A Lone beetle scuttled accross the forest floor. It was searching for food. That was its only intent: to eat. It was a wonder that the Great Deku Tree allowed these kind of creatures into his forest, because they ate wood, and were constantly damaging the trees and the Kokiris' homes, and even occasionally himself. But this was no bother to him, because once the trees were eaten, new ones would be planted. He was to large to suffer any harm from the tiny insect. It probably wouldn't even leave a visible scar on his bark.

The Great Deku Tree thought long and hard, just as he did every afternoon. He wondered what the little beetle would eat next, and he wondered about what his Kokiri children were up to, and perhaps if they would be returning to him soon to learn more stories of the world outside his own... but most of all, he thought about the past. Long ago, he could indeed speek. To any living creature, and better than any other being he knew of.

But that day, ten years ago... this was what he had sacraficed to save him...

The boy without a fairy...

Now he began to wonder, with growing urgency, where Navi the fairy was, and whether she had succeeded in finding the boy.

Suddenly, the beetle froze. The Great Deku Tree could not see the beetle, but he knew it was experiencing pain. He reached out with his own power, soothing the living creature.

But he felt more. There was more than the beetle's own being inside this body... Something was fighting his way into the insect's mind, causing it more and more suffering. There was only one explanation. Somebody was trying to contact him telepathicly through another being. Slowly he eased his barriers, and winced as the power at the other end reaced his own. At the same time, an evil mist settled in his mind's crevices.

The Great Deku Tree spoke first. Who art thou? I can since your evil...

From the contacter there came a cold, blood-curdling laugh. It is I!

The Tree hardly shifted as the image of a tall man riding a black horse was propelled towards him.

I see... so it is you, rider of black armor, who has come again for my stone?

Perhaps... what have you to say upon the matter? Will you give it to me?

NEVER! the Great Deku Tree bellowed. Never should I turn over such a sacred monument to you of such evil intent, rider of black armor! Never as long as I stand protecting this forest from black magic such as your own, outsider!

Is that so...

I have not made myself clear enough? Now, you can leave this place, and take your wishes with you. You will never touch the stone.

The Great Deku Tree was getting angry now, and he pummeled his own powers against the contacter's barrier. It concaved slightly, and then returned to normal.

We must not be violent, for this is a serious manner. Give me the stone, or you shall not live to see your precious Kokiri die.

YOU WILL NOT THREATEN ME, RIDER OF BLACK ARMOR! NEVER SHALL YOU LAY A HAND ON MY CHILDREN! NEVER SHALL YOU LAY YOUR VILE HANDS ON MY STONE, OUTSIDER!

So that is your final answer?

Now, the Great Deku Tree had had enough.

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! THE FOREST HAS NEVER BEEN INSULTED LIKE THIS! NEVER HAS ONE SUCH AS YOURSELF ENTERED SUCH UNTOUCHED PREMISES! HEAR ME NOW, OUTSIDER, YOU WILL LEAVE THIS FOREST AND NEVER RETURN!

If this is all you have to say, then you will die.

Then the Great Deku Tree felt the contacter's power drift away, and the evil mist left his mind. The frightened beetle scurried away into the bushes.

For three nights now he had sensed evil inside the forest... this is why he had sent for the boy without a fairy...

Before he had only sensed it. Now it was happening before his very being.

The beetle through which he had contacted the rider of black armor slowly began to grow, doubling... no, tripling in size... it must have been at least twenty feet high, now... And as it grew, it was mutating, growing most horribly into a creature far more terrifying than he had ever seen before. Its entire body consisted of only one segment, a swolen black piece of flesh that was covered entirely by a hard shell. Its one very large yellow eye stood out prominently before a red pupil, resting just above the monsters pincers. It had three legs, two large powerful ones in the front with claws that looked as if they could pierce stone, and one smaller leg behind its body. It looked female, because underneath its middle was a large raw sack that looked like it held eggs.

The monster gave a terrifying shriek, glaring at him and lashing out with its pincers.

"BEHOLD," came the voice of the rider of black armor, "QUEEN GHOMA!"

Maybe he had been too late...