"It's about time, sleepyhead." Tifa giggled. "I was going to put one of those small animals with the claws down your shirt if you slept much longer."

The taste and smell of salt overwhelmed Kari's senses as he woke up to find Tifa's head hanging over him. She backed away as he lifted his head off the ground, spitting sand out of his mouth. He slowly rose to his feet and checked his sleeve pocket for the Wind Waker. It was still there, but his clothes were drenched. He glanced around at his surroundings, his hand feeling the scratch beneath his chin from Zant's blade.

So he really had gone under the water? But how had he survived? And where were Link and the others?

Tatl rested on the Kokiri's shoulder. "You mean a crab, Tifa? Why not slap a starfish on his face while we're at it? It'd be a riot to see him pull it off!"

The Kokiri giggled with her fairy partner. She knelt in the sand, her small body shaking slightly from the cold. "That sounds like fun!" She paused. "But what's a starfish?"

"Would you two stop joking around?" he snapped. "Your laughter and games are inappropriate for the situation we're in." He used the Wind Waker to blow the sand off his clothes, kicking up a small cloud of sand in the process. It did more harm than good as the powder jumped in everyone's faces and back on his clothes.

"Great job, genius," Tatl said between coughs, trying to rub the sand from her eyes. "You need to joke around a bit more. Stop being so uptight."

"Yeah, Mister," Tifa agreed, spitting the excess sand from her mouth. "Would it hurt you to smile once in a while?"

Kari crossed his arms. "We are separated from the rest of our friends in a strange land. We do not even know where they are or if they are alive. What is there to smile about?"

Tatl and Tifa were both silent. The fairy brushed the dirt out of the Kokiri's hair.

The Sheikah took their silence for submission and grunted smugly. He looked out to the beach and to the endless ocean of blue. "How did we get here anyways? The last thing I remember is going under."

Tifa's teeth chattered. Her clothes were still wet and the chilly air did little to help. "Y-you saved us. I saw you fly out of the w-water, glowing l-like a f-firefly." She wrapped her arms around her body for warmth. "Then a giant w-water tornado appeared and k-killed the bad monster. BAM!" Her hands spread out to imitate an explosion. "T-then you flopped back to the ground."

"That's when Atrayu rescued you," Tatl continued, snuggling against the Kokiri girl for warmth. "Those of us who couldn't swim or were unconscious, she placed on ship debris so we could ride the current. We rode it to the shore here, but everyone else was taken in different directions."

Kari untied his cape and wrapped it around the small girl. "This should keep you warm." He looked out to the ocean. The sound of the waves seemed to mesmerize him for several seconds as the wind toyed with his hair. "Why do I remember none of this?"

"Because you were completely out of it. The entire trip ashore you were mumbling something about Kasuto this and Midna that." Now that Tifa was warmer, Tatl flew into the air to look at their surroundings. She scanned for anything recognizable. "Do you have a thing for that creepy lady? Link certainly seems to."

The Sheikah coughed nervously. "That is of little importance. What we need now is to figure out where we are. A map would be most helpful."

At last, she saw the peaks of Snowhead in the distance. Now she had her bearings. "Well, lucky for you, I know where we are. Welcome to Great Bay, western coast of the great land of Termina."

Tifa looked at the fairy with curiosity. "Tatl? How do you know so much about this place? I didn't know you've adventured outside the forest."

The fairy paused. "Well, Tifa, this was my home. I used to live here before I stumbled into the Lost Woods." She flew further down the beach. "Anyways, let's go this way. It'll take us to Clock Town where we're sure to find someone. And if not, at least we can get supplies."

"Wait!" Tifa shrieked, patting her clothes frantically with her hands. She got down on all fours and began digging at the sand. "My ocarina! It's gone!"

Kari grunted in disgust. "Foolish child. How could you lose such a precious artifact?"

Tatl flew inches from the wind tamer's face. "Don't you dare insult my Tifa! Only I can do that!"

The forest sage stopped her search and began to sob. "I know I had it on the beach. All I did was take a short nap. And now it's gone!"

The fairy flew through the ship wreckage and around the beach. Tifa continued rummaging through the sand. Kari stood silently with his arms crossed, his eyes carefully scanning the coast. Yet, there was still no sign of the instrument.

Tatl flew into Kari's face again. "Don't just stand there! Help us look!"

Kari shook his head. "You are wasting your time. It is not here."

The forest sage began to cry. "Will I ever see it again? That was a gift from Link."

Tatl quickly flew to Tifa's side. "Of course we'll see it again. We just have to look harder." She cast a dirty glance in Kari's direction. "What makes you so certain it's not here?"

