The Bridge

“Saria, I don’t think this is a good idea—everyone knows the Lost Woods are dangerous. They’re called the ‘Lost Woods’ for a reason!”
Despite Link’s surprisingly brilliant moment of insightful sagacity, Saria seemed not to hear him, and casually brushed through a mess of tangled vines, disappearing behind the foliage.
“Com’on Link! I think it’s this way!”
“You think? You “think” it’s this way? Saria, if we get lost, we could get attacked by Skull Kids! Or worse, we could become one! Haven’t you heard the Know-It-All Brothers’ stories? All Kokiri who become helplessly lost in the Lost Woods transform into horrific monsters, forced to wander the woods alone for all time!”
Link’s voice echoed endlessly into the trees. Wyn, Saria’s freckled, chestnut-haired fairy, floated just ahead, holding aside a curtain of vines obligingly.
“Right, right, I get it. I’m coming.”
Link forged ahead, brushing a firefly out of his face as he swept past the viney curtain and crawled into the narrow, dark tunnel after Saria. The Lost Woods were not like ordinary woods. You couldn’t just leave a marker on one tree and follow your way back home. The woods were constantly shifting and changing—moving. Any marker you left on one tree could end up sprouting on the other side of the forest in moments, as if the tree had magically replanted itself. There was no sense of direction in these woods—no sun to guide your way, no moss that grew on one a single side of each tree, and no stars at night. The only light the wood offered was the multicolored glow of the countless fireflies lazily drifting about, and even this was morphed and stretched to bizarre proportions by the thick fog penetrating the air. It didn’t even appear like a forest half the time—all over, massive trees lay fallen against the ground, their insides hollowed out into small tunnels. Earth and nature grew around these tunnels, such that it was often very difficult to see them. And though Link could usually see what lay beyond them relatively easily, every time he passed through a tunnel, it was as if he had emerged in another part of the woods entirely. There was something magical about this part of the forest—very ancient. The thought that one wrong step could quite easily lose him his life both excited and terrified him at the same time. Still, he trusted Saria. Everyone in the forest knew she had traveled these woods before, although no one dared follow her. It was as if the forest spoke to her, and welcomed her into its embrace like an old friend.
Still, Link didn’t feel as though the forest regarded him with the same warm feelings. No matter how hard he tried, he could not escape a nagging feeling that every step he took was being watched.
“Link! Are you coming?”
“Geez Saria, ever hear of patience?”
“Hurry!”
Link finally emerged at the end of the tunnel, and crawled to his feet. Saria was already a good ways ahead of him, but Wyn soon popped out of the tunnel’s opening and beckoned him forward with a whistle.
Just ahead, Saria stopped, and turned around to face Link, her expression suddenly very somber, as opposed to the cheerful fervor she had displayed only moments before. Link walked slowly up to her, and glanced ahead. There was very little mist now, and very few fireflies, but the sun shone just enough through the trees to allow Link to see everything clearly. Another hollowed tree tunnel lay just ahead, although it was considerably larger than the others, and was wound tightly into what appeared into what appeared to be a very large cliffside. He peered upward, but could not see the top. He stopped next to Saria, and looked into her eyes. Her emerald glint seemed drowned in melancholy, and her gaze kept diverting back and forth between him and the dark tunnel. When she finally spoke, her voice was so low that Link could barely hear her.
“Just beyond this tunnel lies the bridge to the outside world.”
Link gasped. The world outside the forest—it had always been a story among the Kokiri—a fable. Everyone talked about it, but no one knew what it was like, or even if it really existed. Link had wanted to see the outside world for as long as he could remember, but for him to witness it now…
“It’s almost beyond belief, isn’t it Link?”
Link nodded, unable to speak.
“It’s a dangerous world out there. The Great Deku Tree shields us from it for a very good reason. You know why, don’t you?”
Link nodded again.
“Within this forest, the Great Deku Tree can protect us. But beyond his borders, even his power is unable to hold off the curse that has been darkening this world since the beginning of time—death.”
Saria hung her head, and continued.
“Link, I’ve been thinking…what if the Great Deku Tree’s powers aren’t enough? He’s watched over us for years, but who watches him? What stops him from meeting the same curse as everything else outside of the forest? …I’ve been having nightmares…”
Nightmares. Saria too? She’d never had nightmares before—at least, not that anyone else knew of. She was the bravest Kokiri in the village—everyone knew that. What could possibly make her afraid? Link suddenly thought about telling her about his own nightmares, but decided against it. They were dumb anyway.
“…I don’t know how to explain it, but…I think the Great Deku Tree is in trouble. He hasn’t seen anyone in weeks, and what few glimpses I have had of him, he’s looked terribly wearied and sodden…old.”
Link trembled. What was Saria saying? Why had she brought him here?
“Link, I don’t pretend to know what power the Great Deku Tree has, or whether or not anything is happening at all. Maybe I’m just paranoid. But…I’ve seen strange things lately. The forest around us…it’s growing darker. It’s aging. Link—I think the Great Deku Tree is dying.”
So that was it. This was why Saria had brought him here. Saria never brought people with her into this part of the forest—and for good reason. Last time she did, an inexplicable tragedy occurred. It was before Link came to the woods, but he had heard talk of it from time to time. Mido had warned all the Kokiri never to bring it up, but, once every so often, someone would mention the incident, and everyone would begin talking in hushed tones, acting very somber. Link kept asking what it was that happened, but no one ever told him. When Link finally went to ask Mido himself, he just got beat up. Eventually, he just gave up trying to find out. Still, he had never managed to entirely shake loose of his curiosity, and now—more than ever—he wanted to know.
Link glanced upward. Saria was looking at him in a puzzled manner, stroking her mossy hair contemplatively. Then, she glanced behind Link, and swiftly walked past him toward another tunnel.
“Com’on Link. There’s something else I think you should see.”
Saria crawled into the hollow expanse of the tunnel, and soon disappeared from sight. Wyn was right behind her, lingered a moment to give Link a gesture, and darted into the shadows. Link glanced back towards the bridge tunnel. A roar of wind suddenly erupted from its mouth, nearly knocking Link’s hat off. He jumped back in surprise, and began running back towards Saria. He glanced behind him, and was suddenly sure of his suspicions—he was being watched.

