A/N: Hi! Here's the next chapter. Enjoy.

Chapter Twelve – Help From the Fairy

Zelda and Sarah quickly followed Ruo, Link in tow. Over the past few hours, Link's condition had worsened. He did not make a sound except for a muffled, pained gasp caught in his throat every once in a while. His temperature had skyrocketed. The only move he had made was when he did his best to curl up into a little ball. Ruo led them to a large opening in the cave wall. Making sure everyone was ok, besides Link, the group pushed forward...

...Into one of the most beautiful places on earth. The first thing anyone would notice is that almost everything is blue. The walls were a perfect cyan while the floor boasted a sea blue tint. The next thing someone would notice is the walls. Brilliant colors flowed across the walls, starting with a fiery red blazing down to a gentle blue then to a deep forest green, then to almost any color or hue in the rainbow. The third thing one notices in the room is the humongous clam shell. It itself a light blue, the shell seems perfect. The fourth and final thing anyone could notice in this room is a tiny but bright light in the center of the shell. Ruo walked forward, but then the light spoke.

"Welcome to my domain. I am the Great Fairy of the Fountain, dedicated to help weary travelers. How could I help you?"

Ruo turned to Link, then back to the fairy. "Great Fairy, I ask you to help our sickened friend. There is little we can do and we are afraid of what might happen if he is not treated."

The light zoomed over to Link, flew around him for a moment, then returned to the shell. "Your friend is in a very bad condition. I may not be able to help him too much." The fairy suddenly grew, becoming around twice the size of Ruo. The giant fairy flew over to Link and picked him up. She examined him for a moment more. She laughed and started glowing a green color. The coloring seemed to pool around her arms where she held Link. Slowly, the green coloring gathered from the giant fairy into Link. As this happened, a low rumbling could be heard from deeper inside the cave. The multi-colored walls turned a green shade. A green light seemed to emanate from Link's body. Suddenly, there was a flash and the green light was replaced by a blinding yellow color. Above Link and the Fairy, a giant yellow triangle was forming. The triangle shrank and shot into Link's body, causing him to writhe in pain. Just as suddenly as all this happened, it stopped. The walls and surrounding areas returned to their regular shadings. Link stopped moving once more and the Fairy laid him down before quickly shrinking to the simple glowing light.

"I have done all I can for your friend. I have done all that can de done for him. He will recover, although if he will be the same, I do not know. Give him a respite and we shall see." The Fairy vanished.

Happily obliged to take the Fairy's advice, the team set up camp and went to sleep.

-

"Wake up, Link. Wake up."

"Wha?" Link said, opening his eyes. "I'm awake, I'm awake. Five more minutes."

"You do not have even a minute to spare." Link quickly recognized the same mysterious stranger that had attacked him. "You have been chosen and you are nowhere ready." The stranger jerked him up into a standing position.

"Talk about a good way to wake someone up. Now, can I get dressed?" Link asked, noticing he was in his pajamas.

"Did you not hear me? There's no time." The stranger grabbed Link's arm and practically dragged him out of the cave. When they were outside, the stranger handed Link his sword.

"More of this sword stuff?"

"Link, you have been chosen to play a very important part in upcoming events. You must learn how to at least properly defend yourself. Now, defend!" the stranger shouted, lunging at Link.

Link jumped out of the blade's way. "Watch it. I would like not to get skewered. Besides, I just woke up and have no idea where I am."

"Do you think that someone trying to kill you would wait until you were wide awake?" the stranger queried. "Now defend!"

Link moved his sword to intersect one of the stranger's slashes, but to no avail. The sword slid past his and grazed his right shoulder. A small line of red appeared below the ripped fabric. "Hey!"

"Next time it might not just be a scratch. Again!" The stranger commanded as Link was assaulted by swift slashing and stabbing attacks. Somehow, Link managed to redirect most of the attacks, but soon, there were several rips and tears across his clothes.

After a good deal of the stranger advancing and Link fending off many of the attacks, the stranger stopped. "Return inside. Do not mention this to anyone. I will be back tomorrow." Just like last time, the stranger vanished in a convenient fog.

-

Later that morning, Link was getting dressed. Having avoided suspicion by saying the cuts and bruises were from a nasty fall on the rocks near his tent, Link's morning had been more or less uneventful. Everyone was overjoyed that he was alright and said that they should pack and head off back to Sarah's lake to figure out exactly what was up with these rocks. Link immediately agreed, and so he was in his tent repacking.

"Link! Hurry up in there! Don't make me come in there and make it easier for you."

"I'm working on it. It's kinda hard to get dressed, pack, and make sure my cuts are healing, you know."

"Don't let it be too hard or else I'll send Zelda in there!"

Link smiled. "I'm almost done!"

-

Later that evening, Link, Zelda, Sarah, and Ruo were off again, this time heading toward Sarah's house. It had been a mostly boring day, them stopping only to eat some Ramen noodles, which Link thoroughly enjoyed. Around nightfall, Zelda declared that it would be best to set up camp. Camp was soon set up, food cooking. After everyone ate, Link and Co. went to their separate tents.

