Chapter 11: The Forest Temple

It was the middle of the night.

Everyone was fast asleep.

Link, however, his eyes were twitching like he was having another nightmare. "Pant... Pant... Pant..."

He was having the same dream on that night before he and the others left for Lon Lon Ranch, the one when he dreamt of a burning castle with a woman carrying him as a baby.

"My son... I'll get us away safe..." The woman said with a frightening tone.

"Son...?"

The scenery changed into a forest and there was the Great Deku Tree.

The woman was crawling towards the tree, she looked at baby Link. "Deku Tree... Please... watch over my baby boy... Please..."

"Mother!" Link abruptly woke with a slight scream.

He panted heavily, his body was in a sweat. "That was a freaky dream..."

Next to his bed was Robin, who was looking at him with concern. "Are you okay, Link?"

"No... I had that same dream, the one that had the burning castle and the woman that was carrying me," Link replied putting his hand on his head. "But this time, the woman called me son..."

Robin's eyes widen a bit. "What?"

"Then the dream changed, she was in front of the Deku Tree, she was begging him to take of care me..." Link continued as he gripped his bedsheets. "That's when I woke up."

Robin was beginning to wonder if they're some kind of connection between what Raura was about to tell him and this woman that appeared in his dream who is his mother, either way, getting that answer would awaken the sage of the forest.

Link noticed the Archeologist was lost in thought. "Something wrong, Robin?"

The black-haired woman realized that the fairy boy noticed she was thinking about something. "Oh, I was just thinking that maybe your dream is having some connection between what Raura was going to tell you and that dream that you had before."

Link put his hand under his chin. "That's good a point..."

"Also, I've been thinking, before Navi came into your life, you said that even before, a fairy never came to you," Robin reminded. "Also, Kaepora said "That is your destiny from beginning to leave the forest"."

Link remembered that too, perhaps that there was about his past than he thinks.

"Either way, no point of thinking about now, once we go to Kokiri Forest, we'll find some answers," Robin interrupted the fairy boy's thought. "Let's get back to sleep."

"Right..." Link laid down and closed his eyes.

The next morning.

The Strawhats and Link got dressed and had breakfast.

Nami was wearing a similar tunic to the Kokiri, but it was made for adults, the tunic was orange, though her chest was showing with her redbreast brand. "How do I look?"

"Nami-swan, you look so beautiful!" Sanji swooned, wearing his tuxedo.

Zoro was wearing his usual outfit, the same when he reunited with his crew.

Robin decided to wear baggy pants and her blue jacket.

Chopper wore blue shorts and his usual hat. "I'm already."

Usopp wore his pants overalls and his hat.

Luffy wore his jeans and a red traditional unbuttoned shirt along with his sandals, a yellow sash wrapped around his waist, and a straw hat.

Brook wore his usual uniform. "I'll stick with my uniform."

Franky wore his red Hawaiian and his swim brief. "I'm super!"

The group then left Kakariko Village and went out to the plains.

Nami took out the map as soon as they came to the top of a hill. "Let's see, I remember we came from that path." She pointed towards a hill that went down beside it was a stone wall, that lead to a few trees.

"She's right, I see a narrow path between two cliffs," Usopp added using his goggles to look ahead.

"Then, that's where we're going!" Zoro stated but as usual, he went the wrong way.

"You moron, that's the way to the other side of the plains!" Sanji yelled comically.

Zoro stopped abruptly. "Geez, you idiots couldn't mention that sooner!"

"Like you're one to talk!" Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, and Navi yelled with anime veins on their heads, mostly referring to the idiot part.

"Anyway, let's get going," Link said gesturing towards the others to follow him.

About half an hour later.

They arrived at the tunnel leading to Kokiri Forest.

As they entered they crossed the bridge and then walked through another tunnel, then they arrived at Kokiri Village.

"Wow, this the village that you lived in, huh?" Nami asked the fairy boy.

Link nodded. "Yep..."

"For a village, you'd expect to see some of the children out playing," Robin pointed out seeing there wasn't a soul in sight.

"She's right, something off," Zoro said placing his hand on one of his Swords.

"Right, I sense evil power, a trace of it," Luffy added gazing at his eyes left and right.

"Something evil must've arrived this morning or beside a lot earlier during our long sleep," Sanji speculated.

"Like a predator scaring off forest animals," Nami added looking a bit scared.

"This enough to make my skin crawl, even my spine is shivering," Brook shivered in fright. "Wait, I don't have any skin, nor a spine, SKELETON JOKE, Yo-ohohohoh!"

Suddenly out of the ground was a man-eating plant.

