Author's Note: Why the fight with Mido? Why do you keep asking all these questions? No, seriously. I think the fight really helped tie up loose ends. It was the culmination of years of rivalry, brought out by the death of their father. Seriously, I thought Mido's (and all the other Kokiri, for that matter) reaction in the game to the death of the Deku Tree was kind of lame. I think this brought a hint of realism, and, it made sure Link couldn't remain in the forest.

Chapter 5: The Start of a Bold, New Adventure

Link and Navi continued on their way for several minutes, following the path that would supposedly lead them out of the forest. Leaving the path on either side would take them into the Lost Woods, a dark spooky area of Kokiri Forest in which those who become lost become monsters.

Finally, Link stooped and leaned up against a tree root. He finally broke down. Through sobs, he cried about the Great Deku Tree, Mido, the forest, leaving home, and finally Saria. He fingered his Ocarina. It was a delicate thing, and he promised to keep it safe. Somehow just touching it comforted him.

"Link," Navi said after a pause in his laments. "Link, it's okay. Those kids in the forest, they'll be fine. The Great Deku Tree set them up very well. They've got nice houses, a misguided, but good leader, and there's a protective magic barrier around the forest."

Link had finished weeping. "That man seemed to get through just fine."

"That's different, Link. That evil man is much more powerful than the barrier could take."

"So what you're saying is only real tough guys that can beat the snot out of the Great Deku Tree can get through? Phew, you know I was worried there for a minute." His sarcasm was backed by a defiant glare.

"Nobody's going to hurt the Kokiri. And besides, if they did, we'll come back to check on the kids once and again, right?"

"Yeah." Link suddenly bulked up. "And ain't nobody who can take us!"

"Yeah!"

"I was just wondering," Link changed the topic. "How am I going to keep this ocarina?" He suddenly had an idea. He pulled the lacing from the collar of his tunic, stuck it through two holes in the instrument, and tied it around his neck. "There!"

"Good thinking!" Navi said. "Now you'll always have it right with you."

"Yeah!" They got up and continued walking.

"Don't you want to play it?" Navi asked.

"I… uh… don't know how."

"Oh. Never mind then."

"I guess it's just a memento," Link said sadly.

"No. You'll learn to play it. It's a big world out there, Hyrule is. I'm sure someone knows how and can show you."

"Yeah. Hey, speaking of which, what does Hyrule look like?"

"What do you mean? We've always been in Hyrule, just a small part of it."

"Oh. So there's a lot more beyond the Lost Woods?"

"Oh, yes, much more!"

"You've seen it?"

"Well, no. But I have heard a lot about it from the Great Deku Tree."

"How'd he see it?"

"I don't know. I guess I didn't think too much about it."

"Huh. I suppose we'll just have to see it for ourselves," Link said. They continued walking in silence for a moment, until Navi spoke up again.

"I've noticed something about you."

"That's no way to start a conversation," Link said.

"No, it's not bad. Well… okay. Your left hand has saved your life twice now."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, there was Gohma, and then Mido. Both times you took the sword in your left hand and ended the fight. Also, you're an awesome shot with your slingshot, but you shoot with your left hand."

"What are you saying exactly?"

"I think you're left-handed!"

"What? What does that mean?"

"It means you're better with your left hand than your right. When you… um… okay. How do you play Deku Ball?"

"You hit the ball with a Deku Stick, then run around as long as you can till you get caught by Mido. I'm not very good at it."

"I see. Do you play the same as everyone else?"

"Yeah, just not as good."

"You're left-handed, Link!"

"What! Left-handed is a bad thing! Oh, great. So I can't fight with a sword, either!"

"Link, calm down. Left-handed isn't bad, you just have to do everything backwards of most people. Sheesh, these sheltered kids raised by a tree! Just try using your sword in your left hand from now on."

"What? But I thought the right hand was the sword hand."

"No. You can use it in whatever hand you need. Just try it."

"You know, come to think of it, the sword did feel better in my left hand."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I'll try that next time. So you're saying I put an end to the Deku Tree's curse with the wrong hand? Wow! From now on, fighting should be a breeze!"

"Don't count your cuccos before they hatch! Remember what the Deku Tree said."

"He said that? What does it mean?"

"No, I mean what he said about Gohma actually being weak. No, counting your cuccos before they hatch just means not to get too excited before your plans start in motion."

"Oh. So, like if you've got, um… cuccos, and… they haven't hatched yet, but you're counting them, right?"

"Yeah," Navi said. There was a short pause. "You don't get it, do you?"

"Nope, not really. What's a cucco, anyway?"

"Hoot hoot! Up here, Link!" This new voice sounded somewhat strange and came from above. Link looked up to see a great horned owl, about as tall as Link himself, perched on a branch above them.

"Who are you?" Link called. "Are you a cucco?"

"Cucco? Me? No, my name is Kaepora Gaebora. I was instructed by the Great Deku Tree to await you here."

"The Great Deku Tree? You liar!" Link shouted. "The Great Deku Tree's dead!"

"Dead?"

"Link, it's okay," Navi said. "Kaepora Gaebora was a good friend to the Great Deku Tree, and he asked him to wait here for you yesterday."