The Sheikah's finger pointed to footprints etched into the sand. They led away from the shore. "It looks like someone stole it. Those footprints lead away from the beach and up the cliff. They must've stolen it while Tifa was asleep and then climbed up to avoid leaving a trail. I doubt we could catch him."

"So we should just leave it?" Tatl asked incredulously.

"Precisely," Kari said. He began walking towards Clock Town. "If the goddesses will it, then it will show up again. Worrying will help nothing." He turned around briefly. "Are you coming? We must find our friends. There is precious little time to waste."

"We can't just let them get away with it," Tatl said, flying close enough to the Sheikah so Tifa wouldn't overhear their conversation.

"Then how do you suppose we recover it?" Kari asked, stopping momentarily to turn around and look at the fairy.

"Can't you just track whoever did it?"

The Sheikah folded his arms. "I am not an animal. Without a visible trail, I am useless. Especially on unfamiliar terrain."

Tatl groaned. "What good are you then?" She flew up and down as she thought. "I guess we have no choice but to move on then."

"That is exactly what I am saying. It will turn up eventually. I am sure of it."

The fairy rolled her eyes. "Then why don't you tell Tifa that? I'll be lucky if I can get her to stop crying."

Tatl flew back to the crying Kokiri and did her best to calm the girl down. As expected, it took a lot of consoling to stop the crying, and even more to get Tifa to move from that spot. Even then, as she walked, her quiet sniffling could be heard as the trio moved towards Clock Town.

As they traveled, Tatl soaked in her surroundings. She had traveled these same beaches with the Hero of Time long ago. To see the land changed so much on her homecoming was bittersweet. The water was more pristine and the air felt lighter than her last visit here. She fondly recalled the exhilaration of breaking into the pirates' fortress, avoiding electric eels underwater, and the surprise of learning an island was in fact a giant turtle. Great Bay may not have been her favorite part of the journey with the Hero, but it was a memorable part nonetheless.

Tatl often looked on those days saving Termina as some of her favorite. They might not have been the easiest, but at least she had felt like she was truly alive. Compared to those experiences, the years after were all a blur, grouped together in a clump of uneventful memories that mattered little to her. The only exception was meeting Tifa. The two instantly bonded, and they took joy in their adventures together outside the village. Yet, they both longed for something more, to be a part of something greater.

Now, they finally had that opportunity. The stakes were as high as they ever were. Not just Termina's fate, but possibly the whole world, hung in the balance. Instead of accompanying the Hero, she was the proud guardian of the Forest Sage. Not quite the assignment the fairy imagined, but she took it seriously. The excitement that had coursed through her when Termina's fate was in question now pumped through her once again. And she had Tifa to share it with. This quest had its share of difficulties, but that's what made it exciting and worthwhile. Of course, she would never say any of these thoughts aloud.

The group continued in silence for a while, pausing to rest when necessary but never spending too long in one place. The beach seemed to stretch forever, the mucky sand hampering every step of their progress. Crabs and gulls darted out of their way. Shells cracked beneath their feet. Even the wind seemed against them, throwing chilly gusts on their wet clothes to make the trek even more miserable.

"We should arrive at Clock Town in a few hours if we keep up this pace," Tatl finally broke the tense silence.

Kari was just behind her. He looked over his shoulder and slowed his pace when he saw Tifa struggling to keep up. "You said earlier you used to live here, Tatl. Is that how you know this place so well?"

The fairy nodded, flying behind to urge Tifa on with a gentle push to her back.

"Why did you leave?" the Sheikah asked.

Tatl paused, the crunching of their footsteps in the sand and the roaring of the waves filling the void left by her silence. She flew above Tifa's head and landed in her hair, bouncing up and down to the Kokiri's pace. "I wanted to get as far from this place as possible. Explore the world a bit."

The Sheikah nodded, his eyes now scanning the top of the cliffs to their right. Again, he had seen something from the corner of his eye, but the blur moved before he could catch it. Only a few small pebbles toppled down the cliff from where the mysterious figure had been. He had been playing this game of cat and mouse for several hours now, but he was never able to get more than a faint glimpse.

Were they being followed?

"I do not believe you, Tatl," the wind tamer said. "Home is a place that is not easily left behind. Something stronger must have compelled you to leave."

The fairy hesitated for a moment. "I guess you caught me in a lie," she said. "It's not much of a story, but I'll tell you if you really want to know." She jumped out of the Kokiri's hair and took the lead again, flying backwards to face them. "I once saved Termina with a friend of mine. But then that friend left for his own land. I stayed behind for a while with my brother, but I grew bored with life here. I began to wonder what my friend was doing. I left to see if I could find him, eventually stumbling into the Lost Woods where I met Tifa. I've been her partner ever since."

