Dark Link: Sorry for the wait, non-reviewers.

Sorceress: But here's chapter two, for those of you who care.

Link: NO! Don't read it, I-

Sorceress: (Clamps hand over Link's mouth) I don't own Zelda. Trust me; Termina Fever would be a Zelda game if I did.

o~o0o~o

Termina Fever

Prologue 2.

Home, Link thought as he neared the exit to Termina. A year away; I wonder if anything's changed. His fingers wove unconsciously through Epona's mane; the chestnut mare shook her head to let Link know that he was pulling her mane too hard. He withdrew his hands, which automatically flew to his head. This particular portion of his anatomy was beginning to feel genuinely painful. Heck, he was nearly dizzy with pain. Not that he'd never been hurt before, it was just…well, headaches do not merit the same satisfaction as, say, battle scars from a recent encounter with Majora.

It was really starting to bother him, and now his stomach just had to get involved. And having a background of trees, trees, trees, and more trees was not helping much. In fact, the trees were being rather unsupportive. None of them looked like a good place to throw up, and that was exactly what Link felt like he was going to do.

o0o

Zelda sat at the edge of her bed, rereading a letter she had received from a woman named Anju. Who was Anju? And what was Termina? Well, she'd read the letter again. Maybe it would give her new insight.

Dear Princess Zelda,

A terrible scourge has infested my dear land of Termina, and I fear that this plague may cross the border into Hyrule. I fear for your safety, my dear princess. I would advise you not to venture into Termina, for death surely awaits you there. Come into contact with no one who has been to Termina. And finally, quarantine those who have been to Termina.

I bring you this grave news in the hopes that you and yours may escape this dreaded disease. My husband and I have had no such luck, and these words may be the last that I ever pen. A dear friend of mine-and of you, it seems-plans to return to Hyrule. He goes by the name of Link, if my memory is correct. Termina was his last stop, and I fear for what he may bring back. Avoid him, though I know it shall be a hard task.

Sincerely, Anju

Ah. So that was it. Anju knew Link; obviously no ill meaning was concealed in the letters.

Zelda knew that the Lost Woods contained many secret passageways; perhaps the entrance to Termina was hidden there.

Either way, Impa was patrolling there.

o0o

The pain was getting unbearable; Link felt as though death was playing with him; the way cats play with their prey. His vision blurred. To remain upright on Epona's back required a strength he did not possess at the moment. He allowed himself to slowly lose balance; in mere seconds he had toppled off of Epona's back. The horse gave a startled whinny, but remained where she was to avoid injuring her fallen master.

Link curled up into a ball to conserve body heat. He could not understand why he felt so cold; his skin, when touched, was hot, almost burning. He had never felt this way before, and Epona was getting restless.

"Got to rest," Link managed to cough out. "Got to…" Here he paused to recapture his breath. "…Sleep." His eyes shut, then fluttered open as he offered Epona a weak smile. The mare nudged him, urging him to stand up so that they could continue their journey. Link merely shook his head and, nestling closer to Epona, fell into a shallow, troubled sleep.

This was how Impa found them.

o0o

"Who goes there?" A guard asked nervously.

"Lower your spears, it is only I." Impa stepped out of the shadows.

"Goddesses, Impa, it's the dead of night," the guard stated. "Where've you been?"

"The Lost Woods; such were Princess Zelda's orders. I have retrieved the Hero of Time, if that is any consolation," Impa replied sourly, holding out the green-clothed boy for the guard's inspection.

"Him? The Hero of Time? Looks more like a little rogue the Princess took pity on," the guard spat.

"Oh, I assure you that he is." Impa held up the boy's left hand; Hyrule's symbol, the Triforce, glowed brightly there. "The longer you detain us, the closer he creeps to death. Let us pass, please." Impa walked past the dumbstruck guard quickly; she feared for her small burden's life.

o0o

"Impa!" Zelda hurried towards her nursemaid. "Did you find Link?"

"Yes." Impa held out her bundle, which gave a small groan.

"Oh," Zelda said, face falling. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely." Impa held out the boy's hand as before. "Note you the Triforce of Courage."

Zelda nodded, biting her lip, as she recalled Anju's letter. I fear for what he may bring back. Avoid him, though I know it shall be a hard task.

Zelda turned around and left the room as fast as her status as princess would allow, leaving Impa alone with Link.

Impa walked on, occasionally muttering disconnected things to Link, such as "What the letter said," or "The plague."

"Epona…"Link murmured. "Just a little bit longer…I have to sleep…"

Impa was beginning to feel truly afraid for the poor kid now. Conveniently, the hospital wing was just around the corner.

o0o

Impa grunted as she set Link down gently. Apparently, "gentle" wasn't gentle enough, for as soon as she had removed herself from him, he began to vomit. Impa, being the lovely nursemaid she was, reacted quickly enough to avoid much of the cleanup that could have otherwise ensued. And she'd saved his pretty golden bangs, too.

Link whimpered, turned over in his sleep, and babbled incoherently. Impa strained to find out what he was saying. Most of it sounded like "Epona," or Hyrule," but the word "Termina" came into the conversation a couple of times. Well, if you could call it a conversation.

Impa hoped that Link would wake up soon. Maybe he could give her sort of insight on his condition, though she doubted that would happen; Link was obviously delirious.

Be careful what you wish for.

Link opened his eyes, slowly and reluctantly. Everything was swimming, and he couldn't see clearly, though he could tell he wasn't in the Lost Woods anymore. I say again, I've never felt this way before. And if I'm not in the Lost Woods, where am I? He sighed. Thinking cost too much effort to attempt right then. All he wanted to do was shut his eyes and let other people handle the situation for once. Vaguely, he wished that Navi was there. He'd adjourned to Termina just to find her, and she wasn't even with him. How sad.

Lamenting also took too much energy at the moment. Right now he was going to sleep.

o0o

Please inform the delegate from Zora's Domain that I shall be unable to attend the peace treaty meeting as I am inconveniently unwell.

-Zelda, Princess of Hyrule

Zelda sign her official title, returned the slip of paper to the messenger boy she had sent for, and lay back on her bed holding her head. It was getting very painful.

"Wait," she called to the messenger boy. "Could you please send for Impa?"

The messenger boy nodded, then departed, leaving Zelda to her network of thoughts.

This is strange, she thought. I was fine last night.

Zelda did not yet know it, but Termina Fever had just wormed its way into the inner circle of Hyrule.

o~o0o~o

Sorceress: Jaws theme song, please!

Dark Link: …Yes... (Pops in custom CD entitled "Intimidating Songs")

Link: I hate you, Sorceress. I really do.

Dark Link: Review, because we must know what happens to Me, Saria, and Ruto next!

Sorceress: Yes! Review, and you can have a copy of Intimidating Songs, which includes the Jaws theme, the "Dangerous Animal Approaching song" from Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2009, and Beethoven's Fifth! All of this for just a review!

Link: You are so weird.

Sorceress: (Cheerfully) What was your first clue?