Faron Woods

The lands of southeast Hyrule had been abandoned. Farmland lay desolate and barren, besieged by a drought. Villages and townships that hadn't been overrun with monsters had been ransacked and become the homes of ghosts. The vast forest that took up the majority of the land had become even more dark and uninviting.

Despite the cautionary tales about the Lost Woods, where children became monsters and where wicked people did not return from, people had once inhabited the area.

The Faron Woods, as they were called, had been a source of food and shelter for the people of the south. In the past seven years, however, it too had become a place of evil. The network of life the forest had once upheld had disappeared, leaving wilting, skeletal trees and struggling plants. Sunlight that had once filtered through the thick green canopy now beat down mercilessly upon the plant life, killing any small green sprouts that burst from the dirt.

This part of the woodlands Link had already passed through. The changes, like previous ones he'd seen in Hyrule, had shocked him. His disgust for the false king had grown after seeing what he had done to the forest, Link's childhood home.

He had nearly reached his goal: the Lost Woods. It was this forest that the villagers had whispered about. Ancient magic had grown there for centuries, and it barred passage to anyone with evil intent. Link passed through the magical veil without hesitation. The invisible border between the Lost Woods and Faron enveloped him, welcoming him back.

To his dismay, the Lost Woods hadn't fared any better than Faron had. Navi hovered next to his ear, her small blue eyes welling with tears at the sight of her beloved forest in such a state.

"It's horrible…" she whispered, sitting down on Link's shoulder.

"I know," he replied, determinedly moving forward. They had almost reached Kokiri village.

Several minutes passed in silence. Link felt anger stirring in his gut, boiling beneath his skin. His hatred of Ganondorf grew as he pushed aside a tree branch and laid eyes on the home of the Kokiri. The village looked much the same as he remembered it. The wooden huts remained untouched, the doors closed. There was only one thing missing, and Link noticed it immediately.

Everything was silent. It was quieter than a tomb. The voices of the Kokiri children were absent. The sound of birds singing was nowhere to be found. He felt a chill run down his spine.

Link and Navi did a quick tour of the village, calling out the names of the children. Link could hear them, they were still there. But they were hiding. Link called to them again and again, explaining who he was. No one answered him. Confused and hurt by their actions, Link walked back into the Lost Woods. He took the Kokiris' passage, heading for Saria's Sacred Grove.

When he was young, Saria had showed him her secret hiding place in the Lost Woods. The grove she visited whenever she needed time away. It was the best place to start his search.

From memory, Link navigated the twisting passageways of the aptly named forest. Hollowed-out remains of gigantic trees served to direct him as he delved deeper into the ancient woods.

They'd just passed a shallow pond when a dart whizzed by, inches from Link's nose. He halted, instinctively seizing the Master Sword from its sheath. He turned on his attacker, hesitating when he saw who it was.

A small child stood on top of a fallen tree, several feet away. The boy wore a dirty tunic, dyed with browns, greens and red so he could camouflage himself. A patchy, wide-brimmed hat sat on his head, concealing his face.

"A skullkid?" Link asked, surprised. "Why are you attacking me?"

The boy raised his head. Instead of a boy's face, he had a wooden one. Link knew it wasn't a mask, but an enchantment. The smile carved onto the skullkid's face was lopsided, and two round, glowing orange eyes sat above it.

"You're an outsider," the skullkid responded, raising the hollow reed he used as a blowdart.

"What?" Link asked, surprised. He took a quick step back. "But I'm a Kokiri! I grew up here."

The skullkid laughed. It was a child's laugh, but it was disturbing, mocking. "The Kokiri never grow up," he said, shooting another dart in Link's direction. Link raised his shield to block it. When he lowered it, the skullkid had gone.

Unnerved, Link hurried through the woods, following the path to the Sacred Grove. He knew he had to hurry. Saria could be in danger. The forest was not the same.

Navi flew next to him, strangely quiet. He wanted to ask her what was wrong, but he nearly collided with another young boy who was guarding the entrance to the Sacred Grove.

"Hey, hold it right there!" the boy demanded, standing with his feet shoulder-width apart and raising a commanding hand towards Link.

Link paused, studying the boy. He was a Kokiri, obviously. He was dressed all in green, and had bright red hair. To Link, it had only been a few months since he had seen this boy. It escaped his notice that for him, it had been seven years since he had laid eyes on Link.

