Welcome, readers, to trial TWO of my story. I love this story with all my heart, but I lost the will to write at one point. Things happened after that. Lots of things. Things that made me more mature. When I looked back over my story... it seemed... childish.

Anyway, now I'm re-writing it. Thank you for all those who have stuck with me this long. You have no idea how thankfull I am!

Now that introductions are out of the way, to the story.


It was a peaceful day in Hyrule. The wide-open spaces of Hyrule field were bright green with life. A soft wind blew across the landscape, the grass underneath bending slightly in response. The scattered settlements buzzed with activity. The harvest had come in early this year, as it had for a few years now, creating a surplus of food. Farmers and ranchers alike rode their carts and wagons to Castle Town, the main city in the region.

No one seemed to have a care in the world. There had been no wars for years now. All the different races were at peace with each other. The Gerudo from the desert had been unruly for a while, but it was nothing too big. The people were sure that the great King would solve the problem, as he did for all problems.

However, the people of Hyrule did not know the whole problem. Unrest between the Gerudo and the rest of the world was greater than they knew. In actuality, they were close to another war. The King kept this from the public in order to keep them from causing a panic. Unbeknownst to the people, the king had increased border patrols around the Gerudo Desert. He hoped he could contain this until the conflict was resolved.

His anxiety was increasing though. He had failed to receive a status report, the one he had been supposed to get every two weeks. Possibilities ran around in his head as he sat on his throne that day. There had to be a reasonable explanation.

Sure there was.

The King snapped out of his thoughts as a large banging came from the door. He lifted his head from the hand he had been resting it on. The many soldiers in the room turned to the door. Now a frantic calling for the king came.

"My lord! Should we open the door?" The guards by the large decretive doors asked in unison.

"Yes. See who it is." The King commanded. The guards pulled the large doors apart slowly. Inside ran a single man, middle-aged. However, more importantly than that, he was covered in blood.

"What have you committed!" The King yelled, standing up sharply. But the man shook his head, out of breath.

"It's… not me… my lord…" The man was hardly able to speak. He seemed injured. His legs quivered, struggling to support the man's weight. "The… the Gerudo… they… th-" The man collapsed onto the ground, blood spilling on the carpet.

Two soldiers ran over and checked the man.

"He's dead, my lord." One of them spoke. The King was speechless.

"What… what have they done?" He wondered aloud.

Castle town was in ruins. Buildings were on fire, corpses of citizens, soldiers and Gerudo alike were sprawled out in the streets. However, there numbers were considerably smaller than the number of soldiers and Gerudo still fighting. Blood was everywhere. The sound of swords and yelling could be heard miles away.

In fact, they were heard miles away. Near the entrance of the Kokiri Forest, to be exact. A woman slowly walked up to the cave that led into the forest. She had long blonde hair and bright blue eyes, but she was gravely injured. A single arrow was embedded into her right shoulder blade, and she was covered in many cuts and bruises. Moreover, in her left arm, the good arm, was a small bundle. The beautiful woman looked down at the small bundle and lifted up one of the dirty flaps. The small baby was still sound asleep. He breathed softly, occasionally squirming a little.

The woman gazed mesmerized at the baby before walking ahead again, into the Kokiri forest. She did not have the time, or the energy to be amazed by the beauty of the forest. She had to find the Deku tree. The woman walked through the forest slowly. There were none of the Kokiri around for some reason. She did not question it though. She seemed to crawl through the large forest. Eventually she came to the large opening to the Deku tree. She picked up the pace a little.

"My baby…" She mumbled, her voice rasp, "I don't have much longer…" The woman stopped talking. Her vision was slowly fading. The blackness of death slowly crept over her eyes. She picked up the pace.

"You'll be safe here…" She whispered, slowly growing weaker. "I'm just sorry I won't be there with you… to see you grow-" She was interrupted by a harsh coughing fit. She turned and spat on the ground. It was red with blood. She could feel herself growing weaker.

"Spirit of the forest… please… help…" She cried as loud as she could. She coughed again.

The woman exited the tunnel, and looked up. In front of her was the biggest tree anyone had ever seen. But more impressively, the tree had a face, a face that was now looking right at the woman.

"Who are you?" The tree asked.

