Chapter 31: Zora Palace
Based on what Eldin said, Zelda figured that the second Wind Instrument resided somewhere in the Zora District. So they got there using what remained of the Skyloft Rails, though they were quickly falling apart due to the various bombings and attacks on all the Districts. Using the Infinity Gauntlet, Zelda was able to create Punctures that brought in new Skyloft Rails to replace the missing ones. Then once they had reached the Zora District, they found Sunrise Bay swarming with Zoras.
None of the women made a sound, but then some of the Zora spotted them and threw their tridents into the air. The three managed to dodge them for the most part, but when they landed the Zoras surrounded them. So Zelda raised her hands up in surrender, followed by Impa and Lana. The head Zora warrior, who looked a lot like Raoole except that he wore a cloth covering the lower-half of his face and his chest-plate seemed slightly bulgy, stepped forward.
"What are you doing in our territory?" The Zora asked.
Lana cleared her throat. "Um, there's a big difference between territories and districts."
"Shut up!" shouted the lead Zora, poking Lana's neck with the tip of his trident. "Or I'll kill you where you stand."
"We're not your enemies," Zelda said. "It's Midna who you should be more concerned with."
"You dare insult the leader of the Twilight Wolves?" The Zora turned his attention to Zelda. "Are you a spy for Ganon?"
"No, far from it," Zelda responded shaking her head. "Look, if you continue on this path, the whole city will be engulfed by the Twilight Realm."
"Lies!" The Zora exclaimed. "Take them to the Zora Palace and have them locked up. Then we'll decide what to do with them once Lord Raoole comes back."
"Right away, General Rubi," said the second Zora.
Then with that, Zelda and the others were dragged into the ocean while the head Zora, Rubi, watched them. They were all equipped with Zora armor and then they took the plunge. Swimming toward the bottom of the ocean, the three soon spotted a castle carved from shiny rocks that glistened like pearls with a golden gate and two Zora guards standing watch. They let the prisoners pass and after navigating a series of alabaster corridors filled with gawking Zoras both male and female, they came to a dungeon that was located in an underground air-pocket and practically empty. Each woman was stripped of her personal belongings and thrown into a jail cell.
"This is just great," Zelda muttered. "I come here because of a riddle that a stupid bird gave me, and we're immediately thrown in jail."
"There's no point in beating yourself up," Impa said calmly. "We will explain ourselves to the leader of this district and try to convince him that we are not spies."
"Let's hope so," Lana responded.
Several minutes passed, and then General Rubi showed up along with the Zora who was beside her. They took the three women forcefully out of the jail-cells and back into the water. They swam through several more corridors until they surfaced into the throne-room which was a chair carved from rock hovering on a permanent waterspout with similar seats taken by other members of the Zora council above a shimmering pool. The three were placed on a floating sea-shell that was the size of a large boulder and they stared up at the tallest chair which was occupied by a Zora whom Zelda recognized as Raoole. His eyes were bitter and he wore regal robes.
"State your names and your reason for being here," Raoole demanded.
"I'm Zelda, former Heir to Mayor Ganon," Zelda answered and gestured to the others. "These are my companions Impa and Lana. We've come here in search of a legendary Wind Instrument that is said to reside in this District."
Raoole flinched. "Who told you this?"
"Eldin, the Light Spirit who rests in the Sheikah District," Zelda said firmly.
"Why do you wish to find this Wind Instrument?" Raoole asked.
"To push back the Twilight that is encompassing this land as we speak."
"Impossible! The leader of the Twilight Wolves said no such thing would occur once she deposes of Mayor Ganon."
"She told me herself that she is planning to cover Skyloft in Twilight and then the world after that."
Raoole's fist slammed against the chair. "How could you have met Midna in person if you're the Heir to Ganon?"
"I'm not anymore. I escaped from the Goddess Statue and overheard her speaking this plan to someone else."
"Is this true?" Raoole asked Impa and Lana.
"Yes," Impa said, catching Zelda's glance.
While Lana nodded in agreement, Raoole leaned back in his chair. "There is something you are not telling me. What is it?"
"You wouldn't understand a word of it, even if I told you," Zelda said defensively.
"If you refuse to tell me, then I'll have no choice but to execute you as spies for Ganon," Raoole said taking a small fish in his hand and crushing it.
While Lana gulped, Zelda calmly answered, "While I may be Zelda, I'm not from this reality. So what I mean is that I'm from another place that is like here, but it exists somewhere else. Where I'm from, there is another Midna and a Hero of Infinite Possibilities who isn't dead—
"What are you talking about?" Raoole interrupted. "I knew the Hero of Infinite Possibilities, and he's dead! That's a fact! Take them back to their cells! The council and I need to decide what to do with them."
Rubi nodded and escorted Zelda and the others back the way they came.
###
"Are you sure it was wise to tell him the truth, Zelda?" Impa asked once they were back in the jail-cells.
"What was I supposed to tell him?" Zelda snapped. "He threatened to execute us!"
"Well, there's nothing we can do about it now," Lana said, lying on a pile of dried seaweed that passed for a bed. "What we need is a miracle from the Goddesses to get out of this mess."
"Or a good pickpocket," said a familiar voice that appeared out of the shadows.
"Sheik!" Lana exclaimed, and looked past him. "What did you do to the guards?"
"I knocked them out with a couple of Sleep Arrows," Sheik said, holding up a Crossbow that looked just like the one Zelda had. Then he held up a ring of golden keys and said, "Now let's get you ladies out of those cells."
Once they were freed, Sheik handed them all their stuff that was taken, including Zelda's satchel and Talon Clasp.
"Um, I think that Crossbow of yours belongs to me," Zelda said.
"No, yours is still in your satchel," Sheik said protectively. "But it does look like mine."
Irked, Zelda checked her satchel and sure enough her Crossbow was inside.
They followed Sheik into the water in their Zora armor through a secret underwater tunnel that was located beneath the jail cells which led them outside the Zora Palace which sparkled in the moonlight that was filtering down through the water.
To be continued…