"So, this person you're looking for Zelda...does he have a name?"

It was the next morning, not a word had been said to Link about his absence in the night and he wasn't about to offer an explanation. The minute he'd walked through the door Saria had declared it was time to go see the Deku Sprout. They were now walking through Kokiri village towards the Deku Tree's meadow; Saria had taken the lead which left Zelda and Link to follow.

At his question Zelda peeked over at him a slight blush staining her cheeks. "I...I met him first when I was ten. I don't remember what his name was...it was something like Locke I think. All I remember is it made me think of a chain."

"A chain?"

"Ya, you know. A bunch of metal rings linked together to form one big long continuous rope or chain?"

"Huh so Locke then?" Link rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I suppose my name could also be considered too."

Smiling Zelda nodded once before looking forward. They had reached the Deku tree's meadow. Saria had led them through a well travelled tree lined path that broke out into a large circular meadow. At the center was a large tree that had blackened with decay, dead leaves floated down softly in the still air. At its base in a circle of light that was created through a break in the dense foliage of the much larger tree was a small little tree sprout. This was the Deku Tree Sprout, the guardian of the forest and protector of the Kokiri. As Link understood it, it was the Deku Sprout who decided if someone was able to find the Kokiri Village. Tales he had heard also told that the Deku Sprout was wise and timeless, having the knowledge of the former Great Deku Tree whom had succumbed to evil many years ago.

When reading the tales Link had always felt that there was more to the stories then what was told but had always dismissed it because he had no proof. Now seeing the Deku Tree's meadow for himself those feelings returned. Staring up at the dead Great Deku Tree sadness swept over him and a familiar ache settled behind his eye. For one agonizing moment he thought he saw a dark doorway directly below what would have been the Deku Tree's 'mouth' but it disappeared before he had time to focus on it. Still staring at the dead tree he didn't notice that the Saria had stopped until he ran into her.

"Something's not right." Saria looked back and forth, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. "The spirits are quiet...like someone is blocking them."

Beside him Zelda took a tentative step forward. "I am sure it's nothing Saria."

"Princess...I don't think this is wise." Grabbing Zelda's hand Saria tried to hold her back. "Something isn't right...the spirits are never quiet."

"What spirits?" Resting his hand on the hilt of his sword Link's eyes swept the meadow for potential threats.

"The forest spirits." Saria answered off handily. "I am the Forest Sage. They...well they let me know what is happening in the world and in the forest."

Link gave her a hard look. "Forest Sage?" It was another thing that sounded so familiar to him but now was not the time to dwell on this. "Maybe we should do what she says Zelda."

"No, I have questions for the Deku Sprout. This may be my only chance to find out what's happened to him."

"You're talking about this Locke person right?" Link drew his sword, feeling a bit more at ease with the familiar weight of his blade. "Fine, ask your questions then we're getting out of here."

With a nod Zelda stepped past Saria and walked further into the meadow. Link and Saria followed at a slower pace. Saria still looked uneasy but she didn't warn the Princess again. Link on the other hand was getting down right antsy the closer he got to the Deku Sprout but neither Zelda nor Saria said anything. He wasn't even too sure if they had noticed the change in his demeanor.

"So, the Princess of Destiny has come at last." The little sprout said as they approached. "You have come to ask me where he went I imagine?"

Zelda paused and nodded. "Yes, Great Deku Sprout. Saria mentioned that he left the forest many years ago. Do you know where he has gone?"

The Deku Sprout's eyes drifted over to Link and studied him solemnly before answering. "You...could say that yes."

"Then where is he?" Zelda fell to her knees in front of the small tree. "I have to know. It's important."

"Everything is important these days." Came the Sprout's bitter reply.

"I...I am sorry?"

"I cannot help you."

Zelda looked confused, "I...don't understand Deku Sprout...why can't you help me?"

The Deku sprout remained silent though, offering no more answers. Slowly getting to her feet Zelda frowned as she thought over what the Deku Sprout had said. She turned to Saria but the Kokiri only shrugged.

"My, my..." A sinister voice spoke up from behind them. "So this is where you ran off too Princess."

Link saw the fear that entered the Princess' eyes as she turned to the speaker. Standing at the entrance to the meadow was a man dressed in red and purple robes. "Lord Agahnim, what are you doing here?"

"I shall do the questioning here Princess." Agahnim sneered over the collar of his robes. "So you thought to hide from me here...interesting." Slowly he made his way towards the Princess. "And who would this young man be?" Stopping in front of Link Agahnim paused before turning to the Deku Sprout. "This is the one then?"

The Deku Sprout's eyes slid over to Link then back to Agahnim. "Yes my Lord."

"Lord?" Saria frowned suspiciously. "What have you done?"

Agahnim threw his head back and laughed. "What Lord Ganondorf could not; the Deku Sprout is my loyal servant."

"That...that can't be possible." The Kokiri turned back to the Deku Sprout, reaching out she laid a hand against the small tree. Closing her eyes Saria seemed to sink into a deep trance until with a pained cry she yanked her hand back. Her eyes wide she stared at Agahnim with growing horror. "You...you..."

Agahnim just laughed at the bewildered Kokiri. "How delightful; you're speechless! But please let's be serious here. Princess Zelda you will return to the castle with me. Your...father has been most worried about you."

When Agahnim moved towards her Zelda shrunk away, her eyes darting to Link. "Please..."

Noticing her pleading look Agahnim turned to Link. "How interesting...she turns to you and has no idea who you are."

Link wasn't too sure what he meant by that but he did know he didn't like the fear that had crept over Zelda the closer Agahnim got. Placing himself between her and the King's advisor Link pointed his sword at him. "She doesn't want to go with you so I think it is time you left."

