*So, first fanfiction. A few OCs, but I'm hoping to stay true to the overall LOZ feel. And disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Zelda.*

Prologue

Deep in Faron Woods, the Sacred Grove was as green as always. Raize, a guard of Hyrule Castle, was wandering through. The day was his and he always found peace in the grove so it was not uncommon for one to find him there. It certainly wasn't the easiest place to get to, but the natural beauty made it well worth the trip. Passing beneath low tree limbs and through a tunnel, he caught sight of a light to his left. It was still early, the sun only just beginning its descent and the trees offering comfortable shade; yet the light seemed unusually bright. Fully aware of the dangers in the wood, he needed to satisfy his curiosity. He turned left, searching for that light. It didn't take him long to find it, it appearing further ahead as if beckoning him. He hesitated. To follow that light would lead him to unfamiliar areas of the grove. The light flickered a moment before disappearing only to reappear once more. Making up his mind, he followed the light. Every time he neared it, it would move further away. He never saw what the source of the light was. He couldn't help but feel as if he was being led and more than once he considered turning back, but quickly realized he had no idea where he was. He had never realized how vast the grove was. Having no other alternative, he followed the light; that is, he followed until he came to the face of a cliff and the light shone from what appeared to be a cave far above him.

Raize stared at the cliff face. As far as he could tell, there weren't many places he would be able to use to haul himself up. Fewer still that he thought would support his weight. He glanced around and saw a spring that was fed by a small river cascading down over smooth rocks, a large, hollow tree, and several squirrels, birds and other creatures hurrying about. Nothing that could help him scale the cliff. He turned his back on the cliff, willing to take his chances finding his way back, but a voice stopped him. "Giving up so soon, are you? That's no fun."

Raize turned back to the cliff, searching for the source of the voice. It sounded young, no doubt a child, but why would a child be in the grove? It was difficult for him, a grown man and guard to reach it. Wary, he called, "Who's there?"

There was no answer. He began walking away. The voice spoke again. "You'll never find your way back." It sounded very near to him, but there was no one. Thinking he was imagining it, he continued on. Sounding disappointed, the voice said, "Fine…I'll make it easy for you." There was a pause. "See that tree over there? Against the cliff face?" Raize turned, his eyes searching for the tree. It didn't take long for him to find it and realize it was the one he had identified as being hollow. The voice continued, "It's hollow. Go check it out." The voice began to fade. "Or, you can try to find your way back, but you'll find it much more difficult."

Shaking his head as he approached the tree, Raise whispered to himself, "I fear I may be going mad, hearing voices in such a place as this." Reaching the tree, he sighed, "I see no reason not to look." Kneeling, he peered into the hollow trunk and nearly fell back in amazement. The tree was hollow, but it wasn't only the tree. The tree itself hid a passage through the cliff. "Perhaps I am not going mad." Without hesitation, he crawled through the passage, emerging into a wide open clearing.

The voice greeted him. "It's about time you got here."

"Where is 'here'?" Raize asked, looking around. He was still in the grove and trees rose up all around him, but it seemed...older.

There was laughter. "It is another part of the grove and here, we can play some more."

"Play? You led me through this place to 'play'?"

The voice laughed again. "That was the game. You humans always let your curiosity get the better of you."

Humans? Raize unconsciously reached for his sword that was strapped to his hip on the left... Where was the voice coming from? Cautiously stepping forward, he called, "Are you not human, then? Who are you?"

Ignoring his questions, the voice said, "Let's play a game."

"Why did you lead me here?" he asked. And where was 'here'? He certainly didn't have time to play some game, not when he didn't know where he was.

Sounding exasperated, the voice answered, "You chose to follow me and got lost." Then, sounding cheerful, it continued, "Once you were lost, I just led you here. After all, you didn't have much choice." After a moment of silence, the voice said, "Let's play a game of hide-and-seek. I'll hide."

The voice disappeared, but Raize didn't pay much attention. He wandered the clearing, searching for something that could tell him where he was, but there was nothing. The only way into the clearing was the passage he had come through and, presumably, the cave, but a tree blocked his view so he could not confirm it. Sighing, he returned to the hidden passage, preparing to leave.

Quite suddenly, he heard a kind of horn blow and almost immediately, some form of creature appeared in front of him, blocking his path. Instinctively, he drew his sword, the long blade glinting softly in the fading light. The creature did not move. Sword held ready, Raize set to analyzing it. The creature stood taller than himself, but not by much and had green-grey skin. He heard the horn sound again and, immediately, the creature responded, moving closer to him, raising its arms to attack. Just as quick, Raize swung his sword in a small arc, the arms of the creature falling to the ground…only to rise back into place. Before the creature could attack, Raize jumped back, the creature following him.

