Deku Revelations
Jack felt soft ground as his front foot landed. {Just one small step for me. Heh.} He took a breath and found a musky odor entering his nostrils. Standing with his back to the opening and looking about, he spied a wall of foliage to his immediate left. Leaning his head back, he could barely make out the top. "Must be the wall that separates the Lost Woods to the Sacred Forest Meadow." Jacks eyes lowered, "And that would probably be the entryway to the—"
A howl erupted to his right, and Jack's cranium jerked to its owner. His wide-eyed expression only followed a drooping jaw. Not twenty feet from him stood a wolf-creature, sizing jack up for his next meal. Jack's mind raced through his mental encyclopedia for a man for this sliver-haired canine. {A wolfos, I should've remembered this. He looks hungry, so I better bolt!} Jack was off before the thought to run reached his feet. They knew what to do already. He scrambled for the opening into the Woods with the wolfos nipping at his hindquarters, diving through in desperation. Hitting the ground hard, Jack rolled quickly and stood on the opposite side of the opening, looking back and expecting the final attack from the wolfos. It stopped on the far end of the tunnel, growled low and angry, turned and returned to its post. Jack didn't want to think about the situation. Just the urge to run for it came forth clear and true. He spun about and looked for the next entrance. Three other openings in his particular vicinity, and Jack took a moment to think. {If I remember correctly, the "wrong" path will lead me to the village. That's where the tree is, so I guess that's my stop.} Thinking more with his back to the Meadow, Jack decided to venture into the right path. A few steps inside the tunnel everything was dark, and Jack felt a disorienting shift across his feet. A light formed at the end of the tunnel in front of him. Sounds of joyful life were permeating his ears, and Jack smiled. {I'm here.}
As he had envisioned it, with gray clouds covering it, the village stood before him. Atop a cliff he could see the multitude of circles the trunk of each tree the young children used for their homes. {Children my ass. The youngest of them is probably older than I will ever live to be.} Jack grinned an awe-filled grin as he watched green-clothed youngsters go about their lives. Small pink lights followed them everywhere. {Every one gets a fairy. Just like it should be except for—} Jack saw a blue light out of the corner of his eye and twisted his perspective to get a better look. He lay on his stomach and poked his head over the edge to avoid detection. A strong wind blew at him and his shoulder length brown hair flew for an instant, airborne and free, before settling along his left side. Narrowing his vision, Jack adjusted his glasses for a clearer look. He smiled as he recognized the object in his sight. A small blonde boy, no older than ten, with a blue light trailing behind him. He strolled along past a tree house and turned his back to Jack to talk to someone the spy could not see. {I'm guessing that would be Saria. Hanging outside his house at the beginning. But what's that on his back?} Jack stared as hard as he could, but was unable to tell what exactly it was on the boy's back. {Just a lot of green from his tunic, and a diagonal stretch of darkness across it. Maybe just a trick of the light.} Jack looked up as the clouds parted for a moment to allow a sliver of yellow dart through and ricochet off whatever was on the young lad's back. The light bounce perfectly and struck Jack in the eyes. {Almost as if it was planned.} He chuckled to himself. {That would make the object metal, meaning he's got the sword, but no shield.} A thought struck Jack with a great force that almost pained him. {Maybe I still have time. If he hasn't the shield, then maybe I have just enough time to stop the curse, before he reaches the tree and it's too late. I gotta hurry!}
Standing up, Jack looked around his Cliffside enclosure, at another edge, he could see the entrance to the tree area guarded by a large boy with a green tunic like all the others, and red hair like only some of the boys. {Can't get past him without drawing attention. Gotta be another way.} Frustrated, Jack looked up while he was facing the wall separating the Lost Woods. He saw that the top was just low enough to grab on to. Reaching a hand up, Jack felt the top. It was smooth, but rough enough for Jack to acquire a firm hold. {Well,} Jack mused, {here goes nuthin.} Jack pushed off with the strength in his feet and pulled with his arms, bring himself over the top. Jack felt proud of this. {Well what do you know. Looks like I'm not as limited here. Now I better move quick. Don't have much time.} Jack stood up carefully and searched the horizon, looking for his destination. It was not difficult to spot. In awe, Jack's eyes almost popped out of their sockets. {It's massive, my God.} Jack did not know whether he believed in God or not, but this was definitely a sight of biblical proportions.
