The sound of crashing water was what echoed in their ears as they emerged into a beautifully lit grotto; clearly a waterfall cavern of some sort, given the crashing white wall of water about fifty feet away from them, the stone floor glistening wetly in the light from the luminous stones embedded in the wall. Their glow in a lovely aqua hue enveloped them as they emerged out of the portal. Skyward inhaled deeply, smelling fresh water, wet stone, moist grasses and plants…

“Oh my…Skyward, where in Equest…oh, I mean, Hayrule are we?”

“We shalt knowest soon enough, Rarity, though one suspects we art in Zora’s Domain, or close to it. Keep a low profile, both of thou…stay behind one,” Skyward commanded as she moved towards the exit of the cavern. The two mares stayed closely behind her as they exited the large cavern as a trio, to see a magnificent sight before them.

Though the skies were heavily overcast, the path they were on was lined by beautifully shaped stone lanterns in the shape of waterdrops, all of them carved from the same glowing stone that was in the roughly cut cavern behind them, gently lighting the way. A gigantic rushing river flowed beside them from the rock path they were on, whitewater foaming at the top, the hue of it a rich blue that nearly matched Skyward’s own eyes. Grasses and flowers alien to the two Equestrian mares carpeted the ground further down from the rock path, firs and birches clustered together to lend shade on small verdant isles strewn throughout the vast waterway that ran beside them. Mist from the waterfall rose high into the air—what light there was from the lanterns caused a luminescent rainbow to shine against the falls proper. The Haylian unicorn nodded—as she had thought. This was…well, not Zora’s Domain proper, but the mouth of the entrance—the beginning of Zora’s River.

While her two friends admired the landscape of the mouth of Zora’s Domain, Skyward turned and lit her horn, a thin stream of silver light arcing from it to strike one of the lanterns nearest the cavern mouth.

“Another focus?” Rainbow Dash asked, and Skyward shook her head. “Nay, mine friend. This is a waypoint marker. We shalt be able to find our way back here should we be lost—oh, buck. Thou do not have any clothing on thee by chance?”

The two mares shook their heads, and Skyward cursed under her breath, before she pulled out her tunic and cloak and ‘held’ them out to them.

“Both of thou choose which one to wear. In Hayrule, ye must wear clothing always—unless ye are a mere foal, then nopony shalt mind.”

“Lemme guess. A social taboo?”

“That, and well—one dost not think thou wishes to be seen as prostitutes.”

Rarity took the cloak, enlarging it and promising to resize it when she returned it, and Rainbow Dash took the tunic, Rarity having to tear holes in it for Rainbow’s wings, promising profusely to repair it when she had the chance.

Skyward led them further down the path from the massive falls to the riverbank proper—there was a bridge further up ahead. The bridge spanned the width of the huge river, which was too wide for anypony save a pegasus to cross. A unicorn might have been able to pass using teleportation, but it would be draining on their magic to maintain the teleport spell long enough to get to the other side. The bridge was crafted of the same luminous stone, waterdrops and the crest of the Zora people, three crescent moons placed in a triangle with the curved bases pointing inward, the points of the ‘moons’ facing outward. Skyward paused at the threshold and nodded at her two friends.

“Remember what one said before, if need be let one do the talking. We must keep a low profile; also, keep thine eyes peeled for monsters…and be prepared to slay them if needed.”

The two other mares nodded grimly—their experiences so far had shown them that Skyward’s world was almost short of savage, and if they wanted to survive they would need to conform to her world’s ways to some degree. They began crossing the bridge, making their way up the winding path, lined with velvety grass and beautiful blossoms, majestic pine, birch, fir and oak trees. The air was cool and fresh, bringing with it the scent of cool, sweet water. Rarity nosed some of the flowers and Rainbow Dash soared around the trees, but they kept close to Skyward.

“Hey, Skyward?”

The bluesteel unicorn mare turned her head just enough to show she was listening to the rainbow maned mare, and Rainbow Dash continued. “What do the Zora look like?”

“Think of ponies with mermaid tails instead of regular tails, and instead of fur, they have glimmering scales, almost too small to see on their bodies. They also bear fins on their fetlocks, rear and front legs, and finned crests on their heads; they come in varied shades of blue and or green, given their environs.”

Rarity cocked her head. “Skyward, how would we know if one was in the water?”

The Haylian pony stopped and turned to face them. “Watch for bubbles in the water; if thou see any, it likely wilt be a Zora. Nonetheless there art aquatic monsters here—the Octorok is common enough.”