"My name…" The woman coughed up more blood. "Medila… please… I need you to… take-" Medila suddenly collapsed on the ground, clutching the baby. She landed on her side, the baby thankfully unharmed. She let out her arm and the bundle of blankets rolled out. "Take him… please…"

The Deku tree shifted his gaze to the child. He sensed a power in him… could this be the child of destiny? The one he had been waiting for?

"Please… take him…" Medila could barely speak now. Her vision was leaving her. Everything was a blur.

"I shall." The Deku tree spoke softly. "What is his name?"

Medila reached out slowly, painfully, and lifted a flap of cloth out of the baby's face. In the softest of voices, she spoke.

"My baby… my son… I'm sure you will grow up to be a fine man… We are so proud… me… and…" Medila paused, remembering her husband, who stayed behind in Castle Town to give her a chance to escape. Tears came to her eyes. "Both me… and your father… Remember… no matter when or… or where… we will always be with-" She coughed. "Be… be with you… we love you… our son… Link…"

Medila closed her eyes, and could not open them again. "We love you…"

She shuttered. Her time was up. "Arn…" she whispered, "I'm sorry…" And with that, She stopped quivering. She was gone.

"Link…" The Deku Tree said quietly. "I shall care for you from now on."

The baby opened his eyes and yawned. His blue eyes looked up and saw the trees up top. Link smiled cutely and reached up, trying to grab them.

"Link."

Link tried to turn his head, recognizing his own name. The Deku Tree smiled. "You couldn't be more than a year old… I shall be your new guardian. I'm terribly sorry about your parents."

Link smiled on, and tried to wiggle his way out of the blanket. He couldn't understand a word that was being spoken to him.

"You'll do great and powerful things someday. But for now, rest. You deserve it. Lilli!" He called. A small green ball or light flew over the walls and stopped in front of the Deku Tree. "Fetch Saria for me."

The fairy nodded before flying off. In that time, a few roots came up from the ground and covered up the body of Link's mother. He didn't want to have to explain.

A few short moments later, a small girl walked through the cave. She had a green sweater and shorts, and even green hair the curved around behind her ears. Behind her another fairy flew.

"You called?" She asked, but she didn't wait for an answer. She spotted the small child and ran over to him, smiling brightly. "A new Kokiri child?" She asked looking up.

"… Yes." The Deku tree sighed. He did not want to say that Link was actually Hylian. It was best kept a secret.

"Aww!" She spoke with delight. "What's his name?"

"His name is Link. I want you to look after him for me until he can take care of himself."

"Me!" She stood up. "Well… okay. If you think I can."

"I know you can."

Saria smiled and picked up the baby, helping him out of those blankets. But other than the blanket, he was inside a small green pouch of sorts. Link smiled at the new face and reached out to grab her hair.

"Ow!" Saria yelled as Link pulled. She held him with one arm as she used the other the pry Link's hands apart. "Well you're just a little handful!" She grabbed the blanket and the pouch and threw them over her shoulder. "Is that all?" She asked the Deku tree.

"Yes. That is all."

"Well, c'mon Link!" Saria smiled. She turned and walked back out into the forest. The Deku watched as she left.

"Saria will do a great job. I'm sure of it. Welcome to the Kokiri Forest, Link."


"OI! WATCH WHERE YOU"RE GOING, LINK!" A small Kokiri boy yelled at he dived out of the way. Link wasn't listening though, he was busy running, his long blonde hair and green cap flying behind him as he did. The boy rubbed his head and stood up, dusting himself off.

"Weirdo…" He trailed off.

Link glanced behind himself quickly, but turned back ahead and kept running. Taking care not to hit anything else, he sped through the forest, weaving in, out and around everything. He ran in between the many houses that were carved out of the giant trees, leaped over rocks and ducked under branches.

Link glanced behind himself again, making sure he was not being chased still. Seeing no one, he jumped on the stones in the small pond and used them to cross. He ducked behind one of the houses to catch his breath. His chest rose up and down as he panted.

It had been nine years since Link was brought into the forest. Link, being ten now, looked the same age as any other Kokiri. He looked like one too, considering his wardrobe consisted of nothing but green tunics and shorts. He even wore the same green pouch he had been wrapped in as his hat. Link had no idea of any of that, however. As far as he knew, he had lived in the forest his whole life. He thought he was a Kokiri.

