Really long, really sad, really really bad cliff hanger. I hope you like it as much as I liked typing it. Don't get mad at me. I'll try to put up the next chapter as soon as I can.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

They made their way from room to room, hoping to find some sign of Rutu. They had been searching for some time when Naomi finally spoke up.

"You don't suppose something got her, do you?"

"I don't think you have to worry, there's not much in here," he paused, "besides the octo that attacked you, that would be big enough to "get her". I'm sure she's just fine, she's probably trying to find us right now."

"Not big enough....." They had entered a new room now. The door snapping shut behind them. Naomi looked above them, something learned from past experience, and her eyes grew wide with shock.

"How about that?!" She pointed at the huge boss that occupied the entire center of the room. It swung slowly back and forth from the ceiling. It very closely resembled that of a jellyfish with jelly filled pouches that made up it's middle. You could see flashes of electrical bursts rolling off it's many tentacles.

"Ok, I was wrong, maybe THAT'S big enough to get her."

"It's go time kids!" tinkled Navi. She flew face first right at the boss, hovering over the monster's weak spots, and cheering on her friends as they engaged in battle. The battle went on just like any other. But with this one they were forced to use a new item they had acquired earlier within the temple, the boomerang. Though the danger was not as high as they originally thought, the battle raged on for some time. There was an occasional electricity shock through the ground, which was no fun for either Link nor Naomi, thru the most part though, it was pretty easy.

With one final boomerang swish the beast was destroyed. It's body fell to the ground and slowly began to decay right before their eyes, and left behind two new heart pieces for their reward. Then, almost suddenly, a hole began to open in the center of the chamber. Rising from the hole, as if on an elevator was the princess Rutu. She had a slight blush on her face and looked a little on the pissed side. Her arms were crossed and she kept giving Link strange sideways glances.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! I've been worried sick. I was looking all over for you, and all of a sudden I see you fighting some huge monster!" she then ran forward and hugged Link, snuggling her face into his chest. "You could have been killed!" she mumbled.

Naomi took a step back. ""Whoa now! Oh no, she didn't!!!""

All poor Link could do was look down at Rutu and lightly pat her shoulder. The blush on his face was brighter than a flaming keese as he started to push her away. Rutu looked up into his face with tear filled eyes and she gave a sniff when she smiled at him.

Naomi, in the mean time had sunk into the shadows along with Navi. Her eyes seemed to glow in the dark as she glared at Rutu. Rutu tore her eyes from Link's long enough to see Naomi.

"Ack!!! Oh, oh, it's just you Naomi. What are you doing there in the shadows?" Rutu was a little uneasy when Naomi didn't answer and just stud there staring. Link turned to see what Rutu was talking about and watched as Naomi stepped forth thru the shadow smiling. But something was wrong.

"Come on guys, let's get out of here, I'm tired of this place." she said in a light happy tone. But Link couldn't be fooled, he knew that smile, and that tone. There was something wrong with Naomi, she was just trying to hide it.

"Uh, yeah.....Let's go." He eyed Naomi suspiciously as they left. Rutu ran up and grabbed his hand when they stepped into the light. Naomi made a little noise of disgust and the light carried them out of the temple.

The three of them walked to a long log that hung over one of the shallow pools and sat there, looking at the water. Link sat in the middle of the two girls and although they sat just inches away, Link felt like Naomi was miles away. He turned to comfort her but was suddenly pushed into the pool below by a giggling Rutu who jumped in shortly after. Link pushed his head above the water and brushed his bangs from his face. As soon as his field of vision was clear he could see Rutu swimming to him with a strange, almost lustful look on her face.

""Gah, ah, why, why is she looking at me like that? She just keeps getting closer and closer! Hey, where's Naomi going? She looks so sad... ""

Rutu finally made it to her destination, right in front of Link. She smiled and began to blush again.

"I ah, I wanted to give you this Link. I want you, and only you to have it!" Link shut his eyes and turned away, afraid of just what Rutu was going to give him. But was soon rewarded with a heavy stone placed into his hand. He looked down in surprise, he had gotten the spiritual stone of water! They didn't even have to ask the king for it!!! He looked up at Rutu questionly, why had she given him her most precious possession? She quickly looked down, a bright red blush across her face. She swirled her finger in the water as she spoke.

