Chapter 9: Water, Heart of Evil

A treasure box sat directly before Link, reminding him of the polluted timeline, where he battled his darkness, this very room being where he earned his prize of the Longshot.

"It seems so long ago..." he muttered to himself. "But it didn't actually happen. Or... did it?"

Navi flew about the room and shrugged.

"I'm not sure, myself..." she answered. "I have no idea how time travel works."

The fairy turned her glance to the treasure box.

"Say, Link?" she asked suddenly. "What do you suppose is in this box?"

The boy took a few steps towards it and prepared to reveal its contents. A slight snicker was given, and he gazed at his fairy companion.

"Maybe..." he began. "...it's the other pieces of the Triforce?"

Giving another snicker, Link shrugged and opened the treasure box, revealing another scroll. Scratching his head, he read the inscription aloud.

"If light is what you wish to see, take my friends, as well as me."

Eyes narrowing, he suddenly sat down, crossing his legs as he pondered over the perplexing inscriptions.

"Navi?" Link murmured after a few moments. "The three scrolls I have... they all mention light. Can you fathom their meaning?"

The fairy sighed and shook her head, once again sitting on the boy's shoulder.

"I honestly can't say I do..." she responded. "It's as much an enigma to me as it is to you."

Standing to his feet once more, Link stared down at the floor.

"It doesn't matter yet..." he muttered. "I just have to get to the central chamber... and fight my fiancé to the death..."

Navi opened her mouth to speak, but stopped instantly as the room began to darken. A poe suddenly appeared, Link listening intently as it spoke.

"Hero chosen for this land..." it began, slowly reaching out towards the boy. "Please reach forth, and take my hand."

Doing as asked of him, Link stepped forward and extended a hand, gently taking a hold of the spirit's. The poe gave a sad smile and nodded, as if answering an unasked question.

"Like the ones you've met before..." it continued. "Ancient spirits, nothing more. But as you're aware, you must make haste, there simply isn't time to waste. Lakeside waters in despair, evil power floats through the air. With the courage that you know best, please guide us to eternal rest."

The room faded from sight, Link and Navi feeling much lighter than the air around them. Everything becoming a blur, their surroundings began to form once again, and within mere moments, they found themselves in a new, mysterious part of the temple. The ghost released Link's hand and pointed towards the doorway at the end of the dimly lit hallway.

"Within that chamber, dark power grows..." the spirit explained. "...darkness of limits that no-one knows."

The blond was already expecting what was next to come, extending his hand in preparation for the charm he knew would be given to him. He wasn't disappointed. The insignia of the Water Spirits was engraved on the charm, and Link gave a sigh, readying himself for the poe's next words.

"Take this charm, and use it well..." the spirit said. "It shall aid against the evil spell. Our foe lies in that darkened room, but with this charm, you will seal its doom. Young hero, like twice before, to danger we send, to save our beloved water friend."

As the ghost faded, Link lowered his gaze to the ground.

"This is it..." he murmured. "Time to lose someone else dear to me..."

With another deep sigh, Link walked down the hallway, Navi following closely, noticing that the air seemed to be getting more damp. Arriving at the door, he took a breath and opened it, stepping into the dark room.


As he entered the room, the door closing behind him, his eyes scanned about the room. In the centre of the room was a large pool of water.

"I know you're here..." he murmured, eyes closing. "Ruto... come out... and face me..."

The water in the centre of the room began to churn, a splash suddenly sounding. Eyes opening, Link saw his fiancé, standing atop a pillar of water. The two faced off in silence, Ruto being the first to speak.

"You know what I am going to do..." she more stated than asked. "Your death is going to be painful, you know that..."

Link shook his head and drew his sword.

"Ganondorf... if you can hear me..." he hissed out. "When I get to you, you'll be begging me for mercy... forcing me to fight loved ones..."

Pointing his sword at Ruto, he couldn't help but smile.

"I still have it..." he mumbled. "Your... engagement present..."

For a moment, Ruto looked like she was struggling with herself. Her eyes seemed to return to her usual, lively glow, and the corners of her lips seemed to twitch upwards, but as quickly as it showed, it vanished.

