Chapter III An Important Mission (And Some New Friends)
What to do next? Only two ways to go: left or right. Right. Lance took off to his right following a rough trail. A large hollow tree trunk that served as a tunnel lay ahead. After getting there, he noticed something about this place that was different than Lon Lon Ranch. Trees. There were trees. Okay, this was getting weird. Of course Lance had seen trees before but not this big. The two trees in front of him had wide trunks with a diameter of about two feet each, not to mention how tall each of them had grown. Lance decided to move on. So what? The trees we kind of big. Big deal, right? Walking through the tunnel seemed to be the best thing to do right now, so that's exactly what he did just then.
In the middle of the swinging bridge, which followed the tunnel, he stopped and looked around. Green. There was green. Of course Lance had seen green before, but not like this. The grass was green, the leaves were green, the moss was green, even the bridge was tinted a light green color! Lance crossed the bridge slowly taking everything in… just deciding how he could describe this all to his parents in one night. The short bridge had finally come to an end. Another tunnel waits.
"Here goes nothing."
When Lace opened his eyes he saw a world of life. It was isolated from everything else he ever knew. He could see little people walking around minding their own business. Not wanting to bother the little people, he decided instead of asking where he was, it would be best find a sign. There, to his left. But, unfortunately along with the sign came one of the little people, and he didn't look very friendly. He was dressed in green like Lance and he looked about the same age, maybe he wouldn't be so bad after all…
"Bug off!" the boy shouted as he ran off into one of the little huts not far off.
As he ran Lance could hear the other kids shout to him, "MIDO! Not again! Be nice to our visitors!" and other things like that. Finally taking the time to read the sign, it read: Kokiri Forest. Lance looked up; the little Kokiri was at it again, talking rudely to the little one weeding his yard. He looked like he could use some help. Lance walked up to him after Mido had returned to his house.
Lance asked, "You need help?"
He looked up and answered, "Yes, please. Anything to get me away from Mido!" Lance hadn't had much practice with his sword before, but he knew enough to use it to cut down all the weeds. He easily swiped them all in swing and at the same time, gathering a few rupees that had hidden them selves in the shrubbery. 'All right! Ten rupees!' Lance figured to himself. The Kokiri thanked him a million times, and urged Lance to visit this girl, Saria, who lives down the path a little, who was waiting for a boy under your description.
Outside her house she had rocks instead of plants. Lance decided he'd move the rocks to be nice. He easily picked them up one by one tossed them against the wall behind him. They easily broke and found three rupees, making a grand total of eighteen rupees in his ninety-nine-rupee wallet.
Lance decided it was okay to let him self in because from what he'd heard she was expecting him some how. Lance stepped inside. The whole room was filled with an earthy tune that came from the small instrument she was playing. An ocarina! The girl must have been Saria. She had bright green hair and wore green clothes just like all the other Kokiri. After the song came to an end, she looked up.
"LINK! I'd thought for sure for you were gone forever!" Saria reached forward to hug him.
Lance stepped back and replied, "Whoa, hold up. Lance. My name is Lance, I am not Link, Link is my dad! Okay?"
Saria could have died from embarrassment right there and then. "Oh my gosh. I am as sorry as sorry gets just about now… You just look so much like him."
Lance answered, "Yeah, I figured that out a long time ago…"
Saria decided it would be best to tell him about it. "Well first of all, I'm Saria, Which you probably know already." Lance nods knowingly remembering tales of the little girl with green hair. Saria continues, "I knew your father when he was young. In fact growing up with him, we were the best of friends! I haven't seen him over fifteen years now though… It's almost as if he just left all of us to tie the knot and become king!"
Lance was curious to know everything, so he meekly asked, "And, how exactly do you know my father?"
Saria sighed then answered, "Get ready for a long story,"
Lance eagerly answered, "I'm ready when you are."
