A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

A Pair of Time

Chapter 45- Serenade of Water, Part 2

Water Temple; Day

Ganondorf's plan for Lake Hylia seemed simple enough; he let the monster of the Water Temple drained most of the lake's water to where the level is one-third of what it used to be. The monster also cooked up a long-lasting rainstorm to make sure the water doesn't completely dry up. In all of this, the shore is fine, still the same as it was seven years ago. The only exception is that the tunnel leading to Zora's Domain is frozen, thus inaccessible.

Our heroes find suitability in their new garments, the Zora clothes and the Iron Boots. As Navi had said, the Iron Boots are heavy enough to drag Link and Malon's bodies down in any source of water. Normally, they would have drowned after a minute or so, but their Zora clothes allowed them to actually breathe underwater. Navi happily explained that the fabric is made of a special material that takes in the air in the water and delivers it to their lungs, and vice versa. But, Malon and Link didn't care, or even want to. The Heroes of Time just asked how to get past the Water Temple's gate. Releasing a switch above with the Hookshot, they entered into the temple located below sea level.

Like the Fire Temple, the main theme of the Water Temple is obvious.

"Light, Forest, Fire, Water…" Link remembers each one. "They all sound like elements of some sort."

"If I remember correctly, there's still Spirit and Shadow."

"It just… sounds like the elements of our world."

"Collecting the elements… and the Sages that represent them." Malon sighs. "It's all too much. I never did finish that Sage book anyhow…"

They start by sinking onto the bottom, seeing as there's nothing to do on top. Hitting the sandy floor, they search around for clues.

Nothing here… Link thought. Too bad that the only thing that can work underwater is my Hookshot. That means that Malon won't be able to watch my back.

Link treads around, sighting on his way around four entries. He stumbles onto Malon, who shakes her head afterwards. Suddenly, her face goes into panic, and she tries to yell, but her words come out in soundless bubbles.

What? Link waves around his hand. What is it?

Malon gestures her arms urgently, her face growing even more terrified.

WHAT?

Seeing as that doesn't work, she quickly and repeatedly points her finger.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!

Link, look behind you! Navi's voice rings in his head. Spike!

Turning around, Link spots spiked rocks rolling towards him. He shouts in surprise, but it's deaf underwater. He wouldn't be able to dodge the spiky things in time. Malon runs forward, urging her feet to do more effort against the iron weight. She pushes Link out of the way, but a Spike catches her in the arm. She cries in mute, her bubbles flying upward from her mouth. Link uses his brought time and breaks the Spikes into oblivion. He runs over to Malon, kneeling down with a hand over her wound. She looks up to his face, then removes her hand. A clean gash is on her upper left arm, letting blood rise from it in a red smoke. Link nods, then guides Malon's hand back onto the wound, applying pressure. A bandage won't do any good; it would only get wet and become useless. Malon's just going to have to cover the cut up until they get on dry land, or at least until it stops bleeding.

With this in mind, Link becomes more alert about his surroundings. Now, he has to protect Malon while trying to solve this dungeon. And the only thing he has that he could depend on is his spring-loaded gadget. The Hookshot could propel its hook with the driving mechanism inside, thus it keeps going forward despite the heavy fluidity of the water. But, that's all he has. It's a fine device, but sometimes Link wished it had a longer chain.

Entering a random tunnel, Malon and Link find the one person in which, in the back of their minds, they regret ever accepting an item from: Ruto.

"Oh… you…" Ruto, now grown up to be a beautiful Zora, notices the two walking towards her. "If I'm right… Link?"

It's not that Link hates or dislikes Ruto. She's a beautiful person, but Link… well, anybody close to him should know his secret. And of course, Ruto's personality really didn't appeal to Link that much at all back then. Link, unable to respond underwater, nods back in answer.

"Oh, I see you haven't figured out how to talk underwater," Ruto notes Link's disability. "But, you can, actually! Just try hard enough, and you can speak!"

Link, putting more force in his voice, blurts out, "Can you hear me now?"

Ruto nods excitingly, beaming at him. "Yes. Yes, I can! So… you're Link, aren't you?"

"Yes. It's me."

Ruto then turns to Malon. "And… And… Um, what's your name again, redheaded Hylian?"

Malon immediately turns red in the face. "MALON! FOR GODDESS SAKE, IT'S MALON!" she screams.

"Ah, that's right. Malon. The simple farm girl who travels with Link."

Malon's eye twitches. Link takes this moment to step in. "And I'm guessing you're Ruto?"

"Yes! It's me, your fiancée! Princess of the Zoras!"

Link couldn't help but cringe at that word, 'fiancée.' "Yes… Yes, my… fi… fi… fi… fiancée," Link struggles letting out the word.

"I never forgot the vows we made to each other seven years ago!" Ruto said in an agonizing tone. "You're a terrible man to have kept me waiting for these seven long years…"

"Uh… I'm… I'm sorry?"

"But now is not the time to talk about love…" Ruto ignores Link's insincere apology. "I'm sure you've already seen it! Zora's Domain, totally frozen!"

"Yes, we saw."

"A young man named Sheik saved me from under the ice… But my father and the other Zoras have not… Ruto's expression goes to worry, then determination, "yet… I want to save them all! I want to save Zora's Domain!"

"We saved your father, Ruto," Malon corrects. "He's free from his ice."

"Is he?" Ruto's face lightens a little. "I thank you for saving him, Link."

"Ah-hem! I saved him, too!"

"Well, Mal…" Link starts, "you didn't exactly…"

"I DID! Goddess! Am I that unimportant to you people!"

Ruto shifts her head a bit as a response.

"I didn't say you weren't important, Malon," Link reassures. "I mean, I think you're important, too."

"… Yes," Ruto follows. "If my fiancé says you're important, then you are… uh, Malon. Look, Link… and Malon," Ruto calls for attention. "You have to help me! This is a request from me, the woman who is going to be your wife, Link! You have to help me destroy the evil monster inside the Temple, OK?"

Ugh… Ruto even gone as far as to utilize the word, 'wife,' Link thought, almost shuddering as a reflex. "Okay. We got it."

"Inside the Water Temple, there are three places where you can change the water level," Ruto explains. "I'll lead the way. Follow me, quickly!"

As fast as her word, Ruto rapidly swims upward, towards the opening above.

"Ruto, wait!" Link calls. He takes off his Iron Boots and begins to float to the top.

"Hey, fairy boy! Wait up!" Malon yells underneath him.

At the opening, Link breaks the surface of the water. He searches around, but couldn't find Ruto anywhere.

"Damn. Now where is she? I'm supposed to save the Zoras, not lose them…"

"Hey!" Malon surfaces next to him. "I said wait up!"

"Sorry. But now I can't find Ruto anywhere."

"She's gone? Again? Argh, that princess is so arrogant… She could have just waited for us."

"Hey!" Navi cries, flying out. "This must be it!" She hovers over to a panel in a wall in the room. "She must've been talking about this!"

It holds a carving of the emblem of the Royal Family, and an inscription.

'Those who wish to open the path sleeping at the bottom of the lake must play the song passed down by the Royal Family.'

Easily figuring out what this means, Zelda's Lullaby reaches into the core of the carving. A sudden shift in the air occurs, then the sound of water draining occupies the air. Malon and Link look down through the opening to find the water level lowering until it reaches the bottom floor.

"Oh…"