"Aah, a man-eating plant!" Usopp screamed.

Link then slashed through the plant's neck-like root which destroyed it instantly. "Got ya!"

Zoro smirked. "Not bad kid."

"Who are you guys?" A voice asked.

The group turned to see where the voice came from, sitting on the ground was a familiar face, it was Mido.

Link was relieved to see a familiar, one that he never thought he'd miss. "Mido, it's him..." He was glad to see someone was still around. "All we did was fight, we were always getting a scolding from the Great Deku Tree..."

Robin observed the Kokiri bully, knowing that her confirmation of the Kokiri Children not aging was right, then she glanced at Link. "Could it be... That Link is actual..."

Her thoughts were interrupted by Mido's scowling voice. "Hmph, all over the forest is nothing but monsters, it's all cuz that jerk left with those pirates!"

The Strawhats and Link were puzzled at this accusation.

Mido got up and started kicking the ground. "All cuz that moron Link broke the rule of not to leave the forest!"

"Whoa, easy bro, that's a little harsh!" Franky said trying to calm down the little squirt.

"Shut up, we haven't been able to play outside anymore in over seven years, it's all his fault!" Mido continued to shout in anger.

"Geez, talk about a temper..." Usopp thought.

"Ganondorf's men were here, now his minions are causing havoc in the forest," Sanji thought looking at Kokiri bully with pity.

"We're discussing what we should do, then Saria decided to leave and go to the Forest Temple!" Mido shouted.

Hearing that clicked a memory in Link's mind. "Saria...?" He almost forget what Sheik mentioned, that's when he grabbed his bully by his shirt. "Hey, what happened to Saria!?"

"Easy bro!" Usopp said placing his hand on the fairy boy's shoulder. "Where are the others Kokiri!?"

"They're in their houses, but most are my place because a few got injured!" Mido replied. "But, as for Saria, that is none of the business!"

The Kokiri bully then pushed Link away and took off into the forest.

"Hold on, you can't go out there alone!" Usopp shouted.

Mido didn't answer, he just kept running.

Chopper heard this detail. "Excuse me... Luffy." His captain looked at him. "I'm going to check out Mido's place, if there are any injured, I need to treat them as soon as I can."

Link then knew he had to follow, so he came up with an idea.

"Alright, here's the order, Luffy, Zoro, Robin, you guys are with me, Sanji, you prepare a feast for the kids, Nami, you stay with Chopper, and Franky, Brook, you both stay to guard the village just in case any more monsters show up."

The Strawhats pirates nodded in agreement.

Link's group: Luffy, Zoro, and Robin.

"Is it true that Kokiri never grows up?" Zoro asked.

"Yes, they're a tribe of children that can never grow up, no matter how many years pass," Navi confirmed.

"Either way, let's just catch up to Mido, who knows what kind of danger he might get into," Link said seemingly worried.

They soon caught up to Mido, but as they did two large werewolf-like creatures came out nowhere, trying to pounce on the Kokiri bully.

Link then slashed through the two werewolves making them vanish into thin air.

Then five more came out snarling at the intruders.

"Gum-Gum Pistol!" Luffy pulled back his arm which stretched and then he extended his fist forward delivering a powerful punch into the wolf's face.

"One Sword Style: Lion Strike!" Zoro slashed the 2nd wolf's face which killed it instantly.

"Nueve Fleur!" Robin did her stance, creating nine arms from the last three werewolves. "Twist!"

The arms twisted the werewolf's bodies making them collapse.

"Link finish them off!"

"Right!" Link delivered the final blow to the last three werewolves, thus destroying them.

Mido was taken by surprise. "What'd you guys save me?"

Link took out his Ocarina and played Saria's Song.

Mido's eyes widen a bit. "That song, Saria would always play that and teach to those that she sees as friends..."

Link just stared at the Kokiri bully, hoping he would believe that he is a friend.

"Does that mean you guys know Saria too?" Mido asked staring at the three pirates.

The three nodded.

"Alright, I trust you guys, come on," Mido said.

The stairway to the temple was destroyed. "Damn, the stairway is gone." Zoro cursed under his breath.

Link remembered the Hookshot. "Wait, we can use this." He shot out the hook attached to a tree branch that was hanging above, but Mido grabbed him before he went up.

"The boy will be need protection," Robin thought as she did a stance growing arms out of her back which formed into wings. "Luffy, Zoro, you guys stay guard out here, they may need my help,"

"Alright, be careful," Luffy nodded.

"Hey, don't get lost," Zoro added.

"Geez, you're one to talk," Navi thought with a slight giggle.