"Oh. Sorry."

"Hmm…" Kaepora Gaebora said. "I fully expected the curse to kill him, but not so quickly. Goodbye, my friend, Great Deku Tree…"

"I'm sorry…" Link said. "I tried to stop it, and I did, but…"

"You killed Queen Gohma?" Kaepora Gaebora interjected.

"Yes. With my left hand!" The owl gave Link a confused look.

"Well, Link. We expect great things out of you! Hoot hoo! Well, it appears that the time has finally come for you to start your adventure! You will encounter many hardships ahead… That is your fate."

"I already have," Link said solemnly.

"Link, you've not really had any hardships at all. You just left home!"

"Why doesn't anybody think the Great Deku Tree's death is a hardship?" Link asked.

"Because, Link," Kaepora started, "the Great Deku Tree has already lived a very long life. He and I are of equal age. He died at the ripe old age of three hundred and thirteen."

"Whoa!" Link said. "I guess if it wasn't the curse, he'd die of old age, huh?" Kaepora Gaebora just stared at him. "Oh that's right. You said you're the same age. Oops."

"In any case," the owl continued, "don't feel discouraged, Link, even during the toughest times! Go straight this way and you will see Hyrule Castle. You will meet a princess there…"

"The Princess of Destiny, right?"

"Um, yes. The princess of destiny. Do you know what you're looking for?"

"Not really, no."

"Ah. Well, if you are lost and don't know which way to go, look at this map." Kaepora Gaebora dropped a rolled up piece of parchment from his talon. Link grabbed it and opened it. The map was very strange, indeed. It showed towns, settlements, roads, rivers, everything.

"Okay, I'm sure it will help," Link said politely, but wasn't sure how helpful it would be since he couldn't read.

"Alright then, I'll see you around! Hoot hoot hoot ho!" Kaepora Gaebora stretched out his massive wings, and with a mighty flap, jetted into the air and glided away.

After watching him go, they took a few steps forward and found that the forest ended very shortly up ahead. Link took off at a run, Navi close behind, both wondering what the world beyond the forest was like. They stopped behind the last line of trees and stared out in wonder. Beyond the forest was a plain, extending as far as the eye could see. Some trees were scattered here and there, but nothing like the forest Link and Navi were accustomed to. What they saw were rolling hills, dirt roads, and a beautiful horizon. In the bright blue sky above, the sun was half way between the ground and the pinnacle of its daily leap. It was on the descent, meaning it was sometime in the late afternoon.

"Wow…" Link said in awe. "I've never seen so far away. It… It's so amazing. Wow…"

"It's more beautiful than I'd ever imagined!" Navi added. "Let's go!"

Link just stood there.

"Come on, Link!"

"I'm not going. I can't!"

"What do you mean? Wha- Oh! Are you afraid?"

" 'We Kokiri will die if we leave the forest', remember?"

"Come on, Link! The Great Deku Tree said it was alright. Why would he send us out into Hyrule if he knew it would kill us?"

"I guess you've got a point, but… I'm still not so sure."

"Oh come on, Mr. Courage! What are you, cucco?"

"No! What is a cucco!"

"Listen, Link, how's this? I'll go first. If I'm alright, you follow, okay?"

"Okay."

Navi flew out several yards into the field. "See? It's oka-!" She suddenly went into a coughing fit and fell to the ground.

"Navi!" Link cried. He ran out and scooped her up. "Navi!"

"See? Told you!" she said, flying up. She started laughing.

"That was mean!" Link shouted.

"No. It was smart. Are you dead?"

"N-No…"

"Okay then. Now, on to the castle!"

"Where's the castle again?"

"I don't know. Look at the map."

Link pulled out the map Kaepora Gaebora gave him. "Well…" he said. He couldn't read, so had no clue where they were. The map of Kokiri Forest at least had familiar things on it. Link couldn't tell the Lost Woods from Hyrule Castle. What was a castle anyway?

"Can't you read a map?" Navi asked.

"The problem's not really just the map…"

"You can't read at all!"

"No. No, not at all."

"How have you lived ten whole years? There are signs all over the Kokiri Village! Couldn't you read those?"

"I just sort of memorized where things were…"

"Okay, okay. Let me see the map, Link." She flew over to his shoulder and they looked together. After examining it a moment, she flew to the bottom right corner. "This is the Kokiri Forest," she said. "These symbols here say, 'Kokiri Forest'."

"I don't hear them."

"No, you don't hear them, you read them," Navi said.

"I thought you read with your eyes."

"You do. Here, these symbols mean the sounds Ko-ki-ri. Kokiri. If you read it aloud it would be Kokiri."

"I can read my name!"

"Great. Okay. Now if I'm going to do this we'll need a set of supplies. I'm sure we'll be able to find a slate and a pen somewhere ahead. We'll have reading and writing lessons then. For now," she flew to Link's right side, "Hyrule Castle is this way."

Link followed Navi for a long time. They traveled straight forward until the sun was setting, when they reached their first obstacle. They were facing a large stone wall, which went on as far as they could see on both sides.

