CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

"Tea for Two Times Two Plus Two"

Oh, SNAP! You mean I've been standing in here with VAATI the WHOLE FREAKING TIME?

Brittany's mind nearly threw a fit. Her favorite villain and possibly the most adorable character in the whole Legend of Zelda series was standing right in front of her! Having a face-to-face chat with her! And she had just bandaged his hand, too! It took all she could to keep from squealing like a fangirl and glomping the Minish right then and there. Fortunately, she staved the urge at the thought of giving the little imp a heart attack-heck, it took her several days just to explain to Zelda and Link how she knew about Hyrule! If she just randomly hugged Vaati after he had announced his identity like that, he'd probably think she was looking for some place to stick a knife! After all, had he not tried to take over the world once? If the rest of Hyrule knew he was still alive, they'd send a whole army of bounty hunters after him!

"Hello? Are you still in there?"

Brittany was shocked out of her reverie by a squeaky but worried voice. The grimace of concern on Vaati's face made her realize that she had been staring again. And unfortunately, the Picori had mistaken her thoughtful daze for a look of horror.

Great...she thought. He probably thinks I hate him! Bad Brittany...spacing out like that!

"Hyrule to Brittany!" Vaati waved his uninjured hand in front of her eyes.

Say SOMETHING!

"Y...you're Vaati...?" the girl blurted out, her body still trembling from the revelation. The mage frowned and stepped back.

Oh, no-oh, NO! Look what you did-you scared him! See, he really thinks you hate him, now!

"So..." the Minish mage started. "I see my reputation precedes me. They must still hate me, the Hylians. I suppose Link and Zelda have told you about all of the horrible stuff I did?"

"Yes! Um, I mean no...well, sorta..."

"Which is it?" the mage narrowed his brow. "Yes or no?"

"Actually," Brittany scratched the back of her head nervously (she only itched when she was extremely nervous. Like, around her mother before the woman tried to run her over, nervous), "Link and Zelda did tell me what happened, but they also said they harbor no hard feelings toward you. Neither does the King."

"Really?" Vaati raised a brow. "Not even after I possessed him and tried to kill his only child?"

"Actually, from what he's said, he thinks it was kind of amusing that someone would want to switch bodies with him. And no harm to Zelda meant no foul. After all, what damage you DID do healed up pretty fast after Link defeated you."

At that, a deep frown crossed the sprite's lips and he lowered his head. A pang ran through Brittany's ribs-she could sense the sadness he was feeling.

"H-Hey! I didn't mean to upset you," a soft murmur came from the boy. "Come again? I'm sorry, but I didn't hear-"

"They...they really forgave me?"

Brittany looked put her hands on her hips. "That's what you were worried about?" the Minish made no attempt to nod or give an answer in any way. "Well, I think a lot of the people remember the fear you caused, but Link and Zelda forgave you. They really did! Honestly, when I found out about you being alive, I thought they were going to kill me to keep it a secret!"

"What, to hide the fact that Link was too merciful to finish the job?" Vaati pouted.

"No, you dummy!" Brittany shouted, gesturing wildly with her arms. "They were worried that someone might find out and go after you or the other Minish if word got out. Besides," the Empath smiled at him, "you changed after that day, didn't you? Back then may have been a different story, but you don't seem like some evil, bloodthirsty monster now. A monster wouldn't half break his neck running down several flights of steps to make sure his elderly master was alright."

"Ezlo can more than take care of himself," Vaati grunted, rubbing at the bumps Ezlo left on his noggin. "Besides, I'm used to him yelling for me to come do this chore or take care of that customer...it was just instinct."

Brittany scoffed and folded her arms. "Uh-huh. Yeah," she nodded, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Sure. I'm positive that you would run at break-neck speed just to go wash his dirty underwear...Ha! I see a smirk!"

It was true-Vaati was sort of half-smiling. Brittany felt the extreme sorrow start to ease from it. She decided to play on that bit of humor for a moment.

"What, he's made you do his laundry before?"

Vaati blew his bangs away from his eyes. "Every load."

"Ewww...dirty old sage underwear...no WONDER you turned him into a hat! At least then, you could just run him through the wringer and be done with it."

Vaati stopped smirking and dropped his head. He started shaking all over. Brittany thought she may have hurt his feelings again, but the pang of guilt emanating from him drastically faded as the Minish let out a series of high-pitched, half-wheezed squeaks. For a moment, she thought he was going into a seizure and was about to run for help when he wrapped his arms around his sides and turned away.

"Hey, are you al-" she clapped a hand on his shoulder, causing him to look her way long enough for her to catch the expression on his face.

Well, I'll be darned...I actually got him to laugh! came the mental cheer.

