Ocarina of Time Chapter 1
The Boy Without a Fairy
From amidst the dwellings of the normally peace-loving Kokiri, the sounds of fighting rang a discordant note in the otherwise quiet forest. In a small clearing, two boys fought in mock combat, their swords clashing with jarring force. One boy fought with practised ease, while the other fought with an enthusiastic gusto and no small amount of grunting. His limbs were mottled with painful bruises, sweat was leaving tracks down his dirt-smeared brow, but he held his ground, fuelled by a youngster's stubborn determination.
The blonde-haired Kokiri was not interested in giving up, but with his overenthusiastic swipes, he was like a puppy nipping at a hound: all noise and no bite.
Link wasn't usually this bad, but then again, he wasn't used to waking up in the middle of the night to discover a small Skulltula had taken up residence in his house. This wasn't exactly a normal occurrence, even by Kokiri standards, but it had been there, skittering noisily in the gloom of his treehouse, its small glowing eyes searching for a way out. Several broken clay pots later, and after nearly taking a boot to its head, the Skulltula had scurried out the door. Link gathered up enough wits to grab his slingshot, but by then, the spider was nowhere to be seen.
Someone had put it there. He was sure of it.
"C'mon, Link," Forenz said, casually smacking aside Link's next thrust. "I've seen you do better than this."
Barely reacting in time to block a swing that nearly struck his shoulder, Link jumped away, almost stumbling over his own feet.
Link regained his stance, saw Forenz's next attack coming, and brought his own sword up to block a blow. With a bone-jarring crunch, their wooden swords clashed together, almost splintering under the impact.
Link danced away, more nimbly this time, and then lashed out. The tip of his sword almost grazed Forenz's tunic, but the older Kokiri was too fast.
"Hah! Nearly got you!" Link said, feeling a rush of excitement.
"Nearly," Forenz agreed.
A sudden murmur of voices carried on the breeze, catching Link's attention. Forenz noticed too, pausing to cast a glance over the younger boy's shoulder.
Three Kokiri had stepped into the clearing and were watching the pair with curious expressions. Each boy was accompanied by a small sprite, a fact not lost on Link. They regarded Forenz with a nod, but the moment Link's sparring partner turned his back, the trio gestured in Link's direction, sneering and laughing at some private joke. One of them made mocking gestures, imitating Link's fighting style jeering with gusto, and suddenly the thrill of the fight was gone.
One exaggerated "Hee-yah!" later, accompanied by a fit of raucous laughter, and Link scowled, the spark of determination within him sputtering. Boiling heat rose inside of Link until his face burned.
"I so don't sound like that," he muttered angrily, fighting to keep down the rush of humiliation that threatened to engulf him.
"Keep your eyes on me," Forenz said, his voice losing its usual cheer. "I'll deal with them."
Forenz's next strike came quickly. Distracted, Link barely brought his guard up in time. His attention was still on the other Kokiri as they continued to snicker and jeer, their mocking shouts loud and clear in the crisp autumn wind.
"Get him, Forenz!"
"Yeah, get him!" another shouted.
"Just ignore them," Forenz mouthed.
Link gave a small nod, gritting his teeth, tensing enough to butcher his footwork, each awkward parry sending a shock of pain up his arm.
Forenz belted Link's flimsy thrust aside again and threw himself into a backflip with practised ease. Landing sturdily on his feet, he circled Link, moving to get a clear view of the other three Kokiri.
"Right." he called out. "The next one who insults Link can take me on. I'll give you till the count of five. One..." Forenz blocked another thrust from Link. 'Two..." Link tried to jab him, but Forenz swiftly knocked the wooden blade aside. "Three... what's that? You three can't count?" Link almost grinned at Forenz's taunt but was distracted by a blow that came close to his head. The three jeering Kokiri got the idea, giving Forenz a sullen look before scurrying off.
It wasn't unusual for the other young Kokiri to watch him spar. Link normally enjoyed the attention, except when he was getting his butt kicked, like right now, but those three? They were another story. The leader of the Kokiri Elders- Mido- was their friend, and as such, he often turned a blind eye whenever they stepped out of line. Everyone knew the Great Deku Tree was not happy with Mido's behavior, but despite being on his final warning, Mido still did all he could to torment Link.
Crunch!
Distracted, Link didn't notice Forenz until the boy's wooden sword was slamming into his chest. Pain exploded across Link's ribs, and he stumbled backward, landing flat on his back.
"Are you okay?" Forenz asked him. He lowered his weapon, brow furrowed in concern. "I warned you about getting distracted."
"Yeah... I know," Link wheezed, struggling to one knee and trying to catch his breath. "I'm sorry."
Forenz offered Link a hand up, which he accepted.
"You want to stop for today?" Forenz asked.
"No," Link said, rubbing his bruised side. "Not yet."
Forenz snorted in amusement. "Alright then..." noticing Link's eyes stray to the trees again, Forenz frowned. "They really bothering you, huh?"
Link shrugged, not quite meeting the other boy's eyes. "I guess."
"Is it Mido?" Forenz asked, his eyes searching Link's own. "What's he done this time?"
"Nothing," Link said glumly, "But I bet he sent them."
It was no secret Mido hated Link, as did most of the boy's friends. Their favourite game was 'Link hunting' or 'half-man chasing' as Mido called it, which was kind of amusing when Link was the taller of the two. The game usually involved Mido, or his gangly cronies, chasing Link with a deku stick so they could whack him with it. Sometimes, they would start throwing rocks, forcing Link to clamber up a tree and out of range. Even now, he could still hear their taunts.
"Stop spying on us, loser!"
"Freak!"
"Coward!"
"Wimp."
"He's such a freak, not even a single fairy wants anything to do with him!"
"Not so brave now your girlfriend isn't here to protect you, are you?"
"Well. You let me worry about bossy old Mido, okay?" Forenz said, startling Link back to reality. "Just focus on me and remember what I said about moving your feet. If you stand there like a tree, you'll get hit. Ready?"
"Uhh... yeah," Link said absent-mindedly, still distracted by the echoes of that humiliating memory. He hadn't told anyone, knowing this would only make things worse between him and Mido's lackeys. After they'd grown bored and left, Link had returned to the village. When Saria saw his cuts and bruises, he'd brushed off her concern, claiming, "I just tripped over." In truth, those words had struck a cruel and painful cord.
