And we have an update! It's about time too, isn't it? I'm trying out some more foreshadowing by giving a few 'hints' towards the grand finale. But you still won't ever guess what'll happen at the end. Anyways, here's chappie 2!

Disclaimer: I OWN ZELDA! In an alternate universe. Where Nintendo doesn't exist. Dangit, I don't own Zelda after all…

"What do you mean the Deku Tree is dying!?" Link shouted.

Makar sighed. "I mean what I said. I don't like it any better than you do, but he is dying."

"But why?" Link asked, "How?"

"I don't know," Makar replied, "But I do know that he started feeling really sick yesterday. We Koroks rushed over as soon as we can, but we only got here soon enough to slow down the Deku Tree's death."

"I see…" Link said. "But is he well enough to speak to us?"

"He is sleeping at the moment, but he's sure to wake up in a few hours. You should get some more rest before you see him."

"I should. But could I see Zelda before I sleep?" Link asked. Someone threw a clod of dirt in Link's face. Link wiped some of it off. "Who did that!?"

"I told you not to call me that earlier." Zelda walked over to Link's bed and put another handful of dirt in his face. "My name's Tetra! Call me Zelda again and I'll put something worse on your face."

Link wiped the dirt off again. "It's good to see that you're okay Tetra."

Zelda dumped one more clod of dirt on his face. "Good to see that some dirt got in your mouth." Startled, Link quickly started spitting up on the ground. "Geez Link," Zelda said, "I was only kidding! No need for you to spit everywhere!" Link put an embarrassed look on his face and settled down. "That's better. Now go get some sleep. I'll be on the bed a few yards away from you."

Link nodded his head. "See you in a few hours."

"Yeah, yeah, save the pleasantries for your grandma." Zelda winked. "Good night, Link."

"Night, Tetra."

--

Medli was playing her harp again. She had a sad look on her face as Link looked at her from afar. Link kept running toward her, but no matter how fast he went, Medli never seemed to get any closer. Link mouthed three words, and Medli mouthed the same words back. Then a dark sword cut through her and she fell to ground, dead. Link screamed cries of protest, but there was no one wielding the sword. Link drew his blade and charged at the invisible assailant, but cut through nothing but air.

Behind him, Link's shadow slowly grew until it was large enough to overtake Link. Shadow corroded Link's vision, and when Link was able to see again, he was holding a dark sword, and Medli's body lay at his feet. Confused, he dropped the dark blade and ran away from Medli's body when he started sinking. Around him was a pool of blood, threatening to drown Link in its depths. When Link was down under, he looked at his image reflected above. His reflection was nothing but a shadow version of himself, and the words the shadow said took hold of Link flooding his ears.

"Say goodbye to the light, and live in darkness for eternity…"

--

"Oy, Link! Wake up!" A voice said.

"Do you think he's all right?" Another voice jingled.

"Of course he's all right. He's the Hero of Winds for goddesses sake!"

A sharp sting of pain hit Link's face.

"Um, Miss Tetra?" The jingly voice said. "I don't think slapping him is gonna work."

"What are you talking about? Of course it'll work!" Link's eyes opened slowly as he felt another sting on his face. "See," Zelda said, "What'd I tell you Makar? Slapping always wakes someone up!"

"What's going on?" Link asked groggily.

"Not all the time." Makar replied, "I tried slapping this one guy who was sleeping on a high branch. He didn't wake up until a swarm of Chu-Chus attacked him."

"That's only because you don't slap hard enough." Tetra grabbed Link. "Besides, slapping doesn't completely wake someone up, Link's still sleepy-eyed." She started shaking him. "Shaking always works best!"

"What's going on!?" Link yelled as he was being shaked.

"See," Zelda said, "Fully awake." She dropped him. "Now, how's our little hero this morning?"

"Dizzy." Link said. "Now could someone please tell me why Tetra was shaking me like a rattle?"

"Well, um," Makar said, "You were talking in your sleep."

"So?" Link asked, "Aryll snores and I don't see a problem in that."

"Well," Makar said again, "It wasn't really the fact that you were talking that was the problem, it was the things you were saying."

"What was I saying?" Link asked.

"Well, um, I don't know how to put this but…" Makar hesitated.

"But what?" Link said.

"Um…"

"Goddesses!" Zelda yelled, "Just say it already!"

"Well…"

"You were yelling about killing somebody and then you screamed loud enough to wake the whole island." Zelda finished.

"I thought I was gonna tell him." Makar said.

Zelda shrugged. "Well you took too long."

"Did I really scream that loud?" Link asked.

"No," Makar said, "Only loud enough to wake about half the island."

"That helps…" Link said sarcastically.

"Anyways," Zelda said, "What was that dream about?"

"The same thing as the last ones," Link said, "But this one seemed…I dunno, more real."

