A/N: So, yes, this story is another delightful addition to the list of stories I will not finish, yet people still want to read. So it is up here for your entertainment. Though, I only have chapters 7-9 available due to a very, very rare error in my filing. I hoep you enjoy it all the same, I am currently on a search for the rest of the story.

You've got the wrong Link!

Chapter 7 These Twists and Turns of Fate

Ruto whined pitifully. Link was prodding her in the head with a stick. All she wanted to do was sleep. Scowling, she turned to squint up at him. Silhouetted from the strong sun behind him, all she could see were his laughing blue eyes. He fell to his knees and leaned down over her. He was kneeling behind her, so his chin was over her forehead, and her lips were below his brow. With one quick movement he scooted forward and planted a soft kiss on her lips. Ruto sighed contentedly, smiling into the kiss as she wrapped her arms around his neck. There they remained, on the beach with the waves lapping up to Ruto's belly button and no farther.

They'd arrived at Outset Island a few days ago and decided that they deserved to relax for a while. The Earth Temple wasn't going to just pick up and move any time soon. That and both Link and Ruto knew that it was getting harder and harder to think of a reason for her to go home. Everything was just falling into place so smoothly. They would go swimming together, or take a nap in the afternoon sun. Sometimes, they wouldn't even see each other at all, being swept away in the harvest time. Everyone had a job. Either there was someone watching the little ones, or someone cooking the meals. Ruto found it quite entertaining to spend time with Granny in the kitchen cooking for an entire village of people. Aryll was content to take the younger children up to her lookout post and make sure they didn't fall into the ocean.

Speaking of Aryll, quite rarely was she seen, except when she felt the need to poke her nose into Link and Ruto's moments together. Like now, for instance.

"Would you two get a room?" Aryll drawled. Skipping down the beach after her was the baby parade. Since she was the oldest of the bunch she was clearly named ring leader, and so led them about the islands with an air of arrogance. It gave her the power to interrupt anyone and everyone's alone time.

"Nope, the only room we have is your house, and granny's in there." Ruto replied tartly.

"Well, still, maybe a more private beach, then?" Aryll crooned, "We're tired of watching your love fest."

"Too bad." With that, Link promptly planted his lips back on Ruto's and made an exaggerate show of it. He'd smack his lips, and suck, and slobber. Eventually Aryll sauntered of, not willing to watch them 'swap spit' as she so fondly dubbed it. As soon as his sister and her band of brats were out of sight Link sighed. He lifted his lips a few inches from Ruto's and smiled. Why couldn't it just stay like this?

Ruto rolled out from under him and sat up. Then, in a sluggish, languid way she moved over to him and crawled into his lap.

"Ruto, now my shorts are all wet and covered with sand!"

"Too bad." She mimicked him and raspberry'd his cheek.

"Link…I had a really weird dream before you poked me awake." She murmured.

"If that's your way of saying thank you, then…you're welcome."

"Link, shush." Ruto snorted and rested one webbed hand over his mouth, "I'm being serious."

Curling into him, her arms around his neck loosened slightly. It was still early morning, and the sun was just rising over the wide open seas. The bright, bright blue of the water reflected the sun so much it was almost too painful to look at. Instead, Ruto chose to watch the waves ebb and flow on the shore. She wanted to tell him about her dream, but, at the same time, she didn't really understand it. How could she explain something even she didn't understand?

"You and me, we were on Outset." Ruto started hesitantly, "And, none of your family was here. It was just you, me…and…"

Link remained silent, somehow knowing how hard this was for her. In the place of talking he rubbed his thumb over her shoulder.

"…my people. There were Zoras everywhere. There were young hatchlings, and you and I; we were the king and queen of them. It was a new Zora's Domain. The kingdom of the Zora reborn into this new ocean."

There was a long silence where neither Link nor Ruto said anything. It was not awkward, it was thoughtful. As if they were both trying to understand what this image could possibly mean. There were no Zora in Outset except for Ruto. Their god, Jabun was there. But no Zora. Link's grip tightened on Ruto for a moment, and she could feel him tense.

"Ruto, we need to set out for the Earth Temple." Link's words came out as a sigh. He was tense throughout his whole body; Ruto could feel it, the idea of her leaving, of her going home put them both on edge.

"But, can't we stay here for a few more days? Your village needs our help…Link, I think we should stay."

"Ruto!" She jumped. His voice came out as a bark, and it startled her so, he had never said her name like that. "…No."

"But, Link…I don't understand. Why do you want me to leave?" Ruto turned to look up at him and saw his face contort into an expression of deep thought. It was the same look he used when confronted with a problem he knew he couldn't fix in an instant.

"I don't want you to leave." Link said slowly, soon adding, "I want you to stay, but we need to find a way to understand your dream. The only one who could would be Medli's predecessor, Laruto."

"Who's Medli again?"

"She's the Earth Sage, and your descendant."

"Ah, one of those infernal bird people. Why did we turn into birds?" Ruto sighed.

"Yes," Link rolled his eyes, "But the sage that came before her was a Zora, and was killed by Ganondorf."

"A Zora was still alive in your time and then Ganondorf killed her?! What is wrong with this man?" Ruto scowled angrily.

"Anyways, we need to set sail now." Link abruptly stood and headed towards his Grandma's house to tell her where they were going and a summary of why.

Ruto busied herself with hurrying to the boat. They'd only sat still for a few days, and even those had been buzzing with activity. When would they ever get a rest?

TBC…