Try as he might Jack could not see the top of the tree. Its highest branches seemed to pierce the cloud cover. Dark brown bark with lush green leaves, the sign of health in a tree. That was not, however what inspired Jack's awe. It was the humongous eyelids, nose and mustache covered in bark. Jack focused a bit, and actually thought that the great tree was breathing. That snapped him back. {He's not gone yet. I think I made it.} He broke into a full sprint towards the tree, and stopped when he came across a drop off point. Jack no longer cared if anyone knew he was here, and cried out at the top of his lungs the call he had in his mind, respectful but forcing.
"I beseech thee, great Deku Tree!!" Jack called, his voice already beginning to strain slightly. It had been some time since he has had to scream this much at once. "I have come from another world in search of a way to both go home, and to make certain that no more entries are made to either world! Will you help me? Or has the Man in Black Armor sealed your fated already!?"
Jack bent over hard and coughed out the pain in his lungs. {I havta work out my lungs more. Wonder if it work--} Jack's question was answered as a deep and gravel voice boomed all around him. Its tone was gentle, but did not seem to come from the tree itself, as its mouth did not move. It appeared, to Jack, that the voice was being generated inside his own mind.
"What you ask is a contradiction in itself, young stranger."
Jack had no interest in a conversation trapped in his own mind, so he spoke aloud to the tree, "I'm not shocked that you are not surprised by my appearance here. You probably know everything that happens in the Wood, but what do you mean by a contradiction?"
"It is true that I am cursed, and my time is limited to merely hours, and it IS true that I have the power, through use of the Forest Emerald, to send thee to thy home, but I cannot seal the crack between worlds, even though thy known entryway has closed in on itself and shan't return."
Jack nearly stumbled over his own shock. The portal had been closed this whole time. "but if the portal is closed, how can there still be a "crack" between my world and this one?" His voice was filled with puzzlement and concern with the fact that he was too late to save the tree. {Bastard moves fast, he does.}
"Aye, lad that he does, the rogue," Jack lowered his head and silently punished himself for forgetting that the tree could read his thoughts. "The 'portal', as thou wouldst call it, is merely a step into a void that is neither thy realm nor this, and that is were the barrier is damaged, allowing passage for any varlet willing and able to make the journey. The only way to stop another opening is to put an end to the maker's ability. The Man in Black must be stopped before he can create another bridge to thy realm. Only then, will thy realm be forever safe from his mischief."
Jack's mind formulated a question, but the Deku Tree was too quick to allow him to speak it first. "Thou should visit the Great Fairies throughout our realm. Mayhap one may know of a way to mend the tear from the current malice." After a moment, the tree spoke again, "Mayhap thou might join the young lad coming to see me soon, I have a sense that he shall see much of this realm before his adventure is complete. You know his name, much like thou wouldst know of this place and the boy's origin and destiny. I see it all in thy mind, young Jack. Much I do not understand, but I know enough to know that thou will aid him verily."
"I will do my best to help, Deku Tree." Jack spoke finally, a calm smile appearing on his face. His ear caught a rustling noise and his eyes followed it to the source. To his right, Jack saw the trail leading to the village, and the young blonde boy cautiously making his way down it. Jack kneeled and stayed hidden for a moment. {He may think I'm his enemy if I just appear. Plus I've no weapon to fight with, so I wouldn't do much good against a raging boy with a sharp object.}
The Deku Tree's voice punctured his train of thought with his gentle tone and deep voice, "Fear not, for when thou makest thyself known to young Link, a strong weapon will be provided for thee."
Jack nodded and thought a kind thank you to the tree, but continued to watch the boy, sword drawn and shield ready, walk slowly down the grass- covered corridor. Behind him, a mound of dirt shook and exploded as a large blue bulb arose on a single green stalk. Jack observed in silent amazement as the boy turned expertly and poised his shield in defense. The bulb tilted towards him and split down the middle, revealing a mouth, to apparently chomp the lad in two with. As it dove at him, the small warrior performed a graceful backflip away from the monster. Jack watched eagerly as the boy landed, darted forward before it could raise its oversized head, and stabbed his blade into the bulb. It switched and twirled, then fell dead. The boy took pride in his first kill, not noticing the second bulb monster rising behind him. Jack noticed, and positioned himself over it, calculating the jump. {A good ten feet to the ground itself. No problem.} With all his strength, Jack leapt up, not out, into the air. Hoping he would land as he wanted to. On his way down, he thrust his feet out and gave a bitter war cry. {Into the breach we go. Let the games begin,} he thought just before his heels made contact.
