Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Come, small one, and I'll tell you a story. Despite being new for all involved, a story that has happened before. It happened at the beginning of time, and not long after the land where you stand today was formed. It happened again not long after that, and even now, it's still happening.

A cycle that has persisted since existence began. A cycle that began when gods still shared the world with mortals, when a destructive, dark evil made itself known, and when the Power of Gold nearly ended and saved not just the land but the world. A cycle that, despite having just been completed, will begin again. Only, this time, things will be different. The actions taken in this current course of familiar events will change what was before and affect how the cycle will continue in the future. In this cycle, time itself will be altered and forced to change. And, in turn, the cycle will be forced to change.

And all of this would be due to the efforts of two children: a boy from deep within the forest and a girl confined to a stone palace.

But perhaps it is best to start from the beginning. Or rather, the beginning of this cycle. What is the cycle, you ask? What does it entail? Come to think of it, I haven't told you yet, have I?

Well, I reside in the land of Hyrule, deep within the lush, dense forests to the south. But should you come to look for me, you will never find me because you would indeed seek a man. And I am pretty far from anything made of flesh. I am just one of several fellow residents of the forest, towering high and covering what we hold dear underneath our branches.

I am a tree, a Deku Tree, to be precise. The Great Deku Tree. And this is my domain, the Kokiri Forest. I have resided here long enough to see the cycle occur more than once, but I never thought that It would come again so soon. Indeed, the time draws near for the key players of this tale to be introduced. And for me to fulfill my role, whatever it may be.

For in the land of Hyrule, there are many stories. Stories of magic and mystery, of incredible dangers and dangerous quests. Tales of fair maidens, of traveling through the depths of a volcanic mountain to plunging into the deepest of waters. And, most importantly, brave souls that take up arms to battle against forces that would tear Hyrule and the world asunder. Many stories are chronicled throughout history, and many more will come afterward. Indeed, there are many stories.

But, only one of them is a legend.

The Legend of Zelda

Ocarina of Time

The Girl from Castle Town

Bedtime Stories

In the farthest corners of Hyrule lies a great forest, a forest that had existed since the very land came into being.

The trees are healthy and robust, the leaves a beautiful green that bathe in the rich sunlight, and a collection of peculiar creatures that only resided within the borders of the woods. Despite its beauty, these woods were forbidden to enter, for this forest wasn't just any forest; it was enchanted. Or, as some would say, cursed. According to the few that had entered and miraculously came out, these woods were ever-changing and never-ending.

Thus, this place that perplexed and confused all who entered it, a sense of direction impossible to find or navigate, was christened The Lost Woods. Despite the dangers, some rumors told of how, if you traveled through the maze of trees that were said to speak and talk, and somehow managed to get past the more vicious denizens of the woods, you would discover a small section unlike any other.

This is called the Kokiri Forest, home of the Kokiri and the Great Deku Tree. The home of the fairy children.

Called such by those outside the forest's barriers, the Kokiri were rumored to be beings that forever remain as children. They were said to possess eternal life, but the fairy children always stayed within the confines of the forest, and thus, they were scarcely ever seen. No one exactly knew why, but everyone had their speculations and theories. Regardless, tales of the Kokiri were popular with the youth of Hyrule, for the desire to be a child forever with a magical companion was what many children wanted. True, some children that loved the stories wanted to grow up, but the thought of being in contact with such otherworldly creatures still fascinated them.

And ironically enough, tales from outside the forest were equally fascinating to the Kokiri children.

The Kokiri Forest was but a small section of the Lost Woods, yet, in this small place, there was no need to fear any danger. The Great Deku Tree, which rested in the southern corner of the secluded area, had banished all monsters and creatures that could harm the Kokiri to the depths of the Lost Woods. The Kokiri may have looked like children, but they had their community where they held the duties of both children and adults. True, the Great Deku Tree would watch over the forest, but the Kokiri had fields to till, crops to plant and harvest, and tend to their houses composed of painted hollowed-out trees, some of them having cone-shaped tops. But, above all else, they were to cherish each other and their fairy companions.

A secondary reason that the Kokiri are called fairy children is because of their deep bonds with the fair folk. One of the rarest and most ancient of all existing life, fairies guarded the life of not just the forest but Hyrule itself. Fairies could be big or small, human or animal-shaped, but those that dwelt within the Kokiri forest were glowing orbs of colored light, a pair of insect-like wings affixed to their back. Their purpose was to guide and protect the Kokiri they were assigned to, their bond made official by the blessing of the Great Deku Tree. They were eternal, but only as long as the Kokiri they bonded with lived, for if they were killed, their fairy would die with them.

But such things didn't trouble the minds of the fairy children. After all, the Great Deku had banished all monsters from this section of the forest; what was there to be afraid of? True, those from the outside could perhaps find their way to the village, should they somehow navigate through the forest, but what was the chance of that happening? The Lost Woods were so big and dense that most that dared venture in quickly began looking for a way out. Regardless of whatever could happen in the future, the Kokiri children were confident that the Great Deku Tree would protect them. 

Night had fallen over the forest, and all the children were gathered around the trunk and roots of a mighty tree. His branches were long and full of leaves, covering all the youths and their winged companions like a dove shielded their chicks. The Great Deku Tree was indeed a tree, but he bore a face like many others. He had prominent eyebrows and a mustache of wood, and while he didn't move it much, he could speak, just as he was doing as he was nearing the end of his tale.

"Thus, with the evil Mage of the Wind defeated, the Princess was saved, and the mystical sword returned to its resting place," the Great Deku Tree told the Kokiri, voice deep and rumbling but soft and gentle. "The Four Heroes had become one again, and he and the Princess swore that they would never forget each other till the end of their days."  

With the conclusion of his tale, several pairs of young hands applauded. The Deku Tree looked at all his children, who resembled children outside the forest. Many had red hair, but some were blonde or, in one case, even green. Still, they all shared the same skin tone of light peach. They were all dressed in green attire, the boys dressed in green tunics and hats, while the girls stuck to dresses or short pairs of overalls. Every one of his children had their own fairy companions, who were also listening to the story.

All but one.

And as the rest of the children left, the ancient tree's eyes watched that particular child go, having kept himself near the back of the group. Soon, he thought to himself. I feel that you will be needed very, very soon.

Outside the Great Deku Tree's Meadow, the children discussed the story they had just been told. "I still wish the Princess would get with the Hero in one of these," A girl that looked to have just reached adolescence said. Her hair was blonde and tied in two large low buns, and a green hairband rested atop her head. She wore a green dress and a pair of green boots, her eyes bright blue. She clasped her hands together and swooned. "If love is supposed to conquer all, then why can't they ever be together?"

"Maybe because they're supposed to get married in the next story?" A girl with short red hair theorized, her identical sister wondering that as well.

"But she's a Princess," the other sister said. "Doesn't she have things that she needs to do? Besides, she can't marry him! He's not a Prince!"

"Who says she has to marry a Prince?" The previously speaking sister questioned.

"I'd say the King wouldn't let that happen," a Kokiri boy said. He wore a green tunic and cap, a pair of green shoes, brown hair, blue eyes, and had a no-nonsense attitude. Compared to the other children, despite being the same age, he behaved and thought the most like an adult. "Besides, it's not as if the Hero HAS to get with the Princess. The land would've been saved either way."

"Yeah, but if I had to choose between a Prince and the Hero, I'd take the one with the sword any day." A girl with short green hair giggled. Unlike the blonde or redhead girls, while she wore a green hairband, she wore a pair of green overalls with a darker-colored turtleneck underneath and a couple of green boots on her feet. Like the other girls (and boys), her eyes were a vibrant blue.

"Eh, who cares about that mushy stuff!" A Kokiri boy dressed in a green shirt, pants, cap, green shoes, and bright red hair suddenly spoke up. His demeanor was proud and confident, the other Kokiri listening to what he had to say. "The best parts are whenever the Hero gets to fight some monsters!" He then began mimicking the movements of wielding a sword.

"I've seen some of those monsters, you know." Another redheaded boy said, garbed in a green tunic, cap, and shoes. But unlike the boy that had just spoken, his hair covered his eyes, making the others wonder how he and his two brothers saw anything.

"You have not," the brown-haired Kokiri boy said. "Stop lying."

"It's true!" Another identical boy dressed the same retorted. "Just the other day, I saw a Skulltula crawling around the back of my house!"

"What?! Ewww!" The blonde bun-haired girl stuck her tongue out in disgust.

"That's impossible!" one of the girl triplets said. "No monster can get in the Kokiri Forest! The Great Deku Tree said so!"

"Well, I saw it! And that's not all!" The redheaded boy said, hair still covering his eyes. "Its back was made of gold!"

The brown-haired Kokiri raised a brow. "Ok, now I know you're lying."

"It's true!"

"Well, whatever!" The redheaded boy (not related to either the triplets or twins) said. "If any monster dares to come in here, I'll take care of them!"

"Oooh, Mido! What a man you are!" The blonde giggled.

The green-haired girl rolled her eyes. Always trying to get his attention, aren't we, Fado? She thought, referring to the blonde girl. Of course, the object of her affection, Mido, never showed interest in her. Instead, the green-haired girl was the one he fancied.

"You're a little on the scrawny side, aren't you?" The brown-haired boy said, pointing at the pitiful excuse for a bicep on Mido's left arm.

"Shut up, Flint!" Mido barked back. "I'm not afraid of anything from the forest or the outside!"

The triplets and twins discussed their supposed sightings of monsters in the Kokiri Forest while Mido continued to proclaim his bravery, Fado fawning over him. All the while, Flint, their only brunette, expressed his doubts. The green-haired girl looked to see one of their own that no one had accounted for. The other children didn't mean anything by it (except for Mido); he was just not someone who made the first move in starting a conversation. Nevertheless, she thought that he deserved some recognition.

"What about you, Link?" She asked a boy that had been off a short distance away from the group of other children. "You got anything to add?"

As if on cue, the other Kokiri shifted their attention to the boy the green-haired girl was talking to. The boy, Link, appeared to be the same as the other Kokiri: dressed in a green tunic and cap with a pair of boots (only brown instead of green), blonde hair, and large blue eyes. But there was one discernible factor about him compared to everyone else, even the green-haired girl. Out of all of the fairy children that resided in the forest, he was the one that had no fairy companion by his side. And, as long as the other children had known him, a fairy had never once come to him.

Link looked at the girl who had addressed him, appearing confused. Just what did he want to add, if anything?

Suddenly, the redheaded boy (that wasn't one of the triplets) scoffed and folded his arms. "Oh, what does he know?" He said. "He's probably too stupid even to understand the story!"

"Mido!" The green-haired girl scolded the boy for his rudeness. But her anger quickly grew into concern when she saw Link's blonde brows begin to narrow and his eyes growing fierce. "Link, no," she whispered, putting a hand on his shoulder. "It's not worth it."

Link looked at her as if he were about to protest that the other boy, Mido, had started it. Ultimately, however, he remained silent. Just as he did all the other times Mido tried to goad him.

"He might not know how to talk, but he's not deaf," Flint said. "Therefore, contrary to what you believe, he has at least a certain degree of intelligence."

All right, Link thought. That was a LITTLE better. But a "certain degree?" What did that mean? Even if he was far from stupid, as Mido claimed, he had more than a "certain degree" of intelligence.

"You know, maybe we should all start preparing ourselves." One of the triplet brothers asked (Cypress, to be exact).

"Prepare for what?" One of the twins (Phoebe) asked.

"To fight monsters, of course!" Another brother (Elm) proclaimed. "After all, we saw that Skulltula!"

"You did not!" Flint argued. "And besides, even if monsters WERE to come to the Kokiri Forest, the Great Deku Tree could take care of them easily."

"Uh, how?" One of the two sisters (Karya) asked. "Yeah, he's powerful and all, but he can't move because he's a tree."

"So we should arm ourselves!" The third brother (Birch) shouted, getting pumped up. "Let's all get some weapons and start training!"

"Thanks, but no thanks. I'll let you brave; strong men handle all that," Fado said. "Besides, if monsters were to come, we all know Mido will protect us." She smiled, but Mido only rolled his eyes. The blonde's flirting could get a little grating.

"Hey, I'm plenty tough too!" Cypress said, flexing his bicep for everyone to see, even if it was barely a bump on his arm. No one seemed that impressed. "Aw, c'mon, guys!" He then looked at the green-haired girl. "Saria! You think I'm fighting material, don't you?"

"Sure you are, Cypress! Press IS in your name!" She giggled. "Although," she then looked back at the quieter blonde boy. "I think Link here would be able to handle things just fine," she then winked. "Isn't that right?"

Link rubbed the back of his cap and looked at the ground, unsure how to respond to Saria. He was tough (much tougher than Mido, the wimp!), but the Kokiri girl's comment made him feel a little put on the spot. Not to mention a little flustered, his cheeks growing warm with embarrassment. None of the other children could entirely gauge what Link was thinking about, seeing as he wasn't that talkative, but Saria seemed to understand him. She might've been the only one that understood him without having to try and guess.

"Still," Saria spoke again, stopping for a moment to yawn. "I guess we can finish this up tomorrow," she said. "Right now, all I want to do is go to bed."

Several of the other children soon found themselves feeling tired, and they all separated and went to their homes. All except Mido, Saria, and Link. "I'll walk you to your house, Saria." The redheaded boy said, trying to get the green-haired girl's attention.

"Oh, thanks, Mido, but I've got something to talk about with Link." She said, though the blonde boy couldn't remember Saria ever mentioning this until now.

Then, before he could protest or say anything (even if it wasn't much), Saria took him by the hand and dragged him away, leaving a red and very envious Mido behind. Saria and Link made their way to not the girl's, which resembled a carved dome, but the boy's, which was a hollowed-out tree. Well, treehouse. A wooden ladder led up to a single room that served as the boy's living space. But, if you looked to the left of the ladder, you would see the image of a small figure fighting a fire-breathing monster with a sword.

"So, what'd you think of the story?" Saria asked Link. The blonde boy smiled and nodded, presenting his opinion to the Kokiri girl. She then looked down at Link's small carving in the tree. "Hm," Saria hummed, critiquing the boy's artwork. "Looks good, but don't you think he should have a princess by his side?" Link's blue eyes widened in shock and embarrassment; the boy adamantly shook his head. "Hey, I'm only teasing!" Saria assured him, even if seeing him flustered was kind of funny.

Link lightly kicked the ground, hoping the redness and heat would disappear from his cheeks. True, he always loved the sword fights and monsters in the Deku Tree's stories, but he didn't understand why they sometimes got so mushy. Link could only guess it was because girls liked those sorts of things, but in every story told, the Hero, whoever he was, always got the girl at the end, especially if the girl was a Princess. It wasn't like Link was even interested in things like that; such things weren't manly or tough at all!

Besides, he didn't think any girl around here would think of him like that.

"Is there something you want to tell me?" Saria asked, but Link shook his head. "Are you sure?" The girl asked again. "Nothing bothering you?" The boy shook his head no. "Mido's not giving you a hard time again, is he?" Link shook his head again, but he followed his response with a clenched fist, meeting the palm of his other hand. "Yeah, I know, I know. You can handle him by yourself," Saria responded, remembering that conversation well. It soon became clear to her that Link wouldn't tell her anything. "Well, all right. You can say it when you're ready. But," Saria said, "If you want to talk, I'm here to listen, ok?" Link nodded. "Ok, then. Goodnight."

With that, the two parted ways, each child going to their respective homes, eager to get a good night's rest. Although, for one of them, their rest would be anything but.

Unbeknownst to Link or any Kokiri, someone else had just heard the same story the Deku relayed to her. Only the telling she heard came from a different source.

"Why wouldn't the Hero just keep the sword?" A young girl asked, dressed in a short-sleeved, white nightgown, her hair hidden underneath a frilly nightcap. "Vaati was defeated, so why not just have it out?" Her features were young and feminine but inquisitive, her bright blue eyes looking into her attendant's.

An older woman sat upon a large bed, a book in her hands. In contrast to the young girl, her skin was tanned, and her eyes a piercing red. She wore a skintight, short-sleeved suit and dark boots with silver armor covering them, even her forearms and hands. She had white, diagonal marks painted underneath her eyes, dark lips, and ghostly white hair tied back into a tight low bun. Yet, despite her intimidating appearance, the child wasn't frightened.

In fact, according to the woman, the girl liked to test her. "The sword served as Vaati's seal," the older woman explained. "Therefore, it had to be put back in its place."

"But the Hero lost his friends!" The girl protested.

"So, you don't consider rescuing the Princess a happy ending?" The older woman asked.

"Not if it means losing your friends," the girl said. "Besides, who's to say whether or not he would've liked her if she wasn't the Princess."

"Hm? Well, that's interesting," the tan-skinned woman said. "For didn't you ask the other day when you would get a Hero of your own?"

"Impa, that was when I was five," the girl said. "Mother didn't marry any Hero."

"But your mother wasn't a native to this country," the woman, Impa, said. "She was the Princess of another nation that married your father to cement their allegiance," she then noticed the doubtful look on the girl's face. "But make no mistake, your mother loved your father, and he loved her."

"But still, if the Hero could have anyone he wants, why does he always go for the Princess? Just because she's the Princess?"

"You don't believe that the Hero's love is genuine?" Impa asked.

"Whether it's genuine or not, being the Princess has to affect something. It can't just be that he likes her for her. Not entirely." The girl countered.

"So, what would you have happen?" Impa asked again. "Would you prefer that the Hero NOT get with the Princess?"

"Well, no," the girl said. "It's just; I think that, if the Hero does love the Princess, it should be because something like a title isn't important to him. It'd be better if he had no idea until the very end."

"Hm, that's a curious take on things," the girl's attendant said. "So, you think that being a Princess shouldn't have any weight on his feelings towards her? Even though she's royalty and he is most likely not?"

"That's right." the young child said.

"Well, I'll be more than happy to discuss this further in the morning, but right now," the white-haired woman reached towards an ornately designed lamp, ready to snuff out the flame that was still burning. She licked her fingers, ready to extinguish it.

"But you won't have to worry about that," she said. "Because I won't do it."

"Do what?" Impa asked. Once she received her answer, she would bid her charge a good night and return to her duties, but what the girl said surprised her.

"I won't fall in love."

Sleep usually came easy for him, but lately, he found himself trying not to sleep. Even past midnight, Link was doing all he could to stay awake. Dressed in his tunic, save for his boots, socks, belt, and cap, Link gripped the sheet covering him, its warmth protecting him from the night air. He was ready for sleep but didn't want it to come. For when he fell asleep, the dreams came.

Dreams he could scarcely remember, but each night afterward, he woke up in a cold sweat, heart thumping and fear overtaking him. They were different each time, but they were all unpleasant to experience. Saria had asked him about it when they started, but Link wasn't sure how to describe the experience. Yes, he told her what he had seen, but at the same time, he didn't. He couldn't convey what they made him feel.

"They're about monsters?" He remembered her asking. "So what? You're in a dream; just think up a sword!"

Link expressed to her that wasn't the problem. He could do all sorts of things in his dreams, no problem! And, despite Saria's insistence, he wasn't afraid of any of the monsters he saw! Not one bit! He could take them all on! Of course, afraid or not, even if it was just a little, no monster was the source of Link's nighttime anxiety.

No, the face that haunted him was that of something else.

He was preparing for whatever was coming his way, succumbing to his exhaustion again. The blonde boy cursed that he had once again failed to stay awake, then his anger gradually turned into fear, a sickening dread growing in the pit of his stomach. What would he see this time? A giant spider? A dragon? Maybe some sort of sea monster? He had seen more than enough imagined horrors to know that whatever was coming wasn't good.

But, instead of being inside a dark, lava-filled cavern or icy terrain, Link found himself standing on fertile, green grass, a great, blue sky hanging over him. Was he still in the forest? Despite some, link saw that there were not enough trees around to be considered a forest. It was then that Link realized he was nowhere near the Kokiri Forest or the Lost Woods. He was standing in a wide-open field, the terrain primarily flat and unlike anything Link had seen before.

The boy looked around for any potential danger but found nothing. Nothing at all. No animals, no people, no monsters. He was the only one in this expansive land; not another soul was in sight. Nothing was around that could hurt him, so why did he feel like he was in some sort of danger?

He began walking, still looking for any sign of anything besides himself. Not that he was afraid, of course. Monsters were no problem for him; he could take care of them just fine! Besides, it wasn't like that giant spider trying to eat him was that scary! True, Mido said Link screamed like a girl the morning he woke up from that dream, but he wasn't scared!

He was more confused than anything. He couldn't express why, but despite not knowing a thing about this place, the boy felt drawn to go in a specific direction. Link didn't understand what was so special about it or where it led, but he was compelled to go, nevertheless. He wasn't told with words, but a thought in his mind said that everything would be made clear if he obeyed the instinct to go forward. He did so, as he was pretty tired of being unpleasantly surprised every time he went to sleep.

Link walked on and on, growing rather bored after a while, but his body didn't experience any exhaustion. He didn't know what awaited him at the end of this journey, but he saw that the sun was beginning to set. Just how long had he been out here? Should he speed it up, or would it not matter? Regardless, Link didn't want to risk it if this was timed, so he began running, almost as if he were trying to outrun the sun. Even if this was a dream, he wasn't sure if he could be fast enough.

Finally, the sun had come down, yet Link soon found the sky growing dark and stormy instead of a bright, shimmering moon. He found himself standing in front of a bizarre structure: a long wood bridge came down, the bridge attached to a stone gate. As the chains rattled when the large bridge came down, Link spotted a peculiar emblem emblazoned on the top part of the gate. The symbol wasn't anything remarkable: three triangles arranged to create an even larger one, but the golden shimmer on its surface struck Link as hauntingly familiar, even if he had never seen it before.

Three golden triangles. Three golden crests. The Power of Gold.

These descriptions came to Link's mind when he saw the emblem. And while he didn't know what they meant, more and more bits of information came to him the longer he looked at the symbol. Three triangles, three crests, the Power of Gold. Three divine female forms ascended to the heavens, but not before leaving something behind. A direct connection to the divine and their powers.

Triforce.

Wait a minute, Link thought. Triforce? What was a triforce? He had never even heard of such a word! This dream was becoming more and more confusing and, as the stormy clouds began to grow even dark, unsettling. He wouldn't dare say it aloud (especially in front of Mido), but Link found himself instead on edge. Something was coming his way. He just hoped it wasn't "it."

"It" was the dark shadow that followed him in every one of his dreams. Somewhere in the distance, "it" sat there and watched Link's every move, tracking him even if he changed locations in the dream. "It" never was aggressive towards him, but the shadow, whatever it was, felt familiar as well. As if it were him, in a sense. Some kind of separate part he didn't know existed but was always around, watching. And whenever "it" came, it usually brought trouble along.

And, as if on cue, thunder and lightning made themselves known, genuinely making it a dark and stormy night.

But instead of seeing something dark or pitch black, a running object of pure white came towards him, passing right by him. The creature had four long legs, a long neck, dark eyes, and hooves; these details were the only things Link knew. He had no idea just what the animal was. Atop its back rode a figure cloaked in shadow, along with someone else who garnered Link's attention. On the animal was a young girl around his age, dressed in a white dress with a magenta apron-like garment and a white headdress on her head.

She looked back at him as if she were saddened to leave. To have to leave him. And while he didn't know her, Link felt himself grow sad over her leaving. Where was she going? Why did she have to go?

Would he ever see her again?

Then, Link was overcome with a terrible but familiar dread when he felt something was behind him. He didn't want to do it; he didn't want to know what was behind him, to face whatever terror this night had to offer. But, as always, he wasn't given a choice. The suspense became too much to bear, so the boy turned around, bracing himself for whatever was to come. He couldn't have hoped to have been ready for what he would encounter.

For what he saw was "it," but now, there was a face.

A towering figure robed in darkness atop a black creature similar to the one the girl rode. The animal he rode had eyes of red and was much fiercer than its white counterpart. It reared up on its hind legs, releasing a loud, bellowing sound unlike anything Link had heard. True, it wasn't the most horrifying noise he had heard, but it also sounded very grounded in reality. The noises of the monsters he encountered in his nightmares were intimidating (but he insisted he wasn't scared), but they had something of a fantastical element. They looked, sounded, and acted like what Link believed monsters to be.

But this creature, this animal, felt as if it could exist. It wasn't a monster or anything fantastical, nor did it seem overly malicious as the monsters did. The same couldn't be said for the one riding the beast. What was once "it" was now identified as a being that looked very similar to Link, only much bigger. But he wasn't a Kokiri. He was one of the people from outside. He was a man.

The man was dressed in black armor and had darkly-colored skin that bore an almost greenish tint, contrasting wildly with his flaming, red hair. He wore what Link assumed to be jewelry, particularly that of a gemstone of topaz on his forehead, and, unlike the boy, had short, curved ears instead of pointed and straight. The rider of the black animal looked down at Link, burning, fiery eyes licking onto widened, frightened blues. Link could do nothing but stand, frozen in terror, his fear reaching its peak when the man smiled at him. As if he somehow knew the boy.

He then extended his hand toward the child, the blonde boy paralyzed with fear as he screamed, the roaring thunder drowning out his panicked cries until everything went dark.

The same dream, again.

She heard someone cry from afar, but she couldn't see anything. She was in her bed one minute, and the next, she found herself stranded out in the middle of nowhere with a monstrous storm looming above her. Looking up, the girl, still dressed in her sleepwear, saw something unnatural about this storm; the thunder was near loud and the lightning blinding. No natural storm was this intense; it was as if something terrible was controlling the very world around her. But where was it coming from?

"Please! Just stop being vague with me!" She shouted, unsure if there was anyone who was listening. She's had so many nightmares like this, making her question whether or not the Goddesses could even hear her from within her darkest dreams. "What does this mean?! What's going to happen?!"

Why is this happening now?!

Then, as if to answer her plea, a ray of bright light pierced the dark storm above, forcing it back until there was nothing but light. Once her eyes adjusted, she saw that the light originated from a forest she had only heard about, the Lost Woods. She stepped forward, and while she was nowhere close, she could still discern that a figure had stepped out of the forest. He then noticed and approached her. The girl was intimidated. First, the figure was little more than an indescribable shape, but she also felt a sense of familiarity. As if she had seen them before.

The figure was taller than she was, and though she couldn't precisely discern any particular features, the young girl found the figure quite handsome, with a rosy tint coming to her cheeks. In their hands was what appeared to be a glowing, shimmering stone of green.

Is that an emerald? She wondered. Then, she saw something that surprised her even more. And is that a…?! Fluttering around the figure's head was a small orb of light, kept airborne by a pair of thin wings.

A fairy from the forest.

Chapter Text

His eyes shot wide open as he jolted upward, his breathing rapid and his tiny body wracked with tension and anxiety. But, as the moments passed, the blonde boy saw that he was back in his house, in his room, and there were no intimidating figures in sight. No monsters, no men riding strange creatures, nothing. He was completely safe in his bed, alone in his home. Alone with no fairy.

Link shook this thought off, along with the lingering rush he got from his nightmare. He then got out of bed and proceeded to get dressed. Slipping on his cap for last, the young boy exited his home, the sun's light momentarily blinding him. However, the air felt nice and cool. He then saw a familiar figure running toward his house.

"Well, you got up early!" Saria said, arms on her hips.

Her fairy, Compa, flew beside her head, her true form concealed by a bright green light. "An entire hour before he'd usually get up," she told her assigned Kokiri. "What's the occasion?" The fairy asked the boy.

Link just shrugged with a smile, not really able to come up with a reason. But then Saria noticed a tiny bit of sweat trickling down the blonde's forehead. "You haven't even started yet, and you're already breaking a sweat? I hope you've got enough energy for today," Link looked at the green-haired girl, puzzled. "Um, hello? You said you were going to help me harvest the radishes!"

"Huh?" Link tilted his head in confusion but then remembered what Saria was talking about. "Oh! Y-Yeah!"

"Yeah, bear in mind, I'm the one in charge of keeping everyone fed around here," Saria then produced a set of baskets, handing one to Link. "And the radishes look perfect, so I don't want to waste time. So, come on! Let's go!"

The green-haired girl began making her way to her home and the surrounding fertile land. "Hey! Wait!" The blonde boy followed after the Kokiri girl, not exactly thrilled about fieldwork, but crops weren't going to pick themselves. Besides, he needed something to get his mind off the dream he had the night before.

A Short Time Later

And that was the last of it! Every red cherry belle radish had been picked. Link and Saria examined their handiwork; the ripe root vegetables were sorted into woven wooden baskets. While most of the crops were grown near the treehouse of the Know-It-All Brothers, every Kokiri had a small field of their own, where they could plant anything they wanted for themselves. And it was agreed that Saria's radishes were the best, so it was always a treat whenever they were harvested.

Each Kokiri had a specific crop they'd grow out of personal preference, and at the end of each harvest, the produce would be used in a variety of means. "Oh, these are going to be awesome when they're fully pickled," Saria beamed, Compa inspecting the root vegetables with interest. No one could understand it, but it seemed that whatever Saria planted turned out to be at the perfect ripeness and give off the best flavor. Even as a forest child, she appeared to have an affinity for gardening. "Right, Link?" Saria asked her assistant, but he didn't answer her. "Link?" She saw that he was looking out at the dense collection of trees outside the Kokiri's borders.

"Gah!" The blonde boy yelped as he was brought back to reality by a slight tap on the shoulder.

Saria looked at him inquisitively. "You're definitely on edge today," the green-haired girl said. "Come on, what's wrong?" She asked. "Look, if you don't want to say what, you don't have to, but at least let me know that something is bothering you, ok?" Her usual cheery features then grew serious. "You don't have to say what it is, but at least be honest about how you feel to me."

Link nodded in response, Saria's face softening.

"Anyway, how's your broccoli looking?" The green-haired girl asked. Link then grew excited upon hearing her mention his field. "Oh, are they done?" Link waved his hand, indicating that they were halfway ready. "Well, can I still see?"

Link nodded enthusiastically and led her to the small patch of dirt beside his treehouse, presenting the growing produce to Saria. He wouldn't say it out loud, but he didn't seem to pick up agriculture as quickly as the others, especially Saria. Thus, she suggested a crop to grow that she had success with when she first started gardening. It took him a bit longer than she said, but it looked like Link's crops were halfway done after a few weeks. But upon showing them to Saria, he was puzzled upon seeing the Kokiri girl's reaction to his labor.

"Um, Link?" Saria asked. "I said I planted broccoli," she looked at the small number of white plants that rested in the center of blooming, green leaves. "The green kind."

Link was puzzled again. Wasn't this the plant she meant? She said it was a green plant that flowered and looked like a tree. Weren't these the same thing?

"This is white," Saria said, inspecting one crop closer. "You planted cauliflower."

That Afternoon

Cauliflower.

CLINK!

He had planted cauliflower.

CLINK!

Cauliflower!

CLINK! CLINK! CLINK! CLINK!

Link panted as the last of his energy was spent, a series of wooden targets hanging from a nearby tree swinging from the force of his shots. He was about to reach for more ammunition but found that the small pouch containing the hardened seeds he had been using were all gone. Great. This meant he had to go out and search for more. With an exasperated groan, the green-capped boy sat on the grassy floor underneath his boots, fresh sweat dripping down his forehead.

He tried to do one thing that would get him some sense that he wasn't the only one out of place in the community. After all, growing crops was easy. At least, that's what Link thought when he tried tilling and caring for a field of his own. But when it came time to plant the seeds, Saria suggested that he produce something easy to start with. And seeing as she was a gardening expert (according to every Kokiri Link asked), she handed him some seeds that she said were broccoli, a crop that didn't take long to grow and harvest.

Thinking back on it, Link supposed he should've known better, given that Cypress said he had some broccoli seeds that grew faster than any other. And, to prove it, he showed him broccoli that he was growing in his soil patch. Upon hearing that his seeds would grow faster than standard broccoli, Link traded them for the ones Saria had given him. True, it was something he regretted when the seeds were taking longer than expected to grow, and he had begun to worry, but his hopes shot up when they finally began growing. And even more, his "broccoli" was a unique color!

True, he had heard of purple broccoli, but never white. Upon seeing the fruits of his labor, he couldn't wait to show Saria! But, of course, upon showing her his field, the Kokiri girl told Link the unfortunate truth. He hadn't been planting broccoli. He had been caring for cauliflower.

Even if it was of good quality, and even if Saria said she was impressed by Link's ability to grow it, for, according to her, cauliflower's growth was much slower and more challenging than that of broccoli, the blonde boy didn't care. He had made himself look like an idiot. He thought he had finally done something right. Something that would let him at least be a little like the others. And even when he managed to do something at least correct, it still turned out wrong!

Link got to his feet and ran out into the Lost Woods outside the tiny hamlet the Kokiri lived in before Saria could even try to talk to him. He wouldn't let her see the developing tears in his eyes. Thus, he came out here with his hand-crafted slingshot and a pouch full of Deku seeds. He had set up a small area in the woods where he could practice his aim. In this case, it was to relieve himself of built-up frustration.

The Lost Woods surrounded the much smaller Kokiri Forest and didn't differ much in appearance. They were both equally fertile and green areas, but the Lost Woods was a place Link was told explicitly not to go. True, there was the fact that the Kokiri were born of the forest, so if they left it, they would surely die, but the Lost Woods also belonged to the Great Deku Tree. Miles and miles of forest were under his watch and command, so why would he not be allowed to go out? As far as he knew, none of the other children were forbidden to come out here, so why was it just him?

"That's 'cause you're a Mister No-Fairy!" Mido's mocking voice echoed in the boy's mind, his blue eyes growing angry upon reciting them. "It probably doesn't help that you're too stupid to talk. No fairy would want to talk to you anyway."

Oh, there were many, many, many things Link would've loved to have said to Mido. Right to his face! Contrary to what he and everyone else believed (Link wasn't sure, but he suspected they thought the same as Mido, they just didn't say it), the boy wasn't incapable of speech. Well, most of the time. But, even if he hated to admit it, Mido was right in that he wasn't all that talkative, at least not around the other children. Saria was the only exception, the only one he was at ease with. According to her, Link was capable of being a little chatterbox when he managed to get going with a subject.

In truth, Link found that silence was golden unless it was something he needed to make clear or known. He could speak fine but found it difficult to form words at times. He knew what he wanted to say; it was just a struggle to get it out. And even when he could, it always sounded odd and unnatural, as if he were choking in his own words. Thus, he just preferred not to talk at all to avoid a problem regarding his speech.

Mido's words about the Great Deku Tree putting restrictions on him because he had no fairy came back to him, along with the familiar anger he held towards the red-haired boy. Nevertheless, Link wondered why he wasn't allowed to go into the Lost Woods out of all other Kokiri. He went anyway, but it wasn't as if he went far. Even he knew that under the Great Deku Tree's watch or not, this place was easy to get lost in, hence its name. Though, Link thought, that might've been a given.

He mostly kept to sections around the entrance to the Kokiri Forest, though he had to remind himself of which direction he had come from. While the Lost Woods were composed of several trees and other flowering plants, a peculiar feature was found in the dense woodland, situated among the particularly thick collection of branches and leaves; old trees stood with a deep hollow formed at the base of the thickened trunk. No light could be seen out the other end of the dark tunnels, for one would have to go through to get to the other side. And even then, who knew where you would turn up?

The Lost Woods, from what little of it Link had seen, appeared to be separated into various areas, all of which could be accessed through the tree hollows. He hadn't traveled far but had noticed that the further you went into the woods, the more likely you would come across something that would be baffling and confusing. Several creatures inhabited the woods, many of which looked quite different from the Kokiri. As The Great Deku Tree gave life to everything around them, so were the trees and plants, even those that could move around and talk. And it was then that Link heard someone speak.

"So, is that him?"

Link whirled his head around but saw no one. The voice wasn't any he recognized: it was high-pitched, somewhat squeaky, comical even. But what he heard signaled to the boy that he wasn't alone. He looked around but saw no one, not a soul in sight.

"I dunno, all of those kids look alike!" Another voice answered, much like the first, albeit somewhat lower pitch. "But, even if it is, those old hags had better pay us well!"

Link tried to pinpoint where the conversation was coming from. "Shh!" A third voice hissed. "Not so loud! He'll hear us!"

Link then noticed a peculiar set of bushes a short distance away. He wasn't entirely sure, but he found they looked out of place compared to the others. True, they had the same colors and shapes, but they seemed to grow out in the middle of the small field he practiced in, very much unlike the others, which congregated near the tree hollows. He began to wonder, his blue eyes on his slingshot. Finding a Deku Seed on the ground, Link fired a shot in the direction of the bushes, the impact echoing throughout the silent field.

"OW!"

Link jumped back a short distance, unprepared to see the bushes grow tiny legs and feet, though they were shaped in a way that reminded the boy of his leather boots. They had faces that resembled wooden masks, features such as cheeks and eyes visible, but instead of a mouth, a cylinder-like protrusion took its place. The creatures' bodies were short, round, and armless, their legs serving as their only appendages. The "bush" portion served as a headdress or crown for them, the leaves being a hair replacement. Though, upon studying them more, Link's apprehension died, realizing what the creatures were.

Though this relief was short-lived as he felt a Deku Nut bounce off his forehead, the creature that shot it glowered at him with surprisingly bright, fiery eyes (for a plant).

"Hey, kid!" One of the three Deku Scrubs squeaked. "Watch where you're shooting that thing!" With that, the Scrubs hurried off, disappearing through one of the tree hollows that led deeper into the Lost Woods.

Link now felt like kicking himself for getting so worked up. Deku Scrubs, while weird looking, we're entirely harmless. They didn't inhabit the Kokiri Forest but roamed and settled in the Lost Woods. While the one that had just called Link out was a little cranky, they all had different personalities and traits, depending on what type of tree they were born from. Even if he technically wasn't supposed to come out here, from what he could tell, the Scrubs weren't overtly aggressive or hostile.

Still, they never seemed to have interest in him before, Link thought. Sure, he had seen them scurrying around among the dense foliage of the woods, but they hadn't ever tried to approach him. Watch as he practiced with his slingshot, yes, but none of them had tried to sneak up on him. And just what were they talking about? Something about being paid and some old hags? Well, whatever, Link thought. He had a pouch to refill with seeds.

Unbeknownst to him, however, the three Scrubs spying on him traveled deeper into the Lost Woods than Link had ever gone. They traveled until the trees grew so thick that not even the sun rays could pierce through. Finally, after a while, they had reached their destination, standing at the base of a great tree whose features were concealed in dense shadows. Another figure stood by him, dressed in black, and the tree awaited the arrival of the wooden creatures.

"You've returned," the tree said, voice raspy and dark, a great contrast to that of the Great Deku Tree. "Where is the way?"

"Where's the payment first?" One of the Deku Scrubs questioned.

The second figure then seemed to dig into a small pouch and took out a green, shimmering stone cut into a four-pointed diamond with silvery rims. "Now," the tree said again. "Did you see a child? One with no fairy?"

The Scrubs gazed at the small rock in fascination, for its size was small; nothing like this existed in the forest. Nothing but the dewdrops reflecting the morning light could match this beauty. But the question asked brought one of them back to reality. "Huh? Oh, yeah! He's here!" The figure produced two more and handed them to the wooden creatures,

"Yeah, he comes out to the woods a lot, not all that talkative," Another said. "Then again, no fairy means no one to talk to.

"Why you or those old ladies want to know, I have no idea, but thanks for the shinies!"

The Scrubs went off with their prize. The figure scoffed, smirking as they went away. "Idiots." He chuckled, the ignorant fools not knowing that what he had given them was completely useless.

"They know nothing outside of these woods, so anything foreign to them is exciting," the massive tree said. "Especially anything that shimmers, no matter what it is," the tree's twisted features curled up into a smile in the shadows. "So then, we have an agreement?"

The other figure nodded, his features and general appearance concealed underneath a thick cloak of black. "You get a nicer place in these woods," he said. "And I make sure you have a place to move into."

The tree's several branches housed what appeared to be dozens of eyes of bright orange peering down from above, but they didn't belong to any Deku Scrub. "Your guardians are correct," the tree said. "There is a child among the Kokiri that does not have a fairy."

"And? What does that matter?" The cloaked figure asked. "Up until now, I would have doubted fairies even existed, so what difference does it make if one kid doesn't have one of their own?"

"The Deku Tree cares for all those that he has birthed," the tree answered. "Not one of them is left unaccounted for."

"Then why are you so concerned about the odd one out? Why do you and those hags seem all hung up on him?" The cloaked figure questioned.

The tree's smile then faltered, becoming a twisted scowl. "Because he's the one that will change everything."

A Short Time Later

He pulled at the small nuts hanging from the branches, placing handfuls of hard, dusty-brown pellets into the small pouch he had secured to his right side on his belt. Even if it sometimes took him a little longer to find on some days than others, he knew which trees to climb and pick from whenever Link ran out of bullets for his slingshot. While some were better ammunition than others, the blonde boy found that nuts and seeds were preferable to rocks or stones. When struck, a Deku Nut would create a sparkling flash that blinded anything within range, and while the Deku Seeds didn't have as violent a reaction, they were rugged and compact, making them ideal for ammunition. Not to mention Link knew that being hit with a nut wasn't as lethal as being hit with a rock, a reason he didn't feel right using them, even if they were small.

Link had calmed down from before, having exerted much of it on the handmade targets, but he still wasn't too happy about planting the wrong crop. Saria wasn't too glad that he gave away the seeds she had given him; honestly, he couldn't blame her. He didn't mean to hurt her like that; it was just that he thought the seeds he traded out for would grow even faster than expected. He just wanted to impress her, that was all. And perhaps impress everyone else, even Mido.

Or maybe not; Mido would've probably found something to complain about. Link looked around from his height, surveying the area to see if there were nearby branches he could pick from. He had only filled up half of his pouch, but he had already plucked all the nuts from the branch he currently sat on. He saw some more hanging from above and began to climb, his small body carefully ascending the towering tree. It took some trial and error when he started climbing trees, but Link found all the hard falls and accidents to be worth it in the end, for it was higher up where all the best nuts were.

But, as he climbed, Link noticed something he hadn't before: light. Light shining down through the treetops wasn't unusual, but while Link had seen them, he had never been able to get closer to them. No matter how high he climbed, he could never seem to break through the thick leaves above, never able to go past anything that composed even a part of the Great Deku Tree's dominion. But now, he didn't just feel the sun's warmth from a distance; he could feel the rays heating his cheeks directly. He could feel the wind lightly playing with his gold bangs.

And then, with one final hoist up, the boy broke through.

Link was blinded by the sun's light at first, closing his eyes momentarily until he adjusted, but what met his sight left him, ironically enough, completely speechless. Above him was a vast, endless horizon of blue with wispy, smooth vapors trailing over its surface, and the incredible light that provided light for every tree in the forest shone down on him. Of course, Link knew what the sky and clouds were, but he had never seen them like this. In either the Kokiri Forest or Lost Woods, the sky had always appeared clear, except when it was raining, as well as a lightning green or yellow. He had never seen a blue sky before, let alone see the sun shine this brightly. And upon seeing it, he was immediately fascinated and in awe.

With blue eyes and mouth wide open, Link looked around, seeing nothing but sky and miles of trees. True, while he felt pretty accomplished in having finally breached the treetops, how he got here also puzzled him. For one, when he set out to try and climb to the top, he went up and up until he was several feet off the ground, but he could never reach his destination. Today, however, he had only gone up just a little more than usual and broke through quickly. And he wasn't even trying to get to the top; all he wanted to do was just collect nuts for his slingshot!

Link scanned everything he could see, dense forest everywhere he looked. So, it was then that he decided to look behind him and see if anything of interest was in that direction. And it was upon turning around out of childish curiosity, he spotted something in the distance. Something incredible. Something that would change the Boy Without a Fairy's life forever.

Far off in the distance was a landscape and places Link had never seen before, and up until now, didn't even know existed! Plains of fertile, green grass lightly danced in the breeze, and a great river ran in various spaces in the great expanse of green. Towering mountains rested to the northeast, and the reddened Earth they were composed of solid and old. And, curiously enough, Link saw that the grass seemed to end at the western part of the landscape, being replaced with dry, cracked ground that led into places unknown. But none of those things compared to what lay north of this strange and new place.

Standing tall and proud with the sun's rays seemingly drawing his eye to it, Link saw a massive structure of white and blue, surrounded by a fortified border and standing out against the dark mountains in the same area. At first, Link was unsure what to make of it but was too fascinated to look away. Either it was the strangest (yet surprisingly beautiful) tree he had ever seen, or it was some sort of large house painted white and blue. That'd take quite a bit of paint, Link thought. Or maybe, it wasn't a tree at all. But, upon looking closer (as close as possible given the near-immeasurable distance between the boy and object of interest), Link saw that the structure was no tree.

What it was exactly, he didn't know, but the longer he looked at it, the stronger the draw was for Link to try and look closer.

"Link?" The boy's long ears registered that someone was calling for him. "Link? Link! Where are you?!"

That was Saria! Oh no, did the Great Deku Tree send her out to find him?! Before climbing back down, he looked at the faraway building, spotting the green-haired Kokiri below. His journey down wasn't as graceful as the one to the top. His boot slipped on some of the bark and sent him plummeting downward, landing on several branches before finally landing on the ground. The fall wasn't lethal, nearly every branch seemed to keep him from going straight down, but that didn't make the descent hurt any less!

"Oof!" Saria winced. "Are you ok?"

Link groaned as he stood up, his back and tailbone aching from the several hits they took, but he was fine. He had dealt with worse. Besides, even if he was a Kokiri, that didn't mean he couldn't be tough! He nodded to answer Saria's question.

"You sure?" Saria asked again.

Link nodded, although it was then that he felt a tiny bit of pain shoot through his back, his body not agreeing with him.

"Ok, fine. I believe you," Saria giggled. "Look, I'm not mad anymore about the seeds," she told him. "I just…sort of wish you told me."

Link bit his lip and lowered his head. "Y-Yeah. Sorry."

"I know you just wanted your plants to grow fast for me," Saria said. "Anyway, your cauliflower is pretty decent." She told him.

Link's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Yeah!" Saria answered. "Well, you can sort of tell that it's the first time you've grown it, but for a first time, it's not bad at all!"

All right, Link could take that. But, thinking it over, at least he managed to plant something right.

"Anyway, we should get back," Saria said. "The Great Deku Tree doesn't want us out here," she then looked at Link's slingshot. "You should probably hide that thing too. If Mido sees it, you know what he will do."

Link rolled his eyes, suspecting that the redhead would rat him out to the Great Deku Tree. Luckily, Link had a special place he kept his handmade weapon. There was a small stump with a hole big enough to fit the slingshot by his house, but the stump was tall enough to where it wouldn't be seen.

"Ok, let's get back!" Saria said; both she and Link made their way back to the Kokiri Forest, but Saria couldn't help but notice that, despite what happened earlier, her blonde friend seemed rather chipper. "What's up with you?" She asked.

Link was debating whether to tell her, as he was now beginning to wonder if he should've seen what he did. He shook his head "Nothing." He answered.

Saria was suspicious but didn't say anything more. "Ok, fine. I guess everybody has a few secrets."

Indeed, Link thought. True, logically, it wouldn't have made sense for him to get in trouble for just spotting something unusual, but the boy wasn't sure how Saria, the Kokiri, or even the Great Deku Tree would take it if he told them what he had seen. So, for now, it would be a secret from everybody.

A Short Time Later

The Kokiri Forest

Once Link and Saria entered the small hamlet occupied by children, they heard a familiar voice greet them.

"Well, it looks like Mr. No-Fairy's come crawling back," Mido sneered, arms folded as he watched the two other children walk by. "I thought you had gotten lost in there this time." Link huffed in response, having no interest in dealing with the redhead right now. "Oh yeah, I forgot; how was that broccoli you planted?"

Link whirled around, facing the other Kokiri. While true, he wasn't as angry about the event as before, that didn't mean he would just take Mido's taunts.

"Link, no," Saria urged her friend to remain calm, then she looked at Mido. "It wasn't like it was bad cauliflower," she said. "Link did a fine job growing it."

"Hey, Cypress is the one that gave Link the seeds!" Mido countered. "After he traded the seeds you gave him. Which is something I'd never do to you, Saria."

"Am I supposed to be impressed?" The green-haired girl asked. "Besides, I have plenty of seeds. So if I want something, I can grow it myself."

"But I thought Link did grow some broccoli," Elm said, the Know-it-All Brothers carrying in the rest of their harvest, their fields providing most of the produce eaten by the Kokiri. "That's what you said it was."

It was then that Link began to piece things together, from how he got the seeds to grow them to discovering they were the wrong ones. Then, finally, a theory started to form in his mind, and it suddenly all made sense.

"You," Saria said, Link's fingers tightening into a shaking fist. "You have something to do with this, don't you?"

Mido's first instinct was to deny responsibility, but he saw neither Link nor Saria would buy it even if he tried to say anything. So instead, all the other Kokiri began to gather, the mood rife with tension. "Yeah, ok. Fine. I gave Cypress the seeds." he confessed.

Every fiber of Link's body was boiling, his anger continuing to rise as he realized what this meant. "So, you traded seeds with Cypress, then he gave them to Link…?" Saria asked, her words echoing Link's thoughts. "You set this all up from the beginning!"

"What of it? It was only a joke!" Mido countered.

Only a joke? Only a joke?! Link stepped forward, but Saria put a hand on his shoulder. She had never seen Link this angry before; he looked like he was about to explode!

"Mido, he was planting those for me!" Saria argued. "I gave him my seeds because I had no space in my patch, so he said he'd grow in his!"

"So what? I could've done that! Anyone could've!"

Flint shrugged his shoulders, indifferent about the whole thing. "Guess so." He said. He wasn't getting involved; this was Link and Mido's problem.

Cypress, Elm, and Birch set down their produce and looked at the visibly enraged Link, who was particularly trembling with fury. Fado, Phoebe, and Karya also came to see what was happening. Soon, everyone was there to witness the scene going on. "What's happening?" Phoebe asked Birch.

"I think somebody's about to get pummeled," the redheaded boy said. "Though, I'm not sure who."

"That's not the point!" Saria argued with Mido. "The point is that you tricked Link into planting the wrong seeds!"

"If Mr. No-Fairy were good at growing things, he would've realized what types of seeds they were!" Mido directed his attention back to Link. "Not that it'd do much for him anyway."

Link was growing increasingly enraged; the other boy's consistent jabs and remarks made the blonde almost lose all control.

"I'd be careful with what I say if I were you," Saria warned. "You're in a lot of trouble already with me!" Saria tightened her grip on the blonde boy's shoulder. "Link, no!" She hissed, trying to keep him back. I got a feeling this isn't going to end well.

"Oh, what are ya gonna do, Mr. No-Fairy?" Mido sneered, getting up in Link's face. Link remained silent, Saria's grip the only thing keeping him from retaliating. "Yeah, I thought so." The redhead then turned away, but just as he began to walk, he felt someone grab his shoulder. "Who-"

WHOP!

Mido was sent to the ground, landing hard on his back. He looked up to see his attacker was none other than the boy he was just mocking. "Y-You!" Mido shouted, getting to his feet. "How dare you!" He then cracked his knuckles. "Fine! If that's the way you want it, bring it on!"

Link stepped forward, eyes narrowed and lips tightening with anger. "Link-" Saria protested, but Link brushed her off. Not enough to hurt her, but just enough to get her to let go.

No, she wasn't stopping him this time. Link took the first swing, Mido leaping to the side and avoiding the other boy's incoming fist. The redhead drove a fist into the blonde's gut, sending him flying back. All the other children watched on as the brawl continued, some fascinated, some horrified, and some saw this as oddly entertaining.

"Who do you think is gonna win?" Elm asked Flint.

Flint simply shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "They're both behaving like idiots."

"Oooh!" Fado winced, the twins doing likewise as Mido landed a rather hard blow to Link's chest. "That looked like it hurt."

"Can they do it again?" Birch asked. "I didn't see it!"

"Both of you, stop it!" Saria shouted, but her words didn't reach either of the brawling Kokiri. To her dismay, despite starting out strong, Link was overwhelmed by Mido's quick punches.

"C'mon, Mister No-Fairy!" Mido taunted. "You started this; now finish it!" Link struggled to get up from the ground, the pain from the other boy's blows.

But then, just as Mido got close enough, Link shot out his fist and landed a punch right into the other boy's face. At that moment, everyone heard something break or snap, but what it was, no one knew. Mido stumbled back, clutching his nose tightly, moaning in pain. Link smirked, pleased to have landed a hit on that red-haired jerk, but his satisfaction was short-lived when he saw red liquid seeping out between Mido's fingers. When he pulled his hands away, everyone, including Link, was shocked at what they saw.

Mido's nose looked like it had been twisted and swollen, blood trailing down his face. The Know-it-All brothers, twins, Fado, Flint, and even Saria looked horrified at what had just happened. But, then, all their eyes, including Saria's, focused on Link. The blonde boy was trying to speak, say something, anything! He intended to fight back, but he didn't mean to hit Mido that hard!

"You…." Mido stammered, voice nasally from the endless rivers of blood and mucus. "That's it!" The shock had quickly given way to anger, the other boy about to throw another punch in Link's direction.

Link got into a defensive stance, but then-

"ENOUGH!"

A thundering voice boomed throughout the entire section of the forest.

"LINK! MIDO!" No one needed to theorize who was talking, even if the voice sounded very unlike its regular tone. Both boys cringed, knowing that they were definitely in trouble. "Come to the meadow," the Great Deku Tree ordered. "Now."

Chapter Text

He hated that redheaded jerk more than ever now. No, more than that. He despised his guts! This and much more flew through Link's mind as he lay on his bed in his single-room treehouse, the sun having set on the Kokiri Forest long ago. Everyone else had gone to the meadow, save for Link and Mido, who had been confined to their rooms.

The Great Deku Tree was not tolerant of violence, so the two boys were punished by being denied access to the meadow that night. Of course, neither of them could argue back, as the Great Deku Tree had none of it. True, Link got great satisfaction from hearing the massive wooden spirit chew Mido out for his trick, but Link was scolded for his reaction to the situation. And even more, the Great Deku Tree confiscated his slingshot! As if this day couldn't get any worse.

Still, as he was fuming over being in trouble with Mido, even if this whole thing was the other boy's fault, Link found his mind wandering back to what he had seen when he broke through the treetops. The vast fields and plains, the mountains and rivers were majestic, but the prominent structure at the landscape's most notable point was the best. The blonde boy still didn't know what it was, but he knew it wasn't a tree of any kind. It wasn't made of wood but hundreds of rectangular, surprisingly smooth, and straight rocks of white. So, did that mean that the person building it carved the thing out of a mountain?

But what mountain was white? And better yet, had blue tops on them? Even among the countless theories about what it could be, Link remembered a great wave of emotion coming over him upon seeing the structure. He couldn't exactly pinpoint what it was, but what he did recognize was an immediate sense of familiarity with the towering building of white and blue. As if he had seen such a thing before.

But that made no sense, Link thought. How could it be familiar to him if he had never seen it before? And better yet, why would he know of anything outside of the forest? The only things he was told of the land outside was that it was where many of the stories he heard took place, but it wasn't as if he could just leave the forest to see for himself. True, he spent much of his time in the Lost Woods, but even Link knew better than to try and leave the domain of the Great Deku Tree.

Each Kokiri began life as a seed that fell from the Great Deku Tree's branches. And when they fell to the Earth below, they sprouted and took shapes similar to that of children from the land outside. Why this was, Link was unsure, but each Kokiri grew into a being that had the body of a child, and that body would grow up to a certain point. When that was, Link was unsure, but all the Kokiri were blessed with the gift of eternal youth and life, should they remain within the forest's borders. If one left, that child would become exposed to the outside world and die.

He wouldn't go, but if the outside world was what Link saw, it would be acceptable to watch it from afar. After all, he wasn't breaking any rules (aside from going into the Lost Woods), and he wasn't going outside the forest. It'd probably be the only thing he could enjoy because his slingshot was taken away. And it probably wouldn't have happened had Mido not played that prank on him with the cauliflower. After trying to think of something else, Link returned to hating the redheaded boy's guts, stewing that he had been punished for something that wasn't even his fault.

If anything, Mido had it coming for a while. Suddenly, Link heard someone call out from outside. What was that? The Great Deku Tree usually took his time in telling his stories so that it couldn't have been over yet. Pushing the door cover back and peeking outside, the green-dressed boy didn't entirely believe what he saw.

A small group of children that looked very much like himself stood by the entrance to the Lost Woods, calling for Link to come their way. Link had never seen these three other Kokiri before, but aside from their uncanny resemblance to himself, each of the three boys was dressed in differently colored tunics. One was dressed in red, eyes vast and vibrant, seemingly happy to see the green-clad boy. One was blue and, despite the cool color he wore, appeared to be getting impatient with how long Link was taking. And the last was garbed in violet, his expression calm and aloof.

"Hey!" The red-dressed boy shouted. "C'mon!"

Come on?" Come on where? "Hurry up!" The blue-clad boy shouted, clearly frustrated with Link's lollygagging.

The violet boy said nothing, but his look was all Link needed to know that he wanted the green tunic-wearing boy to come with them. How did Mido not hear these other kids calling out for him, Link thought. And again, just who were these guys? Why were there three? Blue, red, purple….and green.

Link looked at himself, then back to the three other boys. His mind returned to a series of tales that the Great Deku Tree had told, the Tales of the Four Sword. What once was a blade used by someone called "The Hero of Men" (just one of several heroes spoken of by the Great Deku Tree) was taken and remade into a weapon that could split its wielder into four separate warriors. The Hero of the Minish (strange little creatures said to once reside in the forest) had used it against an evil Sorcerer of the Wind. And then, a century later, another would wield the Four Sword to defeat the Sorcerer again, all to defend the land from evil.

And perhaps, as Fado would say, save the Princess.

Link was unsure what to make of this, but then the three other boys ducked in through the tree hollow that led to the territory outside the Kokiri Forest. "H-Hey!" The green-clad boy called out. "Wait!" He exited his house and climbed the ladder, running over to the entrance of the Lost Woods. Then, after one last look around to see if anyone was around to see, Link went through the hollow, his tiny body disappearing into the shadows.

Great Deku Tree's Meadow

The story had reached its conclusion, and the Hero was again victorious in his endeavors. And, above all else, he rescued the Princess. Finally, the children all left, except for one, looking up at the mighty tree.

"You cannot make me change my mind, Saria." The Great Deku Tree sighed. "He needs to learn that violence is not something to be taken lightly."

The green-haired girl rubbed one of her arms as she tried to construct an argument. Her fairy, Compa, rested on her right shoulder. "You know that it's not entirely his fault, right?" Saria asked. "Who wouldn't be mad about something like that, right?"

"His anger is justified," the towering trunk on wood answered. "But his reaction is not. He has to understand this; otherwise…." Then, the Great Deku Tree paused.

"Hm?" Saria was puzzled. She didn't seem to notice anything unusual. "What is it?"

The tree's brows furrowed slightly, a tiny movement in his usually static face. While it was capable of action, it was constrained, and whenever the tree's expression changed, it was held in a frozen state of emotion. But even if he communicated his feelings with his voice, it wasn't as if the Great Deku Tree could physically speak. Many wondered if he even had an actual "mouth," as while he appeared to have a lower lip below his mustache, he never moved it in any way that would indicate he could move it. Nevertheless, Saria couldn't help but feel that her Father was troubled by something.

"Great Deku Tree?"

The wooden Guardian of the Forest's attention was returned to the green-haired Kokiri. "It's nothing, Saria," he said. "Anyway, Link must understand that physical actions are not to be taken lightly," he sighed. "Mido will never have to endure what will come later," he said. "All the changes are becoming more prevalent; his small body is developing in ways that yours will never go through. And then," the tree paused. "Then, when the time is right, the Cycle shall be ready to begin again, and he must be prepared to take his part in it."

Saria bit her lip. "That's…also what I wanted to talk to you about," she told the Great Deku Tree. "I think…Link might've seen something in the Lost Woods today."

"Oh?" The Great Deku Tree was curious. True, he didn't necessarily like Link going off into the Lost Woods on his own, especially without a fairy, but the boy never strayed too far from the entrance of the Kokiri Forest. And ultimately, there were many days when he couldn't blame Link for wanting somewhere to retreat to. "And what would that be?"

Saria shifted around, wondering how to deliver this sort of news precisely. But ultimately, she just decided to come out and say it. "I think he's seen the castle."

The Lost Woods

He ran and ran and kept running, but no matter what, Link couldn't seem to catch up with the three figures! As he ran, Link noticed that the three were leading him deeper and deeper into the Lost Woods, and with this realization, he stopped. Just where was he now? As he looked around, he realized he had never seen this part of the forest before. He was standing in a clearing with patches of overgrown grass and bright, pale blue flowers that shone from the moon above.

What kind of place was this? He had never seen this area, which made Link's gut start to twist. Oh no, he thought. He had gone too far away from the Great Deku Tree's domain, and now he was, ironically enough, lost in the Lost Woods. He looked around, trying to find any familiar landmarks he could make out, but nothing around him indicated that he was anyplace he regularly visited.

His eyes were drawn to the flowers, the blossoming petals seemingly glowing as he approached them. They appeared to rely on the moon as other flowers did on the sun, a phenomenon Link didn't know existed, let alone could. Then, he heard a collection of voices from a short distance ahead. The boy looked around but saw nothing. Then, he ducked behind a nearby tree when he saw something coming from behind.

Much to Link's embarrassment, it turned out that he had been alarmed by nothing more than a fairy. Specifically, Phoebe's fairy, a flying aqua-colored orb named Gui. Just what was she doing here? Link watched the fairy go into a small section of tall grass as he watched her disappear behind the thick blades. Curious, Link followed, easily distracted by the fairy's sudden appearance, and he peered through the dense grass and foliage to see a small gathering of fairies nestled around a small body of water. Link kept quiet, watching and listening as the aqua fairy entered the small crowd.

"Gui! There you are!" Fado's yellow fairy, Gato, greeted. "I was afraid you'd never show up!"

"Ugh, sorry about that," Gui apologized to Gato, both fairies reclining on a rather stalky grass blade. "They may be twins, but those girls are like night and day when it comes to their sleep schedules."

It was then that Link realized he had stumbled upon a gathering of fairies from the Kokiri Forest, all of whom belonged to the other children. All the winged creatures he knew of were female, making Link wonder if there were any male fairies. From the looks of it, everyone was here except for Saria's fairy, Compa. Gui mentioned the twins' bed schedule, so Link began wondering how long he had been out here. Everyone's fairy was out, so were they all asleep?

Oh man, he was probably going to get in trouble for this! Everyone else was in bed while he was out here! The Great Deku Tree would ground him for life! He was about to panic, but his apprehension made the fairies suspicious. So they looked, but saw nothing, Link hiding behind a nearby tree.

Seeing as no one was there, the winged creatures began conversing again, unaware of the eavesdropping kid nearby.

Great Deku Tree's Meadow

Despite having no blood, the Great Deku Tree felt his roots and the deepest, most inner parts of him grow cold. "What makes you say that?" he asked the green-haired girl.

"Because I managed to pry for some information when I went to check up on him," Saria explained. "He told me that he managed to break through the trees."

It was somewhat startling to see, but the Kokiri girl saw what could only be described as fear come over the tree's face. "He what?" the Great Deku Tree was in disbelief. "But how? I haven't yet lifted the barrier of this forest! No one should be able to pass through the treetops!" He then calmed himself, realizing that he was growing too panicked. "Save for you," he asked, "What did you see?"

"Just as Link described it," Saria said. "Great Deku Tree, do you think that it's…well," the girl wasn't sure how to say it, as she didn't want to admit it herself. "This is a sign that he's been chosen?"

"Of course, I'm aware of that, Saria," the Great Deku Tree said. "I knew that he was the one that the Divine Three chose; that much is certain."

"No, I mean," Saria clarified. "This is a sign that he's been chosen to fulfill that role?" she said. "As in, right now?"

The Lost Woods

"Cauliflower? Did he get tricked that easily?"

"Sure did," a pink, glowing orb with wings said to the other. "You'd think he'd get the clue when they weren't sprouting as they should've."

Upon hearing Recti, Mido's fairy, answer Gato, Link scowled. Of course, she would bring that up, he thought. She was Mido's fairy, so why wouldn't she be as vile as he was? As tempting as it was to jump out and scare the living daylights out of her, Link didn't want to scare off the other fairies. Thus, he remained in his hiding spot, hoping he wouldn't have to hear any further reminders of his humiliation earlier.

"Don't you think that's going a little too far?" Karya's green fairy, Diea, asked. "I mean, what's Mido got against that kid anyway?"

"Isn't it obvious?" a purple fairy named Patha, who belonged to Flint, spoke. "Do you see how Mido looks whenever Saria's around Link?" she inquired. "His face gets about as red as his hair!"

As red as his hair? Like, he got mad? Why would Mido be angry about Saria being around him, Link thought? Sure, they were friends, but Saria was everyone's friend, always able to draw people to her effortlessly. But that was all that Saria was to him! So why would Mido be mad at him about that?

Link felt he was missing something but ultimately couldn't figure it out.

"If you ask me," a bright, almost palish-blue fairy began. "That kid should've just stuck with the seeds given to him," she said. "That way, there wouldn't have been a problem in the first place."

Who was this fairy, Link wondered? He had never seen her before. Was she new here? Even if he didn't know how fairies were "born" or "created," this one must've been a recent addition. Otherwise, where did she come from?

"Although I suspect Compa knew something was up, she didn't say anything to spare the kid's feelings," Gui said.

"Speaking, where is Compa?" the pale blue fairy questioned. "She's not usually late."

"Maybe something's happened back in the Kokiri Forest?" Gato suggested.

"You mean, like, something serious?" Diea asked.

"No, of course not," Explo, a sky blue fairy, answered. He sat between the red fairy (Ro) and a green fairy (Ere), the three males serving as guardians for the Know-It-All Brothers. "If it were, the Great Deku Tree would take care of it," she assured the other fairy. "Although," she continued. "There have been things going on around here lately."

"Hm?" the pale blue fairy grew curious. "What sorts of things?"

"Well, for starters," Recti began. "Not that I think this Link is a bad kid, or anything, even if he DID bruise up Mido,"

Link furrowed his brows as he listened in on his enemy's fairy. Of course, the boy only "bruised him up" because he was the one that started it! But, then again, what should he expect from the companion of Mido? The little pink jerk was still just as malicious, but she was much more passive-aggressive than her Kokiri child. And truthfully, Link was unsure who he hated more between the two.

He swore that when he got his fairy, they'd be much better than Mido's could EVER be! Assuming that they would come at all…

"I think that, whatever's going on, he's tied to it, somehow," Recti concluded.

"How so?" Ro asked.

"I don't know how to explain, exactly," the pink fairy said. "But I know there's some reason he doesn't have a fairy. The Great Deku Tree doesn't leave any of his children unaccounted for. We all came to exist simultaneously as our Kokiri, but that one boy was alone from when he sprouted."

"Well, then, what's your theory as to why?"

"I can't say for sure," Recti continued. "But I overheard Compa talking to Saria about something the other day, something about when it'll be the 'right time,' or whatever, but they also talked about other things," she continued. "Like how he's getting stronger than everyone else, can run faster, and all of these other developments they've supposedly seen."

"Ok, so what?" Ere wondered why that would be something to raise a concern about. "That kid goes into the Lost Woods all the time. Maybe whatever he does out there is building up his muscle?"

"If it were just that, then his strength would stop at a certain point, right?" Recti countered. "After all, Kokiri are forever young. Their development stops around the time when a child is about to begin the process of becoming an adult," the pink fairy continued. "But he's not like that. He just seems to be getting stronger. Stronger than any of the others."

"Your point?" the pale blue fairy questioned. She began to feel as if the kid Recti was talking about was being attacked.

"My point is," the pink fairy said. "That I don't think he's from around here."

"What do you mean?" the other fairy asked.

Indeed, what did she mean? Link leaned in closer.

"I mean, I don't think he's even a Ko-"

SNAP!

A small branch near Link's head was torn through as a whirling object zoomed by. The thing then grazed the middle of the small water source the fairies gathered around, splashing them all. "What was that?"

"Is it a Mad Scrub?"

"Let's get out of here!"

Link ducked, keeping himself concealed in the shadows to avoid being seen by the fairies. He then looked up to see the blue "him" with a curved tool in his hand. It wasn't a slingshot, but it could be used to target things from long distances. Before Link could ponder what it was or yell at the blue doppelganger for not letting him hear the rest of the conversation, the blue "Link" disappeared back into the Lost Woods, the original green Link pursuing after.

Great Deku Tree's Meadow

"Now?" The mighty tree's usually calm voice sounded a little concerned. "So soon? He's still no older than any of you!"

"I know," Saria said. "But something is going on outside the forest, all over the land that rests outside," she bit her lip. "You feel it too, I know."

The Great Deku Tree grew despondent. "Yes, I have," he said. "I fear that the Cycle shall begin again," he sighed. "I just didn't believe it would be so soon."

Suddenly, the entire meadow grew quiet. The chirping of crickets had died, and the rustling of nearby animals and the forest's natural denizens ceased. An unseen presence had made them afraid. The Great Deku Tree looked at Saria, the sole Kokiri in the meadow.

"Saria," he said. "Take Link, and hide in the Lost Woods until I call for you."

Saria was confused. She didn't think she'd love to see it, but the towering tree looked as if he were afraid. Afraid of whatever was coming, but not for himself. "Great Deku Tree, what's wrong?"

"There's no time to explain; just take Link and go!" The tree commanded.

"But-"

"This instant, young lady!"

Saria bowed her head in defeat. She did as she was told, running over to Link's house. She climbed up the ladder and pulled back the curtain serving as the "door." "Link!" She whispered but received no answer. "Link!" She called again. She looked around, still seeing no sign of him. The interior was dark, so Compa provided a service by showing her where the bed was. "Link, get up! We've got to- "she then noticed that what she had thought to be the boy's form was the pillow covered by a sheet.

Saria ran outside, unsure of where to look. The Great Deku Tree wasn't telling her something, she knew that, but Link's safety was the more important matter at hand. But, in her search, it was then that she saw the source of her Guardian's disturbance. A figure garbed in a black cloak came from the giant tree hollow that led out into the Lost Woods. On his dark cover were golden trims that spelled out various characters in a language Saria didn't entirely understand. Neither Saria nor Compa knew who they were, but it was clear that this stranger wasn't a native to the Great Deku Tree's domain.

As curious as she was, Saria didn't exit Link's house because she feared the stranger's presence. Nonetheless, she watched them walk through the small collection of homes until they reached the entrance to the meadow. They stopped for a moment as if hindered by some unseen force. Was it the forest itself showing that they did not welcome this person? Regardless, whatever it was, the figure stepped past whatever was holding them back, going straight for the Great Deku Tree.

Saria grew exceptionally worried when she saw this occur, and her fears for Link and her Guardian heightened. Yet what could she do? She couldn't afford to draw attention to herself, yet she had no idea where Link was! Saria debated what she should do while looking where the figure had come from. Of course, it was just a theory, but if Link wasn't in the Kokiri Forest, where could he have gone?

I hope he hasn't gotten even more lost now, especially since it's night.

It was a thankful thing that Saria slipped into the Lost Woods, completely undetected, for had she been seen, The Great Deku Tree wasn't certain if he could save her. Before the mighty tree stood the darkly-clad shape, face partially hidden, but they had the features of a humanoid, much like the Kokiri, only this figure was much older. They looked up at the Great Deku Tree, utterly undaunted by the fact that there was a massive tree with a face before them. "So, this is it," the figure spoke, voice deep and male, but their words only served to make the large tree even more on edge. "The home of the Fairy Children."

Lost Woods

Just how long was this going to go on?! Link was beginning to regret even entering the Lost Woods, for it felt like he was going nowhere and everywhere simultaneously. When he first followed the three doppelgängers into the dense forest, Link had no idea where he was being led to or if he was being led. He was beginning to feel like an idiot for just following the three specters, but that made him wonder what they were. Why did they look like him, and what did they want?

Furthermore, why did they appear eerily similar to those described in the Tale of the Four Sword?

Finally, at long last, the three figures led Link together through the tree hollow ahead, the boy in green coming into a clearing. There were very few trees or other plants aside from grass, and the way Link came also appeared to be the only way out. And the other "Links" were nowhere to be seen. So just where was he now?! If he didn't return soon, he suspected The Great Deku Tree would let him have it!

It was then, however, that the three figures reappeared, and they all gathered around an object in the distance. Upon spotting it, the "original" Link was puzzled (this whole situation had been confusing) but curious. For a while, the three copies of "him" had seemingly led him through the entirety of the Lost Woods; they never harmed him. And now, where Link stood seemed to have been their destination all along. But was taking him in all those directions necessary?

He began to approach the area where the three other "Links" stood, a tree stump, similar to the one Link hid his slingshot, stood in the center of the clearing, but that wasn't what drew Link's focus. Embedded in the stump was a glimmering blade of smooth, light metal with a brown hilt and guard, a red jewel placed in the center of the latter. Link was stunned upon realizing what was in the tree stump, adding a million more questions to the ones that still hadn't been answered. Was this really what he thought it was? Was it the weapon he had heard of in all of the Great Deku Tree's stories?

Was this a sword?

The three other "Links" stood around the stump, eyes on Link, the boy feeling as if they expected something from him. The boy in green thought for a moment, but the only thing he could think of was something he wasn't sure he should do. They stared at the sword in the stump, then back at Link, their intentions clarified. But should he? Whose sword was this, if it belonged to anyone? Wouldn't taking it be stealing?

Regardless of his questions regarding morality, Link couldn't deny the sword itself was aesthetically pleasing. True, it wasn't as big as he would've liked (the bigger, the better, he thought), but it would do well for someone his size. It took a few moments for him to work himself up to it, but Link grabbed the hilt of the small sword and, ever so slowly, lifted the object out of the stump. He held the sword in his dominant left hand, the blade reflecting the moonlight from above. He looked, but Link saw that he was now alone in the small clearing.

His three doppelgängers were gone.

Great Deku Tree's Meadow

The figure looked around, accounting for every detail he saw. The green grass, flowers of various colors, and a light breeze complemented the still, cool night. "Yes, this is a perfect place for a child," he said, a twinge of envy in his voice. "Perhaps I should invite the children of my tribe to come here," he said to the giant tree. "It would certainly be a better place for them than the harsh conditions of the Valley."

The Great Deku Tree didn't respond to the stranger's proposal. "How did you find this place?" The towering Guardian of the Forest questioned. "No one but I allow entry into my children's home."

Beneath his cloak, the figure smiled. "Oh? It seems you've forgotten your old friend on the other side of the forest," he then looked up, burning eyes of fire meeting the tree's. "He certainly hasn't forgotten you."

"Impossible," the Great Deku Tree said. "He's been confined to the darkest depths of my domain. And, even if he did tell you how to come here, he has no power over anything that takes root in my territory."

"Impossible," the figure sneered. "But here I am," he said. "But enough dancing around the issue," he continued. "You know why I've come here. The only reason I'm here is because the old hags said you denied my first offer."

"Those old devils? Oh yes, I know them," The tree's brows furrowed. "And my answer is the same. Your offer would result in complete disaster and destruction!" The Great Deku Tree countered. "You're mad to believe I would even consider surrendering one of the Keys to the Door! Especially to you!"

The figure's smile faltered. "Whatever I do with your little Key is none of your business," he said. "And whether you have a problem with what I do or don't is irrelevant," His eyes narrowed, growing angry. "If anything, you should be concerned about whether or not this section of the forest here stays as it is, for, even if it's pretty obvious, you're not as mighty as you were a few centuries ago," The Great Deku Tree scowled, but the mysterious intruder went on. "If you don't provide me with what I seek, then I can't guarantee your section of the forest will be safe for long. It may become quite dangerous for all the young ones here."

Then, the entire Kokiri Forest began to "react," the wind blowing furiously and trees rustling. Even the Great Deku Tree's usually dormant roots began to move. "You shall not harm anyone that is mine! I care not who you are or where you come from! This is MY land! All things here have been given to me to protect and nourish, and the last thing I will do is allow you to sully it with your malicious intent!"

Then, the wind died down, and everything went quiet again. The cloaked figure stood before the mighty tree. "So, is that your answer?"

"It has been since your spies first came to me, and it has not changed," the Great Deku Tree said. "Nor will it ever. Remove yourself from my sight!" He commanded. "Whatever business we've had here is finished."

The figure was quiet for a while, quite unsatisfied with his answer. But, truthfully, he didn't expect the old tree to part with his "treasure" willingly, especially with someone such as him. "Very well," the stranger said. "I shall go," He turned away from the large tree. "But, should something befall this place, least of all, your children," he smiled. "Be warned. You might not be around long enough to protect them from what's coming!"

He then bellowed a laugh as he left the meadow, his voice echoing throughout the small area of the Kokiri Forest.

The Lost Woods

He was now alone, wondering just what to do. The other three "Links" were gone, leaving the boy in green alone with a sword he had just taken. He wasn't sure whether or not it counted as theft, as no one he knew owned a sword, but that was only because the Great Deku Tree didn't allow anyone to have anything dangerous. For this reason, Link's slingshot was taken away, so if the Great Deku Tree saw the sword he held, that'd indeed be confiscated too. Thus, the boy was left with a dilemma on what to do. Should he take the sword back with him, or just put it back and find it later?

Link couldn't remember many details on how he got to this specific clearing, so there was a chance he wouldn't be able to find this place again. And, if the sword didn't belong to anyone, it technically wasn't stealing. So with that conclusion, Link put the sword in his belt, made his way out of the clearing, and back into the depths of the Lost Woods, hoping he'd find his way back. As he ran, he found that his path seemed to be leading him back to familiar territory while he still didn't have much of a sense of direction. It took a far shorter time to return to the entrance of the Kokiri Forest than some of the other days he came out to the Lost Woods.

These woods seemed to direct Link where to go, even if they were perplexing and confusing. Or, given what he had seen tonight, perhaps it was something else? Regardless, the boy didn't get to ponder much as he ran into something far more prominent and taller than him.

"Hm?" The cloaked stranger looked down at the young boy, the youth staring up at him, paralyzed. "What are you doing out here, kid? Isn't it dangerous out here?" He then noticed no fairy companion with the lost boy.

Link said nothing, eyes locked onto the figure. He was male, but he was not a child. And his voice was only a pitch or two higher than the Great Deku Tree's. Was this person from outside of the Lost Woods? Was he…an adult?

"What's wrong?" The darkly-clad stranger questioned. "Can't you talk?"

Link's brows furrowed, and he responded with, "Yes, I can," apparent offense to the comment evident from his tone. "I just don't have anything to say to you."

The figure chuckled upon hearing the boy speak. "Ooooh, listen to him!" He mocked, far from intimidated. "Aren't you all big and bad?" Link didn't answer, but he didn't appreciate being mocked.

It was then that the figure laid his eyes on the boy, studying him closely. Link stepped back, intimidated by the taller man's inquisitive but burning eyes. The figure remained silent, looking at the boy for an uncomfortably long time. So much so that Link considered making a dash for home, fear notwithstanding. Eventually, however, the stranger ceased his observation, his intense gaze growing calm.

"No," he said. "You can't be."

Link didn't understand. "Can't be who?"

"It's not important," the stranger responded. "But really, what's a kid like you doing out here? Do you just like exploring? Or do you just not get along with the other kids?"

Link balled up his fists. "No!" He retorted, fear transforming into anger. "It's… it's not like that," the blonde boy said. "And…well…" he began to stammer, his speech becoming more challenging to control. "It…I…"

"Look, you don't fit in," the cloaked man answered. "I get that. In fact," he said. "I come from a place where no one likes me."

The green-dressed youth was still apprehensive, but the man's words intrigued him. "No one?"

"No one," the stranger said. "My people are loathed and despised everywhere," he explained. "This is the first time I've ever seen a forest before," he paused for a moment, looking around. Link watched him as he did so, the man seemingly transfixed by the multitude of flora surrounding him. "The sun isn't as hot, nor does the ground burn underneath your feet," he mused aloud. "The land is fertile, and sources of water are prevalent." He then thought I'll give the old, twisted root that much credit. But no more. His attention then fell back onto Link. "Say, kid," he said. "How about you do me a favor?"

"F-Favor?" Link asked, regaining control over his tongue.

"Yeah, a favor," the taller, cloaked outsider answered. "Here's the thing," he then produced a round object of bright pink with several markings. "This is from my homeland. It's very rare and very priceless," he said.

Link inspected the strange sphere. "Is it a seed?"

"Exactly. A seed," Whatever you want it to be, kid. "But it can only grow where the light doesn't hit it. I live where the sun always shines bright and hot, so I have never seen the flower for myself. I came to this forest to plant it, but I don't know my way around this baffling place," he then extended his hand out. "But you seem to know your way around. Could I trust you to do that?"

Link looked at the seed, then back to its owner. "You're a stranger. I can't take it."

All right, fine. The mysterious man thought. How about this? "This flower is very special, for if you're the one that plants it, you get to make a wish."

Link wasn't expecting to hear that, but he was skeptical. "How do you know?"

"Because someone I knew made a wish on one long ago," the figure said. "It was a wish she told me about. And soon, I shall make that wish come true," the stranger then held out the seed to Link. "Is there anything you wish for, kid?"

Link bit his lip, unsure of how to say it. True, there were always things he wanted, things he wished for. But, if he had to be honest, there was only one thing he hoped for. Something that would make all the difference. Something that would perhaps allow him to fess if he belonged with the others.

"You don't have to say what it is, but you could use something like this to get it," the stranger said. "With it, you can get anything."

Link looked at the seed, then to the tall, darkly-dressed man, then to the seed again. Or what he claimed to be a seed. Link was doubtful, but the possibility of a wish grabbed him. Thus, he took the round seed from the cloaked figure, the taller man pleased with his decision.

"Thanks. I knew I could count on you," he said. "Remember, plant it somewhere where the sun doesn't shine." And with that, he left through a darkened passage, disappearing into the blackness, out of Link's view and the forest. As the man went down the long, dark path he had come from (a way he had been given by the Great Deku Tree's old "friend"), he shook off the words of his two closest associates, as well as the one who guided him here. No, that's impossible, he thought. He's just a kid.

Back at the entrance to the Kokiri Forest, Link looked at the seed in his possession, the pink sphere nearly encompassing his hand. It certainly wasn't like any seed he had seen before, but if the tall man said it was true, it would have to be planted tonight. He tried to think of a good place, but it would have to be somewhere with lots of shadows, somewhere dark. But where could that be?

Then, Link felt a hand on his shoulder. The boy yelped in fright, whirling around to see a frazzled Saria. "There you are!" She said, Link unsure whether she was relieved or angry. Or perhaps both. "What are you doing out here? The Great Deku Tree told you too-" she gasped when she saw what was in Link's possession. "Is that the Kokiri Sword?!"

Link's eyes widened in horror when he realized she had seen the blade he tried to hide. "Oh! Uh, it's…."

"Where did you get that?" Saria questioned her friend.

Link was trying to find words, but how could he explain what led him to the sword in the first place? "I…." He began, trying to keep his cool and concentrate on answering Saria's question. "I found it." He answered.

"Found it?" Saria asked. "How? You can't…" her blue eyes fell on the sword. "You can't just find that sword. It's…" she then sighed. "You know what? We can discuss this later. You just need to get yourself in bed." She then took the blonde boy by the hand into the tiny hamlet where they lived, leading him to his house. Her grip on Link wasn't painful, but it was firm; the boy was surprised that Saria had such an amount of strength. The two went to his treehouse, Saria dropping the boy off at the ladder. "Sorry," the green-haired girl sighed. "You just…had me worried, was all," she looked at the sword again. "I won't tell the Great Deku Tree," she assured Link. "But I wouldn't let anyone see it if I were you. Especially Mido."

"Well, duh." Link said. No way was he going to let Mido take this away from him."

"Still, don't go into the forest at night," Saria told her friend, her actions motivated solely by concern. "It's not safe," she said, voice softer. Her eyes fell onto the sword a final time. "Goodnight, Link." She then made her way to her own home.

Link was about to go up the ladder but then remembered the seed he had in his possession. Just where could he plant it? He wasn't good at raising crops, so if planting was all it took to grant a wish, that worked out perfectly for him. Assuming that it would work as intended. Or if it even worked at all.

Had he just been made a fool of?

Regardless, Link had the seed now, so he might as well plant it. Spotting a good, shadowy place by Flint's house, the blonde boy ran over and planted seed behind the Kokiri's house. Then, he ran back to his own home before anyone saw him. If this worked, maybe he could finally get a fairy of his own! Perhaps he could fit in for once.

All of this went through his mind as he ran back home, unaware of how the strange, round seed began slightly shaking and stirring. As if it were alive.

Chapter Text

“Navi…Navi…”

She was unsure whether or not he was calling for her specifically, but when she heard his voice speak again, there was no mistaking it. 

“Where are you, Navi…?”

The palish-blue fairy arose from her resting place and flew off to the Great Deku Tree’s Meadow, wherein she met the Great Deku Tree himself. 

“Ah, dear Navi, there you are.” 

The fairy sensed that there was missing. The mighty tree’s voice was labored and heavy, as if he was struggling to speak. Navi asked, her eyes scanning the Guardian of the Forest to see what could have been wrong. 

“There is little time left,” the tree told the far more diminutive fairy. “Hear my words…the words of the Deku Tree….”

“Great Deku Tree, what’s the matter?” The fairy asked. “Something’s wrong; it’s pretty obvious, so tell me, please!”

“There is no time to explain,” the tree replied. “But this forest is changing. No, the whole land is changing,” the Great Deku Tree continued. “And soon, not even I can stand against the malevolent forces that wish to take all for themselves.”

Navi didn’t understand any of what the mighty tree was saying. “Great Deku Tree, what are you saying?”

The towering tree then grew silent as if he were lamenting on what was about to be done, whatever it was. And Navi doubted he would tell, given how characteristically secretive he was. “I believe it has come for the boy without a fairy to begin his journey,” he said, tone quite melancholy and sad. “The cycle has begun once again,” The winged being was left without any knowledge of what he was talking about, but before she could speak, the Great Deku Tree began to speak again. “Go, Navi! Bring him to me! It must be done now!” 

Navi still didn’t understand but knew that the Great Deku Tree considered this a serious matter. And ultimately, that was a good enough reason to obey his command. She was about to turn away and go, but then she heard the Guardian of the Forest speak again.

“Tell him to bring the sword!”

Navi didn’t question the last portion of the Great Deku Tree’s message as she flew out of the meadow and into the small neighborhood of Kokiri. 

“Hello!” Navi greeted Phoebe, sitting atop the red awning above Flint’s door. The Kokiri girl and Gui waved back. Navi then spotted Birch in Saria’s garden, pulling weeds. Speaking of Kokiri children, she forgot where the boy without a fairy lived. “Hey!” Navi called out, trying to get the redhead’s attention, along with his fairy, Explo, but neither noticed her. “Do either of you know where…oh, never mind. I can find his place. It’s not like this part of the forest is overly large.”

Still, perhaps she should’ve thought of asking the Great Deku Tree where the boy’s house was. She hadn’t gone to the Kokiri Forest much and knew her fellow fairies more than their respective Kokiri. She saw every one of the children and their fairies outside, hoping to spot perhaps someone among them that didn’t have a winged companion. Or perhaps, Navi wondered, he wasn’t outside at all. Maybe he was still indoors. She then surveyed the area, spotting a treehouse with drapes blocking the sun from entering.

Aha! So, that’s where you are! Navi flew past the Know-It-All Brothers’ house, navigating her way through the fences put throughout their fields, the three boys being the primary providers for the produce of the entire hamlet. Wait a minute; the Great Deku Tree said something about a sword…wait a second, a sword- “YAH!!” Navi yelped, running headfirst into the tall wooden guard railing that kept anyone from falling off the small cliff ahead. 

Shaking off the bump to the head she received, and zoomed past an open space to fit through, free to fly through a small space left in the doorway past the covering. The room was dark from the curtains being drawn; Navi’s palish-blue light served as the primary light source, the fairy intensifying her glow to see her current environment better. Then, she saw him beginning to stir in his sleep. Wait, THAT’S the boy the Great Deku Tree means? Navi wondered. The one that barely ever talks? Regardless of her thoughts on him, this child was the one the Guardian of the Forest wanted, so that was what he would get.

The only question was, how was she going to wake him up? 

Link believed he heard someone speaking to him in the haze between the dreaming and waking world. Someone was saying hello, but they were no one he recognized. 

“Hello?” The voice was female and somewhat older sounding, not to mention a little demanding. “Hello!?” 

Link stirred, trying to decide whether or not to continue sleeping or answering whoever was talking to him. The dream that he was having was one where nothing bad happened. He couldn’t tell whether it was a good dream, as he didn’t know how to feel about it. Regardless, the voice was persistent in getting his attention.

“Hey!!!” Navi shouted. “Come on, get up!!!” Despite her shouting, the boy only seemed to go back to sleep. “The Deku Tree must’ve made a mistake,” she murmured. “There’s no way he could depend on such a lazy kid,” she then noticed a small open space in the curtain, just large enough for her to fit. “Ok, that’s it,” she flew over and grabbed the curtain. “Here’s your wake-up call!!!”

She pulled the hanging cloth to the side, allowing fresh sunlight to travel into the room. “Ah!” the boy said, rubbing his eyes. 

“Finally, it’s about time,” Navi huffed, flying over to Link, who was still rubbing his eyes. “Well, now that you’re up, I’m Navi-EEEK!!!” The more miniature fairy was caught off guard by the boy slapping her away, mistaking her for an annoying bug in his hazy vision. 

He then looked up and saw the sun hanging in the skies above. “Morning already?” He said aloud, slowly getting out of bed.

He put on his cap, socks, and boots and then fastened his belt around his waist. Then, he heard the sounds of pained moaning coming from inside one of the painted pots in his home. Curious, Link walked over and peered inside the pot, his blue eyes widening at what he had discovered. 

“You!” Navi shot an accusing finger at the boy, flying out to give him a piece of her mind. “How about you watch where you’re swinging? Why don’t you?!” She asked, flying right in his face. “I was sent here by the Great Deku Tree to come to get you specifically, and the first thing you do is slap me away as if I were some annoying little pest!!!”

Link just stared at her, saying nothing. 

“Well? Aren’t you going to apologize?” Navi questioned, feeling a little put off by the intensity of the boy’s gaze. “W-What? What is it?” 

“…are you real?” The boy finally spoke. 

“What?”

“Are you real?” 

“Of course I’m real!” Navi answered. “I'm real enough for you to slap around,” she groaned, still reeling from the force of the boy’s accidental blow. “Of which is NEVER a way to treat a lady, young man!” 

Link stood there, letting her talk. True, he was listening to her, but her reason for speaking was lost. All that he knew was that there was a fairy in his home. “It worked…” Link said quietly, overwhelmed with emotion.

“Worked?” Navi was puzzled. “What are you-“

 “It worked!!!” Link shouted triumphantly, the fairy quite taken aback by the boy’s sudden elation. “That tall guy was right!!! It worked!!!”

Navi fluttered in place, unsure what to make of what was happening. “Um, what worked?”

“I got a fairy!!! An actual fairy!!!” Link beamed, unable to contain himself. “Let’s see you call me ‘Mr. No-Fairy’ now, Mido!!! Know why?!!”

“Hey, I asked you a question-“ Navi stated, but Link cut her off, going on about finally receiving a fairy. 

“Cause I’ve got a fairy now!!!” Link then grew a little calmer. “She might be a bit chatty and loud,”

“Chatty and loud?” Navi asked, offended. “Look who’s talking,” she murmured. “Look, it doesn’t matter, what matters is-“

But Link didn’t even register that she had even called him out on his hypocrisy. “But what matters is that she’s mine! She’s mine, and that’s all I need to-“

“HEY!!! LISTEN!!!”

Upon hearing the fairy bellow the command to pay attention, Link ceased talking and turned his attention to her. “Are you done?” Navi asked, Link nodding in response. “Well then,” she straightened herself out, though Link couldn’t see anything past the bright light at the center of the minor being’s figure. “Seeing as you’re finally awake, allow me to introduce myself,” she cleared her throat. “I’m Navi, and you’re Link, right?”

Link nodded again. 

That’s odd. Navi thought. He was talking up quite a storm a moment ago; now, he’s dead quiet. Well, whatever. It didn’t matter. She was here because she had a job to do. “Nice to meet you, but I’m afraid there’s no time to sit and chat. The Great Deku Tree has tasked me with bringing you to him.”

Link was surprised upon hearing this. “Why?” He asked. 

“He wasn’t exactly clear,” Navi confessed. “But the important thing is that you get to the meadow as soon as possible. Understand?”

“Ok?” Link still didn’t entirely understand what was happening. But the Great Deku Tree wanted to see him, so why keep him waiting? Plus, he now had a fairy of his own to show off finally! 

“Oh, and another thing!” Navi said. “He said to bring the sword.” Link’s face grew pale. He tried to make himself look inconspicuous as if he had no idea what she was talking about. “Don’t bother denying it,” the fairy told him. “He knows you have it.” 

Link was about to protest, but Navi flew underneath his bed, where the small blade was hidden. Seeing as his secret was revealed, he didn’t try to devise any defense. But he’d have something to say if the fairy accused him of being a thief! It wasn’t as if he stole it; he had just found it; how was he supposed to know it was necessary? Still, how did the Great Deku Tree know he had it? And better yet, why did he want Link to bring it?

“You can explain how you got it later,” Navi told the boy. “For now, let’s just get to the meadow!”

Stepping outside his treehouse, the blonde boy saw Saria standing by the ladder, waiting. “Hey, Link!” She said, waiting for the boy to come down. He did so, eager to introduce his fairy to Saria. “Hm? Who’s this?”

But it seemed that Navi had beat him to it. “You’re Saria, yes?” The winged pale-blue light questioned the green-haired girl. “Compa’s told me about you. I’m Navi.”

“Navi, it has a nice ring to it,” Saria said. “Nice to meet you,” She then saw Link, who was about to complain to Navi that she didn’t wait for him to introduce her, but then Saria began speaking again. “Hey, Link! Is she your fairy?” She asked him excitedly. Upon seeing her face brighten, Link’s annoyance subsided, and he answered with a confident smile and nod. “Congratulations!” She beamed, joyful for her best friend. “Mido won’t be able to call you ‘Mr. No-Fairy’ anymore after today!” 

Suddenly, Link became aware that there was a small gathering by Flint’s house, right where he had planted that strange seed. “Yes, very nice to meet you,” Navi told Saria. “But the Great Deku Tree is waiting, so we need to…?!” The fairy looked to the one she was sent to fetch but saw that he was gone. “Where did he go?”

Navi and Saria then saw Link making his way towards the collection of other children, curious as to what had captured their interest. Had the wish-granting flower begun to bloom already? 

“What do you think?” He heard Fado ask, voice indicating puzzlement and confusion. 

“Well, to me, it looks like some web,” Karya answered, giving Link pause. A web? Like a spider’s web?

“Hey, do you think what Elm said he saw was a spider?” Another one of the twins, Phoebe, asked. 

“Maybe,” Flint examined the area of interest, taking in all the details. “But still, if that’s the case, then that means…” the brunette boy stopped, realizing that someone was behind him. “Oh, Link! There you are,” he said, seemingly pleased that the normally quiet boy was here. 

“Where’d you get that?” Phoebe then asked, gesturing to the blade Link had in his possession. 

Shoot! He had forgotten about the sword! Link tried to hide the object from view, but it was too late. The blonde Kokiri girl, the twins, and Flint saw everything. 

“You know the rules! Nothing dangerous is allowed in the Kokiri Forest!” Fado said. “I’m telling Mido!”

Link was about to reach out and try to convince Fado not to do that, but Flint spoke up before he could. “Wait a minute,” the usually indifferent boy said, his fairy, Patha, fluttering close by. “Maybe we could benefit from having something like that around,” he then looked at Link. “Hey, you, come take a look at this.” He then gestured to the spot by his house. The spot where Link had planted the wish-giving flower. 

Link walked over to where Flint pointed and was met with quite a startling sight: several lines of thick webbing clung to the sides of the house and the stone wall behind it, resembling a giant spider web. “I don’t think that was there yesterday,” Karya stated, disgusted yet fascinated by the webbing at the same time. “All creatures are allowed to live in the Kokiri Forest,”

“But I don’t think this came from anything anyone would want here.” Phoebe finished for her twin. 

“I’ve seen webs bigger than this, most of which came from incredibly tiny spiders,” Flint confessed. “But these webs seem thicker than any of those.”

“Not to mention they’re all sticky and gross,” Fado added, wincing as she felt the thickness of one of the silky strands. 

Link took the sword out from his belt and touched the silk with the blade. He then proceeded to slice downwards, cutting through the webbing. “Hm, we might have to call you for assistance, Link,” Flint said. Link, however, was confused. “Well, it’s obvious whatever spider made this is a bit too big,” Flint grimaced when he saw the webs again. “So, if someone sees it, they’ll have to get rid of it,” he pointed at the sword in Link's possession.“And it looks like that could be of use.”

“Speaking of, where’d you get that sword, anyway?” Fado questioned. 

Link was about to answer that he had “found it” because no one would have believed the story. But before speaking, he felt Saria’s hand on his shoulder, along with Navi’s wings lightly grazing his right ear. 

“It’s a little rude to go off without any word about where you’re going, you know,” Navi told Link. “Is he usually this easily distracted?”

Saria giggled. “Unfortunately, at times,” she noticed the Kokiri Sword in Link’s belt. “Uh, Link, I thought I told you to keep that inside for now.”

“Oh, the Great Deku Tree told him to bring it,” Navi told Saria. “He expressed that this boy here will need it.”

Link was still confused about what Navi meant, but Saria seemed to understand. She bit her lip. “Then, if that’s the case,” she presented what she had brought. “You’ll need something to carry it in,” she then took Link by the hand and led him to her house. Once inside, she opened up a chest near her bed and retrieved some items from inside. “This should do it,” Saria said, laying the items on the table in the center of her home. 

Link saw that the Kokiri girl presented him with two pieces of equipment. One was a sheath of blue and brown with a golden end and a wrapping of white cloth around the meeting area of blue and brown. The other was a brown belt of some sort, but it didn’t appear to be the kind he wore around his waist. The Great Deku Tree called that particular belt something in one of his stories once, Link thought. But what was it called? 

“Before you ask, I didn’t know what it was either,” Saria told Link. “It’s called a baldric.” Baldric! Yeah! Now he remembered! “Now,” she then held the sheath. “This is for your sword, hey!” She was about to instruct Link on correctly placing his sword in, only to have the boy begin before she could finish. It took Link a few moments, but he eventually managed to get it inside.

“Be careful with that! It’s not a toy!” Navi lectured. “You could cut yourself if you’re not careful!”

Well, no, duh, Link thought, but he had heard enough of the Great Deku Tree’s stories to know how to use one. At least, this was the justification he had to use the sword. “And this,” Saria spoke again, holding up the baldric. “Is for you to hang your sheath onto.” 

Saria proceeded to attach the sheath to the baldric, urging Link to try it on. Link did so, Saria and Navi looking him over. “Fits just right,” the green-haired girl stated, smiling. “Like it was made for you.”

Despite her smile, Link noticed she didn't appear happy about it. Seeing him as he was now appeared to be making her quite sad. But before he could even ask what was wrong, let alone why she was giving him all of this, Navi piped in.

“Yes, you look very nice,” she said, then turned her attention to Saria. “Thank you for the gifts, but I need him to come with me.”

“Y-Yeah, thanks.” Link told the green-haired girl. A fairy, a place to put his sword; so far, planting that flower had done him quite well! What could come next? It was unlikely, but if Link ever saw that tall man again, he would have to thank him. 

“Well, you should probably get going,” Saria said. “You shouldn't keep the Great Deku Tree waiting.” Again, she smiled, but Link didn't sense that his friend was happy. 

“Exactly,” but before he could ask any questions, he felt the fairy tugging on the collar of his tunic. “So, let's go to the meadow without further ado!”

Exciting Saria’s home, Link was escorted by the newly introduced Navi while Saria watched them go. She didn't let it show when he was around, but her gut was twisting with worry, knowing that whatever would come next would be out of her control. Meanwhile, Link was being led by Navi to the Great Deku Tree’s meadow, the boy still wondering just what he had been summoned for, let alone told to bring the sword he found. 

“He can explain all that when you get there,” Navi told the boy, mainly because she didn’t know herself. “But we’ve dawdled enough as it is. We have to-“

“Hold up, Mr. No-Fairy!” 

Link stopped, seeing, to his annoyance, Mido blocking the entrance to the meadow, his pink fairy, Recti, on his right shoulder. At first, Link was about to tell the redheaded jerk to get out of the way but then realized that he had something to say. Or rather, show. 

“Just what are you in such a hurry for?” Mido questioned, then he noticed the baldric and sheathed sword. “Aha! Fado was right! You ARE carrying a dangerous weapon!”

Link was stunned by Mido discovering his secret so fast but realized the extra belt around his chest made it evident in hindsight. And who else would’ve told him but that tattle-tale, Fado? The blonde boy huffed, not willing to let Mido ruin this day for him. Just when everything was going so good too! True, his fairy was a little chatty, but she was still his. 

And either way, she was way better than Mido’s because she was his. 

Speaking of Mido’s fairy, Recti recognized the winged being that was with Link. “Navi? Is that you?” She then turned her attention from the pale-blue fairy to the blonde boy. “Oh my, isn’t that ironic?” Recti giggled. Only Navi could see her true form hidden underneath the light, so the two youths didn’t see the pink fairy cross her arms and raise her brow. “Well, you’re going to have your work cut out for you,” she said. “Link might be a bit difficult to interpret at times. He’s not much of a talker.”

“Hm?” Navi tilted her head. He couldn’t stop talking when he saw me. What’s changed? Aside from his question regarding why he was being summoned, Link hadn’t spoken a word. Even if she didn’t want to give Recti any credit, Navi couldn’t deny that, compared to the other children, her child was a little…off. He looked the same as any other Kokiri, but she couldn’t deny that some of what she had heard about him was true. Just what are you up to, Great Deku Tree?

“But anyway,” Mido retook control over the conversation. “Just where’d you get that sword anyhow? If you thought you were in trouble before, just wait until-“ the redhead then realized just what sort of sword Link had in his possession. “IS THAT THE KOKIRI SWORD?!” His exclamation was heard throughout the entire hamlet. “But…but how…?” He stammered as if he was unable to grasp what was happening. “How did you find…why did you…?” Mido then shook his head. “No way! I don’t believe it!” He then pointed an accusing finger at Link. “You must’ve stolen it! Admit it! There’s no way it would come to you!”

Link’s anger rose upon hearing that, about to protest, but Navi stepped in. Or instead, flew in. “I don’t know how he came to get it, but the Great Deku Tree said for him to bring it.”

“Then what’s that for?” Mido questioned, gesturing towards Link’s baldric. “If you stole that sword, what’s the point if you’ll have to give it back?”

"Because he’s going to need something to hang this on,” Turning around, Link and Mido saw Saria holding an object made of wood. But upon seeing it, both boys recognized what it was. “After all, what good is a sword without a shield?”

The shield was a thick piece of wood carved in an angular shape, a symbol curved inwards with a slight section curling underneath carved into the surface. The crest of the Kokiri. “What the?!” Mido’s jaw dropped. “Where’d you get that?!”

“I’ve had it in storage but forgot to give it to Link,” she then handed the shield over to Link. “This is made from the wood of the Great Deku Tree himself,” Saria explained to Link, although she made sure that Mido could hear as well. He asked me to hand you these things himself, so I guess that means he wants you to keep the sword,” she then looked at the redhead blocking the way. “Wouldn’t that make the most sense, Mido?”

The redhead boy was left speechless, unable to come up with any rebuttal. “Now, with that out of the way, I believe the Great Deku Tree has been waiting on us long enough,” Navi told Mido. “So, if you please…?”

Mido’s rosy cheeks puffed out in anger as he moved out of the way. “Well, whatever! I still say you stole it!” He told Link. “Shoot, how do you get to be the favorite of both Saria AND the Great Deku Tree?”

Feeling quite confident at that moment, Link shrugged. “Just lucky, I guess.” He said, giving a coy grin when he saw Mido get even more flustered. He then went down the path to the meadow, pleased at finally getting ahead of Mido. Could this day get any better? 

But as he made his way through the small area between the rocky walls that led to his destination, Link noticed something out of sorts. Situated in a small corner to the left was a large, blue bud of a plant he had never seen before. Approaching it, Link was about to touch it before Navi came in and grabbed his intrusive finger.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?! You can’t just go and touch things you don’t know!” Navi lectured. 

Link’s mood was still positive, but he had to admit that his fairy was a bit of a nag. “Then what is it?” The boy asked, genuinely curious but somewhat sarcastic, a trait that surprised Navi. 

The fairy inspected the strange “flower,” keeping her distance but taking in every detail. It’s still in the bud stage, she thought. So it’s not dangerous now, but how did it get here in the first place? Navi then noticed Link looking at her for an answer to his question. “It’s not important; it’s just a bud,” she told the boy. “It can’t hurt you.”

Hurt him? What did that mean, Link wondered. Just what was it?

“Look, it’s no harm to anyone right now, but it being here is all the more reason to hurry!” Navi told Link. The boy nodded and went with the fairy, almost forgetting about the reason he was going to the meadow in the first place. Finally, they reached the end of the pathway, entering the expansive field of green. “Great Deku Tree! I’m back!” Navi said to the giant tree. “I brought him as you asked!”

The Guardian of the Forest looked down to see the fairy and the boy he sought. “Ah, Navi, you have returned,” he turned his attention to the child next. “And Link,” the boy wasn’t sure, but the Great Deku Tree’s mustache shifted upwards as if to indicate a smile. “It is good to see you,” he then went silent for a moment, taking in the blonde’s appearance. “A sword and a shield…indeed, you resemble many of those heroes I’ve told tales of,” he said. 

Link rubbed the back of his head, feeling a little put on spot. True, it was remarkable that the Great Deku Tree himself thought the boy looked cool, but hearing it heated his cheeks somewhat. 

“Indeed, it seems I am no longer in control,” Link wasn’t sure what the towering tree meant, but he sounded as if he were lamenting something he didn’t wish to accept. But he was powerless to fight it. “The sword which you now possess cannot be stolen nor taken by force, so it is yours, but I must ask you, how did you come about it, Link?” 

Link bit his lip, unsure of what to say. True, the Great Deku Tree said he KNEW that Link didn’t steal the sword, but the boy still wasn’t sure his tale would be believable. 

“You do not have to speak if you cannot find the words,” the Great Deku Tree told the boy. “For it is clear in your mind’s eye.”

Mind’s eye? What did that mean? Link was about to express his confusion vocally, but the Great Deku Tree spoke again before he could say anything.

“Ah, I see,” he said. “So that’s how you came about it,” his face altered again, appearing more solemn than before. 

And while he couldn’t have been sure, Link thought he had heard the great tree murmur about a “Farore” and her “tricks.” 

“Well, all the same, what matters is that it has come to you in this hour,” the Great Deku Tree continued. “And it is good, for you will need it in this hour.”

Link was growing tired of being confused and having no idea what was happening, and it seemed the Great Deku Tree sensed this as well. Thus, he got straight to the point. 

“These past few nights have been full of nothing but terror for you, have they not?” The mighty tree asked. “Dreams of terrible darkness and foul creatures have plagued you in your sleep, creatures you have never seen nor heard of in my tales, correct?”

Link nodded. 

“The forest, no, the land itself is changing,” the Great Deku Tree stated, a few leaves falling from his branches. While neither said anything, Navi and Link found this unusual, seeing as the Guardian of the Forest was always in excellent health. “Link, listen to me, and listen well, for what I say is no mere tale, nor is it any fable,” the tree told the young boy. “Dark things are stirring in the world outside these woods, and now they have begun to infiltrate my domain,” he explained. “The fact the Kokiri Sword has come to you leaves no doubt in my mind that the time has come for you to take your place in history,” the tree paused. “To take your place in the cycle.” He said the last part underwater, hoping that Link didn’t hear it.

Link pondered what the Great Deku Tree was saying, taking a place in history, speaking of darkness invading the forest…Link froze. Did this mean…?

“Link, I call upon you because I am in need of a hero.”

The blonde boy couldn’t believe what he was hearing. A hero? Him?! The Great Deku Tree needed him to be a hero?! The sword, the shield, receiving his own fairy, it was all connecting now! He was a hero! A hero chosen by the Great Deku Tree!

Yet, despite the boy’s joy, no one else seemed to share it. “Hey, don’t take this lightly! The Great Deku Tree needs you, so acknowledge that you’re taking this seriously!”

“It is all right, Navi,” the great tree assured her. “But yes, I need your help, Link,” he said. “Last night, I was beset by a sudden blackness that cast a dark shadow over me,” the tree then paused. “I have fallen under a terrible curse, Link,” he confessed as if he were ashamed of it. “Not long after you obtained that sword.”

Link’s bursting joy turned icy and cold, terrible comprehension coming to him. The Great Deku Tree had been cursed?! By whom?! And it happened last night?! Why didn’t he say anything?! Who could curse a being as powerful as the Deku Tree?! All this and more ran through Link’s mind, but it was clear what the tree was asking of him at the moment. And that, ultimately, was what was most important. 

“The possession of that sword means you are the only one who can break this terrible magic cast upon me,” the Great Deku Tree told the child and fairy. “But I warn you; dangers are awaiting you that you have never seen before, should you have courage enough to undertake this task. What say you, Link?” The tree questioned the boy. “Will you go on this quest to free me, and the entire forest, from this terrible affliction?”

Link was silent and, frankly, unsure of what to think. True, the prospect of being a hero excited him greatly, but hearing of the Great Deku Tree’s plight cemented the seriousness of the situation. Then, he began to wonder if he was truly up to this. Could he do it? Could he relieve the Guardian of the Forest of this curse? 

The blonde boy said nothing but nodded his head to answer the mighty tree. He was naive and didn’t know what he was getting into, but the boy’s resolve caught Navi off guard. 

“Then enter, young Link,” then, in an act that Link didn’t think possible, the Great Deku Tree opened his mouth, his lower lip sinking downward until it made contact with the grass-covered earth below. A dark, gaping maw was left, the blackness intimidating but beckoning all the same. “Enter, and fulfill this task.”

Link stared with wide, blue eyes at the darkness ahead, not so eager to begin moving forward. 

“You shan’t be alone,” the Great Deku Tree assured him, speaking without moving his mouth. “Navi, guide Link throughout the various passages that await him inside,” he told the fairy. “Link, listen to her words, for they shall be as vital to you as is your sword.”

Link continued to stare at the gaping mouth of the tree. “Well?” Navi asked. “Let’s go.”

Link looked at her with surprise, his situation now sinking in fully. True, it looked scary, and he didn’t doubt that it’d probably be a little dangerous, but he had given his word to the Great Deku Tree and would serve as the hero he needed. With a deep breath, Link began to make his way toward the tree’s open mouth, approaching it closer and closer until he finally reached the entrance to whatever lay inside the towering tree. The young boy stopped here for a moment, trying to see through the dense shadows, but it was then that Navi flew in front of him. 

“Here,” she said. “I’ll serve as a guide if you need light.”

With that assurance and a few more moments of waiting, Link stepped into the Great Deku Tree, disappearing into the shadows of the tree’s open mouth. 

Chapter Text

The light of the fairy flying in front of his face momentarily blinded him, but within a few moments, Link could see the world around him thanks to the winged being. Once he stepped out into the expansive space past the entrance, Link discovered that the interior of the Guardian of the Forest was larger than he could've ever thought! The walls were composed of the Great Deku Tree's own "flesh" that held more floors and levels than any home of the Kokiri, and there were several deep hollows in the foundation as if they were meant to be there. Aside from the ever-present prescience of deep brown bark, green vines and moss grew on the ground, blanketing the floor with a carpet of plush green fungi. But what drew Link's attention the most was the presence of a gaping hole in the center of the vertical inner chamber.

As well as what was covering it.

A tangled mess of thick webs covered the space, strands of white silk blocking any entry for anyone more extensive than a small animal. Or perhaps a fairy, but Navi wasn't going to risk getting stuck. Still, she sensed something emanating from the hole, an unknown trail of a creature not of the forest. "There's a presence here," Navi told Link, guiding the boy's eyes downward. "And it's coming from somewhere in here."

Link looked and saw nothing but darkness below the webs, pondering what lay underneath the silky blockade. Intrigued and anxious all at once, Link attempted to walk on the web to test its strength. Perhaps he could break it with his weight? Unfortunately, this plan didn't go over too well, as the sudden lack of anything solid underneath made him lose balance and fall over on his face. And when he tried to rise, he found it difficult due to the webbing's texture.

