A/N- Thanks for the reviews, darthritter86 and The-Saiyan-From-Hyrule. And who knows why it's easier for me to write, it just is.
Disclaimer- I don't own Zelda
Malina glanced at the sun. It was nearly down... the instant that it would be down, she would be finished with training for the day. Then she could go get some food, in which she is not allowed to eat while they are training, and go to sleep. Simple pleasures that she loved.
"Lift the water higher! You can put your rocks in with it! I thought you were better than that!" Riste shouted and Malina winced. It had been about a week since she began her training. He was teaching her how to lift multiple things at once. At the moment, a solid and a liquid. Believe it or not, it was harder than it sounds.
"I'm trying!" Malina cried, beads of sweat falling down her face. At that moment, an image of her with water, fire, air, and earth surrounding her flooded into Malina's mind. Another second later, she saw a picture of Vaati cowering behind his cape.
"Like that would ever happen." She muttered, and her concentration broke. Both the water and the rocks fell down.
"What was that!?" Riste demanded as he walked over to her. Malina bit her bottom lip in frustration. It was hard enough to use her magic all day, but the little voice in the back of her mind was not helping. It wanted to help, but it wasn't helping as it bothered Malina every time she was doing something important.
"Um... it was my magic's fault?" She tried, knowing that he would not believe it. She was right.
"You use that excuse every time we do anything!" Riste snorted. "It is bad enough that I am trying to train a student within a year, but to have her being unable to do anything right... it is pure annoyance if you ask me."
Malina felt her face turn bright red. Was that true? Could she really not do anything right? Perhaps it was true. She did seem to fall behind every time that he asked something of her. She was barely able to lift water without her magic running loose. Why couldn't she just be able to control it?
Don't think like that, Mally. Her magic said, it's voice like a bell. If you can't defeat Vaati, then no one can. I believe in you.
Yes, but it's your fault that I keep getting in trouble. Malina reminded it. It doesn't matter how much you believe in me, because if I can't do anything, then I can't do anything. It's as simple as that, you see?
I suppose...
"Because of your failure time after time, I am going to have to take more drastic measures if we are going to defeat Vaati within the time limit that we have." Riste was saying. "I believe that we must go later into the night. And before you try to cut me off, I do not care whether or not you need your sleep. Personally, I do not sleep at all. Ever since I became a master of magic, I have not slept. I expect you to do the same."
That must be where he got his grouchiness from. Malina thought sourly.
"Now, we will go into another hour of-" Riste began, but was interrupted.
"Excuse me!" Yuumei called, waving slightly. "Excuse me, but Marit needs you two! I am so sorry if I'm interrupting anything!"
"Well, you were." Riste growled. "Anyhow, let us hurry up and see what that old man wants. Come along, girl, this just means that we will have to go even later into the night, which I know that you are ecstatic for. And get those dirty thoughts out of your mind."
At this, Malina frowned. Did this man have no sense of personal privacy? And all she was thinking was that he could have been a little bit nicer when he was answering Yuumei. This guy seriously needed a nap.
Needs a nap, needs a nap! Her magic sang. He needs a-
Get out of my mind! Malina growled and the singing stopped abruptly. She was tired as well, and was glad for at least a moment's rest. That was longer than Riste gave her. She didn't need her magic ruining it with an annoying song.
As they walked down the halls, Malina no longer gaped in amazement at every little thing that the Zoras had done to this place. She was no longer in shock by its great beauty. To her, it was just another place that she lived. Another place that she didn't change her clothes, no matter how much she wanted to. Another place for her to live temporarily until Vaati kicked her out of it.
Malina stopped the instant that Riste stopped, half closing her eyes. She was so tired. During this meeting, she would most likely fall asleep unless someone kept prodding her awake. It was so hard to keep awake.
When they walked into Marit's room, everyone was seated around a large table that Marit had insisted on. Malina walked over and sat next to Riste, being that if she did not, he would most likely kick her butt and make her train even harder.
"All right, then. We are going to begin this meeting now, if you don't mind." Marit said, his voice deep. His eyebrows were furrowed together, but Malina tried not to notice this. Whatever this meeting was about, it most likely was not going to be good. Ah, but who cared as long as she could just fall asleep...
A gentle prodding came from her left side, which was not where Riste was sitting. As Malina looked up to see who it was, she saw Ceris. Her face flamed slightly, and she tried to stay awake more than ever.
