ward at the ground and realized that he didn't know where he was. Grass was
thick and lush around, the place was so enchanting, a meadow stood before
them, but it wasn't one of the many fields of Hyrule Field. This was something
much more different, a different area that was maybe not even inside of the
country of where they were taking their quest. Quite a problem that they
faced, it was something that none of them wanted to face together, to be
lost and the next temple was just around the corner. Huffing out a sigh of
fresh breath, he was about to collapse and think about it when a sound caused
him to jump around the corner of his seat.
"Link--Epona!" With a startle, he spun around with Navi's words and felt
the muzzle launch at his face and start nuzzling and nibbling all over
him.
"Epona--Epona, your back! I thought Shiek took you away--" He was cut off
when the tongue of hers slid down into his mouth, licking him all over his
cute little face and there he continued to try to speak, she keeping on licking
him.
"She's just glad to see you." Navi whispered out through her lips and watched
as the boy tried to control the dominant horse, she really did seem to love
that hero.
Finally, after a few minutes of being licked and having that tongue inside
of his mouth, the horse pushed back away from him and just kept a head on
top of his. That heavy head caused him to fall down for a few seconds, the
horse looking down towards its master with amusement, then whinnied in approval.
Leaning down towards the boy, the tongue lashed across its hair and made
him shiver, when they passed around the area of his ears. Yes, those sensitive
ears hadn't changed, as he grew stronger, those were something that would
always be the utter weakness of the boy. Having long ears gave you the advantage
of some advanced hearing, throwing you back when someone even wavered their
finger infront of the thing, not to mention push a long tongue against
it.
Finally, with some last breaths, he called for the teasing to stop, and this
time the teeth of hers clicked around his shield and pulled him back up.
Having dug out all of his stuff, the materials and him smelt badly, that
was obviously why she hadn't licked them that long, maybe just loving the
taste of his face. A sigh of pleasure was in his mind as those blushed cheeks
poked up towards the horse, being sat down like a human would stand. On two
feet, the hand went up in her mane and stroked all around the bangs, rubbing
across the ears and waiting for what would happen next. Number one was to
find a stupid bath, that way he wouldn't be embarrassed about smelling like
the dirt they had been sweating under for the last ten days.
"Hey, is there a lake around here, girl?" Link whispered his head nestled
down on the side of her mane and staring at Navi with some approval, that
would be a good thing if there was.
"Link, you know she can't talk." When her partner shrugged a shoulder, she
knew he was just being helpful and gave back a shrug towards him, it was
nice to try.
"Come on, girl, you can tell me." A small grin was given towards her, and
the horse stared up at him, the long tongue licking across his face, causing
him to let out a small giggle. "I know you'd bathe me if you could, I just
need you to sniff out some water for me, can do you that, girl? Can you do
that for your master?"
She seemed to respond to him, by nibbling at his hair, and then tackling
down on him, pushing him down on his behind so he was looking up at her.
Hooves were set so that they were right near his arms and legs, keeping him
from moving, but not putting any weight on his fragile body. She huffed out
and whinnied a little, leaning her head down towards his face and began to
rub her nose along the lines of him, taking in his scent. Such a weird thing
she was doing, causing the blush to reappear around his cheeks, as if she
was trying to kiss him, or something. Maybe it was a girl, this mare was
a female horse, but maybe she sort of acted like a female human and had a
crush upon this hero.
"She is so excited, maybe she does know?" Link whispered, as she finally
reached down and pulled him back.
Navi let out a small little giggle and was soon licked by the ravenous horse,
one that seemed to have missed them over this long week. Maybe Shiek had
told it to come back in ten days, that way it would follow them, but how
did it come all the way out here without directions. Those thoughts were
pondering both of their minds as they mounted upon the horse and watched
as she was beginning to make her way forward. The pace would be trotting,
since the horse seemed to be tired, for some reason, nothing that he could
of guess--maybe it went back to Malon's and she was with it the whole week
playing. Yes, it was like she knew the way back, but at a much slower pace
than either of them would of guessed, she was no where as fast as Shiek had
been.
Rushing through the fields and beyond, the fields seemed to rush past his
mind as the water supplies were not raiding on and they just seemed to be
out of existence. As soon as the night-fall fell, the two of them munched
on some of the food that had been left, the two of them feeding her a few
of the carrots. It was gone, everything of water was gone, and they were
lost, there was nothing to do but follow the trail and hope that tomorrow
something came into view. Yes, that was what they were going to do was hope
that water came soon, if not, they would bathe with their canteen water,
the smell was causing Epona's eyes to water. The aqua was going in and out
of his mind as he tried to drift off, finally able to whenever the wind was
gone, the wind of her running so fast and slowing down.
Navi was quiet during the night; she was as calm as can be, and during the
night she slept along with him with the oppressing passion rising against
Epona. Yea, she was so scared that something would happen and the horse would
turn into a human, maybe-taking Link with her, or even throwing her away
and taking off. These horses were so weird, you never could expect anything
from them, and maybe she was some sort of Centaur in disguise. Such tales
were uncommon, but in the world she lived in, they had fairies, magic powers,
evil villains, and specific heroes to take care of the land, only two of
them. This land was something of a mystery to even for her, not knowing as
much as she led on, as clueless as the beautiful angel that slept near him
did.
You are crazy, the horse is gonna take off? Someone familiar whispered out
of a forked tongue, she recognizing it as none other than her own conscious,
reason in its voice.
It could happen, I mean, it has been know to happen. She retaliated with
some obligation in her voice, wanting to win this argument, even though the
consequences were nothing she wanted.
Where? You have been reading too many stories. A barrel of laughter caused
her own blood to boil; almost screaming in fury, stopping because doing so
would cause Epona to stir and Link to jolt away.
I-I has not! I am just so scared that one day he'll get tired of me and leave,
one day that he will find someone beautiful, someone tall and then leave!
Tears were falling down her cheeks, knowing the person inside her would disagree
and say it would happen sooner than she thought, much more sooner.