Somewhat Late Introductions, Part Two

So, now that you all know that I'm thoroughly obsessed with Zelda, I'd like to make a few things known regarding the content of this story. First, as I desire to advance on a number of plots and elements of the Ocarina of Time that were left secret to many players, I will be incorporating story content from other games (such as Wind Waker and Twilight Princess) to give an expanded role to the legends of Hyrule. In essence, I will delve fairly heavily into pre-OoT Hyrule, using my own theories based on my (very near lifelong) research of the franchise. While I will deliberately try to keep the story (almost) as ambiguous as its original source, I would like to try to piece together several elements of Hyrulian culture that were not directly connected in the games. To be specific, items such as the Wind Waker, or characters such as Agahnim or even Vaati will have some role to play. Know that nearly every claim I make is based on some tangible level of evidence, and I would not include any content not in the original script for Ocarina of Time unless it truly makes sense for the story and actually benefits the overall plot.
Secondly, I would like to discuss age content. While I'm not entirely certain of who is reading my blog at the moment, I have considered the fact that I may obtain a wide variety of different-aged readers, many of whom may be under watchful guidance of concerned parents, who desire to protect their children from harmful material. Please know that I am on your side. I honor and respect the role of parents to monitor and take active interest in the lives of their children, and respect that sometimes that may include preventing their children from being exposed to things the parent may deem harmful. I would like to assure you that I will avoid questionable content on this site as much as possible, but I’m also very much devoted to keep this story as true as possible to its original source material, deviating only to add literary depth and to enhance story pacing. While the Legend of Zelda has historically been rated “E for everyone” (with exception to Twilight Princess, which was rated “T for teen”), there are still concepts and themes that parents may want to be aware of, such as the themes of fantasy magic and a mild amount of violence and suggestive material. While the suggestive material never really goes much beyond the attire of some particular characters (or lack thereof) and usually makes sense for the situation:


—and similarly the violence (which was displayed at its worst in first chapter of this blog) is generally mild and always serves a point—it is necessary to be aware of it, and to use proper distinction in what you choose to allow your child to be exposed to. Magic has always played a strong role in the Zelda series, and this story won’t be any different. The Legend of Zelda takes place in a fictional land known as Hyrule, which was said to be created by three ancient, mystic goddesses. Link himself is capable of using some magic, and mystical power is used by both the forces of good and evil. While I believe that magic serves as a powerful metaphor in fantasy for real life themes and issues, the readers of this blog may disagree, and I respect their opinion. As always, it’s important to be able to distinguish between fantasy and reality, and know the consequences of blurring the line. That said, I think the Legend of Zelda is a rich, family friendly tale that provokes great thought and even striking a small tear or two. Nevertheless, just to be safe, I’m going to give this story an official rating of PG-13. That is, suitable for ages thirteen and upward. I will work very hard to keep this that way, and I encourage all my readers to post comments or send me an email if there is something they’d like to point out or discuss.
Well, I guess that gets all that out of the way. Aside from the usual “please leave me feedback!” rant that you all saw coming (but it didn’t come—so ha!), I suppose we can finally put a cork on these formalities and whatnot and get a move on with our adventure. How delightful.
See you all in the comments!

