The Eds were relaxing in the back of the carriage while Link guided Epona towards in the direction of Kokiri Forest.
"This carriage is a blessing." Edd stated as looked out the back.
"You're telling me. Now we don't have to walk everywhere." Eddy added before yawning. "I'm even feeling up for a nap."
"No time to rest. We must vanquish evil!" Ed said before standing up and drawing his sword. "FOR WE ARE-"
"Put it away and sit down, Ed!" Link barked, not wanting to deal with Ed going nuts with his blade. "Don't make me turn this carriage around!" Ed deflated before obeying and sitting down.
"How much longer until we get there?" Eddy asked.
"Actually, we're here." Link answered. The Eds looked out the front to see that they were now in front of the entrance to Kokiri Forest. He and Navi stared at the entrance to Kokiri Forest, the start of their journey, and their home.
"Hard to believe that this is where everything began." Edd said, gaining everyone's attention.
"What do you mean?" Eddy asked.
"This is where we met Link and Navi after being brought here by Kaepora Gaebora." Edd continued.
"And where we had our first adventure inside the Great Deku Tree." Eddy added with a sigh. "Man, things have changed since then. We got older. We have new clothes and weapons."
"And the author has learned to write better." Ed added, earning confused looks from Navi and Link.
"Truly a memorable day." Edd sighed in nostalgia.
"And a day that took place over seven years ago." Link said in a somber tone. "I wonder if any of them would recognize me."
"Why wouldn't they?" Eddy asked. "So it's been seven years. It's not like you've been gone for hundreds of years. They're probably grown up too."
"Kokiri never grow up." Link reminded him. "A thousand years could go by, and they'd never age a day." Link looked back at the entrance and steeled himself before he and the Eds all left the carriage. "Let's go." he said as they all walked forward.
"What about Epona?" Ed asked in concern as they began to cross the bridge.
"Malon said that she's smart. She'll run if any danger comes her way." Link explained. "And when we need her, we just have to play her favorite song and she'll come running back to us."
"Link." Navi suddenly spoke up, causing them all to stop just before entering the Kokiri Forest. "Something's not right."
"What's not right?" Edd asked.
"Can't you guys feel it?" she asked them. "Can't you feel it coming from inside Kokiri Forest?"
The four of them looked towards Kokiri Forest, wondering exactly what 'it' was that they were supposed to be feeling. They watched in silence...
And then it hit them.
"What is that?" Double D gulped, a spine-chilling terror creeping up on him.
"Whatever it is, it's giving me the willies." Eddy shuddered.
"Ed does not like this feeling!" Ed stated.
Link said nothing as he stared before taking off with Navi, earning cries of concern from the Eds before they followed. They stopped after making it through the entrance to see the Kokiri Forest teeming with monsters.
Deku Babas planted in front of every home. Deku Scrubs lying in wait in the pathway. Octoroks floating in the small lake.
"This...This can't be!" Edd whispered in horror.
"They're everywhere!" Eddy yelped while Ed looked all around them.
"My home." Link muttered, his fists clenching in rage.
"We should find a place to hide and formulate a plan." Edd suggested.
"Let's go to Link's house!" Ed said before charging off, swinging his sword like a lunatic the whole way.
"Ed! Wait! We need to stick together!" Edd yelled in a panic as they went after him, their own weapons drawn to fight against anything Ed had missed. They got in front of his house before climbing the ladder, getting inside, and shutting the door.
"There's no end to them! Kill one, and two more pop up!" Eddy groaned as he looked out the window.
"It looks worse than the garden when Sarah and Jimmy play in it and blame the mess on Ed to mom!" Ed stated.
"Such a sad state of affairs." Edd muttered in sadness. "And we still don't know what has become of the chi-"
CRACK!
The Eds and Navi all jumped and turned to see that Link had smashed his fist against the wall. Tiny cracks formed around the area of impact before he removed it, letting his bleeding fist drop to his side.
"Link? Is something the-" Edd began before Navi flew up and placed her hands against his lips.
"If you returned to your world and saw your home like this, what would you do?" she quietly asked the Eds. Their eyes softened at her words while Link just stood there, his eyes threatening to burst with angry tears.
"HEY!"
Everyone looked up to see a lone fairy fly through the window.
"By the Great Deku Tree! People!" the little fairy said in joy as it flit about. "And you guys have a fairy with you too! Please, you have to help us!"
"Whoa! Slow down!" Navi yelled, getting the other fairy to stop. "Who are you talking about when you say us?"
