MOST of the races, like the Kokiri and Gorons and Gerudo, are not my ideas. In fact, most of the characters, like Saria and Link and Farore, are not my ideas. The Zelda series, which was developed and copywritten (or however you'd put that) by Nintendo, is where I got most of my ideas, though others come from books, friends, etc. and good ol' brainstormin'.
This is a supremely awesome title! Thank you Cilia!! Intro - Ch 11 have been revised and super edited. ::D
It was a simple autumn morning as I woke up; the sun was shining brightly through the branches just overhead, the birds were chirping their farewells to summer, the squirrels were, err, squirrelly, and I was in the Lost Woods. Ah, please excuse me; I’d forgotten you do not know who I am. I am Joshua Treehopper the Leaf Kokiri. I have brown hair and green eyes, both quite contrary to the common Kokiri but still a natural possibility. I was not born of flesh, however, but of the earth itself. You see, I was created by the Great Deku Tree in the beginning of the world, back when Farore used to roam these forests and woods herself.
On that day, I was wandering about the Lost Woods gathering Deku Sticks, Deku Nuts, herbs, mushrooms, healing roots, and several other things when I suddenly felt a disturbance in the flow of magic streams about me. Then, dozens of voices rushed into my head using telepathy as I tried to find the disturbance.
I woke up Jordan, my spring green fairy, and we rushed off to the Leaf Kokiri Village to the southeast. We could both hear them now, they were calling several names: Joshua, Link, Makaryu, Saria, Fado, Aurom, Farore, and several others. I sensed the presences of Saria and Aurom coming, but Fado was too far to have even hoped to come to help.
On the way, I dropped in on the Berry Kokiri Village, our sister village along the borders of the Lost Woods and dropped my supplies off there. I also picked up the Kokiri Sword, which I’d left there for safe-keeping when I’d gone into the Lost Woods since they seemed to need it more when I’d left them. I could use magic to defend myself, after all. They knew that something was happening, but they didn’t know what. They gave me their blessings and I was off again, headed directly for my village. The telepathic screams had yet to die down.
The Berry Village was also known as the “Kokiri Village of New Beginnings” since it was where all new Kokiri went to live for the first twenty years of their lives. They were trained how to fight, for their sakes, and their fairies memorized numerous monster names and how to defeat them. It also taught the Kokiri how to forage for food and other various survival things.
The Leaf Village was also known as the “Kokiri Village of Leaves” since it was where any Kokiri who wanted to learn Forest, Life, or Air magic went to. The Leaf Village supported Leaf and Berry style magic and their various combinations.
When I arrived, I realized I was too late to help more than the remaining handful. Who was I to find but Shadow Link leading the assault on my family? Jordan said something, but I wasn’t listening to him right then. I was listening to a blood-thirsty voice in my heart that screamed for vengeance, it was stronger than Jordan’s yelling and I foolishly charged at the monsters. I slew a Dynalfos, three Moblins, and fourteen Bokoblins before being surrounded with four Kokiri and two Deku guarding my back. The four Kokiri were all slingshot users and the Deku were masters of the Deku Spin technique. With the valor of the Kokiri fighting there, the village held out for a total of nine hours before the last of us was beaten. The enemies kept coming, so we kept fighting.
There were so many, we couldn’t possibly hope to beat them all on our own. Shadow Link raised his left hand; there was a gauntlet on it, a grey and plain gauntlet. He aimed at us and roared, “Kill them all, don’t let any escape! Such is the will of our master, Ganondorf!”
The monsters greedily obeyed and we fought for our lives until sundown. I had cornered Shadow Link into a one-on-one duel. We fought high above the ground, high in the treetops, when Saria arrived and not a second too soon.
She aided two female Kokiri escape before she was forced to abandon us. One was a girl with long green hair and was from the Berry Village; the other had blonde hair with green highlights and was from the Leaf Village. I never spent very much time in either village, but they were evidently very important, since the villagers risked their lives making a distraction specifically for them.
I later learned why she left, apparently, far away in Hyrule Field; a battle was taking place between a new Link and Ganondorf. I didn’t blame her after I learned, but I blamed all others who didn’t answer the call who could have answered it. She and the other twelve Sages of Light, Fire, Water, Shadow, Spirit, Earth, Air, Time, Unity, Mind, Twilight, and Ice banded together and sealed Ganondorf away with the Thirteen Sage Seal; this seal would not break for several centuries.
But, by the time she had returned from sealing Ganondorf, I was nearly dead and one of the escapees Kokiri had apparently become the prey of the monsters that had suddenly assaulted the Berry Kokiri Village, which now lay in ruins. The other escapee Kokiri was nowhere to be found and Oromis was by my side. Apparently, they hadn’t actually been fighting the only Ganondorf, because he had split himself into two beings. Phantom Ganondorf battled me once I had brought Shadow Link to his knees.
On my own, I stood little chance against him, so I had called on one of the only two beings I knew who had ever come when I needed either, “Oromis!” The other was Jordan. Oromis, a gold-furred wolf, came riding a golden cloud, snarling at the fiend. His right eye was scarred by a past battle wound from a battle we had taken part not long after the creation of the world.
I rode atop Oromis like a Hylian or Gerudo rode a horse. We battled fiercely, but in the end, Phantom Ganondorf had more Power.
Kaepora Gaebora, the great owl, appeared from as though nowhere and picked both Oromis and I up from our battle just as Ganondorf was about to finish us off, “Noooo!” I screamed in rage, “Send me back, I have to… finish… it…” Then, everything went black.
Kaepora, instead of following my request, brought me to the Great Deku Tree who comforted me for four days before he deemed it necessary to repopulate the forest with his children, thus he called forth the Kokair. They wore green and brown clothes, had bright red or fire orange or bark brown or spring green hair, had blue or green or blue-green eyes, and the oldest-looking among them seemed to be thirteen years old; Kokiri stopped aging about ten years of age.
For five years, I lived in seclusion with the monkeys of the Faron Woods’ Forest Temple. While there, I crafted powerful wooden staves, helped them defend their temple, and rested my weary heart.
Then, a short, lost Kokair with blonde hair and green highlights stumbled upon the temple’s eastern outskirts, which were bordered by the Lost Woods.
I boomed in a loud voice from a treetop, “Leave now, or fight me!” She looks a lot like the girl Saria saved five years ago, and she’s pretty cute. I don’t think I could fight her.
She responded in a less than noble voice, “Is there a third option, like being friends?” I burst out laughing and fell out of the tree I was in. I rolled about, laughing my head to pieces while she gazed at me in pure shock and amazement. After a brief moment, demanded in rage, “What’s so funny?!”
I gave her a grin and responded, “You have courage!” Plus you’re very cute and you’re a kind person, I can see that much very clearly.
She asked uncertainly, “And that’s funny?” Who is this boy? Why does he seem familiar?
