Edward Kidnastoff
By John Little
Chp. 2: Tyrtora
*****
"King Zora will be able to see you in just a few minutes."
Link nodded as the Zora guard/receptionist turned back to the royal chambers to wait for the King's approval for the new visitor. Link sighed and casually tossed his package from one hand to the other. Along with his official job description of "Hero", Link had silently, and without his approval or consent, become something of an unofficial delivery service. Whenever someone desperately needed a delivery to be made and couldn't wait for the local delivery services to arrive, he or she would check to see if Link was in the area. Currently, he had been coerced into delivering a box of ancient scrolls and books from Hyrule Castle's library to Zora's Domain as a part of an "information exchange" that was designed to strengthen the already existing alliance and friendship between the land of Hyrule and Zora's Domain.
As annoying as it was, it did provide work for Link when the Hero business didn't. It had been three days since the mechanical bull incident at LonLon Ranch, and the only real feat he had performed in that time was to break his Poe Eradication Record by unearthing seven in Goron City in just under three minutes. Before the bull, roughly a month of nothing but the steadily increasing Poe activity.
"King Zora will see you now," announced the Zora guard as he returned with the King's previous appointment, a Zora who was, for some reason, carrying a fishing pole, a bottle, and a chicken. The guard escorted Link up the long passage to the King's chamber and onto the platform that all wishing to speak to King Zora must stand on. The King was a large Zora who almost looked like a large blue frog, especially when compared to the thinner appearance of most other members of the race. Lately he always seemed just about to fall asleep, even when he was wide awake.
"Ah, Link!" he drawled. "Wonderful to see you again. I see that you're wearing the tunic that I gave you, nice to see that it's holding up. I'm sorry to say that Princess Ruto isn't here at the moment. She's been very busy lately between the duties she has taken in overseeing this kingdom's well-being, as well as her sagely duties in the water temple."
Link concealed his sigh of relief. Ruto was a nice girl, certainly attractive and intelligent, but he hadn't ever truly felt comfortable around her since she had pushed him into a betrothal without much choice about the matter. A serious discussion was in order at some point in the future. "Actually, your highness," Link began, "I've come with a package of books and scrolls from the Hyrule Castle Library."
"Ah! Excellent! Just leave them here, and I'll see that a scribe begins working on them immediately."
His business done, Link bowed and stepped off of the pedestal. Instead of leaving the way he had entered, however, Link decided to take the hall to his left. After not walking too far, Link came to the cliff edge where a Zora stood in wait for people who wanted to play his "Diving Game." Link wasn't really interested in the game, but he decided to take a quick dive before heading home for the day. A quick running start, jump, and arm extension later, Link had impacted with the water and was coming back up.
{Hello, little one.}
Link turned towards the voice as he emerged from below the water, but couldn't see anyone in that direction. Shrugging, Link decided that it was just his mind playing tricks on him. He turned towards the distant ladder that would lead out of Zora's Domain and back into the Hyrule Field.
{I wish to speak with you.}
Link stopped swimming and turned back towards the voice. He knew that he was hearing something....
{Do not be alarmed, but I have a matter of grave importance to discuss.}
Link didn't say anything. He carefully looked around, trying to find the source of the voice.
{Don't look towards my voice. The direction of mental communication can often be misleading.}
"Who is this?" Link asked.
{I am called Tyrtora.}
Link didn't care if the voice was misleading or not, he turned in the direction that he "heard" it coming from, just to provide a better sense of orientation for himself. "What is it that you want?" he asked.
{You're life,} came Tyrtora's calm reply. Hearing a splash behind him, Link turned to find himself just feet away from what appeared to be an orange piranha that was roughly the size of a great white shark. The great fish revealed row upon row of very sharp teeth that had bits of seaweed stuck in them as Link quickly floated a few feet further from the monstrous creature. {I've been sent here to destroy you, Link,} the giant fish said as the few nearby Zora quickly swam out of harms way. {That's all, really. Nice to meet you.}
The creature lazily began to follow Link, as if toying with Link's slow swimming speed. Never being a decent swordsman on the water, Link hurried towards the only available rock, unsure if he could make it. He could hear Tyrtora slowly creeping up on him. For some reason, the Fish wasn't attacking him yet.
