Storm Silverwing, a young Lugia boy at the age of ten, sat on a balcony that encircled his tree house; his house looked towards the lake and the cliff that separated the Korkiri forest from the Lost Woods. The entire forest was engulfed in a green haze; produced by the seeds of the deku trees. A pathway had been built into the side of the cliff as a way to get to the woods, Storm watched as Mido passed by and waved to Saria who was walking with Mido, she smiled and waved back. After a few moments of relaxing in the midday sun Storm got up and climbed down the ladder, he grabbed his small hunting bow from the base of the tree trunk of his house and made for the woods.
It was a cool day and Storm enjoyed hunting for food in the wood. Today however Storm noticed that there were few animals in the woods save the birds. It was unusual that there should be no animal about this time of year. Carefully making his way around a few large plants that looked like a man-eating version of Venus flytraps that snapped at him Storm noticed that the plants seemed to be spreading. He also noticed that ivy was beginning to choke the trees around where the plants were. As he headed back towards the forest he heard a familiar singing sound, he presumed it was some mysterious animal living in the trees and moved on ignoring it.
"What's going on here lately?" Storm thought.
Ever since the tree crashed over the temple in the middle of the lost woods that was surrounded by a wall, strange things had been happening, the deku baba populations had been growing when before their populations had been very small and even declining. Other pests like deku scrubs, had also been growing in numbers and a few times ventured into the Korkiri forest only to be frightened off by a large owl Storm had noticed flying around.
Deciding that he would come back later Storm headed back to the forest clearing and found Saria by the shop, which was a large hollow tree stump.
"Hi Storm," She said as he reached him. "I see you didn't catch anything."
"No," replied Storm, "Maybe I'll try and get a few fish in the lake."
"All the fish are dying out, the water seems to be warming; it's a good job that we did our harvest earlier this year."
"The Great Deku tree must have known something was wrong, that's why he said to do it early." Storm said.
"Oh?" Saria brushed back her blond hair and smiled at Storm, "So what have you noticed?"
"The Deku Babas and Deku Scrubs seem to be becoming more common and I can find no animal to hunt."
"Yes, it is strange," Said Saria looking very concerned. "Mido's noticed that's for sure, he's getting grumpier by the day."
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Storm said lazily.
"Oh come off it Storm. I know he is a bit annoying but you have to respect him. The Great Deku Tree would want you to."
"I realize that." Storm snapped, Saria sighed.
"I know he is mean to you and all but he will get over it."
"Like when? He has been doing it for years Saria all because I do not have a fairy, I keep asking for one and the Great Deku Tree keeps telling me to wait!" Storm said almost yelling, he kicked at the ground with his boot.
"He knows best Storm," Said Saria gently, Storm smiled at her, it was good to have someone like her for a friend.
"Thanks Saria." He said, "I am getting tired. Maybe I' will go to sleep, the Annual Deku Festival is on tomorrow."
Storm noticed Saria's face fall.
"What is it?" He asked, knowing the answer would be bad.
"It's been cancelled," Saria, muttered, Storm could only just hear what she said but it shocked him.
"What?!" He shouted.
Saria's fairy gave him a loud "Shhhh!"
"It's true, I asked the Great Deku Tree myself." Said Saria, "Because I was sure Mido was making it up. I meant to tell you but it is difficult to find a way sometimes. I know how much you love the festival."
Storm sighed.
'what was going on around here?' he wondered.
"I best be getting to bed," He said, "It will be evening soon anyway."
"Goodnight Storm," Said Saria, Storm bid her farewell and walked slowly back to his house.
Lying on his bed Storm pondered over the strange events in the forest, it concerned him and he knew he was not the only one, everyone had noticed and yet it seemed even the fairies failed to answer the Korkiri's questions. The Deku festival was held each year. The Korikiri would go to the Great Deku Tree and dance around a small campfire; everyone made a little instrument to play along with Mido's violin. Sometimes Saria would play along with him on her ocarina; it was Storm's favourite time of year. It is a pity it has canceled, Storm thought sadly. Still pondering on the subject Storm fell asleep.
Storm dreamed that he was standing by what looked like a raised bridge in between a huge structure he did not recognise. It was a stormy night and in the distance he heard the cry of some animal. It sounded like a horse, he had seen wild ones roaming the forest. The raised bridge began to lower until it stopped as it came level with the ground. There was a loud clap of thunder. A white horse bearing two people, one unmistakably a child and the other Storm did not recognize, she was incredibly tall. Storm thought both of them had very strange clothing on. The horse thundered towards Storm who realizing he would be trampled dove out of the way. It was then he realized he had a fairy bobbing up and down in front of him. He looked back at the horse and saw the young girl looking at him; her face expression was that of a frightened child. It frightened Storm but what he saw next was enough to scare him and most people. The horse went out of sight and Storm looked back as he saw another horse ride across the bridge, this time a black one, its rider looked fearsome and had a very evil glint in his cold, dark red eyes. The man looked at Storm and he heard a scream, moments later, he woke up drenched in sweat and realized the scream had come from him.
Shaking uncontrollably, Storm stumbled out of bed and grabbed a glass of water; he drank it and nearly dropped the glass because he was shaking so much. Still confused Storm walked over, grabbed a towel from a corner of the room, and wiped the sweat off his face. It took him a few moments to recover. As he put the towel back on the rack there was a knock coming from the door.
"Storm, are you alright?" Storm heard Saria shout.
"I'm fine," Storm, said, "Just a bad dream that's all."
The door opened and Saria came in, she looked somewhat shocked at the state Storm was in.
"Some nightmare," Said Saria, "Are you sure you are ok?"
"Fine," Storm muttered, "Maybe I will just go and get some fresh air."
