Author's Note: I've broken this fic into chapters to make it easier to read. Nothing else has changed except for some grammar fixes.


Disclaimer: I don't own Legend of Zelda or any of the characters.

Please read and review, your feedback helps me to write better stories.


Chapter 1: Where It Started


The field surrounding the massive form of Hyrule Castle was quiet in the dark night. Pale light was cast onto the grounds by the moon, which was halfway through waking up for the cycle. Going through its prescribed path and changes, the moon wasn't bothered in the slightest as a figure darted out from a secret passage from the castle gardens to the grounds. With sure steps born of confidence and familiarity the figure ran across the sloped grounds leading away from Hyrule Castle. It moved in a direction that would allow it to bypass Castle Town, which lay sleeping at the bottom of the path from the castle. It had been another long day and barely anyone would be awake to notice their passing, but the figure didn't want to take any chances tonight. They had a mission, one they had been planning for quite some time. Almost four years in the making, possibly even longer depending on where one considered everything to have started.


For the figure, this had all started the day she had been eaten by the giant water deity, Lord Jabu Jabu, which her people revered. She was none other than Ruto, princess of the Zora people, an aquatic race that lived in the lakes and rivers that resided in the land of Hyrule. Four years ago, it had just been a regular day when she had gone to give the daily offering to Lord Jabu Jabu. He favored her, and had allowed her inside him to explore his belly when she wanted adventure but her father didn't allow her to leave the Domain. That day her father had told her she was to be engaged to some Zora noble's son twice her age that she knew nothing of. So, she had done what any self-respecting princess would do, she had run away to somewhere she felt safe. Unfortunately, Lord Jabu Jabu's belly was not the same safe place it had once been. While asking for entry she had been violently swallowed up whole.

Inside of Lord Jabu Jabu, Ruto had been confronted with horrifying monsters and parasites that had infested him. Her rough entry had led to her spraining an ankle, limiting her movement, and to losing her trusty boomerang, her only form of defense. In addition, she had lost the most important object to her, the Zora's Sapphire. The beautiful gem had been passed down by generations of Zora, from parent to child and so forth. Ruto had received it from her own mother, and had kept it close since. Her mother had told her only to give it to the man she would marry by her own choice, an engagement stone. Eventually after they were joined as one with children of their own, Ruto would pass it on to the one who would rule after her. Without the sapphire her childhood fantasies, of which she had more of each day, would end unfulfilled. Not one to give up easily, Ruto had set out, ignoring her injured ankle, and gone in search of the sapphire.

The parasites had corrupted Lord Jabu Jabu's belly beyond recognition, slowing down her venture. She had been close to giving up when surrounded by electrified jellyfish floating through the air like it was water, but a savior had come, dragging her out of danger to safety. She had been surprised to find that her savior was none other than a human boy her age dressed up in the garb of the Kokiri forest sprites. He had a large dagger he wielded like a sword, a crude wooden shield in the other hand. A blue fairy flew around him, chiding him for rushing into danger.

"Think before you rush into danger like that!" chided the fairy. "You don't have any weapons that can hurt those things, remember?"

"I know Navi!" the boy replied, ignoring Ruto to argue with his fairy. "But she was in danger!"

"I don't know who you are," interjected Ruto, drawing the boy and fairy's attention to herself. She had stood up as straight and regal as she could manage, wincing only slightly at the pain in her ankle. "I was perfectly fine without your help! But I guess since you did help me, even though it was unnecessary, I can allow you the thanks of Princess Ruto of the Zora. Now, name yourself!"

"I'm Link," responded the boy, seeming perplexed by her lack of gratitude. "I was sent here by your father to save you!"

"My father?" asked Ruto. She was slightly happy to hear that, but became displeased when she remembered about the arranged marriage and how she was still angry at her father. "I never agreed to that!"

"Huh?" asked the fairy, Navi, confused.

"What do you mean?" asked Link. He took a step towards her. "Everyone's worried about you! Come, let's hurry and get you home!"

"No way!" snapped Ruto, moving away from him. "You go home!"

Ruto started to run away from the strangely dressed boy. A jellyfish rushed at her from a hiding place and as she tried to dodge she took a misstep, causing pain to lance through her injured ankle and throwing off her movement. The monster bore down on her and she braced for the strike, which never came. The monster was swatted away as Link hit it with his sword. But electricity surged through his sword and into his body, zapping him. He screamed in pain and fell to one knee.

"If you strike them with your sword you'll be shocked!" chided Navi, flying worriedly around her companion.

"A-are you ok?" asked Link, looking up at Ruto. He panted as he used his sword to prop himself up. He held out his hand to her. "Now come with me."

Ruto had just regarded him for a moment. He was oddly persistent, even for someone sent by her father. He was just a kid and hopelessly outmatched by the monsters he couldn't even hurt. But that didn't seem to be stopping him.

"I'll leave, if you help me retrieve my mother's stone!" replied Ruto, crossing her arms and using the toughest voice she could manage. "I dropped it when I was swallowed by Lord Jabu Jabu."

Link just studied her for a moment, looking a bit shocked by her reaction. Then his face became determined.

"Alright!" he yelled, starting to run off. Ruto reached out quickly and grabbed the back of his shirt, pulling him up short.

"Hold it!" she yelled angrily. More pain lanced through her foot as she stood her ground. "Do you intend to leave me behind all alone?"

Link had just sighed and then crouching down allowed Ruto to climb onto his back.

