"I thought you said that Cheeb went ahead to scout the place out or something?" Link questioned. He brushed the tangled, unkempt hair off of his face, dirt and soot falling along with the blond strands. Link shook off his boot, which was coated in a thick layer of dark mud. A Woodland Rhino Beetle scuttled across the ground in front of Link, running to the mud to see what nature may have brought its way.
"I did. I'm sensing something deep within these woods. The forest is brimming with life, and the gate should lie just ahead, anyway." Ghirahim's foot snagged itself on a vine that stretched across the floor of the forest. Ghirahim snapped his fingers and a dagger severed the vine in two, allowing him to continue onwards.
Groose was a man of few words, if any. He'd been leading the group up to this point, and this trek through Faron's deep woods was not kind, as the path hadn't been traveled in a long time, far before the awakening of the hero. The winding road ahead was overgrown with vegetation, and animals scurried or flew about from tree to tree. Nature was beautiful. Though it was beautiful, Groose wasn't here for a Volkswagen Bus.
The next Triforce piece was in Eldin, but the scorched landscape and winding rivers of lava made the route inaccessible from the general entrance Groose had used before. Instead, a back route would be utilized to cross a large gap between Eldin and Faron, which would lead to the Triforce piece.
"Wait…" Ghirahim said, holding his hand out to stop Link. Groose halted and looked back at Ghirahim, who scanned the canopy of the trees above them. The thick carpet of leaves above them rustled in the warm wind. Beads of sweat ran down Groose's face from the extreme heat. The deep woods seemed to have no end.
Ghirahim slowly took some steps back, bringing the other two along with him. As Groose's foot landed on a log, he prepped himself in an offensive stance. There was something here, and it wanted an ass kicking.
"Groose, what are you doing?" Link asked, confused.
"I can feel it. Something's watching us. Probably me. Who wouldn't want to watch me?"
"Oh, shut it, you self-centered lug. What is that noise?" Link questioned, though he expected no response.
"Probably just the wind. I can't pick up any life sources, these woods are just too packed. I know where that Triforce piece is though, and I think we're getting closer." Ghirahim said.
Groose could sense something wasn't quite right, without any bullshit demon powers or half-assed questions. Raising his guard, he motioned the two behind him forward, and began to walk again.
It wasn't long before they reached a clearing. A small pond sat in the middle, and the lush foliage created a barrier between the forest around them and the open area. Groose, Link, and Ghirahim sat down at the edge of the pond. Link removed his boots and let his feet soak at the edge of the water. Groose was off on the side of the pond, fooling around with a slip of paper. Ghirahim approached him, seeing Groose was actually drawing something on the paper as he drew near.
"What are you up to now, Groose?" Ghirahim asked.
"Oh, I'm creating a map. I want to keep track of Grooseland so we know exactly where everything is. Ever since my first adventure ended, I've drawn a map of Grooseland to keep as a tool. Soon, the entire place will be filled in."
Ghirahim smiled at Groose's almost-childlike optimism. He nearly burst out laughing after actually seeing the map, a generally normal map adorned with crudely drawn stick figures.
A loud splash tore Ghirahim's focus away from Groose's map. He spun around to see an empty pond, though the ripples of the water echoed off the banks of dirt. Groose looked up, and stuffed his map and pencil into his pocket. He approached the water cautiously, Ghirahim standing close behind.
As soon as Groose's foot reached the water's edge, a thick vine shot out and wrapped around his leg. He was dragged in, disappearing beneath the waves. Ghirahim attempted to reach for his hand, but Groose had screamed "You're too slow!" before he was pulled under. Now standing on his own, Ghirahim watched as two vines rose from beneath the water's surface and reached out for him. Summoning a thin saber, he quickly sliced them in half.
At this, a large screech rocked the earth beneath Ghirahim's feet. The entire forest seemed to swirl around him, the green blur spinning in circles. Vines shot out at the fabulous demon lord, who struck a pose and winked before cutting the weeds down one by one. Another screech emerged, and a blood red bulge rose from the pond. The creature, once in Ghirahim's sights, was a dark red Deku Baba, and one Ghirahim had never seen before that point. As opposed to the previous Deku Babas he'd seen, this one's teeth were longer and sharper than normal, and formed a cage at its mouth. It had numerous vines springing out from the base, and it towered above the trees, standing a good three times Ghirahim's height.
