Stalfos. The same two. Well, Link couldn't really tell because Stalfos all really looked the same, but a gleam of recognition flared in the Stalfos black, cold, eyes.

Navi, sensing Link's discomfort, started talking.

"What is it, Link?"

Link didn't know they were called Stalfos, and tried to describe them best he could.

"They're....big..."

Navi didn't like this definition. "Yes...?"

"They have bones....and a big shield and a pointy red sword..."

Navi swallowed. "Do...do...they look like big Stalchilds?"

"Yes!"

Navi, who felt safe in Link's hat, felt a sudden chill. "Those are Stalfos, Link! The ones we saw earlier! Run!"

Faster, however, was the reactions of the Stalfos. One of them jumped high in the air and landed right in front of the exit. The other followed suit but instead landed right in front of Link.

Navi, who was too weak to fly, tried to squint through the light green material. She could make a fuzzy image of the Stalfos in front of Link.

She could almost spot a grin spreading on the Stalfos face.

"Don't just stand, Link! Get moving!"

Link was frozen to the ground.

Navi watched helplessly as the Stalfos started to...show off?

It swung it's blade at Link, and Navi thought it was over.

But the blade missed Link by an inch, and the Stalfos let out a strange low type of growl.

The Stalfos raised it's blade high up in the air, and brought it down Link's head.

But on purpose, it stopped one centimetre from Link's hat.

Navi sighed with relief.

Now the Stalfos looked angry. It growled fiercely, as if expecting Link to cower or run away, but Link was still frozen, gaping.

The Stalfos paused, and angrily charged-for real, at Link.

Luckily, Link seemed to finally wake up, and when he saw the blade charging forward, instinct took over.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

Navi flinched, trying to bury herself in the material to block out the sound. But she couldn't abandon Link right now, when he needed help so badly.

"Halt, you fiend!" Navi yelled in her most angry voice.

It came out muffled, but Navi had yelled so loudly that it didn't really seem to matter.

Strangely, the Stalfos did come to a stop.

With new hope, Navi continued.

"A monster could not sink so low to defeat a...weak, defenceless, lazy..." Navi was not relying on bad adjectives, only what she thought of Link. "...boy! Look at him, for...um...Ganondorf's sake, all he has is a scrap of wood to defend himself and a puny little sword, which is made of....um...I mean...it's a toy sword, too!"

Link, who was nodding, approving of all of it, suddenly looked offended.

"Hey! I'm not weak, defenceless, or lazy! My sword isn't plastic! Navi, you told me that the Great Deku Tree's wood is mag-"

"Silence!" Navi snapped, hoping Link didn't blow their cover. "You are a terrible Stalfos! I wouldn't tremble at the sight of you!"

The Stalfos seemed affronted, but then it's shoulders seemed to slump slightly.

A bone popped out from it's hand, and then another. The Stalfos seemed to whine in a child-like way.

Navi understood what it was saying. "But the boy is disturbing King Dodongo's rest! He ordered us to kill any intruders and bring them to him!"

"You would obey a Dodongo?" Navi asked quietly, enjoying every minute. "I'm sorry, I didn't know respect was popular among Stalfos."

The Stalfos stiffened. It opened it's mouth again to speak, but Navi interrupted it quickly.

"Let this boy go and face his doom with the Dodongo, not a worthless pile of bones!" Navi shouted.

The Stalfos did not reply and instead disappeared in smoke. The other one disappeared as well, leaving the exit clear.

Navi collapsed with happiness and relief on the green folds with only one word.

"Go."

Link was astounded at how easily Navi had managed to make the Stalfos disappear. He started walking towards the exit, still pondering, though about different things, like his sword.

Is my sword really plastic?