Chapter 17
Zoras
Of all the places in Hyrule to visit, Zelda most eagerly looked forward to seeing the home of Zoras. They wound along the banks of a wide river until lush grass and level ground gave way to rocky paths surrounded by rising canyon walls. The river continued straight and true as they rose and rose, though the canyon walls always outpaced the path in altitude. Near the end, the path had departed from the ridge walls, becoming a perilous bridge that ended at a magnificent gate.
This was not a gate of doors. They reached a mighty waterfall, its top as high above them as the bottom was below. The water came down with remarkable force; it was as good if not better than any hand forged door. How did the zoras get in and out, or guests for that matter?
Her curiosity was quickly quenched as the waterfall began to separate from the center, like parchment ripped and pulled apart from bottom to top. A zora emerged through the tear holding a tall staff seemingly made of ice, it was so crystal clear. His pale blue skin shimmered in light refracted through billions of falling droplets. He moved with intention and grace as though an act as simple as opening a door was a ceremony to be done with reverence.
He carried his head with dignity and duty. Zoras were a fascinating blend of Hylian form and aquatic function. They had handsome and charismatic faces, and from the front you'd think only their color was unusual. On the back of their heads, however, their flesh continued back in a taper to form an aerodynamic shape. It reminded Zelda of how Link looked with his green cap.
Their skin was smooth and soft in the face, chest, and the inner sides of their arms and legs. The rest was covered with harder looking scales of indigo. Scaling formed beautiful and unique patterns on their heads, natural crowns that added to their regality. Elbows and thighs sported elegant fins. Webbed hands and feet were the final detail of a specimen clearly meant for one habitat. They wore only enough clothing to keep them modest, though Zelda sensed they did it more out of social courtesy than anything else. Even what little they wore managed to only add to their refinement.
She noticed a second zora walking behind the first. When they cleared the waterfall, the first zora tapped his staff to the ground. The portal behind them disappeared as the waterfall was permitted to instantly return to its natural cascade. It was a clever defense; even if one made it partially through the door, a simple tap could have them blasted away to the depths below.
The rear zora came forward to introduce himself. "I am Prince Rito," he said with a dignified air. "What brings you to our humble home?" He radiated charisma, what with his sparkling blue eyes and warm smile. Prince Rito was certainly more royal appearing than his escort, adorned with colorful jewels which were somehow attached directly to his scales.
"I am Princess Zelda," she replied and gave him a courteous bow.
Rito bowed in kind. "We must have pleased the Goddesses greatly to have earned the honor of your presence," he said smoothly. He took her hand and gave it a gentlemanly kiss, and she felt her cheeks blush warmly. He examined her and the rest of the group. "This is not a typical royal escort," he said.
"No," she admitted, "it is not. I confess my arrival is not condoned by the palace. We seek your father's counsel."
"My father," he replied, "would be as honored to welcome you as I. In a place as homely as this, it is rare to be graced with the presence of one so lovely."
She heard Link scoff. Rito did not appear to hear him, or at least pretended not to.
"Thank you," she said. "You are too kind."
They followed Rito and his gate keeper through the waterfall into the zora realm. Her heart raced with excitement. She had wanted to see the zoras ever since she was little, and it certainly did not disappoint. Their home was built into a cavern of sorts. Columns of rock supported a vast chamber in the center, which naturally made it the apex of town where zoras were working, bartering, or just plain socializing. Half the floor of this chamber was submerged in water, and zoras could be seen splashing in and out of it. Those that went in would disappear and she concluded that it was a kind of port, with underwater tunnels allowing them to travel the way their bodies were designed. A waterfall could be seen originating from a high opening, and she gasped in amazement when she saw a zora appear in the opening and dive gracefully into the water below.
There was no ceiling. Daylight bounced from the wet walls to the reflective water below, and as a result, light never ceased to dance. Along the walls of the main cavern were a myriad of tunnels leading to unseen areas. Prince Rito pointed out a few them. One led to the dining hall, where the zoras feasted together, and others lead to homes owned by no one in particular.
"We are one family," said Rito. "We do not own property. Like the flow of water, we move with the current of time. We sleep where we are tired. There is no difference between brother and stranger here."
