The Legend of Sonic: Twilight Princess: Chapter 9

Chapter 9

A Mother's Plea

Ok. Chapter 9 is up. I highly recommend going on Youtube and listend to the extended version of Rutela's theme to get the full effect.

I do not own Sonic the Hedgehog or The Legend of Zelda.

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It was early in the morning when Sonic woke up. The sun had barley rose and everyone in the village were still fast asleep. He had gone to bed early since the events of the previous day had worn him out. So, when he woke up at 4:30 in the morning, he carefully got out of bed and got dressed, being careful so as not to wake Shadow.

As he exited the recovering inn, Sonic stretched his body as he took in the fresh morning air.

"Mmm. Today's the day we head to the last province, get rid of the last of the twilight, and whoop Zant's butt. Yeah. It's gonna be a good day."

But he halted his stretching as he realized that once Zant was defeated and everything was back to normal, there was no doubt that Shadow would work furiously in finding a way to get the two of them back home. And if that happens, what would happen to Link?

Speaking of Link, as Sonic looked toward the lake, he spotted her grooming Epona. She was humming a tune that sounded like he was listening to fairies dancing in the forest.

Link had woken up a half hour earlier than Sonic and decided to tend to Epona for a while. After the Bulblin attack two days ago, Link felt that Epona needed a bit of tender loving care. Besides, if Ilia could see the mess that was Epona, she would have Link's head. She had taken a bucket and some soap and washed Epona near the spring. Once she was clean and dry, Link found a horse brush from a run-down stable and began to brush Epona's coat.

She was humming a tune from the forest when she felt a presence. Backing away from Epona, Link spread out her arms carefully until she felt that she was close enough to the presence. Then, with swift movement, Link unsheathed her sword, spun around, and held up the blade. Right near Sonic's throat.

"Wait! Wait! I come in peace!" Sonic called, holding up his hands in defense.

Seeing that it was the blue-haired man, Link sighed in relief as she sheathed her sword.

"Sorry. I thought it was something like a Bulblin."

"I understand." Sonic answered.

Link then picked up the brush and began to groom Epona again.

"Giving Epona a bath?" Sonic asked.

Link nodded as she began to gently stroke the tangled white mane. After a few more seconds of silence, she heard the man's voice speak again.

"You're worried about Ilia, aren't you?"

At that question, Link froze, her head slowly looking downward.

"Is it really that noticeable?"

Folding his arms, Sonic continued.

"I've been noticing that look since the Forest Temple. Despite the brave face you put on, you're worried about everything. The kids. Ilia. The twilight. Zant. Everything we've been facing for the past few days. You do everything in your power to protect everyone and even risk death to shield them."

He then walked forward until he was inches away from her, taking in her scent as he continued to try and comfort her.

"Shadow and I are here for you. You don't have to worry this hard."

There was a few more seconds of silence before…

"…I made a promise."

Sonic raised his eyebrow at the statement.

"A promise?"

Link resumed grooming as she let her memories come to her mind.

"When we were little, Ilia and I were exploring Ordona's spring when she decided to go and explore the woods. She said that it was going to be a few minutes, but it turned into an hour before I decided to go look for her. I found her surrounded by Skulltulas, crying in fear. Using a sharp stone I found nearby, I stabbed the monsters, causing them to run. When I went to check on Ilia, she cried harder onto my shoulder, absolutely terrified. I made a promise to her then and there that I would be there when she needs me."

Link then clenched her fist as she remembered the attack on the village.

"But when we were attacked by the Bulblins, I was knocked unconscious before I could do anything."

Sonic then saw that her body was quivering, trying to hold back tears.

"It's my fault. If I was quicker…"

It was then that Link was grabbed by the shoulder, turned around, and found herself against a strong, hard chest. She felt one hand on her back, the other on the back of her head.

"Don't you even dare think that what happened was your fault."

She was stunned at how serious he was. She'd expected that tone from someone like Shadow, but not from Sonic.

