Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend of Zelda franchise. I only own the OC characters: Ateiti & Irena.

Chapter 3: Breaking the curse of the Deku Tree

When Link and Malon entered the Deku Tree, both were a bit astounded as how hollow the Deku Tree was from the inside. However, the looks of it made them somehow uneasy, as large spiderwebs hanged over the top of the ceiling and also covered an opening in the middle of the room, which was leading all the way down.

Link became curious and wanted to take a closer look at the opening, but then, out of one of the plants appeared a Deku Baba, trying to bite Link!

"Look out!" Navi called. Link quickly avoided the Deku Baba's bite hit it two times with his sword, killing it.

Link sighed in relief as Malon came up to him "Pfew! That was a close one. Thanks Navi." Link said, thanking Navi for warning him.

Navi shrugged "No problem. But you better be more careful next time. Danger can be anywhere."

Link nodded, as he was going to be more careful next time.

Malon then saw something that the dead Deku Baba had left behind, which looked like some kind of large nut. She picked it up to take closer look at it "What kind of nut is this?" she wandered.

Navi flew up to her and explained "Oh, that's a Deku Nut. You can use those to temporary stun enemies."

Malon nodded and placed it in her bag.

As Link looked at the covered web over the opening, he noticed some vines leading down below and a pool of water. Link stepped on the web, noticing how strong it was. He jumped on it once, feeling it was wobbling. Malon wanted to look too, but then, another Deku Baba appeared!

Malon saw it and kept her distance from it. The Baba tried to bite her, but it couldn't reach her. Malon quickly grabbed her sword and hit the Baba, making it standing straight. Malon took her chance and sliced the Deku Baba in half, making him to change into a Deku Stick. Malon then figured that if she and Link sliced these Deku Babas it would make them change into Deku sticks, but when they just kill them without slicing them in half, would leave them Deku Nuts.

Link noticed it as well and wanted to try it out on the third Deku Baba around the opening. He killed it, making it leave a Deku Nut for him to pick up. He then said to Malon while he first looked at the covered web and then to Malon "Looks like we can't go down, so the only way left is…"

"Up." Malon said while pointing to the ladder that was close to them. Link nodded and both climbed the ladder to go up.

When both made it up the ladder, they started walking upwards, to where a big chest lied, close to some more vines, leading up, where also three big spiders with big skulls on their backs crawled on. Malon became a bit scared of them and asked their fairy guide "Navi… what are those…?"

Navi explained "Those are Skullwalltulas. Be careful not to get to close to them, or they'll hurt you."

Link rubbed Malon's back, trying to calm her. Malon smiled at Link and nodded to him that she was okay.

Malon walked up to the big chest and opened it. She took a look in it and took something out of it "Hey look, a map!" she said while they took a look at it. It was a bit badly drawn, making them to think that perhaps Mido or Saria had made this map.

Both read on the map that there were two floors up and two down. Link looked at the vines again, where the Skullwalltulas crawled on "We can't go further up."

Malon shook her head and pointed to the door close to them, and said while putting the map in her magic bag "We should go that way." Link nodded and followed Malon, with Navi flying behind them.

When they opened the door and entered the room, the door behind them suddenly closed while iron bars slammed down over it, blocking their way out! Both were now trapped in the room. But then, in the middle of the room, appeared a Deku Scrub. Link and Malon both draw their sword and shields. The Deku Scrub saw Link and Malon and spit out a nut at Link. He quickly blocked it using his shield, sending it back at the Scrub. When it hit him, it squealed and tried to run away. Both Link and Malon charged at the scrub, ready to kill him.

But they stopped, when the Deku Scrub begged while trembling in fear "Ow-ow-ow! Forgive me! If I give you both a clue, will you let me go?"

Link and Malon raised an eyebrow while glancing at each other. Then, they nodded to the Scrub while Malon said to it "Alright, tell us what clue you have?"

The Deku Scrub was thankful for being spared "Oh, thank you for sparing me…! Oh right, the clue…. Did you both may have noticed that spider web that covers the opening in the middle of the tree?" Link and Malon nodded as the Deku Scrub told further "Well, the only way to get through it is to burn it, or break it by dropping something heavy on it from a high cliff. I can't guarantee it'll work though, as there is nothing that heavy around here. But if you jump on it from a cliff really, really high, perhaps you'll get through, heh heh! That is if you are both feeling bold! Wah ha hah!" The Deku Scrub then skipped back to where he first appeared and disappeared into the ground.

