Chapter 4: Where's Saria?

Unaware of the events unfolding in Kakariko, Link and Navi had still not entered the Kokiri Forest. The scene they had just witnessed mere moments ago continued to play over and over within their minds. There were few possible explanations for how the enemy could know any of Kelli's sword techniques, especially the most powerful ones. Did the nameless evil responsible for Hyrule's current state know her as well as Link currently feared? Whether the answer was yes or no, the fact that one enemy knew anything of Kelli's style remained and that alone put him in a dire situation. Kelli had already shown that she was perhaps far more skilled with a blade than Link was; she had, after all, given him a rather chilling demonstration when he tried to force his way past her. If this was the case, any enemies at her skill level would prove more than a match for the green clad hero. Link grimaced in fear, desperately looking for a solution to the problem.

"This is not good for us," he pointed out seconds later. "I may have won this time, but with my current skills, I could never best an opponent who truly fights as well as Kelli. Who knows what other moves she has up her sleeves?"

"I wish you weren't right, but this is troublesome," Navi agreed with a shudder. Link's facial expression turned confident seconds later.

"My thoughts exactly. And there's only one thing I can do about it. I can get Kelli to teach me her skills."

"B-But Link! After what just happened here, the enemy could easily anticipate that!"

"Maybe so, but there's no other way I could stand a chance against enemies who know skills I've probably never even heard of."

"Hmm… I still think it's risky, but it's better to be safe than sorry, no doubt. Let's get going." Link nodded and with that, the pair started through the second tunnel which would take them to the Kokiri settlement. However, they had barely moved anywhere when something swooped past them at incredible speed. The sound of a blade slicing through something echoed so quickly and loudly, it nearly knocked Link right off his feet.

"Gah! What the—?" he exclaimed as the same blade from before continued to slice through whatever it was attacking. Link turned around to find out who was responsible, but nothing appeared except for the remains of the Stalfos from before as well as a destroyed bridge whose pieces now lay in the grass near the creature. Apparently, whoever or whatever destroyed the bridge was able to move so fast that it could easily avoid being seen.

"Blast! I don't know what in Hyrule just happened, but whoever's responsible has gotten on my last nerve!" Link grunted, his hands making fists.

"Yeah, first a Stalfos welcomes us, now someone else chops the bridge up," Navi added. "What's next, a Skull Kid mob?"

Navi's joke put a smile on Link's face, but it was hardly enough to truly cheer him up. It was bad enough that there were monsters out there capable of outdoing Link in a battle or monsters he might have never seen before, but now they were attempting to trap him and Navi in the forest. Thankfully, the enemy seemed unaware that Link knew other ways of leaving the forest. There was a secret entrance to Goron City on Death Mountain, where the Goron tribe dwelled, located inside the Lost Woods, as well as another that led to the entrance of Zora's Domain, the home of the Zora race. The question was whether or not these passageways could still be used and, just as important, what might be found on the other side. Link could only hope for the best if he found it impossible to cross the bridge again and finally entered the Kokiri Forest, now more worried than ever about the Kokiri village and the forest children themselves.

Before Link had even left the tunnel, his worst fears were confirmed. He had hoped against hope that he might hear some sound of the Kokiri, the forest children being their usual rowdy selves and, more importantly, still untouched by the evil which had stifled Hyrule. There was no sound of laughter, no leaves crunching under running feet and no high pitched chatter of fairies. There were, however, different sounds that Link recalled hearing in his many battles and, realizing they were coming from the village, he broke into a run, desperately hoping he was wrong. It only took one look around the forest to notice what exactly had been done to it. As Link began walking through the village, he couldn't believe what his eyes were witnessing. Every house he walked past was in ruins, particularly Saria's, which was now a pile of rubble all together. Could that mean that the monsters knew of her identity as Sage of the Forest, as King Daphnes had surmised? Link didn't have time to think on it. Monsters roamed every inch of the forest, including Stalchildren, smaller cousins of Stalfos, as well as Deku Scrubs, large fly-trap plants called Deku Babas, Keese, and more. Many trees had been cruelly uprooted and were lying upon their sides in the grass as well. Link's fear was only fed more as he began to worry what might have happened to the Kokiri. The village looked as if no one had lived there in centuries, besides the monstrous new tenants, which meant anything was possible. If those creatures killed the Kokiri, I will flood this place with their blood! Link instantly thought.