"The children and the other fairies." the lone fairy answered. "It all started when this evil aura began to spread from the Forest Temple. Miss Saria went to investigate, but she hasn't returned."
"Oh dear." Edd gasped in shock.
"And that's not all. Monsters have been appearing inside the Kokiri Forest and attacking the children. They don't enter the houses, thank the Goddesses, but that means the children are trapped inside! We fairies have been going out and bringing back tiny bits of food to keep them fed, but it's not enough anymore! We have to keep going further and further to find anything because the monsters keep ravaging the area around the forest too, making it harder to find anything to eat!" the fairy ranted, sounding to be on the verge of tears.
"Aw, don't cry little fairy. We're here to help!" Ed said with a smile under his helmet.
"Yeah! We ain't gonna let these things stick around! Right, Link?" Eddy added. He frowned when he saw Link staring at the Ocarina of Time before bringing it to his lips and playing Saria's Song.
'...Link?...Is that you?' came Saria's voice. It sounded so small and distant, barely above a whisper.
"Was that the girl?" Eddy asked while looking around before Edd shushed him.
"Saria! It's me, Link!" Link responded.
'...I'm so glad...that you're alive.' she said, relief flooding her voice. 'Link...the Forest Temple...something evil lurks within...'
"We know. We came to destroy it." Link explained. "Are you okay?"
'...I don't know...I went to the Forest Temple...but now, I don't know where I am...I feel so...tired.' she answered, her voice getting quieter as she spoke. '...Please, Link...save...the forest...'
"Saria? Saria?!" Link called out, only to receive silence in return.
"I propose that we check our supplies, tend to any wounds we have, and head out to the Forest Temple immediately." Edd suggested, not liking the thought of anyone in the clutches of evil, let alone a small child.
"Oh, thank you! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" the little fairy shouted in joy, making the others chuckle at her antics.
After making sure they were properly supplied and their wounds were tended, the group made their way through the monsters and up to the entrance to the Lost Woods. They took a few steps inside and instantly felt that something was missing.
"Where'd the music go?" Ed asked.
"The music came from Saria playing her ocarina, Ed." Edd pointed out. "When we rid the Forest Temple of the evil infesting it, Saria will be free. Whether she'll play again will be up to her."
"Enough yapping. Let's go!" Eddy groaned.
~Clang!
"Who's there?" Ed asked after feeling something bounce off his helmet.
"What's this?" Edd mused as he picked up the object that had hit Ed's helmet. "A needle?"
"Needle?!" Ed yelped while Eddy starting sweating.
"What's with you two?" Link asked.
THOK!
"YEOWCH!" Edd cried out in pain as he fell on his back.
"Double-D!" his friends shouted as they crowded around him. They saw another needle embedded in his head just above his right eye.
"ALRIGHT! WHO'S SHOOTING AT US?!" Eddy roared as he whipped his head around to try and find who did it.
"Uh...guys?" Link said, a hint of fear in his voice as he stared at up at the forest canopy. The others looked up to see a bunch of little people that looked like scarecrows glaring down at them.
"Those are Skull Kids! They say that they're what happen to children who get lost in these woods!" Navi explained.
"What's the big idea, you bunch of brats?! We didn't do nothing to you!" Eddy yelled.
"I agree!" Edd shouted as he got to his feet before pulling the needle out of his face and holding it out towards them. "What were you thinking, attacking us like this? You could've put my eye out with this if it hit a little lower!"
"Then we'll aim a little lower next time!" one of them shouted before he and the rest of them held their flutes up to their mouths. The heroes all braced themselves and guarded against the attacks with their shields. "Keep firing! Don't stop until they're dead!"
"This is insanity! Is this because of the influence of evil from the temple?!" Edd asked as the sound of tiny metal spikes rained down upon their shields.
"No! Skull Kids just really despise adults for some reason!" Navi answered.
"We can't stop here! We have to keep moving!" Link shouted.
"How?! They're not letting up!" Eddy snapped.
"Run away!" Ed yelled before they all bolted in a random direction, the shields keeping the needles from striking them.
"After them!" one of the Skull Kids ordered as they gave chase, shooting more and more needles at the group.
"Which way was it again?!" Eddy yelled.
"I'm trying to remember, but the constant threat of death is making it hard to think!" Edd answered.
"Let's try this way!" Eddy yelled before the four ran off to the left. 5 seconds later, they were screaming and running back the way they came, an army of Skull Kids shooting at them right on their heels.
"Not that way!" Edd shrieked as they tried another path, only to run out again while screaming their heads off. "NOT THAT WAY EITHER!"
