It was shortly before nightfall when Sako arrived at Hyrule Castle. "Link!" he panted upon stumbling through the Main Hall. "I need to see the king!"

Mayor Kafei intercepted him in the corridor, grasping his shoulders. "What is it, boy?"

Sako poured out the information. "They march for Termina as we speak!" he finished.

His eyes wide in dawning fear, Kafei's grip on the young man tightened, his knuckles white. "Hellsteeth," he breathed. "Termina?"

Sako swallowed, nodding.

Kafei was an old veteran, experienced and hardened by many struggles and fights over the years. As difficult as it was to stay calm upon receiving word of an invasion on his own realm while he was away, the shaken mayor pulled himself together. "Link is away from the castle. He departed for Kokiri Forest earlier today. Zega and the elven queen accompanied him."

"Why the forest?"

Kafei was silent for a moment before responding. "To find answers," he said simply, "that we may perhaps survive this."

……………………………..

Queen Redaya moved through the trees like a cat, gracefully gliding around branches and over the forest floor as if it were nothing. Link followed closely behind and Zega trailed only a few paces. Before the long the three silent comrades emerged into the dream-like meadow of the Great Deku Tree. Redaya drew in a breath and gazed about her in wonder.

Warm dew had settled into the glade, and the night sky was shrouded by a magnificent gray mist. Beautiful trees, carved by the hand of the goddesses, towered proudly on every side of the meadow. Shimmering fairies darted here and there through the leaves and branches, leaving trails of sparkling golden lights that floated to the ground like gentle rain.

And then there was the Tree itself. In the eleven years since Link had planted his seeds in the soft grass, the Great Deku had sprung up into the size and wisdom of his predecessor, who had mysteriously faded away into the earth beyond any moral's vision or even comprehension. Link had only visited the Deku Tree a few times in the years of his life, as the elves and their forest were secluded even from the King of Hyrule, one who had dwelt with them for ten years. Ten years were nothing in the eyes of an elf, and when his best friend Saria fell out of the forest, Link was nearly forgotten among all Kokiri. He was granted entrance to the woods when it was necessary, but it was as the King of Hyrule, nothing else. He may have been a friend once, but seasons pass and the Goddess of Time constantly reshapes the face of the land.

The Deku Tree stretched his majestic boughs far higher than any of his fellows, and slept in the middle of the enchanted glade as tiny fairies lit up his swaying leaves and branches. Redaya could hear a low yet powerful melody echoing about the meadow.

"It is the music of the creator goddesses," Link whispered. "Here, their song can be heard more clearly than anywhere in the realm."

Redaya couldn't peel her shimmering sapphire eyes away from the wondrous Tree. Never before in her long life had she seen such magnificent beauty, and she had lived in the forests of Syfort for over seven hundred years. She was moved to tears.

Beside her, Zega similarly fought back tears, but it was for a much different reason. He had heard this song before – she had sung it to him while he slept.

Link knelt and bowed his head. "Great Deku Tree, Deity of the Wood, Lord of the Kokiri, Guardian of Fairies, Weaver of Song."

The Deku Tree spoke, and Redaya was struck with the power and enchantments in his deep voice. "Link, King of Hyrule, Hero of Time, Bane of the Triforce, Blademaster: rise. I bid you welcome to my forest." Link stood up and gazed at the Tree as he continued speaking. "Redaya, Queen of Elves, and Zega, Prince of Heaven. Feel at home in my meadow."

Link glanced over at Zega. Prince of Heaven? The Gerudo swordsman stood speechless, staring at the Tree.

The king turned back to the Great Deku. "I come bringing terrible news. The Hellgates have somehow been opened, and as we speak thousands of undead soldiers march upon our realm."

"That is enough, King of Hyrule," the Tree silenced him. "I know well what has happened in the desert."

"Then you know more than us," replied Link. "How has this occurred? What must we do to counter it?"

The Tree sighed, and the woods swayed as one. "Questions, questions. Have you not thought to ask the one called Zega?"

The Gerudo worked up his courage. He had stood in the presence of creatures far more powerful than this Tree. But the melody… the melody touched him deeper than the forest's enchantments ever could. He swallowed his emotions and stepped forward.

"They…" he started, "they do not know where I was. I haven't told them."

The Tree raised his giant dark eyebrows. "Because you promised her. When will the blessed one allow it?"

The song grew stronger. There was silence as Zega and his two companions listened.