Link shook his head when he walked by his own house, the place he lived in as a kid. Though all the Kokiri lived in trees, enormous stumps hallowed out into houses, his was the only true 'tree house.' It had been a small domicile in the strong braches of an oak, a small loft and a ladder linking it to the outside world that rarely welcomed him. However, what he saw in its place was the entire tree itself lying on its side in the path, not cut down but literally uprooted and thrown down. And, judging by the claw marks in the bark, it looked to have been done with bare hands. If the monsters were strong enough to do this, surely whatever attacked put the Kokiri in grave danger. This led Link to begin frantically searching the area, as he tried to silence the inner voice telling him that the chances of the Kokiri even being alive now were slim. He was even concerned about Mido, despite the things he'd done and said to Link when he was a kid. Link never cared, though, because it didn't matter to him. He always remembered what Saria told him after the first time Mido ever made fun of him. Don't let what he says get to you, Link. Mido bullies everyone. And as long as we're friends, nothing he says should get in our way. Now though, Link didn't need to worry about Mido teasing or making fun of him again, because he knew the boy wouldn't dare be mean to someone nearly twice his size. He just hoped Mido was alive enough to appreciate that fact.

As Link continued to walk among the remains of the houses, he fended off any monsters that attempted to attack him, either to allow himself to search uninterrupted or out of anger or just to take his mind off the possibility that these ruins might be all that was left of the Kokiri, he couldn't tell which, and kept a close eye out for any signs of the Kokiri. If they weren't dead, he wondered where they could be. The Kokiri could not survive outside their forest, at least not for a long time, so any survivors could not have gone far. He checked for any bodies under the trees and around the rubble of the destroyed parts of the houses, but found none. The only life Link could find in the forest besides himself and Navi were the monsters. It was like the Kokiri had simply vanished.

However, just as Link arrived once more at the remains of the village shop, he could've sworn he heard a pounding noise coming from somewhere within. Thinking it was one of the monsters, Link continued his search within the shop. The noise rang out once more, and this time Link noticed it was coming from under the shop, not near it. He quickly shoved aside the rubble of the building and found what looked like a trap door, possibly a cellar or a storage room. He pulled it open to reveal, instead of the abandoned store's inventory, a secret passage way. Standing below Link on the wooden stairs was Mido, who had been pounding on the door. Behind him were the Kokiri children. Link's eyes instantly widened as he stood there. Every single Kokiri except Saria was standing in the little room, eyeing Link with curiosity. Mido was the first one to speak up.

"Finally, someone that isn't a monster!" he exclaimed. "Come in and close the door before one of them tries to get us!" Link wasn't hesitant to comply and followed Mido down the stairs, closing the door behind him. Link nearly hit his head on the ceiling once he tried to stand up straight, but stopped himself when he noticed that it was fairly low. The Kokiri were children, so of course there was no need to make the ceiling very high in such a place meant for them. He was hunched over slightly, which he knew would eventually irritate his back, but hopefully he wouldn't remain inside for too long.

"So who are you?" Mido inquired seconds later, a curious expression crossing his features. "That's weird, you seem familiar somehow."

Link did not know what came over him just then. Maybe it was that desire to be accepted which still lingered in the back of his mind, perhaps it was because, despite their treatment of him, he had missed the Kokiri, or it might even have been because he wanted to see the look on Mido's face. Whatever the reason, he decided to answer Mido's curiosity.

"Uh…ahem. Hello, Mido. I believe you do know who I am," Link replied with a smile, though he was still very surprised. "Care to take a guess?" Mido shook his head at Link's words, more than a hint of shock in his expression. This strange man that found them knew his name? However, when he took note of the sword and shield that hung at Link's back, he realized one definite answer to the question of the man's identity.

"You know my name? And own a sword and shield? You wouldn't happen to be the Hero of Time, would you?" he inquired, his voice becoming excited. "You kinda match the description of him that we heard from Saria and the Great Deku Tree Sprout."

"That's right," Link confirmed. "I am indeed the Hero of Time, but that's not quite the answer I'm looking for." Mido gave Link another blank look.

"Um...," Mido blurted, not used to being anything besides the-smartest-Kokiri-in-the-Forest. "I don't get it."

Link's expression softened, though whether this was from sadness or from recalling how much he wanted to put one over on Mido, he could not say.

"You…don't recognize me, do you?" he asked the assembled Kokiri, who reacted with silent bemusement. "Oh, I don't blame you. I look very different than I used to."

A Kokiri girl, one of the twins, approached Link. "What did you used to look like?"

"I was a lot shorter, for one thing," Link replied, with a small laugh.

"Ah, do we really have time for this?" Navi spoke up, whirring in front of Link.

