The Castle shook to its very foundations, knocking both servant and noble to their knees. The tremor lasted only for a moment, but many people stayed close to the ground several hours afterwards, claiming that had only been a mild warning for the trouble that would lie ahead. The King of Hyrule had never believed in such superstitions, and after making sure everything was in proper working order he sat in the royal chambers thinking.

Evan, one of his most trusted guards, had come to him earlier that morning and told him that Stalchildren, the horrors of legend, were roaming the fields of Hyrule; which had disturbed him greatly. Then the earthquake had occurred and he was no longer certain of what was going on. In his own kingdom for Goddesses' sake!

Odd things had been happening ever since that Gerudo had come to his Kingdom, and even though the thief had sworn allegiance the King was no longer sure if Ganondorf had any loyalty to give away. He would have to monitor the King of Thieves, he decided, he couldn't very well kick a guest out of his Keep without good reasoning.

The King would live only a short while to regret his politeness.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Goddesses it's hot!" Navi complained, looking with disgust at the cavern around her. Dodongo's Cavern had to be one of the least pleasant places in all of Hyrule, magma and monsters making it all the less attractive. Her wings felt as though they would burst into flames like paper left to close to a fire and the whole of her body was drenched in sweat.

"Link, if we ever get to go on a vacation, promise me it won't be anywhere near here."

Link just laughed, opening the blocked door with a bomb flower and going through. There were two statues that seemed to be guarding a switch in the floor, and he carefully pushed one of the ugly sculptures onto the lever which opened a door. Link quickly exterminated the bat-like Kees that flew about with his slingshot then entered the next room, a blast of heat unbalancing him for a moment.

Two Lizalfos appeared suddenly, making the kokiri blink in mute surprise. The lizard men jumped around him with an awkward grace, sharpened knives glittering dangerously in their equally fearsome claws. Link grabbed his kokiri sword and hylian shield, prepared to fight a long battle.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After watching the two lizard men fade into nothingness, Link realized he was in trouble, a quick glance at his side confirming his fears. A long gash ran from around his third rib down to his hip, it bled profusely, warm droplets splattering onto the ground. He flinched, instinctively reaching for a healing fairy that he didn't have.

Uttering a strangled curse and clutching his side to slow the blood's steady flow, he said, "Navi we have to get to the Gorons, now."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Malon concentrated fiercely, sweat beginning to form on her forehead, "Come on." She whispered to herself, "You can do this."

The old hag eyed her stance carefully, finding very little to complain about. They both stood in Hyrule Field, practicing a form of magic that had almost been lost within the passage of time.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Malon had only been six when she had discovered the secret entrance to the Potion Shop, fascinated by a door that had suddenly appeared to her she had tiptoed in, and had found piles of books like she had never seen. Being a rancher's daughter she had no access to such things and was overjoyed at the aspect of reading something a bit more captivating than How to Care for Your Cucoo.

No one ever came to the old potion shop so she had the place to herself, she returned every day adding to her knowledge, thinking of it as a secret hideaway from the outside world.

Granny had returned to the Potion shop after extensive field study, to find a child skimming through her books on black magic. At first the hag had been horrified, snatching the ancient tome away from the child, but the dismay had quickly changed to surprised amusement as the girl determinedly took it back with a simple levitation spell.

They had become quick friends after that, the hag instructing Malon in magic and patience while Malon showed her the joy of having a child for company.

For three years they had worked on herbal knowledge and healing magic, but after the Stalchild incident Malon had been more interested in some more offensive magic. In the few days that had passed she had learned spells that could call upon the elements themselves, and although she was new to the concept she was resolute in her choice.

"That's enough Malon, the wind is a fickle thing, don't strain yourself."

Malon dropped her stance, breathing heavily and frowning. "I wish it would listen." She sighed, disappointed in both herself and the air.