'What made you think that would work?' Navi wondered, sighing at her charge's folly. "I think you'll need more than that to get through," she told Link. 'Still, we DO need to get through, somehow.' She then looked above her, sensing even more strange presences that didn't belong in the Kokiri Forest, let alone the Great Deku Tree himself. "Look!" Navi said. "Up there!" Link couldn't see what she saw, her "fairy sight" sharper than his. "Try climbing up that," Navi told the young boy, flying over to a raised platform covered in vines and foliage. "Then we both can get a better view."

Link nodded and went over, grabbing the vines and using them to pull himself upward. As he did so, a small gathering of red-eyed creatures in shadow gazed down at him from above, watching his movements. "He's here," one of them whispered. "Does anyone need to go over the plan?"

"No, I think we've got it," another one of the figures answered. "At least, I got it. I don't know about the other guys."

"Hey, we got it!" Another one of the hidden squeaked. "We got the routine down and everything!"

"Yeah, the two of you up here and the three of us down there," the main leader of the small group looked downward at the hole in the center of the tree. "The Queen's dug passages for you to go through, so don't worry about him following you."

"Ok, great!" One of the tiny, armless figures turned to face some of his brethren. "Now, like we rehearsed, three, two…," he paused. "No, wait, was it three, one, two? Two, three, one?"

"What are you talking about?" One of them asked.

"The order we attack in! It's like what that guy with the shinies said! If this kid is who the Boss says he is, then we've got to slow him down as much as possible!" The other retorted.

"Eep! He's coming up now! Hide!" They then all scattered, some disappearing into darkened tunnels in the walls while others traveled through small, unseen passages to the section of the tree down below. But by the time Link had climbed up, there was no sign that anyone had been there.

"In case you're wondering, I can illuminate anywhere you go because a fairy's light can pierce natural darkness," Navi explained to her young charge. "I doubt this place is easy to navigate."

True, Link thought. It was wishful thinking, but he couldn't help but wish for there to be a box or chest somewhere with a map inside. A compass wouldn't hurt, either.

"Anyway, we need to find a way to get in there," Navi told Link, the blonde boy glancing downward at the large hole in the center of the lower "floor." "Which means you've got to survey the area and note what you find. Every detail is important."

Link traveled with Navi up the winding path, passing by vine-covered walls of tree bark with bits of moss clinging to the surface. The fairy mentioned something else about how he should take each step carefully, but he was taking in the world around him, in awe that a place such as this even existed inside the Great Deku Tree. And as he traveled upward, he was overcome with a strange sense of familiarity. He had never seen this place, yet everywhere he looked brought a sense of deja vu. But how could that have been? It was only now that he realized the Great Deku Tree was this spacious, so why did it feel as if he were in a place he was beginning to associate with comfort and safety?

It felt more like home than even his treehouse.

"Hey!" Navi's voice interrupted his thinking. "Listen," Link noticed that her "Heys!" almost always had a "listen" of some kind following after. "You'll have to be an actual hero for the Great Deku Tree, so you must understand how important it is to be careful."

Yeah, that's right, Link thought. He WAS a hero now. Link grinned, placing his hands on his hips and puffing out his chest.

"Hey, this is serious!" Navi told Link. This isn't like one of those stories you've been told! You'll be in REAL danger and possibly face some nasty critters here!"

Hey, that was no problem, Link concluded. He had the sword he found, didn't he? Yes, the Great Deku Tree said that the Kokiri Sword wasn't something that could be stolen, but it wasn't as if Link chose to find it himself. The Guardian of the Forest made it sound as if, ironically enough, the sword found him.

"Yeah, you have that sword," Navi observed, not exactly impressed. If anything, she thought Link looked foolish, making himself look tough. "But you've only had it for a short time. Do you even know how to use it?"

The blonde boy gasped, shocked that she would even ask such a thing. Of course, he knew how to use a sword! After all, he practiced with a stick in the Lost Woods whenever he wasn't practicing with his slingshot! True, they broke much easier than metal (a fact he was reminded of time and time again), but he had some knowledge of how to use a long object in his hand well enough! At least, that's what he told himself.

Despite his outward confidence, Navi wasn't convinced. What was the Great Deku Tree thinking, sending this kid in here? Nevertheless, it appeared that the mighty tree had chosen this boy to be the one to aid him, so it was her duty to make sure that he fulfilled that task. Assuming that he didn't get himself killed first. She saw white strands of thick webbing and silk higher above.

"Look," Navi said, guiding Link to one of the more enormous webs clinging to the space between the current and upper "floors" of the tree. "There's more of them," she observed. "Up there, too," As Link saw what Navi spotted, the boy's skin began to break out in chills at the sight of the thick silk and uneven, chaotic webbing. "Hm? Oh, what's this?" she said coyly. "Surely someone as skilled and brave as you wouldn't be afraid of a few spiders?"

Link's cheeks grew red, and he puffed out his cheeks. "N-No way!" he protested, crossing his arms. As if to prove it, he brought out his sword and swung the blade downward, intending to cut through the web. Unfortunately, he humiliated himself as the Kokiri Sword got stuck, the sticky silk strands far thicker than the webs he had sliced through at Flint's house.

"You need some help there?" Navi giggled.

Link found himself growing quite annoyed with the fairy. Was she just sent here to abuse him? Regardless, he concentrated on pulling the sword out of the webbing. Still, he found he was having some difficulty. The boy looked back at Navi, silently asking if she would be willing to lend a hand. Or wing, whatever.

"Oh no, I'm not going to risk getting caught in that," the fairy said, refusing to go anywhere near the webs. Link huffed as if to say, "fine!" and began to pull harder.

As she looked on, however, she found herself growing sympathetic for the boy. He was clearly in over his head (seriously, what was the Great Deku Tree thinking?), but his willingness to step into the role of "hero," misguided as it was, was somewhat admirable. Finally, after another few moments of watching him struggle, Navi decided to fly over and provide some assistance. She grabbed the back of Link's green tunic and pulled, providing little extra force, but it was the best she could do without getting too close to the webs. Whether it be solely from Link's strength or Navi's additional help, the Kokiri Sword was eventually wretched from the grasp of the silk.

"Oof!" Unfortunately, Link fell back atop the fairy that had just stepped in to help him, eyes widening in horror upon meeting the ground. "Gah! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Link apologized, getting up and spotting a groaning Navi sprawled out and twitching from the pain.

"Oooh…Ow…" the fairy moaned, slowly rising.

"Are…you ok?" Link asked, sensing that the fairy wasn't too happy with nearly being squashed.

"Well, lucky for you, I may have ONLY cracked a few ribs," Navi told the boy, still in pain but able to be much more communicative. "But be more careful next time! You might never know when you'll need my help!"

Would that help come with another lecture? Link wondered, noticing a small shadow moving along the nearby walls. What was that? Link moved towards it, leaving Navi behind as she continued prattling on about how she was possibly the only thing keeping Link out of trouble.

"...and that's why you should never doubt or question the knowledge of a fairy…?" Navi finished but found her young charge was gone. "Hey, where'd you…?!" She saw him going through one of the hollows in the bark walls. "Hey! Don't leave me!" she flew over into the open dark space, quickly finding Link. "Don't go off without me!" she scolded him. "You may still be in the forest, but it's still dangerous to go anywhere alone," she explained. "This is why you should appreciate that I'm your guide."

Yeah, a very chatty, nagging, annoying guide, Link thought. His fairy or not, Navi was grating his nerves by this point. The two went through the hollow and came to find themselves in a smaller chamber with a grassy floor with flowering plants, the bark walls much more coated in healthy moss and vines. But the spider webs remained ever-present. Link noticed that a single bush was planted in the center of the small chamber, resembling those he saw in the Lost Woods, but it didn't feel like it belonged here.

The boy looked the bush over and drew out his sword and shield. "Hey, careful with that, remember?" Navi reminded Link, to which the boy nodded. However, he looked away for a moment to roll his eyes. Honestly, did this fairy think he was inept?

Nevertheless, Link slowly approached the out-of-place bush, treading lightly on the grassy ground as he drew closer and closer. A part of the young boy felt ridiculous being cautious around a bush, but he remembered Navi's words. Even if most of what she had said had been nothing but continuous nagging, she did speak of potentially dangerous creatures that possibly roosted here. Still, if what he was investigating was indeed just a bush, he felt he would look like a total idiot. Once he finally reached the stationary plant, Link lightly poked at the leaves with his sword but got no reaction.

That was until he lightly jabbed at the wooden branches underneath, finding a wooden head instead.

"Ow! Watch it!" the "bush" yelped, rising out of the ground and glowering at Link with bright, glowing eyes.

"A Deku Scrub!" Navi exclaimed, unaware that Link had seen them before. "But what is it doing here?"

The Scrub's anger then transformed into shock upon realizing just who was before him. "Y-You!" the talking plant squeaked.

Link raised a brow. "Me?"

"Yeah, you!" The Scrub answered. "You're not supposed to be here yet! I'm not ready!"

Link was puzzled. "Do you…want me to leave?"

The Scrub thought about this for a moment. "You know what? Nah!" He said. "I've got enough nuts piled up; I think I can take you out!"

Link was confused. Take him out? What did he mean by-

"Watch out!" Navi shouted, the Deku Scrub shooting a sizable nut in the boy's direction. Link ducked just in time, the nut flying over his head and into the bark walls, a bright flash momentarily blinding the boy. Thanks to her superior sight, the fairy's vision wasn't affected by the nut's explosion, but her assigned child was still struggling to regain his sight. "Hurry! Get up!" Navi told Link, grabbing a hold of his right ear and pulling to try and steer him out of the way of another incoming nut.

Unfortunately, Link didn't act fast enough, the Deku Scrub landing a direct hit on the boy's forehead. The Kokiri child was sent flying back, crashing into the hardened structure of the Great Deku Tree before sliding down to the ground.

"LINK!" Navi cried out, wings beating rapidly as she flew over to the boy. "Are you hurt?! Are you ok!?" she asked, only the boy didn't answer. "Hey! Are you ok…?"

"Ooooh, that looked like it hurt." the Deku Scrub winced.

Inspecting him closer, Navi saw that her concerns weren't entirely warranted. Link had taken a Deku Nut right to the head, but this just disoriented with a few stars in his eyes. Other than that, he was perfectly all right. It seemed that the nuts the Scrub was shooting weren't as lethal as initially suspected. Still, that began to make Navi wonder.

"Wait, what am I saying?" the Deku Scrub mentally kicked himself. "I'm supposed to be pounding you!" he then positioned himself to shoot, a slight click from inside the wooden creature signaling that he was readying ammunition. "So, get pounded!"

"Hey, c'mon! You've gotta get a hold of yourself!" Navi shouted, trying to get Link to come to his senses. "Here comes another one!"

Upon hearing that, Link snapped out of his daze and ducked again, avoiding the incoming nut by mere seconds. Spotting his sword and shield on the ground on both sides of him, Link grabbed each and rolled out of the way, avoiding another Deku Nut, but not its flash. He was again blinded, but his reaction time was faster than before, bringing his shield up to block the incoming projectile. The flash from that particular nut didn't affect him much due to his shield's protection.

"Yes, yes! That's how you use a shield!" Navi congratulated, giving the boy credit where credit was due. "But the battle isn't over yet!" Link then looked at Navi for any possible suggestions but was stopped from vocally expressing such by another Deku Nut coming his way. "Haven't you noticed that those nuts flash whenever they strike something?" Navi asked Link, the boy nodding in reply. "Maybe we could use that to our advantage?"

Yeah, that could work, Link thought; the only question was how to accomplish such a thing. He couldn't throw the nuts back at the Deku Scrub, so he had to get creative. He blocked another incoming nut, but it was then that he saw something unexpected and peculiar. The nut didn't break open and blind him. Instead, it appeared to bounce off the shield's surface, traveling at a speed where once it hit the wall, it broke open and allowed the inner section to create a small explosion of light.

Link turned his blue eyes to his wooden shield, then to his attacker. Navi saw the boy's face change, seemingly working something out in his mind. 'Just what are you up to?'

The Deku Scrub shot another Deku Nut, but this time, he found that his method of attack was turned against him. The freshly released nut bounced back against Link's shield, hitting the Scrub in the face. The nut released its flash into the plant-based creature's eyes, blinding and causing him to trip over his feet. He fell and rolled back until he hit the wall, slumping against it with his head swimming and dizzy. Then, just when he was regaining his bearings, the Scrub realized that Link was standing over him, sword in hand and ready to use.

"Eep!" the Deku Scrub squeaked, throwing himself at Link's feet. "F-Forgive me, Master!" he cried out, bowing up and down to appeal to the victor of the battle. "I wasn't trying to kill you!"

"Then what do you call that?!" Navi asked, gesturing to the several impacts in the walls.

Link nodded in agreement. If the Scrub wasn't trying to kill him, what was he trying to do?!

"Look, I'm supposed to rough you up, but it's just to test you out! See if you're the real deal!" the Scrub answered.

Link raised a brow, puzzled. What did he mean by that?

"Oops! I shouldn't have said that!" the Scrub panicked. "Look, if you let me go, I'll give you something really cool! Honest!"

Something cool? And not just that, really cool? Link debated with himself, but he was torn on whether or not to trust this Scrub.

Navi looked at the trembling Scrub; then she turned to Link. "He's not a friend or someone of moral character," she told the boy. "But he's not evil."

Still, there was a lot that he wasn't telling, but Link wasn't entirely sure if he would be able to get those answers. Regardless, the Scrub was anxious for Link to reach a decision.

"Look, what if I show you what I've got? How about that?" The Deku Scrub pleaded, hoping to score some points with the green-clad boy.

Link shrugged, which was essentially a yes. Just what was this mysterious item the Scrub had?

The Deku Scrub them produced a familiar item from its elongated, wooden snout, Link's blue eyes widening upon realizing just what it was. His slingshot! Putting his sword and shield away, he immediately took the formerly confiscated toy from the Scrub, quite ecstatic to have it back in his possession.

"So, does this mean you'll let me go?" the Deku Scrub asked.

Link was about to answer, but Navi stepped in. "Not so fast," she said. "First, how about you answer a few questions?"

The Scrub paled (despite having wooden skin, in a sense). "Uh, yeah, sure. What?"

"Just what are you doing here? What do you mean that you were here to 'test' Link?" the fairy asked. "Who seems to need some more practice."

Link huffed, crossing his arms after putting away his sword and shield. Still, comment aside, he wanted to know what the Deku Scrub's words meant.

"Well…it's something that's sort of hard to explain," the Scrub answered. "Because, well," he shot out another nut, landing at Link's feet and consuming the nearby area in bright light. "Because I'm not explaining anything!" the Deku Scrub then ran off, leaving Link and Navi alone.

"H-Hey! Wait!" Navi called out, but the Scrub was already gone. "Aw…that went nowhere."

Went nowhere? What was she talking about? He got his slingshot back at least, Link thought.

"Well, there doesn't seem to be anything else of interest here, so I'd suggest we move along," Navi told Link, flying over to the hollow they had just entered. Looking around and seeing nothing that struck him as odd, Link followed Navi, exiting the small chamber and back into the central area of the Great Deku Tree

As they continued to travel upward, Navi began speaking again. "You know, you made a mistake back there, letting your guard down," she said. "You should never put away your means of defense when a threat hasn't been taken care of," she continued. "And another thing, after this is over, you need much more practice with that sword! Swinging it all over the place or not using it, you must know when to use it and how!"

She continued on and on, but Link was more focused on his slingshot, quite happy to have it back with him. He wasn't sure where the Deku Scrub found it exactly, but Link always wondered what the Great Deku Tree meant when he said he'd put the slingshot "somewhere safe," he just didn't know it would be this. Regardless, the boy was happy to have it back. Perhaps he could find a use for it somewhere down the line, for if the Great Deku Tree trusted him with a sword and shield, surely another weapon would be helpful, right? After all, he DID say he needed a hero.

It wasn't like Link was using that as an excuse to keep the slingshot for later. Nope, not at all.

But his train of thought was interrupted by running head-first into a sizable spider web. Link panicked, pulling the silk off him as fast as possible. It was then he also realized he had some in his mouth. "Bleugh!" Link gagged, spitting the offending wad of silk out.

It was disgusting, but she thought it was hilarious, judging from Navi's giggling. Her laughter died down when she surveyed the area around her more, noticing that the webs were becoming more and more prominent the further up she and Link went. "Be on guard," she warned Link. "Whatever made these, I sense them close by."

Link put his slingshot into his belt, as he had no means of using it. But just as he was about to question Navi about the nature of the webs, he heard noises coming from inside another one of the hollows on the surface of the walls. Link couldn't have been sure, but it sounded like a struggle. Was someone else in here? Were they in trouble?

Bringing out his sword and shield, Link ran into the hollow, once again leaving Navi behind. The blonde boy entered another chamber, more significant than the one he had previously visited, the bark still covered in vines and moss. But many silk strands covered the green flora and fungi, more so than before. The chamber appeared to be raised areas, and Link noticed they weren't spaced too far apart. The webs clung mostly toward the ceiling, but some had begun to come down along the walls and corners.

"Hey!" Link was prevented from moving forward by a pale-blue fairy flying in front of him, blocking his path. "I told you, don't wander off! You'll get caught in one of these if you're not careful!" Navi said, pointing to one of the thick webs all around.

Link ignored her, looking around for any signs of someone that was perhaps trapped in this place. He then saw a small figure on the other side of the room, seemingly wrapped in silk, twisting and writhing in their bonds. Link had decided to save them, but how would he get across? It was then that he remembered the raised areas and the short spacing between them. He'd have to be careful, but he would try to make it!

"There are several evil presences here," Navi warned Link. "Stay on guard…huh?!" only to realize he wasn't there. "Where did he go now?!"

Link knew he would get an earful from her, but he would have to take it if it meant getting to the trapped figure in time. After all, he was supposed to be a hero. He had to time his jumps carefully, quickly finding out that he would need a running start if he ever hoped to make the distance. Stepping back just enough so that he wouldn't fall off, Link ran for it and jumped once he had reached the edge, landing on the other platform. He repeated this process to reach the other, and finally, he reached the other side.

"Hm? What the…?!" the bound and webbed-up Deku Scrub yelped when he saw the tip of a blade nearly meet his wooden flesh. "Hey, watch it! What are you trying to do, shear me?!"

"Sorry, sorry." Link apologized, surprised at the supposedly supernatural sharpness of the Kokiri Sword, cutting through the silky confines with ease, but not to where it would potentially hurt the Deku Scrub.

Once the walking plant was free, he shook off the last bits of silk, angry at his former predicament. "Who do those stupid spiders think they are?! I don't even have blood for them to dine on!" the Scrub huffed. Then, he looked at Link. "Oh yeah. Uh, thanks, and stuff, I guess. I guess what the Boss said is true: you ARE a hero."

Link's cheeks grew red at the compliment, rubbing the back of his head. But wait a minute, he thought. Boss? Who was this Boss?

Before he could ask, Navi chose that opportune time to butt in. Much to Link's growing frustration. "What did I just tell you…?" The fairy was midway through a scolding when she noticed that Link had freed a Deku Scrub. A Scrub that resembled the last one she and Link encountered. "Hey, what are YOU doing here? I thought you left!"

"Huh? You mean you already met my buddy?" the Deku Scrub questioned the fairy. And then the second part of what she said dawned on him. "And he left?! That dirty little…!" he then ran for the exit, hopping across the platforms with surprising ease. Much more than Link had displayed before. In fact, the boy was feeling a little bit embarrassed.

"Hey! Wait!" Link was the one to shout Navi's favorite word (at least, he assumed so by this point,) but the Scrub was long gone. Link began to run to jump onto the platforms, but it was then that Navi spoke again.

"Watch out!"

Link stopped just in time, a massive figure plummeting downward and blocking the way to the other side, trapping the boy and his fairy in a corner. The fiend was a gigantic arachnid with black and yellow spindly legs and a dark underside kept out of view and reach of the boy's sword. The spider had a pair of feelers and a pair of sizable fangs, along with what Link saw to be twelve red eyes and a bright orange marking in the center of its head. But the most striking feature of the beast was the two sections of its body were shielded by a tough exoskeleton of white that resembled an angry, monstrous skull. The spider hung from a thin but strong strand of silk, somehow able to support its massive girth.

"A Skulltula?!" Navi shouted, clearly shocked. The boy was puzzled. Yes, it was a gigantic spider (though that didn't mean he was scared!), but it was just a spider, wasn't it? A giant spider around the same size as him…but that didn't mean he was scared! Navi flew closer to him. "No, you don't understand!" she told him, keeping her distance from the arachnid. "That's not a normal spider! That's not a spider at all! It's a monster!" she explained. "It's attached to the curse on the Great Deku Tree!"

The curse?! Link supposed he would have to slay this creature if that was the case! Getting into a defensive stance, Link swung the Kokiri Sword downward, intending to slice the spider down the middle, but the blade didn't even scratch the surface of the Big Skulltula's protective armor. The strike sent the giant spider swinging from side to side, but the movement didn't affect the creature. Link went to swing again, but the spider spun its entire body, twisting around at a rapid speed that knocked the boy off his feet and into the wall behind him.

'You seem to be getting knocked around a lot.' Navi thought, having dodged being crushed underneath the boy's weight. She flew to his side. "You'll get nowhere attacking like that," she told Link. "You have to find its weakness!"

Yeah, that's a little obvious, Link thought.

"Let me see," Navi told him, pausing for a moment and focusing on the Big Skulltula. "You won't be able to get past its exoskeleton," she said. "But its underside would perhaps be your best chance; nothing is covering that side," she explained. "The only question is, how we accomplish that?"

Locking its red eyes with Link's, the ruby orbs glowed with a fit of intense anger and a sense of hunger, making Link's pumping blood run cold. Then, the giant spider dropped to the ground and jumped at the young boy. Link yelped and backed up, barely avoiding the Big Skulltula's advances. But the place he was standing wasn't overly large, and he didn't count on the spider being so fast. It seemed now that the spider wasn't just viewing Link as a potential source of nutrients; it appeared that the boy's presence was sending it into an unbridled rage, the creature having nothing else on its mind save for killing him.

"It must sense that you're here to stop the curse," Navi explained. Honestly, it was the only one she could think of. True, this kid was here to rid the Great Deku Tree of this burden, but she didn't suspect that the Big Skulltula would react this aggressively toward him! "Look, just focus on getting out of this! The important thing is to somehow get to its underside!"

The spider jumped again, catching up to Link and pinning him to the ground. The boy held up his shield, keeping the arachnid's wriggling, dripping fangs of venom from making contact with his flesh. The boy pushed up against the Big Skulltula, the giant spider's weight greatly surprising him. He couldn't flip it over with his shield and arm alone; he would have to add more force to get the arachnid off! Once he had worked the spider off enough to where he could move his legs again, Link kicked the Big Skulltula in its abdomen, sending the eight-legged beast back and landing upside down, its vulnerable underbelly exposed.

"Hurry! Finish it off!" Navi told Link. "Do it now!"

Link had no problem listening to that. Running over, he lifted the sword over his head and stabbed downward, the blade of the Kokiri Sword piercing through the darkly-colored underside of the Big Skulltula. In his haste, Link wasn't prepared for viscous green fluid to spray out from the wound, some of it splattering on his face. This caused the boy to step back, wiping his face in disgust, leaving his sword in the giant spider. The Big Skulltula spasmed for a moment before its legs curled into its center, the last stages before its death. Then, before Link's eyes, the spider's body turned black and was consumed by a blue flame, burning away the arachnid's form until nothing was left in a second or two.

Nothing was left but a green splatter of spider juices on the ground.

"Monsters aren't of this world," Navi explained. "They don't leave a form behind when they are slain," she then paused for a moment. "Still, it is curious that monsters would be here. This curse must be stronger than I thought."

Suddenly, Link became aware of the sound of scuttling legs. Dozens of them. From the ceiling, walls, and corners of the small chamber climbed out other Skulltulas, smaller than that last but more numerous What in the world?! They came in other sizes too?!

Link didn't have much time to ponder this as Navi instructed him to "Run!" Link wasted no time in leaping from platform to platform again, yet he nearly slipped up a few times due to his panic in trying to avoid the incoming swarm of spiders. "Hurry! They're getting closer!" Navi wasn't just being dramatic; the Skulltulas were quite literally on their heels, even as she and Link exited the small area and went back to the main center of the Grea Deku Tree.

Link and Navi still saw the spiders crawling out toward them from beyond the tree hollow, wondering just what they were going to do now. Then, Link lost his footing and fell downward, gravity taking him as he was pulled further and further. A scream escaped the plummeting boy, Navi flying after him as quickly as possible. The web covering the hole in the center slowed the boy's fall, catching and keeping him from breaking a limb, but it didn't hold, the speed of his drop breaking through the thick material.

Link then fell into the darkness in the hole below, disappearing from Navi's sight.

Chapter Text

His screams continued as he fell, Navi flying after him as fast as she could, even if she knew she was powerless to do anything. And as she passed downward, the fairy's blood ran cold when she heard the boy stop screaming. When she had flown down the hole, however, she saw that, while Link had taken quite a fall, he was perfectly fine. A large body of clean water rested deeper within the Great Deku Tree, deep enough to keep the young swordsman from hitting the hardened ground. Seeing no current danger, Navi flew toward Link, who had just risen from the water, taking in a large breath of air.

"Are you ok?" the fairy questioned Link, the young blonde nodding before he swam to the edge of the pool, pulling his soaked form out and onto the mossy floor. The boy groaned that every inch of him was wet, but Navi thought he should've been more appreciative. "Hey, if it wasn't for this here," she said, flying over the water's surface. "You'd be in a worse position than just being wet."

That still didn't change the fact that he was wet, Link thought. It also didn't change the fact that he was a little cold. The boy drained the water out of his boots and wrung out his clothes (especially his cap), but it did little to ease the chill now assaulting his skin. He shivered, hugging himself before he sneezed, the sound reverberating off the walls of the watery chamber. Navi flew over to him, drawing close to his chest, even if she thought he was being a bit dramatic.

"Relax," the fairy told Link, her body beginning to produce an even stronger light. "This will warm you up."

Link's eyes weren't prepared for the sudden burst of light, so he shielded his eyes. Yet as he did so, he found that the cold consumed him was not as intense as before. Instead, the boy's form felt a sudden wave of warmth course through, negating the chilled dampness of his clothes and allowing his temperature to rise. Not to where he was running a fever, but as if the coldness of the evaporating water, which now didn't affect him much at all. After a few moments, Navi's light died down, shrinking to the regular soft glow.

"Better?" she questioned the boy, who was now putting his boots, socks, and cap back on.

"Y-Yeah. I…guess," Link said, his speech somewhat choppy but understandable. "Th-Thanks."

Navi wasn't entirely prepared to hear that from Link. In fact, given how much she had been on him (for his good, of course), she suspected that he wasn't too fond of her. But she brushed it aside, not giving it further thought, as more critical things were going on. "All right," she said, flying ahead to see another sealed hole on a raised section of earth. "The source of the curse is down here," she told Link, who was about to try and climb up. Only to find that he couldn't reach high enough. So Navi flew down to him. "Looks like we're going to have to find another way for you to get up there," she then surveyed the area, spotting another darkened hollow. "That looks like the only path available," She motioned toward the entrance. "Well? Shall we?"

Link nodded and was about to step forward, but when he looked back at the chamber section he couldn't reach, he found a question coming to his mind.

"No," Navi answered as if reading his mind. "I'm NOT flying you up there," she said. "You're much too heavy."

Link huffed, believing that she didn't even want to attempt it. But it could work. Nevertheless, he continued, going through the hollow and entering a grassy room with a familiar-looking bush in the center, clearly another Deku Scrub. But what surrounded the bush both puzzled and intrigued Link, the boy inspecting one of the specimens closer.

"Have you lost your mind?!" Navy hissed, baffled by the child's lack of caution. "Don't just go up to something when you don't know what it is!"

Link looked up at the fairy with a raised brow as if to question what she had just asked him. Duh! Of course, he wasn't going to go ahead and touch one of them! Not with his hands, anyway. Link poked the object of interest using his sword with the blade's tip.

The object of interest was one of the same blue buds Link had seen outside the Great Deku Tree's Meadow, only now there were more. He looked at Navi, curious as to whether or not she could tell him anything. "Oh, so NOW you want to know what I have to say?" she asked. She was utterly unaware Link continued to poke at the strange bud with his sword. "Well, all I've got to say is that as long as you don't disturb it, we should be able to sneak past them-"

STAB!

"...easily."

Link shook his head furiously, bringing his sword out of the blue bud. He didn't mean to stab it! He waited a few moments, only to see that it wasn't moving. The wound he accidentally dealt to the bud bled a clear fluid, seeping out from the plant. Perhaps this one just wasn't fully grown yet?

He hoped he didn't kill it, as it hadn't shown him any aggression.

"Well, once again, you got lucky," Navi told Link. Only the boy saw one of the buds behind her move. It stirred, then began to rise, a long, vine-like stem extending until it reached around Link's height. "But you STILL need to be more careful!" the bud, or rather, the head of the plant, split horizontally, revealing rows of sharpened, uneven teeth. "You have to not only watch out for what's in front of you but also for what's behind-"

"W-Watch…!" Link stammered, eyes wide with fear as the plant reared back to strike forward.

"Yes, exactly," Navi said matter-of-factly. "You need to watch out-"

"N-No!" Link shouted, finally regaining control over his speech. "Watch out!"

Navi realized too late what the boy was trying to tell her. Her entire world was black as the plant's maw closed in on her. Link immediately sprung into action, sword ready for use, and charged at the carnivorous flora. The plant snapped its jaws dangerously close to the boy's throat, missing it by mere inches, and Link stumbled back, landing on another bulb that grew taller and bore its teeth in his direction. Then another bud underwent the same transformation, and then another and another.

Soon, the entire chamber was full of them!

Link's eyes darted around, realizing, to his horror, that he had lost track of the one that had eaten Navi. Upon learning he couldn't find it, he cursed to himself, trying to remember just where he had been before he was sent back. But after realizing there was little chance he would find out, Link decided the next best thing was to slash through every one of them! So, holding the Kokiri Sword and his Deku Shield, Link held out the thickened wood as the nearest blue-headed plant lunged forward, aiming for the boy's side. Luckily, Link stepped out of the way just in time before slashing at the "head," the blade of the Kokiri Sword piercing through its surface. The plant released a high-pitched squeal before it ducked its head downward, shrinking into itself until it shriveled up into a tiny, twisted weed that dissolved into nothing.

"All right! Somebody who can get these Deku Babas!" Link heard a voice say. As suspected, he looked and saw that the "bush" was just a Deku Scrub in hiding. "Don't look at me!" He said. "Chop up those guys first if you wanna have a chat!"

He had a more important reason, but Link set forth to slay the carnivorous plants, or "Deku Babas," as the Scrub called them. Unfortunately, one of the blue-headed plants snapped its jaws in Link's direction, nearly catching the boy by the arm. They were much too small to be able to devour Link, but their teeth and numbing saliva were dangers to be wary of. But still, he had to find a way to free Navi! Assuming that she wasn't in the stomach of one of these monsters by now.

The Deku Baba that had lashed out moved for Link again, but this time, Link ducked to the side and slashed through the thickened, green stem of the plant. He had essentially sliced the Baba's head clean off. Another snapped its jaws at him and received the same treatment. As he watched the boy go through the plants, the Deku Scrub realized the sword was always aimed at the stem or "neck." "Can't tell whether or not you'll find that fairy, kid," the Scrub muttered to himself. "But as long as you chop these guys down, I'm happy."

Eventually, Link went through each Deku Baba until just one left. The boy and plant stared each other down despite the latter's lack of eyes, and Link could've sworn the blue-headed cretin was smiling at him. This motivated him further as he stepped forward to goad the Baba to strike. But the monster didn't move. Then, seeing that it wasn't going to make the first move, Link charged, fearful time was running out for his fairy companion. If it hadn't already.

Link slashed horizontally to remove its head, but the Deku Baba ducked and shot upward, clamping its teeth onto the green-clad boy's arm. The teeth of the plant bit through his skin, Link yowling in pain as he dropped his sword. He realized his error but couldn't do anything about it, his arm still locked in the plant's jaws. The saliva and other toxins in its mouth began to have a numbing effect on the caught limb. He pulled and pulled, but the plant didn't release him, and he felt his arm begin to lose more and more feeling.

"Your shield! Use your shield!"

That voice…?! Was it really…!?

"Don't just stand there! Use your shield!"

Link obeyed and thrust the wooden shield against the Deku Baba's mouth, using the means of defense to try and pry the plant's jaws open. But, alas, this did him little good; the Baba still clamped around his arm.

"You won't be able to cut its head off with that! You'll have to get it from somewhere else!"

Somewhere else? And where was what? Nevertheless, Link looked around for potential areas he could attack with his shield, all while the Deku Baba chewed on his arm. Then, wincing in pain, Link involuntarily brought his opposite arm up to punch at the plant, momentarily forgetting about his shield due to the continuous gnawing of the carnivorous flora. This, miraculously, seemed to work; the force of the shield underneath the Baba's jaws forced it to lessen the power of its bite. Seizing the opportunity, Link wrenched his arm from the plant's mouth, the limb covered in bite marks and numbing saliva.

"Oh no, you can't use your arm like that," Navi said, flying over to Link. The boy was about to ask how she was alive, but the fairy continued speaking. "Here, this is another reason the Great Deku Tree wanted me to guide you."

She then, at least from what Link could gather, seemed to produce dust of some kind from her rapidly fluttering wings. Finally, the fairy flew over the boy's arm, the glowing specks settling onto his flesh before fading away. Link was about to question what Navi had done, but he soon realized that he had regained feeling in his arm!

"Don't thank me yet!" Navi answered before Link could do just that. "Take care of this guy first!"

Link nodded and turned back to the Deku Baba, eyeing his sword in close range of the plant. Link and the Baba dove for the blade, but Link held up his Deku Shield when the plant tried to bite him, allowing him to grab the Kokiri Sword. Then, with a loud cry, the blonde youth spun around with the weapon, cutting off the plant's head and sending it flying in the Deku Scrub's direction. The Scrub squeaked when the severed head landed right next to him, the Baba's king tongue lolling out of its mouth before it burst into flames, burning away to nothing.

"Ew…." The Scrub grimaced, suddenly aware that the blonde boy was standing above him, sword and shield in hand. "Eep! H-Hey! Let's talk this out!"

Link was confused but then realized the sight of his sword and shield probably panicked the Scrub, so he was about to put them away. "Wait! Don't!" Navi warned him, looking down at the Deku Scrub. "The last guy up and ditched you, so don't be so quick to trust."

"I won't try anything! Honest!" The Scrub pleaded.

"One of your friends said the same thing," Navi said. "And he's fortunate that this young one here is so inexperienced. Otherwise, he'd surely be dead." She referred to Link, of course.

Wow, thanks, Link thought. So here he saved her life, and that was what she had to say?

"What?" The fairy questioned the boy scowling at her. "Oh, don't give me that. You know it's true," she then noticed the Scrub trying to sneak away. "Stop right there! We're not done here!"

"Look, I'll go peacefully!" The bush-headed living plant squeaked. "After seeing this guy slaughter all those Babas, I'm not stupid enough to take my chances with him!"

"Then, if you aren't a threat, maybe you wouldn't mind answering a few questions," Navi told the wooden creature. "First, who put this curse on the Great Deku Tree?"

"I can't tell you that! He'd kill me!" The Scrub answered.

"Who?" Navi questioned.

"The Boss!"

"Who's that?" Navi pried.

"Can't tell you!"

"Is he the one that cursed the Great Deku Tree?" Navi asked.

"Well…yes and no." The Scrub answered.

Link was puzzled and presented his confusion to Navi. Regardless, if this Deku Scrub knew something about the curse, he would have to get that information somehow.

"What do you mean?" Navi asked. "How can it be yes and no?"

"I…." The Deku Scrub paused. "I can't say! But, look, I want to get out of here!"

"Answer, and you can go," Navi told the Scrub, holding control over the conversation. "Just what do you mean? Who is this Boss, and did he curse the Great Deku Tree?" The Scrub was silent, unsure of what to say. "You've seen him use this thing on those unsavory creatures," the fairy told him, flying to Link's sword. "Do you really want to try it? He may be inexperienced, but he's capable of being quite wild and unhinged."

Ok, now she was making him sound like a crazy person, Link thought. Nevertheless, this seemed to work, and the Scrub became much more talkative.

"Ok, ok! Yes, the Boss is…kinda sorta responsible for this happening," the Scrub admitted. "But he didn't put the curse on this guy," the talking plant gestured to the bark walls around them all, reminding them again they were inside a tree. "That was someone else."

"Who?" Navi questioned. Finally, they were getting somewhere.

"I don't know," The Deku Scrub said. Unfortunately, this answer didn't appease the fairy grilling him for information. "Seriously, I don't!" He insisted. "He was somebody from the outside!"

Link tilted his head, not entirely understanding.

"Outside?" Navi asked. "That's impossible. No one outside the Lost Woods could hope to find the Great Deku Tree."

"It's true! He came and asked for a way to the Kokiri Forest!" The Deku Scrub answered. "He came with gifts! He gave us all shinies!"

Shinies? What was that? Well, whatever, Link thought. He wasn't interested in just what this guy gave the Scrub; he wanted to know if he was the one who cursed the Great Deku Tree!

"Who was this person? Or individual? Or whatever?!" Navi questioned, growing frustrated by the Scrub dancing around her inquiries.

"He's from outside the forest! He went to the Boss, who told him how to get here!" The Scrub answered.

"And why would he have to curse the Great Deku Tree?" The fairy asked.

"I don't entirely know, I don't," the bushy plant answered. "There was something about a green rock or stone, and a door, and something about a "triangle-force" or something like that."

Triangle-force…yeah, even thinking it in his head sounded dumb, Link concluded. Still, it struck him as familiar. Triangle-force, no, that wasn't it. But it did involve triangles of some kind. Three triangles, three pieces, three crests. The Power of Gold.

"Link?" Navi questioned the boy. "You all right there?"

Huh? Oh, yeah, sure, Link communicated, but with a single nod. Still, he knew he had heard, and perhaps seen, something similar to what the Scrub was talking about.

Navi wasn't too convinced her charge was fine, but she carried on her interrogation regardless. "So he came bearing gifts?"

"I guess you could say that," the Scrub said. "I know I'm going to treasure my shiny."

"Well then, why did your Boss give this mysterious figure a path to the Great Deku Tree? Who are they?"

Then, the Deku Scrub shot forth a Deku Nut, but instead of aiming for either Navi or Link, it hit the ground and exploded with a bright flash. "Can't say! Bye!" He called out. By the time Link and Navi recovered from the nut's spontaneous reaction, the Deku Scrub was gone.

"Aw, he got away," Navi lamented. Also, Link was disappointed that they couldn't get more out of the wooden creature. "Well, we'll have to discuss what we heard with the Great Deku Tree later," Navi said. "For now, let's focus on breaking the curse," She saw another hollow nearby. "There's a strange energy from within there," she told Link. "It's somehow connected to the curse, so be careful." She told Link.

Link nodded and began making his way into the next small space within the mighty tree. He then turned to Navi, a few questions on his mind.

"If you're wondering, it turned out that Deku Baba couldn't fit me down its throat, so it was struggling to swallow," she explained. "Luckily, seeing as it is a monster, the rest of it faded away, so I wouldn't have to worry about me remaining in its stomach," she then changed the subject. "As for your arm? Don't you know that fairies have healing dust in their wings?"

Oh yeah, that's right, Link remembered now! That was the only reason Mido's injury wasn't treated as overly serious, as it had been healed by his own fairy. Today, he was totally fine. At least the boy would remember punching that redheaded jerk in his mind for a long time. And after Link had broken the curse, he would hold this over Mido's head forever!

"Hey!" Navi shouted, interrupting Link's thoughts. "If you're finished daydreaming, we need to continue!"

Right! Link walked along but stopped when he felt a tiny hand rest on his shoulder.

"Still…thank you," the fairy told Link. "I wasn't in any true danger, but it's the thought that counts."

While Link was thankful, he was disappointed that he hadn't indeed rescued Navi if what she claimed was genuine. He didn't wish for her to be put in danger (keep her quiet for a while, maybe), but he also felt he hadn't performed any act of bravery. Yes, he technically protected that Deku Scrub, but he was also probably going to try something if Link hadn't slain all those Babas. So far, he hadn't done anything to solidify himself as a "hero."

The two entered the next chamber, a curious site meeting them. Three peculiar shadows rested on the ground. And when they looked above, both boy and fairy saw three strange, round objects attached to the ceiling, mostly still, but there was some movement. As if something inside was alive and stirring. Neither one dared to move closer, as the sight of the unusual spheres both unnerved and disgusted them.

"What the…?" Navi trailed off, gazing up at the bizarre, circular things. Link looked at her for some answers as to what they were looking at. "Whatever this is, it's related to the curse," she told Link. "But how that is, I'm not sure. Because these things don't look like the result of some sort of magic," the fairy observed. "They just look like a creature's eggs."

Wait, eggs? As in, the kind insects laid? Link grimaced at the thought. "Please…" he muttered to himself. "Don't let there be any more giant bugs."

Link traveled along the walls, avoiding the three circular shadows on the floor as if they were the trigger for some trap. But as he looked up and studied them more closely, the green-clad boy noticed they bore a striking similarity to the seed given to him the night prior. And where he had planted the seed had a sizable web the next day. These realizations made Link freeze, and Navi was puzzled by the boy's sudden lack of motion.

"What is it?" The fairy asked. "What's wrong?"

Link didn't respond, eyes wide and mouth hanging open as if he had discovered something terrible. What the Deku Scrub said a short time ago echoed in his mind, along with the scene of the cloaked man handing him the "seed" playing repeatedly. No, he told himself. It was just a coincidence! That's all! He didn't bring anything dangerous into the Kokiri Forest! He couldn't have!

Right?

"Link?"

The youth jumped a little, embarrassment soon following when he realized it was only Navi.

"Are you all right?" The fairy questioned, the boy nodding in response. "Are you sure?" Again, he nodded. "Well, fine. If you say so," she then gazed upward at the spheres hanging from the ceiling. "I think it'd be best if we got rid of those things first," she told him, tapping her chin. "But how?"

Indeed, Link thought. He also wanted to get rid of them because looking at them made him ponder a terrible possibility. But then, he noticed several small objects on the ground. Pebbles? No, they were seeds, Link realized. The green-clad boy began stuffing the newfound ammunition in his pocket, then he took out his slingshot and aimed.

"Careful with that," Navi advised. "One wrong move, and you could take your eye out."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Link muttered, rolling his eyes. Nearly getting eaten didn't seem to make her any less chatty or overbearing.

He fired at one of the strange objects, which appeared to crack open, bursting into flames and out of existence. "So, they're monsters," Navi observed. "Yes, I see now. The Great Deku Tree has been infested with foul creatures because of this curse," she continued. "If we don't stop this, then the whole Kokiri Forest will be crawling with things like those Skulltula or whatever this creature is…?" Link then saw her fly up to one of the two remaining spheres, inspecting it closely. "Yes, there's something alive in here," she muttered. "But just what is it…?"

She registered a form of life, yet it wasn't developed enough to where she could tell just what sort of creature it was. But it doubled in size; she saw a shifting form inside the sphere. If she didn't know any better, she would've thought this was a…oh no.

"Link!" She shouted, "Shoot them!" She urged the boy. "Shoot them now!"

Link was surprised at the fairy's sudden urgency, but he nonetheless obeyed, firing another seed at the object, cracking and bursting into flames as the other had.

"Hey!" Navi chastised. "Not when I'm in range! Wait until I get out of the way!"

She was the one who wanted him to shoot! Regardless, Link aimed at the last sphere, but before releasing his shot, the object dropped to the ground, landing with a wet plop. Now it was right before him; he couldn't look away. Link had to swallow the terrible truth as much as he hated it. The "seed" the outsider had given him was no seed.

It was an egg.

CRACK!

An egg that had just hatched.

A bipedal creature burst forth from the confines of the pink shell and jumped toward Link, allowing the boy to get a good look at it. Its legs were small and spindly, but its knees were bulky, allowing it to jump great distances. It bore a single, golden eye with an oval-shaped green Iris and white pupil, and its "skin" appeared to be some sort of softened exoskeleton. Atop its head was a long, bright green crest, but it wasn't made of feathers. Instead, it had a wet, slick surface in contrast to the rest of its body, which had dried off the yolk and other fluids inside its egg.

"That's a Gohma!" Navi cried out in shock. "Link, be careful! This creature's incredibly dangerous!" As if to prove her point, the strange insect-like monster leaped for Link again, its well-developed knees allowing it to reach him in just one bound. Link brought up his shield just in time, but the force of the creature's jump sent Link stumbling back a bit. "Get its eye! Stan it in the eye!"

The eye? That sounded like it could get a little messy. Regardless, when the Gohma came at him again, Link stabbed his sword in the monster's direction, only for the creature to dodge his move entirely.

"Hurry! You got to get rid of that thing, now!"

Yeah, but how?! Link wondered this when the Gohma managed to overpower the boy and send him to the ground. The bipedal bug leaped onto the shield, trying to bite at the blonde with sizable mandibles, especially for a creature around its size. But then, Link's opportunity came! With as much strength as he could muster, Link pushed his shield against the Gohma, the boy's force sending the bug stumbling back a few feet, giving Link enough time to act!

Running up, he slashed his blade downward, striking the Gohma whom Navi instructed him to attack. The creature squealed in agony, its eye turning green from the pain. Link then performed a horizontal slash, taking the Gohma's head off with the Kokiri Sword. And just as the other foul things faced inside the Great Deku Tree, the Gohma burnt away into nothingness. And upon seeing no more danger, Link put away his sword.

"This is bad," Navi said gravely. "Deku Scrubs and Skulltulas are one thing, but Gohmas? This curse is worse than I could've imagined."

If the curse brought all these creatures here, then the entire forest, both his home and the Lost Woods, would be in trouble if this continued much further, Link suspected. However, one question was on his mind. Just what was a Gohma?

"In case you're wondering, that thing you just fought was a Gohma larva," Navi said. "Gohmas have varying appearances, but they seem to stick more to have more arachnid or crab-like bodies."

Crab? That was a creature from the sea. Right? He had never seen one (nor the ocean) but heard something about a crab in one of the Great Deku Tree's stories. Link was about to speak, but Navi cut him off.

"You got lucky because this was just a little guy," the fairy continued. "But that likely means the one who laid these eggs is still here," she said. "I think that's what I'm sensing down below."

Perhaps, Link thought. Still, the thought that what he had brought into the forest was no seed but a container for one of those monsters haunted his mind. Everything around him, all of it, this was all his…

"Link?"

Navi's voice brought him out of his reflection. "Are you ok? You're acting weird."

Link nodded, trying to erase any evidence of discomfort in his features. He would fix this, he thought to himself. He would make this right and cure the Great Deku Tree. That would be the only way he could make up for this. With a newfound resolve, the boy went into another nearby hollow, Navi following closely behind him.

At least, he hoped he could fix this.

But what happened next surprised them both. Instead of a chamber, a small crawl space was seen; Navi flew down to inspect its size and width. "It looks big enough to crawl inside," she said. She then passed into the hole, exiting it not long after. Link was going to ask her what she had seen, but she appeared unsure of what to say, as indicated by her initial silence. "I… don't know what's in there."

Link tilted his head; what did she mean by that?

"Perhaps it'd be better if you see for yourself," she said. "It might lead to a way to where we need to go, so it's worth investigating," Navi told him. "Although, there is this peculiar sound I heard in there."

Link knelt and listened in, unable to hear anything. Then, seeing as Navi confirmed he should fit, Link crawled his way into the small passage, traveling a short distance before he came into a small area almost wholly separated from the rest of the Great Deku Tree. It didn't appear to be anything special, but its presence there was odd. It was no more than a standard room fit for one, much like Link's own home. There was a large woven basket, but its size struck him as odd.

It was far too small for anyone, even a child. But it was oversized for Navi, leaving Link even more confused.

"This looks like a room for a baby," Navi observed, looking around. She could sense a presence of some kind nearby. It wasn't related to the curse, but it was foul energy all of its own.

Link looked up at her. Did she mean like a baby from someone outside of the forest? Because all the Kokiri sprouted from seeds dropped off by the Great Deku Tree.

"But why would the Great Deku Tree set up a place like this?" Navi wondered aloud.

Indeed, Link thought. Still, even if he couldn't entirely understand it, the small room had a strange sense of familiarity. He had no memory or recollection of its existence, so why was there this sense of attachment to this place, as if it were a place he should've known and recognized?

Navi whispered, "Hey, listen, do you hear that?"

Link listened for whatever she could've been hearing, and it wasn't long before he began hearing it. It sounded like scratching, consistently scraping against the ground by multiple tiny legs. Another giant spider? Link hoped not. But it still wasn't because he was scared of them! Both he and Navi surveyed the room, visually checking for every possible hiding place.

Then, after a few moments of silence, Navi whispered, "There!" She directed Link's focus to the basket. "Under there!"

Link went over and lifted the woven basket, finding a small patch of dirt underneath. At first, he thought Navi was mistaken, but the boy saw movement in the soil, then a flash of a shimmering skull with glowing red eyes. A skull attached to eight legs and a small head with multiple eyes. From the looks of it, the creature appeared to be a Skulltula, but much smaller than those faced on the higher levels of the Great Deku Tree. And its back appeared not to be as solid as the monster spiders from above, in that a weapon could pierce it.

Not to mention that the spider's skull abdomen looked like it was made of solid gold. So naturally, the account from the Know-it-All Brothers came to Link's mind as his blue eyes were immediately fascinated by the arachnid's precious metal.

"Quick!" Navi urged Link. "Get that thing!" She instructed. "It's a secondary evil attracted here by the curse! Fortunately, it's just one, so you must take it out now!"

Link drew out his sword and proceeded to stab at the "Golden" Skulltula, but the spider jumped up at the boy and landed right on his face. Link released a terrified yelp and fell backward, hitting his rear on the wooden floor.

"Didn't you say something about not being afraid of spiders?" Navi asked. Link only huffed in response, cheeks red with embarrassment.

The Golden Skulltula scuttled across the ground and walls; Link pulled out his slingshot to get a better shot at it. The first shot missed, the second shot cut the spider from going any further up the wall, and the third…POW! The seed hit the arachnid right in the center of its golden back. The spider fell to the floor, and Link promptly stabbed it, the Kokiri Blade traveling relatively quickly through its exoskeleton. Then, after a few more sharp movements, the spider's legs curled in, and it went still.

"The Kokiri Blade cuts through all things evil," Navi explained. "But it won't harm anything that doesn't carry any ill intent. But don't get cocky because while it has been able to destroy everything so far, there may be an enemy here that can't be pierced so easily."

Then, instead of burning away, the Golden Skulltula did something else. It burned, but the flames were bright gold and shaped into a sharp-toothed skull. Then, in just a moment, it was gone, along with any trace of the creature it came from. Link was completely unsure about what he had just seen, so he turned to Navi for answers.

"That evil source, whatever it was, is gone," she explained to him. "But there was something else, too," she said. "I sensed an…attachment of some sort."

Link gazed at her, puzzled. Just what did she mean by that?

"It's a little complicated," Navi said. "Look, let's focus on getting to the lower levels. The sooner we eliminate this curse, the sooner I can start giving you more answers."

Right, Link thought. And the sooner this curse was lifted, the sooner he could get to try to explain to the Great Deku Tree how all this happened. Along with giving the most extensive apology of his life.

"Link? You're acting weird again," Navi observed. "Are you sure you're ok?" Link nodded, turning to crawl out of the room. Navi went in before him. "Well, just in case, I'm keeping ahead of you," she told him when they both entered the previous room. "Now, let's get going," she then flew to another small space in the northern wall. She flew in, then back out. "We're in luck! This leads to where we need to go!"

Finally, here was some good news! Wasting no time, Link crawled through, he and Navi emerging on the other side. They were in the same chamber with the large body of water, but on the raised land area (or was it wood?). But as they approached another hole in the ground, they saw it was covered in webs.

"Great," Navi and Link sighed together. "Now what?"

Link put his hands on his hips, pondering the same question. Unfortunately, he couldn't cut through the web and only broke through the last one because of the height he had fallen from. So he had to think of something else. He then thought of something. Navi noticed a sudden hopefulness in his blue eyes.

"What? Do you have something we could try?"

Link readied himself, knowing he was going to have to communicate verbally. "Maybe…." He began. "Maybe we can…burn it?" He suggested.

Navi didn't entirely understand. "What do you mean?"

"Well…you heated me back there," the blonde boy pointed to the lower section of the chamber. "Maybe you could…?"

"I can warm you, yes, but I can't catch fire," Navi answered. "You'll have to find some wood for that."

"Like…over here!" Link then ran over to a nearby bark wall. He looked up at the wall, running his hand over its surface. He would make this right; he would have to. But to do that, he was going to need some wood. "Sorry about this." He muttered before drawing out his sword.

"Whoa, hey, what are you doing?!" Navi cried in horror as the boy was about to begin chopping a few small pieces of wood off of the wall. "There's no need for that! I found some Deku Sticks!" Deku Sticks? Navi guided him to where some plants grew, but they were not Deku Babas. They appeared to be long stalks of some kind, but their stem was wood, rising like leafless trees. They were a readily available crop in the Kokiri Forest, many of their structures held together by these rods of surprisingly strong wood, but Link didn't expect to find any here. "Still," Navi said. "You'll need to start a fire to try to burn anything away."

Navi was right, Link thought. While the Great Deku Tree considered fire a natural phenomenon and not something to be feared or reviled, he still warned his children to be cautious around it. As a result, Link had only started fires a few times in his life, all of which were under Saria's watch, so nothing bad would happen. That said, while he wasn't usually successful the first few times, he eventually succeeded. But now, he found that his already halfway decent fire-making skills were being put to the test.

"You need some help there?" Navi asked, flying over to Link. The boy scowled, believing she was mocking him. "No, I'm being serious," she assured him. "I can use my wings to spread the flames," Link was surprised. She thought this was a good idea, truly? "I wasn't totally on board with your plan at first," she said. "But it seems that there may be no other way."

Indeed, Link thought. If this did work, he didn't know what they would do. Still, he continued striking the Deku Sticks together, a few sparks flying, but that was all. Then, finally, it happened! It was small, but there was a tiny flame on the end of one of the Deku Sticks. Link held the other stick to the flame and waited until the fire began slowly eating and burning away the wood.

"Here," Navi offered, beating her wings to fan the flames. This worked, spreading the fire. "Ok, now, toss them!"

Link did just that, and the burning Deku Sticks were engulfed in flames, which soon engulfed the web. The thick, silky strands fell to the power of the fire, unable to withstand the heat and light. They burned and burned until, finally, they were all burned up. A gaping hole was unveiled, and Navi flew down to see what was on the other side. She didn't want to risk Link jumping in and there being nothing to stop his fall.

After a short period, the fairy came back. "Good news!" Navi said. "There's an even larger body of water down there! More than enough to stop your fall."

Link groaned. More water? But he had just gotten fully dry again.

"Come on, the fall's not as big as the one you took before," Navi told him, urging the boy to jump in. "The source of the curse is right below us. If we take care of it now, the sooner we can undo the damage already done!"

Hey, that's right, Link thought. With how things looked so far, he didn't want to imagine what it would look like if it were worse. He would make all this right; he'd fix things. Wet or not.

Taking a deep breath, the blonde boy jumped down the hole, finding that Navi was correct about the drop not being as far. He didn't even have time to scream before he hit the water. Quickly swimming up to the surface, Link took in a large breath, Navi soon fluttering by his head.

"Don't worry, I'll dry you up," she assured with a giggle. Then, she looked ahead. "Watch out!"

Link turned to see three Deku Scrubs standing over the water's edge, all peering down and ready to fire. Link dove down just before they could release their Deku Nuts, the Scrubs looking around for any signs of the boy in the depths. "Aw, whatever!" The one in the center said. "I'm tired of waiting!"

He aimed to fire; the speed of the nut would at least be fast enough to hit something underwater. But, unfortunately, he was about to feel the full force of his weapon. Rising from the water, the Deku Scrub fully expected the boy to come up, head first, ready to fire the second he showed up. But instead, his snout met his shield, and unfortunately, the Scrub couldn't stop himself and fired his stored Deku Nut. This action sent the Scrub and Link back, the wooden creature hurling backward until he met the Great Deku Tree's inner walls with a resounding thud while Link dove back into the water.

The other two Scrubs looked around, trying to pinpoint where the blonde-headed kid was. "If we don't stop him now, then the Boss will be super, SUPER mad!"

Navi didn't dive underwater with Link, but she kept near the water's surface, listening to what the Srubs were saying. Soon, Link rose, but she urged him to keep his head down. And, if he could, go under again, lest he be spotted.

"Even if that kid gets to face her, it probably won't matter," the other Deku Scrub said. "The Queen's grown huge, dining off the energy of this big guy," he continued, referring to the Great Deku Tree. "It won't be long before she breaks out of here and starts sucking away at everything else in this little section of forest."

"And what about us?" The other Scrub asked. "How can we guarantee the guy with the shinies will keep his word?"

"There's no reason he would go back on it. As he said, he's only interested in the stone this big lug's hiding."

Link rose at that moment, his pointed ears picking up the last of the Scrubs' conversation. A stone? What stone? He looked to Navi for answers, but the fairy shook her head.

"That'll have to wait," she said. "But if this is true, this is even MORE serious than I imagined."

"Hey, guys!" both Scrubs looked back, seeing their brother had recovered from his blow. "Aren't you forgetting something?!"

Huh? Just what were they forgetting- "YOW!"

One of the Scrubs was shot in the back of the head with a Deku Seed, the small projectile releasing a bright flash as it met the Scrub, sending him to the ground. When Link had to hide during the two's conversation, he had been retrieving the seeds he had dropped from his fall, now aiming his slingshot at the other Scrub. The Scrub was set to fire, but Link fired a seed right into the muzzle of the wooden creature, the small flash created inside causing a chain reaction that made the nut the Scrub was about to fire blow up! He was blown back as his brother had been, but only then did he notice that the rim of his snout had begun to catch fire. The bushy-headed creature squeaked in panic, rushed to the water source, and dunked its head to put the fire out.

The Scrub Link had taken out first was still disoriented and affected by the explosion from his nut, but soon became aware the boy was standing above him. He then looked around to see that the youth had subdued his brothers, realizing they were losing this battle.

"Oh...blast it!" the Scrub shouted with irritation. "Let's go, guys! This isn't worth it!"

The Scrub that had taken a shot to the face sat up, and the one that had dunked its head into the water rose. "Right, this kid's a psycho!" the former agreed.

"I'm not risking getting killed by some maniac!" the latter added, all three of them, to Link's surprise, hopping on the water's surface until they reached the vines that could take them out of here.

"Hey! Wait!" Link called out, running after them, but they were gone before Link had already reached the water's edge. He looked back at Navi, wondering what they meant by all they said. He had heard a "Boss" mentioned more than once and that he and someone else were responsible for cursing the Great Deku Tree. But now there was something about a stone. What did all of this mean?

"Again, this will all have to be explained later," Navi told him. "Our priority is to exterminate the source of this curse. Once we do that, all your questions can be answered."

Right, Link thought. And the sooner they did that, the sooner they could stop further damage from spreading. And the sooner he could make things right and correct this terrible mistake.

A gaping, darkened hole in the wall stood tall in front of the boy and fairy, unable to see what was on the other side. Yet, despite the darkness, Link's eyes were drawn to it, as if the shadows were beckoning him to come inside. And perhaps, illogical as it was to think that, it was doing it just that.

"Well..." Navi began. "Here we are," she said, both she and Link gazing into the darkened abyss. "The source of the curse is right in there," She turned to face the boy. "This is a task for you, yes, but..." she paused. "Don't think you're invincible. You can be hurt or killed just as easily as the other monsters you've slain here," she told him, then paused. "Just...be careful, ok?"

Link nodded. True, he was nervous, but there was no other way but forward. And ultimately, he had to do this. Even if the "hero" portion of his reason for being here wasn't considered, the boy had to correct this mistake. He had to make this right. Then, and only then, he would be a hero.

With a few moments of hesitation, the boy began to make his way towards the gaping hollow, stepping into the darkness with Navi following close by, the two figures disappearing in the blackness as they set off for territory unknown and most likely dangerous.

Chapter Text

The first step he took inside the chamber sounded as if the very ground was wet and moist. And as Navi's light illuminated the area around him, Link saw that the section fit that description. The space within the very depths of the Great Deku Tree was covered in thick, silky webs that lined the walls and ceiling, and several columns of wood lined the chamber, keeping the foundation stable. No light shone here, save for Navi herself, so Link was letting her lead the way through the darkness while looking around and getting a good view of his environment. Of which was not one he cared for much.

Ew, it was disgusting here, Link thought, not daring to lay his hand on one of the web-covered walls or columns. His nose wrinkled. And it smells all moldy too! "Bleugh!"

"Shh!" Navi hissed. "Quiet!" She urged the boy, her eyes peering around for any sign of danger.

From above the two, a creature concealed in the deep shadows of the chamber hung from the ceiling. It sat there quietly, observing the two tiny beings that had intruded into their quarters.

"Somewhere here is the source of the curse," Navi explained. "So be prepared to face whatever may come your way."

Link drew out his sword, holding his shield as well. "I-I'm not scared." He declared (or at least tried to).

"Well, you should still be cautious," Navi told him. "Something that caused a curse like this must be a foul beast."

Upon hearing the fairy refer to it as such, the multi-legged figure in the shadows crawled from the ceiling. Then it went down the walls while keeping its form concealed from sight. It wasn't insulted, but the tiny winged creature reminded it that there were intruders to devour. Especially the boy. The beast wasn't entirely sure why, yet it felt strange energy emanating from him. Unbridled, untapped, ready to be released with the proper nurturing and care. Such events couldn't be allowed; this child would have to be exterminated. Lest that force within him be set free in the future, let alone against it!

"I don't even know what sort of creature you'll face here, so you have to be ready for whatever you come across, no matter how big it is," Navi instructed Link, trying to keep his disgust of the ever-present webs at bay. "But rest assured, everything has a weakness," the winged being assured the boy. "I can detect those, no problem."

All right, Link thought. He would hold her to it. While she was still a little too chatty for his liking, not to mention quite a nag, Link couldn't deny that Navi had gotten him out of trouble so far. Sometimes her intervention was a little later than he would've liked, but she still eventually contributed. And, despite those traits he disliked, the boy still ranked his fairy above Mido's. But then came the question of what life would be like for him after this was over. He had to make amends for causing all of it in the first place.

The creature concealed in darkness had silently made its way to the ground, navigating behind the columns to keep hidden.

"But still, even with my help, you're the one with the sword," Navi continued, she and Link utterly unaware of the other life form approaching them. "So you must heed my advice and keep your skills in mind," she explained. "Then again, you just started, so I guess you don't have any."

Link huffed in protest. Didn't she see how he took out all those Deku Babas? Let alone those three Scrubs a short time ago? He had excellent skills, as far as he was concerned!

"Hey, I have to be honest with you," the fairy told Link. "You might know how to use a slingshot, but you know nothing about being a swordsman. Thus, it's something you have to learn and learn quickly. After all, you never know when the enemy can strike," she continued. "After all, in a place like this, they can come from anywhere...!?"

Suddenly, Navi and Link were engulfed in a bright, yellow glow that outshone the fairy's light. Neither wished to look; neither wanted to face the massive creature that had just revealed itself to them, not yet. Only when they had time to prepare. But now, fate seemed to have taken that choice from them. Thus, both fairy and boy slowly turned their heads to find themselves met with a giant eyeball of gold, the source of the glow that enveloped them both.

In the center of the golden eye was a bright green iris with a pupil of red that split horizontally, the iris rolling to the back of the eyeball before it reemerged from the lower half of the moist optic. Link's own blue eyes traveled from the eye to the creature's massive legs that ended in thickened, sharpened claws, a smaller set situated higher up above the eyeball. The monster's body was a reddish-brown color, presented in the glow of the eye, and there were green, hardened sections that rested underneath the joints that attached the claws to the rest of the beast. A pair of tiny, red feelers was in place of a mouth, and a strange, tube-like appendage was at the back of the creature. Upon seeing that it had the intruders in its sights were aware of its presence, the multi-legged beast reared up its hind legs, claws hanging downward and pinching against each other, and released a guttural roar that Link didn't think could belong to any living creature.

When she had seen the massive specimen of arachnid and crustacean, it all clicked together for Navi: the webs, the Skulltulas, the larva, all of it was because of this Gohma! Then, the creature slammed its hind legs down, knocking Link off his feet and to the ground, the glow of its golden eye still shining down on the more petite boy. "Link!" she shouted. "This isn't just any ordinary Gohma! This one is a Queen!" she explained. Link didn't respond. "If she isn't taken out now, the entire Kokiri Forest will be crawling with her spawn! Link!"

Link still didn't answer, his blue eyes wide in terror as he stared at the far more enormous arachnid, sweat trailing down his brow as he began to crawl back from the approaching Gohma. Upon being knocked to the ground, Link lost his sword and shield, which he realized too late when he raised his hand to try and stab at the giant spider-like monster, even if he knew it wouldn't be enough.

"Get your sword!" Navi hollered, the Gohma drawing closer and closer to the boy and her. "Link! Watch out!" her voice, despite Link's current panic and anxiety, registered in his mind, allowing him to act at that moment. The sudden movement was enough to avoid an incoming claw aimed at his more petite body, and the boy ran to hide behind one of the columns. "Y-Yeah, it's a little bigger than the last one, I know," the fairy told Link. "But once we come up with a strategy, we can bring this thing down!" Link didn't answer, continuing to breathe rapidly as his body trembled. Despite the task at hand, the sight of the boy's frightened expression reminded her of his young age. "Look, it's ok to be scared," she told him, trying to ease the boy's anxiety, even if she was unlikely to be successful. "But it's nothing more than a spider!"

Link looked up at her, clearly unamused. Nothing more than a spider?! How about a spider the size of his house!?

"Ok, it might be a pretty BIG spider," Navi admitted. "But it's just a giant bug! It can be squashed! Or, in your case, slashed up."

He would be able to do that if he hadn't lost his sword! But, then again, it was his fault. Link sighed, mentally kicking himself for his stupidity and cowardice. He had a chance to undo all this damage, and the first thing he does is run away?! Some hero, he thought.

"Watch out!"

Suddenly, Link was bathed in the golden glow of the Gohma Queen's eye; the massive beast had caught up to him. How could something that enormous move so silently?! Unfortunately, the boy got little time to ponder this as the arachnid lashed out, missing him by mere inches as he was forced to flee. The wooden column Link had hidden behind was split at the capital, and the rest of the standing foundation fell. The resulting crash sent a shockwave throughout the chamber, jostling Link and making him lose balance. He fell to the ground but quickly recovered and ran to another column for shelter. Although, given what had just happened, he knew he couldn't resort to hiding forever. But just what could he do to fend off this monster?!

"Hey," Navi whispered, a rarity when using that word so far. "You have that slingshot, remember?" she told him. "Maybe you can try making use of that?"

Hm, that could work, Link thought. Still, how would he know when to shoot? The Queen Gohma was covered in armor, and while her eye was gigantic, he noticed that there appeared to be some reflective sheen to it as if it were protected by something. It was thin, but it was probably enough not to be affected by a simple Deku Seed launched at it.

"Wait for when her eye turns red," Navi instructed Link. "That's when she can see you most precisely, but it's also when she's vulnerable," it appeared that her words were sinking in for the boy. "When the time is right, wait for her eye to chance, then shoot!"

Link didn't entirely understand, but he took Navi's advice and prepared to fire. The question was, where exactly would the Queen turn up next? His question was quickly answered when he was enveloped by the golden glow, noticing that it came from above this time. Link stepped back, hand grasping his slingshot while backing up towards his sword and shield. The Gohma Queen reared its hind legs upward, and then the yellow eye appeared to "split" horizontally, revealing a red eyeball with a green iris and yellow split pupil. Was this its actual eye? Instead of a golden glow, Link found his more diminutive form enveloped by a red light, the massive arachnid prepared to pounce, mere moments from launching itself forward at the unfortunate boy.

"NOW!"

With Navi's words serving as the signal, Link unleashed a shot from his slingshot, the Deku Seed hitting the Queen's red optic. She roared in agony when the seed made contact with her acute but sensitive eye, the resulting flash from the impact momentarily blinding her vision, the sight of Link disappearing from view.

"Now's your chance! Get your sword and shield!"

Well, yeah, obviously, Link thought. Nevertheless, he did just that, the enormous arachnid still stunned by the Deku Seed's flash. Link turned back to face the behemoth creature when he recollected his weapon and means of defense, running up to slash at the spider's vulnerable eyeball. Unfortunately, the period between the boy's shot and the retrieval of his gear was too much, the Gohma Queen putting up her protective lense just before Link's blade could meet the vulnerable tissue. The Kokiri Sword scratched the thicker lid, but it didn't penetrate.

The Queen backed up, her vision returning as she made her way to the wall behind her. He had little experience, but he was a quick learner, she observed, climbing up the wall and watching Link as she ascended. The two who housed her egg were correct: it wouldn't be long until he would become trouble for them. Still, was there really that much danger? He was still just a child that could be caught, spun up, and later eaten.

Having reached the ceiling, the gigantic spider hung from above in the center, the long, tube-like appendage on her backside beginning to pulsate and swell. Freshly laid eggs exited from the tube, falling to the floor with a wet yet solid plop. The pinkish shells soon broke open, revealing three newly emerged larvae, the spawn's hivemind with their parent alerting them that the boy in front of them was their enemy. And the three children would defend their mother at all costs.

The Queen hung from the ceiling, watching as her spawn combated with the blonde child, her eye taking in the boy's every movement as he was on the defensive. Not just the one who held her egg, but the one who gave him the directions to the forest was right about this child. Whether he was the "one" was debated, but the Queen was unsure who the "one" was. But there was also something that her holder said that caught her attention.

"There is a girl in the castle," her holder's "guide," said, voice low and barely a rumble. She was still growing in her egg then, so she couldn't see much of anything outside her shell. "Hyrule has themselves a Royal Daughter. So, even if that boy is not the one, he's out there, somewhere."

None of this made sense to the massive arachnid, but she would visit that castle next if it meant more food. Queen Gohma had started small, but this tree's bountiful energy gave her an excellent source of nutrients, allowing her to grow and quickly undergo metamorphosis into her adult stage. So, while this tree wouldn't last her forever, she would make him give her every amount of vitality he had left in his roots before she thought of letting him go. And, whether this boy was the "one" or not, he was still a threat to her. Thus, he would be dealt with as such.

Down on the ground, Link held up his shield as a freshly produced Gohma leaped forward, hitting his wooden shield and sending him back. Despite the force of the bipedal larvae, Link kept his footing, aware of the ground beneath him. "Take these guys out first," Navi advised. "Then make another try for the Queen!"

"Right!" Link nodded in agreement, readying himself as another young Gohma charged at him.

Unlike before, however, Link jumped to the side instead of raising his shield, the larvae missing him entirely. This mistake allowed the boy to stab the creature in the back of the head, green fluid spilling out from the wound. It saw its sibling fall, so the following larvae charged forward and leaped, intending to land atop the boy and bring him to the ground. Unfortunately, it only put the Gohma in a position to be stabbed from underneath. Instead of attacking from the sides, Link thrust his sword upward, piercing the arachnid's underside.

The boy threw the larvae to the side when some green fluid dripped onto his face; he grimaced in disgust, hoping none of the brightly colored blood got in his mouth. The last larvae stared Link down, knowing it was the last of the triplets just laid. Neither moved, save for the slight readjustment of position, trying to gauge just what the other's next move would be. Link hoped it would make the first move; otherwise, he would have to, as the larvae were just a distraction. Link soon found he could wait no longer and went in for the kill, but the Gohma jumped out of the way, landing atop the boy's back and kicking off.

Link was sent to the ground, his attacker landing on its feet not too far behind him. "Hurry! Your shield!" Navi alerted him as the remaining spawn of the Queen came jumping towards the boy.

Doing just that, The Gohma was held back by the thick, carved piece of wood, but Link knew he would have to get this thing off him to get to the Queen. Thus, when he saw an opening, he shot his leg out and kicked the larvae right in its eye. The force sent the bipedal arachnid back against one of the wooden columns, its form sliding down a short distance until it hit the floor. It then went limp and motionless. Link wasn't entirely sure if it was dead, but it wasn't moving, so he wasn't going to risk the chance of getting a shot at the Queen!

From above, Queen Gohma was furious at the accursed child for daring to harm her children, gazing upon him with great hatred. Finally, she fell to the ground, her weight causing a significant tremor that rocked the entire area, perhaps even that of the whole Great Deku Tree. The arachnid stared down at Link, her protective lid allowing her to see him, but her vision was slightly obstructed by the density of her optic's means of defense. Thus, she opened her eye, allowing herself to see her prey clearly with her unshielded red eye. But she would have to be quick, as the boy knew of her weakness.

The Queen stepped forward, yet Link rolled out of the way of the incoming claw. Then, to Navi's surprise, he put his sword and shield away. "What are you doing?!" the fairy shouted, baffled that the boy had just put away his only means of protecting himself. "You're going to need that!"

"Not just yet." Link told her.

Navi was initially unsure of what he meant, but she didn't get a chance when Queen Gohma came at them again. "Watch out!"

Link leaped to the side and drew out his slingshot, waiting for the moment when the Queen would take a glance at him. When she turned to see where he had gone, the blonde released a Deku Seed right in her optic. A familiar, stinging pain assaulted her sole means of seeing. The agony was so great that she was rendered motionless, falling into a heap as her eye tried to regain its vision amid the bright, white spots that clouded nearly everything in sight.

"Hurry! Do it now!" Navi told Link, seeing that their time had come! "Do-AHH!"

Link was about to strike, but then he heard Navi let out a loud cry, directing his attention to whatever was going on behind him. Navi was in the clutches of the last remaining Gohma larvae, having survived Link's blow from before. The fairy was beneath it, being covered in strands of freshly spun silk to keep her in place. The boy ran to her and struck at the Gohma, slicing it down the eye and cutting it in two. The creature quickly died and burned away, blood and all, and Link got to work untangling Navi from the thick silk.

"What are you doing?!" she cried out, all the while struggling to get out of her sticky bindings. "You have a monster to slay...?!" she gasped. "WATCH OUT!"

Suddenly, the yellow glow came upon him again, and Link turned to face Queen Gohma. But, instead of stabbing her eye, the boy found himself pinned to the ground by the enormous arachnid, only able to bring up his shield at the last second to keep the creature's red mandibles from seizing his tiny body in its mouth. Navi still lay on the ground, Link's handiwork allowing her to get somewhat free, but silk still immobilized her wings. She couldn't fly to the boy, even if she flapped as hard as she could. Her tiny hands ripped and tore at the silk while Link struggled against the Gohma Queen. Strong as the Kokiri Shield was, it wouldn't hold forever, especially against a beast such as this parasitic invertebrae!

She had to do something, or the boy would surely be a goner!

Finally, Navi could free herself from the larvae's webbing, but she still had difficulty flying. But if she didn't at least try to make the distance, she would never forgive herself. After all, what sort of guide would she be if she didn't take care of her charge?

"Hey!" she yelled, flapping her wings and unsteadily flying over to Link and the Queen. Her voice thankfully attracted the attention of the giant spider, but once she saw the fairy, she deemed Navi not worth her time. So she went back to trying to bite through Link's shield. "Hey! I'm talking to you, bug!" the fairy shouted. But still, the fully-grown Gohma continued to bite and tear at the wood with its mandibles. "Ok, fine! If you're not going to listen to me," she stated before standing atop Link's shield, giving the Queen pause. So just what was this foolish little thing doing? "Then how about I get your attention another way?!"

The fairy then glowed a bright, blinding light, and both the Queen and Link were taken aback by the suddenness of the wave of light. Then, realizing what Navi had done for him, and with her silent urging, Link stabbed his Kokiri Sword forward, the blade piercing the red optic that had revealed itself at the last second to show Link his impending doom before Navi's light was shown. The giant arachnid roared in agony as the boy rose to his feet, his sword coming out from the damaged optic. But the boy didn't stop there, for, in its painful paralysis, Link slashed and hacked at the eyeball, slicing in various places until, finally, the entire optic was little more than a slashed-up orb bleeding green.

"NOW!" Navi shouted, hoping the boy heard her. But, unfortunately, the display of light she had presented had taken up some of her energy.

With a thrust forward, Link ran his Kokiri Sword into the eye of Queen Gohma, the giant spider freezing up. It didn't roar or make any noise, nor any movement. Instead, clear liquid poured out from the eye, and, to Link's shock, the spider's body began to burn away in green flames. True, he had seen the other monsters do the same, yet with a creature so large, Link could genuinely see that the fire was destroying every part of the Gohma until, at last, there was nothing left. Seeing that the threat was no more, the boy ran over to Navi, scooping her up.

"Are...you ok?" he asked, his words primarily coherent.

"Y-Yes," Navi assured him. "I think so," she then stood up, Link picking off the last silk from her wings. "Thank you."

Link shook his head. "N-No," he said. Navi looked at him curiously. "Th-Thank...you."

The fairy was surprised to hear that from the boy. So far, he seemed to regard her as little more than a sometimes helpful but mostly nagging tag-along. "Hm," she thought aloud. "You may still need some work and guidance," she said. "But...this is a good start."

Link smiled. He would take that. "So..." he began, sounding out his question correctly. "Is the curse...gone?"

"The source of it is," Navi confirmed, flying by his shoulder without issue now. "But it seems that the damage is still here," indeed, there were still webs lining the inner chamber. "But we can ask about that later," Navi said, changing the subject. "First thing is, how do we get out of here?"

Link was wondering that as well. True, they could go back the way they came, but that would take some time. And, even if they broke the curse, the boy wasn't keen on seeing more spiders for a long time. But then, he became aware of a soft, blue glow behind him. It didn't belong to Navi, and upon turning around, both boy and fairy saw what it was: a ring of soft, blue light situated in the center of the floor. He looked to Navi for answers, but the fairy appeared clueless as to what it was. Was it dangerous?

"I don't sense anything evil from it," Navi told Link, fluttering ahead while he followed behind. Finally, they both came to the edge of the blue ring. Then, against Navi's urging, Link took a small step inside. Immediately, he felt a pull drawing him in. But it wasn't overly powerful or threatening. Instead, it felt utterly natural, as if he could trust that this ring, whatever it was, would take him where he needed to go. Seeing that he suffered no ill effect, Navi hesitantly followed Link, the boy soon finding himself rising off the ground. The sensation of nothing underneath startled him for a short while, but Navi soon flew close to him. "It's all right," she said. "I think this is some of the Great Deku Tree's magic."

Then, the two rose into the air, the ring soon evolving into a pillar of light that carried them from the darkened chamber and outside the Great Deku Tree.

When the light around him died, Link found his boots meeting the earth and saw that he was again in the Great Deku Tree's meadow, and before him stood the Great Deku Tree himself. A small yet genuine smile came to the mighty tree. "Well done, Link," the tree congratulated the small boy. "I felt great relief the very moment you had put a stop to the foul creature resting within me. Indeed, you are a true hero."

Link was a little embarrassed, his cheeks growing hot and a shy smile coming to his face. "Hey, take the compliment!" Navi urged him, grinning. "You slew the monster plaguing the Great Deku Tree! That more than counts as a hero!"

"Yes," the Great Deku Tree said. "But...you cannot be just mine," he whispered the latter part. "Now comes the time you must be one for everyone else."

Both Link and Navi needed clarification. "G-Great Deku Tree...?" Link asked, wondering what was happening. Despite slaying the Gohma Queen, the boy sensed something was still amiss.

Suddenly, the mighty tree began to groan as if he were in pain. "Great Deku Tree?" Now it was Navi's turn to speak. "What's wrong?"

The Great Deku Tree was silent for a few moments, his smile fading. Yet he didn't appear angry or strained. He looked pretty bleak. "Link," he said. "Even if we don't share the same appearance, and even if you are...unique compared to the other children, you are no less my child than any of them. Do you understand?" Link nodded. "I...must apologize, Link," he said. "I have tried to raise you as any other of my children...but I'm afraid I haven't fully prepared you for what you are about to face."

Link's puzzlement was rising, along with his concern. What was the Great Deku Tree talking about? He had completed his task, didn't he? He beat the monster! He won! He saved the Great Deku Tree! Right?

"Link, please, listen to me," the mighty tree said, voice unusually weak. "What you have accomplished here is but a small taste of what you shall have to face," he told the boy. "And the impact of your actions shall be even more significant than that here. But, for you to understand this, you must know what to do," he then paused, heavy breathing emitting from the tree. "You must know to meet her."

Meet her? Meet who? "Great Deku Tree...?" Link began but found himself struggling to speak. "But...but I..."

"Link, please," the towering tree sighed, the lack of energy in his voice disconcerting Link and Navi significantly. "Listen to my words...perhaps, the last words of the Great Deku Tree."

The last? Link stood there, unable to process what was being said to him. This couldn't be happening. It just couldn't be!

"Link!" Navi said, gaining Link's attention. "Calm down," she urged him. "Calm down, and just listen," she instructed the boy, gesturing to the Great Deku Tree. "I think what he needs to tell you is very important."

"But...but I..." Link stammered. "I didn't mean to..."

"You can tell him later," Navi answered. "But for now, just listen."

Link bit his lip but ultimately obeyed. He sighed and looked up at the Great Deku Tree, alerting him that he was attentive to the Guardian of Forest's words.

"Thank you, Link," The Great Deku Tree sighed. "Now, this curse was the work of an outsider of the forest," The image of the tall figure dressed in black came to Link's mind, along with the egg the boy had believed to be a seed. "A man that comes from the harsh deserts of the west," Link was baffled to hear this. So there were deserts in the outside world, just like in the tree's many stories? It appeared the darkly-clad figure was telling the truth about something. "He has just recently emerged, but already, he has amassed a great many forces behind him, an entire portion of the country at his command, as well as many foul, unsavory things," the Great Deku Tree continued. "He intends to unleash terrible evil all over the land, all to seize the power of the Triforce."

Link froze upon hearing the tree speak that word, the image of three triangular crests flashing in his mind. But still, even if he recognized the name, he didn't know just what a "Triforce" was. The Great Deku Tree was about to speak again but hissed in pain, briefly unable to form words. Link rushed closer toward him. This wasn't good, Link thought; his condition was getting worse!

"Link, do not waste your energy," the Great Deku Tree said. "There was...much more that...I wished to tell you," he stammered; even speaking took great effort. "But...it seems my time is shorter than I initially thought."

Link froze. Wait...what?! "No..." the boy said, shaking his head in denial. "N-No...no!"

The tree sighed, another pang of agony assaulting him. The Queen had burrowed into him deep and taken much from him. He needed to make sure the boy heard what he needed to hear. "Link, listen to me," the Great Deku Tree told the boy, redirecting his focus. It pained him to see the developing tears in the child's eyes. "You must never let this man from the desert lay his hand on the Power of Gold," he said, his voice growing weaker. "And, despite your success, I believe I was to die before I even summoned you." He could see that this reveal was another blow to the poor child—a great one, given how tears freely fell down the boy's cheeks.

"Then...then why...?" Link stammered out, falling to his knees. This wasn't happening, he told himself. This couldn't be happening.

"You saved the Kokiri Forest, as well as the entire Lost Woods, from certain doom at the claws of that creature," the Great Deku Tree told Link. "And perhaps the world outside as well. Of which, you must go," he continued. There was little time left. "You have seen the castle, yes?" Link nodded. "Go there," the tree instructed. "Go, and you shall meet her."

"Hey, what's going on?" Link was suddenly aware of a voice from behind him. He turned to see Mido had come into the meadow, Saria following him.

"Mido! Come back...?" Saria called out but stopped when she saw the condition of the Great Deku Tree. She gasped in horror. "Great Deku Tree!"

Her cry rang out throughout the entire settlement of children, everyone soon migrating to the meadow to see what was happening. They saw the Great Deku Tree dying to everyone's shock and terror. The once powerful Spirit looked down at Link, a slight, green glow manifesting from the tree tops. Then, the light flew down, floating before Link. "Go," he told the boy. "Show her this, and she will understand."

The light died, and a gemstone, the size of Link's palm, floated before him. It was a brilliant stone of deep green wrapped in a band of gold, the jewel very much resembling the symbol carved onto his shield. He reached out, and it fell into his hands; the metal and stone felt lukewarm against his skin.

"This is the Kokiri Emerald," the Great Deku Tree explained. "It is what that man coveted and what you much show her to stop him."

"Who?" Link asked.

"The Princess of Destiny," the tree said. All of the Kokiri had little idea what was going on, yet what they were hearing were things that they only believed to exist far away from them. They never imagined that such things would come to the forest. "The Cycle has begun again," The Great Deku Tree wheezed. "And you both must take your part in it."

"What's happening?" Mido asked, demeanor far from his usually cocky persona. "What's going on? What's wrong with the Great Deku Tree?" he went up to Link. "You, what happened? What do you know?"

"Link," the Great Deku Tree suddenly spoke up. "And Mido, all of you," he said. "I did not anticipate such a thing to occur so suddenly, and I am grieved that I did not find a chance to tell you all," all the children were confused, but he continued. "But, I must tell you now. My children...I am dying."

The entire meadow went silent. No one said a word, the tree's words echoing in their minds. Dying, The Great Deku Tree was dying?

"It is not the fault of anyone here," the mighty tree said, looking down at Link. "The foul creature that ravaged me would've found me either way. But, even so, I'd rather it be me than any of you," he said, gazing at each of his children.

"Great Deku Tree..." Saria said, a tear sliding down her cheek.

"Link, go," the tree told the boy. "Go, and find her. Find the Princess," to everyone's shock, the tree's once healthy brown bark began to blacken and grow dark. "Take the Emerald to her," he said. "And remember, no matter where you go...you are my child," his leaves began to lose color and fall off his branches. "All of you...are my children..." he croaked out, the life slowly seeping out from his once tall, proud form. "Good...bye..." he sighed, feeling his time drawing near. "I...love...you...all..."

Then, the Great Deku Tree went silent. He stood before all of his children: grey, still, and dead.

Chapter Text

"It's not his fault, Mido!" Saria protested, slamming her hands on the table. Everyone, save for one, was gathered at Mido's house. The reason? Discuss what should be done about their current predicament and what to do regarding Link. The green-haired girl, of course, spoke in the boy's favor, as well as her fairy, Compa. "The Great Deku Tree said so himself!"

"Oh, so that makes everything ok then?" the redheaded boy questioned sarcastically, his fairy, Recti, flying close by. "The Great Deku Tree is STILL dead, and he's dead because that stupid mute brought that egg into the forest!"

"Not to mention," Fado spoke up. "If the Great Deku Tree is dead, what will we do?" she inquired openly. "We have no source of protection from anything outside!"

Flint appeared uncharacteristically nervous. "Then...creatures like that Skulltula the Know-it-All Brothers saw...and the monsters Link saw in the Great Deku Tree..."

"They'll all come here!" Phoebe exclaimed, clutching onto her twin.

"What will we do?" Karya asked, trying to comfort her sibling. "I've never had to fight monsters before!"

"Everyone, please!" Saria hollered, her voice rising above all others. The children, even Mido, were shocked at the volume, having never heard her raise her voice before. “There's nothing to worry about," she assured everyone. "The Kokiri Forest will be protected. The Great Deku Tree has told me himself."

"When did he tell you this?" Cypress asked Saria.

"Why didn't he tell any of us?" Birch added.

"Are you keeping secrets from us, Saria?" Elm questioned.

"No, of course not!" the green-haired girl said. "But...I need you to trust me on this. Everything is going to be fine."

No one was entirely sure what to make of Saria's claims, many now becoming suspicious of the Kokiri girl. Yet, ultimately, the main focus was on what to do regarding Link. "Well, I still say that Link should be punished for this!" Mido declared. "Accident or not, it's STILL his fault the Great Deku Tree is dead!" despite the boy's animosity toward the selectively mute blonde, it was clear to everyone that his parent's death upset him greatly. He was angry and wanted some form of retribution for it all. "And who's to say there WAS some giant spider? What if Link's lying about the whole thing? What if he's the one that killed the Great Deku Tree?"

Saria clenched her teeth. "His fairy said the same thing, so that would be calling her a liar as well," she said. "And how would he kill the Great Deku Tree? For what reason would he have to do that?"

They were all grieving, yet many found that, with that, came the craving for justice. "Well, given Link IS technically responsible, I would say that's fair, giving him some form of punishment," Fado said, crossing her arms. But, on the other hand, Saria was quite displeased at the girl's agreement with Mido. "Like it or not, it's unfortunately true."

Saria was about to argue with her, but Flint spoke up. "Well, if that's the case," he said, the green-haired girl shocked that he was indulging in the idea. "What should his punishment be?"

"Well, the Great Deku Tree wouldn't want anything TOO bad to happen to him," Elm said. "Responsible or not, I say we should do what he would've done."

"And what would that be? To have Link say he's sorry?" Mido inquired. "Like that'll do anything!"

"Then what would you suggest?" Karya asked the de-facto head of the Kokiri.

Mido narrowed his red brows, eyes wet with tears but still rageful. Saria lowered her head, regretting that all of this had happened. She knew she could do no more for Link now; his fate was sealed among his peers. "Where are you going?" Mido questioned Saria. "We're in the middle of a meeting here!"

"I'm going to check on my friend," the green-haired girl told Mido. "I have something I need to say to him as well."

Inside his treehouse, Link was curled up underneath his bed sheet, eyes red and in pain, from the excessive tears he had shed all day. Navi sat on the headboard, trying to comfort the boy in any way she could. Unfortunately, though, she wasn't very successful. "He told you so himself; he doesn't blame you," Navi told the boy, only to receive a sniffle in return. "That Gohma is to blame for everything. She's the one who sapped away all of his energy." the fairy stopped when she heard someone enter the house, her surprise dying when she recognized who it was. "Saria?"

Link pulled back the sheet and saw the green-haired girl standing in his room, along with her fairy. Link was about to ask what the girl was doing here, assuming the meeting was far from over. But before he could speak, Saria interjected. "Listen," she said. "I'll explain everything, but we need to get you out of here right now."

The meeting continued at Mido's house without Saria, and after some debate and argument, the children decided what to do about Link. "Then, it's settled," Mido said, crossing his arms. "We throw him and his fairy out of the Kokiri Forest."

Fado nodded. "In the end, it's only fair." she had voted for Mido's suggestion of Link's banishment.

"But why his fairy too?" Phoebe questioned. "She didn't know anything about the egg brought into the forest."

"A fairy can't leave her Kokiri," Flint said matter-of-factly. He didn't like sending Link out into the Lost Woods, but he agreed that he shouldn't be allowed to stay in their community. "She has to go with him; it's the only way. She and he are now bound to each other."

Karya said nothing, and the Know-it-All Brothers were torn between Link being sent to the Lost Woods or him staying in the Kokiri Forest. "Even if he did bring the egg here," Elm began. "He did kill the monsters inside the Great Deku Tree."

"And kept them from spreading out into the forest," Cypress added. "We can't forget that."

"But who knows if any of what he said is real?" Birch questioned. "Mido said he could just be lying to cover himself."

Mido was somewhat thankful Saria wasn't here, as that comment would've indeed sent her into a rage. "I don't believe that Link is a murderer of any kind," the red-haired boy said. "But...he still killed the Great Deku Tree, even if it was all an accident, he's responsible. So, he has to be punished."

"And seeing as the Great Deku Tree is no longer around, I suppose you're in charge now, right?" Fado asked.

"Looks like I have to be," Mido said. He then rose from his chair and went outside, everyone else following him. Their sights were on Link's treehouse, and Mido was the first to climb up the ladder. He entered the boy's home but made his exit just as quickly. "He's gone!" he cried out, looking over everyone from his position high up.

"And Saria's gone too!" Phoebe shouted, peeking into the green-haired girl's house.

No one said a word, needing little else to deduce who went off with Link and where to.

"Where are we going?" Navi questioned Saria as she led Link through the Lost Woods.

So far, they had been going through various isolated spaces separated by tree hollows, each with unique features. Finally, Saria and Link stood before a great, towering stone gate, a pathway set before them, seemingly beckoning them in. Link had momentarily forgotten his grief and confusion, staring up in awe at the entrance to the darkened tunnel. Where did this lead, and why hadn't he seen this place?

"When the Great Deku Tree was alive, he could relatively control where you could go," Saria suddenly spoke, her voice cutting through the tranquil silence of the woods. "But now, the Lost Woods will be much harder to navigate if you're on your own," she then looked back at Link. "Don't worry, where we're going, only I know the way. And it's perfectly safe."

"Unfortunately," Compa interjected. "With the Forest's Guardian passing, this place will become more dangerous."

Link lowered his head. Still, regardless of his guilt, he wondered if what he saw in the Great Deku Tree would be similar to what Compa was speaking. Would the Lost Woods become a den of silky, thick webs, or did other dangers lay in wait? And if so, how long had they been here? Before Link and the other Kokiri came to be? Before the Great Deku Tree?

"Even if we've never seen them," Saria said. "Monsters live in the Lost Woods. Now, they might move in closer," but she turned back to face Link. "But the Kokiri Forest will be fine. The Great Deku Tree made sure of that."

Link was puzzled. "H-How?" he questioned.

Saria turned her gaze downward, biting her lower lip. "It's just...taken care of," she told him. "But trust me, everyone will be fine. Come on," she began leading him through the Lost Woods again. "I need to tell you everything that the Great Deku Tree couldn't."

The green-haired girl pulled the blonde boy through another hollow; the two and their fairies then ended up in a section of forest with a sizable body of water in the center, its depths going to unknown fathoms. Link found himself drawn towards it, but he couldn't examine it further as Saria pulled him along. They went through the Lost Woods, on paths Link didn't even know existed. The boy and girl rushed through the woodland, passing areas he recognized and those he had never seen. Then, upon passing through another tree hollow, Link and Navi were greeted with what appeared to be raised sections of land covered in foliage, ivy leaves coiling and weaving down the sides.

Saria led Link inside and down narrow pathways that almost resembled a maze, hopping over a small pit of water before she took Link up a stone staircase. Leading him up, she took the boy to a small clearing with a single, large stump situated in the center, and a large structure, unlike any Link had seen before towering above them all. "This is a secret place I come to whenever I want to be by myself," Saria spoke, her eyes fixed on Link's. "But it's also a place that's special for other reasons. I suppose you could call it a Sacred Meadow of sorts. Kind of like the Great Deku Tree's."

Link didn't say anything. What was there to say? As much as he hated it, he couldn't change the reality that the Great Deku Tree was dead. Whether by his fault or the one who cursed the great tree in the first place, the tree was still deceased. Yet, despite his grief, the boy found that this place offered a strange sense of serenity. But still, he was curious as to why Saria had brought him here. "Is..." he began, trying to sound out his words. "Is this...where I'm going to have to...stay now?"

Saria shook her head. "No, Link," she answered. "This is where you'll sleep for the night, but as for the future, I can't say for sure."

Link was about to question her, but Navi spoke up for him. "Pardon me, Saria, but could he please have an explanation? What was the Great Deku Tree trying to tell Link?" She flew over to the green-haired girl. "He still knows nothing about anything outside these woods," she whispered. "He told me that, up until the day before yesterday, he had no idea that the outside world looked the way it did before he saw it above the trees."

Saria nodded. While he did so to protect him, the Great Deku Tree confined Link to where he could go in the Lost Woods. Hence, even without a fairy, the boy always found his way back to the Kokiri Forest. But this also limited him in what he could discover and what was kept hidden. And the density and thickness of the trees served him well to keep Link from peering out of the tops to see what lay outside the forest's borders. Nevertheless, the fact that the boy could do so was enough to indicate that things were changing and that something beyond anyone's control was again put into motion.

"Link," Saria said, getting the boy's attention from his period of self-loathing and guilt. "The Great Deku Tree meant to tell you this, but he never got the chance to," she knew it was inevitable, but her heart ached when she saw the boy wince at her words. "But before he...left this world, he told me the story."

Link tilted his head. "What story?" he questioned.

"The story of the Triforce," Saria told him. A period of silence fell over the entire meadow, the very mention of the golden enigma giving everything pause. She then went to the stump and sat down, urging Link to sit closer to her. The boy sat cross-legged before her on the grass. "I'll tell you everything as the Great Deku Tree told me," she said. "Before the Kokiri Forest, before the Lost Woods, before there was even the first tree on the surface of the world, there was nothing but the outer darkness and chaos." she began.

Link nodded in acknowledgment. And as she spoke, the boy found the mighty tree's voice coming to mind, overtaking his friend's as she told the account given to her.

"But then, things changed."

In her place spoke the Great Deku Tree, Saria also reflecting on her father's words. "Suddenly, three Divine Beings out of Space and Time descended into the chaos and gave it shape. These three were Goddesses of Old, belonging to no record, for they were here in the beginning. And before even that," the Great Deku Tree explained to Saria, the girl's account allowing Link to imagine the tree speaking to him. "They saw the formed but lifeless world and descended from high to give it shape and life."

Link did not know what a world without the Lost Woods or even a forest would be like, yet Link found his mind wandering to the image of a black abyss, swirling and endlessly tumbling within and into itself. Whether anything lived in this abyss, he didn't know, but suddenly, within the all-encompassing darkness, a single drop of liquid fell from above. What this was, and if it indeed occurred this way, Link knew not, but his young-minded imagination filled in the blanks of Saria's tale. The droplet met with a solid object and began to spread throughout the shape. It trailed down, defining its edges and curves, the liquid traveling and splintering into various directions until a full-fledged form was created, hanging in the abyss—a sphere floating in an endless sea of black. Then, in three blinding flashes, "they" appeared; three figures made their presence known to the lifeless world below their gaze.

"These three Divine Sisters were," the Great Deku Tree's voice gave each of them the respect and reservation he saw due to them. "Din, the Goddess of Power," her name made Link ponder and envision loud, boisterous noise, violent eruptions, and thunder. And yet, there was a regality, a sense that the name didn't belong to a mindless, destructive force. "Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom," Link found that Her name was easier on his sense of fear and his mind, images of smooth, flowing things going through his head. Water, the wind, the sky, clouds, something that went by without issue unless provoked. "And Farore, the Goddess of Courage." She was the one that Link found himself at ease with the most. Her name was inviting and bore a naturalness to its sound, a familiar warmth he didn't know but recognized.

"They descended onto the world and began their work," Link envisioned these three figures coming to the barren wasteland and crafting material from nothing, even if his imagination presented him with the image of giant hands quite literally shaping the earth. "Din, with her flaming arms, cultivated the ground we stand on and created rock and soil," the sight of a giant, flaming hand, feminine but powerful, crushing stone and bending the foundation of the once formless landscape to Her will flooded Link's mind. And, at that moment, he became seized with fear. "But she provided flatter places so all life would love the land, as the land was made for those that would come to be."

Those that would come to be? Link didn't know what that meant, but Navi urged him to listen before asking either her or Saria to explain.

"Nayru produced the skies and the waters, the two forever reflecting in one another. And with the sky and water came the laws of the world that maintain its stability and function. Without this, the work of the other two would have no meaning or order."

Nayru sounded a little persnickety, Link thought. Nevertheless, he continued to listen. He thought of the color blue, the same as the skies and waters she supposedly created. Long, flowing hair, and fair skin, yet not entirely human in appearance.

"And Farore, with her vivid imagination and rich soul, breathed life into the very ground, and from it arose every living creature. But she made these creatures to uphold and obey the laws set into motion on the world they now inhabited."

Again, the name "Farore" filled Link with a familiar warmth. He liked the last of them even if he knew nothing about them. She sounded, even if she was as old as the world itself, young and perhaps with a sense of humor to match.

"Once they saw the fruit of their labors, they ascended to the heavens, but the Goddesses left a parting gift to the creations they left below."

Upon the newly created world, Link envisioned dozens, perhaps hundreds of creatures, great and small, some that looked like him while others were utterly unnatural, looking up at the skies as the Three left them. They all converged into one single beam of light before they vanished altogether. But, in their departure, something was given to those despondent over the Goddesses leaving. And a relic that would tie them to the Divine forever.

A shimmering set of golden triangles, perfectly aligned in a larger triangle composed of the three crests, each handcrafted by their respective Goddess. They floated before the creations of the Divine, and all who saw the crests adored and loved them as they did their makers.

"What they left behind is what the man in black seeks. The Link to the Gods, the Power of Gold, the Triforce," The Great Deku Tree's voice died down, Saria's taking its place. Now Link found himself back in the meadow, the green-haired girl sitting before him on the stump. "You can find it in an area called the Sacred Realm, but The Great Deku Tree never told me much else," she then gestured to the building towering above her and Link. "He said this place once held the Key to the Sacred Realm, but that Key's been removed, and thus, this place is little more than ruins now."

"Key?" Link questioned.

Saria nodded. "But... that's something you'll probably have to wait a while on," she said. Link didn't understand what she meant. "I'm sorry, Link," she continued. "But the Great Deku Tree only told me so much. I don't think he planned on things like this happening so soon," she sighed. "He didn't want me to get too involved, I think. And to keep you from finding out as long as he could."

Link averted his eyes for a moment before looking back at his friend. "Saria," he said. "What's going on? Really?"

The green-haired girl closed her eyes as if contemplating something of great importance. Then, after a few short moments, she spoke again, opening her eyes to look into Link's. "I'll say in the morning," she said. "Do you remember what the Great Deku Tree told you? About the castle? And the Princess?"

Link nodded. That's right, he thought. The boy had forgotten all about the castle, and the Princess mentioned earlier in his grieving. It was then that it all came back to him. Even in his death throes, the Great Deku Tree presented Link with the task of taking the green stone given to him to the Princess. But just what was this stone? Saria had taken it when they left the boy's house, the object having surrendered ownership to him. Though, she was allowed to touch it if necessary.

"This is the Kokiri Emerald," Saria explained to him. "The Great Deku Tree never mentioned how it came to be, but it's been in his possession for a long time," she told her friend. "He told me that it's one of three stones needed to open the Door to the Sacred Realm," she said to the boy. "But you can't open the Sacred Realm without the Key. And, to get that Key, you have to open the Door. And to open that Door, you need the Three Spiritual Stones."

Navi was taking in Saria's words as well. While she was knowledgeable in the world's creatures, such matters lay out her field of expertise. As with Link, this was all new to her. "And where would these stones be?" the pale-blue fairy questioned.

"The Great Deku Tree told me that one is with the Rock People of the Mountains of Death," the girl said. "While the Water Dwellers of the Rivers and Oceans hold the other. Either way, you'll need them to open the Door to the Sacred Realm,"

"So the one who cursed the Great Deku Tree would set his sights on the other two," Navi said.

"Exactly," Sara agreed. She then turned her attention to Link, who appeared to be piecing together and absorbing everything he had just heard. Indeed, it was a lot, both what he heard from the Great Deku Tree and Saria, but the events that took place prior had worn the boy down to exhaustion. "But we can discuss and prepare for that later. For now, you need sleep."

"But..."

"No, you need sleep. Look at yourself."

Link didn't need a reminder that he looked rough but wanted more. He NEEDED more. Still, Link found it increasingly difficult to deny his exhausted body any further rest. "But..."

"We can talk more in the morning," Saria said. "Find a place anywhere," she told her friend, settling in the shaded area underneath the broken stairway of the structure in the forest. "Goodnight."

As Saria and her fairy settled in, Link sighed and laid back on the grass. There was so much that he wished to ask. Just what was this about Goddesses and creating the world? And of this Triforce? Why does that shadowy figure want it so badly?

And even more, did he have to curse the Great Deku Tree to get what he wanted? Then again, Link wasn't one to talk. After all, he's the one who stupidly believed what that man told him. Even if the Great Deku Tree was correct in that the Gohma Queen would've found him eventually, Link still set her right in the tree's backyard! The Gohma would've hatched, but it would've given him time to practice with his newly acquired sword, ask more questions, and be a hero for the Great Deku Tree and everyone.

If only he had set the egg far away from the Kokiri's dwelling, as far as he could've gotten. He could only go so far into the Lost Woods without a fairy, but he never entirely lost his way. He could've done something different, Link thought. He could've given himself more time to prepare, given the Great Deku Tree more time. He could've given everything more time.

"Time…"

"What was that?" Navi questioned the boy.

"N-Nothing." Link answered, quickly tightening his lips once again. He then rolled over to his side, trying to make it appear like he was falling asleep.

"Ok, fine. I won't pry," the fairy said. "But I would like to ask you something," Navi admitted to Link. "You said that man told you the egg was a seed, right?" To her surprise, she feared she had pushed too far, but Link answered. With a nod, but it was an acknowledgment nonetheless. "Well, what kind of seed was it?"

Link bit his lip; he knew that this would eventually come up. But how would he answer? "He said," the boy began. "He said that it would…grant you a wish. If you planted it."

Navi scowled. Even if Link should've known better than to take things from strangers, that was still a horrible thing to do! If that Gohma busted out, the whole forest would've been doomed! And the other children! This darkly-clad fiend honestly had no regard for life.

Despite her rising anger, she calmed herself, remembering her charge was more important. Although, Link felt less like an assignment now. "Well, what did you wish for? If I can ask?"

Link was quiet for a few moments. "A fairy." He finally answered.

Navi felt her heart sink. Giving the boy that egg under such a false premise was genuinely despicable. And as she showed up the next day, he would believe it! Still, it puzzled her. "Why a fairy?" She asked.

"Because I didn't have one." Link responded.

Navi was quiet at first but ultimately had to ask. "Do you regret it?" Link whirled around and looked at her, shocked. "No! I mean, of course, you regret that!" Navi clarified. "What I meant was, do you regret wishing for a fairy? Because, well, I'm here."

Link pondered this for some time, as a few moments passed before he finally answered the fairy. "That…" he began, Navi anxious about what he would say. But, to her surprise, her fears were unfounded. "I don't regret that," Link said. "I… don't regret wishing for you."

"Me?" Navi asked.

"Yeah," Link said. "You're…" he paused. "A little chatty," he said. "And a little bossy," he continued. Navi hoped there was some good he saw in her. She wasn't THAT chatty or bossy! Right? "But… you're my fairy," the boy concluded. "The Great Deku Tree gave you to me. So, you're my fairy."

"I'm my own person, you know," Navi retorted, crossing her arms. "Still, it's nice that you accept me as your fairy," she told him. "Although, as your fairy, I'd advise that you go and get yourself some sleep," she urged. "We don't know what tomorrow will bring."

Link didn't want to admit it, but it was true. There was nothing else he could do but sleep, so he tried to tune out the world around him and not focus on the thoughts plaguing his mind. How successful he would be had yet to be seen, but steadily, he found his eyelids fluttering. As time passed, the boy grew increasingly tired, the world blurring in and out of his vision. Finally, despite himself, his young body could stand his exhaustion no more and fell, plunging into the soft, inviting darkness that encompassed Link's entire consciousness in its shroud.

Although, this period of unconsciousness didn't last long. Sometime later, Navi began stirring in her sleep and found that the boy she was sleeping next to wasn't by her side. Her eyes searched around, finding a slumbering Saria and Compa, but no Link. Then, she found him standing in front of the stairway leading up to the meadow, back to her, and his cap lightly flowing in the wind.

"Link?" Navi asked, flying over to the boy. "What are you doing up? It's not morning yet."

The boy didn't say anything. Navi flew past him to look at his face, surprised at what she found. There was a sense of determination but also cracks in his brave face. His lip trembled, and his brows furrowed, but his eyes appeared uncertain. Navi could easily see what he was going to do and immediately made her voice heard.

"No way, absolutely not!" She said, shaking her head. "Saria said to wait until morning!"

Link heard her, but he couldn't wait any longer. Shouldn't he go now if he was supposed to be a hero? What was stopping him from going out and finding the Princess herself? Besides, he owed the Great Deku Tree that much.

"I know how you feel; I get it," Navi told the boy. "But you can't just go; it's dangerous to roam alone! Not to mention, you don't know what you'll face out there!"

That was why Navi was here, right? Besides, if time was of the essence, the sooner they got going, the better, right? At least, that was Link's line of thinking.

"Well, what are you going to do?" Navi questioned. "You don't have any food or water, and you certainly don't have anything to carry them in."

Right, Link didn't think about that. Curses. Still, he had to get going soon. He HAD to. For any number of reasons, whether it be the Great Deku Tree's request, Saria's tale, or the thought of the man in black, it didn't matter. Link just knew he had to go and go now. He had to find the Princess. He had to make this right.

"She's right, you know," Link turned around to see Saria standing right behind him. "You won't travel far on an empty stomach." Link opened his mouth to speak, but Saria shook her head. "I know what you want to do," she said. Link was about to ask for a chance to explain himself, but she shook her head before he could start. "Don't bother denying it. You want to go," the green-haired girl said.

Link was about to protest but was stunned at his received answer.

"And…I know that I have to let you go."

He waited outside the tree hollow for her, not daring to set foot back in the Kokiri Forest. Finally, after a short time of waiting, Saria returned with some necessities Link would need. In her arms were two bottles of water, some apples, and, to Link's surprise and delight, a jar of pickled radishes. "I had one saved from the last harvest, but I think you'll need it more," she then placed all of these things in a small sack that she gave to Link. Link then attached the bag to his back by his baldric underneath his shield.

"I knew this day would come," Saria said. "I knew, one day or another, you would leave this place, Link," she lowered her head. "Mido's wrong about you in so many ways, but you're indeed different," she told the blonde boy. "You're different from me and the others."

Link nodded, acknowledging her words. Yes, it hurt him, but he couldn't deny it. After all, he had been The Boy without a Fairy since he first sprouted, so he was already an oddity among the other children. And bringing a Gohma egg into their living area gave them a reason to hate him. Perhaps Saria too.

"But," Saria began speaking again, catching Link's attention. "I don't care about that," she said. "I never cared about that," she then raised her head to face Link, the boy spotting the beginnings of tears in her bright, blue eyes. "Because you and I are friends, no matter what!" She took the boy's hands in her own. "I knew this day would come, but that made me hate it even more! I don't want you to leave, Link! I don't!" she cried, but she stopped herself, Link holding onto her trembling form. "But...it looks like I don't get a say in the matter," she whimpered. "You have to go," she whispered, "The Cycle demands that you come out into the world now." She didn't let Link hear her.

Link's chest ached at seeing his best friend in tears, and his emotions began stirring from within. But before he could say or do anything, Saria took him by the hand and led him through a hollow in front of them, leading them to a place Link had never seen before. A long bridge lay before them that led to another tree hollow, the interior dark and not allowing any light to seep through.

"This path leads to the outside world," Saria told Link. "Go through here, and you'll enter the land of Hyrule. The Princess lives at the castle, so head there," Link nodded in reply. "Navi," the green-haired girl said. "Be sure to look out for him. He might get in over his head, so you'll need to pull him out."

The fairy grinned. "I suspect the boy will do just that," Link then gasped, offended. "What? I'm speaking the truth." the boy scowled, but his face didn't remain the same for long upon seeing Saria.

"I don't know what'll happen from now on," she said. She could see Link was trying to contain himself but steadily losing control. "I don't know if you'll ever come back," she continued, her voice getting more and more choked up. "But, even if no one else thinks so, you're always welcome here in the forest and my secret place."

Link nodded, a small tear trailing down his cheek.

"But, before you go," Saria reached into her pocket and pulled out a woodwind instrument. "I meant to give you this earlier, but the Great Deku Tree called you before I could finish it." the instrument was a simple, palish-brown ocarina, and she gently put it in Link's hands.

The boy gazed at the instrument before putting it in his pocket. "Th-Thank you," she told Saria.

She nodded in reply. The two children and their fairies gazed into each other's eyes before they embraced tightly, tears falling onto the other's shoulders. Then, after a short while, Saria eventually loosened her grip, signaling to Link that it was time.

"I won't forget you." Link told her.

"Neither will I," she answered.

Link stepped back, tears clouding his vision. True, he wanted to do this, he had to do this, but now that the moment had come, he felt himself hesitating. He looked into Saria's eyes, engraining the image of the girl in his mind. Then, with a sniffle, he turned and ran down the bridge, leaving the green-haired girl and her fairy alone on the bridge in the silent forest that would soon welcome the dawn, just as her friend would quickly receive the outside world.

Chapter Text

Link's blue eyes widened in awe and fear when he saw that he was no longer in the forest when he stepped through the tree hollow. There were a few trees alongside a set of rocky walls, but they were not packed or vibrant like those he had known all his life. They were still green and bore leaves, but it seemed that the nourishment of the forest didn't reach them, making them smaller and thinner in size. The environment Link stepped into was drastically different than his home, and he found himself stepping back, somewhat hesitant to continue. He wouldn't vocalize it, but he couldn't deny his fear.

"It's ok," Navi assured him. "Just take a few steps more," she urged him. He then, albeit slowly, walked forward. "Yes, that's it," the fairy encouraged. "Go on; you can do it."