"Wait, is that a Forest Fairy?" another Kokiri spoke up. "I thought the Forest Fairies only watched over Kokiri; we all have one of our own."

"I know," Link confirmed. "I had to wait quite a while for mine. I didn't have one for the longest time. The same day one came to me, I was called before the Great Deku Tree."

Judging by all the lower jaws inching towards the floor, Link suspected that comprehension was dawning.

"I've been gone from the forest a long time," he went on. "But, I still remember a lot of things. I remember how the twins used to play pranks on the other Kokiri but, since they look so much alike, no one knew which of them did it. I remember how Mido always made those two boys move the rocks and shrubs around Saria's house so she'd like him more and I remember how Saria used to go to the Sacred Forest Meadow and play her ocarina."

By this time, Mido could no longer contain himself. "How do you know all of this?"

"Like I said, I lived here," Link answered. "It was in a small house, high off the ground with a ladder and a tiny loft. Speaking of which, who knocked it down?"

It might've been Link's imagination, but he could've sworn he heard somebody faint. Mido, and the others, still regarded him with slack jawed shock and, when Mido finally spoke, his words were a strangled whisper. "Link?"

A confused babble of voices arose from the others, but quickly died down when Link raised one hand to call for silence and then nodded in confirmation of Mido's guess.

"Whoa…is it really you, Link? You look so much bigger and stronger…"

Link nodded, his smile intact.

"That's because I'm actually a Hylian, not a Kokiri. But I am Link. I still have my Kokiri Tunic and Navi, the very same fairy that was with me when I was a kid. Oh, and I can't forget Saria. In fact, I still remember that song of hers." Link then pulled out the Ocarina of Time and played Saria's Song. The Kokiri all put great smiles on their faces, including Mido.

"Link, it really is you!" a Kokiri boy cried as everyone except Mido gathered around Link and hugged him. "I don't know about Mido, but the rest of us missed you!" Link smiled as he felt the number of little pairs of arms around him.

"Well, I kinda did too," Mido admitted, scratching the back of his head. "I also feel kinda bad that I made fun of you, with you being such a hero and all now. You really proved me wrong when I called you a wimp."

"Hey, don't worry about it, Mido," Link comforted with a smile. "I never really cared that you did anyway. Besides, why would you try to mess with me the way I am now?" At that, Link chuckled once more. Mido had gone pink in the cheeks before responding.

"…Thanks. But, I think I'll leave the hugs to the others." He then winked. After everybody let go of Link, he took a short look around the chamber he stood in. It didn't appear to be recently built, as the walls, which appeared to be dirt, were really solid rock. The dirt must have hardened over time.

"So, tell me, where did this little hideout come from?" he inquired.

"We built it a long time ago to serve as a shelter in emergencies when the houses weren't safe enough. Like bad weather and stuff," Mido explained. "In fact, you wouldn't believe how many times the Great Deku Tree has had to use his magic to make our houses grow back after some really strong wind blew 'em over, seeing as they're giant tree stumps."

"You mean you guys did all this yourselves?" Link replied, raising one eyebrow.

"Yup. Took a lot of digging, it did, but we did it."

"Dang. For kids, you're pretty good with shovels!"

"Hey, we need to learn some ways of taking care of ourselves, you know. The Great Deku Tree's a tree, after all. It wasn't like he could wander around and spoon-feed us our every need."

"Yeah, that's true. Just one thing, though. I've lived in the forest for many years. Why don't I remember this place?"

"Well…uh…"

"You kept it secret from me, didn't you?"

"Well…okay, yes. But I swear, it wasn't because I disliked you. In fact, it was Saria's idea."

"What? Why would she hide this place from me?"

"I don't know exactly. I bet it has something to do with that girl that once lived here, though."

"Girl? Her name wouldn't happen to be Kelli, would it?"

"You know her?"

"Long story. Right now, I'm glad you told me this. However, there's a more important issue we need to discuss and that's Saria's whereabouts. She's not with you and I need to find her."

"Oh, right! We think she may have been taken to the Death Forest," Mido explained. "No one's been there in who knows how long, but the baddies around here seem to be coming from the direction of the forest's entrance."

"Death Forest?" Link wondered, arching his eyebrow in confusion once more. Mido nodded nervously.

"It's a dark, dead forest underneath this one. All the dead trees from here, including those in the Lost Woods, eventually end up there because of the Great Deku Tree's magic," Mido continued. "Even the Deku Trees themselves go there."

"I see. How can I get to this Death Forest?"