"Navi…" Link said. "Is this Hyrule Castle?"

"No. This isn't the castle. It's not on the map, either." Link showed her the map again and she looked at it. "Hmm… I figured we'd make better time leaving the road and heading straight, back there. Let's follow the wall back toward the road… This way!"

They did just that and met up with the road as the last sunlight faded. As they headed down the road, they met their next big obstacle. Link heard a shifting sound. He stopped and stood still. "Navi, stop."

"What is it?"

"Shh…" he said. "I heard something. This field sure got a lot creepier after the sun set."

"Yeah."

"Shh. I heard it again. The ground beneath Link shifted slightly. "What was that?" It shifted again and he jumped to the side.

"What's going on, Link?" Navi asked.

"There's something down there!" he shouted, pointing where he had been standing. As he pointed, long, thin, bony fingers came out of the ground. "It's the ghost of a Kokiri who left the forest!" he shouted.

Link and Navi both screamed at the top of their lungs and ran down the road. Skeletons were now popping out of the ground all around them. They saw a river up ahead, with a large, white stone wall behind it, standing high over the water.

"That's the wall of Hyrule Castle Town!" Navi shouted. They ran along the river. "There should be a bridge into town around here!" They ran along until they saw a wooden section of wall in between two torches. Link found it very familiar…

"This is it!" Navi said. "This must be a drawbridge! Hold out!" She flew across the river and over the wall, leaving Link standing there. The skeletons now surrounded him. Then he realized they were all his height.

He pulled out his sword. "I can take 'em," he said. He realized he was holding his sword in his right hand. He switched his sword and shield. "Alright, boneheads! Come and get it!" The skeletons closed in.

Link took his sword in both hands and swung in a circle, knocking off the heads of all the closest skeletons. One came up over the fallen bodies of his undead comrades. It swung at Link, who blocked with his shield. The bony hand shattered on his shield, but the monster didn't cry out at all, making it easier for Link to chop off his skull without feeling guilty.

Link jumped at another and struck down with his sword, piercing its skull and it fell limp on the ground. A skeleton leapt at him and he held up his shield. The creature bounded off and fell in the water, where its bones scattered. "Huh. Cool," Link said. Another one leapt at him and he dodged, causing it to fly in the water.

"Sorry!" Navi cried, coming back from the other side of the wall. "There's a guard who could let down the bridge, but he swatted me!"

"Oh. Sorry," Link said, slicing a skeleton in half.

"Oh, I figured out what you're fighting!"

"Do tell!"

"They're called Stalchildren, children who come out of their graves at the beckoning of someone with enough power to summon them. They aren't really strong, but they come every night until their curse to rise with the moon is ended. But why are there so many dead children?"

The entire time Navi explained, Link was fighting. "So how do we stop them?" he asked, batting one's head away. He shouted as the Stalchild he'd sliced in half earlier grabbed his ankle. He quickly stabbed its skull and it fell.

"The only way to end their nightly assault is to break the curse. The only way to break the curse is not really certain."

"Okay. So basically, I'm gonna be fighting all night?"

"Basically."

So he fought all night. Link and Navi willingly welcomed the dawn's first light. Link was sitting on the riverbank with bloodshot eyes, swinging at every oncoming Stalchild. As the sun peaked over the eastern mountains, the skeletons finally quit and burrowed into the ground. Then came one of the strangest sounds Link had ever heard. A clickety-clang clickety-clang as the drawbridge came down, a sight and sound Link had only seen once two nights ago in a dream.

"Come on!" Navi said, and Link got up and walked over to the front of the bridge. He stood there, staring in. He saw a cobblestone path, heading straight through the town. It opened really wide in the middle of town, and Link saw that many people were gathered there. Beyond that it became a dirt path and headed onward. Beyond the path and a hill past that, Link saw something even more beautiful than Hyrule Field, though he didn't know what it was. Towers of green, like trees, pierced the sky with their sharp points, rising higher than the Great Deku Tree. This structure was made of the same white stone as the wall.

"Well? What are you waiting for?" Navi asked. "Let's go!"

When Link was satisfied that there were no horsemen coming he willingly walked over the bridge.

A guard standing inside looked out and saw Link and an enormous pile of bones sitting out past the drawbridge. "Did you fight them?" he asked Link.

"The skeletons?" he replied, rubbing his eyes. "Yeah."

"How long were you out there?"

"All night. You really need to listen when a fairy asks you to open the gate."

"Fairy?" The guard noticed Navi hovering over Link's shoulder. "I thought that was a huge firefly!"

"Watch it bud," Navi said grumpily.

"Uh… sorry. Anyway, welcome to Hyrule Castle Town. It's a peaceful, prosperous town."

"Wait a second," Link said. "Say that again."

"It's a peaceful, prosperous town?"

"No, no. The other part."

"Oh. Welcome to Hyrule Castle Town!"

Welcome to Hyrule Castle Town. It had been a long journey already, but they'd made it. Hyrule Castle Town. Now they just needed to find this princess. 'What is a princess of destiny?' Link wondered as they started to walk down the cobblestone road into Town Square.