Silence fills the spacious interior of the undersea cavern, disrupted every so often by the falling drops of water from the limestone above, joining the pools of luminescent water that dotted the cave floor, glowing with a strange energy and lighting the naturally formed steps that led deeper within.

A disturbance rips through the peace and sanctity of the cave as the large pool of water that led out to the open sea parts violently, the figure of a man splashing to the surface as he gasps for air, panting in relief as he flops over onto dry land, his worn features slick with seawater and grime, his brown mop of hair plastered to his face and pointed ears as he wipes the weed and sea debris from his eyes.

Whatever a Hylian was doing down in the depths of the treacherous oceans had to be either pretty important business, or outright foolishness. It was bad enough sailing the seas with the weather and occasional sea creature to deal with, but diving under the foaming surface and into the unknown sounded like suicide.

But here he was, a man in a place he did not belong in, but how could he have not done so after discovering signs of ancient Zora ruins near the shore?

Ever since he was a child, Deema had been obsessed with relics of the past and the like, no doubt thanks to his father, a man who spent his youth adventuring and scouting out places of interest across the world of Hyrule and beyond, making discoveries that no one would ever believe he had.

Deema however, believed in his old man wholeheartedly, hearing the sadness and excitement in his voice whenever he retold stories about his greatest achievements, never being able to lay his claim on them for one reason or another; monsters, traps and the like.

And after growing into a fine young man, Deema had left his village, with nothing left to hold him there after he paid his last respects to his parents, who had passed away a few years back, swearing on his father’s name that he’d find the only relic he never could; the Eyes of the Zora, a mystical artifact only spoken of in legends and preposterous rumour. And the one relic his father had never been able to track down himself.

After years of research, dead ends and harrowing encounters however, Deema had finally found a single breadcrumb that had eventually led to more pinpoint discoveries in other ancient ruins both of Zora and Hylian make, taking him to the shores of a nameless body of water that stretched on for as far as the eye could see, barely making out the spiked crests of the rocky shore in the distance, veiled by smokey clouds.

It didn’t take long for him to realize that all the directions pointed downward, into the murky depths where his destination laid waiting. The temple that had been said to hold the legendary relic once held by a forgotten Zora of incredible import, living a tragic life never to wed the one she loved for the greater good of all.

Leaving behind what he deemed to be of little import at the temporary camp set up near the rocky shores, Deema had prepared a miniature raft to carry him out as far as possible off towards the open waves, where coral reefs petered off and caves started to dot the undersea landscape.

Donning the equipment he’d made for underwater expeditions and hoisting a rickety spear for defensive purposes, the brave Hylian takes the plunge, jumping overboard and into the turbulent depths as he struggled to get a grip on himself, tossed around by the unexpectedly strong currents that dragged him along despite the relative calmness of the surface, seemingly at random, fear gripping him of being left too far out at sea to swim back, food for whatever lived down here.

But slowly, Deema had begun to sense a pattern, a feeling that something was guiding him along a set path towards a destination the crafty Hylian was already very much aware of. But with the loss of his equipment almost immediately after falling into the stormy current, there was the last hurdle to overcome; death by drowning as he struggled to hold in his breath for as long as possible, all the while he felt himself being jerked and flipped around, each rough bend in the waves almost knocking the breath out of him as the Hylian man fought to keep his fear in check. He’d fought monsters almost twice as large as a house, but even they paled in comparison to being flung around in the inky depths of the ocean as the cold water bit into him.

Eventually though, Deema’s persistence pays off, finally feeling the grip of the immense current peel off of him as he finally swings his arms in the dark, glimpsing a pale blue light in his double vision, the reminder that he was about to drown setting in as the last of his strength pushes him out of the relatively shallow waters the current had deposited him in, taking in lungfuls of strangely fresh air this deep underground. He had no idea where he was, but considering how long it felt like during the trip here, Deema guessed pretty far down.

Despite the rough journey though, Deema couldn’t help but feel excitement burn within him as he gets off the slimy wet cave floor, wiping moss on his sleeves while taking in the fantastical sight of the natural lighting and elevated stalagmites that had somehow been woven together into stairs that led up and toward an artificial structure, carved into the rock face by ancient artisans. Doors that led deeper into the ancient temple that held the object he had been fervently pursuing for years.

Trudging slowly up the strange stairs, Deema gulps as he wonders what lay behind those doors, eyeing the intricately carved surface of the gargantuan doors as he finally made his way up to them, placing the palm of his hands against the cool stone and feeling it give way as the giant carved slabs grind away noisily at the earth, sliding open slowly. Would there be traps? Intricate puzzles that needed delicate timing and reaction speeds to solve? Maybe even an endurance test where ancient beasts would be pitted against would be robbers? Whatever it was, the steely eyed Hylian wasn’t about to give up now.

