Chapter 34: Hylian Park
Once Sheik was back on his feet, he took out his harp and played the Reverie of the Sea Breeze melody for Zelda. Then once Zelda played it, there was a bright flash and a snake-like creature appeared with golden swirls along its back and a glowing mouth.
"Who hath summoned Lanaryu, the Spirit of Light that slumbers in the Zora District?" asked the giant snake turning to Zelda. "Were you the one who played the Reverie of the Sea Breeze?"
"I did," Zelda nodded.
The snake Lanaryu glanced briefly at Sheik and said, "What does thou wish to ask of me?"
"There is a great darkness that threatens to encompass the land, and it comes from Midna, the leader of the Twilis," Zelda explained. "She is using the Fused Shadow to cover Skyloft in Twilight and then the world after that."
"And you wish me to banish the encroaching darkness from whence it came, correct?"
"Yes, though I heard from Eldin that the other Light Spirits needed to be awakened as well."
"Unfortunately, yes, because we have slumbered for so long that our power has diminished significantly. But do not worry. Once we have gained our full strength, we shall do what you ask. Now go to the West and you will find my brother Ordona beneath a hill somewhere in the iron forest."
Then with that, Lanaryu vanished. Lana then cast a spell that caused Sheik's injuries to be healed and then the four were transported back to the entrance of the Underwater Grotto. Testing the water, they found the water to be cool again and so donned their Zora Armor and swam out. Unfortunately, on the other side of the tunnel they were confronted by a large army of Zora warriors led by Rubi and Raoole.
"You thought you could escape me," Raoole said bitterly. "But I knew where you were going, and so if you wish to avoid death then you must hand over the sacred instrument and come with us quietly."
"But you don't understand," Zelda said. "We're trying to save you all. I know you're a member of the Twilight Wolves, Raoole, but—
"Address him as King Raoole, wench!" Rubi snapped.
"Don't you dare address the former Mayor's daughter as a wench!" Impa said, reaching for a hidden blade.
"No, Impa," Zelda responded, staying Impa's hand. Then she looked at Raoole once more. "Your father didn't recover from his encounter with the Fused Shadow fragment, didn't he?"
Raoole's eyes widened. "How did you know?"
"Something similar happened…where I come from," Zelda said awkwardly. "But I never saw if your father lived or died, but judging by your bitterness and you being addressed as 'King,' I gather that he died in this reality. Regardless, were you aware that Tubula was poisoned by a Shadow Crystal?"
"No," Raoole said, shaking his head. "But I knew Midna said she was going to send someone down to the Underwater Grotto to make sure that her plan wasn't ruined."
"Here's the proof," Lana said, pulling out her book which held the two Shadow Crystals inside. "Tubula coughed it out after we defeated her, and the other was swallowed by Tetrylobyte, the guardian of the Sacred Spring in the Sheikah District, before he went berserk forcing us to defeat him and cough it up."
"What are you trying to say?" Raoole asked.
"That Midna probably didn't tell you everything she was planning to do," Zelda answered. "Yes, she wants to liberate Skyloft from the tyranny of Mayor Ganon, but instead of restoring it to a peaceful utopia she instead wants to punish everyone for not doing anything about his rise to power while placing herself in Ganon's position to make this happen. If you don't believe me, look above the water and tell me what you see."
Rubi turned to Raoole and said, "It's a trick, brother."
"I will abide by her request," Raoole said and glared at Zelda. "Only if her and her companions follow me with an armed escort behind them."
"Very well," Zelda said, folding her arms. "It's not like I was planning to run away or anything."
So Raoole, Rubi, Zelda, and her comrades swam to the ocean's surface. There was a dark cloud hanging over the floating islands west of Sunrise Bay where Midna in her giant spider-like form seemed to be chasing after something blue that seemed to be darting in and out.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" said a skinny figure who was hovering over the crowd wearing a mask that was heart-shaped with round orange eyes and red spikes along the edges.
"Skull Kid!" Zelda exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to bail you out," Skull Kid said and lifted his hands.
This caused Zelda, Impa, Lana, and Sheik to float above the water. Before the Zora had any chance to throw their tritons, Skull Kid levitated Zelda and the others higher up and then westward toward the floating islands.
"Where are you taking us?" Zelda asked.
"To see the show I've put on," Skull Kid said.
