The King of Red Lions was still bobbing in the water in the alcove when Krystal exited the pirate ship and leapt down onto the sand outside. He turned to look at her as she approached and said, "I can see it in your eyes, Krystal! You're ready to seek out Jabun, yes?"
She nodded, "Yes. The pirates raided the Bomb Shop to get bombs to break open the seal on Jabun's cave. I have some of their bombs now."
He asked, "And the pirates? Did they find out about you?"
She replied, "Tetra knows, but she's still going along with the crew's request to spend the night and leave in the morning. If that's true…"
He nodded, "Then let us delay no longer! You must meet with Jabun and get the pearl from him before they arrive!" She climbed aboard and used the Wind Waker to change the direction of the wind. She then glided him back out into the rain and got him pointed the right way before drawing the sail. The wind propelled them into the night away from Windfall Island and the pirates.
Speaking of the pirates, they had taken over the café for their party, though the patrons that were there when Krystal had visited earlier had been allowed to stay. They were currently enjoying their night off, even the ones that hadn't said anything when Gonzo had spoken up. The café owner, having been coerced into letting them use the space for the night, was doing all she could to keep the food and drinks flowing.
The only one who wasn't really partaking in the festivities was Tetra, the pirate leader leaning against the railing near the stairs as she listened to the chatter going on behind her. For all of her bravado earlier, her mind wasn't as focused on Jabun and the treasure he was said to hold as it had been before. Mako had been right; her main concern in getting his treasure had been to keep Outset Island from suffering the same fate as Greatfish Isle, sort of a last wish fulfillment kind of thing when she'd thought Krystal was sleeping with the fishes. The fact that she was heading head home now to meet with the water spirit settled her nerves somewhat, but she was still a bit tense as she wondered if she would make it in time.
She glanced behind her, listening to Gonzo ramble to some sailors sitting at the table, "Even in my wildest dreams, I never could've imagined what happened to us! See, it all started when our leader, Miss Tetra, got kidnapped by a gigantic bird. We chased after that thing like mad, at crazy speeds, and when we finally caught up to it, we gave it cannon blast like you wouldn't believe! Of course, that was quite a ways south from here, yeah? A place called Outset Island. So anyway, then that bird drops our precious Miss at the very tip-top of the island. Well, I went ashore in a hurry to look for the Miss, yeah? And you know what? Miss Tetra didn't have a scratch on her!"
Tetra exhaled and turned her attention away as he started talking about an odd fox girl in a dress, knowing he was talking about Krystal. She turned to look at the wall next to the stairs, her thoughts returning to the storm outside and Krystal. She raised an eyebrow, wondering how the 'odd fox girl' was doing.
At the moment, Krystal was not doing so great. Although the wind continued to push the King of Red Lions to the southwest, the pressure of her situation was starting to weigh heavily on her. The dark of the night seemed to stretch on forever and the seemingly never-ending rain felt like it was getting worse, the cold water and the cold night air causing her to shiver. She kept looking through Aryll's telescope to try to catch sight of any dangers ahead, but she could feel it; the adrenaline that had been pushing her on was starting to wear thin and exhaustion was starting to creep in its place. She hadn't properly slept since she left Outset Island and, with everything she had to deal with at the moment, she could feel her resolve faltering.
The King of Red Lions seemed to sense this and he turned his head slightly to look back at her as he said, "Krystal! You must stay focused! This is no time to fall asleep!"
She responded, the usual warmth and drive in her voice drained, "I know, but I… I…" She looked off to the starboard side, an island passing by off to the side as she searched for the words. "It's starting to feel like we'll never make it. The sea is getting choppy, it's getting harder and harder to see, and I… I don't know how much longer I can keep up this pace," she finally admitted.
The King's voice took on a softer tone as he said, "You must not think like that, Krystal. That is Ganon's way; if you let yourself be overcome by doubt and fear, he won't hesitate to take advantage of it and try to crush your spirit. You have to do whatever you can to stay strong, not just for yourself, but for everyone on Outset Island… and your sister."
Krystal blinked, remembering why she was doing all this in the first place. "Aryll…" she breathed, the thoughts and images of her little sister suddenly pushing the dark feelings away.