But as the doors slam open fully, Deema couldn’t help but feel a slight tinge of disappointment stir within him as he gazed upon the remarkable room that lay in wait behind the door, large marble pillars stretching up to the massive ceiling around a large cube composed of what looked like water, suspended in the middle.

Not even a single gauntlet, a puzzle nor monster in sight, and here he was, standing in the fabled ‘treasure room’ most people would’ve been forced to fight tooth and nail to get to in one piece,

Watching the flowing liquid that composed the cube sitting silently in the center of the room though, Deema’s eyes focused on the purple glint emanating from what looked like a pedestal that stood in the center of the strange structure. Deema had guessed it held the eye, but without a closer look, he couldn’t be sure.

Analyzing the gap between the platform he stood on and the cube, Deema decides to test the waters before carrying out his idea, kicking a small rock on the floor towards the cube, watching with satisfaction as it tears through one end with a splash and out the other as it skitters across the solid interior.

Bracing himself for a sprint, Deema dashes forward, pushing off one foot as he flies off the edge, feeling the same sensation of being immersed in water as his body passes through into the cube, instinct taking over as he cups his hands over his mouth, not expecting the entire interior to be filled with water with how easily the stone had passed through. Was this a trap?

…oser…

Deema backpedals, attempting to escape the cube and finding no way out as his back knocks against the one-way surface, bumping into the strangely soft, yet impenetrable walls as he draws the knife still miraculously attached to his belt, hacking away at the walls of the cube before the faint voice from earlier returns.

Come…ser…

The panicking Hylian was already left struggling from his earlier experience, made worse by his haggard swings, each attempt drawing more and more of his strength away, until he could no longer hold in his breath anymore…

Only to recoil in surprise as Deema watches air bubbles escape his open mouth, being able to feel air rush down his lungs like usual even as he feels water begin to flood his insides, making him wonder for a moment if this was how the Zora felt, breathing underwater as naturally as Hylians and the other surface dwelling races breathed air.

Looking back at the only possible cause, Deema gapes at the twin gemstones lying on the smooth marble-like pedestal, their radiant purple gleam beckoning him forward as the whispering voices in the gentle caress of the water begin to grow more and more audible with each step. Then again, Deema didn’t need any coaxing to finally approach the object he had been chasing for years just to see his father’s will through to the end.

Stopping at the base of the pedestal, Deema takes a better look at the tiny objects, no bigger than his palm, floating just slightly above the marble, the dark purple crystals hanging off thin metal hoops pulsing with powerful energies as a bright violet pink glow emanating from the core draws the entranced man’s eyes. They looked alot like earrings.

From prior experience with suspiciously easy-to-acquire treasures like these, Deema knew it was a bad idea to lay your hands on it without proper examination and care. But as his shaky hands moved towards the enticing treasure, he knew there was no going back as the urge to pick the sparkling gems grew that much stronger as the voices continued to whisper salaciously into his ears, forgetting the danger as he reached out to touch the Eyes with his bare hands.

With a simple graze of his finger against the cold metallic surface of the gem, the twin diamonds leap into the air, bathing the interior of the cube with an intense light as Deema’s eyes shine purple, before the gems dart downward in the blink of an eye, a piercing sting biting into the lobes of his pointed ears as a loud snap and a quick inspection of the heavy weights dangling from his ears confirmed they were now firmly lodged in his ears. So they had been earrings after all…and were a lot heavier than they looked, mind racing as he tried to get them off without injuring himself.

But as he struggled to remove the sturdy iron rings clamped shut around his stinging earlobes, the man hadn’t realized how the tips of his ears were beginning to flay apart, splitting off into fine, flat growths much like the fins of an overgrown fish as the small crop of neatly shaven hair atop Deema’s head flutters for a moment before retreating back into his scalp, leaving behind smooth skin as worn brown paints over with a pale blue, skin turning soft to the touch as a thin layer of moisturizing slime coats his body wherever the new patches of skin grow over.

As the stunned Hylian watches his hands begin to grow large flaps of skin and cartilage that eventually form elegant fins decorated with patterns reminiscent of the ocean waves, Deema connects the dots as his eyes run down his slimy blue skin, the large fins he sported on both his arms and hips shredding his clothes with the growth of the new appendages, running a smooth hand over his now bulbous head free of hair while watching the rest of his tanned skin take on the same shiny blue complexion, noticing the glimmer of tiny scales that blended seamlessly together.

He was being transformed into a member of the sea-faring Zora!

