The Princess of the Zoras

Disclaimer: Oh please. Really. Haven't you figured it out yet?!

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--Ruto: 10 years, Link: 10 years & Inside Great Deku Tree--

"This is the way we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, brush our teeth. This is the way we brush our teeth and take care of Jabu-Jabu!" Ruto sings as she brushes Jabu-Jabu's teeth with a glorified toothbrush. Lately she has been "accidentally" getting swallowed by the guardian. She uses that time to clean his teeth. After she finishes rinsing off his teeth, she takes a quick look around. She has gotten to know that first area very well. Which is why she is worried when she sees how red it is.

{It's not supposed to be THAT bright...} she thinks. {Hope he isn't getting sick.} Ruto looks down at her necklace. Zora's Sapphire is still gleaming like the lake in the noon sun. Ruto walks to the very front of Jabu-Jabu's mouth.

"ALL CLEAN!" she says. Jabu-Jabu opens his mouth, letting the little zora out. She waves good-bye to him, but stops dead in her tracks. Noran is standing at the entrance to the shrine, and she looks pissed.

"Princess Ruto! We have all been searching for you!" Noran comes up. Ruto looks up at her favorite guard. "Don't tell me you do that a lot."

Ruto remains defiant. "Lolo said that we are supposed to brush our teeth after every meal." She says. Noran stares at her a moment, until she finally notices the giant toothbrush in Ruto's hand.

"I see." She says. She kneels down in front of Ruto, looking at her with a smile. "I won't tell if you don't want me to." Ruto smiles back, and nods.

"Thanks. Dad would go berserk." She says. Noran shakes her head smiling. Then the two of them go back inside. But before they can get up to King Zora's throne, Noran grabs Ruto and presses her against the wall. Ruto starts to protest, but Noran puts a hand over her mouth and motions for her to be quiet.

"This is the last time I will ask you." An unfamiliar male voice says. "Where is the Zora's Sapphire!"

"The Sacred Stone is not for the likes of you. The Golden Goddesses decreed that the Zoran people are to protect the Sapphire, and so we shall." King Zora says in a firm and stern tone. Ruto can't see his face, but she knows when her father is mad.

"You stupid Zora! Fine! Then you can watch your guardian destroyed!" the other man says. Noran and Ruto hear what sounds like a group of people walking back down the stairs. Motioning for Ruto to stay put, Noran carefully goes up to King Zora.

"Your Majesty?" Noran asks. King Zora looks at her. He is visibly trying to calm down.

"Noran, where is Ruto?" the King demands. Checking to see if those other people are around, Noran points to the tunnel behind the king. Then, at the king's nod, she signals for Ruto to come out. Ruto comes out and stands next to her father.

"Daddy? What was all that?" she asks.

"I wish I knew." King Zora replies. "The Greudo King just walked up and demanded the Sapphire." He looks directly at Ruto. "Be very careful, understand?" Ruto nods.

"May I go to the Water Temple?" Ruto asks. King Zora seems to think a moment, then nods.

"Noran, escort her please." He says. Noran bows, and she and Ruto head for the warp.

--At Lake Hylia--

"What's a Gerudo?" Ruto asks Noran when they reach the lake.

"The Gerudo are a race of thieves that live in the desert." She says. "Didn't someone tell you about them before?"

"Don't remember." Ruto dives down to the entrance of the Water Temple with Noran right behind her. They enter and head for the back chamber. The priestesses don't even look up at them as they come in. There is a special place that was set up just for Ruto in one of the corners. She goes right to it. Noran stays a bit away from her out of respect.

Ruto blanks out everything. All she can see is the special flute that she insisted needed to be here. It was her mother's, and she finds that it soothes her and helps her prayers.

{Mamma, I know you are far away, please... I'm scared.} Ruto prays in her mind. {This person showed up. They were really mean to daddy. He's going to hurt Jabu-Jabu, I know it! How can I protect him!?} Somewhere in the background, she hears a familiar sound. It takes her a moment to recognize it as the Serenade of Water, the first song Noran taught her to play. She looks up from her prayers. The other priestesses are looking around. Noran is staring at the door as if an enemy is coming. No one can figure out where the music is coming from. On a wall next to Ruto, something starts to happen.

"Huh?" Ruto stares at the wall as words begin to appear in Zoran Script.

My child, you are doing fine. Have no fear.
Help is on its way. Protect the Sapphire, like you always
have. Be patient, and strong. You will come through fine.
You are my daughter, and I love you.

"Mamma..." Ruto stares at the wall. The priestesses have crowded around her and are hushed. The music fades away, and so do the words.

"By the Triforce..." one of the priestesses says. Ruto is too busy holding back tears.

"What did she mean, 'help is on its way'?" Noran asks.

"The Hero of Time must be awakened!" another priestess shouts.

"That may not be a good thing." A third says. "A time of great hardship is coming for all of us." Ruto looks up at them.

"MAMMA SAYS TO BE STRONG!" she shouts. "SO NO BAD WORDS!" The priestesses instantly shut up. Noran steps up to Ruto.

"We should get back. Your father will worry." She says. Ruto nods, and they both head back to Zora's Domain.