My Somewhat Late Introductions

Howdy peoples! Daniel here, and I'd like to discuss a few things regarding Ocarina of Time. Firstly, I'd like to bore you to death talk a little bit about what Zelda means to me as a franchise. Link and I go back a long ways. I think I must have been about thirteen years old when I played my first Zelda game: Link's Awakening, on Nintendo's Gameboy Color. Back then, I was rather obsessed with video games, and could hardly wait to get my hands on another acclaimed series. But there was something different about these games that I noticed right away. Unlike God of War, or Halo, or Final Fantasy or the like, I wasn't playing as a pre-written character. There wasn't anything complex about Link--he didn't have a long, tragic backstory or some extensive circle of attractive and/or powerful acquaintences, or even strange abilities that made him more powerful than the next person. At best, Link was a very vague character, and we are only briefly given an idea of how he came to be in the situation he is. For the Link of "A Link to the Past," we are introduced to a Link that is living with his Uncle, and are led to believe that his real parents have either died or have gone missing, with Link's father being a legendary Knight of Hyrule. In Link's Awakening, all we know about our Link is that he was sailing across the sea, and has suddenly shipwrecked on a strange island. In Ocarina of Time, Link was stated as nothing more than a Kokiri child, different among his peers because, unlike all the other children, he has no fairy. This said, it's very strange that one should become attached to the character of Link at all, because he practically doesn't even exist. What character development that does happen typically happens to those outside our dynamic perspective--those characters that Link meets and associates with along the way. The character of Link, if it can be called that, usually remains relatively unchanged throughout the games--any change that is perceived is perceived by the player, rather than the character. Even the name "Link" can be changed to a more desirable one (such as one's own name), should the player desire it. Why then should one care about the character of Link at all? Put in short, because we are Link. When asked about why the character of Link was given the name that he was, Miyamoto (the creator of Mario, Donkey Kong, Zelda, and many more Nintendo juggernauts) stated, very simply, that he wanted the character of Link to be the "link between the player and the game." Indeed, the very inspiration for the Legend of Zelda series was based off of Miyamoto's own childhood adventures he had in the woods and plains around him as a child. Through these games, he managed to bring not only his imagination, but also our imagination to the very forefront of the gaming experience. Although many people criticize the Zelda games for containing no voice acting, I believe what Miyamoto was trying to do was make the player imprint their own self on the character of Link, and become the person they are playing. Link is given choices throughout the game, and experiences many shocking events (both tragic and happy). To this day, one of my most fond memory of ever playing a video game was when Talon, the owner of Lon Lon Ranch, asked me if I wanted to marry his daughter, Malon (who was a very pretty lass, if I do say so myself). Of course, being a sensible lad back then, I refused, because I was clearly not at the right age to marry, and--afterall, I had Hyrule to save! But that's just it--I stopped differentiating between myself and Link. When I reasoned through choices and decisions I had to make during the game, I reasoned through them as I would, not as the character would. To this day, I have yet to find one person that has the same idea of who the character of Link really is. This is, after all, a pointless matter of discussion, because the character of Link doesn't exist--we are all "Link!"
While many games have since come to follow in the footsteps of Zelda (ie: Fable and most MMORPGS), Link set the standard for "link in between," and because of this has become one of my most cherished fictional characters of all time. It's not because he's fascinating or complex. He's not complicated. He's just me. He's the first person to make me feel like I really was in some fantastic magical land far away, and slaying all manners of evil monsters and dark lords and saving beautiful princesses along the way. In essence, the game reads like a book.
And that's what I have--have had, for many years. Unforgettable memories of exploring the mysterious Lost Woods, climbing the perilous peaks of Death Mountain, and swimming through the clear, cool waters of Lake Hylia. These are my memories of Zelda, and the world I was privileged to see back when my childly imagination was in full bloom. While my vision may (or rather, will) deviate from the visions others may have of the strange and exciting land of Hyrule, I hope that, at the very least, I can shed a little light on my own identity, and explore the rich, deep lessons all fellow adventurers of Hyrule have experienced that make the games so great. It is, if you may indulge me, possibly one of the greatest "coming of age" stories I have yet experienced. Though the adventures may seem childish at face-level, beneath its surface lies very real-world and surprisingly mature themes that I believe anyone can relate to. And it is for this reason I am happy and proud to (for the first time ever) break my "no fanfiction" policy and explore a world that is just as much my own as it is its creator's, and anyone who's ever journeyed themselves through the magical, wonderful land of Hyrule.