He didn't have a fairy and the lack of any answers was seen as a bad omen by all. Maybe it was true, maybe he didn't have a fairy because there really was something wrong with him, something not even Saria or the Great Deku Tree would admit.
"Alright, first to three hits!" Forenz's voice dragged Link's still wandering thoughts back to the present. "Ready?"
Without further warning, Forenz twirled his blade towards Link. The younger boy barely reacted in time before-
Clack!
Link growled in frustration, his swing becoming wider again, pain radiating up his sword arm as he forced more strength into his blows. Forenz whirled around, aiming low for Link's shins and striking again.
Smack!
Failing to move in time, Link was swept off his feet in one quick motion.
"One," Forenz said, lowering his weapon and offering Link a hand up. Link took the boy's offer and scrambled to his feet.
"Remember, anger might help you, but it will also make you reckless," Forenz said, not for the first time. When Link cast a glance towards the trees, not wanting to be a spectacle for any other Kokiri, Forenz added, "Are you still thinking about them?"
"I guess," Link admitted with a shrug, turning back to Forenz, his voice taking on a gloomy note. "Sorry."
"That's okay," Forenz said calmly, "Just keep in mind that if you're in a real fight, getting distracted will get you hurt... Link, are you listening?"
Unaware that he was gazing off into the trees again, his eyes taking on a far-off look, Link shook himself. "What? Oh. Yeah... don't get distracted." Link didn't want to admit that Mido's cronies were bothering him even more than they usually did, even though he was pretty sure Forenz already knew. It was, after all, almost impossible to keep such things hidden from a close friend, and despite the fact he was currently kicking Link's butt, Forenz was his friend.
"Is something else bothering you?" Forenz asked. "It's not just Mido, is it?"
"No, I'm okay," Link replied, putting on a smile that never quite reached his eyes. "Let's keep going."
Before they could start, a soft chiming sound turned Link's attention to the little sprite lazing upon a nearby tree stump.
Arden, the fairy, was Forenz's companion. He was usually left to do his own thing rather than hover around whenever Forenz and Link were training. This suited Link; he hated being constantly reminded that he did not have a fairy, especially now, when so many of the Kokiri tormented him.
When Forenz's eyes didn't leave Arden, Link knew they were sharing a private conversation about something. Fairies shared a special bond with their charge, and they could touch each other's minds, communicating by thoughts alone. Link wasn't sure whether he liked that, because he didn't know what they were saying. Forenz made a subtle glance in his direction, and suddenly Link couldn't resist the urge to ask, "What are you two talking about?"
"Arden is wondering why Saria was so insistent I train you so hard. He thinks I need to go easier on you," Forenz said, breaking eye contact with Arden. He frowned. "It's odd, coming from Saria. She hates violence."
It was unusual, Link agreed, but with the strange creatures roaming the woods of late, and the infestation of plants that wanted to kill anything that went near them, he was not inclined to argue. Some of the Kokiri could hunt, and although sparring was a favourite pastime, most of the forest children would have struggled to use a weapon in an actual fight.
"Good grief! What are you two doing!?"
An angry yell carried across the small training field. Link grimaced, turning to face a tall, freckled boy who emerged into the clearing and stomped towards them, his fairy hovering a short distance away.
"Hey, Mido," Forenz greeted him casually, before nodding to the boy's fairy. Mido halted before Forenz, looking like a bear with a toothache. Forenz didn't seem fazed by this. Instead, he continued in his usual morning cheer, "What brings you and Mori here?" Gesturing to Link, he added, "We're sparring. Care to join us?"
Forenz held out his practise sword, hilt first, but Mido just scowled.
"I don't think so," he replied coolly, putting out a hand to push away the offered sword hilt. "Who said you could do this for the whole morning?"
"Saria did," Forenz explained calmly, "Remember? I only told you about three times."
"We agreed you were needed on patrol," Mido said snappishly. "We've had another hound go missing, and I want to know why. Hurry up and get back to the village. Both of you!"
They probably just don't like you, was Link's first thought, but he didn't voice this out loud.
Mido's sullen gaze fixed on the younger Kokiri, giving Link the distinct impression Mido wanted nothing more than to insult him. He wouldn't. Not in front of Forenz.
Mido stormed off down the trail towards the village with a loud, "Hmph!"
"That's the fifth hound to go missing since the last moon," Arden noted, sounding troubled.
"What do you reckon happened to them?" Link asked.
"Dunno," Forenz answered. "It's weird that Saria and the Great Deku Tree can't find them. It's like they just vanished."
"I bet it's a giant monster. You know, the kind the Great Deku Tree talks about?" Link offered. "I could take it on."
Forenz chuckled, "Oh, really? You almost destroyed your treehouse when you found a spider in it."
"Did not!"
"Not what I heard. You sure you can take a big monster on?"
"With help," Link added. Forenz gave him a meaningful look and grinned wickedly, causing Link to add, "That spider didn't scare me! It just took me by surprise."
"Really?" Forenz asked, his light banter lifting the weight from Link's shoulders. "And what if we were talking about a really big scary monster?"
"I'm telling you, monsters don't scare me," Link piped up, standing tall. To demonstrate, he assumed a mock battle stance, failing to notice Arden's eye roll.
"Not this again," Arden muttered. Link ignored the sprite.
"I am Link the brave! Fear me!" Link yelled fiercely. To emphasise, he chopped his sword through the air with a loud, "Hyah!"
He slammed the blade into a rock, which the sword didn't much appreciate, and with a loud splintering crack, the blade broke, its light wooden frame shattering under the impact. Link stared in surprise, then cast a sheepish look at Forenz.
"Wow," commented Arden, sounding impressed. "Is that the fourth one now or the fifth? I'm losing count."
"Oops," Link offered, giving Forenz an apologetic smile. Far from annoyed, Forenz just laughed.
"Well, Link the brave, those monsters will be running in terror." He chuckled, and then added more seriously, "Same time tomorrow? I'll get Arden to fetch you."
"If he's awake," Arden added.
Link nodded, picking up his broken sword. "Yeah, okay."
"Good. Just keep out of trouble in the meantime, okay?" Forenz put a hand on Link's shoulder, a serious look in his eyes. "I don't want to hear you and Mido have been fighting again, or that you've tried to pull a prank on him. I know the two of you don't get along, and I'm not saying you have to like him, but you do have to respect him. That means no putting Deku Scrubs in his house."