He followed Saria out onto the balcony, in the distance he could hear the sound of insects and owls.
"It's so peaceful at night," Said Saria.
"Yes it is." Storm said.
"What happened in this dream of yours?" Saria asked, "If you would like to tell me."
Since the dream was still fresh on Storm's mind, Storm explained it to Saria.
"That's interesting," mused Saria.
"What?" Storm asked.
"That is a peculiar nightmare, how can you dream of things you've never seen or met? It sounded unusually vivid."
"You mean you think it might've been… you know, foretelling something? The Great Deku tree talks about that sometimes." Storm asked.
"Maybe but I would not worry too much. Unless it happens again."
"Have you ever heard of the forest nymphs?" Saria asked, "I suppose you haven't seen one."
"No what are they?" Storm asked.
"They are the spirits of the forest and of the trees, there is a legend surrounding them… a dark one." She said.
"Tell me?" Storm asked, "I have never heard it at the festivals."
"It's a dark tale, the Great Deku Tree would not tell everyone about it, he told me though. Have you ever heard the sound of beautiful voices singing in the woods?"
"Yes. I thought it was just the call of animals, though they seem less common now."
"There is a legend that talks of the song of the forest nymphs, they are said to lure lost travellers into the forest who innocently search for the singers but they never find them. They become lost and eventually the singing drives them mad. They turn into something else."
"So they don't die?" Storm asked, "That is what I had always presumed."
"No, it is worse than that. Children turn into skull kids who can sometimes be seen roaming the woods, while adults… they become a forest spirit. There is also a legend that states that we the Korkiri are the children of the forest nymphs, hence the name children of the forest."
"It is a n interesting tale." Said Storm, "Thanks."
"No problem," Saria said. "They say after so many people went missing, the outsiders built a huge hedge around the forest planted around a short wall, no one has wandered in since."
"And that is it?"
"Yes," Said Saria, "I should get going now, tell me if this happens again."
"Bye." Storm said, as she climbed down the ladder and ran back to her house.
The following day Storm had a somewhat normal day and by the end of it had little recollection of the strange dream. Until he had the same dream again and the same thing happened the night after that. By then Storm decided, he had better speak to Saria. Saria went and told the Great Deku tree. Storm was unable to go due to Mido, which annoyed Storm and Saria would not tell him much of what she and the Great Deku Tree had said.
"I assure you Storm; he did seem a little worried. That is all."
"But surely you can tell me more?" He asked pleadingly.
"I can not Storm," Said Saria sympathetically, "The answer will come to you eventually. I'm sorry."
The next day Storm busied himself by collecting berries and fruits from the woods for Mido. It was not a hard job but he still did not like it, yet he was the only Korkiri who could climb trees really well and that is where the best fruit usually was. Storm would often climb up into the tallest branches to view the woods. After that Storm used a long thin knife to cut large slabs of wood of some of the trees in the forest to give to the shop, they were all deku trees which were said to be magical mainly because of the green haze they produced. After lunch, Storm went for a swim and washed his spare tunics hanging them out to dry. All his tunics were green, which was the theme of the forest. The day ended with Storm going up to his little tree house in the woods, he sat there for sometime pondering and whacking deku sticks against the trees branches to see how tough they were, as he sat down he heard the familiar sound of the forest nymphs.
"Storm!" Came Saria's voice from the trees base, "Are you there?"
As silent as a cat Storm leap from branch to branch, careful to avoid Saria's gaze, he wanted to surprise her.
"Storm?" She called looking curiously up the tree, a moment later, there was a snap and Storm fell out of the tree and landed flat in front of Saria.
"Ouch," He groaned. "That's not the first time I have done that!"
"Are you alright?"
"Of course," He said, "Guess I am a little tired."
"Storm I brought you a present." Saria said, she handed him a little waist bag, 'It is magic."
"Magic? Where did you get this?" Storm asked quite surprised.
"That's a secret; here I show you what I mean by magic." She grabbed one of the deku sticks on the ground.
"Minumi," She muttered, the stick shrank so that it was like a small twig, and she placed it in the bag and took it out again.
"Maxi," At this the stick turned to normal.
"Wow that's great," Said Storm, he took the bag and put it on, "Will it do that with anything I can pick up?"
"Not everything but most things yes." Said Saria.
"Thanks," Storm replied.
"You're welcome," Said Saria, "Shall we go back to the clearing?"
"Sure," Said Storm, he followed her back the forest clearing by which time it was evening.
They walked over to her house at which Saria stated.
"I have to see the Great Deku Tree but I will see you first thing in the morning. Besides I think Mido has a point about you not going to see him, its really dangerous along the path now."
"More creatures?"
"Yes, I better go now." Said Saria.
She ran off leaving Storm standing by her house for a few moments, he went back to his own house and made himself a simple dinner consisting of fruits and a bit of meat, afterwards he took a drink and went to bed. It took him a long while to get to sleep; he was reluctant to visit his nightmares yet he knew he had little choice. After much moaning Storm eventually fell asleep. Little did Storm know that his life was about to change forever. Little was he aware of Mido and Saria's meeting with the Great Deku Tree and that they were talking about him.
Storm was revisiting the same nightmare when suddenly he heard a voice.
"Wake up!" It called. It was a fairy! For a moment Storm thought it was the fairy in his dream and remembered it had never talked and only got very nervous.
"Wake up!" The voice came again. "Hay wake up sleepy head! How can Hyrule depend on such a lazy boy?"
Storm knew it definitely was not the fairy in his dream and woke with a start; he became even more startled when he noticed a fairy bouncing up and down in front of him. He got such a shock he leaped back and hit the wall behind him.
"I'm glad to see you're awake now." The fairy said. "What's your name?"