"Mido!?"

Mido huffed, obviously annoyed. "You have no business here!" he said, trying to sound tough. "Go away! We have enough problems. Can't you see the forest is all messed up right now?"

"What's wrong with the forest?" Link asked quickly. "Is this Ganondorf's doing?"

Mido stamped a foot on the ground. "No! It's all his fault! He left and broke the laws of the forest!"

The breath caught in Link's throat. "Mido…don't you recognize me?" he asked, eyes widening.

Mido looked up at him. "You're a Hylian! Of course I don't know you! I told you to go away!"

The boy kicked Link in the shins. Link barely felt it, and Mido hopped up and down on one foot, wincing at the stubbed toe.

Navi flew quickly to Link's ear. "Link…he doesn't recognize you in your grown-up body," she whispered urgently. "But we need to get past him and help Saria!"

"But I'm a Kokiri!" Link insisted to Mido, trying to get past him. "I'm a friend of Saria's."

Mido huffed again. "The Kokiri never grow up. How can you be Saria's friend? I'm not an idiot!" Mido squinted at Link, surveying his appearance. "You wear Kokiri-ish clothing, and you have a fairy…but you're not one of us," Mido growled, crossing his arms.

Link faltered. Mido had no way of knowing that he had just repeated words he'd said to Link years ago. Getting annoyed with Mido's antics, and deciding that Mido would never accept that what Link was saying was the truth, he reached for the ocarina. He raised the instrument to his lips, playing a familiar song.

The music cut through the silence of the forest, echoing throughout the barren trees. The uplifting tune was at odds with the environment. He wasn't sure if he was imagining it or not, but he could've sworn that the low-hanging branches of the nearby trees lifted a little, like dozing dogs raising their heads to curiously watch a passerby. The trees were responding to the melody, as was Mido. Link watched as Mido's eyes grew as big as saucers.

"You…you know Saria's Song," Mido said, watching Link with newfound suspicion and curiosity. Link lowered the ocarina, meeting Mido's gaze. "Saria played that song all the time. She only taught it to her friends," Mido continued. The boy paused, studying Link again. After a moment, he said, "Okay…I'll let you pass."

Mido stepped aside, and Link stowed the ocarina away. As Link walked by, Mido said quietly, "When I see you…I don't know why, but I remember…him…"

Link stopped for a moment. His back was to Mido, his head down. He could feel Mido's eyes on him, watching. The Kokiri boy didn't say anything else. After another second, Link continued walking. He didn't look back.

~oOo~

Saria's Sacred Grove had once been beautiful. The ruins of an ancient temple watched over a green clearing, enclosed by trees as old as Hyrule itself. A patch of sky could be seen through a hole in the tree cover, allowing one a beautiful view. Not even the destroyed glory of the temple had been able to take away from the scene. But now the trees were cold and lifeless, and the grassy clearing was little more than a patch of dirt.

The temple itself had not changed. A broken white staircase, stained grey with age, led up to a balcony supported by the remains of a long-dead tree. The entrance to the temple glared down at Link, dark and ominous. One of the tree's branches arched over the entrance, like a clawed hand threatening to snatch anyone foolish enough to enter. Black vines trailed from the twig-fingers. They had been green and beautiful before, the tree alive and thriving.

He felt his nails digging into his palm. Ganondorf's influence had stretched so far, done so much damage. Would this place ever be what it once was?

A twig snapped behind him, alerting him to another's presence. He spun, surprised to find Sheik standing there. The youth stepped forward and stood next to Link. He observed the temple for a moment.

"It is a shame," Sheik said, sadness lacing his tone.

Link watched him carefully from the corner of his eye. "Have you been following me?"

"Waiting," Sheik replied.

"Who are you?"

"The flow of time is always cruel," Sheik said softly, dodging his question. "Its speed seems different for each person, but no one can change it." His tone was laced with sympathy rather than impassiveness. Link stared back at him silently, trying to read his intentions in the little he could see of the youth's face.

"Why are you here?" he asked again, unnerved by the youth's words and how close they were to home.

Sheik didn't answer the question. He continued to muse to himself as if Link hadn't spoken, staring up at the desolate canopy above them. "A thing that doesn't change with time is a memory of younger days." His gaze lowered back to Link's. "Do you remember?"

He was puzzled by the question. "Of course I do…" he murmured.

