25

Generations

The Forest Temple sat still on one of the higher points in the Lost Woods. The colour of its exterior provided somewhat of a camouflage from an aerial view. The vines that covered its dome roof coloured it in such a way that it blended in with the surrounding canopy, becoming one with the lush, dense forest.

It would only be really seen clearly on ground level, but the towering trees and plants blocked any kind of view from it to one of human height. It would truly be a sight to behold were the forest not there to any passing travellers. It would loom over the horizon more prominently than most landmarks in Hyrule. The Forest Temple was one of the few barriers that were built in order to be seen, unlike most of the others which had been built in secret to avoid trespassers and looters.

Without the Deku Tree's magic to support the life of the woods, the temple became the last source of the unexplained that the forest needed to sustain itself. Unfortunately, since the structure was under the control of Phantom Ganon—ultimately Ganondorf—it could easily affect the forest with its malevolent corrosion.

The power of the Great Deku Tree prevented this from happening for centuries, but after his untimely death, the Forest Temple was free to wreak havoc within the borders of the woodland.

It wasn't always like this. When the ancient Sage of Forest designed, constructed, and blessed the architecture of the Forest Temple, he originally intended it to be a monument to the forest spirits, and to serve as a supplier of extra life for the wood. He never intended it to fall into evil hands, for it would reverse the magic flow to the opposite polar energy, resulting in contaminating the purity of the Forbidden Forest.

When Phantom Ganon took control of the structure, what the ancient Sage feared came to being, and it began to emit dark energy. The Great Deku Tree managed to keep the overflowing energy at bay, but after he passed away, the forest began to die.

Monsters began to appear out of nowhere, invading places where they were never meant to go, including the village where the Kokiri tribe lived. They were forced into their homes, forbidden to exit except during times where it was necessary.

Life in the forest seemed to become the exact opposite of what it was intended for. It originally stood as the source of life, where most creatures were born and released into the world. Now, it would be more ideal to live somewhere else with all of the chaos that happened every day.

The Kokiri couldn't leave; they were told by the Great Deku Tree that they would die if they tried to.

The Forest Temple began to hum, churning with energy and power. The dark energy that it poured into the ground, into the soil, began to change direction. It slowly lifted up, rising out of the blades of grass surrounding, no longer poisoning the ground, but contaminating the air instead. From a distance, it looked like massive, dark tentacles were rising out of the temple's base, as if it were coming to life, ready to finish the forest off in a staggering blow. The tentacles swayed in the wind, partly falling apart as the breeze carried some of their mass into the air. They swept over the trees, licking the leaves that blocked out the sun. They were flung into the air, turning into shades of orange, red, and brown almost on contact. They were swept towards the Forest Temple, being consumed by the darkness. They began to spin, circling around the structure in a spiral motion, like a giant tornado had just touched base with the temple. The tentacles were also sucked into the spinning cyclone, firing upwards as hard as they tried to remain level. The tentacles, the roots of the temple, began to spin in the wind as well, disintegrating and melding into one giant mass, blocking out the sun in certain areas. The Forest Temple was completely in shadows, overwhelmed by the spinning darkness surrounding its walls. The wind howled, the ground roared. More and more leaves were ripped of the branches of the trees and joined the anarchy, only adding to the bulk of the tornado. The entire forest panicked, rustling and waving in the strong winds that came from the Forest Temple. The darkness infected the sky, creating dark storm clouds, converting the bright blue sky into a hazy orange colour. Lighting flashed, striking the tornado occasionally. Dust and debris was lifted off of the Forest Temple's borders. The ground rumbled as one large earthquake shook the heavens, almost ripping the surrounding ground asunder.

Light. In a giant blaze, brighter than that of fire, the dark mass was instantly converted by an unseen force. The dark tentacles, now one giant mass, were soaked with white pigment, shining brighter than the sun. The dark energy had been completely reversed into blessed light magic, invigorating the life of the forest. The dead leaves caught in the spiral regained their original green shades, fused with life without the aid of the trees they once thrived off of. The twister lowered towards the ground, becoming almost liquid-like. It spread through the forest like a tidal wave, filling the woodland with a lake of pure magic. Nothing was physically affected by the rush of power; not a speck of dust was moved because of it. The energy sunk into the ground, sinking between the spaces between the particles of soil, planting itself among the foliage.

After a few minutes, the Forbidden Forest was one again quiet and tranquil. The Forest Temple stopped humming, and had fallen silent, no longer manufacturing malevolent energy.

The Forest Barrier had been destroyed.

"Tamil…" Saria whispered. She could not take her eyes off her guardian fairy, lying on the ground, breathing hard, shards of the energy ball still jumping on her body. She was still alive, but not without injury. A blast like that to such a tiny sprite would've been devastating. If it was enough to injure Link to the point where he could barely stand up, he had no idea how much if would affect a defenceless fairy.

Link approached the scene, still limping. He knelt down beside Tamil, like everyone else. The sprite was almost completely motionless. One arm was over her forehead, the other simply on the ground, not even twitching. She was breathing, but it looked like she was struggling.

Link didn't know what to do. He might've had a chance of aiding a human, but he didn't know the first thing about fairies and how to heal them, or if it was even possible.

"Saria…" said Tamil, barely able to speak. Her eyes opened weakly, trying as best they could to lock eyes with Saria.

"Tamil, don't speak," said Saria, tears building up in her eyes. "You need to rest…you just need to lie down for a bit…"

Tamil smiled. "Heh-heh…nah…I don't think that's going to do much." She coughed. Opening her eyes slowly, she spoke again. "Saria…I came here…to save you…"

"I know you did," said Saria. "But why didn't you just leave it to Link? He would've brought me back…"

"We tried to convince her otherwise," Link explained. "She refused to stay behind."

"I'd never…abandon you…Saria…" Tamil whispered.

"But Tamil," sobbed Saria. "You didn't need—"

"I…made a promise, the day you were born," said Tamil, cutting Saria off. "I swore…to the Great Deku Tree…that I would protect you…no matter what…"

Saria was silent. She just continued to shake her head. Link recalled memories of talking to Kaepora Gaebora as he lay dying outside the walls of Hyrule Castle Town.

"I promised…" said Tamil. "That I would never abandon…you…even if it meant…dying…"

Saria gasped. "No, Tamil, don't die!"

Tamil began to struggle to breath. "I'm sorry…I couldn't be of any more help…"

Tears were streaming out of Saria's eyes. Link was having a hard time watching all this. He wanted to turn away, but that would be the wrong thing to do. He had to show respect. Even though he'd been with Tamil for only a short time, he felt as if he was losing his own fairy as well.

"Tamil…please…don't…" begged Saria, pleading Tamil to live.

Tamil, despite her fading state, took all of her remaining energy and forced a smile. "I've done everything…that I was born to do…I…let you live, Saria…that's all I ever wanted…I've fulfilled my purpose…"

"You don't deserve to die, Tamil!" screamed Saria. "It should've been me! I'm the one who dragged you into this!"

