The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: Book I

by Habuki

Hey, I am revising and editing my old story, making it better and cutting it into three separate sections. First is book one which is from the beginning to when Link is imprisoned. Oh and I added a epilogue in Ganon's PoV after Link is imprisoned.

3. Chapter II From the Forest to the World

-1Chapter II: From the Forest to the World.

Copyright: I do not own Zelda, Nintendo does. Story by Habuki productions.

A new place, this was, where were they, this was not the same place that the two of them had been a few minutes ago. It was hard to determine the place, he wasn't sure if he was in the same place, that blue light was all he remembered. Such an infamous light, it seemed to be neither bad nor good, the shallow light had engulfed him. No, it was old, and suddenly he fell onto the ground right beside the Deku Tree where he had stood about nine hours ago. Surprised, he stared in disbelief as the Great Deku Tree's entrance shut and it looked upon him with wonder.

"G-Great Deku Tree! Was it a dream?"

"No, young warrior, not a dream. Thou has proven thyself, survived the dungeon and came forth. Thou has indeed proven thyself."

At the time, Navi seemed to be coming too, and fluttered over towards the Deku Tree, amazed. "Great Deku Tree? Are we done, are you cured?" Then she turned on Link and swept into his arms, nuzzling him. "Linky! You did it!"

He held her in his palms and collapsed on the ground, nodding eagerly. "Mmhm, I did it, Navi. No, we did it. When she hit you, I-I just couldn't control my body anymore--" He was about to finish, but the great tree interrupted him and so that's when it spoke its own mind.

"That was thou's warrior's spirit, young Link. When a loved in danger, the spirit arises and allowed thou to defeat the dreaded Gohma." It was an honor to see a young developing warrior at work, though it was all in deep vain.

"So, Great Deku Tree are you cured?" The boy answered enthusiastically, though he knew the answer, of course he was well, they had beaten the toxic spider, that was the end of it.

"Unfortunately not." The vain had been shown, the spider had been beaten, though the tree's time had come long ago.

"Great Deku Tree, you aren't serious!" The boy and partner both blurted out, astounded. How could he not be healed? They beat Gohma, together, and that monster was burned into ashes, then spread to the world.

"This was a test, young warrior. I was doomed before thou even started. This was a test to prove if thou could save the world." It was true, he was going to die either way, and it was just the spider had to have been taken care off. Otherwise, when the tree died, it would of gone out and decided to famish on the young Kokiiri children. Who knew what was next, the tree had known what to do from the start, and had taken it into his own hands. To decide to test to the boy hadn't been his decision, it had come in a dream, one that pronounced the boy without a fairie's destiny began today. He knew it was a sad fate, he had no idea what the boy was in for, but he knew he'd meet it head-on.

"World! What do you mean, Great Deku Tree?" The world of Hyrule was what awaited him, but he had always been told that he'd die if he left.

"Link, thou has proven thyself. Yea, your victory was celebrated, but not for I. Hyrule, the world, is in danger by the man from the desert. His name is not known, but I want you to leave the forest." A sulked tone was enraged inside of the tree's voice, as it spoke of the destiny that awaited the boy and his fairie.

Navi chirped in with a bit of worry in her voice, not just for the tree's unfortunate passing coming about, but more about her boy and his fate. "Great Deku Tree, he'll die!"

"No, thou is different, Link. Thou will survive. Thou must go to a place called Hyrule castle and see the Princess of Destiny. There, thou will learn of what is to be. Please, take this jewel, this is what the man in the desert wanted so bad that he put a curse on me." A man, a dreaded dark-skinned man had done this and revenge was not only his choice, he wanted Link to prove himself to the world, to change it.

From up above, a light appeared and gleaming down was something surrounded by an aura. The aura was pure green and inside the thing fell into Link's hands. It was an emerald, beautiful and green, something of a brooch that went on a specific body part. Link studied it with awe, and placed it inside his pack, before looking up. "You can't die, Great Deku Tree. No! I saved you!"

"Good-bye Link, hero of time. Goodbye Navi, guard Link well and take him to Hyrule. Be with him always and never leave his side. Goodbye-" The last words were cut off when a cracking sound occurred. All around him, the bushes and the trims of the Deku Tree began to petrify; each of them began to do it. The grass about twenty feet across was also beginning to turn to stone, dying along with the tree. The stony grass came under his feet and he was standing upon it as he watched the tree's infamous death. It went one for a few seconds and before Link knew it, the once Great Deku Tree was now a statue.

"Link, it's- okay. Shh." She came over and fluttered up to his face, seeing the tears matted on his face, they were stained there. The boy was deeply sad, of course he would be, this guardian was his own creator and there was nothing that could stop that. He risked his life and for what, there was this stone and a way to go, but not the satisfaction of winning, so what did he get? Nothing! Pounding on the ground, where he sat, the boy looked down and sobbed deeply, his eyes pounding out with tears. Such a sad sight and Navi was about to leave him is, when he called out for his own, to sort out his feelings.

"Don't leave, you aren't supposed too, remember?" Stretched fingers curled her up, and placing himself on the ground, kissed and fiddled with the farie for the next twenty minutes, while letting the rest of his tears out. They were quiet because when she talked he didn't listen, or was too busy sobbing. When the boy did try to speak they came out in gibberish. Finally, half an hour later, he simply picked her put while strapping the shield and sword back on, pulled out the jewel and headed out. She was in the left hand, while the jewel was in the right.

"What do you think this is for?" He was referring to the jewel that was held in his hand, studying the beautiful emerald with passion.

"I don't know, I've never seen it." And she hadn't ever laid eyes on it, she didn't know such treasures existed in this forest. A good thing no one had ever heard of it, the Kokiiri or fairies might get a little greedy and go for it. The fairies more often than the others, the Kokiiri followed a bartering system, aside the jewels in the stores, and greed wasn't such here. The fairies, on the other hand, sometimes were allowed to go out on their own and could see real money. Now if they had ever laid eyes upon the princess of Destiny's fortune--which she hadn't--it might turn a few heads. "Linky?"

"Hrm?" He looked over towards her when his name was called, the tears had begun to calm down, and they were subsiding.

"You gonna be okay? I mean, we can stop and you can take a few minutes to calm down." She sighed, she hated to see him like this, he was like a puppy that had lost its mother, and he seemed lost. When she spoke that though, he perked over and shook his head, as if he was getting better, he smiled.

"No, we have to go now. I am fine, remember, I am a hero and they are strong and courageous." He would be brave, not just for himself, but also to show to her that he just wasn't a little boy--he was a hero now.

"Even if no one thinks you are one, your mine, okay?" The way she spoke that caused him to smile a little bit and he nodded somewhat towards her.

"Hee, not if your mine, too." He looked down and kissed her face before, taking the jewel and pinning it up against his hand, there he tied it upon there. Studying his craftsmanship of the tying, he began to walk a little funny, like the royalty did in the weird stories.

"L-Linky? What are you, hee, what are you doing!" He had sat her on he shoulder and stared to walk like a lady, like a prim and proper princess.

"Well, we are going to see a princess, aren't we? I have to be more lady-like, y'know, like in the story?" He couldn't tell which story, but it made him feel better, and with a smile given towards her, he slipped it off, placing it in his palms, for better safekeeping.

Sighing, it seemed this was going to be a long and hard journey, though not exactly a bad one. Moving forward, she scooped the jewel up, and put it down in his pocket, taking it from his palm. Inside his hand, it could have been lost easier, this way it was stored around with his weapons. None of them had slipped out during the temple, and as rough as that was, she knew the forest couldn't be as bad. That was a good thing, because the two of them were gonna have to deal with another obstacle up ahead. "Come on, Linky, let's get past Mido and go to Saria. You do want to see her-"

"Oh, yes. She can't go. Humph. Yea, let's go see her." He did want to go see her before he left; she had made herself a very good point to know about it.

