Link ran as fast as he could. He was almost there! Almost at the Kokiri Village, his home. Also on the edge of the Lost Woods where he was sure were Saria and the first medallion.
Link was expecting a warm welcome when he returned to the village, but what he got was far from it. An Ocktorock peered at Link from under a small pond. A Deku Baba salivated waiting for its nest meal. A Deku Shrub already was ready to propel a rock at Link if it sensed danger. All around him were monsters! Link backed away from the Deku Baba but bumped into a Deku Shrub. The Shrub spit a rock at Link. Adrenaline rushed through Link's veins. He jumped over the rock and kicked the Shrub. Link took out his sword and prepared to stab the Deku Shrub. But it leaped underground just as the Master Sword speared the air the Shrub occupied. The other monsters saw the battle and attacked Link. The Deku Babas pulled at their roots trying to get to Link while the Deku Shrubs and Ocktorocks shot rocks at Link. Link ran into the nearest house.
The young Kokiri girl who lived in the tree gasped when Link entered her home. "Who are you?" she questioned. Link stared at her. The girl, known as Mina, saw Link's sword and asked, "Are you here to destroy the monsters?"
"Yes, I guess so," answered Link.
"Well you're not going to do it by killing them one by one. They'll just keep on coming back!" said Mina. "You'll have to go to the Forest Temple in the Lost Woods and destroy the demon that lives there. If you destroy him you'll destroy all the monsters, too. Saria went to the temple but she hasn't come back."
"What exactly happened?" asked Link.
"What happened?" wondered Mina.
"Yes," said Link.
"Well, about a month after the Great Deku Tree died Deku Shrubs started to wonder in to the village and attacking us. Of course one Deku Shrub can't do a whole lot. But it got some of us worried, me included," said Mina. "So we had a village meeting. Everybody was there.
"'Let's get this meeting started.' That's what Mido said. He calls himself the boss of the Kokiri although he isn't really.
"'We need to figure out what to do about the Deku Shrubs,' said Toby, he's a villager. 'Without the Deku Tree's protection we won't last long if more monsters come! Deku Sticks are not going to take care of Deku Babas!'
"'What do you suggest we do?' asked Mido.
"'I suggest we train ourselves to fight!' cried Bem, he's another villager.
"'Are you nuts! We'll be killed!' screamed Gilla.
"After that it was just the males screaming at each other while the females watched. But I noticed Saria shaking her head. I figured she had a plan and I was right.
"Soon thereafter more monsters came, just as predicted. We tried to fight them but we failed. We decided to hide in the Great Deku Tree's Meadow but we found that the monsters had spread there too. We then just hid in our homes.
"Every once in a while I would look outside to see if the monsters were gone but they didn't leave, they just came until there were so many that some of us actually considered leaving the forest and try to find Link! We knew that he went off on a quest and could probably fight. It was even rumored that he fought a giant spider to try and save the Deku Tree! But no one left the forest because we all know that even if we did find Link we would be dead before we got back to the forest.
"Then a few weeks I looked out of the window to see if the monsters had finally left and I saw Saria and Mido outside talking! I was about to tell them to get back inside before one of the monsters spotted them but they walked off in direction of the Lost Woods. They never came back. But then you came! I'm sure you'll save the Kokiri Village and rescue Saria and Mido!"
It was silent while Link took it in. His friends had been hiding in terror while he had been safe sleeping in the Sacred Realm. "It wasn't your fault," whispered Navi as if she was reading his mind. "You would've helped then if you could. But you couldn't. But you can help them now." Link nodded.
"Thank you," said Link. "I have to leave now." He turned to leave.
"Wait!" yelled Mina. Link stopped. "You won't be able to get there with the monsters. You have to sneak in. Otherwise the monsters will rip to shreds before you get there." Mina walked over to a door in the back of the house and opened it. "Go through here, and hurry!" Link nodded and left the house through the backdoor. "He looks familiar," thought Mina.
Link snuck through the back door and climbed up the small cliff that led to the entrance to the Lost Woods. It used to seem bigger, but he had aged and grown taller. Link walked into the Lost Woods.
The Lost Woods was the same. It was still foggy and lonely and empty. "I guess that even monsters are spooked by the Lost Woods," said Link. After a few minutes of walking Link asked, "Do you remember where the meadow is?" Navi stopped flying and shook her head. "Hmmm," hummed Link. "Well look for a pond. I remember there being a small pond on the way."
Link and Navi walked aimlessly around the forest for a while. Without Saria's Song not only did they have trouble finding their way, it made the Lost Woods that much more lonely and scary. Link expected a Skull Kid to jump him at any time. They were the Kokiri who had wandered into the forest and got lost. They weren't very strong but their darts were poisonous and could kill in minutes.
Suddenly, in the distance Link saw a small Kokiri standing by the pond Link was talking about earlier. Link walked closer and recognized the Kokiri as Mido, self-appointed boss of the Kokiri and Link's former tormentor. Link walked up to him.
"Stop!" said Mido forcefully. Link stopped. "Saria told me not to let anyone go this way," said Mido. "That means you."
"But Mido, I have to go to the Forest Temple to save Saria," explained Link.
"How do you know my name?" questioned Mido. "Although you wear Kokirish clothing I know you're not one of us. Explain!"
"There's no time for me to explain! I wasted too much time already!" replied the frustrated Link.
"Well I'm not going to let you pass unless you give me a good reason, and maybe not even then!" declared Mido.
"Try playing Saria's Song," Navi suggested in a whisper. Link nodded and pulled out his ocarina and played Saria's Song. While he was playing, Link felt the mental connection between him and Saria. He was going to close the connection but he decided to send one message before he did, "I'm coming." Link stopped playing the song.