"It sounds lovely," she said. Even the walls were beautiful, covered in amphibious plant life. Flowers and coral formed natural mosaics. She couldn't help but reach out to touch.
"No," said Rito urgently.
Zelda snapped back her hand ashamed.
"Forgive me," he said in a more soothing tone. "I forgot to tell you how delicate the life on these walls are." He took her hand into his. "Even the gentlest touch from the most delicate of hands can be deadly." He gave her hand a light kiss and released it. She blushed and quickly let herself forget the rebuke ever happened.
They followed Prince Rito into a tunnel that took them upwards into a cavern. The entrance opened to a dais that ended at a flowing stream which separated their platform from a much higher one on the opposite side of the room. There sat the zora king on a coral throne. The stream flowed to an opening in the side of the cavern and exited in a waterfall. Zelda could see that the area beyond the waterfall was large and expansive, and she realized this was the source of the waterfall she witnessed in the main cavern.
The king had all the handsomeness of Rito with the portliness that comes with royal living. He spoke with the same air of dignity as his son. "Welcome to my humble kingdom. I am King Zora. I do hope my son was welcomed you with kindness."
"He has, your Grace," she replied. "Your kindness has exceeded all expectations. Our own court could benefit by following your example."
"Spoken like a true diplomat," chuckled the king. "To what do we owe the honor of your visit?"
Zelda paused a moment to consider her response, deciding ultimately not to use her own words. "'The Guardian of The Sacred Three. He is giver of life, bringer of death. His sword cleaves mountains. Yet a mere kiss grants passage. The Goddesses are waiting for their gifts.'"
King Zora's smile turned somber. "I see," he said. "What does Zelda, Princess of Hyrule, need of such power when the entire kingdom bows before her father?"
She had hoped to keep her father out of this. He had made mistakes, but she loved him and did not want his name soiled. Then again, she had already done so much to tarnish the royal name. Word of her deeds was surely already spreading through the entire kingdom. Truth was more important than saving face now, but there is always a way to word things. "A king commands armies, nothing more. With a mighty sword he carries out his will, but the consequences are a force unto themselves. A king can do, but he cannot undo. I have come to claim the one power that can. I have come for the Triforce."
"You are far too wise for one so young," said King Zora. "What makes you think the verse has anything to do with us?"
"'The Guardian of The Sacred Three' must refer to that which bars entrance to the three goddesses, which I presume refers to the essence of the Triforce. The guardian is water. It gives life but also had the power to destroy. It forms into rivers that can carve into mountains. The way to the Triforce must be underwater, and likely so deep that only a Zora kiss can get someone to the entrance."
"A kiss?" said Link.
"That's what they call it, yes, but it's not really a kiss," she explained. "A zora breathes both air and water. They can convert one to the other, enough for themselves and for another. It's never been said, but I believe Farore came up with that design. She's the one that valued life, so she would be the one that would grant an ability that could save the life a drowning victim. It's beautiful really."
"I guess all those books on Zoras paid off," quipped Ganondorf.
"Forgive me," she said to the king, blushing. "I've always loved the Zora since I was a little girl."
The king nodded. "We are honored by your love for our people. We are usually seen as abominations by most, so we isolated ourselves. We are content here in our little hideaway, but your accolades have lifted my spirits even higher.
"You speak the truth of our people. The Zora kiss is a gift we do not share lightly, especially with outsiders, but you seem worthy of the treasure you seek. I shall find an escort for your party at once to take you to the entrance of our most sacred landmark: an ancient temple at the bottom of Lake Hylia."
"Lake Hylia?" remarked Link. "That's leagues away to the South!"
"Hyrule is a living thing, with an entire network of arterial waterways beneath the surface. We can take you there far faster than you can dream."
Prince Rito cupped Zelda's hand into his own and said, "I would be honored to escort you, my lady, if you would accept my kiss." Once again, she felt her cheeks get warm.
Link scoffed, "Give me a break." Zelda shot him a chilling glare.
"Very well," spoke the king. "My son shall find escorts for you all, and you shall leave immediately. May the Great Goddesses bless you in your quest."
