Faron Woods seemed brighter and much livelier than the Sealed Grounds had been. It was now late morning, and the warmth of the sun was beaming through the trees, illuminating the many types of mushrooms and lively plants sprouting from the earth. Some of these mushrooms were even taller than Link. He wished Fledge could have been there to see them, as he always enjoyed searching for rare mushrooms. He could imagine the boy nearly fainting in excitement over the sight of them. Link and Fi wandered through the woods for a while before stumbling upon a strange sight. Ahead of them was a gaggle of red creatures taller than any of the woodland inhabitants so far, and these things bore weapons. Link hid himself behind a tree and examined the creatures further from a distance. They seemed to communicate through a wordless series of grunts and screeches. They were circling around something. Link squinted his eyes and crouched down to better see what it was. It appeared to be a living creature. It was small in stature, yet hefty.

Whatever it was, it was cowering in fear of the red monsters surrounding it. Link thought perhaps it was a Kikwi and felt a flutter in his heart over the possibility. Link and Fi exchanged glances. By this, Fi knew Link intended to ambush the monsters, so she returned to the sword just before he drew it. With that, he started his assault. Despite being armed, the red creatures were noticeably poor fighters. Possessing only basic skills himself, Link fought them off with ease with just a few slashes of his sword. Some ran away. Those who fell victim to his sword disappeared in clouds of what Link assumed to be malice. When at last they were all gone, he paused and bowed his head, allowing the adrenaline to finish coursing through his veins. The creature remained on the ground, still shaking and whimpering in fear. Link approached slowly.

"It's okay. There is no one left to hurt you," Link said, crouching down to the creature's level.

Link hoped his reassuring tone of voice would soothe the being, even though he did not expect the creature to understand him, much less talk back.

"How do I know you're not going to hurt me?" it squeaked with its face still hugging the ground.

Link flinched at the sound of its voice but quickly composed himself. There were likely plenty of talking species on the surface, much unlike Skyloft.

"I would never," he answered with a soft chuckle.

The nameless creature finally looked up. Its beady, black eyes met Link's. Then it stood up, fiddling with its hands nervously, reminding Link of a young child. The children of Skyloft flocked to Link, as he was one of the few adolescents who would still play with them and make them feel safe. He never spoke down to them or tried to make them feel inferior, as many of the other students did. Link decided to approach this being as he would a small, scared child.

"You—You're not going to eat me?" it asked innocently.

"Why would I eat you?" Link answered in a jesting tone. "I don't even know what you are."

"I— I'm a Kikwi."

Link's heart leapt in his chest. He couldn't believe he had found one so quickly. He felt one step closer to reuniting with Zelda, but first, he had to earn this creature's trust.

"Do you have a name?" Link inquired gently, trying to contain his excitement.

"My name is Machi."

"Well, Machi, my name is Link."

"Did you chase those monsters away?"

"I did."

Suddenly, a big, leafy shrub emerged from the Kikwi's back, causing Link to flinch a bit. Then he ran forward to embrace Link, taking him by surprise.

"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" Machi repeated.

"Anytime," he laughed, patting the creature on the back. It was covered in a soft, yet somewhat prickly fuzz. "By the way, what are those red monsters?" he inquired.

"Ugly!"

"Well, that is true," Link chuckled. "But what are they? What do you call them?"

"They're called Bokoblins."

Link grimaced.

"Their name sounds almost as ugly as they look."

This got a cutesy little giggle from the Kikwi. Link rose to his feet, sensing he had earned Machi's trust.

"Machi, I'm actually on a mission of sorts right now, and I'm wondering if you could help me."

Machi nodded his head (really, his whole body) eagerly.

"I was told to find the leader of the Kikwi. Do you know where they might be?"

"Oh yes, I know where our leader is. I can take you there, and you can protect me."

"Deal."

Link followed as Machi waddled through the woods, taking in the sights as they went. Their venture brought them to a large, hilly clearing. In the center, there was the most magnificent tree Link had ever seen. Beautiful, crisp, refreshing water surrounded the base of the tree. Nearby, there stood another Kikwi, far larger than Machi and even Link. Link tried not to show the sense of shock and wonder he felt as he gazed upon him.

