~ Disclaimer ~ I don't own a single little fairy all created by Nintendo but we know about all that legal mumbo-jumbo. ^_^

...

Umm.Link? That was you're cue.

Link: I'm not speaking to you! _

Ah, yes. He still hasn't forgiven me for that. Heh, poor boy. Well, the sad thing is, it's all downhill from here.

Link: T_T How can it get any worse?!?

^_^ Patience, everything will be right in the end.

Link: *grumble, mumble* -_- She has too much freedom.

Anyway, as for the dedications; Yay, silversnow is back! I'm glad Jelie doesn't mind seeing that name so often. Ah, and it seems Shadow Knight is having trouble with Merrick, eh? *Looks at gleaming katana* ^_^;; I'm always under a death threat. And as always, CrysSton16 as well. She and I had a very cruel idea for this chapter but Link is a tough guy he can take it. ^_^

Link: Let's see how you feel when you get-

DON'T SPOIL IT!!!

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~ Link Can Never Catch a Break ~

Link jogged at a leisurely pace, wondering if the plan would work. Though Andrake hadn't really taught him anything new, his advice to stay low when he got close was wise enough. Link ran the plan through his head and began to see it did have a lot of "what ifs" involved. It seemed he was going to have to rely on luck.

Finally, he came upon a tree that stood out. Instead of the brown or black or even green trees all around it, this one was milky white with a few small spots of brown dotting it. He could make out the distinguishing marks on the base of the tree. Three brown holes forming a triangle. Link took a deep breath to slow his heart and slowed to a walk. The only sounds in the air were of the cicadas and the birds flying about.

With the loud buzzing, it was hard to hear footsteps or even talking if anyone was around. Link knew this worked for and against him in this long- lasting chase. He knew sunset was a long way off but his stomach reminded him of its emptiness. Link chuckled and wondered if his stomach would give him away with its groaning.

Link withdrew his hookshot and aimed at a high branch. Then corrected himself. The insects would mask the sound of feet but not the sound of that loud chain being fired. Link could see the telltale marks of daggers going all the way up to the notch where two large branches split away. He had a problem.

Andrake was the one who had suggested the plan so Link began to wonder how that guy was able to get up three. It would seem Andrake had been up there often enough to plan the attack strategy out so well. All the directions were correct so far. Details of the tree, general direction, even the blade marks proved it had been scaled often enough.

Link sighed and walked up to the smooth surface of the white-barked tree. He looked all around the tree but there was no sign of the rope. Andrake hadn't mentioned one but Link was hoping. He looked at his hookshot, still temptingly in his hand and put it away on his belt. He needed a quiet way up!

The tree was too large around to hug and climb that way. And there wasn't another smaller tree close enough for him to jump from. That must have been how Andrake made it across. Jumping. Link wished plaintively for those silly bunny ears to aid him but that adventure was done and the masks gone.

He went around to the side with the dagger marks and fingered one of them. Perhaps if he wore his Goron's bracelet, he would be able to hold tightly enough and scale it. Link was glad he had the forethought to bring the bracelet as he took it from around its hiding spot in the quiver and slipped it on. As always, warmth spread from his wrist up his arm. He carefully but firmly dug his fingers into the tree bark and pulled himself off the ground.

Holding himself up was easy but he felt his fingers trying to slip out of the narrow crevices and cracks. He fell the one foot distance to the ground before he could strengthen his hold and was glad he had only gone up a small ways.

Again, but harder this time, Link roughly pushed his fingers into the deep slits and began to climb. He bit his tongue against yelping as the wood pinched his fingers painfully.

Slowly but surely, Link was gaining height. He didn't bother trying to get his boots to aid his ascent for he knew the tree was far too smooth for that. With his hands alone, he hauled himself a little higher at a time.

Finally, he pulled his hand smartly out of the top crevice and clung to the top lip of the trunk. He swung one leg up and used his arms and one leg to get himself all the way up. He kept his eyes closed and tried to catch his breath. His fingers throbbed in pain and his arms and shoulders felt like they were burning despite the aid of the magic item.

He opened his eyes to see exactly what he had to turn into a trap. What he found surprised him.

Crystal me his gaze as she was lounged comfortably back with her hands behind her head, a look of disbelief in her eyes.

For a full minute they stared at each other. Neither of them knew which would make the first move. Link grinned and Crystal opened her mouth in exclamation. Before she could say anything, Link grabbed her up from her reclined position and turned her around before she could gather her wits.

He tried getting his arms under hers and holding her in a headlock that Mido had taught him but Crystal crouched down quickly. Link felt his boot come dangerously close to the edge and leaned forward, away from it. Crystal was still at his feet and she felt him leaning forward. Thinking he was going to try and smother her wit his body, she tried to push him away.

Temporarily forgetting where they both were, she realized he could indeed fall and she reached for the sword strap across his chest but missed. Link glared at her in pure fear and grabbed her outstretched hand as he lost total balance. Crystal reached back into her hiding spot but couldn't find as decent handhold. Her hand slipped on the dull, smooth branch and she fell right behind Link.

Crystal looked down as the ground rose rapidly to meet them. Link was falling straight backward as Crystal reached out for one of the other tree's branches. She caught hold of a thick, green weed vine and slid backwards on it. The sudden stop nearly made er slip but she dug her very fingernails into it and dangled. Se closed her eyes tightly as Link's started yelp was stopped with a solid thump.

She kept her eyes tightly closed, not wanting to see what had become of the boy. If he had struck one of the large roots sticking up from the ground.