Link continued, his fairy's words pushing him forward. True, he was still scared (even if he dared not say so), but the boy remembered why he had gone outside of the forest's borders. He had to leave the woods to go to the castle. For The Great Deku Tree and Saria. Eventually, Link turned a corner and was blinded by a great sphere rising over the horizon. Finally, after a few moments, the boy could see what the sunlight had revealed.

As far as his eyes could see, a sprawling plain of green grass lay before him, a few sparse trees littering the landscape. High stone walls surrounded the area, and at that moment, Link's fear and trepidation were replaced with sheer awe and bewilderment. So this was what lay on the other side of the Lost Woods? It was all new to him, but so far, it didn't appear threatening. Daresay, Link felt excitement welling up in his chest and a sense of familiarity. This place looked familiar, a sight from one of his dreams.

"You ok?" Navi questioned. Even if Link was relatively quiet at most times, she wanted an answer as to whether or not he was all right. Finally, realizing that she was asking him a question, Link nodded. "Well, ok," she said. "So," she looked ahead at the massive field before them. "Guess it's time to set out."

Link nodded. "Guess so," he said quietly. Then, with a few more steps, he was officially in the great field. And once he took his first steps, he continued walking, the fairy following close by.

From on high, a pair of eyes were watching him. "The Cycle has begun yet again," then a brief period of silence followed. "Only now, I sense this chain of events will change everything."

Far Away Distance

"He did not kill him when he had the chance." one of the two figures in the darkened chamber said; they and their twin looked over the vast cauldron of black, the image of a boy in a vast field in the liquid's reflection.

"For once, his growing arrogance has paid off," the other figure said, eyes watching the boy intently. "I was fearful we would have to go and collect him from the Lost Woods ourselves."

Both figures had women's voices, yet significantly aged, indicating they were elderly, or perhaps even beyond that. Indeed, hundreds, maybe thousands of years separated them and the young child they spied on; neither was entirely sure. Moreover, they had long forgotten such details, only remembering significant events. And much of those were feats of violence and bloodshed to get to where they were now. Finally, all their efforts would come to fruition.

"Our dear ruler found our ally in the forest," the figure previously speaking continued. "If that boy has what that tree denied our King, then our dear friend won't be controlling the forest as he thought."

"His ambitions are too small to be concerned over," the other figure argued. "He only seeks conquest of a forest. He cannot comprehend the importance of our work."

"True, yet he may prove to be of use later. And not just for giving directions to the Kokiri Forest," both twins stared down at the young boy that had just started his journey, having traveled a reasonable distance already.

"Still, I wonder if this is the right child," one of them wondered, the cooler head of the two. "He seems quite clueless about what he is getting into."

"All the better," the other answered. "Then he'll be easy to string along."

"Perhaps. Assuming he listens to that fairy companion of his." Both figures continued to observe the image of the boy traveling across the vast field. "He is our enemy, yet those are the ones that should be kept even closer than allies," both smiled. "It's even better when your enemy has no idea you exist."

Hyrule Field

He needed a break.

Despite his previous drive to move forward, Link couldn't deny his legs rest any longer. Finding a sizable boulder nearby, the boy sat down and sighed, his limbs feeling quite tired from walking. "Don't get too winded just yet," Navi told him, sitting on his shoulder. "We've still got a long way to go."

That was easy for her to say, Link thought. After all, she was the one that could fly. But nevertheless, he was curious about how far they had traveled. Looking back, he could still see the entrance to the Lost Woods in the distance, yet just barely. So that must've meant he traveled far, right?

"We've only gone a few miles," Navi told him. "We're still nowhere near the Castle."

What?! Link couldn't believe it! He was about to protest, but a growing need for food distracted him along with his groaning stomach.

"Of course, perhaps you need to eat a little something before you continue," the fairy suggested. "What did Saria pack for you again?"

Oh yeah, he nearly forgot! Link removed his shield and sack from his back and looked inside, finding some apples and water, along with the jar of pickled radishes. Link's choice was immediate, setting the apples back into the sack and opening the jar. He reached in, took out a thinly sliced vegetable, and bit into it, the crispness of the crop and tangy flavor making his tastebuds melt. Saria's ability to pickle her crops was unreal.

It was then that Navi noticed the boy's smile falter, clearly thinking about the green-haired girl. "Hey, it's not all bad," Navi assured Link. "After you go to the Castle, maybe you can pay her a visit," she said. "After all, I trust you'll stay with her for a while."

Link thought about Navi's words and found himself comforted. True, he could always go back and live with Saria. But, after what happened, he was still unsure if he would ever be welcome in the Kokiri Forest again. Saria said the forest would be fine, but Link still had doubts. Of course, he wouldn't dare call his friend a liar, but what could she do?

She was just a Kokiri, like himself. They didn't have power like the Great Deku Tree, so how could she do anything? But then, he realized something he thought he would've discovered long ago. Any Kokiri that exited the forest would die, but here he was, totally fine. As far as he knew, he was still among the living.

But Link shook his head, the distressing thought that had come to his mind banished immediately. No, he was a Kokiri. He was allowed to go outside the forest on behalf of the Great Deku Tree, and that was all. Once his task was done, he would return to the woods and live as a Kokiri, just like the others. But, unfortunately, the others probably still wouldn't let him back in.

"It seems you have quite a bit on your mind, my boy," Link jumped up, startled by the voice. Navi scanned the area for any sight of the one that had just spoken. "You spilled your jar, you know."

Link looked down and saw that he had dropped the radish jar. Quickly bending down and retrieving it, Navi was astonished by his actions. "Forget the jar! You can't get distracted! This person might be an enemy!"

"Enemy?" the voice spoke again. "Hoooo, well, that depends," the voice was male and deep, somewhat elderly. It almost reminded Link of the Great Deku Tree. "Usually, I am an enemy to those I catch," then, a great shadow came over Link from behind, the source standing atop the boulder. "But for you, I may be a great asset."

The boy and fairy turned around to see a behemoth bird sitting on the sizable rock Link had reclined against, one the blonde child had never seen before. But he believed he had heard of them; he sometimes saw them in the Lost Woods at night, burrowing in the trees and making their nests, hunting only at night. But what were they called? And even more, why did this one talk?

"Who...are you?" Link questioned, thankful that he was able to work out his words.

Despite possessing a beak and no lips, the bird appeared to grin. The bird was primarily dark brown with a lighter chest and bore long feathers that served as "eyebrows," allowing him to express emotion more than his more animalistic counterparts. However, these brows quirked in amusement as if the bird found what Link said humorously naive. And, indeed, this boy was. He had no idea of what lay ahead of him.

"I am, firstly, an owl," the bird answered. "But, if you must call me by a name, then address me as Kaepora Gaebora," he looked down upon the green-clad boy. "And I know who you are, Link of the Kokiri Forest."

Far Away Distance

"What is this?" one of the shadowy twins questioned, the arrival of the giant owl unexpected.

"It looks like a talking bird." the other answered sarcastically, which the former didn't care for much.

"I know what it is!" they retorted, folding their arms in frustration. "But what is he doing here? And what connection does he have with this child? Better yet, how does this owl speak?"

Neither could answer that question. So instead, the boy and owl continued to converse, the two continuing to observe the image presented in the cauldron's water. But, while neither said so, both were steadily growing nervous. While neither believed this owl would get too involved, any allies this child could gain could spell trouble in the future. Especially before he just barely got started with his journey.

Hyrule Field

"K-Kaepora...Gaeb-bora?" Link questioned, struggling to pronounce the owl's name. It was shocking that the owl even had a name, let alone the ability to speak.

"Indeed," the owl, Kaepora Gaebora, answered with a nod. "Don't force yourself to speak," he told the boy. "I will admit, it is not the easiest to say," he chuckled. "But the name is mine, so I am content with it."

"You've introduced yourself," Navi interjected, flying between Link and the brown-feathered bird. "And you say you know Link, but I don't think neither he nor, especially I, know you."

"No, you do not," the owl agreed. "I am friends with the Great Deku Tree," he told the two. "Well, I was," he noticed the boy's head lower. "I am deeply sorry about his death, yet your guilt is unnecessary," he assured the boy. "Without you, that foul creature and its spawn would've consumed the entire forest. But, instead, you succeeded in protecting your fellow Kokiri and the whole forest."

Link was shocked at what he had just heard, along with Navi. "Wait a minute," the fairy said, shocked. "You know about that? How?"

"The Great Deku Tree is not the only one who knows the whereabouts of the forest," Kaepora Gaebora answered. "I was the one who spotted the intruder in black enter, and I watched your journey through the Lost Woods to where you found that sword you carry," he then extended a great wing and gestured to Link's Kokiri Sword. "You may not have known it, but I have been observing you for some time, my boy. More than you realize."

Had this owl been watching him all this time? Link was unsure of what to make of this mysterious bird. Still, if he had been watching the boy, Link wanted to know why.

"The Great Deku Tree, despite the wound that took his life, knew that he was growing old, and his time was short," Kaepora Gaebora told Link and Navi. "Indeed, for as long as trees such as he lives, they do not live forever," he sighed, shaking his head. "Knowing this, he asked that I watch over you as you undertake the task he laid before you," he explained. "For while I trust my friend's judgment, your quest will not be easy. Indeed," he looked out at the vast field all around him. "You will face many things along your way, and not all of them will be as friendly as I."

Link, despite the warning, found himself growing curious. Just what kind of things was Kaepora Gaebora referring to? "Like...monsters?" he questioned.

"Perhaps," the owl confirmed. "But not just that, it is also who those beasts serve that you should be wary of," the bird told the boy. "The Castle is still a good few miles away, so I suggest you get going," he instructed Link. "Come night; the roads will become more perilous...?!" He paused, silencing himself.

"What's wrong?" Link questioned.

Then, Navi sensed it too. There was a foul presence nearby; a creature will foul intent. The only question was, where was it? What was it? "Take Link and make haste," Kaepora Gaebora told the fairy. "I shall take care of this."

What was it? Was something watching him? Link grabbed his sword, but the fairy shook her head. "You can use that later. But, for now, let's do as he says." Link was surprised, seeing as Navi had distrusted the owl not long before.

"Go on!" Kaepora Gaebora urged Link. "I shall watch over your journey! Focus on the main task at hand!" then, he spread his great wings and flapped, creating gusts of wind that made Link's clothes flutter in their wake. Navi had to hold onto the boy's hat to avoid being blown away. "Good luck, young Link!" Kaepora Gaebora bid the boy farewell, taking off into the air. "Keep on your way to the Castle! Find the Princess! Show her the Emerald!" with that, he departed, flying off.

The owl had left them. "Well, shall we?" Navi asked.

Link didn't entirely understand who this Kaepora Gaebora was, let alone if he could genuinely be believed, yet nevertheless, he still had a task to complete. Gathering his belongings, he sealed the jar and placed it back into the sack. Then, putting it and his shield onto his back, the boy and his fairy continued, the owl that had spoken to them spotting the one listening in on their conversation. In a nearby tree, a small, thin bird with dark mauve feathers and a bright, orange beak with a bald head and red-rimmed eyes looked down at the boy and fairy. But, unfortunately for it, the creature would no longer be able to continue spying, as a far more giant avian came to put a stop to it.

Far Away Distance

"Blast it!" the angrier of the two figures cursed; the Guay that had been sent out to track the boy had been broken and crushed in the great owl's talons. "Accursed bird!" they then looked up at their twin. The image in the cauldron disappeared, for it displayed all that was seen through the eyes of the Guay.

"He may be trouble," the figure's twin observed. "But he cannot be everywhere at once, no matter how quickly he flies," then, they snapped their fingers, and another Guay was summoned, flying out from the darker keeps of this foul place and to its masters. "And he can't kill all of these, no matter how hard he tries."

"That won't stop him from trying," the other argued. "And I doubt that he will be the only one that will wish to assist the boy in his task."

"Likely not," the twin agreed. "Still, if that's the case, they shall face the same dangers as he." They went to a darkened corner of the room, opening a cabinet full of various potions, elixirs, and other foul things they had mixed up for vile purposes. After a short period of searching, they finally found what they were looking for—a single bone, old and nearly reduced to dust. "There's never a shortage of these in the desert."

"Another lost soul?" the other figure questioned. Then they gave a dark chuckle. "When will they learn? Then again, they've been giving us a steady supply."

"And given that the boy's already slain the Gohma Queen, he will only get stronger," the old figure that held the bone crushed it with a bony hand, fingers long and wrinkled with extended, sharpened nails. "So, why not test his strength?" the dust from the crushed bone fell into the cauldron, caught in the vapors created by the heat of the boiling liquid. "And slow him down. Our dear King needs more time to prepare."

Then, they extended one digit in the direction of the floating dust, then pointed to the long, dark shaft going upward, out of the hidden, darkened chamber where terrible, dark things were done in secret. So the dust floated up, traveling on the vapors as it rose higher and higher until, at long last, it reached the outside. It rose above a vast, barren desert, traveling along the winds that flowed to the central part of Hyrule. Then, directly toward the enormous field of green, the sun was about to set over the horizon, just in time.

Hyrule Field

"You look like you've got something on your mind," Navi observed, Link, looking up at the fairy. "What's up?"

The blonde boy pondered how to word an answer. "I-It..." he began, yet, to his dismay, found his tongue not cooperating with him. "Isn't...it..." his face scrunched up in frustration, despising that he couldn't control when he could speak.

"If it's too hard, you don't have to," Navi assured him. "Take your time."

Link tried to calm himself, but he still could not properly articulate what he wanted to say. If he could get a single word out, that might be enough. Still, he had to say that word first. "E-Em...pty." he stammered.

"Huh?" Navi asked.

"Emp...ty," Link repeated. "This...place. It's...empty."

"Empty?" Navi questioned. Looking around, she wasn't entirely sure what Link meant. This grassland field wasn't completely void of other plants or landmarks. There were a few trees and bushes, so it wasn't empty. "What do you mean?" Link gestured to the area around them, unsure if he could speak anymore. "Like, no one else but you and me are out here?"

Link nodded. While he had known little of the world outside the Lost Woods, having just entered it today, he found that most of the terrain he had traveled was lacking in almost everything. The small space of the Kokiri Forest still had other homes and evidence of a community or civilization. But out here, there was no sign of that, no small villages, no houses, no one living anywhere. This entire field, while beautiful, felt very vast and lonely. It was almost sad in a strange sense.

"Look," Navi then said, getting the boy's attention. "The sun's going down," she observed, the great sphere of gold setting in the distance, the skies painted in smooth strokes of orange, pink, and violet. Then, she looked out into the distance, spotting something. "Hey, look!" she told Link, directing his line of sight. "There's a river running nearby!" Indeed, to the right, a short distance away, a long, winding river ran, the setting sun and colorful sky reflecting on the water's surface. "Wherever there's water, there's sure to be those using it! Let's follow it!"

Link agreed, running alongside the running water. In the clear, clean surface, he saw the great orb above him slowly sink behind the mountains in the distance, the orange, pink, and violet skies darkening to deep indigo and pitch black, the dark abyss filled with stars and the revealed moon. The field wasn't overly dark, primarily thanks to Navi's light, but Link couldn't help but feel nervous traveling at night. Unbeknownst to him, the dust of a crushed bone was riding the winds nearby, falling to the ground below, permeating the soil. Now that the dust was buried, the enchantment cast on it would allow those summoned to rise—not from underneath the earth but far, far more profound, darker places hidden away from the world.

"Scared?" Navi asked Link.

"N-No!" Link responded, putting on a brave face.

"No shame in admitting it," the fairy told the boy. "You're somewhere new, so it's a little scary."

Link shook his head. "Not scared!" he affirmed, puffing his chest out.

"Ok, if you say so," Navi answered. She then flew a short distance to see if she could spot anything. "I don't see the Castle yet," she said. "But there's something a few miles away. I think it's a house."

A house? So, there WAS someone that lived out here, Link thought. The only question was, who lived there? And, even more, was there anyone else out here?

"We could see if they know anything about how to get to the Castle," Navi suggested. "Even if he said he'd help us, I don't see that owl anywhere."

Indeed, Link thought. While he didn't know the owl, this Kaepora Gaebora hadn't been seen for a good while. So where was the owl now, if he was even anywhere nearby? Just who was he? He claimed to have known the Great Deku Tree and Link himself, yet the boy had just met the bird. He was still unsure what to make of him; should he be trusted?

The blonde thought he'd help fly Link to the castle. Then again, that could have been too easy. He didn't entirely understand it, still unsure of many things, but the main thing Link kept in his mind was to get to the Castle. From there, he would have to see what came next, when he would meet the Princess. It was then that it dawned on him: he was going to meet a Princess.

A real Princess.

His mind began to swim in possibilities, wondering everything all at once. What would she be like? What was her favorite color? How would he meet her? Where would he meet her? And even more, how would he get into the Castle to meet her?

"What's up with you now?" Navi questioned.

Link found himself able to verbalize what he wanted to say this time. "P-Princess," he muttered. Again, it was a little shaky but understandable.

"Oh, the Princess," the fairy said. "What about her? Are you worried she won't like you?" Link shook his head. "You're thinking about all those stories. About a Hero and a Princess?"

"N-No!" Link protested, yet Navi chuckled, still able to see pink come to his cheeks.

"Hey, no shame in admitting it! You're excited about meeting her, aren't you?" Link didn't answer, yet his silence was enough.

Unbeknownst to either of them, a shape began to stir from underneath the ground nearby. A body called from the darkest depths of the hidden realms no mortal could venture into. And it would use the vessel of the unfortunate souls lost to take shape in this world. Those lost to the fires and bloodshed that once stained these lands.

"Well, did the Great Deku Tree say anything about her?" Navi questioned Link. True, she had heard the tales the Guardian of the Forest told his children but nothing of the actual Princess in Hyrule.

Link shook his head, for the day prior was the first time he realized that there was a real Princess. Of course, there were many in the Great Deku Tree's stories, but none of the Heroes or Princesses were consistent with each other. For all Link knew, they were all different people, just living out similar scenarios to those that came before them and those that would come after. While he liked those stories and would give anything to hear the Great Deku Tree tell one more time, the boy couldn't help but notice they all followed similar beats. A Hero, a Princess, and a Villain or Monster that had to be conquered.

It was all very similar, as if, ever so subtly, the Great Deku Tree was telling the same story over and over again.

"Hey!" Navi hissed, getting the boy's attention. "Look alive!" she said. "There's an enemy nearby."

From high above, the great owl flew, his dark feathers concealing him in the night. Kaepora Gaebora sensed a series of dark presences beneath him, indeed the work of dark magic. The winds that carried this twisted spell came from the desert, and its target was the boy below him. The owl would have to do something; otherwise, Link would be swarmed with several foes summoned by the black magic. Then, he spotted a moving object in the distance, his keen eyes determining that it was not far away.

Until then, however, the boy would have to wait. After that, the bird would try to move as fast as he could, so he hoped the boy had a good grasp of how to use that sword!

An enemy?! Link wasted no time going to draw out his sword, but as he reached back to grab the hilt, he felt something place itself on his shoulder. The boy froze, the touch deathly cold and sending a shiver up his spine. His widened, blue eyes looked at Navi, who only fluttered nearby, stiff and unsure of what to do. Just what was behind him? Dare he look?

The grip on his shoulder grew tighter, and Link reached to try and free himself. But as he did so, his fingers felt another set of digits, only they lacked skin. Instead, it felt as if he were touching a solid bone. He didn't want to, he was frightened, but his head involuntarily turned to face what was holding onto him. The sight of the creature made the boy's flesh break out into chills and his heart race in his chest, all the signs that he was among the living compared to the dead, for his assailant was indeed among the dead.

A skinless hand of pure bone clasped onto the boy's shoulder, that hand attached to an arm, and that arm attached to a joint connected to a visible ribcage and spine that led down to a pelvis covered by a brown loincloth. Legs, ankles, and feet, but the ends of the toes were sharpened and red, resembling claws. The fingers of the bony hand were also fashioned the same way, and the enlarged skull had cracked, rotting teeth and vacant holes for eyes—the only sign of life in the unholy creature was the bright glow in the center of its sockets, the lights boring into Link's soul. The boy finally managed to wrench himself from the emerged skeleton's grip, stepping back in shock at what he was seeing. Yet upon doing so, he bumped into something from behind, another skeleton having risen from the ground.

Then, all around him, Link and Navi saw several bony fiends crawl out of the dirt, uprooting the grass and dragging their dead selves to the surface. Soon, Link realized they were all closing in, trying to surround him. "Um," Navi began. "I'd suggest you get that sword out. Now."

He didn't need to be told twice! Link drew out his sword and swung at the skeleton that had formerly grabbed him, his blade slicing the skull off from the rest of its body. The head burned away in green flames, but its body was still quite mobile. The headless skeleton grabbed Link with its red claws, but the boy slashed at the ribs, the blade separating its upper half from its lower. This maneuver appeared to do the trick as the rest of the skeleton burst into green flames before those flames dissipated.

That was one out of several others. And they continued to multiply. "Where are all these Stalchildren coming from?!" Navi questioned aloud.

Link looked around, the skeletons continuing to approach. "F-From the ground?" Link answered, partially sarcastically. Still, he legitimately wondered where the bony menaces originated from.

"They're evil spirits possessing the bones of the dead!" Navi explained. "Then..." She looked at the ground. "That would mean...?! Hey!" she called out. "Watch out!"

A Stalchild swiped its red claws at the boy, Link moving back just in time to avoid them. But, of course, this only led to him bumping into another, who grabbed him by the cap. Link stabbed his sword backward, separating the spine from the rest of its body. Despite this, the Stalchild continued to hold onto his back, and, suffice to say, the sight of tiny, glowing orbs made Link shiver. Not to mention that an actual skeleton was hanging onto him.

"GAH!" Link shouted in panic, swinging around violently to try and dislodge the upper half of the Stalchild.

"Hey, calm down!" Navi urged Link, all the while trying to dodge his sword swipes. "Watch where you're swinging that thing!"

Link couldn't even register the fairy's words in his panic, unknowingly taking out several Stalchildren with his wild movements, the Kokiri Sword cutting through ribs, arms, necks, etc. At that point, Link was utterly unhinged. Then, finally, at long last, he felt the skeleton on his back let go. It then began crawling away. Finally, Link saw bones burning away in green flames, the Stalchild that had released him doing the same. Had he done it?

Ha! He had done it! He had slayed all the skeletons!

"Don't get cocky!" Navi warned him. "You just got lucky with all that swinging you did. Of which, is NOT the proper way to wield a sword."

Well, it worked, didn't it? Well, whatever, Link thought. He thought it was an accomplishment.

"Those Stalchildren didn't just come from anywhere," the fairy continued, studying their environment. "They had to have bones to take control of and twist for their purposes," she bit her lip. "But what could've called them?"

Then, the ground began stirring again. Link prepared himself, yet he couldn't deny that he was growing nervous. Soon, more Stalchildren rose from the dirt, and after those few, more followed. It wasn't long before Link found himself surrounded by dozens of child-sized skeletons, all with the intent of going after him. Link considered running, as much as the thought made him feel like a coward, but found he couldn't, even if he wanted to. They were everywhere!

There was nowhere to run.

"I told you, get lost!"

Suddenly, Link and the Stalchidren looked in the direction of the voice, shocked and startled by its unexpected arrival. Then, they all saw a wagon with a large hood over a few slopes and a large bird constantly swooping down.

"Get away! Get!" The driver shouted, waving his fist at the troublesome avian. Finally, at long last, the giant owl flew off, seemingly having lost interest in pestering him. "Stupid bird," the driver grumbled, twitching his mustache. Then, he spotted something in the distance. "Eh?" he leaned forward, unable to see well outside his lantern's light. "What's that?"

Then, just as quickly as they rose out of the ground, the Stalchidren sunk back down, burying themselves underneath the dirt, the grass growing over the overturned soil. There was no evidence anything had risen from below at all.

"Hey, kid!" before Link could ask Navi what had just happened, he became aware of another presence nearby. When he turned to see the one addressing him, Link froze.

A large wagon pulled by two large quadripedal creatures was a few feet away, the animals towering over the boy and fairy. The driver was one of the big people, an adult. He had to be, for Link had seen no child with facial hair. Speaking of, the man had brown hair with a comically large mustache, along with prominent eyebrows. His eyes were blue but suspicious and harsh; his figure was lean (with a slight stomach), and he was dressed in a green shirt with pink overalls, a pair of brown shoes, and simple socks on his feet.

"What are you doing out here?" the man questioned, his voice somewhat accusatory. "Where'd you come from?" he then looked around, seeing no one else. "Where are your parents?" Link didn't speak. "Well? Can't you talk?"

Still, Link said nothing. The two animals that pulled the wagon both captivated and terrified the boy; his mind was conjuring up images from his dreams, specifically the one where he saw a white and black variant of the same creatures. However, unlike those two, the wagon pullers were a light, sandy color and had brown manes and tails. They stared down at Link with their large, dark eyes as he stared back with his blue. None of them knew how to feel about the other, as, despite the size difference, the larger animals appeared to be as nervous as the boy was.

"Whatever, I don't have time for this. I'll never get to the Ranch at this rate." The man grumbled, turning the wagon around. "Get on home, kid! It's dangerous out here!"

But then, as he began to pull away, he saw the kid running alongside the wagon. "Look, I don't have time to take you around!" the driver said. "I've got places to be!" he then sighed. "At least I'm near Castle Town."

Wait a minute, Castle Town?! "W-Wait!" Link called out. "WAIT!"

The driver continued, leaving the boy behind. But, after a few moments, the man slowed down, allowing the green-clad youth to catch up. "Ok, fine, get on," he told the boy. "But you had better be going somewhere close! Otherwise, I'm dropping you off!"

"Thank you, Sir," Navi thanked, sitting on Link's shoulder. "We just need to get to the Castle; then we'll be on our way."

"Eh? What's that?" the man leaned over toward Navi, surprised at what he saw. "A fairy?!" he jumped back. "What's a kid like you doing with a fairy?!" he grumbled. "No fairy came to me as a kid."

"He's from the forest," Navi told the older man. "We're here on behalf of the Great Deku Tree to see the Princess of Hyrule."

The man quirked a brow. "Eh? So, you want to see the Princess? You?" he then laughed. "Yeah, good luck with that, kid!" Link scowled at the adult's response, feeling like he was being talked down to. "Still, that's just a few miles away," he said. "It'll probably be morning when we get there, so you'll have to be patient."

Link nodded in agreement.

"Ok, fine. Just don't talk too much. I'm not a fan of chatty people," the man told him. "But, if you have to call me, I'm Ingo."

"Link." the boy answered as he climbed up the wagon.

"Link?" Ingo questioned. "Huh. Weird name. Well, whatever," he then got the large animals to begin pulling again. "We're off!"

The wagon continued, taking off and allowing Link and Navi to look around. So far, there have been no more Stalchildren coming after them; perhaps the driver's presence made them hesitant to reveal themselves. Regardless, Link and Navi were glad to be rid of them, even temporarily. The land was again back to normal, with plains of grass and sparse plants and trees. Despite the run-in with the skeletons, Link found the scenery pleasing, and the moon shone high in the sky, lighting the darkened environment along with Ingo's lantern.

"So, where are you from, kid?" Ingo questioned, finding the silence boring.

"He's from the Kokiri Forest," Navi answered for Link. "We're on a mission for the Great Deku Tree."

"From the forest? As in, the Lost Woods?" Ingo asked. Link nodded. "How'd you get out here? I thought the Forest Children didn't go into the outside world."

"Well, we're doing something important, so I think we make an exception," Navi answered the older man. "But yes, as I've said, we have been tasked with going to the Castle and meeting with the Princess."

Ingo scoffed, still unable to believe the boy could pull it off. "Yeah, whatever. Good luck with that," then, he noticed the boy studying him, particularly his ears. "Hm? What? Haven't you ever seen ears before?" Ingo questioned, raising a brow. "You've got them too! It's nothing unusual for a Hylian."

Link tilted his head. "Hylian?"

"Yeah, Hylian," Ingo answered. "As in, the people around here? Oh, I forgot, you're from the woods," He spied Link's ears. "I guess Forest Children just have them too," Ingo continued driving, quiet for a short while before the silence got to him again. Seriously, did this kid talk at all? But then again, at least he wasn't annoying. "So, you got no one else with you?"

Link shook his head but wondered what Ingo was talking about.

"I just thought I saw other people with you when I pulled up," he said. He then shrugged. "Must be seeing things. I'm working too hard," he then sighed and grumbled. "If that blasted Talon would pull his weight around, I wouldn't have to get fodder in the middle of the night."

"Excuse me, Sir," Navi spoke up. "Forgive me if this is a grim question, but is anyone...buried out here?"

Ingo laughed. "Buried? This entire field is a graveyard!" he answered. "Especially after all the fighting that took place."

Both Link and Navi were puzzled. "Fighting?"

"Yeah. Lots of fighting," Ingo explained. "I keep forgetting you're from the woods, so you probably don't know anything," even if that was true, Link couldn't help but feel the man was being a little condescending. "But this field didn't always look this empty. The Ranch had a lot of business because there were places where people lived all around. But now, that's all changed. We must rely on Castle Town folks to keep going, and even that's becoming harder."

"Why?" Navi asked.

"It was the war," Ingo replied. "The war destroyed everything out here," he answered. "It ended around ten years ago, but the country is still recovering," the mustache man then looked out at the land before him. "Loads of folks had their homes destroyed, and a lot of lives were lost," Link didn't hear him say the last part, but Ingo muttered, "My folks' lives were lost."

Link said nothing, surveying the grassy fields around him. So true; while the land was still beautiful, its image now had an added element of sadness. He didn't imagine things when he said this place felt empty.

"Hey, there's the gate!" Ingo spoke again, pointing to a towering, white wall surrounded by a moat. Link stared at the structure in awe, his blue eyes spotting a familiar crest above the gate composed of three golden triangles. "Through there is Castle Town," the wagon's driver said, having brought the wagon to a stop. "It's still a ways to get there but follow the trail, and you'll eventually reach the Castle," he said. "Well, go on. Get off."

Link did so, hoping off and to the ground. But, instead, he looked up at Ingo with a thankful smile. "Thank you for the lift, Sir," Navi told the man. "We appreciate it."

"Look...don't go walking around alone at night, ok? It's not safe," Ingo then turned the wagon around. "Now, I've got to get the wagon back to the Ranch so Talon can deliver milk to the Castle," he murmured. "Goddesses know that he's probably still asleep. Lazy bum..." he went off, leaving Link by the gate.

The skies began to light up, the sun soon rising over the mountains to shine down on the green field. Link saw no more Stalchidren rose from the ground, assuming that the sunlight kept them at bay. However, he was still determining if they would come back.

"Halt!" a voice called from above Link. Indeed, above him stood a figure clad in armor with a spear. "Who goes there?" the armored man looked down to see Link below. "Eh? Who are you, kid?" he called out to some other men. "Lower the drawbridge!"

The large bridge blocking the way inside was slowly lowered by chains, and Link found the passage to his destination laid out before him. But before he could walk across, the man from above called down to him again. "Who are you? Where are your parents?"

Link bit his lip. He would probably have to talk. "I..." he began. "I need to...see the...Princess."

"The Princess?" the adult questioned. He then chuckled. "Uh, yeah. Sure thing, kid, come on in."

Link's face brightened up. "T-Thank you!" with that, he ran across the drawbridge, leaving the guards operating the way in and out of Castle Town.

"You think it's ok just to let him through?" one of them asked the guard atop the gate.

"He's just a kid; he's probably from the village," he said. "He'll be fine. Who knows? His parents probably left him at home, for all we know."

That was true; no one had ever seen the boy in green before. Regardless, no one saw any harm in letting him inside. If the kid wanted to pursue his foolish task of meeting the Princess, he was free to do so. Of course, he wouldn't get far; he would never get to meet her, but who were they to disrupt a child's silly fun?

Chapter Text

"Oof!" she huffed when she climbed down, the impact of the landing taking the breath out of her.

She was fearful that the noise would alert the armored man by the gate, but, thankfully, he seemed oblivious. While her father was a kind man, he sometimes let less than-professional people into positions they probably shouldn't have been in. Oh well, she thought. For now, they served to let her slip out of the Castle and into the pathway to the dwelling that lay ahead of her. Now all she had to do was begin her search for the one she had seen in her vision a few nights prior.

The girl winced at the thought of getting caught, yet she wasn't as worried about her father as she was her attendant. If Impa found out what the young girl was doing, she would NOT be happy with her in the slightest. Her fury would be great and terrible, but what could the girl do? No one was listening to her, and even if Impa took her at her word, the woman still wouldn't let her do anything about it! Couldn't she see that the entire land of Hyrule was at stake?

As risky as it was, she had to do it. She had to find the man of her dreams. Although she didn't mean it like that, far from it. She had no intention of developing any sort of affection for the one that held the shimmering stone of green, a small, winged light by his shoulder. The girl had to admit that she had little to go off of, but so far, she was convinced that disaster was on the horizon. And no one but her could see or would do anything about it.

She had to go find him, wherever he was. She knew the way back to the Castle, and she could just sneak back in just as easily. She changed out of her clothes, so no one would recognize her, at least none of the guards her father had in his service. "I'll find him," she said to herself as she continued on the way to the town by the Castle. "I'll find him, and he'll save Hyrule!" she declared. But she wouldn't fall in love.

She would never fall in love.

"Yet more walking," Navi observed. "Well, walking for you," she said, sitting on Link's shoulder. The boy looked at her, not amused. "Hey, any extra exercise is good. Besides," she then sighed. "It takes a lot more energy than you realize to fly around."

Yeah, whatever, Link thought, rolling his eyes. He managed to get some sleep on Ingo's wagon, but he had still been awake before dawn. He needed to get himself awake and alert, stretching out his arms while he yawned.

"Make way, kid!" a male voice called out from behind Link, catching the boy off guard.

"Dad, be careful!" someone else reprimanded, their voice far younger and female. "Watch out!"

Link looked behind him and saw a cart being drawn by one of the same creatures that pulled Ingo's wagon. It looked very similar, the same yellowish, sandy coat and brown mane. Did this creature come from where Ingo's did? The cart was being driven by a man with the same pointed ears as his and Ingo's, yet he was more portly in the figure, although his arms still bore some muscle to them. He wore a pair of blue overalls with brown patches on the knees and a red undershirt, simple brown shoes, and socks on his feet, and he possessed a beard. But those were the only details Link could get from him as he raced past the boy.

The other individual on the cart sat in the back with a collection of silvery cans or tins, Link was unsure, but they appeared to be around his age. As with the driver, he wasn't able to catch many details, but there was a flash of red as the cart passed by; hair perhaps? "Hey!" Navi's voice brought Link out of his musings. "We've got a Castle to get to, so let's get going!"

Link nodded, going down the slim pathway, wondering just awaited him when he eventually got to the end. It seemed that there was some sort of settlement ahead. Only it was far larger than that of the Kokiri Forest. Daresay, the boy thought it looked almost as big as the Lost Woods itself!

The driver of the cart ran right through the town that was beginning to become active, the day hours having passed into the late morning from the reading on the sundial in the center of the square. Of course, he was trying to make up for the lost time, as Ingo had come back with the fodder for the animals, but he had overslept and was already late in delivering milk to the Castle. Something his daughter had reminded him repeatedly of since they took off. True, he had slept in, but he had spent hours feeding the horses! Ok, maybe he took a break here and there, and his daughter had to sort of pick up the slack, but he still did some work!

Of course, what his daughter was criticizing was his driving skills at the moment. "DAD, LOOK OUT!"

"Whoa!" the bearded driver steered the beast pulling the cart to the side, narrowly avoiding someone walking along the trail. He then got the four-legged animal to monetarily stop, looking back to see a small figure in the distance. "Oh geez," he winced. "Are you ok?" he called out. The figure said nothing, but dusted themselves off and continued on their way into the town.

"Who was that?" his daughter asked, looking over the containers of milk to see who her father had nearly hit. She was a young girl no older than ten with a simple, white dress that came to her ankles, and brown boots with concealed socks on her feet. Her dress bore blue, rectangular patterns that lined the hem, and her short sleeves, and she wore a yellow scarf around her collar that was fastened by a golden ornament. The ornament, despite the girl's friendly appearance, was fashioned into the face of a monster with a wide muzzle, horns, and thick eyebrows. The girl's eyes were a bright blue, yet her most striking feature was her hair.

In contrast to her father's as well as that of her mother, the girl's hair was long and bright red, as red as a burning fire. The sun caught in her fibers and reflected its light, her father observing this reaction as she looked over the cart's edge. It was her most beautiful feature, the bearded man thought. Unfortunately, he knew that some people wouldn't see it that way.

"Well, whoever they were, they're gone now," the red-haired girl said. She then looked back at her father, clearly displeased. "Maybe Mr. Ingo's right, you DO need some more work with steering."

"Hey, I knew how to steer a cart since I was around your age!" the bearded man retorted, yet it wasn't in anger. He then looked back to the town he saw the figure enter. "Are you sure you don't want to come to the Castle?" he asked his child. "You might end up meeting the Princess!"

"Yeah, right," the red-haired girl said, hopping off the cart. "I haven't seen her since you first started taking me here, and I doubt I'll see her any time soon."

True, her father thought. Even he had never seen the Princess of Hyrule himself. He had seen the King and departed Queen, but never their daughter. Perhaps it was due to her position, yet the man felt the Princess should at least have some sort of interaction outside of the Castle. He didn't entirely understand, but he wasn't the King, he was just here to deliver milk.

"Well, ok," the bearded man answered his daughter. "I heard that some new shops were opening up in town today."

"Yeah, I heard that one of them is a Mask Shop," the girl replied. "Maybe I'll get lucky at the Shooting Gallery again," she then turned to go back down the trail leading to the now-active town. "See you, Dad!"

"Wait!" the girl's father called out. She turned back. "I know you're a tough girl, but don't let any of those kids pick on you, ok?"

The redheaded girl nodded. "Don't worry, Dad. I'll be fine," she then faced forward to continue on her way. But before she took another step, she called back to her father. "Try not to fall asleep when you get there! I can't drive back myself!"

"I won't, don't worry!" the bearded man then motioned for the animal pulling the cart to go on. "Have fun!" with that, he continued to the Castle, his daughter making her way to the town.

"You had better not fall asleep," the girl muttered under her breath. "I hate to say it, but Mr. Ingo is right. You do take too many naps," regardless of her father's general laziness, she once again found humor in his comment. "Meet the Princess, yeah, sure."

With one final step, Link exited the stretch of road and came into the central part of the now-stirring square. The boy in green had to stop, the sights he saw overwhelmed him at the moment. Unlike the Kokiri Forest, there wasn't a sign of grass or naturally flowering plants on the ground, the soil covered in tiles and brick of varying colors, as some appeared to lead to buildings a short distance away. The homes, the strange yet beautiful structures were the most bizarre-looking treehouses he had ever seen. If they were trees at all.

While some appeared to be made of wood, much of it had been painted over, and the bark shaved off the surface, the texture smooth, as Link observed when he felt the white walls of one of the houses. Beams of wood were seen on the exteriors of many buildings, and some appeared to have been partially made of stone like the Castle Link had seen in the distance back in the Lost Woods. The homes were painted in varying colors while some bore none at all, presenting themselves as made of the wood that held the rest of the structure, brown and shaven. At least, that's what Link assumed, for how could they remove the texture of the tree's bark? And why would they anyway? The treehouses in the Kokiri Forest were left mostly untouched on the outside, as dwelling within the Great Deku Tree's people meant treating their homes with respect.

Here, the homes had no resemblance to the trees that they had surely come from, covered in paints and constructed in angular shapes. They were unfamiliar and unusual to Link, yet regardless, he found an interesting beauty in the towering buildings. Some stood as tall as some trees in the Lost Woods, at least, from where the boy was standing. Some had signs with large pictures and text, advertising various services that Link had never seen before. A potions shop? A shooting gallery? What were those?

A fountain surrounded by a black railing of hardened material Link had never seen before (but was hot to the touch from the sun), fashioned to point upward, a peculiar stone circle in the center, the shadow from the chiseled dial falling over a strange symbol the boy also hadn't seen until now. This device, whatever it was, appeared to be dependent on the sun given how the shadow appeared thanks to the dial. It was well-designed and seemed to serve its purpose well, but just what was it for?

"I think it might be used to tell time," Navi told Link. At least, that was the most plausible theory she could come up with. "Although," she continued. "I'll admit I can't exactly tell what time it is."

Neither could he, Link thought. If someone wanted to tell what time it was, why not look up at the sun? Its position already changed throughout the day, and it rose in the east and set in the west, marking the beginning of the night. At least, that's how he and the other Kokiri told time. The very forest depended on the sun, yet the only area in the Great Deku Tree's domain where it could be seen was in the Kokiri Forest.

The place was steadily becoming more active, with various people, some tall like the armor-clad soldiers at the gate and Ingo, while others appeared to be children like himself. Some people and children wore green, yet many had clothing that was died a variety of colors, far more than the fashion of the Kokiri Forest. There were several stands selling everything from various fruits and vegetables (some he had never seen in anyone's garden patch) to what appeared to be toys and games. Another had jewelry on display, and another presented pottery of varying sizes and colors, all glazed and shining in the sun. Indeed, there were so many things that Link could never hope to find back home.

"Don't get too distracted," Navi told the boy. "We're here for a reason, you know."

Link nodded. Of course, he hadn't forgotten, but it was just around that time he realized that he had no idea where to go. He had seen the Castle in the distance, yes, but where should he go to try and get there?

"Hey, look!" Link heard a voice cry out from behind. Turning around, he saw a trio of three children around the same age as himself, of course, but they didn't appear to be Kokiri children.

The group consisted of two boys and one girl, each wearing colorful attire compared to Link's single-color tunic and cap. The boy positioned at the front wore a pair of red trousers with brown shoes, a blue top, and a brown vest with a red hat atop his head. A single blue feather was stuck on the right side of the cap. There was another boy behind him to the right, his figure more stout and dressed in a white top, green vest, and brown pants with boots. His hair was cut in a fashion where his bangs were straight across, far neater than the boy in the front, whose hair was wild. Then, to the left, there was a girl in a yellow dress and apron with a white, frilled cap atop her head and brown boots on her feet. Each child had brunette hair, yet the feathered caped boy's eyes were green, while the other boy's was brown and the girl's were blue.

Link pointed to himself, wondering if the boy in front was addressing him. "No, not you," the boy said, pointing to Navi, who was fluttering by Link's shoulder. "That thing," he clarified. "What is it?"

Upon hearing that, Navi grew offended. "Who are you calling a thing?" she questioned. "I'll have you know that I have a name, thank you very much!"

The more robust boy's eyes widened. "See! I told you, Otto! I wasn't seeing things!" he exclaimed. "He DOES have a fairy!"

Upon hearing this, the girl grew excited. "Oooh! Does that mean he's from the forest?" she wondered aloud. Then she directed her attention at Link. "You ARE from the forest, right?"

Link was beginning to grow bothered by the three sets of eyes on him, but he nodded in response to the question. Navi appeared to sense this as well. "Yes, we are, but we have places to be," she said. "So we really must be off-" the fairy's speech was interrupted by the red-capped boy, Otto, seizing her by the wings and pulling her away. "H-Hey! Let go!"

Link's blue eyes widened in shock, but that soon gave way to anger as the three children began poking and prodding at Navi, all the while pulling at her wings. "How can she fly with these?" the other boy questioned, feeling the texture of the thin appendage.

"Not so hard, Liam! You'll pull them off!" the other boy, Otto, chastised. "Still, these are so thin," he observed, studying Navi's wings closer. "Is the light the fairy, or is there something it's covering?"

Navi's cheeks grew hot. "If you please!" she tried to strengthen her struggles. "Stop it, you little hooligans!"

"Guys, I think she's getting angry," the girl told the other two. "Maybe you should let her go."

"Just a minute," Otto told the girl, Eda. "I want to see-" he didn't get to finish because a hand reached out and snatched Navi out of his grip. "Hey!" Link held the fairy, keeping her out of the other boy's distance. "What's your problem? We just want to look at her!"

Link shook his head, growing defensive. "She's m-mine." he stammered, but his voice still had a possessive tone.

"Oh really?" Otto scoffed, folding his arms. "Who says?" He then stepped forward. "Look, we just want to get a good look at her, then we'll give her back."

Link shook his head.

Otto didn't seem to care much for that answer. "Give her here, and I won't have to try and take her."

Again, Link shook his head. True, he hadn't come here with a fight in mind, yet he would finish it! He refused to let Mido walk over him, and this punk was no different!

"Hey, buzz off!" another voice suddenly shouted, getting the attention of all four children. Link saw a red-haired girl running towards them, calling for the others to stop. This momentary distraction allowed the boy in green to take Navi and make a run for it, running off into the growing crowd of the town.

Once Otto realized that Link had run off, he turned back to the redhead girl, clearly angry. "What'd you do that for? We just wanted a glimpse at a real fairy!"

"It's not yours, so you can't touch it!" the girl argued back. "Besides, they didn't like it!"

Otto huffed. "Whatever," he scowled. "I don't need a lecture from a Gerudo spawn," The girl's brow furrowed, but she said nothing. "Come on, let's go."

Otto, Liam, and Eda went off, leaving the redhead alone and going off elsewhere. She folded her arms, frowning as she reminisced on the boy's words. "I am not," she muttered. "Red hair is completely natural. It doesn't mean anything." at least, that's what her dad told her. Still, while she believed him, she couldn't help but feel a nagging doubt at the back of her mind.

Having run a good distance away, Link ducked into a nearby corner, standing at the beginning of an alleyway. "You ok?" he asked Navi, as he had finally released her.

"Well, aside from having my wings nearly pulled off, you almost suffocated me!" the pale-blue fairy complained, straightening out her hair. Not that Link could see it. "Still, thanks," she sighed, her wings aching as she continued to fly. She needed a moment to rest, so she fluttered over to Link's shoulder, taking a seat on the larger boy. This is why I do not like children, she thought but kept her sentiment to herself. True, Link was all right, but she couldn't fathom why her fairy companions would want to be watching over them. Children were so much of a hassle, as she was finding out, for Link had his moments of difficulty. But those ruffians were the worst! "Well, whatever," Navi huffed, standing up and dusting herself off. "For now, I have no intention of interacting with any more children, if that's all right with you."

Link shrugged. Truth be told, neither did he. The children here seemed to not be much better than the other Kokiri back home. True, the only one that harassed him was Mido, but he couldn't exactly call the other children "friends." Save for Saria, the blonde boy never had anyone that went out of their way to talk to him, save for when they needed something. Aside from checking in on the harvest of his crops (which usually wasn't that great), he never had much interaction with anyone. Not the Know-it-All Brothers, not the Twins, not Fado, nobody. The only two Kokiri he interacted with the most were Saria and Mido, and the latter was only because the redhead wouldn't stop messing with him.

But still, Saria and Mido were people he knew, in that he knew about them. He had deeper relationships with them, even if he still hated Mido's guts, but the others seemed to not generally care. They only regarded Link's existence when necessary, as if he were a stranger among them. And while he did miss his home somewhat, when it came down to it, the boy found that, even in the forest, it didn't feel like home. It was isolating and closed off, and he was only allowed there because the Great Deku Tree allowed it. All in all, despite the familiarity, the environment of the Kokiri settlement, when it came to him, always felt cold and distant.

Aside from Saria, he had nobody. And especially after what happened with the Gohma Queen, she was the only one that would probably welcome him back, but the others would never let him forget.

She tried to not let herself become overwhelmed by the sights and sounds, not to mention the ever-growing crowds that surrounded the now active stands selling their wares, but it was difficult. She had come here with a mission in mind, but all she had seen of this place was from what she had seen in the tower that held her room. To be here, in the central square of her father's kingdom, the capital, to be walking the streets for herself, it was almost too much. Still, she had to reign herself in before she got distracted. The girl had risked coming here for a reason, and she had to get this right, otherwise, her efforts would be wasted.

"Well, let's get going," Navi told her green-clad charge. "We've got a Castle to get to."

Indeed, Link thought. Still, in which direction should he go? As he turned and was about to walk forward, his journey was interrupted by a similarly-sized object bumping into him. The boy was sent back, Navi flying off his shoulder and hitting the ground with a quiet impact.

"Hey!" a voice spoke out, reeling over in pain. "Watch it!"

Link's eyes widened, then they grew angry. "You watch it!" he retorted back, but his irritation was soon coupled with curiosity as he looked upon who he ran into.

On the tiles of stone sat a young girl holding her head, her temples feeling as if they were swelling from the pressure underneath. Like the other children that Link and Navi had seen, she wore anything but green. Her attire was rather complementary to Link's in color. The girl wore a pink dress with short, puffed sleeves that ended at her knees, pink socks, brown slippers, and a burgundy, sleeveless vest, the color opposite of the boy's garments. But in appearance, they bore more in common.

The girl's hair was short and a bright blonde, lighter in color than Link's, and somewhat wavy, falling to her just below her neckline. Some of her hair was tied back in a small braid fastened with a pink ribbon, and her eyes were bright blue. But again, a lighter color than Link's, almost sky blue. The girl rose to her feet, massaging her forehead, all the while trying to conjure words to say to the one who had just bumped into her. Of course, when she looked, the young lady found herself robbed of words.

Link was expecting the girl to bark something back at him, but instead, she just stared at the boy in green, studying him as if he were some fascinating creature she had never seen before. From her place on the ground, Navi saw how she circled the boy in green, taking in every detail she could see in his appearance. The fairy wasn't too trusting of this girl, whoever she was. Just what was she up to?

"Who...are you?" the blonde girl questioned Link, raising a brow as she continued to look him over. She waited for a response, but the boy didn't answer her back. "Well? Who are you?" she asked. "What are you doing here?"

"He is Link," the girl heard someone say, suddenly startled by the appearance of the winged ball of light. "And right now, he's on a mission to go to the Castle."

The girl's sky-blue eyes grew upon seeing Navi, the fairy wincing and regretting revealing herself. "You're...a fairy?" she asked. While she appeared fascinated with Navi, reaching out for her at first, but she pulled her hand back. "Is she yours?" she then asked Link.

"He's mine," Navi corrected. "He might have a sword, but he still needs some direction on where to swing it." Link huffed, embarrassed.

"A sword?" the girl questioned. Link nodded. The girl then grew quiet for a moment, seemingly pondering something. "Well, if I can ask, do you happen to have a stone with you?"

Link was puzzled. Stone?

"A green stone," the girl clarified. "One that comes from the forest," he said nothing, but the boy's expression changed upon hearing her say that. "You do have it, right?"

Link was frozen in place, unsure of what to do. Just who was this girl?! How did she know what he was carrying?! What was he supposed to do? Did he go and tell her the truth? Just who was to know that? "W-Who," Link began, speaking slowly to sound out his words. "Wants...to know?"

The girl quirked a brow. This boy's speech pattern was a bit off, but he seemed to understand what she was talking about. "Well, the Royal Family would like to know," she told the boy. "Especially the Princess."

Upon hearing that, Link's sole focus was on her. "Princess?"

The girl nodded. "Yes, Princess," she answered.

"And who are you?" Navi questioned the girl. "Do you know her?"

The girl's eyes shifted for a moment as if she were contemplating a response. "You...could say that," she said. "I'm a friend of the Princess," and upon seeing Link's face brighten, she folded her arms. "And I suppose you want to see her, right?"

Link was surprised. It was as if she could read his mind.

"I'm not surprised," the girl said. "Everyone wants to see the Princess," she huffed, dragging her foot across the stone ground. "Well, it's fortunate for you that I know a way in."

"You do?" Link asked. "Let's go!"

"Whoa, hold on!" the girl said. "I can't take you!"

"Why not?"

She crossed her arms. "Wow, so that's all I am to you? A way in?" she then sighed. "Then again, I suppose I can't blame you. After all, the fact there's a Princess at all in Hyrule is something people won't stop talking about."

Link tilted his head in confusion. "Why?"

The girl appeared surprised by this. "You don't know?" she questioned. "Oh right, you're from the forest, of course, you wouldn't," she then said. She then looked Link over again. "But, yes, I do know the Princess. But I can't take you to her."

"Why not?" Navi asked.

"Because I'm here on an assignment from the Princess," the girl stated. "I have to find someone," she looked Link over again. "No, it can't be you," she muttered. "You're not old enough."

"Huh?" Link asked.

"Oh, it's nothing," the girl said. "But...you do have the stone, and a fairy," she then went silent for a few moments. "Maybe...you're just holding onto them for him?"

For who? Link was unsure of what the girl was talking about.

"Well, until then, I suppose I'll have to rely on you," she said. "Tell you what," she continued. "How's this? You help me find who I'm looking for, and I'll lead you into the Castle. Does that sound good?"

Link pondered this offer for a short time. He had no idea who this girl was, but he had little idea of where to go, and she did know the way. Of course, he would have to help her out first. Ultimately, he agreed, nodding in reply.

"Ok, great! Thanks!" the girl answered. "By the way, what's your name?"

"L-Link." the green-clad boy replied.

"Link?" the girl fell silent. "That's...unique." this wasn't to imply she found it displeasing, but it wasn't a name she had heard before. And yet, there was a familiarity to it. Even if he wasn't old enough to be the one she was searching for, this boy perhaps had something to do with the vision she had seen.

"And who are you? If I may ask?" Navi questioned.

"Me?" The blonde girl asked. "Oh, I'm Ze-" she stopped herself, almost as if she was about to speak something she shouldn't say.

Link quirked a brow, confused.

"I'm..." the girl bit her lip, seemingly thinking hard. "Gris." she finally said.

"Gris?" the boy asked.

"Y-Yeah. Gris," the girl answered. "My name is Gris," she then gazed around the bustling square, then at the boy in green. "Well? Let's go!"

Chapter Text

It was at that moment that she realized she had no idea what she was doing. The girl who called herself "Gris" had snuck out of the Castle to come here and seek the one she had seen in her dreams, but upon reaching the settlement that lay past the stone walls of the Royalty's living quarters, the young lady found that she had only completed phase one of her plan. Now, she had to find the one she was looking for. But where should she start her search? There were several people here in the town square, many of which wore green, but none resembled the one she had seen.

All except the boy she had run into, but it couldn't have been him, he was much too young.

Her blue eyes surveyed the area around her, taking in every detail that she could. While she hadn't found the man she was searching for, she found herself steadily becoming lost in what lay before the girl's eyes. She had never been outside of the Castle grounds, so, even if she had a mission, the sights and sounds were overwhelming, as well as beckoning and tantilizing. Surrounding the blonde were stands selling various wares, some providing local products while others held more exotic items, surely from places outside of the country. Most likely Labrynna, given the land's kingdom was in good standing with Hyrule's, but there were a sparse few that contained objects and produce that hailed from areas outside of the King's land, a place full of arid sand and an endless desert.

Other nations surrounding Hyrule had set up trade routes that extended from the capital of their ally Labrynna to the more distant and less populated Holodrum. A good degree of spices and exotic items came from Labrynna, and they also provided provisions and troops during the civil war that took place. The Princess had yet to be born, the Queen having delivered her first and only child two years after the war's end. Since then, almost every settlement surrounding the Castle was destroyed in the ensuing chaos, the King had commissioned the town surrounding his palace to be expanded, allowing those without homes to find shelter within the new homes made for them. The girl didn't know exactly why, but she suspected that this was to make amends for the damage caused during the conflict that took place.

He's just trying to establish good relations with everyone, Gris thought. Even if she didn't agree with it, she knew the King just wished to avoid any more potential suffering for his people. Still, I think he's being a little too friendly with that man from the desert.

From every corner of the town square, people were selling their wares, Gris's vision engulfed by the multitude of colors and shapes before her. Familiar items such as seasonal fruit and vegetables, including cherries, squash, okra, and stone fruits (peaches, plums, apricots) were presented, but also food such as bananas, bitter oranges, and pomegranates. She had seen them before, of course, but she had only seen produce in such a state before it was cooked. Despite her father's adoption of what many were calling the "peasant's diet," all food was to be prepared before eating for reasons regarding health. After all, the old proverb "Beware of green salads and raw fruits, for they will make your master sick," was a belief held by everyone for years, even those that didn't live in the Castle.

Ms. Meg told her such as well, although she believed it was just to get her to eat her vegetables. No one but her had to follow her father's eating habits, and while some of the food hadn't been all bad, she would've much preferred the variety of pies and tarts being sold on other stands. Baked goods of dried and preserved fruit, ground-up chickpeas, cheese, or even a variety of meats. Still, the options would be more limited compared to what Gris had in the Castle, as everything present for sale was based on the season, and seeing as this was the month of July, the conditions allowed for specific crops to grow without much issue, but meat always required much more time. Even for her, it would be some time until she could have beef again, for the cows were still grazing and wouldn't be ready until the winter months.

Gris wasn't too bitter about that, seeing as she preferred pork anyway.

Stands were also selling fried delicacies and pastries, the blonde recognizing a great deal of them, although her consumption of the breaded treats was limited. Her father didn't wish for her to consume food made with animal fat, so her desserts mainly consisted of sliced fruit with a sparse spoonful of sugar. Speaking of sugar, spices that hailed from outside Hyrule were also displayed, ranging from well-known flavorings such as black pepper and cinnamon to rarer powders like nutmeg and ginger. Salted meat and summer sausage hung out, as well as freshly caught fish from the Zora's River, as well as some crustaceans and underwater plants, including seaweed. All of these and more were present at the market in Castle Town, and, upon seeing it all, Gris had momentarily forgotten why she had come in the first place.

"Hey! Thief!" until she heard a voice shout to the left of her. She turned to see that the boy she had run into was in the grasp of an enraged vendor, the man holding the green-clad youth tightly by the arm.

"Whoa, hey, mister! Let him go!" Gris shouted, running over to Link and the stand's owner, an array of cherries and other stone fruit presented for all to see. "What's the problem here?"

The vendor was a bearded man with an apron, green pants, and brown shoes, and, judging from his expression, very irritable. "This little brat here decided that he was just going to steal one of my fruit!" he answered the girl. He then held up the apricot the boy had replaced with an apple.

"That's not true!" Link protested, still trying to release himself from the man's grip. "I didn't steal it! I traded for it!"

Both Gris and the man were puzzled. "Trade? What are you talking about?" he questioned. Link opened his mouth, but it seemed that he was unable to produce the words needed to speak. The blonde girl looked on in confusion. What was wrong? He was talking fine just now, what had changed? "Look, I don't have time for your stupid games, kid!" the vendor told Link. "You pay for that with ACTUAL rupees, or I'll have that guard over there take you off to the dungeon!"

Gris looked over and saw that, indeed, there was a guard nearby, just one of several stationed around Castle Town to make sure that no one caused any trouble. Curses, she thought! She couldn't be seen, let alone potentially be recognized! If she was caught now, then all her efforts to sneak out would be for nothing! "If it's money you want," she said, stepping in and producing a small purse that was attached by a loop of leather around her shoulder. "Then name your price," she then opened up the purse and Link peered over, curious about the contents inside. "I think I've got this covered."

Link's blue eyes, as well as Navi's, grew large upon viewing what was inside the small satchel. They appeared to be small rocks or stones, yet unlike those he had come to know, Link saw that these objects were splashed with an array of colors. From greens to blues to reds, and even some purple, each stone was unique save for one feature that linked them all together. The rocks were all fashioned into the shape of an elongated diamond, where the mid-sections were longer, almost rectangular. Just as he wondered what these objects were used for, the boy in green watched as Gris pulled out one of the stones, a red one, and handed it over to the vendor.

"Would this be enough?" the blonde girl asked, the man swiping the stone from her hand and studying it.

"Hmm...all right, fine. It's twenty rupees anyway," the vendor said, handing Link the apricot. "But tell your friend to bring his rupees next time! Otherwise, he might not be so lucky!"

"Yeah, I'll do that," Gris answered. Then, she grabbed Link and pulled him away. "Don't worry, my father," she said, but quickly corrected herself. "I mean, the King, doesn't send children to the dungeon," she wasn't even sure if the Castle had a dungeon. "Still, I have to ask, what were you thinking? You can't just go and take things from people's stands!"

"I...I wasn't!" Link protested. "I t-traded!"

"Traded?" Gris questioned, raising a brow.

"Perhaps I should explain," Navi said, fluttering in between Link and Gris. "It's a system of exchange where he comes from," she told the girl. "It's a form of payment, in a sense."

Gris blinked. "Wow," she said. "You ARE clueless."

Link gasped, offended. "A-Am not!" he then took a bite out of the apricot, allowing the juices and texture to soak into his tongue. It was soft to bite into, and the flavor was sweet with a little bit of sourness.

Gris looked at him with abject horror as he consumed the raw fruit. "Well, that settles it," the blonde girl continued, taking Link by the hand, almost dropping the apricot. "It looks like I've got to watch out for you."

"Um, that's MY job," Navi interjected. Then she glanced at Link. "Although," the fairy admitted. "I am not too knowledgeable about the customs of this land."

"Much less eating habits," the blonde girl murmured. "Ok, then," Gris turned her attention to Link, who had finished the apricot. He held the pit of the fruit in his hand before putting it in his pocket. It looked like one of the Deku Seeds he used for his slingshot. Perhaps it could be useful as an extra set of ammo. "You heard the fairy. You're with me now." Before Link could protest or argue with either of them, the boy was pulled forward by Gris, being led around by the hand as she searched the ever-growing crowd of people, both buyers and sellers alike.

"If I may," Navi questioned the girl. "Just who are you searching for again?"

"I'm looking for the one that's been summoned here," Gris replied. "The Hero," she then looked back at Link. "But don't get me wrong, I'm looking for the Hero of Hyrule," she clarified. "You're just the Hero of the Kokiri, right?"

Link nodded. But still, if he wasn't the Hero she was looking for, then who was it? As if reading his mind, Navi asked for him. "And just what's so different between Link and him?" the fairy questioned. "After all, the Great Deku Tree himself tasked him with delivering the Kokiri Emerald to the Princess herself."

"Shh!" Gris hushed. "Don't talk so loud out here!" she chastised. "And any talk about stuff like that has to be private," she paused, taking a moment to look around the area, trying to spy for anyone that could've been listening in. "There may be spies among us at this very moment."

Link was surprised to hear this. Spies? From where? And who were they spying for? Was it the same enemy that the giant owl spoke of? He was about to reach for his sword, but Gris made a gesture to stop.

"No way! You can't take that out here! You'll attract the attention of one of the guards!" the girl gestured to one of the men clad in armor that was stationed near the entrance of the town coming from Hyrule Field.

"And just what are you two up to?" a voice asked from behind. Both Link and Gris turned and found themselves face-to-face with another pointed-ear man clad in armor, only the metal of his protective gear was shining white. His legs were covered by violet tights with golden lining down his outer legs, and portions of his armor were even cast in gold. He held a spear with a bright, red flag tied to the pointed end, and his eyes were concealed by a heavy helmet.

Link was startled at the armored man's sudden appearance, but Gris looked to be terrified. What was wrong? "C-Captain Viscen?!" she appeared to be familiar with the well-dressed knight.

"Yes, that's me," he said, raising a brow from underneath his helmet. "And who are you?"

Gris froze. She prayed he wouldn't recognize her voice. "Uh, well, I-"

"Is that a sword you've got with you?" the tall guard questioned Link, gesturing to the handle peeking out from behind the boy's back. "You're a little young to have that, aren't you?"

"Well, isn't it obvious, Sir?" an unexpected but familiar voice made itself known, and the guard turned to face a young, red-haired girl. "He's just getting ready for Princess Day."

Link was overcome with confusion. Princess Day? He looked at Navi to see if she had any idea as to what they were talking about, but she too had no idea. The most she could offer was a shrug. Yet Gris's seemed to light up as if the red-haired girl had just given her what she needed at that moment.

"Y-Yeah, that's right! Princess Day!" Gris told the Captain, nodding along with her words. "He's just trying out the costume his mom made him! He's wanting to dress up as the Hero!"

"The sword's just for show," the red-haired girl added. "It's not real."

"Yeah, I mean, look," Gris continued to talk, taking ahold of Link and turning his body, allowing the taller man to see his shield. "This is made of wood. He made this himself," she then looked at the green-clad boy. "Isn't that right?" Link looked at the other blonde, still puzzled as to what she was talking about. Then, he felt his hand receiving a tight squeeze. "I said, isn't that right?"

Finally understanding, Link faced the Captain and nodded, agreeing with the two girls. Yeah, that was it! He was dressing up as the Hero! Even if he had no idea what the Hero even looked like. Or anything else about him.

Captain Viscen gazed at the three children, pondering what he had just been told. After a few moments of debilitating, the older man accepted their answer. "Well, all right," he said. "Just keep that thing in its place while you're in Castle Town," he addressed Link. "I don't want you getting in trouble with your parents so close to Princess Day," he then turned away. "All right, stay out of trouble, you three!" with that, he marched off, leaving the boy and two girls alone. Along with one fairy.

"Whew," Gris sighed, wiping her brow to rid herself of some of the sweat she developed due to her nervousness. "That was close," she muttered. Even if he was a good man, it was clear to everyone that the Captain of the Royal Guard was a total dolt. Still, his inability to recognize her would serve her well, if she knew where to start searching. "Anyway, speaking of the Hero, come on," she said, grabbing Link's hand again. "We've got to get looking while there's still time!"

"Time for what?" the redhead questioned.

"Oh, uh, nothing," Gris answered. "Nothing important."

"Sounds important," the other girl remarked. "Where are you from? I don't remember ever seeing you in Castle Town before."

The blonde, red, and pink-dressed girl shifted in place, trying to conjure up a response. All the while being completely ignorant of the fact that her "partner" was fascinated by what was occurring a short distance away. And whatever it was, it was certainly more interesting than whatever this Gris person had going on. And just what was this Princess Day?

"I...I'm Gris," Gris began, the gears in her mind spinning, trying to produce a satisfactory answer. "I... just moved here. Last year," she told the redhead. "From Labrynna."

"Labrynna, huh? That's quite far away," the other girl questioned. "I'm Malon," she introduced herself. "I live at the ranch outside of town."

Despite his interest being on what was going on ahead, Navi listened in on the conversation between the two girls. She then saw Link beginning to try and release himself from Gris's grip without her noticing.

"The ranch?" the blonde, short-haired girl asked. "Oh, so you're the girl that helps deliver milk to the Castle!" she said with realization. She then paused when her eyes fell on the other's hair. "I didn't know you were a redhead though," she muttered the last part, hoping to keep it under her breath.

"Huh?" Malon asked. "You say something?"

"Oh, nothing!" Gris assured her. From what she could see, this Malon didn't appear suspicious or shady, yet the blonde remembered that she had to be careful. The war was over, yet everyone knew what it meant for someone to have red hair. The King actively discouraged what he called "outdated and prejudiced beliefs," but some of these ran deep and began when the Kingdom of Hyrule was first established. Or, as the legends say, Gris was unsure.

"Hey," suddenly, the blonde girl became aware that the green-clad boy's fairy was speaking to her. "I'd hate to break up your conversation, but my boy has gone missing."

At last, he had arrived! He knew he recognized those kids from earlier! Especially the one with the feather in his stupid hat! When he had seen some other children clamoring over a stand not too far away, Link found it much more fascinating than what was going on with the two girls talking to each other. He wouldn't go far, he could still see Gris and the red-haired girl, Malon, a short distance away. He'd be back soon, Link told himself. Besides, girls usually never talked about anything interesting anyway.

"Eep!" Navi yelped, hiding underneath Link's cap. "If you're going over there, then I'm staying in here!" she then lay flat in his blonde hair, peeking out from underneath the green hat to see what was happening.

"Come on, Otto! Fire!" Liam cheered, the feather-caped boy aiming a slingshot similar to Link's own at a board with targets set up to fire at, all standing up and slowly moving on a small pathway, forcing the one with the slingshot to react fast. Unlike the targets back in the Kokiri Forest, they were smaller and there were several of them, all painted to resemble the stones Gris contained in her purse.

"I need that mask for Princess Day!" Eda added, watching as Otto continued to fire.

The mask in question was one of several faces carved out of wood, all painted and shaped into a menagerie of varying shapes. The faces were hanging on three boards near the small shooting area, divided into three sections, each with a painted stone attached to a wooded sign above each. Some were fashioned to appear human while others were based on animals, both those Link had seen and those he had not. Otto was on his last shot, and the green-clad boy saw that he needed to make it count. Then, with one pull and release, the shot hit one of the targets, one that was painted to resemble a green stone, although the brunette boy didn't seem too pleased with this.

"Shoot!" he hissed, cursing his luck. The targets stopped moving, and Otto sighed in disappointment.

Then, Link noticed a figure step out from the surprisingly deep shadows in the small shooting gallery, a man taller than all four children, yet possessing a surprisingly childlike smile. His eyes were small and almost appeared closed, and his hair was bright red, almost as red as Malon's. He wore clothing consisting of purply dyes and wore cuffs and a neckpiece of gold. His skin was fair and he bore pointed ears, signifying that he was a Hylian, but even still, Link couldn't help but think this guy was from somewhere far away. The redheaded, well-dressed figure turned his attention to Otto, Liam, and Eda.

"Congratulations," the man in purple told Otto. "Pick your price from the board over there, please."

Otto looked at the selection, disappointed. Link was unsure why, as, from what he saw, all of these masks looked pretty cool! But when he looked at the girl in the yellow dress and white cap, the boy in green saw that she too was looking through the selection. And she seemed just as disappointed as Otto had. Then, the man in charge of the stand spoke up. "Oh, just a moment," he said, coming out from behind the stand with an object in his hand. It was an extravagant mask painted to resemble a woman's face, yet with bright red lips and various colors on a canvas of white. "I just remembered, I meant to put this one on the green board. Although," he then handed it to Otto. "I think I can suspect which one you want."

Otto's eyes brightened, this turn of events unexpected, but welcome. "W-Wow, Mister! Thanks!" he then turned and gave the hood to Eda, who promptly put it on. She indeed very much resembled the Princess. Or, at least what the Princess might've looked like. No one knew exactly.

"Thanks, Otto." Eda thanked the boy, giving him a small peck on the cheek.

"Eda? Eda! Come on!" a voice shouted in the distance. "We've got to help round up the chickens for Ms. Anju!"

"Coming, Mom!" the girl answered. But before she went off, she looked back and winked at Otto.

The blush on the boy's face was obvious. "Oooh!" Liam teased, Otto's face brightening into that of a strawberry.

"Shut up!" Otto barked back.

"You like her!" Liam stuck out his tongue and ran off, Otto following suit.

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

Do not!"

The two boys went into other parts of the square. ""You're not from around here, are you?"

Link was somewhat startled, the man giving him a knowing smile. How did he know?

"In fact, you look like you come from a place with lots of trees and greenery," the man continued. "Perhaps you've seen some of the Forest Children," he then looked at the boy's hat. "Maybe you've even met a few fairies yourself."

Link was frozen in place. Just who was this guy? He didn't answer, unsure of whether to confirm or deny the man's claims. But it seemed that the boy was caught, unable to worm his way out of this.

"I'm no enemy if that's what you're wondering," the man told the boy. "You could say that I'm here just when you need me to be."

Link had so many questions, all of which related to just who this guy was, and how did he know so much? Navi wondered this as well, yet instead of curiosity and intrigue, she gazed at the purple-clad individual with suspicion and caution. She was debating whether or not to say something, but before either the fairy or boy could speak, someone else did so for them.

"Hey!" At first, Link had believed it was Navi, yet turning in the direction of the noise, he saw that the fairy hadn't emerged from his hat, and the voice had belonged to Gris. The blonde girl ran to Link, clearly displeased. "What's up with you just going off?! You promised that you'd help me look for the Hero!"

"Well, maybe he's in the right place," both Link and Gris turned to see Malon approaching, the redhead having been drawn to this area as well. She then turned her attention to the man by the stand and the displays of masks. "This is a shooting gallery, right?"

The man shrugged. "More or less," he confirmed. "I'm setting up shop here, yet I still need to do some advertising. I'm a mask salesman, you see," he explained. "The fine fellow that runs the actual shooting gallery in this town suggested that I set out a game for people to try out," he then gestured to the masks. "And, depending on which target you hit, you win some of the extra products I have. "All three children looked at the display of carved faces, some beautiful, some hideous, and terrifying. But all of them seemed to have a specific meaning to them, even if none of them understood what they were. "Although, if I'm correct, I heard that you are looking for someone?" He asked, turning his attention to Gris.

The blonde girl was unprepared to be put on the spot, but she knew that she would have to stretch the truth a bit if she wanted to complete her objective. The whole Kingdom of Hyrule, perhaps even the world, depended on it. "Well, yes," Gris answered. "But, it's no one important. He's a servant at the Castle, and he's in trouble for sneaking out." It was ironic she would say that, considering what she was doing. "He liked to come here and play games, but I'm not sure where he is now."

Malon rose a brow, sensing that the girl was lying through her teeth. Still, she believed Gris when she said she was searching for someone. Someone she called the "Hero" to be exact. But still, why was she being so secretive? What was she trying to hide?

"Well, it seems that this young lady here has the right idea," the mysterious, red-haired man said, looking at Malon. "For who you're looking for would probably be around here somewhere. Especially someplace like this," he explained. "Everyone's preparing for Princess Day, you know."

"Yeah, Princess Day," Gris answered, nodding. "He'd probably want to try and win a mask for himself."

"Well then," the smiling "Happy Mask Salesman," said. "While you're waiting for him," he then went back into the stand. "Would you like to try?"

Linked pointed to himself as if questioning what the salesman had just said. He wanted the boy to try his hand at the game.

"Here," the smiling man turned his attention to Malon. "You look like you have a good shot. Try your hand at it, would you?"

"Oh, uh, sure," the redheaded girl agreed. "Although, I'm supposed to be waiting for my dad," she then muttered, "Even if he probably fell asleep along the way."

"Still, you look like a fine candidate to show how the game works," the Happy Mask Salesman told Malon. "I have a feeling about you."

"Well, if you insist."

With that, the cheery, purple-clad man got back into the stand and activated the mechanism that moved the targets. Then, to the bewilderment of the three children, seemed to vanish into the shadows cast by the overhead section of the stand. Link looked at both girls, confirming that he hadn't imagined it. Just who WAS this guy? Better yet, from what they've seen, was he even human?

After a few moments of silence, Malon took the slingshot and reached into the small, circular container that held tiny pellets used for ammunition. To the shock of both Link and Gris, struck several of the targets painted with a red stone. Just what were those called? Rupees? Link believed that was what that vendor said who nearly got him in trouble. Although, if Navi wasn't hiding, she probably would've lectured him on how social customs in foreign lands are different, so he should be respectful. Even if she didn't know any of the customs of these people either.

After the timer had run out, the mechanism stopped, and the Happy Mask Salesman emerged from the shadows once again. "Congratulations!" he exclaimed, celebrating Malon's successful shot. He then moved from within to behind the stand, gesturing to the displays of masks. "You can pick from any of these masks, as you've got the highest score."

Malon went over and surveyed the selection before her, taking in each crafted face as well as the colors that covered the wooden base. Then, she settled on one of the masks from the display with the mall blue rupee sign. It wasn't so much a mask, but rather, a hood of some kind fashioned to look like a rabbit. Its ears were long and its texture was soft, almost akin to the fur of the animal it was based on, and it had large, black eyes sewn onto the head, giving it a young, bright-eyed look of wonder and innocence.

"Ah, that one," the Happy Mask Salesman said. "That's the Bunny Hood," he then studied Malon's features. "Yes, that would suit you nicely. You look like someone good with animals."

"Well, living on a ranch helps," Malon said. She then took her mask and went off. "Thanks!" but before she went away completely, she turned back to face Link and Gris. "Sorry, but I do have to wait for my dad. He's supposed to be here any minute now. But, if we're lucky, maybe we'll see each other around sometime!" she then ran off into the distance. "Bye!"

Now Link and Gris were alone together, the Happy Mask Salesman eyeing both children. Even if his eyes were small, they had a knowing look to them, as if he could read what was on the children's minds. "Well, how about you, dear?" he turned his attention to Gris. "Would you like a try at it?"

"Me?" Gris questioned, gesturing to herself.

"Of course!" the red-haired man nodded. "After all, Princess Day is coming up, and you'll be wanting to look festive for the occasion," then went back into the stand. "Go on, shoot!" then, once again, he faded into the shadows.

Even if he hadn't done anything yet, Link still wasn't entirely sure if this Happy Mask Salesman was a friend or foe. And it seemed that Navi didn't either. "Keep an eye on him," she whispered. "He could be with the enemy."

The same enemy that had cursed the Great Deku Tree, Link thought. Well, he was here now, so he could deliver the green stone to the Princess. When he helped Gris find who she was looking for. Still, whoever this "Hero of Hyrule" was, he hoped to find him soon, as Link didn't want to wait too long to go to the Castle. He didn't want this "enemy" to gain any further advantage.

"Um, hello?" Gris's voice broke Link out of his musing. "Aren't you going to shoot?"

Oh, right! But he needed some ammo. But when he looked, he had seen that the small container containing the small pellets had been filled up again. Pulling back the slingshot, Link released a few shots, all of which hit the green rupee-painted targets.

Gris watched, a little puzzled. "Uh," she said. "You DO know that green rupees are almost worth nothing, right?"

Link stopped his firing and gazed at the blonde girl, raising a brow. "Really?" He had just been shooting at the green targets because he preferred their color.

"Yeah, really," Gris responded. "Look," she then pointed at the targets. "A green rupee means you have one unit of currency. Or, in this case, one point," she then paused for a moment. "That IS right, right, Mister Salesman?"

"Correct," the Happy Mask Salesman's voice answered, but his figure didn't emerge from the shadows. "Please, continue."

The children and fairy were somewhat unnerved, but the girl went on explaining. "The blue rupees are worth five," she pointed to the blue-painted targets. "And the red rupees are worth twenty." There were also purple rupees that are worth fifty, as well as silver and gold that were with hundreds. Yet it appeared that the game only had the three most common gems represented.

Well, if that was the case, then he had better show what he could do! With that new information, Link directed his attention to the targets of red, which were partially blocked by the moving targets of blue and green. To the amazement of Gris, however, the boy had no trouble hitting them. It seemed that he was quite experienced in using a slingshot, much less using it efficiently. After a short time, the mechanism ceased moving, and the Happy Mask Salesman emerged.

"Congratulations!" he told Link. "Please, select your prize."

Link went over and gazed at the selection, eyeing each one. Truth be told, all of them looked pretty cool. Yet then, his eyes spotted a face painted white, shaped to look like a skull with small horns protruding from the sides of its head.

"Ah, the Skull Mask!" the purple-clad salesman exclaimed. "That's a fine mask," he told the boy. "It tells of childhood innocence and playfulness," he then paused, noticing Link's face as the boy studied it. "And perhaps pleasant nostalgia."

Link looked up at the Happy Mask Salesman, once again taken aback by the figure's keen intuition.

"So, how about it?" the redheaded man questioned. "You want it?" Link nodded. "Then, it's yours, my friend." he then handed the mask to the boy, who immediately put it on.

He turned to face Gris, who, to his surprise, was startled by the sight of the carved skull with horns. "Uh, well," she said, unsure of how to respond. "That mask is...unique." she honestly had no idea why the boy had chosen that one.

"So, what about you, young lady?" the Happy Mask Salesman questioned Gris. "Will you try?"

"Me?" the blonde girl debated the man's offer for a few moments before shrugging her shoulders. "Sure, ok," she answered. Besides, perhaps she would be able to draw the attention of the one she was looking for. After all, someone like him would have to have good aim.

But the boy she was with couldn't be the one she was looking for. He didn't match the one she had seen.

Gris had taken the slingshot and began firing, but, to her dismay, she found that her aim was awful. Shot after shot, she failed to hit anything. One attempt resulted in the pellet bouncing off the side of the stand and going off into the distance, a cry of pain echoing from across the square. The girl winced in guilt, yet hoped that no one knew where the pellet came from. Still, after a short time, the mechanism stopped. Had the timer gone out? Usually, from what she had seen during Malon and Link's runs, the targets moved for a little longer.

Then, the Happy Mask Salesman emerged, but from within the stand this time. "It seems you're having a bit of trouble," he observed.

Gris bit her lip. "Uh, yeah. I guess so."

"It's all right, not everyone is perfect at first. It takes practice," he said. "Still," he eyed the girl. "It would be a shame for you not to have a mask of your own," he then whispered. "After all, you shall need it in the future."

"Huh?" Gris asked, believing that the salesman had said something.

"Oh, it's nothing," he said. "Tell you what," he then gazed at Link. "I'll let that young man fire on your behalf," he said. "But, given the circumstances, I get to decide what mask I shall give to you."

Gris was puzzled. "Why?"

The salesman smiled. "Because just any mask won't do. Not for you," he told her, smile growing wider. As if he knew a deep, dark secret that she was keeping. Gris froze, unsure of what to say. Could he know who she was? "Would that be all right with you?" he asked her.

The blonde girl was silent for a few moments. "S-Sure," she said. "Ok."

"Very good!" he then turned his attention to Link. "Now, here's the catch: you can only use one shot. And it cannot be any of the pellets I have."

What? Link had no idea what he was supposed to do. How could he fire without ammo?

"I think you have something," the salesman said. "Check your pockets."

Link checked the pockets of his tunic and found the pit of the apricot he had eaten before. Would it work? It was the only thing he had that he could make use of, so it would have to do. The targets began to move again, and Link loaded the stone of the stonefruit into the slingshot and fired, watching as the pit soared through the air. The shot hit a red rupee right in the center.

"Well done!" the Happy Mask Salesman proclaimed, emerging from the shadows, but instead, he didn't come to show Gris the masks. "Now, as I said, I shall decide the mask for you," he told the girl. Then, he studied her, taking in her features, but that wasn't all. Even if the girl wasn't entirely sure, it felt as if the man was searching through her very soul, as if he could see right through her. "Mhm, I see," he said, rubbing his chin. "Yes, I think I have just the thing for you," he then pulled out a mask and presented it to the girl.

The mask in itself was simple, fashioned to look like an animal Link had never seen before. It had a snout and black nose, along with slanted eyes and large ears. The majority of the mask was painted a bright yellow with black inner ears. Gris took the mask and viewed it, surprised at what the man had given her.

"A Keaton mask?" she said aloud.

"Indeed," the salesman said. "From what I heard, that's quite a popular mask here. It seems even the legends of Keatons extend to even here."

Legends of Keatons? What was that, Link wondered. Sensing his confusion, the Happy Mask Salesman explained. "I haven't seen one myself, but I heard that they resemble foxes with golden fur and multiple tails," his gaze then fell on Gris. "Although, I heard that they sometimes take the guise of people, particularly women."

"Oh, is that right?" Gris asked.

"Indeed," the man responded. "They hide their true selves from everyone else, especially those that they find themselves drawing close to. They believe that no one would love them if they knew who they were, so they conceal their appearance and identity. And you seem to be someone who likes disguises."

Gris said nothing, growing nervous. If he let it slip who she was, then everything would be ruined!

But, surprisingly, he merely said. "Well, congratulations to both of you! Please, visit the shop when it's open!"

"Uh, yeah! Will do! Thanks!" with that, Gris pulled Link away, the Happy Mask Salesman watching the two children go off.

"Oh yes," he said quietly to himself. "Your ruse cannot go on forever," his smile then faltered and he shook his head. "You will just bring yourself more pain."

Well, there was no sign of him. Gris sighed in frustration. "Where is he?" she wondered aloud. "He has to be around here somewhere!"

"Hey, simmer down," Navi told her, emerging from Link's hat. "I'm sure he's here," she assured her. "Although, just why do you think this Hero you're looking for is here specifically?"

"I-" Gris began, but then corrected herself. "The Princess, she said she knows he's here."

"How does she know?" Navi questioned.

"She...just does," Gris answered. "I don't entirely get it either, but she just knows," she said. "And even if he isn't here right now, he'll be coming soon," she bit her lip. "All of Hyrule is counting on him. And her."

Link was silent. This sounded serious.

"And she needs to find him," Gris continued. "She needs to find him before something terrible happens," her bottom lip then trembled. "No one believes her," she said. "No one but me, that is," she added for clarification, hoping Link and Navi would buy it. "So I have to help her. Because I don't want something bad to happen either." she tried to contain herself, but she felt her eyes growing wet, the beginnings of tears developing. Then, she felt a hand place itself on her shoulder. She looked up to see Link smiling at her.

"It's ok," Navi told the girl. "We'll help you."

Gris's teary eyes widened. "R-Really?"

Link nodded.

"Well...ok. Thank you," Gris then looked around. "Well, where do we look first?"

Chapter Text

"All right," Gris said, her confidence brought back up thanks to Link's assurance he'd help her. "He could be at one of the stands," she told Link. "Search around. Remember, he's wearing green, like you."

Link nodded and began scouring the area, noticing the various displays selling various products, as well as food.

"Oh, if I may," Navi spoke up, gaining Gris's attention. "I've heard about it a few times since we've arrived, but what is 'Princess Day'?" the fairy questioned.

"Princess Day?" Gris tilted her head. "Oh," she shrugged. "It's nothing really special. It's just the Princess's birthday."

"Well, isn't that important in itself?" Navi asked. "After all, the Princess is an important person."

"Well, it's a little more than just a birthday celebration," Gris clarified. "It's a holiday, yes, but it isn't something that's celebrated every year," she said. "This one is just the ninth one they've held since the Princess was the first one born in a hundred years."

Navi was flabbergasted. "A hundred years?!"

"Oh, you don't know?" Gris asked. "Then again, you are from the forest, so of course, you wouldn't know," she realized. "It's a little strange, and I don't get it myself," she confessed. "But, while there's a King and a Queen," she then paused. "Or, sometimes, in this case, just a King," Perhaps she was thinking too deeply into it, but Navi swore she saw the girl's expression grow solemn. "There's very rarely ever a Princess of Hyrule."

"Why's that?" Navi questioned. Even if Hylian children were probably born different than the Kokiri, the Great Deku Tree sowed just as many girls as he did boys.

"No one knows," Gris told the fairy. "But ever since the Kingdom of Hyrule was established, there has only been a daughter of the Royal Family once every century," she explained. "And, as long as she's alive, the day she was born is celebrated as a holiday for everyone."

Navi smiled. "Sounds like fun," she replied. True, there were the Great Harvests of the Kokiri, when the most coveted crops were ready to be eaten. The children tolerated vegetables (even if they preferred them to be pickled), but when the fruit grew ripe, it was a momentous occasion. Even the fairies got a chance to eat the grown produce. Looking back, it was funny that she had missed Link every time she had gone. "But you don't seem that thrilled about it."

"Oh no, it's fun," Gris told the fairy. "People dress up, there are plays put on, games, food, everything is like a huge party."

"Then why do you seem disappointed?"

"Well, it's great and all," the girl then looked down at the ground. "But it doesn't matter because the King won't even let his daughter out of the Castle."

Before Navi could question what the girl meant, she then noticed something different about their little trio. Specifically, that one of them was missing.

While he had taken the apricot (traded, not stolen) to fill his stomach, the various sights and scents drew Link's attention, as well as stirred his curiosity as to what each of the goods around him tasted like. Link's sense of smell caught scents familiar to him, such as that of fresh fruit and vegetables, yet there were others that he had never experienced before. Scents from items and cooked foods that he had never seen before. One stand, in particular, drew him, his blue eyes taking in the baked goods before him. He knew not what they were, but they appeared to be fluffy and slightly brownish gold. Warmth radiated off of them, and, compared to the produce, had a very particular, almost overpowering smell to them, as if they were covered in a liquid stronger than any used for pickling.

It was all new and strange to him, and he was curious, but he also remembered what happened when he tried to trade out an apricot for an apple. And Gris looked horrified when he ate the orange fruit too. Why? It was just a raw apricot. It wasn't as if he were going to swallow the pit!

"Huh?" a man dressed in an apron and oil-soaked clothes looked over to see a boy in green peering at his wares. "Who are you?"

"There you are!" Link turned to see Gris and Navi coming towards him, the blonde girl frustrated with the boy. "Look, you're supposed to help me, so that means I need you to stick around!"

"Ah, is he your friend?" the vendor questioned the blonde girl.

"Well, kinda," Gris answered. "But he keeps wandering off when I need him to stay put!"

"And not heeding his appointed fairy's advice," Navi added.

Link was feeling very ganged up at the moment. "Well, perhaps he's just curious about what's here," the vendor suggested, trying to get the two others off the boy's back. "I've just fried these, so they're fresh!"

Upon hearing this, Gris found her eyes unconsciously drawn to the items available on the man's stand. Indeed, there was quite an array of fried food before them, both those that were sweet and savory to either meaty or cheesy. None of them were unfamiliar to the young girl, but, due to her diet, she couldn't indulge in such food often. Needless to say, it didn't take long for her to remember she hadn't eaten breakfast today. And before she could try and deny it, she heard a painful growl emanate from her abdomen.

"Um," she was stuck on what to do. It was clear that she was hungry, and the boy in green was eyeing the purse she carried with her. Ultimately, she decided to give in. But she'd only be buying one thing, and that was it! "What do you have?"

A Few Moments Later

She would buy just one thing. Yeah, that was a lie. In her arms rested baked and fried goods, the oil and lard coating the golden, crispy surface getting on her fingers. Link had more in his hands, yet she was the one that had to pay for it all. "You had better appreciate this!" she told the boy. "Nearly half of my purse is empty now!" she was exaggerating, but she did have to pay a good amount of rupees for everything bought. "Here," Gris said, looking at a rug laid out underneath a stairwell on the side of a nearby building. "That looks like a good place to sit. Come on."

Both Gris and Link, along with the fluttering Navi, made their way to the small rug and sat down, setting the collection of baked and fried goods. "Wow," the fairy said in awe. "What are they?" she asked Gris.

"Yeah," Link added. "What are they?"

"What?" Gris asked. "You wanted them, but you don't even know what they are?" she said, then she stopped and thought for a moment. "Oh, right. You're from the forest," she remembered. "Well," she began, pointing to a small pastry that could fit in the palm of either child's hand, for they were made to be consumed by a singular person. "First of all, that's a pie," she said. "Although, I don't know what kind it is. You didn't give me the chance to explain before you handed it to me to pay for it."

Link presented an apologetic smile, yet his attention went back to the pie. Just what was a pie? And just what was inside it? Well, only one way to find out. Giving a small shrug, Link bit into the pastry and found his teeth tearing through a strange, crusty, almost dry-tasting texture, yet his tongue was unprepared for what was inside. Gris had explained to him that pies could be filled with anything from different fruit to various types of meat, although, Link had no idea what meat was.

And what he tasted wasn't like any fruit he had eaten before. The texture was fatty and somewhat chewy, and, unlike the crops he had seen in both the Kokiri Forest and here, the filling in this pie wasn't either crisp or firm. Nevertheless, its flavor was another story entirely. Immediately, while he didn't know why, Link's mind was filled with images of sitting by a lit fire, whether with Saria or by himself in the Lost Woods. The filling smelt almost as if it had been roasted similar to how yams were roasted when they were ready for harvest in the Forest.

It felt very different, and yet familiar. And while he didn't entirely understand it, he found he liked the flavor, as unusual as it was.

"Ooh, lucky!" Gris said, frowning. "You got yourself a pork pie!"

"Pork..." Link looked at the food he had just bitten into. "Pie?"

"Yeah, pork," Gris said. "It's a type of meat."

"Oh yeah, meat!" Link said, proud that he recalled what she had said. But then, he remembered. "What's meat?"

You can't be for real. Gris thought. She kept it to herself, however. "Well," then, she found she didn't have a good explanation herself. "You know how trees give fruit, and vegetables grow out of the ground?" she asked. If she put it in a way he could understand, he would get it. Link nodded in response. "Well, meat is kind of like that with animals."

The meat came from animals? How so? Link inspected the small pie, the pastry not as warm as the others he and Gris had bought. Scratch that, Gris bought everything, and Link just chose what he thought looked good.

"Well, bite it," Gris urged him, puzzled as to just why the boy waited. Then, to her surprise, he tore the small, handheld pie in half and handed it to the blonde girl. "Huh? What are you doing?" Link pushed it closer to her. She then understood. "You want me to have some?"

He nodded. Although, he found himself beginning to wonder if he should've offered her one of the other items they bought. Or rather, she bought. And she, thanks to him and his hungry eyes, bought a lot. Better yet, was she still a little irritated at him for wanting so much? It was just he had never seen food like this before, he didn't even know what meat was, let alone that such a thing existed before now.

"Well, if you insist," Gris said before taking the half of pork pie from Link. "Don't mind if I do." She took a bite out of the pastry, and Link saw her face immediately shift into one of satisfaction. "Mmmm," she hummed, reveling in the taste. "One of my favorites," she then swallowed the bite, and then looked at Link. "Well? Try it!" she urged. "Trust me, you'll like it."

Link then turned to Navi, who was sitting atop his right shoulder. He tore off a tiny bit from his half and handed it to her as if to ask if she wanted some. "Oh, me?" she asked. "I suppose I could," she said, taking the small piece. Although it was large enough to fit in both of her tiny hands. "I'm not sure I can finish the whole thing."

Without anything else holding him back, Link took a bite out of the pasty, his tongue instantly assaulted with a taste that was both foreign and inviting. The outer crust of the small pie wasn't overly warm, it was quite cold in comparison to the other items purchased, yet it was flaky and somewhat fatty. It tasted somewhat salty and rich, but when came to the filling inside, Link was taken aback. This was what meat was? The meat, or, what Gris had called pork, tasted of pepper and spices, but they were unlike those used for pickling the Kokiri crops. There was also a thick layer of what seemed like flavored jelly surrounding the pocket of meat inside the pie, the flavor strong and adding to the overall pastry.

Surprisingly enough, Navi had finished her piece as well, although she felt quite stuffed from that small amount.

"Pork pies are great, right?" Gris said. Link nodded in agreement. He still didn't know what meat was, let alone how animals produced it, but he liked it! "They're thought to be a food more for the working class," the girl mused. "At least, that's what Ms. Meg said. But I don't care, it's one of my favorites."

Link tilted his head. "Ms. Meg?"

"Oh, she's my-" Gris began, but stopped herself. She had nearly let it slip again. "She's the Princess's teacher," the blonde girl explained. "Well, one of them."

She had more than one? True, Link supposed she could, yet, from his own experience, the Great Deku Tree taught him and the other Kokiri all by himself. Why would the Princess need multiple teachers?

"Well, Ms. Meg teaches the Princess history," Gris clarified to the boy and fairy. "Ms. Joelle teaches her language, Ms. Beth is her music teacher, and Ms. Amy helps her with painting."

"Sounds like a lot of learning," Navi observed.

"Oh, trust me, it is," Gris said. "And it can be so boring too."

Navi quirked a brow. "You know, you know an awful lot for just someone who's just a friend of the Princess."

Gris tried to not show it, but her blood ran cold. No, she couldn't be found out, not just yet.

Then, she heard Link speak in her favor. "Maybe...they're her teachers...too?"

Gris thought about this statement for a moment. Yes, she could work with that. "Yeah, that's right," she said. "They teach all the kids in the Castle. I'm just one of their students," she explained. Even if, aside from her, there were no other children. No one her age resided in the Castle. "Still," she muttered under her breath. "It'd help if they didn't hold the Princess to such a high standard."

Link looked at the other food with them, and then took another item and tore it in half, presenting the other to Gris.

"Hm?" the girl was confused. "What?"

Link averted his eyes for a moment, wondering if he had just made things awkward. Then, for what reason, he was unsure, yet he couldn't help but speak his mind. "You...look like a lonely person."

Gris was surprised upon hearing this. Unsure how to respond, she found herself growing defensive. "How can you tell?" she asked. "You don't know anything about me."

True, Link thought. He didn't. But, perhaps he was just speaking from personal bias, but he sensed that she was putting up a front. "No," he said. "But...right now," he told her, working out his words. He wanted her to make sure she heard him right. "You looked...sad."

Sad? Did she look sad? Gris was caught unawares by the boy's words, unsure of what to do or how to respond. What would he know about her? He didn't know anything about this place, let alone anything else until she told him. He was from those forbidden woods, he was completely cut off from the world outside. How could he understand her feelings?

Gris was brought out of her thoughts, the halved food still being presented to her. She stared at it for a few moments, her sky-blue eyes turning to look at Link, then the food, then back to Link again. "Do...you...want a friend?" Link asked her.

Again, Gris was left speechless. This boy was reading her like a book, and she wasn't sure whether or not she liked it. He was silent as if waiting for a reply to his question. "I..." she stammered. "I...guess so?"

"Well," Link said, then grew quiet for a moment. "If...you want...I could...be your...friend."

Silence fell in between the two children again, Gris's eyes wide, trying to process what she had just heard. Then, at long last, she answered. "...sure," she said. "Ok. I...guess we can be." truthfully, she was unsure of what to say. Things were getting awkward, and, while she didn't entirely understand why, the way Link was looking at her made her cheeks grow warm.

They grew even warmer when she saw Link smile upon hearing her response.

She needed a distraction. "Oh, you know what this is?" she asked, taking the piece of food from Link. Perfect. "It's a lot sweeter than the pork pie."

The food in question was a small lump of fried dough that was cooked in fat until it turned a golden brown and grew crisp. Then, she saw the center of the pastry that Link had torn in half. "Ah, I knew it!" she said. "It's got jelly! It's a kraphen!"

"Kraphen?" Link asked.

"Yeah, it's good!" Gris told him. "It's a filled-up donut."

"Donut?" Navi asked, flying over to take a bite out of Link's half. She dipped her finger into the torn red center and tasted the sweet jelly. "Tastes like raspberry."

"Oh, that's nothing compared to the fritters!" Gris said, presenting a fried slice of apple with a hole carved in the middle. "You like apples, right?"

Apples? Link sniffed and found that the tart sweetness of Apple permeated the fried piece of fruit. Tearing it in half, he found the apple inside was far softer than those he was used to, not to mention it had an added kick to the flavor, a small bit of spice to the sweetness. Nevertheless, different as it was, he found it delicious.

"Oh, and you've got to try the pretzel with mustard. It's amazing," Gris said. "Ooh! Try the crepe too!"

The girl continued to dig into the bought items along with the boy, both children (and fairy) sharing this moment. They were just sharing a meal, and they barely knew each other. But still, Gris thought, it felt…nice.

Then, the girl's eyes widened in horror. "Curses!" she hissed. "What am I doing? We can't stay here! We've still got to look for the Hero!" She then felt a tug on the hem of her dress. "Hey!" Gris swatted Link's hand away. "You don't grab a lady there! What's wrong with…" she paused when she saw a pickled radish being offered to her. "You?" She took the small sliced radish, Link having gotten out the jar Saria had given him. "You want me to have this?"

Link nodded. She had offered him a lot of her food, so he only thought it fair she had some of his. And it was Saria's pickled crops! Everyone loved whatever she grew!

"Is it raw?" Gris asked, unsure of what to do with the slice. It smelt like a pickled vegetable, but it still didn't look cooked. "Is it safe?"

Why wouldn't it be safe? Link was unsure of what she meant.

After looking at it for a moment, Gris, albeit hesitantly, took a bite out of the radish, the crop far crunchier than the baked and fried pastries. "Hm…" she hummed. "Not bad," she then looked at Link. "Mind if I have another?"

"Who is this girl?" the old woman to the left questioned, gazing at the rippling image of the two children in the cauldron's water. So far, that owl hadn't found the flying spy watching from within the town's walls.

"I'm uncertain," the other crone to the right answered. "But she may be of interest, if not just because she's trying to find the Hero." she then paused and gave the water in the pot a small stir, using a bone as a ladle.

"Do you agree that this boy is not the one?" her sister asked, the old woman concealed in darkness putting her hands on her hips. "After all, what sort of Hero is a child?"

"Those chosen by the Gods can come from anywhere," the other woman said. "And they can be any age."

"Then what should we do? Should we strike at him again?"

With one last stir, the other woman tossed in a few more ingredients. "For now, let us see," the image of the two children swirled on the water's surface, the entirety of Castle Town becoming a whirlpool of color. "Even if he may be an enemy of our dear King, he could perhaps serve so use to us," she then smiled. "After all, Hyrule's king has already provided us with an invitation to his homeland."

Given that there was no sign of a man in green in the marketplace, Gris decided to search through the allies of Castle Town behind the shops in the square. Still, despite the fact that she was on a search, she found herself conversing more with Link than she initially thought she would. "Thanks for the radishes," she said, she and Link having exchanged a few of the pickled slices of vegetable. "It was surprisingly good."

Link smiled. "I-I…" he began. "I'm…g-glad…"

"Hey, if it's too much, don't force yourself," Gris told him. True, she didn't understand why he sometimes had trouble speaking, yet she didn't wish to cause him any discomfort. Even if the radish was good (for something that wasn't cooked), she found her mind wandering elsewhere. "Even if I was the one that bought everything," she eyed Link, the boy wincing somewhat. "I did enjoy it. Thanks for sharing."

Link was surprised by her answer. "Y-Yeah! Sure!" he nodded, smiling. He then took out his mask and put it on.

"Eep!" Gris squeaked, but then she calmed herself. "Oh, heh. Yeah, you got me," she nervously giggled. She then looked at her own mask. "Still, I wonder why he gave me this."

"What is it?" Navi questioned. "Didn't that man call it a Keaton-something or other?"

"Yeah, a Keaton," Gris confirmed. "But they're nowhere in Hyrule."

"And also," Navi asked again. "Link here may not realize it, but we need a layout of the land."

Link gasped, offended. Of course he knew that too! He was…just going to ask that after he finished eating was all.

"You want to know about Hyrule?" Gris questioned. Link nodded along with Navi. "Well, it's not an overly big country, and it's somewhat surrounded by several others," she explained. "And it's in the center of a massive trade route, so whenever someone wants to make a profit, they usually stop by here along the way."

"Like what we saw in the square?" Navi questioned.

"Exactly," Gris confirmed. "Everyone comes to sell things here, and they sell nearly everything," she said. "Local crops, jewelry from Labrynna, minerals from Holodrum, there are even some products such as potatoes from Koridai and barley from Gamelon."

Link tilted his head. "K-Koridai?" he asked. "Gamelon?"

"They're islands that Hyrule claimed as territories not long after its founding," Gris explained. "Technically, Gamelon is a duchy under Duke Onkland while Koridai has more of a local government. Although, personally, I think Onkland is just a suck-up to the King," she said. She felt quite proud of herself. Contrary to what Ms. Meg believed, she DID pay attention during her geography lessons. "We Hylians rule the land, yet there are also other people that live here."

Really? Like who, Link wondered.

Seemingly reading his mind, Gris answered his question. The boy didn't speak much, but it was pretty easy to read his expression. "Well, there's the Gorons who live in Death Mountain," the girl relayed to him. "They're called the 'rock people' because they're said to have the skin of stone and no blade can pierce their hide. Father," she stopped herself. "I mean, the King learned that when he was still just a Prince."

The King fought against these rock people? They sounded fearsome, Link thought. He hoped to never have to encounter one.

"And then there are the Zoras," Gris continued. "They live in the river and ocean, but you have to cross the mountains to reach it," she clarified. "They control the waterways and Lake Hylia, but as long as they respect the rules set up by the King, the Hylians have no problem with them."

"Why?" Link questioned.

"Well, the thing is," the girl explained. "The different peoples of Hyrule, they've never really liked each other," she said. "Since the founding of the Kingdom, at least as it was told to me, the tribes have been in discord since the Triforce was sealed within the Sacred Realm. Ever since then, people have been fighting with each other, and the Civil War that happened was the peak of it all."

Indeed, Link had heard from Ingo that the field outside of Castle Town was a place where much destruction had occurred.

"But, honestly, I think that everyone is better off minding their own business," Gris said. "Then no one would have to deal with each other."

"Why?" Link asked.

"Why? Well," Gris pondered this for a moment. Truthfully, she had never thought about why before, she was simply going off what the adults around her had said. Still, from what she had learned in her studies, it seemed that whenever the people met, disaster always followed. "Well, the Gorons are big and lumbering. Something their size must be clumsy," she said. "And the Zoras are said to look weird, like a mix between a fish and person. I think anything that looks like that would be weird," she continued. "But the worst of all would probably be the Gerudo."

"The Gerudo?" Link questioned. That sounded like a funny name.

"There's nothing funny about them," Gris told him, growing serious. "They're dangerous and deadly. They come from the desert, but they're said to sneak around to other areas at night."

"Why?" Navi questioned.

"Because they're thieves," Gris answered. "All of them. They try to put on the facade that they want peace with the King, but that's all a lie," she clenched her fists, appearing to grow angry. "And their King is the worst of all. He's the one that got the King to even agrees to see him in the first place!"

Link remained quiet for a moment. This issue seemed to really work the girl up. "Why…don't they choose another King?" Link questioned.

"The Gerudo? They can't," Gris told him. "I don't know why, but it's sort of a similar issue with the Princess. The Gerudo are made up solely of women. Women with skin as dark as bronze, and hair as red as fire," she then bit her lip. "And if their King's eyes are anything to go by, there's always a dark intent," she continued. "But they can't choose another King, because he's the only one that can be their King. Like how the Hylian Princess is born every century, so is the King of the Gerudo. This single man is said to lead their people to an era of prosperity. The only problem is that the Princess thinks it involves them trying to take over."

Link and Navi looked at each other, trying to absorb what they were hearing. "They sound like an unsavory group." the fairy noted.

Then the boy remembered the other girl he had seen. Malon, right? Her hair was bright red, yet her skin was light-colored, and her eyes didn't appear malicious. Maybe she wasn't a Gerudo? But her hair was as red as a blazing fire.

"Oh, they are," Gris nodded. "They're said to be cursed people," she then gestured to her ears. "They were said to have been cut off from the Gods long ago, so they no longer have the ability to hear them." Although, for as long as she had lived, the girl had never heard the Gods either. But, according to the adults in her life, that was what she had heard.

"Then, what of the Kokiri?" Navi asked, noticing Link was beginning to look worried.

"Oh, the Kokiri are fine!" Gris said, realizing what she was saying might've given Link the wrong impression. "They're said to be magical."

Link raised a brow. Magical?

"Yeah, they live forever as children, they can play all they want, they don't have to worry about school, or studies, or playing music right," she went on, listing off various activities that Hylian children apparently had to do. "Overall, they get to just be children."

Well, that wasn't entirely true, Link thought. They still had to cultivate their own food, but they didn't have to do all of this work that revolved around this thing called 'school.'

"And they've got wish-granting fairies as friends." Gris finished.

"Wish-granting?" Navi asked. Link looked at her as if to hear her answer. "Sorry to say, I never heard anything about that."

Link appeared a little disappointed. Even if he didn't want to overthink about it, he initially believed that Navi came to him due to his wish on the "seed."

"Well, they say that fairies are always signs of good luck," the blonde girl said. "And they're said to be the best friends a child can have. If a fairy comes to you, you're guaranteed to find happiness later in life."

"Well, what would give me some happiness is having this boy listen to me every once in a while," Navi answered. Link folded his arms and scowled. "I believe he's hard of hearing sometimes."

"Hey!" Link protested. But then he thought about something Gris had said involving her ears. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that Gris's ears looked like his. He had to ask. "D-Do the….Kokiri?"

"Do the Kokiri what? Have pointed ears?" Gris asked, Link nodding in response. "Hmm, honestly, I don't know," she confessed. "Up until now, you're the first Kokiri I've ever seen. But so far, judging from you, I think I like them."

Link's eyes widened. "You…like me?"

"Like you?" the pink-dressed girl pondered the boy's question.

She was silent for a few moments, making Link anxious. Did he say the wrong thing? Oh, no, he blew it. He blew it, he knew it!

"Well," she thought about it for a moment. "I…guess so," she said. "From what I've seen, you like to eat a lot," she giggled when she saw the boy's cheeks flush. "But I like you. And, if you're anything to go by, I like the Kokiri too."

She liked him? Sure, she said she liked the Kokiri, but she said she liked "him" first. Link didn't entirely understand why, but he felt a fluttering in his chest. And the longer he looked at Gris, he found himself studying her features. Her hair, her eyes, the way she was dressed, he began taking all of this in. And, as far as he could tell, he liked what he saw.

So far, he liked her too.

Gris was unprepared for the smile sent in her direction, as well as her reaction. The sight of the boy's lips curling in response to what she said filled her with a warmth she had never experienced. Frankly, she was unsure of how to react, thus, she tried to conceal her reddening face. "Yes, well, back to what we're trying to do," she said. "Now," she stopped for a second to think. "If I were a Hero of Hyrule, where would I go?"

Oh, right! They were supposed to be looking for the Hero! Link wondered too, but he found himself unable to produce anything. He turned to Navi to see if she had any advice.

"Ah! Of course!" Gris suddenly proclaimed. "Why didn't I think of it before?!"

"Think of what?" Navi asked.

Then, the girl grabbed Link by the wrist. "Come on! We've got to go! There's still one place we haven't looked!"

"And where would that be?" Navi questioned, flying as fast as she could to keep up with the now-running children.

"The temple!" Gris answered. "The temple on the east side of town!"

The three of them entered the square of Castle Town yet again, the sundial reading at a later time. Yet neither Gris nor Link noticed, the two rushing to their current destination. Or rather, Link was being dragged alone. The two continued on, and after a short time, they reached the stone steps that led up to a small garden-like area with fertile green grass and a few sparse flowers. There was a towering building of pure white before them, far larger than anything Link had ever seen. It perhaps rivaled even the height of the Great Deku Tree!

"This place," Gris told Link, looking at the entrance that was always open, welcoming any who wished to seek guidance and shelter within its walls. "The Temple of Time."

Chapter Text

Tremendous. Confined. Spacious. Closed in. So many things he was familiar with and he associated with home and comfort, and yet there were also other elements that were completely alien.

Gris had led Link into the enormous building, the interior as grand as its walls outside. From Link's perspective, no tree could've made this. True, perhaps the foundation, but everything else was stone and brick. Archways that hung over wide, spacious windows separated into three sections, the light from the sinking sun outside casting the white building in a hue of light orange. As if the entire environment had become engulfed in a soft light.

This was a temple?

"What are you two doing here?"

Link suddenly became aware that someone was addressing him, as well as the fact that Navi had gone missing from sight again, hiding under his hat. A woman dressed in white robes and a veil that covered her head studied the two children with scrutiny. Just who was this woman, and why was she here?

"We're just here to visit the temple, Miss," Gris told the woman. "After all, aren't you the one that says children need to take the legends about this land seriously?"

The woman nodded. "Indeed," she said. Link noticed that the same three triangles were emblazoned on her garments. For as many times as he had seen it, Link could've mistaken it for something people worshiped. Was this what this place was for? Was it for their Triforce? "All right, you two can stay," she told them. "Just mind yourselves. This isn't a place to cause a lot of noise."

"Right, we'll be sure to, Miss," Gris responded.

"You address servants of the Gods as Sister, young lady," the woman corrected. "But fine. Off with you, then."

With that, she left them. Gris seemed relieved by her departure. "Geez, the people that run this place are worse than the Castle library," she muttered to herself. Who knew how many times the Reader, Aypo, had to get onto her about her supposed "noisiness" when she decided to try and read aloud. She wasn't even reading that loud, to begin with!

Seeing that they were in the clear, Navi emerged from her hiding place. "Who was that?"

"One of the nuns that maintain this place," the blonde girl explained. She then scoffed. "This place hasn't even been around that long, and they suddenly act like they're the ones in charge. No one really comes to this place anyway."

"But…" Navi began. "Just what…"

"Is this place?" Link finished for her.

"This," Gris said, gesturing out to the wide, empty space around her, the two children and fairy being the only souls within its walls. "Is the Temple of Time. And, if the Hero is anywhere, it's bound to be here."

She then led Link down a stretching red carpet that led for what felt like forever. After a short while, the boy in green was finally brought before a pedestal with three spaces, and a sealed door behind it. The door was embroidered with a circular symbol with what appeared to be rays emitting from the center, yet what lay above it drew Link's attention. The same crest he had seen all around this place, the one he had seen in his dreams, and the very thing the man in black coveted.

"See this?" Gris asked. "This is the Door of Time," she explained. "Since you're the Hero of the Kokiri, you're going to set the stone you have here," she then gestured to the left circular imprint on the pedestal. "By the way, can I see it?" she asked. Link appeared hesitant. "Hey, I'm here for the Princess too. Whatever you need to tell or show her, you can show me."

He was still somewhat unsure. He looked at Navi, seeking her advice. "Hm, so far, this girl's been honest," it was perhaps a trick of the light, but she thought she saw Gris' smile slip for a moment. "So, I see no reason not to trust her."

Well, if his own fairy didn't have any protests, then neither did he. Taking a moment, Link retrieved the Kokiri Emerald from his sack, the stone glowed brilliantly in his hand. Gris looked around, seeing if anyone was watching. Hopefully, the temple's walls would conceal them from anyone listening in.

"Great," Gris said. "Now," she took the stone, the Emerald seemingly accepting her touch without issue. "This will go over here," she said, placing the round jewel of green to the left. "And the Goron Ruby here," she then gestured to the center indent on the pedestal. "And the Zora's Sapphire there," her eyes then fell onto the sealed door. "When they're gathered here, and the sacred song is played, then the Door of Time will be opened," she then closed her eyes, as if, despite her talk earlier, making a silent prayer. "And the Sacred Realm shall be ready to enter."