Kari nodded, his eyes still scanning the cliffs. "Did you find your friend?"

"I guess you could say that."

Kari stopped where he was and pointed to where he had seen the shadow atop the cliff. "Well, it seems someone has found us as well. And it seems they've been following us for quite a while. Perhaps it's our ocarina thief."

"My ocarina! We can get it back!" Tifa said, speaking for the first time since their departure. She blocked the sun with her hand and squinted at the cliffs. "Where are they? I don't see anyone up there."

"You'll never see him. He is too quick. I will go investigate." Kari said, pointing to the ground. "Stay here. You two will only slow me down."

The pair had no time to protest before the wind tamer bolted away from them, jumping and leaping up the cliff with little effort. The view from the summit was much better, and Kari could see for miles. The ocean stretched endlessly in one direction. Just to the right of that, large mountains covered in snow clawed at the landscape. Still further right, a large city rested in the middle of a vast field. A column of smoke rose from its center, tickling the Sheikah's curiosity. A smoke signal perhaps? He had no time to dwell on it.

He scanned the ground around him but discovered nothing but large boulders and dried up plants. There was no noticeable sign of their pursuer, yet his intuition told him otherwise.

"I know you are here, whoever you are. And I know you have been following us. I have no wish to harm you, but you have taken something from us and we need it back."

Only the stones seemed to hear his words, and they made no effort to respond. Kari waited a while, toying with the idea of blowing them away with a strong gust. However, at last, an older man emerged from behind one of the larger boulders.

Except it was not an ordinary man. The marking tattooed to his forehead. The tanto attached to his hip. The clothing designed for stealth. The red eyes. Was it even possible? Could this man be of the same tribe?

"How can I be sure you mean me no harm?" the man responded, looking Kari over with skepticism. His eyes darted like small fireflies, looking the Sheikah up and down to size him up. "How do I know you do not have hundreds of soldiers surrounding me even now, hidden amongst the rocks? Or that you do not have a powerful weapon hidden, ready to blow this entire cliff to tiny pieces?"

"You…you are like me," Kari said in disbelief. His eyes soaked in every detail of the stranger's appearance. He appeared to be slightly taller and older, perhaps even in his forties. Long, brown hair flowed down his back in a braid, while his face was rugged with facial hair. He looked like he hadn't shaved in weeks. His clothes were ragged and dirty. His red eyes were wide and constantly on the alert, like he was being hunted. Still, there was no denying the tattoo on his forehead or the color of his eyes. The more he scrutinized, the more convinced the wind tamer became of his conclusion. "You are a Sheikah!"

"How did you know that?" the stranger replied. His face was pale and he looked around nervously. "Have you been spying on me? Did I blurt it out without realizing it? Or perhaps someone is onto my secret?" He stopped for a moment, finally looking Kari in the eyes. "Wait…you're a Sheikah too!"

"I am not alone after all," Kari said, dropping to his knees as if a burden had rolled off his back. A long and tiresome burden. A small tear fell from his cheek and splotched against the cold, dry ground. "Finally. I had given up hope…but the Goddesses answered my prayers after all."

The stranger looked on and shifted his weight uncomfortably. "Umm…did you get something in your eye? Can I help you with that?"

"Forgive me," Kari said, wiping away a tear. "I-I should not be losing control. It's just…I thought I was the last one." The Sheikah knew he sounded like a sobbing child, but he couldn't help himself. The despair, the hurt, the loss; everything he had locked away started to crack through his carefully constructed barriers. "I thought…I had been cursed as the sole survivor. You have no idea what it feels like to be completely alone."

The stranger just nodded. "I might know a thing or two about that."

The wind tamer slowly rose to his feet, rubbing his eyes one last time before standing to face the man. "I ask your forgiveness. I hope my tears have not scared you off."

The man smiled. "It doesn't take much to scare me to be honest." He walked over to a medium-sized rock and sat down. "The name's Zili. And yours?"

Kari relaxed slightly and leaned against a nearby boulder. A small smile crept to his lips. He couldn't believe he was really talking to another live Sheikah. "I am called Kari." He looked quickly to Tifa and Tatl. He wondered how they would react to this new development.

Zili followed his gaze. "And what of those two? Are they dangerous?"

The wind tamer paused. "They can be. But they would never harm you."

The older Sheikah grunted. "Lots of people say that before they try and murder you."

Kari chuckled. "But one is just a child and the other is a fairy. You are from a clan that dwells in the shadows. What can they possibly do to you?"

"I can think of a few things." Zili began counting his fingers. "They could try to drown me. Or kill me in my sleep. Or throw me in a volcano. Or poison my food. The list goes on."

