Fan Fiction ❯ Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time ❯ Sea of Envy ( Chapter 1 )

Chapter I: Sea of Envy.

Copyright: I do not own Zelda, Nintendo does. Story by Habuki productions.

The place was huge! The breathing corridor was from the looks only about one room, but it expended about two-hundred feet across and stretched up several miles upward. The young boy's eyes glared upward and around, there were structured branches and webs all over the entire place, but from the looks of it no more of those stupid babas or any other dangers of the world. Well, that was good for Link because soon after he sheathed the Kokiiri blade and walked around the room exploring the area for any clues. It was all right to be here now, he felt so secure inside of his creator's body, it gave him a sense of refreshment, as if when he was with Saria.

"This place is huge, Navi, I didn't think he was so hollow hee!" Remarked Link, tapping on the right end of the tree, it had taken him a few minutes to travel that far, just showing how big this tree was. This place was so extraordinary, sort of like some ancient museum where the artifacts were just placed in the ground, waiting to be explored. Smiling at his new companion, the young boy just looked around the place, eyes brightened for their New World, the new adventure. Yes, he had always wanted to explore ever since he was small, and now with the exception of his master being sick, he was having his dream become a reality. Only now his best dream had come true, he had himself a fairie, something he had never dreamed of coming true, and now here it was.

"Mmhm, Linky, it is huge. Dangerous, too, you had had your guard up and use it wisely. I don't know how long that shield can hold, it is only Deku."

"What other materials are there?"

"Metal, iron, crystal, and other materials."

"I am not even going to ask." Remarked the young boy as he moved over towards the bushes, wow, maybe there were some supplies such as some more of those sticks, but those only came from. Another one of those horrible screeches, one that sounded a little cut off his thoughts fiercer than the Babas on the outside. This time he was ready, though, his newly trained weapon was out and the shield slammed into the recently uprooted baba that had, so stupidly appeared right infront of him. With three quick strokes, them seeming tougher, the liquid spilled aside and it was dead, throwing out some more of the sticks, which were gathered up and nestled in his pack. Growling at the dead creature, he kicked the carcass aside, not even liking the smell of the dead thing, death had never been a quality of his.

"Hrm, they are getting easier and easier, Navi, I wonder if that is all there is to this? If it is, I will be out of here in half an hour, or so." He truly believed this, not having an idea at just how hard a dungeon could be, the place was illuminated by the nutrients in the tree.

"Don't get too cocky, Linky, these things aren't what is poisoning the Deku Tree, because his defenses could of killed them easily." Navi insisted, it would be a hard road ahead for both of them.

"That is probably true, Navi." Clearing his throat, he slid down onto his knees and rustled through the palate brown bushes, just searching through and out for something. Going through the bushes was what he had seen the older Kokiiri doing a few days of the week, looking not just for rubies, but also food. It was a simple matter every Kokiiri knew, that most likely things had been dropped or planted in the ground for other people to find. Staring around the branches, the boy was wondering how the place was so bright and why is was hollow, trees weren't supposed to be hollow. It took about less than a minute and pulled out a packet of nuts, he turned around and held them outright towards her. "What are these?"

"Ooh, those are Deku Nuts, they can paralyze opponents, but they aren't for eating. If you throw them down to the ground, they can paralyze your enemy for a few seconds. More than enough time to attack."

Nodding, he stuffed the three oversized nuts into a small compartment on the left angle of his side-pack, leaving it open, just in case those little nuts were needed. Before he even had enough time to turn around, he heard three shrieks at his right side and gasped loudly at what was in his view now. The babas, the first one had regenerated, and two more where now with him, sort of his companions for trying to get in an assault attack. Luckily Babas were so loud that he had enough time to dodge away from them for the time being, yet killing them now was out of the question. Not enough time to act, he yanked out the three nuts and threw them at the plants in every direction, not caring which nut hit who.

With three screeches they all froze into place and just smelt the young boy and his companion with the nostrils, the eyeless creatures crying out in confusion. Holding the sword out, he spun around in two circular turns and decapitated all the animals in one, slumping down the liquid spewed and stick all formed over the corpses. Gathering all of them, he had a set of ten and it just enough room, so he gathered back towards the bushes and picked up three more new nuts before looking around for something to get up. There was obviously no ladder, so he went to the wall and stared up around the area for a way up, but for the time being it seemed hopeless. No physical way he could jump all that way, the wall was solid so no holding marks for him to grab and climb, all he could do was watch.

It was actually Navi who found the entrances as she tugged at the branches and flew up towards them, exploring around. They were actually looked like they could support his small form, now a normal kokiiri would fall, but he was extremely smaller than the rest of them. Fluttering down to where he sat, she watched him look around, amazed at his clueless nature, and also finding it very adorable. The way he looked all around, peering in every other direction and not even seeing the obvious infront of him, although it wasn't all the bright in here. Perching onto of his hat and staring down at him with the eyes of a little girl who had just gotten some candy, she pointed out the obvious to the young boy. "Linky, check the limbs, they look like they will do the trick."

"Hrm? Well, let me check, I guess it won't hurt." Staring up at the vines, they extended about forty feet up and led onto a cliff, and so he climbed up it feeling pretty sure of it, until he got about seven feet and one of the ropes snapped. Turning around, he let out a screech, pulling out the Kokiiri blade out and slamming into the uneven soul with it, breaking his fall, also saving him from any broken limbs. Turning towards his fairie, he sneered a little at her, before calling out to her in sort of a obnoxious tone, not that it wasn't appropriate. "Well, thanks Navi." He remarked with a bit of sarcasm and stared back up at her with those eyes carrying a bit of tears from the scrapes on him.

"Oh, Link, I am so sorry! I, thought it would work, I am so s-sorry!" She literally broke into tears and went over towards his face, pressing her face up against his or her entire body, and rubbing against him in a powdery stance.

"Hee, it is alright, I am alright. I--let us just try again and I will go on the right side instead of the left side, this time." Well, again, he stood himself up and brushed off, before climbing up the trail until he surpassingly reached the top of the cliff and pulled himself over. The insect-like thing floated around him, and rubbed up against his face, until he had to pull her away and gingerly hold the small body inside of his hands. Finally finding the edge of it, the vines disappeared when he lavished the twenty feet, pulling himself up all the way, taking a look around his surroundings.

"We did it! We did it! Hee now let us see--" taking a look around this room made him suddenly lose every bit of happiness there was. There was a larger corridors all around with spider-webs floating in areas he didn't want to see, and other stuff that would of made him creep out (given the circumstances.) Shivering, the boy looked off to the other side, staring at the ground for a few seconds, trying to get his own act together before she noticed. As long as he had lived, Link had hated spiders, he hated the webs, everything about them gave him the shivers, even the name of them did the trick. Now with the webs everywhere, he just knew that spiders were around, waiting to get him at any exact moment he acted up, or let his guard down.

This, well palace was the only word, was circular all across and had several trudges that looked like they would have to leapt across. Heh, he turned southwards and went the direction that didn't have the jumps until he came upon a large wooden chest. It did quite resemble the chest with the sword, so he bent down on both knees and lifted up with all his might until a creek resembled, and golden light poured out of the old chest along with a piece of paper. The paper was in a language he could read, having several areas on the map, places he couldn't even see, nor could he decipher. Sitting down on the ground, he stared at the map in utter confusion, trying to make it out, before turning to his more knowledgeable fairie and speaking. "Navi?"

"Oh, that's a dungeon map, Link, it will help you navigate throughout this entire place. Maybe the Deku Tree left this out for you, so you could find your way throughout this place."

"Hee, I guess he is watching out for me?" Gasping, she began to point out to him how to use it, and within a few minutes, he had the thing down to bat, able to read it now. Delighted, he checked the top corridor and it did show where they were, and there was a door just a few miles south of here! Placing the map deep inside his side-pack, he raced the rest of the way down the dungeon halls, hoping the map gave the location of monsters too. This place just stank of evil; he could feel it as he passed the spider-webbed sides, which blocked his way down there, not that he planned on going there. Finally he saw the door, but as he turned a slithering sound appeared and he was thrown halfway across the wall, slamming into the close wall, only a couple of feet away.

-Skicchh

"Link! Link!" Screamed the young farie, literally throwing her down into his chest and slapping his face wildly. "A Skulltulla! Run, it'll eat you!"

Skull-wha? He looked up at the sight that beheld him, and what it was made his breath stop all at once, his fear of spiders getting in the way once more. There was this creature, a creature that was like a spider, yet it wasn't, certainly something that he had never seen before, nor wanted too again. A skull head attached to what looked like a spider underneath with a scurry of legs pounding right at him, trying to get on him. The skull didn't even look like the monsters, like it took it from a corpse it had killed, latching it on for some sort of armour, or something. Instantly, he sprung up and brought out that blade launching an attack right at his head, well he aimed for the head, trying to break the skull.

That was just one of the many mistakes that Link made in this dungeon, he wasn't that skilled in tactics yet, so he could do some stupid things. Because as soon as he threw the blow, he was thrown back against the wall and hit with a slumped falls. Feeling weak, he just watched the monster stare at him until it turned around? What was this? A tender spot was on its backside; it seemed to be a weak spot. So he took a chance and leapt forward slicing the blade right into the center of this spider-demon. A screech erupted from the beast when the blade slammed back into its exoskeleton and shattered inward through its' heart. Blood gushed from the sides all over, as the monster slumped down and pulled itself off of the ledge, and falling down towards the ground. With one last thump, it gave a screech of terror and died.

"W-what? Was that? Navi?"

"T-that was a Skulltula, Link. It is a skeleton and a spider hybrid, but I have never seen one of those in the longest of years. You had better be on your guard, his babies might be around."

"Babies! Oh, no. Are they as big as him?"

"Thankfully no, they are called Skullwalltulas and they usually reside on branches and are about the size of your fist. Not very big, but hard to shoot off with a sword. We need to find something else." She trailed off, and stared up at the door for some reason, trying to find a way out of this creepy place, it just didn't seem like the Deku Tree anymore.

Nodding with agreement, he headed over and pushed the door open, seeing no danger and walked inside of the area with open arms. Thankfully this room was smaller, and had a deep ledge that looked like it would kill a person if they were to fall off of it, not that he planned on it. Great, nothing in this room except a bush. Turning around, he didn't seem to notice that the bush pushed up and something was looking up at him with the reddest of eyes, making a snorting sound. A nasty sort of sound that those elfish ears would have picked up, and in fact they did hear the sound, the ugly sound from the monster. The sound did get to Link's ears quickly, so when Navi shouted something at him, he was already way ahead of her, readying himself by the time he heard it.

"LINK! Shield, spin and block!"

Instinctively, he spun around and the Deku Shield went out as a nut was fired, and reflected back to some sort of wooden bush. It was brown and obviously made of wood, but had a muzzle and could walk and move, some sort of automatic puppet of some sort? The nut went back and hit the thing in the head, and showing cowardliness, it jumped up and ran around the entire small ledge, keeping from falling off. Looking for a place to hide, was it? He didn't know, but leapt forward and caught it in his grasp, holding it down and sitting on top of its' body, stared down at it with fierce determination. It didn't take much to scare it, because the look made it squeal out in pain, even though Link weighed less than the thing, and so he spoke. "Why did you do that?"

"Oh, forgive me, master!" It could talk? So it did, speak in a raspy voice, and did once more. "I will tell you a secret, if you let me go."

"I'm listening."

"See? Getting down there is such a hassle, but if you hold your balance and curl into a ball you can jump down. Now, I am not saying this works for all ledges, so don't try it on mountains or anything." And with that, it spit into Link's face and scurried back down the bushel from wince it came, leaving a rude exit as it had done with the entrance.

Wiping the green saliva from his eyes, he sat upon the bush, and looked up at her. "What did he mean? You think I can?"

"Well, not all the way, but I see that there is a platform hanging in the air. Why don't you try it that way? I know it is once in a lifetime, but I will catch you, if you fall."

Nodding, he spun around and put his sword up behind him, while backing up all the way to the entrance, readying his muscles for a jump he would take. He wasn't as crazy as the shrub thought he was, why would he take orders from a monster that was too cowardly to face him in battle. Nah, he might try it later on, but now he was going to go for the ledge, to pick his own spots and fight his own battles when they came to him. A loose bang flung in his face, pushing it aside, readying his cap for the jump and making sure he wasn't going to pull a muscle when jumping. Smirking to himself, he shook his head, feeling the courage of him already beginning to build back up, it seemed the spirit of a warrior was inside of him.

"Ready?"

"Yep, Linky, let her rip!"

With a burst of speed, he took off like a hurricane, and leapt off of the ledge until he came to the middle platform in the air, held up by nothing. Invading how gravity did this, he was simply amazed at what was holding this up, since there was no weird air current below, nor strings holding it up. He shrugged a shoulder, waving over to his fairie, smiling at her, giving a no problem smile, before he spoke in a louder voice than usual. Before he could muster a thought or any words, he was cut off when the platform began to shake and he quickly leapt to the over side of the bridge as fast as he can. The ground he was just on, fell to the ground with a crash, the boy flailing his arms wildly, he gripped the end of the ledge and pulled himself up in a scurry of angst.

"Great. I don't see a way back, Navi." But he saw another chest; this one had the silver rims, like the one with the sword on it, which meant that the rims meant something greater than a map. Leaping for it, he pressed all his weight up and pulled it out of the rut that it was in, the chest giving off a lot more weight than it seemed capable of. In a matter of minutes, he had the chest open, a spray of golden light filling his eyes, as if the Goddesses themselves had visited him. Shaking the chest on its edge, he reached his hand inside quickly, not afraid of anything inside, sound a sort of solid object, and yanked out a slingshot.

"Hrm, Link, you need those, but what about…oh, I know!" She spun around the side of the chest, beginning to dig through the thing with her submerged inside of the box for a few minutes. Link just stared at her, hoping she wouldn't suffocate in the box, trying out his new slingshot (with no ammo), before long she appeared with her hands full with a sack. The sack she handed to the young boy, who opened it up and saw inside were a bunch of seeds that went when planting smaller Deku Trees. What these could be used for was beyond Link, so he looked over to Navi, whom was already speaking to him in her informative manner. "There. Use these for your slingshot, these are Deku Seeds."

"Hee, thanks, Navi." Pulling out the slingshot, he looked around his area for something to shoot and literally fainted, there was an area for him to shoot, being so close! "Navi, a ladder!"

"Well, shoot it!"

Mmhm, he pulled one of the nuts out, pulled back the rubber band and let the nut flow as it cracked against the ladder, incased in some thin web, on the other side of the room. With one shot, the webs cracked and a finely tuned ladder went plummeting down at the other side, the ladder landing in the position that they could get out of here. Giving them a way out of here by the tools of a new object, it was like this place was designed together, so without all the materials you couldn't leave. Now, all he did was simply put his slingshot and nuts in the right side of his pack and leapt off of the edge, trying his luck with the advice. Pulling his legs and curling into a ball, he slammed down on the ground with nothing more than just a few scratches nothing more or less. Grinning, the boy ran over towards the ladder and climbed up towards the top and went out the room from which he came.

After finding the slingshot, Link was feeling pretty sure of himself. He had found a new weapon-- a new, convenient weapon, and a map. The only problem was which direction he was headed, the map may have been what he was tutored on a while back, but he wasn't an expert on it. This map was so old, it looked like if he pulled it hard enough it would turn to ashes, and not taking his luck, he just kept it tucked at his side. No idea knowing how to navigate, he left that up to Navi, whom seemed to know where she was going around here and in this weird place. Hands were down by his sides, wrapped up like a school-boy and staring off in different directions, listening for any sort of scuttles or any sounds that didn't seem natural.

"Navi, where are we?"

"I really don't know--" she stopped speaking as they came around the corner. "A room! Link, another room!"

"Yeah! Hee, now lets see what's in here." Walking infront of the door, he tapped onto it with his sword, and it sprang open, that seemed a very nice convenient way of opening doors, since they didn't have knobs. Hrm, he inspected for those nasty Deku shrubs and headed deep inside, when he found none, no bushels were they could be hiding, anyway. In the room was a platform, where he was standing, a lower region, and another high region across the room., the rooms seemingly to get a bit smaller as the higher up they went. At his left and right were two unlit torches, and to the side was a small-lit torch, each of them seeming to play a part in those old stories Saria read to him. When he entered the area, a pair of bars slammed down across the exit, concealing him from getting out of here, the bars not really bendable. "Hey!"

Navi fluttered around and began to explore the room, looking for a way out of this trap, it looked so weird that he would have implanted these mechanisms. There was no way this could be real, this dungeon must have been carved out of the remains of the Deku Tree, that just had to be it? Were the Deku Tree's insides always like this or were these the defenses he always talked about in the works, or were they the enemies? As she went across the room she saw that there was a hidden wall, but the hidden room was empty, nothing in particular was going on there. Going across the room, she spotted a large chest, just like what the map and slingshot were inside, the rim not silver this time, but who cared? Who really cared about it, there was a chest there that had some valuable items in them, maybe like a more updated map or something. "Link, come on and try to get this chest! It may have some more weapons inside of it!"

"Hrm? Oh, coming, Navi!" He yelled back at his full lungs, trying to make her feel it and when she waved back, he nodded towards her, smiling to him bashfully. Well, he was almost there when he spotted a small switch that was squared with the shape of a moon on top of it, he couldn't have gotten across the area anyway, and it was too long. Curiously, he slammed his foot upon the switch, the switch making a small crinkling sound, something he had never heard before, then a ticking sound going off. Link ignored the ticking, thinking it was all in his mind, turning his attention to the platforms with his eyes lighting up, he did something right!

"Link, what're you--" Three small platforms appeared in the middle, lower region of the two platforms, they weren't that wide apart, but just enough for him to land and not fall off. She saw what he was doing, and congradulated him, as it seemed he was gaining some knowledge of this place, learning the ropes. Yup, he was gaining a little skill in these matters, braving the odds and conquering whatever came infront of him, a nice talent for him. Nodding, he hopped across all three of the platforms easily, I mean, it was quite easy to do it after the slingshot incident, his confidence boosted. Leaping across the last one, he landed infront of her and giggled, nodding to himself at how easy it was, still hearing that stupid ticking. "See, that was quite easy."

Turning towards the chest, he knelt down upon the ground and examined the chest, it was the same as the other boxes, so it checked it. It was a deep Deku-brown with a bronze lining across the entire chest, making him think that it wasn't as good as a weapon, but the best next thing. Placing his hands upon the top-part of the brown box and pressed upward with all his strength, not wanting to tip this one over. Flowing, golden light pierced out, and what he picked up was a small blue instrument, something used for telling time or something. Before he could sit down and examine it, the platforms began to lower, the timer disappearing from his mind altogether, gasping loudly.

"Link, run!" Navi screamed aloud, she was already on the other side of the platform, with one of his Deku sticks at her side, keeping it incase she needed it. Concentrating, he slipped the compass inside of his side-pack and leapt across each of the platforms, except the last, the last one just coming down too slow. Gasping, he stood on the last one as the other two went down, him trapped in the place, and when looking down, all he saw was darkness. Crying out in surprise, he should have been quicker and now he would die all because of this stupid thing, leaving Navi alone to fight. Well, it would end this way, which was what he didn't approve of so, he was trying to think, looking at Navi with his eyes dimming some.

