Author's Note: Thank you to all the readers who read my previous works. Without the tremendous responses I got, I wouldn't be writing today. (Also, special thanks to Post Rapture and the Singleton sisters. 'Thesis of the Kokiri' really inspired me on this one.)


Chapter 20

Link and Malon sat at the side of Zelda. The princess hadn't slept all night after what happened the day before. Link saw the whole thing go down. He saw that Zelda and Daleesha, the Zora ambassador, had made real progress in calming the Hylian mob. Zelda's speech was extremely convincing. But that was until the charismatic editor of the Hylian Informer, Knigma, showed up. He had somehow managed to turn all the Hylians against Zelda and dismissed the entire speech as some cover-up, which Link knew was beyond ridiculous.

"Zelda, it's ok," Malon said soothingly. "It's not so bad. You had everyone them hanging on your every word."

"Yeah, until Knigma showed up," Zelda said sadly. "Now it's worse than ever. They're all screaming for a war, and the laws I passed haven't done anything. It's only getting more people arrested."

"I must say," Daleesha said. "That Knigma person sure has a sense of presence. I can't believe how willing the people were to see his way."

Link looked outside to see that there were many Hylian protestors still shouting for vengeance and war. "Don't these people ever sleep?"

"And you know what's worse?" Zelda continued. "Knigma made ME look like the bad guy out there. He's got everyone thinking I'm the villain in this whole thing. What would my father think if he saw that?"

"Don't worry about what they think," Malon said. "Everything will work out. I'm sure this will just blow over and the people will disband soon enough."

"Somehow, I doubt that," Link heard Kreature say.

Link saw that the three Lizalfos, COMBAT, were each stationed by the throne room door. Kreature was on top of a statue holding a huge sack, while Krash and Og were on each side of the door holding wooden clubs.

"If anyone knows how hateful the Hylians can be, it's us," Krash said.

"And we know that some of them are actually stupid enough to try and rush the castle," Og added. "But we'll have a surprise waiting for them if they do."

"Link, you don't actually think someone would be crazy enough to break into the castle, do you?" Malon asked.

It was the sorcerer, Drekkin, who answered. Link didn't even know he was there. "I believe they can. In the state they're in, they'll be crazy enough to do anything. I wouldn't even rule out the possibility…of an assassination attempt."

He didn't think of it, but that thought scared Link. If Zelda went anywhere, there would be a great possibility that someone would attempt an assassination.

Zelda began shaking. "I never thought that any of my people would be willing to go that far. But it IS a possibility."

Then everything stopped. Link heard approaching footsteps and a pair of voices. Then there was a pounding on the door. It sounded like there really WERE protestors who were trying to break in. It might have been an assassination attempt, like Drekkin was talking about. Zelda and Malon stepped back behind Drekkin. Link stood in the same spot waiting. Then the door flew open.

As the door swung open, COMBAT took action. In the blink of an eye, Kreature draped the sack over what appeared to be two intruders.

"Da da da da da da, CHARGE!!!" Krash and Og shouted, before tackling the two intruders.

They struggled and one of them tried standing up, which amazed Link because he appeared to be so short. As one of them stood, Og knocked him down with a strike of his club. The struggle continued like that until Zelda stopped it.

"STOP!!!" she shouted.

COMBAT stopped trying to subdue the two intruders and looked up at Zelda.

"Let them up," Zelda said. "I want to see what they look like."

Kreature, Krash, and Og stood up and let go of the sack. Just then, a small figure emerged from the sack. A young girl with green hair…Link immediately realized who it was.

"Saria?!"


Chapter 21

Link couldn't believe that Saria was there. She didn't say anything. She just looked at the sack and waited for the other person to come out. That's when Sodo came out, holding his head in pain.

"Uh…oh," Krash stuttered. "I think we goofed again."

Sodo looked up angrily at the three Lizalfos. "What was that about?! Were you three trying to kill me…again?!" Sodo hadn't forgotten the time when COMBAT hung him 70 feet above the ground in the Forest Temple walkway. He still withheld some anger at them.

Kreature ran up to immediately embrace Saria. "It's great to see you again, short stuff."

"Yeah, it's been a long time," Krash added.

"We missed you, Saria," Og finished. They remembered that it was Saria who was the first to see any good in the three lizards.

"Oh, I missed you guys too," Saria squealed.

"Well, I sure didn't," Sodo said angrily. "You guys almost killed me! What's wrong with you?!"

Kreature grinned. "Sorry, shorty. We didn't know it was you."