But instead, the voice was sympathetic, having grown when she was in hibernation,
maybe not the same one that teased her but a very different one. I don't
think he ever will disappear, he'll just stay with us forever.
You're just disagreeing with me, because you like to argue. Her argument
was that, this was not a nice voice and by any means did it even care about
her, this voice loved to argue and disappear whenever the time was
wrong.
I won't disagree with you, even if you said he loved you, I say he loves
us too, I don't want him to leave, I do not ever want him to leave. The voice
was nice, it was changing, or something, and the gruffness was gone, and
for the first time she noticed that she hadn't spoke to it since she was
a child.
Who are you? She whispered out of her mind, something that caused her to
shiver and hold herself, the thought felt like she didn't want to know who
this was.
Are you sure you want to know? A tone of worry was in the voice, this one
showed that some compassion was gone out towards her, actually impressing
the young fairie.
Yes, please just tell me. Her voice was in a whisper, or what she thought
of as a mind-whisper, one that scared the inside of everyone around, maybe
the realization of destiny.
I am you, but I am not you. Do not worry, for when this temple is over, I
shall disappear, because we will face each other in combat, I am looking
towards that day. Don't you keep me waiting, the Light side of Navi, please
don't keep the darkness waiting or it will swallow your heart up without
a moment's hesitation. Your friend has thoughts about us too, but in a different
aspect, and a much more deadly one than what we brawl about, just not as
often. I need you to be ready that day, your training was good, but I doubt
you will survive this ordeal, I certainly doubt you can beat Onii-san. And
with that the voice quieted itself down, not wanting to speak out anymore,
or so it seemed, the darkness engulfing itself in the silence of the
night.
What is this Onii? No, who is this Onii and why will I not survive what awaits
us in the Water Temple? Please tell me what you are talking about! The voice
was not going to speak anymore, it was down for the count, leaving at the
wrong moment and keeping itself down in some fury. How it pissed Navi off
to leave now, and as the minutes passed on, she realizing the whole ordeal
had taken place in a minutes of ten, she was confused. Onii was someone they
would be facing, along with herself, also being called the Light side of
herself, which meant that the darkness was that voice? Maybe so, that meant
that maybe their shadows was what they were going to face, concealing the
information inside of herself, not able to tell him as of yet. Yes, tomorrow
they would find a pool and disappear from the dirtiness, be ready for
whatever--or whoever--was ready to kill them in the temple.
"I don't know who you are, but you shall never hurt him or myself." She simply
blurted out towards the night air, the horse stirring and Link not moving
an inch, a good thing, she hadn't meant to be vocal.
Who knows whom it was, who was really speaking and who knew if it was inside
the Water Temple, somehow she had a feeling that it would be. That was for
sure, the only thing that thought of was inside the temple of Aqua, since
it was so much closer and the voice spoke as they headed for it. A small
little giggle choked inside of her throat, causing herself to grab upon her
shoulders and shake herself just a little bit. Link stirred from the sleep,
not awakening, just letting out a moan of sleep and wondering hands went
towards her, gripping her towards him like a teddy bear. Letting herself
be taken, she had no worries about who saw, or cared, the sleep going inside
her as soon as he kissed her, in his sleep, the dreams were done as they
always had been when they grew up, of the beauty of each
other.
-------------------
No one would face it, I hope, but I can't really tell if it wills happen
or not, I am just afraid it will be too much for him. A voice whispered out
from the trees, no one could see who it was, dressed in black as the small
little figure zipped across the trees. It was following the carriage of them,
moving at a speed that even the two of them couldn't of seen, Epona not noticing
it with her horse-like senses. Mmhm, the creature was viewing them with the
watchful eye of a mother, though the eye wasn't a very good one, maybe of
an evil moth. No one knew who it was, what it was, but as soon as the horse
started to slow down, something wrapped around and the thing made a squeal
of joy. Yes, some strong arms wrapped around it and the thing was enticed
in a loving embrace, one that no one could recognize as violent of loving,
the squeal was feminine.
"They'll never make it." Another voice rung out, this one was masculine and
moved through the trees at an even quicker speed than the smaller object
this shadow larger.
"I don't know, they may make it though, On." The feminine whisper came out;
it was held tighter, as from seen from the trees, nothing in the blackness
was shown of the two figures.
"That puss will take care of them, he maybe weaker than me, but he can beat
that joke for a hero." The grin appeared through the night, white shimmering
as bright as the moon that fell overhead, blocked out by the trees that were
standing in the way, as of now.
"I don't know, love. I am sure that the one would not be enough for them,
then maybe they will get through and start to head this way." Fear was sparkling
in the female's eyes, it was not fear for herself, maybe another person,
someone that seemed closer to her than anyone else.
"If they do, they'll face it and then they will die." The chuckle from the
larger one came out, the smaller one burying its face into the male's and
letting out a huff of a sigh, despair appearing in the male's
voice.
"Please, if they do, promise you'll never go away. Promise that nothing will
ever happen to you--if it did, I don't know what I would do!" It was sincere,
the voice was, and it speaking out with a clear conscious and nothing else
perplexed on its mind but the safety of the partner.
"I would never think of leaving you, milove." Leaning forward, all that was
shown was the smaller one had some ruby eyes staring into the matching ones
of the other, each of them pulling together in a hug. Such a beautiful embrace
they shared together, not wanting it to end; though knowing that eventually
one of them much goes ahead. No, it didn't happen, the hopping went on until
eventually, and they leapt infront of the moon, appearing before the horse
and disappearing from the sight of all. As they disappeared, the kiss was
never broken between the two of them, a lovely romantic sight as the kisses
went on forever. What was noted by anyone watching, especially the freaked
out horse, was the size of the little one, only about five or so did it
stand?