"Oh, the entrance is somewhere in the Lost Woods, but it's been sealed up for ages now. Though, with all the bad guys around, it may have been opened. I suggest you go see the Great Deku Tree Sprout. Only he can tell you if there's really something going on in there."

"Ah, thanks," Link replied. "I'll be back to check on all of you later. Once I'm out, close the door and don't open it unless you hear me call out to you." Link then climbed the stairs and hauled himself out of the underground chamber, trying once more not to bang his head. He immediately headed for the Great Deku Tree's Meadow, whose entrance was thankfully nearby, just across the pond in front of the shop's ruins.

Upon crossing the pond and arriving at the entrance to the meadow, Link continued to make his way past the monsters and entered. As he walked down the short passageway, a light fog began to hover over the ground much like in the Lost Woods. Something's not right here, Link thought fearfully. He brought up his blade and hefted his shield, keeping his limbs loose and ready to strike or defend on the instant, and lept his ears open for any sound of an approaching foe. When the fog lifted by the barest degree, he saw a strange, glistening red some distance away. As he moved closer, he saw, to his shock and dismay that the Great Deku Tree Sprout was encased in thick, red ice. He had seen such unnatural ice before, during the dark future, and he knew that the only way to melt the ice was to use blue fire and if the sprout stayed that way long enough, he would more than likely die. Since Link didn't even have many of the empty bottles he once carried due to having sold most of them for rupees, let alone cool blue fire, he knew he needed to find some and find a way to bring it to the imperiled sprout fast. With that, he dashed out of the meadow as quickly as his feet would carry him, wondering where he'd find blue fire in a place such as the forest. The only source he knew of was the Ice Cavern in the Zora's Fountain, and he had no way of knowing if the passage was accessible or if the other side was secure.

Thinking it was really the only logical choice to make, Link decided to head to the Lost Woods first. Maybe there was another source he never discovered or, failing that, he could take a chance on the passage to Zora's Domain. He quickly rushed straight for a set of vines growing on a wall behind the remains of Mido's house and climbed to the top. There on the cliff was the entrance to the Lost Woods, which Link immediately raced into. The Lost Woods, he knew, lived up to its name; a series of seemingly identical clearings connected by log tunnels, at least half of which would send him right back where he started. When he came here before, he followed the echoes of Saria playing her ocarina, but he doubted her captors would make rescuing her that easy. His only chance was to find his way through from memory. When Link set foot in the woods, another light fog appeared around him, giving him making it even more difficult to pick out the correct log tunnels. Link went along the route to the Sacred Forest Meadow, keeping a close eye and ear out for any danger. Eventually, a fairly high-pitched cry for help in the distance caused him to jump.

"Help! Somebody, heeeeeelp!" the voice squeaked. It sounded a lot like a Deku Scrub. Link followed the voice, which soon led him to the remains of the bridge that led to Hyrule Field. He saw a Deku Scrub, a merchant one to be specific, at the other side of the area. A pair of Stalchildren were nearby attempting to strike the distressed creature with their claws. It didn't take long for it to take note of Link, for he had this strange way of being instantly noticeable when somebody was in danger.

"You! Please help me! These creepy monsters won't leave me alone!" it pleaded. "I'm begging you! Heeeelp!" Link saw one of the Stalchildren grab the Deku Scrub by the snout.

"Ow! Don't just stand there! Do something!" the Deku Scrub shouted again. Link drew his sword and approached the bony creatures. One charged spin attack had been enough to destroy them both, and Link re-sheathed his blade once he was through.

"Hey, that was neat!" the Deku Scrub complimented. "Thanks!"

"No problem," Link replied. "Helping others is something I'm good at."

"Cool!" the Deku Scrub commented. "For helping me, I want to sell you one of my special wares at a discounted price. It's a magic rod that I call the Rod of Blue Flames. Its cool blue fire can melt the thickest red ice! Normally, I charge one hundred rupees for it, but for you I can cut that price to fifty!" The Deku Scrub then produced a long, blue rod that wasn't much shorter than the Great Fairy's Sword. At the front tip there was a large blue orb while the rest was colored an icy light blue. Link, unable to believe his luck, blinked in astonishment at this fortuitous turn of events. Link knew he had to buy it if he was to make any more progress, especially since he wasn't sure if he could get to the Ice Cavern safely, so he quickly dug through his wallet and thankfully found a purple rupee in what he managed to save up in the past few weeks.

"Wow…" Link mused. "A rod that has blue fire? I'll take it. I'm going to need it anyway."

