Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda. Nintendo does. Your surprised?
Author's Note: Thanks for your reviews. I am going to do my best on keeping an anatomy on fish but I'm not very good on that. Just keep in mind that Jabu-Jabu is so infected that his body is drying up. So basically Ruto and Link can move around with less trouble. Also due to the several e-mails I've gotten requesting I tone down on the staffs I will be doing that now quit bugging me unless it is a normal review. But seriously do you think it is a bad thing to have some elemental magic in this?
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Ocarina of Time: Rebirth
Chapter Twenty-Two: The Beast in the Belly
Zora's Fountain by now was filled with several of the Zorian officials as Jabu-Jabu seemed to grow worse. The priest continued to preach on how the Hylians were behind this and that they must be stopped. Ronto sat in the corner his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed "Listening to this idiot makes that shrimp Mido seem intelligent." he said. He looked at the sky, when midnight came he was going in, whatever was threatening Jabu-Jabu had to be stopped and as a Zora and a guardian it was his duty to do so, even if life had to be lost over it. Jabu-Jabu had to survive.
Meanwhile inside, Link and Ruto having agreed to work together passed into the next chamber, they found themselves in what appeared to be a smaller stomach or something. Several of the Bari were already in the room and there was what looked like blood and water mixed in a pool. Link asked where the acids were "This is the second stomach, where liquids and smaller food items travel. Something must be interfering with Jabu-Jabu's spinal column. You see his stomachs have stopped producing acid and he has been swallowing water to try and help himself. But he is too weak to continue." she looked right at him "We must stop the problem if he is going to live!" Link nodded.
Link turned his attention to the approaching Bari, he unsheathed his staff extending it to it normal length of six feet and went into stance "Step back princess." he instructed as they flew at them. Link side stepped and ran one through with the spearhead of the staff killing it instantly. Before Link could celebrate another one knocked him down from behind, he quickly recovered and smashed another upside it's large head. Ruto dropped the flare as it burned out, Link didn't have many left "Man this really isn't going well." Ruto smiled.
She placed a hand on the orb that decorated her necklace "Don't give up so quickly. Your lucky that I have a thing for bright and shiny things." she said this running her other hand over it and it burst into a glow filling the entire chamber with a brilliant blue. Link was amazed "Very cool." he said. She looked at his staff "Strange, that seems to be the same kind of stone in the head of your weapon. Guess it's more of a weapon than a tool." Link nodded. Suddenly there was a fleshy noise from the organ as they crossed to the other side.
The organ began to move again and it seemed to be producing acid. "We have to get out." Ruto shouted grabbing Link by the wrist and pulling him through the next artery wall. They were now in a chamber that would lead back up to the first stomach, Ruto explained "This area has been badly eaten away at. We can make it back to the top if we can reach that." she pointed to what appeared to be a some sort of elevator platform. It was a dried up piece of mussel that must have been used for some sort of respiratory purpose.
Link looked down from where they stood to see some very deep water, there was also a small ledge that would lead back to where they stood. He looked at Ruto as he formulated a plan "You'll forgive me if I do this wrong won't you." before Ruto could ask what Link ment, he had grabbed her at the waist and was thrown to the platform. With the added power of the Goron Bracelet it was pretty easy to do so. Ruto landed on the platform just fine but wasn't happy either way. She stood to her feet and glared at him "Are you insane?! I could have you executed for that, you know!" she screamed.
Link looked back at her crossing his arms "Well I would have liked to see you jump that on your own princess." he said confident of himself looking at the large gap between them. Ruto growled and crossed her own finned arms "Point taken. But still I doubt I would have needed your help. Now how do you get across bright one?" she said. Link was honestly stumped as he saw this problem. Link looked at the distance then at the platform it moved constantly, so he couldn't try to pole-vault with the staff. He looked at the Goron Bracelet and concentrated as he stepped back all the way to the door.