“Lemme guess—purple octopus monster that can spit rocks?”

“Aye, plus, they can jump out of the water fairly high at times to spew their stones. Blue Tektites wilt also be an issue—they are akin to giant water spiders, able to glide across water, if they spot prey, they art able to jump very high and hath sharp, razored mandibles.”

The three mares continued up the path, the river their constant companion. Fish swam by in the pristine, clear waters, Rarity stopping to take a drink and sighing happily. “Ohhh! This is the most delicious water I have ever tasted! So pure! So clear!”

Intrigued, Rainbow Dash landed to take a drink herself, and Skyward chuckled. “Wait till thou sees Zora’s Domain. The clarity of the water there is akin to the finest crystals in the Crystal Empire, and the purity ‘tis unmatched. But, drink from the fountains they hath there for that purpose—sticking thine muzzle in the water proper is frowned upon.”

Rarity nodded as Rainbow finished her own drink, and the trio continued further up the path. Eventually they emerged from the forested path…

Rarity gasped and Rainbow Dash stared with her mouth hanging open—before them, just about two hundred and fifty feet away further down the path, with the trees cleared away was a vast lake, surrounded by high cliff walls rising to the heavens. The lake was a deep, beautiful blue color, deeper than the color of Skyward’s eyes, but it was clear how pure the water was. Waterfalls fell from tiered ledges in the walls of the high cliffs that had been beautifully carved and decorated with coral, shells, and more luminous stones. Precious stones were there as well, pearls and diamonds set in places to enhance the beauty of the carvings. Rising out of the lake was a multi-tiered edifice, glowing softly in its own luminescence, sweeping, broad balconies, water slides, tiered pools and fountains, arches and bridges denoting entrances to caverns carved and set in the walls of the massive protective wall that surrounded the Domain proper. All of it was carved from stone, luminous stones and precious stones plus metals clearly merged in to show incredible beauty, grace and strength.

Rarity gave a soft squeal of delight and Rainbow Dash stomped her hooves on the ground in excitement.

“This. Is. AWE…”

“Shhhh! Remember what Skyward said, Rainbow Dash!” Rarity hissed—she’d clamped a magical hold on the multihued pegasus’s muzzle, and the cyan mare nodded her head.

“But this place is so amazing! How did they build this?”

“Zoran architecture is renowned throughout Hayrule; they designed the waterways, fountains and waterfall entryway for Hayrule Castle at the princess’s request,” Skyward replied as she looked over the Domain herself. She had been here a few times with her mentor, long ago…

The three mares crossed down the path and entered the Domain—the guards at the front of the bridge were male Zora ponies—they were muscular and strong, and despite the fact they had fins and scales, they were actually quite handsome to look upon. Their bodies were well toned and their legs, flanks and hindquarters well shaped because of all the swimming they obviously did given their environs and who they were. And it was as Skyward had said—despite their obvious aquatic differences, their muzzles and faces were sharp and defined, not ‘fishlike’ at all.

One of the males glanced over while they were passing, caught Rainbow Dash’s eye and winked at her. The female pegasus blushed a little, but mindful of her Haylian friend’s warning, kept going—the Zora male chuckling a little.

The three mares crossed into the main plaza—the platform beneath their hooves was very broad, tiles of aqua colored stone with crisscrossing lines of luminous stone set in between. In the center of the plaza, was a fountain at the very center of a leaping Zoran pony wielding a mighty trident surrounded by crashing waves. The Zora ponies obviously wore very little, or they wore gleaming silvery armor that was quite—form fitting if one looked close enough.

“Okay, Skyward…so where do we start?” Rainbow Dash asked, and Skyward looked around her for a moment, before she beckoned them near the fountain. There were no Zora close to it at the moment, so they would not likely be overheard.

“We must needs find the reason why the portal opened. The last time one wast in Hayrule, one wast dumped right into Goron City proper. Why so far from Zora’s Domain, is my question?”

“Do you think something could be wrong closer to the base of the domain, Skyward?” Rarity asked.

The bluesteel mare was about to answer when Rainbow Dash pushed her and pointed over one shoulder frantically. The bluesteel unicorn tensed a little as she slowly turned around, as if she had heard something…

A male Zora was standing behind her, but this male was much larger than the others, and unlike the other males he was clad in silversteel and sapphire jewelry, a pectoral-like breastpiece and a helm atop his crested head. His eyes were a rich shade of violet, his body lean and powerful—Rarity barely checked herself from drooling openly at the sleek, athletic form she could see.

