"Link!"
Micah ran through the forest, dodging trees and patches of thick grass. He leapt over a fence and onto Link's back. Link gave a cry as he fell over, his face falling into a patch of dirt.
It was a beautiful spring day in Kokiri forest. Everywhere, trees were covered in green leaves and blossoms, butterflies, newly hatched from cocoons, fluttered about, and Link was busy working with his garden. That is, until Micah, a young Kokiri boy, ambushed him.
"You shouldn't do that, Micah," Link muttered, getting to his feet. "I'm sure whatever is so important can wait until you come to a complete stop."
A bright flurry of wings came floating up from behind. It was Micah's guardian fairy, Belle. "Don't run so fast, Micah! I can't keep up!" she cried. She fluttered onto Micah's shoulder, resting her tiny wings.
"Sorry, you two," said Micah, chuckling. "Link, when are you gonna help me build my raft?"
"When I'm done pruning these leaves," said Link.
"Aww..." Micah plopped down on the grass and folded his arms across his chest, in his typical pouting way.
Link smiled. The Kokiri child reminded him so much of himself, eighteen years earlier. The boy was hyperactive and energetic, as Link had been... before the Deku Tree summoned him.
"Are you done now?" Micah cried, two minutes later.
"Tell you what," said Link. "Why don't you get my sword and hack away at those weeds over there? When you're finished, I'll help you build that raft."
"All right!" Micah shouted, jumping to his feet. "Can I use your shield, too?"
"Sure, sure," said Link, but the boy was already gone. He shook his head, and continued with his plants.
It had been eighteen years since the Deku Tree first summoned him. Since his last battle, he had been living in the Kokiri forest, even though he was a Hylian. The Kokiri didn't seem to mind his presence, but they avoided all contact with him, nearly making him a hermit. All Kokiri that is, except for Micah. Micah adored Link, and never got tired of hearing his tales. Often, Micah would borrow Link's sword and run deep into the forest, pretending the trees around him were octorocks, skulltulas, moblins, or even Ganon. During these sessions, he would call Belle "Navi," after Link's temporary guardian fairy. Belle never seemed to mind playing along.
Link was still pruning the same plant when Micah came back, sobbing.
"What is it?" said Link.
"The... the guys took your shield..." Micah sobbed. "I told them it was very special, that it was yours, but they just laughed at me..."
Link nodded. "Well, it's all right," he said. He pulled a purple rupee out of his pocket and handed it to Micah. "Here, go buy yourself another one at the shop."
Micah stopped crying. "But, what about your shield?" he said, among sniffles.
"Ah, don't worry about it," said Link. "I'll just get another one at Hyrule Castle Town. I was meaning to visit Hyrule, anyway."
"Wow, thanks Link!" Micah turned and scampered off.
Link watched the boy go. He worried about Micah; he had no friends, and half the other Kokiri boys picked on him. It was probably because he was a friend with Link (who wasn't popular in childhood either), and for this, Link felt guilty.
Link climbed into his house. From the shelf, he grabbed several jars, filled with various potions. From his treasure chest he grabbed a handful of blue rupees and dropped them in his wallet. He turned to go out the door, but something caught his eye... the mantle.
On the mantle he had places mementos from his many travels. There was the Big Goron's sword, there was the boomerang, and there was the ocarina given to him by Saria. He grabbed the Big Goron's sword, feeling the hilt for the first time in eighteen years. He swung it twice, getting the feel for the sword again. He placed it in its sheath, strapped the sheath to his back, and was out the door.
He brought Epona out of her stable, and was busy strapping the saddle to her back, when he heard Micah's voice again.
"Link! I got my shield!" he cried, holding the wooden Deku shield up. "Can I come with you to Hyrule?"
Micah had never been outside of Kokiri Forest, like all the other Kokiri children. Link raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you worried about the Kokiri legend?" he said.
Link was referring to the advice all Kokiri were given in early childhood. Supposedly, if a Kokiri child ever left his home forest, something bad would happen to him or his fairy.
"Were you worried when you first left?" Micah countered. It was the response Link expected.
"No, but I'm no Kokiri," Link said. He could see that he wasn't going to win. Micah glared at him, and tapped his foot. Link sighed. "All right. Come on."
He brought Micah up and sat the boy on the saddle in front of him. Belle flew into his pocket.
"Fly, Epona!" Link cried. He kicked his heels. Epona whinnied once, and was away.
The trees thickened around them, blotting out the sunlight. Epona galloped along at a decent pace. Micah reached up and ran his fingers along the passing leaves above. Soon, Link could see a spot of light ahead.
