Link: What is it with you and Termina Fever?

Sorceress: (Hissing) We wants it…you cant's have it… (Pets manuscript) It will be alright, my precious…

Dark Link: And to think that people see Sorceress and I as an item.

Link: Well, you're both insane.

Dark Link: Excuse me?

Sorceress: Quiet…I do not own Zelda. I do, however, own my precious, precious, Termina Fever… (Hisses)

o~o0o~o

Termina Fever

Ch. One: The Journey Begins, and Other Things

"More tunnels? I am so sick and tired of these things!" Ruto complained.

Dark Link cocked his head and frowned. "Do you want Link and Zelda to die? And drag Hyrule down with them?"

Ruto glared at him. "No!" She defended. "I don't, it's just…"

Dark Link gave the Zora princess a mock frown. "But I thought you were a Sage with Hyrule's best interests at heart. How sad."

Ruto narrowed her eyes at him. "At least I have a heart," she muttered. "Unlike some people I have the misfortune to be acquainted with."

Dark link chose to ignore this last comment as he led the small party of would-be saviors deeper into the Lost Woods.

One day. That had been all it took for Ruto to find his weak points and point them out. He couldn't figure out why comments about emotion ticked him off so much. Was it because of his inability to feel the emotions? Nah; that was physically impossible. Was it because he was keeping years of pain and rage bottled up inside of him? He would have to give that some thought.

"If memory serves, the passage to Termina should be right…" Dark Link poked about for a while. "…Here!" He brushed aside some stray undergrowth to reveal a large clearing. Behind him, Saria gasped.

"I've never been to this part of the forest before!" Saria was obviously amazed. "I thought I had explored the whole forest!"

Try as he might, he could stop a small grain of affection from worming its way into him as he watched Saria's innocent wondering.

o0o

"Ladies first." Dark Link gestured to the bottomless pit the party now stood in front of.

Ruto frowned. "There isn't another way?" She asked.

Dark Link grinned. "Nope. This is the only possible way. I've been here before."

Ruto smiled evilly. "Then you shouldn't have any problems about doing it again!" She yelled, pushing him off the cliff.

"Ruto!" Saria shouted. "What did you just do? You don't know what's at the bottom of that hole! If there even is a bottom."

Ruto shrugged. "He said that this was the only way," she replied in a sing-song voice.

Saria shook her head at her friend's foolishness, then proceeded to examine the pit.

It was about three feet by three feet, wonderful for her size. If she was really meant to go on a journey for a cure to Termina Fever, then the Goddesses would protect her. She jumped.

And landed on Dark Link. Understandably, the shadowy copy of the Hero of Time was not amused.

"Ack. Get off me," he commanded, voice muffled. Saria rolled off just in time; Ruto had fallen just inches away.

Dark Link got up and led them towards the door. Saria and Ruto shrugged and followed him towards lands unknown.

o0o

"Wow, this place is completely desolate," Ruto commented as they entered Clock Town.

"Well, of course it is," Saria replied. "Termina Fever was originated here. It would have been hit harder."

Dark Link wrinkled his nose. "Ugh," he complained. "I can smell the stench of sickness. Hold your breath."

Ruto yawned. "Good for you and your heightened senses. Now let's go get a room at the inn here."

Dark Link nodded. "We can probably get a room for cheap," he agreed. "The Stockpot Inn's in East Clock Town. Let's go there."

"How do you know so much?" Ruto asked suspiciously.

Dark Link whirled around, grin on his face. "Well, if you hadn't noticed, I'm the shadow of the Hero of Time. Shadows follow their owners. Therefore, I've been to Termina before." He nodded with mock emphasis. "Was that too much for you to understand? I thought Sages were supposed to be smart."

Ruto just glared at him as he led the way towards the Stockpot Inn.

o0o

"My dear Anju was carried off in the night," the innkeeper informed them, tears streaming down her face. "Kafei too. I can't count money just now; take the room up the stairs and to the right. You can pay later."

Dark Link flopped down on one of the beds and sighed.

"What a sob story. How many of these are we going to have to put up with?" On the way to the inn, they had been apprehended three times; their detainers normally asked the party to attend a funeral for a loved one or to spare a few rupees for the poor. These requests had been declined, courtesy of Dark Link.

"You're just a cruel little jerk aren't you?" Ruto fumed.

Dark Link grinned at her. "That's right; I am," he replied proudly.

Ruto rolled her eyes. "So." She changed the subject. "There're only two beds. Who sleeps on the floor?" She asked.