Eventually, Link, Mido, and Robin walked into the temple.

They walked through a hallway, on a nearby wall was a portrait of Ganondorf, then the eyes gazed at three trespassers as they walked by.

"Have monsters been coming into the forest lately?" Robin asked.

"Yeah, after the Great Deku Tree died, all these creatures who protected the forest began to disappear..." Mido confirmed.

"As I thought, the creatures must be working for Ganondorf, the dark magic that man possesses is enough to scare off the creatures that are protectors," Robin thought with a grim look.

Mido interrupted the Archaeologist's thoughts. "If only I was strong like you ma'am, your friends, especially you mister."

Link glanced at the boy that was once his bully. "Mido sure doesn't recognize me, including Luffy and his friends, we have grown up a bit too expect for Brook."

"Where is Saria?" Robin asked.

"She said "I'm going to do something and then went to this temple"," Mido replied.

"She hasn't been back since?" Link asked next.

"Yes, when she never came back, I decided that I'm gonna save her and the forest," Mido said stopping for a moment, his hands tightly clenched.

He kicked a small rock with his foot. "Damn it... Saria told him that it was dangerous, so why the hell hasn't that idiot and his pirate friends returned yet!" He questioned with an angered look. "I mean Link always flirting with Saria, she also waited for him to return!"

Link didn't how to react to that, even he was touched on how much Saria missed him, but, Mido wasn't done talking about what was on his mind. "Whatever, he's probably out there chasing other girls!"

That made Link feel a little awkward, even though a part of him missed Princess Zelda.

Mido slammed his fist against the wall. 'Why won't he come back, his friends didn't return either, so what happened to them!?" His angered face turned into a frown of sadness. "I know I told him and his new friends never to return, but..."

Link could tell that despite Mido always getting into a fight with him, there was a caring side to the bully he knew since childhood, he could tell that he didn't admit it but, his bully missed him.

"It's fine..." Robin said with a gentle smile.

Mido turned his hand glancing at the black-haired woman. "Huh?"

"Once we leave, we can tell Link that you and the others are hoping for him to return," Robin continued.

Mido was taken aback.

Link shared Robin's smile too. "Yeah, I know he and the pirates will return, just keep waiting a little longer... and Saria too."

Just then out of the portrait, Phantom Ganon is on a pitch-black horse.

"Whoa, Ganondorf, what is he doing here?" Navi asked in the question.

Then the phantom put a creepy skull-like mask on its face and let out a creepy deep laugh.

Link tried to slash the phantom, but the ghost vanished into another portrait before he could get a chance to get near with his Sword.

"Be on your guards!" Robin warned. "It's obvious that ghost using the paintings to his advantage!"

She was right, from behind Link, the Phantom held up his dark spear, unleashing some electricity that shocked Link.

"AAHHHH!"

Robin gasped in shock. "No!"

Link knelt in pain. "Uh... ugh... that didn't tickle..." He attempted to cut the Phantom again, but he quickly vanished into a painting again.

"Master Sword isn't able to cut through!"

"This is bad, at this rate, we'll be roasted like chicken wings..." Mido said backing into a wall.

Then he felt something touch his arm. "Huh?" He saw a bow and arrow.

"It's the Fairy Bow!" Navi exclaimed. "With this, he might be able to win."

Robin used her powers to hear what the two were saying. "You guys, use that bow, that should stun the ghost!"

"Right!" Mido took the bow and aim an arrow directly at the phantom which stunned it and the horse trotted away in fright.

Phantom Ganon used another lightning blast but this time at Mido, but fortunately he managed to dodge, but knocked himself out.

The ghost was raised his spear again preparing to unleash another lightning attack. "This ends now!" He roared deeply.

"Now Ocho Fleur!" Robin chanted.

Eight arms grew out of the Phantom, six arms held onto his body, while two arms grew from out of his lower back to hold to the ground.

Phantom Ganon attempted to free himself.

"Link, now's your chance!" Robin yelled.

"Right!" Link jumped into the air and pointed Master Sword down and stabbed the phantom in the chest.

This made the Phantom scream in agony as his body began to float in the air which began to fall apart.

"Hey, kid, you and your friend did, I might have underestimated you, however when you face the true me, it won't be so easy," It was Ganondorf's voice.

"Is Ganondorf watching us somehow?" Robin wondered in thought.

"What worthless creation, I'll banish the gap between dimensions!" Ganondorf's voice roared.

The phantom began to fall apart even more into little pieces and disappeared into a dimensional hole in the floor.