Mido stared amazed at Link. "B-but Saria taught that song only to her closest friends," stuttered Mido. Mido then got serious again. "How do you know Saria?"
"I just do!" yelled Link. "There is zero time to explain and unless you let me past I'll have to force my way through!"
"Fine. You don't have to get violent," said Mido. "I'll let you past. Saria never taught her song except to people she really trusted and if you know it she must have trusted you."
"Thank you," said the relieved Link. The Hero of Time walked onwards to the Forest Temple.
"He reminds me of him," though Mido.
Link was able to find the meadow from the pond. When he got there he entered the maze and followed the passageways. While he was walking through the maze he heard giant footsteps and grunting voices.
"What do you think they could be from?" asked Link nervously. Navi shrugged her tiny shoulders.
Suddenly Link heard a gruff voice from behind him, "Hey! I found someone!" Link turned around to see a giant pig in crude armor with a spear aimed him.
"A Moblin!" cried Navi. Link was about to ask what a Moblin was when the Moblin thrust his spear at Link. Link rolled under the Moblin's legs and had his sword and shield out in a flash. The Moblin swipe the sharp end of its spear at Link but Link sliced several inches of the end off. The spear piece fell next to a bush several feet away. The Moblin tossed the rest of his spear away and punched at Link. Link dodged to the left and cut at the Moblin's arm but the sword barely pierced the skin. The Moblin used its right hand to backhand Link's arm. His sword fell away from his reach. Link tried to block the Moblin's next punch with his shield but the Moblin was too strong. Link flew back several feet. The Moblin reared back to punch the grounded Link. But Link saw the spear to his right. Link rolled to the right and grabbed the spear just as the Moblin punched. The Moblin lost its footing and fell forward. Link stuck the spear out and thrust upward. The spear pierced deep into the Moblin's eye. The Moblin screamed out in pain as Link ran to get his sword. The Moblin thrashed about running into the maze wall. Link grabbed his sword and ran toward the Moblin. Link jumped up and sliced through the Moblin's spine. The Moblin fell forward and Link jumped on it. Link ran up its back and stabbed the back of its neck. Link jumped off and grabbed his shield. He put his sword and shield up.
After the fight with the Moblin Link was a little more careful. He would jump under bushes or into small caves when he heard or saw a Moblin. He would wait until it passed. If he found a Moblin he couldn't sneak past he would quietly take out his Hookshot and fire the metal spearhead into the Moblin's back. He would then continue to the temple.
It would normally only take Link five minutes to get out of the maze but with all the Moblins it took him nearly thirty to get to the staircase that lead to the Sacred Forest Meadow. But when he got there he saw a Moblin twice the size of the others!
"You finally got here. I heard that a few of my guards were found dead," said the giant Moblin. "I knew it must be that kid that King Ganondorf told me about. He warned me about you. He said I'd have to stop you at all costs. I don't think that will be a very hard task at all!"
The Moblin revealed a huge club from behind his back. He raised it above his head and slammed it into the ground. Dirt and gravel rose flew into the air as shockwaves from the club shook the earth. The shockwaves hit Link slamming him into a nearby cliff wall.
"Ha ha ha!" laughed the Moblin evilly. "This is easier than I thought!"
Link rose from the ground. "Don't think you'll be able to get a ht in like that again because," said Link as he took out his sword and shield, "I need to rescue Saria and if I have to get through you to get to her I will!" Link ran at the Moblin. The Moblin swung his club and Link but Link jumped over it and stabbed at the Moblin. But the Moblin dodged and sideswiped Link with his club sending him once again into a cliff wall.
"Come on, Link! You can do better than that!" cried Navi.
"Maybe if you would help me," muttered Link.
"From what King Ganondorf told me, you're pretty strong! But I don't find that true at all!" mocked the Moblin.
Link stood up once more.
He then tossed his sword and shield away.
"You're not giving up are you?" asked the Moblin.
"No way," smirked Link. Link quickly pulled out the Hookshot and fired at the Moblin's right arm. Link pulled the Moblin toward him, pulled out a bomb, lit the fuse, and placed it in the Moblin's arm in one fluid motion.
"I hope you have a blast IN HELL!" yelled Link.
Link kicked at the Moblin sending it away. He detached the Hookshot and started running. The bomb exploded, the flames digging at Link's heels. Link looked back and saw a big crater in the ground, but no sign of the Moblin.
"That was so cool!" said Navi.
"It was, wasn't it?" said Link, braggingly. "But we need to get going." Link ran into the Sacred Forest Meadow.
Link looked at the stump that Saria was sitting on the last time he had been there. He remembered when he had been here last. In reality, seven years ago; but to him, just the other day. Link heard someone stepping on the grass behind. He turned around and saw Shiek.
"Time is always cruel. The speed in which it moves is not constant for each person," said Shiek. Link nodded.
"If you ever need to come here again play this song. It will take you here quicker," said Shiek. Shiek pulled out a harp and played a song. Link took out his ocarina and copied the notes. Shiek played the next notes and Link copied. Soon both Shiek and Link were playing a beautiful song together that was neither sad nor happy but a mixture of both.
"The Minuet of Forest," whispered Shiek. "I will see you again." Shiek backed away. Link started to call to bring him back but Shiek pulled out a Deku Seed and threw it to the ground. There was a flash and Shiek was gone.
"I guess we should hurry up and get Saria," said Navi softly. Link nodded and looked around. In the cliff wall was a doorway into the Forest Temple. It looked like long ago there were stairs that lead up to the entrance but they had crumbled away in time. Hanging over the entrance was a tree branch.
"This must have been why I needed the Hookshot," said Link. Link took out the Hookshot and fired at the branch. The spearhead stuck in and the chain pulled Link up. Navi flew up with him. Link stepped into the doorway, and into the Forest Temple.
