Chapter 17: The Water "Teeter-Totter" Temple
A/N: This is a fun chapter! Ruto appears, (scary… : | ) a couple of old friends return, and we finally get to see who the dark, mysterious figure is! YAY! =) Thanks to everyone who sent in a review! =) And special thanks to Kuradokian Princess, Skywalker05, Smea, "Bob", LastSheikah, Narquelie, Cozzy, Winged Knight (Thanks for returning CFK! I've been wondering where he went to…do I get to keep the cage? ;) ), Melissa Ocean, JT_Slayer, SROA, Katie and all her friends, Nekomoongirl, Atagirl, and Author Keysoonaer. Ok, chapter 17! Enjoy! =)
P.S. I kinda butchered this Temple down a bit…maybe a lot. =) But the Water Temple isn't very exciting in the game anyway. So this chapter's a bit tiny. Sorry. =) It's cool anyway. =) Besides, would any of you REALLY want to read some boring retelling of how Link found some stupid boss key?!? =)
Link: Whoa! What happened here?!?
Link was looking out onto Lake Hylia, where seven years ago was the largest body of water in the whole land. Now it was a mere pond. The source of the lake, Zora's Fountain, had slowed down its flow due to the freezing of half the Fountain. So as a result, the lake was depleted.
Link: So where is this Temple anyway?
Navi: I think it's somewhere under the water.
Link: Well how do I get down there!?!
Navi: Ummm…get…fat?
Link: That's it!
Navi: Uh oh…
Link puts on the boots that he got at the Ice Cavern and begins to wade out into the water.
Navi: Wait, what are you forgetting?
Link: Ummmmm…bacon? No wait, I've got that…
Navi: Arghhhhh!!! Do you think you can breath down there?!?
Link: Ummm…yeah?
Navi: NO!!!! The tunic stupid! You have to put on the tunic!
Link (energetically): Ok!
Link threw on the Zora's Tunic and waded farther out into the water. The Iron Boots on his feet weighed him down, but once he was in the water they lightened up a bit. He reached the door of the Temple which was made from iron bars.
Link: Uhhh…what now?
Navi: Ummm…maybe that has something to do with it?
She gestured towards a little blue crystal thingy that was directly above the door.
Link: But…how do I get to it?
Navi: I dunno!!! Just throw something at it!!!!!
Link (energetically): Ok!
He pulls out a random object, which ends up being…
Link: AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! CUCCO!!!!!!!!!!!!
He tosses the cucco towards the little blue crystal thingy and it detaches itself from the wall and floats towards the surface of the water. Then the door opens.
Link: How did a cucco get in my pocket anyway!?!
Navi: Who cares, at least it worked! Now go inside!!!
Link: Fine, fine.
They walk into the Temple. The Temple interior consists of three levels, all immersed in water, save for the highest level. In the center of the room was a large pillar which rose from the floor to the ceiling, and in both the pillar and the walls of the room were doors and corridors that all led deeper into the Temple. Link and Navi decided to begin at the bottom and work their way up. So Link sank to the bottom and entered under an archway that led to a hall, but what he didn't know was who was waiting for him on the other side…
Link: I have a feeling that we should turn back…
Navi: You always want to turn back.
They round a corner and face Link's most feared, very frightening, worst nightmare…
Link's Most Feared, Very Frightening, Worst Nightmare: I can't BELIEVE you've kept me waiting SEVEN LONG YEARS for you to show up!!!!!!!!
Link: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ruto: Yes, you SHOULD feel ashamed of yourself!!!!!
Link: What are you talking about?!?!?!? I was screaming at yo-
Ruto: Oh yes, at the fate of Zora's Domain. I tried to save my people but I was too late. Now they are incased in ice… I want to rescue them though, so that is why I came here. As my future husband-
Link: I AM NOT G-
Ruto (paying no attention to Link): -You must help me defeat the creature that holds Ganon's curse on the Temple. In order to reach it, you will need two keys. The first is in the door behind me. That key opens a door on the third level, and the item in there leads to the boss. But to enter the door to get the first one, you will need to lower the water level. I'll lead you to the first water switch.
And she swam towards the surface of the water. Link just stood there.
Navi: Well, aren't you gonna follow her?
Link: No.
Navi gives him a threatening look.
