Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend of Zelda franchise.
I only own these OC characters:
- Ateiti
- Irena
- King Dikun
- Queen Esha
- Amanda Carpenter
- Georgie
Chapter 8: Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly
Link and Malon entered Zora's Fountain, which was the source of all fresh water that flows throughout all of Hyrule.
Both saw the big whale, the Zoras Guardian deity, Jabu-Jabu, resting on the alter, sleeping.
"Whoa… I've never seen a big fish like this one before." Link said as he and Malon walked to the altar of the big whale.
While Malon gave a nod, Navi rolled her eyes as she stated while flying out of Link's hat "It's a whale, Link. Which means it's a mammal." Link looked confused at their fairy companion, which annoyed her "Ugh! Mammals breath above water, fish only underwater. Whales need to inhale air above water."
Link now understood and scratched his head out of embarrassment as even he could've figured that out "Oh! Right…"
When they approached Jabu-Jabu, Malon called to it "Uhm… mister whale? Jabu-Jabu?!"
The whale opened his eyes a little bit, and glanced at the children… but then closes his eyes and goes back to sleep while giving a big sigh.
Not having time for this, Navi flew to the face of the whale and bounced on its head several times while calling "Hey, blubber mouth, open up! We gotta go in there!" but still the whale didn't respond, making Navi's glow turning red of anger as she bounced even harder on it, but Jabu-Jabu didn't feel anything "Come on, you big moose, open up!"
Link called back to their fairy "Navi!"
Navi stopped and flew back to Link and Malon "What?!" she annoyingly said.
Link held up the bottle, filled with the fish that the Zora servant gave to him "We gotta feed him a fish, remember?"
Navi sighed as she stated "Oh, right. Well, try it out and see."
Link nodded and released the cover of the bottle and dropped the fish on the alter before Jabu-Jabu.
The big whale could smell something. He opened his eyes a little bit, only to see a little nice fish being offered to him, making his eyes blink a few times before opening its big mouth and inhaled the fish. Seeing their chance, Link and Malon quickly went inside the mouth of Jabu-Jabu. Navi quickly flew after them as the whale closed its mouth and went back to sleep.
Being inside of the whale, gave some discomfort to the two little heroes, as it smelled like old fish and what seemed to be rotten seaweed, making Malon holding her nose "Eeeew! It smells."
Link coughed a bit while waving around his face cause of the smell "No kidding."
Suddenly, from the water pound filled with whale saliva in front of them two Octoroks appeared from the water and spit out rocks at Link and Malon! Ignoring the foil smell, they quickly avoided their attacks, with Link quickly grabbing his slingshot and killed both Octoroks after shooting a Deku Seed at the both of them, making them leave some rupees as the popped away after being killed.
While Malon grabbed the blue rupees out of the saliva water, which disgusted her a bit, Link noticed a few big bubbles bouncing aimlessly across the inner mouth, and asked their fairy companion "Navi. What are those strange bubbles?"
Navi took a look and stated "Those are Shaboms. Be careful not to touch them or they'll explode and hurt you."
Seeing that these big bubbles won't harm them as long as they won't touch them, made Malon and Link to just avoid them as the Shaboms bounced around them. But when one was this close to hurt Malon, Link quickly drew his sword and slashed the bubble, making it pop.
Link luckily wasn't harmed while he took a rupee that the bubble left behind and handed the rupee over to Malon, who said while putting the rupee in their moneybag "Thanks Link."
Link gave a shrug as it was no big deal to him.
While Malon gave a smile to Link, she took a look at the supposed 'door' at the end of the throat, seeing it was locked somehow. She looked up, spotting the uvula and asked Link "You think we can go ahead if you use your slingshot to…?"
Seeing what Link meant by that, he gave a nod while taking out his slingshot "It's worth a try." He took one Deku Seed and aimed with his slingshot, shooting the uvula, which went inside, making the 'door' to be unlocked.
Link gave a small sigh of relief while putting the Fairy Slingshot back in his magic bag "Pfew! I thought for a moment he would vomit when was going to do that."
Malon stick out her tongue to even imagine that "That's disgusting."
Link gave a shrug as they moved on "I know."
When they passed through organic door, they came which they figured was the throat, showing another way up ahead and another to their right with a blue switch, but was impossible to reach.
While Malon took a look down below, seeing a big pool of water while a small platform went up and down, she again held her nose as the smell of the green water below was disgusting "Eeeew! I better hope that's not what I think it is."
Suddenly, Link spotted a floating jellyfish slowly descending on Malon. He quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her away from it "Malon, look out!"
Malon gasped of seeing the jellyfish, still coming slowly towards them. Link grabbed his sword "I'll take him."
As Link was about to cut through the jellyfish, Navi tried to warn him "No wait, don't-"
But it was too late as Link slashed the floating jellyfish, killing it but electrocuted Link, making him scream in agony as he fell backwards!
Malon gasped in shock "LINK!" she ran over to him and helped him to sit straight "Are you okay?!"
Link still felt some pain after being electrocuted and answered while groaning "Ugh… yeah… I'm okay…"
Navi angrily flew right in front of his face, telling with a serious tone "You stupid idiot! I told you to be more careful! You can't just attack any kind of enemy without knowing what its capable off!"
Though Link was not happy with the way Navi was speaking towards him, he did felt stupid of attacking that Bibi without consulting Navi first what to do. He sighed and apologized while Malon helped him to stand up "You're right, Navi… I'm sorry." Then he glanced at Malon "Sorry for not thinking ahead."
Malon gave him a hug before saying "That's okay. Just… don't do that again, please. I don't want to lose you…" she softly said.
Link formed a small smile "I promise."
Just as they were going to the door ahead, Link and Malon noticed two small crates next to them, which they find was weird that two wooden crates were sitting on the organic floor "Who would put these crates in a place like this?" Malon asked.
Link theorized "Perhaps… they belong to Princess Ruto?"
As they went through the organic door, they came into a larger chamber, which held a few sinking holes on the floor, with a large green electric tentacle going down one of the holes and three Biri's floating at the ceiling.