Once they were a few feet from the Waterfall, Zelda and the others saw that the thing Midna was chasing appeared to be a young man who resembled Link but he wore a blue tunic instead of a green one with light gray hair, eyes with no pupils, and he carried a sword with a double-helix shape.
"Is that…the Hero of Infinite Possibilities?" Sheik said with a surprised look.
"Bingo!" Skull Kid said bemusedly.
"But I thought he was dead," Lana responded.
"He was, but I revived him with a special mask from a little shop I know that sells magical masks," Skull Kid said, and pointed to his mask. "I got this from the same store, and it's called Majora's Mask."
"What about the one Link's wearing?" Impa asked.
"It's called the Fierce Deity Mask," Skull Kid said. "It grants its wearer invincibility at the cost of mental instability, so I thought what better way to spend all that energy than on a giant spider woman running loose."
"But that'll mean that Midna might die, right?" Zelda said, looking horrified.
"Depending on how much of a fight she puts up," Skull Kid said and was taken aback by everyone's glares. "Hey, I did you guys a favor here. If Link wasn't distracting Midna right now, the Twilight Realm would've encompassed Skyloft by now."
"But that doesn't give you the right to revive a dead hero and pit him against someone whose intentions were good," Zelda said sharply.
"Though her methods were questionable, yes?" Skull Kid marked. "In fact, she's a lot like Ganon when you think about it."
Zelda sighed. "As much as I'd hate to admit it, she isn't. Ganon wants to rule others for the sake of having power over them, while Midna just wants justice for crimes that have been committed by punishing both parties."
"Then you aren't going to revive the Light Spirits so you can kill her?"
"No, but I will find a way to remove the Fused Shadow from her and the Fierce Deity Mask from Link. Then, I'm going to defeat Ganon with the Light Spirits' aid. He's the real monster here."
"Ah, that may be true, but some monsters are closer than you think."
Skull Kid snapped his finger and caused Zelda to fall along with the others. He laughed as they fell toward the sky between the floating island with the Waterfall and the bridge that connected that island and the Zora District. Fortunately, Zelda was able to use her Talon Clasp to grab a nearby Skyloft Rail and use it to swing southwestward while the others did the same. Disappointed, Skull Kid focused on the Skyloft Rail and broke it in half with a wave of his hand.
Before they completely fell off, Zelda charged the Infinity Gauntlet and opened up a Puncture with another Skyloft Rail on the other side. Using all of her mental concentration, Zelda was able to mentally pull the Skyloft Rail through the Puncture and attach it to the falling one which caused it to straighten out. With the new rail-line, Zelda and the others safely made it into the Kokiri District where they hid beneath the trees while Skull Kid chuckled and flew away.
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Several hours later, the four made it into the Hylian District just as dawn broke. However, the sun was blocked by the yellow haze of the Twilight Realm. Also, Impa and Lana lost the ability to touch anything that was physical with Zelda being an exception. But then to Zelda's surprise, Sheik didn't seem to be affected by the Twilight Realm either as he was able to touch physical objects as easily as Zelda could.
Just as Zelda was pondering over this, she saw two familiar faces walking the street nearby.
"Professor Phosile! Tera!" Zelda cried, running toward them. "Thank goodness you're okay! I guess you managed to talk your way out of getting arrested, then?"
Professor Phosile blinked in surprise and said, "What are you talking about? My wife and I have a perfectly clean record! We've never been arrested in our lives!"
"Are you some kind of beggar?" Tera said nervously. "If its money you want, you won't get any by making wild accusations about us."
"No, I'm not begging," Zelda said. "I was just wondering if you could help me."
"With what?" Phosile asked. "We haven't got all day!"
"I'm looking for a hill," Zelda said plainly. "Do you know if there's one in the Hylian District?"
"Of course there is! Farore Hill which rests at the heart of the Hylian Park," Phosile said bluntly. "You know where that is, right?"
"I think so, but remind me."
"Take a left on Market Street, past the Hylian University, right on Shop Lane, and the Hylian Park is there," Phosile said and turned to leave. "Now I really must be going. My wife and I are late to our appointment with Mister Ghirahim as it is."
Upon hearing that name, Zelda cringed as Professor Phosile and Tera left.
"Didn't you know that they were good friends with Ganon's chief advisor?" Sheik said.
"Of course not! Where I come from, they weren't on good terms with Ganon and I don't think they ever met Ghirahim," Zelda replied.
To be continued…