I won't add commentary here at the top unless I have something to say about the chapter or whatever. XD

--~~--

The next morning, I was roused by a voice shouting to me from outside.

"Hey, wake up, Link! It's morning already!"

Peering out the window confirmed by suspicions. It was Talo, along with his little brother Malo, and Beth. They were the village children along with Colin. Talo and Malo were Jaggle and Pergie's sons. Talo was the oldest, and very mischievous, obnoxious, and loved having fun. Malo was the youngest, having the appearance of a baby. Despite that, he spoke very sternly and affably like an adult, acting like he was the older sibling.

Beth, as mentioned before was Hanch and Sera's daughter. She was around Talo and Colin's age, and thought of the other children as "babies". She was very sassy, lady-like, and had a crush on me. Unlike the rest of us, she longed for a life in the city and didn't like being confined in a small town, especially with goats.

I was always a constant source of amusement to these three children. Colin also, but he hardly came around when these three were with me. They teased him all the time just because he was shy and timid.

They came to my house almost every morning, asking me to play with them, and usually waking me up.

So, I got dressed ascended the ladders in my house, coming outside. I overheard Talo mentioning that the store had a slingshot in stock, asking Beth if he could borrow it. She of course said no, that if they wanted it, they had to buy it.

Hmmm...

I went past the children and into the village.

Jaggle as atop one of the plateaus, looking out around the village. As I went by, he called down to me.

"Yo Link! Yo! Up here! I wanna talk to you! Yell up to me so we can chat!"

What was the point of that when I could just climb up and talk to him there?

I climbed the vines to where he was as he watched me climb up.

"Whoa. Hey. You climbed up here without even yelling up at me first. You're a spry one, huh?"

I shrugged, deciding not to really argue about it. I never really spoke that much anyway, since I kept to myself a lot of the time. I did speak directly when needed to, but I was more of one to speak with actions and gestures.

"Well, whatever...Check this out over here..." He turned toward the creek, behind his house where a small dock was. There was a cat standing near the edge of the creek, staring down into the water. I think it was Sera's cat. "You know Sera, at the general store? Well, isn't that her cat over there? He's just been sitting there next to my house, having a staring contest with the creek."

Jaggle looked back at me with a silly grin. "You don't suppose he's thinking he's gonna catch a fish, do you? Ha ha ha! A cat can't catch no fish! Anyway, that's not what I was meaning to tell you about. I want you to take a look at something..." He looked back to the other plateau located behind this one. "See that grass growing over there on the edge of that rock? Haven't I seen you whistling with that stuff? I figured it was pretty rare to see it growing in a place like that, so I thought I'd let you know. I bet you could hop across these rocks with a quick little jump, couldn't you?"

I saw that the grass he was pointing out to was bird-shaped grass, much like the horseshoe-shaped grass. I believe this grass was used to call a hawk, where you could use it to do various things.

Suddenly, I remembered something.

I hopped over to the other rock, and took a blade of the grass, whistling into it the little song to call over the hawk.

"Tweeeeeoooooeeeeeooooo!"

I heard the hawk let out its cry as it responded to the call. It flew down toward me, and I outstretched my arm so it could perch on it.

Turning around, I slowly looked toward Hanch and Sera's house. I remembered seeing a hive in the tree above the house, which apparently was made by some Hylian hornets. I'd had to get some down before, and it was always a doozy if you got close.

I released the hawk, and it flew to the nest, knocking it down. The hornets all flew away, and some bee larvae fell out of the hive. It was handy for fishing bait, apparently.

Suddenly, I heard squealing nearby. I turned around, and further out down the creak, I could see a monkey hopping up and down, holding something. I couldn't make out what it was, but it was holding something above its head and hopping up and down.

I hopped over the rocks, over the shop's roof, and to a plateau a bit further away. There was hawk grass growing there too, so I used it to call down the hawk again. The hawk came down and perched on my outstretched arm.

Carefully, I aimed the hawk for it to fly at the monkey, careful not to harm it, and grab the object. It few to the monkey, took hold of the object in its talons and circle around.