But there was another figure in the 'room'. They saw a young Zora girl. It was Princess Ruto!
"You! Who are you and what are you doing here?!" Ruto demanded as she noticed Link and Malon.
Both Link and Malon went over to her and Link asked her "Are you Ruto, the Zora Princess?"
Ruto nodded, put puts her hands on her hips "Yes, I am Ruto, Princess of the Zoras. But that doesn't answer MY question what you two are doing in here."
They nodded while Malon introduced themselves to Ruto "Oh, I'm Malon and this is Link. We're here because your father asked us to come here and save you."
That surprised Ruto "What?! My father asked you two to come here and save me?" Link and Malon nodded, but Ruto frowned at them "I'd never ask anyone to do such a thing!"
Link and Malon shared a confused look before Link stated to Ruto "Never ask anyone? But… we found a letter in a bottle with your handwriting on it, and-"
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Ruto shook her head "I did not ask anyone for help and I most certainly did NOT write a letter in a bottle!"
Malon tried to ease the Zora Princess "Okay, okay, calm down. You're father is just worried about you and wants you to come home."
Ruto stubbornly crossed her arms "I don't care!" she then leaned her head to Link and Malon "Anyway, I can't go home right now. So… get out of here! Understand?!" Ruto then walked away from Link and Malon, but then fell into a hole "Ooooh noooooo!"
Link and Malon gasped as they ran to the sinking hole where Ruto fell into "Ruto!" both called. The two little heroes exchanged a short glance before they gave a nod and both jumped into the hole, falling downwards, landing close to Ruto.
The Zora Princess was frowning at Link and Malon for following her, but then they saw two more Bibi's floating down to them.
Link quickly asked Navi who flew down the hole and joined them "Navi, how do we kill those jellyfish?"
Navi advised them "Stun them before you kill them, that'll disable them from electrocuting you."
Malon understood and grabbed a few Deku Nuts from her magic bag and gave one to Link "Here. These'll do." Link nodded and both used their Deku Nuts to stun the 2 Bibis before killing them with their Kokiri Swords. This time the Bibis did not electrocute them.
Now that that were out of danger, Ruto walked over to them in an annoying mood "Why are you still hanging around here? I told you both to go away!"
Link sighed as he explained "We were just worried about you. It's not safe for you to go in here all by yourself. You could have gotten yourself killed."
Ruto rolled her eyes "I'm okay. I've been going inside Lord Jabu-Jabu's belly since I was little, but… Lord Jabu-Jabu is very strange today…"
Malon raised an eyebrow, before being worried "Strange? You mean… the whale is sick?"
Ruto gave a shrug "I think so. There are electrified jellyfish and strange holes around… on top of that, my precious stone was… but… that's none of your business!" she quickly said, not wanting to share she lost her precious stone and wanted to dismiss Link and Malon, again "Anyway… both of you! Go home now! Understand?!"
Link sighed deep while having a private talk with Malon "That Zora Princess is as stubborn as a mule."
Malon agreed with her little brother "Mmm hmm. She's far from how Zelda was when we met her." Then she began to think "But… we can't just leave her here inside the whale all by herself."
Link nodded "No, you're right. We gave her father our word that we bring Ruto home…" then he figured "Wait a minute… King Zora told us that he and his wife gave the Spiritual Stone of Water to Ruto. So perhaps this 'precious stone' of hers is the Spiritual Stone? Perhaps if we help her find it, maybe she'll give it to us?"
Malon thought about that, while Navi agreed with Link "I agree with Link. If this is the best way to get the final Spiritual Stone, we should go and help Ruto."
Malon then nodded, but held her nose again because of the smell of Jabu-Jabu's insides "Okay, let's do that. As long as it won't take too long. I don't know if I can withstand the smell in here that long."
Seeing that Malon and Navi were with him, Link walked back to Ruto.
The Zora Princess was thinking while looking around "Hmmm… where could my stone be? And how can I…?" but as soon as she heard Link approach her, she turned herself and frowned at him "Are you still here?"
Link nodded, and while he was trying hard not to be angry towards her, he offered her "Listen, if me and Malon will help you find your 'precious stone', will you then come with us out of the whale and go back to your father?"
That surprised Ruto as Link offered his and Malon's help. She thought for a minute before telling with a smile "Hmmmmm…. Okay, if you help me find my mother's stone, I'll go home. So… Link and… Malon was it?" she asked while Malon joined Link.
Link and Malon nodded.
Ruto then said while putting her hands on her hips "Okay then, Link and Malon, I will give you the honor of carrying me! If you help me to find the thing I'm looking for, I will go home, but not until then." Ruto then sat down on the ground, waiting for either Link or Malon to carry her.
The two little heroes exchanged a glance, seeing who will carry Ruto. Link sighed deep "Okay, I'll do it." he then took Ruto in his arms, finding her lighter then expected and easily raises her above his head. He then looked at Malon "Let's go." She nodded and went together through another organic door.
In the 'hallway', there were a few Shaboms bouncing around. Taking no chances, Link puts Ruto down while he and Malon take care of the bubble monsters, which were quickly dealt with after the two little heroes both used a Deku Nut to snap the bubble monsters out of existence.
Link lifted Ruto back up his head and went on together with Malon. While they had to cross an opening which was filled with manta ray creatures known as Stingers, Link was able to take care of them thanks to Navi's advice, using his slingshot after luring them above the surface. Once they'd filled the opening with green-like water after Malon stood on a platform, she, Link and Ruto were able to cross it and went on through another hallway, dealing with 4 more Shaboms before going through the next organic door.
When they came to the same part where the big pool of green water was, Malon immediately couldn't withstand the stench and held her mouth as she coughed. Link too wasn't feeling comfortable cause of the smell, but tried his best to resist.
Suddenly, an Octorok appeared from the green water and spewed a rock at Link, but he quickly dropped Ruto as he grabbed his Deku shield and deflected the rock back at the Ocotork, killing him.
