A/N: Enjoy the read, let me know what you think please.

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The castle courtyard was littered with beautifully bright flowers. Water trickled along the side of the castle walls flowing down and away. To the back of the courtyard was a set of stairs leading up to a window where a small blonde hair, blue eyed girl stood. She peered into the window oblivious to the small blonde haired boy in green clothing who crept up behind her. Just as he laid his feet upon the steps the girl turned around and gasped.

"Who, who are you?" She asked, her eyes still wide in surprise. "How did you get past the guards?"

Around the boys small frame floated a little blue orb, a fairy. The blonde haired girl stared it with questions swimming in her soft eyes.

"Oh what's that? Is that…a fairy!?" She questioned with excitement. "Then, are you from the forest?"

The boy nodded his head as she watched the girl closely. Her features, first afraid and suspicious were now excited and joyful.

"I had a dream, in the dream, dark storm clouds were billowing over the land of Hyrule. But suddenly, a ray of light shot out of the forest, parted the clouds and lit up the ground…" She explained rather hurriedly, "The light turned into a figure holding a green and shining stone, followed by a fairy.."

She smiled brightly and lay her hands on top of one another at the front of her as she spoke. "Yes…I thought you might be the one…"

The girls face slowly turned a pink as her eyebrows bent forward. "Oh, I'm sorry. I got carried away with my story and didn't even properly introduce myself!"

A bright and wide smile fell upon her face. She held her head up, her eyes sparkling.

"I am Z----"

"Kailnim! Wake up you lazy boy!!" A voice screamed into his ear.

The teenage boy squirmed in his bed, rolling over and throwing the blanket over his head. Navi quickly moved out of the way and floated above him, her features bent into a scowl.

"The Great Deku Tree wants to see you Kailnim, get up!" She hollered, her face becoming red with frustration.

Kailnim grunted before pushing the blankets off of him and yawning. He sat up in his bed and rubbed at his eyes, the hair framing his face in total disarray.

"Why does he need to see me so early.." He mumbled as she stood up and began to change out of his night clothes and into his brown tunic and pants.

"Early?! It's nearly midday you silly child!" Navi snapped as she fluttered over to grab his boots and drag them to him. She set them down in front of his bed before landing upon his pillow to catch her breath a bit.

"Still why does he need to see me so bad? I haven't gotten into any trouble lately.." He said and tilted his head trying to remember if he had indeed gotten into any trouble.

Navi shook her head and heaved a sigh. She fluttered over to the table that held his comb, one he hardly used. She grabbed hold of it and carried it over, the weight very light, being as it was just hallowed bones of creatures that were hunted for food. She quickly ran the comb through his hair as he tied his boots. With a sigh she set the comb aside. His hair was still in a mess of spikes, but nothing else could be done in such a short amount of time.

"Hurry now, you've already kept him waiting long enough." She scolded him as she flew out the door.

Kailnim followed her racing through the village to the giant enclosure that was the Great Deku Tree's resting spot. He ran, his breathing heavy, Navi always a few steps ahead of him. It wasn't long before they reached The Great Deku tree. Kailnim stopped in front of the tree and held a hand to his chest trying to catch his breath.

"Ah Kailnim, I am glad you have decided to show up." The tree said, his voice powerful, but kind.

"Yea…sorry about that." Kailnim said and smiled weakly.

"I tried to get him up sooner, it's a lot harder than you think." Navi said as she pursed her lips.

The Great Deku tree chuckled, his laughter floating through the leaves of his great limbs. "It is alright, you are here now."

Navi floated over to Kailnim and seated herself on his shoulder. Her face looked worried, her eyebrows bent down. The boy stared up at the tree half expecting to get lectured for some deed he didn't remember doing.

"Kailnim…child, do you know the stories of past, of the great Hero, Link?" The tree asked.

"Of course, who hasn't? All the old ba--elders of the village tell those fairy tales all the time." He said with a frown.

The Great Deku Tree chuckled softly before speaking, "They are not just fairy tales, they are true. I have lived now for hundreds of years, but before me was my father. He was a great and mighty tree and would have lived well into and past your time, but he was cursed by an evil man." He began.

