Live Your Own Story in Hyrule

Irina does not disturb the whale but looks up to the floating islands, where the sword was. They know where the sphere is; the problem is getting it up there.

Link walks over to Kayo and asks, “What is that creature? Where is it going?”

Kayo addresses the strange Zora. “Your guess is as good as mine, warrior.”

He gazes out at the whale. “The prophecies speak of a sea creature that would return the light. We have been searching these waters for anything that could help us.”

He whispers a name, calling the beast. “Oshus… are you guiding us?”

Irina remains quiet on the whale’s back. It seems to be confident about where it is going and the boat follows, so she does not bother the animal. However, she remains vigilant in case other creatures try to attack it again.

Tera walks to the edge of the boat and looks out at the horizon. She listens quietly to the conversation.

“The truth is, it may be too little too late. The light has almost been extinguished from this world.” She turns to Kayo and Link, and eyes the younger Zora a moment, “Nevertheless, we will either bring it back or die honorably trying.”

Mipha darted through the water, swimming as fast as she could. They were foreign and unfamiliar to her, but she didn't rightly care. All she understood to do is follow the light. Safe to be said, she had a bit of tunnel vision and had nearly missed the vessel and by missed, she'd nearly slammed into the boat. Fiding her vision was obscured and was quickly heading towards a wall, she came to a stop.

She tried to identify what this wall was and further why it appeared to be moving. Once it became clear it was a boat, she'd leap out of the water and right onto the deck without a second thought. A quick sweep of the occupants revealed nearly none of them were familiar, except for one.

"Link!" She called out. "We've all been waiting for your return! We saw the light on the island and then nothing came of it!"

She then looked to the two Rito who she'd just realized were also aboard. "Weren't you two supposed to fly him back?! We've all been so worried! This--this all is so thoughtless!"

Red didn't have time to process Mipha's presence before he was getting scolded. He stood there, beak agape for a few moments until he snapped out of the initial shock of the moment. "Well, yes, but things happened and we ended up here..." He knew that didn't sound very convincing, but it was true at the least. "We're alive, at least?"

Revali was also shocked by Mipha's appearance, but no sooner than she began scolding him, of all people, he huffed. "Take a breather for a few moments! You just got here and the only thing you can think to do is scold us? Also, I'm pretty sure you're MISSING someone!" He extended his wing out to Irina who was currently sitting on a whale. "She also went with us."

He rested his wings behind his back. "Red is right, at least we're alive. And, since you mentioned it, yes, we were supposed to fly them back! Both of them! But we ran into some issues! Now that you're here, make yourself at home. Me and Red are going to grab the others and bring them back here." He grumbled and motioned for his counterpart to follow along.

"You're welcome, by the way!" He remarked while taking flight to go head back towards the islands, followed closely by Red.

The young Zora shouts, "Incoming! Port-side, aft!" The crew scrambles and is holding arms when they see Mipha suddenly board.

"Hold fire!" shouts the captain. He seems surprised to see another strange Zora appear. "It looks like we have more visitors."

He walks up to Mipha and smiles to her, looking at her curiously as she scolds the others. "My my." He watches Revali and Redvali flap off towards the land. "Ahem... welcome aboard?" The situation seems ridiculous, and is a lot to process.

Link turns, shocked to see Mipha. He runs to her side. "Princess, are you okay? You swam all the way out here?"

He points to Irina, who is riding a giant white whale that is glowing with light. "We have a situation here... but we're okay. We are okay." he repeats, almost catching his breath.

He watches the captain speak up as well and does his best to make an introduction. "Captain... Kayo. This is our princess, Mipha. Princess of the Zora in Hyrule."

Mipha couldn't possibly see what she should be grateful for, so Revali was dismissed with a quiet huff. Besides, she didn't forget Irina, she was just...really concerned for Link. She wanted to speak further to him and give him more of a piece of her mind, but introductions were in order here and she wasn't going to forget her manners and station.

"Well met," she began. "I know the manner of my boarding must have been confusing, but it was purely out of concern. Had I any other options, I would have used them."

She steps closer to Link and begins to check over him, observing as if she was looking for any strange mutations or magic that might have affected him. "I'm glad you're okay," she adds a bit more quietly, currently distracted with her task of assessing him. "You don't appear to have anything wrong and I don't sense anything wrong, but a report of your condition would have been nice."

