I've been waiting to write this all week. Starting it a bit earlier. Hooray to teacher strikes! Loads of schools are closed so we get the day off (ahem to revise). Enjoy guys! And thanks for reviewing and whatnot.

Chapter 4

In which leaders clash and Mr Tenacious returns

"King Bulblin." Zelda said, glaring at the seated Laviren.

A small sad smile played on his jaws as he met the princess' gaze.

"Aye, I am Bulblin. The Shade King spoke of you often Light One, though not in the most flattering of ways." His voice was deep and harsh, like a low growl that rumbled, making the very air itself shudder.

"The shade king?" Zelda asked, her tone guarded.

"I believe your people knew him as Zant the Usurper. He enslaved me, twisting my spirit into a monster's form, forcing me to take charge of an army, constantly pitting me against the guardians despite knowing I would surely lose." His voice cracked a little as bad memories threatened to overwhelm him.

"Then your arm?"

"Aye, Steel Fang destroyed my arm in one of our last battles." Upon seeing Zelda's confusion he continued. "To my people, your hero Link is known as Steel Fang on account of his reaping blade and jaws."

There was a pause while Bulblin composed himself. The scars on his mangled arm had become inflamed upon speaking of his time as a monster, though now they began to return to a passive white.

"But enough talk of the past. What brings you here Light One?"

"I was ambushed in the forest by monsters; they trapped me in the deeper regions for several days. I passed out and woke here."

"What brought you here?"

"To speak with the Light Spirits?"

"For what purpose?"

Zelda looked at him hard before answering.

"That is confidential."

"You still do not trust me?"

"Must I answer?" Zelda retorted.

Bulblin chuckled deeply, his growls making the leaves in the tree shudder.

"You will learn to trust me Light One, you can be sure of that."

"Why do you keep calling me Light One?" Zelda asked.

"Because Light One, when the final battle comes, you shall be the vessel of Light to carry out this task."

"You're speaking in riddles." Zelda growled accusingly, unable to decipher his words.

"Am I?"

The tension in the air between the two was almost tangible.

"Why did your people save me?" Zelda asked.

Bulblin leant forward, his muzzle wrinkling into a snarl.

"Because I made a promise to Steel Fang, and it was one I do not intend to either break nor forget." The last phrase was aimed specifically at Zelda, who clenched her fists and glared daggers back.

Dal, seeing the impeding argument, placed himself between the two leaders.

"When can we leave Bulblin?"

"When Kalisha deems you fit to travel. Until then, you have free rein of the village. You may go."

Zelda turned on her heel and left. Dal dipped his head in apology and hurried after her.

Once they were out of earshot of Bulblin's hut, Zelda spoke.

"He has some nerve…" she spat, fists still clenched.

"Zelda…not to burst your bubble or anything…but this is his pride. And no-one came to their aid when they were attacked. I know you weren't the ruler at the time so it wasn't your fault but even so their species has been reduced from a nomad population of over twenty prides to one. They have every right to be angry."

Zelda leant against a tree, her cranium pressed against the rough bark so she was looking up into the tangle of branches overhead.

"I know Dal, I'm just…so powerless. I hate it. I'm a Princess for Nayru's sake, with the triforce of wisdom to boot yet all I can seem to do is cause even more chaos."

"That isn't true…" Dal assured her. "Without you, Ganondorf would've destroyed Link, Silver and Epona. Without you, Hyrule Town would still be in ruins. You're power isn't through brute strength like Silver and Link, it's through your ability to lead. To plan strategies and gain allies. You are the very opposite of powerless. If Link or Silver are outmatched in strength, what can they do. They turn to you, to use your wisdom to find a way around it."

Zelda sighed, still doubtful of the wolf's praise.

"I guess."

"Zelda, you need to stop relying on Link's allies to help you. If, Din forbid, Link were to get hurt or die even, where would that leave Hyrule? You need to start uniting everyone. Finish what your father started."

The princess looked down at Dal, a small smile on her face.