-------------------
By the time three days passed on the horse, they were back near the river
that they had passed paths with almost two weeks ago. The gallop of the horse
had slowed down, she now walking aside the river as they closed towards the
entrance of that place in Zora's Domain. Yes, they would jump the water and
go across, so that the two-day's journey was going to be caught off in half
a day, since Epona was energized. Feeding her more and more of the carrots
had build up some of her muscles; she a bit faster the three days that they
had wandered around. Exercising her muscles had been a great help in this
process, thinking maybe she could have used a few little training sessions
herself.
Warriors and partners were great, of course, but without a steed they could
not go very far without the travel of the beautiful mare. Sure, Shiek was
fast, but they would never be that fast and wouldn't even realize how slow
he was until later on, or so he thought as this time. Speed was good for
dodging, but the ninja must have had some sort of device to increase his
speed, since there was no possible way to go that fast. With the mare now
at his side, they could do anything, not that Epona was weak; he had sort
of trained her in her slacking off for the past two weeks of lazing off.
Now, as they neared the water, walking aside of it, she seemed to have no
problem with it, occasionally bending down and nipping at the water, slurping
it down her throat.
Wow, the vacation had been so delayed; his clothes now much drier, cleaner,
his face and everything about them were spick and span. Only this morning
had they found the first signs of water--Zora's River--and bathing there
was as much as they could benefit themselves for getting around here. Sure,
they were coming the backwards way they were, so the entrance would be closer
than before, that would make the journey even closer than ever. Finally ready
for it to end, the scent of everything was returning to him, having to deal
with those weird smells of the cavern for so long that a flower was so strong
to him--when he first came out of the cave. Yes, the bath had been something
that the three of them loved, baths were so fun sometimes, bad at times,
but a miracle when you went thirteen days without one.
At first, the two of them had gone to the baths and let her run away (she
could always be called with her wonderful song) and then they were joined
by her. Yup, the horse wanted a bath, so Epona was going to get one, even
though she was brushed with water every single day--something Malon told
him to do. If he was gonna keep a horse, he would do it right, that was what
he wanted to explain to everyone, that he was a very responsible boy. Twenty
minutes during the bath--spending the first twenty minutes bathing their
stuff and soaking their clothes at another part of the river, so the mud
wasn't near their bathing spot. Returning to their spots, they were joined
by the mare that slid down into the water and let it be cleaned by the running
water, it not even pushing her back a few inches.
Now the bath had been very enjoyable, just so weird to see someone joining
them, not to mention the horse was coming towards them with a small grin
on its face. The two of them had already been bathed and were just soaking
in the warmer water, it was noon so the water didn't have the cold feel on
it. Water during the morning was very cold and cools, something to wake a
person up, but during the mid-noon it was actually very warm, but not hot.
Taking it into their responsibility, the two of them got up on her and began
to bathe her, a job that was caught to be masked in difficulty. Yes, the
job was not going to be an easy one, none of them considering it would be
when it was taken on and the mare wanted a little bath.
The young horse had wandered upon them and was greeted with the bath, yes
because for the next forty minutes she was bathed and scrubbed clean. When
the aftermath was done, they were left with a very clean horse and the ability
of taking another bath, sweating up a storm cleaning her. You see it was
very hard to clean a horse, harder than Malon had explained, since she probably
didn't think they'd ever have to do this. Horses could go a while without
having their coats cleaned, if they were brushed every day or so, maybe she
had gotten herself dirty when she visited her old master? So and frothier
they took another bath and were ready about two hours later, ready to get
a start on and quickly go to wherever lead ahead.
Now slowing down towards the river, backing up about twenty-five feet and
getting ready to gallop over the smallest ridge they could find, Link spoke
up. "Navi, where did Shiek say was before the Water Temple."
"I think he said something about after the temple, I don't remember." Navi
was just as confused as the boy, he had said it more than a week ago, and
even then didn't explain any of the details involved.
"That's right, he did not even explain it to us, did he?" No, he had just
said two works and now the things were sitting on the tip of his tongue,
the word was something he had heard before, just not here now.
" I think he mentioned something about a cavern. Or maybe it was about an
element, I am thinking so I really can't make up my mind now. Ohh, it was
a combination! Something about a cavern of ice, I dunno." Her thoughts were
a little rambled as her friend fed Epona another carrot, as maybe an energy
booster so they didn't land in the water, she'd never done this, after all.
"Oh, I think I know! Urm, he said it was called an Ice Cavern, but where
could some ice be in the middle of here, I've never even seen
snow."
"Snow, what is that?" Link scooted towards Epona, scratching her and as he
did so, backed up an extra five feet, always checking behind himself, making
sure she didn't run over a rock or something--the path clear.
"It's condensed water, put in a solid form, when it gets really cold is when
it snows, you should know that." Frowning, she patted his head a little,
seeing that some things came and some things didn't come when he was maturing
up so fast. Of course, most people here wouldn't know what snow was, that
was true enough, the stuff just had never appeared around these regions.
Hyrule's summers were always summers, the winter came and it would get a
little drafty, but never so much as a snow or ice storm brewed over here.
Spring and autumn would come, of course, that wasn't the strange part and
everyone knew of the wintertime, just never of the white, powdery substance
that leaked from the clouds. Some could call it a miracle that the dead of
winter came and no one was ever killed by freezing to death, yet other called
it a curse for snow was a wonderful part of life.
"Oh, during winter, you mean." Link whispered out with hushed lips, not able
to control himself, that was what she had meant by it, it had to be and he
nodded it on.
Not even a question, the boy knew what she was talking about and simply began
to push on the ribs of Epona, making her take off. Well, it wasn't a harsh
movement by his part; he just rubbed his boots against her at a soft angle,
remembering how other people used to do it. Yes, they would have spurs on
their feet (little sharp spikes at the tips of their boots) and would hit
the horse in the sides with that, very painful for the horse. There was no
way he'd ever mistreat Epona like that, he wasn't an animal freak, though
he wasn't some sort of sadistic who loved torturing poor animals. He shrugged
a shoulder that, she starting up and pacing herself, so it seemed that this
one would maybe have to try again, maybe back up a few inches and try
again--though when he tried, she wouldn't let him.