"Navi! Any chance you know which way to go?!" Link yelled.
"I do! I'll guide you guys!" Navi answered before pointing out directions for them. "Take a left up here!" They did as she said and followed the way she told them to go. "Now take a right! Now go straight! Straight again! Now-" she suddenly stopped when she noticed that two of the three paths were being blocked by Skull Kids. "We need to got left again, but it's blocked!"
"Uh oh!" Ed said in panic as he looked over his shoulder, watching as the Skull Kids had appeared from the direction they'd just come from, effectively trapping them.
"Now what?!" Eddy yelped as his eyes darted everywhere.
"We may have to fight them!" Link stated as he reached for his sword.
"Against this many opponents?!" Edd asked incredulously. "We can't get near even one of them!"
"You got any better ideas?!" Link snapped as the Skull Kids drew closer.
"End of the line!" the one at the front declared before they all brought their flutes to their mouths. They all took a deep breath, making the heroes raise their shields-
"DA-DADA-DAAAAHHH!"
POW!
Everyone watched as a figure appeared from nowhere before plowing through the Skull Kids that were blocking the path on the right, scattering them all over the place. He looked to be wearing clothing made of leaves and branches and was covered in mud.
But what really stood out was the melon on his head and the wooden board attached to the end of a Deku Stick.
"QUICKLY! THIS WAY!" the man shouted before running off. Not wanting to let the opportunity go to waste, the group quickly followed after the stranger.
"Was that who I think it was?" Edd asked in surprise.
"Don't know, don't care! As long as we get away from this little jerks!" Eddy answered as they followed him. They came to screeching halt as they all realized where they now were.
"A DEAD END?!" Link roared in disbelief as he stared at the little open area around them full of trees and boulders.
"Not quite." the stranger said as he jabbed one end of his stick under a boulder and, with a mighty heave, moved it to reveal a hole in the ground large enough for an adult to fit in. "Get in, before they find us!"
"Me first!" Ed yelled before sliding toward the hole and disappearing inside, followed by Link, Navi, Eddy, Edd, and finally the stranger, letting the boulder drop and cover the entrance.
The group were catching their breath as they looked up at where the blocked entrance.
"That...that was close!" Edd wheezed before sitting down. "That was utter madness!"
"And this is just the Kokiri Forest. We haven't even made it into the Forest Temple yet." Link huffed while Navi rested on his shoulder.
"Are you kidding me?! With those little jerks firing at us non-stop, we ain't even getting near the temple!" Eddy snapped.
"We have to try, or evil will rule all!" Ed reminded them all.
"So, you too wish to fight against the forces of evil?!"
Everyone turned to the stranger as he stood on a tree stump that was surrounded by what looked to be a dozen Deku Scrubs, but were taller, had arms and legs, and a tree on top of their heads.
"Then we have a common goal! This land and many others are fraught with unimaginable perils! And the source lies with the Forest Temple!" the stranger proclaimed before striking a pose. "But fear not! With your help, we can rid this forest of evil and make a foothold against evil forces! And I, Captain Melonhead, with my trusty sidekick, Splinter the Wonderwood, shall lead you and these kindhearted Deku into-"
"Hi Johnny!" Ed interrupted with a smile, making the man look at him with wide eyes.
"Wha-? How'd you know my name?!" Johnny asked in shock before looking at Plank. "What's that Splinter?...They're who?!"
"Is that guy talking to a piece of wood?" Link asked.
"I'd rather not think about it." Navi answered.
"Yes. Yes he is." Edd answered with a smile as Johnny approached them.
"Never thought I'd be glad to see that overstuffed head of yours Johnny." Eddy laughed while Ed lifted his visor and Edd showed his trademark hat.
"Holy Cow, Plank! It is the Eds!" Johnny said in excitement as he jumped off the stump and approached them.
"Greetings Johnny. And hello to you to, Plank." Edd greeted with a smile. "Thank you ever so much for rescuing us in our time of need."
"Yeah. Those Skull Kids wouldn't stop shooting at us. Nearly hit me a few times." Eddy said while grumbling the last part.
"I think they hit me. Can someone pull out the needles?" Ed asked as he turned around and bent over, showing that his butt was covered in needles. Most of them looked horrified while Eddy pointed and laughed, unable to help himself.
"We'll help, for a price." said one of the Deku Scrubs nearby.
"Who are all of you?" Eddy asked.
"We, sir, are Business Scrubs." said another with a smile. "We gather wares here and there and sell them to travelers for a reasonable price.
