Aria: Well, thanks to Miss Blabber-mouth fairy over here, I'm posting
chapter eleven along with chapter ten.
Navi: But, you said it would be more convenient because there's a
cliffhanger in the next chapter!
Aria: Shut up! You're giving away the story! AGAIN!
Navi: Eep! *shuts up*
Aria: Memo to self: find spell to stop Navi from reading story and to stop
Navi from spilling beans.
Link: But, if Navi isn't talking and doesn't do the disclaimers, we'll
never start the story.
Aria: Good point, Link. Alright, Navi. Just say the disclaimers and only
the disclaimers and let's get on with this.
Navi: Y-yes, your greatness. The author, Aria Zephyr, does not own any of
the Legend of Zelda games or the characters to whom she refers in her
story. But, she does own the story and plot line, so no copying!
Aria: Link, aren't you supposed to be in Forest Haven with Tetra?
Link: Ack! She's gonna be so mad if I'm not there! Can you send me back?
Please?
Aria: Oh criminy. *waves hand and Link disappears*
Navi: Shouldn't you check to see if he got there all right?
Aria: Now she starts using her head?! Alright, I'll check. *disappears
with popping sound*
Navi: Okay, here's chapter eleven!

Chapter 11: Welcome to Forest Haven! Home of the Great Deku Tree!

"Wow." Tetra said when she looked around at the ancient forest facing her.
There was a large stream rushing around her and Link's ankles and nearly up
to their waists and it had a woodsy aroma to it that was wafted upward by
the gentle breezes that flowed through the wood.

"Come on; the Deku Tree is this way," Link said, pulling her arm gently and
pointing ahead of them. They waded through the cool water and climbed up
two miniature waterfalls before they reached the trees themselves. There
was thick grass growing in patches on the forest floor, along with a
strange looking flower bud.

They walked ahead to where the water flowed from three tiny springs and
they ended up stopping on a giant lily pad. There was a massive tree in
front of it, which had a human-like face. When Link and Tetra stopped on
the lily pad, it rose into the air and, out of surprise, Tetra lost her
balance and fell down.

"Oof!" she said. "Sorry; I should have warned you about that," Link said
sheepishly. Just then, the tree's face moved and its eyes opened. "Ah,
Link, it is you," the tree said in a deep voice. "We were not expecting
you to come here on the day of our ceremony. Especially with a friend."
"This is my friend, Tetra. She met Makar once and we came here to ask you
about something," Link explained. "I'd be glad to answer any question you
have, my boy; but, you do know that the ceremony must be completed before
the sun sets," the tree replied. "I know; but, where are all ten of the
Koroks?" Link asked. "Here we are!" a small voice called from the tree
tops.

Suddenly, eight small shapes jumped out from the very top of the tree's
branches and by using the small leaves they held like helicopter blades,
they were able to fly gently down to the top of the tree's face. "Are
Linder and Makar late again?" Link asked when all of them had landed.
"Alas, they are! But, they are always late and I do not think that Makar
would be foolish enough to fall into the Forbidden Woods again," the tree
said with a roguish twinkle in his eyes.

Abruptly, they could hear two high-pitched voices coming from the opening
high above them. "Hurry, Makar! The others are waiting for us and you
were so very late!" one voice called urgently. "Yes, I know; but, I think
that I've seen that ship and boat somewhere before." another voice replied.
"We'll worry about that after the ceremony! We're late!" the first voice
said vehemently.

Soon, two more shapes descended into the forest. Like the others, they all
looked like they were made of wood and they each had a leaf covering their
faces like a mask. One had a leaf shaped like a four-leafed clover and was
rather tall for a Korok. The other had a leaf shaped like an upside-down
heart and was rather round and plump. They both fluttered for a moment in
front of the large tree's face and started hurriedly explaining themselves.

"I'm sorry, great Deku Tree! But, I was tending to the saplings I take
care of and lost track of time! Then, I went looking for Makar and I when
I found him, he was coming from the northwest!" the long one said. "It is
all right, Linder. I was sure that you both would turn up before the
sunset. But, what were you doing outside of Forest Haven, Makar?" the Deku
Tree asked the other Korok. "Well, you see, I could tell you about it, but
it would take too long and we only have so much time before the sun's face
disappears over the vast seas!" Makar said.

The Deku Tree laughed heartily and said, "That is very true, little forest
child! But, have you not noticed that we have two visitors?" Makar
whirled around quickly and spotted Link and Tetra standing on the raised
lily pad. "Link! Miss Tetra! What an unexpected surprise!" he squealed
in delight. He immediately flew down to the lily pad and started bouncing
up and down with excitement.

"Careful, Makar! You could break a hole in this thing," Link said
playfully. "I haven't seen you since the Dark Lord was destroyed! I never
guessed that you would be here!" Makar said, stopping his excited bouncing.
"So, that's what you were doing," another Korok said, whose leaf was red
and oval-shaped and who carried two stiff stalks. "Oops!" Makar squeaked.
"Well, we'll find out all about whatever happened after the ceremony is
completed. Now, everyone, it's about time for us to do so!" the Deku Tree
said.

All of the Koroks nodded in agreement and nine of them flew up to the ledge
behind the lily pad that Link and Tetra were standing on. Makar took out a
small violin and a long stick with two red berries hanging from it and he
propped up his violin. "Ready everybody?" he asked jubilantly. "Yes!" was
the unanimous reply. Makar turned to Link and asked quietly, "Link, could
you conduct the 'Wind God's Aria' for me? I was hoping that I could play
it for this year's ceremony." Link smiled good-naturedly and took out the
Wind Waker.

At last, with Link conducting for Makar, the Koroks' ceremony started while
Tetra and the Deku Tree watched. When Makar stopped playing and the Koroks
stopped singing, eight glowing seeds had dropped from the highest of the
Deku Tree's branches and all except for Makar and the one Korok with the
red, oval-shaped leaf, the Koroks jumped into the air and each caught a
glowing seed.

"How delightful!" one Korok cried. "This year's seeds seem better than the
last!" chirped another. "Perhaps that song that Makar played for this year
has something to do with it," one murmured. "Who knows? I certainly
don't!" Linder said. "Well, it was lovely to see you all again!" one Korok
said cheerfully. "I'll see you all next year!" another replied. "Good-
bye, my friends!" the second-to-last called. "Makar, you must tell us
where you learned that song sometime!" the last Korok said as they all rose
and vanished.

Aria: Navi, I can't believe that you stole my line! It's not fair!
Navi: Well, you were gone for over an hour after I did start the story.
And, you were taking too long to start it before you left.
Aria: *throws hands into air* So, I accidentally sent myself to ancient
Hyrule?! What's the big deal if I decided to take a look around?
Navi: *sweat drops* You went horseback riding at the Lon Lon Ranch, swam to
Zora's domain, and walked through the entire Temple of Time!
Aria: So? I was curious. It's not like I changed time or anything. I
totally erased my ever being there!
Navi: But, you took so long just to enjoy yourself and didn't even bother
to check on Link. What if he landed in ancient Hyrule instead of Forest
Haven in his time?
Aria: Then, don't you think I would've known? I landed where Forest Haven
was in ancient Hyrule, lame brain!
Navi: Oh.
Aria: Anyway, Navi and I still have some, uh, kinks to work out, so this is
the end of chapter eleven! Please read and review!