Holy Shit! Did it really take me this damn long to finish this!? I actually finished this a few days about but forgot to upload it. I just wanted to get this out now so there might be some errors here and there, but hopefully Miss LEva will be able to work her magic and make it all pretty for you all. I got a new laptop, and I'm working on the next chapter right now so hopefully I'll have it done in the next month or so.

Legend of Zelda: Urban Legend

Chapter nine: Deep blue

The life of a teacher is far from glamorous. Sigmund Auru knew this all too well. However, the low wages never really bothered him. It always made him feel good to help fill the empty spaces in the minds of Hyrule's youth. However, what did get to him were…Well, he couldn't very well say the stupid ones now could he? Let's say…The ones who lack enthusiasm. Yes, that would work. The kind of kids who would only come to college because they felt they had to. The ones that didn't know what they wanted to do with their lives. Or worse, the ones that only came because their parents were making them.

Auru loosened his tie and plopped down at his large mahogany desk. He glanced at the clock to see it was a little after 9 o'clock. He looked down at his desk at the ungraded test papers, most of which would not get higher than a C, and thought of his star pupil.

It always made his day to read a paper written by Zelda Nohanson. Well written, well researched, strong arguments, excellent grammar. And best of all he could tell that she had a true hunger to learn more. She was going to make one hell of a historian one day. He still couldn't believe that she was the fabled Princess of Destiny.

Thanks to his advanced age, Auru didn't think he'd ever actually meet the Princess in his life time. He had done all that his father had done when he was younger. He told his son about the old legends, and the others in the group. His didn't believe any of it, which didn't really surprise Auru all that much. Hell, Auru didn't believe his father when he was first told of their family legacy. He wasn't exactly sure when he started to believe, but he just hoped his son would eventually as well.

Auru was pulled back from his ruminations by a knock on the door. It opened to the imposing form of Prof. Dragmire. "Hello, Sigmund." He said in a gruff but innocent voice.

Auru stiffened, "Hello Ganondorf." He said curtly. What can I do for you?"

Ganon merely kept up his cordial demeanor "Can't a friend come see his colleague without wanting something?"

But with Zelda's revelation last week, Auru had stopped buying what Ganon had to sell. "I just wanted to come see you. It feels like it been so long since we've talked."

Ever since figuring out that Ganondorf was the Dark Lord reborn, Auru had taken care to avoid him. "Yes, well I've been very busy." He taps the tests on the desk to keep them in a neat stack just to exenterate his point.

Ganon just smiles, "Of course, Sigmund. I'll leave you to finish your work." He move towards the door, but stopped before he was out of the room completely, "Oh, but before I go. I was wondering: When did you last see Miss Nohanson?"

Auru flinched visibly at the mention of the young Princess. He hesitated slightly as Ganon made his way back to the desk, "I-I'm sure I don't know Ganondorf. Now if you would please…"

Ganon slammed his hand down on the desk, cracking it slightly, "That's very interesting, Auru. Because I spoke with administrations and they told me YOU requested she take a week off of classes." He said with a sinister grin on his face.

Auru was shocked for a moment, but then stood up defiantly, "I will never tell you where that girl is, Ganondorf."

Ganon straightened up, putting his behind his back with a smug grin on his face, "Don't worry Sigmund, I already know where she is." Auru's eyes widened in utter surprise as Ganon walked around his desk and closed the curtains. Yes it was late, but he didn't want any witnesses and you can never really be too safe.

"I just wanted to know how co-operative you'd be. Shame really, I will miss our discussions about history."

"Oh Din, I'm gonna die!" Midna bent over the railing to throw up for the third time since the ferry left port. Link held her hair and rubbed her back to offer some kind of comfort. She pulled herself back over the rail and slid down to sit on the boat deck.

They had gotten to Lake Hylia at the middle of the night, only to find out the only way to get to Zora's Domain is by a ferry that runs from eight to five. Or a renting a row boat, though the rental place closed at around the same time, or swimming.

Midna actually suggested stealing a boat, but Link and Zelda shot the idea down. They used some of the rupees Renado had given them to buy a hotel room and wait for the ferry to start running in the morning. Unfortunately, the ferry tickets coast a lot more than they thought, and they now only had enough for the trip back home.

Midna put her head between her legs and took slow, deep breaths while Link rubbed her back again, "Mid, y'know you probably could have just bought some sea sickness pills before we got on board right?"