Saria began again, "As long as I can remember Link lived in the tree house down the path. Although there are few Kokiri here, he was the only boy with out a fairy. I remember watching Link grow up, which was weird for me because Kokiris never grow up. I've looked ten years old since forever—"
Lance being very rude and inconsiderate blurted, "So that's why you're so short…"
Saria feeling very offended replied, "Hey buddy, I've been this tall for fifty-two years and I think I'm going to stay this height for quite a while. SO GET USED TO IT!" Lance immediately regretted bringing up her height. He couldn't stand having to keep looking down on her like that making her feel so short, so he sat down on tree stump he found her on as he fist entered the room. Quickly recovering from her rage, "Anyway," she continued with unreal cheerfulness, "He was the only boy in the forest with out a fairy, until he was chosen. The great Deku tree sent Navi to guide Link through his many journeys, except for the time when Navi left him with … and… this… that…"
Lance interrupted again, "Wait a minute. Are you telling me my father… of all people my father had adventures?"
Saria answered, "Well, but of course! Did you think he just made up all those bed time stories?" Obviously Lance hadn't heard the complaining that Queen Zelda did two years ago and he never did believe all those stories King Link had said to be true. Lance tried to imagine his father doing all the heroic things Saria claims he did but nothing came to mind. Lance couldn't figure what to say so Saria started up the conversation again, "Where was I? Oh yes, Navi. Navi was sent to guide Link through his many journeys. Link immediately set off first by buying a Kokiri shield and finding the sacred sword. After a few training sessions in the garden, sure enough the great Deku tree decided Link was ready to defeat the evil that lurked with in. After much fierce fighting at last, Link had won the long battle. But it was too late our grand Deku tree's life was taken that day. Link really was a great hero." Saria sighed, "But today we have to…" Saria continued but Lance wasn't listening. He had much on his mind. "How could I have not believed him?" Lance thought, "Why didn't mom say anything about it? Does she know about it? Is it really true?"
"Lance? Hello? Did you hear a word I just said?" Lance began to zone back in.
And answered, "No…"
"Have you ever heard the phrase 'Respect your elders?" Saria almost shouted. Lance looked scared on the outside but on the inside he was practically dying of laughter! You don't know how funny it is to see a girl who looks two years younger than you talk to you like she's fifty-two years old!
Lanced answered with a humble, "Yes, ma'am."
"As I was saying," Saria Continued, "I think it's up to you, Lance to save Hyrule." That's when Lance woke up from his daydream.
"Say WHAT?"
"Didn't Link and Zelda tell you?" Saria sighed and her face got all wrinkled up. If you squinted really hard from about ten feet away… she did look pretty old for a ten-year-old looking Kokiri. "Nabooru's daughter, Leena has taken the throne to the Gerudo. You do know what Gerudo are right? The people with dark skins and bright red hair…that female population?" Lance nodded in agreement. "The last piece of vital information I received was: Leena will stop at nothing to call Hyrule her own." Lance didn't look very scared on the out side… but on the inside, he was petrified.
Lance took one long deep breath, and just now realizing that his empire was in the palm of his hands, he bravely swallowed all his questions and asked, "When do I begin?"
Saria explained, "It's a good idea to spend the night in Link's old tree house. It should be fine, just a little dusty. In the morning you should go visit the Deku sprout for further instructions. When the Deku tree left us, a single seed fell from the heavens. Since then, us Kokiri have watered and weeded and cared for our sprout. I hope you can pull it off…"
"I'm sure I can," Lance replied as he left for Link's tree house. It wasn't hard to find. Apparently it was the only tree house in the entire forest. Lance stood back to admire the shack on stilts. He stood there. He could just see Link running in circles around the trunk with Saria playing tag. And was that the remains of chalk on the West Side of the tree trunk?
Unexpectedly, a small hand brushed Lance's left shoulder. Lance wasted no time thinking. He drew his sword and spun around in a matter of seconds. It was a girl. Well, sort of I guess. If she cut her hair, changed into a baggy tunic and pants, then spoke in a really deep voice, heck, she could pass as a boy any day. But today I guess she went with the girl thing, because she was wearing an out fit similar to Emily's, she had obviously recently spent a lot of time on a farm. You could tell by the smell.
Lance quickly put his sword away and apologized, "Uh, sorry. Who are you?"
She flicked her long brunette hair out her face and answered with; "The question is who are you? And what are you doing here?" Lance wasn't in the mood for this. Some girl just can't come up and take his tree house.
Lance challenged her to a duel. Before Lance had time to think about strategy, the farm girl took out her sword and swung first. Luckily Lance raised his sword just in time to block her blow.
The girl commented, "Good, you know the basics…" Then for a change, Lance swung low, but she blocked before Lance could get more than two feet close to her legs.
