Destiny is calling… awake…

The sun raised its head over Hyrule field, kissing the hills beneath its gentle touch. Though the beauty of the land was untarnished to the untrained and unaware eye, anyone who dwelt near the place knew different. They could smell the smoke in the air and see the ash covered ground. They saw the ruts in the ground from the Gerudo horses, galloping into the cities with fire. They felt the fear in their hearts and could see it on the faces of others. Yes; Hyrule was truly in turmoil.

The rain had stopped in the light of the early morning and a rainbow was left in its wake. Droplets clung to the blades of grass around the hollow tree in Hyrule field where the youth had made his bed. Falling asleep to the strange melody had brought on dreams, veiled in obscurity that could not be explained.

His first dream was of the strange Gerudo women. There were two, and in his dream they were fighting – standing, screaming at each other in their strange language, completely unaware of his presence. After that, one woman pulled a knife and made a move to stab the other, but strangely, something came between them and took the blow. The form that came between them had no shape or form, so Link was unsure of exactly what it was or what it meant.

His next dream had been of his own trek to the castle. He had been going to meet with the Princess, and he kept meeting people along they way who would tell and give him strange things that he didn't understand. Thinking back, he couldn't remember what they had given him…

His last dream placed him in Kokiri village. He had been young and at the forest bridge, standing with Saria. He had been… crying… She was sad as well, but she had tried to smile and hold back her tears. He was backing away from her slowly. Was he… going somewhere? She had told him that it was okay, but he didn't believe her. He didn't want to leave! He had been happy! Why was he going? He had turned his back on her for a brief moment, only to turn back and rush into an awaiting hug. He had already hugged her once already, but it just seemed as though he couldn't stop. Then, he had kissed her as tears streamed down his face – his first kiss…

Strange, he didn't remember it at all. Yet, it seemed more like a memory than a dream… There was no way it could possibly be real. He hadn't left the forest until he was sixteen. By that time, he and Saria had… stopped talking…

A bright light moved close to Link's face and he could feel the warmth on his skin. He scrunched his nose and recoiled at a soft flutter against his cheek.

"Wake up!" came a small voice. "Wake up, Link!"

Slowly, he opened his blue eyes to what he thought had been the sun in his eyes, but looking on, he saw the light move to the side, diminishing in brightness.

"Sorry," said the voice. "Too bright for you?"

Link opened his eyes more and rubbed his neck from sleeping against the curved log.

"Good morning, handsome!" said the voice.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"The name's Navi," said the small growing lady. She offered her small hand, but then remembered he couldn't take it.

"You're – a fairy?" he asked.

She nodded cheerfully.

"I want to thank you for what you did for me. I would have frozen to death."

Link nodded while peering out of the log for any sign of threat.

"You're welcome," he said, rising up.

"Wait! Where are you going?" she asked, watching him walk away as she hovered there in the log.

"I don't know," said Link, pulling the ocarina from his belt.

He raised it to his lips to call for the horse, but the small fairy pulled it away.

"Hey!" she said. "You're… him! You're the Hero! Link, right?"

"How do you know that?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at her. "Wait… you already knew that! You called me by name!"

He reached his hand up and grabbed her harshly before she could fly away.

"You're crushing me!" she said. "Okay! I'll tell you!"

Link released her and she flew away from him a bit, putting her hands behind her back in shame.

"Well, I kind of knew… Because… I've kind of been following you…"

Link titled his head slightly. What?

"You've kind of been following me?" he asked. "How exactly would you go about kind of following someone?"

The disgusted boy shook his head and began to lift the ocarina to his lips again, taking several steps away from the fairy. Though he tried to brush her off, he could not lose her. She simply tugged the ocarina away again.

"I was supposed to follow you!" she said. "I was sent!"

"By who?" he demanded in annoyance, still clutching the ocarina.

"The Deku Tree!"

He raised his head to this.

"He summoned me. He thought the Hero might need some help."

Link only sighed deeply. Just what he needed: someone to tag along after him and bug him more about what he was supposed to be doing. Navi flew up before his face.

"Geez… you can be a real grump when it comes down to it! But! Since you saved my life, I guess I'd still be willing to go with you."

Link shook his head. Why was she still talking?

"Look – what did you say your name was again?"

"Navi!" she scolded, her light casting red.

"I'm sure I can make it, Navi. So, unless you know where to go next, I don't think you're going to be any help to me. I think I can discover destiny by myself," he assured her.

She shook her head.

"This isn't good…" she muttered.

Link let his eyes trail up to her slowly. What was she talking about? Why was she still here?

"The prophecy said the Hero would have a fairy… If you won't accept one… maybe you aren't the one after all…"

She turned away from him, her little face twisted in sorrow. If she thought this was going to get to him, she was wrong. He turned his back and raised the ocarina to his lips again. He arranged his fingers as Malon had taught him and blew in the first note. Before he had shifted his fingers to the second, a strange wave of nausea came over him and he leaded towards the ground for balance. His head was swimming, and his eyesight was fuzzy. What was happening? Slowly, in his head, he began to hear a low voice.

… Link… the stars…

… It's time …

The calling… Link…

… Answer the call…

The forest is dying…

It… needs you…

"Are you okay?" asked Navi, finally noticing his state.

"I… heard a weird voice…" he said.

"Was it familiar?" the fairy asked.

… Link… the stars…

"Yeah," he said. "It was… an old friend."

"What did it say?" Navi asked hurriedly.

"It said, "Answer the call. The forest is dying. It needs you"."

Navi clasped her tiny hands to her mouth.

"You – you are him! You are the one!"

"What?" he questioned, finally feeling well again.

"Don't you see?" she asked excitedly. "You're being called! The forest is calling you! It's your first quest!"

"Quest?"

"Yes! The spirits of the forest are troubled! They are calling the hero to save them! Link… destiny is calling!"

He shook his head.

"You know I don't –"

" – believe in destiny… I know," Navi interrupted. "But whether you do or not, the forest is calling you! Let's go! I can show you how to get there!"

Link watched as Navi zipped down to the ocarina and placed her tiny hands over the holes. I strange wind began to mysteriously blow through the instrument, playing Epona's song perfectly.

"How'd you know that?" he asked.

"Told you I've been watching," she said.

Link raised his head to Epona, who came bounding over the hill nearby. He lifted his eyes to the fairy. Perhaps, if she wasn't too much of a burden on his ears, he could allow her to come along. It might be nice having someone to talk to.

"Okay," he consented. "I suppose you can come."

The fairy laughed.

"Silly! You don't have a choice!" she cried, as she watched him mount Epona and then pointed him in the direction of the forest temple.