"Well, I didn't know I was going to get sea sick until the damn boat started moving. And besides if we did that there wouldn't have been enough rupees for all three of us to get on board." She suppresses a gag, "But if I knew this was gonna happen I wouldn't have gotten on board in the first place." Midna shoots up and throws herself over the rail to empty her stomach again. "Oh god! Someone kill me!"

Thankfully, a deck hand came along and escorted Midna to the infirmary. With his best friend taken care of, he goes to look for Zelda. The ferry was full of Hylian tourists and vacationers looking to see the "exotic" Zora culture of the Domain. While the Zora were largely isolated in the past, not unlike the Gorons, they have in the past century or so opened the Domain for other races to come and learn more about the tribe.

A bit of the interest come from the fact all of the water in Hyrule comes from Zora's Domain. The Zora allowed the Hylians to see at least the waterfall that protects the Zora city underwater. That ended up starting a kind of chain reaction that eventually to Zora's Domain becoming a huge tourist attraction. Now, whenever someone says they are going to Lake Hylia, it almost goes without saying that they are going to Zora's Domain.

He finds her leaning against a rail at the front of the ferry, looking very deep in thought. He walks up next to her and mimics her position.

After a moment of silence, Link asks, "So what's on your mind?"

"A lot." Zelda answers simply. Link, just nodded his head; letting her organize her thoughts. "I guess, I'm thinking most about Ruto and the other Zora. I prayed for Nayru to watch over the Zora last night, but I just feel like something's already happened…That we're to late…"

Link puts a reassuring hand on Zelda's shoulder "Don't worry Zelda, I'm sure everything's fine."

"God I hope so."

They fell back into a morose silent as the ferry past by a waterfall. They could both hear the tour guide tell a group about whatever significance it had, but neither was really paying attraction. "So, do you really think Ruto can get us the sapphire like you said?" Link asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"She should be able to. She's the tribal leader's daughter." Zelda said, absent-mindedly.

"Wow, really?" Zelda just nodded, "Huh. Where'd you meet the Zora tribe leader's daughter?"

"Privet school." Zelda ground the two words out with the kind of venom she'd usually save for talking about Prof. Dragmire, her downcast expression changing to one more of anger and disgust.

"Not too many happy memories?" Link asked with a smirk.

Zelda shook her head slightly, "Let's just say that it was tolerable thank to Ruto."

Link chuckled softly at Zelda's sour look, then asked, "So…are you rich or something?"

Zelda looked at him like he had just asked the stupidest question she'd ever heard, "Link, you do know my father is Daphnes Nohanson, right?"

Link just stares at her with a blank expression.

"The senator?"

"Oh! No, I didn't know that."

Zelda just smiled while shaking her head, "You don't read newspapers very often do you?"

Link rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed, "I could stand to be a bit more informed"

Zelda chuckled slightly before her pensive expression returned. Examining Zelda's face for a moment, Link said, "Hey, let check out the rest of the boat and talk to some people. I mean, you are the Princess, you should get to know your subjects."

Zelda couldn't help but smile as Link lead her around the ferry. They spent the rest of the boat ride talking with other tourists. There were some genuinely interesting people on board, like a couple from Labrynna that, in their old-age, is trying to see every major land mark in the world. It had helped calm Zelda down and take her mind off the possible fate of her Zora friend; at least for the moment.

The ferry docked at the end of the river, letting its passengers disembark. Link and Zelda carried Midna off the boat and set her down, gently, on a bench. Midna, looking a little green, well...greener, in the face, supressed another gag, "Oh, thank god we're off that Din forsaken thing. I wasn't sure how much longer I could last."

"Uh, Midna? You do realize we'll have to take the ferry back once we're done here, right?" Link asked, unsure how the Goth will react.

Midna just stared at her for a second before turning to Zelda, who held the duffle bag with their weapons in it, "Give me one of your arrows I'm gonna stab myself in the neck."

Zelda chuckled softly, "Sorry Midna, we still kinda need you." Midna just signed heavily and put her head between her leg to take deep breaths, muttering something about "Selfish Princesses".

After taking a few minutes to let Midna rest, the three of them asked the tour guide with a pretty impressive afro direction to Zora's Domian. She pointed to a natural land bridge over the river, "Just take that bridge over there and stay on the riverbank for about twenty minutes until you see a massive waterfall, you can't miss it. Though, I'm not sure how much good it'll do you."

Link and Zelda shared a look before Link turned back to the tour guide, "What do you mean?"

