Chapter 15
Back To Normal

As the sun streamed through the window and warmed the boy's face, Link opened his eyes to his lonely room.
His back ached a little, it seemed that one night with Maron in her warm bed was all it took to soften him.
Nevertheless, the was a small satisfaction in waking in a familiar setting. His bed may be hard, but it's his.
The room may be chilly without a closable window or a blanket, but it's his room.
The fun time he had out in Hyrule may have been brief, but the memories are his to treasure forever.

With a deep yawn and a stretch, he called to his fairy, wishing her a good morning as his sleepy wet eyes adjusted to the room's golden-brown glow.

"Navi?" He glanced over to the table. The spot he left her was empty. "Navi?" With a chilling urgency, he checked his bed for any sign of her. She fell from his shoulder as he lay down, she didn't get crushed in the night- 'No' He thought. He definitely moved her to the table. She'd have no reason to come back to bed. "Navi!" He called again, searching every surface of the room.

A horrible realisation hit him. He woke up in aches and pains. Between now and the afternoon when he was beaten up by the others, he gained a fairy, met a talking tree, left the woods and went on an adventure where he fought monsters and met a princess.

"a dream…?" If it wasn't a dream, where's Navi? Where's his fairy guardian?
He felt tears bead up at the bottom of his eyes. His fears made too much sense.
"It's not FAIR!" He bawled, dragging his hands across his tabletop and knocking his bag, sword, and ocarina onto the floor.
Hearing the precious thing fall, a different wave of remorse took him.
Saria's gift, it was a token of her gratitude from all those years ago. She worked so hard on it, and they spent so much time practising and playing together.
He only felt lucky it was not damaged when it landed on the softwood floor.
Link held the instrument to his lips as he played a song. It was just a gentle melody that he overheard Navi humming during one of their rests on the adventure.

Returning to his bed, head low as his fingers played, he looked over his fond memories, even if they were all just visions of the night.

The joy of finally becoming a true Kokiri boy. The amazing view from the top of the Deku Tree.

Looking at his ceiling, part of him wondered if there was any truth to his dream. What's actually stopping him from climbing to the top? Perhaps the tree won't talk back, but the view will still be something to behold.
"maybe…" He thought about his day more.

Exploring the forest with Navi. The spooky night together inside that tree husk. Meeting Maron.

A sad smile upon his lips, he remembered the red-headed girl's grinning face. He recalled being so frightened by her, well more so her horse but still. However, Maron turned out to be such a kind girl. She was so helpful, taking such big risks and doing everything she could to help him and Navi complete their quest.

Thinking about their time in the market, Link's tune changed to the one they played together to make money.

Breaking into Hyrule castle, Link hadn't been so nervous in his life. Strawkids and monsters, he tries to avoid. But breaking into the castle grounds made him feel sick with both fear and excitement.
It was worth it to meet Princess Zelda and feel the satisfaction of a job done.
If only it wasn't ruined by getting arrested immediately after. The woman, Nabooru, she was strange but turned out to be friendly too.
He remembered with bitter fondness the evening he and Navi spent playing with Maron.

"it was fun…" Setting the ocarina down on the table, he decided to put his feelings away. Dreams are for sleepy time, not during the day.

As he knelt to tidy the mess he made, he'd only just started packing his leftover food back into his bag before he realised.

A stocked bag of food and water, a fire kit, and most importantly;
Link clutched the grip of his sword. The sword from the first night in the woods, the sword he fought off a monster with, the sword was proof.
It wasn't a dream.

"Hey Link!"

Turning on the spot so fast he almost fell back on himself, Link locked eyes with the small fairy as she floated in through the window.
"You're, okay?"

"Yeah, I was just out with Rose and my friends," She had a dew droplet encased in her hand. She looked so natural as she rubbed the water under her opposing arm. "You weren't looking for me, were you?"

Link shook his head. Not to appear tough, but he honestly wasn't looking. He didn't even know she was real until he rediscovered the sword.

"Well good. Rose is gonna wake up Saria and they're going to bring us back up top to meet the Deku Tree again. Any friends you want to invite? Kids with fairies only, though."

Link sighed. Saria is his friend; he doesn't suspect anyone else will be too keen on making the dangerous climb for his sake.
Honestly, he wasn't sure he even wanted Saria to do the climb or himself for that matter.
Almost falling to his death once was more than enough.

Sensing his concern, Navi tried to calm his worry.
"Rose says she's been up lots of times. I don't like it either, but we need to have faith that the Deku Tree knows what's best for everyone…" She could sense her sister approaching the door. "Hey Rose."

Nodding to her younger sister, Rose came in riding on Saria's shoulder. The girl looked dead with her eyes half shut as she so badly longed to return to her bed.

"I'm so happy you're fin-..nu…ly… get…ting.." Her head started listing to the side as she leaned on the door frame.

