The Water Temple. Why it was called that I had no idea. But when Darwyn told me what was inside, I understood why. So many puzzles, traps, monsters, and that was just scratching the surface. He and his two new friends went inside, but were limited on what to do. You see diary, it was called the Water Temple for a reason.
Darwyn and Mirabel were riding together on Eshina, while Rheda was borrowing Midnight. The three riders, after saying goodbye to the town headed to the Hylian Lake region.
"Whoa! Whoaaaaa!" All three riders were startled when the earthquake started. It only lasted a few seconds, but the horses were clearly frightened. Both almost threw off their riders.
"I think we should walk the rest of the way." Rheda, she remembered her mom's warnings. That ill times were coming. Luckily, they were near the clinic.
"Just as well, I need to check up on Roana." It has been weeks since he last saw her. He hoped she was okay. He and Mirabel hoped off, and once Rheda was on the ground, they walk their horses to the hitching post and tie them up.
Darwyn was devastated when he saw that Roana was still exactly the same as he left her.
"Why isn't she waking up?"
The old doctor shook his head.
"I'm afraid she has gotten sick. She has a flu, similar to Hylians, but as a Zora, it is often fatal. I'm trying my hardest to keep her alive, I sent my assistant to retrieve special medicine for her. Forgive me." When he saw the Sheikah's face.
Mirabel tears up. She only met Roana once, but she prayed to the Goddesses to keep her alive. She put her hand on Darwyn's shoulder.
"I'm sorry." She didn't even blush when he put his hand on hers.
"She'll be okay. Roana. She is the most stubborn woman I know. A little flu won't stop her." He was grateful for her affection.
"Uh. I hate to say this, but do you still want to go inside the Temple?" Rheda asked. Goddess this was awkward.
"There is nothing I can do." He suddenly had a thought. "Rheda, your mom said something about a Great Fish. Is there any way it can cure Roana?"
"Uh, let me think." She knew little about the Zora's history. She mentally started kicking herself for never paying attention to school back then. She heard of the last Guardian, his presence kept the Zora's healthy and strong. She wasn't sure how he did it, but she remembered the Zora's going inside his belly to obtain a rare ingredient for their medicines. When she told her theory, the doctor shook his head.
"I'm afraid that is impossible. The last Guardian died a few years ago. Even if there was a new Guardian, he would be too young. That thing you mentioned, that fish would have been at least five hundred years old to create it. Plus, it would only take Zoras. Any outsiders will make it sick."
"Dammit." Now what?
"Don't worry. I sent my assistant away a few days ago. He will be back any day now. That medicine is guaranteed to cure your lady friend. She will be up and talking as soon as she drinks it."
"Until I see it, I will keep praying. Thank you Doctor." Darwyn bows to the old man.
"No need. But I will be giving you the bill." He said glibly.
"Fine." Darwyn didn't care. He just hoped the treasures inside the Water Temple paid for Roana's care. He looked at the tank for a few more minutes. He memorized every feature of his fiancée. "Take care of yourself." He then turns around. "Lets keep going."
They managed to get to the Temple to little trouble, it was close by. Getting inside was easy, thanks to the Hookshot, it was the Temple itself that made it impossible to explore.
"You gotta be kidding." The entrance was full of water, it was difficult to get inside. But only Darwyn could go in. He was a great swimmer thanks to the Zora, as well as a good breath holder. The golden scale the Zoras gave him allowed him to hold his breath for longer periods than anyone. Since the entrance was dark and filled with water, he was the one to go inside. Both Mirabel and Rheda stayed outside waiting, neither one were good swimmers.
"I'm surprised you're not volunteering to be with your boyfriend." Rheda teased. She knew her friend had a huge crush on him. She smiled at her red face.
"He's engaged. And NO, he's just a friend. He's like a brother." She lied. "I known him since we were kids." Mirabel didn't think much of him, not until that night when he helped her capture horses. He was always so nice. But she couldn't help but fantasize he would take her in his arms and proclaim she was the one. "He belongs with Roana." It pained her to say that. But it was true.
"Roana. I doubt the Zoras will approve." She heard of the Zora race. They distrusted outsiders. "I don't think they'll accept their marriage. Even if a priest married them, their union will be illegal in Zora law."
"That's why they are leaving immediately after the ceremony. Down south no one judges."
Rheda said nothing after that. She didn't inherit her mother's psychic abilities, but she did know their relationship was doomed from the start. She didn't share this with Mirabel though. After a few minutes they saw their friend's head pop up, his white hair sticking to his head.
"We have a problem."
Since this was a hill, he didn't expect the Temple to be full of water. The entrance was dark and cold. He managed to swim to the other side, he was very thankful that he was a singer. Not only he can sing, he also could hold his breath for long periods of time. Once he got to the other side, he was amazed at what the Temple looked like.
"My Goddess." It was magnificent.
