Link opened his eyes. Birds twittered in the fields. It was a new day, ripe for events and happenings. Link threw off the covers and sat up. The sun was shining through his window. The elf yawned and stretched. He was out of bed a few minutes later, in his regular clothes. He strolled to the dining room, ready for a hearty breakfast.
Link stared in amazement at the table set before him. It was strewn with all kinds of delicacies. Zelda sat at the head of the table. Link just stood for a second.
"Well?" came Zelda's voice. "Are you going to sit down?"
"Yeah, oh yes, of course," blurted out Link, rushing to a chair and sitting down.
"You always seem stunned by my food," chuckled Zelda.
"Well, it definitely wakes me up!" commented Link, taking a sip of freshly squeezed orange juice.
"So how did you sleep?" asked Zelda.
"Fine," answered Link. "You?"
"Alright," came the reply. Link began to dig into some pancakes.
"This is great!" he said.
"Thank you," replied Zelda.
"No, thank you!" said Link, taking another bite. Zelda chuckled.
Link finished his breakfast and had a talk with Zelda, and then he went out for a walk while the Princess attended to political matters.
He strolled along the courtyard, not going anyplace in particular. It was kind of like the forest here. No worries, no cares, just do what you want. Suddenly, Link saw another walking man. It was the doctor.
"Hello, my boy," said the doctor, jovially.
"You seem happy," replied Link.
"I should be, you see, I think I've found something!" said the doctor. Link ran up closer.
"You did!" he exclaimed, not knowing if to believe it.
"Yes, I am on my way to tell Princess Zelda now!" he said.
"Alright, come on!" said Link taking off at a run. The doctor kept up, though at a considerably slower pace.
Zelda was talking with some diplomats from somewhere that the kingdom was interested in. It didn't matter to Link. He just wanted to tell her the news. Soon, Link and the doctor stopped before the gates to the hall that Zelda was in.
Zelda was about to explain Hyrule's interests, when the door burst open. Link came running in, followed by the doctor, who was walking, but at as brisk a pace as he could without losing his dignity.
"Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen," said Zelda. "What is it?"
"The doctor's found something!" came Link's reply.
"Really!" exclaimed Zelda. Suddenly, she said to the diplomats, "I'm terribly sorry, but my father is ill, and the doctor's found something that can help him."
"We understand, your highness," replied one of the diplomats.
"Thank you."
And with that, Zelda rushed off to the high tower to join Link and the doctor. When they got up there, they could see Zelda's father sitting straight up in bed.
"Oh, father!" gushed Zelda, running into his arms. "Thank you, doctor!"
"It is my duty, My Lady," he replied bowing.
Link walked up to Zelda's father and shook his hand.
"You must be Link," said Zelda's father, in an old, but not grizzly voice.
"Yes, your highness," replied Link, bowing slightly. So this was the King of Hyrule? He seemed very congenial, with a commanding presence. Perfect for a King, as well as a Father.
"Oh, there's no need to call me that here," replied the Father, waving it away.
"Father, there are some diplomats from Slarian here!" said Zelda, still in his arms.
"Really? Well, that's nice," replied the Father.
"Your highness, how are you feeling?" asked the doctor.
"Oh very good, your medicine worked right sharp!" replied the King.
"Thank you, your highness," bowed the doctor.
"Think nothing of it, I should be thanking you, you saved my life!" he replied, chuckling. the doctor began to chuckle as well.
"I guess that's true," he said.
"Father, please forgive me," Zelda said.
"Yes, yes, my daughter, but I'll be fine. Link, could you go and tend to the diplomats?" asked the King.
"Erm.." fumbled Link. How exactly do you 'tend' to the diplomats? They're too uppity...
"Oh, yes, I'm sorry, my boy, you're not a diplomat, now are you," he chuckled. Link managed a small laugh.
"Doctor, could you go?" said the King.
"Yes, my liege, I am well versed-"
"Yes, yes, whatever, just go," waved away the king.
"But, one more thing, my liege, your illness is serious, but if we keep up the treatment, we can cure you," said the doctor.
"Well, then, what are you waiting for, whip up some more!" exclaimed the King, waving his hand.
"You see, your highness, that's just the problem, I don't have the right ingredients," replied the doctor. "I used it all on this dosage."
"I'll get whatever you need," volunteered Link, standing up.
"I-I.. Really.. Well... Yes!" the doctor stammered. He soon regained his composure. "Very brave of you, thank you, I need some leaves from the forest," he said.
"What kind of leaves?" asked Link.
"These," he said, handing him a picture of the leaves he needed. "They can only be found in the Lost Woods."
Link studied the picture, and a memory tugged at his brain. He willed it to come out. He knew these were somewhere other than the Lost Woods...