Mido would be Furious(er)

Link did not know what to do. Sure, Mido had done a number on him, but he wasn’t all that bad off. Would Saria think he was weak, being all…weak…like this? For crying out loud, he was being carried! What exactly was wrong with just walking to her house? Did he really need to be escorted by the royal cavalier? The more he thought about it, the more embarrassed by the whole incident he became. Saria, who seemed to somehow pick up on his discomfort, suddenly stopped and turned around.
“Irch, Linder, you can set Link down now.”
Irch and Linder looked at each other, clearly confused, and looked back at Saria.
“But…we aren’t at your house yet…”
“Yeah! It’s still a long way away!”
“I think Link and I can manage the rest of the way.”
“But…”
“Say, I think I heard something about Fado trying to gather up people to play Deku Sticks! Would any of you boys be interested in playing with her? I know she’d really appreciate it—”
“Golly Saria! You can count on us!”
“Yeah! It’s like we’re already there! Wheeee!”
Saria waved at the retreating forms of Mido’s two favorite henchmen. Take them away from Mido for half a minute, and they weren’t half as bad as they liked to pretend they were. Saria grinned to herself, and turned slyly over to Link.
“Say, Link, do you want to take a walk with me?”
Link jolted up in surprise. He was nearly so limp as he thought he was, and found himself blushing rather vividly. How did Saria keep embarrassing him like this?
“Uhh…sure. I mean, we’re going to your house anyway…right?”
“Not there silly!”
Link looked at Saria and scratched his head. There was a strange, mischievous glint in her eye.
“Wait…but I thought you said I had to—”
“Link, we both know you’re tougher than that. You’ve taken more than your fair share of beating from Mido before.”
Link couldn’t help but agree. Still, he did kind of ache.
“So, I was thinking, I found this really nice place...
Nice place? What was she talking about? Link grew redder as he thought about it.
“And I was hoping you could come see it with me!”
Link scratched his head again. He could feel his body temperature rise up about a thousand degrees.
“Umm…ok. Sure. …Where is it exactly?”
Saria paused a moment, clearly considering something, and then looked at Link straight in the eye, grinning all to wildly for Link to feel any measure of ease with what she was about to say.
“How does…the Lost Woods sound to you?”