Link took a few deep breaths, and peaked around the corner. He scanned the area for his pursuer, but didn't find anything. He smiled.

"Tag. You're it." Came a cheery voice from behind Link, a small finger poking his shoulder. Link sighed, still smiling. He turned around to face Saria, who was giggling like the little girl she was.

"You look tired. You should rest." Saria taunted. Link shook his head. He wasn't tired. Link looked Saria up and down. She looked more tired than him anyway. She had to hold herself up by leaning on her knees with her arms.

Saria looked the same as nine years ago. Kokiri children stopped growing approximately their ninth year of living, going on to live out the rest of their immortal lives as children.

Saria paused and caught her breath. She swallowed, and then stretched. "Well come on! You're it!" She said energetically as she ran off. Link gave her a few seconds head start before running after her. It didn't make much of a difference though. Link was much faster than she was.

He soon had tagged her and was running away from her again. And again he ran so fast she lost sight of him again. Link never ran too far away though.

That would be mean.

Link ducked behind another house and peeked around the corner. There Saria was, looking behind trees, bushes, and everything else in search of him. Link sat down, waiting to be found.

Unfortunately, he wasn't found by her.

"And what are you doing sneaking around, half-person?"

Link scowled and stood up, turning around. Mido and the other two Kokiri with him smirked. Mido was the same size as Link, with messy blonde hair that flew out from under his green cap in all directions. He wore traditional Kokiri garb (meaning the same thing that Link wore, not to mention every other boy in the forest).

The other two stood behind him. One fat and with beady eyes, one lanky and his eyes were covered by hair. Both were blonde as well. Each of the boys had a glowing fairy floating above them.

Link glared at each of them before turning away. Mido grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. "I'm talking to you, fairy-less!"

Link didn't say anything, but he pushed Mido off him and turned to walk away. The two dopes that tagged along with Mido constantly caught his arms, keeping him from falling. They lifted him back up and he tore after Link, jumping on his back and bringing him to the ground. Mido's two followers cheered as the two children fought. They tumbled out from behind the house as the fighting became more intense.

Link and Mido were all over each other, each one trying to throw the other down. Mido was throwing every insult he knew at Link the whole time. By now a few Kokiri had gathered around them. The boys, cheering, the girls… shaking their heads in disappointment. Mido's insults suddenly disappeared as Link threw him on his stomach and sat on his back, pinning his arms and legs.

"HEY! Lemme go!" Mido yelled, struggling. Link frowned as he continued to sit. Mido's fairy flew down and knocked Link in the head, sending him flying into a puddle. Groans and shouts of 'foul' flew from the crowd.

"Can't be a Kokiri if you don't have a fairy!" Mido boasted loudly as he stood up.

"What's going on here!" An angry Deku tree shouted, looking over the edge.

Mido screamed. "We've been spotted! Run!" He yelled as he ran off. The other two followed him. "Fairy-less!" Mido yelled as he turned the corner, sticking his tongue out at Link. The other Kokiri around Link started to walk off. None of them helped Link up.

"Link… come see me in a minute." The Deku tree sighed from over the wall.

"Link!" Saria called as she ran up to him. She held out her hand, which Link grabbed to pull himself up. He shook himself for a second. He was soaked.

Saria sighed. "Look at you… what happened?" She said as she brushed the dirt and water off him. Link's eyes drooped a bit, ashamed. Saria sounded sad.

"… Mido…" Link mumbled in his soft voice. It was just a little rasp. Link didn't talk much.

"I knew it!" Saria's hand dusting became a little rougher for a second. She looked around, but Mido was gone. "Oooooo… one of these days I'm going to give him a piece of my mind!"

After a final sweep of the area (And a slight adjustment of Link's hat.), She grabbed his hand and started walk. "C'mon, let's get you changed."

Link climbed up the ladder to his house and walked in, grabbing some new clothes. Saria waited by his door, looking down at the forest.

"Are you done?" She asked after a minute, still gazing down.

"Hm." Link hummed as a substitute for the word 'yes'. Saria walked in and saw Link laying on his bed, his arms and legs sprawled out. He looked at Saria, then the ceiling. Saria sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. Her fairy flew around the room, glancing at the various things on the shelves.

"You okay?" Saria asked. Link just nodded "The usual?" Link glanced at Saria's fairy, then back at the ceiling. He nodded again.