"Don't…say that…" said Tamil, almost completely gone. "The world…needs you, Saria…you need to fulfill your destiny…just like I have…" She swallowed, her voice shaking, her sight darkening. "Do what you were destined to do…Saria…become a Sage…save the world…I know you can do it…"

Her eyes rolled back, and her eyelids slowly covered them up. She slowly stopped breathing, and her bright pink glow died along with her, leaving only a pale-skinned being behind, never to move again.

Saria's hands were shaking, unable to see Tamil without her lively glow. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. She simply mouthed Tamil's name, and broke down. Link looked at Navi, who was also rubbing her eyes somewhat. Link could only wonder what was going through her mind right now, seeing another fairy that she knew closely die in front of her. Instead of Tamil dying, she might've seen herself, since Tamil looked strangely like Navi, despite the obvious differences in the colours of their radiances.

Link couldn't help but get chills looking at Tamil's dead body, without any glow at all. She didn't even look like a fairy anymore. Even her wings seemed like they had disappeared.

Link briefly changed his gaze to Phantom Ganon's corpse, lying several feet away, and that's when he realized something. No matter what happens, if there is a small fight or a giant war, there are always casualties on either side, and sacrifices are always made in order to achieve victory.

Link looked back at Tamil's body, and shook his head. How did she know about the Sages? How did she know that Saria was destined to become one? Did she know the entire time, or did some invisible force let her realize the truth as her life escaped from her? It was probably something that would never be answered.

Death came to all, and Tamil was no exception. She lived in order to protect Saria, and she ended her life only for that purpose. She died happy, and not the least bit in vain.

"Tamil…" sobbed Saria, trying to pull herself together. "What…your dying wish…" She turned urgently towards Link. "Link…do you know what she meant by becoming a Sage?"

Link stood there, trying to hide his emotions. He tried his best not to bring Saria's thoughts back to Tamil.

"Yes," he replied.

Saria's eyes widened. "You…you do?" She looked desperate. "Please, Link! Tell me how to become a Sage. I need to know how I can be one…whatever a Sage does. Do you know how?"

Link bit his lip. No one ever told him how to make someone a Sage. All they ever told him was that he had to kill the guardian of the barrier, and then the Sage would be awakened. They never told him to do anything to actually get the Sage to awaken. He thought that the barriers acted as muffles to block out the cry of the gods and prevent the chosen few from hearing their awakening call. Why was Saria still not hearing the beckoning call into the Sacred Realm?

Before Link could answer Saria's question, something grabbed his attention. The Master Sword, stored safely in its scabbard on his back, began to vibrate in quick, short pulses, as if it were reacting to something.

If Saria could still not hear the gods calling her name, then was Link supposed to act as the medium for communication? When Link pulled the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time, the weapon acted as a Link between Hyrule and the Sacred Realm, allowing him to enter it.

Maybe, if the Master Sword was reacting to the gods' call, then perhaps it would serve as the link between the two worlds as it did seven years ago?

"Saria," said Link, now knowing what he had to do. "Before I do this, are you absolutely sure you want to become a Sage?"

Saria nodded immediately. "I…I want to help you, Link. If it will help you save the world, then I'll do it, for Tamil's sake as well. I wont let her sacrifice be in vain."

Link nodded. "Very well."

Link slowly pulled the Master Sword out of its scabbard, and let its subtle blue light reveal itself. It definitely was reacting to something, and Link could only hope it was responding to the right thing. He presented the blade to Saria, letting her look at the gem that was fixed in the centre of the hilt.

The longer Saria looked at the sword, the brighter it glowed. Link looked at the gem as well, and was bewildered as it slowly changed from golden yellow to a florescent green, shining brighter than the sword's blade.

Saria's eyes slowly widened as she continued to stare at the gem. The green light grew so quickly that it almost engulfed the entire room. Her eyes slowly became consumed by the light, almost glowing in a radiance of their own. It was working; she was hearing the awakening call.

There was a bright flash, and Link was instantly blinded. He cursed and covered his eyes, stumbling back. There was a high-pitched ringing in his ears due to the loud crack that he heard. He tripped on something, something protruding out of the ground and fell backwards, landing on his back yet again. The ground he landed on was cold, and almost felt wet. It was as if he landed on some kind of ice. It chilled his back, his spine. It felt as if it was moving, but so cold as if it were some kind of undead being.

Link opened his eyes, expecting to see the roof of the Forest Temple, but instead saw darkness.

When Link looked around, he found himself in a dark void, being supported by a watery platform. Its texture, its ever changing shades of blue, automatically let him know where he was. He looked around to be certain. Indeed, he saw other similar platforms, seemingly held up by waterfalls of the same strange blue liquid. They all went into the distance, in everlasting rows. It almost made him dizzy looking at them, for these were sights that not just any mortal was allowed to see. They faded into the darkness, possibly moving, but he wasn't certain.

If he were now back in the Chamber of Sages, then he must've successfully transformed Saria into a Sage…but where was she?

He looked down, and found that he was standing on the same Triforce that he had been when he talked to Rauru. Its golden surface shimmered in this dream-like world, shivering in the cold.

He looked slightly off to the left, to the yellow platform where Rauru had been standing before, but now was nowhere to be found. Although the only thing displayed on it was air, Link still felt some kind of presence there, still watching him.

This was rather confusing. Rauru was already a Sage to begin with…how come he wasn't here now?

Link's train of thought was suddenly ended when a loud ringing noise came from the right. He turned to look at the emerald green platform, which now had a bright blue light shining out of its surface. It looked almost identical to the light that helped him escape from the Deku Tree. It spun confidently, but not so fast that it looked like something bad was going to happen.

Out of the blue light rose Saria, as if brought up by some kind of elevator. She bore the brightest smile, and looked almost like some kind of magical being amidst the azure glow. It almost made her look even happier. Her entire body was eventually visible, and the cerulean luminosity faded and died. What was left was Saria simply standing on her own platform, just as Rauru had.

She looked like the child of an angel, standing almost casually in the surreal world that was the Sacred Realm. The ambient glow of the platform lit her face in a sky-blue light. Her sapphire eyes absorbed the light, making them glitter and shine through her bangs. She stood ever so still, as if she were a holy relic, never to be touched by tainted hands.

She slowly opened her mouth.

"Thank you…" she said softly, as if she was trying to comfort him. Her voice echoed off the infinite walls of the Chamber of Sages. The echoes made her tiny voice seem otherworldly, as if coming from Heaven itself. "Because of you, I could awaken as a Sage…"

It looked like when someone became a Sage, all of the knowledge of the Sages was passed down to them as well. Saria didn't seem like she was full of questions, either; only answers. She was now blessed with infinite knowledge of the world, and probably understood more about life that Link.

"I am Saria," she went on. "The Sage of the Forest Temple."

Link's eyes narrowed. Why was she introducing herself to him? Had something happened to her during the process of becoming a Sage?