"Err... My names Storm." Said Storm rubbing his head vigorously, this was an unexpected surprise.
"My name is Navi, pleased to meet you."
Storm nodded, he was quite confused.
"What is it?" He asked finally.
"The Great Deku Tree wishes to see you!" Said Navi. "It is urgent!"
"Urgent?" Storm asked. "Why did he not send for Mido or Saria? Besides I'm never getting pass him."
"You will, come on let's go." Said Navi.
"Do I have any time to eat or drink?" Storm asked.
"There is time to drink."
Storm got a small bottle of milk off his shelf and drank it, it was a strange milk with magical properties, he felt his strength come back to him. Putting the bottle back on the shelf he went out of his house onto the veranda.
It was early morning and most of the Korkiri's were out playing. As Storm climbed down the ladder to the ground, he heard Saria call out to him. He jumped off and did a roll on the ground.
"Hello Storm," Saria asked him, "Why are you trying so hard to break something? Just hope it is not your neck."
Storm got up and smiled. "Oh no, just I find it boring to have to climb down the ladder."
"That's interesting... Wow. Storm is that a fairy?" Saria asked.
"What?" Storm turned around and saw Navi come up to him. "Meet Navi."
"That's great," Said Saria. "Mido's bound to be furious."
"No doubt," Storm added. "I better be going. Got to get to the Great Deku Tree."
"The Great Deku Tree!" Said Saria in amazement. "That's amazing, you're lucky Storm, not many of us get to see him except at the festival."
"Did this have anything to do with your meeting with him last night?" Storm asked curiously, "First that waist bag, now this."
"Of course not Storm, don't be silly. We were discussing the issues concerning the forest at the moment."
"I see," Said Storm.
"We will I better let you go now, bye. Be careful Mido's in a really bad mood, someone stole his money last night."
"Not that he is always in a bad mood. Bye." Said Storm.
He went across the tiny lake and went over to Mido, the roar of the waterfall in his ears.
"How many times do I have to tell you!! You cannot see the Great Deku Tree! Now stop pestering me."
"I have to see the Great Deku Tree," Said Storm.
"Why would the Great Deku Tree want anything to do with you?" Mido asked. "I will not let you past, besides you don't even have a fairy."
"He does have one!" Said Navi coming out of Storm's pocket.
"What?" Mido yelled outraged. "Since when did you last have a fairy!"
"Since now," Storm added simply.
"I don't believe it!" Mido said.
"You better or you're blind," Said Navi.
"Shut up you!" Said Mido, Navi made a strange ringing noise. She seemed offended by Mido.
"Oh shut up Mido!" Said Mori angrily, "I'm sick of your constant winging! I'm going to the Deku Tree to see if I can swap."
"No you're not!" Mido snapped at her fairy.
"You're not swapping with me," Said Navi sternly.
"That's the problem; no body wants to be Mido's guardian because he's a real brat."
"Shut up you!" Mido yelled angrily.
Two boys had come over to see what the matter was. One of them yelled.
"Hey Storm, you have actually got a fairy!"
The other one said.
"It is about time!"
"Clear off!" Mido yelled angrily, Mori sighed.
"Can you please let me pass?" Storm asked.
"No! So go away or I will report you to the Great Deku Tree.' Said Mido.
"Go right ahead." Said Storm, "But that is a waste of my time."
"Hmm... fine I won't, if you really want to get through here, you must have a sword and shield. I know where to get a shield but where you're going to find a sword I don't know... You're not allowed out of the forest, not without dying!"
"I've got a hunting bow, is that good enough?" Storm asked, he had just sold his last shield.
"No you need a good sturdy weapon, sorry," Said Mido.
Storm sighed.
'I supposed Mido has a point,' he thought.
"Whatever." Said Storm and he walked off towards the shop. He pulled out a small bag from his wallet.
"I have forty rupees that should be enough." He said.
"I hope so, we're wasting time!" Said Navi.
"How else am I supposed to get passed Mido? He will not listen to you or me." Storm said irritably.
"Don't get annoyed at me." Navi reproached.
"Hey Storm!" A girl was standing by the door of the shop waving.
"Hi," Said Storm.
"You got a fairy that is great, now you can really be like one of us." The girl said.
"Thanks." Storm said hoping that would be the last person to state that.
Storm walked into the shop, it was quite small and there were three other people inside. The shopkeeper was so small he had to keep jumping up in order to see his customers, his fairy it seemed was snoozing away on top of a shelf. It must have been very bored..
"Hi." Said Storm addressing the shopkeeper.
"Hello." The shopkeeper said continuing to jump up and down. "What... Would... You... Like?"
He kept pausing every time he jumped.
"A deku shield please."
"Very... Well."
"Thanks." Said Storm, he turned and whispered to Navi as the shopkeeper went over to the shelf.
"Wonder how he's going to reach the top shelf?"
"Beats me," Said Navi she flew over to talk to one of the other people's fairies.
The shopkeeper kept jumping up and down trying to reach it the wooden shield.
"Need some help with that?" Storm asked, a moment later there was a crash as the shop keeper smashed his head into the shelf causing half the items to fall down and scaring his fairy which made an angry ringing sound, the other fairy's turned to look at it and sniggered.
The shopkeeper picked up the deku shield and gave it too Storm. "Forty... rupees... sir."
He tried to jump up to reach Storm, thinking he did not have time for this Storm grabbed hold of the deku shield and the shop keeper did not let go, when he did he dropped to the floor.
"Sorry," Said Storm. "Here is your money.
He gave the money to the shopkeeper who then said. "Have... A... Nice... Day."
"Thanks, is there any chance you could tell me where to find a sword?"
