Y'all we BACK. Between these chapters I got both a very flattering review on quotev and a very head scratching review on here. Kyle, I honestly have no clue what you're talking about so I'm assuming you're trolling but it gave me a bit of a laugh. I'm open to criticism so long as it doesn't attack, preferably it's constructive but I don't even mind hearing you don't like something I can't change, like idk, Telma's name. Feel free to review in as little words as you wish, every comment means a lot to me, even you Kyle, I love you.

My beta reader also wished to respond:

"Kyle, thank you for your concerns, we are SERIOUSLY looking into them."

-la beta

Hopefully you

Enjoy

this chapter and story more than Kyle did.


The bickering back and forth between Vox and I had reached above an audible whisper. Link and Midna stared at me, but I hesitated to stop. "Stop coddling me, I know what I'm doing."

I'm not trying to baby you I'm just reminding you of things so you don't keep hurting yourself and Link. You've been rather forgetful.

Composing myself, I started walking across the room, "I get you're just trying to help, but all I hear from you now is dumb reminders. Vox, I know, I screw up all the time!" When I turned on my heel, Link had stood up and started after me.

I talk when I think I have to, but if you'd like me to intervene, then alright. Still, though, you should be charging your Leiyn.

"Fine, I'll meet you halfway," I crossed my arm, strolling back over to Link. As we approached each other, I couldn't help myself from groaning. A tension built up in my chest, a tight knot, but before I could let it out, something purple fell from the ceiling. I staggered backwards with a reeling yelp. It was a large dark worm, rather a Chuchu, and it left a splatter of jelly where it hit the floor.

Link drew out his sword and sliced it through the middle. The dead carcass oozed out a transparent gel, all that it seemed to be made of. I sighed and flicked jelly off of my legs, walking around it to where Link sheathed his sword and Midna had joined him.

"Does he always bother you like that?" Link asked, cocking his head.

Despite the longing to say yes, I reluctantly insisted, "No, he's just a pushover about things."

Whatever you say.

Midna smirked, "Like someone I know."

Link grinned, but tried to hide it with a roll of his eyes. Heading up the room, we came to a staircase and climbed it to a gate, a door sitting on the other side. The path was unfamiliar, no giant handle dangling from the ceiling for Link to jump and grab, just a blue wrought iron gate with rust coating its edges. I was ready to turn around and search the rest of the room when something caught my eye.

A small golden handle protruded from the upper left in front of the gate. Its design was just like that of the game. I nearly jumped forward to grab it, but it was well above my arm's reach. Midna noticed it too and pointed at Link.

"Get on his back," she prodded.

Link had yet to see it and protested, "What's that gonna do?"

I graciously gestured towards our object of concern and he mouthed a small, "Oh," before kneeling down. Once I was on his shoulders he stood up. Wobbling frantically, I grappled for the handle until I finally took hold of it. Relieved, I looked down at Midna but faltered upon her sight.

"Wait a minute, why can't you just pull it down?"

She blinked as if waking from a nap, "Oh, well...in this form I can only use so much magic and I'm not wasting it on something this stupid, just pull the lever." The limp fist hanging like a ponytail from her helmet twitched then settled. Back in the mines and in that god forsaken mansion it had grown to the size of a boulder, a precious exercise of power. The blood left my cheeks when I realized she'd used her magic more often than she had behind the screen at home. Her eyes narrowed towards me, "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," I muttered and tugged on the lever.

The gate started to slide open, a grating high pitched screech ringing around the cavern until it stuttered to a stop. Much of the way remained unopened, but we managed to slip through to the pair of double doors on the other side. Link turned the knob to the other side where there was a short bridge tiled in blue aquatic designs. On either side, dull coral reached between stone, barely revealing the other bridges connected to the same center point. Below, water rushed erratically by like rapids.

A Lizalfos stood at the other end of the bridge weilding a scimitar and small shield. Link unsheathed his sword, Midna fell back, and I hesitantly slid behind him. The Lizalfos tried to make the first move by charging at us, but Link easily parried off its weapon and sliced across before its shield could come up. Blood dripped off of the creature's chest and puddled on the floor.