“No, but it is cause for celebration, particularly when I think of our other brothers and sisters.”
“Our, so you’re a Kokair as well?”
“No, I am a Kokiri. Has the Great Deku Tree taught you nothing of your ancestors?”
“He never said we had any,” her fairy replied.
“Did you ever bother to even ask?” Jordan, my fairy, inquired. I think you’re right; she just might be that girl, or a reincarnation. We know the Great Deku Tree made reincarnations of several Kokiri.
“Well, no,” she admitted.
“But, why would we have?” her blue fairy demanded.
“I dunno,” I picked myself up, “Ah, but where are my manners, I am Joshua Treehopper the Leaf Kokiri.”
“And I am Jordan, possibly the last Kokiri fairy.”
“Glad to meet you both, I am Cilia Kytail the Forest Kokair and he is Marth, my fairy.”
“Glad to meet you, as well, do you wish to learn of your ancestors?”
“Perhaps another time, I should probably be returning to the village.”
“Ah, well, when you want to hear it, come back, okay?” Completely unfair, I wanted to spend more time with you.
“Okay, g’bye.”
“G’bye,” I watched her as she left the Faron Woods, and actually followed her, leaping from branch to branch stealthily high in the treetops, blending in with the leaves every time she looked. I found their village and was about to leap out and start pummeling the Kokair. They had inhabited the trees nearly high as the clouds and had cleared a large number of trees to make bridges linking the trees together along where the holes in the trees were! They had also set their entrances high into the treetops, and had to make ramps back down to the stone wall they'd erected.
“Jordan, how could we have been so numb to the plight of the forest?”
“I… I wish I knew… Let’s just leave, okay?”
“Yeah, if we stay, I’ll likely begin to try and correct them.” We left and Cilia and Marth came to the temple occasionally, though we didn’t follow them again for five years, when we decided to move into a tree about mid-way between the village’s outskirts and the Great Deku Tree and the Lost Woods’ outskirts. I transformed into the form of a Kokair to blend in better.
Things were not peaceful, however, and most Kokair looked at me like a monster. They didn’t know who I was, or how long I’d been there. I once met a Deku archer, about thirty-five years later, and foolishly challenged him in a match of archery. What a Robin Hood, Blast is… I would wander the Lost Woods for days at a time, returning after killing vast hordes of Bokoblins and bringing back much needed supplies like Deku Sticks, Deku Nuts, herbs and curative roots, iron ore, and occasionally rare mushrooms.
I don’t even know how old I am, though I have lived longer than most any other creature and my knowledge of lore and legends is to be respected. My eyes are a bright emerald hue. My hair has always been short and brown, even though I don’t trim it. I keep the Kokiri Emerald tied around my neck and the Kokiri Sword at my waist. Few Kokair speak to me, the rest trying to avoid me as much as possible. Jordan has endured similar treatment from the majority of the Kokairs’ fairies and shines a marvelous green. We have even, in time long past, seen and spoken with Farore, Goddess of Courage and she who breathed life into Hyrule.
I was dreaming the sorts of dreams you can only dream about near the end of spring when a female Kokair with spring-green, short-trimmed hair, summer green eyes, a spring green sleeveless shirt and skirt with a dark green long sleeved undershirt, headband, and belt, and brown boots, awoke me with her loud and obnoxious call.
“JOSHUA!!!!” I was instantly awake, but banged my head on the floor as I fell over from my bed. I was somewhat glad that I didn’t hit the night stand less than a foot from where I half-landed. My Kokiri Sword and Kokiri Emerald hung on an otherwise empty rack across the room; Jordan was semi-awake in his little bed in a lantern, renovated with the bed rather than a gas fire especially for him. Light from both Jordan’s lantern and the semi-shuttered window sprinkled onto my face and bed.
“What, can’t you see I’m trying to sleep?!” I grumpily yelled back, not bothering to get up yet. Yelling at a friend first thing in the morning, how much more wonderful can it get?
“Joshua, wake up you lazy guy!” Sinibi, her green fairy, yelled, “There’s a huge meeting going on!” I finally rose to my feet, scratching my back.
“Come on!” Saria yelled.
I drowsily went to my shuttered window and yelled, “Alright, when is it?!”
“Five minutes ago!” Sinibi yelled from the opposite side of the shutters.
“Okay, on my way,” I stated. I went to my closet, getting my clothes on in less than twenty seconds, they were all green Kokair Tunics, Kokair Boots, Kokair Hats, and red belts with gold buckles. I then went back into my room, then walked into my hallway and took a right and walked down to my washroom where I attended to my bodily needs. Meanwhile, I heard several thumping sounds outside, most likely Saria leaping off of the trees up to my wooden porch with bamboo rails painted royal purple just outside my home’s twenty meter high porch.
I heard my front door open and a few footsteps, “It’s at the Great Deku Tree’s Sacred Haven, and you’re the main topic this time,” Saria educated coolly. I guessed she was in the living room, which was situated directly next to the front door on your left as you walked in.
“Very well, but why is that so?” I groaned as I finished up. Jordan finally got out of his lantern and came over to the door leading into the bathroom.
“You’re a couple of lay abouts, that’s how come!” Sinibi rudely answered as I finished up and went for some food in my kitchen. A bowl was full of berries on the triangular table in the middle of the room; three chairs were set up along each side of the table. Cupboards held packets of grounded herbs for my herbal tea, clay and glass cups, and other things.
“That’s not true,” I argued, then tossed a handful of berries in my mouth, letting the flavors mix on my tongue after chomping them a few times. They smelled like crushed roses in the evening and tasted like a mix of every kind of berry you can think of. It was a true treat to have such a wide variety as the one I had growing near my home, just to my northeast.
“How is that?” Sinibi immediately asked as we went to the living room, just down the hall and on our right. Saria looked worried, but Sinibi seemed downright infuriated. Saria was seated in a chair at the long table directly in front of the door with Sinibi standing on her headband. Six chairs surrounded the three meter long by one meter wide table and a rocking chair was next to the window.
“Where do you think those goods on the store’s counters come from?!” Jordan hollered defensively, “We get them, of course!” I mentally bonded with Jordan, Thanks, wish you could taste these berries, they’re simply delicious.
Oh, don’t worry about that, I don’t mind yelling at Sinibi.
Heh, but remember Jordan that we’ve gotta keep our friends, since there are so few.
Okay, okay, but that can get difficult considering its Sinibi…
Suddenly, Saria, the ‘Peaceful Queen of the Kokair,’ began arguing too, “Big deal, any Kokair can grab a few nuts, sticks, and things! You need a real job! Gathering isn’t helping, it’s being dead weight, like Mido’s been saying all along!”