"Saria…" said Link. "Don't you remember me?"

Saria smiled. "I always believed that you would come, because I know you."

It sure didn't seem like she knew him. She was surely acting strange, now that she had become the Sage of Forest. He had to explain everything to her. He had to explain why he did what he did, in order for her to understand what becoming a Sage meant.

"No…" said Saria before Link could say anything. "You don't have to explain it to me, because it is destiny that you and I can't live in the same world."

Link could only stand there and shake his head. He felt like he was about to cry again. He had came all this way, left Saria for all these years, and had come back to rescue her only to say goodbye to her again. Saria had been his friend ever since he could remember, and now they were parting ways, as a mortal being and a spiritual guardian. He wished it didn't have to be like this, but just as Saria said, this had to be destiny.

"Don't be depressed," said Saria with a bright smile. "I will stay here as the Forest Sage and help you. Don't think of it as a goodbye in any way."

Unable to hold back his tears, Link could only nod. He wanted to believe it wasn't saying goodbye, but the fact that he'd never see Saria in Hyrule again pained him deeply.

"Now…" Saria went on. "Please, take this medallion…"

Saria lifted up her arms and looked towards the sky, causing the entire area to darken. She was apparently casting a spell, but what was she talking about when she mentioned a medallion?

Link recalled another memory of when he returned to Hyrule for the first time. Rauru had entrusted him with the Light Medallion, which contained his power. Was Saria doing the same?

Link looked up, and saw a flash of green light. A spinning disc plummeted towards the ground, summoned from the heavens. Link outstretched his hand, letting the medallion land safely in his palm. He looked at it momentarily, examining the design carved into it. There were four slender, curved shapes, all spinning around in a spiral, resembling a hurricane. Link thought of it as symbolizing wind, as air was the most pure in the forest.

"This medallion contains my power," said Saria. "Please, take it. It will help me aid you in your quest."

The medallion shimmered in Link's hand, and eventually decomposed into hundreds of green sparkles, all instantly moving. They glittered and rung as they began to make their way around his body, absorbing his essence and merging it with their own.

Link braced himself for the same agonizing pain that he felt when he touched the Light Medallion, but found himself virtually unharmed as the energy continued to surround him, become one with him. He felt a slight breeze originate from the ground, and slowly sweep around his legs. His hair began to sway upwards as the wind grew stronger and the tiny glowing particles continued to merge with his body. It whirled by his ears, making a noise in his ears to the same effect as blowing over the top of a bottle. His body remained perfectly still, for he did not want to disturb the process of the magic being absorbed into him, but yet his clothes rippled, his equipment rattled, and eyes began to water, as if half of him refused to be consumed by Saria's magic. He felt as if his entire body was glowing green as the Forest Medallion merged with him, but it was merely the light of the medallion that was being sucked into his skin below his clothes, eventually disappearing, particle after particle.

He felt almost invigorated as he obtained the Forest Sage's power, as if it had strengthened him with new life. He felt the pain in his feet go away. He felt his cuts closing and healing. He felt the scrapes, bruises, and pretty much every other injury that Phantom Ganon had inflicted upon him.

Saria was healing him with her newly acquired powers…but why?

With a dying ring, the light disappeared, and Link was as good as new. He could only look bewildered at little Saria's smiling face. A child helping an adult…it seemed somewhat absurd, but once Link thought about it, although Saria was still only a small child physically, she was still about as old as he was. Even the most powerful evil magic cannot stop people from changing, growing more mature and aware of the environment surrounding them. It could not stop people's judgement, and would never come close to diminish the act of forgiveness. People would always think for themselves, despite how much they were forbidden to.

The flow of time is always cruel; its speed seems different for each person, but no one can change it.

One thing that doesn't change with time is a memory of younger days.

Saria had awakened as a Sage, and had added her power to Link's. Together, along with the other Sages that would be awakened, they would crush Ganondorf's stranglehold on Hyrule, and hopefully be able to build a new and better world for everyone. Perhaps it wasn't really goodbye, after all. Saria would continue to live in Link's heart, and nothing would ever change that, even if they weren't living in the same world together. If she was helping him stop Ganondorf, then she might as well have been at Link's side the whole time.

Link's feet began to sink through the floor, as if it were giving way. He looked down to see his legs slowly being sucked into the space between the three golden triangles of the Triforce, where a bright white light emitted.

He was going back to Hyrule, to resume his quest to awaken all of the Sages.

He looked back up at Saria as he slowly sunk through the floor, looking like she was getting taller with every passing second. Her smile had faded, and had become a sombre frown. Link didn't want to see her go, but it looked like the feeling was mutual with her. She had done her part, and she could only continue to help when Link was back in Hyrule.

A ringing noise was heard when the light began to overtake him, beginning to make his descent to the dying land. It seemed as if Saria was too choked up for words. Did she still remember him? Did she still remember what Link stood for; all the things he did for her; all the things she did for him?

Everything seemed to get brighter as Link's head sunk through the floor. He thought he was about to break down, but lit up when he saw Saria's mouth open.

"Link…" she said. "…the truth…will be revealed to you now."

Link responded quickly, saving time before he was gone. "The truth?"

Saria did not blink. She did not dare take her eyes of him. "…who you really are…"

Link didn't know what she was talking about. He knew what he was…was there something he was missing? Why was Saria playing mind games with him? There were so many questions racing in his mind right now, but according to Saria, apparently they were all going to be answered.

Saria, the new Forest Sage, opened her mouth one last time.

"Saria…" she began. "Will always be…your friend…"

Trees. Link found himself suspended by that same cruel blue light, hovering down through the dense, lush leaves of the forest's canopy. Rays of sallow sunlight ran through the web of branches like a complex path through a challenging maze. There was a soothing, warm wind, calmly exploring the area from what appeared to be the Lost Woods. When Link first arrived here, this wind had been a cold, foul breath of air roaring through the dark tree trunks of the Lost Woods, howling out of the entrance to the Forest Temple. Somehow it had changed, and had modified is purpose to pacify and appease instead of provoke and frighten.

How it changed the atmosphere of the forest. It was almost identical to the one that Link had been raised in, where all of his memories lived as well as his friends. It was a haven instead of a hell; a blessing instead of a curse.

It was only now, as Link soared through the trees that he realized the true impact of Phantom Ganon's death. His malicious grip on the forest had caused it to spiritually wither and die, pumping an abhorrent amount of dark magic into the very core of the woodland's stability.

Now that Phantom was dead and Saria had been awakened as a Sage, the evil energy had been cut short, and had simply stopped. The natural elements of the forest began to stir purely, but without a magic source at all, Link still worried about how the forest would cope. The Kokiri would still inevitably die off without the Deku Tree, and there was nothing Link could do about it. He had done everything he could, but it still wasn't enough to save them.

