The Curse of the Maple Leaf

The month flew by in a blur of desperation and determination. Link's search for a cure led her to the darkest corners of Labrynna, where she unearthed an ancient grimoire that whispered of forbidden magic. It contained a ton of warnings (these could be summed up to 'you may lose your soul, limbs, and dignity') and a dozen spells; one promised transformation reversal but at a steep cost — rare ingredients and a vial of her own blood. Link traversed more treacherous dungeons, battling monsters of all sizes, collecting the essence of a spectral beast, the tear of a fairy, and the feather of a phoenix, all with a single-minded focus. The night of the full moon arrived, and with it, the moment of the rite. In the secluded clearing of the Mystic Woods, under the watchful gaze of the moon, Link recited the incantations, her voice steady despite the tremor in her heart. She mixed the ingredients in a silver bowl, her blood the final offering. The air thickened with dark magic, the ground beneath her feet rumbled. But instead of the promised transformation, a surge of dark energy erupted, swirling around her, consuming her. The magic was too wild, too old and too twisted. Link felt her life force draining, the shadows closing in. Just as her consciousness began to fade, Maple appeared, her expression one of genuine terror. She had been watching from above the tree tops. "Link!" she screamed, her own spell flaring to life as she attempted to counteract the dark force. Withher voice and her hands trembling, she chanted a spell after spell, chasing away the dark that tried to swallow Link. The clearing was a maelstrom of light and shadow, the outcome uncertain. When the shadows stepped back a bit, Maple grabbed Link around the waist, and the broom pulled them both away. It wasn't designed for two, so they crashed mere twenty paces away; but it was enough a distance. "What on earth did you think?!" the witch shrieked. "This crap could've killed you!" Link took a few minutes to catch her breath, then replied: "I was just solving the problem myself" They sat by a tree, watching the shadows die. As their insane dance subsided, Maple whispered, "Goddess... If I only knew!.." Link took her hand. She said softly and faintly, still devoid of power, "Thanks for saving me". The witch shook her head. "This... I should've stopped you right away when I saw the ingredients". Link chuckled. "Were they that bad?" The witch clenched her fists and turned to Link. Her expression was a misture of pain and despair. The hero got baffled by this look. "I'm a wizard. I know the power of things. Layman like you should never touch spells that require stuff like spectral beast essence. Damn, I wouldn't have touched it. But when I saw you toss them around... I thought it simply won't work". 'Apparently I'm talented in magic, too," snickered Link. She relaxed a few more minutes, almost dozing off; then a sparkle of though jolted the hero. "Why were you watching me?" "I always do! This month especially. Grants some satisfaction, ya know..." "Well, you must've enjoyed the show", Link rose. "Time I head my way" Maple snorted. "Still too proud to ask for my help?" Link stared at her a moment. Energy was again starting to stir in the hero's soul and body. She saw a rival and a challenge. As she marched to the forest's edge, where the horse was waiting, Maple caught up with her. "You'll just get yourself killed", she captured Link's shoulder. "Nah, I'll be fine". "I've seen enough. You almost died. C'mon". Link stopped, albeit reluctantly, turned back, gave Maple a tired look - not a look of one tired physically,but a look of one tired of the conversation. After all, Link preferred actions to words. "So what do you want?" Maple stepped back. She unsheathed her wand. "To end this". She murmred a few words. Her wand gave a faint, weak spark. Link sighed. "Wizarding disfunction, yup?" Maple shook her head. "Must be the damn ritual. Cloaked you in residual energy... Come home with me. I'll brew you an uncuprse potion. This ends today". Link wanted to scream with joy, but that would betray her true feelings. So, she held the still composure. "No charity needed. I'll manage". "Please," Maple took her hand. "Let's be adults. I've seen enough." Link nodded. It didn't feel like a win... But if she gets what she needs, what's the difference? "I live close by. Just follow me". Link's horse easily followed Maple's broom - the magic vehicle was old and beaten. "Perhaps," Link thought, "Hitting me did it no good". The village they entered was the vere definition of 'rundown'. At its furthest edge, Maple jumped from her broom and entered a house -- or rather a shack which looked so tired that Link worried it's gonna collapse on their heads. Maple quickly looked around, fished out a cauldron from under a pile of garbage, got a few bags of herbs from under the floor. Her wand lit up a greenish fire, and the witch chanted a spell. The whole process seemed having been prepared in advance; otherwise the proximity of all the needed ingredients would be too convenient. Link waited patiently, watching an ugly broth bubbling in the cauldron. Then Maple cooled it with the wand - a whirl of icy wind flew through the shack - and handed Link a ladle. "The taste is lacking, but it'll do the job". "Nah", snorted Link, "I'd better buy something nice and safe from a proper potion shop". "Won't do," Maple's voice trembled, "A secret family recipe. Trust me, I poured my heart into that curse. But I wanted you to suffer, not to get killed. Go on, drink, let's get this over with". And so, Link drank. The taste was god-awful. The smell was even worse. The texture felt like a smoothie made of a rotten moblin liver; and yet the texture was the most decent part of it. Link swallowed. Maple looked at her, waiting. Then said "Hmm" in a very concerned way, and chanted a spell. Link stared down at her body. Then looked at the ladle. The biggest question in her mind was not about the curse. She thought: "Will the ladle to the forehead hurt enough? Or maybe I should also make her drink all that crap herself?" The storm started brewing in her heart.