"This is a promise Link, you have to came back to see me......ok? I'll always wait for you, right here. This is OUR promise! Oh....and please don't tell my father about this....OK?!!"

Link didn't know what she meant, or what he should say, so he didn't say anything. Rutu and Link walked back into the Zora domain and Link waved goodbye to the King and Rutu.

""I wonder where Naomi went? She didn't look very happy....I wonder, was she? *gasp* No, no....I'm sure it's just my imagination. But, she did seem this upset when I was with Zelda......I'm so confused! I'd better go find her, tell her it's alright."

Link wondered around the city, hoping to find some sign of Naomi. He looked up and happened to notice that Navi went with her. *sigh* "Boy, maybe I did something. It's so hard to understand girls.....like what the heck was Rutu's deal? At first I didn't even think she liked me. *sigh* Oh well I guess."

Link noticed the Zora children he had seen earlier and asked them if they knew where Naomi had gone. One of them pointed to the large pool in the middle of the city and Link gave his thanks before heading there. He gazed over the side and sure enough, he saw Naomi sitting on a small boulder in the shallows of the pool. She had set her boots beside her while her feet dangled into the water. Link leaned on the rock wall beside him and watched her giggle every time a fish would nibble at her toes. A small smile slipped it's way to his face. He just stud there watching her play until she finally looked up to see him smiling at her. She giggled once more and put her boots on, apparently in a better mood.

"I've been looking all over for you Naomi. Are you alright?"

"Oh....yes, I'm fine really. You don't have to worry about me. I'm sorry I made you look at over."

Link could see that fake smile come to chase away her true one. He sighed and decided to wait and ask here what was wrong. He didn't think she wanted anyone to pry.

"What's that Link?" she pointed at the stone in his hand.

"Uh, this? Oh.....Well, the King was so happy to get his daughter back he gave me this." Link didn't feel like telling Naomi RUTU had given him the stone, he had a BIG feeling that Rutu was the stem of her problem.

"Really?! Do you know what this means Link?!! We can go back to the castle! We can give these to the princess!"

"Oh man!" Link slapped a hand on his forehead. "I completely forgot! We'd better hurry then, there's no telling what's been going on!"

Link and Naomi sprinted their way out of the city and got to a place where they could call their horses. Epona and Stormie came galloping to them at such a speed Naomi was certain they knew the importance of what was about to happen. Without a word they both mounted and rushed out into Hyrule field.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hurry my princess! Hurry!"

"One more second, I've almost got it!"

"No time my princess, no TIME!!!! The dark one approaches!"

"Ahh, ah ah, Ahah! I've got it!"

"Come quickly, you must leave and *gasp*!!!!"

A tall dark figure blocked the doorway. Through his silhouette all that could be seen was the gleam of his evil eyes. Slowly, a wide maleficent smile slid to his lips.

"Muwahahaha!!!! You're mine princess!"

Impa, who was always quick in these situations threw down a packet full of the dust her ancestors would use to aid in escape. A cloud of smoke filled the air. ""Heh, worked like a charm. You should know better Ganondorf when dealing with a Sheikah."" Impa grabbed the princess Zelda and made well their escape to the stables where her white mare lay in wait. They mounted and Impa leaned forward to whisper words of urgency to her friend.

"Faster that all the winds of Hyrule my friend. May the gods lighten your hooves. YA!!"

The mare reared to the air as Impa urged it forward. She didn't dare to look back when she heard a thud and footsteps fall behind her. Zelda clutched the Ocarina of Time to her tightly. She looked ahead, and prayed that Link and Naomi were not on their way there lest they be found by the dark one. She glanced backward for a second and her heart jumped. The dark one was catching up, quick!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Naomi and Link were galloping at break-neck speed towards the front gates when a terrifying sight met their eyes. They stopped their horses as fast as they could and watched as a white horse and it's riders gallop past. Link caught the horrified look on Zelda's face and knew what was about to come. Zelda saw them when they passed. ""They must get the triforce before HE does. They MUST!!"" With all her might she hurled the ocarina in their direction. Naomi watched as it flew through the air and land into the water surrounding Hyrule castle.

They both watched as the horse got smaller as it got further away. Naomi got off Stormie and Link followed suit. She slapped her stallion on the rump which sent him running back to the ranch. Epona quickly followed him. There were no words between them, they stud there until the sound of heavy hoof beats met their ears. Sure enough, a tall black Gerudo stallion came, slowing to a trot, and finally a stop before them.

