Chapter 1: Lost Woods
He was Lost. Not surprising, really. When you venture into a place called the lost woods, you can't complain about not being warned. "Still," Link thought, stumbling over an upraised root in the twilight's growing gloom. "I'd never have guessed it was this bad." He'd been in here before, after all, though never quite this deep. Sure, the place was a maze, but if he wandered long enough, he'd always ended up back at the entrance.
The green clad boy had once spent days making a map of the way to the forest temple to see if he could stop himself from wasting hours wandering in circles. Following the sound of Saria's Song between the trees, the cheerful ocarina tune had led him deeper into the shadowed groves, the playful melody his constant companion as he sketched out his route in the cool of the forest. After almost a week of work and more than 30 visits, he had finally completed his map of the twisting corridors- only to find that in the time it had taken him to show off his work to Saria, the endless forest had changed beyond any hope of recognition.
All the same, he had expected to be able to navigate his way through the forest. It had never seemed to change when he was in it, and if he paid attention he ought to have been able to find his way around those mischievous groves that landed him back in the Kokiri Village. If you kept your wits about you, you'd notice there was a distinctive feel to them, as if someone was watching to see if you fell for a prank. So, pack in hand and feeling reasonably sure of himself, he had grabbed all the supplies he could carry and pushed deep, deep into the forest, weaving his way through the woods.
Link had set out to visit each of the places he'd been before- the temples, the fairy fountains, the groves where the skull kids played- hawk eyed and watchful as he roamed. He'd tried asking the skull kids for help in his quest as well, for that matter. Devious pranksters that they were, they'd been of no help in his search but he'd had to try- the rest of the flora and fauna was all but useless unless he was looking to practice his sword work.
Link shook himself, pausing to listen for the babbling of a brook he had seen in a few days ago, in hopes that he might be able to replenish his supply of life-giving Springwater. He'd been willing to stay out here for weeks if he needed too, saying his goodbyes to Epona- his trusty steed- and leaving her with Malon. Pounds of rations, supplemented by his hunting. Three days' worth of water skins, to ensure he'd have a backup if the springs ran dry. A tent and pack, loaded with equipment for all manner of weather. Nothing would stand between him and finding Navi. His fairy- his friend.
Link's expression grew dark as he thought of his journeys begin. Oh, how he had regretted that decision. Over the past eight days, he had pushed his way through the woods, narrowly avoiding a return trip to Kokiri village so many times he had lost count. However, as the seventh day ended, something had changed. When he rose the next morning, the ever-present song had fallen silent. The woods, dark and still, had lost the playful mischievousness that had been there ever since his first journey. Now, the groves that had once seemed to watch with baited breath, seemed to stare coldly instead, a decided itch of unwelcomeness that grew stronger the closer he came. Suddenly, he'd begun to remember stories he had heard so long ago.
"Adults lost among the trees turn into Stalfos, while children turn into Skull Kids; both are doomed to wander the woods till the end of days" had warned the elder in castle town. "Anybody who comes into the forest will be lost. Everybody will become a Stalfos. Everybody, Stalfos." Only the fact that he had a fairy to guide him had kept him safe before… and Navi was gone. Without her, he had no way of knowing where he was, or where to go, and it was quite possible that he would never leave.
His labored breaths sounded harshly in his ears and he paused for a moment, leaning against the rough brown bark of one of the great forest monarchs that blocked out the fading light. They had been together since the day his life began. Not the day he was born- he still didn't know when that was, as everyone who could tell him had long since passed away. No, the day his life truly began had been the day Navi came to him with a message from the Great Deku Tree. Since then, they had never been apart. She had guided him through the fiery caverns of Death Mountain, and across the open plains of Hyrule Field as they searched for a means to stop the evil that crept across the land. They had faced down dragons and serpents and undying horrors together, and yet… and yet she was gone. Vanished. Disappeared. Three days after he had returned to this time, the evil defeated, the monster vanquished, she had fled into the night as he slept, vanishing into the lost woods.