It was Lance turn to add to their conversation, "Who gave you permission to stay here?"
There was another quick swing and block before she answered with, "A ten-year-old Blondie with green clothes…I'm guessing he's a friend of yours?" Lance swung extra hard, she thought he was friends with Mido?
"Afraid not." Lance returned, keeping his cool. After that the conversation ended and they both stuck strictly to their sword fight. After taking random turns at swinging, blocking, and dodging, the girl finally pinned Lance to the ground. Lance dropped his sword at the side, and didn't move a muscle. She had her sword at his throat.
"Now, who are you and what are you doing here?" she questioned.
Lance gulped and surrendered, "Okay, Okay you win! I'll tell you my name!" Almost disappointed, she with drew her sword and let him stand. Now at his feet Lance stated, "My name is Lance, Prince Lance." He added the prince because he didn't want to sound wimpy. But Prince Lance came out even worse than just Lance all by its self. He held out his hand for a handshake. He didn't want to be rude. His father was always doing it at meetings and big parties. She silently refused and Lance's hand fell back to his side.
The girl answered, "No, you can't be a prince! I'm Princess Mandy! Eww… I really hope we're not related!"
"Uh, Mandy—" Lance began
"That's Princess Mandy to you," Mandy interrupted.
Lance continued, "Okay, Princess Mandy, What are you doing here? I'm spending the night but I have to get going tomorrow."
Mandy answered, "There's no way you're staying with me I have dibs! Oh," her face lit up as she realized something, "I have to go tomorrow too, what a coincidence!" Lance looked around for something to use as a defense, but only found a sign. That's it! Link was his father! She'd have to let him stay with her!
With newfound confidence Lance said, "Read this." And he pointed at the sign.
Mandy read, "Link's House… I don't think Link'll mind if I stay here, I mean…. Looks as if no one's been here in years." She stepped back and looked the place up and down with a doubtful look on her face.
Lance answered, "Link or 'ahem' King Link is my father." Mandy was obviously surprised, but she was really good at hiding it. Lance just smiled.
"Well, I guess it'd be okay if you stayed for one night at least… Come on!" Mandy exclaimed before charging up the wooden ladder. His plan had worked. Lance quickly followed Mandy up the ladder, and inside. Lance messily dropped his knapsack against the wall next to Mandy's, and walked towards the center of the round building. Lance slowly turned in circles, taking everything in.
"What do you think you're doing?" Mandy interrupted his moment.
"Nothing!" Lance answered all most too quickly. Lance made up for his lie by moving away from the princess. On the East Side of the circle were pieces of parchment tacked to the wall. Lance walked over to read it. It was a list. It listed all kinds of things. Things like number of gold skulita and biggest fish ever caught… Wow! A whopping twenty-two and a half pounds! Lance went through this list for hours laughing to himself about the simple things that could be listed.
Sometime around five Mandy began to prepare dinner, and sometime around five: thirty it was ready. They both sat down at the same time. Mandy offered to say the blessing. She said it quietly, but loud enough for both of them to hear. Lance looked down at his bowl. Blue potion. Lance had seen the potion many times before. It's kind of like red potion except fancier. Zelda would serve it all the time at her dinner parties. Then he remembered the soup races again. Lance smirked slightly.
"What?" Mandy asked sharply. She kept a strict serious face.
Lance simply answered, "Nothing." And began to consume his dinner. Red potion is for healing, so when you drink it, you get this warm fuzzy feeling. But blue potion on the other hand, is for replenishing magic, so with each spoonful comes a tingling sensation that runs up your spine. This continued throughout their silent meal. After Mandy was positive they both had practically licked their bowls clean, she snapped her fingers causing the bowls to disappear. Lance was used to this kind of thing because Zelda was magic too. It must be a princess thing, Lance thought.
With his stomach content, Lance sprawled out on the bed. Princess Mandy came over and sat at the foot of the bed. Lance closed his eyes, and tried to relax, but he could tell the princess was trying to say something. He could hear her when she opened her mouth and then closed it again. She couldn't quite find the words.
"So, How'd you end up here?" Lance tried to break the ice. He opened one eye to look at her.
"What?" She questioned; almost surprised that he found something to say before she did. Lance repeated his question. He had opened the other eye now and was looking into her eyes actually wondering how a princess wound up sharing tree house in the middle of forest with him.