Ruto watched as the platform lowered again "What is he doing?" she asked herself. Suddenly Link took off in a sprint and jumped as hard as he could. Ruto gasped as Link sailed over the gap and grabbed the edge with his left hand. Ruto was fast to grab his other and help him to his feet onto the platform where he fell on his chest breathing heavily. She nodded to him "That was really stupid!" she breathed. Link sat up "Heh thanks." he said removing his backpack he did a quick check finding everything was still there. The platform started up.
The platform soon reached the throat of Jabu-Jabu where Link had encountered the first Bari. Ruto held the flares now along with the Hero Slingshot, he necklace was more effective than the flare but one never knew. Link really didn't want her to get hurt and she insisted she could use it effectively. Masters held the Energy Staff of the Triad in his hands the spearhead ready at a moments notice, he also kept his boomerang at his side as well. The platform stopped and the two of them stepped off. Ruto however tripped on the way down and ended up pinning Link to the 'floor'.
Link looked up at her indigo eyes as there was a single still moment. Ruto's heart raced as several thoughts went through her mind as she starred down at him. Ruto slowly placed her hands on his chest and pushed herself to her feet. She helped Link up trying to hide the dark red hue on her face "Lets keep going shall we?" Link nodded as they headed back to the first stomach where they met at the beginning. "This is really beginning to piss me off." Ruto said as she saw several of the Bari floating around in a small group.
Link brought up the staff and smiled as he suddenly got an idea "Lets just see how cruel winter can be." he said as the gem at the head of the staff glowed white showing ice. He fed the staff his own energy and struck. A blast of freezing energy left the staff and struck the Bari freezing them solid. Before Link could even take a step into rushing in several of them exploded, he looked to see Ruto with the slingshot. She was easily better than he was with it "Maybe she isn't such a helpless girl after all." he thought to himself. Ruto walked over kicking lightly at a piece of the frozen monster as it slowly evaporated in to evil flames.
Ruto jumped back as she saw this "Whoa! Holy shit! What was that?!" she gasped. Link looked to her "Flames of evil magic. These things are not here by mistake. This shows that they were summoned up from an outside source." Ruto nodded "Hey! Thats right. Bari are supposed to only be little bacteria organisms. Normally they don't get any larger than your head. These are huge." Ruto growled softly as she trembled with anger. "Gannondorf! He was here! Damn him!" she shouted. Link nodded to her "Calm down Princess. We should continue on." Ruto nodded but looked at Link "Mark my words Sir Link, he will pay." she threatened before moving on.
Upon moving through the dried up stomach they found a fork in the road so to speak. Link counted as Ruto spoke up "There are three separations here. Two of these chambers should hold the acid glands. The central chamber heads back to the intestines." Link looked at the left and center as those red parasite tentacles were blocking the way "Only one way to go." he said taking Ruto by the hand, they moved into the rightmost chamber. Ruto gasped as the floor was lightly covered in blood, above them was a parasitic tentacle. It was completely idle, part of a source. It was helpless.
Link looked at it and drew his boomerang and brought it back the magical blade appearing on the edges of it "This think has the go." he said hurling it at the tentacle. There was a flesh ripping sound as the tentacle fell to the ground and seemed to screech. Link moved swiftly as it pushed itself trying to attack. Link quickly moved drawing his sword and struck the tentacle down its side dropping it. Ruto then took out her knife and stabbed it several times until it died.
It slowly dried up until it turned into nothing more than dust, looking up they noticed that whatever was left of it also shriveled up and also died. Ruto picked up Link's boomerang and handed it to him "Handy with this aren't you?" he nodded taking it. Ruto looked as he kept his sword out "Why don't you use that staff all the time." Link spoke "It only channels magical energy princess, and each time I use it's powers it chews away at my magic reserves so to speak." Ruto understood perfectly. She smiled "Oh so it is basically an extension to use magic, you can't use magic yourself." Link nodded to her.