"Great! I'm glad I could help you in return," the Deku Scrub replied and traded the rod for Link's rupee. "Well, see ya!" And with that, the Deku Scrub burrowed into its Deku Flower and disappeared.

Knowing he finally found what he needed to save the Great Deku Tree Sprout, Link quickly raced out of the Lost Woods and back to the Great Deku Tree's Meadow, making his way through all the fallen trees and rubble from the houses, as well as the monsters once more. Hoping the Great Deku Tree Sprout would still live, Link drew his new Rod of Blue Flames as he approached the meadow. When he stood before the frozen sprout once more, he aimed the rod at the red ice and fired it until the flames completely engulfed the ice. It melted instantly as the flames diminished it. The Great Deku Tree Sprout stirred within the next few seconds after the ice was completely gone.

"Huh? Someone helped me?" the sprout wondered aloud. When it regained full consciousness, the Great Deku Tree Sprout suddenly realized who was standing before it.

"Link? Is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me alright. All flesh and blood," Link confirmed. "I don't know what happened. I just wandered in earlier and found you covered in red ice."

"I see. I've heard many things about you and your adventure in Hyrule!" The Great Deku Tree Sprout replied. "You're a fine hero. However, this is no time to be chitchatting. I'm sure you've seen the state of the forest. Nearly destroyed!"

"I know. I'm extremely worried. And I need to find Saria. Mido told me you might know a thing or two about what's happening," Link explained. "He also said he and the Kokiri believe Saria may be in a place called the Death Forest."

"I see. All I can tell you is that an evil force has cursed the Death Forest which Mido spoke of, as well as many other locations in Hyrule," the Great Deku Tree Sprout explained. "I know not what this force is, but its power is unlike the evil that caused the death of the Great Deku Tree behind me seven years ago. It's overwhelmingly strong."

"Then-Then what about Saria? What can I do?" Link frantically wondered.

"You must obtain a power strong enough to break this curse and dispel the evil. I know not where you can find it or what it is, but it may be within the Death Forest itself. Saria awakened as one of the six Sages and went to investigate the area, but as you might have guessed, she has not returned. I suggest you head there and bring all of this to an end."

"I certainly will. But where is it?"

"I don't know the exact location, but I do know it is somewhere in the Lost Woods near the Sacred Forest Meadow's entrance. I strongly advise you to be careful. There are more monsters appearing in those woods than out here."

"Thanks for the warning. I promise I will not fail." With that, Link turned around and began his short journey back to the Lost Woods.

Once he was back in the village, Link immediately sought his destination. He avoided the monsters, navigated his way around the fallen trees and ruins, and climbed up the vines behind Mido's house once again. One Stalchild standing at the top knocked him off the vines once, but Link managed to fire a pair of arrows into it and climbed right back up. Another attempted to attack him in front of the tunnel entrance to the Lost Woods, but was ignored instead. Link wasn't going to waste his time when he knew he could outrun the creature.

Inside, Link made his way through the fog again and followed the route to the Sacred Forest Meadow once more. When he was there, he carefully scanned the areas around the meadow's entrance for anything that might lead to the Death Forest. Just as Link had entered the section where the tall grass which concealed the entrance to an underground chamber called the Forest Stage was, he noticed a thicker bank of fog around the tree in the center of the area. He approached the tree curiously, as there was definitely something very odd about it. Link slowly walked through the fog in front of the tree, his steps cautious and his senses alert. However, when he was few feet away from the tree's base, he suddenly felt the ground vanish beneath his feet.

Link screamed as he plunged down into the deep darkness below him. He landed flat on his stomach when he finally hit the ground, the impact knocking the wind right out of him, and he slowly rose to his feet once his lungs would allow it. He carefully scanned his surroundings once the pain became bearable. Blackened trees that bore no leaves were situated everywhere and more light fog hovered over the room. The very same monsters from the village with the addition of floating skulls engulfed in blue fire known as Blue Bubbles roamed the area. There were also rotted, black logs and dead plants on the ground, which felt like nothing but dry dirt below Link's feet. A doorway framed with wilted flowers could be seen in the distance on the other side of the room and was guarded by a Big Skulltula, a large spider with the image of a skull on its back. Navi hovered close to Link's shoulder, seemingly nervous, while Link's confident expression did not change.

"Navi, this is our destination."

"I don't doubt you're right," Navi replied. "But just look at this place! I'm almost frightened."

"Well, I have to admit, I find it creepy and disturbing myself, but we'll have to endure it if we're going to save Saria and the forest. And you know I would never let anything bad happen to you."

"Yeah, I know. Thanks."