Chapter Three: Lake Hylia's Watcher Tower

Disclaimer: I don't own The Legend of Zelda, or anything Nintendo came up with, BUT I do own the story plot and Zephyrian. If Nintendo want my idea, they'll have to hire me.

Lake Hylia is not that far from Hyrule Castle, so Link decided he would walk there. Link sorted out a plan in his mind; travelling to Lake Hylia, he would ask Ruto for a Zora's Tunic (Link was doubting the power of the Zora's Tunic. Water had been a hindrance and an affliction in the past), dive down to the original Hyrule and find the tower where Link had had his last great battle against Ganondorf. However, Diego did not seem very trustworthy, and seemed a bit too casual at the fact Ganondorf would be free from his prison. Even if Diego could bind him at the Holy Stage, it wouldn't mean that Ganondorf's minions would also be imprisoned. Link would probably have to fight his way out.

But Link didn't let his mind dwell on it. He was being made to complete a mission by an impatient master. Thinking of the complications would only slow him down. Link was still glad he had had the sense to bring a shield and sword though.

While thinking to himself, Link was unaware that he was being watched. Ruto was carefully following the Hero of Time's path with her telescope, who was absent-mindedly making his way here to Lake Hylia.

" Why would the Hero of Time visit here without an announcement? Unless he seeks something that lies beneath the cold lake…" said Ruto to herself.

" The true Hyrule slumbers beneath Lake Hylia, but there is nothing but monsters and Ganondorf's body-" Ruto gasped as she realised what Link was about to do. Quickly she put the telescope away, wrapped a quiver around her shoulders and nocked an arrow.

Link only spotted he was being attacked when he looked up to check how far he was from Lake Hylia. He was not far from the water's edge when an arrow struck him in the shoulder from the Watcher Tower where only Ruto would be. Unable to think of an explanation for this, Link only had enough time to react to a second arrow being shot at him. He carefully placed his shield in front of his head so the arrow would rebound harmlessly.

" Ruto? What are you doing?" asked a confused Link.

" I am destroying you, fiend! Don't try to fool me, I know what you're planning to do, and believe me, it isn't happening while I'm alive!" shouted Ruto back, loosing off another arrow.

" Ruto! It's me, Link!" said Link has he slowly but surely made his way to the Watcher Tower, blocking any arrows that came his way.

" No it isn't! You're a monster, hiding under the disguise of the Hero of Time!"

" RUTO! I'M NOT LYING, I'M LINK!"

" HA! I DON'T BELIEVE YOU! YOU WISH TO TAKE THE MASTER SWORD FROM GANONDORF'S HEAD AND REVIVE HIM!" screamed Ruto.

" Ruto, I can't breathe underwater. Explain that!"

" You-You'll take my Zora's Tunic!" Ruto searched hurriedly for her Zora's Tunic, before realising a dreadful thing.

" My tunic…It must still be near the lake!"

Hearing this, Link looked around for a Zora's Tunic, and found one; it was hanging from a tree branch nearer to the Watcher Tower. The question was, could Link reach it with his wounded shoulder before the maddened Ruto?

It was a frantic race to the Zora's Tunic. Ruto ran pell-mell down the Watcher Tower's steps, while Link could only jog slowly, so as not to worsen his shoulder. Link was only a couple of yards away from the Zora's Tunic when Ruto burst out of the tower doors, brandishing a blade that she must have grabbed along the way.

" If you want that tunic, you'll have to defeat me!" said Ruto, charging at Link with a howl and the blade held high above her head. Link rose his shield to block the charge, while he stepped back further to the Zora's Tunic. Ruto crashed her sword against Link's shield, and prepared to slash again. Link took the opportunity to take another step back, within touching distance of the tunic.

" Ruto, it's me, Link. The Hero of Time. Please believe me!" pleaded Link.

" You're evil, and you'd do anything to get your hands on the Master Sword. That's why I can't let you live!"

Link had no choice but to smack his shield on Ruto's head. It knocked her onto the floor, but Link could see he had only a few minutes before she recovered. He took the Zora's Tunic off of the tree branch, urgently fitting it on, and found a bottle of Red Potion in the pocket of Ruto's robe. Thinking that it would help heal his shoulder, Link took it without hesitation, but inadvertently made Ruto aware she was failing her mission.

Link realised this, and hurriedly stepped out into the lake. Wading further out, Link saw that Ruto was getting to her feet, and following him. Link had to dive now before Ruto caught up with him, which he did so. Link had barely been diving for five seconds when Ruto splashed under as well in hot pursuit.

Link was thankful that the Zoras didn't have true gills. Although it was true that the Zoras could stay under water for longer than any other creature, without proper gills the Zoras couldn't stay in forever. The Zora's Tunic let them do that. So for all of Ruto's frantic chasing, after Link had dived to a certain point, Ruto could follow no more as she had to rise to breathe.

" She's been alone in the Watcher Tower for too long; she's cracked." said Link to himself.

Link then carried on downwards, to Drowned Hyrule, as Link thought of it.