The Legend of Zelda: Return of the Hero
The Return Home
-It is in the darkest hour that light shines brightest, in the worst moment that time extends longest, and in the face of danger that reveals a man's true nature.
The forest had been overtaken, by what Link did not know, but there was no mistaking it. The protective presence of the Great Deku Tree was gone. The Hero of Time had felt his absence once before as a child and recognized the occupation across the forest as something not allowed to run rampant if he were here. When Link left the Deku Sprout was still growing, a shadow of his former power but still strong none-the-less.
The Forest Knight could feel that this was an ancient magic enveloping his home. Something forgotten and archaic to the magic he used today. Knowing he would find no answers standing still Link turned and faced the direction of the only home he had ever known. It was time to give the Kokiri a surprise.
As they walked Navi asked,
"Do you think they're going to recognize you?"
Link's mind lingered on Saria. "At least one of them will."
"What do you think is going on? The Lost Woods don't feel right."
"Something's wrong with the Deku Sprout. The others will know what's happening."
"I hope everything is okay."
"Me too."
Navi couldn't have been more wrong. Kokiri Village was a ghost town. The hollowed out tree homes long abandoned and in ruin. The Hero of Time walked the familiar beaten path through the center of town but did not recognize where it took him. The sky seemed permanently overcast and the crystal clear pond water had turned dark and muddy. The stale air reminded Link of a forgotten crypt. He stopped at one of the taller homes, one with a latter to a second story balcony instead of a front door. Link stared at his childhood home and reflected on the past.
The ghosts of his childhood memories filled his mind. Boys and girls chasing one another in a game of tag sprinted pass him. The sound of Fado's harp drifted from her home along with Haro's singing. The small waterfall by the store still flowed and flashbacks of he and the other Kokiri boys jumping off dashed in his mind. Link could hear the laughter of the Know-it-All Brothers telling jokes to a small crowd. He thought of all the times he had been mocked and ridiculed by the others for not having a fairy.
It was the reason he chose to have his home built high, so that he could avoid overhearing their whispers and stop Mido from playing pranks on him. Link clenched his fist as he was reminded of humiliation Mido kept prompting against him. He thought of all the times Saria defended him and the shame he felt at having a girl stand up for him. Regardless of his pride he never stopped thanking her. She was his best friend and knew she wouldn't stop even if he had asked her to. Her heart was always big. Link stopped thinking of his past and realized just how much he missed Saria.
On his travels thoughts of home always made him depressed and so he did his best to push them away. Now that he was here it only seemed farther away knowing what it had become. Where ever the Kokiri were Link would find them. He knew Saria was waiting.
Link entered the cave passage which would take him to the Great Deku's grove. He was prepared but no Deku Babas rose to attack. As he rounded the bend and stepped in the opening he was happy to see things were not as bad as they could have been. The Deku Sprout gave no words of greeting for the forest guardian had been cast in stone. He had grown taller since Link last saw him but would grow no more if he remained as he was.
The forgotten Kokiri placed his hand on the statue and felt the ancientness of the enchantment which had done it. So long as magic had been used Link knew it was reversible. The only question was how long it would take. The mage responsible wasn't powerful enough to kill the Deku Sprout. Even Ganondorf had only managed to poison the Great Deku Tree and that was over a long period of time.
Link couldn't imagine anyone going head to head with the Deku Tree and surviving but he could sense a great battle had taken place here. No scorch marks, cracks in the ground, or blemishes in the grove gave any evidence of one ever taking place. The remnants could only be sensed in the air. The magical energies which had collided still lingered. Link looked around the grove and for anything that might hint as to where the Kokiri might have gone.
Finding nothing he searched the deserted homes. The large hollowed out tree of each Kokiri was unique to the owner. Dust gathered in all of them and many looked as if they had been ransacked or packed in a hurry. Link looked to Navi for answers,
"Did any of your sisters mention what had happened here before they were taken?"
"No, I'm sorry Link but they were all called away before the forest went into disarray."
"Will the Great Fairies let them come back and fix things?"
"Link whatever did that to the Deku Sprout is something that hasn't been seen for a long time."
"What do you mean?"