I was angry at that insult and, after swallowing my delicious berries, yelled in defense, “What of those herbs? Who’s the pair that go into the Lost Woods and face armies of monster for herbs?!” Now, all four of us were angrily upset. “We’ve been endangering our skins for the past forty something years getting those herbs, and that’s all you can complain about?!” What’s gotten into Saria? She’s usually not like this, maybe the whole situation between Mido and I finally got to her…
“Risking your life, you say?” Sinibi asked, “It sounds like a bunch of cowards’ tales, you don’t really stay in the Lost Woods that long, do you?”
“Of course we do, Sinibi!” Jordan hastily defended, “You’re the cowards since you never go! It’s not as bad as you think, is it Josh?!”
“No, it’s not nearly as bad as all those rumors.” I then admitted, “Even though it can get dangerous at times; Jordan and I have also kept the monsters at bay for the sake of the village that never accepted us. I don’t see a real reason as to why we should continue to defend it.”
“W-What did you just say, Josh?!” Jordan asked, stunned.
“I don’t see why we defend the village that has never and will never accept us. We should probably just”-
Saria abruptly ran away, crying audibly. Sinibi glared a moment, and then followed, leaving an aura of hatred in the air. I sighed and sat down in a rocking chair made entirely of wood. I rocked back and forth slowly; it was my “thinking spot.”
Now what do I do? I need to apologize to Saria before Mido banishes me... well, that's the most likely thing that a meeting all about me would be based on; banishment, what a strange thought.
“Joshua, get up, we have a meeting to show up to,” Jordan commanded.
“If Saria’s reaction is any clue, they’ll banish us.”
“Well then, what do you propose we do?” Jordan asked coolly.
“Find a friend or two and hope they have a better solution than facing those-“
“There is no alternative, let’s just get it over with!”
You’re probably right, “Alright, let’s go.” I got up out of my chair, dashed into my bedroom, setting my sword across my back and my emerald around my neck. Jordan was speechless at my decision to go along, partly because I’m rather stubborn.
As I was about to walk out the door, Jordan asked, “You’re giving up, just like that?”
“Yep, we gotta stick together, at the very least.”
“Is that the only reason?” I nodded confirmatively, “Okay then, time to go!”
I walked out the door, went a few feet to the rails and clasped my hands around them. I won’t lose you both. Cilia leapt out of an adjacent tree and connected her left, un-shooed heel with my right cheek in a sweeping blow that sent me crashing through the bamboo rails and an additional forty meters before reaching the ground and tumbling another meter. Cilia wore two black pearl ear rings with a mahogany headband with a hematite in it, a green overcoat, long black pants, and, as stated, no shoes. Her dirty blond hair reached her shoulder blades and she had green highlights with long bangs. Her eyes were of the same color as Marth, royal blue.
Cilia roared in rage, “Why in the world did you do that?!” Josh needs some sense knocked into him, but I think I hit too hard.
I slowly rose to my feet, ignoring my pulsing, black cheek, and greeted casually, “What a fine way to start the morning, good morning to you too, Cilia.” I actually sounded heartfelt and like everything was fine. This would disturb any person who had not known me as extensively as Jordan has. He chuckled at my childishness; I could be rather strange like that.
“What’s so good about it?!” Marth demanded.
“So far, nothing has gone well. I can always hope, though,” I responded optimistically.
Cilia changed the subject slightly, “Well, still, why’d you make Saria cry like that?!” I hope he’ll forgive me someday.
I really don’t want to argue, particularly not with Cilia, not today of all days.
“The world’s always seemed against us, regardless of what we did,” Jordan explained. Or at least that’s the majority of the truth, right?
Yep, but things always have the potential of looking up. “You know our secret, but will you continue to keep it even after we’re banished?” I asked with a solemn look on my face.
She leaped down from my house’s high porch and landed two feet in front of me, “You’re changing the subject, but no, I won’t tell,” she replied. Who would believe me, anyway?
I rubbed my cheek as I finally answered her question, “Doing that hurt me more than your kick, and it’ll probably cost me her friendship. I had to defend myself, though.” I stopped rubbing my cheek and asked, “What stand will you take in this issue?” We looked dead in the eyes, neither conveying our true, innermost feelings.
“If we go with you,” Marth started, “We’ll be just about friendless. If we go against you, you’ll be just about friendless.”
It was perfectly quiet between the four of us for several minutes as we stood in the still forest. A breeze bellowed east and my green, triangular hat flowed in it. I tilted my hat forward so it was just covering my eyebrows and began to walk to the Great Deku Tree’s Sacred Haven, Jordan resting peacefully on my left shoulder and my right hand set on my sword’s hilt. Cilia and Marth followed moments later in a similar pose with her headband over her eyebrows.
Even while we were still a fair distance off, we could hear what they were yelling. On the way there, I began assembling three plans. Okay, if Mido DOES banish me, I’ll have to live in another sentient race’s village and see about making a new life for myself. I just hope Cilia will forgive me for leaving since I… really… okay, not the time to think about that. Gotta focus, umm, okay, so if that doesn’t work out, I can also ask someone like Kaepora if I can live in the Sacred Realm. Oh, but if I can’t get that to work out, I’ll go live with Saria or Fado, the only other Kokiri left around who I know I can count on.
The Great Deku Tree’s Sacred Haven, where the meeting was taking place, wasn’t very complex. It was a large open area with a single, great tree in the center and almost like a wall of tall, skinny trees surrounding it. Soft, damp grass was all over the large area, delicate flowers grew here and there, mostly just blue or red or white, and the Kokair occasionally came about to lay around and do nothing. Strange, since that’s what they were accusing me of doing.
Unfortunately, my first plan crumbled to dust before my eyes. I looked throughout the crowd assembled, “Quite the group, the Deku didn’t come, but there are three Gerudo that decided to come.” There were also four Ordonians, three Kakariko Hylians, three Hyrule Castle Guards, five Gorons, two Zoras and about sixty Kokair. The Great Deku Tree was also present, being unable to move, though Kaepora was conspicuously missing. Okay, cross that out on my list, I’ll have to ask the Deku, but I doubt they’ll let me in. Oh, and there’s always the monkeys I could live with.
The Gerudo were a race of solely females except for one male born every century. The weapons they wielded were spears, bows, dual scimitars, and the deserts they lived in, which would either melt you in the day or freeze you in the night. The male born every century was instantly made king and taught everything that would cram into his head. The greatest warrior and witch usually taught the king, but in rare occurrences, it would be two witches or two warriors. The Kokiri and Gerudo have had a few misunderstandings and territorial disputes, but that was usually the worst that came between our races.
The Ordonian Hylians all had spears or swords and shields with them, and all wore clothing which was quite raggedy. Their bodies were a lot like a human’s, but they had long ears and they all had green or blue eyes and either blonde or brown hair. Ordonians talked a lot like what people would consider a Georgian to, but were from the mountains south of the Faron Woods. They had a bad past with the Kokiri, but they had since been far kinder to nature. The Ordonians have had some rough times, but they had been getting better ever since they made an alliance with the Kokair. Together, both races have grown strong.
