The Great Deku Tree Haven
By the time Link was far away from the village, his face was still hot with embarrassment. All his hard work on concealing his ears from the others, thanks to Mido, had been ruined. Now, Mido was sure to tell Saria what had occurred that noon, and the rest of the Kokiri children had more to talk about.
Link angrily kicked a baba plant at his feet. It shot up in response with an angry hiss, and he jumped away from it as it struck out at him. Cautiously, he retreated from its presence with mumbled swears, and then continued on down the path.
Why was he changing so dramatically? Why did it have to be him, Link, who had to be different from the others? He, Saria, and Taters had always spent their care-free days in the Lost Woods, discovering its many wonders and secrets without anything to hide. But since his recent birthday—his twelfth birthday—Link began to strangely transform and change; become something that held no relation to the Kokiri. His fear of being discovered by the others resulted in him hiding most of his time either in his home or at the clearing by the pool. However, due to Saria's observant personality, Link would soon have to find more places to hide himself during his strange transformation. At the rate of his rapid changes, he would soon have to disappear into the forest and become one of the lost children.
He shook his head angrily. That one thought scared him. Being lost like the Skull Kids wasn't his idea of "hiding". He still wanted to live among the Kokiri—to stay by Saria's side, always!—but he began to feel as if he was turning into a monster. And so, his thoughts often wandered to living in the Lost Woods to become like the lost children.
He turned down a thin path. A group of dead leaves swirled up from the ground and fled his presence. He grumpily kicked a pebble at his feet as he continued down the path with his hands tucked behind his back. It wasn't just Mido that was affecting his mood. It was also the Great Deku Tree.
Why had he not wanted to summon Link all the time he lived among the other Kokiri? It seemed a bit of a coincidence that he summoned Link just when he was experiencing a strange change in his body.
The trees began to thin, and he emerged into a thin tunnel lined with vines and other such thick vegetation. Heart bounding and chest heaving, he took a step forward into the tunnel, but this step seemed to be the trigger to an explosion of traps. From the ground, a row of baba plants shot up, snapping and snarling at his presence. They lined the earth and were almost touching the path. Shocked by this turn of events, Link watched as they writhed in circles on their straight stick-bodies.
This can't be too good, he thought to himself, watching the baba plants as they continued to spin. They're everywhere! Wait. . .
There were too many more baba plants than what Link could remember. Because of the Great Deku Tree's ability to protect and defend the Kokiri forest from the forces of the outside world, the children were safe from harm, including the growth of the baba plants. But because there were so many of them gathered in one place. . .
"Is the Great Deku Tree in trouble?" Link asked aloud, throwing his head left and right for any object to help himself fend them off. "Is this the reason why he wanted Saria and Taters to come with me?"
A feeling of dread trickled into his gut, and heat rushed up into his cheeks. How could he be so stupid?
"Aside from that," he mumbled, yanking a low-hanging branch off of its tree, "I have to do something! Just by looking at their movement these baba plants rely on sticks for their mobility. Without them, they're useless!"
He approached one and struck it down. The head fell to the earth, and he slammed the dull of the branch into its black head. The object screamed and hissed until it turned into a purple substance. Disgusted by this reaction to death, Link moved on to the rest of the babas, striking each one down to the ground until only their sticks remained.
"That won't be enough," he told himself, wiping sweat of his brow. "If their flowerbeds still remain, they'll come back in no time." He proceeded through the tunnel with caution, abandoning his sense of pride for destroying the vile plants. Seconds later, he emerged into the Great Deku Tree's Haven with sweat drenching his tunic and forehead. His arrogance and pride were sure to bring him a scolding from the guardian of all Kokiri, and it was his first visit to the tree, too.
The Haven was large and spacious. The Great Deku Tree dominated most of its space, sprouting up from the earth in a highly manner, reaching towards the heavens from which its creators sat in, watching the world as it grew. The grass around him was slowly browning and crisp, but Link had no eyes for this small detail. His eyes were glued to the large tree before him, his mouth hung wide in a long 'o'.
As Link approached, a face formed in the center of the tree, and from the wrinkly lines that formed the mouth, a small, warm smile crossed its face.
"I thought not you would tarry long." The Great Deku Tree spoke with great authority and confidence. In seconds, Link was on his knees in shame.
"Please. . .forgive me. . .Great Deku Tree," he stammered, his head bowed against the tree's piercing gaze, and his eyes shut tight in shame.
