We arrived at the Zora's River, which I had recently learned it marks the border of Hyrule's crossing with another neighboring kingdom. I admired the gleaming, clear waters of it. It wasn't long, however, until I started seeing shadows in the water move upstream. A head of one of the shadows popped up from the river and startled me, tripping over a tree root. It laughed. "Well, wasn't expecting some hylians this far down the river. Do you need help?" Ginger spoke for me. "Yup. We're looking for a Zora by the name of Regia." The head looked confused. "She doesn't come down here. Her sister, Aqua, does." I rubbed my head as I spoke, "Well, is she the Sky sage, perhaps?" The head nodded. "I can give the king a heads up you're coming. Just travel along up the river." The head disappeared under the water and moved upstream. We started walking up as well, and Iooked up into the azure sky beyond the emerald colored leaves. It actually looked pretty…with the dashes of white, puffy clouds among it, and the occasional swoop of our birds that played tag in the sky. I smiled. I felt a nudge to my side, and there was Bird Master's eyes that meet mine. "Hey, what are thinking about there, squirt?" I blushed. "Shut up, I know I'm short." I looked away while he laughed. "At least you're taller than your sister." Wolfie's voice sounded from uphead. I sighed. "Only by an inch." They all let out a hearty laugh. The four were making splashes at each other while the others were chatting. I again felt myself think about something, just to reflect on my life.

So I was living life normally as a reject, then nearly kidnapped, introduced to my real parents, had gone on a mission to confirm that an actual relic was resting in the woods, and now...I'm here. It feels like I've always been here with them, but really, it's only been a few weeks. How did it end up like this? The woman again spoke, Dear, you are one philosopher. She giggled. Okay, who are you really? She replied. I cannot reveal that yet, my dear student. However, this last trial shall guide you. I had to question her. I thought this was my trial? Her answer was not as expected. No, that is to strengthen you. These trials will prove your true worthiness. What was she talking about? Was it not enough that managed to pull the very legendary blade of evil's bane from its pedestal? Does it really require much more than that? To prove that your spirit also holds the old ways? I don't think it would really require much to prove your worthy of such art...I felt this was unnecessary in every way. I sighed. I guess it takes more than just a sword. I muttered to myself as we approached the waterfall. It roaring was loud and proud as it fell into the river. A voice had sounded. "Who goes there? I, king Zora the Forty-Third, cannot let just anyone in." I had spoken. "I am the king's left hand daughter, and I carry my companions with me. I request to see the Sky sage, Aqua." He laughed. "Ah, my right hand daughter. Yes. I shall grant access." The waterfall opened to reveal a passage. "That was easy." I said, walking in. The other inhabitants looked at us with questioning faces. I shrugged it off and continued.

Eventually, we came to the king's alter. "Ah, so that's what you look like. You...look to much like your father." I grinned. "That's what my mother says." The others laughed. "Well, I apologize, but my daughter went to pray the other day and has not gotten back." I looked at him. "What? So you let me in...just to see me?" He nodded. "That explains it. So where does she usually go and pray?" I asked him tenderly. "Well, both my daughters go to the Skyview temple at Lake Hylia, but…if anything, the Lakebed temple leads to the Skyview." I looked back at both Wolfie and Bird Master, confused faces on them. "I thought that…" "Those two temples…" I finished their thoughts. "The two temples are nothing alike." The king gave out a hearty laugh. "So says else everyone not a zora! The only real way to access the Skyview temple is a secret passage only found in the Lakebed." He then held out his hand, which held a key. "Here is the-" A shadow swept across my vision. "Thanks, idiot!" It hissed, "You've now revealed your secret to me!" I recognized that voice. "YOU! Get back here!" I unsheathed my sword and chased Goldenmort down. He ran to a dead end, allowing me to confront him. "Fool! You should've never chased me!" I shook my head and spoke. "No, I think you are the fool. You should've never threatened my family from the start. You tried to kill me, now I will do the same. Except, I will succeed!" I lunged forward, driving my sword into his back. He twisted and crushed me into the ground. "I think I'm going to succeed. Wouldn't you say?" Apparently he grew spikes on his back that stabbed me. I tried not to howl in pain as I struggled to get from his back. I managed to slip away and strike again before he could get to his feet.

However, he just laughed again. "FOOL! This sword isn't as glorious as it used to be. Now, you shall pay for striking me!" He swept at my arm, his claws getting caught on my chainmail. I tried to shake him off, but instead he pinned me down like a mouse who was pray, and bit into my shoulder, making his way down towards my chest. I refuse to go down this early. I raised my knee into stomach and pried him off. I ran as fast as I could, key in hand. That was close. I may have a mortal wound or two, but it was damn worth it. I eventually stopped to check my wounds. My leg was again torn open, but it wasn't as bad as before. It didn't hurt that much. As for my shoulder...I could see my blade, but for some odd reason, it didn't hurt. At all. I touched my bone, and I could feel it! I shuttered. Right after I touched it, the wound healed as if nothing happened! I was shocked. All I did was touch… I heard the others coming into the small valley. I prepared myself to explain.