"I'm sure you'll get a fairy soon Link." Saria smiled brightly and held out her hand. Link couldn't help but smile as he took it and sat up, pulling her into a hug. A second or two passed before they let each other go and stood up.

"C'mon. The great Deku tree wanted to see you." Saria started to walk out, her fairy following her. Link frowned as he followed too. He didn't want to talk to the Deku tree. It was always the same 'I'll explain when you're older' speech. It really got annoying after the sixtieth time.

"Are you alright, Link?" the tree spoke as they both walked in his area.

"He's fine…" Saria spoke for Link, who nodded in agreement.

"I shall have a talk with Mido. Do not worry."

"Great Deku tree why doesn't Link have a fairy yet?" Saria blurted out quickly. Link just stared, desperately hoping for something other than the usual response.

"You will know soon. Now is not the time to explain."

Link sighed. So much for that.

"I just want to know you're okay, Link. You should go rest."

"C'mon Link…" Saria grabbed his hand and started to walk. Link sighed and followed. The Deku tree sighed.

"It's okay Link." Saria told him as they both walked into Link's house. "He said soon!"

Link took his slingshot off a shelf and took to firing seeds at the wall from his bed.

"Oh that's pretty cool!" Saria's eyes lit up. "Did you make that?"

Link nodded. "How long have you had it?" Link held up two fingers. "Two days?" He nodded. "That's awesome. May I see?" Link handed it over, and Saria shot it off a few times. She handed it back to Link, who shot it some more.

A few minutes passed, and Saria pulled out her ocarina from her pocket. She started to play softly, moving side to side with the tempo. Link smiled and kept on shooting.


The sun was beginning to set in Hyrule, the bright orb casting a golden glow over the vast fields. In the north eastern corner, near the castle, ran a small river that led to town. Behind the river, maybe ten yards, was the rock wall that enclosed the entire region.

A small rectangular section of the wall started to glow bright blue. After a few seconds, it stopped to reveal a dark blue door. The door shined slightly. The knob turned, and it opened.

"Wow. It's big." Came a voice from inside it. Out from the door walked a young girl, about fifteen by how she looked. She had long black hair that was in two long, yet skinny ponytails. They fell down slightly behind her waist. She was wearing a white shirt with barely any sleeves, and a black mini skirt and shoes. Strapped to her back was a Japanese katana. Its sheath was as black as the night sky without a moon.

The girl spun around on one foot. Her hair flew out her her, then settled back down at her sides as she stopped. "And it smells great out here. No pollution at all." She stuck her tongue out. "Yuck."

"Aww… I wanted to be the first in Hyrule." Another voice came. Another teen walked out, just a little older than the girl. This one was male, with long, dark brown hair that was a little shaggy. It was swept to the side, but it could fall to his mouth if he let it. His eyes matched the color. He had dark blue jeans and a black T-shirt. He had a tan pouch strapped to his right thigh. He had black shoes.

Around his neck was a small necklace. It had a black string, and on the end, was a small bead of sapphire. Inside the sapphire were a few shards of foil or some sparkly material. Etched onto his face was a sly smirk.

The girl smiled and walked over the the boy, hugging him. "I'm sorry."

"No you're not." The boy smiled too, accepting the hug gladly.

"Yeah… you're right."

"You're mean."

"If I was nice you wouldn't love me anymore." The girl shivered at the thought.

The boy pulled back just a little, his arms still around her. "Yes I would." He whispered before kissing her softly.

The girl's eyes closed slowly, relishing the moment. She hummed into the kiss, her hands tightening around the boy. A light blush crept up into both of there faces.

The boy stopped after a moment, then leaned in and whispered into her ear. "I love you, Delilah."

The girl shivered at the feel of his breath. "Oh god Matthew… I love you too."

The boy, Matthew, released his hold on the cute girl in front of him. She breathed heavily, but soon got a hold of herself. "I hate it when you do that." She tried to say with anger. However, it came out more amused than angry. They both knew that was a lie, but Matthew decided to prove her wrong anyway.

He stepped forward quickly, ducking down slightly so their noses were just a hairs width apart. He grabbed her chin delicately with his forefinger and thumb, his eyes dulled slightly. Her slight blush deepened, her face now a bright mix of red and pink. "You are such a liar…" He whispered.

