Chapter Eight: Ocean Forest
"Without saying a word, we sailed south, towards the Forest Haven. And in the distance behind us as we sailed, it wasn't long until Dragon Roost Island was only a memory."
Another splash of water across my face, and the breeze chilled me to the bone further than it already had.
The sun had long since been resting, and the night was cold and unfeeling to me. The boat rocked to and fro, again and again, wanting but never finding stability in the cold, deep-turquoise water. My stomach churned and grumbled from the torture. Fighting monsters without a bite to eat was hard.
The King of Red Lions attempted over and over to make conversation with me, but it never lasted more than a moment. I was lost in my thoughts. Who was this Touya? It sounded like a boy's name, but certainly not my own.
Of course it's not.
I am Link.
Or am I?
Do I only think that because it's what everyone calls me?
What about Touya?
It sounds familiar, strange, close to me. Like I've heard it many times before, but not recently.
Like I've forgotten it.
Did it used to be...
...me?
A thick and hot pain shot through my skull, and emanated through my head. I stopped. It was at that point that names no longer mattered. There was a time to think, and I let it go by. Right then, it was a time for action. And I had already had just about enough of that as it was.
Without further ado, a pair of islands grew on the horizon, one, an ominous forest, the other, a lone, hollow tree trunk, shaped like the base of a mountain. The King of Red Lions mentioned something to me, but I didn't listen. It was probably about the fact that there was an island approaching. I hadn't noticed.
We approached the island, and, as we neared to disembark, something seemed strange about the island. We stopped at the tree trunk island, as the other one was impossible to enter from the sea, but at closer observation, the tree trunk seemed about as ominous and corrupted as the other island. We docked, and I hopped onto dry land. The tension in my body from the sea relaxed.
"This is the Forest Haven," the King of Red Lions said, nonchalantly, "The Great Deku Tree should live on this island. Go in and request the Fayore's Pearl of him. Once you have it, come back at once. We have no time to lose!"
With that, the boat shooed me off, and I turned to the island. I stood on a stretch of land connecting to the south of the island. I couldn't see the entrance from where I stood. All I could see was the incline before me, random monsters, then a swing over a small waterfall.
Piece of cake.
---
I walked from a flowing river into an opening in the tree trunk's side. I could not believe my eyes.
Before me, I saw a monsterous tree, surrounded by quiet, unperturbed nature. Green glistening bursts of light floated through the air, and there was a gentle peace in the thick of it all. The river itself, which flowed outside and I had felt before, somehow felt cooler and less harsh.
Almost as if time had slowed for me.
I walked up the sporatic stairs that circled the Great Deku Tree, until I came face to face with him. The tree's front side had a face, exaggerated and drooped from the steady decay and onslaught of age. I opened my mouth eagerly to speak with him, hoping he would speak back, until...
A green blob.
A red one.
More.
Disturbing blob monsters began appearing on the Great Deku Tree's face, making foreign noises, like disgusting parasites. There was one, then two, multiplying into dozens.
The Great Deku Tree slowly awoke, moaning and groaning. He was in pain.
I reacted as fast as I could, sprinting forward and slamming my left shoulder into the trunk of the Great Deku Tree.
A slow vibration shook through the tree, a rustling noise rattled quietly through the high branches, and the blob monsters fell from their place on the Great Deku Tree.
Instantly, their beady eyes turned on me. I readied my sword.
Two or three monsters made an alien noise, and jumped towards me. Quickly, I slashed my sword forward.
One monster was sliced in half, like gelatin, and the other two fell on me.
My body was jolted into the floor, and I shook violently as volts shot through my body and electrified my nerves.
I lied on the ground for several moments before realizing even what had just occurred, and a burning scent filled my nose.
In a strange normality, I stood up, and readied my sword again. As a handful of the monsters made a noise, I whipped my sword around in a circle. I stabbed, slashed, sliced, everything I could. Pain shot through my body again and again, but I ignored it.
All that surrounded me soon was a billowing cloud of purple smoke, and remnants of a horde of slimy blobs.
"Oh," I said, "It's over."
Then I collapsed.
---
When I woke, I found myself lying on a giant lily pad. As I looked to my left, I saw the Great Deku Tree before me, nearly screaming at the sight. As I took in my surroundings, alarmed, I slowly calmed and remembered what had occurred. I swallowed my fear and stood up.
"You are awake, I see," the Great Deku Tree bellowed, "You must already know me. I am the Great Deku Tree. I live and thrive in this forest."
I looked in wonder at this towering, booming tree before me, before addressing him. "Great Deku Tree," I said, "I've been sent by the King of Red Lions. My name is--" Touya! "--Link. He needs me to ask you of your pearl. We need it."
The Great Deku Tree thought for a moment, looking bewildered, before finally responding, "Ah, yes. Fayore's Pearl. As a matter of fact... Link, was your name...? You come at a very opportune time. The people of this forest and I are completing a ceremony today, and I will be able to give you the Fayore's Pearl as soon as it is done. However, I believe we must make haste. The monsters, as you have seen, have begun to congregate even in this holy wood. I fear for the safety of this world." The Great Deku Tree closed his eyes, and continued in a greater voice, most likely heard from outside, "Koroks! Little children of the wood! This traveller is not an enemy! Be at ease and show yourselves!"