Skyward turned to face the male completely, tilting her head quizzically. “Hail, son of Nayru—dost thou need assistance in some manner?” she asked in a light, puzzled tone. The male Zora leaned downward, cupping Skyward’s chin in one finned hoof, and looking down into her face.

“Thou bear his eyes.”

Rarity and Rainbow Dash exchanged panicked looks; Skyward trying to repress her panic as she moved her head, shying away from the Zoran stallion with a puzzled frown.

“Forgive me, good sir, I know not what thou wouldst mean…”

The bejeweled and armored Zora stallion glanced around and gave her a gentle smile. “Ah—Goddesses, forgive me for mine audacity. Please, come with me; thine companions art welcome as well.”

Skyward glanced at Rarity and Rainbow Dash, who shrugged, but they followed her as she followed the powerful looking Zoran stallion up a ramp of water covered stairs. The water was cool to the touch as it flowed down the stairs, and it had a sweet, fresh scent to it. The male Zora guided them along a massive, broad bridge that was not only well lit but heavily guarded—at the very end of it was a huge waterfall.

As they approached, the waterfall’s center slowed, then magically was swept aside; revealing an ornately arched entranceway with a beautiful looking but obviously powerful looking set of gates wrought from Zoran silversteel and deep sea diamonds.

It was soon clear to the three mares that the section they were entering was none other than the royal palace. The passageway opened up after the gates were unsealed for their group, spreading out into a large chamber. The large high vaulted chamber’s walls and ceiling were a beautiful pearly hue, almost as if they had been carved from a pearl themselves. Three waterfalls framed the sides and back of the chamber, falling into a deep pool set in the center of the room. Zora ringed the chamber, clad in silversteel armor and holding sharp looking tridents—obviously the guards.
The throne of the Zora was no less magnificent—it was shaped like a shell, the fanned backing adorned with luminous stones inlaid with blue pearls, the fan sweeping outward to frame its inhabitant with a majestic glow.

The Zora sitting in that throne, was, compared to the other Zora stallions and mares they had seen, was HUGE. He didn’t have a slim form like the others—he was quite rotund, and he wore a golden tri pronged crown, bracers, pectoral breast piece, all set with pearls, diamonds and sapphires, and a long, flowing crimson hued cloak, clearly waterproof. His fins were long and flowing, but his bulk clearly prevented him from moving too much. However, the throne clearly was set in its own pool of water, the water cascading in a short waterfall into the pool, clearly to keep him wet so he wouldn’t dry out.

The Zoran stallion who had beckoned them forth approached the throne and bowed deeply, then raised his head to speak with the regal looking sea stallion seated on the throne.

“Father; the Goddesses hath smiled upon us! Look who one found, standing in our own fair Domain with her companions; Princess Zelda’s protégé lives!”

Skyward mentally cursed as she tensed up, ears slicking back to her head and backing up a step, and Rarity and Rainbow Dash at her back tensed, glancing around at the Zora stallions and mares that were guarding the chamber. King Zora the Twelfth leaned close, his great bulk barely allowing for such movement.

“Ruyan, my son. Thou art indeed blessed to hath found Lady Skyward—this is serendipitous indeed. Mine lady—‘tis a great relief to know thou art indeed safe. Word hath spread of thou being ‘missing in action’ for some time.”

Skyward shook her mane as she removed her helm, stepping forward just enough and bowing deeply—there was a submerged ledge that allowed land-based ponies to approach the throne.
“King Zora; ‘tis good to see thou once more. Thou seem hale and hearty to be certain. How dost thine kingdom fare?”

The great Zora male nodded kindly down at her, looking up and waving one finned hoof. The guards bowed, before they all left the chamber by walking out or diving into the pool and vanishing out of sight.

“Ruyan, you as well, mine son. Check on the perimeter once more, and report back to me.”

The Zora prince bowed, saluting his father—he cast a gentle gaze at Skyward, giving her a warm smile as he passed and left the chamber. Skyward blinked, feeling a little uneasy at the warmth of the prince’s smile, and she returned her attention back towards the king.

The king regarded her, his mien turning sober. “Zelda hath told me through Sheikah messengers what hath transpired. Thou art indeed, the savior of our fair land.”

“Your Majesty, I cannot stress enough of how this must remain a secret. I beg of thee not to tell anypony…”

The king raised a flippered hoof, which shut her up instantly. “One knows what is in the balance and what is at stake, my dear, do not worry. Who art thine companions?”