That comment sent Link's temper simmering, and it took considerable effort not to kick the dirt in frustration as he stared sullenly at a clump of nearby bushes, their leaves strangely sickly.
Forenz took his silence for defiance and sighed, "Mido will get over it soon. You know things have been hard for all of us lately, and yes, that means Mido too."
"That's the problem, Forenz, he'll never get over it." Link looked meaningfully at his friend. "Not as long as I don't have a fairy, and the others, they think there's something wrong with me, and that's why I don't have a fairy."
Forenz looked at him with serious but calm eyes, "You know that's not true, Link. I don't think there's anything wrong with you... right, Arden?"
Arden chimed in agreement, but one look at Link told Forenz that this wasn't helping. It had been Link's tenth birthday, not two moons ago, and he was now as tall as his fellow Kokiri. He had been certain that a fairy would come for him. He'd waited the entire day, giddy with a tense excitement that xcould not even be dispersed by Saria's gentle reminders to be patient. Aware of the whispers behind his back, taunted once more by Mido, and with his hopes turning to ashes, Link had run into the woods, tears stinging his eyes. Saria had found him sitting against a tree stump in the courtyard of the old temple. Gathering him in her gentle embrace, she had soothed him, listening to his tear-filled words, as she'd steered him back to the grove.
"You know, some of us have had to wait a long time for a fairy to choose us," Forenz was saying presently. "Mido waited for ages."
"He did?" Link asked, surprised.
"Yeah. Probably because he's a bit of a jerk, and I'm not denying that."
"Did he wait as long as me?" Link asked, his voice going quiet, expression serious.
"Well," Forenz looked uncomfortable, scratching the back of his neck with one hand. "No," he answered slowly, "He didn't, but once a fairy and Kokiri bond, it's for life. There's no going back. So, can you see that it's no small decision?"
"Saria said that," Link mumbled, not quite meeting Forenz's eyes.
"And she's right," Forenz said, clapping him on the shoulder. "C'mon, let's get going before Mido wonders what's taking us so long."
It was a quiet walk to the village proper. They passed other Kokiri who greeted Forenz warmly, following a rough trail between the towering Dekus.
Something rustled in the trees above. Link looked up, noticing a younger Kokiri clambering nimbly along a branch, not even flinching as his passage disturbed several sparrows from their nesting spot. The boy climbed onto the walkways that threaded through the canopy and the sound of someone rebuking him carried through the whispering boughs.
It was strangely quiet, save for the bamboo wind chimes rattling in the breeze and the gentle creak of rope bridges swaying lazily in the canopy. Link knew that many of the others were working on their homes, or checking for any damage to the rope-and-vine bridges that joined the neighbouring trees to form the bustling village, but the lack of noise disturbed him.
They came at last to a small clearing, divided by a tiny stream. A cluster of hollowed-out tree trunks clung to the edge of the glade, and wooden stairways wound their way up the towering trees leading to the rest of the village. Saria's house stood out from the other dwellings, with its normally well-tended and carefully organised beds of medicinal herbs. Instead of the usual fragrant scents that greeted Link, wilted plants and a faint stench of rot did little to calm the growing unease in his stomach. It wasn't just the unnatural silence that spoke of ill omens.
Bidding Forenz farewell, and promising not to go into the woods alone, Link retreated the short distance to his home. The tall, hollowed-out tree that was his home stood on one side of the village near a softly gurgling creek, rather than high above the forest floor. Link clambered up the ladder leading to its balcony, and not for the first time, he nearly smacked his head on the door frame.
~ 0 ~
Evening found Link walking wearily back to his treehouse, Saria waiting at its foot. Disheartened and irritable from an afternoon of hunting and catching nothing, despite pairing up with another Kokiri, Link's spirits instantly lifted at the sight of her. Like Link, she wore a green tunic, but unlike him, she wore no pointy hat. Saria's jumper covered her arms, protecting her from the chilly winds howling through the village in the autumn evening. Her boots were worn from long trips into the woods, but they were otherwise meticulously clean. A leather satchel hung from her belt, the clay point of her beige ocarina sticking out. She never left home without that instrument.
"Link the hunter, you're finally back," Saria said.
"The hunter and his invisible catch," Link replied, smiling.
"You must be pretty good to catch something invisible," Saria teased.
Link laughed and added more seriously, "There was nothing in any of my traps. Not even the others had much luck. Brynn caught a few rabbits and a squirrel or two, but that's it."
Brynn was one of only a few Kokiri who seemed to really care about Link, exchanging jokes and telling silly stories as they wandered between the trees.
"Mmm, rabbit stew," Saria said. "Your favourite."
A familiar laugh drew Link's attention, and he glanced over at the group crowding around a cook-fire.
Saria followed his gaze, frowning.
"Is Mido being a meanie again?" she said quietly.
"He's always mean," Link lamented.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Saria tilted her head towards the ladder.
"No," Link admitted, almost glumly.
He felt too tired to talk about Mido. He didn't want the attention of the other Kokiri right now, afraid one of them might pretend to be nice to him and then offer him a plate of live worms again. Stupid or cruel pranks were a specialty of Mido's friends, and they usually did it in the guise of a joke.
"We were only joking, Saria!" they would protest loudly. "It's not our fault he's so sensitive!"
Link didn't want to deal with that. All he wanted to do was sleep. He was feeling sick, his head pounding like it had been slammed into a tree trunk. Saria was speaking to him, offering to have a word with Mido, which only ever seemed to work for a few days, and then Mido would go back to being a jerk again. Distracted by his pounding headache, Link hardly took in a single word.
"Are you alright, Link?" Saria asked, catching the boy's wandering attention. "You've gone rather white?"
"I'm just tired," Link said, not keen to admit he wasn't feeling well. Saria would fuss too much if he said that.
"How about something to eat?"
"I'm not hungry."
"Not hungry?" Saria eyed him sceptically, disbelief plain in her voice. "Now, that's not like you." She pressed a hand to Link's forehead, her brow furrowed. Link tried to step back, but she held his arm.
"Saria!" he protested lamely. "I'm fine!"
"Oh, just hold still!" Saria scolded him gently, ignoring his complaint. "Hmm... you're not coming down with anything. Did you forget to drink enough again?"