"And this is what the enemy wants?" Navi questioned.

"Yes," Gris said. "He wants nothing short of the Triforce," her eyes then opened and narrowed. "And, once he gets that, he'll set his sights on the entire world."

The entire world? That covered a lot of ground, didn't it? Link didn't understand things from the same angle Gris did, yet he could sense that it bore great importance. Still, he had one question.

"What…is the Triforce?"

Gris turned her attention to the boy. "It's a sacred talisman that the Three Goddesses left upon leaving the world they created. It was to serve as a direct link between them and their earthly children, or as the legends go." the girl explained.

"Well, where is now?" Navi asked.

"Somewhere," Gris answered. "Although, no one can reach it. Not even the King."

Link was shocked upon hearing this. Not even someone like the King could lay claim to it? "Why?"

"Because neither of the Keys to the Triforce belongs to him."

"Keys?" Navi asked.

Indeed, Link thought. Saria had said something about a key before he left. Something that led to the place she called the Sacred Realm. Although, he still wasn't entirely sure what that was.

"Yes," Gris answered. "Behind that door," she gestured to the large barrier that stood in between them and what it concealed from view. "Is one of the Keys," she then turned to Link. "But the Princess has the other. And, in order to get to one Key, you must have the other."

"And what is that Key?"

Gris's eyes shifted, looking to see if anyone was watching or listening in. Yet, thankfully, they appeared to be the only ones in the temple. "A sacred instrument that's been passed down since the Kingdom of Hyrule was first established," then, she paused for a moment and reached into her purse. Buried underneath the rupees inside, she retrieved an object and presented it to Link. "The Ocarina of Time."

Link and Navi's eyes fell on the woodwind instrument, its surface a finely painted blue, a silver band with the golden triforce around the sound hole. The boy in green studied it and brought out his own ocarina that Saria had given him.

"Oh, that's right," Navi remembered. She then looked at the blue instrument in Gris's possession. "And you play a song with it?"

"Exactly," the blonde girl nodded.

Link gazed at his own ocarina. He wondered what was so special about Gris's compared to his.

"You can't just play the song with anything," Gris told Link. "The Ocarina of Time isn't just something you blow into," she clarified. "It's said to have mysterious powers," she ran her fingers along the blue surface, her digits dipping into the holes. "Songs that are played with it are said to contain magical properties. In fact, there's one story I was told about a terrible drought that overtook Hyrule. So much so, that even the Zora's River was almost dried up."

A drought? He believed that the Great Deku Tree had spoken of such a thing in one of his stories. But, unfortunately, he couldn't remember much else. "What happened?" he questioned.

"A Princess of Hyrule held the Ocarina in her hands and played a mysterious song," the blonde girl answered. "Then, the clouds grew dark, and rain poured down from the heavens. It rained and rained until the river was close to flooding. But, before it could reach that point, it stopped. And Hyrule has never had a dry spell since."

Really? An instrument could do all that? Link wasn't entirely sure, as, while the ocarina was pretty, it didn't look all that special. Still, he was curious as to why the girl had brought it. If it belonged to the Royal Family, then wouldn't Gris get in trouble for taking it?

As if reading his mind, as well as his expression, the girl answered his question. "I had planned to give this to the Hero," she explained. "Or rather, I was told to by the Princess," she then turned her attention from the instrument to Link. "That's why I have to find him. He has to have both Keys in order to reach the Triforce before that man from the desert does."

"Wait a moment," Navi interjected. "If the King himself can't lay claim to the Keys to get the Triforce, then what makes you think this man will even have a chance?"

Gris went silent for a moment. "Well, the thing is," she bit her lip, her face growing forlorn. "Even if it is a gift from the Goddesses, the Triforce in itself is neither good nor evil."

Neither good nor evil? Link and Navi looked at each other to see if the other could perhaps understand what Gris meant. But before either of them could speak, the girl looked out one of the many windows in the temple and yelped.

"Oh no, oh no!" she said, rushing over and peering at the sky through the clear glass. "It's that late already?!"

Link and Navi came over and saw that, indeed, the sun had set, and the skies had already darkened to where several stars hung up, lighting up the black abyss.

"Ah! She's going to kill me!" Gris cried out, panicked. "I've got to go! I've got to get back to the Castle!" She threw the ocarina in her purse and dashed off, leaving Link and Navi. Although, she soon realized her mistake and came back. "Come on! Hurry!" she grabbed Link by the wrist and dragged him with her, Navi following close behind.

Upon going outside, both Link and Gris saw that it was night, and the once-active streets were completely empty of people. Compared to earlier, Link felt as if he had stepped into another reality, the same yet different.

"Hurry!" Gris urged him, continuing to lead Link through the quiet town.

Despite Gris's focus, Link found himself distracted. All around the town, he thought he had been seeing monsters lurking in the shadows, and was about to draw out his sword. But then, one of the small shapes emerged, and the boy found himself feeling rather guilty for getting his weapon.

But still, he wondered aloud. "What's that?"

Gris gazed in the direction Link was, and saw the four-legged creature approach them both. "Oh, it's just a dog,"

Dog? Studying the furry animal (at least, Link believed it to be an animal), the boy in green saw that the little thing bore shaggy, white fur, dark brown eyes, a black nose, and ears that stood upward. Kneeling down, Link stared at it curiously, the animal then backed up, rearing up as if to charge.

"Watch out!" Navi shouted, wincing as the beast ran toward Link and jumped, sending the boy to the ground, the dog immediately assaulting the boy with its mouth.

But, instead of cries of pain, the fairy heard strained giggles emitting from her Kokiri, the boy squirming as the animal continued to dig its nose into his neck, its teeth lightly nipping at the tender flesh.

"S-Stop!" Link chortled, trying to get his four-legged, furry aggressor off him. "N-Navi! Ge-he-t him off!"

"How?" the fairy asked. Surely he didn't expect her to be able to lift that beast herself, did he?

Fortunately, Gris stepped in and took the dog in her arms, picking it up and examining it. "Hm," she studied the small animal, Link managing to rise up from the ground. "You look a little too well-groomed to be a stray."

"Richard!"

Just as she was about to wonder who the dog belonged to, she, Link, and Navi heard someone shout from a short distance away. Seeing someone approaching, the fairy hid underneath Link's hat, and a stout woman with a large, brown bun, a blue dress with white patterns of diamonds, and ruby-red lips came toward them. While Gris didn't mention it, she thought the woman looked ghastly. Link was just wondering why she had seemingly put paint on her face.

"Oh!" the woman cried out, immediately swiping the dog from Gris's hands. "My Little Richard!" she brought the dog close, the poor pooch squished by his owner's hold. "What are you doing out here? There's a bunch of stray mutts running around out here."

"Well, we were on our way to the Castle," Gris explained. "But we-"

"No! I wasn't talking to you two!" the woman exclaimed. "I was worried about my Ritchie." she hugged the dog yet again. Link swore that the animal's eyeballs were about to pop out of his head from the force. Then, she went off, as if the two children didn't even exist.

"Gee, lady, you're welcome," Gris huffed, folding her arms. "Well, come on," she said. "I didn't find the Hero," her voice reflected her disappointment. "But," she turned her attention to Link. "You did help me, so I owe you."

Link's eyes widened. "You mean…?"

Gris nodded. "Besides, if I don't get back soon," she shuddered. "She's going to have my head."

"She?" Navi questioned, emerging from Link's hat. "I thought there was a King."

"Oh, it's not the King I'm worried about," the blonde girl told the fairy. "It's the Princess's attendant."

It had been hours since he went to the Castle.

"He's fallen asleep, I know it," Malon sighed, kicking at the ground. "Once again," suddenly, she felt something stir from within her dress, specifically her back. "I know, I know, you'll only have to hide just a little longer." A soft trilling emitted from the bulge on her back, the red-haired girl giving the round shape a small pat. Then, she heard footsteps approaching her.

"Ok, it's not too far away!" a girl's voice was heard, and its source was coming closer. Soon, the red-haired girl spotted a blonde girl running with a blonde boy dressed in green. "Huh?" Gris soon stopped, noticing Malon. "Oh, it's you," she said. Then, she grew suspicious. "What are you doing here?"

Malon wasn't entirely sure, but she believed that the other girl was perhaps insinuating something. "I'm not here to cause trouble if that's what you want to know," she responded, putting her hands on her hips. "I'm here because I'm waiting for my dad."

"Your dad?" Gris questioned.

"Yeah, he went to the Castle to deliver milk, but he hasn't come back yet," she then sighed. "Knowing him, it'll be nearly noon tomorrow before he wakes up," she then turned her attention back to Gris and Link. "Say, you two are going to the Castle, right?"

"Yes?" Link answered with a nod.

"Well, would you mind finding my dad?" Malon asked. "Otherwise, I'll be waiting here all night."

Gris pondered this. True, this Malon had red hair, but so far, she hadn't displayed any malicious intent. Plus, she was a child, just like the blonde girl. Even if she was a spy, what could she do? Still, Gris was doubtful about whether or not Malon was indeed related to the man from the desert. "Ok," Gris answered. "We'll be on the lookout for him. What's he look like?"

"He's in red and blue and has a mustache," Malon relayed the details of her parent. "And, don't tell him I said this, but his nose is a little big. It almost looks like a peach." she giggled. Hey, her father had left her out here, so the least she could do is poke some fun at him.

Then, Link noticed the bulge on her back. "What's that?" he asked.

"Huh? Oh! It's nothing!" Malon said, holding the shape underneath her dress. "I just got some stuff from town, so I'm storing it back here."

"Back there?" Gris asked. "But you don't have a sack or bag."

"I know," Malon said. "That's why I need dad to hurry back," she realized that the two children were curious as to what she was hiding, Gris, in particular, eyeing her suspiciously. "Oh! I forgot!" she then reached into her pocket and pulled out a round, white oval.

Link drew closer and inspected the strange object. Just what was it? He was seeing so many things he had no idea or clue about!

"That's an egg," Gris explained to him. Then she looked at Malon. "And what do you want us to do with this?"

"I've been incubating it carefully," the other girl clarified. "It'll be hatching anytime now, and I think that its first moments in life should be making sure the owner of the ranch gets up when he's supposed to."

"Hatch?" Gris questioned. Link held the egg and studied it closer. "But it'll just hatch into a chick."

Malon grinned. "Oh, you underestimate the lungs of Lon Lon Ranch's Cuccos. Anyway, please find him, regardless. I'm counting on you."

"Ok, sure," Gris said. "Besides, we're on our way to see the Princess."

"Oh, the Princess, huh?" Malon smirked. "Wait a minute, I thought you said you were from Labrynna. What relation do you have to the Royal Family?"

"I…" Gris stammered, trying to piece together a believable story. "I'm…a friend of the Princess!"

"A friend that lives in the Castle?" Malon questioned. Now she was the one that was suspicious of Gris.

"Yeah, a friend. Her personal friend," the blonde girl explained. "She doesn't have any, so I'm allowed to stay to be her playmate."

Malon was silent, pondering what the other girl had relayed to her. Truthfully, she didn't really buy it, but if these two were going to the Castle, they were her only hope of finding her dad. "Ok, fine. If that's the story you want to stick with," the redhead shrugged. "But, while you're going in, look around for a man that might be taking a snooze somewhere."

"Will do," Gris answered. Link put the egg in his pocket, and followed the other blonde as she urged him to follow her. "Come on, there's a secret way around here."

Both children, as well as Navi, were unaware of the large shape perched above them in a towering tree, his keen eyes observing the two youths as the girl led the boy to an ivy-covered wall. "You may fool others, but you cannot fool me," Kaepora Gaebora chuckled, watching as Link and "Gris" made their way to the top of the cliff and ran across to the gate blocking the way, climbing down a ladder hidden away in a small space to the right. "Still, this ruse of yours will only lead to trouble," the owl mused. "After all, even if neither of you knows it, you've been through this before."

And they would go through it again, although this pained the bird. They were still so young.

"Ok," Gris said, opening the door to the outside as quietly as she could. "The guards patrol the grounds at night, so we've got to be careful," she warned Link, eyes peering around for any armored figures nearby. "This way," she led the boy down a small pathway of rock through a grassy field, both of them keeping their footsteps as quiet as possible.

In the distance, Link could see men dressed in armor, just like those in Castle Town, walking around and spying for any potential intruders. Intruders such as him.

"Look," Gris whispered, pointing to a wall of stone. "You have to climb on certain rocks in order to get up," she told Link, moving towards the wall and maneuvering her way up. "Hurry!" she urged Link to come up.

The boy did so, making sure to get his footing. He began to use the same stones Gris had climbed, but accidentally slipped on the surface of one rock and was about to fall back. It never occurred, as a hand seized his wrist, pulling him back. Looking up, he saw Gris had saved him from falling. With her added support, Link managed to climb up, sighing with relief.

"Are you ok?" Gris questioned.

Link nodded. Then, he rubbed the back of his head, a shy smile creeping to his face. "Th-Thanks."

Gris felt her own face grow warm. "Uh, yeah, sure. No problem," she answered. Then, she looked behind her, spotting her destination. "Yes! We're finally here!"

Link looked up and his eyes widened in awe, the structure he had seen from the treetops in the Lost Woods was now right in front of him. And it was even more glorious than he could've imagined. A building of white brick and blue roofing, several windows situated on all floors of the enormous palace, and a long, winding body of water surrounding it. He had done it, Link thought. He had finally reached the Castle. Now all that was left was to see the Princess.

"Ok, we've got to shimmy our way around the moat," Gris informed Link, slipping down to the small bit of land around the body of water, and guiding the boy along. "It's a little slippery, so-"

"Oof!"

SPLASH!

"Shh!" Gris shushed, Link having accidentally stepped into the water. They both waited for a few moments but found that no one was approaching them. "Whew," the girl sighed in relief. "Let's go." then, she stopped. "Hey, do you hear that?"

Link listened in, at first unsure of what the girl meant. But, after a few moments, he caught onto something too.

"It sounds like…snoring," Navi observed, peeking out from her Kokiri's hat. "Heh, it's even louder than you." she chuckled.

"Does not!" Link huffed.

"Hey, do you think…?" Gris asked, thinking back to what Malon had said. She then found a small patch of land she could climb up, pulling Link with her. Then, they both saw a man reclining by a small number of crates. "It's him!" she proclaimed. "It's the guy that delivers milk to the Castle!"

Both children approached the slumbering man dressed in blue and red, perfectly matching the other girl's description. "Welcome…to our ranch," he murmured, occasionally throwing in a small snore with his mumbling. "It's…so fun…"

"Wow, this guy is out of it," Gris observed. "I don't know if there's anything around here that can wake him up."

Suddenly, Link felt something stirring in his pocket. Then, he, Gris, and Navi heard the sound of cracking, and from within the pocket sprung out a newly hatched chick.

"Huh, that was fast," Navi observed. "Now what?"

As if answering their question, the chick hopped out of the pocket and ran over to the slumbering man, getting in range of his ear. Then, to the shock of all three of the onlookers, the chick released a bellowing "Cucco!" immediately rousing the man from his sleep and getting him up with a start.

"What in tarnation?!" he cried out, getting up in a panic. "Can't a guy get some shut-eye around here?" after a few moments, his pumping blood began to slow and his blue eyes noticed the two children before him. "Huh? Who are you two?"

"Us?" Gris asked, placing her hands on her hips. "Who are YOU?" she questioned, raising a brow.

"I'm Talon," the bearded man answered. "I own the ranch outside of town."

Gris then looked at the crates of milk behind him. "So, you're the milkman?"

"Hm, I guess you could say that," Talon said. "I do bring milk to the Castle," he then chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "Although the trek up here sort of took a bit out of me, so I set down for a little rest. Guess I overslept."

Yeah, no kidding, Link thought. Had he been here since yesterday?

"Anyway, what are you two doing here? They don't just let anyone pass by." Talon questioned.

"Well, for one, we're on our way to see the Princess," Gris told him.

"The Princess, huh? Well, good luck with that! The King never lets her out of the Castle," Talon told the children. "Truth is, I don't know if anyone outside of the Castle has even seen the Princess. I've been delivering milk for years, and I've still never seen her."

"We don't have a choice," Gris answered the ranch owner. "This boy has to see her, no matter what."

"Hm?" Talon then directed his attention to Link. "Huh, look at you," he observed. "Dressing up for Princess Day a little early?"

"He's from the Kokiri Forest," Gris explained. Truthfully, while this Talon seemed like a pleasant enough guy, she was in a hurry. "But you said you're from the ranch?" she asked.

"Yeah, that's right," Talon responded.

"Well, we met a girl that says she's looking for you."

Talon was puzzled at first, then his expression turned into one of horror. "Oh no, Malon! I left her behind!" the chick that had awakened him leaped up into his pocket, the man readying himself to get out of there as fast as he could. "I'm going to get it from her!" then, at a surprising velocity, Talon dashed away from the two children, leaving a trail of dust as he went off in a hurry, desperate to be spared the supposed wrath of his child.

"Well, that's taken care of," Gris said, watching Talon disappear from sight. "Well," she turned her attention to Link, gesturing to a nearby door located in the northern outer wall. "Come on." she took him by the hand and led him through the door. Inside was a small area with fertile green bushes contained in bricked-off sections filled with soil, and a small, man-made stream running. "Through there is the garden," she told Link. "I'll tell her that you're here, and she'll meet you in the courtyard. It's at the end of the garden, so you'll find it, no problem."

She then released Link from her grasp and made her way to another door situated to the left. "W-Wait!" Link called out. Where was Gris going? Surely she couldn't think of leaving him!

"I have to go get the Princess!" Gris informed the boy. "She…" she paused. "She might still be sleeping."

Well, yes, it was still early morning, Link thought. Still, he wasn't sure if he could navigate the garden alone.

"Trust me, I've snuck through here before. The guards can't see anything that isn't in front of their faces. You'll be fine," with that, Gris opened the door. "The Princess will see you there!" Then, she left, leaving Link behind.

"Well, that's a bit rude," Navi said, emerging from Link's hat. "She gets you here all this way, and now decides to leave you hanging?" the fairy gazed at Link. "Hey, Link, are you paying attention?"

Huh? Oh yeah, Link nodded in response. Although truth be told, he was sort of disappointed that Gris had gone. Even if it was for a short while, he enjoyed hanging out with her. It felt good to have another friend. It certainly helped that she was kinda cute.

"Uh, yeah, you can drool over her later," Navi told him. Link snapped out of it, immediately flustered and protesting the fairy's observation. "For how, however," she then flew a short distance away, spotting men sporting armor and spears. "We've got to get past these guys."

Great, she had to hurry! Not only did she have to somehow sneak back into her room, but she ALSO had to get dressed and be where she said the Princess would be on time! And, all the while, praying that her attendant wouldn't notice her absence. As Gris made her way towards the chambers of the Royal Daughter, she found her mind thinking back on the boy she had just led here. He wasn't the one she had seen in her vision, he was much too young. But still, regardless, Gris found Link pleasant enough.

She just hoped she could make the other role she would play convincing.

Chapter Text

"It's a fool's dream, you know. He'll never be able to do it."

From behind a row of dense topiary, Navi listened in and watched the patrolling guards, occasionally looking back at her charge to see whether or not he was being attentive. Still, despite the boy's critical mission, she and Link were curious about what the armored men were discussing.

"Do what?" another guard questioned, having met his fellow soldier in between the water fountains in that particular garden section.

"Make peace with those desert people." the other guard answered.

Seeing that the two were distracted, Navi urged Link to make a move. The boy ducked behind one of the fountains, silently creeping around, all the while surveying the environment. While there was a good amount of greenery here, it didn't appear to be similar to any garden he had seen back in the Kokiri Forest. While those like the Know-it-All Brothers and Twins had larger patches of the earth as they grew for more than just one, there was no barrier of stone that kept the plants in place. In fact, these plants didn't appear to be crops, let alone produce any berries or fruit.

These plants were just dense, green bushes trapped in confined blocks of rock with soil filling in the space. Some trees were fashioned into various shapes, some resembling spheres while others were trimmed to fan out from the bottom to the top. No tree grew naturally like that, Link thought. So was a garden a place where the natural flora was restrained and not allowed to spout and grow? Needless to say, it began to make Link feel a little confined.

Navi peered around the corner, the conversation between the two guards continuing. "You don't believe that they can be allies?" the guard questioned his companion.

"Are you kidding? They're a cursed people!" the other guard retorted with a scoff. "The King is just setting himself up for failure."

"Ok," Navi whispered to Link. "Go."

Link nodded and continued on while the two armored men were distracted. Nevertheless, pieces of their discussion were still heard by both the boy and his fairy.

"I still don't know why His Majesty insists to make peace with them. Has he really been affected by the war so much?"

"Bear in mind, our last King was lost in that war," the softer-speaking guard told his comrade. "Our Robin was a Prince then, having just become a man. And not just that, he was the only Royal Son left when the war was over."

Robin? Was that the name of the King? And these guards seemed to be on friendly terms with him. Were they his friends? And he had lost his own father? How sad, Link thought, an image of the Great Deku tree coming to mind.

"Hurry!" Navi whispered, Link's attention being brought back to the present.

"Hm?"

The two guards turned to look forward, having believed to have heard a rustle in the nearby topiaries. But, upon looking, there was no one to be seen.

"You can't afford to lollygag," Navi told her blonde charge. "We can't afford to get caught. Otherwise, we'll be kicked out before we even get a chance to see the Princess!"

Well, duh! Of course, he knew that! Link moved on, concealing himself behind another bush, two more guards patrolling the section. This area bore a rising pathway of wood that went over one guard's head.

"This looks like it'd be tricky," Navi said. So use caution when you…?!" The fairy looked to the side and saw Link climbing up the wood archway. "What are you doing?! Don't go that way!" She hissed, but Link continued on without her, trying to balance his way across. "Ugh…kids." She groaned, a hand coming to her face.

This would be easy, Link thought. He had walked across the bridge from Saria's house to the tops of the two wooden towers in the Kokiri Forest hundreds of times. Balancing over this would be no problem for him! At least, he thought that before he felt his foot slip. He managed to grab the edge of the wooden pathway at the last second, the guard a few feet down.

Luckily, he appeared to remain oblivious to the boy's presence. "I told you so," Navi remarked, Link pulling himself back up onto the narrow pathway. "Well, even if you acted rashly, it seems this is the best direction to go."

He knew it. Even though she wouldn't say it, Navi basically admitted Link was right. Something he took great pride in. Regardless, he continued on, albeit with a little more grace than before. But only a little.

Finally, he made it past and came across a series of hedges that stood towering over the boy, blocking his view. Navi flew over and saw that this appeared to be a maze of some sort. But every maze had an end. "Just keep quiet and follow me," she advised Link. "I'll keep an eye out."

Nodding, Link entered the maze, slowly going through the topiary lining his path, all the while Navi flew up to peek further ahead. The fairy motioned for Link to move, the boy turning a corner. In the corner of her eye, Navi saw a guard approaching, so she urged Link to remain quiet. The boy did so, yet both he and Navi caught some of what he was saying.

"That man from the desert," the guard said aloud. "He makes me nervous. All those people do."

Again, more talk of these desert people, Link noted. Just who were they? Were they as bad as everyone said they were? From what he heard, they sounded no better than monsters.

"No time to dwell on that now," Navi told him, seemingly reading the boy's mind. "Hey, there's a path that goes to the center."

Oh really? Well, if that was the case, Link wasted no time in going in that direction.

"Huh? No, wait! I didn't mean you could go that way!" the fairy followed her charge until both of them came across a sizable monument with the same three crests he had seen everywhere.

The statue resembled a woman with the Triforce before her, as if the proclaimed treasure belonged to her. She was dressed in a long gown, a crown resembling the rays of the sun on her head, and her eyes spoke of ages gone by, but also had a hint of youth to them. A sword was in her left hand, while a small harp or lyre rested in the other, contrasting the image of a warrior with a musician. The woman carved out of stone was beautiful, Link thought, yet he couldn't help but let his eyes fall onto the weapon in her left hand. That sword, he had never seen it before.

And yet, he felt the urge to want to claim it.

"You can admire the art later," Navi told Link, all the while looking around. "Right now, you've got to…eek!" she squeaked. "Duck!"

Link obeyed, spotting the two guards approaching. Thankfully, they stopped near the northern end of the statue. "From what I've heard," one of the guards began. "The Princess won't stop bothering the King about it."

"Ah, so she still thinks the Gerudo are here to invade Hyrule?"

Wait for a second, Link thought. Invade?

"That's what she's been saying," the guard who spoke first answered his fellow soldier. "Although, I think she's just being a little paranoid."

"Are you sure about that?" the other man questioned. "You know what they say about the daughters of the Royal Family, don't you?"

"Go," Navi told Link, the boy creeping around the stone woman, passing by the guards. But, as he did so, he continued to listen in on their discussion.

"Don't tell me you believe that!" the other guard scoffed. "That's just a rumor."

"Are you sure? There's a lot of strange things that happen whenever a Hyrule gains a Princess," he then leaned in closer. "Not to mention that, if she's around, then he's not too far behind."

"Who?"

"You know," the guard then whispered. "Him."

"Him?"

"The Hero!"

Link stopped, having just reached the corner of the statue. Both guards still had their backs turned, so he could sneak by with no problem. Yet talk of the Hero, the one that Gris had been searching for, drew his interest.

"But the Princess is just a kid!" the other soldier protested. "The Hero's supposed to be, well, the stuff of literal legends! If the stories are anything to go by, he'd be no bigger than she is now!"

Huh? Link pondered what this meant.

"Then I guess we'll just have to wait until later. Although," the guard's comrade paused. "I do think that he might have to make a move soon."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, whenever there's a Princess, there's a Hero. And when there's a Hero," his features, even if they were concealed in the shadow of his heavy helmet, grew serious. "There's always a great Evil to fight."

Link's eyes widened. A great Evil? Like the spider he had fought in the forest?

"Never mind, just go!" Navi reminded Link. "I swear, you get distracted so easily."

"Do not!" Link protested with a hiss.

"Do too," Navi retorted, folding her arms. "You don't even look at what's in front of you."

"Do too-"

CRUNCH!

The sound wasn't overly loud, the branch that had snapped underneath Link's foot was little more than a light snap. In fact, it was little more than a twig that had broken off the topiary during the trimming last week. Yet it served as just enough to garner the attention of the two guards, their sights on the blonde boy in green.

"Hey, how'd you get in here?" one of the soldiers questioned the boy, but Link only responded with silence, as well as a look of wide-eyed shock. "Hey, I asked you a question, kid. Speak up!"

"Never mind stealth for now!" Navi said. "Run!"

She didn't need to tell him twice! Link darted forward, going as fast as his small legs would carry him, yet he had little to no sense of direction without Navi, as much as it pained him to admit it.

"This way!" the fairy then said, having taken a peek above. "The end is right there!"

Link rushed in the direction the fairy flew in, keeping on her tail. He heard several sets of footsteps from behind, realizing with terrible comprehension that the guards were gaining on him. But he was so close! All he needed to do was show the Princess he had the stone, and she'd surely know who he was! Even if he wasn't the Hero Gris told him she needed.

He was about to make his exit, yet a tall, dark shape blocked the way. Forced to stop, Link looked up at the figure in front of him, realizing that it was a woman, yet she was dressed differently than the guards. Nevertheless, her bodysuit and armor made her appear intimidating, her hair a ghostly white and eyes blazing red. She said nothing, only gazing upon the boy and fairy curiously. Then, she noticed that the boy wasn't alone, the cavalry following to surely deal with him.

"Stop right there…eh?" Captain Viscen ordered, only to realize that, instead of an intruder, he came across a rather familiar face. "Oh, Lady Impa," the armored soldier greeted. "What brings you here?"

The tan-skinned woman grinned with her red lips, her face bearing white, triangular marks underneath her eyes. "The Princess has decided to spend her time in the courtyard in comparison to greeting the visiting Monarch from Gerudo Valley," the woman, Impa, answered the Captain. "Apparently, she's not that big of a fan of him."

"Well, I can't exactly blame her," Captain Viscen said. "The Gerudo have always been nothing but trouble," he remarked. "But still, we have a more urgent matter at hand."

"Oh? Such as?" Impa asked.

"Well, an intruder has managed to sneak into the garden, and seeing as the Princess is in the courtyard, I thought it only appropriate to apprehend him," he then peered behind the woman. "He went this way," he didn't tell the Princess's attendant that he and his men had initially lost Link. "But he…eluded us. Have you seen anyone come this way?"

Impa raised a brow. "My dear Captain, I can see things that you could never hope to perceive," she told the man. "Nor would you want to. But I have seen no one enter the Castle grounds save for the man from the ranch. The Princess is completely safe."

Captain Viscen would never call the woman a liar, but he still wasn't certain. "Are you sure?" he questioned.

"Absolutely," Impa answered. "Now, I believe your sharp wit and fearsome skills could be better used to make sure our guests get here safely, don't you think?"

"Hm…yes, you're right," the Captain of the Royal Guard agreed. "Well, with that, we shall be off. Thank you for your help, Lady Impa."

The guards turned around and headed in the opposite direction, Impa waiting until they were out of sight and in earshot. "All right, you," she then spoke. "Go on in. She's waiting."

Link emerged from the bush, covered in leaves and small twigs. He was about to step through the entrance to the courtyard, which was a much more familiar and pleasant site than the rest of the garden. The grass was trimmed and kept at an even level, a small body of water surrounded the small island of green, and a tiny bridge served as a means to enter and exit. There were bright, colorful flowers and plants in potted soil, surrounding the small island. And at one of the windows situated ahead of him, there she stood.

"Ok, there she is," Navi observed. "Wait, let's get you looking presentable," she brushed off the leaves and twigs from the boy's clothes. "Now, go up and talk to her," Link froze in place, eyes large and clearly more than a little nervous. "Don't get shy now!"

"Am not!" Link protested.

As if to prove it, he ran right into the courtyard but stopped when he got a few feet within the vicinity of the young girl peering through the window. "You're late," she said, turning around to face the boy. "But you're here now, so I suppose that's all that matters."

The young girl had her blonde locks confined underneath an article of clothing, only it was a mostly white cap with a vibrant purple lining and a triangular section at the top. A short veil of white with magenta and blue lining near the end hung around the middle of her neck, the same pattern seen on the short sleeves of the white kirtle she wore. Her cotehardie was a bright blue with sleeves that gathered around the shoulder until they puffed out at the elbow, straightening out on her forearms, a pair of golden bracelets fastened around her wrists. She wore a belt of fine leather with an ornate golden buckle, a necklace of angular-shaped gold with a teardrop-shaped ruby in the center, and a purple tunic that hung over her kirtle, the back section a softer lilac color. The tunic itself was decorated with a red crest shaped like a mighty bird with splayed-out talons, and golden triangles situated above and below it.

And above the bird, as well as affixed to her headdress, were three perfectly aligned triangles of gold. The emblem on her headdress seemed to almost always have a slight shimmer to it.

It was her, Link realized. The girl riding on that white creature in his dream. The Princess. A real, genuine Princess. The one the Great Deku Tree spoke of.

It was then that, to his dismay, Link found himself frozen in place. Oh no, oh by the Great Deku Tree, it was her. What was he supposed to do?! And she was looking at him as if he were some idiot! Oh no, he had blown it!

The Princess waited for a moment before she migrated away from the window and to the boy. "You do have it, don't you?" she asked him. "The Kokiri Emerald?"

Link nodded. Ok, so far, so good.

"All right," she then said. "And I assume everything Gris told you is still fresh in your mind?"

Oh, right! Yeah! Link nodded again. He remembered most of it at least. Even if he found himself more dwelling on the time spent with the blonde girl instead of the information she relayed to him. Of course, there was still one thing he didn't know. And, in order to convey it, he would have to possibly speak.

"E-Excuse…me," he began, cursing his vocals. "But…do you know who…?"

"Oh, before we go any further, I should probably introduce myself," the well-dressed girl realized. Impa had told her to mind her manners more often. "I'm Zelda, Princess of Hyrule," she then looked the boy over. "And you, your name is Link, right?"

Link nodded. Navi had taken to reclining on his shoulder. "Don't forget about me! He wouldn't have made it this far if I wasn't here!"

Link huffed. He still had something to say. "I need to know who-"

"Yes, I can tell," Zelda agreed. "Anyway, down to business," she said. "The reason I need the Kokiri Emerald, as well as the other Spiritual Stones, is to stop him." she then gestured to the window.

Him? Was it the one he wished to know of? "You mean…?"

Zelda nodded. She then guided Link to the window she was peering through. "In my vision, a great and terrible storm overtook the whole country," the Princess explained. "And I believe they symbolize that man in there!"

Link peered through the window and was able to see what was inside. And the sight was once again something that took his breath away. A massive chamber with several pillars of brick and vibrant tapestries of varying colors lined the long pathway to an ornate and sizable throne. And upon the throne sat a regal figure, hands on the armrests of the golden throne, his eyes looking forward at the guests he had allowed into his castle.

Link gaped in awe upon seeing the figure, immediately realizing who he was. A King. No, not just a King. The King. The King of all of Hyrule. Although this made Link wonder if his rule extended to the Great Deku Tree's domain, for there were no "royal decrees" ever delivered to the forest.

The King of Hyrule bore pointed ears similar to his daughter (and Link himself), but, compared to the small bit of blonde hidden beneath his daughter's headdress, the King's hair was waves of hazelnut brown, the man sporting a short, neatly trimmed beard and mustache. Upon his head rested a golden crown marked with a violet diamond in the center headpiece, arches of gold coming up to join at his scalp, a purple gemstone meeting in the center. He wore a cape of red with golden trimming that trailed along the stone floor and carpet leading to the throne, a bright orange tunic emblazoned with the same bird-like symbol seen on the Princess's clothes, as well as the Triforce surrounded in the violet lining, the tunic bearing lining of gold. He wore a longer undertunic of a light dusty brown, the sleeves red and gold cuffs, a purple sash around his waist, and a leather belt with an emblem of the Three Crests on his waist. His eyes were green in comparison to his daughter's blue, and he appeared to be middle-aged, but nevertheless, he was a sight to behold.

Zeld could tell that the boy was fascinated by her father. "Oh yeah, you haven't ever seen a King before, have you?" she realized aloud. "But he's not the one I mean," she then gestured to another figure approaching her father's throne. "I mean him."

Link's eyes fell on the one Zelda gestured to, and his previous awe was replaced by ice-cold terror and horrible realization. Before the King stood a towering shape cloaked in black, the shape slowly unveiling itself before the monarch. The shape from the forest, Link realized. The shape had given him the Gohma egg. The one who had killed the Great Deku Tree.

Underneath the thick cover stood a man with dark skin and flaming red hair, his eyes bright and blazing as if fire rested within his irises. Upon his head rested a silver headpiece with a bright, topaz stone situated in the center. He wore dark armor decorated with square-cut topaz, garments wrapped around his forearms and calves over his boots, the cloth white with red and blue angular patterns. He wore a necklace of bright yellow gemstones and bore pierced ears that lacked the length of a Hylian.

He wasn't just the stranger from the forest, he was the man Link had seen in his dreams.

"Can you see him?" Zelda asked Link. "That's the man from the desert, the King of the Gerudo," she told him. "He calls himself Ganondorf Dragmire, and do you see those two with him?" she asked, Link only realizing then that the Great Deku Tree's killer was not alone.

Indeed, two others were with him, women to be exact. Only, compared to those Link and Navi had seen in Castle Town, the duo were tall and bore skin of bronze, as well as hair red as fire. They both wore their hair in long ponytails, and their attire was similar to that of the man they accompanied, only less armored and more defining of their bodies. One woman was dressed mainly in pink, wearing golden jewelry with bright, large rubies situated in each, pink slippers, and a sword attached at her waist.

The other woman appeared similar, only she had long, arching bangs that hung over her face, deep-red clothing, and a yellow topaz situated on her chest. The two women were quite different than those he had seen before, but they didn't look monstrous. Were these really the Gerudo? Despite all he had heard about them, they didn't appear to be as menacing as the man they accompanied.

"Those two serve as envoys of their King," Zelda told Link. "The one on the right is Nabooru, while the one on the left is Aveil," she narrowed her eyes, the unveiled Gerudo King kneeling before the ruler of Hyrule. "Even if they swear allegiance to my father, I know that they're up to no good," she said, eyes growing dark.

Then, even if it was just for a brief second, the Gerudo King turned to the window, his eyes momentarily falling on Link. He didn't get a chance to panic or cry out due to shock, as Zelda pulled him down, both of them hiding underneath the brick layer surrounding the window.

"Did he see you?" Zelda questioned. "Don't worry, he doesn't know what we're planning. At least, not yet."

Link was puzzled. "We?"

"Yes, you!" the Princess told the boy. "That man seeks the Triforce, and he can't be allowed to touch it!" she then led Link over to the center of the courtyard, taking him by the hands. "That's why I need you! All of Hyrule needs you!"

"But…" Link began. "Gris says…I'm not the one you need."

"Well, no, not entirely," The Princess answered. "But, in order for the Hero of Hyrule to save the Triforce, he needs the means to get through the Door of Time," she then pulled out something from within her tunic. "Here," she said, handing the boy a red envelope sealed with wax. The wax seal was pressed with the Triforce. "This is a note from me to you. Show it to anyone you see, and they'll know that you're on a mission from the Royal Family."

Link took the envelope and studied it. True, he understood what she said, but just how was this supposed to help him?

"The Hero of Hyrule isn't here yet, but when he comes, I fear he'll come when Ganondorf is ready to make his move," Zelda told both the boy and his fairy. "But, before that can happen, before he can get to the Triforce, he's going to need the Spiritual Stones. And someone needs to get them."

"M-Me?" Link asked. "You…want me to…?"

"There's no one else that can," Zelda told him. "I'm not allowed out of the Castle, that's why I sent Gris out to find him," she said. "But, she found you, so I suppose that shall do for now."

That would do? Gee, thanks, Link thought. Still, he wondered something. "Where…?"

"Where what?" Zelda questioned, curious as to what the boy was trying to say.

"Where is…Gris now?"

Zelda was surprised. "Why do you want to know?"

"I…just do." Link answered.

The Princess was silent for a few moments as if she were trying to concoct an answer in her mind. "She's…around," Zelda told Link. "But you've got more important things to worry about," she said. "You're going to have to go to both the Gorons and the Zoras, and convince them to give you the other Spiritual Stones. But they won't give them willingly," she then gestured to the envelope she had given Link. "Tell them that you're on a mission from the Princess, and they'll understand."

"They will?" Navi questioned, having been quiet until now.

"Of course they will, I'm the Princess of Hyrule," Zelda answered. "They have to listen to me."

Well, she seemed to be confident, Link thought. Although, from what he had heard of the Gorons and Zoras, he wasn't too sure the Princess's word would be enough. Then, he realized that someone was behind him, waiting at the entrance of the courtyard. "That's my attendant, Impa," she told Link. "She'll lead you out of the Castle," he stood there for a moment. "Well? Go get to it."

Link walked toward the white-haired woman, still somewhat intimidated by her presence. And apparently, she sensed this as well, presenting the boy with a pleasant smile. "Well now, so you're the one the Princess has appointed," she said. "You must be a brave lad, taking this on."

Link shifted a little bit, being put on spot. "He won't be going alone," Navi told the woman. "He only managed to get this far because of me."

Impa nodded. "I suspected that," she grinned at Link's embarrassment. "Anyway, you have a long journey ahead of you, so it'd only be fair if you get some help along the way," she then looked at the boy's shield and sword. "You have an instrument with you, right?"

Link nodded, pulling out his ocarina.

"Keep that close," Impa told him. "The Princess," the woman stopped herself for a moment. "Gris has told me that you'll need it."

The boy's eyes lit up. Gris? Did this lady know where she was?

"You'll be able to see her later," Impa assured him. "But, for now, she's counting on you to do this for her."

If Gris was counting on him, then sure, he'd do it. Link nodded, a look of determination on his face.

"Good, now," Impa raised two fingers to her lips. "Remember this song," she instructed him. "It's a melody passed through the ages of the Royal Family,” she told him. "And, it also served a song I played for the Princess when she was young," She then brought her fingers close and began to whistle a tune. Link's ears listened, taking the melody in. Even if he had never heard it before, the notes struck a chord with him, as if he had heard it before. Then, the woman stopped. "Go on," she urged the boy. "Play."

Link took the ocarina and began to blow, but he soon realized that he had no idea how to play the instrument. He blew into the woodwind and covered up various holes, yet found he couldn't get the melody right.

"You sound like you need some practice," The Princess said, approaching from behind. She then took the ocarina from Link. "Here, like this," she then played the same melody as Impa had, the girl able to perfectly replicate it despite playing with a different instrument. Then, she handed the ocarina back to Link. "Now, you try."

Link took the instrument back and, albeit with varying success, finally managed to play the song.

"Well you should be able to travel anywhere in Hyrule now," The Princess said. "You just learned my lullaby."

Chapter Text

The pathway the woman had taken Link was dark and narrow, winding along tight corridors that appeared to go on forever. Link could barely see, yet it seemed that the woman didn't need the light of Navi to see her way through the shadows. It was as if she were one with them. Then, finally, at long last, they arrived outside of the gates of Castle Town, a small space in the rock to the side of the moat opening to allow the boy, woman, and fairy to exit.

"Now," Impa began, pointing to the east. "In that direction, you will find Kakariiko Village," she told Link. "My birthplace and the main dwelling place for the people outside of Castle Town."

"Yes," Navi nodded. "A man named Ingo said that much of what was once here was destroyed in the war that took place."

"Indeed," Impa nodded. "I would advise you to go there," she said. "However," she continued. "I've become aware that the roads are dangerous to travel at night," the white-haired, fiery-eyed woman looked down at the green-clad boy she had led outside. "Especially for someone such as yourself."

Link gazed up at her curiously. How did she know about that? Just who was this woman? True, she said she was the attendant of the Princess, but he didn't think that'd mean she'd be so...mysterious.

"Thus, given the circumstances," Impa then led Link around the gate of the town near the Castle, spotting a raised rocky wall surrounding a section of land reserved for the residents living there. "I think it'd be best that you go there."

Link looked in the direction she gestured in, and spotted a wooden gate that sat before a small pathway up into the raised area of land. Just what was that place? True, he had noticed it during his first time through Hyrule Field, but he had been on his way to the Castle, so he couldn't stop to look around. Something Navi reminded him of constantly throughout the journey.

"That there is Lon Lon Ranch," Impa told the boy and his fairy. "The Castle's main supplier of goods, specifically meat and dairy products."

Meat? Yeah, that was what he had in Castle Town with Gris. He still didn't entirely understand what it was, or how it somehow came from animals, but it tasted good, so that was what mattered. But what was dairy?

"I met a girl sitting outside of the Castle gates who said her father was the owner," Impa explained. "She said she met you last night, meaning that you were up nearly all day yesterday, right?"

Link nodded. Why would she want to know that?

"So, this so-called ‘Gris’ dragged you all around town without giving you a moment to rest," the white-haired, tan-skinned woman narrowed her eyes. She didn't appear angry, but rather annoyed. "Well, I already alerted her and her father that you'll be stopping by, as you are in clear need of somewhere to stay for the night," she then looked in the direction Kakariko resided. "It'll take you a few miles to get there, but you will eventually need to travel to that place," she told the boy. "There also lies the entrance to Death Mountain, the home of the Gorons."

Yes, the Gorons. Link had heard about them from Gris, and from what she said, they were people that were large and with tough skin. But still, why were they called rock people? How could a person be like a rock? Or a rock be like a person? Maybe if the rock was shaped like a person, maybe, but Link couldn't fathom what the other way around would look like.

"And, while I know you've received official word from the Princess herself," Impa continued. Then, she rolled her eyes. "She overestimates the power of her authority."

"Hm? How so?" Navi questioned.

"That letter may let others know you're here on her behalf," the woman clarified. "But she fails to understand that the King's word outranks hers," she said. "And he's told everyone to not indulge in what he calls her unnecessary worries."

"So, he doesn't believe her when she says that Ganondorf fellow wants to take over the country?" Navi asked.

"Unfortunately, no," Impa answered. "Even if she isn't going about it the best way, I believe it's unwise to ignore her words. Especially given the history of the daughters of the Royal Family," she then sighed. "The King, he is not necessarily a wise man, but he is a good man," she then turned her attention to Link. "Anyway, enough of that," she said. "You have places you need to be, as well as a journey to complete."

Link nodded. "R-Right."

Impa smiled. "Hm," she hummed, studying the boy in green. "True, I am not sure," she murmured. "But there is a possibility you could be."

"Could be what?" Navi questioned.

"Just thinking aloud," Impa answered. "Go to the ranch, you shall find yourself a dwelling place for the night," she then gave Link a small pat on the back. "Go on, you can do it."

Link took a few steps forward, the place the woman had mentioned a short distance away. The sun was already in the middle of the blue sky able, partially covered by a few passing clouds. It was midday by now, and it would be dark in a few hours. True, it would take some time for the sun to go down, but Impa said that it'd take miles to get to Kakariko.

"H-Hey," Link began, turning around to face Impa. "How far away is...?" he trailed off, realizing that the white-haired woman had vanished from sight. The boy looked around with wide eyes, unsure of what had just happened. Where had she gone? She was here just seconds before!

"Well," Navi said, trying to process where Impa had gone as well. Still, despite the woman's ambiguity, she didn't seem like an enemy. She could perhaps be trusted. "Regardless, we know what'll happen if you're out at night," the fairy told her young charge. "So you might as well go to the ranch. Besides, didn't she say that Malon was waiting for you there?"

Yeah, that's right, Link thought. Granted, he was somewhat surprised at this turn of events, yet he was curious as to what this ranch was. Just what was a ranch anyway?

"That blasted owl has killed many of our darlings already," one of the two old figures leaning over the boiling cauldron grumbled, quite frustrated at the bird's efforts to thwart their efforts to spy on the boy. "Just how many Gueys have we gone through?"

"More than I would care to," the other old crone answered, the cooler of the two heads. "Yet he can't kill them all. Besides," she then smiled, a few of her remaining teeth poking out from in between her lips. "I'm sure our dear King will have something nice prepared for him later."

"Speaking of, how did the meeting with King Harkinian go?" the other old figure questioned, genuinely curious. After all, this entire operation hinged on whether or not their King could gain the trust of Hyrule's ruler.

"As far as what I know, the man doesn't suspect a thing," the figure's sibling answered. "His service in the civil war that took place has made him rather eager to establish good relations with his neighbors. Especially those belonging to the land that Hyrule managed to conquer."

"Only because forces from Labrynna allied themselves with the country," the more hotheaded of the two countered. "The Royal Family of that place have access to great machinery and advanced technology, even more than that of Hyrule," she said. "Places such as the supposed country to the south of the Lost Woods are said to have mastered the method of measuring time, or in Holodrum, where it's said an envoy of the Golden Goddesses maintains and controls the very seasons."

"Does not Labrynna have a similar individual as well?" the other figure asked. "One that is said to maintain the ages?"

"Yes, and the late Queen Ambrianna came from Labrynna," the second old crone added. "Even if she has some Hylian lineage. Despite the King's insistence that he married for love, the Nobles around him would've pushed for someone with the same blood as themselves to keep the Royal line as pure as possible."

"Pure, bah!" the other crone scoffed. "As if those pointy-eared snobs have any room to talk," they then trailed her long, bony fingers along the rims of their curved ears. "Do you ever miss them?" they questioned their sibling. "The connection to the Gods?"

"The Gods went against our prayers, so we must do without them," the other responded. "As for whether or not I regret our actions that resulted in this," they then ran their digits over their ears hidden behind snow-white, aging hair. "As well as cursing the entire race of our people to such a fate..." they paused, considering their sibling's question. "No," they finally answered. "Not if it finally means we're able to accomplish what we've been planning for centuries," they said with a smile. "Not if it means that our dear King will finally reclaim his place as ruler of this land, as well as possess the Power of Gold."

"And what of the boy and girl?"

The figure gave a small stir of the cauldron's boiling water. "What of them?" they questioned. "They will serve us in due time. Whether they mean to or not."

"What do you mean?" the other asked.

"The Princess may know of our intentions, but her word is no good. She is nothing more than a child playing a silly game in the eye of adults," the other sibling answered. "She will assist her little delivery boy, but in only so much. And I doubt his word would be good either."

"And what of the other girl? The girl from Castle Town?" the second figure inquired. "What role does she have?"

The figure watching the boy walking to the ranch didn't answer at first, pondering their sibling's words. "Truthfully, I am not sure," they said. "Yet regardless, she has two options: she will either aid the Princess's friend in his quest," they then grinned. "Or, she shall suffer the same fate as all those that we shall surprise when the time comes."

The other was silent, unsure of their sibling's assessment. "What about the Spiritual Stones?" they then asked. "Has our King set forth a plan to seek them out? After all," they bit their lip. "That boy has the Stone of the Forest."

"Don't concern yourself with that. Everything will fall into place, whether our King intends for it to or not." the other figure answered.

"How is that?"

"Well, for one thing, even if our dearest Ganondorf has learned diplomacy, he is not one to be denied what he wants," the shadowy shape in the small room hidden away from the sun stated. "And, given how notoriously proud and stubborn the Gorons are, I doubt they'll part with their beloved treasure so easily."

"So, what are you suggesting?"

The old crone smiled. "I'm saying that the Gorons and Zoras may not be receptive to a large, towering, intimidating specimen our darling boy has grown up to be," their large eyes centered on the reflection of the boy in green. "But surely they'd think nothing of a young, innocent child."

Hyrule Field

"Well, here we are," Navi said, having finally reached the entrance with Link. "Lon Lon Ranch."

Link looked at the sign situated by the entrance, studying the characters written on the wood. Just what did it say? He couldn't understand this language.

"You can worry about your ABCs later," Navi told him. "Right now, we need to take that lady's advice and find someplace to stay before dark."

The boy and his fairy stood before the wooden gate, the narrow pathway lined with rock faces concealed the actual ranch from view. As far as Link knew, he was going in blind. It was then he remembered he didn't even know what a ranch was! Still, if it was where that red-haired girl lived, then it must've been an all-right place. Perhaps he'd be able to see more of those large, four-legged animals he had seen pulling Ingo and Talon's carts.

He still had no idea what they were called.

Going up the raised pathway, Link soon entered an area that was between two buildings, both constructed of wood, but both rather different. One was painted white with a red, titled roof and beams of wood lining the outer walls. The other structure appeared to be primarily constructed rather plainly, the wooden boards holding the place together unpainted and exposed to the elements outside. Link continued until he came across a far more open space, a wide field before him. And, unlike the larger buildings he had just paced, there was only a small, white tower with a red roof and a wooden bench with an overhead built in to shield whoever was sitting from the sunlight.

The land in itself was grassy, yet it bore little flora outside of that, the trees present possessing thin trunks and branches, much unlike those of the Lost Woods, or even the larger field outside of the borders of the ranch. Several patches of earth held no grass at all as if the ground had been trampled so many times, nothing was allowed to grow there. Still, despite being different from both the Kokiri Forest and Castle Town, Link found himself more at ease in this place compared to the settlement he had just visited. There weren't as many people, and the area was far more spacious. But, even if he didn't see any people, this open space was far from unoccupied.

"Whoa, boy! Whoa!"

Navi turned to the side, yelping at what she saw. "Watch out!" she shouted, gaining Link's attention and alerting him of the danger.

The danger in question was a massive shape with four legs charging directly for the far smaller boy in green, the figure atop the beast swerving it out of the way just in time before it could crash into the boy caught unawares. As it rode off further away, both Link and Navi could better tell what the creature looked like, and they realized that they were the same ones they had seen before. Although, for Link, those that were pure white or black had yet to be seen. After a few moments, the creature's rider got it to slow down, its hooves trotting along the ground at a slower pace until it was worked down to a walking speed. Then, the rider seemed to notice the boy they had nearly run into and immediately gasped in shock.

"Oh, it's you!" Malon called out, taking a moment to dismount from the tall quadruped animal and go over to Link. "The Fairy Boy!" she then looked him over. "Sorry about that, Shelly's just been a bit skittish lately. Did you hurt yourself?"

Link shook his head, he was tougher than that. At least, he had to make it look like that in front of a girl. But wait a moment, he thought. "Shelly?" he asked.

"Yeah, one of our mares," Malon explained. "She's one of the younger ones, so she needs to be trained into being a working horse."

"Horse?" Link asked.

"Yeah, a horse," the red-haired girl told the boy. "Have you never seen a horse before?" Link shook his head. "Then...you've never been to a ranch at all?"

Link shook his head again. Usually, whenever he didn't know something, Navi would either explain it or lecture him about how he should've known already. Malon, however, appeared excited to hear the news that he knew next to nothing about this place.

"Wow," she then grabbed Link's hand. "Then allow me to give you a grand tour!" she said, smiling. But then paused. "If you, well, don't mind me being the one leading you around."

Link gazed at Navi, unsure of what Malon meant. Why would he mind if she was the one showing him around?

"You mean, you don't care?" Malon asked. "I mean," she then brushed some of her red hair out of her face. "You think I'm trustworthy?"

Link was still confused. Why wouldn't she be? Regardless, he answered her question with a nod.

"Well, ok, great!" Malon said, her worry disappearing and being replaced with a pleased grin. "Well, as you can see, this is the pasture, where the animals go out and roam around," she explained. "Although, I've got to take a trip to the barn."

The barn? What was a barn, Link wondered.

"It's where we keep the animals at night," the redhead told the boy and fairy. "Although, it's still midday," she said. "But it's near another feeding time, so I've got to go to give her milk."

"Give...who?" Link questioned.

"Do you sometimes just have problems talking?" Malon questioned. "I mean, I don't care," she explained. "I mean, you might speak a little weird, but you're not stupid."

"N-No," Link shook his head. "I...I'm not." Even if she didn't mean it as an insult as Midio would've, Link needed to assert to Malon that he was no such thing as stupid. He wasn't going to have his intelligence insulted.

"Well, good," Malon told him. "Because, on the ranch, the best skill you have is your sense of hearing," she said, leading him to the wooden building he had passed before. "Especially since animals don't speak our language either, so you have to listen to them carefully."

The wooden door was shut behind them, Malon having led Link to the barn. The interior was very sparse and had no paint on the walls, yet Link found it gave the place a rustic feel, almost living off bare essentials. Plus, the unpainted wood that held up the building reminded him of his treehouse back in the Kokiri Forest.

The Kokiri Forest...he couldn't help but wonder how things were going back at home, even if it technically wasn't his home anymore. He could stay in the Lost Woods with Saria, yet it still pained him that he probably wouldn't be welcome back in the community. And Saria, just how was she doing? Was she doing all right? With the Great Deku Tree gone, she said she would take care of things, but how could that be?

Despite his questions, Link wished that he could see her. Perhaps after his quest was done and he delivered the Stones to the Princess, he could visit her.

"Hello? You there?" Malon's voice brought Link back to his current reality, images of the dense woodland he had known all his life were replaced with the wooden walls of the barn. "Wow, you're right," the girl told Navi. "He DOES space out."

"All the more reason for me to be here," the fairy responded. Link huffed. "Anyway, this is where you keep the rest of your animals?"

"Yes," Malon answered with a nod. "We let the cows out in the pasture, yet when we need to milk them, we keep them inside," Link appeared confused. "You don't know what a cow is either?" Even if he was making himself look rather foolish, Link answered honestly with a nod of the head, albeit sheepishly. "So, you guys don't have milk in the forest?"

Link hated to ask, but he had to know. "W-what's...milk?"

"Wow," Malon said. "You've got a lot to learn if you're going to be traveling around Hyrule," she then smiled. "Luckily, I'm just the person to show you!" she then pulled Link to one of the holding areas for a four-legged animal with dark hooves, a white coat with large, black patches, a large, pink nose, floppy ears, and a ring piercing its nose. The creature appeared calm and content, lazily munching on some fodder. "This is Bessie, our oldest cow," Malon told the boy. "Cows give milk, which can be drunk by both us and other animals."

So, milk came from cows the same way apples came from trees? All right, he believed he was getting the hang of this, Link thought. This animal, this "cow" appeared more heavyweight than the more agile horses outside, a long tail wisping back and forth from behind its rump, but it didn't seem bothered by either Link or the girl's presence.

"Hey, you!" suddenly, a male voice called out, its owner approaching the two children. "Just what are you doing here?" Link looked up and saw the same man that had given him a ride to Castle Town on his first night in Hyrule Field, the taller figure sporting a large mustache and pink trousers with a green shirt and brown shoes.

"I met him in Castle Town, Mr. Ingo," Malon told the farmhand sporting a pitchfork. "I invited him to the ranch because he helped me find dad."

"Who had fallen asleep on the job," Ingo added. "Again."

Malon rolled her eyes. "Yes," she then looked at Link. "That's why I'm giving Fairy Boy a grand tour of the place. He's never seen horses or cows before."

"Well, fine then," Ingo said with a dismissive huff. "Just be sure to do your chores and don't let him cause any trouble," he then went off to take care of the other cows in the barn, all the while grumbling to himself. "That lazy bum, Talon. Why do I do most of the work around here? It might as well be MY ranch!" he went out of the barn, leaving the two children alone. He had to tend to the cuccos. "I, Ingo, should be the one in charge around here. Not some guy who sleeps the day away!"

Back within the walls of the barn, Malon approached Bessie and entered the stall, kneeling beside the bovine and grabbing a nearby bucket. "What are you...doing?" Link questioned, watching as what looked like white liquid shoot out from a pink sac resting on the underside of the cow.

"This is how you get the milk from cows," Malon explained, continuing the process with Bessie, steadily filling the bucket up. "They produce milk every day, and it can get painful for them if they aren't relieved," she continued her work, watching as the milk rose in the bucket. "Unfortunately, Bessie doesn't produce as much milk as she used to, but she can give just enough for me."

"For you?" Navi questioned.

"Yes," Malon answered, finishing her task. Exiting the stall, she came out with a bucket partially full of freshly squeezed milk. "The other cows give milk that we sell to the Castle and in Kakariko Village," she then led Link over to a stall at the end of the barn. "But dad and Mr. Ingo have allowed me to use Bessie to feed our smallest resident."

Smallest resident? Link peered into the stall and found he couldn't see anything inside. Navi fluttered in through the open space above the gate, and searched around, her senses detecting a form of life underneath a small pile of hay in the northeastern corner. Flying closer, she spied a large, blue eye open from beneath the yellow, dry fibers. With a small shake of the head, the hay was dislodged and the tiny creature that had been hiding stood up, realizing that it was feeding time once again.

What was that? Link leaned in closer, the four-legged animal slowly making its way toward the blonde boy, steps wobbly and unsteady. Just what was this thing?

"She's a filly," Malon answered. "A baby horse," she then reached out to stroke the small horse's snout. "Her name is Epona."

Unlike the sandy-brown coats of those outside, this little equine bore a coat of bright mahogany and a mane and snout, along with ankles of white. Her eyes were a deep blue, but large and innocent, signifying that she was still quite young. She gazed at Link curiously, blinking and lightly twitching her red ears.

"Go on, you can pet her." Malon urged the boy.

Link reached out to touch the filly, but his hand went onto the horse's nose, a digit accidentally poking into the nostril. The baby horse blew air out and stumbled back, falling on another pile of hay in the opposite corner of the room. A high-pitched yelp was heard and Epona neighed in fright, the smaller body she had landed on jolting her up from her place. Then, to everyone's shock, the concealed lump in the hay spit out fire, the flaming stream just barely missing the beams of Epona's enclosure, as well as the ceiling and walls, the range of the blast not reaching by mere inches.

"What the?!" Navi cried out, hiding underneath Link's hat to shield herself from the heat she felt from the fire.

"What's going on here?" a voice called out, Malon and Link whirling around to see both Ingo and Talon entering the barn. "We heard a noise, what happened?"

Caught off guard by the fact her father was awake, Malon quickly went to work trying to cover herself. "Oh, it's, uh, nothing. Epona just sneezed."

"That's it?" Ingo questioned. "That's some sneeze if it got you both to scream like a couple of girls."

"I am not a girl!" Link protested, but Navi whispered for him to be quiet and let Malon do all the talking.

"Yeah, it was super scary!" the redhead told the taller of the two bearded men. "But at least it means her lungs are healthy! To do a sneeze like that would take a lot of air, right?"

Ingo then went over and peered into the stall, Malon panicking as he did so. Whatever had caused that fire was in there, and it was most definitely NOT Epona. His critical eyes searched, yet, from what he could find, there was nothing but a red filly inside. "Well, ok," the pink and green-dressed man said. "But keep it down next time!" he then turned to leave. "Those blasted cuccos will attack you at a moment's notice."

Talon followed, but not before bidding his daughter some parting words. "Truth is, I just woke up," he then shrugged. "Maybe I was just imagining it," He then left. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Make sure Epona drinks it all!"

"Will do!" With his departure, Malon went into the stall with the bucket of milk and sat down, bringing Epona down with her. "Come on in," she told Link. "I probably owe you an explanation as for what that...fire was," she said. "Which it is. It's real fire."

Real fire? Well, Link certainly didn't think it was "fake" fire, yet he still had no idea as to what could've produced it.

"Look, I'll tell you, I will. But only after dinner, as I can't let him come out at night."

Wait a minute, what? Let who come out at night? Was this someone the one who had breathed fire?

"Please, just don't look," Malon begged. "He's kinda shy and doesn't like to be seen. That's why I've been keeping him in here," she explained. "Just please, wait until after dinner before I show him to you," she then eyed the boy curiously when he looked confused. "You ARE staying, right?"

Staying? Link pondered this proposal. Indeed, Impa had told him that he probably needed to find someplace to stay for the night, and Malon had also offered him food, so there was no reason to say no. He nodded, this answer seemingly pleasing the red-haired girl.

"Great! Now, do you mind giving me a hand?" the boy in green entered, watching as Malon grabbed what appeared to be a hollowed-out cow horn. She put the end of the horn in Epona's mouth, a hole carved to allow for an exit, and then turned to Link. "Seeing as you're here, could you pour some of the milk in for me?" Malon asked Link. "I'd do it myself, but she's been getting a little antsy on me lately, so I need to hold her while she feeds."

Feeds? Oh right, Link thought. Cow's milk could be drunk by other animals. If that was the case, then how did it taste? He'd question that later, for now, he obeyed Malon's request and poured the white liquid into the hollowed-out horn, the freshly squeezed dairy running down the inner section of the horn and to the filly's toothless mouth. The young horse eagerly drank up the milk coming her way, Malon holding the horn steady to keep any from leaking out.

"If I may," Navi questioned, emerging from Link's hat. "Why does she have to drink a cow's milk? Don't horses produce milk for their children?"

"They do," Malon answered. "But Catherine was a young mare when she had Epona," the red-haired girl explained.

"C-Catherine?" Link asked.

"A mare, a girl horse, that we had at the ranch," Malon told the boy from the forest. "Epona was the first foal she had, so she was a new mother. Unfortunately," she then paused. "She didn't have enough milk to give her baby, and she passed on a few days after giving birth."

A horse died? Better yet, a baby's mother died. Link looked down at the red horse in sympathy. Still, despite his desire to reach out and touch the horse, Epona didn't seem that receptive to his presence. She seemed to tolerate him more than anything else.

"Epona's just not used to anyone outside of me, dad, and Mr. Ingo," Malon told Link. "Give her time, I think she'll like you."

Ok, Link thought. Still, he has somewhat disheartened because the foal didn't take too kindly to him.

"Hey, I forgot to ask you," Malon said, still feeding Epona. "On your way, did you get to meet the Princess? Like, truthfully?"

Link nodded and presented the envelope the well-dressed girl had given him. "It's officially signed by her as well," Navi added. "Although, neither Link nor I understand the language."

"You don't know how to read Hylian?" Malon questioned. "How do you find your way in the forest without signs?"

"The Kokiri have signs, sure," Navi explained. "Their numbering system is just...a little different. They use individual lines of five to mark the amounts they have or want of certain products."

"So, you grew up with what was an entirely different language," Malon observed. "And yet, you still speak Hylian. Well, at least when you do occasionally talk," she then noticed Link appear uncertain. "Which is fine, if you don't want to," she said. "You might not speak a lot, but you're pretty easy to figure out."

Was he? Link turned to Navi to get her input. "Let's just say in the heat of things, you have a very expressive face."

As if demonstrate, Link's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. His eyes then fell on the pile of hay that was previously disturbed by Epona. The one that had blasted out a stream of fire.

"I'll show you later. I have to feed him too, but after we have our dinner," Malon told Link. "Please, just be patient. I can't afford to let him be seen."

Link continued to stare at the hay pile, tempted to go over and uncover whatever was hiding for himself. Nonetheless, he relented and stayed back, if not just because Malon was there with him. And besides, he had proven he could keep a secret with Gris, right?

Gris...

"Anyway, what is this envelope for exactly?" Malon asked, momentarily setting the hollowed-out horn down, as it was now empty of milk, Epona having drunk all of it. She took the red paper sealed with the royal crest on a seal of wax, examining it. "It just looks like an ordinary letter to me."

"She said that it'll help us get to wherever we need to go," Navi told Malon. "Just show them that we're here on behalf of the Princess, and they'll let us by."

"Sounds a little too easy," Malon said. "Still, she IS the Princess," she then handed the envelope back to Link, who put it back in his sack. "So, what was she like?"

Link shrugged. "She was...ok."

Suffice it to say, the redhead was shocked. "Ok?" she asked. "Ok? Um, you managed to meet the Princess. Not even that, A Princess! The first Princess in Hyrule for a hundred years! And all you have to say is that she's ok?"

Link was puzzled. Was he supposed to think something else about her? From what he saw, she didn't look any different than him or Malon. She was no different than the other kids he had seen in Castle Town. "Guess so," he said.

"Well...ok, if you say so," Malon said, petting Epona. "Although, I'd personally love to have the opportunity to meet her, if just once. Just to say I did it," she then turned back to Link. "Hey, there was that other girl you were with, right?" she asked. "Gris, wasn't it? From Labrynna?"

Yes, that's right, Link thought. He had nearly forgotten. Shocking, considering that, up until Malon's questions regarding the princess, the other girl had been on his mind ever since leaving the Castle.

"What happened to her?" Malon questioned. "Wasn't she the one that took you to the Castle?"

"Yes, that's right," Navi answered. "She told us she was friends with the Princess, so she'd show us to her," she then crossed her arms. "We had to sneak through the garden and we nearly got caught, but she technically did keep her word."

Malon then noticed the look on Link's face. "What's that all about?" she asked. "You thinking about her?"

Link sputtered, being drawn out of his thoughts and shaking his head vehemently. "Oooh," Navi then said, joining in on the teasing. "I think someone's lying."

"Am not!" Link protested, folding his arms as he turned away to hide his beet-red face.

"But you do want to see her again, right?" Malon asked.

Well...he wouldn't deny that. True, she had been a little pushy, but for the most part, Link found he enjoyed his time with her. True, he hadn't known her as long as Saria, yet, given time, it was possible that they could've become friends.

"Hey, since you've got official proof you know the Princess, maybe you can ask the guards or anyone if they've seen her. If she works for the Royal Family, she either lives in Castle Town or Kakariko Village, so you're bound to see her again sometime in the future."

Link pondered this. "You...think so?"

"Yeah, we're going there tomorrow to deliver milk, as we've already made our delivery to the Castle," Malon told Link, then rising from her sitting place where she was stroking Epona. "Want to come?"

Link thought about the girl's proposal. True, he would need to go there eventually, and it was close to Death Mountain, the place he needed to head to next. After a short few moments, Link nodded in response.

"Ok, that's great!" Malon said. "But, if you're going to stay the night," she then exited the stall, holding it open for Link to come out as well. "You're helping me prepare for dinner."

Her blue eyes opened, yet she once again found herself alone in the Sacred Meadow, save for her fairy, Compa. Still, despite seeing that there was nothing to fear, Saria couldn't help but be troubled.

Ever since Link's departure, she found herself unable to settle down. True, the departure of her friend was a heavy blow, but she knew it had to be done, not just for the sake of herself and the other Kokiri, but for the world outside the forest as well. Still, it didn't make it any easier to go through it. But ever since then, Saria found herself wondering if she was in any particular danger. The Lost Woods had been steadily getting more twisted and maze-like, the Kokiri girl sometimes having a difficult time remembering where she had gone. Thankfully, she had studied this place well enough to know it like the back of her hand. Regardless, she worried for any hapless soul who would perhaps stumble his way into the trees, only to be swallowed by the dense brush, never to return.

Saria herself had never seen it, yet she took the Great Deku Tree's warnings about the area to heart, especially when it came to Link's safety. For, indeed, while he reigned over much, Saria knew something that the others didn't, not even Link himself.

Soon, she feared, the territory of the Forest Guardian would be taken by a force far fouler in nature. A force that had been waiting for this very moment. Saria couldn't have been sure, but she suspected that, whatever it was, it was making its move. And without the Great Deku Tree, no one would be able to stop it.

Chapter Text

Mido looked out his window, spying on Saria's house and sighing with frustration and worry. Ever since she had informed them that Link had left the Lost Woods and into the outside world, everyone believed that the problem was solved. True, there was some protest raised about his departure, and even Mido thought at first that Link had done the unthinkable.

For the briefest of seconds, he regretted everything. Every word, every action, every look he gave the blonde boy, everything.

But then, Saria revealed that Link was not dead. Rather, it was now that he could "truly live," according to her. What this meant, the other Kokiri didn't know, and they still didn't entirely understand how a Kokiri could survive outside of the Great Deku Tree's domain, let alone outside of the Lost Woods, but Saria was no liar. Still, even though she said she knew that Link supposedly "had to leave sometime," the green-haired girl didn't take the boy's departure well. She seemed to be hit almost as hard as when she and the others witnessed the Great Deku Tree's passing as if she had lost Link forever.

Well, in a way, even if she attested that he lived, she knew he most likely wouldn't come back.

Since then, the girl had spent long hours in the Lost Woods, sometimes from sun up to sun down, only returning to her home when she was exhausted and needed sleep. But it soon didn't take long for her to begin sleeping out in the dense brush itself. Where she rested or where she went, no one knew, and Mido knew Saria wanted it that way. She didn't want to be disturbed, she didn't want to even be in the company of those that hated her friend. The red-haired boy remembered what the girl had said to him when she returned to the Kokiri Forest after leaving with Link.

"Well, you got what you wanted. He's gone. Hope you're happy now."

"I...It's not that," Mido muttered to himself, reminiscing on the girl's words. "I didn't want him gone," he said. "I just..."

"Hey, don't get worked up over that," his pink fairy, Recti, told the redhead. "There's nothing that can be done about it now."

Mido sulked. "Yeah, I know," he said. "But still, now she hates me."

"She doesn't hate you," the boy's guardian assured him. "She's just upset right now," she then looked down at the ground. "I know you're still not over the Great Deku Tree passing away."

"Me?" Mido questioned. "I'm ok. Why wouldn't I be ok?"

"Are you sure about that?" Recti questioned. "I healed your nose after that fight easy, but I can't fix what's going on in here," she then flew over and placed a hand on the boy's green-covered chest, her tiny hand barely making a wrinkle on the fabric. "Not unless you're honest about what you're feeling."

Mido bit his lip, feeling himself growing defensive. "I'm not upset about anything!" he argued. "If anything, Saria's the one that needs to get over him!" Mido went over from the window, arms crossed and head down. "If he's where he's supposed to be, then there's no point in crying over that guy! What's so special about him anyway?!" he asked. "Even when he was still here, the Great Deku Tree always treated him differently! True, he was just as fair with all of us," even if, in Mido's mind, most of the scraps he and Link got into were the blonde boy's fault. "But he always knew that there was something up with Link! He was a weirdo from the start! Even before he got his fairy, he couldn't talk well, he got distracted easily, he was terrible at growing crops, he was just...ugh!" Mido threw up his hands in exasperation. "He just wasn't a good Kokiri." the redhead sighed, finally getting his pent-up tension out of his system.

"Well, no, not really," Recti agreed with her charge. "But that's not what bothers you about him, is it?"

"What do you mean?" Mido questioned.

"I've seen the way you look at Saria," the pink fairy told the boy. "And I've also seen how she looks at Link," the boy froze. "You hate that, don't you?" Mido was silent for a few moments before he turned and made his way to the door. "Hey, where are you going?"

"I'm going out," the redhead told the winged creature. "Or rather, I'm going to get Saria and bring her home."

"Huh? You don't even know where she's gone-" Recti protested, but she realized that the boy had just exited his wooden house. "Hey! Mido! Don't leave me!" the fairy pleaded, flying out the window and after her Kokiri, who had just entered the Lost Woods without her.

"This will not do. He should've done the job when he had the chance."

Should one travel past the Kokiri Forest and into the further darkness of the Lost Woods, one would stumble upon a realm that is unlike that inhabited and controlled by the Great Deku Tree. This area of the dense forest was dark and foreboding, where the sun could barely shine through the thick, dark branches of the twisted trees that resided in this place. While the Lost Woods was home to creatures outside of the Kokiri, such as the wooden Deku Scrubs and animals such as rabbits, squirrels, as well as other woodland creatures, this particular sector of the vast sea of green housed far more dangerous, malicious beasts. Beasts that hunted and killed and ate those unfortunate enough they were able to catch. And their kills would always involve the spilling of blood.

The ruler of this place was one even more crooked and twisted than they were, for he was the one that made them what they were.

Towering over a smaller collection of shapes, all of them were concealed in the dark shadows cast by the trees blocking out the sun, the figures listening to the far larger being's words. "Go and find the one who now maintains the Great Deku Tree's realm, now that the dear fellow is gone," the stationary but intimidating being instructed the smaller ones at his command. "Bring her to me. I have a place for her."

The more diminutive shapes gazed at each other, confused as to why their Master wished to go through with such a plan. Even if they still served him, they were much unlike the Deku Scrubs that had led the man in black to the Kokiri Forest. "But Master," one of the figures questioned. Despite their shadowy appearance, the voice sounded like that of a child. "Do you think this will bring him back?"

"Absolutely," the larger shape answered. "He will come for her. And when he does, you are to lead him here to me. Now, go!" he ordered, the smaller beings at his command scattering, ready to complete their mission. "Ganondorf made a mistake not killing the child when he had the chance," he mused aloud. "And I failed to accomplish that task when that boy first entered the forest," the being then grinned, a twisted mouth that bore a wicked smile, much unlike the gentle face of the Great Deku Tree. For this being was anything but benevolent. "I shall not make that mistake again."

Lon Lon Ranch

"I still can't believe you act like meeting the Princess isn't a big deal," Malon told Link, the boy with her in a small storage house, barrels and various wooden containers housing various items for consumption. "You realize that seeing her is probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Link tilted his head. True, Princess Zelda seemed like a nice enough girl, even if she was a little haughty and believed she had authority over others, his mind was still on the girl he had spent the day in Castle Town with. The girl with short, blonde hair and a pink dress, the one he had shared food and time with, who had shown him around. Even if he didn't know her that well, the boy fondly remembered the short while he had spent with her. Even now, he still wondered where she was. If she lived in the Castle, then, when he returned to the Princess with the Stones, maybe he could see her again.

Assuming that she even wanted to see him. At least, she seemed to be happy whenever she was with him. Or maybe he was looking too deep into it. Nevertheless, Link felt warm as he dwelt on his interactions with Gris. It was probably just a silly fantasy, yet he hoped she would be just as happy to see him as well.

"Well, the Princess wasn't the only one we saw at the Castle," Navi said, flying close by Link as the redheaded girl looked through the products available in the storage house. "We saw who I think was the King, along with some people the Princess said came from the desert."

"Oh," Malon said, voice becoming less enthusiastic. "You must've seen the Gerudo."

Yes, that was what they were called, Link thought. Still, Malon didn't seem to have a high regard for them. No one around him seemed to. "Well, we've heard things about them," Navi told the redhead. "But we don't know that much about them as a whole."

"There's not much to know," Malon answered, opening a barrel and revealing strange slabs of red material Link had never seen before. The smell of salt was strong, and the slabs were coated in white crystals. Just what were they, Link wondered. His focus was brought back to Malon upon hearing her speak more. "They're from the desert, and they're a cursed, filthy people," she said. "Never associate with them."

Link was shocked upon hearing this. "That's...a little mean...isn't it?" he asked the girl. True, he didn't have much knowledge of the Gerudo, but from what he had seen, they didn't look bad.

"That's a compliment," Malon told the boy, reaching into the barrel to retrieve a red, soft cut of meat, preserved by the coating of salt. "You're from the forest, Fairy Boy, so, forgive me, but you don't know anything," she told him. "The Gerudo are a vicious, brutal tribe that take no prisoners and are more willing to slit your throat than allow you a moment to plead for mercy."

The boy went quiet upon hearing this. "They...kill people?" he asked.

"They're good at it, too," Malon said. "They may just look like women, but they're anything but. Their bodies are strong, just as strong as any Hylian man, perhaps even more so. Their strength is near supernatural, and they craft strange and deadly weapons to use against their enemies. Weapons that are laced with poison to prolong the suffering of those that dare oppose them."

Link looked at Navi, who appeared just as stunned to hear this. "Goodness," she muttered. "Are they that bad?"

"Oh, that's nothing, just wait until you hear what they do when they decide it's time to breed." the young girl said, handing a slab of meat to Link. "Hold this for me, please. I need to get a few more if you're going to be eating with us," still, even as she went through the barrel, gathering salted meat, she continued expressing her distaste for the desert people. "I assume that you already know if you're asking about them, but the Gerudo, save for one man every one-hundred years, are all women. And, as far as I know, none of them have lived that long, but since there are no men among them, they sneak into Hyrule to find those willing to...well, you know."

"Know what?" Link asked.

Malon stared wide-eyed at him, then she looked at Navi. "I'm still trying to get him to learn."

"Yeah, well," Malon continued. "Either way, they come to Hyrule, then go back, and have babies of their own. But, again, they're all girls, so until a King is born, they have to continue this practice until he comes."

Link then studied Malon's appearance, noting her bright, red hair. The same hair he had seen flowing from the dark-skinned people's heads. "But...what about you?" he asked, gesturing to her hair. "Aren't you...a Gerudo?"

Malon whirled around, shocking Link with her angered expression. "I am NOT one of those people," she told him, voice low and almost a growl. "See?" she then presented her ears. "I have the mark of a Hylian, and belong to that race. My skin is light, and my eyes are blue, I look nothing like them," she then sighed, simmering down. "I know my hair may look a little like theirs," she then paused. "Red hair is perfectly natural."

In Link's opinion, her hair was almost just as red as those two women he had seen. But still, he didn't understand why having red hair was a bad thing. He thought Malon's hair looked pretty.

"Well, anyway," Navi began, changing the subject. It was clear Malon was uncomfortable talking about the Gerudo. "Just what is in this barrel?"

"Huh? Oh, it's just pork," the ranch girl answered. "We salted it a few months ago, so we need to use it before it spoils," she then turned back to Link, some meat covered in salt also in her hands. "Ok, hold these," she then handed what she held to Link to carry. "I'm going to see what vegetables we have."

She then went off to search the other barrels and boxes, Link continuing to hold the salted meat. Was this what meat felt like to hold? Honestly, it felt rather gross, Link thought. But, as he stared at the meat in his hands, he then remembered what Malon said this specific meat was. "This is...pork, right?"

"Huh? Oh yeah," Malon said, grabbing a few items Link recognized: carrots, onions, parsnips, all things he had grown in the Kokiri Forest. Or, at least, attempted to. "We got a few pigs, so we can always rely on them for food," she then sighed. "Still, I miss Arnie."

"Arnie?" Navi asked. "Who's Arnie?"

"A pig we had," Malon said. "You do know pork comes from pigs, right?" she asked Link and fairy.

"Yeah," Link answered with a nod. "Just like how apples come from trees," Malon merely stared at him, unable to believe what she had just heard. Just how ignorant was this boy? "Where's Arnie now?"

Did he seriously not know? "Uh," the redheaded girl's blue eyes shifted to the side, her mind trying to conjure up an answer. "He...he ran away," she told him. "Yeah, that's right. He ran away, and he's been missing since."

"Oh," Link said, slightly dejected. "Sorry."

"It's fine. It's just...something that happens," Malon answered. "Anyway, let's go get this fried and chopped up," she said, carrying an armload of vegetables, Link following her out of the storage house. "I've also got to make some bread for tonight too, so I'll need your help with that."

"Bread?" Link asked.

Malon stopped and looked at Navi. "I don't know what that is either," she said. "But I have a feeling that you're going to be explaining things to him ALL night."

"You know," Malon responded, eyeing Link, who was gazing at the horses still running in the pasture. "I can tell you have your hands full with him," she said. "Still," she smiled as she glanced at the blonde boy, who was still fascinated by the larger, four-legged animals prancing through the grass. "He seems like an ok kid."

"Oh, he is," Navi answered, smiling in Link's direction, the boy completely oblivious that the fairy and ranch girl were discussing him. "But...I just worry about what's ahead."

"What do you mean?" Malon asked.

"Well, we have to collect the Three Spiritual Stones for the Princess," the fairy said. "And, to do that, we'll probably have to go to some dangerous places. Places with dangerous terrain and foul creatures," her face became awash with worry. "And...I still don't know if he's prepared for that."

Malon studied the still clueless boy and found Navi's fears somewhat justified. While she didn't entirely understand what his journey would entail, the red-haired girl suspected that it wouldn't be an easy one. If anything, she would've been surprised if there weren't danger somewhere along the way. The question was, whether or not it would be dangerous that he could conquer. After all, even if he had that sword, the boy in green was still just that.

A boy.

Later

So, this was what a house looked like on the inside. Link surveyed the enclosing walls and wooden floor, the beams supporting the foundation of the home, as well as adding to the rustic but homely feel of the residence. Currently, Link stood over what appeared to be a strange, circular object of black that held the salted pork over a freshly lit fire, the boy's pointed ears hearing the sound of the meat sizzling and growing darker the longer it rested over the fire. A particular scent began to emit from the pork being roasted, one that made Link's mouth water with anticipation.

"Don't go drooling over it just yet," Malon told him. "You still have a dough you need to roll."

Oh, right! Question was, how did he roll dough? There was a lump of soft, cold substance Link likened to clay that he was supposed to roll, but into what? A circle? It was pretty round already, but he could try to make it rounder.

Malon watched as the boy tried to shape the dough into a sphere, puzzled by just what he was doing. "Uh...ok, just...keep doing that," she told him. She then went over to a pot that contained boiling vegetables in a broth, the stew thickening with each passing minute. "So, what do you eat in the forest?" the girl asked. "After all, if you don't know what bread is, I take it that you've never used a stove before either, let alone cooked anything."

"I have!" Link protested. "I...I've cooked before."

"Like what?" Malon asked. Even if she thought the boy just didn't want to admit he didn't have much experience, she was genuinely curious as to what the Kokiri ate and how they prepared their meals.

"Well," Navi took over, noticing that Link's tic regarding speech was kicking in again. Seeing that she would speak for him, the boy in green went back trying to shape the dough. "The Kokiri mostly grew vegetables and fruit, but when it came to eating them, there were a variety of methods we ate what we produced."

Ok, Link thought. So far, so good. He had nearly gotten the dough into a perfect ball. The question was, just how was this thing going to be made into bread? Whatever that was.

"Like what?" Malon questioned.

"We grow different crops in different seasons. For example, Saria gave Link some radishes she pickled,"

"Wait, you have radishes?" Malon asked. Link nodded, having momentarily stopped messing with the dough. "Do you mind if I see them?" the boy agreed and retrieved the jar of preserved vegetables from the sack underneath his shield. She opened the jar and took a small bite out of one of the thin slices of radish, pleasantly surprised by the flavor. "Hm," she hummed in satisfaction. "Not bad," she then looked at the boiling pot, then at the blonde boy. "Do you mind if I experiment a little? I think these would compliment the pottage well."

Pottage? Oh, so that was what she making! Even if pottage was, once again, something Link was unfamiliar with, if it contained vegetables, he could offer some help! Nodding with approval, Malon began to put the thin slices of pickled radish into the pot, excited about the new flavor they would add to the broth.

"Your friend pickled these?" Malon asked Link, taking another bite out of a thin slice of radish. "Saria, wasn't it?" she asked. Link nodded in response. "Is she a Kokiri too?"

"Y-Yeah," Link said. "She's my...friend," he said. Truthfully, she was his only friend since he first sprouted from the Great Deku Tree's seed in the Lost Woods.

"Speaking of, if I can ask, how are the Kokiri born?" the Hylian girl questioned. "I mean, do you have, well a mom or dad?"

Link thought about this for a moment. "Well, no," he answered. "We...only have one...parent."

"Oh? Who's that?" Malon questioned.

Link then grew silent, expression growing solemn. Malon began to regret asking, yet before she could speak, Navi answered for Link once again. "Every Kokiri is born from a seed produced by the Great Deku Tree," the fairy explained to the ranch girl. "There's a story behind it, or, at least from what I've been told."

"Oh?" the redhead questioned. "Like what?"

"Well," Navi began. Link had heard this story too, yet Malon was completely unaware. It wasn't known outside of the Forest Guardian's domain. "Once, the Great Deku Tree was all alone, and he only had the company of the animals and Deku Scrubs."

"Deku Scrubs?"

"They're walking bushes," Navi clarified. "At least, that's the best way to describe them. They don't serve the Great Deku Tree or anyone that I know of. They just sort of live in the forest, and they might've been there even before the Great Deku Tree. No one knows," she said.

Anyway," she continued. "The Great Deku Tree grew lonely and saw how the animals and other creatures around him were able to have children. He then wished to have some of his own, so he produced several seeds and scattered them across the Lost Woods."

"And those seeds...grew into children?" Malon questioned, trying to process what the fairy was describing.

"In a manner of speaking, yes," Navi answered. "Although, none of us fairies ever saw them before they suddenly all came to the Great Deku Tree. Since then, they established a community there, and, so far, it's been going on up until now."

"Sounds interesting," Malon then turned her attention back to Link. "Do you remember when you...sprouted?" she asked the boy.

Link pondered her question for a moment. Truthfully, he wasn't sure. For as long as he had known, he had always been in the presence of the Great Deku Tree. He didn't remember much, but there was a time when the child was the only one among the tree's children. Then, around when he was perhaps five or six, the others emerged and came to the meadow. That was when he had seen Saria for the first time, along with those such as Fado, the Know-it-All Brothers, the twins, and Flint.

And yes, even Mido.

When all the Kokiri made their way to the meadow, the Great Deku Tree produced homes for them all that they could fashion and shape as they wish, gave them fields to till and grow crops, and sources of water to drink and water their produce. Overall, despite the sense of social isolation he felt, Link enjoyed his home. It still stung that he still wouldn't be welcome back. Although, given the circumstances, he couldn't exactly blame the others.

After all, even if he didn't know it would lead to such a thing, the boy still planted the "seed" given to him.

"Hey, are you ok?"

Malon's voice brought Link back to reality. "Oh! Y-Yeah!" he answered. Then, he looked at the dough he had shaped into a near-perfect ball. He studied his work while Malon gazed at it, unsure of what to say.

"Ok..." the redhead said, biting her lip. "Good...but...maybe we can make it so that it'll fit in the oven?"

Deep within the Lost Woods

It was out of her control now, she was aware. Nevertheless, Saria couldn't get Link out of her mind.

"You still wish you could've gone with him, don't you?" the Kokiri girl's fairy asked her green-haired charge.

"If you're trying to convince me, it won't work," Saria told the green, glowing orb with wings. "I can't get involved in any way that isn't allowed, you know that," she gazed down at the ocarina in her hands. "The Cycle has to continue as intended. If interrupted in any way, who knows what could happen."

"Again with this Cycle," Compa said, the green fairy sighing. "Just why is it so important anyway? If anything, it seems to be doing nothing but causing you and everyone else distress."

Saria was quiet for a moment, staring at the ground. The sun was setting, and it would be dark soon. She would have to go back to the hamlet just to assure the others that she was ok. The last thing she needed was for someone to come out here, looking for her. Especially if that someone was Mido.

"The Cycle was never known for being kind to those that are involved, no matter how small a role they play," Saria told her winged companion. "And while the players will be supported by those around them, there will be collateral damage. Both to themselves, and those around them," she sighed. "Unfortunately, it can't be helped. It's been occurring since the world came into being, and it will continue long after that."

Compa was quiet for a moment, unsure of what to say. "Did the Great Deku Tree tell you this?"

"Yes," Saria nodded. "Before he...passed," she said. Even if she had accepted her parent's death, it didn't make the reality of the situation any less painful. "Only after Link turned ten did he say anything to me," Saria confessed. "It was then that he told me of a world that dwelt outside of the confines of these woods. A land where the stories we heard every night were not only true, they were still happening. And now," she sighed. "It's Link's turn."

Compa fluttered over to rest on her charge's shoulder, growing uneasy the longer the girl remained silent. "And...where does that leave you?"

Saria clutched the ocarina she had in her possession. An ocarina that was similar to the one she had provided Link. "For now, I'm the one that has to maintain the forest and keep the others safe from the forces outside," she told her fairy. "Although, I'm not too sure if I can do as good of a job as the Great Deku Tree," she then turned her attention to the exit of the Sacred Meadow. "And I think forces that were kept back before are going to emerge sooner than I would like."

She was unsure of what the future held for her or her friends, let alone the others that held no malevolent intent in the forest. But, whatever would happen in the future, she just hoped for her friend's safety. Still, even if she wasn't allowed, she did wish she could see him again.

If not just one more time.

Lon Lon Ranch

"Ok, I think it's ready!"

Link gazed at the wooden table set before him, the pot containing the boiled vegetables (and pickled radishes) in the center with four chairs available, all soon to be occupied by the residents of the ranch.

"Well?" Malon said, gesturing to a seat. "Sit anywhere you want."

She then took a seat, yet, to her shock, Link sat next to her, the corner of the table being the only thing separating them. "Oh," she said, noticing the short distance. "You...don't mind being this close to a girl?"

Link was puzzled. What did she mean, he hung out with Saria all the time, and she was a girl. Why would this be any different?

Malon glanced at Navi, who was sitting atop Link's shoulder. "I don't think he entirely gets it," she then sighed. He's still just a kid, but still, doesn't he know how a girl feels? Like, at all? Judging from his still-present confusion, she guessed not.

"What?" the boy asked, not entirely understanding Navi's frustration.

"You know what? You're hopeless." the fairy said. "Hero of the Kokiri or not, you've still got a LOT to learn outside of just this country's customs."

Hey, he was getting there! At least, he knew a lot more than when he first started! Before Link could come up with a retort, the door opened, allowing Ingo and Talon inside. "Mmm," the more stout, bearded man hummed in satisfaction. "That smells interesting," he said, taking a seat beside his daughter. "In a good way, though!"

"Good!" Malon then turned to Link. "My friend here helped out, so you owe him your thanks too."

"Oh?" Talon asked. "Well, here's hoping you compliment Malon's already excellent cooking," he said. He then sliced off a piece of bread, the loaf unusually round this time. He then studied the texture and color of the baked good. "What did you use to make this? I thought we were out of barely."

"We are," Malon answered. "While you were 'delivering milk' to the Castle," she said, putting quotations around "delivering milk." "I had to use acorn flour."

"Acorn flour again?" Ingo complained. "Bah! If someone here would pull his weight around, we'd have enough rupees to buy ourselves some proper wheat flour!"

"Please, Mr. Ingo! We have a guest!" Malon said although she made her statement sound more like a scolding. And, to Link's surprise, the man in green and pink hung his head as if he were a child that had gotten in trouble. "Besides, the mead I was making is finally ready, so I want Mr. Fairy Boy here to enjoy dinner with us."

"Yes, yes, but..." Ingo began to protest, but he knew it was useless. His complaints always fell on deaf ears. "I hate acorn bread."

"Well, the horses are always welcome to eat what you don't," Talon said. "Malon's right, cheer up!" he then began to gather some of the boiled vegetables and placed them on a slice of bread, along with a slab of fried pork. He then directed his attention to the boy across from him at the table.

Seeing that everyone else was gathering from the pot, Link waited for the bread to be passed to him. He was given a knife and cut off a thin slice before a spoonful of broiled and brothy vegetables with pickled radishes was placed atop it. And then, a slab of salted, fried pork sandwiched the pottage between the meat and bread, pressing the juices out and soaking into the slice of baked acorn flour. There were several unfamiliar yet intriguing scents hitting him all at once, and it only encouraged him to use his sense of taste to discern if he liked what his sense of smell found pleasing. While it was different, it certainly wasn't unwelcome.

The boiled carrots, onions, and parsnips were good on their own, yet the added flavor of the pickled radishes provided an unexpected kick to the broth, giving it a somewhat spicy taste. The salted pork was somewhat chewy, unlike what he had previously had with the pork pie, but its flavor was still just as savory and smoky. The bread in itself wasn't bad either. Somewhat dry and it had a bit of a bitter aftertaste, yet it didn't distract too much from the overall flavor of the combined items.

"Link, wasn't it? So, you're from the forest on the edge of Hyrule, right?" Talon asked, and the boy nodded. "Well, you must've come a long way, but still, what are you doing so far away from home?"

Link began to string together an answer, wishing to show Malon's father that he was capable of understanding his speech, much less speaking in response. "I'm...on an...assignment," he said. He silently sighed in relief, thankful he was able to get that part out without much issue. "From...the Great Deku Tree."

"Oh? Who's that?" Talon asked.

"Dad, hush!" Malon hissed, noticing Link's discomfort. "The point is, Link here is on a quest for the Princess to go to the different places in Hyrule and," she then looked at the boy and his fairy. "What did you say you needed to do?"

"For now, we just need to get to Kakariko Village," Navi answered, noticing Link struggling with his words again. "And then, we need to head for Death Mountain."

"Death Mountain?" Ingo raised a brow upon hearing this. "What business do you have going there?" he asked. "There's no one up there but those Gorons, dumb, lumbering oafs," he grumbled. "They're getting more and more territorial every day."

"Not to mention that's a pretty dangerous place for someone your age," Talon added. "Sorry, but I doubt they'd let a kid like you through the gate."

"That's why we've got the approval of the Princess herself," Navi answered. "Although, Impa did say that we might still have some problems..."

"Well, regardless, we'll be heading to Kakariko tomorrow, so we'll drop you off," Talon told the boy in green. "How's that sound?"

"G-Good," Link answered. "T-Thanks."

"Great! Now, since that's settled, I've got a question for you, young man," Link listened attentively. "It seems my girl here has taken a bit of a liking to you."

Malon's face grew as red as her flaming hair. "Dad!"

"Well, how would you like to marry her when you two get a little older?" Talon questioned.

"Marry?" Link questioned aloud.

"Don't listen to him, Link," Malon told the boy. "Dad, he's from the forest, He doesn't even know what marriage is."

"Ha! I'm kidding anyway!" Talon laughed heartily. "Still," he then grew quiet for a moment. "You...do think she's pretty, right? For a girl?"

"Oh, uh, yeah," Link answered. Truth be told, he was somewhat unsure of what to say. "I...like her hair." he stammered, looking for a feature to compliment.

Well, at least he's not entirely hopeless. Navi thought. Then she noticed Malon's shock at Link's words, the girl examining the red fibers growing from her scalp.

"Do you think so?" the ranch girl asked the boy.

Link nodded, unsure of why such a statement held such weight. Mido and the twins had red hair as well, it was nothing unusual. Still, it appeared that the color wasn't well received in Hyrule. Did distaste for the Gerudo run that deep?

Malon temporarily hid her face, taken aback by the boy's words. "So, you're going to Death Mountain?" Ingo questioned. "So, you WANT to see those rock people?" Link nodded in response. "Well, good luck. Those guys are nothing more than stupid, lumbering fools," the bearded man scoffed. "But, personally, if there's one race that's worse than them those stinking fish from the rivers and Lake Hylia."

"Fish?" Link asked.

"Yeah, the Zoras," Ingo answered. "The Gorons may look weird, but Zoras just look disgusting."

"Disgusting?" Link questioned. He found that, despite being different himself as a Kokiri, the people of Hyrule didn't think too fondly of those around them that didn't match what they deemed a desirable appearance. Navi didn't say anything, but she seemed to pick up on this general attitude as well.

"They're walking, talking fish," Ingo explained, taking another bite of his meal. At least Malon's cooking made the acorn bread somewhat bearable. He still hated it though. "Their skin is all clammy and slimy, they have gills just like fish, and their faces all look different from each other."

"How so?" Navi asked, crossing her arms.

"Some of them have faces that look like ours while others look like their neighbors. Of whom they eat without issue." the pink and green-dressed man told the boy. "True, WE eat fish, but at least they don't look like us."

"Well, you do have a point there," Talon added. "They're not bad people. They're just very...strange."

"They're also dangerous!" Ingo exclaimed. "I swear, I was traveling by the river one day, and one of those freaks was looking at him from under the water!" he then grimaced. "I swear it had four eyes and a gaping mouth. That thing probably was just waiting for me to come over so it could drown me."

"Zoras don't drown people, Mr. Ingo," Malon said. "At least, they haven't last I've heard."

"There are plenty of places they could hide the bodies," Ingo whispered.

"Please, people are eating here!" Malon lectured. Despite her age, it was clear that her word held power over the two older men. Link was both intimidated and impressed.

"Yeah," Talon agreed. "I want to enjoy Arnie one last time before we use up all the meat."

Link was puzzled, raising a brow. "Arnie?" he asked. "The pig?" he didn't understand. Nor did he understand the terrified look that came over Malon's face, as if he had discovered something he wasn't supposed to know.

"Yeah, Arnie," Talon answered. "Where do you think these pork chops came from?"

"Dad..." the ranch owner's daughter shifted her eyes, urging her father to stop.

"He was a good pig, but the season came around and, well, we would need something to fix for the colder days," Talon said, continuing, despite his daughter's protests. "Although considering his size, I didn't expect his meat to be so tender. I was worried we had chopped him up into slices too thick to be preserved."

Wait a minute. Chopped up? Like, with something sharp? "W-What?" Link asked. Was he hearing what he thought he was? Had he been eating...?!

"Yeah, don't you know? Meat comes from animals," the bearded red and blue-dressed man told the green-clad boy. "Nothing goes to waste, we used every bit of Arnie when he took him to the slaughterhouse."

Slaughterhouse?! That sounded like a terrible place, but then Link remembered where Malon had taken him. There was a smaller building beside the storage, yet they didn't go inside. According to her, he wouldn't have been interested in what was inside. Arnie was killed in there?!

"Smoked ham and pork chops are good, but I was surprised at how good the bacon was," Talon explained. "Not to mention the juicy fat off from his back."

"Dad, stop!" Malon pleaded, but her father remained obvious, continuing to detail all that had happened to Arnie. All the while, Link's expression slowly transformed into one of pure horror.

"But I think my favorite is the sausages we made," the man further relayed to Link. "You'd be surprised at how well pig intestines are at keeping those things intact."

That did it. Link found his body shutting down and the world going black. Before anyone could react, Navi found gravity taking hold of her before she stopped herself from falling. But her charge wasn't so lucky. He fell to the floor, mind racing with the horrific details he had heard, still trying to process what he had just done to Arnie.

"I guess he's not interested in how we boiled his hooves to make pork pies," Talon muttered.

Chapter Text

You practically gave him a heart attack!" Navi shouted, her little wings flapping rapidly as she scolded the stout, bearded man before her. "He doesn't know anything about killing animals, let alone eating them!"

"But Malon said he told her he had meat when he was in Castle Town!" Talon protested.

"He thought it came from animals as fruit comes from trees!" Navi argued back. The truth was, so did she, yet she couldn't let that slip, otherwise the larger Hylian wouldn't take her seriously. "He's got no common sense, and he's little more than a child going out into a world he doesn't even know! Of course, he's going to think of meat like that!"

It was somewhat ridiculous, having a spat with someone that he dwarfed immensely, yet the winged woman knew how to make her authority known. Ultimately, Talon could only hang his head in shame, as if he were being scolded by his mother. Ingo was watching from a short distance away, wincing somewhat for the other man. True, Talon was a lazy bum, but the thinner man could relate to being talked to so firmly.

"Now the poor thing's passed out and who knows what he's going to be like when he wakes up! Oh, by the Great Deku Tree, he's probably traumatized by now! I'm going to have to deal with that for the rest of this journey if my luck's any indication!"

As Navi continued to express her frustrations due to the ranch owner's involuntary actions that caused her young charge to faint, outside of the home, the fairy's boy rested in one of the stables and was now just beginning to stir. "Oh good, you're up," the boy in green heard Malon speak, the image of the redhead girl becoming clearer and clearer. Along with a strange, uncanny shape that sat atop her head. "Huh? What's up? Do I have something on my face?"

Link paled. He then pointed upward. "Y-Your...head...!"

"Hm?" it was then that she too realized the creature that had climbed up her back and hair, now sitting atop her crown. "Ah! You!" she then grabbed the creature by the back of its neck and brought it up to face her. "I thought I told you to keep out of sight until I can get you to Kakariko tomorrow!"

Link stared in awe at how the girl so effortlessly held the bizarre animal in her grasp, and, even more, how it seemed to shrink underneath her firm gaze. The creature was smaller than either Link, Malon, or Epona, yet it would've still been enormous compared to Navi. It wriggled a little in the redhead's grip, although it bore no fur to hold. Rather, it was covered in thick scales of red with an underbelly of pale yellow. It bore a pair of legs, yet it seemed to be more worm-shaped than that of a lizard, and its horns were dark and curved slightly back.

It gazed at Link with large, green eyes that curiously inspected the boy from the forest, opening its maw and giving off a light trill. The boy didn't need too long to figure out what this animal was, for he had heard much of them in the tales of the Great Deku Tree. "Is...is that a...?" he stammered, trying to finish his question.

Catching onto what he was trying to say, the redheaded girl nodded. "Yes, this is indeed a dragon," she told Link, turning the squirming creature so she too could get a look at him. "I didn't believe it myself when I first saw it, but I soon discovered that he was all too real."

Link stood up, slowly approaching the dragon Malon held. "It's...kinda small." the boy said, somewhat disappointed. True, it was still a dragon, yet he didn't think that dragons could be this, well, small. Or cute.

"I think he's just a baby," Malon said, taking the dragon in her arms instead of holding him by the back of his neck. "It wasn't easy to figure out, but yes, he is a boy," she then began lightly massaging the creature's temple, careful to mind the orange crest atop his head. "And, so far, he's proven to be a bit of a handful." she then sat the dragon down next to Epona, the smaller reptile sensing the heat emitting from the mammal and drawing closer to the filly.

It was then that Link noticed Malon had some bread with her, the same bread she had baked for the meal previously eaten before Talon's rather graphic detailing of the origin of pork rendered Link unconscious. "What's that?" he questioned.

"Horse bread," Malon answered. "It's some bread I made a week ago when we were completely out of nearly everything, even acorns," she explained. She then tore off a piece of the aged bread and handed it to the little dragon, who greedily gobbled it up. "I know we can't exactly afford to be choosy, but I can't stomach horse bread," she then tore off another piece, noticing Link's curious look. "Thus, it's perfect for the animals," she fed another piece of bread to the dragon. "Even the more unconventional ones."

Link drew closer to the dragon. Despite the size, the boy still acknowledged that a mythical creature was before him. And even more, he was just a baby, so he'd surely get bigger! That'd be awesome! Still, there was one question he realized hadn't been answered. Just where did Malon even find a dragon?

Sensing this from the look he was giving her, Malon proceeded to answer. "I don't know where he originally came from, but I found him being sold in Castle Town while I was waiting for my dad," the red-haired girl told the boy. "It cost me my entire allowance," she then proceeded to pat the small dragon on the head after he had consumed the last of the bread. "But I couldn't just leave him there. He's just a baby, after all."

Link gazed at the little snake-like reptile, its large, green eyes staring into the boy's baby blues. "Malon?" the dragon chirped, catching the boy off guard and startling him somewhat.

"Oh yeah, he can talk. A little," Malon said, preparing the hollowed-out horn to feed Epona for the night. "That was one of the selling points for buying him, although, he mainly just repeats people's names."

"Malon!" the dragon repeated, wagging his tail as he stared up at Link.

"No, that's Link," Malon told the young drake. "I'm Malon."

"So," Link asked. "What's...his name?"

"I'm not sure, exactly," the ranch girl confessed. "I mean, I don't think he understands much, but I tried to see if I could get something out of him, but he didn't give me a name," she explained to Link. "So, I've decided to call him Sparky for now."

"Malon?" the dragon asked.

"No, I'M Malon. You're Sparky," the redhead answered. She then brought the horn full of milk to the red filly, ready to pour it down her throat. "Ok, out of the way, Epona needs to get in as much as she can."

"Malon!" the dragon cried out, although the girl knew the reptile was referring to the horse.

"No, that's Epona," Malon told Sparky. "Although seeing as you'll be heading off tomorrow, I guess it won't matter. You'll probably forget them anyway."

"Huh?" Link tilted his head, puzzled.

"We're going to Kakariko tomorrow, which is right next to Death Mountain," the ranch girl said. "That'll be a perfect place for Sparky to live. It's right by a volcano, it's dry, although, I'm not too sure what dragons eat," she then pondered for a moment. "I don't know if they can eat rocks like Gorons can...can they?" she then turned her attention back to Link, having finished feeding Epona. "Anyway, even if he's technically mine, I can't keep a dragon here. He nearly set the barn on fire a couple of times already!"

Sparky appeared to smile sheepishly at her. He couldn't help if his sneezes were powerful for something his size! Link found the dragon's expression humorous, a small giggle emitting from his lips.

Just then, Link heard a soft humming, feminine and high-pitched. It was pleasant sounding, yet the boy didn't know where it was coming from. He then realized that the humming came from Malon, who was stroking a stationary Epona, the filly nuzzling her head into the girl's chest. The melody was composed of only a few notes, yet it was easy to listen to and follow. It was soothing, almost akin to a lullaby.

"Like it?" Malon questioned, noticing Link paying attention to her voice. "It's a song my mom used to sing to me," she said. "Although my mother was VERY much a Hylian, I'll have you know. She didn't come from the desert."

"Ok, ok," Link answered with a nod. Whatever she wanted. Still, he didn't understand just what was so bad about the Gerudo.

"But, yeah, my mom, before she died, she used to teach me how to use my voice," the red-haired girl continued. "I've never been that good with instruments, but she told me I could sing. She told me that's how she knew I could do anything."

Link and Sparky looked on in confusion. "H-How?" Link asked.

If I controlled what was in my throat, then I had power over myself," Malon said. She then ran her fingers through her red hair. "She said that it didn't matter how ugly someone was, if their voice was golden, they could get anywhere in life. So, you shouldn't get discouraged when things get tough," she continued to pet Epona's short, red fur. "Because you have something that can get you through anything."

There was probably more to that than Link understood, as much of it appeared to be quite personal to Malon. Still, upon hearing her, he then produced his instrument.

"Oh, hey! You've got an ocarina!" Malon observed. "You want to try playing the song I'm singing?" Link nodded. "Ok, it's not that hard, you should be able to play it on that," she said, gesturing to his woodwind. "It's like this," she then proceeded to recite the first few notes of the melody, her voice, despite her age, was quite a treat to listen to. "Try that."

"Ok," Link proceeded to blow into the instrument, only to rouse up the entire barn with the terrible noise that came from the gifted instrument. And then, after a few more agonizing moments, the horrible pain in everyone's ears finally stopped. "How's that?"

"Is everyone ok in here?" Talon asked, running in with Ingo, Navi following close behind. "It sounded like something was dying in here!"

"Any longer, I probably would've," Malon grimaced. "I'd hate to say it, but you need practice on that thing," she said, pointing to the ocarina Link held in his hand. "Otherwise, I feel that you're going to get far in whatever you're trying to do."

Sacred Meadow

"Come to think of it, I don't believe I've had Link play the ocarina before now," Saria muttered to herself, her mind still on the blonde boy and his supposed whereabouts. "Another reason that I should've made him stay at least one more day."

"Then you wouldn't have let him go at all," Compa told the green-haired girl sitting atop the stump. "He's a little dense, but he's a quick learner. He'll learn the ropes on how to do that stuff eventually."

"It might be too late when the time comes," Saria sighed. "Oh, I thought I'd be ready for this I did. I and the Great Deku Tree went over everything. We got him the means to carry a sword and shield, a place to carry his belongings, everything! We were ready to hand it over to him at any time!"

"You just didn't want it to be this soon, right?" Compa asked.

Saria shook her head. "I mean, it doesn't mean much to me, because my body doesn't change. It can't," she said. "But, for him, things will be different."

"I know, the world outside the forest seems like a scary place," Compa told her Kokiri charge. "But Link's got the blessing of the Great Deku Tree, so he won't die while he's out there. And, even more, Navi's with him! Even for us fairies, she's a bit of a stickler for rules, so she'll surely keep him in line."

Saria didn't answer.

"Saria?" the green fairy asked, raising a brow in concern. "Saria? Are you ok?"

The green-clad and blue-eyed girl lowered her head, still not answering her fairy. At least, not at first. "You...don't understand," she finally said. "No one does."

"Understand what?" Compa questioned. "I...I admit I don't exactly know what's going on."

"The Great Deku Tree said he understood, he knew that Link would have to leave the forest one day, but he didn't understand just what that meant." Saria relayed to her fairy.

"What that meant?" the green orb of light asked. "What's that?"

"He believed that Link could just complete his task and come back," Saria answered. "The Great Deku Tree believed that he could keep him here until it was time to let him go. He wanted Link to stay here and grow with the rest of us. Even if we would never grow as he would."

"Grow?"

"Yes. But, not in the way a flower or plant does," Saria clarified. "He'll grow in a way where he'll be different forever. Where everything will change forever. And, even now, it's changing. He is changing."

Compa shook her head, hating to see her child so distressed. But she couldn't alleviate the problem if she didn't understand what it was.

"Whether he's as he is now, or as he will be in time, the result will be the same," Saria said. "No one can change the outcome. Not even the Great Deku Tree himself. Even though he tried to keep Link for as long as he could. He never let the boy reach the treetops when he was alive, he never let Link become too disoriented in the Lost Woods, and he kept a watch over Link at all times," she then gave a light chuckle. "It's somewhat ironic, considering that he was forced to ask Link to do the very thing he wanted to avoid happening."

"And what was that?" Compa asked, feeling herself growing cold.

Saria looked up at the darkening sky, knowing well that she would need to return to the others soon. "He wanted Link to never pick up a sword for as long as possible."

Lon Lon Ranch

"Ok, so, how are the arrangements going to work?" Navi asked, she and Link staring down at a pile of blankets and a single pillow. "Is this ours?"

"What? Oh, goodness no!" Malon answered the fairy. "This is where I'm sleeping tonight. You're sleeping over there." she then pointed to the small, twin-sized bed in the northeastern corner of the room.

"In your bed?" Navi questioned.

"But..." Link began to speak as well, but Malon shushed both of them.

"No, the decision has been made," she said. "You're the guest, so you're going to rest comfortably. Besides, it's not the first time I've slept on the floor," Malon then began making down the blankets into a makeshift resting place. "After Epona's mom died, I had to spend the first few days of her life sleeping in the barn to make sure she didn't get too cold during the night."

"She was that weak, huh?" Navi asked. Link too felt pity for the young equine.

"Without a mother, no one can survive long," Malon answered. "Unless they have another parent with them, then they're all alone. And they usually don't make it," she then turned to Link. "I'm sorry if this is a little too personal, but just how was it having a tree for a parent?"

"Parent?" Link questioned.

"Yeah, like a mother or a father," the redheaded girl told the blonde boy. "You Kokiri have at least one of those, right?"

Link pondered this. True, the Great Deku Tree was their guardian, as well as the one who watched over the whole forest, so he supposed that counted. "Then...he's my...mother?" Link questioned.

"Uh, no," Malon said, giggling. "A mother is a woman. A father is a man," she explained. "So, I guess that makes the Great Deku Tree your dad, assuming they were a guy." Last Link knew, while he wasn't a man, the Great Deku Tree was male. "So, where is he now?" she asked. "Is he waiting for you back in the woods?"

Link grew silent, turning his head away to shield his face from view. Malon immediately sensed something was wrong. It didn't take her long to figure out what. "He's...gone, isn't he?" Link hesitated for a moment, but nodded in response. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It...it's ok," Link replied. "But...yeah. I think he was a...dad."

"Was he a good dad?" Malon questioned. "I mean, you're a little weird, but you seemed to have turned out all right."

Link thought about the girl's question for a moment. "Y-Yeah. I-I think so."

"Hm, still," Malon then circled the boy, observing and surveying his features. "For a fairy boy, you look a lot like a Hylian."

"Well, I suppose you could say that," Navi said, realizing Link was growing uncomfortable under Malon's prying eyes. "But all Kokiri look like that."

