Rem is transported to a dense forest, he is surprised for sure because there wasn't a forest in Termina with the exception of the Woods of Mystery and the Lost Woods. Rem notices the platform that is now a tall log with steps going down it, Rem walks off the log and looks around the forest and says, "Is this... the past or future?" Rem knew that he went through time because the trip had clock designs everywhere.
Rem thinks about this for a moment and says, "This must be the past, what happened to this forest? It looks so good compared to those boring plains." Rem follows the path in the forest and goes through it as a deku scrub to not bring attention to any possible skull kids. Rem plays a tune with his deku pipes while traveling this road. He eventually finds an area with water and questions it, "What's with all this water?"
It's luckily not deep enough to not traverse it and he walks the watery path. After a few minutes, past a couple trees, he sees a lone tree sprout. Rem walk towards it. It has a flower on the top and two stubby limbs on the side. It appears to have a face, Rem looks directly at it, "Hello? Are you... um... can you talk?"
It wakes up and Rem flinches a bit and the tree sprout appears to be a girl, "Hi there! I'm the Maku tree!" Rem looks around and back at the maku tree, "What's this forest?" She replies smiling, "It's the Termina Forest! I haven't see anyone like you before so I hope we can become friends." Rem asks her, "Do you live here by yourself?" Maku tree nods, "Pretty much, except for woodland creatures. Can I ask for your name?"
Rem nods, "I'm Rem! I'm searching for adventure." Maku tree replies, "Haven't found anything like that but you are free to stay here as you please." Then... something happens. A group of pirates come in and knocks Rem out of the way and deroots the maku tree and puts her in a pot and one snickers, "This will go for a lot! Perhaps for firewood or materials." She screams, "Rem! Please get up and help me!"
Rem gets up and says to the pirates, "Let her go!" He shoots a deku nut but the pirates slices it in half and kicks him so hard that he gets slammed into a tree and gets knocked out, "Some help you got! Let's go, crew!" They leave and after Rem comes to, it's all over. Rem realizes something, "Is this how the forest disappears, does that tree keep it together or something? Whatever! I'm rescuing her from those pirates if it's the last thing I do! They won't get away with this!"
Rem runs out of the forest as fast as he could, he follows his instincts on where everything was in his time. He eventually ends back in Termina field and can see Clock Town in the distance but somethings off about it, the tower is still under construction. So this is the past! Well, Rem knows where pirates like to hide, the ocean! He heads to the Great bay and sees their ship as they are about to set sail.
He reads the sign that says, "No forest creatures!" Rem nods and takes off the mask and puts it away and goes to the ship. The pirates find him and asks him, "Where do you think you're going?" Rem raises his arms as they are pointing swords at him, "How much for the tree sprout?" The pirates reply, "5000 rupees." Rem eyes widen, "I can't afford that." The pirates say, "Well, then get lost!" Rem sighs, "This might be stupid of me..."
He quickly draws his sword and slashes at the pirates and they obviously parried it. Rem kicks them as hard as he can and gets them into the water and Rem rushes in the ship. The pirates the water warns the other, "Intruder boarding the ship! He's after the tree sprout!" The pirates get to Rem and he readies his sword, "I'm not letting you have this sprout!"
He throws a deku nut near the pirates and their vision is distorted, Rem quickly attacks them and moves on. Rem searches frantically for the Maku tree sprout. He kicks down every door he can find and searches for her while attacking the pirates. What he's doing is pretty reckless but he has no choice. Rem goes to the captain's headquarters and sees the tree sprout sitting right there, "Alright! Hand her over!"
The pirate turns around, "You are either stupid or very brave! Too bad you'll die here!" Rem doesn't lose his composure and stays a sharp glare at the captain. The captain chuckles, "So that's your wish. Very well..." The pirate pulls out his sword and strikes Rem and he blocks it with his sword and struggles to keep it from getting him.
The pirate chuckles again, "You got guts, kid. Too bad you're mission is going to fail!" Rem angrily replies, "I'm not a kid! He kicks him, "I'm your defeat!" He strikes the pirate with as much force as possible and left quite a mark on him and he bleeds a lot. Rem runs towards the maku tree and picks her up and runs out of the ship.
When the pirates notices their fallen captain, fear is shown in their eyes. Rem runs back to the spot where the pirates captured the Maku tree puts her back in her spot. She cheers happily, "My hero! Thank you so much for rescuing me but... who are you?" Rem chuckles, "Don't you know? We've met not to long ago." He pulls out his deku mask and puts it back on and transforms, "I can't stand anyone with selfish desires."
The Maku tree gasps, "You're Rem! I can't believe that you actually saved me! When I get old enough... you can take me as your bride." Rem replies, "All in a day's work and... what?!" Rem's expression turns to shock, "I... don't know what to say to that." The maku tree replies, "You have all the time to think about it." Rem looks around and steps back, "I'll be going now. I'll see you, I guess." The maku tree waves goodbye with her stubby arms, "Bye, dear! And thanks again for rescuing me"! Rem nods and runs off.