Ruto groaned as she'd hit the floor hard and rubbed her bottom while standing up while angrily telling Link "Hey! Don't you drop me like that again, understand!?"
Link shrugged as he stated "Well, if I hadn't dropped you to grab my shield, you and I would've been injured."
Ruto frowned at Link as she crossed her arms. But then sighed while rolling her eyes as he had a point "Fine. Whatever. Just don't drop me like that again, okay? Don't you forget that I'm a princess." She then sat down, waiting for Link to carry her again.
While the platform slowly dropped before the two little heroes and their royal companion, Link held Ruto above his head while he and Malon jumped on the platform, bringing them back up to where they start.
Ruto did wander why Link and Malon couldn't stand the stench of the green water or the whole insides of Jabu-Jabu "Are you two okay? You both look like you're a bit sick."
Holding her mouth and nose, Malon answered "You… don't sense that awful smell?"
Ruto blinked her eyes out of confusion before she shrugged "Uhm… no? I don't smell anything."
As Link and Malon jumped back up the next floor, close to the two wooden crates, Link asked Ruto "Really? You don't smell anything in here? I thought you might after being in this big whale for so many times?"
Ruto thought about that while they went through the organic door and said "Hmmm… no, as long I can remember, I never smelled anything foul in here. I guess this is why my father tasked me to take care of our deity whale when I was very little."
When they all came back into the large room with the sinking holes and the green electrical tentacle, Link placed Ruto this time carefully down on the floor while he and Malon took care of the 3 Biri's while avoiding the sinking holes and used their Deku Nuts to paralyze them before killing them.
Ruto gave a shrug, being a bit impressed with their way of taking care of the monsters "Not bad. Not bad at all." But suddenly, a bigger jellyfish fell close to her, making her squeal!
Link and Malon saw that Ruto was in danger and came to the rescue while Navi quickly said as she recognized the monster "Careful, it's a Bari, the bigger version of a Biri!"
The two little heroes nodded and quickly used a Deku Nut to stun the new enemy before using their swords to kill them, but only to split into three new Biri's! Taking more Deku Nuts, Link and Malon used them to stun two of them before killing them. But Malon couldn't prevent one from electrocuting her by hitting her! Malon screamed as the stun hurt her a lot and fell on the floor. Ruto gasped to see Malon injured. Link's anger rose and used his last Deku Nut to stun the Biri before killing it.
"Malon! Are you okay?!" Link asked as he held her.
While Malon grunted, Link saw she had a nasty wound on her right shoulder. Ruto saw it too and stood up while taking something from her seaweed handbag, which looked like a small bottle filled with blue shining cream.
Ruto took some blue cream and smeared it on the wound "Here. This'll help."
The cream first stinged, but slowly… Malon felt a cool and relaxed feeling from the cream. Slowly, the wound healed, which amazed Link.
But before Link could ask Ruto what it was, she formed a small smile while putting the little bottle back in her seaweed handbag "It's a special cream, made from the healing materials in Zora's Domain. It helps when you get stung by something nasty like a jellyfish or a puffer fish."
"What's a puffer fish?" Link asked while helping Malon back on her feet.
Ruto answered with a small smile "Oh, it's an exotic fish from the warm oceans in the south. I've been there before when I was very little, when my… mother was still alive…" that last part made Ruto a bit sad, to think about her mother who passed away shortly after that.
Malon was thankful for what Ruto did for her and gave her a hug "Thank you, Ruto."
Ruto was surprised as no one else, other than her parents, gave her a hug. But she gave a shrug while saying "You're welcome." but then she returned to her usual mood and said with a serious tone "Now, let's not waist anymore time! Let's go!" and sat back on the ground, waiting for Link to carry her.
Link sighed and carries her on top of his head again.
But before they went further, Malon asked Navi when she looked at the green electrical tentacle going through the other sinking hole "Uhm… Navi? What is that thing?"
Navi flew for a moment to the tentacle, but stayed at a safe distance as she didn't wanted to be stun by it "Hmmmm. Strange… it's almost like this 'tentacle' is part of something hidden deep within the whale… like it is its limp…"
"Limp of what?" Link asked when Navi flew back at them.
The fairy guide gave a shrug "I'm not sure. But whatever it is… it's likely the cause of what makes the whale not feeling well."
Ruto became worried "Oh no… it's worse than I thought! Poor Jabu-Jabu…" she finished saying, feeling pity on the poor whale.
Link frowned, as he could only guess who would do something like this "This must be Ganondorf's work. He probably would use Jabu-Jabu's bad condition in order to blackmail King Zora to get the Spiritual Stone, just like when he tried to blackmail the Gorons."
Malon nodded, while she also became angry of what that heartless sorcerer did "Then we must find the source of what makes Jabu-Jabu sick and destroy it!"
Link agreed with Malon and asked the Zora Princess "Ruto, you know the insides of Lord Jabu-Jabu better than anyone. Do you may have an idea where the source of Jabu-Jabu's condition could be?"
Ruto thought for a moment "I'm not really sure…" but then she became serious again and said "But I'm not going anywhere else till we've found my mother's precious stone!"
Link was starting to get tired of Ruto's constant moaning, but said in a calm way "Okay, fine… we'll help you first to find your 'precious stone', but will you then afterwards help us to find the source? After all, you're Jabu-Jabu's caretaker, right? So, this also makes it your problem to deal with, your highness."
Ruto annoyingly sighs as Link had a point and she doesn't want to be in any more trouble with her father than she already is. "Yeah… you're right. Then let's go!"
All three, with Link still carrying Ruto above his head, they entered the next organic door, going into a section of several small 'corridors', with parasite creatures sticking out of the ground. Navi warned them "Those are Tailparasans. They can electrocute you just like the Baris and Biris. Their tails are their weak point, but… you're going to need a different weapon to kill them."
"A different weapon?" Link asked Navi while he and Malon checked the many corridors while avoiding the tail long floating parasites. Link tried his slingshot, but it didn't worked.
Malon then checked her magic bag, hoping to grab an Deku Nut to stun the creatures, but she notices that she's out of Deku Nuts! "Oh no… Link, I don't have any Deku Nuts left!"