"If you say so," the ranch girl answered the fairy. "Still, it seems a little odd that someone from the forest would look so much like,"

"Like?" Link questioned, curious as to why Malon had paused.

"Well," she said. "Like us," the room fell silent for a few moments before Malon began speaking again, changing the subject. "Anyway, it's getting late, so we should probably turn in for the night."

Link gazed at the bed, then at the sheets that Malon had spread out to resemble a resting place. "Are...you sure?" he questioned.

"Yes," Malon responded. "So get on in, we'll be heading for Kakariko tomorrow bright and early, so we need our rest."

Well, ok, Link thought. If she said so. He went over to the bed and slipped off his shoes, socks, and hat. But before he could get in, he felt a tap on his shoulder from behind. "Here," Malon said, handing Link a pair of small items that felt somewhat warm but held shape and definition to them. "They're wax earplugs," the girl explained. "I've got a pair of my own, so don't worry about me."

"Worry about what?" Navi questioned, Link was also puzzled by the girl's words.

"Oh, trust me," she groaned. "When dad gets in here, you're going to need them."

Lost Woods

"Faster!" a voice, giddy and childlike called out, yet there was a sinister tone to its inflection. "We've got to get the girl for the Master!"

The mass of darkened shapes ran through the trees, covering the grassy ground underneath in shadows as they passed. Their forms were hidden in the branches and leaves of the monumental trees of the Lost Woods, concealing them from view as they traveled through the forest. Their singular mission was to find the one the Master wished to find, the one that the Great Deku Tree had appointed to watch over the forest. The orders were clear: they were not to stop until she was found and captured. And after that, well, then, according to the Master, things would fall into place.

One among the group pondered just who this person could be, for he had never seen anyone different from each other in the tribe of the Kokiri. They all possessed different attire and hair color, but they all resembled children. Even the one that didn't have a fairy he would see on occasion. Yet, last he knew, that boy had left. To his surprise, as well as the rest of the others, the Master had alerted them all that the boy was not dead. He was still very much alive.

And that would have to change.

Their destination was the Sacred Meadow, or, at least the entrance. True, they were unsure of where it was, for even the Master had areas where his spies weren't allowed to trespass, but wherever their target was, they would find it. Still, he wondered if this would bring the boy without a fairy back. And, if so, just why did the Master want him taken care of? Regardless, they all had a task to complete, and they couldn't return without the one the Master wanted.

"Be sure to look down below," their Master's voice rang through the minds of the small shapes in the trees, remembering his instructions. "She will be with her fairy. Make sure she is alone, and that no one else is around."

They would need to be stealthy in their mission, for it was crucial. If their Master was to lay claim to the rest of the forest, even the domain of the Kokiri, any potential threats had to be taken care of.

The boy that had left would have to be terminated.

Lon Lon Ranch

"I should've asked for a pair myself." Navi lamented, her ears ringing as another loud snore echoed throughout the room.

Malon had warned the fairy about her father, yet the winged creature didn't listen, insisting that, if she could handle Link, she could handle him. Oh, how mistaken she was. Her charge was a mellow hum compared to the repetitive, harsh breathing of the bearded man, which was beginning to drive the fairy insane.

"I've got to get out for a bit!" Navi scrambled to the window and desperately opened the shutters, the process was long and hard, but once enough space had been created, she slipped out from the bedroom and into the outside of the ranch. "Ah, much better," she sighed, the cold, night air feeling refreshing on her wings. "Still, I probably need to stay close by in case Link needs me." Spotting the barn, she flew through one of the open windows and saw the stable containing Epona and Sparky. Fluttering toward the filly and baby dragon, Navi sat herself down in the hay. "Hey, guys," she greeted. "You mind if I crash with you tonight?"

The young foal merely flicked her ears and blinked while the dragon tilted his head curiously. "Malon?" he chirped, the fairy realizing that the dragon was addressing her.

"Uh, no," Navi shook her head. "I'm Navi. Malon's the girl that bought you at the market, remember?"

"Mar...ket?" the small, snake-like reptile questioned.

"Yeah, the market," the fairy nodded. "Hm, so, it seems you can repeat things other than people's names."

"Malon!" Sparky repeated.

"No, Navi," the fairy corrected. "Na-vi, get it?"

"Epona?"

"No, I...oh, forget it," the fairy threw up her arms in defeat. "I'm too tired to argue anyway," she then found a small place atop a small pile of hay, the stiff fibers almost the same size as her, yet they served as decent bedding. "At least I don't have to deal with that man's noise anymore," Navi mused, exhaustion catching up to her. "Still...I wonder how the others at home are doing..."

Lost Woods

She wasn't alone, that much she knew. And she wasn't speaking of Compa, who flew beside her. Saria traveled through the Lost Woods, trying to keep to the pathway back to the Kokiri Forest. She had stayed out too long and she needed to get back, for, while she didn't possess his strength, the Great Deku Tree entrusted her with this task. She was to watch over his children, at least for a time. When that time would come, however, was unknown.

Had the Great Deku Tree known it himself, Saria was certain he would've done everything in his power to keep Link from leaving. And the only thing that could challenge his authority was that of the Gods.

And, from what she had seen, They had made the message clear. Her guardian's efforts were in vain, and her young friend was to travel out into the world outside the forest of trees. And perhaps, eventually, maybe return to it.

"Hey, do you hear something?" Compa suddenly asked, drawing Saria out of her thoughts.

"Hm? Like what?" She asked her fairy.

"Almost like rustling, but…higher up." As soon as the girl and fairy gazed upward at the collection of leaves and branches above, they came to realize several dozens of eyes were spying on them from within the darkness of the canopy.

Compa was about to instruct Saria to run, but a fast-moving object caught her off guard and slammed her to the ground. Someone had fired a Deku Seed at the glowing green orb, the projectile making quick work of the fairy. "Compa!" Saria cried out, running over to her injured companion, but was stopped in her tracks by shadows descending from the trees, surrounding her.

The green-haired girl realized that, despite her efforts, she hadn't been careful enough. She had fallen right into enemy hands.

Or, in this case, roots.

Lon Lon Ranch

Was he dreaming again?

It appeared so, but unlike his previous dreams, he resided in a location very familiar to him at the moment. Link was walking out into the pasture, yet it was empty of any animals. He was all alone out here. Not even Navi was to be seen. And yet, the boy still felt as if there was a presence nearby.

"So, this is where you are." a young voice he immediately recognized spoke, the boy turned around to see a figure he had been with but a day prior.

"Gris?" Link asked the girl he had met in Castle Town, who was now in his sights. Was that truly her?

"Hm? You remember my name?" The blonde girl asked, genuinely surprised. "And here, I thought you would've remembered the Princess's most." She muttered but was cut off by an embrace from the boy also in the empty pasture.

"Gris!" Link cried out. "You're here!" He was quite delighted by her appearance, the girl observed. But then, Link's enthusiasm died down. "But…why?" He asked. Even if he was happy to see her, the boy in green doubted the girl came just to visit him. And that was another thing, how was she in his dream?

"I guess you're a little confused, right?" Gris asked. Link nodded in response. "Well, there's a saying in Hyrule that, if two people dream at the same time, they could perhaps meet," the girl explained. "But, those are far and in between," she then put her hands behind her back. "I'm here on behalf of the Princess."

"The Princess?" Link asked. Even if he wasn't saying much, he found his occasional difficulty with speech was all but gone now.

"Yes," Gris answered. "She can't leave the Castle, so she sent me to help you out."

Link's expression faltered. "So…you're just here…on business?"

"That was the idea," Gris said. Then she noticed Link's dower face. "But, if it means anything, she's been curious as to how you've been since you left."

Oh really? Still, that wasn't what Link wanted to know. "Well, what about you?"

"Me? You mean…?" Gris asked, caught off guard. He wasn't as interested in what the Princess thought as much as she thought. The blonde girl appeared to be left speechless, Link being reminded of his impediment in the waking world. "Well, I'm…happy to see you too," she said. "I am. I'm just a little…shocked."

Link was puzzled. Shocked?

"I just…expected you to be more interested in what the Princess had to say. After all, she IS part of this new story."

"New story?" Link asked.

"Yes, a new story," Gris answered. "Each Princess of Hyrule is set to take part in her own story when her time comes. And, usually, when that time comes, the Hero also appears," she said. "That's why you need to get the Spiritual Stones so the Hero can get to the Sacred Realm. I don't," she then paused. "I mean, the Princess doesn't know when he'll show up, so we'll have to move as fast as possible," she then surveyed her surroundings. "You're currently at the ranch outside of town?"

Link nodded.

"I've always been curious about this place," Gris said. "I mean, the Princess has been."

"Have you been?" Link asked.

Again, he was more interested in her than the Princess of Hyrule. Was he for real? Nevertheless, Gris was unsure of how to feel about this. "Well, no," she answered. "The Princess doesn't get out much, and, being her friend, neither do I," she said. She then looked around the open field. "I heard the horses they breed here are beautiful."

Link could agree with that. The four-legged creatures were unusual, but majestic to look at.

"The Castle has some horses, but they're in the stables there," Gris told the boy. "There's one that was specially bred for the Royal Family. She's got a white coat and mane, but she's a little skittish."

"What's her name?" Link asked.

"The King named her Storm," Gris answered. "Well, the Princess," the girl paused, studying Link's reactions. "I mean...I named her Storm," she corrected. "The King wanted to name her Genevieve at first."

Link quirked a brow and wrinkled his nose. "Genevieve?"

"Yeah, I hated it too," the blonde girl agreed with Link's sentiment regarding the name. "Lon Lon Ranch sometimes breeds horses for the Gerudo too," she said. "But they're dark to resist the heat, and they travel the sand as if it were water underneath their hooves."

"What do they look like?" Link asked.

"I've only seen them a couple of times, but they look pretty," the girl answered. "For a horse coming from the desert, that is."

A question then came to Link's mind, having wondered about such a thing since the Princess first told him about it. "Hey," he said. "Can I...ask you something?" he questioned Gris, who nodded. "How long...has the Princess been having these...sorts of dreams?"

"As in, prophetic ones?" Link wasn't entirely sure of what that meant, but if it meant telling the future, then yes. "Not until recently," Gris told him. "In all honesty, it was only a few weeks before she met you that she began having those dreams."

"So have I," Link said, gaining Gris's attention.

"You have?" Link nodded. "Well, what are they about?"

Link bit his lip. "Sometimes...they're about bad things," he said. "They're...full of monsters," he told the girl. "Full of nasty, scary things," he continued. "But...some of them aren't all bad."

"Like what?" Gris asked.

Link tried to remember one among the onslaught of nightmarish scenarios when his memory was finally able to conjure up an answer. "It...it was a place I haven't seen before," he began. "Or...maybe I have. It sort of looked like the field outside of the ranch."

"You mean Hyrule Field?" Gris asked.

Link pondered this for a moment. Was the location in his dream the same as Hyrule Field? He was unsure, yet he wouldn't put the possibility past him. "Anyway, I'm in a field, and I see someone," he told the girl. "Someone that...I recognize, but I don't at the same time."

Gris's blood froze. "You too?"

Link nodded. "Maybe...maybe it's the Hero I saw," he said. "I don't know. But, there was someone in the field," he told Gris. "He was riding a horse, and he was dressed in green," he explained. "I was him, and yet I wasn't."

It was difficult to put into words, yet Link knew of no other way to describe it. He saw the man from a distance, and yet, he could also feel the wind of early morning brush up against his cheeks, the galloping of the horse's hooves hitting the earth as it sped along, the raw power behind its legs as it continued to run.

"Did you ask this man who he was?" Gris asked.

"I...didn't get to," Link confessed. "But, even if I've never seen him before, I felt like I knew him," he said. "Like...I was a part of him. And he was a part of me."

Gris was silent upon hearing these words, trying to process what the boy was saying. Just what could this mean? But, before she could speak, a piercing shriek echoed throughout the night, drawing the attention of the two children toward the source of the noise. Which appeared to be that of the dense forest of southern Hyrule.

Before Link could ask just what was going on, a familiar voice met his ears, frightened and seemingly fearing for her life.

"Somebody!"

"Saria?" Link asked.

"Saria?" Gris questioned, but continued to listen, realizing that the boy knew who was screaming.

"Link! Help me!"

With a jolt, Link sat up, breathing heavily as he was roused from his sleep by the high-pitched scream of his friend. "Saria?!" he got on his shoes, socks, and hat, as well as grabbed his equipment. He didn't even notice Navi was absent, running out of the room and outside. "Saria, Saria!"

"Hm, what?" From inside the barn, the palish-blue fairy nestled in the hay heard her charge calling out a name. She then saw him running by the wooden building, seemingly in a frenzy. "Whoa, hey! Link!" she flew out, gaining the attention of Sparky and Epona, but neither followed after her.

"Saria!" Link ran out into the center of the pasture, able to spot the Lost Woods from a distance.

"Hey! What's going on?!" Navi inquired, out of breath. She had finally managed to catch up with the boy.

"Something foul is stirring in the forest," a voice from above hooted, the owner flying down and landing on the ground with sizable, sharp talons. "And I fear your friend is in trouble."

Link stepped back. "K-Kapeo..." he began but found himself getting his tongue twisted. "K-Kapeo...Gaebo..." he tried to sound out, but ultimately gave up. "Mr. Owl!" he settled on calling the giant bird.

Mr. Owl? Well, Kaepora Gaebora thought, if it was all the boy could say, then it would have to do. At least he was able to call the bird something.

"Mr. Kaepora," Navi began. "Or, do you prefer Mr. Gaebora?"

"Either is fine," the owl answered. "Although, I'll admit that it can be a mouthful to say."

"Mr. Owl," Link began. "Is...is Saria...in trouble?"

The great winged animal nodded, cementing Link's fears. "Yes, and she requires someone to help her," he told the boy. "For the entire forest depends on her presence."

"Depends on her presence?" Navi inquired. "How so?"

"There is no time to explain!" he exclaimed. "The girl is in danger, and she must be kept from harm! The Kokiri Forest, no, the entire Kingdom of Hyrule depends on her contribution!"

Contribution? Link didn't understand.

"Look, for now, you must return to the forest," the owl informed Link. "You must go and retrieve Saria from enemy hands."

"Y-Yeah!" Link answered. Only, he then realized that he had no way to get there. At least, no way that didn't involve walking back.

"Fear not, dear boy," Kaepora Gaebora told the child in green. "My kind is one with the night winds. We can swoop in with total silence, so no one will detect your presence." He then rose somewhat, flapping his massive, brown feathered wings. He spread out his talons, Link realizing just what the owl wanted him to do. "I shan't grip you hard," the bird told Link. "You're not a mouse, so you're too big to go down my gullet."

Hesitantly at first, Link stepped forward and allowed the owl to gently grip his tunic with the sharpened instruments that easily tore through the flesh of smaller creatures for consumption. To his surprise, the owl's hold was firm but painless, as if he were just being grasped by very strong, very deadly, but very trustworthy hands. Despite the size of the bird's talons, the owl was quite gentle with the child in his possession.

"You may want to hang onto my feathers," Kaepora Gaebora instructed Navi. "You may have a hard time catching up."

"Catching up?" Navi questioned. "What do you mean?"

"Come! We must be off! Your friend is waiting for you!" then, to Link's surprise, he was lifted off the ground, the large owl carrying him in his talons. "Hoooo! We're off!" he then flapped and brought Link with him, carrying the boy across the field and to the forest.

"Hey! Wait for me!" Navi called out, regretting not taking the owl's advice when she had the chance.

Chapter Text

Previous Year

When autumn came in the Kokiri Forest, it was one of the few times that there was a distinct change in the environment. True, the seasons affected the Great Deku Tree's Domain, for what crops grew best depended on the time of year, yet, unlike elsewhere, the trees never lost their leaves in the winter, nor did they shrivel up and die. But come fall, the leaves began to change. They didn't fall off the branches and cover the ground, but greens transformed into vivid displays of yellow, gold, brown, and red. Crops such as beets, eggplants, and carrots were ideal for growing, and yams, while somewhat difficult to maintain, were always a sought-after item when they were harvested, especially for roasting over a fire.

But the most desirable products of the season were the large round pumpkins that Saria grew. Specifically in a reserved field hidden away from the rest of the small community of children. No one knew how she exactly did it, but they always came out fat and perfectly orange. They were emptied and the seeds roasted and seasoned with autumn spices (especially the coveted allspice, which Saria made every year as well). The pumpkins were then carved, and every child fashioned their individual squash with a face. Some were joyful and chipper while others appeared sullen, and some, like Flint's, had no emotion at all.

Mido always tried to carve an actual face into his pumpkin, as if he were trying to display his artistic talent. He almost always fashioned his crop in the likeness of either himself or Saria. Yet, no matter what he did, her eyes always seemed to fall on whatever Mr. No Fairy was making. The redhead didn't understand, it wasn't as if he had spent hours trying to hone his craft! Let alone trying to get Saria's attention! But she always paid attention to him more.

It drove him crazy.

By Saria's home, the green-haired girl and Link were carving and hollowing out their respective pumpkins. "So, what are you going to carve onto yours?"

Link pondered the girl's question. The truth was, he wasn't entirely sure. Yes, he had ideas, yet whenever he tried to execute them, they always came out looking weird. Carving a pumpkin was different than carving into the trunk of a tree. When Link made the outline of the shapes he wished to draw onto the surface of the pumpkin, the section he had cut out fell into the squash, ruining the image he was trying to carve. His ideal pumpkin would be one where the same picture he carved into his treehouse was on the orange surface of the squash, the lines outlining the fire-breathing monster and warrior with a sword shining when the fireflies came to light up the inside.

Saria always carved flowery shapes and patterns into hers, the shapes were somehow always perfectly symmetrical. It was as if the green-haired girl was a certified master at anything relating to plants. "Say, are you going to participate in the play this year?"

Link gazed curiously at the girl, confused.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten!" Saria said. "The play about the Hero and the Princess?"

Oh right! He hadn't even realized it was that time of the year already! Of course, the truth was, he hadn't really thought about it, mainly because, well, the play was a little…mushy.

"So, are you going to try out?" Saria asked the boy again.

"Uh…" Link's blue eyes shifted for a moment, the girl looking rather intensely at him as if she were waiting for an answer. A very specific answer. "M-Maybe?"

The other denizen of the Kokiri Forest grinned. "Great!" she said, quite pleased with Link's response. "I'm going to try out for the role of the Princess," Saria informed her blonde companion. "What are you going to try for?"

Whoa, Link thought. Not so fast! All of this had come onto him so suddenly! Still, he hadn't really been in the play before, but despite its more…lovey stuff, he liked it. After all, it did have monsters and swords and all that. Plus, the battle with the big bad villain at the end was always awesome! Of course, that left him with what role to try out for.

Although from the way that Saria looked at him, he began to suspect that she already had a role picked out for him.

Present Time

He was completely weightless, the wind ruffling his clothes as the great horned owl flew, carrying the boy in his talons as they flew from the ranch to the edge of the great forest of Hyrule. Then, finally, at long last, the massive bird reached his destination, landing with Link at the entrance to the Lost Woods.

"Now," Kaepora Gaebora told the boy, flying up to perch himself atop a nearby branch. "Even with Navi by your side, you will not find where you're going by simply running around," he said. "This forest is a dense and winding labyrinth, and while you meant no harm by it, the Great Deku Tree was right in not wanting you wandering off too far."

Link looked at the entrance to the woods, his home. Well, the entrance to it, at least. But still, even if he was here to help Saria, he couldn't go back. Not yet.

"Just what is going on?" Navi questioned. "Just what has happened to Saria?"

"She is unharmed," the great owl answered. "But the one who took her has hidden her well. And he will set out to stop anyone who he believes is coming to save her." this news was a relief to hear for Link, for at least the green-haired girl wasn't hurt. Still, there was something that the boy wondered about.

"Well, who took her? And even more, why?" the fairy inquired in Link's sted.

Kaepora Gaebora's eyes narrowed. "You have never met him, nor do you know of him, yet he has dwelt in the forest for ages. Perhaps as long as the forest has come into existence," the owl informed the child and his winged guardian. "He has been enemies with the Great Deku Tree for a long while, and so far, the Guardian of the Forest has been able to keep him at bay."

Link bit his lip. "But…" he murmured, knowing well why things had changed.

"Since the Great Deku Tree's departure, he has been encroaching on his rival's territory, the land that your fellow children reside in." Kaepora Gaebora finished. He saw the boy's features fall somewhat, the memory of his parental figure's death still fresh in his mind.

"And Saria?" the boy piped up.

The owl was quiet for a moment, yet ultimately decided that he would relay to Link a secret regarding his long-time friend. But just one, for he wasn't ready to hear the rest. "Your friend, she has a…connection to the forest. More so than the other Kokiri. Surely you've noticed it throughout your time with her, yes?"

If Mr. Owl meant that she had what was called a "green thumb," then Link supposed so. Although, he never understood the term. Thumbs weren't green, they were peach. And, if they were green, that was usually a sign something was wrong with you.

"Well, it is due to that trait that she is both the protector and target of this very sea of trees," the dark-feathered bird relayed. "Protector, in that she keeps the evil at bay in this forest, but target, in that she has not yet matured into her role as of yet."

"Role?" Link questioned.

"Yes, role," the owl answered. "Just as you have yours."

Link didn't entirely understand.

"Look, even if I've lived here my entire life," Navi began. "I still don't know everything about the Lost Woods. No one has seen how far it goes, and I'm sure only the Great Deku Tree himself knew that."

"Indeed," Kaepora Gaebora confirmed with a nod. "But, rest assured, once you enter, she shall know," he told the boy and fairy. "And then, she shall help you find her."

"How?" Link asked.

"Those ears of yours, boy," the great horned owl said, stretching out a wing, the tip of a long feather lightly brushing the cartilage of the green-clad Kokiri's elongated body part. "Use them," he then stretched out both his wings. "Now, I must go. There are things stirring in the west," his eyes turned in the direction he spoke of. The direction of the desert. "Unearthly, terrible things."

"What terrible things?" Navi inquired.

"It's nothing you need to concern yourselves over," Kaepora Gaebora told the two. "For now, focus on the rescue of your friend."

Link nodded, a determined expression forming on his face. He then turned and began to walk into the forest, through the entrance in the growing collection of trees that steadily grew taller and more full with fertile, green leaves.

"H-Hey!" Navi cried out, realizing she had been left behind. "Wait for me!"

The pale-blue-winged woman flew after her young charge, disappearing from view. Kaepora Gaebora began to take flight, his keen eyes spotting his destination from afar. "I may not be able to take care of all of your spies," he muttered. "But I can perhaps slow you down in ways you didn't anticipate."

Previous Year

"Ok, so everyone's put something in the pot!" Phoebe exclaimed, holding a pot composed of clay and mud painted with dyes made from plants. She set it on her table, the meeting to decide everyone's roles taking place in the Twin's home. "Now, everyone's agreed on what belongs to who, right?"

Everyone nodded in response.

"And there's no going back on who gets which role, right?" Karya asked, seeing the rest of her fellow children were in agreement. "Ok, first thing, we need to figure out who's going to be the background characters. We'll need three, maybe four."

She then reached into the pot and pulled out three leaves from three different trees and a single branch. Karya gazed up at the brunette-haired boy among them, clearly unamused. "Seriously, Flint?" she asked. "A stick?"

"What?" Flint shrugged. "You said to put something in."

"Yeah, but…couldn't you have been a bit more…creative?" Phoebe questioned.

"No less creative than putting leaves in." the stone-faced boy replied, turning his blue eyes to the Know-It-All brothers.

"Hey, ours have significance!" Cypress argued.

"Yeah, they match our names!" Elm proclaimed.

"It's still obvious," Flint answered.

"Yeah, well…it's better than a stick!" Birch retorted.

"Ok, ok, simmer down," Saria urged, trying to ease the tension. "What matters is that you got your roles."

"Hm, right," Flint said, pondering his task in the upcoming play. "Just as long as there aren't too many lines to memorize."

"Eek! A script!" Karya suddenly yelped clutching her head. "We don't even have a script yet!"

"Well, pick someone!" Mido urged the other redhead, who then proceeded to reach into the pot and pulled out a small, crushed-up flower.

"Aw…" Fado held the mishapen, squished plant. "I was hoping to take that one home with me."

"The Great Deku Tree doesn't like it when we pick flowers," Saria said, remembering the words the mighty Guardian of the Forest told her once.

"This one was already dead, he said I could make some potpourri out of it," Fado explained. "Anyway, great! I'm writing the script!"

The boys inwardly groaned, knowing well that the blonde was probably going to fill the play with all sorts of romance and all of that yucky stuff. Still, at least the fighting scenes would be cool.

"Ok, now we get to the main three roles!" Phoebe declared. "First up, the Princess!" she reached inside and pulled out the pit of a peach. "Who's is this?" the red-haired girl asked, confused as to who the center of the stone fruit even belonged to.

"Oh, mine," Saria responded. "I tried to plant that seed, but it seemed that this one is a dud."

"Well, still, congratulations!" Karya said. "You're the Princess!"

Saria grinned, although she felt somewhat put on the spot.

"Now, to decide the ultimate two roles," Phoebe said, building up the anticipation. "Who shall play the Hero, and who shall play the Monster?"

Her hand entered the shaped, spherical shape of clay and paint, Phoebe felt around, trying to find the last two objects that were placed inside.

"Well?" Mido asked, impatiently.

"I'm looking!" the other redhead said. "It's just…a little harder when it's nearly empty already. You could've chosen something bigger."

After a few moments, he could take it no longer. "Oh, heck with it," Mido said, rising from his seat and reaching into the pot. Instinctively, he grabbed an object with both hands and brought them out, unfolding his fingers to see just what he had seized. In one hand was a torn piece of green cloth from one of his outfits (that he had yet to repair) while in the other rested a single pumpkin seed. "Who's this belong to?" he asked but then realized that there was only one who could've put it in. "Great job, Mr. No-Fairy," he scoffed. "No one was going to find that in there."

Link scowled. The item placed in the pot had to have some relation to them so everyone would know who put in what, and the boy liked pumpkins, so why not put a seed in?

"Wait a minute," Flint then spoke up. "You grabbed both at the same time," he told Mido.

"Yeah, so?" the self-proclaimed leader of the Kokiri asked with a raised brow.

"Well," the brunette boy continued, folding his arms. "Who gets to play who?"

Present Time

Kokiri Forest

Finally, her charge had come to a stop. "Mido!" the red-haired boy had stopped at the entrance of the Lost Woods, standing before the darkened void that eventually led into the winding maze of trees and various other flora. Some of which weren't all that friendly. "Look," Recti huffed, stopping for a moment to catch her breath, standing atop Mido's left shoulder. "I get that the Great Deku Tree could be a stickler for rules," she wheezed. "But the Lost Woods isn't really a place for a kid to go. Especially at this hour."

Mido said nothing, continuing to gaze up at the entrance, his body trembling slightly. Though whether it was from the night air or tension, he didn't know, but he wasn't going to admit weakness either way.

"Ok, now you're beginning to sound like Link," the pink fairy said. "In that, you're being really weird right now."

"Do you think she's in trouble?"

Recti raised a brow. "What?" she asked. "Who?" it didn't take her long to realize just who he was talking about. "Yeah, I'll admit, Saria's been gone for a while," she said. "And she has been going out more since the Great Deku Tree…" she paused. Even if it was a harsh reality that everyone had been forced to accept, that didn't translate it to being easy to acknowledge. She knew that the boy would never admit it, but he cried just as hard as everyone else when it finally sunk in that their parent wasn't coming back. "But she's always come back so far!"

"But why hasn't she this time?" Mido questioned his fairy. "She's never been out for this long."

"Maybe she's just a little late?" Recti suggested. "Or maybe she's practicing her ocarina. You know that song she always plays."

Indeed, Mido thought. "Well," he then began, puffing out his chest. "There's only one way to find out!" then, with a spring forward, the red-haired boy dashed forward, going through the entryway to the maze of greenery and unknown depths.

"Mido!" Recti called out. "Wait!"

"Don't worry, Saria," Mido said. "Your Hero is on his way!"

Chapter Text

Ok, does everyone know what the rules are?"

The two participants nodded, the rest of the Kokiri standing outside of the fenced-off area. Despite the votes having been cast, given that both Link and Mido's items were pulled out at the same time, an argument about who should play the role of the Hero was had. Of course, given that Saria was the Princess, Mido immediately proclaimed the role should go to him, yet some of the Kokiri protested that Link had just as much of a claim to it, seeing as his item was pulled out too. This, of course, led to a heated discussion that eventually led to flaring tempers and harsh words exchanged by both. Especially Mido's obvious but still painful observation that Link didn't have a fairy.

Just as Link and Mido were about to get physical with each other, Birch suggested that the two decide who would play by the results of a competition. If anything, Saria was just relieved things hadn't escalated into violence. True, Link and Mido were just as worked up, but better to exert that energy on things other than exchanging blows. Not long after this decision did everyone come out to a small obstacle course situated by the Know-it-All Brothers' house.

"Ok!" Phoebe said. "The first one to get through and come back is the winner! And the Hero!"

The very mention of the coveted role got both boys into the frame of mind necessary to accomplish the task before them.

"Are you ready?" Karya asked instead of her twin. Both Link and Mido nodded, silent as they readied themselves to achieve victory. "Ok…" Bothtwins got on either side of the fenced walkway, arms raised. "On our mark…" Karya said.

"Get set…" Phoebe said after.

Then, they both swung down their arms, shouting in unison. "GO!"

Present

Go. Link repeated this to himself as he continued his journey through the dense sea of trees, the canopy above blocking out the moonlight the further along and deeper he went. Of course, upon stopping to catch his breath, he realized he had missed one crucial detail.

Go where?

"Hey!" Link felt a tiny form plop down on his shoulder, a glowing orb with wings panting, her flying appendages sore from trying to catch up to the boy. "You…you dolt!" she wheezed, wiping some sweat from her brow. "What do you think you're doing, charging in here? You don't even know which direction to go in!"

Yes, he kind of realized that now, Link thought. Still, even if it stung for Navi to state the obvious, he had no choice but to accept the harsh reality of his stupidity. True, while he had never exactly been "allowed" to wander the Lost Woods, that didn't stop him from going, seeing as, well, sometimes the boy needed time to himself, away from everyone else. Everyone that, unintentionally, reminded him that he, despite Saria's assurance, wasn't like the others. Even with Navi by his side now, Link couldn't help but feel out of place. True, he was on a special assignment from the Great Deku Tree, but as far as he knew, no Kokiri had been able to leave the forest, let alone return alive. No one besides him.

"Hey!" a familiar exclamation brought the boy out of his musing and back to the present. Having finally caught her breath, Navi sat herself on her charge's shoulder, letting her tired wings rest. "Look, I guess it's good you're starting to think about your foolishness NOW," she said, adjusting her hair. "But that still doesn't change the fact that you'll get yourself lost if you don't follow me!"

Link raised a brow upon hearing this. "You…" he began. "You..know…a way?"

"Well, not exactly," Navi confessed. Link appeared disappointed with this answer. "True, I know SOME areas of the Lost Woods, but not the entire forest," she then surveyed the environment around the both of them. Despite having dwelt here all her life, the fairy couldn't help but notice some changes in the world surrounding her and her boy.

While the thick collection of trees and other various forms of flora always appeared wild and untamed, there was never anything off-putting or malevolent. The forest, while still deep and vast, was no more dangerous than the home of the Kokiri, the only hazard being a possible sprained wrist or ankle from climbing trees. Upon entering the nostalgic setting, both boy and fairy couldn't help but feel that something was…different. True, nothing appeared out of sorts, the trees still towering and thick, the bushes full and fat with fertile, green leaves, and some flowers sprouting nearby were blooming, trying to catch whatever sparse moonlight they could in the small open areas between the branches. And yet there was a strange tension in the air, a form of unease that permeated the entirety of the once peaceful woodland.

Link didn't express it openly, but it almost felt as if they were being observed.

Watched.

"Well, never mind," Navi said, having grown tired of the silence. "Let's get moving."

"Where to?" Link questioned.

"I…don't entirely know," the fairy confessed. "But, from what you told me, she must've been somewhere close to where that area she took you before."

Link nodded, remembering what he had seen in his dream. Of course, the only question was where that place was.

"It can't be too far away," Navi mused aloud. "I think I remember her taking a left here…"

As the two began their unknown, but assumedly long journey deeper into the greenwood, they didn't realize that their suspicions of being watched couldn't have been more correct.

The Previous Year

This was becoming a little harder than he thought it would be. True, Mido knew the Know-it-All Brothers went all the way with everything they did, but how did they get giant boulders in their obstacle course?!

Regardless, the red-haired boy jumped out of the way in time, falling on his face. He saw a shadow above him and saw it just as quickly pass, realizing that Link had gotten ahead of him.

"Darn it…" he hissed, watching as the blonde boy continued moving on. "Always trying to show off, aren't you?" he got up and dusted himself off. Even if he didn't see it, that blonde was probably smirking at him when he walked by! "Saria's probably waiting on you at the finish line instead of me…"

In truth, Mido couldn't have cared less about who got what role, as he wasn't really interested in a story about romance anyway. But now that Saria was the Princess, he had to make sure he secured the role of her love. He HAD to. Had she been anyone else, he probably wouldn't have minded who he got to play, but he had to win now! He had to win for her!

"Then maybe she'd actually notice me."

Still, Mido, despite his frustration, knew that, as much as he hated to admit it, Link always somehow managed to be faster than him, especially as the years went on. As if his body was slowly becoming stronger and stronger, even if a Kokiri's form was supposed to never change past a certain point. If anything, it was just another trait that made Link a total weirdo. Still, if Mido didn't do something, Mr. No-Fairy would be the one to fill the role that he needed to seize. But what could he do?

Mido's blue eyes then fell on a pebble small enough to fit in his hand or pocket, but should someone trip over it, it'd certainly give them a bit of a tumble.

Perfect.

Present

"Hey!" Navi whispered, getting LInk's attention. More so by tugging on his hair than him actually heeding her voice. "Listen," she then said. "Do you hear that?"

Link looked around, ears tuned in to pick up what his fairy was seemingly detecting. It was then, after a few moments, that he heard a soft moaning a short distance away. And, upon looking ahead, he noticed a green glow from in between the leaves of a nearby bush. He began to put a face and name to the light's appearance, and as he drew closer, it became clear as to who he had just heard.

"Compa!" Navi exclaimed, fluttering down to the green fairy on the ground, who was now just starting to recover. "Are you ok?"

"Navi?" the green-winged creature questioned. "What are you doing here?" she then gazed upward, noticing a far larger shape observing her. "And Link? How did you…?" she then got to her senses, shaking her head. "You know what? It doesn't matter how you got here," she said, getting airborne once again. "The important thing is that someone is here to help!"

Link bit his lip, Compa's words confirming his fears. Saria was in trouble, just as Mr. Owl had said.

"Where is Saria?" Navi asked, helping her friend fly upward upon realizing she was struggling.

"I don't know," Compa confessed. "But I do know she was taken."

"By who?" Link inquired, drawing out his sword.

"The Imps," the green fairy said.

"Imps?" Link asked, raising a brow. What were those?

"The Lurkers in the Trees," Saria's guide and companion explained. "The Dwellers in the Dark," she then fell against a nearby leaf, the bush it was attached to supporting her weight.

"Compa, what are you talking about?" the blue fairy flew over to her fellow fay being, who was slowly slipping into unconsciousness.

"The…Stick Children," the green fairy breathed out. "Those who serve…the Baga Tree."

"Hey, what's that?"

Mido stopped for a moment, Recti having caught up with him. The redhead was stopping for a moment to catch his breath, yet in doing so, he stood just mere feet away from an object in the grass.

"Hm? What's what?" He asked his fairy.

"That!" the pink fairy said, flying over to a small item.

Mido followed and immediately recognized what it was. "That's Saria's ocarina!" he cried out, blue eyes growing wide in terrible comprehension. "She never goes anywhere without it!"

"Then that means she's…?" Recti looked over, her charge standing before another tree hollow that led deeper into the Lost Woods. "Mido? We've got to get back and tell the others!"

"There's no time for that!" Mido shouted back. "Saria's in danger, and she can't wait!"

"Mido, wait!"

"Comfy?" Navi asked, Compa adjusting her posture.

"It's manageable," she said. Due to her exhaustion, she had taken to nesting in Link's pocket for the time being. "But that's not what's important. We have to save Saria."

"Right." Link nodded.

Unknown to either boy, both Link and Mido traveled further, their fairies tagging along, each with the sole goal in mind of rescuing the green-haired girl they had known throughout all of their lives.

Previous Year

"Here they come!"

Upon hearing Fado's declaration, everyone gathered at the finish line to see the two participants in the competition approaching it fast. Everyone was cheering for Link and Mido to hurry if not just so they could get on with working on the play, but Saria's eyes centered on the blonde boy, her upper teeth biting down on her lower lip. She didn't dare say it out loud, but, if she had her way, she already knew who her Hero would be.

Mido cursed that he was on the losing end. Just why did that stupid kid have to be so good at everything?! Well, everything that didn't involve being a proper Kokiri. But Link could run faster than him, was stronger than him, in every way physically, was just more capable than him! It wasn't fair!

It was then that Mido remembered the item he picked up beforehand. And that also came with the realization that it would be very handy to make use of right now.

Link approached the finish line, just a few feet away. He was so close! Just a bit more, and he would…?!

"Oof!" the blonde boy suddenly found himself falling forward, his foot having hit something hard and dense. This caused a chain reaction of the young child falling forward down on his face, just a short distance away from the end goal. It only took a short amount of time for Mido to cross before him.

Link realized he had lost.

"Guess that means Mido's the Hero!" Fado proclaimed, cheeks growing hot and she fawned over the race's victor. "Still…" she muttered. "It makes me wish I was the Princess."

Among the crowd celebrating Mido's triumph, Saria walked over to Link, who was just now recovering from his fall. "Are you ok?" she asked the boy, kneeling down to assist him.

"Mm-hm," Link responded, although his foot still ached somewhat.

"Hey, what's that?" Saria asked, noticing a small object by her friend's brown boot. Inspecting it closer, the green-haired girl realized it was a small rock. A rock that, while she couldn't exactly prove it, seemed to not have been there before. Almost as if someone had picked it up to carry around with them.

A scenario immediately began to form in her head, the girl's lips tightening with anger. But before she could say anything, Link got up and dashed off, going off into the Lost Woods despite his friend's pleas to come back.

Chapter Text

The memory, the dream, the vision that had played before her during her time of unconsciousness faded away, the world around her returning and reminding her that she was not in the best of situations.

Hanging from a cage composed of twisted, winding branches supported by an equally crooked and sickly-looking tree, Saria sat in her confinement, uncertain of how to exactly best deal with her current predicament.

"He's here."

The Kokiri froze, the voice had returned. It had made itself known when she was first taken, but when she had lost consciousness, she hadn't heard it speak to her directly until now. The voice in itself, she likened it to the Great Deku Tree, but not in the sense of comparison and similarity. Rather, it was how the gravely, harsh tone was everything opposite of her parental figure. Both sounded old and wise, yet there was a twisted sense of malice in her captor's, not to mention a hint of glee upon realizing that her friend had come for her.

"I shall finish where my partner left off."

Saria hugged her legs, lowering her head into the small space between her knees and arms. Despite this, however, she still found some strength in her words. "And how are you so certain that your efforts will be successful?" she asked. "If he killed the Gohma Queen that man brought here, then what makes you think Link won't do the same to you?"

"He will never find me," the voice retorted, trying to keep an intimidating presence, but there was a twinge of nervousness in his voice. "Not unless I will it."

"But you'll have those under you do the work for you, right?" Saria questioned. "You're scared of him finding you, huh?"

"I fear nothing!" the voice bellowed, Saria noticing the bars of her cage beginning to twist and turn even more, becoming even more misshapen and unnaturally bent than before. "Especially not a child!"

"For now," Saria replied. "And you want to make sure he's taken care of before he becomes something more."

Her prison rattled, her captor growing angrier the longer she spoke. "Have you forgotten what position you're in right now?" the cruel voice mocked. "I know he'll come for you, and when he does, my pets shall be waiting for him."

Saria gazed outward into the darkness surrounding her, pairs of shining orbs looking back at her, the small girl felt very closed in and surrounded, even more than she already was. Shrinking back in the corner of the cage, an old, horrid laugh echoed throughout the small, confined portion of the woods. But that which was no longer in control of the Great Deku Tree.

Oh no, she was in the land of someone very different.

"Your friend has that sword, but let's see how he does with claws and teeth."

Saria swallowed hard as the owners of the pairs of eyes dashed off, surely on the hunt for the one that she knew was here for her. "Link…"

"Yes…that's what she said his name was as well," the voice muttered. "Unfortunately, she escaped me," the "bars" of Saria's prison began to twist and turn again, almost closing her in entirely. "Had your dear parent not intervened, I wouldn't have to go through the efforts of bringing him back here."

"You just made your biggest mistake then," the Kokiri girl retorted. "You know he can finish you. Just like he'll finish off your friend from the desert-" she got no more out before her cage was violently shaken, the open spaces in between the bars suddenly sprouting leaves and blocking out any already sparse moonlight from coming in. She was essentially trapped in total darkness.

The voice didn't respond, having seemingly left her alone. Whether because he saw no point in talking with her any longer, or to further add to her already high tension, Saria could only speculate. For the time being, she was trapped in this place, unable to do anything but stay in her confines, a prisoner for an ancient enemy of the Great Deku Tree.

One who had just begun to make his move now that the Guardian of the Forest was gone.

And now, that fiend was setting a trap up for her friend, who already wasn't too familiar with the Lost Woods, even after all this time. Only she was the one that knew all of its secrets, for she wouldn't have dared to go where she was now, had she been given the choice. Yet she couldn't dwell on that now, she had to somehow alert Link where she was. If not to at least keep him from going around in circles, for this place was not one to become stranded in.

Especially for one such as Link.

"I wonder…" Saria muttered. "If he's..maybe figured something out yet," then, she sighed. "Doubtful. He's a bit dense."

While she had been instructed to keep quiet by the Great Deku Tree, Saria knew the truth about the blonde boy, the boy that had just recently evolved from the moniker of 'Mr. No-Fairy'. Of course, Navi wouldn't know where to find her either. She had to give him some sort of clue. True, she might've possibly been leading him into potential danger, yet, sad as it was to admit, the forest depended on her. Now that the Great Deku Tree was gone, she was the only line of defense against forces such as her captor.

And as the one who initially poisoned her parent.

But what could she do? It was then that her blue eyes fell on the dark leaves that blocked out the world around her, as dark and foreboding as it was. Reaching forward slowly, fearful that maybe her captor would catch onto her plan. Thankfully, it seemed that this wasn't the case, as she quickly picked two leaves from the branches of her cage.

"Yes," she said to herself, voice barely above a whisper. "I think I can make this work."Given the other possibilities of what could occur, all of them terrible for her friend, her attempt to help would have to work. If not for her sake, then his. "Just…please don't let me get him hurt."

She brought the leaves together and put them to her lips, blowing softly as she tried to find a note.

A Distance Away

"Hey, you hear something?" Recti questioned Mido, who had stopped for a moment.

"Hear what?" the redhead questioned the pink fairy.

"I don't think we're the only ones here," Recti answered. She then focused and tried to sense if there were any forms of life nearby. "Aha!" she then proclaimed, flying over toward a nearby bush. "Over here!" She peered over the tall leaves to see just who she had detected and found herself taken back by just who she came face to face with. "N-Navi?!"

"Recti?!" the other fairy exclaimed, just as surprised.

As if on cue, both of their charges came running, seeing that the other had come into the Lost Woods as well. "Y-You!" Mido stammered, Link in turn stunned to see the other boy. "What are you doing here? I thought we kicked you out." True, the Kokiri hadn't done so officially, but given Link's departure after the Great Deku Tree's death, that had essentially been what was accepted.

Link huffed. "I'm not here for you," he retorted, making his distaste for the other child known. "I'm here for Saria."

Funny how he could sometime speak perfectly clear and struggle to get a word out the next, Mido thought. Everything about Link just confused him. "So am I," the other Kokiri proclaimed. "So there's no point in you going any further. Go on and do whatever your quest is, I'll rescue Saria."

"You?" Link scoffed.

Mido's brows furrowed. "Yeah, me!" he barked back. "You think you're SO cool with that stupid sword of yours that I STILL think you stole!" he said, pointing an accusing finger in Link's direction. "But you probably don't even know how to use that thing! What sort of training do you even have?!"

"Well, not much to be honest," Navi admitted. "But he's progressing, if ever slowly." Link scowled at her. "Hey, I have to deliver and truthful answer. Besides, even if you have slain the monsters inside the Great Deku Tree, you haven't used that sword much yet."

Link wished to say something back, even if he would have some difficulty doing so, yet ultimately found himself unable to reply. As much as he hated it, everything Navi said was true. Still, did she have to make it seem like he was a total novice? Killing a giant spider had to count for something, right?

"So, how did you two get here anyway?" Recti asked. "I thought you were supposed to be going to the 'castle' place."

"We hitched a ride here," Navi answered the pink fairy. "But none of that's important. Right now, Saria's in danger, and we have to find her."

"I'LL find her!" Mido declared, pointing to his chest. "You'll just get in the way!"

Get in the way?! Who did he think he was, Link thought. Did he forget who was the one with the sword here?! "I'm…" he began but found his tongue beginning to work against him again.

"Yeah, Mr. No-Fairy?" Mido asked. "Oh, I guess I can't call you that anymore, huh?" he said, glancing at Navi. "Of course, you've always been a weirdo who could never talk right," Link's lips tightened with anger the longer Mido continued. "Tell me, can you just not speak well, or are you too stupid to even know what words are?"

"Hey!" Navi exclaimed. "Link may be a little dense, but he's NOT stupid!"

"Oh yeah?" Mido shot back. "You've only been with him for a few days at most! I've known this guy my entire life!" he then narrowed his eyes in the blonde boy's direction. "Even if he wears clothes like the rest of us, he sure doesn't act like a proper Kokiri," he went on, Link's rage ever increasing. "He can't grow anything right, he doesn't know NOT to carve on trees, he mixes crops up all the time,"

"Mido," Recti said, beginning to pick up on the other boy's growing fury.

"Speaking of growing things," Mido sneered. "Grow any broccoli lately? Or was it cauliflower?"

That did it. Everything went red and all Link knew or could fathom was that the boy in front of him had to be taught a lesson. Before Mido or either fairy could react, Link pounced upon the redhead, knocking both of them to the grassy floor of the forest.

"Hey, get off-"

PUNCH!

Mido was cut off by a swift punch to the face, Link wasting no time in getting to the point.

"Navi!" Recti cried out in panic. "Stop him!"

Indeed, while Link's fairy believed that some form of retaliation or retort was in order, her charge's actions were far too violent for her to stand idly by and do nothing. "Link!" Navi called out. "Stop it!"

Link paid his guide no heed as he prepared to deliver another blow, but before he could do so, a swift kick to his gut sent him flying back, allowing his target to get back up. "Ok, fine!" Mido shouted. "You want it that way? Let's go!"

Link tightened his fists, trying to ignore the pain in his abdomen from the kick.

Both boys went in on each other, exchanging fists, hands, legs, and feet, all in an effort to beat the other one down. Despite their small size, their fairies looked on his shock and horror, the struggle steadily growing more and more violent as time went on. Compa had rolled out of Link's pocket and onto the grassy floor, Navi and Recti flying down to collect the still collapsed fairy.

"Don't just flutter there!" Recti told Navi, breaking the other fairy from her shocked stupor. "Do something!"

"Well, yes, but what?" Navi questioned, feeling quite powerless to do anything. "It's not like we can just pull them apart!"

Suddenly, a fist to the face sent Link to the ground, Mido standing over him as if silently declaring victory. No, the blonde boy thought. He wouldn't win, not this time! He grabbed the handle of his sword and pulled it outward, presenting the blade to Mido. The other boy was taken back by this sudden turn of events and stepped away. To his shame, he found himself actually intimidated by the semi-mute loser. Fine then, he thought. He could play the same game!

Grabbing a thick branch nearby, Mido held it over his head and charged, ready to use it on his opponent. He managed to strike Link on the shoulder, causing him to drop his shield, but he still kept his grip on the Kokiri Sword. Mido turned and swung again, only to find the sword swing upward and split his improv weapon in half, leaving him with little more than the stump of what was once a strong, sturdy branch. Kneeling and quickly retrieving his shield, Link saw Mido make a dash for him. The blonde boy dodged the incoming tackle at just the last moment, and then swiftly kicked Mdio in the backside, sending him flying a few feet before making a landing on the ground.

"Ow…" the red-haired boy moaned in pain, lying in the grass to recover, but he suddenly became aware of a shadow looming over him, along with a sword pointed directly at his throat.

"LINK!" Navi cried out. "Wait! Don't do it!"

Neither she nor Recti had any time to go to their charges, as both boys found themselves blasted off their feet by a pair of freshly released Deku Nuts, each launched into their guts. True, the impact wasn't harsh, and it only presented them with a slight ache, but it was enough to get the two to stop fighting each other. Link and Mido looked up from the ground and saw a lone Deku Scrub had suddenly made itself known.

Deku Scrubs, while their tops were always composed of bushes or some sort of foliage, there were different varieties and fashions in which some cut what was essentially their "hair." Some Scrubs had fertile, green leaves while others preferred having the Autumn look all year round, and some even trimmed their leaves to resemble a certain style similar to those on the less wooden denizens of the Lost Woods.

Yet this Scrub appeared to have quite the peculiar "hairstyle." "What are you kids doing here?" she asked, the voice indicating it was female, although male and female Deku Scrubs looked almost identical. She wore a "dress" of green leaves and had her top foliage styled into a short style with flipped ends, giving it a "wavy" look. To top her appearance off, two large, pink flowers were rooted in either side of her head, the blossoms opening up and presenting the sweet, nectar-filled insides for any nighttime insects to dine on. "You know, the way you're going at it, you're going to wake up the whole forest!" she then spotted the sword in Link's hand. "And what's that? What are you doing using that thing on him?! That's dangerous!"

Link glanced over to the Kokiri Sword, realizing that, indeed, he had drawn it out against Mido.

"Yeah, what she said!" the red-haired boy agreed.

"Oh no, you're not innocent either," the Scrub said. "I saw what you did before you two fought. You both should be ashamed. Especially when a friend of yours is counting on you."

Indeed, giving some thought, while both boys still resented each other, they had momentarily forgotten the reason they were even out here. But then, they both noticed a detail the Scrub had said.

"You know Saria?" Mido asked, shocked. "Where is she? Is she ok? Who took her?"

Link wished to articulate all this as well, yet, frankly, it was easier to let Mido do it for him. One of the few times the red-haired jerk actually benefited him in some way.

"Yes, yes, yes, and yes," the Scrub answered. "To all four questions. Yes, I know Saria. The entire forest knows Saria."

The entire forest? "H-How?" Link questioned, wishing to show the Scrub that he wasn't entirely speechless.

"Let's just say, the Great Deku Tree gave her a special job to do in case anything ever happened to him," the wooden creature explained. "But, unfortunately, she's just stepped into the role given to her, and she hasn't really mastered control. Thus, those that are older and stronger will eventually strike to try and be rid of her," her eyes met the two boys. "And then, be rid of you."

"Who?" Mido questioned.

He was going to ask that too, Link thought, grumbling at the fact Mido got ahead of him.

"The Baga Tree," she said. "An ancient enemy of your dearly departed parent," the Scrub explained. "He rules over the darker regions of the Lost Woods and has several foul beasts and twisted creatures to do his will. Many Scrubs have actually fallen in league with him so they could too rule the forest instead of coexisting with the Great Deku Tree's children," she then looked upward, noticing the canopy above growing darker. "And, if he isn't stopped soon, his influence will spread even wider, even to your corner of the forest."

Both boys were rendered silent.

"Well, how can he be stopped?" Navi questioned, speaking on behalf of Recti and Compa.

"He can't be," the Scrub answered. "Not yet, anyway. It's not time."

"Time?" Recti asked. "What does time have to do with it? If this Baga Tree is moving into the Great Deku Tree's territory, then I'd say he needs to be dealt with as soon as possible!"

"As you are now, you wouldn't stand a chance," the wooden plant creature said. "He is ancient and powerful, too powerful for even someone like you," she directed her attention to Link, specifically the sword he possessed. "Find Saria and then flee back to your settlement. From there, things shall play out."

"Play out how?" Mido asked.

"In short, it means that everything will be as it should. Of course," she said, looking back at Link. "You still have a journey to go on after all this is over."

Link was shocked upon hearing this. Just how did this Deku Scrub know what he was tasked with?

"I know of what the Great Deku Tree sent you to do," the Scrub told the blonde boy. "And, I also know that you are the instructions of the land's Princess to gather the Three Spiritual Stones," she then glanced at the shield on the boy's back, knowing the sack that rested underneath. "You already have one in your possession. This both helps and hinders you."

"How can something both help and hinder you?" Mido questioned, crossing his arms. He was beginning to grow tired of this wooden stump's talking.

"Well, for one thing, that Stone is proof that you work on behalf of those who wish to protect Hyrule and the World," The green-bushed creature said. "But, also, it is something that the Baga Tree would probably want to get his roots on. I don't think I need to tell you that someone like him should not have something so precious."

Mido and Link were silent, unsure of how to respond. While true, they both expected to be some danger when Saria had vanished, yet neither had prepared themselves for news such as this.

"But," the Scrub said. "There's another benefit that comes with having that Stone," she chirped. "It's a sign that Farore is on your side."

Link raised a brow. "Farore?" it took a few moments, but memories regarding what Saria had told him before his departure came back, as well as the details of one of the three beings that supposedly made the world he stood on.

"She produced everything that sprouted out from the dirt, and thus, she is the one that ultimately rules over all things green, even me," the Scrub told the two. "True, she doesn't get too involved in people's business directly, but she can intervene and give some tips if she sees fit to."

"Then how about this lady give us some hint on where to go?" Mido asked.

"You don't need her for that," the Scrub answered. "Listen. Do you hear that?"

Hear what? Link wondered, but then, his ears caught it. A familiar melody was being played from afar. Distant and unreachable, but he still heard it.

"That song…" Mido said. "That's Saria!"

The Scrub nodded. "You're her only hope now, so are you two going to continue to fight, or are you going to put your energy to good use?"

Link and Mido gazed at each other, neither boy exactly happy about having to potentially cooperate with the other. Still, if it was for the sake of Saria, they had little other choice.

"Ok, fine," the redhead groaned. "But," he then scooped Compa up and put her in his pocket, taking up the task of carrying the still-weak fairy. "I'll be going first!" he then dashed off through a nearby tree hollow, following the distant notes that echoed from some unknown corner of the Lost Woods.

"H-Hey!" Link called out. "Wait!"

"How about you wait?!" Navi shouted, flying after her charge that just went on without her again.

The Deku Scrub gazed in the direction the two children and three fairies had gone. "Farore can also play tricks and create illusions, things that aren't there," she said to no one in particular. "But, even if it is all a mirage, hidden within is the truth," her eyes suddenly flashed green. "A truth that both of you shall see in the coming future."

Chapter Text

"Oh no! I have been taken hostage by the monster! Someone, save me!" Saria called out, having been "accosted" by her best friend in the role of the fearsome beast. Currently, the blonde boy held the green-haired girl in his arms, lifting her above his head to demonstrate the strength of the monster he was channeling. At least, what he thought of when he heard the word "monster."

"Whoa, hey, Link! Watch it!" Saria cried out. "Don't hold me up so high! We're gonna…?!"

She got no further as she and Link toppled over, the girl landing atop the boy that was formerly holding her, groaning in pain as she struggled to get up.

"Sorry," she apologized. "Are you ok?"

Link huffed. "...I think you broke my nose with your butt."

Saria's cheeks flushed. "Did not!" she then tweaked the boy's nose slightly. "See? Totally fine!" despite her humor, this didn't seem to cheer him up. "What's wrong?"

Link crossed his arms. "It's Mido," he replied.

"He's giving you a hard time again?" Saria asked.

Since Mido's "victory", he had been flaunting it in everyone's faces that he got the lead role, especially in front of Link.

"Hey, there's always next year," the green-haired girl said. True, while she believed Mido cheated to gain first place, neither she nor Link had any means of proving it. "You can try out for the Hero again."

"It's…not that," Link answered, speaking slowly to make sure he got his words out correctly. "I…don't care about being the Hero," he explained. "It's just that…Mido is."

"And you're the Monster," Saria finished for him. "So, he uses that as a way to take jabs at you."

Link nodded. True, he wasn't upset over not getting the Hero role. If anything, playing the Monster was actually kind of cool! It was just that, with Mido in the lead role, the redhead made it clear to Link that he got his part due to, once again, how he was different from everyone else.

"You tripped during the race, and you can barely talk, so it'd make sense for you to be the Monster. They're already dumb!"

That nearly earned the redhead a punch to the jaw, had Saria not intervened. If Mido hadn't done anything to him, then Link wouldn't care. This position was just another way for the other boy to get back at him, yet why? What had he done that was so offensive that Mido had made the blonde, fairy-less boy his sworn enemy?

"Well, don't worry about him," Saria told the boy. "He might play the part," she smiled. "But, he's not my Hero."

"Hm?" Link turned to face the girl. "Who is?"

"...never mind," Saria answered. "You'll get it later."

"Get what later?" Link asked.

"...come on, let's practice again."

The two children got back into character and played out their roles, the two souls the only living things on the forest floor in that particular section of the Lost Woods.

Completely unaware that they were both being watched from above in the darkness of the canopy.

Present

"Do you really think it was smart to leave Link behind?" Recti questioned her charge, Mido having stopped a moment to catch his breath.

"I can't…let that guy…get ahead of me!" he wheezed. "I…I'm…going…to be the one…to save Saria."

"No way!" a familiar but rarely heard voice protested, its owner emerging from a darkened tree hollow. "I'LL save Saria!"

"Hey, I was here first!" Mido argued.

"The Great Deku Tree told ME to save Hyrule!"

"Yeah, well…" Mido searched for a comeback. "I still was going to be the Hero this year! Until you came along and killed the Great Deku Tree!"

"It was an accident!"

"So you admit it's your fault then!"

Link lunged forward, once again engaging in physical combat with Mido. The redhead pushed the blonde off of him, noticing that an object had come out of the other boy's sack. A strange, skull-shaped mask of some kind.

"What's this?" Mido picked the item up, examining it. "Heh," he chuckled, Link regaining his senses from the pushback he had taken. "Fitting you'd get something as ugly as this, seeing as you ARE the Monster."

Link sprung up and began to charge at the other boy, but a pair of winged orbs of light got in between the two boys.

"Both of you, stop it!" Navi ordered, spreading her arms out to put more distance between them, even if it wasn't much. Not to mention, neither Link nor Mido could see past the glow of her light.

"As much as I had to admit it, she's right," Recti added. "Saria's in trouble, and she's not going to get rescued anytime soon if you two keep going at it with each other."

Link and Mido glanced at each other, then sighed in unison. "Fine," the red-haired Kokiri said. "I'll stick with you," he said. "For now."

Link nodded. "For now," he repeated, retrieving the mask and putting it back in his sack.

The two went on, once again remembering the distant song they both heard. Following the sound in hopes of eventually reaching the one playing it, a collection of shadows observing the two from above began to converse with each other.

"There they are," a young voice said, a pair of golden eyes peering down at the two children. "Should we take care of them now?"

"No, let's wait," another said. "The Baga Tree said that they have to be picked off one by one to make sure neither of them reaches the girl," they informed their comrade. "Or him."

"Why doesn't he want to be found?" another asked. "He's a tree! He could just squash them!"

"You're forgetting," a similarly shaped figure added. "The boy who was without a fairy killed the creature the Man from the Desert brought with him."

"Probably by luck," someone scoffed. "Besides, he's no bigger than us, and he's still one of those pointy-eared Deku spawn!" they huffed. "He doesn't know the first thing about how to navigate this place!"

"That's why we have to stop them before they reach her," a more serious member said. "That particular Kokiri can use the forest in ways, unlike the others. She has power over the flora of this place. If we take away the means to play her tune, she'll just find other methods."

"You know," one of the voices began speaking again. "It's a shame that the Kokiri play is canceled this year."

"There's no Great Deku Tree anymore, so what's the point?" another said. "Besides, you heard the Baga Tree. Now that he's gone, this forest can be ours."

"Well, let's not just stand here, wasting time!" one of them cried out. "Let's go!"

The collective group of shadows moved, ducking and hiding in the canopy that seemed to grow thicker and thicker the deeper in they went, the forest appearing as if it would swallow everyone alive.

Still, one of them thought. That mask that one kid dropped looked pretty cool. And the kid that had it…he looked strangely familiar.

Their reluctant truce had just started, and yet there was already a problem.

"I say we go that way!"

"No way!"

"How do you even know that's the right way!?"

"You…you don't know yours is either!"

Once again, Link and Mido had delved into an argument, this time regarding which direction to go in. They still heard the melody being played from somewhere unknown in the forest, yet before them were two tree hollows, each branching in separate paths. And, even more, Saria's playing could be heard coming from both.

"Honestly," Recti told her charge. "I'd kinda stick with the guy who's got the sword."

"What?" Mido questioned, shocked. "But he doesn't know his way around this place!"

"Neither do you," Navi retorted. "That song is the only clue we have to where Saria is located, so there must be a branching path that connects somewhere around here," she listened in, the song able to be heard from both tree hollows. "How about this, we go down one way, and if that doesn't lead anywhere, we come back and go down the other way?"

"Whatever, the sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can stop having to hang around you," Mido sneered at Link, the blonde boy huffing.

"He doesn't have a sword, so you should probably go first," Navi told Link.

"What? Why does he get to?" Mido complained.

"Do you want to be the first to potentially be torn to pieces by monsters?" Navi asked.

Mido went silent. "On second thought, yeah. Go ahead, Link."

Wow, Link thought, aren't you considerate? He rolled his eyes, begrudging the fact that he was going to have to potentially protect and defend the guy he hated more than anyone outside of that Man from the Desert. Ganondorf.

"Hey," Mido suddenly spoke, he and Link were surrounded by the darkness of the tunnel that went through the towering tree. "I still think it's sort of your fault, but Saria said she saw the guy that you said gave you that egg," he then scoffed. "I can't believe you actually thought it was a seed."

Link bit his lip, tempted to get physical, but Navi urged him to keep his temper at bay, difficult as it was.

"Still," Mido continued, tone less snarky and condescending than usual. "There's something else about that night that bothers me," he said.

Despite his animosity, Link grew curious.

"The Great Deku Tree said that he controlled the borders of his domain," the Kokiri boy said. "So, there's no way that guy just found his way there by luck."

Hm, Link thought. While he didn't vocalize it, mostly out of fear of making himself appear foolish, it was a factor the blonde had never thought of before. Just how did that guy manage to find his way to the Kokiri Forest? The Great Deku Tree himself warned them all, especially him, of going too deep into the Lost Woods for obvious reasons, so how did he find his way so easily? And he was from the outside too, not even a native of the forest.

Just who was he?

"I kind of wish I knew who he was," Mido said. He bit his lip and his eyes grew somewhat moist. "If not just to give him a piece of my mind."

"...Ganondorf."

Mido, to his surprise, heard Link speak. Rather clearly to be exact. "What?"

"His name," Link clarified. "It's…Ganondorf."

The red-haired boy was about to ask just how Link knew that, yet he stopped himself, putting the pieces together in his head. "Wait," he said. "You mean…you've seen him?"

Link nodded.

"Who is he?" Mido questioned. "Where did he come from?"

Link opened his mouth, but found his tongue not cooperating with him again. Curses, he thought! And he was doing so well until now!

"We don't know much," Navi spoke for him. "All we know is from what the Princess told us."

"You've met a Princess too?!" Mido exclaimed, then he remembered the Great Deku Tree speaking of such a thing in his dying words. "Well, what DID she say?"

"She said that he's the King of a race of people from the deserts west of the country," the pale-blue fairy explained. "A race that, well, from what we heard, they're not too savory of a tribe."

True, they had heard such things, yet, if Link had to be honest, he didn't really see what made them so different from Hylians. Malon had red hair, and skin could get darker in the sun, so why were these traits frowned upon? He didn't understand.

"So, he's from the outside?" Mido questioned.

"That's right," she said. "He's the one that's truly responsible for the demise of the Great Deku Tree."

"Still," Mido said. At first, Navi thought he was going to mention how it was still technically Link's fault such a thing occurred, yet something different came to his mind. "Remember what that Scrub said? About the…Booga Tree, or something?"

"Baga," Navi corrected. "Baga Tree."

"Well, the same guy," Mido argued. "She said that he's an old enemy of the Great Deku Tree, even if I've never heard of him, so it'd make sense he'd want his rival gone," he then thought for a moment. "Still," he wondered aloud. "Just why would he go and make a deal with this Ganondorf? What would he have to gain from it?"

Despite meaning he would have to give him credit, Link agreed with Mido's sentiment. Just why had this Baga Tree helped Ganondorf? Was he after the Kokiri Emerald? It didn't make much sense. It wasn't as if he could go and collect the Triforce, even if Link still had little idea of what such a relic was. So why?

Why did the Baga Tree want the Great Deku Tree dead? Better yet, how could Link have been so stupid as to have a hand in his parent's demise, unintentional as it may have been?

"Hey, you coming?" Mido's voice brought him back to reality, and Link stepped forward, he and the red-haired boy exited the tree hollow, momentarily blinded by a sudden light as this particular area of the forest still allowed the moon to shine through.

Only, when Link emerged, Mido wasn't beside him. He was the only one on the path, the other Kokiri nowhere to be seen. "M-Mido?" the boy asked, receiving a response, but not from a place he expected.

"Link?" the boy's familiar voice alerted Link he wasn't far, but as he approached the source, a barrier of thick foliage prevented him from pressing on, blocking the way to the boy on the other side. "What are you doing over there?"

"Us?" Navi questioned. "What are you doing over there? I thought you two had called a truce."

"We did!" Mido replied. "I…I don't know what happened! When I came out from the hollow, I wound up here! I didn't see you come out with me at all!"

"You have a witness here as well," Recti added. "I saw it all too."

Everyone was silent for a moment, unsure of what to say, let alone comprehend how the two children got separated when they were together just moments before. "Something isn't right here…" Navi muttered, surveying the environment for danger. So far, she hadn't detected anything yet, nothing with malevolent intent, but she was certain that would change soon.

Hey, what's going on?" a member of the group watching from above wondered aloud. "Where'd they go?"

"One guy's over here, while the other guy's over there!"

"Should we split up and follow them both?"

"Looks like we have to. Whatever the case, we just can't let them get to the girl."

"Or find the Baga Tree himself!"

"Right, so let's get to it!"

"Well, first, they've got to get moving!

"So, what do we do?" Mido questioned aloud.

"I guess there's nothing you can do but go on from here," Navi answered. "I still don't know how this happened."

"Wait a minute," Recti then spoke up. "Didn't that Scrub say something about a Farore or something?"

"Yeah, what about her?"

"Well, I'm not sure if she even exists," Recti said. "But…there's something…messing around with the layout of this place."

True, Navi thought. She never went too deep into the Lost Woods herself, but the fairies all knew their way to certain locations scattered throughout the forest. This place, as well as this phenomenon, was something she had never seen before.

Still, there wasn't much that could be done about it. "Well, I guess we have no choice but to continue," she told Link.

"What about me?!" Mido cried out. "I don't have a weapon!"

"We'll keep close!" Navi assured him. "Just don't try to attract the attention of anything."

"N-Navi?" Link suddenly spoke up. "Wh-What…lives…in…here?"

The fairy was quiet for a moment. "The truth is, I don't know," she confessed. "But, I feel the presence of unsavory things further ahead," she said. "So, you'll both have to be careful."

Both boys were unable to see the other but knew that they were on the other side of the foliage. "Well," Mido spoke up. "Shall we?"

Chapter Text

"C'mon, it'll just be for a little while!"

"...but…"

Navi attempted to coax her charge into giving Mido one of his items, specifically, his slingshot. While the two were separated and could not reach each other, a small space over the thick hedge would allow for a small enough object to go over. Mido said he would go further once he got a means to defend himself, and that Link was the best source for something like that. Initially, the boy just tried to get on the other side by slicing through, but the branches and leaves just grew back within moments of being cut down. He tried climbing, yet his palms were stuck with thorns that suddenly manifested out of nowhere, forcing him to cease his journey upward.

There was no way to get past the barrier. And, with that realization, Link, begrudgingly, understood he had no choice.

"...fine."

Taking the weapon out of his sack, Link aimed and threw the item over the barrier, hearing it land atop something hard and solid. "OW!"

Well, that was one good thing that had happened ever since their temporary truce.

"Did you get it?" Navi questioned.

"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Mido said, then saw a small bag of seeds being tossed over next. "What are these for?"

"Bullets!" Link answered.

Mido took one of the seeds out and loaded it into the slingshot, then he pulled and tried his hand at it. "You're pointing it the wrong way," Recti told him, observing how her charge was holding the item.

"Uh…I knew that!" Mido said, flipping the slingshot around. "So…I guess we just go on ahead?"

"It seems that's our only option," Navi answered. "Even if we're still a little lost, Saria's counting on us."

Right, Link thought. The song was still being played, allowing both boys to hear where it was coming from, yet neither was aware of just how far they would have to travel to reach the green-haired girl. Still, they would try.

Going forward, their hidden pursuers looked down from the canopy, watching as they traveled together but also apart.

"Ok, you half go follow the one with red hair," one of them said. "And the rest of us will track the blonde one."

"Hey, since when did you start giving orders?" one of the shadowy figures questioned.

"Why? Do you have one you'd like to go after more?"

"...huh. No, I guess there isn't," then, they shrugged. "Fine. What matters is that we take care of them before they reach the girl."

"Ok then, let's go!"

They dashed through the trees, keeping up with Link and Mido, all the while remaining unseen. Yet, from above, one of the figures glanced down at the blonde boy dressed in green, glowing eyes focused on the child down below. They could've been wrong, yet that kid looked familiar.

And then, he realized. The play from last year, the one he had seen. That boy was his favorite character.

That boy was the Monster!

Previous Year

"RAWR!" Link roared, leaping out from behind a tree, "claws" out and teeth bared, ready to terrify and battle against the Hero for the Princess.

Of course, there was no Hero or Princess around, having come out to the woods to practice. Not only that, but he was searching for materials for a costume. So far, the Twins had finished with the basic clothing everyone would wear, yet Link wanted to add a little something "extra" to his attire. Something that would immediately grab everyone's attention and keep their eyes on him as he was on stage, playing his part.

So, he went out to search for some materials to add to his outfit, although he was unsure of just what. True, while the Twins' work wasn't bad, the costume they had made wasn't very intimidating. It looked rather cute, to be honest. Link wasn't too keen on being cute, he wanted to be scary! But how would he pull that off?

Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of a small bit of bark he could tear off. Taking the wooden section, he looked at the piece in his hands, small enough to hold, but large enough to where he could craft it into something else. Maybe his costume would be better suited with a frightening mask? The only question was, what to make it look like.

"There he is,"

Then, the boy thought he heard someone speak, yet upon looking around, he saw no one around.

"Yeah, that's the kid without a fairy," another said.

Link realized he was being observed, yet where were his observers? Where were the ones that were currently watching him?

"What's he doing out here? Doesn't he know it's dangerous to come out here without a fairy?"

"I heard he's a little slow, so he might be too stupid to know that."

Ok, NOW he was mad. Noticing a shifting pair of shapes in the trees, Link grabbed a small stick and threw it in their direction, the figures scattering to other trees. He was about to try and find them to make them take back that comment about his supposed lack of intelligence, but a far more familiar voice got his attention.

"Link!" the aforementioned boy turned to see Saria running toward him. "Link, you've been out here for hours!" she lectured. "The Great Deku Tree told you not to stay in the Lost Woods for that long!"

"But…" Link protested, pointing up at the trees to show her the ones that were watching him, but the shapes were now gone.

"Look, let's just go back, it's getting late," Saria said, taking Link by the hand and guiding him back to the Kokiri Forest. "This place gets a little spooky at night anyways."

Link was led back to the small settlement, the figures in the trees emerging once again. "Well, he's intelligent enough to know when he's been insulted."

"Still, what was he doing out here anyway? Doesn't he know what happens to children who come into these woods?" one of the shapes then leaned in closer. "Do you think he's from the outside?"

"No way!" another shook their head. "He's dressed just like the others, so he MUST be a Kokiri! He just…happens to not have a fairy."

"He kept stomping around, acting like some sort of mad animal. Why?"

"I think I heard someone mention something about a play."

"A play?"

"Yeah, a play."

"What's it about?"

"From what I know, it's about a Hero and a Princess-"

"Lame!"

"But, it's also got a Monster!"

That intrigued the others. "A Monster?"

"Yeah, and he gets to fight the Hero and everything. It sounds cool!"

"I want to be in the play now!"

"Me too!"

"Hold on! We can't just jump on in!" silence fell between the small group. "We need to find a way inside the Kokiri Forest without being noticed."

"But how?"

"We'll…think of something," the de-facto leader of the clutch of concealed shapes said. "For now, let's just keep tabs on our Monster. Maybe he'll be our ticket in."

Present

"Oh, great."

Link didn't even need to add anything, Mido having spoken what was on his mind. Before the two boys were separated by the barrier of thick foliage, a pair of two tree hollows stood, each with an unknown destination on the other end. Yet, mysteriously enough, both children could hear the familiar song of their fellow green-haired Kokiri coming from each.

"So, do these lead in the same direction or something?" Mido questioned Link, who, while unable to see the boy, simply shrugged at his question.

Mido took the silence as a "no." "Well, maybe the two paths meet somewhere in the middle," Recti suggested. "If you can both hear the song, then maybe you can join up eventually, as it seems they lead to the same place."

"Still, it'd be wise for you to stay as close to each other as possible," Navi advised. "If what that Deku Scrub said about the Baga Tree was true, then there were surely other nasty things lurking in the depths of the Lost Woods."

"Well…I'm not scared!" Mido proclaimed.

Link scoffed. Sure, whatever, he thought. That guy wouldn't even have a means of defense if the boy hadn't given him one. And even that was with great reluctance.

"All right, enough talking, let's go!" Navi said, Link wasting no time in running ahead of the red-haired Kokiri into the tree hollow on his side.

"Oh no, you don't! Hold up!"

"Link! Mido! Come back!"

Navi and Recti couldn't see each other but shared the same sentiment.

"Kids."

From where the two boys had once been, the Deku Scrub poked her head out and opened her eyes, once again glowing a vibrant green. She rose from her place, and, with no eyes to see her, began to stretch and change her shape. Soon, she stood tall but kept her true self hidden from view.

"All right," she said. "I can't help you too much, Hero, as my sisters will get mad at me," she continued. "But, there are no laws that say I can't give you a little help."

"Hey, Link, can you hear me?" Mido called out, hoping that he could at least know that someone else was traveling along with him.

"Yeah!" a voice from the other side responded.

"OK, good!" Mido answered. "Just…try and stay close, ok?"

"Scared?"

"No!"

"Whatever."

As they continued on, Navi remembered something she had wanted to tell Link for some while. "You know, using that sword on Mido was wrong," she told her charge. "That weapon isn't made to threaten with. Not like that."

It wasn't as if Link was going to use it on him! He was just going to scare him a little! Still, thinking it over, pulling his blade out on someone who wasn't armed seemed a little…un-Hero-ish.

"Hey…yeah, that's right!" Mido added, realizing that Link's own fairy was speaking on his behalf. "What kind of Hero pulls a sword on some innocent kid?!"

"Well, truth be told, you're not entirely innocent either," Navi added. "You know well that the Great Deku Tree's death was the fault of Ganondorf, no one else."

"...still, someone brought the egg into the village."

"Ok, enough." Mido's own fairy said.

"Hey, whose side are you on?!" the redhead exclaimed.

"Look, I'll admit," Recti confessed. "Navi isn't really my favorite fairy," she told her charge. "And…yeah, I feel kind of sorry she's stuck with that kid," she whispered the second part. "But," she continued with her volume rising. "The point is, you two are going to have to be able to rely on each other. And, to do that, you have to at least be civil."

"Surely you're mature enough to do that, right?" Navi added. "Children or not, you should at least have some common sense."

Both boys wished to protest but could find no defense. "Fine," Mido begrudgingly said. "You ok with that, Link?"

"...fine."

"Anyway, I see the end of my path, so I'll meet you on the other side!"

"Mido, wait!" Recti called out, flying after her charge, leaving Link and Navi behind.

"Recit! Mido!" Navi called out. "Come back!"

Link ran forward with Navi following after, the two emerging on the other side. On Mido's end, he too exited the opposing tree hollow, but both children found that there was no sight of the other.

There was no sign of anywhere familiar, or any trace of where they had come from.

"Link?" Mido questioned, blue eyes looking around for any sign of the other Kokiri. "Link?!"

A distance away, whether short or far, no one knew, but Link was also searching for his temporary companion. "M-Mido?!" the blonde boy called out, somewhat stammering. "Mido!"

Both shouted for the other, hoping that they could at least catch the hint of a voice. Alas, there was no hope of reunion, as the other boy was nowhere to be seen.

"Ok…" Navi said, surveying the area. "So…there's no sign of anyone else but us," she said.

On Mido's end, Recti came to the same conclusion. "And, if that's the case, then we're on our own for now."

On Link's end, the boy readied himself to grab his sword at any time necessary and surveyed the darkened passageways that led deeper into the woods. Mido did so too in his section of the forest, holding Link's loaned slingshot close.

"So…what now?" Mido questioned his fairy nervously.

"We still have to find Saria," Recti said. She looked over to the unconscious Compa still in Mido's pocket. "And, I don't know how, but somehow, we can still hear her playing, somehow."

Mido looked ahead, still trembling slightly. Yet a brief thought of the green-haired girl served to give him a burst of confidence and duty.

"Do you think that Link can hear her playing too?" Recti questioned Mido, curious of what her charge thought.

"Not sure," Mido confessed. "But, if he can, then I can't let him get ahead of me!" he then dashed toward the direction he heard the familiar song of the Kokiri girl.

"Hey! It's not a competition!" Recti called out, flying after him.

"Don't worry, Saria," Mido declared. "Your Hero is on the way!"

The Year Prior

The play was just in a few days, so perhaps that was why his nerves were on edge. Still, that didn't mean he was getting stage fright or anything. No way, Link mentally declared. He was going to be the Monster, yes, but he was going to be the best Monster that had ever been! Besides, even if the Monster lost, at least he got to get a few decent hits on the Hero.

Link grinned at the thought of laying a blow or two on Mido, even if it wasn't serious. Still, Saria as the Princess made him somewhat anxious. True, it wasn't as if he was the one the Monster fell in love with, but she was still a girl. And, well, he hadn't ever been so close to a girl before.

True, Karya, Phoebe, and Fado were girls, yet they were mostly neutral to Link, knowing him in passing, but not really paying him any attention. Saria, however, was the only one that he could call an actual "friend." And he had to make sure to treat her gently, even if he was supposed to be "kidnapping" her.

Still, being so close to a girl, and a girl that actually liked him…a wave of heat came to Link's cheeks. But, when it came to Saria herself, Link himself was unsure how to feel about her. True, she was a good person and was the only one that treated him as her equal, but did he think of her in…that way? Did he even know what "that" felt like?

"There he is again!"

He was drawn from his target practice by the sound of voices and turned, but once again saw no one. "Who…" he stammered. "Who's…out…there?" he then displayed his slingshot and loaded a seed, showing that he wasn't afraid to use it.

"Huh, you see his costume?" one voice questioned another, Link still looking around for the source of the chattering strangers. "It looks like us!"

"Kind of," another said. "But not as well kept as ours."

"Huh? You actually care about stuff like that?"

Link listened in, trying to pinpoint where the voices were coming from, his long ears primed to detect any sort of noise from any direction. All the while, he kept his slingshot ready.

"Hey, keeping what's basically clothes made out of grass look nice takes a lot of work!" the voice paused. "Speaking of, you need to patch up that tear, or it'll get worse."

"Listen to you, you sound like someone's mother!"

Then the voices stopped, the forest falling into silence once again. Link stood still, waiting, yet when one of the unseen figures spoke again, "Mother?" they questioned. "What's a mother?"

Link remained silent, still searching for some sign or clue of where his observers hid, yet their conversation began to intrigue him.

"Huh, you know, I don't really think I know,"

"I've heard that word before. But I don't remember what it means,"

"Is it a person?"

"A place?"

"A feeling?"

Link found, despite having never heard the term "mother" before either, found himself feeling somewhat…lonely. Not in the sense of isolation from the others, he knew what that was like. Rather, it was almost as if he were missing something. Something that he should've had, but never got the chance to. He didn't understand why, but he felt his chest ache the longer he thought about it.

"Hey, I think he's watching us!"

"Let's get out of here!"

The sudden sounds of rustling leaves drew Link's attention to one of the nearby trees, but when he took aim to shoot at those observing him, he found no trace of any living thing. That was the second time he was being watched by something in these woods. But what, let alone who was it? They spoke, so they seemed to be intelligent, but they weren't Kokiri.

Just what were they?

Link looked up and saw the sky was growing bright and orange, signifying that evening was soon to arrive. Even if he snuck off to relieve stress in the Lost Woods, he knew that Saria, let alone the Great Deku Tree, wouldn't be too pleased with him staying out so late. Thus, with one last look behind him, he made his way back to the Kokiri settlement.

"That was too close," the figures said, having retreated to another tree. "Still, I'm kinda interested in that play."

"Yeah, the forest children get to participate in it, but aren't we children of the forest too?"

"Yeah! We should have a part in the play too!"

"YEAH!"

They all unanimously agreed. Then another thought came to them. "But what would our parts be?"

"...good question."

All of them began to ponder and try to come up with solutions, for no one wanted to play a piece of scenery, but they then finally found and concocted the perfect plan.

"You know, that kid's the Monster, right?"

"Yeah? What about it?"

"Well, he's a villain, isn't he?"

"Yeah. But what does that have to do with anything?"

"Think about it," one of the figures said. "He's a villain, an antagonist, but isn't he missing something?"

None of the others understood what their fellow comrade meant.

"He's missing subordinates to help him out," a small smile crept to the figure's lips. "He's missing some minions."

Chapter Text

"All right, so far, so good," Navi said aloud, she and Link steadily making their way through unfamiliar territory. Well, more unfamiliar, as everything to this point was nothing but the unknown. "Keep your wits about you."

Link nodded, surveying the area carefully. On the opposite end, out of sight and reach, Rectri watched both the environment around her, as well as her red-haired charge. It was then that the pink fairy remembered something important. Something she probably should've asked her child before they both continued on.

"Do you actually know how to use that thing?"

"Of course I do!" Mido responded. "You just…" he gazed at the carved, makeshift weapon in his small hand. "You…pull this thing back," he began, stretching the band. "And…you put something in here," he continued, only to get smacked in the face the moment he let the stretchable material go. "Ow!"

"You know, maybe Link should've handed you something else, like a stick." Recti giggled.

"Hey, I'm just as good as Mr. No-Fairy with anything you hand me!" Mido argued back. "Heck, if anything, that sword should go to me!" he huffed.

"You've never used a sword in your life," Recti responded. "Let alone any sort of weapon."

"Well…it's not hard to learn! If Mr. No-Fairy can learn it, so can I!"

"You know you technically can't call him that anymore," Recti said. "Navi's with him."

The redhead was about to retort but ultimately realized that the pink fairy was right in her assessment. True, while he could technically still call Link that, it wouldn't have the same weight.

"Actually, I've been meaning to ask," Recti continued. "Why do you have it out for Link so much?"

"What do you mean?" Mido asked.

"Um, it's totally obvious," Recti said with a raised brow. "You can't stand him! Why?" she asked. "Granted, yeah, I think the kid is a little weird, but last time I checked, he hadn't done anything to you personally. So, what's the deal?"

Mido was silent for a short while, clearly struggling to find an answer. "I don't have any deal with him," he murmured. "I just don't like him. Aren't I allowed to NOT like somebody?"

"It's more than that, and you know it," Recti told him. "Is it Saria?"

"N-No!" Mido the redhead protested. "I can win her over easily!" he then puffed his chest out proudly.

"Then what is it?"

The boy didn't answer. His fairy was wrong, he wasn't jealous of that blonde, stupid mute. What did he have to be jealous of? It wasn't as if Link was any smarter than him! Or stronger, or faster, or seemingly gaining strength with each passing year while the others didn't. The way that Saria would look at him…

"Mido?"

The boy wasn't paying attention, still stewing in his many reasons why he could stand the blonde mute. Yet, after a few moments, he realized that, while he could hear his fairy's voice, there was something else that had gone silent.

"What?"

"Do you hear that?"

Mido listened, ears alert for any note or small peep. "No," he answered his fairy.

Recti hugged herself. "Neither do I."

"Saria…" Link said, eyes wide with concern. "Her song…"

Indeed, Navi thought. I doubt that means anything good.

Although, before either she, Link, or even the distant Mido or Recti could think about their current situation further, a strange scent entered the air. It was subtle at first, then steadily grew stronger with time, permeating the atmosphere surrounding them. Soon, what appeared to be floating pink pollen contained in a flowing mist spread all around, coating the environment in its veil.

Then, their vision began to change. Or rather, altered, for the mist momentarily consumed their vision, blinding them in a wave of sweet-smelling pink before the world was revealed to them again.

Only now, the environments on the sides of either boy transformed again, yet, strangely enough, neither child experienced the same vision given to them by the mist. And it was only now that the shapes and colors and patterns blocked out by bright pink began to become more clear and solid.

Then, each boy's separate section appeared to "come to life."

Mido

"Hey, wait!" Recti called out, her Kokiri running blindly through another tree hollow, the redheaded child trying to get the sickly sweet and sour taste of the mist out of his mouth as soon as he could get it out of his eyes.

As he ran, he felt his left foot hit something, causing him to trip and fall over into the ground. "Ow!" He cried out, lifting himself up and trying to massage the pain from his nose. "This thing better not be broken again," he huffed, inspecting his face for any damage. So far, nothing but general soreness from a tumble.

"I hope that fall cleared your senses up," Recti said, having caught up to her charge. "It certainly cleared up your sinuses."

Mido was puzzled as to what she meant but then felt a warm, slimy substance dripping from his nostrils. "Ugh, sick!" The redhead grimaced, wiping his nose with the back of his arm and scraping what he had collected off onto the grass. Grumbling about how "gross" and "icky" that was.

That was when, as he started to calm down, he noticed something in the corner of his eye, along with the realization that the forest around him had changed once again!

And, even more, he wasn't alone.

And neither was Link.

Link

He was still very much in the Lost Woods, but the blonde was almost panicking, believing for a second that he had somehow gone backward. The same target he had set up when he came out with his slingshot to either practice or relieve stress, and the tree hollows appeared familiar as well. Had he really gone back the way he came?! This was terrible! How was he ever going to reach Saria now?!

"Hey!"

Navi's voice spooked him, yet it ultimately got his attention. Nevertheless, he gave her a small growl and an irritated look.

"As your fairy, you should be thanking me," Navi told him, arms crossed, although her form was so small and consumed by light, the boy couldn't see it. She then got closer. "Look," she told him. "In the trees."

All around him were glowing orbs of yellow, what the boy had first assumed to be fireflies. Such insects were commonly seen at an hour as late as this in either this place or the Kokiri Forest. Still, his theory of the orbs being fireflies was quickly dismantled, as the orbs didn't move or dim only to light up again. Instead, they remained static, ever shining and maintaining a consistent glow to them. It was also then that Link realized that each orb had another like it a short distance away, each of them paired into a coupling.

No, Link thought. Those weren't fireflies, nor were they just animals. But, whatever they were, they had their eyes centered on him, the rest of their shadowy forms hidden away in the shadows of the canopy above.

Mido

When he had managed to get his vision back to normal, the self-proclaimed Leader of the Kokiri's blue eyes spotted something in the distance that immediately triggered him to get out Link's slingshot. True, he nearly shot himself in the eye trying to prepare it, but he managed to get it right after a few adjustments.

Although, when he aimed to fire, the redheaded boy found himself stuck in place, arm pulled back and ready to release a Deku Seed, but the instinct to fight and defend himself steadily faded away the more he looked at what was in the distance. True, he wasn't entirely sure of what he was seeing, but, from what he could see, it didn't appear dangerous.

They didn't appear dangerous.

Link

"You there," a voice from above called out, Link's head whirling around to see where the speaker was hiding. If he could keep track of which pair of eyes was which. "Aren't you the monster?"

Monster? Before Link could ask what the figure meant, more of them began speaking, each one after the other, not allowing the blonde to get one word in. Assuming he could properly articulate his speech at this current moment.

"The monster that kidnaps the Princess?" one further inquired.

"We're monsters too!" another giggled.

"We're like you!" said the shape next to the one that had spoken.

"We're not like the other children in the forest."

Link found that, no matter where he turned, dozens of peering watching eyes looked down from above, both alerting the boy of their presence, as well as the fact he, nor his fairy, had anywhere to go.

"And yet, you're not like us either," Link heard the leaves rustle, indicating movement. "So, you're a monster of an entirely different breed."

A chorus of chuckles and chortles echoed throughout the small area. "Would you like to have a contest between us all?" one of the concealed shapes questioned mockingly. "One type of monster versus another, doesn't that sound cool?"

Link didn't answer, but he bit his lip, blue eyes darting wherever they could. He wouldn't say it in front of Navi, yet a part of him sensed she already guessed he was steadily growing afraid.

"What's the matter, oh monster from the outside?" one of them darkly chuckled. "Don't you want to fight?!"

Mido

At first, Mido wasn't entirely sure of what he was seeing, yet, as he continued to look, he realized more and more that there was indeed someone there with him. Someone that looked like him, but not entirely. Their ears were long and their skin a peachy complexion, albeit somewhat paler, and their golden hair reminded the redhead of Fado's voluminous locks, but there was one major difference separating those Mido knew from this stranger.

This stranger was at least two or three feet taller than him. And when they stood up, the Kokiri was certain that it must've been around four, or maybe even five!

The stranger had eyes of blue, yet, unlike the wide eyes of the Kokiri, theirs bore a more mature look as if she had passed the stage where a Kokiri would dwell forever, the face attached to those eyes smooth and somewhat angular, nose small but sharp, brows fashioned to curve and grow thinner at the edges, and a pair of pink spheres hanging from her ears from what appeared to be a small ring pierced through the skin of the earlobes. Their hair was tied up in a braided bun, a silver band sitting atop their head, and their body was clothed in a deep blue dress with golden trims and a pink shawl wrapped around their shoulders.

It was a person, Mido knew, but it wasn't a Kokiri. No, something, someone like this, they didn't dwell in the Lost Woods, nor anywhere near the Kokiri Forest. "This is a…?" Mido whispered, watching the figure move, realizing that the specimen was a female. A girl. No, more than that.

A woman.

And a woman always meant a man wasn't too far away either.

People, Mido thought. People from the outside. Just as in all the tales the Great Deku Tree had told them.

Link

It was only due to Navi's warning of "Watch out!" that her charge managed to avoid getting bombarded with dozens upon dozens of pellets being fired from blowguns, a nearby, rather sizable tree trunk serving as a temporary cover.

All right, Link thought. If they wanted to have a shooting contest, then he'd give them one! At least, that was his mindset before he reached for his slingshot and found himself grasping empty space. And with that came the memory of him handing the weapon to Mido.

"Looks like you're going to have to come up with another strategy," Navi alerted her charge, who proceeded to give her a knowing look. "What that is? Well…" she paused, then she dove into the sack beneath his shield. "Let's see what we've got here," the fairy said, voice a little muffled as she searched through Link's belongings. "Huh, how much stuff is IN here, anyway? You'd think this thing is somehow magic."

Truth be told, Link himself had never thought of it before, but the sack given to him DID seem to be able to hold a lot. And somehow not change size or become overly heavy.

"Aha! Here's something!" the fairy cried out, flying out with a Deku Nut in her grasp, albeit it was clear she was having some difficulty keeping airborne while carrying it at the same time. "This probably won't drive them off, but it'll at least buy you some time."

Link yelped when a pellet struck the stump's top, the projectile zooming right past the boy's ear, missing it by mere inches. Taking the nut, the boy peered over the stump just enough to see that there was an exit nearby. If he could get there, then maybe he could at least get in the clear long enough to come up with a plan.

Or at least have Navi come up with one. Hey, she WAS his fairy, wasn't she?

"Hm, strange," Navi thought aloud, although it was quiet enough to keep it to herself. "I swear, I believe I've heard of creatures like this somewhere in the woods," she reminisced. "Something that the Great Deku Tree told them…and a rumor of where they came from…" What or who they were would have to come later. For now, they had to go! Taking the nut, Link, to Navi's shock, the boy got atop the stump and held the object up high. "What are you doing?!" the fairy cried out. "You're gonna…!?"

She got out no more when she found her speech muffled by a hand wrapping around her entire form while the other hand threw the nut, the wooden plant opening up and releasing a bright, sparkling light that consumed the entire, small section of the Lost Woods. Link's attackers were left unprepared, the light blinding them all and dislodging some from their places, their bodies falling from the trees. Although Link didn't catch a glimpse of these few, for the moment the sparks and flares from the nut came out, he grabbed Navi and made a b-line to the nearest tree hollow. They'd follow him, of course, but at least now, he could fend them off while looking for Saria.

It was then that, to the boy's shock, a peculiar thought came to his mind.

What about Mido?

Mido

What should he do?

True, this person, this woman, she didn't belong here, but she was still bigger than him. A lot bigger. She might've not had too much muscle on her, but the redhead didn't doubt it wouldn't take much for her to overpower him. Like it or not, the bigger guy ALWAYS won in a fight. Still, what if this lady was dangerous? What if she found Saria before he did? Would she perhaps…?!

He was unsure, yet regardless, he needed some sense of protection. Bringing out Link's slingshot, MIdo steadily set it up, ready to fire if need be. Although he doubted his abilities to use this tool, he'd die before he'd let such a thing be known openly.

"Uh…" Mido began, cursing himself. Already, he looked like an idiot. Link would probably be able to aim this thing, no problem, he thought. Much to his dismay. No, he had to do this! He had to be brave! For Saria! "H-Hey!" he shouted, gathering up his courage. "This is a private forest, lady! You're not welcome here!"

The woman still had her back turned to him, silent and acting as if she hadn't even heard him.

"This place belongs to the Great Deku Tree, and I, Mido, am the Leader of his children, the Kokiri!" the boy proclaimed with pride, hoping such a title would stir some sort of reaction. "And…now that he's gone…I'm in charge of these woods!" he declared. It wasn't true, of course, as he still barely knew how to navigate a mile into the Lost Woods. Saria, on the other hand, seemed to know this place like the back of her hand. Had she maybe seen this woman before? "So…I'm going to have to ask you to leave! Besides, people from the outside don't belong here!"

The woman still didn't react.

Mido was about to raise his voice louder, yet he then noticed a detail he hadn't before. The tall outsider was holding something in her arms, and she was somewhat hunched over. For a moment, he assumed that she was sick, yet, upon further inspection, it almost seemed like she was hurt. "Uh…hey," the boy said, dropping his facade of an intimidating warrior. "Are…you ok?"

Upon receiving silence as an answer yet again, Mido decided to investigate for himself, drawing closer to her. Peering around, the boy saw that she had something in her arms: a lump of some kind hidden away in a wrapped-up cloth, the woman holding it closer to her chest as if it was her very life. Just what was it that she believed to be so important to carry with her? From Mido's standpoint, such a thing only served to weigh her down, so why was she so attached?

Out of intrigue, the boy reached forward to pull the cloth back, but a sudden rustle in the bushes alerted him, as well as the woman, that they weren't alone.

"What the…?" Mido spoke aloud. It was then that, to his shock and horror, he realized his fairy was gone. Recti was nowhere in sight.

The woman rose to her feet, allowing Mido to see, as she stood, a tear in the left side of her dress. Along with a massive gash in her skin, exposing a wound that had just healed over, blood dry and crusted. Before Mido could do anything, he, as well as the woman, heard howling in the distance.

"What…is that?" Mido questioned with a wavering voice, clutching the slingshot tightly.

Animals in the Lost Woods were nothing to fear, as the Great Deku Tree had once said, for the forest belonged to them as much as it did the Kokiri. Yet, these sounds, whatever they were, the boy couldn't link them to any animal or creature he had seen or heard before. And, these things, whatever they were, they didn't sound friendly either. They sounded predatory, savage, bloodthirsty even. Such a creature…they didn't belong here. Not in the Great Deku Tree's domain.

Then, as soon as he was beginning to process that there were potentially dangerous animals coming their way, Mido saw the woman dash through one of the tree hollows, disappearing into the darkness, carrying the clothed bundle with her.

"H-Hey, wait!" Mido called out. "Don't leave me!"

He followed after her, hesitating for a moment as the dark void inside the hollow served to make his already frightened mind run wild with the possibility of something even nastier residing in there. Yet, upon hearing the howls again, the redhead found he had no choice and dove headfirst into the blackness, clutching the slingshot and praying that he wouldn't lose it.

Although truth be told, he was beginning to doubt it would do him any good.

Link

Even if he was free to move, that was all he could do, for, if he stopped, he'd surely be bombarded with pellets, rendering him unable to move anywhere. But still, these guys, whatever or whoever they were, just wouldn't let up! No matter where he turned, Link found he was only just one step ahead of his attackers, but only one step.

"Hurry!" Navi urged him, more than aware of this fact too. "Don't stop! They're gaining on us! They're almost here!"

Yes, yes, he KNEW that, Link thought. Ever factual and informative Navi working her magic yet again.

Spotting another stump, Link ducked behind it yet again, finding temporary relief from the bombardment of pellets, yet, to his dismay, he found himself stuck in the same position as he had before.

"Well, great. We're back where we just were a minute ago," the oh-so-wise Navi observed, Link rolling his eyes. "Hey, I can fly, you're stuck on the ground," the fairy lectured her Kokiri. "Still, this isn't exactly good."

"...you don't say."

"Oh, hush," Navi commanded, although she doubted her charge would take her words to heart. Great Deku Tree knows…well, knew, this boy could be a bit insufferable. Still, they needed to get out of this. "If only we could somehow knock these guys out of the trees, then maybe we'd have some sort of chance to see what we're up against," It was then that Navi realized her charge, while still taking cover, began to rise as if planning to make a move. "Wait," she asked. "What are you doing?"

Link didn't answer, as he suspected that she probably wouldn't agree with his chosen course of action. But, she did say that it'd be better if they could knock one of these guys out of the trees. And, so far, the boy in green saw only one way.

"Wait, stop! Don't-"

Navi's words had no power, for the boy went on, against her instruction. And, to her shock, bewilderment, and, in some way, a twisted sense of amusement, Link performed a roll that, at the right time, slammed his head against the tree before him, jostling the towering flora, as well as his ability to process the world around him, everything spinning and blocked out by glowing lights in angular shapes that resembled stars.

He didn't even notice the loud "OOOF!" that followed, as well as the sound of an impact right behind him. Nor did he notice the Skull Mask slipping out of his sack and falling to the ground.

"You…" Navi stammered, wide-eyed and unbelieving of what the blonde boy had just done. "You're crazy!" she then shouted. She then began to fly over, intending to give this clearly reckless child some well-needed common sense! "Do you have any idea what you could've done!?" she questioned. Link was just coming to, and the first thing he registered was that his fairy wasn't exactly pleased with the execution of his plan. His sight was momentarily blinded by the pale blue light of the winged woman, form concealed by the glowing hue. He then felt an ache on the top of his head, the fairy lightly knocking on his dome. "It's a miracle nothing feels broken! Do you know how dangerous head injuries can be?! You could crack your skull and suffer internal bleeding! Or get a piece of your skull lodged in your brain! Or…?!"

The boy she was lecturing wasn't even looking in her direction.

"Hey! I'm talking to…you?" Navi began but ceased midway when she too saw what her charge was seeing.

On the forest floor, holding its head and moaning in pain was a bipedal creature that was just around Link's height, yet that was the only trait this being and the boy shared. The revealed entity was clothed in a cap or hat that fanned outward but was tied up to hold it in place, making it appear almost like a wide onion, and the headpiece appeared to be composed of orange and yellow dyed leaves. The creature's attire matched their hat, a scruffy, torn tunic with green, torn pants underneath, curved shoes, and torn, fingerless gloves, as well as a belt composed of silver rings and rope. The same belt was tied around the upper half of the cap as well.

Link was about to try and ask just what or who this…thing was, yet they looked at them first, bearing the same glowing eyes that had been watching him from above. It was then that the boy realized that, no, this creature wasn't unfamiliar to him.

In fact, he had seen them before.

And yet had no idea who they were when he did.

Chapter Text

The Lost Woods was a place Link frequented almost every day or night when he could, outside of the Great Deku Tree's watch. Whenever he wished to explore a little, gather nuts or seeds for bullets to shoot at targets, or just to have a place to himself, away from anyone else, he could always count on it to be something of a retreat away from home. A backyard that was larger than your own house, but it was wild and untamed, dangerous even. Yet that made the woods all the more intriguing, not to mention tempting. The forest paths, untraveled by those that would take the journey through the winding trees, lay in wait to be tread upon, to be explored.

To become part of an adventure.

And while none of them were real, Link made more than his fair share of adventures. From his memorization of each of the Great Deku Tree's tales, he partook in and played the role of the characters from his parent's stories. Whether it was the Hero from the Sky leaving his home for the first time to go save his love, the Smith's grandson who had found a magical, talking hat (that was said to, strangely enough, resemble a bird), or the Warrior that had gained a sword that split himself into four, the boy in green acted out every trial and heroic deed those daring figures had faced and overcome.

From the moment his chores were done, Link dashed off into the Lost Woods, and, if he was not practicing with his slingshot, he was preparing for what scene he would try and reenact. True, there were some moments that he realized that perhaps one particular moment wasn't the best to try and replicate, the Sky Hero's first descent to the world below coming to mind as he tried to jump from a tree into a pile of hastily gathered leaves.

Needless to say, Link found out that he hadn't gathered enough to cushion the fall. That was the only time the Great Deku Tree had forbidden him from doing anything that was, in his eyes, "too dangerous for a boy like you."

And, thinking back on it, perhaps it wasn't a good idea to jump when you were several feet above the ground.

Still, that didn't stop him from bruising himself or scraping skin in various places acting out the great feats and adventures of the valiant figures spoken of in his guardian's stories. And, ultimately, the Lost Woods was the best place for that. Both to play and imagine himself as a warrior wielding a sword, but also, a retreat away from home.

True, the Great Deku Tree had told him to be careful and, honestly, he would've preferred if the child didn't go into the forest at all. Yet, with time, in both due to life among those who were supposed to be like him, and those who were adamant about messing with him like Mido, the Guardian seemed to get the message that, while it was technically against the rules to wander out too far, the ancient tree couldn't deny that, at times, Link needed a place such as this.

Although, when he did come out here, from time to time, Link noticed some peculiar things seemingly up within the canopy.

In his earlier years, when he was just a young sproutling (even if all the Kokiri looked human), he hadn't been able to see them for himself, yet, as his body grew and his limbs increased in strength, he was able to spot the strange shapes that hid in the leaves. And, with that, came the realization that those shapes possessed eyes.

And, even more, they had voices.

Voices that were still better used than his own, yet they spoke like the Kokiri (and himself when he could manage to say something), and, even more, they sounded around the same age as he.

It was a light flicker, but, even still, he couldn't help it.

He knew nothing about them, but still, he wondered. If, somehow, he got the chance to, could they maybe get to know each other more?

Maybe even be…?

No, Link thought. If they wanted to talk to him, they would've come down already. Besides, even if they did try to meet him, it's not like he could say anything of value, much less anything at all.

Link knew that the strange figures were there, yet he could never reach them, for they were always either out of reach, or, if he did attempt to climb the trees to gain a closer look, they scattered from sight, vanishing as if they were never there. For years, the shapes in the trees both puzzled, intrigued, fascinated, and provided him with a sense of longing.

But never did the Kokiri child believe that he would not only come to face one of these figures and behold its true form, but realize just how different the shapes appeared in comparison to himself. But, also, how similar in just as many ways.

"Y-You…" Link stammered, the strange figure around his height and width blinking rapidly, quite shocked that he had been bested, let alone that the boy got a better look at him. "You…you're…a…?"

Then, the bizarrely dressed child with bark-like skin got to his feet and chuckled. "What? Bit of a slow talker there?" Link's shock quickly transformed into anger. "If you're asking if I'm one of you, no, I'm not. I don't belong to the Great Deku Tree," he said. "I belong to someone even cooler."

If Navi hadn't gotten in between them, Link would've seen fit to give this punk a piece of his mind. "Hey, watch your mouth, young man!" the fairy lectured. "The Great Deku Tree is not someone…er, some…tree, to be taken lightly! He rules this forest, so show some respect!"

"Not here, he doesn't!" the other child said. "Besides, what difference does it make? He's dead, isn't he? Something to do with…what did that big guy call it, a seed?" he then grinned. "A wishing seed?"

Link was seething, yet still, his fairy urged him to stay back.

"Wait, a big guy?" Navi questioned. "Do you mean Ganondorf?" she asked.

"Oh yeah! That's his name!" the other child remembered. "Of course, I should probably tell you who I am. Or, rather, what I am, as it's not what you are," he said. "My buddies and I are the Skull Kids, imps of the deepest parts of these woods, and children to the Great Baga Tree!"

The Baga Tree. Once again, he had heard that name. So, if these guys worked the Baga Tree, then they must've been the ones that took Saria! But then, Link realized. Navi did as well, yet she spoke for him before he could attempt to articulate it.

"Wait a minute, children?" the fairy questioned. "But…that's impossible! The Great Deku Tree is the only one with the ability to produce life in this forest! You couldn't have been born from another!"

"Oh, but we were," The Skull Kid answered. "We got lost here," he informed Link. "And we didn't know where to go," he continued. "The Baga Tree found us, and made it so we could live here."

"Wait, lost?" Navi asked Link, wondering the same. "But you said the Baga Tree birthed you! Where did you come from before?"

The Skull Kid gazed past Navi and her charge, in the distance at the sea of trees. "I don't remember it," he confessed. "None of us do. But…the fire outside drove everyone here."

Link's eyes widened. Fire?

"Hm?" The Skull Kid gazed curiously at the boy. "What do you know about it? You weren't here when that happened!" he exclaimed. "The fire burned everything! It burned away our homes! Our villages! Our moms and dads!"

Upon saying that, shouting it for everyone and everything within miles to hear, the entire forest went dead silent, the Skull Kid, and his fellow Skull Children, then began to mutter among themselves.

"Mom? Dad?"

"What's that?"

"No, I think it's WHO."

"Who?"

"A mom and dad?"

"They're a who?"

"Yeah."

"So, who are they?"

"Who?"

"Mom-dad."

"No! There's no mom-dad! There's mom AND dad! Separate!"

"So they're separate people?"

"Yeah!"

"Then where are they now?"

Everything grew quiet once again.

Then, just as soon as it began, it was broken by the sound of a familiar scream ringing through the air, Link recognized the voice instantly.

"Mido?" he peeped, this momentary distraction being all the Skull Kid needed.

Yet, just before dashing off, the strangely dressed figure spotted something on the ground, the sudden pause drawing out his escape. The Skull Mask. The mask the blonde boy had with him. The mask he wore during the play.

Before Link could protest, now seeing the other child going for the item as well, he found himself too late, the Skull Kid swiping the painted object of carved wood and jumping back up into the canopy.

"H-Hey! Wait!" The other Skull Children called out, unsure of whether to follow their fellow imp or continue dealing with LInk. Ultimately, to the surprise of both the boy and his fairy, they all decided to go after the one among them who had run away, leaving their original target behind.

The Lost Woods fell silent again.

"Just what are those things?!" Mido panicked, eyes wide and forehead slick with sweat as he continued to run, legs burning and blood pumping throughout his small form.

"Whatever they are, they're not friendly! So keep running!" The pink fairy panicked, holding onto her charge's green top for dear life as he continued to sprint through the dense, unfamiliar woodland, the sounds of snapping and snarling still heard gaining on them both.

Still, despite his current anxiety, Mido's head was abuzz with questions.

For one, there was a big person in the Lost Woods. True, while the entrance to the forest wasn't guarded, according to The Great Deku Tree, no one from the outside was foolish enough to step in, lest they truly discover why the sea of trees and winding paths got its name. So, either this person had never heard of this place, or they knew, but came here anyway.

Which then led to the question of why.

If she was simply ignorant, then that'd be explainable. It'd still make her stupid, yes, but Mido could explain it. If she had known beforehand, then that only led to two possibilities: either the big person was so dumb that they just decided they didn't care, or something outside of the forest was even worse than whatever they believed they would potentially have to face in here.

And, if it were the latter, then that led to even more questions. Several of which bordered and traveled into territory that the red-haired boy had never even fathomed before, let alone conjured up in his mind. A territory that lay outside of the realm of his Guardian, his Parent, his…Father?

Father…

…yes, The Great Deku Tree. He was Mido's Father.

His…and Saria's, and Flint's, and Elm's, Birch's, Cypress', Karya's, Phoebe's, Fado's, and…

And…

…

…

…Link?

…no. He…he was…different.

…he wasn't a…

"Hey! Look alive!"

The second his image flashed in the Kokiri's mind, Mido found himself meeting the aged, grizzled surface of an old tree, his freckled cheeks practically flattening against the bark before he fell back on his behind, bringing him back to reality.

"Oooh…" Mido moaned, shaking his head.

"Get up!" Recti urged him. "We can't keep lollygagging here forever!"

The boy didn't even register his fairy, holding his head as he tried to massage away the pain. "Stupid Link…"

"Huh? Link?" Recti asked. "He's not even here! Geez, even with all your talk of how you hated him, you can't get that kid out of your mind, can you?"

Mido's stupor didn't last long, blue eyes widening upon hearing the winged woman speak. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

The fairy was about to answer, but another howl cut her off. And then, looming shadows towered over her and her young charge, shadows taking the shapes of predatory creatures that were not native to the Kokiri Forest, let alone anywhere under the watch of The Great Deku Tree.

"It means that, frankly, you could probably use his help right now," Recti told Mido honestly.

"No way!" Mido protested, holding out his rival's slingshot. "I can take care of things just fine without him!"

The shapes then began to move, shadows slowly shrinking, but only due to their hosts traveling closer to their targets, the distance growing smaller and smaller as the boy and his pink fairy were met with oversized, spherical pale orbs glowing with an unearthly light. Only, as Mido came to see, these orbs were no mere lights or harmless spores from fungi that lit up under the moon.

No, these were eyes.

Eyes that were attached to animals Mido had never seen, yet, just from one look, it was clear that they, in no way, meant him or his fairy any goodwill.

"Hurry!"

What did she think he was doing?!

Geez, such a nag.

"Wait!"

Link stopped, if not mainly because Navi herself got ahold of his green collar and tugged at it with surprising strength. The boy was about to question what had gotten the fairy so worked up but then saw that he wasn't alone, he quickly darted into a pair of nearby bushes, mere seconds before the source of Navi's fear revealed itself.

Yet, upon seeing it, the boy found himself not so much fearful himself, but confused.

Navi herself noticed this, and, frankly, as the boy's fairy, she saw fit to make a point about it. "Why am I so scared?" she questioned, Link nodded in response. "Why are you NOT?! Don't you-" she then shushed herself, ducking down (which also included pushing Link down with her) in the foliage to keep out of sight. "Don't you know what those…things are?"

Things?

Link looked ahead, the creatures she spoke of before them, but still, the blonde child didn't entirely understand just what the winged woman was so concerned by. The "things" in question appeared to be, while…oddly shaped and…bizarre looking compared to any living life form in the Great Deku Tree's realm, only animals.

Strange, twisted animals that, frankly, made him wonder just how they moved without a consistent series of aches or general discomfort (the way their backs hunched up and forced them to walk awkwardly didn't exactly look easy on the eyes), but still, they were just that, strange animals. And animals, whether they ate plantlife and what sprung from the ground or vine, or each other, had their place in the forest, as well as the rest of the world.

At least, that's what The Great Deku Tree always told him, even if it was perhaps to stop him from trying to go up to anything the massive Guardian deemed dangerous for a Kokiri his size.

"...Great Deku Tree…"

Navi paused, biting her lip. "Yes, I know. He said that animals are part of the forest, but those…those aren't…ordinary animals, they're monsters," the fairy explained. "They're like the Skulltulas or those gold spiders. Wolfos, I think they're called. They might look like regular creatures, but they're only a cheap imitation," she told him. "They're sick, twisted versions of what was once a fellow resident of The Great Deku Tree's Realm, allowed to roam for both its sake and the sake of the woods," while he couldn't see it, the small, winged woman narrowed her eyes. "And made into something dreadful and evil."

Evil?