"Is that right?" she asked, her voice distant, eyes cold and uncaring. "Are you done with your foolish sentiment?"

Clenching his teeth together, Link swung his sword in front of him to show that he was ready. Ruto smirked and jumped off the pillar of water, which lowered back into the pool.

"Ah..." she purred. "...that's more like it!"

Fighting back his rage, Link listened as Navi analysed the Zora.

"Ruto," she started. "Sage, and spirit of water, possessed by the Evil King! She can control all nearby water. Vanquish the evil darkness that controls her, and restore her purity!"

Ruto shook her head in amusement and sent a stream of water towards Link, who narrowly dodged it. A second shot sped towards him, this time blocked by his shield.

"Enough games!" the Zora princess suddenly hissed. "Feel the power of water!"

The water from the pool began to surge, and a massive wall of water began to move towards him.

Shit! How can I defend against that?

"Yousei Toku!"

Link gasped as a magical shield appeared before him, and just in time, the water slamming into it and bouncing away, receding back into the pool from whence it came. The shield faded, and Link raced towards Ruto, dodging more attacks.

"Damn you!" Ruto snarled out, firing another burst of water at the Hylian. "Take this!"

The water managed to hit Link, knocking him to the ground, sword falling to the ground right beside him. Before he had a chance to move, Ruto was upon him.

"Link!" Navi called out. "You have to get up!"

Ruto smirked, leaning down and grabbing a hold of the boy's tunic. Raising a finned hand high, her smirk widened.

"Game over..." she whispered. "You lose..."

In desperation, Link did the only thing he could think of in this situation. Reaching a hand, he grabbed behind his fiancé's head and pulled it down, their lips meeting.

My first kiss with her... and, my last...

Ruto's eyes closed, suddenly jerking open once again as pain shot through her abdomen. The kiss broken, her eyes locking onto Link's, she saw tears streaming from them. Glancing down, she noticed the Master Sword's hilt. The blade had gone right through her. Somehow, the boy had managed to pick it up during the kiss. With a choked sob, Link withdrew the blade and watched as Ruto crumpled to the ground, breathing heavily.

"Ruto..." he gasped out. "I'm..."

The colour returning to her eyes, Ruto weakly gazed at her betrothed, slowly shaking her head and smiling as Link knelt down and cradled her.

"Don't..." she murmured. "You did... what you had... to do..."

The Hylian clenched his teeth together, trying to vanquish the pain, but to no avail.

"But..." he choked out. "I could have just..."

"Enough, Link..." the Zora princess demanded. "There's... no way of telling... if I... would have returned... to being... his... puppet..."

Wiping away more tears, Link nodded, choking back another sob. Ruto closed her eyes and gave a weak sigh, opening them once again to glance at her betrothed.

"Link... my fiancé..." she continued. "There is... one last thing... that I must do... Take my power... take it... respectfully..."

The Zora began to shimmer, her eyes never leaving the blond's. The charm in the boy's hand also shimmered, and as her body began to fade, her smile widened, reaching up to place a translucent hand upon his cheek.

"Never forget..." she whispered as she faded from existence. "We are... always together... as one..."

The charm glowed brightly, before dissolving into Link, enhancing his power. Still on his knees, the boy's tears began to flood down his face, Navi remaining silent as the room began to echo with his sobs. He paid no attention to the energy that enveloped him, drawing him back to Lake Hylia, instead turning his attention to Navi.

"I don't know how much more I can take..." he admitted, tears continuing to roll down his cheeks. "I've had to kill people I care about... I thought I'd come to terms with that... it's for the good of Hyrule... no, the world! But..."

Trying to fight back more sobs, he grabbed fistfuls of grass in his hands.

"Why?" he wept. "Why is it so damned hard? Will it ever stop hurting?"

Sitting on the boy's shoulder, Navi touched a hand to his cheek, her aura dissolving the tears that touched her.

"I don't know..." she confessed. "I really... don't know..."



End of Chapter 9.