"She's too tired for this." Link was fighting back a yawn himself. "Does it have to be now?"

"Well, no… But let's get it out of the way." Rose encouraged, returning the glare from Navi with a warm smile.
She wasn't quite ready to yield guardianship over Link to her little sister just yet.

"Okay…" Link took Saria's hand and aimed her up the dark tunnels. "come on sleepy," He grinned when her weight leaned on him as she guided her forward one step at a time.

The fairies both landed on Link's head, causing the dark tunnel to shine ever so faintly on either side.

Saria found Link to be a warm soft alternative to her actual bed. If walking blind meant she can rest against him, it seemed like a deal she was willing to make.
"It's time to wake up~" Link whispered in her ear.
"No, no…" She shook her head, pushing more weight onto him.

"Saria!" Rose snapped, instantly calling the girl to attention. "Stop being silly and walk properly."

"Nuuuu!" She pouted, forcing her eyes open as she stomped off out of her fairy's sight.

"Where did she go?" Rose asked the boy beneath her.

"I'm Here!" Saria called back from the dark.

Link followed after the girl, chasing her through the winding tunnels getting higher and higher.
Up beside her sister, Navi was getting rather restless herself.
She could feel the strong strides of Link's walk, and she didn't remember the climb taking this long last time.
Surely they'd have reached the exiting tunnel by now.

"Are you still there, Saria?" She called out, wondering if they got turned around at some point.

"Mm-hmm." The girl had started to slow her pace as the slope steepened. Soon the climb would begin. "up this way…" she yawned, tapping her hands on the inner bark of the black walls.
The glowing mushrooms helped guide the way, but the walls hurt when bumped into.
"Almost there…" She let out another tired yawn, infecting the boy and their fairies with it.

Far later than Navi or Link remembered, they started to see a light at the end.
Link took a deep breath. Unsure if he was perhaps just tired from the days before, or the early starts. But the walking portion of the climb felt much longer than his first time, and he dreaded the climb where falling meant certain death.
The idea of watching Saria do it with him. He knows she can climb trees as he'd seen her do so many times. But this is different.
More than that, he didn't understand where this carefree attitude is coming from.

Her climbing isn't so beyond his own that she could breeze through this without effort. This is the most dangerous thing either of them will ever attempt. She can't be this relaxed.

"Watch your head, there." Saria ducked under the cramped exit before emerging on the other side.

Coming into the light himself, Link took a moment. Navi was also in awe. Rose, simply hopped from his head and took flight next to her girl.

"We need to make that hole bigger," Saria said as she watched Link's pause at the exit.

What had the boy and fairy perplexed was actually where they arrived.
Scurrying out and looking back on the way they came, there was no mistake.
They had reached the roof of the Deku Tree without needing to scale a single branch or limb. The only two drastic changes were the tunnel that certainly wasn't there the first time and the lip in the rim around the top. The view Link was able to freely take in was hidden behind a thick wall of bark.

"this is wrong…" Navi flew off on her own for a moment, leaving Link to ask Saria and Rose about it in her absence.
On her own, she was able to examine the tree from the outside. The limbs they climbed looked the same as she remembered, and she could picture how he climbed them the first time.
However, if he were to attempt it now, getting to the top would mean scaling down the outer rim, whereas last time Link just walked from the edge.

"Navi!" Called the very angry voice of a very small fairy. Navi could feel her sister's approach before she even turned around. "Why is Link telling me that You let him climb up the Deku Tree? Are you Trying to get him killed?"

"Hey, listen! I didn't know there was another path! We just came outside and found ourselves on a giant branch."

While Navi and Rose bickered back and forth, Saria took Link to meet the Deku Tree once more.

"Hello, father," Saria said with a bow before kneeling with Link following her direction.

"Welcome, my children. I am glad to see your safe return, Link and Navi." The Deku Tree's carved face did not move, but the children and fairies could hear the smile in his hollow voice.

Putting their arguing aside, both fairies rushed to their children before bowing themselves.

"I spoke to Princess Zelda, she knows about Ganondorf. The kingdom is saved." Link couldn't hide the pride in his voice. A feeling shared by his friends.

"Indeed. Although it is unclear when or if the people of Hyrule will act on it. You did well in delivering the warning, proving your courage and resourcefulness. So now, young Master Link, please stand. And Saria, please assist him with the next part."

Nodding at his words, Saria brought him to a break in the Deku Tree's bark, a spot leaking with dripping sap.

"ah, gross…" Link cringed, ignoring the giggles surrounding him as Saria forced his open palm under the oily and sticky substance.

Once his hand was coated in a thick layer of sap, she brought him to an empty spot on the inner rim of the Deku Tree's bark.
Link had noticed the burned handprints from the first time he'd come up.