The wind tamer shook his head. This man was being serious. "You have lived a very sad existence, haven't you?"

Zili nodded. "Yup. It happens when you've lived on these cliffs for as long as I have." He jumped off his seat. "So what brings a fellow Sheikah to a place like this? With an ancient relic of the Royal Family no less?"

Kari stood up straight. "You mean the ocarina?"

Zili pulled the Ocarina of Time from a pouch around his belt. "It hasn't been seen since the age of the Hero. To turn up now, here of all places, can be no accident."

"Is that why you took it?"

"Yes. I live to serve and protect the Royal Family." Zili put the ocarina back in his pouch and scratched his unkempt beard. "I cannot have such precious artifacts in the hands of thieves."

Kari folded his arms. "So you thought we were thieves?"

"I did until now. No Sheikah would betray the Royal Family."

"So we really do serve the Royal Family?"

Zili looked at the wind tamer like he was stupid. "Are you joking? Were you paying attention when your parents told you that Sheikah serve the Royal Family from birth until death?"

Kari looked away. "I have a good explanation for that. But it will have to wait."

"Why not now? " Zili glared at him. "Are you hoping I'll let down my guard so you can stab me in the back?"

The wind tamer looked back at him. "Because I am on an urgent mission from Zelda and there is little time to waste."

"You mean Princess Zelda?"

"She is actually a queen now."

"Queen?" Zili gasped, looking down at the ground. He began to pace around. "I really have been here a long time," he mumbled to himself. "How many years has it been since I've seen Hyrule?"

"That ocarina was placed in our possession by the Sages with Zelda's blessing," Kari said. He attempted to smile. "Can I have it back, please?"

Zili stopped pacing and looked hesitantly at the instrument. "What will you do with it?"

"It would take too long to explain now." His eyes brightened as an idea struck him. "But come with me! I want to hear what has happened with our tribe. And I can explain the ocarina's importance to my quest."

Zili rolled the proposal over in his mind. His eyes darted between Tatl and Tifa at the base of the cliff, Kari, and the ocarina in his hand.

"Do you promise to defend me if your friends try to assassinate me?"

Kari hesitated. He couldn't believe he even had to answer this question. "Yes, I promise."

This seemed to put Zili temporarily at ease. "Then I guess I can accompany you for a short while, to verify your story and ensure the ocarina is in good hands. " He paused. "However, keep in mind I have my own mission from the Royal Family that I must complete."

"What sort of mission?"

Zili looked down the shore, where the coast and cliffs extended for miles, and finally returned a smile. "I will tell you later. Introduce me to your friends first."

Kari agreed and the two climbed back down the cliff to where Tifa and Tatl had been waiting. At the fairy's suggestion, the forest sage had built a small sand castle to keep her mind off the stolen ocarina. The walls and a few towers had been built, and now she worked on a barrier to stem off the approaching tide. They both looked up as they heard the soft footfalls of the approaching Sheikah.

"What took you so long?" Tatl demanded, flying protectively in front of Tifa. "And who is this?"

"Is this a good idea?" Zili whispered in Kari's ear. "What if there is a bomb hidden in that castle?"

Kari ignored the comment. "Tifa, Tatl, this is Zili. He is a fellow Sheikah."

Tifa finished patting some dirt and looked up. She waved to him with sand-covered hands. "Hi, Mr. Ziti. Are you one of Kari's friends?"

Tatl did not warm to him so quickly. "Tifa…how can you be so naïve? How do you know he's not the one who stole your ocarina?"

Kari quickly jumped in. "It was all a misunderstanding. Zili came here to give it back." He nodded in the forest sage's direction. "Isn't that right, Zili?"

The other Sheikah hesitated before stepping towards the forest sage. "You do not have hidden weapons in that castle, do you?"

Tifa looked at him innocently. "Why would I do that?"

Zili saw Kari gazing sternly at him from the corner of his eye.

"It's nothing. Here is your ocarina, little girl." Tatl watched his every move as Zili dropped the instrument into the Kokiri's hands and quickly backed away. Tifa held it close and nuzzled it like a small animal.

"Thank you, Mr. Ziti."

The fairy began to relax a little but did not let Zili out of her sight. "Good. Now that we have it back, he can get lost, right?"

Kari shook his head. "I like your sarcasm, Tatl."

"I wasn't being sarcastic," Tatl grumbled to herself. She glared at Kari and spoke louder. "He stole Tifa's ocarina. How can we trust him?"

The wind tamer folded his arms. "He is a Sheikah. I trust him. If he leaves, then I go with him."

Tatl paused before responding. She didn't like Zili. But if Kari wasn't there, who was left to protect them?