"I couldn't protect the kids either. But I had faith that they were alright. And they were. And I am positive that Ilia's alright. She's your best friend, right? I'm sure she'd understand that at that time, you tried. If she heard that you were crying over her safety, then she'll be the one worrying. And you don't want her to worry, do you?"

He held her tightly.

"You don't have to put that false face. You are free to cry when needed. And it looks like you need it."

He then gently pushed her head into his shoulder.

"My shoulder is yours. Use it."

That did it. As if those were the magic words, Link buried her head into Sonic's shoulder and let the dam burst, her arms wrapping tightly around the Blue Blur's torso. As he heard her muffled sobbing, Sonic tightened his embrace, resting his head on hers, closing his eyes as he used his inner power to heal the emotionally exhausted woman.

"I worry about you too, you know."

Even though she kept crying, Link's attention was on Sonic's words.

"I mean…You aren't like the girls where I'm from. You're…something else. You're athletic. You're strong. You're smart. You're compassionate. And...you're beautiful."

That caught Link's attention.

"What?"

Realizing what he had said, Sonic blushed, stuttering uncontrollably.

"I-I…what I mean is-! That is…"

"I love you." He thought.

He didn't know why he'd thought that, all that he knew what that it was true. That he, the most eligible of all bachelors, fell in love with the young woman who was crying in his shoulder.

Both heroes blushed heavily, Link looking up at his embarrassed face, Sonic looking down her shy-blushing, tear-stained one. It was then that their faces were slowly begun to magnetically pull toward each other. Neither one of them knew what was going on, but they didn't seem to mind. It was as if, subconsciously, the wanted to kiss. They then slowly closed their eyes as they prepare to make contact.

But as their lips were about centimeters apart, a familiar voice called out.

"Sonic! Link!"

Immediately, the two youths let go of each other and began to cover their blush. Link, turning to Epona who was, thankfully, a silent witness as she wiped her face with her hand, removing the tears. Sonic began to pet the horse's muzzle, doing everything in his power to hide his blush. Their blushes thankfully subsided as Shadow approached the pair.

Noticing the stiffness of his fellow travelers, he asked, "Did I interrupt something?"

"No. We were just talking." Sonic spoke, his speech slightly speeded.

In his mind, he wanted to beat Shadow to a pulp for interrupting his close kiss. Shadow scoffed.

"Whatever. When you two are done 'talking,' gather your supplies and prepare to head to the Lanayru Province."

The pair nodded as the black and red man walked off.

Unbeknownst to them, Shadow had unintentionally witness the entire event. He woke up a few minutes after Sonic and came down just in time as Link put her sword away. He did snicker a bit at the blue-haired man's reaction to having a blade near his throat. But his dark grin turned into a sentimental frown as Link expressed her worries and fears to Sonic. He tensed up when Sonic embraced Link, for some odd reason, not liking that kind of contact between the two. Before, he couldn't care less.

But Sonic was right about one thing. There was something else about Link that made her interesting, even to him, who had hardly felt such positive emotions. As he heard her muffled crying he found himself wanting to comfort her as well. Wanting to hold her and tell her that it was alright. He finally had enough when he noticed that Sonic and Link were about to kiss and put an end to it. He kept quiet about witnessing the event for Link's sake. After all, he found the woman both interesting and tolerable, traits that were hard to find when it came for women to Shadow. But why he was feeling these strange feelings toward Link is a mystery, even to Shadow.

Deciding to get on with the quest, the three heroes headed toward Barnes' shop to pick up an order of bombs they had placed the night before. As soon as they were several feet away from Shadow, Link whispered to Sonic.

"Ahem. Thanks. You know…for the pep talk?"

"No problem." Sonic replied, another blush appearing on his face.

He then thought bitterly as he looked at the black-haired man in front of them.

"Defiantly punch Shadow in the face later."

Once they had the two bags of Water bombs and regular bombs, the three heroes bid farewell to everyone in Kakariko and headed to the northern part of the village. Sonic and Shadow on foot, Link on Epona. Looking at the map, Shadow explained the route.