The hawk came flying back to me, dropping the item which I caught in my hands, holding it above my head. It was a cradle. I wasn't sure how the monkey got it, or where it got it, but that didn't matter. I remembered that Uli was having another baby soon, so maybe she could make use of it.

I hopped over to the roof, over the rocks and back down onto the ground. I saw Uli standing near the creek, along the pathway leading to her house. She was holding a basket under her arm, and was looking out to the water with a worried and puzzled expression, as though looking for something.

When she saw the cradle, she gasped.

"Oh my...Link! I have been looking for that cradle! I made it when my first child was born, and I have cherished it all these years. Did you know of this somehow? Did you find it and bring it back to me on purpose?" She cocked her head slightly. "My thanks to you! That reminds me... There is something I am supposed to give you...Do you think you could carry that cradle and come back with me to my house?"

I nodded and slowly followed behind her back to her house. When we got there, she sat down on the porch, setting the cradle beside her.

"My thanks to you, Link. Yes, yes...I had nearly forgotten...I am supposed to give you this...All right...Here you go!"

Uli took something sitting behind her and handed it to me. It was a simple black and yellow fishing rod with a bobber. Colin had mentioned the other day that he was making a fishing rod he wanted to give me, so this had to be it.

"It is a little...unpolished." Uli said softly. "My son, Colin, made this under the instruction of his father. You can use it if you like."

Hey, why not? Fishing was pretty fun.

I thanked Uli for the fishing rod and then went to the dock next to Jaggle's house. Sera's cat was still there, looking down into the water at the fish.

Taking out the fishing rod, I cast it into the water, letting the bobber float as the hook sank into the water. Within a few seconds, the bobber sank and a fish caught the hook. I pulled the rod back in, holding it up as I pulled out of the water completely. I smiled, I caught a fish!

Sure, it was a greengill, which you could find anywhere, but hey, each to his own. A fish was a fish.

I tried to let it go, but it slipped behind me and fell to the ground. The cat, seeing this, pounced at the fish and grabbed it into its mouth, running off.

I stared off after it in surprise, my jaw hanging open. The cat ran back around the house, across the small bridge, around a corner and went through the small cat door of the shop. Well.

With a shrug, I put the rod away and followed after, going to the shop.

I found the cat sitting on the counter, lapping up some milk from a small dish. Sera was watching her cat lovingly, holding a half empty bottle of milk in her hand. She looked up and saw me, smiling.

"Oh, my! Link! Come in!" She cajoled. "Oh, you simply MUST hear this! My little kitty cat is so amazing! Today, he caught a fish all by his little old self! How do you think he caught it? Maybe he's a genius!

Well, I just didn't have the heart to tell her that it was really me who caught the fish. Her cat just took it from me.

Sera looked back at her cat and smiled more. "Ohhh, just look... Isn't he so cute, the way he laps up that milk?"

I smiled a bit, nodding. I didn't really take much note about how it looked when an animal was eating or drinking, I did have to admit her cat looked cute as he was drinking his milk.

Then Sera held the bottle out to me. "Say, m'dear, why don't you have some, too! I'm in a good mood, so it's on the house today!"

Why not? I liked drinking milk, and it was good for growing bones. Besides, she was offering it to me for free. It wasn't everyday someone was in a good enough mood to sell you something on a discount! So I thanked her and accepted the bottle.

I drank down the milk from the bottle, savouring the cool and creamy liquid as it went down my throat. Once I finished it, I held it out to Sera to give it back.

"Oh, don't worry, you don't have to return the empty bottle, m'dear. You can reuse it-you know, put something else in it. Recycling is a very important thing, m'dear! I'm sure YOU'D never do anything of the sort, but kids these days toss things out like the whole world was disposable! It's criminal! So, what do you say, m'dear? Is there anything you want today? If you're interested, take a look around."

With a shrug, I scanned what she had in stock today. There was milk, bee larvae to use as fishing bait, and the slingshot Talo had mentioned. Hey, why not? I'll buy the slingshot and amuse the kids with it. Who knows, it could even come in handy as well.