The King nodded and said, "You have to get the pearl from Jabun, not because the pirates are seeking it, but because if you don't, not only will you never be able to rescue your sister, but you might not have a home to go back to."
Krystal stood up straight, her hand gripping the rudder with a newfound determination. His words had helped her find her second wind. "It can't be too much farther, can it? Let's keep going!" she said and he could feel it in her words; her flame had been rekindled.
It was only a brief boost to her spirits, the actuality of their situation and her body's basic needs still as present as ever, but the next time she checked the Tingle Pad, the sight of them being a few squares away from Outset Island was a huge relief and it gave her earlier spirit boost a shot in the arm. She raised the telescope to her eye again, scanning the darkness for her home.
It wasn't long before she began to see the familiar landmarks rise up in the distance. Mesa's house at the base of the hill, Aryll's Lookout, the rest of the village… and it was all untouched. Whatever destructive force that had destroyed Greatfish Isle hadn't found its way here… yet. Still, the sight of Outset Island was enough to release a large amount of tension from her shoulders and she slumped slightly with a relieved sigh.
The King of Red Lions glanced back at Krystal. He thought about what happened earlier and his eyes turned skyward. He realized something and he had an idea. While still looking up, he asked, "Krystal, have you noticed?" Her head shot up to look at him, staring at him curiously. "Morning still has not broken. In fact, the sky has not brightened once since we left Greatfish Isle. It's as if… time itself is frozen."
Krystal blinked and looked down at the Tingle Pad. There was a little circle in the lower left corner displaying the sun and moon. Normally the two celestial bodies it displayed were in constant motion, both of them moving in a circle as the device monitored the passage of time, but they both were currently not moving at all. She tapped the circle on the screen with her finger a few times, but nothing happened. "Is this really happening?" she asked, still looking down at the screen.
"Perhaps this is part of the curse that Valoo spoke of?" the King wondered aloud. After a moment, he said, "Whatever the reason, if this night does not end, then we need not worry about the pirates overtaking us. In fact, it might not be a bad idea to stop by your hometown and let your friends and family know how you're doing after such a long time away. We can speak with Jabun afterwards."
Krystal let out a gasp at this; they actually had time for her to stop by home? As she faced forward again, she realized they were getting very close to shore, so she hauled in the sail. They came to a stop next to the dock and she leapt up to grab onto the edge of it. She was about to run up it, but then she paused and turned to the King of Red Lions, giving him a formal, grateful bow. A slight smile graced his leonine features as he watched her run up the dock and onto the sand past it.
Krystal ran straight up the path from the beach to her home, the gentle light shining through the windows an encouraging sight. Her hand grabbed the doorknob and she pulled the door open, stepping inside. The warmth of her home a welcome contrast to the cold and wet outside. She pulled the door closed; she was dripping wet, but she couldn't wait any longer. "Grandma! Grandma, I'm home!" she called as she ran inside. She turned the corner and slowed to a stop.
Her grandmother was sitting in her chair next to the fireplace, her blanket draped over her lap. She seemed to be asleep, but she was shaking slightly and she had a distressed expression on her face that made Krystal's heart ache. "Grandma!" she exclaimed as she ran over to her, placing her hands on her shoulders. "Grandma, wake up!" she said.
"Ohhh… Uhnnn… Krystal… Aryll… Don't go… Don't leave… Uhhnnn… Don't leave your poor old grandma… all alone… Uhhnnn…" she moaned out in her sleep.
Krystal's eyes watered at this, her heart aching for her grandmother. "Grandma, it's me, Krystal! I'm here!" she cried, trying to rouse her. She placed her hands on the sides of her face and she felt how cold her skin was. There was no doubt in her mind, something was wrong with her.
She looked over at the fireplace and noticed the pot hanging over the fire. She grabbed a cloth and scooped some water out with the ladle, soaking the cloth before pressing it to her forehead. While holding the cloth, she reached the ladle back into the pot to get some more water and tried holding it to her grandmother's lips, but she wouldn't drink it. Her mind raced for a minute, trying to figure out what to do. "Sturgeon!" she thought after a few seconds. Before she left, she draped the cloth over her grandmother's forehead and whispered, "I'll be back, Grandma."