Kailnim stared up at the tree, listening intently. Although he scoffed the stories often, he always listened. He knew them all by heart, and often as a child would act them out.

"That evil man was Ganondorf. He lusted after the power of the Triforce, and demanded that my father give him one of the Spiritual Stones that was used then to unlock the doors to the Temple of Time. When my father refused, Ganondorf cursed him." His voice fell into a steady rhythm of a storyteller as she spoke, Kailnim hanging on each word.

"Link was but a small child then. He ventured inside of my father to defeat the source of the curse inside of him, but it was too late. Even after defeating the curse within, my father was too weak and so he lost his life. It was then that Link, a small confused child, set out on a journey to save Hyrule. He fought many battles and as the years passed, he grew stronger."

The Great Deku tree stopped for a moment and breathed deeply. His leaves rustled around him, but otherwise no sounds were heard. It was like the entire forest was silent, listening to the tale.

"On his journey Link was instructed to awaken the Seven Sages so that they may combine their powers to defeat Ganondorf. The Sage of Light, Sage of the Forest, Sage of Fire, Sage of Water, Sage of Shadow, Sage of Spirit, and finally the Sage of Wisdom. With the help of the seven sages he was able to defeat Ganondorf and free the land of Hyrule from darkness."

The Great Deku tree fell silent with the end of his tale. Navi stood up from Kailnim's shoulder and fluttered up into the air. She gazed at the tree before looking back down at Kailnim.

"Kailnim…these stories, aren't just fairy tales. They are real." She said her eyes heavy with unspoken words. "I know because, I was Link's fairy."

"You were…his fairy? But why didn't--" He began to say, but the Great Tree's voice cut him short.

"We did not come here to discuss why she didn't tell you about this, there is something much more important to discuss," He said with that powerful, gentle voice, "The reason I tell you this story is to better understand what I am about to ask you. There is a terrible danger looming over the lands of Hyrule, a dark shadow of great power."

"What does this have to do with me?" Kailnim snapped, becoming slightly agitated.

"I need you to embark on a journey. The Seven Sages from long past have been lying dormant for centuries and they must be awakened if we are to stand a chance against this evil power." The Great Deku Tree said.

"Me?! Why me! I'm not some great hero that can just go out and find these Sages. Where would I even begin to look?" He cried out, his eyebrows bent in frustration.

He felt overwhelmed already. Not just an hour ago he was normal, every day Kailnim, nothing special. Now, out of the blue, he was being sent out on some sort of journey? It didn't make sense.

"Calm down child. There is a girl that you must find, she is of the Sheikah people. They reside far to the north of here in the mountains in a village called Kakariko. Once long ago they were easy to find, for Hylians also lived in this village. However, as the years have gone by they have pulled back into seclusion. Find this woman and she can help you. She will know what to do next. I cannot help you anymore than that." The Great Tree said, and for a moment all was silent.

Kailnim stood with his head down staring at the ground, fists clenched. The Great Deku Tree was their protector, their guardian. To disobey his orders was like turning your back on someone who gave you life. A long heavy sigh left his chest before he raised his eyes to the tree.

"I don't understand why you are making me do this, but if it is what you want, and if it will help my people, I'll go. I just have to find these Sheikahs, right?" He asked his eyes raised to meet those of the tree.

"Indeed my young Kailnim. There is one in particular you must find. Please go to them and tell them what I have told you, they will help you from there." The Great Tree sighed out. As he finished speaking one of his limbs bent down towards Kailnim, hanging from it was a set of clothing as well as a shield and sword. "These belonged once to the great Hero of Time, Link. This sword is the Kokiri sword, forged by your ancestors, the shield is Hylian and very sturdy. The clothes, well the Great Hero was well known for his Green tunic. Where them with pride."