Rem returns to the stump and plays the song of time again and gets warped back to his time... only to find it to bring him back to the forest. Rem steps off and says, "Odd, why didn't it work? Rem runs back to where he find the maku tree and notices that she's all grown up!" It worked! The maku tree smiles greatly at the sight of Rem, "Rem! It's been so long! I didn't forget the promise you made me all those years ago!"
Rem confusely says, "What promise?" Maku tree replies, "'When I grow up, I'll marry you!' That's exactly what you said!" Rem shakes his head which causes his foilages to rustle, "I didn't say that. It's been so long apparently that you must have forgotten." The maku tree says, "I never forget! That's what you said to me exactly!" Rem sighs, "Guess I cannot argue with that."
Maku replies, "You are looking for adventure, right?" Rem nods, "Yeah, can you help?" Maku says, "Sure can! But first... how about going through a test that I made for you to prove that you really got the stuff to be a hero." Rem nods, "Sure! What do you exactly have in mind?" "Don't worry, it's not dangerous, just to test your skills."
Rem tries to sink this in, "You set a dungeon... inside of you?" Maku tree smiles, "Right! But if you ever get stuck, I'll be there to help you lead you on the right track." Rem asks, "Does that defeats the purpose of a test if you are going to hold my hand through this?" Maku tree frowns, "Yeah, but I don't want anything bad to happen to you and it's only if you need it."
Rem nods, "Ok..." The maku tree asks, "Are you ready?" Rem replies, "I'm pretty tired from all the stuff I did today so I'll get it fresh in the morning." The maku tree frowns a bit, "Aw... ok." Rem yawns and says, "I'll see you later! I'm going to head to the Stockpot inn and catch some sleep." The maku tree eagerly replies, "Oh! If it's sleep you want, then why not sleep here?" Rem says back, "With... you?"
The maku tree seems to nod, "Yes! I'm the guardian of the forest and I'll protect you while you here so that nothing will come across your sleep." Rem shrugs, "Guess can't find harm in that." Rem looks around for a spot to sleep and sees a patch of fluffy grass close to the maku tree and goes to it and lays on it, "Wow... this is surprisingly comfy." The maku tree smiles, "You like it? Well... get some rest, Rem. You got a big day ahead of you!"
Rem lays his head on one of the maku tree's trunks and before he goes to sleep, the maku tree says to Rem sweetly, "Good night, Rem." Rem yawns, "Good night, Maku." He promptly goes to sleep, during the night it gets very cold and Rem shivers. Maku tree takes notice of this and uses her roots as a blanket and covers him up which did the ticket. She smiles at him knowing he's comfortable.
The next day, the morning sun shines intensely on the maku tree's branches which creates streams of light seeping through it. Rem opens his deku eyes, yawns and stretches those wooden arms. The maku tree happily greets the morning, "Good morning, Rem! I hope you had a great sleep." Rem looks around and replies, "Oh yeah... I almost forgot I brought this forest back." Maku tree confusedly replies, "What?" Rem says, "I don't know if I should tell you but this wasn't a forest before and it was a rocky plains with a lone mountain. I went to the past and saved you and the forest came back."
The maku tree smiles at this, "Oh! No wonder you haven't aged a day! I think you are the chosen one of the four giants." Rem tilts his head, "Chosen one? Four giants? What are these four giants?" The maku tree explains, "They are the deities of Termina. Like the three goddesses of Hyrule, they protect the lands from evil." Rem gets it now, "Oh! I never believed in such things before but since I became a deku scrub, I've discovered some wierd things."
Rem looks at his feet and notices that they are covered by Maku tree's roots and he asks, "You can let me go now." The maku tree blushes with embarrassment and lets him go, "Oh, sorry!" Rem gets up and says, "I'm ready to take on your challenge. I hope it helps me become a better hero for Termina." The maku tree seems to nod, "Oh yes! That's why we're doing this! After you complete your task, I'll give you your next objective."
Rem replies, "More stuff I have to do? Who knew being a hero is so tiresome." Maku tree says while scolding Rem a bit, "Don't be lazy, Rem! You might be a drunkard hylian but the goddesses did save you for a reason. If you haven't became a deku scrub, you would be a stalfos instead and not even be here." Rem gasps, "How do you know I drink?!" The maku tree replies, "Farore told me, she's the one who saved you and... you better thank her after your test." Rem looks at his wooden hands, "I suppose this is better than being a stalfos."
The maku tree says to Rem, "Now... will you take this task?" Rem nods, "Yes, Maku tree." The maku tree opens her mouth as wide as she could and Rem gulps, "OK... here goes something." Rem enters the dungeon that will test if he really got what it takes to get to Link's level.
Will Rem be able to do this and earn the title of savior of Termina? Find out next time!