He burst into a clearing, and looked in awe at the sight. There he was: the Great Deku Tree. He looked the same as he did before, not a thing changed. His dead, black bark had not shifted or even begun to decompose. However, most of his leaves had fallen off his canopy, leaving little behind, making him almost look skeletal. Link was still painfully reminded of how he failed to save him; how he failed to reverse the curse that Phantom cast upon him.

Link was gently lowered to the ground by the blue light he rode on, and landed softly on his feet, not feeling the effects of the burns anymore. The light disappeared, retreating into the heavens.

Link was left standing there in the Great Deku Tree's Meadow, looking upon his giant trunk.

Wind passed under him, rustling the trees surrounding the one giant one, who once represented the forest; life itself. Leaves rolled and tossed on the ground, spinning around in tiny cyclones, eventually breaking up and falling back to the grassy forest floor. The yellow sunlight softly reached through the Deku Tree's branches, casting a labyrinth of shadows over the ground where Link stood. They stood still. They did not sway in the wind that passed by overhead. They simply remained there as they did in the tree's final hours of life.

Although the Deku Tree was stone dead, Link felt as if his presence was still here, as if he was still able to look at him and see how much he had grown. He was almost like a father figure to him, despite that Link only knew him for a short period of time. He wished he was still alive to see this: what Link had done for his home; their home. He wished that the Deku Tree would live to see the rebirth of the entire world, lived to see the fall of the very evil that poisoned his roots and soul.

Link smiled; that was nonsense. The Deku Tree would see what was about to take place; his spirit lived on, in everything that grew and thrived in the forest, including the Kokiri. He would continue to watch over the forest, the world. He would forever live on as a holy entity, keeping guard of the woods, protecting it from whatever evil forces dared to venture inside.

There was a whiz from behind Link's head, followed by what sounded like the wings of a butterfly. It was Navi, coming in to rest on Link's shoulder.

"Oh, you're back," she said somewhat silently.

Link grinned. "Yeah, back again. How long was I gone?"

"I'd say a few hours," Navi replied. "I found myself in Kokiri Village after you and Saria disappeared, so I figured I'd stay there. I thought I'd find you here."

"Well, you're lucky," said Link, crossing his arms. "I just got back a few moments ago."

"Oh…" Navi mumbled. "So, is Saria…you know…"

Link nodded. "Yup. She'll stay up there and help us in any way she can."

"Oh, well that's not so bad, is it?" said Navi, feeling somewhat more contented.

Link shook his head. "No…not at all."

The two looked at the Deku Tree for a moment. His massive trunk didn't cast a shadow, which would be somewhat of a sombre atmosphere. Only his branches did, showing the surrounding area how long he had lived. His glum face, melded into the bark was still there, looking over Kokiri Village as he had for thousands of years. Even though he was gone, his remains were a powerful reminder of days gone by, and how Ganondorf had influenced everyone, even in the most secluded of places.

"He would've been so proud of you," said Navi after a while.

Link breathed out through his nose, smiling as he did so. "Yeah. I'm sure he is. I'm positive he's really happy now."

Navi tittered slightly. "I suppose you're right." She paused for a moment. "You did it, Link; you finally avenged him."

Link looked up at the tree's bare branches. "I did, didn't I?" He looked at Navi. "Well, for the most part, anyway. We still need to go get the guy who told Phantom to do it."

Navi smiled sweetly. "You need to concentrate a little more on the things you've accomplished; not the things you have yet to do."

Link nodded. "I know, I know." He looked back at the Deku Tree. "I do feel a lot better, happier than I was."

"I'm sure everyone does."

Link's eyes narrowed, and he turned back to his guardian fairy resting on his shoulder. "Everyone?"

Navi seemed somewhat ashamed. Her eyes wandered off, not really wanting to look at Link anymore. "I…well…you were gone for quite a while…"

"You told the Kokiri, didn't you?" said Link.

Navi turned back to him, her eyes owlish in somewhat of a panic. "I didn't tell them much!"

"Well," said Link, crossing his arms again, like a father lecturing his child. "What did you tell them?"

"Just about Tamil, and Saria too."

"What about them?"

"How…well…" Navi mumbled. "How they're never going to see Tamil again, and how it's most likely that they won't hear from Saria, at least not for a long time."

Link nodded. "What else?"

Navi bit her lip. "Well…I guess I blabbed about you as well."

"What did you tell them?" asked Link seriously.

"Nothing too into detail," Navi replied, looking away. "A lot of them actually figured it was you, since I was with you when you entered the village."

"Oh?" said Link, somewhat intrigued. "Really?"

"Yeah," said Navi, smiling. "I was surprised too. They all missed you, Link."

Link didn't know what to say. During the time when he lived in the forest, he always thought of himself as somewhat of an outsider. He never would've thought that people actually cared about him. He wasn't even sure they would even remember him.

"They…they did?" asked Link.

Navi nodded. "Yeah. They really did. They all thought you died when you left the forest."

Link looked away, actually laughing a little bit. "No way…I don't believe it…so, did they know about the curse the Forest Temple, then?"

"Actually, about that," said Navi. "When I tried to explain it to them, they all seemed a little confused."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, they didn't believe what I was telling them, about not growing up," she went on. "They actually didn't really comment on it. I did hear one of them mutter something, though."

"What did he say?" asked Link.

"It was a girl, actually."

"Oh."

"She said…" Navi began. "She said something along the lines of that she always thought you were different, or something."

Link thought about that line for a minute or two. He knew that he was different in many ways from the other children, but everyone had their differences. His were just…bigger. At least that was the way he thought about it.

He continued to silently look at the Deku Tree. Somehow, looking at him helped him think, letting him dig deep into his mind. As he continued to stare at the base of his trunk, he noticed something. It was something close to the tree, sticking out of the ground. There was a bit of green on it, but Link wasn't too sure. It didn't seem to be moving, but despite that, it really stood out from the blades of grass surrounding it. It was really small; Link had a hard time getting a good idea of what it was.

"Navi…do you see that?" he asked.

Navi blinked. "…see what?"

"Follow me," Link instructed.

Link began to cautiously approach the object protruding out of the ground, as if he had a bad feeling about this. He didn't reach for his weapon, though; since he didn't feel that it was dangerous. As he got closer and closer towards the object, he began to understand what it was.

The green he had seen was in fact a leaf, hanging off the tip of a small seedling. Link breathed a huge sigh, almost a laugh, as a huge smile swept across his face.

He kneeled down beside the sprout, and placed his hand under one of the leaves. He rubbed it between his fingers and his thumb, then left it alone.

"Would you look at that?" he said, as if looking at a newborn baby.

"Wow…" said Navi. "Was that because of us?"

Link slowly nodded. "I think so."

"It's beautiful," Navi commented. "Maybe we accomplished something after all?"

Link nodded again. "New life." He looked up at the sky. "Maybe…the forest will live on after all…"

The ground jolted.

"What the…"

The seedling sprung out of the ground, revealing a much larger mass underneath.

