A/N- Thanks for the reviews, darthritter86 maximushyrule and The-Saiyan-From-Hyrule. The man will be revealed later! Like, at the end! Along with a lot of other crap... And, also, Malina will be thrown down from her high place around the end of this chapter! BWA HA HA!

Disclaimer- And you think I'm crazy.

Malina wasn't quite awake. She was close, but not quite. It was the sense where you could hear and think, and yet you could not open your eyes and move. A sense that Malina didn't mind at the moment, as long as she could hear at least some things.

The bed that she was on was terribly comfortable. She sunk in slightly, but not too much. There was only a light cover over Malina, but it was mostly needed for comfort. It was fairly humid wherever she happened to be, and the light clothes that she was wearing seemed to be made from a sort of ultra thin linen.

Around her, there was the steady sound of water falling, but not a lot, and only it was only in one area. It was a waterfall. A few birds could be heard, trilling and whistling all of the way to wherever they happened to be going. Occasionally, Malina would hear the steps of someone coming into the room. However, after a few minutes passed, the person would leave. It was as though they were waiting for something to happen, something that Malina didn't quite get yet.

A breeze touched the girl's face, bringing a whole range of scents along with it. The first she happened to catch was the one that she had found the first time that she had awakened. It was the scent of fish and Hylian at the same time. Malina could remember that scent from only once, when the Zora people had come to visit Hyrule Castle. From that, she had guessed that she was in the Zora's Domain.

Along with the scent of Zora's, came the scent of ripe fruits, seaweed, and a few humans. It was odd how Malina could use her magic so easily now, without even thinking. The Book of Wisdom had given her an insight that not many had the chance to get. An insight that let her know many things that let her know almost anything that she wanted to know.

A laugh echoed from somewhere below Malina and she listened to the crystal notes with slight interest. Hylians were said to be the greatest race, farther than any other in technology and living standards. Well, those people obviously didn't know the Zoras that well. The Zoras relocated every once in a while, and they had done so a few years ago. This was the reason why they had come that time. To tell the ruler of Hyrule where they were going.

Malina heard someone enter her room. The rustle of a beard, the heavy Hylian boots, and deep breathing told her that it was Marit. He was not alone. A wolf walked in with him, claws making slight clicking noises. Every time that Marit had come, the wolf had come in with him. It was fairly interesting, really, because it didn't smell like a wolf should. It smelled like a man who had spent much time near the oven whilst waiting for bread to bake. Yes, he smelt like baking bread.

"Do you suppose that she's awake?" Marit asked, his voice gruff. Malina wanted to announce that, yes, she was awake. However, it's a slight problem if you can't move your lips to tell this person.

"Yes..." The wolf answered. The wolf could talk. That was a new one even for Malina. He must have magic or something... Malina thought to herself. How interesting. A wolf with magic. Or, perhaps, a man with magic that turned himself into a wolf. Yes, that makes more sense.

"Really?" Marit sounded slightly surprised. "How can that be? She looks like she's still perfectly asleep." Malina smiled within her own mind. It was hard not to look like you were asleep when you were half-asleep.

"Yes, she appears to be so, but it's slightly self-induced. She has been awake for the past three days. Four, if you include today. She just chooses to remain in this mode for some reason. Perhaps she feels more peace. Perhaps she has greater use of her magic. Perhaps she does not feel the need to eat, drink, or even live with this happening to her. For whatever reason it may be, the Princess will not awaken."

A light squeak and even lighter footsteps echoed through the room, announcing the presence of Yuumei. The slight swish of her dress was nice. However, Malina had not recognized her the first time she had come in until she had spoken. Her hair, you see, did not make the same noise it did before. It was now short, but Malina could not say how short because she had been in a trance this entire time, not allowing her to see.

"Is she still all right?" Yuumei asked, her voice soft. It still amazed Malina how she could have such an amazing voice, even when speaking. Certainly, Malina had thought her voice was pretty before, but she hadn't really been able to hear then. Now that she could... it sounded as though a hundred angels were singing within only one voice.

"Yes." Marit said. "In fact, she might be awake right now."