"No." Link couldn't help feeling a flush of annoyance at that, but he didn't show it. "Really, it's just a headache."
Saria lowered her hand, surveying him critically, lips pursed. She didn't believe him, judging by her skeptical frown, but she relented. "Well... I'll come and check on you later. Fora can keep can eye on you, right?"
Her fairy nodded.
"Good," Saria smiled, giving Link one final look up and down, her smile wilting as she took in the bruises marring his arms. "Forenz and Mido have been working you too hard. I'll have to talk to them... get some rest, Link."
Link bid her goodnight, climbed up the ladder to his house and went inside, making an instant beeline for the bed. He collapsed onto it, sparing only a fleeting thought to change out of his sweaty tunic.
His eyelids drooped as he listened to the distant hum of chirping insects and chattering frogs. A fly buzzed incessantly somewhere nearby, the drone fading as Link fell into a restless slumber.
~0~
Link dreamt he was chasing something through the woods, a hunting bow at his side. The woods were dark, the branches so thick they blotted out the sun. Breathless from running, he tried to keep up with his quarry. It was just beyond his eyesight. A soft thud of hooves clomping along a thick blanket of leaves told him he was close.
Saria would be proud of him for tracking an animal like this. Treading carefully, he approached the gnarled root of an oak and peered around its ancient trunk. He gasped.
Just ahead of him was a majestic white stag. It stood tall and proud, mesmerising Link with its magnificent antlers and dark eyes.
A white stag? Nobody was going to believe this. Excited, he inched closer, wanting to get a better look. The stag dipped its head, sniffing at a large puddle, its branching antlers nearly touching the water.
I bet Mido's never gotten this close to one, he thought with a rush of delight. Mido was far too noisy for this sort of thing.
CRACK!
A stick snapped beneath him, and Link's breath caught in his throat. The stag's head shot up, and just for a moment, its eyes met his.
In an instant, the dream changed. A bright light flashed across Link's vision, forcing him to shield his eyes as a crisp bang ripped through the night.
Rain fell in thick sheets, so heavy Link was sure the water would swallow the earth around him. Fingers of bright lightning streaked across the sky, accompanied by the ominous growling of thunder.
Where am I?
Each flash of lightning revealed Link's surroundings for a brief moment. A field of grass, rolling hills and distant mountains stretched out before him, none of it familiar.
When the last rumbling chorus of thunder ended, Link heard something else that sent his heart racing with fear. Amidst the confusing roar of noise, screeching cries tore through the tempest, like the cries of hunted, wounded animals. Only there were so many of them. Too many. Guttural calls and growls cut across those distant shrieks. The harsh, harrowing cacophony was unlike anything native to the woods and terrifying to the sharp ears of a young Kokiri. Terror coiled around Link like a tangible force, ensnaring him. Crushing. He couldn't breathe.
"Saria?" his mouth formed her name, but no sound came out. "Saria, where are you? Fora?"
His voice came out like a thin reed as Link forced air into his lungs, trying to scream for help, for anyone.
Link turned, shivering from both the cold and fear.
Where am I? he wondered, blinking the rain out of his eyes. What's going on?
The path he was standing on ended at a drawbridge and an enormous stone gate. Was it some kind of temple, like the forbidden temple in the woods? The wall rose taller than most of the trees in the Kokiri Forest, save the Great Deku Tree (whose upper branches would have surpassed it, but not by much). Some part of Link recognised those structures, like an ancient memory carved into the deepest recesses of his mind. He didn't understand it, but something about this place, about that symbol above the drawbridge... it was familiar to him. The drawbridge itself was raised, barring any access to the area beyond. As Link stared, there was a shout from the distant parapet. The drawbridge began to lower, its chains clinking loudly. From beyond the bridge, a red glow stretched across the sky, and as the drawbridge lowered, it became all too clear what Link was seeing.
Fire.
Beyond the drawbridge, Link beheld stone and wooden buildings clustered together. Almost all of them were burning in a blazing inferno, like some terrible forest fire. Link knew what a forest fire was, and knew how dangerous they were, but he had never seen one.
Not even the rain could extinguish the hungry flames, and Link could only watch, trembling, his mind unable to grasp the magnitude of what he was seeing.
I have to get out of here, he thought. But how? He didn't even know where exactly he was. He turned, wanting nothing more than to be away from this dreadful place and the howling storm.
"Saria?" he called out, but his voice was lost amidst the storm.
"Link?"
Link spun, hearing a feminine voice from behind him, but when he turned, it was not Saria. Instead, a fairy flew before his face, her eyes were wide with terror. Link took a step back toward the drawbridge. How had he not seen her before? Where had she come from?
His voice caught in his throat. He wanted to ask who she was but he never got the chance.
"We have to get out of here!" the fairy screamed. Link barely heard her between the rain and thunder. "What are you doing?" the sprite screeched, almost flying into his face. "Stop standing there and run! He's coming!"
A thunder of hoofbeats that reverberated through the ground alerted Link to something behind him. He turned, quickly scanning the darkness for some sign of the beast. His first thought was a deer, but the next flash of lightning revealed a mare tearing down the main road of the burning village. The horse neighed, its eyes wide with fright as it raced towards him.
Realising he was about to be trampled, Link found the will to move and jumped to the side. The animal's hooves came crashing down, right where he'd been standing. Link spun around to observe two people on the beast, one unmistakably a child and the other Link did not recognize. She was tall- easily twice a Kokiri's height- and dressed in purple robes. The young girl was wearing a black robe with a hood hastily pulled over the dress beneath it. Her skin was ghostly white, and her eyes were wide with terror. Link met her frightened gaze with a jolt of recognition he couldn't place.
"Please, Link, we need to flee! He's coming. Run!" the fairy pleaded, tears in her eyes. "You have to run!'
Who is coming? Link tried to ask, but no words came out of his mouth, his fear so raw it crushed the air from his lungs.
Deciding to flee too, Link ran in the direction of the white horse, his breath coming in ragged, panicked gasps. He did not get far before a pounding of hooves drowned out the rumbling thunder, announcing the arrival of a second rider.
Don't look back, just run, Link told himself as the ground trembled beneath the horse's hooves. Link's foot struck a rock, and he cried out, falling, his head banging hard against the ground.
"No!" the fairy screamed. "Get up!"