"You did Link," Robin said with a smile

"No, we did, thank your help Robin," Link said returning the woman's smile.

Robin turned her face away, a little embarrassed.

Just then a picture that was shot by the Fairy Arrow began to glow brightly.

That's when a silhouette appeared in the air which took the form of female Kokiri with green hair. "Saria!" Link exclaimed.

Saria looked at her childhood friend smiling. "Thank you, Link, you and Robin destroyed the evil power that cursed the Forest Temple, with that gone, I awaken as the Sage."

Robin was astonished. "So, she is the Sage of the Forest." Remembering what Sheik mentioned.

"Saria, I don't know what-" Link began to say until Saria placed her finger on his lips.

This took the fairy boy by surprise. "Shh... it's fine, but I won't be able to live in the same world as you and your new friends, but I'm grateful to the Strawhat for keeping an eye on you."

The green-haired Kokiri looked at Robin. "Nico Robin, tell your friends that I said "Thank you", and make sure that you guys keep watching over Link until your task is complete."

Robin smiled sweetly. "Yes, I'll tell them, and we will continue to watch your friend."

Saria nodded as a sad smile formed on her face. "Link, I truly missed you, I wish we can spend more time together..." Link looked at her sadly, though a part of him wished that too.

"But..." Her smile turned into a bright one. "Even though we're apart, I will always be your friend that includes the Strawhat Pirates, right?"

"Yep," Link replied with a slight smile.

Robin smiled too, as tears formed in her eyes. "You take care, Saria..."

Saria then spread her arms out. "One more thing, there's something at the Great Deku Tree that you and the others need to see, but first take this Medallion of the Forest"

A bright green light appeared from her hands as a Medallion fell into Link's hands.

Link and Zoro were waiting for a long time, but then a light glowed beneath their feet.

"What the?"

"What's this light?"

Eventually, Robin, Link found themselves at the area where the Great Deku Tree was.

Surprisingly, Usopp, Franky, Nami, Chopper, and Brook were teleported to the same place too.

"How did we get here?" Sanji asked in total confusion.

Mido was transported back to his house. "How did I get here?" He wondered as he sat upon his bed.

A short time later.

Robin and Link explained what happened at the Forest Temple.

"I see, Saria is the Forest Sage," Nami said looking a bit sad.

Robin nodded.

"Damn it, we didn't get a chance to meet her!" Sanji yelled stomping his foot on the ground.

"Easy, bro, Saria is the sage, so perhaps we'll see meet her somehow," Franky said trying to ease the chef's disappointment.

"He's right, not only that, Saria will be fighting at our side as the Sage of the Forest," Brook added.

"Anyway, how did we get here and why?" Link wondered.

Then he noticed something was growing out the ground in the front of the Deku Tree. "What is that?"

Suddenly the strange plant sprouted out of the ground. "AAAAHHH!" Link screamed in surprise.

"Aah!" Nami, Usopp, Chopper, and Brook screamed at the fairy boy's sudden screaming.

"What's your deal?" Zoro asked.

"What kind of plant is that?" Luffy wondered looking intrigued.

"Hi, there!" The plant greeted. "I'm the Deku Tree Sprout!"

"Holy crap, that plant is talking!" Usopp exclaimed.

"Where you'd come from is my next to the question!" Nami added a little startled still.

"Sorry about my sudden appearance, but thanks to Link, Robin, and Mido, the curse on the Forest temple is broken, with that, I can grow and flourish!" The Deku Tree Sprout said happily.

"Your welcome, but, do you know why anyone doesn't recognize us?" Link asked.

"That's right, the moment we met with the other Kokiri, they didn't recognize us, well, mostly Usopp, since he was here with Zoro, Luffy, and Robin already," Franky added.

The Deku Tree Sprout knew it was time to reveal more to the group. "That's right, Link, I have something to share with you, as you know Kokiri never grow up, even after years that pass, they're still kids!"

"We know that part," Usopp whispered.

"Link, I'm sure you're wondering why you didn't grow up," The Deku Tree Sprout said looking at the adult Link. "Well, as you probably already guessed, you're not an actual Kokiri."

The Strawhats were taken by surprise, except for Robin. "I assume he's a Hylian."

"What do you mean?" Nami asked.

"You're a smart woman miss Nico Robin," The Deku Tree Sprout praised. "I'm so happy to relieve this secret, there's more, so listen carefully."

The Deku Tree Sprout began to tell the story.

"Some time ago, before Hyrule king unified this country, there was a fierce war in our world..."

"A war..." Link wondered, then remembered that must've been what he saw in his dream.