The Kakariko Hylians were of the mountains of east Hyrule and carried a Bomb Bag or two on their belts and a sword and shield over their backs. The Kokiri have had few reasons to war with these Hylians, but they had once looked at our forests quite greedily. A short war put an end to that. They now have Bombs, Water Bombs, Bomblings, Bomb Arrows, cannons, and numerous other explosives at their disposal, something rather disturbing since they had enough firepower to level the entire forest.
The Hyrule Castle Guards were of Hyrule Castle and Hyrule Castle Town in the center of Hyrule. Two of the “warriors” they sent looked like they should be in a fitness program. Their leader looked rather fit, particularly in contrast. They wore steel body plate armor over a mail coat and carried a shield and a spear and a bow on their back. It was for show, however, since only one in ten could fight on the playing level of even a Bokoblin.
Most of the Gorons were unarmed, though one had on Goron Gauntlets, which signified he was the leader of the small pack. The Gorons were large and had bodies hard as rocks, literally. They were also very strong and very proud, and enjoyed rolling about like… err; well, like giant boulders going down the side of a mountain. Their voices seemed to come out of their mouths like two pieces of rough sandpaper rubbing together. Their eyes were like deep sapphires.
The Zoras all had a spear with them as well as an iron helmet covering their heads and green eyes, though their fishy appearances were obvious throughout the rest of their bodies; fins being the most obvious of them. Their voices gurgled as they spoke, though the helmets seemed to smooth it out considerably. Their skin was aqua blue and they were definitely on my “Never trust” list as a whole because of how many wars the Zoras had started. Many Zoras were ill disposed towards the Gerudo and Kokiri, simply because of how different the three cultures were.
The Kokair were variously armed, and only a handful weren’t armed at all. They had blue or green eyes and red, blue, orange, green, or blond hair. Such a vast number called for quite the variety, even their clothing varied though it was consistently green, brown, or, as in one case, black. She had lost someone dear to her during the Kokairs’ only war, and now wore black all day and night. It crept most Kokair out, but I understood how that felt. After all, in a single day, I lost nearly everyone dear to me.
All of these races had assembled to see me, more than the other Kokair. It was rather interesting how the Kokair always wanted me gone, yet these people wanted me around. Were they onto the fact that I knew so much about each of their pasts? Did they remember tales of the Kokiri and feared the one among them named Joshua Treehopper the Leaf Kokiri, he who had saved his people from utter destruction on a daily basis? I’m not exactly sure, but those seem to be the reasons, having heard the tales of the Kokiri and particularly of me.
The Great Deku Tree himself was a very, VERY large tree, the largest in all regions of the forests and woods. He also governed them all, spreading out his power throughout the lands and keeping them fresh and vibrant. He was about two hundred feet in radius and over four thousand feet tall, just tipping the highest clouds. His face was a large mouth and chin with his two eyes covered in silvery moss so you couldn’t see his emerald eyes. Vines hung from his highest branches, giving him an ancient atmosphere about him. He also had a rather bulbous nose.
“Quiet!” Mido commanded, “You are being punished and we don’t want them allowing you into their villages!” Mido Kokair was an impossible guy to please, and everyone called the fire-orange haired jerk ‘Boss’ for some reason or another. His eyes were light blue, and his shirt, pants, and boots were all green as the grass we stood on. His sword wasn’t very ornate, nor was his shield, both which he kept with him at all times.
“Then hurry up and banish me, fire head. I got a good bit of stuff to move, y’know,” I said irritably. Yeah, I’ve also gotta go visit the Deku.
Has Josh gone crazy?! He just demanded to be banished!
“No way are we letting you keep any of it! It is now property of the village!” Mido’s orange fairy, Ryu, exclaimed, “You don’t have a say in the matter, either!”
“I think we have the right to keep our things, at least,” Jordan argued, almost like a lawyer.
“No way, you’re not gonna keep A SINGLE THING!” Ryu roared, buzzing heatedly.
“Oh? Do you have some sort of proof that you have this divine thievery right?” I asked sarcastically and with every intention of making the two of them look stupid.
“Who needs proof, you stupid scum?!” Mido roared.
“You wanna fight me, Mido?!” I challenged, also getting angry. Everyone looked at me, stunned. I was actually stunned as well, it wasn’t in any of my plans to get in a fight with Mido, but I’d basically tossed out all my previous plans. If I win, maybe I’ll get some respect and be able to stick around.
“I’ll take you out in three seconds, trash!” Mido stormed, holding up his left hand, displaying three fingers prominently. He had an overconfident smirk on his face.
Josh and Jordan are not scum or trash, you jerk!!
If you do, then I’ll just return to Kokiri form and kick your butt, fire head.
Jordan offered coolly, “Tomorrow morning, then?” That’s a bad idea, Josh.
Mido spat agreeing, “Whatever you say, you abominations!”
“Mido, quit calling them names, you selfish jerk!!” Cilia yelled. I’m not going to stand by like some statue!
“Shut it, you creepy rat!”
What did he just call Cilia?! I’ll kick his butt right now!! I drew my sword at Mido’s insult, about to charge forward. Suddenly, several nearby Kokair leaped between Mido and me, doing likewise, except all their blades were against me. I stopped, looking about amongst them, unsure if this route would be well achieved. Great, but I can’t just let him insult Cilia like that, he’s gotta pay! Come on, what’re those other guys doing just standing there? They should at least take some interest in this!!
Joshua Treehopper, I’m commanding you to calm down and take a look over there. They’re undecided. I did as I was bid by Jordan.
The Gorons looked on; arms folded with fierce expressions on their faces, though which side they’d support wasn’t shown. The Zoras watched carefully, hands on their spears. Some of the Hylians and Ordonians seemed to reach for their weapons and the Gerudo tensed up. We were fortunate there were those out of the argument willing to break it up.
Kaepora came to my aid, flying in and landing in one of the Great Deku Tree’s lower branches, “Hoooooo, the challenge was against Mido by Joshua. None may interfere.”
Great timing, Kaepora; I was about to kick some butt.
Thank Farore Kaepora came, that was close.
The Great Deku Tree finally spoke, “Do not spill blood here, my children. Joshua and Jordan and Cilia and Marth, I must speak with you four in the early morning.”
Well, I suppose we’ll have to wait, then.
“As you command, o Great Deku Tree,” I said, bowing low. Cilia mimicked my expression by bowing just as low. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to prepare.” I rose, sheathing my sword, turned on my right heel, and began walking away with Cilia right behind me and our fairies comfortably sitting on our left shoulders. We were headed to my home.