Link reached the rock and pulled himself onto it. Turning around, he saw Tyrtora floating in the water just barely far enough to prevent Link's sword from causing any damage. The ever present teeth seemed to be leering. {Interesting strategy, young one. However, you must leave the rock at some point. I can wait.}
"Navi," Link whispered. "Big monster. This one's water-proof."
The fairy quickly appeared and floated out to look at Tyrtora, who carefully watched Navi as she quickly searched the monster. "The skin doesn't seem overly strong," Navi whispered when she returned. "If it weren't for those teeth, I doubt that he'd even be a threat. Arrows? The hookshot, perhaps?"
Link considered this. Tyrtora seemed too large to go down that easily. However, he might be able to stun Tyrtora long enough to allow him to reach the ladder. Perhaps even the land that would lead him back to King Zora. By now, a crowd of Zora were watching from the higher land masses, whispering to themselves.
Acting quickly so that Tyrtora wouldn't have time to react, Link removed his bow and an arrow, took aim, and fired. Tyrtora didn't even try to move as the arrow struck him between the eyes. Tyrtora simply continued to float in the water for a few seconds before vanishing from sight.
The Zora on the outskirts of the water began to clap and cheer while Link simply stared in confusion. Nothing that big would fall from a single arrow, no matter how well it was placed. He pulled out the Lens of Truth and looked around for any trace of Tyrtora. He couldn't see a thing except for the usual tiny fish that inhabited this small body of water.
"Navi? What just happened?"
"I'd say a well-placed shot on your part. You must've hit his weak point so precisely as to instantly cause critical damage."
"What're the odds of that happening?"
"Astronomical, but I don't think that we should question it."
Taking Navi's advice, Link returned his bow to its place in his inventory, and jumped into the water.
{That wasn't very neighborly, Link.}
Link froze. He was still a few yards from the ladder. He swam furiously towards it, hoping to escape before Tyrtora could appear again. Before he had moved a foot, however, what appeared to be a gigantic crab rose to the surface from below the water. It was large enough that its flat top provided a table large enough for several tiny fish and clumps of seaweed to be caught on as it rose.
{You shouldn't allow yourself to be lured so easily into harm's way, Link. Just a friendly word of advice on my part.}
The crab began to swim towards Link. It seemed to be a genuinely slow swimmer, however, as opposed to the fish's tauntingly slow speeds. Still, Link barely made it back to the rocky outcropping before the crab did. His sigh of relief was cut short when the crab cautiously placed two of its legs onto the platform.
"Navi?" Link called as he backed to the opposite end of the rock.
"Well....his exoskeleton looks a bit hard for your sword," she muttered. "You could try the Megaton Hammer, I suppose. That might be hard enough if you can get in a good blow."
As Tyrtora finished climbing onto the tiny rock, Link sheathed his sword and pulled out the Megaton Hammer. Link attempted to smash the center of Tyrtora's shell, but the crab's claws moved fast enough to block the attack.
{Link, you really must cease this game at once. You can't win, you know.} So saying, Tyrtora attempted to snap Link's shins. Link, acting primarily on instinct rather than through any true plan of his own, jumped over the crab's claws and onto its back.
A few seconds passed as both Tyrtora and Link processed what had just happened. Tyrtora attempted to reach Link, but its disproportionately large claws didn't seem capable of bending that far back. Tyrtora tried to throw Link off, but Link was much too heavy for the crab to do more than shake a little. Not daring to waste a second, Link smashed Tyrtora's back with the Megaton Hammer. The shell instantly cracked, and the creature faded from view just as the giant piranha had done, leaving behind only the sea debris that it had carried up with it.
"Think that's the last of Tyrtora, Navi?" Link cautiously asked. He wasn't about to set foot into the water again.
"Not quite," Navi whispered. "There's something moving beneath that seaweed there."
Link knelt down and examined the clump of seaweed. It did, in fact, appear as if something beneath it was moving. Link cautiously moved the seaweed aside, only to find a tiny crab. A crab with a very noticeable crack running down its shell.
"That certainly explains how Tyrtora vanished when he was just a big fish," Link mumbled. "I still don't quite get the why of the matter, though."
{I can explain it all for you, if you'd like.}
Link quickly looked into the water, and saw a very large crocodile's head looking back at him, staring through the various shells and bits of plant material on it. The crocodile slowly began to head towards the rock. It was much too big to actually climb onto the rock, though it could easily snap Link from the water.