He looked down at his hands, the young pale skin marred by countless faint scars, stark against the dark forest soil that covered them. They had wielded sword and shield against innumerable foes, fighting off creatures a hundred times his size, and people had cheered for him as he fought. Words of encouragement, praise, and thanks flew thick as the crowds watched his battle. But that was just it… the speeches came from the sidelines, and the cheers were distant in his ears as he struggled to survive. There was no one who had the strength to stand beside him in battle, to face the end of the world with him- save for one. Navi. He didn't resent the others for being unable to fight, didn't snarl at their eager cheers. No, he was glad to help. But all the praise in the world paled in comparison with a smile from the one who had been beside him, darting in and out of the fray, guiding his shots and spotting the weakness of his foe.
"Why?" he gritted out, his hands clenching into white knuckled fists. "After all that! After all we went through! Nayru Faeroe and Din, Navi! Why!" The child spun suddenly, driving a fist into the thick rugged bark of the tree beside him. The young boy stared blankly at the blood spattered wood, uncaring of the torn skin and thick splinters embedded in his hand, as it throbbed in time with the red that suffused his vision. Fury took him suddenly, and with an anguished cry, he wrenched the Kokiri sword from the sheath on his back, swinging furiously, hacking at the tree with it. Chips of wood were flung through the air as his voice cracked in rage, unintelligible curses flying from his lips as he wreaked havoc upon the only target for his frustration.
Finally, his blows slowed and stopped. His arms leaden and burning, his breath ragged, he let the sword point drop, digging into the earth at his feet. His eyes unfocused as he lowered his them for a moment, before turning away from the scarred wood and stumbling further into the woods. With his blade carving a path through the earth behind him, silence filled the forest once more, save for the faint 'tik' sounds the metal made as it skipped across the loose soil. Within moments, he had pushed his way through the dense bushes and out of sight of the clearing. As his footsteps faded into the distance, the seeping scar on the bark began to ripple and fade, the earth seeming to shiver underfoot, as every trace that he had left behind melted away until the forest was once again pristine and silent as he found it.
It had been 37 days since Link set out on the journey. He knew there was a chance he might not come back when he set out, but knowing and knowing are two entirely different things. Navi had last been seen heading into the forest though, and if that was the risk he had to take to find her- well, he was hardly one to shirk from danger. Now, though, he had reached his limit.
The 6th day after his food ran out and all signs of living creatures vanished into the underbrush, he had begun to see things. Fairy lights and Poes danced just at the edge of his vision, but when he turned to look they were gone. He hadn't worried much about that though, in a place like the lost woods that was standard fare.
By the 9th day without food, Link had started to make out faint whispers in the shadows. They had seemed loud in the silence of the forest, the stillness so quiet that even his footsteps seemed muted, but when he stopped to listen, the voices were gone. Bushes would rustle behind him, but he could never tell where the sound came from and was forced to press on. He had even once thought he'd heard... for a moment... that faint cry he knew so well: "Hey! Look out!" He began to suspect something was mocking him after that. Still though, he had ignored them and traveled deeper into the forest's grasp. With no idea of how to find his way out, the only thing he could do was keep looking.
On the 12th day, however, he began to lose faith in his own sanity. He was exhausted by then, the starvation setting in, and had more than once been so caught up in a daydream that he hadn't noticed he had stopped walking until his head hit the ground, the sharp pain in his skull and the feeling of the cool earthy loam against his cheek snapping him back to the present. He would lie there for a moment, taking in the scent of crushed leaves as he gathered his strength, until he could force himself to rise and move on.
The trees seemed to warp and twist at the corners of his eyes, rising up like great mushrooms, or twisting together into arching roots. First dark and lifeless, the air murky and hazed with the scent of decay, the ground would turn swampish, feeling as though his feet sank deep into the mush, each step a struggle. Then, golden and glowing, they would burst into light as the earth sprung to life with verdant greenery. He could almost taste the sweet pollen that filled the air, and golden motes floated across his vision, but it took nothing more than a blink, and it was gone.
On the 13th day, he gave up.