"A... Sword? ... No... I... Don't... The... Trainer... might... know... though."
"Thanks, bye." Said Storm.
He went out of the shop and up the road to the edge of the clearing by a hilltop to where the trainer had his little field; it had huge bushes all around and rocks.
"Hello Storm." The trainer said, he was trying to do karate, complete with the sound effects, and was doing a bad job. "Would you like some training?"
"Not just now." Storm said.
"Then what brings you here?" Asked the trainer sounding almost offended.
"I am after a sword; I was told you might know where one is."
"A sword, in fact I do know where one is." The trainer pointed to the hedges behind him, they seemed to make a large wall, it was actually a maze.
This maze, unlike the one to the Great Deku tree was not as easy to navigate, he kept running into dead ends, eventually he came to a large treasure chest. It took him all his strength to open it, then he tried to lean in to see what was inside and ended up slipping and falling in, the chest snapped shut.
"Good one Storm," Said Navi. "Now we are stuck!"
"It's not my fault." He said and he tried to push the lid back up, only it was extremely difficult and could only open it a crack.
"Storm." Said Navi suddenly; startled Storm lost his concentration and the lid shut on his arm.
"OUCH!" Storm yelled and he pulled his hand out. "What is it?"
"A sword! have a look."
Storm realized he was standing on a sword and shifting his position, he picked it up.
"Well we have a sword, how do we get out?" He asked.
He pushed the lid open enough for Navi to get out.
"I'll go for help if you can't get out," Said Navi. "Try using the sword."
Storm wedged the sword under the lid enough to make it so he could get out; grabbing the scabbard, he climbed out of the chest and carefully got the sword without shutting the lid on his arm.
If it had not been for Navi knowing the way back Storm might never have made it out of the maze.
"I see you got the sword," The trainer asked. "Shall I show you how to use skillfully?"
"Alright." Said Storm.
He was good at fighting with sticks; the sword did not feel much different, only heavier.
"Let's just practise a few basic movements first... You use the sword, I'll use a stick... ready?"
Storm was naturally very good with the sword and it did not take very long for him to learn the movements.
"Right... now we will practise a jump and chop... you run, jump and as you jump swing your sword downwards in the air, you try."
Storm did as he was told and ended up chopping the sign on the trainer's field in half.
"Sorry." Storm said feeling quite embarrassed.
"Oh well doesn't matter, I break it all the time." Said the trainer with a tone of humor, "Alright lets practice some defense now using your shield. Simply block my sticks attack, your shield is wooden so my stick will not break too easily."
The trainer ended up being a little wrong, Storm proved very good with a sword as well and in a final movement, the trainer did a charge strike at Storm, the stick shattered on Storm's shield.
"Hmm... Deku sticks are usually quite strong. Oh well... I'm going to teach you parrying, which is using your sword to block my attacks, instead we are going to use sticks."
Storm sheathed his sword and picked up a long stick, they practiced parrying a little and Storm proved to be good at this as well.
"Okay, now I am going to throw small rocks at you it is your job to block them."
"Is that the last thing?" Storm asked.
'What if he hits me in the head?' He thought.
"Just one more thing after this."
"Alright then." Storm glanced over at Navi, she was chatting to another fairy probably the trainers.
"Ready?" Asked the trainer, Storm looked around and raised his shield just in time to block a small stone.
Storm managed to block all the stones sent at him and finally they got onto the last activity. It consisted of movements such as rolling, back flipping, and jumping sideways. Storm mastered them all except maybe back flipping; the trainer had told him to do a back flip over the small fence. The first time Storm smacked into it, the second time he landed on the fence and got a painful wedgy.
'This is getting slightly painful, thought Storm; he stretched his legs and tried to ignore the pain in his back.
One more try at it and Storm successfully back flipped over the fence.
"That's it," Said the trainer. "I must admit you are good."
"Thank you." Said Storm, he was glad that was over.
"Come back any time."
"Come on Navi," Said Storm, looking over to Navi and the other fairy.
Navi looked at Storm relieved to see that he was finished, She flew over to him landing on his shoulder.
"I thought you were never going to finish.' She said. "You were quite skilled though I must admit."
"Thanks, let's go and see Mido."
After a bad morning, Mido was in a very foul mood. He gave Storm a triumphant and smug look as Storm approached. Never in his dreams did he think that there had been a sword in the forest. He stared first in surprise at the sword girdle Storm was wearing, as he stared at the scabbard and sword his expression turned to anger.
"I do not believe it! Where did you get that sword?" Mido spat, completely outraged, "I thought I had you, there is not supposed to be any sword around here! Where did you get it?"
"I'm not telling." Said Storm, "Now let me pass!"
Mido paused; to him it seemed like a very painful decision to let Storm pass.
"I won' let you pass through here." He said finally.
"I have a sword and shield now let me pass." Said Storm, he was not going to let Mido get the better of him.
"No," Said Mido.
Storm drew his sword and pointed it at Mido.
"Storm!" Navi and Mori shouted. Storm ignored them.
"Let me pass!" He hissed angrily.
"Oh... The little wimps got a sword pointed at me I'm so scared." Mido said. If he was trying not to be scared he was not doing a good job, he had a terrified look on his face.
"Wimp indeed." Storm growled, his anger and hatred towards Mido welled up inside him. "I have a sword and you have got your fists... now let me pass, or we will see who the tougher one is."
"Storm!" Navi hissed, sensing his rage. "That is not a good idea!"
"I know what I am doing." Storm whispered to her. "Do not worry."
Mido eyed the blade pointing at his chest; he then gazed at Storm coldly, biting his lips.
"Fine!" He spat, "Go on then, but even with a sword you are a wimp. You are nothing but a weakling Storm! A worthless one at that!"