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It was like a dream-almost, for she saw him doing well, until the last one, where he stumbled and screwed up on the platform, leading him down to his doom. He slammed into the gravel because the platforms were too low, and now he was trapped in the spot, not being able to get back to the exit. Now, what was better than that, it was just like the nightmare had occurred right when there was no place to wake up, only the blackness was the sweet relief. That's when the platforms sunk below into the bitter darkness, and it was so sad that they came this far, yet she was not going to let that spoil the fun, no way she lost him. Now all he had was two hands holding against the brimstone, trying to pull him up with all his might, not able to on his own. "N-N-Navi!"

"Linky!" She flew up and grabbed the Deku stick, lowering it until she felt him grab a hold. When she felt the enormous weight upon the stick, she pulled up with all of her might. There was no use, at first, he was just too heavy and no matter how hard she beat her wings, she didn't think that he was going to come back up. Well, it was not going to end that way, she would make sure of it, so the wings went even faster than before, almost at a hummingbird's speed. The weight was intense, yes, but she was not letting this boy die, her boy would not die in these circumstances, nor ever would he. No way, no how. This wasn't the end of their journey.

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Placing both soft digits, upon the stick, he implanted his hands into the ground (or walls, in this case) pulling up with all he could muster from within. When he was just almost the full way up, he felt a weight relieve from him, like some sort of burden being lifted. It was like something had disappeared from like, yes a burden was a nice way of saying it, well that was what it felt like at first, almost losing himself from the relief. No, instead he saw the compass drop from his side pack, and cried out in surprise, and with a gasp, he tried to reach out for the item. He even grasped the thing in his hands, pulling it back, yet the slipping circle slid from his fingers and down the blackness. "The new item!"

"Nevermind that, Link! Concentrate!" Then he felt her rise up and let him start pulling, while she pulled herself, trying to maintain this at the maximum speed of her wings. After about ten minutes of pulling, the floor and platforms long gone, he sprang up and stood across the solid ground. Automatically, she pounced upon him and buried her face into his, nuzzling and kissing his cheeks. "I can't believe you! We went through that and you lost it. Oh, you stupid--cute…Oh!" She cried out loud and went under his hat. Sighing, he picked up his Deku stick. Moving over towards the lit torch, he let the end began to burn. There he walked over towards the two torches and lit them easily. A small dinging sound went off and the bars of the exit rose, but instead of keeping the stick, he threw it over the side of the cliff. Heading out of the room, he shook his head and buried his hands across his chest, with a peeved off Navi under his hat.

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On further inspection, he saw some branches that were in the way and some of those spiders, which she was talking about earlier. The spiders looked just like their masters, wearing the skull upon its head for protection, and he got the feeling that they may have been born that way. Either that or there were a lot of dead things inside of this tree that the spiders could get ahold of and use for some sort of helmet. Looking at the distance between them, he measured with his fingers, trying to see if maybe he could hit them with something. Yes, the idea of his new weapon appeared in his mind, seeing how he could indeed shoot a new seed at them, knocking them down here. When they were down, he would either smash their exoskeleton in, or just kick them off the edge, taking them out of commission.

It was Navi that saw the way on it, as she studied them spiders, she fluttered down back at him, and pointed at the slingshot. "Hit them with it, Linky, it'll knock them off balance and you can smash them when they come back down. They are defenseless on the ground."

"Alright, that won't take long." He only had fifteen nuts, so he used precise aiming when knocking them off, but since Link had never used a weapon like this in his life, the perfect wasn't so perfect. Well, at first he tried a few shots at the nearby webs, nailing it in with some good accuracy, going towards the web and picking them off. Conserving the seeds that way, the young boy spun around back to where the skull spiders and his fairie were, waiting for it to happen. Aiming for the legs, it took three shots to take the first one down, and when it was down he brought the boots down, crushing the skull. The other two took only a shot each, because he aimed for the head instead. When they were down, he smashed them and began to scale the vines upward.

These vines extended at least two hundred feet upward, and when he finally reached the top, an hour later, he was panting and letting his little poor appendages rest. Shaking his head, have to save the Deku Tree, he stood back up and looked around, peering at all angle for where this place was next. The top room was just a long circle with four planks sticking out of each one, it was like something out of a story, it was weird but there was nothing here. Walking over towards the third one, each on one side of the circle, he peered over at the end, trying to see what was over there. There was nothing? Nothing! What to do! But, he never saw it coming.

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One of those Skulltullas was going to take revenge for his brother, so it hid up in the web until he was just on the edge, in stealth. With one silent slither, it went down with all force and slammed onto the little thing's back, the enticing feeling was back in action. It was beautiful how it struck it, seeing the glow that was with the creature was alert, but not able to do anything about it, being so weak. The thing went flying down towards its death, it seemed and the monster was satisfied, yea the revenge was sweet for it. He had avenged his brother and all was good with the world, so the stupid thing went back to sleep, hitting back in slumber, not caring for the thing's beneficial health.

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Wha? He went flying through the air, was he a bird or something, or was this dream like he wished, but unfortunately that was not so, he had no idea why he was in the air. Navi had yelled something, but it was too late as he was already about two hundred feet from death, no way to turn back around and grab for help. There was some sort of web on the way down; it was where he first entered, it was weird that he missed it because they would be already down there if not. One chance. He had one chance to do this, so he took out his sword and floated up so it was, the blade having more weight than before, because of the air pressure. He was going to land face first, and kept the sword ahead in place, to cut whatever, aiming more for the web than anything at all.

Upon impact, the sword sliced into the web and he saw there was actually a secret passage that led down to another area of the place? He heard water, so it must have been an underground stream, maybe there was a river under the Deku Tree, which was why they always received fresh water. Through the familiar room he passed and down a longer room that had to have at least been three hundred feet down, more than he could have imagined. His screams echoed as he kept the sword forward and shut his eyes tightly. After a few seconds, he let the sword, if he was gonna die, he didn't need to land on that. And the sword went forward back into the air. Pushing his shield infront of his body, he curled up and sobbed.

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Navi sensed the monster coming, and as she turned around and screamed Link's name, he was gone, and there was nothing she could do. No, he was gone! No, it couldn't end this way, no. She was his! He was hers! Growling and cursing at the monster, it had gone away, she raced down the passage and saw Link as he neared the end of the road. He would smash and would be no more, just Baba food, just a smash upon the pavement that would be nothing to recover from. She-She wouldn't make it! Racing down, she saw his sword come out and stared as he split the ground open? No, it was a web, why hadn't he noticed earlier? Down through the web he went and she put her flying into turbo. Racing down the corridor, she saw the sword as it floated just past her, catching it and shoving it downward. Racing past all that seemed well, a figure impacted into the water, deep and clog, with a shield protecting his body.

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He must have been out for a good while, because when he woke, he could hear the darkness of the night, the night echoing harder. Was he dead? Was he somewhere in his wildest dreams? Looking forward, he saw it again, the man, the man from what he guessed the Desert, could they be one in the same, well could they? It was highly possible, the same evil he saw here, he couldn't imagine coming from anyone else, no he never imagined anything this bad. He was dressed in black and had the darkest skin ever seen on anything, all the Kokiiris were pale-skinned, so tan was weird, but this man was almost black. Much taller than him, but not the Deku Tree, the man threw out something of yellow that burst past his skin and sent him crying out. The light that was there faded, as he went into eternal darkness and cried out more for help, seeing no one (not even Navi) around to help him face the evil.

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Throwing himself up, he felt the cool water of the Kokiiri, it had the sweeter taste of sugar in it, something that she never understood. Eyes weren't open yet, though he heard a voice around and another one, a weirder one that sounded like Navi when she was cussing. Another feminine voice surrounded in the fairish language, the boy still not clear whom it was, not that he could ask who it was. It was way out of the question, since he wasn't moving, the pain in his body making him summon up the strength to sit up, or try to sit up. Shivering for a few moments, the power finally came from deep in the soul, the enticing feeling was back, something he had felt when first finding the sword. Wow, it was just a dream, just a--

"Link! You okay, Linky!" A voice, some beautiful voice, but the dread that this wasn't a dream and that he was in, this was not a dream for all his senses were back. Yes, opening his eyes revealed he was still in the Deku Tree and indeed it was night, because he heard the night faries giving off there beat. Even deep in the tree, he could still head it, the sounds of the fairies as they did their nightly ritual before they went to sleep. Looking up, a huge amount of pain went in his head, and he held it, turning up towards the beautiful angel, yes the angel with wings. She was sitting on his nose and looking at him, muttering something in her language, but no, it wasn't an angel at all, though it did have wings. "Navi?"

"Oh, thank the Goddess. I thought you had cracked your skull open." The last of the ancient words stopped as he felt the headache lift from him, and caught the gleam of something at his side, a bright pink. Whatever it was, it was hurting his eyes whenever he looked over at it with those slanted eyes, beginning to peek open at her. Hee, it was a farie, but not like Navi, this fairie was covered in an aura, just like her with the pinkish tint instead of the blue one, it was weird. The fairie was something he had never seen, all the ones in the forest were either blue or sometimes green, an occasional yellow ones. This one was wore a hot pink veil, and was nuzzling against his face tenderly, speaking in a feminine ancient language, the fairish.

"W-what happened?"

"Well, a Skulltulla fell down and knocked you off the edge, and well you used your instincts and survived by cutting open this secret passage. Using your shield was smart too." Waving her hand over, she showed him the shield that was flat out dented from his body imprint. "There is water, but you landed on a dry piece of rock and lucky you used that shield. Anyway, you hit your head and so I am healing you."

"Whose this?"

"Oh, that is a healing farie, I don't know her name, but I had her in a bottle and she is healing your head injury."

Lifting his fingers upward, he tickled at the little farie and heard a small giggle and something in that farie language.

"She can't speak the normal tongue, Link, but she said her name is Jivu and to stop that, while she is working." The small pink farie stopped the healing, as the feeling returned through his whole body and it went up on his cheek kissing it, before floating up and out of the Deku Tree.

Flushing, he looked up at Navi, and giggled a little. "Where did she go, Navi?"

"After they heal, they return to their mistress, the Great Farie. There aren't any fountains here, but who knows, maybe one day one will come out here. There are five of them, but I am sure they might come out to be closer to our faries, but sometimes the stray fairies hang around the Lost Woods to see other forest fairies."

"Hee, oh. So, how long have I been out?"

"Oh, let's see. I think about six hours. These faries are slow healing, so I am guessing all and all we have been in this tree about eight hours. All your pain isn't gone, we just healed you enough so you can get through here, then you will have to go to sleep for a while."

"Humph, I wanted to finish this in half an hour. Are we almost done?"

"According to the map, no. But, I don't know, this map is so old."

Pushing himself up, he looked off at the entire scenery and shook his head sadly. "This just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?"

"At least this room is clear of enemies, I mean, it would have been hard-…oh!" She raced onward and began to wade through the water until finally she threw out the blade and pushed his shield over at him. "There, thought I lost that, for a minute there."

Nodding, he stood himself up, from the mess and stared around the room once more, getting a better view of it now, since he was wide awake. It was indeed an underground stream and there seemed to be no way up, so they might as well go explore, find the monster here. Picking his sword up, he turned around as he heard a scuttling sound, the sound of something following him, so that was when he reacted. Spinning around again, he saw nothing and shrugged it off, it was probably just his overactive imagination at work, and he was still half-asleep. One further investigation there was right near some sort of switch and unlit torch. Stomping on the switch, the torch went to life and he warmed his wet clothes on it. Across was a little shallow end and another portion that was covered by a web.

"I am gonna try something--stay here."

"But, Link!"

"Navi, hee, I am not gonna do something stupid, again."

Not waiting for an argument, he put out one of the Deku Sticks and lit it with the torch, the end of it beginning to burn, but it didn't burn up. The stick just caught fire and stayed burning, according to the other Kokiiri this thing could have been burning for quite a while, so he had himself some time. Running forward, he leapt across the water and moved over towards where the web was, slinging the thing forward to catch onto something. Placing it on the web, it went out in a burst of flames, clearing a path. Dipping the stick in the water, he put it back in his back, and waved over for her.

She raced over with his shield and sword, and after some item alternations he was back to normal, having his things back in place. The Kokiiri blade was placed in his left hand, while the shield went for the right one, giving him some easy access, before he bent the shield back. Inside the front of the side pack were the Farie Slingshot and some Deku Nuts, and the Deku Sticks strapped on his right side and the nuts on the left. Pockets were assigned all in the side pack, so that he would be able to get to them, he left it open for some easy access to get it. Through that he entered a small door that was hidden behind the web, the door one of those doors that just slid up in the way when you touched it.

Inside that door, there was an even smaller room with a familiar-looking bush, something he had seen in a previous room. This time he was ready, backing up until another familiar looking Deku fired a nut, and when it fired, instead of standing there, he rushed at the nut pushing it against the thing's skull. The nut wasn't just reflected that time, the thing was up against the skull, yet slammed at a very tremendous speed, stopping the assault. Squealing, the nut hit with a forceful impact, but even before it could escape, he had it pinned and was sitting on top of the heavy burden. Smirking, he reached for the blade, sliding the dull end across its hide, which it cried out in surprise, even false pain for not being hurt.

"Ah! Master; please spare me, if you do. I will tell you something cool."

"Hrm…maybe."

"U-um, please! Ooh, okay! My brothers up ahead are much stronger and there is only one way. The order is 2-3-1. Twenty-three to one! Remember that." And with that, he pushed away and burrowed itself back into the bush.

"2-3-1? Navi? You get that?"

"Yea, but I don't understand." The little farie flew over and perched she upon his hat, looking up at something. Hmm? What was that? "There are bars over the door, try hitting that eye with a shot."

Indeed, over the doors were bars that he obviously couldn't break with any tool at his disposal, the sword would just get bent hitting the thing. Maybe if he had some Kokiirish tools along he could break it, but he didn't feel like climbing back up the long hole and then sliding back down. Above that was a metal incased figure of an eye, looking like something out a Buddhist religion or something like that. Taking his aim with his own fingers, he picked it in a slow-motion type, seeing what would happen if he shot it then, and nailing it imaginatively. Picking his sling with one seed, he shot at the eye, the seed bouncing right in the center of it and a small creaking sound occurring as the bars went up, the door shutting.

"Good thinking, Navi!" Curling about his fingers, he picked her up and gently petted her body with soft digits, them carrassing her up for what he called a simple thank-you. Before residing her on his hat, he walked over and checked the door, seeing that if it was stuck were one of the bars had made a bad impression. Simple enough, but still looked a little stuck, so he could have kicked it in, but since they were in the tree there was the possibility of something spring in on him.. Taking the hilt of his sword, he swung it, and the door swished open without any hassle at all, pushing the fairie back on his head, the sword going back to its spot. Smiling at his marksmanship, the boy looked at the door, watching the entrance and walked through the entrance with his arms at his sides. "There we go."

The next room was a sight for sour eyes, the place was a regular maze of traps, it was sad that the monster was so smart to create all this. It was submerged, basically, with the platform he was on, and on the other side was another, and one small island that floated back and forth. Mmhm, and of course a black log with spikes sticking out it, rotating back and forth, creating a problem since if he went under there was the chance he would hit the spikes on accident. Now there was another chance that the spikes would follow him, so he picked up a stone, throwing it up above the spike, the tool moving on a mechanical device and rising as the stone went over. It didn't move, but swished along the water. Interesting enough, the platform blocked anyway from getting under without cutting your throat on the spikes.

"Problem."

"Indeed," responded the little farie. This is indeed a problem, how can we get across? She didn't trust herself to carry him. Maybe there is? "Maybe there is a switch underwater, you go under and check because if there is, I won't be able to push it."

Without hesitation, he dove into the water, and searched the bottom of the left side with his hands, there was the only way to do. Hoping that there weren't any traps underwater, his hands groped around while those eyes remained shut, holding his breath deeply. No equipment for seeing underwater, so he was as blind as a bat until he hit it, it seemed to be in the shape of a block when he grabbed it. Yes! It was a switch, and pushing down on it, a ticking sound came out, the ticking he could feel under the water, even from that altituide. It reminded him of the room with the blocks, his own mind going for the realization that this wasn't just a reminder, it was the same thing! Ticking? Clock, time? A time limit! Sprinting back into the water, which seemed shorter than before. He found an eager Navi waving frantically at him.

"The water drained, come on, get on the platform before it sounds. A timer has sounded!"

Sprinting backward, he scooped her up and jumped, just as the platform was taking off from their location, landing on the black platform just as it was onward. Onto it they want, and he ducked under the black 'log', as the time sounded faster and faster, all the more nervous when it ended. He was away from it less than ten seconds before the water raised back up, and part of the island being lopped off, gasping in fear. Turning around, half of the island was indeed gone, worried that if he had been on the edge that he wouldn't be around anymore. If he had been there, oh, he just blocked that out of his mind. The end of the road was only a few feet, and before he knew it, the boy was climbing up onto the other ledge and looking forward.

"That was close, Linky…you'd better being more careful around here. This place is filled with traps, and from the looks of it, they aren't friendly."

"Mmhm, thank you Navi, there was a switch. Hee, if I had been there a few seconds earlier, I would have been a sandwich. Hrm, what is this?" From looking forward, he saw another web, but it was empty with a large block and a path that was engraved for the block. Upward you could stand on the rock and climb up to a new place, maybe an exit?

With all the luck, a few seconds before he touched down, another Skulltulla showed up, this one not as friendly as the rest, one of the big ones. This one was much slower and much easier to deal with, and with one quick stab to the back, it was down for the match, just as stupid as the others. Slinging it aside, he walked over to the boulder and began to push on it, pushing harder and harder upon it so that it would move. No such luck, the thing weighed about five hundred pounds, nothing was going to get it to move and now it seemed so much impossible. Gasping loudly, the boy slammed his fist into the thing at the top, nothing happening at all, knowing that if he leapt for the ledge he wouldn't land.

"No, this can't stop us, Navi." We have come so far, and there is no way back!" Link squealed a little, slamming his fist into the square middle of the rock, but this time something did happen to the rock, this time was different. There was supposed to have been pain an immense pain he would feel for punching the rock, but there was none at all, there seemed to be nothing. Just a stretching mark as if something had been set off, and that it was, because when he hit the middle a portion of the rock slid in, only about a small square. Next, the rock moved up until it was, at last, at the end of the grinding path and held a way out, giving him the room that he needed to climb it. When he would climb it, the boy could get his way and up on the ledge.

"Wow, Link. I guess you don't know your own strength, Eh? Mm, you must have set off some sort of passage. Looks like your skills got us out of this one." She would have easily carried him up; it wasn't as dangerous as spikes, if he fell. Only about seven feet up.

"Hee, well, I got us out of this one, Navi!" He pulled her off of his hat, and smothered her with the warm embrace, kissing and letting out a lashing of tenderness.

"A-ah, Link! S-stop it, the mission, oh!" She couldn't help it, and began to give back into the hug, stroking that strong and beautiful--…boyish face, with hands.

