The Darkening Shadow of the Milk Disease

Three days had passed since Sparrow, the young Kokiri, had sought refuge in the castle. At first, he had seemed fine, playing in the gardens and laughing with the other servants. But as the days went by, Zelda began to notice that Sparrow was struggling. He would try to pick up objects, but his hands would flutter and fail to grasp them. His usually bright green hair was now dull and matted, and his eyes had lost their sparkle. One morning, as Zelda was holding court in the throne room, she suddenly felt a strange sensation on her chin. She scratched at it absently, but the itchiness only grew worse. She tried to focus on the petitioners before her, but her mind kept wandering. Who was standing before her? What were they saying? She shook her head, trying to clear the fog from her mind. But it was no use. The confusion came in waves, washing over her and leaving her disoriented. She stumbled, and Impa rushed to her side. "Your Majesty, are you well?" she asked, concern etched on her face. Zelda nodded, trying to shake off the feeling. But it was too late. The confusion had already taken hold, and she was forced to retire to her chambers to collect herself. Meanwhile, Link, the young hero of Hyrule, was experiencing his own strange and disturbing thoughts. He would see visions of dark forests and twisted creatures, and hear whispers in his ear when no one was around. He tried to shake off the feelings, but they only grew stronger. As the day wore on, Sparrow's condition worsened. He stumbled and fell, unable to pick himself up. Zelda, still reeling from her own episodes, saw Sparrow's struggles and knew that something was terribly wrong. And then, she remembered. The milk disease. It was spreading, and they were all in danger. "Impa, we have to get Sparrow to the sick room," she said, her voice shaking with urgency. Impa nodded, and together they helped Sparrow to his feet. But as they were leading him away, Link appeared, his eyes wild and unfocused. "Link, what's wrong?" Zelda asked, but he just shook his head. "I... I don't know," he said. "I just feel... strange." Zelda's heart sank. "It's the milk disease," she said. "We're all getting it." Impa nodded, her face grim. "We have to get you both to the sick room. Now." As they led Sparrow, Zelda, and Link away, Zelda couldn't help but wonder if they would ever find a cure for the milk disease, or if it would ultimately consume them all. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, and she stumbled, her confusion and disorientation growing worse by the minute. The three of them were quickly ushered into the sick room, a small, dimly lit chamber deep in the castle. The air was thick with the scent of medicine and sickness, and Zelda felt a sense of dread wash over her. As they lay down on the narrow beds, Zelda reached out and took Sparrow's hand. "We'll get through this," she said, trying to sound brave. But as she looked at Link and Sparrow, she couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time. The milk disease was spreading, and it seemed to be affecting them all in different ways. Sparrow's eyes were glassy and unfocused, his grip on her hand weak. Link's face was twisted in a mixture of fear and confusion. And Zelda herself felt like she was losing her grip on reality. The dark shadow of the milk disease was spreading, and it seemed to be closing in on them all.