CHAPTER 3
The sun was rising as Wynn and his friends gathered their supplies for the trip to Kokiri. They had rested well through the night, and were ready to start their new mission from the princess. They had not even waited for breakfast, leaving one of the guards a message of farewell to Princess Zelda.
Wynn maneuvered his supplies onto his borrowed horse's back. Shezarah was already at the exit of the stable, Tane was climbing into the saddle, and Jier was almost ready. That left Wynn.
A slow blush spread onto Wynn's cheeks. Interesting problem he had here. The horse looked back at him, and nickered. Nothing else he could do but try, Wynn thought. He pulled himself very carefully into the saddle, laughing when he made it successfully. He urged the horse forward slowly, and fell off into a pile of hay when the horse moved. He had feared this would happen when he had remembered the incident with a horse when he was a kid. He crawled back to his feet, and tried again, and fell back into the same hay. He tried unsuccessfully to ignore the snickers of his friends, and tried again.
As he fell back, something in the back of his mind told him this was going to be a long, long day.
******
Wynn sighed slowly in relief as he saw the entrance to Kokiri Village near them. He sat up on his horse, releasing his white-knuckled grip on the reins slightly. He was ready to get off the horse as soon as possible, and escape was getting closer.
Tane looked over to his friend. He could see that Wynn was still blushing. Tane had seen Wynn do some of the most heroic things on all of Hyrule, yet he was foiled by something as simple as riding a horse. Life was full of ironies.
Wynn noticed someone standing near the entrance to Kokiri, which was a tall horizontal hollowed-out log. It was a woman, with shoulder-length brown hair and green clothes. As they neared her, Wynn could pick out more features. She was short, with small features and a rounded face. Wynn smiled. It was none other than Fami, come to meet them!
"Hello there!" she called as they came up to her. "It has been a long time."
"Too long," Wynn said, giving her a winning smile.
She returned his grin. "Yes, it has. And how are you, Jier? Shezarah? Tane?"
"Fine, and getting better. I have been needing a vacation from that fort. Two months is too long a time to spend there. And the company didn't help much, either," Tane answered smugly.
Shezarah shot him a glare. "I'm fine as well, Fami. Tane's health, however, seems to be gaining a potential to get worse."
Jier nodded to Fami. "I'm fine, too. As you can see, none of us have changed much...neither for the better nor the worse."
"It's good to know you are all fine. If you would follow me, we can enter the village. Please dismount, I don't think you will be able to get through the entrance on your horses."
Tane, Jier, and Shezarah dismounted easily, while Wynn frowned at the ground apprehensively. When he noticed Fami looking at him expectantly, Wynn slowly attempted to get off his horse. The next thing he saw was Tane and Fami looking down at him, as he failed this attempt like the previous ones. Tane was chuckling, and Fami was giggling. How embarrassing, thought Wynn.
After Tane helped Wynn to his feet, Wynn turned to the log. "Well, let's go!" he ordered, anxious to make everyone forget his rash of accidents with the horse. He led his horse through the log and onto a bridge. Once they crossed the bridge, they went through another log and into Kokiri Village.
Kokiri was a small town, consisting entirely of treehouses, actual houses carved into trees. Small streams ran through the village, and the foliage of the Lost Woods surrounded it. It was a natural paradise, free of pollution or worries.
Wynn could hear Tane snort behind him. "Hasn't changed any. Too bad," Tane said quietly. Tane's first visit to this town, and encounter with the town's inhabitants, wasn't a pleasant one.
Fami led the four to an area where they could leave their horses, and then walked toward the treehouse nearest where they were standing. Wynn and the others followed her into it. They grouped together in the rather cramped treehouse, and looked to the person standing at the other end. 'Child' was a better description, as it was just a young boy, about ten years, with almost orange hair. He, too, was wearing the traditional Kokiri green. Wynn recalled the boy from somewhere, but couldn't place where. The boy smirked arrogantly at Fami.
"Good morning, Mido," Fami said politely.
"Who are they?" the boy, Mido, rudely asked, pointing to Wynn and the others.
"They're friends, Mido. I'm just here to tell you I'm taking them to the Deku Sprout," Fami said wearily.