{I found those previous forms to be ill suited for the task at hand. First I chose the form of a fish as you were in the water. I altered the fish's stature to be a giant in size, and enhanced the fish's natural weaponry, its teeth. However, this could not harm you at all while you could find refuge on the land. Next, I chose a crab. Capable of tracking you on both land and water, all it needed was a proper size to pursue you. However, you proved yourself capable of eluding its pincers and cracking its shell. I have now found a baby crocodile, and made the standard size and strength enhancements. Should you vanquish this, I may take other forms. A flying fish with razor-tipped fins, perhaps. Or maybe a rapid turtle capable of imprisoning you in its own shell. The sea is full of many wondrous creatures, and all of them may be my form.} As he ended this statement, the crocodile snapped at Link. Link evaded, but fell into the water.
"Link! We're not fighting Tyrtora!"
"I know! It'll be a massacre by the time he finishes with us!"
"That's not what I mean, Link! So far we've beaten every monster that's been tossed at us. But Tyrtora hasn't even shown his face!"
"You mean this isn't Tyrtora," Link asked as the giant crocodile swam within a few feet of him. There were some good-sized tree trunks that weren't as large as this monster's muzzle.
"I don't think so. I think that Tyrtora's capturing the animals, controlling them, and changing them so that they can fight for him!"
"So we need to ignore these monsters out here and find the real Tyrtora?"
"Right!"
Link dodged another snap from the crocodile's maw, allowing the opportunity that Link needed to grab it and hold it closed. Even with the weaker opening muscles, however, Link knew he probably wouldn't be able to hold it closed for very long. Acting as quickly as he could, Link swapped his current boots for his iron boots before letting go of the crocodile.
Link quickly sank to the bottom of the water with the aid of the iron boots. With the help of the Zora's Tunic, Link could have conceivably stayed beneath the water indefinitely were it not for the crocodile that began its rapid descent through the water.
Link walked away from the crocodile as fast as the iron boots would allow him to, though he knew that it wouldn't be nearly fast enough. Link looked around frantically, searching for anything out of the ordinary.
Link noticed a very, very large patch of seaweed near the arch that would lead to Lake Hylia. Ordinarily this wouldn't be too unusual, but the Zora generally kept this section of their waters plant free to enhance its aesthetic appearance.
Link armed his hookshot and took aim at the seaweed. He soon found himself hurtling through the water towards the seaweed, just moments before the giant crocodile could reach him. Link landed just a step away from the seaweed and looked at it carefully. There was something beneath all of it, but Link couldn't quite make it out.
Quickly, before Link even realized that anything was happening, several strands of the seaweed shot out from their pile and wrapped around Link's legs. Enough of the seaweed had been shifted for Link to see a large blue eye staring at him from the middle of the vegetation.
{Incorrect strategy, I'm afraid,} Tyrtora cheerfully stated. {While you were right in assuming my location, you failed to grasp that I'm a predator with a penchant for ensnaring prey before consuming it, much like a skulltula or certain varieties of exotic beetle. I generally trap smaller creatures to consume, such as baby fish or the eggs of turtles. Those animals too large, and even tiny fish and crustaceans often fall into this category, I brainwash into a symbiotic relationship where I teach them to hunt more efficiently and mutate them into creatures far more capable of hunting. In return, I have them always devour their larger meals near me so that I may consume the tiny bits and pieces that they miss.}
As soon as that statement entered Link's mind, he quickly pulled out his sword. Ordinarily he wouldn't ever consider using it as a weapon when beneath water, but he reasoned that he wouldn't require great force to cause damage to Tyrtora's eye, or at least to the seaweed that he was trapped in. Before he could use the sword for anything, however, a spare tendril shot out, snatched the sword, and pulled it out of Link's grasp.
{We can't have that, now can we? But don't worry, Link. I'm certainly not going to brainwash you. Your brain is much too complex for me to achieve any more than this simply telepathic communication. However, the other advantage that I failed to mention about my relationship to those animals that I do manage to enslave is that I have constant protection.}
No sooner had Tyrtora broadcast these thoughts than a large shadow blocked out the light from above. Looking up, Link saw the giant crocodile begin a slow, taunting descent. Frantically, Link pulled out the Megaton Hammer, but Tyrtora's tendrils were too fast. Link removed a spare Deku Stick from his pack in an attempt to blind Tyrtora's eye. But once again, the seaweed was too fast for Link to hold onto his weapon, and yet another of his chances for survival was held firmly out of reach.
