C2: Lost Childhood
Link opened one eye to glare sullenly at the sun, the light of which was blazing onto his, recently sleeping, face. He groaned and turned over, his long ears already picking up the sounds of the forest. In his mind, visions of the other children of the Deku Tree, played out. Every day was exactly the same here, nothing changed, and he hated that. For some reason, the Lost Woods' stubborn refusal to progress drove a nail of irritation into him.
A particularly noisy bird blared its morning fanfare outside Link's door and he gave up returning to his erstwhile rest. With a sigh he sat up, swinging his legs over the side of his heather stuffed mattress. Resting bare feet upon the worn oak of the floor, the young boy stretched, arching back toward the molded wood of the ceiling. As he yawned the sound of familiar voices touched his ears, his brothers and sisters were already doing what they always had, and always would if they had their way.
Minutes passed while the child closed his eyes and took in the sounds of the Kokiri, their piping voices carrying across the warming air like reed pipes. Resigned to yet another day of dull repetition, Link moved to the dresser and dragged his clothing on. Musing on the irritation that all the recurring tasks and activities caused him, a niggling notion wormed its way into his thoughts. The thought came to him that his aversion was due to the fact that, no matter what he did, Link never quite felt like he belonged.
A thud echoed across his room, quickly accompanied by a muffled curse, as the boy stubbed his toe. Stumbling a bit, he flopped upon his bed, nursing his sore foot before pulling on his soft boots. Finally dressed, Link looked out the draping vines that covered the entryway to his treehouse. The urge to run away from the woods began to rise in him, as it had done more and more often as of late. He knew where the exit was, it would be so easy just to leave without anyone noticing. Well... anyone but Saria, of course.
That, above all else, was why he could not just up and go, as much as he wanted to. The green-haired Kokiri girl had always been there, as sure as weather. Link could not recall a time when Saria hadn't been there for him, no matter what had been happening. She had protected, raised, educated, and loved him. He didn't know if there was a word for someone like her, but he owed Saria more than he could ever repay.
So, with yet another groaning sigh, Link emerged into the morning light, gazing about the forest with disinterest. Still the same trees, same birds, same same same... Grumbling internally he clambered down the ladder that connected his home to the verdant earth below. Soft grass folded beneath his meager weight, light wind stirred his hair, and his soul still felt uncomfortable. Letting his thoughts wander, Link's body went through the motions he performed every day, clearing grass and stones, speaking to the other children...
Then a flashing blue light rammed straight into his face, jerking him from his reverie with sudden shock. He stumbled back more out of surprise than any sort of force conveyed by the blue thing. It took Link a fair few moments before realizing he was looking at a fairy, once who seemed very annoyed with him, judging by the expression on her diminutive face. She glared at him then spoke, her voice like a crystal bell, "Finally! Do you stuff your ears every morning?" She didn't wait for an answer, "I'm Navi, and I'm supposed to take you to the great Deku Tree. Come on!"
Navi landed on his shoulder and crossed her arms, wings twitching irritably. Link didn't spare a second thought, something new was happening and he was excited. So it was that he almost sprinted to the guardian of the forest, much to the blue fairy's further aggravation as she was forced to cling to the boy's tunic as he ran. Her demands for him to slow down went unheard as they barreled down the path and came to a sudden halt at the verge of the Deku Tree's clearing. Grumbling, Navi clambered back onto Link's shoulder.
Before them the massive tree opened two golden yellow eyes and gazed down upon the awed Link, aged wisdom and deep knowledge flowing behind them. The guardian's voice rumbled out, "Well done, Navi. Thou hast performed the task I have set thee, but yet more needs done. Hear ye both the destiny which layeth before ye." The fairy and the boy both said nothing, both overwhelmed by the sheer power in the air of the clearing. Link sat upon the grass, gazing up at the being that had, along with Saria, raised him.
The groan of wood echoed through the clearing as the Deku Tree shifted, sending leaves raining down upon his audience. Slowly he began to speak again, "Link, thou hast been uneasy of late, disquieted by the idea that you are trapped here." The boy began to protest, but was overridden, "In truth, I have known that such a day would come. That thou wouldst seek to leave us in search of change. It is for that reason that I called both of thee here." Navi fluttered her wings, baffled by what her master was saying.
"The two of you must venture forth from these woods, for the world has need of thy strength and courage." Both boy and fairy were stunned by this, unable to respond as the tree continued, "Link, thy discontent has roots in the nature of thy blood. And thou must be strong to bear the knowledge I am about to impart unto thee." Link nodded, unable to speak as his wide blue eyes remained fixed upon the giant tree, "I am pleased that thou hast accepted. But what of you Navi? Wilt thou accept the charge to assist and guide young Link upon his ventures into the world beyond?" The blue fairy glanced at Link before sighing and nodding, she didn't like it, but she'd do it.
Following their acceptance the Great Deku outlined the creation of the world, the guardians set to watch over it, and the cycle of war and rebirth that had existed since ages long since past. Recounting more recent history, he described the troubles that plagued the world without the Lost Woods, telling them of the darkness, monsters, and conflict. Finally came the tale of Link's heritage and how he had come to be in the forest among the Kokiri. At long last the wise being went silent, gazing upon a child that had been as dear to him as any of the forest children.
Link was in shock, his mind, body, and soul all shaken by what he had been told. He had been passingly familiar with the story of the three Goddesses, having heard some of it from Saria as he was growing up. But all the rest? Spirits, heroes, cycles, his parents; all of it overwhelmed the boy and left him frozen in place. After so long wishing to leave the forest, he was no longer sure that he wanted to anymore. Slowly he began to process all that the Great Deku tree had relayed unto him, and felt something within himself, an iron resolve to dispel that darkness once and for all.
Rising to his feet, the Hylian boy dusted himself off and looked up at the guardian of the forest, blue eyes like icy sapphires. Navi hovered beside him, she had been less surprised by her master's story than Link had been, but now she saw the change in him, and that unnerved her. It was like he had become someone else, someone with power and force behind him that would not stop until he had accomplished his goals. The small blue fairy looked between the boy and the tree, and felt as though something far more important than words had been shared by the two.
Another groaning creak resonated around them as the Deku Tree moved again, "Thou must arm thyself." A great rumbling boom pierced the air as one of the forest guardian's roots rose from the earth to reveal a passage leading deep below the ground. "Thou must go down and unearth that which was left by thy predecessor. Overcome the trials together, Navi and Link, and prove thy worth. Blessings of the three upon ye, my child." Link looked up at the guardian, then wordlessly descended into the darkness, Navi fluttering beside him.