Raising his sword again, Link attempted another blow, but it merely hit the Lizalfos' shield. The reptilian prepared for another swing towards Link and I moved closer to shield it. As the swing came forward, my arm went numb to cast out a blinding bolt of green. Link raised his arms to catch the blow, hitching instead and when the scimitar connected and dropping his sword altogether. As he clutched his side, I ran in front of him and bounced a second, startling strike off of a fragile shield. Shuddering, I didn't let myself dwell on my actions and struck the lizalfos through the chest while he was off guard. My arm went numb again and the monster fell to the ground, shriveling up into a pile of dust.

You didn't use your Leiyn at all.

I turned around with clammy hands and no excuse, "I'm sorry."

Link coughed, hunched over, "I thought you said-"

"I messed up, I messed up! Ignore that one, I'm stupid."

Somehow, he let out a breathy laugh and let go of his side. He leaned down and swept his sword off the floor while Midna came back over. Link let out another chuckle.

"What?"

"Nothing," he confessed while sheathing his sword, "You're just funny. Now, come on," with a slap on my shoulder, he started to the opposing doors, "I'll ignore that."

Moral of the story, you can't just draw your magic from your blood. It comes from the Leiyn.

Smoothing out my tangled hair, I walked behind Link and Midna, mumbling to Vox, "Got it." With quivering fingers, I wrapped my fist around the small gem at my neck and focused energy there while we stepped into the center chamber.

Cascading down to the lower level was a long steep staircase. A huge golden lever of the same design as the one before hung down from the ceiling. Rock, coral, and vibrant vines decorated the bland stony walls and barriers. Above it all, a crystalline chandelier brightly illuminated the chamber in pastel blue. The staircase sat on a coral base where I knew the door to the boss room was. An idea fluttered in my mind.

Striking ahead, I motioned downward, "I want to try something out, it could cut down on time."

Wait hold on.

"What is it?" Midna inquired, yawning.

"So, if it's as I remember it, below the staircase is the boss room."

Link made a face, "Boss-"

"Like the uh...Darbus and that plant thing. There's one in every temple." I tried to speak quickly. "And it's blocked by a lock."

Hey, run this by me first. I'm the expert here.

Midna nodded, "I'm listening."

"Who's to say I couldn't break off the lock?"

Well that's just stupid.

There were no programmers to stop us from climbing over the walls on either side of the staircase, and there was certainly no one making sure girls with magic couldn't slice the chains off. They abided and we headed to the center of the stairs.

The drop was higher up than I anticipated. Link walked down a little more and climbed over, jumping down into a roll before he hit the platform full force. Midna chimed, "Show off," then ushered me along as well. While he had used to two arms, I desperately clambered with one. When I failed for the third time, Midna gave her commentary again, "Just like, give yourself a boost."

"I'm trying."

"Like, a little shock. You know, every action has an equal and opposite reaction." she explained.

I stopped pulling myself up and stared at her.

"What?"

"How are you quoting Newton?"

She squinted, "Who?"

"Nevermind."

I gave into her suggestion, jumping up and then drawing out a shock of energy from my Leiyn for a "boost." When it worked on the first try to get my leg over, she gleamed and floated down to where Link waited to catch me. My feet leapt to empty air, then his arms caught on my back and legs. He dropped me and I ran for the door, tall and brooding.

I didn't try to waste time, drawing upon my Leiyn for a small strike over the chains. When it hit, a wave of magic deflected and came barreling back towards me. Although I jumped out of the way of the bulk of it, enough spread out that my balance came tumbling down and I nearly fell off the edge of the platform. I went to go again, but Vox stopped me.

Alright, it didn't work once, it's not going to work again.

Sighing, I looked around and realized there was no way back to where we were except for a wall of vines. Hell knows I didn't want to learn how to climb with one arm. Despite my best efforts to suggest alternate routes, we dove off the platform and swam for them.

After many futile lever pullings that rotated the staircase and one too many moments where I could have sworn the key was "this way," we reached the door that I had assumed need one. Oddly, it was unlocked and the stone was damp as if water had recently been flowing passed it. We went in, met with a ring-like room surrounding a center chamber. Passing through it, which was composed mostly of a giant paralyzed gear, we made our way to the source of the water.