Epona must have been determined, Link would later ponder on, and it seemed
true because as soon as she was within fifteen feet of the edge, she took
off like a racehorse. Well she was probably like a racehorse, since she could
have been a show horse of Ganondorf's if Link hadn't come along and saved
her at the right moment. Now and forever he would be her savior, the one
who plucked her from doom, maybe owing the hero some sort of huge debt or
something. It was time for the debt to be paid up, the check to be cashed,
no one would be able to fulfil her spot, so she chose this time and now to
accomplish it. For that, she somehow had to repay the boy and this seemed
the best possible way, since the trudging walk through that stupid riverbank
took as long as he could ever remember.
The way she rode was incurable, nothing he had ever felt on her, his head
buried in the white mane and taking in her scents as the edge came towards
them. Speed and muscle were poured into the way she kept her pace, the way
that the ground seemed to disappear, even though it was still there. In some
sort of a blur, he thought later on, yes, the ground was blending in with
the power she threw out with those beautifully muscled legs. Training he
had given her, that wasn't what did this, there was some sort of incredible
force inside of this mare that powered her enough. The ground disappeared
from them; Link thinking the water had to be next, though at the same time
was sure what was next was nothing next to the water.
Incredible how can she generate this much stamina! Navi knew it was theoretically
impossible, but as she lived and breathed, this was the first time the horses
had pushed their limits this far without dying. As the air disappeared from
them, the horse sailed over the top of platform and came to rest at the next
slit of land that was right near the entrance to the Zora's River. It didn't
stop there, that wasn't the end of it, because Epona was having the greatest
drive of her life and there was no way it would end now. Navi was prepared
for her death, surprised her heart hadn't exploded when it went this face,
and the pumping of it was very intense. So intense, that she was just staring
agape when the horse passed through the long hole that led to the Domain
of the Zoras, where they had met that sad man all those years
ago.
"Navi, she's going so fast!" No matter how fast she was going, she was quiet,
so either of them could speak freely and from the look of things, she wasn't
going to stop anytime soon.
"N-No idea. It is scary how fast she going, she acts as if she's having a
heart attack!" She blurted out in a mad fury, the ground was moving quicker
and quicker, though not as fast as when they were traveling aboard
Shiek.
"I am surprised she hasn't collapsed or something!" Link gripped the mane
of Epona tightly, nuzzling his head into her mane as Navi was sitting at
where his head was, watching as they went along.
"I don't know, I am astounded she hasn't had a heart attack." There was no
need to yell she was not panting or anything, and when the gate came up,
the one it had had to go on the other side of with a cucco, Navi was
nervous.
"Oh, shit!" Link whispered out, under his breath and held his eyes tightly
to the other side of him, it was going to be a big one, or maybe it would
end up with her gutted on the jagged spikes.
As soon as the horse made the jump over the fence, or started to attempt
it and was halfway in the air--that was when the pixie's eyes shut so tightly.
Yes, she was scared to death that the horse would be killed and the two of
them would be launched I the air at maybe sixty miles an hour. Landing down
and breaking their necks was not something either of them wanted to accomplish
in the distant future, or any future for that matter. Navi was scared to
death, she could of told anyone at that moment, and from the way Link grabbed
a hold of her and held her, he letting out a shriek, he was scared just as
much. Holding him back, the air around them whisked all the way, the breeze
catching them in the middle of the air, splashing against their face with
the force of a thousand boulders.
Unbeknownst to either of them, the girl felt, as if she was flying, as if
she was a unicorn from the old legends, the folklore was correct. Soaring
over the sharp spikes, sure of what would happen, the squeals of her master
and his friend were just keeping her more determined on winning. No way she
would let him down, that was the truth, and as it happened with the last
of her remaining new power, there was nothing to do but hope. Pegasus had
visited her and granted the mare wings, as it felt, then she was over the
entire fence and tracing down towards the ground, staring with eagerness.
At that moment, she quieted down for a quick moment, her enthusiasm gone
because if this had kept up, then she would have passed out and died, the
regular pace was what she needed.
Eyes peered open, heard the soft whinny of the horse, and there was how he
realized how much power the people around him had accustomed, the words ringing
out. "Are we dead?"
"No, oh praise the Goddesses!" She let out a squeal of joy and ungrouped
from him, rushing over towards his face and taking him up into a tight embrace,
kissing those lips of his softly, muttering out. "They--or someone--granted
her the powers of an ancient horse, or something, she was able to sail over
those spikes like they were nothing!"
"A-are you sure we aren't--" He cut himself off as Epona started to take
off and head where she wanted, no she was just following her masters orders
and getting them at the cavern, kissing on Navi. "We are alive, I can't believe
it."
"Yes, we are alive, I am so surprised about it that I can't seem to keep
my enthusiasm in, you are such a good girl, Epona! Such a wonderful mare."
Navi began to coo and stroke the ears of the horse as she passed through
the passages that led on, whinnying in pleasure when she touched a soft
spot.
Link just stared on in eagerness, soon his own hands curling around both
of her ears and rubbing them back and forth in a passionate manner. "Yes,
she is, I am so glad that I got such a courageous horse instead of one of
the others, she really was the liter of the bunch."
The stroking went on for a full twenty minutes, before the horse was tired
of walking and decided to keep the pace on and reach the end of the maze.
She wanted to reach the end of the place by the time night fell and they
were pretty much only a few hours before the sun started to melt on the horizon.
Only a few more hours, since it was nearing two o'clock, according to the
sun in the sky, of course that could be off by ten or more minutes, it was
never known in this day and age. It was wished that they could have started
earlier than this, maybe close towards the six in the morning sun, instead
of closer to the six in the afternoon one. Not like you could change the
time of anything, you just had to deal with what you could do, take the good
with the bad and make the best of the maniacal things.