The iron bars on both doors opened. Link and Malon walked through the door ahead, entering another room, where another big chest was at the other side. In between them and the chest was a floating platform. Link was the first to jump on it. But when he did, the platform started to rumble. Without a second thought, Link quickly jumped to the other side, while the floating platform fell hard on the ground, making it for Link impossible to go back.

Malon waited for Link, to see what could be inside that chest. Link took a look inside it and took something from it. He held in the air for Malon to see "Malon, look at this! I found a slingshot!"

Malon shrugged at him "That's nice, Link. But how is it going to help us?"

Link thought for a moment while looking around. He then saw a ladder, hanging above the entrance that he and Malon walked through "There's a ladder hanging right there. I could use the slingshot too…," but then Link realized, that he had nothing to shoot with, making him frustrated "wait, no! I have nothing to use to shoot at it with the slingshot!"

Navi sighed in annoyance as she flew in the chest and picked something out of it, that Link forgot about because of his enthusiasm "(Sigh) You forgot about this, Link." she said while taking a bag out of the chest, giving it too Link. He took it and saw that inside the bag were thirty Deku Seeds, who were small enough to use for this slingshot.

Link scratched his head in embarrassment "Sorry, didn't see that."

Malon giggled as how Link was so enthusiastic about having a longshot, that he left the ammo for it in the chest.

Link took one of the Deku Seeds out of the small bag and used it to shoot the ladder down. When the ladder came down, Link walked over to it and climbed up back to Malon. She hugged him while saying "Don't just jump into any danger by yourself, okay. We're into this together."

Link nodded as he broke the hug "Alright, Malon. Sorry." Malon smiled at him as it was okay now.

They went out of the room and headed back to the center of the Deku Tree they came from first. Link then realized that he could use the slingshot to shoot the Skullwalltulas from the vines. He took aim and shot all three skull spiders from the vines, killing them as they disintegrated into small red fires, leaving a few rupees and a Deku Nut behind.

Link smirked while saying to Malon "Well, look at that. Guess we made our own way up." Malon chuckled as she shook her head, despite that he was right.

After Link took the Deku Nut, while Malon took the rupees, they started climbing up the vines. Navi flew in Link's hat as she said "I'll be under your hat when you need me."

Link thought it was weird, but figured that Navi can't fly forever the whole time and understood that under his hat was a good spot to rest.

When they made it up the next floor, both were close to where the large spider webs hanged on top of the ceiling of the tree. There were some parts that weren't covered. Malon took a closer look, but then heard something falling down "Malon, look out!" Link called as he pulled her away just in time before an even larger skull spider dropped on her.

Link immediately draw his sword and slammed at the spider's skull head, but it didn't hurt him, just making it swinging left to right "Navi! How do we kill this one!?" Link asked.

Navi flew closer to the monster and said "It's soft belly is it's weak point!"

Link nodded, while Malon stood ready with her sword and shield. The spider twisted itself, exposing its soft belly. Link and Malon took their chance and both hit it with one blow, killing it while its belly bursts open, splattering them with its yellow-green blood.

Malon was disgusted by this as she tried to wipe off the arachnid's blood from her face "Ewww! Gross!"

Link wiped away some yellow-green blood from his face too, as he agreed that that sure was disgusting, but also said "Well, no one ever said that a life of a hero is all glamorous."

Malon shrugged "I guess." she then sighed to herself, as it was gonna be difficult to wash all this arachnid blood of her new shirt and skirt.

While Malon still tried to get some more of the Skulltulas remains off of her, Link looked over the edge, down below, seeing the web covered opening leading down. Link then thought about what the Deku Scrub had told them, that the web would break if something hard would be dropped on it.

He looked at Malon and asked "You remember about that covered web over that opening, down below?"

Malon nodded as she looked down below "Yes?"

"If what that Deku Scrub said was true, then…" Link suggested while looking down.

Malon realized what Link had in mind and was completely against it "Hold on! You don't expect me to just jump down on it from here, do you?!"

Link tried to calm her down and to tell why they should jump "Look, Malon. I don't like this idea too, but-"

"Then why are you even coming up with it!?" Malon asked while frowning.