The cylindrical room had a spiral leading up to obscurity. At the bottom of the room was a basin where water sat in stagnant puddles all over the rock. Link and I made our way up alone as Midna was too lazy to hover all the way up. Rather than talk to each other like I was hoping to, Vox pitched in and stole the luxury.

I need to explain more stuff to you.

I sighed, "Fine, alright, what is it?"

I never went over the fact that when all of this is said and done, you'll be able to go home all on your own. I know there's a lot of information being thrown at you, but hopefully this gives you some hope.

"I'll…" I didn't speak, looping the words over in my head, replaying the line like a quaint chorus. Go home. Go home. All on your own. Go home. All this time, had this been what I was searching for? And it was so close to grasp, yet my heart split itself at the mention.

Remember when I told you the Vinderendetta were dimensional travelers?

"Yeah," I said, slowing my pace to fall behind Link.

It takes a lot of magic, a month or more of constant charging, collecting. It can't be done on whim alone, but eventually, if you can set your mind to the exact sensation and position of where you want to go with a lot of magic to spare, you can safely go anywhere. Teleporting within a world takes a lot less, but don't just try it out, you could seriously hurt yourself.

We walked under an overhang, a tektite there jumping about gleefully until Link severed its abdomen. I watched him press ahead, "Is this one of those things you have to give me the ability to do?"

It's one of those basic abilities, but I didn't want any chance of butchering it, so I'm only finishing it up now. After everything, you don't deserve any problems with it. Plus, in a tight situation, you can get out of there, get yourself safe. I wish I hadn't put you in such danger, I was a coward really. On the bright side, the Vinderendetta were so busy trying to find me, I think they doomed themselves.

I imagined the faces of my parents when they opened the front door, filled with shock and relief as they embraced me. They would ask where I've been and I'd tell them it's a long story before we went inside and ate dinner. When would I tell them the whole story? Would I admit it outright? Would I tell them about Link? Would they even believe me? The dream started to darken, their eyes turning red. Suddenly, I felt myself pleading to change the subject and I jumped on the first question I could grasp, "How old are you?"

Old as dirt.

My heart skipped, "Tell me."

We age slower, I'm fifty-six, but that's about twenty-eight to you guys. Don't expect to get any of those benefits, it's in the genes not the magic.

"Twenty-eight, and you chose a fifteen year old girl?"

For a moment he didn't answer. I meant it more as a joke, but the longer he didn't respond, the more chills ran up my spine. I know my motives sound questionable, but I wasn't really thinking about it too much. I just wanted someone who wouldn't be totally clueless about this world. I told you teleporting was basic, but it's all in the Leiyn. When the men left, they sabotaged the Leiyns of anyone who stayed except for me. I wanted to help in any way I could, but I knew the moment they found me, they'd do the same to me. They can't do anything to you, they can't repopulate. They'll die out, they'll all die out, and this country will finally be rid of their influence. Like all of the worlds should be.

I fell against the wall, sitting on top of the barrier way behind Link now, too far to catch up. My body shook at the thought of what they would do to me if they found out I had Vox's soul. But then again, Celincia didn't attack for that same reason. "Let's stop."

Fine by me, you alright?

"I'm okay."

Go catch up to Link.

I neglected to budge, fumbling with the image of home again, turning it around in my mind's fingertips. What bothered me so much that I dreaded it? Between the hugs and cheers I placed Link beside them. My pulse calmed, but the pain refused to subside. The answer gripped my throat. I questioned it. Had I really grown that attached? I started to stand up to go find him, but it was too late for that.

Water came rushing down the ramp and I tucked my feet into my chest, waiting for him to come by. Link strolled down the barrier, his eyes elsewhere from me. For a moment, Vox's words stuck to me. This is what he was trying to save, tradition, history, a world as it should be. Who was I to let that die? The Vinderendetta already took Ilia and threatened to take everything Link loved. Hyrule was meant to thrive, Vox knew that, and that's exactly why he left his body. By god, if it meant the death of me, I had to protect that.

This wasn't a game.