The Deku Babas were gone for now, when he passed through, but he dashed through pretty quickly, so if they were there he missed them. Even if he had come upon, he would have simply slashed them through and continued on. After Gohma, those stupid things weren't much of a threat; he could take them down in an easy slash. Moving back into the old smelling Kokiiri feel, he was almost home free when he saw Mido by the entrance, waiting for him. Was there no end to this torture? Moving over by him, he tapped his shoulder, and grinned a little, wishing that the schedule had changed and someone else was there.

"You're in my way, Mido." He smiled a little bit and slid past him, when the boy moved, knowing an explanation was in order.

"Well if it isn't-- what the hell happened to you?" Mido really hadn't expected the boy back, either dead or punished by the tree--it was a surprise to see him, and in such a bad shape.

"You don't want to know, listen Mido, move." His courage had moved up a little, maybe thanks to that blue light and he felt the nerve to punch the boy.

"So what happened?" Even though Mido was mean, he was still curious.

"Well, the I had to defeat a curse for the Great Deku Tree."

"You liar! I don't believe that." Mido looked down at Link, and sighed a little, letting out a little chuckle at the boy, though it did seem possible.

"If you don't believe me, go look for you-- wait don't go!" He watched as Mido helplessly dashed down the path with one of the Deku Shields for protection. About three minutes later he heard a horrified scream and his name being called.

"Linky, run." She sparkled around him and awaited him to take off, Mido would be pissed and the last thing they needed was that.

"G-good idea." He knew that the boy would think he killed the Deku Tree, and with a sad sigh, he knew he'd have to leave like this. Thought of like a killer, it didn't seem to end; though nevertheless he nodded and prepared to take off. He took off in a dash from the entrance to the passage, and leapt past the stepping stones, moving throughout the entire region. Still listening, every now and then he heard Mido yelling out a curse and calling his name out.

"You stupid bastard! You killed him! I'll kill you!" It felt like the boy was a few miles back, no pounding of footsteps, but the voice felt right behind him.

Shivering from the words, he wound past his house and saw nothing, there was no activity of Saria near her own room. Gathering up some food and clothes, and stuffing them in a large packsack, he put his weapons in there and the sides pack in there, too. He headed out of the tree house when he saw Mido running up the ladder, with a mob behind him. It looked like all the boys in the village, many of the girls a few meters back, watching helplessly.

"There is the shit. Let's get him!" Cheering was sounded when Mido reached the top of the house, finally, his weapon poised on Link.

It wa-wasn't my fault! A man poisoned him!" As bad as it sounded--no man had ever been inside the forest--it was the truth, not that it mattered.

No man has ever been in the forest, you liar. I am going to do what I have always wanted to do." And out came a small knife, manufactured for cutting wood for the Kokiiri. Taking one look at it, Link jumped from the house and landed onto Saria's house. Only problem was, the house was about twenty feet away. His power really had grown! Squealing, he nodded a little, taking no time to celebrate, this was to time to run away.

"Navi, let's go. My power did increase when I stepped into the blue fire." He seriously couldn't believe it, and haltered in his steps, he was standing on her house and staring around, nothing here.

"It seems so, let's test your speed. Go!" Mido could climb and be over there in a few seconds, so this was the time to get away.

Jumping from the top of the house, Saria wasn't there, he took off running for the exit for the forest. The mob was made up of just about every male in the forest, so no one was guarding the entrance when he dashed past it and into the unknown. It was shaped like a giant tree-trunk and the entire mob stopped right infront of it. Mido was the one that Link heard as he stepped through the part that led to a little ladder in the Lost Woods. He knew they wouldn't follow, but the words still stung inside of his ears as he zoomed by.

"And never come back, you fucking traitor!"

They weren't outside yet because there was a small connecting bridge that led to another tree-shaped exit, and that was where the outside was. The Lost Woods was a place where the other Kokiiri didn't dare travel; they stayed in the other part. The forest was made up of three places: the Kokiiri Forest, the Lost Woods, and the regular woods. The first two were in the enchanted part, ruled by the Deku tree; the other was just for travelers and wild animals. He didn't know if they would follow in the bridge, he hoped not as he sprung by, a familiar voice did come out.

"So, you are finally leaving?" It was Saria; of course, he wouldn't have stopped for anyone else, not even the Deku Tree.

"I-I, yes, I am leaving." Turning around, gingerly, he searched the sadness in her face and frowned, himself. She looked so pretty, yet was sad, he was glad to have seen her now, because he didn't know if he would ever have come back here. Navi, meanwhile, was stilling a little winded, so she went under his hat when he jumped off of Saria's house. "Hee, I guess you, um, heard the people?"

"What did you do, Link?" Her voice seemed stern, but a bit of gentleness was in it, as if he could tell her anything and she'd forgive him.

"I, went inside the Deku Tree, and fought something called Gohma." He knew the name; it was upon the tip of his tongue and shrugged his shoulders a little bit.

"Spider, that is the Kokiiri term for it." The old language was not what they spoke; the common language was one you spoke that even outsiders knew. He knew not why since the Kokiiri couldn't leave--except him now, but it seemed useful since he was going to a new landscape.

"Oh, hee, I knew that." He giggled a little, and those cheeks flushed, nodding a bit as she spoke out in her warm voice.

"You should know that, I taught you better." Of course she had taught him; he just was a little bit off when a giant spider was chasing you all over.

"Hee-hee, sorry." Oh, he was so nervous. True, Gohma was Kokiirish, and Saria was his teacher; she had been with him ever since he was a child. Like a mother and a sister, she was the only one that was for him and probably would ever be with him.

"But that isn't the reason Mido called you a traitor, now is it?" She saw right through him; he couldn't lie to her, somehow she had heard it all the way from in here--or maybe the last part.

"Um, no. After I got out, the Great Deku Tree. He--died." The sadness and anger he saw in her face, made him think she would turn on him, but no.

"Oh, I see. A Mido thinks you did it?" He looked upon her and nodded at her question, of course he knew that, but what she said next was surprising. "You really think that?"

"T-think what!" He felt like he had been violated, he felt something from her and shook his head, at whatever she wanted to say.

"That I would turn on you." Turn on you was something he had just thought of, the weird spirits had granted Saria some mysterious powers. It was like she was more powerful than the Deku Tree was, and sometimes he thought she really was.

He was speechless, but he shook his head, and all of a sudden he knew in his mind that he didn't believe a word of what he thought. "Of course not, I know you all too well."

"I know you too. Oh, I knew this day would come. You just aren't like the other Kokiiri I know it because you are so different. I raised you from a small Kokiiri, but I know you are different. I've always, well, kind of known you would leave. I don't want you too, but I can see the world of Hyrule has big plans for you. Oh, what happened to you?" She reached forward and placed a palm upon the scar on his ripped chest, running her fingers across the painless scar.

"Gohma got at me, it'll leave a scar." He seemed sort of proud of his battle-scar, it sort of initiated him as a grown Kokiiri, and he had fought something that normal Kokiiri could--and won.

"Oh, does it hurt?" She seemed worried, like she usually was and the boy shook his head, smiling with an explanation.

"No, actually, it doesn't. I mean, it did, but when we beat Gohma we stepped into some blue light and I got stronger, faster, and healthy. I jumped from my house to yours!"

"You did! Wow, that's incredible. Now, back to it. I want to give you something." Yea, she was impressed, but felt this weight that if he didn't get to wherever he was going, something bad might happen.

"What?" A gift was what he was going to give--Saria rarely gave them, and when she did they were usually only for him.

"You know, you've been in the Lost Woods and seen me playing it." Also this morning, but she neglected to mention that, she was simply blowing notes, and not doing very well.

"Your flute?" Or it had another name, he just couldn't think of it now.

Her brow furrowed, and she bopped him upon the head, speaking sweetly. "It isn't a flute, you big dummy. It is called an Ocarina. I have an extra, and want you to have it." She giggled a little; of course he had never played, but that exactly was the plan of hers.

