The Dark Plague
Chapter Three: Scarlet Birds and Witches
The scarlet bird flew around the room and towards the window. Malon ducked out of the way. Talya pulled away from Link and tried to catch the fairie. The fairie giggled barely escaping Talya's grasp. She was Mali, a sweet generous fairie, who used her powers to support love and freedom. She transformed herself into a beautiful redheaded girl. Her skin was magenta and her wings resembled the features of the very bird she was chasing. She ignored the bird as it proceeded to fly out the window and turned her attention to three staring at her. She fluttered over to them without a sound and picked up the broken vase. It magically returned to its solid form.
"I am Mali." She approached Talya. "There shall be a horrible storm when thy party proceeds. My heart hath laid it upon me to inform you so thou doest not find thee trapped in it. You may capture me now. If thy intentions are pure and noble, it should cause thee no pain." Talya touched the fairie's hand and it disappeared after wishing them luck. The ground shook and the vase fell from the stone shelf, shattering once more to the ground.
"Let's go!" Malon called over the rumbling temple. They ran from the temple without looking back.
Tenameru and Nikki had followed Rinéan throughout the temple with no sign of the fairie. They searched until their path returned them to the very room in which they had started. The red birds that had once slept on the perches in the corner were now gone, leaving no feather behind.
"I wonder where." Nikki started, then the room shook violently.
"I guess the others found the fairie." Rinéan said. "Let us go now." They ran from the temple and back up the series of ladders. But when they reached the gap in their path their hearts sank. The ropes had been cut and were hanging limply off the opposite end of the gap.
"What are we going to do now?" Nikki yelled.
"We can only wait for the others to find us." Tenameru sighed.
"I will go find them." Rinéan floated into the distance.
"Wait! Why do you not just throw the rope.over?" Nikki ended her question by sitting down. Seeing that Rinéan had obviously ignored the idea, Tenameru sat as well, placing an arm around Nikki. She in turn leaned her head on his shoulder and they waited.
Link, Talya, and Malon were walking through the path towards the designated spot where everyone planned to meet. They reached the spot, but found no one there.
"They should have gotten here before us." Link sighed. "You do not think they did not get out in time?"
"I am sure they got out all right." Malon reassured herself. "Their quick right?"
"Maybe the area their tunnel led them too did not collapse." Talya posed the idea before them.
"It is possible." Link thought for a moment. "Let's go look for them."
"But we just got here! I am tired! I do not want to walk anymore!" Malon complained.
"Then you can stay here." Link rolled his eyes at her.
"You are going to leave me here?"
"Well, you do not want to come, do you?" Talya sighed.
"But I do not want to be alone." She whined.
"Then make up your damn mind all ready!" Talya yelled impatiently.
"Calm down." Link put a hand on her shoulder. "We are going now Malon, you can come if you want." They started walking down the path with Malon dragging her feet behind them. Rinéan floated towards them a strange look was about her.
"We need your help." Her tone would have been urgent hand it not been so empty.
"What happened?" Talya asked immediately. "They are not hurt are they?"
"No, they are just stuck." She whispered. "Follow me." She turned around and floated down the path. Link, Talya, and Malon followed running to keep up. They soon reached the gap. Tenameru and Nikki waved to them from the other side. Link strung his bow with the rope and shot it across. The arrow pierced the far wall. Malon did the same with the second rope. Tenameru used a spell to repair the ropes. Nikki walked over the ropes first. She gave Talya and Malon a hug then waited for Tenameru to cross. He did so and the started back down the path.
"You got the fairie I presume?" Tenameru smiled.
"Indeed. It mentioned a storm though. It actually warned us instead of cutting us to pieces." Link laughed.
"I wonder what kind of storm? Maybe it was a metaphor of some kind." Tenameru suggested.
"Nope!" Talya yelled. Her and Nikki had run ahead and were now returning. "Definitely a literal warning." She moaned.
"The cave is flooding, we have to leave before it gets worse!" Nikki specified.