"Oh, you think that's funny, do ya'?" she mock-scolded the mage. "Yeah, well, what if I said you SMELL like his dirty laundry? Do you think that's funny, too? Huh? Do ya'?"

By now, Vaati had sunk to the floor and was giggling like crazy. And that got Brittany laughing, too. How could she not? But a few years ago, Vaati was the most feared villain in all of Hyrule. Now, here he was, rolling on the floor..giggling. Giggling, of all things! Weren't bad guys supposed to have some deep, baritone, maniacal chuckle? Vaati sounded more like a schoolgirl who sucked the helium out of a balloon than a demented psychopath.

When he finally managed to catch his breath, Vaati had to wipe a tear from his eye from giggling so hard. Brittany helped him to his feet and helped him finish getting everything ready for the tea. While a fresh kettle heated on the stove, they sat in the kitchen chatting away about Ezlo and some of the elder's more annoying habits. They must have taken too long, because by the time Ezlo came back into the foyer to find a now semi-conscious Link, the tea was nowhere to be seen.

"Oh, that fool! What is he doing taking so long?" the sage angrily stamped the end of his cane on the floor, causing enough noise to jar Link awake.

"Huh? Whu' did I miss?" snapped a groggy Link. Ezlo ignored him.

"I'm going to find out what is taking so blasted long," fumed the sage, and off he stomped after the missing mage. Link, still halfway supported by Zelda, and the other Hylians followed. As they neared the beaded curtain, however, they heard a familiar shriek of laughter.

"Oh...my...gosh...he really did that?"

"I kid you not, he actually thought a box of powdered soap was some dehydrated potato flakes," came a slightly unfamiliar voice. "He was sick for a week! I tried to warn him, but hey...that's what you get when you don't listen to someone simply because you're too pig-headed to care."

"Too 'pig-headed', am I?" shouted Ezlo as he marched into the kitchen. A painful yelp sounded out and half-hissed curses poured through the beaded curtain. The Hylians rushed in to find Vaati, once again, rubbing a fresh bump on his head and Brittany glaring daggers at his elderly attacker.

"Ezlo, please," Zelda softly spoke, "calm down. I am sure that Vaati only meant the remark out of jest."

"Ah! Now the princess would turn on a weak, defenseless old Minish?" Ezlo feigned horror. "What has hanging around these brutish hooligans done to your regal manners...?"

A double snicker came from the table, but by the time Ezlo whipped around the duo was silent once more. They grinned to one another the moment he turned away. Zelda noticed a smile curve onto Din's lips as they watched the scene. It seems that she was right after all, thought the blonde royal. Vaati had changed for the better. At least, now he was laughing from the company of another and not at a plot to take over Hyrule.

The kettle began to whistle. "I'll get it," Brittany motioned to get up, but Vaati stopped her.

"No, you are a guest," the lavender-haired Minish proclaimed. "I will get it."

"Nonsense! I have two perfectly good legs and I intend to make as much use of them as I wish. Besides," the young woman half-laughed, "you might injure your other hand this time."

Vaati gave her a quizzical glance as she pushed her chair out and went to fetch the kettle. He followed in order to freeze the fire out so the sparks would not slip out while they were unawares and burn down the treehouse. They returned to the table and the mage passed out the dishes while Brittany divvied up the silverware. After a small portion of tea leaves were placed into each cup and the steaming water poured over top, the small group took its collective seat at the table.

Ezlo took a long sip of his tea. The others tentatively toyed with their cups until Vaati noticed their discomfort.

"Go ahead," he spoke to Brittany. "Drink. It's not bad, I swear. See?" He took a sip from his own steaming cup. The others followed suit.

"Hmm...not bad," said the Empath. The tangy taste of the leaves flooded her mouth. "What is it?"

"Dried red raspberry leaves," the imp replied. "It's supposed to help with headaches."

"Could use a little honey, though...Oh!" a jar clasped in a pale hand pushed a jar over to her. "Hey, thanks!"

Brittany proceeded to dig out four spoonfuls of the golden liquid and drizzle it into her cup (she probably would have drained half the jar, but she was a guest and decided to be nice and share with the others...and try not to risk another beating from Ezlo on the grounds that she was being 'rude' again). After she had taken a few more sips from her mug, she heard the aforementioned sage clear his throat.

"Now, then, Din," questioned the wizened imp, "I am certain that your sister did not reopen the Gate merely for you and your friends to come have tea with us."

Din sat down her mug and stared into the leaves. She closed her eyes and sighed. "Ezlo..." she began, "...Someone kidnapped Farore."