In desperation, Link armed his hookshot. The vines again surged, but Link was ready for them. Link held fast with his two hands as Tyrtora struggled with two vines. Then a third vine joined. Then a fourth. Link attempted to aim the hookshot directly at Tyrtora's eye, but the growing numbers of vines were making that difficult.
Link looked above just in time to see the crocodile a mere five feet above him. The crocodile had its mouth open as it swam straight for the hero. Link turned back towards Tyrtora in time to see a twelfth vine grab the hookshot. Neither Link nor Tyrtora were capable of steadily aiming the hookshot at this point, though each attempted to ensure that it would be aimed in the general direction of the other. A thirteenth vine, and a fourteenth vine,....and then the hookshot's trigger was pulled.
Whether it had been activated by Link or Tyrtora was unknown, though neither one had intended for the hookshot to be fired directly into the open maw of the crocodile. The hookshot apparently found a suitable latch as both Link and Tyrtora were ripped from the ground and propelled towards the crocodile who, apparently in slack-jawed surprise, was keeping its mouth open.
Having less than a second to react, Link rolled to ensure that Tyrtora would be the first to enter. While the crocodile was larger than most, it didn't have a throat large enough to allow the whole of Tyrtora to easily pass through. Link felt the tentacles lose their strength as both Tyrtora and the crocodile struggled for a mutual survival. Seizing his chance, Link removed the bindings from his legs, and quickly scooped up his sword, hookshot, hammer and (though he felt he didn't need it) deku stick. His still functioning iron boots allowed him to sink faster than the struggling crocodile, though they landed in close proximity to each other.
Link surveyed the mass of Tyrtora as the crocodile began to move slower. The eye rolled into view and stared at Link before the crocodile's mouth finally closed.
{Well played, Link! I made the mistake of underestimating you, I'm afraid. Whether through skill or luck, you have indeed proven yourself worthy of the title of "hero" that the land has granted you. I'm afraid that I won't survive for much longer, as my roots have been heavily damaged by this turn of events, so I must bid you a polite farewell.}
Link didn't waste any time at all. He quickly switched back to his regular boots, and floated to the nearest patch of land that wasn't floating in the middle of the water. Dragging himself onto the land, he heard cheers and applause from the Zora populace surrounding him and Navi's familiar fluttering as he sprawled onto the rocky ground.
"Weird monster," Link panted. "Polite, though."
"Yeah," Navi answered. "Might've been worthy of a few decent legends, if it hadn't gone down during its first fight."
*****
Link was drained. Water monsters had never been his favorite type to contend with, especially when they could only be slain while under water. He wasn't in the mood to quickly dart across the landscape on Epona tonight. He was comfortable with the slow trod that Epona was moving at. Navi fluttered ahead, either through tension of the events of the morning, or from the adrenaline rush.
Despite the main event of the day, Link did appreciate the special banquet that was thrown in his honor before he was permitted to leave Zoras' Domain. They certainly did know how to prepare seafood.
Suddenly, a bright rectangle of light appeared directly in Epona's path! Epona reared onto her hind legs, throwing Link onto the ground as she quickly moved away from the strange light. Link pulled himself off of the ground, glared at Epona for a second, before turning to the rectangle. It was a bright white, roughly eight feet tall and three feet wide. Link cautiously approached it. He reached out to touch it, but his hand passed right through it, as if it wasn't there.
Link turned to Epona. He wasn't ready to leave, but Epona was quickly walking away from the source of the light, and he didn't want to spend the rest of the night chasing her. However, with his back turned from the white rectangle, he didn't notice the large metal claw that zipped out to grab him. Before he even had a chance to shout for help, he had been pulled back into the rectangle which vanished without a trace.
Moments later, Navi returned to the site where the rectangle had been. She had seen the rectangle from a distance, but hadn't seen Link's disappearance through it. She looked, but couldn't see Link anywhere on the field.
"Epona's just over there," she said. "And that big rectangle was right here....but where's Link?"
