Link could only remember the series of tunnels chosen to reach the village so vividly- as if it were yesterday, when he had been roaming through the Lost Woods. The spine-chilling feeling of this forest engulfed Link once more. He always resented this sensation. It was a mixture of creepy, frosty, and nerve wrecking.
Passing through each tunnel, silence of his surroundings made Link only hear the sound of his tiny footsteps. Something wasn't quite right. The Lost Woods seemed lifeless. Of course, it never expressed the feeling of lively and vigorous, but he took notice of how the vegetation around was scarce, dull, as well as the animals. He took this as a bad omen and apprehension coursed through his veins.
Finally reaching the last tunnel that was the entrance to the Kokiri Forest, Link was reluctant once more. Part of him desired to have never returned to the past. His childhood wasn't completely dandy. In the future, he could be content, and remain with Princess Zelda.
Princess Zelda.
Her name flooded through his mind, and soon, even staring into the mysterious tunnel, she was all he could think about. He always seemed to become almost mute in her presence. Perhaps she'd never know that he was silent only control the rapid beating of his heart, or that his shyness overtook his mind. Link looked down in sorrow. As a lowly peasant boy, he'd probably never see her again. The thought of that made his heart plummet beneath the lowest level of low. She'd never know how much he had cared for her. More than anything in the world. He wondered where she could be at this very moment…Perhaps she was in the Hyrule castle garden, where he first met her. Or in the stables riding the castle's horses…
Coming back to reality, he shook off these helpless thoughts and stepped through the tunnel. I really have to stop stalling. Slowly, as if he valued each step, he peered into the village before him.
What Link expected to see was not there at all. His eyes widened in astonishment and horror, resulting in hid mouth unconsciously hanging open. Panic flooded within him. The town, the Kokiri Forest, was deserted. Empty. Vacant. His eyes frantically searched every part of the town. His breathing grew heavier, and his heartbeat rose quicker and quicker by each passing second.
Chaotic, Link rummaged around through the town. The town looked burnt down. The buildings took the appearance of being scorched and knocked down. Any source of vibrant plant life was nowhere to be detected. What the hell? Questions Link desperately wanted answered swirled in his head. Gray clouds overcastted the sky, accentuating the environment. The area looked broken down to shambles.
Desperate, he bolted to Mido's flat, only to find rubble and a fragile foundation of the house. Every shop, house, and structure was barren and broken down. Link painfully saw the remains of his tree house. Battered and burnt. Home sweet home…Link could only bitterly think to himself.
The water that once flowed through the Kokiri Lake had evaporated, leaving a dirty and empty ditch. This place had been raided, or fully eroded. Link helplessly gaped at what used to be his home. What??… He thought, flabbergasted and thoroughly confused. What could have happened? His eyes lingering on the dry soil beneath him, a headache throbbed within his head.
Suddenly recalling the Deku Tree, he dashed through the tunnel that led to it. Or its remains…morosely thought Link. Please, he pleaded to himself. He treaded down the path that led to the Great tree's domain. To his misfortune, his initial though had been correct. There it stood before him, The Great Deku Tree. Link could have almost smiled, except for the fact that it was lifeless, its great trunks pale and stiff, and its expression portraying to be grim yet serene. Brittle branches with scars etched upon them portrayed the long and challenging life of this immense tree.
The dark gold haired boy could not seem to comprehend, yet fully accept what had been happening. No sign of the Kokiri, and The Deku Tree was dead. Ganondorf practically didn't exist at the moment, so what was the source of this??
Standing there, he stared intently at the bulky mass, feeling completely disheartened and disoriented at the same time. I need assurance…I can't bring myself to believe this…Perhaps; just maybe, Saria still lingered in the Lost Woods. Should he dare to hope?
He sauntered back into the Lost Woods, forcing himself to pass through the ruins of his home. If Link knew any better, it might as well have been a piercing dagger to his heart. Returning from where he entered, he succumbed to one last look of the town. Despicable. Sorrow throbbed through this ten-year old. But he would not show it. With a sigh to recollect himself, he disappeared back into the tunnel. Again, he had to persist through an elaborate series of tunnels to get to Saria's usual area. Though he disliked the aura of the Lost Woods, he still persisted in attempts to see Saria. If she was there.
Finally reaching there, he took a good look at the spot. His mouth, tight and grim, had slightly curved upwards. This place hadn't changed. There stood the same old tree stump, the same green grass (wild and unruly), and the same tree that let one branch droop over right over the old tree stump. Sunlight shone through the tree and upon the grass. This area was the only place in the middle of the Lost Woods that did not give Link an eerie sensation. It took him a while to actually realize that there was only one thing that was missing: Saria.
He shook his head in dismay. I dared to hope. He had finally realized how much he had missed his child-hood friend. How much she symbolized innocent and childish happiness to him. Her smile, and her strange green hair could have lightened up anyone's mood. Giving up, he propped himself on the grass, contemplating, confused, and unaware of what to do. Even pushing aside the mystery of the deserted Kokiri Forest, he still had nowhere to go. He was most certainly not going to stay in the Lost Woods.
Staring downward into space, his attention was suddenly caught by the dim glow of the Triforce of Courage that rested on his wrist. Its faint radiance glowed in the evening light. Link looked up, and saw that the sky had turned dark, and the natural sound of crickets grew even louder. Fireflies buzzed about, clearly apparent yet dim in the nightlight. Gazing upon the Triforce, Link couldn't see how he had courage. The emotion he felt at this moment was fear and uncertainty.
Not knowing what other secrets these woods might hold, link was in no mood to find out. He left the Lost Woods without a word, as swift and quiet as a snake would. Finally back in the Hyrule fields, he felt quite relieved. He could breathe a little easier. At least the spine-chilling sensation was gone. Link looked ahead of him, a full moon luminous in the night accentuated with the clusters of stars that shone brilliantly than ever. The air was cool and the night was completely still. He was also relieved that monsters no longer disturbed him in the night like they used to when Link ventured out in fields at night.
Trudging through the fields, he felt his vision blur. He hadn't quite realized how exhausted he was until this very moment. He had scampered all day, and the panic with anxiety took a major toll on his mind. Stress exhausted him as a kid.
Meandering along alone, Link became aware of the silence of the night. He could probably hear a pin drop from miles away. He felt the absence of Navi. He would have never thought he'd miss that badgering fairy. He had to admit that his times in the temples in dungeons were a lot easier with Navi in his presence, and he never felt alone. Not that she was much help with advice or anything, but her presence simply made him feel a bit more comfortable, and that simply helped.
He gazed at the moon, which shone upon his brilliant blue eyes. His dark gold and unruly hair hung loosely near his eyes, his bangs partially obstructing when he looked up. A deep, raspy voice interrupted his train of thought.
"There he is!!" A shocking feeling coursed through Link's body to awaken his tired senses, and that sent him running in the opposite direction with all his might. He did not even look back to see who it was. He heard several footsteps chasing after him. His legs became heavier each second, but Link was determined to sprint for forever if he had to- only until he tripped. Tired, but still going, he attempted to pick himself up, but several strong and firm hands grabbed him and pushed him down.
Despite his efforts, Link wasn't able to break free from his restraint as a mere child. Panic was apparent in his wide eyes, but there was nothing he could do. His breaths became longer and heavier, and slowed. Exhaustion resulted in his body giving out. Looking into the night, he saw several masked faces loom in front of him, peering intently at him. His vision slowly faded, and Link lost a grip of his consciousness