Time seemed to stand still. Nobody moved. Impa ran through the possibilities in her head, none of them good. The sound of the Swordsman's heavy breath drummed on rhythmically.

A second passed.

Suddenly, Link let out a guttural scream, a howl of emotions built up over the course of a single day, and hurled his shield at the Swordsman. It was a sound of rage, fear, sorrow, guilt, and hate. The shield flew a few meters before clattering at the Swordsman's feet. Slowly, he looked down at the shield, before lifting his eyes to meet Links gaze.

Link stood still, his hands shaking with both fear and rage. tears built up in his eyes, but he refused to blink. His hands were trembling. He wasn't thinking straight.

"Why?"

A single question, aimed at the thing that had caused so much death. He didn't expect anything, but he needed to ask. He needed to know. Nothing made sense. It couldn't make sense. Why would any being do this?

All the swordsman did was tilt his head. The light of the flames seemed to be swallowed by the darkness of his armour.

Link scowled, furious. "Why would you do this?!"

Silence.

"Why?"

Link blinked.

"You ask me 'why?'" The Swordsman spoke quietly, just loud enough for Link to hear, their words echoing slightly behind the mask. Their voice was harsh and raspy, like steel scraping against steel, accentuated by the jaw of their mask scraping against the face.

They were stunned. This person, this murderer, was talking so casually, so calmly. They sounded bored.

A cough. "Why would I do… what?"

Link's clenched his knuckles, anger building. "Why would you-" He shook his head. "How could you kill them?" Link's breath shuddered. "How could you?! What have they done to you?!"

"They've done nothing." The Swordsman croaked.

"Then why!?" Link screamed. "They're children!"

For a moment, the Swordsman seemed to mull over the question, before answering. "You're a child. I intend to kill you." They shrugged. "It brought you out, didn't it?"

"You're scum." Impa growled.

The Swordsman jerked his head and glared at her. "Silence. You don't talk."

Impa scoffed. "You think you command me? You can barely stand."

Now that she said it, Link saw what she meant. The Swordsman seemed to shake, off balance, his arms hanging limply by his side, and the every breath began with a wheeze.

"Tell me," Impa scowled, "Why I shouldn't kill you now?"

"You want it more." The Swordsman turned to face Link. "Don't you, child?"

"Link, no." Impa warned. "Weak or not, he is dangerous."

"Come now. Don't you want to plunge that sword into my heart? Be a hero?"

"Link is no fool."

"Like you?" The Swordsman hissed. "What good dog abandons their master? Without you, I imagine the Princess is quiet… vulnerable."

Impa was swift. In an instant, her knife flew from her hand, aimed directly towards the Swordsman's exposed eye. Surprised but vigilant, the Swordsman twisted out of the way, the sudden movement throwing him to the ground, drawing out an angry grunt.

As soon as he touched the ground, roots erupted from the ground, quickly wrapping around the Swordsman and dragging him into the ground. From the smoke, as squad of Moblins charged forwards to free their master, seemingly from the smoke itself. Around them, Deku Babas surged out of the ground, assaulting the stronger beasts.

"To the Guardian, now!" Impa ordered, turning to race through the passage behind them. After one last look to the Swordsman, who was now clawing at the roots with only his head and arms out of the ground, Link chased after her.

The moblins desperately tried to keep their master from being buried, but to no avail, and within a few seconds, there was no trace of the Swordsman.

Silence. The moblins felt no voice in their heads.

The ground shook, and the deku babas dried up across the field. Suddenly, the ground where the Swordsman had been dragged down exploded with dark energy, spraying dirt and withered plant life across the immediate area. The Swordsman climbed out of the crater and fell to one knee.

After a taking a moment to focus, he stood up and walked towards where the boy and the sheikah had stood, stopping just before it. He reached out a shaking hand, only to be repelled, sending him stumbling backwards. A green dome rippled into existence over the titanic tree and it's meadow. As quickly as it had appeared, the barrier faded away from sight.

The Swordsman growled, and forced his will on the monsters once more. Without hesitation, the moblins began probing the barrier, looking for some weakness, while the Swordsman kneeled down, regaining his strength.