Finally, getting a hold of himself, he put her onto the top of his nose and pushed up on the boulder, taking the boulder and rubbing it. Finely shaped it was, and didn't take long to mount before pulling himself up into a dark corridor, where there was no where to go. Sometimes the boy wished he could have a torch or something, Navi's light could brighten a whole room, but for some reason it didn't work here. There was only one lit torch and two more were unlit, with a locked door. This did not take much time, as he took the other side of the already burnt Deku Stick and ran around the room lighting all three of the torches. This opened up the door, throwing the burnt stick down; he walked down into the next room. Unfortunately, the exit looked a million miles from here.

Another boring room, but this room had two exits. One was a crawl space; the other was webbed and could be burned by the nearby torch, ready for him to light if need be done. Putting up the sword and shield, he took out a Deku Stick and lit it on the torch, and passing through the middle of the room, heard a weird noise. Like a frog, but at the same time had an eerie feeling to it. Hrm, no bother, he got to the end of the room when a thump made him jump. Turning around, he saw the ugliest thing he'd ever seen. It was a spider, or at least a mutated kind, about half his height with razor sharp claws barred at him. At the same time, it wasn't an anarchic. The beast had only two legs and a single orangish-yellow eye, with a green pupil. The thing spelt trouble, so; he ran for the web and lit it on fire. As soon as he ran, three more dropped, and all charged at the same exact moment.

"N-navi, what are those?"

"I-I-I don't know, Link. I have never seen them, but-- run!"

No second repeating for him, because he took off when only a portion of the web was burned, and jumped onward, pushing through the door, and slamming it shut.

"We are safe Navi. Navi? Navi!" Turning around, he heard a shriek and pounding, opening up the door, saw one of the monsters had her, and leaping forward, at the same moment pulling out two nuts, slammed them against the spider's head. Three of them paralyzed, because they were together, and he snatched Navi, pushing his way out of here and back into the new room.

"Y-you okay!"

"Mmhm, Link." She just glared at him for a few seconds, before punching him in the cheek. "You left me! Ooh! Linky, I can't believe you!"

"I'm sorry! I-I didn't know you were--" but he trailed off and looked at the room, amazed. "Navi, we are back. We are on the new platform, and oh my Goddess!" He ran forward and tried punching the thing in the middle, as the block went forward, and this time, the new block clapped into the water and gave them a new entrance towards the fire.

"Link, don't change the subject!" She trailed off, giving a small sigh, how could she stay mad at him? He was so cute! Fluttering over on his shoulder, she hugged him and nodded. "You are forgiven, only because of the mission." My Goddess, when did I get all buddy-buddy with him?

Sticking her on his hat, he jumped over, with the opposite end of the other stick and moved over at the torch, using it now for some preparations. Lighting this one up, he ran over towards the new entrance and threw it down on the webbed entrance, knowing it was too sticky to cut. Falling through it did, and revealed a similar path towards before, except this one had a vine ladder that led down, letting the stick go alone when it fell. Summoning up the strength, he climbed down the hundreds of feet in the pitch black until at last he saw a torched up room. Dropping the last three feet, he saw three bushes and a room that looked like the end of the line. It was engraved in gold with the indication of a spider on it.

"I see Deku bushes, Navi, what about 2-3-1?"

"Well, I think, maybe you should fight them from the middle, last, and first. Two is the middle, three is the last, and one is the first. Try it, but be careful, you have never faced three at once."

Stepping out of the water, and four feet on the surface, he heard the shuffles of the bushes and saw three Deku Scrubs stand up. These were about twice as big as the last one, and a lot bigger than Link, they looked more vicious and not at all cowardly like their siblings. Gasping a little, he saw the nuts fly, wincing at them for a few seconds, before taking the shield out and regaining his courage back. Leaning forward, the boy would take the other two hits, giving the other at the middle guy in the full frontal assault, taking the good with the bad. They were all headed, but he leapt forward and pushed the middle one into the middle's face, letting out a shriek, it froze in some sort of purple mass, but the other two hit Link with full force, taking the boy's breath away.

"Linky!"

"I'm oka-!"

Leaping forward, he pushed the second nut into the last one's face, which again paralyzed it in a purple gooey mass, giving him only one more down. Another shriek, but instead of getting hit again, he slammed the first nut, with the shield, into the first ones' face. It seemed to have worked, except this one didn't freeze and took off, the others seemed to be frozen in the mass, not going anywhere else. Giving a growl of frustration, the young boy took off after the monster, determined to catch him in his own tracks, beat him at the game. Oh, this one was definitely faster than the other was three. After chasing the guy for three minutes, Link plopped onto of the Deku bush as the thing stopped and gasped, falling to his knees.

"Oh, forgive master, but how did you ever know out secret!"

"Hee, it worked, Navi. Um, one of your brothers told me."

"What! I-I-I will surely pound those little-- please let me go, master! I will tell you a secret about our mistress."

"Alright."

"Well, to give the coup de grade to the Parasitic Armoured Arachnid, Gohma, wait until the eyes are red." Kicking Link away, it scuttled back into the bush, along with the other of its three brothers.

"Gohma?" Pondered Navi, as she flew over with two small little bottles. They were shaped like hearts and had red juice in them.

"What are those, Navi?"

"Oh, keep these in your pack, they restore your health. You seem all right, well, no. Take one now."

"I am fine, Navi. I think I can handle this Gohma." A little too cocky, especially not knowing what he is going into.

"Alright, but stick it in your pack, nevertheless."

Nodding, away it went into his side pack, not even feeling the need to keep one now Standing up, and stretching, he went over to the water and sipped it down. It was clean, a little Lake Water, but clean as it could be inside of a tree. Searching through the bushes, he found about ten more Deku Seeds and some Deku Nuts. Stuffing them in the slots, he went back and rested onto of the third bush. "I need a little break."

"No, Link. Come on, we need to-go?" Beyond disbelief, she watched as he fell asleep.

Asleep? He was asleep on the job, and whatever was infecting the Deku Tree was inside there. Scurrying up to his ear, she whispered. "Whatever is in there, might be tired of a Great Tree and will come out for some Kokiiri. Not you, but maybe," dare she say it? Yep, she said it. "The one and only, Saria."

Let us just say, he was asleep two seconds later, with the sword put in his left hand, and the bent Deku Shield in his right. Moving forward, he nodded, rubbing those tender cerulean hues. "Alright, Navi, let us go. I mean, we need to fight this Arachnid, anyway. Navi, what is an arachnid?"

"A spider, Link. What he meant was parasitic, or diseased. Armoured, well, you know. Arachnid, or spider, named Gohma."

"S-spider?"

"Mmhm. Linky, come on, don't tell me you are afraid of a little spider?"

"No, no. Of course not, you just surprised me there."

"Hmm, alright, then. Let's go."

"Yes, let's."

With that, he walked over towards the big door, pushing against it for one second. Whatever happened, he had her. He had Saria waiting, and the Deku Tree was here all around, guiding him. Giving him weapons, tools, and the guidance of it all. Yes, the boy could do this. Mido was wrong, he wasn't a loser, he could fight, and he had shown it. He has a warrior's presence. The Deku Tree said so, and he wouldn't lie, would he? Shrugging it off, he pushed the door open, and kept it that way, for the sake of Navi. Taking three steps away from the door, just out of door-sight, it slammed shut behind him. Nearly shrieking, he turned around, and ran over, beating on it. He could hear a tugging on his shoulder. "Linky, Linky, Shh. It's, okay, I'm here. We will face this together."

Calming himself down, he nodded, and smiled. "I am just a little jumpy, those usually don't close on there own, hee." Gulping, a little too loudly, a look around showed that they were in a dark room with only the mist around. Somehow, light was illuminating and glowing around the bottom of the room, but it wasn't normal light, it was moonlight. Yes, somehow different from the Kokiiri moonlight, but yet all the same. Shivering from the cold, he stared forward, only pillars were seen, but no Gohma. This skirt didn't help either; it had to be 40 degrees in here! All right, maybe Gohma went away; maybe he is a wimp?

"Maybe Gohma ran away?"

"Don't think so, Linky, I can definitely feel evil in here."

"Yeah, you encouraged me, Navi."

"Link, quiet. You need to listen for him. Calm down and concentrate, you can do this."

Before the boy could even gesture some concentration, a sound erupted from their conversation, blocking the chilling silence out.

-Shrikjuu

It was like a roar, of a frog, or something like it. It reminded him of those things he had seen earlier, except this one was twenty times as loud, and looking around, a light sounded out of the middle of nowhere. This light was an orange, with a bit of yellow, and sort of like the sunsets from the Lost Woods. Hrm, could day be here, he wondered. No, it was coming from the top of the pillars. Staring upward, he saw something that made his heart stop and all of the courage in that tender flesh, turn hauling itself. On there was the biggest thing he had ever seen, except the Deku Tree, of course, but this thing wasn't friendly. He didn't even have time to visualize the whole thing, and turned around, dashing out of the room, screaming. "Gohma is a girl! Those were its babies!"

--------------------

The creature, Gohma, had been studying the two ever since they had entered its lair. The small one was nothing more than a small snack, but this bigger one, this it could actually feed off of. She knew nothing of where she was, born to the world only months ago, but now she saw the most beautiful thing in the world. Living off of Deku Scrubs seemed to be old, and this was flesh, not wood or rock. Thanks to one of its children, the door was shut, blocking off the escape for the two trespassers. Yes, they were in here territory and it was time to pay the piper.

The tender one had noticed him and ran, so with a one huge smash, it jumped from its spot and scurried after it. Sure, she wasn't one of the faster creatures, but surely stronger than this one. Actually, it went against the door and began to paw on it, crying in some tongue she didn't understand, but this didn't affect her. Nothing did, she just stared the creature down, imaging what it would look like with the clothes off, those nasty materials pulled aside. One armoured claw pushed down, holding the creature down, and ripped the clothing off. It was simply beautiful.

--------------------

"Linky! Wait!" Navi screamed, when she heard the scream. What was he talking about, a girl? Then, of course, she looked up and gasped. It looked just like those creatures before, but with more legs and with a mouth-like structure. More evolution, obviously, but Navi followed it as the monster went after Link. Was it because he was bigger than she was? Maybe this was her first time seeing Kokiiri flesh of any kind? There were just scrubs down here and the occasional Baba. Racing after the monster, it scurried in her face, but was pushed aside with a claw, and it hurt a little, not enough to make her back off, though. Eyes widened a little when she saw the beast actually pin the boy down and ripped his clothing off, so he was absolutely nothing at all! Flying across her face, she continued to glow and try to blind the monster.

--------------------

He should have waited; he should have been calm. But no, being the coward he was, he ran. Now pinned against the wall, seeing the monster in its true colours. It was at least thirty feet tall, and wide as a house, with six legs sticking out. Arachnids were supposed to have eight, though, this one probably had two hidden ones? He didn't look, all he did was star into those golden glazed eyes, with the green pupil. It was almost hypnotizing, when his clothes were ripped off, he knew it was over. This thing was going to eat him, the quest had failed, and he had underestimated Gohma and was now going to pay. The clothes were thrown aside, nothing but rags now and it didn't matter. He was dead meat, anyway.

--------------------

It wouldn't end this way, because the little insect-like creature flew right into Gohma's path and began to illuminate the brightest aura it could. This upset the monster more than the big one's struggles, so it threw a claw of and slashed the insect away. Direct hit, the thing slammed into the nearby wall, and she just stared at it, a showing the best move of a smirk that it could. At the same time, letting her guard down of the creature.

--------------------

What? Navi? Navi! He watched as his partner was slammed into the ground, blood guzzling from the little body, not much, but he didn't know how much they had. Seeing his chance, he leapt around and grabbed his clothing, putting on the rags, measly. His under area was covered, but the shirt still exposed to the rest of the world. Moving at a running speed, he rolled forward towards the sword and shield, at least thirty feet away, and put them both up for stance. Gohma must have noticed this because she went flying at the little young one, in a fury of rage.

--------------------

How dare it! How dare it take advantage of her and run away. The monster charged up at the little boy with full force. It was tired of playing and was going to kill the little thing now, and then it would go after the insect. Pushing forward, the claw slashed across his chest, leaving a mark that would show for odds end. It leapt back for the throat, but never made it, something hit it and the thing was paralyzed.

--------------------

Pain erupted as blood gushed from the small wound. It would leave a scar, but as Gohma threw back her claw, he reached into his pocket. The eye is red. Maybe this'll work? My last chance. Throwing a Deku nut directly into her eye area, the orb flashed red when the Gohma stopped. It worked? It worked! Pulling back the sword, he slammed forward into the monster's eye, pushing forward until the creature was blinded. Watching amazed, as it went the opposite direction and scurried back up a pillar.

--------------------

What? No, it couldn't see! There was no sight. No matter, its smell was just as accurate; the creature would pay for taking away one of its only joys. Sight was beautiful, but not anymore, it would never see again. Curse the creature! Moving up towards the top of the pillar, it had an idea. Let her babies take her sight for her? Mmhm, that was the plan, and so its abdomen went down, and it began to prepare to lay a few eggs for this creature. Oh, it was checking up, she would take its friend.

--------------------

Turning around, he sprinted over towards where Navi was, and checked up on her. He knew it was stupid, but he was worried and for good cause. She had lost a lot of blood, but was watching the battle, eagerly. Tenderly, he held out on of the jars to her, and she took if with good cause. The scene was good and would have remained if Gohma hadn't shot a web out, which picked Navi up and threw her against the other wall. Staring in disbelief, he looked up at the smirking Gohma. Eyes began to dilate, Link's that is, when he saw what had happened to Navi. She was unconscious, possibly dying, those hues filled with tears.

"No, no, no, no!"

-Shrikjuu

Gohma's stupid sound! Lifting up the sword, he charged back to where she was and began to curse. He didn't even know how to curse, but the sounds came out with full force. It made no sense; it was like some spirit that was restless possessed him.

"No! Why did you take her away, you piece of shit! She never did anything to you. No! You will pay with your fucking life!"

Three eggs dropped from the ground, which Link held the sword and spun around in a quick turn, slicing the eggs all from the top corners. The babies were instantly decapitated and put to rest, and of course this angered Gohma because she came down, only a few feet from him. This time, the boy was ready, pulling out another nut, and throwing it towards the spider's face, he leapt forward once more and slammed the sword around two of its' legs. They instantly fell off, and the monster scurried back upwards. This time, he had her, however, and leapt upon the body, slicing all but one leg off.

--------------------

This was disastrous! Her children had been decimated in one quick slash from that pointed metal and two of its legs had come off. To make matters much worse, that creature had leapt onto her body and four more off. That left here with only one limb and not enough to climb back up. This was going to die, she didn't know what she did to anger it, but she really regretted it. Maybe hurting the insect was a bad idea? It seemed to increase the strength of this usually weak creature, but if it was so weak how did it get past all the traps and mazes? The monsters in here? Maybe she had under given this creature for its true strength. Rearing back, she charged again.

--------------------

This is it, the final confrontation, would she win, or would he? He didn't know as she charged at him, but instead of running. He just grinned a little. It was actually funny, but how was it? How could he be happy when Navi- and the boy jumped through the air once more, this time leaping over the beast and throwing the shield. Deku slashed against her face and stunned her for a few seconds; the nuts had spilled, so he relied on this. Giving a charging run, Link jumped forward and landed onto the creature. Pulling the sword forward and slashing back, he literally cut through the armour. This usually wouldn't work, but there was so much determination in him. So much hidden power, and so much fury that it did. The shell cracked open and the sword plunged inside, cutting the monster in two.

"Kyaaii!" It gave one long screech before the heart was punctured and it turned into nothing but a carcass. The weird thing was that before the boy a blue fire began to encircle the body. Leaping off and running for Navi, the fire burned the body until it was nothing but ashes, and the wind picked up from somewhere, blowing the ashes away. Scooping up the little farie, Link kissed her forehead and felt for breathing. Yes, there was some. Checking the slots, he looked disappointed, the juices had disappeared? One was cracked and the one by Navi was already drained. Moving over with her, he placed her in his clasped hands, about to head for the door when he saw the blue light again. This time it formed what looked an entrance, some sort of portal? Moving forward almost mesmerized, he entered the light and felt the wound begin to restore itself. A scar was left, but the wound hurt no more and Navi began to heal also. Funny thing was, he felt stronger, and some new strength was opened inside of him, because the power felt enormous. Moving more into the light, the dark room disappeared from sight.

A new place, this was, where were they? No, it was old, and suddenly he fell onto the ground right beside the Deku Tree where he had stood about nine hours ago. Surprised, he stared in disbelief as the Great Deku Tree's entrance shut and it looked upon him with wonder.

"G-Great Deku Tree?! Was it a dream?"

"No, young warrior, not a dream. Thou has proven thyself, survived the dungeon and came forth. Thou has indeed proven thyself."

At the time, Navi seemed to be coming too, and fluttered over towards the Deku Tree, amazed. "Great Deku Tree? Are we done, are you cured?" Then she turned on Link and swept into his arms, nuzzling him. "Linky! You did it!"

He held her in his palms and collapsed on the ground, nodding eagerly. "Mmhm, I did it, Navi. No, we did it. When she hit you, I-I just couldn't control my-" but the tree interrupted.

"That was thou's warrior's spirit, young Link. When a loved in danger, the spirit arises and allowed thou to defeat the dreaded Gohma."

"So, Great Deku Tree are you cured?" The boy answered enthusiastically. Of course he was I mean, they won.

"Unfortunately not."

"Great Deku Tree, you aren't serious!" The boy and partner both blurted out, astounded. How could he not be healed? They beat Gohma, together, and that monster was burned into ashes, then spread to the world.

"This was a test, young warrior. I was doomed before thou even started. This was a test to prove if thou could save the world."

"World! What do you mean, Great Deku Tree?"

"Link, thou has proven thyself. Yea, your victory was celebrated, but not for I. Hyrule, the world, is in danger by the man from the desert. His name is not known, but I want you to leave the forest."

Navi chirped in. "Great Deku Tree, he'll die!"

"No, thou is different, Link. Thou will survive. Thou must go to a place called Hyrule castle and see the Princess of Destiny. There, thou will learn of what is to be. Please, take this jewel, this is what the man in the desert wanted so bad that he put a curse on me."

From up above, a light appeared and gleaming down was something surrounded by an aura. The aura was pure green and inside the thing fell into Link's hands. It was an emerald, beautiful and green, something of a brooch that went on a specific body part. Link studied it with awe, and placed it inside his pack, before looking up. "You can't die, Great Deku Tree. No! I saved you!"

"Good-bye Link, hero of time. Goodbye Navi, guard Link well and take him to Hyrule. Be with him always and never leave his side. Goodbye-" the last words were cut off when a cracking sound occurred. All around him, the bushes and the trims of the Deku Tree began to petrify. It went one for a few seconds and before Link knew it, the once Great Deku Tree was now a statue.

"Link, it's- okay. Shh." She came over and fluttered up to his face, seeing the tears matted on his face. The boy was deeply sad. He risked his life and for what? Nothing! Pounding on the ground, where he sat, the boy looked down and sobbed deeply. Such a sad sight and Navi was about to leave him is, when he called out.