Ezlo accidentally sucked his tea down the wrong way and spewed it all over the table in attempt to cough it up. Vaati nearly dropped his mug in shock. Zelda quickly handed the sage a napkin as Link slapped the elder Minish on the back to help dislodge the tea from his lungs.

"Forgive me, princess," wheezed the sage as he took the napkin from her. "Thank you." It was a few moments before he could speak again. When he had finally managed to hack out what part of the tea he breathed into his windpipe, he gave another harsh cough into his fist. He looked over at Din. "Are you sure she was kidnapped? I thought she was to follow the troupe through to Labrynna and back!"

"She was," the dancer stared at him, the tension rising in her voice. Goose pimples prickled Brittany's arms as her pal's frustration began to peak.

"Then how...?"

"Moosh said they cut off the trail and that she was kidnapped by cloaked horsemen," Zelda intervened.

"Ezlo...one of them was a magic-user," remarked Din. The sage narrowed his brow on her.

"A magic-user? Are you sure?"

"Moosh said when he went after Farore, one of the riders turned and fired a beam at him that knocked him out for nearly half a day."

Ezlo's face contorted into a grim expression. He sat down his cup, crossed his rodent-like hands beneath his nose and leaned his head against them. His eyes closed in concentration.

"I see..." there was a hint of finality in his voice. "I suppose I need not question you on the brevity of this dilemma. After you told me of her latest vision, this makes the situation all the more serious-especially considering that even Farore herself does not know the extent of her powers."

There was a series of nods from each of the three Hylians. Brittany stared over the rim of her cup at the scene of intense anxiety. She shot a glance to her right where sat a strangely quiet Vaati. He was possibly more pale than he was normally. Apparently, both the Minish had some sort of insight into the missing oracle's gifts.

"What I do not understand is why you have sought me out to inform me of this problem," spoke the sage. "Do you perhaps have a clue as to whom the kidnappers may be?"

Din sadly shook her head. "All that is known is that each of the riders were fully clothed in long, violet cloaks and that their horses were much different than those of our allied lands. Also, one of the horses had the symbol of 'two curved tadpoles' on its forehead."

"'Curved tadpoles', did you say? Hmm..." the aged Picori stroked his beard. "I dare say it may take me a while, but I may be able to be of service. However," he gave a quick glance toward the window, which was now becoming more and more devoid of sunlight, "I suggest that you send your sister and the large woman back home for the night. My research may trail on for quite some time, and I daresay the forest gets rather dangerous as the night wears on."

Din nodded to the imp.

"Of course," he began again, "you are all invited to spend the night."

Now, it was Vaati's turn to get chocked. His eyes bugged out mid-swallow and a small gurgle could be heard coming from his seat. He half-spat, half-coughed the tea back into his cup.

"Hey, are you okay?" the brunette asked, proffering her napkin to the strangling sprite as she clapped him on the back. The mage looked up at her in surprise. Brittany noticed that he wore that same odd expression on his face that he did when she bandaged his hand. She couldn't make out what it was, but there was some sort of weird, awkward tension in the air between them. He noticed the hand that now rested on his shoulder. Brittany quickly withdrew the offending hand, thinking that maybe Vaati was just as edgy about physical contact as she was. Instead, she took hold of the other corner of the napkin and shoved it toward him with both hands.

Vaati let out a squeak of thanks and turned away from her. She promptly did the same, and scooted away from him a bit. Thankfully, the whole situation happened so fast that no one seemed to really notice anything except Vaati swallowing his tea the wrong way. She supposed nearly choking on his tea the way his master had done had really embarrassed the imp, so she remained facing away from him for the time being.

"Vaati, stop trying to inhale your tea," scolded the sage. "After we're finished here, I want you to finish up those chores of yours that you skipped out on today. When you are finished with that, you shall join us in the library."

"Yes, Ezlo," mumbled Vaati as the elder Minish stood up from the table. The Hylians followed suit and headed toward the door. Zelda turned to look at Brittany, who remained seated at the table.

"Aren't you coming, Brittany?"

"In a little bit," waved the brunette. "I wanna finish my tea first."

Zelda glanced down at the Empath's cup-her empty cup. The girl sat the mug down and discreetly covered the top with her fingers. The princess gave her a strange look. Din saw the expression on the blonde's face and an airy smirk on Brittany's lips. The round-eared girl gracefully lifted just enough fingers off of the rim for Din to peer inside. Cocking her head to one side, the dancer glanced over at Vaati and then back to Brittany.

"Ah...That's some good tea, huh?" she asked. Of course, arms akimbo and a knowing smirk told Brittany that the dancer's words had nothing to do with the drink. Din's stance conveyed the message far better than her words could.

All the girl could do was lace her fingers across the top of the mug and grin back.