((A/N: Why do I write to you now? Well, actually it's weird. Writing essays and my new found excitement for To Kill a Mockingbird made me wanna write some more again. Don't complain. Anyways, here's chapter 9! Yes, that is a Gerudo by the way, and I portray Gerudos in this time and age (since they do not 'exist' in TP) as a sort of pilgrim. Something like the Gorgons (I think that's who they are) in FF3 are. They're a select few, but they're wise, sage-like people. I chose pilgrims, because, well… maybe we never saw them because they were always on the move! Anyway, read on and enjoy. I know I'm sucking, and the second half sounds much different than the first half, but that's because I'm trying to add in new vocabulary, varied words, and longer sentence and different sentence structures.))

The rain rhythmically fell down into the barren streets. The dark clouds moved quickly over the city, creating fear for the citizens. Link sat at the end of an alley, on the brink of consciousness. The rain seemed somewhat soothing to Link. The sound… the movement…

What had happened? What was wrong?

Link was in incontrollable pain… every muscle in his body felt like it was being pierced by needles. His bones felt broken; his skin, burnt. But his mind was fine…

"Link?" he heard a voice. He couldn't look up to the source. It hurt too much. "Link, is that you?" Link still couldn't move. He saw feet approach him, and a familiar purple dress. Finally, the voice spoke up again, "Link, is something wrong with you?"

It was Telma. He knew it was. Link tried to speak, "Yhreaghh… Tellllmm… aaa…?" Link couldn't get his thoughts out. What was going on?

"Link… are you drunk?"

"Tellmaa… yhre… a…" Link spoke again. Before he could speak again, he was lifted off the ground. Telma had picked him up, and began guiding him out of the alley. Link was still unable to move on his own.

Telma said, "Lemme gitcha back to the bar, hun. You look terrible." He also felt terrible. He couldn't remember anything that had happened. Not even the source of the pain. Soon, he couldn't feel the rain. He was inside the warmth of the bar.

"Link, darling? What's wrong?" she asked, warming up some water.

Link tried to respond, "I… duunoooo…" His breaths became short, soon after. Telma began shuffling around, searching for a rag or something to absorb the warm water. "Yreaghh… Tellllmaa…."

Telma shushed him, and dipped the rag into the water. Ringing it out, she soon set it on Link's head, "Link… you look so terrible…" Link mumbled something inaudible, and the door slammed open. Telma looked up, and Link's head slowly turned to view a woman in the doorway. His vision blurry, he was only able to see a tan and intriguing purple clothing. Telma asked, "Well hello, what can I do fer you?"

The woman spat out one word, "Water."

Telma shuddered, and hurried behind the bar to fill a glass full of water. The woman took a seat next to Link, and gazing toward him, she said, "You... have a dark aurora surrounding you…" Telma slid the glass of water toward the woman, who blatantly ignored it. She was fixed upon Link, thoughts crossing through every corner of her mind.

"Yrheaa…" Link mumbled. Telma stood watching, keeping an eye on every thing the woman did.

"I see them…" she whispered, "I see each one… growing…" Soon, the woman began to chant, grabbing her glass of water and dipping her thumb inside. Setting the glass down, her chants grew louder, and she drew a mark on Link's forehead. With one final stroke, and a final word, dead silence hit the bar.

Link blinked.

The woman sat back on her stool, drinking the water. Telma stood, astonished by what had just happened. Finally, Link sat up straight, and then asked, "What… happened?" He moved his hands, flexed his muscles, and stretched his ligaments, still utterly amazed how quickly he was over that.

Telma peered over in the woman's direction. As the last drop of water slid down the glass, the woman began to speak, "I come from the desert, as one of the many last of my kind. My name is Alieva. Within the last few decades, our race has been able to see into the minds and souls of people… and inside of you; I saw something I haven't heard of for nearly a century…"

Link took this information in, as he studied the woman's appearance and behaviors. She reminded him of someone else, as he took notice to the crimson red hair, the tan skin, and the ruby-like stone on her forehead. And although she seemed bitter before when she walked in the door, she seemed much more tranquil and at peace with her surroundings, now. He wondered if maybe she had been on a pilgrimage of some sort.

"The Shadow Parasites," she scoffed. Link's eyes twitched at the words, and he began to connect points from his week earlier. His dreams, or whatever he was seeing, always seemed to be surrounded in shadow. Was something from those visions trying to attack him? "These abhorred monsters were mentioned once in our Book of Life, as the One whom brings light to Darkness. The mark I placed upon your forehead will sustain your health… for a time…"

"For a time?" Link questioned.

Alieva turned her head away and said, "If these dark omens from Kakariko are somehow connected to these parasites, and if you are the legendary hero…" She smirked as she said it, as if she knew from the beginning, and perhaps she did. "Then I'm sure you'll find out what I mean. For now, you must go on with your quest, as I finish my way toward the Sacred Temple."

Alieva stood up and walked toward the door, and before leaving she turned and spoke, "May we meet again in peace." She turned back around and left, slamming the door just as she did walking in.

"Link… what is she talking about?" Telma asked.

Link shrugged his shoulders, but he did know something now. Someone was plotting against Hyrule, and he needed to hurry and find the Royal Jewels.