She ran out of the house and made her way to Orca and Sturgeon's home, quickly climbing up the ladder to Sturgeon's door. She raised her hand and knocked on the door several times. She pressed her ear up against the door and heard the muffled voices of Sturgeon and Sue-Belle on the other side. She heard footsteps approaching the door a few moments later and she backed away, shifting anxiously from one foot to the other. The door creaked open slowly and Sue-Belle poked her head out. She gasped and asked, "Krystal? Is… Is that you?"
Krystal started, "Yes, it is me…"
The older girl's hands reached out and wrapped around her wrists, saying, "Come in here, quickly!" She pulled her inside without waiting for another word and, in the glow of the light, looked her over. "My goodness, you're soaked! You must be freezing! What are you doing out on a night like this?" she asked.
Before Krystal could answer, Sturgeon walked over and said, "Oh! Krystal! You've come back to us! And in one piece as well! Gracious!" He then held a hand up, running it across his mustache as he asked, "But what are you doing here, lass?"
Sue-Belle released the fox's wrists and spoke before she could, "I was just asking her, Grandfather." She looked back at Krystal, "You must have noticed them… The monsters… After you left, they started showing up after the sun goes down." She looked down, "It's scary… Our lovely little island has become a terrible place to live while you've been gone."
Krystal's heart sank as she stared at her, her worry about her grandmother replaced with a feeling of dread. She'd already begun to suspect that Ganon had something to do with how long it was taking the trees on the island to regrow their bark and the other subtle changes in the plant life that they had all noticed before she'd left. Even as far south as they were from the Forsaken Fortress, it might have been a subtle sign that they weren't completely safe from him, but the realization that monsters were roaming the island after dark was a sign that not only were they not, but he knew what she was doing and was responding by using his monsters to spread fear through her hometown.
Sturgeon's voice pulled her out of her thoughts, "It's true, my dear. Night after night, the fiends show up and ravage our peaceful little island. Why? None know, and yet it seems they don't desire to do harm to us villagers. It's quite puzzling; what could they possibly want here?" He turned his attention back to Krystal, "So, why are you here, lass? I can understand wanting to get out of this terrible rain, but wouldn't it be better to get home to…" He trailed off, realization settling in.
Krystal took a step towards him and said, "Yes, Grandma! She's so sick! What happened?!"
Sturgeon sighed, "I'm afraid I don't know. My granddaughter is the one who told me she's been in poor health these days."
She looked back at Sue-Belle, who said, "She's been having a terrible time of it ever since you left. She rarely leaves the house anymore, and as far as I can tell, she spends most of the day sleeping. I don't think she eats much… I've tried to give her medicine to help her feel better, but she just can't seem to drink it… I don't know what to do…"
Sturgeon cleared his throat and, when they both turned to him, he spoke, "Now, now. I'm quite certain a little fairy dust would provide all the lift her spirit needs. Of course, long ago you could find a lot of them up by the old Fairy Fountain in the forest, and you could even capture them in empty bottles."
Krystal stared at him. "Really?" she asked.
He nodded, "Sure! It was easy as you please! Why, there was a time when I used to play with the fairies, lass. Those were the days..." His gaze grew nostalgic as he recalled the days of his youth.
Sue-Belle spoke, "But Grandfather, no one on this island has seen a fairy in years."
Sturgeon snapped back to the present and cleared his throat, "Uh...ahem! Yes, yes, thank you, my granddaughter. It's been that way ever since the fountain was blocked up by that huge rock. I haven't seen a one since then…" He sighed, "It's sad, how life's little pleasures have a way of slipping through the cracks of time, isn't it? Ah, well."
Krystal's mind was racing at his words, realizing there was something she could do to help her grandmother. "Fairy dust. And I have an empty bottle. Yes, yes!" she said, a sudden excitement filling her. She turned and ran to the door, calling back over her shoulder, "Thank you, Sturgeon sir!"
Both he and Sue-Belle stared in surprise as she opened the door and ran out into the rainy night. "Krystal, wait! The monsters…!" Sue-Belle tried to call to her, but she had already vanished into the darkness. "And the bridge…" she murmured as she stared. She pulled the door close and turned to look back at Sturgeon, a look of sympathy being shared between them. They both knew she was worried about her grandmother, but they both thought that, if the monsters didn't deter her, she would have to turn back once she saw and remembered that the bridge was gone.