I pointed to the slingshot.

"The slingshot is 30 Rupees. Do you want to buy it, m'dear?"

I nodded.

"What are you doing buying a slingshot, you naughty thing? You're too old for toys! Will you at least let the kids play with it? Oh, I should tell you, if you happen to run out of pellets, you can also use pumpkin seeds." Sera took the slingshot from the shelf and handed it to me with the little packet to hold the pellets. "See you again soon!"

Thanking Sera, I put the slingshot into my pack and left the shop.

Going back to my house, I saw Rusl coming my way as he was going toward the village. He looked at me and smiled.

"Ah, just in time, Link! I just delivered something to your room! Oh, I see you got the fishing rod. Colin will be pleased. And it works better than you would think, right? Well, have a good one..."

I nodded to him and he headed off into the village.

Turning to my house, that was when I noticed Colin for the first time. He was standing in front of Epona, who was next to my house. Talo, Malo and Beth were still standing together, waiting for me and talking to each other.

As I approached the ladder, I noticed a spider creature on it. Putting my slingshot to good use, I drew it and shot a pellet at it. The spider fell to the ground and then exploded into nothing. Well, so the slingshot really did come in handy!

I climbed the ladder to get into my house, wondering what it was that Rusl left there.

When I entered, I saw a chest sitting there in the middle of the floor near the entrance to my basement. I went over to it and popped the lid open, pulling out a long wooden sword. So that's what it was! Rusl had made a wooden sword for me to train with! In the past, he'd taught me basic sword techniques, and surprisingly, I was pretty good with a sword, even if I'd humbly say that I wasn't THAT good. And I wasn't, but I was decent enough.

I strapped the sword to my back, inserting through the obi I wore around my waist, and went back outside. I definitely had enough material to amuse the kids for a few hours.

Talo noticed me, and became excited. "Link has a slingshot! WHOA!"

"Wow!" Beth crooned. "You had enough money to buy it, Link?"

Before I could answer, the kids set me up to face the targets they'd set around near my house, to practice with the slingshot. I decided to humour them and practice with it, making them impressed and delighted.

There was also two scarecrows that I could shoot at.

"Prepations complete..." Said Malo.

"OK, wow, this is great!" Talo exclaimed. "Let's see how powerful that slingshot is! Hit the targets AND those scarecrows!"

Beth scoffed. "I can't believe you two brats are so obsessed about this. It just shows what little boys you both still are. These two idiots will never shut up about it, so I guess you'll just have to show them, Link."

Guess I'd have to.

I took out the slingshot, and aimed it at the first scarecrow, knocking off its "head".

"That's amazing, Link!" Talo exclaimed in amazement.

"The slingshot manual said that it's easier to hit things if you hold while you aim it!" Beth gushed.

Malo frowned at this. "Did you call US obsessed with this thing? You're the one memorizing the manual..."

I ignored their comments and went to work on shooting off the other scarecrow's head, and then the targets one by one. I followed Beth's advice by holding my shot as I aimed before releasing the pellet.

Once I shot them all, the kids were amazed and impressed. Even Malo was pretty impressed.

"Whoa! Amazing, Link!" They all said.

"Hyahh! Thanks, Link!" Beth cooed.

I smiled at them humbly and put my slingshot away.

"Gee, you really are amazing, Link!" Said Talo.

"Yeah, you are!" Beth agreed. "You can use swords and slingshots and everything!"

"Hey, yeah, that reminds me, you've gotta teach us how to use a sword, too! Seriously! Lately these monkeys have been coming out of the woods and playing tricks on us! We want to get them GOOD! C'mon, teach us how to use a sword!" Talo cried.

I nodded. Why not? There was no harm in showing them the basics of using a sword. It would help them defend themselves from danger.

"YES!" Talo exclaimed.

Fixing the scarecrow, I set it up before me and stood a few yards from it. The kids stood off to the side, and Talo had a short stick as a makeshift sword.