Grunting in a noticeably higher pitched alto as the leather breastplate, the last bit of armor struggling to cling to Deema’s enlarged body, formerly strapped down tight to his chest snaps apart as the pressure beneath spills forth into a hefty pair of milk filled breasts, Deema gingerly cups one of the gelatinous melons in curiosity, feeling their weight in his dainty arms, the perky tits remaining firm and perky as they flop back over his chest with their release, sending shivers down his shapely rear as his spine gently curves inward, emphasizing his impressive bosom even further while his peachy rear shines in the light.

Strangely, Deema didn’t feel a lick of fear or remorse as he inspected the lean curves and soft flesh of his new body, alien blue skin shimmering in the water as organs and bones reshape beneath the rippling fleshy; stronger yet lighter bones to aid in swimming, wider hips to make way for the new organs forming within as his sturdy legs, not one to skip out on training runs, lighten in mass, filling with buoyant layers of fat as the blocky silhouette gives way to a more shapely one to match up with his hips and slim torso.

And although he couldn’t see it, he could most certainly feel his face thrumming with change as what little remains of his brows vanish entirely, leaving behind the same supple skin that coated the rest of his body as his lips filled into kissable cushions, a natural pout forming over his face as his eyes gain a mature elegance to them, a sure hit with the men as his ordinary brown pupils fill over with the same eye catching purple hue of the gemstones dangling from his fin-like ears.

By now, Deema had lost all semblance of himself, a quick glance at the reflective walls of water confirming that, besides the still throbbing manhood dangling down between fattened thighs, he had been completely transformed into a Zora female, blushing at the sight of his new form, exploratory hands unable to believe the buxom ocean faring babe staring back at him was his own reflection.

It was a surefire guess that the reason he’d felt so composed through it all was because of the the enchanted earrings that had triggered his transformation into a Zora, it’s namesake making a modicum of sense to the keen intellect of the former Hylian as he continued to play around with his new appendages while eyeing up the heaving bosom he now possessed with curiosity in the makeshift mirror, viewing it from all angles.

Not well versed in the carnal act of sex and pleasure, Deema yelps out in a mature woman’s voice that dripped with sexual intensity as a sudden spasm of movement between his legs alerts him to the final stages of the transformation, gazing down at webbed feet as he glimpses the remnants of his former manhood begin to slide back up inside him, unsure of what to do as his testicles empty themselves of their contents, blushing at the warm spray of white wafting out and obscuring the sight of his dick shrinking into a tiny nub of sensitive flesh, settling snugly into a tiny alcove above the puckered slit where a dick once was, concealing itself behind a thin veil of skin, only to be revealed when the time came for the Zora woman to bed the partner she would be with for life.

With a practiced flick of the dorsal fins protruding from her shapely hips, Deema runs a trembling finger over her flattened groin with the lingering cloud of expelled semen out of the way, round shoulders trembling and shifting in pleasure as the fingers nudging away at the sensitive skin flap send bolts of electricity up her spine and through her body, the pale nubs of her breasts growing erect as her finger goes a little too far, nudging up against her clitoris and forcing another moan out of her, cupping her hands around her mouth in embarrassment as her reflection does the same, questioning how her new body could be so sensitive,lingering on her teary eyed face as a sense of recognition fills her.

Deema’s mind clicks at the realization of why the face of the mature beauty she had been blessed with seemed so familiar; memories of exploring ancient Zora ruins and the past life of a nameless individual rooting themselves in her mind confirming that Deema had become a replica of the fabled Zora Princess; Ruto, a figure beloved by her people for rising up against an evil that had threatened the world back in ancient times, much like the land of Hyrule currently fared against the reawakened scourge that was The Calamity, confined to the interior and outskirts of the now derelict Hyrule Castle as it’s corruption continued to spread throughout the rest of Hyrule’s lands.

Was this what the voice had meant by ‘fulfilling her destiny’? She had finally accomplished what her father had failed to do, and in doing so, had been forever changed by the treasure she had sought, inspecting the now dulled purple gemstones hanging from her ears as she swam slowly around the inside of the cube, getting a feel for her new body as lithe muscles flexed and propelled her through the water, a smile on her face at the sensation of cutting through the water like a hot knife through butter as her fins propelled her onward, gill flaps on the sides of her torso taking in greedy gulps of water with her heart beating rapidly.

Maybe she had been given a new purpose in the form of aiding the current era against the Calamity much like her predecessor had? Deema couldn’t really be sure, her memories of being born a single son to two Hylian parents mingling with that of who she was beginning to assume had been Ruto herself, knowledge of the Zora’s traditions and practices ingraining themselves within her in addition to offensive magic based attacks that only few in the current age could still wield properly.