"Fine. Do what you want. I'll take Tifa and go on ahead," she replied. "She pulled at the Kokiri's finger. "Come along now, dear."

Kari nodded. "And we will follow shortly behind you."

The fairy had no objection to this. She was willing to compromise as long as the stranger kept a safe distance away.

The group marched along the beach with Tifa and Tatl up front while Zili and Kari took the rear. Time seemed to fly by as the two Sheikah exchanged stories. Kari explained their quest to awaken the remaining sages. He told about how they had found the Ocarina of Time and why it belonged to Tifa now. He talked about his last memories of Kasuto, his mysterious slumber, and how he had finally awoken to discover Link. By the end of his story, Zili's head was spinning.

"I know it is a lot to absorb," Kari admitted with a chuckle. "To be honest, there is still a lot I do not understand. Like what put me to sleep in the first place or why I awoke now of all times. But I do not let such questions bother me. I live my life one day at a time and trust the Goddesses brought me here for a purpose."

Zili nodded. "I see. And I'm honored that you trust me with such sensitive information. If you weren't a Sheikah, I'm not sure I would believe everything."

"I am just glad to have someone who is willing to listen," the wind tamer said, smiling and letting the cool breeze caress his cheek. "Do you spar, Zili?"

"Of course. Don't all Sheikah?"

Kari's entire face lit up. "Finally! Someone who understands! I only have one other person willing to spar with me. But he fights differently, so it is not always an even match." He placed a hand on Zili's shoulder. "When we stop to rest, you and I should have a quick sparring match."

The older Sheikah cringed. "But what if one of us accidentally injures the other? Or breaks a limb? Or worse?"

Kari gave Zili a gentle pat. "You worry too much. It will be fun."

Zili shrugged his shoulders. "I have not had a sparring match since I left Hyrule. Time certainly seems to pass by without us noticing."

Kari nodded, his smile suddenly disappearing. "This brings up another subject I have been meaning to ask you. What has happened to our people in my absence? I have heard pieces from Zelda, but I want to hear it from you."

Zili's gaze dropped to the ground. "It is not a pretty tale. After all, there is a reason there are so few of us left. Are you sure you want to hear it?"

The wind tamer nodded. "I have already experienced the pain of losing my people. It would help me to know how it happened. Especially what happened to Kasuto."

Zili placed a hand over Kari's mouth. "Don't utter that name so loudly," he hissed. "It could get us cursed."

Kari pushed his hand away. "Ridiculous! How?"

"Well, it's a name I was taught not to speak lightly. It is seen as a bad omen."

Kari sighed. "So my home has become a curse word. Great." He waved his hand at Zili. "Please, begin your story."

"If you insist," the older Sheikah said. "It sounds like you blacked out shortly after Kas—your village was destroyed. In that case, I'll pick up from there."

Kari prepared mentally for the worst as Zili began.

"No one actually knows why your village was destroyed or where the monsters came from, but the legends say after some point, the monsters all just vanished. After that, the leader of the Sheikah, perhaps to avenge his fallen people, waged war against the rest of Hyrule. He sought to use powerful weapons called Fused Shadows to claim the Sacred Realm for himself."

Kari's stomach lurched in his chest. He knew who that leader had to be.

"At first, we dominated the war with this powerful magic. None of the other races, Hylian included, had the ability to stand against us. We were on the cusp of claiming the Sacred Realm, but the Light Spirits intervened. They sealed away the Fused Shadows and put an end to the war for good. By then, a large amount of blood had been spilled on both sides."

"Then what of the Sheikah survivors?" Kari asked. "Surely they were not all wiped out."

Zili shook his head. "A small fraction of the tribe did not support this madman and his attempt to seize the Triforce. They understood he was violating Hylia's instructions and did not wish to take part in the rebellion."

The wind tamer nodded. "So there were some who participated and some who didn't? What happened to the survivors from both groups?"

"Those who followed the madman were charged with treason and various war crimes after their defeat. Their punishment was imprisonment in an alternate dimension, later to be called the Twilight Realm. It is there that they and their descendants stay until this day."

Kari mumbled quietly. "That's where Midna was…does that make her…?"

Zili continued with his story. "Those who didn't participate in the conflict were granted a pardon by the Hylians. With their society decimated and their leader dead, my ancestors were offered an opportunity to serve the Hylian Royal Family as they had in the days of Hyrule's founding. They accepted, and the age-old conflict between Hylians and Sheikah was finally put to rest."

Kari nodded. "Many things make sense now. But that still does not explain why our tribe is nearly extinct."