"Oh, but I can't p-" He was about to say play, but she interrupted him, her arms held forward as he showed it off for him.

"I know that, that's why you need to come back!" She smiled and took the smaller boy in a hug, tightening it as their bodies pushed closer together. "You come back and I'll teach you. Don't worry, if you sneak in at night, they won't see and just come to the Lost Woods."

"O-Okies, I don't know how far this Princess of Destiny is, but I will come back." He turned around, ready to go, but Saria tapped him on the shoulder, and it seemed the time to visit wasn't over.

"Link?" Her voice seemed soft and she nodded a little more, the sadness was beginning to show itself off. As hard as it was to admit it, she couldn't deny the fact that she'd miss him, Saria was somewhat of a loner as he was--even though she was popular, there were few she considered her friends.

"Yea?" He smiled, and knew what the answer was gonna be, he knew it and just nodded somewhat, there was a promise for him.

"Don't forget me." She handed him the Farie Ocarina, which he placed, not in the bag, but at his side. The ocarina was brown, with a green leaf on the stem. It was bowl shaped with a stem and holes all around it. On the other side were the words 'never forget.' and there it went into his pocket.

"Never in my life." He whispered out, and was about to speak out when another surprise came, this a very first.

Turning back around, he was this time spun around, and pulled into something that was quite unexpected. A mouth was pressed against his along with gentle kissing sound. Blue hues widened as he found the shape of Saria hovering above him, stroking those blonde tresses through his fingers. He was frozen in abyss. The feelings were so weird, and so lovely. She was a wonderful kisser; he could feel as she continued to run her hands through his body.

First his hair, then his back, is rubbing in all kinds of crazy patterns. The kiss, though, that was extraordinary. Her, well, her tongue was inside the boy's mouth. No idea why, he had only kissed her cheek occasionally, and that was embarrassing, sometimes. Just staring at her, his eyes shut. The boy just sat there paralyzed, for a few moments, before she let him go and smiled. Eyes finally opened up, but he couldn't speak. His cheeks were as red as apples, his eyes wide and unable to move.

"You will never forget me, now."

Taking two, now three steps away, he turned around and ran through the bridge, away from her. He had no idea what had just happened, but whatever it was, he liked it. He liked when she kissed him, because she was in control and was showing him feelings that had never before shown. As he fell forward from the forest, his thoughts relented towards her, he knew somehow he'd be back. No matter how long it took, no matter how long much stuff happened, he'd be back. The funny reason was he didn't know why, but at that time, with the kiss fresh on his lips, he didn't seem to care.

"Navi!" Moving out of the tree hold, he held his hand over his face, and gasped. It was so bright!

Automatically, she came out, and hovered over his face, as if to protect him from the bright light. Of course she knew it wouldn't hurt, she just pitied the poor little boy, he acted so cute. She couldn't help but giggle at his face, not meaning to is mean just admiring his naivete so much. The boy thought he was on fire or something, and of course he had never been out of the forest. Shaking her head, she spoke out softly and looked over towards where she was, speaking out lovingly.

"Linky, it is just the sun." Yea, it was the sun, although it felt as if Din herself had decided to appear before the two of them.

"When did it get that bright!" He still didn't understand why it was bright, why the forest had covered up and shielded the sun from the Kokiiri.

"Link, no forest. No forest covering to hide the light. Look ahead of you." She just smiled when he stared ahead and saw the lush fields were in the way, no trees seemed to be anywhere.

"Oh, my Goddess." Of course he was surprised, he had sort of expected trees to be everywhere, and these were just plain fields.

"There were fields and fields of green, almost as far as the eye could see, there wasn't a landfill. No trees were in the way yet, not that it was minded, he just had to get used to the brightness of the sun. There were a few trees by the entrance, but besides that, there was nothing but green and the sun. With one little dirt path that led both ways, it was probably the only way to keep from getting lost. The place was extraordinary, that's for sure. Moving forward a few paces, he let out a scream when he heard a voice from above.

"Hoo-hoo-hoo! Well, look here, a Kokiiri! Out of the forest, little Kokiiri? Don't you know, you'll die!" It was there that the boy let out a shriek of terror, and he didn't know what the hell was going on.

"What is that!" Link screamed, pulling out his sword and trying to reach him, with no avail, growling in frustration.

"Whoa, Linky. That is an owl, he is friendly, I know him. What's your name, again?" Well, friendly wasn't a good word if annoying was a term that you associated with the little pest.

The owl smiled a friendly grin, and flew down a few feet more, only when Link put up his sword, and spoke to them in a gently manner. "He told me about you two, the Great Deku Tree, told me I would be seeing you two. Me, my name is Kaepora Gaebora, at your service."

"Kayo Gaypor?"

"No, Kaepora Gaebora, son. I am asked to be your guide sometimes on this journey, not as close as Navi, though." He chuckled, that made Navi a little uncomfortable, but continued on. "There are many dangers in this field and you'd better be careful. There are the Peahats, in the day. They look like flowers, so avoid them; they are deadly and poisonous. At night, avoid confrontation at all cost, they're are-"

"Stalchildren, I already know this, Mr. Gaebora." The less the mongrel talked, the better, that was the simple truth and Navi seemed to live by it.

"Well, I will be off, then, now be careful." And just like that, he took off, flying over the mountainside and heading into the sun. After a few moments he was gone out of sight, and Link stifled a giggle.

"And what is so funny?" She wasn't mad; she was just smiling a little, though still curious of his laughter that had come out.

"You didn't like him very much, because he thought he knew more than you, hee!" Of course he might, he knew that, but that didn't matter, the owl was nothing compared to Navi.

"Well, we don't need some stupid owl to tell us anything. You have me for that." She was there to inform him about the world, they didn't need some stupid little owl to tell them what to do. Plus the fact was that the tree was dead and they were free, no one was there to command them what to do.

"Hee, Navi, you are so mean!" Of course he didn't like the flying bird anyway either, he hadn't seen many birds in his life, never an owl.

"When the time comes to it, yes, I am. Now, let's go. I want to reach Lon-Lon Ranch by nightfall."

"What's that?" He didn't really have much Geography of Hyrule field, and even if he did, Lon-Lon Ranch is fairly new.

"A ranch where they have cows and horses." A wonderful place to rest, the two could get their strength back and be on the road by morning.

"Wow, I want to see that, I've never seen a real one." Horses used to travel through the forests, which had been so long ago that Saria said she was barely his age. So long ago, they had seemed to disappear from the world, but were making a good comeback as of this century.

"Oh, they are nice, you will like the- what are you staring at?" Navi asked, a little surprised as how his eyes widened and a pointed finger given towards her.

"You've been out of the forest before, haven't you!" He nodded a little, since he hadn't a fairie; he had no idea if the winged beauties left the forest.

"Well, occasionally, but on business."

"Yeah, whatever." He pushed the ocarina in his pack, and began to walk along the fields. Wow, the place was hot, he was used to subtropical climate, and this was pretty temperate. Wiping the sweat from his brow, a few hours later, he looked up and saw something of a mountainside. They had been walking for about nine hours, with a lunch break and a break to drink some water. Night had turned to morning, well, it was morning when they left, and morning was now three o'clock. He pointed at the mountainside, and spoke.

"What's that?"

"End of Lon-Lon Ranch, we go around it and the mountainside is on the top and then we reach it." She nodded a little bit, finishing her explanation.

Well, that was a little said because it turned out to be the next day before they got to Lon-Lon Ranch. See they did loop around, but Link got them lost, trying to find a shortcut, wanted to be a leader. Navi had no idea why she decided to follow the boy, who had never been out of the forest before, though she did. They ended up spending the night under a crevice in the shield so the Stalchildren couldn't get them. It was now about seven o'clock in the morning, and the ranch was only a few miles away.

