Link set out the next day unsure of what he really planned on doing.
He knew that he had Retta to deal with, and he knew that Ruto was a
problem. He needed to find them both. Both would prove to be difficult.
Both needed to be apprehended as soon as possible. And neither one of them
looked more appealing than the other. Still, he knew that he had to go
somewhere, and since he had a better idea of where he might find Ruto, he
decided to go after her first.
Navi agreed with Link's decision, and they set off to the Zora's Domain. The ride was not a nice one. Rain beat down on Link, soaking him to the bone, and the wind blew the icy water into his face. He was grateful when he reached his destination and was able to get inside and out of the rain. Navi poked her head out and complained about the rain getting behind the shield, but Link shrugged her off. He wanted to concentrate on the situation at hand. He had no idea what was going on with Ruto, or what would happen when he confronted her, and not knowing what he might be up against wasn't something that Link was particularly fond of.
He walked inside and immediately felt a sense of calm overtake him as he usually did when he came for a visit. There were very few Zoras around, and Link thought that it was sad that they were unable to enjoy more time in their beautiful home. He walked directly up to where the king usually sat, but found no one there. He wandered the entire domain and still found no Ruto, and no Zora that could tell him where she might be. All of them seemed astonished that he wouldn't know where the princess was, since they were "working so closely together".
Unsure of what else to do, Link walked behind the king's throne and entered the Zora Fountain, where Lord Jabu Jabu made his home. Astonishingly, no Lord Jabu Jabu was anywhere to be found. What he did find, however, was Princess Ruto staring down into the water, unmoving, almost as if she were under hypnosis.
"Ruto!" he called out her name and she turned to face him. Her eyes were completely white, and her mouth hung open. For one brief moment, her eyes cleared, and the real Ruto came through. She started to say something, but lunged forward, as if she had been hit in the back, and fell to the ground unconscious. Link ran forward to help her, but was stopped when the shadow of a enormous octo loomed above him.
Navi poked her head out and Link could hear her squeak in fear. She quickly overcame it though, and whispered instructions in his ear. "Link, this is not going to be as simple as holding out your shield and serving him what he sent your way. He is much bigger, stronger, and unfortunately smarter. I think this he's like the wolfo that Irnan sent after Saria. I -"
But she was cut off as the octo let out a booming series of deep laughs. "Irnan will not be pleased that I lost Ruto, but she will be ecstatic when she learns that I eradicated that Hero of Time."
Link drew his sword and got his shield ready. "What have you done to her?" he asked.
"Well, right now, she's just unconscious. I am however, sucking the life out of her through a trance I just put her in. It was to drain her of her free will, but since you called her name and ruined it, I had to settle for killing her instead. Did you notice that she hasn't been herself lately?" asked the octo with a laugh as it swung a giant tentacle Link's way. Link dodged it and hacked his sword into it, but it did nothing.
"Link!" called Navi. "He acquired his power from Irnan! You'll need to break through that first. Use light arrows!" Link let out a growl of frustration. He hated those damn arrows. They were effective, but they took time to notch and you had to aim, and by the time that was accomplished he could be knocked to his feet, or badly injured, or killed.
Still, he grabbed his bow and an arrow from his quiver and sent one flying at the octo. It hit dead on and the octo fell into the water. One of its tentacles remained on the land, and Link drove his sword into it numerous times until the octo resurfaced. He continued the same process until the octo disappeared in a cloud of black magical light. He managed to get through it with only a few minor scrapes and bruises, and only one major gash on his leg. He immediately returned his attention to the unconscious Ruto.
He ran to her side and turned her over, hoping and praying that when he had gotten rid of the octo, that he had also broken the bind that it had on the princess. She was breathing, and Link let out a sigh of relief. Navi flew over to her side and checked her out herself. She looked up at Link and said, "She just needs some rest. A healing potion wouldn't hurt her, but she'll pull through just fine without one."
Link gently lifted Ruto from the ground and carried her back inside. He laid her down on her father's throne and tried to arrange her limbs in a comfortable position. He was prepared to sit with her a long time, but she opened her eyes rather quickly, and immediately tried to sit up. "Link! What on earth happened to me? Am I myself again?" she asked. He had never seen her like this before. She wasn't the fiery princess that he remembered, she was a scared girl waking up after what must have been a terrifying ordeal.
"Yes, you are definitely yourself now. The octo is gone," Link said. Ruto let her head fall back down in relief.
"Is that what that thing was? I only ever saw it's eyes and heard it's voice. I went out there two weeks ago because Father heard a lot of commotion or something. Lord Jabu Jabu was gone, and I looked stupidly down into the water, and saw these two dark eyes. This voice said some words, and I wasn't myself. It was like I was watching myself. I saw myself doing and saying things that I would never do or say, and I had no control over it. It terrified me, Link. He made me take my father away. Oh! Father! Link! You have to go get Father!"