He wasn't unsure as to what "evil" was. Oh no, Link had become very well aware of "evil" but a short time ago, his current situation was caused by a very act of evil. An act he ultimately participated in. He didn't even recognize the "evil" that was right in front of him, otherwise, he would've never let Ganondorf hand him that egg, let alone convince him to "plant" it.

Wish-granting flower, the boy recalled the Gerudo King telling him that night. No matter Navi's assurance, Link knew that nothing would change the fact that it was his hands that brought that accursed thing into the Kokiri's land, which, in turn, led to-

"Hey!" Navi hissed, getting her charge's attention. "Whatever's going on in your head can be addressed later! For now, focus on what's in front of you!"

Despite the abruptness of the fairy's sudden advice, Link ultimately acknowledged she was right. As grating as her lecturing and criticisms could get, he knew that, currently, he had to focus on getting out of there and finding a way back to Mido. And then, hopefully, Saria.

Still, the boy was somewhat curious as to what the fairy meant by "evil" in regard to the unusual animals. While Ganondorf's actions and ambitions, according to the Princess (or, more importantly, Gris), were indeed evil, animals themselves could not be, for they were just as much a part of the forest as the Kokiri were. Still, despite not entirely understanding, Link found that, whatever the case, evil or not, these animals did look, ultimately, dangerous.

If he had to compare them to anything, Link would have to say a wolf, although he had only seen one once or twice in his entire life, and even then, they had only been short glances. Wolves, according to what The Great Deku Tree said, while, animals, and thus, natural creatures, were predators, those that consumed the flesh of other animals.

In a manner similar to how he had consumed dinner at Malon's house that night, Link realized. And there was that pork pie he split with Gris in Castle Town.

Pork.

Pig.

Animal.

Arnie.

"Hm?" Navi raised a brow, noticing her child looking somewhat ill.

Indeed, he felt a little sick upon reminiscing about the taste of pork, let alone how, to his disgust, he…sort of liked it.

While Link knew that the source of pork, pig (although he wished for there to have been another way to discover that it was once a living thing), was not native to the Kokiri Forest, let alone the Lost Woods, he, along with the other children, were told of how the swine were still hunted by those that did dwell here naturally, should they find themselves within the Guardian's domain. But those wolves, according to The Great Deku Tree, were free to hunt, as they did it to feed themselves and their families, so long as his children, the Kokiri, were untouched. There was no maliciousness in their actions, brutal as they could've been. For them, it was natural, and, if anything, perhaps they could've served as a means to remind the Kokiri of their good fortune in not having to rely on the flesh of others to survive.

Still…while he liked all that he had sampled before meeting Gris, let alone going to Castle Town, meat was…different than what grew from the ground.

But knowing where it came from, and what one had to do in order to get it turned Link off completely.

"Watch out!"

Link heard a fairy cry, yet, to his surprise, it was not the one fluttering next to him. "That's Recti!" Navi whispered, realizing that, despite the fairy's size, the volume of the shout indicated that neither she nor her charge, were too far away.

A fact the misshapen wolves appeared to register as well, dashing off in the direction of the voice at a startling speed.

"Hurry!" Navi urged Link. "Mido doesn't stand a chance against those things!"

No kidding, Link thought. Still, he knew that the red-headed boy had to be rescued, for while he was still far from a friend, being torn to pieces and devoured didn't exactly sound appealing in any sense in the young blonde's mind.

Still, personal reservations aside, whether he wanted to save Mido or not would probably depend on whether or not he could get to him quicker than the Wolfos could. A fact that, despite quickly taking off upon realizing this, he had to accept was beyond his control now.

All he could do was just run.

Run.

And hope that he would be fast enough.

Ok, he recited to himself. Pull back, aim, and then release!

"What are you waiting for?! Shoot!"

He could follow that order fine, it was just completing them in a speedy manner that was the problem.

He had managed to gain some distance between him and the monsters (of which Recti identified as Wolfos, creatures Mido himself had never heard of), but it certainly wasn't enough to compensate for his overall lack of experience.

The hostile predators approached the redhead, outnumbering him and closing in, ridding the boy of any potential escape routes. Then, to Mido and Recti's horror, one of the misshapen canines lowered itself, its back arching and lips parting to reveal crooked, but very sharpened, dagger-like teeth.

It was going to pounce. It was preparing to take the Kokiri down, and once that happened, then those teeth would be lodged into the flesh of his throat. The boy froze, eyes wide with terror as the Wolfos seemed to be observing him. Not as prey, as that of the normal wolves that dwelt in the Lost Woods, but almost as if he was something to play with. This creature was savoring his fear and mental torment, enlarged, glowing eyes, one in particular unnaturally round to where it looked as if it was barely held in its socket, gleaming with anticipation and excitement.

It was looking forward to tearing into the child.

"Mido, shoot!" Recti urged, growing steadily more worried and panicked.

Still, the boy didn't move.

"Mido, please! Hurry!"

The Wolfos readied itself to leap forward.

"MIDO!"

There was no more time. The predator leaped toward him, teeth ready to take a chunk out of his neck.

Yet the Wolfos never reached the redhead.

A form that, while he wasn't certain of what it was at first, a shape that was around his size blocked the Wolfos from making its kill just in time, the savage creature trying to scratch and bite at the wooden shield keeping it back.

No…it couldn't be…?

"LINK?!"

Recti had spoken for her charge, she too watching in stunned awe. Indeed, to both her and Mido's surprise, the usually quiet, rarely vocal boy had strength that far surpassed the other Kokiri. However, unlike before, that trait the redhead had viewed with contempt was now something his life depended on.

Still, as serviceable as Link was at the moment, actually managing to force the Wolfos back with a solid push of his shield, the blonde was just one kid. And there were several of these furry guys. Strong as he was, he couldn't handle this on his own.

Still…what could Mido do, he wondered. He didn't have a sword, just this slingshot that he didn't even know how to use properly.

"Link! Watch out!"

Yet it looked like he was going to have to learn and learn soon, because another one of the twisted creatures lunged, knocking the blonde, green-dressed boy to the ground, his small body sliding a few feet due to the force of the impact. Then, the monstrous mockery of what was once a fearsome but respected creature leaped forward, teeth aimed at whatever its jaws could snag first.

It was considering ripping off his leg first.

Yet it never got the chance, for, when its mouth opened as far as it was allowed, a fast but small object flew into the Wolfos' open maw, the sudden action causing the monster to stumble back, sharpened, misshapen paws (hands?) clutching and grabbing at its throat, hacking and seemingly choking on whatever had shot into its mouth.

Wait…shot? No, Link thought. I couldn't be…but…there was no one else that could've…?!

He whipped his head around to see that, indeed, to his shock and bewilderment, Mido stood a short distance away, slingshot in one hand and a hardened seed ready to be fired at the ready.

"No…" Navi began, surprised to hear Link himself finish for her.

"...way."

The Wolfos continued to hack and cough until, finally, it managed to spit out the seed lodged in its windpipe. Then, it turned its eyes toward the redhead, its bloodlust and fury now directed at him.

Despite his sudden burst of courage, Mido froze up again, realizing that he had probably not thought this through. Yet, as soon as the Wolfos charged in his direction, a blur of green was spotted in the corner of its vision, its enlarged eye managing to catch sight of the other child running alongside them.

What met the creature next was a searing, agonizing pain that quite literally slashed across the oversized optic, the Wolfos' vision now a sea of green fluid in one large spot in its vision. The Wolfos howled in pain, its sharpened claws clutching at its damaged eye, all the while green fluid continued to seep down through its paws, running down its maw and dropping to the ground.

Mido winced in disgust, yet, upon further examination, he noticed some peculiar details regarding the monster's…blood? Was that right? Truthfully, the redhead wasn't sure.

Yet, perhaps it didn't matter, as this momentary reprieve allowed the two boys to slip away, running as quickly as their legs would take them.

"Wh-What's up with this place?!" Mido

"Not sure," his fairy said. "But, still, The Lost Woods is much different than it was before."

Link said nothing, yet Navi spoke for him, echoing his sentiments. "It's almost as if the forest is having its very foundation altered before us!"

Both children could agree with that, but what mattered more was getting away from the monsters. Thus, they ran.

And ran.

And ran.

And ran…until one of them tripped.

Mido fell face-first into the dirt, a mouthful of soil and other small bits and pieces he didn't know of were spit out, the redhead noticing Link standing above him. "Hmph, what? I already saw how awesome you were with that sword, I don't think I need you to tell me I'm…huh?"

Instead of doing as the other boy predicted, Link extended an open hand to the red-haired Kokiri. Mido stared at it, unsure of what to do, or what this meant. Finally, after a few minutes, both his and Link's fairies groaned together, their charges completely clueless.

"He's asking you to take his hand, dummy," Recti told her boy. "So, what are you waiting for?"

Wait…really? Link was trying to help him?

After a few hesitant moments, ultimately, the red-haired Kokiri swallowed his pride (albeit it was still a lump held deep in his throat) and took the other boy's hand, the blonde hoisting him up to a standing position back on his feet. Normally, Mido would be irritated at the reminder of Link's superior strength. Yet now, even if he himself didn't entirely know why, his perception of such an attribute wasn't the same as before.

He actually found it rather useful.

"Well, that's all well, and good," Navi interjected. "But still, we need to find Saria."

Yeah, Link thought, but how? For all he and Mido knew, they were miles away from where they had gotten separated, and only now were able to find each other. Who knew where Saria could be in this place? Not to mention that, even if she literally just around the corner, without her song leading them, he doubted if they'd find her before…?

"Hey," Mido suddenly spoke up, lightly jabbing Link in the side. "You hear that?"

Link was about to ask what, yet Navi flew over before he could even speak. "Shh! Listen!" she instructed him, he in turn giving her an unamused look.

Wow, Mido thought. Even if Recti had her flaws, Link's fairy was just an outright nag! Oh well, in this case, better for him to get stuck with her than me.

Still, as time passed, both boys and their smaller, glowing charges could hear a faint noise emitting from one of the tree hollows nearby. No, not noise, a melody. A song.

Neither wasted any time practically diving into the darkness, following the notes as they grew louder and louder, moonlight shining at the end of the tunnel, almost as if to indicate that, yes, they had finally reached their destination.

They had found her.

Practically leaping out into the open, Link and Mido searched around, finding, to their shock, no one in sight, the song had come to a halt, leaving nothing but the ambiance of the Lost Woods to remain dominant over everything. There was no sign of the green-haired girl, no trace of her anywhere at all.

"Who's there?"

A familiar voice spoke softly, Link and Mido looked upward to see a dangling cage composed of twisted branches and vines, the deep blue eyes of a young girl peeking through the bars. Both boys were taken aback by who they had just discovered, yet that soon was replaced by relieved elation. And, from the looks of it, the Kokiri girl was still completely intact.

"Mido?" Saria questioned, gazing down to see the redhead first. Then, her gaze turned toward his companion, her reaction far more animated than before. "Link!" she shouted, unable to stop the smile that came to her lips. "Link, you're ok!" she sighed. "I was worried…" then, she turned to Mido. "But what are you doing out here? You know the Great Deku Tree said that the deeper parts of The Lost Woods are dangerous."

"Yeah! That's why I came!" Mido answered back.

This response appeared to surprise Saria, the young girl puzzled and shocked, yet, at the same time, somewhat in awe. "B-But how?" she questioned.

"Link here was so gracious to offer me his slingshot," Mido answered with a confident grin, all the while the blonde boy scowled.

Yeah right, he thought. He only gave Mido the slingshot because he had no other choice.

"Wait, really?" Saria inquired.

"Yeah, and that's not all," the redhead continued, confidence growing. "I've even learned how to shoot too!" he then looked up and aimed, pulling back with his eye on the thin vine keeping Saria's cage above out of their reach.

Then, he fired. And it did NOT go the way he had intended.

The seed, instead of hitting the vine right away, the projectile bounced off of the thing stem and hit the surrounding trees, its velocity allowing it to tear through the forest like mad, all the while Mido and Link had to duck to avoid it. The blonde boy presented his companion with a sour look, along with an expression that asked just what part of this plan was a good idea.

"Oh yeah, like you'd think of anything better!" the redhead retorted.

Link was about to reply with a declaration of how he would, yet Navi spoke for him. Again.

"No, actually, he wouldn't," the fairy addressed Mido. "In fact, it'd probably be even more reckless and even less thought out," Link gaped, clearly offended. "What? If I'm your guardian, I have to be honest."

Link scowled, but then, a loud snapping sound was heard from above, the seed, after having gone and torn the bark of nearly every tree in the nearest radius, finally made its mark. The vine holding the cage was broken, and Saria's prison sent down several feet, gaining speed the further it fell.

"Saria!" Mido shouted, rushing ahead of Link. "Don't worry! I'll catch-?!"

The wooden cage fell atop of the boy, along with the girl it held. After the dust settled, Saria stumbled to her feet, all the while Mido lay on the ground in a daze. "Ow…" the green-haired girl moaned, rubbing her rear to massage away the pain from the impact. Then, her eyes set themselves on a boy she hadn't seen in what felt like forever. "Link!" she ran over and flung her arms around the blonde, nearly knocking him over. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm sorry…I didn't want to ask you to come here," she told him. "But…I couldn't think of anyone else."

Link gave a forgiving smile, silently assuring her all was well. Then, Mido finally rose to his feet, brushing off the broken sticks and twigs that still clung to his clothes. "You ok?" Recti asked, fluttering over to her charge.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine," Mido assured her. He looked back at Saria and Link, the girl practically radiating in the other boy's presence.

Once again, it seemed that Mr. No Fairy had beaten him again.

Suddenly, he felt something stirring in his pocket, a green, glowing orb with wings fluttering out. "Saria!" The fairy exclaimed, rushing over to her Kokiri, albeit she didn't get far, her wings giving out.

Luckily, the green-haired girl caught her in time, the fairy resting her exhausted form in the girl's small but warm hands. "Compa, you're safe," she sighed with relief. Saria directed her attention to Mido. "Thanks for keeping her safe."

The boy's face grew almost as red as his hair, yet he dared not make himself look like an idiot in front of Link. No more than he already had. "Y-Yeah, sure," nevertheless, he answered Saria. "No problem."

Then, Saria's mood turned dire, eyes alit with concern and worry. "We have to go," she then said. "We have to get back to the Kokiri Forest as soon as we can."

Mido was puzzled, frustration being replaced with growing fear. "Why?"

Saria then paused, and, to the red-haired boy's surprise, she too, expressed her thanks to him with a hug. "You freed me, so he already knows you're here," she told him. "We're already deep in his part of the woods, so everything here is under his command."

"Who's he?" Mido asked.

Indeed, Link wished to know as well.

"Who is he?"

Yet, before either of them could speak, or Saria could explain, everyone's ears registered a sudden voice that had just spoken. "Oh no…" she muttered.

"What?" Navi whispered.

"...it's him."

"You ask who I am?" the voice inquired, sounding male, yet aged and old. Not in the sense that time was kind to them, rather, it was bitter and held an almost unsettling amount of animosity. "Why, dear boy,"

Then the trees before them began to move. Not from their places in the ground, yet their branches twisted and stretched in various directions that were not natural for a tree. As the branches continued to move, the three children and two fairies realized that, to their amazement and growing dread, the texture of the bark began to almost liquefy, as if it had suddenly transitioned into water. And, as the moments passed, everyone witnessed a face being formed.

A face none of them were too sure they wanted to see.

Unfortunately, they didn't get the choice, a mishappen, unnatural, crooked expression that didn't belong to anything the Great Deku Tree created, let alone any natural creature that was allowed to dwell in his realm. If anything, this face, or whatever was behind it, felt just as wrong and out of place as the Wolfos. It was a natural thing of the forest turned into something terrible.

"He is me."

Saria just held onto Compa, shielding the fairy in her hands. Link looked on with shock and bewilderment, Mido in turn clearly panicked. The green-haired girl's heart sank, the eyes of her parent's old enemy now fixated on them.

"The Baga Tree."

Chapter Text

Baga…Tree?

Indeed, while he had never heard of anyone or anything with the name of "Baga" before, the title (surname? Link was unsure) of "Tree" indicated that this being, whoever or whatever he was, thought himself to be of high importance in the Forest. Perhaps there was even some relation with…?

"Like…the Great Deku Tree?" Mido stammered, asking Link's question for him.

The projected face upon the oak's bark, the twisted visage of an old, sagely figure meant to guide and protect, quirked his brow curiously, seemingly pondering the redhead's inquiry. "More or less, boy," the crooked, jagged mouth answered. "No, not less. I AM more," the tree sneered, the already misshapen jaws curling into an unnaturally wide and almost sickeningly gleeful grin. "I am now the Lord of this Forest, and then of everything green in all of Hyrule!"

Everything green? What was he talking about? Link glanced down at his tunic and then examined his hat, not entirely certain of the monstrous creature's words. Why would he want to rule over everything with the color green? A part of him waited for his hat to perhaps sprout teeth or a beak and potentially bite his head off.

It never came.

Somewhat disappointing. He wondered for a moment what a "hat" monster would look like.

"How dare you say that!" Saria suddenly bellowed, seemingly greatly offended by the Baga Tree's declaration. "This place belongs to the Great Deku Tree! The Goddesses gave him the job of guarding the Lost Woods!"

The face directed his gaze toward Saria, Link stepping in front of the green-haired girl to shield her from whatever the foul thing had in store. Yet, instead of taking action, whatever that would be, the Baga Tree's visage seemingly vanished from sight, the cracks of where his face had been leaving terrible marks in the bark of the wood. The action was baffling to everyone, yet Saria immediately winced at the sight of the other tree, blue eyes widening in shock and mouth grimacing in disgust.

"Th-That was a fellow tree," she muttered in disbelief. "That was a fellow tree! Just like you! How could you do-AHHH!"

Upon hearing her scream, Link whipped around to see Saria had been snagged by the ankle and lifted high up in the air, dangling upside down above the blonde boy and Mido, along with their respective fairies.

"Saria!" Compa cried out, flying up to her charge, only for another vine to seemingly emerge from nowhere and swiftly smack the winged creature aside, the green fairy sent flying. Both Navi and Recti rushed in to grab her before she plummeted to the ground, lowering her down to the grass, the blades of green providing a light cover for the three smaller beings. The same couldn't be said for the two boys or single girl, for the Baga Tree had them right where he wanted them.

"Hey! Let her go, you freak!" Mido shouted, aiming Link's slingshot to fire at the vine holding Saria against her will.

Unfortunately, the boy's efforts proved fruitless as a twisted branch smacked him on the back of the head, sending him face-first into the ground and sliding a good few feet until his still and silent form came to a complete stop.

"Mido!" Link cried out, about to rush over to the redhead, but found himself unable to move due to a root breaking through the dense soil underneath his boots and coiling around his ankle, keeping him in place.

He struggled and attempted to slice through the root, yet before the boy could make use of his weapon, another root burst out and seized him by the wrist, bending the appendage back and forcing the blonde, to his chagrin, to drop the Kokiri Sword, his shield being stripped from him as well, along with the other wrist. Soon, Link was standing, yet he was anything but free, limbs bound by tightly wound, spidering roots that kept him up and spread out, removing any possibility of him reaching anything that would potentially help him.

Finally, at last, the Baga Tree thought. He had finally done it. He finally achieved what he couldn't all those years ago.

"Why are you doing this?!" Saria cried out. "Why did you lead that man to the Kokiri Forest!?" then, she spoke words that froze Link's blood. "Why did you help him kill the Great Deku Tree!?"

The sickening face on the previous tree vanished, leaving no trace of itself behind unlike its previous host. Link stared at the undamaged bark, then at the torn-up skin of the other tree. Before he could say or do anything to express his feelings, the Baga Tree began speaking again.

"Now, that's a bit of an unfair accusation to levy against me, isn't it?" the demonic spirit residing within the tree inquired the hanging girl, the face disappearing to then manifest upon a tree directly beside the wrapped-up blonde. "After all, the real killer is right here, isn't he?"

Link paled, a painful sensation developing in his chest, as if the accursed tree had taken his sword and thrust it right into his heart.

"Wha…h-how dare you!" Saria stammered at first before her shock transitioned into rage. "Link did NOT kill the Great Deku Tree! You and your friend from the desert are the ones guilty of that!"

"Oh?" the face asked, eyeing Link and making sure the boy knew he couldn't escape the tree's leering gaze. "Was it not this lad here that brought the Gohma Egg into your home? Did he not plant it by the meadow your dear parent resided? Against his will, Link was pulled closer, albeit only slightly due to his already existing bonds. "Was it not he who believed the supposed 'gift' to be a wish-granting seed?"

Link cursed both the tree and himself, shame building up as he found the beginnings of tears pricking at the corners of his eyes.

Saria gritted her teeth in anger. "It wasn't like that!" she argued back. "Besides, if anything, your friend could tell Link isn't like the rest of us in that he didn't have a fairy, so of course he'd believe whatever!" she retorted.

"So, you admit it yourself that he's guilty." the Baga Tree inquired mockingly.

Saria stared at the face, wide-eyed and somewhat disoriented. "What? N-No! I didn't say that-"

"Then who's fault is it, then?" the taunting aggressor further questioned. "Who is to blame for the Great Deku Tree's death? For the Kokiri Forest falling into potential danger because he is no longer there to protect it?" he then paused. "For the position you find yourself in at this very moment?"

Saria stammered, parting her lips, desperate to speak, yet she could conjure up nothing. Still, she bit her lip at the sight of Link's guilt-stricken face.

"That…" she stammered. "That's…not…" yet before she could add anything else, the Baga Tree cut her off.

"But it matters not in the end," he said. "As now," the face directed its attention back to Link. "I can finish what Ganondorf should've when he first stumbled upon you."

Link began furiously struggling despite his efforts having little to no effect on the roots and vines restraining him. Branches began to arch down towards him, their ends unnaturally sharp and more akin to skewers. One of which was being aimed at the back of the unconscious Mido.

Upon seeing this, Recti got to her feet and was about to fly upward, yet was seized by Compa, much to Navi's surprise. "H-Hey!" the pink fairy protested, wriggling and twisting in the other fairy's grasp. "Let go of me! He's in danger!"

"Wait a minute," the green fairy told her more fiery companion. "Don't you feel it?"

Navi was about to ask what the other member of her race meant, yet then she too detected another form of life nearby. Only, instead of merely wandering into the area and potentially gaining their and perhaps the Baga Tree's attention, they kept to the shadows and out of sight. None of the children appeared to notice that they were even there, yet she couldn't say the same about their captor.

Truthfully, she wasn't sure whether or not she wished for the monstrous old root to notice the hidden figure, if not just for Link's sake, although that too led to slight shame at the willingness to trade their safety for her charge.

Yet, at the same time, was there another option?

Both Link and Saria watched on in horror as the Baga Tree pulled a twisted collection of sharpened branches back, their destination the red-haired boy's back and then through his chest.

Only, the instruments of death never reached him.

Having shut their eyes out of both reflex and to not witness what was undoubtedly going to come next, the blonde boy and green-haired girl soon found that, instead of flesh being pierced, the sounds of wood being broken and splintered filled the air, drawing their focus back to what was happening before them. Indeed, the Baga Tree's branches and roots and whatever other part of him that he could manipulate regarding the various trees surrounding them all were all cut through or down with little effort, the ground being littered with broken shards of wood and sharpened sticks stabbing into the ground just far enough away not to strike any of the children or fairies.

"What the…?!" the face on the tree to the side of Link exclaimed in shock, yet that is as far as he got as the surface of the bark was soon assaulted by a flying object that struck and buried itself in the towering tree.

This sudden action caused an immense cry of pain from what appeared to be nearly every tree in a nearby radius, the roots, vines, and branches restraining Link and Saria retracting and releasing them both. Although, in Saria's case, this left her without a means of support to keep in the air, gravity soon took hold of her small form and pulled it to the ground a good deal of distance below. Link rushed forward to try and catch her, yet his foot snagged on a retreating root that sent him falling flat on his face. Looking up, he saw the green-haired girl still falling, desperately trying to rise faster, yet, despite his persistence, he too knew that it was ultimately useless.

Despite her call, he would ultimately be her undoing just as he had been to the Great Deku Tree.

However, instead of seeing Saria hit the ground with surprising force, a strangely shaped shadow swooped in. It seemingly consumed the Kokiri girl's form, disappearing in a veil of shadow that soon departed to the trees.

Mido stirred, lifting his head to see a figure around his height standing before him. "S-Saria?" he muttered weakly, still reeling from the blow to his head. The shadow didn't answer, responding by taking the redhead in its hold and dashing off into the trees as well, disappearing from view.

Link was about to rush to try and stop Mido's kidnapper, yet soon found himself swooped up by another one of the shadowy shapes, the blonde beginning to protest, yet upon seeing that the three fairies had also been seized, he began to wonder if these strangers were as hostile as he initially believed.

"Ease up, kid," a voice said, low and gruff, yet somewhat comical despite its serious tone. "I've got your sword and shield. Don't need you borrowing my boomerang."

After a few short moments, as soon as they had arrived, they had left, and the only evidence of there ever having been a struggle was the torn-up bark and splintered cage that once held the captive Saria. Silence fell over the area for a good short while until, at last, another figure made itself known, investigating the scene that had taken place.

The Skull Kid gazed around, wondering just what had happened, along with a growing concern for the one that he and the rest of his friends had heard scream in pain. Then, a familiar visage manifested on one of the few undamaged trees, yet their expression didn't exactly express that he was happy to see one of his "children."

"Who are you guys!?" Recti questioned aloud as if she weren't currently rushing through the air from tree to tree, being carried by some strange, darkly-colored stranger that, along with the rest of his supposed "friends," planned to take her and everyone else somewhere of interest.

Their interest at least.

"At the moment, we're the guys saving your hides from the crazy demon tree!" the figure transporting the three fairies answered, continuing to move along with the rest of the speedy shadows in the trees, similar in size and shape to the Skull Kids, yet, upon further inspection, were quite different. "So, I'd suggest you shut that big trap of yours so I can concentrate on getting you lot out of here, little lady!"

The pink fairy's cheeks flushed red. "Wha….h-how dare you!"

Despite her indignation, she was unable to respond any further, the sudden burst of speed her carrier had gained silencing her as the world flashed before her and the other's eyes, although they had far less to say, let alone vocalize.

Compa remained silent, holding onto the arm of the mysterious figure for dear life, fearful she would be blown away if she even so much as slightly adjusted her grip. Navi was quiet as well, although, unlike her fellow fae, her eyes darted back and forth, desperately trying to keep track of what was going on.

And, most importantly, trying to see where in the world her boy was.

Her minuscule finger curled into the back of the strange being that had rescued them, finding that, instead of fur or perhaps even the sensation of skin, she felt something light and somewhat feathery. As if she had just stuck her hands into the plume of a bird, only far bigger. Just what sort of creature was this…thing?!

So many questions filled her mind, yet the pale blue fairy pushed them all to the side, her tiny yet sharp eyes ever searching for any sign of a green cap covering a head of blonde hair. Down below her, she saw the forms of Saria and Mido being transported by separate figures, the redhead still unconscious, yet still, Navi couldn't find him.

She couldn't find Link.

At least, not at first.

"Stop squirming, kid! There's nothing you can do!"

Kid? Well, that narrowed it down, didn't it? Regardless, Navi swiftly turned her head back to see that, indeed, while she had to take a few moments to confirm, she saw Link in the grasp of one of their strange rescuers, the angle at which she could see giving her a better view to fully analyze the being with her boy.

…her boy.

….funny, she probably wouldn't have believed such a thing not too long ago.

"Whoa, what the…hey! What do you think you're doing?!"

The emerging protests drew Navi's attention back to reality, the fairy mentally kicking herself for allowing her shock to momentarily distract her. Nevertheless, she went back to searching, thankfully finding Link and the one currently struggling against him, the fairy somewhat puzzled by what she was seeing. Indeed, the figure that had the boy in his grasp appeared similar to the others, yet, despite this, there were some significant differences between them and the rest of their rescuers.

Of whom seemed to be moving further ahead, as if not even acknowledging their comrade lagging, no thanks to his charge.

All the figures dashing through the trees possessed four limbs and a head, yet they were not anything Navi could consider humanoid. On the contrary, while the dense shadows and dark colors of their pelts rendered studying them difficult, the fairy couldn't help but liken them to that of…birds.

Indeed, as unusual as it sounded to herself of all beings, Navi found that every feature of the strange creatures reminded her of the avians that lived all throughout the Lost Woods, perched upon branches and awakening the rest of the forest with their morning songs as the sun rose to light both the small portions of open area, along with the rest of the world. Although, unlike the tiny winged animals, these examples were of a far different caliber, and Navi wasn't just referring to their unusual size.

For one thing, their coats, while composed of feather-like material, appeared to resemble more of fur or hair in some cases with the way it flowed and moved in the wind, the sparse bits of moonlight able to break through the dense canopy above revealing their color to be as black as the very sky the moon lit up. True, while there were the likes of crows or even the rare occasional raven, they were not necessarily tied or bound to any particular period of the day, coming and going as they pleased and either pestering the Kokiri's crops or stealing the fairie's food that they had gathered for themselves. These birds were far larger than any crow, yet their structure and overall shape reminded Navi more of the nocturnal owls that patrolled the darkest parts of the Lost Woods, their method of feeding themselves requiring the fairies to shield themselves away, lest one of the predators see fit to make them their prey. After all, the fae around here was generally no bigger than that of a standard mouse.

Indeed, akin to owls, their heads were of rounded shape, and their eyes blazing like fire in the darkness of the Lost Woods, necks seemingly nonexistent as their heads demonstrated the ability to turn nearly completely around without any ill effect to themselves. But, if they were indeed owls, then surely they would be able to fly.

Yet, in contrast to the predatory birds, the "wings" of these creatures were far from anything impressive. On the contrary, if not for their agility and speed, Navi would've found the short stubs that rested to their sides rather… silly-looking. Still, just what were these things? Why hadn't she seen them before? Better yet, why hadn't she or any of her kind been able to sense them?

True, while she had been able to identify and detail every creature she and Link had come across, in all honesty, before venturing into the depths of the Great Deku Tree, she had never seen the likes of giant spiders or one-eyed spawn of a deep-dwelling arachnid, crustacean hybrid that was the Queen Gohma. The embedded knowledge of such things that she had never laid eyes on before was an inherent trait she possessed, along with that of the other fairies that dwelled in the Great Deku Tree's domain, an ability bestowed to them by the Guardian of the Forest Himself to guide and protect the Kokiri.

However, when she thought about it, she found that the earliest she could remember the fae of this place existing before the Kokiri, the Great Deku Tree informing them all upon their births that they were to serve as guides and companions to his children as, despite holding dominion over the Lost Woods, he was still a tree, and thus, quite literally stuck in the ground. Thus, making sure the children didn't get themselves banged up too badly was their job, a job she admittedly was struggling with her boy, yet still, she would see to it that she would fulfill her duty. Yet, if she thought about it, truly, deeply thought about it, something she perhaps should not have been doing regarding the situation, yet now that it came up, it wouldn't leave her mind, she found that she had little memories beyond the Kokiri Forest or anything else.

Her world existed solely in these woods, and yet she somehow knew of all these bizarre and intrusive creatures and monsters that began to traverse into what was once a haven for both herself and the children. But, if that was the case, why would she need to know such things? Was the Great Deku Tree already aware of his future demise? Was he already aware of the Man from the Desert, this King of the Gerduo, Ganondorf? Then how did he manage to make his way to the Kokiri Forest? No one from the outside could find it on their own! And, assuming the Baga Tree was the one that gave him supposed directions, then how did Ganondorf manage to find such a foul thing? Granted, from what she had seen, this man seemed foul enough, yet these woods were vast. Far too vast to simply find someone such as the self-proclaimed mortal enemy of the Great Deku Tree.

No, there was more. Much more. Much that would perhaps eventually find its way to her.

To Link.

After all, before they were brought here, did not Kaepora Gaebora say that he too had other matters to look into while they went about rescuing Saria? And then there was the Princess and her apparent friend, Gris.

Although neither she nor Link had ever seen the two in the same place at the same time.

"I said stop moving, kid!"

Navi's attention was drawn back to her boy in the clutches of one of the mysterious figures, realizing that other shapes were catching up to them amidst the branches, shapes that she had seen before. Not too long ago, in fact.

The Skull Kids!

Indeed, among the trope of grass-dressed humanoids was the one wearing her boy's Skull Mask, his round, glowing eyes almost making the bony face look alive despite its appearance. It was then that she saw him pull out a blowdart and load a projectile into the small hole at the tip.

It was useless, she knew this, yet her duty compelled her nevertheless.

"Watch out!"

With a single puff, the small, compact object struck a miniscule twig high above them all. This twig fell, and then struck another like itself, only slightly larger. Then that twig made contact with another, then this continued until the size of the falling debris increased in size to that of small to medium-sized branches. And those branches eventually grew as well, the largest and last of them all finally being noticed by both Link and his carrier, the two turning their heads upward to see the incoming obstacle aiming right for them.

Yet, by the time they realized just what lay ahead, it was already too late.

Chapter Text

How long had it truly been since he took the boy off to save his friend? Left him on his own? Allowed him to traverse back into the dense foliage that was no longer ruled by his old friend?

Kapeora Gaebora calculated that it had been a good few hours, almost long enough for the first traces of daylight to begin making themselves known over the horizon, yet the sun had yet to present itself to the world. This was perhaps a benefit to the large bird as his species was more suited for the hours of darkness, the skin he currently wore not entirely unusual to see in the dead of night or early morning. However, he knew that the longer he was away, the more chance there was of that boy getting himself in danger.

Fairy companion or no, and even if he had his moments of wisdom and intelligence, the blonde child dressed in green was still just that, a child, while the forces that currently worked against him were anything but.

Currently, the great horned owl had left the perimeter of what constituted Hyrule and now sailed the skies that belonged to the arid lands to the west. The hostile land, the unknown land, the forbidden land.

The Land of the Unwanted.

The Land of the Gerudo.

Indeed, while he had spent the majority of his time keeping to familiar territory, this barren wasteland of sand and deserted caravans served to remind him of just what Link would be dealing with, the people from this very place are hardened by the environment, community, their rulers, and their neighbors of a greener, more fertile country.

While he held no positive feelings toward their king, the harshness of a life lived in this place wasn't lost on him, realizing well why the idea of Ganondorf's invasion sounded so appealing. He had been keeping an eye on Link since his departure from Castle Town, as well as his journey to and from the Castle itself. While he had been relieved that Navi had still faithfully tailed behind the boy, the other two figures he came to encounter in Hyrule's capital were not exactly expected. Granted, they were a possibility, anything was at this point, yet Kapeora Gaebora hadn't anticipated that, of all people to encounter on the first vital stop on his quest, Link would come across "her."

A Girl from Castle Town.

…well, technically two.

The first was barely noticed, yet she too held a significance, he sensed. Just not one he had anticipated to find in the middle of such a place. A girl like herself, with the way she looked, either prejudice had softened significantly since he was an owlet, or she had gone there out of desperation.

Yet, if her presence shocked the owl, then the appearance of the blonde girl almost startled him out of his feathers. Even more so when he realized just who exactly she was. However, it also appeared that he was the only one among those in Castle Town (or technically above) who had any clue as to who this "Gris" actually was.

Truthfully, keeping her in that Castle for the majority of her life wasn't exactly a wise maneuver on her father's part, yet the owl would be lying if he said he didn't understand why the man did it. He hid his child away for the same reason that the Great Deku Tree kept Link hidden within the confines of the Lost Woods, away and unseen by the rest of the world save for a few select others. And those others were selected very, very carefully.

However, perhaps his quest to attain peace for his country blinded him to some potential dangers, especially those that spoke of companionship and alliance.

Yet, aside from Gris, the child with hair as red as fire also drew his sharp eyes, even more so when he realized that she possessed the same pointed ears as every other Hylian that resided both in Castle Town and the smaller village that rested not too far away. And yet, all that those around her seemed to see was what was on her head and nothing else. This fact wasn't lost on her, as any conversations she had were either quick or to the point, and those who dealt with her only appeared to acknowledge her at the bare minimum.

It was almost as if she weren't even the same people as them, let alone the same creature.

He knew they tolerated her only so much as to keep her head down and behave, numerous shifting and suspicious eyes turning to watch her when they believed she wasn't looking. Yet he was certain she caught more than one or two.

Kaepora Gaebora huffed, or rather, hooed. "Hopefully Link doesn't catch onto some of Hyrule's less than desirable traits." He mused to himself, continuing his journey forward.

However, as he did so, he found that his reluctance to take a moment to catch a small rodent or another creature of some kind was perhaps weighing on his stomach, the pangs of hunger beginning to affect him greatly. Indeed, no matter the body, it seemed that the need for nourishment was one of every living thing. Perhaps that was the reason the Hylians of Castle Town and Kakariko Village tolerated the red-haired girl, Malon, he believed she called herself.

Since the war had ended ten years ago, a good portion of the countryside had been razed by the continuous battles from all sides, save for Kakariko thanks to its close proximity to Death Mountain (and due to the volcano's less-humanoid residents driving off anyone that got close), leaving Lon Lon Ranch one of the few places where animals were raised for food. And, due to the sheer amount of farmland that had been destroyed, the ranch had to then go through an adjustment of becoming a small garden as well. True, there was still a majority of produce and overall necessities shipped from elsewhere, particularly Labrynna, yet, should anyone want anything local, the Ranch was the only place to get anything from.

Speaking of, did he not hear of how the owner was taking a trip to Kakariko to deliver milk and eggs?

The owl tightened his beak, not exactly wishing to consider what Malon's trip would consist of tomorrow. Although, despite himself, the bird couldn't stop from fearing that it would turn out poorly, especially given how she herself didn't appear too enthusiastic about going.

Of course, to do that, she would take Link with her as Kakariko and Death Mountain were some of his next stops, but that also meant he would have to be there to take the boy back to the Ranch once his task was over in the Lost Woods. Unfortunately, despite the enhanced vision this current body brought with it, Kaepora Gaebora could not see as far as that, the greenery of the Great Deku Tree's realm far away from the arid, dry graveyard of sand beneath his wings. For now, he just had to have faith the child could indeed save his friend from the forest.

"Farore," the owl muttered under his breath. "Lead him, guide him," he then let his eyes close for a moment, the wind and night air signaling to the bird where he was, as well as where he was going. "Above all else, provide that fairy with the courage to stay by him."

He then paused.

"…and, if willing, watch over the Girl from Castle Town," he finished. "Both of them."

It was then that the owl's musing was cut short, seeing his destination a short distance away. Granted, its shape had changed greatly since he had last seen it, albeit, that part of his life was from far, far back.

Back before he had even hatched from his egg.

The structure, at first, appeared to resemble a long mountain in the middle of the desert, an archway standing before the dilapidated and abandoned building that once housed a great temple and drew dozens, if not hundreds of worshipers. Yet now, in contrast to the grand Temple of Time located in Castle Town, this place was more fitting as a haunt for night-dwelling creatures such as himself. Or maybe, something even more horrid that dare not present itself in the daylight.

And, if so, perhaps they weren't alone.

These ponderings and theories continued to develop in his mind as the owl inched closer and closer, the rotting, busted visage of what was once an intricately detailed, beautifully crafted depiction of an ideal woman in the eyes of the Gerudo, now stripped down to barest of a form that only scarcely resembled her original shape. A small space in what was once her "ear" served as his way in, albeit, he had to still tread carefully, despite his species' natural inclination to silence. He continued on flapping his mighty wings only when necessary and only disturbing just enough air to make the subtlest of presences.

Even then, the foul creatures that patrolled this place did not notice.

It wasn't until he reached the lower levels that he realized this place was far larger than even he anticipated. Had the forces of evil really done so much to the Temple that it now practically had another structure attached to it? Down, down, down, he flew, his eyes allowing him to navigate through the near-lightless environment until his keen ears heard a peculiar sound.

Is that… boiling water?

Tailing around the circular formation of the inner wall, the owl found an aged, wooden door, yet upon turning the handle with his talons, he found it to be locked from the inside, preventing any entry inside.

"So, he's currently in the Lost Woods?"

"Yes, courtesy of that feather-brained dodo dropping him off there. Blasted bird must've known the Sage was in trouble as well."

Voices were speaking over the continuous sound of heated water, the avian's keen ears picking up on the two sources conversing with each other. Both sounded similar and were female, older in age, yet, despite that, Kaepora Gaebora could not help but sense that there was more to the lengthy lives of the two speakers as opposed to just blessed luck and good health. Continuing along the inner wall, the owl eventually found a small crack in the surface that allowed him to peer inside, spotting a small room concealed within the confines of the stone barrier.

The room in itself appeared to be rather scattered and disorganized, with several items and trinkets lying here and there, strewn out all over the place, as if they were just haphazardly thrown around without a care. This, however, didn't translate for all the objects contained within, several bottles and jars containing various ingredients lining several wooden, near-rotting shelves lining the ceiling that seemed to rise upward into a long tunnel, feeding the smoke rising from the cauldron to the outside.

Well, at least I found the origin of that, Kaepora Gaebora thought to himself. Still…there was a peculiar odor to the smoke, he remembered. It smelt almost like burning flesh…

His eyes took a look at the contents of the jars and bottles on the shelves, his keen sight now detailing a few unique items such as sliced-out tongues and eyeballs of varying colors kept in a preservative liquid, some samples fresher than others. Have they gotten some of these recently? Perhaps gathered from when the Gerudo went to Castle Town? Kaepora Gaebora couldn't say for sure, thus, centered his attention on listening in on the conversation between the two old women.

"So, the Baga Tree is trying his hand at killing the boy, is he?" one of the voices asked, seemingly amused. "Stupid idiot couldn't even kill the Great Deku Tree on his own! What makes him think he'll succeed without Lord Ganondorf's help?"

"He's overstepping his boundaries," the other said. "His rule over the forest is supreme with his enemy gone, yet he is still just a tree," they added. "Completely immobile and unable to move from his place in the ground," they then huffed. "Still, he is not at the height of our concerns. If anything, these two other youths that have met our Little Hero have garnered my interest."

"Hm?" the other hummed in puzzlement. "Which one? The blonde or half-breed?"

Kaepora Gaebora dared not make a sound, yet he tuned in his hearing.

"Both," the main voice said. "And besides, why do you assume one of them has our blood in their veins?" they questioned.

"Oh, come on," the other groaned. "Look at her hair, it's obvious she's one of us," they said. "At least, partially."

"Hm, well, whatever," their companion huffed. "They're Hylian enough," they said. "Still, what of the blonde? Who does that kid think she's fooling?"

"Only other fools," the secondary figure stated. "Of which, our Little Hero is one, it seems," they said. "Still, he and the rest of the children may be naive, yet the killer of our darling Gueys is not."

"Indeed," the other agreed. "They've picked up our means of seeing the going ons in Hyrule faster than any of the King's men OR his snooping daughter," they paused. "Speaking of, where has the boy been taken shelter for the night again?"

The concealed owl continued watching and listening, all the while readying himself to make a bolt for it at any moment.

"The ranch the half-breed resides at," the more calm and composed of the two figures stated. "Lon Lon Ranch, I believe it's called."

"Ah, there are still places such as that around here?" the other questioned with intrigue.

"Yes, apparently," the former speaker responded. "Although it's one of the few that survived the war," they clarified. "As in, we ultimately rely on their exports as well."

"Thus, we leave them alone, is that it?" the other inquired.

"Correct," the former said. "However, should any of them become difficult, there's nothing wrong with reminding them just who can come and raid them of everything they possess in the dead of night, then set their entire abode on fire."

"Fire? That's my thing!" the second exclaimed. "I'll be the one to burn the place down if it comes to it! You can just freeze those that try and escape," there was a pause, Kaepora Gaebora then heard a high-pitched cackle erupt from within the small chamber. "Then I'll try thawing them out!"

"You mean melt the flesh from their bones?"

"No, that would be purposeful. But the two men can die. The girl, on the other hand…"

"Wait."

Silence fell over the entirety of the inner sanctum, both the small, shadowy figures and their eavesdropper hearing not a peep from the other. Nevertheless, there was no hiding it, a Guey situated at the opposite end of the room spotting the eye of another watching them from a crack within the wall.

Lost Woods

"Look out!"

"Whoa!"

No matter who gave the warning, it was too late.

At the last second, the figure carrying Link stopped in its tracks, the massive branch crashing directly in front of them, yet the downward trajectory of the falling wood and the pull of gravity forced both boy and mysterious savior down, Navi crying out in distress as she dove downward, trying to catch up to her Kokiri's falling form.

At least, that's what she believed Link to be.

"Link!" Saria shouted, turning to face her carrier. "You've got to go back! Link's been left behind!"

"He'll have to fend for himself! It's too late now!" the green-haired girl's savior fastened their hold on the smaller child's form, keeping her still and from struggling.

Saria's eyes widened in shock, noticing in the corner that Mido was still unconscious. "But…but you can't just leave him!" she protested. "The forest needs him! The world outside needs him!"

"Correction, the forest needs you," the figure answered her. "And any dealings with the outside doesn't concern you, nor does it us."

"But-"

"He can take care of things if he's who you claim he is!" the stranger interrupted. "Besides," they then huffed. "I'm not risking what's left of my kind for those that nearly led to their extinction."

Saria got out no more as the image of the green and blonde child that had finally reached the ground grew further and further away, her blue eyes soon unable to see a trace of him through the dense, thickened trees of the forest.

On the forest floor, Link and his rescuer had landed mere inches away from the branch that had crashed in front of them, missing the blonde's head by a hair, all the while, to his surprise, he saw that the cloak the figure carrying him had been wearing was removed, caught underneath the boy's weight and body. And while Link didn't exactly believe his companion to be a child like himself, he wasn't entirely suspect them to be non-humanoid either.

Much less a bird.

Indeed, the one that had saved him before from the Baga Tree and the incoming Skull Kids was a bird-like, stout creature with a small beak and mostly peach and brown body, its skin covered in short, fur-like feathers that bore a similar pattern to wood and its arms were short and stubby, yet surprisingly well-developed, if the moves they displayed before were any indication. The talons, or maybe flippers, were more webbed akin to a duck, the eyes on its peach face dark and small, and there was a comical swirl atop of their head shaped by an elongated feather poking out of the top.

"Ah, thank the Great Deku Tree!" a familiar voice shouted, the pale-blue fluttering source coming down to examine and look for any potential injuries on her charge. "I never should've separated from you in the first place, are you all right?" The boy nodded in response to her inquiry, although it was more of an answer to get her to stop poking and prodigy at him, yet her attention was soon drawn to the bird-like being that had fallen down with her boy. "And…you are…?"

She then paused, realizing that, unlike before, she now recognized the creature before her. Whatever covered its form had blocked out her senses, yet now that it had been stripped away, she could see and know just what the bizarre bird truly was.

"You're a…"

"Look, lady, I know how it looks, but-"

"You're a Kikwi!"

Kikwi? Link took a second look at the creature and found that its rotund shape and brown fur feathers much more resembled a Kiwi fruit than a bird, of whatever it was supposed to be, yet Navi continued speaking, not even acknowledging his own confusion as to what this strange thing was.

"But…the Great Deku Tree said that you all were…?!"

The fairy was cut off by several shadows manifesting from the trees and surrounding her and her charge, along with the lone Kikwi, blocking off any path of exit from the inner circle.

Several Skull Kids trapped the three, Link rising and drawing his sword, ready to fight. Yet, as his blue eyes surveyed the amount of enemy forces in front of him, one among the crowd caught his attention.

It took a moment for him to find, yet one among the similarly dressed, strangely-shaped children wore the Skull Mask the blonde had won from Castle Town. At that moment, while he thought their appearance similar before, it was the presence of the mask that made the boy realize that, indeed, he had seen these individuals before.

Far, far before he even set foot outside of the Great Deku Tree's Domain.

Gerudo Territory

He made a bolt for it before the smaller bird could release its warning cry, yet by the time he began to take off, the high-pitched, frantic squawking already echoed throughout the inner room and small space the owl hid in.

"Someone's here!" one of the voices screeched, Kaepora Gaebora continued to fly back the way he came, keeping silence in mind, but speed at the moment was of the most importance. "Where are they, my little beauty?" they asked the still panicking Guery. "Where did they go?"

The horned owl flew past the still remains of what was once a place of reverence and spirituality, exiting through an exit in the upper portions of the temple, more than relieved to feel the night air on his wings once again.

Although his relief didn't last long, for as he got going, the temple getting further and further behind, he suddenly felt his tailfeathers stand up on end, and an approaching source of heat growing alarmingly close.

Lost Woods

Kokiri Forest

Previous Year

"Oh, alack, alay! I, the gorgeous, beautiful Princess have been ensnared by the monster! Oh, who in the world shall save me from such a terror?"

The "terror" in question was little more than a blonde dressed in tattered leaves and a mask, trying to act as "monstrous" as possible while Saria in her far more dress-like getup continued to portray herself as innocent and pure.

"Stop, you villain!"

A voice cried out, a heroically dressed Mido leaping out from behind a pair of bushes, wielding a fake shield and sword of pure wood. Link released a growl as if to say "Who are you?", yet a ten-year-old could only be so intimidating, costume or not.

"I'm the Hero of Legend," Mido proclaimed with pride, although it still somewhat stung in Link's eyes. "And," he then thrust his sword in the "monster's" direction. "I've come for the Princess, you foul creature!"

"And that's what we've been waiting for!"

All three participants, Link, Saria, and Mido were completely caught off-guard and off-script. Suddenly, three shapes emerged from the Great Deku Tree's branches above, surrounding the "hero." They were dressed similarly to Link himself, clothes composed of sewn-together leaves in a haphazard manner, yet, unlike the boy, these clothes appeared to be well-worn and used previously, with small tears in the hems present.

"Um…" Saria began, not entirely sure what to say that would both answer her question and still be relatively in line with the narrative of the play so far. "Who…are you?"

The three figures centered their gaze on Mido, but they nonetheless answered her. "We're the monster's minions!" one of the three declared. "We patrol their territory and look out for anyone that dares intrude on our land!"

"Yeah!" the second declared, adjusting his mask, of which looked very similar to Link's own. Or, rather, the monster's. "And we don't take kindly to the heroic types coming around these parts!"

"So," the third said, he and the rest of his companions closing in on Mido. "For giving our boss such a hard time," he beat his fist against an open palm.

"We're going to take it out on you!"

Then, with that unanimous proclamation, they all pounced, the redhead vanishing from underneath the pile of fighting, punching, beating figures. Suffice to say, no one was entirely sure of what to say. The Princess, Monster, Hero (who was currently getting comically pummeled), the Great Deku Tree, nor the audience had any input to this particular twist in the story. Still, as the punishment went on, the Monster himself found that, while he had been wanting to give the Hero a piece of his mind since casting officially began, he wasn't entirely sure if he wanted things to go down like this.

"W-Wait!"

Present

"Wait…" Navi and the Kiwkwi glanced over, the usually silent boy having said his first words in some time.

Link's defensive stance died down a little, the sight of the Skull Kid wearing his mask allowing him to realize just who those three intruders were a year ago, as well as who had been truly watching him in the Lost Woods.

The boy of the Great Deku Tree and that of the Baga Tree stared each other down, the others unsure as to what exactly was so fascinating between the two of them. Not even the two others who had made their way into the play understood the distinction that the Skull Mask had given their fellow Skull Kid.

Of course, this didn't last long, the masked child of the Baga Tree bringing out his blowdart and firing at Link's boots, forcing him back to the center with Navi and the uncovered Kikwi, any sense of sentimentality robbed from the environment, the Skull Kid remembering his master's words in his mind.

"Don't hesitate," the Baga Tree told him. "You know what he'll become."

The opposing spawn of the woods then drew out a stone knife, chiseled and sharpened just enough to be able to do some damage.

"And, if he becomes that," his master told him before he departed to find the boy in green. "You know that you will die."

Chapter Text

The scent of burning feathers alerted him that the end of his tail had been singed, yet that also raised the question of what exactly in Din's name had set his tail ablaze, and from where?

Turning his head all the way around, Kaepora Gaebora saw, to his horror, that his plumage had seemingly erupted in a small set of flames, the owl quickly ducking down and dipping the edges of the feathers in the sand, snuffing out the fire that threatened to consume his entire tail in the next few seconds. Looking back, he saw that he was not flying alone, two figures dressed in black robes with concealed faces atop what appeared to be some sort of long objects they rode the air with, defying gravity as if they were gifted with wings themselves.

"Come back, birdie!" a cackling, high-pitched voice, ancient yet almost youthfully gleeful in the chase. "We've got a score to settle, and we're in the mood for some fried owl!"

"Fried? No, no, no," the other flying figure disagreed in jest. "We should pluck him first and then freeze him up for storage!"

"Yeah! THEN we fry him!" the other responded, lifting their arm up and seemingly conjuring a ball of fire out of thin air.

"By the Goddesses," Kaepora Gaebora muttered to himself. "They have access to that sort of power."

Magic in itself was not exactly unordinary, the phenomenon in itself was a trait passed down to the creations of the Goddesses, Hylians especially, as a sign of their divine origin and link to their Three Mothers, each a parent in Her own right and leading Their children in the ways best suited to their ways and lives, so long as conflict did not arise between them. In the modern age, however, the magic that once coursed through the blood of all races, save for those that dwelt in the water, seemed to have seeped away into nothing, as if it had never existed. Ever since the Age of the Sky ended, it appeared that the Earth itself sapped away what mystical energy rested in the people that would eventually lead to the few survivors of the war there were today.

However, the owl was no fool. This energy that the two assailants harnessed, was not the same as magic that originated from the Golden Sisters Themselves. There was nothing divine or pure regarding this particular force, the fire and freezing ice crystals that were propelled in his direction. These spells were dark and old, full of choking blackness and hate. Hate for all that fell under the light of the sun, under the eyes of the Goddesses Themselves.

He never thought he would ever see such a thing, let alone in this age, or in this body, yet there was no mistaking it now.

"GAH!"

His thinking allowed for a momentary loss of focus, a searing burn assaulting his right wing, along with a slowly developing heat that pricked and licked the ends of his feathers. It didn't take long for him to realize that he had been set on fire, yet his other wing was overcome with a piercing, icy numbness.

He looked to see his feathers freezing over, crystallizing in hardened crystal.

Lost Woods

The Skull Kids aimed their blow darts, ready to fire at any given moment. And they would have unleashed everything they had on the trio of boy, fairy, and bird-like creatures, if not for another figure making themselves known at that very moment.

Albeit, they were rather minuscule in size.

In front of Link and Navi landed what appeared to be a tiny version of the Kikwi that had been transporting them away from danger, no larger than an acorn or small pinecone. If it weren't for its small eyes and equally small beak, should one view the little thing at a passing glance, they would've possibly mistaken the creature for little more than some forest foliage or debris from a tree.

"What the…?" one of the Skull Kids questioned, eyeing the small being that had made their sudden appearance.

"What's this thing supposed to be?" another asked, one responding with an unassuming shrug.

"Well, whatever," the one wearing Link's mask proclaimed. "It's a pipsqueak, so it'll be easy to crush!" he said. "Get it!"

All the others followed suit and aimed their blow darts at the tiny bird-like thing instead, although this soon proved to be just what the little creature wanted. It peeped in Link's direction, the boy uncertain of just what the bird wanted, yet Navi was there to translate.

"He says to bring up your shield!" she alerted her charge.

Bring up his shield? Why, he wondered.

"Don't question it for now!" she urged him. "Just do it!"

"Do what she says, kid!" the larger bird-like being added. "This is going to be a little hairy!"

Hairy? Last Link had heard birds had feathers. Well, whatever, he nonetheless obeyed and brought out his Deku Shield, the smaller Kikwi then got into position, its once smooth coat grew prickly and spiky, protruding outward and catching everyone off guard as it became a small ball of sharpened ends sticking out.

Then, those sharpened ends detached and flew ahead, sending the surrounding Skull Kids scattering for cover while the larger Kikwi grabbed hold of Link and Navi and jumped up, landing back up in the branches and beginning the slow migration upward once again. While it would take some time to catch up to the others, if anything, at least he could trust the little one down below to take care of himself.

Eventually, the smaller Kikwi had run out of quills and made itself scarce, rolling and hiding underneath a sizable tree root, the Skull Kids still confused or fleeing to avoid the incoming spikes. Still, even he knew that some of them wouldn't be deterred, those few that had decided to use the trees for cover following his comrade and the cargo he possessed.

Gerudo Desert

Gravity had been both a blessing and a curse in this case, it seemed. At least, in his case, Kaepora Gaebora thought, considering his current stroke of both luck and misfortune.

On one hand, or, in his case, wing, it had proved to be a hindrance as the lack of movement in his other frozen wing essentially doomed him to fall to Earth, landing face first in the seemingly endless sand that littered the landscape. On the other (hand/wing), where he had landed provided him a considerable amount of coverage from his two pursuers, the duo still circling above him like vultures waiting for their coveted kill to finally die. Although, in this case, they planned to kill the owl themselves.

…

"Where is that blasted bird?!" the figure patrolling on the left shouted, clearly growing frustrated with having suddenly lost their target, unaware that, shielded underneath the curved structure of a boulder, the owl lay injured but alive. Still, he knew he needed to get to work on getting his wing thawed out. The only question was, how?

Concealed in the shadow of the boulder, Kapeora Gaebora watched and listened in, uncertain of just how exactly he was going to get out of this. Nonetheless, he made sure to take any secrets he happened to hear with him, should he be blessed enough to escape from this place. Still, just how was he going to unthaw his wing?

"He can't be allowed to leave!" the more hotheaded of the two bellowed. "He'll ruin everything!"

"Relax, you're getting yourself too worked up," the other consoled their twin. "Even if he leaves, he'll be sleeping with one eye open for the rest of his life," they said. "Of which I plan to cut short."

The first to have spoken was puzzled. "You sound as if you're not too concerned that he even gets out with this information, what little he heard," they said. "Doesn't Lord Ganondorf's image of the King of Hyrule mean anything to you?"

"Of course it does," the other responded. "The partnership of the two Kings is what this entire plan rests on," they answered. "In fact, it's perhaps the one thing that will allow us a way in, above all else."

"So why waste time?" the former inquired. "Why not find and turn the fat dodo into roasted poultry now?" they then brought up their hand, a small flame manifesting in the wrinkled palm. "It would be so simple."

Indeed, the owl thought. While the prospect of thinking of his own death wasn't exactly something he had in mind, preferably, this conversation was bringing up some interesting points, especially regarding this supposed conspiracy between them and the King of the Gerudo.

"We can't act too hastily," the cooler of the two answered. "Bear in mind, not everyone is aware of just what exactly is at stake."

"Hm?" the former appeared puzzled. "I thought all of our people were in agreement with the plan to go into Hyrule."

"Yes," the other responded. "Yet there is one among our numbers that concerns me," they confessed. "I'm concerned as to what role they'll play when the time comes."

"You mean Aveil?" the more riled up of the two questioned. "Oh please! Yes, she's ambitious, but she's more concerned with being our King's consort than Queen!"

"No, she's not who I mean." the other replied.

"Then who do you mean?"

They paused, Kaepora Gaebora too confused as to what exactly they were thinking. Or rather, of who they were thinking.

"...I speak of Nabooru."

Lost Woods

"You have to go back!" Saria argued with her transporter, the darkly-colored, bird-like creature still ignoring her pleas. "You don't understand! He's-"

"Oh, I know what he is!" the bird answered. "He's one of them!" they said.

"But he's also the-"

"I don't care what he is!" they said, interrupting Saria. "He's one of those that skinned and ravaged us!" they argued. "He and his kind, they have no place here!" they then turned their head away, continuing ahead. "Besides, the Head of Our Kind said not to go back for them if they got left behind. You'll just have to rely on him being able to take care of himself."

Unbeknownst to the green-haired girl, Mido was beginning to stir, slowly rising from his state of unconsciousness to see that, to his confusion, he was flying through the trees with some bird thing. Huh, must've been dreaming…?!

"Hey, I see them!"

That was Saria's voice! It began to slowly return to him just what happened, venturing into the woods, discovering Saria had been captured, and then Link…wait, Link?!

Either this was a nightmare, or this was indeed real! Then again, Mido thought, his time navigating through this place had been a general nightmare for him, yet he wasn't sure which was worse: being stuck with the blonde or having him invade the redhead's dreams!

Needless to say, this confusion didn't last long as, indeed, Link was seen far below, traveling with another one of the strange creatures, Mido realized that, despite all that had presumably happened while he was out of it, some of the Skull Kids STILL continued to follow them through the Lost Woods, even now!

"Geez, just what does it take to lose these guys?!" Mido cried out, unsure of just what to do.

"Get to my special place!" Saria asked her carrier.

"Where is that?" they questioned.

"Where the old temple is!"

Mido heard this and grew puzzled, unsure of just what the girl was speaking of. Yet, from the sound of it, the bird-like beings appeared to know.

"That's not close to the Kokiri Forest!" the one transporting Saria protested.

"It's fine!" the green-haired girl assured. "I have an idea!"

"And that would be?"

"No time to explain! Just trust me!"

Silence fell in between the two before, to her relief, they changed directions and went toward the mysterious place Saria had taken Link before. Mido was the only one among the two boys to hear of this "old temple."

"Saria…" he muttered to himself. "Just what is going on?"

He received no answer.

The redhead Kokiri held no idea as to whether they were even going the right way, having never been led, let alone invited to visit Saria's secret place, another privilege Link had received over him. Still, it seemed he had little choice but to allow the bird-like creature to carry him in the desired direction.

Through the trees, the three children went, the dense canopy of the Lost Woods almost impenetrable viewing from below, as if not a hint of moonlight was allowed to seep through the space in between the darkened trees. The overwhelming lack of light served to cover the few pursuers that still managed to keep up the chase, their speed and dexterity allowing them to inch closer and closer with each leap and bound through the treetops.

Eventually, through the tightly packed sea of green, the Kokiri girl spotted the sight of an ancient structure of stone in the distance. True, it was covered in vines and twisting foliage, yet it was unmistakably a structure built by those out of the forest.

"There!" Saria called out. "Get near the temple! I can take it from there!"

Her transport gave her a curious glance. "Are you certain?"

"Positive!" The girl responded. "The Great Deku Tree trusted me with things, should something like this happen."

The darkly-colored, shadowy bird said nothing, but nonetheless obeyed her request, carrying her and the two others of her kind (presumably) forward until they all reached the small spot in the Lost Woods, hidden away from the rest of the forest. Landing on the ground, much to Mido's relief, the boy practically leaned down to kiss the Earth itself, Saria raced to the center of the small square space that was allowed entry via a long stairwell, the girl had traveled up the steps many times before. Link and Mido followed behind, Navi realizing that Recti had joined them, carrying a now recovering Compa, who had just begun to regain consciousness.

"Hm?" she squinted her eyes, trying to discern what was real from the multiple, colorful shapes and patterns that swam around in her vision. "What? Where is…?" she paused, slowly realizing just where they had come back to. "This is…?!" she looked and saw her charge racing up the stairs, ahead of Navi and Recti's. "Saria!" Compa shouted, getting out of the pink fairy's arms and flying to join her Kokiri, albeit with a few stumbles as she almost fell to the stone platforms a few times in her journey to join her girl.

"Compa!" Saria exclaimed, more than happy to see her fairy had joined the waking world once again, even if, had he been alive, the Great Deku Tree would've considered all three Kokiri up far past their bedtime. "Are you ok?"

"Forget about me," the green fairy shook her head. "What about you?"

Saria nodded. "I'm fine!" she then gasped, hearing the approaching forces of the Baga Tree from behind, at least those that hadn't been driven off by the Kikwis. "But we've got to get rid of these guys!"

It was then that Compa saw her charge pull her ocarina from her clothing, having retrieved it upon being rescued from the cage prior. "Saria, no!" the fairy protested, eyeing the blonde boy dealing with the Skull Kids behind them. "The Great Deku Tree! He told you not to-"

"I know what he said!" the green-haired girl argued, immediately stricken with guilt for being short with the smaller being. Yet, ultimately, she was left with no choice. "There is no other way," she said. "Besides," she closed her eyes, holding the instrument close to her chest. "At least this is one thing that I know I can tell Link without lying to him."

Gerudo Desert

The owl raised a feathery brow, puzzled as to who exactly the two were speaking of. Especially considering that one of them was rather taken aback by this suggestion.

"Nabooru?" they asked, genuinely puzzled. "Just what does she have to do with this?" they questioned. "Aside from being our dear King's Lieutenant and most trusted confidant?"

From what little Kaepora Gaebora had seen during his own trip to Castle Town, the Gerudo King had indeed gone to the castle, accompanied by two women, although they weren't the same as the two fiends currently hunting him down. One was dressed in red and dark colors while the other wore pink and lighter shades with vibrant markings upon her clothing. Both, however, possessed the same, bronze skin, muscular figures, and blood-red hair.

"Our King may be playing the one of Hyrule for a fool, yet he himself is not infallible," the cooler-headed of the two said. "Nabooru may be more disciplined than Aveil, yet she's also more unpredictable."

"How so?" the hotheaded twin inquired, the owl all the while listening in, taking in every piece of information he could absorb.

"Think of it, why does Lord Ganondorf trust her in the first place?"

"Because she's one of the few surviving individuals he knows from childhood?"

"Perhaps," the cooler admitted. "However, like him, they hold a…difference that separates them from the rest of their people, and it's more than our Lord just being the designated Man of One-Hundred Years."

The concealed bird couldn't see it, yet he swore he could sense a grin forming on the former's face.

"Something we had to do with, even if just a little," they said with a hint of mischief. "Although, I can't say the same about our dear King's friend," they ultimately confessed. "Even before she was in his command, there was something different about her."

Different? The owl pondered as to what this meant, let alone which of the two he had seen was Nabooru.

"Are you suggesting we take her out now?" the hotheaded one inquired.

"No," they answered. "However, I believe that, for the time being, they need to be monitored," they then paused. "...perhaps tested even."

"How?" The more hotheaded of the two questioned, yet then paused, seeing a shift in the shadows below. "You know what? Hold that thought," they said, conjuring up another fireball. "We can discuss this AFTER we have some sizzled bird for breakfast!"

Lost Woods

"C'mon! Hold them back!" Mido cried out, all the while trying to desperately scramble to find any ammo for Link's slingshot.

What did he think that he was trying to do?! Link sighed and dodged yet another shot from a blow dart, a couple of Skull Kids closing in on them while they tried to ascend the staircase and catch up to Saria. Easier said than done, seeing as the bird-like creatures had seemingly left, leaving the blonde and redhead to attend to the Baga Tree's forces.

Baga Tree. It wasn't until this very night that Link had even heard of such a person, er, tree. True, in theory, while The Great Deku Tree was the only tree he knew that could talk, there wasn't exactly any particular reason other trees couldn't speak as well. Still, while he sensed that the tree the Baga Tree had used as a vessel was not the real source, the projected face he presented was nothing like that of The Great Deku Tree.

Gone were any traces of parental security, a safety from the potential dangers of the Lost Woods: this creature served as the very danger. In place of an older yet still familiar enough face similar to his own, with a mustache and an elderly yet familial look in his carved eyes, Link and the rest of The Great Deku Tree's children were met with twisted, crooked features that appeared to just barely function as intended. It only just vaguely resembled a face, yet it was no face any of them wished to come across anytime again.

Still, knowing that, Link also realized that, akin to The Great Deku Tree and the Kokiri, the Baga Tree possessed his own children, the Skull Kids. Although, from the first time he saw them, the two boys had no idea of their identity at the time.

On the contrary, having first seen them in the play, they initially believed them to be the Know-It-All Brothers who had just snuck their way in as extras! Had The Great Deku Tree known that they were from outside the Kokiri Forest? And, if so, did that mean he let them sneak their way in?

He wouldn't lie in saying that was somewhat vindicating seeing them give Mido a pounding, yet the juxtaposition between then and now only served to confuse Link further. If the Skull Kids served the Baga Tree, the Great Deku Tree's enemy, then why didn't they try anything when Link was right there? And if they were watching him in the Lost Woods, why not take him out any of those times either?

Even if he was the Monster, the play was fun! Why did they have to fight each other?

It wasn't fair…

…

Finally reaching the green grass of the Sacred Meadow, Saria immediately rushed to the center of the small, closed-off space, and raised the ocarina to her lips. She heard both Link and Mido approaching, and, with them, the Skull Kids as well.

She had to act now.

Blowing lightly into the instrument, Saria began to find the right note, all the while trying to remember the correct melody.

"He's going to ask questions, you know," Compa warned her. "He's going to want to know everything."

Saria paused in her playing. "And he will," she answered. "I'm tired of keeping secrets from him," she said, sighing in frustration. "At least I can tell him this before he leaves me again."

Chapter Text

This was it.

The end of the line.

Perhaps, the end of the story.

Navi dared not articulate this, yet she noticed her blonde charge steadily growing weaker the longer he continued to fight.

"C'mon, Mido! Hurry!" Recti urged the redhead, desperate to try and get him to safety.

Navi saw that the boy wished to stay and fight, if not for Saria herself, yet, unfortunately, the boy just wasn't as skilled as the blonde in regard to weapons and combat. And even then, Link still had a great deal to perfect and learn.

At this point, she had no idea of just how they were going to get out of this. Nothing without some help.

Then, the beginning of a song graced the fairy's ears. A song she soon realized was no dream or illusion, let alone any trick of the forest, the tune also being recognized by Link and Mido.

"What's she doing?" Recti questioned, gesturing toward Saria, who had seemingly, of all things, decided that now would be the best time to play some music!

Navi was about to exclaim that she herself had no idea, yet as Saria continued to play, both fairies and their charges felt a strange shift in the air.

Quite literally.

As of a sudden gale came through the forest, the notes emitting from her ocarina appeared to summon a fierce wind that nearly threatened to blow everyone off their feet and into the air!

At least, that's what Link and Mido initially believed would happen, yet found, as the wind played with their clothes and hair, their feet remained firmly on the ground. Not even their fluttering fairies or even Saria herself seemed too affected by the all-encompassing whirlwind, staying in place as if the wind only directly influenced them on the smallest of scales.

The same could not be said for the Skull Kids.

The great and powerful wind removed them from the ground, sending their airborne forms flying past the trees and ancient structures that rested in the area of this place, not even able to grab onto branches to keep themselves in place, as their only leverage seemed to easily snap from the trees themselves, leaving them with no choice but to let the wind take them.

Eventually, Saria stopped playing, the gale dying down to a gentle breeze before fading out entirely, leaving the three children and their fairies alone in this hidden section of the Lost Woods. Silence permeated the entirety of the small space, the green-haired girl turning to face both boys.

"...what was that?" Mido questioned, Link remaining silent, yet nodding in agreement with the other boy. Much to his own surprise.

"Well, for the song," Saria answered. "It's known as the Minuet of the Forest," she said. Compa reached out to try and protest, yet her charge continued. "But, as to what just happened," she said, biting her lip, eyes centered directly on Link. "Let's just say, the Great Deku Tree knew this would happen eventually, so," she paused with a sigh. "He…asked me for help."

Gerudo Desert

Whirling his head around, Kaepora Gaebora spotted the incoming fireball, jumping back as much as he could given the added weight on his left wing.

Of course, with this, a sudden burst of luck came with it.

The fire sparked upon landing, some of it catching on a nearby plant, completely dry and barren of any leaves or life. It took a few moments, yet the aged, hollow, and lifeless root served as the perfect torch, the fire quickly spreading until nearly the entire bush was engulfed.

It was a risky maneuver, the owl knew, yet, at the moment, he had little choice.

"Darn!" The temperamental one complained. "Missed!"

"Is your eyesight finally failing you?" The other of the two questioned sarcastically. "Looks like Mother was right, magic doesn't compensate for neglecting your veggies."

"Oh, like you're one to talk," the hotheaded one scoffed. "You're too skinny! No meat on you! Everyone knows that a frail figure is the first sign of age!"

"Excuse me?"

It sounded as if a fight was about to break out between the two. Good, Kaepora Gaebora thought, eyeing the now burning bush. Perhaps this distraction would be enough to allow him to thaw out his wing.

"You heard me," the argumentative twin answered back. "Ah, that's another sign," they said. "Bad hearing!"

The usually cooler of the two found their temperament beginning to boil over. "Better too little girth than too much," they snarled, eyeing the stomach of the other. "At this rate, that weight is never going to come off."

"Hey, there's a potion for that!" The other argued back. "And, even more, all I have to do is add a few drops of Lizafols blood to give it some extra potency! Their metabolisms are marvelous compared to mammals!"

"The Lord Ganondorf's forces are not for our pleasure," the second of the two reminded the other. "Yet, anyway," they added with a sly grin. "But we still need a little more help if we're going to successfully lay siege to The King of Hyrule's precious Castle and the town surrounding it."

"Where do you suppose we look then?" The other questioned.

"Hm…" the second of the two pondered this inquiry. Then, a thought came to them. "Perhaps we can give Castle Town another visit." They suggested.

"Hm? What for?" The other asked. "Wasn't securing Lord Ganondorf's place enough?"

"Not if we want more than just the Gerudo assisting us," the former answered. "They may be strong, but they're still mortal."

"Then what do you suggest?"

The one brainstorming a plan was about to speak, yet found the scent of smoke meeting their nostrils. As well as the roasted bird.

Flying a little to the left, they saw a partially burning bush somewhat put out by what appeared to be a melting icicle.

"Look!"

And a shape flying off in the distance, too far to catch now.

Flying down to the bush, the figure picked up a few of the owl's feathers and then turned their eyes toward the sky.

"Should we try it?"

"…no."

"What?"

"Let him go," they answered. "Let him do what he will for now," their gnarled, aged digits then curled around the bird's feathers. "In fact, we'll let the one he treasures so much be the death of him."

Sacred Meadow

"So, what, a Mage? Like the Wind Mage from the story?"

Saria chuckled, Mido fearful that he had embarrassed himself even more in front of the green-haired girl. "No, not Mage. Sage. It means a wise or elected person," she explained. "It's what The Great Deku Tree was," she paused. "While he was still alive."

A somber silence fell in between all of them, Kokiri and fairy alike.

"So, a Sage," Navi began, Link's mouth not exactly cooperating with him, so the pale-blue winged woman spoke for the boy. "Is it something that The Great Deku Tree always was? Or was it a title he recently acquired?"

Link wasn't exactly sure what "acquired" meant, but everything else he could agree with.

"It was the reason he was born," Saria informed. "Before things were as they are now, especially outside of the forest, things were really different," she said. "He didn't tell me how different, but he said that there were creatures dwelling here before he was even a seed in the ground."

"Was that other guy around back then too?" Mido questioned. "Or those other guys?"

"If you mean the Kikwis, they've always been here," Saria told the redhead. "They were one of the few that were here since the beginning," she explained, spotting a member of their race in the trees, watching them.

The same one that had helped assist in their escape. The one who went back for Link.

They were minuscule, almost the size of a pinecone, saying nothing and listening in as the green-haired girl continued with her speech. "As for the Baga Tree, I don't know," she said. "But, if I had to guess, I'd say he's either not much older or younger than The Great Deku Tree was."

"Well, who are they?" Recti inquired. "If they've always been here, then why haven't I or anyone else seen them up until now?"

True, Navi thought. While she certainly wasn't as dismissive as the pink fairy had been, she had found it peculiar that she, one who had lived her entire known existence in the Lost Woods, had never heard nor seen a Kikwi or Baga Tree.

"The Kikwis hide from everyone," Saria informed. "And the Baga Tree was banished to the other end of the forest long ago," she said. "But that was before the Kikwis decided to run away."

"Run away?" Navi questioned.

From who, Link inwardly wondered as well. It was then, however, that Saria's eyes fell on the blonde as if the subject at hand related to him in some way.

"…from those that hunted them," she said. "From what The Great Deku Tree told me, they once were many, but when People from the Sky came down, the first being a Hero from one of The Great Deku Tree's stories," she bit her lip. Even if she had accepted it, the lingering reminders of what it was like when he was alive didn't get any easier to ignore. "…at first, they were friends. But, as time went on…" she paused. "I guess things just…changed."

Silence fell over the entire area, the tiny member of the aforementioned species getting a chill from her words. They may have not experienced such things themselves, but they heard the tales.

"Anyway, the Sky People, they began to become greedy, and took from everyone around them," Saria answered. "When there were less than a dozen left, the Kikwis came to what was left of the forest and hid away, a seed planted as an answer to their prayers for protection," she continued. "And thus, the Great Deku Tree was set forth to make sure the forest stays safe, and to keep those from the outside, out."

"Everyone?" Mido asked, remembering an event that occurred not too far back.

"That's what he intended," Saria answered. "Why?" She then asked. "Did you happen to see something?"

Mido was about to speak but ultimately stopped himself. Had he indeed seen a big person in the Lost Woods while he and Link were separated? Better yet, was that person, that woman (at least, he thought that was what the girl version of a grown-up was called) carrying something else with her?

A really small something, but she treated it as if it was her entire world.

"Mido?"

Mido was brought from her stupor by Saria's voice, the boy then shaking his head. "Oh, uh, nothing. Nothing at all," he replied. "Anyway, that explains what the bird guys were," he paused. "Sorta."

By sorta, you mean not at all, Link thought, raising a brow.

"But where'd this Baga Tree come from?" The redhead pondered aloud. "Did The Great Deku Tree ever tell you about him?"

Saria sighed. "Not much," she confessed. "Regardless, without him to keep the other in line, The Baga Tree will try to expand his territories," she said. "I don't have as much power as The Great Deku Tree," she answered. "But he trusted me in keeping this place safe," she then went quiet. "Something I failed to do," she turned her attention to Link. "I am so sorry to drag you from what The Great Deku Tree told you to do. I bet this has put an entire hamper on your journey."

Link shook his head, only relieved that the green-haired girl was safe.

"You still have it, don't you?" She asked. "The Kokiri Emerald?"

Link pondered this for a moment before reaching into the sack located underneath his shield, fruitlessly feeling around for anything that resembled what Saria described. He knew he had it, he just wasn't entirely sure where he had put it yet.

"Oh, here, let me do it!" Navi sighed with a roll of her eyes, diving into the sack retrieving the coveted treasure, and parting from the children's closest figure to a parent.

Within a few moments of searching, she found the stone in question, its green and golden surface of gemstone and metal shining brilliantly in the moonlight. Saria extended her hand and the Kokiri Emerald floated over to her palm, hovering just a few centimeters above the skin of her hand.

"This one was protected well enough until The Great Deku Tree couldn't hide it anymore."

Link looked at Navi, curious about something. Sending this, the boy's fairy articulated this for him. "So, it's no longer safe here?" She asked, Link, nodding in agreement to her statement.

"If tonight was any indication, it's not safe anywhere," Saria answered somberly, eyes still on the Emerald. Then, they centered on Link before she returned the sacred object to the boy. "There's still two left," she said. "And you're going to have to go back to get them."

"Wait, you mean Link's quest…thing, isn't done yet?" Mido questioned, clearly confused.

"Far from it," Saria confirmed. "The Door of Time won't open unless it has all three Spiritual Stones resting at the base of the entrance," she sighed. "And after that, rests the sword," she paused. "Which holds the way to the Triforce."

Triforce…

In truth, during all of this, Link hadn't even been thinking of that, something Navi would surely chide him for if she knew. Still, all that was on his mind was the fact that his friend was in trouble.

…although now, he wasn't sure if he could call her his only friend anymore.

"Where are they?" Navi asked, realizing that she was echoing Link's sentiment. "Let me think," she then gave her charge a look. "Wait, you've forgotten? Already?"

What was she talking about, he thought? She didn't remember either!

"Yeah, but I have to keep track of all of that's going on around you," the fairy said. "As well as you yourself!" She then sighed. "And one of those is a little more on the taxing side."

Link only huffed in response.

"The Goron's Ruby rests at Death Mountain, and the Zora's Sapphire lies at the heart of the Zora's home itself," Saria informed both of them. "Meaning, you'll have to convince these races to give you their treasures," she explained, although her eyes then downcast. "It won't be easy," she admitted to Link. "I won't lie, the way you look to them will be a hindrance."

The blonde boy wasn't entirely sure what "hindrance" meant, yet given the girl's tone, it didn't sound like anything good.

"But," Saria continued, seemingly growing a little more optimistic. "If The Great Deku Tree trusted you with this," the Kokiri Emerald appeared to glow on command. "Then I should trust that you'll get the rest of them too."

Link pondered something, wondering if he should articulate such himself. "W-Will…" he began, hoping his head and mouth would work in sync with each other. "Will…t-things…" Unfortunately, it didn't seem to be going the way he had hoped.

"What is it?" Navi questioned, the boy turning to her. "If you're having trouble, it's fine," she reassured him. "Just tell me."

Link tilted his head in confusion. How?

"You don't have to speak necessarily," the fairy told him. "Just…think about what you want to say."

Think? It was something he had been lectured on more than once by The Great Deku Tree and Saria whenever he used his rare moments of verbal communication to snark back at Mido, yet he truly did wish that he could speak more fluently.

If not just so he wouldn't be the only one with this evident problem.

Still, seeing as he was getting nowhere, he obeyed Navi, although he wasn't entirely sure how merely thinking of what he wished to say would do anything. It wasn't as if the fairy could-

"Oh, you're wondering that?"

…read his mind?

"Um, I'm not exactly sure how to answer that." The fairy confessed.

"Answer what?" Saria questioned, curious as to what the blue-winged woman had wrenched from the boy's head.

Navi was silent for a few moments, debating on whether or not to answer. "If he gets all of the Spiritual Stones," she answered the green-haired girl. "Can things go back to how they were?"

"What do you mean?" Saria inquired. Then bit her lip. "If you mean that The Great Deku Tree will come back, then…" she averted her blue eyes. "I…I don't know," she confessed. "I mean, he's not a person, so, maybe. I mean, every tree has a seed," she said. "But, even if so, it would take a long time to grow," she went silent again. "Maybe even years."

Years? But…but that was around four harvest seasons! And he had trouble getting through just one! But still, this brand of information proved to serve to ignite a small flame of hope in the boy's heart. If he got the rest of these rocks, he thought as he focused on the green stone in his hand, then maybe things would at least eventually return to normal!

Maybe then, he could maybe come home.

If The Great Deku Tree ever forgives him when he comes back.

If he comes back.

…still, the boy had to try, if not for the Great Tree's sake.

"Link?" Saria's voice brought the boy back to reality. "Are you ok?" She asked the boy.

"Y-Yeah," Link answered. "Mm-Hm." He then presented a determined look on his face.

The green-haired girl understood what he had in mind. "Well, I appreciate your enthusiasm," she told him. "But, even if he can't come into this territory, The Baga Tree can still manipulate parts of the forest at night," she explained. "So,"

"So, what?" Mido asked.

"So, we'll probably have to wait until…" Saria stopped, seeing a faint, golden light creep over the horizon, and feeling a familiar warmth grace her skin. "…sunrise."

Once again, he found himself at the bridge that led to outside the Lost Woods. Once again, he was going to have to leave.

Yet, unlike before, he had added motivation. If getting those rocks would help bring The Great Deku Tree back, then so be it!

"How will you get back to where you were?" Saria questioned, not entirely sure of how Link managed to get here in the first place.

"We had a friend give us a lift, so to speak," Navi explained. "He said he had some business to attend to, yet he promised to return."

"Did you fly here?" Saria then asked, Link nodding in response. "Ah, the owl," she mused aloud. "If he knows you, then you should be fine. Still…" she then drew closer to the blonde boy. "I hope at least the journey back is smoother for you."

Saria embraced Link, the boy returning her affections, yet only so much as one would hold for a good friend. The way she looked at him at times…he didn't entirely understand it.

"Mido," Saria then asked, turning away from Link for a minute to focus on the redhead boy. "You have anything to say?"

The green-dressed boy crossed his arms and averted his eyes, yet ultimately obliged with Saria's non-verbal request. "…good luck, Mr. No-Fa…Link," he corrected halfway. "Travel safe."

"And?"

"…and…thanks for your help back there. And all." Mido answered, rubbing the back of his head.

Link was perplexed, barely able to believe what he was hearing, let alone from who. Still, he was receptive, nevertheless. "…you too."

Mido was now the one to be shocked, a rarity to hear the other boy's voice if it wasn't snarking back or shouting furiously at him. It was…weird, but nice.

"Anyway," Recti interjected. "If it's vital that you get these Spiritual Stones, or whatever they are, then we probably need to wrap this up, don't you think?"

Compa nodded. "You're right," she then looked at her charge. "It's time, Saria."

Link glanced at Navi. "Say goodbye, Link."

The three children and their respective fairies gazed at each other, locking eyes and presenting smiles that verged on breaking any moment. With a wave, the blonde boy bid the two others farewell as he once again entered the tunnel that would take him to the outside.

The darkness of the hollowed-out space slowly consumed him, his small shape vanishing from view.

The presence of tree clusters made Link question if he had indeed exited the Lost Woods, yet as he continued on, the tall wooden stalks grew less and less in number, soon dispersing to where he could see Hyrule Field openly.

Still, from the looks of it, it appeared that Mr. Owl was nowhere to be seen.

"Sir Kaepora Gaebora must be a bit late," Navi observed. "Let's wait by the edge where he can see us," it was then that she glanced over, noticing her charge's features falter. "Hey, what's the matter?" she asked, although it didn't take long for her to deduce what exactly. "You don't think you'll be able to get the Spiritual Stones to the Door of Time?"

Link was about to deny Navi's claim, yet ultimately didn't protest, saying nothing. Although, that wasn't all.

"Hey, what happened with The Great Deku Tree wasn't your fault," she told him. "He said so himself, he doesn't blame you. Neither does Saria," true or not, this didn't appear to alleviate Link's tension. "Look," she fluttered closer, reclining on his shoulder. "If he held you responsible, then do you think he would've trusted you with something as important as this?" she asked him.

Link pondered the fairy's words, although he couldn't give a definitive answer, mostly because he had none for himself.

"I think you already know, don't you?" she questioned, lightly moving her wings, gently scraping against the outer lining of the boy's ears. "Right? Right?"

"H-Hey!" Link protested, the tingly sensation traveling from her wings to the rest of his body, providing him with shivers and light goosebumps. Not to mention, while he wouldn't dare say it aloud, he found that those blasted things tickled. A lot.

"You know you can do it, right?" Navi continued to inquire, all the while making sure her wings made contact with the tender cartilage of his skin. "You're going to be a Hero, right? Right? The Hero of the Kokiri, right?"

"N-Na-ahaha-vi!"

"Right?"

"R-Right!"

Presenting a satisfied smile, Navi ceased her stationary fluttering, finally giving the boy some relief. Just in time too, for she then detected the sound of beating wings in the distance, Link too soon registering that a flying creature was approaching.

Lo and behold, Kapeora Gaebora made himself known, his large shape seen in the sky in the emerging dawn before he landed before the blonde boy and minuscule, flying woman.

"Mr. Owl!" Link called out, drawing closer to see that the giant bird appeared a little winded. Tilting his head in concern, the owl greeted the boy before he could say anything more.

"Ah, Link," Kapeora Gaebora began. "Hello. Or, perhaps, I should say, good morning," he said. "I see you were successful on your end," he observed. "Good," he then went quiet. "...only time will tell if I was successful on mine."

"Mr. Gaebora?" Navi questioned, noticing the owl's tension as well.

"It's nothing, my Lady," he assured Navi. "I'm sorry to keep you both waiting. Anyway," the owl then began to rise, taking Link's arms in his talons before the boy could either agree or protest. "Back to the Ranch we go!"

Link was about to speak, or at least try to, several questions on his mind, specifically why it looked like the edge of the owl's tail looked as if it had been roasted. Unfortunately, he never got the chance, for Kapeora Gaebora rose up into the air and ascended higher and higher, carrying the child with him as he allowed the fairy to ride on his feathers.

From a distance away, the Skull-Masked Skull Kid watched the blonde boy depart, watching him go and remembering that, indeed, the two had seen each other.

That day, in the Kokiri children's play.

One Year Prior

"Wait!"

The three minions ceased their assault, puzzled by their "leader's" command. Mido was too out of it to entirely comprehend what was going on, yet Link realized that he had gotten their attention.

"...what?" one of them asked. "You want to fight him yourself?"

"Uh…" Link bit his lip, pondering this offer for a moment. "Y-Yeah!" he ultimately declared. Yes, he was going to fight the Hero himself! Besides, at least things would be back on script.

"Well…we're your minions, so…" the three figures looked at each other, then back at LInk. Or rather, the Monster. "Ok, fine," the second of them said.

"Besides, it'd probably be more satisfying to see you destroy him anyway." the third added.

Then, all three leaped up in The Great Deku Tree's branches, vanishing from sight. At least, from the sight of the Kokiri.

The play continued as intended, the Hero eventually conquering the Monster and saving the Princess, yet, unlike before, the Monster appeared to be somewhat happy, even after defeat.

"That was fun," they conversed back and forth with each other, escaping into the Lost Woods after the play was over. "We should sneak in next year!"

"Hey, maybe we can send in submissions for our own plays!" another suggested.

"I wanna do one about the Monster being the Hero!" the third declared.

"No way!" the first disagreed. "The Monster and the Hero can't be the same person!"

"They can't?"

"Nope!" the second informed. "They're always different! Besides, the Hero usually looks like a man!"

Present

"Still…" the masked Skull Kid pondered aloud, continuing to watch Link's shape grow ever distant. "You're not a man…let alone a grown-up of any kind," he said. "But…if that's the case, then does that make me the Monster?"

Chapter Text

The chill of early morning graced his cheeks as the dew lightly traced against the mushroom leather of his boots, Kapeora Gaebora setting Link down from his talons before he perched atop the pasture's fence.

"You still have a few hours before the owner here heads for Kakariko," the great bird informed the blonde boy. "You should use them to get some sleep, considering all you've been through recently."

Link stretched out, feeling not an ounce of sleepiness come upon him. At least, not until a few seconds later, as if the owl's words triggered some sort of unseen reaction. Still, where could he go? All things considered, he could barely get in a few minutes dealing with Talon's snoring.

"Hey, what about the place where they keep the animals?" Navi suggested to the steadily weary child. "They're bound to be a little quieter."

"Actually, I would suggest taking refuge in the supply shed to the side," Kapeora Gaebora informed Link and his guiding fairy. "Farm creatures tend to have a particular…scent to them if you linger around for too long."

Well, Link couldn't deny that. While the animals intrigued his curiosity, he wouldn't deny that some of them smelt better than others. And not by much. Although the little red one was cute, he dared not say such a thing out loud. Or rather, let Navi get a sense of what he thought. A boy like him? Thinking something was cute? He'd never hear the end of it!

Still, what was the little animal's name? A pony? No, horse. A little one. A baby even.

A baby without her mother.

Without a parent.

It was then that Link found himself overcome with the urge to see the little foal Malon had shown him earlier, yet another wave of drowsiness hit him, his eyelids reflexively lowering before shooting back open.

"Come on, you," Navi urged, gently grabbing the kid by the finger and guiding him to the destination set by the large owl. "Thank you, Sir Gaebora," she told the bird with a nod of her head. "Or, do you just prefer Mister?"

"Whichever title is fine," the owl answered. "Personally, I'm actually content with being Mr. Owl."

Navi chuckled, remembering her charge had given the bird the more simplistic title. Still, it was respectful enough, so it would do, she supposed. She wouldn't tell Link, yet she too had a bit of difficulty pronouncing the great owl's name.

Finally reaching the door, Link opened the door and entered the darkened shed, Navi serving as his guiding light as he navigated to find a place to maybe recline his tired, sore body for a few more hours. Ultimately, there was a small section in the back where a folded-up cloth lay, the boy immediately went and fanned out the makeshift blanket. There was no pillow for his head, yet perhaps his hat would do, the kid removing and folding it up into a little lump that served to provide some sort of cushioning.

"I hope they don't mind us making use of their home like this," Navi thought aloud. "Be sure to put that back where you found it, you hear?" she informed Link, yet received no answer.

Well, not entirely, light snores informing her that any attempt to get through to him was for naught.

Nevertheless, a small smile crept to her face, she too finding a small place atop his folded-up hat. "Goodnight," she whispered. "My reckless, careless…ridiculously courageous boy."

A Few Hours Later

He was halfway aware that he wasn't alone, and it wasn't just the presence of his fairy that brought him such a sensation.

"Huh? Whoa, hey! HEY!"

Turning over, Link opened his blue eyes to see the sight of a pair of brown, leather boots (although they didn't appear to be made out of the same mushroom material his were constructed from) slightly covered with a long, palish-cream dress with bright blue, rectangular markings on the lower section.

"You couldn't last through the night with Dad either?"

The familiar voice of a young girl had immediately gotten Link's attention, the boy rose to a sitting position to see the yellow scarf tied around her neck with an emblem of a horned monster. Yet the most distinctive feature, as always, was the flaming red hair that fanned out behind her.

It contrasted with her eyes exceptionally well.

Malon grinned upon seeing Link's shocked expression, clearly not expecting her presence in the shed. "Don't worry," she said. "I've spent a few nights here too due to the noise he makes," she said. "Still, I don't think I saw you leave the house."

"Oh, uh, that's because we…" Navi began, trying to come up with a cover story. "Well, Link here wanted to get a look at the little pony you've got, but I told him she was probably resting, so we should leave her be."

Link flushed. How did she…?!

"Why is your face red?"

Wait…she didn't know?

Malon's giggle cemented that he had just outed himself. "You wanna see Epona?" The redhead inquired. "Well, she's going to be needing her morning milk soon, so you can help me feed her if you want."

Really? Link realized that perhaps he jumped at that just a bit too quickly, Malon registering that, yes, the boy was indeed interested.

"Ok then, I'll be in the barn," the girl informed him. "You know where that is, right? Just behind here, ok?"

Link nodded in response, still a little embarrassed. Something Malon apparently just found funny.

"Great! I'll see you in a bit then!" With that, she left to tend to morning chores, leaving Link alone with his fairy.

Of whom he gave a rather displeased look.

"Hey, consider it retaliation for nearly squishing me!" Navi huffed, folding her arms.

The sun had risen from the position Link had seen it last, brightening the sky and casting the horizon in a pale yellow with light strokes of soft blue. He heard the neighing of horses set loose in the pasture, watching as the four-legged creatures grazed in the field. Yet, out of all of them, he didn't see the little red foal from yesterday.

Going over to the location Malon had specified, proving that he could indeed follow directions (take that, Mido!), Link opened the door of the wooden structure to reveal a number of black and white bovines greeting the newest arrival with a chorus of moos.

"Ah good, you're here!" the blonde heard Malon call from in the back, Link looking to see the red-haired girl with a small equine curiously peeking its head over the gate of her stall. "I just got the milk ready for her."

He approached, eagerly at first, yet then his steps grew tentative and soft, realizing that the small animal he had come to see was far more fragile than he had initially believed. Navi surveyed the small foal herself, noting how the white-haired filly was practically a dwarf in comparison to her larger companions.

"Actually, it's good you're here," Malon said, grabbing the hollowed-out horn she had made use of yesterday and a bucket full of extra milk taken for Epona's breakfast. "Sometimes Mr. Ingo helps with this, and I can do it myself, she explained. "But, honestly, it's easier with two people, so would you mind?"

Wait a minute, Link thought. Was she asking him to help out?

"I think that's a yes," Navi told the girl, her charge's elated expression more than telling enough. "Still, remember, be careful," the fairy informed Link. "She's still just a baby."

"Yeah, yeah," Link responded, answer short enough to properly speak, thankfully. "Care…ful." Well, almost, anyway.

Entering the stall, the small, red foal looked up with her large, dark eyes, eyeing the horn and bucket in Malon's grasp, knowing well what was coming, evident by the excitable neigh that came from the tiny equine. "Ok, ok, you'll get your fill soon enough, just be patient!" Malon playfully chided the foal who was now trying to get at the horn in the girl's possession. "Link, you mind taking the bucket and pouring it in the horn?" she asked. "Not all at once, just enough to fill it up a little."

Nodding, Link took the bucket and waited for the redhead to position the end at the filly's lips, the ivory, thick substance contained within was unfamiliar to the blonde and far different than the water he used to sustain himself in the Kokiri Forest. Dipping his digit into the fluid, the boy tasted the liquid and found it rather sour in flavor. Nevertheless, there was a strange sense of satisfaction that it brought to his tongue, its presence lingering longer than that of mere spring water.

"Not bad, huh?" Malon acknowledged, noting Link had snuck a taste. "You should get a taste of the ones we bottle up. We're taking those to Kakariko today," she informed. "If we've got any left, you can have one. But first," she positioned the hollowed-out horn at the filly's mouth, the little horse shifting a little in her position. "We gotta feed this little girl."

Right, Link thought, eyes on the red-skinned foal. Seeing that Malon was ready, the boy began to pour the milk down the horn, albeit a little excessively at first, trails of white working their way down Epona's lower snout and neck. Yet, with a little practice, the blonde managed to find a steady rhythm, filling the horn just enough to where the small filly could comfortably drink at a steady rate, Malon keeping the horn to her lips.

All the while still humming that tune Link had heard her sing when she fed the little horse yesterday.

"You know, I don't know if I've ever asked you, but you don't have animals like these where you're from, do you?" Malon inquired, turning her attention to Link, all the while making sure to keep on feeding Epona.

Link shook his head.

"We have animals, yes," Navi informed Malon. "Yet, no, these creatures aren't exactly native to the domain of The Great Deku Tree."

"I didn't think so," Malon added. "Shame, really," she sighed. "It was before my time, but I remember my Mom telling me all about the wild horses that once roamed Hyrule's fields."

"Really?" Navi inquired, Link too interested, the fairy sensing what he wanted to say. "There used to be more…things like Epona here?" the fairy then took a look at her charge. "Surely you could've chosen a better term than that, couldn't you?"

Link shrugged. "Thing" was a universal term, wasn't it?

Nevertheless, Malon continued satiating his curiosity. "Oh yeah, tons of them," she answered. "Mom said that they came by every summer to migrate across the country. I heard they do it to spread territory and find mates."

Mates? What was that? Link turned to Navi, yet the fairy seemed a little reluctant to say.

"Perhaps we'll save that discussion for another time," the winged woman told her charge. "Anyway," she then said, quickly redirecting the conversation. "Do these creatures migrate as well?" she questioned Malon, gesturing to the more stout, white bovines that also occupied the barn.

"Oh no, cows are way different than horses," the young girl told the fairy and her boy. "True, there are some wild ones, I guess, but they're mostly made to be cared for by people," she said. "Horses are special, they can come and go as they please," she then paused in her feeding, Epona wondering why the milk had ceased coming. "So, if they stay, then that means they want to be with you."

The filly neighed again, her eyes turning to Link, then to the bucket of milk. The milk she had just been drinking. While the filly and boy possessed incredibly different minds from one another, the small animal couldn't help but wonder if the one she was somewhat avoidant of yesterday had just assisted in her morning feeding.

It was then that her instincts and defenses began to soften, intrigue replacing apprehension as she eyed the green-dressed boy. He smelt different from Malon, yet that was just it, different. He wasn't dangerous. At least, she found little reason to believe so.

To the red-haired girl's surprise, the little filly steadily approached the boy, forcing him back up against the stall door while Malon, Navi, and a recently awakened Sparky watched on. Epona sniffed, taking in more of Link's scent, terrain, and land far from the Ranch and the safety of the Barn alerting her that he was from somewhere she had never seen. However, there was a familiarity that also spoke of a lack of a vital connection.

One that the filly herself never had with the mare that had birthed her.

The foal then dipped her head into the sack behind Link's shield, her small teeth catching an object in its hold and bringing it out to inspect, the filly now eager to try and empty the sack of all of its contents, starting with a few Deku Nuts and Sticks. However, Link wondered if she really wanted the apples Saria had given him for the journey, she happily took one once she found it.

"Oh hey, is this an ocarina?" Malon asked, grabbing the instrument and examining it for herself. She then looked at Link. "You play?"

Link shifted a little, although he was torn between trying to answer and stopping Epona from getting any more of his apples.

"A little," Navi answered for him. "His friend, Saria, from the forest gave it to him before he left. Although, it's fair to say he needs a little practice."

Link huffed.

"I'm merely being honest." Navi retorted.

Malon chuckled. "I never played an ocarina before," she informed her companion. "But the animals like music."

They do? Link titled his head curiously.

Malon brought the ocarina to her lips and began to play, the tune she had been humming played out on the woodwind instrument, the sound different from just her voice, yet both still communicated a gentle, soothing harmony. "Like it?" she asked. "It's a song my Mom made up. Said that it soothes the animals," blue eyes met the little filly's. "She seems to like it at least."

A small chirp from the smaller reptilian said otherwise.

"Ok, maybe dragons have an affinity for music too," Malon chuckled. "Anyway," she said, seeing that Epona had finished up all of the milk. "Still, we'll have to get ready soon," she said, kneeling down to give the hatchling a little scratch on his horned head. "Epona and everyone else have to stay here, but Sparky is coming with us."

He was? Link went over to the small dragon, the fire-colored reptile chirping happily upon seeing the boy. "Malon!"

Link bit his lip. "No, Sparky, I'M Malon," the red-headed girl said. "He's Link."

The dragon titled his head, eyeing the aforementioned boy with intrigue. "Malon!" although it seemed to do little good.

"Still, that aside," Navi interjected. "Why do we need to take your friend here with us to Kakariko ?"

Malon shook her head. "It's not the village that I'm looking to take him to," she answered. "It's the mountain beside it," she said. Then whispered. "Otherwise, I wouldn't even bother going."

Later

"Death Mountain?" Navi questioned aloud, Link sharing her sentiments.

"That's right," Malon answered, she and Link loading the last of the milk and other products onto the wagon, and her father and Mr. Ingo were almost ready to make the journey as well. "You'll find it west of Kakariko . It's where the Gorons live."

"Gorons…" Navi said, Link musing on the word as well. Yes, he remembered, Gris said something about them.

"The Rock People," Malon continued. "At least, that's what I've heard them called."

People? Made out of rocks? Even with all he had seen, Link found that prospect a little difficult to believe. Did that mean they ate rocks too?

"Have you ever seen them?" Navi asked Malon, trying to gather information for her charge.

"Oh, no way!" Malon responded. "Hylians and Gorons don't usually associate with each other for any reason," she informed the forest dwellers. "Plus, I've also heard that you shouldn't mess with them either, they're scary when they're mad."

Link glanced at Navi, then at Malon, not entirely sure how to process what was given to him. Still, regardless, his uncertainty didn't last long, determination coming to his youthful features.

"That may be," the fairy mentioned, making sure to get Link's attention. "And I'll remind him to be careful," she assured the girl. "But we have to see them," she paused. "For The Great Deku Tree."

Malon was quiet for a few moments. "I don't know entirely what you've been told to do," she said. "But I can't help but wonder," she expressed openly. "If you're from the forest, then why would your…father? The Great Deku Tree, send you?" she asked. "Oh, not that I doubt your abilities or anything, but, well…"

Link bit his lip, eyes shifting and boot lightly kicking the ground. Truth be told, he still wondered the same thing.

"Still…if it means that much to you, we can take you there, no problem," the redhead girl assured the boy and his fairy. "Although, you might have to find your own way back."

"No worries," Navi told her. "We have somewhere else to go after we're done at Death Mountain."

"Where to?" Malon inquired.

"To where Zoras live," the fairy answered. "Or wherever the last Spiritual Stone is."

"You're planning on seeing the Zoras too?" the girl questioned, clearly baffled. "Good luck with that one. That'll be next to impossible."

Link was about to ask how so, or at least waited for Navi to ask for him, yet the voice of Talon broke through the mood of their conversation. "Hey! Malon! You and your friend almost ready?!"

"Almost, Dad!" Malon called back, seeing her father up at the front of the wagon, Mr. Ingo steering the horse that would pull the transport vehicle. She then looked around, as if searching for something, or someone. "Wait, where's Sparky?"

Suddenly, Link felt a large mass shifting in his sack, a reptilian head popping out from the opening, three whole apples in its mouth before promptly devouring them all.

Outside Lon Lon Ranch

Link watched as the haven for the strange yet curious creatures grew more and more distant, the open space in the back of the wagon serving as the perfect viewpoint. While he hadn't stayed long, the blonde boy found he was a little reluctant to leave, knowing he wouldn't be returning with the owner and his family.

Despite being so different from the Kokiri Forest, Lon Lon Ranch was rather homey.

"You know, you're actually not that bad."

A voice broke through the boy's musing, turning his head to see Malon had just addressed him, she carrying a small pouch that contained Sparky in its confines, hidden from her father and Mr. Ingo. The back of the wagon was covered with a thick cover of white, concealing the bottled milk and other products to sell in Kakariko, as well as the two children situated with them to keep watch.

"At what?" Navi inquired for her charge.

"Taking care of the animals," Malon responded. "Epona seems to not be as anxious around you as before."

Link's eyes brightened. Did she really think so?

"You know," the redhead girl continued. "Do you have anywhere to go? After you've done what you're supposed to do?"

Well…no, Link thought. True, Saria had offered him a place at the Sacred Meadow when she had first taken him there, yet, if he had to be honest, he didn't feel entirely right going back to the forest. Not after what happened.

"Well, I'm not asking you to live there or anything," Malon clarified, trying to make sure she didn't sound too intrusive. "But, you know, if you don't have any place else to stay during the tougher stuff you do, you can…?"

The girl then paused, confusing the blonde boy and fairy. He was about to inquire what was up, yet Navi cut in before him.

"Hey!" she whispered. "Listen!"

It was distant, yet once he realized it was there, it wouldn't leave. The sound of beating hooves on the ground, just like the horses he had seen at the ranch. Only they seemed numerous as if several of the animals had escaped and begun to run wild in the field. Yet, if that was the case, then why did it sound like they were all coming toward them?

"What's that?" Talon questioned, puzzled, yet Ingo urged him to not move.

"It's them." he hissed, face stricken with concern.

It didn't take more than a few moments for "them" to make their presence known. Riding in on horses of pure black, tall riders with bronze skin and blood-red hair approached the wagon, five or so steeds with some rather fearsome people situated atop the animals.

"Oh no," Malon bit her lip. "The Gerudo."

"Greetings, gentleman," the head of the presumed hunting party told Talon and Ingo, Link recognizing the rider as the woman in pink he had seen in the Castle. "I take it that you're on a little journey?"

Link continued to study the band of women that had come upon them, spotting the woman in red among them as well, along with several others who were dressed in purple and concealed their faces from view with a facial cloth that only allowed for their eyes to peer out.

"What are you doing, get down!" Malon chided, shoving the boy down to the floor of the back of the wagon to conceal him from view.

"Oh, well…yes, we are!" Ingo answered the woman in pink, trying to appear as non-combative as possible. "We're actually on our way to Kakariko to sell some of our wares!"

"Is that so?" another spoke, the Gerudo woman in red, eyeing the back of the wagon. "Well then, seeing as we managed to bump into each other at such an opportune time, maybe you can assist us with something."

The two men at the front immediately felt their blood turn cold. "Uh…like, with what?" Talon asked, all the while keeping an eye on Malon and Link in the back.

The woman in red smiled, clearly enjoying the effect her people's presence had on the general populous. "A few nights prior, we've had a little thief from your country sneak in and steal some of our supplies," she explained. "And we have reason to believe that they're making their way around trying to evade us."

Malon froze upon hearing those words, eyes turning to Link. Was that true?

"Well…what did they steal?" Ingo inquired.

"Just some minor things, nothing more," the woman in red assured. "However, you must understand that such actions against us aren't exactly taken kindly. Thus, we've been searching in order to teach them to not take what doesn't belong to them."

Navi paled, concealing herself under Link's hat. While she didn't need to tell the boy to keep quiet, that didn't mean she couldn't note what she saw to herself. "These guys, er, girls, don't look like the type to play around." Dare say, they appeared dead serious.

"Do you…remember what they looked like?" Talon asked, the woman in pink taking over the conversation.

"The theft occurred at night, so few managed to get a good look," she informed. "However, we do have a brief description of their attire. Apparently," she paused, topaz-colored irises spotting a hint of a particular color in the back that moved out of view just at the last second. "They were dressed in green."

Chapter Text

“G-Green?” Ingo questioned, quickly glancing at his overalls. “Oh! I assure you, ladies, I’ve only been near the valley to get supplies for the Ranch! I’d never consider stealing from you!”

“Relax, old man,” the Gerudo woman in pink told him. “You’re not the one we’re looking for, not even close. Still…” her eyes turned to the back of the wagon. “Is it only the two of you?” 

“Oh us? Well…” the mustached man paused, somewhat relieved, yet he realized what the younger woman had called him. 

Although, just as he then understood the question asked of him, the woman continued. “Aveil,” she commanded, the woman in red turning her head. “Mind taking a small look in the back?”

The woman in red grinned. “Gladly, Commander Nabooru,” she said, trotting to the end of the wagon, coming to find that, indeed, the two men were not alone. Although, what met her eyes was a sight she deemed rather peculiar. “Commander,” she called out. “Come look at this.”

Before either Talon or Ingo could protest, the woman in pink followed in the direction her subordinate had gone, she too coming upon just what had given her comrade such a reaction. 

There was no one in sight, let alone any sign of a green thief, yet there was a small, redheaded girl situated underneath the white cover of the wagon, sitting by a large collection of wares and goods to be sold in the village that day. Nabooru couldn’t be sure, yet the collection of products held an air of suspicion to it as well. A perfect place to hide, at least as perfect as a hiding place could be, given the circumstances. Still, she needed to draw them out. 

“You,” Nabooru called to Malon, the girl freezing up upon hearing the Gerudo address her. “Come closer.”

She was reluctant, at first not willing to move at all. Yet a small glance at the pile of goods seemed to change the child’s mind, whatever lay nearby or behind giving her the resolve to obey the foreign stranger’s command. Crawling slowly toward the larger woman, Malon turned her head to face Nabooru, sapphire irises contrasting greatly with sharpened topaz, pale peach striking against darkened tan. 

“Are you with them?” the Gerudo questioned the girl.

Malon gulped. “Y-Yes,” she answered. “The guy in red is my father.”

“Father?” Nabooru raised a brow. “You live at the Ranch?”

“Y-Yeah, that’s right,” Malon nodded. “I…I was born there.”

Nabooru eyed the girl. The ranchhand had never mentioned the owner had a daughter. Let alone a girl that looked as she did. 

Eyeing the pile of goods, the Gerudo then took Malon by the chin and began to turn her head, analyzing her from every angle, taking in every feature she could catch and account for. “Hmm…” she hummed as she continued her examination. “Interesting.”

“W-What is?” Malon asked, eyes wide and heart beating in her throat. 

Nabooru was quiet, continuing to stare at the girl. Then, in an instant, she released her. “Commander?” Aveil asked, clearly confused. 

The woman in pink then trotted back to the front. “Pardon the intrusion, gentlemen,” she apologized to Talon and Ingo, shocking both men greatly. “It seems that there’s nothing of interest here. Be on your way.”

Aveil whirled her head around, baffled by what she had just heard. “But Commander-”

“They’re free to go, Aveil,” Nabooru said firmly, turning to the rest of her squad. “Does anyone have any protests?”

No one answered.

“All right then, off with you then. Go about your business.” 

Not wasting the chance, Ingo quickly got the steed pulling the wagon to go forward, pulling the contents to sell and the redheaded girl away, steadily growing more and more distant. 

“What was that for?” Aveil inquired, wanting an explanation for her superior’s actions. “You didn’t even search the wagon itself to see if he was there!”

“There was no need,” Nabooru answered. “Our little Hero is riding with them.” 

“What?!” the woman in red exclaimed. “Then why didn’t we grab him then and there?! It’s not like they would be able to overpower us all!”

“I have an idea,” the other Gerudo told her subordinate. “One that’ll require the boy to be alive.”

“And what sort of idea would that be? Letting him get the Stones before any of us?”

Nabooru presented Aveil with a coy grin. “Exactly,” she said. 

Aveil went silent.

“But first,” she continued, looking back in the direction of her homeland. “I’ll need a bit of help from our Lord’s attendants.”

“Those old hags? That’s a bit of a steep order,” Aveil mentioned. “Will they even see you?”

“They will when they hear how what I have in mind will lead our King right to the Triforce,” Nabooru responded confidently.

“And how will that go? You’re already suggesting that the brat beat us to the Door with the Stones.”

The other woman chuckled. “Oh, he’ll get the Stones,” she answered. “It’ll just be Ganondorf that will stand at the Throne of The Power of Gold.”

Further Away

Malon peeked out, spotting no sign of any Gerudo, let alone any person for miles. “I think they’re gone,” she whispered to the product pile in the wagon. “You can come out now.”

The pile shifted a little, a few cheese wheels dislodging before a green-dressed blonde emerged from the collection of goods, his fairy finally free to come out from underneath his hat. 

“Finally!” Navi wheezed. “As good a hiding place as it is, it can get a little stuffy in there.” 

Link was about to retort, yet noticed Malon had her eyes on him, studying and watching as if he were some sort of stranger. “What business do you have with them?” she asked. “Did you really steal something from the Gerudo?”