"By far, the best way for us to reach the Lanayru Province is to head north, passed the Bridge of Eldin and through a canyon that trail over the northern part of the kingdom. From what I can tell, the spring should be somewhere between a large lake and the center of the kingdom."

Without another word, the trio ran/rode north until they came to the bridge that Link fought the King Bulblin.

"Sure brings back memories." Sonic muttered sarcastically, remembering the wounds Link had received on this bridge.

"Will you shut up about that, Faker? You're driving my insane." Shadow whispered harshly to the blue-haired man.

Sonic rolled his eyes at Shadow as the three of them ran across the bridge. But as they finished crossing, the stone pillars reappeared.

"Not the Twilit Messengers again." Sonic groaned.

"Let's take care of them quick." Link spoke as Shadow silently agreed.

She got off Epona and ran alongside the two men to the bridge, where three Messengers were waiting for them.

After the Messengers were slain and a new portal was available, the three then continued northward toward the twilight. Once they were close enough, Link got off of Epona again and stroked her muzzle.

"Ok, Epona. I'll have to continue on foot from here. Wait here until the twilight is gone and keep safe until I call you. Got that?"

The horse nodded before she ran off to find a hiding place.

With that settled, Shadow approached the wall of twilight, causing Midna to appear from his shadow.

"Well. It's about time. I was beginning to wonder when you three were going to come."

"Save it, Midna. Can you pull us into the twilight again?" Shadow spoke.

The two remaining heroes gave the black and red man dagger-glares as Midna giggled.

"To the point, as always. I like that. Wait here for a moment."

With that said, Midna entered the twilight and pulled the three heroes through.

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When the three opened their eyes, they found that their bodies were in beast form again.

"To think that this might be the last time we'd be in these forms." Sonic spoke.

Shadow nodded in agreement, looking at the map as he walked ahead of the first Were-hog and the wolf.

"This path leads to the northern field. From there, there are two ways. One to the center of the kingdom, which is Castle Town, the other, to the Bridge of Hylia. We should…"

But before Shadow could finish his sentence, Link spotted something in the distance and ran toward it.

"Link! Wait!" Sonic called as Shadow growled in annoyance at the wolf's movement.

"Damn wolf-woman."

But Link had a reason to act like that. As she approached the object, she got a clearer look at it and nearly paled. On the ground was Ilia's leg satchel, potent with her scent which took the color pink in her eyes.

"Ilia!"

Without another word, Link took in and memorized the scent, ignoring the calls from her comrades, and took off once she could see the scent with her special sight.

"Link! Hold up!" Sonic called again, but his call was in vain as the wolf ran faster to follow the scent.

Link followed the scent past the small bridge, only to stop to see the castle that Princess Zelda was now in as well as allow Sonic and Shadow to catch up and Midna to readjust herself on her back. Once the Were-hogs were close enough, the wolf continued to ran on. She ran passed a walled path until she was at the fork, which she took the left path to Castle Town.

But just as she was about to enter the gate to the town, Link was ambushed by another batch of Twilight Messengers. Thankfully, Sonic and Shadow managed to catch up enough before the columns had struck the ground. So once again, the three heroes fought and defeated the Twilit Messengers. But once the last of the Messengers vanished, Link wasted no time in dashing though the gates of Castle Town, the two Were-Hogs followed behind her.

As they entered the town, the trio took immediate noticed at the mass of spirits that roamed the city.

"This almost reminds me of a horror movie I once saw." Sonic whispered to Shadow.

"I know what you mean. It's a little unnerving seeing the people that live here like this. I say your girlfriend is the lucky one with her enhanced sight."

Sonic nearly tripped on his hands as he heard that last sentence.

"She's not my girlfriend. She's just a girl who's a friend and a fellow hero."

"Whatever. Let's get moving or will lose her."

Sonic gave a light growl at the black and red Were-Hog as the followed Link into the southern part of the city.

They managed to catch up to the wolf as she was going into a bar. Raising an eyebrow each, the two Were-Hogs went inside after her. There, they saw Link staring at a trio of spirits at a corner of the bar. They were unaware what Link was staring at, so they decided to rest while Link watched the scene before her.

