," Link said. "Dragons are extinct."
"I know, I know, but Sir Zakro knows what he saw, and that is enough for me. With him and the queen gone, we can do nothing but wait for their return and try and ignore the sounds coming from the cave."
For a long while, Link didn't say anything. He just sat there, lost in thought. Finally, he said, "Miza, I'm going to leave Malon here with you while I go deal with this. I don't know what it is, but if it really is a dragon, then I've got some experience in that area."
"Wait a minute," Malon protested. "What am I supposed to do while you're gone?"
"Explore if you like. I'm sure Miza can find something for you to do. And if I'm not back by tomorrow morning, I want you to leave here, find Epona, and go home."
Malon didn't appear to like the idea very much. Nevertheless, she stayed quiet. Link nodded in approval and turned towards Miza. "Alright," he said. "Let's go."
* * *
They stood now at the front of the huge procession, at the edge of the water. Link had his sword strapped to his back and his longshot and bombs hooked to his belt. He turned to Malon one last time. "Don't worry," he assured her. "I'll be do this sort of thing all the time. No problem. But remember, if I'm not back by morning…"
"Just make sure you are back." With that she quickly moved forward and embraced him. She pulled away, and looked as if she was about to do something more. Instead, she let go and let Miza lead her back through the cavern to Zora's Domain. Link watched her leave, hoping he would be back, for her sake, not his. Turning to the water he leapt in and started the long swim to the cave.
After close to fifteen minutes of swimming, he pulled himself onto the ledge in front of the cave. Wringing his cap out, he stared into the dark mouth of the cavern. Indeed, he could here sounds coming from it; sounds like the breathing of a giant animal. Drawing his sword, he moved forward into the darkness.
There was very little light in the cave, most of it coming through cracks and holes in the high ceiling. At times like this Link wished that Navi or even Tatl were with him. As he moved deeper into the cave the breathing became louder, closer. He used the skills he had learned under Impa's tutelage to move among the shadows, and his body tensed, preparing for battle.
It wasn't long until he found it.
Just over an hour after entering, he walked into a large room in the center of the cave, illuminated by a hole hundreds of feet up. Sleeping in the middle of a room was indeed a dragon, its long body coiled about itself. Its blue scales shimmered every time it breathed, and small whiffs of smoke emitted from its nostrils. It was enormous, bigger than Volvagia had been. Link stared at the worm uneasily. "This shouldn't even be here," he thought. "Dragons have been extinct for centuries. Who could have power to resurrect one other than…" Link didn't allow himself to finish that sentence. Instead, he crept closer and closer.
"I know you're there, Hylian." A booming voice shook the cave, and it took Link a moment to realize that the dragon had awoke and was staring right at his hiding place. "I have been feasting on Zoras these past few days, and it has been a millennia since I tasted man flesh. I will enjoy your death considerably. Be honored."
Link stepped out of the shadows to face the dragon, armed and ready. "I should have brought a bigger sword…"
* * *
After Link had left them, Malon had asked Miza if she would be allowed to go through the Zora archives. She figured that if she couldn't help Link with the dragon, she could at least help find any information on his father. Miza agreed, and she had been there ever since. For the past two hours she had had her head buried in textbooks and almanacs—the ones written in Hylian, anyway—and she had yet to find anything of any use.
"This is getting nowhere," she muttered, opening the next book, one about the war between Hyrule and the border countries just shy of eighteen years ago. She flipped to the last chapter, about the conclusion of the war.
"...and with the mighty blade Stonecutter, King Jax of Hyrule struck the dread Stone King Avbrellion of the northern land of Stygiant dead on the fields before the Great Hylian Wall, bringing an end to the War of Nations. The Stygiant allies in Putnia soon surrendered, and the land was once again at peace. The price was high, however, as many soldiers and civilians lost their lives in the battle for piece, including those of Goron Chief Darunia's first wife, Krya, and King Jax's own wife, the Queen Sanna, only recently recovered from giving birth, fled to the east and was never heard from again. And so, King Jax brought unity to the lands, and, breaking centuries of tradition, his daughter Zelda was proclaimed heir to the throne."