"Don't leave, you aren't supposed too, remember?" Stretched fingers curled her up, and placing himself on the ground, kissed and fiddled with the farie for the next twenty minutes, while letting the rest of his tears out. They were quiet because when she talked he didn't listen, or was too busy sobbing. When the boy did try to speak they came out in gibberish. Finally, half an hour later, he simply picked her put while strapping the shield and sword back on, pulled out the jewel and headed out. She was in the left hand, while the jewel was in the right.

"What do you think this is for?"

"I don't know, I've never seen it. Linky?"

"Hrm?"

"You gonna be okay? I mean, we can stop and-"

"No, we have to go now. I am fine, remember, I am a hero and they are strong and courageous."

"Even if no one thinks you are one, your mine, okay?"

"Hee, not if your mine, too." He looked down and kissed her face before, slipping the jewel into his hair.

"L-Linky? What are you, hee, what are you doing!" He had sat her on he shoulder and stared to walk like a lady.

"Well, we are going to see a princess, aren't we? I have to be more lady-like, y'know, like in the story?"

Sighing, it seemed this was going to be a long and hard journey. Moving forward, she scooped the jewel up, and put it down in his pocket. "Come on, Linky, let's get past Mido and go to Saria. You do want to see her-"

"Oh, yes. She can't go. Humph. Yea, let's go see her."

The Deku Babas were gone for now, when he passed through, but he dashed through pretty quickly, so if they were there he missed them. Moving back into the old smelling Kokiiri feel, he was almost home free when he saw Mido by the entrance, waiting for him. Was there no end to this torture? Moving over by him, he tapped his shoulder, and grinned a little.

"You're in my way, Mido."

"Well if it isn't-- what the hell happened to you?"

"You don't want to know, listen Mido, move."

"So what happened?"

"Well, the I had to defeat a curse for the Great Deku Tree."

"You liar! I don't believe that." Mido looked down at Link, and sighed.

"If you don't believe me, go look for you-- wait don't go!" He watched as Mido helplessly dashed down the path with one of the Deku Shields for protection. About three minutes later he heard a horrified scream and his name being called.

"Linky, run."

"G-good idea."

He took off in a dash from the entrance to the passage, and leapt past the stepping stones, moving throughout the entire region. Still listening, every now and then he heard Mido yelling out a curse and calling his name out.

"You stupid bastard! You killed him! I'll kill you!"

Shivering from the words, he wound past his house and saw nothing. Gathering up some food and clothes, and stuffing them in a large packsack, he put his weapons in there and the sides pack in there, too. He headed out of the tree house when he saw Mido running up the ladder, with a mob behind him. "There is the shit. Let's get him!" Cheering was sounded when Mido reached the top of the house, finally.

"It wa-wasn't my fault! A man poisoned him!"

"No man has ever been in the forest, you liar. I am going to do what I have always wanted to do. And out came a small knife, manufactured for cutting wood for the Kokiiri. Taking one look at it, Link jumped from the house and landed onto Saria's house. Only problem was, the house was about twenty feet away. His power really had grown! Squealing, he nodded.

"Navi, let's go. My power did increase when I stepped into the blue fire."

"It seems so, let's test your speed. Go!"

Jumping from the top of the house, Saria wasn't there, he took off running for the exit for the forest. The mob was made up of just about every male in the forest, so no one was guarding the entrance when he dashed past it and into the unknown. It was shaped like a giant tree-trunk and the entire mob stopped right infront of it. Mido was the one that Link heard.

"And never come back, you traitor!"

They weren't outside yet because there was a small connecting bridge that led to another tree-shaped exit, and that was where the outside was. He didn't even see her, but when she voice sounded, he stopped dead in his tracks.

"So, you are finally leaving?" It was Saria; of course, he wouldn't have stopped for anyone else.

"I-I, yes, I am leaving." Turning around, gingerly, he searched the sadness in her face and frowned, himself. She looked so pretty, yet was sad, he was glad to have seen her now, because he didn't know if he would ever have come back here. Navi, meanwhile, was stilling a little winded, so she went under his hat when he jumped off of Saria's house. "Hee, I guess you, um, heard the people?"

"What did you do, Link?"

"I, went inside the Deku Tree, and fought something called Gohma."

"Spider, that is the Kokiiri term for it."

"Oh, hee."

"You should know that, I taught you better."

"Hee-hee, sorry." Oh, he was so nervous. True, Gohma was Kokiirish. Saria was his teacher; she had been with him ever since he was a child. Like a mother and a sister, she was the only one.

"But that isn't the reason Mido called you a traitor, now is it?" She saw right through him; he couldn't lie to her.

"Um, no. After I got out, the Great Deku Tree. He--died." The sadness and anger he saw in her face, made him think she would turn on him, but no.

"Oh, I see. A Mido thinks you did it?"

He nodded.

"You really think that?"

"T-think what!"

"That I would turn on you."

He was speechless, but he shook his head. "No, I know you."

"I know you too. Oh, I knew this day would come. You just aren't like you, you are so different, I raised you from a small Kokiiri, but I know you are different. I've always, well, kind of known you would leave. I don't want you too, but I can see the world of Hyrule has big plans for you. Oh, what happened to you?" She reached forward and placed a palm upon the scar on his ripped chest.

"Gohma got at me, it'll leave a scar."

"Oh, does it hurt?"

"No, actually, it doesn't. I mean, it did, but when we beat Gohma we stepped into some blue light and I got stronger, faster, and healthy. I jumped from my house to yours!"

"You did! Wow, that's incredible. Now, back to it. I want to give you something."

"What?"

"You know, you've been in the Lost Woods."

"Your flute?"

Her brow furrowed, and she bopped him upon the head, speaking sweetly. "It isn't a flute, you big dummy. It is called an Ocarina. I have an extra, and want you to have it."

"Oh, but I can't p-"

"I know that, that's why you need to come back!" She smiled and took the smaller boy in a hug. "You come back and I'll teach you. Don't worry, if you sneak in at night, they won't see and just come to the Lost Woods."

"O-Okies, I don't know how far this Princess of Destiny is, but I will come back." He turned around, ready to go, but Saria tapped him on the shoulder.

"Link?"

"Yea?"

"Don't forget me." She handed him the Farie Ocarina, which he placed, not in the bag, but at his side. The ocarina was brown, with a green leaf on the stem. It was bowl shaped with a stem and holes all around it. On the other side were the words 'never forget.'

"Never in my life." Turning back around, he was this time spun around, and pulled into something that was quite unexpected. A mouth was pressed against his along with gentle kissing sound. Blue hues widened as he found the shape of Saria hovering above him, stroking those blonde tresses through his fingers. He was frozen in abyss. The feelings were so weird, and so lovely. She was a wonderful kisser; he could feel as she continued to run her hands through his body. First his hair, then his back, is rubbing in all kinds of crazy patterns. The kiss, though, that was extraordinary. Her, well, her tongue was inside the boy's mouth. No idea why, he had only kissed her cheek occasionally, and that was embarrassing, sometimes. Just staring at her, his eyes shut. The boy just sat there paralyzed, for a few moments, before she let him go and smiled. Eyes finally opened up, but he couldn't speak. His cheeks were as red as apples, his eyes wide and unable to move.

"You will never forget me, now."

Taking two, now three steps away, he turned around and ran through the bridge, away from her. He had no idea what had just happened, but whatever it was, he liked it. He liked when she kissed him, because she was in control and was showing him feelings that had never before shown. Moving out of the tree hold, he held his hand over his face, and gasped. It was so bright!

"Navi!"

Automatically, she came out, and hovered over his face. She couldn't help but giggle at his face. The boy thought he was on fire or something. Oh, he had never been out of the forest. Shaking her head, she spoke.

"Linky, it is just the sun."

"When did it get that bright!"

"Link, no forest. No forest covering to hide the light. Look ahead."

"Oh, my Goddess."

"There were fields and fields of green. There were a few trees by the entrance, but besides that, there was nothing but green and the sun. With one little dirt path that led both ways. The place was extraordinary, that's for sure. Moving forward a few paces, he let out a scream when he heard a voice from above.

"Hoo-hoo-hoo! Well, look here, a Kokiiri! Out of the forest, little Kokiiri? Don't you know, you'll die!"

"What is that!" Link screamed, pulling out his sword and trying to reach him, with no avail.

"Whoa, Linky. That is an owl, he is friendly, I know him. What's your name, again?"

The owl smiled a friendly grin, and flew down a few feet more, only when Link put up his sword, and spoke to them in a gently manner. "He told me about you two, the Great Deku Tree, told me I would be seeing you two. Me, my name is Kaepora Gaebora, at your service."

"Kayo Gaypor?"

"No, Kaepora Gaebora, son. I am asked to be your guide sometimes on this journey, not as close as Navi, though." He chuckled, that made Navi a little uncomfortable, but continued on. "There are many dangers in this field and you'd better be careful. There are the Peahats, in the day. They look like flowers, so avoid them; they are deadly and poisonous. At night, avoid confrontation at all cost, they're are-"

"Stalchildren, I already know this, Mr. Gaebora."

"Well, I will be off, then, now be careful." And just like that, he took off, flying over the mountainside and heading into the sun. After a few moments he was gone out of sight, and Link stifled a giggle.

"And what is so funny?"

"You didn't like him very much, because he thought he knew more than you, hee!"

"Well, we don't need some stupid owl to tell us anything. You have me for that."

"Hee, Navi, you are so mean!"

"When the time comes to it, yes, I am. Now, let's go. I want to reach Lon-Lon Ranch by nightfall."

"What's that?" He didn't really have much Geography of Hyrule field, and even if he did, Lon-Lon Ranch is fairly new.

"A ranch where they have cows and horses."

"Wow, I want to see that, I've never seen a real one."

"Oh, they are nice, you will like the- what are you staring at?" Navi asked, a little surprised.

"You've been out of the forest before, haven't you!"

"Well, occasionally, but on business."

"Yeah, whatever." He pushed the Ocarina in his pack, and began to walk along the fields. Wow, the place was hot, he was used to subtropical climate, and this was pretty temperate. Wiping the sweat from his brow, a few hours later, he looked up and saw something of a mountainside. They had been walking for about nine hours, with a lunch break and a break to drink some water. Night had turned to morning, well, it was morning when they left, and morning was now three o'clock. He pointed at the mountainside, and spoke.

"What's that?"

"End of Lon-Lon Ranch, we go around it and the mountainside is on the top."

Well, that was a little said because it turned out to be the next day before they got to Lon-Lon Ranch. See they did loop around, but Link got them lost, trying to find a shortcut. They ended up spending the night under a crevice in the shield so the Stalchildren couldn't get them. It was now about seven o'clock in the morning, and the ranch was only a few miles away.

"Are we there, yet?"

"We'd be there, if it wasn't for you, Link."

"Hee, I'm sorry, Navi! I just, I wanted to explore."

"Hrm, it's fine. Let's go on ahead."

The next three miles were a breeze, because the boy to be gaining some muscle, not much now, but he had a little on his body from the exercise of the past two days. Well, he continued up the path, until seven miles since that morning, they fell at the entrance of the building. The place was not as big as the forest, but one of the biggest buildings he had ever seen.

"Wow, I am thirsty, any water left?"

"Nope, but they have milk here."

"Milk?"

"Comes out of a cow, it is usually for calves, but Hyrulians drink it sometimes. It is very good to taste, a sweet taste."

"Alright!" Taking off for the entrance, he climbed the hill up to the top, and went inside the already open gates. When the smell hit him, he fell over and gagged, because he was right next to the horses' stalls. Looking up, Navi was back a few yards, a clucking noise startled him. It was coming from the other side of the building, so he took off and what he saw were these white things cluttered together. They all had feathers, beaks, and red things on them. Cuccos? That was the name! Jumping forward, he tackled one, and it began to make a bawking sound, before running off. Well, a chase, Eh? And he ran after it.

"L-Link! Hey, wait up!" She flew after him, and stopped as she watched him inspect the Cuccos. He had never seen one, what would his reaction…be? He tackled the thing! Oh my Goddess! "Link, leave it alone!" Now he was chasing it, but it looked so cute. No, those people would be out here any second, not a sound.

The clucking was knocked away when he heard a sound. Turning away, he saw some sort of fence and traced it back to where the entrance was. There someone out there, she definitely wasn't a Kokiiri, but maybe a Hyrulian? Tracing out there, he saw these huge things hurling at him, dodging them, he rolled over away, until he ran into the girl. She nimbly stepped aside, and giggled.

"Well, what do we have here? Those are odd clothes!" The little girl spoke; she had deep auburn hair, and eyes darker than his. On her body was some sort of a sheet.

"Me? You are wearing a sheet!"

"This is a dress, boy! You, you are wearing green. Ah! What's that!" She was pointing at his shoulder.

Turning, he saw Navi, and shrugged before turning towards her. "My farie, where is yours?"

"Oh, you must be a forest boy, hee, we don't have faries around her. All right, Farie boy, what's your name? Mine is Malon."

"Link will do."

"Alright, Farie boy."

"I said Link."

"Farie Boy."

"Link."

"Farie boy."

Turning away, he growled and looked up at Navi sternly. "Aren't you glad we got lost?"

"Kinda, um." The farie flew over towards Malon, and looked up at her. "Where is Talon?"

"Oh, Daddy? He went to Hyrule Castle to deliver milk, but isn't back. Oh, will you go get him, please? I'll give you two prizes if you agree."

"Hmm? Prizes?" It was Link that spoke up. "What kind?"

"A song and a egg."

"Alright, I am heading there anyway, give me the prizes. Oh, can I have some milk too?"

"Hee, sure, I was gonna give you some anyway."

She reached into a slit in her dress, or a pocket, and pulled out a jar with the label saying 'Lon-Lon Milk' inside was some white liquidity stuff, it sure didn't look tasty, so he put it in his packsack.

"Alright, here is an egg. But don't eat it! I have been incubating it for some time, and it looks like it is ready to hatch."

"A-alright." Placing both the jugs of milk, and cucco egg inside of his pack, he looked up and was ready for his second prize. "What about my second prize?"

"L-Link-chan! Don't be so greedy!" Navi looked up at the egg and slowly fastened the loop upon his brown, leather side pack, so it wouldn't fall out.

"Link-kun, you cannot get the other prize until you go get my father, please? He is at Hyrule castle, anyway, and I would most appreciate it." Malon went up towards him and smiled a little, flashing those dimples upon her face, staring up at the taller boy. "Please, I promise I will teach you the song, it's a very nice song."

"…Alright, Malon-san. I guess I will, his name is Talon, right?"

"Yea, Talon LonLon."

"Alright, Linky-chan, let's get going. We should be able to reach the place by noon in two days, I know it seems long, but on the way back. We can always ride with Talon."

"Alright, Navi-chan. Goodbye, Malon-san." Before a reply was given, the boy raced from the weird-smelling ranch and leapt back into the grassy fields of Hyrule Field. Mm, a deep breath of fresh air was given, and he walked along the boundaries of the LonLon ranch until they disappeared out of reach.

---------------------

The next ten miles in silence, the sun raced down the horizon close to sunset, when he arrived at a sign that read in the old language 'North: Kokiiri Forest. Northwest: LonLon Ranch. South: Hyrule Castle." Link, turned towards Navi, but she wasn't there! Oh, that's right, she had gone to sleep in his hat a few hours ago. Tucking the cap in, so she would fall, he walked another five miles, until the sun came down all the way. The first night, the children hadn't messed with the companions, but tonight was different. Link had followed the boundaries, so he had wondered off the path, as the old said, not to wonder off the path. Hrm, the young boy sat down, just as it was six-thirty, and took out his supplies of food. What all he was were three canteens of water (half gone out of one of them), some fresh Kokiiri bread that was wrapped in some cloth, and some berries from the forest. Sitting upon the log, he shook the young farie. "Navi-chan…"

"Hrm? What is it?" A flash, then a flutter as she sprinkled from his hat and surrounded his shoulders. "Where are we?"

"Well, about five miles ago, we ran into a sign that said which directions to go. South was this Hyrule castle, so I have been going south ever since. "

"Excellent time, Linky-chan!" We should be there by six o'clock tomorrow afternoon, if we head out now. So, what do you have?"

"Well, I didn't have a chance to recall much from my storage." He spoke while; he ran some of the smashed blueberry jam across some of the bread, before nibbling a piece down. Now, he pulled out a small bit and handed it to her. Yes, she was small, so her appetite was small. That was the wonderful thing about a guardian farie, she required hardly any water or food, and since he was young, he didn't eat all that much either. "I have about one fresh loaf of bread, and three others that are a few days old. Some fresh, jammed jelly, and the three canteens.

"Link…. Why aren't we on the path?"

"Oh, we aren't? I was following a path, it was white and --"

"That's the boundary path, Link-kun!"

"Boundary? What are--talking about?" He had stopped speaking, because he heard a cackle of noise. Pulling the last piece off the fresh loaf into his mouth, he gathered himself up and stood infront of the log, with the sword unsheathed. What summoned from the background was small teetering sound. The sound was like a cackle, and what appeared over the hill was monstrosity.

"Linky-chan! Stalechildren, run!"

"Those children the owl--" A claw pushed him backward over the log, and he launched forward, slamming into the deep earth. He would have stayed there, but the cackle sent him upward, the sword came out of its buckle, then. That was when Navi turned a deep green and began to circle him, the skullchild, as it narrowed towards Link. It had no interest in the fairie, that thing wouldn't last a single ounce of energy for his food. But, this child, could be a very plentiful meal. Sure, it wasn't as large as those other animals, but it was a good size.

Leaping forward, following the light from Navi, he sliced the blade of the monster's neck. The head was automatically decapitated off the beast, but the funny thing was, it still moved.

"It's still alive!"

"Slash through it's torso, it won't be able to regenerate!"

Regeneration was something he wouldn't let happen. Pulling out the Deku shield, he flung it forward and watched as it took off the thing's hands and upper torso. That was it, he leapt forward slamming the tips of his boots into the lower region of the abdomen. A final screech sounded, as the thing erupted into small blue flames. Grasping the shield, he took off running.

--------------------

He ran for as long he could, whenever he got tired, he limped until a second wind started up. Throughout the night, he heard the cackles and sometimes saw them rise from the dead ground. The monsters were hideous; they reminded him of the nightmares he had had a few days ago, but these things… they were pure evil. Looking like those ancient dinosaurs, from the past, their heads resembled that. Smaller bodies, all bones, and a loin clothe across their lower abdomen. He didn't care if this chest ached, no; he didn't care at all. Navi had caught with him and was safely tucked into his hat, which was all he needed, because sleep was no coming that night. From six-forty five, that afternoon, until six-thirty that morning, he ran. Finally, he stopped when he noticed there were no more cackles, no more room for them. He heard the birds chirping and the other daily birds flying through the air. Insects were inside of the grass and bushes, and animals rushing around the green plains. Falling to his knees, he groped for the air, before collapsing into the ground.