Ruto didn't think much of it as he sheathed his blade and they walked out of the chamber. Upon walking back into the 'hallway' they found that the tendril blocking the left passage was now gone. Ruto nodded as they entered only to find something more. The chamber was filled with water and several small monsters called stingers were in the way. Ruto thought for a second and suddenly took the staff from Link's back. "Hey!" Link half shouted, Ruto looked at him as she looked at the staff "This thing know water yet?" Link nodded a little taken by Ruto's sudden seriousness.
She concentrated on the water in the chamber and the glow around the gem on the staff became a deep blue showing water element. Ruto concentrated and then swung the staff up, the water suddenly exploded up forcing all of the stingers up as well. Ruto concentrated more and the glow turned white, she swung it again and the water completely froze over all of the stingers were killed by this. Link gawked in amazement at Ruto's skill with the weapon "I'm a Zora Link. I studied water and ice elemental magic for a brief time but I can only manipulate it not create it." she handed the staff back.
Link smiled as the gem turned clear green again showing that is was at it's idle status. "Impressive either way princess." he said as he hurled the boomerang cutting down the parasitic tentacle that rushed Link. He however was ready as the gem glowed again turning a silverish white color, lightning suddenly crackled around the staff. He held it out and the tendril was fried. Link then stepped to the side drawing his sword and swinging it, the parasite was decapitated at the end and it slowly died. Ruto huffed a puffed weak from using the staff "Maybe I'll teach you someday." Link smiled and they ventured out of the chamber.
They both left and found the central chamber now open to them, Link looked at Ruto "We must hurry." they both then rushed in and found what appeared to be the master parasite. It was latched to the 'ceiling' of the chamber and had a pair of shriveled stubs on its sides. Another tendril hung from it not doing anything, Ruto shook her head "This can't be the main problem." Link drew his boomerang "It's got to go either way." he said getting ready. Suddenly the parasite drew back it's tendril and struck Link sending him to the opposite end of the room.
Ruto raced over to him embracing him hard, he was shocked "Ruto. It's alright. I'm fine." she slowly let go placing a hand on her heart, what was wrong with her. Before Link could speak the tendril flew at them, Link quickly moved to the side and jumped spinning once. There was a suddenly sound of metal and a flash of reflection from the light of Ruto's pendent. The tendril was sliced and half fell to the floor, Link then jumped up high using the power granted by the Goron Bracelet and drove the sacred Kokiri blade hard into the monster's base.
It roared savagely as it shriveled up and fell to the floor, Link jumped lightly for joy before sheathing the blade. The parasite slowly was sucked into the hole that would lead to the intestines "Jabu-Jabu is beginning to give up. He is loosening." Ruto shouted. Suddenly there was the sound of rushing water just as the massive fish shifted, he was swallowing again. Link froze up in fear "No. NO! Don't do this to us!!" the artery wall opened and a massive torrent of water rushed in. They were both taken off their feet in a whirlpool and swept down the hole. Darkness followed.....
Meanwhile outside Jabu-Jabu the large deity fish was on it's side in pain, its heart beat was begining to fail him. The priest was outraged as he spoke out anti-Hylian to the crowds announcing that they were all terrorist and wanted to see them die. Ronto and his men looked at the water deity and sighed as his mouth was open and in pain "We're going in. Remember we are searching for the princess, kill anything that gets in your way. We are also looking for a parasite. It is causing Jabu-Jabu this pain." the Priest looked at him "What about that boy! He is the terrorist!"
Ronto glared at him "Will you shut the hell up! If anybody is behind this it is than Gerudo wretch Gannondorf! He illegally entered the fountain first and Jabu-Jabu hasn't been the same since." the priest looked at Ronto "How dare you! He is trying to make peace with the lands and your entering our Guardian! How do we know that you aren't guilty as well." Ronto looked at him shouted "What?!" the soldiers began speaking among one another. One of them raised their sword at him "Sir. I have no choice but to relieve you of your command." Ronto growled.