"It will eventually, it just needs time." The old woman replied in a gentle tone that her appearance denied possible, "Let's head back to the shop," she smiled wickedly, "After all it's your turn to cook."

Malon rolled her eyes, "I may be a sorceress, but to you I'll never be more than a cook."

"And a damn good one too!" the hag cackled.

They exchanged smiles and walked back to the village.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Pain burned like fire through Link's side, sending waves of sickness through his entire being.

"Link," Navi shouted in his ear, "You have to get up!"

The comment sounded inane until the young kokiri realized he had fallen to his knees, he struggled vainly to stand.

The Gorons had tried to help him, but they knew little about human healing, their own stone-like bodies had never sustained such horrible injuries before. The mountain dwellers had bound the horrible wound as best they could with little success. The linen strips they had substituted for bandages were old, taken from an unfortunate human who had taken a long fall off a jagged cliff side.

Link gasped in agony as the poorly applied bandages broke, blood instantly soaking his tunic, warping the forest green colors.

"Link, the village, you aren't that far." The fairy was almost hysterical; she couldn't lose him, her throat tightened at the thought.

Tears streamed down Link's face, "I'm sorry." he whispered brokenly, disgusted with himself for the weakness he was showing. He was laying down fully now, blood-loss and exhaustion robbing him of the last of his strength.

"I'll find help." Navi whimpered, determination creeping into her voice. He needed shelter first; she couldn't leave him in the middle of the trail, defenseless and unprotected. Her eyes found a hole in the side of the trail that Link had created earlier with a bomb and she began to coax him toward it, grabbing the stained tunic and trying to pull. As he crawled to the pathetic shelter Navi knew his time was short, a trail of crimson blood had followed his struggling form and now lay glistening in the hot sun. She would have to make haste, or Hyrule's little hero would not live out the day.

Racing to Kakariko Village at an unbelievable speed the fairy appeared to be a blur of blue color, at least that was what Link thought as all consciousness left him and oblivion opened its arms wide.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Malon had prepared a thick vegetable soup, accompanied by warm wheat bread smothered in cheese, the smell wafted about the kitchen and her mouth watered. Now all she needed was a beverage.

"Granny, I'm going to get milk for lunch!" she called from the kitchen.

"Fine," the old woman replied, "There's a cow at Impa's old house, go there and get the milk."

The young girl grabbed an empty bottle on her way out the door, running to the specified house only to come out moments later, muttering about having to pay four rupees for a pint of milk.

As she walked back to the Potion shop she noticed a small crowd had formed near the watchtower. Her interest piqued, she easily slipped through the throng of people to see that they had formed around a fairy who was pleading for someone to help her.

Malon recognized the small ball of light instantly. "Navi," Malon called to the distraught fairy, "What is it?"

Navi turned and, upon seeing the young girl's familiar face, flitted over to her and began pulling desperately on her sleeve. "Malon please help, it's Link, he's injured."

"Where is he?"

"Death Mountain Trail, he's bleeding badly." The pixie was on the verge of tears, her voice coming out in a squeak while she tugged weakly at her only hope.

Malon's heart sank, "Go get Granny, she owns the Old Potion shop, tell her to go the trail." That said she started running, up the flights of stairs and past a startled guard. She turned the corner and made it onto the trail, freezing for an instant when she saw him.

His tunic was pasted to his side with his own blood, his eyes shut tightly in pain while he made a desperate attempt to breathe. She knelt down beside him, a kind of sick fascination making her gently reach out to touch the injured side.

'Blood,' Her eyes were wide with shock, 'How can there be so much blood?'

"Malon!"

The red-head turned to see Granny ambling toward her, a group of concerned villagers following.

Granny knelt down alongside her, looking gravely at the wound as she put her crooked finger against Link's side, a flash of magical white light assessing the damage. For a moment the old woman was silent, almost as if she was contemplating her words carefully before saying them. Finally she shook her head, "He's too far gone, I'm so sorry Malon, there's nothing I can do."