"Are we there, yet?"

"We'd be there, if it wasn't for you, Link."

"Hee, I'm sorry, Navi! I just, I wanted to explore."

"Hrm, it's fine. Let's go on ahead."

The next three miles were a breeze, because the boy to be gaining some muscle, not much now, but he had a little on his body from the exercise of the past two days. It looked like he was adapting well to the temperatures; the new change of the world hadn't had its affect upon him. It was a good thing, the farie had been scared that maybe the tree was wrong and he might die--it wasn't the case. Well, he continued up the path, until seven miles since that morning, they fell at the entrance of the building. The place was not as big as the forest, but one of the biggest buildings he had ever seen.

"Wow, I am thirsty, any water left?"

"Nope, but they have milk here."

"Milk?"

"Comes out of a cow, it is usually for calves, but Hyrulians drink it sometimes. It is very good to taste, a sweet taste." She had tasted it before and she could honestly say it was good, if he'd like it was another thing.

"Alright!" Taking off for the entrance, he climbed the hill up to the top, and went inside the already open gates. When the smell hit him, he fell over and gagged, because he was right next to the horses' stalls. Looking up, Navi was back a few yards, a clucking noise startled him. It was coming from the other side of the building, so he took off and what he saw were these white things cluttered together. They all had feathers, beaks, and red things on them. Cuccos? That was the name! Jumping forward, he tackled one, and it began to make a bawking sound, before running off. Well, a chase, Eh? And he ran after it.

"L-Link! Hey, wait up!" She flew after him, and stopped as she watched him inspect the Cuccos. He had never seen one, what would his reaction…be? He tackled the thing! Oh my Goddess! Now he was chasing it, but it looked so cute. No, those people would be out here any second, not a sound. The clucking was knocked away when he heard a sound. Turning away, he saw some sort of fence and traced it back to where the entrance was. There someone out there, she definitely wasn't a Kokiiri, but maybe a Hyrulian? Tracing out there, he saw these huge things hurling at him, dodging them, he rolled over away, until he ran into the girl. She nimbly stepped aside, and giggled.

"Well, what do we have here? Those are odd clothes!" The little girl spoke; she had deep auburn hair, and eyes darker than his. On her body was some sort of a sheet.

"Me? You are wearing a sheet!" He giggled and pointed at her clothes, skirts were in the forest, but never something like this. It sort of confused him, though he didn't seem to mind, just shrugging his shoulders somewhat. It was so strange how she was dressed, he would of guessed she was getting ready for a costume party. Dressed as some weird kind of spirit from beyond, he watched her contently with those eyes steadily. His attire did seem weird compared to hers, though he dismissed it as they were from different cultures.

"This is a dress, boy! You, you are wearing green. Ah! What's that!" She was pointing at his shoulder.

Turning, he saw Navi, and shrugged before turning towards her, speaking outward towards her. "My farie, where is yours?"

"Oh, you must be a forest boy, hee, we don't have faries around her. All right, Farie boy, what's your name? Mine is Malon." Her voice was sweet and soft and she smiled a little towards him, showing off that nice farm-like charm.

"Link will do." He didn't appreciate the little nickname, sure he was technically a "fairie-boy" but he was much more than that. Nodding silently, he watched her a little bit, his arms crossed upon his chest and sighed softly.

"Alright, Farie boy." Her smile strayed upon her lips, despite what Link spoke out and she just shrugged her shoulders silently.

"I said Link."

"Farie Boy."

"Link." His impatience was growing even more and he growled out a little more, shaking his head, she didn't understand.

"Farie boy." And that was when she giggled out a little, and spun around in a little circle, beginning to sing out his name.

Turning away, he growled and looked up at Navi sternly, sarcasm placed into his voice, somewhat of a first for her. "Aren't you glad we got lost?"

"Kinda, um." She had giggled a little, and shrugged a shoulder before facing her attention back to Malon. The farie flew over towards Malon, and looked up at her; glad her attention was placed upon her now. "Where is Talon?"

"Oh, Daddy? He went to Hyrule Castle to deliver milk, but isn't back. Oh, will you go get him, please? I'll give you two prizes if you agree." Yes, the prizes were sort of a way to provoke someone in case they decided to withdraw away. She was lonely, her father had been gone for so long, and she needed him back to tend to the farm. Well, that was a lie, he didn't tend, he was sort of lazy, but nevertheless, she did dearly miss him. This boy, as strange clothes that he wore, seemed to be the one that would journey for her. Plus, the prize did provoke him; it would give her the advantage that she needed.

"Hmm? Prizes?" It was Link that spoke up, the interest sparking inside of his mind and he nodded a little bit. "What kind?"

"A song and a egg." It wasn't much to go for, though it was something, monetary value had been coming in. Though she had no control over it and she certainly couldn't ask Ingo for help in that, no one had the key, save her dad.

"Alright, I am heading there anyway, give me the prizes. Oh, can I have some milk too?"

"Hee, sure, I was gonna give you some anyway." She reached into a slit in her dress, or a pocket, and pulled out a jar with the label saying 'Lon-Lon Milk' inside was some white liquidity stuff, it sure didn't look tasty, so he put it in his packsack.

"Alright, here is an egg. But don't eat it! I have been incubating it for some time, and it looks like it is ready to hatch." She smiled a little and shrugged her shoulders; she didn't want her feasting upon the Cucco bird. This thing would be essential in his journey, she wasn't sure how, but she knew he was one. A traveler, the ones you read about in the legends, perhaps an abandoned Kokiiri. That was interesting, she knew it and with a smile gazing upon her lips, she nodded and knew it would be good. Her intuition was that of a woman's, since she was female, and said this boy named Link would need the bird.

"A-alright." Placing both the jugs of milk, and cucco egg inside of his pack, he looked up and was ready for his second prize. "What about my second prize?"

"L-Link! Don't be so greedy!" Navi looked up at the egg and slowly fastened the loop upon his brown, leather side pack, so it wouldn't fall out.

"Link, you cannot get the other prize until you go get my father, please? He is at Hyrule castle, anyway, and I would most appreciate it." Malon went up towards him and smiled a little, flashing those dimples upon her face, staring up at the taller boy. "Please, I promise I will teach you the song, it's a very nice song."

"…Alright, Malon. I guess I will, his name is Talon, right?" He hadn't really been paying attention, so he made sure to play a bit closer attention from now on, to get the facts straight.

"Yea, Talon LonLon."

"Alright, Linky, let's get going. We should be able to reach the place by noon in two days, I know it seems long, but on the way back. We can always ride with Talon."

"Alright, Navi. Goodbye, Miss Malon." Before a reply was given, the boy raced from the weird-smelling ranch and leapt back into the grassy fields of Hyrule Field. Mm, a deep breath of fresh air was given, and he walked along the boundaries of the LonLon ranch until they disappeared out of reach.

---------------------

The next ten miles in silence, the sun raced down the horizon close to sunset, when he arrived at a sign that read in the old language 'North: Kokiiri Forest. Northwest: LonLon Ranch. South: Hyrule Castle." Link, turned towards Navi, but she wasn't there! Oh, that's right, she had gone to sleep in his hat a few hours ago. Tucking the cap in, so she would fall, he walked another five miles, until the sun came down all the way. The first night, the children hadn't messed with the companions, but tonight was different.

Link had followed the boundaries, so he had wondered off the path, as the old said, not to wonder off the path. Hrm, the young boy sat down, just as it was six-thirty, and took out his supplies of food. What all he was were three canteens of water (half gone out of one of them), some fresh Kokiiri bread that was wrapped in some cloth, and some berries from the forest. Sitting upon the log, he shook the young farie. "Navi…"

"Hrm? What is it?" A flash, then a flutter as she sprinkled from his hat and surrounded his shoulders. "Where are we?"