Then again, as the memory of being unable to enter into a life of normalcy to live out the rest of her days with the man she loved because of her duties as the chosen Sage of Water, Deema had begun to doubt the voice, wondering what other alternatives there were to choose from. Unlike the Ruto of old, She could simply choose to live away from the chaos of it all and the burdens of saving the world and its people, already having heard of the Champion’s return, gathering the aid of the other races in the short time after his revival after all these years, feeling a slight heartache for the hero as the image of the blonde haired Hylian came up in her reverie. Although she knew this wasn’t the Link she knew, the lingering feelings Ruto had harbored for the man of her time were still strong enough to move Deema as she floated gently back down to the platform..

That was when the sound of splashing water rose around Deema, feeling her webbed feet make contact with the cold floor as the cube of water dissipates, draining down into the abyss around the main structure as footsteps and murmurs begin to emanate from down the passageway Deema had come in from, eyeing the sharpened trident head of the Zora’s signature weaponry cresting the horizon over the top of the stairs as a particularly imposing Zora makes his appearance, red skin flared in anger, eager to spear the intruder that had dared trespass on sacred ground.

Until he eyed the spitting image of the ancient princess his people revered, lowering his weapon as he gazed upon the tall Zora woman standing across the platform, the gems he had been charged with now dangling on her elegant ears, an extra pair of purple eye-like protrusions on either side of her head matching up with the many stories and depictions made of Princess Ruto over the millennia since her time had passed.

But here she was, standing in all her glory before him looking like she hadn’t aged a day, well slightly more than a day…but where was the intruder?

Speaking in the Zora’s native tongue wasn’t an issue as Deema spoke in their, or rather her native language now, as she understood what the guard was saying, responding to his questions on whether she truly was the Princess spoken of in their history.

“I am…yet, not…it’s…complicated…as for the intruder, he is no longer with us…”

Seemingly satisfied yet intrigued by Deema’s explanation, the guard seemed to cool, lowering the trident slightly but not so that he was completely off-guard. He opened his mouth, ready to ask yet more of the beautiful maiden before him, only to leave her hanging as an awkward stutter escapes him.

Trailing off into silence, the pair stood staring at one another, unsure of what to do or say next as both stood, silently inspecting the body of the other. One, a prime example of raw masculinity many Zora strived for with a patterned hide whose lustrous sheen had survived many a battle rivalling that of the current Prince Sidon and the other, an exotic beauty even in Zora standards, sporting a lengthier body reminiscent of the Hylian’s and lacking the tail many Zora sported on their heads, instead, two purple protrusions that gave the appearance of a second set of eyes glimmered in the water’s glow on either side of her bulbous head that held her attractive face atop a curvaceous body men would die to have a taste of.

With their intent shown clearly with how their bodies were reacting; the male with his unsteady breathing, erect member out and at the ready. And the female, the tips of her fine breasts hardening as the fins across her body rippled with ornamental patterns that radiated just a bit more brightly to grab the eyes of a potential mate, a tiny amount of lubricant mixing with the water that covered her thighs as she eyed the man before her.

While Deema still retained her memories of being…Deema, new feelings and urges within her were egging her on, telling her to get closer, to snag the ripe specimen before her and make him hers, and a curious part of her was eager to find out how it would feel like to have that impressive thing deep within her strange privates, screaming out even now with alien urges that she’d never felt before even during her time as a Hylian man, being more concerned with searching for the treasure now dangling like a normal pair of accessories by her ears.

Taking the initiative with a light step over the abyss with her nimble feet propelling her forward, Ruema; the new name she had given herself in combination with her old and that of the ancient Zora princess that had given her form, smiling warmly as she steps through the open doors and back where she had come in from, presenting herself before the Zora warrior, stunned by the sensual woman’s approach as they both got a better look at each other.

She giggled softly to herself at the man's flustered face, unsure of what to do, much like she would have been were it not for the abundance of new memories flowing alongside her original self giving her a second perspective of a girl that couldn’t be together with the one she loved before she had her life set for her by powers she couldn’t control.

A tragic but necessary turn of events that had left Ruto’s desires unfulfilled…

But wth this ‘second chance’, maybe Ruema could grant Ruto some rest at least. Maybe once they were done here, they could get to know each other better, go out and learn about each other’s ways, maybe even settle down together? Carnal instinct within telling her that the male before her was the prime specimen to bed, her rational and analytical mind telling her the light in his eyes held something more than just a battle hardened warrior; a young man that had lost much, clinging on to the only thing he knew in life; battle.

And from the way he returned a stiff smile as he held out a free hand in return, she knew he felt the same. Give a little time and she was sure she could help the battle hardened soldier before her see much more than he’d been able to.

THE END