"Hmmm…" Malon murmured. "That's interesting. What tradition?" Pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fall into place, but she couldn't quite put everything together. She pieced together what she knew: the old queen, Sanna, fled to the east, the direction of the Lost Woods, where Link was raised. All this happened shortly after the birth of the heir to the throne, Zelda, who was breaking some tradition by becoming the heir. Then it hit her. It was all so clear! It couldn't just be a coincidence, everything just worked out so perfectly. There had to be one more piece of the puzzle to prove everything.
Unfortunately, before she could find it, an ear-splitting roar shook the archives. Malon got up and ran through the door, almost running over Miza. "What's going on?" she asked.
"I do not know," he answered, "But that noise is coming from Lord Jabu-Jabu's resting place!"
They sprinted through the stone halls until they emerged from the tunnel, the huge gathering of Zoras all looking to the cave Link had entered. Suddenly, with another bellow of rage, a dragon shot through the top of the cavern roof, boulders erupting like lava from a volcano. The blue dragon was huge, bigger even then Jabu-Jabu. And it seemed to be carrying something on the back of its neck. Malon squinted to see what it was, and almost immediately wished she hadn't. "Oh, Link," she moaned, "What have you done now?"
* * *
Link was asking himself that very same question, along with 'Why didn't I bring a bigger sword?'. He was clinging to the hairs at the nape of the dragon's neck as the worm shot through the cavern and entered open air. The sun was just beginning to set, and if he had been of a mind to do so, Link would have appreciated the view from such a good vantage point.
Instead, he clung to the thick hairs with one hand, his sword buried into the thick scales underneath him. He and the dragon had fought for close to an hour; well, actually, the dragon had breathed fire and Link had spent most of his time dodging the flames. Eventually, though, he maneuvered close enough to strike at the beast, and he had done so, which accounted for the dragon's missing right eye. From there everything had gone downhill, as the dragon tore through the cavern with Link clinging desperately to its back. So now on top of having to kill a dragon, he had to do it in midair.
"Foolish mortal!" the dragon screamed. "One hundred Zoras shall die for each day it takes my eye to heal, and if they should run out I'll take my payment out of the Hylians! No one harms Iczor Wing-Beater! No one!"
Link didn't answer; already a plan was forming in his mind. Releasing the hairs, he felt at his belt for his bombs. Tearing the pouch off the belt, he held it in his teeth and started climbing the dragon's skull as the beast swayed back and forth trying to shake him off, occasionally blowing fire. Painstakingly he made his way up till he was able to crouch on the Iczor's snout, where he waited. He had to time this next move just right.
Enraged, the dragon glared at him with his remaining eye and opened its mouth in a bellow of rage. As soon as the mouth was open, Link took the bomb bag in his free hand and ignited the twenty odd fuses of the marble-sized explosives with Din's Fire. Free his sword from Iczor's snout, he hurled the flaming bag down the dragon's throat and leapt off the beast into the air. As he fell the hundred-odd feet to the water, Link looked up. Iczor opened his mouth one last time, this time to incinerate Link as he fell.
He never got the chance.
The dragon's skull exploded in a hail of stone, dragons' true forms, and the rest of the body crumbled to bits. Link hit the water hard, followed by a rain of boulders. The Zoras and Malon all looked on in stunned amazement, silent for a few moments. Then they erupted in ear-splitting cheers, screaming in the joy of the avenging of their dead Lord. Only Malon looked worried, searching the water for any sign of Link. Finally, after a few frantic minutes of searching, she saw him pulling himself from the water, a few dozen feet down the coast from the crowd. She ran over to him, knocking him back into the water with her embrace. He laughed and hugged her back.
"See," he said as soon as he could breath again, "Like I said, no problem."