She steps back, still a bit upset, but she'll recover in due time. "I did swim all the way here. Both Revali and Red hadn't returned, the island lit up and had since gone quiet and then we didn't hear anything from anyone. After the sea began acting strangely, I heard it said you entered the water. I came to verify it myself and from the looks of things it's true."

Link allows the princess to thoroughly examine him. He watches her, with a bit of a guilty look on his face, and then finally says, "I apologize. Things have happened so fast and we just stepped out of the water, as you can probably surmise. But I believe I am okay, princess."

He takes in a breath then begins to explain. "We made it to the island, per our plan. There is a statue that has what appears to be the sword, but it is crystalized in a stone material. It is in the middle of a plaza, flanked by two holes. There was a temple as well with a large chamber. Three of us entered the temple while Red remained outside, and the three of us became trapped when the doors closed. The walls were covered in spikes and started to close in, but Red was able to roll a mysterious sphere into one of the holes, which I believe stopped the trap that was set in the temple. There was another sphere, that I assume needed to go into the other hole, but during the chaos it rolled off of the island and into the sea. That is when this happened..."

He points to the waters, which are now glowing with light that both originate and branch out from the strange whale creature that Irina is riding.

"Then this ship appeared."

At that point, the captain interjects. "That is correct. We were exploring the area near here, following the mysterious light, and that is when we found your friends in the water."

Tera walks up to look at the princess. She instinctively bows her head to her, but has a pained and suspicious look on her face.

Kayo looks at Tera, and says, "We can avoid the misunderstandings we initially had. I'll assume we're all friends now." He offers a disarming smile to Mipha.

Link nods as Kayo says that. "Correct." He turns to look at Irina and says, "We, Irina and I, jumped into the water to try to recover the sphere and that is when we encountered that massive creature... it swallowed the sphere and became enchanted with the light inside of it, and now we are following it." He shrugs a bit sheepishly. That was a mouthful but it was the truth as far as he experienced it.

The young Zora suddenly hangs upside down from a rope that is tied a mast like a spider, appearing in front of Mipha, "Gee, miss. You are pretty." He maneuvers himself upright then hops down to join the conversation. Kayo can't help but smile at him but he puts his hand on his shoulder to quietly tell him to stop.

Kala shields her eyes from the second blast, but her gaze stays fixated in that direction.

She begins to tell a story. “The legends also foretell of a prophecy. Our ancestral land will fall to a similar curse when the barrier between our two worlds is broken. Their knights would descend to our realm and bring back the light. We will have an opportunity to redeem the iniquities of our forebears.”

She turns to the princess and says, “I have nothing to lose here and I would like to help you save your own land. We are distant cousins, after all.”

She turns to point to the islands in the sky. “Many here have completely forgotten their lore and have succumbed to the darkness. Others have held on to their identities but have embraced the darkness. There are rumors that some of my kin, some of whom we have not seen for quite some time, hide among the shadows and are amassing a coup against those of the sky. Regardless of whether that is true or not, every day there are less and less of my people.”

_Gatu grits his teeth a bit, seeing what's going on across the waterfalls on the suspended island. He can only hope Link and the others know what they're doing._
"I think I could make it across before it melts. My Pegasus Speed Spell would make me quick enough to run across. You saw how fast I zipped around and killed those stalfos and other monsters Mipha."

"...But maybe you're right. I'm just antsy because I feel so powerless to do anything. I barely have any gear or items, so I can only rely on my Magic until we get back to Hyrule."
_Gatu listens as Kala explains the Twili's and the Twilight's origins, in which he remembers reading a scroll in Vaati's library that describes such an event, though it sounded like it it the Twili Zora's account of the event in the distant past._

"Kala, I am beyond grateful for your desire to help. With us aligned, we are far stronger than we would be on our own. As distant cousins, it would be my honor to help redeem this stain that has tainted us for so long," Mipha admits honestly. "And Gatu, I recognize that you are anxious and you have every reason to be. However, we do have a purpose down here as much as they do up there. We should try to figure out what we can do next from here. We are dealing with more than just a battle, but the livelihood of an entire people before us," she motions to Kala in particular as she says this.