"Well, about five miles ago, we ran into a sign that said which directions to go. South was this Hyrule castle, so I have been going south ever since. "

"Excellent time, Linky-chan!" We should be there by six o'clock tomorrow afternoon, if we head out now. So, what do you have?"

"Well, I didn't have a chance to recall much from my storage." He spoke while; he ran some of the smashed blueberry jam across some of the bread, before nibbling a piece down. Now, he pulled out a small bit and handed it to her. Yes, she was small, so her appetite was small. That was the wonderful thing about a guardian farie, she required hardly any water or food, and since he was young, he didn't eat all that much either. "I have about one fresh loaf of bread, and three others that are a few days old. Some fresh, jammed jelly, and the three canteens.

"Link…. Why aren't we on the path?"

"Oh, we aren't? I was following a path, it was white and --" He was about to explain more when she interrupted him with a small shriek of panic at him.

"That's the boundary path, Link!"

"Boundary? What are--talking about?" He had stopped speaking, because he heard a cackle of noise. Pulling the last piece off the fresh loaf into his mouth, he gathered himself up and stood infront of the log, with the sword unsheathed. What summoned from the background was small teetering sound. The sound was like a cackle, and what appeared over the hill was monstrosity.

"Linky-! Stalechildren, run!"

"Those children the owl--" A claw pushed him backward over the log, and he launched forward, slamming into the deep earth. He would have stayed there, but the cackle sent him upward, the sword came out of its buckle, then. That was when Navi turned a deep green and began to circle him, the skullchild, as it narrowed towards Link. It had no interest in the fairie, that thing wouldn't last a single ounce of energy for his food. But, this child, could be a very plentiful meal. Sure, it wasn't as large as those other animals, but it was a good size.

I'll take care of it! His thoughts wandered as heleapt forward, following the light from Navi, he sliced the blade of the monster's neck. The head was automatically decapitated off the beast, but the funny thing was, it still moved.

"It's still alive!" His astonishment was met to a halt and he just watched silently, a little bit of panic in him. This monster had lived, even after having its brain severed, there didn't seem much to do except gap in fear.

"Slash through it's torso, it won't be able to regenerate!"

Regeneration was something he wouldn't let happen. Pulling out the Deku shield, he flung it forward and watched as it took off the thing's hands and upper torso. That was it, he leapt forward slamming the tips of his boots into the lower region of the abdomen. A final screech sounded, as the thing erupted into small blue flames. Grasping the shield, he took off running.

--------------------

He ran for as long he could, whenever he got tired, he limped until a second wind started up. Throughout the night, he heard the cackles and sometimes saw them rise from the dead ground. The monsters were hideous; they reminded him of the nightmares he had had a few days ago, but these things. They were pure evil. Looking like those ancient dinosaurs, from the past, their heads resembled that. Smaller bodies, all bones, and a loin clothe across their lower abdomen. He didn't care if this chest ached, no; he didn't care at all.

Navi had caught with him and was safely tucked into his hat, which was all he needed, because sleep was no coming that night. From six-forty five, that afternoon, until six-thirty that morning, he ran. Finally, he stopped when he noticed there were no more cackles, no more room for them. He heard the birds chirping and the other daily birds flying through the air. Insects were inside of the grass and bushes, and animals rushing around the green plains. Falling to his knees, he groped for the air, before collapsing into the ground.

--------------------

Navi feel asleep when the running pursued. She couldn't help it, the night before, they had been talking and then she scouted for skull-children. Throughout the night, she heard some cackles, the sounds of battle, but never any from Link. If he were to so much cry out, she would be awake and at his side. No, she didn't awaken until she felt the rush of him slamming into the ground. Fluttering outside, she knelt by him and shook her head gently. The boy was so defenseless out in the open, so she dragged the boy out until he was up against a tree. Well, she had to find a way to get them to Hyrule. Damnit, why didn't they borrow one of LonLon's horses! Cursing herself for her bitter judgement, she went forward on looking for something to carry him on.

Just her luck, there was a cart going out to LonLon, but it wasn't with Talon on it, the farie went up to the driver and asked if she could have a friend ride back to Hyrule. The ride cost quite a bit of rubies, thirty to be exact, but for the next three days, they rode the trail and arrived at Hyrule on the third day. They companions had been, all together, out here for almost a week. Link woke up during the time and the two chatted for a while, soon he was well on his way from the exhaustion of the attacks earlier.

---------------------

The cart signed off near the Hyrule Castle gates, just as the large bridge was coming down, it was exactly a minute past six o'clock when it took off again, without Navi and Link. Staring up towards the large structure, this place was huge. It was larger than the Deku Tree was! The drawbridge was at least a hundred feet long, and it rested upon an ashen-gray castle that was, at the most, three hundred feet tall. The place expanded all over, and they weren't even inside!

"Navi…where are we?"

"Hyrule Castle, I've never been this far before, this place is huge."

"Sure is…can we go?"

"Hee, yea, we can go." Perched upon his shoulder, she urged the boy on. This place was so foreign, it didn't smell at all like LonLon, nor did it smell like the Kokiiri Forest. The place smelt like one word: industrialized. She watched at Link ran across the giant drawbridge, and met up with one of the guards. He looked friendly enough, so the boy sheathed his sword. That, in turn, amused the man and he chuckled out loud.

"What're you little boy, a knight-in-training? Maybe a squire?"

"Knight…squire? Why are you so tall?" The man was only about five feet, six inches tall, but to short Link. It seemed like a giant Kokiiri.

"I'm not that tall, boy. Don't worry, you'll grow up someday."

"I'm a Kokiiri, I stay a child forever."

The boy ran away from the bellowing man, the man who yelled: "Kokiiri are legends child, stop dressing like those freaks!" Pushing past the entranceway, he entered one of the largest places people could ever be. He entered the Hyrule Market, the place among places. This place was engulfed with people, it was full of hundred, no…thousands of people. They were all crowding around arenas where good were on display. He heard laughter, bellowing deep voices, feminine voices, and every other type of voices. Hundreds of alleys poured which way and that, there seemed to be no end to this place.

"Navi…"

"I know, Link, this place. Which one is the castle?" She felt as naïve as the little boy, there seemed to be no end to the places around, which would be the castle, and how much bigger was it?

"Maybe we should ask them?" He pointed over where two chuckle lads were having a good laugh, each seemed to be in his early twenties and having a riot of a time.

"Alright, you ask them, I am going to scout around, now meet me here in the center at twelve o'clock. That's about six hours, you can play until then, all right? I need business to attend too." He needed a break, she knew that he had been through a lot and this could be the best medicine.

"Okies, Navi. I'll miss you." Reaching up, he wrapped his arms tightly around her and was received the hug once more. The boy let her go and walked off towards where the two men were.

--------------------

She wanted to go with him, she really did, but she knew it was impossible. She had to work to do, and the boy so was young! Didn't he deserve a little fun after literally a week of torture? His father dying, being betrayed, having to fight, and leaving his crush? Yes, he deserved it. So when he wandered away, she flowed over towards where one of the largest buildings was. The place, looking like a religious church, was an essential place to learn of what was to come. She scooped past the garden and streamed down in a crack of the door, moving inside. No one could see her, or paid attention to her. She was, after all, just a little farie, or a firefly, in some cases.

Moving inward, inside the room, she caught her breath when the choir started. The room was huge, illuminated with windows all around the pure white room down the center, with checkered white and black squares on the sides of the building. In the center was wide pedestal with the Triforce symbol upon it. Of course she had seen the symbol before, he hadn't, but she had. The symbol was a dark-grayish colour, and inside the symbol was some sort of ancient rune. Navi couldn't read it, but it was shaped like a coin, a medallion, perhaps? Further ahead was a stone carving, about three feet high, with three hollow tubes inside of it. Requesting forward, she read the old text message.

"Ye who owns 3 Spiritual Stones

Stand with the Ocarina of Time

And Play the Song of Time."