Link: I'M NOT!!!
Navi: You have to! Remember who you are!?!
Link (reluctantly): …fine.
Link removed his Iron Boots and floated to the top of the water. There he found to his delight…
Link: YAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!! NO RUTO!!!!!!!!
Navi: Where'd she go?!?
Link: I dunno, but WHO CARES!!!!!!!!!!!
Navi: But she was gonna show us how to lower the water!!! What are we gonna do now?!?
Link: Ummmm…I dunno-Hey look! Pretty triangle thingy!
Navi: That's a Triforce symbol stupid!
Link: Triforce?
Navi stares in disbelief.
Navi: Your joking, right?
Link: Uhhhh, no…
Navi: Why him, why did it HAVE to be him?!?!?
Link: I'm gonna play a song for it!
Link played a random song (in other words, Zelda's lullaby) and the water level lowered. Link went back down to the floor where he saw Ruto and entered in the door down there. Inside he found two creatures, one on top of the other's shoulders.
Lizard-like Creature #1: Jim! Stand still!
Jim: It's kinda hard when you have your older brother on your shoulders! Why didn't you take the bottom anyway?
Bob: Ummmm…yeah, good point.
Link: Whoa! What are you guys doing in here!?!
Bob and Jim: WHOA!!!!
They fall to the ground. Sounds of breaking dishes.
Bob: How'd you get in here?
Link: I asked you first!
Bob: You did?
Link: Yeah.
Bob: Darn.
Jim: We got thrown in here.
Link: What?!? By who?
Bob: The Zoras.
Jim: They thought we killed their big fish.
Bob: But we didn't!
Jim: Anyway, they threw us in here as a makeshift prison.
Bob: So we've been stuck in here for seven years, two weeks, five days, three hours, twenty-three minutes, and thirty-four seconds. Thirty-five seconds, thirty-six seconds…
Link: SEVEN YEARS?!?!?!?!?!?
Jim: Yeah, right after we last saw you.
Bob: Forty-two seconds, forty-three seconds…
Link: What were you doing up there then?
Jim: Well, we were trying to break our way out using this.
He holds up a small, silver key.
Jim: But since you're here, we don't need to anymore! Here, you can have this.
He hands Link the key.
Bob: Fifty-eight seconds…
Link: Thanks guys!
Jim: How bout a fight just for old times sakes?
Bob: Thr-Yeah! Let's fight!
Link: How bout not-
Bob: Ok! ReadysetGOOOO!!!!!!
Link: *rolls eyes* (pokes Bob)
Bob: Oh no! I'm dead!
He explodes.
Link: (Pokes Jim)
Jim: Oh no! I'm dead!
He explodes.
Link: Like I've said before, they'll never learn.
Link took his key and headed for the exit. He reached the room with the pillar and entered in a door there. He found another Triforce symbol there.
Link: Oooooo!!! Song time!
He played Zelda's Lullaby and the water level rose to the second floor. He eventually found another symbol and the water level rose to the highest level.
Navi: Ok, now we just need to find that door.
Link searched the third level and found only three doors: the one he entered the Temple through, one that was beyond his reach, and a third with a keyhole in it.
Navi: It must be that one.
Link came to the door.
Link: I have another one of those "we should turn around" feelings…
Navi: Go in that door, NOW!!!
Link inserted the key, turned it slowly, and walked in. Inside it was blacker than night. He walked a few feet forwards and felt water at his feet. His nerves were unsettled. He was seriously thinking of turning around and walking out when he heard a voice address him.
Mysterious Voice: Finally, you're here, Link. I've been waiting.
Link recognized this voice instantly. It was the same voice that he heard from the Fire Temple…this was the person…or thing that had saved him from those fire demons…
Link: How did you know I'd be here?
Mysterious Voice: I knew. You could say that…that we are quite similar.
Link: Why are you here? What do you want this time?
Mysterious Voice: What I want is not the question. What I must do…what I must do is against my own will.
Link, confused, stares at the darkness in front of him, where the voice is coming from.
Mysterious Voice: I too have a purpose in life, Link. I too have a reason I exist. And although they are tied into yours, they are quite different at the same time. And what I am…well, that is very complicated.
Link: Enough riddles! What are you saying!?!
