Chapter 2

It was so dark...where was she? Had she just had some unbelievably realistic dream? Ruto's eyes fluttered open. She rubbed her temples, a low moan escaping her lips. Eerie, lingering ballads surrounded her, along with delicate, trilling voices.

"What's going on?" she mumbled aloud, gazing at her bizarre surroundings. Her last memory was of not of Link, but of a strange golden haired youth. A Sheikah perhaps?

"She's awake," a sweet voice whispered.

"Who's there?" Ruto looked about suspiciously. She was situated on a cerulean platform, circular and lustrous. On it was a strange emblem, echoing with the rushing of waters and the scent of the oceans.

"You're the Zora princess, right?" Another voice questioned.

"Where am I?" Ruto sighed, becoming exasperated.

"Why, you've awakened as a sage, as have all of us. We must help the hero of time to fulfill the prophecy, and thus salvage Hyrule."

"Excuse me?"

"Impa, put it in terms she can understand." A twinkling voice chimed in.

"Oh, right. Well, we have all been summoned by the goddesses to become sages. We all must protect our temples, and aid the chosen one on his quest. This, is the chamber of the sages, and this is where we shall forever stay, protecting our land," Impa finished.

Ruto glowered fiercely. "I don't feel like being a sage. I want to go back to Hyrule."

"It's beyond you're decision," a tart voice cut in sharply.

"Who was that boy I saw? The Sheikah boy," she asked.

"We know not. But he sides with us, against the tyranny we face. We have all met him, but not one of us knows who he is," Impa whispered.

"Who is the chosen one?" Ruto urged Impa on. This was just too perplexing.

"You know him as Link, we all know him," the childlike voice spoke for a second time. "I am Saria, sage of the forest, and around you are the other sages," Ruto could vaguely make out the shape of a small child, emerald enwrapping her entire body.

"Link?" she echoed. "And where is he now?"

"Battling the fire temple, his next stop is to your haven, Ruto. You are the sage of water," Impa smiled.

"I...I don't want to be a sage," she stuttered.

"But once he defeats the demon that has taken over your shrine, the waters in your domain will run once more," that same cunning tone, "I'm Nabooru, sage of spirit," she added coyly.

"And I am the sage of fire, Darunia," a husky, male voice said gruffly. "You are an important part in the history of Hyrule. Already, the monsters have deserted the forest, as soon as Link defeated the phantom ruling the forest temple."

Ruto shifted her weight back and forth, rocking slowly, "I'll do it," she whispered.

* * * *

"You, Ruto?" Link asked, baffled.

"Yes, at first I didn't want to be the water sage, but I now realize my people will now live again. And Link, for once I'm truly satisfied. Everything will be as it once was. In harmony," Ruto murmured. "The mysterious cloud has faded from the mountain peaks, life renewed it's vows and a new protector has been born for the Kokiri. So I know, my land will finally be saved, as well."

"I'm happy for you, Ruto," Link said, putting a hand on her shoulder, reassuringly.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Oh, I almost forgot!" Ruto breathed in heavily, summoning all of her power. From the endless black above them, a lazuline medallion floated down. It hovered above for a moment, and then dropped into Link's outstretched hand, glimmering and twirling.

"The water medallion," Ruto explained.

"I figured," Link grinned at her, "Thanks..." His voice faded in and out, and a glistening warp light formed, engulfing him.

"Bye Link..." Ruto said softly, her voice quivering.

* * * *

"Why?" Ruto growled for the umpteenth time. "Why does fate despise me? My people? My home? Why does it salvage what all others hold dear, but not what I long for? Why does it set my destiny in stones, while it sets yours in the sands?"

"I don't know. How many times must I tell you, Ruto? Fate guides us in strange ways, and I'm sure there's a reason behind this," Impa sighed. "I'm truly sorry that you're land is still frozen, while all others have been restored. At least your father is now safe."

"He probably enjoyed those years spent in the ice. He didn't need to move at all, or even breath, and for him those both waste a lot of energy."

Impa chuckled despite herself, "Maybe in time..."

"I don't want to wait! Impa, this is tearing me apart inside. It's been many months since I first awakened as a sage, and Link has yet to confront his final adversary. In only a day and perhaps less, he shall face Ganondorf," she shuddered at the mere mentioning of his name. "And if Zora's Domain does not defrost by then, I shall take action."

"I am doubtful that it will, Ruto. If it hasn't yet, why should it ever?"

"Precisely," she retorted bitterly.

"I'm worried for Link. Is he up to the challenge of that minacious tyrant? I know he's a skilled warrior but...to think that Hyrule's fate rests in him, and only him. And that it shall be set in mere hours," Impa cracked her knuckles, worry creasing her face.