The words echoed through the hollow space, and suddenly a rustling was heard in the branches of the Great Deku Tree and all around me. Little children jumped up from all around, and fell from the air above, floating gracefully as they grasped tightly on leaves. They fell much like the sparkling lights around me, dazzling and fleeting.
As they fell near me, the Great Deku Tree spoke to me again, in a gentle voice, "Link, these are the spirits of the forest, the Koroks. Long ago, the Koroks were much like humans, but they have since assumed a childish form. They fear humans now, but I am sure they will not fear you, Link. They are my children. Koroks..." he continued, directed at the group of forest children that now surrounded me, "...are you ready to begin the ceremony?"
"We are not, Great Deku Tree!!" A tiny voice shrieked as it descended from the sky. "It is Makar! Makar!!"
As the new Korok floated before the Great Deku Tree's face, he spoke, "What is going on, Linder? You and Makar are always late!"
Linder apologized as he flailed frantically in the air, seeking maybe some support from the air. "I am sorry, Great Deku Tree, but it is Makar! He has fallen into the Forbidden Woods!!"
"WHAT?!" The Great Deku Tree boomed in rage and disbelief. The Forbidden Woods appeared to be... very forbidden.
The frantic Korok continued, "I am sorry! I told him to be careful, but still, he flew overtop of the Forbidden Woods, and then..."
"Foolish little Makar..." The Great Deku Tree mumbled, angry and dissastisfied. "Link, did you hear all of that? The Forbidden Woods is a vile place, the island right near our Forest Haven, where we are now. The entire island is riddled with beasts and monsters. And now they have taken one of the children, Makar... I feel your appearance here is no coincidence. The King of Red Lions no doubt feels the same way. I feel terrible to ask this of you, but could you please rescue young Makar from the forest?"
"But, Great Deku Tree..." Linder complained, finally completing his tedious descent to the ground, "...People cannot fly, and the Forbidden Woods cannot be entered by sea!"
"Ah, yes, that IS right, isn't it...?" The Great Deku Tree contemplated, "Link, I will no doubt guess that you are heavier than my Korok children, but I believe I may be able to find a solution for you. I will give you an item that will help you to fly through the sky, and into the Forbidden Woods."
With that, the Great Deku Tree paused, and strained, as if in pain. There was a low rumbling through the forest, and the Great Deku Tree let out a large yell. It echoed through the trunk, straining my ears, and a pressure filled the air--!
And in a high branch, a comical fwip noise was heard.
"Oh, dear." The Great Deku Tree observed, blatantly, "Link, the item is stuck on the high branches. Could you go fetch it from there?"
I paused for a moment, hiding my complete exasperation for the situation I was in, then reluctantly ran to the side of the tree, and into a bulbus plant. My body hinged, almost into a ball, and the plant grumbled, soon spitting me out.
I felt the air rush past me, and my body spun irratically in a circle, veering straight into another plant, raised higher by a sort of branch jutting from the ground.
I continued this almost vomit-inducing pattern for another minute, spiraling up the length of the tree, until I finally reached the high branch.
I spun onto the leafy branch, and I grasped the oversized leaf that lay there.
As I did, I felt overcome by bright energy, filling my body to the brim, giving me energy and strength. I felt overcome with ability.
I took the leaf in both hands, its rubber-like texture pleasing to the touch. I eyed up my landing spot: an arrow on the grassy ledge in the side of the outer trunk.
I gripped the leaf tightly, backing up on the branch, and ran.
As I felt my feet leaving the branch, my body suspended itself in the air, the leaf, my parachute. The wind whipped past my face, filling my ears, and my senses. I felt my heart soar a little bit more for the few moments I stayed in the air, landing on the ledge in only a few short moments.
A large opening laid before me, and I went through it, the scent of sea water filling my nostrils instantly.
I walked out of the opening, and stood on the ledge in front of me. To my left, there was a pillar of earth erupted from the sea, and directly before me, the Forbidden Woods. Its ominous deep glow sucked in my eyes, and I stared for moments before remembering my task.
With the leaf still in hand, I ran off the ledge, the wind instantly shoving me in the direction of the earth pillar. The wind rushed past so much faster than the still air of the Forest Haven.
In no time at all, I had reached the earth pillar, feeling drained. After drinking a potion that laid in the grass and conducting a quick song with the silver baton almost unintentionally, I ran off the pillar and into the direction of the Forbidden Forest.
The wind changed direction, and a whirlwind propelled me upward.
With the extra help from the winds, I soon reached the Forbidden Forest, dropping onto a small ledge before a wooden door.
With a gulp of tension, and a breath of uncertainty, I rushed through the door, leaving all emotions behind. There would be no time for them.
Kansou no Satsuka
Okay, well, another chapter gone, another little chunk of the story covered.
And, of course, another little piece of me dies out of bad feelings for the chapter. I'm always too critical as soon as I've written something. It's no good. It sucks, actually. I'd rather just be content. But then again, then I'd have no ambition to improve, so I suppose it's a two-sided coin. (I hate that.)
But yes. All general self-pity aside, now I give you the generic whoop-de-doo message: I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I hope sincerly that you will continue to read it in the future! And, as always, reviews result in my undying love and gratitude. Just so you know.
Thanks for comin' out. See you next week, kiddies.
-Shojo!
