A/N: Damnit I've lost a reader! I cherish those who review my work and provide any informative comments… Plus it's good to know that people like my work!

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Chapter 4: Kokiri Forest

The sky over Hycastle was leaden with thunder as a rare valley storm struck violently, mirroring the carnage on the ground below. The roaring of cannons and Hylian military rifles drowned out the screams of the dying people of the city as they fled the massive walking machines that were destroying the city, Their route out of the city was made cumbersome by the narrow streets and mazes of alleyways that constituted carriageways in Hycastle. Occasionally a loaded passenger train would pass by with passengers so desperate to flee that they were piled up the exterior of the carriages. Entering a tunnel or overpass would cause dozens of deaths as the struggling populus hit the roof of the tunnel. The districts of the old city surrounding the Temple of Time and Old Bailey were the epicentre of the violence and it was here that the final battle for Hyrule was taking place.
The Hyrulian army had never seen anything like the enemy they were facing. A massive metal man, hissing with steam from the gigantic boiler deep in it's heart. It towered over the buildings, and rested it's titanic hand on the upper dome of the temple as it pulled itself to full hight from the ground level it seemed to the royal army that they had failed to save the city and soon their suspicions were confirmed when within seconds the artillery self destructed for no apparent reason, taking with it a huge chuck of the forces. Moments later there came a cry from the infantry… Their rifles, made by the same manufacturer as the cannons, had all failed simultaneously, they were now only useful for the bayonets Now the only guns firing were those of the officers who were priveliged enough to provide their own guns… then came the sound… as a black ball of energy formed on the machine's outstretched palm… merged with the soldiers cries of panic came the quiet sound of a child's voice…

Carrie woke with a start. She could feel that her arms were bound but she was lying on a bed of some sort. It felt like a straw mattress… Her sense of smell returned. Where she was smelled organic and earthy. She could hear voices and sounds but they were giggles and laughter… She opened her eyes.

Her vision cleared and she could see that she was in a kind of treehouse undoubtfuly belonging to the child in green that was standing over her. The child was dressed in a tunic simular to Link's but without the cap. Instead the child had dark green hair in a short bob. Her face was that of a Hylian but she seemed different somewhat. "Eela folay Naho I?" she said in a language closer to laughter then actual communication. Carrie then noticed a second figure, completely different in shape, which looked like a cross between a tree and a Deku Scrub in a leaf mask.

"Shee can't speak our language you know." It said as it scampered onto the bed next to Carrie. "Oh!" The child replied. She turned to Carrie. "Excuse me I forgot to… speak… in Hylian." She had paused briefly to figure out the words to say… clearly Hylian was a second language to her. "I'm sorry for having you… tied up like that." She said, "It was… err… ness-ess- Ah that the word, Necessary! Yes it was necessary to have you like that in case you were violent. If you promise not to be we can let you get up." Carrie nodded and the girl smiled and the tiny wooden creature cut the ropes with an organic looking blade. "Come." The girl said. "The Deku tree will want to see you.

She helped the still confused Carrie to her feet and led her out through a flap made of some kind of animal skin. Carrie looked around outside at her surroundings. She was high up in the forest's canopy where homes carved into the trees themselves were linked by long rope and wood bridges. The people in the village were either Hylian children like the girl or like the wooden creature. All the children wore green tunics in varying styles and their hair was either blonde, green, red or dark green. All the children were accompanied by a glowing ball of light. Carrie also noticed that the music that filled the forest was very close. Soon another child, a boy, arrived with Link and then left again leaving Carrie and Link with the girl and the strange wooden creature. Carrie now wondered where the rest of the party were and how they had got here. "Everything will be explained by our leader," the girl said. Link looked at Carrie with a face that appeared to be calm and cool… His eyes told her that he was terrified. Carrie tried to speak but realised she couldn't… the child had answered her without her actually speaking her question.

They were led down a spiral staircase with travelled down the trunk of an ancient redwood. When they finally stood on solid ground two escorts looked a little worried themselves. Clearly they weren't used to walking on the ground They led Carrie and Link to a massive open clearing. The sunlight was bright after their stay in the deep dark wood but the light didn't hurt her eyes as Carrie thought it would. In the centre of the meadow there was a massive tree on a small hill. The children led the two to the base of the tree and bowed and Carrie watched as the knobs and knots of the tree formed a face of an old man.

