Author's Note: --trumpets sound-- yay! at last my writer's block has gone, and I have updated this story! I don't know if it's any good, but like...here it is.

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Zelda lay awake in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She exhaled gently, and watched her icy breath furl out in front of her. The Princess clutched the sheets closer to her for warmth. Oh, this is not going to be a good night, she thought to herself.

She could hear some people scuffling outside. It sounded as if someone was having a fight. Zelda sighed deeply and buried her head underneath her sheets. Why did people seem to have this desire to be constantly is some kind of battle?

Then she heard something knock against her window. Her first thought was that it was Link, but then Zelda realized he'd come to the door if he wanted to see her. Shivering, Zelda sat up in bed and stared at the window. A shadow appeared to be trying to open it.

"What in Din's name...?" Zelda started.

She jumped when the thing at the window succeeded in opening it. Her eyes widened as a large man approached her bed. Soon Zelda realized it looked similar to the mercenary she and her three companions had fought earlier that day. The man was breathing heavily, and shaking.

"Princess," he said in a low, menacing voice.

"W-what do you want?" Zelda stammered, even though she knew the answer quite well enough (she felt the need to say something).

He smirked, but the Princess couldn't see in the darkness. She drew herself closer to the headboard of her bed as she saw him come nearer. Zelda's breaths come out shorter and quicker, causing small wisps to issue out of her mouth. Goddesses, this just had to happen now, she thought to herself.

A deep growl formed in the assassin's throat, and he lunged at the royal. Zelda gasped and side-dodged him, and the large man crashed onto the bed. The Princess skidded to the other side of the room.

"I hope you don't think it'll be so easy getting me out of the way," he snarled. "If you're going to attempt to put up a fight, I'll have to render you unconcscious!" He launched a heavily clenched fist towards the Princess' collarbone.

The impact caused pain that could not be expressed through a scream; and Zelda crashed against the wall releasing only a quiet moan. The first thing she thought was, Ow. Then she wondered with annoyance why the inn didn't have better security.

Zelda cringed when the assassin raised a chair to hit her over the head with, but was saved just in the nick of time by none other than Link, who had arrived at just the right time. The hero had suddenly appeared between the man and the princess, and had blocked the chair using his shield.

The assassin stood dumbly in shock for only a moment; but that was enough time for Link to pitch an attack. He thrust his sword through the attacker's middle; and pulled it out slowly as his victim groaned in pain. Eventually he fell to the floor dead.

"Link, how'd you know to come here?" Zelda asked in a hoarse voice, rubbing the spot she'd been hit at.

"Zel, how hurt are you?" Link asked, ignoring her question completely. He sheathed his sword and put his hands to her shoulders in worry. "What'd that monster do to you?"

"Well, he gave me one darn good punch," Zelda said. She pushed her hair out of her face, and tried in vain to inspect her injury. "Ouch...how did he know which room was mine, anyway?"

"I overheard him at the desk," Link said, wearing an expression of intense disgust. "He told the man he was a guard from Hyrule, sent to protect the Princess, and asked for you room number."

Then Zelda noticed a large cut by Link's ear. "Darling, what happened to you?" she asked with concern, putting a hand to his face.

"Oh, that," he said lightly, touching the cut as if to see if it were still there. "I got in a scuffle with that brute earlier." He nodded his head to the dead man behind them. "I immediately knew he was one of Ganon's fighteres, so I pulled him outside and tried to fight him. Now that I think of it, we were just outside your room."

"Oh, that's what I heard earlier," Zelda gasped. "I thought there was someone outside, I just never deduced who it was...and then he beat you?"

"Yeah, and I'm not quite sure how he did, either," Link said very matter-of-factly. "I think I was rather distracted with worry."

Zelda smiled at him. "How very sweet of you." She slowly started to stand, but her legs gave way and she grasped onto a table for support.

"What's wrong?" Link asked, getting to his feet and quickly helping to hold her up.

"I don't know," she whispered. "I had to jump out of my bed to dodge that man's attack, I guess I must have fell on it weird or something... I-I'll be okay, though."

"No, let me help you," Link offered quietly. He gently picked up Zelda, and slowly brought her over to her bed. Once she was securely lying underneath sheets and covers, he asked, "Do you want me to stand outside the door, or do you think you'll be all right for the rest of the evening?"

"Well, I don't know how many more people could try to attack me in one night," Zelda snorted. She pulled gently on Link's hand. "Sit down for a minute."