"She is awake right now." The wolf insisted. "You two just can not tell since you do not have any magic. I do, so I can tell. In fact, she is listening to us right now. I am certain of it." Smart wolf.

To this, none answered. But how Malina wished that she could hear what Yuumei sounded like when she sang. She could truly hear now, so what would it sound like? Even more beautiful than before? How was that even possible with the great beauty that it had held before? It seemed impossible.

"Where's Sparrow? I haven't seen him around in a while." Marit asked, and the direction of it sounded like it was headed to Yuumei. It obviously was, because she was the one that answered.

"He's been learning the fine art of dancing." Malina almost wanted to laugh at this. It was obviously an excuse for them to be together. Now that Malina could extend her power farther than ever, she knew what other people were feeling. And every time that Sparrow was added into the conversation while Yuumei was around, she would immediately try to change the subject. Yet when he was around... it was rather funny, let's just say.

"I see... and I suppose that you've been teaching him, Queen of Areu?" Hm. Her title. They didn't use that very often. For some reason, even when she had first heard it, it didn't surprise her. Yuumei always did seem like the type to be the queen.

"Yes, I do happen to be teaching him. Why do you ask?" Marit chuckled slightly before answering.

"No reason, dear Yuumei. No reason whatsoever." Malina wanted to snort. Of course there was a reason. Don't lie, old man, Malina thought to herself in annoyance. Ah, well. Who cares? Certainly not me.

"Princess?" The wolf whispered softly in her ear. "If you can hear me, I'd like you to think about apples." Apples? Why apples? How silly was that, to think about apples... and yet, Malina was thinking about them already. They were very red, indeed. And rather tasty, as well.

"She can hear us." The wolf announced, now facing away from Malina. "I told her to think about apples, and she did." He turned back to her. "Now tell me, what's your favorite color? I'd like to know these things if I'm going to be your teacher."

Huh? Teacher? Malina didn't really process this too well. She believed that she didn't need a teacher in magic. She would be fine without one. What would be the point, after all? She already knew everything that she needed to know. The Book of Wisdom had let her know all that she would need to know.

"We can talk about that later." The wolf said impatiently. "I just wanted to know your favorite color." Right, favorite color. The first one that came to mind for Malina was the color of Ceris's eyes, that chocolaty, deep brown. Afterwords, Malina blushed within her own mind. Usually she would have said violet. That was fairly embarrassing.

"Ah, another little fact to put away." The wolf said, chuckling at her thought. Malina began to protest within her mind, hoping that he would just forget that she had ever thought that. Obviously, though, he wouldn't.

"What did she just think?" Marit asked. "I think that her face tensed up for a moment there."

"It did." The wolf said. "And I am not sure that she would be comfortable with me telling you."

No, I certainly wouldn't. Malina agreed.

"Can you sing a song for me? Your favorite? I would really like that." The wolf nudged Malina with his hand. Within her mind, Malina sighed.

How about I sing it to you when I'm not in this trance-thing? I can tell you the one that I really treasured when I was younger.

"All right, I suppose." The wolf answered. "Queen Yuumei? Marit? I would ask of you to leave. She should be out of this trance by the end of this afternoon. I am slowly bringing her out of it."

You are?

"Of course, Rusty. Whatever you like." Marit said.

"I thought that I told you not to call me that!" The wolf growled. "Just because I am a rust-colored wolf, that does not mean you have the right to call me that!"

"Yes, yes." Marit said. The door shut and Malina could only hear one set of lungs, different from a Hylian one. The wolf turned to Malina, his fingernails still making that strange clicking noise.

What is your name, anyways?

"It's Riste. However, the color of my fur is oddly red, so that boy... Ceris, I believe, took to calling me Rusty after he saw me. And then... that old man started calling me it, too. And let me just say now, I hate it." Malina couldn't help but giggle at this.

I suppose that you know who I am by now. May I ask something?

"Of course."

Where am I? I guessed I was in the Zora's Domain, but nobody has really said anything.

"Yes, very nice work. You are in the Zora's Domain, in fact. This one is far, far from where it was last, though. It is in the Lost Woods, oddly enough. The Kokiri allowed the Zora to move here because they had lived here before. It is odd, though. You will find out why soon enough."