"No, no, those..." he stammered. Inspiration came. "Those can be found in Hyrule Field!"
"Oh! All the better!" said the doctor. "Do you know where to get them?"
"If they haven't been wiped out by a recent drought, they should be there!" he said, turning towards the door.
"Thank you!" yelled the doctor as Link walked out the door, running down the steps, to the stable.
When he arrived, there were a bunch of horses with the stableboy. Link ran along the line, looking for a suitable one. He came upon Epona and stopped.
"How did she get here?" asked Link.
"Oh," answered the stableboy, "she was found outside on a rainy day, so we took her in."
"I've got to take her," said Link as Epona nuzzled him.
"Your horse?" asked the stableboy.
"You could say that," said Link as he mounted Epona. Epona went charging through the gates, out into the field. Link pushed her hard, he needed that herb, or the King might relapse into an even worse condition.
Link galloped faster. He peered across the countryside, searching for that inevitable boulder. Suddenly, he saw the elusive plant, even at his breakneck pace. He stopped, and dismounted. He crouched down and plucked some of it out. He stuck it in a pocket, and then ran to Epona.
"Oh! There she is!" came a familiar voice. Malon appeared from behind Epona.
"Hi, Malon," said Link, breathing hard.
"Hi," she replied. "What are you doing?"
"I'm running an errand for the doctor that's tending to the King' health," said Link. "It's urgent."
"Oh!" she exclaimed. "Then go, take Epona, she'll get you there fast! Come on, no time to waste, hurry!"
Link ran to Epona, and mounted again. A second later he was off, Malon waving at him from behind. Link rushed towards the castle. Every second counts, he thought, driving Epona faster.
Link stopped at the gates, dismounted Epona, and let her go back to Lon Lon Ranch. He ran through the town, and arrived at the castle.
Link was breathing heavily once he got inside, and he was stopped in the courtyard by the doctor.
"Oh, thank you my boy, you've been a great help!" he said, taking the herbs.
"The pleasure's..." Link gasped, "all mine..."
The doctor hurried off to his laboratory to whip up another dosage of medicine. Link took a rest for awhile, and then got up to go to the dining room.
When he arrived, the servants were cleaning up the feast that Zelda had done with the diplomats. Link just walked into the kitchen.
"Got any water?" he asked the chef nearest to him.
"Yes, sir, in there," he pointed to bowl filled with iced water. Link walked over, got himself a cup and water, and let the liquid pour down his throat, refreshing him. He was revitalized, refreshed. It was almost as if a new day had begun.
"Thank you very much," said Link, putting the cup back.
"Our pleasure, sir," replied the chef.
Link walked out, not going anywhere in particular. He landed upon a lounge, and saw Zelda sitting there in a chair, reading.
"Hello," said Link.
Zelda looked up from her book. "Oh, hi!" she said. "Please, sit down."
"Thank you," said Link, taking a chair.
"So," began Zelda, "What's new?"
"Nothing much, but I got the herbs that the doctor wanted," said Link.
"Herbs?" asked Zelda, puzzled.
"Yeah, herbs, he needed them to whip up another dosage of medicine," explained Link.
"Odd, he told me he had all the ingredients he needed just a few hours ago," mused Zelda.
"Really? Well, that's interesting... Why would he-" said Link. Then it hit him. "Oh no." Link bolted out of the room, and dashed to the doctor's laboratory. He tried to open the door, but it was locked. He started shaking it violently, when Zelda came up behind him.
"What's going on, Link?" she asked urgently.
"Stand back," was Link's reply, and he charged through the door. The dust cleared, but there was no one there.
Link just turned and ran for the King's room in the tower, Zelda on his heels. Link ran up the stairs as fast as he could, and when he reached the door, he stopped. The guards were nowhere to be found. Zelda cupped her hand to her mouth. Link's expression turned from surprise to steel.
He kicked down the door. There was the doctor, next to the King.
"Why all the ruckus, my boy?" he asked, somewhat irritated, turning to face them.
"Don't call me your boy, you snake," replied Link.
"Ah, you've found me out," replied the doctor, his voice seeming to change into a deeper one. His features were beginning to mutate.
"Get away from the King, you're poisoning him," commanded Link.
"By all means," said the doctor, but Link was simply staring. The doctor was... no longer the doctor. It was an entirely different being, rough hide, claws, shell-like armor, a tattered robe, and a face like a nightmare. Link scowled, and his eyes peered out like spears.
"A shapechanger," muttered Link.
"Correct, again," said the thing, advancing on him with a blood-stained knife. Link reached back for his sword, but it wasn't there.
Smooth, Link, smooth.
Here he was, facing down the greatest danger within the castle. And he had forgotten his only weapon.