"What is this?" the giant Kikwi inquired, his booming voice filling the air. "I swear, more strange creatures are appearing in our wood by the minute."

"But Bucha," Machi pleaded, "this strange creature is different. He saved me from the Bokoblins."

"Is that so?" Bucha entreated, his stringy brow rising as he leaned his body forward. "Perhaps you can assist me then. You see, the Bokoblin arrived suddenly this morning. We evaded them for a time, but alas, they chased away the other Kikwi who have not yet returned. I fear terribly for their safety with these monsters inhabiting the wood."

Link could sense the pain and worry in Bucha's voice, and it struck him deeply, reminding him of his own longing to find Zelda. He had at least some assurance that Zelda was safe, while Bucha had no such assurance for the other Kikwi. Link wrestled with the decision for a time while Bucha and Machi waited in anticipation. He knew that every moment not searching for Zelda would take her further and further away, and perhaps further into danger. However, it would seem horrendously selfish to ignore the Kikwi's plight when he knew and understood their fear all too well. Link also rarely declined to come to someone's aid. Considering this, Link finally nodded.

"I will help you find them," he said.

Bucha's large black eyes squinted in delight. Machi leapt into the air with a squeal of excitement before turning to Link.

"I can go with you," he exclaimed. "You can protect us from the Bokoblin, and I can help you find the other Kikwis."

"I will be in your debt if you can do this for me," Bucha said.

Link and Machi set off at once, with Machi leading the way. Before long, he picked up the scent of another Kikwi. The scent lead them to another clearing with a lone tree in the center, far less wondrous than the one earlier, but still considerably tall. From the tree, a small voice called out to them.

"Up here! Up here!"

"Lopsa? Is that you?" Machi asked. "How did you get up there?"

(Kikwis were typically too short and stocky to climb trees.)

"The Bokoblin chased me here. If I didn't climb, they would have eaten me," Lopsa began to whimper. "And now I can't get down."

"Don't worry, Link's here!" Machi declared. "He'll get you down somehow."

Link observed the tree. Though he was a skilled climber, he was unsure of how to scale it and get Lopsa down safely. After some discussion, they collectively agreed that Lopsa would jump from the tree and Link would catch him. Link, however, failed to consider how heavy the Kikwi were. Therefore, he wound up serving as more of a cushion than a catcher, immediately collapsing underneath Lopsa's dense body. Lopsa and Machi thought the plan had worked beautifully. The Kikwis ran and embraced each other, leaving Link to recover on his own. However, the reunion was short-lived.

"Monsters!" Lopsa shrieked.

Link rose to his feet and corralled the Kikwi behind himself. Three Bokoblins launched an assault. As previously, they were easily defeated with a few slashes from the Goddess Sword. The trio continued their search for the remaining scattered Kikwi. Lopsa had seen one of them venturing away while he had been stranded in the tree, so he led them in that direction. They came to a large patch of overgrown grass. Though Lopsa swore he had seen one of the Kikwi make their way, there did not appear to be anyone there.

"Are you sure it wasn't a squirrel?" Machi asked.

"I think I know the difference between a Kikwi and a squirrel," Lopsa countered, clearly offended.

Link continued to look around while the two Kikwis argued amongst themselves. The grass swayed in the gentle breeze, giving the appearance that the ground was dancing. Though, as Link inspected more closely, he noticed that some of the grass was actually moving, inching away little by little. He quietly maneuvered through the terrain until he intersected the moving grass. Sure enough, another Kikwi had been trying to sneak away, using the shrub on its back as a cover. Instead, he bumped his head into Link's leg. The frightened creature looked up at Link, shrieked, and ran away in the other direction.

"Machi! Lopsa!" he shouted as he ran toward them. "There's a green one chasing after me. Run!"

"Wait, Erla. He's not a Bokoblin," Lopsa explained.

"His name is Link, and he's a Bokoblin-killer," Machi added cheerfully, getting a chuckle from Link.

With Machi, Lopsa, and now Erla in tow, Link had just one more Kikwi to find. It took some time. Nonetheless, they finally found him, tied up in some vines and unable to move. Unlike his counterparts, this one appeared injured.

"Oh, Oolo. Are you alright?" Machi asked, taking Oolo's face in his tiny paws.

"I'm alive," he responded weakly. "Just a little banged up, I guess."