"She says she loves you," said the Deku Tree, softly. "She wants to be with you."

Link and Redaya exchanged a confused glance, but neither of them interrupted.

"She says you must follow your destiny."

Zega was unable to contain his misery any longer. He fell to his knees, gasping for air as salty tears splattered to the moist grass of the meadow. "I shouldn't have come back," he cried. "I shouldn't have left her!"

There was no noise but the sobs of the Gerudo.

Link stepped forward as Redaya knelt down to comfort Zega. "The goddesses spoke to me in a dream. They told me to come to you, and to bring him with me. Why did they say this?"

"The creator goddesses know much more than anyone on this world, save perhaps two. I do not know what it is they plan."

"Save… two?" Redaya helped Zega to his feet.

"Yes, lovely queen, save two." The Deku Tree let out a great deep breath, and once again the treetops swayed. Golden sparkles drifted to the ground, and Redaya found herself fighting an enchanted sleep. "Across the face of this land there are many beings that exceed the abilities and potential of ordinary mortals. On the lower levels, such creatures exist as the rare Skull Children and Gerudo Vessels. Above them are the Great Fairies, mystical and immortal but forever confined to their small fountains."

Link and his comrades listened closely. Who were the two beings the Deku Tree spoke of?

"Next in the chain are the Elemental Deities. I am one of these, as are the seven sages and the Zora Lord Jabu-Jabu."

"Jabu-Jabu?" Link cut in. "He was slain during Ganondorf's reign!"

The Tree chuckled, sending chills up Link's spine. "You are above us on the chain, my little friend, but your realm is that of mortals. You do not know everything about Hyrule. Hyrule has many secrets, locked away for hundreds of years beyond the knowledge of even yourself."

Link was shocked at the news that not only was he higher up on the chain than the Great Deku Tree, but that the Water Deity lived. "Where is he then? Where is Jabu-Jabu?"

"Your paths will cross again, this I have seen."

Link wasn't satisfied, but he let the Tree continue.

"Also on your level is the Great King of Evil. You defeated him once only with the help of the seven sages; do not underestimate him when you meet again."

"I will… meet him again?"

"Yes, Hero. You must overwhelm him a second time, or your realm is surely lost."

"At least there's no more at stake," muttered Link dryly.

The Deku Tree took no heed to the king's grave remark. "Directly following yourself are those in the heavens themselves. The creator goddesses fall under this category, as do the four giants that hold dominion over Termina. They can watch and alter the events in this world, but even they are not almighty. There are those even more powerful."

"The ancient gods." Link glanced over at Zega, who had spoken.

"Yes, Prince, the ancient gods. They hold power over everything, every being in existence. Those who even look upon the face of one of them are transformed into magical creatures, equal in might to myself."

"Have you seen one of them?"

"I, myself, have not. But the Tree from which my seed fell came from another tree, who came from one before, and so on. The original Deku Tree, born thousands of years ago, was once a normal Kokiri elf. Perhaps, if he had not come across the Ancient God of Forest, he would still be alive today. But as it was, he had a more important role to play, and instead rests forever beside his brothers."

The three companions were silent for a moment. Finally, Zega spoke. "You mentioned two in this world who stand above any others. That know what the goddesses know. Who is this you speak of?"

"Ask your king," answered the Tree slowly. "He knows one of them quite well."

Zega turned to Link, but Link only shrugged.

"You have seen him recently."

It began to dawn on Link.

"The Fallen God of Life and Happiness."

"The salesman," said Link, slowly. "The mask salesman from the old shop."

Zega could have sworn the Deku Tree smiled with his dark eyebrows alone. "Yes, Hero. When he was an ancient god he was called Nyre. Now he simply goes by the Happy Mask Salesman, though only a select few have spoken with him long enough to find out even that. His abilities on this world are matched by only one, just recently claiming a body worthy of his power."

This was followed by another moment's silence. "The spirit in my brother," whispered Zega finally.

"The Ancient God of Suffering and Death, Sever. Only if Nyre can draw more power from the life in this land than Sever can draw death can the latter be defeated. That is why the evil lord has resurrected the Queen of Chaos and her armies. He does not care whether she prevails. He only wants suffering, and war is the most convenient way he can get it."

Link struggled to take it all in. "Queen of Chaos?"

"Antia of the Gerudo. Fate chose her long ago and her first attempt at domination failed."