"To carry me is considered a great honor. You should consider thanking me," boasted Ruto, feeling herself flush in embarrassment at being so close to someone else. She could feel the heat in his back and it made her even more conscious of herself. At least Link hadn't been able to see her face, because she had doubted she could hide it at that moment.

Together they made their way through the dungeon. Dodging past monsters, Link eventually came across Ruto's lost boomerang. She didn't mention it was hers though, since he was being gracious enough to help her. With the new weapon, he was able to take out the electrified jellyfish. Ruto had to admit to herself that he was quite gallant rushing through the dungeon, taking out monsters and carrying her at the same time. A lot like a knight from the stories, rescuing fair maidens and princesses, like her. The more they explored the dungeon together the more Ruto wanted the stone. Once they were safe from the monsters she would present it to the dashing boy, freeing herself from her father's arranged marriage and claiming Link as her husband.

Her mind full of dreams, when Ruto saw the stone laying on a raised platform she started to yell in excitement. As she asked, Link helped her up onto the platform and she hurried over to grab the stone. But right as she made it to the stone the platform shook and suddenly moved quickly upwards. The platform moved into a slot in the ceiling and she had been confronted by a giant Octo which had started to move towards her. Grabbing the stone up with a yell Ruto had quickly fled out of the room, the door closing behind her. She only stopped when she realized she was further inside Lord Jabu Jabu than she had ever been before and had no clue where she now was. Not able to go back due to the giant Octo, she just continued to limp forward, pain lancing into her with every movement. Despair started to fill her as she ambled through the dungeon, so much worse now due to the flicker of hope that she had been offered.

"Link," she sniffed, walking through a door to a large dead-end room. "Please come and find me. I don't want to be in here anymore! I just want to go home!"

Things got worse though when a giant monster crashed down from the ceiling, blocking off her exit. She backed up in fear, clutching the stone tightly to her chest. Something moved on the monster and Ruto realized that it was actually a large collection of electrified jellyfish connected to a giant pulsating blob by electrified cords.

"Stay away!" yelled Ruto, tripping onto her rear. She glared at the monster, fighting back her fear and tears. "Don't you dare touch me!"

Ignoring her cries, the monster advanced on her, the jellyfish attached to it starting to move away from the main body and starting to rotate around. They picked up speed with each pass and started to make an ominous noise as they sliced through the air. When all looked lost though, a boomerang flew through the air and struck the main body. The blow disrupted the electric cords and sent the electrified jellyfish flying uncontrollably through the air, striking the walls in various places and being crushed by the force. Ruto saw Link rushing through the room at the monster, sword drawn. An antenna on the monster turned to face Link and crackled with energy.

"Look out!" yelled Ruto. A powerful bolt of electricity crackled through the air at Link. It made a booming noise as it flashed…and missed Link as he rolled to the side right in time. The monster wasn't able to fire off another shot before Link leapt up and slashed down, chopping through the monster with a surprisingly strong blow, ending its life in an explosion as the foul energy inside of it released. Chunks of purple gore and blue blood rained down on them as Ruto stared in amazement at Link.

"Princes Ruto!" yelled Link, running over to her.

"What do you mean leaving me like that!" yelled Ruto, trying to resist the urge to just cry in relief.

"Sorry, sorry," apologized Link, holding his hand out to help her up. "Let's get out of here!"

"I…I was a tad scared near the end there," sniffed Ruto reluctantly, finally letting her emotions show a bit. He just smiled good naturally at her and helped her up when she grabbed his hand.

"The truth is…I had originally come here with the intent to hide," admitted Ruto.

"Hide?" asked Link, confused.

"My father…went ahead and arranged a marriage for me without consulting me!" she had raged, finally letting her emotions show. "That geezer is always saying 'oh, my lovely Princess'. I have my own feelings! I-I'm not my father's little doll!"

Link had just stared at her for a moment then made that silly smile that she had already started to enjoy seeing.

"Being a princess sure is tough," said Link, rubbing the back of his head with his hand. Ruto wondered if it was a sign of exasperation or something similar. "But…I'm envious of you. Your father seems to care for you so much. As for my parents…the Great Deku tree told me that they died. I never had a chance to meet them, but you have a loving father who's worrying about you. Let's go home."

Ruto was speechless for a moment. Then she turned away from Link as she felt herself blushing.

"Well…If it's okay, then will you come with me?" she said shyly.

"Eh?" asked Link, confused by her reaction. Ruto turned back to Link and held out her mother's stone to him.

"This is the Spiritual stone of Water, the Zora Sapphire," she declared triumphantly. "It's the engagement ring of the Zora's! I'm giving it to you!"

"Alright!" Link had yelled happily. Smiling he had accepted the stone from her.

He had helped her out of Jabu Jabu, carrying her on his back. The monsters had all been cleansed from the body when the giant blob had been defeated. Ruto now recognized where she was going and directed him out. Link left her with her very grateful father and rushed out of Zora's domain, smiling and waving at her as left.

"My beautiful Princess Ruto!" gushed her father, rushing over on his stubby legs to hug her. "I'm so glad you're safe! Rest tonight, and I will postpone your meeting with your betrothed until tomorrow. He'll understand the need for such."

"Too bad for you and him," said Ruto smugly. "I already gave the stone to someone else to be my husband and he accepted!"

"What?!" cried her father in horror. "Who?!"

"Link," replied Ruto with a wistful smile.