"Are they trouble?" Mido asked, eyeing the four warily.
"No, Mido, they are my friends," Fami said, in the manner a parent would talk to a young child, which Mido basically was.
"O.K., I suppose...But keep an eye on them!" Mido ordered.
"Yes, Mido," Fami sighed. The five walked out of the house, leaving Mido. They started on a path that took them towards the other side of the village.
"Annoying little brat, him. He calls himself the boss of the Kokiri, but he is really just a bully. He has ordered everyone to tell him if anyone comes to the village, and I comply just to keep him quiet," Fami explained. Wynn gave her a reassuring pat on the back.
"Tane and I have met him before, right before we met you. He tried to keep us from entering the Lost Woods."
"Yeah, and I taught him a lesson!" Tane piped up. Wynn grinned as he remembered the actual course of events, which, of course, was different from Tane's version.
Shezarah started to shoot off a sarcastic comment when Jier interrupted her. "So, Fami, how did you know to meet us outside the village? I mean, we were sent by Zelda, and she had not sent any messages to Kokiri."
Fami didn't answer for a second, crossing a stream via stepping stones, then said, "Saria told me. She and the other Sages had a meeting with Zelda in the Chamber of Sages at the Temple of Time, and they decided then to send you here."
Wynn nodded, remembering his conversation with the carpenter boss about Zelda's whereabouts. "Did she tell you why we were coming?"
Fami nodded as she led them through a narrow passage between trees. "Yes, and that is why I brought you here." The path finally opened up into a large clearing, with an enormous tree, big enough to take up the same area as Kokiri Village, and a much smaller tree, a mere sprout dwarfed by the one behind it. The larger one was obviously dead, but the smaller one nearly shined with life. The clearing was gloomy, but a beam of light illuminated the sprout. "That is why I brought you to the Deku Sprout," she finished.
Wynn and the others stared at the sprout from a respectful distance. It was as big around as Wynn. It was a golden color, and had a smiling face imprinted on the front. "Well, hello there!" the Deku Sprout said cheerfully. Wynn jerked back. He had seen a lot of things in his life, but a talking tree?
"Don't be rude, Wynn," Fami teased, "Say hello."
"Uh, hello there," Wynn said cautiously, walking slowly up to the Deku Sprout.
"Hi! How's it going?" the Deku Sprout asked innocently. Its voice was that of a young child.
"I'm fine, how about you?" Wynn said politely, not knowing what else to do.
"I'm fine. I would be better, though, if I didn't have to use so much of my magic keeping those blasted monsters away from my woods."
"The Deku Sprout is the protector of Kokiri and the Lost Woods. The old Deku Tree once held that job, but Ganon killed it," Fami informed Wynn.
"Oh, but I don't care. I thinks its fun, being connected to every living thing in the forest through my magic," the Deku Sprout chimed.
"The forest is tied to the magic of the Deku Tree. That is why the entire forest became sick when the old Deku Tree died. The Deku Sprout here would have helped, but Ganon's lieutenant Phantom Ganon controlled the main source of the forest magic, the Forest Temple. But since Link helped Saria clear the temple, the Sprout was able to heal the land," Fami explained.
Jier nodded, "And these new monsters are being held back from the forest by the Deku Sprout's magic, right?"
"Yep!" the Deku Sprout chirped, "And they can't even get near the forest."
"Well, is there any way you can extend your powers to cover Hyrule Field? That seems to be where the monsters are concentrated," Shezarah suggested.
If the Deku Sprout could have shaken its head, it would have. "I'm sorry, but my powers can only cover the forest." He sighed. "Anyway, the power behind these monsters has a magic much more powerful than my own."
Even Fami seemed taken aback by that comment. "There is a power behind these monsters? Do you know where it is?" Wynn asked, shocked.
"Sadly, I do not. However, I felt the power all around you as you entered the woods. Whatever it is, it is very interested in you five." The Deku Sprout looked pointedly to Wynn. "Especially you."
Wynn's face fell. Somehow, he knew these monsters would be interested in him after he had used his magic against them earlier.