"I'm getting there," Zili said. "Our foolish effort to take over the Sacred Realm unfortunately inspired others to do the same. It took several decades for the seeds of greed to grow. As word of the Sacred Realm spread and political instability swept through the land, every race became hungry for the Triforce. War once again broke out. The Royal Family used us as their weapons to gain the upper hand. Our sacred places became torture facilities, and we stained our hands with blood all in the name of protecting the Sacred Realm. Eventually, the war came to an end, and the Royal Family brought all of Hyrule under one banner. This war became known as the Unification War. Hyrule finally became the unified, peaceful nation we know today. Yet, it came at the cost of our tribe, with only a handful of survivors remaining."

"Such terrible losses," Kari said.

Zili nodded. "Not all hope was lost though. Not long after the war, Hylia was once again reborn into the world. We were able to serve her once again like in ages past."

"I see," Kari said solemnly. "And I wonder if she walks among us even now." He looked around. "So why are you here in this land instead of Hyrule protecting the Royal Family?"

Zili smirked. "I am protecting the Royal Family. Ever since the Unification War, each monarch has had a Sheikah by their side as a personal servant and bodyguard. I serve under Zelda's father, the King of Hyrule."

Kari nodded. "That still does not explain why you are out here."

"I was given an important mission, one whose failure could threaten Hyrule's national security. That mission has brought me here, where I have been waiting for the opportune time to complete it."

"And that mission is?"

Zili looked around them. It appeared as if Tifa and Tatl were out of earshot. "I cannot just blurt it out. What if there is an enemy that overhears it? And they warn the subject I am pursuing? And then my subject gets away? And then all of Hyrule is destroyed because of it?"

"Then whisper it," Kari suggested. "I swear upon my father's grave that I will not tell without your permission."

"Very well," Zili consented. He leaned in close and covered Kari's ear with his hand. "There is a dragon that lives on the cliffs close to this beach. It is extremely dangerous and a threat to Hyrule's safety. I have been tracking its movement for years, looking for the opportune time to kill it. But it is too strong for me to handle myself. So I have had to bide my time."

"My friend and I would be happy to help." Kari said.

"What was that?"

Kari smirked. "Link and I will help you. I have never known him to walk away from a fight. And I would never leave a fellow Sheikah in need."

Zili paused. "If you are willing, I would greatly appreciate the help. When it is dead, then I can finally return to Hyrule."

"There is just one condition," Kari said. "When we return to Hyrule, I want you to show me where Kasuto is. I need to…I need to see it with my own eyes."

"Do you really want to visit such a cursed place?"

Zili knew the answer to his question the moment he looked into Kari's eyes. There was no mistaking the fiery determination in the young Sheikah.

"Sorry. I see no point to visiting such a place, but I will take you there if you wish. That is a promise."

"STOP!" Tatl yelled.

The two Sheikah were so absorbed in their conversation that they did not even notice they were about to topple over Tifa.

"Did you seriously not see us stop in front of you?" Tatl asked, not afraid to hover inches in front of them.

"No," Kari said. "What is the problem?"

"Colin and the animal lady are back!" Tifa yelled, still holding tightly to her ocarina. "And they have a fishy friend!"

Sure enough, the two groups had found one another by accident. Rishu, Colin, and Atrayu had bumped into Kari and the others while fleeing Clock Town.

"You guys look horrible," Kari commented on the bruises and injuries plaguing all three of them. "What happened?"

"Clock Town under attack," Colin said, his lungs breathing heavily. "Headed to Zora Hall."

"Under attack?" Zili asked. "From what?"

Rishu pushed them on. "No time to talk now. Follow us and we'll explain on the way."

"Just move it!" Atrayu shouted. "Or we'll leave you behind."

Kari was unsure of what to make the situation. For once, Colin and Atrayu agreed on something. Whatever had them moving so urgently was probably not worth investigating.

"Are you coming, slowpoke?" Tatl asked. "Tifa and I are going with them."

Her comment snapped the wind tamer out of his thoughts. "Of course. Are you coming, Zili?"

"I suppose so. Being overrun by whatever's attacking Clock Town doesn't sound very attractive."

Zora Hall was home to most of the Zora in Termina. It was built into a large island shaped like a seashell and required diving underwater to gain entry. Once inside, the main cavern was very spacious, with a lofty ceiling and plenty of open space in the center. A large open seashell served as a central stage for performances by Rishu and his band. Small waterfalls flowed throughout the hall, while a small moat surrounded the stage. The water reflected the torchlight onto the walls, creating a rippling pattern that made the walls appear like they were moving. As was to be expected, the entire domain smelled strongly of fish, the main diet of the sea people. Shouting echoed throughout the main chamber as several of the Zoras worked on the stage, checking sound equipment and performing routine instrument maintenance.