Link, upon entering the bar, turned on her enhanced sight to get a good look at the spirits. And there, sitting on a chair, looking away from the wolf, was Ilia. She was looking at what seemed to be a fish-like child alongside a portly woman who had red hair in dreadlocks tied in a ponytail and was dressed in a yellow shirt with a black jacket and a red skirt and brown boots.

The boy almost looked human except for his grey-blue and pink scales. He had he had fins on his arms and had flippers for feet. His head almost resembles an upward cap with what seems to be a shell at the end. His rim "fins" on his head bore unusual earrings as well as a series of necklaces around his throat, an anklet on his left leg, and a canteen tied to his waist. From the way it looked, the boy wasn't well.

"This boy…can you save him?" Ilia asked the woman.

The woman responded.

"All right, little lady, try to settle down, OK? I just now sent for the doctor. But this is strange. A child of the Zora. I wonder if this is at all related to the incident the soldiers were talking about in the back?"

Midna then teased Link a little.

"Aw, what an emotional reunion. Yes, a girl and her wolf. Eee hee."

Link narrowed her eyes at Midna as Sonic and Shadow tried to listen in.

"Sorry, but you know how it goes. These folks can't see you, either."

Deciding to ignore Midna for now, Link looked to the back part of the bar. There, she saw a group of Hylian soldiers surrounding a map. Motioning to Shadow, Link headed over to the area. Shadow saw the map on the table and figured out immediately what the wolf was trying to tell him.

The black and red Were-Hog looked at the map and began to scribble something on the map he has while Link listened in on the soldiers' spirits.

"I've received orders from above to investigate why we can't go to the spirit's spring in Lake Hylia. Got that?"

"You have no idea." Link thought to herself.

She then looked at Shadow, who was finishing up marking the map.

"This is where we need to go?" He asked her.

Link nodded.

"Very well. Let's get Sonic and head out."

As they gathered their friend and started to head out, Link looked back and Ilia for a bit. Sonic, seeing this, slowed his pace as he spoke to her.

"One of those spirits was Ilia, wasn't it?"

Link nodded, her head hanging low.

"You don't need to worry now. She's ok. All that we need to do is get Lanayru's light back to him and everything will be back to normal."

But something was telling Link that even with the last of the twilight gone, it won't be over.

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Within minutes after catching up with Shadow and Midna at the western gates, the group headed for the third path that went southwest even further. They walked for three miles before they came in sight of a large bridge that crossed what seemed to be like the biggest gorge in Hyrule. Looking over the edge of the cliff, the ravine went on for what seemed to be two miles downward. And holy cow, that was one deep gorge.

"Whoa…that's deep." Sonic muttered as he looked down at the valley.

Looking at the map, Shadow told the group the name of this place.

"That bridge is the Great Bridge of Hylia. That means that down below is the largest lake in all of Hyrule: Lake Hylia."

Sonic paled as he looked at the map to see how big Lake Hylia was. And he was not thrilled.

"Uh…are you sure that's Lake Hylia?"

"It is, idiot. Don't tell me you're afraid of heights." Shadow muttered.

"Not heights. Just water."

Both Shadow and the girls each raised an eyebrow at the blue Were-Hog. Midna then went into a giggling frenzy.

"Eee hee! So the fastest blue beast alive is afraid of water? Eee hee!"

Her giggling caused Link to shake her body in irritation, nearly making the imp loose her holding. The wolf then gave a low growl at the imp, telling her in the wolfish way to be nice.

"Oh, brother. Well…let's get down there, find the light spirit, and figure out what to do next." Shadow spoke as he pulled Sonic over towards the bridge with Link and Midna right behind them.

As they walked on the bridge, the three beasts felt an odd liquid on their hands. Well…paws in Link's case. Their suspicions rose as the smelt something odd from the odd liquid.

"Ugh! What's that smell?" Midna asked.

"Smells like…"

Sonic stopped as he and Shadow recognized the scent.

"LIGHTING OIL!"