Link's gaze ventured to me. I must've looked as distraught as I felt because he rushed over and sat down beside me, "Hey, what was he talking about?"

I hesitated to tell him, afraid of the feeling of his questions on my ears. As I looked into his eyes, I shook my head and lied, "Just some magic stuff."

"Just some magic stuff?"

Link wrapped an arm around my shoulder, but I pushed him away and stood.

"Maizy, you don't have to tell me, but don't shrug me off like that."

I peered at him over my back.

He got up, "Are you overwhelmed?"

"I'm always overwhelmed," I laughed weakly.

"Are you in pain?"

I thought for a moment, placing a hand at my heart, "My chest hurts."

"Do you miss your family?"

The question struck my heart clean through on a pike. I nodded. Link put his hand at my waist and lead me down the ramp, warily asking simply, "Do they know that you're here?"

"They wouldn't even think of it. This stuff just isn't possible to them. I mean, my mom. All she knows is that I'm not home. She's probably called the police a million times and they've searched for me everywhere. No one can just tell her no. And they'll never know." Her only little girl, gone from her embrace just like that.

The bottom came up quickly and he asked me one more thing, "Does she mean a lot to you, too?"

I stopped, looking out at the water, "I think I took her for granted sometimes, but then she would do something like buy me snickers and make me remember how much she cares. I hate making her worry."

Link smiled solemnly and left to swim to the island in the middle of the pool. As he jumped off and caught the lever, a gate rose to allow water to flow into a channel in the room previously visited. I met Link by the door and we left to head back to the main chamber. When we crossed the gear room, it was rotating counterclockwise. Warily, we ventured over. A few doors lifted, Link tripping, and a stair turn later, we made it to the room below.

The ground dropped off into a basin similar to the previous one except monsters leapt around in the few inches of water layering the bottom. Cliffs rose up, just high enough to be reachable from the platforms rotating from the gear above. Looking at it reminded me of the key that had eluded me. Across the room was a door, a torches on either side. Link held my arm as we jumped onto a platform. Soon enough, we had to jump again and reached the door.

On the other side we were on a footbridge that overlooked rushing water. We went through another door, meeting a closed gate disallowing entry to the rest of the room. Although it was fully lit, it didn't ring any bells and just left me uneasy at the sight of the putrid, yellow-green water.

"What's all this?"

I shrugged, squinting through the bars, "I honestly don't remember."

We went back and snatched a key from a chest there. Link turned to me, handing over the key, "I'll be right back."

Midna slipped out of his shadow before he got through the door. I waved her closer, moving to the railing and gazing at the water below. She sighed and leaned against it too, "Boring, boring."

"Shouldn't that be a good thing?" I rested my head in my palm.

"It's all water. Water water water," she mirrored my body language, "You should throw that key in the water. It'll spice things up."

"No!" I cast her a glare, then stared into the river. Her babbling resonated off the walls, but it fell on deaf ears when I noticed a sharp movement in the water.

"The most interesting thing was easily Link eating shit into the cobblestone."

A head peeked up above the surface, grey and smooth. Instantly, it registered.

"Your clumsy ass was a close second, but I'll always laugh at his mis-"

"Shut up, look!" I pointed down at the head, but before she could get a good look, it was back down underneath. Midna scowled. I pushed away from the railing and held her from responding, "It's a Zora."

"A Zora? What's a Zora doing down there, enjoying the scenery?" she cackled.

I gripped the railing and tried to pull myself over.

"HEY! Are you stupid? What if there's no way back over?!"

The torches crackled as I continued to swing my leg up.

"Excuse me, knucklehead, I appreciate the entertainment but what the fuck are you doing?" she insisted, flying over and gripping my clothes in her dwarfed fingers.

Yeah, what are you doing?

I lost my balance, falling onto the stone head first. Amidst her yelling and the ringing in my ears, the door opened and Link walked in on our mess. Midna insisted that I explain, but I couldn't see past my hands.

"Maizy?"

"Hold on, I think I got a concussion," I pounded my fist into my head until the ground went crisp and their stares bore into my face. With a breath, I replied, "There's a Zora down there."

"A Zora?"

"That's what I said!"