The drumming of the hooves behind him stopped. Link rolled over onto his back, head stinging, blinking away tears of pain as he scrambled upright. He was face to face with a jet-black horse, its mouth so close Link could smell its breath. He stepped back and found himself staring into the eyes of the man mounted on the black steed. His yellow eyes bore into Link's own, his gaze unflinching. There was a cruelness to those eyes, a malice unmatched by even the meanest and hungriest of wolves. A cruelness that promised pain. Before this mighty figure, Link was but an insect caught in a spider's web, unable to break free from those unflinching eyes.
The man rose a gloved hand, revealing a strange gem on the palm of his gauntlet. A flickering ball of light burst into existence, brighter than a fairy's glow. It made a crackling sound, its heat so intense Link could feel it from where he stood. It shot through the air, striking the fairy beside Link and exploding with a burst of light as it hit the sprite. The fairy screamed, spun in the air, and fell against Link's boot with a soft thump. He stared in horror as the light faded from her smoldering and broken body. Link looked up at the rider, stunned by the abrupt, cold-blooded murder. Apparently amused by Link's reaction, the rider laughed and rose his hand once more. A flash of light seared across Link's vision and he screamed...
He awoke gasping, his throat raw. It was early morning and in the dim light Link could make out the familiar surroundings of his hut. He was damp with sweat and his heart was pounding rapidly against his chest. Silence cloaked the gloomy night, a jarring change from the terrible screams of his dream and the sight of that man with his amber eyes.
Blinking and pushing himself out of bed, Link caught his breath. An icy chill was settling over him, his limbs still shaking.
Outside, the wooden ladder creaked and groaned as someone started climbing it. Link jumped in fright, leaping up and almost tripping over his boots.
"Link, are you alright?" came Saria's voice. "Fora told me you were yelling in your sleep."
"I'm all right," Link called. "Just a bad dream."
The door curtain shifted as Saria pushed it to one side and came in. Aided by Fora's light, her eyes widened at the sight of Link standing beside his bed.
"Oh, Link," she exclaimed as took a step towards him. "You poor thing. How about I find something to make you feel better?"
"I'm fine," Link muttered, meeting her eyes as she grabbed his arm and offered a gentle squeeze. She was probably going to offer him some herbal broth, but he didn't like those; they tasted weird.
"Well, in that case, why don't you come outside and get some fresh air?" She eyed the pile of dirty laundry by the foot of the bed and gestured towards the door, adding quietly, "You and I need to talk about that, mister, but not right now."
Link followed Saria out onto the balcony and sat by the ladder. They watched in silence as the eastern horizon turned a soft shade of pink. In the distance, Link could hear the chatter of insects, while in the canopy above, bamboo wind chimes clattered softly.
"It's so peaceful in the early morning," Saria said as she sat down beside Link. She gave him a mischievous smile. "You should try enjoying it some time, sleepyhead."
His mind still lingering on that horrid nightmare, far from the soft melodies of birds stirring from their slumber or Saria's soft voice, Link grunted an acknowledgment.
Saria's smile wilted. She studied Link, noting his forlorn silence. "Is that nightmare still bothering you?" she asked rhetorically. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"
Link looked at his feet as he dangled them idly over the balcony's edge. He felt embarrassed, sure she would say it was just a silly old nightmare. Usually, Link would have agreed, but that last dream was something else. It was not the usual frightening nightmare that scared little children and prevented them from falling asleep once more. It was as if he had truly been standing there before that man on the black steed. Link told Saria almost everything, skipping the fairy's demise and the dream's end.
"Do you think it might have been... you know, seeing the future?" Link asked, finishing his tale. Without waiting for Saria's response, he continued, "The Great Deku Tree told me some people can see the future in dreams and I know he can too."
That wasn't a particularly comforting thought, nor was he convinced it made a lot of sense. "But it can't have been a vision," he continued, dismissing the notion and not waiting for a reply. "We can't leave the woods."
"Do you honestly believe that?" Saria asked with an air of skepticism.
Link was surprised. Everyone knew the Kokiri couldn't leave! He had always wanted to know what was beyond the Kokiri groves, to see the world and the many mysteries it held, but he wasn't allowed near the forest's edge. He knew that not everyone lived in tree-houses like the Kokiri, but did they really live in great big stone buildings like the one in his dream? And were they really as tall as the woman in his dream or that man?
All Link could think of were those eyes. Eyes full of malice.
That sent a shiver down Link's spine.
"I..." Link stammered in answer to Saria's question. "Well, don't you?"
"Some say we can leave," Saria explained, "But if we do, the magic of the groves and the Great Deku Tree won't be able to protect us."
"Why?"
"Because his magic only reaches so far."
"Has anyone tried to leave?" Link persisted.
Saria contemplated her answer for a moment. "Well, plenty of Kokiri leave their groves from time to time, but nobody leaves the woods."
"What about from our grove? Has anybody left before?" Link asked.
"Only once that I know of," Saria replied. "They never came back." She slipped into a sad silence, looking crestfallen and not meeting Link's eyes. "It's been a while since I mentioned that to anyone."
Saria smiled sadly as Fora came to rest against her shoulder. Link stopped himself from frowning when he remembered the smoldering corpse of the fairy in his dream.
"I wouldn't worry yourself," Saria said after a lengthy pause. "I'm sure it was frightening, but the mind can play tricks on you when you're worried or sick. It happens to me often enough... Tell you what, why don't I come and watch you and Forenz spar this morning?"
"Really?" Link piped up, his spirits lifting.
"Really," Saria repeated with a warm smile. "We can practice the ocarina afterward." She tousled his hair, prompting a noise of protest. "Go on. Get something to eat. I'll be along soon."
With that, Saria clambered down the ladder, and Link watched her stride up the path, his spirits lighter. He glanced at the doorway to his house, feeling a sudden chill, and a dread he couldn't place. His brief elation faltered.
Eyes full of malice, the black-clad warrior stared, sneering at the terrified boy who stood before him.
It was just a dream, Link told himself, glancing towards Saria's house and swallowing. Just a dream.
~ 0 ~
The dreams came again. Each night they came until Link dreaded the hours he spent tossing and turning in his bed. Only sleeping draught helped- a potion made from herbs found in the woods, near the old temple.