Krystal did run into monsters on her way up the hill, but they didn't pose much trouble for her. Chuchus, a bird with a long neck that she'd seen while climbing Dragon Roost… a horde of small chittering monsters with little pitchforks tried to overwhelm her on the slope, but she sent them flying with a Spin Attack. At the top, she stopped near the edge of where the bridge to the forest had been and looked around. She noticed a sizable rock on the rise behind her and made her way up onto it. After taking a moment to change the wind's direction so it would blow her to the west, she jumped off the rock and used the Deku Leaf to glide, successfully making it to the other side.
She walked through the opening in the rock. She walked through the forest, looking for the boulder Sturgeon had mentioned. She strode confidently, none of the hesitation from her previous visit present now. She soon found the boulder, which was conveniently next to a sign saying that site had once been a Fairy Fountain that had been visited by a Hero. She was able to blow the boulder to pieces with a bomb and found a hole underneath. She tilted her head and stepped over the hole, falling into it.
Suddenly, she felt her descent slowing as she got closer to a light below her. Upon entering it, she found herself in a magnificent chamber. The walls looked like they had strings of pearls on black velvet going down them, and she could see the fountain across from her, three large seashells at the back of it. She ran over to it, ascending the natural steps in front of it.
As she stood at the edge of the fountain, she saw a fairy hovering over the middle of the water. After a moment of staring at each other, it suddenly flew into the water and, with a burst of clouds and a melodious, ethereal laugh, a Great Fairy emerged. Krystal stared up at the Great Fairy in awe as it looked down at her. It spoke after a few moments, "Young waker of the winds… Allow me to aid you in your quest." It brought its four hands closer together, creating a flower between two of them. It took a breath and blew translucent flower petals at her.
Krystal looked down at herself as the petals fluttered over her. She felt something against the side of her leg and looked down. Her wallet had changed; it looked bigger, like it was capable of holding more Rupees. She looked back up at the Great Fairy when it spoke, "The fairies in this fountain will ease your weariness. When you grow fatigued from your battles, come here to be refreshed." It then disappeared in a flash of light with a light laugh.
As her vision cleared, Krystal could see fairies flying around the fountain. Remembering why she came here, she approached them and pulled out her bottle, pulling the stopper off. "Please. I need your help," she murmured softly to them, holding the bottle up. One of the fairies seemed to understand as it flew into it and didn't try to escape as she put the stopper back in place.
She ran back to where she had entered the Fairy Fountain, a shaft of light shining from above that brought her back outside when she stepped into it. Her fur hadn't dried much while she was inside so it wasn't so bad when the rain started pelting her again. She had to deal with a pair of Moblins before she left the forest, but they were easily dispatched, mainly because they kept hitting each other while trying to hit her while she dodged around them. She headed for the exit, but as she ran, she couldn't help but think that the Moblins seemed like they were searching for something before they saw her.
Abe was standing in his home looking at the fireplace, his hand on his chin as he watched the flames dance. He looked over his shoulder at Rose, his wife standing in the adjacent room as she looked after Joel and Zill while they slept. She looked over at him, their gazes meeting, and he knew she could feel it too. He turned and walked over to the window next to the front door. The nights had been fraught with peril ever since the monsters started appearing after dark, but something was different about tonight. Something about this incessant rain and the air outside their home just felt… off, like something beyond what they could see was going to happen.
He noticed a flash of color during a lightning flash and he blinked in surprise. He leaned closer to the window, looking to the left. "Was that… Krystal?" he wondered aloud, Rose poking her head around the corner with a confused look on her face.
He'd only gotten a brief glimpse during the lightning flash, but it was Krystal, using her Deku Leaf to soar down from the forest and cut out some travel time to get home. She landed in front of Orca and Sturgeon's home, pulling the bottle out of her Adventure Pouch to check on the fairy inside before turning and running to her home. Her landing was noticed by Sturgeon and Sue-Belle, who were both peering out the window at the time wanting to know if she was okay. Instead, they witnessed her landing and they turned to look at each other in shock at seeing her seemingly fly.