Raising an eyebrow, he obeyed. The Princess moved over and embraced him tightly. "Uh...Zelda?"

"I love you, Link!" she whispered, crying silently into his shoulder. "You've no idea how grateful I am to you and all you have done for me!" Her fingernails dug into his back as she sobbed. "I've been such a burden, and I haven't done anything for you to--"

"Princess, the last thing you've been to me is a 'burden,'" Link interrupted. He pulled out of her arms and lifted a finger to wipe away the tears falling freely down her face. "And you have done so much for me, that I could not complain about my responsibility to look after you. I do so gladly, because I have your love. And I know that I have your love. That's how I know I can live every day."

Zelda smiled at him. She leaned forward and met him in a brief kiss. "I'm so lucky that you're mine," she sighed. Link's hands went to her waist and he pulled her closer to him; kissing her avidly.

After a few moments, she smirked and pulled away. "Lucky, lucky me," she whispered. "Goodnight, Link. If by some chance my room gets invaded some time later tonight, I know I can count on you to rescue me."

"True," Link said. He stood up and crossed the room over to the door. "Good-night, Princess."

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"We're leaving today," Link said flatly the next morning at breakfast.

"Really? So soon?" Saria asked, trying to cover a yawn.

"Yes," Link responded. "Zelda got attacked last night by one of Ganondorf's mercenaries. We can't afford something like that happening again."

"We should be able to get to Dark Mountain by this evening," Zelda said.

"So," Malon said slowly. "Any ideas as to how we get to there?"

"By horse?" Link kidded.

"Link, this is not time for jokes," Zelda reprimanded. "Someone's out to kill me, and that's not going to make our trip any easier."

"Yeah, I know," Link muttered, running a hand through his hair. "But if we're going to get the Triforce, we've got to do it quick. Before Ganon realizes where it is."

"Right," Zelda said, nodding. "We leave today. Are you all ready?"

"Pretty much," Saria answered, shifting the weight of a pack on her back.

"Well, that settles that," Link sighed, standing up. "Let's go."

------------Meanwhile------------

"Here," said Ganondorf, handing a small, glass vial to a moblin.

"What is it, my lord?" the moblin asked, peering at the green liquid inside.

"It's a new potion I've concocted," Ganon answered. "If it has been made correctly, it has drastic effects."

"Such as what, my king?"

Ganondorf chuckled softly. "If this potion is drunk... drunk? Dranken? Um .... if it is consumed, it will make the drinker act the exact opposite of how they normally would." He laughed evilly, and the moblin joined him.

Slowly, the moblin's laughter died down. "And.... who exactly is this potion for?"

"For Link, of course," Ganon answered. "He may be an annoying little forest brat who has beaten me one too many times, but as a fighter, he would be invaluable." He grinned. "Do you get my point?"

Realization dawned on the moblin's face, and he began to chuckle darkly. Ganon did as well, until the henchman suddenly stopped laughing and said, "No."

Ganon rolled his eyes. "Fool. If Link is to drink this potion, it will bring him on my side. If he can defeat me, think of what he could do for our side! NOW do you see? Do you see what I mean?"

"So you're saying ..... that if--if Link takes this potion, he'll fight for us, because normally he's fighting against us?"

"Yes!" Ganon cried. "At last, you get it!"

"But, my lord, has this been tried?"

"No, no trial has yet taken place," the Gerudo king answered, pacing back and forth. "That is why I want you to find a speciman we could test it on. It would have to be someone you know pretty well .... I mean, someone who you know enough to know how they'd act. But not a moblin, because then if the potion worked, they'd turn against us. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you have someone in mind that you can perform this incredibly easy task upon?"

The moblin smiled wickedly. "I have the perfect one..."

-----------On The Trail----------

As usual, the foursome was riding along, when suddenly Malon came to a stop. Saria and Link glanced over at her, pulling at their reins as well.

"What is it?" the former asked.

"Sh," Malon said, holding up a hand to silence any furthur questions. Slowly she got off her horse, and got an arrow from her stallion's saddle. Holding it up to a bow, she shot it directly at the stump of a tree.

"Ha, ha, you missed!" came a voice.

"I know," Malon said loudly, getting another arrow from her quiver. "I shot that one to get your attention. Now come out from there you spineless creature, or would you prefer I come to you myself and beat you senseless?"

Her three companions, quite confused about the current goings-on, got off their horses as well and were surprised to see a timid moblin hobble towards them.

"Let me guess," Malon said, an arrow still drawn. "Ganondorf sent you."