By John Little
Chp. 2: Tyrtora
*****
"King Zora will be able to see you in just a few minutes."
Link nodded as the Zora guard/receptionist turned back to the royal chambers to wait for the King's approval for the new visitor. Link sighed and casually tossed his package from one hand to the other. Along with his official job description of "Hero", Link had silently, and without his approval or consent, become something of an unofficial delivery service. Whenever someone desperately needed a delivery to be made and couldn't wait for the local delivery services to arrive, he or she would check to see if Link was in the area. Currently, he had been coerced into delivering a box of ancient scrolls and books from Hyrule Castle's library to Zora's Domain as a part of an "information exchange" that was designed to strengthen the already existing alliance and friendship between the land of Hyrule and Zora's Domain.
As annoying as it was, it did provide work for Link when the Hero business didn't. It had been three days since the mechanical bull incident at LonLon Ranch, and the only real feat he had performed in that time was to break his Poe Eradication Record by unearthing seven in Goron City in just under three minutes. Before the bull, roughly a month of nothing but the steadily increasing Poe activity.
"King Zora will see you now," announced the Zora guard as he returned with the King's previous appointment, a Zora who was, for some reason, carrying a fishing pole, a bottle, and a chicken. The guard escorted Link up the long passage to the King's chamber and onto the platform that all wishing to speak to King Zora must stand on. The King was a large Zora who almost looked like a large blue frog, especially when compared to the thinner appearance of most other members of the race. Lately he always seemed just about to fall asleep, even when he was wide awake.
"Ah, Link!" he drawled. "Wonderful to see you again. I see that you're wearing the tunic that I gave you, nice to see that it's holding up. I'm sorry to say that Princess Ruto isn't here at the moment. She's been very busy lately between the duties she has taken in overseeing this kingdom's well-being, as well as her sagely duties in the water temple."
Link concealed his sigh of relief. Ruto was a nice girl, certainly attractive and intelligent, but he hadn't ever truly felt comfortable around her since she had pushed him into a betrothal without much choice about the matter. A serious discussion was in order at some point in the future. "Actually, your highness," Link began, "I've come with a package of books and scrolls from the Hyrule Castle Library."
"Ah! Excellent! Just leave them here, and I'll see that a scribe begins working on them immediately."
His business done, Link bowed and stepped off of the pedestal. Instead of leaving the way he had entered, however, Link decided to take the hall to his left. After not walking too far, Link came to the cliff edge where a Zora stood in wait for people who wanted to play his "Diving Game." Link wasn't really interested in the game, but he decided to take a quick dive before heading home for the day. A quick running start, jump, and arm extension later, Link had impacted with the water and was coming back up.
{Hello, little one.}
Link turned towards the voice as he emerged from below the water, but couldn't see anyone in that direction. Shrugging, Link decided that it was just his mind playing tricks on him. He turned towards the distant ladder that would lead out of Zora's Domain and back into the Hyrule Field.
{I wish to speak with you.}
Link stopped swimming and turned back towards the voice. He knew that he was hearing something....
{Do not be alarmed, but I have a matter of grave importance to discuss.}
Link didn't say anything. He carefully looked around, trying to find the source of the voice.
{Don't look towards my voice. The direction of mental communication can often be misleading.}
"Who is this?" Link asked.
{I am called Tyrtora.}
Link didn't care if the voice was misleading or not, he turned in the direction that he "heard" it coming from, just to provide a better sense of orientation for himself. "What is it that you want?" he asked.
{You're life,} came Tyrtora's calm reply. Hearing a splash behind him, Link turned to find himself just feet away from what appeared to be an orange piranha that was roughly the size of a great white shark. The great fish revealed row upon row of very sharp teeth that had bits of seaweed stuck in them as Link quickly floated a few feet further from the monstrous creature. {I've been sent here to destroy you, Link,} the giant fish said as the few nearby Zora quickly swam out of harms way. {That's all, really. Nice to meet you.}
The creature lazily began to follow Link, as if toying with Link's slow swimming speed. Never being a decent swordsman on the water, Link hurried towards the only available rock, unsure if he could make it. He could hear Tyrtora slowly creeping up on him. For some reason, the Fish wasn't attacking him yet.