Ocarina? Song of Time? What did this mean? They had of the spiritual stones, or that's what The Great Deku Tree had called it. An Ocarina is an instrument, isn't it? Why did he die with so many unanswered questions! Up ahead was a large wall, some sort of door. Above it was another Triforce symbol, this one black, with the gray interior of the building surrounding it. That door was at least fifty feet thick, and couldn't be opened. What was under there? What was behind that door? So many unanswered questions, so little time. Navi finally decided to sleep, so she crept up to the side of one of the many windows and dozed off. Time passed and night fell, the place was quiet, except that beautiful choir that seemed to never stop singing…even though no one was there to sing, the place was so wondrous.

--------------------

During the time of Navi's 'discovery' Link was busy enjoying the town. The place had many, and I say it literally, many shops to look around. Unfortunately, everything cost rubies, and a lot more expensive than in the Kokiiri. Some of this stuff cost two or three hundred rubies. The most in the Kokiiri was ninety-nine! Whew, he was broke anyway, so all he did was hang around the shops. Got to do a free game of Bombachu, now that was fun! The young lad ended up almost blowing up the entire room. How was he supposed to know those things went everywhere?

"I thought you said you'd done this before!" Screeched the teenage employee, staring down at the boy.

"I…I thought, I--" Then he had ran out of the room with her yelling after him. Yelling for the forest boy to get back before she burnt down his entire forest. Preposterous, of course, no one could get back in the forest.

Then how did the man get inside the forest? A voice whispered too him, one that was most likely his own self-conscious, though he wasn't for certain.

"Shut up." He spoke to himself aloud, but he was alone and it was all right to speak to yourself when you're alone. The only problem is when you answer yourself back, but hadn't he done that before? Growling at himself, he hurried back into the middle of the market, then he saw her. It was Malon! She was standing there alone, sitting by her lonesome with no one to care for her. Taking a look at his watch, it was way past seven. The market was closed down and all he saw were stray animals running around…what were those things? Someone had told him they were called 'dogs' today, but he had been against a pole with a bottle of something strong in his hand. He walked up to Malon and stared over at her, before sitting by her side.

It took a few moments before she noticed him; she was as slow as people from the deeper part of the country were. "Farie-boy! You're here!"

"Yea, I just got here today." He shrugged and sat down upon a little bricked garden, where she sat a few seconds later.

"Well, that explains why you haven't been back with my daddy." It seemed that she had gotten tired of waiting and decided to venture out upon her own.

"Hee, sorry about that. I got hurt and--well, we rode on a milk-truck back to Hyrule. But the thing had to go around the whole country, so it took a while. I saw Kokiiri, and a few other villages I've never heard of. Saw somewhat of a giant lake and slept the rest of the way."

"Oh, what happened? Are you still hurt?"

"No, I ran all night, those Skullchildren were after me."

She gasped out loud, pressing her hands up towards her face, and stared at him in utter disbelief. "What? Those aren't just legends?"

"No, of course not. They are dinosaurs, or look like humanoid ones. They are skeletons and wear loincloths. Well, Miss Malon, I have to go look for Navi. You want me to look for your dad, we have to get into the castle…wherever it is." He had concluded that the castle was near here, of course it was, this was simply a smaller town below the castle. However, he still wasn't certain about where that place was, there were a lot of tall buildings around.

She let out a long stream of giggles, and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, before slapping him on the back roughly. "You really are from the forest, Farie boy! The castle is that long building back in there. It's have a little desert scenery, then there is a long gate that leads up there. If you want to get inside the castle, your gonna have to sneak in."

"Yea, I think I remember." Nodding roughly, he remembered what those two guys said, those funny guys from before.

"Well, lookey, here, what is this!" Those two were annoying, it was a wonder that Navi hadn't gone to go see them, he had seen these two earlier.

"Looks like a forest boy, those ones from the tales." The taller one chuckled out, though the two of them reminded him or the twins, or the Know-It-All Brothers. He assumed they were twins because their appearance was almost the same, as if they were the same people. Of course, he knew about identical twins and all, so the older men seemed to be of that descent. Also, because the two of them acted alike, and both shared the same stupid personality. Their sense of humor was also the same, which the jokes they laughed at were not really all that funny.

"Ah-ha-ha-ha! Where is his farie?" The shorter one spoke this time, they were the same, though still one was taller than the other one.

"She went off--" but the two cuts Link off with more barrels of laughter, finally he turned towards the large building and looked up at it. "What's that?"

"The castle, forest boy! Oh that reminds me, guess what this dork did!" Even though he hadn't even asked about it, it seemed the two of them were beginning to explain it.

"…Don't tell him, Joe!" The shorter one, Joe, seemed to remain the center of attention as his brother blushed deeply, and spoke on.

"Why not?"

"…Fine."

"This idiot tried to sneak in the castle, he got all the way past the guards, he even got into the castle grounds, but he got stuck in a water-gate. Imagine this, now they've tightened up security!" He had to admit it did seem a little stupid, though the information he thought might be valuable.

"Is the princess of Destiny there?" Asked Link eagerly.

"Yea, you mean Zelda? Yea, that little girl's there. Cute little girl, say about your age. Hey, you aren't going to work the moves on her?" The two men, they were not boys, more of men began to chuckle and shape out the girl's body. It was strange how they did it, though Link just stared up at them confusingly, his eyes focusing strangely.

"Wha? --" But another stream of laughter sent the boy back from the two. Stomping his feet, he hurried back off towards the alley where he played his game of Bombachu.

---------------------

"Alright, Miss Malon, I have to go find Navi. Night!" He would have liked to spend a little more time with her, but their appointment seemed to have been running late.

"Goodnight, and care of my egg, is it getting warmth?"

"Yup, in my satchel, night." Off he ran, searching the buildings for her. The taverns didn't have her, the inns either, but there was one place he hadn't looked. That was the large church located outside of the marketplace. Following his leads up the stairs, there were four stones with eyes upon them that bunched up against them. Saria said those were Gossip stones, some were in the Kokiiri Forest. Tapping one, all it did was tell him it was one o'clock in the morning. Stupid, since he just looked at a watch, but he nevertheless ran up the stairs and enters the large temple.

When he was inside the temple, he could see a light somehow illuminated it. No candle light, but a holy light? Well, that made no sense at all. This place was obviously empty, but the boy was so tired, he just couldn't take it anymore. He had tried the inns, and with no luck, he was out for the night without a room. Lying down on a weird pedestal, with three triangles pushed in different directions. It made some sort of triangular force. The Deku shield went down, and he wrapped it on his body, the floor was cold, but he managed to slip his arms inside the tunic and keep from freezing. A few minutes later, he was out for the count.

--------------------

The next morning, Navi awoke the boy and told him of her day, very boring, she didn't mention her 'fun' with the legends. Her running had been strictly business, so she decided that he really didn't need to know about this. It was her own thoughts; she wanted to get rid of the facts that she was clueless. As his partner, she needed to be better than that and find out when he asked a question. He didn't need to know these things. Link asked why she never met him and he told her that she had gone to sleep up in the windows, near the sun.

"Oh, I was right below you!" Link exclaimed out in a maddening tone, one of surprise that the two of them had for some coincidence slept near each other. It seemed wherever they went that the two of them were connected in some magical twining, as if by fate.

"Yea, I saw you sleeping this morning." Yes, she had not only seen him; she had taken the time to watch him sleep, as she always did.

"Navi, I found out where the castle is and a way to get in."

"Oh really?" This sparked her interest, he had done more than play around for the day, he had become more confident in his abilities.

"Yea, those men said that they tried to sneak in through a water-gate…what's that?" A water gate, all these were words was new to him, he had no idea what some did, and others were synonyms of old words. It was a strange world, but he was learning more and more from his experiences in this new world, it was a great thing.

"It distributes water, it keeps it clean." She knew about these things because she had taken old Hylian dictionaries and read through them. Her time alone had been good for her, before him, she was not one to have many friends.