"Who else?" the moblin muttered.

"What is that behind your back?" Malon asked calmly.

"Nothing," he said quite unconvincingly.

"Give it here," Link demanded, holding out a hand for it.

"Not on your life!!" the moblin yowled. And with that, he took from behind his back a small bottle of green elixir. He cut Malon to the chase and splashed the potion on her before she could shoot him.

Malon dropped to the ground and coughed loudly. "What in Din's name was that?!" she asked in a hoarse voice, grabbing her throat.

"You little freak!" Link yelled, lunging at the moblin with his sword.

Cackling evilly, the moblin dodged the attack and dove into the woods. He dropped to the ground and hid behind a clump of bushes to watch what happened to his victim. He saw Saria run over to Malon and try to help her to stand.

"May, are you all right?" she asked worriedly.

"Ugh," was all Malon could utter, shaking her head.

"What did that moblin give to her?" Zelda asked, picking up the bottle.

"I'm betting it was something toxic," Link muttered, peeling the label off the bottle and reading it. "Oh...wait. 'Not poisonous; function is to force people to act opposite of how they normally do.' ...what kind of moron puts labels on their potions?"

"Ganondorf, apparently," Zelda said rolling her eyes. "But if Malon is going to act her total opposite, don't you think that means she could be working against us??"

"That's exactly what Ganon would want her to do," Saria said worriedly, staring at her sister with concern.

Suddenly Malon let out a small groan and collapsed to the ground. She crawled towards a nearby tree and started banging her head on it. "Trees are friends, not food!" she said in a fairly stupid-sounding voice.

Zelda raised a thin eyebrow. "...something is most definitely wrong with that woman. Methinketh this potion is not working in exactly the way Ganon wanted it to." Rolling her eyes she went to help Malon back to her feet.

"Nooo, you're backwards," Malon spluttered, acting almost like a drunk. She nimbly put her hands to the ground, and started walking on them. "You got to walk on your hands, not your feet ... what's wrong with you?" Laughing giddily, she approached her confused horse and said, "C'mon, Thorton! Get on!"

"Wait, I don't get it," Saria murmured. "Isn't that potion supposed to make Malon act the opposite of how she usually does?"

"Yes," Link answered. "Malon is usually very smart and clever. Needless to say, the opposite of that would be a mindless idiot. I think Ganon's goal was to get her to want to fight us, or something."

"Obviously," the Princess sighed.

"Curses!" the moblin muttered under his breath with a scowl

"Yes, well, he's still got a few bugs to work out," Zelda said. She walked calmly over to Malon and bonked her on the head with a log. "Well, that should cover us for a little while."

"Princess, what was that for??" Saria cried, running to her unconcious sister.

"Well, she's not going to help us any in that state, that's for sure," Link answered. "So hopefully the potion will have worn off when she comes to. And if it hasn't .... well, then, I'm at a loss." He swiftly picked up the red-head and settled her onto Saria's horse. "Mind if she rides with you, Saria?"

"Nope," the girl responded, getting onto her horse as well.

"I'll take Malon's stallion," Zelda said, climbing upon the aforementioned animal.

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It wasn't much later until Link pulled his reins again to stop. "There it is," he said in a quiet voice. It was an unneccessary thing to say, because his two companions had stopped anyway in awe.

Zelda automatically dismounted, and she walked over to Malon--who was still on Saria's horse, in her deep sleep.

"May!! C'mon, get up!" the Princess said sharply, slapping her friend across the face. "Wake up!"

"What happened?" Malon asked groggily, rubbing her head.

"That moblin knocked you out with the stuff you swallowed," Zelda lied. "C'mon, we're at Death Mountain."

"Really? Already?" Malon asked, slowly getting off Saria's horse. "Woah .... it's incredulous to think that we're already here! Just think--now we'll be entering with all these high hopes and dreams of success, and we may not even come out alive!!" She let this sink in, then smiled brightly and said, "So, ready to go?"

"I was," Saria muttered, glaring at her.

The small group clustered together and approached the mouth of the cave. "That looks like a... a bit of a way down," Zelda said slowly, her voice cracking slightly. She coughed to cover the fear that had come up in her tone, but the others hadn't even noticed. "We're going to need a rope."

Malon silently dumped a heavy pile of rope on the ground that she had had wrapped around one of her shoulders. The four of them stared at it, each debating in their heads as to whether or not they should pick it up.

"I'll go first," Zelda volunteered, bending down to reach the cord.