Link reached the rock and pulled himself onto it. Turning around, he saw Tyrtora floating in the water just barely far enough to prevent Link's sword from causing any damage. The ever present teeth seemed to be leering. {Interesting strategy, young one. However, you must leave the rock at some point. I can wait.}
"Navi," Link whispered. "Big monster. This one's water-proof."
The fairy quickly appeared and floated out to look at Tyrtora, who carefully watched Navi as she quickly searched the monster. "The skin doesn't seem overly strong," Navi whispered when she returned. "If it weren't for those teeth, I doubt that he'd even be a threat. Arrows? The hookshot, perhaps?"
Link considered this. Tyrtora seemed too large to go down that easily. However, he might be able to stun Tyrtora long enough to allow him to reach the ladder. Perhaps even the land that would lead him back to King Zora. By now, a crowd of Zora were watching from the higher land masses, whispering to themselves.
Acting quickly so that Tyrtora wouldn't have time to react, Link removed his bow and an arrow, took aim, and fired. Tyrtora didn't even try to move as the arrow struck him between the eyes. Tyrtora simply continued to float in the water for a few seconds before vanishing from sight.
The Zora on the outskirts of the water began to clap and cheer while Link simply stared in confusion. Nothing that big would fall from a single arrow, no matter how well it was placed. He pulled out the Lens of Truth and looked around for any trace of Tyrtora. He couldn't see a thing except for the usual tiny fish that inhabited this small body of water.
"Navi? What just happened?"
"I'd say a well-placed shot on your part. You must've hit his weak point so precisely as to instantly cause critical damage."
"What're the odds of that happening?"
"Astronomical, but I don't think that we should question it."
Taking Navi's advice, Link returned his bow to its place in his inventory, and jumped into the water.
{That wasn't very neighborly, Link.}
Link froze. He was still a few yards from the ladder. He swam furiously towards it, hoping to escape before Tyrtora could appear again. Before he had moved a foot, however, what appeared to be a gigantic crab rose to the surface from below the water. It was large enough that its flat top provided a table large enough for several tiny fish and clumps of seaweed to be caught on as it rose.
{You shouldn't allow yourself to be lured so easily into harm's way, Link. Just a friendly word of advice on my part.}
The crab began to swim towards Link. It seemed to be a genuinely slow swimmer, however, as opposed to the fish's tauntingly slow speeds. Still, Link barely made it back to the rocky outcropping before the crab did. His sigh of relief was cut short when the crab cautiously placed two of its legs onto the platform.
"Navi?" Link called as he backed to the opposite end of the rock.
"Well....his exoskeleton looks a bit hard for your sword," she muttered. "You could try the Megaton Hammer, I suppose. That might be hard enough if you can get in a good blow."
As Tyrtora finished climbing onto the tiny rock, Link sheathed his sword and pulled out the Megaton Hammer. Link attempted to smash the center of Tyrtora's shell, but the crab's claws moved fast enough to block the attack.
{Link, you really must cease this game at once. You can't win, you know.} So saying, Tyrtora attempted to snap Link's shins. Link, acting primarily on instinct rather than through any true plan of his own, jumped over the crab's claws and onto its back.
A few seconds passed as both Tyrtora and Link processed what had just happened. Tyrtora attempted to reach Link, but its disproportionately large claws didn't seem capable of bending that far back. Tyrtora tried to throw Link off, but Link was much too heavy for the crab to do more than shake a little. Not daring to waste a second, Link smashed Tyrtora's back with the Megaton Hammer. The shell instantly cracked, and the creature faded from view just as the giant piranha had done, leaving behind only the sea debris that it had carried up with it.
"Think that's the last of Tyrtora, Navi?" Link cautiously asked. He wasn't about to set foot into the water again.
"Not quite," Navi whispered. "There's something moving beneath that seaweed there."
Link knelt down and examined the clump of seaweed. It did, in fact, appear as if something beneath it was moving. Link cautiously moved the seaweed aside, only to find a tiny crab. A crab with a very noticeable crack running down its shell.
"That certainly explains how Tyrtora vanished when he was just a big fish," Link mumbled. "I still don't quite get the why of the matter, though."
{I can explain it all for you, if you'd like.}
Link quickly looked into the water, and saw a very large crocodile's head looking back at him, staring through the various shells and bits of plant material on it. The crocodile slowly began to head towards the rock. It was much too big to actually climb onto the rock, though it could easily snap Link from the water.