I wonder how many people were actually here. I closed my eyes as I walked off, feeling for the magical flows around me. I sensed the magic swirling around the people and quickly noticed that one in particular wasn’t at the meeting, Saria Kokair. I also sensed that the magic around Mido was flowing in a tight clockwise spiral, like how it was with a certain, crafty foe I’d faced in the past… What’s Shadow Link planning this time?
I opened them a few moments later, Jordan was looking on at me and we both knew what it was that was happening. Someone was at least slightly influencing Mido into doing these things. We walked on in silence for quite some time, at least until we were out of earshot.
“Sorry Josh, that might have gotten messy,” Cilia apologized when we were out of earshot.
Cilia is apologizing? No, Mido’s the one who needs to be apologizing, and I’ll make him when I kick his butt tomorrow.
“Don’t worry about it, though it’s pretty obvious”- I stopped mid-way to jump over a spiky, short, red haired, bright blue eyed Kokair in a dark green, loose shirt and brown pants with Iron Boots and Goron Gauntlets, who attempted to tackle me sportfully, “how many allies we have. Heya Jack.” Well, this WAS what I was planning on to be my alone time with Cilia for me to tell her how I feel, but I suppose that’ll have to wait for now… but I’m definitely telling her before I leave the forest should that measure be necessary.
“Hey Jack, what happened after we left?” Jordan asked politely.
“Heya Josh, Jordan, Cilia, and Marth, well, not much, Mido blew off some steam.”
“Any injured?” Cilia asked, concerned. Her lovely hair seemed to glow with her passive energies; she was more beautiful than Farore to me. Mido can be so cruel. I’ll be rooting for you, Josh!
“No, not really, but Saria’s off by her lonesome in the Lost Woods,” Ceilo responded nonchalantly.
“Wait,” I said, stopping, and the others stopped as well, “The Lost Woods are particularly dangerous right now! I warned you four already!” Jack and Cilia looked at their feet. “You did remember to tell Saria, didn’t you?” Their lack of a response was more than enough. I ran straight home, the others silently trailing just behind me. In my house, I went into my bedroom, though my closet, and into a hidden storage room. I began listing items as I reached for them, “Magic sacks, check; emergency provisions, check; mortar and pestle, check; books, check; spare clothes, check; medical supplies, check. Okay, are you two coming?” Wait, why am I asking that? Of course they’re not, Ceilo is a coward and Marth’s overprotective. Actually, this could get dangerous, so I’d rather Cilia not come though I’m sure she can handle herself well. I’ll have to see now that I’ve asked.
“I am,” Jack hastily replied with his red fairy, Ceilo, nodding in agreement as he sat on Jack’s left shoulder, looking worried.
Well, that was a surprise.
“I’m not sure, it’s dangerous,” Marth answered for Cilia.
“Marth, I can answer for myself,” Cilia stated defiantly. I’m tired of letting Josh and Jack do everything. She added, “I’m going.”
She has determination, not that I’m surprised. I nodded and handed both Jack and Cilia a sack full of the gear I’d called out. The brown sacks had runes upon their outsides and insides, and only when they were open did they feel or look any heavier than three regular, empty sacks. In fact, the runes didn’t show up when the top was closed, further adding to the illusion.
“This is a search-and-rescue, so don’t engage any enemies you don’t have to. Keep as quiet as possible, and don’t trust your eyes for everything,” I advised. What am I doing? I sound like a fairy.
Hey, I heard that!
Oh, sorry, but it’s just so strange to hear myself talking like you do.
Ahh, is it fun?
Kinda, but I don’t plan on making it my profession.
Ha, good one, but if you did, you’d need to shrink to about a twentieth your size and grow wings and begin emanating a glow.
“Every Kokair has at least gone into the Lost Woods, Josh, we’re not newbies at this,” Ceilo stated, offended.
“Trust me,” Jordan suddenly commanded, “This will likely last several days, so it’ll be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.” Now I sound like a drill sergeant.
This is beginning to remind me of the old days.
Yeah, good thing we weren’t in the army during the rise of the Kokiri Empire.
Yep, otherwise we wouldn’t have dethroned that fake king we had. “True enough, let’s get going!” We each took high to the treetops as soon as I locked my door, leaping from branch to branch. My cheek was still red and still throbbing, but I hardly cared. Someone was in danger, and it was entirely my fault. It could have been Mido, and I’d still go in, maybe all alone, but I’d still go.
At the border to the Lost Woods, we heard a high pitched shriek that could only have come from Saria. We each fell to the ground, gripping our long, pointy, and highly sensitive ears, which felt like shards of metal shattering our skulls. Even after her scream had died down, our ears were painfully reminiscent of what had just occurred. We each slowly rose to our feet and set cotton swabs in our ears. We nodded to each other, and then continued, heading towards the direction of the screech. In the name of Farore, what in the world is Saria thinking, shrieking like that?
She’s probably in trouble. I didn’t want to think about that.
Now, before I continue, there’s something I gotta tell ya about. The world is a large place, and in this large place, there are magic “streams” we might say. These “streams” can be detected most easily by fairies and Kokiri, but any magic user can train to get the skill to do it. The streams bent and weaved so that they flowed towards wherever the strongest magic signature(s) nearby were. For example, in the desert, the streams all led to three places: the Arbiter’s Grounds, Desert Colossus or Spirit Temple, and the Gerudo Fortress. Using these magic streams, the Gerudo could safely guide themselves to one of these three sites.
Now, in the forest, the streams were more like seas in the Lost Woods and Farore’s Forest regions. Other hotspots for the streams were the Lakebed Temple and Water Temple of the two lakes both called Lake Hylia, Hyrule Castle, Death Mountain, Zora’s Domain, and old Kakariko Village. There were other places, but too many for me to care to count here.
We at last arrived at a place where several trees had been cracked or felled completely and several spears and scimitars lay on the grass. There were also spots where the grass had been upturned by something, or more likely, someone. I hurriedly analyzed the monster tracks, not really looking at them but rather checking the magic still left in the soil, “Bokoblins, about twelve of them, and a couple of Moblins, hmm, they came from over there and returned that way, dragging Saria.”
How can Josh know that? He’s done this before, wait, how do I know that?
“Okay, then let’s follow the tracks and save our friend!” Ceilo yelled.
“Ceilo, you just wanna get outta here sooner,” I teased as I took to a branch, waiting. Not that I can blame the little guy. He’s a scaredy cat.
“True as that is, let’s just hurry this up,” Jack said as he and Cilia leaped up after us. We followed the footprints from the high branches until nightfall. We then silently made camp using two tents facing each other, one for Cilia and one for Jack, a small campfire between them which I kept very far away from, and nine Deku Sticks used to make a small barricade around the campsite. Jack cooked some berry stew, which I didn’t exactly like but didn’t complain about. I made some herbal tea after he was done, letting Jordan tell me when he thought I should stir it or whatever. I don’t like fire… at all. I slept under the starry sky high in a tree during the six or so hours I did manage to sleep.