"Now, as you all know, we are part of an organization called the Knights of Night. Part of that is to put the people of Hyrule first. I'm not sure if any of you realized this, but we are not doing our job by just staying here and eating. I quickly became bored of our little 'vacation' and now I want to leave. I have been part of the Knights of Night since I was twenty-three. It is in my blood to help people, and now it's bothering me because I cannot. I believe that while Malina studies magic, we should go and help people of other parts of Hyrule, people that need us more."
Malina felt a course of shock go through her at this. Them? Leaving her? It didn't seem possible. The Knights of Night had been with her since the first time that they had met. They were... part of her, in a sense.
"What?!" Malina cried, standing up. As it turns out, she was one of many outbursts. The only three that were not shouting were Malon, Sparrow, and Riste. After a moment or two, Marit managed to get them all calmed down enough so he could talk to them.
"Now, listen to what I have to say. Even though, yes, it is usually required that a certain group of the Knights of Night always stay together, I am requesting that one of you stay here and watch over Malina. She is the Princess of Hyrule, and I don't believe that Vaati will leave her alone for very long. The person that I ask is Ceris. You are the closest in age, so I think that you two might work together better." He took a deep breath.
"Furthermore, Ceris, if you are to play the role of bodyguard, you must realize that this means watching over her all the time. The only time I don't want you watching her, is during the night or while she is getting dressed. Even though night seems to be the most likely time for her to be kidnapped, I think that for the most part Malina can take care of herself. Now for a few other matters of business..." By this point, Malina wasn't listening.
Ceris would be watching her all the time.
It was a frightening thought. She was only able to wonder how Ceris felt about this. He probably hated the idea. He probably was... ugh, she didn't even want to think right now. Maybe it was better to listen to Marit than to think about it.
"It is believed that the Knights of Night for the Zoras are around Lake Hylia, protecting it. While they are there, we must hit somewhere else. Whilst we were gone, Kakariko was most likely hit by Vaati. We must take a moment to be there. If the Gorons are in danger, then we must help them. After we help them, I believe we should take a look at Hyrule Castle. It was most likely the hardest hit."
"Excuse me, Marit." Riste said, standing up. "Malina and I need to train some more, if you do not mind. Please continue making plans without us." Marit nodded and Malina stood up sleepily. Marit blinked slowly at this before speaking again.
"Ceris, your duties begin now." Marit said absently. "Now, we must find a blind spot, because they most certainly have guards..."
You need some sleep. If it wasn't for Sword Boy, you would probably be asleep right now. Her magic noted. Malina's magic had names for everyone, and Ceris was Sword Boy. For some reason it couldn't pronounce names quite right.
Yeah, I guess... Malina thought sleepily. Riste seemed to notice this.
"Fine, fine. Go to sleep, I really do not care by this point." He said gruffly. "We most likely will not be done until the next Hero comes around, anyway."
So Malina did, and while she did, she dreamed.
Vaati smirked at Malina, his vicious red eyes looking like fire. "Come at me, little girl. Do you really think that you can defeat me?"
She bit her bottom lip. Impa was dead now. Ceris was dead now. Everyone was dead now, except Yuumei. But Yuumei was no longer on their side. She was next to Vaati, a cruel smirk on her face while holding her blood stained saber. Could Malina really defeat them?
"I-I can do it." She said, but her voice showed no confidence. It showed fear and the coward she truly was.
"And I'm so certain." Vaati mocked, bringing out his staff. "But you know what else? Because you took so long in your training, training that now means nothing, I managed to find the Book of Wisdom and the Book of Courage. Because you were so slow to train, they are all dead. Perhaps you should rethink your life, and join my side."
"No, I will never join your side, even if it leads to my death!" Malina shouted, trying to sound brave. However, the last part seemed to make Vaati laugh.
"It will, little brat, it will! Now, I have a question for you. Do you want to feel death? Because if not, it's too late." He brought his staff up into the air. Energy and magic of all sorts flowed into it. Malina tried to call her magic, but it was gone.
She was going to die.
The black magic flew towards her, and Malina closed her eyes. She had failed everyone. She had failed the world. That was it. It was over. She was going to die.