--------------------

Navi feel asleep when the running pursued. She couldn't help it, the night before, they had been talking and then she scouted for skull-children. Throughout the night, she heard some cackles, the sounds of battle, but never any from Link. If he were to so much cry out, she would be awake and at his side. No, she didn't awaken until she felt the rush of him slamming into the ground. Fluttering outside, she knelt by him and shook her head gently. The boy was so defenseless out in the open, so she dragged the boy out until he was up against a tree. Well, she had to find a way to get them to Hyrule. Damnit, why didn't they borrow one of LonLon's horses! Cursing herself for her bitter judgement, she went forward on looking for something to carry him on.

Just her luck, there was a cart going out to LonLon, but it wasn't with Talon on it, the farie went up to the driver and asked if she could have a friend ride back to Hyrule. The ride cost quite a bit of rubies, thirty to be exact, but for the next three days, they rode the trail and arrived at Hyrule on the third day. They companions had been, all together, out here for almost a week. Link woke up during the time and the two chatted for a while, soon he was well on his way from the exhaustion of the attacks earlier.

---------------------

The cart signed off near the Hyrule Castle gates, just as the large bridge was coming down, it was exactly a minute past six o'clock when it took off again, without Navi and Link. Staring up towards the large structure, this place was huge. It was larger than the Deku Tree was! The drawbridge was at least a hundred feet long, and it rested upon an ashen-gray castle that was, at the most, three hundred feet tall. The place expanded all over, and they weren't even inside!

"Navi…where are we?"

"Hyrule Castle, I've never been this far before, this place is huge."

"Sure is…can we go?"

"Hee, yea, we can go." Perched upon his shoulder, she urged the boy on. This place was so foreign, it didn't smell at all like LonLon, nor did it smell like the Kokiiri Forest. The place smelt like one word: industrialized. She watched at Link ran across the giant drawbridge, and met up with one of the guards. He looked friendly enough, so the boy sheathed his sword. That, in turn, amused the man and he chuckled out loud.

"What're you little boy, a knight-in-training? Maybe a squire?"

"Knight…squire? Why are you so tall?" The man was only about five feet, six inches tall, but to short Link. It seemed like a giant Kokiiri.

"I'm not that tall, boy. Don't worry, you'll grow up someday."

"I'm a Kokiiri, I stay a child forever."

The boy ran away from the bellowing man, the man who yelled: "Kokiiri are legends child, stop dressing like those freaks!" Pushing past the entranceway, he entered one of the largest places people could ever be. He entered the Hyrule Market, the place among places. This place was engulfed with people, it was full of hundred, no…thousands of people. They were all crowding around arenas where good were on display. He heard laughter, bellowing deep voices, feminine voices, and every other type of voices. Hundreds of alleys poured which way and that, there seemed to be no end to this place.

"Navi-chan…"

"I know, Link-chan, this place. Which one is the castle?"

"Maybe we should ask them?" He pointed over where two chuckle lads were having a good laugh, each seemed to be in his early twenties and having a riot of a time.

"Alright, you ask them, I am going to scout around, now meet me here in the center at twelve o'clock. That's about six hours, you can play until then, all right? I need business to attend too."

"Okies, Navi. I'll miss you." Reaching up, he wrapped his arms tightly around her and was received the hug once more. The boy let her go and walked off towards where the two men were.

--------------------

She wanted to go with him, she really did, but she knew it was impossible. She had to work to do, and the boy so was young! Didn't he deserve a little fun after literally a week of torture? His father dying, being betrayed, having to fight, and leaving his crush? Yes, he deserved it. So when he wandered away, she flowed over towards where one of the largest buildings was. The place, looking like a religious church, was an essential place to learn of what was to come. She scooped past the garden and streamed down in a crack of the door, moving inside. No one could see her, or paid attention to her. She was, after all, just a little farie, or a firefly, in some cases.

Moving inward, inside the room, she caught her breath when the choir started. The room was huge, illuminated with windows all around the pure white room down the center, with checkered white and black squares on the sides of the building. In the center was wide pedestal with the Triforce symbol upon it. Of course she had seen the symbol before, he hadn't, but she had. The symbol was a dark-grayish colour, and inside the symbol was some sort of ancient rune. Navi couldn't read it, but it was shaped like a coin, a medallion, perhaps? Further ahead was a stone carving, about three feet high, with three hollow tubes inside of it. Requesting forward, she read the old text message.

"Ye who owns 3 Spiritual Stones

Stand with the Ocarina of Time

And Play the Song of Time."

Ocarina? Song of Time? What did this mean? They had of the spiritual stones, or that's what The Great Deku Tree had called it. An Ocarina is an instrument, isn't it? Why did he die with so many unanswered questions! Up ahead was a large wall, some sort of door. Above it was another Triforce symbol, this one black, with the gray interior of the building surrounding it. That door was at least fifty feet thick, and couldn't be opened. What was under there? What was behind that door? So many unanswered questions, so little time. Navi finally decided to sleep, so she crept up to the side of one of the many windows and dozed off. Time passed and night fell, the place was quiet, except that beautiful choir that seemed to never stop singing…even though no one was there to sing, the place was so wondrous.

--------------------

During the time of Navi's 'discovery' Link was busy enjoying the town. The place had many, and I say it literally, many shops to look around. Unfortunately, everything cost rubies, and a lot more expensive than in the Kokiiri. Some of this stuff cost two or three hundred rubies. The most in the Kokiiri was ninety-nine! Whew, he was broke anyway, so all he did was hang around the shops. Got to do a free game of Bombachu, now that was fun! The young lad ended up almost blowing up the entire room. How was he supposed to know those things went everywhere?

"I thought you said you'd done this before!" Screeched the teenage employee, staring down at the boy.

"I…I thought, I--" Then he had ran out of the room with her yelling after him. Yelling for the forest boy to get back before she burnt down his entire forest. Preposterous, of course, no one could get back in the forest.

Then how did the man get inside the forest?

"Shut up." He spoke to himself aloud, but he was alone and it was all right to speak to yourself when you're alone. The only problem is when you answer yourself back, but hadn't he done that before? Growling at himself, he hurried back into the middle of the market, then he saw her. It was Malon! She was standing there alone, sitting by her lonesome with no one to care for her. Taking a look at his watch, it was way past seven. The market was closed down and all he saw were stray animals running around…what were those things? Someone had told him they were called 'dogs' today, but he had been against a pole with a bottle of something strong in his hand. He walked up to Malon and stared over at her, before sitting by her side.

It took a few moments before she noticed him. "Farie-boy! You're here!"

"Yea, I just got here today." He shrugged and sat down upon a little bricked garden, where she sat a few seconds later.

"Well, that explains why you haven't been back with my daddy."

"Hee, sorry about that. I got hurt and--well, we rode on a milk-truck back to Hyrule. But the thing had to go around the whole country, so it took a while. I saw Kokiiri, and a few other villages I've never heard of. Saw somewhat of a giant lake and slept the rest of the way."

"Oh, what happened? Are you still hurt?"

"No, I ran all night, those Skullchildren were after me."

She gasped out loud, pressing her hands up towards her face, and stared at him in utter disbelief. "What? Those aren't just legends?"

"No, of course not. They are dinosaurs, or look like humanoid ones. They are skeletons and wear loincloths. Well, Malon-san, I have to go look for Navi-chan. You want me to look for your dad, we have to get into the castle…wherever it is."

She let out a long stream of giggles, and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, before slapping him on the back roughly. "You really are from the forest, Farie boy! The castle is that long building back in there. It's have a little desert scenery, then there is a long gate that leads up there. If you want to get inside the castle, your gonna have to sneak in."

Nodding roughly, he remembered what those two guys said, those funny guys from before.

"Well, lookey, here, what is this!"

"Looks like a forest boy, those ones from the tales."

"Ah-ha-ha-ha! Where is his farie?"

"She went off--" but the two cuts Link off with more barrels of laughter, finally he turned towards the large building and looked up at it. "What's that?"

"The castle, forest boy! Oh that reminds me, guess what this dork did!"

"…Don't tell him, Joe!"

"Why not?"

"…Fine."

"This idiot tried to sneak in the castle, he got all the way past the guards, he even got into the castle grounds, but he got stuck in a water-gate. Imagine this, now they've tightened up security!"

"Is the princess of Destiny there?" Asked Link eagerly.

"Yea, you mean Zelda? Yea, that little girl's there. Cute little girl, say about your age. Hey, you aren't going to work the moves on her?"

"Wha? --" But another stream of laughter sent the boy back from the two. Stomping his feet, he hurried back off towards the alley where he played his game of Bombachu.

"Alright, Malon-san, I have to go find Navi-chan. Night!"

"Goodnight, and care of my egg, is it getting warmth?"

"Yup, in my satchel, night." Off he ran, searching the buildings for her. The taverns didn't have her, the inns either, but there was one place he hadn't looked. That was the large church located outside of the marketplace. Following his leads up the stairs, there were four stones with eyes upon them that bunched up against them. Saria said those were Gossip stones, some were in the Kokiiri Forest. Tapping one, all it did was tell him it was one o'clock in the morning. Stupid, since he just looked at a watch, but he nevertheless ran up the stairs and enters the large temple.

When he was inside the temple, he could see a light somehow illuminated it. No candle light, but a holy light? Well, that made no sense at all. This place was obviously empty, but the boy was so tired, he just couldn't take it anymore. He had tried the inns, and with no luck, he was out for the night without a room. Lying down on a weird pedestal, with three triangles pushed in different directions. It made some sort of triangular force. The Deku shield went down, and he wrapped it on his body, the floor was cold, but he managed to slip his arms inside the tunic and keep from freezing. A few minutes later, he was out for the count.

--------------------

The next morning, Navi awoke the boy and told him of her day, very boring, she didn't mention her 'fun' with the legends. He didn't need to know these things. Link asked why she never met him and he told her that she had gone to sleep up in the windows, near the sun.

"Oh, I was right below you!"

"Yea, I saw you sleeping this morning."

"Navi, I found out where the castle is and a way to get in."

"Oh really?"

"Yea, those men said that they tried to sneak in through a water-gate…what's that?"

"It distributes water, it keeps it clean."

"Oh, anyway, I found out there is a small hole he got stuck in, so I can climb through. Only problem is the little thing about security."

"Security?" Had those idiots gotten it updated? Navi looked to the side, she knew who he was talking about, those laughing-stocks, they even smelt like trouble.

"They said it increased, but I think I can slip by. Unless they are guarding the water-gate."

"Alright, let's try it."

--------------------

After some breakfast in the room, the Temple of Time, Navi called it. They set out for their destination. Moving out away the town, but still inside the large castle, Navi and he hurried down until it was twelve o'clock. There they stopped for lunch, and ended up at the passageway, the gates, at about seven o'clock that night. Fortunately, the Skullchildren couldn't get inside the human barriers, so he was safe that night. Link slept soundly that night, with an ever-watchful Navi on guard.

The next morning, the two found the vines that reached the place; they climbed the two and looked around. It was the morning, so not that many guards were around the entire facility. The castle looked about five miles away, lush fields of flowers covered most of the places, but at the castle was a long gate that looked pretty un-scaled, through. Scaling away at the fields, on his hands and knees, he reached some sort of small mountain. The mountain was climbable, so when he climbed it, they stopped for lunch. The food was running out, but he was happy with their shares. One loaf was left, with some jam and a lot of water, he'd filled it up in Hyrule.

"What exactly did you go when I was gone, aside seeing those two idiots." Navi inquired as they were heading towards the castle gates. It was only two miles to the castle, but the walk was becoming more and more strenuous.

"I mentioned the Bombachu place, but before blowing the place up, I won three things there, well really four."

"Four?" What are they?"

Stopping for a rest, he leaned against a tree, pulling out a large side pack, and slipped the small one off, pulling the materials out of the latter.

"Wow! You won that?"

"Actually, she gave it to me, to hold the surprises I won."

"Well, show me!"

Link pulled out a small container, and inside was a small mechanical mouse. The mice were about the size of his fist, and were blue and yellow all over.

"Are those toys?" Navi thought out loud, a little annoyance in her voice.

"Nope. They are called Bombachus. These devices are explosive, you just set them down and they fly off, then explode. Gun power is stored in there, along with motion detectors, and a time. But, personally, I think they're worthless."

"And dangerous."

"Trash them."

"But--Navi-chan…"

"Now." Navi looked at him sternly and pointed to a small ditch, about three feet away. She had to be that way with him, because not only were they both partners, but she was his teachers. As a teacher, she had to mentor and guide him.

"Yes, ma'am." Throwing the Bombachu bag into the ditch, he fetched out a second bag. This one was a large bag with the word 'explosions' printed on the side of the bag. "She said it is made of a D-" He struggled with the word. "Dodongo. A Dodongo's stomach."

"I think we need this. I don't know why, but I have a small hunch." Navi fluttered in the smaller pack and out came a large glass shade. Inside the case was half of a heart, but it wasn't a real heart, of course not. "W-what's this?"

"An ugly women gave them to me."

"Link!"

He whimpered and nodded sadly. "I'm sorry, I mean, a disfigured woman gave it to me when I saved her dog."

Navi frowned, but at least it was better than 'ugly'. "Saved?"

"He was lost and I found him the night I was alone."

"Oh… Well is that it?"

This time he pawed through his pockets, and he took out one purple ruby, four red ones, and two blue rubies, stuffing them into his wallet. Sticking the wallet inside the satchel he used for rations, he continued to switch the supplies from the smaller side back, to the larger one. "I won these and the hearts at the treasure box contest…yea, I had two pieces, but when I held them bother in my hands, they just bided together."

"Wow, so two more pieces?"

"Yea, maybe at it increases my power when I find a whole heart, like those small heart containers in the Deku Tree." Link now had a dozen of those things. How? On the way to Hyrule Castle, they had stumbled upon a bush and after some searching he found those containers, Deku Seeds, and some nuts."

"You said four things."

"Yea, I also won a seed bag." Link pulled out new Deku seed bag, but he had been carrying them in a small bag earlier.

"Wow, how many seeds does it hold?"

"Forty seeds, and I won it at some shooting gallery. Shooting at some rubies." Link reached into his old seed bag and dumped the seeds from the old bag, into the new bag. Closing the bag shut, he pulled out his slingshot, the Deku nuts and sticks, and put them inside of his side pack. There he stood himself up and pulled the new pack around his waist, fastening it tightly.

"Ready, Navi-chan."

"…Yea. I guess you don't need me anymore." She spoke in a light whisper. Link frowned sadly, cupping her inside of his hands, and kissed her face. "Hey, I won some supplies, that's all. I still need you, of course I do. You're my friend and my protector."

"Don't say that…I'm not strong."

"Yes you are, and braver than me." Leaning forward, he kissed her tiny veil and placed him on his shoulder. "And you aren't a nuisance."

"Thanks."

--------------------

"Navi, what do we ask this princess?"

"…Never thought of that."

"I think we show her this Kokiiri Emerald and maybe there are others?"

"You read the inscription!"

"What inscription? I was following on guess, what is this inscription?"

So, Navi told him about the inscription and about a little more of the Triforce. "What you slept on was a medallion inside of a Triforce. The Triforce are courage, power, and wisdom. Each power represents a triangle, and I think what's behind that door is something special, maybe the Triforce? I think it's a special power, and I think this princess can tell us everything.

"You're right, she is a princess. She must have information, but will she share it?"

"We'll just have to try, it was his dying request."

"…Yea, let's go."

Pulling out the rest of the food inside of his backpack, he slid down the path and landed upon a small gray path. There was some sort of water surrounding the path, on the left side and turning sideways, he saw the castle. It was beautiful! The castle was at least two hundred feet tall with hundreds of windows, a drawbridge, on the other side, and guards looking away from him.

"Link, get in the moat!"

"Moat?"

"The water, dive!"

"O-Oh!" He saw the guard turn around, but dove into the water just in time. He gasped as the currents pulled him forward, he was pulled around the whole while, and he was pulled until a bump slammed into his side. Groaning, he turned over and cried out softly.

"Linky-chan!" Navi pulled at his shoulders and lifted him the currents; there he pulled him over and placed him on top of some boxes. On the boxes, she looked at him and, he was all right. The thing just left a small bruise on his upper body. "Link, are you alright?"

Coughing out some loose air, he nodded. "Yea, I'm alright. Let's get down to business." Hopping off of the box, he saw a cow onto of the boxes and gasped. "Lon-Lon Ranch! That must mean…What's that?" Leaning over the large crate, Link stared at a heavy-set man in some overalls. He was bald, but had some hair on his sides and a big mustache/beard combination.

"Talon!" Navi cried out and shook her head a little, fluttering across his face back and forth. There was no way they could get to the drain with this fat man in the way. Link reached into his pocket while Navi tried to awaken the sleeping man, there was a crack and something pushed out. It was Cucco!

"Navi, a Cucco!"

"Huh, oh, use it on him."

Pushing the Cucco into the old man's face, Link pulled a feather and the Cucco squawked a loud screech, before running out of his hands and jumping the fence. The Cucco was gone within five seconds, when Link turned back, he saw Talon was awakening.

"What in tranation was that!"

"Uh, your daughter's Cucco, sir."

Talon shook himself off and stood up, he was about five eleven, and towered over the boy. Looking down at the kid, he noticed the farie. One of those forests kids… Dismissing the thought, he heard the name 'daughter'. "Daughter? You mean my Malon, why did you see her?"

"Um, she gave me the Cucco a week ago, and I just saw her on my way to the castle, she was quite upset…"

"U-upset! Oh, no. Malon's going to give to me!" Not even bothering to say goodbye, the old farmer took off towards the end of the gate, he circled the gate and swept past the guards…those poor guys, they tried to catch him, but he was long gone.

"Wow…Malon-san must be tough." Navi spoke with a piece of sarcasm in her voice. The little farie floated up past the boxes and fluttered over towards the wall. Running out of the wall, was a small water gate, it was about his size and he wouldn't drown in it. "Linky-chan! I found the gate those two idiots were talking about. Push those boxes so we can align them and you can hop across!"

Agreeing with her, he looked up at the boxes, they were about seven feet tall and when he knocked on one, he realized it was hollow. Guess the guards forgot to take them away and throw them out? It was the Lon-Lon Ranch boxes, Talon's. Pushing the first one deep into the water, it sank down and stopped the flow of water. Next, he pushed the other one on top of it, giving him a little standing room. Finally, the last one collapsed onto the second box, twenty minutes later, this was because that one was a bit heavier with some unloaded milk. Standing on the top box, he peered over at the five-foot jump and what was past it. What was there was a small little covering with three triangles onto it. On that were flowing water, and the hole he would slip through. "Wow…thanks Navi."

"Yeah, it's great. This is just your size, so we can slip right through, but you might get a little wet."

"I don't mind, besides, this uniform needs washing, anyway." The boy had washed his clothes, when the milk-wagon stopped near the Zora River, he had washed it and dried it, but that was at least four days ago. Reckon, he didn't smell, he had bathed the day before yesterday in one of the inns, being kicked out, of course. The boy moved forward and leapt across the five-foot jump, he stomped across the other end and got down on his hands and knees. Pushing his head through the hole, his damp body was through the entire tunnel in less than three minutes, but it was pitch black with the leaking and flowing of water it sort of creep him out. Finally flashing through the terror and into the light, he pulled himself out and was standing up in a small ankle-deep pool.

"Navi, want to go check it out?"