"Oh, anyway, I found out there is a small hole he got stuck in, so I can climb through. Only problem is the little thing about security."

"Security?" Had those idiots gotten it updated, that would be a really bad thing, especially for the inexperience warrior. Navi looked to the side, she knew who he was talking about, those laughing-stocks, they even smelt like trouble.

"They said it increased, but I think I can slip by. Unless they are guarding the water-gate." He nodded.

"Alright, let's try it."

--------------------

After some breakfast in the room, the Temple of Time, Navi called it. They set out for their destination. Moving out away the town, but still inside the large castle, Navi and he hurried down until it was twelve o'clock. There they stopped for lunch, and ended up at the passageway, the gates, at about seven o'clock that night. Fortunately, the Skullchildren couldn't get inside the human barriers, so he was safe that night. Link slept soundly that night, with an ever-watchful Navi on guard.

The next morning, the two found the vines that reached the place; they climbed the two and looked around. It was the morning, so not that many guards were around the entire facility. The castle looked about five miles away, lush fields of flowers covered most of the places, but at the castle was a long gate that looked pretty un-scaled, through. Scaling away at the fields, on his hands and knees, he reached some sort of small mountain. The mountain was climbable, so when he climbed it, they stopped for lunch. The food was running out, but he was happy with their shares. One loaf was left, with some jam and a lot of water, he'd filled it up in Hyrule.

"What exactly did you go when I was gone, aside seeing those two idiots." Navi inquired as they were heading towards the castle gates. It was only two miles to the castle, but the walk was becoming more and more strenuous.

"I mentioned the Bombachu place, but before blowing the place up, I won three things there, well really four."

"Four?" What are they?" Stopping for a rest, he leaned against a tree, pulling out a large side pack, and slipped the small one off, pulling the materials out of the latter.

"Wow! You won that?" He had been playing games, though it seemed that this was a good prize, not some little toy.

"Actually, she gave it to me, to hold the surprises I won."

"Well, show me!" Link nodded as she finished talking and pulled out a small container and inside was a small mechanical mouse. The mice were about the size of his fist, and were blue and yellow all over.

"Are those toys?" Navi thought out loud, a little annoyance in her voice; she didn't want him to be busy with toys. They were on a mission for the Deku Tree, and the two of them needed to finish this little adventure. Even though the tree was dead, his will still needed to be fulfilled, even if they were at the end, it was still his will. They would stop fooling around and go ahead and venture towards the castle, stop fooling around. There was no time to be playing these little games, or getting stupid little toys to use for no reason.

"Nope. They are called Bombachus. These devices are explosive, you just set them down and they fly off, then explode. Gun power is stored in there, along with motion detectors, and a time. But, personally, I think they're worthless." Gunpowder was very dangerous; it was a newly invented tool that was used in the guns of the new world.

"And dangerous."

"Trash them."

"But--Navi…" He sounded a little saddened to throw out his newfound toys just because she found them unjust.

"Now." Navi looked at him sternly and pointed to a small ditch, about three feet away, watching him contently. She had to be that way with him, because not only were they both partners, but she was his teachers. As a teacher, she had to mentor and guide him.

"Yes, ma'am." Throwing the Bombachu bag into the ditch, he fetched out a second bag. This one was a large bag with the word 'explosions' printed on the side of the bag. "She said it is made of a D-" He struggled with the word, as if it was a new word, of course it was one of those new words, a weird language. "Dodongo. A Dodongo's stomach."

"I think we need this. I don't know why, but I have a small hunch." Navi fluttered in the smaller pack and out came a large glass shade. Inside the case was half of a heart, but it wasn't a real heart, of course not. "W-what's this?"

"An ugly woman gave them to me."

"Link!" She seemed to stifle a giggle; one shouldn't make fun of a person's appearance, though it was cute. His naivete was just one of the cutest thing he could seem to do about, and she accepted this willingly.

He whimpered and nodded sadly, shrugged his shoulder and reworded his own phrase out solemly. "I'm sorry, I mean, a disfigured woman gave it to me when I saved her dog."

Navi frowned, but at least it was better than 'ugly', it was still cute how she acted, and then she nodded. "Saved?"

"He was lost and I found him the night I was alone."

"Oh… Well is that it?"

This time he pawed through his pockets, and he took out one purple ruby, four red ones, and two blue rubies, stuffing them into his wallet. Sticking the wallet inside the satchel he used for rations, he continued to switch the supplies from the smaller side back, to the larger one. "I won these and the hearts at the treasure box contest…yea, I had two pieces, but when I held them bother in my hands, they just bided together."

"Wow, so two more pieces?"

"Yea, maybe at it increases my power when I find a whole heart, like those small heart containers in the Deku Tree." Link now had a dozen of those things. How? On the way to Hyrule Castle, they had stumbled upon a bush and after some searching he found those containers, Deku Seeds, and some nuts."

"You said four things." Yea, she had only shown him a few of them, but not all of them; she wanted to view them all.

"Yea, I also won a seed bag." Link pulled out new Deku seed bag, but he had been carrying them in a small bag earlier.

"Wow, how many seeds does it hold?" The original bag had held about thirty or so, she had never taken the time to count, nevertheless she was listening to him and his words.

"Forty seeds, and I won it at some shooting gallery. Shooting at some rubies." Link reached into his old seed bag and dumped the seeds from the old bag, into the new bag. Closing the bag shut, he pulled out his slingshot, the Deku nuts and sticks, and put them inside of his side pack. This new bag would be able to hold even more than before; it was a good thing that it was here. The old one was a very old bag and would rot off in a few weeks, she was just sure of it given rain and time. There he stood himself up and pulled the new pack around his waist, fastening it tightly.

"Ready, Navi?" He wanted to be sure that they were ready, what was next would be the way to the castle.

"…Yea. I guess you don't need me anymore." She spoke in a light whisper. Link frowned sadly, cupping her inside of his hands, and kissed her face. "Hey, I won some supplies, that's all. I still need you, of course I do. You're my friend and my protector."

"Don't say that…I'm not strong." His smile seemed faltered and he simply shrugged his shoulders a little bit, admitting the weakness.

"Yes you are, and braver than me." Leaning forward, he kissed her tiny veil and placed him on his shoulder, a smile grazing upon his lips. "And you aren't a nuisance."

"Thanks."

--------------------

"Navi, what do we ask this princess?" The two were making their way closer and closer towards the castle; it was of course in the eye-view.

"…Never thought of that."

"I think we show her this Kokiiri Emerald and maybe there are others?"

"You read the inscription!" She had read it and surprised that the boy had taken the time to go upon and read around the temple.

"What inscription? I was following on guess, what is this inscription?"

So, Navi told him about the inscription and about a little more of the Triforce. "What you slept on was a medallion inside of a Triforce. The Triforce are courage, power, and wisdom. Each power represents a triangle, and I think what's behind that door is something special, maybe the Triforce? I think it's a special power, and I think this princess can tell us everything. "

"You're right, she is a princess. She must have information, but will she share it?" Yea, royalty had secrets, secrets that someone like an intruder from the forest weren't supposed to know. All he could do was pray; hopefully they would get through and be able to achieve the tree's last request.

"We'll just have to try, it was his dying request." She whispered out sadly and shrugged her shoulders, if they were turned back, that was that.

"…Yea, let's go."

Pulling out the rest of the food inside of his backpack, he slid down the path and landed upon a small gray path. The path was smooth and soft, feeling like stone and some granite stored inside of the materials. Either painted or smoothed right, there were no specks of spots for him as he walked forward. There was some sort of water surrounding the path, on the left side and turning sideways, he saw the castle. It was beautiful! The castle was at least two hundred feet tall with hundreds of windows, a drawbridge, on the other side, and guards looking away from him.

"Link, get in the moat!"

"Moat?" His tone was confused, he blinking a little bit.