Link and Naomi looked up at the man who was riding, their faces remaining emotionless.

"Hey, you children. Have you seen a white horse come through here?"

Silence.....

"Oh come now, they were just here. Which way did they go?"

.......................................

"Answer ME!!!!"

Link slowly unsheathed his sword and pulled his shield to his arm. His face went from emotionless to pissed. Ganon just looked at him blinked and began to laugh.

"What's so funny?" asked Naomi as she pulled her blades from her back. The sound of her voice caught Ganondorf's attention he looked at her and his laughter stopped. He stared at her for a few seconds and glared at them.

"So.....you're both serious. It takes guts to challenge me. I'll give you that. If more people were as brave as the both of you, maybe this place would be worthy to stay like it is. I tire of this trash..... But that is not a story for children like you. And you, young lady, blades such as that must be earned. Put those away before you hurt yourself."

Link and Naomi both took a step forward, as if to say that they would not allow Ganon to go any further.

"Ha! Fools! You're either brave or just stupid. But it would be a shame to kill you......" He then began to form a small orb of energy in the palm of his hand. When it was big enough to please him he smiled down at them.

"Night night!"

He released the energy and the blast threw Naomi and Link backwards. All they heard was his dieing laughter and the soft clop of horse hoves. Everything went black.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was about 5 minuets later when Naomi woke up. She crawled over to Link and poked him till he woke. He sat up, holding his head.

"You got a headache too? Come on Link, we've got to get that ocarina before he comes back."

"Err, right." He shook his head to clear the fuzzy feeling and was glad to feel it work. "Let's go!"

They ran to the mote and retrieved the precious ocarina of time.

"I think we need to go to the Temple in the town......Link? I have a really really bad feeling about....." she looked down at the ground.

"Don't worry Naomi, everything will be alright. Let's just, let's just try and hurry, ok?"

So the two of them rushed off to the temple, unaware of the dark shadow that followed them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Temple of Time

The temple was quite beautiful both outside and in. The while marble walls and delicacy crafted stain glass window made it almost sparkle. Towards the end of the room there was a giant seal with a large shrine sitting in front of it. Naomi and Link were standing in front the shrine which had three hollows in it and an inscription. Naomi leaned forward and read the inscription.

"Ye who owns three Spiritual Stones stand with the Ocarina of Time and play the Song of Time."

"Song of time? OH! That song!" Link and Naomi set the three stones in the hollows. First the Spiritual Stone of the Forest, then the Stone of Fire, and finally the Stone of Water. Then, they began to play. {right, A, down, right, A, down}

A glorious light appeared before them and the seal disappeared.

"This is it Link!!! We've actually done it!"

They slowly walked into the newly opened room. Link looked around him until his eyes finally rest on a pedestal in the center of the room. He walked forward, in awe at the mighty sword that lay within. He turned to look at Naomi. She smiled, a true genuine smile. "Take it Link, I think it will take us to the triforce. Go on!"

He turned back around and stared at the sword. He licked his lips, and swallow hard. Something was nagging at the back of his mind. He moved to the other side of the sword, so he could look at Naomi. Somehow, she gave him the strength he needed. He took a deep breath and placed his hands on the handle. He could feel it's power. Closing his eyes he gathered all his might and pulled the mighty sword from the stone. Suddenly, all around him there was a beautiful blue light. He felt such power about him. He smiled and looked up at Naomi but suddenly the smile feel from his lips. Ganon stud behind Naomi, his sword poised just above her head. Link tried to scream out her name, to tell her to move. He tried to run to her rescue, reach out to save her, but his voice was gone and his legs would not move. Ganon looked up at Link and smiled, evil, truly evil. Then with one smooth stroke he plunged the sword down. Link heard Naomi scream, the very noise tearing through his heart. Link tried to scream tried to cry out, tried to do SOMETHING! He couldn't bare to watch her fall to the floor.

He felt himself being lifted up. The last thing he heard were Ganondorf's words, "Humph, so you were only fools." The last thing he felt was pure and true pain shooting through him, she was GONE!!! The last thing he thought, Ganon would pay with his life! He would make sure he would suffer!!!

The world went black around him. All was dark, and Link didn't care.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I hope you liked it. Sorry for the cliff hanger. Sad huh? I thought so.

~Kohaku-sama~ -_-x