Setting a new personal record from the scream-and-jump event, Link was automatically sent several feet back of the thing that just popped out of the ground, with minimal damage to the ground around it.

What had replaced the seedling was now what looked like some kind of odd-looking tree, with a seedling on top. It was, in a way, plump, rounding out to its base, where roots had already taken shape. It had two other small, stubby branches, stretching out to the sides, like arms, each bearing a few leaves each.

What struck Link the most about this suddenly newborn tree was what was on its trunk: a face.

It was almost like the Deku Tree, except this one seemed a lot younger, almost childish. It had small, beady eyes, and a large, broad mouth, bearing a smile from ear to ear.

"Hey there!" said the tree, making Link scream and jump again, this time landing on his rear. Unlike when the Deku Tree talked, this thing's mouth actually moved, and even its eyes seemed to be blinking.

"Aw, man," said the plant. "You're a little edgy…can you lighten up a little?"

Link shook his head. "Excuse me?"

"Wow, you've gotten big. Look at you! You're all grown up!" the tree went on. "You look way different from when I last saw you!"

Link looked in disbelief at this thing. "What? Have we met before?"

"Huh?" The tree looked puzzled. "What? Of course we have! Don't you rem—" The plant cut himself short. "Oh…that's right…"

"What are you talking about?" said Link, already frustrated with this odd creature.

The tree cleared his throat. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm the Deku Tree sprout! Because you and Saria broke the curse on the Forest Temple, I can grow and flourish! Thanks a lot!"

Link's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe this. "You're…the Great…Deku Tree?"

The Deku Tree sprout looked like he was about to say something cheerful, but cut himself off. "Well, no, not exactly…" He smiled again. "I'm not the Deku Tree you knew, Link, but simply his replacement. I'm like a prince taking over the throne, you know?"

"Well…" said Link. "Then why do you know my name?"

"I am pretty much the Great Deku Tree," the sprout replied. "I have all of his knowledge and memories, only I have a way better attitude; like I don't say things like 'Thou…hast…befallen…thine…come hither…thee…' you know what I mean?"

Link laughed. "I guess so. So…are you going to do everything the Deku Tree did?"

The sprout nodded. "Yup. I'll even give birth to new Kokiri. It's been a while since they had newcomers."

Link sighed and smiled. This was such a huge relief to him. Ever since he left, he had been wondering what the true fate of the Kokiri was going to be. Now that the Deku Tree sprout was growing in the Deku Tree's Meadow, it looked like things were going to be all right in the end after all.

"Yeah, I think I have a lot of work to do," said the Deku Tree sprout. "It's been a while since this forest had one of me running the place. Man, what a mess!"

Link laughed even harder than before. "Hey, that's a little bit of an understatement, don't you think?"

"Well, now that you've apparently taken a liking to me," said the new Deku Tree, calming down a little. "It's time to get a little more serious, here."

Link frowned. "Serious?"

The sprout nodded. "Yeah. I'm sure this is something you were wondering about as well. Since I have all of the Great Deku Tree's knowledge, I can answer that question that has been bothering you since you arrived here."

Link decided not to get up. It seemed as if the Deku Tree sprout was getting ready for some kind of long explanation. "Go on," he invited.

The Deku Tree sprout's face shifted uneasily, as if it was hard fro him to say what he was about to see. "Well…where to begin…hm…" He mumbled for a while, thinking. "Hey, you must've seen your old friends, right?"

Link nodded. "Yeah. I saw most of them, at least."

"None of them recognized you in your grown-up body, did they?" asked the Deku Tree sprout, bearing a trace of a grin.

Link thought for a moment. "Well…no, I suppose not. Those who did recognize me only did because of Navi."

"Well, that's because the Kokiri never grow up! Even after several years, they're still kids!" said the sprout with a huge smile.

"I know," said Link. "They didn't grow up because of the curse of the Forest Temple."

The sprouts eyes narrowed momentarily. "The curse of the wha', now?"

"The curse of the Forest Temple," Link repeated. "You know, since Ganondorf took over, that building emitted evil energy, preventing the Kokiri from growing up like I did."

"Huh?" said the Deku Tree sprout, eyes widening. "No, no, no, no. That's not it at all."

Link froze. "What?"

The sprout laughed. "Wow, that was kind of creative. 'The Curse of the Forest Temple', eh? Interesting…"

Link leaned forward, his heart now racing. "That's…that's what it was, wasn't it? That's why they didn't grow up, right?"

The Deku Tree sprout looked at Link for a moment, smiled, blinked, and slowly shook his head. "Absolutely not."

Link was drawn aback. Now things were starting to get confusing. "It wasn't?"

"Nope."

Link put his hand to his forehead, racing through all of his thoughts to try and come up with an explanation. "If…if the Forest Temple had nothing to do with it…then what did? Why haven't the Kokiri grown up? What was responsible?"

"Heh-heh…settle down there, Link," said the sprout. His eyes looked off towards the trees. "I suppose the only thing you can blame is nature…"

Link's heart was beating on his rib cage, ramming it with brute force. "Nature?"

The sprout looked back at him. "Yep. That's all there is to it, Link." He was acting really serious now. He could only be telling the truth. "The word 'Kokiri' comes from an ancient word, meaning 'child'. The Kokiri are children of the forest, and will always remain children of the forest. They exist to remain young, despite their age. They will all die children, forever remaining in young bodies. That's what separates them from the rest of the world. I know this is a bit of a shock to you, but I need to tell you these things."

A shock indeed. So many questions were racing through Link's mind, breaking the barriers of thought, shattering connections and scrambling patterns. His head began to hurt as his heart pumped his blood faster and faster. He desperately tried to remain one with the world, trying to get the words out, but was having a really hard time.

"I know what you're thinking," said the Deku Tree sprout. "You must be wondering why only you have grown up."

"Y-yes!" Link blurted, as if he was impatiently waiting for the Deku Tree sprout to say that. He couldn't think of any answers to this question. It pained him to even think that the Deku Tree sprout knew this and he didn't.

"Well," the sprout sighed. "To be honest, Kaepora Gaebora was actually the one to tell you, but it seems that he ran out of time. Do you remember his words, Link?"

The owl's last words echoed in Link's mind, as if he had said them within it.

"Link…there's…a secret…" he murmured.

"A secret?" Link asked. "A secret about what?"

"Who…you…really are…" Kaepora coughed. Link was silent as Kaepora opened his eyes again. "You're not…a…"

The owl interrupted his sentence by a series of weak coughs and wheezes.

"Kaepora," said Link. "Stay with me!"

Kaepora looked at him once more, his sallow eyes going cold. "You're…really…a……."

Link looked up at the Deku Tree sprout, who now had put on a serious frown. Link's jaw was quivering. He could not stop shaking his head. He did not want to hear what he knew the Deku Tree sprout was about to say. He didn't want to let the sound of that sentence register in his ear drums. He silently begged the sprout not to talk. He tranquilly pleaded him not to open his mouth.

The sprout opened his mouth anyway.