{I found those previous forms to be ill suited for the task at hand. First I chose the form of a fish as you were in the water. I altered the fish's stature to be a giant in size, and enhanced the fish's natural weaponry, its teeth. However, this could not harm you at all while you could find refuge on the land. Next, I chose a crab. Capable of tracking you on both land and water, all it needed was a proper size to pursue you. However, you proved yourself capable of eluding its pincers and cracking its shell. I have now found a baby crocodile, and made the standard size and strength enhancements. Should you vanquish this, I may take other forms. A flying fish with razor-tipped fins, perhaps. Or maybe a rapid turtle capable of imprisoning you in its own shell. The sea is full of many wondrous creatures, and all of them may be my form.} As he ended this statement, the crocodile snapped at Link. Link evaded, but fell into the water.
"Link! We're not fighting Tyrtora!"
"I know! It'll be a massacre by the time he finishes with us!"
"That's not what I mean, Link! So far we've beaten every monster that's been tossed at us. But Tyrtora hasn't even shown his face!"
"You mean this isn't Tyrtora," Link asked as the giant crocodile swam within a few feet of him. There were some good-sized tree trunks that weren't as large as this monster's muzzle.
"I don't think so. I think that Tyrtora's capturing the animals, controlling them, and changing them so that they can fight for him!"
"So we need to ignore these monsters out here and find the real Tyrtora?"
"Right!"
Link dodged another snap from the crocodile's maw, allowing the opportunity that Link needed to grab it and hold it closed. Even with the weaker opening muscles, however, Link knew he probably wouldn't be able to hold it closed for very long. Acting as quickly as he could, Link swapped his current boots for his iron boots before letting go of the crocodile.
Link quickly sank to the bottom of the water with the aid of the iron boots. With the help of the Zora's Tunic, Link could have conceivably stayed beneath the water indefinitely were it not for the crocodile that began its rapid descent through the water.
Link walked away from the crocodile as fast as the iron boots would allow him to, though he knew that it wouldn't be nearly fast enough. Link looked around frantically, searching for anything out of the ordinary.
Link noticed a very, very large patch of seaweed near the arch that would lead to Lake Hylia. Ordinarily this wouldn't be too unusual, but the Zora generally kept this section of their waters plant free to enhance its aesthetic appearance.
Link armed his hookshot and took aim at the seaweed. He soon found himself hurtling through the water towards the seaweed, just moments before the giant crocodile could reach him. Link landed just a step away from the seaweed and looked at it carefully. There was something beneath all of it, but Link couldn't quite make it out.
Quickly, before Link even realized that anything was happening, several strands of the seaweed shot out from their pile and wrapped around Link's legs. Enough of the seaweed had been shifted for Link to see a large blue eye staring at him from the middle of the vegetation.
{Incorrect strategy, I'm afraid,} Tyrtora cheerfully stated. {While you were right in assuming my location, you failed to grasp that I'm a predator with a penchant for ensnaring prey before consuming it, much like a skulltula or certain varieties of exotic beetle. I generally trap smaller creatures to consume, such as baby fish or the eggs of turtles. Those animals too large, and even tiny fish and crustaceans often fall into this category, I brainwash into a symbiotic relationship where I teach them to hunt more efficiently and mutate them into creatures far more capable of hunting. In return, I have them always devour their larger meals near me so that I may consume the tiny bits and pieces that they miss.}
As soon as that statement entered Link's mind, he quickly pulled out his sword. Ordinarily he wouldn't ever consider using it as a weapon when beneath water, but he reasoned that he wouldn't require great force to cause damage to Tyrtora's eye, or at least to the seaweed that he was trapped in. Before he could use the sword for anything, however, a spare tendril shot out, snatched the sword, and pulled it out of Link's grasp.
{We can't have that, now can we? But don't worry, Link. I'm certainly not going to brainwash you. Your brain is much too complex for me to achieve any more than this simply telepathic communication. However, the other advantage that I failed to mention about my relationship to those animals that I do manage to enslave is that I have constant protection.}
No sooner had Tyrtora broadcast these thoughts than a large shadow blocked out the light from above. Looking up, Link saw the giant crocodile begin a slow, taunting descent. Frantically, Link pulled out the Megaton Hammer, but Tyrtora's tendrils were too fast. Link removed a spare Deku Stick from his pack in an attempt to blind Tyrtora's eye. But once again, the seaweed was too fast for Link to hold onto his weapon, and yet another of his chances for survival was held firmly out of reach.
