The sun shone into Link's eyes and stirred him from the worst sleep he had ever gotten. He had fallen asleep under a tree with his hat folded and placed on a root to act as a pillow. His chain mail had been digging into his back all night and his hands were stiff from gripping the sword and shield, ready to fight at a moment's notice. It was not just his uncomfortable sleeping position that ruined his sleep though, Link was sure that had he been on his familiar feather mattress he still would have had a fitful sleep. His mind could not leave the mystery creature he had slayed, his mixed emotions on if he had done something bad or good.

Now in the daylight he took in his surroundings and hoped to recognize something. He was in the middle of a forest that looked nothing like the one that surrounded Ordon. It was somehow darker, even though the sun shone just as bright and the foliage was no thicker than at home. Link could not even see the path that he had followed to get there. His stomach growled and he decided to go out and look for food before worrying about where he was.

He put away his weapons, feeling safer during the day, and started off in a random direction. It was eerily quiet around him, no sounds of squirrels or other wildlife running about. He didn't even hear the leaves rustling in the wind. Link's hand twitched as he debated on grabbing his sword or not keeping an eye on his surroundings.

Eventually he ran into a fence made up of sticks sharpened at both ends and stuck into the ground. He crouched behind and rock and listened to see if anyone or anything was around. Behind the fence he saw three creatures. Two of them were red and had huge triangular ears, both held machetes and stood chatting in some language Link could not understand. The other creature was much bigger, it had a pig's head and carried a spear over its shoulder. Its skin was a color between green and gray and it paced back and forth in front of the other two. If Link did not know any better he would say he was looking at two bokoblins and a moblin. But of course that was impossible, they only appeared when the evil sealed away by the goddesses returns.

As he was getting ready to sneak back into the forest and run away Link noticed what was in the middle of the fenced off area. The hollowed out husk of the old Deku tree rotted behind a smaller tree that the two bokoblins were standing guard by. The new Deku tree was expected to live thousands of years, so even at a hundred it was still considered very young. But instead of a healthy tree the bark seemed gray and the few leaves that clung to the branches were browning.

"Damn it," Link muttered under his breath. The Deku tree kept the forest alive and healthy, without it life would come to a standstill, especially in small towns like Ordon. Sibela's face appeared in the back of his mind and he could not bring himself to abandon the tree, looking down at his belt he made a quick plan.

With his boomerang in hand Link sneaked his way to the entrance of the small fortress. The moblin's back was toward him and before the bokoblins had a chance to warn their comrade of the intruder they were knocked unconscious by the boomerang being thrown. Link drew his sword with his left hand while catching the boomerang with his right and replacing it in his belt. The moblin turned around just in time to watch the sword lop his head off and the creature turned to smoke. Somehow knowing these creatures just disappeared after being killed made link feel less bad about using his sword and he returned to the two unconscious bokoblins and stabbed them each quickly in the heart, watching them both swirl away in a cloud of smoke.

The tree's eyes cracked open and gave Link as questioning of a glance as a tree could manage. He nodded at the tree and knelt before it.

"You are safe now, Great Deku Tree." He bowed his head at the legendary creature.

"Could it be," The voice sounded like trees creaking in the wind. "Has the hero returned?"

"No sir, but you are freed from the monsters that were hurting you." He got no response except a blank stare. "Well, I-I am going to go now." Link's voice trailed off as he realized he didn't know what else to say.

"You cannot!" The tree's words cracked like branches. "Your fellow soldiers are trapped inside! You must save them!"

"Oh, no, I couldn't possibly." stammering Link realized if he saved the soldiers he would be brought back and charged as a deserter, but if he did not save them who knew what would happen to them.

"What!? Are you a coward? Going to turn your back on your own? A disgrace to all Hylians! That is what you are!" Link had never experienced being glared at by a tree and was glad that it was too weak to be angry much longer. Its branches got limp and its eyes shut once more. He could hear a slight breeze coming out of its nose and knew that it was still alive. He looked up at the old Deku tree and made his decision. Clenching his jaw and his sword he took his first steps inside the Deku Tree.

After lunch Zelda's group returned to training. Some members of the opposite group were to join them and help train those who were still struggling with their sword skills. The King stood above the courtyard and observed the new recruits with Impa at his side. They had discussed the situation and he agreed to let Zelda train, as long as she maintained the cover as Link of Ordon. As Link she would not be a target on the battlefield. He also agreed with Impa that the broadsword would not work well for the princess and made it clear that those recruits who could not hold a broadsword were to be given a rapier. As it turned out only one rapier needed to be given.

"Link! scrawny and weak as ever I see." A booming voice called out behind Zelda. She turned to see a man who towered above her and whose sword was pointing toward her neck. "It might be better for ye if ye just went home and milked old Sibela's cows." Zelda felt all the blood rush from her face. If this man knew the real Link he would easily be able to tell she was an imposter. She clenched her jaw and turned away from him, hoping the obvious hostility he had towards Link was a mutual thing.

"You dare turn away from me!" The large man bellowed and grabbed the princess by her shoulder, spinning her around to face him. "Fight me now, you want to all of a sudden act like a man? Well be one." He swung his sword around and hit Zelda in the gut with the broad side. She fell to the ground and the wind was knocked out of her. Closing her eyes she tried to pull herself together and struggled to her feet.

Without saying a word she lifter her rapier and pointed it at him, the look of determination in her eyes was enough to tell him she accepted the challenge. Zelda spent the beginning of the battle dodging attacks and observing her opponent. The longer he went without hitting his target the sloppier his movement became. By swinging his heavy sword far behind him he gave her time to counterattack as he changed the momentum of his blade to move forward. She waited for a particularly hard swing and crouched on one leg while keeping her left leg extended, she pivoted and swung her leg behind the tall man knocking him flat on his back. Effortlessly she stood up and placed the point of her rapier on the soft part of his neck while kicking his sword out of his reach.

Applause erupted around her and she realized everyone had stopped what they were doing to watch the strongest and weakest swordsmen of all the recruits fight. Zelda beamed and looked up at the wall at her father and Impa who both seemed just as proud. She withdrew her sword and offered her hand to the man she had just defeated. He swatted it away and pulled himself to his feet before walking away, muttering under his breath the whole time.

"She will make a great queen someday," the King mused as he watched his daughter, "Maybe she will be as great a general as me."

"I still believe her place is behind the battles and deciding strategy." Impa responded curtly, "The holder of Nayru's wisdom should not be recklessly running about."

"Ah, my dear Impa, perhaps leading by example is the wisest choice for Hyrule right now." He smiled at the young bodyguard and with his head motioned it was time to go back inside.