The two of them had stopped to pet upon the girl and just focused on what
they would do whenever they reached the cavern. Epona wasn't neglected; she
was just put aside so that they could talk about the next mission, better
to plan ahead than charge in blind. No one knew what exactly had happened
between the Zoras and the King of Evil, at least no one knew this time around
the bin. The first time was when Princess Ruto had been kidnapped, she was
probably grown and governing the throne, unless she aged slow, like some
of the other races. Maybe a hidden race that stayed young forever, or maybe
children, as the Kokiiri were labeled to be, though none of that really
mattered.
What mattered was finding out if some sort of ancient water daemon had been
set free, some sort of evil enmity had been let loose on the temple. Better
than that, where was the temple, was another question that pondered both
of their minds, thinking of the most logical spot. Since the Forest was up
in a tree, the Fire down inside of a mountain, that meant that the next one
would be under an ocean, or something. Recollecting on what Shiek said, it
was under a vast ocean, or a lake, in the worlds of the Shinobi and there
was only one of those around. No one even suggested looking under a river,
it was too stupid, these rivers had been built to withstand the force of
an idiot, and they were so obvious!
Maybe the force of finding those stupid little dungeons was not enough, maybe
it was inside that mattered, that was all that went through their minds.
Everything would come piling down on the end; he had a small hunch that
Ganondorf's castle wasn't going to be all fun and games. Maybe it was the
sense of adventure he had, or the fact he had read about this ten's of thousands
of times, but the suspecting feeling of a temple inside the formally Hyrule
Castle was peeking at his mind. Harder and harder the temples were giving,
they following the most obvious order since Shiek had decided it and it was
the way they found the jewels seven years hence. Now, after this one would
be two more, having no idea where the fifth medallion would be located, the
sixth one was sort of in the clearing.
All that happened on the rest of the way, or about halfway, was that the
two of them spoke of maybe where the next temple would be located, after
the Shadow. Link had an idea that maybe the graveyard would be a great spot,
since that was where the shadow people lived--the Shiekah--and the shadow
of death. Navi pointed out that the Shiekah didn't live in the graveyard
(they were all dead years and years past) but checking the graveyard wasn't
a bad idea. As much as either of them didn't want to come back, they knew
it was inevitable, since that was where the Kakariko Village Graveyard was
located. No way to slip past, unless they climbed hundreds and hundreds of
feet across the edges of the mounts, but the humiliation wasn't that
bad--actually there really wasn't any.
Of course the hardest question came up, it was from Link and what he had
been dreading since she mentioned where the temple maybe. "How are we supposed
to fight underwater?"
"I'm sure the entire temple isn't underwater, I mean the inside is probably
solid, just the entrance was safely underwater." A good save, she knew it,
but of course Link wasn't stupid enough to fall for that, he was smart enough
to question what he would say next.
"Navi, that is stupid, I mean there have to be some air pressurized parts,
but all the others will be under water, there are some air pockets, but probably
not much." Huffing a little, he shrugged a shoulder and began to shiver all
over, staring ahead with his eyes sort of getting smaller, it felt so weird
around here.
"Link, what's wrong?" This was the safe spot, somewhere to mention another
thing to get rid of the fact that either of them were probably be choking
in a few hours, or days, depending on this Ice Cavern.
"Don't you feel that, the coldness!" Shivering, the tunic just wasn't going
to do it and he soon wrapped the entire black cape around his body, the one
that was still tattered after the battles on Death.
"Feel what, I feel fine--" Letting out a long screech, the girl slid over
towards his cape and slid inside of there, shivering harder and harder, staring
ahead for what it was. Nothing was ahead of them, the ground was still solid
as they walked and there was nothing that could have caused the air to be
this bitter, even if it was winter. A season that seemed to be around but
it really wasn't showing its head, the truth of the matter was that the fall
season had just stared, winter was three months away. The ground was as green
as could be, not a thing to spoil the weather except this cold chill that
was diverting itself into the aftermath. No, it wasn't a chill like a
precognition; it was more like the real cold you felt in the dead of winter,
as they described in the old stories.
"Why is it so cold, it's never been so cold before." Link wasn't freaking
out, the cape gave enough warmth for him, though all he could stick out was
his hands, the gloves kept them warm, fighting may have been hard, but not
impossible for this little hero.
"I don't know, I really don't know." Navi whispered out as the sun seemed
to bleak out at that very moment, the sun going down, but the pace of Epona
didn't charge down, she was heading on.
When the cold started, the two of them had been on the horse and were already
where they had seen that funny-shaped rock, so long ago. That one where he
had earned all the money by playing those silly ocarina songs, speaking of
which, were fully organized and rewritten down. The fires had swallowed them
up and now were replaced, good enough things to think of, though he was too
cold to even play the instrument now. Link had lost them in the fires of
Death, which seemed like a million years ago, but now he had them down on
another piece of paper. Shiek had had them down and given him an extra copy,
the beautiful notes like before were printed on there, showing how much of
a musician his master was.
Yes, at a closer look, that was where they met the frogs, looking at the
rock and hoping to see it, but the log was all bent and out of shape. From
the look of things, the entire place had always been this cold, because the
water on the log was all crusted with a white materialization. A thickly
crust was on it, Link leaning down and touching it with the tip of an ungloved
hand, pulling back and warming it up with the glove--it was cold! On further
inspection, this was looked at as frost, so yes; the things that lived here
were probably long dead along with the rest of the world around here. The
farther they trotted on the tiring Epona, the thinner the grass had gotten,
remembering back near the gate at how lush it had been all so long
ago.
Link had had enough of it, and when they reached the portion where the drawbridge
was, the one that led over towards the waterfall, he hopped off of Epona.
"Go back, girl. It is too cold for you, I am afraid you'll pass
out."
"Epona, he's right, you are much too cold for this, if you had a coat like
this--then maybe, but don't worry we are almost there, less than an hour's
walk from here. Plus this bridge seems too light for you, especially if it's
frozen." Navi smiled towards the mare, the mare whinnying in protest, before
the fairy began to stroke her and feel how cold she was.
