She had been in the stomach before, but never had he been pulsing so violently. Even his tongue was lashing about her body, knocking her down when she attempted to rise. Ruto huffed, finally managing to get herself into an upright sitting position. "Master, did I do something to anger you? Did the sacrifice not suit you? The fishermen decided to try something new and-"
The princess was interrupted by the dripping of Jabu-Jabu's saliva. Though she cringed as it slid down her finds, she ignored it otherwise. It was more important to retrieve the Sapphire from wherever it had fallen to. "Master- my friend, if I may call you that- I wanted to enter you, but why did you steal away from me the Zora's Sapphire? Usually you respond well to it..." He only growled, causing the walls around her to ripple.
Alright, master, I'm done. I can't understand why you're growling at me... So this will be a battle of stamina, won't it? You give up the Sapphire before I get rescued, and I won't tell on you, okay?" Jabu-Jabu only rumbled as if laughing. The spoiled Zora believed that her father could fix everything.
Though if he could cure the behemoth of his curse, the Lord wouldn't complain.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"So what if she isn't a Hylian or Kokiri? She'll probably still be good for your extremely lax tastes." Link glared at the hovering nuisance, his eyebrow cocked. The fairy sighed, "So what if she's a fish, Link? It wouldn't be the first time you fell for a foreign species!"
Again he looked at her, blinking stupidly. Navi sighed again. "Do I have to spell it out for you? There's no way Malon is fully Hylian. At least, I've never heard of one with bright red hair! Her mother was probably a Gerudo or something." Istantly images of the man Ganondorf with longer hair and a dress flashed into Link's mind. He cringed. "You do know that the Gerudos are a fully female race, right? That man... he's an exception, I guess."
He still looked troubled and slightly disturbed, so Navi dropped her theories on Malon's origins. Perhaps she could ask the stable girl later. After all, they were bound to meet up again. "We should probably go see the king, Link. He might have the Sacred Stone of Water, anyway." The tunic-clad boy nodded before running off in the wrong direction. The fairy made a mental note to forcibly beat him into listening to their tour guide later.
"Hey! You're going the wrong way, idiot!"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"The storm clouds are growing darker, Impa. That man... have you gathered information on the disease that my father has?' The massive woman clenched her fingers into a tight fist, turning her knuckles white. No wonder the consort had looked so suspicious...
"The is no such sickness, princess. The Gerudo Nabooru lied to us, and now the desert scum sits upon your father's seat." Zelda turned from the altar she had been praying to, her bright blue eyes wide with shock.
"What? Then what of my father, Impa? What has-"
"The maids say that the scent of death oozes from his chamber. The filthy traitors say only that it is part of their 'desert disease' and not to worry about it. I managed to pick the locks while they were eating and..." She trailed off, blinking back tears. It was bad enough to see the corpse, but to tell his daughter what had happened would be too painful.
However, Zelda only nodded, her hands shaking slightly. "He is dead. Gone to join Farore for his many great years as king." Impa swallowed.
"Yes."
The princess sighed, dropping back towards the altar and tracing the engraved Triforce. Two wings, like those of a Great Owl or Eagle spread from the sacred symbol. "Would it be wrong of me to say I am not surprised?" She gazed up at her nursemaid, tears filling her eyes. Impa shook her head. "How many more much die for them to get their wishes? My father... he was a good man. Blunt and arrogant, but always loyal."
"Farore will welcome him greatly into her domain, while the traitorous Din watches in envy!" Zelda frowned at Impa's words.
"Why would she of Power betray her sisters? You speak treason against them!" Impa hissed.
"On Ganondorf's hand rests the Triforce, with only Power filled in. The other sisters, Widom and Courage, are scratched only crudely into the leather." Impa's voice trembled with rage. Zelda shook her head again.
"No, Impa. None of them may take sides in any mortal war. My only hope is that Link can return to us soon." Impa snorted.
"You really trust that clueless child to do anything right? He's an ignorant buffoon, a forest-born whelp, a -"
"You dare question my orders, Impa?" She said it so suddenly and snappily that the Sheikah had been caught off guard. "Are you willing to put your life on the line for me?" Impa nodded awkwardly.
"Of course, princess..."
"Then go and saddle up a horse for us. I would normally say Queen of Hearts, for she's fast and nimble, but she's also rather rowdy... So grab Armada. Do not look like you're hiding something. Just go do it, quickly if you could." Impa bowed, slowly departing. A small smile grew on her face.
She would make a fine queen someday.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"My lovely daughter... Oh how I her so! A note in a bottle was all she left me... Why Lord Jabu-Jabu, have you let this befall her?" The giant Zora was bawling controllably, leaving his attendant to deal with Link.
"My king has been taking Ruto's disappearance badly, as you can see. Only three months prior he lost his third wife. Plus, Ruto is the only survivor of six children. He's understandably very concerned about her." Navi blinked, lowering her light.
"What caused his children to die?" The attendant frowned, scratching his chin. Link cocked his head, causing his dark blonde hair to fall to one side.
"Illness and starvation, then one was drowned by Jabu-Jabu himself." Navi flickered in shock.
"Sounds like he wants the king's children to die!"
He nodded. "Yes. His father tried to kill Jabu-Jabu to take his golden scales and prove himself as a god. The only reason that Ruto lives is that he chose her personally to be his servant. Now only she may feed him. Of course she's a spoiled brat, but she keeps Jabu-Jabu happy." Link frowned. The king sniffed, finally looking at his guests.
"Oh... hello. I apologize. My name is King Zora, ruler of the Domain..." He let out another choked sob, "Again I apologize. You see, my daughter, the princess and holder of Zora's Sapphire has recently disappeared." Link and Navi exchanged a look before the fairy moved forward.
"Well, me and the idiot here recently assisted the Gorons. I suppose we can help you, if you'd let us." Link shivered. When the fairy had that tone of voice, there was no denying her. And considering the king's thoughtful look, he knew that the Zora agreed.
All he could hope for was that Ruto hadn't got herself stuck in a long winding dungeon.
A/N: Long time no update, huh? Well, I had a band competition last weekend and was sick for a while. So yeah, now I'm writing again 8D Yaaay~
So yeah, that's... about it. Reviews are appreciated!