"Come on!" Rinéan urged them, talking to a run, touching the ground for the first time that the group had seen. They ran to the foot of the staircase that had brought them into the cave. Water was rushing down the steps. They could hear the thunder echoing through the shaft, making the walls shake. They fought the rapid current of the water dragging them downwards. Several times they slipped and had to catch themselves and regain their balance before they could start again. The water seemed to be gaining on them. No matter how they rushed, the flood of the cave seemed right on their heels. They reached the top of the stairs exhausted and soaked. The storm was worse above the cave than they though. The wind was so fierce it was a struggle not to fall over. The rain was falling in sheets now. The drops were large and heavy enough to bruise the skin. The clouds made the world increasingly dark. The air was very humid, making breathing a struggle. A thick fog had fallen over the land, impairing vision further. The thunder crashed deafeningly every other moment. The lightning illuminated the land for a split second, temporarily blinding the party for a moment. Several times someone attempted to talk or yell, but each time it was droned out by the roar of the monsoon flooding the land around them. They finally stumbled upon a cave set in a hill above the flood. Tenameru lifted Nikki onto his shoulders so she could climb into the cave. Link helped Rinéan then Malon. Tenameru boosted Talya, and then Link boosted him up. Talya and Tenameru reached down to help Link up. He grabbed their hands and they pulled him up. Nikki had to help Talya who almost let go feeling a rush of pain though her injured arm. Finally everyone was out of the storm. For a long while nothing was said between the group. They were all to exhausted to speak. Malon fell asleep almost immediately after she laid her head against the cave wall. Rinéan was sitting at the edge of the cave watching the storm terrorize the land. Tenameru was unbraiding his hair, wringing the water from it. Nikki was watching him breathless from the effort she had exerted while climbing through the water and up to the cave. Talya was leaning against the wall out of breath as well. She was holding her injured arm, which was now numb with pain. Link was looking out into the rain, trying to think of something to say, contemplating the events that had just occurred.
"How long do you think this rain will last?" Tenameru asked shaking out his long blue hair.
"Perhaps the whole day." Link whispered mesmerized by the rain and lost in his own thoughts.
"We are going to have to proceed very quickly after this storm. The clock is ticking." Rinéan whispered now staring at the floor of the cave (She had moved to the back of it).
"Here let me." Nikki finally spoke up. She sat behind Tenameru and began to braid his hair for him.
"Thank you Nikki." Tenameru smiled softly.
"You are welcome Tena-chan" Nikki said in return.
"How is your arm Talya?" Tenameru proceeded to ask.
"I do not know, I can not feel it." She sighed. "These stupid fairies are going to be the end of me."
" I just thought of something." Malon suddenly awoke. "Hoshiko is supposed to come see Zelda. What are we going to do when this princess shows up and there is no one there to greet her?"
"We will discuss that tonight." Link said firmly. "We still have a day before she comes. We will worry about it then." He continued to look out into the rain. "Go back to sleep, this will probably be the only chance you get for the rest of the week."
"There!" Nikki exclaimed finishing Tenameru's braid. She kissed his cheek and hugged him from behind. Talya smiled a painful smiled at them as Tenameru blushed.
"I told you." Talya was smiling triumphantly.
"I guess when you are right, you are right." Tenameru sighed. "Let's get some rest. Link is right, we might not get another chance to sleep anytime soon."
"Yeah and since you are all ready bitchy, I would hate to see what you are like without sleep." Link laughed at his wit. It was not long before they had all fallen asleep with the exception of Link who continued to stare into the rain again, losing himself in his thoughts.
Hoshiko was trying to describe the layout of the castle to Zelda. If they were going to escape, there was absolutely no time to get lost. They had planned on escaping from the castle and had formulated a pretty descent plan.
"Once we escape we will take a horse from the castle's stable and ride as far as we can." Hoshiko continued to explain.
"What if the horses are gone?"
"Then we run." Hoshiko sighed.
"Where will we go? Certainly we can not go to my castle." Zelda whispered.