"Listen to me, Epona, I want you to go back." Turning her around, he smacked
her on the behind with a little harshness, sending her trotting off over
the horizon, or close to it. When she was about to jump out of the way, she
took a glance over at the boy, whined a small little noise from her nose
and kept on that pace until she was gone. It was better this way, there was
no way that the horse could have waited outside of here for a week, or however
long this was going to take them. They were protected from this padded cloak,
it wouldn't ever die out and where it was tattered didn't seem to matter
to them, the air never sunk through. Giving his thanks to Anjou for her giving
it to him, he knew that soon this thing would be as reliable as his sword
itself, only problem was it didn't help him breathe underwater.
"You think she'll go back?" Navi whispered out, curled up at the top of the
cloak and sitting on his shoulder, well it was more like laying, a cute position
if the circumstances weren't so harsh.
"If she does come back, she will die, I am sure she knows that. What she
didn't know was that the cape kept us warm, I am just sorry there isn't one
big enough for her, I know she's dying to get in on the action." Chuckling,
he looked over at the rope-bridge, noticing that the drop down wasn't that
far, though on further inspection it was icy, the water seemed so cold, that
it was as solid as the ground. "Navi, what happened here, this place was
never like this before."
Two words echoed through her lips, brushing under the iciness as she spoke
them out through the cape, knowing if she didn't that they would be muffled.
"Ganondorf's curse. That is the only reasonable explanation to this are those
two words, I am sure that if they were frozen in the water, the Zora's would
die."
An expression of fear appeared in his face, he taking his chances and running
upon the bridge, the thing seeming to crack under his weight. Ignoring it,
the raced along the edges of the icy bridge, mostly concentrating on not
falling, then the stupid thing giving in under his abundant weight. No way
would be done in by weighing too much, knowing this was one of the many more
times he would feel bad about growing out of his child-like form. It was
all over when he neared the edge, the thing giving out when he was two feet
from the edge, he hearing the snap a little early, giving him time to leap
ahead. Yes, it was a moral thing to do, two feet was just too good to be
true, since the hard water below would have snapped his skull into
pieces.
Ruffling upon the ground, he tumbled forward into the ground, hearing the
bridge snap all the way and fall below, him peering over the edge. The sight
of what could happen made the bile rush to his throat, holding it back and
downing some of the canteen that was wrapped around his neck, pushing the
sickness back. Now as he fell upon the ground, his back pressed in the solid
ground, something felt wet below him, hoping to the Goddesses he didn't piss
his pants from being scared. No, he didn't do it because that wasn't where
the wetness was around, it was on all of his body, like he had fallen in
a pile of water--but this water was hard. To add to the effect, something
fell down from the skies, the clouds opening and sprinkling a small star-shaped
flake that flickered down and hit him on the head.
Catching the flake in his hands, or trying to, the thing burst into a thousand
spaces, fluttering into cold water and washing all over his face. Several
of its companions (each of them looking as vastly different as the next)
were colliding all around him and there he inspected all of them. Opening
his mouth widely, he caught one of them and slurped it down his throat, loving
the feel of wetness as it spread down his throat. Feeling better than even
the canteen did, he wished he could keep these things in a pack and munch
on one when he was thirsty, saddened that he couldn't because they exploded
when you touched them. Letting out a downfall sigh, the boy was thinking
to himself when Navi let out a gasp and started to point forward, his eyes
dislocating forward in awe.
"Snow, its snow." She whispered through hushed lips, as he released himself
and noticed that on the other side of the bridge--or formal bridge, the place
was covered in snow.
"Snow? But how, I thought that Hyrule was subtropical." There was no need
to answer the question, so he didn't state it as a question, just as a statement
because those two words came up in his mind: Ganondorf's curse.
The two of them stared in silence at the land, it was like the place beyond
the bridge was clear and green, but the other side was snow-ridden, the place
hit the most. The scenery was devastatingly beautiful, still it was sad because
the Zora's were probably dead, at least the ones that weren't underwater
when the freeze was hit. Although, the ones that weren't could have been
hit since most Zora's had to be submerged most of the times, and if not,
they would become un-moist, maybe their skin would dry up? Whatever the case,
the young ones and the old ones would be dead or trapped underwater, if the
freeze had happened so recently. Maybe he had come after the Zora's last,
it wasn't like the King was going to go in a specific order in how he terrorized
his citizens.
No time to explore the beauty of the winter wonderland, the two of them hurried
past the snow--Link gathering a handful--as they continued down the path
of reality. Swishing past there was the land where the mazes were, the binding
little land that stretched out about a mile and then the hidden waterfall.
Each was more difficult than the next, because it got higher and higher and
with frozen water below, slipping was not an answer for anyone. Winding through
the small ones were the most difficult, the place was a lot smaller than
when he was only just a pup of a Hylian. This wasn't the sort of water you
slip on and bust your behind, this was the one that you fell on at one hundred
feet up and broke your tailbone, it not even cracking under the
surface.
The higher we get, the slower it goes, at this rate we'll never be there.
Link thought to himself as he disappeared on his legs and began to crawl
on his knees, when the slips were too small for him to fit. It wasn't that
he was fat, or anything, he was just too damn small in some spaces, they
could have been climbed, if the situation was different. Yes, if it wasn't
so slippery, he could scale some of these places and make his way past them
with the smoothness of a climber. Now, the last one he had climbed past had
been the smallest of them, the smallest was the best of all gave all the
room to get back. On a leg now, that was when the last embankment was out
of the way, he stopping infront of the waterfall, eyes widened.
"My Goddess, it's frozen open!" Link let out an exasperated sigh of relief,
as Navi spoke those words, they were glad that it was frozen open, not in
the closed state.
"Yea, the thing looks like a mural of some sort." Out of an old painting,
it was truly how beautiful the thing was open; maybe the waterfall had never
been closed since his last return.