Saria

Link knelt down beside Mido. He wasn’t moving, and his open eyes seemed to drift haphazardly about the forest, as if he didn’t know what to focus on. Good grief. All he did was punch him. Was Mido really this weak? Still, as much as he disliked him, Link didn’t want to seriously hurt Mido. He wasn’t a bully—he just wanted to be left alone.
Link observed Mido for a moment longer. He wasn’t particularly sure what to do in this situation. He remembered one time when Mido had gotten very angry with another Kokiri, and he resorted to hitting him on the head with a big stick. The kid fell hard to the ground, and didn’t move at all. Mido ordered another Kokiri go up and place his ear on the fallen kid’s chest, and give a ‘thumbs up’ or ‘thumbs down’ sign. Link didn’t know what that meant, but after the Kokiri had stuck his thumb up, everyone carried the knocked out kid into a hut, where he slept for several days before finally emerging again. That poor kid still hadn’t managed to look Mido in the eye since that day—nor Mido into his’.
Hesitantly, Link brought his head down, resting it against Mido’s chest. He felt a sort of bumping sound, like a thudding beat. Link began to raise his hand up in a ‘thumbs up’ fashion (as was his best guess what to do), when suddenly he felt a hard jab against the back of his head.
“GET’IM!”
Mido suddenly sprung to live, twisting Link around so that he was straight under him. Link felt punch after punch rocket against his face, and resolved then and there never to show compassion for Mido again. Before he could retaliate, however, two strong arms lock around his shoulders.
“Hold that scrub still!”
A sudden nauseous sensation rushed over him as he was lifted off of the ground and suspended in the air. It was bad enough he was the shortest of everyone in the group—why couldn’t he grow tall like they did? As far as he could tell, he hadn’t grown an inch in…how long had he been here?
Link felt a knee plunge into his stomach. A gasp forced his eyes open. Mido’s gang had circled around him, and Mido was standing right in the midst of them all, cheering everyone on. He kicked him again. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Nip, Mido’s aptly named, purple-haired fairy, trying to ignore what was going on. At least she left him alone.
Mido went on and on, spurred by the cheers and jeers of his loyal cronies. With every punch, it became harder and harder to keep his eyes open—yet Mido kept coming at him.
“Idiot scrub! You think you can be one of us? You think you can waltz around in these woods like you’re worth something? You think you’re so great, but guess what I think of you! I think you’re a stupid, brainless, slimy—”
“Mido. STOP.”
Everyone turned around. A lone figure stood against the edge of the crowd, glaring at Mido. She was short and slim, but her emerald eyes betrayed a fiery temper. Her hair, a mossy green, hung down to her neck, a small wooden headband holding it in place. Despite her genteel manner, she seemed as much a part of the forest around her as the trees themselves. Wherever she stepped, the woods seemed to unfurl and bloom, as if she were a walking painting. She was a true child of the wood—tender and caring, yet forceful and severe when angered.
“Saria…this isn’t what it looks like…”
Saria ignored Mido and pushed her way through the crowd. Whether because of dull wit or mere shock, the two Kokiri that had been holding Link upward had not managed to loosen him, and seemed to only be able stare open-jawed as the green-haired girl marched forward. As she arrived, she shot one cutting glance at Mido, and gestured for the two Kokiri boys to let Link down. They complied immediately. Saria knelt down beside Link’s limp body. Mido grew very, very red in the face.
“Saria, I didn’t really mean to do it…he just hit me, and I—”
“Be quiet Mido. You are not the victim here.”
Mido blushed as Saria lowered her head next to Link’s ear, whispering softly to him.
“You know Link, there’s one thing Mido hates to see more than anything else—a smile.
With a little effort, Link let out a smug grin, prompting Mido to turn away in a huff. Saria slowly rose to her feet, and gestured to the two standing Kokiri.
“Irch, Linder, take Link to my house. I’ll tend to him there myself. And be gentle with him.”
Mido spun around in a fit of anger, his face now turning a sort of purple hue.
“YOUR house? Link can’t go there! I’m the only—I mean, I built the place! You can’t just let him barge in and—”
“Mido. Be quiet.”
Mido and Saria stared at each other for a very long moment. Finally, after what seemed a small eternity, Mido subsided, throwing his arms up in the air and trying to pretend he didn’t care.
“Fine. It’s your house Saria. ‘Not like I care what you do with that scrub anyway. I’ve got better things to do than worry all day about some stupid outsider.”
Saria’s eyes narrowed.
“Be careful Mido, or else you may end up becoming an outsider as well.”
Mido darkened, clenching his teeth as he averted his gaze. His head hung very low. Saria looked at him a moment longer, and walked away. Irch and Linder nervously glanced at each other, then at Mido, then at Link. Finally, they picked him up, and—gently as possible—began to run after Saria.
“What does she mean, “you’ll become an outsider?”
Mido turned and angrily walked away.
“Nothing Rown. Now shut up and get back to work trimming my hedges.”