He had put up with the lights and whispers so long he no longer noticed them. He had been able to ignore the twisted trees as he knew that there were things far stranger in the land of Hyrule. But this? This was enough. He was not going to put up with Nayru damned butterflies.
"No." He ground out, sweat trickling down his brow as the swirling cloud of iridescent blue wings enveloped him. "No, I have had it up to here! I am not going to stand for this! Come out! Come out and face me whoever you are!" He snatched at his sword and shield with hands that trembled with frustration and exhaustion, leaping towards the whispering cloud that had encircled him. Link charged in as it spun faster and faster, swinging wildly at the fluttering insects. With a hoarse yell and hurled himself through the cloud and into… a room?
Link skidded to a halt on the smooth stone bricks, panting furiously, his eyes darting back and forth as he took in the intricately carved ivory chairs, the smooth marble desk, and the dark stone walls that surrounded him. Twisting to look behind him at the entrance that was no longer there, he shivered as a gust of cold air hit him, bringing with it the scent of caves and darkness. The elfin child staggered, spent, as the exertion of his mad flailing caught up with him and he dropped to a knee before yanking the nearest seat towards him. Lifting himself into it, he slumped there until his breathing slowed enough that he could take in more of his surroundings.
At a glance, the only items he could see were within arm's reach. The single burning candle that stood atop a wrought iron holder. The embossed, leather bound book in red and gold that lay closed and silent upon the desk. And of course, the precise iron metronome beside it, delicately worked with the image of a face caught in a silent scream, ticked patiently away as it marked out the passage of time.
"So! What. Have. We. HERE?" boomed a voice, echoing through the room. With a startled shout, Link spun to see… still nothing. Blank stone walls, bricks and mortar, but certainly nothing that could be talking to him.
"Just a delicate little sprog AHREN'T CHA MEH BOY? Ohh hohohohh! you should see your face!" cackled the disembodied voice with an excited air, "Maybe I'll peel it off and show it to yeh? Not a bad idea, eh? Oh! Oh oh oh! Better Idea! use the eyes! Now THAT'S lateral thinken!"
His back against the cold stone wall, link began to gently reach for the hilt of his sword, his eyes darting back and forth. 'Invisible?' he thought to himself. 'I don't see- of course!' Snatching at his pack, he dug through it before triumphantly yanking out a violet and blood-red lens. 'The Eye of truth!'
His sword in one hand, the lens in the other, he turned back to face the room, casting a gaze about to see if he could spot the speaker through the all-seeing magical device. With a yelp, he jerked away at the sudden flash, the lens clattering to the floor as he ground at his eye, trying to blink away the shifting colorful blaze of light that had blinded it.
"NONE OF THAT my boy! Wear the accessories on your own time! But don't wait too long. Those things start to smell if you don't use them right away. No! Wait- thinking of cheese."
Blinking tears of pain away, Link gazed around the room bewilderedly. Whoever this speaker was, he was pretty sure that this was not someone he wanted to be trapped in a room with. Still, not dead yet, so… probably just insane. Maybe he was unconscious and his body was wasting away in the forest. Seemed to be his luck these days.
"So where did you come from, Hmmmm? Ah! that little neck of the woods! The Lost ones! The lost woods, get it? Whelllll me boy, you are Well and TRUEly LOST!" breaking out terrifying laughter once again, the voice sputtered and continued "Now though, boyo, you've been found! By Who you ask? ME! I DID! or did I? Perhaps you knew where you were the whole time? Very well then, Close your eyes and I'll spin you about and twist you into macramé! Or until you're lost. Whichever works."
"Fayroe guide me out of here," Link muttered, "Din, light my path. Nayru, protec-"
"Ah ha ah! m'BOY! Can't be havin you prayin to those heeeeeathen goddeses of yours!" the voice roared, "Besides! those ladies won't be hearing your prayers. I will though! If you're lucky I might even answer them!" It seemed to pause in thought for a moment, as Link shrunk back against the rough stone of the room's corner, shield and sword in hand. "Oh! I know! Ask for pie! Or brains. You could use those! I've GOT IT! BRAIN PIE! Thats the thing!"