"That does not matter, our freedom is the issue at hand." Hoshiko said through her teeth. The heavy door swung open and a man in a black cloak entered the room. He did not speak at all but he seemed to be staring at them even though they could not see his eyes. It gave them the chills. After a moments silence he snapped his fingers and two plates of food appeared before them. They stared at him until he left. He was a truly terrifying beast and the girls knew they had to get out as soon as they could. The dark figure left the dungeons knowing quite well what the girls were planning. He sat on the throne and tapped his gloved fingers against the chair's arm. A hideous young girl with braided black hair and pupil- less eyes approached him.
"What of them my lord?" She asked in a croaking voice.
"Let them escape if they can. They do not have what we are looking for." He yawned. "How are they doing with the fairies?"
"They have caught three my lord."
"Pathetic. Such fools. Come now Neheirna, let's get ready for tonight."
"Yes master." She bowed.
Evening was approaching and the storm still raged on violently. Everyone was asleep in the cave at the moment. Tenameru was the first to wake up. He did not move or show any sign of his waking, as he did not wish to disturb Nikki who was still leaning on him. Talya woke up next finding her arm no longer numb. She released a silent scream of pain and maneuvered her way to the cave entrance. She put her arm out into the rain, letting the water seep into the reopened wound.
"Is it still raining?" Link yawned.
"Yes."
"We might have to keep going through the rain if it keeps up like this." He sat down next to Talya.
"Probably we still have eleven of these fairies to capture in six days."
"Soon to be five days." He corrected. "How is your arm?"
"I can feel it now." She winced pulling her arm out of the rain.
"And?"
"It hurts." She sighed trying not show how bad it actually felt. He grimaced. "Well, what did you expect me say? It feels better than before? You got mad when I lied, so should I tell you it feels better?" Her voice sounded bitter.
"I thought you weren't lying before?"
"I wasn't.let's not get into that again."
"You brought it up." He objected. "You can talk about it but I can not even comment?"
"Why do you not just leave this alone? It is not your problem." She tried desperately not to lose her temper, which was even harder to do with the constant pain rushing through her left arm.
"You just do not understand." He sighed. "I can not mind my own business. Not with you."
"I do not like where this conversation is going." Talya stood up. "Hey! Where did Malon go?"
"You are not just changing the subject are you?" Link did not make any effort to move from where he was seated.
"I am serious! Where could she have gone?" Talya said louder waking Nikki.
"She is right, Malon is gone." Tenameru yawned. "Where could she have gone?"
"She went into the cave." Rinéan told them.
"Why did you not stop her?" Nikki scolded. "Or wake us up or something."
"I can not go in there." She sighed. She created a ball of light and illuminated the cave revealing the crossed drawn into the walls.
"Oh shit. You do not think that this is the next temple entrance do you?" Talya groaned.
"It must be." Nikki whispered. "This place is creepier than the others temples."
"We have to go after her." Tenameru said. "I have a very bad feeling about this one."
"All right. Rinéan, you stay here with Talya." Link instructed. Talya went to immediately object. "You are staying here so just shut up and rest okay?" Talya gave him a very nasty look, but sat back down and leaned against the wall. "Let's go." The three ran down through the cave, which led deeper and deeper beneath the earth. They ran until they could not see anything.
"We could use Rinéan's powers right about now." Nikki sighed stumbling along the path.
"We do not need any light." Tenameru started. "Link do you have any rope?"
"No. Why does everyone assume I have supplies, besides where would I carry it?"
"Forget it Link." He sighed. "Can you see at all?"
"A little bit. Why?"
"I have lived in the dark all my life. I can see just fine." He laughed. "If you all follow me, we can get through just fine."
"How did Malon make it through then?" Nikki followed closely behind Tenameru.
"Maybe she brought a torch." Link grumbled following behind Nikki. Silence followed until they could hear a quite sobbing echoing slightly through the cave. They quickened their pace and soon found Malon crying quietly next to a young girl unconscious on the ground. The girl's skin had no color and her outfit was adorned with black feathers and her hair was black and nappy. She Vivian the fourth fairie, she was also a witch.
