Link's POV:

"LINK DON'T YOU DARE!" Navi yelled in my ear.

"Navi...be quiet." I moaned. "I have a headache."

Light slowly spread across my face. "Who's there!?" Yelled a voice. "Eh? What's this?"

Shadows blocked the light from shining in my eyes. I saw vague outlines of people. One of them squirmed under the shoulder of the other and gave a shriek. "PAPA IT'S THE FAIRY BOY!" 

"Eh? Fairy boy?" The man's voice mumbled.

The smaller figure darted to my side and shook me gently. Then they laid they picked up my wrist and pressed my hand to their ear. "PAPA HE DOESN'T HAVE A HEART! Is he gonna DIE!?" The younger voice cried.

"No of course not dear." The man lifted me up and started carrying me inside.

"Papa you gotta fix him! You gotta get better Fairy boy! By the way, can fairy boys died"

The world was spinning worse than before. I was so hungry...and so tired...the voices and figures faded away along with my consciousness. 

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"LOOK OUT!" I screamed, sitting bolt upright. Immediately I laid back down as the motion threatened to send me under again. My head met a soft pillow, and I became aware of the cozy blankets piled on top of me. 

The bed squished down and I looked to my right. There was the redhead girl from the fountain. Her feet were swinging off the ground and her arms were straight as a stick as she used the bed to push herself up. She maintained that pose as she leaned her face towards me. 

"Are you awake Fairy boy? Really truly? You woke up before but you weren't really truly awake. Papa says that you were awful sick. You almost DIED!"

I looked around. "Where...where am I?" My hoarse voice croaked.

She smiled. "You're in MY house in MY room. Papa was gonna put you on the couch but I said if you were sick you needed a bed so I slept with my papa." Then she leaned even closer and lowered her voice. "Don't tell, but I checked on you at night. You were all sweaty and tossed and turned and talked. By the way, do you remember me? I'm Malon, 'member?"

"I don't think I would forget you..." I said. I don't think she would let me if I tried.

"I'm glad. Do you think dead people can forget things? Or do you think they go on remembering for years and years?" Malon dropped to her knees and propped her chin in her hands on the bed.

I placed my hand against my forehead. It hurt and was too warm. 

"Are you hungry yet? Papa gave you milk last night but you almost choked to death on it so I made him stop. Then we gave you soup. Do you like soup? What about milk since you coughed that out?"

My stomach growled. 

Malon's eyes went wide. "Okay! I can get you breakfast!" She jumped up and turned to run out of the room. Halfway to the door and her foot caught on a rug and she fell sprawled onto her hands. In two seconds flat she was back up and out the door.

Navi took that opportunity to fly up to me. "You idiot! You could've died! You're lucky that girl and her dad helped you."

"Shut up Navi." I commanded. "I'm alive, aren't I?"

Malon came sprinting through the door with a tray in her arms. She practically threw it on top of me. "There! I made cucco eggs, and milk, and toast, and butter, and juice. Is that enough?"

I horked down the eggs and toast, washing it down with the juice and milk.

Malon watched me happily as I finished every last crumb. "Boy, you really were hungry weren't you? Was it good?"

"Really good." I nodded contentedly.

   Malon's whole face brightened if that was even possible since she was already smiling as wide as I thought a person could smile. "Oh good! See, I only ever cook for my Papa and he'll eat anything if you call it food. Do you like lots of food? Would you eat burned eggs? My papa will; he HAS to whenever he makes them after all. Do you ever make anything? I made clothes yesterday. They were for my doll. Her name is Cala. Is that a pretty name? What's your favorite name? Mine is Epona. Epona is my pony. She's the prettiest pony in the whole world. Have you ever ridden a pony before, Fairy boy?"

"Uh..."

"By the way, did you have a nightmare? 'Cause you screamed when you woke up and almost made the rooster fall off the roof." 

"Oh...sorry. I didn't mean to." I apologized shamefacedly. 

"I wish you had. That old rooster deserves to be scared off a roof. Yesterday he scratched me right here." Malon traced a barely visible red mark down her arm. "I don't care about that, but I only got scratched cause I wouldn't let him hurt Epona." Malon rattled on and on and on. I don't think she ever stops talking. She's not as annoying to listen to as Navi though.

"By the way...how did you get that?" Malon asked, pointing to my arm and bringing me back to the present.

"Huh?" I looked at my arm and saw a huge red blotch.

"The burn. Papa says that your whole arm was melted off! Was it painful? It looked painful. Is it still painful? How did you get it? Did you put it in a fire? I did that to my hand once, but mine wasn't as bad."

"No I didn't...put my hand in fire." I raised an eyebrow. 

Malon turned a little pink. "It was pretty and I wanted to hold it..."

I shook my head. "I got it from a great big Dodongo."

"REALLY!?" Malon scrambled onto the end of the bed and sat there on her knees. "What happened?"

"It's kind of a long story." I shrugged. "You'd probably get bored."

"No! I love stories! Tell me, please?" She begged, leaning forward on her arms.

"Well...alright." I grinned and sat up straight. "It all started when I entered Goron city and met the king of the Gorons..."

   Malon listened earnestly to my every word, as if she lived on stories and had been starved for far too long. I described my adventure through the Dodongo's cavern as well as all the different monsters I had defeated. I admit I was boasting...a lot. Navi kept clearing her throat at me when I stretched the truth a little. Soon I was sticking to the bare honest facts, but Malon still listened entranced.

By this time I was standing on the bed, sweeping my imaginary sword at the giant Dodongo and throwing imaginary bombs. I described how I dodged right into the lava pit and burned my arm and leg and how finally the giant beast was vanquished.

Malon clasped her hands, her eyes shining. "Oh that was wonderful!"

I eyed her suspiciously and sat back down. "Do you believe me?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "Of course I do! My papa said that Dodongos were extinct, but he doesn't believe in fairy boys either; and you saved all the nice Gorons! Fairy boy, you're like a HERO!"

"Eh...not really." I grinned, pleased at her praise.

"Yes you are! I bet if my papa saw a big, scary Dodongo, he would go running." Then she turned to Navi and stuck her face really close. "Hello Fairy. My name is Malon. I've never met a fairy before, can we be friends?"

Navi grunted. "You talk too much."

I smirked just as Malon's father entered the room. "Malon, you'd best be gettin' your chores done."

"Yes papa." Malon sighed and swung off the bed. "I'll be right back Fairy boy." She called before running out the door. Her father turned to me. 

"Are you feelin' much better son?"

"Yes sir." I nodded. "Thank you sir."

"Your story was interesting, I'd like to know how you really burned your arm." He nodded back.

I stared into his eyes. "I told the truth sir."

"You killed a fully grown Dodongo at the request of Darunia, the Goron King?" Malon's father mused.

"Yes sir. If you don't believe me you can always go ask Darunia yourself."

"Ya didn't just make it up to impress Malon there?" He squinted.

"No sir." 

"Alright then...you'd best rest. You still ain't out of the dangerous part. They oft' get worse 'fore they get better after all." He grinned and left, shutting the door behind him.

I laid back down and closed my eyes, when I heard something. It was someone singing.