The tour guide, Iza going by the name tag, looked conserned as she told them, "Well, the Zora have been turning people away for the last couple of days." She looks up towards the direction of the Domain, "I'm not sure what's going on, but they must be having some serious troubles."

Zelda's consern for the Zora only grew after hearing this new bit of information, and it showed clearly on her face. Link tried to remain calm, mostly for her sake, "Thanks away."

Iza smiled brightly, "No problem, glad to help. Stop by any time and be sure to check out our world famous fishing hole." She said, clearly as part of her job. Link , Zelda, and Midna waved her off as they made their way to the Domain.

Like Iza said, it took about twenty minutes before they came upon the largest waterfall in all of Hyrule. The three looked at the massive natural wonder in awe before a guard stopped them, "I'm sorry, kids. Zora's domain is closed at the moment, we aren't allowing tourests in." The Zora was dressed in kevlar body armor over a wetsuit and a fish headed helmet with bulbous eyes. "I'll have to ask you three to turn back."

Link scratched the back of his neck while answering, "Uh, yeah, we kinda can't do that." The guard moved his hand to the gun holstered on his belt. "U-uh...I-I mean w-we, uh...Zelda little help here."

Zelda stepped in front of Link the adress the guard, "I'm sorry, but we really need to see princess Ruto."

"Yeah, that's not gonna happen." The guard said, his hand still on his gun, "Now leave before I'm force to take lethal action."

Zelda held up her hands to appear as non-threatening as possible, "Okay, okay...just call Ruto. tell her Zelda Nohanson is here. That's all I want."

She couldn't see the guard's eyes behind the helmet, but Zelda assumed he was sizing her up, considering to allow the requst. After about a minute, the guard tapped the side his helmet to turn on a radio, "I got an issue at the base of the falls. Go to the princess's room and ask if she knows a Zelda Nohanson." He turns back to the visitors, his hand still on his gun, "Do. Not. Move."

Several minutes passed before someone called him back. Afteristening to what they were saying, he truned to Zelda, "You can go on up Miss Nohanson." Zelda smiled at the two cooks and walked forward. Link and Midna followed, but the gaurd stopped them. "Only, Miss Nohanson."

Zelda turned to look back at Link and Midna, "But-"

"It's alright Zelda." Link said before Zelda could argue, "We can just wiat here for you."

Zelda nodded and walked towards the Domain. At the base of the waterfall, another Zora guard stopped her, "Zelda Nohanson?" She nodded, yes, "I'm to escourt you to the Zora city, where you will await Princess Ruto. Is that understood?"

"Yes, thank you." The guard walked over to a keypad on a wall next to a shutter gate and enter in a code. The gate opened and the guard gestured for Zelda to follow her. The two walked up the trail to the top of the waterfall in silence. But soon Zelda's curiousity became to much for her to resist. "If you don't mind me asking, I was wondering why you've been turning people away from the Domain."

"I'm afraid that's Zora business. You aren't autherized to know such information." She answered without looking at her. Neither said anything else until they reached to the top of the waterfall. Zelda took a moment to look over the edge, but the sheer hight caused her to become light headed. She stumbled back but the guard kept her from falling on her ass.

"Be careful Miss Nohanson. A lot of people are hit with vertigo at this hight." Zelda just nodded and followed the gaurd into the cave the river water flowed from. Inside was a sizable grotto with stairs circling a pool with acted as the enterance to the underwater Zora city.

The guard walked Zelda to the edge of the pool after taking off her gun belt and placing it in a locker, "Wait here Miss Nohanson, I'll be right back with Princess Ruto."

"Alright." Zelda said before cocking her head slightly to the side, "What's you name?"

The guard looked at her, but obviously Zelda couldn't see the look she was giving her, "Tassa."

"Thank you for this, Tassa. And you can just call me Zelda."

"Alright then. I'll be right back Zelda."

Tassa dove into the pool, leaving reborn Princess alone to look around the grotto. The last time she was here was with Ruto. There were people shopping around the grotto visiting the different stands and kiosks selling whatever pieces of worthless crap idiots just love to buy to prove they know a little something about a different culture.

But now, the grotto is empty. There are a few stands here and there, but no trinkets or souvenirs sitting on them, or someone manning it. No sound of chattering and haggling overwhelming her ears. Instead the roar of the Domain's falls is the only thing that can be heard. Zelda felt oddly at peace here. The Zora were supposed to be the favored people of Nayru. Maybe that's why she always felt an affinity for the aquatic race.