"Well," she was at a loss for words. "Well," she repeated. "How did you end up here?" she came up with.
Lance answered simply, "Couldn't take it anymore, I needed to do something."
"Oh," Princess Mandy thought about his answer for awhile. "So, you ran away?" she confirmed.
"Yeah," Lance sat up on his elbows so he could see her facial expression.
She showed none, "Me too."
When night came, there was no arguing over who was sleeping where. Lance gladly took the pleasure of sleeping on the floor, while the princess got the bed. Lance secretly put his parents' picture under what would have been a pillow if he had one, and tried to go to sleep. But he was kept awake. Princess Mandy stayed up quietly weeping in the bed on the other side of the room. It was kind of annoying, he hated to admit, but it wasn't like he could just get up and tell her to stop. So, Lance finally got used to the sound and fell asleep.
Next morning, Princess Mandy's royal cot was empty. She must have gotten up pretty early, because she had made her bed, ate breakfast, leaving some for Lance of course, and written a note. The note read:
I had to keep going—Some one's waiting for me. We will meet again, I promise. We have more in common than you think.
-Princess Mandy
Short, sweet, and to the point, Lance thought. Remembering the phrase and deciding it suited this note perfectly. Lance suddenly realized how late he was for his meeting with the Deku sprout. He should have been up hours ago. Lance grabbed the note and shoved it in his knapsack. After one last glance at the tree house before climbing down the ladder, he did something completely different from when he was leaving the castle. He laughed. It wasn't a chuckle or a small giggle. It was a hearty laugh. Lance smiled then slid down the sides of the ladder, causing all kinds of moss and gunk to get all over the palms of his hands. Prince Lance would have gotten over to the river lickity-split to wash his hands off. But Lance, the new hero simply rubbed his hands together then brushed them off on his green tunic. To the Deku Sprout! Lance thought eagerly.
Lance found that the correct tunnel lay up the path to the left. In order to get there he had to jump across the small pond/lake thing and sift through some tall grass finding a couple rupees along the way making thirteen rupees. As Lance reached the tunnel a vague figure came into view. Mido.
"Bug off! Only important elf as I, the Great and Marvelous Mido are allowed to pass through here to visit the Grand Deku Sprout." Mido spoke with many fancy words. Lance wasn't sure he quite understood. Mido questioned, "Would you like me to repeat so that your pea-little brain might perhaps comprehend?" Lance understood that. He rolled his eyes and began to protest.
"Mido!" a familiar voice cut in, "How many times to I have to tell you!" Saria shouted louder, to make positive they both heard. "Leave the kind man alone. He wishes not to make evil. Just to pass freely wherever he may wish to go." Okay. Now Saria was doing the funny-talking thing. Where was this all coming from? Maybe it's a Mido thing, Lance concluded. Lance finally forced himself to turn and face Saria. She was crimson with anger, staring intently at Mido, shaking her head and making tsking noises. "Tsk, tsk, tsk…. When will you ever learn?" Mido tried to think of something to say. He opened his mouth as if to say something angrily, but nothing came out. He closed his mouth and began an attempt to try again but to no avail. He finally gave in to nodding humbly to the both of them and stepping aside, allowing Lance to move freely in and out of the Kokiri Forest. Lance started to thank Mido but he was already slowly walking away, toward his little hut…poor guy. Lance started to run after him, but Saria's, "Don't bother, he doesn't deserve it…Good luck, Lance. I'm counting on you. We all are," Saria ended sounding confident. Lance wasn't.
"Thanks (?)," he sounded meek scared almost, but scared wasn't the right word. No, not scared…more like totally freaked out…yeah, that was it, totally freaked… Before waving good bye to Saria, she taught him the song that she was humming before when they first met. She didn't explain what to do with it. She just said that he would be getting his ocarina soon and that it might come in handy. After one last glance back at Saria he turned and headed into the dark, creepy tunnel.
The tunnel was surprisingly long. It was old and full of the dead leaves that had fallen post midautumn. Just as it seemed to go on forever, it ended and opened up to a broad clearing with forests surrounding. In the background was an extremely large dead oak. You couldn't possibly imagine how big the tree was unless you've seen it before. If you look closely at the worn grooves in the tree bark, you can vaguely make out an elderly face. The tree was dead.