Delilah shivered and pulled away, embarrassed. "Stop it!" she smiled. "Someone could see us!"

"Alright, alright." Matthew laughed. "I'll stop." He walked up next to her and looked at the field. "Wow. This place is beautiful."

"It is." Delilah smiled too. She grabbed Matthew's hand at his side and hopped up and down a few times. "I wanna come too!"

"I do too. But you already have a mission. I'll let you know when you can if you get back beforehand. Where did you say you were going?" Matthew turned to her.

"I have to escort a political leader from Mist country back to the Leaf." Delilah groaned. "I hate those missions… they take too long. I tried to get a different one, but everyone else is busy."

Matthew took a deep breath. "Yeah, those suck. And you can't just teleport him, right?"

"No… it sucks. I'll be gone for like… A week at least."

"Well, try to make the best of it. Griping about it won't help." Matthew's hand tightened around hers.

"Well, you should hurry. Who knows what's happening around here right now. Go do what you can." Delilah pulled away and turned back to the door. She stopped for a brief second to peck Matthew's cheek, then went back to the door. She turned back as she started to walk. "Have fun!"

"I always do." Matthew smirked back at her. "See ya' Toby!" He yelled back to the door.

"See ya' dude!" Another voice came from inside the door, but no one came out. Delilah walked back in and shut the door behind her. Matthew stood, looking at the spot where his love had left, before turning to the world ahead of him.

A wolf howl echoed around the field. After a few seconds, Stagchildren sprung out from the ground. Matthew smirked. He looked down briefly to make sure his shoes were tied, and looked back ahead. The skeletons started to run towards him.

Matthew waited until they were only feet away from him, then he was gone. He charged right through the crowd of bones at nearly seventy miles an hour. The helpless monsters were brushed aside like crumbs on a table. He was a blur to the normal eye. He was on the other side of Hyrule field in seconds.

He slid to a stop right in front of the entrance to the Kokiri forest. Instead of taking the normal way in, he chose to jump up ten feet in the air and grab onto the ledge of the wall with one hand. He easily pulled himself up. He looked over the Kokiri forest and watched the tiny green children play.

So this is where the soon to be Hero of Time lives… He thought, looking around. This is gonna be fun.

Matthew lied down on the ledge and waited for nightfall. He would lay low for a bit, just observing.


The moon was bright against the night sky. It was the only thing that penetrated the dark rain clouds. Matthew smiled as the rain fell on him. It felt good. But he put his hands on the ground anyway. With absolutely no effort, the rock wall shot up and curved around over his head, sheltering him from the rain.

He shivered slightly. It was a little cold, but he loved that too. It suited him best. He looked around for any more Kokiri children… nope. They had all gone to bed. Time to move.

A parasite crawled through the forest, its one eye moving back and forth frantically, searching.

"The stone..." it said in a low voice, "Where is the stone...? I sense it... and I will have it!"

It turned towards where he sensed the power it was searching for, and it saw a long, arch like tunnel. It quickly crawled to it. Where its feet touched, a tiny plant seed was sown. The insect like creature looked up at the Deku tree.

"You..." the tree said, "Evil that evades the forest! You shall die here!"

The parasite said nothing, and jumped upon the tree. "Big words for one that is unable to move!" The parasite took a bite out of the bark of the Deku tree, who winced in pain.

"Your bark is seeping with power..." it said, "You posses the stone! The spiritual stone of courage! The Kokiri's emerald!"

"I knew you would come... you were sent by the Gerudo thief! Ganondorf!" The Deku managed to spit out. He could feel the poison from its fangs slowly killing him. He knew immediately it was a fatal wound.

"Correct... I am Gohma! And I will retrieve the stone..."

"You shall never find it!"

The parasite took another bite out of the tree. The Deku tree winced again. "I shall find the stone for my master!"

"Hell, no!" yelled a voice. In a split second, Gohma was knocked into the side of the wall that surrounded the Deku tree. A young boy jumped down from the wall and stood, facing the evil bug.

"Who are you!" the Deku tree asked the new arrival.

Matthew didn't take his eyes off Gohma. "Does that really matter right now?" He asked him back. Before the tree could answer, the parasite got back up.

"You shall pay for that!" It yelled, shaking itself.