Agahnim laughed again. "Oh Farore this is rich! You have no idea who you are either!"

Now Link was confused, his sword point dropped a bit as he gave the other man a puzzled look which only made the Advisor laugh harder. "What an interesting turn of events! Alright young man, I am feeling generous. I will leave and...I will leave the Princess in your...capable hands."

Still laughing Agahnim started to walk back towards the entrance to the Deku Tree's meadow but stopped after a few feet. "Goodness, I can't make this too easy though now can I? I must leave a parting gift yes?"

Turning around he searched through his robe. "Let's see...ah here we go. I am sure you all recognize this?" With an evil grin he held something out in his hand.

"That...that's the Kokiri Emerald!" Saria cried in alarm her wide eyed gaze swinging to the Deku Sprout. "You-you gave the Spiritual Stone of the Forest to...to him?"

Agahnim cackled as he clutched the emerald. "Don't look so surprised Sage of Forest. I told you, the Deku Sprout is my servant. But back to the topic on hand; my parting gift."

Chanting Agahnim threw the stone, dark magic weaved up from the ground to wrap around the jewel. The dark energy seeped into the emerald and the stone started to pulse and grow. With a sharp cry Agahnim gestured and the stone elongated and changed shape. Seeming to liquefy the emerald twisted and grew arms and legs. A head appeared with long flowing green hair, gold filigree wrapped around the figure to curl around an arm and leg. Along the torso the golden filigree held dark green rich fabric in place, the skirt reaching mid-thigh. Emerald-colored eyes opened and fox-like ears twitched, taking in the sounds of the forest. A sleek bushy tail whipped back and forth sensually; what once was the Spiritual stone of the Forest was now a fox-like humanoid creature.

"Meet Eden." Agahnim said with a grin. "My parting gift."

Eden's ears flicked at the sound of Agahnim's voice. "What would you have me do Master?"

Agahnim's body coalesced into a void of dark energy, transporting him away from the forest but his parting words hung in the air.

"Kill them."

Link stared at the Vixen-maiden, Saria and Zelda stood behind him but he wasn't too sure what exactly to do. Well no, that wasn't true. Since this Eden wanted to kill him the obvious thing to do was to stay alive. What he didn't know was how to kill it. Staring at Eden though he wasn't so sure he should kill it.

"We can't kill it." Saria stated firmly.

Well, Link thought that cleared up that idea. "And why not?"

"Because she is technically the Kokiri emerald corrupted by dark magic. We can't kill her...that stone is important." Zelda placed a hand on Link's shoulder. "We must find a way to reverse what Agahnim has done here."

"Oh wonderful." He muttered looking back at Eden. "Any idea as to how to do that?"

Zelda exchanged a look with Saria. "Do the forest spirits have any idea?"

The small girl shook her head. "They're still silent. I...I think the Deku Sprout might be behind that..."

The three of them looked back at the small tree but the Deku Sprout seemed to be asleep which Link thought odd but it was better to only have one enemy and not two. As the three of them had been debating Eden had slowly made her way closer. Clear emerald eyes followed their movements and ears flicked back and forth as she followed the conversation.

"You mean to defeat me?" Eden purred softly running a hand gently down the length of Link's blade. "How foolish of you to think such things." Knocking the blade aside she came up beside Link, resting her head on his shoulder. "Lord Agahnim has given me life and in doing this he has also given me a purpose." Running her hand along Link's jaw Eden nuzzled his neck. "His wish is for you to not leave this forest alive." Suddenly with a hiss she lashed out with clawed hands, slashing at Link's throat. "It will be an honor to do this for Lord Agahnim."

Clutching at his throat Link fell back just as Eden back flipped away, her tail whipping him in the face. Looking to his hand he found it covered in blood but the gash wasn't deep enough to cause serious harm. Had he not moved in time it could have been a different story. Beside him Saria moved forward her arms going up and green energy surged around her. The earth around Eden rippled; vines exploded up to wrap around the Vixen. Clenching her fists the vines responded to Saria and tightened around Eden, thorns tore into the other woman. Lifting her arms again Saria quickly gestured down and the vines threw Eden into the ground.

Eden laughed and her eyes glowed when suddenly the vines snapped and she rose up to hover just above the grass. With a low growl her eyes locked on the Kokiri, with a toothy grin she lifted a hand and it was Saria's turn to be crushed in a sea of vines.

Taking up his sword Link ran at Saria, slashing at the vines to free her. Behind him Zelda chanted and flames gathered around her before she directed the column of fire at Eden. With a yelp the vixen bounded up to land a few feet away from the trio. Clawed hands dug into the earth as she glared at them and blew a strand of hair out of her face. "Impressive." Straightening she brushed off her dress and tossed her green locks over her shoulder. "But you haven't seen anything yet."

Raising her arms Eden began to chant, in response the trees shuddered and twisted. Link, Zelda and Saria stared warily at quivering foliage unsure of what was happening. Throwing her arms down Eden closed her eyes, one arm lifting and the other gestured around herself in a wide arc. Bringing both arms back up Eden threw back her head, her hair flying out as a wave of energy surged out. The hairs on the back of Link's neck rose as from the trees came spiders, dozens and dozens of spiders. Skittering across the grass on two pincer-like legs the baby Gohmas came at them but it wasn't the little ones that had Link's attention. No his attention was on the three Queen Gohmas that were bringing up the rear. Laughing Eden knelt and jumped into the air to land on a large tree branch high up in the dead Deku Tree.

"Should you defeat these Gohmas do try to find me. I would look forward to the challenge." Laughing Eden turned and leapt to another branch, leaving the three to deal with the multitude of spiders.