A splash from pool alerted Zelda that someone had come from the underwater city. And if that didn't the high-pitched squee would have, "ZELDA!" a young female Zora sprung up from the pool, bounced over to Zelda, but stopped herself from hugging her. "Oops! Still wet." She leans in and kisses the air near both of Zelda's cheeks.

"Do you need anything else, Princess?" The guard said emerging from the pool a moment after Ruto.

Ruto just rolled her eyes, "No, we're fine." The guard nodded while pounding her fist to her chest in some form of salute before walking out of the grotto to return to her post. "For Nayru's sake, these guards." Zelda heard Ruto muttering under her breath before turning back to her friend.

"OMG! It is so good to see you again Zelly. How long has it been?'

Zelda couldn't help but smile at Ruto's enthusiasm. Her seemingly limitless energy was one of the things Zelda loved most about the Zora. "At least two years. Too long in my opinion." Ruto had barely changed since Zelda last saw her. She was still an inch or two taller than her, her fins around her hips and wrists still strongly resembled a dress, and the top of her head was more diamond shaped, fairly common among female Zora. What did change are her ear rings. Last time Zelda saw Ruto, she'd always wear large hoops, but now she's wearing smaller sapphire one, probably because the hoops would be too unwieldy now that she spends more time underwater.

They sit down on a few steps surrounding grotto. "Yeah, no kidding. So…What brings you here? Just had to see lil ol' me?"

Zelda just chuckled softly, "I wish it was that simple; but no." Ruto looked confused. "I need to ask you for a favor."

The aquatic princess may have been a party girl, but she could be serious when the situation called for it. And sensing Zelda's mood, she figured now saw one of those times. "Yeah, Zel…No problem. I'll get you anything you need"

"Good." Zelda took a deep breath before starting, "Ruto, I need the Zora's Sapphire."

Ruto just stared at Zelda for a moment. Then she started shaking her head with an annoyed look on her face. "I don't fucking believe this." She shot up and walked towards the pool in the center.

Zelda followed her up, "Wait, Ruto. I know this might seem crazy, but I need the sapphire. It's a small gem stone-"

"I KNOW what it is!" She yelled, turning on a heel back to Zelda. The act took Zelda by surprise, and hesitated to say anything else. "What I want to is why YOU want that stupid thing."

"What do you mean?"

"I. HATE. That little blue hunk of rock. All my life people have been telling me 'How important it is that I learn about the Zora's history.' 'That I must take my responsibility as the Sage of Water seriously'."

Zelda stared at Ruto, a bewildered look plastered on her face. "Sage of-"

"Like I care about any of that crap! It's the 21st goddamn century! All that magic stuff is totally outdated!" She looked down with a sneer, "Probably why it didn't help my father."

Zelda's mind was working a mile a second, not sure what bit of information to latch onto first. "You know…about…"She shook her head, "Okay, Ruto, slow down. What's this about your father?"

The furious look Ruto held faded quickly, leaving her with a more sullen expression instead. "My dad's sick. Like, really sick. We brought every doctor and shaman in the tribe to examine him…but…" Ruto sunk to her knees as she began to cry. "No one…No one's been able to do anything to help. The doctors say he only has a few weeks left. And that's if he's lucky."

Zelda walked over and kneeled down next to her, "Oh, Ruto…"

Zelda tried to place a comforting hand on Ruto's shoulder, but she swats it away, "And do you know why he's sick?" Zelda just sat there. Ruto clearly wasn't done ranting yet as she stood up and started pacing, "Because some blue chick showed up, demanded that stupid rock, and when dad didn't give it to her; guess what happened!?"

"She cursed him…"

"My dad is dying because of that dumb thing. I would have smashed it years ago if I thought of it. And now…Now…" Ruto was at tears at this point, finding it hard to continue. "Why do you want it? Why do you want something that's been ruining my life!?"

Zelda, now standing as well, started at Ruto with sadness in her eyes, trying to think of a way to explain the situation. She finally decided to just be as direct as possible, so she took off her glove, "This is why." She holds up her hand showing Ruto the Triforce on the back.

Ruto started wide eyed at Zelda's hand. She took a few steps closer to the Reborn Princess and ran a thumb across the mark. "This is real…" Then she looked Zelda right in the eyes, "You're real…"

Zelda just nodded. "The Hero is with me too." She said putting her glove back on. "That why we need the Sapphire. To…"

"Unlock the Master Sword." Again, Zelda nodded. Ruto smirked slightly, "Heh, I guess all those old stories mom used to tell me were true."

