Chapter Three: A Nightmare's Curse

It had been ten days since Tiger washed ashore on Koholint Island, and they were the best ten days of his young life. Him and Marin were virtually inseperable. Being Marin's father, Tarin, had passed on from a horrific mushroom-experimentation accident three years earlier, Marin really appreciated the company. And Tiger, being stranded thousands of miles from his home, was relatively the same way. Although there were times when they had to be seperated, they pretty much never left the sight of each other.

The two not only grew as friends, but others commented that they were beginning to go much, much deeper. Some even as far away as the Animal Village were suspecting that they were a couple. The two laughed and shook it off, contenuing on with their business, going to the Animal Village to entertain the children while the adults were meeting daily, helping out with the item shop in Mabe Village, and picking mushrooms in the forest, just to name a few. However, little did they know, that they were swiftly falling for each other.

All they needed was the catalyst to set it off...

Marin woke up one starry night and sat up in bed. She looked over to the couch Tiger was sleeping on, just to discover that Tiger was missing. She wasn't scared, just curious, seeing as Tiger didn't leave his clothes being. She got out of bed, slipped out of her nightgown and into her regular clothes, and ran towards the first place she could think of, besides her secret spot: the 'crash sight', as Tiger called the place where he washed up on shore. She swiftly, yet silently, made her way to the site. There stood Tiger, sitting down on the raft, skipping stones into the ever-churning ocean. Marin came up behind him, and began to say something, until she heard Tiger talking to himself.

"I don't know why I haven't been able to sleep lately." He said to himself. "Maybe it could be that...no, it can't be, she deserves much more than me. I'm supposed to die alone and miserable, not drag someone down with me..."

Marin took a step forward, stepping on a twig. Tiger's ears snapped up, as best as his ears could, and he sighed, knowing she heard him, praying she didn't figure out whom he was talking about. "You should be in bed, Marin." Tiger said. He turned around, looking into her eyes. "Please go back to the village, I'll be back shortly."

Marin refused, and sat down beside him, laying her head upon his shoulder. The two idlely looked out into the starry horizon. They sat silent for almost twenty minutes before Marin stood up, grabbing Tiger's arm and tugging at it. Tiger then looked up at her, and stood up as well. It seemed like she, too, had something, or someone, on her mind. He looked to the horizon once more, and then into her eyes. "Marin, do-"

"Sshh" Marin calmly shushed, placing her finger on his lips. She gave him a warm smile the likes of which Tiger had never seen. She softly wrapped her arms around his neck, and held him close to her. Tiger hesitantly wrapped his arms around her waist, wondering what was going on, unaware of her feelings. She looked down at him, looking deep into his, and Tiger looking deep into hers. Udder silence followed briefly, before Tiger finally broke it. "Marin, I love..."

Cutting him off once again, Marin brushed her soft lips against his in a gentle, loving kiss. She broke it soon afterwards, blushing heavily, her face beet-red. She let go of him and began to turn away in embarassment, having caught the young man off guard. "Please forgive me, I did not mean to..."

Tiger then placed his hand in hers, which made Marin turn around. Tiger softly brushed the hair from her face, resting his hand upon her cheek. Marin's eyes began to fill with tears as the self-proclaimed hermit leaned up and returned the kiss with as much gentleness and love as the first one. That kiss, however, lasted a lot longer than the first. They embraced once more, hold each other tightly, never wanting to let go. They never groped each other, full-blown made out, or anything like that, they did the opposite, not wanting to ruin the moment they never thought would happen. The stars seemed to glisten a lot brighter, the moon shine bigger and brighter, and the wind carried a love song only those pure at heart could comprehend. It was a moment that words can never even begin to describe...

As morning broke, however, it was a completely different scene.

Marin awoke, realizing it was all a dream. Tears filled her eyes, her heart broken, wishing she wouldn't have woken up. Tiger walked into the cottage with some food he bought for breakfast. Seeing her in tears, he put the food down and sat down beside her.

"Marin" Tiger calmly asked her, "is something wrong?"

The young woman looked into Tiger's eyes, and ran out of the cottage. Tiger followed in hot persuit, calling her to calm down and tell him what was up. She led him to the Dream Shrine, and as Tiger walked in, Marin was already in the bed, almost asleep. Tiger knelt down beside her, having a bad vibe from the place, the Triforce glowing upon his hand. Marin looked groggily into his eyes, and placed a gentle kiss upon his lips and she sell unconscious into a strange coma. Tiger shook her, trying to wake her up, but to no avail.

"The girl can not be awaken, Tiger..." said an old croan coming from the shadows. "Upon laying on the bed, she had placed upon herself, the Nightmare's Curse."

Tiger would like to have tackled the old witch as he shook her. "How do I lift it!"

The witch rapped his knuckles with her cane. "MIND YOUR MANNERS!" the croan shreiked, walking towards her caudron.

"Yes, ma'am." Tiger said, rubbing his hands, following her.

"Go to the top of Mount Tamaranch, and jump inside the shell of the Wind Fish." The witch instructed. "You will fight three nightmares, one of your past, one of yourself, and one of your biggest fear. Should you fail, you shall perish, and the girl will disappear into eternal slumber..." The witch laughed sadistically, and disappeared, along with her cauldron. However, she left a shield, a sword, and a crystal ball.

Tiger picked up the items, and walked to the door. Turning to face Marin, he sighed. A tear rolled down his cheek as he walked out the door, ready to face certain death for a girl he loves, yet hardly knows...