Link checked his, but also didn't found any "Me neither. I'm out too."
A few Tailparasans came out of the ground and floated around, ready to hurt anyone that dares to cross their path. Ruto annoyingly hit her feet at Link's head "Well, don't just stand there. Do something!"
Link was having enough of Ruto's constant complaining and puts her down, telling her with a serious face "Now you listen here, princess, I'm sick and tired of your constant complaining and nagging! Me and Malon are doing all the work around here and all you can do is COMPLAIN ABOUT EVERYTHING! If you want us to help you, then get off your lazy ass and fight along with us!"
Ruto gasped as she was never talked like that before by anyone, making her angry "How dare you yelling at me like that!? Don't you forget that I am a princess!"
While Link and Ruto kept arguing, Malon tried to think of something while she took out her sword as 3 Tailparasans blocked their way. She closed her eyes while remembering the magic power that the Great Fairy gave her and Link "Please… if this power will help us… help us… help us now!" she mentally begged. Suddenly, a blue light started to form around her Kokiri Sword. One Tailparasan tried to grab Malon, but she then suddenly performed a spin attack with the blue energy circling around her with it, hurting the creature as it floated away from her!
Link and Ruto noticed what Malon did, with Link asking her in surprise "Whoa! Malon, how did you do that?!"
Malon glanced at Link and stated "The magic that the Great Fairy gave us on top of Death Mountain…"
Link blinked a few times, before he took his own sword while stating "Yes… yes of course! I almost forgot about it!"
As the other 2 Tailparasans were about to attack, Link and Malon both concentrated hard, using the magic power that was bestowed upon them. Their Kokiri Swords turned into a blue light, then into red after a few seconds. Link and Malon then performed a stronger spin attack, creating a big red ring around them, which killed the Tailparasans!
Ruto nodded while forming a smile "Nice work."
Malon puts her sword back and glanced at Ruto, telling her as she agreed with what Link told her seriously "I don't like what I'm going to say, but Link is right. We would dearly appreciate if you don't complain all the time and help us a bit as all three of us are in the same mess."
Ruto however frowned and crossed her arms while looking away and said "Even if I wanted to help you two, I can't! Cause…!" she then felt embarrassed and looked down with a bit sad face "…I don't know how to fight, alright…?"
That surprised Link and Malon a bit "You mean… no one has ever taught you?" Link asked.
Ruto shook her head as she glanced back at Link and Malon "No… it's because… I'm a girl… and… in Zora culture… though Zora girls and women are not forbidden to be taught how to fight… princesses are prohibited from handling any weapons…"
"Really?" Malon asked in surprise, before she became angry "But that's… mean!"
Ruto sighed "I know it is… but… I'm a princess after all, and… I'm supposed to succeed my father one day… well… that is if I find a husband when I grow up who will become the new King of the Zoras…. As for me… I'm then suppose to bare children to continue the family line…"
Link then told her as he puts his hand on her shoulder "Ruto… don't let your culture or your traditions stop you from doing what is right, even if it comes to learn how to fight. And… if nobody wants to teach you how to fight, there are other ways you can do it… like teaching yourself, or secretly read books about fighting with weapons? I mean, I learned a few tricks when I read a book about it at the Hyrule Library in Castle Town, while I had to learn most things all by myself. Heck, I even taught Malon how to fight!"
Malon nodded "Mmm hmm."
Ruto was surprised by Link's words "You mean… I can just… teach myself how to fight?"
"Of course you can!" Link said with a smile.
Ruto thought about it and then formed a big smile as she asked Link while standing really close to him "WILL YOU TEACH ME?!"
Her sudden reaction surprised Link before he said "Uhm… sure. Well, after me and Malon have completed our mission, I guess I could-"
"OH THANK YOU!" Ruto hugged Link tightly, before she snugged her head close to Link's chest, hugging him then sweetly as she said softly "No one has ever been this nice to me before… treating me like… an equal. Thank you…"
Link scratched his head a bit before patting her back "Uhm… you're welcome."
Malon cleared her throat "Should we continue?"
Ruto nodded as she broke the hug "Yeah, we should." And then sat back on the ground, with Link carrying her again above his head.
All three noticed that three different kind of electric tentacles were blocking the doors. Navi then said "Hey, they look similar to the green one in the room back. We should check the other rooms. Maybe we'll find a way to bypass the tentacles?"
Link and Malon nodded, but Ruto shook her head "Won't do. These are the lungs of the whale. Every 'room' is a dead end."
But Link wasn't going to give up as they walked to a closed door with a switch in between. Navi checked the platform as it was not an ordinary one "This switch… it doesn't look like you can press it down with your weight alone…"
Malon tried it out, but only half of the switch went down. She then got an idea and asked Link "Hey Link, we could stand on it together."
Link stood with Malon together on the platform, making it sink into the floor, making the organic door to open.
When they went inside together with Ruto, the room appeared to be empty, but Navi spotted some movement in the ground "Stingers! There Stingers in here!"
Link puts Ruto close to the door while he and Malon took care of the Stingers, luring them out of the ground before Link took them out using his Fairy Slingshot.
After 5 minutes, all were dead and a chest appeared in the middle of the room. Link opened the chest and looked inside. He began to smile as she held up what he found in it "Hey, cool, a boomerang!"
Ruto saw it and walked fastly to Link as she recognized it "Hey! I lost this one years ago."
"You mean, it's yours?" Malon asked.
Ruto nodded "Yes. I got it from a Hylian merchant that came to Zora's Domain one day. I use to play with it all the time! But I lost it the first time I got into Jabu-Jabu." She then smiled at Link "You should keep it. I'm sure it's more useful to you than me."
Link thanked Ruto "Thanks, Ruto." He tried it out himself and was able to perform a perfect toss with the boomerang flawlessly as he caught it when it flew back at him "Hahahaha. Looks like I'm a naturel at this." and puts the new weapon in his magic bag as they left the room.