“You guys know why the Lost Woods are so powerful?” I asked suddenly, after having some herbal tea.
“Err, actually, no, why are they?” Jack asked curiously.
“Does anybody else want to know?” Jordan asked before I could utter a word.
Ceilo, Marth, and Cilia all bobbled their heads a definite “Yes” and I grinned slightly.
“It’s actually based on five things that exist within the Lost Woods. There’s the Forest Temple of the ancient Kokiri that makes the main magic streams; the Great Deku Tree also sends his presence through these woods making it more like an extension of his Sacred Haven; the Faron Woods Light Spirit, Faron, also sends its powers here; the Temple of Time resides deep and along the southwest boundaries as the Forest Temple of the Ordonians lies just outside the southwest borders. These five places solidify the magic into a thick mass, like a lake.”
“Yeah, that’s pretty much it,” Jordan agreed. “The Temple of Time was originally in Hyrule Castle Town, but the Time Sage moved it into the Lost Woods when her brother took over the kingdom and took the Time Sage’s Triforce of Wisdom. The Ordonians built the Forest Temple in the Faron Woods about sixty years ago. This act angered not only the Kokiri of the forest, but also the monkeys who had been moved out of the construction zone. Together, we battled and defeated the Ordonians and took the temple for the monkeys to live in as a village.”
“So, what of the region called Farore’s Forest where NOBODY goes?” Jack asked with a smirk.
“Well, that was named by us Kokiri and for a good reason. Farore herself has been seen there several times, it’s also the place she planted the first Great Deku Tree who actually grew far larger and wiser than any of his eight descendents,” I stated completely truthfully. “Also, their ancient powers still resonate even now.”
“Wow, then that’s why it’s even more sacred than the Great Deku Tree’s Sacred Haven?” Marth asked suspiciously.
“Yep, pretty much,” Jordan answered. “Well, for now, how about you go to bed? We gave you a bed time story.” I laughed; Cilia and Marth and Jack and Ceilo looked annoyed, but did enter their tents.
We took turns watching for monsters. I took first watch, Jack took second watch, and Cilia took third watch, each lasting three hours and dragging by slowly and uneventfully until dawn.
“Never spent the night here,” Jack said nervously as we packed up in the morning after breakfast of more berry stew and herbal tea.
“Nor have I,” Cilia admitted softly.
“It’s not so bad after you are here a few days, it actually becomes really interesting,” Jordan boosted. “Why not give them an example, Josh?”
“Okay, for instance,” I started cheerily, “There are several old Kokiri and skull kid settlements out here, and I’ll take you to see some after we’ve rescued Saria, if you like.”
“I think I’d like that,” Cilia said, sounding more enthusiastic. I’d really like it if it’s just us.
“Cool, now let’s get back to these tracks,” Jack advised.
“Right, onwards, to Saria!” I yelled as we took to the treetops, following the tracks. We followed them for about two hours, and then found a small battle scene. There were five skull kids facing down about a dozen Bokoblins, three Moblins, and a Kargaroc.
“Hey, Skull Kid, reinforcements have arrived!” Skull Kid and the four other skull kids, who all looked alike except Skull Kid since he had two fairies, Tatl and Tael, were battling the monsters with Saria nearby, unconscious.
We had come at the monsters on their left flank and easily took two Bokoblins and a Moblins down before they fled. Fortunately, Saria had been abandoned, along with several weapons and camp supplies. Finally, we caught up with those monsters. Good thing they abandoned Saria, too.
“Josh, it’s good to see you again,” Tael, Skull Kid’s royal purple fairy, greeted.
“Likewise, were you guys following them too?” I asked. What would skull kids be doing in this part of the woods, anyway?
“No, we were just leaving when we found them. We had no choice but to fight,” a skull kid replied with a large grin on his face. “Thank you for helping us.”
“You’re welcome,” Jordan replied politely. Maybe we haven’t been fighting hard enough.
“Where were you leaving to?” I asked suspiciously. That’s always possible.
“We didn’t actually know,” Tatl, Skull Kid’s bright yellow fairy, admitted, “Oh, and Josh, I guess I haven’t apologized for doing THAT to the Kokiri Sword, I didn’t know you’d beat up Link when he returned and then separate the elements that made it the Gilded Kokiri Sword…”
“That’s old news, Tatl; you don’t have to worry about that anymore. By the way, do you know what happened to Link? He wasn’t Link anymore when I saw him that day,” I asked curiously. It took us a crazy amount of effort to return the Kokiri Sword back to normal, she’d better apologize.
Heh, yeah, good thing we’re good guys.
You know it.
“Oh, well, he, err, interacted with a terrifying power and was… transformed, one might say, into the Link you probably met…” Tael informed cheerlessly.
“Oh, I see. It was one of the thirteen forbidden items, wasn’t it?” Jordan asked inquisitively. I have a feeling it’s the Fierce Deity’s Mask.
“Err; I’m not sure, what are they?” Tatl asked, “You see, Tael wasn’t actually there, only I saw the mask.”
“I see, it was a mask, was it?” I asked, almost angrily. Jordan, if it is, then it’s a horrible dishonor to our old friend!!
“Was it mostly white with several painted markings on it?” Jordan suddenly asked. Let’s see if she can identify it.
“Yeah, why do you ask?” Tatl asked uncertainly.
“Well, I’ll try to put this simply; Link is truly just what his name implies, a Link to his past self, also named Link. In ages past, I fought alongside a man named Link, he had two swords, one he called his ‘Fierce Blade’ and the other his ‘Four Sword’, though he never drew either in the battle we waged,” I educated. A horrific dishonor it was… “Instead, his music gave us the victory. There are thirteen items which are forbidden to use: Majora’s Mask, the Fierce Deity’s Mask, the Triforce, the Helmet of the Oocca, the Ring of the Kokiri, the Amulet of the Arori, the Picori Hat, the Cloak of the Sheikah, the Ocarina of Time, the Pipes of Life, the Drums of Unity, the Guitar of Spirit, and the Organ of Death. They are forbidden because of the power they hold within them, it’s a lengthy list, and it’s not well-known, but most items are hidden away, anyway.”
“I see; oh, how many others are there, skull kids I mean?” Jack inquired hopefully, probably just trying to change the subject.
He changed the subject, guess this isn’t something he’s too interested in.
“Too few to protect even a quarter of the Lost Woods, the Stalfos help occasionally, but that’s far too rare,” another replied, a small frown on his face now. Stalfos were people who got lost in the Lost Woods and were warped by the intense magic flows there. Their skin and body organs are magically destroyed or removed, leaving only the bones and two glowing red eyes. Sometimes, you’ll see a one-eyed Stalfos, but those are extremely rare and indicate that he is neither evil nor good. He is simply neutral or territorial, which is actually how most Wolfos are.
