Tails watched the world form around him as the blackness of Midna's warping him faded. It was just as it had finished fading, he realized that not only had the volcanic rock thawed the ice, freeing the Zoras and defrosting everything, but he also realized that this mean he was standing – for a very brief moment – in mid air, where the ice had been.
He flailed around a few moments before landing in the water, and quickly swam to one of the paths at the side of the room, shaking himself dry again, then peering in.
The rock was now at the bottom of the once-frozen depths. Spirits were swimming up, climbing out of the water, coughing and choking.
Those few who seemed to have found their voices were hoarsely wondering what had happened.
A couple others in the back were discussing the areas downstream. Apparently, the flow of water was faster than normal, and they were worried.
Tails and Midna otherwise paid them no heed.
"Who'd have thought something so dangerous would be so useful? Anyway, we should be able to visit the spirit of Lake Hylia now."
He made to leave, but an echoing voice called them back.
"Wait! Please, you must let me thank you for revitalizing both my people, and this spring."
They turned, seeing the ghost of a Zora. Judging by the ornate crown atop her head, the Queen of the Zoras.
"This spring is the source of all water for Hyrule. In life, I was Queen Rutelia, watching over both my people and this spring."
"Not to be rude or anything," Midna said, "But we didn't exactly do it for you guys."
"The dark ones raided here, and as a message to my people, executed me before them. You who has taken on the form of the feral beast, I have something to ask of you."
"You're popular," Midna complained. "How come no one asks me to do anything for them?"
Rutelia went on, ignoring her. "When they raided this village, I sent my son, Ralis, to Hyrule Castle to inform Princess Zelda of our fate. I fear, however, that danger befell him along his journey. His presence grows ever more fainter to me over time. Though I would give it gladly, my time in this world is up, and I have no life to give in the search for him. Please, save his life on my behalf. I will grant you the the ability to breathe underwater, as if you were of my people."
"Useful. We'll try and do what we can, but we've got our own quest too, you know."
"I await your return," Rutelia told them, fading out.
"I think we should help her. But, I don't think you ought to meet the prince as a wolf, huh? So, no hurry to go back to the world of light!"
She examined the rushing water. "This should wash us pretty much all the way to the light spirit's cave. That is where we want to go, right?"
He was still damp from last time in the water. Getting wet seemed to be unavoidable, so he jumped in, and just tried to keep himself above the surface, watching the surroundings go past.
Midna wasn't wrong – it was only a few moments swim from where the river deposited them to the tunnel leading to Lanayru's cavern.
The feeble light gave them the last of the vessels of light, commanding them to find the light tears stolen from it. Before they left, it gave a last warning.
"Beware... one of the tears will test you. It awaits as the last you will collect, hidden in the lake."
Tails loped back to Lake Hylia from the castle town. He'd collected the light tear he'd found there before, and all but one of the other bugs.
In the process, he'd opened another portal near Lake Hylia, and found another howling stone, Link this time telling him to meet him at the eastern gate to the castle town.
With just one tear left, he was worried. Lanayru had seen fit to give him a warning about it, as if it was something special. Neither of the other two spirits had done anything like that. Lanayru hadn't even given him any idea what to expect.
He'd decided not to trust warping there, in case the last bug tried to ambush him as he did so, which meant he'd have to leap off the bridge again. At least that way, he'd have a good view of the lake to figure out where it is.
It wasn't hard to miss. A circle formed from chunks of driftwood, out on the lake, was sparking as the bugs sometimes did. The sparks, however, encompassed all of the driftwood. Either there were a lot of bugs, or it was a very big one.
The sparks cut out as he swam close. His wolf senses flared, telling him there was definitely one here.
Pulling himself up onto a chunk and shaking the water out of his fur, he looked around. Everything lay still, eerily calm after seeing the sparks. Not even his wolf senses helped, except for the overwhelming smell confirming there was something here. Unlike usual, he left them on. He'd need them to see this bug.
Something stirred under the water, sending a mass of bubbles up to the surface. With a great crash, a disgustingly huge thing burst forth, flying in front of him. It's head was the only thing that made it look anything like the shadow bug he'd been expecting.
It dived at him before he could pick out any further details, sparking again. He jumped aside, with only just enough room on the driftwood for him to keep clear and not go into the water, turning to the bug again.
It dived again, forgetting to spark and not following through when it missed. This time he lunged, biting and tearing and scratching, trying to ignore the foul taste it left.
He was thrown off, and into the water, having to pull himself back up again. Trying to find the bug again, he looked wildly around, but saw no sign of it until the chunk of driftwood rocked violently.