When another Tailparasan appeared out of the floor, Link instinctively took out the boomerang and used it to kill the Tailparasan! Link looked in surprise at the boomerang in his hand while Malon took the rupee that the creature left behind after it died "Hmmm, this sure would come in handy." He then puts the boomerang back in his magic bag and carried Ruto again on top of his head.
While all three moved on into the other corridor, they saw a blue platform before a closed door. Link and Malon knew already what to do as Link stepped on the platform, making the closed door open. He kept Ruto on it and told her "You should stay here for a bit. We'll be right back."
As he and Malon went through the door, Ruto tried to call them back "Hey! Don't leave me here!" but the door closed, leaving Ruto alone. She annoyingly crossed her arms "Ugh! Not fair!"
Inside the room, Link and Malon saw a long red electric tentacle sticking out of the ceiling. Malon then said "Link… you think that that is maybe one of the limps of… it?"
Link nodded as it could be it. Navi took a closer look at the tentacle and instructed Link and Malon when she flew back at them "It seems that the narrow point is its weak point." She then got an idea and told Link "The boomerang! Use the boomerang on the tentacle."
Link nodded confident and took out his new weapon. He stood a bit closer to the tentacle, but not too close. He aimed his boomerang and tossed it to the weak point of the limp, hurting it as it redrew to the ceiling! Link stood a bit closer, which made the tentacle to appear back and was about to swing back to knock Link back, but he quickly threw his boomerang again and hurt it!
Link repeated the same thing 2 more times, until it bleeds out lots of green blood out of the narrow point and some kind of monstrous screech was heard throughout the whale and the tentacle broke into pieces all over the floor.
Malon looked around, wandering what could cause that screech "Wha… what was that? Was it the whale?"
Link shook his head as he rejoined his sister "No… it must be… the thing that's causing Jabu-Jabu's sickness."
Not wanting to stick around any longer, both exited the room, where an angry looking Ruto was waiting with her arms crossed "How could you leave me behind?!"
Link gave a shrug "Sorry, I thought you would be helpful by keeping that door open for us.
"Yeah, well… don't do that again, okay?!"
Link sighed "Okay, okay, we won't leave you alone next time." Malon nodded, promising too that she won't leave Ruto behind.
Ruto nodded and sat on the floor, with Link carrying her, again.
When Link, Malon and Ruto wanted to go into the corridor next to them, where first the red electrical tentacle was blocking the way, they noticed that the tentacle was gone. Navi then said "Hey, look! The red slimy thing is gone! That must be because we cut the red tentacle in the other room! Perhaps it'll work with the other ones too?"
Ruto then added "And perhaps it could ease Jabu-Jabu's suffering?"
Link and Malon both nodded "Then let's go." Link said as they moved through the door.
But when they entered, the organic door suddenly closed. All over the room, over a dozen Shaboms were bouncing around and it was hard for them to breath.
Ruto coughed while warning "Link, Malon! You gotta destroy those bubble monsters before we'll suffocate in this place!"
Having no time to lose, Link puts Ruto down while he and Malon went after the Shaboms, destroying them quickly before they would run out of air! Both were hit a few times as the bubble monsters popped close to them, but Link and Malon were able to destroy them all, allowing Jabu-Jabu to breath in easily as fresh air came into the room.
Link, Malon and Ruto both patted "That was… too close…" Link said while trying to catch his breath.
Malon and Ruto both nodded.
While they took their time to catch their breaths, the organic door was unlocked, allowing them to leave the room.
When Link, Malon and Ruto went back to the other side, they entered a room where a large blue electric tentacle was sticking out of the ceiling. Knowing what to do, Link placed Ruto down and took out his boomerang, repeating the same tactic like the first tentacle, destroying it as green blood spread everywhere and dissolved into many pieces while another screech was heard.
While they left the room, Malon figured "Hey, if we can find the green one, perhaps the green tentacle in the room where we found Ruto will be gone?"
"Then let's see if that thing is in the room ahead." Link suggested as they went to the last room, where, to Link confirmation, was the green electric tentacle hanging out of the ceiling, but there were also 4 Biris in the room.
Link used his boomerang to first kill the Biris before destroying the green tentacle. As it was destroyed, some of its green blood came on Link, which disgusted him "Ugh! Not again…!" he said while wiping away some green blood from his shirt, remembering it felt nearly the same as Link and Malon killed that Skultulla back inside the Deku Tree.
As Link came back over to Malon and Ruto, Malon said while chuckling "Hihihihi. At least your outfit is as green as that blood."
Link sighed "I know. Hopefully I'll be able to wash it out?"
Ruto gave a shrug while Link raised her up above his head "I've been through worse. Not to worry, the waters in Zora's Domain can wash even the dirtiest of clothes."
"I hope you're right, princess." Link said as they exited the room.
Ruto formed a small smile as she mentally said "Well… at least he finally calls me princess."
And yes, when they returned to the room with the sinking holes, the green tentacle was indeed gone. Ruto pointed to where the now cleared sinking hole was "In there. We can go through the hole and land on a close to a door to a room we haven't been in yet."
Link and Malon both exchanged a look before nodding and dropped down into the hole, where they landed on the ground after a short fall.
Then, when they entered through the organic door, Ruto's eyes went wide and wildly shook as she saw her mother's precious stone, resting on a big platform in the middle of the room "That's it! That's what I've been looking for!" Link and Malon looked and saw the Spiritual Stone of Water indeed in the middle of the platform "Throw me up there! Onto the platform!" Ruto asked while keeping shaking wildly.
"Okay, okay, take it easy, Ruto." Link said before helping her to climb up the platform.
Happily, Ruto walked over to the stone, holding it in her hands before holding it close "Oh… thank the Goddesses." She sighed in both relief and happiness as she puts the Spiritual Stone in her seaweed handbag before glancing back to Link and Malon "Thank you… both of you. I finally found… my mother's stone. I got very upset when Lord Jabu-Jabu swallowed it. While is was feeding him last night, he suddenly swallowed me! I was so surprised that I must've dropped the stone inside…"
Link and Malon both smiled to her as Link said "Not a problem, Princess Ruto." Then he asked her "So, now that we've helped you out, will you then help us to find the source of Jabu-Jabu's condition?"