"All right! First off, we wanna see THAT move! The slice!" Talo instructed. "Uh...you just swing, right?"

I drew the wooden sword and swung it at the scarecrow, causing it to shake violently.

Talo cheered happily. "Wow! A horizontal slice! Was that it? Was it? I think I've seen you do a vertical slice before too. All right, next..."

"Ooh! Ooh!" Beth interrupted. "I wanna see that other move, Link! Yeah! The one where you tilt to flex your muscles and...stab!"

"...Oh please. The stab?" Malo mumbled.

OK, so they wanted the stab, did they? As they wished!

With that, I held out the wooden sword and stabbed at the scarecrow, shaking it again.

"Ooh, Link! Just amazing!" Beth cooed happily. "Since you're at it, how about you show us that other move... Y'know, that twirly thing you do! I love that! What do you call it? A spin attack?"

"Like it's hard to briefly hold and release it." Malo mumbled again.

Remembering the spin attack, I lowered myself down and held my sword outstretched. Then I spun it around in a huge arc around my body, causing the kids to duck their heads as I hit the scarecrow again.

"Ooh, WOW! Thanks, Link!" Beth crooned. "I'm sorry you have to waste your time with these little brats when you must be tired from doing all the important stuff you do!"

"Hey! Wait!" Talo said. "You've gotta show us the jump attack before you go! You know, the one where you go "HYAAH!" and leap through the air!"

Malo mumbled under his breath again, but I caught what he said.

I then leaped into the air and brought the sword down on the scarecrow's head, breaking it again.

"WHOA!" All the kids shouted in amazement.

Once I was done, I took a breath and turned to the kids as they were looking at me with impression and admiration.

"Thanks, Link! So, uh, I...I think I get it...Kinda...Hmm...Maybe not... So this means that anytime one of those naughty monkeys shows up..." Talo then looked off to the right. "WAH!"

We all turned to the direction he was facing, and saw a monkey standing near the path that led to Ordon Spring and Faron Woods. It was wearing a small red flower behind its ear, indicating that it was probably female. I realized that it was the same monkey that I had rescued the cradle from!

The monkey realized we'd seen her and then leaped away down the path.

"C'MERE, YOU!" Talo yelled, chasing after it. Malo and Beth followed suit.

Well that was dandy. Apparently they didn't hear a word any of their parents said about NOT going into the forest. It was now up to me to go after them and bring them back. I'll have to remember to give them a good scolding later on.

That aside, I worried easily when the slightest things went wrong. Even right now, since children going into the forest was WAY too dangerous without an adult.

I inserted my sword around my waist, mounted Epona, and rode off after them down the path leading to the spring and the forest.

I noticed Beth standing nearby, which obviously meant Malo and Talo were up ahead. Malo was near the spring, but Talo wasn't.

So it meant Talo had definitely gone after the monkey while Malo and Beth didn't follow after him the rest of the way. So I crossed the bridge on Epona, going into Faron Woods.

Talo was nowhere to be seen. Oh no, where could he have gone to?

Epona leaped over the fence barring the entrance to Faron Srping, and I guided her into the small cave that led further out into the forest.

Up ahead was another gate leading into a cave, that led further out into the woods. To my right was apparently what Rusl said to be the way leading to Hyrule. I hadn't gone that way before, and I saw a small house there. There was a man sitting in front of a fire pit, with a weird gourd on his back. He had a large afro, with a bird's nest in it. Apparently he was Coro, a man who sold lantern oil.

Maybe he saw where Talo had gone, and could point me to him. Talo could either have gone into Faron Woods, or out to Hyrule. I hoped it wouldn't be the latter.

I approached him, and he looked at me with amazement.

"Whoa! An Ordonian! Hey, guy! Listen, I'm not sure you should be wandering around these woods without a lantern. Just because it's daylight doesn't mean that it's safe. There are tons of caves and dank spots around here that get pretty dark even in the middle of the day. Here! Go on, guy. Take this!"