"I saw how you fought and you did well. But we must also know battles will not always end at the tip of a sword. We have a responsibility to our minds also." She stands up, witnessing the second flash, but she doesn't turn to face it. Instead, she continues her conversation, "You said earlier that the light we've seen flashing from those islands has been unseen. Do you believe this light may be related to the prophecy you've shared?"

Kala looks up at Mipha as she rises. Her gazes is contemplative and deep with emotion. “I don't know…” she says heavily, as if her own words were betraying the tone in which she spoke, the emotionless facade breaking momentarily. “I don't know if I believe in such things.”

She stands to meet the princess. “But I believe what I am seeing. Ga-tu—“ pronouncing the man's name with the slight hesitation of a foreigner, “Your urgency is warranted. I feel we are on the cusp of some great opportunity.”

"True." _Gatu says, leaning against a nearby wall. He's trying to relax, but he can't help but feel a bit antsy, especially after all that- frankly- traumatizing stuff he sorta witnessed in the Shadow Temple. Impa and the Shiekah are going to be busy cleaning up that mess..._

"It wasn't easy getting here to this realm... This Twilight... I fear leaving will be the biggest problem. I can't shake the feeling someone or something will try in all its power to stop us from getting the Master Sword back to Hyrule." _Gatu added, looking perplexed._

"But something keeps bugging me... I used the Master Sword to end the Flood and recede the waters... I went with Princess Zelda and her guards to return it to its pedestal in the Temple of Time. The Door of Time were sealed shut before the flood, and only opened after she used her Sage magic to open it up so I could return it with her since we didn't have the Spiritual Stones or the other two keys. So how was it the Master Sword got taken and brought here in the first place after the Door of Time was closed?"

Mipha could understand Kala's sentiments, even if she may have been slightly disheartened at hearing her words. Still, she would hold out hope regarding the opportunity that might very well present itself.

"Evil has a way of overwhelming and corrupting what are considered sacred places. Each of the temples in the land served significance to its people in some form and Ganondorf invaded each one. The Master Sword, despite its power, I can imagine can be affected in similar fashion. However, unlike the temples, it bears a unique sentience that may have contributed to its disappearance. It may have ended up here due to fear or protection or something else," she offered her thoughts on the matter.

"That is what I think, at any rate."

Maintaining her hold on her trident, she turns away from the group to look towards the islands once again. It doesn't appear they're very active, which begs the question of where the others are. Were they successful? Why haven't they returned?

She'd placed a hand to her chest in a self-soothing manner to calm her heart, nearly sinking into the thought that they might very well be in trouble. Naturally, she lowered her eyes from the island feeling troubled. Yet, what was sadness was quickly turned into befuddlement. "What is happening in the water?"

She returned to the group. "Something has happened in the sea. It's filled with streams of light!"

_Gatu runs over and looks downwards to see what Mipha sees._
"Something important must have fallen into the water after what the others did over on the Floating Island. It's hard to tell, but... I think they went down to retrieve it. I think I see a craft of some sort down there, near the farthest stream of light over there." _Gatu said, pointing it out to Mipha if she hasn't spotted it._

"They went down? Are you certain?" Mipha inquired, her voice elevating as she'd stepped closer over the edge to take a look at where Gatu was looking. She couldn't quite make it out in the same way, but it didn't matter. They could very well be in danger. "But the waters... I thought--" She shook her head. "Nevermind, that. I'm going to go after them." She hastened towards the cliff that Link jumped from before. Looking over the ledge, she studied where the guiding light was leading towards. Without further hesitation she dove off the ledge and slipped through through the surface of the sea as smoothly as a knife through butter.

"Be careful Mipha!" _Gatu said after her, wishing her all the luck as she leap and dove down to see what's going on._

Kala crosses her arms and mutters something under her breath... something about "she is going to get herself killed" and "spoiled princess".

She walks to the edge then turns and gives Gatu a sharp look. "Well, are you coming or not?"

Revali came gliding in from above, circling over the area before coming to a landing. He didn't want to run into any issues on his way down. "Hey!" He calls out in greeting. "Me and Red have finally returned. We're coming to pick you guys up and fly you back to a boat out there. Seems a lot has happened and it'll be too hard to explain. Best way I can put it - A whale of light is tugging the boat." He shrugs.

"Don't ask me more, I just got there and got yelled at by Mipha."

