A/N: I completely spaced this out last week and I feel kind of bad about it, but to my guest review from two weeks ago that's feeling the story and my writing, thank you. I've said it once. I'll say it again. A little encouragement goes a long way, guys. If you're into this story, too, dropping a review costs zero dollars and makes me smile for a few days. How about another chapter then, yeah?

Swimming around Zora's Domain was always so peaceful. Moving lazily in the water. It's centering. Now that the water wouldn't boil anyone's flesh right off their bones, I'm not the only one that could enjoy that feeling anymore. It made the impending threat looming over the kingdom drift out of my thoughts. I could lay weightless in this water for hours and be perfectly content.

"Link," Luna knocked me out of my serene headspace, "I hate to take you out of your daydreams, but we're on a bit of a time crunch. We have a Zora queen to take care of. Hopefully, she won't hate you anymore and Prince Raol got her to calm down."

"Alright," I followed her up to the surface, passing dozens of Zoras on the way. They figured out that the waters are finally cooled off. And that's because of us.

Since I've been traveling across Hyrule with Luna, I've started notice how every time we helped someone, she'd stop shying away. Four different Zoras stopped us on our way to the surface and each one would bring a different and brighter light to her face. Once we got back above water, it only amplified. Left and right, Zoras were stopping us to say their thank yous.

I could see it in the bright blue of her eyes. Luna didn't know how to process this. For once, she was more than just Ganondorf's muscle. She was more than just the Gerudo princess. Right here and right now, she proved herself just as much the Hero of Time as I was. And I couldn't be prouder of her. Just before we got to the throne room, I draped my arm around her in hopes of her settling down. Although she flinched at my touch, Luna began to relax.

"Luna," I worried, "Are you alright?"

"It's weird, you know?" Luna took a seat at her default resting spot. I guess any big rock would do, "This hero thing. I've had people speak my name in hushed whispers for so long out of sheer terror. Hearing it cheered and celebrated across Hyrule. It's a definite adjustment. That's for sure."

"Welcome to being a hero for a change," I sat with her, "You've come a long way from when we met in the Lost Woods."

"I'm not trying to kill you," she joked darkly.

"That's true." It still got a cheap laugh out of me, "Not that you would anyway."

"Of course not."

"But this whole hero thing," I sat with her, "It comes with a few perks, but the feeling of doing something right is more rewarding than all the others."

"Because your nice house in Kakariko rent free isn't a perk," Luna teased, "That one must be rough to take."

"You know what I meant," I rolled my eyes, "But no. That's not rough at all."

"Thought so."

"Come on," I gave her a little shove, "Let's go see Ruto."

"Good luck," Luna smirked a bit, "Your girlfriend seemed pretty mad last time you saw her. I doubt she's come out of her ivory towers."

"You don't know that." But it wouldn't surprise me. Ruto could hold a grudge like no one's business. When we got up to the throne room, the doors were still shut and two guards stood outside.

"It's not pretty in there, Link," one of them warned.

"Yeah," the other one added, "Prince Raol went in there an hour or two ago and she was still throwing things. I hope he's ok."

"The prince is pretty resilient," the first one thought, "And Queen Ruto wouldn't dare hurt him. At least I hope not."

"Can we go in?" Luna asked, "We did just save Zora's Domain."

"What do you mean?"

"The waters aren't boiling anymore," I assured, "Why don't you two go for a swim? I'm sure you could use it."

"Definitely!" they both ran off and let Luna and me see Ruto.

But we were to approach with extreme caution. When she was in the right mood, I'm sure Ruto could take over Hyrule on her own and fight Ganondorf. He'd surrender out of fear. In her chambers, Ruto was laying in her bed, the water around it dark and murky. It's been a while since the waters of Zora's Domain were inhabitable. These waters haven't been changed since. Ruto might have been a spoiled prima donna, but she always put her people before herself. Prince Raol sat with his mother, attempting to get her to calm down.

"Mother, please," he begged, "Don't be sad. Link can help us."

"Leave, Raol!" Ruto demanded, "I love you, but right now, your mother needs to be left alone! He said he'd be back, but he runs off with her?"

"Ruto?" I treaded lightly.

"LEAVE!" Ruto threw a rock in our direction, but she fell horrendously short.

"Link! Luna!" Raol ran toward us, "I tried. She's inconsolable."

"Maybe I can help," I approached her bed, "May I speak with you for a moment, your highness?"

"Go away, Link," Ruto snarled, her back still toward me, "I don't want to see you."

"Please?" I kept a soft tone in my voice. There was one little trick up my sleeve that could work, but it was low and dirty.

"I said," she repeated, just as angry, "Go. Away."

She left me no choice, "If it pleases, I'd like to speak with you for just a moment, Princess Ruto."

That got her attention. Ruto peeked over her shoulder, "I'm still mad at you."

"And I deserve it," I took full responsibility for her lack of understanding, "I see why you're mad at me, Ruto, but can we talk for a minute?"

"What do you want?" she continued her pouting.