"Yeah," Og snickered. "We thought you were some Hylian protestor trying to break in."

"We're sorry, kid," Krash smiled. "If it makes you feel better, I'll give Og a huge bonk on the head." Krash took his club and smashed it over Og's head.

"OW!!" Og shouted in pain. "Hey, I wasn't THAT sorry."

As happy as Link was to see Saria and COMBAT reunited, he had to ask the obvious question.

"Saria, what are you doing here?" Link asked. "Why did you and Sodo leave the forest?"

Saria looked up curiously. "You mean you don't know?"

"I knew it," Sodo said. "I knew this didn't sound right."

"What do you mean?" Link asked. "What are you talking about?"

Sodo didn't say anything. He just handed Link a note. Malon walked up next to Link as they both took the note and started reading:

Saria,

There's been an emergency. Something's happened at the ranch. I had someone take you this note with the hope that you would get it. If you do, please come to the ranch as soon as possible. It may be a matter of life or death.

Link

Link couldn't understand this. He never sent such a note. Who wrote this note? And why did they send it to Saria?

"And you went to the ranch?" Malon asked.

"Yeah," Saria answered. She looked up solemnly. "But there's something we have to tell you. Something happened at the ranch."

Malon's eyes grew wide. "Nothing bad happened, did it?"

Saria couldn't answer, because just then a royal messenger walked in. Zelda, still stressed out, walked over to the messenger.

"Hate mail?" she asked the messenger casually.

"Actually, princess, it's the latest Hylian Informer," the messenger said. He handed her the tabloid and left. Zelda then looked at everyone in the room.

"Well, how much worse can things get?" Zelda asked. She then looked at the front page, but when she saw it she nearly fainted.

"Zelda?" Link asked worriedly. "What is it? It's not another shot at you, is it?"

"No."

"It's not another 'attack' by some other race, is it?"

"Not exactly."

"Then what is it?"

Zelda said nothing. She only handed Link the Hylian Informer. Link and Malon looked at the front page. Malon fainted immediately at the sight of the headline. Link was almost ready to join her. This…couldn't be true. This…was wrong, it had to be. But there it was, in big bold letters.

"Lon Lon Ranch Burned to the Ground by Two Kokiri Arsonists."


Chapter 22

Link was speechless. He couldn't believe the headline he had just seen. It was unbelievable. The ranch, the only home Link knew since he left the forest, was left in ashes. But the other thing he couldn't shake off was that it accused two Kokiri. He read further down the article, which said that two Kokiri were sighted by three witnesses at the scene of the fire. And there were only two Kokiri present and they were Saria and Sodo.

"Link? What is it?" Saria asked. She wasn't aware that such a thing like the Hylian Informer existed.

"It's…an article," Link tried answering. "It says that…the ranch, my ranch was burned to the ground."

Saria looked at Link sadly, then she looked at Sodo. "He knows."

Link was shocked at those words. Was she admitting it? He didn't even believe Saria was capable of such a thing? He couldn't speak, but that's when Malon got to her feet and let her anger take over.

"Wow, I didn't think Kokiri could commit such acts," Daleesha said to herself.

"You mean you admit it?!" Malon shouted. "You admit you did this?! How could you do such a thing?! How could burn down the only home I've ever known?! Why?!"

Saria exchanged confused looks with Sodo. "What do you mean?" Saria said, looking at Malon hurtfully.

Malon continued. "It says right here that my ranch, my HOME, was burned down by two Kokiri!"

"Two Kokiri?!" Saria and Sodo said at once.

Sodo looked around nervously. "Saria, they think we did it!"

"It's written down?!" Saria asked, her face full of fright. "Please tell me this is just something that comes here."

A scowl crossed Daleesha's face. "The Hylian Informer is the biggest tabloid in all of Hyrule, young lady. It reaches about every Hylian in all of Hyrule. And they seem to believe everything it says."

Sodo started shaking nervously. "E-E-Every Hylian? If they hear about this, we won't get out of here alive."

"But how could this happen?" Saria asked fearfully. "We weren't the ones who set the fire. This is…wrong."

Link looked curiously at his childhood friend. "Y-You're saying you…didn't burn down the ranch?"

"We saw it burn down, Link," Saria said sadly. "But we didn't burn it down. Something else must have set the ranch on fire. But it wasn't us. You've got to believe me, Link! You believe me…don't you?"

Link saw the look in Saria's eyes, the innocent plea of those eyes begging Link to believe her. "Of course we believe you, Saria. Don't we, Malon?"