Link enjoyed the organic feel that the Zora's home had. He and Midna had needed Lola's help diving beneath the water to gain entrance, but there was plenty of air to breathe once they were inside. The hero was pleasantly surprised to find his bow and shield waiting for him when he wandered into the shop. He had abandoned them when the ship collapsed to make swimming easier, but one of the Zoras must've scavenged them from the wreckage in hopes of making a profit. He negotiated with the shop owner for a while to prove that the items were his. Even then, the hero was forced to pay half-price for his own equipment. At least he bought some bombs and red potions to prevent his trip from being a complete waste.

With his supplies stocked up, Link took a long walk around the hall to avoid Lola. He tired of the chatty Zora already, so he decided to let Midna keep her entertained. He smirked to himself; she would make him pay later. He decided not to think about it. Instead, he conversed with the other locals to see what he could learn about the area. It was surprising how friendly they were.

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to learn much of use. Most of the locals, while friendly, were too busy preparing for the upcoming concert to talk long. The only useful info pertained to the dragon Link had seen earlier, including where it was usually seen. When there was no one else left to talk to, the hero decided to rescue Midna.

He was not surprised to hear Lola's incessant ranting as he walked down the stairs from the second floor.

"You are the worst boyfriend ever! How could you possibly leave me waiting there? If I hadn't brought these two kind people back…who knows how long I would've been kept waiting?"

The hero was surprised, however, to see all of his companions waiting for him, plus a few new faces. He was relieved to see them all safe and sound, though Colin and Atrayu looked pretty scratched up. Two of the faces he didn't recognize. He figured the other Zora had to be Rishu; Lola hadn't stopped complaining about him since they left the beach. But who was the mysterious man with Kari?

"Link! You're alive!" Tifa greeted him before any of the others. She ran up the stairs and hugged his stomach. "I missed you."

He patted her on the head. "I'm glad to see you're safe."

Everyone turned their attention to him; even Lola stopped her nagging.

Midna shot him a nasty look. "Now you decide to come back. Did you enjoy your leisurely stroll?"

Link smiled innocently. "Yes. It was quite lovely."

Kari smirked at him. "Ah, late as usual, Link. We have much to catch you up on."

They brought him up to speed on what had happened to everyone since the ship was torn apart. He then told them of how he ended up here with Midna. As the conversation dragged on, Tifa found herself overwhelmed with boredom. Tatl escorted her to another part of the Hall to explore while the rest talked about their next course of action.

"You mean Clock Town is completely destroyed?" Lola gasped.

"Not completely, babe," Rishu said, reaching out to hold her hand. "But pretty close."

"Don't you 'babe' me," she replied, pushing away his gesture. "I'm still mad at you."

"You're positive you saw a dragon there?" Zili asked. His face was pale as a bearded snowman.

"I looked it right in the eyes," Atrayu said.

"And I saw it fly in that direction before I found Midna," Link added, glancing in her direction for a reaction. She stuck her tongue at him, which broke a smile.

The group was quiet for a moment while they thought the situation through.

"Link," Kari began, "I told everyone of Zili's mission. With his permission, of course. But I forgot to mention that he needs our help. The three of us could surely take it down."

"Absolutely not," Link said. "I've faced dragons before; you two haven't. I will fight it alone."

"Is that a challenge?" Kari asked.

The hero smirked. "It just might be. I suppose whoever lands the killing blow will be the victor."

"This isn't a game!" Zili shouted, glancing around nervously. "You do not know what that beast is capable of. It is deadly and cunning. If you're not careful, it will kill you."

"Then why not just leave it alone?" Atrayu suggested. "The monsters did far more damage to the city."

Zili shook his head. "No. I was charged with the task of killing it. I must fulfill that task or I cannot return home."

"Then do it yourself!" The shifter looked accusingly at Link. "This is a waste of time. We have no business chasing this thing when there is so much else that needs to be done."

Link felt both the wolf and the hero stir inside him. The wolf clawed for battle. The hero desired to protect. He knew that neither would let him turn a blind eye to the situation at hand. "I have to do something. I can't let this dragon continue to rampage. Especially after what it did to Clock Town."

"Here's an idea. Why don't you leave us, Atrayu?" Colin challenged. "You don't want to travel with us. We don't want you traveling with us. It works out best for everyone."

"That's the only smart idea you've ever had," the shifter replied with hands on her hips. "If everyone is going to waste time, then I'm out of here." She turned her back to them and marched to the exit pool. With a quick transformation, she swam out of the Hall as a swordfish.

"Wow," Rishu said. "And I thought Lola and I had bad fights."