"Link, you are not a Kokiri."

Link clenched both sides of his head. "No…I'm…I'm a Kokiri. I c…I can't believe that…I won't believe that! I was born here…raised here…I lived here all my life! If I'm not a Kokiri…then what am I?"

The Deku Tree sprout was silent for a moment. "You are actually a Hylian."

Link tried his best to find a way around this. This blew everything wide open. He tried to look at all the evidence against it, but it all eventually pointed to one conclusion. This explained why he was always thought of as different. This was why a fairy never came to him. This was why the Deku Tree let him leave the forest. This was why he had such a liking to Hylian food. This was why he grew up, and why no one recognized him in his new body. This was why so many people thought he was a Hylian before even considering a Kokiri.

It all made sense. There was no way out of it.

Link wanted to say something, something that would help but all that came out of his mouth was a quick exhale, mixed in with a vibration of his vocal chords, ending up as a quick and shaking grunt. That sound was eventually followed by a scream of colossal proportions. It was enough to make a mountain tremble, enough to blow the mechanisms of a proximate ear. Link's fingers curled, unable to sustain the amount of energy that he was putting into this shriek. It was a roaring concentration of emotion, and no one was going to stop him from letting it all out. There was too much to vent, and Link didn't know how long it would take for him to settle down.

"Link!" called a voice from behind. "Get a hold of yourself!"

It was Sheik. Somehow, he had managed to escape the foul jaws of the Moblins in the Forest Temple. There he was, standing near the entrance to the meadow, his arms by his sides, hands clenched into fists. His bangs still completely covered one eye, as if he was virtually unharmed by the Moblins' onslaught. His blood-red eyes stared Link down with ferocious intensity.

"What…what am I supposed to believe!" Link cried.

"Link, calm down!" shouted Sheik, outstretching his hand. "Pull yourself together!"

Link continued to look at the ground, gripping both sides of his head tightly. "It's not true! I was born here, in this forest, lived here all my life! I always was a Kokiri. I can't possibly be…a Hylian…"

"Link, don't loose sight of who you are," said Sheik, lowering his hand. "It does not matter what your background is, what race you are. You are still you."

Link looked up slightly from the ground. "I'm…me?"

"You are the same person, with the same experience and memory. This changes nothing; you remain the same person."

"How is that possible?" Link blurted. "All this time, I've been lied to. How could I possibly remain the same person?"

"Because you always were a Hylian," said Sheik. "I knew you were one the second I met you."

Link turned his head towards Sheik. "How come you didn't tell me this? Why did you keep it a secret from me?"

"You were still very timid," Sheik replied. "I didn't think it would be the right time to tell you; I wanted to give you some time to get over the fact that Hyrule had changed. I thought that this would be the ideal time to tell you, but it seems as though I was mistaken."

Link took in a deep breath, and let out a long, quivering sigh. He promised himself that he wouldn't cry; that's not what heroes do.

"No…you're right…I think that it's good that I know now. It explains a lot to me…it means a lot to me." He looked back towards the Deku Tree sprout. "But there's still something I don't get."

"And what is that?" asked the Deku Tree sprout.

"If the Kokiri are born from the Deku Tree, and if I'm a Hylian…"

The sprout smiled. It looked as if he was waiting for Link to say that. "Link, just like all Hylians, you have a mother and a father."

Link's face lit up, his suspicions confirmed. "I…I do? I have…parents?"

The sprout bit his lip. "Well, more like you did…I don't know how to say it. I'm sorry."

"What?" said Link. "My parents…they're…dead?"

"I don't want to mince words, so the answer is yes."

"How?" said Link, bringing his hand to his forehead. "How did this happen? What happened to them?"

The sprout blinked. "It's a long story. I'll tell it to you if you wish."

"Please," said Link, getting off his knees, and sitting down. "Tell me."

The Deku Tree sprout nodded. "Very well. Some time ago, before the King of Hyrule unified this country, there was a fierce war in our world…"

The sprout went on for what seemed like hours. He told the story of the Great War; the first major clash to ever take place in Hyrule. He told Link how it all started, with a vicious attack by the Gerudos on the walls of Hyrule Castle Town. He talked about all of the ferocious battles that took place in Hyrule during the bloodshed, including none other than the Forbidden Forest, where they Hylians tried to cover ground on Phantom's forces, but were annihilated.

The story eventually went on about two people, a soldier and his wife, accompanied by a group of other infantry, making their way out of Hyrule Castle town to escape the impending final attack. When they were travelling across the Royal Plains, they were suddenly ambushed by a group of stray Moblins and Gerudos, wounding the soldier in the kidney.

After the attack, they managed to find a place to camp, where the dying soldier's wife comforted him in the pouring rain. Link was actually surprised when the sprout mentioned that Amentaris, when he was only a lieutenant, ran into them.

"So…wait," said Link after a while. "Are you saying that Amentaris just abandoned those people there?"

"It was their wish to remain," the Deku Tree sprout replied.

"But why?"

"If you'd let me continue, Link, I'll tell you."

"Oh…sorry…"

"Anyway," the sprout went on. "They both remained under that lone tree, in complete silence…"

They were alone…

The blood oozing out his kidney wound began to decrease, and it looked like he was growing faint. The woman gripped his shoulder more tightly, but only with one hand.

"Junius?" she whispered. "Junius! Stay with me!"

Junius, the soldier, coughed up a bit of blood, and slowly opened his eyes again. Water trickled down his golden hair, dripping off the ends, covering his face in wet glaze. His eyes seemed soulless, and his mouth seemed to be uttering something silently. He was fading fast, and there was nothing she could do about it.

"Junius, please," she said. "Don't die here…not now…"

Junius' eyes grew, as if he were trying to see something on the horizon. His blonde hair clung to his skin, soaking wet from the unremitting torrent of water. The raindrops pounded his face like bombs, attempting to break him, but he was already damaged enough to be considered anywhere near a valuable target. His hand covered the wound lightly, for he probably knew now that putting pressure on it would only make it worse. The bright red blood stained the shining metal of his armour, changing it from a symbol of glory to a symbol of mortality. The substance quietly dripped to the ground, and mixed with the pouring rain, creating a small pool of crimson water.

He was almost like a lifeless being, a mere vegetable at the hands of human mortality.

His mouth slowly opened, however, using all of his remaining energy to express what he had to say.

"Is he…all right?" he asked.

"He's fine," the woman replied. "He's just fine; you don't need to worry about him. Worry about yourself."

"No…" said Junius. "I…I need to see him, one last time…"

"You can see him any time you want," said the woman through her teeth. "Because you are going to live…you're going to spend the rest of your life with him, and with me."

Junius cringed. "Riana, please!" he growled. "Just let me look at him. Let me hold him…"

Raina, Junius' wife, bit her lip. She slowly lifted open her malachite-coloured, wool robe, to reveal what she had been carrying in her other arm; a baby.