Matthew sighed. When were they all going to learn? Oh well. This world didn't know of him yet. You had to start somewhere, right?

Gohma began to charge at him. It was furious.

Matthew snapped his fingers. "Let the music play."


"GET UP! GETUPGETUPGETUPGETUPGETUP!"

Link swatted at the fairy from his bed. It was the middle of the night! Why should he get up?

"GETTHEHELLUPYOULAZYJERK!" The fairy began to hit him in the head. "THE DEKU TREE IS IN TROUBLE GET UP AND HELP HIM!" She yelled.

Link groaned… it's too early for- wait… WHAT!

Link jumped out of his bed, instantly awake. He ran to his door, snatching his slingshot from his shelf as he did. He ran outside and jumped down, not even taking the ladder. As he got closer and closer to the Deku tree, he started to hear music. But it wasn't any music he had ever heard before… it was harder, more fast paced. And it certainly wasn't played by any instrument he had ever seen.

Link ran directly into the tunnel to the Deku tree, but stopped immediately. Four or five monster plants stood in his way. They were all bigger than he was, and they all had mouths that could bite him in half within a second.

Only hesitating for a moment, Link rushed into them, dipping and dodging the hungry mouths. He jumped to avoid the last one, and fell at the exit. He stood up and dusted himself off before he caught sight of what was happening.

The fairy flew in after him, but stopped, hovering just over Link's head. "What the hell?"

Both Link and the fairy watched as Matthew took on the two-ton parasite. But even weirder, was that as he did, there was music playing! They couldn't tell from where, but Matthew had caused it. They knew that much because Matthew was actually singing it as he fought.

"Live and learn! Hanging on the edge till' tomorrow! Live and learn! From the works of yesterdaaaaaaay!" Matthew jumped up and kicked the beast in the eyes a few times. Coming down, he stomped on the ground and a few thin pillars of earth shot up under Gohma, hitting him several times in the stomach.

"Live and learn! If you beg or if you follooooow- live and learn! You may never find your waaaaay!" The insect groaned, swinging its large arm at Matthew, but it didn't matter. Matthew dodged everything that was thrown at him. Arms, tail, none of them had any chance. He hopped back and forth in beat with the song, smiling and laughing like a lunatic. He jumped to the right as Gohma swung at him, pushing himself up with his hands and kicking one of his legs a few times. The unfortunate beast crumpled.

Matthew jumped back and started to play an air guitar with the short solo. His wet hair swung around and hit him repeatedly as he played. Gohma, not quite able to move yet, stared in disgust.

"Who is that kid?" the fairy above Link asked. Link didn't answer. Even if he could, he wouldn't. He was mesmerized by this mystery kid! He didn't even notice when Gohma got up and, seeing Link all by him lonesome, tried to him him.

Matthew snapped out of his daze. He rushed forward as fast as he could, grabbing and holding the limb up. Gohma, mad, put all his weight onto it. Matthew's eyes narrowed. That thing was heavy!

"Theres a place searching far, so far and wide. There's a place that you'd dream you'd never find." Matthew sang, pushing the arm back up, "Hold on to what if… Hold on to what if!" Matthew swung the bug by its leg into the wall.

"Live and learn! Hanging on the edge, till tomorrow!" Matthew rushed forward. "Live and learn! From the works of yesterdaaaaay!" Matthew punched the bug's eye. He pulled his arm out of the socket, covered in some weird green fluid. Nasty…

"Live and learn! If you beg or if you borroooow- live and learn! You may ne-ver find your waaaaay!" Matthew jumped back and held two fingers to his lips. His eyes flashed blue for a second, and he blew fire out of his mouth, right onto the bug. Gohma screamed before collapsing on the ground, dead.

Matthew spun around, playing the last few notes on his air guitar. "Live and learn! Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah, live and learn! Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah…"

He smiled as the last notes played. He regained his posture and walked over to Link and the fairy. "Are you to okay?"

"That was AMAZING!" the fairy exclaimed. Link stood there, dumbfounded by this boy's presence.

Matthew rolled his eyes, smirking. "Nah, that was nothing."

"You… boy…" The Deku tree called. He was weak.

Matthew turned to him. "Yes?"

"…Who's side are you on?"

Matthew smiled. "Yours, of course."

"That's good… go with Link… help him."