Link offered a hand, hoisting me to my feet. I brought him to the overlook where the Zora was out of the water again. Before he could lurch away, I shouted, "Wait, we're here to help!"

The Zora stopped, coming out further, "Thank the goddess, I've been stuck here for days. Before my shift to patrol the temple, they told me there was a Deku Frog infestation so I came here, but when I went back to ask for help, the entrance was collapsed."

My brain stopped thumping and I nearly flung myself over the railing, "The frog! That's what that room is for!" I spun around to Link and pulled him forward, "We should jump down."

Link grabbed my shoulders and scowled at me, "Whoa, whoa. Hold on, we don't know if that's the right way to get there."

"It is!" the Zora called, "The other door is unlocked anyway so you won't be trapped."

I looked down at the key in my hand laughing somewhat at Midna's prior suggestion. I gave in and chucked it into the river at which Midna burst into devilish hysterics. Link went wide eyed.

"Go fetch little doggie," Midna shrieked between giggles.

Link frowned, "Ha ha… Very funny."

"She's just having a little fun," I chuckled.

"At my expense!"

I fit my hand at my hip, "Oh, boohoo."

What's gotten into you?

What had gotten into me? I thought for a moment, wondering whether it was because I was bored or riled up by something. Watching Midna go back into shadow and Link beckon me forward crimped some of my energy, but I held my Leiyn tightly for a moment and smuggled it off for later.

Link went first, then I dove. Our masks were up, but the Zora talked to us nonetheless before we went under. "So, introductions just incase one of us dies. I'm Wasyl."

"Link and Maizy," Link mumbled in a muffled voice, nodding to me after the almost indistinct "mm" sound.

Wasyl half bowed in the water, then submerged. I held onto Link's torso as he went under and opened my eyes in the murky river. Ahead, I could see all of the Zora and noticed the strange spear in his grasp. It was tipped in a point and about a foot from the top, a hook protruded out. At full length, it would easily reach the handle at the entrance.

There were no monsters swimming around, only fish who fled as we went by. We went into a tunnel that went up at an incline. As it went vertical, it opened up to a room and all three of us popped up into the chamber that was locked behind the gate before. Wasyl got out first, revealing his pale blue skin to the light. His arm fins cascaded to his calves and his ornate leather armor sagged until he adjusted it. All kinds of jewelry and piercings littered his body, even one at the end of the tail falling from his head. Curiously, I wondered if there were more royalty among the Zoras than the game portrayed.

His head tilted back and he gestured up to the ceiling. As I followed his line of sight, a huge slimy frog differentiated itself from the stalactites. On its back were a thousand eyes, each glaring back at us from above. Link and I pulled ourselves out of the water and the hole snapped shut at our departure. Suddenly alarmed, the frog looked down from its stoop and bellowed.

Wasyl ushered us back as Link unsheathed his sword and the frog dropped. A wave of slimy water splashed up in its wake, soaking me through my already wet shirt. Its beady eyes glared back, sat atop fatty cheeks. Droopy lips protruded out of its face above a chubby neck and obese body. The whole thing was easily a twelfth the size of the room. As it cried again, its tongue flailed out and a hundred tadpoles as big as bowling balls burst out of the eyes on its back.

"These's things are just big and stupid, all you have to do is anger it enough to jump so it'll land with its tongue sticking out. Best bet is to kill all of its babies, then it'll leap as a last resort," Wasyl charged in and started stabbing the tadpoles one by one.

After each died, they would let out a high pitched squeak that bounced off the walls and then they'd turn to dust sitting on the top of the water. Link and I joined in, cutting down their numbers in a cacophony of screeches and the crunch of penetrating through their back shells. Left and right, I zapped one after another until one was left and gone by Link's hand.

The frog turned its head at us, then shook off more babies.

"You've got to be kidding me, it's one of these," Wasyl groaned, spiking the first of the new pack.

Once again, one after another. My ears hurt from the shrieks, but I didn't let up until again, the last one perished. A layer of dust sat at the surface of the mucus-water, I couldn't even see my feet.