"Are you all right Malon?" Nikki asked.
"I thought I heard Princess Zelda calling me. Then she attacked me. I felt myself change it was horrible. I felt my whole body contort into something else." Link and Tenameru exchanged skeptical looks. "I grabbed her.and she tried to claw me. I pulled one of her feathers and she fell to the ground unconscious." Malon clutched the feather for dear life. "Then I changed back and I was so distraught I just sat and." She broke into sobs. Tenameru reached down and touched the fairies arm. The fairie disappeared with a force knocking Tenameru off of his feet. He shook his hand and whispered a curse word.
"Let us go back." Nikki helped Tenameru to his feet. "Rinéan can transport us home." She ordered. "I do not like it here. Even with the fairie gone it gives me the chills."
"I agree." Link nodded. "Can you walk Malon?" But she was all ready on her feet. They rushed through the path until they could hear the rain outside again.
"What happened?" Rinéan called out to them.
"We caught another fairie. Can you set up the runes here so we can go back to the castle?" Link asked.
"Yes." She immediately set to work placing stones on the ground in a strange pattern.
"Hey! What happened to Talya?" Nikki called to Rinéan.
"She was complaining about her arm then she passed out." Rinéan shrugged continuing to place stones on the ground. "She needs rest anyway."
"Are you done yet?" Malon rushed her.
"Basically." Rinéan stood. "Come, we can leave now." Link picked up Talya and stood next to Rinéan. Nikki, Tenameru, and Malon followed. The same magic surround them again landing in the center of Kakariko village. They walked through the snow back to the castle. Inside tit was cold and dark. They walked around the broke chandelier and up into the throne room.
"Hoshiko is supposed to visit tomorrow." Tenameru reminded them. "Someone will have to stay behind."
"Who?"
"Well, we need someone who looks like the Princess." Malon sighed.
"Hey, not me, just because she is my sister means nothing." Nikki objected immediately before anyone could volunteer her.
"That leaves just one person." Rinéan added.
"Talya." Tenameru finished for her.
Chapter Three: Scarlet Birds and Witches
The scarlet bird flew around the room and towards the window. Malon ducked out of the way. Talya pulled away from Link and tried to catch the fairie. The fairie giggled barely escaping Talya's grasp. She was Mali, a sweet generous fairie, who used her powers to support love and freedom. She transformed herself into a beautiful redheaded girl. Her skin was magenta and her wings resembled the features of the very bird she was chasing. She ignored the bird as it proceeded to fly out the window and turned her attention to three staring at her. She fluttered over to them without a sound and picked up the broken vase. It magically returned to its solid form.
"I am Mali." She approached Talya. "There shall be a horrible storm when thy party proceeds. My heart hath laid it upon me to inform you so thou doest not find thee trapped in it. You may capture me now. If thy intentions are pure and noble, it should cause thee no pain." Talya touched the fairie's hand and it disappeared after wishing them luck. The ground shook and the vase fell from the stone shelf, shattering once more to the ground.
"Let's go!" Malon called over the rumbling temple. They ran from the temple without looking back.
Tenameru and Nikki had followed Rinéan throughout the temple with no sign of the fairie. They searched until their path returned them to the very room in which they had started. The red birds that had once slept on the perches in the corner were now gone, leaving no feather behind.
"I wonder where." Nikki started, then the room shook violently.
"I guess the others found the fairie." Rinéan said. "Let us go now." They ran from the temple and back up the series of ladders. But when they reached the gap in their path their hearts sank. The ropes had been cut and were hanging limply off the opposite end of the gap.
"What are we going to do now?" Nikki yelled.
"We can only wait for the others to find us." Tenameru sighed.
"I will go find them." Rinéan floated into the distance.
"Wait! Why do you not just throw the rope.over?" Nikki ended her question by sitting down. Seeing that Rinéan had obviously ignored the idea, Tenameru sat as well, placing an arm around Nikki. She in turn leaned her head on his shoulder and they waited.