Link shook his head fervently. “Uh-uh!” he answered. “N-No way!”

“Then how do they know who you are?” she continued to question. “The King might be trying to be friendly with the other peoples of this country, but even he knows better than to displease the Gerudo in any way,” she said, averting her eyes for a second. “Anyone that crosses them ends up dead.”

Link bit his lip, turning his attention to Navi. “Unfortunately, it seems that our task from both The Great Deku Tree and Princess Zelda has gotten us into some hot water with some unsavory characters,” she observed. It was also then that she noticed her charge present her with an inquisitive look. “What? You don’t believe them to be so?”

Link didn’t answer, not entirely confident in his ability to communicate at the moment. However, it appeared that his silence was enough of a response for Malon.

“You seriously think that?” she asked, clearly baffled. “How? They’re trying to hunt you down!”

It was only because they were doing what Ganondorf told them to do, Link thought. If they weren’t following him, then maybe they wouldn’t be part of the problem. If they were a problem at all. From what Link saw, despite looking somewhat different, he couldn’t tell any difference between the Gerudo, Kokiri, or Hylians in terms of just being living beings.

“You’re far too trusting,” Malon told the boy. “You’ll need to be a lot more cautious if you plan on getting up Death Mountain, let alone trying to get the Gorons to listen to you.”

It was then that the girl felt a surge of guilt upon looking at the boy, he seemingly believed her doubt was a sign of a lack of faith in him.

“Hey, I’m not saying you technically CAN’T do it,” Malon assured him. “But, I won’t lie, it’s not going to be easy,” she warned. “You’ll have to be on the level of the Royal Family to probably get them to even think of seeing you.”

Link tilted his head. Why was that?

“Look, it’s…just always been like this. Ever since I was younger,” Malon informed the boy and fairy. “And, honestly, even if the King is trying to make things better,” she paused, biting her lip. “I’m not sure he’ll succeed.”

Moments such as these were when Link cursed his tongue, let alone his difficult relationship with using it properly. Yet, even if he were to communicate what he wanted, he couldn’t help but wonder if it would do any good, which only frustrated him greater. 

While Malon acted like she hated them, Link couldn’t help but notice that, even as she spoke of the Gerduo, her voice was full of anger. Yet her eyes appeared so sad. 

“Hang on, you two! The stairway is coming up!” Talon’s voice spoke up, gathering the attention of both the children and the fairy. 

Before anyone could say anything more, the wagon was jostled and the two kids were temporarily airborne as their transport vibrated up and down as it went up the chiseled pathway up the rocky surface of the hollowed-out section of the mountain. Wait a moment, Link thought, mountain?

Was he there? Death Mountain? And if that was the case, then were they…?

“All right, here we are!” Talon declared, the wagon finally growing still, fertile grass serving as a better resting place for the two posts that held up a wooden sign that Link couldn’t understand, yet the owner of the Ranch declared what he had hoped for. “Kakariko Village!”

At the gate stood a soldier similar to those seen in Castle Town, the armored Hylian quickly taking notice of the approaching wagon. “Halt!” he called out, the transport stopping upon command. “Who are…” he narrowed his eyes, the sun momentarily blinding his vision, yet not for long. “Ah, Talon!” he greeted. “And Ingo! I take it you’re here to sell some extras you’ve got lying around?”

Talon nodded with a smile. “You got it,” he replied. “Rupees are a little tight this month, so we’re trying to be a little more secure in our finances.”

“It’s not easy for many around here, even for those in the capital,” the soldier mentioned. “Anyway, go on in. I’ll alert Mutoh that you’re coming.” 

Who was that? Link didn’t get a chance to ask as the wagon moved the moment the gate was opened, allowing Talon and company safe passage inside. However, as the wagon continued past the open wooden barrier, Link couldn’t help but notice the soldier eyeing Malon in the back, regarding her with a degree of suspicion. 

“It looks like things like that run deep here,” Navi whispered to her boy. “But I think it’s best we mind our own business.”

Maybe, Link thought. Still, even if this was how things were in Hyrule, it didn’t take long for him to decide that none of it sat right with him.

Again, he was greeted with the sight of the strangest trees he had ever seen, only these abodes appeared to be more reliant on wood than stone or brick, the lack of abundant forest life contrasting greatly with the Kokiri Forest, yet there was an openness that couldn’t be found in Castle Town. 

Grass and soil were in abundance here, the few trees there were relatively healthy looking, and in the distance, it appeared as if some sort of large structure was at the most northern portion, large blades slowly spinning with what Link could only assume was the wind. 

“There’s a guy we meet around here that helps out with things,” Malon explained to Link, the wagon making a stop nearby a solitary tree residing in the center of the small gathering of people living in the area. “He has a family that lives here, including a daughter and son. She helps take care of the village cuckoos, and he…well, he…hangs around.” 

Hang around? From a tree? Link didn’t entirely understand what the redhead girl meant, yet, before he could ask, a bellowing male voice shouted, reverberating throughout the area. 

“Talon! Good to see you!” 

Link, Malon, and Navi made their way to the front to see an older Hylian man dressed in a blue, short-sleeved vest, and striped, yellow pants with simple brown shoes approach the wagon. His barrel chest was bare and, despite his age and balding head, a white mustache, and eyebrows the only hair on his face, his arms were still heavily muscled and it appeared he still used that strength daily. 

“Ah, Mutoh!” Talon greeted with a wave. “Good to see you too!” 

“Here to get some extra Rupees for your buck?” the older man questioned with a rise of his brow.

“Just a little to get through the month,” the man in red and blue answered, Ingo rolling his eyes as he and Mutoh continued to converse and exchange small talk. 

Then, the vest-wearing village dweller noticed the two children—particularly the one in green. “Who’s this? A friend of yours, Malon?” Mutoh questioned.

“Uh, yeah, sure,” the red-haired girl answered. “I met him back in Castle Town yesterday.”

“Huh, is that so?” Mutoh rubbed his chin, studying the blonde a little more. “Well, if he’s willing, he can help get all your stuff set out, right kid?”

If by “stuff”, he meant the pile that served as a means to conceal himself earlier, then sure, Link nodded. 

“All right, then it’s settled,” he said. Then, he took a moment. “My men are currently busy with a new project going on at the moment, a shooting gallery I think. It’s supposed to bring more people here, although we’ve already got one of those in Castle Town.” he mused.

“Well, it’s true,” Ingo added. “Money makes the world go round.” 

Mutoh rubbed his chin. “Regardless…it seems that’s what’s motivating anyone nowadays,” he then went to the back of the wagon, spotting the goods brought to be sold. “Hmm, not a bad haul you’ve got here. Although,” he said. “It’ll probably take more than just us to gather it all,” he then looked over, spotting a figure in the distance. “Hey, you!” the old man called out. “Come here!” 

A few moments later, a burly individual with a proud dark mustache, hair fashioned to where it resembled two horns and a similar blue vest to Mutoh’s own approached the wagon and older man. “Yeah, Boss?” the younger of the two asked. “What’s up? Need another beam moved?”

“Actually no,” Mutoh answered. “Bremor, I need you to get Bret, Doyle, and Mack to help get these fine folk’s things to the selling stand.”

The man, Bremor, appeared delighted with this news brand upon seeing who had come to the village. “Oooh, those nice folks from the Ranch are here? Oh, they have some of the best stuff!” 

“Some of the only stuff since the war ended,” Mutoh whispered, finding his worker’s joy somewhat foolish, yet he couldn’t bring himself to damper the mood entirely. “The point is, they’re going to need help setting up, so you all are taking a break from what you’re doing and helping out here!”

“Well, it’s been an hour or two since I last had a chance to sit down for a bit-”

“You can do that later! For now, help these folks! That’s your new assignment!”

“Yes sir.” Bremor sighed, wiping his forehead. “Back-breaking work never ends for the working man…” with that, he ran off to get his fellow workers.

Mutoh glanced back at Link once again. “So, where are you from, kid?” he questioned. 

Link tried to speak, yet Navi came out from underneath his hat, seeing the boy’s difficulty. “He comes on behalf of The Great Deku Tree and Princess Zelda,” the fairy answered. “We’re here to save Hyrule.”

Mutoh stopped, stunned by what was before him. “A fairy?” He then chuckled. “Well, I’ll be. I’ve always heard of the Forest Children, but I wondered if they ever existed,” he crossed his arms, in awe but also bemused. “So, you’re on an assignment, are you?” 

Link nodded, then drew out his sword and shield to show he truly meant business. 

“Huh, armed too, huh?” Mutoh squinted. “That knife actually looks real too.”

Knife? Link studied the Kokiri Sword’s length. It wasn’t that short, was it? 

“Well, if you’re here on behalf of the Princess as well,” the older man stated. “Then maybe you can start by assisting her people by helping to set things up.”

Later

“And, it looks like that’s it!” Mutoh declared with pride, gazing at the stand filled with goods from Lon Lon Ranch. 

With Bremor were three other men, each dressed similarly to both himself and Mutoh, yet with different colored pants and hairstyles that distinguished one from the other. Nevertheless, they all still bore the same muscled figure, as well as the apparent exhaustion present on each of their faces. 

“Thanks for your help, Mutoh,” Talon told the older man, momentarily stretching. “That was a bit of a workout!”

Workout?! You didn’t even set one cheese wheel! Ingo inwardly fumed. 

Malon only sighed while Link found the man in green’s reaction sort of funny. 

“Glad to be of service,” Mutoh responded with pride, then turning to his workers. “Isn’t that right, boys?”

“Oh uh, yeah! Sure thing, Boss!” One of the burly men sporting green trousers and a full head of puffy hair responded. “Guess it’s break time now?”

“What do you mean? Helping these folks WAS the break!” Mutoh answered. “We’ve still got stuff to do, so get on it!”

“Y-Yes, Boss!” All four men raced away.

Mutoh turned back to the Ranch owner and his family. “That's all you need?” He questioned.

“Yeah, we can take it from here, thank you,” Talon told the Head of Kakariko. Then, he turned toward the children. “We can take things from here, why don’t you two go play somewhere?” It was then that the brunette man in red and blue noticed the bulge in the sack his daughter carried. “Malon? What’s that?” 

“Oh! Uh, just some stuff from home,” she answered, albeit hesitantly. “Mom’s here, isn’t she?”

“Well, yes, she is,” he said. “Have some things you want to plant?”

“Sort of,” Malon answered. “It’s more of dropping some things off. May I?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

With his approval, Malon went off, carrying the sack with her, as well as whatever was inside. 

Link looked to see the red-haired girl ascend a nearby staircase in the rock wall nearby, seemingly spotting something that caught her interest, much to Talon and Ingo’s confusion.

“Where does she think she’s going? The graveyard’s on the opposite end of the village.” Ingo observed.

Graveyard? Link remembered hearing of such a thing once, in one of The Great Deku Tree’s stories. While he and the rest of the Kokiri were assured that such a thing was of no worry or worth to them, the prospect of it all still chilled the blonde to a degree.

A place for the dead. 

“You wouldn’t happen to know the way to Death Mountain, would you?” Navi asked Talon, redirecting Link to his current task. 

“The same way Malon went,” the Ranch owner answered. “Although, I can’t say that you’ll get past the gate.”

No worries, Link thought, pulling out the letter he received from the Princess. 

“Hm?” Talon took the letter to examine it. “Oh wow, this is…” he turned his eyes to Link. “How did you get this?” 

Link opened his mouth, determined to at least answer for himself once, yet he never got the chance to even try.

“Stop!”

“No!” That voice. Malon?

“She’s carrying something with her!” And those sounded familiar as well, but Link couldn’t exactly place them.

Navi, on the other hand, had no problem remembering. “It’s those brats from Castle Town!” She hissed. Great, she thought. She was NOT in the mood to go get her wings nearly pulled off again. 

“It’s nothing!” Malon shouted back, another girl protesting her claim.

“Get the bag!”

Soon, sounds of distress were heard, Talon was about to step in, yet before he could make a move, the boy in green rushed toward the source, far quicker than any of the three men. 

“Is he really from the Lost Woods?” Mutoh asked, Talon in turn shrugging.

“That’s what he said. Well, sort of.”

Ingo bit his lip. He wouldn’t interfere, knowing well that it was pointless. Still, despite the situation, he couldn’t help but find it comforting that, Forest Child or not, at least Malon had something of a friend now. 

This is why she hated coming here.

So far, however, she had managed to evade all three, making her way toward the house of Mutoh’s daughter, the small fenced-in area for her cuckoos. She was nowhere near where she wanted to be, yet she had to get those guys off her trail if she was ever going to take Sparky-

“Ahh!”

“Got her!”

Her waist was tackled, and Malon found herself sent to the ground with another girl in yellow atop her. The sack carrying Sparky was underneath them both, the combined weight of both girls forcing the baby dragon to escape his confines, worming his way out and crawling until he finally got some fresh air.

“Ew! What is that?!” Eda questioned, Liam and Otto approaching beside her to study the strange creature.

“Looks like some sort of lizard,” Otto observed, feeling the small dragon’s skin. “A really big lizard.”

“Maybe it’s some sort of reptile?” Liam questioned. “Some type of Dodongo mutant?”

“No way! Dodongos are green!” Eda protested, glancing over at Sparky. “This guy is mostly black and reddish orange.” 

“He’s neither of those things! He’s mine!” Malon said, rising once Eda got off. “I bought him, and I’m taking him to Death Mountain!”

“Ha! I knew it! I knew you were hiding something in there!” Otto shouted, pointing an accusing digit in the redhead’s direction. “What else are you hiding?!”

“Nothing!” Malon protested. “Now, leave me alone! I gotta-”

“No way!” the red-capped boy grabbed the girl’s arm. “My dad says you may have Hylian ears, but you’ve still got the hair of those desert filth!” he said. “All you Gerudo-spawn are the same! Trying to work your way in so you can screw up everything!”

“I am not!” Malon hissed, trying to wrench her arm from the boy’s grasp. “Get off me!” 

“Fine!”

She soon realized why he had obeyed her demand so readily.

The yanking motion she had made forced her down into a small puddle of fresh mud, her backside coated in a viscous combination of water and soil. She tried to rise but was forced down, finding herself flipped over to where her face rested right above the puddle.

“Last chance!” Otto called out, holding Malon by the back of the head. “What else are you hiding!?”

“Nothing! I’m not-”

“Liar!”

Before another word could be said, whether barking back an insult or forming a plea, Malon found her face shoved into the wet, brown substance, rendering her speechless and unable to do anything but flail her arms wildly, trying in vain to get herself up. Eventually, after a few moments, Otto pulled her up by the back of her head, releasing her from the puddle and allowing her to breathe, yet her face was coated in a thick, brown coating.

“There!” Otto remarked. “Now your face matches your hair, you filthy half-breed!”

Malon didn’t answer, too shocked to speak, let alone retaliate at that current moment. Not taking her silence as a satisfactory answer, about to repeat what he had done just moments previously.

Only he never got that far. 

A blow to the side of his face sent the boy flying a few feet, he landing on the fence that held the cuckoos, the white birds were immediately startled by the suddenness of the crash, scattering and leaving the area as soon as possible, lest they be potentially crushed next. Otto looked up to see a boy in green with blonde hair glowering down at him, clearly not hiding that he was the one responsible for what just happened.

“You…you’re the guy from…?” Otto stammered, massaging his sore cheek, eyes glancing at Link, then back at Malon. “Heh, I should’ve known that a weirdo like you would know someone like this.”

Upon rising, Link rushed forward, jostling Navi from her place underneath his hat and sending her out in the open, now witness to the outright brawl taking place between the two children. “Oh great,” she sighed, shaking her head. “Hey! Link! Knock it off! We didn’t come here for…”

The fairy paused, eyes then falling on Malon, who was rising from the ground, motions somewhat janky yet she eventually got to her feet. The redhead girl said nothing, only staring at the ground with a face caked in fresh mud, her red hair still quite visible atop of her head. 

“Malon…”

Hitching, the girl couldn’t stop tears from falling down her cheeks as she began to tremble, fists shaking as she soon found herself unable to stay any longer, grabbing Sparky and running through an entryway to another part of Kakariko in complete distress, all the while Link and Otto continued to fight. 

She hated coming here.

Chapter Text

"So, this is where you are," Gris mused aloud, gazing down at the ground, the tiled earth having already been decorated with flowers and parting gifts from those who held them dear. She glanced at the items and bouquets, a set of each parallel to each other. "Sorry," she sighed. "I don't have anything."

Before the blonde girl stood two graves, each nearly identical in shape, color, and symbols carved into the surface, save for the names emblazoned on them.

"Here lies Sharp,

Here lies Flat,

Composers of the Royal Family."

The latter portion was upon both of them, acknowledging the men's work in serving the highest members of society. Still, Gris never knew them as that. Well, technically the Princess, yet she had "exchanged" more than a few words regarding the two men to her "friend."

Sharp and Flat had always been working with the Royal Family, at least, for as long as she and the "Princess" remembered, the two musicians were originally from a far-off land that had been allowed a place in the King's Court due to their impeccable skill with both writing and playing music.

From what Gris had been "told" by the "Princess", the two men were to compose a new song for the upcoming Princess Day, yet the twin graves before the blonde girl cemented their music would never be heard from their own hands again.

"I'm sorry," Gris whispered, fiddling with her hands. "It was only after you died that the dreams started. If I had known sooner…"

The blonde was then brought from her reminiscing by the sounds of sniffling and hiccuping sobs, the girl turning around to see a shape run in through the gate of the Kakariko Village Graveyard. Oddly enough, while she couldn't entirely tell from the distance she was at, the small shape appeared very familiar.

But what was that thing with her?

Spotting a nearby shack that looked as if it had been abandoned for years, Malon finally allowed her tired body some rest, practically falling to her backside, the baby dragon still in her arms. Sparky tried to lick her face to catch the still-flowing tears streaming down her cheeks, yet she turned her head away, not wanting comfort at the moment.

No, what good would that do? She was comforted every time something like this happened, and did it do anything? Did it make them stop? Did it get people to not eye her with suspicion or scorn?

Nothing helped. Not her father's words, not Mr. Ingo's, nobody's. She hated it. All of it. But, most of all, she thought, taking clumps of the red fibers in her grasp, what she really hated was what rested atop her head. If that was gone, then maybe…just maybe…but how would she…?

Spotting a nearby handheld sickle resting against the aged wood of the shack, Malon set the baby dragon over to the side and took the tool, grabbing a large portion of her long red wave of hair, preparing to be rid of a majority of it in a few moments. And afterward, she'd just cut and cut and cut until there was nothing left. She didn't care, being bald was better than having hair of this color!

"Hey, hey, hey!" a voice shouted, the sound of shoes pounding against the earth meeting the redhead's ears, lifting her head to see a familiar blonde coming near. "What do you think you're doing?!"

Kakariko Village

"Whoa, what's with you?!" Otto questioned, rising to see the boy in green still staring him down, far from done in seemingly making his point. "That dirty half-breed, a friend of yours or something?" Link didn't answer, continuing to glower with disgust and fury. "You've got a poor choice in who you associate with if that's the case!"

Link said nothing but lunged forward, intending to make this brat eat those words. Yet before he could deliver another punch, a bellowing crow echoed throughout the entire village, and both boys looked over to see a blue rooster had been the one vocalizing. All the scattered chickens seemed to heed their blue companion's call, stopping in their tracks.

Then, their eyes centered on the two youths.

"…uh, bye!" Otto wasted no time making himself scarce, knowing well what such a phenomenon meant.

Link, however, had no idea what he was in for. Still, why did he run, the boy in green wondered. Pft, he scoffed. Wimp. Nothing to be afraid of here but some birds.

"Uh, Link?" Navi began, now seeing that a hoard of the white feathery birds was steadily approaching her charge.

The blue rooster took one look at Link and motioned a wing over his neck as if making the gesture of slitting one's throat.

"Watch out!"

Kakariko Graveyard

"What is that?" Gris questioned aloud, gesturing toward the sickle Malon had in her possession.

The redhead didn't answer at first, shocked that she had been caught, yet her surprise quickly turned into anger at having been interrupted. "N-None of your business!" she barked back. "Besides, I'm not going to need it long, anyway!"

She pulled back, ready to bring the sharpened, curved blade to the fibers atop her head, yet a hand similar to her own held the tool back, keeping Malon from finishing the job. "Hey! What are you trying to do!? Kill yourself?!"

"Why would you care either way?!" the redhead shouted, struggling to pull the sickle back away from the blonde girl.

Sparky simply sat on the ground, unsure of what to do as the two children continued their struggle over possession of the sickle, yet the baby dragon soon heard pounding steps approaching them, along with the sounds of a young child panicking.

"What the…?" Gris and Malon were brought from their dispute by a frightened cry meeting their ears, and they looked toward the source to see a familiar figure in green booking it toward the graveyard. "Link?" Gris asked aloud, about to question just what the boy was doing in Kakariko so early (not that the Princess would complain, as the boy was on track), yet he rushed right past her, seemingly in dire need to escape whatever he was presumably running from.

"Link! Slow down! Don't you dare leave me!"

Navi came not long after, garnering both girls to look to see just what was going on. And, from the looks of it, they were all in trouble.

"Oh no," Malon uttered. "Whatever he's done, the Cuckoos won't rest until they catch him."

"Then how about we make sure they don't catch us?!" Gris questioned, dragging Malon with her, hiding behind a nearby tombstone with freshly planted flowers.

The barrage of furious poultry rushed past them, all bent on getting the pointy-eared blonde that had dared disturb them. Watching them run up a nearby small hill, once out of sight, Gris stood up and began to run in the direction they went.

"Whoa, where are you going?" Malon asked. "If I were you, I'd stay clear out of their way. They may not look like it, but Cuckoos have a nasty vengeful streak."

"I need to talk to Link," the blonde girl responded. "I'll be fine. You can wait here where it's safe."

"But-"

"I really don't have time, I've got to see him!"

With that, the youth dressed in pink ran off, leaving the redhead alone, Sparky still situated by the old shed. Realizing that he was safe, Malon was about to approach him, yet then noticed she still had the sickle in her hand. Her distress had mitigated somewhat, yet the prospect of not having this accursed hair still appealed to her greatly. Thus, she resumed what she had initially set out to do, bringing the gardening tool to the waves of red that reached her mid-back.

"Whoa, hey there!"

Just before she could even start the task, a hand seized her wrist, her blue eyes darting to see a far larger figure had caught her in the act, their shape quite strange and unusual.

"Now, I've been looking for this here scythe for a few minutes now," the shape observed, viewing the tool in the girl's possession with enlarged eyes, one of which was nearly protruding from their misshapen head. "Care to explain what you're doing with it, young lady?"

Just what had he done?!

This, as well as the recounting of just how he got into this situation, replayed in Link's mind as the swarm of frenzied birds continued to give chase, clucking and crowing in fury and clearly out for blood. A part of him initially thought to bring out his sword and simply defend himself, yet then came the knowledge that he would be cutting down helpless animals. True, they were most likely aiming to tear his hair out or pluck his eyeballs from his skull, but still, they were just animals. To use such force against them didn't sit right with the boy in the slightest.

Still, he had to do something soon!

"Link!"

Looking back, he saw a winged ball of light zooming toward him, latching onto the end of his hat as she was exhausted trying to catch up. Seeing the strange object now attached to the article of clothing, some of the Cuckoos began to jump up and peck or bite at the fairy, trying to see if she was the same flavor as some of those other insects that glowed in the night.

"Hey, back off! No nibbling!"

Having had enough of this, the fairy finally managed to climb her way to the safety that lay underneath her charge's hat, although she still kept a lookout to see if the enraged birds were drawing closer, ready to tell the boy to move it, if not for her own sake.

Suddenly, in the distance, the boy spotted a structure, far taller than those found in Kakariko Village, yet it bore the same aesthetic and style. Only, it was clear the owners saw to it to make a few expansions on the already existing home. At least, they did back in the day, presumably. Now, the towering abode was embraced by twisting ivy and vines, the boards and wood composing the place ancient and rotted. Dare say, Link was second-guessing even entering this place as it looked as if it would fall apart at any second!

"Don't you dare let those things eat me!"

Still, what other choice was there? It was either that or he and Navi would be literal chicken chow. Especially Navi, she already looked enough like a bug, although Link didn't articulate this out loud.

Rushing up the steps, the boy's boot fell through the top, yet he quickly retrieved it from the broken wood and reached for the door. Turning the knob, the sounds of angry birds drew closer and closer, the boy shutting the door just in time and preventing the enraged fowl from entering.

Although, upon looking at what he had stumbled into, perhaps outside with the Cuckoos wouldn't have been so bad.

"Are we safe now?" Navi questioned, making her way out from underneath her charge's hat. "I feel their presence outside, but I assume they can't open a…door…?"

The fairy saw that Link had indeed found a haven from the Cuckoos, yet she was now more concerned as to whether or not it would fall in the next few seconds. The windows were boarded up, sealing away access to a majority of light, casting the large room they found themselves in almost near total darkness. Cobwebs and freshly spun threads of silk littered the place, attached to anything that had a corner or some sort of area that the spider could hook the ends of its symmetrical creation to, some wrapped-up insects and bugs already caught in some of the webs. The furniture of this home, Navi noted, appeared to be rather expensive and fine-crafted, much unlike the more homely feel of a Kokiri's home. And it certainly lacked the cleanliness and overall upkeep that Castle Town and the Temple of Time had, much less the rest of Kakariko.

Still, just what was this place, and why was it here? So far off from the village?

"...hello?"

The boy froze, his spine gaining a cold chill and his blood turning to ice, the sounds of creaking wood and steps making their way down echoed throughout the entire desolate abode. Seeing a nearby couch that had seen better days, Link wasted no time in diving behind it, making sure to conceal himself entirely as the shadow of a humanoid figure was seen on the wall, about to reveal itself to the small intruder and, if need be, battle with it.

Yet, instead of a monster or some other hideous creature, what met the boy's eyes was that of a normal man, similar to those that he had seen outside. With deep red hair, a green, long-sleeved shirt, and a pair of sandy-brown trousers with dark shoes, the Hylian made his way down the stairs, legs seemingly unsteady, as if he wasn't used to using them. Or rather, not used to just using two. With a few stumbles, he eventually made his way to the bottom, walking slowly and with careful consideration to the door, standing in front of the aged slab of wood, seemingly pondering on whether or not to open it.

Just then, there was a small knock on the door.

Outside

Geez, what a creepy place, Gris thought, grimacing as some grime stained her hands from touching the door. "Ew, gross," she winced, rubbing on her dress to rid herself of the feeling, about to reach for the door again, albeit with the fabric of her dress covering her hand so she wouldn't have to-

BOOM!

"Yowch!" losing her balance, the blonde girl fell to the rotted deck as the door opened, revealing a peculiar individual who shielded himself from the sunlight beaming down, as if he hadn't seen the great ball in the sky in years. "Hey! Watch where you're…"

Although, from what she saw, perhaps he hadn't seen it in years. At least, long enough to where the massive star was an object of fascination for him. "I've forgotten…" he murmured. "I've forgotten…how warm…" he passed by the downed Gris, seemingly not even noticing she was there. "How nice…the air…"

Observing him, Gris watched as he descended the stairs and unsteadily began to walk toward the town, she too rising up and watching him go off. "What the…?" she blinked in confusion but then directed her attention to the door. Or rather, she remembered just who she was following. Still, she couldn't deny that the man's behavior put her off, if not simply for how bizarre it was. Still, she wondered, did he live here? If so, for how long? "Personally," she observed, "I think this place should've been torn down ages ago," touching the knob again, she turned it. "This place is probably loaded with spiders."

Old Shack

"So, someone actually lives here?" Malon questioned, wiping her face clean of mud with the cloth handed to her by the cabin's owner.

"Eyup," an old voice answered her, the figure belonged to a bizarre shape indeed to most: a hunchbacked man dressed in worn, darkly colored (almost completely brown) attire of a sleeveless top and pants with simple socks and shoes, his face misshapen into a semi-grotesque appearance, yet it wasn't terrifying in any sense. It was merely…unusual. Still, he had already provided her more of a helping hand than anyone else in this village, so Malon couldn't complain. "It's not much of a place, but it's near work, and it's a roof over my head and a dry bed, so that's as much as I could ask for. Speaking of," he continued. "What was going on out there anyway? I thought kids knew to be quiet here around this time of day."

Malon lowered her head. "Sorry Mister…?"

"Dampe's my name, little miss."

"Yeah, Dampe," she meekly responded. "I tripped and fell."

"If that's the case, then it was mostly your face that was covered," the old man noted. "So why were you using my sickle to cut your hair?"

The redhead clammed up, biting her lip and turning her head away, as if not wishing to acknowledge what she had previously been doing. "It…it's nothing," she answered. "I don't want to do it anymore, anyway."

"Those kids make fun of you?" Dampe questioned, quickly deducing that he was on the right track. "More than that, isn't it? Your face was all muddy; that wasn't an accident, was it?"

Malon bit down harder, backing up toward the door. "Well…sorry to run, but…I've got to go find somebody," she answered, handing the cloth back to the grave keeper she had accidentally awakened during her fight with Gris. Speaking of, she was following Link too, wasn't she? "Thank you, Mr. Dampe! If you're interested, we've got a sale going on outside! Check it out!"

With that, she ran out, grabbed Sparky, and headed up the hill, trying to remember which direction the Cuckoos had gone in.

Old House

The creaking of the door alerted Link that another party had entered, the boy uncertain of whether to rise or stay hidden. Sensing his apprehension, despite her own hesitance, Navi knew that the proper thing would be to go out and check on his behalf. Making her way out from underneath his hat, she peeked from behind the worn-down couch and saw that, to her relief, there was nothing to fear.

At least, not at the present. Odd, she thought. Despite this place being a perfect location for such, she could feel no foul presence here.

Gris heard shuffling and whirled around, cursing that she didn't bring something in with her to defend herself, yet found no need as she saw just who she was looking for. "Oh, thank the Goddesses!" the blonde girl sighed with relief, rushing over to the boy in green. "I half believed that the Cuckoos had already torn you apart!"

Link shook his head no, dusting himself off and attempting to look proud and strong as if the Hero appointed by The Great Deku Tree would be taken down by a couple of chickens.

"You do realize it was the village's entire population of poultry, right?" Navi corrected him, reading his outer musings once again. "And you were practically running for your life."

Link's cheeks grew red and he huffed, crossing his arms in indignation.

"Well, what matters is that they're out there, and we're in here," Gris stated, looking around. Then, she paused.

"What is it?" Navi questioned, the girl beginning to walk around the deserted living quarters.

"Strange," she thought aloud.

"What is?" the fairy inquired.

"This place…" Gris answered. "I…think I've seen it before. Before it was like…" she paused. "This."

"What do you mean?" Navi asked, Link wondering the same, tilting his head in confusion.

Gris was quiet for a few moments, pondering on just what exactly she recognized. "It was one of the few times I was allowed outside the Castle," she whispered, although this remained unheard mostly by Link.

Navi, however, was more curious. "What was that?"

The blonde girl didn't answer, her focus on the stairs before her. She then began to ascend without a word, climbing to the upper floors of the desolate abode.

"H-Hey, wait!" Navi called out, yet the girl went on, dedicated to discovering the mystery of this place. The fairy read her charge's thoughts exactly, Link racing up the stairs after Gris, the smaller, winged woman left behind in the dust. "H-Hey! You're not allowed to leave me!"

All right, she reached the top!

Yet before she could take another step forward, a hand placed itself on her shoulder, the blonde girl released a startled yelp and whirled around, ready to swing her purse at whatever or whoever had grabbed her. This maneuver was immediately cut short upon realizing who it was.

"Don't scare me like that!" Gris groaned, sighing with relief that it was just Link. "Still, weren't you supposed to check downstairs?"

The blonde boy was puzzled. She didn't give any indication that was what she wanted.

"Well, it doesn't matter, we can do that later," she said. "For now, I've been meaning to talk to you," she informed. "Or rather, The Princess wants me to give you a message."

Navi caught up her rather speedy charge, resting on his shoulder and letting air into her lungs, stuffy as it was. "And that would be?" The fairy asked. "If I may ask, why does this place hold any interest to you?"

"Not so much me, but rather, The Princess," Gris answered. "When she was younger," she then paused. "When her mother, Queen Ambrianna, was still alive, there was a family of Nobles that made their home in Kakariko," she explained. "They threw rather lavish parties to show off their status, and one night, they hired a pair of musicians to play an experimental number."

They both came upon a room, empty and barren of any furniture, yet it was covered practically everywhere in cobwebs, following in the same fashion as everywhere else in this place. Still, this seemed like a safe enough place. Link's fairy didn't appear to sense any danger.

"And who were these musicians?" Navi questioned, still reclining on her Kokiri's larger shoulder.

Gris parted her lips to speak, yet found herself robbed of an answer, as another had stepped in and spoken for her.

"The Great Miestros of Hyrule…"

Only, it was neither Link nor Navi that had done so.

"Sharp and Flat…"

The two children looked upward, the aged, weary voices emitting from high above in the shadows of the ceiling, noticing shapes were moving from amidst the dense webbing. Only there was nothing about them that was human, let alone resembling anything with two legs.

"Oh, I remember that day…they crafted the beginning of what was to be their Magnum Opus," one of the shapes began to descend. "They said that it was for the future Princess to play when she was of age."

Before the two blonde children hung a shape with eight appendages, twisted and crooked, two of them resembling misshapen hands at the ends combined with insectoid pincers, skin, and exoskeleton meshing in a sickening harmony that shouldn't have been possible, unless it was the result of some dark, terrible magic.

And indeed, only dark, terrible magic could produce a creature so twisted yet still somehow functioning.

"But, dare I say," the abdomen, or rather, face, said, mouthpieces upon the head of the horribly disjointed arachnid moving up and down, teeth barely touching as it somehow managed to successfully convey a coherent voice. "You seem to resemble her very much, young lady."

Chapter Text

Perhaps he had come on too strong, as the eight-legged creature immediately saw the fear developing in the girl's eyes, the boy she was with was quite alarmed by his presence as well. Then, the two bolted. Or rather, the girl bolted, dragging the boy in green with her, the fairy staying behind, mysteriously enough.

"No, wait!" the creature begged, Navi was startled by what she was seeing, yet, unlike the children, she didn't flee. Rather, she was more puzzled than anything. By all accounts, this…thing's appearance should indicate that it was a creature of evil, a monster from the depths. Yet she sensed no such malice or ill intent from the beast. Rather, she found herself looking upon a twisted yet pitiful thing that was pleading for its two potential saviors not to leave. "Come back! It's not what it looks like!"

Navi turned to see that Gris and Link were long gone, fluttering out of the room to see the two had migrated downstairs, the blonde girl grasping what appeared a small, green crystal in her hand.

"Come on, work, please!" she begged, clutching the gemstone with all her strength, eyes widening with hope when a small, green glow began to emanate from within the crystal's surface.

And, curiously enough, a light breeze had seemingly manifested in the abandoned home.

"W-Wait!" Navi pleaded, the children not even realizing that she wasn't even there with them.

Yet it was ultimately too late, a sudden whirlwind of bright green materializing and consuming the two youths, jostling several of the webs and other pieces of rotten furniture before vanishing altogether, Gris and Link completely gone from sight.

Outside

What had just happened?

From the brief recalling of events that had just occurred, Link had seen a spider with a face that could talk, and he was about to draw his sword to cut it down. Yet, before he could do so, an arm grabbed him and practically dragged him off his feet and down the stairs. And then, everything was consumed in a whirlwind of greens and pure whites, a comforting glow radiating throughout the tornado. And now, he was here, in the middle of a field, presumably still in Kakariko, but where exactly was completely unknown.

Perhaps Navi would be able to relay some answers…wait. Navi? Link looked around, spotting, to his shock and horror, no sign of the pale-blue fairy that had a particularly loud voice for such a little thing.

"Oh good, we're out!" a voice sighed in relief, Link turned to see a girl in pink standing up, dusting herself off to rid herself of any article related to where they had just escaped from. "I KNEW that place had spiders, but not like that!" she then looked to see she wasn't alone. "Great! That got you too!" she exclaimed with joy, giving the boy and thankful embrace. She then examined the crystal in her grasp, the green glow retreating back into the very center. "Looks like this can take more than just one person," she observed. "Good news, I guess, in case I need to bring you along anywhere-"

"Navi?"

Gris blinked in shock, momentarily forgetting that, in some moments, the boy could indeed speak. "What?" she asked, puzzled. Then she noticed something peculiar.

Or rather, something entirely absent.

"Navi?!" Link called out again, blue eyes scanning the grassy area, yet he saw no sign of the fairy anywhere.

But he did notice something else. Or rather, several somethings. Somethings with white feathers, red crests, yellow beaks, and, upon noticing him, a murderous look in their eyes. The blue-feathered male of the flock spotted the young boy and bellowed out a commanding crow, his orders clear as the entirety of the hoard descended on the two children.

Mostly the boy in green.

Any pecks the girl in pink received were due to close proximity.

Kakariko Village

"So, you just went inside for a second, and then this is how you found it?" Mutoh asked a woman far younger than he, yet it was clear that he wasn't interested in her in any sense. Rather, he spoke to her in a familial fashion, as if she were family.

"Essentially, yes," the woman, who sported short, red hair the color of dark rust, almost auburn in color, answered, her attire consisting of a blouse of white, a sleeveless vest of brown, high heels, and a blue skirt that reached down to her ankles. "So far, I've seen no one around that could've caused it, let alone where any of the Cuckoos could've gone."

"Not too far, surely," Talon assured her, having left Ingo at the stand to take care of products. "Although, who knows, the little critters can fly far."

"The point is, my Anju can't just go out and collect them herself," Mutoh explained, gesturing to his daughter. "She's allergic, you know."

"It's true," Anju confessed. "At first, it was manageable, but it's gradually been getting worse over the years to where my skin breaks out in hives if I even am exposed around them for too long. Much less have direct skin-to-skin contact," she then sighed. "If only Grog came to the Village at some other time other than night, he could probably get them."

"Well, I don't suppose you have any idea where they could've gone, do you, Sparky?" Malon questioned the baby dragon, who in turn shook his head in response to her inquiry. "Great," she sighed. "I may have found someone that actually doesn't care about my hair, and I manage to lose him," she muttered to herself, then she thought for a moment. "No, don't be ridiculous," she shook her head. "He just doesn't know any better. He's lived in the forest his entire life, of course he doesn't know what having red hair means," she examined her locks again, wondering whether or not it was a good thing she had been stopped before she could complete the deed of chopping it all off. "If he knew, then he wouldn't be. No one would be."

Sparky looked up and noticed the girl's downcast expression, chirping lightly to try and draw her attention. He presented his own red crest, and she sighed in response.

"You're not a Hylian, dragons are different," Malon told him. "But…I appreciate the effort."

The little drake squeaked. "Malon…" he chirped, purring afterward as if adding the soothing noise to her name.

Before she could answer, the redhead heard a commotion going on far ahead, yet, judging from the volume of the voices, whatever was going on was coming closer.

"Stop! They're trying to poke out your eyes!"

Malon's own eyes widened. "What the..?"

"Cover your face instead of your neck!"

A shout of frustration was heard among a slew of clucks and angered crowing, the source of both soon coming to be seen coming down the hill. "Link?!" she noticed the trouble, as well as the fact that there was a flock of furious Cuckoos ready to tear him to pieces. "Stay here for a moment, Sparky," she urged, placing the dragon on a nearby patch of grass. "This might be a little hairy," she said, racing up to the scene. "Or, should I say, feathery?"

Further up ahead, Link fled for his life, Gris far behind and seeing little more than a wave of white chasing after a speck of green, of which the wave was equipped with tearing beaks and sharp talons, not to mention a seemingly unrelenting will to hunt down and eliminate anything that displeased them. While she had been glad to catch him here, she wasn't exactly thrilled about the circumstances.

Link was just about out of breath, his legs tired and worn down, yet these blasted birds seemed to be completely insane! He wasn't sure how much longer he could go on, wondering just how much longer it would be until he would be torn to shreds.

Suddenly, a loud, bellowing whistle was heard throughout the area, both Link and Gris, along with the pursuing Cuckoos looked up to see another figure standing in the way. However, what they all noticed was the particularly strong presence of red atop her head. Upon seeing her, the birds stopped following the boy in green, allowing him to run right past, not even realizing at first that his pursuers had ceased chasing him.

Link looking behind and Gris looking forward, both saw the flock of Cuckoos gazing upward at Malon, even the rooster with blue feathers attentive to the largest "redhead" of them all, seemingly viewing her as one of their own. Or at least someone who had more authority.

"Now," Malon began, folding her arms. "Where did you all come from?"

"And then where did they go?" Mutoh asked Anju, the woman recounting what she came out to see when she had gone inside for just a moment.

"That's just it, I'm not sure," she answered her father. "I heard the fence breaking and someone fighting, but by the time I came out here, there was no one in sight, let alone any of my Cuckoos."

"Well, the first thing to do is round them up, and…?" Talon began but then heard distant clucking. Turning his head, he saw his own daughter leading a small flock of red-crested birds with white feathers, the boy in green that rode along trailing behind them, seemingly keeping his distance. What was he nervous about, it wasn't as if these guys were dangerous. "Malon!" the brunette man called out, running over to the young girl and the squad of chickens. "There you are! Where'd you go? And where'd you get these bids?"

"My Cuckoos!" Anju cried out, running over to see them. The birds recognized the woman's voice and immediately gathered around, it only being mere moments before she found herself breaking out into light sneezes. She then turned her attention to the red-haired girl. "Where did you find them?"

"They were out past the graveyard," Malon answered. But, let's just say I had some help finding them first. " She then glanced back at Link, who was still keeping his distance from the birds. "Sorry about the fence. My friend here said it was an accident."

"The fence can be repaired in no time, I'm just glad these little ones are back," Anju sighed, despite her skin now beginning to break out into small hives. "Still, I need to put them inside so they don't go off again," she then glanced toward her home which rested a short distance away. "All right, come on, guys! That means you too, Cojiro!" The blue rooster huffed in response, but obeyed, following the woman inside the house before she shut the door.

"Well, I guess that problem's settled," Mutoh observed. "Shouldn't you get back to your stand, Talon?"

"Yeah, probably. Ingo's taken care of things long enough," he then turned to Malon. "Although, where did you go off to? I thought you were going to the gate near the mountain."

The red-haired girl's face paled. "I…I got a little…sidetracked."

"...well, if you say so. I'm joining Ingo back at the stand if you need me." with that, Talon left.

Link said nothing, yet noticed that she avoided speaking about what had occurred before as if she didn't wish to even acknowledge it happened. Still, now that things had settled down, he could go back and look for…!?

"Hey!"

Whirling around, Link found the fairy meeting him right in the face by crashing right into him, knocking him back to the ground. "Ouch…" he moaned, rubbing his nose from the impact.

"There you are!" Navi shouted, flying down to the boy. "Where did you go? How could you just leave me?! Do you know what you left me with?! I was scared out of my mind!" she angrily beat her wings, almost creating a light breeze from how rapidly she fluttered.

"Sorry?" Link meekly answered, albeit only one word. Still, he was curious, how exactly did he get out of that house?

"That would be my fault," another voice spoke up, Gris stepping forward, Sparky in her arms as Malon had handed the dragon to her in order to lead the Cuckoos. "Well, sort of," she corrected. "It wasn't exactly me, it was more this thing's doing," she reached into her purse and pulled out the same gemstone from before, clear with a spherical center of swirling green. "Sorry about leaving you. I thought you were with us."

The fairy's anger died down. "Oh," she then turned to Link. "Apologies to you, then. Still, there's something that you should know. That house we were at…"

"What is that thing, anyway?" Malon questioned, visually examining the crystal as Gris held it in her hand.

"I don't exactly know," the girl in pink confessed. "I found it at the Castle. But, whatever it is, it seems to work well." it would certainly serve in handy now that she had a way to travel in the palm of her hand. She placed the crystal back in her purse. "Anyway," she then said. "Now that the whole thing with the Cuckoos is over, don't you have to go somewhere?" she asked Link.

That's right, the boy remembered! He was here to go to Death Mountain! The only thing was, where exactly was the way there?

"The way to the mountain is up there," Malon informed the boy in green, gesturing in the correct direction. "Although they won't just let you through, I'd imagine," she mentioned. "You'll have to have some sort of special permission to go into Goron territory."

Permission? Link had something like that, didn't he?

"Psst, the letter, remember?" Gris whispered, the boy in green remembering some time back what the Princess had given him when he went to the Castle.

"I suppose we can do this first," Navi sighed, understanding that perhaps acquiring the Spiritual Stone was the most important thing. "Still, there's something about that house you don't understand," she whispered, ultimately deciding to keep it to herself for the time being.

But she would bring it up later again.

She had a promise to keep to those that still lived in that desolate place, after all.

A Short Distance Away

"So…will this cover all that?"

Ingo was left robbed of words by the semi-clear gemstone placed before him, eyes wide and mouth agape at the amount of money presented to him as if it were nothing. "Uh…y-yeah. Sure. This'll cover it." he quickly snatched the large Rupee and placed it in his pocket, intending to keep it close.

"All right, I guess I'll be taking these," the man sporting rust-colored hair answered, taking the bundle of products ranging from milk to butter, to cheese, to preserved meats and salted pork. "Thank you, you have no idea how long it's been since we've had a meal like this."

"Yeah, yeah, sure, take whatever you want, pleasure doing business with you," the man in green and pink answered, all the while excitedly fingering the three hundred worth Rupee in his trousers.

Just as the man went away, Talon approached. "Hey, sorry about that. We make anything while I was gone?"

"Oh, we made some all right," Ingo responded, reaching into his pocket and retrieving the Rupee to present to his boss. "Take a look at this."

The brunette and far more round ranch owner was flabbergasted at what he saw. "What the?!" he took it from Ingo's grasp, examining the uniquely cut currency for himself. Indeed, it was genuine. "Where did you get this? No one in this village has that kind of money just lying around!"

"Well this guy did!" Ingo retorted. "He even offered more if it wasn't enough! But he took practically the rest of what we had to sell, so I consider it a win for us!" he snatched back the Rupee from Talon, grinning as its surface glistened in the sun's light. "Still, you're right about one thing, no one in Kakariko has something like this. Which brings to question where he came from."

"Maybe he's from another country? After all, a holiday is coming up." Talons suggested, referring to the upcoming Princess Day.

"Could be," Ingo agreed. "Of course, if that is the case, then he still bought a lot for just one person."

The two men continued to debate over this, all the while making sure to not lose sight of the precious money made in their sale, although Ingo would declare that it was entirely his own. The three children, however, paid no mind to this, and went on further ahead, spotting an iron gate sealing off the path ahead.

"There's the way to Death Mountain," Malon told Link, gesturing to the soldier guarding it. "You've got a letter from the Princess herself, don't you?"

Link nodded, reaching in and pulling out the note in question. Malon once again hid away Sparky in a sack on her back.

"Ok, then, if that's the case, can I ask you something?" the girl with red hair began, but ultimately decided against speaking about what was on her mind any further. "No, it's fine, forget it. Anyway," she then redirected the subject. "Best to get started climbing when it's still daylight out, right?"

"That's true," Navi agreed. "Still, who exactly lives here at Death Mountain again?" the fairy asked.

"The Gorons," Malon answered. "Otherwise known as the Rock People."

Gris bit her lip, shifting in her position. "It won't be easy to get them to see you," she told Link. "You're going to have to prove you're here on behalf of the Princess, or you might not even get one word in."

Link raised a brow, puzzled. Why was that? Were they that closed off?

"Gorons tend to keep to themselves and don't like being bothered," Gris informed the blonde boy in green. "It wasn't until The King established a truce with them that they actually stopped driving people away from settling here."

"That's right," Malon chimed in. "Castle Town was finished until just recently, so most people migrated here when their homes were destroyed in the war. But still, the Gorons came down from the mountain and began ruining efforts to build the village. Then…"

"Then?" Navi asked, tilting her head. Link followed suit.

"...then, it all seemed to just stop," Malon answered. "At first, the Goron's Leader refused to even listen to the King, but the next day, for some reason, he was willing to sign," she explained. "Since then, as long as we don't go past the barrier set at the edge of the village, we're not intruding on their territory," she then bit her lip. "Of course, that's just what you're going to have to do, aren't you?"

Link nodded, yet put on a brave face, unfazed by what he had just heard.

"Just…be careful, ok?" the redheaded girl urged.

Link nodded, approaching the guard, who had just now noticed someone approaching.

"Hm? Well, what's this, then?" the armored soldier questioned, perplexed by the sight of a child in green standing before him. Or rather, he stood over the boy. "Who are you? Are you new to this place?"

"He's new here, sir," Gris interjected, stepping up beside Link. "But he has important business with the Rock People past the gate."

"The Rock People?" the soldier inquired, becoming more convinced that either these kids were just playing some game or were quite foolish. "I don't know if you haven't noticed, but none of you are exactly the types that they'll just see on a whim," he informed. "They'll barely see any of us unless we express it's an order from the King himself."

"Well, this boy is different," Gris retorted, confident in the plan she had laid out. "He's got permission from the Royal Family themselves."

The soldier raised a brow. "Huh, is that so?" he asked, clearly unconvinced.

"Yup!" the blonde girl turned to the boy in green. "Show him the letter, Link."

Nodding in agreement, the child reached in and pulled out the fancy letter that held both words and a signature from the Princess herself.

"Wait…is this the Princess' handwriting?" the soldier questioned, reading the Hylian characters written by a quill and ink. Then, he turned his attention to Link. "So, you're a Hero, are you?" he asked. "The Hero of the Kokiri?"

Link nodded in response, gesturing to the pale blue fairy fluttering by his shoulder.

"Well, I don't know how you got this," the armored man then took the letter and shoved it in his belt, disregarding it entirely, creasing and folding the parchment from the force applied. "But it's unfortunately not going to be enough to get you through."

Gris's eyes widened, mouth hanging open in shock. "Wh-What?! Why not?!" she protested. "Why isn't my word," she paused. "I mean, the Princess' word enough to let him get in?! He's got to go see the Gorons in order to get the Spiritual Stone!"

The soldier quirked a brow in response to her exclamation. "And just how do you know the Princess?" he questioned. "Who are you anyway, kid?"

"Uh…I…just know her, that's all," Gris answered, blue irises shifting back and forth. "But that's beside the point! Why can't the Princess' word be sufficient to get him through the gate?!"

"Because the Princess' orders are trumped by those of her father, the King," the soldier answered. "And he has instructed us to not take anything she says seriously for the next few days."

Link tilted his head in confusion, wishing to ask why exactly. Navi sensed this and went in for him.

"If I may, mister, why is that?" the fairy asked the soldier.

"Because she's been spouting nonsense ever since about a month ago," the man garbed in armor answered. "Ever since she started having these supposed dreams or whatever she calls them, she's been going on non-stop about how 'The Evil King' is coming to destroy us all, and how the Gerudo King is somehow connected to it all," he then sighed. "I honestly feel bad for Impa, having to put up with all that talk, let alone having to indulge it to a degree."

Gris fumed, practically turning red as if she had been the one insulted, almost as bright as Malon's hair.

It was then that the red-haired girl realized that perhaps she had a trump card in handy. "Actually, mister, it's pretty imperative that he take a visit to the Gorons," she told the soldier, reaching into her sack.

"And I don't suppose you'd care to explain why, young lady?" the armored man inquired.

"Well, I may not come here often," she then reached into the sack. "But I doubt you would want a creature like this running around here."

The second she pulled out the little dragon, the soldier recoiled back, shocked and startled by the fact such a beast was before him, but that this girl was handling it as if it were a puppy or kitten! "What the?!" he yelped, at first believing he was hallucinating, but there was no mistaking it: before him was indeed a dragon. A baby, yes, but still, it wouldn't be one forever. "Where did you get this…thing?! How long have you had it?!"

"Someone was selling the poor thing in Castle Town, so I bought him," Malon explained. "All with the intention to eventually bring him to a better location than at the ranch, seeing as this guy's already breathing fire at his age."

The soldier gazed at the dragon, then at Link. "So, you're saying that you wish to go to Death Mountain to drop this little one off, right?"

"More or less," Malon answered.

The older man was silent for a few moments, pondering his options. "In this case, the Gorons probably would know what to do with this thing better than I would," he whispered to himself. "All right kid, how about this?" he asked. "If I allow you to go up and take this critter to the Rock People for safekeeping, would that be enough for you?"

Link nodded excitedly, eager to get going.

Gris realized too what this meant. "You mean you're going to…?"

The soldier nodded. "However, it's only to take the dragon back. Any of this talk involving whatever the Princess is spouting out is best left ignored."

Gris quickly snatched Sparky from Malon's hands, holding the small drake up right at the soldier. "Then maybe you should hurry up and open that gate because this guy could blow up at any second! Maybe even on your face!" as if to make the point, she shoved the baby dangerously close, causing the soldier to stumble back.

"Hey, hey! Careful with that thing!" he complained, trying to regain his composure. Not to mention his balance. "All right, all right! Just get that thing out of here!" With that, he retrieved a set of keys from his belt and unlocked the barrier between the winding trail upward and the rest of Kakariko. "Go on! Off with you!"

Seeing the way it had been accessed, Gris handed Sparky over to Link, the boy holding the squirming creature until he snuck his way into his rucksack, fitting surprisingly well inside despite some tight space. Stepping forward, the boy in green passed through and looked back at the two girls who had helped him get this far.

"T-Thanks." he muttered, thankful to actually be able to properly articulate what he wished to this time.

Then, after a few more moments, he ascended, his fairy following close behind with a small trail of light following her wings.

Chapter Text

The sudden absence of lush greenery and the imposing rock walls that rose like ancient sentinels around him signaled Link's entry into uncharted territory—vast landscapes he had only glimpsed in the tales shared by The Great Deku Tree.

He recalled Impa's words about the second of the three sacred stones hidden in this very place. It was guarded by the creatures that inhabited these rugged cliffs. What were they called again? Rock people?

"Close, but that's a broad description," Navi chimed in, her tiny glow illuminating the space as she fluttered beside him. "They are known as the Gorons."

Link tilted his head, the word's syllables rolling around in his mind, but he held back from uttering it just yet. His curiosity hung heavy in the air as he pondered what these beings truly were. The fragmented details he had heard from Gris and Malon echoed in his thoughts—vague notions that the Gorons were somehow people made of stone.

"No, I don't think that's exactly right," Navi clarified, observing Link's innocent but mistaken conclusions with a hint of amusement. "While this harsh terrain might lead to creatures developing thick, rock-like skins, I don't believe the Gorons are actually made of stone."

Really? If that were true, Link mused, then surely they would need to eat and drink just like everyone else. After his recent journey from his home in the lush Kokiri Forest to the austere Kakariko Village, he had found at least those two vital resources readily available in their bountiful surroundings. Yet here, all he could see were grim reminders of a lifeless land, with parched roots and cracked earth stretching endlessly, yearning for rain that had eluded it for ages.

"According to the tales I've heard, which are mere fragments from the Great Deku Tree himself," the fairy continued, her voice growing slightly more serious, "the Gorons sustain themselves in ways unlike you, or those from the forest or Hyrule, because they derive nourishment directly from the land itself."

Link's head tilted in confusion, the concept swirling around in his mind like a stubborn wind.

"Well… truth be told, I'm not entirely sure how it works either," Navi confessed, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "But that just means we should begin our search for them. The sooner we can convey our need for their Spiritual Stone, the better it will be for us."

While her words rang true, Link felt an undeniable pull to explore this barren expanse. It was a strange and mesmerizing land—a stark contrast to the vibrant life that thrived in The Great Deku Tree's realm.

Here, not a single tree or green sprout dared to push through the rocky ground beneath his boots; the terrain was a hardened crust of jagged rocks and dry soil, seemingly incapable of supporting any form of life accustomed to its unforgiving conditions. Where did the inhabitants of Kakariko source their food, he wondered? Without fruitful trees and rich forests, did they have to depend on what others supplied, just like Talon had when peddling his goods? Or perhaps similar to the bustling markets he had glimpsed in Castle Town?

It struck him as an unnecessarily convoluted process simply to acquire food, Link reflected, a sense of bewilderment settling over him. The more he absorbed about these Hylians, the more he found himself struggling to comprehend their way of life. From the enchanting stories spun by The Great Deku Tree, he had always envisioned the people beyond the forest as noble and stalwart—valiant souls, courageous protectors who cared for one another and safeguarded the vulnerable. Yet the reality he had encountered painted a different image, one where many seemed preoccupied with their own needs.

True, some figures he had met emanated kindness and generosity, yet even they appeared engulfed in the natural ebb and flow of life beyond the familiar confines of the Lost Woods.

But what utterly perplexed Link was the strong aversion, bordering on outright hatred, that people in this land had toward red hair. He found the color itself quite appealing; after all, he had seen vibrant shades of red adorning the clothing of various individuals—men, women, and children alike. However, when it came to hair, even the faintest hint of red seemed to trigger suspicion, disdain, or, as Link had sadly observed, a toxic mixture of both.

Link's thoughts wandered to Malon, the spirited girl from the ranch who had graciously welcomed him into her home and offered him refuge the night before. He vividly recalled the cruel, hissing remarks that had been directed at her when they first crossed paths and the hurtful treatment she had endured afterward. The term "Gerudo spawn" echoed in his mind, although he had initially been clueless about its meaning, let alone who—or what—a Gerudo was. However, that ignorance faded with the explanations provided by Malon and Gris, complemented by the Princess revealing the striking characteristics of the desert tribe firsthand.

Despite their evident caution toward those they deemed unfamiliar, Link found himself struggling to comprehend the depth of their prejudice.

One of his biggest confusions lay in the fact that the negative attitudes toward the Gerudo were unjustly directed at every member of the tribe, rather than being confined to their infamous leader. It seemed illogical to Link since, to his knowledge, Ganondorf was the only Gerudo implicated in the tragic demise of the Great Deku Tree, though his own careless actions certainly played a role.

He should've known better, believing a simple seed could grant a wish.

"Don't let yourself think that way," Navi chided gently, her voice slicing through his troubled thoughts and the persistent guilt that tugged at his heart. "He didn't blame you then, and he wouldn't blame you now," she assured him. "Remember, he entrusted you with this mission and the precious Stone he died to protect. If the Guardian of the Forest has put his faith in you, then so do I."

Link endeavored to absorb and accept Navi's comforting words, striving to internalize them as truth, but they only served as a light balm for the deep wound that continued to fester within him.

Seeking to divert his troubled mind from the patterns of prejudice that enveloped him, he turned his focus back to the baffling disdain directed at those with red hair. Why was it so loathed? The Great Deku Tree, whom he revered, had produced offspring with fiery locks: The Twins, Karya, and Phoebe, along with the Know-It-All Brothers—Birch, Cypress, and Elm—all proudly displayed that same vivid color atop their heads. And yes, even Mido sported the same striking hue. Link had to admit that the boy played a crucial role in rescuing Saria, yet he couldn't muster any fondness for him. Still, his feelings toward Mido had nothing to do with the color of his hair; so, why was Malon subjected to scorn and disdain wherever she went, simply for her fiery tresses?

"Hey!" Navi exclaimed, her voice slicing through Link's reverie and pulling him back to reality. "Stay alert," she insisted, fluttering closer. "I can feel a presence nearby."

Responding to the fairy's urgent call, the young warrior unsheathed his sword and raised his shield, his blue eyes wide and vigilant as they searched the surroundings for any sign of danger, determined not to let the foe gain the advantage. The pressing question lingered: what kind of creatures lurked along this lonely path that bore no hint of plant life or any means to support such a form of existence? Without grass, fruit, or even the rustling leaves to nibble on, they needed to find sustenance elsewhere. But where from? Or what?

At that moment, Link's keen ears caught an intriguing noise: the unmistakable sound of crunching and chewing.

"Look!" Navi whispered urgently, pulling Link's gaze toward the distance. His eyes landed on an odd, jagged silhouette hidden behind a large boulder.

With careful steps, Link moved closer, navigating around the massive stone to peek around its edge. He was eager to uncover what had sparked Navi's concern and to catch a glimpse of the potential threat that lay ahead.

Glancing about, the boy clad in green felt a surge of dread, almost certain that one of the grotesque, spider-like Gohmas had somehow tracked him down to this very spot. However, that fleeting wave of fear quickly shifted into curiosity as he recognized that this creature was not the same as those he had battled deep within The Great Deku Tree.

The creature, a monstrous variant of a spider, had limbs that echoed the arachnid form but sported only four instead of the usual eight. It boasted a single, piercing eye, a vivid red that stood out starkly against its body. According to the Know-It-All Brothers, some spiders could have as many as twelve eyes, but this one was singularly striking. Its skin, or exoskeleton as Saria had referred to it, was a deep reddish-brown, speckled with hints of bluish-green. The legs were formidable, equipped with sharp spikes and menacing claws at their tips. The creature's central body was bulbous and rounded, while its limbs were impressively muscular, hinting at the strength of this bizarre being.

"Tektite," Navi murmured softly into his ear. "That's what it's called."

Link turned his gaze toward his fairy companion. "Tek…tite?"

Navi affirmed with a nod. "It's not quite the same type of creature as a Gohma, but I wouldn't be shocked if there was some connection between them."

No kidding, Link mused, keeping his eyes fixed on the creature as he recognized that the gnawing noise was coming from it, along with the headless insect it was currently devouring.

Link's gaze fell upon a massive boulder nestled against the rugged cliffside, its sheer size making him feel as insignificant as a bug caught in a predator's grasp. As he examined the stone more closely, he noticed something odd about its presence. Although the rock obscured his view of what lay beyond, he couldn't shake the feeling that its positioning was far too deliberate for something so enormous. It sparked a curiosity within him—had it been placed there on purpose?

The lingering question was, what could the reason be?

Then, the creature stopped, the prey it had previously decapitated dropping from its feelers, fluids still fresh on its appendages as it scrambled to collect and savor the juices. While it hadn't set its sights on Link yet, the boy senses that there would be no other reason for it to stop eating than to acknowledge him. Perhaps even decide that he would make a better source of sustenance than the beetle it had been munching on. Spreading its armored, segmented limbs out, guiding its body to where it was now facing the lad in green, the Red Tektite was able to fully see the youth, as well as register the fact that this stranger had just waltzed into its territory.

Rearing back, the quadrupedal arachnid leaped forward, forelegs raised with its sharpened ends extended outward, the intention clear that, meal or not, this long-eared stranger was going to pay for being so intrusive. Bringing his Deku Shield up, Link blocked the Tektite's airborne attack, the claw at the end of its front forelimbs scratching at the wooden surface, tearing off some bark to get at the softer being behind.

"Don't waste your time with this guy!" Navi alerted her charge. "It's only going to impede our progress! We have to get to the home of the Gorons as soon as possible!"

Yes, that was all and good, Link thought. The only problem was that this spider-thing kept thrusting its weight onto the boy, giving him little room to push back. Seeing that the next blow would probably result in the boy being forced down on his backside, instead of keeping his shield up for defense, he made a run to the side when the Tektite lunged again, missing its target by mere inches as the figure in green raced past.

However, this temporary relief didn't last long as a resounding "Watch out!" from Navi alerted Link of yet another Red Tektite that had made itself known, standing in the middle of the road and blocking the way forward up the mountain. With a swift sidestep, Link sprinted past the four-legged beast, charging up the rugged mountain trail. Suddenly, a crimson figure sprang down from a cliff overhead, blocking his path forward. Glancing back, Link noticed the other two Tektites steadily closing in on him from behind.

Gazing ahead and behind, the boy quickly understood that escape was impossible; his sword appeared to be his sole defense. That was, until a massive rock tumbled from above, hurtling toward him with alarming speed. But it wasn't just a rock. It was something far more menacing, breathed and moved with its own will. As it touched the earth, the "rock" appeared to rise, as though it had been crouched in a specific stance to facilitate movement. Now, the ruse was shed, revealing a bipedal creature with robust limbs and a stout body standing before Link. The figure gradually pivoted, locking eyes with the boy, who was now assessing this possible adversary.

A lively boulder had come to life, its skin rugged and stone-like, painted in a dusty yellow-brown hue. The back was nearly entirely grey and rough as if a piece of the mountain had taken root there. Its hands and feet resembled those of a Hylian or perhaps even a Kokiri, though they were larger. Instead of a mane of hair, the creature sported a nearly bald crown that tapered to a small point, mirroring the very peaks of the mountains. Despite its powerful limbs and imposing stature, Link was taken aback when the creature turned its attention to him; instead of the fierce gaze of a beast, he was met with large, expressive eyes that shimmered in a deep blue, revealing a surprising depth of emotion.

In an instant, the fleeting bond between them shattered as one of the Tekities sprang into action, its razor-sharp claws and muscular legs targeting the stony beast. Yet, the claws merely grazed the tough exterior of the colossal creature, which effortlessly raised its arms to deflect the arachnid's onslaught. As the monster recoiled and prepared to strike once more, the rock-being surged ahead, delivering a mighty punch that crashed into the Tektite's midsection, propelling it several feet backward.

Wait a moment, Link thought, glancing over to Navi as if to see if she reached the same conclusion he had. Rock-being…rock people…were these the…?

"Hey, kid! Head's up!"

The Tektite, lurking in the shadows, sprang into action, intent on ambushing Link from behind and pinning him to the earth, ready to commence its gruesome task of decapitating him, the standard method of incapacitating and consuming its prey. In a split second, the boy clad in green sidestepped, narrowly evading the creature as it soared past him, colliding with the powerful fist of his unexpected savior. As Link stood there, on the brink of asking what had just transpired and whether this mysterious figure was truly who he suspected, a fresh wave of "rocks" tumbled down from the towering cliffs and the serpentine trail he had been following. The deceptive boulders around him shed their disguises, unveiling their true nature and blocking any chance of escape. Considering that the far larger Tektites didn't fare too well against them, Link considered going on the defensive for the time being, drawing up his shield for protection, yet keeping his sword visible just in case.

"At ease, buddy," one of the "rocks" spoke, voice low and deep, yet not malevolent. Rather, it was just rugged and a little husky. "We're not here to hurt ya."

Link kept up his stance, yet the assurance brought some sense of ease, although he would perhaps feel better if he knew exactly just what these guys were called.

"We actually saw you coming up from down below," another one of the stout beings explained. "At first, we couldn't believe it, some random kid climbing up Death Mountain all on his own," they mentioned as if the fact the boy was even here was still difficult to believe.

"Guess Big Brother made the right call in telling us to check you out," a member of the group continued for their comrade. "Although, that still leaves the question of where the Royal Family's messenger is."

"Wait a moment," Navi spoke, fluttering out from underneath Link's hat, where she had hidden herself during the previous fray. "Royal Family?"

"Whoa!" immediately, the rock people eyed the winged glowing orb, fascinated yet also somewhat cautious. "What kind of weird firefly is that, kid?" one of them inquired, giving Navi a small poke.

Of course, given their size, "small" in their view served to send her flying back against Link's chest, the boy catching her as she fell. Upon taking a few moments to recover, Navi got her bearings and became airborne yet again. "Well, for one, I am most certainly NOT a firefly. Let alone a bug," she huffed, crossing her arms. "I am a fairy from the Kokiri Forest, assigned to guide this young one here across Hyrule as we collect the Spiritual Stones."

At that moment, the peculiar yet vaguely human-like creatures exchanged curious looks, their voices a gentle hum as they shared thoughts on the newfound information. "Did you mention 'Spiritual Stones'?" one of them asked, prompting a nod from Link. To demonstrate, he rummaged through his sack, only to be met with the eager face of a baby dragon popping out, clutching the coveted item in its mouth. With a playful flick, the dragon released the Kokiri Emerald into Link's waiting hands. The green jewel caught the awe and admiration of his rescuers, one of whom then looked up the winding trail that led further into the heart of the mountain. "Ok, kid," they then said, turning their attention back to Link. "We've got to get you to the city before the sun goes down, lest there be even more than Tektites out here to deal with."

A Short Time Later

"So, you are the Gorons?" Navi questioned, having perched herself atop Link's shoulder as the boy traveled with the band of towering figures up the mountain trail.

"Correct," one of the aforementioned creatures answered, then turned their attention to Link. "Sorry about the abrupt entrance," they said. "But we don't get many visitors up here. Especially from outside of Kakriko, and they're even scarcer."

Link found himself put on the spot as the Goron continued to stare, seemingly expecting an answer. While he wasn't too sure if his tongue would cooperate with him at this time, the boy simply responded with a reassuring nod and a small smile, as if to signify everything was forgiven.

Still, this didn't appear to be enough, the Goron still seemingly awaiting some sort of verbal answer.

"Excuse me, Mister…" Navi spoke up, sensing the boy's growing discomfort and speaking in his place. "Or…Miss?"

"Mister sounds a little old, doesn't it?" the Goron questioned wryly, raising a brow. "But you're right about that on one hand. I am male," he explained. "We all are, isn't that right, brothers?"

"Yep!"

"Sure is!"

"I don't think there's ever been a girl Goron before…"

Huh, really? An entire race without one girl? Weird, Link thought. Then again, sometimes girls were kinda weird in themselves.

"Oh please, boys are just as bizarre as their female counterparts," Navi huffed, not particularly caring for his assessment. "But if I may interject, Mr. Goron,"

"Please, Brother will do fine."

"Brother?"

"Yeah," the Goron responded. "We all were born from the Earth and Din's crafting hand, so every one of us is instinctually linked to each other in both blood and flesh," he then turned back to Link. "What about you? Are Kokiri born from, what, the trees or something?"

"Eh, somewhat," Navi answered, Link adding to her statement with a slight shrug. "Technically, it's just one tree, the Great Deku Tree."

"Great Deku Tree…" the Goron pondered this name, it striking a chord of familiarity within his memory. "I think I've heard something about that before. Although, I'm not too sure on the details exactly," this news appeared to disappoint the boy somewhat, hoping for at least a bit more clarity. "But I'm sure Big Brother will know! He's the one that's got our Spiritual Stone!"

This particular note snagged Link's attention. "R-Really?" he chirped, voice somewhat wavering, but nonetheless understandable.

"Yeah, the Goron Ruby," the yellowish-brown skinned being then presented his right arm, the blonde Kokiri spotting a rather interesting marking, angular in shape, almost too perfect to be a natural blemish on the skin. "Course, I don't know if you're quite ready for a tattoo yet, kid."

Tattoo? What could that possibly mean? Just as Link was about to ask or signal Navi to clarify, his gaze was drawn to a massive cave entrance not far off, a shadowy void that seemed to burrow deep into the mountain. A flicker of fear washed over him, igniting a primal instinct to flee, but he quickly realized that escape wasn't feasible, especially with the imposing figures encircling him. Although the Gorons towered over him, their sheer size and bulk could be daunting, he hadn't yet discovered any reason to consider them a threat. To four-legged spiders, maybe, but not to him.

Truthfully, the Kokiri boy found himself wondering if the Hylians he had been sent to assist were really right about any of their assessments regarding different types of people.

Reaching the cave, Link and his escorts entered, traveling through a darkened tunnel void of any light until, after what felt to be an extended amount of time, a soft glow could be seen at the end. Then, the glow grew more and more powerful, Link realized that the source of light was the multitude of torches lit throughout the hollowed-out space within the mountain.

"Welcome to the Goron City!"

Chapter Text

Goron City.

An actual city.

These creatures possessed a vibrant community, a unique habitat, and a thriving civilization of their own. The significance of this revelation struck Link profoundly, and Navi, the fairy, could feel the gravity of the moment, mingling with the excitement and youthful wonder that enveloped his thoughts. 

“Okay, let’s move out,” one of the golden-brown creatures announced, encouraging his siblings to join him. “If this little fellow possesses the Emerald, we must present him to Big Brother without delay!”

Link looked up, his eyes sparkling with curiosity as he regarded the Gorons. Navi fluttered beside him, echoing his thoughts with a voice full of intrigue. “Big Brother?” 

“Yeah, Big Brother Darunia!” exclaimed another Goron. “He’s the one in charge here, and let’s not forget, he also safeguards our precious Spiritual Stone.” 

Link observed in bewilderment as the Gorons appeared to drool at the mere mention of the sacred relic. He turned to Navi, who seemed equally uncertain about how to explain the situation to him. 

“Oh yeah, you Hylians,” one of the mountain-dwelling people pondered aloud. “You guys need stuff besides rocks, right?” 

Link shook his head from side to side. “K-Koki…” he began to stammer, trying to assert himself. “Ko…ki…”

Navi chimed in, sensing the boy's struggle. "I think what he’s trying to convey is that he’s quite the Kokiri, good sir." Her interjection caught the boy off guard, a hint of annoyance flickering across his face. "What? You were obviously struggling." she pointed out, but her words only deepened his embarrassment, as if she had just revealed a closely guarded secret for all to hear. Now, it felt like the whole world was in on it! 

But just as he was about to protest, or, at least try to, the blonde took note of something peculiar the Goron had said. Rocks? 

“Wait a minute,” another one of the bipedal creatures spoke up. “Can Hylians or Kokiri even eat rocks?” 

“Huh,” another Goron brought a hand to his chin. “You know, that’s a good question,” he admitted. “Maybe we should experiment with one of the pebbles from outside-”

Navi quickly stepped in, her voice laced with concern as she noticed her charge's unease at the idea of having a stone forced into his mouth. “I don’t want to take away your chance to show your kindness,” she said, “but in all my time, I’ve only seen the Kokiri children eat what they cultivate themselves or what they gather from the trees,” Her words were a gentle plea, aimed at steering the larger beings away from their intended course of action. “Of course, my particular child seems to have an affinity for the sweeter stuff,” she mentioned, glancing into Link’s thoughts once again. Their connection proved to be rather useful in times such as these. “So much so that it’s a wonder how the sugar hasn’t rotted away his teeth.” 

Link sighed exasperated; he simply couldn’t resist the delicious allure of berries and fruits! It felt like vegetables were conspiring against him, requiring a specific preparation just to make them remotely appealing. And even then, there was no guarantee that eating would be pleasing, just tolerable enough. Still, “eating rocks” held its seat at the forefront of his mind, one of the Gorons noticing his inquisitive expression. 

“Oh yeah, this is your first time here, isn’t it?” he asked, Link in turn nodding in response. “Yeah, well, compared to you guys, or really, any other creature in Hyrule, we Gorons have a rather peculiar diet,” he explained. “We eat rocks.”

The boy dressed in green exchanged a puzzled glance with his fairy friend. “Rocks?” Navi exclaimed, trying to confirm what she had just heard and hoping it would sound more convincing when she said it herself. Unfortunately, it didn’t. 

“Absolutely!” Another voice chimed in, “Indeed! The mountains lack fertile soil and ample water, so the Great Goddess of Power, Din, shaped our forms to mirror the very ground beneath our feet, allowing us to draw sustenance from it ourselves!”

Link had encountered the name Din before. It belonged to one of the three Goddesses, or so the tales went, the very beings responsible for the creation of everything. Yet, the idea felt strange to him, as he had always believed that The Great Deku Tree was the source of all life flourishing around him. Now, however, he learned that the vibrant greens and living creatures were actually the work of another Goddess named Farore, who had also been mentioned by that peculiar Deku Scrub in the woods. Speaking of which, where did those little creatures originate? Even more puzzling was how they knew that he and Mido were on a quest to find Saria. Still, such things would perhaps have to wait, the task at hand still at the forefront of important things to do. 

“Then what’s the issue?” Navi asked, bringing Link’s focus back to the matter at hand. “It looks like there are rocks scattered everywhere.”

“Oh, there wasn’t an issue for some time,” one of the Gorons replied to the hovering fairy. “We had more rocks than we knew what to do with, especially from Dondongo’s Cavern!”

Link and his fairy exchanged puzzled glances. “Dondongo’s Cavern?” Navi echoed, with Link mirroring her curiosity. “What’s that?”

“Only where the best of the best rocks can be found!” one of the rock people exclaimed with pride. “Ever since we discovered it around a century ago, we’ve been feeding on the delicious stones found in there whenever we go out to bring back some grub,” he answered. “There’s absolutely nothing like them, I’m telling you!”

“Yes, yes, I’m sure they’re fantastic…for rocks,” Navi replied, still fearing that they would try and “feed” her charge something that wouldn’t be very beneficial for his teeth. “But, if that’s the case, then why can’t you…” she paused, reminiscing about the rather hurried trip uphill she and Link had to undertake. “Wait, that large boulder,” it all clicked into place. “That’s the entrance to the cavern, isn’t it?”

“Absolutely,” another Goron chimed in, shifting his gaze to the young boy below him. “You’ve got a clever one there, kid.”

“Someone has to be,” Navi replied quietly, receiving a slight glare from Link. “But I take it that blockade wasn’t there before, right?”

“Exactly,” a tribe member confirmed. “And because of that, we can’t reach the rocks we used to feast on regularly, so we’re nearly starving!”

“Why not just munch on these rocks here?” Navi asked, with Link nodding in agreement.

"Well," one of the Gorons hesitated, shifting nervously as if worried their reasoning might not be understood. "We have become so accustomed to the flavor of those specific rocks that anything else tastes terrible."

Navi appeared unimpressed. "So, you're willing to starve simply because you're picky eaters?" she inquired, raising a brow.

Link, however, understood perfectly. If he had to eat nothing but Brussels sprouts for the rest of his life, he would rather die.

"Well, it's a little more complicated than that," one of the Gorons added. "We have already come up with a way to remove the rock blocking our food source. But..."

"But what?" the fairy asked.

"It's not just the rock itself that concerns us," the Goron continued. "We are more worried about what will happen once it is gone."

Both the fairy and the boy exchanged glances and then turned their attention back to the mountain's natural inhabitants. "What do you mean?" she questioned, neither she nor Link fully understanding.

The Goron contemplated how to articulate his thoughts, but ultimately decided to share his plan with his brothers, who silently nodded in agreement. "Well," he began, "perhaps it would be best if Big Brother explains it himself."

Navi, intrigued by the mention of this "Big Brother" figure, noted Darunia's name. "Yrs, perhaps that would be best," she agreed. "Of course, it would certainly help if we knew where he was."

"Indeed, that would be helpful," the Goron replied, gesturing towards a wooden door on the lowest floor. "That's his room right there."

Link approached the edge and peered downward, spotting the entrance to the quarters of the revered "Big Brother" of the Gorons. A peculiar carving painted red and contrasting against the aged wood, caught his eye. It was the same marking that adorned the upper arms of each of the other Gorons. He leaned closer, attempting to study the symbol further, yet found his right foot had suddenly lost contact with the earth beneath him, the boy was almost about to plummet over the edge until he felt a hand snag the back of his tunic, pulling him from potential danger. 

“Whoa, there, little guy!” one of the mountain-dwellers said, half startled yet also somewhat humored. “If you’re that eager to meet him, we can take you there, but how about we use the stairs?” 

Oh, yes, Link thought. He knew that. 

"You did, did you?" 

The blonde boy huffed at his fairy, who was not shy at all in displaying her amusement.

Turning to the right, the party of Gorons and one Kokiri with his accompanying flying companion approached a stairwell that descended a good few floors, the boy at first slightly overtaken by the sheer depth carved into the stone. However, with some time to collect himself, the blonde boy was able to step on and, in turn, follow the stone platforms downward along with the rest of the Gorons. Along the way, a quarter of the way, Link took notice of a bend in the pathway that led to the left, seemingly through the surface of a piece of the mountain itself. Navi urged him forward and the two soon found themselves in the center of a grand collection of levels that extended up to the very top to the lowest floor, a door situated on the most northern wall, a large slab of stone blocking the way in. 

“There’s Big Brother’s room,” a Goron informed, gesturing to the barricade that kept any outsiders from entering. “If you’re really here to do what you say you’re here to do, then surely he’ll listen to you, right?” He received no answer. “Uh, hey, kid?” 

The blonde Kokiri was completely focused on what was around him and, all the while, completely oblivious to anything and anyone outside his sphere of fascination. 

As Link let his gaze wander through the storied city, his eyes were immediately drawn to the vibrant array of paintings adorning the ancient walls—some depicted the mighty Gorons with their formidable frames, others showcase a entourage of fiery green lizards or dragons either releasing their flames or engaging with the mountain dwellers themselves. 

These were more concrete while others unveil abstract shapes so complex and mesmerizing, they seem to dance with life and mystery. The city itself, as Link soon discovered looking down, was structured across four distinct floors, each seemingly echoing tales from a bygone era. Curiously, the entrance sat perched atop, almost as if inviting visitors to descend into its depths.

Of course, given that the trip up here wasn’t exactly without its own perils, the boy in green wondered how anyone without some sort of weapon was supposed to get up here. 

“An eye for art, kid? Or does something particular draw your interest?”

Link turned to one of the barrel-chested beings that possessed the traits of both himself and Hylians, yet also held just as many differences. He then gestured to one of the green reptiles displayed on the walls, clearly intrigued by the depiction of the unknown animal. 

Or, if his suspicions were right, the creature was far more than just that. 

“Ah, I see,” the same Goron who had initially questioned the boy prior proceeded to the answer. “Think the Dodongos are cool, huh?” The larger, sandy-colored humanoid turned his round, dark eyes to the ancient and somewhat crude, yet detailed and organized remains left by his ancestors. “Hm, yeah, I guess I can see why they’d appeal to you,” he mused aloud. “They remind you of dragons, don’t they?” 

Seemingly, at the very mention of the other reptilian, the head of the small hatchling that had been concealed in Link’s bag popped out from the sack underneath the wooden shield, bright blue eyes glancing around and taking note of how everyone suddenly grew anxious around him, despite the small dragon being, well, a considerable degree smaller than the towering Gorons. 

“Whoa, hey, hey!” Navi intervened, Link clearly puzzled from the reaction of his guides, sharing in Sparky’s confusion. “What’s with you guys? What’s wrong?” 

None of the Gorons responded at first, their round, small yet attentive and sharp eyes still focused on the tiny specimen that had been traveling with the Kokiri. 

Finally, one among the group addressed the situation, although his tone indicated a slight hint of betrayal. “Where did you get that thing, kid?” The Goron inquired, staring at the baby dragon while keeping a considerable amount of distance. 

Link glanced at Sparky, the horned lizard having grown a little uncomfortable with the plethora of eyes seemingly staring him down. “H-He’s not mine.” The blonde stammered, thankful to have gotten something out of his mouth that was at least comprehensible. 

“A friend from down below found the little guy at the market in Castle Town,” Navi added, taking over for her green-clad charge. “Of course, given what sort of…’animal’ he is, she in turn thought that it would probably be best for Sparky to be dropped off here in a more suitable environment,” she then paused. “And to get him away from anything remotely flammable.” 

While he didn’t openly express it, not exactly feeling confident in his ability to properly work his tongue after just barely getting a few words out, the sentiment was expressed clearly on Link’s young round face. What was wrong with the other guys? Why were they so afraid? 

The Gorons exchanged concerned glances and suspicious raises of the brow with each other, hushed whispers regarding their views on the small dragon being shared with their brethren and meant to stay that way. 

However, Link found, to his own puzzlement and curiosity, that even if the Gorons most likely didn’t intend for anyone else to listen in on their private musings, he could hear what they were saying if he paid attention. All the while, a distinct tingle resonated on the tips of his elongated ears.

“If I had known he had that thing with him, I wouldn’t have even let him step in here!” 

“But he’s got the Emerald, doesn’t he? And Big Brother’s taken the Ruby, so surely the two coming together means something, right?”

“That doesn’t mean he can just bring that…thing in here! If he wasn’t an outsider, I would think that he was intentionally trying to rile us up!”

“Oh, don’t get too heated, the kid probably doesn’t know a thing about those nasty serpents. I bet he’s never even heard of the name ‘Volvagia’-“

“DON’T!!!”

Both Link and Navi flinched upon hearing the harshness of the command, low in volume as it was. 

“Do NOT say his name,” the same Goron continued, the panic in his tone having simmered down, yet there was still a clear amount of disproval. “There is to be NO mention of that beast within these halls, not ever, ever, EVER again.” 

What was the big deal? Before Link could articulate this, however, Navi shushed him, fluttering over and placing her hands over his lips. While he couldn’t see it past the intense glow of her small form, the fairy shook her head, urging him to keep silent. 

“You act like just even mentioning a part of our history is going to somehow summon it from the Abyss.” 

“And he very well may!” the other Goron snapped, albeit still in a hushed tone. “Don’t forget all that it took to actually kill that demon!” a moment of silence followed. “ And even then, the wreched serpent took more than just himself in death.”

“Death?” Navi muttered under her breath, Link sharing her sentiments. She then noticed a peculiar detail that hadn’t been present before, turning her head to see whether or not what she had spotted was indeed accurate. 

Lo and behold, the sealed door in the northern section of the lowest floor had been placed to the side, an open passage created for someone to enter. 

“Geez, it’s only been a few days!” 

Or, as she realized upon registering an approaching figure, a way for whoever was inside to get out. 

“Surely you lot can’t be giving into to hunger pains already!” 

The commanding voice immediately captured the attention of everyone present, causing the Gorons to whirl around and quiet down as if they were children caught in a lecture from a stern parent. Link’s gaze was drawn to a massive dark silhouette ascending the stone stairway, expertly carved into the rough-hewn rock face. The figure steadily drew closer to the cluster of mountain dwellers, as well as to Link and his ever-watchful fairy, Navi. 

With instinct kicking in, Link reached for his sword, his heart racing, and muscles tensed, prepared to defend himself and his fairy if necessary. Yet, just as he began to unsheathe the Kokiri Sword, Navi fluttered closely to him, her delicate wings glinting in the dim light. 

“Wait!” she whispered urgently, gently placing her petite limbs on the back of his much larger hand, which grasped the hilt of his sword like a lifeline. Her voice was laced with urgency but also with a touch of calm. “I don’t know who this person is,” she cautioned, her cerulean eyes studying the silhouette. “But I don’t sense anything evil within his soul.”

No evil? Link pondered this to himself. True, he thought, the term "big" didn’t inherently imply “malicious” when it came to character; he recalled Kapeora Gaebora, the great bird, and the Great Deku Tree, though the comparison still stung, a pain he hadn’t fully accepted yet. 

Then, with one last step, the figure made himself known.

A large, muscular Goron with a rock-like exterior. a pronounced jaw and bushy eyebrows, along with a prominent, distinguished nose, emerged from the stairwell leading to the lower floor. His skin was similar to that of the others, a typical grayish-brown color, and he also appeared to have adorned his right bicep with a tribal-like tattoo or marking: the same as the others. His “hair” was composed of stone yet it fanned out in a flame-like fashion that crowned his head, further representing a difference between him and the rest of his people, along with a potentially fiery personality.

Lovely, Navi thought with a roll of her eyes, glancing toward Link. That’s all I need, two hotheads in one space.

“B-Big Brother!” One of the Gorons cried out, the larger of the thick-skinned beings making his way over to the boy in green, his movements rather smooth and fluid despite his enormous girth and muscular structure. 

The largest of them all stared down at Link, both he and the child locking eyes with each other, seemingly issuing a silent challenge to the other. 

Then, the Goron spoke. Not to issue a threat or a demand to leave, yet with a simple question. “You're here from the Royal Family, right, kid?” 

Kakariko Village 

Well, she was put way, WAY behind schedule. 

“So, you say you’ve seen her go the way of the old house on the hill?” 

She froze, quickly ducking behind a corner of a nearby abode and peering around to see a tall woman with silver hair and tanned skin speaking with the woman who tended to the village’s Cuckoos. 

“That’s right,” Anju answered, the red-haired young woman rather taken aback that the Great Impa of all people would seek audience with her, let alone be searching for what the Sheikah had referred to as “a rambunctious troublemaker from Castle Town” all the way out here. True, outside of the small community surrounding the King’s own home, there was little else a supposed child could do but seek refuge in Kakariko or even the Ranch on the hill, but both required trekking a considerable amount of distance. Especially since everything but those locations had all but been destroyed. “She and a boy in green, along with the Rancher’s daughter,” the woman glanced in the direction toward the area of interest, gesturing with an extended arm and pointed finger. “I had assumed she was his sister at first. Are you sure they’re not related?”

“Oh no, far from it,” Impa responded. “In fact, that boy only emerged into Hyrule a few days ago.” 

“What?” Anju inquired. “I mean, yes, I heard that he claimed to be from the Forest to the South, but I just assumed he was just exaggerating and simply lived somewhere with more trees. He’s truly from that place?” The rusty hair-colored woman paused, pondering what she was about to say herself. “The Lost Woods?” 

Impa nodded, although her sharp, Ruby-red eyes were locked on the path leading to the Old House in question. The path to the resting place of her ancestors, both those from centuries prior and more recently lost. 

“But, if that’s the case, then wouldn’t that make him one of them? The Forest Children?” Anju continued. 

“Apparently,” the silver-haired woman responded. “Why?” 

“Well, surely you know what the stories say about them, don’t you?” The Cuckoo Keeper asked. “From what I was told, even from when I was that boy’s age, those children were supposed to be little more than phantoms that made sure no one who went on their territory left there alive.”

It was then that the Sheikah took note of something, an odd detail she had yet to notice before until now, to her own shame. True, while she had been visually searching for a flash or even a spot of pink, she realized, upon seeing a few strands of golden fibers among some piles of hay in Anju’s coop, dull, greyish-yellow and dried, completely unlike the hair of the one she was searching for.

…

“Din, give me strength.” Gris hissed to herself, hunkering down closer to the ground as she tried to conceal herself entirely behind the tied collection of animal feed, hoping it would be enough to hide her from the Sheikah's prowling eyes. 

Still, what the red-haired woman had just told her, or rather, the Princess’s caretaker, would prove to snag her intrigue, as well as befuddlement. 

“Oh?” Impa raised a brow, turning her head toward Anju. “I’ll confess I don’t believe I’ve heard of that.”

Anju was clearly taken aback by this. “You, the Royal Family’s attendant, have never heard of the Forest Children?” Then came a pause, as if she had suddenly grown fearful of what had once been little more than literal childish fears carried over from her youth. “The Skull Children?”

Impa glanced over at the hay, then to the path. The tiny figure hiding themselves was steadily inching their way toward the dirt road that led to the less visited portions of the village. She’s making a move, the Sheikah realized. But she’s also staying put. 

It was just a hunch, yet maybe, just maybe, it would serve her for the better. 

“The Skull Children?” Impa questioned, clearly feigning ignorance from the perspective of the girl in pink watching the older women, yet it seemed to do well enough for Anju. “From what I heard, the boy calls himself a ‘Kokiri’. There are more than just one set of children in the Lost Woods?”

Anju in turn nodded, lightly biting her bottom lip. “Well, you know how my Mother serves as this place’s medicine woman, right?” 

“She’s held that role ever since I was the Princess’s age,” Impa confirmed, casting a brief glance at the hay. “But doesn’t she typically get her ingredients from Castle Town?”

“Normally, yes, but, well, you know,” Anju paused, her gaze drifting towards the distant tree line. “Before the war, many…most of us here once lived elsewhere, in places that felt like home.”

The silver-haired woman’s eyes sparkled with understanding as if piecing together a long-forgotten puzzle. “That’s right,” she said, a smile touching her lips. “Your family once resided in that quaint community nestled at the edge of those very woods, didn’t they?”

“That’s exactly it,” Anju confirmed, her voice softening with nostalgia. “I can still conjure images of those days, being so close to a realm steeped in legend and mystery,” she mused, her thoughts wandering through the corridors of her memory. “A place brimming with its own unique tales of history—secrets it guards jealously, waiting for those brave enough to delve into its shadowy depths.”

For a moment, a serene silence enveloped them, as Impa pondered the weight of Anju’s words, the atmosphere thick with unspoken emotions. “Do you miss it?” she finally asked, her voice gentle, careful of the delicate ground they tread upon. 

The red-haired woman hesitated, her gaze drifting as she weighed her thoughts. The silence stretched, thick with unspoken memories, before she finally spoke. “Sometimes,” she admitted, her voice tinged with a mix of nostalgia and reluctance. “Make no mistake about it, I wouldn’t choose to live anywhere else but here, especially after all the sacrifice and effort it took to build this village,” the Cuckoo Keeper clarified, a glint of pride in her eyes. “Particularly considering what you've endured, my Lady.”

“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with reminiscing,” Impa interjected gently, dismissing any hint of embarrassment that may have crossed the other woman's face. “Even His Majesty holds onto the memories of Queen Ambrianna, after all these years.” She could sense Anju leaning in, her curiosity piqued by the mention of the long-lost queen, but this topic would need to be saved for a different conversation. For now, Impa’s focus was on gathering the crucial information needed—not for herself, but for the veiled audience lurking in the shadows, eager for insights that could alter the course of events yet unseen. “But tell me, what of your time before coming to Kakariko?”

Goron City

While the space he had been led to was considerably smaller than the majestic expanses of the mountain-dwelling community, Link found it just as captivating in its own way. The dimly lit chamber, with its rough-hewn stone walls and flickering torches casting dancing shadows, held an air of ancient mystery. Yet, as he stood before the towering figure who could provide the crucial assistance he sought, the boy in green felt a wave of uncertainty wash over him, clouding his usual courage and filling him with a mix of internal frustration and shame.

After gathering his resolve, Link introduced himself to both the Kokiri and the others present. The Gorons, muscular and boisterous, wasted no time. With rumbling laughter and cheerful banter, they guided the young outsider and his fluttering companion deeper into the heart of their domain, through arched doorways and into the chambers of their esteemed leader—the unparalleled Chief “Big Brother” Darunia, the mightiest member of their tribe and a legend among all the species of Hyrule. 

Or so these guys claimed, Link thought. 

The anticipation crackled in the air as Link approached, heart pounding with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

“So,” Darunia began with his voice low and rumbling like distant thunder, instantly commanding the attention of those around him. The other Gorons, a mix of youthful energy and stoic strength, stood at attention, their postures rigid as if they were soldiers awaiting a commanding order or perhaps children caught in the act and now being lectured by a disappointed parental figure. 

To Link's surprise, he found that the muscular figure, despite its imposing appearance, reminded him of the Great Deku Tree. 

“Let me get this straight,” he continued, his brow furrowing as he surveyed the group with a critical gaze. Each word dripped with a considerable amount of disapproval, resonating through the air like a heavy stone dropped into still water. The echoes of his tone left no doubt that he expected better from his kind, as he prepared to address the absurdities of the situation before them. “I send you all to try and maybe see if the rock blocking the entrance to the Cavern had any potential weaknesses, and you bring back some kid from Kakariko.” 

“Well,” one of the Gorons boomed, his deep voice echoing off the rocky walls as his fellow Gorons exchanged wary glances. He shuffled uneasily, a hint of nervousness in his gravelly tone as he attempted to elaborate. “Actually, the kid here, or rather, his fairy, Miss Navi, claims they hail from the Kokiri Forest, and-”

“Kokiri Forest?” their Chief interrupted, crossing his arms. 

“Uh, yeah, Big Brother,” the Goron answered. “It’s supposedly a small, hidden glade within the depths of the Lost Woods.”

Darunia, the formidable leader of the Gorons, narrowed his eyes, skepticism etched into his rugged features. “You mean the woods where no one who dares to enter ever returns?” he queried, scrutinizing Link with a mixture of curiosity and caution. “Seems like this little fellow had no trouble navigating all the way here.” 

“Well, I don’t know if I would go that far,” the pale-blue fairy muttered, her delicate wings fluttering slightly as she spoke. Despite her hesitant tone, it was evident that her words reached Link loud and clear, prompting him to shoot her an offended look. The fairy's translucent features glimmered in the soft light as she continued, “But, in all seriousness, we have come here not just on behalf of the Kokiri, but for all of Hyrule, Sir.” 

“Just Darunia will do, little lady,” the robust Goron replied with a hearty chuckle that rumbled like distant thunder. His rocky exterior gleamed under the sun, and he stood tall and proud, exuding an aura of leadership that was both imposing and friendly. “I’m the boss here, but not in the ‘old man’ way,” His jovial demeanor contrasted with his imposing figure, making it clear that he was someone to be respected, yet also someone who cherished camaraderie and the bonds of friendship. “But speaking of that,” he then gestured to the rest of the Gorons like himself. “My brothers here said that you’re looking for the Spiritual Stone you presume to be here.”

Link's eyes widened in disbelief as he turned to Navi, his fairy companion, who fluttered anxiously by his side. “But… we came all the way here,” she protested, her voice tinged with urgency and a hint of fear. “Are you saying that—”

“Maybe it’s here, maybe it’s not,” Darunia replied, his tone somber as he crossed his arms over his broad chest. The flickering torchlight cast shadows across his rugged face, emphasizing the deep lines of concern etched there. “Depending on what you say, you may be able to uncover its whereabouts or, conversely, never see it once in your lives,” His expression shifted to one of unwavering resolve as he continued, “That’s ultimately my decision to make. Do we have a problem with that?” The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, a clear warning that the stakes were higher than Link had anticipated.

After a few moments of tentative, tense silence, the blonde boy clad in green finally nodded in response, his eyes flickering with uncertainty yet determination. 

“Good,” Darunia said, his deep voice resonating within the cavern. “Now, how about you show me what my brothers here say you’ve got in that bag of yours?”

Link’s heart raced as he recalled the contents of his sack. Oh, the Emerald! Of course! He reached behind his shield, feeling the rough fabric of the sack against his fingers, but before he could pull anything out, the towering Goron spoke up again, his tone shifting dramatically.

“I don’t just mean your own Stone, kid,” he said, his brow furrowing and eyes narrowing with a steely gaze. “I’m talking about what else you’ve got in there.” His gaze traveled deliberately to the small sack nestled beneath Link’s wooden shield, suspicion etched across his features. “You brought something dangerous in here, didn’t you?”

The gravity in Darunia’s voice made the air around them feel thick with tension. Link’s insides twisted as he sensed the weight of the Goron's scrutiny, feeling the enormity of the moment settle upon him. He knew that revealing too much too soon could jeopardize everything.

Chapter Text

That was certainly one of the closest calls she had faced since embarking on her mission. As she glanced back, her pulse quickened; the ivory-haired woman had emerged from the shadows, tracking her with an intensity that sent chills down her spine. The air was thick with tension, and the gravity of her situation was becoming increasingly palpable. She wasn’t yet convinced this was the “absolute closest” encounter she had experienced, but with each stride the woman took, it became painfully clear that her objective was now in even greater jeopardy. Every decision she made from this point forward would carry heightened stakes, as the likelihood of her cover being blown loomed ominously over her. 

It was ironic, in a peculiar way, that the thought of returning home left her feeling more unsettled than the eerie reality of standing in the very heart of a graveyard. The atmosphere was thick with a sense of history, a somber reminder of lives once lived. True, graveyards were commonplace places of burial where the dead were laid to rest — yet this particular site held a deeper significance. The stones that marked the graves were not merely memorials; they represented the intertwining of stories and legacies that transcended time. As her history teacher, Miss Meg, often reminded her, those who rested here were more than just names etched in stone or faces faded from memory. They were individuals who had shaped the world in ways both grand and subtle, their spirits lingering in the whispers of the wind and the rustle of the leaves that surrounded her. Each grave told a tale, a chapter of existence that was now part of a greater narrative — one that made the prospect of going home seem almost trivial in comparison.

Beneath the lush, green expanse of the earth lay the souls of the departed—those who had met their fate in the quiet village of Kakariko and the countless lives lost during the tumultuous Great Civil War. The resting place was divided: on the left, the graves of the villagers, marked by weathered stones, whispered tales of their history and struggles. To the right, an array of headstones bore witness to the tragic end of those who sought refuge within the village’s welcoming gates, only to find death at its very threshold. Each grave told a story, blending the sorrow of those who lived and those who had fled, forever entwined in the soil that nurtured the land. 

Yet the grave she sought had been filled multiple times over the years, its soil rich with the memories of both ancient sorrows and fresh losses. Gris paused, uncertainty creeping into her stride as she recalled that she was likely still being tracked by Impa, who had been shadowing her for reasons not entirely understood. Nevertheless, urgency surged within her—it was not just her desire urging her forward, but a profound vision bestowed upon her…wait, no. She couldn’t say that. 

“It was by the Princess.” the blonde girl muttered under her breath, reciting the speech she had prepared should anyone question as to why she was even here. 

Regardless, the vision in itself insisted that the graveyard, with its air thickened by secrets and echoes of the past, required immediate investigation. With every step into the shadowy realm of stone and silence, she felt the weight of destiny urging her onward, compelling her to uncover long-buried truths. 

Still, she couldn’t get her mind off what she had heard regarding what the Cuckoo Keeper of Kakariko had said regarding the ever-enigmatic yet ever-present Lost Woods and their inhabitants. Or rather, those outside what Link and Navi had informed her of.

Goron City

Darunia’s Chamber

The imposing figure of the Goron loomed over the small blonde child dressed in a vibrant green tunic, his massive frame a stark contrast to the boy's slight stature. His skin, a rugged, sandy-brown texture resembling weathered stone, glistened faintly in the glow of the fire, highlighting the powerful muscles that rippled beneath. With an unwavering gaze, his deep-set eyes bore down on the child, and his lips hardened into a firm line, revealing the seriousness of their interaction.

"Well?" the Goron rumbled, his voice as deep and resonant as the mountains themselves. He drummed his thick, calloused fingers against his equally massive forearm, the bicep bulging with an almost otherworldly strength that no Hylian could hope to rival. 

The air around them seemed to vibrate with the tension of expectation, and the boy, feeling the weight of the Goron’s silent command, shifted nervously on his feet, acutely aware of the giant's impatience. The radiating heat and light of the lit torches cast elongated shadows, amplifying the Goron's formidable presence as he waited for the boy to respond, the landscape around them echoing with an unspoken urgency.

Link stood frozen, caught in a moment of indecision. The weight of his duty pressed heavily on his shoulders, clashing sharply with the fierce sense of pride that had always driven him. The turmoil brewed within him, each thought a tumultuous wave threatening to pull him under, until a gentle but insistent tapping on his shoulder jolted him back to reality. 

“I don’t think we have much of a choice in this,” Navi urged, her voice a steady breeze amidst the storm of his thoughts. “You have to show him.” 

Link’s heart raced at the thought of exposing the fragile creature he had worked so hard to keep hidden, his frustration mingling with an escalating worry for the small resident safely nestled in his sack. He opened his mouth to protest, ready to voice his concerns, yet before he could find the words, he felt an unexpected movement. To his astonishment, the very creature he had been trying to shield from prying eyes made the bold decision to reveal itself, poking its horned head out from the confines of the sack. 

As its curious gaze met that of the Chief and the wide-eyed members of his tribe, Link’s breath caught in his throat. The tension in the air thickened, and the reality of the moment settled over him like a heavy cloak—he was now forced to confront not only their expectations but also the uncharted path ahead.

As the dragon hatchling emerged, the reactions of those present were markedly varied. Several of the other Gorons, their rocky features contorted with surprise, exhibited signs of unease, shifting their weight as they glanced nervously at the small, two-legged horned lizard. They exchanged anxious whispers, their eyes wide as they tried to process the unexpected sight before them. In stark contrast, Darunia stood at the forefront, his brow furrowed in thought. While perplexed by the sudden appearance of the creature, he leaned more towards curiosity than fear. His eyes sparkled with intrigue as he observed the hatchling, and he could not help but feel a twinge of disappointment towards his fellow Gorons. To him, their fearful reactions seemed almost shameful.

“Hey, what’s wrong with all of you? Get it together!” the bearded Goron bellowed, his deep voice reverberating through the rocky cavern. The others quickly snapped to attention, the weight of his disappointment evident in their tense postures. Despite his harsh words, a flicker of amusement danced in the corners of his lips, hinting that he wasn’t entirely immune to the antics of the child in front of him. He regarded Link with a serious expression, his thick arms crossed resolutely over his broad chest. “Under normal circumstances, I’d have no qualms about tossing you out on your behind for daring to bring one of those things here,” he said, his eyes narrowing. “However,” he added, his tone shifting slightly, “you’re fortunate that your friend there is just a baby.”

Link felt the tension in his shoulders begin to ease as he glanced from the Goron to Sparky, the small creature nestled comfortably in his arms. The intense worry that had clouded his blue eyes gradually transformed into relief—Sparky was going to be okay! At least, he hoped so, with a growing sense of optimism bubbling inside him.

“But that’s not why you’re here, is it, kid?” Darunia continued, his voice softer now, tinged with a sense of understanding that belied his earlier severity. “No, you’re here because you want what once brought light and warmth to this place,” he stated, his gaze narrowing thoughtfully as he considered the implications of Link’s quest. “You want the Goron Ruby, don’t you?” 

Kakariko Graveyard

“When I was young, about as young as that boy,” Anju began, her voice a wistful echo that lingered in Gris’s mind as she pressed forward through the grim shadows of the holding place of death. The air was heavy with an unsettling stillness, each step weighing on her heart, both aware of her destination yet grappling with a profound hesitation that gripped her spirit like ivy around a tree. She continued, drawing strength from her memories, “My family and I lived near the edge of the woods—those very woods.” A shiver ran through her as she recalled the towering trees, their branches stretched like skeletal hands toward the sky. “Our little house was nestled at the border of a small village, one that was home to a dozen families, each with their own tales and secrets woven into the fabric of our community.” Anju paused, her gaze drifting as if searching for ghosts among the twisted roots. “But that village… it’s no longer standing.” The weight of her words hung in the air, a bittersweet reminder of a past that felt both distant and hauntingly present.

The blonde girl in the pink dress paused as she surveyed the engraved stones lining the path, her fingers grazing the cool surface of the markers. Each stone told a story, some etched with names she recognized—friends, family, loved ones—while others belonged to strangers, their lives woven into the fabric of history she could only guess at. The air was filled with a sense of reverence as she took in the solemn beauty of the place, where memories intertwined, creating a tapestry of shared humanity. 

All those who lay resting here, united in this tranquil space, their journeys having led them to rest together in peace. 

Forever.

“Our parents always warned us not to go any further than just past a few trees if we wanted to explore,” Anju continued to relay to Impa via Gris’s recollection, all the while she continued to move forward. “Especially my Father, although you’re more than familiar with him by now, I’m sure.”

“Yes, Mutoh and I are aware of each other,” Impa answered. “But, if I may, ask what exactly unnerved a man as stalwart as him? Frankly, I believed he wasn’t afraid of anything.”

“I thought so too,” Anju recounted, finding some humor in the Sheikah’s observation. “But there was an incident where, when Grog and I had taken Cojiro out for some worms when he was just a chick,” a pause. “A blue chick, mind you. He was always the odd one out of the clutch his mother laid.” 

“And yet he’s the head of the flock you have,” The ivory-haired woman countered. “Yet back to what you were saying, your brother and Cojiro were out in the forest?”

“Yes, we had taken Cojiro out, and just when he was about to get his first worm, or maybe even a small beetle, Grog saw something.” 

“Such as?”

It was then that, as she listened and observed from a distance and in silence, Gris heard the red-haired woman deliver a brand of news that made her ponder everything. “Another kid, like us,” she answered. “Only…at the same time, it was not.”

Goron City

Darunia’s Chamber

Before Link or even Navi had a chance to respond, Darunia turned his attention to the rest of his tribe, his gaze sweeping over the assembled Gorons with a heavy sense of authority. “Hey, can we get a little privacy here?” he commanded, though his tone resonated more as that of a respected leader rather than an oppressive tyrant. “Not that I don’t trust any of you, but…” He shrugged, his expression shifting to one of mild exasperation. “Well, the truth is, I don’t trust you,” he said pointedly, focusing on one particular member of their race. “Especially you, Gor-Mani.”

Gor-Mani stood out amid the crowd, his small, dark eyes widening in surprise as he pointed to himself, feeling the weight of the scrutiny. “Me? What did I do?” he asked, feigning innocence while shifting nervously on his feet.

“Don’t play dumb,” Darunia shot back, his voice firm yet tinged with a hint of amusement. “Were you not the one who tried to sneak the Spiritual Stone off in a bag, plotting to haul it up to the city just to munch on it?” 

Gor-Mani had no retort for the accusation, his cheeks flushing a deep crimson as he looked down, clearly embarrassed. “Oh right, that. Heh…” he mumbled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. “I wasn’t going to eat the whole thing! Just maybe a bite or two…”

Darunia sighed, his expression softening slightly as he added, “I’ll let you know when we’re finished. Until then, I’m asking you, as your Big Brother, to step aside and let me handle this…kid and his friend.”

At that moment, Navi, the tiny fairy fluttering beside Link, chimed in, her voice bright and clear. “Navi the Fairy,” she introduced herself, darting gracefully to perch on her young charge’s left shoulder. And he is Link from the Kokiri Forest, Sir.” Her sparkling form contrasted with the earthy tones of the Gorons, adding a strange yet curious source of new light to the atmosphere as they prepared to discuss matters of great importance.

A new way of seeing. 

“Darunia of the Gorons, Little Lady,” the towering figure declared, his deep voice resonating through the cavernous chamber. His rugged exterior, adorned with the telltale markings of the others of his race, exuded both strength and an undeniable warmth. “Although, if you insist on referring to me by a title, then ‘Big Brother’ will suffice.” 

The fairy hesitated, her wings shimmering in the dim light as she processed this unusual request. “Oh, um, very well then... Big Brother,” she replied, the words tumbling awkwardly from her lips. It felt strange to her, almost a playful absurdity, and Link couldn’t help but ponder the weight of the term as it echoed in his mind. 

“Great! Now that we’re all caught up,” Darunia as he then strode across the chamber with ease, his impressive physique moving gracefully amid the rugged terrain. A massive stone statue, crafted in the likeness of a Goron and resembling the grand vase that stood in the city’s main hub, loomed against the northern wall. With the casual effort of a giant, Darunia shoved the statue aside, revealing a narrow passageway that twisted downward, deeper into the heart of the mountain. 

“Follow me,” he instructed, turning towards the darkened entrance. The air felt cool and inviting, charged with the promise of adventure just beyond the threshold. Link glanced at the fairy, sharing a silent agreement before stepping forward to follow the Goron leader into the unknown.

Kakariko Graveyard 

“What do you mean?” Impa asked, her brow furrowing in curiosity as she looked at Anju. Gris glanced between the two women, equally puzzled about the direction of the conversation.

Anju hesitated for a moment, her fingers idly twisting a lock of her red hair as she sought the right words. “Indeed, it doesn’t quite make sense when I put it into words,” she admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty. “But as I reflect on it now, there were details from my past that I overlooked at the time.” She paused, deep in thought. “I believe that might be the reason why the little imp approached us in the first place.”

"Imp?" Gris echoed quietly, mulling over the term. It felt out of place. She recalled the day Link donned that peculiar mask he had won from the strange salesman in Castle Town. The mask had imbued him with an air of mischief, his eyes sparkling with playful energy. Yet, despite his antics, he still resembled a human, or at least as much of a human as a Kokiri could appear. She pondered the contrast between the light-hearted mischief and the seriousness of what Anju was suggesting—there was more to this than met the eye. 

Was there a potential connection between the green-clad boy and his ilk and those Anju spoke of? 

“Then what?” Impa inquired, pressing further. Gris could sense that part of it was to better the older woman’s chances at catching her, yet also to gain any further information. 

“Well,” Anju continued. “The imp tried to get us to go further into the woods with it, offering us things like candy and toys,” she then paused. “Although I think when they also offered to fry up Cojiro if we wanted something spicy, I knew something was off. Grog just got outright offended and threatened to fight the strange child.” 

“Yet given both of you are here, I take it something prevented you from going any further?” Impa pressed further.

“Yes,” Anju confirmed with a nod. “My father.”

Darunia’s Chamber

Secret Passage

“You’re looking a bit red in the face there,” Navi noted, her voice light but observant, as she caught sight of the shiny bead of sweat trickling down Link’s forehead. “Then again, it IS a little hot in here, isn’t it?”

Link blinked in disbelief. A little?! It felt like an oven in this stifling space, the air heavy and thick, wrapping around him like an unwelcome embrace. Nearby, a cheerful chirp from Sparky broke through his thoughts, and he glanced over to see the small creature flitting about, seemingly unfazed by the sweltering heat. Lucky, he mused bitterly, feeling a twinge of envy ripple through him. The oppressive warmth clawed at his skin, intensifying his discomfort, while the world around him continued unaffected.

“Relax, kid,” Darunia said with a reassuring smile, turning his head to meet the gaze of the young boy, who fidgeted slightly in the stifling heat. The air around them was thick and warm, a stark contrast to the cool breezes that he and the fairy were surely accustomed to. “It’s a little toasty in here for anyone not born of this land, but trust me, where we’re headed, you’ll find it manageable.” 

“What do you mean?” Navi chimed in, her voice high and curious, representing the child's confusion as Link blinked up at the towering Goron, still struggling to grasp the meaning behind those words.

“I mean,” Darunia began, his deep voice resonating with a hint of authority as he suddenly halted, effectively blocking Link’s path. The larger being stood firmly, his muscular frame casting a shadow over the cobbled stones beneath them. Puzzled, Link leaned slightly to one side, trying to peer around Darunia’s imposing figure. In the soft glow of his fairy's light, he caught sight of a fork in the stone pathway they had been following, the two paths diverging beneath the canopy of twisted trees overhead. 