"Seems that way." Zelda said with a shrug. "Ruto. I know you're going through a lot right now. And I wish I-"

"The bad guy…" Ruto suddenly interrupted Zelda, "That evil, demon, thief king dude. He's back too. Isn't he?"

Zelda hesitated before answering, "Yes."

Ruto sighed, "That, kinda makes my problems not seem as important, huh?"

"Of course your problems are important, Ruto." Zelda placed a hand on the Zora's shoulder. "You may have always had a problem with priorities," She said with a hint of humor in her voice, a smile finding its way onto Ruto's face "But your concern for your father IS important. Don't think that it isn't."

Ruto couldn't help but pull Zelda into a tight hug, which the Princess returned in full, "How do you always know the exact right thing to say."

"What can I say? Triforce of Wisdom" They separate with a more content expression gracing Ruto's face.

"Alright so…Zora's Sapphire, right?"

"That's right. We still need it. Could you get it for us?"

Ruto shook her head, "The Sapphire is in the city."

Zelda's shoulders shagged, "It isn't?"

"No it's in an old temple in Lake Hylia. It was built so only a Zora could enter it."

"Great." The Princess grumbled.

The aquatic princess however just smirked, "That is until you smart lil Hylians invented scuba."

Zelda's face brightened significant. "So you can take us to find it?"

Ruto winked at her, "Anything for my girl." Ruto jumped back into pool at the center of the grotto. She was in there for a few moments before popping back out of the water with another guard following close behind.

"Alright, let get going."

"You're free to go?"

Ruto sighed and rolled her eyes, "Well…Yeah. Except I have to bring a guard with me."

Zelda nodded complacently, "Of course, I understand."

The Three of them left the grotto as the guard mutter "At least someone understands." Under her breath.

Link and Midna had been waiting for almost an hour now. The guard didn't talk to them. They ran out of things to say to each other after a few of minutes. And now they were sitting around waiting. Midna had curled up against a rock to take a quick nap, while Link just sat by the river bank. Man, I wish I had a fishing line or something. He thought as a school of fish swum by.

The guard suddenly stood at attention, grabbing Link's. He looked over to see Zelda walking back along with another guard and a Zora girl. He stood up and walked over to Midna to wake her up.

"Go away, Zant. It's too damn early."

Creasing his brow, Link shook Midna a little and she jolted awake. "Wha…What's happening?"

"Zelda's back." Link pointed over his shoulder.

Midna stretches before standing up, "About time."

"I hope you two weren't too bored while waiting for us." Zelda said when she came up to them.

"My ass is asleep." Midna deadpanned.

Zelda giggled softly, "Sorry."

"Zelda, you shouldn't be apologizing. I seriously have to teach you how to be a princess." Ruto said.

Midna's indignation was clear as day, "I'm sorry, who is this now."

"Oh, right. This is Ruto." Zelda says gesturing to the Zora Princess. "She said she could help us find the Zora's Sapphire."

Link stepped forward, excited, "Really? That's great!"

Before Zelda could reply, Ruto cleared her throat and whispered to her, "Introduce us."

"O-oh, um. Well, Ruto this is Link Masters, the Hero I was telling you about." Link quirked a confused eyebrow, but waved a greeting all the same. "And this is his friend Mid-"

"Yeah, fascinating." Ruto pushes past Zelda and walks right up to Link, "So, Link…You the Hero?"

"Uh…Yeah?"

Ruto leaned against Link's chest tracings circles on his shirt with her finger, she said, "Well, how'd you like to be a Hero AND a prince?"

"Oh my god, Ruto!" Zelda pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration of her friend.

"What! Tell me why I shouldn't I try to get a piece of Hylian hunk?"

"Link and Zelda are married." Midna stated with an amused smirk.

"No we're not!" The Hero and Princess yelled in unison, both their faces warming up.

The Goth, however just waved their denial off, "Ah, don't listen to them. They just have a problem with PDA. Let's get going." She starts walking away from the Domain.

Ruto looks back at Link, slightly disappointed. "Well, at least I know my girl has good taste in men." Patting Link shoulder while walking past him, the Zora princess follows Midna; the female guard trailing close behind.

Link and Zelda glanced at each other with a blush before following their friends.