"You would make a great leader Dal. You know that."

"You are as notoriously hard to kill as ever."

Link whimpered and opened his eyes. At first the world was a smudged blur, it took a few blinks to be able to actually see.

The wolf looked around. A greyish blue face dipped into his field of view.

"Could change back please?" the zora asked.

Link dipped his head and concentrated on the mist. In a flurry of grey he was a hylian again.

"How do you feel?"

Link glared at the zora. His legs hurt like hell and his lungs burned. He had a migraine that hurt like nobody's business.

"Here, drink this."

The zora handed Link a bowl. Propping himself up on one elbow, he downed the pale blue liquid. The drink was fizzy, burning his throat. Link fought the urge to gag, swallowing it with a grimace.

"It's Air Potion. Not the nicest thing in the world but it's the closest thing we have to liquid oxygen. Apparently, long ago, humans concocted a potion of almost pure liquid oxygen that can satisfy the need to breathe for 12 hours. But alas, that recipe is lost to time."

Sure enough, the burning in Link's lungs ceased as did his headache. The zora then filled the bowl partways with red potion.

"To get rid of the bruises on your legs. It won't do anyone any good if you can't stand."

Link accepted the bowl and drank again, grimacing at the test. Torn muscles knitted back together and bruises retreated like closing flower buds.

"Right you're good to go. Prince Ralis said you had better change into your zora armor. It's a long swim."

Link inwardly groaned. Signing his thanks to the zora, he got up. The zora left and Link quickly changed into the blue chainmail armour Rutela had given him.

The chamber he had been in was sparsely decorated, with a plain cot made of coral and swatched with blankets. A table of medical instruments and globule of glowing algae hanging in a translucent coral cage from the ceiling, giving the room a warm red glow, extenuated by the ripples reflected onto the walls. Stowing all his items in his pouch, shield and sword included, he hung the clawshots off his belt and walked to the end of the chamber. A circular pool of water that led to a tunnel beneath the surface betrayed the complex of chambers reminiscent of a beaver's lodge. Lowering himself into the water, Link swam down in the tunnel.

The tunnel was lined with more coral lanterns of varying shades of blue, that gave the tunnel an other-worldly quality. On entering the tunnel, a zora child with turquoise scales met him. Fins grew from around her waist giving her a skirt of thin silver membrane.

"This way!" she chimed, her voice muffled by the water.

She led him through the maze of tunnels until they surfaced in a round chamber. Climbing out of the water, Link shook himself like a dog and thanked the zora. She smiled and curtsied before diving back beneath the waves.

In the chamber was seated Silver and Ralis as well as some zora officials Link vaguely remembered rescuing from the ice. Upon seeing him, the wolfos leapt at him. Link dropped to one knee to hug the wolfos.

"Warn me before you come up with another Link Plan." She said as she nuzzled his shoulder.

Link chuckled and squeezed her tighter before standing up. Ralis stood up and gestured to the chairs placed at the long table.

"Please, take a seat." He said.

The room was not lavishly decorated, yet furnished in such a way it gave a feeling of royalty. The walls were smooth rippled stone eroded by the constant presence of water. Coral lanterns adorned the centre of the ceiling in the shape of Nayru's crest. The room was dome like and many aquatic plants bloomed in alcoves on the wall. The room was dominated by a great table of smooth cool stone the colour of the dark water that seemed to have grown up from the ground itself. Unlike the gorons, it had been coaxed into shape by jets of water, giving it a feeling of wholeness. The light reflected off the surface of the pool sent ripples dancing across the table, making it appear like the surface of a lake itself. The chair at the head of the table was made in a similar fashion, adorned with coral and algae so that it glowed a faint silver in the blue light of the lanterns. The rest of the chairs were carved from smooth driftwood, engraved with worls and ripples that reflected the dancing ripples on the table and walls.