"That's interesting," Zelda said, "Link, have you ever considered that you have the power to make prophecies with your dreams?"

"What?" Link said, "Making prophecies with dreams? How is that even possible?"

"Well," Zelda said, "I read somewhere, don't ask me where, that a long time ago, before the Great Flood, a few people were able to create prophecies using dreams. One of those people was a descendant of the Hyrule Royal Family, which means my ancestors have that power."

"So?" Link asked.

"Well, if my ancestors had that power, why couldn't yours?

"For one thing," Link said, "If I had some sort of prophetic power, I'd turn into Shadowlink or something. And second, my dreams always have Medli in them, so if she's already dead, how can she be in the future?"

Zelda shrugged again. "It was just an idea. Maybe you just drink too much of your Grandma's soup or something."

"Um, can I cut in?" Makar jingled.

"Yeah, go ahead, woody," Zelda said, "I'm done talking."

"Well, it's just that, the Deku Tree is waking up."

--

The Deku Tree looked horrible. Its branches were gnarled and its leaves were withered. The plants around the Deku Tree were in the same state the Deku Tree was in, withered and dying. It looked like the Deku Tree was struggling to stay awake. Link, Zelda, and Makar entered as the other Koroks were playing their instruments.

"What are they doing?" Link asked Makar.

"Well, the only way we could arouse the Deku Tree from its sleep is if we play him our songs." Makar explained.

"Hm," Zelda said, "It looks like the Deku Tree will kick the bucket anytime soon."

"Don't say that!" Makar said, "If the Great Deku Tree dies, the forest will die along with it!"

"Sorry," Zelda said, "I'm just pointing out the obvious."

Link ignored Zelda and Makar and walked straight to the lily pad to talk to the tree.

"Young Hero of Time?" the Deku Tree said in the ancient language, "Is that you?"

"What?" Link said, "It's me, Link."

The Deku Tree shook his head and spoke. "I apologize young Hero of Winds, I thought you were someone else, so some ancient Hylian slipped out of me. What is it you wish to ask about? You must hurry, for I'm afraid my time is short in this world."

"Well," Link started, "I was wondering if you could tell me anything about Farore's Pearl."

"It is a pearl passed down by the Koroks that contains the goddess Farore's power."

"I already know that," Link said hurriedly, "But do you know how I can find the pearls again."

"Didn't I already give you the pearl?" the Deku Tree asked.

"Yes," Link answered, "But it's gone, and now it's somewhere on this island."

"Did you not offer it to the goddesses, young hero?"

"Yes," Link said, "But I need it again, to banish evil from the Great Sea."

"Then I'm afraid I can not help you."

"What!?" Zelda shouted, "What do you mean you can't help us!?"

"Is that the Hylian princess Zelda I see?" the Deku Tree said, "What brings you here?"

"To find Farore's Pearl!" Zelda shouted.

"Hmm, I cannot help you." The Deku Tree said.

"Why not!?" Zelda yelled.

"The pearl is lost forever, and I can never raise it again."

"Great," Zelda said, "That's our last hope through the window."

"However," the Deku Tree continued, "The pearl will show itself to a Korok with great courage."

"Why didn't you say so?" Zelda said, "Now all we need to do is see if any of these jingly weirdoes has any courage."

"Thank you." Link said as he was about to step off the pad.

"Wait young hero," the Deku Tree said. "Before I must sleep again, I must tell you something."

"Yes?" Link asked, "What is it?"

"The one who put this sickness upon me is one who looks like you. One who lived a life of shadow."

"Shadowlink." Link said under his breath.

"Now I shall die soon," the Deku Tree stated, "But when I'm gone, promise me one thing."

"What?"

"When you confront your shadows, face them without fear or malice."

"What do you mean my shadows?" Link shouted.

"Farewell, young hero."

"Wait. Wait!"

The Deku Tree closed his eyes and fell to sleep for the last time.

"He's dead." Zelda said.

"Oh no." Makar said. "This is not good."

"I know this is hard for you," Zelda said, "But just keep on living."

"But we can't!" Makar said, "Without the Deku Tree's spirit, we'll die in a few hours!"

"Oh," Zelda said, "Well that's inconvenient."

"Tetra!" Link shouted, "'Inconvenient?' There gonna die."

"It's inconvenient because we only have a few hours to find the pearl." Zelda said simply.

"How can you be so uncaring?" Link asked.

"Because I knew their lives were over hours ago," Zelda said, "I've already cried about that."

"Aw, who knew the pretty princess could cry?" a voice said.

Link, Zelda, and Makar looked around to see the source of the voice, when a shadow stepped out from behind the Deku Tree.

"Oh crap." Zelda said.

"Crap indeed," Shadowlink said, "Because this time, I'm not letting you get away."

And so the battle begins! Well, it won't really be a battle, more of a chase. Wait, why am I spoiling things for you? Read it yourself in the next chapter!