"Although, since Ganondorf took over and evil has been spreading, not a lot of people travel outside of towns and such anymore. At least, none that won't just try to rob us." another one frowned.
"So we make due and provide services where ever and whenever we can. Such as providing shelter to travelers like you." added a third scrub before smirking at them. "By the way, you owe us 20 rupees an hour for hiding in this hole."
"What?! Why you-" Eddy started to rage before Johnny slapped a hand over his mouth.
"Shh! These guys have a lot of friends and can get very cross if you don't pay." Johnny warned before turning to the laughing scrubs.
"We're kidding!...this time." they muttered the last part before turning towards them. "We hear much of what goes on in this forest. You guys are trying to get to the Forest Temple to clear it of the evil that's infested it, correct?"
"That is indeed our intentions." Edd answered, the others nodding along.
"Then you're very brave, if not very foolish." one scrub commented. "Still, if it means getting rid of all those vile monsters that are harming business, then we'll help any way we can."
"Hooray!" Ed cheered, the collective spirits in the room rising as the heroes gained a bunch of new allies.
Link and the Eds, now stocked to the max due to the Business Scrubs generosity, were following Johnny through an underground tunnel that was built to help them get across the forest with ease.
"So you two have been here inside this forest ever since Ganondorf dragged everyone from our neighborhood into this world?" Edd asked as they walked.
"Yeah. It was scary at the beginning. Plank and me thought it was another bad dream from eating free range soybeans again. After a while though, we found out everything was all too real." Johnny explained. "While we wandered the Lost Woods, we bumped into the Business Scrubs. They offered us a place to rest if we could pay, but accepted us working for them when we told them we were broke."
"That's low." Eddy grunted.
"Actually, that sounds like something you'd do." Edd stated, making Eddy growl at him.
"As time went on and evil spread, things started getting worse around here." Johnny continued. "Skull Kids were preying on any adults that came in looking for refuge. Monsters showing up in droves. It was chaos no matter where you went."
"And now all the little children are stuck and starving inside their homes!" Ed wailed in despair.
"I know. When I heard about that, I decided to take action." Johnny said with a determined frown. "I learned the forest inside and out, helped the Business Scrubs build these underground tunnels, and found a melon that would fit my head. Thus, Captain Melonhead and Splinter the Wonderwood returned, ready to fight back the tides of evil set upon these innocent creatures by Ganondorf!"
"Well you won't have too much of a burden for long, Johnny. When we defeat the evil from within the Forest Temple, everywhere from the Kokiri Forest to these Lost Woods should return to normal." Edd stated with confidence.
"I sure hope so. I've actually been wanting to travel outside the forest, but I was too afraid that something bad would happen if I wasn't here to help." Johnny lamented before they stopped and looked up at a hole in the ground above them. "The entrance to the Sacred Forest Meadow is just up there. I marked the entrance with a small X, so take that path. Otherwise, you'll just end up back in Kokiri Forest."
"Thank you again, Johnny. Or, Captain Melonhead, or whatever you're called." Link said.
"No problemo, Link." Johnny said before tilting Plank towards his ear. "What's that Plank?...Plank wants to know if it's normal for men to wear dresses in this world."
"And Link goes first!" Eddy laughed when he saw Link take an angry step towards Johnny before he grabbed the tunic wearing man and threw him into the light, which carried him to the surface.
"Bye Johnny!" Ed said in goodbye before the Eds stepped into the light and were launched up as well.
True to Johnny's word, the group saw a small X hidden behind some tall grass next to the entrance to the Sacred Forest Meadow before walking through and coming to the familiar area.
"Let's be on our guards in case anything like that Wolfos from last time shows up." Link warned, his hand tightly gripping the Master Sword.
"Indeed. My first experience here is not one I wish to repeat." Edd stated, his hand going up to his face where that Wolfos scratched him the first time they came here.
"Well we've all grown stronger since then. Whatever is waiting for us, we will defeat it." Link said with confidence.
"Does that include whatever is making those loud footsteps?" Edd asked. They all listened to hear loud thumping footsteps coming from inside the maze.
"Let me take a look." Navi said as she flew above the maze to get a bird's eye view of what was inside. "Yipe!" she yelped before flying back down to them. "We've got a problem! The place is being guarded by Moblins!"
"What's a Moblin?" Ed asked.
"They're huge creatures that serve evil. They're twice Ed's height, very strong, and will kill us if we let our guards down for even a second!" Navi explained.
"Oh dear! Perhaps we should find an alternative route?" Edd suggested with a nervous smile.