"Worry not, young one," he replied. "Stand now. I would like to see how thou hath grown."
Slowly, but shamefully, Link stood. He kept his posture straight, with his arms tight at his sides, and his face hard, but shameful.
"Where art Saria and Taters? Hath thou forsaken them in the forest?"
"No," Link shook his head quickly, "I told them I would come alone—please forgive me, Great Deku Tree," he added hastily, dropping his head again in shame. "A selfish thought consumed my mind when Taters told me I would have company—I wanted to do this on my own! But, now I see why. The baba plants. . . The stick. . ." Link showed the tree the object in which he used to defeat the baba plants with. "I was foolish. . ."
"Listen well, Link," the Great Deku Tree answered gently. "Many a great men have made mistakes, and thou art among them. Heed my words: Sometimes it takes the mind and eyes to understand a situation. However," he added gravely, "I have no need for a Kokiri to disobey my orders."
Link nodded once in respect, and did not speak until the Great Deku Tree asked: "Hath thou slumbers been polluted with vile dreams these past moons, Link?"
Link rose his head to respond with a simple 'yes', but then bit his tongue as the answer almost slipped between his teeth.
"No," he lied simply. "I have dreamt of nothing but Saria and Taters, and our adventures in the wood. Is there something you wish to warn me about, Great Deku Tree?"
The tree did not respond, but surveyed Link from his bushy eyes. In a matter of minutes, a feeling of being searched overwhelmed Link. He wanted to look away from the forest guardian, but he kept his ground and stared back.
"No, there is nothing," the tree finally replied. "That is all I summoned thou here for. If there is something thou wish to speak of from this day forth, do not hesitate."
The guardian disappeared back into the bark of the tree. Link, however, remained standing.
"Yes? Is there something thou wish to say, Link?"
"Great Deku Tree. . ." Link could feel his cheeks burning in shame.
"Speak, young one."
Link looked up at the giant tree. "Am I different than the other Kokiri? Am I so strange that my body might take on the image of a monster? Does my destiny rest in the hands of the Lost Woods? Please, Great Deku Tree, tell me why I am so different from the others!"
"So, it is true," the tree replied. "What Mido has told me is true."
Link ground his teeth together at the mention of Mido. So, he thought bitterly, he has told the Great Deku Tree about me, has he?
"Great Deku Tree, Mido said I'm not a Kokiri," Link said in a small voice.
"Mido is a fool," the tree responded in deep thought. Link's face lit up: Even the Great Deku Tree thought so. "As art thou, Link." His face fell again. "The Kokiri are the same, Link. Thou art a part of this world that I protect. For now, thou art a Kokiri child. When the forest falls, thou wilt become something else."
"But, Great Deku Tree, why am I so different?" Link asked again, this time more persistently. "Why have I changed. . .? And my ears. . ." Link removed his hat from his head, and his ears popped out to be admitted to the Great Deku Tree's eyes. "I don't understand why I am so different from the others."
"Why does this bother you so?" the tree asked of Link.
He opened his mouth to respond, but then looked away without anything to say.
"Does it matter if you looks different from the others?" the tree continued. "Does Saria look at you and judge by appearance? Does Taters?"
"No, but— "
"Mido is a fool," the tree replied before Link could finish his thought. "As art thou."
Link dropped his head in response, and then placed his hat over his head again. "I just. . ."
"Link, what is bothering you?"
Slowly, Link turned his back to the tree with a shake of his head. "Nothing," he replied. "I just. . .thought I was turning into a monster."
The earth rumbled dangerously, and Link collapsed to the ground without any warning.
"A monster," the tree repeated, laughing. "No, Link, thou art not transforming into a monster. Think not of your changes anymore. I see Saria and Taters in the wood. Go, fetch them and be on your way. But if there is anything thou wishes to speak of, then please return."
Link clambered back to his feet and gave the tree a quick nod of respect and understanding. Then, he left the Haven in a slightly better mood.
"That is the boy, Navi."
"There is a great force of evil around him," Navi replied, emerging from the Great Deku Tree's shadow.
"Yes, but in due time, he will become the Hero awakened," the tree replied.
"And the evil aura. . .?"
The Great Deku Tree's spirit disappeared into the hollow of itself. "In due time, Navi. . .," was all it said.
Author's Note: I, personally, like this chapter. I'll be stopping at the fifth chapter for the evening, though. (9/16/09) ~T-Lea