Wasyl mouthed a prayer to see the creature leap, but it again shook vigorously, expelling the last of the eggs on its scaley back. His arms flailed in frustration before he went back to stabbing. There were more this time, at least ten getting the better of me enough to bite my calf or one my hip. Below us, the dust now mingled with blood.

Link skewered them through his sword, stringing them together. As he struck the last one through its head, we all turned back to the frog in different levels of dishevelment. Wasyl slammed the bottom of his spear into the ground and at the clanking sound, it leapt into the air. We all stood, gazing at its height until the Zora shouted, "Okay, now RUN!"

I parted to the right, Link dodging in tow while Wasyl took to the left. The frog slammed into the floor, ground shaking and casting up water as it did before, but now it was staggered on the ground. We all rushed forward, but Link nudged me and ripped his mask off, "Try to paralyze it."

He went for the exposed tongue and didn't wait for my protest. As it started to stir, I bolted into action and struck it back down. The amount of energy that funneled out made my heart skip and stumble. Wasyl instructed Link that its weak spot was in the tongue and they swiftly both struck at the same time. The creature roared, trying to get up but fumbling as I zapped it again.

"Deeper!" Wasyl demanded.

This isn't a submarine.

They each dug their swords into the frog's mouth and one last cry croaked out of its lungs. Standing back, they ran to the other end of the room as it began throwing itself around, into walls and against the ground. Green blood flicked all over the chamber, then, on its last leg, it threw up a chest and fell into dust.

A collective breath left our lungs.

I shook off mucus and blood from my arm and tried to pull it off my clothes. After nearly puking, I left it be and joined Link and Wasyl.

Who in Hylia decided that was a cool monster to make?

They met me at the chest which was covered in a brown substance. Link reluctantly pried the top open and reached inside, pulling out the clawshot, a contraption with three claws meeting up in a center point. A chain wound up inside and underneath the guard was grip for the hand. From the game I knew when something got pulled or clicked, the claw opened and shot out to clasp onto something far away.

Wasyl gawked at it and reached to take it from him. Link pulled it away, hugging it to his chest. "That's a piece of ancient machinery, you better handle that with care," he warned, twitching his fins.

"As resident hero, I doubt it'll be misused," Link reckoned.

Wasyl froze, "Oh, hero. The chosen hero? My mistake! Keep it." The Zora turned to me, "Then who are you?"

I pulled down my cloth and shrugged, "Just Maizy. Resident...uh…"

Maizy.

"Resident Maizy."

Somehow that got a giggle from both of them.

"Well, resident Maizy, that's some awful strong magic you wield. Glad to be on your side," he smirked. "Now that the job is done, I should be on my way."

Link held up his hand, "This isn't the end of the monster problem. They're attracted here because of a certain object."

Wasyl narrowed his eyes, "Is that why Morpheel has been acting up lately?"

"Morpheel?" Link questioned.

"Ah, I wouldn't expect you to know of him. This temple is our right of passage for the royal family. Typically, they tame the eel in the bottom of the chamber, but we also feed monsters and trespassers to it. Recently we had to lock the door altogether, he was getting much too aggressive to even be taken care of."

That's it, did you know that?

"Of course I knew that, but not the feeding part." I mumbled. Wasyl flashed a look at me, but I pretended that nothing left my lips.

Alright, my bad.

Link dropped his hand, "Can you get us in?"

"Of course, they told me where the key was hidden. Just a few shortcuts, we'll be there in no time, easy."

They left me back, walking to the gated door. Wasyl instructed Link that anything golden with a red center was grated and would anchor him so long as he aimed for the golden part. He shot out the claw at a target on the ceiling in front of the gate and it caught, drawing him from his feet to it. When his weight settled, the target fell down and stopped after a foot. The gate screeched open.

Wasyl plugged his ears than sighed, "They really need to grease those."

We headed through the door on the other side and backtracked to the center chamber. As I trailed behind the two, I hugged my side and sighed. At least someone remembered how to get around. Finally, Link's eyes were off of me. Somehow, though, it wasn't comforting and my heart beat faster whenever he glanced back and gave me a smile. I didn't remember how to get around that, these were the kind of feelings reserved to couch thoughts, nothing more. But he was more and I couldn't shake that.