As if on cue, memories came flooding back to him. He remembered his childhood in Kokiri forest, spending his days in the Lost Woods, carefree, playing games with the Stalchildren and the young Deku Scrubs, exploring with the other Kokiri children. He thought about Saria, and her playing on her ocarina as they gathered at the base of the Great Deku Tree, listening to his wisdom and endless reserve of stories.

The memory in his head changed to one of Mido's incessant bullying, singling him out as the kid that didn't fit in. Link recalled Saria's many reassurances, and yet her parting words had been that he had always been different from her and her friends. A cold hand seized his heart as he remembered the spirit of the Great Deku Tree fading, and Mido placing the blame on him…Saria's expression as he left the forest for good.

His memories sped forward to more recent ones. The Kokiris' doors shut to him, their ears closed to his calls to them, Mido's resentment and the blame he laid at Link's feet. Saria, missing.

Sheik was right. The passing of time was a cruel thing.

Link looked up, coming back to reality. Sheik was gone. Somehow, he wasn't surprised. He instead looked up towards the ancient ruins of a temple, forgotten in the deepest part of the forest. The crumbled stone steps beckoned him to the black mouth of the entrance. Who knew what awaited him inside.

He waited another moment before reaching for the handle of the hook shot. The forest was no longer his home. The realization hurt in a way that he couldn't describe. The forest had welcomed him back, but it had not invited him to stay. It had protected him; he would protect it in return. And then he would leave again.

The hook shot found its mark, pulling Link from the clearing onto the platform at the top of the ruined steps. Something scratched into the outside stone wall caught his notice. He brushed aside some dirt, trying to read the faded words, but the name of the temple was undecipherable now.

He wondered what this place had once been, in centuries past. This place was known of by few; a secret deep in the forests of Hyrule. Forgotten.

As a child, he had dreamed of the world beyond the forest, longing to see what else was out there. And now, the forest had gone on without him. He thought about Sheik's words. Time truly had been unkind. It had stolen his childhood, it had caused his friends to forget him, and it had destroyed the new, beautiful world he had discovered beyond the boundaries of the forest.

He would not allow it to rob him of anything else. He wouldn't allow Ganondorf to do to Hyrule what time had done to this temple. He wouldn't allow Hyrule to become a distant memory. He stepped into the engulfing blackness.

~oOo~

Snowhead Mountains, Termina

Dark stared into the flames silently. At least, he appeared to look into the fire. Between the flickers of red and orange in front of his eyes he caught Sienna's movements on the other side of the room as she cleaned up after dinner. He toyed idly with a small vial around his neck.

A birthday present from Sienna, filled with several small bits of medicinal herbs. She was fascinated by healing and medicinal plants, and hoped to become a healer someday.

Sienna looked over her shoulder and caught his gaze. She smiled. Dark smiled back, a bit unnerved at being caught staring at her again. He raised the vial to his face, pretending to closely study the engravings as she resumed her work. It was maybe the size of his little finger, made of a sturdy, light-coloured wood. She had engraved small symbols on it. To protect him, she had explained. Dark smiled at the token, twirling it between his fingers.

"I trust everything went well today?" Fierce murmured at his side.

Dark started. He had forgotten he was there. As imposing as his guardian was, he had mastered the art of blending into the background and remaining unseen.

"Yes," Dark replied. "Everything is finished. I expect to be gone within a week."

"Have you asked Sienna yet?"

Dark glanced at her. "No."

"I see…"

He met Fierce's eyes. The tall man didn't often express emotion. Not outwardly, anyway. But to Dark's surprise, he detected a bit of sadness in his eyes. The icy blue spheres were usually quite blank, as if he was catatonic. Yet, they were so deep and unfathomable at the same time. They held a quiet determination in them, a promise of a force as unyielding as the wind itself. It's what made them so disturbing; that they were both empty and full all at once, of things unexplainable.

Fierce regarded Dark silently. His expression had changed from its usual passive one. His jaw had tightened; his mouth had become a thin line, turning down at the corners. Slowly, Fierce extended a hand towards Dark.

Surprised and curious, Dark took the offered hand, and was shocked when Fierce pulled him close, wrapping his arms around his shoulders. As long as Dark could remember, Fierce had always been somewhat distant. He had been a mentor, a teacher, a guardian. He had been a sort of father figure to Dark and Sienna, but he had never behaved the way Dark had come to expect fathers to towards their children. Even so, Dark loved him, and sensed that somehow, Fierce loved him like a brother.

