The Trials of Time - Episode 3

Hello! 

Tomorrow I'm going to be playing the next part of my OoTers campaign, thus I will write the story of our latest episode here now! 

Enjoy!

Episode 3 - The Lost Princess  

Having just braved a series of tunnels overrun by odd monsters, the group made their way back to Kakariko village, a faint celebratory music coming from it. The sun was setting, but the in at which everyone was staying would serve dinner late. Tired, the group walked in to see an odd sight - many Hilyans were lifting glasses in what seemed to be a celebration. A single Goron in the centre of the crowd was telling a skewed version of the adventure they had just had. Many details were off, but his enthusiasm was almost endearing. 

"And then, we heard a mighty roar! Before long, these 4 beings - none of them Goron - came out of the cave! Some were bloody, but now we have food again, we are free!"

Obviously young, the Goron kept speaking enthusiastically until he turned to look at the group a the door. "That's them! They are our sworn brothers and sisters!"

Jem, having been joined by Tessa during the speech, smiled and waved at the group of villagers now celebrating... them. Lulu had a smile bloom on his face, while Shadow and Sisin looked marginally uncomfortable. 

Soon enough, musicians in the back corner of the inn started playing a joyful tune, while two Hylians - twins, it would seem - started buying the heroes some drinks. 

"Another round for the heroes of he Gorons!" they cheered in unison. 

For some, one drink became enough to feel slightly less concerned about life. 

But Lulu and Sisin had not paid attention to their boundaries. Lulu's first drinks in his life were quite an experience, and soon enough he was going around, hugging strangers and slurring certain words repeatedly. Sisin, on the other hand, stayed quiet in a corner. 

At around 12:30, the party started breaking up - after a last dance and some drunken goodbyes, only the party remained in the inn, along with a few strangers with whom conversations were being had. 

Jem, always perceptive, soon noticed a shadowed figure in the corner of the inn, who seemed to be staring. But before he could let the others know... 

He was gone. 

Soon enough, everyone made their way to bed, Lulu hugging the fire stone to his chest as preciously as Jem held Tessa. The morning came too quickly, most of the group being not quite sober yet. However, a quick, sharp knock came from the inn door, too early for their taste. 

Sisin and Lulu both groaned, a headache blooming in the latter's head. However, he managed to find the will to get up and answer the door, to be greeted by... 

Another Kokiri? 

"I'm sorry, are you the Goron saviours? My friend, Ruto, the Zora princess, she's gone missing. Her father can barely speak! And that is a shiny stone, and are you ok you look tired."

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Lulu held the stone closer. "Uh what? A princess can't speak?"

"No, silly she's gone missing!"

Lulu nodded slowly, and proceeded to shaking the others awake. "Get up, we need to help someone!" 

Sisin muttered something under her breath and hid under her blankets. "Can no one take care of themselves in this country?" she asked, barely audibly. 

Once they were all up and awake enough to walk, they picked up Jem at Tessa's house. Together, they made their way to the Zora's Domain. 

***

The domain seemed to come straight out of a dream - a large cavern, with waterfalls scattered over the stone walls into a deep lake. Some parts of the lake were shallow enough to have torches standing in the water. A staircase wound upwards to a grand throne room, throughout which was scattered more torches, giving the place a warm glow. 

The Zora themselves were an elegant race - Attractive humanoids, with blade-like fins on their arms, hips and back that helped them swim, narrow noses and fishtails on the back of their heads. They seemed to be enjoying the warm summer months, yet a series of sobs came from the direction of the throne room. 

The king was unlike any other Zora - instead of lean and strong, he was clearly overweight, with a pudgy face and a red robe to signify his dominance. "Oh, my dear Ruto... where did you go?" he repeated, lamenting the loss of his daughter. 

Next to him, an advisor was trying his best to calm him down. "You should send a search party to the Lake, you know that many things wind up there.."

He was cut off by the sound of Jem clearing his throat. "I'm sorry, but it came to our attention that you have a missing princess?"

Although the king did not seem to register the fact that there were strangers in front of him, his guard turned his attention to the lot of... not Zora. 

"You seem... outlandish. It isn't easy to come here... and how do you know about our princess?"

Lulu stepped up, confused about why a fat Zora was crying so much. He was so big, surely nothing could scare him! "A Kokiri who is friends with Ruto found us to say she was missing. We just saved the Gorons, maybe we can help you too?"

The guard nodded. Soon enough, he had given the group direct instructions to Lake Hylia.