He was only in the entrance, but he saw how difficult this mission was gonna be. The water was so deep, he knew there was no way he could even get a few feet without having trouble. He needed supplies. "No wonder no one been inside its walls." Even Zoras will have difficulty maneuvering inside. This mission will be a lot harder then he thought. Plus the monsters inside. He swore he seen a shellblade on the bottom. He went back outside to tell them the bad news.
"Now what?" Mirabel wished she knew how to swim. She had a basic understanding, but she was a horsewoman. She worked with horses. Water activities were rare.
"Any ideas?" Darwyn asked. He was stumped.
Rheda had no clue. She never bothered to learn how to swim either. She was a desert citizen.
"It's getting dark. I see the keese flying about."
Mirabel looked up and saw the sun going down.
"Where would we stay?" None had much cash. They used most of it for the Geruldos. They only had a small amount for their expenses. They had camping equipment, but none wanted to use it.
"We don't have enough to stay at the local inn." Rheda was carrying their money.
"I can't be seen there anyways." No way was he getting seen, he knew he was gonna get arrested the moment he was caught. Already he saw the wanted signs. The Zoras wanted him for kidnapping. He hoped Amis and Elric were safe.
Rheda looked around and spies the fishing shack.
"Hey! We can stay there!" She points to the shack. "I know the owner! He was engaged to my sister at one point."
"Wonder if that's Hann." She remembered Remy talking about her latest conquest, a shy fisherman. It was just a fling, she dumped him almost immediately.
"Do you think he'll let us stay?" Darwyn asks.
"Doesn't hurt to try." Mirabel says.
"No! No! I have no room! Sorry!" Hann slams the door in their faces. Seeing Darwyn, he smiles. But when he saw Rheda and Mirabel, his face went pale and after shooing them away he slams the door in their faces.
"Now what?" Looks like they had to set up a tent. Normally none will care, but they felt rumbles. A earthquake will possibly hurt them. Darwyn was looking for a private spot to camp. Hopefully no Zora will see him.
"Let me." Rheda shoves Darwyn out of the way. "Hey! We need shelter! Hann, you owe my family for standing up my sister on her wedding day! Because of you, she was forced to a position she never asked for!" As she pounded on the door.
Both Darwyn's and Mirabel's eyebrows rose. They heard the story from Nahara herself. She loved her position as the second in command. As for Hann, she admitted she was barely out of her teens when she got engaged. When the door opened, they waited with bated breath. A man wearing a white hat opened the door.
"I already said my apologies to Nahara. She forgave me." He stared at Mirabel and gave her a dirty look. "You." He remembered being heartbroken. He took off on his wedding day for the beautiful Ranch Hand's daughter. Remy was different from Nahara. She was more carefree and loose. He left the woman he loved for her. But after he ran away, Remy dumped him after two weeks, claiming she wasn't ready to settle down. He was too humiliated to ask for Nahara back, he knew he'll get his ass kicked once he went near the desert fortress.
Mirabel shook her head.
"That was Remy. My twin." She met Hann once. He was totally enamored with Remy, he barely looked at her. Even as twins, the men vastly preferred Remy to her irritation.
Hann looked at Mirabel.
"Michele?"
"Mirabel." She corrected. Argh! She was glad Darwyn knew her name at least. Even back at Kakariko, her 'boyfriend' got her name mixed up with her sister. She loved her sister, but she pissed off Mirabel a lot.
"Oh Mirabel! Forgive me. What do you want?"
"Please sir. We need shelter. As well as food. We are on a quest at the Water Temple. We need to save a Zora from dying. Just one night."
The last thing Hann needed was two of his exes sisters inside. But he felt the earthquakes. He knew they'll be in danger if left outside. The monsters, they will turn feral once their routine is disrupted. Already his fishes were acting weird. He opened the door.
"Okay. I'll let you in. But not for free. If you three beat my record for largest fish caught, you can stay for the night. Any fish you catch is yours. Clean up after yourselves. My sleeping quarters are in the back."
"Thank you so much. I promise, we won't be much trouble." Darwyn bows.
Hann shakes his head.
"Save the bowing for the King. Come in." He hurriedly shut the door. He seen a keese flying close by.
"Where are you gonna sleep?" Both Rheda and Mirabel were sharing a bed, Darwyn was sleeping in the tent he brought from the Geruldo.
"I have a sleeping cot right here. Never know if a customer walks in." He got customers, mostly tourists, and occasionally a Zora. He looked at Darwyn. He knew who he was, he was a fan of his. Plus he saw his picture on those wanted signs. "I'll be right here, fish as long as you need.'' He hands them three fishing poles. "Good luck."
Link looks up when he heard a monster. He gestures to Navi to hide. This will take a while. He puts down the diary.
He and Navi needed to go forward, this room was too dangerous to stay in. Besides, the three travelers had a while to go before they entered the Temple. Especially since two of them didn't know how to swim. Luckily, they managed to run into a regular customer of Hann's. He gave them every thing they needed to go in the Temple.