Link, Talya, and Malon were walking through the path towards the designated spot where everyone planned to meet. They reached the spot, but found no one there.
"They should have gotten here before us." Link sighed. "You do not think they did not get out in time?"
"I am sure they got out all right." Malon reassured herself. "Their quick right?"
"Maybe the area their tunnel led them too did not collapse." Talya posed the idea before them.
"It is possible." Link thought for a moment. "Let's go look for them."
"But we just got here! I am tired! I do not want to walk anymore!" Malon complained.
"Then you can stay here." Link rolled his eyes at her.
"You are going to leave me here?"
"Well, you do not want to come, do you?" Talya sighed.
"But I do not want to be alone." She whined.
"Then make up your damn mind all ready!" Talya yelled impatiently.
"Calm down." Link put a hand on her shoulder. "We are going now Malon, you can come if you want." They started walking down the path with Malon dragging her feet behind them. Rinéan floated towards them a strange look was about her.
"We need your help." Her tone would have been urgent hand it not been so empty.
"What happened?" Talya asked immediately. "They are not hurt are they?"
"No, they are just stuck." She whispered. "Follow me." She turned around and floated down the path. Link, Talya, and Malon followed running to keep up. They soon reached the gap. Tenameru and Nikki waved to them from the other side. Link strung his bow with the rope and shot it across. The arrow pierced the far wall. Malon did the same with the second rope. Tenameru used a spell to repair the ropes. Nikki walked over the ropes first. She gave Talya and Malon a hug then waited for Tenameru to cross. He did so and the started back down the path.
"You got the fairie I presume?" Tenameru smiled.
"Indeed. It mentioned a storm though. It actually warned us instead of cutting us to pieces." Link laughed.
"I wonder what kind of storm? Maybe it was a metaphor of some kind." Tenameru suggested.
"Nope!" Talya yelled. Her and Nikki had run ahead and were now returning. "Definitely a literal warning." She moaned.
"The cave is flooding, we have to leave before it gets worse!" Nikki specified.
"Come on!" Rinéan urged them, talking to a run, touching the ground for the first time that the group had seen. They ran to the foot of the staircase that had brought them into the cave. Water was rushing down the steps. They could hear the thunder echoing through the shaft, making the walls shake. They fought the rapid current of the water dragging them downwards. Several times they slipped and had to catch themselves and regain their balance before they could start again. The water seemed to be gaining on them. No matter how they rushed, the flood of the cave seemed right on their heels. They reached the top of the stairs exhausted and soaked. The storm was worse above the cave than they though. The wind was so fierce it was a struggle not to fall over. The rain was falling in sheets now. The drops were large and heavy enough to bruise the skin. The clouds made the world increasingly dark. The air was very humid, making breathing a struggle. A thick fog had fallen over the land, impairing vision further. The thunder crashed deafeningly every other moment. The lightning illuminated the land for a split second, temporarily blinding the party for a moment. Several times someone attempted to talk or yell, but each time it was droned out by the roar of the monsoon flooding the land around them. They finally stumbled upon a cave set in a hill above the flood. Tenameru lifted Nikki onto his shoulders so she could climb into the cave. Link helped Rinéan then Malon. Tenameru boosted Talya, and then Link boosted him up. Talya and Tenameru reached down to help Link up. He grabbed their hands and they pulled him up. Nikki had to help Talya who almost let go feeling a rush of pain though her injured arm. Finally everyone was out of the storm. For a long while nothing was said between the group. They were all to exhausted to speak. Malon fell asleep almost immediately after she laid her head against the cave wall. Rinéan was sitting at the edge of the cave watching the storm terrorize the land. Tenameru was unbraiding his hair, wringing the water from it. Nikki was watching him breathless from the effort she had exerted while climbing through the water and up to the cave. Talya was leaning against the wall out of breath as well. She was holding her injured arm, which was now numb with pain. Link was looking out into the rain, trying to think of something to say, contemplating the events that had just occurred.
"How long do you think this rain will last?" Tenameru asked shaking out his long blue hair.
