Halloo! Sorry for the shortness of the chapter, but the next one will be longer, I promise. Really!

Disclaimer: La la la, connect the dots, la la la, connect the dots.

Chapter 16 Link insisted on finding Anju and Kafei after the competition, so we found ourselves once again threading through the busy crowds. We finally found them near the door, reading the poster announcing the events. "Anju! Kafei!" Link called happily. I stood as much to one side as I could without being totally separated from Link. "Link? Goddesses, it's been what, four years? How have you been?" Replied the young man in an astonished tone. He and his "lover" were older then Link and I, but only by a couple years at most. The two came over, and I got a better look at them. The man had purple hair and eyes, and had an air about him that suggested that he was someone important, like a King or Prince. The woman had red hair, a little browner then Malon's, and blue eyes. She had a graceful way of walking, but she had something about her that made her look a little like a klutz. I smiled politely as introductions were made between me and the two newcomers. "So what are you two doing in Hyrule?" Link asked finally. Kafei suddenly got a mysterious look on his face. He looked from one side to the other, then leaned forward, beckoning for us to do the same. "I have important news," He said in a whisper. "It's about-" His voice dropped even lower- "the Princess." "Zelda? You know where she is?" Link whispered back. Anju nodded. "We can't talk here. Do you know someplace.private?" She asked. Link raised an eyebrow. Completely lost, I stayed silent. Kafei glanced over at me. "Um.is the company entirely trustworthy?" He asked. I bristled, but Link knew me well enough by now to recognize when my temper would be set off and wisely cut in. "Of course. She's in on it too." "Good. Now, where can we meet?" Kafei continued. "We should probably go back to the doctor's, Malon will want to hear this." Link decided. Anju raised a questioning eyebrow. "She's with us as well." Link explained quickly. Anju nodded. "Now, shall we?" I breathed a sigh of relief as soon as we got outside. It was very easy to become claustrophobic in a place like that. Link and I led the way to the Doctor's place. I worried whether or not the old lady would be listening, but decided to deal with it when the time came. Fortunately, she was no where in sight, although we had to wake Malon up. She spluttered a bit, but her first question was natural enough. "Did you guys win?" I showed her the ring that was still in the box I had gotten it in. She smiled and was about to say something, then saw Anju and Kafei. "Uh." Link quickly explained the situation. Malon grinned. "Finally, some good news. Now we can get this crazy quest over with." For a reason I couldn't yet place, cold struck inside my heart and bones, making me numb. I tried to ignore this new, unexplained complication when Kafei started to speak. "Zelda is hiding in Termina, at my father's house. She's all right for the time being, and knows of the quest status. She wishes to speak to you three as soon as possible. She has the stone." There was a moment's silence. "We'll leave as soon as Malon's better." Link decided. "Don't wait for me! This is important! I can head back to the ranch as soon as I'm better!" The red head protested. "No way, no how. You're coming with us whether you like it or not, missie!" I replied. "All right, but we can leave tomorrow. I'll be all right by then!" Malon gave another attempt. Link and I shook our heads. "No, really, I can already walk-" Malon tried to sit up, but winced in pain so much I gently pushed her back down. "Nice try, carrot top, but no dice. We can leave in a few days, can't we?" I asked, looking at Kafei and Anju. They nodded. I turned back to Malon. "See?" Malon could only give one reply. "Carrot top?"

Please r+r!!!