Um... okay? You can ask your questions now.

"Did you ever meet your father?" The question caught Malina off guard. Father? Who was her father? She didn't even know the answers to these question.

N-no...

"I see..." For a while, silence reigned over them. It gave Malina the chance to think. Her father... who had he been? Who was he? What was he like? As she racked her mind for answers, Malina could not find any. It was so odd.

After a few hours, Riste spoke again. "I think... that is it. Try opening your eyes or sitting up or whatever." Malina did as he asked, opening her violet eyes. It worked. She could see. To further test herself, Malina tried to sit up. And she did.

Malina glanced over to Riste, a slight smile upon her lips. His fur was, indeed, rust colored. The deep red stretched all the way over his body, except on the tip of tail where it turned black, and on his paws where it was white. His eyes were violet and he was, at the least, half Malina's size.

"You're huge!" She exclaimed. The wolf rolled his eyes.

"I take it that you've never seen a wolf before, then." Was his answer. "Never mind, I don't care. I'd like you to sing that song for me."

"Gimme a sec!" Malina exclaimed. "I wanna take a look around." Riste rolled his eyes again, but he did not speak.

The thin clothes that Malina was wearing were like a giant shirt in a sense. It only went down to her knees and was white. However, it was also slightly see-through. On the sleeves there were designs made from yellow thread. She was wearing some stockings underneath, also. Malina's hair was up in a ponytail, using her ribbon.

The room was made from stone with no furniture besides the bed. Across from the bed, there were large windows. Malina jumped off her bed and leaned over them. It looked like a tropical paradise out there. It was entirely green with blue pools of water. The waterfall that Malina had been hearing for the past few days was next to the last window. There was no glass in these windows like the ones at the palace, and that made it all the better for Malina.

"I suppose that you are not going to sing anything right now because you are in too much awe of our surroundings." Malina nodded, still staring out the window in amazment. "Then do you mind if I turn back into my original form?" Malina shook her head.

A few moments later, a man stood next to her. From Malina's guessing, he appeared to be anywhere from thirty to forty. He had the same rusty hair, and his eyes were the same violet. He was massive, at least two-times taller than Malina. He appeared to be strong and very hairy.

"Wow." Was all Malina could say.

"Yes, yes." Riste said impatiently. "Now, I must speak with you about some things. For one, the matters of your training." Malina turned to him abruptly with her hands on her waist.

"I don't need any stupid training." She announced. "I've seen the Book of Wisdom." The man rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Oh, yes? Well then, I suppose that you are willing to go after Vaati then. Why don't we have a little battle of magic, yes? If you win, you can go after him all on your own. If I win, you will have to submit to my harsh training." Malina felt suddenly nervous, but she spoke with more courage than she felt.

"Fine. When I win, though, I don't want you to cry." The man snorted.

"I didn't cry when my last student beat me, and I won't cry if you beat me. Now get into a position." Riste spread his legs slightly out with one arm over another. Malina copied him. "Ready? One, two, three!" The man shouted.

To be honest, Malina didn't know what had happened. One instant she was standing up, the next she was upside down with fire around her head. Riste sucked the fire back into his hand and dropped Malina. A smirk was on his face at the annoyed look on her face.

"Would you like to try again?" He asked, getting into that position.

"I get the point." Malina said gruffly. "I need a teacher. I guess that I'll let you be my teacher..."

"Ha." Riste said happily. "I thought so. Now, I must tell you that this will be hard. Usually it takes years and years to become a master of magic." Malina pouted. "However, it might be that I can train you faster than that. At that smallest of times, a year."

"A whole year?!" Malina exclaimed. Riste's eyes narrowed at this.

"Yes. Would you like it to be longer?" Riste asked. Malina shook her head, annoyance full on her now.

"Okay, then. Another thing before we begin this. It might make you change your mind about all of this. I'd rather it didn't, but..." Riste sighed before he spoke again. "You see... I trained Vaati to be the magic master that he is now."

Shock filled Malina. "What?!"