"Place your hand right here," Saria instructed.

His gooey hand squelched against the shaven bark, where he needed to press and hold it for some time.

"Okay, go wash your hands." Saria pointed to the few pools of water around the roof of the Deku Tree.

The water was cold, though not nearly as much as the river. Hopefully, this would be his morning wash.

Once his hands were clean, he returned to Saria who was now holding a spare fire kit.

"Ready to be a true Kokiri?" She grinned, handing him the flint.

With steady hands, Link took the fire kit and set his sappy print alight.
The sap ignited right away, burning bright and hot.
"Won't this hurt him?" He asked, staring back at the Deku Tree's expressionless face.

"A bit late to worry about that." Rose laughed as she watched the fire burn itself out, leaving a freshly blackened mark of Link's hand.

His hand was just one of many, yet his was clearly larger than all the others.
Another reminder that getting a fairy so late in his life is not usual.

"Young Master Link. You shall always be remembered as one of my children."

Although it was meant as encouraging, Link started laughing at Saria's solo clapping. He bet everyone else got much more of an applause.
"You're teasing me." He accused, grinning at his friend.

"I am not~!" She laughed back as he wrapped her in a hug. It always shocks her when he lifts her from her feet.

Rose watched with a proud smile too. She'd waited for his day just as much. She's glad it's finally come, and he can lift his head high at last.

Navi however, was staring back at the Deku Tree.
Telling princess Zelda about Ganondorf, Link becoming a Kokiri. Neither of these things has ended the curse placed upon the protector of the forest.
Without the Deku Tree's influence and protection, much of the forest will wilt and perish, and the ill-intent will have no issue invading their home.

"Do not start a panic, Young Navi. My fate can only be changed when Ganondorf is stopped."

Seeing the lack of change in everyone else's reaction, Navi had to assume that the Deku Tree spoke only to her this time.
The warning of Ganondorf has been delivered, she can only hope the people of Hyrule act while the Forest Guardian still lives.
Navi had no choice but to accept his words.
Although the future is uncertain, she can only have faith that things will work out.

"Yes. Have faith, little one."

At the river, Saria was called over to help get the little ones cleaned up while Link sat nearer the edge in the shallows.
The shallow water pooled a little and was warmed slightly by the sunlight breaking through the trees.
Navi hovered by, basking in the pretty rainbows from the waterfall.

"Isn't that hurting your wings?"

"Nope!" She flew as quickly as she could, but another rainbow vanished before she could reach it. "stupid things…"

Link leaned back, relaxing in the water. His bruises and scrapes were feeling much better but he still looked at the others with a nagging sense of fear.

"Can I ask a, personal question?" Navi hovered over the boy's naked body. He looked up at her, honestly without a hint of modesty or care. "why do you have a belly button?"

Link shrugged.
"I don't know."

Navi's hand smoothed over her own tummy. She and the other fairies have them, but the Kokiri do not.
"Link… Are you really a Ko-" She stopped herself. The look on his face said everything. Asking that question would be too hurtful for him. "never mind." Looking at Saria, she had a sense that bath time was nearly over. "Move your butt, it's time to get ready for work."

Berry picking was left to the fairies, while Saria and Link scaled trees for apples.

"Link!" Saria called out, feeling a soft, fuzzy fruit in her hands. She thought they looked weird from the ground, but one sniff of the sweet treat was all she needed to know this was better than any apple.

"Is that a peach?" Link scrambled up beside her, but she was already at the core before he reached her. The juices were dripping down her chin as she pointed out a whole lot more.

"We should keep this a secret." She told him. Peaches are such a special find in the woods that she'd hate to watch the tree be picked dry in just a few days.

"Okay," Putting his fingers to his mouth, Link whistled for Navi and Rose.

The two fairies floated around near the basket, struggling to find the green-clad children up a tree.

Link swung down to the next branch below him.
"Over here," As Navi flew up to him, Link tore into his peach with his fingers, letting his fairy have the first bites.

"Yummy!" Navi held her face in delight. Peaches combine the juicy sweetness of berries with the size and filling of an apple.

Once Navi was full, Link ate the rest before plucking two more to share later once the foraging was complete.

"Apples, berries, mushrooms, did you find carrots?"

"Yup!" Link climbed up from a lower valley, arms full of crunchy veggies. "Navi spotted them."

"And Link plucked them."

"You're becoming quite the team." Rose was unsure about her sister being a guardian fairy, but seeing her and Link together started to feel right. They fit.

On the return to the central area at the base of the Deku Tree, a few fires were already burning with skewers sizzling away.
"Sorry we're late," Saria and Link set their basket with the others.
"Come get your berries, fairies~" Link joked as he held out a small pouch filled with various fruits perfect for the little companions to enjoy.
While the fairies who weren't party to the foraging groups did come over, their Kokiri wards did not. Some even choose to move further away from where Saria clearly left as a sitting place for Link.
Four children of the seven present even went as far as to wait for their fairy to return before moving to a new fire altogether.