Link sighed as he tried to explain "Listen, this curse that plagues the Deku Tree, I really feel that the source is down below. But the only way to reach it is… to jump high from it. I'm really sure it'll work! When I jumped on it, it felt wobbling. So we CAN break it."

Navi flew to Malon and agreed to what Link said "Link is right, Malon. You guys can break through it, when you jump on it from a very high cliff."

Malon looked down below one more time. The truth was that she was scared to fall to her death. But if Link was right and the source of the curse is down below, then they need to drop down. She closed her eyes, trying to gather some courage in herself. When she opened her eyes, she looked a bit more determent. She nodded and held Link's hand really tight "Alright. Let's do it, little brother."

Link and Malon looked down below from the cliff, to see how far they needed to jump. They took some steps back, while holding tight each other's hand. Navi flew into Link's hat. Both took a few more breathes and counted to three "One…. Two…. THREE!" they ran to the cliff and jumped down! Both yelped as they were falling down, landing right on the web, making it stretch so far deep, breaking it! Link and Malon fell further down, till they splashed down in the water pool.

Both resurfaced from the water, breathing hard from all the adrenaline. They glanced at each other for a moment, but then laughed "It worked, Link! It really worked!" Malon called while laughing. She felt like she had overcome one of her fears.

But then, behind Link, another Deku Baba appeared. Link saw it and stayed his distance from it. The Deku Baba grew frustrated as it couldn't grab Link. He just smirked at it as he and Malon crawled out of the water, near the Deku Baba. Malon draw her sword and killed the Deku Baba. It released some Deku Seeds, what Malon picked up and gave them too Link "Thanks." he said as he put the Deku Seeds in his small bag.

They looked around for a little moment. Near them was a door, but that was covered in a large strong spiderweb. On the other side, there was another part that was higher, with a few more Deku Baba's, but was impossible for Link and Malon to reach. However, behind them was a switch that they could stand on. When Link stood on it, a small torch flamed on, destroying a spiderweb around it.

This made Malon wander something, as she took out a Deku Stick from her magical bag. As she walked over to the torch, Link asked "What are doing, Malon?"

As Malon put the top of the stick in the flame, creating a little torch of her own, she answered "Remember what that Deku Scrub from just then said? The spiderwebs can be destroyed with fire." she ran over to the door covered in web and put the burning Deku Stick on it, making it burn and disappear.

Link smiled at Malon "Good thinking."

Malon nodded while putting the burning stick in the water, extinguishing the fire and put the stick back in her bag.

When she and Link went through the door, they entered a room with spiderwebs over the floor and all over the walls, with a door on the right where bars were blocking it, and above a silver square with an eye.

Then, in the middle of the room, appeared another Deku Scrub. It saw Link and Malon, and spit out a nut, this time at Malon, who just in time blocked it with her shield, sending it back at the scrub. When it hit it, it tried to run away, like the last one. Link and Malon went after it, till it was cornered to a wall. It begged for his life "Please forgive me, masters! I'll never do it again! If you spare me, I'll teach you something cool."

Link and Malon raised an eyebrow. Malon asked the scrub "Hey, aren't you the same one we just encountered above?"

The scrub glanced at Malon, answering "Me? Oh, you must have meant my other brother. He's such a coward…"

Link and Malon thought it was a bit weird what the scrub just said, but Link then demanded "Okay, we'll spare you, but you better tell us something useful."

The Deku Scrub nodded widely "Yes, yes! Of course! This is what I can teach you: You will never beat my brothers down below, unless you punish them in the proper order. The order is… 2… 3… 1. Twenty-three is number one! What? Do you think I'm a traitor?" the Deku Scrub then ran to where he came from first and disappeared into the ground.

Malon became a bit suspicious "I could have sworn that it was the same Deku Scrub from before."

"How can you tell? They all look the same." Navi asked while flying out of Link's head.

Malon shrugged "I don't know… I just know it."

Link then checked how they can get through the door that was blocked with iron bars. He got an idea as he took out his slingshot and shoot one of the Deku Seeds right on the eye above the door, causing it to close and opening the door.

As they entered it, they came into a room where a platform floated on a pool of water, leading to the other side. However, a spiked iron pipe twisted just above the platform, making it impossible for anyone to get across "Navi, how can we get across?" Link asked to their fairy guide.