Link had studied endlessly the scrolls and archives of Hyrule Castle, and knew very well the story of Queen Antia, the legendary Hylian King Sonefor, and his son Prince Zenk. "And Antia? Where would she stand against myself in the chain?"

The Tree stared at him gravely. "I do now know, Hero. She has yet to show her true potential."

"There are only a few other things I wish to know," said the king. "What must we do to survive this?"

"Counter Hell," prodded the Tree. "Gather the realms."

It was Redaya who found the answer first. "Open Sanctuary."

Both Link and Zega turned to stare at her. "Sanctuary?"

"Very wise, Queen," the Great Deku smiled again. "Yes, that is the only way."

"Then we must find Nyre," realized Link. "He is the only one aside from Sever that can perform such a task, as a fallen ancient god. Is that right?"

"Yes."

"Will the elves march at our side?"

"No."

Link narrowed his eyes. "Do you think Sever will settle for the flatlands? He will storm the forest, raze the village, and burn the trees to the ground before you can lift your defenses. And you know better than I that you have not the power to protect yourself from him, let alone the entire forest. For a long time the Kokiri were safe under the protection of your father's boughs. Both those times are over. The woods are as vulnerable as the rest of Hyrule."

"Perhaps they are, Hero," responded the Deku Tree. "But I will not expose my innocent children to bloody warfare."

"You will expose them to massacre then," laughed the king dryly. "Times are changing, and your children are far from innocent."

"They will not fight. War taints souls."

"They will be slaughtered!"

"They will not fight."

Link took a deep breath, fighting desperation. "I long considered you a friend, Great Tree. And I wished it would not come to this." He took a few steps forward and slowly pulled out the soft blue Ocarina of Time from underneath the folds of his royal purple cloak. "But we need your children."

He put the tiny instrument to his lips. Even the divine melody quieted as the entire forest seemed to listen to the Hero of Time. The first enchanted note drifted to the ears of his audience, followed by another.

The Deku Tree recognized the rune before the third note. It was the song of the Green Sage. She had played it for the Tree through the Sacred Realm while he was just sapling, every day, nurturing, feeding him with knowledge and love. It was because of her that he had become what he was. His… mother.

No one even noticed when Link pulled the ocarina away from his mouth. The enchanted trees had picked up the song, echoing it throughout the forest so that the woods rang with its power. "Saria!" Link called into the shrouded gray sky. "Green Sage, join us on this day! Make your presence known, bless us with your beauty!"

For the first time, the Great Deku was struck speechless. Even the Tree, the Deity of the Wood, had not foreseen contact with the Green Sage. Would she really come? Here, to the Tree's meadow?

The melody went completely silent, and Link smiled. "She is with us."

"It has been awhile, Link. It fills me with joy just to hear you voice again."

"And yours, Saria. And yours."

The Deku Tree attempted to speak, but found he couldn't. There was another force here. Something the Tree knew, yet somehow beyond any power that he could comprehend.

"Relax, Great One," soothed the calm voice of Saria. "You are in the presence of only friends. But there is something you must do."

Zega and Redaya felt Saria's presence and power, though not to the extent of the Deku Tree or Link. They didn't interrupt, but instead stared out into the misty sky as if the Green Sage rested there upon the shaded clouds.

Saria continued to the Tree. "I thank you for sharing your vast knowledge with my friend Link. In the eighteen years since he left the forest of your fathers, he has shown nothing but care and complete respect for the trees. Now he implores your aid and seeks the skills of the elves, and you deny him. Why?"

The Deku Tree could not answer.

"Peace, friend," said the soft voice of Saria, and a great calm fell over the meadow.

"If they leave the forest," said the Tree finally, "they will lose their immortality and pureness. Perhaps if we fought the invaders on our terms, under the enchanted canopy of our home, the Kokiri may not only be able to preserve their immortality, but their lives."

"If the Hero of Time does not stop the Spawns of Hell, no one will."

"I do not want to condemn my children to warfare," said the Deku Tree, but he was losing the firmness in his voice.

"We will condemn ourselves then," came a strong voice from the woods. The three companions whipped around. Standing on the edge of the meadow was a short, red-haired Kokiri warrior. He stood determined, looking every inch a cunning fighter and formidable opponent.

"Mido," breathed Link. "Thank you."

The elf strode into the meadow, flashing Link a brief grin before turning to the Great Tree. "This is our fate, and our decision," he stated firmly. "Let us fight."