Link noticed that the little kids were watching him with worried eyes.

"I thought we were passed this…" he whispered to Saria as he sat down.

"Link, they're just scared because they don't know you," Rose told him from atop the girl's head.

"Yeah. If you show them how nice you are, they'll come around."

"How can he do that if they run away all the time?" Navi asked from his shoulder. "It's a bad thing going on. Link spends his day gathering food for everyone, while that twerp Mido spends his day telling the little ones lies about him."

Saria skewered up some of their findings for herself and Link.

"Show them the peach tree tomorrow," Saria suggested. "It'll be a shame to lose them, but they'll see how nice you are."

"That's a good idea." Navi agreed. "But is trusting a bully on the promise of treats the sort of thing we want the little ones to be learning?" After a moment of silence, Navi could tell she was the focus. "what?"

"You're a guardian for a few days, and suddenly you're a beacon of advice?" Rose laughed. "It's not like anyone dangerous comes this way. The Deku Tree protects us, and the children."

Navi looked up at the tall tree.
"please don't die…" She whispered.

"Link!" Called an annoyed voice.

Approaching their fire was one of the older girls, her fairy floating by.
"Keep this in a safer place." The girl demanded, throwing his sword on the ground. "I found a little one running down the tree with it in his hands. If he got hurt, would you take responsibility?"

Link averted his eyes from her stare as he reached for his sword.

"How did you know the boy had it?" Saria asked.

"I was warned…" The girl nodded up to the tree. Now that Link has been initiated, there was no reason to hide it.

"That's what happened to me!" Link announced. "I saw Pirata drowning, in my head. So I ran over to save him!"

The girl looked unimpressed at first, but after a shared talk with her fairy, she agreed it was possible.
"Maybe so, but that doesn't make it okay to punch the boy. Did our Deku Father ask you to do that?"

Link had no answer. There was no way to be sure if it was influenced by a wise overseer. It worked, so that had to count for something.

"Link's a good boy." Navi landed atop his head. "I know he is."

Link's head sunk into his shoulders. The girl telling him off wasn't convinced.
"If you say so." She said before walking away with her fairy.

It was getting to that time of day when all the guardian fairies would start losing their sight. Shutting their useless eyes, Navi and Rose let their senses make their distant friends and family feel closer in spirit while Link and Saria cooked and ate their dinner.
Their calm, meditative state was abruptly ended however.

"Navi," Link blew on and held up a piece of roasted mushroom. It was still a little hot for the blue fairy, but not nearly as much as the first time she held one.

"Try a piece." She offered some to Rose, who politely refused at first, stating much as Navi had how much she dislikes mushrooms. "Even the smell?"

Rose had a little sniff and already felt her mouth wetting.
"Maybe just a little bit…"
Turned out that cooking it didn't change her mind at all. Only the smell was improved, not the dried husky flavour.

"your loss." Navi chuckled as she tore off another bite.

The four continued their meals, right up until bedtime.

Holding the eggs in her hands, she could see the baby inside. Not kicking, but their little bodies were shaking as their wide black eyes peered out through the glossy shell.

It was just sheer luck she happened to be near the nests when the monster walked by.
Although she was often warned not to leave the domain without an escort, Ruto often found herself swimming upriver just so she could be near the next generation of Zora.

But she had to be careful. The eggs aren't meant to be moved after the baby starts to grow. But leaving them in such shallow water wasn't an option. Not with that beast walking about.
Carefully, she moved each egg one by one to the bottom of the lake.

A splash could be heard, but in the darkness of the deep, it was hard to tell where.
One thing was very easy to spot. The iron-like scent of blood in the water.

Swimming nearer the top, but not so much that she could be spotted, she could see one of her bodyguards face down with the head of an arrow hanging out of his ribcage and a steady stream of red pouring from the gash.

What looked like a horse swimming through the water, Ruto watched her dead bodyguard be dragged from the surface and carried away.

In careful pursuit, she peeked her head out and saw the Lynel drag her friend over to a fire.
She couldn't bring herself to watch, but the smell was too much to ignore.

With her face buried in her scaly hands, Ruto failed to notice the keen watch of the Lynel. A master hunter, with the eyes of a keen hawk.
He drew his bow.
With the expressed orders to dam off the river and exterminate any Zora at the nesting lake, he pulled back an arrow charged with ice magic.

The arrow hit the water, encasing the young Zora in ice, unable to escape or even move as her frozen body sailed down the river, far from Zora's domain and far into Hyrule.

Chuckling to himself, the Lynel shot several more ice arrows at strategic points around the mouth of the river, freezing the water and creating an ever-growing floor of ice.