"One day, to escape from the fires of the war, a Hylian mother and her baby boy entered this forbidden forest..." The Deku Tree Sprouted continued. "The mother was gravely injured... Her only choice was to entrust the child to the Deku Tree, the guardian spirit of the forest."

Link's eyes widen in disbelief. "So, that woman... She was my..." Tears started to form in his eyes.

"The Deku Tree could sense that this was a child of destiny whose fate would affect the entire world, so he took him into the forest..."

"That means the Great Deku Tree knew about this secret too, no doubt," Zoro thought.

"After the mother passed away, the baby was raised as a Kokiri, but knew that, finally, the day of destiny has come,"

"So that means since Link was Hylian, he was bound to leave this forest," Sanji said.

"That's right, now that Link has learned his destiny, he must save the Land of Hyrule!" The Deku Tree Sprout proclaimed. "Those that have been chosen to help you, together you all must break the curses on the other temples, and return peace to Hyrule!"

The Deku Tree Sprout then noticed Link's eyes were dripping tears. "Something wrong?"

Link sighed wiping his eyes with his hand. "I'm fine, I'm grateful that you told this secret, I suspected something was up, who knew, I was Hylian all this time, thank you, Deku Tree Sprout."

"It was a surprise to hear that Saria is one of the Sages, wasn't it?" Navi asked. "I wonder how Sheik knew, anyway, let's get back to Kokiri and inform of Saria."

A short time later

Mido and the Kokiri children along with their faires were told of what happened.

"I see... Saria won't ever come back..." Mido spoke looking a little down, but then a smile formed on his face. "That's okay, I'll protect the forest along with Saria too!"

"That's spirit!" Luffy patted the small boy on the head.

The kids gathered around Zoro. "Big brother Zoro, Mido said that you were great!"

Zoro groaned at the "Big brother" Part.

Link then took out his Ocarina. "How about we play Saria's Song?"

Brook then took out his guitar. "My thoughts exactly!"

The two started to play Saria's Song, everyone danced to the tune for an half-a-hour.

Franky showed to some kids that he can show hair styles by pressing his nose, which really impressed them.

Usopp told the children about other islands that he and his friend visited during their journey on the sea, he boasted a bit which the kids bought.

Luffy put sticks in his nostrils and makin goofy faces, the male Kokiri did the same including Mido.

A short time later.

Mido and the Kokiri along with their faires waved goodbye. "Thanks, bro, Luffy, Zoro, Usopp!"

Luffy and Usopp glanced at the children, while Zoro didn't turn his head, but a faint smile formed on his face. "See ya!"

"So long!"

"You brats take care..."

"Big sis, Nami, Robin, you both take care!"

Nami and Robin smiled.

"Cyborg Franky, SUPER!" The Kokiri Children did the superpose.

"Wah, that's so sweet!" Franky cried with tears of joy.

"Brook, we hope to hear your music again someday!"

Brook was so touched by the Kokiri that tears bawled from his eye holes. "That's so nice, my eyes are bawling out!" He stopped for a moment and laughed. "Wait, I don't have eyes! Yo-ohohohoh!"

"Dr. Chopper, thank you for treating our injuries!"

"Calling me Doctor doesn't make me happy, you jerks!" Chopper said with a happy face.

"See you guys again!" Mido waved with a bright smile. "You know, they remind of some people, mostly Aniki reminds of him."

Link waved at them.

"Are you okay, without telling them the truth?" Navi asked.

"It's okay, that way whenever I come here..." Link replied as he turned and walked away. "Mido and I will be friends."

"Yeah, anyone is a friend of Link is a friend of ours!" Luffy proclaimed in a happy voice. "Right, guys?"

"Yeah!" His crew minus Robin cheered.

"Let's get going to the next temple!" Link stated.

"I thought that you wanted to go to Lon Lon Ranch?" Navi asked.

"I did, but I want to Darunia again, like you guys said, I need to have faith that people I met in the past are holding on," Link said with a smile.

"You've grown a bit," Robin praised.

"I suppose, I'll let this one slide, but, be sure we can see Malon again," Sanji said with a slight smile.

"Right," Link nodded.

"So let's go to Death Mountain!" Luffy stated while raising his arms.

After a hard battle at the Forest Temple, the forest is saved, Saria has awoken as the Sage of the Forest, plus the Deku Tree Sprout that has grown after breaking the curse, tells Link about his past, learning that he's a Hylian, the group leaves while waving good-bye to the Kokiri including Mido, now they depart to Death Mountain.

Luffy: in the next chapter: A Beloved Old Friend

I'm going to be King of the Pirates

End of chapter.