Navi checked around and saw a switch under water. She flew back at Link and Malon, telling "There is a switch under water. Maybe one of you should press on it?"

Link nodded and was about to go into the water, but then Malon stopped him and said "Let me do it this time, Link."

Link glanced at Malon for a moment, but then then nodded "Okay."

Malon jumped into the water and dived down, pressing the switch down, making the water to drop. Malon quickly got out of the water and joined Link to jump on the floating platform and ducked under the spiked iron bar, getting to the other side. Then another Skulltula crawled down, but Link and Malon got rid of it easily. Then they moved a block to climb further up to the next door.

Once they entered the next room, iron bars fell on the door back at them. But luckily, the room was only filled with three Deku Baba's, with only one of them ready to strike on the two kids. Malon wanted to try out one of the Deku Nut's and threw one at it, paralyzing it. Malon killed it, while Link easily sliced the remaining two Baba's, changing them into Deku Sticks.

There was only one burning torch, while two other's didn't burned. Link used one of the Deku Sticks to light up his and shared the fire on the other two torches, making the iron bars go up. Link dropped his stick as it was burning out.

After entering the next room, what was a lot bigger then the other ones before, Link and Malon saw above another Skulltula, with it's belly facing to them. Link took out his slingshot and shot the Skulltula dead. However, Malon saw something on top of the ceiling. Three red-pink orbs that were moving.

"What are those?" Malon asked while pointing to the ceiling.

Link shook his head as he didn't know.

Navi wanted to investigate as she flew up to the orbs. Her eyes went wide as she realized that these weren't normal orbs, but eggs!

She flew down quickly to warn Link and Malon, but it was too late as one of the eggs hatched and a larva parasite-arachnid dropped close to Link and Malon, making them gasp as they quickly draw their swords. Two more parasite-arachnid's dropped down, ready to face the heroes.

The first one's eye went red as it was ready to attack, Malon quickly slashed with her sword, causing it to squeal and run away. But then the two other's were ready to face Malon, one nearly hit her, but she blocked it's attack with her shield, while the other was being slashed by Link, who then threw out a Deku Nut, paralyzing it and killed it with his sword. Malon nodded and took out a Deku Nut too, and threw it on another. While it stood still, Malon killed it, while Link killed the last one by using his slingshot.

Both sighed in relief. Navi flew up to them, who said with a bit of anger in her voice "What did I tell you guys?! You've got to be more careful!"

Malon tried to calm Navi down "Calm down, Navi. The monsters are dead."

"I know, but…! (Sigh) Just… be more careful next time, okay?" Navi said after she'd calmed down a bit.

Both Link and Malon nodded, as they would be more careful, but couldn't promise anything, as none of them can know what danger could lie ahead.

Malon took out the map and said "Okay, looks like we are now here, and where we had dropped down from the web is here."

Link checked the map that Malon held and nodded as he looked at to where the first room was, but it was blocked by another large strong web. He saw a torch and knew what to do. Link took out a stick, lighten it up and walked with his burning torch to the web, causing it to disappear.

After throwing away the burning stick, Malon joined him and both saw that there was a hole, leading to the other room. Link went in first, followed by Malon. She was thinking of something about the eggs from before. How could those eggs got there in the first place? She started to get the chills while she was thinking that an even larger monster could have laid those eggs.

Link and Malon got indeed back to the room they came in first after falling down, but were now on the place that was first impossible to reach. They saw another hole going down, covered with spiderweb. As there was also a block, that could help them to get back up, both Link and Malon got the same idea.

After pushing the block down, so they could make it back up, Malon took out a stick, but it on the torch from before, lighten it up and ran back to Link as she then put the fire over the web, causing it to burn away.

Link took a look down and saw that their was another pool of water below. Malon looked at it too. Both glanced to each other for a moment, and both smirked as they held each other's hand and were ready to jump down. Navi tried to warn them "Wait! You guys can't just…!" but it was too late, Link and Malon dropped themselves down, splashing into the pool of water below.

When they resurfaced, both laughed "That was fun!" Malon said. Link nodded.

Navi flew down to them, while she shook her head in annoyance "Pfff! Children."

They saw that they were in a room, where the door was blocked by iron bars, and three Deku Scrub's, guarding the door, it seems.