Red comes landing soon after Blue and stretches a bit. "We've been doing a lot of flying..." He states. "But yeah, what the Blue guy says is correct. All the others are okay, though. That we know of, at least." He confirmed.

"If you all are ready, just say the word and we can carry you back. No need to get into the water."

Kala was about to jump into the water, maybe grabbing Gatu with or without his permission, but she stops when she sees the two figures on the horizon. She points and then runs to them as they land. "Boat?" She asks confused.

She stares out at murky water and frowns, then turns to the birds. Then the other thing he said clicks in her mind, "Whale... of light? What?" She looks more confused now. "Are they in danger? The people on the boat?"

(See <#C5FAAGN80>)

Suddenly, a black crystal slams into the ground at high speeds, with a sudden flash of light in the form of a beam slamming into it, setting it off. Once the dust settles, one can see a Fog begin to form.

Another day, another round of looking for odd jobs to keep body and soul together. -.- It's better now than when John first started at least, he's gotten used to approaching folks at random to ask for work and they've gotten used to the idea that there's this guy around who can save them some trouble in exchange for a few rupees. Still, it's wearisome having to _hunt_ for employment all the time.

"I'm tellin' ya Johnny-boy, ya oughta just sign up wi' the castle guard," Scruvo remarks, guessing John's thoughts. "Gals love a chap in armor."

John rolls his eyes, trying to remember how many times they've had this conversation already. "And what do you think will happen when they ask about past experience and references? 'I was part of the army in the Dukedom of Loranis until I was banished for insubordination.'" e.e

"Cor blimey, an' you think _I_ take liberties in recountin' stories! At least I add stuff IN instead of leavin' all th'good parts out! Tell y'wot, why don't I tell 'em wot happened an' then you can just shoot down the embellishments, that'll get th'full story across AND show 'em you're humble ab--CRIKEY, INCOMIN'!!!"

John dives for the nearest cover, the corner of a building. He hears a dirt-spraying impact followed by an explosion, accompanied by a brief flash brightening the surroundings. After a moment, he straightens up against the wall and takes a peek around the corner, assessing the situation and looking for casualties and at-risk civilians. &gt;.&gt; Maybe nobody's _paying_ him to be a soldier, but the trained response doesn't stop to think about things like that.

In the distance, between the mountaintops, glides a yellow object. It takes note of the strange object that just flew into the town. The young messenger Rito swoops down on the town to take a closer look.

Not too far from the town, a royal guard sees the fog and hurries to ensure everybody is safe. Upon seeing the fog, Kagetora stops before he reaches it. He is aware of what will happen if he touches it... and frowns.

"Everybody, step back! Do not touch the fog!" He warns lifting his arms, stopping any villagers that attempt to approach the area.

The young yellow bird was near the fog but perched slightly above it on a stone chimney. He hops down to the roof and asks the soldier, “What is happening?”

Kagetora looks up to see the Rito while he tries to block people from entering the town. “This fog contains dark magic and is similar to that in Castle Market Town. Those who touch it will be cursed and turned into poes. Please warn everyone to stay away!”

The young Rito squawks in affirmation to the warrior's command, and then hops a few times before taking flight over the town. He begins to call out, "Beware! Beware! Everyone abandon the village! Avoid the fog!"

Ohhhhhjoy. &gt;~&lt; John pushes off from the wall and runs over to the building's door, yanking it open. "ANYBODY IN HERE, GET OUT FAST!!! THERE'S A POISON FOG FILLING THE TOWN!!!" John of course actually doesn't know if the fog _is_ poisonous, but it's a decent assumption based on the bird-man telling people to avoid it and it gets across the desired action quick and easy. A few confused townsfolk come tumbling out, including an old man with more wisdom than speed. U~U; John grabs his arm and throws it over his shoulders, trying to hasten his hobble toward the edge of town.

Meanwhile, the resident sky-watcher who's always hanging out on that roof is still rubbing his eyes from witnessing that sudden bright beam come down from Death Mountain. :dizzy_face: By the time his vision clears, the building he's on top of is already surrounded by fog, and it's starting to creep up the shingles toward him. He waves his arms up at Kanali. "HELP! I CAN'T GET DOWN!"

