The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Note: This retelling of "Ocarina of Time" is the sequel to my story "Origin of a Hero." It is not necessary, but recommended that you read that story first.

Chapter 1

Legend tells the tale of a boy who gathered three mystical stones, traveled through time, rescued six sages, a princess and an entire country from a dark lord. However, just like most legends do, this legend often fails to make mention of who the hero was as a person. This legend also fails to make mention of how some of his newly-made allies became some of his most trusted friends. On the rare occasion that this legend remembers to tell of those allies who became friends, the legend still fails to mention the one friends who became allies...the friends who become the most important people in the boy's life. This is the one time when that best friends-turned-allies are given the proper credit for their actions in befriending the hero and aiding him greatly on his quest by providing some of the most simple favors. While this retelling of the legend places the heroic lad properly as the main character, as the other retellings of this ancient legend have done, the boy's spotlight is to be shared equally with those often forgotten friends.

The lurking figure had been avoiding guards for about an hour. The element of fear could only be created with the element of surprise. Under normal circumstances, he would have just ran through the area destroying everything in his path. That's the way Ganondorf thought. There is no greater concept than that of power. But in order for his plan to take root, he needed a body count of only one person. That's how it would have to work. The hot sun glistened with a fervent heat. The heat was magnified in the vast expanse of sand covering Gerudo Valley. He crept past the female guards every so quietly. If but one guard saw him, all the guards would be aware of him in a moment. After the detours taken around the guards, Ganondorf finally reached the building that he had been looking for. It was a castle. Though this castle paled in comparison with Hyrule Castle. Without hesitation, Ganondorf began to scale the walls. His mind was mostly focused on the task at hand, though there was some small remnant of his mind that was still in horror at what he had just done. Out of malice, he had murdered the adults and children of his village. He had choked his best friend Crestin to death. He burned the village to the ground to remove his past. All this had happened after the legendary being Ganon had endowed him with great power and the promise of more. There was little part of his former self still existent in his soul. Ganon had slowly taken over his mind and heart, turning him into an servant of evil. This was no mind control, nor possession of sorts, but of his own free will, the young man had allowed himself to be transformed by Ganon. Now, with the power he possessed, Ganondorf was scaling the Gerudo Castle walls in the hopes of conquering the Gerudo people.

"You have to run, now!" Crestin's words echoed in Dina's mind as she ran through the woods with her newborn baby boy. Her husband had gone out to fight the monster that had attacked their village. Dina could only wonder what had happened. But she continued running. She had already been attacked by some Deku Scrubs. Her injuries were causing her to weaken. She was bleeding and had been bleeding for hours now. She knew she was dying, but for her son's sake, she had to keep going. As she ran, she tripped over a stump. Her tears increased as she thought that she would not be able to go on.

Suddenly, a stalfos approached her. "Hey! This is my stump!"

Dina looked at the creature that spoke to her. It was the size of a child. It's glowing yellow eyes were positioned above it's beak-like mouth. Besides that, no facial description could be given, as there was virtually no face. The creature wore a straw hat and carried a flute. Dina could not respond with words. Her face, however, told a great deal. The stalfos looked at her with kind eyes. "Wait, are you ok?" Again, Dina did not answer. The stalfos saw the baby she was still clinging to. "Alright here, let me help you!" The stalfos picked Dina up and walked her through the forest. Dina clung to her baby with one hand and clung to the creature with the other. With what little energy she could muster, she let out a brief thank you. The stalfos smiled. Often, it was misunderstood to be some kind of monster. In fact, that was the case for most stalfos. The problem for this young one was that even the other stalfos rejected him. He had no friends. Most days, he just sat on his stump and played his flute, not to say that he was any good at playing. He was happy to help this lady because he was finally getting to have some company, even if for a little while. Finally, the stalfos managed to find the clearing known as Kokiri forest. The stalfos didn't dare go with her any further. The clearing was populated with children all dressed in green. The children here had a bit of prejudice against all stalfos and outsiders. Now one of both categories had just entered their forest. The stalfos looked around until he saw the one child he was looking for. He whistled to him, "Hey Mido! Get over here!"

The self-proclaimed leader of the Kokiri ran over to meet the intruders. "What do you want, stalfos?"

"You need to take this lady to the Great Deku Tree!"

"Are you crazy? No one sees the Great Deku Tree unless he calls for them, especially not an outsider!"

"Can't you see that she's been injured? Now you need to take her to him right now!"

"It doesn't matter! We Kokiri have nothing to do with you! Leave our forest!"