"That seems true, it is sort of slippery around there." She was more warned
about him, than she was herself, because she could fly over when he had to
jump or think up some weird plan of his.
"At least it isn't closed, Navi, then we'd be here all night. Or we could
always go to Lake Hylia, I mean, figuring that the lake isn't dried up or
frozen, itself." Link was getting sick of this, it was sickening him how
much Ganondorf was messing up this word, and he was one of the worst in the
world.
"Yea, there is that, but I doubt that it is frozen shut. If it was frozen,
then the water to from Lake Hylia would not be running, the well would dry
up and even Ganondorf would of died, he can't live without food and water.unless
the Triforce, nah, it hasn't granted you immortality or anything." She smiled
towards him and fluttered over towards the edge of the entrance to the domain
of the Zora's, it was definitely too slippery to jump.
Link was way ahead of her, he reached past the canteen, inside of the cape
and took out the hookshot, grinning towards her and preparing it. This was
the only way to get out of it without taking the chance of landing on the
other side, slipping on some loose ice and plummeting down towards his doom.
Aiming at a chunk of ice that was just above the area near the entrance to
the domain, the real domain, he swiped the trigger and let it fly. Slinging
through the air, he was worried maybe it would miss, break the ice and hit
nothing, or simply not reach, it looked like it wouldn't, or maybe it just
felt that way. The spring-loaded hook stuck out and penetrated the ice to
the core, none of it breaking, and slinging him across the way without breaking
so much as a sweat.
As he fell across, he felt a crack in the ice, doubting his weight and letting
go of the launcher, not letting go, but jumping forward and pulling on the
handle. Sliding about ten feet from the entrance and ten feet from the ledge,
the Hookshot in hand, he considered himself pretty lucky. Just when he was
considering himself good, he thanked his lucky stars that he wasn't five
or so feet back, because a crack came again and a huge explosion was behind
him. Spinning around, eyes caught that a huge chunk of ice--maybe about one
hundred pounds--was sitting about five feet from him, coldness radiating
off. The cold air was like an aura, it spin off and when you were close enough
was when you could feel it, otherwise the thing didn't even seem to really
be there.
"That was stupid, you know that?" Navi whispered out from the cloak, she
had been with him the whole time, not daring to leave the coat because she
feared her wings would fall off.
"Maybe I am just a reckless kinda guy? You hafta deal with that." He smiled
towards her, masking the feeling of terror he had felt, maybe that was because
he wanted her to think of how tough he had been.
Navi just let out a small chuckle, the boy flushing and shrugging a shoulder
before he pulled the Hookshot back into its place in the bag. Better to keep
it there, but it was even a little reckless since there might be some monsters
around here, ice monsters of some kind. That was what he feared, the cold
was a nice thing, but he really wasn't ready to tackle some sort of cavern
of ice, like the ninja had said. Taking a deep breath of fresh air, clearing
out his lungs from the regular cold and getting ready to the extreme one,
all that was left to do was hope. As he descended into the darkness, it felt
just like a temple, except the monsters were dead, there was no one to save,
and worst of all was it was
cold!
-------------------
The dankness of the temple was spoiling around her waist; it smelt of the
old kings, the ones she had read about as a child, now this was their
resting-place. It was horrible, what had happened, but even more horrible
was what had happened here, how she had been the only one to go on. Everyone
else was gone, she the only one and for what was she to do if the sadness
did end, to breed on and hope the race survived the consequences of living
on. Sadness was choking in her throat, so much that she just wanted to kill
the world where it stood for doing such a cruel thing to her, for sinking
fate on her. She knew that it couldn't be done like that, she knew she had
to go one for a few reasons in her mind, two of them were unsuspecting
people.
Now, fluttering through the water like a fish--but she was a fish--all thought
were off of the boy who'd never become an adult and more focused on the adult?
Yes, over the years she had thought about him and how her body had matured
was even more distracting because she knew his didn't. A Kokiiri, he had
claimed to be the scent was one of the forests, proving the fact, though
she still didn't want to believe he was like that. There was no way he could
be like that, because the Forest Children never left the forest, he must
have been mistaken or something, that was in. Sure, that was the only explanation
for his appearance, and he was a Hylian who would one day whisk him away
from the evil reign of one man whom she wanted dead, the one revenge was
not wasted on, as of yet.
Though, as the years went on, the years and the mature body began to take
the place of that smaller one, still bigger than his, though. Fins had began
to spread all around, being more beautiful than any of the other fish, she
was more enchanting and could beat them all out. Her hand for marriage didn't
even have to be arranged anymore, even though the older ones still wanted
her so did the ones her age and even the younger ones. Some wanted to arrange
marriages for their younger kids, it was funny, though sad how beautiful
she had become and yet to wed herself to any of those lucky little fish-men.
All she was waiting for was not a fish, she was waiting for a Hylian to show
up and not just any of those tanned little ones, she was looking for a child
to appear, younger than any of the others wanting her hand, though beyond
years in experience.
Age of when they were supposed to be wed was thirteen, which the year came
and went and by that time she was already beginning to develop so well it
was crazy. Now, as she stared beyond the clouds and just would think, at
night, of him, her love didn't fade, it grew even more, it was just like
that. A normal person would of said 'screw it' and decided to hook up with
someone else, but they had never seen this little boy fight with a sword.
How incredible he was, and even now, he had to be even better than before,
he just had to be the best of the best, able to defy the odds even more.
Even if in a child form, not that she would care, she'd marry and mate on
with the boy because all the fish-men (and women) were gone from here, including
her own father.
Father, how could they do that too you, the impenetrable fire that can't
be touched! A tinge of hate for the boy had begun to grow when she had seen
that, that was when she had headed for the legendary blue fire to sink the
flames from her father, failing in her attempt, though that was where she
found him.