"Greetings Caroline Lionell and Lieutenant Link Harkanin of the Forest Guard. I am the great Deku tree guardian of the Lost Woods…"

Carrie became very frightened and pulled herself closer to Link.

"Fear not child, I am not an enemy or wish to harm you. I only wish to speak to you on a matter of great importance... I will allow you to ask any questions you wish soon."

The grass below them suddenly became very soft and dry. Carrie and Link sat. Carrie could see the two others had left.

"Since the beginning of the First Age of Hyrule I have watched over the forest and have looked in the ever changing world beyond. In my time I have seen this world plunged into darkness countless times. As you probably know Miss Lionell, Hyrule has faced great evil many times and each time a hero in green has saved the world from it's peril. It is of course for this reason that the Forest Guard of the Hylian army wears a green tunic and wields a sword and shield… to emulate the example of these heroes.

For more then a millennium the world of Hyrule has been safe. As you know Miss Lionell, this is due to the belief that the source of the great evil has been finally defeated. I believed this also. The Triforce which protects our land has been unified and the King of Evil WAS dead… I now however know my folly.

Recently an increase in magic has been giving frightening prophetic dreams to those sensitive to it. I believe you Miss Caroline, have experienced one earlier… I do not know what they mean but they are disturbing…

Three days ago a man came to me wearing a black suit of armour. His right arm was larger then his left and it belched white steam. He ordered me to give him the stone that is part of the seal on the Temple of Time. Sensing the same evil I sensed from the King of Evil, I refused telling him that I would only give the stone to the one who arrived in green in accordance to the tradition. In anger the man said he would be back in three days to collect it by force. When my spies told me that the archaeologists that were excavating my old home were heading towards Kokiri Village I knew that the saviour was on his way. I was however surprised to find two people with the purity and courage I needed… It's puzzling to me, as one with equal skill never accompanied the great heroes…

It is for this reason I had you brought to me. I wish to give the Spiritual Stone to you instead of allowing the evil man to steal it from me once I'm dead. I have told Sora and Kiro, the two that brought you hereabout my actions and I have instructed them to re-locate the village…

I will permit you to speak…"

Carrie felt a click and realised she could speak again.

"I don't think I can do this… I'm only a historian. I'm not a soldier… Can't you just get Link to? I mean he looks like the hero?"

The tree sighed

"Do not fear Caroline, You are suitable for this quest. Have you not seen destiny testing you; you helped the girl child May even though it has put your own life in jeopardy. You have been tested and prepared for the quest by the gods themselves. If they had not believed that you could do this they would not have sent you."

Link spoke

"Ok how did we get here? What happened to the rest of our group and what were those kid things and those creepy looking wooden things?"

"Your group sarcome to the pollen of a carnivorous plant that puts it's victims to sleep before eating them. I had you brought here and you group was taken to another trail heading in the opposite direction. They will wander back to camp safely. I will allow no harm come to them. They have served their purpose here. Keapora will not mount another expedition.

The beings you met were the Kokorok and the Kokiri, twin races made by my ancestor to protect the forest. They used to live in the village your team was excavating. They relocated here after the death of the Hero of Time… Now with the rising evil they are preparing to leave again."

In the distance there came a short low rumble. It was cannon fire.

"You must hurry."

In the roots of the tree a mass of vines formed into a pedestal. The vines of the pedestal separated to reveal a green stone with a gold setting.

This is the Kokiri Emerald, I believe you know what it is for Miss Lionell… You must understand that Link is to bee the new Hero… You are to help him as much as you can… Take the stone and head to Death Mountain. Seek the stone of fire… You must leave with haste… Kiro and Sora will take you back to the camp… Farewell chosen ones… The fate of Hyrule… nah the world! Rests on your shoulders…

Sora and Kiro ran towards them. Sora held a short dagger with a wooden handle and Kiro looked very angry and was hovering a few feet off the ground with a kind of leaf helicopter. The trees in the southern edge of the field started to wobble and sway from side to side, causing a black cloud of birds to flee from their canope nests. There was also a sound of hissing and thudding like that of a factory's engine room. Sora grabbed Carrie by the sleeve and pulled her towards the oppisite direction to the commotion.

"Come on Lady!" she cried, "Run and don't look back until you reach your camp. It won't attack the camp yet so you'll be safe there. We'll take you as far as we can" Carrie and Link sprinted until they reached the edge of the field. Just as Carrie passed the first tree there came a sound like she heard in her dream… In the corner of her eye she caught sight of a shimmering device of brass and shinning steel.