He kept his distance as he reevaluated his enemy. This creature had not been affected by slicing its arms from its body, but there must be some way to defeat it. The creature continued to follow him, arms outstretched and clawed hands swiping at him. Raize only stepped back or to the side, batting the arms away. At least the creature didn't seem to be moving all that quickly.

Evading the attacks, Raize noticed this strange creature didn't appear to be touching the ground and its head was bent at an odd angle. Jumping high to dodge another attack, he caught a low limb of a tree and swung himself up, catching sight of something as he did. Thinking he'd discovered a way to defeat this enemy, he prepared to retaliate, but before he could, the creature suddenly disappeared.

Wary, Raize jumped to the ground as the voice reappeared. "You figured it out rather quickly. That isn't very fun."

He could hear the voice fading. Needing to find a way out of the grove, night already setting in, he called, "One last game, then?"

"A game?" The voice was excited. "What kind of game did you have in mind?" A brief silence followed and the voice added, "You want to leave…" Sighing, it continued, "You set the terms, but I'll pick the game."

Raize didn't hesitate. "No weapons or puppets, just a friendly game. If I win, you will guide me from the grove. If you win…I'll stay."

"Then, this will be the game. Your goal is to catch me before the moon rises above the trees."

"You have the advantage. I am unfamiliar with the area," said Raize, finding the thought rather unappealing.

The voice laughed. "That is what makes it fun…but, to keep you in the right area, I'll leave some hints for you."

The voice faded entirely, replaced by the silence. Raize sheathed his sword and slid from the branch, landing unsteadily on his feet, already feeling tired from the day of travel. Glancing around, he saw the familiar glow of the light he had followed before. Sighing, he hurried after it.

After running about in circles after the light, he realized he was getting nowhere. He glanced at the sky through the trees. He was running out of the time, the moon almost high. He closed his eyes for a moment. There had to be a way to find...find whoever it was he was chasing. Then he heard it. Laughter.

He listened closely to it, turning in place, trying to determine where it was coming from. This could work, he thought, opening his eyes again. He would follow the steady laughter. Whereas the voice had seemed to come from everywhere, the laughter was not projected in the same manner, clearing coming from somewhere. From someone.

Several long minutes later, he came to some old ruins and could hear the laughter loud to his right. Ignoring the ruins, well aware of the time, he slowly approached the sound. Peering over a large stone, likely from a pillar or archway, he grabbed hold of what was behind. And found a child, still laughing. Trying to suppress his laughter, the child said, "It took you so long. That was fun."

The child turned slightly and Raize released him immediately. This was no ordinary child. The child was cloaked in browns and greens, wearing a crooked hat, but what surprised him was the child's face; it was a shade of green and grey with his eyes shining a dull, eerie red color with a slight yellow tinge. Shaking his head, Raize muttered, "I should have known." The child was known as Skull Kid and was infamous for leading travelers astray.

Stepping away from Raize, Skull Kid asked, "Wasn't that fun?"

Raize shook his head. "I've won, so please lead me from the grove."

Skull Kid sighed. "Fine…"

Skull Kid led Raize through the maze of the grove, but after a while of walking, Raize caught sight of an archway, still mostly intact. Curiosity got the better of him, and he approached the area, Skull Kid following him. Just through the archway, in the center of a small clearing sat a pedestal, but there was nothing in it. Remembering what Zelda had said about the grove, he asked, "Where is the Master Sword? Isn't it supposed to be here?"

Skull Kid shrugged. "A man came through a couple days ago and took it. He wasn't any fun. He knew where he was going."

"Who was he?" Raized asked quickly.

Again, Skull Kid shrugged. "I don't know. Evil can't wield the sword so I'm not worried about it. It will make its way back here eventually." Stretching, he asked, "Didn't you want me to lead you out? Or perhaps, you've changed your mind?"

Raize shook his head, motioning for him to lead the way. He would talk to Zelda about the sword. There had been no signs of evil in years and for the sword to have been removed…something must have happened. Or maybe something was going to happen.

Reaching the boundary of the grove, Skull Kid jumped back, disappearing back among the trees, his voice slowly fading with his words of parting. "Let's play again sometime…"

Raize glanced at the sky. The moon was high and he was in the middle of Faron woods, far from Castle Town. Looking around, he saw a house, in front looked like there had been a small fire, a pot still hanging over it. He shrugged. Maybe he could stay the night there and in the morning, he would head for the castle…

*Just for fun and I appreciate any reviews.*

**Edited July 2018**