Ruto nodded "Yes. I will help you." She then began to walk over to them "Let's go now before-"
But just as Ruto was about to step off the platform, it suddenly shake and rises to the other room above. Ruto screamed to what she saw in the room "Keeeyaaaah! What is this?! An octopus?!"
Link and Malon both gasped in horror "Ruto!"
"LINK! MALON! HELP M-" Ruto tried to call for help, but couldn't finish her sentence by something.
Behind Link and Malon, the organic door closed shut.
Then, the platform slowly drops down, showing a Big Octo!
Link and Malon stood back as the Big Octo jumped off the platform and was about to attack the two little heroes while the platform moved a few feet up, turning around while sharp spikes stuck out of it.
While Link and Malon ran away from the bigger version of the Octoruk, Navi flew to it to find its weakness. After a few seconds, Navi quickly flew back to Link and Malon, stating "It's back! You guys got to stun it and attack it from its back!"
Link nodded while he took out his boomerang "Malon, we've got to get closer to him!"
Malon nodded "Okay!"
Being forced to run closer to the turning spikes, Link and Malon got closer to the Big Octo, who was too stupid to realize that his two targets were gaining on him. Link, while still running fast, aimed his boomerang and tossed it to the monster, stunning it, making it stand still while its back was exposed. Link and Malon quickly draw their swords and slashed at the Big Octo's back, making him squeal as it got hurt and ran again after the two little heroes.
After having repeated the same thing 2 more times, Link and Malon were near exhaustion of constantly running away from the monster. Navi pushed them to not giving up "C'mon! You guys can do it! You nearly got him!"
Link tossed his boomerang one more time, stunning the Big Octo again. Link and Malon grabbed their swords and performed a simultaneous jump attack, cutting the Big Octo's exposed back op, letting lots of yellow-green fluids come out of it as the Big Octo squealed in agony! And after a few seconds… it fell dead as its body dissolved.
The platform lowered while the door got unlocked. Link and Malon were nearly out of breath as they were so tired, but they couldn't rest for long as they had to go and rescue Ruto. Both stepped on the platform, bringing them to the upper level. But Ruto was nowhere.
"Ruto! RUTO!" Link called.
"Ruto, where are you?!" Malon called too, fearing the worse.
Suddenly, something moved inside the walls, seeing something thought so hard to get free. A tentacle suddenly bursts out of the ceiling as Ruto struggled to get free as her head and arms came out of its mouth!
"RUTO!" Link and Malon said simultaneously, trying to get to Ruto's aid.
"Ruto, hold on!" Link called.
"HELP-" Ruto tried to call before the tentacle swallowed Ruto in! Malon was able to grab her right hand, pulling as hard as she could to help Ruto! Link helped her.
"RUTO, NO!" Malon desperately called while she and Link used all their remaining strength to pull Ruto out, but the tentacle sucked Ruto so hard that Malon lost her grip and the tentacle swallowed Ruto whole, disappearing up the ceiling.
Link and Malon both were shocked of what happened "It… the thing got her…!" Malon said while slowly becoming sad "No… we're too late…!"
Link shook his head "No…! Damn it, no!"
Navi too was shocked of what happened, but then stated "There's still time to safe Ruto. We just need to look at the places in Jabu-Jabu we haven't been into yet."
Link and Malon both exchanged a short glance. Despite they were near exhaustion, they couldn't abandon Ruto to be devoured by that parasite that got the Zora princess. Both gave a short nod and headed to the next door while Navi flew into Link's hat.
In the other room, 2 unstable tentacle-like pillars were wobbling around while a sneaky Octorok tried to attack Link and Malon, but Link dealt with him quickly using his Fairy Slingshot. And thanks to the Boomerang, Link paralyzed the tentacle-like pillars, allowing him and Malon to continue onwards, going through the next door.
Link and Malon found themselves a floor higher from the green disgusting water down below. When they jumped on the next platform, it slowly descended on its own, allowing Link and Malon to head to the hallway with the blue switch that was first unreachable to them.
As the door ahead was locked, Link knew how to keep it open "Hey, those crates that Ruto left behind! We can use one of them to keep it on the blue switch."
Malon nodded but also added worriedly "Okay, take one, but hurry. We don't have much time to safe Ruto!"
Link nodded as he went back to grab one of the crates.
Suddenly, Malon saw some movement inside the walls of Jabu-Jabu's insides, spotting Ruto moving through inside parasites arms! Malon gasped as she banged on the walls "Ruto! Ruto, hang on! We're coming for you!" but Ruto couldn't hear her. Worse, she was unconscious. Malon gasped as she shook her head.
Link noticed it too as he came back with the crate and placed it on the blue platform, allowing Link and Malon to go further "C'mon, let's go!" Link said as they had to hurry.
When they entered, Link and Malon found themselves into a room that was yellow and greenish, with some Biris floating around.
While Link dealt with the floating jellyfishes with his boomerang, Malon said as she started to have a bad feeling "Link, I… I feel that we're close to the source…"
Link nodded as he pointed to the other locked organic door "Yes. My guts tell me that it's in there, and… possibly Ruto too." Wandering how they could enter it, Link asked "Navi, how can we go any further?"
Navi flew out of Link's hat, searching for any clues. She spots one above "Hey! Maybe that yellow thing up there can open it?"
Link nodded and saw there were some organic vines going up, allowing him to get closer to it with his boomerang. Link glanced at Malon, saying before climbing up the vines "I'll be right back."
Malon gave a nod while her adopted brother went up. When he was close enough, Link aimed his boomerang carefully and was able to hit the small yellow-like switch, opening the final door.
Link jumped down close to Malon and both walked up to the door. Link stopped Malon for a moment.
"What is it?" Malon asked.
With some worry, Link told Malon "Listen… whatever is in there… I…"
Understanding his worry, Malon ensured him "Link, we've been through a lot of dangerous things so far."
