A/N-Thanks for the reviews, The-Saiyan-From-Hyrule, irishj, maximushyrule, and darthritter86! I'll explain why it took me forever to update at the bottom!

Disclaimer- I'm pointing to the sign again. Yeah.

Malina bit her bottom lip, a bead of sweat dripping down her face. She couldn't hold this shield up too much longer. It was hard enough when it was just her, but with Riste here and being in some sort of trance... she was rather unsure of how long she could keep this up.

Another dozen or so of the shadow beings jumped at the shield and she winced. With every time that they did that, it became more and more difficult to keep it up. They seemed to also realize this and did it even more. Soon, she would become exhausted of all of her strength, and they would both die. It seemed unfair after everything, she would die here.

Riste was still unresponsive.

Finally, Malina broke out into a prayer, her voice layered with grief. "Please, O Goddesses!" She cried, tears in her eyes from the pain that it had caused. "If I am to die here, take my life quickly! Save someone, but quickly take this pain away! May I feel no more! This is all I beg!"

Quite suddenly, the film that had covered Riste's eyes up until that moment cleared. He blinked and looked around. His eyes fell on the girl who was beginning to bring down the shield due to exhaustion.

When Malina finally saw him, he was no longer Hylian, but a wolf. His favorite form. He stepped in front of her, growling. A warm feeling rushed through her and gratitude showed openly on her face. He was alive. He was here still.

Riste threw himself at the shadow creatures, ripping at their throats and anywhere he could get. He kept in front of Malina during this entire time, protecting her to the end. His eyes were slightly flaming, as though completely taken by anger at the beasts he was killing. It suddenly hit her.

Riste loved Malina.

He had never shown it, but had always loved her like a daughter. He was, however, her master not her friend. He could not show it. He had done it for the good of her training. However, she could clearly see that he cared for her more than he had ever shown.

Upon realizing this, her eyes filled up with tears. It was amazing how many people cared about her. They cared about her so much. It felt impossible. Why did people care about her so much? Malina wasn't that special.

Everything after that moment seemed to go in slow motion. From the rush of wind, to the glancing to see what was rushing past her, to the realization that it was a dagger, to the watching it go towards Riste, until it finally sunk in. For an instant after that, time stopped. He just stood there. Even the shadows stopped moving.

After that, things seemed to speed up quite a bit. Malina rushed to his side and Riste transformed back. Blood began staining his shirt. She could see that it had made it all of the way into his back, through his heart perhaps. And if not that, very near.

"P-Princess..." Riste whispered. "I... I'm sorry. I lied. I... I won't be able to tell you that story... ever... I'm going to see Miss Alice..."

"What?" Malina cried. "What do you mean? You-you can't leave me! Not yet! I-I haven't f-finished my training yet. You can't just leave me here, all alone... please, M-Master! Do-don't go! Don't leave me a...all alone! At the least tell me who Miss Alice is!"

His answer was simple. "Death." After saying that, his heart stopped.

Vaati knocked down the figurine of Riste. "Have fun playing with my little friend, old man."

Yuumei knelt down, looking sick. The images that were playing through Malina's mind were going through her own. It felt so wrong... Riste was dead. It was horrible. What... what could have happened to cause this? It had to be Vaati.

"My Queen? What's wrong?" Sora asked, kneeling down next to Yuumei who felt like she was going to violently sick.

"He's dead. Riste is dead." She choked out. "He's gone."

Ceris cut through another row of shadows, feeling more than just irritation by this point. What was with these creatures?! They just kept coming! He had to help out the Princess, not waste his time with these little freaks!

Soon after Lady Delila had said her last words, the ceiling had begun to collapse. That was her burial. However, Ceris could not grieve at this current moment. He was rather busy with other things, such as trying to find the Princess and save her if she needed it.

She ought to be in the training ground, Ceris.

Okay.

Ceris had taken to listening to voice within his mind, because it also seemed to have Malina's best interests at heart. Well, more of Wisdom's, but it also cared about Malina because they seemed to be about the same person.

He finally managed to get out of the building. The moment he was out, he took a good look around. Despair filled him. There were still hundred, if not thousands, of the shadow creatures to defeat if he wanted to get to Malina. There was no other way.

Can you help me out here? I want to get there as quickly as possible.

All right.

Courage quickly pushed Ceris to the back of his mind, taking over his body. He let Ceris be able to see, but it was still rather strange that he could see and not do anything about anything. He wondered if this was how Courage always felt.

However, even though he was able to see everything that was happening, he chose not to. Ceris was thinking about the Princess instead. He hoped that she was all right. He would not only be a failure as a guardian if she died, but a failure at a friend. A failure at... loving, he supposed.

The thought made him turn slightly red. It was true, though, wasn't it? He did like the Princess quite a bit.

I'll let you do the rest, Ceris.