"We'll be leaving the forest soon," said Link. "Last chance for you to get off."
"No!" said Micah. He held up his shield and shouted, "I fear no legend!"
Belle peeked out of his pocket. "What if I do?" she said quietly.
They burst out into open sunlight. The trees shrank away as Epona galloped along the dirt path to Hyrule Castle Town.
"Oh, boy!" Micah cried, jumping up and down in the saddle. "My first adventure!" He reached into his pocket and removed his guardian fairy. "Smell the fresh Hyrule Field air, Belle!" he shouted.
The fairy sniffed the air delicately, and coughed. "Smells like dirt," she said. "And horse."
Micah put her back in his pocket, and continued staring earnestly at the flat horizon.
Forty-five minutes later, Micah's enthusiasm was gone. Epona's pace had slowed to a steady trot. He looked at his shield idly, running his finger along the bumps in the wood. He glanced up at Link, who held the reigns in his hands and held a steady gaze on the road. Then, suddenly, he got an idea.
"Hey!" he cried. "Link, can I try guiding Epona?"
Link hesitated. "Well... ok," he said. He removed his feet from the spurs, allowing Micah to insert his own, and handed him the reins. "Now, you kick your heels here to make her go faster, and these..."
Micah jammed the spurs into Epona's side. She whinnied and took off, galloping furiously. Micah heard a distant grunt, and suddenly realized that he was riding solo.
"Pull back on the reins!" Link shouted, chasing after the runaway horse. "Pull back on the reins!"
Micah was panicking. Epona was running straight for a brick wall, and in the heat of the moment, his mind couldn't process Link's words. He closed his eyes as the wall drew close. He felt a jerk, and then as if he was falling. His face slammed into Epona's mane, and the horse was galloping again. She had jumped the fence!
Micah heard a soothing melody from behind. He was busy wondering where it was coming from and what instrument it was, when Epona stopped, turned around, and slowly trod in Link's direction.
Link was holding a blue ocarina to his lips. He saw Epona coming obediently, and lowered the instrument. Micah panted, gripping the reins with sweaty palms. Epona stood still, breathing heavily and sniffing at tufts of grass at her feet. He sat there for several minutes, in complete silence, feeling the piercing gaze of Link below. Finally, he spoke. "This... is... a fast... horse." Link couldn't help but laugh.
Micah ran through the forest, dodging trees and patches of thick grass. He leapt over a fence and onto Link's back. Link gave a cry as he fell over, his face falling into a patch of dirt.
It was a beautiful spring day in Kokiri forest. Everywhere, trees were covered in green leaves and blossoms, butterflies, newly hatched from cocoons, fluttered about, and Link was busy working with his garden. That is, until Micah, a young Kokiri boy, ambushed him.
"You shouldn't do that, Micah," Link muttered, getting to his feet. "I'm sure whatever is so important can wait until you come to a complete stop."
A bright flurry of wings came floating up from behind. It was Micah's guardian fairy, Belle. "Don't run so fast, Micah! I can't keep up!" she cried. She fluttered onto Micah's shoulder, resting her tiny wings.
"Sorry, you two," said Micah, chuckling. "Link, when are you gonna help me build my raft?"
"When I'm done pruning these leaves," said Link.
"Aww..." Micah plopped down on the grass and folded his arms across his chest, in his typical pouting way.
Link smiled. The Kokiri child reminded him so much of himself, eighteen years earlier. The boy was hyperactive and energetic, as Link had been... before the Deku Tree summoned him.
"Are you done now?" Micah cried, two minutes later.
"Tell you what," said Link. "Why don't you get my sword and hack away at those weeds over there? When you're finished, I'll help you build that raft."
"All right!" Micah shouted, jumping to his feet. "Can I use your shield, too?"
"Sure, sure," said Link, but the boy was already gone. He shook his head, and continued with his plants.
It had been eighteen years since the Deku Tree first summoned him. Since his last battle, he had been living in the Kokiri forest, even though he was a Hylian. The Kokiri didn't seem to mind his presence, but they avoided all contact with him, nearly making him a hermit. All Kokiri that is, except for Micah. Micah adored Link, and never got tired of hearing his tales. Often, Micah would borrow Link's sword and run deep into the forest, pretending the trees around him were octorocks, skulltulas, moblins, or even Ganon. During these sessions, he would call Belle "Navi," after Link's temporary guardian fairy. Belle never seemed to mind playing along.
Link was still pruning the same plant when Micah came back, sobbing.
"What is it?" said Link.
"The... the guys took your shield..." Micah sobbed. "I told them it was very special, that it was yours, but they just laughed at me..."