The two Were-Hogs yelled as a Twilit Bulblin appeared on the other side of the bridge right in front of them. It pulled out an arrow, lit it on fire, and fired it over the group, landing at the entrance where the oil began, causing it to light on fire. The Twilit Bulblin fired again. This time, it hit a few feet in front of it, causing that end to alight. The flames at both ends began to trail toward the trapped heroes.

"Holy crap! We're trapped!" Sonic called out, cursing the twilight even further now that his speed was limited to that of a normal beast.

"Damn! No way out either!" Shadow growled, beginning to find a way out in Desperate mode.

All four looked until Link found that there was one way out. She rushed toward Sonic and began to push him toward the border of the bridge.

"Wha-Link! What are you doing?"

Shadow, looking at Link's actions, figured it out. Looking over the edge, He could see Lake Hylia below. His eyes widening, Shadow called to Link and Midna as he grabbed Sonic's arm.

"Link! You and Midna go ahead! I'll take care of this one!"

Shadow then quickly grabbed Link and hoisted her onto the wall of the bridge and before Sonic could do anything, Link jumped.

"Link!"

Sonic tried to reach over the edge to grab her, but Link was already falling into the lake below. He was then caught by surprise as Shadow lifted him with his gorilla-strength to lift the blue Were-Hog up.

"Going down!"

Shadow yelled as he threw Sonic over the edge before jumping over with him, just in time as the flames were closing in on him.

The two Were-Hogs fell for what seemed to be like ages until they were greeted by something cold. Opening his eyes, Shadow saw Sonic sinking deeper into the lake. Since he could swim, Shadow grabbed Sonic and pulled him toward the surface. Once they had broken through the aquatic sheet, they began to gasp for air as Link dog-paddled toward them.

"Hey! You guys ok?" Midna asked.

Panting, Shadow answered.

"Were fine…girls. Although Sonic isn't happy."

"*cough cough* You think?" Sonic coughed.

"Well…let's get to shore. And see if we can find the spring from there."

As they paddled, they noticed that the lake seemed...smaller than on the map.

"Hey Shadow, haven't you noticed that there's less...I don't know...water, than what the map said?"

"The map hasn't failed us so far, Imp. But I am concerned as to the water level of this lake."

As they made it to shore, they took notice of three spirits near the lake. Looking to Link, Shadow asked her to use her senses to check out the situation while he helped Sonic out of the lake-turned-pond. Link, nodding in agreement, turned on her "wolf-sight" to find three individuals crouching by the water. They resembled the same kind of beings that the boy at the bar was, only these three were adults with 'fin's at the backs of their skulls resembling Link's hat and they wore fish-like masks on their faces with aquatic-like spears in their hands. The first figure, whom Link remembered was called a 'Zora,' spoke.

"We've had absolutely no water flowing from upstream."

The second then spoke, shaking his head.

"There's no mistaking it. Something must be wrong at Zora's Domain. It's the source of all the water in Hyrule, after all."

"But how can we get home? With the way things are now, we can't even walk back."

Link then looked to the third Zora, who was closer to the water than his fellow Zoras.

"The drop in water has been faster than predicted. At this rate, Lake Hylia will be dried up. It's a race against time."

Link then surveyed the area until she spotted one more spirit by an odd building several yards away. She ran over to the building and focused on the spirit there. It was an odd man dressed up like a clown, only without the red nose. He had his hands in his pockets as he sighed.

"Oh…I'm too old for this. "Fyer and Falbi's Watertop Land of Fantastication". It's our grand reopening at our new lake-bottom location. Whee."

He then looked at the remnants of Lake Hylia, clearing his throat.

"Yeah, nice lake. Don't lakes have more…I don't know…water?"

He then looked up to the opening that Link figured went upstream.

"Did the Zoras who live upriver do something?"

He then looked to what seemed to be the entrance of a shrine.

"Or is it a curse from that spirit that floats around up there? Whatever. It's not like I can go up and complain. That's way too high."

The man then spotted something in the distance.

"Whuzzat, a customer?"

He then ran back inside the building.