He blinked and realized he had control of his body again. There weren't any more shadow creatures, as far as he could tell, up until he got to the Princess. Then there were quite a bit, much to his dismay.

How exactly do you do that, Courage?

I'll tell you later; hurry, we need to save Wisdom and the Princess!

Ceris sighed and rushed over to the shadows, throwing aside any that got in his way with his sword quickly. Finally, after a while of battering through the shadow creatures, he saw the Princess, who was leaning over a body.

He froze as he realized that it was Riste. Riste was dead.

Malina softly cried into Riste's cold body, wondering when she would meet this 'Miss Alice' person as well. It could only be soon. There were shadow creatures all around her and that... that monster that killed Riste. However, she could not move from where she knelt.

"Princess!" A voice exclaimed. She blinked and looked up. Ceris. He was here. He was okay.

"Princess, are you all right?!" He asked, kneeling next to her. For some reason that hurt. He cared more about her right now than he cared about Riste's death. Some people would think that was sweet, but right now it didn't seem so.

"Riste is dead." She whispered, her voice cracking.

"We have no time to grieve." He softly whispered. "We must leave now lest we die."

"Then let me die." She whispered, now fiercely.

"I'm sorry, Princess, but I cannot allow that." Ceris said firmly. "I don't believe that Wisdom would appriciate it if you just threw away her life and let Vaati win."

Aye, that be true.

"And neither would Courage."

Aye, th- wait, what?! Did he just say Courage?!

"What do you mean?" The words came from Malina's lips, but they were Wisdom's words.

"Courage really wants us to go; I'll explain later." He said, grabbing her wrist. Malina blinked as he pulled her up. She bent over for a moment and pulled out the ribbon that had kept Riste's hair in check. The black ribbon... the pink ribbon.

"Goodbye, Riste." She whispered as Ceris pulled her through the shadows to somewhere else. Somewhere different.

Pain was all she felt.

Miss Alice put the pencil down, her eyes flashing. "No. I shall not."

Koiwai blinked in surprise. "And why not? It's your purpose and I shall not have you befouling it."

"No matter what the government wants me to do," She whispered. "I shall not do it. It can only mean pain and suffering for them. I am, however, busy with other things. I am writing a tale that is happening as we speak."

"I don't understand, girl." He growled. "I gave you life, I gave you a home, I have given you anything that you wanted! And yet, you still wish more from me! I have a feeling that whatever you want, I cannot give. Tell me what it is that makes you so ungrateful, brat!"

"I am not ungrateful." She whispered.

"Then what is it?!" He demanded. "Tell me, you!"

"You have not given me love." He stared at her for a moment before bursting out in laughter, but not the relieved kind. The cruel kind.

"Love?! How can a beast as you feel love? You are merely an instrument that I use to take what I want. You are not human, you are a beast. An animal that I control, like a dog. Now you will do what I say or you will feel more pain than you can imagine!"

At this, anger ripped at her. No one threatened her. No one insulted her. She would not stand for it. She would take his life.

"I hate you." She said flatly and took his life. He stared at her, shock clear in his eyes as he realized what was about to happen. As he realized he was to die. His eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed upon the floor.

At the age of barely fourteen, Miss Alice had killed her creator and not cared.

She smirked at this small thought. Nothing like killing to make her feel better. She would use her powers for a greater good, not a greater worse. She would use the powers of the ORB to make sure that no one was ever rude to her again. She would cleanse this dirty planet from all its wickedness.

Miss Alice would make sure that death would come unto those who truly deserved it.

However, for now, she needed to finish the picture that she had been drawing before. Then she would leave this place, forever. Never to return, much to her relief. Miss Alice needed to leave this place, wherever it may have been.

She glanced down at the picture, a slight frown pinching her forehead.

The picture was of those two people, the man and women who would not leave her mind. The ones that were in this story. Riste and... Delila? Was that it? Either way, she had taken their lives in her dreams. She could still picture it. That dream...

In it, Miss Alice was watching their deaths. Whenever they died, she touched them with the ORB and they whispered her name with their dying breath... she had had that dream again and again ever since her fourteenth birthday a few weeks ago... or was it days? She wasn't sure of anything any more.

Who was next? Whose life would she take next?

She glanced at the story she had been writing. In it, there was a girl. Someone who was younger than her. For some reason, there was an odd feeling of anger whenever she thought of this girl, just like the irrational anger that she felt whenever she thought of the two that she had killed.

Sora. Was your life the next one she was to take?

She smiled. No matter. She was on the sidelines. She would soon know what the truth was.

Miss Alice picked up the ORB, her paper, her pencils, and a coat. She then walked out the door, leaving behind the life that she had once known to find another one somewhere. One where she could cleanse the earth and know anything she needed. One where she was loved. One where she could watch the story unfold. One where she would truly be the winner of this strange game. The game would surely be won by none but her. In fact, she would not allow anyone but her to win. It had to be her.

