Hello readers, sorry I have not updated this fic in a while, just wanted its popularity to appreciate before I accidentally drive it into the ground by updating too fast. The battle with Morpha is at hand, so enjoy!

Chapter 9

Water, Water, Every Hedge

Morpha was readying for battle, as Link and I examined the oversized cell commanding the water. Link had the Longshot in close reach, but I was ridiculously nervous about this. I hate water, and this thing is practically made of the stuff. Without the mask, it can drown me if so desired. I needed to be careful during this battle. With my speed, I was confident that he won't land much on me, though I would be immensely hindered by the size of the room, and by the large pool Morpha controls.

As I watched the tentacle prepare to strike, Link fired the grapple at the nucleus, dragging it out of the water, leaving it vulnerable to attack. Link swiped at it with his sword, while I spin dashed it. We kept up the assault until it hopped back into the water, and created another tentacle of deathly liquid. I found this being remarkably similar to Chaos; both are made of water, and they share their brain as a weak point. The main difference is that Chaos is good at heart, while this thing is truly evil, was born evil, and will always be evil.

While I was comparing this thing to the Chao guardian, Morpha grabbed me and began swinging me around like an old doll. I struggled to break free, but its grip was tight, for being made of a liquid substance. Link saw what was happening, and carefully aimed the Longshot, then fired it at the nucleus again, causing the tentacle to disperse, and I dropped into the vile pool. I walked over to a nearby ladder and quickly climbed up to Link's level. The Hylian was busy slashing at the horrid creature, but it eventually escaped and reentered the pool.

This battle would take a long time, and I kept running out of the tentacles' range, and aiding Link in bringing down the monster. It would be a while before Morpha started using two tentacles, hindering us further. I was almost captured numerous times, Link was able to avoid it thanks to his well timed dodges. It was becoming dangerous to hang around in this battle, and as Link fired the hook once more, a single slice from the Master Sword was all that was needed to finish off that freak of nature.

After the nucleus was obliterated, the water was receding into the ceiling, before, in one drop, it was gone. Ruto was able to awaken as the Sage of water, and, assuring us that Hyrule's rightful queen was still alive, she added her power to Link's using the Water Medallion, and handed me the blue Chaos Emerald. We were deposited on an Island watching over Lake Hylia, where Sheik was waiting for us.

"You two have been able to break the curse, and refill the lake to its serene beauty." was his simple statement. Link walked up to the Sheikah survivor, hoping to finally get something out of him. "Sheik, do you know where-" he began to ask, but Sheik cut him off.

"The whereabouts of the princess, I can not tell you. But I assure you, you will meet her when the time comes."

Link told the Sheikah that Ruto wanted us to thank him for saving her from the curse on Zora's Domain, and with that, he threw down a Deku nut, and was gone.

"Why is it that he is so nervous about giving away to much information?" I asked no one in particular.

"The Sheikah are shadow people, Sonic. Its only natural that they would be a little secretive." Link reminded me. It was starting to scare how much I knew about Hyrule, despite never actually being there. The Sheikah's magic had given me all that knowledge, and it was seriously creeping me out how much he gave me. I pushed the thoughts aside, and turned towards Link, asking the unspoken question of what to do next. He simply shrugged, and I closed my eyes, feeling the wind rush through my quills, in the direction of Kakariko Village. It carried a sense of unease, as if something bad was soon to happen there, and The Hero of Time was needed to counter it.

"Kakariko Village." I bluntly said.

"How can you know that?"

"The wind… it carried a sense of panic in the direction of the Sheikah village, as if their worst fears were about to be unsealed."

"You picked all that up from moving air?" Navi asked disbelievingly.

"The wind can provide a lot of information," I answered. "You just need to know how to listen to it."

With that, we walked off towards the village of Kakariko.

At this time, Silver was putting the finishing touches on the gateway to Hyrule. Everyone was sitting around nearby, doing something to keep themselves occupied while the psychic liberator did his thing; Amy was asking her cards what was happening in Hyrule, but when he read the answer, she had learned of Ganondorf and the evil he was spreading across the land. Tails was playing a game of chess with Shadow, the record at this time being the two of them having 5 wins each; an absolute tie. Knuckles and Rouge were discussing what they would expect to find in the country, and while Rouge was throwing more treasure-related things, Knuckles was showing a mellow side by mentioning the beautiful scenery Silver mentioned, and Rouge was also taken with this.

Silver soon announced that he had finished the gateway, and everyone gathered on the circular rug he placed there. He reminded them of the "No-body-while-in-Hyrule" thing, but by now, none of them cared. "We need to find Sonic," Amy stated. "Nothing else matters right now."

"Alright then," Silver began. "Follow my instructions, and the journey will go smoothly."

Everyone agreed to comply, and they began the ritual, Silver guiding them along the path.

"First, everyone join hands," he instructed, and they did, though he noted that Rouge and Knuckles seemed a little hesitant with finally having an excuse to hold each other's hand. "Now, take a seat with your legs crossed. Make sure not to let go of your neighbor's hand." It was difficult to do this, but they eventually got past it. "Here, you close your eyes, and think of what, in your opinion, is the best thing about Hyrule." Since all of them knew only what Silver had told them about the place, they thought of the same thing; the serene beauty of the land. Silver then began to mutter something in Hyrulean, and Knuckles felt the Master Emerald channeling its power to keep them planted in this world. Each of them began to fell disembodied, and the pull of some extra dimensional force on their souls. In several minutes, Silver ceased his chanting, and they felt something halt, like they had reached their destination.

"Okay, you guys can open your eyes now."

They did, and what they saw shocked them. They were all floating above the ground of the Hyrule field. All of them were partially transparent, freaking several of them out. Amy, however, was amazed at how beautiful the place was, marveling at the lush field expanding before them. She turned towards the castle in the distance, and her grin faded. Ganon's castle was completely out of place in the majestic land, and as everyone turned towards it, she explained what her cards had told her. Silver just sighed at the fortuneteller's forecast.

"And here I thought he would be a better person in one of his next lives," he thought out loud. "I guess evil runs straight to the soul." (A/N: allow me to clarify what Silver is muttering about. As more of the upcoming Skyward Sword was unveiled, and more artwork was released, I began to develop a theory that every primary villain in the Legend of Zelda series is reincarnated from Girahim, the primary antagonist of Skyward Sword. In this story, Silver had once visited Hyrule during the events of Skyward Sword, and had given a helping hand in its story. I promise you, I will write a prequel to this story using this info as soon as Skyward Sword comes out.)

They eventually noticed me and Link, the latter riding Epona, heading over to Kakariko Village. They decided that, since they had found me, they would follow to make sure what I was doing. Silver reminded them that he was the only one amoung them who could understand Hyrulean, and that no one would be able to see them except those with eyes that could see the truth, and those who have been blessed by the goddesses. Everyone raced to the village, and was surprised at the horrible seen we found.

How was that? Another chapter to find salvation in large hope. Now, review, or the beast of the Shadow Temple will eat your brains. (Nothing of offense to Heart of PureSilver, please.)