"I don't care what is guarding the place! We're going through this maze and getting into the Forest Temple, one way or another!" Link declared.
"I can get us through the maze!" Ed said with a grin.
"See? Ed's got a plan." Link nodded before realizing who said that. "You have a plan?"
"Yep." Ed nodded.
"Oh yeah? What is it?"
"Follow me, guys!" Ed yelled before getting into a runner's starting position.
"Oh no!" Edd muttered in horror before yelling, "ED, NO!"
"READY OR NOT! HERE I AM!" the dimwitted Ed laughed before he took off towards the maze.
CRASH! SMASH! BASH!
The four left behind could only watch is silence as Ed ran right through the walls of the maze, leaving behind big gaping holes in the walls. They didn't even register the Moblins being thrown into the air, screaming their heads off in panic and confusion as to what had just hit them.
"The Sacred...Forest Meadow." Navi whispered, her mouth hung open at the sight of devastation left by Ed's stupidity.
"I...am going...to kill him!" Link growled before he began power walking through the holes in the maze, followed by a stunned Edd and laughing Eddy, completely ignoring the unconscious Moblins strewn about here and there on the way.
"You gotta love the big oaf!" Eddy snickered as they came to the familiar clearing, where they found Ed had run head first into a nearby tree.
"ED!" Link snapped before pulling his head out of the tree and turning him so they could talk face-to-face. "YOU MORON! WHY DID YOU RUN THROUGH THE SACRED FOREST MEADOW LIKE THAT?!"
"Because he thinks that going through a maze means to run through the maze." Edd groaned. "And I know because I've witnessed it before."
"Do not fret."
Everyone turned in time to see Sheik descend from out of nowhere, stunning them all with his presence.
"For as long as the Sacred Forest Meadow has stood, the spirits residing within have kept it maintained. When the evil has been purged from the Forest Temple, they shall return and fix what your friend has broken." he explained as he approached them.
"Sheik? What are you doing here?" Edd asked.
"You never returned to the Temple of Time. I had a hunch you had come straight here and wished to make sure you were properly equipped to enter the Forest Temple." he said.
"Yeah, we got that Hookshot from Dampe's ghost." Eddy answered while Link brought the device in question into view.
"I can see that." Sheik said before walking towards the large hexagonal pedestal. "I also came to give you a little gift. Do you know what this is?"
"Oh! Oh! It's...a...it's...um..." Ed began before trailing off.
"This is a Triforce Pedestal." Sheik answered before looking at them. "In days long past, these pedestals were used as a means for long distance transportation between the temples of Hyrule. Do you remember seeing one inside the Temple of Time?"
"Now that you mention it, I do recall seeing it. Although, the design on this one and the one in the Temple of Time look different." Edd answered while observing the pedestal.
"The symbols on the pedestals represent corresponding temple." Sheik explained.
"Okay. So why are you telling us this?" Eddy asked, wanting him to get to the point.
"You may find yourselves wishing to revisit these temples for one reason or another in the future. But the main reason that I shall be teaching you how to use them will be to give you a quick exit out of the temple should you find yourselves in a bind and unable to continue." Sheik answered before pulling a handheld harp out from behind his back.
"Oh great. More music." Eddy grumped, earning a 'Shh' from Edd.
"Listen well to the Minuet of Forest." Sheik said before playing a gentle melody on the harp. Link, ocarina in hand, began to play the same tune. As the two played, the Eds felt a small breeze blow through the area, kicking up leaves that looked to be dancing around Link and Sheik.
"Are you seeing this?" Eddy whispered.
"Perhaps this melody holds more power then we thought." Edd mused.
"Cool." was all Ed said as the music ended.
"When the time comes, we shall meet again." Sheik said before suddenly throwing something at the ground and disappearing in a blinding flash of light.
"Well that was dramatic." Edd stated before looking up at the entrance to the Forest Temple. "Now I believe it is time we do what we have come here to do."
"Right." Link nodded before taking out the Hookshot and aiming for the tree branch hanging over the entrance. "Grab on, guys!" he ordered. The moment they did, he shot the hook out towards the branch. They all gave a grunt when it suddenly pulled them all up before they landed on their feet.
"Hang on, Saria. We're coming." Link declared before they walked into the Forest Temple.
A/N: You have no idea how ashamed I am for having not updated this story in a while. But now, we have finally made it to the first temple, and I hope it doesn't take long to write more.
I didn't know how to fit Sheik's original words in here, so I just came up with all that stuff from earlier. Hope you all enjoyed.