Live Your Own Story in Hyrule

A small crab scurries to the surface of a rock and busies itself with trying to catch a meal from the small, almost microscopic creatures that float among the currents.

The eyes appear again and then something connected to them darts out, trying to nab the crab and causes the stone that the crab is on to tumble down to the bottom of the small mound that it was on. The rocks seem precariously placed and positioned.

The small crab lands upside down but then steadies itself and crawls back into the rocks.

Irina is about to reply to Mipha but jumps back at the creature’s sudden movement.

After watching the scene, she swims to the rock and picks it up. “This place is so strange…” Then she holds the rock with one hand and swims up, trying to get a better view of the area…. wondering if the rocks form any kind of shape, or if there is anything made from a different material.

Revali shrugs. "Hey, I tried, but that's no fault of yours. I was just tossing my few rupees out there for a thought. We'll just have to hope they can find what they're looking for and quite honestly, after what we've managed to accomplish here, I find it hard to think we'll be so easily stopped. I don't really like to lose, after all," he grins.

"And I don't join in to losing teams. So, they're going to have to succeed. That's the rule." He eyes the water where Mipha and Irina entered. "No doubt whatever kept you guys out is still down there trying to do the same thing. They'll make it through."

Mipha tilts her head and then rights it as she grabs her trident and extends it outward to start digging into the rocks. If they were this loose, then maybe more could be shifted around. "You're right, it is strange. There's something strange about this place. Maybe if I move this around..." Her voice trails as she continues trying to shift rocks around, hoping to expose something beneath them.

The rocks collapse as Mipha’s trident touches them. As they fall, the coral breaks down and falls to the side.

As the sediment settles, a small golden structure is revealed. It glistens as the yellow lights from before reappear. Then another. The yellow orbs reflect on the golden metallic surface of the structure.

Seeing its home collapse and becoming now exposed, a large angler fish emerges from the rocks. It angrily gnashes at Mipha with a wide mouth full of sharp needle-like teeth.

Atop its head is another pale light, similar to its two eyes that were glowing earlier from within the rocks.

Mipha kicks back a short distance so she wouldn't be in the cloud of materials tumbling down. What she thought might have been a structure was, in fact, not one. It was a big, angry fish that was none too pleased about having its hide exposed.

With rows of teeth coming after her, she tried her best to dart out of the way of them to keep out of its reach. Though, with a maw of its size, that was easier said than done.

The angry fish misses Mipha but dives back around and gives chase.

The golden structure is still there and reflects the light from the angler’s glowing lantern. It is metallic and covered with a mossy substance, as well as the remaining rocks and coral that now seem to have been placed there purposely.

Irina extends her hand, throwing a spiral of ice towards the fish and hoping to turn it into an ice cube.

Not wanting to waste any time, she swims towards the structure, trying to move aside the rocks and corals covering it.

The toothy beast is struck by the ice. As it was moving so quickly it continues moving forward in a straight line until it crashes into a rock, shattering into a million frozen fish sticks.

Only the orb of light that was extending from the top of its head remains.

Irina should see a mysterious golden bird-like structure, or perhaps a fish with wide spread fins. It has an ancient aesthetic, as if it were made by some ancient civilization, but also gives the impression that it was made by some highly skilled artisans.

Irina floats back to see the golden animal structure. “Your Highness…” she mouths, turning to the princess with big eyes.

Mipha raises a hand to her chest. "That was...frightening." She doesn't think she's ever encountered something like that. Not even Lord Jabu, with his size, felt as initmidating.

"You know you can call me Mipha," she adds as an aside, still distracted by the situation. It's only when she focuses in on Irina's expression and then what was beyond her that it became clear why she looked that way. "I think this might be exactly what we're looking for!" She states excitedly. She zips forward to give the structure a good look. "This has to account for something!"

"That orb, would you mind grabbing it?"

Irina nods, almost as if apologizing again for addressing her formally. She swims to the orb dropped by the frightening fish and picks it up, observing it for just a moment before bringing it to the princess.

Mipha extends a hand to receive the orb and hold it near the structure. She wanted to use it to get a better look at it. "Something like this feels decorative..." She begins speaking, looking for a place to put it. "If it is anything like a pearl, it would hold great significance for Zora. Usually, something like this would be in the mouth of a fish, but it can also be placed elsewhere."

"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?"

Revali sighs, lifting his wing to his head to hold it briefly. "Yes, a boat. Whale of light. You heard it right. No one is in danger, thankfully. I'm not making any guarantees, I don't know anything about these waters, so they might not stay that way. But, for now, folks are fine. In fact, a lot of the crew looked like you," he pointed to Kala.

"We should probably get going before we lose sight of the boat. I don't think that whale is intent on stopping anytime soon."

Red grumbled, "I'll pick up from where he left off. There's a boat that's currently manned with a crew. Some of them look like you. Whatever happened on that island there is also responsible for the light in the water. We think they're headed towards its source." He eyes Blue. "It really wasn't that much to describe..."

He then returns his attention to Kala. "But if we stay here, they're probably going to get further away and I don't really want to be stuck here, so can we start flying off?" He thumb points in the general direction of were the boat is.

Kala crosses her arms. This wasn't exactly helpful dialogue, and she doesn't seem to enjoy small talk.

She immediately quips as soon as Red finishes, “Look, take these two…” she points at Gatu and Impa. “I can manage. A few sea serpents don't frighten me. Just try not to get eaten out there. I don't know what your kind tastes like but I am sure our local species would find you all delicious.”

She seems suddenly agitated and impatient to get to that boat. With that brief monologue, she jumps into the water with her spear. She disappears into the sea mist, practically flying across the surface of the water.

"I don't want to find that out. This is exactly why I want to fly away from here and eventually, out of here entirely." Red slouched a bit, thinking about being some sort of sea serpent snack. He took off and grabbed up Gatu, leaving Blue to pick up Impa. "N-not without helping out. I mean, we did sort of make an agreement and I'd hate to be the one to break that..."

"I'm in peak form and I take very good care of myself, so I would assume my taste would be sublime. But, I'm not about to be anyone's snack. I work far too hard just to become some mince meat for a sea serpent out here. Should it come to pass that I am unfortunately eaten, I will make sure the sea serpent that did it will have the worst stomach pains of its life every step of the way." Revali flies over to grab up Impa. "Alright, just hold on and we'll get back to the boat in no time."

"Let's head out. The faster we can go snag that orb of light that fell off the island, the faster we can hopefully stabilize BOTH realms." _Gatu replies, willing to head down and rejoin the others. The sooner they get the Master Sword out of the Twilight Realm, the faster it can stabilize._

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. >_<; 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. >.>; "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. >.>; 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;