As Link often did when something troubled him, he found solace in the Lost Woods. He never ventured far into its depths; he wasn't allowed to unless someone was with him, but there was one place where Link had made a treehouse away from prying eyes. It wasn't far from the Kokiri Forest, but it was far enough that the noisy cacophony of Kokiri didn't bother him. From his vantage point, high in the canopy, he could see a vast stretch of the woods and the top of the Forest Temple. The ancient stone edifice reached above the canopy, leafy vines creeping across its ancient stones. One of the lotus-shaped towers had toppled long ago, and the others were badly damaged. A tree had stretched its gnarled roots over the temple's front entrance as if the stones themselves had given life to it. There was a plaza in the centre of the old sanctuary, the tangled limbs of another tree stretching high above it.
Sitting here, watching the birds dance amid the fluttering leaves, Link could forget his troubles. There was no Mido to bother him. He was alone, and for once, it didn't bother him. As the sky turned a pale blue, the shadows deepening, Link sat in his tree, lost in his own little world.
A faint snarl caught his attention. Link jerked to awareness, carefully bracing himself on the small walkway of his tree fort, and peered towards the nearby trees. There was a scratching noise and another snarl. There, amidst the distant foliage, something moved, something small and oddly misshapen, with a single bulbous eye.
Whatever it was, it growled softly again, disappearing into the undergrowth. There was a sudden yelp of pain, and a fox exploded from the bushes, limping, blood dripping from its wounded flank. The animal fled, and Link searched for its attacker, but everything was still. The creature, whatever it was, was gone.
What was that? Link placed one hand on his slingshot and peered into the woods.
Nothing moved. Link kept still, fear and curiosity mingling in his mind. He had just decided to find out what this creature was, provided he could find it, when the sound of light footfalls crunching on forest-litter made him jump. Fortunately, he recovered himself before he could fall.
"Link!" Saria's voice came from the tree's base. "Are you there?"
Link quickly climbed down the tree, his mind still on the bizarre animal.
"Saria!" he said, jumping from a low branch and landing on nimble feet. She didn't look particularly amused by this feat, not judging by the way she folded her arms and pursed her lips. She was clutching something too. A satchel of some description.
"I thought I'd find you here." Saria's disapproving eyes met his. "Nobody is supposed to leave the village on their own, not right now, remember?"
Link did remember, sort of, but he didn't give Saria's words much attention.
"There's something in the woods! I saw it! It attacked a fox!" He pointed towards the place where he'd seen the one-eyed creature.
Saria frowned, her expression softening. "What did you see?"
Link paused, trying to recall the creature's appearance. Two-legged. One big eye. Nothing else stood out.
"I don't know... I didn't get a close look at it," he admitted. "It was kind of round and had one eye. It attacked a fox and fled into the woods."
He pointed.
"How big was it?" Saria asked, following Link's gaze to the nearby bushes.
"No bigger than a wild dog," Link answered.
He led the way over to the thick scrub, still holding on to his slingshot. On closer inspection, it was clear the foliage had been trampled. Blood stained the leaf litter, and not just from the fox.
"Purple blood?" Saria murmured, inspecting the blood spatter on the ground. "Does that look like anything you recognize, Fora?"
Saria's fairy shook her head. "No."
After some searching through the dense foliage for any clues as to the creature's identity or its whereabouts, Link and Saria clambered down into a small gully. There was a rocky overhang here, barely large enough to offer a single person shelter during a storm. Beneath it, shrubs and bushes hid a small fissure in the rock, but there was a distinct trail where something had been dragged not long ago. There was more purple blood near the tunnel's opening, and scattered bones too, some of them not too old. Rock gave way to earth, revealing a narrow passage that Link had never seen before.
"I think that's an elk. A small one," Fora said, examining a skull near the cave's entrance. Saria looked at it, grimacing, while Link eyed their surroundings.
Whatever was in there, it wasn't big enough to take down a large animal, not unless there were lots of them. Examining the cave mouth more closely, Link was fairly certain he could've squeezed into it. Fora's light revealed the tunnel's interior, coated with slime and a chaotic web of weird pulsating veins that resembled mold. Link went to touch it, but Saria grabbed his hand.
"I'll get Brynn to come and have a look," she suggested, giving him a meaningful look. "It's too late, and I don't want you going down there on your own. Besides, you won't see anything."
"But what if it took Brynn's hounds?" Link asked, pointing at the bones.
"All the more reason to wait," Saria told him firmly. "Come on, let's go back to the village. I'll tell the other Elders and get Brynn to have a look."
Leaving Link's find behind, they trudged away from the small gully and started heading back to the Kokiri grove. Link's thoughts remained on the mysterious creature. Had it killed Brynn's hounds? It seemed too small, but then again, if there were lots of them, they might be able to take down a large animal.
Link strained to hear any movement in the surrounding woodland, but there was still no sign of the creature he'd seen. Saria was glancing at the trees too, apparently just as occupied as he was. He could tell she was worried and guessed the reason for her concern. Shadows seemed to move in the deepening night. Strange twisted forms lingered amidst the trees, their single eyes glaring at him, malevolent and angry. There were more of those things out there, Link was certain of it.
"If any more of those things come, I'll protect us," Link said, trying to reassure both Saria and himself. "I'll take them out with my slingshot."
Saria smiled, looking at him. "Well then, Link the brave, I feel safer already." She took his hand in her own and motioned for him to keep going. "Lead the way, mister."
Link did so. A distant howl broke the silence, followed by another, but Link wasn't bothered by those. Wolves weren't uncommon in the woods, and these ones kept to themselves. Link hadn't gone far when he frowned, looking at the ground and considering something. "Sa?" Link rarely called her 'Sa' these days, except when he wanted to say something particularly important. He'd grown out of the habit of calling her that. Saria seemed to give a small start and looked at him.
"Yes, Link?" she asked softly.
"Can't the Great Deku Tree stop them?" he asked, gesturing to the surrounding woods. "I mean, those monsters, like the one I saw."
"I'm sure he will." Saria didn't seem to quite believe this, and she glanced away from Link, her eyes lingering on the leaves that crunched beneath their feet.
"Sa," Link pressed, sensing something was amiss. "What's wrong?"