Link nodded. "Well, it's all right," he said. He pulled a purple rupee out of his pocket and handed it to Micah. "Here, go buy yourself another one at the shop."
Micah stopped crying. "But, what about your shield?" he said, among sniffles.
"Ah, don't worry about it," said Link. "I'll just get another one at Hyrule Castle Town. I was meaning to visit Hyrule, anyway."
"Wow, thanks Link!" Micah turned and scampered off.
Link watched the boy go. He worried about Micah; he had no friends, and half the other Kokiri boys picked on him. It was probably because he was a friend with Link (who wasn't popular in childhood either), and for this, Link felt guilty.
Link climbed into his house. From the shelf, he grabbed several jars, filled with various potions. From his treasure chest he grabbed a handful of blue rupees and dropped them in his wallet. He turned to go out the door, but something caught his eye... the mantle.
On the mantle he had places mementos from his many travels. There was the Big Goron's sword, there was the boomerang, and there was the ocarina given to him by Saria. He grabbed the Big Goron's sword, feeling the hilt for the first time in eighteen years. He swung it twice, getting the feel for the sword again. He placed it in its sheath, strapped the sheath to his back, and was out the door.
He brought Epona out of her stable, and was busy strapping the saddle to her back, when he heard Micah's voice again.
"Link! I got my shield!" he cried, holding the wooden Deku shield up. "Can I come with you to Hyrule?"
Micah had never been outside of Kokiri Forest, like all the other Kokiri children. Link raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you worried about the Kokiri legend?" he said.
Link was referring to the advice all Kokiri were given in early childhood. Supposedly, if a Kokiri child ever left his home forest, something bad would happen to him or his fairy.
"Were you worried when you first left?" Micah countered. It was the response Link expected.
"No, but I'm no Kokiri," Link said. He could see that he wasn't going to win. Micah glared at him, and tapped his foot. Link sighed. "All right. Come on."
He brought Micah up and sat the boy on the saddle in front of him. Belle flew into his pocket.
"Fly, Epona!" Link cried. He kicked his heels. Epona whinnied once, and was away.
The trees thickened around them, blotting out the sunlight. Epona galloped along at a decent pace. Micah reached up and ran his fingers along the passing leaves above. Soon, Link could see a spot of light ahead.
"We'll be leaving the forest soon," said Link. "Last chance for you to get off."
"No!" said Micah. He held up his shield and shouted, "I fear no legend!"
Belle peeked out of his pocket. "What if I do?" she said quietly.
They burst out into open sunlight. The trees shrank away as Epona galloped along the dirt path to Hyrule Castle Town.
"Oh, boy!" Micah cried, jumping up and down in the saddle. "My first adventure!" He reached into his pocket and removed his guardian fairy. "Smell the fresh Hyrule Field air, Belle!" he shouted.
The fairy sniffed the air delicately, and coughed. "Smells like dirt," she said. "And horse."
Micah put her back in his pocket, and continued staring earnestly at the flat horizon.
Forty-five minutes later, Micah's enthusiasm was gone. Epona's pace had slowed to a steady trot. He looked at his shield idly, running his finger along the bumps in the wood. He glanced up at Link, who held the reigns in his hands and held a steady gaze on the road. Then, suddenly, he got an idea.
"Hey!" he cried. "Link, can I try guiding Epona?"
Link hesitated. "Well... ok," he said. He removed his feet from the spurs, allowing Micah to insert his own, and handed him the reins. "Now, you kick your heels here to make her go faster, and these..."
Micah jammed the spurs into Epona's side. She whinnied and took off, galloping furiously. Micah heard a distant grunt, and suddenly realized that he was riding solo.
"Pull back on the reins!" Link shouted, chasing after the runaway horse. "Pull back on the reins!"
Micah was panicking. Epona was running straight for a brick wall, and in the heat of the moment, his mind couldn't process Link's words. He closed his eyes as the wall drew close. He felt a jerk, and then as if he was falling. His face slammed into Epona's mane, and the horse was galloping again. She had jumped the fence!
Micah heard a soothing melody from behind. He was busy wondering where it was coming from and what instrument it was, when Epona stopped, turned around, and slowly trod in Link's direction.
Link was holding a blue ocarina to his lips. He saw Epona coming obediently, and lowered the instrument. Micah panted, gripping the reins with sweaty palms. Epona stood still, breathing heavily and sniffing at tufts of grass at her feet. He sat there for several minutes, in complete silence, feeling the piercing gaze of Link below. Finally, he spoke. "This... is... a fast... horse." Link couldn't help but laugh.
