Zora's Domain had retained its quiet, calm aura since I had left it last time. I walked past the other Zoras without bothering to say hello. They seemed to know something was wrong.

I stood at the top of the steps in front of where Ruto stood. She had a faraway look in her eyes, and the normal glisten her crystal gaze was gone. "Madeline," she said when I walked in. "I see you've survived your first trial."

"Trial?" I asked. "What do you mean by trial?"

She shook her head and jumped off her ledge. "I trust that the Great Fairy gave you the potion?"

"Yes, but I still need to find the temple," I answered, storing the question of the so-called "trial" for another time.

"I suppose I can help you with that. Do you still have that wood instrument you used to carry around?"

"Sort of." I pulled out the leather case and pulled out the blue ocarina. Ruto gasped, and ran up to me and yanked the ocarina of of my hand.

"Yes! Yes! Madeline, do you know what this means?" she asked.

"That both of us are using something that isn't ours?" I asked innocently.

She almost slapped me, but then stopped herself. "No! It means that Ganon doesn't have the ocarina!"

"Yes. I knew that, Darunia told me."

She giggled and handed the ocarina to me. "Are you ready?" she asked. I nodded. She raised her hands to her heart and opened her mouth to sing, but then stop. "Oh, Madeline, I almost forgot. To open the temple, strike the blue crystal above the entrance."

I knit my eyebrows. "How? I thought the temple was underwater?"

"Well, Link hit it with his bow, but even if you do happen to have one, the lake is full again...and you don't have the hookshot yet...I'm sure you'll figure it out. Anyway, be careful, Madeline. Link almost died the last time Ganondorf tried to take over, and even then he lost a big part of his life." she said with a serious tone creeping into her tone, similar to that a mother worrying about her child. "Ino," she called. Ino fluttered out of her small area behind my collar. "Take care of her."

She then took a breath and sang out the tune to the temple, and I repeated on my ocarina.

D F G G A_, D F G G A_, G D E F E D F E_

The last thing I saw before the light carried my away were the few tears slipping down my old friend's face.

.

-Lake Hylia-

Lake Hylia was a beautiful place at night. A warm, silver glow filled the lake from its source in Zora's Domain. Fireflies danced together above the calm waters, lighting up the land like a night light. I wished more than anything for Link to be here - I wanted more than ever to close my eyes and live in the moment...

"Hey!" Ino bumped against my cheek. My eyes fluttered open. "What are you waiting for? Let's get a move on! Drink the potion!"

I fumbled through my bag and pulled out the bottle. I popped out the cork and took a whiff. It smelled salty and calm. I could almost feel the water enveloping me.

I had barely realized that I had already taken in the clear liquid when I began to feel a belt tightening around me. I gasped for breath and almost fell over. The air turned cold all of a sudden, as if I had just plummeted under water. All of the hairs on my body stood on end and I felt like I was about to die. Ino did not seem at all impressed or even a bit worried. "Oh, for Wisdom's sake." She rammed into me - causing me to tumble ungracefully over the edge of the small island I had stood upon moments ago.

I hit the water, but it felt more like I had just rushed out of the substance. I gasped, surprised to find I could breath. I tried to speak to Ino, but my voice box wouldn't work. "Can's speak, can we?" she noted dryly. "Never mind that, you have to pay some price for your breath. Just remember: don't go above the water or swim into any bubbles until you're job here is finished. The moment you touch the surface, you'll turn back to normal without the ability to breath under the water."

I nodded. I focused on the crystal above the gated entrance to the temple. I whipped out my sword. It felt extremely heavy - so much that I almost dropped it. I quickly put it back in the sheath and turned to Ino for an explanation.

"Ah! The Kokiri Silverblade!" she said in amazement. "I'm impressed! However, your blade won't work here. That blade absorbs the energy from the water, but there is too much water to absorb. It is too much for the blade to take. Here." She swirled around the blade until it began to glow. It spun quickly and zoomed out of the water. "It will return to you when you return," she assured me. My pouch had apparently followed it, as it was gone as well. "Now let's do something about that crystal," Ino instructed.

Ino and I spent the next twenty minutes or so sweating over the crystal. We tried everything: tapping, hitting, kicking, pulling, pushing, the iron boots, slapping it, you name it. It still would not budge.

I then had another idea. I searched my pockets for the white speckled blue scale on a chain. Sure enough, it was still there. I had a feeling that it was important. I closed my eyes and willed the power to come to me. I then zoomed at the crystal with a spin as the sword had done, and hit the crystal with a thud. The island shook, releasing the long staff with the shining blue stone at its tip. The gates opened and a low growl erupted from inside.

Ino shuddered. "Fighting that beast. Underwater, no less. It'll be fine. Just follow my lead. Think of me as your Pokemon trainer."

I looked at her. My what?

She got the message and answered, "Bunch of people from different worlds invited to a tournament. Nothing special. Just listen to whatever I said. This may be a long fight."