Coro reached beside him and handed me a lantern. It would need oil in order to work right.

"See, I sell lantern oil here... I'm trying to drum up sales by giving away free lanterns! It's a business tactic, guy!"

Mm, that was a smart idea. Give someone a lantern for free, and they'd come back to get some oil. I guess I'd have to come back here sometimes for a refill if I needed it.

"See," Coro went on. "as long as you've got oil to fuel your lantern, you can light your way and set fire to stuff. They're the best! Go on, guy! Try setting a fire under that big pot!"

I guess it was worth a try. The lantern already had oil in it, so I lit it, setting fire to the pit under the pot. I thanked Coro for the lantern and mounted Epona, deciding to go into Faron woods to find Talo.

When we got to the gate, Epona became nervous and refused to go further since there was a strange mutated plant sitting there. I understood and dismounted her, giving her a soothing pat on her head. Then I drew my wooden sword and slashed at the deku baba, killing it.

I went through into Faron Woods, even further than I'd gone. Along the way, there were strange, purple monsters that attacked at me as I went along, but I took care of them with my trusty wooden sword. It was a wonder it didn't break. There were also some bats known as keese hiding around that flew at me, but I got them too with my slingshot.

I eventually found a key, that was to unlock a gate nearby leading into another area of Faron Woods I'd never been to before. Rusl had, and said there was some kind of entrance to a large tree that was usually blocked off.

Going through, I noticed a small stand where a bird was selling lantern oil and red potion. The bird, who said its name was Trill, offered for me to come buy something. I filled my empty bottle with oil and paid the 20 rupees.

I then saw a path leading up to a huge, colossal tree. At the entrance, I could hear screaming and the sound of a monkey squealing in fright. Talo and the monkey must have been captured, no wonder they were taken here!

Hurrying up the path to the tree, I saw that Talo and the monkey from before were trapped in a small, round cage. Two of the purple monsters I'd fought off before were standing guard by them. I ran in and killed them off before breaking the cage.

The monkey cheered, clapping her hands and Talo gave out a relieved and happy cry of delight.

As we left, the monkey gave a cheer in thanks and then hopped away. I led Talo out of the woods, going back to where I found Coro. It was the hour of twilight, getting pretty late. Poor kid, he was definitely in trouble now.

"If you hadn't come, Link... Gee, me and that would've gotten eaten, probably! She's actually a pretty nice gal, that monkey... She tried to protect me, so we got captured together." Talo explained, looking guilty. "Um, Link... You're not gonna mention this to my dad, are you? He's always telling me to never, EVER, go into the forest, 'cause he says it's dangerous... So you really can't tell him! Really! You have to promise!"

Then he turned and ran off back to the village, with me staring after him. I felt bad for the poor kid, and I didn't like breaking a promise, but I knew that Jaggle and Pergie had to know about this. There was no way I could ever lie to them.

"Link!" I heard some call to me.

I turned to the direction of Coro's place, and saw Rusl coming up to me from there. He must have heard about what happened and came to look for Talo also.

"My son told me Talo disappeared into the woods and had not returned. I came as soon as I heard..." He explained. "But it looks like you have brought him home already... I apologize. Such a task should not fall to you."

He paused for a moment before continuing.

"Tell me, have you noticed how strange this wood seems lately? I feel...uneasy about what may lie in wait... Anyway, Link... Tomorrow is finally the day. You will be departing for Hyrule. I think it is a good thing I have given this task to you... Good luck! And return safely! If you are lucky, you may even get to meet Princess Zelda! Ah ha ha!" Rusl laughed at this.

Oh yes, Princess Zelda, the Princess of Hyrule. Apparently she was the young ruler now that her father had recently passed away. Rusl told me that he heard around in Castle Town that she was beautiful, very serene and calm, and pleasant to be around.

I had to admit, I was feeling a bit nervous about leaving Ordon for the first time. But I knew that I could do all right, apparently being told how brave and strong I am. I think I'll do fine.

Without any further ado, I followed Rusl back to Ordon. It had been a long day.