"The water, dive!"

"O-Oh!" He saw the guard turn around, but dove into the water just in time. He gasped as the currents pulled him forward, he was pulled around the whole while, and he was pulled until a bump slammed into his side. Groaning, he turned over and cried out softly.

"Linky!" Navi pulled at his shoulders and lifted him the currents; there he pulled him over and placed him on top of some boxes. On the boxes, she looked at him and, he was all right, he really wasn't in much pain at all. The thing just left a small bruise on his upper body, quite nasty from the look upon his chest. ."Link, are you alright?"

Coughing out some loose air, he nodded. "Yea, I'm alright. Let's get down to business." Hopping off of the box, he saw a cow onto of the boxes and gasped out a little bit from old remembrance. "Lon-Lon Ranch! That must mean…What's that?" Leaning over the large crate, Link stared at a heavy-set man in some overalls. He was bald, but had some hair on his sides and a big mustache/beard combination.

"Talon!" Navi cried out and shook her head a little, fluttering across his face back and forth. There was no way they could get to the drain with this fat man in the way; the boxes had to go in the way. This was the only way to stop the rush of the water; they would plug the water and keep them from falling. While she did this, Link reached into his pocket while Navi tried to awaken the sleeping man, there was a crack and something pushed out. It was Cucco that appeared, after such a while, the chicken had decided to come out of its shell.

"Navi, a Cucco!" He nodded; throwing the shell aside inside of the running water, seeing that it was quickly sucked up. That seemed to initiate that indeed they needed to keep the boxes up, plus otherwise he couldn't reach inside.

"Huh, oh, use it on him." Perfect, the chicken would crow inside of the man's ear and then that man would come back awake.

Pushing the Cucco into the old man's face, Link pulled a feather and the Cucco squawked a loud screech. That wasn't a very good idea, he knew it, but otherwise the chicken would have been very quiet. Before the thing could peck him, he threw readied himself to throw it down on the ground. Of course, the chicken was way ahead of him and jumped out of his hands and jumping the fence. The Cucco was gone within five seconds, when Link turned back, he saw Talon was awakening.

"What in tranation was that!" The man had a deep thick country accent, scratching that black beard as he yawned out loudly.

"Uh, your daughter's Cucco, sir."

Talon shook himself off and stood up, he was about five eleven, and towered over the boy. Looking down at the kid, he noticed the farie. One of those forests kids… Dismissing the thought, he heard the name 'daughter'. "Daughter? You mean my Malon, why did you see her?"

"Um, she gave me the Cucco a week ago, and I just saw her on my way to the castle, she was quite upset…"

"U-upset! Oh, no. Malon's going to give to me!" Not even bothering to say goodbye, the old farmer took off towards the end of the gate, he circled the gate and swept past the guards, those poor guys, they tried to catch him, but he was long gone.

"Wow…Miss Malon must be tough." Navi spoke with a piece of sarcasm in her voice. The little farie floated up past the boxes and fluttered over towards the wall. Running out of the wall, was a small water gate, it was about his size and he wouldn't drown in it. "Linky! I found the gate those two idiots were talking about. Push those boxes so we can align them and you can hop across!"

Agreeing with her, he looked up at the boxes, they were about seven feet tall and when he knocked on one, he realized it was hollow. Guess the guards forgot to take them away and throw them out? It was the Lon-Lon Ranch boxes, Talon's. Pushing the first one deep into the water, it sank down and stopped the flow of water. Next, he pushed the other one on top of it, giving him a little standing room. Finally, the last one collapsed onto the second box, twenty minutes later, this was because that one was a bit heavier with some unloaded milk.

Standing on the top box, he peered over at the five-foot jump and what was past it. What was there was a small little covering with three triangles onto it. On that were flowing water, and the hole he would slip through. "Wow…thanks Navi."

"Yeah, it's great. This is just your size, so we can slip right through, but you might get a little wet."

"I don't mind, besides, this uniform needs washing, anyway." The boy had washed his clothes, when the milk-wagon stopped near the Zora River, he had washed it and dried it, but that was at least four days ago. Reckon, he didn't smell, he had bathed the day before yesterday in one of the inns, being kicked out, of course. The boy moved forward and leapt across the five-foot jump, he stomped across the other end and got down on his hands and knees. Pushing his head through the hole, his damp body was through the entire tunnel in less than three minutes, but it was pitch black with the leaking and flowing of water it sort of creep him out. Finally flashing through the terror and into the light, he pulled himself out and was standing up in a small ankle-deep pool.

"Navi, want to go check it out?"

"Alright, Linky." She flew forward, and about ten minutes she rushed back with a big frown upon her face. "There are about nine guards, they are assigned in five arenas. One is at the first arena and the other two are in-groups at the other four arenas. Fortunately, they are going to be easy to dodge, except the third one…there is a plank on top of a balcony you have to balance over. It's fairly easy for you, I would imagine."

"Man, those two dummies had the security increased, Eh?" He sighed, wishing they might've found another way in, but what passed has passed, and the worst was yet to come.

"I would imagine so, Linky. We have those two to thank and if we get caught? I think you might be thrown in jail or something." She trembled at the though, they had no jails in the Kokiiri Forest, though that was okay. The fairie would make sure that the police didn't hurt him, which would be what she would do--protect him with her life.

"J-Jail? What's that?" He had no idea what it was like, but the name just made him feel weird, as if he knew unconsciously.

"A place of confinement where people who do bad things go. Like a place where you punish bad people." She nodded.

"I'm not bad, Navi!" He whimpered just a little bit and flushed a little, knowing in his mind that he was a good boy. Of course he was a good one, Navi had said so, and so had Saria, there was no such way he was bad.

"…I know that, but normal people don't sneak in to see the princess, it's not allowed. Ready?"

"…Yea, let's go." He couldn't use his sword on these people, because they were not monsters, so he pulled out about four nuts, keeping two in each hand. This was for a paralyze-formula, so if he used them, the boy would knock the guards out so they couldn't call for help. As if turned out, he didn't need them. The first arena was truly the lone guard, it was a squared hedge and he sneaked past that in only a few minutes, the next one however was a twin fountains. Link had to crouch and slid past the guards on his hands and knees, so they didn't discover him in the silhouette of the fountain waters.

The plank task was right after this, he saw below a barrel of treasures, and the guard surrounding them. He did sneak behind the guard and the ten green rubies, stuffing them inside of his pack, and he climbed up a ladder, pacing across the fifteen-foot board. It was a very scary experience; feeling like an acrobat in the circus, except this time, the guards might shoot you down. That was a freaky feeling and with a bit of passion, he finished himself up and kept himself on. Hopping down on the ground, he moved on, with himself and began to trace himself even more forward.

Fourthly, was a big stone wall, and behind the wall were the two guards, moving ever-closely together around a large statue of a goddess upon a platform. He guessed it was one of the Goddesses, but couldn't be sure. Link made sure that the two were on the other side when he ran past it and into the last section of the garden. Past the barrier of the fourth section, was a larger rectangular hedge with another statue in the center. This one was narrower, but he couldn't tell what it was. Those two guards were a little harder to dodge; he had to climb through the bushes and slipped past the guards when they turned the corners. One turned and stared forward at his direction, but he was tucked safely inside one of the bushes. For the next thirty minutes they paced the garden where he was, and decided it was a mouse or something, then went on.

Past the fifth garden maze was a long tunneled corridor that led into a larger garden, the flowers were lush all over. A small moat ran across the entire structure from the outside area. In the center of the garden was a bushel of sunflowers, leaning down he sniffed the flowers and was immediately stuck with the sensation of beauty. Whose garden was this, the princess, was that the loyalty that ruled all of Hyrule? She seemed younger, younger than he had expected, of course beautiful princesses were supposed to be. Not that he thought her beautiful, he wasn't sure since all her hair was held up, a little bit he paced forward.