Here's another freaky transition scene for ya. Longest chapter so far also, not counting Author Notes. This one goes out to everyone who resented having to carry Ruto through like half of Jabu-Jabu's belly. Who hangs out in a giant fish's tummy, anyway? Who does she think she is, Jonas? Friggin'.

As the last notes of the Lullaby rang through the air, the waterfall stopped flowing and the passageway was clear. Malon peered over the edge of the thin natural bridge she was standing on. Finding the pass had been no problem. Getting to the plaque before the waterfall had been a little nerve-wracking, but nothing big. Even the riddle had been borderline-easy. But now that the flow of water had stopped, Malon could see a problem.

It was quite the jump. Malon wasn't sure she could make it. She swallowed past the lump in her throat. If she didn't make it, she would land in the stream. It looked fairly deep from here, so she probably wouldn't get hurt...

But Malon couldn't swim.

Ever since she was little, Malon had had a fear of water. When she was very young, she and her parents had lived in Kakariko Village. One night, Malon's mother had gone to the well. No one knew why. They had found her body the next morning. It had been shortly after that that Talon had bought the ranch from his brother-in-law, who had moved to Termina. Just thinking about the incident made Malon shiver in fear as she pictured her mother's face, blue with cold and blurred by the passage of time.

If she didn't make this jump...

"You can do this."

Malon looked up sharply. Standing in the mouth of the passage, was none other than the Hero of Time, Link. A serious expression graced his blue eyes, and his arms were folded across his chest.

"Link!" Surprise coursed through her.

He smiled slightly. "It's gonna take more than heights and water to bring you down. We're Courage, remember?" He brought his right hand up in a fist, and the Triforce shone brightly. "Don't think about it. Just jump. I'll catch you, Malon."

Malon took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She could do this. Link said so. Beyond all rhyme and reason, he was here, and he would catch her if she fell. But she wouldn't fall. She could do this. She backed up a step, got a running start, and leapt, arms outstretched.

Not far enough.

Her feet missed the lip of the passage. A gloved hand caught her by the wrist and pulled. Malon was able to catch the edge and pull herself up as Link let go. Gasping, she opened her eyes and looked around.

No one was there.

Link wasn't there.

A light caught her eyes and she looked down. On her right hand, glimmering like sunlight, was the Triforce of Courage.

Fighting back tears, Malon got up and ran into the depths of the passage as fast as her legs could carry her.

"And just give me one good reason why I should give you the Spiritual Stone of Water?" The Zora princess's voice was imperious.

Malon met her gaze squarely. "Because if you don't then I can't claim the Master Sword and save your people."

The two were standing in a cave just off of Zora's Domain. The coppery smell of blood was in the air, and every so often Malon could see a Zora warrior slip out of the deep water, injured. There were others moving around this cave, administering bandages and medicine to those too wounded to fight. Ruto was a part of this effort. Even as she spoke, she held a wooden mortar in which she pounded some herbs into a salve.

"How do you even know that it will accept you as wielder? Did Queen Zelda just pick a name out of a hat and decide to send you here?" Ruto's voice now also held a tone of impatience.

"I don't, but no. I have the Triforce of Courage. And I can do this. You just need to give me a chance." Malon held up her right hand. It wasn't glowing anymore, but it was there, marked clearly for the world to see.

Ruto stared. Then she turned away and began spreading the salve in her bowl on an ugly scorch mark marring the scales an unconscious Zora. "I don't know how it is with Hylians, but I was very close to my mother. When she died nine years ago, this stone was all I had left of her. My father had given it to her as a wedding gift, and she passed it down to me." Malon wasn't sure, but she thought she saw a tear slide down the Princess's cheek. "Now my father fights for Zora's Domain. He fights to keep me safe, to keep our ancestral home safe. He led the retaliation strike five days ago, and of the injured warriors that have returned and left again to fight, he has not been among them. It is against our custom for females to fight, else I would be down there, fighting by his side. As it is, I don't even know if he's still..." Ruto stopped, unable to go on.

And Malon knew why. Her heart ached for this girl, who although of a different race, a different world, an underwater world that Malon couldn't even imagine, wasn't really that different from her at all.

"I understand what you're going through." Malon said as she slipped a hand into one of her pouches.

"How could you? How can you understand the pain I'm feeling, you who have lived all your life in the shelter of dry air? What know you of war?" Ruto's eyes were ice-cold.

"Not much, I'll grant." Malon brought out a small object, a brooch fashioned into the shape of a fearsome monster. "But I know what it's like to lose someone, and I know what it's like to hold onto them. This brooch used to be my mother's, and she drowned when I was little. But I like to think that she watches over me now, and whenever I miss her I can hold this, and sing the song she taught me, and I don't feel so alone anymore."

For a moment, Ruto was quiet as she faced Malon. Then she snatched the brooch and Malon's eyes widened. "Listen to me. I'll give you my greatest treasure, but I'm keeping this until you bring it back to me. And before I give it to you, you have to promise me something."

Malon almost reached for the brooch, but stopped herself. If this was the price...and as long as she got it back... "What is it?" She could barely hear her own words.

Ruto held out her free hand. A blue light formed, becoming a gold-and-sapphire trinket that floated forward to hover above Malon's empty palm.

"Save my people."

Malon nodded solemnly. "I promise."

And the Zora's Sapphire dropped into her hand.

Hope you liked it! Tell me what you think! :-)

~Lady DM