"YIKES! IT'S A MONSTER!"

Link, looking in the direction that the man looked, saw a Twilit Bulblin standing near some Hawk Reeds, no doubt looking for intruders. Link then gestured her head to the Twilit Bulblin for Sonic and Shadow to see. Seeing the Twilit Bulblin, the two Were-Hogs nodded at Link and the three beasts made their way to the monster.

The Twilit Bulblin, seeing the three beasts, plucked a Hawk reed and blew into it. This caused a gigantic Twilit Kargarok (A/N: The damn twilight birds with that irritable horn sound. Yeah. I really hate those birds.) to fly down. The Twilit Bulblin got on its back and began to attack the beasts by swooping down at the trio. The three dodged the bird and began to scatter.

"Damn! That was too close." Shadow growled.

"I'll take care of that!" Sonic yelled.

The blue Were-Hog then reeled his arm back, leaped up as the Kargarok got close, and punched the Twilit Bulblin off the giant bird. Link then ran in to rip the monsters throat out. With the Twilit Bulblin dead, all that was left was the Twilit Kagarok. However, before any of the beasts could get to it, Midna floated from Link's back and mounted herself onto the monsters saddle. The monster bird flailed as Midna called out.

"Hey! Stop it! I'm your new master now! Settle down!"

At that moment, the Twilit Kargarok did as it was told and calmed down.

"Nice job, Midna!" Sonic called out to the imp.

Link snorted in approval while Shadow rolled his eyes and muttered, "Whatever."

It was then that Midna got an idea.

"Hey! Why don't we use this guy to get us all the way to the lake's water source?"

The trio raised interested eyebrows at this.

"You know…that might work." Sonic spoke.

"I'll have to admit, that's a good idea." Shadow spoke.

Link nodded in approval as the Were-Hogs got on the monsters back as Midna ordered the Twilit Kargarok to swoop down and carry Link.

They then headed up the river, on the way to the source of all Hyrule's water supply: Zora's Domain.

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As they headed further up the river, all three of them noticed that it was getting colder. And they weren't that far north of the kingdom. The Twilit Kargarok went as far as the entrance of Zora's Domain before the three beasts decided to walk the rest of the way. They walked past the cavern's opening to find a frozen waterfall on the other side of a barren, snow-covered lake.

"So this is Zora's Domain? Not what I expected." Sonic spoke.

"That's because there's no water, you idiot." Shadow growled at Sonic.

"Hey! What's your problem anyway?"

"You! That's what."

As the two Were-Hogs growled at each other, ready to fight each other, Link walked toward the waterfall, ignoring the petty fight between the males. They stopped as they caught Link climbing up the waterfall by jumping onto the outstretched ice.

Deciding to set their fight on a later date, they hurried to the water fall and caught up to Link and Midna, who were at the top. Once they were at the top, Midna scoffed.

"About time! I thought you two were never gonna stop."

"Is it just me, or does she sound bitter when it's cold out?" Both Were-Hogs thought.

They entered the large chamber at the source of the waterfall and found three Twilit Messengers waiting for them.

"Oh, joy. Third time today." Sonic spoke sarcastically, with Shadow and the girls agreeing.

Once they took care of the Messengers, Link looked down into the water and saw a mass of spirits. She jumped as she turned on her "wolf-sight" only to find the entire Zora people, frozen in the ice. Even Midna jumped a little as she looked through Link's eyes via spell to see the frozen fish people.

"Th-those are the Zoras!"

The two Were-Hogs looked down at the spirits frozen in the ice and nearly jumped back. Looking at his friends, Sonic spoke.

"Why don't Shadow and I punch the Zoras out of the ice?"

"Not good. Even with our strength, it's not enough to break the ice. We need to figure out something else." Shadow answered.

Link looked on at the frozen people as she thought to herself.

"If only we were back at Death Mountain. Then we could…"

It was then an idea came to her mind. Heat! That was the answer! Going over her memories, Link grabbed the map from Shadow's satchel and unrolled it, looking at the parchment. Midna, seeing this, realized what she was thinking and look to the guys.