Sword forgotten, his anger at boiling point, Storm charged at Mido his hands clutching Mido's throat. Mido gave a startled yelp as he fell to the ground with Storm on top of him. Mido threw Storm aside and jumped back on him punching him in the eye. Navi and Mori yelled for the two to stop. Neither boy heeded the fairies and their cries. Storm punched Mido back, striking his mouth before rolling out of the way and getting up. Mido lunged at him and Storm dodged him. Throwing another punch Storm struck Mido in the stomach, winded the boy fell groaning. Storm went to go at Mido again. Mido had recovered enough to leap and grab Storm's sword. Before he could raise the blade against Storm, Mido was punched in the head. Stumbling he fell over and dropped the sword, Storm grabbed it leaping at Mido, pressing the sword against Mido's neck.
"You would not dare kill me!" Mido whispered.
"Give me one reason not to!" Storm hissed at him, still pressing the blade against Mido's neck. "You would deserve it!"
"Imagine what everyone would think if you did kill me? Including Saria, everyone would hate you. You would be banished and then you would become a hideous skull kid!"
"I wish you were one," Storm growled.
"Storm! I hate to say it but Mido has a point! Do not kill him!" Navi yelled, "Please. Come with me before it is too late. You are acting just as badly as him right now."
Heeding Navi's words, Storm rose and sheathed his sword.
"I hope you die in there!" Mido snarled as he got up, "it would make my day."
"Shut your mouth Mido before I ditch you. Then you will be Mr. No-fairy!" Mori shouted angrily. "You know what that means!"
Mido gave one angry glance at Storm and stomped off, cursing under his breath. Mori followed without a word.
"Storm," Said Navi,"We better go. Come on we are late."
Storm ran through the maze, trying to put aside the incident he had just had with Mido. It had been a long time since he had become so angry.
Someone had gotten rid of the signs through the maze probably Mido, Storm guessed. Luckily he already knew his way through, as he walked through the maze he came across two plants that looked like a flower with a very long stem and a clam like jaw.
"A Deku Baba, this one has a stiff stem. It will not hurt you unless you touch it. Just cut it."
Storm did this to the two plants and they fell and to his amazement caught just burst into flames, no sooner had the flames appeared the plants was gone, instead there were there were three deku sticks.
"Might come in handy," Said Storm. He put them in the bag around his waist, remembering to say the magic words.
"Where did you get that from?" Inquired Navi.
"It was a present from Saria." Said Storm, Navi did not say anything more about it.
Storm raced into the clearing, which was surrounded by more of the hedges, in the middle of the clearing stood a huge ancient tree, the Great Deku Tree. Its big almond shaped eyes looked down at Storm as he approached. The tree's nose was also very big, it was a very good thing that he could not sneeze and that is exactly what was on Storm's mind as he stared at the massive trunk.
"I'm back!" Navi called.
"About time," Said the Great Deku Tree. "I have been waiting for hours."
"Sorry," Said Storm. "I was having some difficulties with Mido."
"I see, Storm I have summoned you here because I need you to do something."
"What is it?"
"It is a long story would you listen?"
"Yes I would," Said Storm.
He liked stories and the Great Deku Tree was the best storyteller around, it was another part of the Annual Deku festival he enjoyed.
"Good, not long ago a curse was put on me."
"A WHAT?" Storm yelled out of shock.
'That cannot be right,' he thought.
"Please don't interrupt me."
"Sorry."
"Thats okay. As I was saying a curse was put on me, by a man because he badly wanted the stone which I was given to protect the seal on the realm of the triforce... Once upon a time three goddesses descended upon Hyrule, named Din, Nayru and Frore. Together they created the lands of Hyrule and when they ascended back to the heavens they left a powerful item called the Triforce that will grant the wish of anyone who gets hold of it. I know that the man who came from the desert and put this curse on me wants it, for the three stones protect the realm, which the triforce is sealed in. You Storm must get rid of that curse, you must go inside me are you willing?"
Storm pondered for a moment, sure, some of the Great Deku Tree's stories were a little difficult to comprehend but to Storm this was extremely confusing, he decided to obey the Great Deku Tree's wishes but first how was he to get inside?
"Yes I am but how? You are a tree."
"I know that but I am hollow and very large... moving around inside should not prove difficult to you."
"What about you?" Storm asked still very confused.
"As long as you don't set fire to me I am fine."
"Alright then."
Suddenly a gaping hole appeared at the base of the Great Deku Tree, it was his mouth but since he rarely needed to open it to speak Storm had no idea it was even there.
"Go inside Storm," Said the Great Deku Tree. "Only you can rid this curse which is draining my power."
Storm stared at the hole and raced inside, Navi followed after him.
It was very dark and gloomy inside the Great Deku Tree. There was a musty scent in the air and it felt strangely humid. The inside of the tree seemed to be rotting in some areas and was covered in huge spider webs, the spiders that had made these webs could not have been any ordinary spider, and Storm shuddered at the thought, hoping he would not have to meet one.
"It certainly seems cursed," he said, "It looks bigger on the inside to."
In the centre of the room, if you could call it one, which Storm had entered was a hole leading down deep into the ground and to the very ends of the tree's roots. It was also covered in a thick web, Storm attempted to slash at the spider web with his sword but the sword could not cut through the tough web. It simply bounced off and snagged, Storm pulled the sword free of the web.
As Storm wondered how he was going to get through the web without being caught and ending up as lunch for a hungry spider, he heard a Deku Baba behind him, making its usual hissing sound. Storm swung around to face the largest Deku Baba he had met yet; the plant was taller than he was. It was snapping at him and then it lunged almost uprooting itself, fixing its mouth on Storm's arm.