Krystal ran into her home and over to her grandmother, who was still moaning in her sleep. She looked at her for a moment before looking down at the bottle, placing both hands on it. "Please… Help my grandmother…" she whispered quietly before pulling the stopper off. The fairy flew out of the bottle and over to her, flying in a few circles around her and dropping fairy dust on her before flying away. She was looking less pale, but she was still asleep. Krystal held the bottle close to her chest, staring at her with bated breath.
Suddenly, her eyelids twitched and she began to shift. Krystal gasped softly as she sat upright and blinked. Her eyes were unfocused at first, but then her gaze focused on Krystal and her mouth fell open. "Oh, Krystal? Is that you, Krystal?" she asked, holding her hands out towards the vixen.
Tears began to run from Krystal's eyes. "Grandma…?" she breathed as she stepped closer, standing directly in front of her.
Grandma breathed, "It is… Grandma is always happy to see your bright, shining face."
Krystal put the bottle away and dropped to her knees as she wrapped her arms around her grandmother. "Grandma!" she cried, relief flooding through her.
"Krystal… My dear, sweet Krystal. You're safe… That's wonderful… Just wonderful," her grandmother breathed as she hugged her back.
"Are you feeling better now?" Krystal asked as she nuzzled against her head.
"Did you do this? Did you heal me? Oh, you're such a sweet child…" Grandma said. She pulled back, her hands still on Krystal's shoulders. Her smile shifted to a frown suddenly, which caused Krystal's own smile to waver. "Ohh… That's right… You and your sister, Aryll, have no doubt been trying so hard to be strong, and I've just been sitting here, moaning and worrying… I'm your grandmother… I'm the one who should be taking care of you… I'm so sorry, Krystal. I haven't even considered what you must be going through. I'm a terrible grandma…"
Krystal shook her head, "No, no, Grandma, no. I didn't even tell you what I was going to do the day I left. I ran off with pirates thinking I could save Aryll and bring her back without any trouble and left you all alone. What kind of granddaughter am I?"
Grandma smiled softly down at her, "The best kind I'd say, Krystal. I told you before that I thought you were tougher than any other young man on this island, and I really should stand by my words. I shouldn't worry so much about you. I know how dedicated you are to your sister and should've known you would be able to take care of yourself. You made it home on your own, even if you are soaking wet right now."
Krystal started, "That's still…" She paused, sensing something. Her gaze turned to the window next to the dresser and she stood, walking over to it and peering outside. The light in her home had decreased her night vision a bit, but she could sense something outside. Not on the veranda, but out in the ocean.
"Krystal? What's wrong?" Grandma asked, looking over at her.
"There's something out there. Something big…" Krystal breathed. She turned and looked at her grandmother for a moment, her gaze going to the floor before looking back up at her. "I'll be back, Grandma, I promise!" she exclaimed as she suddenly ran for the front door, leaving her grandmother no time to respond.
As she ran down to the beach, she could see the King of Red Lions looking off in the distance and she caught sight of his narrowed gaze as ran up alongside him. He turned to look at her and he knew just by looking at her that she had noticed too. "Get in," he stated and she leapt off the dock, landing in him.
After a minute of gliding away from the dock, it rose up out of the water, revealing itself: a massive, squid-like creature with two tentacles reaching up out of the water at its sides and a dozen yellow eyes across its large body. The eyes on its front locked on the King of Red Lions and Krystal, the latter gaping up at it, and after a moment, it began to suck water into its mouth while its tentacles manipulated the water around it, creating a whirlpool that began to draw them in towards it.
There was no way they could escape from its pull, so they knew they had to fight. A cannon suddenly rose up out of where the sail usually came from and the King said, "Krystal, your bombs! We have to stay away from it!" She nodded and pulled out the Bomb Bag as well as her boomerang. She loaded several bombs into the cannon and the King turned it towards the creature while she took aim with her boomerang. The bombs that hit its body didn't seem to faze it at all, but it definitely responded when the boomerang hit its eyes, the creature letting out a pained groan and shuddering in response.
