*Link's P.O.V.*
"How in the name of Farore could you have gotten us lost? We were just a little ways out from the field, and you managed to go in the wrong direction!"
I sighed. We had been walking in the forest for about an hour.
"How could someone expect someone like you to save Hyrule? I mean seriously!"
After a few more seconds of her ranting, I snapped.
"Listen. In case you forgot, you're the one who picked the direction you thought we came from. So don't go blaming me for your mistake. Also, it was your grandfather who chose me to do this. I'd watch what you're saying to me. I'm the one with the food and water."
"Oh, so now you're threatening me?"
I would've shot back a response if I hadn't seen a girl standing near us with wide eyes. She just stood there and stared at us. She was holding a basket full of berries and herbs. Wondering if she might have any directions, I took a step and opened my mouth to say something. Instantly, she took off running. I took off after her, leaving behind Zelda and Epona. I wanted to know the way back to the field. I heard Zelda call me back, but I ignored her. I was a bit close to catching the running girl, but she sped up.
'Wow, this girl is fast for her age,' I thought. A little bit later, she disappeared behind some bushes. I ran through and stopped. I had come upon a small village. But it looked a bit strange. For one, the houses were made out of trees. The other thing was that there were no adults in sight.
'A village full of children?'
"Link, don't do that again! If I had been stuck there in the middle of the woods-"
"Shh." I turned around and glared at Zelda. She had brought Epona with her, too.
"Don't tell me to shush!"
I sighed. "I'm going down there to ask for directions. I will be back. Please don't follow me." I walked more towards the village. Once one child saw me, they screamed with terror. I flinched. More children screamed. Only one child didn't. He was small boy with light brown hair and bright green eyes. He was wearing all green with brown boots. He just stared at me, looking me up and down. Finally, he spoke.
"Quiet!"
The children fell silent.
"You..." He said. "Who are you and why are you here?"
I swallowed. Even though he was only a small child, he seemed very threatening. "My name is Link, and I was just trying to ask for directions back to Hyrule Field."
"Link, you say? You have been expected. Our guardian wants to speak to you."
"Expected?"
He nodded. "Come with me. And bring your friend, too." He turned around and started walking.
'Friend? Does he mean Zelda?'
I turned around and beckoned her. She still had her hand on Epona's rein. I shook my head. "Leave Epona here. I'm sure she can fend for herself." I said as I started following the boy. I heard Zelda running to catch up. We followed him through a pathway outside the village. On the way, I asked him a few questions.
"Hey, what's your name?"
"Folan."
"Okay, Folan...are there any adults in the village?"
He turned his head back a bit to look at me, then shook his head and sighed. "Weren't you ever educated on the Kokiri?"
"Kokiri...? No, I don't think I was taught that in school."
This time, Zelda spoke. "Oh, is this the fabled Kokiri Forest? My grandfather told me stories about your kind. The Kokiri are the children that never grow up and are spirits of the forest, right?"
Folan nodded. "Though we're not exactly spirits, that's correct."
I saw a look of triumph spread across Zelda's face. 'Great,' I thought, 'something for her to rub in my face.'
"We're here." Folan stepped aside. There was a small passageway to an opening. I walked through and didn't see anything in particular, except for a giant tree. The closer I looked at the tree, though, the crazier I thought I was getting. The tree had a face.
"Great Deku Tree! They're here!" Folan called out.
"Excellent. Thank you, dearest Folan." I looked around for whoever was talking...then I realized the tree's mouth was moving ever so slightly. "Tell me," the Great Deku Tree spoke again, "Is your name Link?"
"Yes."
"And you are Zelda, correct?"
She nodded.
"I apologize on behalf of the Kokiri. There hasn't been an outsider here in about a decade. On top of that, they're not used to seeing anyone who isn't a child."
Zelda tilted her head. "Why is that?"
"You see, the Kokiri have been kept hidden for a very long time. I do believe it's been about 500 years. Hardly anyone knows about their existence anymore. The only people that know are the descendants of the royal family and expert scholars."
"But why keep them in hiding for so long?" I asked.
I heard him sigh deeply. "I assume you know the story of the Hero of Time?"
I nodded.