"Perhaps the whole day." Link whispered mesmerized by the rain and lost in his own thoughts.
"We are going to have to proceed very quickly after this storm. The clock is ticking." Rinéan whispered now staring at the floor of the cave (She had moved to the back of it).
"Here let me." Nikki finally spoke up. She sat behind Tenameru and began to braid his hair for him.
"Thank you Nikki." Tenameru smiled softly.
"You are welcome Tena-chan" Nikki said in return.
"How is your arm Talya?" Tenameru proceeded to ask.
"I do not know, I can not feel it." She sighed. "These stupid fairies are going to be the end of me."
" I just thought of something." Malon suddenly awoke. "Hoshiko is supposed to come see Zelda. What are we going to do when this princess shows up and there is no one there to greet her?"
"We will discuss that tonight." Link said firmly. "We still have a day before she comes. We will worry about it then." He continued to look out into the rain. "Go back to sleep, this will probably be the only chance you get for the rest of the week."
"There!" Nikki exclaimed finishing Tenameru's braid. She kissed his cheek and hugged him from behind. Talya smiled a painful smiled at them as Tenameru blushed.
"I told you." Talya was smiling triumphantly.
"I guess when you are right, you are right." Tenameru sighed. "Let's get some rest. Link is right, we might not get another chance to sleep anytime soon."
"Yeah and since you are all ready bitchy, I would hate to see what you are like without sleep." Link laughed at his wit. It was not long before they had all fallen asleep with the exception of Link who continued to stare into the rain again, losing himself in his thoughts.
Hoshiko was trying to describe the layout of the castle to Zelda. If they were going to escape, there was absolutely no time to get lost. They had planned on escaping from the castle and had formulated a pretty descent plan.
"Once we escape we will take a horse from the castle's stable and ride as far as we can." Hoshiko continued to explain.
"What if the horses are gone?"
"Then we run." Hoshiko sighed.
"Where will we go? Certainly we can not go to my castle." Zelda whispered.
"That does not matter, our freedom is the issue at hand." Hoshiko said through her teeth. The heavy door swung open and a man in a black cloak entered the room. He did not speak at all but he seemed to be staring at them even though they could not see his eyes. It gave them the chills. After a moments silence he snapped his fingers and two plates of food appeared before them. They stared at him until he left. He was a truly terrifying beast and the girls knew they had to get out as soon as they could. The dark figure left the dungeons knowing quite well what the girls were planning. He sat on the throne and tapped his gloved fingers against the chair's arm. A hideous young girl with braided black hair and pupil- less eyes approached him.
"What of them my lord?" She asked in a croaking voice.
"Let them escape if they can. They do not have what we are looking for." He yawned. "How are they doing with the fairies?"
"They have caught three my lord."
"Pathetic. Such fools. Come now Neheirna, let's get ready for tonight."
"Yes master." She bowed.
Evening was approaching and the storm still raged on violently. Everyone was asleep in the cave at the moment. Tenameru was the first to wake up. He did not move or show any sign of his waking, as he did not wish to disturb Nikki who was still leaning on him. Talya woke up next finding her arm no longer numb. She released a silent scream of pain and maneuvered her way to the cave entrance. She put her arm out into the rain, letting the water seep into the reopened wound.
"Is it still raining?" Link yawned.
"Yes."
"We might have to keep going through the rain if it keeps up like this." He sat down next to Talya.
"Probably we still have eleven of these fairies to capture in six days."
"Soon to be five days." He corrected. "How is your arm?"
"I can feel it now." She winced pulling her arm out of the rain.
"And?"
"It hurts." She sighed trying not show how bad it actually felt. He grimaced. "Well, what did you expect me say? It feels better than before? You got mad when I lied, so should I tell you it feels better?" Her voice sounded bitter.
"I thought you weren't lying before?"
"I wasn't.let's not get into that again."
"You brought it up." He objected. "You can talk about it but I can not even comment?"
"Why do you not just leave this alone? It is not your problem." She tried desperately not to lose her temper, which was even harder to do with the constant pain rushing through her left arm.