Krystal and the King nodded to each other and she loaded some more bombs into the cannon, which he aimed at the eyes on its backside as they went around. They seemed to have a more powerful effect than the boomerang as the eyes that were hit glowed briefly before turning red, the creature sounding more pained than when the boomerang hit its eyes, but the throwing tool was able to hit the eyes on its front while they were still going around. They kept working in tandem to try to take out all of its eyes before they could get too close to its mouth.
The activity did not go unnoticed. Krystal's grandmother had already risen to her feet and stepped outside to find out what her granddaughter was up to and could only stare from under the safety of the roof as Krystal fought a beast more than ten times her size. Abe had also stepped outside to watch, and Sturgeon and Sue-Belle watched from inside their home. The beast's cries were loud enough to catch Orca's attention and he stepped outside to see what was going on. He was able to make out the beast due to how big it was and when it let out one final cry before sinking into the ocean, he nodded. He was sure he knew who was responsible for felling the foul beast.
Out in the water, Krystal and the King looked at where the giant squid monster had sunk, the whirlpool it had created vanishing after it did, seemingly sucking the creature down into the Great Sea. "We beat it," Krystal breathed. "Was that the creature that destroyed Greatfish Isle?"
The King thought for a moment before saying, "I don't know that that's the only monster that attacked Greatfish Isle, but I shudder to think what it might have done had we not stopped it."
Krystal stared at the water for a few moments longer before turning to him and saying, "We should go see Jabun now." He nodded in agreement and he fetched the cannon back in. Krystal drew the sail and they sailed back towards Outset, aiming for the back of the island.
Just as Quill had said, there was a large stone slab running down a specific spot on the back of the island, the slab looking exactly like the piece that had been floating in the water at Greatfish Isle. They fired bombs at it and, as the pirates had thought, the slab soon broke off in pieces that sank below the waves, the cavern entrance soon being revealed. They made their way inside.
They both looked around as they entered the cavern proper. It had a tall ceiling with numerous stalactites hanging from it and the water in the cave seemed to be glowing, but there didn't seem to be anything else special about it, and there was no sign of any water spirit. Still, Krystal could sense they were not alone in the cave and she peered over the side, looking forward as she noticed a light rising up to the surface in front of them.
The King had noticed it too and they both looked up as a massive plume of water rose up in front of them, the water falling away to reveal a large fish with a lantern hanging on the end of what looked like a long hair on its forehead. It looked down at them and spoke in a strange language, its wet lips smacking together as its voice echoed in the cave. The King spoke, "Well met indeed, Jabun. I am pleased to see that you are safe…"
Krystal stared up at him in amazement as he spoke again, the King responding, "Yes. Ganon has returned. There can be no other explanation." Jabun spoke again, his tone sounding questioning, and the King replied, "Unfortunately, that is not so." Jabun raised an eyebrow as he communicated again and the King answered, "The one I have brought with me has no connection to the legendary one, yet she has displayed remarkable courage and she possesses great power within. I sense great promise in her." Jabun's eyes narrowed as he spoke again and the King nodded, "I do. It is the only way."
Jabun's expression relaxed and he looked up at his lantern while speaking. He shook it towards them and a blue pearl emerged from it which floated down towards them, stopping in front of Krystal. She placed her hands on the sides of it, bringing it down level with her chest. She looked down at it for a moment before looking up at Jabun and bowing to him, saying, "Thank you, Lord Jabun." The King nodded his head in a bow as well.
As they turned to leave, Jabun spoke again, catching their attention. Krystal looked back at him while he spoke and then looked at the King when he grimly said, "So… that foul rain and endless night were indeed elements of a curse brought on us by Ganon! He must intend to cast this land into pure darkness for all time…" Jabun spoke, his tone again sounding questioning, and the King looked up at the ceiling before replying, "…I believe I have." Jabun nodded and dove back beneath the water, the resulting wave pushing them out of the cave.
As they approached the entrance, Krystal noticed that the rain was finally letting up, briefly becoming a slight drizzle before stopping entirely. "Is it finally over?" she asked as they found themselves outside once more.
The King turned his head to look at her and said, "Because you now have Nayru's Pearl, the three pearls have broken Ganon's curse. The night should come to an end as normal now. It is well that we have all three pearls."
Krystal asked, "So, what's next?"