Over near Kagetora, a dog darts forward to bark and growl at the encroaching phenomenon. &gt;O A small girl runs after it, wrapping her arms around its neck and tugging fruitlessly. "No no Duke, get back!" &gt;n&lt;

Kanali pauses, catching a glimpse of the curious man that is standing on the roof. He looks around, watching the fog rise. He sees a woman holding a cucco and both are transformed immediately into orbs of light as the fog touches him.

"Oh no... this is terrible." the bird mutters under his breath.

"Hold on!! Stay away from the fog!" he shouts at the man on the roof as he hops up and takes flight, being careful to put some height between himself and the encroaching haze. He swoops down and grabs onto the man, already struggling to keep aloft, but says, "I got you! Hold on to me!"

At that, he kicks down on the roof to give himself a boost, breaking several roof tiles in the effort and sending them tumbling into the fog. Kanali takes flight with the man and attempts to carry him to safety, although his piloting skills are rough with the added weight.

Kanali crashes off to the side with the man, away from the fog. "Quick! Run away from the fog!" He dusts himself off, then picks himself up and flies back to the rooftops to see if he can spot anybody else.

Kagetora moves quickly through the edge of the fog, intercepting the small girl and her dog before they can get any closer. He drops to a knee just long enough to steady her, guiding both back with firm but careful hands.

“Stay with the others,” he says, voice calm but urgent. “Do not approach the fog under any circumstance.”

Rising immediately, his gaze looks around the village. He tracks the spreading fog, the panicked movement, the flashes of light where people vanish into it. “This is the same phenomenon reported in Castle Town,” he calls out to those nearby. "Everybody, fall back now! Move to higher ground and keep distance between yourselves and the fog!”
He pauses only briefly, weighing the situation—then the decision is made.

He turns toward the direction of the road leading out of Kakariko, expression resolute. “I need to inform the castle,” he says, more to those who can hear than anyone in particular. “The Princess must know at once.”

Without hesitation, he breaks into motion, moving swiftly and silently along the outer edges of the village, leaving the evacuation in capable hands. He needs to carry the warning now.

Kanali watches Kagetora and hears him. He checks on the man he just helped one last time, then says, "Sorry, I must go. Please keep people away from the fog."

He jumps into the air and takes flight, catching up to Kagetora. "Sir!" he calls out from above. "Sir!. There is a similar fog near the castle. I can help you get the message to the castle if you want."

heads for the stairs leading up to the gate to Death Mountain with his burden. &gt;_&lt;; As they make it up the first flight and turn toward the north exit, the old man glances down worriedly and sees the spreading fog rising up to the ledge they just surmounted. &gt;.&gt;; "J-just leave me, we won't make it--" "Save it!" John snaps, tightening his grip on the man's arm. They stumble forward together, walking a deadly tightrope between going too slow and losing even more time by pushing too hard and falling down. Fortunately, the higher the fog goes, the more space it has to spread out in, so it moves outward slower...but it's definitely creeping along the ground behind them now.

In fact, it's also coming from their right. &gt;.&gt;; John watches tendrils form along the second set of stairs, cutting them off. Well, just have to hope they can hold their breath and withstand a little--

"Up here!" The gate guard kneels on the ledge on the left side of the stairs, holding his arms out urgently. o_o John quickly leans the old man against the wall, then crouches down and wraps his arms around his thighs. With a grunt of effort, he lifts the man upward. The guard grabs hold of the old man's arms and pulls from above. With the weight partially relieved, John switches hold and grabs the old man's feet, pushing him the rest of the way up just as the fog closes in around him.

After a tense moment of blindly following the wall to mount the stairs with eyes closed and breath held, John turns around and chances a peek. -xo The fog appears to be paused in its ascent, coming no higher than midway up the stairs. Whatever was releasing it must be running out. John exhales and trudges over to the old man and the guard. "Whew...that was a close one."

The old man doesn't look around. "He should've saved himself," he says sorrowfully. "He had so much life still ahead of him." v_v

John gives a short-breathed guffaw. "Hey, I think I'm gonna be okay. Stop moaning." X)

The guard peers cautiously over the ledge. "He just...disappeared. I can see the ground below us through the fog, but I can't see _him_. It's like it _dissolved_ him." o.o;

John furrows his brow. "Hey, I'm over here! Behind you!" John goes to put a hand on the guard's shoulder -- and it passes right through. o.o;