"Interesting question. I need a volunteer. You, Ruto?" Dark Link gave her a leer.

"Why not you? You call yourself leader; a leader must put his crew before himself," Ruto replied.

"Yes, and the crew must take orders from the leader." Dark Link shot back. "Besides…if Link told you to sleep on the floor, would you do it?"

"Yes, for Link, maybe." Ruto frowned.

"Why should I be any different?" Dark Link gave Ruto a look of mock pain.

"Because Link is a real person; you're just a copy."

"You're suicidal, aren't you?" Dark Link advanced upon Ruto menacing.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ruto demanded right before Dark Link lunged at Ruto, pinning her to the floor.

"Never. Ever. Call me that. Again." Dark Link shook Ruto slightly to get his message across.

Saria ran over and dragged Dark Link off of Ruto; she was surprisingly strong. "Stop fighting, you two! Seriously, were such a dysfunctional group, I don't know how we get anything done!" She glared at them. "Dark Link, for attacking Ruto, you're sleeping on the floor. Now get up; stop being so childish."

"Fine. Toss me a pillow, will you?" Dark Link muttered. This request was fulfilled, but after a moment, he handed it back. "Ugh. It smells like Clock Town."

After more brief arguing the party went to bed, at least Saria and Ruto. Dark Link found himself brooding. The not very comfort-friendly floor was not helping. At all.

I don't even understand myself, Dark Link thought, shifting his position. I don't know why it hurts so much to be called a copy. I was created to be emotionless. To kill the enemy. Since Ganondorf was killed, I suppose I've felt a little more free, but… Sleep was overtaking him. I guess it's one of the many mysteries of existence. I'll never figure this out.

o0o

"Ah…air," Ruto breathed.

The group was standing in Termina Field, walking south; Koume was supposed to live in that direction.

"I thought I'd never get out of that place!" Dark Link exclaimed, falling to the ground and smelling the ground.

"So many homeless people!" Saria copied Dark Link.

After much exclaiming of relief, the party continued their journey towards the south.

"Gah! Stupid Keese! Ah!" Dark Link yelled, swinging his sword blindly; the bat-like creatures were flocking him. Saria and Ruto were attempting to escape.

"What're you doing?" Dark Link screamed. "Help me!"

Saria reached into her pockets and produced a Deku Nut, which she tossed at the whirl of Keese. The swirling cloud paused, and Dark Link took the opportunity to kill them.

"Goddesses, there aren't supposed to be that many!" Dark Link panted when the group had reached a safe distance. "Termina Fever must've screwed the ecosystem up."

Ruto nodded. "C'mon, let's go find Koume." A frown crossed her face. "Because I really want to go home."

Dark Link put a hand on her shoulder. "I want to go home too," he agreed, voice uncharacteristically soft.

"Yeah," Saria chimed in.

Dark Link, Ruto and Saria paused for a moment to take in the fact that for once they weren't arguing; weren't fighting. That was before Dark Link realized what he was doing and edged away.

"Let's find Koume," Dark Link encouraged, as a small, pleasant feeling welled inside him. He knew not what, but he liked it.

o0o

"So you want to know what I know?" Koume laughed. "I will tell you, but only under one condition."

"What is it?" Dark Link asked. "We're ready for anything."

"I need you to gather the ingredients for me," Koume replied. "I'm getting old, you see. Can't do as much anymore. Why, every day I-"

"We get the point. What are the ingredients?" Dark Link interrupted.

"Here." Koume handed them a piece of parchment with a list scribbled on it.

Blue potion:

Sacred Tree Bark

Big Octorock Blood

Blue Chu-Chu Jelly

Zora Egg

Hot Spring Water

Poe Spirit

Fairy

"Huh. Doesn't sound too difficult." Dark Link shrugged.

"Ah, but no one knows where the sacred tree bark is," Koume cut in.

Dark Link groaned. "Everything must be so hard," he sighed.

Ruto was apparently unaffected by the impossibility of the task. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go find the cure!"

o~o0o~o

Link: …Um? Where am I in this chapter?

Dark Link: No where.

Sorceress: Look who reviewed! WE GOT REVIEWS!

Link: RawkHawk2.0…cookie for you; thanks for the compliments…LinkLuver3…two cookies, no matter how much you drag me around…robdawg91…cookie; Sorceress has been motivated.

Dark Link: we love you guys.

Sorceress: But I thought you loved me! (Cries)

Dark Link: (Hugs Sorceress) I do, I do.

Link: o_0 Please review…?