"Zora's Domain has had a problem with the boiling water," I reminded her, "But it's going to be ok."

"What makes you say that?" Ruto sat up, "Are you going to swoop in and be the hero again?"

"I already did," I smiled, "Zora's Domain is back to being inhabitable."

"You…" she started to soften up, "You did that for me?"

"Yes," I nodded, "I had to. I couldn't leave your people to suffer."

"Link!" Ruto hugged me tight, "Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"You're welcome," I winced. She's gotten stronger since I last saw her and Luna couldn't wipe the grin off her face, "Look, Ruto. There's something I need from you."

"I thought you'd never ask," she beamed, "Should we clear the room first?"

"I don't think we're on the same page," I bit my lip, "I need the Zora Sapphire back."

"Oh…" Ruto lost her smile, but found it shortly after. She dug under her bed and pulled out a case, "Do you remember this?"

"Of course," I took the case, "The most bluest blue in all of Hyrule."

"And what it means?" she shot me a wink.

"Yes," I shut my eyes for a minute, suppressing what it meant, "It's the Zoras' royal engagement ring."

"Then, tell her that!" Ruto snapped, ripping the case out of my hands, pointing at Luna.

"Easy, sister," Luna defended, "Don't get me wrong. Link's a cutie."

"Thank you, Luna."

"But I'm going to let you in on a little secret," she sat with us, "Link's my brother. We share too much blood for me to ever be interested. That'd be gross."

"You never told me you had a sister, Link," Ruto glared through me, "You're keeping secrets now?"

"You two were never going to happen," Luna explained, "Link's got a thing for royalty, but I don't think you're the princess he's looking for. Right now, his princess is in serious trouble that could destroy life as we know it if something happens to her. He and I are going to go save her, but only if you give us the Zora Sapphire. The reason I'm telling you this and not him is because he's too sweet."

"Luna…" I tried stopping her, but there was no stopping her.

"Relax, Link," she went on, "One of his biggest regrets in life is not letting you down easier all those years ago. He didn't know how to handle that kind of situation. Not to mention, he had the whole Hero of Time thing on his plate and Hyrule was in ruin at the time, much like it is now. I'm sorry, but only one princess has Link's heart and she's probably holed up in the Gerudo Desert right now against her will. Now, please. Give us the Zora Sapphire, so we can save her."

"You expect me to give you the Zora Sapphire," Ruto thought, "So you can run off with another girl?!"

"I'm sorry, Ruto," I cringed, "But yes. That's pretty much hitting the nail on the head."

"If it makes you feel any better," Luna added, "Princess Zelda has been turning him down since they were kids."

"Well," Ruto perked up, "I guess the petty vengeance does make me feel a little better. Here, Link. You did save my people. Again."

"I was there, too," Luna pointed out.

"But…" she sighed, "You're leaving again, aren't you? Once I give you this, you're going off on another great adventure to save Hyrule, right?"

"That's right," I confirmed, "I'm sorry, but the kingdom has to come first."

"I understand," Ruto gave me the case again, "Go. Save Princess Zelda. I just hope she knows what she has. Her strong hero. She's a very lucky girl. Just promise me something, Link."

"What's that?"

"Don't take so long until you see me again," she took my hand, "Don't forget about me. You can come up here once in a while just to say hi. No strings attached."

I brought her fin up to my lips, kissing her gently, "Absolutely. Once this is all over with, of course."

"Yes," Ruto started to blush, "I'm looking forward to it."

"Soon," I got up from her bed, "Until later then, Princess."

"Queen," she corrected me, "But you can call me Princess."

And on that note, Luna and I left Zora's Domain and started heading out toward Hyrule Field. Of course, Luna still had that giant grin on her face. And I knew exactly what it was about. There was no sense in waffling around it, "What?"

"I think she likes you," Luna gave me a nudge, "You think there's something there?"

"Shut up, Luna," I shot her down.

"She does…"

"Shut up, Luna," I felt all the blood in my body rush to my face.

"Queen Ruto likes you…"

"Shut up, Luna."

"We got all day, Link," Luna reminded me, "It's just us. And the quickest way to pass the time is to talk about your repressed love life."

"What about you?" I retaliated.

"What about me?"

"What about you and your repressed love life?" I defended.

"I don't have a repressed love life," Luna stretched, "I've been a soldier for far too long to even give that a thought."

"I don't know," I argued, "You and Darius seemed to have a connection."

"Hey," she hushed me, "The odds of anything happening with me and a Goron is the same as something happening with you and the Zora queen. Now, come on. We only have one more stone to get our hands on and it's not going to be an easy find."

"Where are we going?" As if I didn't already know. With the Goron Ruby and the Zora Sapphire in hand, we only needed the Kokiri Emerald. When I had the Kokiri Emerald the first time, it was given to me by the Great Deku Tree. With the Great Deku Tree gone and the remaining Kokiri in the wind, there's no telling where the Kokiri Emerald could be. Either way, we had a long night ahead of us.