The Priest laughed at Ronto as he was shocked "What kind of shit are you pulling here?!" he snarled. The Priest spoke again "There will be no entering our guardian Captain. And if you disagree you must be punished. Take him away." Ronto narrowed his eyes "Mark my words you will all pay." he said. He then backflipped behind the guard taking his sword and dove through the mouth running down the throat. The Priest watched as Jabu-Jabu closed his mouth. Do not follow... a voice said. Jabu-Jabu was speaking in telepathy to all of them You will only doom yourselves... he then fainted.
King Zora soon got this information and shouted in a rage "I want my daughter back now! And what about Jabu-Jabu why can't our troops enter?!" the doctor stepped back shocked at the normal gentle ruler's behavior. "Your majesty you must understand. If. No, when Jabu Jabu dies every artery will close and they will be trapped. We estimate he was be gone in a few hours. There is nothing we can do but hope either the princess, the boy or the captain can somehow end this threat. King Zora sighed as he went silent.
Back in the now flooded intestines of Jabu-Jabu, Princess Ruto pulled Link up on to the platform as they passed through the intestines. He had fallen unconscious on the way down and had apparently swallowed alot of water. Ruto shook him hard shaking the water from his hair "Link? Link wake up." she pleaded. She placed a finned ear to his chest and gasped in horror. His heartbeat was slowing down and he wasn't breathing. Ruto looked at him as he slowly slipped away. "Link please! Don't leave me! I'm sorry I yelled at you! Please! I need you! I don't care about the stone, I just want to go home! Please Link. Wake up and take me home." she said tears rolling down her face.
Link didn't respond. Ruto breathed as she gathered up what she knew about general life saving. She took his head softly getting on her knees and taking a breath swiftly pressed her lips to his. She breathed into him filling his lungs. She pulled back shoving her palms into his chest causing him to breath out. Water leak from the sides of his mouth as his lungs were pumped. She breathed into him again until Link was unconsciously breathing on his own.
She noticed in mid breath and was in releaf. She looked at him not knowing why and pressed her lips to his again, this time in the form of a kiss. She held it for a few seconds before pulling back, she blushed furiously not knowing why she did that at all. She smiled "It's a crush, so what." she said to herself taking his head and cradling his head in her lap. She rocked his head softly as she ran her hand through his hair. She leaned up against the mussel wall and continued to tend to him.
Ronto meanwhile ventured into the stomach area and found that now several passages were blocked "Hell." he walked to one of the holes. He held the same gem that was on Ruto's necklace in his hands and noticed the glow from one of the holes. "RUTO!!" he called. Ruto however couldn't hear him over the rushing water "IF YOU CAN HEAR ME STAY WHERE YOU ARE!!" he shouted and moved.
After an hour later Ruto had stopped watching Link and was now just thinking knowing he would awaken. His staff rested next to her as she continued to stroke his hair, she smiled wishing sometimes that Zora's had hair, but then it would only get ruined in the water constantly. Link slowly moved and opened his eyes to look at Ruto outlined in the blue light of her gem, he felt her hand move through her hair and tasted her lips on his. She had saved his life. "Ruto..." he spoke.
She looked down suddenly and was overwhelmed with joy "Link!!" she shouted aloud embracing him. Link hugged back trying to comfort her "Thank you." he said softly. Ruto turned hiding her blush "It was nothing." she helped him up. He was tired suddenly he noticed another light from behind the nearest artery wall. Ruto looked at what he saw "That wasn't there before." Link did the math. The zora's racial color was blue, and there was a blue glow. "Thats the spiritual stone." Ruto moved. Link looked up "Ruto wait! Man I give up. That girl can be such a pain." he followed.
Next Chapter: Heart of the Beast
Link and Ruto finally get a hold of the Zora's Sapphire and find out what is causing the trouble. Ruto is taken captive as Ronto joined Link. Defeat another monster and save the water lord Jabu-Jabu. That is the goal.