"All right, I'll go get the king, I promise, but tell me what happened," said Link.
"He had complete control over my actions. For a while, it was almost like he tried to keep me like myself. But recently he got lazy, and he neglected my duties. The sages haven't seen me in five days, I haven't seen my people in a week, and I've been lying to them for almost two weeks. It was horrible. It pained me so much to lie to them, but I couldn't stop. Please, forgive me," Ruto pleaded, clutching Link's arms, tears in her eyes.
"Of course. It wasn't your fault. Now, where is your father?" he asked.
"Lake Hylia. I tied him up and somehow managed to get him inside the water temple. That's where he his. You can't get to him. I'll go get him. I'm better now. You've done so much already. I can't ever hope to thank you enough. Really," said Ruto as she stood up.
"Are you sure you're all right enough to go get him?" asked Link.
"I'm positive. Really. Thank you," said Ruto before she quickly used her powers to make herself disappear.
"Well," said Navi, "nothing like making a quick exit. She barely said hello before she said good-bye."
"She had to go get her father. Besides, Ruto's never had an easy time owning up to problems, especially ones that she herself created. Not that this was her fault, but it takes a lot for her to say she's sorry for anything. I understand," said Link as he stood up. He hoped that this meant that the fish would soon start pouring into the lake and that the Zoras would once again be able to return to their normal lives. They deserved it.
"Well, I'm happy for the Zora's anyway. Come on, Link. We have a lot left to do. We're not even close to being finished. We need to find Retta, and we need to find Irnan. And who knows what Irnan might come up with between now and tomorrow. Don't get too confidant, Link. She might have been pretty easy on us so far, but I doubt that the first evil is really all this simple to defeat," said Navi.
Link shook his head at her. "What do you mean she's been easy on us? Navi, the creatures she's sent might have been easy to beat, but think about it. I had to endure the death of Saria, and the near-death of Saria, I've had to watch the Gorons and the Zoras and Malon suffer through everything, not to mention the fact that I've been working on this nonstop since Saria told me about it. It might not have been that difficult when it comes down to the creatures I have faced, but it hasn't been a pleasant walk in the Lost Woods psychologically!"
"All right, all right, I'll grant you that. You are too sensitive, Link. Just be cautioned that Irnan is not going to be fun, I can guarantee it."
"And I am prepared for anything and everything that she will send my way," said Link folding his arms across his chest and walking towards the entrance to the Zora's Domain.
"I hope so, Link. I really hope so."
Navi agreed with Link's decision, and they set off to the Zora's Domain. The ride was not a nice one. Rain beat down on Link, soaking him to the bone, and the wind blew the icy water into his face. He was grateful when he reached his destination and was able to get inside and out of the rain. Navi poked her head out and complained about the rain getting behind the shield, but Link shrugged her off. He wanted to concentrate on the situation at hand. He had no idea what was going on with Ruto, or what would happen when he confronted her, and not knowing what he might be up against wasn't something that Link was particularly fond of.
He walked inside and immediately felt a sense of calm overtake him as he usually did when he came for a visit. There were very few Zoras around, and Link thought that it was sad that they were unable to enjoy more time in their beautiful home. He walked directly up to where the king usually sat, but found no one there. He wandered the entire domain and still found no Ruto, and no Zora that could tell him where she might be. All of them seemed astonished that he wouldn't know where the princess was, since they were "working so closely together".
Unsure of what else to do, Link walked behind the king's throne and entered the Zora Fountain, where Lord Jabu Jabu made his home. Astonishingly, no Lord Jabu Jabu was anywhere to be found. What he did find, however, was Princess Ruto staring down into the water, unmoving, almost as if she were under hypnosis.
"Ruto!" he called out her name and she turned to face him. Her eyes were completely white, and her mouth hung open. For one brief moment, her eyes cleared, and the real Ruto came through. She started to say something, but lunged forward, as if she had been hit in the back, and fell to the ground unconscious. Link ran forward to help her, but was stopped when the shadow of a enormous octo loomed above him.
Navi poked her head out and Link could hear her squeak in fear. She quickly overcame it though, and whispered instructions in his ear. "Link, this is not going to be as simple as holding out your shield and serving him what he sent your way. He is much bigger, stronger, and unfortunately smarter. I think this he's like the wolfo that Irnan sent after Saria. I -"
But she was cut off as the octo let out a booming series of deep laughs. "Irnan will not be pleased that I lost Ruto, but she will be ecstatic when she learns that I eradicated that Hero of Time."
Link drew his sword and got his shield ready. "What have you done to her?" he asked.