"You can feel it too, it's an ancient magic, one that's been lying dormant in the forest for hundreds of years. The Fay were helping protect the Deku Sprout while he was growing but whatever did this knew how to take advantage while we were gone. The original Deku Tree had grown so powerful and had things under control for so long that there wasn't a chance for anything that might disrupt the balance or harmony of the woods to gain a foothold. He was our guardian and champion. He drove away the darkness and made it a safe place to live. You have to take his place Link. The others are in so much danger I can sense it."
Mido looked beyond the leaves of his hiding bush with deadly intent. He gave out a low bird whistle as he watched the strange creature moving ahead of him. Its shaggy grey fur made it look part wolf but its skeletal head was too foreign to recognize. Mido knew whatever creature this was could not be allowed to wander unchallenged. The monsters may have control of the night but the Kokiri leader would be damned before they would walk in daylight.
A series of high pitched tweets made Mido grip his war axe tightly and start counting down from fifteen in his head. His friend Misol always counted a half second too fast and was relentlessly first to spring from cover every time. Misol's yelping war cry triggered a cacophony of screams, howls, and roars as a dozen Kokiri burst from their well camouflaged hiding spots and ran to overwhelm the beast. The fell beast was not one to go quietly and roared in defiance as it was surrounded. Its glowing red eyes signaled allegiance to the Necromancer as it was the trademark of his creations.
The small army of children pummeled, hacked, and stabbed at the four legged monstrosity without wane or hesitation. The beast leapt forward to remove itself from the circle of Kokiri but found escape far from reach. A net from the treetops fell and trapped it in place. The war party moved to surround it once more as a series of vines unfurled from the forest canopy with additional Kokiri repelling down to join the fray.
The net held against the beast's snarling jaws and struggling frame. Unable to move it was helpless to protect itself. The Kokiri showed no mercy and slowly the light faded from its eyes. The half resurrected monster was sent back to the grave where it belonged and where the tribe of forest children intended all of them to stay. It was a small victory but one of great importance. Mido used the fur to wipe the blood off his blade. The spell of darkness would not spread to claim the light.
Link wandered the forest with his feet carrying him to a destination unknown. A deathly silence filled the air. Not a creature stirred as if he were along amongst the trees. The Emerald Knight could feel a foreboding danger but knew not where it lay. What could be such a threat that it lurked around every corner and yet remained unseen before his very eyes?
It seemed a lifetime without Navi's presence and after having her back for so short a time it still took some getting used to. Following so many years of traveling alone it felt almost strange to have company. The Hylian didn't know whether it be best to try and start conversation or keep going in silence. Fay are perhaps the most social creatures one will ever find. Navi could sense Link's awkwardness like a deer in a den of tigers.
"I know the Great Fairies won't let all of us come back but I'm sure when we find the Kokiri they'll let the guardian Fay return to their duties."
"Why is that?"
"Its part of the pack we made with the Deku Tree. As Fay we must live up to our word. Telling lies is forbidden."
"What was the pact made between the Fay and the Deku Tree?"
"Once long ago the forest was a place where evil ran unchecked. Creatures of unspeakable horror were allowed to fester and grow. They preyed upon each other and grew more malicious in order to survive. Neither Hylian nor foreigner dared enter the threshold. Then came the day when the centuries old Deku Tree discovered his magical powers. His roots spread across the forest and connected to all the energy within. He began to use that evil energy and turned it into light. From his heart he spread warmth and kindness. Over the next hundred years the darkness slowly faded and new creatures came to inhabit the woods. Creatures of light like the Fay. We found his efforts noble and agreed to help him. In exchange for a new home we aided in his efforts to rid darkness and protect what he valued most, his children."
Before he could think of a reply Link grew rigid and still. Any common person would have missed it but a lifetime in the wild gave Link tracking skills like no civilized man. They were being followed. By what he did not know but there was no mistaking it. If Navi sensed anything she gave no sign of it. Moving as if nothing changed, Link continued walking and quickly thought of something to carry on the conversation. '
Words flowed absentmindedly and Navi's responses were met on deaf ears. All of the Hylian's attention lay on his silent stalker. The unseen spy was skilled in his art. He gave no betrayal of his position through sight or sound. Each step carefully managed to avoid the numerous twigs eager to snap across the forest floor. His clothing or bare skin blended into the forest hue with ease. The slow movement of his pace would have avoided detection from even the sharpest sentry. His regulated breathing through his nose was inaudible amongst the deathly silence.
