Chapter 9: The Woods of Wonder

After following a small white monkey through the maze of hedges and clearings that made up the Woods of Wonder, Link eventually found an old woman lying on the ground who looked identical to Madam Kouri with the same white hair, greenish skin, and black robe. The only difference was that this woman wore a large red jewel on her forehead whereas Kouri's forehead jewel was blue.

"Excuse me," Link said approaching the fallen woman. "Are you Kasai?"

"Who wishes to know?" asked the old woman who groaned softly.

"I'm Link. Your sister Kouri and the tourists were worried, so I offered to look for you," Link explained and held out his hand. "Can you stand?"

"No, I can't," Kasai said shaking her head. "Do you have an Energy Potion on you?"

Link searched his packs and shook his head.

"Then get one!" Kasai snapped. "And be quick! It'll be dark in a few hours, and that's when the Deku Swamp becomes extremely dangerous."

"Don't worry, Kasai," Link said as he started heading back the way he came. "I'll be back soon!"

"That's 'Madam Kasai' to you!" Kasai responded.

###

"Did you find her?" asked Madam Kouri once Link had returned. The Hylian tourists were starting to load onto the cable-car which was being driven by the small Deku who originally stood by the boat.

"Yes, but she's been hurt," Link answered. "She asked for something called an 'Energy Potion'."

"Oh, I know just what she's talking about," Madam Kouri said as she pulled a glass vial full of red liquid from a hidden pocket in her robe. "It'll heal her injuries and make her strong enough to get back."

"Okay, thanks," Link said and went back into the Woods of Wonder.

He found Madam Kasai in the same place, and gave her the vial. She then pulled the wooden cork off and took a sip from the vial. A few moments later, Madam Kasai was standing up and rubbing her back.

"Feeling better?" Link asked.

"Yes, but the effects of the potion will wear off soon," Madam Kasai said. "So if you could accompany me back to the boat that would be great."

"Okay," Link said and followed Madam Kasai as she went through the maze. "What brought you out here in the first place?"

"I wanted to pick some mushrooms for my sister who uses them to make Potions, but then I was suddenly attacked by Skull Kid," Madam Kasai grumbled. "He knocked me down from behind, thinking I wouldn't know it was him but I knew."

"Why would he do that?" Link wondered.

"He's just a troublemaker," Madam Kasai responded. "He likes pulling pranks on people for the sake of getting attention."

"But doesn't he have Tael and Tatl to keep him company?"

Madam Kasai gave Link a scrutinizing look, making him regret what he said.

"So I take it you've met Skull Kid before," Madam Kasai assumed.

"Just this morning, and he didn't stick around for very long," Link said hesitantly.

"Did he try to hurt you?" Madam Kasai asked.

Link shook his head.

"That's strange," Madam Kasai muttered out loud. "He never interacts with anyone without pranking them first. But who knows? The next time you see him, he might do something so I would steer clear of him if I were you."

"Sister!" Cried Madam Kouri who ran over to the entrance of the Woods of Wonder.

By the boat, all the Hylian tourists were gone but the Deku was still present.

The two sisters hugged and then Madam Kasai asked, "Where did all the tourists go?"

"They left while you were gone," Madam Kouri answered. "I tried to stop them, but you know how Hylians are."

"Yes, they do get easily bored if they're not entertained right away," Madam Kasai said then she noticed Link and waved her hand dismissively. "No offense, of course."

"None taken," Link said. "I'm actually not Hylian."

The two sisters raised their eyebrows in unison.

"How can you say that?" Madam Kouri said. "You have the same blond hair, blue eyes, and fair skin that most Hylians have."

"But I was raised somewhere else," Link responded.

"Like where?" Madam Kasai suggested.

Link averted Kasai's gaze. "Um, the…Sheikah Tribe."

"You mean the Sheikah District?" Madam Kouri suggested.

"Yes, that place," Link said, hoping the sisters would believe him.

In response, the two sisters glanced at each other before turning their attention back to Link.

"Are you a member of the Royal Family?" Madam Kasai asked.

"Pardon?" Link was confused.

"The Sheikah Tribe have protected members of Hyule's Royal Family for generations, including the previous Mayor of Skyloft who was the King of Hyrule's brother," Madam Kouri explained.

"Mayor Gaetano," Madam Kasai added. "Such a shame that he died, leaving an inexperienced daughter behind to take his place once she's old enough."

"But rumor has it that her nurse who was Sheikah stole her away, and though Mayor Ganon claims Zelda was found how do we know that the girl locked in the Goddess Statue is the real one?" Madam Kouri responded.

"Oh, yes, the Sheikah are known to use magic to deceive others," Madam Kasai said circling behind Link while he wasn't looking. "Perhaps there's no one in the Goddess Statue and the real Zelda is actually disguised as Sheikah, or a male Hylian to fool Mayor Ganon."

Before Link could react, Madam Kasai inserted a glass arrow with clear liquid into Link's neck. He immediately recognized it as the same one Impa gave him before he passed out, and tried to remove it. But Madam Kasai was surprisingly strong, and Link began to lose consciousness.

"What did you just-?

Madam Kouri suddenly grabbed Proxi and placed her inside a glass jar, preventing Link from finishing his thought.

"I just gave you a small dose of poison from a Sleep Arrow," Madam Kasai said. "You should be unconsciousness in a few seconds."

Link tried to speak, but Proxi's translations were muffled by the thickness of the glass jar she was inside of.

Madam Kasai grinned maliciously and said, "If we bring you to Mayor Ganon and claim that you're the real Zelda in disguise…

"...Then he will surely reward us," Madam Kouri finished.

As the two women cackled, Link drifted into a deep sleep and was out cold.

To be continued…