Jier stepped towards the sprout. "That power...do you think it could have anything to do with the marauders?"
"What marauders?" the Deku Sprout asked.
Jier explained the attack on Kakariko. The Deku Sprout seemed very interested.
"Well, I don't think these people are connected to the power," the Deku Sprout told them, "But I know the monsters are much more dangerous than these guys will ever be."
Wynn nodded solemnly. "Well, thanks for your help. We had better return to Zelda, and tell her all you have told us."
"Wait, its too dangerous to go at night. Stay in Kokiri," Fami requested, pleading.
The Deku Sprout cut off any reply Wynn may have made with a thoughtful, "Hmmmmm..." After a second, he said, "I know! You can borrow a part of my power, to protect you to the castle. The magic will fade the longer it is away from the forest, so Zelda can send it by Saria back to me."
Fami's face fell. "But..."
"But none of you can wield this magic...Fami! You can help them by carrying the magic with you! You need to get out of the forest anyways, to enjoy life for a while, and you can help them stop these monsters!"
Fami's face brightened. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
The light shining on the Sprout grew in intensity, and then a necklace appeared above the plant with a flash. The necklace was a woody brown, and the gem in the center glowed with a pure green light. It floated over to Fami, who slipped it on. A transparent green light appeared around all five of the heroes.
"Well, you should head for the castle. It is nearing night, and you should make it to the gates before morning. Zelda will sense you, and use her magic to bring you to the castle. Good luck!" the Deku Sprout finished. With that, a brilliant light surrounded the heroes. When it vanished, they were standing out in the field, looking up into the setting sun.
"Well, what do we have here?" Wynn asked. Another light shined near them, and their four horses appeared near them. Wynn groaned softly.
"Let's get going!" Fami said enthusiastically, moving up to one of the horses. They mounted their rides, some with more difficulty than others, and set off.
******
A pair of red eyes watched them depart. A low chuckle sounded from the owner of the eyes. Now was his time to attack!
With another creaking noise, Silver Knuckle set off after them. He followed them carefully, slowly catching up to them. So intent on his pursuit was he that he didn't notice that he, too, was being followed.
His pursuer was as silent and as quick as a shadow. It came near him so quietly he never knew of its presence until he was knocked flat by a hard blow to the back.
Silver Knuckle collapsed with a clatter, and then was back on his feet, swinging his mammoth ax. However, his reflexes had dulled in the time he was alone in the woods, and he was too slow.
The monster struck again and again, with impertinence, dodging the larger one's attacks. The attacks didn't damage Silver Knuckle, but instead wore him down. Silver Knuckle flailed, trying desperately to kill this insolent pest, but to no avail. He couldn't even see him clearly; just two red eyes like his own.
Silver Knuckle's rage slowly built, overwhelming him. He swung with all his power, knocking the creature quite a distance. He then rushed the beast, intent on killing it.
The monster saw him coming, and used its last-ditch defense. A dark magic built in it, and it released. A black fireball flew towards Silver Knuckle, aimed straight for the red eyes. The fireball went into the helmet, right between the eyes.
Silver Knuckle screamed in unspeakable agony. Not only was there intense pain, but he felt that something inside him was changing...That was his last thought as he fell, unconscious.
******
Wynn and his friends were nearing the intersection of the paths leading to Hyrule Castle and Kakariko when they heard a loud shout. Wynn carefully stopped his horse, conscious of Fami, who was holding on to him. He turned towards the source of the shout. It was a thin man, dressed in ragged clothes. He was terrified, and shrieking at the top of his lungs.
"Help me! The marauders...!" the man screamed.
Wynn stared at the man, who was nearing them. He was familiar from somewhere... Suddenly, it clicked. It was Whittier, the spy Zelda sent to the marauders!
"You have to help me! The marauders will throw me in the dungeon...or worse!" the man yelled pitifully.
"Whoa, calm down! No one will hurt you with us around," Tane assured him.
"I have to warn Zelda! The marauders are planning to lead an attack on Zora's Domain!"
Wynn stared at him, alarmed. "Are you sure?"
