Chapter Eight: More Annoyances

A/N: Oh, I'm so sorry I've neglected this story for so long. I really just haven't been in the right state of mind to update it. But now I am! Sorry, guys. Really, I am.


Zelda sat on a large metal surface in the middle of a dark room. The only light came from directly overhead, and around the platform she rested on were other metal platforms. The rest was like a large pool, and the water poured off of the giant platform that supported the rest in long waterfalls.

"So, you made it, I see."

Zelda looked up to see an old man standing on the platform directly in front of her, his white hair pulled up in a topknot at the back of his head, his sleeves empty at the bottom, leading her to the conclusion that he either had no hands or that his sleeves were too long. "Where are we?" she asked.

"Temple of Light," the old man said.

"Who are you?" she asked.

The old man smacked his forehead. "I should have remembered how dumb you were," he muttered. "Don't you recognize me?"

Zelda scrutinized him. After a long while, she said, "Nope. Can't say that I do."

"I'm Rauru!"

"Rauru?" Zelda repeated. "Rauru… It sounds familiar."

"It should!" Rauru cried indignantly. "I'm the Sage of Light, remember?"

Zelda narrowed her eyes. Then, she opened them wide. "I remember! You're that old guy that was really bossy and forced me to become another one of you stupid Sages!"

"Ah, not the best recognition, but it'll work," Rauru said.

Zelda ignored him and hopped over onto the green platform that Saria had once stood on. "We're pretty high up, huh?" she asked, looking down at the black void below.

"Yeah, I guess we are," Rauru agreed, looking over the side. "That's the first time that occurred to me."

"Where does all that water go?" Zelda asked, gazing at the waterfalls seriously.

Rauru looked surprised. "You're right! Where does it go?"

"Wow, you're pretty stupid, huh?" Zelda said, looking at him again. "You've lived here all this time, and you never even bothered to wonder?"

"Well, I was just thinking that you're stupider than me," Rauru retorted feebly. He looked back at the water. "But where does it all go?"

"Why don't you find out?" Zelda asked. "You're a Sage."

"Why don't you?" the old Sage replied, lifting Zelda and throwing her over the side.

Her screams echoed long after she disappeared.

"Oops. Maybe I shouldn't have done that," Rauru said thoughtfully.

Just then, Zelda fell on top of him from above.


The rescuers (and Ganondorf) were lined up outside when Aranel returned.

"So, what did you find out?" the black dragon asked as he landed.

"That Ganondorf didn't do it," Link said.

Aranel gazed at the ruffled Gerudo King in astonishment. "He didn't?"

"I underwent thirteen months of rehab, buddy," Ganondorf said. "You really think I want to go through that again?"

"I suppose not," Aranel agreed. He looked at Lute. "So who was it?"

"Rauru," Ruto said. "I found out!"

"Congratulations, Princess," Aranel said. "How did you achieve such a feat, pray tell?"

"I recognized his handwriting on the note."

"I see. So what are we doing?"

"We want to go to the Temple of Time and try to get into the Sacred Realm. Link has the Master Sword," Cassandra said, pointing at said hero.

Aranel nodded. "And these two?" he asked, pointing a golden claw at Falen and Quinn.

Lute glared at them. "They're coming with us."

Quinn gave Falen another one of his death stares. "If they weren't around, I'd strangle every last breath out of you," he whispered threateningly.

"Well, then, I'm very glad they're around," Falen said, rubbing his neck.

When the rescue party arrived the Temple, they had a time getting in, as such a gathering of royalty obviously attracted a lot of press attention. When they escaped into the sanctuary, they hurried over to the Door of Time, only to find it firmly shut.

"But that's not normal!" Link cried, banging on the door. "It's supposed to stay open!"

"As long as you have all the Sacred Stones in their place," came Cassandra's voice from behind them.

The men and Ruto turned to look at her. She was looking at the stone structure that held the Stones. They looked at it.

"Oh, man!" Link cried.

"We forgot about the Sapphire being missing!" Ruto cried.

Falen looked at Quinn in shock. "And we know where it is," he whispered.

Quinn's eyes widened with recognition. He looked at Cassandra. "We took it," he said quietly.

"What?" the sorceress asked.

"We took the Sapphire."

Ruto sprang on him and grabbed a large bunch of his shirt. "What did you do with it?!" she shouted.

"It's still at the Desert Colossus!" Quinn cried, trying to loosen her grip.

Link managed to pull her off.

Cassandra and Lute were glaring daggers at the kidnappers.

"If I find out that you have one more thing we need, I'm going to murder you both," Lute said. "You two are the whole reason I'm back in this nuthouse they call a kingdom."

"He sounds like you, Quinn!" Falen commented as they left the Temple and were mobbed again.

"Don't make me hurt you!" Quinn shouted.


A/N: Next update will be soon, I promise! I'm so sorry, again!