King Harkinian watched his daughter and her "friends" depart King Zora's hall from a shadowy recess situated behind the throne. The sight of Impa working with them was not all surprising, yet it stabbed at his heart. She was the last person he could trust. He was most certainly the lonely king now.
"You were right," said the Zora king as Harkinian stepped into the light and moved next to the throne. "About everything."
"Now you see why I came to you," replied Hansen soothingly. "I love my daughter with all my heart, but I cannot allow her to chase such great power with such ill company."
"Then why did you instruct me to take her to the temple?" asked the Zora. "Just take her home and end this madness."
"They have the keys," he said somberly. "The secret is out. There is no end to this madness now. How long before every adventuresome brute comes knocking on your door asking for a ride? And when you refuse to escort them, how many will resort to kidnapping or all-out war?"
"Why should I trust you?" asked King Zora. "What makes you better than them?"
Hansen frowned. Everyone wanted his power for themselves, but he knew better than to let his emotions get the better of him. Calmly he explained, "all has come to pass as I predicted, has it not? I do not consider myself master of the Triforce. I am only following the guidance of the Goddesses as prophesied to my fore fathers. I believe your ancestors predicted the same."
"Yes," sighed the Zora.
"The time has come, King Zora," said Hansen, "to set peace into motion."
"Can there be peace without war?"
"Only if you trust me."
King Zora paused to think. Finally, he said, "So be it. We will escort you shortly after they depart."
King Harkinian smiled. "You are doing the right thing."
Link was not fond of the zora's, especially that water snake Prince Rito. That whole debonair shtick was nothing but a ploy, yet Zelda was falling for it. Or was she? She had to see right through it, she was too smart for that.
Link glared at Rito as he led them to the central chamber's pool.
"Wait here," said Rito, and he dove into the pool out of sight.
"So," said Link. "What's with that guy, am I right?"
"Who, Rito? What do you mean?"
"Come on," said Link. "The guy is totally playing you, but I guess you knew that already. It's pretty obvious, really. Kind of amateurish, if you ask me."
"I didn't," Zelda shot back. "He is ten times the gentleman you are.
Ganondorf laughed.
Yeah, Link was definitely not fond of the zoras.
Left with nothing but akward silence, the next several minutes stretched into eternity until relief came in the form of Rito emerging from the water with several more zoras.
"Volunteers," said Rito. "Come in, the water's warm, especially with such radiance in our midst."
Link rolled his eyes and waded waist deep into the pool. One of the females approached him, and with absolutely zero sense of personal boundaries started studying him. She ran her fingers through his hair and touched his face and ears like examining a specimen for the first time.
"Woah," he said.
"Sorry," she replied. "I've never seen anyone outside of zora. You're beautiful."
Link grinned, "I prefer the phrase 'ruggedly handsome.'"
She furrowed her brow in confusion. "What is rugged?"
"I'll tell you later. So, uh, how does this work?"
Expecting an explanation, he was surprised when she kissed him full on the lips. The kiss was something he wasn't sure he would like, but he definitely enjoyed this one. That is, until she pushed air into his lungs. It wasn't painful, just really strange. Then she pulled the air back out. She released the kiss and said, "Like that."
"What's the big idea!" exclaimed red hot Navi, who immediately pummeled the girl. The zora laughed playfully in response, which only intensified Navi's ire. Link realized at that moment that Navi couldn't possibly accompany them.
"Navi. Navi!" exclaimed Link. When he finally had her attention he said, "Listen. You know you can't come with us, right?"
She nodded in gray understanding.
"I'm sorry. If there was a way, I would take you with me."
"Yeah, yeah," she said. Without another word she zipped into the sky and out of sight. He knew this time that she wasn't leaving in anger at him as she had before. This time, it was just disappointment. He was disappointed too. She'd gotten him out of some tight spots, and now they were headed to the tightest one yet.
The zora took Link's hand and guided him deeper into the pool.
"If you're, uh, kissing me, how can you see where you're going?" he asked.
"The zora see without seeing," she replied. "The water carries us, and we obey."
"Right." Once they were chest deep, she pulled him close, their bodies pressed tightly to each other. She smiled, and Link felt a wave of infatuation coming over him.
"Kiss me," she said, "and don't stop."
Well, maybe the Zora weren't so bad after all.