Curiosity and guilt nagging at her, Crystal opened one eye, then both. Link laid on the ground, indeed his head had nearly struck one of the roots but through some miracle, the large sword on his back had moved up to where the scabbard just below the hilt protected his head from being crushed. The impact was hard enough, however, to render Link unconscious.

She let out a sigh of relief and swung herself deftly to where she was walking on top of the thick vine. It swayed with her movements but with both arms extended, Crystal made rapid progress with her balancing act and she made I safely to one of the smaller trees. From one of the rough, brown branches, she easily and safely jumped to the ground and sprinted to where Link lay.

She could see his chest rise and fall steadily and smiled. She would hate to be responsible for his death. She sat down near him and placed one finger on his chest, the smile still playing across her face, "One, two, three, four, fivesixseveneightnineten! And I win!"

But her victory was short lived, as her audience, Link, was unable to respond even with an indignant pout. Crystal let her victoriously raised fist fall limply into her lap. She wondered how Link had been able to find her tree. She had noticed earlier that, like Andrake, Link had a sort of way of getting around her senses. She sighed as she looked at his sleeping face. She couldn't say it was peaceful, as there were a few lines of experience and stress marking under his eyes. His mouth was drawn into a small, sad frown. He seemed to gasp for air.

Crystal frowned in sympathy. Wherever this boy had come from, it must not have been a peaceful place. She would have a few "words" with Epona to see if she could learn more if she and Desert Diamond, her Palomino, could actually find the fire-red mare.

A crow cawed plaintively overhead and Crystal craned her neck back to look at the sky. She had won so there was really no reason to stay. But how was she going to get herself and Link over to Gramps before the sun sank? The obvious answer was to ride but both their horses were still young. Neither could carry two passengers. Crystal scowled at her newfound problem and began her habit of biting her thumbnail as she lost herself in deep thought, searching for a reasonable solution.

Link was as limp as a rag doll so there was no way he could stay on his horse and it was a long, far way on foot, too. She looked around herself then, seeing her assets. There were her personal things in the tree, bowstrings, a blanket, a sharpening stone, and a bottle of water. All around her were large, strong trees but the branches fell down fragile and dead.

If she could find two decent sticks, then maybe, just maybe she could use the bowstrings and blanket to fashion a sort of dragging hammock to carry him behind her horse. Or perhaps Epona was smart enough to drag Link as he slumbered and she could ride Desert back to the house as Epona followed!

She snapped her fingers gladly at the plan and simultaneously jumped up and withdrew her daggers from her belt and began her quick climb, noting that the gashes were a half-inch wider than when she last checked.

After a long time, she managed to cut off two sturdy, thin branches and some of the vines that were trying to climb up the trunks of the trees. She carried the vines and sticks with four strings in one pocket and the blanket over her shoulder where Link also was. He was heavy with all his equipment but Crystal worked her way out of the forest and to the edge where the land spread widely out, a see of green before her.

She drew a deep breath of the fresh air and dropped Link and the items unceremoniously to the ground. She slightly minced but chuckled as Link let out a short snore and continued his slumber, mouth agape.

She whistled sharply and was answered with the happy cry of a horse. The speck of gold raced to her but shied away suddenly as she noticed Link with the scattered stuff all in a heap at Crystal's feet. Crystal whispered encouragement to the mare and began setting out the stuff.

It was a long, tedious matter and well after noon when Crystal was satisfied with her work. Placing Link onto it, she began to wonder if her horse did indeed have the strength to carry her and drag him. She knew also that getting across the stream was going to be an issue se would have to deal with. Desert Diamond nibbled at her hair until Crystal had to laugh at her antics. She grew serious once again and faced her mare with the problem.

The palomino showed no fear and no doubt in her own abilities and finally, Crystal thanked the horse and began setting up the vines to cross over Desert's chest and hold tightly to the ends of the stick. As it was, Crystal knew they could not run. Matter of fact, they could only trot the whole way home. She hopped onto her mount's back and looked back at Link. He rested with his head held above the ground by about five inches. She herself held the rope/vine over her knees and urged the palomino into a trot.

Once again, it was tedious work but with a couple of tumbles and a broken string or slipped vine, they were finally home and very much exhausted.

Link felt something wet and warm on his cheek but the rest of his face was cold. The warmth left him replaced by the same cold but a loud panting was heard. He groaned slightly and fought off a great, furry monster. He slowly opened his eyes and was met with a large tongue sliding against his forehead, soaking it with saliva. "Yuck!" He suddenly proclaimed and shoved Shekro off and away from him. Vigorously, Link began rubbing his face into his sleeve to get off the slime.

He could hear Crystal laughing both in amusement and triumph. She stood up from the table in another room and, carrying a bowl, made her way cockily over to him as he laid on a less than well-padded bed.

Being used to a single sheet over a tree carved bed, though, he didn't mind that. What he did mind, was the scent of the bed. Link instantly realized he was in Gramps bed and lurched out of it to topple to the floor.

"Well, that wasn't very smart." Crystal said in an annoying voice that grated in Link's ears. Anger snapped in his head and he looked up at her from the floor, flipping himself from his hands and knees and onto his back. He was about to make a sharp rebuke but Crystal knelt down and set the bowl under his nose.

The smell of the succulent, steaming stew stopped Link just as his mouth opened and he smiled and gratefully took the bowl. Dutifully, he drank half of it in one, long swallow. Crystal stood and returned to the table, still chuckling. She would remind the boy of the deal after he went into a food coma on the floor.

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Wow. That was a long one. Link is really gonna be mad at me when he wakes back up ^_^;; Well, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

I hope all you enjoyed it! I can't say when the next one will be up but I'll try my best for tomorrow!

Till next time!