In a clearing in front of the glorious tree was a small sprout, most likely the Deku Sprout. The Deku Sprout was a small, chubby, infant tree. It too had facial features. As Lance slowly inched towards the shrub of a tree, it seemed to stir. As if it had known Lance was in it's presence, it slowly began to, well, come to life.
In the places where there seemed to be eyes, bark shifted. It shifted in such away that two eyes opened. First the right. Then the left. A thin line beneath both eyes, broadened and the ends turned upwards. It looked at Lance intently. It wanted Lance to say something…but what can you say to a fat baby tree?
Then, surprisingly it spoke, "Ahh, Lance is it now? We meet at last. What brings you here this fine day?" The tree lies, Lance thought. It wasn't a fine day. It wasn't any better than yesterday or even the day before that. It was kind of worse if you thought about it. As Lance thought, a drop of rain plopped on top on Lance's head. Then another on his nose. It started out slow but then turned into a steady rain. Lance still didn't know what to say to the fat tree…
"Lance?" the tree questioned. Suddenly everything he'd rehearsed in his head came back. Now, where to start? His mind went blank again.
"Uhhh…" was all he could manage. He had gotten close enough to touch the tree if wanted to now…but he wisely refrained. Lance was soaked now, but the rain kept on.
The Deku Sprout pried further, "Is there something you want to ask me, perhaps?" OH! It all came back!
He hurried before he forgot, "Saria made me do it." That wasn't what he meant to say. He meant to say, Saria told me you were who I should see before I continue on my quest. Close enough.
The Sprout didn't see the connection, "Elaborate please?" Lance took a deep breath. In, out. Again, in, out. Okay.
"Saria told me you were who I should see before I continue on my quest."
The Deku Sprout replied, "Now, that wasn't so hard now was it?" It was. But, Lance didn't say anything, so the Sprout went on, "Saria was right. I'm glad you consulted me before you continued on your long journey ahead." Lance replied a wide-eyed blank stare. Again, what was he supposed to say to a fat tree?
The Sprout was forced to continue, "You will need three powers to defeat Leena, Nabooru's daughter. One of which I will give to you now because I can see you have earned it. The others will not be given out. You will have to work hard to earn them." At that a brilliant green stone appeared in between the two of them, the Kokiri emerald.
Before Lance could reach out and grab it, the Deku Sprout spoke further, "Queen Ruto, will help you with the Zora sapphire, and Darmani should help you with the Goron Ruby. Now for that song…oh, before I play the song, I guess you'll need something to play it with, here," a round instrument, an ocarina, it was just like Saria brown and smooth. Lance picked this one up, still leaving the emerald. He put the ocarina to his lips and waited for the song.
"Here is the song: the Serenade of Water, it should take you to Lake Hylia." Lance listened as the Deku Sprout played the song twice, then the sprout listened as Lance gave it a try. He easily memorized the songs and managed a weak thank you. The Deku Sprout copied Saria, "Good Luck, Lance. I'm counting on you." The sprout closed its eyes and the small bit of light that shone on them dissipated and the rain hardened. It was suddenly very dark again. Lance picked up the emerald and packed it away in his knapsack for safekeeping.
Lance turned around to leave but stopping him was a bright orb with wings. It floated gently at first then began to sway back and forth as its contained excitement grew.
"Wha…" Lance started with a questioned look on his face.
The fairy answered, "HEY LISTEN! HEY LINK! Is that you? Wow you're your old self again! I thought you put away that magic for good! I thought I'd never see you again! Did you get the stones? How'd you get the sapphire back from Ruto…I bet she wasn't too happy about that…The Deku Tree Spirit called me here, I guess he wanted me to meet you here! HEY! Wait…you're not Link…Link's nose was smaller…(I would know…)" Wow that fairy could talk. Lance thought. Lance wasn't much of a talker. He tended to let the other half of the conversation take on a life of its own, Lance's side always withered and died.
"I'm Lance," he supplied finally.
"Oh," the fairy replied, sounding very rude. She summed up their conversation, " HEY LISTEN! You must be the midget Link…you're shorter…Link never listened, I hope you listen…HEY LISTEN! My name is Navi." Lance's mind raced. Navi, Navi…where had he heard that name before? Navi the fairy…Navi the…annoying fairy. That's where he'd heard it. Link was always complaining about the annoying fairy called Navi! So, this was the famous Navi.