Saria drew herself up, turning to him with a smile that didn't quite meet her eyes. "It-" she seemed to reconsider her words and something in her eyes seemed odd. Was she about to cry? Abruptly, she stepped forward and embraced Link. Link was so startled he nearly stepped backward, but after tensing for an awkward moment, he relaxed and returned the gesture. In that instant, all the tension and all his worries seemed to melt away. Saria held him close, as she had done so many times before, whenever Link was afraid or sad.
"It's nothing," Saria said in a strained voice. "It's just been a long day... Don't you go worrying yourself, okay?" She ruffled his hair and drew back.
"Okay," he repeated, not entirely convinced. He knew she was worried, and he wondered if he were to blame for this. "Were you worried because I went into the woods alone?"
"I will always worry about you, my little warrior," Saria said, apparently sensing Link's thoughts. "But I wasn't mad at you. Did you think I was?"
"A little," Link admitted as they started walking again.
"You know I love you too much to be mad at you for long," Saria said, walking beside him. Link smiled, casting a glance at Saria. She seemed less upset now. "You're growing so fast. It seems like only yesterday I could still carry you and you were busy trying to pull my hair."
Link was glad it was dark, save for Fora's light, because he blushed furiously.
Somewhere nearby, Link could hear the rise and fall of chattering voices. They weren't far from the Kokiri groves. "You know," Saria said presently. "I came looking for you to give you something." She held out the satchel she'd been carrying on her belt and held it out. "Here."
Having assumed it was full of herbs or plants used for treating ailments, Link had taken little notice of it.
"It's a present, for you," she explained, holding it out for Link. "That's why I came to find you."
"A bag?" Link asked, not quite sure he understood why she was giving it to him. He gave it a sniff, expecting to recognise the scent of herbs. There weren't any. "What's so special about it?"
"It's magic," Saria explained.
"Magic?" Link asked, inspecting the satchel at arm's length. "It looks normal to me."
"It can fit many things in it despite its small size."
"Can it fit anything?" Link asked in wonder.
"Not everything," Saria said with a gentle laugh. "Fora gave it to me as a gift when she chose me as her charge." Saria gazed at her fairy as she said this. "We decided you should have it."
"Saria, I can't. It belongs to you-" Feeling stunned, and a little bad for taking something that was no doubt special to Saria, Link went to give it back, but she refused.
"Keep it," Saria urged. "I want you to have it."
Link stared at the bag and then at Fora. She gave him an encouraging smile, urging him to take it.
"Thanks," he mumbled.
"Try not to lose it," Fora said.
"I won't," Link replied, clutching the bag.
"Come on," Saria urged him, motioning for Link to keep moving. "I have to see the Great Deku Tree, but I will come and see you first thing in the morning."
They walked quietly back to the village, beneath the chittering birdsong that announced the day's end, and reached Link's hut as twilight's somber gloom set in. Dinner smells wafted from the cook fires crackling away in the clearing nearby. The merry sound of laughter and chatter beckoned to him, but Link felt too weary to join in.
"How about I bring you something? Just this once," Saria offered to Link's surprise; she was usually the first to encourage him to eat with the rest of the Kokiri. "Fora can tell the Great Deku Tree where I've gone."
"Yeah, okay," Link said sleepily. "Thanks, Saria."
With that, Saria turned and strode towards the nearest fire, leaving Link alone. For a moment, he watched the happy throng, their day untroubled by thoughts of nightmares or weird creatures in the woods.
There was a dull ache building in Link's head, and he knew his night was going to be far from peaceful.
Stupid nightmares.
With that, he turned and clambered up the ladder to his home.
~ 0 ~
Dawn found Link tossing and turning in his sleep, oblivious to the small, winged creature entering his home. The fairy emitted a bright azure glow and was breathing heavily from her hurried flight and the weight of the heavy sack she carried.
The fairy was Navi, and she was carrying a large object in a bag similar to Link's own. She dropped her burden on the table with a loud thud, before turning her attention to the boy groaning in his sleep.
This is the boy the Great Deku Tree wanted me to find? she wondered.
The blonde Kokiri was whimpering in his sleep, and Navi could tell he was dreaming. She cast her eyes upon a bottle of sleeping draught next to the bed. He had not taken much. Only a few mouthfuls, Navi thought. As long as he took it more than a few hours ago, he should not be too hard to wake up.
"Hey! Link, wake up!" she called. The boy slept on. Navi sighed, rolling her eyes and exclaiming as loudly as she could, "Hey! Listen!"
That did not wake Link up either.
This could take a while, Navi groaned. Silently, she cursed whoever chose last night of all times to give the boy a sleeping potion.
Next Chapter
Reviews
Loved this chapter! I found myself initially resistant to the idea of Link being a bit emotionally unstable (and slightly immature) – but he’s 10! This is the Hero of Time before any adventures or training beyond basic sword play. Forenz was a great character to help introduce that training. I think you captured Link’s childhood rather well in this chapter.I also like Link’s reaction to the castle in his nightmare v/s forest life (tall stone homes wouldn’t be familiar to him). It’s something I honestly forget often, that OoT/MM Link spent the first ten years of his life secluded in a forest community. The foraging/hunting details were great texture to the world you’re building.And what a wonderful closing with Navi! I look forward to your take on her, and am extremely pleased we got a “Hey, listen!” right out of the gate, lol.
\
Listened to this now too. Some concrit: Dialogue tags. You fall into the old trap of using different verbs for ‘said’ a lot. ‘mumbled’ ‘exclaimed’ The word ‘said’ is usually better because our brains just skip over it. And sometimes you don’t need any tag at all, you can just know who is speaking from context or have a little separate thought/action tag instead. Also you have quite a bit of repetition e.g. ‘ancient stone’ twice in the same sentence. And I spoke a bit too soon about you understanding POVs. When you start Navi’s POV section in this chapter, for example, you start out as omniscient / floating third person, then zoom in to close limited third person, but then you break that at least once as well when you state what Link is thinking. Better to stay in limited third person the whole time (thus cutting first paragraph or two of Navi’s section in this chapter) and not break it. But with a bit of work, this could be professional standard writing. It’s not that far off being edited into really high-quality material, in my view. You seem to have a really good sense of plot and structure (though I would like to have seen a scene of the Deku Tree commissioning Navi to go and find Link, that is actually one part of the story I think you missed out on by not dramatising it), it’s just fine-tuning and cutting the superfluous stuff that needs work. I am really enjoying listening to it. It’s a fantastic touch having different narrators for different POVs too. I am going to do the same thing with my audiobook podcast of my fanfic story too!
cal Minstrel
“Saria tilted xher head…” Just a little hiccup here.Other than that, this rewrite really paid off! I’m intimidated by how well it was done, as a matter of fact. No, Muse, this does not mean you get a vacation!