There were two in her way that she knew of. Not to mention Ceris, who was just beginning. He would be a struggle as well.

"Malina, Vaati." Miss Alice's eyes flashed. "Be prepared for me."

Ceris watched Malina in silence. She was watching the fire with no apparent expression on her face. Her violet eyes glimmered in the firelight, flashing.

"Hey," Ceris said, "What's wrong?"

"How can you even ask that?" Malina answered bitterly. Ceris winced. True, this was a stupid question.

Was it really a day since they had run away from the Zora's Domain? It felt so much longer. Everything had happened so fast. They had exchanged stories and Malina had poured her heart out about how much she truly cared about Riste and that he had cared about her.

Not anymore, though.

"I'm sorry-" He began, but she cut him off, her eyes flashing from more anger than anything.

"Shut up. I don't care. Just leave me alone, you freaking jerk, you!" She almost screamed the last part, tears beginning to flow from her eyes. Ceris winced again.

"You have no idea, do you!? You don't know what true pain is, do you?! I'm not sure if I have any of my friends alive anymore, not to mention the fact that the only man that I felt could even close to being my father died! He's dead, Ceris! Do you know what that feels like?!"

"Mal-" Ceris tried again, but she interrupted again.

"No, you! You don't understand at all! Why don't you just leave me alone?! The only kindness that you could ever possibly do for me right now is to kill me! Take it all away, take it all away right freaking now! Kill me, Ceris! Kill me, kill me, kill me!" She pleaded, eyes huge and crazed.

Crap! You better stop her, Ceris!

I know, I-

Actually, I know what to do! Once everything's under way, you can take over!

Wait, what're-

Too late.

The next thing Ceris knew besides the annoyance of being alone in the back of his own mind was that Malina was in his arms. He was hugging her. Freak. This was Courage's idea?! Was he crazy?! This could never ever wo-

Slowly, Malina hugged him back. Not only did that shock Ceris, but it gave him a slight pleasure as well. She might like him back.

Love, Courage corrected.

Whatever...

"Don't ever say that again." Ceris whispered. "I could never do that. That wouldn't be kind at all, neither to me nor you."

"I'm... sorry," Malina whispered. "I don't know what I was thinking..."

"No, I don't understand, you're right. I haven't lost both of my parents, lots of my friends, and had make the change from palace life to living on the road. This is always how my life has been. But... I know one thing. I would completely understand every bit of pain that you've ever had if you died."

She gave him a little squeeze before letting go. Ceris did the same, flushing slightly.

Aw... tender moments...

Oh, shut up, Courage.

You should've had Malina bring Wisdom out so we could spend the night together.

Whoa, our bodies are only thirteen and fifteen.

So?

Freak.

Rude.

"Um, Ceris?" Malina said, waving a hand in front of his face. Ceris felt his face turn bright red.

"Uh, sorry. Courage is being... uh... sick." She got closer to his face, a slight crease in her forehead. His face turned red some more.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Um... hard to explain?" He hoped she would buy that. Malina sighed.

"Fine, fine. Let's just... go to sleep. Then we can find Yuumei and the others in the morning."

Ceris nodded, relieved. She wasn't going to ask any more questions! Thank goodness! He thought that his face would turn into a tomato before the questioning ended.

He walked off to bed, sighing. Tomorrow would be another long day.

Sora felt Yuumei give a few more shuddering breaths. That was good. Yuumei was finally calming down. She had been frighteningly depressed for the past couple of days. Or day. It was hard to tell for Sora still. She was unused to being in the Realm of Light.

"Do you want me to sing you a song?" Sora asked softly. Yuumei nodded briefly.

"Collapsing on top of the cold grass
I want to hide my burning body"

"These mid-winter constellations are my lovers
I have been waiting all this time"

"My mood today is the highest
Like the sky that has no despair nor hope
I want to be translucent"

"If we do not meet, we won't fight
With no chance for disillusionment"

"The wind that is like a knife
Helping to increase my speed
Take 5"

"What version of myself makes me happy?
Like the sky that has no success nor failure
I want to be translucent"

"Take off my coat and step inside
With no beginning and no end
I want to live this day we call today honestly"

Yuumei whispered, "I haven't... haven't heard that song..."

"I wrote it a couple days ago." Sora answered. "It's called Take 5. Any good?"

In an answer, she gave a hoarse laugh. "If it's not good, then I don't know what is. One of my favorites so far. What's the theme of this one?"

Sora hesitated. "Death. I wrote it for you."

Yuumei broke down crying. "Oh, Sora... oh, Sora... how can one be so innocent?"

"I... I don't know." She answered honestly. "I'm sorry, Yuumei. I just don't really know."

A/N- Okay, I'm sorry! About midway during the part about Miss Alice, I got so lost. I needed time to figure everything out. And now I finally have. So... R&R! I also encourage you to look it up on Youtube! Take 5 by Utada Hikaru! May also be Teiku 5.