“This is Rarity, and this is Rainbow Dash. Brave, loyal, generous and strong, both of them art dear friends of mine.”

The two mares bowed to the figure, who smiled kindly at them. “Thou art welcome here, children of Nayru and Farore. Hast thou been aiding the Heroine in her quest?”

“We have, Your Majesty.” Rarity replied.

“We do not abandon our friend when she needs us most—never mind the danger,” Rainbow Dash added, and the king nodded approvingly at them. “Skyward, thou and thine hast could not come at a better time. We are in sore need of aid.”

“Allow one to guess. Ganondorf hath been here, and some part of the Domain is cursed, Your Majesty?”

The king shook his head. “Aye, and nay. He hath not been here, but he hath cursed an area of Sapphirine Bay that is linked to here. Our warriors, mages, and healers hath been keeping the enemy at bay, but…”

The king looked forlorn, his fins drooping considerably. “The Ocean Gate Fortress ‘tis all but inaccessible now. No Zora can breach its confines—the fortress is lost to us now. Terrible creatures infest the halls, and…it is said a monster most vile lurks in the depths of the stronghold. Wilt thou aid us, as thine ancestor once did?”

Skyward nodded. “One shalt aid thou and thine, King Zora. What is more, wilt mine friends art able to accompany one? One knows of one’s ancestry, but one shalt not be so arrogant to think one canst do this alone.”

The king nodded at her. “Of course, thou mayest bring thine friends with thee. But for now, rest, recover, ‘ere the day of battle dawns. A room shalt be made ready for thou and thine companions; and if any of thou require anything, merely ask and it shalt be granted to thou.”

The three mares bowed deeply, the Zora sovereign summoning two of his guards to lead them from the chamber. The Zoran guardspony led them to a beautiful guest room—there were three beds, each one shaped like an open seashell with fine silk sheets—one had clouds stuffed inside it, clearly a pegasus bed. There were three separate vanities and armoires with seashell shaped seats, and a large bathing pool with vials and jars of oils and other bathing room amenities. The windows were open and airy, azure colored curtains framing the gaps, and a glowing chunk of coral lent light to the room that was hanging from the ceiling. The guard bowed to Skyward, then departed, the bluesteel mare closing the door behind him.

She eyed the door, then looked around at the walls; then she lit her horn. A shimmering silver bubble formed at the tip of her horn, floated off of it, then once it was in the center of the room it expanded rapidly. Once it had reached the perimeter of the room, it popped soundlessly, leaving only silver sparkles behind.

“Uhhh…mind explaining just what the hay was that, Skyward?” Rainbow Dash asked with puzzlement, and Skyward turned to look at her winged friend.

“ ‘Tis a spell of warding to ensure what is said in here by any of us wilt not be overheard. One has…a bad feeling about this. Something is off, never mind what King Zora hath said.”

Rarity was seated at one of the vanities, combing her mane out with a jeweled shell brush she had found. “Oh come now Skyward! Surely you are enjoying yourself so far? I know we have a terrible task ahead of us but whatever would make you say that?”

“Hath thou not noticed how the male Zora art acting?”

Rainbow Dash frowned, tapping a hoof to her chin. “Yeeeeah—a lot of them are looking at us funny. One of them winked at me.”

Rarity smiled and flipped her mane. “Well, perhaps they have good taste. I mean, I do try to look my best.”

The rainbow hued mare snorted. “That’s not what she meant, Rarity, and ya know it. Didn’t you see how all of those male guards in King Zora’s chamber were eyeing your flank?”

Skyward glanced around the room before she gestured at them. “Here—one hast something for thou two.”

The two Equestrian mares crossed to Skyward, who ‘reached’ into her satchel and pulled out two small leather bags she had made herself painstakingly with Fluttershy’s help. The bags were heavy and they jingled a little as she ‘passed’ them to both mares.

“In those pouches art a goodly sum in Snaffles—this world’s currency. Do not spend them all at once in one place. Do not try to haggle if thou sees something one likes; believe me, I’ve enough to spare shouldst we need anything. But for now, let us rest after our journey here. One is certain thou art hungry?”

Both Equestrian mares agreed, and Skyward sent for a servant, kindly asking her for a feast, which was sent up from the royal kitchens. As they settled in for the night, Skyward lay awake for a while, frowning. Something nagged at her, but she couldn’t quite remember what it was, even as she drifted off to sleep…

Unaware of the pair of eyes that gazed lustfully at her through the window.