Jack felt soft ground as his front foot landed. {Just one small step for me. Heh.} He took a breath and found a musky odor entering his nostrils. Standing with his back to the opening and looking about, he spied a wall of foliage to his immediate left. Leaning his head back, he could barely make out the top. "Must be the wall that separates the Lost Woods to the Sacred Forest Meadow." Jacks eyes lowered, "And that would probably be the entryway to the—"
A howl erupted to his right, and Jack's cranium jerked to its owner. His wide-eyed expression only followed a drooping jaw. Not twenty feet from him stood a wolf-creature, sizing jack up for his next meal. Jack's mind raced through his mental encyclopedia for a man for this sliver-haired canine. {A wolfos, I should've remembered this. He looks hungry, so I better bolt!} Jack was off before the thought to run reached his feet. They knew what to do already. He scrambled for the opening into the Woods with the wolfos nipping at his hindquarters, diving through in desperation. Hitting the ground hard, Jack rolled quickly and stood on the opposite side of the opening, looking back and expecting the final attack from the wolfos. It stopped on the far end of the tunnel, growled low and angry, turned and returned to its post. Jack didn't want to think about the situation. Just the urge to run for it came forth clear and true. He spun about and looked for the next entrance. Three other openings in his particular vicinity, and Jack took a moment to think. {If I remember correctly, the "wrong" path will lead me to the village. That's where the tree is, so I guess that's my stop.} Thinking more with his back to the Meadow, Jack decided to venture into the right path. A few steps inside the tunnel everything was dark, and Jack felt a disorienting shift across his feet. A light formed at the end of the tunnel in front of him. Sounds of joyful life were permeating his ears, and Jack smiled. {I'm here.}
As he had envisioned it, with gray clouds covering it, the village stood before him. Atop a cliff he could see the multitude of circles the trunk of each tree the young children used for their homes. {Children my ass. The youngest of them is probably older than I will ever live to be.} Jack grinned an awe-filled grin as he watched green-clothed youngsters go about their lives. Small pink lights followed them everywhere. {Every one gets a fairy. Just like it should be except for—} Jack saw a blue light out of the corner of his eye and twisted his perspective to get a better look. He lay on his stomach and poked his head over the edge to avoid detection. A strong wind blew at him and his shoulder length brown hair flew for an instant, airborne and free, before settling along his left side. Narrowing his vision, Jack adjusted his glasses for a clearer look. He smiled as he recognized the object in his sight. A small blonde boy, no older than ten, with a blue light trailing behind him. He strolled along past a tree house and turned his back to Jack to talk to someone the spy could not see. {I'm guessing that would be Saria. Hanging outside his house at the beginning. But what's that on his back?} Jack stared as hard as he could, but was unable to tell what exactly it was on the boy's back. {Just a lot of green from his tunic, and a diagonal stretch of darkness across it. Maybe just a trick of the light.} Jack looked up as the clouds parted for a moment to allow a sliver of yellow dart through and ricochet off whatever was on the young lad's back. The light bounce perfectly and struck Jack in the eyes. {Almost as if it was planned.} He chuckled to himself. {That would make the object metal, meaning he's got the sword, but no shield.} A thought struck Jack with a great force that almost pained him. {Maybe I still have time. If he hasn't the shield, then maybe I have just enough time to stop the curse, before he reaches the tree and it's too late. I gotta hurry!}
Standing up, Jack looked around his Cliffside enclosure, at another edge, he could see the entrance to the tree area guarded by a large boy with a green tunic like all the others, and red hair like only some of the boys. {Can't get past him without drawing attention. Gotta be another way.} Frustrated, Jack looked up while he was facing the wall separating the Lost Woods. He saw that the top was just low enough to grab on to. Reaching a hand up, Jack felt the top. It was smooth, but rough enough for Jack to acquire a firm hold. {Well,} Jack mused, {here goes nuthin.} Jack pushed off with the strength in his feet and pulled with his arms, bring himself over the top. Jack felt proud of this. {Well what do you know. Looks like I'm not as limited here. Now I better move quick. Don't have much time.} Jack stood up carefully and searched the horizon, looking for his destination. It was not difficult to spot. In awe, Jack's eyes almost popped out of their sockets. {It's massive, my God.} Jack did not know whether he believed in God or not, but this was definitely a sight of biblical proportions.