Link then remembered about what the Deku Scrub had told them how to defeat his 'brothers' in the proper order. He approached the Deku Scrub's and send back the nuts they spit on him. First the middle one, then the one on the right and then last the left one.

The last Deku Scrub shacked himself in annoyance as he said to Link and Malon, who approached him before it got the chance to run away "How did you know our secret?! How irritating!"

That was when Malon unexpectedly gave the Deku Scrub a sweet smile and asked it kindly "Can you share anything useful to us? If you do, we'll let you go."

The Deku Scrub was a bit surprised that this girl offered to spare him in exchange for information. He nodded wildly "Oh, sure! I'm going to reveal the secret of our queen Gohma to you! In order to administer the coup de grace to Queen Gohma, strike with your sword while she's stunned-"

Link suddenly interrupted the Deku Scrub "Whoa, whoa, wait a minute! You said… a queen?!"

The Deku Scrub again nodded widely "Yes, yes! She lives in the giant room behind that door." this worried Link and Malon, as both could feel that this 'Queen Gohma' could be the source of the curse that is plaguing the Deku Tree.

The Deku Scrub then told "Well, I'm sure you two can handle her. I better get out of here with my brothers and find a new place to live." it then disappeared into the ground, along with the two other Deku Scrubs.

The iron bars raised up, opening the doorway for them. Link and Malon walked slowly to the door. Both took one more look at each other, as they held hands "Together." Link said. Malon nodded and both opened the door, entering Queen Gohma's lair.

The large room was dark, spiderwebs hanging everywhere, with four large pillars going up the ceiling and a strange small fog hanged over the floor. As they went further in, Navi made her light brighter so they could better see. But then, a large stone dropped, blocking the exit!

Link and Malon felt their heart beats raising. They heard something… something crawling up the ceiling. Slowly… they looked up… seeing a big one-eyed parasite spider hanging up the ceiling, watching the two children down below. It rolled her eye backwards before facing her preys again. Gohma then dropped herself in front of Link and Malon. Both gasped as how large Gohma really was. Gohma then screeched as it stood on her tail and waved around with her four armored arms.

PARASITIC ARMORED ARACHNID

GOHMA

Malon gathered her courage as she yelled while she and Link draw their sword and shields "Bring it on!"

Gohma approached the children, with her eye frowning. But then, her eye turned red as she was ready to attack. Navi quickly called "Hurry, Link and Malon! Shoot her eye when it turns red!"

Malon got distracted by Navi as Gohma hit her with her armed arms, sending her backwards hard! Link had managed to block the attack with his shield, but was shocked to see Malon being hurt "MALON!" Link got so angry that he just threw a Deku Nut at Gohma's red glowing eye, causing her to be paralyzed. With his fury, Link hit her eye with his sword multiple times!

As the parasitic spider recovered, she quickly retreated and crawled back up the wall. Link went to Malon quickly and helped her up "Malon! Are you okay!?" Malon grunted while rubbing her chest. It was bleeding. This horrified Link "Malon, you're wounded!"

Malon shook her head, ensuring him "It's… fine, Link. Really."

But then Navi interrupted them saying "Uhh… guys…? The spider!" both Link and Malon looked up, to where Gohma hanged on the ceiling. It was pulling her tail down and seemed to push something out of it.

The sight of it disgusted Link and Malon, but then Malon realized what Gohma was doing "Link! It's gonna try to lay more eggs!"

Malon was right, out of Gohma's tail, three eggs rolled down. Link and Malon had no time to spare as they headed to the eggs and destroyed them before they could hatch. But one egg rolled far away, with Malon following it. Before it could hatch, Malon destroyed it, making her sigh in relief. But she had no time to celebrate, as Gohma landed on the floor, close to Malon!

Link tried to run to her to come to her aid "Malon, look out!"

Malon started to breath heavily as the monster approached her, but was now ready to defend herself against the parasitic spider. Gohma's eye turned red again, as it was ready to strike. Malon didn't think for a second and tossed one of her Deku Nut's at Gohma's eye, causing her to be paralyzed!

As Gohma lied on the floor, struggling to get back up, Malon's anger rose as she strike Gohma's eye with her sword multiple times "Take that! And that! And that!" just as Link joined the battle, Gohma stood up and retreated up the pillar, up to the ceiling.