Whittier nodded, gasping for air. "I heard the leader, Deihawk, discussing it with his right-hand man. But they figured out I was a spy, and tried to catch me, but I volunteered for a scouting party, and ran. I'm supposed to meet Captain Merce here soon, but..."
"We'll go warn Zelda, you warn Merce!" Wynn cut him off, wheeling his horse around. He rode off with the others, leaving Whittier in the dust.
"But what about me?" Whittier yelled, scared out of his wits. He didn't have to wait long to find out.
Whittier froze as he noticed a figure emerging from the darkness. He squinted, hoping it was Merce. It was, and Whittier sighed with relief. "Hello, Whittier," Merce greeted him cordially.
But Whittier froze again when he noticed several other figures behind Merce. He started to warn Merce, but the last thing he saw before the darkness took him was a club hurtling for his head.
Merce waved the figures behind him forward, clutching his club. It felt good to take care of that sniveling spy. "Let that be a lesson to all that would oppose Deihawk's Raiders," he murmured softly, then turned to leave, the other men following him, carrying Whittier's unconscious body. "Let's go men. We have much work to do."
******
Wynn and the others raced for the gates into the marketplace. When they neared it, the air suddenly glowed. The next thing any of them knew, they were outside the castle gates, transported by Zelda's magic. They dismounted, and jogged past the guards. They were permitted to enter the castle, and led to the chamber where they had met with Zelda the previous morning. She was there, half-awake, yet still regal in appearance.
"Greetings, all. Now, what is this important news?" she asked, yawning.
Wynn quickly filled her in on what Whittier had told them. Zelda's hand flew to her mouth in shock.
"They are going to attack Zora's Domain? I will send troops there immediately! Come, and you can fill me in on what you learned in Kokiri on the way."
They followed Zelda through the castle, Wynn telling her what the Deku Sprout had told them about the monsters. Finally, they came to the throne room, which was filled with people in various states of awakeness.
Zelda rushed to the throne, beckoning Wynn and the others to follow her. They stood near the throne, and listened as Zelda addressed her court.
"People of Hyrule, I come to you with horrible news. The same marauders that besieged Kakariko have planned to invade Zora's Domain!"
A general mutter ran through the court, and Zelda waited for it to quiet before she continued. "Now, we must send a military presence there immediately. General Rosburn?"
Wynn noticed Jier tense as the general rose to his feet. "Princess, we shall send soldiers, but how do we know this is not another false alarm?" Wynn also noticed Rosburn shoot a glare to Jier as he said this.
Zelda sighed. "This comes from a trusted source. We must send messengers to the Gerudos and Gorons, and to the Zoras. Now..."
Wynn turned to Fami as a general chaos erupted in the court as Zelda began handing out assignments, and shot her a worried glance. Could things get worse?
******
Deep in a cavern, a dark man strode up to another, looking him up and down. So this was Deihawk, leader of the marauders? He was not impressed.
Deihawk was an imposing man, tall and muscular. He sat with his feet propped up on a table, and glaring at the other. His droopy handlebar mustache matched his dirty black hair, and his face and hands were criss-crossed with scars. A wicked looking serpentine sword sat near him, speared into a piece of fruit on the table. A long black cape pooled on the floor near the two wolf-dogs flanking the marauder.
"So, apprentice, you think you can be of some help to my group? You appear rather puny," Deihawk said, insolently.
Seron glared at him. "Appearances can be deceiving. I have powers you have never dreamed of."
Deihawk laughed, then leaned forward threateningly. "Well, aren't we cocky? You seem to think you own the place, little one."
You just wait, Seron thought to himself. "My powers will definitely help you in your attack tomorrow," he said out loud.
"We don't need your help. Why, you even failed that fool Icarnos, and I don't want his scraps."
"You will fail without me," Seron informed him, an undercurrent of anger running through his voice at the mention of his former master.
"Very well. Now, begone!" Deihawk growled, one hand rubbing the head of one of his wolf-dogs.
Seron turned, and stalked out of the room. That fool will regret his decision, Seron assured himself, and will come begging for Seron's help. And then, Seron could use him as a means to gain more power. Deihawk would be dead before he knew what hit him.