How she remembered it was she had been searching the cavern, not even knowing
any of the puzzles, it was when she traveled into a lone room. The room had
been cold; she embraced by one of the tunics that her father had kept, and
sure it kept water out of those without gills, but also protected against
the cold. Along with those features, the Hylian-made tunic kept a Zora who
wore it as moist as they could be, even without sinking into the water. Yes,
that was a good thing for now, since all the water was frozen and without
it, she would have dried herself up and died on the spot. Ruto didn't like
water too much, or hadn't as a kid, so she used to wear the large ones to
bed, because they didn't make them for children, I mean, who would need
one.
Not knowing who made them, the tunics were given to them back in the old
days, before she even met Link, they were a present from the King. Not the
King of today, but the good one who had been a fine ruler and relations between
every race--except Gerudo, but can you blame them--had been wonderful. This
man, whom had ended the war and establish peace, hadn't made them, she had
forgotten what he had said where he'd gotten them. Maybe should would ask
him one day--but then as she wandered those halls, she knew that he was long
since dead, one of the first fatalities of the war. Ganondorf had killed
him first, maybe not the first, but one of the first ten; this was excluding
the knights that he bashed out of the way to get to the old ruler.
I shall avenge you father, the fire shall heal you, you're the only one like
that, even so, if we work together then we can rebuild what he destroyed.
I promise I shall keep him out, we shall find a Hero in all of this, and
when he is dead, we'll just laugh about it. Yes, those thoughts were broiling
through her head, the thoughts of being prepared for monsters hadn't crossed
her mind, and none were in the way.
Her thoughts had been ruled off and that was when it attacked him, that was
when something had attacked her and taken wanted to kill her. Yes, the paws
of something were placed on her, she too much in fear to realize that something
was coming towards her. It could have been detected from a long way ago,
if not for her stupidity in realizing certain things, but now it was too
late to do anything. She was just too scared to even attempt to do anything;
not that she had a weapon to protect herself with, although she wished so.
Now, the only weapons left in the palace were some old javelins from the
old world, to rust, that was the main reason she hadn't bothered to pick
one up.
Oh Naryu, oh Naryu, if I survive this, I promise I will do anything for you!
She could not tell what it was; this creature with white fangs was bearing
on her, saliva dripping down from the cord of its mouth.
White fur, something she had never seen, it was probably domesticated from
here, not that the fish would ever have enough time to classify the thing.
This creature was unknown to her, even with gray fur in its place, though
from the way it looked, Link would be able to tell it in a second. Her thoughts
were rushing to Link, to her father who would spend eternity in the red fire,
and to the others who had died such horrible deaths for needless causes.
Ganondorf was doing such stupid stuff, killing and torturing everyone except
the ones that deserved it, and his own race needed this stuff. Now, onward
her thoughts went and she thought she would accept death, just embrace it,
that was when she heard a small yip, that a dog makes, and the wolf fell
over.
What in Naryu's name is going on? She felt the dead weight on her, the spilling
of the blood fell all over her naked body--she covered herself with those
glistening fins when males were around--and looked about. Either this one
had had an extremely violent heart attack (the heart didn't come out) or
someone had pierced the monster in the chest. The lather seemed the most
possible, so she threw the monster off of her, searching the room for someone
that might have been in the way to save her. No, there was no one here, but
she never got to examining the entire room, for it began to crumble, she
realized this was only an air pocket in the snow. How she had wandered off
the path and into some stupid little air pocket was beyond her, not even
knowing there could be these things in snow.
"Grab my hand!" A voice rang out; a masculine voice that seemed to pierce
her ears and makes her want to melt at the arms, the ones that heartthrobs
make.
"W-who're you?" The voice rang towards the left, and when she clasped to
the left, feeling a skinned hand grab hers, she was overcome with relief
that Link had come to save her. Yes, this man was Link, he was a Hylian and
had grown up to be such a handsome man, or from what she heard with the voice
intact. Staring to the left, the golden hair warned her that this was Link,
the hair had grown even longer and was now down right above his strong shoulders.
That face was covered up, but a single eye beamed out and through that, she
could see he was compassionate enough, the cloth was smiling through there,
he clad up in some weird garb. Glancing into that blue eyes--the enchanting
ones--she was caught with the realization that it wasn't her hero, the man
had a single red eye, the other one hidden from view.
"Quiet, I'll explain later." Throwing her forward, she slammed her hardened
breasts up against his flat chest, he making sure she was attached, before
taking off.
The ride was extremely fast, faster than those horses that sometimes the
King used to bring over with him, they were about a million of them in this
boy's speed. He raced through the pocket, which was at least about two miles
long, without a sweat and was on the other side before anyone could complain
about anything. His speed made her sigh and rest against his chest, her small
head nestled on her shoulder and feeling the hair brisk around her face.
Zipping throughout the end of the pocket, the cavern came into view, it
disappearing after a few seconds and even the water was gone from Zora's
fountain. Fountain was out of view, she remembering the Blue Fire, though
not saying anything, because for some reason, she wanted to be held by this
man and even her hero was gone from her dreams.
As the hours passed on, only about two, she realized during all of them that
he was running so fast that an hour after the accident they were in the middle
of Hyrule Field. He must have been heading to the Lake Hylia, and since there
portal was frozen shut under the water, that meant that this was the only
way to get there. There was an ancient spell, but you needed some weird
instrument to play it and the Zora's really didn't play many instruments,
although Link had one. That was the only time she thought of him, she was
so dedicated to focus on this new one, examining that he also was carrying
some small little sharp knives. Weapons of these caliber were resting around
his waist, also a small little golden instrument was in the pack that he
wore around his waist, a harp, she remembered it being called.
At long last, they appeared down into the depths of Lake Hylia, the first
time she had seen it in four months, her eyes widened as he sat her down
and she examined it. The thing was smaller for one, and before she could
fully research it anymore, he was looking at her with that beautiful crimson
eye. Now, she wanted to pull that mask down, find the handsome face and ask
why he would hide such a beautiful face form the rest of the world. He would
answer that he was a loner and didn't want his past undone, the