A city dweller would have been doomed against a predator of this caliber. Link was no ordinary prey however. The forest child had been brought up a hunter of monsters and demons. Ordinary folk could not match the terrible things he's faced. It felt odd being on the other end of the chase but not too unfamiliar for the Forest Knight. Without signal to Navi or change in his replies Link turned on his heel and sprang towards his stalker.
Saria ran at full sprint. The war party hadn't made it to the hideout in time before sunset. In an effort to keep everyone safe the Forest Sage had gone in search of them. She arrived just in time for a short lived reunion as two Obani skeletons on patrol spotted the Kokiri. Drawing their attention Saria would buy them time. Mido had protested but there was little time for argument. The small pack of ageless children was in danger and it was Mido's responsibility to see them back safely. With the parting words of, "Be safe." Saria left her overprotective leader.
The Obani were quick but held very little intelligent thought. It had been easy enough to gain their interest but keeping them quite was another matter. Too much noise and it would bring another scouting pair. Leaping forward, Saria used a greenwood tree as a springboard to back flip behind her pursuers. Before landing she unleashed the two vine whips on her belt.
Covered in thorns the whips were both dangerous and suited the nature of the Forest Sage. Lashing savagely she struck the skeletons with enough force to break through their poorly connected frames. Although held together by magic, Saria's own was stronger. It took a significant effort to break through the Obani undead with a single blow but the Forest Maiden couldn't afford not to.
The rotting skeletons shattered to pieces and Saria let out a sigh of relief. The respite was forgotten as the unmistakable screech of another scout caught her attention. Turning around she found herself dead within the Obani's sights. Saria ran without hesitation as the forest erupted in roars of the undead and the thunder of countless footfalls caused the ground to shake. Elsewhere, Mido stopped and looked back to the depths of darkness from whence the echoes came and swallowed heavily. He prayed that the Goddesses would show mercy to his oldest friend and guide her to safety.
Link turned around and sprinted full speed at his stalker. Caught by surprise the tiny hunter tried running away but the hero had already leapt upon him. Struggling in a fray of thrashing arms and legs, Link ended the resistance with a solid punch to the creature's head. Catching up, Navi looked down at their captured quarry and gave a surprised gasp. The Emerald Knight also caught off guard as he looked down at the red haired and freckled tormenter of his childhood. Other than the war paint and large welt growing on his forehead Mido looked exactly the same as Link remembered him.
The forest silence was broken by a series of patterned yelps and screams. Instinct took over and Link was on his feet, sword drawn. From all around green clad figures carrying swords, axes, and spears hurried to surround him. As they sprinted near the Emerald Knight became aware of their familiar short stature. They made no signs of recognizing him and Link braced himself to fend off his own people.
Seeing the violence about to erupt Navi flew above Link's head and yelled, "Stop!"
The result was instant and the hoard fell silent in their tracks. Each one looked at Navi in utter disbelief. The Kokiri lowered their weapons and approached slowly. Link took them in and recognized each face, their green tunics no longer clean and pristine as they once were but instead dirty and muddied to blend in with the forest veil. All wore green and black war paint with expressions of exhaustion. The Emerald Knight could tell his people were feeling the strain of the besiegement. The enchantment of Navi was the first sign of hope they had seen.
"Link?", Misol ventured with doubt.
Even after all this time they could not forget the boy without a fairy. "Yeah, it's me."
Shock spread across the crowd at the revelation of what he had become. In an instant they had crossed the space separating them and were pestering him with questions with the passion of excited school children.
"How did you get so big?"
"We thought you were dead."
"Saria kept saying…but he didn't believe her."
"Where have you been?"
One voice spoke and silenced the others. "How did you get your fairy back?"
Link turned and saw Mido painfully get up. He looked at Link with dire seriousness and asked again, "How did you get your fairy back, Link?"
The Hylian met Mido's serious gaze with one of his own and answered, "I spent the last 7 years looking for her."
For a brief instant Mido looked at Navi with a longing Link had never seen before. The moment faded and the Kokiri returned to his grim look of determination the others had come to expect from him. "Come with us, it'll be dark soon."