Kailnim studied the items before taking them from the tree. He set the shield and sword aside as he removed his clothing to replace them with the new ones. They fit perfectly. The green tunic rested against his chest, the chain mail beneath it felt light and sturdy. The white pants made his legs feel flexible and easy to move in. A brown belt wrapped around his waist, a satchel at his side with a few coins already in it. Thick brown leather boots covered his feet, just his size. He then picked up the sword. It wasn't extremely long, but it did feel balanced in his hand. He laid it in it's sheath and strapped the belt over his shoulder and across his chest.

He picked up the shield next, it was heavy in his hands. He stared at the designs on it. The Triforce lay in the middle, shining at him. He placed it to on his back, strapping it onto the belt that held his sword. The last thing to lay in his hands was a long green hat. He stared at it with a raised eyebrow before folding it up and placing it within the satchel. He didn't mind the clothes, but the hat was going too far.

"You look just like him…." Navi whispered to herself, her eyes nearly brimming with tears.

Kailnim raised his head and gazed at the fairy. "Navi, you say something?" He asked as he tilted his head.

"Uhm, no, nothing. We should probably get going." She said and fluttered up to hug the Great Tree. "Travel with hope and courage my child." The Great Deku Tree said.

Kailnim nodded his head to the tree before turning away and racing from the enclosed area where he sat, Navi right beside him.

The Great Tree sighed deeply as he watched the boy run from him. He was silent, lost in his thoughts.

"Be strong Kailnim. This journey shall not be easy, and you will soon discover things that I had wished would never need to be revealed."

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Kailnim walked slowly through the entrance to the bridge that would lead him out of the village. Away from his home, his friends, his family. He had ran from the Deku Tree to his home. His parents had been out, to his relief. He grabbed the stash of coins he'd kept hidden underneath his floorboard and was about to leave. He had stopped though and left them a note. He had scribbled it down quickly. It only told them that he was leaving for awhile to visit the Castle city and he would return before long.

It had been a lie, but he couldn't worry them with stories of going out on an adventure. It was easier to make them think he just wanted to travel to the Castle city for a few days.

He sighed and walked through the wooden tunnel to the bridge, his thoughts racing. Navi sat on his shoulder, her eyes staring at him, worry etched into her face.

"I knew you would leave…" A voice said softly.

Kailnim raised his eyes to find Saria standing in the center of the bridge, her eyes, so sad, staring at him.

"What do you mean?" He asked as his footsteps brought him to stand in front of her.

"I just knew you'd leave. I've been dreaming for awhile now about a lot of things, and then I dreamt that you would leave us. I could feel it in my heart that it wasn't just a dream, but true." She said sadly, her eyes falling to look down at the bridge.

"I'll come back you know, I won't be gone forever. It's just for a little while, I'll be back in a week, two weeks at the most." He said trying to reassure her.

Saria smiled weakly and shook her head. "Promise you won't forget me, Kailnim. Promise you won't forget all of the fun times we had together." She said softly.

"I won't forget you, I won't be gone long enough to." He said as his eyebrows bent in frustration.

"I don't know why Kailnim…but I felt it was only right that I give this to you. I feel as though I've done it before, in a dream perhaps…" She said softly.

She held out her hands to him, laying in them was her hand carved ocarina. It was brown, soft and smooth. The part where the mouth would lay was green, like leaves. He reached out his hand and took it from hers, his hand hovering over hers for a moment before pulling back.

"Please take care of it, let it always remind you that I'll be here waiting for you." She said and smiled a deep sad smile.

"I…I'll guard it with my life." He said with his own awkward smile.

"Goodbye Kailnim…" Saria said and moved forward, and stopping. She seemed unsure, a small line of blush crossing her face. She shook her head and stepped forward throwing her arms around him. She hugged him tightly before stepping back and then running past him back to the village.

Kailnim stood there, silent staring down at the Ocarina in his hands. His face burned a soft red. He glanced down at his tunic and frowned. There was a small wet spot on his chest. He was confused for a moment before realization stuck him.

Navi sat upon his shoulder still and stared back where the girl had run off. She kept silent as Kailnim moved forward toward the exit that would lead him into a strange new world. He walked slowly, one hand clutching the Ocarina, the other hand laid gently against his chest, against the spot where his only true friend had shed her tears.