"You just do not understand." He sighed. "I can not mind my own business. Not with you."
"I do not like where this conversation is going." Talya stood up. "Hey! Where did Malon go?"
"You are not just changing the subject are you?" Link did not make any effort to move from where he was seated.
"I am serious! Where could she have gone?" Talya said louder waking Nikki.
"She is right, Malon is gone." Tenameru yawned. "Where could she have gone?"
"She went into the cave." Rinéan told them.
"Why did you not stop her?" Nikki scolded. "Or wake us up or something."
"I can not go in there." She sighed. She created a ball of light and illuminated the cave revealing the crossed drawn into the walls.
"Oh shit. You do not think that this is the next temple entrance do you?" Talya groaned.
"It must be." Nikki whispered. "This place is creepier than the others temples."
"We have to go after her." Tenameru said. "I have a very bad feeling about this one."
"All right. Rinéan, you stay here with Talya." Link instructed. Talya went to immediately object. "You are staying here so just shut up and rest okay?" Talya gave him a very nasty look, but sat back down and leaned against the wall. "Let's go." The three ran down through the cave, which led deeper and deeper beneath the earth. They ran until they could not see anything.
"We could use Rinéan's powers right about now." Nikki sighed stumbling along the path.
"We do not need any light." Tenameru started. "Link do you have any rope?"
"No. Why does everyone assume I have supplies, besides where would I carry it?"
"Forget it Link." He sighed. "Can you see at all?"
"A little bit. Why?"
"I have lived in the dark all my life. I can see just fine." He laughed. "If you all follow me, we can get through just fine."
"How did Malon make it through then?" Nikki followed closely behind Tenameru.
"Maybe she brought a torch." Link grumbled following behind Nikki. Silence followed until they could hear a quite sobbing echoing slightly through the cave. They quickened their pace and soon found Malon crying quietly next to a young girl unconscious on the ground. The girl's skin had no color and her outfit was adorned with black feathers and her hair was black and nappy. She Vivian the fourth fairie, she was also a witch.
"Are you all right Malon?" Nikki asked.
"I thought I heard Princess Zelda calling me. Then she attacked me. I felt myself change it was horrible. I felt my whole body contort into something else." Link and Tenameru exchanged skeptical looks. "I grabbed her.and she tried to claw me. I pulled one of her feathers and she fell to the ground unconscious." Malon clutched the feather for dear life. "Then I changed back and I was so distraught I just sat and." She broke into sobs. Tenameru reached down and touched the fairies arm. The fairie disappeared with a force knocking Tenameru off of his feet. He shook his hand and whispered a curse word.
"Let us go back." Nikki helped Tenameru to his feet. "Rinéan can transport us home." She ordered. "I do not like it here. Even with the fairie gone it gives me the chills."
"I agree." Link nodded. "Can you walk Malon?" But she was all ready on her feet. They rushed through the path until they could hear the rain outside again.
"What happened?" Rinéan called out to them.
"We caught another fairie. Can you set up the runes here so we can go back to the castle?" Link asked.
"Yes." She immediately set to work placing stones on the ground in a strange pattern.
"Hey! What happened to Talya?" Nikki called to Rinéan.
"She was complaining about her arm then she passed out." Rinéan shrugged continuing to place stones on the ground. "She needs rest anyway."
"Are you done yet?" Malon rushed her.
"Basically." Rinéan stood. "Come, we can leave now." Link picked up Talya and stood next to Rinéan. Nikki, Tenameru, and Malon followed. The same magic surround them again landing in the center of Kakariko village. They walked through the snow back to the castle. Inside tit was cold and dark. They walked around the broke chandelier and up into the throne room.
"Hoshiko is supposed to visit tomorrow." Tenameru reminded them. "Someone will have to stay behind."
"Who?"
"Well, we need someone who looks like the Princess." Malon sighed.
"Hey, not me, just because she is my sister means nothing." Nikki objected immediately before anyone could volunteer her.
"That leaves just one person." Rinéan added.
"Talya." Tenameru finished for her.