Link and Impa came out of the passage and were immediately struck by how clean the air felt. It was free of smoke and blood, and was how the Kokiri forest was meant to be. At the centre of the meadow, standing proud, was the gargantuan guardian of the forest, the Great Deku Tree, and at his roots cowered dozens of children in green.

Link held his breath. Even after so long, whenever he stood in this meadow, all he could think of was the Deku Tree, grey and lifeless. His first real failure.

"Ah," The wooden face of the Deku Tree crinkled into a warm smile. "Link. Welcome home." He lived, and still, he protected.

Link ran down the hill, half laughing, half crying, and didn't stop until he was right in front of the tree.

"Link." The Deku Tree spoke softly. "Do not worry. We are safe."

"But all the others…" Link began.

"There is nothing we can do for them now. Life is fleeting." Even though his words were firm, they were weighed down by sadness.

"It's my fault." Link muttered.

"Hush." A root reached out and wiped away his tears. "You do not know what you say."

"I knew he would attack. I thought you could-"

"Link, this beings power is something ancient. They shrouded the monsters from my vision until it was too late. You could not have know what would happen."

"I was selfish."

The Deku Tree chuckled. "Everyone is selfish. Please," The Guardian begged, "Do not let the lives lost weigh on your soul. The duty was, and is, mine."

Link shook his head. "I'm sorry. can't do that."

The Deku Tree closed his eyes. "I know. But maybe, in time."

Impa walked over slowly, not wanting to appear hostile. She felt every eye of the Kokiri on her, fearful eyes. "Great Guardian." She said, bowing slightly. "It's an honour."

The Deku Tree chuckled. "There is no need for that. We both carry the will of the goddesses with us."

Impa smiled slightly. "In a way." She handed Mido over to outreaching roots, which carried him towards the other Kokiri.

The Deku Tree suddenly shuddered, shaking lose many leaves. At the same time, the barrier above them rippled once more, becoming thinner. The Kokiri cried out in fear, panicking.

Link rushed forwards to reassure them. "No, it's ok!" He turned to the Guardian. "Right, Great Deku Tree?"

The Guardian of the Forest groaned. "The barrier is waining. Such dark power will eventually overwhelm my ancient light."

Impa stepped forward. "How long will it hold?"

"I can not tell for sure, but at this rate, I can hold for a half-hour."

Impa considered cursing, but with so many children around, decided against it. "I could protect the entrance, but I have no weapon, and I have tired myself out."

"If I were to provide a weapon and ease your exhaustion, you would fight?"

"I would."

The Deku Tree nodded. "Then it is done."

The ground in front of Impa began to churn. Slowly a metal blade emerged from the ground, which was picked up by a thin root which stood out of the ground, forming a spear, with a small, green fruit next to it.

"This is your weapon."

Impa stepped forward and looked at the weapon. It was taller than she was, with the body being intricately woven wood as think as her wrist. She took it in one hand and, with some resistance, tore it out of the ground. While not her weapon of choice, it felt natural in her hand. Satisfied, she knelt down and picked up the plant and bowed her head to the Great Deku Tree.

"Thank you."

"Please." The Deku Tree pleaded. "Protect my children."

"I will do everything in my power." With that, she ran into the smoke, to protect the passageway.

The Deku Tree closed his eyes, feeling some calm wash over him.

"Wait."

The Deku Tree opened their eyes. He looked down to see Link carelessly elbowing through the children, becoming wilder and wilder.

"Wait, wait, wait-wait-wait. Where is she?" He looked up at the Deku Tree with eyes filled with fear. "Where is Saria?"

Well? What do you think?

I didn't know how to make the Deku Tree talk. I was thinking about making him speak with "thee" and "thou" but I can no idea how to do it right. Besides, no one will hate me if I don't, right? I don't even remember if he speaks like that in the game.

Ah, geez.

I feel so drained.

I feel like I potentially ruined the Swordsman. Talking? What the hell, right? Please bare with me. I had a plan in my brain.

The ending of this chapter feels lazy. I'm driving myself insane.

Welp, enjoy.

You know the hardest part of this chapter? Naming it.