"Ugh! Stupid fairy!" said Blue digging himself out of the snow. "Why does it always have to drop me somewhere cold?"

"Where are we?" questioned Green as he scratched the back of his head in thought. "None of this feels familiar. Vio, any clue?"

The purple clad hero dusted the snow from his tunic. "Nope. I'm just as lost as you are."

"Why does it have to be so cold!?" yelled Blue.

"Oh, I don't know," said Vio rolling his eyes, "Maybe it's all this 'snow'!"

"That's not what I meant!" shouted Blue. "Are you trying to get smart with me?"

"Blue, I don't have to try," said Vio smugly, "I already am!"

Blue grabbed Vio by the neck of his tunic. "Why you little…"

"Cut it out, you two!" yelled Green looking around worriedly. "Has anyone seen Red?"

Both Blue and Vio ceased their bickering and glanced around.

"Did he come through the portal?" asked Blue trying to hide his concern. "Do you think he's stuck inside it or that maybe it took him someplace else?"

"No, I saw him come through the portal," said Vio. "He should be close. Red, R-E-D. Where are you?"

An ear-splitting scream erupted in the distance as Red came running over the hill at full speed.

"See, there he is now," said Vio. "No worries."

"Run! Everybody, run!" shouted Red as a red and a blue Bokoblin both chased him on horseback.

Green, Blue, and Vio drew their swords and rushed towards their new enemy. Vio stood by Red and blocked the blows by the red Bokoblin. Green and Blue stood back to back waiting for the blue creature to make his move. It circled them as if waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Soon, a Lizalfos appeared at the top of the hill followed by a Moblin.

"There are more of them?!" said Blue. "What kind of place is this?"

"Stay focused," said Green watching the blue Bokoblin's movement.

"I am focused!" screamed Blue turning to face Green. "You don't have to tell me every single little thing to do. I…"

"Watch out!" shouted Green shoving Blue to the ground as the blue monster seized the moment to attack.

Blue raised himself up on his forearms and spat out a mouth full of snow. He glanced to the side and saw Vio and Red fighting the red Bokoblin. Red stumbled backwards as Vio blocked another blow aimed at his comrade.

"Vio," shouted Red, "watch out!" But it was too late. A Moblin swung a spiked spear at Vio's head. The purple warrior sank to his knees and fell face first in the snow. Red raised his sword to attack but was swooped up in the air by the red Bokoblin on horseback.

"Help!" cried Red as the creature galloped away with his prize.

"Green," said Blue desperately, "Red and Vio need…" He paused as the blue Bokoblin cornered his grassy-green comrade. Green's back was to a river. No! thought Blue, This…this isn't happening! This can't be happening. We always win.

"Run, Blue!" shouted Green as the Bokoblin kicked him in the chest sending him flying into the icy waters.

"Green!" shouted Blue as the monster turned and raised his spiked club to attack him now. Blue squeezed his eyes shut waiting for the fatal blow.

A bolt of electricity flew through the air and paralyzed the monster where it stood.

"Are you going to fight or what, Kid?" said a cloaked figure beside him. He pulled an arrow out and aimed for the beast. "Get up!"

Blue scrambled to his feet as another arrow sizzled through the air. This time, the creature dropped its weapon and screamed in terror as the electricity coursed through its body. It fell to the ground and disappeared in a plume of purplish smoke leaving behind its horns and guts.

"Who are you?" asked Blue amazed as the stranger pulled another arrow out.

"Now's not the time to be chatting," said the stranger releasing another arrow. "But you can call me Link."

Blue stared at him dumbfounded.

"Wake up, Kid!" said Link shooting an arrow past his face and hitting an approaching Moblin. "Focus!"

"Right," said Blue. As he reached for his sword, he saw a Lizalfos drag Vio through the snow in the same direction the red Bokoblin had taken Red. "Hey, stop!" cried Blue. He ran towards them but was stopped by a hand gripping his shoulder. He turned to face his rescuer. "What's the big idea? They're getting away."

"Come on, Kid. Think," shouted Link running to the river's edge. He touched the water with his hand. "One of you dressed in green fell in the river. The current's rough, but we just might find him if we hurry." Link took out a sword and sliced a tree in half with two chops. He rolled it into the water and jumped on. "If you want all of you to survive, we have to go for him first."

Blue hopped on the log with him. "You mean, you think he's alive?"

"Can he swim?" asked Link.

"Yes."

"Then he's alive, but not for long." Link shifted his weight on the log to keep it from tipping and glanced at the worry hidden in Blue's face." That is one tough kid, he thought. He doesn't want any emotions to show. He probably sees it as a sign of weakness. "Your friends are going to be okay," said Link watching for Blue's reaction. Blue continued to keep a straight face. "I saw where those creatures camp. You can bet there taking your friends there. Once we rescue your green friend, I'll go back for the others. What's his name?"

"Green," said Blue.

"That's original," responded Link sarcastically.

"Hey, look! There he is!" shouted Blue pointing to the left. Green was clinging to the slippery rocks on the river's steep bank trying to pull himself out of the water.

"Green, we're coming!" shouted Blue. "Hold on!"

The small boy yelped as he splashed beneath the chilling water. Link dove in shaking the log and knocking Blue off balance. The blue hero clung to the log and frantically scanned the river, but there was no sign of either of them.

"Green? Link?" shouted Blue. "Where are you?"

Just then Link surfaced behind the log and drug Green up behind him.

"Can you swim?" asked Link.

Blue nodded his head yes. "Why?"

"We're about to go over a waterfall," he said pushing Green onto the log. "As soon as you reach the bottom, head for shore, and don't look back."

"But…"

"Just do it!" shouted Link as the log tipped over the crest of the fall.

