Link and Ruto enjoy a slightly civil conversation.

Chapter 8: The Utterly Boring Climax of the First Part of the Story

Link woke up. He was in a room with four platforms in a pool of water. He remembered this room. It was where he fought Morpha in the Water Temple. Wait. The Water Temple!? That meant that-

"Oh Linky! You're finally up!"

Son of Ganondorf. Ruto. That potion must have knocked him out

"I was wondering when you would come to." she said, a really big smile on her face.

"Ruto, what do you want?"

She started trying to cuddle with him.

"Oh, you should know what I want. We ARE engaged after all..."

"RUTO! I AM A FREAKIN' TWELVE YEAR OLD!!"

"I know. I didn't mean THAT. I meant you to take me to that ball."

"Oh. That's better."

"So then, my Linky, when and where shall-"

"Aha!" came a female Zora's voice. It sounded strangely like Malon.

A Zora girl about his age stood in the door of the room. She had a red headtail.

"Malon? Malon, is that you?"

The Zora pulled her face off. There was a bright flash of light and Malon appeared with Mikau's mask.

"Link, you do realize a slimy fish thing is trying to cuddle with you, right?"

"Excuse me!? I am the PRINCESS of the Zora! I am Zora Royalty! At least call me a slimy fish PRINCESS if anything!"

Link thought that this fight would actually turn fun to watch.

Malon splashed Ruto with Morpha's water. Ruto laughed.

"I'm a Zora, remember? I use water to breathe!"

An aura of blue magic appeared in her hands, and some water flew up and fell onto Malon.

"Hey! That wasn't funny!!"

Link took the opportunity and snuck out the door while they were focused on each other. He figured he could possibly get back to maybe that back room in Lon-Lon Ranch's hay barn without then noticing, he might be able to hold out until the ball.

That is, if Malon, Talon, or Ingo didn't catch him, which Ingo wouldn't because he was always shoveling manure, and Talon wouldn't because he was always sleeping. Which left Malon.

As far as Link could tell, she was the only one not too desperate for him. Searching all over Hyrule for him was one thing, but fighting Zelda and Nabooru just to get them off the ranch was another. She wasn't fighting for him.

"There you are!" came Ruto's voice.

He had been standing still too long. Still, Zelda had taught him a few Shiekah tricks.

He pulled a deku nut from a pouch and slammed it down, then used his Farore's Wind to teleport away.

He appeared in Lon-Lon Ranch's hay barn, in the back room, just where he wanted to be. He even saw a small stock of food. This was obviously where they kept their winter food.

"Hey!" came Navi's voice. Link was surprised. She had stayed in Kokiri Forest for a while with Tatl, Tael, and Jhan.

She flew into his hat.

"Who'd you make out with while I was gone?" she asked.

"No one, though I'm sure Ruto might have done it to me while I was unconscious."

"Eeeewwwwwww!" she said.

"I swear, she is going to rape me someday..."

"I don't doubt it. You might produce some half-Hylian, half-Zora kid.

"Hey!"

"Well, it's true. If she does rape you, make sure you have that Zora mask on. That might make the kid less grotesque."

He grabbed his hat, crumpled it into a ball, and stuffed it into his pack.

"Mmf!!!" came Navi's muffled voice.

He sat against the wall, exhausted. It had been a long day. First Midna, then Saria, then Nabooru and Zelda, then finally Ruto had done something drastic to get to him. Which left Malon. Knowing her, she was going to do something drastic.

Yeah, she would, wouldn't she. Anyway, Next is Part 2, the Day Before the Ball. R&R