Chapter 26: Twilit Undine Torrentous

Backtracking along the balcony, Link, Zelda, and Raoole found a door with a gold-colored lock. Using the gold key, the door unlocked and they stepped inside. Once the door closed behind them, a faint rumble echoed in the darkness until a small orb of light suddenly appeared. Unfortunately, the orb was attached to a scary fish-face with milky-white eyes, horn-like fins on the sides of its head, long fangs coming from its gigantic mouth, an eel-like body, frog-like hands, and a barbed tail swished around it.

"This doesn't look good," Zelda noted arming an arrow into the Crossbow.

In response, the creature roared. A torrent of water spewed from its mouth causing Raoole to be slammed against the wall behind him.

"Raoole!" Link exclaimed.

"I'm fine," Raoole said weakly. "Just take care of the monster."

So while Zelda distracted the monster with the Noise Arrows, Link attacked the monster's arms. Though the barbed tail proved to be a nuisance, Link managed to cut the arms off after a few strikes each. The creature fell face-first, but its tail swung around and hit random pillars with intention of burying Link and Zelda. Fortunately, the two evaded the falling rocks and attacked the barbed tail from different sides. While Link used the Zora Steam Gun to create dampness on the tail, Zelda used the Kokiri Fan to blow cold air which turned the tail into a frozen popsicle. Then to finish it off, Zelda fired a Blast Arrow at the tail causing it to shatter into several pieces.

The monster roared in agony as its skin dried up to the point where it was nothing more than a giant skeleton which in turn shattered. All that remained was a fat frog-like creature with fish eyes and the same textured skin as Raoole.

"Father!" Raoole exclaimed.

Link and Zelda watched as Raoole got up and limped over the frog creature. While it groaned, Raoole picked the creature that was apparently his father up and walked toward the circle of light that appeared at the center of the room. Zelda and Link followed, causing them to all be transported to the front entrance of Ralis Temple which was below the balcony on a long walkway that pointed in the direction of the beach, which was now visible as the storm clouds had cleared up.

"Do you need any help?" Zelda asked, noticing Raoole's bruises.

"No, I got this," Raoole said. "You need to grab the Fused Shadow fragment and leave Ralis Temple as quickly as you can."

"Right," Zelda said holding up an item that she picked up next to where Raoole's father lay which resembled a pair of horns.

Just as Zelda put the third Fused Shadow fragment into her satchel, a swarm of Clockwork Policemen came flying towards them on propellers attached to their heads. But when her and the others tried to head for the water they were suddenly blocked by Cia who waved her hand which knocked them down.

"Going somewhere, Prince Raoole?" Cia asked mockingly.

Ignoring the surprised glances of Zelda and Link, Raoole got to his feet and said, "Cia. What an unexpected surprise."

"I'm here to place you under arrest for being a member of the Twilight Wolves and aiding the False Hero," Cia said, and pulled out a helm made from the same metal as the Fused Shadow fragments with an eye on the front of it. "And here's what left of your precious leader once I was through with her."

As she tossed the helm onto the ground, Zelda's satchel started glowing. Then the three Fused Shadow fragments that were in the satchel flew out and attached themselves to the helm, creating a complete helmet with horns, eye-shaped protectors, and a neck-brace.

"Well, what have we here," Cia said, picking up the helmet with a gleeful smile. "The famous Fused Shadow that destroyed the Twili District's former leader Zant. Mayor Ganon will be pleased to have this in his collection."

"He won't get it!" Zelda exclaimed and fired an arrow from her crossbow at Cia.

But Cia just smirked and caught the arrow in her hand. "Nice try, Zelda, but you'll have to do-

The arrow exploded in Cia's hand, causing her to reel back. This allowed Zelda, Link, and Raoole to get past her just as the Clockwork Policemen were landing on the walkway. While Zelda and Link distracted the Policemen, Raoole dived into the ocean with his father in tow. After this happened, Cia appeared once more and waved her hand causing Zelda and Link to freeze in place.

"Foolish child!" Cia snapped, holding her other hand over the part of her mask that got blown off during the explosion. "My flawless face almost got ruined because of you!"

She then took off her mask, and the face that was revealed shocked both Link and Zelda. It looked like a spitting image of Lana's face, but with short white hair, dark skin, purple eyes, and a red jewel-shaped pin.

"Look familiar?" Cia mocked. "I bet Lana never told you about me, did she?"

"She said you were a witch, and a liar," Zelda said.

Cia chuckled. "How can I be a witch if I'm a Priestess? And while I may stretch the truth, it's to assure the citizens of Skyloft that nothing bad will come to them and the False Hero will bring us all down if he isn't destroyed!"

The Triforce symbol glowed on Zelda's hand, causing her to be unbound by Cia's magic. She then quickly charged up the Infinity Gauntlet while fighting off several Clockwork Policemen with the Wind Parasol. Meanwhile, the Triforce symbol appeared on Link's hand, allowing him to stop Cia from impaling him with a ceremonial knife.

"Take the Fused Shadow and go!" Link shouted. "I'll fend Cia off for as long as I can!"

Zelda stopped and looked surprised. "But Link-

"Go!" Link insisted.

So Zelda picked up the Fused Shadow, made a Puncture with the Infinity Gauntlet, and slipped through it.

To be continued…