Everything was a blur. Blue felt the stabbing spray of the water against his face. He plunged feet first and tumbled along the bottom like a rag doll. He kicked towards the surface and took in a deep breath. Although the current was strong, he was still able to swim to shore. The blue clad boy crawled up the snow bank on all fours and collapsed. His hands burned from the icy sting of the snow. I made it, he thought. I made it! But what about Green and Link? Did they…? Blue held his breath and squeezed his eyes shut so no tears would escape. Don't look back. They're alive. They have to be. Don't look back! Don't look…

"Hey, Kid? You okay?" said Link shaking his shoulder.

"Your alive!" said Blue letting a tear slip.

"Yeah," said Link noticing the frozen tear. "I need your help. Keep your friend awake. Okay?" Link pulled a bag from his belt and rummaged through it as Blue crawled over to Green.

"Hey," said Blue to Green, "you're going to be okay."

Greens body shook and trembled uncontrollably from the cold. "You made it," whispered Green. "Vio? Red?"

Blue gulped, "We'll find them. They'll be okay too. Hold on, okay?"

"I feel warm now," said Green still trembling.

"Kid! Keep him awake. That means he's freezing!" shouted Link still searching through his bag.

"I just want to close my eyes for a moment," whispered Green weakly.

"Green, don't you die on me!" shouted Blue shaking him by the shoulders. "Wake up! Wake up, Green! Don't fall asleep. Come on! Fight this!"

Link walked over and wrapped a thick blanket around Green. He took his hat off and placed a ruby circlet on his head.

"Drink this," said Link shoving a glass bottle at Blue.

"What's it for?" said blue eyeing the orange liquid suspiciously.

Link picked up Green and moved closer to Blue. "It helps you resist the cold. Now hurry up and drink it before you start freezing too."

"No."

"What?"

"No. Green needs it more than I do."

"Kid, I admire your courage, but I don't have enough for both of you, and I can't carry 'both' of you up a snowy mountain at the same time. Now drink it!"

Blue looked at Green and sighed turning the bottle up and drinking all of its contents. Immediately, Blue felt his blood warm. A strange heat coursed through his body. "I-I think it's working," said Blue.

"Good. Now hold on to my hand and don't let go. You got that? Whatever you do, DON'T LET GO!"

Blue nodded understandingly and held on tight. Link shifted Green in his arms and pulled a small device out. After Link tapped on it, Blue watched his own hand disintegrate into a soft blue light as his body lifted off the ground. It was only ten seconds, but it seemed like an eternity. He felt the blue light reassemble his body and gently placed him on a round stone platform.

"What was that?" asked Blue.

"It lets me travel to different locations," said Link briskly walking towards a cabin in the distance.

"You mean like a portal?"

"Yeah, something like that. Well I'm glad it worked. I've never teleported more than one person before. Guess there's a first time for everything." Green moaned and Link quickened his pace. "Hold on. We're almost there. Then you'll be nice and warm."

When they reached the cabin, the door wouldn't budge.

"Stupid ice," yelled Link sitting Green on the cold porch. "I don't have time for this!" Although Link thrust his body against the door, it still wouldn't budge. He took out a traveler's sword and started prying the ice off chunk by chunk.

In the meantime, Blue made sure Green kept warm by tightening the blanket around him. "If he's wet, shouldn't his clothes be frozen right now?" asked Blue.

Why won't this kid stop asking questions? Gees, I'm trying to save his friends life here and he wants to know why he's not a popsicle yet! "It's the circlet. It's keeping him warm. But it won't heal him which is why I have to get this door open!"

Bam! The door flew open. Link scooped Green up and carried him to a bed.

"Now, Blue, I'm going to make a fire, but we need some more wood to fuel it. There's an axe out back and a couple of trees. Cut them down and bring us the wood."

"Will he really be okay?" asked Blue noticing that Green's breathing had gone shallow.

"Yes, I'm going to save him. Now get going!"

Blue took off outside thankful for the warm elixir coursing through his veins. He found the axe and within minutes had two nice piles of wood. He set them on the porch and thought, This might not be enough. I need more. But where can I find…ah ha! In the distance, he spotted a tree not far from where they had warped. One more should do it! Blue threw the axe over his shoulder and headed for the tree. The wind nipped at his face like tiny knives. Huh, he thought as he felt the cold handle of axe in his hands, the elixir must be wearing off. I'll be fine. This won't take long.

Soon, Blue had two more piles of wood. As he bent down to pick them up, he heard a low growl behind him. He slowly turned to see a wolf staring back at him. For a moment, neither one moved. Suddenly, the wolf let out a chilling howl and two more joined him. The wolves moved in closer as they circled their prey. Blue crouched waiting for the right moment to swing his axe. The wolf on his right sprang towards him, but Blue anticipated the attack and sunk the axe into its shoulder. The wolf on the right bounded towards him at full speed knocking him to the ground. Blue thrust the wooden handle of the axe into the wolf's mouth between its jaws, holding it at arm's length. Saliva dripped from its fangs onto Blue's tunic. He kicked the wolf hard in the stomach causing it to whine and back off. The two remaining wolves whimpered and retreated into the snow.

"Yeah! You better run!" shouted Blue. The wind felt like daggers now and he sank to his knees to catch his breath. "Okay, Blue," he told himself, "you got this." He tried to stand, but he could barely move. "What's happening?" he mumbled as he stumbled forward and collapsed. The firelight from the cabin flickered in the window. The snow fell softly covering his blue tunic in a blanket of white. I'm going to die, thought Blue panicking. They'll never find me out here!

"Help!" he cried hoarsely as the snow fell harder. But no one came. This is it. This is the end. At least Green will be safe. He'll find the others. I know he will. Blue closed his eyes and let the darkness take him.