"Anyway," it continued. "The deal is that your little forest falls under my jurisdiction! That means that when you go stumblin' through it, and just. wont. GIVE. UP… well. that means I'm going to have to do something about it. Couldn't have you crying wah wah my poor fairy and upsetting my skull kids! No! So I brought you here! Now you can do some good with yourself. AND ENTERTAIN ME!"
A sudden shout and a grunt of irritation from the booming voice echoed through the room as Link, beginning to relax from his initial scare slumped to the floor. 'Whatever this is, they don't seem to want me dead,' he thought. 'And if they change their mind, I can't really do anything about it- not as weak as I am now.'
"AHA! GOTCHA YOU LITTLE PEST! Silent now, grownups are talking. As I Was Saying Boyo! You're in my realm now. So! Welcome! Stay awhile, stay forever! Welcome to the Shivering Isles."
Link gazed nervously around the stone room he had found himself as the voice paused dramatically in its rambling speech. Slouched against the wall, he waited for the voice to get whatever it was planning over with so that he could move on with his life. Or death. Probably the second one now that he thought about it. After all, he could only live on willpower alone for so long, and he was done. Down to the last of his strength, unable to even haul himself back into the chair that he had knocked over in fright, his chances of getting out were bad enough that there wasn't even a point in worrying about it.
"No? You don't recognize the name? That's alright, I'm about to tell you! THE SHIVERING ISLES! Home of madness! Chaos! And ME! That's right Ladies and Gentlemen! It's SHEOGORATH! God of order! No- wait. That's Jyggalag. Ah! Still counts though! He's me and I'm Him! When I'm not me that is. Did I ever tell you about the time I decided to invade myself? I had to find a way to stop it, So I set out to find myself! I asked myself to go off and do these most peculiar quests, and then I got me to stop me from WRECKING MY ISLES! After all, nobody likes that... Where was I? Ah Yes! SHEOGORATH! GOD OF MADNESS! That's me!"
"..." The voice paused again. "Well? Say something boyo! I've not wasted all this time on a dramatic reveal just for you to ignore it! What do you think?"
Link threw a wasted look of disgust at the empty air. "There are only three goddesses. I have no idea who you might be, but I'm sure as hell not going to be worshiping you." Half laughing at the thing's ridiculous claim, the Hylian mustered up the strength to pull himself into a kneeling position.
"EEEEHHHHNNNNT! WRONG ANSWER! That may be true where you are from boy, but you'll find that we Daedra are very much real here M'lad. You are far far away from anyone who would agree with you!" Shaking his head in disgust, Link rose to his feet. Legs burning with exhaustion, knees trembling, and sword and shield clenched in tight fists, he gazed around the room.
"Look, shegore- whatever your name is- Why am I here?" Link asked. It wasn't much of a question- after everything he'd dealt with, he had had enough of the rambling and the hearsay and slightly creepy not-a-threats that Sheogorath had been spouting since the moment he'd dragged him to this wretched place. "What. Do. You. Want." He demanded, the deep ache of starvation throbbing in his stomach as, numerous cuts and bruises made themselves known. Helpless to find the target of his anger, his glare whipped around the chill stone room once more.
"What do I want? I already told you! To be ENTERTAINED! I am Booooooaaaarrrrddddd! And you? You're interesting. I could have let you waste into a SkullKid, but what a waste! Another hero! Goddess blessed and courageous and JUST the THING! I said to myself, 'Sheogorath me old pal, this is the chance of a lifetime! Take two heroes and throw them together and-' OY QUIT STRUGGLING You! Where was I? Ah yes. Two heroes! One quest! It'll be fun! But of course, we can't have you looking like that!"
Glancing down at himself, Link saw just how badly the forest had treated him. His green tunic and belt, ragged from the grasping branches, were stark in the flickering candlelight. His skin was filthy and bloody, and his arms frail from malnutrition. All in all he was the picture of a street urchin. If he'd been seen in Hyrule market, people would have either thrown him rupees or clutched their wallets to their chests to keep them safe.