The Boy Without a Fairy

WHOP!
“Ha! Get’em Mido! Get the lousy scrub!”
BAM!
“Ha! That’ll teach that stupid no-fairy!”
SPLOSH!
“How does that mushy apple taste outsider?”
It was another day. Another day and another pounding. Little Link had barely enough time to descend his treehouse before another ragtag band of troublemakers, led by Mido, arrived to effectuate his daily beat-up session. He hated these sessions. Mido always called them ‘initiation rituals’, because they were testing to see if he had become a ‘real man’ yet. Link was fairly certain that Mido knew from the beginning he would never become a ‘real man’, and was equally unsure whether Mido knew what ‘initiation ritual’ even meant. Of course, that didn’t bother Mido. He attended these sessions religiously and never failed to be the life of the party.
“Hey scrub! Did’ja catch a fairy yet? Or did she fly away because you smelled too bad?”
Why wouldn’t Mido and his gang just leave him alone? Wasn’t it bad enough that he never got to join the rest of the Kokiri at the late night campfires, or that he was always picked last to play fairy tag (if he was picked at all), or that the only place he had to live was a miserable, aging treehouse on the very edge of the clearing, several long minutes away from everyone else? If they ignored him, that would be one thing. He was used to being left out. But the fact that they took pleasure in spoiling what precious time he did have to himself…it made him angry.
THOCK!
Another punch. A stream of red was running down his face.
“Hey, look! He really does bleed! Maybe he’s not a scrub after all! Maybe he’s a…Skull Kid! Just look at that blank expression on his face! It’s like he doesn’t have one at all! What’s wrong little Skull Kid? Did’ja lose yourself in the woods? Oh, I forgot! You’re always lost!”
The crowd roared with laughter. Link lay miserably in the dirt, unable and unwilling to move. He dazed off into the treetops, trying to ignore Mido’s endless abuse. Then, he noticed something—a strange bird with golden pupils, perched very high up in a tall tree. It was looking him straight in the eye, and appeared to be frowning. Its head spun around like a wheel, observing him from bizarre angles, and never appearing to blink. Link was certain by now that he was hallucinating, because the bird suddenly starting talking, though no one else seemed to be able to hear.
“Get up Link! Get up! Get up Link! Get up! You’re strong Link! You have a fairy now! Get up!”
As if he had a fairy. He had been waiting for one to come to him for…how long had he been here? At any rate, every single Kokiri in the forest had received a fairy companion, except for him. Was the Great Deku Tree deliberately trying to ignore him? Did he really hate him like everyone else? Why did he have to be different?
“Get up Link! Get up! You have a fairy! You are strong! The time has come! Hoot hoot!”
“I’m talking to you scrub!”
That was it. Whether because of the strange bird’s incessant prodding, or because of his desperation to end this stupid ritual, Link suddenly grabbed an oncoming punch, catapulted himself to his feet, and smashed his fist as hard as he could into Mido’s left cheek. The bully fell hard to the ground. The crowd fell silent.

Sleeping In

Link gasped as he jolted upright in his cot. Pain rippled through his entire body, and he could not stop shivering. He ached all over, and his usually cozy shelter suddenly felt cold and lonely. He was unable to decide whether he should get up and eat some breakfast, or settle back into his bunk to try and get some real sleep. Eventually, the chill of the air persuaded him to try the latter, and he hastily snuggled back under his blanket, closing his eyes and hoping for pleasant dreams. But the dreams never came. He rolled over, counted squirrels, and even tried singing lullabies to himself. Sadly, nothing worked—it seemed the more he tried to lull himself to sleep, the more awake he became. Link finally threw aside the blanket in frustration, and got to his feet. He looked around his cabin—there was a small wooden table made from half of a log in the corner of the room, with two tiny tree stump chairs set neatly on opposite sides. A wooden worktable was set on the opposite side of the room, cluttered not so neatly with papers, paintbrushes, spades, small knives, wooden blocks, and all kinds of other trinkets. A mirror and wash basin sat near the center of the table, along with his clothes. They were very plain clothes—a slim, green tunic woven from leaves, tied around the base with a strand of twine, and a small pair of boots (Link preferred not to guess what this was made out of). On top of these garments lay a small, green hat. It was pointed at the end, but slack, so that it hung down flatly almost to his shoulders. Although most everyone in the Kokiri forest wore this style garb, each set managed to distinguish itself in creative ways. Many of the other boys wore tunics and hats made from red or orange leaves, or from moss, or even some from thorny vines! The girls were more creative (and safe), and often had special garments made from lily flowers or different color roses. Of course, Link's wasn't anything special. Just plain old, boring green.
“Well, I guess I should get dressed.”
And that’s precisely what he did. After slipping into his tunic (which was much to large for him), and tightening it with his belt, he jumped into his boots and fitted his floppy cap neatly across his head. Then, feeling a bit hungry, he sat himself down at his table, and began to snarf down a collection of deku seeds he had gathered several weeks prior. Suddenly, he heard a voice outside. Rather, several voices, coming his way.
“I wonder if he’s home?”
“He’ll be there. He always sleeps in. Such a lazy bum.”
“Quiet! He’ll hear you!”
“Dummy! We’re not trying to sneak up on him! We’re just…'visiting'.”
"We're just...visiting? But I thought we were...were... Oh...I get it...we're just 'visiting'. Heh heh heh. I get it now."
"You're an idiot."
Link’s heart sank. He knew those voices all too well. A quick look out of the window by his bedside confirmed his suspicions—he had slept in.