Matthew brought two fingers to his forehead and saluted with them. "Will do."

"Navi…" He called. The fairy flew forward, not able to speak. She knew he was dying. "Go with him as well… guide them…" Navi was silent, her tears falling down her face.

"Link… come here." The Deku tree then called. Link did so. "The world… is being led to ruin by the king of thieves… Ganondorf…" Link nodded. "Prophecy tells of a boy that will rise against him.

Link nodded, somehow not able to put two and two together.

"It is you."

Link's jaw fell open slightly. Save the world? Him!

"There is not much time, Link…" The Deku tree winced. The pain was getting stronger. "Go see… princess Zelda… in Hyrule castle town… show her… this…"

The tree shook its branches and two things fell in front of Link. A sword and a beautiful green gemstone. Link looked back up at the Deku tree.

"Show this stone… to her. She will tell you… the re- Argh!" He winced, trying to hold back another groan.

Navi flew up to him. "Great Deku tree… no…"

"It's alright, child… I have lived a long life…" He looked up, smiling at Navi. "It is my time…"

"G-great D-Deku tr-tr-tree… don't… please…"

"Link… this sword is… a gift. Take it… fight… you should…" He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to regain a bit of his strength. "You should make a shield out of my remains… it will… help protect you…"

There was silence between the four. Only Navi's slight sobs and the rain above broke it.

"Link… save the world… only you… can…" The Deku tree spoke finally.

Link nodded. The Deku tree, having said at last what he wanted to, shut his eyes. It was time to go. He exhaled, and was still.

"NO!" Navi yelled, collapsing and falling. The rain started to intensify. Lightning bolts shot through the sky. Matthew turned away from the corpse. Link started to cry softly. Matthew walked to Link's side and put a hand on his shoulder.

"We should leave. Pack your things… I'll meet you outside." Matthew walked back through the tunnel out. The evil plants seemed to wither at his very presence.

After a minute or so, both Navi and Link stopped. Link took the sword and carved out a small shield from the bark of the Deku tree. It took a few minutes. They left the area, walking, or flying in Navi's case, to Link's house. Link silently gathered up a few of his things and stuck them in his pockets.

All around the forest, Kokiri started to wake up. Fairies flew around franticly, sharing the news. The Deku tree was dead. As the fairies shared the information, the children caught on too.

"I bet in was Link, the weirdo! He killed the Deku tree!" Mido yelled from his doorstep. The other children soon agreed. Link was always a little weird… who else could it be? They all ran around, hunting Link down.

Link snuck down his ladder and ran as fast as he could. He considered going back to tell Saria he was leaving… but thought better of it. It was easier this way.

He soon stood before the large cave that led out of the forest. This was it… no Kokiri had left the forest and survived... but Link had to. The Deku tree said so himself. He had to go to Castle Town.

He walked through the dark cave, coming to the end and seeing a bridge. Only hesitating slightly, Link began to walk forward.

"So your leaving…"

Those were the saddest words Link had ever heard. They were full of sorrow and anguish. Link turned around to face Saria. He glanced around. How had she gotten here? She must have been waiting in the cave. He had walked right past her in the dark.

"Link… p-please…" She mumbled, choking on her words. "D-don't g-o…" She broke down. Tears started to fall with no stop. She ran forward and hugged Link, burying her face in his shirt. Link, just about to cry himself, hugged her back.

"Why do you have to go!" She cried loudly. "You can't! You just can't! Everyone that leaves the forest will die! You know that!"

Link couldn't say anything. Lightning shot through the air with a large crack. Link was grateful it was raining. Saria wouldn't have to see him cry.

"You didn't kill the Deku tree…" She mumbled into his shirt.

"… No…" Link whispered.

"Then why do you have to go!" She cried even harder. "You're supposed to stay here forever… like the others… please…"

Link said nothing.

"… you're set on this… aren't you?" She asked quietly, looking up at him. The rain had drenched her. Her green hair was plastered to her face.

Link felt horrible having to look at her. He slowly released her. Saria took a few steps back. "Take… take this…" She reached into her pocket and pulled out her ocarina. She held it out, not looking him in the eyes. Link took it and put it in his own pocket.

He turned away, taking slow steps.

"Link… no…"

Link broke into a run, rushing ahead. He didn't look back.