Malon didn't say anything. This was starting to anger Link. She wasn't actually entertaining the thought that Saria and Sodo actually did this, was she?

"I said 'DON'T WE, MALON'?!"

Malon turned around. "I…guess so."

"I don't get it," Sodo said. "How did they find out about the ranch? Who wrote this?"

Link knew the answer to that, and it made his blood boil in anger. Before he could say anything, another royal messenger came in.

"Princess Zelda, the mob is disbanding," the messenger said.

"Finally, some good news," Zelda said happily.

"Actually…it's because Knigma is ready to address the people about the latest Hylian Informer," the messenger added.

Link was ready to explode. "Ok, this is what I'm going to do. I'm going to go out there. I'm going to take this sword and I'm going to KILL HIM!!!"

"No, Link!" Zelda shouted. "I'm in deep enough without having one of my friends go out and kill the most respected and trusted man in Hyrule. Let's just go out and see what this scum has to say." She turned around. "Let's go," Zelda said. Link, Malon, Daleesha and the three lizard soldiers walked behind Zelda, but noticed that Saria and Sodo were following as well.

"And where are YOU going?" Zelda asked.

"We're coming too," Saria said boldly. "I want to see who it is who wrote these lies and why he would do such a thing."

"Yeah, Link," Sodo added. "We want to see what reason they have for accusing us of burning down the ranch."

Link couldn't argue with that. "Ok, you can come. But stay behind us. Hylian-Kokiri relations are strained enough as it is, we don't want the Hylians to see you."

As Link walked along with everyone, he remembered the presence of racism against the Kokiri. Hylians had become so stubborn and Link never understood why they hated the Kokiri so much. He did know one thing, and that was that the sight of a Kokiri would send the Hylian mob into a frenzy. Link could only hope that Saria and Sodo wouldn't be seen.


Chapter 23

Knigma was warming up to deliver his latest rant to the Hylian public. But this one would be memorable. His plan had worked to perfection and the two Kokiri became complete scapegoats. If everything went as planned, then Princess Zelda would be ousted from the throne and Drekkin would become the new king. But just as he thought of him, Drekkin walked up to Knigma.

"Drekkin, you know you shouldn't be here," Knigma said confidently. "You should be back at the castle…preparing your acceptance speech when Princess Zelda gets kicked off the throne."

"Don't worry about me, Knigma," the sorcerer said. "The people WILL accept me as their ruler. But I feel I need to inform you of the latest developments."

"Hmm, I thought I was the one with the latest developments," Knigma said thoughtfully. "But never mind that, what's happened? And make it quick, I've got an adoring public waiting for me."

"It's about those two Kokiri," Drekkin began.

"Oh yes, our two scapegoats," Knigma said sinisterly. "It'll be perfect. I'll rant on about the Kokiri being a menace to society. Then if that kid in the dress shows up, which I know he will, I'll ask his opinion. If he agrees, then it's another one on my little campaign. If he sticks up for his friend, then I'll bombard him with accusations. Then I'll go on about his relationship with the Kokiri girl and his relationship with Zelda. Then I'll make it look like Zelda's siding with the Kokiri, which will get the people enraged. SO enraged, that they'll go into a state of anarchy and kick the little princess off the throne. It's BEAUTIFUL! I've got to write it down!" Knigma pulled out his scrolls, until Drekkin gripped his writing hand.

"There may a change of plans, Knigma," Drekkin said. "Those two 'scapegoats' are here."

"Here?" Knigma asked. "What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said," Drekkin answered. "The two Kokiri are here, and they managed to get into the castle and find that 'Link' boy."

"Really?" Drekkin said slowly. That crazed grin began to cross the editor's face. He soon began chuckling madly. "If they're here…and they're at the castle…this'll work out even BETTER than I planned. If it goes the way I think it does…" he grinned at Drekkin. "Then you'll be king by the end of today!"

Drekkin looked intrigued. "What are you planning, Knigma?"

"Let's just say…" Knigma paused. "Let's just say, that if a certain princess and a certain kid in a dress are in attendance, then by the end of the day, there will be ANARCHY!" He laughed madly.

"In that case, I want to stick around for this," Drekkin grinned. "I'll be waiting by the castle gate."

As Drekkin left, Knigma was still laughing. This would be perfect. By the end of the day, it would be Knigma writing in his scrolls of the fall of Princess Zelda.