"You two better get back. Our wolfish friend has an idea. A big one."

Without another word, Midna teleported herself and Link out of Zora's Domain, leaving the Were-Hogs behind.

"What did she mean by that?" Sonic asked.

"I don't know. But I have a feeling we'd better do what she says."

The two males got out of the way just in time as the large, flaming boulder that nearly crushed Link back on Death Mountain came crashing down onto the ice. The startled Were-Hogs moved back a little more as the extreme heat from the stone melted the ice, causing the water to burst out of the chamber and into the river like water coming from a cut-off hose.

One by one, the spirits of the people began to move out of the water. It was around that time that Link and Midna materialized on one of the stone walkways of the room. Sonic and Shadow then ran toward the two females.

"Link! Midna! You alright."

"Yes. We're fine. But who knew something so dangerous can be useful?" Midna replied for the both of them.

Shadow then spoke.

"Lake Hylia should be filled up right about now."

"Oh, joy. Be still my beating heart." Sonic spoke sarcastically, not liking this new quest even more.

"Well, come on. Let's go to the spirits spring." Midna replied.

The beasts nodded.

But as they were about to leave the chamber, a soothing voice called out to them.

"Wait!"

It was then an apparition appeared. One Sonic and Shadow could even see.

It was a Zora woman, but she seemed more regal than the others of her kind. She had fins on the sides of her head that resembled hair, flowing bell-shaped fins on her arms, and another kind of fin that resembled the skirt of a dress that went passed whatever ankles she had. She was wearing a gold choker with a blue stone on it, a three sapphire necklace, and a third necklace that trailed down her body, an unusual symbol at the center of her body. She had a very kind look on her face. One that was also grateful and pleading.

She was very lovely, and also a bit sad.

"Please, you must allow me to thank you for revitalizing both my people and this spring, which is the water source for all the lands of Hyrule. In life, I was the elder of this Zora village and the queen of my people. I was called Rutela."

The three beasts approached the specter of the Zora queen as Midna spoke.

"Not to be rude, but we didn't exactly do it for you guys."

Shadow nudged Midna, telling her to be quiet as Sonic asked a question.

"Your Majesty, what happened here?"

Rutela answered the blue beast.

"The dark ones... They raided this village and, as a message to my people, executed me before them."

The heroes tensed up at the shock at how merciless Zant could be. But Rutela wasn't done. Looking at each of the three beasts, she spoke again.

"Young woman. Young men. You who take forms of proud beasts. I have something to ask of you."

The trio paid very close attention.

"When the dark ones descended upon our village, I sent my young one, Ralis, to Hyrule Castle to inform Princess Zelda of our fate."

It was then her face changed to worry.

"But…I fear danger followed him from this doomed place. I feel it. His presence grows fainter to me over time. But my time in this world has passed, and though I would give it gladly, I no longer have a life to risk in his rescue. Please…Would you save my dearest Prince Ralis?"

Rutela's words echoed in Shadow's mind, painfully reminding him of the one person who gave up her own life to save his. Rutela continued.

"If you do this thing, I will bestow upon you the protection of water. This power will grant you the ability to swim and respire in very deep water, as if you were a Zora. But alas, I can only grant it to two of you."

"We understand." Sonic spoke.

Rutela smiled kindly at him before her face became sadly serious again.

"Please…save my son…"

Before any of them could respond, Rutela vanished, leaving the group behind.

Sonic clenched his fist as he went over what he and the others had learned from the deceased ruler.

"Zant."

Link silently agreed as she realized that the Zora boy that Ilia and that woman were taking care of at the bar was none other than Ralis. She was sure that he was unaware what had happened to this place and especially his mother.

Shadow growled in anger and sadness, realizing what the poor boy was going to go through once he realized he was alone now. Something that Shadow had great experience of.

The black and red Were-Hog turned around, looking to the exit.

"Come on. Let's get to the light spirit and find Prince Ralis."

As they turned, Link could have sworn that Shadow was crying, tears flowing from his blood-red eyes.