Author's Note: Thanks for your reviews. I am going to do my best on keeping an anatomy on fish but I'm not very good on that. Just keep in mind that Jabu-Jabu is so infected that his body is drying up. So basically Ruto and Link can move around with less trouble. Also due to the several e-mails I've gotten requesting I tone down on the staffs I will be doing that now quit bugging me unless it is a normal review. But seriously do you think it is a bad thing to have some elemental magic in this?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ocarina of Time: Rebirth
Chapter Twenty-Two: The Beast in the Belly
Zora's Fountain by now was filled with several of the Zorian officials as Jabu-Jabu seemed to grow worse. The priest continued to preach on how the Hylians were behind this and that they must be stopped. Ronto sat in the corner his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed "Listening to this idiot makes that shrimp Mido seem intelligent." he said. He looked at the sky, when midnight came he was going in, whatever was threatening Jabu-Jabu had to be stopped and as a Zora and a guardian it was his duty to do so, even if life had to be lost over it. Jabu-Jabu had to survive.
Meanwhile inside, Link and Ruto having agreed to work together passed into the next chamber, they found themselves in what appeared to be a smaller stomach or something. Several of the Bari were already in the room and there was what looked like blood and water mixed in a pool. Link asked where the acids were "This is the second stomach, where liquids and smaller food items travel. Something must be interfering with Jabu-Jabu's spinal column. You see his stomachs have stopped producing acid and he has been swallowing water to try and help himself. But he is too weak to continue." she looked right at him "We must stop the problem if he is going to live!" Link nodded.
Link turned his attention to the approaching Bari, he unsheathed his staff extending it to it normal length of six feet and went into stance "Step back princess." he instructed as they flew at them. Link side stepped and ran one through with the spearhead of the staff killing it instantly. Before Link could celebrate another one knocked him down from behind, he quickly recovered and smashed another upside it's large head. Ruto dropped the flare as it burned out, Link didn't have many left "Man this really isn't going well." Ruto smiled.
She placed a hand on the orb that decorated her necklace "Don't give up so quickly. Your lucky that I have a thing for bright and shiny things." she said this running her other hand over it and it burst into a glow filling the entire chamber with a brilliant blue. Link was amazed "Very cool." he said. She looked at his staff "Strange, that seems to be the same kind of stone in the head of your weapon. Guess it's more of a weapon than a tool." Link nodded. Suddenly there was a fleshy noise from the organ as they crossed to the other side.
The organ began to move again and it seemed to be producing acid. "We have to get out." Ruto shouted grabbing Link by the wrist and pulling him through the next artery wall. They were now in a chamber that would lead back up to the first stomach, Ruto explained "This area has been badly eaten away at. We can make it back to the top if we can reach that." she pointed to what appeared to be a some sort of elevator platform. It was a dried up piece of mussel that must have been used for some sort of respiratory purpose.
Link looked down from where they stood to see some very deep water, there was also a small ledge that would lead back to where they stood. He looked at Ruto as he formulated a plan "You'll forgive me if I do this wrong won't you." before Ruto could ask what Link ment, he had grabbed her at the waist and was thrown to the platform. With the added power of the Goron Bracelet it was pretty easy to do so. Ruto landed on the platform just fine but wasn't happy either way. She stood to her feet and glared at him "Are you insane?! I could have you executed for that, you know!" she screamed.
Link looked back at her crossing his arms "Well I would have liked to see you jump that on your own princess." he said confident of himself looking at the large gap between them. Ruto growled and crossed her own finned arms "Point taken. But still I doubt I would have needed your help. Now how do you get across bright one?" she said. Link was honestly stumped as he saw this problem. Link looked at the distance then at the platform it moved constantly, so he couldn't try to pole-vault with the staff. He looked at the Goron Bracelet and concentrated as he stepped back all the way to the door.