“There are two directions you could take from here,” Darunia continued, his eyes narrowing as he studied the paths ahead. “But heed my warning: only one of them will ensure your survival.” The weight of the moment hung in the air, tinged with an urgency that made Link’s heart race as he contemplated the choices before him. 

“And…which way leads to where we’re going?” Navi inquired, half confused yet also cautious. 

Sensing the palpable tension radiating from the fairy, Darunia raised his hands in a calming gesture, as if he could physically dispel her fears with a wave. “Relax, Little Lady,” he said, his voice steady and reassuring, yet somewhat amused at her evident bravado. “I have no intention of harming either you or the kid.” The warmth in his tone was designed to ease her worries. “I’m just here to give you a warning, in case you ever find yourselves in a situation like this again,” he continued, his expression turning serious. A slight smirk crossed his face as he added, “Although, I doubt you’d manage to find the main path from the peak of the mountain…” 

With that, he turned, confidently guiding Link and Navi to the right. He gestured for them to take the lead, positioning himself as a steadfast protector trailing closely behind. The sound of their footsteps echoed off the rocky terrain, a stark reminder of the jagged cliffs surrounding them. The air felt charged with possibility as they ventured deeper into the unknown.

Hm?” Navi turned her luminous gaze to Link, noting the uncertainty etched on the boy’s youthful face. His furrowed brow and hesitant posture spoke volumes about his internal struggle. “What’s wrong? Do you want me to ask him?” 

Link shook his head, his green tunic swaying slightly as he did so. He glanced at Darunia, who stood nearby, his large figure and puzzled expression revealing that he was just as bewildered by the exchange as Navi was. 

“Then what? Do YOU want to ask him?” Navi pressed, her tiny wings fluttering anxiously as she hovered closer to Link. This time, he offered a reluctant nod, his eyes shimmering with a mix of determination and resolve. Navi bit her lip, a gesture lost beneath the radiant glow that surrounded her tiny form. “Are you sure about this? I mean, when it comes to you and words,” she hesitated, her voice softening, “well…not to sound rude, but…” She trailed off, aware that the implications of her words could sting. There was a tension between them, a shared understanding that language was often a daunting challenge for Link. 

“What’s going on with you two?” Darunia's deep, resonant voice cut through the air, his attempt at softness belied by the commanding presence that naturally emanated from him. His mere presence was enough to make the two others jump slightly, startled by the sheer force of his being. “Speak up, kid,” he rumbled, his eyes narrowing as he regarded them with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

The blonde youth, Link, took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to say. His voice, though shaky, held a steely resolve. “M-My name,” he stammered, his cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and determination. “It’s not…kid. I have a name, and I want you to use it.” He swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest as he pushed through his nervousness. “And…and I have a question for you,” he added, his voice barely above a whisper.

Darunia's thick, grey eyebrows shot up in surprise, a low chuckle escaping his throat as he crossed his massive, muscular arms. “Is that so?” he drawled, his voice a deep, rumbling baritone. “Well, well, well. Look who’s growing a spine. You thinking of joining the Hylian Guard, boy?” His eyes sparkled with mischief as he regarded the young man before him, clearly enjoying the show of newfound courage.

“Kokiri.” The answer was swift and direct, catching the larger being off guard. 

“What?” 

“I-I’m not a…m-man,” the blonde stated, small hiccups here and there notwithstanding. “I-I’m not a Hy-Hylian e-either,” he added, infusing a firmness into his declaration. “M-My home is the Kokiri F-Forest.” 

Silence fell over the three; Darunia was somewhat puzzled, yet nonetheless, he shrugged in response. “Ok, fine then, Link of the Kokiri,” the Goron addressed the boy. “What’s on your mind?” 

Kakariko Graveyard

“Your father?” Impa inquired, although this revelation was met with a small display of amusement. “Heh, all things considered, that’s not exactly surprising.”

Anju found some humor in the intervention of the loud-mouthed carpenter as well. “Still, I am thankful. The moment he called out for us, the imp froze up and then jumped back into the trees, almost as if he became one with the forest itself,” the Cuckoo Keeper recounted. “If anything, our Father thought we were just seeing things at first when I told him that there was another child here with us a few moments ago.” 

“And yet you say that he was the one who banned you from ever going there again,” Impa observed. “Why?” 

“Well, while he didn’t believe us at first, he turned his head away and…” Anju paused. “Well, I’m not entirely sure.” 

Gris raised a brow, all the while eyeing the entrance to the coveted location. She had one chance to get this right. Still, she thought, it would’ve just been so convenient to simply “go” from one place to another without a single step. After all, she had done it with Link to escape that spider-filled house (the very thought of it still gave her shivers), yet that nearly caused an entire whirlwind that almost wrenched the furniture from the floor. Such a thing would no doubt get the attention of everyone, both in Kakariko and perhaps from Death Mountain! No, she had to be stealthier, she mused to herself. She had to be…like the wind. 

“What do you mean?” Impa inquired. But then, to the young blonde’s horror, the ivory-haired woman made eye contact with her, ruby red boring into sapphire blue. “Hold that thought for a moment, would you, Anju?” She then began to make her way toward the collection of hay. “I think there may be a rat sneaking around in your feed.”

And so, she found herself here. Even now, Gris wasn’t entirely certain how it had happened. One moment, she was behind the hay; the next, upon realizing that she was mere seconds away from potentially being caught, her body was momentarily engulfed in a green hue accented by a few dashes of colored lights, accompanied by a sudden gust that seemed to materialize from nowhere. Then, the next thing she knew, she was exactly where she needed to be: at the entrance of the graveyard. Furthermore, she had now reached her true destination, based on the vision…of the Princess, of course. Ironic in a way, Gris pondered, considering the grave before which she now stood. 

Here Lies the Royal Family: Those that Came Before and Those Who Will Come After, this is your Resting Place.

Death Mountain

“The Great Deku Tree?” 

Link nodded in confirmation. True, while the delivery of the inquiry of whether or not the Goron Chief had ever heard of the one who held the other Spiritual Stone. Navi had to assist a few times, yet, for the most part, the boy managed to get everything he wished to say out in the open. Small an accomplishment as it may have been, it was still an accomplishment, pride swelling in the youth’s chest. 

“Hm…you know, now that I think about it,” Darunia answered. “I think I have heard something about something, well, someone like that before.”

“You have?” Navi asked. 

“Yeah, sometime when I was around your age, I think,” the Goron confirmed. “But, maybe we can go over that when we actually get inside.”

Link glanced upward, his attention drawn to what appeared to be a massive wall looming before them. However, a narrow crease on the left side caught his eye, nestled between the wall and the rugged rocky formation that held it in place. With a determined grumble, Darunia pushed against the heavy stone slab, sliding it aside with a surprising ease that belied its size. In that moment, an astonishing sight unfolded before them, leaving both Link and his fairy momentarily speechless. Their breath caught in their throats as they stood transfixed, eyes wide in wonder at the breathtaking scene laid out ahead.

A chamber comparable in size to the Goron Chief's lair lay before them, its walls adorned with vibrant murals depicting the mighty Gorons. However, these paintings told a different story. Some figures were clad in elaborate armor, their skin adorned with intricate tattoos, while others brandished formidable weapons in heroic poses. Among them, one striking image captured the essence of triumph: a Goron standing atop a craggy peak, likely representing the infamous Death Mountain. With arms raised high, he appeared to bellow a victorious roar at the radiant sun rising above the jagged horizon.

In the center of the chamber, a stone platform stood majestically, at its heart a diamond-shaped gemstone radiating a captivating, fiery red hue. It shimmered with an ethereal glow, accentuated by a golden V-shaped emblem that seemed to pulse with a life of its own, floating just above the smooth surface beneath it. Beneath this resplendent gem rested a massive hammer forged from gleaming steel, its surface intricately engraved with markings and patterns that mirrored the artistic depictions on the walls, a testament to Goron craftsmanship and history.

"Here it is, kid—er, Link," Darunia explained, his voice echoing slightly in the expansive chamber. He stepped forward, the generous space allowing him to approach the boy with ease. "I don’t know what kind of treasures you’ve got down in that green place of yours, but here," he gestured toward the gemstone and hammer with a sense of reverence, "This is where we keep our history."

Chapter Text

“Impa?” Anju called out, her voice edged with confusion as she watched the enigmatic Sheikah woman kneeling by the wooden bins filled with an assortment of animal feed. The sunlight filtered through the trees, glinting off Impa’s silver braid, while her icy blue eyes scanned the contents with a predator's focus, leaving Anju puzzled about what exactly she was searching for. “Impa, what are you—”

“She was here,” Impa interrupted, her voice dropping to a low, urgent murmur. Anju’s words caught in her throat, her eyes widening as she absorbed the serious expression etched across Impa's face. The ivory-haired woman’s ruby-red eyes darted frantically between the feed and scattered hay, her brow furrowing deeper with each passing moment. “I saw her slip behind there, and then…” Impa's voice trailed off, her lips pressing into a thin line as unease crept into her features. “This isn’t good,” she declared, her tone heavy with foreboding, like the tense silence that falls before a storm.

Anju felt a rustle of her rust-colored hair against her shoulders as she tilted her head in bewilderment, trying to make sense of the gravity of the situation. “What isn’t good, Impa?” she questioned, concern lacing her voice as she leaned in closer. “What are you talking about?”

The ivory-haired Sheikah remained silent for a brief moment, her gaze turning sharply towards the entrance of the shadowy graveyard beyond. “I believe I’ve tracked the little fox that snuck her way into your hen house,” she stated, a steely resolve settling over her as she prepared to confront whatever lay ahead.

Kakariko Graveyard 

This was the culmination, or so she hoped. Standing atop the weathered stone platform, adorned with the sacred symbol of her homeland, Gris, clad in pink, was poised to fulfill a fragment of her overarching quest. Though the significance of her task eluded her, she knew with utter certainty that it must be undertaken. The Princess' prophetic vision and the location where the legendary Ocarina of Time was to be played were etched in her memory, yet the specifics of her mission remained shrouded in mystery.

Gris's piercing blue eyes locked onto the grand tomb that housed the remains of her royal ancestors. Her gaze then shifted to the two smaller gravestones that flanked the imposing headstone, each a somber testament to lives cut short. She leaned in, her breath visible in the cool air, and whispered her promise, "Don’t worry, you two,” she softly assured. “I’ll find those who took your lives, and then, the Hero shall deal with their leader."

With a sense of determination, she raised the intricately designed Ocarina, its blue paint glinting in the partially hidden light of the sun, and brought it to her lips. 

Kakariko Village

“Impa, I must admit, your behavior has me baffled,” Anju confessed, her brow furrowing as she tried to make sense of the other woman's peculiar fascination. “You've had your eyes fixed on my pen since you arrived. What is it that has you so captivated?”

Impa opened her mouth to respond, but a sudden, unfamiliar sensation prickled her skin, like the charged air before a storm. Her words caught in her throat as she turned her gaze skyward, where ominous clouds began to gather with unnatural swiftness, blotting out the sun and casting an eerie shadow over the graveyard. The villagers, sensing the shift, followed her gaze, their murmurs of unease filling the air.

“What in the name of the Great Goddesses is happening?” Anju breathed, her confusion mirroring that of her neighbors.

Before anyone could react, a fork of lightning tore through the dark sky, striking the earth with a deafening crack. The impact sent a violent tremor rippling through the settlement, rattling the very foundations of the homes and disturbing the rest of the departed in their eternal slumber.

Impa's heart leapt into her throat as she realized the gravity of the situation. Without a moment's hesitation, she rushed toward the graveyard, her boots kicking up dust in her wake. She had to find the girl—her charge—who she had been seeking, and ensure she was safe from whatever dark force was descending upon them.

Goron Secret Chamber

The chamber was abruptly seized by a violent convulsion, the ground heaving like a restless beast beneath their feet. Link, caught off guard, staggered and tumbled to the cold stone floor, his balance betraying him in the sudden chaos. Darunia, normally as steadfast as the mountains of his homeland, was likewise thrown off kilter, his eyes widening in shock.

“By Din’s sacred flame, what sorcery is this?” he wondered aloud, regaining his footing with a grunt. His gaze darted around the chamber, taking in the chaos as artifacts and relics danced precariously on their stands.

“Hey! Look!” Navi cried out, having spied one among the various articles that had been moved from its original place due to the shaking. 

With a swift, practiced motion, Darunia lunged toward a particularly precious artifact, a small stone figure that had seen generations of Goron warriors. As it teetered on the edge of its stone stand, he snatched it from certain doom, his massive hand closing around the hilt with a sense of relief. The tremor subsided as suddenly as it had begun, leaving the chamber in an eerie silence, broken only by the heavy breathing of the child and Goron Chief. 

“Heh, that tiny, luminescent companion of yours seems to be quite the asset to those around you,” Darunia remarked, carefully replacing the figurine on its stand. “Indeed, she does possess a somewhat persistent demeanor, but I suppose that's a small price to pay for her unique abilities. I'll allow her to remain by your side, and I expect you to keep making good use of her, Navi, for the benefit of all of us, thanks.”

Navi, taken aback, initially responded with, “Oh, why, thank you, Sir,” but then paused, her mechanical eyes widening as she processed the Goron’s words more deeply. “Wait just one moment,” she retorted, her voice taking on a sharp edge. “I may be small, and I may emit a soft glow, but I am most certainly not an insect, Sir! I am Navi, a sentient and self-aware entity, and I demand to be treated with the respect due to me!”

This response only served to elicit a deep, resonating laugh from the Goron Chief, his massive frame shaking with mirth. “Ho ho! By the ancestors, you two are a pair of rare delights!” he boomed, slapping his knee with a thunderous sound. “Your antics have brought more joy to these old eyes than I've seen since the day our mountain decided to spit out rocks like a bothersome child with a mouth full of pebbles!”

He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, his voice still trembling with amusement as he continued, “Very well, since you've traversed the vast and perilous lands from whatever verdant forest lies beyond the borders of Hyrule, I shall permit you a glimpse of our most sacred and revered treasure.” His eyes narrowed to slits as he fixed his gaze upon the boy clad in green. “Yet, I remain curious, kid, as to how you came to possess that Emerald.”

Kakariko Graveyard

Oh, what manner of mischief have you stirred up now? Impa mused to herself, her heart pounding like a war drum as she hurried toward the village's sacred ground, where the honored dead lay in eternal slumber. 

Her breath hitched as she swiftly scanned the landscape, her keen eyes immediately locking onto the immense crater that marred the otherwise pristine earth, the undeniable source of the tremendous impact that had shaken the very foundations of their world mere moments ago. 

“Oh no,” the Sheikah woman’s lips tightened with a mix of frustration and icy-cold worry as she sensed what was about to unfold. “Please don’t tell me you’re planning to go down there!”

Goron Secret Chamber 

“…so coming here was part of the Great Deku Tree’s final request,” Darunia stated, his voice steady, yet there was a softness in his eyes that hinted at the warmth behind his firm demeanor. The lines etched across his face, once deep with the weight of his responsibilities, now bore the gentle traces of understanding and shared sorrow. “…I’m truly sorry for your loss, kid. I know all too well what it feels like to grieve.”

Despite the recounting Navi presented regarding the Great Deku Tree’s demise (although she didn't exactly mention how the Gohma Egg got into the Kokiri Forest), bringing forth a heaviness in his chest, Link didn't expect the larger being to respond in such a way. 

“Oh, you do, Sir?” Navi questioned, mirroring her charge’s curiosity.

The bearded Goron nodded solemnly, his voice a deep rumble as he spoke. “You see these murals on the walls?” he asked, his weathered hands gesturing to the ancient paintings that adorned the concave stone surfaces, their colors faded but their stories enduring. “They're the brothers that are no longer with us,” he explained, his eyes reflecting a mix of sadness and reverence as he regarded the primitive yet powerful art. The cave art, though crude in execution, held a profound depth, speaking to a rich history that spanned generations, etched into the very heart of the Gorons' heritage. “Some gone and figures of history and legend, some taken in more recent tragedies.” 

At the zenith of the chamber, the vibrant murals unfurled a narrative as ancient as the Gorons themselves. A fierce female figure, wrapped in dancing flames, projected an aura of defiance, her silhouette a striking juxtaposition against the cool, gray stone that surrounded her. Beside her, a large, weathered hand reached deep into the earth, fingers outstretched and digging fervently into the soil as though it were desperately unearthing something of great significance. Nearby, a shadowy form loomed—a towering, enigmatic shape that stood upright, its true purpose and meaning obscured by the relentless sands of time. Finally, a fully-realized Goron emerged from the swirling imagery, robust and proud, an embodiment of their enduring legacy—an homage to the tumultuous journey that the murals so vividly portrayed.

“Din, the Divine Creator and Destroyer, molded every living being from the primordial Earth, Her hands sculpting each form with the precise artistry of a master and the tender care of a devoted mother,” Darunia narrated, his voice a deep and resonant rumble that vibrated through the chamber’s cool air. “She breathed life into each creature, infusing them with a spark of Her own essence, ensuring that no two beings were alike—each one a unique manifestation of Her infinite creativity. Yet, with a wisdom that transcended limitation, She scattered Her creations across the vast expanses of the world—from the soaring peaks of mountains to the cavernous depths of shadowy chasms. This divine dispersion not only spread Her profound influence but also echoed that of Her revered Sisters, the Golden Three. Indeed, even those who have never uttered Their names remain inescapably intertwined with Their power, which is woven intricately into the very fabric of existence.”

From the painted visage of the Divine Woman enflamed, and the emergence of the First Goron, a myriad of his kind sprang forth, seemingly shaping the very city where Link and Navi found themselves. Yet before Darunia could delve deeper into his narrative, a sharp chirp pierced the air, emanating from the boy in green's sack. 

“Hm?” Navi's luminous glow flickered as she and Link turned their gaze back, both captivated by the sight before them. Sparky, the small dragon, cautiously peeked out from the depths of Link's rucksack, his round, innocent eyes—big and reptilian—fixated on a particular mural that captured his attention. Link followed Sparky’s gaze, his own blue irises tracing the intricate patterns that adorned the wall above. “What does that one represent?” his fairy wondered aloud, curiosity piqued as both she and Link took in the vibrant colors and the stories they seemed to tell. 

Darunia turned his gaze toward the painting that had captured his attention, and Link noticed an unexpected shift in the Goron's typically confident demeanor. For a brief moment, the fearless mountain dweller's bravado wavered, revealing a flicker of apprehension beneath his tough exterior. Although he didn’t allow outright terror to seize him, Link could see the subtle tension in Darunia's posture, the way his broad shoulders seemed to tense and his fists clenched slightly at his sides.

“That,” Darunia began, his deep, round eyes fixated on the vibrant depiction before them, “Tells the tale of the Rise and Fall of the Great and Terrible Volvagia.” 

Kakariko Graveyard 

“Ew, it smells so moldy in here,” Gris coughed, pinching her nose as the constant odor of moisture and rot permeated the interior of the tomb. “Here’s hoping I don’t have to search this place for too long.” 

In all retrospect, if she had any say in the matter, she wouldn’t have even thought of coming here, let alone down into the grave of the Royal Family. If the smell itself wasn’t enough of a discouragement, the armored skeletons propped up against the stone walls wasn’t exactly a pleasant sight for the young girl either. True, these men had chosen to be preserved and buried here, swearing to guard the Royal Family in both the living and spirit world, yet the fact remained that she was in the presence of dead people. 

“Just barely,” Gris whispered under her breath, each word laced with a sense of urgency as she focused intently on her surroundings, careful to regulate her breaths so as not to disturb the stillness. Her sharp gaze combed the dimly lit chamber, searching for any hints that might guide her deeper into the secrets of the tomb. According to her…no, rather, the Princess’ vision, this area was merely a prelude to the wonders—and dangers—that lay ahead. “There’s got to be something here,” she mused aloud, her voice bouncing off the ancient stone walls like a playful ghost. If only she had cast her eyes upward, she might have spotted the small, shadowy shapes clinging tenaciously to the rough-hewn ceiling, disturbed by the rustle of her footsteps. Their glistening, red, beady eyes blinked down at her from the darkness, scrutinizing the intruder below with a mix of curiosity and malice. “Some sort of switch, or perhaps a puzzle,” she continued, her mind racing with possibilities, “Something that will reveal the way forward.”

Then, Gris’s blue eyes fell on four torches composed of wooden sticks that lined the northern wall, situated by a sealed door of stone. 

Gris's gaze lingered on the unlit torches, her mind racing with possibilities. She theorized that those torches might be the key to opening the sealed stone door. The room was dimly lit, and the torches, if ignited, could very well cast enough light to reveal hidden mechanisms or symbols that would allow her to proceed. But how could she light them? She had no flint, no tinder, and no other obvious means to create a flame.

Just as frustration began to set in, a spark of memory flickered in her mind. She remembered the new trick she had recently learned—a clever method to manipulate fire. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a small, clear crystal. Inside, a tiny flame danced and flickered, as if taunting her with its elusiveness. This crystal was her secret weapon, a gift from a mysterious traveler who had taught her the art of fire manipulation.

Gris held the crystal tightly, feeling the warmth radiating from it. She focused her energy, channeling it into the crystal as she had been taught. The flame inside began to grow, its dance becoming more vigorous and intense. With a deep breath, she directed the flame towards the nearest torch. The wooden sticks caught fire almost instantly, the torch blazing to life with a crackling sound that echoed through the chamber.

One by one, Gris repeated the process, lighting each torch until all four were ablaze. The room filled with a warm, flickering light that cast eerie shadows on the walls. Gris turned her attention back to the sealed door, her heart pounding with anticipation. She scanned the surface, searching for any signs of a mechanism or symbol that might respond to the light.

As she examined the door, she noticed faint carvings etched into the stone, almost invisible in the dim light. The torches had revealed them, and now she could make out a pattern—a series of runes that seemed to form a sequence. Gris's mind raced as she tried to decipher the meaning behind the symbols. She had a feeling that solving this puzzle would be the key to unlocking the door and whatever secrets lay beyond.

Goron Secret Chamber

The painting depicted an elongated serpent, its scales shimmering with the colors of molten lava, adorned with menacing horns and exhaling billows of fire that danced like ribbons across the canvas. The vivid colors and dynamic composition captured the essence of the legendary beast, a creature synonymous with both terror and the rich history of the Goron people. For a moment, Link felt the weight of that history hanging between them, a shared understanding of the legends that shaped their lives and the fears lingering in the shadows of the past.

“Volvagia?” Navi inquired, her voice a whisper as she exchanged a knowing glance with her blonde companion, Link. “From the look on your faces, I gather that this dragon is not a fond memory for your people?”

Darunia let out a deep, rumbling huff, his massive form shaking slightly with the effort. “You could say that,” he rumbled, his voice like distant thunder. “It's an understatement to say we have a contentious history with that scaled beast.” He turned his gaze toward Sparky, the young Goron who had accompanied them on their journey. “Let me share some insight,” he began, his voice taking on a grave tone. “While my brethren and I have been entrusted with the sacred duty of guarding and maintaining this mighty mountain, we are not its sole inhabitants. Other creatures call these peaks their home, and not all are friendly.” Darunia paused, his eyes narrowing as he recalled something. “I've heard whispers from my brothers that you had a bit of a skirmish with some troublesome Tektites on your ascent. Am I correct?”

Link's face flushed a deep pink, his brows furrowing as he struggled to respond. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. The memory of his encounter with those four-legged, red-spotted spiders was still fresh in his mind, and it was far from one of his prouder moments.

“You should count yourself fortunate, young one,” Darunia continued his voice a deep, resonant rumble like the shifting of boulders. “While those Tektites can be tenacious and, shall we say, overly enthusiastic in their movements, they typically pose a threat only to their kind, which are other creepy crawlies like themselves. You would have been more of a nuisance to them than they to you, I suspect, and they would have been unable to cause any significant harm even if they tried to swallow you whole.”

Link's blue eyes rolled heavenward with a mix of amusement and exasperation. Well, that was a comforting thought, he mused silently, being swallowed whole by a spider and not even making a decent meal.

“Then,” Darunia went on, his voice taking on a darker tone, “there are the Dodongos. Those vile, green-beasted creatures you saw etched into the walls of Goron City—the ones with the putrid breath and jaws that never seem to close. They're aggressive by nature and will snap at anything they can fit into those cavernous maws, including the young hatchlings. But don’t worry, for they mostly confine themselves to the depths of the caves and tunnels that honeycomb this mountain, far from the peaceful folk of Kakariko Village and, until recently, from our paths as well.”

Worried? Who was worried? Link was tempted to argue. He was the one with the sword, wasn’t he? True, he wasn’t as girthy as either Darunia or any of the others of his ilk, but he was tough enough! 

Wait.

Until recently?

Link's curiosity was piqued, and he exchanged a glance with Navi, their unspoken question hanging in the air between them. But before Navi could take to the skies and voice their inquiry, Darunia pressed on with his grim tale, his words painting a picture of growing unease.

“And then, there are those like that little guy there,” the Goron answered, taking a few steps toward Link, or rather, the seemingly oblivious Sparky still poking his head out of the sack. “Dragons,” noticing the blonde boy’s uncertainty and trepidation, Darunia raised his hands as if to present that he was unarmed, even if his kind had shown that their very bodies were enough of a weapon if utilized as such. “Relax, kid, this one’s too young and too little to be any real trouble,” he reassured him. “Plus, it’s too early to tell the little guy’s personality yet as it is. For all I know, he could grow up to be a complete pushover.”

Pushover? Was that meant as an insult? Link was about to (at least attempt) verbalize that he was growing rather tired of the larger oaf’s taunts and jabs, yet Navi stepped (or rather, fluttered) in, taking over with a completely different, but much more cordial response. “You seem to regard Sparky and Dragons overall as a different sort of beast than that of Tektites or Dodongos,” the fairy observed. “What exactly is the difference?” 

This particular inquiry resulted in a puzzled Darunia, the Chief raising a brow in confusion. “Aren’t you supposed to be able to identify and know about monsters and all that?” he questioned back. “I mean, I don’t know how fairies and all that work, but aren’t they usually able to sense when there’s some form of danger?” 

“Oh, um, y-yes, of course I do!” Navi answered, crossing her arms and puffing out her chest. “It’s just, well…most of what Link and I have encountered have been creatures recognizable from the forest,” she informed. “Anything outside of that is…well, sort of new territory for me,” she then noticed the Goron’s rising skepticism about her abilities. “Don’t get me wrong, I can identify any creature or monster we come across with complete and total ease!” Navi declared with pride. “I’m just…steadily growing more informed as we travel further, isn’t that right, Link?”

The boy was quiet, not entirely sure of what he was expected to do.

“Come on, Link, you’re supposed to be backing me up!” the fairy chastised, inwardly groaning that childish naivety was a barrier she would most likely have quite a time dealing with. 

“Indeed,” Darunia stated, his voice a low growl as he resumed their conversation. “You are correct in assuming that I view Dragons as a separate entity altogether. Tektites, for all their size and numbers, are little more than oversized spiders or crustaceans, their kinship to Gohmas notwithstanding. And while I hold a deep disdain for Dodongos—their aggression and pungent stench are enough to ruffle even a Goron's patience—they are merely a nuisance, bullying their way through the caves and leaving chaos in their wake,” He paused, his eyes taking on a distant, troubled look. “But Dragons... they are a league of their own. A unique and formidable force, unlike any other creature that dwells within these peaks. They are not mere pests or occasional threats; they are ancient, powerful, and capable of destroying on a scale that dwarfs the annoyances of Tektites and Dodongos combined.”

Link then eyed the larger Goron suspiciously.

“Like I said, kid, I don’t have a problem with this little guy,” Darunia told the boy. “As I don’t have a problem with all dragons.”

All dragons? The boy tilted his head, wondering what the more muscular mountain dweller was implying.

“Well, it’s kind of like this,” he began with an attempted explanation. “I was about to use the village down below for comparison, but I just remembered you’re not from there, are you?” The Goron then began to try and conjure up another potential example. “The place you live, the Kokiri Forest, right?” he asked, Link answering with a confirming nod. “You’re not the only one, right?” the blonde shook his head. “And there are some of those around you that you like, and some you don’t, right?” another nod. “Dragons are sort of the same way,” Darunia clarified. “Like there are good and bad people or Gorons or really, I suppose any race or person, there are good and bad Dragons.” 

Link then turned his attention to the still peering Sparky, the young hatchling seemingly sharing in wondering what the Goron Chief thought of the rucksack’s current residence. 

“It is yet to be seen with yours, but from what I can tell, he doesn't strike me as one who will cause trouble once he comes of age,” Darunia stated, his voice holding a note of cautious optimism. “But mark my words, young one, for I have seen the darkness that can dwell within the hearts of Dragons,” Darunia's gaze shifted back to the mural, his expression grave as he took in the depiction of the fiery serpent. “In centuries past, an evil Dragon, a malevolent force unlike any other, made its lair within this very mountain. Its name was Volvagia, and its reign cast a long, dark shadow over all of Eastern Hyrule, including our Goron people.” 

Volvagia, surrounded by Gorons, some dancing and leaping with what appeared to be joy, others bowing their heads in what seemed to be reverent worship. The sight sent a chill down Link's spine; the mural hinted at a grim and unsettling truth—the power of this dragon had not only inspired fear but also a twisted form of devotion among its people. The implications were clear: Volvagia's influence had been all-consuming, shaping the very souls of those who lived in its shadow.

Royal Tomb

“Even if Castle Town was Father’s idea, I don’t think even he would’ve gone through the trouble in doing some interior decorating for a place like THIS.” Realizing what had just slipped from her lips, Gris covered her mouth, wide blue eyes peering around to see if anyone had heard what was just said. “No, what am I, stupid?” she chastised herself aloud. “No one would come down here!” A pause followed by a brief period of silence. “Well, no one but me, anyway.” 

Behind the door secured by fiery keys lay what seemed to be a modest chamber featuring a narrow pathway carved from side to side, winding from left to right adjacent to the entrance. Gris assumed this path was created to facilitate water flow, although what filled its crevices was anything BUT. A green, viscous fluid or some sort of sludge filled the carved-out path, foul vaporous gases rising from its bubbling and warm surface; the blonde was able to sense the heat from even standing above it. 

“Ugh, what is this stuff?” the girl in pink wondered aloud, scrunching her nose in disgust at the odor that assaulted her senses. “There’s no way this is normal,” she then crossed her arms. “ It’s got to do something with Ganondorf. It HAS to. He and those old crones he’s brought to the Castle,” she then scowled, barely able to see the path ahead through the dense green vapor. “Creepy old bats would probably like a place like this anyway,” she huffed, pulling the top of her dress underneath her leather vest above her nose, begrudgingly moving forward as, through the thickness of the foul clouds of green, there was a solid object situated a short distance away. “Well, maybe I can give them a recommendation when I have to ‘play nice’ with those old hags again.”

She then sighed, thoughts then turning to her partner in crime, so to speak, the boy from the forest. 

“Link…wherever you are, please, be careful.” 

Goron Secret Chamber

“After the Hero of the Sky helped establish life on the surface world once again, my ancestors migrated further upward to allow for the influx of those who wished to come down from Skyloft to the world below,” Darunia informed Link and Navi, noticing that the boy was rather fascinated by his current tale. “What? I thought your fairy said that the Great Deku Tree told you all about stories and legends like that.” 

“True,” Navi responded. “He did indeed, yet from your recounting, it seems that some details were left out or overlooked in a few sections,” she pondered why that was. “Of course, his audience consisted mostly of children, so maybe some simplifying was in order?”

“Hm, yeah, maybe,” Darunia concluded, nodding in agreement with the winged woman's sentiments. “Yet, after that dark chapter was closed, a period of relative peace and harmony followed. The Mountain Folk and the Pointed Ears—despite our stark differences—found a way to coexist, to work together and thrive in this land.” A light chuckle escaped Darunia's lips, a sound like distant thunder, as he reflected on the irony of their current situation. “Who would have thought that Gorons and Hylians could find common ground, eh? But find it we did, and for a time, all was well.”

Link listened intently, his mind a whirl of thoughts as he absorbed this new information. Despite his dedication to learning every detail of Hyrule, or as he knew it then, the Outside’s fantastical history from the Great Deku Tree, he realized there were vast gaps in his knowledge. Why had the wise tree not shared these events earlier? Why wait until the very end to reveal such crucial parts of their shared past? And even then, what had been revealed was still so little.

Link's curiosity gnawed at him, but he kept his questions to himself, storing them away for later reflection.

“Of course, nothing lasts forever,” the Goron Chief continued his voice a deep rumble that echoed against the stone walls. “And anything good is almost always guaranteed to be gone too soon.” 

Navi leaned forward, curiosity glimmering in her eyes. “I take it that’s when the Dragon came, right?” 

“Heh,” Darunia chuckled, a sound like boulders tumbling down a mountainside. “Rather, we came to it.” He gestured towards a sprawling mural, vibrant and detailed, depicting a determined band of Gorons as they descended through a labyrinthine tunnel. “When we ventured deeper into the heart of the mountain, we chose to expand our horizons. We carved our intricate network of tunnels, creating a haven that allowed us to thrive without encroaching upon the Hylian population that resided in the vast caverns below,” he explained, his eyes glistening with pride as they traced another painting. This one captured the jubilant Gorons, gleefully hoisting a dazzling array of precious gemstones that sparkled like stars against the backdrop of the earth.

Then, his gaze shifted to a more somber mural, depicting a colossal boulder being shattered, jagged pieces flying in every direction as an enormous, menacing lizard-like monster emerged from the chaos. “Of course, my ancestors were unaware that the mountain’s treasures already had their guardians, ancient and fierce, ready to protect what was claimed long before we laid our hands upon it.”

Royal Tomb

Despite her original intention to descend into the depths of the chamber, Gris now stood transfixed, her heart racing as she gazed at the massive slab of stone looming before her. The dim light flickered against the rough surface, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls. The pungent aroma of the green sludge, a thick and viscous substance oozing nearby, filled the air, making her stomach churn. She had skillfully navigated around it, but now her focus was solely on the monolithic stone, its ancient carvings whispering secrets of a long-forgotten era. With every breath, the weight of the moment settled heavily upon her shoulders, compelling her to uncover what lay beyond this imposing barrier. 

Or rather, the etching grifted on the stone’s surface. 

The intricate image of the Triforce, cradled by the Three Goddesses, radiated an aura of profound significance, a symbol etched deeply into the tapestry of Hyrule's history. Directly beneath this sacred emblem floated an ethereal city, its spires reaching towards the heavens, signifying the descent of the Sky People—the ancestors of the Hylians—from their celestial realm to the mortal world below. At the heart of this divine migration stood two figures: the First Hero and his beloved, their forms radiating a regal aura as they were crowned the inaugural King and Queen of this new land, their reign marking the dawn of a golden age.

Beneath this scene of celestial origin lay a stark contrast: a towering castle engulfed in fiery chaos, its once-magnificent spires reduced to smoldering ruins. Surrounding this blazing edifice was a horde of demons and monstrosities, their forms twisted and malformed, wielding an array of deadly weapons. This grim tableau represented the Era of Chaos, a time of unbridled darkness and destruction, when Hyrule teetered on the brink of annihilation, beset by forces that sought to tear it asunder.

Below the scene of chaos and destruction, the mural offered a stark and welcome contrast: a vibrant and lively gathering of people, their faces alight with joy and merriment. The air seemed to buzz with an infectious energy as some went about their daily tasks with smiles on their faces, while others gave in to the pure, unadulterated joy of dancing and playing music. Laughter filled the air, mingling with the melodious tunes that drifted from makeshift instruments, creating a symphony of happiness that drew in not only the hearts of the citizens but also the curious gaze of various animals. This idyllic scene was a testament to the Era of Prosperity, a golden age where Hyrule basked in unparalleled peace and harmony, a time that would forever be etched in the annals of history as the last period of true tranquility the kingdom had ever known.

Following the radiant Era of Prosperity, a shroud of darkness once again descended upon the land, casting a long and ominous shadow over Hyrule. What initially seemed like the dawn of a new heroic age soon unfurled into an epic tale of courage and adversity. At the heart of this saga lay a weapon of immense power and significance: the coveted Picori Blade, a relic of the Minish people, forged in the fires of legend and imbued with ancient magic.

Yet, this blade was not destined to remain unchanged. Its destruction at the hands of a formidable foe marked the end of an era, but from its shattered remnants rose a new and equally formidable weapon: the Four Sword. This blade, with its unique and mysterious properties, would later come to the aid of another hero, a century or more after its creation. When the Wind Mage, Vaati, in a display of his dark and capricious power, spirited away the women of Hyrule, it was this hero who took up the Four Sword and set forth on a quest to restore balance and free the captives from Vaati's malevolent grasp.

At the base of the mural, a simpler yet profoundly moving scene unfolded: a humble and heartwarming tableau that stood in stark contrast to the epic tales depicted above. Here, there was no grand saga of a sword's destruction or a princess turned to stone. Instead, the focus was on a single man and woman, their faces etched with a profound mix of exhaustion, joy, and awe as they cradled a newborn infant in their arms, presenting the precious bundle to the heavens above. The baby, swaddled and peaceful, was perfectly aligned with the Triforce at the very top of the mural, as if blessed by the divine forces it represented. This intimate and powerful image spoke volumes about the cycle of life, hope, and the enduring spirit of Hyrule's people, reminding all who beheld it of the simple, profound moments that define a life. 

…her life.

Her sapphire eyes traced the intricate etched lines of the man, the King of Hyrule, his stern yet benevolent features forever preserved in stone. Her gaze then softened as it shifted to the woman beside him, his queen, Ambriana. The queen's face was a picture of grace and kindness, her eyes holding a warmth that seemed to radiate even from the cold stone. Gris's hand trembled slightly as she reached out, her fingers gliding over the smooth, cool surface of the carving. She let her palm rest gently on the etched image of the queen, as if trying to bridge the gap between the past and the present.  

A soft, almost reverent whisper escaped her lips, "...Hi, Mother." The words hung in the air, a poignant blend of longing, affection, and a touch of sadness, as Gris stood there, connected to her past through the unyielding medium of stone.

Goron Secret Chamber

“Upon grasping the beast's ability to enslave us through fear and dread, Volvagia set about establishing a brutal system of control,” Darunia continued, his dark eyes locking onto another chilling depiction of the dreadful dragon. The mural showed Volvagia, a colossal fire-breather, towering over a restrained Goron bound to a pole, while his fellow Gorons cowered, their heads bowed in forced reverence to the monstrous serpent. “As long as we supplied the Dragon with sacrifices and tribute, it would spare us, and the rest of Hyrule, from its fiery wrath.”

Link's lip trembled slightly as he bit down, his previous notions of the Great Deku Tree's sternness fading in comparison to the horrific treatment the Gorons had endured at the hands of this terrifying creature. A creature that, remarkably, shared a name with the young Sparky standing before him.

Darunia's voice, which had been heavy with grim remembrance, began to lift with a spark of pride and hope. “Then, one fateful day, a member of our tribe, a Goron surely blessed by the Goddess Farore Herself, rose up. Tired of his people's endless suffering, he took it upon himself to challenge the beast and free his kin from its oppressive rule,” The subsequent mural portrayed a triumphant scene, the apparent end of Volvagia's reign of terror. At the center stood a mighty Goron, his form clad in armor that mimicked the carapace of a Dodongo, wielding a massive, intricately crafted hammer. The hammer's head, a gleaming orb of precious metal, shone brightly, a symbol of hope and power. The Goron hero stood victorious over the fallen form of Volvagia, the once-feared dragon now reduced to a motionless, charred husk. Surrounding him, his fellow Gorons rejoiced, their voices raised in cheers and celebrations of their newfound liberty, a freedom hard-won and dearly earned.

Darunia's voice swelled with pride as he recounted the tale, “Forgeing a hammer from the rarest of metals, our hero descended into the very depths of Death Mountain with his weapon, the Megaton Hammer. With courage and strength, he confronted and vanquished the beast, bringing an end to its tyranny. And within the heart of Volvagia's chambers, amidst the treasures he had hoarded, our hero found this.” He gestured to the magnificent gemstone, a Goron Ruby, its deep red hue shimmering with an inner fire, a testament to the power and spirit of the Goron people. The Ruby, a symbol of their triumph and resilience, was a beacon of hope, a reminder of the day they reclaimed their freedom from the jaws of darkness.

As Darunia spoke, Link's eyes widened with awe, taking in the vivid details of the mural and the incredible story it told. He felt a thrill of excitement and admiration for the Goron hero and his triumph over the fearsome Volvagia. The tale was one of courage, sacrifice, and ultimate victory, and Link found himself deeply moved. Yet, even as he reveled in the narrative, he could sense Navi's presence beside him, her usual eagerness to ensure he didn't miss the critical aspects of their journey. Link silently mused, he knew that while the drama and heroism of the Goron's tale were inspiring, there were likely deeper insights and lessons to be gleaned from the experience. Link took a deep breath, steeling himself to absorb every significant detail, knowing that Navi's keen sense of purpose would guide him toward the most valuable takeaways from this encounter.

“That’s quite a remarkable history this weapon and stone have,” Navi remarked, referring to the Shimmering Goron Ruby and the fearsome Megaton Hammer resting underneath its stand. “It’s little wonder why you hold such reverence for it.”

“Indeed,” Darunia confirmed, biting his lip and averting his eyes for a moment. True, he had been planning on taking this direction from the start, yet now, surprisingly, he found himself overcome with a sense of guilt at having to make it. “Which is why, even if you have come all this way, I simply can’t let you go off with it, kid.” 

Chapter Text

“Hmm? What’s this?” Gris murmured, her curiosity piqued as she noticed an unusual section near the bottom right corner of the imposing tombstone. She lowered herself to one knee, her eyes squinting in concentration as she examined the peculiar markings. The realization dawned on her that an inscription had been meticulously carved into the cold, hard rock, the edges of the letters still sharp and defined, suggesting a recent addition. “Who could have done this?” she wondered aloud, her voice a soft whisper in the still air. The hurried, almost frantic nature of the writing suggested a sense of urgency, but the identity of the author remained elusive. She pondered whether either Sharp or Flat, the now-deceased musicians, could have been responsible, but the timing of such an act remained a mystery. 

Squinting her eyes against the glare of the sun, Gris realized that there were more than just mere words etched into the once flawless surface of the stone; it was an outright poem, carved with care and intention. 

“The rising sun will eventually set,  

A newborn’s life will fade.  

From sun to moon,  

Moon to sun…”

The verses danced across the stone like the shadows beneath a canopy of leaves, each line imbued with a haunting beauty. Beneath the poem, she noticed a crude yet distinct interpretation of a music bar, a visual rhythm that beckoned to her imagination. Notes lined the bars, each one a messenger of melodies long forgotten. 

“Keep the Sun’s Song in your heart, our Princess.” 

These words resonated with a poignant promise, a delicate whisper of hope that lingered in the cool evening air, wrapping around her like a warm blanket as she stood at the edge of the graveyard. The echoes of these phrases resonated in her heart, suggesting a deeper story yearning to be uncovered, one that transcended time and space. So captivated was Gris that she hardly noticed that Zelda, her trusted companion, was supposed to be back at the Castle, tending to their unfinished tasks.

“The Sun’s Song…” the young girl recited softly, her brow furrowed in concentration as she pondered the profound significance of the notes inscribed on the weathered stone. Were they merely the song itself, or did they hold a deeper meaning? If they represented the song, did that imply they were meant to be played, to be brought to life once more? 

As these thoughts swirled in her mind, the weight of her curiosity pressed heavily on her chest. Well, there’s only one way to find out, she mused to herself, raising the blue ocarina—a cherished gift that had been passed down through generations—to her lips. With a trembling breath, she prepared to play the first note etched into the grave's stone, her heart racing with anticipation.

Just as she was about to blow into the instrument, she felt a firm hand grasp her shoulder, pulling her back from the brink of her discovery.

Death Mountain

Outside the entrance to Goron City

“Link, hurling rocks into the canyon won’t sway Darunia’s decision,” Navi remarked, her voice laced with disapproval as she hovered a few paces back, well out of reach of the boy’s frustrated throws. “And at your age, throwing a tantrum is hardly a solution either.”

Yeah, so?! 

Though the blonde boy held his tongue, his actions spoke volumes. With a swift, fluid motion, he drew back his arm and launched another stone, sending it soaring through the vast, cerulean expanse above. The pebble cut through the air with a sense of purpose, its trajectory a graceful arc against the boundless sky. As it journeyed farther and farther, it shrank to a mere pinprick of motion, eventually becoming almost indistinguishable from the vast, empty blue that stretched out in every direction. The occasional wispy cloud drifted lazily, a fleeting interruption to the otherwise unbroken vastness of the heavens, adding a touch of ephemeral beauty to the otherwise desolate scene.

“Indeed, the circumstances are infuriating, and I understand your frustration,” Navi said, her voice a soothing melody amidst the storm of the boy's emotions. “You are not alone in feeling that this journey has been plagued by one irritating hindrance after another.” She paused, allowing her words to hang in the air, hoping they would penetrate the thick veil of anger that shrouded the boy's mind. “But consider this: the Ruby is more than just a gem to the Goron people; it is a sacred artifact, a symbol of their heritage and pride. We cannot merely expect them to surrender it because we have made a polite request. It holds a depth of meaning and significance that transcends its material value.”

The boy in green paused mid-throw, his arm frozen in time as he turned to face Navi, his eyes wide with a mix of confusion and anger. He stared at the pale-blue fairy, her words echoing in his mind, unable to comprehend what he had just heard. 

“No! That's not what I meant!” Navi insisted, her voice an urgent, high-pitched melody as she sensed the whirlwind of emotions and misinterpretations swirling within Link's mind. “I know your intentions are pure, Link! You wouldn't have been entrusted with the Kokiri Emerald if your motives were merely selfish! Your journey is about so much more than just material gain!” she clarified. “Nevertheless,” Navi conceded with a heavy sigh, her voice tinged with resignation, “The reality is inescapable: even if we do not immediately stand to gain from it, Darunia is well within his rights to refuse our request for his tribe's most precious artifact. After all, no matter how pure and selfless your intentions may be, Link, the Gorons' treasure is theirs to protect and preserve.” 

He knew she was right, and the admission gnawed at him like a physical ache. Link didn't hate Navi, but her words, though logical, only served to deepen the pit of frustration within him. He stopped throwing rocks, his arms crossing over his chest in a defensive gesture as he began to pace, his head bowed and his steps heavy with silent fury. He felt smaller than the dirt beneath his boots, his spirit weighed down by the seemingly insurmountable obstacle before him.

Just great, he thought, his mind a whirl of exasperation and uncertainty. Now what was he supposed to do? The path to obtaining all the Spiritual Stones suddenly seemed clouded, the goal slipping further away with each passing moment. If one of their guardians refused to cooperate, how could he hope to succeed? It wasn't as if he wanted to keep the stones for himself; he only needed them long enough to open the door in the Temple of Time, the very door that Gris had revealed to him with such certainty. 

Gris...

The mere thought of her name sent a shiver down his spine, her image materializing in his mind's eye with stark clarity. Her trusting gaze, her unwavering belief in him—it all came rushing back, and with it, a wave of guilt that cut through his anger like a knife. The fire of his indignation began to ebb, replaced by a cold, gnawing sense of responsibility. She was counting on him, he thought, his heart aching with the weight of her expectations. Even with someone like Ganondorf skulking around, she still looked at the Kokiri with hope in her eyes. 

The Great Deku Tree, the Kokiri’s wise and noble leader, his parent,  was gone, felled by the evil creature the Man from the Desert had brought into the forest, the one he had given Link to bring in. And with his passing, the burden of heroism had fallen squarely on Link's shoulders. The Great Deku Tree was gone, yet his children remained. He was their last hope, Gris's last hope, maybe even Malon’s, their beacon of courage in a world that seemed determined to crush his spirit.

He couldn't simply accept the status quo; standing idly by was not an option. But what could he do now? His mind raced, searching for a solution to the impasse. 

“Ah, the Gorons, a paradoxical lot, aren't they?” A deep, resonant voice boomed behind him, the words followed by a powerful, echoing “Hoooo!” that seemed to shake the very ground. Link turned to see the source, and there, perched before him atop a nearby boulder, was a towering feathered figure, his identity immediately apparent. “Friendly to those they deem weaker, yet possessing a stubbornness that makes a mule seem pliable by comparison.” The deep, rumbling voice continued, the words carrying a weight that matched the speaker's imposing physique. 

“M-Mr. Owl!” Link stammered, his voice quivering with a mix of surprise and delight as he laid eyes on the magnificent creature. Despite his nervousness, a genuine smile spread across his face, his eyes sparkling with pleasure at the sight of the giant bird.

 “Kaepora Gaebora!” Navi chimed in, her voice a cheerful melody as she fluttered closer to the owl, performing a graceful bow in mid-air. “It is an honor to see you again, sir. I trust you are well?”

“Quite well, indeed, Miss Navi,” the brown-feathered bird chirped, a glint of amusement dancing in his bright eyes. “Though, I must admit, in moments of exasperation, I often find myself curious about those more human methods of, what do they refer to as, ‘blowing off steam.’”   

The fairy raised a delicate brow, her wings fluttering slightly. “What exactly do you mean by that?”  

“Well, during my flight here, I could have sworn some wild creature or irate beast was lurking about, hurling rocks through the air. One nearly clipped my wing as I soared!”  

At that moment, recognition dawned on Navi as she realized the owl was gesturing toward the barrage of stones that had been raining down nearby. Meanwhile, Link turned his gaze away, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment while he bit his lip, all too aware of his fairy's disapproving glare piercing into him.

The boy in the vibrant green tunic could’ve sworn the wise owl cast him a knowing glance, though uncertainty fluttered in his mind, leaving him reluctant to acknowledge it. 

“Still, I ascended to this lofty perch for a purpose,” Kaepora Gaebora announced, choosing to put a halt to the young hero’s mental unease. “Your mission is of paramount importance to both The Great Deku Tree and the land of Hyrule, but there are pressing matters waiting for you down in Kakariko.”

“What do you mean, good sir?” Navi asked, her voice tinged with curiosity as she hovered nearby.

The owl, with his piercing gaze, turned his attention to the sprawling village nestled far below, his keen eyes fixated on the shadowed graveyard. More specifically, they were drawn to the winding path that led to a secluded and often overlooked area of the village. “Do you remember the quaint house where you and your pink-dressed companion sought refuge?” he inquired, a hint of intrigue in his tone. “The very place you fled to to escape the wrathful Cuckoos?”

Kakariko Graveyard

Her heart pounded like a drum in her chest, each beat a reminder of the impending doom that awaited her. She’s going to kill me, Gris thought, panic boiling in her veins like molten lava. In a desperate frenzy, she clutched the small crystal, its green wisps swirling with a frenetic energy that ensnared her, creating a chaotic vortex that swallowed her whole, drowning out the world around her. I'm dead, she concluded, as the air grew thick and her breath quickened, coming in short, jagged gasps. 

The world around her spun violently, until the tempest of green abruptly ceased, casting her back unceremoniously into the graveyard, mere steps away from the foreboding Royal Tomb. The ominous figure that had seized her shoulder was surely in pursuit, ascending with a relentless determination toward the surface.

“Oh Din, grant me strength,” Gris whispered fervently, her voice barely escaping her throat, a prayer sent into the void as she clung to the fragile hope of finding a refuge or, even better, the mystical ability to vanish entirely. Desperation fuelled her, and a frantic glance revealed the old, weathered shack near the cemetery's entrance. Without a moment's hesitation, she bolted toward it, her heart pounding like a relentless war drum in her ears. 

As she rounded the corner, a chilling creak echoed through the night air—the unmistakable sound of the tomb door swinging open. A shiver crawled down her spine as she pressed herself against the rough, splintering wood of the shack, her breath caught in her throat, praying to any deity that might be listening that she would remain undetected.

“Hm?” An oddly shaped figure lumbered out of the rickety shack, which seemed barely capable of standing, its timbers creaking in protest. Gris peered around the corner, her curiosity piqued, and saw that it was the same stranger she had encountered earlier—a figure she now recognized from a harrowing moment when they had interrupted Malon while preparing to cut her hair. “Eh? Someone out here?” the figure called out, their voice echoing amidst the gravestones. Gris quickly recoiled, hiding herself deeper into the shadows of the dilapidated house.

“Dampe?” Oh no, that voice—it was Impa! 

Risky as it was, she cautiously peeked around the corner once more, confirming that the ivory-haired Sheikah had emerged from the tomb with a purpose. At that moment, Gris noted, Impa's attention was arrested by the peculiar resident of Kakariko’s graveyard. 

“Ah, Lady Impa!” Dampe greeted, his tone deceptively cheerful. Gris observed with intrigue how the man’s bizarre appearance did not seem to faze Impa, nor did it alter the air of authority she carried as the Princess's attendant. “Fancy seeing you here! Though I doubt you'd be one to cause a ruckus in this quiet place,” he continued, glancing around with an unsettling knack for swiveling his head at unnatural angles. “Still, did you come here because the ground's been acting up?” 

Acting up? The phrase piqued Gris's curiosity, and despite the peril of revealing herself, she was almost tempted to question what the strange man meant. Yet instead of confusion, the Sheikah returned his gaze with a knowing stare, conveying that Dampe’s statement required no further explanation. 

“So,” Impa began, her voice a calm, measured cadence that commanded attention. “His shadow has fallen even here.” She paused, her eyes scanning the graveyard as if seeing the unseen tendrils of influence that snaked through the very air.  

Dampe's brow furrowed in confusion at first, but understanding dawned in his eyes as he realized whom Impa referred to. “Aye, I knew it was him,” he muttered, his voice a low growl of discontent. “From the moment that desert serpent and his kind crossed our borders, I felt it in my bones—that something wasn't right. The King may sing his praises, but I ain't buying it.”

Impa nodded, her expression grave. “For now, I keep a watchful eye on all those granted access to the Castle,” she explained, her voice a harsh whisper against the backdrop of the graveyard. “His Majesty has heeded my advice and tightened the night watch, yet he remains blind to Ganondorf's potential ulterior motives.”

“Then, shouldn’t you try harder in warning him, Lady Impa? If I may be so bold as to say?” Dampe questioned. “Not to say I’d dare accuse you of shirking responsibility, but if what you say is true, then more than just who will sit on the throne is at stake.” 

The Sheikah tightened her lips, expressing a clear sense of frustration, even if it was not directed at Dampe himself. “The situation is tense in of itself, yet with how Ganondorf has managed to worm his way into His Majesty’s good graces, I fear any rash movement on my part could potentially render more harm than good and complicate matters further,” she then closed her eyes, raising a hand to massage her aching temple. “I understand the King's desire for peace, his hope that we can mend fences with those who have long been our adversaries.”

Dampe nodded. While his appearance was far from one Gris herself was used to, she saw that the man’s eyes were just as genuine and human as anyone else she knew. “Given how much was lost in the war ten years ago, in any other instance, I’d be all for His Majesty preventing any sort of conflict from even getting started if possible.” 

Impa silently agreed, yet it far from meant she was satisfied with the conditions going on at the Castle. “But I fear his optimism may blind him to the very real danger that lurks in the shadows,” She folded her arms across her chest, her sigh a heavy, weary sound that seemed to echo the grave. “His Majesty may very well succeed in uniting this land, not under the banner of a Royal Crest, yet as neighbors standing together, willing and ready to stand and assist each other when the other falls.” 

Gris found herself absorbing and listening to the Sheikah’s words, yet in the corner of her eye, she swore she saw something in the sky: a flying shape carrying something green. 

“...yet the one who will bring Hyrule together may not be him.” Impa finished. “And he will not do so with the intent of uplifting its people, but subduing them.” 

Abandoned Mansion

“Wait, you mean this place?” Navi exclaimed, her voice echoing with curiosity, while Link mirrored her confusion, his boots thudding heavily against the weathered ground as if to test its integrity. Beside him, Kaepora Gaebora released his grip on the boy's tunic and gracefully perched nearby, the majestic owl almost matching Link's height with his outstretched wings folded inward neatly.

“Indeed,” the insightful owl replied, his sharp, strangely human-like eyes glinting as they focused on the old, crumbling building before them. The once grand structure now loomed ominously, its walls sagging and covered with moss and ivy, hinting at years of neglect. “I wouldn’t advise spending the night in there; it has a tendency to shudder ominously, as though it could collapse at any moment. Yet, the inhabitants within have little choice but to seek refuge in this decrepit shell,” he continued, his voice tinged with sympathy. “At least until they’re potentially flattened by an onslaught of careless footsteps above.”

Oh, right, Link thought, his mind snapping back to the horrific reality that awaited them. 

The giant spiders. 

His stomach churned at the mere recollection of those monstrous creatures, their human-like faces twisted in malevolent grins, eyes glinting with an unsettling intelligence that seemed different from that of the beady eyes of the Skulltula, the single optics of the Tekties, or even the massive eyeball of the Queen Gohma or any of her offspring. 

“Um, pardon my interruption, Mister Kaepora Gaebora,” Navi began, her voice a delicate trill as she tried to balance respect with concern. “I mean no disrespect to your judgment or wisdom, but are you certain that such a place is safe for...” She hesitated, her wings fluttering nervously. “For Link to venture into?”

The boy in green turned his head toward the smaller fluttering woman, raising a brow and presenting an amused grin, as if he had just discovered some terrible secret of hers and was reveling in it.

“What? No! I am NOT afraid of going in there!” Navi protested, rapidly flapping her wings in a huff. “If anything, you should be thanking me for having YOUR safety in mind! Who knows what would happen if you were just left to wonder on your own!” She then crossed her arms. “You can barely survive on your own as it is.” 

That particular remark appeared to strike a nerve with the boy in green, Link balling his fists in anger and parting his lips to (at least try) utter out a counter, yet the loud utterance of a low “Hoooo!” drew both his and Navi’s attention. 

“Hoooo no, this place is perfectly safe!” Kaepora Gaebora informed the Kokiri and his guiding fairy. “Well, perhaps a few more years and it’ll finally come crashing down, yet for the time being, it serves as the home of someone who needs help.” 

The long-eared boy’s curiosity was piqued. “Help?” Navi inquired, reflecting Link’s own sentiments. “With what?”

The owl maintained its gaze on the two forest inhabitants, its head twisted at an almost impossible angle, while the rest of its body pivoted to face forward, creating a disconcerting sight. “The individual you successfully liberated will provide more insight,” he declared, his voice a deep, resonant rumble. “After all, the man in question has already returned from procuring the goods delivered by those from the Ranch.”

Managed to free?

Before Link or Navi could question the owl's enigmatic statement, Kaepora Gaebora swiveled his head away and began to flap his massive wings, ascending into the sky with a powerful, steady beat. “No need for formalities!” he called out, his voice fading as he climbed higher. “They already know who you are!” 

Navi took to the air, her small form darting upward in a futile attempt to pursue the departing owl. “They?” she asked, her voice a mix of confusion and determination. “What do you mean ‘they’? Who’s ‘they’?”

“The owners of this house!” Kaepora Gaebora's voice boomed back, carrying through the air with ease despite the distance. “I'll catch you later!”

With that, the majestic bird disappeared, becoming little more than a distant speck in the vast expanse of the sky, swallowed by the clouds and leaving Navi and Link behind, their questions unanswered.

Yet their destination, or rather, a divergence in the path, was waiting right in front of them. 

“Well?” Navi asked Link, not entirely sure herself what to do. “Should we?” 

Indeed, what should they do? What should he do?

Link, the boy in green, grappled with this dilemma, his brow furrowing as he delved deep into thought. While his primary mission—to obtain the Goron Ruby and the other elusive Spiritual Stone, whether it be the Sapphire or Aquamarine Lazuli—remained unfulfilled and seemingly impossible at present, the gnawing frustration within him only intensified. Yet, if Kaepora Gaebora's words held any truth, and someone in this very place required assistance, how could he, as a hero, turn a blind eye and walk away without at least attempting to render aid? The weight of his responsibility pressed heavily upon his shoulders, fueling his internal debate.

Link approached the decaying mansion, once the jewel of the village, its former glory now a faded memory. He ascended the rickety wooden steps, each creak and groan beneath his boots echoing like a death knell, half-expecting the rotten wood to give way and send him crashing through. The front porch loomed before him, the aged door standing as a formidable barrier between him and his quest. It seemed to dare him, to challenge his resolve.

With a deep breath, Link raised his arm, clenching his fist, prepared to rap his knuckles against the weathered wood and announce his arrival. But before his hand could make contact, the door swung open, revealing the dimly lit interior, as if beckoning him to enter.

Kakariko Village

“I'm telling you, Dad, I saw her!” the boy insisted, his voice rising with a mix of frustration and excitement. “I saw Princess Zelda in the graveyard! I swear!”

His father, the seasoned Hylian soldier clad in gleaming armor, stood guard at the formidable entrance to Death Mountain. A hint of a smile played on his lips, amusement dancing in his eyes, yet there was an underlying spark of intrigue. “Is that so?” he drawled, leaning against his spear. “Then enlighten me, son. Why on earth would our beloved Princess Zelda be skulking around a graveyard instead of safely ensconced in the castle, where the King has ordered her to stay?”

“Yeah,” she murmured to herself, perched atop the village's tallest structure—the watchtower—where the pink-clad girl silently eavesdropped on the unfolding conversation below. Her ears pricked up at the mention of her “friend,” the Princess Zelda, the words carrying a weight that sent a shiver down her spine. “Why would she be there, kid?” True, she wasn’t exactly the one asking the boy below, yet she wanted answers all the same.

Especially if whatever he witnessed would potentially put a roadblock in her overall mission. 

“Well,” the boy began, Gris taking note of his attire that consisted of a simple white shirt, blue shorts, and worn socks with brown shoes. Hadn't she, or rather, the Princess, seen him before? “At first, I didn't think it was her, because, well, it’s like you said, the King doesn't let her leave the Castle.” 

“Exactly,” his father responded. “Which is why it couldn’t have been her,” he then glanced around at some of the village’s populace who were out and about. “True, I won’t lie, there are a few girls here that resemble Her Highness in some ways,” he confessed. “Yet none of them could be her because they don’t possess the…” he paused, pondering how to exactly word what he wished to express next. “Unique traits Her Highness has acquired. Hence why she hasn’t set foot out of Castle Town since her birth,” he then paused again. “Well, save for that one instance when the Mayor and his sons held an event in order to show the King the improvements made to the town after the war.” 

“Mayor?” The boy questioned, clearly baffled by what he had just heard. “I thought the Great Impa was the head of this place. Kakariko had a Mayor?” 

“She is,” the guard answered. “Even while he and his sons were around, the Great Impa was the one who maintained order and peace around here.” he then redirected his speech back to the subject. “But yes, a few years before you were born, while Castle Town was still being constructed, a good number of those who had lost their homes, their families, many of them both, had come here for some place to lay their heads,” his gaze then turned to the abode situated in the northeastern portion of the village. “You’re aware of the carpenter and his family, right?” he inquired.

“You mean Mutoh and the lady who keeps the Cuckoos? What about them?” the boy questioned back, puzzled as to what his father was trying to get at. 

“Well, from your viewpoint, they’ve lived here their entire lives,” the soldier continued. “But the truth is, many of the homes that stand before you now weren’t here at first,” he informed the boy and, unknowingly, the spying Gris. “Yes, there were a few places here and there, yet it wasn’t the community it is today.”

The blonde-haired girl eavesdropping from above tilted her head in intrigue. “So, what happened?” she whispered to herself, more or less speaking the same as the soldier’s own son.

“Where’s this ‘Mayor’ guy play into it?” the boy finished for Gris, the armored Hylian guard, recounting the years that took place before his son’s birth. 

After a brief moment of thoughtful silence, he finally found his answer. “Well, you know of Mutoh and Anju?” he asked, the boy nodding in acknowledgment. “The conflict brought on by the war didn’t just destroy the homes of those that were merely regular people,” he then turned his head toward the pathway to the graveyard, yet his mind conjured forth another path, a dirt road scarcely traveled that led to an old, towering mansion that appeared as if it would collapse at any moment. “Some of the displaced were those of higher society.” 

Outskirts of Kakariko

“Oh! You’re already here!” 

Link stumbled back, losing his footing and landing on the wooden porch, his rear-end searing with pain as the aged planks didn’t serve as the softest means of breaking a fall. 

“Oh no, sorry about that!” as the boy in green was regaining his bearings, he felt a hand seize his arm, his initial instinct was to pull away at first, yet upon realizing the grip of the stranger was neither restricting nor aggressive, he relaxed slightly, blue eyes taking in the sight of, to his surprise, a very normal-looking Hylian with the telltale ears and all. “You ok there, kid?” 

“Yes, he’s just fine,” the pale-blue fairy interjected, speaking for the blonde child. “What I’m curious about is who exactly are you?” 

The Hylian before them was dressed in fairly standard attire that both Navi and Link had seen worn throughout Castle Town and Kakariko, consisting of a long-sleeved tunic and trousers with simple shoes. The fabric’s quality suggested that it might be made of higher-quality material, so perhaps the auburn-haired resident of this house was a resident from there? Then again, if that was the case, why was he here? Better yet, didn’t he even realize what was in that place? 

What about the spiders? 

“Oh, right, sorry!” amidst the whirlwind of questions plaguing Link’s mind, and Navi’s own worries, the Hylian man apologized with a hint of embarrassment yet genuine sincerity. “And sorry about the abrupt welcome. It’s just…” A sigh escaped him, the taller individual stepping out further on the porch, the breeze lightly brushing against his cheeks. “It’s been so long since I’ve been outside. Out of that house…” he extended his arms, his two, five-fingered arms, and allowed himself to bask in the sunlight. “I didn’t think there was any hope. But then, I changed.” 

Link tilted his head. Changed?

“I didn’t know why at first, let alone how, but when I went out, after I was finally able to buy and eat normal food again, the owl came.” 

The owl? “You mean Kaepora Gaebora?” Navi inquired, her and Link’s intrigue piqued. 

“Yeah, that guy,” the well-dressed Hylian confirmed. “Strange name, I’ll admit, but frankly, if he’s right about what he says, then he can call himself whatever he wants,” the Hylian then smiled at the boy in green. “Because now you’re here, so now everything will be made right.”

Made right? True, he had his duty in regards to the Spiritual Stones, yet Link couldn’t help but sense that the adult was speaking of something else entirely. 

“Please, come inside,” the Hylian beckoned, stepping into the abandoned manor as if it weren’t in such terrible shape. “Although, all things considered, I might have to ask Father about moving eventually.” 

Chapter Text

What a dump, he thought. 

“It may not be as…pleasing as it once was, but I’m sure at one time, it was beautiful,” Navi whispered. “Besides, we’re technically guests here, so we need to be amiable. So behave yourself.” 

Yeah, yeah, yeah, he knew, the blonde boy thought. He wasn’t any stranger to talks and small lectures on proper behavior and etiquette, many of which came from Saria or the Great Deku Tree himself. Still, Link kept close to both Navi and the well-dressed inhabitant of this place, to keep from brushing against the various cobwebs and stray strands of silk. He wouldn’t dare openly express it, yet the sight of all of them made his skin crawl, especially when he came across some webbing that held the remains of dried-up dead bugs. 

The house, stuck in a timeless decay, seemed to breathe with a life of its own. Each room they passed through held the echoes of a forgotten era, the air thick with the scent of old wood and dust. Portraits, their subjects faded and forgotten, stared down from the walls, their eyes seeming to follow the intruders as they made their way through the labyrinthine halls. The once-grand staircase, its banister now splintered and worn, led to a second floor that promised more of the same decaying opulence, a silent testament to the passage of time and the inevitable decay of all things. 

“So,” Navi began, her voice a brittle whisper as she attempted to spark a conversation and distract herself from the grim reality surrounding her. The dimly lit room was adorned with thick cobwebs, and numerous tiny, winged creatures hung suspended in silken threads of death, their once vibrant bodies now drained of vitality, reduced to nothing more than shriveled husks. “Have you, um, lived here long?”

“Hm? Oh, well, I suppose you could say that,” the well-dressed man replied, his tone casually detached as he led Navi and her young blonde charge through the echoing halls of the abandoned manor. Dust motes danced in the shafts of light filtering through grimy windows, illuminating the faded opulence of the once-grand space. “I mean, for as long as I can remember, this place has been my home. But from what my brothers told me, we had a different home before this family took up residence here.”

“Oh?” Navi asked, curiosity piqued despite the unsettling atmosphere. “So, where were you originally from?”

Kakariko Village

The Kravindish Line?” the young boy asked, tilting his head slightly, his wide eyes gleaming with curiosity as they examined the surroundings. “Who are they?” 

Perched atop the weathered stones of the settlement’s watchtower, Gris listened intently, her heart racing with intrigue. The name curled around her thoughts like smoke, both familiar and elusive, triggering vague memories she couldn’t quite grasp. Where had she heard it before? Or, more intriguingly, where had the Princess come across such a name? A swirl of confusion settled in her mind as she struggled to construct even the simplest questions while disguising herself outside the castle. Should she keep her tone casual or let curiosity spill out? The challenge was growing more complicated than she had anticipated.

As if just sneaking out without getting caught was enough of a chore. 

“They were once the respected leaders of this village,” the Death Mountain guard explained, his voice heavy with the weight of history as he spoke to his eager son. “After the bitter war concluded, those who had been touched by its devastation were scattered like leaves in a tempest,” he continued, his eyes distant as memories flickered in his mind. “At least, those who hadn’t perished in the chaos or succumbed to the grim fates that befell so many during those harrowing times.” 

“Which is why the Great Impa founded Kakariko Village, right?” the boy asked, his eyes alight with curiosity and hope. His heart swelled with pride at receiving even a small grin of acknowledgement from his father. 

“Exactly,” the guard replied, the somber undertone returning to his voice. “But not everyone welcomed that change with open arms.” He leaned closer, lowering his voice as if imparting a closely guarded secret. “Throughout Hyrule, many villages and hamlets were under the influence of Lords or Nobles, wielding power in those early days. Remember, boy, this was long before the magnificent Castle Town was erected, so any settlement near the King would have had to be meticulously planned and painstakingly constructed from the ground up. Given the scarcity of resources at that time, it simply wasn’t feasible.”

The boy nodded thoughtfully, processing the wealth of information that had just been imparted to him. “So, they moved here?” he asked, his curiosity piqued. “But what about the Great Lady Impa? Didn’t she establish this place? That’s what Mom always tells me.” 

The armored soldier, his voice steady but laced with a hint of weariness, replied, “Well, your mother isn’t entirely wrong.” He shifted slightly, the metal of his armor clinking softly in the quiet air. “But she's not in the Guard like I am. There are truths you uncover when you serve those of ‘higher status’ than yourself.” 

His tone held an undertone of disdain, carefully restrained, as if he were trying to hold on to a semblance of professionalism. “Those types,” he continued, gesturing vaguely with his free hand, “They…have a knack for bending circumstances to their advantage,” His gaze hardened momentarily, revealing the weight of his experiences mingling with the shadows of the past. “Whether by fair means or foul.” 

“Abandoned” Manor

“Well, here we are, the den,” the more finely-dressed resident of this desolate place announced to the boy clad in green. He gestured toward the dimly lit room, its walls lined with shadowy corners and faded wallpaper that seemed to whisper tales of the past. “Or, at least, this space has essentially transformed into the den since the…” He paused, his expression clouding over as if grappling with the weight of painful memories. “…the change first happened.” The air hung heavy with unspoken history, enveloping them both in a quiet melancholy.

“The change?” Navi asked, her luminous eyes sparkling with curiosity as she hovered close to Link, who mirrored her intrigue at the older Hylian's cryptic words. 

“Yeah, but…” The man hesitated, biting his lip as he extended a hesitant hand toward the door. Its ancient wooden surface, cloaked in a thick layer of cobwebs, seemed to whisper secrets of the past. “I think the rest of my family could explain it better,” he said, glancing back at the blonde Kokiri boy and his accompanying fairy. “I’ve never really been good with words.” The shadows of the dimly lit room danced around them, amplifying the weight of his uncertainty. 

The man pushed open the door, its hinges protesting with a mournful creak that echoed through the oppressive silence. The room beyond was shrouded in gloom, the dim light barely piercing the thick veil of dust and shadows. At first glance, it seemed deserted, a mere echo of a once vibrant space, now reduced to a tomb of forgotten memories.

But then, from the depths of the shadows, a monstrous form descended. A giant spider, its body a grotesque amalgamation of arachnid and human, emerged from the darkness. Its abdomen, disturbingly humanoid, pulsed with an unsettling rhythm, while its legs, twisted and malformed, resembled warped versions of human limbs. The creature's eyes, cold and calculating, fixed on the intruders, a chilling greeting etched on its face.

Link's breath caught in his throat as he took in the horrific sight, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword. Beside him, Navi's wings fluttered nervously, her light flickering with a mix of fear and fascination. The spider, seemingly unperturbed by their presence, spoke in a voice that was both alien and eerily familiar. “Welcome, Hero of the Kokiri, and Lady Navi,” it hissed, its words dripping with a tired, almost weary tone. “We have been expecting you.”

As if summoned by the first spider's words, four more of the grotesque creatures descended from the ceiling, their movements fluid and predatory. They landed with a soft thud, their multiple legs splaying out in a chilling display of power. Link's eyes widened as he studied their features, noting the eerie resemblance to the man who had led them here. Despite the twisted, arachnid aspects, there was an undeniable human quality to their faces, a haunting echo of the man's features.

Navi, hovering close to Link, her wings beating rapidly, spoke in a hushed tone. “Link, I sense no evil from them,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “It's as if they are... trapped, bound to this place by some unseen force.”

The spiders, now in a semicircle around the intruders, regarded them with a mix of curiosity and wariness. The first spider, seemingly the leader, spoke again, its voice a chilling whisper. “You are not like the others who have come before. You seek something, do you not? Something that has been lost, forgotten in the depths of time?”

Link, his hand still resting on his sword, met the spider's gaze, his mind racing. He sensed a complexity to these creatures, a depth that went beyond their terrifying appearance. 

“It’s all right, father, he’s the one I told you about, the one the Great Owl spoke of,” the man who had allowed them inside assured the lead spider. “They’re here to help us. He’s here to help us. And…” his voice steady despite the evident anticipation that gnawed at him. “And perhaps, a way to help those who have been wronged.”

Kakariko Village

“Ok, so, after the place they originally lived got trashed, they were left with nowhere else to go but here, right?” the boy questioned his armored father, the soldier in turn nodding in confirmation. “But most of the people wanted the Great Impa to be head of the village, how did they manage to make her change her mind?”

The soldier averted his gaze, even if his son could scarcely see his father’s eyes due to the shadows cast by the visor of his weighted helmet. Cumbersome as it was, as well as how the rest of his ensemble could be, especially during the summer months, it was at least dependable when the time came to keep any wayward creatures from Death Mountain from entering past the gate. 

“They didn’t.” 

The boy raised a brow, clearly not understanding what his father was saying. And, from on high, Gris found she didn’t entirely understand either. From what her father, or rather, the King himself, had told her (no wait, she thought, she couldn’t know everything the Princess knew when she was out like this, she remembered), er, Princess Zelda, Impa had established Kakariko after the Great War, and while she could barely remeber it, she remembered, or rather, she remembered that the Princess had been taken here once. 

When her mother, Queen Ambrianna, was still alive. 

“They didn’t?” the boy repeated, saying it out loud for himself, but recitation did nothing to make it any more believable. “But…but how? If everyone wanted the Great Impa to be the head of Kakariko, how did these Kravindish guys manage to get to the top?” 

The soldier bit his lip, wondering just how much he should divulge to his child, let alone if he was even permitted to. Still, being dishonest with him ultimately wasn’t an option. “Let’s just say, dear boy, as unfortunate as it is, something that was true in my youth is also true in yours.”

“What’s that?”

The sheer obliviousness and naive curiosity in his tone served to make the armored Hylian’s heart sink. The possibilities of his own future and how it would be affected by a terrible truth that the soldier had learned when he was even younger than his son. 

“Money talks.”

“Abandoned” Manor

To say Link’s mind was just as splintered and in pieces as the cracked windows lining the walls of the once intricate and highly decorated living area was an understatement. Dare say, he found that perhaps an outright broken window would’ve better resembled his mental state at that very moment, his blue eyes still trying to process what he was seeing, let alone what his guiding fairy had just told him. 

These spiders, even with the bizarre portions of them that resembled those of normal people, still very much resembled those he had faced within the interior confines of the infected Great Deku Tree. Skultula, he remembered Navi calling them, terrible, spindly things that littered his paternal figure’s insides with their sticky, filthy webs that his sword could barely cut through.

And even then, as bad as they were, the Gohma hatchlings and their mother were far worse. 

Still, despite their appearances, how similar they looked to the eight-legged monsters the boy in green had slain before, Navi assured him that such force was unnecessary for the time being. These things, whatever they were, were somehow not evil. How exactly, Link didn’t understand, yet, all the same, he found no feasible reason as to why Navi would intentionally lie to him. 

Still, one thing that was said snagged the young child’s intrigue. Help those who have been wronged?

“Um, S-Sir?” Navi spoke up, fluttering somewhat closer to the head of this small gathering of unusual arachnids. “Or, would you rather be addressed as…?”

“Kravindish,” the twisted spider answered. “Or, as I was once called, Mayor Kravindish.” 

“Mayor?” Navi asked, Link sharing in her curiosity. “Huh?” She turned to face her charge, the thought that had just gone through her mind giving her pause. “What do you mean? You don’t know what a Mayor is?” 

The blonde boy in green flushed, narrowing his brows to try and conceal his embarrassment. Of course, he knew what a…whatever his fairy had just said was! 

True, he didn't remember it right away, but…if he were allowed a few moments, he could figure it out! 

…eventually. 

The large spider, Kravindish, shifted slightly—his many legs clicking faintly against each other, dangling above the warped wooden floor beneath them, a subtle but haunting reminder of what he had become. Still, even in his twisted state, there was a certain regality to his tone, the kind carried only by those who had once commanded rooms and councils alike.

“Yes,” Kravindish said, the fanged mandibles parting to make way for the words in a voice that was low and gravelly, yet articulate. “Before this…form… I bore a name with weight. The Kravindish line is old—ancient, even. Ours was one of the first families to rise during the Founding of Hyrule, back when the kingdom was no more than loosely allied provinces still recovering from the turmoil of the Era of Chaos.”

Navi floated in place, her wings pulsing with a soft hum as she took in the gravity of his statement. Link remained silent, watching, listening, the small Kokiri Sword in its sheath on his back seeming to feel heavier now that he realized these were not merely monsters, but people—once people.

“My ancestors,” Kravindish continued, “Were advisers to the first King—the King before the Hero of Men and Four Sword came to be recorded in history, boy.” He tilted his grotesque, spiny head toward Link, one gleaming eye catching the light of a shattered window. “We helped stabilize the realm, fund the building of its first capital, and establish law and order where once only wilds and warring tribes ruled.”

He paused, the great limbs around him curling in toward his body as if the memories themselves caused some manner of pain. “But as the ages moved on, and the Royal Family’s influence spread, as times ultimately changed, the noble houses such as ours began to fade into the background. Forgotten. Replaced by newer names, newer powers, while we held only the dust of our legacy.”

“You said you were a mayor?” Navi prompted gently, sensing a thread of sorrow beneath his hardened words. “How did you come to have that position?” 

“I was,” Kravindish nodded slowly. “After the Great War, I found work governing a small town on the outskirts of the Eastern side of the country. It was not a grand life, but I did good for the people there. I served honestly,” he stopped, as if mentally chastising himself. “Even if I wasn't always the most ideal of leaders, I…I did what I thought was best. Until the day the curse fell.”

Link’s brows furrowed. Curse? The word echoed in his head, stirring some primal tension in his chest.

Kravindish’s voice darkened. “It began as whispers… rumors of dark spirits in the woods, of people vanishing at dusk. I dismissed them as nonsense. Superstition. Then… one by one, my family, my sons, they changed. Warped. I among them. I remember pain, fire, and the tearing of flesh, and then…this. Trapped. Forgotten. In this twisted skin.” 

He drew in a rasping breath—not because he needed it, but as if trying to reclaim something of his lost humanity.

“We were not evil, boy. Not then. Not now. We were made into monsters for a reason we still do not understand. And if what your fairy says is true, then maybe… maybe you can help us undo it.”

Link, despite everything he’d seen and battled, found himself slowly lowering his guard.

The Skultulas weren’t attacking. The room, though damaged and eerie, was not hostile. And this creature—this man—spoke not with malice, but with mourning.

He turned to Navi, silently asking a question he didn’t quite have the words for.

She nodded, soft and sure. “Let’s listen. Let’s learn more.”

Kravindish tilted his head upward, and for the first time, Link noticed the faint shimmer of tears forming in the creature’s bulging eyes.

“Thank you,” he said simply. “You may be the first soul in decades willing to see us as more than beasts.”

Kakariko Village 

The guard sighed, his gaze lingering on the distant ridge where the sun dipped low behind the mountains, casting long shadows over the village of Kakariko. He reached out, resting a gloved hand on his son’s shoulder.

“There was a time, not long after the Great War,” he began slowly, “when Kakariko was still healing. It wasn’t even a village yet—just tents, campfires, and people trying to forget the screams and smoke of the battlefields. Impa led them. Not because she wanted power, but because everyone trusted her. She earned that. Fought for it.”

The boy listened, his eyes wide. Even Gris, from her hidden perch above, leaned forward slightly, ears sharpening to every word, as if hearing truths even the royal halls hadn’t dared speak.

“But Impa wasn’t a noble,” the soldier continued, his voice hardening. “She wasn’t a landowner. She had no titles. And when the rebuilding started—when Hyrule Castle began writing laws again and coin started flowing—well, that’s when the Kravindish came.”

“The Kravindish…” the boy repeated, the name sour on his tongue.

The soldier nodded. “One of the oldest noble families. Richer than any one person ought to be. They didn’t come with swords, mind you. No, they came with wagons of lumber, teams of engineers, crates of rupees. Said they wanted to ‘invest’ in the rebuilding. Said they wanted to help Kakariko become something great.”

“But that sounds good,” the boy said, frowning. “Didn’t they help?”

“Oh, they helped,” the guard said with grim emphasis. “At first. Built bridges. Raised walls. Put roofs over heads. And for every kindness, they asked for… just a little more control. Nothing alarming. Just signatures. Promises. Stewardship over the treasury, temporary tax rates, guards of their choosing stationed inside the walls. By the time anyone realized what was happening…”

He trailed off, letting the silence say the rest. Gris could feel the weight of his pause settle over her like dust.

The boy finally spoke, more quietly this time. “By then, they owned everything.”

“They owned everything,” the guard confirmed. “And what they didn’t own, they bought. Or broke. Impa was pushed out before anyone could even see it coming. She left quietly. Some say she didn’t want bloodshed. Others think she was forced out. No one’s sure anymore.”

“And the people?” the boy asked. “What did they do?”

“What could they do?” the soldier asked. “The Kravindish had laws on their side. And worse—contracts. Debt. The villagers were so grateful to have their homes back, they didn’t see the chains till they were already locked in. And the rupees the Kravindish used to buy it all?” He gave a dark chuckle. “They came from Kakariko itself.”

Gris felt a chill pass over her arms, despite the warmth of the waning day.

The boy was silent for a long moment. “That’s not fair.”

“No, it’s not,” the soldier agreed softly. “But the world isn’t fair, son. Not without people willing to make it fair again.”

He didn’t look at his son as he said it. He looked to the west, toward the shattered lands below Death Mountain, toward the smoke that curled upward on especially dry days. Toward the shadows that had yet to leave the cracks of Kakariko’s foundation.

And Gris, above them both, slowly slipped back into the cover of the roof tiles, heart stirring with the weight of the story. Of a stolen village. Of a silenced hero. And of a people quietly waiting for justice.

How dare they, she thought, inwardly furious at what she had just heard. How DARE they treat Impa in such a way!

“Well, if that's the case,” the boy inquired. “Where are they now? Why aren't they still the heads of the village?” 

The Guard turned his gaze toward the path leading to the Graveyard. “It began as any ordinary day,” he told his son. “My brother, your uncle, who was stationed here at that time before he was called to help manage Castle Town’s forces, had been called from his post at the village’s gates to investigate a strange report that had been spreading around.”

“And what was that?”

The soldier paused. “He didn't say much,” the armored Hylian confessed. “However, he did say that, when he arrived, what had once been a place of splendor and majesty, seemingly in the span of one night, became little more than an abandoned ghost of the past. Although,” he concluded. “Given what life was like with them in charge, I’d say whoever made that place barren doesn't know how big of a favor they did everyone.”

“Abandoned” Manor

While perhaps it wasn't enough to draw a complete conclusion, Navi took the details relayed to both her and the boy she was guiding, a crucial question on her mind. 

“Well, from what I’ve heard, you put a system in place that was maintained for sometime,” the pale-blue fairy observed. “What changed?” 

Mayor Kravindish clicked his mandibles, eyeing the fluttering fairy before him, a predatory look in his eerily humanish eyes. Then, just as his mandibles parted, the twisted hybrid of Hylian and Skultula twisted away in shame.

Without another word, he began to ascend upward, vanishing in the dense shadows of the rafters, leaving his one human son and the misshapen other four to deal with their two guests.

“Um…did I…say something to offend?” Navi asked, more confused than fearful, she had unintentionally disrespected the owner of this abode, dilapidated as it was.

The young man—barely past his seventeenth or eighteenth year, though his face had aged far beyond it—shook his head at Navi’s uneasy question, brushing a hand through his thick, rust-colored hair. His voice was soft, a tone practiced in avoiding the creaking groans of loose floorboards and the sudden ire of things best left undisturbed.

“No… you didn’t offend him,” he said, glancing toward the ceiling, though the rafters had already swallowed Kravindish whole. “It’s just… well, you kind of look like one of his favorite meals. The ones he used to eat when he still went out, when he, we all first changed,” he explained. “Fireflies.”

Navi froze mid-flutter, her wings giving an uncertain hum. “F-Fireflies? You mean like—? But I’m not—!”

He held up a hand, surprisingly gentle. “I know. He knows. But… he didn’t always. Back when he first transformed, before he could think past the hunger, he’d catch them. By the dozen. We’d find the jars later. Still glowing. He said eventually he couldn’t stomach them, said they were too sad. But the glow? He liked it. Said it reminded him of how things used to be. So… when he sees you…”

Navi gave an involuntary shiver, wings twitching. “That’s… deeply disturbing. But, um. Thank you for the clarification.” She tried to straighten her glow, force her composure back on track. “So—right. Earlier, you mentioned things had changed. What happened?”

The boy she watched over stepped away from the others, whose bulbous forms remained quiet and crouched in their corners, wary but still.

“It was the night the two strangers came,” he said quietly, voice almost a whisper now. “We never saw their faces. Just the cloaks,” he then turned, eyes focused on a broken window far above his reach. “The night began as normal, and we were all set to turn in. Then…”

Then? Then what? Link leaned in closer, brimming with intrigue at what the older Hylian had to say.

“Then,” he finally answered. “There was a knock at the door,” he let out an unsteady breath, reflecting on that night. “We were all puzzled. After all, who would wondering around in the dark at such an hour?” he continued. “I said we shouldn’t answer, but Father opened the door anyway.”

He paused, jaw tightening.

“And that’s when everything started falling apart.”

Kakariko Village

“So, nobody was found?” the soldier’s son asked, torn between skepticism and the trust he naturally held in his paternal figure. “And the house was totally wrecked?” 

The Guard stationed near the entryway to Death Mountain nodded.  

“And they just found it like that? No big noise or something going on? Just one day, it was fancy, and the next, it's all run-down?”

Again, his father nodded.

“How?” the boy questioned further, clearly not satisfied with this answer. 

“Exactly, how?” and frankly, neither was Gris. “How could an entire house of people, let alone an entire family disappear in just one night?” 

“Indeed, that's what everyone else was asking when it was discovered that the Kravindish Clan had seemingly vanished in the night,” the soldier explained. “The house and the entirety of Kakariko was scoured, His Majesty Himself sent those in the Royal Guard at the time to assist in the search,” he relayed to the boy. “They searched, and searched, and searched. They looked and patrolled the village grounds for almost an entire week, and yet, nothing.”

Both the armored man’s son and the eavesdropping Gris only grew more confused, not understanding anything that was being told to them (even if the two Hylians below were unaware of a third party spying on them) and ultimately seeking further clarity.

The soldier appeared to catch onto this (in the case of his son), proceeding to respond with an answer not even the invasive ears of the blonde girl high above could grasp at first.

“That was, until, despite knowing the grievances between them, Lady Impa had made her way back to Kakariko, with orders from the King to call off the search.” 

Neither the boy nor Gris herself could grasp what they were hearing. “What? Why?” his son questioned. “Did the Great Impa, or the King find out they were up to no good?”

“Nothing after the night they vanished was ever found of them,” the Guard answered. “And nothing has been found to this day.”

The boy froze. “Are they dead?” he ultimately asked what he perhaps should have asked from the very beginning. “Were they…killed?”

The armored Hylian was silent for a few moments, as if hesitant, or maybe, wasn't entirely sure of how to truly relay a satisfactory answer. “No one knows,” ultimately, however, whether the boy would accept it or not, based on what he knew, he could only deliver what he knew to be the truth. “Although, given what their standing was with everyone else, I doubt anyone really cared.”

Gris drew closer to the edge, almost halfway hanging off it. “They don't sound like good people,” she muttered to herself, under the firm belief that she was alone and no one else was aware she was even here. “Still, I can maybe figure something out from that,” she clenched her fist. “Come on, mister knight guy, you gotta tell me!” 

“Actually,” the blonde girl’s blood froze, daring not to turn around, her ears immediately recognizing the stern and displeased cadence of an older yet still sharp and perceptive woman. “Perhaps I could offer some clarity. As soon as you explain just what you're doing here so far from home, young lady.”

“Abandoned” Manor

The untransformed Hylian’s eyes, clouded by memory and regret, didn’t stray from that shattered window as he continued, voice barely more than a breath over the creaking wind.

“They wore cloaks,” he said. “One red… one blue. Not a shred of their faces visible. Just tall shadows standing in the dark like they had been waiting for us—watching,” he then chuckled, oddly enough. “Yet upon seeing how small and frail they looked, no one took the threat right in front of us seriously.”

He paused, wringing his hands together as if trying to rub away the memory. “They spoke softly. Almost… kindly, if you can believe it. Said they knew what we were going through. That they could protect us.”

“Protect you from what?” Navi asked gently, fluttering closer.

The man didn’t look at her. His lips pressed into a thin line before he finally replied, “The village. The people there… things were getting tense. Lines were being drawn, rumors spreading. People didn’t trust us—thought we were hiding something. Maybe we were. Maybe we deserved it.”

Link furrowed his brow, unsure what to make of that, but didn’t press.

“They offered us security. A place of our own. They said the contract would bind them to us. That it was… a covenant,” the man said, his voice starting to falter. “We were desperate. Tired. Father thought it was the only way to stop things from getting worse.”

Navi hovered silently, watching the man’s trembling shoulders as he pressed his eyes shut.

“We all signed. One by one. Names etched into parchment with ink that shimmered like silver under the torchlight. We didn’t know what we were signing, not really. We felt the magic, but we didn’t ask questions.”

He finally turned his gaze back toward Link, and for the first time, there was something haunted behind his tired eyes.

“And after that… things changed. Slowly at first. Strange marks appeared on our skin. Our thoughts grew fuzzy. But we felt stronger. Quicker. Safer. And then… the real changes began.”

Link’s stomach twisted.

“You mean—?” Navi began, but the man cut her off with a small nod.

“Our legs… our bodies… they began to twist. Like the spell was reshaping us from the inside out. First my uncle, then my brother. Soon, even Father was more spider than man.” He looked down at his hands as if expecting them to betray him, too. “I don’t know why I’ve stayed the same. Or mostly the same. Maybe it’s only a matter of time.”

There was a long silence. The wind outside moaned through the broken eaves, and the old man wrapped his arms around himself as though chilled by more than just the air.

“I tried to stop it. Tried to burn the contract, but it wouldn’t catch. Like it was protected by something older.” His voice dropped to a near-whisper again. “And those two strangers? We never saw them again. But I swear, sometimes I hear whispering in the walls. Like they never left.”

Link shared a glance with Navi, both of them tense.

“They weren’t just any strangers,” Navi said, a note of dread in her voice. “Whatever they were… they knew exactly what they were doing.”

“Yeah,” the man murmured. “And now… we pay for it. Every day.”

Chapter Text

Navi drifted a little closer, her glow dimmed by unease. "But… if all of you were bound to this covenant, if you all transformed—then how are you back to being Hylian?"

Link's gaze lingered on the man's weathered features. The thought had already been gnawing at him. If what this man said was true, why hadn't he transformed back and not the others?

The man drew in a shaky breath, his hands clenching into fists. "Because of you," He stared down at the floorboards, as if searching the grain for answers. "After my family… changed, the parchment vanished. No—more than that. It burned. Not in any ordinary fire, but in golden flames, like sunlight turned to ash. And from those flames…" His voice faltered, and his lips twisted with remembered horror. "…from those flames crawled spiders. Dozens of them. Their bodies shimmered with the same light as the ink we signed with. They scattered into the shadows, and we knew—somehow—that the curse had been sealed into them."

Navi's wings beat faster, a shiver passing through her. "The spiders… are conduits."

"Yes." His eyes flicked up to meet hers, and for the first time, something like hope flickered behind them. "When you killed one of them, the curse weakened. I felt it. Like a weight lifting from my chest, even if only a little. I think… I think each spider carries a fragment of what binds us. Destroy them, and maybe… maybe the covenant unravels."

Link's stomach churned. He remembered the Skultulla he had fought—the unnatural sound of its limbs scraping the Great Deku Tree's inner walls, the way its body crumpled under his blade. He hadn't thought of it as anything more than a monster. But if each one held part of this man's family's fate…

Navi tilted her head, her voice soft but urgent. "Then… if all of them are destroyed, the rest of your family might be freed?"

The man's expression darkened, shadowed by both fear and fragile hope. "Perhaps. Or perhaps what's left of us will die with them. I don't know. But one thing I do know—" his voice hardened, quivering with an old, deep anger— "those spiders whisper when the night is quiet. I hear them crawling in the rafters, behind the walls, like they're watching. Waiting. Reminding me that no matter how human I look now, I'm still marked."

Both Link and Navi were silent.

The man's gaze fell to the boy's sword, lingering there with the kind of longing born from years of helplessness. "Still, if you are here, if what the owl has told us is true…then maybe my family has a chance."

Kakariko Village

"Hm?" The armored soldier paused in his watch, eyes narrowing as they traced the jagged outline of the watchtower's pinnacle against the evening sky, the sun, once a brilliant sphere of light, now a sinking orb the color of dying embers in the horizon.

"What?" his son asked, brow furrowed with curiosity. "Did you see something up there?"

The Hylian soldier remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixated on the shadowy heights, the weight of his heavy helmet casting a stern silhouette across his face.

"Dad?" the boy probed, taking a cautious step closer.

He finally turned to meet his son's eager gaze, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "No, nothing," he said, the warmth of his voice contrasting with the chill of the night air. "Now, off with you. Go play somewhere else until your mother calls for you."

"How'd you find me?"

Impa only narrowed her already irritable-looking eyes. "That's it?" she asked, finding no amusement in the blonde girl's response.

Impa's arms stayed crossed, her brow knitting tighter as her gaze bore into the girl. "You have no idea how dangerous it is to wander so far from home," she said, voice low but edged with steel. "Do you even understand the trouble you could bring upon yourself—or upon the royal family?"

The blonde girl shrugged, lips curling into a sly grin. "I can handle myself."

"You can handle yourself?" Impa's tone sharpened. "Do you know what that makes you? Reckless. Foolish. And—" she paused, leaning closer, "a thief."

The girl's grin faltered slightly. "Thief?"

"Yes." Impa's eyes flashed with the weight of accusation. "The three Essences of the Golden Goddesses have gone missing from the artifact treasury. Do you have any idea what that means?"

The girl's face paled, but she quickly masked it with a defiant tilt of her chin. "Listen, my name isn't Zelda. It's… Gris. And I just happen to know the Princess."

Impa exhaled through her nose, a sharp, amused-sounding huff. "Gris, is it?" She shook her head slowly, arms still folded, every movement radiating authority. "Gris, then perhaps you can explain how you came to Hyrule. I've never seen you before that one day in Castle Town, wandering about with that boy from the forest… Link, wasn't it?"

Gris—Zelda—met Impa's gaze with a flicker of boldness, lips pressed into a straight line. "He's a friend. He… helped me get here. That's all you need to know."

Impa's eyes narrowed further, unreadable as the shadows began to gather around them. "That's never all I need to know," she said quietly, voice low enough to make the girl flinch. "And until you explain, Gris… or Zelda, or whatever you choose to call yourself… consider this an opportunity to reflect on just how much trouble you've walked into."

Gris folded her arms, lips twitching with a mix of amusement and frustration. "Maybe I'm exactly where I need to be," she muttered.

Impa didn't respond immediately. Instead, she studied the girl like one might study a blade—sharp, dangerous, and far too clever for her own good. "You'd better hope you are," she finally said, voice calm but deadly. "Because if you're not… Hyrule doesn't take kindly to trespassers. And thieves."

Graveyard

Still marked…

He rubbed at his forearm, and for an instant, Link thought he saw something shimmer beneath the skin—a faint, silvery line, like a scar that hadn't fully healed. Yet he didn't mention it, at least not until he and Navi had left the abode with the blessings of the Kravindish Family themselves.

Yet not before the only humanoid son out of a collection of mutated hybrids of arachnid and man gave the boy one more bit of advice.

"The Twin Musicians of the Royal Family once played here, and they held closer ties to them than we ever did. Perhaps you can learn something if you pay them a visit.

Link swallowed hard, gripping the hilt of his sword tighter. If what the man said was true, then perhaps every battle so far, the ongoing conflicts with these cursed creatures wasn't just survival—it was chipping away at something much older, much darker.

"Link…" Navi whispered, her glow flaring a little brighter as though steeling herself. "We have to find them. All of them. If this curse can be broken…"

He didn't wait for her to finish before he nodded in agreement. Of course he'd do it, no question asked.

Navi's wings flickered with unease as they stepped out beneath the darkening sky, sun steadily sinking from view. The Kravindish abode loomed behind them, heavy with silence, its shadows alive with imagined whispers.

"We'll have to be careful," Navi said, her voice low and urgent. "Remember the one you fought in the Great Deku Tree? That shroud of dark energy around it made it almost untraceable. I could barely sense it until it was nearly upon us."

Link's brow furrowed as he walked, the weight of her words pressing into him. If even Navi's sharp senses struggled against whatever cloaked the cursed spiders, then hunting them down would be far from simple. His mind churned as he recalled the suffocating presence that had filled the chamber back then—the same presence that lingered even after the beast's husk had fallen silent.

Ganondorf.

The name rose unbidden in his thoughts, bitter and heavy. It all smelled of him: the twisting of promises, the corruption of families, the forging of curses that bound and devoured. The King of the Gerudo had always dealt in shadows and deceit. Perhaps these creatures, this "covenant," were nothing more than another thread in his vast, tangled web of dominion.

His grip tightened around the hilt of his sword as though it might anchor his resolve.

"Link!" Navi's voice cut through his thoughts, urgent yet tinged with awe. She darted ahead, her glow dancing against weathered stone. "Look!"

They had reached the graves.

The hill sloped gently upward, and before them stretched a solemn grove, hemmed in by ancient stone walls and towering trees that groaned under the weight of years. Moss crept over the headstones, their inscriptions worn by rain and time. Yet two in particular stood out—taller, prouder, carved with intricate script that seemed to hum faintly in the air.

"The Royal Musicians," Navi breathed, reverently. "The Composers. Brothers Sharp and Flat."

A cool wind stirred, carrying with it a faint, almost imperceptible note—like the last lingering tone of a long-forgotten melody.

Link stepped closer, his boots crunching on the damp earth, and for a moment he thought he could almost hear voices beneath the wind, harmonizing in sorrow.

Link's steps slowed as he came nearer to the graves. At first, he had only seen the carved stones, tall and solemn—but then, just between them, the ground yawned open. A dark hole gaped like a wound in the earth, framed by crumbling stone and weeds.

He crouched at the edge, peering downward. A cold breath wafted up from below, smelling of damp stone and something older, something untouched by the sun. Shadows stretched endlessly beneath him, and for a moment, he thought he saw the faintest glimmer of light far below, like a lantern in deep water.

"Be careful, Link," Navi said quickly, her glow flaring as she hovered closer. "That doesn't look natural. Holes like this… they don't just appear. Something made it."

Link's hand unconsciously brushed the hilt of his sword again as he leaned forward slightly, squinting into the darkness.

That was when a voice, low and resonant, rolled across the graveyard air from behind them.

"You would do well to heed your guide, boy."

Link froze. He straightened slowly, turning his head toward the sound.

Another voice followed, higher in tone but carrying the same strange weight, like two instruments in counterpoint:

"For her counsel may yet preserve your life. And your life… may depend upon it."

Kakariko Village

Impa's gaze didn't waver, sharp as a hawk's, as she took a deliberate step closer. "Labrynna?" she repeated, her tone skeptical. "That's far from Hyrule. How did you even cross the border, and why would you risk wandering into Castle Town alone after a war?"

Of course she didn't believe a word of it, but fine. Just how deep a hole could Her Highness dig herself in, she wondered.

Gris—Zelda—shifted slightly, the shadows flickering across her face. "The war ended," she said softly, but with a firmness that made Impa pause just a fraction. "I… I came after it was over. There was nothing left for me there. I heard about Hyrule… about its people. I thought—maybe I could help, in some way."

Impa's eyes narrowed further, studying her intently. "Help?" she asked, her voice measured but carrying a sharp edge. "You mean wander into Hyrule under false pretenses, trespass in the castle, and possibly steal priceless artifacts?"

Gris met her gaze squarely, a flicker of defiance in her pale eyes. "I didn't steal anything," she said quickly. "And I only went near the treasury because… because I needed to know if it was safe. For the Princess. For Hyrule. I wanted to protect it."

Impa's lips pressed into a thin line, as if weighing every word. "And yet you lied about your identity, about your name. You know how serious that is?"

"I know," Gris admitted, voice steady, "But calling me Zelda… calling me anything else—makes no difference. I'm not the Princess. I'm Gris. I just… I just want to make sure she's safe."

Impa folded her arms again, letting the silence stretch. Then, with a slow, almost imperceptible nod, she said, "Labrynna… after the war ended. That explains why I've never seen you before. But Hyrule doesn't forgive ignorance or recklessness lightly. If you're truly here to protect the Princess, Gris, you will have to prove it. And that starts with telling me everything about how you arrived here, what you've done since, and what you know about the missing Essences."

Gris swallowed, meeting Impa's gaze with a mixture of tension and resolve. "I will," she said softly, "but not if you keep calling me by a name I don't answer to."

Impa raised an eyebrow, a rare flicker of something almost like respect crossing her face. "Very well. Gris," she said slowly, letting the name linger in the air. "Then speak. Now."

Graveyard

Navi darted close to Link's shoulder, her glow trembling faintly as if reacting to the unseen presence. "Link… we're not alone."

The evening seemed to deepen, shadows stirring at the edges of the graves. The carved stones of Sharp and Flat loomed silently, yet the air between them pulsed as if alive with unseen song.

Link turned, his breath catching in his throat.

Two figures stood side by side near the graves, as if the night itself had folded open to allow them passage. They were old women—frail and hunched, yet something about them radiated an unnatural strength. Their skin was the color of withered moss, stretched and lined with age, every wrinkle etched deep like cracks in ancient stone.

Ivory-white hair was tied tightly in a prominent large bun, thin yet glinting strangely in the moonlight, like frost spun into coarse threads. Each wore robes of deepest black, tattered at the hem but embroidered with faint, twisting patterns that seemed to shift if stared at too long.

But it was their faces that struck Link most:

Large, bulging eyes dominated their gaunt features, the whites stark against their green skin. And within those eyes, their irises burned a molten gold—too bright, too alive, as if a fire smoldered eternally inside them. When they blinked, the golden light did not fade, but shimmered, unnervingly steady.

Both carried a crooked staff, one capped with a dull red gem that pulsed faintly like an ember. The other's staff ended in a shard of pale blue crystal that gave off a faint mist, trailing in the air like icy breath.

Link instinctively stepped back, his knuckles whitening around his sword hilt. Navi, however, flared brightly, her voice sharp with alarm.

"Who… who are you?" she demanded, her wings beating furiously in agitation.

The two women shared a glance—an unspoken harmony of thought—and then both let out a soft, unsettling laugh that scraped like rusted bells.

The one with the red staff leaned forward, her golden eyes narrowing. "Oh, don't mind us, boy…"

"…we don't intend any harm," finished the one with the blue staff, her smile thin and chilling.

They spoke as if completing one another's sentences, their voices weaving together into a single, eerie melody.

"And we have come to pay our respects to the departed." they said as one, their burning eyes fixed unerringly on the boy.

Kakariko Village

Gris opened her mouth, ready to begin her story, when something in Impa's posture caught her off guard. The Sheikah's head turned sharply, eyes narrowing at some unseen point in the distance. Her body stiffened, every muscle taut, as if she'd sensed a threat before it arrived.

"What is it?" Gris asked, instinctively stepping closer, her curiosity tinged with unease.

Impa's gaze didn't waver from the horizon. "Stay put," she said, voice low but commanding. "Do not move."

Before Gris could protest, Impa pushed off the edge of the watchtower, her descent graceful and precise. She landed on the sloping roof of a nearby building, the tiles groaning slightly under her weight but holding firm. Without hesitation, she bounded across it, moving with a speed and agility that made Gris' jaw tighten in awe.

The Sheikah didn't stop there. In a single, fluid motion, Impa leaped to the ground, landing silently at the entrance of the graveyard that stretched like a shadowed maw at the edge of Kakariko. Dust stirred around her feet, but she remained as composed as if stepping onto a drawing-room floor.

Gris felt her pulse quicken. "Impa… what's happening?" she whispered to herself, unsure whether to obey the command to stay still or follow.

From the watchtower, Gris could see Impa's silhouette framed against the dim light of the setting sun, poised at the boundary between the living village and the silent, solemn graveyard. Whatever had drawn the Sheikah's attention, it was clear that danger—or at least a disturbance—was imminent.

Graveyard

Link's grip tightened on his sword, though he remained rooted to the spot, his gaze flicking between the two uncanny women. The air around the graves seemed to thicken, each exhale of wind carrying the faint scent of decay and old magic.

The woman with the red staff, Koume, circled the graves slowly, her crooked staff tapping the stone in uneven rhythms. She hummed under her breath, a low, grating tone that seemed to stir the shadows themselves. "Yes… yes, this place… so full of lingering sorrow," she murmured, her voice almost a whisper yet carrying an eerie resonance. "The energy here… it will serve us well. Oh yes… it will serve us very well indeed."

The blue-staffed woman, Kotake, stopped a few steps away from Link, her gaze locking on him like a predator assessing prey. She tilted her head slightly, lips curling into a faint, knowing smile. Her eyes—those burning molten orbs—followed every subtle twitch, every shallow breath. She muttered to herself, almost inaudibly, yet with an unmistakable rhythm of fascination:

"Hm… the boy… strong, yes… a courage laced with recklessness… heart guarded, yet… yes, curiosity blooms even now… delicate, fragile, but… potential… ripe."

Koume let out a dry, rasping chuckle, the sound echoing off the stones like cracking timber. "Potential, indeed," she hissed, leaning on her red-staffed cane. "This cemetery… the lingering echoes of grief… sorrow… loss… oh, the perfect catalyst for what we require. Power will grow here, and we shall bind it to our craft."

Kotake's eyes moved over Link's form, lingering on the lines of his face, the set of his shoulders. "Fascinating," she whispered, almost to herself. "So… steadfast, yet so naïve… the way he senses, yet cannot fully comprehend. This… this will be useful."

Koume's laugh rose again, soft but edged with malice, blending with the wind. "Useful, yes… most deliciously useful. The dead, the living… all shall dance upon our strings, here in this sacred sorrow. And you, little one…" Her eyes flicked toward Link with a sly intensity, "you shall play your part, whether you know it or not."

Navi flared brighter, her glow trembling violently. "Link! Something's wrong… they're dangerous!"

Kotake tilted her head, the smile on her lips widening just enough to reveal teeth unnervingly white against her greenish skin. "Dangerous? Perhaps… but knowledge… always demands risk, little one. And oh… how we adore knowing all we can."

The two women fell silent for a moment, their gaze shifting in tandem between the graves and the boy, a sinister synchronization that made the shadows writhe as if alive. Then, almost imperceptibly, Koume whispered, "Soon… this place… this boy… everything will belong to our art."

Kotake's eyes glimmered with molten gold as she added softly, "Yes… everything."

The air around the graves seemed to pulse, heavy with anticipation, as if the very earth itself held its breath. Link felt it in his bones: something ancient and terrible had taken notice.

Link's fingers twitched around his sword hilt, but he didn't strike. The air seemed heavier now, each heartbeat echoing unnaturally in his ears. Shadows slithered along the edges of the graves, stretching and curling as if alive, though the light of the setting sun was steady and clear.

Kotake's gaze never left him. Her voice had lowered to a murmured cadence, like a chant woven just under the edge of hearing. "Hm… memories… fears… courage… restrained yet burning…" She moved slowly, each step deliberate, and though her words were quiet, they carried an unsettling weight. "Ah… so much potential… yet so delicate… so vulnerable…"

Link felt a shiver run down his spine, a prickling sensation as if invisible hands were brushing over him, probing, searching. "Navi…" he whispered, unsure if he even wanted an answer.

Navi's glow flared sharply, her voice tight with alarm. "Link… something's happening… something's wrong here. These… these women aren't normal. Their presence… it's not just old age… it's… magic… dark, old magic."

Koume hummed again, moving closer to the graves and brushing a knobby hand over the carved stone of Sharp's gravestone. "Yes… the sorrow lingers… the grief… it's delicious. We can stir it… mold it… use it…" Her tone was soft, almost maternal, but underneath it lurked a sinister hunger.

Link's stomach churned as he glanced at Navi, her tiny body thrumming with anxious energy. He could feel it… something watching him, all of them. He didn't understand it, but it was wrong. All of this was wrong.

Kotake tilted her head, her thin lips curling into a smile that didn't reach her glowing eyes. "Oh… you feel it, yes… the subtle tremors in your chest, the flinches in your mind. You sense… change. But not fully… not yet. That is wise."

Koume laughed softly, a sound like bones grinding together. "Wise, perhaps, but useless… everything here, everything in this place… belongs to us soon enough. The dead… the living… all bending to what we require."

Navi darted closer to Link's shoulder, her voice insistent. "Link, stay sharp… don't let them near you. They're not like anyone we've ever faced. Their power… it's old… dangerous… we have to be careful."

Kotake's gaze drifted over him again, and she muttered more under her breath, her words weaving into the night. "Child of courage… stubborn yet untested… strong… yet… malleable… yes… pliable…"

Link took a cautious step back, the hairs on his neck standing up. The sense of being watched, of being measured and understood in ways he couldn't fight, gnawed at his nerves. He tightened his grip on his sword, even as his mind raced to understand what sort of beings could read him like this.

Koume's dark chuckle carried across the graves, low and satisfied. "We will have our fun here… this place… this boy… everything shall feed our work…"

Navi's glow flared, and her tiny voice trembled. "Link… I don't know what they're planning… but it's bad. Really bad. Trust me, this isn't normal."

Link's jaw tightened, his breath coming faster. He could feel it—something stirring in the graveyard, something that pulsed with ancient intent. Whatever these women were, they were shaping the very earth itself around them. And he had no idea how to stop it.

Kakariko Village

Gris hugged herself tightly, caught between the impulse to move and the knowledge that Impa's warning was absolute. The air was heavy with anticipation, and the first whispers of evening wind seemed almost like the breath of something watching from the Graveyard.

From the very tombstones meant to house the silent and unmoving dead.

Then she too saw them.

Both of them.

Rising into the air, perched atop broomsticks and flying off into the distance, vanishing from sight as soon as they appeared.

Then, she felt a gentle thrum of energy pulsing in her hand, the clear crystal warm against her skin. Inside it swirled a mesmerizing sphere of emerald wind, twisting and spiraling with an ethereal grace. The crystal flickered, casting a soft, green glow that illuminated her surroundings, making everything shimmer like a dream.

As she contemplated the strange phenomena, a blinding flash erupted before her eyes. The familiar rooftops of Kakariko faded away, replaced by a haunting image—a young boy clad in a tunic of deep green, accompanied by a delicate blue fairy trapped within a glass bottle. The bottle tumbled down an endless shaft, plunging into a shadowy abyss deep within the earth.

"Link…!" she gasped, the name escaping her lips like a desperate whisper lost in the wind.