***

Lake Hilya is a beautiful place - gem of purity in Hyrule. On its shore stood a lone house, adorned by a large telescope pointed towards the sky. The surface of the lake was dotted with islands, each connected by a bridge. 

Lulu and Jem, looking for a lead, decided to head into the cabin by the lake. Inside, an old man, surrounded by dozens of fish in various tanks, was startled by the sudden visitors. 

"My, what brings you younglings to the lake?"

"We are looking for any pointers as to where the Zora princess may be", Jem explained. 

Lulu, on the other hand, was staring at the coloful fish decorating the place. He was soon to notice the end of the telescope. "What is this?"

The old man chuckled. "It is used to study the stars. It is very fragile, so I would rather you not touch it-"

Lulu drew his hand away from the telescope quickly. "I'm sorry..."

Jem grinned "In any case, we were told that lost things sometimes arrived in the lake, where does this usually happen?"

"Look near the dock! All kinds of odd things around there"

Thanking the man, the two left the odd house. Indeed, soon enough, Lulu, Sisin and Jem noticed a bottle near the docks, that seemed to be containing some sort of message. 

"I'll get it!" Lulu volunteered. Reaching down towards the lake, he slipped and fell into the water. Not being the best swimmer, he was quick to start calling for help. 

Shadow, silent as always, reached down to help her friend. However, she also fell into the water, with Lulu quickly climbing onto her back, holding on for dear life. 

"I have the bottle, let's leave!"

The docks were too high for them to climb back up onto them. Jem was quick to reach for a sword to help them climb out, cutting his hand in the process. He muttered a curse but made sure his friends were safe before tending his wounds. 

Sisin took the bottle to inspect it. There was definitely a letter inside...

Jabu Jabu has been acting strange. I have gone to visit him. Do not worry about me, I'm FINE. 

- Ruto 

*** 

Back at the Domain, the group handed the King the letter that was in the bottle. 

"She... she went to see our Lord? Oh Ruto... what did you get yourself into?"

Suddenly, the king of the Zora started shifting sideways. This took a while because of his sheer size, but eventually, he revealed a pathway behind him. "This is the path to lord Jabu Jabu. He has been odd lately, good luck."

Lord Jabu Jabu was certainly massive. A giant fish, unable to move from a platform I the middle of a lake, he was adorned with all sorts of jewels. Next to him, a sign indicated that a sacrifice may be needed in order for him to speak. 

"Sacrifice? What?" asked Lulu. As the smallest one of the group, he was suddenly very worried. 

Jem had a sly smile suddenly on his face. From his bag, he dug up a roasted chicken, from the first attack. He put it down in front of the deity. Suddenly, Jabu Jabu opened his mouth, and started inhaling... 

Also inhaling the 4 adventurers. 

***

The first thing they saw was teeth. Two rows of human-like teeth, closing the exit behind them. Then, the bubbles - bubbles as wide across as Lulu was tall, bouncing from wall to wall. Finally, a door where the throat would have been, covered in a yellow membrane. 

Sisin and Shadow both looked around, disgusted. Of course, they ended up in such a place. Shadow adjusted the scarf around her face, as Sisin cut down a bubble coming a bit too close to them. "Let's get this over with", she muttered. 

Out of thin air, a glowing hand formed, pressing a button-like protrusion on the ceiling, automatically opening the door in front of them. Although it was surely one of them who caused it, nobody made it obvious that they had done it. 

The group passed through the only open doors in a larger room, entering a very large room, in which the floor was punctured with a dozen of holes. Near one of the holes stood none other than Princess Ruto, obviously not happy to have been found. 

"What are you doing here? Who are you? Did Father send you!?"

Lulu stepped up at this point. "Are you the princess?" 

"I am, and I order you to go away! I do not need your help!"

"But your family is looking for you! And we can help you do... uh what are you doing here?"

The princess scoffed "You think I need your help? I will find my mother's stone on my own!" 

With this, she turned on her heels and walked away, falling into one of the holes with a scream. 

"Good for her", muttered Sisin, "Let's go". 

However, Rosy had a different idea. The small green fairy started following the princess down into the hole. 

"Hey Rosy, wait!", Lulu called, chasing after his companion, before falling into the same hole himself. 

Jem sighed.  "Well, we'd better follow him this point" he said, jumping down after the small Kokiri, Sisin and Shadow close behind. 

However, the princess was nowhere to be found, and neither was Rosy. 

The group went from door to door, looking for Rosy and the Princess, combating many monsters and finding a whole assortment of weapons on the way. Each fight was exceptionally... simple. It was odd. 

