"It's horrible. My kingdom is falling apart. Yet I am powerless to stop it. I can only rely on blind faith. Then again...faith was always blind. It's what makes it so hard to keep. Perhaps it's a dream that I can wake up from. Alas, it isn't.
I can only wait...
...As my kingdom...
...My countrymen...
...My family...
...Lay frozen beneath the waves."
(Daphnes Nohanson Hyrule)
Chapter 5
"The Split Up"
"...well, did you HAVE to complicate things that much?" Nabooru asked with a frustrated tone.
Rauru sighed and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, but I didn't think we'd need to travel through the Sacred Realm again. Nonetheless, we're the Sages of Hylian legend. I'm sure we'll be able to recover the objects in no time."
Darunia shook his head, and Ruto spoke up, "Well, I suppose none of us is perfect. I have to admit, I didn't think I'd have to become a sage again so soon."
Impa looked at Ruto, "What do you mean, 'become a sage again'? You can't suddenly stop being a sage whenever you feel like it. Once you're given the title, you stick with it. You can't blame Rauru. He did what he thought best, he hid the three keys to the sacred realm simply to prevent them from getting into the wrong hands. Do you really want Ganondorf to return? We must act carefully."
Saria spoke up, "Even if we find the three keys to open the realm, what's to keep Ganondorf from escaping into either reality?"
The others looked to Rauru, "...I'm sorry, theres no other way around it, it's a risk we'll have to take."
Saria, furious, said to Rauru, "So you're going to sacrifice Hyrule! Even though it's a different Hyrule, there are still people on the other side! You can't be that cold!"
Zelda looked at Saria and silently agreed.
Rauru looked around at his fellow sages, he knew they were all thinking the same thing as Saria, "...I'm sorry, but theres no other way...unless we're willing to leave Link in a place he does not belong, we have to risk it. Besides...it's a one-in-ten chance Ganondorf will find the opening before we manage to bring Link back."
Saria said softly, as if afraid to speak, "...but it's still that one chance. Is everyone here really willing to risk millions of lives for only one person?"
Zelda looked surprised. Saria, of all the other sages in the room, was the one to say something like that.
Saria noticed Zelda's look, "...I am a sage, and I am tasked with protecting the lives of Hyrule. You all are also sages. I have to put duty before personal feelings."
There was silence.
Zelda clenched her fists and Saria saw it, "...don't take any offense, Zelda. I'm only stating facts. We have to put our duty before our feelings."
Zelda responded, "Is that why you left the Kokiri Forest?"
The silence settled in again. No one moved a muscle.
This time, Impa broke the silence, "Regardless, we must procure the safety of the Hero of Time."
Rauru nodded, "Yes, we must split up and recover the keys."
Nabooru raised a brow, "So, Rauru...do you even remember where you hid them?"
Ruto joined in, "Yeah, it'd be kinda stupid if you hid them and didn't remember."
Rauru smiled, "Of course, it would stupid if I forgot. I know their GENERAL location, just not EXACTLY where they are. Besides, I didn't hide them."
The other sages, except Impa, said in unison, "WHAT!"
Rauru sighed, "I've had someone else hide them. They're located in the Shadow, Water, and Forest Temples."
"What?" Saria said, confused, "I've been in the Forest Temple for awhile now and I've never noticed anyone come and hide them."
Rauru closed his eyes and smiled, "Of course you didn't, I made sure to use the best there is."
He looked at Impa, she smiled and nodded. Everyone glanced at Impa, and Nabooru laughed, "You? ...Zelda's little babysitter? Not too shabby if you managed to sneak by everyone here."
Zelda chimed in, "I suggest we all split up in groups of two. That way, we'll cover more ground and recover them quicker."
Rauru nodded, "Alright, then...we'll draw straws."
Nabooru raised a brow, "Draw straws? Why don't you use magic to pick?"
Rauru sighed, "Don't be so obnoxious. Not everything a sage does must revolve around magic."
He held up six straws, "There are three sizes, two of each size, the two who picks the same size will be partnered up."
Nabooru whispered to Ruto, "Where'd he get those straws from? What would an old fart like him do with straws when he's all by himself?"
Ruto gave her a disgusted look, then closed her eyes and giggled.
Nabooru spoke aloud this time, "I'll hold fort, alright? Since it's an odd number anyways" Everyone gave Nabooru a funny look, would you trust your house to a professional thief? "Oh, c'mon, I'm a thief but I would never steal from my fellow sages!" Rauru sighed and nodded.
Zelda walked forward and drew the first straw, it was the longest.
...Impa drew the second, medium.
...Rauru drew medium.
Ruto drew the smallest.
Darunia drew smallest.
That left the final straw. Saria looked at Zelda. Their eyes met.
Ruto muttered to herself, "...sheesh, what's the deal? He's MY fiancé..." Darunia shot her a dirty look.
Ruto sighed, "I'm kidding, I'm kidding..."