“Okay, return with us and I’ll make sure the other Kokair get word of this,” I promised.
“Okay, sounds good,” Tatl confirmed.
I saddled all the gear into my magic sack as Jack picked Saria up as the skull kids debated briefly. They agreed to my suggestion and we took to the treetops once more, returning to the village with me and Skull Kid in the lead, Cilia and Jack in the center, and the other four in a protective pattern around Cilia, Saria, and Jack.
Twice, we passed very close to Moblins and/or Bokoblins and had to wait until they were out of the way before night fell. We slept in the trees, not setting up any sort of camp. The skull kids kept watch and did it noiselessly and, yet again, uneventfully.
“So, we’re getting out today, right?” Ceilo asked hopefully after yet another breakfast of berry stew and herbal tea; though the skull kids managed to brighten it up with some fruits.
“No guarantees, but that is what’s most likely gonna to happen,” I replied. Good thing they had some fruits, I don’t think Cilia and Jack were interested in more berries and tea alone.
Heh, yeah, they were beginning to look a bit irritated by the same thing so many times in a row.
It’s not like tea and berries are bad or anything, they just don’t know what they’re missing.
That’s one way of putting it. Jordan laughed a little. Everyone gave him an inquisitive look, except me, I gave him a quick look of surprise, and then laughed a little too.
“What’s so funny?” Ceilo asked, confused.
“You wouldn’t understand, it’s like one of those inside jokes,” Jordan replied, still chuckling.
“Anyhow, I think we’re about fourteen kilometers from the southeastern edge of the Lost Woods.”
“Okay, that’s good, Saria still hasn’t woken up and these woods are creepy,” he complained as we took to the treetops once more, Jack carrying Saria again today. About mid-day, we reached the outer reaches and were ambushed by eleven Wolfos as they leapt out from bushes, trees, and underground and separated us!
Wolfos are generally either very territorial or possessed by a being so powerful you wouldn’t stand a chance at protecting your mind either if it attacked you. Forest Wolfos look like large, brown-furred, yellow eyed, sharp clawed werewolves with a mild to rotten temper. They occasionally hunted in packs, though just as often went solo.
There was something different about these Wolfos, however.
All of the Wolfos had a symbol on them, six of the Wolfos had the Kokiri symbol on them, and the Triforce symbol was on another two and the Goron symbol on the other three. The thing about each mark was that four were on the chest, three were on the right shoulder, three were on the left hip, and still one more, a Kokiri symbol, was on the forehead.
The skull kids immediately surrounded Jack, taking out their flutes which doubled as pea shooters. They waited anxiously on the Wolfos, but the Wolfos merely circled them. Cilia and I went back-to-back about twenty feet ahead of them; the Wolfos had easily surrounded and separated us into two groups. We watched and waited, hesitant of what we could do.
Why don’t they attack?
I wish I knew, Josh, but we’ll just have to wait a little bit.
I hate to wait.
Heh, nice rhyme, but yeah, I don’t exactly like waiting on them to make the first move, either.
We quickly drew our weapons, Jack set Saria down, and the Wolfos continued to circle us, almost like they were unsure themselves whether to attack or not. They all suddenly stopped and stood upright, facing us with fierce looks.
“What do you want here?” asked one Wolfos with a scar down his left arm and the Kokiri symbol on his forehead.
“We came to get our friend who went in without the knowledge that it was your land,” Jordan stated diplomatically. Let’s start with a diplomatic approach.
Okay, I’ll help where I can.
“I see, but she should have known. We lay scents and”- he started.
“Look, Kokair can’t smell as well as a Kokiri or Wolfos can, it’s just not something they have,” I declared.
Wait, does that mean Kokiri can do things better than Kokair? What doe s Josh mean?
“Try carving marks on trees resembling something,” I suggested.
“Symbolizing what, exactly?” another Wolfos asked, he had a Goron symbol on his right shoulder.
I shrugged, but Jordan had an idea, “What about a symbol like this?” He went next to my ear, whispering, “Make a symbol of a claw and a fang in the center in a tree with your sword,” I followed his instructions. The Wolfos looked at it in awe, each going over to it and setting a paw on it in turn.
Why didn’t you just use telepathy?
Well, they needed to know where you got the idea from.
Okay, you do need a bit of credit for it after all.
Wait, only a bit?
“We shall do as you have suggested, thank you,” the one with a long scar on his arm said.
“If you want, I can heal that scar for you,” I offered. That might go a long way in getting them to help us out a bit later on.
“No, this is a scar from fifty years ago.” My eyes widened and he nodded, “Yes, that day, not only were the Kokiri attacked. You see, many Wolfos had decided it was time to take off the shackles of Ganondorf and formed a new village for ourselves, but since then, we have sworn not but vengeance upon the fiends who struck at us!”
“Then we have a common goal, may this be the beginning to a potential alliance in the future,” I said, offering my right arm in a hand-shake. He looked at it quizzically, “It’s a handshake, it’s considered polite though we usually don’t even do it.”
“I see. Will a paw shake do with you?” he asked.
I chuckled and replied, “That’ll be incredible.”
Is there anything Josh can’t do? Hmm, well, there is that thing about Josh keeping away from the campfire…
He nodded and shook hand in paw with me. What in the world are we doing? We’re allying ourselves with a bunch of Wolfos who have a leader who was there on the day of the annihilation of both the Kokiri and the Wolfos. I’m allying myself with what would have gladly killed me ten minutes ago. The Wolfos watched as Jack, Saria, Cilia, the skull kids, and I divided into two groups, one to head to the Great Deku Tree as he had commanded the day that seemed so far away now, the other to return to the village to hopefully get Saria some help. They let forth a mighty howl as I was about to leap out, I looked back with a grin and made as close an imitation to it as I could. Some of the Wolfos chuckled at it. I wonder what I just said in their language.
That’s an interesting thought for after saying it.
Cilia and I went to the Great Deku Tree, more than not expecting a rather angry tree spirit to greet us, while the others went back to the village. I left Jack with a note to hand to Mido when he got there detailing what had happened and to warn everyone about the new Wolfos markings.
As we approached the Great Deku Tree once more, we realized for the first time how he looked when he’s enraged. His branches were swaying as though in a hurricane with leaves and fruits and other things you’d find in a large tree flailing about, his eyes were almost visible under all the moss that covered them because his eyes glowed in a bright emerald color, and there seemed to be an aura of great wrath that could be felt in the air and the earth all about us.
This won’t be fun.
“My children, I hope there is a reason why you were gone for so long,” his angry voice boomed.
“Indeed, Saria was kidnapped and we had to save her,” I explained without delay. Let’s try to calm him down before we do anything else.