The King answered, "There are three places where you must set the pearls, Krystal. I will mark their locations on your Sea Chart. Once you have placed all three pearls, the proving grounds for your courage will be revealed." He noticed the dejected look that briefly appeared on her face and said, "Krystal… It's clear that the search for Jabun is proof that Ganon has taken notice of our activities and is making efforts to block the path forward. And the trials you will have to clear will no doubt be greater than any you have faced thus far. I suggest you return home and use the remainder of this night to rest up. You should try to go into the trials at full strength."
Krystal gasped lightly at his words and she quickly gave him a bow, quietly saying, "Thank you."
As they made their way back around the island, it was not only Outset Island that noticed the end of the effects of the curse. On Windfall Island, Tetra noticed the rain stopping and made her way out of the café. Standing outside the door, she looked around curiously, wondering why it suddenly stopped when it had shown no signs of letting up. On Dragon Roost Island, Medli had been practicing with her harp when the rain stopped and she noticed amidst her playing. She went to peer outside, feeling an inexplicable sense of relief wash over her. And in the Forest Haven, Makar and Hollo stopping huddling and came out from under the Great Deku Tree, the two Koroks looking around curiously while the tree nodded, sensing that Jabun's had successfully changed hands. Anyone who was still awake and paying attention at this hour was taking notice of the end of the curse.
"We can wait no longer! The alignment must be completed!"
"It is time for our people to be reborn! Let the alignment begin!"
"You have brought us together! Our tribes are preparing for war!"
"Sauria, the Dinosaur Planet!"
"Do not question our destiny. This is meant to be. Take your father, for instance."
"Krystal…"
"Without you, our planet will be lost! You can only save me by going home!"
"You will now have the honor to be the first to die in our new way!"
"KRYSTAL!"
"Krystal, wake up." The blue vixen's eyelids twitched for a moment before parting, her eyes quickly focusing on her grandmother standing in front of her.
"Grandma? What is it?" she asked sleepily.
"It's almost dawn, dear," the elderly woman softly replied. Krystal blinked and turned her head to look towards the window. Sure enough, the sky outside was starting to brighten up as the sun got closer to rising. "You said you wanted to be woken up before the dawn breaks," she said.
Krystal looked back at her and started, "Have you been…?"
Grandma smiled, "I've been spending so much time sleeping, my dear. I can stay awake for a while to make sure you're ready to set out again." She turned towards the fireplace and walked over to it. As she looked over, Krystal noticed her dress was draped over Grandma's chair, fresh stitching on it, while her loincloth and bandeau were still hanging over the fireplace. Grandma gathered up her clothes and laid them down at the end of Krystal's bed before looking back over at her and saying, "You'd better get dressed, dear. Breakfast will be ready soon."
As she turned back to the fireplace, Krystal reached over and grabbed her clothes before getting out of bed, slipping into her sandals and moving to stand under the other bed to get dressed. After she finished pulling her clothes on, she slipped on her brace, fastened her belt around her waist, and slipped the strap holding her sword and shield over her shoulder. She then turned to see her grandmother scooping some of her favorite soup into a bowl and she felt her stomach rumble in anticipation.
A short while later, she had consumed several bowls of soup, filling her stomach with the much-needed sustenance she hadn't had time for and her spirit with warmth. As she finished her last bowl, she noticed her grandmother take her bottle over to the fireplace and fill it full of soup. She then brought it over to her and said, "Here, Krystal. Take some with you."
Krystal took the bottle and held it both hands, looking down at it for a moment before looking up at the woman. "Grandma…" she breathed.
The elderly woman chuckled and said, "I know how much you and your sister love this soup. If you run out, stop by home and I'll make you some whenever you like. Now, you have to finish getting ready, don't you?"
Krystal stood up and softly replied, "Yes…"
Grandma could tell she was hesitant to leave her alone again, so she said, "Grandma's going to try to be stronger from now on, so you need to keep being strong too!" She then stepped closer and added, "But don't do anything reckless! All right?" Krystal nodded and dropped down onto her knees, wrapping her in a tight hug again that she returned. The rest had made her physically ready to return to her quest, but this visit home was the thing that would help her keep pushing forward in the face of hardship.