Chapter 1: Fate Untimely
Gannon had been vanquished, Peace had been restored to Hyrule, Link was a kid again, and the door of time had been sealed. While The 7 sages still protected the sacred realm, their young counter-parts remained to lead the normal life they would have had, had they not needed to become sages. Walking out of the temple of time into the bright sunlight, Link winced and held up a hand to block some of the sunlight. Now that he was a kid again, the question was, what to do. Link had traveled everywhere during his journeys, and was sure he hadn't left a corner unturned. Dodongo has been killed, Morpha lay in pieces, and the Skulltullas were human once again.

Link's first thought was to visit Saria, as he never had a chance to really talk to her before the trouble began. Link decided that the quickest way would be up Zora's River through the warp to the lost woods. As he ran through the grassy plains of Hyrule field, he spotted butterflies and the occasional fairy. Although at nighttime, these creatures would be replaced with the Undead Stalchild. Once Kokiri children who left the forest, their souls would never be allowed to rest. As Link crossed the crystal clear river on his way to Zora's River, he could see several Octorocks resting on the bottom. Link was glad they were busy munching n some fish, rather than attacking him. As Link swam across the gap that separated Hyrule Field and Zora's River, Princess Ruto teasingly grabbed him by the leg. As Link tried to see what had grabbed him, Princess Ruto jumped out of the water, onto the bank.

"I'm so glad to see you Link!" exclaimed Ruto; "I haven't seen you since you got me out of that hideous Lord Jabu Jabu's belly!"

"Personally, I think he should go on a diet." was Links exasperated reply.

Link finished swimming across and shakily climbed onto the sandy bank next to Ruto.

"We have so much to catch up on! Did Zora's Sapphire help you out any?"

Link started to answer, but Ruto grabbed his arm and dragged Link into the water. Ruto managed to talk the long way up to Zora's Domain, but Link could only breath because of the Zora's Scale, if he hadn't had it, unknown to Ruto, Link would have drowned. As Ruto emerged in Zora's domain with Link, Link started to protest, but Ruto simply covered his mouth.

"Sshhhhh" she said, "You've had a long journey, and should rest."

Link removed her hand and told her he had plans and couldn't possibly stay and chat, but Ruto wouldn't let him go. She was really strong for a Zora Link thought. As Link looked around in Zora's Domain, he realized it seemed bigger than it had before when he had gone to help Lord Jabu Jabu and Ruto. Every footstep they took echoed in the great dome. Occasionally a Zora would stick his or her head out of the water to welcome Princess Ruto back, but other than that, the water palace seems empty. When Ruto and Link finally reached an area where rocky flooring met cool water, Ruto pulled Link in. Ruto swam over rocks and across caverns. Many times Link was scratched and bruised from banging into a tight corner or Rock. Just when Link thought he could take no more, Princess Ruto emerged from the water in a small dome-like area. There was one door made of only seaweed, but the seaweed was tightly bound as to form a secure door. Ruto pushed Link through the open doorway and shut the door behind her. She knew he would rather be else where, but she loved him and he accepted the Zora's Sapphire, otherwise know as the Zora's Engagement ring, so she was determined to make Link love her back. Ruto was not the kind of girl to have a broken heart. Link stayed and talked with Ruto for hours on end, and Link was starting to understand Ruto's standpoint. Ever so often one of the Zorian guards would bring in raw fish and drink for the pair. While Link was talking with Ruto, a room was also being prepared for him. Little did Link know, he would be staying a long time. Later that night, Link was shown to his room and the door locked behind him. Link tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge. Fortunately, seaweed was easy to slice through, and when Link was sure all the Zoras were asleep, he drew his sword and started to hack away at the door. Link knew this would make some noise, but most of the Zoras were situated underwater and wouldn't hear it. As the door finally broke into several limp strands of green seaweed, Ruto fell into the room. She had been sleeping against the door to make sure her love wouldn't escape. As Ruto groggily stood up, Link made sure she was ok, and started to run. Ruto gained back her senses just in time to see Link splash into the water. Ruto ran and swam after him, and jumped onto his back just as he emerged on the rocky ledge. Link tried to shake Ruto as he ran, but Ruto wouldn't move and was refusing to let him go. Link couldn't hurt Ruto because she was a girl, and a princess, which could be disastrous, and even deadly for him.

"Why won't you let GO!" Link questioned as he ran.

"Because I LOVE YOU LINK!" was Ruto's straight out reply.

"If you love me so much, why won't you respect my wishes and let me go? I'm not a Zora and could never live like one, Ruto"

"I'm sure you could if you tried, Link"

Link ran straight out of Zora's Domain. Ruto tightened her grip on Links neck, not so much as to choke him, but as to hang on. A hundred or more guards, who thought he was kidnapping Princess Ruto, chased Link as he ran from Zora's Domain.

Link jumped in the ancient warp to the lost woods and was instantly transported to the beautiful and mystical lost woods. Link hopped out of the lost woods pond and started to run. Ruto had been knocked off during the transport, but was in close pursuit. Just as Link ran through one of the old, rotting, and even mystical Log tunnels, hoping to lose Ruto in the lost woods, he ran into an old lady carrying many potions. Powder and Liquids spilled all over the ground, and onto Link. Link had no idea what the Potions were, but he knew something strange was happening, and suddenly he realized Ruto had managed to catch up to him. As Ruto stared deeply in his eyes, questioning if he was ok, Link realized he was falling in love with her. Link stared at the smooth curves of her fins, At how the water ran through the smalls crevasses of her fins and dropped off the end, at how her crystal blur eyes glistened in the early light of the sun. Link still had consciousness, and knew something was going on, but something was affecting his mind. Link knew he could not possibly love a fish, and yet, here he was, falling head over heals for this fish woman. Link gave no resistance as Ruto pulled him back towards the warp, back towards Zora's Domain. Saria watched from above in an ancient tree at what happened. She didn't see the old woman, but she knew something had happened to Link. She saw how Link was running, running like a fox would from a hound one moment. Running from what she thought was the hideous Princess Ruto, then in the next moment, following her like a puppy does it's master. Saria was worried for Link and, as she turned around, a piece of the rotting trunk broke off under her foot causing her to fall from the towering tree. Fortunately for Saria, she landed on a cluster of Deku Scrubs, but her ankle was twisted, and she could not run after Ruto or Link.

Back at Zora's Domain, and Ruto's home, the doors to link's room had been replaced. Link was following Ruto, doing everything she asked. The first thing Ruto had done was to get Link a fitting Zora Tunic, since the one from his journeys was adult size, and wouldn't fit him properly. Link was measured from head to toe, and after a few days, the outfit was ready. Although the Zora's Scale, which was sewn into his outfit, did help Link to Dive, it wouldn't let him stay very far underwater for lengthy amounts of time. Link could now swim anywhere in Zora's Domain freely without the risk of drowning.

... Back at Kokiri village ...

Saria was nursing her foot back to health, and devising a plan to get Link back from the clutches of Princess Ruto ....