"I will miss you."

Dark's eyes widened even more. "Getting touchy feely on me all of a sudden?" he teased, uncomfortable with the prolonged contact and Fierce's newfound affection.

Fierce released him, but kept his hands on Dark's shoulders. He spoke quietly, intending the words for only Dark to hear. "I do not possess the traits that come naturally to you and other mortals, Dark," Fierce explained, his expression still somewhat sad. "I do not remember well what affection is. However—"

Dark was surprised to see him hesitate. He wondered what could possibly have gotten into him. Fierce was struggling to explain himself, so Dark cut in. "Fierce," he said slowly. "It's okay. You're not like me, you're an immortal. You don't have to tell me."

Sighing, Dark reached out for Fierce again, pulling him into a hug this time. He wasn't the best at expressing emotions either, but he did his best to silently convey the brotherly affection he felt for the man and how much he appreciated everything Fierce had done for him in the past seven years. He was surprised to find himself speaking his thoughts aloud.

"Thank you, my brother."

After a moment, Fierce pulled away again. Dark wasn't sure what the emotion that crossed his features was. It was too brief. His face became a serious mask again.

"Dark, I must speak with you. Alone."

Fierce stood and moved towards the door. Puzzled but curious, Dark followed. He glanced back at Sienna as he left. She was singing softly to herself as she tidied. He smiled at her, pulling on his boots and light winter coat. He hurried after Fierce as he walked through the snowy yard and into the forest.

Dark realized then what Fierce wanted to talk about. He had promised him years ago that he would tell him the circumstances of his parents' death. Dark quickened his pace. He needed to know what had happened to them. More importantly, he needed to know the name of the man responsible.

For years, the man's face had haunted Dark's memory. As many times as Fierce had urged him to forget his plans for revenge, the thirst for vengeance had grown inside him. He needed to right the wrong that had been done.

The patches of melting snow crunched under their boots as they walked. His breath fogged in front of his face as he moved quickly to keep up. Fierce's tall frame moved through the dark forest, silver hair sparkling in the filtered moonlight threading through the trees above.

Dark jumped over a particularly large root, snow crunching loudly beneath his feet. Fierce halted. Dark slipped on a patch of slush, nearly colliding with him.

"Here is fine," Fierce said by way of explanation, turning to sit on a fallen log. Dark shrugged, sitting opposite him on a large, mossy boulder.

Fierce moved with a formal grace that didn't quite mesh with his appearance. He wasn't wearing his customary outfit tonight. Normally, he wore faded tan trousers, brown traveling boots that covered him to the knees and simple work shirts. Tonight, he wore a thick navy cloak over his armor. It was a curious dark blue—constructed from what materials, Dark could only guess at—with gold detailing and a decorative waning moon image on the breastplate. Beneath it he wore a long-sleeved undershirt, made of another unidentified, tough material. His trousers, black like the undershirt, matched. His boots were the same dark blue, plated and heavy.

Dark had anticipated this moment. Now that it was here, he wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

Sensing his hesitation, Fierce spoke first. "I presume you know what we will discuss at this meeting," he said simply, waiting expectantly for a reply.

Dark shrugged again. "You're keeping your word. You're going to tell me what happened to my parents."

"Correct." Fierce nodded. "And, as I promised, the time has come for you to know the truth."

Dark remained motionless, waiting for him to continue.

Fierce inclined his head towards him. "You may ask your questions."

"Who are you, really?" Dark fired off. "I mean, as a kid I just thought you were some kind of hallucination."

Fierce actually smiled. "As a child, I recall you thinking I was real, not imaginary."

Dark grunted. "All right, fine. Who are you?"

Fierce stared back, his fathomless blue eyes expressionless. "The Fierce Deity. As the name would imply, I am a warrior god."

"I know all that already. You're more than that," Dark accused.

He arched an eyebrow, his smile amused. "How so? I have been given divine power. I use it to protect the people of this world, to keep the balance of things, as any god might."

Dark frowned. "I know what gods do. But why are you here, instead of…wherever it is that gods live."

Fierce sighed. "Dark, you could spend the night asking me questions about godhood, to which there are many answers and an accompanying long and somewhat unsatisfying story of mine to tell you. Or, you could ask me the questions you truly want answered."