"Alright, Linky-chan." She flew forward, and about ten minutes she rushed back with a big frown upon her face. "There are about nine guards, they are assigned in five arenas. One is at the first arena and the other two are in-groups at the other four arenas. Fortunately, they are going to be easy to dodge, except the third one…there is a plank on top of a balcony you have to balance over. It's fairly easy for you, I would imagine."

"Man, those two dummies had the security increased, Eh?"

"I would imagine so, Linky-chan. We have those two to thank and if we get caught? I think you might be thrown in jail or something."

"J-Jail? What's that?"

"A place of confinement where people who do bad things go."

"I'm not bad, Navi-chan!"

"…I know that, but normal people don't sneak in to see the princess, it's not allowed. Ready?"

"…Yea, let's go." He couldn't use his sword on these people, because they were not monsters, so he pulled out about four nuts, keeping two in each hand. This was for a paralyze-formula, so if he used them, the boy would knock the guards out so they couldn't call for help. As if turned out, he didn't need them. The first arena was truly the lone guard, it was a squared hedge and he sneaked past that in only a few minutes, the next one however was a twin fountains. Link had to crouch and slid past the guards on his hands and knees, so they didn't discover him in the silhouette of the fountain waters. The plank task was right after this, he saw below a barrel of treasures, and the guard surrounding them. He did sneak behind the guard and the ten green rubies, stuffing them inside of his pack, and he climbed up a ladder, pacing across the fifteen-foot board. Hopping down on the ground, he moved on.

Fourthly, was a big stone wall, and behind the wall were the two guards, moving ever-closely together around a large statue of a goddess upon a platform. He guessed it was one of the Goddesses, but couldn't be sure. Link made sure that the two were on the other side when he ran past it and into the last section of the garden. Past the barrier of the fourth section, was a larger rectangular hedge with another statue in the center. This one was narrower, but he couldn't tell what it was. Those two guards were a little harder to dodge; he had to climb through the bushes and slipped past the guards when they turned the corners. One turned and stared forward at his direction, but he was tucked safely inside one of the bushes. For the next thirty minutes they paced the garden where he was, and decided it was a mouse or something, then went on.

Past the fifth garden maze was a long tunneled corridor that led into a larger garden, the flowers were lush all over, and a small moat ran across the entire structure from the outside area. In the center of the garden was a bushel of sunflowers, leaning down he sniffed the flowers and was immediately stuck with the sensation of beauty. Whose garden was this, the princess'? He never noticed the girl with his back turned towards him.

--------------------

Where was that man! The young girl kept peeping through the window into the kingdom, there was her father, and the royal chancellor, but that was it. Some of the older knights hung around the king, the ones he was close too, but he wasn't there! Did the dream mean anything? Was she being delusional? No! Her father didn't believe her, but she believed herself. She wasn't being irrational; she was serious as she could be. Nothing made the nightmare come, nothing at all. Impa believed her, of course Impa did, she was her guardian…her nanny, maybe she needed to because that was her job? Furrowing her brow, she positioned the headdress in the right way, so it covered up all of that luscious blonde hair, all that shone out were those blonde eyebrows. Well, she couldn't spot anything at all, but nevertheless, she kept her head positioned there.

--------------------

"Link…look." Navi was sitting on his shoulder, whispering lightly into his ear. "I think that's the princess…"

Link stood back up from the patch of sunflowers and peered over at the girl. Yes, it was a girl, maybe the princess. She was dress very weirdly; from what he could see there was a long white dress that fell down to her feet, and violet robe-like felt upon the dress. Jewels were adorned upon her waist, it wasn't a normal belt, and he spotted the end of a necklace around her neck. Walking quickly, not seeming to eager, he stepped upward and spoke out, at the top of the stairs. "Princess-sama?"

--------------------

"H-Huh?" She spun around, her hands clasping to her chest and let out a tremendous gasp. W-who was that! There was this little boy dressed in…green? Perched upon his shoulder was a blue, velvet creature with…it had wings? The boy was dressed with a shield and a sword; a long cap fell down through his blonde hair. The boy had a simple innocence about him. Yes, he did seem a very innocent, quiet boy. Brushing the dirt from her robe, she looked up at him. "What are you doing here?"

--------------------

It seemed he was correct, the girl, upon her robe. It showed that Triforce symbol, with a red eagle under it and another upside down triangle upon it. Maybe that was the Hyrule crest? He figured so and began to speak, well almost. Navi cut him off. "Princess-sama?"

"Y-yes? Who're you?"

"I am Navi, the farie. This is Link, he is from the Kokiiri forest, and we were asked to bring you something. Link, the emerald?"

"O-Oh, yea." Reaching swiftly inside of his pack, he pulled out the simple stone. The stone was shaped like a flower, the rims adorned in a beautiful gold. Inside the flower, or the leaves, were made of pure emerald. The stone was untouched, unscratched, and looked like it hadn't been fooled with in a number of years. Placing the small jewel into her open hands, the boy looked up at her and smiled. "This is the Kokiiri Emerald."

"T-the Spiritual Stone of the Forest!"

"Well, I --" Navi nodded her head and cut the child off.

"Yes, this is the Spiritual Stone of the Forest."

"And you are his farie? So, he is a Kokiiri?"

"Yes, he is a Kokiiri."

Zelda closed her palms around the jewel and walked towards a small chair in the garden, it was still up on the platform, and there she rested her feet. Looking past Link, and at Navi, she nodded a little. Gasping, she jumped up and walked right infront of them, bowing her head. "Forgive me, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Princess Zelda, or known as the Princess of Destiny."

"That's what the Great Deku Tree-sama said…" Link watched her pace around the room, and he sat upon the left balcony-end of the staircase, looking up at her. "He said that we were to look for the Princess of Destiny."

"Who is this?"

Navi fluttered over at the Princess, and hovered a few feet from her face. "The Great Deku Tree-sama is the guardian of the Kokiiri forest, he is--or was the guardian. Now the forest is by itself."

"H-he passed on?"

"Unfortunately so. A man in dark armour, from the desert put a curse on him. He released Gohma the spider and the spider poisoned the Deku Tree. Link went inside and vanquished the spider, with my help, but unfortunately we were too late and he soon passed on."

"A man from the desert! What was his name!"

"We don't know, either the Deku Tree didn't know, or he chose not to tell us." This was Link who spoke up; he had reclaimed the stairs and now looked up through the window. "What were you staring at?"

"O-Oh, I was looking for a man. I think he maybe the one who you are looking for." She took one look and her cerulean hues brightened in fear. "He's here! Link-san! Navi-san! You look in the window and see if he gives you a feeling."

Feeling? Link didn't know what the princess meant, but when he looked in through the window, he did. A slight chill overcame his and Navi's body. There was a man, dressed dark armour. He was an over-bearing six feet with seven inches on the end. Not only black was on him. Heavy armour adorned his short, red hair and that darkened skin. A brown breastplate with those iron shoulders padded on top. At his hands were some gloves with diamonds on the back of his hands. Spiked ends were at his kneecaps and his pants were heavy and brown. Just staring at this…this…tyrant was the only word. Staring at this tyrant made the boy get sick to his stomach, and then it happened. Those piercing black eyes turned towards Link. The man was kneeling next to a man in a throne, obviously the king, but when the man stared deep into Link's eyes. He jumped back and fell against the floor, Navi right beside him.

"What happened!"

"He saw us, well me mostly."

"Don't worry. I had a dream, in the dream there was this land, Hyrule and a dark clouds were swirled around the whole land. Then a beam of light appeared and the light took the form of a young boy with a blue circle with wings at his side. The light was coming out of the forest and held a green stone. I think you represent the light, and he represents the dark. My father doesn't believe me…. But do you?"

"Yes, Zelda-sama, I do. I have had bad dreams, for the past few weeks, every few nights. And I have dreamt of this man, never his face…but his clothes look so familiar. Navi?"

Navi had beckoned herself back on his shoulder. "Huh? Yea…I-I…the man frightens me, Link. I think we should take actions. Zelda-sama, I do believe you. I read something like that in a temple about this; it mentioned Spiritual Stones and the Ocarina of Time. What is that?"

"You've been to the Temple of Time?"

"Yes, if that's what you call it."

"Well, let me tell you my story first and I will get to the part of the Ocarina. So, will you two listen to my story? The story of the Goddess'."

"We already heard it from the Great Deku Tree." Link replied and sat himself upon the hard floor; he crossed his legs Indian-style, and looked upon her.

"This is the royal family's version. More specific, it deals with something more detailed. Would you listen."

"Alright."

"Okies."

"I won't go over the part of the creation, since you've heard it, but when the Goddess' finished they left there work and formed three triangles. The triangles represented each of them and it was as followed: Din, the Goddess of Power, Naryu, the Goddess of Wisdom, and Farore, the Goddess of Courage. They each formed a piece of the Triforce. These three things and they were Power, Wisdom, and Courage. Now anyone could get to the Triforce, so they created a Sacred Realm. This Realm held the Triforce and that are where it was secure, not just anyone could get it. To access the Triforce you needed three things. One, the three Spiritual Stones of Forest, Fire, and Water were needed for the special ceremony. Next, the being needs the Ocarina of Time. The Ocarina of time is an Ocarina made of indestructible glass, it has been a family secret for generations."

At this point, she pulled out of her pocket a small Ocarina. It was just the size of Link's except it was made of glass and blue. On the tip of it, instead of a leaf, was a small Triforce symbol. Placing it back into her pocket, she continued.

"The third thing you need is the Song of Time. It's a special song meant to open that large door, because in that door is the Sacred Realm. A man with a righteous heart can lead Hyrule to a golden age, but a man with an evil heart can rule and destroy the world. Ganondorf, that's his name, he hails from the Gerudo Desert. They are a race of women, who have a male child every one hundred years, but he couldn't settle for King of the Gerudo, and he has pledged loyalty to my father, but I don't believe him a bit. He wants the Triforce, but he can't get the Spiritual Stones."

"Why not?" Navi stared up at her as Link asked the obvious question.

"Well, no one trust the man, he is an evil being and he threatened your Deku-sama. He obviously planted the curse when the Deku-sama wouldn't give him the Spiritual Stone. I have a feeling he is going to try to hunt down the others, that's where you come in. I want you to find the stones. I wish I could travel with you, but I'm a princess and need to keep the Ocarina of Time safe from Ganondorf's hands. Would you go and hunt down the Spiritual Stone of Fire and Water?"

"Of course we will, Princess Zelda-sama, me and Link will hunt them down, but where are they?"

At this moment a tall woman enters the garden, no one notices her presence, except Zelda and she keep quiet about it. "That's the other part of my dream, to get into those places you have to be known to the Royal Family. The Gorons' hold the Spiritual Stone of Fire, but I don't know about the Water. The Gerudos hold none, and the Kokiiri have the Forest. I'm sorry about the Water, I just don't know. The other element is to go and learn a song from the Royal Family, you do have an instrument, right?"

"Sure." Link spoke, pulling out the wooden Fairie Ocarina.

"Wow, the same instrument. Well, turn around and go see my guardian, she will teach you the song."

"… I don't see any--" Link stopped dead in his tracks and stared at the woman, wow and what a woman she was. The woman was over six feet tall, dark brown skin, with short, white hair upon her head. Not prenatal white hair, but natural. She looked like a warrior too, she had the build and the muscle of one, but a gentle smile caressed her beautiful features. Letting forth a small laugh, she motioned him forward, bending down on her knees. "Come here, little one, I won't bite."

"Link-san, go." Urged Zelda, pushing him forward. "She looks tough, but she is just a softie."

The woman frowned and kept her arms open for the boy to come near. Reluctantly, he went forward, Navi perched at his side, ready to take this woman on. The woman just smiled broader staring at the two, and when they came near, she spoke to Navi. "I can see you are quite protective of him, aren't you?"

"That's right, and who're you?"

"I am Impa, Zelda's protector. My role in the dream it to teach this young lad a melody to show you are with the Royal Family." She stood up when he was a foot from her, and patted his hair, ruffling it. "You are a cute young lad, much too soft to be a warrior and unskilled. All right, before the melody I am going to train you a little. Come at me…"

"C-come at you?" Link looked at her, a little surprised. "Your much stronger…you'll hurt me."

"You took on a Gohma spider and I am a little tough?"

"I used my sword, Impa-sama…"

"No swords, just come at me."

"...Navi?"

Navi nodded her head and smiled. "It's alright, I am by your side and if she harms you, I'll take care of her." Another burst of laughter, but not a mocking tone, just a surprised tones.

"You really care for this boy."

Navi flushed under the veil, and shrugged her shoulders a bit. It seemed like the veil shrugged.

Impa nodded her head solely and backed away from the boy as he slipped his sword and shield aside. "And the belt, I see what you have in there, you cute boy. Deku Nuts and other surprises."

"…Sorry." Link threw his side-pack aside, along with his satchel and readied himself. Impa nodded towards him, a signal that she was ready anytime she was. Navi went towards the woman and surrounded her head not blinding her, but just staying up in the air and turning a bright yellow. Yes, Link followed the light, and then he turned and jumped at Impa. A smile formed her lips, as an afterimage was what he fell into…collapsing into the grass.

"Impa-chan! Don't do that, you are just teasing!" Zelda was back in the small chair, watching from the stone stairs.

Link jumped up and stared at Impa; she was standing still, the smirk still upon her face. Yes, the boy had been trained a little in fighting and this training for the last week was the best he had been at. The boy ran straight at her, but he jumped to the side, slamming into a wall. No, that's what he would have done, but he propelled himself off the wall and was spiraling towards her side.

It never happened, as he spiraled, she jumped right to the side and grabbed his small body. Turning him towards the side, she slid him down into the grass as he slumped inside the bushel of flowers. The attack didn't hurt, she was going easy on him, and of course she could break his little neck easily. She wasn't going to do that to him, he was such an adorable little boy. So sad that he was chosen for this wicked fate, a fate Zelda had no idea was going on.

Link spun himself up and stared up at her, he nodded his head just looked off to the side. Tears began to stream down his cheeks in embarrassment; his cheeks were crimson as he cried outlook to the world. Navi was still at Impa's side, but she didn't move, she just watched. The surprised Impa walked to the boy and knelt down beside him. "Link-kun, it's alright, I didn't. --" Yes, she stopped when he pushed her down on her back and jumped onto of her chest. He put his arms at her arms, holding them down, and held down her legs with his own, locked around them.

"Ha! I got you!"

"So you do, lad, but monsters aren't so compassionate." She reached up and grabbed a part of his neck, pushing a finger to it; the boy fell to the ground and cried out in surprise. He couldn't move! Impa bent down and picked the lad him, taking him to a small bench in the back of the garden and sat him down. This was going to take time, and indeed a lot of patience, but back to the melody.

--------------------

Ten minutes later, the numbness was gone, and he sat up from his position and looked back at Impa. The lad had been watching ever since he was cushioned down, but now she had a small flute upon her hands and pointed to a small chalkboard with notes upon it. "Link-kun, you learn this melody, write it down and learn it." At his side was the satchel, so he reached inside and found some stationary and a pencil. Looking up, he drew the station and wrote down the notes, quite easy, but the verses looked difficult as they got on.

"This melody is part of the royal family heritage, but I have sang it to Zelda-chan as a child, so we all refer to it as 'Zelda's Lullaby.' This tune is quite simple to remember and you must practice, have you practiced on the Ocarina, how long have you had it?

"I got it as a goodbye present about eight days ago, I haven't practices but a few times…sorry."

"It's alright. Now you have it written down, let's go."

"G-go? Where!"

"I am going to train you, but without your little farie."

Navi was only a few yards from the scene, but she heard it and flew up to Impa's face. "Without me! I am his guardian, he needs me!"

"I am going to train you also, young farie. I need to train you two separate and then you may train in battle together. "

"B-But."

"No buts, you know you two need training alone. There maybe a time you have to defend him in your sleep and vice versa, I want you two ready for this. You are eventually going to have to fight Ganondorf, and he has powers even though he doesn't have the Triforce. He can manipulate chi."

"C-chi!"

"Yes, now let's go. We are going deep into the castle, away from this all and then we will train."

"Alright."

Link just nodded his head, agreeing with Navi. Being without her was scary, but it was better if he learned to protect her from the dangers…next time a blue light might not be there to save her. Next time she might d…no, he couldn't say it. Impa went off towards the dark end of the garden where a tunnel was, and the partners left the small Zelda alone.

--------------------

Eleven days passed before the two were ready for the time to leave. In that time Link was trained in art of defense, the art of using his sword, the art of using his fist, and learning to control his spinning attack. It had none, but a little chi in it, which would change in later weeks to come, though. He was also formed in the art of back flips, front flips, dodging, and slash attacks. Item using was perfected, also, as in using the nuts properly and aiming with his slingshot. Jumping attacks were also prefixed, so when he came out a week and a half later, he showed better improvements. Navi, on the other hand, was trained in the act of using her chi as a bit of a defense mechanism, and also she was trained on targeting, as was Link when they were together. Her different barriers would change colours to indicate which was what. Dark blue when they were looking for stuff, green when a friendly person was near, and yellow when she wanted to target and enemy. Navi was also trained to direct her chi towards some enemies and use them to blind or paralyze them. By the end of the eleven days, the boy and his farie had been on their journey for two weeks and five days, and the two were about one hundred and ten percent better. A final battle between them and Impa occurred, and the two conquered Impa, not by much, though.

--------------------

Two hours after the battle, and some bandaging and showers, the hero with his tunic back on. It had been sowed so that the tatters from the training and the roughing were all gone, the boy looked up at Impa and nodded. "Am I better?"

"Yes, Link-kun, you have grown much. Not physically, but your strength and power are ten fold. The same for you as well, Navi, and when you two visit the Fire Spiritual Stone, you will conquer."

"Hee, so where is the stone?"

They were now outside of Hyrule, just outside the large castle, not the one where Zelda resided, but the one he say more than two weeks ago. The one he had gaped upon for a few minutes, now Impa was at his side with her whistle. "Are you ready to try again? We practiced this rarely, but I want you to learn it."

"Yes, ma'am, I am." He pulled out the farie Ocarina and began to prepare the play. First Impa played the Royal Family song twice, and let Link perform it. It took a few minutes, but he got it in five minutes flat. The second time he did it, he had no interruptions or any incarcerations. Looking up at Impa and Navi, he burst into giggles and hugged the little farie, and she hugged him back.

Impa smiled and knelt down beside the two, staring back at them. "You two…I can't believe how far you've come. Surely the mountain would have killed you, if you had gone without my training. I am glad I got know you, Link-kun, I am sure we will meet again." Leaning forward, he kissed his cheek and stood up with something in her hand, and there she threw down something with a flash sparking. Link sprung around and stared forward, but she was gone!

"Navi! Where is she?" His cheeks were still red from the kiss.

"I don't know, she said she was a Shiekah, so maybe she is like a those ninjas in those old stories. She has the power to disappear."

"W-wow. Okay, where do we go from here?"

"I want to go back and see Saria, besides, I have things to take care of."

"The mob, Navi…remember?"

"I remember, we'll have to sneak in at night and slip off the rope ladder, and then we can travel through the lost woods."