"Well, right now, she's just unconscious. I am however, sucking the life out of her through a trance I just put her in. It was to drain her of her free will, but since you called her name and ruined it, I had to settle for killing her instead. Did you notice that she hasn't been herself lately?" asked the octo with a laugh as it swung a giant tentacle Link's way. Link dodged it and hacked his sword into it, but it did nothing.
"Link!" called Navi. "He acquired his power from Irnan! You'll need to break through that first. Use light arrows!" Link let out a growl of frustration. He hated those damn arrows. They were effective, but they took time to notch and you had to aim, and by the time that was accomplished he could be knocked to his feet, or badly injured, or killed.
Still, he grabbed his bow and an arrow from his quiver and sent one flying at the octo. It hit dead on and the octo fell into the water. One of its tentacles remained on the land, and Link drove his sword into it numerous times until the octo resurfaced. He continued the same process until the octo disappeared in a cloud of black magical light. He managed to get through it with only a few minor scrapes and bruises, and only one major gash on his leg. He immediately returned his attention to the unconscious Ruto.
He ran to her side and turned her over, hoping and praying that when he had gotten rid of the octo, that he had also broken the bind that it had on the princess. She was breathing, and Link let out a sigh of relief. Navi flew over to her side and checked her out herself. She looked up at Link and said, "She just needs some rest. A healing potion wouldn't hurt her, but she'll pull through just fine without one."
Link gently lifted Ruto from the ground and carried her back inside. He laid her down on her father's throne and tried to arrange her limbs in a comfortable position. He was prepared to sit with her a long time, but she opened her eyes rather quickly, and immediately tried to sit up. "Link! What on earth happened to me? Am I myself again?" she asked. He had never seen her like this before. She wasn't the fiery princess that he remembered, she was a scared girl waking up after what must have been a terrifying ordeal.
"Yes, you are definitely yourself now. The octo is gone," Link said. Ruto let her head fall back down in relief.
"Is that what that thing was? I only ever saw it's eyes and heard it's voice. I went out there two weeks ago because Father heard a lot of commotion or something. Lord Jabu Jabu was gone, and I looked stupidly down into the water, and saw these two dark eyes. This voice said some words, and I wasn't myself. It was like I was watching myself. I saw myself doing and saying things that I would never do or say, and I had no control over it. It terrified me, Link. He made me take my father away. Oh! Father! Link! You have to go get Father!"
"All right, I'll go get the king, I promise, but tell me what happened," said Link.
"He had complete control over my actions. For a while, it was almost like he tried to keep me like myself. But recently he got lazy, and he neglected my duties. The sages haven't seen me in five days, I haven't seen my people in a week, and I've been lying to them for almost two weeks. It was horrible. It pained me so much to lie to them, but I couldn't stop. Please, forgive me," Ruto pleaded, clutching Link's arms, tears in her eyes.
"Of course. It wasn't your fault. Now, where is your father?" he asked.
"Lake Hylia. I tied him up and somehow managed to get him inside the water temple. That's where he his. You can't get to him. I'll go get him. I'm better now. You've done so much already. I can't ever hope to thank you enough. Really," said Ruto as she stood up.
"Are you sure you're all right enough to go get him?" asked Link.
"I'm positive. Really. Thank you," said Ruto before she quickly used her powers to make herself disappear.
"Well," said Navi, "nothing like making a quick exit. She barely said hello before she said good-bye."
"She had to go get her father. Besides, Ruto's never had an easy time owning up to problems, especially ones that she herself created. Not that this was her fault, but it takes a lot for her to say she's sorry for anything. I understand," said Link as he stood up. He hoped that this meant that the fish would soon start pouring into the lake and that the Zoras would once again be able to return to their normal lives. They deserved it.
"Well, I'm happy for the Zora's anyway. Come on, Link. We have a lot left to do. We're not even close to being finished. We need to find Retta, and we need to find Irnan. And who knows what Irnan might come up with between now and tomorrow. Don't get too confidant, Link. She might have been pretty easy on us so far, but I doubt that the first evil is really all this simple to defeat," said Navi.
Link shook his head at her. "What do you mean she's been easy on us? Navi, the creatures she's sent might have been easy to beat, but think about it. I had to endure the death of Saria, and the near-death of Saria, I've had to watch the Gorons and the Zoras and Malon suffer through everything, not to mention the fact that I've been working on this nonstop since Saria told me about it. It might not have been that difficult when it comes down to the creatures I have faced, but it hasn't been a pleasant walk in the Lost Woods psychologically!"
"All right, all right, I'll grant you that. You are too sensitive, Link. Just be cautioned that Irnan is not going to be fun, I can guarantee it."
"And I am prepared for anything and everything that she will send my way," said Link folding his arms across his chest and walking towards the entrance to the Zora's Domain.
"I hope so, Link. I really hope so."