Link and Malon kept their focus on the large spider, seeing what it was going to do. Gohma hanged up the ceiling, watching the children as her eye then turned red again. Link then knew what to do. He took out his slingshot and shot a Deku Seed right on Gohma's glowing red eye, causing her to fall of the ceiling and lied paralyzed on the floor.

Now Link and Malon, both together, gave everything they had as they kept swinging their swords, striking Gohma's eye. Then, as they both pierced their sword in the spider's eye simultaneously, and pulled it out, some white liquid came from Gohma's eye, making her squeal and screech in pain. It continued wiggle around while her screech slowly died out, till she stood still… and fell on the floor… dead.

Gohma's body burned in strange blue flames. As the large parasitic spider slowly burned away, the spiderwebs around the room started to burn away too and the strange fog over the floor slowly vanished as well. Malon and Link both started to smile, as they felt that they had broken the curse over the Deku Tree.

Malon, without thinking, immediately embraced Link in a fierce hug "We did it, Link! We did it!"

Link returned the hug and was as happy as she was "Yes, we did it, Malon. We broke the curse." Navi just watched Link and Malon celebrating their victory, though she was proud at them that they had accomplished freeing the Deku Tree from the curse, that had tormented him.

After, Gohma's body had burned away, a ring of blue light formed in the middle of the room. Navi flew beside Link and Malon, telling "It's okay. That blue light will bring us out."

Link and Malon held each other's hand as they walked into the blue light, making it shine more and started to float the children up. The energy surrounding them felt peacefully, and Malon felt that her wound didn't hurt anymore.

Not long after, the blue light had brought them back in front of the Deku Tree. Malon looked at her chest and saw that her wound was fully healed, like it was never hurt "Link, look! I'm okay now." Link sighed in relief as Malon was okay.

Navi chuckled as she explained "That blue light doesn't just bring you guys back outside, but also heals all your wounds."

"Well done, Link and Malon…" the Deku Tree spoke. Link and Malon looked at the Deku Tree with a smile, while the tree said further "Thou has verily demonstrate they courage… I knew that thou wouldst be able to carry out my wishes…"

Link shrugged while saying "It was nothing, really." Malon elbowed Link in the arm, making them both laugh a bit before turning back to the Deku Tree.

The tree then said "Now, I have yet more to tell ye both, wouldst thou listen…"

Link and Malon both nodded.

Then, the Deku Tree used it's magic, slowly changing their surroundings to show Link and Malon something "Now… listen carefully…. A wicked man of the desert cast this dreadful curse upon me…"


Link and Malon saw many fire around them, while lighting strikes in the distance. Both saw a man riding a black horse in gallop through the flames. Link and Malon recognized the man as the same tall Gerudo man on his black stallion from their nightmares.

The Deku Tree explained "This evil man ceaselessly uses his vile, sorcerous powers in his search for the Sacred Realm that is connected to Hyrule…. For it is in that Sacred Realm that one will find the divine relic, the Triforce, which contains the essence of the goddesses…"

Link and Malon listened patiently, while their surroundings changed again, this time they were floating in the heavens, while both saw three humanoid figures descending from the sky. One was fire red, the other ocean blue, and the third bright green.

They looked with amaze while the Deku Tree spoke "Before time began, before spirits and life existed… three golden goddesses descended upon the chaos that was Hyrule…. Din, the goddess of power…. Nayru, the goddess of wisdom…. And Farore, the goddess of courage…."

Then the goddess Din, used her powers, and in a blinding explosion, she created the earth "Din… with her strong flaming arms, she cultivated the land creating the red earth."

Then the goddess Nayru flew over the red earth and used her shining power to create the blue skies "Nayru… poured her wisdom onto the earth and gave the spirit of law."

Then the goddess Farore shined her bright green light over the earth, and gave life to all living things "Farore… with her rich soul, produced all life forms who would uphold the law."

After completing their labors, the three goddesses returned to the heavens and left behind three shining golden triangles 'The Triforce'. Link and Malon could somehow feel the Triforce's great powers, even though it was just a vision showed by the Deku Tree "The three great goddesses, their labors completed, departed for the heavens. And golden sacred triangles remained at the points where the goddesses left the world. Since then, the sacred triangles have become the basis for our world's providence. And, the resting place of the triangles has become the Sacred Realm."