Around midnight, Link was awoken by being hoisted up on his feet, his sword shoved in his hand. Following the cloaked stranger outside, Link spent another night getting cut and bruised, although he did manage to get a decent attack in, leaving the stranger with a nice scratch on the side.

"You are learning. Good."

"That's right, I'm learning. Learning your attack style. Are we done now?" The stranger nodded, mumbled something about tomorrow night, then faded away in the usual mist.

-

Later that day, Link and co. were on the road again. Planning on arriving at the Lake tomorrow, Link could hardly contain his excitement. They had the rocks, now it was time to see what they could be used for. Letting his mind wander, he imagined the rocks would lead to a cave full of gold and treasure that they could sell and make lots of money. Money for arcades, money for amusement parks, money for games! Even money for-

"Watch it, Link!" Ruo said as she stood up from their collision. "Let's learn how to walk all nice now, before you end up hurting someone."

Link grumbled and playfully shoved Ruo forward. She stumbled forward and fell to the ground in mock pain. "The pain! The agony! The suffering!" she cried, clutching her side as if she had injured herself. She stood back up and lunged toward Link. "You'll pay!"

Link laughed and rolled out of the way, turning around and grabbing her around her waist. "Oh really? Pay for this!" he shouted as he did his best to pick her up. With Ruo slightly in the air, Link tried to put her atop a medium-sized rock. Ruo sat up and laughed.

"Oh no!" she said sarcastically. "What am I going to do? Oh, I know! This!" she yelled as she jumped from the rock and onto Link. After a moment of rolling around in the dirt, Ruo recoiled as Link pushed her off of him. Wincing, she stood up, apparently in real pain. Link stood up with her.

"You okay? I didn't mean to hurt you," he said.

"You didn't. Just an old injury flaring up. I'll be fine. Next time you may not be so lucky, though," she replied, smiling menacingly. She put her pack back on and helped Link with his.

"You two finished now?" Zelda asked. As Ruo and Link nodded, the company set off again on their way.

Bored with walking, Link fished out his sword from his pack and buckled it to his belt. Telling everyone he'd be back soon and there was no need to stop, he quickly departed into the woods. Walking along between the trees, he waited until he could no longer see or hear the group. Link sat his backpack down and drew his sword.

"Alright, I know you're around here somewhere. It's daylight so there'll be no lurking in the shadows for you. Now, show yourself!" Link shouted.

There was a flash of motion to his right and he turned, only to come face to face with the mysterious stranger. "No need to yell, I can hear you just fine. Now, are you here for some daylight training?"

"You've got to be kidding. I spend all night getting bruised and cut, so why should I have it happed to me during the day?"

"For the simple reason that you wish to improve on your skill. I am sure you agree when I say I am good, but I am not anywhere near as good as many others in this world. Soon, your training with me will be finished, and you will continue with a new master."

"Master? Since when were you my master?" Link asked.

"I was your master the day I did this," the stranger said, grabbing Link's arm, The stranger slid Link's sleeve up, revealing a healing cut. "And I will be your master until you manage to at least do more than graze me once. Now, I assume you'll either be going now or you'll fight. Make up your choice." The stranger turned around and walked forward a few feet.

Wrong move, Link thought. He charged forward with his sword, only to have the stranger spin around, block his attack, slash at his left leg, and send him sprawling to the ground. Link stood up and quickly blocked a slash from the stranger.

"You're learning. Good. Now, defend!" the stranger shouted and preformed a sideswipe. Link swung his sword to his side and almost smirked as the stranger's sword slid off past him. This time Link was ready. He again lunged forward, but quickly rolled past the stranger and slashed the unguarded back.

The stranger grunted and turned around slowly. "That's going to take a while to heal. Master's not going to be pleased with that..."

"Master? You have a master?" Link asked in amazement.

"Of course. Everyone has a master. I'm yours, Master's mine. Even Zelda and Sarah have masters."

"Since when? Last time I checked, neither could even hold a sword properly?"

"Their parents. Just because they have masters doesn't mean that the master is a master of swordcraft. My Master's better at the Bow than anything."

Link nodded, understanding. Then, realizing what a position he had right now, Link took his sword and just grazed the stranger's right shoulder. "That's for your first stroke. Now, are we done?"

"For now." The stranger stepped backwards, the familiar fog appearing from nowhere. Link shrugged and quickly started bandaging his cut. Man, was he glad the stranger's sword wasn't too sharp. Any deeper and a muscle could have been cut. Link gently placed some gauze on the injury and tied it on with some available string. He pulled his pant leg over the bandage, only to realize his pants now had a strange white area on it. Giving up, Link stood up, sheathed his sword, grabbed up his pack, and headed back to the path.

Easily catching up with the group, Link nodded once to Zelda and Sarah to acknowledge them without interrupting their conversation. Noticing the absence of Ruo, Link turned toward Sarah and, during a lull in their conversation, asked where Ruo was.

"Bathroom break. Why?" Sarah asked.

Link shrugged. "Curious, that's all." The group trudged along; the only change was Ruo rejoining them, which went by barely noticed.


A/N: A slightly jumpy chapter, butI think it's alright. Practically wrote itself. The stranger's identity will soon be revealed.