Mysterious Voice: I exist to disrupt your quest. My purpose is to kill you. Who I am…I am you, or rather, your shadow.
The lights come on, and Link first realizes the size of the room. The room is a giant, wall-less room, broken by the single tree in the center of it. The water is very shallow, rising only to Links ankles. Under the tree is a shadowy figure, alike to Link in everyway, save in his color and his eyes. He is all black, with eyes red as fire that burn with a hidden power. Now Link understood why that voice was so familiar…it was his own, but twisted and evil.
Link: You…you are me?!?!?!?
Dark Link: I am your shadow. A creation of Ganon, devised to be your downfall. I am a copy of you, with a will bound to the King of Evil's demands. I possess your powers, your abilities, and your strength. I can do everything you can do and more. But with that, comes a price.
Link: What?
Dark Link: My life is tied to yours. While you live, I live. If you die, I too shall fade.
Navi: So that's why you saved him!
Dark Link: I saved him to give myself more time. I also was sent to assure that the Hero has indeed arisen. But he has no fear of you. The Hero was prophesized to be a Hylian; you are a Kokiri. You are no Hero. But even if you were the Hero, the King of Evil now knows of your plan. If I fail, you still will not survive. But I shall not fail. I cannot fail. Farewell, Link. You cannot defeat me, for I am you, and unless you can become stronger than yourself, than it is impossible for you to win.
In a flash, Dark Link had unsheathed his sword and rushed towards Link with a bloodcurdling cry. Link, panicky, drew his sword and simultaneously back flipped, just barely dodging a blow from Dark Link. As Link gained his feet, Dark Link threw a blow at him. Their swords met. The Master Sword crashed into the dark blade of Link's rival, and the clash echoed throughout the room. Dark Link unleashed a fury that made both blades quake. Link defended as Dark Link smashed repeatedly into the Blade of Evil's Bane. Link flinched as the blows came again and again, each time seeming to grow in power and rage; the water beneath them quivering from the energy emitted from Link's Shadow. Link realized that he could not win by simply defending; he needed to attack. Dark Link's blows let up a bit and Link rose to the occasion, sending the Master Sword's shining edge swiftly and accurately into the blade of his opponent. Dark Link fell back a bit, surprised by the strength of his opponent. Link sent his Blade through the air towards Dark Link's side. He raised his shield, thwarting off Link's blow. Dark Link began attacking once again, with a little more caution this time. Link couldn't get any blows in at this rate. He needed to think up a way to get his opponent down. Dark Link continued attacking with a seemingly untiring strength, with Link attempting a blow or two occasionally. But he could not get any attacks on his opponent. Link attempted a stab at his rival's side and miraculously, he hit! Dark Link hissed in pain and began attacking again, with even more anger and rage this time. He gained small nicks at Link, attacking further and further down the blade of the Master Sword. Link was loosing his control of the Master Sword as Dark Link attacked near the hilt of his Blade. Then Dark Link attacked Link's side and gained a blow. Link bore his pain and began again attacking and parrying, parrying and attacking. Link was beginning to get tired. He needed a rest. He brought out the first item that came to mind: a bomb.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!
The blast sent both Link and his opponent flying across the room. They both fell to the ground with a splash. They were now dozens of yards apart from one another.
Link (breathing hard): I can't beat him! He's too fast!
Navi: Yes you can! Remember, he's only your shadow. You can do anything he can do!
Link: That's hard to believe.
Dark Link had risen from the floor and was now heading towards Link.
Link: Doesn't he ever get tired?!?
Navi: He must. He's just a copy of you.
Link: So…I just need to find my weakness?
Navi: Yeah.
Link: Well what's that?!?
Navi: Well, what is the one thing that you hate most?
Link: …Ruto?
Navi: Stop fooling around! He's almost over here!
Link: Well…those fire demons used magic…
Navi: Do you have any magic?!?
Link: I have that magic spinny thing…
Navi: Use it then!
Link (energetically): Ok!