Try as he might Jack could not see the top of the tree. Its highest branches seemed to pierce the cloud cover. Dark brown bark with lush green leaves, the sign of health in a tree. That was not, however what inspired Jack's awe. It was the humongous eyelids, nose and mustache covered in bark. Jack focused a bit, and actually thought that the great tree was breathing. That snapped him back. {He's not gone yet. I think I made it.} He broke into a full sprint towards the tree, and stopped when he came across a drop off point. Jack no longer cared if anyone knew he was here, and cried out at the top of his lungs the call he had in his mind, respectful but forcing.
"I beseech thee, great Deku Tree!!" Jack called, his voice already beginning to strain slightly. It had been some time since he has had to scream this much at once. "I have come from another world in search of a way to both go home, and to make certain that no more entries are made to either world! Will you help me? Or has the Man in Black Armor sealed your fated already!?"
Jack bent over hard and coughed out the pain in his lungs. {I havta work out my lungs more. Wonder if it work--} Jack's question was answered as a deep and gravel voice boomed all around him. Its tone was gentle, but did not seem to come from the tree itself, as its mouth did not move. It appeared, to Jack, that the voice was being generated inside his own mind.
"What you ask is a contradiction in itself, young stranger."
Jack had no interest in a conversation trapped in his own mind, so he spoke aloud to the tree, "I'm not shocked that you are not surprised by my appearance here. You probably know everything that happens in the Wood, but what do you mean by a contradiction?"
"It is true that I am cursed, and my time is limited to merely hours, and it IS true that I have the power, through use of the Forest Emerald, to send thee to thy home, but I cannot seal the crack between worlds, even though thy known entryway has closed in on itself and shan't return."
Jack nearly stumbled over his own shock. The portal had been closed this whole time. "but if the portal is closed, how can there still be a "crack" between my world and this one?" His voice was filled with puzzlement and concern with the fact that he was too late to save the tree. {Bastard moves fast, he does.}
"Aye, lad that he does, the rogue," Jack lowered his head and silently punished himself for forgetting that the tree could read his thoughts. "The 'portal', as thou wouldst call it, is merely a step into a void that is neither thy realm nor this, and that is were the barrier is damaged, allowing passage for any varlet willing and able to make the journey. The only way to stop another opening is to put an end to the maker's ability. The Man in Black must be stopped before he can create another bridge to thy realm. Only then, will thy realm be forever safe from his mischief."
Jack's mind formulated a question, but the Deku Tree was too quick to allow him to speak it first. "Thou should visit the Great Fairies throughout our realm. Mayhap one may know of a way to mend the tear from the current malice." After a moment, the tree spoke again, "Mayhap thou might join the young lad coming to see me soon, I have a sense that he shall see much of this realm before his adventure is complete. You know his name, much like thou wouldst know of this place and the boy's origin and destiny. I see it all in thy mind, young Jack. Much I do not understand, but I know enough to know that thou will aid him verily."
"I will do my best to help, Deku Tree." Jack spoke finally, a calm smile appearing on his face. His ear caught a rustling noise and his eyes followed it to the source. To his right, Jack saw the trail leading to the village, and the young blonde boy cautiously making his way down it. Jack kneeled and stayed hidden for a moment. {He may think I'm his enemy if I just appear. Plus I've no weapon to fight with, so I wouldn't do much good against a raging boy with a sharp object.}
The Deku Tree's voice punctured his train of thought with his gentle tone and deep voice, "Fear not, for when thou makest thyself known to young Link, a strong weapon will be provided for thee."
Jack nodded and thought a kind thank you to the tree, but continued to watch the boy, sword drawn and shield ready, walk slowly down the grass- covered corridor. Behind him, a mound of dirt shook and exploded as a large blue bulb arose on a single green stalk. Jack observed in silent amazement as the boy turned expertly and poised his shield in defense. The bulb tilted towards him and split down the middle, revealing a mouth, to apparently chomp the lad in two with. As it dove at him, the small warrior performed a graceful backflip away from the monster. Jack watched eagerly as the boy landed, darted forward before it could raise its oversized head, and stabbed his blade into the bulb. It switched and twirled, then fell dead. The boy took pride in his first kill, not noticing the second bulb monster rising behind him. Jack noticed, and positioned himself over it, calculating the jump. {A good ten feet to the ground itself. No problem.} With all his strength, Jack leapt up, not out, into the air. Hoping he would land as he wanted to. On his way down, he thrust his feet out and gave a bitter war cry. {Into the breach we go. Let the games begin,} he thought just before his heels made contact.