“I see; were you successful?” he asked, still very upset.
“Yes, she is with Jack and some skull kids heading for the village,” Cilia answered. They’re not the only ones who will have a say in this.
“You should have brought her to me, not to the village!” he declared furiously.
“She needs to be around people like her, o Great Deku Tree,” Jordan informed honorably. Let’s hope he doesn’t feel offended by my attempts.
“Yes, o Great Deku Tree, we all need to some of the time at least,” Cilia affirmed. The Great Deku Tree can be scary, but I’m not going to be afraid of anything anymore.
“You are correct, my children,” The Great Deku Tree acknowledged. “But do not believe you are out of trouble,” the Great Deku Tree warned.
“I have kept the Kokiri Emerald safe all these years, o Great Deku Tree, just as you have commanded. I would have done it anyways, though, of course,” I declared. Let’s hope he hasn’t forgotten he commanded me to, even though I would’ve taken it later on if he hadn’t. I looked up and noticed a leaf-shaped white cloud next to a large, black storm cloud that looked like it would gobble up the leaf-shaped one. Could it be an omen? Nah, that wouldn’t make any sense.
Just ignore it. I focused back on the Great Deku Tree; he was staring at me, now much calmer in appearance. His wrath had hopefully ended, at least for the time being.
“That is good news… Does any Kokair other than Cilia know Joshua’s secret?” he asked, much calmer now.
“No sir, not even Jack or Saria know,” Jordan replied. Don’t make me a liar, Josh.
You aren’t.
“That is fine news, for you see, it is my hope that you four return to the Lost Woods and aid the skull kids as Kokiri and Kokair. My eyes grew wide at his words. “Also, that once the Lost Woods are safe, that you should gather your brother, Fado Kokiri, and sister, Saria Kokiri, and live in the Forest Temple in peace.” Jordan and I were speechless for several moments, simply stunned by his seemingly infinite wisdom and generosity. I almost felt like crying for joy.
“Will Kokair be welcome as well?” Cilia eventually and nervously asked.
“As long as Joshua and Jordan are fine with the idea, indeed,” he replied warningly.
“Of course Cilia, Saria, and Jack are, but, before we go, mind if I put Mido in his place?”I asked selfishly with a sinister smirk for my expression. That was a foolish way to ask for something of the Great Deku Tree. I wonder if he’ll take it well.
“His arrogance and self-promoting attitude have survived too long; indeed my child, and do so as a Kokiri,” he commanded with a slight grin on his face.
“Exactly how I was planning to, sir,” I said, grinning from ear-to-ear as I drew my sword and set the jewel on its guard against my emerald with the blade pointing down. They both began to glow with a commanding and star-like green light and I returned to a Kokiri after about three seconds. My clothes and sword shrank to match my size, but aside from that and my reversed aging of roughly three years, I didn’t look any different than I had a few minutes earlier. Cilia had to cover her eyes, though the Great Deku Tree’s were always covered; Marth and Jordan had to look away.
The Kokiri Emerald is pure Kokiri Magic in all three forms fused into a single stone. The Kokiri Sword held the same energies, but those energies could only be tapped by a true Kokiri with the Kokiri Emerald. The combination of these items in this way resulted in the showing of one’s life form.
All four of us bowed, saying in unison, “Thank you, o Great Deku Tree,” then leaped off trees straight for the village. I laughed the whole way, the emerald once more around my neck and my sword like an extension of my arm. I wondered how I’d stayed sane in what had felt like a prison, the Kokair form was not my natural one and probably never would feel like it. With my left hand, as we were still leaping, I effortlessly plucked a twig with a solitary leaf and set it in the right corner of my mouth. The lone leaf represented who I was, the only Leaf Kokiri, and the twig represented my friends, who stabilized and supported me. Jordan, we’re back!
Yes we are, Hero of Leaves!
Shortly after we left, we were out of the range of hearing. Yeah, we were moving that fast. A man shrouded in a purple cloak with a crimson eye, the symbol of the Sheikah, on its hood stepped out of the shadows near a tree. “I almost thought you were going to banish him from the forest for a moment, Great Deku Tree.”
“What business do you have in my wood?”
“Cutting straight to the point, are we? Very well, I have come to give you a warning. A new war is approaching, but it will not be a war any will win.”
“What do you mean?”
“The victor will destroy Hyrule, Arorindu, Termina, Labrynna, Holodrum, and Ordon. His fate has been foretold by Nayru herself, and it is absolute.”
“Link has proved Nayru wrong once before, I doubt that there is a prophecy made that has no chance of failing.”
“That was different, this foe has thought out his plan so perfectly, even I am at a loss as to how he has evaded meeting me before. Even now, I cannot figure out his location. He hides like a rat and his stench is all over your woods.”
“I will pass on your warning”-
“No, tell none of this, we never saw each other. Unfortunately, the prophecy has been foretold with absolute accuracy. Joshua will die.”
The Great Deku Tree was stunned for a moment before bellowing, “WHAT?!?! That is absolutely absurd!!”
“I wish that were the case, but unfortunately, there is nothing that we can do. In less than a month, the world will come to a pivotal point. On that day, Joshua will die. He will fall against a shadow with ferocious abilities. His plan is already being set in motion even as we speak. Another has heard my message and is now attempting to change this inevitable fate, but it is in vain.”
“Who would you tell before me?”
“A being who’s power is presently greater than the shadow’s, a being who’s power is currently greater than Joshua’s, a being who’s power rivals that of a Sage’s, he is Phantom.”
“I see, an interesting idea, but if it is as certain as you have said, then why tell us?”
“For it was prophesied I would. I will let you in on something else, Saria will die. Well, I never liked that girl anyway, too free-spirited. I remember a long time ago, yes, long before you existed, when many people tried to take the Triforce. Who succeeded? Of all the people, two guys and a girl had to reach the Triforce. Strange that three Light Spirits of Hyrule came into existence at that moment, isn’t it, little fairy, Navi?”
“How did you know I was here?” she asked, flying out of the Great Deku Tree’s branches.
“I know more than any would have you believe, is your task completed?”
“No, I just wanted to make sure Link hadn’t returned.”
“I see, interesting that you aren’t out looking for him. Then again, he only spent four years looking for you before giving up hope and accepting you were gone. After that, he slowly slipped into a cold state and left the lands of Hyrule.”
“Stop it!” Navi screamed as she couldn’t bear to hear another word.
“No, you need to know what you caused.”
“Need I remind you that you are in my wood? Now, I command ye both, leave my wood. Go about your business elsewhere.” Navi looked at the Great Deku Tree for a moment, sadly nodded and vanished in a blue flash of light.
“Aww, you’re no fun; very well, good bye, o Great Deku Tree.” The man in the purple robe vanished in a purple haze of smoke.
“Finally, maybe now I might get some peace…”