Hours after, I had explained what happened. "I'm sorry I worried you guys, but if he thought I was after revenge, he would've tried to kill me more, which would result in him getting closer." They nodded. "Looks like you're already getting the hang of this, Aaron." I acknowledged Ocarina Kid's compliment, and sighed. Fi…are you still there? No reply. Something has happened to her…I don't know what it is. A laugh again sounded from the distant voice I keep hearing. You've found the last trial. To bargain that awful fight, you've sacrificed knowledge. If you fare in the next dungeon, I will return her to you. At this point I'm starting to suspect this voice wasn't for me, rather, against me. I clenched my fist tighter than before. I then felt an unexpected warmth touch my right cheek. I looked that way to see Bird Master looking away and blushing. I was confused. "What is it?" I asked him, but to no avail. He just sat there as if he just committed a very sinful crime. I shrugged. At that moment, however, I swore I heard him mutter, "Its so soft…", which triggered me to blush as well. Does he...like me...in that way?

I pushed that thought to the back of my head and pushed forward, towards Lake Hylia. I had come across another person who told me that the Lakebed temple was inaccessible to normal hylians. "What do you mean? Isn't there a way to get there?" I nearly exclaimed my own question. "Unless you can grow gills, I don't think so. However, there were some rumors that went around saying that there is a tunic that allows one the ability to dive straight down to the temple." He walked off. "if there's only one tunic, then how will we be able to reach you?" Wolfie's question made me afraid. "I...I don't know. I'll just have to use my own wits. I guess." A light of worry flickered in their eyes. Rinneth then flew down, his enormous body casting a shadow on the bridge we stood on. "Hello there, dear heroes!" He boombed with youthful energy. "Looking for...this?" He lowered his head and let a tunic slip down from his head. The Zora's tunic! I picked it up. "Need not to fear, I can also assist transporting everyone to the Skyview temple." I looked up at him. "Why are you helping us now?" I asked. His dark, ember eyes met mine. "Because, I now shall show resistance to Demise. I now live to serve lady Hylia!" I looked at the others, who shrugged. "But...where should I put this on? I'm not just going to strip infront of everyone here." I heard the others groan at the thought.

He pointed his tail towards a small outhouse. "Oh. Thanks." I chirped, running in there. I quickly stripped my normal clothes from inside, but then thought for a moment. What...what if...naw, I couldn't. I didn't want to distract myself now. I hurriedly equipped my tunic on, and waked out. I already felt the effects of the tunic taking in. "I'll go down there. I'll meet you guys there." I said, getting on the edge of the bridge. Everyone freaked out. "What are you doing?!"

"Are you really going to jump from the bridge?"

"Aaron, that's crazy! Don't do it!"

I laughed heartily. "Don't worry, I'll be fine." I jumped and dove into the cold water of the lake. The tunic had allowed me to breath as if I was fish. I could swim freely with comfort down here. I had spotted the entrance to the temple, which looked withered with age. Just like the structure around the pedestal...I wonder…. I continued to swim downwards towards the entrance, which looked like it goes in deeper than I thought. The water around me was quite murky, but it wasn't polluted or anything. This is strange. I've never seen a lake quite like this...especially deep underwater. I proceeded even further down into the temple, when I uprose and what it was like inside. A giant chamber like lounge, with a small altar in the middle. I climbed up from the small passage and looked around the chamber. There was a small door that looked like my sister could fit into, but it was locked. I facepalmed. "He calls that hidden? I really hope he's more schooled than I think." I had unlocked it and carried on into it's passage. It reeked of seaweed and there was occasional coral that poked at me. Why is there coral down here? I thought that could only be found in salt waters… Baffled, I pressed that thought back and had pushed on. I could feel the tunnel closing in on me, but I battled the thought out and kept going. Eventually, I reached the end of the tunnel.

It seems that a cave had led upwards out into the forest. I looked around to find that I was...well...without direction. Basically lost. I surveyed the area a few times to try to find the structure, but to no avail. I sighed and walked down a small brook I found nearby. It transitioned into a canal, and there is where I saw it. It had a moat surrounding it, with a staircase over it leading into it's entrance. I looked around, then went up the stairs. It was closed, with a small text stuck to the left door. "If you find the skyward gem, strike it, and I shall open to thee. Well then." I looked up to find a gem-like structure on the ceiling. I unsheathed my sword. "Sorry Fi. This might hurt a little…" I threw it upwards, hitting it. The door had opened, and the sword fell into the ground. I felt a little guilty, knowing that I probably hurt Fi. I picked the sword up from the ground and wandered down the stairs. As soon as I walked in, there was an open area exposed to the sky, overgrown with vines, small trees, bushes, and others of the like. The stone had a greyish kind of green to it's bricks, with a shiny cover. Honestly, it looked really….pretty. I observed the area a little more to see a zora sitting on a rock, staring at the ground. I walked up to her slowly, asking, "How are you, Aqua?" She looked up. "How'd you…?" I gulped. "I don't mean any harm." Aqua's eyes met mine, and she sighed. "My father must've sent you. I...I lost my sister, and I refuse to budge until I see her alive." I nodded.

I offered her to come with me, and she, to my surprise, agreed to. What would happen, I didn't know.