The stalfos grabbed Mido by his tunic. "Not until this lady gets some help."

Mido gulped. Mido could certainly act tough, but few knew that his toughness stopped with the act. The stalfos didn't want to hurt Mido (well, maybe he did a little) but he knew that if someone didn't help the lady, she would most certainly die. "I-I'm not helping you or the outsider, no-face!"

The stalfos glared, "What did you call me?"

Suddenly, another Kokiri came over. This one was a girl with green hair to match her tunic. "Ok, settle down you two!"

Both looked at the girl and exclaimed "Saria!"

Mido told Saria to stay out of this. The stalfos knew, however, that Saria was the only Kokiri that was kind to the stalfos, despite the general Kokiri prejudice. "Saria, this woman needs help. She's got a baby too! I don't think she'll find any help besides the Great Deku Tree!"

Saria smiled kindly. "Of course we'll bring her! Won't we, Mido?"

Mido had to swallow his pride. If there was one person who could make Mido back down, it was Saria. "Yes…" Mido muttered, "Of course we'll help her." Mido took the lady from the stalfos. The stalfos was relieved to know that the woman would find help. Saria thanked the stalfos for helping the stranger. The stalfos smiled as Saria patted his head. With that, the stalfos vanished into the woods.

Meanwhile, Mido had walked the woman and her child to the guardian of the forest, the Great Deku Tree. The tree towered over the mountainous barriers of the forest. Every leaf on it was green and its bark was without a scratch. Mido came in and said, "Pardon me, Great Deku Tree, for the intrusion, but we have a problem here."

The Great Deku Tree looked at Mido and laughed, "Oh Mido, thou knowest that all Kokiri are welcome to visit me whenever they pleasest to."

"Heh, right." Mido had managed to keep that little tidbit secret from the other Kokiri. For some reason, even though in the end, every decision had to be made by the guardian tree, Mido wanted people to go through him as a middle man. It just made him feel important. "Well…um… I found this injured woman and her baby walking through the woods. I figured no one else would be able to help, so I brought her to you!"

Dina opened her eyes and saw the large tree. Immediately, she recognized the tree from Hylian mythology. "Great…Deku Tree…"

Mido's eyes widened at the woman's knowledge of the Deku Tree.

The tree responded to her. "What terrible fate has befallen thee dear woman?"

"My village…was attacked…devastated…I escaped…escaped into the woods…My son…please take care of my son…Link…" and with that, she died.

"Link?" questioned Mido. "What kind of a name is Link?"

The Great Deku Tree ignored Mido's remark. "Mido, thou must prepare shelter for this boy."

"Certainly, Great Deku Tree! I'll prepare a tent for him in the Lost Woods."

"Nay, Mido. Rather, thou shouldst prepare him a home in Kokiri Forest."

"Kokiri Forest? But only Kokiri live there!"

"This boy's fate is utterly binding. In every way, thou and the other Kokiri must treat him as one of thine own."

Mido sighed. "Yes…Great Deku Tree. And what about the dead lady? "

"Thou shalt bury her in the Sacred Grove."

"The Sacred Grove? Why there?"

"Question not my knowledge. Bury her where I have told thee to."

Mido took the lady and carried her to the Sacred Grove. As he walked, he muttered to himself "Bury an outsider in the Sacerd Grove. That'll defile the place for sure. I can tell this boy is gonna cause us a whole lot of trouble. Bringing a non-Kokiri into Kokiri forest…what kind of idiot comes up with that idea?"

Saria saw Mido with the dead mother and the baby boy. "Mido!" Saria called as she ran up to him. "Mido, what happened?"

"The woman died." Mido causally remarked.

"Oh no, that's horrible!"

Mido changed his expression to match Saria's. "I know right? Horrible."

"What about the baby?"

"Well, the Great Deku Tree wants me to build him a home with us in the forest."

"Really?"

"I know! What a stupid idea, right?"

"That's a wonderful idea! We'll all get to take care of him until he gets older! It'll be fun! It'll be especially good for the boy since he has no parents now!"

"Uh, yeah! Yeah it'll be fun! So…much…fun."

"Here, let me take the boy. You go bury his mom."

Mido rolled his eyes. "Ok…"

"Oh, does he have a name?"

"Yeah. The mom said it right before she died. His name is Link." Mido said as he dragged the corpse through the Lost Woods to get to the Sacred Grove.

"Link…" Saria smiled. Link, I can tell that you and I are going to be great friends one day." Link smiled at Saria