"Not that you fool!" Sheogorath bellowed, interrupting his thoughts. "Your AGE! You're not even old enough to drink mead! There's no way the Dragonborn will put up with that! No! You need to Grow Up!"
A glowing light began to surround Link, and as his skin began to prickle, he closed his eyes with a sigh. He already knew what was going to happen after all. It wasn't like he hadn't been here before- he was the hero of time after all. He had spent months in that desolate future, fully grown and facing horrors unimaginable to a simple boy from the forest. 'Still,' He thought sourly. "I'd thought I was finally done with this."
With a flash, he dropped to the floor, once more an adult, and once more at his full strength. This time though… he was dressed a little different. A tunic of green and leggings of brown, yes, but under the tunic clinked a layer of chain mail, shifting as he moved. His golden gauntlets were longer, reaching up to protect his forearms from wayward blows and his chest was covered in an elegant golden breastplate that was worked with Hylian designs. His shoulders were covered with thick pauldrons, and metal plates led into steel toed boots that stood firm on the rugged stone floor. Not full armor, but strategically placed patches of it, designed to protect the vital areas while preserving dexterity.
"Wha-" he mumbled, confused, before the voice continued. "You'll need it boy! That icy land is far more dangerous than your little hamlet you call a nation! And you'll need this to!" A familiar weight settled upon his shoulders, and he twisted to look behind him at his blade, the Master Sword.
"I snuck in while those pesky divas weren't looking, and swapped this out for a pile of cheese! Nobody will be able to tell the difference unless they try to draw it! Or eat it! Or until it starts to smell!" Now used to the madgod's rambling, Link ignored him, checking himself over and finding all the items he had carried in that aborted timeline had been returned to him.
"Oh! and don't think I've forgotten about you, little one! You'll need one last thing if you are to survive this realm m'Boy! A guide." Link's head snapped up at his final word. Heart in his throat, he tried to stifle the sudden surge of hope that burst through him. He had given up on finding her. He had given up on surviving. Could... could this madman really have her? Could it be?
A sudden crackle of energy appeared above the desk, pale blue lightning arcing into the iron candle holder and metronome. A shape started to form in the center of it, just a touch darker than the brilliant blue around it, before finally, the sphere of light burst, throwing book, candle, and time keeper skittering across the stone floor. Link dashed forward as the tiny form slumped to the desk, sweeping her into his arms and cradling the fairy as he gazed in awe of the miracle in front of him. A slender girl, no longer than a finger lay glowing in his arms. Garbed in a gauzy blue dress, with wings protruding from its back, Navi looked up at him. "L-Link?" she asked tremulously, a delicate hand reaching for his face, before collapsing again, exhausted by whatever had just occured.
"So boyo! You're allllll set!" Sheogorath drawled, interrupting their heartwarming moment, "I've given you your things, your fairy, and your years, so now it's time you do something for me! ENTERTAIN ME!" the crazed god roared once more. "So. Be off with yeh! I've got things to do, people to disembowel, mountains to move and movements to mount! So you be good! You have fun now! And if you see her, tell Nocturnal I said hi!"
For the final time, the energy gathered around link, and as the room dissolved in a flurry of brilliant blue butterflies, Link found himself smiling. Whatever this nutcase had planned, it didn't matter. He had his fairy friend returned to him once more. He was ready.
Author's Note!
Not bad for a first try, eh? Just a plot bunny I had that wouldn't go away, so I sat down and hammered it out. Blame LethalityRush's Goodbye Navi work on deviant art, and the comparison of Skyrim and Windwaker by Slpngfx. Figure I'll keep adding as the mood strikes me, and see where the story takes us. No, Link won't be dragonborn in case you missed that. He will be there for the start of the story, however. Hope y'all enjoy! Either way, leave a review with anything you'd like me to work on, or directions you'd like to see the plot go.
See you around!
Edit: Cleaned this up a little bit, to make it less unwieldly. Hopefully it should be easier on the eyes now. Enjoy!