The Eds and Link were all sitting at the edge of the water after the diving game, a smiling Zora standing next to them with something in his hands.
"Congratulations!" he said. "It was close, but each of you succeeded in retrieving all the rupees thrown before the time limit passed." Each of the boys smiled as the Zora began handing out silver scales that shined in the light. "In recognition for you swimming ability, each of you have earned a Silver Scale."
"Ooooh!" said Ed as he looked at his scale with big eyes.
"So, is this a trophy or something?" Eddy asked as he looked at his in confusion.
"They are scales of our race that have been imbued with magic. Having them will allow each of you to swim with the agility of a Zora." the Zora explained.
"Intriguing!" Edd said as he examined his scale.
"Looks like Ed's having fun." Link chuckled as Ed swam around under the surface of the water, a big smile on his face.
"So all we do is just swim?" Eddy asked.
"Correct." replied the Zora. Link, Edd, and Eddy all looked at each other before hopping into the water. They could instantly tell the difference from their swimming earlier to now as their bodies seemed to glide around under the water with ease. It felt as if they'd been part fish all their lives before their lungs began to burn and they came up for air. "With these scales, you four can greatly aid us in our search. Both on land and sea." said the Zora as he looked at the four of them.
"Very well then. Where should we begin our search?" Edd asked.
"Did you happen to notice the doorway under the water?" asked the Zora, which earned a nod from them. "That leads all the way to Lake Hylia, a massive lake a pure clean water. We Zoras watch over it and manage it for the Royal Family. I suggest you start your search there. Perhaps you'll have more luck than us."
"Will do. Let's go!" Link said before they all took a deep breath and swam under the water and through the underwater doorway.
-Lake Hylia-
The four boys travelled swiftly through the dark tunnel before light began to shine at the end, guiding them the rest of the way. The moment they got out, they made a break for the surface for a much needed breath of air.
"They could've mentioned that we'd be travelling for miles!" Eddy yelled.
"By my calculations," Edd said while coughing. "We only swam 1/10 of a mile."
"Who cares?!" Eddy yelled as they all swam for shore. The four of them flopped down on the grassy shore near the lake to catch their breath before Link's hat moved around, a coughing Navi appearing and shaking her wings to get them dry.
"Did you have any trouble holding your breath Navi?" Link asked in concern.
"Fairies are magical beings. We don't need to breath. Though I still prefer dry land." she huffed the last part.
"If I had to guess, I'd say this is Lake Hylia. Correct?" Edd asked as he stared out at the water. It was indeed a vast lake full of nothing but pure water. In the middle was a little plot of land with a withered tree in the middle, a set of rope bridges connecting it to mainland.
"This is definitely Lake Hylia." Navi informed them.
"So, who's searching where?" Eddy asked.
"Oh oh!" Ed said excitedly. "I'll swim under the water and look for Princess Ruto!"
"I believe I'll join Ed." said Edd while looking at Link and Eddy. "Why don't the two of you ask anyone inside the buildings if they've seen Princess Ruto?"
"Good idea. I don't want to go back in the water." Navi complained as the last drop of water dripped off her wings.
"Whatever." Eddy said before the four of them split up. Link had encountered the scientist that resided inside the house next to the lake.
-Eddy-
Eddy had wandered up to the building with a fish on a plaque hanging above the door and walked in to find a fishing pond before him. The only person there was a man with a thick head of brown hair, with a little goatee to match, standing behind the counter.
"Welcome! Here to fish?" asked the man.
"Sorry, but I'm actually looking for someone." Eddy replied while looking around the pond before looking at the man. "You seen this Zora Princess named Ruto?"
"Nope." said the man before scratching his armpit. "But if I do, I'll tell her someone's looking for ya. What's your name?"
"Eddy. Later." Eddy answered before leaving.
-Link-
Link decided to pay the house sitting next to the lake a visit, only to come face to face with an old scientist.
"Welcome to my lab! Got any questions about marine wildlife?" asked the scientist.
"Only about a certain Zora named Princess Ruto. Have you seen her?" Link asked.
"Just the regular Zoras that come down here to gather fish every once in a while." answered the scientist.
"Okay then. Sorry for wasting your time." Link said before leaving.
-Ed and Edd-
Both the moronic and intelligent Eds were swimming around the bottom of the lake in their search for Princess Ruto, both of them occasionally coming up for some fresh air before diving back down. Ed would sometimes lose his train of thought when he saw a fish swim by and chase after it for a moment before remembering that he was looking for Princess Ruto. Edd was no different, easily getting distracted by the strange gate that was locked at the bottom of the lake right under the lone island before looking again. Both of them came up for air once again after a bit of searching before confirming that they'd search the whole lakebed and had found nothing.
