Link was halfway through a brisk walk towards the village of the Kokori. His reward sounded rather promising and he currently could use the four-legged companion, finding walking to be ill spent time. The sun was starting to dip dangerously low on the edge of the mountains and after hearing the tales from the two farm-folk, he certainly did not want to get caught outside after dark.
The effort of his legs ten folded as he started in a sprint. "Only a few hundred yards…" The first bits of anxiousness came to him when a howling wolf resignated to his ears. The ground rumbled, shaking the dirt at his feet. He leapt back as the dirt gave way and a bone hand clawed through the air trying to snatch his leg. Soil and clumps of grass were thrown in all directions as the rest of the skeleton emerged. It shook free the brown earth, a high pitched and mocking laughter leaving its 'throat' as the hand swiped at Link. Its blue glowing eyes widened as a sword met the arm and sent it from from the body. Another sound left the creature, one of fear as the sword came again and smashed the skull, the bones cracked and lit up like logs on a fire. The monster's body was consumed in a sudden burst of blue fame. When the fire ceased and only moonlight was left to illuminate the grassy field, a small bag dropped to the ground.
"Must have been taken off a victim." Link kneeled down and snatched the bag, examining the rupees inside. "Not much, but it is free money." He pocketed the contents, the bag leaving in another burst of blue flames when it had been emptied. Again, he started in a slow walk whistling in triumph and completely carefree. His jolly state was broken as he heard another laugh, something scrambling out of the hole. He turned around giving a sound of surprise to see three more of the monsters and it looked like another was coming. "Sonnuva-" He turned like a bolt of lightning, ripping away like wildfire as the bony menaces perused. He could see the oddly shaped tree that marked the entrance to the forest. Glancing over his shoulder, Link spotted at least two more skeletons adding to the total; his entire body surging with adrenaline. Footsteps pounded at his heels, the sharp laugh ringing through his ears. The entrance was close, his feet left the ground as he hurled his body weight through the wooden threshold.
Rolling, tumbling onto hard wood, creaking ropes and planks. He rose to his feet, sword and shield at the ready. Peering out into the darkness, the glowing eyes of the skeleton men stared back but for whatever reason they failed to enter the forest. He sighed with relief, putting his sword and shield away as he cautiously stepped across the bridge. The old wood and ropes creaked once more but showed no sign of danger for the passer-by. Again. A wooden threshold awaited him on the other side of the bridge. A peculiar curiosity moved Link forward, a strange feeling like coming home for the first time.
The entire place was deserted, nothing but strange glowing puff palls that seemed to fall out of nothingness. His footsteps, sound dampened by the grasses and small plants that grew all around the area, headed towards one of the buildings. A sign stood infront of the tree house depicting a strange picture that looked to be drawn by a child. He tested the first rung of the ladder before quickly ascending the ladder into the house.
"Hello?" A strange ball with wings instantly came at Link. "Hey! You shouldn't just barge into people's houses!" It attacked, smacking into his chest and pushing him back a small bit. "Go on! Get out of Link's house!"
"My house?" His eyes suddenly opened in surprise. "I am Link, you crazy little b-"
"Link!" It's wings fluttered rapidly, creating a strange ringing noise as it launched forward again. Upon closer inspection, the ball was a glow that surrounded a small woman with wings. Her tiny arms made as big a hug they could around his neck. "Where have you been you big fool? I've been so worried and Saria keeps asking where you went!"
"Wait, who, what? This is really confusing." He pulled the fairy off with two fingers and held her in front of his face. "Who are you? How is this my home?"
"You are such a forgetful boy…" The fairy shook from his grasp. "Its me, Navi. Your fairy that the deku tree assigned when you were a small boy."
"Navi? Right, anyways lets just get down to business." He turned at that moment, leaving the house and making for the ladder as the small fairy perused. "From what I hear these little tree children, or whatever the hell you call them, are having some kind of problems."
"That is true." The new voice startled Link, causing him to trip as he fell forward into the dirt. "You always were such a klutz, Link." A cute child with flowing green locks of hair loomed over him with a sweet smile.
"Saria, I presume."
The girl continued to smile down at the man, offering her hand to help him to his feet. "It's been a long time, Link. The other Kokori do not recognize you, for they hid when the forest spoke of your presence. I trust they will show themselves when they realize you are no threat."
"Wonderful…" Spoken with a heavily sarcastic tone. Link took her hand and rose to his feet. He looked around, noticing another fairy was orbiting around an empty patch of air, or so it seemed. Another child-like person suddenly emerged out of no where, acting as if nothing strange was happening in his home. "Anyways, lets just skip to the next point. Where exactly is this evil I have to vanquish?" Having already lost his patience for the games of these forest folk, he tapped his foot against the as he awaited an answer.
A solemn look overcame Saria's face and she looked almost about to cry. "Yes, of course." She walked, Link following close behind as she took him into a glade inhabited by a small tree. The tree looked up at the two, a startled Link releasing a gasp.
"Hey there! I'm the Deku Tree Sprout!" The tree literally smiled at the two. "Ooo, Saria is this the one who will solve our little problem?" The girl nodded in response, which caused the gleeful tree to perk up even more. Link was sure the tree would explode soon enough. "Well, lets not dawdle, it is right over there." Once more for the day, Link's eyes had seen something that just could not be real. It was a rip in the air, as if the very fabric of reality had been torn asunder at a single point. "Great evil looms from this hole in time and reality. I have not yet seen if one can enter unharmed but I am sure you will be alright."
"Wait, what? You expect me to just go in there with a good chance of no survival?"
"Yeah, pretty much." The cheery tone the Deku Tree Sprout carried sent a cold shiver down Link's back.
"Whatever, I am so haunting your ass when I die." He took a few timid steps forward, cautiously approaching.
"Link, look out!" The small fairy broke into the scene, hovering around the 'portal'. "Something is coming out!" Sure enough, the material of the strange vortex swirled and contoured as something started to pour through. A head armed with foot long fangs followed by a slithering body lunged forward at the Hero. Acidic venom spilled across the grass, killing all it touched. Link rolled, a fat most unfitting narrowly flashing by. The snake recoiled as its entire body came into the clearing. Link was quick to draw his sword and dive forward. Metal was about to meet scale as the snake's tail whipped back around and cast Link into the trunk of a tree. He slowly rose, looking up to find the beast coming for him once more. The fairy fluttered around helplessly, not sure how to help. The lizard's eyes focused on him, raging for blood as it raised its mass above Link and towered over him.
"Now, Link! Its belly is soft, attack it." Link nodded, face turning to determination as he charged forward and with a might cry shoved the blade into the monster. It hissed and flailed about madly, casting Hero and sword, along with Fairy, in all directions. It spun around, leaving a thick gooey trail of black blood as it retreated into the nether. Panting, Link rose to his feet and walked to retrieve his weapon.
"You have got to be shitting me…" He shook his head, using the grass to remove the blood on his weapon. "No way in hell I am going in there." The fairy regained air and flew over to him.
"Don't be such a baby!' Charging forward, she ran into his chest and cast him head over heels backwards into the nether. He reached out, grabbing air as his startled face watched the entire world turn dark, a sick sucking sound at his ears.