Once more, they were interrupted by a hoard of Bokoblin, larger in number than any they had faced yet.

"Machi, get Oolo out of here," Link ordered.

Machi and the others picked him up and carried him behind a nearby mushroom, large enough for all four to hide behind. Link noticed his heart rate quicken. He swallowed dryly as he faced the oncoming hoard. Though greatly outnumbered, Link managed to defeat them just as he had before, though this battle left him considerably more tired and winded than the last ones had. Rejoining the Kikwi, he saw that Oolo was in worse shape than originally thought. He was too weak to walk even after they untied him. Link carried him on his back as they made their return journey to Bucha. By the time they arrived, Link's legs were quivering beneath him and he was feeling the effects of engaging in numerous sword fights. Still, he stood tall before Bucha, having completed his request.

"Brave youth, what is your name?" Bucha inquired.

"Link."

Bucha hummed to himself for a moment. "Link. What an odd name," he dawned a look of humble gratitude. "As I said previously, I am in debt to you for bringing the young Kikwi back safely."

"Actually," he stated, a little hesitantly, "there is something you may be able to help me with."

Link explained how he had come to Faron Woods. He told Bucha about the old woman he met in the Sealed Temple, and how she had told him to find the Kikwi.

"And what is it that you are trying to find?" Bucha asked.

"I'm looking for another one of my kind; a girl who may have passed through here."

Bucha's brow furrowed.

"You are not the first who has come here in search of this girl."

Link flinched and felt his heart drop upon hearing this. Who else could be looking for Zelda?

"Another being, from what race I do not know, entreated me to tell him where the young girl had gone, not long before you arrived," Bucha drew a deep breath. His booming voice took on a much more serious tone. "I could sense that he intended to bring harm to the girl, therefore, I did not tell him where she had gone. This being summoned the Bokoblin and ordered them to chase us away as punishment." His gaze and tone then softened. "But you risked your life to aid us. Yes, from the moment I saw you, I could sense strength, courage, and goodness in your heart, and now you intend to help your friend, just as you have helped us."

Link nodded humbly. Something about the way Bucha spoke of him made him feel quite emotional, especially hearing that he and the other Kikwi had risked their lives to help Zelda. Link wanted to convey his gratitude, but words escaped him.

"The young girl asked me where she could find a sacred spring. I directed her toward Skyview Temple, which is on the border of the deep woods."

Bucha summoned Machi, who had been attending to the injured Oolo.

"Machi, I ask that you accompany Link to Skyview Temple. There he may find the young girl whom he seeks."

"I would be happy to," Machi responded gleefully. "As long as he's willing to protect me from any monsters."

"Link," Bucha continued, "I would also like for you to have this. It may aid you in your journey."

Bucha raised his arms and began to hum a simple tune. The deepness of his voice rattled Link's eardrums. Normally this would have troubled Link terribly. He covered his ears, but slowly lowered them as he found himself enjoying the sensation and the sound of Bucha's voice. Bucha twisted his body and moved his arms to the rhythm of the tune, and then, to Link's amazement, the surrounding trees seemed to join him in his slow, rhythmic dance. Their branches swayed gracefully this way and that as Link watched with an awe-inspired smile crossing his lips. The sense of magic and wonder made him feel like a child in a fairytale. Then, some of the roots of the trees sprung up from the ground as if they had become living, breathing beings. One of the roots carried what appeared to be a slingshot, which it then presented to Link.

"Oh, that is one of our most prized heirlooms," Machi explained excitedly. "We cannot use it because, well... our arms are too short. But Bucha said that someday, someone worthy and able would come and claim it. I guess that someone is you, Link."

"It's an honor, truly," he said, putting the slingshot to his chest and holding back some emotion. "Thank you, Bucha, for everything."

"No, thank you, Link. You brought my beloved ones back to me safely. I hope for the same outcome for you."

Link and Machi were just about to start off when Bucha spoke up once more.

"Link, beware of the other who sought after the girl. His eyes were filled with bloodlust."

Link felt his stomach churn at Bucha's warning. The thought of someone pursuing Zelda with the intent to harm her filled him with intense fear and worry, though he didn't let it show. With a renewed sense of urgency, Link and Machi started their venture to the border of the deep wood.