When the visions stopped, both Link and Malon were amazed after hearing all of this. For they had heard tales about the goddesses and the creation of the world before, but in the way that the Deku Tree showed them, made everything so much more sense. But they were worried about this Gerudo man who wanted to obtain the Triforce for himself.

The Deku Tree further told "Thou must never allow the desert man in black armor to lay his hands on the sacred Trifoce… Thou must never suffer that man, with his evil heart, to enter the Sacred Realm of legend… That man who cast the death curse upon me and sapped my power… Because of that curse, my end is nigh…" This shocked Link, Malon and Navi, that the Deku Tree was going to die. The Deku Tree then said further "Though both your valiant efforts to break the curse were successful, I was doomed before you started…"

Navi flew before the Deku Tree in shock "You mean you're still going to die?! No! You can't die, Great Deku Tree! We need you!"

Link then said "Me and Malon went through so much to break this curse, and now you're telling us that our efforts were in vain!? This is not right!"

Malon shook her head, as tears formed in her eyes, that even though she and Link did everything to save the Deku Tree, he was still going to die. She felt that she and Link and failed.

The Deku Tree sighed, as he understood Navi and the children's sadness "I understand thy sorrow, but do not feel discouraged… Do not grieve for me… for I have been able to tell you of these important matters before I pass away… Link and Malon… you are Hyrule's final hope… go now to Hyrule castle… there, thou will surely meet the Princess of Destiny… Take this stone with you. The stone that man wanted to much, that cast the curse on me…"

A shining green light appeared in front of the Deku Tree, making Link and Malon cover their eyes. When the light faded, a shining green relic appeared before the Deku Tree. It slowly floated towards Link and Malon. Link slowly took it in his hands. Both he and Malon were amazed of this green-golden stone. Navi flew down at them, who was also amazed about the stone. She then said "Link… Malon… this is the Kokiri's Emerald. The Spiritual Stone of the Forest."

Knowing that this Spiritual Stone was important, Link puts it in his magic bag for safe keeping. He and Malon then looked at the Deku Tree again, who said "The future depends upon thee, Link and Malon… Both art courageous…" Then the Deku Tree spoke softly to Navi "Navi the fairy… help Link and Malon to carry out my will… I… entreat ye… Navi… Good…bye…" And then… no words came anymore from the Deku Tree. It's green leaves soon turned brown and started to fall. The tree began to wither. The Deku Tree… was dead.

Navi started to sob as tears formed in her eyes while she flew before the Deku Tree's face "Deku Tree… Deku Tree! No… no, please… Deku Tree…! No…!"

Malon could no longer hold her tears as she embraced Link and sobbed on his shoulder. Link felt sad too.

After a minute, Malon started too shook her head while still sobbing "We've failed…"

Link then held her cheeks and looked into her eyes "Malon… I know it isn't fair, but… we did what the Deku Tree wanted us to do, right?" Malon nodded a bit while wiping away her tears.

She felt unsure. Link could see it and said "We should do what the Deku Tree wanted us to do now. Let's go to Hyrule Castle with the Spiritual Stone and find the princess…"

Malon nodded, but thought for a moment as the only princess at Hyrule Castle was Princess Zelda "You think the Deku Tree meant Princess Zelda… being this Princess of Destiny?"

Link nodded "Yeah… she's got to be it."

Navi flew slowly to Link and Malon, still feeling sad for losing the Deku Tree "We should go…"

Link and Malon nodded, as they started to leave the meadow.

Navi looked one last time back at the deceased Deku Tree, saying her final goodbye to him "Good-bye… Great Deku Tree…" and then flew after Link and Malon.

When Link and Malon walked back into the Kokiri village, Saria, Fado and few other Kokiri walked over to them, as they could sense that something wasn't right about the Deku Tree.

"Link! Malon! What happened?! What happened to the Deku Tree?" Saria asked.

Link looked sad, but no words came out of his mouth. He only shook his head. Mido marched up to them "Hey, you two! What did you do?!"

Malon tried to say, but was also feeling sad "The… Deku Tree… he…"

Saria didn't understand, but she then slowly started to know what had happened. She gasped in shock "He… he died?"

Link sighed as he then nodded in sadness "Yes…"

The other Kokiri were shocked beyond believe after what they heard, even Mido was just as shocked as the others "…he… did he… die?" but then Mido became angry at Link and Malon "How could you two do a thing like that?! I knew it… I knew letting outsiders in the forest would cause us nothing but trouble! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"

That made Link very angry and was about to say a piece of his mind to that bully he calls himself leader of the Kokiri. But before he got the chance to do so, Malon held his arm and shook her head, what made Link to stand down.

