**The Venomous Tears of Sorrow**

A small, fluffy creature, a castle pet, scurried up to Link, who was still sitting at the table, looking distressed and confused. The creature, a tiny, rodent-like being with large, round eyes, seemed to sense Link's unease and thought that a friendly pet would be just what he needed to cheer up. It scampered up Link's leg and onto his lap, nuzzling his hand and squeaking plaintively. Link, still disoriented from his transformation, didn't notice anything out of the ordinary about the creature's approach. He absently stroked its soft fur, thinking nothing of it. The creature, sensing Link's affection, leaned into his touch, closing its eyes in bliss. But as soon as the creature made contact with Link's skin, it let out a blood-curdling screech. Its tiny body stiffened, and it fell to the floor, dead. Link's eyes widened in horror as he stared at the lifeless creature. He looked down at his hands, and a wave of distress washed over him. "Oh no, oh no, oh no!" Link cried, his voice shaking with sorrow. Tears began to stream down his face, and he covered his mouth with his hand, as if trying to stifle his emotions. But the tears that flowed from Link's eyes were not ordinary tears. They were poisonous, a result of the venomous transformation that had taken hold of his body. As they fell onto the table, they landed in the food and drinks of those sitting nearby. At first, no one noticed anything out of the ordinary, but soon, people began to feel a creeping numbness in their limbs, and their skin started to tingle. Zelda, sitting across from Link, was the first to realize something was wrong. She saw the creature's lifeless body on the floor and Link's distraught expression. She quickly put two and two together, and her eyes narrowed as she turned to Victoria. "Victoria, what have you done?" Zelda demanded, her voice low and menacing. She took Victoria's arm and pulled her aside, out of earshot of the others. "What are you talking about, Zelda?" Victoria asked, a look of innocence on her face. "Don't play dumb with me, Victoria!" Zelda's voice rose, and she grasped Victoria's arm tightly. "I know what that powder was. I can see what's happening to Link. You and that wizard of yours have done something to him, haven't you?" Victoria's expression faltered, and for a moment, she looked guilty. But then, her face hardened, and she pulled her arm free. "I don't know what you're talking about, Zelda," Victoria repeated, her voice cold. "But I think you're just paranoid. Maybe Link is just... fragile." Zelda's eyes flashed with anger, and she took a step closer to Victoria. "Fragile?" she spat. "You have no idea what's happening to him. And now, you've poisoned the entire hall. You need to tell me what you've done, and you need to tell me now." The argument between the two princesses was just beginning, but it would have far-reaching consequences for everyone in the castle.