She had found it ironic when Amentaris had come by, carrying an infant of his own in the exact same manner that she was carrying her son.

The newborn was wrapped tightly in a viridian, cotton cloth, halfway around his head to keep him even warmer. The child was slightly disturbed by the pouring rain, and began to sob to some extent.

Raina silently passed her child to her husband, who took his bloody hand off his wound in order to hold his son. The child stopped crying when he was in his father's arms, comforted in a way. Junius looked into his son's blue eyes, virtually identical to his.

"Hey there, Link," he said softly. "Did you miss your daddy?"

Raina could only watch silently as her husband spent time with little Link. As she continued to watch, she began to grow fearful as to why he so desperately wanted to talk to his son.

A sombre frown appeared on Junius' face. "…I'm sorry I won't be there for you," he said. "I'm sorry I'll never be able to see you grow up."

"Junius, if you die here, then I'm dying with you, like I said before," said Raina, almost threateningly.

"Raina…" Junius said with closed eyes. "I didn't leave Hyrule Castle Town for me…and I know you didn't leave for yourself." He turned towards her. "We did it for our son; for his protection. If you die, then he'll be food for the wolves."

"But…I can't take care of him on my own. He'll die anyway if he's only with me."

Junius nodded weakly. "Then find an alternative. Raina, I married you because…well…you gave me hope. Just when I think the entire world is slipping out of the hands of purity, I look at you and I'm reminded that it isn't so bad after all." He began to cough violently. "Please, Raina, take Link to a safe place. Make sure he is happy. I've done my part for him; now it's time for you to do yours."

The tears came out of Raina's eyes more powerfully than before. Not able to say anything she nodded, accepting Junius' final wish.

His breathing began to become unstable and weak, but Junius put his last and dying breaths into looking into his son's eyes; the one who would carry on his legacy.

"Link…" he whispered, coughing as he did so, his eyes becoming cloudy. "Don't…die…like…me…"

Junius' head leaned forward for a moment, his bangs kissing Link's forehead briefly. It stayed there for a second, but eventually rolled back, resting against the narrow trunk of the tree. It shifted off limply to the side, looking away from both Link and his mother, Raina. His grip on his son loosened, and in the end disappeared.

He left Raina and Link on their own, to take on the world. Raina tried her best to comfort her husband by telling him he was going to be okay, but even she knew that his death was immanent.

She picked Link up from his father's limp hands, and concealed him once again under her cloak.

Shedding a tear for the loss of her husband, she stood up and began to walk through the darkness, carrying Link along with her, her cloak being carried along in the rain-soaked wind.

It was a risk, but she had no choice; she knew the only place where Link would be safe.

"Wow…he gave his life…just for me?" said Link after the Deku Tree sprout paused in the story.

"Your father loved you dearly," said the sprout. "Any price was fair when it came down to you, Link, even his life."

"So it was Junius and Raina…those were my parents' names?" asked Link, trying to remember the two.

"Yes," the sprout replied. "Their blood swims in yours, Link. Remember that."

"They were purebred Hylians, I'm assuming?" said Sheik, after keeping quiet for a time.

"As far as I know, yes," said the sprout. "I do not believe that Link has any trace of anything within him but the blood of Hylians."

"Well, let me guess…" mumbled Link, leaning back. "My mother brought me here, since that was the place she thought would be the safest for me?"

"Correct," said the Deku Tree sprout. "Your mother, and you, her baby boy, entered this forbidden forest, in an attempt to escape the dying fires of the war. Unfortunately along the way, your mother was gravely injured by wild monsters…her only choice was to entrust you to the Deku Tree, the guardian spirit of the forest…"

Raina fearfully crept through the narrow pass, carrying young Link in her arms. He was sleeping, unaware of this new world around him. She had felt so odd, talking to the strange children that lived in that equally strange village just beyond the pass. She had heard the legends, but had always thought of them as a strange children's story. When she had travelled by the border of the forest, she happened to have a strange feeling come over her that she might be able to find something in there; somewhere for Link to live in safety.

Somehow she had stumbled upon it. Somehow, after days of wandering endlessly through the eternal miles of trees, she had entered this strange village which had only been told of in stories when she was only little.

She felt like she was in a dream, asking these mysterious kids for directions to the Great Deku Tree, an entity that she never really believed existed until now.

These children, who referred to themselves as the Kokiri, kindly pointed out the general direction where the guardian spirit resided. With a quick "thank you", Raina was on her way, but made sure she didn't let Link out in the open, otherwise she feared that the Kokiri would recognize him if she were able to convince the Deku Tree to make Link one of them. Otherwise, Link would find out too early and spend his entire childhood obsessing over his past.

She was a slim, lonely, hooded figure, passing nervously through this forbidden place. Raina almost looked like a druid, symbolizing death, hopelessness, despite her real ambitions. Her dark green robe dragged behind her in the air somewhat, despite the fact that the air was relatively still and she was walking quite slowly, almost fearfully.

She wondered if she could even trust these children. She considered the possibility that the Kokiri did not show her the way to the Deku Tree, but to a trap instead, something that they would do to outsiders who ventured into their village.

Well, trap or no trap, she was going to continue. She was doing this for her son, and if this wasn't the safest place for him, she didn't think there was a safe place left in the world.

She vigilantly paced around the bend, and walked even slower than before; she was faced with the largest tree she had ever seen in her entire life.

It looked like the Kokiri had not been hostile after all. This gargantuan tree could only be the guardian spirit of the forest, only told about in myth. She felt as if she was in a child, seeing things that were only intended to entertain young ones.

She walked down the steady slope as if it were holy ground, afraid what would happen if she were to walk on the grass.

The tree began to rumble, as if waking from a deep sleep.

"Outsider!" the tree boomed, shaking the ground beneath it. "Thou hast intruded on mine forbidden land!"

Raina was drawn aback, shaken by the Deku Tree's words. "Please," she said. "Please, let me explain."

"Thou, who have dared enter this prohibited woodland, needs explain not her reasons. Begone!" boomed the Deku Tree.

"No! Please!" said Raina, dropping to her knees, being careful not to harm young Link in the process. "It's not about me. I merely ask a favour of you."

The Deku Tree was silent for a while. "A stranger, who defies the code of the forest, asks of me to grant her a wish? Absurd! I shall not aid thee!"

"You don't need to help me," said Raina, lowering her head. "I only ask that you help my son…"

She opened her cloak, and let the sunlight shine on Link's face. She placed him in front of her, as if he were an antique of some sort needed to be appraised.

"Please," she begged. "He does not have a home to go back to. I don't believe I can look after him for much longer; I don't have much time left."

The Deku Tree did not say anything. His face never moved, thus it was impossible to tell what he was looking at. Somehow, though, Raina had a feeling that he was looking at her newborn son, beginning to wake up as the clouded sunlight reflected off his brow. She lowered her head again, wordlessly beseeching the Great Deku Tree to reconsider.

"This…child…" the Deku Tree mumbled. "Outsider, if thou would, bring the infant closer."