"I'm afraid that she's not here." Edd said before looking at the shore. "Let's meet up with Link and Eddy and try another place."
"Okay." was all Ed said before they both began swimming towards land. They were both almost at the shore before Edd noticed something sparkle in the water. His curiosity got the better of him before he dove down and picked something up.
-Everyone-
The four boys had all gathered back on shore to discuss their next move.
"Any luck?" Link asked.
"Nothing." Eddy answered while Ed shook his head no.
"No, but I did find some litter that someone carelessly threw away." Edd said, a hint of anger that someone wouldn't recycle. "A perfectly good jar...with a note?" he finished when he saw a piece of paper inside. The others watched as he opened the bottle and took out the note that was inside before looking at it. "Once again, I can't read it." he sighed when he learned it was in Hylian.
"Let me see." Link said as he took the paper and read it out loud.
Please come and find me inside Lord Jabu-Jabu's Belly
-Ruto
P.S. Don't tell my father!
"OH NO! THE PRINCESS GOT EATEN!" Ed yelled before running around. "WHAT DO WE DO?! WHAT DO WE DO?!"
"Ed!" Link yelled before pulling on his jacket, choking the smelly Ed before making him sit on the ground. "Calm down. The first thing we have to do is go back to Zora's Domain and show this to King Zora."
"But the letter clearly states that we should not show it to her father." Edd argued.
"Double D. She's inside the belly of something called Jabu-Jabu. Quit worrying about little details right now!" said Eddy. Edd sighed before placing the letter back in the bottle and joining his friends in swimming back to Zora's Domain.
-In front of King Zora-
"What?!" said King Zora after finally getting him out of his daze so he could read the letter. "That's not possible! Our guardian deity, Lord Jabu-Jabu, would never eat my daughter!"
"That's not what the letter says." Eddy countered.
"You...may be right." King Zora sighed. "Ever since that strange man, Ganondorf, visited our domain, Lord Jabu-Jabu's been a little green around the gills." he explained, not seeing the tense and angered looks on the boys faces. "Very well then. I will keep this letter. You may have the bottle. Please, find my daughter. The route to Lord Jabu-Jabu lies behind me. Good luck!" he said before he began to scootch over at a painfully slow pace.
-10 minutes later-
Link, Navi, and the Eds were lying around the area yawning or staring at the water before they heard the King stop grunting, signalling that he'd finally moved.
"Took you long enough." Eddy whispered in an irritated tone.
"Hey, I'm fat!" King Zora argued. "It takes me awhile to move!" The boys all stared at him before they walked past him and out into another lake. This one had sunken trees here and there, but that's not what they were looking at. What immediately caught their eye was a giant whale near the shore, the top of it's head on stone altar.
"Whale!" Ed yelled while pointing at it.
"This is Lord Jabu-Jabu?" Link asked as they stared at it.
"I guess so?" Navi responded while Eddy walked up to it.
"Hey, Fishface! Open up! Spit Ruto out!" he yelled.
"I highly doubt he's going to cooperate with you yelling at him, Eddy." Edd said in a monotone voice.
"Well, how are we gonna get him to cough her up?" Eddy snapped before they heard Jabu-Jabu moan, a rumbling sound coming from it's stomach.
"Aww. It's hungry!" Ed said as he saw some fish in the water. "Let's feed him!" he yelled before jumping into the water. The others watched him swim around after the fish before Edd calmly walked towards a lone fish in a shallow area and scooped it into the empty bottle he had.
"I hope this will do." he said as he rejoined the others after Ed had gotten out of the water and shook himself off like a dog.
"Let's hurry up and feed this dumb fish!" Eddy groaned before swiping the bottle from Edd and dumping the fish in front of Jabu-Jabu. The scent of fish hit Jabu-Jabu's nose before he opened his massive jaws, a massive gust pulling the fish inside. Unfortunately, Jabu-Jabu's inhalation didn't stop after the fish.
"THIS WAS A BAD IDEA!" Edd shrieked in terror as he felt his feet leave the ground.
"I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS! CALL MY LAWYER!" Eddy yelled as he ran away, but didn't get far as he felt himself getting pulled back.
"HANG ON!" Link yelled as he struggled to stay grounded.
"THEY'RE OFF!" Ed yelled with a smile as he was soon sucked down the fish's throat, followed by a screaming Navi, Eddy, Edd, and Link before Jabu-Jabu's mouth clamped shut.