"ARGH!" Storm swiped at it with his sword and the Deku Baba let go, then like the last ones, it burst into flames.
As he looked around to see if some more of those plants were around, he saw some vines going onto a platform above.
Storm noticed his arm was bleeding, luckily he had a potion is his waist bag. He poured a little bit of the potion onto the wound; he winced slightly from the sting.
"Deku healing potions, you know about them and how to make them do you?"
"Yes, I used one when I broke my arm once, you know being stupid," Said Storm.
"That would be right."
Storm looked at the vines leading to the platform.
"You reckon I could climb those onto the platform?" He asked Navi, "Just checking."
"Probably, just make sure it is not rotten."
"Whether I will break my arm or not is a different question."
Pulling at the vines and testing them with his sword, Storm concluded that the vines were not rotten and safe to climb.
Storm began to climb the vines until he came to the second platform, he was quite glad he was not scared of heights and was good at jumping, he certainly did not want to fall down.
"Now that I am up here, what next?" Said Storm, not waiting for Navi's reply he decided to work it out himself. "Now I guess I climb those onto the third level... Only-"
He saw several spiders along the vines, strange looking spiders with a skull shaped shell; in fact, it looked just like a skull.
"How do I kill those?"
"You will need a long ranged weapon of some sort... maybe try the room just along the platform here."
"I should have brought my hunting bow," muttered Storm as he walked over to the door.
"A small hunting bow probably would not make a dent in that skulltulas shell," Said Navi.
Storm sighed and looked at the door.
"What do you make of this Navi, a door in the Great Deku Tree? Does someone live inside him?"
"It is strange," Navi agreed, "No one lives in here."
"Then how did the door get here?" Storm asked her.
"That is a mystery," Said Navi "Let's go through."
Storm opened the door pulling it upwards so it would open. As he walked through it shut and locked behind him. Storm could not make it budge and as he wondered how he was going to get out he heard a strange slurping noise behind him, it was very familiar.
"Oh great" muttered Storm, he noticed a strange creature in the middle of the small room, disguised as a shrub.
"Deku scrub, I hate deku scrubs."
As he rose his shield the creature fired a giant deku nut at him from its nose, it bounced off Storm's shield and hit the deku scrub, which jumped out the plant it in and began to jump around making a short squeaking sound.
Storm lunged at it and was about to strike when, it talked, taking Storm and Navi by surprise.
"Please do not hurt me, please. If you let me go I will tell you something." It said in a high-pitched voice.
"Very well." Said Storm, he did not know they could talk. "What is it you want to tell me?"
"You will never get to the top floor without a long ranged weapon." The scrub answered said. "Goodbye."
With that, it burrowed into the ground and disappeared in a cloud of dust.
"I never knew they could talk," Said Navi.
"Either way its information was useless and quite obvious to me." Storm said.
He went into the next room and found himself on the edge of a ledge leading to a pit. There was a platform in the middle of the room, it there was nothing supporting the platform, it was just floating in midair.
"That's odd," Said Storm. "This is getting stranger by the minute."
"Jump across." Said Navi, Storm looked at her as though Navi was crazy, she added, "Trust me."
Storm ran and jumped onto the platform, no sooner had he done that, it began to crack and Storm leapt to the other side smashing right into a treasure chest.
"Ouch." He groaned picking himself up.
Storm heard the platform smash and he gave a sigh of relief. "That was too close."
"A lot more where that came from." Said Navi. "What do you suppose a chest is doing in the middle of the Deku tree?"
"I don't know, that is weird; the doors are just as strange as was the platform but how did this get here though? Somebody must have put it here."
"Who? The Deku tree would notice and I already told you no one lives in here, except critters," Said Navi, "Perhaps it has got to do with the curse, you should see what is inside it."
Storm opened it, again with a bit of difficulty. He peered in and saw a slingshot.
Carefully trying not to fall in he grabbed it and got the deku seeds in the chest.
"Deku seeds. They are great for slingshots." Said Navi.
"Do you have to tell me all these things?" Storm asked, he was beginning to find her annoying.
Navi ignored him and Storm looked at the slingshot.
"I have always wanted one of these."
"Good, why don't you get a move on now!"
"Alright already," Storm said irritably, he managed to leap across the gap grab an overhanging vine and swing across landing safely on the other side.
"Now I can get passed those spider creatures." He said.
"They are skulltulas." Navil corrected him, Storm ignored her, he would have to get used to it.
Storm jumped off the ledge and landed safely on the ground before climbing up the ladder on the other side and going to the door. He went back to the skulltula infested vines. He shot the skulltulas and climbed up the vines onto a third platform. There were small planks going out all seemed to pointing out towards the middle of the tree. As Storm approached one of these planks, a huge overgrown version of the skulltula appeared and threw him off his feet.
"What is that?" He gasped.
"A big skulltula!"
"I kind of figured."
The creature looked at them making a loud snarling noise and suddenly turned its back on them.
Storm slashed it with his sword and jumped back as it quickly climbed back up the branch.
Not wanting to deal with the creature anymore, he went over to a door on the other side of the ledge around the side of the Deku Tree's inner trunk and opened it. The door shut behind him and iron bars locked into place.
"I see no enemies." Storm said looking around for some kind of clue. "I think I am going to crack if this gets much weirder."
"There is a torch over there... it is lit too... how can we get to it?"
"A torch?" Storm exclaimed, "What the… What is a torch doing in a tree? Trees are wooden they hate fire, meaning this does not make sense."
"Nothing makes a lot of sense here," Navi replied.
"This tree is not normal, trees should not look like this, have puzzles inside as well a infested mazes, rooms with doors not mention conveniently placed treasure chests or floating platforms… or even switches." Said Storm noticing the switch on the floor; he shook his head, "If this isn't magic then what is it?"