"He will win. I'm sure of it," Ruto yawned.

"I wish I was half as confident in his ability as you," Impa nodded to her.

"Link's sort of...invincible," Ruto smiled to herself.

"Ruto, Impa!" Saria squealed, her voice trembling. "Link's crossed the final barrier in Ganon's castle!"

The ground beneath them quaked, queer, almost melodic screams echoing all around them. Terror wreaked havoc in the air, fear collided with the walls about them all.

The final battle was about to begin.

"If only we could see him!" Impa grumbled.

"He doesn't need us to see him. Don't worry, he'll be alright," Ruto said soothingly.

"If he fails, I'll be done for. I've disobeyed the king of my people, and it will cost me my life. It's a high treason..." Nabooru muttered, pacing the tiled floors skeptically, stepping from platform to platform.

"Doesn't anyone have faith in him? Link was chosen to save us, and he will succeed," Ruto said reproachfully.

She bit her lip, praying to herself that she was as confident as she sounded. What was that disturbing clatter? What was that shriek from below? Why could she hear every movement from the combat, yet not see anything!?

"If Link defeated all of those horrid beasts guarding the temples, surely he can defeat Ganon as well," she gasped, directing her comment towards her own mind.

"This is different..."Impa started.

"The only way we can help Link is to trust him. With trust we have power, with power we can do anything. So help him, Impa. You're not doing anything else."

Impa smirked half-heartedly. "Alright, Ruto," she agreed.

"I hear something...collapsing walls...what's going on?" Nabooru whispered, straining her ears towards the outside world. "There's more screaming. I sense fear, I sense a new battle arising...I sense danger."

"You were right," Impa said breathing nervously, "Ganondorf has power, and with it he can do anything."

"Such as...?" Saria piped in suddenly.

"I'm not sure. But it's terrible, that's all I know."

Ruto closed her eyes, drawing in the thickened air. She sat down placidly, drawing her knees up to her body for protection against any fear that threatened to enter her mind.

And time passed, slowly at first, and then quickening as the heated battle grew more desperate, more nerved. A blood-curdling cry shattered the silence, appalling to all senses.

Ruto's words stuck to her throat. It wasn't Link's voice that screamed. He had won. He had salved Hyrule, and its people. He had ensured that there would be a future.

The black swirled into a pale sunlight tinted golden. Ruto felt her body being lifted, and brought down to the mortal realm of Hyrule, that she'd not seen in so many years. It would be her first time there since Ganon began his reign of terror, and her last time there, for eternity.

For some reason unknown to her, the other sages were not with her. She stood alone, only steps away from Link, but he did not seem to see her.

He stood still, as if carved from stone, his eyes grazing his blood stained body. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but then collapsed, kneeling on the rubble beneath him, and at the same time begging for his own hope and dreams once more. And Ruto watched, as he began to cry.

"Link, you needn't cry, you're a hero," she whispered stepping nearer to him.

He bolted upright, the hot tears still flowing down his scarred face, still interrupting his scarred innocence, and life. "That means nothing. I've lost seven years of my life. I've lost all that I held close. I've lost my entire existence..."

"And you've saved us all," she breathed, lowering herself to his level. "Link, I cannot thank you enough." All of her arrogance disappeared, fading with the relief that there would be no more nightmares, no more fear. She bowed her head to him, reveling in his bravery and selflessness.

"Don't," he said sullenly, "I had no choice. My fate was set, and I'm not at all brave. Just like you, Ruto. We were both chosen to help Hyrule, and if I'd the choice, I don't know what I would have done."

"But..." she said, her head still bowed, "You tried your hardest, and gave of yourself. Not all would do that, even for their own land."

"And don't ever say I don't need to cry. Because I may be a 'hero' but I still feel pain, I still feel hatred, and I can still hurt."

"You're a person, Link. I realize this. But for saving us, you will forever be immortalized," Ruto raised her head, "within me, and within all living in this time."

"Ruto...you deserve better then your fate," he sighed. "I don't know why the Zoras are still trapped, but the curse must be to strong, for even banishment to break. For even death to halt."

"You mean...it's still frozen?" she asked, withdrawing slightly.

"Ruto," he paused unwarily, "It's going to be frozen forever."

For a moment, Ruto's entire body seemed to go rigid, but then she relaxed again, "That's not true."

"I don't know why, but somehow...it's not?"

"No. Because I'm going to save my world," she stood up lightly.

"Ruto, don't...it's impossible...you're a sage, you're not...you can't..." he broke off.

"Nothing's impossible if you have faith. And Link, don't thwart destiny, because it won't do any good," she stepped away from him and then paused.

"Because I don't deserve a better fate. My world does. My people do."