"N-Navi, have you ever been in those woods!"

"…No."

Link slapped his forehead and they began to walk, they walked the path while Link explained just what went on in the Lost Woods. "I've been in there about three times, each time Saria leads me because, for some reason, she can get through to the Sacred Forest Meadow. Going in there alone you get lost and die, then you turn into a skull-kid, remember those legends. I think they are real."

"Link, you are silly! There are no skull-kids. Anyway, let's go to Lon-Lon for tonight, we can make it if we take the easy path. Last time you lead us around for a few days, that's why it took so long."

--------------------

The two went on the road until they met the milk buggy from Hyrule, he was the same man and let them on for free when he saw how strong the boy had grew from his training. He rode them until about five o'clock that afternoon, where he dropped them at the Lon-Lon boundary point and went off towards Lake Hylia. At about five-thirty, they finally saw the ranch in full view. Link could smell the chickens and the cows all over, so he raced up the hill with Navi at his side, for the next four miles.

--------------------

When they finally got inside the ranch, it was late past six and the sun had already dropped. At least they were on the path and saw no Skullchildren that evening. When they entered the ranch Talon was already asleep, but they could see Malon putting the horses away. Navi fluttered up towards Malon and spoke. "Malon-san."

Malon spun around and gasped, there was the farie-boy and his farie. "Farie-boy, Navi! Hello there, you have been gone so long, what happened?"

Link caught up with the two, they were just outside the stables, and he leaned against one of the stalls. "We were trained by the Great Shiekah, Impa, Zelda-sama's guardian. She trained us for eleven days so we can be on our next quest."

"Quest? Just what are you doing, farie-boy?"

For the next three hours, they talked about what they were doing on the trip; inside the large barred fences where only that brown mare was running around the arena. He told Malon of how he found the stone, which Zelda had given back, and talked up until the training part, with Navi speaking in occasionally. Then they were served supper by the grouchy old Ingo. He was a nice man, Malon said, a sweet working man, but he didn't like how her father was lazy. The man treated the horses right and was good to her, sort of like a mean uncle. She laughed it off and began to eat her eggs and drink the milk.

Link gulped down the LonLon milk and finished off the eggs, and then Navi began to talk, since she finished her meal before the two. She spoke of her training, let Link talk of his, and then she said how they fought together and the whole trip here. Also mentioning they were on their way out to the Kokiiri Forest.

After the three hours were done Malon stared in surprise. "Wow, farie-boy, you are a hero?"

"…Not really."

"Yes you are, Link." Chimed Navi, bopping him on the head. "Stop being so modest…"

"…I don't feel like one."

"You seem like one, Faire-boy. But, let's no argue it's nine o'clock and it's my bedtime. Do you want to sleep in the barn…we don't have any beds and my daddy won't allow me to have boys in the room." Spoke Malon, pulling the dishes from the grass and walked over to the mare.

"Why?"

"I don't know, he's just weird, like that."

Malon left and returned a few minutes later with two glasses of milk. She had hers and Link had his, letting Navi sip from it. During this time, Navi kissed his cheek and went under the hat for some rest; she had had a hell of a day, as she said. An hour passed of talking before Link stared at the mare and blinked in surprise. Finally Link looked over her, remembering. "Oh…hey! Where's my song!"

"Huh? Oh, yea. I remember, well might as well do it now."

"I've gotten better on my Ocarina, too." He pulled it out and played the song of the royal family. Malon clapped her hands together and smiled when he was done.

"Wow, you have! All right, let me sing it for you. Gimme some stationary so I can write it down." Link pulled out the same paper with the Royal Family song on it and she wrote it right below it. That was when she stood up and began to sing the song, and what a song it was. Malon had a beautiful voice, so the notes went out clearly from her diaphragm and a few minutes into the song, the mare went up and starting licking Malon. She giggled and turned towards Link. "Play it, it's her song."

"Whose?"

"Epona's, silly."

"Whose Epona?"

"The mare, dummy. Now play."

Again, the first time he screwed it up and Epona sort stared at him in utter disbelief. Frustrated, he tried again and this time it actually worked, the mare ran up towards him and started to lick his face all over. Running his hands through her silver mane, the boy giggled and rested his head against her body. "How old is she?"

"Hee, she loves you, farie-boy! Oh, she's about seven months. "

"Alright, thanks for the song, well I am going to bed, okies?"

"Night, farie-boy!"

"Night, Malon-san."

On the way to the barn, he ran into a busy Ingo, Ingo just acknowledged him when he climbed into the hay and fell asleep. He didn't mind the boy, it was actually nice to see a young lad on this ranch, maybe he would marry Malon and start working…he was a strong lad, that's for sure. Ingo wasn't greedy; he just hated the fact Talon did not care for the farm, yet he was rolling in the rubies from Hyrule marker. Milk was brand new in this town, because these were the only cows around these parts. The man closed the shop up, locking the barn, so Link could get out in the morning and went to his bedroom in the LonLon house. As he lay they're asleep, all he could thing about was Talon…he hated the man, but he would never betray him, they were best friends.

--------------------

The next morning, before he left the ranch, the boy explored the ranch house behind the fenced gating. Behind there, he searched onward. Link was alone this morning, because Navi had overslept, and that was quite unusual for her, since she was usually the one to wake him up. Maybe the training had mentally tired her, too. It was only four o'clock in the morning, so everyone was asleep when he slipped past the gates and stared up at the large tower, gasping silently.

He had noticed it in the distance and asked about it. Malon had answered that the cows were out their and some boxes of milk. That didn't satisfy his curiosity, and so here he was.

Pushing the side door open, he poured in and was rebounded with the smell of the cows. A nice smell, the barn had been cleaned recently, or so it seemed. Peering inside, he saw seven boxes, each matching the ones he had saw at the castle, surrounding a particular space. Hrm, was there a present? Cows were also surrounding his the barn, but they were all stocked up to the sides.

Maybe it was a coincidence about the boxes, maybe it was fate, but something was behind those boxes.

Pulling all the boxes back, they seemed lighter than the ones from before, but these were full of jars of milk. It seemed that Impa's training had helped him gain a little muscle. Hopping on top of one of the boxes and climbing over, he saw a small hole that had been hidden before. On his hands and knees, he went, crawling inside the hole a discovering another piece of art.

Yes! He couldn't believe his luck! Grasping the fourth of a heart container, Link climbed back out of the hole and went out of the barn. There he followed by his way out of the barn house and back to the stables. When inside the house, he picked the other heart container up and pressed the two together.

Automatically, the heart containers disappeared and a new one appeared, but this one was made of three-fourth's heart. He smiled and headed back to his sleep position, where he fell asleep within minutes.

I'll tell Navi-chan in the morning.

--------------------

Later that morning, Link awoke and ate breakfast, while Talon pestered him about helping with some work for staying the night. Agreeing, he helped them out that morning and at about ten that morning they said goodbye to the Lon-Lon Ranch. The next destination was the Kokiiri forest, where they would meet Saria and maybe she would teach Link a new song? Maybe so, maybe so. For the next day and half they traveled, the two had restocked some real food at the castle. They had milk, a lot of it, and the water in canteens. Some weird bread from Hyrule, not bad, as a matter of fact and some meat. Meat was different, but it tasted wonderful, it really got the boy's blood pumping and his strength always increased with it. The two reached the Kokiiri Forest at nine o'clock that night. Everyone slept around that time, so he was afraid Saria was, no she wasn't. Somehow, in his heart, he knew Saria was waiting for him. Twenty-two days had passed since he had left the forest and now he was back here…he was home. Three weeks and one day, it was weird, it seemed longer.

--------------------

"I think the jump is too far, Navi-chan, I am not going to follow that stupid Deku's advice and break my neck." Link was standing on that long rope bridge, peering over at the end. Sure, it led into the Lost Woods, but the fall was like twenty feet! The little farie couldn't help but agree with the boy, and nodded her head in conformant. "You're right, Linky-chan, besides, it's only eleven-thirty and everyone has to be asleep by now."

"But we pass right by mid--."

"I don't care, I will take him down myself, if I have too."

Link smiled and stared down sheepishly… "Alright, thanks Navi, you're the best." Navi smiled back and perched upon his turquoise hat, looking forward into that brown log that led into the Kokiiri Forest.

"I'm ready…two weeks is a long time."

"Sure is, so hurry up." That was all the encouragement Link needed for his encouragement, so he pushed forward into the log. Into the twenty feet deep log, he ventured; noticing there wasn't a guard at the entrance. Loki must have been slacking off, because this was his time, at night. Walking upon the balls of his feet, he pushed forward into the Kokiiri Forest.

Crickets murmured all through the forest, as the pale moonlight shimmered in through the day. It's been so long… Will she not care? Link had passed by the training center and went right to Mido's house, the Lost Woods were right above his house, about fifty feet up…was the large wooden entrance to the path of destruction. That wasn't a fifty feet climb, though, a small ledge was sticking right off of Mido's house and he climbed up that easily. Then there was a space forward and some vines that led up to the main path and he had climbed this path before and was for certain that the vines would hold.

"Link-kun? Will they hole, remember the Deku Tree-sama's."

"I've been to the Lost Woods, Navi-chan, I know they will work." Indeed, they did work, because within fifteen minutes he was up the forty-foot climb, only after three breaks. The boy was growing indeed, because last time he and Saria stopped for at least six times. Wow...it seemed incredible that in just a few weeks he was twice as stronger!

After the climb was the real scary part, the woods… Climbing in through the hollow log, he released into a small area with four entrances that were the following: North, South, East, and West. South was where he came from, so he stared around and heard the music…that beautiful music. "She's here, we just have to follow her music!"

"Her music, that's her playing?"

"Yea."

"She's a great player…"

"Mmhm! She's been playing since I was an infant, and I remember it all. She would play and I would dance…"

"You dance?"

"…Well, not a very good dancer."

Giggling, she fluttered down to his shoulder and pecked his cheek. The boy would be able to hear better than him, her ears were just as long, but the boy's were bigger and could withstand greater distances. She heard it though and pointed to the east. "There?"

"Yea, that's great, I can hear her music clear as day!"

To the east he went, and he was correct, because if you got lost in the Lost Woods it sent you back to the end or you got lost in the middle. He knew it was the correct way for the target was there. What target? There was small target hanging from a tree that was planted at the bottom of the small cliff. You see, when he entered he was on top of a small cliff, that fell about seven feet, and hanging up was a oak tree with a small clothe target upon it. Pulling out the Farie Slingshot, he aimed and struck the target a few times, that was when the scrub jumped up. His shrub was planted on the top part of the tree, away from the bull's eye and he trotted to the end of the tree where Link was firing. "Very good!"

"H-huh?" He was about to fire when the voice sprang free, he looked up and stared at the shrub, but this one looked friendly. "S-sir?"

"You're firing, you got three bull's eyes."

"Oh, well…I've been practicing."

"I see, well take this. It'll bring you great use, you smell like a warrior, and a warrior needs ammunition. From his muzzle spat a bag and it landed right before Link's feet. Before he could complain or reply, the shrub was back in his deku hole and gone to the world.

Navi fluttered down and lifted the bag up to Link's height, it was not wet, and was made of a clothe material with little seeds sticking out. "A Deku seed bag, wow! Link, this is great."

"Wow…how many are in it." He had been sparsely collecting them in his pocket, and now scrounging around; he felt that none were inside his pockets.

"It can hold forty and it has forty in it! Wow, this great, it saves room and has easy access."

Grinning, he slipped it into the pocket of the side pack he usually kept his seeds in and it fit firmly. Yes, this was turning to be quite an adventure.

--------------------

With the Deku bag, the new one, replaced. Link wasn't ready to go deeper into the woods. Peering over the balcony, he saw two skullkids upon the branches, and they were playing some small flutes.

"N-Navi! Look at those Skullchildren." Navi had seen it all right; she just stared down at the Skullchildren. As the legend went, if a Hyrulian child or any other race, is lost in the woods that he or she would turn into a Skullchildren. Kokiiri's were the only kind that would not turn into the children. Not at all like the Stalchildren, those were friendlier to the Kokiiri, but adults disgusted them.

The Skullchildren, only being small showed their only resemblance to children, but they were dressed in such a tribal manner. Ancient masks adorned their faces, keeping what was behind, and away from the public. The two were about half the size of Link, their clothes in a rebellion manner.

"Should we go see them?"

"It wouldn't hurt, Link, they do seem to favor Kokiiri."

Walking to the ladder, Link slid down the seven feet and walked over to the smaller stump, a few feet from them. From this point of view, he could view what the Skullchildren were on weren't stumps, but half-cut trees. Pulling out his Ocarina, he blew a note to get their attention.

Abruptly, they stopped playing and looked towards the little Kokiiri. One of them, the one upon the taller stump-tree, spoke. "Who're you, Little Kokiiri?"

"M-my name is Link. A-and this is Navi-chan." He pointed to Navi, who was sitting upon his hat, shaking with fear.

The taller one began to laugh full heartily. "Don't worry, little farie. Neither my friend, nor I shall harm either of you. Ah! I see you carry an Ocarina, young Kokiiri, might we play? I shall give you a present if you could follow my tune great enough. What do you say?"

"Well, sure." He needed the practice with the Ocarina, anyway. Somehow, these certain notes gave off special powers, or a special aura, wasn't it?

"Great, then let's begin." He and his friend both began to play their flutes. First they were a simple three notes pressed together, and then Link followed them accordingly. That was when they skipped to some more difficulty, play six notes this time. Link was hardly able to follow them, but now he had finished the six tunes together. Now was when they skipped past six and then the Skullchildren went to eight notes. Taking a deep breath, trying to remember their order, he stared forward and played it. Wow, he thought he had done it right, but then the Skullchildren looked forward at him. Link frowned, stepping off the stump a headed back towards the ladder.

"…Where are you going, young Kokiiri?"

"I messed up, didn't I?" Of course he had, he just knew it.

"No, young Kokiiri, you've preformed well."

Giggling, he went forward and stood on the stump proudly, holding the Ocarina in his fist. Reaching into his pocket, the Skullchild threw a glass-jeweled case at him. Link caught the jewel case and gasped at the kid. "The fourth heart! Oh, thank you! Than--" But the Skullchildren were gone, and the two partners were alone.

"Link, you did it. What did he--Oh!" Navi saw the fourth section of the heart and fished the three-quart's part out. Handing it to Link, she sat upon his shoulder, eagerly watching. "Link them."

Pushing the two parts together, they disappeared and a newly formed heart appeared. The heart turned into two smaller, each a little bit tinier than the others did. The new heart's pushed inside of Link and Navi, with full force, causing Link to scream out loud. Newly energized and a newfound strength flowed through his pulsing body. Reaching forward, he felt his warrior presence grow a little more than it usually was. It seemed that Navi's grew too. Her barrier turned brighter blue, and she stared at Link. It was new, the only way to describe the feelings were of accomplishment. The process was over in only about seven seconds, but it was gone.

"W-what happened, Navi?"

"The heart piece was just like the blue light!" She buried her face into his cheek, kissing it gently. "If we find these, we can beat Ganondorf. These hearts and the blue lights strengthened, healed, and re-energized us."

"Heal us, hey, you're right." He just noticed this. The boy had been dirty and tired, but now he was fully advantaged and clean. Running her hands over his tunic, he noticed it was clean. Even though it had been repaired at the Hyrule Castle, he had torn it on the way to Kokiiri.

"Okay, the blue light and heart containers. Let's find as many of those as we can!" Climbing up the ladder, the young hero walked deeper into the woods, following her melody.

--------------------

There were a series of eight more paths before he reached the garden of the Sacred Forest Meadow. The meadow was grassed out on the left and right ends of it leading up to the brown dirt wall that protected the meadow from intruders, but more peculiar of all was the entrance. Usually a small entrance was there for the boy and Saria to pass through…now there was a gate! Four bars sharp as hell, sticking up and keeping him from getting inside the meadow.

"Link, I thought you said you came here all the time."

"I don't know, it's never been locked…"

"Is there a magic word?"

"…Navi…"

"I don't know! Goddess, hmm, where too now. Let's just try coming up to it and yelling."

Link didn't mention that the inner meadow, as he sometimes called it, was four miles through puzzles of garden mazes. Quite fun this place was one reason Mido never got in and he and Saria spent their time alone there. The 'secret' place is what the two called it, because no one else knew about it. Or no one else could grant access to it, even if they did survive the Lost Woods. While he stepped forward and thumped the bars, he didn't seem to notice something staring at him, a particular something with gleaming yellow eyes.

--------------------

Delicious, it was delicious. The creature had been hidden in the woods for quite sometime, and this was rare. Kokiiri! Yes, there was that older one that she saw occasionally, but this one was young and pure. Only ten years! Thanking her luck, the strong beast snapped her jaws once and rushed forward. Beautiful gleaming fur adorned the seven foot tall structure, and able to stand on two legs, the paws extended double razor sharp claws. Fur of ash condemned the muzzle filled with teeth of sharp resonance. Pushing both paws into the ground, it leapt forward and was determined to sink her teeth into his flesh, that beautiful body was going to be a meal worth years of enjoyment.

--------------------

"Wolvo!" Navi screamed out when the howl burst out, yes, they always howled when they attacked. If Link had been slower and not known what a Wolvo was, he would be dead, but he didn't…the boy blocked. This creature, a wolf of some sort, slammed into the shield with all its might, growling and screeching for his blood. Quickly acting, she streamed to the monster's eyes and flashed an incredible brilliance of light. The light was too much, and the Wolvo hid quickly inside the lush grass that covered it completely, howling with ear-piercing intensity.

--------------------

Wolvo, as in that thing she talked about? It seemed so because when his shield went up, in sort of an instant stability, instead of defense he felt the most intense pressure in the world. Two hundred pounds of muscle slammed into the shield, smashing him against the dirt-clogged wall. Leaping upward, he stuck the shield in his left hand and fished out his Kokiiri Blade. Yes, this was it, a challenging battle with a monster! Almost bloodlust filled his mind, but he wasn't that crazy, all he wanted was to distinguish the monster, then get to Saria. So, he leapt forward, into the bushes, after that demented wolf.

The blade went instantly forward and that would have been the end of it, but it wasn't, now was It? It was just the beginning… the claws were raised up and blocked the sword! What's happening? How did it block the sword! Nevertheless, one of the claws blocked the sword, while the other went for his gut, and would have made it, if not the Deku Shield. That Deku raised and hit right above the eyes, stopping the claw flat. Leaping up, at least four feet, he came down with sword at full risk into the Wolvo's torso. It began to struggle and threw him aside, like a rag doll.

Navi, on the other hand, her entire body began to shine a pure yellow colour. This yellow was surrounding the Wolvo, but of course she didn't see the farie, that farie was so small and dull.

--------------------

This thing was stronger than it looked was, he blocked her and then she was blinded by something. Some sort of farie, she didn't know the guardians actually protected their masters and mistresses! Wow, this was a new turn of events, that was for sure… Blocking that cold metal, she was then blocked and stabbed through the torso.