Ralis sat at the head of the table, his head barely reaching halfway up the back of the chair. He was young even by hylian standards. Barely fourteen, and short for age to boot. Yet despite his small stature he radiated a clam authority and his eyes, glistening like bottomless lakes under the cover of a blanket of stars, had an ageless wisdom that transcended his age. He wore a necklace that covered from his shoulders to his chin, with a golden neck brace and sdusky pink scales that matched his lilac skin. The zora sapphire hung by a golden chain in front of his sternum and two golden triangles embossed with pale blue coral hung either side of the gem.

On either side of the table sat his advisors and officals, all of varying shades of red, orange and brown. They watched Link and Silver with a mixture of awe and suspicion.

"It's been too long Link, Silver." Ralis said. "And despite the circumstances, I am heartened to see you both once again. I owe you both a great debt."

As he said this he glanced at some of the other zoras. Obviously many of the zoras still viewed him with distrust.

"So tell me Link, what has transpired since we last met."

Link opened his mouth and closed it. On seeing this, Ralis smiled.

"Do not worry, the zora sapphire is linked to the triforce inside you, I will hear your message and for the benefit of the counsel, translate."

Link noticed one of the zora's clench her fist as Ralis spoke. It seemed he and Silver was not the only ones causing friction in the amphibious race.

Link then recounted what had transpired since he had last seen the young zora. Where he faltered Silver would add her voice or correct him. Partway through, Ralis ordered food and drink brought, so long was the report. Though in the underwater caverns there was no way to judge what time of day it was, a great many hours passed. No one interrupted their tale, awed by the sheer amount of what had happened. Link and Silver did not reveal everything that happened however, keeping the most crucial secrets hidden such as Link's identity as a grey and Epona's connection to Nubia. And Ralis himself chose not to translate many facts also, giving only the basics of what happened for fear of giving the officials too much leverage over the other races. When at last it was finished, no one had the voice to ask any questions.

"Much has happened Link. It would seem trouble follows you like piranhas an injured kelpie."

"Tell me about it…" Silver muttered.

"You really are Mr Tenacious. But its late, I'm sure many of us would like to sleep on what you have said. We'll continue this tomorrow morning."

He stood and the zora's followed suit, filing out of the room disappearing down the tunnels. When they had gone, Ralis walked up to Link.

"Link, I understand the Goriya are patrolling the surface. But I fear you may have just jumped out of the jellyfish pool and into the kelpie's lair." Link and Silver exchanged glances. "Many would want the throne because they deem me too young to rule. Rutela broke all the rules by becoming queen after my father's death. The traditionalists do not like to have their nice neat rules thrown in disarray once more. Since the death of the water sage, our race has fallen. You must locate her, for if you do not, only terrible things can happen."

Link knelt so that he was eye-level with the small king. Placing one hand on the boy's shoulder, he smiled. He would not see the destruction of the zoras, even if he had to personally beat some sense into the old zoras. Next to him, Silver touched her muzzle on his other shoulder.

"We won't let them over throw you. We've seen enough usurpation already. Sometimes, the greatest leaders, are the ones in the least likely of places." She looked at Link as she said this.

Ralis smiled.

"You are very wise Silver."

"You call it wisdom, I call it common sense."

Ralis chuckled, his voice like the faint tinkling of rain on water.

Link stood and went to leave.

"Oh and Silver." Ralis said.

The wolfos turned around as Ralis held up a beautifully embroidered dark blue helm, with a dull grey lightweight head covering of interlocking plates and tiny glowing coral lanterns to light the way. The muzzle on the helm was cone of silky zora armour material that allowed her to breathe underwater much like Link's mouth mask. The back of the helm had the zora tail stretching back as was custom of all zora armour.

"So that you way breathe underwater. It is made of the same material as Link's armour."

Silver held still as Ralis slipped it over her head.

"Thank you."

"No, thank-you."

Then the two companions leapt into the water.

Well, that was interesting. But oh Din Ralis is so short and ickle and aw. He's so adorable, acting all kingly. Politics is really cruel on kids. Anways, do review and whatnot. I love them and do reply to them. And I'll see you all next week.