"During his time as the hero, disaster struck the forest. The Kokiri almost died out and the original Great Deku Tree was killed by an evil man's power. To prevent that from happening again, I placed a magical barrier around the village to make it invisible to the human eye. It also keeps unwanted visitors out. Only people destined to see it will be able to see it."
I nodded again. "I see. So why are we able to see it?"
"I feel that the same man who almost wiped them out all those years ago has returned."
"Do you mean Ganondorf?" Zelda asked. "According to my grandfather, he has returned."
"Yes, that is exactly who I mean. With his return, he has brought many monsters forth along with his presence. The temples of the sages are becoming run down with evil. Even though I have placed a barrier around the forest, the Forest Temple has been affected by his minions. I need it cleared out before the Kokiri children find out about it. Folan is the only one that knows about it. He's the leader of the village. He will lead the way to the Forest Temple."
I took a step back. "I just left my home yesterday! I'm not sure if I am ready to take on such a task."
The Great Deku Tree let out a rumble that I assumed to be a chuckle. "Do not worry, boy. You are the next chosen hero, correct? Trust me, I don't think you'll have an issue with it."
I gave a confused look. "The next chosen hero?"
"You mean you don't know? Do you not realize why you are here?"
I shrugged. "I was just sent on a quest to return Hyrule to normal because I am descended from the Hero of Time. I wasn't told anything about being the 'next hero' or anything."
"Well, the Goddesses created your destiny a long time before your birth. So, you're not here by mere coincedence. You were chosen to bear the spirit of the hero, and therefore, you the duties of the hero. Just because you think you were sent by someone to do a specific task doesn't mean that it wasn't already destined to happen."
I looked at the ground. "So you mean...I was chosen by the Goddesses themselves to bring Hyrule back?"
"Yes."
"I see." I looked back up at the Great Deku Tree. "Then I'll do it."
"I already knew you would. You just took some urging, that's all. Either way, your destiny cannot be avoided. Remember that."
"I will." I turned around and started to leave.
"Wait."
I turned my head back. "Yes?"
"I sense a lot of tension and anger between the two of you. Also remember that things that happen in the past can be forgiven."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked harshly.
"You will find out in time. Now, go."
I nodded and left. Zelda followed me out. We saw Folan waiting for us a few yards away.
"Come," he said, "we must go to the Forest Temple immediately."
After walking through the woods for what seemed like an hour, we arrived at a broken staircase. The whole way here had been silent, except for our footsteps.
Finally, Folan spoke. "I'm surprised that we didn't run into any monsters on the way here. The forest is usually crawling with them around here. Well, anyway, here we are."
I looked at the broken staircase. "Um...how are we supposed to get up there?"
"Oh. I almost forgot. Here, use this." Folan dug a strange object out of his pocket. "It's called a hookshot." He rotated it around. He showed us inside the handle. "You press this button to release the chain. The arrow here-" he rotated it to show the arrow, "will attach to wooden objects and fly you across to them. Like this." He aimed the hookshot at a branch above us and let the chain go. In just a few seconds, he was sitting on top of the branch.
"Once you have reached where you needed to go, press the same button to retrieve the chain. Here, you try." He threw the hookshot down at me. I mimicked his actions and also ended up on the branch.
"See? Easy, right?"
I nodded.
"Hello? What about me?"
I looked down at Zelda and sighed. "Fine." I tossed it down to her. She failed to catch it. I rolled my eyes. Folan glanced at me questioningly, but didn't say anything. I heard Zelda squeal. I looked back down and saw that she had managed to get the arrow stuck in the ground. I buried my face into my palm.
I heard Folan laugh softly. "Just retrieve the chain and try again."
The second time, she got it.
"There you go. Now, both of you be careful. Even though the forest was strangely empty, the temple will be filled with enemies and such. If needed, the hookshot can be used as a ranged weapon since that arrow can pierce through anything softer than wood. It's pretty sharp."
I nodded. "Thanks. And we'll be careful."
"Good luck." Folan jumped off the branch. He turned around and looked up at us with innocent eyes. "I'll be here when you come back...you will come back, right?"
"I'll try to," I called back. With that, I turned and jumped to the entrance of the Forest Temple. I stared at the entrance. I heard Zelda jump down behind me.
"Come on, let's get this over with." She headed inside. I let out a breath and followed her.