The Owl and the Tree

The sun shone brightly over the expanse of leaves. Though its light penetrated scarce few places, the tops of the woods glittered in brilliant emerald, and the air was filled with the sounds of peaceful woodlife. The trees, beyond count, spread about like waves, blowing this way and that in the wind, scattering a torrent of leaves in every direction. The forest spread infinitely in every direction, but overlooking it all was a towering, mighty oak. Its thick branches arched boldly over the earth, canopying the nearby woods like a giant mushroom. Though the sheer amount of trees should have left the forest in perpetual darkness, the forest seemed to give off a light of its own. It was not quite like sunlight, but felt warm and radiant nonetheless, and lathered the wood in a soft glow. This glow, accompanied by a rather luscious aroma of exotic fruit, seemed to emanate most strongly from the great tree, and the very air around it seemed to emanate a powerful aura. That is, it used to. Though the tree still towered firmly over its kin, its light was dim, and its leaves were growing fewer and fewer. Despite the fact that winter had passed several weeks ago, the tree was showing no sign of renewal, and was growing a deathly grey color. A subtle stench was beginning to replace the aroma of its lost fruit, and the very forest around it had grown silent and foreboding. The only sounds to be heard were the suspicious hooting of a rather large owl, and a hollow rumbling sound, emanating from the base of the great tree.
“It is no use, Kaepora. My time has come. I have endured through many ages, but even I cannot live forever. Already, my bark grows stiff and cracks. I am dying.”
“Great Deku Tree, you cannot die yet. The boy has not learned who he is. Without the wood’s protection, he will—”
“I have seen to this Kaepora. The boy shall know soon enough. As for this forest…Kaepora…there is no one I trust more than you. I know that, in this form, it is difficult for you to do much, and you have already put forth so much effort on my behalf. But despite this, I would ask you to do one more thing me. A final request from a withering, old stump.”
“You know you can ask me anything, old friend.”
“I would like you to watch over these woods in my stead. It will not be for long, but it is important that the children are kept safe. Dark times are looming, and I regret that I will not be here when they arrive.”
“Please Great Deku Tree! Isn’t there anything that can be done? I am not much younger than you are, and my feathers are worn and tired. If it is your wish, I could summon the potion-makers, or perhaps the maskman, or the King of Hyrule himself! There must be another way. There is still time!”
“There is still time, but none for it abnegation. My passing will be swift, and my enemies will not hesitate to penetrate what few protections this wood will have left. I am depending on you, old friend. Will you not defend my posterity, as I am no longer able to do so myself?”
“…Yes, Great Deku Tree. I shall do as you ask.”
“Thank you Kaepora. You have treated me more my kindly than I deserve. Surely, the goddesses smile warmly upon you.”
There was silence. After a moment, the tree began groaning again, and spoke in a low, grim tone.
“Do you sense it Kaepora? The climate of evil is descending upon this realm. Malevolent forces are even now mustering to attack our land of Hyrule. For so long, the Kokiri Forest, the source of life, has stood as a barrier, deterring outsiders and maintaining the order of the world. But before this tremendous power that is awakening, even my power is as nothing. The time has come for the boy without a fairy to begin his journey…the youth it is said to lead Hyrule to the path of justice and truth.”
“You said you have seen to the boy.”
“I spoke truly. Bring to me the fairy named Navi. She will be the boy’s new guardian.”
“He is to have a fairy of his own?”
“Indeed. I have prepared her especially for this. Of all the fairies in this forest, she is the one I’ve come to hold in greatest reverence. Her wisdom may one day rival my own, and her heart far exceeds her small size. She will guide the child, and show him his true path.”
“I see. The boy is to finally feel entwined to his kindred, only to depart from them and face abandonment in the midst of the world outside.”
“Only for a time. I do not believe his abandonment will not last forever, but will instead be the fallen apple that sprouts a forest anew. His time here has served its purpose well, but now he must move on. He must take the bridge.”
“But what about the stone? How will he fulfill the prophecy without it? It's unsettling enough that the man from the desert knew of its true purpose—how will the stone be concealed now?”
“Do not worry Kaepora, everything has been arranged. I have entrusted the stone to a very dear friend of mine. She will know when the time is right to give it to him. You must take care to guard them both with you life, for their survival will be key to Hyrule's preservation."
"I understand."
"Good. ...The time has come Kaepora. I have lived a long life, and I have no regrets. You have proven yourself more than an ally to me—you are my friend, and I cherish the time we have spent together. Doubtless, my life would have been far less worthy without the benefit of your unmitigated amity and sagacity. I am truly grateful for all that you have done."
"You esteem me too greatly, Great Deku Tree."
"I only wish, old friend, that I had a little more time with you. But it is not to be. My power will pass on to another, and I will be forgotten. You alone will carry my memory..."
"Great Deku Tree..."
“Do not mourn my passing, Kaepora. Death is not the antithesis to life—it is its fulfillment. And at last my purpose shall be fulfilled...”
“...We will not see each other again, will we, Great Deku Tree?”
Reticence filled the air. The great tree groaned a final time.
“It is not for me to say; your own purpose has not yet been fulfilled. You have great work ahead of you…but that is all I may tell. Fly Kaepora! Fly! The fate of the forest, nay, the world, depends upon the swiftness of your wings!”
“Hoot hoot!”
There was a rustle of feathers as a strong gale swept across the forest, and all was silent once more.

