Ailing Heroes

<---Index

As the group came out of the fairy spring and into the Kokiri Badlands, Shadow could tell that something was wrong. Looking at his three allies, he could see that they had broken into a cold sweat. They looked very, very ill.  He looked at them and said, “My house is a little ahead. We can rest there.” Link nodded and replied weakly, “Gladly. I don't feel so well.” Saria, looking fairly awful, muttered, “I think it's better that we rest here a bit first.”
“No,” Sheik countered. “We already know how bad things can be at night. If Shadow has a shelter nearby, we should at least try to get to it before the sun goes down in a couple of hours.”

The look on her face told them that it wasn't that she didn't agree with the calm friend, but that she didn't have the energy to continue. Shadow walked over to her and scooped her up in his arms, saying, “I'll do the walking for you.” Saria looked at him stunned by the act, and with a particularly embarrassed look on her face. Sheik said, “My house is about a thirty minute walk from here. Can the two of you make it?” Link and Sheik nodded.

The green garbed warrior said to the dark elf, “We can handle the walk. You make sure Saria's okay, got it?” Shadow nodded and they continued down the path. Finally, they reached a small village. Turning to the others, he said, “My house is just ahead on the left.” Continuing, they reached a nice sized house and walked in. Turning to the group, he said, “We'll give Saria the bed. I have a few cots that I'll set up for the rest of us.”

After making the necessary accommodations, he helped the two male warriors into the bed. He then went to a carpet in the middle of the room, tossed it aside and opened a cellar door. Going in, he vanished for a couple of minutes and returned with several bottles. Taking the cap off three, he handed them to the ill stricken comrades. Link looked at the bottle and asked, “What is this?”
“Milk,” came the reply. “I have a collection of it under my house, and it'll help stave off the more unpleasant effects of the illness.”

Sheik turned to him and said weakly, “You seem to know a fair bit about what's wrong with us. Care to fill us in?” Sighing, the dark elf sat on a chair and said, “It's from the change in environment. While your world is one of health, prosperity, life and light, this is a world where everyone struggles with war, famine, pestilence and death. What your feeling is called the horseman's wrath. There's a cure, but It's a fair distance from here. I'm going to have to get it for you...” his voice trailed off.

Link looked at him and said, “The only way to get the cure is dangerous, right?” Shadow nodded. “Yeah. The only way to cure the illness is with the blood of the death-wraith. No one has ever survived getting it.” Saria, in a fevered whimper, said, “Don't do it. If you get killed, we can't be cured. We all die, we fail our mission. If you live, there's still hope.” Shadow didn't answer. “Promise me you wont do it!” she yelled in pained fear. Link knew that tone well. It was a tone she only used when she genuinely cared about someone. He couldn't tell how many times he said that sentence to her father when he left to fight evil Deku Shrubs... to the very time he never again returned home.

Link turned to Saria and said, “Hey, don't worry about him. He knows these lands better than anyone else. He can handle it...” with an evil smirk, he added, “Otherwise I'll kill him again.” The group laughed weakly and Shadow said, “Then it's settled. I have a wraith to hunt.” He set a large number of jars filled with milk on the table, saying, “This should hold you over until I get back. You'll want to kill me later for the hangover, but in this case, It does a body good.”

Everyone groaned and Sheik yelled, “You did NOT just say that, dude! You so did not just say that.” Laughing, he left the house and said, “I need to get some items before I head to Death Wraith swamp. I don't want to be caught off guard... And why is Tingle never around when you need a map the most before you get lost?!?”

Entering a house at the far end of the village, he looked inside and say a dark elf in a heavier shade than his with red hair sitting in a chair at the center of the room. Closing the door, the warrior said, “Mido. I need to talk to you.” The male replied, “You brought outsiders into our village... and worse still, they're from the light world! Do you have any idea what Lord Gannondorf will do if he finds out?” Shadow shook his head. “Both worlds are being destroyed by an ancient evil. He is currently helping the Princess Zelda of the light world in an assault to save both lands.”

Looking at him crossly for several minutes, Mido finally said, “So, the rumors are true. The destroyer has finally awoken. What do you need the three out-landers for?” Shadow shook his head. “I need to collect the blessings of both the goddesses form their world as well as the dragons of ours. Once we accomplish that, we can move onto the next step to save the lands.” Nodding, the redhead said, “I noticed something about the people... It must be fairly hard for you.” Shaking his head, Shadow replied, “Some people can't be replaced, even if they do have another half.”

Smiling, Mido replied, “No, they can't be replaced. But that doesn't mean the heart can't reach out again. You always were special, even among the rest of the Kokiri. You were never born in the world of darkness, so your heart is one of light. It has always shone for everyone here, and that light spread into the rest of us. I never had any thoughts of turning away your guests, Link.” Shadow looked at him and asked puzzled, “Then why...” Laughing, Mido said, “Because I wanted to remind you to hide them better than you did that last person. I don't feel like paying any more Taxes!” The two of them laughed hard for a moment.

Finally, Shadow said, “I need to go into the swamp.” Mido's expression turned cold. “The Swamp? Of the Death Wraith? I can't just let you go in there. It's suicide.” Shadow nodded. “I know. But I have to help my friends.”

“And as a friend, I say NO!” Mido replied. They looked at each other for several moments before he continued, “But it's not like you ever listened to me before, so meet me at the entrance in an hour. I'll make the arrangements for Shin to keep an eye on your friends and make sure they don't get worse. You'd better know what you're doing.”

“When do I not?” Shadow asked pridefully. In a low grumble, Mido answered, “Every Damned time...”