In desperation, Link armed his hookshot. The vines again surged, but Link was ready for them. Link held fast with his two hands as Tyrtora struggled with two vines. Then a third vine joined. Then a fourth. Link attempted to aim the hookshot directly at Tyrtora's eye, but the growing numbers of vines were making that difficult.
Link looked above just in time to see the crocodile a mere five feet above him. The crocodile had its mouth open as it swam straight for the hero. Link turned back towards Tyrtora in time to see a twelfth vine grab the hookshot. Neither Link nor Tyrtora were capable of steadily aiming the hookshot at this point, though each attempted to ensure that it would be aimed in the general direction of the other. A thirteenth vine, and a fourteenth vine,....and then the hookshot's trigger was pulled.
Whether it had been activated by Link or Tyrtora was unknown, though neither one had intended for the hookshot to be fired directly into the open maw of the crocodile. The hookshot apparently found a suitable latch as both Link and Tyrtora were ripped from the ground and propelled towards the crocodile who, apparently in slack-jawed surprise, was keeping its mouth open.
Having less than a second to react, Link rolled to ensure that Tyrtora would be the first to enter. While the crocodile was larger than most, it didn't have a throat large enough to allow the whole of Tyrtora to easily pass through. Link felt the tentacles lose their strength as both Tyrtora and the crocodile struggled for a mutual survival. Seizing his chance, Link removed the bindings from his legs, and quickly scooped up his sword, hookshot, hammer and (though he felt he didn't need it) deku stick. His still functioning iron boots allowed him to sink faster than the struggling crocodile, though they landed in close proximity to each other.
Link surveyed the mass of Tyrtora as the crocodile began to move slower. The eye rolled into view and stared at Link before the crocodile's mouth finally closed.
{Well played, Link! I made the mistake of underestimating you, I'm afraid. Whether through skill or luck, you have indeed proven yourself worthy of the title of "hero" that the land has granted you. I'm afraid that I won't survive for much longer, as my roots have been heavily damaged by this turn of events, so I must bid you a polite farewell.}
Link didn't waste any time at all. He quickly switched back to his regular boots, and floated to the nearest patch of land that wasn't floating in the middle of the water. Dragging himself onto the land, he heard cheers and applause from the Zora populace surrounding him and Navi's familiar fluttering as he sprawled onto the rocky ground.
"Weird monster," Link panted. "Polite, though."
"Yeah," Navi answered. "Might've been worthy of a few decent legends, if it hadn't gone down during its first fight."
*****
Link was drained. Water monsters had never been his favorite type to contend with, especially when they could only be slain while under water. He wasn't in the mood to quickly dart across the landscape on Epona tonight. He was comfortable with the slow trod that Epona was moving at. Navi fluttered ahead, either through tension of the events of the morning, or from the adrenaline rush.
Despite the main event of the day, Link did appreciate the special banquet that was thrown in his honor before he was permitted to leave Zoras' Domain. They certainly did know how to prepare seafood.
Suddenly, a bright rectangle of light appeared directly in Epona's path! Epona reared onto her hind legs, throwing Link onto the ground as she quickly moved away from the strange light. Link pulled himself off of the ground, glared at Epona for a second, before turning to the rectangle. It was a bright white, roughly eight feet tall and three feet wide. Link cautiously approached it. He reached out to touch it, but his hand passed right through it, as if it wasn't there.
Link turned to Epona. He wasn't ready to leave, but Epona was quickly walking away from the source of the light, and he didn't want to spend the rest of the night chasing her. However, with his back turned from the white rectangle, he didn't notice the large metal claw that zipped out to grab him. Before he even had a chance to shout for help, he had been pulled back into the rectangle which vanished without a trace.
Moments later, Navi returned to the site where the rectangle had been. She had seen the rectangle from a distance, but hadn't seen Link's disappearance through it. She looked, but couldn't see Link anywhere on the field.
"Epona's just over there," she said. "And that big rectangle was right here....but where's Link?"