Not One of Us

"In the vast, deep forest of Hyrule...long have I served as the guardian spirit, the Great Deku Tree. The children of the forest, the Kokiri—my children—live here with me. To each of my children, I have granted a guardian fairy. These loyal friends guide my children and teach them the ways of the woods. Ever watchful they are, prepared to protect their charges when necessary, and vigilant to pass on my wisdom, keeping my young within the shelter of my domain. Yet there is one boy who has not received the gift of his kindred. He possesses no fairy, and is an outcast from the only family he has in the world. He is not one of us.”

Mother and Child

This dream again.
No matter which way he looked, wherever he went, he could not escape the horrific scenes of bloodshed and violence swarming the streets around him. A great battle was being waged, and though hundreds of dead corpses lay piled across each other, such that the stone pavement itself had grown red with blood, there was no clear way to determine which side was winning—if there were even sides at all. Screams of agony and terror pierced his ears—not just that of man, but of woman and child also. Wild-looking men set fire to house upon house, barging in and bludgeoning everything that moved with razor sharp swords and spears. The air was foul with the reek of rotting flesh, and even the starlit sky seemed to give no light at all. A crack of thunder gave way to a beating, icy rain, blanketing the battlefield in a translucent mist.
It felt so real.
Suddenly, he heard the shriek of a horse. It shouldn’t have alarmed him, amidst all the other cries and moans penetrating the air. However, this particular shriek he had heard before, and countless times the owner of this shriek had nearly tackled him to the ground—if indeed, it was possible to tackled to the ground in your own dream. Knowing he had little time to ponder the matter further, he instinctively glanced behind him and looked upon the chaos that brewed. He stood before a vast temple, proud and beautiful in the face of the terrible slaughter before it. A maze of buttresses, arches and spires sent it ascending endlessly into the sky, and the pale moonlight cast an otherworldly glow across its marble surface. Despite its beauty, the temple seemed eerily still, as if time itself slowed at its threshold.
The horse shrieked again. It was in sight now—an elegant, white steed, carrying a robed passenger upon it. The passenger was holding something, a small bundle, wrapped tightly in swaddling cloth. The bundle cried out, and instantly he realized it was a baby. Within moments, the steed passed him by, its passenger turning its cloaked head to gaze at him. It was only an instant, but the stranger had a strange, familiar presence. Long, flowing blonde hair, and liquid blue eyes, staring at him in pity. She was a woman. A mother and her child, fleeing the violence and depravity of war. How he wished he could flee with her—to be rid of this rank place, these horrible visions. But just as soon as he had considered giving chase, the woman had fled out of sight, disappearing amongst the burning houses and endless savages and corpses.
He knew what would come next.
Another crack of thunder revealed a shadow looming behind him. He spun around again, and beheld a demon. A black steed, stained red with blood, snorted at him, and on its back sat the very incarnation of evil itself. His skin was like bronze, and adorned with rich, red robes. Hateful yellow eyes glared down at him beneath tangled red hair, and a cruel smirk was set on his lips. He was rugged and savage-like in appearance, but upon his head rested a regal, golden crown. He grunted, and then spoke in a low, moaning voice.
“You there. Child. You must have seen the white horse and her rider gallop past just now. Which way did it go? Answer me, and I may yet spare your life.”
He didn’t want to answer. He knew he couldn’t. He couldn’t betray the mother and her child. They needed him, though he didn’t know why. He firmed his lips, and stared at the dark rider defiantly. The rider laughed.
“Pathetic little fool! You think you can protect them from me?”
He stood his ground. He would not flee. He would never flee.
“I see…you have great courage, child. Your deeds are admirable. But they will not save you. The darkness feasts on the blood of courage and grows strong of it. Tonight, I shall grow stronger by the taste of your own blood.”
Even though he knew it was a dream, and had experienced this same event a thousand times over, it never prepared him for this one, single moment. As the dark rider raised his hand, a torrent of dark energy swirled around him, tormenting him with agonizing pain. The rider laughed savagely, and raised his hand again. The world went black.