Undeterred by this behemoth, Ghirahim dodged a vine and cut another, warping himself behind the Deku Beast. However, vines still attempted to latch onto Ghirahim, even from behind. As the beast spun around, Ghirahim caught a quick glimpse of Link, Groose, and Cheeb in the Deku Beast's mouth. Shaking off the vines, he leapt up in the air, then teleported above the beast's head. He morphed his sword into a large spiked mace, and brought it down upon the Deku Beast's head. It roared in pain, throwing Ghirahim off of its head. A thick green substance began to leak from its head, and it shrieked and squirmed while flailing about. The vines around Ghirahim began to shrivel away, stopping their relentless attempt to grab him.
Groose saw this opportunity, and began grabbing at the teeth of the beast. Tearing one off with his bare hand, he rushed the Kikwi out and handed Link the sharp tooth. A few words were exchanged, and Groose leapt from the Deku Beast. Link swung out, and began the climb to the top of the head. Vines slowly worked their way up towards him. As he reached the top, Link looked down to see Ghirahim, Groose, and the Kikwi gathered at the edge of the clearing. Link raised the tooth high above his head, and drove it deep down into the skull of the Deku Beast. It cried one last time before falling to the ground.
Link proudly stepped off of the dead beast's head as it quickly deteriorated and disappeared in a heap of purple smoke. He held the tooth in his hands, wiping it off of green ooze.
"Hey. I thought I told you to stay out of it last time. Did you forget?" Link asked, approaching Ghirahim.
"You told me to sit and watch while the demon chief kicked your ass. That wasn't a demon chief."
"…Okay, you win this round." Link was glad Ghirahim had come to the rescue, but he wouldn't say it. He was still weary of the problem he could present down the road.
Groose and Ghirahim approached the Kikwi and bent down to talk to him. "Welcome back, Cheeb."
"Cheeb? Who's that?"
Ghirahim picked up the Kikwi with his hands. "What do you mean you're not Cheeb!?"
The alarmed Kikwi simply sunk his teeth down into Ghirahim's arm. "I thought Cheeb said you guys didn't have teeth!" he screamed. Ignoring continuity, Ghirahim threw the Kikwi over his shoulder and grasped his arm in pain. Groose rushed over to the Kikwi's side.
"Don't do that." he said. "Are you looking for a Kikwi? Because we had a new little recruit find his way into the ranks a short time ago. I found him out here, running for his life from that Deku Baba. I was snatched up, but he might have made it to my village. I can take you to him."
Groose agreed, and ushered Ghirahim and Link over to him. Link smiled and slung the tooth over his back. It was the perfect replacement for the lack of sword present, a feeling that still sent pings through Link's head. Hero or not, he was in this adventure to help Groose, and this new "sword" would probably prove to be a valuable tool.
"I haven't introduced myself yet, have I? I am Klitzekleinen, Kikwi of the highest degree, but most of my allies refer to me as Klein. I'll lead you to our base of operations. There, you may yet find your friend."
Groose gave his thanks, and the trio followed Klein deep into the heart of the forest.
"Wehuoghdshofguhspofgbabdfkugadfiou?"
"No, the plan did not work. The Deku Beast was a good idea, but it appears that we underestimated the power of that renegade demon lord. What would cause such power to turn for an unworthy cause is beyond me."
"Iaodsfhobaadsfgoygfaidsudsmbnveawggg."
"Well maybe someone should've helped. Luring the Kikwi into the clearing wasn't easy, yet we might have gotten him out of the picture had it not been for the other one. Now, he holds refuge elsewhere, and their team is soon to be reunited."
"Laodhfiaygfuyteipoyweprytpiewrmbvcvvvvfdagjvfadsvgvkm."
"I believe it's settled then. The next confrontation should be set at the next summon. Perhaps we'll wait until they've defeated the Demon Chief, thus luring them into a false sense of security. Then, we'll strike at them. It shouldn't take much effort. But we'll need to think of something…"
"Laduoheors?"
"Lasers? Why lasers?"
"Badsouhuoheohdiuhjb."
"Sure, go nuts with what you have."
"Edfndf!"