Sparks flew like small clouds of fireflies, extinguishing in the air. Steel clanged off specially hardened wood. On one side was the small, yet surly Mido, swinging a black wooden sword. On the other was the somewhat taller, but still young, Dace. Dace was only 14 in Hylian years, but for a Kokiri it was ancient. As they fought in the shadow of the Great Deku Tree Dace swung is sword this way and that, but Mido continued to easily block it. Suddenly Mido lunged, sweeping his sword against the back of Dace's left knee. Dace did a slow back flip, snapping his right boot into Mido's torso and punting the small Kokiri man into the air and up, up past the uppermost branches of the Great Deku Tree, into the sky. "Oops, sorry Mido!" he called. Several seconds later Mido fell back to earth, saved from a nasty fall by grabbing one of the extra long vines trailing from the uppermost branches. "I do wish you'd remember your strength, Dace." Mido grumbled, rubbing his stomach where he was hit. He guzzled some Life Potion from a silver flask hanging from his sash and wiped away the drips. "Ok, I need to get some more potions. Meditate for one hour. I'll post Kokiri guards. You won't be disturbed." Mido ordered, walking away. Dace crossed his legs and sat down before the Great Deku Tree, shutting his eyes. He thought about his Father, Link, the Hero of Time, and his sisters, Lita and Kaylynn. But his father was at Hyrule Castle with his mother, Zelda. Lita was away in Kakariko, training under Impa in the ways of the Sheikah. Naboroo was training Kaylynn in the ways of the desert out in the Spirit Temple. They were all scheduled to meet tomorrow at the Temple of Time, where their fates were to be decided. Dace's mind snapped back to the present, he heard soft footsteps, multiple pairs of incredibly soft footsteps. The Kokiri, he knew, would announce themselves, and even the Sheikah weren't THIS stealthy. No, it was someone else. Someone, yet unknown, had sent these people. "You're too loud!" Dace yelled, jumping halfway up the Deku tree and grabbing a vine. Below him a dozen, black suited ninja-like warriors waited. They held various martial arts poses.
"What are you guy's? Sheikah warrior wannabes?" Dace insulted. "Get Him!" the lead warrior yelled, Dace assumed he was the leader as he had three red bands around his right arm, whereas the others only had one. All 12 of them hurled multiple Deku nuts at him, hoping to blind him and be able to attack while he was disoriented. Dace ran around the trunk of the Great Deku Tree and all the warriors moved to follow. They had just climbed up to Dace's level when he came around the other side. The vine was tied around his waist now and he held bundles of tiny Deku nuts in either hand. At once he threw them, making a veil of light, and before the warriors could adjust he was in among them. Whipping his Kokiri sword from its sheath he slashed left and right. He killed no one, but hurt them immensely. One by one the ninjas disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Dace dropped to the ground, solemnly sheathing his sword. Just then Mido burst in, all of the Kokiri behind him. They brandished clubs, Deku sticks, slingshots, and swords. When they saw there was no one except Dace there, they left. "It is time to go, Dace. There is no more I can teach you." Mido said. Gesturing for him to follow, Mido left.