The pain! This pain was immense, like being boiled into a thousand suns. The suns were already cold and survived inside of her breast…growling out a guttural cry, she threw the boy aside and stared off to the side. The wound was fatal, unless she found a farie garden and groped them out against there life…no, no time, just enough to take him out. Indeed, he was out for the count, so why not taste that flesh for a quick second? Leaping forward, she landed right beside him and licked the muzzle, below lowering her head to feed.

--------------------

No! He was not going to die! That was something this force was going to make sure of. Thank the Goddesses that they were trained by Impa-sama, because there was no way he could have dodged this enemy, without the training. How foolish of the Deku Tree to send him off without any proper training, did they want him to die! Now, with her barrier shining a bright yellow, she stared at the Wolvo as it pinned him down and concentrated for a second more.

The second seemed like eternity, but it was over before its teeth pieced his flesh, the second ended and a beam of chi light slid into its body. The chi light began to disintegrate its entire body, right before her eyes, the whole body was done in about five seconds and all that remained was a light of dust. T-this power…it was incredible, there was no way to describe the feelings she felt. Instinctually, she fluttered to his side and kissed his wound, a small gash was on his forehead, not a deep one…it was only bleeding light, but the gash was nasty. Saria would be able to heal it.

Clink!

Looking forward, Navi saw the small little gates give way and slid down into the earth, wow, it seemed the Wolvo was the triggering device to open the gate.

--------------------

He was able to raise himself up and limped forward through the maze, the maze surprised and irritated the young Navi. She had to help him hold his shield, to deflect the Deku Nuts, at those mad scrubs. They were off running like cowards, so there was no reason to execute them. Over five mazes, and two hours later, they reached a small area that had two Mad Scrubs and stairs descending upward into some new area, that is when Link ran.

Not even bothering to block, he slammed the down the first one's throat, dodging the second's nut and sliced the second one in two as it tried to desperately hide in it's protective bush, but that wasn't enough, nothing was enough for him. The bleeding, when they reached a small lake, was washed and wrapped a small tear from his tunic…he desperately needed to stop tearing the tunic and get some first aid-supplies. The tear of clothe wrapped around his forehead, like a bandanna, but that didn't matter…nothing mattered, he could hear the Ocarina closer than ever! She was just up those stairs.

There he ran inside of the inner meadow and stared forward, in amazement. There was a small gossip stone to the right, and inside the middle was one of those platforms of the Triforce! He surely hadn't noticed this before, and it was the same colour as the original one, but the small medallion in the middle had a different insignia upon it. Up forward ahead, about twenty yards, were a few stumps and upon the one in the center, she was.

Those beautiful blue tiers pressed down into a closed expression, blowing into the small instrument that was the resemblance as his. She hadn't even noticed him yet, well, that was great. He crept forward, a few paces, the tears escaping his eyes, and when he thought of that day…so long ago, he cried even harder to himself. Finally, three feet from her, he collapsed onto the ground and fainted. What he fainted from was always hard to tell maybe the joy of seeing her? Maybe the blood losses from his scalp earlier or maybe a little of both?

--------------------

Huh? A sound? No one can get up here, unless a Wolvo! She was too scared to look, and stared down for the next ten seconds. There was no howl, no pain, and nothing else, but the fluttering of her own farie's wings. Saria began to blow on her Ocarina, until she realized something.

Wait! Her farie was sick today; she was at Saria's house, in the bed! Then whose farie…Mido was here? Maybe, but she hoped to Farore that wasn't true. Looking forward, the sight she saw made her eyes widen in excitement and then in fear. There was her Kokiiri boy, laying on the ground, a few feet from her, and Navi was at his side trying to awaken the beauty. Why wasn't he waking up! She dropped her Ocarina on the grass and leapt forward, slamming into the soft patches, two inches from him. "N-Navi-san!"

"Oh, Saria-san! H-he fought a Wolvo to get the entrance open and then smashed into a wall, do you have a farie!"

"N-no, but hold on!" Saria literally leapt to her satchel; right by the stump she rested on, and pulled out a small red potion. Sprawling back to the scene, she sat Link's head inside of her lap and tried to make him drink it…no deal! He wouldn't take it! So, she opened her own mouth and let her take all the liquid inside of her mouth, but instead of swallowing, she opened his mouth deep-mouth kissing Link.

--------------------

"What are you doing, Saria-san, he needs that…elixir?" Well, she couldn't believe her eyes. There, right before her, the wise and sweet Saria deep-mouth kissed her Linky-chan. Jealously flared inside of her body and she flew to her face, having a curse out, in the Faric language, before speaking in the understandable tongue. "What are you doing! This is not the time for romance. Don't you see he is dying!"

She didn't stop, though, she kept pouring herself into the kiss, which boiled and burbled the jealously inside of Navi's heart. How dare she, how dare she kiss his Linky-chan!

Why is that? Spoke another voice.

Because, he's-- Because he's-- Because he's…

Because he's what? Yours? Don't make me laugh, you can't handle him, he is not yours!

Yes he his! Cried out Navi, silently. He is mine and I am his.

Think what you want, but he is hers. The voice stopped, and Navi stared out into space, ignoring Link and Saria…maybe it was true. Maybe they were nothing but partn-- wait, isn't that what she wants! So confused, so confused… Moving over to his shoulder, she lay upon it and fainted, dead to the earth.

--------------------

Nervous breakdown? No, she just fainted, that was all. Saria concluded that and continued to kiss the boy, but in actuality, she was putting the liquid inside of his throat, from mouth to mouth resuscitation. When she finished that bottle, she fished out another and did the same thing, watching the little farie go to a faint. Yes, nothing but a faint. About ten minutes later, and after the third and last bottle, Saria sat back, wiping her lips and glanced down at him. This would work, the elixirs always worked.

--------------------

Where am I? All I remember was some gates and a wolf…or something like that. Maybe not in that order, but he came too and could hear breathing right at his chest, which was most likely Navi. Sometimes during the night she would rest on his chest, or anywhere else, then stare at him longingly for hours. It was weird how she did it, sometimes he asked if she was sick, and her reply would be. "…Yes-- I m-mean I'm fine, Linky-chan!" Then she would smile and lay her head back down. She was sick with something alright, but he couldn't quite place it. Sometimes, he even caught her watching him bathe, not in a perversity way, but she watched his face from the sleeping bag, occasionally. But, I'm not with her, at a tent, now am I? She was there, no one breathed as softly, yet as deeply as she did, but he wasn't asleep. Had he been unconscious? Yes, that was it.

Rising up, he felt a hand push him back, while a beautiful voice, not Navi's, speak. "Hey, you sit back and rest. You took a nasty gash to the head." Hues of cerulean stared up into the matching ones of an older girl.

"S-saria! Oh, Saria!" Disobeying her orders, he leapt forward, and tackled her to the ground. Laughing wildly, he giggled and nuzzled her neck affectionately. He had found her! He had found her, finally! Yes, kissing her cheek, he pushed himself back, but was promptly pushed back into the grass. "…I'm glad to see you, now lay back and get some rest! Now!" She could be quite demanding, when she wanted, so he sank into the grass…gathering up unconsciousness Navi, placed her under his hat and sank back into dreamland.

--------------------

Five more hours passed before he awoke again, Navi had awoken about three hours before and left sulkily. When Saria had asked where she was going, Navi had replied that she was "taking care of some business before they leave, tomorrow." That was the last she saw of her, the entire day. Overall, Link had been asleep for eight hours, since arriving in the forest. It was around five o'clock, when he raised up and stared at the ground, moaning.

He had such a headache, the bandage from his forehead was gone, but when he traced his hands up there a scar was in its place. The headache subsided when something was pressed to his lips and he gulped it down, but then he peered up and met into her gaze. "…Saria?"

"That better?" She pulled the bottle away from his lips, slipping it into her satchel and rested right down beside him. Still wearing that forest dark sweater, with the lighter shirt under it, and those small shorts that showed off her legs. Bending down, she sat down right beside him, and stroked his cheek.

"Mmhm…it feels much better, what was that?"

"An ole' Deku elixir, believe me, Link-chan…you don't want to know the ingredients."

He let out a small stream of giggles, then gasped and felt under his hat. Noticing this, because each morning, when he awoke with her under his hat, a small warmth was around his hair, but this morning it was as cold as the rest of his body. "Navi-chan, where is she?"

"I don't know, she was mad and left about three hours ago, she seemed sad."

"Navi's moody sometimes, she just stares at me sometimes…she's a little odd, but she's sweet."

A quick nod from her and then moved a bit closer, wrapping her arms around his body, before taking him inside of her arms. Those arms…so warm, wrapped around him, placing him right in the center of her lap, turning him towards her. Link couldn't help it as the dark colour rushed to his cheeks, and giggling nervously. "Saria-chan, did you miss me?"

"…Of course I missed you, silly. Without you here, I had Mido to deal with…"

"…Sorry."

"So, why haven't you been back sooner?"

"Oh my Goddess, Saria! You won't believe how big Hyrule is, it took me about a week to get there!" His eyes misted before, were night illuminating with excitement.

"Really, wow, what did you see."

"Oh, I brought you a present!" Jumping from her lap, he fumbled for his satchel and sat back on her lap (he always enjoyed it there) taking out the bottle of Lon-Lon milk, propping it to her lips. "Drink."

"What is-ugh!" Her mouth was filled with the sweet taste of liquid. Mm…it was so delicious, and she couldn't help gulping down the whole bottle. When she was done, Saria let out a small burp and giggled a little. "What was…that, Link?"

"Milk."

"K-Kokiiri Milk?"

"No, it comes from an animal called a cow, and the milk is for their babies, but this is different. It comes out of their udders, or…err."

"…What?"

He pointed at her chest uncomfortably, and stared off to the side.

"Tell me, Link-chan."

"…Teat."

"Teat?"

Link blew a sigh out and began to explain the process of how Hylians got their milks from their mothers. The Deku Tree fed the Kokiiris, when they were infants, from small saplings of some kind of milk. This explanation was very different, and when he was done, Saria was flustered with embarrassment, too. "Oh, there."

"Y-yea, there. Did you have a funeral?"

"Yes, we had a ceremony the day after you left, for the Deku-sama, not you. Have you been in the Kokiiri Forest."

"Well, some, I passed by Mido's house and that was it, why?"

"…Don't go to your house."

Link's eyes widened, his possessions were in there, what did they do! No…what did he do! Link stared deep into her eyes; she was staring to the side. "What did Mido do!"

"Don't worry, sweetheart, I got out all your stuff. It's all in here, it's in the tree off to the side."

"Saria…?"

"Mido and his men, not the women, they had no part in this. Mido and his men went inside your house, the day after you left, and burnt it down."

"Burnt it down! What do you mean!"

"Mido and his men burnt your house, and the tree down. I got out all your stuff, Link-chan, but I know it hurts. I was mad, too. But now he is being overbearing, insisting you are a traitor and never can come back. What time did you sneak in?"

"Nine o'clock."

"Alright, well, let's stay here for the day, Navi said she's going on some "Farie business."

Link just stared at Saria with a confused look plastered upon his face. "Farie business? Well, never mind; let's stay here. I want to tell you all about what I've done. You eager to listen."

"You bet!"

The rest of the day was spent with Link telling Saria all about his adventures. He told her about how he went inside the Deku Tree, the entire puzzles, and battle with Gohma and what happened to the Deku Tree. How he really died, and not Mido's lies. Of course Saria already believed him. Next was the trip to Lon-Lon Ranch, the fight against the Skull Children and traveling down to Hyrule Castle. Talking about the Temple, how he played those weird games, which delighted Saria all together and sneaking into the castle, and then he got to the part where they were trained.

"You were trained for eleven days? Wow…by whom?"

"She was Princess Zelda-sama's guardian, and she was tough. I think I am tougher than any of the Kokiiri's around."

"You beat Gohma, of course you are."

"Hee…Saria-chan…"

Link didn't leave out a single detail, he told her the Deku Tree's of creation (which she already knew), and the Royal Family's version of the story (which she didn't know), about Ganondorf, and the Ocarina songs he just learned.

"Let me play them for you?"

"Sure, I want to see how great you've gotten."

"Well, not as great as you, Saria-chan." Stepping off her lap, and sitting down a few feet infront of her, there he pulled out his wooden Ocarina, from his side pack that was still around his waist. Pushing the circular bodied instrument, with the tube-shaped blowing piece off the top and blew into it. While he played into it, the tune of the Royal Family streamed out. The tune was soft and sweet, having a nice melody. Next was the melody he learned from Epona, and he didn't even need the papers for the tunes. He knew them by heart! When he was finally done, the boy sat eagerly, watching her with full attention.

"Wonderful! You have gotten so much better, Link, honey! Want to learn my tune?"

"Oh, yes! I want to learn your tune so much!"

"Alright, but it is a bit more advanced than those two." Saria reached out and pulled her own Ocarina from her pockets. The difference between the two Ocarinas was that Saria's didn't have the little inscription that she had written upon his. Hers was also a little more use, and showed the signs of it. Grabbing his stationary, and a small pencil, she wrote down the notes for him, under the Lon-Lon Melody and handed it back to her. Blowing into the Ocarina, she played the tune beautifully, but this tune was different from the others. This tune was quicker than the others and had a fast-paced movement to it. Link couldn't help but hum the tune; it was, after the entire one he grew up with.

After she finished, she nodded to him and smiled. "Now your turn." The first time was disaster, as with the other songs, but she simply patted his head and made him try again. Since the tune was longer, he spent about twenty minutes trying to learn it. When he didn't need to memorize it, he placed the paper back inside his satchel and began to play it by heart. A little tuning, three hours later, he was back up to speed with her, but not as great as she was.

--------------------

During that time Link didn't see Navi, but Navi saw Link. There actually was some business, she traveled and mourned to the Deku Tree. On her way, she viewed the Link's disastrous house, that was quite sad, but that was about it. When she went back to the Sacred Forest Meadow, after getting lost through the woods about seven times, she came upon the part where Link told her about his adventures. She just perched up a tree and watched the whole scene, he was only at the parts about where they first entered the Deku-sama and she wanted to see if she would actually seem important. Wow, and this was very surprising, he talked about her with the deep most respect.

"She saved me…I don't know why, we had known each other for only seven hours, and she saved me. It's weird, Saria-chan; she makes me feel good. I feel the same when I am with her, when we are together. She and I, we are two, and partners until I find my way out of this mess."

"What mess?" Saria had asked.

"I'm getting to that…"

Several other times she was mentioned and greatly respected. That voice was wrong, that voice didn't know what it was talking about. She loved Link and Link loved her, and so what if Link had a crush on Saria. Saria didn't feel the same about Link, he was obviously too young for her.

You're a Farie. The voice had returned.

So what!

You are just a Farie, get over it.

And he is just a Kokiiri!

About ten times your size. The voice rambled on for a few more minutes, before she closed her hands over her ears and it left. The voice was gone and he loved Link…that was what there was all too it. She could see a lot of people liked Link. He was strong, brave, and he had faults. He showed them, and for that he was her hero. As she had said before. "...If no one else isn't your hero, than your mine." That wasn't the exact quote, but something around those words. It was corny, yes, but true as could be. There were a few other ladies who admired Link from afar. There was Saria, Malon, the farm girl, and Zelda-sama. Of course, Impa had kissed him, but she was just being coy, nothing else. Each had nice qualities, but he was a hero and only needed one person. A partner.

--------------------

That night, he told her of where he was going next, a weird village named Kakariko Village. From there he was going up to Death Mountain to visit a race of Gorons. Saria told him as much as he could possibly hope to know about the Gorons. They were an ancient race of large monster-like creatures, but they were friendly. The people were connected with the Royal Family, or so the Deku-sama had said, and they lived off of rocks.

"Rocks?' His voice dripped with sarcasm.

"I am serious, they eat rocks."

"…Wow, that's weird."

"I forgot something, when you play the Ocarina, you can use it as a communication device."

"Communication? What do you mean?" He held out the Ocarina and stared at his, slowly speaking into it. "Hello…hello."

Saria slapped his cheek playfully, and giggled. "No, you little dummy, you play the tune when we are far away and we can speak to each other. It's actually a much better way we can communicate and stop this long trip, but you will be back?" A tone of sadness caught in her voice.

"Yes, Saria…I will travel back, of course I will. After I get the Spiritual Stone of Fire I will come back and after I get the Spiritual Stone of Water. I will come back before I report back to Zelda, so do you have any idea where it might be?"

"No, I don't, but I'll do some research and get back to me after you have the Fire Spiritual Stone, or before. I might be able to tell you, by then."

Nodding, he sat laid down upon the grass, laying on his sides. He stared at the ground, running the grass through his fingers, and pointed towards the end of the meadow. "You can go."

Laying down, right beside him, she stared into his eyes. "Where shall I go?"

"…Well, you can go back to your house, I mean, I alright alone."

"Well, I'm not going, Link-chan. I hardly see you, let me sleep here, please?"

"O-oh, it's alright! I don't mind, I just thought you were worried."

Saria sat up and scooted over to his side, pulling him up in her arms. "I am worried, but I want to stay with you, why would I rather sleep alone and have Mido banging on my door all night, when I can be with a you, Link-chan."

Flushing, he shrugged and laid his head against her soft shoulder, and wrapped his arms around her neck. There the boy slowly nestled his head into her neck and fell asleep within seconds.

Saria couldn't sleep that way, so after twenty minutes of it, she laid him down on his body and laid right beside him, where she fell asleep minutes later.

--------------------

Navi spent the night asleep in the tree, all night she dreamt of him, and when she floated across and saw them in the morning, she didn't mind. She saw that and shrugged her shoulders.

He needs me more. That was when she went to his shoulder and rested on it.

--------------------

The boy earned another piece of heart, as he, Saria, and Navi were coming out of the Lost Woods. As they came near the exit, the group ran into another Skullkid. This one was in it's own little meadow. When Link sat up on the stump, the Skullkid looked up towards him.

"You can't talk? Hey, how about this?" Pulling out his Ocarina, he slowly played Saria's tune. When he looked up, the skullchild was dancing around joyfully. Reaching into its pocket, and throwing out a small piece of another heart. Link caught this piece, as the Skullkid disappeared.

"Wow, what's that?" Saria peered over his shoulder.

"A piece of heart. " The boy slipped it into his satchel. He looked over at Saria and explained just what was the deal with the lights and the blue fires. That took a few minutes, but when he was done a fascinated Saria glanced lovingly at him.

"Wow, you sure do a lot of stuff here."

For the rest of that day, the group looked for any other heart pieces, but found no more than that.

--------------------

The very next day, Saria and Link met the same bridge they had met at only a few weeks ago. This time, however, there were no tears or short good-byes. Link, with Navi inside of his hat, wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. "I'll miss you, Saria-chan."

"Don't speak that way, I am going to see you again." There she slowly leaned forward and kissed his lips, as before, this time not spur of the moment. Those feelings swirled around and he felt the pressure inside his body. The boy felt hotter than ever and when he pulled back, he refastened the satchel and spoke. "Yes… Yes, of course, I will come back, Saria-chan."

"Goodbye, Link-chan."

"Bye, Saria-chan. Don't worry about me, just be near at our secret place and always…Always be with me."

"I will, in my heart."

"And in mine, too." With that, he turned around and ended the bridge, and there he went on to the weird village of Kakariko.