Ruto watched as the platform lowered again "What is he doing?" she asked herself. Suddenly Link took off in a sprint and jumped as hard as he could. Ruto gasped as Link sailed over the gap and grabbed the edge with his left hand. Ruto was fast to grab his other and help him to his feet onto the platform where he fell on his chest breathing heavily. She nodded to him "That was really stupid!" she breathed. Link sat up "Heh thanks." he said removing his backpack he did a quick check finding everything was still there. The platform started up.
The platform soon reached the throat of Jabu-Jabu where Link had encountered the first Bari. Ruto held the flares now along with the Hero Slingshot, he necklace was more effective than the flare but one never knew. Link really didn't want her to get hurt and she insisted she could use it effectively. Masters held the Energy Staff of the Triad in his hands the spearhead ready at a moments notice, he also kept his boomerang at his side as well. The platform stopped and the two of them stepped off. Ruto however tripped on the way down and ended up pinning Link to the 'floor'.
Link looked up at her indigo eyes as there was a single still moment. Ruto's heart raced as several thoughts went through her mind as she starred down at him. Ruto slowly placed her hands on his chest and pushed herself to her feet. She helped Link up trying to hide the dark red hue on her face "Lets keep going shall we?" Link nodded as they headed back to the first stomach where they met at the beginning. "This is really beginning to piss me off." Ruto said as she saw several of the Bari floating around in a small group.
Link brought up the staff and smiled as he suddenly got an idea "Lets just see how cruel winter can be." he said as the gem at the head of the staff glowed white showing ice. He fed the staff his own energy and struck. A blast of freezing energy left the staff and struck the Bari freezing them solid. Before Link could even take a step into rushing in several of them exploded, he looked to see Ruto with the slingshot. She was easily better than he was with it "Maybe she isn't such a helpless girl after all." he thought to himself. Ruto walked over kicking lightly at a piece of the frozen monster as it slowly evaporated in to evil flames.
Ruto jumped back as she saw this "Whoa! Holy shit! What was that?!" she gasped. Link looked to her "Flames of evil magic. These things are not here by mistake. This shows that they were summoned up from an outside source." Ruto nodded "Hey! Thats right. Bari are supposed to only be little bacteria organisms. Normally they don't get any larger than your head. These are huge." Ruto growled softly as she trembled with anger. "Gannondorf! He was here! Damn him!" she shouted. Link nodded to her "Calm down Princess. We should continue on." Ruto nodded but looked at Link "Mark my words Sir Link, he will pay." she threatened before moving on.
Upon moving through the dried up stomach they found a fork in the road so to speak. Link counted as Ruto spoke up "There are three separations here. Two of these chambers should hold the acid glands. The central chamber heads back to the intestines." Link looked at the left and center as those red parasite tentacles were blocking the way "Only one way to go." he said taking Ruto by the hand, they moved into the rightmost chamber. Ruto gasped as the floor was lightly covered in blood, above them was a parasitic tentacle. It was completely idle, part of a source. It was helpless.
Link looked at it and drew his boomerang and brought it back the magical blade appearing on the edges of it "This think has the go." he said hurling it at the tentacle. There was a flesh ripping sound as the tentacle fell to the ground and seemed to screech. Link moved swiftly as it pushed itself trying to attack. Link quickly moved drawing his sword and struck the tentacle down its side dropping it. Ruto then took out her knife and stabbed it several times until it died.
It slowly dried up until it turned into nothing more than dust, looking up they noticed that whatever was left of it also shriveled up and also died. Ruto picked up Link's boomerang and handed it to him "Handy with this aren't you?" he nodded taking it. Ruto looked as he kept his sword out "Why don't you use that staff all the time." Link spoke "It only channels magical energy princess, and each time I use it's powers it chews away at my magic reserves so to speak." Ruto understood perfectly. She smiled "Oh so it is basically an extension to use magic, you can't use magic yourself." Link nodded to her.
