Mido walked silently through the tunnel that led to the Great Deku Tree's grove. He had been summoned by the father, and he believed it to be a great honor. "Maybe he is finally going to acknowledge my greatness!" Mido had exclaimed when Navi gave him the news.
Tella had many thoughts swimming through her own mind. What could the Great Tree possibly want from Mido now?
When they got to the tree, Mido burst out, "Hi, Great Deku Tree! What can I do for you?"
"Give me thine weaponry," the tree cut right to the point.
"What?"
"Your slingshot!" Navi explained. "Hand it over!"
"What?!" Mido growled. "Why?"
The Great Tree spoke again, "Thou hast done wrong by the forest, wrong by me, and wrong by thine kin. Thou wilt take this punishment upon thee. Giveth thy weapon to me."
Mido knew he couldn't argue with the Great Deku Tree. He clutched tight to the slingshot in his hand and placed it on the ground as tears filled his eyes. "It's not fair."
"Tis the only way I can guarantee that thou shalt not misuse such an object again."
Without another word, Mido left the grove.
The slingshot stayed within the Great Deku Tree for several years, up until Link took it from him to defeat the queen arachnid inside.
…
Several years more had passed within the forest. Not much had changed with the Kokiri children, but Link had grown quickly. Saria now wore her hair down, but still with a headband across, and she also wore a green sweater beneath her tunic. Mido had ripped his long-sleeved shirt into sleeveless and his pants had worn down to ending at his shin. Fado had moved her hair to pigtails, and the know-it-all brothers had let their hair grow long in front of their eyes. Changes were happening, yes, but not so much as Link. He had quickly grown out of his tunic year by year.
Mido was sure to always point out his differences, and one day, he went too far. "You'll never be one of us!" he determined.
Link's heart plummeted. Mido's words seemed to continue ringing in his ears. You'll never be one of us! He had no fairy. He had no natural connection to the forest as Mido and Saria did.
But he wasn't that different. He was adventurous, like Saria. He enjoyed a good joke, like Mido. He loved to climb, like Fado. He loved to learn, like the twins. He loved to look at the forest's beauty, like Remi. He loved to swim, like Tiso. He loved to dance, like Lafa.
So why was he so different when he was so similar? Why did Mido shun him? Why did a fairy not find him? He heard about Navi, the fairy that announced his birth. Why was she not his guardian? And why did he seem so much bigger than his friends? The other Kokiri were small and thin, but Link was stouter, and he even grew fast, as Mido pointed out to him.
He sighed. He felt tears forming in his eyes, so he hurried up the ladder, into his home, before anyone could see his reddening eyes and puffy face. Though all in the forest were children, he had not seen a single tear fall from his friends.
When he was through crying, he remembered what Saria had told him recently. She had let him in on a secret. She had told him that when she feels upset or bored, she makes her way to the Lost Woods. However, Link knew the rumors about those woods, about turning into a skull kid and being lost forever. But Saria's words made him bold. And so, he made his way into the wood.
The music echoed against the trees, just as she said it would. Link wandered deeper and deeper. He had no fairy to speak against the idea, and he had no fairy to guide him. This was the type of child who could easily get lost in the uninviting forest, but he followed Saria's song, so he was alright.
Saria greeted him cheerily. "You came to my haven! Welcome!"
Link smiled and sat with her, "What is that you're playing?"
She handed him the small instrument. "It's my ocarina. I come here to play it every day."
"It's beautiful… the sound it makes is amazing!"
Saria smiled, for she had requested Mido to make another ocarina, and she planned to give it to Link.
Link sat and listened to her play until the sun began to set.
…
The next day, after weeks of nightmares, Link's destiny was about to show itself. He was summoned to the Great Deku Tree, much to the dismay of Mido, but much to the pride of Saria. He learned of a curse placed on the guardian, and after journeying in, he learned that he could not save the tree. When he died, Link knew that his last words were important. So his journey would begin. He would reach the world outside his home.
Link only knew the forest. He only knew Lafa at the foot of the small hill, Fado above him in the trees connected by rope bridges, and Remi sitting atop the shop. He only knew Tiso's sales in that shop. He only knew what the know-it-all brothers told him and what Mido spoke against. And he only knew the close friendship with Saria. How could he leave his home?
"Hey!" Navi nudged him. "Are you ready to find the princess of destiny?"
"Yeah…" Link mumbled. And he began to leave the forest, being stopped only once, by Saria's tears.
…
Mido stared at the tree. That was all it was now, another dead tree in this dim forest. "He did this…" he clenched his fists, trembling.
"Mido, try to understand…" but even Tella didn't understand.
"I always knew he was no good!"
…
Mido ran through the woods, announcing the tragedy of their guardian, blaming Link for his death. The others heard this rumor but did not believe it. They knew their guardian was dead, but they doubted Link had very much to do with it. Mido hated him, and nothing was stopping him from spreading lies. Saria certainly was not a barrier. She left frequently to her "secret place" in the Lost Woods. There, she played the ocarina.
It was three days after Link had returned for a short time when Mido decided to finally approach her. "Saria?" he whispered, doing his best not to startle her.
She looked up. Her face did not show her normal smile. "What?" she asked simply.
Mido's heart fell. "Nothin'…"
Saria, seeing that he was upset, smiled cheerily for him. "Mido… I have to thank you for making the ocarina."
"Huh? Oh yeah… Anything for you, Saria."
Saria smiled.
Mido looked around. "Where is it anyway?"
Chalis winced. Tella looked at her friend curiously, then her eyes grew wide. She knew. Saria's eyes left Mido's gaze. She had wanted to thank him, but she should have expected his response. "I…" she hesitated, "gave it… to Link…"
The moment the name left her throat, Mido exploded. "What?!"
"Mido… I wanted you to make it for him! It was a gift!"
"For that no-good, rotten—"
"Now stop right there, Mido!" Saria stood. "Link was the kindest, gentlest child in this forest! He didn't need a fairy for that! Perhaps the best things we can learn under these trees are to be kind to each other and to be kind to the forest!"
"I am kind to the forest! And you—" his throat felt tight, "you are… you were my best friend, Saria. What happened?"
"I would ask you the same thing, Mido."
Then, there was silence. Mido left her on that stump, the very stump where she had gathered wood for Link's home. She prayed he would return to visit again someday soon. Day after day she went to that place and played her ocarina to match the forest's song.
But he didn't visit again. At least not in this instance.
…
Mido stood before the Great Deku Tree, or at least what was left of their nurturing father. He was filled with anger for Link, the one whom he was sure had killed the tree, "I hope I never see him again!" His words echoed through the grove, as if promising the fulfillment of his wish. In a way, it was fulfilled… in one instance.
This one instance never really happened for the children in the forest, but it was as real to Link and Navi, and part of their memories, so it shall be stated for that importance…