"Which reminds me," his girlfriend added. "I still haven't forgiven you for abandoning me."

"Would everyone just calm down?" Midna shouted. "Everyone sounds like a bunch of children. The more we argue, the fewer things get done."

The group quieted for only a few seconds.

"Not to change the subject," Colin said, "but has anyone actually taken a good look at Rishu's guitar? Is it one of the instruments we've been looking for? He did mention it was really old."

"You mean the Guitar of Waves?" Kari asked. He glanced at Rishu's guitar leaning on a nearby wall. "Of course! Why didn't I realize it sooner?"

"Which would make Rishu our Sage of Water, wouldn't it?" Midna asked.

The Zora musician did not like everyone staring at him. "What's all this talk about sages and guitars, Deku Baba?"

"Who's Deku Baba?" Midna asked.

Colin sighed. "It's me, sadly. He finds a name for everyone."

Rishu smiled. "That reminds me. Everyone else needs names." He pointed to Kari. "I think I'll call you Minish, since you're not really on the tall side." He pointed to Midna. "I'll call you Bombchu, since you have a short fuse. The little girl with the fairy can be Korok. It just seems to fit her. And hey, where'd the dude with the blonde hair go?"

Kari cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Please keep focus!" He looked to Rishu. "First, we need to see if you're the Sage of Water."

The musician held up his hands defensively. "Listen, Minish, I want nothing to do with no sages. Whatever that means. I just want to live my life playing music and enjoying my days in peace."

The Sheikah tried to press him harder. "But the fate of the world is at stake. We need your help."

Rishu smiled. "Now you made me hungry. I could go for some steak about now."

"Rishu!" Lola scolded.

"Alright! Alright! Easy, Lola!" He looked to Kari. "Listen, Minish, there's always something going on somewhere. Sometimes, you just have to relax and let things happen."

"This is going nowhere fast," Midna complained. She leaned her back against a wall and prepared for another long discussion.

"Let me try. I have an idea," Colin said. He turned to the musician. "Hey Rishu, do you see that baton in Kari…I mean Minish's hand? He is a master composer. I bet he knows some songs even you can't play."

A mischievous smirk crossed the Zora's face. "Now you're speaking my language, Deku Baba!" He walked over and grabbed his guitar. His fingers stroked the string gently, sending a few stray notes echoing off the walls. "Hit me with some beats, Minish, and you'll see just how good a musician I am."

"He wants me to beat him?" Kari asked.

"No," Colin corrected. "He wants you to conduct some music for him."

"But I do not know what type of music he plays," the wind tamer responded.

Midna leaned towards him and whispered in his ear. "You could play him some salsa. Or perhaps something with a bit more kick to it. Or even a romantic slow song for him and Lola."

Kari looked around nervously. "I do not know any songs like that."

"Or you could conduct the song that will awaken him as a sage." Midna backed away, her lips curled into a smug grin.

The Sheikah's eyes lit up. "Oh…I understand now." He readied the Wind Waker and nodded in Rishu's direction. "This song is called the Serenade of Water. I hope you are ready to be 'hit with the beats'."

Their plan worked like a charm, and Kari began conducting the song. Rishu watched the timing for several seconds before joining in on his own instrument. The melody was soft and soothing, like the continuous rushing of a river or the steady splashing of ocean waves. Whether due to the blood of a sage buried deep beneath him or his own innate talent as a musician, Rishu had no difficulty playing the song even without Kari's conducting. The melody deeply moved him, as his eyes closed and his body swayed with the soft melody.

Finally, the song ended. Everyone looked on in anticipation as Rishu put down his guitar and looked at them with tears in his eyes.

"That is the most moving song I have ever played or heard," he said. "Minish, you truly are a master at what you do."

"And?" Everyone else urged him.

"And…" Rishu continued, wiping a tear from his eye and gazing affectionately at his guitar. "I finally know why you had all your fish caught in a net over these sages. I realize, whether I like it or not, that I'm one of them. Looks like this ends my music career."

"Huzzah!" Colin shouted. "We finally have a guy sage! Four down and two to go! Isn't this great, Link?"

There was no answer.

"Link?"

Still no answer.

"Farore's wind!" Midna cursed. "He snuck out on us."

Zili's expression turned pale. "And I have a bad feeling I know exactly where he's headed."

A/N- I am really looking forward to the next chapter. Sorry this update took a little longer than I had hoped. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Let me know what you thought by leaving a review

I also have a little bonus for those of you interested. There is a special deleted scene that I wrote for this chapter but decided not to include since the chapter was long enough as is. Look for it on my profile. It's a humorous scene where Kari meets Tingle for the first time.