The Kokiri first thought it was Link and Malon who let the tree die, but then Saria spoke to Mido "Mido! Link and Malon didn't killed the Deku Tree!"

Malon then spoke and told the Kokiri "The Deku Tree was… he was cursed…"

This confused the other Kokiri "What? Cursed!?" one of the Know-It-All brother asked shocked.

"What do you mean he was cursed?! How could this have happened?" Fado demanded.

Malon tried to explain further "He was cursed… by an evil sorcerer, and-"

"A sorcerer!?" Mido asked, interrupting Malon, as he did not believe that "Lies! All lies! You and your friend KILLED HIM!" Mido was about to fight both Malon and Link, but Saria held him back and was dragged away by the two Know-It-All brothers while he yelled in anger and sadness to Link and Malon "DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU TWO HAVE DONE!? THE DEKU TREE WAS OUR PROTECTOR AND YOU KILLED HIM! YOU DOOMED US ALL! YOU DOOMED US ALL- LET GO OF ME!" Mido yelled as he struggled to get the two Know-It-All brothers off of him.

The other Kokiri didn't know what to believe. Saria walked over to Link and Malon, letting them know that she believed them. Link sighed deep and stroke Malon's shoulder while saying "Let's go…" Malon nodded. Saria walked together with them, escorting them out of the village, with Navi flying sadly behind them.

All three stopped halfway at the small wooden bridge, leading out of the forest. Saria couldn't go any further, or she could die if she left the forest. Both Link and Malon looked at Saria, who said "I'm sorry about Mido. He can be very emotional at times like these. But I want you both to know that… I believe you." Link and Malon were grateful that at least Saria believed their story.

Saria closed her eyes for a moment while she said "I knew… that the Deku Tree was beyond saving, but… I'm glad that you both at least tried to ease his pain."

Malon walked over to Saria and held her shoulder "Thank you for all your kindness, Saria. Me and Link won't forget it."

Link nodded as he walked over to Saria too "Yeah. I'm sorry that we couldn't save the Deku Tree… but the least me and Malon can do, is to fulfill his last wish, that we go and see the Princess."

Saria took a moment to understand it, but then nodded "Then that is what you need to do. I know that you both are different from me and my friends… but that's OK, because we'll still be friends… won't we?"

Link and Malon smiled as they nodded "Sure. We'd love to be friends with you, Saria." Link said.

Saria smiled as they all shared a hug. As they broke the hug and Link and Malon were about to leave, Saria remembered something and stopped them "Wait! I almost forgot." she took something from her pocket. It was Link's ocarina, now all fixed and looking better then before "Here. I was able to fix your mother's ocarina, Link."

Link smile grew as he saw that his ocarina, that his adoptive mother and Malon's mother, Ateiti had made for him. As he took it in his hands, he saw that it was shining, like it was now filled with some kind of magic. Malon also looked at it with amaze "Wow, Link. Your ocarina looks even better then before."

Link nodded, while Saria told with a smile "I have used some magic to fix it. It's now a Fairy Ocarina, so it won't break that easily anymore. And also, the magic that now resides in it, will come in handy in future. Trust me." she finishes with a wink.

Link was truly thankful that Saria had fixed his ocarina "Thank you…"

Saria nodded and then said to both of them "When Mido has calmed down, you guys can always come back to the forest to visit me."

Link and Malon nodded, as they will surely visit their new friend again "We will. Goodbye Saria." Malon said before she, Link and Navi headed back to Hyrule Field.

Saria watched them leaving the forest, feeling that she will meet them again, someday.

And that's it for chapter 3 of my Legend of Zelda story.

First, I want to apologize to my friends and fans for the long waiting of the next chapter. But, to make it all up, I'm gonna start making chapter 4 as soon as possible. I hope you guys liked this chapter so far. I know that I left out that Link and Malon didn't go and find 'the compass' inside the Deku Tree, but I thought that part wasn't really necessary.

So anyway, like and review and I'll see you very soon, in the next chapter, where Link and Malon are about to meet Princess Zelda and start on their quest to find the other two Spiritual Stones.

See you then!