Tails leapt from that chunk to another, and just in time – the giant bug shot up from underneath the chunk, sending it flying away.
Sparking once more, it dived again. He dodged once more, watching carefully as it swooped down for another attack, again forgetting to spark. Another jump at it, and it was writhing in pain once more as he hurt it for all he could.
A second time he was thrown off, this time only just managing to land on one of the remaining chunks of driftwood, watching as the thing dived underwater. He tried leaping to another chunk early, but it spotted him and reoriented on the new chunk.
Growling and snarling in annoyance, he waited, ready to jump as soon as it started upwards, making sure it was too late for the bug to change course.
The second chunk of driftwood was launched, leaving him with a choice of two pieces left now.
He dodged yet again, pouncing for a third time and ripping away again. It seemed to sag in front of him, throwing him off and landing, belly up, in the water, it's six horrible feet sticking up.
Not stopping to think, he jumped on top of it. Midna held the feet still while he dashed through each of them in rapid succession, tearing at each. With each one, the thing writhed more violently, until with the last one, it jumped up, throwing him into the water.
It seemed to try to fly again, but stopped, froze, and exploded, leaving behind the final tear of light.
While Midna collected it, he pulled himself onto the remaining intact piece of driftwood, panting hard from the battle. He sloshed some water around his mouth, trying to get rid of the taste it'd left him, then decided he wasn't getting any wetter, and using his paws as paddles, he made for Lanayru's cavern again.
Lanayru, restored, blazed forth again, his form looking a lot like a giant snake. Tails, now back in his own form, looked on from a small crag looking out over the spring below.
"Your efforts have at long last restored each of us light spirits in Hyrule. For that, we thank you. The dark power that you seek... it awaits in the Zora's temple, set in the bed of Lake Hylia. But before seeking it, we ask that you bear witness to something... and never forget it."
The scene changed. It was black all around. He was dressed as he had been before he'd been given the Hero's clothes, and Ilia stood beside him. He knew instantly it wasn't really her.
"You must know that it was the will of the goddesses that we lock away the forbidden power," Lanayru's voice spoke. "When all was chaos, the goddesses descended, and gave order and life to the world."
As the spirit spoke, a small area ahead of him lit up. A red light shot over it, then a blue, then a green. As each did so, it changed, until when they were done, it was a grassy area, with flowers and small bugs fluttering around.
"They granted power equally to all who dwelt in the light, and then returned to the heavens."
The three coloured lights flew toward the grassy area once more, drawing together. With a flash, they disappeared, leaving behind what he now recognised as the Triforce – a part of which, he remembered, had taken up residence in his hand.
"The lands where the goddesses descended came to be known as the Sacred Realm. For ages, the people lived at ease, content in mind and body. But soon, word of the Sacred Realm spread through Hyrule, and a great battle ensued."
The image of Ilia drove at him with a knife. He found he couldn't do anything, but his body seemed to retaliate, out of his control, suddenly dressed in the Hero's garb. His sword clattered to his feet as the Ilia image crumpled.
"Among those living in the light, interlopers who excelled at magic appeared. Wielding powerful sorcery, they tried to establish dominion over the Sacred Realm."
Now, three figures resembling Link, but in black instead of green, were atop the grassy area, around the Triforce. His view shifted. Now he was one of the three atop the hill, though his garb was still green, he knew that in this, Lanayru's story, he was one of the dark interlopers now.
A strange shape rose up around the area. He recognised it as being the Fused Shadows.
"It was then that the goddesses ordered us three light spirits to intervene," Lanayru continued. "We sealed away the great magic those individuals had mastered."
The Fused Shadows retracted back again. The two dark interlopers on either side puffed into nothingness... and himself not long after. He found himself looking at the scene, disembodied.
"You know this magic. It is the dark power you seek. The Fused Shadow."
Now, his view returned to normal, showing Lanayru's cavern. Lanayru had gone, but hadn't finished just yet.
"Oh hero chosen by the gods... beware. Those who do not know the danger of wielding power will, before long, be ruled by it. Never forget that." There was a long pause. "The dark power that you seek is sleeping within the Lakebed Temple in Lake Hylia... but heed our warning."
The spring was silent, save only for the sound of the water in it, as the rocks lit up.
Tails stood taking in what he'd learned, almost afraid. Was the Fused Shadow really worth the risk? If he had to use it... what would become of him? Lanayru's last comment on it left him with doubts, but he'd keep his promise to Midna, to the children, and to the gods who'd chosen him. He'd find the Fused Shadow, and fight Zant for them.
He left the cavern, ignoring the doubts, holding his head high with pride. He would not sink as low as Zant. He was better than that.