To Find The Future, Find The Past
Chapter 20
Escape From Dark Link
Zelda awoke the next day with a throbbing headache. The first thing she heard was the rushing of water. She bolted upright, and was relieved not to see the shadow-man anywhere.
What had happened to her? Frowning, she tried to remember. She'd fought with the shadow-man, and then she… couldn't remember…
"How are you feeling?" A woman's voice came from behind, frightening Zelda. Looking wildly around, she spotted a strange creature. She screamed, and fell off the pallet on which she had been set, injuring her strapped wrist even more.
"Don't be afraid," the fish-woman cooed, coming over to Zelda's side, and helping her up, "I wont hurt you. What's your name, child?"
"Ze-Zelda." Zelda stuttered, terrified.
"Well, Zelda," The fish-woman smiled softly, "I am Kyan, Queen of the Zoras. Where do you hail from? Are you a Sheikah?"
"No, I-I'm not a Sheikah." Zelda stammered, "But I am living at the Castle. One of them is sort of my guardian. Her name is Impa."
"Impa? The Sage of Shadows?" Queen Kyan inquired, with interest, "Would you, by chance, happen to be Princess Zelda?" Zelda nodded.
"Yes, Majesty." She stood and bowed. Looking at the floor, she noticed a change in her clothing. She still wore her dress, but over the top had been placed some sort of blue tunic.
"Don't call me Majesty, Zelda." Kyan spoke softly, "Call me Kyan. We are both of royal blood, are we not?"
"I suppose so…" Zelda trailed off, picking at the tunic and looking up, "What is this?" she inquired, indicating the strange garment.
"That?" Zelda nodded, "It's called a Zora's Tunic. It's made from a special material, then it is enchanted so the wearer can breath underwater. When a few of my officers found you in the Water Temple yesterday, you were just about drowned. They put this on you, strapped your wrist, and one of them swam you here. You are lucky to have survived, you know."
"Where am I?" was Zelda's next question.
"You are in Zora's domain." Kyan looked around the place proudly. It was beautiful, with it's tall waterfalls, and it's clear waters.
"That dark man in the Temple…" Zelda faltered, "Who is he?"
"I'm not sure…" Kyan thought hard, "But, from the descriptions the guards gave me, he seems to fit the profile of an ancient monster that used to haunt the Temple in the days of the Hero of Time."
"What was the monsters name?" Zelda pressed, so she could sign the bounty declaration.
"Dark Link." Zelda gaped like a fish. Of course! That was why he sounded so much like Link! He was his shadow!
There was a giant explosion somewhere hear the back of the Domain. Zelda, frightened, almost ran away.
"Zelda! You little bitch!" Dark Link's voice rang in the enclosed space, "Where are you? I'll kill you! And I'll kill your precious Sages, too!"
"Go!" Kyan pushed Zelda over toward the exit, which was concealed by a waterfall, "Swim for the Castle moat! Don't forget, you can breath underwater, as long as you have that tunic on!"
"But—"
"Just go!"
Zelda took a running leap, and dived into the water outside the Domain. She swam with the currents, praying that they would take her the right way. She fought to keep her head above water, until she realised that she would be able to breath even if she went under.
Letting the currents drag her under, she took a breath. It was just like she was above water, except she felt weightless. If it weren't for the dangerous situation, Zelda might have even enjoyed it. Pushing herself harder, she sped up.
Reaching the Market wall, she jumped out of the water, and ran for it.
INSIDE THE CASTLE
Link whistled in awe. Impa had just told him the entire story of the Hero of Time, and all about Hyrule, to keep him from doing something stupid. She also told him about Zelda's involvement, and Link's role in it all. Link thought Zelda just ran away from home, but he never even thought that she might have been involved with the strange happenings in his life recently.
Those strange happenings being the appearance of what he now knew to be the Triforce of Courage on his hand last week, the weird dreams, the speaking in strange languages, and, the most recent, his shadow disappearing.
There was a commotion in the hall, and Zelda burst into the room, soaked to the bone, as if someone had been trying to drown her. She was panting severely.
"Zelda, are you alright?" Impa jumped up and got her a towel. Zelda shook her head. Link clenched his fists. Whoever had hurt her had better be careful. He was about ready to explode.
"What happened?" He asked, looking at her. She looked up, and seemed surprised to see him there. It only lasted a moment, though, before she threw her arms around him and began to sob uncontrollably.
"Water Temple…Dark Link… Zora's Domain!" was all that anyone could understand. Link sat Zelda down, and tried to calm her. It took several minutes before she had control of her breathing again.
"Now," Impa stood in front of them, after watching the display moments before, "explain it again."
"I-I woke up somewhere in the Water Temple," Zelda paused and grimaced, "I couldn't see, cause it was too dark. I made my way to the wall, and found a door with no knob. I stood there, thinking, and it opened. I-I was attacked by-by D-Dark Link," Zelda shivered, remembering the incident more clearly, "And I-I fought back. I-He broke my wrist," she held up the strap to show them, "when I tried to stab him with his own dagger. I picked up a piece of rock and hit him in the head with it, and he fell unconscious. I-I jumped down into a hole in the floor, and the water below dragged me into a whirlpool. Someone pulled me out, and I passed out again."
"Then what happened?" Impa pressed, needing all the information that she could get.
"I woke up in Zora's Domain a few hours ago, and I spoke with the Zora Queen for a few minutes, before Dar-Dark Link showed up and tried to find me. He threatened to kill me, and the rest of the Sages. Kyan, the Zora Queen, told me to run for it to Hyrule Castle. I got here OK, too. He never found me. I'm worried about the Zoras, though…"
"I'll send someone to check it out tomorrow, OK?" Impa offered kindly. Zelda nodded, feeling a little better.
Right then and there, Link made a vow to himself. No matter what it took, he was going to kill Dark Link.
LATER
"Impa." Rauru's voice resonated throughout the Temple of Time, "Impa, my sister, why are you here? What brings you to seek my guidance?"
Impa looked up at the astral form of Rauru, the Sage of Light, and voiced her concerns.
"I'm a little worried that they are confused. They are two completely different people, with completely different destinies, yet they seem too close—"
"Impa," Rauru tutted, as if speaking to a small child who had misbehaved, "Love works in mysterious ways. It is not confusion that draws them together, but their hearts. Let them have this. If it is what they want, they will succeed. Do not fear. It will not disrupt their quest. If anything, it will make them more eager to keep each other safe. You must not doubt them, or they will fail.
"Very well." That seemed to be Impa's favourite term, "I shall. Thank you, brother Rauru."
"Anytime." The first hints of a smile touched his eyes, "It's not often I get visitors."
Impa laughed softly as he dissipated.
Hey, next chap is up now! Review after you read that, please?