Soon enough, they found a room with a sort of elevator, moving up and down from their first room. On the platform was the princess with the small fairy. 

"Why are you still here?! I told you not to follow me!"

Jem groaned, feeling tired. "Seeing as that fairy followed you, we decided you were worth saving, despite your attitude." The last bit was unclear, and noticing a bout of dizziness, he excused himself, and walked to the far end of the room. 

The YinFen only provided temporary relief from the symptoms of drug withdrawal, and he knew it. His body was like a clock - if he didn't take a dose every 6 hours, he became noticeably weaker, unable to even get out of bed. It was such a curse, to have been bitten by a demon when he was young. The demon's venom, full of YinFen, was quick to make him an addict. He used to be able to go a few days without drinking the powder diluted in water. But now, he barely lasted a few hours without a full dose. 

He didn't have much time left, and he was ashamed of it. He had so much left to do... 

And if he could not save his brother in time... the guilt would follow him into the afterlife. 

When he came back to join the group, he had a newfound energy, despite the taste of burnt sugar at the back of his throat, a constant reminder of his state. 

"We have decided that you all shall carry me, and I will lead you to my mother's stone," announced Ruto. 

Jem shook his head. "You are walking, Princess. None of us are strong enough, and no mater the circumstance we are not beneath you in this situation."

The others looked at him - this was not the mot usual behaviour. Ruto looked upset, but soon stated walking, leading them to a complex forked hallway. In fact, the hallway had 6 doors, many of which had similar membranes to the first door. Only one door was open. 

Walking in, the group found a large, tongue-like thing hanging from the ceiling. It was quick to pull back and swing forward, knocking Shadow to the floor. Once she stepped back, however, it stopped moving. 

"Let's throw things at it!" called Lulu, throwing a magic stone at it, hitting a weak point perfectly. 

The protrusion twiched in surprise, prompting the others to start throwing weapons and magic at it. Soon enough, it fell from the ceiling, dissolving into a heap on the floor. 

This had opened one of the doors. 

Repeating this process in each room, the group entered the very last room, in which a large circular platform, adorned by a single blue gem stood proudly in the room

"My mother's stone!" Ruto called, excited. "Throw me up there, I need it I need it!"

Sisin shook her head, took Lulu, and threw him onto the platform. She did not trust the princess. 

"Ow! Sisin what- uh oh..." Lulu started before the platform rose, all the way to the roof. Soon enough, the platform lowered again. 

Lulu was gone, and in his place a large octopus-like monster, with globular eyes and short tentacles. 

Quick-minded, Shadow reached into her pocket, holding several stunning stones in her hand. She threw one at the monster, who froze instantly. The three remaining adventurers started attacking the monster. 

Jem burned it with a burst of flame. 

Shadow cut it down with her blade. 

Sisin hacked at it with there twin swords, vicious as a storm. 

All while Ruto cowered in a corner. 

The octopus woke up again and started thrashing out at its attackers - he was to protect the Master, and no one could take over his mission! 

However, Shadow was quick to stun it again, making it easy for the group to defeat the beast. 

Despite their cuts and bruises, the group decided that it was best to stand on the platform to join Lulu, wherever he was. As soon as everyone was on the platform, it rose again, leaving princess Ruto behind, who was too slow to climb onto the platform on time. 

Once they reached the top, they found a startled-looking Lulu. 

"What happened? Why did you throw me? And is that blood? Is it yours? Where's the annoying fish? Can we leave, I have the gem."

As he was talking, the others looked around. The cavern they were in was huge. In the corner of the room stood a large... organ. It looked like a heart, attached to the top of the room, adorned with blue stones. 

Noticing the group, it started moving towards them, the blue stones detaching themselves from the entity, revealing themselves to be electric jellyfish, attached to the beast. The top of the heart had 3 antenna-like arms, that would send electricity. 

The fight was long and difficult - the electricity being sent across the room kept striking the group, time and time again, but they were faster. The centre of the being could be stunned, and Sisin and Shadow were quick to stab at it with their blades. In the meantime, Jem and Lulu focused on ranged attacks - both of them were wary of this creature, afraid of what it could result in. One by one they cut down the jellyfish, suffering some damage between hits. 

"Wait!" called Lulu, reaching his hands up towards Jem's face. Looking slightly confused, the latter lowered his face. Lulu pulled Jem towards him, and put their foreheads together. Jem suddenly felt... wiser. 

"It's called Guidance and it's helpful and WATCH OUT!" he screamed as a beam of electricity came their way. They both ducked out of the way. 