"The Great Deku Tree was never normal Storm; he is the Great Deku Tree." Said Navi, "Try seeing what the switch does."
As Storm stepped on the switch three platforms rose over the pit-allowing Storm to jump across and reach the torch and light it with a deku stick.
"Careful," Navi said, "You do not want to set this place alight."
"I won't." Said Storm, he stared at the platforms, "I really hate magic."
With that he jumped back over them and the iron bars lifted he went through the door and unwittingly jumped off the ledge, holding onto a vine as he went. As he swung towards the other side of the ledge, the vine snapped, sending Storm screaming towards the ground. He landed straight into the web, becoming entangled.
With one arm still free of the web, Storm grabbed the burning stick and tried to set the web on fire. It worked and as the web caught fire, Storm felt the spider webs loosen around him and then he fell.
"Don't worry... It is a soft landing." Navi called as she dashed after him.
It was hardly what Storm called soft, the water felt hard from such a height and left him winded as he came up for air. He looked around and saw he was in another room.
"Are you alright Storm?" Navi asked him.
"I'm fine; I did not expect that vine to break." Said Storm.
"You are lucky the owner of that spider web was not looking for a late breakfast."
"I know," Said Storm, he observed his surroundings before looking up at the hole in the roof he had fallen through, "Now we are stuck.
Where do you reckon we are?"
"Probably the beginning of the Great deku tree's root systems," answered Navi.
Storm took a drink of the water and discovered it tasted extremely foul, he spat it back out and coughed.
"The water seems to be contaminated," exclaimed Storm.
"That might explain something," Said Navi. "There is another web on the opposite bank. If you can run across the submerged part of the bank and reach it you could set fire to it."
"I knew those deku sticks would come in handy," Said Storm taking one out.
He climbed onto the bank closest to him and walked over to a lit torch, placing the stick into the flames until it began to burn. Storm ran across the submerged bank onto the other dry bank he could reach. Storm race over to the door covered with spider webs and set the spider's handiwork alight. The remains of the web fell into a smouldering heap on the ground. Storm stomped on the embers, smothering them.
As he was about to open the door, he heard a sound like a spider behind him. It was another skulltula, crawling along the wall. Storm shot it with his slingshot and it fell to the floor, bursting into flames.
"I find it strange how they just burn up."
"Me to," replied Navi.
Storm opened the door and went through; to his surprise, there was another deku scrub in this room. Like the last one, it appeared hostile so Storm simply deflected its attack with his shield, it hit the deku scrub and Storm tried to attack it.
"AH! Please sir! Please do not attack me! I surrender!"
"Surrender?" Storm asked. "Do all of you scrubs do that?"
"Most of us do," the scrub replied innocently.
"It's funny the one in the woods never did that," commented Storm.
"Please do not be angry, if you spare me I will give you a helpful tip, you will never beat queen Gohma without-" It gave a slight squeak, which gave Storm the impression it had let something slip.
"Who is this queen?" Storm inquired.
"Never mind that."
"Tell me and I will spare you."
"If you must know she rules this place, besides she is guarded by my brothers, if you let me go I will tell you how to get passed them."
"How?"
"You can not deflect their attack in any random order, counting from the left you must shoot two three one."
"I see... so I shoot the second one from the left and so on."
"Yes..." The Deku Scrub gave another frightened squeak and started smashing itself against the wall wailing, "Oh Queeny what have I done! I am a bad scrub! Bad scrub!"
Once it seemed pleased with its self inflicted punishment the scrub turned back to Storm.
"Please will you let me go now?
"Alright, Storm replied.
The deku scrub quickly dug a little hole in the ground and disappeared.
"The queen of this place... I happen to think she is the source of the curse," Said Navi.
"The source of the curse... you mean on the Great Deku Tree?." Storm looked at his fairy seriously.
"Yes." Said Navi, Storm gave Navi a short stare, I guess she is somewhat useful after all, he thought.
Going through the next door, Storm found it opened up into the room he had fallen into; he was on the bank he could not reach before. Seeing a web covering a hole in the ground, he lit one of his Deku sticks using a torch next to the hole and burnt the irritating obstruction a spider had made.
Storm jumped through the hole, he fell into a pool of water in a large room, he swam to the bank and over to a massive door.
"This is so not normal," He muttered.
"Look three deku scrubs," Said Navi, as three angry Deku Scrubs appeared from their bushes next to the door. "Just like that other scrub said."
"I remember." Said Storm and he did exactly what the deku scrub had told him.
Dodging the deku nuts, he sent on back to its owner, Storm's plan worked as the nut struck the second scrub from the left; it fell on the ground stunned. The other two gave each other a nervous glance before renewing their attack. Storm struck the third from the left with its own attack by deflecting the deku nut on his shield and then he turned to the third, which stared in momentary shock. The remaining deku scrub raced over to the door and began attacking again. Storm struck it as well and the scrub gave up.
"What!" the deku scrub exclaimed as it walked over to him. Its angry face was quite hysterical.
"How did you know our little trick? Since you beat us I shall betray the queenie, Gohma... She has a terrible weak spot her eye."
"I guess it is well protected though."
"Not really." Said the scrub, "Just use what I use against you."
"Deku nuts?"
"Ah, I will say no more… I'll b e executed for this, I know I will. We did not want to her as our queenie! He made us! That horrible person controlled us!" the Deku scrub wailed.
"Who are you talking about?" Storm asked.
The scrub gave him a serious look and stated in a rushed voice, "Never mind."
With that, it ran off to join its partners who had woken up and they vanished.