Link leaned on the wall of the Happy Mask shop. Zelda, Malon, Daleesha, and COMBAT looked on, waiting for Knigma to come out. Saria and Sodo stood quietly waiting as well. Link wondered how Knigma would back up these allegations. But he would have to wonder no more. Walking out, was the charismatic editor of the Hylian Informer himself.

Knigma looked out to the crowd, who gave him a standing ovation. "Wow. I didn't expect such a reaction. It almost brings a tear to my eye." He eccentrically wiped off a fake tear. "But my friends, we are here for a serious reason. I'm sure all of you have your latest issue of the Hylian Informer." He grinned widely. "But if you don't, then they're available for the EXTREMELY unbelievable price of 20 rupees an issue!"

Knigma shook his head wildly. "But what am I thinking? I'm getting off the subject. For those who have their issue, you know the situation. But for those who don't, then I regret to deliver this information. A few nights ago, Lon Lon Ranch was burned down in a HEINOUS act of arson! But it wasn't what happened that should outrage us. It wasn't how it happened that should outrage us. But it should be WHO did this that should enrage us. Now, we seem to be trying to fight the good fight from all fronts. The Gorons caused an avalanche, but they'll pay someday. The Zoras are blocking our water supply, but they'll pay someday too. The Gerudo blew up the bridge, and they'll get what's coming to them someday. But we need to focus on this, on who burned down the ranch. Was it Gorons? No. Was it Zoras? No. Was it Gerudo? No. It's worse than that. It was KOKIRI!!!"

The crowd began yelling angrily. Link's anger started to rise, and he saw Saria and Sodo shudder at the crowd's reaction to just the word 'Kokiri'.

"That's right, Kokiri," Knigma repeated. "Two of them. The big scourge of Hylians everywhere. 'Death to all Elves' has been the motto of every patriotic Hylian out there. Laws have been passed to subdue these little brats, and for the most part, our efforts have been successful. The last we saw of ANY Kokiri was nine months ago with the so-called 'Kokiri 12', a story which the Hylian Informer brought to you first. Since then, we thought we were rid of them and we said 'good riddance'. But evidently, they're still around. And they have come back with a vengeance! They're committing arson with no regard as to who might have been hurt or even killed! They willingly struck, with the cold intent to kill! But don't take my word for it." Knigma began searching the audience until he found what looked like three royal messengers. Link recognized them as the three royal messengers who said they had gone out in search of Drekkin.

"It's them," Saria said quietly, tugging at Link's tunic.

"They're the ones who saw us at the ranch," Sodo added.

Knigma brought the three on stage and began to question them. "Now, gentlemen, you three were out in Hyrule Field that night just minding your own business, am I right?"

"That's right," the first one said.

"We were out on assignment," the second one said.

"And on the way to wherever it was you were going, you stopped by the ranch, am I right?" Knigma asked.

"That's right," the third one said. "It's so big, you can't miss it."

"But that's when it happened, didn't it?" Knigma said. "You saw the flames bursting out. They were quickly taking out the ranch and leaving mass devastation. So you three decided to go investigate, am I right?"

"That's right," the second one said.

"And when you got there," Knigma said ominously. "What did you see?"

"We saw two Kokiri," the first one said. "They were quickly running out of one of the housings. They were the only ones there."

"Thank you, gentlemen. You may step off the stage," Knigma said. The three royal messengers stepped off. Link knew this looked bad. Saria and Sodo had gone to the ranch on a false note, but were spotted shortly the fire started. There was enough evidence to convince anyone that the two Kokiri were guilty.

Knigma continued his speech. "There you have it. From three eyewitnesses, confirmation that it was Kokiri who burned down the ranch. Now we could stand here and complain. We could dismiss this whole thing right now and go on with our lives, but that wouldn't be right. We can't let those scourges get away this. They need to be hunted down and made to pay before they strike again. And as a people, we will find the two Kokiri responsible. Because…" Knigma stopped. He had spotted Link standing near the Happy Mask shop. He spotted Zelda, Malon, and Daleesha. He spotted Kreature, Krash, and Og. But most importantly, he found Saria and Sodo standing behind Link.

Knigma's deep breaths were breaths of madness. He raised a finger to point at Saria and Sodo. "IT WAS THEM!!! IT WAS THOSE TWO!!! THOSE TWO RIGHT THERE!!!"


Chapter 24

The Hylian crowd turned around and looked at Link and everyone standing around them. The fury in their voices grew at the sight of Saria and Sodo. Link's hatred for Knigma multiplied at that moment.