"I know, but… after how that… monster took Ruto… I don't want to see you…"
Seeing how worried he was for her, made Malon to give Link a hug "I won't! I won't let that to happen, and…" she then met his eyes, as hers became teary "…neither to you…" and then planted a kiss on his cheek "Now… let's go and safe Ruto!"
Link nodded confidently and ran through the door with Malon, followed by Navi.
Suddenly, the organic door behind them closed shut.
There was barely any light in the room, but then… some light came from a few Baris, sparking with electricity as they floated around a large anemone like thing in the middle of the room.
The 'thing' was attached to the ceiling with its three tentacle arms, with each being blue, red and green, same as the tentacles limps that Link destroyed earlier, absorbing energy from Jabu-Jabu as it sensed danger.
Malon then spots something inside the anemone creature. She gasped as she saw an unconscious Ruto inside "Link! It got Ruto!"
The anemone parasite slowly lifted itself up as the Baris, electrical drawn to the creature, attached themselves to its core, protecting it, as its 'dinner' would be digest. Its three tentacles moved in the air.
BIO- ELECTRIC ANEMONE
BARINADE
When the three tentacles of Barinade took aim at Link and Malon, they quickly avoided its electric beam strikes!
"Navi, how do we kill it!?" Link called to their fairy guide.
"Looks like its belly is its weak point." Navi answered.
"Yeah, but how do we get closer?! Those Baris keep us from getting to it!"
Malon had avoided another electrical beam from Barinade just in time, making her yelp!
Navi quickly looked and noticed the red, green and blue limps were constantly draining energy from the whale "Those limps attached to the ceiling. Cut them with the boomerang, Link!"
Link nodded and quickly took out his boomerang. Just as two of the shooting tentacles took aim at Link, he tossed his boomerang at the red one, cutting it, making Barinade screech! As the anemone parasite was distracted, Link waisted no time to toss the boomerang again after catching it, cutting the blue and the green limp at the same time!
Now no longer connected to Jabu-Jabu, Barinade raised itself from the floor, using the Baris, still drawn electrically to Barinade, spinning them around fast, making it Link and Malon even more harder!
Seeing that its core was now exposed, Link tossed the boomerang on Barinade's 'belly', stunning it and paralyzes the Baris too. But as Barinade lowered into the floor, Navi quickly told the two little heroes "Quick! Kill the Baris before the parasite can use them as flails again!"
Wasting no time, Link and Malon draw their Kokiri swords and slashed at the stunned Baris, killing them.
With the last Bari killed, Barinade raised itself again, using its last 5 Baris to swing them around its core quickly, using as a loose, protective field
Barinade closed in on Link first, as he was closer to him.
"Link!" Malon said horrified while he kept tossing the boomerang at the parasite monster, but the Baris were moving so fast around the core that the boomerang deflected back to Link.
When the last time he tried, his boomerang deflected away, dropping close to Malon!
Link was then hit hard by several Baris! "AAAAGH!" Link screamed in agony as he was hit to a wall!
"NO!" Malon panicked as Link was injured.
"Grab the boomerang!" Navi called to Malon "Hurry!"
Malon began to panic but was able to grab the boomerang while Barinade closed in on Malon, ready to hit her with its protected core of Baris. She breathed loudly as she ran backwards while trying hard to aim the boomerang.
Link groaned while trying to get up, but was horrified that Malon was about to be attacked by the anemone parasite "Malon, LOOK OUT!"
But when Malon saw an opening, she waisted no time and tossed the boomerang and stunned Barinade, leaving the Baris paralyzed too. With fury in her eyes, Malon drew her sword as a blue light came from hers before shining red and performed a strong spin attack, killing the last Baris!
Barinade raised itself up and shot with its shooting tentacles countless electrical beams at Malon and Link, avoiding its attacks. But Malon quickly gained confident and tossed the boomerang again, stunning the anemone monster.
Link and Malon both simultaneously attacked Barinade and slashed its core "LET RUTO GO, YOU MONSTER!" Link screamed in anger as green blood sprung out of its wounded core!
Barinade redrew back to the floor and used its tentacles again to fire more electrical beams at the two little heroes out of desperation, but wasn't able to hit them as Link and Malon avoided its strikes.
Barinade floated around, using all its power to kill Link and Malon!
Malon tossed the boomerang again, stunning Barinade. And with one fierce simultaneous jump attack, Link and Malon slashed Barinades core open!
The anemone parasite remained frozen as purple-pink polyps on its core and tentacles quickly developed, dissolving its shooting tentacles first before more polyps formed until Barinade explodes into green gas an green blood splattered everywhere!
Link and Malon were both soaked in green blood, but neither cared as they quickly ran over to the still unconscious Ruto, lying on the ground between Barinade's remains.
"Ruto!" Link and Malon called, while Link took her in his arms, shocking her body, hoping she was still alive.
"Ruto! C'mon, wake up…! Please… don't be dead…" Link begged.
After a few more seconds, Ruto suddenly spits out green-blueish fluids as she coughed while catching her breath.
Link and Malon sighed in relief that she was still alive.
"Ruto… are you okay?" Link asked softly.
Ruto slowly opened her eyes, finding herself in Link's arms. She formed a small smile before she gave one more cough and asked seriously "What took you so long…?!"
Link and Malon both laughed while Link hugged Ruto.
Ruto gave a short gasp as Link hugged her. Slowly, the Zora princess began to blush and while forming a small smile again, she returned the hug.
A ring of blue light appeared in the middle of the room. Link slowly broke the hug with Ruto and both him and Malon helped Ruto to carry her to the light. All three looked around the room before entering the light, seeing that the sickness caused on the whale vanished, knowing that the curse that plagued Jabu-Jabu was broken. When they stepped into the blue light, it shined more, making Link, Malon and Ruto to float upwards, healing all their wounds.
The ray of light brough Link and Malon both onto a fallen tree, back in Zora's Fountain. While Link rubbed his eyes cause of the shining light, he suddenly notices Ruto was standing really close to his face with a sweet smile, which startled him, making him fall backwards off the trunk, into the water.