As Storm approached the massive door, it opened on its own accord. He stepped into a small corridor leading into a very big circular room. As Storm entered it part of the ceiling collapsed blocking his way out.
"I don't like the looks of this." Navi said.
"Nor do I," Said Storm, he felt the hairs on his neck stand up as a strange feeling crept over him. He gazed around the room; Storm knew something was staring at him.
With a frightful and menacing hiss, a large monster dropped onto the floor in front of Storm, a huge spider like arachnid with only one very big eye. It lacked pincers, instead it had clamps and long thick claws. The creature pounced at Storm he dodged it; it gave a screech and hissed at him.
"Strike it with a deku nut!" Said Navi.
Storm threw a deku nut at its eye and Gohma collapsed onto the ground. Knowing Gohma was only stunned temporarily; Storm ran up and slashed at her eye with his sword. Gohma regained conscious and quickly ran up one of the pillars on the room and stuck to the ceiling.
Storm attacked her eye with a slingshot and got a direct hit.
"Nice shot!" Navi said as Storm raced over to slash at Gohma again. He succeeded and again she climbed back up one of the pillars.
Storm took out his slingshot and fired at her, he was a little low on nuts. His first shot missed and Gohma managed to lay an egg that fell to the ground.
"What is that?" Storm asked distracted.
"An egg." Said Navi. "It shouldn't hatch too quickly. The embryo still has to develop."
Ignoring Navi's confusing jargonized speech Storm fired at Gohma again and shot her eye. She fell and he struck her with his sword.
As he went to strike her again something knocked Storm onto the ground cutting the side of his face.
"What the-" A small version of Gohma had appeared; Storm realized the egg had hatched.
"Thanks for the warning." He said to Navi as he raised his shield to block the creature's attack. It jumped over and smacked him on the head. Irritated Storm stabbed it and it fell to the ground, and then burnt up..
Storm got a deku potion from his bag and drank it quickly before looking around for any sign of Gohma, already he felt stronger.
"LOOK OUT!" Navi yelled and Storm leaped out of the way, as Gohma landed right where he was standing before. He shot another deku nut at her and stunned her, hoping this would end the fight he did a running strike and chopped straight through the middle of her eye. Gohma leaped up and gave a snarl of rage, blood pouring from her eye. Blindly she went backwards and crashed into the wall, she was certainly blind!
Taking his chance Storm raced up and slashed at her underbelly, a moment later this proved an almost fatal mistake. She fell on top of Storm almost crushing him, Storm shoved his sword into Gohma's underbelly and she sprang off him hissing in agony.
Gohma backed away from Storm and smashed into a pillar. Storm was now covered in blood and extremely dizzy, he took another potion out of his bag, he would have to get some more later as he was nearly out.
Storm drank the potion and looked back around at Gohma. She lay on the ground not moving, Storm went over to her. She was barely breathing. Storm struck her one last time and the great Arachnid gave a shudder, and then died. As Storm took his sword from her tough hide Gohma began to burn up and Storm backed away.
"I see now, the reason they burn up like that is because they are creatures created from evil magic." Said Navi, at last the truth comes out, Navi isn't a know it all after all, thought Storm.
"The lot of them?" Storm asked.
"Just about."
Just then, a strange portal, a bright wavering circle of light, appeared. With a little encouragement from Navi, Storm walked into it and a moment later, Storm appeared back at the Great Deku Tree. It took him a moment to realize what had happened.
"Well done Storm, you have ridden me of this dreadful curse," Said the Great Deku tree.
"Ridden?" Storm thought disbelievingly. "He sounds a lot weaker than last time."
He looked at the Great Deku trees leaves and with a thrill of horror, he noticed the leaves were beginning to die at a rapid and abnormal rate.
"Oh no," He muttered, he had not gotten rid of the curse but Gohma was dead! What had he done wrong?
'I've failed,' Storm moaned silently to himself, 'All my efforts have come to nothing."
He thought of Mido and realized Mido was most likely going to kill him if the Great Deku Tree died.
"As I guess you have realized," The Deku tree said. "I was doomed before your quest started... yes soon I shall leave this world."
"Who is going to look after the forest?" Navi asked, Storm was thinking along the same lines.
"You have asked that question many times Navi, my answer is the same, that I cannot see," Said the Great Deku tree. "Even by the time one of my seeds become old enough, many years will have passed. Who knows what will happen... Storm I must entrust you with a precious item. The item that the desert man wanted so much he put the dreaded curse on me. It is the Spiritual Stone of the forest, the Korkiri emerald. Take it to a place called Hyrule castle, once you exit the forest-"
"But I can't go out of the forest." Storm said, a note of despair in his voice. "You know that."
"There are some things you cannot learn until you are much older Storm, trust me you will be able to leave the forest... As I said when you exit the forest you will meet an owl, he shall guide you on your way. At the castle, you shall meet a girl named Princess Zelda, she will help you as well,... she will tell you what to do... I..."
The Great Deku tree paused, his voice was now very weak, a few leaves fell from his branches.
"I... Goodbye... Storm... Goodbye Navi... My time... has come... Where I shall... Leave this world... Please... Do not... Grieve for me... Goodbye."
The Deku tree stopped talking and there was silence. More leaves began to fall from the tree and the trunk and roots dried out in a matter of seconds, despite the cool weather. Storm noticed a shiny green gem in front of the tree that had not been there before; he picked it up and looked at the Great Deku tree.
"Goodbye." Said Navi, Storm turned to leave, Navi did not. As he walked slowly to the road back to the forest, he took one last look at the Great Deku Tree.
"Navi! Come one... You heard what he said." Storm yelled his voice somewhat hoarse and pained.
Navi paused and went over to Storm.
"You're right... Come on, let's go.