Raina looked up. "Y…yes, of course…"

She tenderly picked Link up, still slumbering, and shifted closer on her knees, carrying him tightly in her arms. She just as gently placed him back on the ground, and folded her hands neatly in her lap, lowering her head once more, concealing it behind her hood. The Deku Tree fell silent again, examining her son. She didn't know why he was doing this, but if it would make her son safe, then she had no objections.

"Outsider…" mumbled the Deku Tree. "Thy son is a child of fate…I can sense great potential within him…his destiny will affect the entire world…"

Raina looked up at the Deku Tree. "Wh…what?"

"Outsider…" said the Great Deku Tree once more. "If thou truly believes that this child will be in harms way, I ask that thou leave him in mine care. I cannot allow this young one to die at such a young age."

Raina lit up, and began to bow her head repeatedly. "Thank you! Thank you for your mercy…"

"Thy son shall be raised as a Kokiri, and shall leave this forest when the day of destiny comes," said the Deku Tree. "He will be in good care, thou need not worry."

Raina couldn't stop smiling. She had done it; her son was now safe. Link would now grow up healthy, and not in fear of war. Link would learn his life lessons without his parents, but at least he would be alive. Raina was very grateful that the Deku Tree agreed to take him in.

Raina's time, however, was just about over. One of her hands continued to clasp the gash in her stomach, caused by that wicked creature in Hyrule Field, that flew into the air, propelling itself with spinning blades underneath. She had been bleeding for three days now, and she began to grow faint. She was still surprised she made it this far into the woods without dropping dead. The blood leaked out of her fingers, and stained her dress underneath.

She leaned over her son one last time.

"Link…" she whispered. "You have a home now. Please…grow up strong…become like your father. If what the Deku Tree says is true, then embrace your destiny. Make a difference in the world…like so many others have failed to do before you. Don't just follow someone else's ideals…make your own, and make them real. I know you can do it…"

"Your mother passed away the day after she left you here," said the Deku Tree sprout. "It was most likely that it was because of the wound, but there is room to say that it might've been caused by something else."

"It doesn't matter how she died," said Link. He was running his fingers through his hair, trying to contemplate the whole story the Deku Tree sprout had just told him. "All that matters is that…well…she saved me."

"Yes," the sprout agreed. "Like your father, she also gave her life for you. It was your parents' combined sacrifice that allowed you to live, and change the world."

Link slowly stood up. "Sacrifice…" he mumbled. "I hate that word…"

"How so?" asked Sheik, still present behind him.

"I don't believe that anyone, anything, should be forced to die for the sake of another person or cause," Link explained. "It makes me feel guilty, being alive at the price of my parents' lives."

"Link, you shouldn't think like that," said Sheik. "Don't start believing your very existence was what murdered your parents."

"I know that," said Link. "I know it's not my fault, but still…I wish there was another way to do things without the cost of people's lives."

"As do we all," said Sheik, crossing his arms. "You must understand, Link, that every gift has a price, some prices more costly than others. Instead of regretting what people have given up, you must honour it. After all, you wouldn't do something just so someone will regret it later on, would you?"

Link turned his head away. "You're right, but I still think that human sacrifice is wrong. There is always another way…" He turned back towards Sheik. "I'll find it. I'm going to make sure that life cannot be continued to be wasted. I'm going to make sure people don't willingly give their lives away like my parents did."

Sheik appeared to be smiling. "It's thoughts like that that truly make you a Hylian."

Link couldn't help but grin as well. "How so?"

"Hylians tend to be idealists," explained Sheik. "That trait can bring out both the best and worst in people, obsessing over their personal goals."

"Would you say my goals are going to bring out the worst in me?" asked Link.

Sheik shook his head. "I don't believe you're that kind of a person, Link. Me, being a Sheikah, I have a natural inclination to observing things in closer detail. It doesn't really take me long to get to know a person, especially a Hylian."

"I see…"

"Don't get me wrong," said Sheik hastily. "It's not just Hylians who do this. Take Ganondorf for example. He obsessed over his ideals so much that it corrupted his resolve. His original objective was transformed into a twisted version, because he saw an easier way to achieve it, and well…you can see the result."

Link nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."

"I believe in what you say, Link," said Sheik kindly. "I, too, believe in a world without sacrifice. I wish that there was some way to end unnecessary death." He stopped smiling. "Remember though, although there is truth in your words, you must not drift too far away from reality. It is good to think about the future, but keep your eyes off the present for too long, you'll steer in the wrong direction. Focus on the task at hand, and perhaps we could build on that model world of yours."

"You know what you must do," said the Deku Tree sprout. "You have to save Hyrule. Break the curses on all the remaining temples and restore peace to the world."

"I will," said Link. "Thank you."

"I'm glad to have revealed this secret to you, Link," said the sprout. "It shouldn't have been kept from you this long."

"Well, I'm glad I know now," said Link. "Hey, you take good care of the forest while I'm gone, got it?"

"Hey, no problem," said the Deku Tree sprout, returning to his original, casual self. "There's lots to do; don't worry about me."

"All right," Link replied. "I'm counting on you."

"I'll see you around. Good luck!" called the sprout as Link began to turn around, towards Sheik.

"So, shall we be on our way?" he asked.

"Yeah," said Link. "I take it you need me to lead out of here?"

Sheik scratched his head. "Well…erm…"

"All right then. Just follow me," said Link before Sheik could reply.

Sheik shrugged, and began to follow Link out of the forest. They began to walk through the pass, leaving the Deku Tree sprout to his duties. Link didn't want to start the journey out of the forest on a quiet note, so he started up a conversation as soon as possible.

"You know, you're a pretty cool guy, Sheik. I think I'm starting to like you," said Link.

Sheik was drawn aback. His red eyes widened as his pupils shrunk. He almost brought a hand up to face level. "Wh…what? Me?"

Link shrugged, continuing to walk along casually. "Sure, why not? You're an interesting person to talk to."

It looked like he was trying to hide it, but Link could tell that Sheik was blushing. "Really?"

"Why so surprised all of a sudden?" asked Link with a smile. "Has no one ever called you cool before?"

"Oh…well, not that. It's just that I've only known you for two days."

"So? That doesn't matter. Is it so much of a big deal that I think you're cool?" said Link, grinning.

Sheik's eyes looked off. "I suppose not…"

"You need to lighten up a little," said Link as he playfully punched Sheik in the arm.

"Hey!" yelled Sheik, backing off slightly.

Link didn't say anything; he simply laughed. It didn't look like Sheik got the joke, however.

After a few moments, Sheik began to chuckle as well.

"You Hylians…"

-Author's Notes-

Well...that was um...fast? I wrote this chapter in like...four days? I usually takes me around a month! Well, I guess this is a treat to my patrons. It was somewhat short, but you did get it rather swiftly, didn't you? So stop laughing at this chapter's length and/or quality. No...seriously, stop laughing.

-Crimson Water