Ruto didn't think much of it as he sheathed his blade and they walked out of the chamber. Upon walking back into the 'hallway' they found that the tendril blocking the left passage was now gone. Ruto nodded as they entered only to find something more. The chamber was filled with water and several small monsters called stingers were in the way. Ruto thought for a second and suddenly took the staff from Link's back. "Hey!" Link half shouted, Ruto looked at him as she looked at the staff "This thing know water yet?" Link nodded a little taken by Ruto's sudden seriousness.
She concentrated on the water in the chamber and the glow around the gem on the staff became a deep blue showing water element. Ruto concentrated and then swung the staff up, the water suddenly exploded up forcing all of the stingers up as well. Ruto concentrated more and the glow turned white, she swung it again and the water completely froze over all of the stingers were killed by this. Link gawked in amazement at Ruto's skill with the weapon "I'm a Zora Link. I studied water and ice elemental magic for a brief time but I can only manipulate it not create it." she handed the staff back.
Link smiled as the gem turned clear green again showing that is was at it's idle status. "Impressive either way princess." he said as he hurled the boomerang cutting down the parasitic tentacle that rushed Link. He however was ready as the gem glowed again turning a silverish white color, lightning suddenly crackled around the staff. He held it out and the tendril was fried. Link then stepped to the side drawing his sword and swinging it, the parasite was decapitated at the end and it slowly died. Ruto huffed a puffed weak from using the staff "Maybe I'll teach you someday." Link smiled and they ventured out of the chamber.
They both left and found the central chamber now open to them, Link looked at Ruto "We must hurry." they both then rushed in and found what appeared to be the master parasite. It was latched to the 'ceiling' of the chamber and had a pair of shriveled stubs on its sides. Another tendril hung from it not doing anything, Ruto shook her head "This can't be the main problem." Link drew his boomerang "It's got to go either way." he said getting ready. Suddenly the parasite drew back it's tendril and struck Link sending him to the opposite end of the room.
Ruto raced over to him embracing him hard, he was shocked "Ruto. It's alright. I'm fine." she slowly let go placing a hand on her heart, what was wrong with her. Before Link could speak the tendril flew at them, Link quickly moved to the side and jumped spinning once. There was a suddenly sound of metal and a flash of reflection from the light of Ruto's pendent. The tendril was sliced and half fell to the floor, Link then jumped up high using the power granted by the Goron Bracelet and drove the sacred Kokiri blade hard into the monster's base.
It roared savagely as it shriveled up and fell to the floor, Link jumped lightly for joy before sheathing the blade. The parasite slowly was sucked into the hole that would lead to the intestines "Jabu-Jabu is beginning to give up. He is loosening." Ruto shouted. Suddenly there was the sound of rushing water just as the massive fish shifted, he was swallowing again. Link froze up in fear "No. NO! Don't do this to us!!" the artery wall opened and a massive torrent of water rushed in. They were both taken off their feet in a whirlpool and swept down the hole. Darkness followed.....
Meanwhile outside Jabu-Jabu the large deity fish was on it's side in pain, its heart beat was begining to fail him. The priest was outraged as he spoke out anti-Hylian to the crowds announcing that they were all terrorist and wanted to see them die. Ronto and his men looked at the water deity and sighed as his mouth was open and in pain "We're going in. Remember we are searching for the princess, kill anything that gets in your way. We are also looking for a parasite. It is causing Jabu-Jabu this pain." the Priest looked at him "What about that boy! He is the terrorist!"
Ronto glared at him "Will you shut the hell up! If anybody is behind this it is than Gerudo wretch Gannondorf! He illegally entered the fountain first and Jabu-Jabu hasn't been the same since." the priest looked at Ronto "How dare you! He is trying to make peace with the lands and your entering our Guardian! How do we know that you aren't guilty as well." Ronto looked at him shouted "What?!" the soldiers began speaking among one another. One of them raised their sword at him "Sir. I have no choice but to relieve you of your command." Ronto growled.
