Link thrashed violently in his sleep. He was having another nightmare. Ever since he had returned to Kokiri Village he had dreamt of his previous adventure. Sometimes he would have a happy slumber and dream of his memories of Princess Zelda, Malon, or Saria. Lately though his visions of darkness swept over his pure rests. The image of Gannon haunted him and tormented his mind. From the Sacred Realm Gannondorf laughed menacingly at the terror he was leaving engraved upon the young man. Hopefully soon he would be scarred for the rest of his life.

The blue light of Navi entered the room as she drifted in to wake Link. Her radiance shone bright in Link's eyes and forced him to peek out at her.

"Link! It is already mid-day! You can't possibly sleep forever!"

He rolled over and climbed out of bed. He stretched and did a few morning exercises before donning his green tunic and strolling out onto his back porch. He half expected to be greeted by his best friend Saria but I suppose she was off playing in the woods. She was rarely ever seen in the village. If one desired to see her they would have to find their way through the Lost Woods, and exit the Sacred Forest Meadow unharmed. So really the only Kokiri that ever hung out with her was Link himself. After all they were the best of friends right?

Now Link climbed down the ladder and set foot upon the soft green grass of the Kokiri Forest. He followed the dusted path up a green hill and found himself surrounded by wooden homes. Across from him a pond with three large stepping stones stirred silently in the breeze. Link marveled often at the peaceful nature of this land, for he had visited many untamed realms.

Navi fluttered down and hovered around Link's shoulder and whispered in his ear.

"Link, the Great Deku Tree has sent me back to you. He wants to see you. Again you have been summoned to answer the threat of a dark shadow shrouding Hyrule. You should go get your Sword and Shield!"

Link nodded and turned to go back down the hill to his home. He dodged a few roots and made his way to the back of his home. Here he found a Chest where his Sword and Shield were placed neatly inside. Equiping these he strode back up the hill and down the lane to cross a small creek. Beyond that creek he dodged an angry Mido and tried to block out his loud protests. He traversed through a narrow passageway and found himself face to face with a large young tree. The tree stared down at him and gave off an eerie sense of absolute power.

"Welcome back Link! We meet again at last! I wish that the circumstances however could have been slightly less crucial. You see I have requested your presence for a reason."

"What would you have me do?"

"Well, I wish I knew all the details of this plight but unfortunately Gannondorf remains slightly in control even as he rots in an abyss of nothingness. He is hindering my sight and so therefore I cannot witness what is taking place in Hyrule in great detail. All that I know is that an army is amassing in the west. This army is taking up arms against our land. For what intent I do not know but Gerudos never were the most trusted of people. I suspect that Gannondorf has brainwashed or possessed these people into becoming murderous barbarians. But Link just know that if they are not stopped then I'm afraid Hyrule will be plunged into a bloody war."

Link's eyes went wide at the thought. He pondered what the world would be like if everyone turned against eachother. Gorons, Zoras, and Humanity all at eachother's throats. It would rip everything in the realm apart.

"But Lo, there is more that you must hear. And I'm not sure what I'm about to tell you is going to digest easily. I'm afraid Kokiri Village is doomed. A raid of Gerudo Bandits is traversing the Hyrule Field now as we speak. Each day brings them closer to our home. They will burn it all to the ground in search of you. The Gerudos now have come to fear your name and will strike now when you are but a mere sapling. You must run as fast as you can away from this place! Don't try to be a hero and help out the other children! This is imperative! If you stay in the Village then you will die or if you are lucky taken captive."

"What about you Great Deku Tree?" Navi asked.

"Oh, I'm afraid that the intruders will most certainly burn me to the ground."

"But…you will return…just like the phoenix your seed will be replanted beneath the ashes?"

"Not this time Link. The time of the Kokiri is at an end. Once this Village is gone I too will have nothing left to live for. So I have fulfilled my last purpose. I gave you the information you needed. Now go and don't look back! FLY!"

Link jumps at the power in the Deku Tree's voice. He turns and stumbles around trying to run as fast as his little legs would muster. Onward through the Village he dashes. He makes a right and runs behind Mido's house. Climbable vines line the wall leading up to the Lost Woods. He pulls himself up the wall and hops a fence before entering the Lost Woods.

Back in the Village, Navi and the Great Deku Tree bid their final goodbyes.

"Navi, I didn't have the heart to tell him the worst of the news."

"You should probably tell me then. Don't worry…I can keep a secret…"

"No…you will know when it happens…now leave me to my fate…"

Navi wavers off to follow Link from above the forest. She wanted to see these Gerudos with her own eyes. She catches a glimpse of a small group of well armed bandit raiders nearing the entrance to the Village. They held torches high and wailed in their fowl tongue.

Once inside he can easily find his way around by just following his ears to the sound of the music. After a while he finds himself at the gate of the Sacred Forest Meadow. Saria is standing in the tall grass in front of it. She spots Link coming into the meadow and giggles as she runs over to him and tackles him.

"LINK! YOU MADE IT! ITS ABOUT TIME! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN! I WANNA PLAY!"

"Not this time Saria…"

"What? Why not?"

A distant noise answers her. The sounds of shouting adult voices echo through the forest along with a second sound of dying kids. Screams and curses ripple through to the two forest dwellers and Saria begins to cry.

"Link, what is happening?"

"There are men here to kill me. The Great Deku Tree told me to run. These men are beyond even me. I came here to make sure to get you out of here alive. Your safety means more to me than even my own!"

"We should hide in the Forest Temple!"

"No! We must leave now! Head for the archway leading to Goron City! Follow me!"

Link takes Saria by the hand and leads her back into the Lost Woods.