"No," Link said, grabbing her arm and stopping her. "Don't be ridiculous, Zelda. What if .... what if something were to happen to you down there? Aside from the fact that I selfishly don't want you to die, we need you to work the Triforce."

"He's got a point," Saria muttered, as Zelda reluctantly straightened. "I'll go down first." Before her comrades could protest, Saria nimbly picked up the rope and tied one end to a rock that was conveniently sticking out of the ground.

"Wait," Link said, just as Saria had finished tying the rope around her waist. "We don't know how far down a climb that is."

"Trust me, this has got be enough rope," Zelda sighed.

"No, I mean, Saria's voice might not carry all the way back up," Link said. He thought for a moment, then said, "If--when you reach the bottom, send an arrow back up attatched to the rope."

"Okay," Saria said, putting a bow around her. No one bothered to question how far one of her arrow's could reach--Saria's had no limit of how far they went.

Malon broke down into a sweat as she watched her younger sister descent further into blackness, until she was no longer visible. A few moments later, the redhead got to her knees, subconsciously clasping her hands together. Please, Goddesses, let her be all right, Malon thought to herself, angry that she hadn't gone down first.

After twenty minutes of rigorous rope-climbing, Saria reached the bottom, unscathed (of course). Exhausted, she managed to gather enough strength to hold an arrow up to her bow and shoot. Then she realized just in time that the rope she'd attatched to the arrow was still tied around her waist; and got it off just as she felt it pulling upwards.

"Goddesses, there's her arrow!" Malon said. She and the other two had jumped when it first shot out into the air; it had only just missed hitting Link's leg. Malon ran to where the arrow had landed, and picked it up. "Well, who wants to go next?"

To make a long story short, all three of them eventually reached the bottom of the cave (Link going last, being the gentleman that he was). "Well, I guess that's one hurdle we've managed to jump," he commented, untying the rope.

"But that was probably easy compared to what lies ahead," Malon muttered. "For all we know, there could've been guards down here waiting to catch intruders."

"Oh, I have no doubt that there are guards down here somewhere," Link said casually. "We've just been fortunate enough not to run into any of them yet." He pulled the map out of his pocket. "All right, so we just came in from the north."

"Which means we need to go that way," Malon deduced, pointing down a western walkway. "Goddesses, it's dark down there..."

"Of course it is," Saria sighed. She glanced about the walls for a torch, and found one. But, needless to say, it wasn't lit. Saria sighed again. "Anyone want to rub two sticks together?"

"That's a waste of time," Zelda pointed out. Closing her eyes briefly, she was able to light the torch using Din's fire. "That, my friends, was a neat little trick I learned when I was seven."

"Impressive," Malon said, as Link took the newly-lit torch. She rubbed her hands together. "All right, my fellow adventurers .... let's go."

--Meanwhile--

Ganondorf looked up from his book of spells as a moblin came hobbling into his throne room. The moblin, gasping for breath, bowed briefly in front of his master, then straightened.

"You may speak," Ganon said, waving his hand. "Did the potion work?"

"Not exactly, my lord," the moblin said, looking down at the ground.

"What do you mean, not 'exactly'?"

"W-well your highness...instead of turning the victim against Link as we had planned, it turned her rather ... well, rather demented, your lordship."

"What the--demented?!" Ganon roared, banging his fist on his throne. "I was sure I'd gotten the potion right this time! I double and triple checked my sources and ingredients several times! How could I have failed??"

The moblin edged back against a wall in fear as his king paced about angrily. Ganon picked up his book again, and scanned the page of the potion he had used. His eyes widened as he found a miniscule asterik next to the title of the potion, and he read the footnote.

"Oh, that's it," Ganon sighed in annoyance.

"H-have you found the problem, sire?" the moblin asked timidly.

"Yes, and I could almost laugh at my stupidity," Ganondorf answered. "According to this book, the mixture will only work correctly on the night of a full moon. Which, if my assumptions are correct, should be in three days time." He smiled wickedly. "Set out again to find our four friends. Follow them until the full moon shows. And then give one of them the potion."

"Of coures, majesty," the moblin said. He bowed, and then quickly exited the room; the sound of Ganondorf's evil cackling echoing behind him.

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A/N: Go me! I actually added on! please review! OR ELSE!! by the way, even though she'll kill me for this, i have to give credit to a good friend of mine who goes by "woolf apprentice'' for "helping" me out with most of these romance scenes!! and yes! that last ganondorf part was important, just so you know!