"For the good of Hyrule," Link added.

"For the good of your children," finished Saria calmly. In the time she had spent in the Sacred Realm, her magic had increased threefold. Even across such distance, her enchantments held enough power to softly convince the Great Deku Tree to agree.

"Very well," sighed the Tree a final time. "The Kokiri will fight."

……………………………..

The echo of the stallion's clapping hooves rang across the long, dark tunnel. Lankin leaned forward and gripped the reins tighter, urging the tired brown steed on.

"Come on, mate," he whispered through gritted teeth into the horse's ear. "Only a few more hours now."

But he had run the poor stallion all evening and all through the night, and now, as outside the sun rose over the east horizon, the horse began to stumble. It came to a slower trot, and then nothing more than a staggering walk.

Lankin cursed into the empty tunnel. He dismounted the panting steed and patted its side. "I'll send someone back with water," he told it softly. "Hold out 'til then."

He set off down the tunnel in a steady run. This entire desperate survival attempt rested on the prayer that Antia and camped above ground the night before. If she didn't…

Lankin cleared the thought from his mind and quickened his pace.

……………………………..

Antia leaned back against the muddy bank of the Ikana River. The wet soil felt good on her bare back as she gazed up at the soft blue sky. It was a beautiful morning, and she was in no rush as she bathed in the river. Birds chirped from their perches upon the valley slopes, and a light breeze ruffled through the queen's golden hair.

She smiled. Someday, this entire realm would belong to her. Once it did, she could enjoy its magnificence forever. The sorcerer would provide her with immortality, and she would live for the rest of time in an earthly paradise. She had found a way to cheat the gods, living in Sanctuary while still in the mortal world.

Antia harbored no more evil than any other. The potential for such was present in every soul of Hyrule. Antia had merely embraced it. She was still mortal, and was still a woman. She appreciated beauty as much as anyone else, and was in no rush to march for the capital.

Cautiously, Arfan approached the river where Antia bathed. The young captain took her time before speaking; she knew better than anyone the unpredictable moods of her queen. "My lady?" she said slowly.

Fortunately, Antia did not anger or snap. "Arfan," she smiled, "my devoted captain. What news do you bring?"

"No news, my lady," replied Arfan, relieved. "The troops await your orders. I was merely wondering when it would be your wish to proceed."

The queen didn't answer for a moment. She closed her eyes and slid further into the cool water. "We made good time yesterday. By my reckoning we are only a four or five hour march from the city. The attack will be most effective after sunset, so there is no need to break camp until after midday." She lazily opened an eye to look up at Arfan. "Tell the army to relax and conserve energy, and I will come to them when it is time to depart."

Arfan knelt and bowed her head, orange hair spilling about her knees. "Yes, my lady." She stood to leave.

"You should join me, Arfan. It feels lovely."

"I… I have duties to attend to, my lady."

"Ah, of course. You are sure it is not because you feel a secret attraction to me?"

Arfan's face turned red. "Of course not!"

Antia feinted pain and sighed. "You are saying I'm not attractive."

"No, my lady, you are!" said Arfan quickly. "Your beauty… your beauty shames the goddesses!"

"Get out of my sight, before I punish you for your insult," hissed Antia, glaring dangerously at the groveling captain.

Arfan stood swiftly and turned to leave.

"Oh, and Arfan?"

The captain turned back to Antia nervously. "Yes, my lady?"

"Two soldiers have been staring at me from behind those shrubs to the south."

Arfan didn't look, but she trusted her queen's senses.

"They are beginning to annoy me," said the queen, sighing and closing her eyes again, "but I find that I am quite comfortable, and would prefer not to leave this spot. I would appreciate it if you could dispose of them on your way back to camp."

Arfan bowed again, smiling slightly in relief. "Anything, my lady." She got to her feet and strode off.

The two Hellspawn hadn't caught the conversation, but they could care less. Queen Antia hadn't moved, and the day was still young.

"You settle for watching, because you're too pathetic to ever actually win the touch of a woman." The companions spun around at the silky voice to see Captain Arfan standing behind them. "Well come here, I'll show you what it feels like."

They exchanged a nervous glance and took a few steps forward. Without warning, Arfan twisted in a blur and the hilts of two long daggers appeared protruding from both soldiers' hearts.

She roughly yanked out her knives and shoved the bodies of the two Hellspawn to the dirt before turning away in disgust. "Men," she muttered.