Dark Link now was only a few yards from Link. He rose to his feet and prepared his Spin Attack. As Dark Link came within range, Link unleashed the magic from his Blade. The red blast of magic burst into Dark Link's body and sent him flying back. Link rushed over and attacked his fallen opponent. But Dark Link was not done with yet. He rolled to the side and gained his feet. They began exchanging blows once again. Link took another stab at Dark Link's side, but this time his rival jumped onto the blade of the Master Sword and attacked Link's shoulder. Link yelled in agony, nursing his arm as Dark Link jumped from his Blade. Link was getting annoyed now. He let another Spin Attack out and hit his rival. The blow sent the shadow to the ground. Link rushed over and brought out the Megaton Hammer. In a flash, the Hammer's heavy end smashed into Dark Link. Dark Link scream echoed endlessly through the large room. Dark Link, though battered and beaten, still had one last surprise. Link, thinking he had defeated his opponent, stood over him. Then, Dark Link rose to his feet and in a flash had his sword thrust towards Link's side. Luck was with Link. The blow had missed him by a mere inch. Link then thrust his blade, the Blade of Evil's Bane, into Dark Link's side. The pain engulfed his opponent's body. The sound that came from Link's fallen opponent was indescribable. He fell to his knees and vanished into the ground. Link was exhausted, wounded, and out of breath. He needed something to heal him. Then he remembered. Link brought out a bottle filled with milk. (For some reason, Hylian milk is a form of medicine.) He gulped down half the bottle and let out a sigh of relief.
Link: Well, that was the hardest mini-boss in the game!
Navi: Wait, isn't that the same milk Talon gave you?!?
Link: Yeah, so?
Navi: IT'S SEVEN YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!!
Link: Tastes good to me!
Navi: That's disgusting.
Music: Du du da da du du duuuuuuuu!!!!
A chest appeared in the center of the room, near the tree. Link came to it and opened it to get…
Music: Du da du duuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!
Link: Yay!…Another Hookshot?
Navi: I think that's a Longshot.
Link: And what's different about that?
Navi: It reaches longer.
Link: Ooooooo!!!
Link exits the room and arrives back in the pillar room. There he uses his new Longshot to grapple onto a strange snake-like head and it pulls him over to the door, which earlier was beyond his reach. Link enters the large door. Inside is an eerie blue pond with four stone pillars acting as islands in the water. Link goes over to the edge of the water and looks down into it.
Navi: I'd be more careful if I were you. That's not ordinary water…
Then something from the water grabbed Link. It was a giant tentacle, controlled by the boss of the Temple, the water amoeba, Morpha. It had total control of the water in which it resided and now had its mind set on destroying the boy in its grasp. It took Link in its tentacle made of water, and shook him up.
Link: AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Then it let go and sent Link into the wall, at the bottom of which were large, iron spikes.
Link: OW! Stupid water! NAVI!!! How do I kill this thing?!?
Navi: Ummm…I think you have to get to the amoeba.
Link: And how do I do that!?!
Navi: Use the Longshot!
Link (energetically): Ok!
Link launched his newfound item at the small ball in the water. The Longshot dragged Morpha out of the water and onto land. Link unsheathed the Master Sword and repeatedly attacked the small sphere. Morpha continued to try to get away from the Hero's grasp, and after Link had nailed several blows it retreated into the water once more. It began to create multiple tentacles this time. Link kept his eye on Morpha, waiting for the right moment to grasp the amoeba again. Then the tentacles surfaced from under the water and reached for Link. But Link hid away from their reach and with his Longshot grappled onto Morpha. He attacked the sphere again and again and soon, Morpha had had enough. It began to inflate and then it exploded. The water in the pond began to be absorbed by the Temple itself and soon, it had disappeared completely.
Link: Why was the mini-boss harder than the boss?!?
Navi: Who cares! Come on! Let's get outta here!
Link (energetically): Ok!
Link ran into the blue magic thingy and was taken as usual to the Sacred Realm. But there, he found…
Link: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Ruto: Hello Link. I see you got rid of the monster.
Link: Yeah…
Ruto: Well, I have some good news and some bad news. First, I can no longer become your bride.
Link: And the bad news?
Ruto (ignoring Link like usual): But I am the Sage of Water. And I will remain here to help you defeat the Evil King. Here, take this medallion. It contains my everlasting love for you.
Link (reluctantly) receives the Water Medallion.
Ruto: Goodbye Link, and thank you.
And Link was transported away in one of those magic blue thingies.
END OF CHAPTER
Link: YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO MORE RUTO!!!!!!!!!! This is better than killing Mido!!!!!!!!