The Priest laughed at Ronto as he was shocked "What kind of shit are you pulling here?!" he snarled. The Priest spoke again "There will be no entering our guardian Captain. And if you disagree you must be punished. Take him away." Ronto narrowed his eyes "Mark my words you will all pay." he said. He then backflipped behind the guard taking his sword and dove through the mouth running down the throat. The Priest watched as Jabu-Jabu closed his mouth. Do not follow... a voice said. Jabu-Jabu was speaking in telepathy to all of them You will only doom yourselves... he then fainted.
King Zora soon got this information and shouted in a rage "I want my daughter back now! And what about Jabu-Jabu why can't our troops enter?!" the doctor stepped back shocked at the normal gentle ruler's behavior. "Your majesty you must understand. If. No, when Jabu Jabu dies every artery will close and they will be trapped. We estimate he was be gone in a few hours. There is nothing we can do but hope either the princess, the boy or the captain can somehow end this threat. King Zora sighed as he went silent.
Back in the now flooded intestines of Jabu-Jabu, Princess Ruto pulled Link up on to the platform as they passed through the intestines. He had fallen unconscious on the way down and had apparently swallowed alot of water. Ruto shook him hard shaking the water from his hair "Link? Link wake up." she pleaded. She placed a finned ear to his chest and gasped in horror. His heartbeat was slowing down and he wasn't breathing. Ruto looked at him as he slowly slipped away. "Link please! Don't leave me! I'm sorry I yelled at you! Please! I need you! I don't care about the stone, I just want to go home! Please Link. Wake up and take me home." she said tears rolling down her face.
Link didn't respond. Ruto breathed as she gathered up what she knew about general life saving. She took his head softly getting on her knees and taking a breath swiftly pressed her lips to his. She breathed into him filling his lungs. She pulled back shoving her palms into his chest causing him to breath out. Water leak from the sides of his mouth as his lungs were pumped. She breathed into him again until Link was unconsciously breathing on his own.
She noticed in mid breath and was in releaf. She looked at him not knowing why and pressed her lips to his again, this time in the form of a kiss. She held it for a few seconds before pulling back, she blushed furiously not knowing why she did that at all. She smiled "It's a crush, so what." she said to herself taking his head and cradling his head in her lap. She rocked his head softly as she ran her hand through his hair. She leaned up against the mussel wall and continued to tend to him.
Ronto meanwhile ventured into the stomach area and found that now several passages were blocked "Hell." he walked to one of the holes. He held the same gem that was on Ruto's necklace in his hands and noticed the glow from one of the holes. "RUTO!!" he called. Ruto however couldn't hear him over the rushing water "IF YOU CAN HEAR ME STAY WHERE YOU ARE!!" he shouted and moved.
After an hour later Ruto had stopped watching Link and was now just thinking knowing he would awaken. His staff rested next to her as she continued to stroke his hair, she smiled wishing sometimes that Zora's had hair, but then it would only get ruined in the water constantly. Link slowly moved and opened his eyes to look at Ruto outlined in the blue light of her gem, he felt her hand move through her hair and tasted her lips on his. She had saved his life. "Ruto..." he spoke.
She looked down suddenly and was overwhelmed with joy "Link!!" she shouted aloud embracing him. Link hugged back trying to comfort her "Thank you." he said softly. Ruto turned hiding her blush "It was nothing." she helped him up. He was tired suddenly he noticed another light from behind the nearest artery wall. Ruto looked at what he saw "That wasn't there before." Link did the math. The zora's racial color was blue, and there was a blue glow. "Thats the spiritual stone." Ruto moved. Link looked up "Ruto wait! Man I give up. That girl can be such a pain." he followed.
Next Chapter: Heart of the Beast
Link and Ruto finally get a hold of the Zora's Sapphire and find out what is causing the trouble. Ruto is taken captive as Ronto joined Link. Defeat another monster and save the water lord Jabu-Jabu. That is the goal.