Silence filled the air. The girls looked at each other; their eyes glowed in disbelief. "Could you repeat that last part," Nabooru asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"The cucco pen of death," the king's words echoed loudly as if he were in some poorly filmed horror movie.
"Don't you think that's a little extreme," Link whispered in the king's ear.
The king shook his head. "Of course not, my dear boy. I would never put any of these beautiful females in a dangerous position," he replied casually. "Besides, these lovely ladies need some old fashion exercise."
"So just tell us what we have to do?" Impa asked impatiently.
"All you have to do to make the next round is to survive a grueling five minutes or last until someone escapes the cucco pen on death!" his words echoed again at the name of the first challenge.
"You're using the word 'survive' like someone is going to be killed," Nabooru commented.
"It just sounds scarier when you say it like that," the king replied with a huge smirk. "In any case, I've made the rules clear. Are there any questions before you begin?"
Silence.
"Let's get this show on the road!"
"Do cuccos eat fish?" Ruto randomly asked. "I mean, I heard they'll eat anything. I'm just a little worried."
Everyone shook their heads.
The females stood in the middle of the pen. The tension was very noticeable. Ruto tapped Malon's shoulder. "So, do they eat fish or not? You should know, right? I mean, you live on a ranch with cuccos. So you must be a cucco expert, right?"
Malon quirked an eyebrow. "I've never heard of a cucco that eats meat. I think you're going to be okay."
Ruto sighed in relief. "Good. I was afraid I would have to whip out some of my unbeatable kung-fu moves on the birds."
"…Right."
The king placed his hands behind his back, smiling from ear to ear. He glanced over at Link. "You look worried, my boy. Are you afraid that these fine ladies can't handle themselves?"
Link refrained from commenting on the king's last remark. Instead he continued scanning the arena. Why would the king put defenseless females in a pen of vicious chickens? Cuccos weren't the most friendly or loveable species in Hyrule. "They do make a good meal though," Link thought.
"Unleash the cuccos!" the king raised his hand, signaling the guards to open the cages.
The birds stampeded from the cages. Their black, beady eyes narrowed at their prey.
"AHHHHHHHH!" the girls screamed, huddling defensively together.
"Girls, meet my pets," the king laughed. "Aren't they the cutest things you've ever seen?"
The cuccos began approaching the females, backing them into a corner. "We need something to distract these things!" Impa shouted, looking at Ruto. "Hmm…"
Ruto gulped. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Impa quickly tossed Ruto into the group of cuccos. Feathers and dirt flew left and right. Ruto's high-pitched screams echoed rung in their ears. Link covered his eyes and whimpered. "I feel bad for her," he mumbled to himself., remembering the times he was attacked by cuccos.
"Whip out your kung-fu moves!" Malon called out.
"Play dead!" shouted Saria.
"Just let them eat you," Nabooru added.
The cuccos stopped pecking mercilessly at Ruto and focused their attention to the other girls. Twitching, Ruto curled into a ball on the ground.
"Is she dead?" Zelda asked.
"Poke her and find out," Impa answered.
The cuccos advanced toward Malon and the others. Link lifted his head from his hands, watching in horror as the cuccos prepared for their next attack.
"Run, Malon! Run!"
And that was what she did. In fact, that was what they all did. Malon was used to this treatment. She usually ran around outside, trying desperately to catch the cuccos when they ran off. They were fast, but when it was a matter of life and death, Malon could outrun them any day.
"Look at them. Running around in circles with such energy," the king paused. "Link, one of these girls is going to be your wife," the king placed his hand roughly on Link's shoulder. "They are a lively bunch. Well, except for Princess Ruto."
Link winced. "I'm sure they're all having a blast in there."
Ruto twitched again, pulling herself from the ground. She coughed slightly, rubbing her head where the cuccos had pecked her. "I don't believe this. I could have been killed!" she looked behind her and saw two cuccos coming her way. "Eeep!"
"Don't just sit there, Ruto! Get up and run!" the king shouted from the sidelines. "She's so brave. First she sacrifices herself for the safety of her fellow comrades. Then she wants to stay and fight the cuccos, knowing she doesn't have a chance. You need someone like her, Link."
Link rolled his eyes. "Right. What is this man talking about?" Link thought, watching on as the girls fought to survive. Deep down inside, however, he was relieved it wasn't him in there. He already had his fair share of cuccos during his adventures.
Saria ran from the three cuccos chasing after her. Being the smallest of the group, she had a disadvantage. She thought it would be fun entering the competition but she wasn't having any fun. "Oh, why did I enter this contest?" she asked herself as she ran faster and faster...
...until she tripped.
Saria screamed, covering her head from the cuccos. "Saria!" Malon cried out, running to the green-haired girl's aid. Malon kicked away the cuccos and helped Saria on her feet. "Are you okay?"
Saria nodded slowly. Another batch of cuccos came running toward them. "Malon, look out!"
The red-haired girl had to think fast. The cuccos were quickly approaching and Malon didn't have any way of buying the two time. That was until Ruto ran by. Malon mumbled 'sorry' under her breath and tripped the Zora princess, quickly grabbing Saria's hand and running to safety.
"AHHHHHH!" Ruto screamed as the cuccos piled on top of her…again.
"Oh the carnage!" the king covered his eyes.
"Oh…my…Din…" Link hid behind the king's cloak.
Nabooru and Impa were cornered. They kicked away the cuccos pecking at their feet. Zelda ran and zigzagged her way through the cuccos, confusing them to the best of her ability. The other females were huddled together, crying loudly and throwing small rocks at the cuccos and were missing them rather badly.
A petite, black-haired girl cried out in horror, climbing over the fence. "I can't take anymore! I quit!"
"You're fired!" said the king, adding a weird hand motion to the phrase.
Link quirked an eyebrow. "This man needs help."
The king puffed his chest proudly. "This competition is over! Open the gates!"
The remaining girls ran out of the pen. Their hair was in tangles and dirt covered their faces and clothes. "I never want to go through that again," Zelda commented, trying to take the knots out of her hair.
Ruto crawled out of the pen, panting and huffing loudly. "I…made…it!" Saria knelt down and helped the Zora to her feet.
"Congratulations! You've survived the first round! I'm sure you are all anxious for your next challenge tomorrow," the king paused and let the girl's finish their protests. "I understand you all must be very exhausted. Let me treat you to a special feast tonight!"
"Din! How many animals must you kill every night?" Link cried out in frustration. He really hated pointless feasts.
The king was shocked by Link's sudden outburst. "If it bothers you so much, my boy, we can always eat tofu?"
"…I can't wait for the feast tonight."