Malon couldn't help but to laugh cause of Link's reaction.
Ruto however ignored Malon and jumps into the water, swimming close to Link with the same smile "You! You were really cool… cooler than I thought you would…" Ruto swam even closer to Link "So strong… so brave…"
Awkwardly, Link swam a bit backwards "Uhm… you're welcome."
"Don't be so modest! You saved Lord Jabu-Jabu… you even saved me… thank you…"
Malon raised an eyebrow while watching down at Link and Ruto, being confused of what was going on between them.
With her sweet voice, Ruto asked Link "So… since you saved me, I guess I should reward you. What do you wish? Just tell me…"
Link blinked a few times "You mean… anything?"
"Of course! Heeheehee… don't be shy. I can tell what you're thinking…"
"Oh, uhm…" Link said before he smiled and told what reward he would like "If you insist, then… me and Malon would like your Spiritual Stone."
Ruto was a bit surprised when Link asked her that "You mean the Spiritual Stone of Water, Zora's Sapphire… my mother's stone… don't you?"
Link nodded "Yes. It would… really help for my and Malon's quest."
Ruto blinked a few times before looking away, trying to hide her blush as she took the Spiritual Stone from her seaweed handbag "My… mother gave it to me when I was very little and… said I should give it only to the man who I will be engaged to." Link didn't understand that part quiet yet "You might call it… the Zora's Engagement ring…"
Link scratched the back of his head "Engagement? What is-"
But before he could finish his question, Ruto suddenly bursts with happiness and enthusiastically handed her Spiritual Stone to Link "All right! I'll… give it you… Link… my hero!"
Link was a bit surprised with Ruto suddenly handing over Zora's Sapphire to him. But then smiled and thanked her "Thank you, Ruto."
"No Link… thank you." Ruto said while moving closer to him and sighed softly, already imagining herself and Link walking over to the altar "And…" Ruto added "…I look forward to you teach ming me how to fight…"
Still, Link didn't understand why Ruto was this all of the sudden, but just smiled and gave a nod "And I look forward to teach you a few tricks, princess."
Malon on the other hand wasn't liking the way that Ruto was 'flirting' with Link, or so she thought she was, making her to cross her arms while she frowned. She then jumped down into the water, joining Ruto and Link
While all three of them swam back to shore and were about to walk back to Zora's Domain, Ruto asked Link "Uhm… Link?"
"Yes?" he asked as they stopped.
Shyly, Ruto asked him "Will you… please promise me you won't tell my father?"
At first, Link didn't understand, but thinking it was because of his promise to train her one day, Link nodded "Sure, Ruto. I promise I won't tell your father."
Ruto gave Link a hug "Thank you." And planted a kiss on his cheek, surprising Link a bit, but Malon suddenly felt some anger rising inside her, not knowing why she felt like this. "Now… let's go back, shall we?" Ruto asked before skipping back to Zora's Domain.
Link glanced at Malon, who crossed her arms and glared at Link.
"What?" Link asked confused.
"Well… you…!" Malon nearly wanted to say, but then she sighed and shook her head as she made her anger go away, for now "Nothing…. Let's just… go back, shall we?"
Link smiled and took her hand, walking together back to Zora's Domain.
In Malon's head, she was confused of the emotions she just felt when Ruto was, as she thought it was, flirting with Link and… planted that kiss on his cheek "Why am I feeling like this? What is wrong with me?"
King Zora was happily overjoyed to have his daughter back and hugged her "Oh, my dear sweet Ruto! I'm so glad that you're back!" but then he told her in a fatherly way "Ruto… you mustn't do something like that again, you understand? I was worried sick. Heck, the whole kingdom was worried sick!"
Ruto rolled her eyes as they broke the hug "Daddy, I'm fine. I'm alive and well…" as Link and Malon came into King Zora's throne room, Ruto smiled brightly as she told her father "They were soooo cool! Link and Malon, they… saved me from that monster, and there was this parasite creature that was like this big and they slashed him into pieces! And… Lord Jabu-Jabu is all better again. They saved him too!"
King Zora sighed as he smiled and glanced at the two little heroes "Link… Malon… my thanks is great. You saved my daughter and saved our guardian deity. You two are brave heroes of the Zora race. Thank you."
Link shrugged while Malon smiled sweetly "We did what we could, King Zora." Malon said.
Navi then flew out of Link's hat, saying "Well, now that we have all the three Spiritual Stones, we should go back to Princess Zelda, and fast."
Link and Malon exchanged a short glance, giving each other a nod "You're right." Link said "We should go and see Zelda at once."
King Zora had heard what they were saying and asked them "Oh… don't you both want to stay longer? I can organize a great feast in your honors. After all, you've saved my daughter and Lord Jabu-Jabu."
Link and Malon thought that was very kind of King Zora, but Link politely declined the offer "That is very very kind of you, sire. But… me and Malon have a very important mission, so… we have to go."
King Zora sighed in disappointment, but then smiled and gave a nod "I understand. And… you two are always welcome back to Zora's Domain. Our doors are always open to you."
Link and Malon smiled and gave a small bow to King Zora "Thank you, King Zora. We sure will come and visit again someday."
As Link and Malon were about to leave, Ruto ran over to them, showing a serious face to Link "You better come back to…!" but held herself and told quietly "… you know? Train me…?"
Link smiled at her, giving her a wink "Don't worry. We'll be back one day and…" he then whispered in her ear "…perhaps you can train yourself from time to time?"
Ruto blushed for a moment, before she nodded "Yes! I… sure will! Goodbye!" and then skipped back to stand close to her father.
Link and Malon waved the Zoras goodbye as they left Zora's Domain and jumped out of the entrance, pass the waterfall.
Now… they had to go back to Princess Zelda, and stop Ganondorf from gaining the Triforce.
A/N: So, Link and Malon finally have the third Spiritual Stone and are now headed back towards Hyrule Castle.
I'm going to focus on my other stories for a while before going to work on this one again, so be patient and I will be back on this story soon.
See you all then!