Fierce fixed him with his gaze. It had always made Dark a little uncomfortable to meet his eyes. They were so…different. Not in a threatening way. Like everything about Fierce, his eyes were unanswered questions. Something that Dark could not comprehend, and wasn't sure he wanted to.

He was undecided on whether he wanted to learn more about the world of the gods or not. He directed his attention to the other line of questions inside his head. For now. He made a mental note of the things Fierce had said about godhood, filing them away for later.

"Okay," Dark gave in, asking another question. "You said you'd tell me what happened the night you disappeared, when I ended up at the orphanage."

Fierce tapped a finger against his knee. An unusual thing, as he habitually remained quite motionless. Unless he was training Dark, of course. Then he moved at the speed of light.

"How much do you remember?"

Dark rubbed his forehead with a hand. "Not much. Flashes, mostly. Dad…" Dark paused. Fierce nodded for him to continue; he knew what Dark was referring to. "I lost track of my mother in the confusion. The house was burning. I remember running through the field, and you talking to me…that's really all."

He looked up at Fierce, who shifted his weight on the log. Dark was shocked. Fierce's expression had turned uncomfortable and wary. Was he actually nervous?

"You're aware, Dark, that magic flows in the blood." Fierce stated. Dark nodded. "Certain ancient bloodlines in Hyrule have remained strong even today. The Royal Family, for example. Many other families as well, particularly nobility. As I have said before, the magic that flows within you is particularly strong, thanks to your mother's line."

Dark's eyebrows rose in surprise, making the connection. "My mother was a noble?"

"Yes; the heir to quite a prestigious household, in fact. The magic in your father's blood was above average as well. His lower status, though, threatened the ancient bloodline, and your mother's family rejected their union. They decided to elope and live in the village where your father was born."

Dark remained silent. He hadn't heard many of the details of his parents' lives, so listened intently without interrupting with more questions. Everything Fierce revealed to him had a purpose.

Fierce drew in a breath. His chest slowly rising as his lungs expanded, then released it slowly. "Occasionally, a spirit enters this world who is different than most. Gifted with something you might call the blessing of the gods. I sensed that you were one such spirit. I revealed myself to you, knowing that the events of that night, when your parents passed, would determine the fate of something much larger."

Dark broke his rule, interrupting Fierce. "You protected me that night. Why couldn't you protect my parents?"

He paused, studying Dark's face. "Your parents were strong of spirit, Dark. Their deaths were not in vain, and they were not taken lightly. I could not interfere then, and I cannot now. Even I cannot alter the course of time. I can only lend my influence to the world."

Dark mulled it over in his head. "So, basically you came here to influence things. Why?"

"A mortal form allowed me to more directly influence the course of events. I had to ensure your survival, for one."

"Because I'm…special, somehow."

"Yes."

"Why?" Dark asked.

"It is against the 'rules of divinity', as you say, for me to reveal your fate, or the fate of the world to you," Fierce replied, a small smile touching his lips. "Prior knowledge of the future can have devastating effects."

Dark shot him a dirty look before continuing, "But you can tell me about my past?"

Fierce tilted his head forward. "Yes. It is time you knew the truth of events that night. You know my role in all this, as much as I can tell you." Fierce paused, expression serious. "Once you know the truth of your past, Dark, you must make a choice about your future. From here on, I can no longer influence your life as directly as I have. I have kept you safe and out of the way of the dark forces that have scoured this world for years. But from now on, I cannot continue to do so."

Dark felt a shiver. It was true Termina had thus far managed to avoid the blight that was Hyrule's current tyrant, Ganondorf, but he had a feeling the peace wouldn't last. Even now, the tyrant's followers were appearing in Clocktown. Whatever Fierce had to tell him, he knew it was important. He knew it would decide what he did from this point on. He couldn't keep living here in this secluded mountain cottage. He'd figured out that much already today.

Still, there were so many unanswered questions about Fierce that Dark wanted to know. He wondered if his mentor would still be around after this. He had, after all, drawn their lessons to what approximated a close.

Dark felt the weight of the changes sinking in, bearing down on his shoulders like a heavy load. His choices today would affect his entire future, he knew. The world was getting worse. It was no longer time to wait around for something to happen. He had waited seven years. It was time to act. It was time to get answers.

Dark drew a steadying breath and met Fierce's eyes. "Tell me."