Under her breath, Shadow muttered "stop trying to kill the good ones," before stabbing the heart of the creature one last time, before it started... dissolving, right infront of them. It was disgusting. 

Soon enough, an inviting blue light appeared in the centre of the room. Stepping into it they were transported outside, into the water. 

Where a happy-looking princess Ruto seemed to be waiting for them. 

Lulu was quick to look for someone to hold onto, and found Sisin, who didn't seem to mind holding him afloat too much. 

Ruto, for some reason, kept staring at him. "You saved my god. You wanted my Mother's stone, right? My mother said that I can only give the stone to the one I am to marry, in 7 years... Alright! It can be yours!" She swam up to Lulu, winked at him, and swam away.

"Uh... what?" he asked, the others chuckling. "Wait who's Marry?"

"Lulu, when two people love each other very much..." Sisin started, before a figure appeared near them. 

"Now is not the time to teach the young one about the birds and the bees." she said. 

It was Impa, the Sheikah warrior. She looked upset. "You are to follow me back to Kakariko Village, now. You have a choice to make."

*** 

Back at the village, the group found themselves around a table in the inn, accompanied by Tessa, who refused to leave Jem's side. 

"I told you you have a choice to make." Impa started. "You have been quick to thwart a part of Ganondof's plan, making this man angry. I have seen a vision of the future - a dark, dangerous future, in which war will have taken over the lands. But in 7 years, there will be an opportunity to save it. In that time, his plan will be completed, and he will have taken over most of the countries as we know them. 

"I need you to come with me to the Temple of Time. There, you will be kept safe for 7 years, after which a Sage will wake you, and you will be invited back into our world. You will not feel the time pass, but your friends will. Only then will you be strong enough to defeat the monsters that I am sure will have taken over the Lands. Should you accept this fate, I will find you in the morning. 

Lulu stood up first, surprising everybody "I'll do it. I want to help."

Sisin and Shadow glanced at each other but soon nodded their consent. They were in this as well. 

The only one who didn't speak was Jem. Instead, he stood and left the room, returning to Tessa's house without a word. 

Tessa followed him into her living room, where she found him playing his violin with a shaky passion. She was hesitant to shake him from his frenzy, but she stepped forward and put her hand on his shoulder. "James?"

Jem stopped playing. "Seven years, Tessa. I don't have seven years, I don't even know if I have seven days." He said, always looking forward. 

"But you know the Sages, Jem. I'm sure they'll keep you safe, and alive. Even Impa said, you won't feel the 7 years go by. I'm... I'm sure you'll be fine." she protested, but even she sounded doubtful. "And maybe after that time you will be able to save Will... I don't want you to die, Jem, and if I have to wait 7 years with the guarantee to see you again, I am willing to take that risk."

"I'm going to die anyway!" he shouted, making Tessa step back. "It's true and you know it. No matter what I won't live to see you or Will or anyone long enough to make it count. And I want to make it count." 

Tessa stepped forward again. "You do make it count. Every minute with you is a blessing from the Angels. I still love you Jem, even though you decided to leave, that feeling has stayed."

Jem looked up at her at that moment. Forgetting every bit of reason, he stepped forward and kissed her, gently but full of hope. She was married to his Parabatai, but that thought seemed pointless at that moment. 

Once he withdrew, he rested his forehead on hers. "Then why send me to my death?"

"I... I trust the Sages. They may even help you with your issue. I'll be ok for 7 years. Just... please, take this risk. For Will. For me?"

The discussion continued a long while into the night, after which they fell asleep sitting on the couch, hand in hand. 

*** 

The next morning, the group made their way to the Temple of Time, following Impa. 

Placing the stones on their respective pedestals, the Door of Time opened. 

They stepped in. 

In a stone, a beautiful sword. Not being able to help herself, Sisin took it, plunging the room into darkness. 

"Good morning" said a kind voice. "You just slept for 7 years."

The one talking to them was an old man in yellow robes. "I am the sage of Light. Seven years have passed since you walked into my domain. Now, accept this gift and join the mortal world."

A beam of sunlight came down on each of the four adventurers, filling them with strength. 

The sage vanished, the door opened to reveal some people waiting for them. 

Lulu joined a Kokiri friend, Saria. 

Shadow walked up to Shiek, another Sheikah. 

Sisin found an old friend. 

Jem saw Tessa's smile at the end of the room, but as soon as he crossed the door's threshold, his mind went dark, and he fell to the ground. 


You're still here? Nice thanks! This is the end of the episode! Episode 4 will be up in a few days!

Stay bookish!