I have to say, I LOVE what I have read so far. well done.Keep Writing; I’ll keep reading.
-Kit
Nice chapter! You’ve already developed Link as an adventurous person with a big heart. Is he really only ten? Wow! I love all the fairies and how they guard the Kokiri. You’ve developed Link and Saria’s relationship well; it’s very interesting and sweet. A couple things to look out for:You should mention that Link and Forenz are Kokiri at the beginning. You should also say Link is blonde when you first meet him, not at the end of the chapter. Some other things”: “As he gathered his utensils and gear” doesn’t make it clear Link is going hunting. In the part with the white stag, first Link walks around the oak and sees these antlers in the distance. Then he looks over a root (is it really big?) and sees the whole deer right in front of him. It doesn’t make much sense.”A thunder of hoofbeats alerted him to something behind turned, hurriedly . . .” I get the general meaning, but there looks to be a couple typos there.I’m enjoying this story. Nice use of mysteries to keep the reader hooked, such as: the freaky things going on with the Great Deku Tree in the prologue (leaving us hanging in that is very suspenseful, especially since everything seems all right in this chapter) and Saria’s strange behavior. Good job!
This chapter did a pretty good job of introducing and establishing Link’s character, well done. Much better than the completely blank, grunting slate the game gives you. Learning a bit more about the Kokiri culture and the other Kokiri themselves was also interesting. Their relationships feel a lot more organic here, instead of “Hey, you’re my friend because the game needs me to be, here’s an important item.” The game really would’ve benefited from giving Link a voice in the story department, but alas, we must be able to project ourselves onto the grunting elf child.”Hey! Listen!” I got irrationally irritated when I read that line lol.
Barbacar
Another good chapter. You do a good job of adapting the story so that it’s novel-length and can take time to explore things in detail, but can also go at a fast pace when it needs to. One criticism is that using italics for thoughts can be distracting.
Tell me if I’m wrong but I feel navi was was thinking of Majora from FakeJake. It’s just what I was thinking cuz you to have read his fanfic and have found some inspiration from him. And that would be a cool little way to make a reference to his story! But I could be completed wrong idk 
Also, I love how you describe the Kokiri Village. I’m currently in the process of rewriting the parts of my story that take place there and I’m trying hard to describe it in different words haha
acctdisabled
Another good chapter! I like that this chapter starts off with Link already demonstrating some skill with the sword, which makes the transition to his hero’s journey more realistic compared to the game. Also enjoyed the fact he’s not a perfect fighter and Forenz takes advantage of Link’s hesitation, which shows he’s got a lot of room to grow. Good thing that was a wooden sword that cracked against his chest! Really enjoyed Lorenz’s character as well- seems like a practical, calming support for Link that antagonizes him in a good way. There’s definitely a little bit of underlying anger shown through his actions, both in frustration and resentment. I had an odd feeling Saria knew some very important things about Link given she’s adamant about him training, which was confirmed later on. Thought the antagonism between Mido and Link was subtly developed- would suggest adding some lines between Link and Mido to give the reader more perspective on that.Saria and Link’s dialogue flowed well- they really came off as good friends. Thought the Ganondorf-Link cutscene from the game was described very well- it was greatly vivid and I could imagine each little detail going on. You also ramped up the sense of urgency, especially with Navi’s plea for Link to get the hell out of there. Only thing I would suggest adding is a line from Ganondorf to further convey how menacing and scary he is during that scene. This way, Link can be prompted in the future by recalling Ganondorf’s familiar voice (if you haven’t, of course).Very interesting that someone already left the grove and never came back- I’m sure this comes up later. I’m glad you incorporated a magic bag to account for Link’s lugging around of equipment; video logic ignores realism sometimes. The ending scene was nice, and the sleeping draught was a good way to inject humor into it. Only suggestion (since you clarified Navi’s appearance is different) is to show some body language of her struggling to wake him up.
“Practising” or “Practicing” (This is my preference, this isn’t an error, when I have OR that means my preference)
“Forenz twirled his blade towards him. .” – Is there suppose to be an extra period at the end?
“Yeah, I might have to knock out Mido first before we-” “Link. I have not been helping you…” or “Yeah, I might have to knock out Mido first before we-” or “-Link. I have not been helping you…”
“prat” or “brat”
“…every time I walk passed him.” – “…every time I walk past him.”
“practise” or “practice”
“A ball of white light shot out from man’s extended hand…” – “A ball of white light shot out from the man’s extended hand…”
“scepticism” or “skepticism”
“I’m sorry,” Link hastily began “I-”
“No, it’s not your fault Link.”
“I’m sorry,” Link hastily began “I-” or
“-No, it’s not your fault Link.”
“Feeling a little stunned Saria would part with a gift her fairy had given her Link went to give it back to her but Saria refused to take it.” – “Feeling a little stunned Saria would part with a gift her fairy had given her, Link went to give it back to her, but Saria refused to take it.”
“…making t look as though…” – “…making it look as though…”
“centre” or “center”
“…fairies could carry many times their own weight…” or “…fairies could carry many things times their own weight…”Okeydokey, I’m done this chapter on to the next tomorrow. Maybe, it depends.
Preferences – 9
Errors – 4
REVIEW TIME
This story is getting interesting, and I did kind of watch the beginning of OoT, but not much, the most I’ve watched is to this part where I just read XD so yeah the rest is going to be new stuff. But it’s not my problem because I’m just your beta not your fact giver XD. Oh yeah my favorite part in this chapter was this line right here : Much to his disappointment they hadn’t answered his prayers to curse Mido yet. LOLZ, poor Link. I wonder if that will ever be answered.
Yeah, I loved fakejakes story.
Ah, FakeJake! I haven’t checked up on his story since before Snowhead lol. I guess I have some catching up to do there. I can definitely see the influence in your writing.VERY interesting take on the Kokiri. I always saw them as vegetarians. I know that gives Link no excuse to know how to use a bow when he gets it, but I thought that, as the race most closely affiliated with Farore, the giver of life, they wouldn’t be taking any lives.Onward.
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