"It was those two!" Knigma said again. "It was you two who burned down Lon Lon Ranch, you two sick arsonists! Coming for more, are you?!"

"Shut up, Knigma!" Link blurted out. "They didn't do it!"

Knigma glared at Link and only chuckled. "Oh I know you. I've got the insider info on you. Ladies and gentlemen, I want to direct your attention to the boy in the dress. What do we immediately notice? That the boy is DRESSED like the two Kokiri perpetrators. But what you don't know, is that the boy is actually FRIENDS with the two perpetrators."

The crowd murmured. Link was ready to explode. "What's your point, Knigma?!"

"Let me ask you something, boy," Knigma said. "Are you familiar with those two Kokiri?"

Link couldn't see where he was going with this. "Yes."

"But it's more than that isn't it?" Knigma continued. "Are they, or are they not, your FRIENDS?"

Link looked down at Saria. He had spent his whole childhood with her. He grew up with her. He knew one answer. "Yes. They're my friends."

Knigma's smile grew wider. "I think I can see the point and all these people see it, too. FRIENDS?! Even fraternization with Kokiri is enough to get a man arrested, but you're friends with them? Let's think about what that means. It MEANS that you KNOW that these two set fire to the ranch! You KNOW that they did it! And you want to 'protect' your friends by hiding them in the castle. You make me sick!" Knigma paused. "But wait…how could you hiding Kokiri in the castle…unless you have full consent…of the princess."

"What do you mean, Knigma?!" Zelda shouted.

"Oh don't pretend like you don't know, princess," Knigma shot back. "You're the one with two fugitives running free in your own castle. You're supposed the princess of the people."

"What's your point?!" Zelda demanded.

"I think we both know what the people want," Knigma responded. "Now you've avoided it for awhile now. You've done nothing about the Gorons, the Zoras, or the Gerudo. But this time, you WILL listen to what the people want. They want justice. They want vengeance. Princess Zelda, if you truly are the princess of the people…then you will hand down justice by arresting those two Kokiri RIGHT NOW!!!"

"NO!!!" Zelda shouted. "These two Kokiri are my friends, too. And I won't arrest them for something they didn't do."

"No?!" Knigma asked angrily. He looked at the crowd. "No?! Listen to this, people. The princess knows what you all want, but she won't give it to you. This has been the big theme lately. Everything you've wanted, she hasn't given it to you. Well, I for one, have HAD IT!! I'm sick and tired of Princess Zelda's lack of action and I'm sure you all are tired of it too!!"

The people began cheering at that. This scared Link, but not as much as it seemed to be scaring Zelda. It couldn't be seen in her exterior, but Zelda was standing in fear as Knigma turned her people against her.

"You know something, people," Knigma continued. "I don't think that Zelda is FIT to rule over you. In fact, we're not going to take it anymore. I'm calling for a revolution! Join me, people! If Zelda won't give us what we want, then we'll throw her out and find someone who will! Who's with me?!"

The people all cheered.

"Zelda saw that war was the only way to get our justice, but she did everything possible to avoid it. She tried groveling to the scum. She passed laws that were meant to hold the people down. But now that I see that she's keeping fugitive Kokiri in the castle, well I say 'No more'! This madness stops now, Zelda. If you won't give the people of Hyrule what they want, then we'll take it ourselves!!" The crowd roared in approval. "So what do you think people? All in favor of riding the incompetent princess out of here…?"

The mob roared in approval. Link didn't like where this was going.

"Such a mighty response," Knigma said proudly. "And all in favor of a new beginning under anyone else…?"

The mob roared again. They seemed to approve of this and Link knew what was coming next. He turned around towards Saria and Sodo.

"Run," Link said. "Get out of here, before they come after you."

"But Link…?" Saria began.

"Just GO!!" Link shouted.

The two Kokiri reluctantly started running towards what seemed to be in the direction of the Temple of Time. Link turned around to see Knigma wasn't finished.

"Then there you have it," Knigma said. "This revolution begins. Let's get them!"

"Hey, wait a minute!" Zelda shouted angrily. "You can't just throw me out, I'm still princess here."

"That's what you think!" Knigma shouted back. "Good people of Hyrule, as of right now, it's ANARCHY! If she wants to be the protector of bratty little elves and other insignificants, then she won't do it in our land. People, show your loyalty to your race and remove Zelda from this land."

Then in a moment of horror for Zelda, the Hylian mob started advancing towards her.


Comments? Feel free to review below or mail me at HyruleKokiri13@hotmail.com