This was like a dream that she just couldn't wake up from. No, no, it wasn't a dream. It was a nightmare. A nightmare that Malina just couldn't wake up from. No matter how hard she tried, though, it seemed too real to just be a nightmare.
"Die!" Vaati screamed as the darkness hit her. It was true. She would die. It was too late.
Malina had failed.
Malina woke up gasping, remembering the feeling of the darkness all over her. It was cold, slimy, and... and made her feel every bit of hurt that she had ever expierienced. Every litte thing that she had felt that had hurt her had come rushing back to her.
That's what will happen if you don't win. Her magic said solemnly. Only worse.
Worse? Malina questioned, feeling chills go up and down her spine.
Yes. If you fail, then that pain will be yours. Every time the staff is used, a copy of the person's pain is put into it. It is used every time and you feel the pain of the person before you. You just felt what it would be like if it was just your pain. Now, guess what it would be like if you added a hundred other people's pain to it, people who have gone through more strife than you, people who have hurt so much more than you. Imagine it.
Just the thought made Malina shudder. It was horrible. What do you suppose I need to do to stop that from happening?
Train. In the end, I can teach you how to use a shield that will keep you from having to experience that pain. I do hope that you do not have to feel it.
A shield? And how can you teach me?
I am the pure essence of magic. I know every little trick, everything that you humans do not. I am very powerful, and I could destroy you right here, right now. Of course I won't but... anyway, after you have been taught by Riste, I shall teach you.
O-okay...
Now, you shall know. Hurry and get your boots on. Riste will be here in a minute and forty-two seconds. He will be pleased if you are ready.
Malina quickly jumped off her bed and pulled on her boots. Unlike most mornings, she felt awake. It was most likely because of her terrible dream and her other teacher. Magic being a teacher. Another odd thought. There seemed to be too many of those in Malina's life.
She walked over to the door, being that her hair was still in the ponytail that it had been in last night, and opened it. About ten paces away, Riste stood. He seemed to be slightly surprised by her being up and ready. She glanced around and saw that Ceris was leaning against the wall. He gave her a quick smirk before yawning.
"Good. I see that both of you are awake. Now, come along, we must bid the rest of the Knights of Night good-bye. They are leaving today." Malina was, once again, amazed by how quickly they could pack and plan. "They are taking that woman from Areu and Malon with them as well."
Yuumei... at least this would give Malina more time to think about her. Was she really evil? Was she good? It was rather hard to tell.
"Good morning to you, too." Ceris said, sounding only slightly sleepy. "Jeez, I hate being bodyguard. I did it once before as part of my test to get into the Knights of Night, and boy was it tiring... you have to follow the person around no matter what they're doing. I don't understand why he didn't chose Shina, though..."
"Stop that." Riste said in annoyance. "I do not like it when people talk continually."
"Sorry..." Ceris grumbled. Malina gave him a quick, apologetic smile. It was just the way that Riste was. A grumpy guy.
As they walked down the halls, Malina allowed her mind to wander. Her magic seemed to be having more and more abilities every day. It seemed, also, to be gaining intelligence. It was very odd. However, her magic had not asked her to do anything unreasonable yet. It just wanted her to succeed.
Malina realized, after a moment, that they were outside. She had never been in the city of the Zoras. Although, yes, it was about the same as the building, it was still some new scenery. It was a warm day, as it always was in the Zora's Domain, and people were already coming out to play in the rivers that colored the town.
They walked to the wall. It was made of a different matireal than the rest of the city. This rock was a light brown, more of a tan than anything. There was a large gate that was made from wood as well. It was the only wood thing, besides the palm trees, that Malina had seen in the Zora's Domain.
Near it, stood the entire group. Delila was already there, saying good-bye to her mother. She had false tears in her eyes, but Delila was a pretty good actor, so no one minded. Yuumei walked over to Malina first, a sad look on her face.
"Good-bye, Mal. Good luck with your training, too." She then turned to Ceris. "You take good care of her, now. I don't want anything bad happening while I'm gone." Ceris nodded, and the smug smirk was back on his face.
"Bye, Yuumei." Was all that Malina could manage. After that, a heart wrenching, tear creating moment happened. However, Malina blocked that out of her mind. The next day, she couldn't remeber anything besides saying good-bye to Yuumei.
A/N- Yeah, this will be revealed later. What happened, I mean. Crappy ending, but R&R anyway.