A/N: I wrote this for my sister (who is a major LoZ fan) a while back and figured I'd publish it here. I'm mostly looking for feedback, so please tell me what you think. Criticism is welcome and I will put more up later.

Chapter 1: Wakeup call

"Hey, Link! Link, wake up!"

Link came to slowly, still half asleep. He had been having the strangest dream...

He noticed Navi, his fairy friend, hovering impatiently above his head.

"Finally!" She exclaimed, "I was beginning to worry that you would sleep all day."

Link swung his legs over the side of the bed, rubbing the drowsiness out of his eyes as he slowly sat up.

"Oh, Link! You'll have to move faster than that." She buzzed, flying in circles around his head. "If you don't get ready quickly, you're going to be late. later than you already are!"

Link tried to keep track of her, but she was making him dizzy.

She stopped suddenly. "Link, don't tell me you forgot?!"

There was a pause, then his mind snapped into focus as the memories of the past few days came flooding back. He lept out of bed, dressed in his best tunic, grabbed a sword, and promptly rushed out the door.

"Oh, good," Navi flew after him, relieved, "I was beginning to think you were hopeless."

Pulling out the ocarina that had been given to him by a dear friend, Link quickly played Opona's song. Opona's answering neigh was heard even before the final notes stopped ringing, echoing through the forest. Galloping forward, she tossed her head with pleasure at the sight of him. Link quickly mounted, not even bothering with a saddle or bridle, and they rode of towards Hyrule castle. They sped through the forest, Link knew his home well and Opona was the fastest horse in Hyrule, they would soon reach their destination. Suddenly he heard a shout.

"HHEEEEELLLLPPPPP!"

Gasping with shock, Link pulled Opona to a halt.

"PLEEEESE, SOMEONE, HEEEELLP!"

Turning Opona's head, Link urged her on towards the desperate cries. Though he was late, Link knew it was his duty to help those in need. And he would gladly be late if it meant saving someone.

Link, led on by the horrified shrieks, crashed through the dense forest on Opona. Soon, they came to a dirty little hovel where the screams were coming from. Link flung himself from Opona's back and burst into the little one room shack, his sword at the ready. He was greeted by the strangest of sights. Inside the dust-covered, dimly lit room was a single chair and some small piles of moldy-looking straw. On the rickety old chair stood a decrepid old hag, who was shrieking and pointing at something on the floor.

"Oh, thank goodness!" Cried the ugly crone, balancing precariously as she clutched at her skirts. "Please, oh, please save me from that-that thing!" She pointed frantically at a small, dark object, skittering across the dirty floor.

Link stepped forward causiously, after all, one can never be too carefull when dealing with unkown creatures. He soon realized, however, that the thing the old woman was so afraid of was nothing more than a large, black spider.

"KILL IT! SMASH IT! BURN IT! DECAPITATE IT! DO SOMETHING!"

The hag wailed, flailing her arms about wildly.

Link sighed, then he gently scooped up the poor unfortunate arachnid. Stepping outside, he set it down in the grass. Opona shook her mane and pawed the ground with impatience. Before he had gone five paces, however, he was stopped by a strange voice coming from behind him.

"Wait, please. I haven't thanked you yet."

Link wipped around, in the doorway of the old cabin stood the same old hag, but her voice was like a clear spring of water bubbling up from the depths of the earth.

"Thank you." She said, and before Link's astonished eyes she began to transform.

She grew straight and tall, her skin became clear and glowed with a healthy radiance, and her hair turned the colour of honey. Her eyes were like twin stars and her long robe was of the finest silk. As he watched, Link was strongly reminded of a caterpillar emerging from a crysalys as the most beautiful butterfly.

"I am the guardian fairy of the forest." She said grandly, "and I have waited so long for a hero such as yourself."

Link simply starred in utter asonishment. She smiled at him and he felt a warmth like sunshine across his face, but her expression soon turned grave.

"I have been continually searching for someone who is worthy to be my champion and I am happy to say that you have passed my test."

Link looked at Navi, she was as cofused as he was. "Exuse me," Navi began politely, "I'm sorry, but what exactly do you mean?"

"Let me explain." The fairy continued. "Most people who answer the cries for help, leave in disgust when they realize it is only a spider. Even worse are the few who try to solve the problem by extinguishing the spider's very existence. You, however, are the first man I've come across who sought to aid both human and animal. Thus, you are the perfect hero for the land to which I wish to send you. If no one takes it upon themselves to save the lands of Entamolia soon, they will perish, and the entire world of Hyrule will quickly follow. Please, dear hero, save the world once more."

The two friends exchanged glances, Link knew they had to help. "OK," said Navi, "what do we have to do."

She held up a small flask. "If you drink this potion, you will be transported to Entamolia, that small yet proud kingdom of insects and every creature that creeps upon this earth, and you can then begin to rid it of evil."

Link nodded, any thoughts of being late being forgotten. The world was in peril and he was the only one who could save it. He stepped forward and took the vial, downing it in one swallow.

"Thank you for accepting this most important task." Said the fairy as Link was whisked away by the magic of the elixer. "I wish you luck."