AN: Umm… no news…
Responses:
Gaara-kun39: Glad you liked it, thanks for the review!
Outofstategrl: Wow, I'm a bit flattered that you called my story a "masterpiece" and "work of art." I'm not complaining of course. Anyway, I swear I didn't actually make that chapter short out of spite; it just turned out that way! I was only being a jerk when I said it was a punishment. Thanks for the review!
Anime Wildfire: Glad your feeling better; I can't blame you for being sick. Thanks for the review.
Col - Remy's girl: Thanks for the review, nice to see someone new!
"Great Deku Tree! Great Deku Tree!!!!" A voice shouted from above.
Link looked up. A Korok was gliding down on a leaf propeller, hovering in front of the Deku tree.
"What is it, Leddnar?" The Deku Tree asked.
"It's Makar! Makar! We… we were flying outside, and I know we aren't supposed to but we went near the Forbidden Woods! And Makar flew over it, and fell inside! I tried to go after him but the monsters chased me away!" Leddnar explained.
"THE FORBIDDEN WOODS!" The Great Deku Tree roared.
Naito had run over, and was standing beside Link. "Can we help?" He asked, rather out of character.
"I'm afraid if you want the pearl, you must. He is integral to the ritual, and the world is doomed if we cannot make more trees. We cannot give up the pearl until we have completed the ceremony. You cannot enter the forest on your own though… it is high up on a nearby island, with a sheer cliff to all sides. You would have to fly in…" He replied.
"Maybe you haven't noticed, but neither of us can sprout wings on a whim." Naito commented.
Link gave him a small kick, and said "Do you know of a way to get us in?"
"Naito, yes. But not you. I can sprout a magic leaf for Naito, but I am afraid you would be a bit too heavy, Link." The tree explained. When he was done, he suddenly looked as though he were concentrating very hard. With a roar, a beam of light shone up from one of his branches. When it died down, there was a leaf very different from the rest up there, surrounded by a green glow.
"Hmm… my strength is waning… Forgive me, but can you climb up and get it?" The tree asked.
Naito sighed and nodded, heading off to the back of the tree where branches were lower. Link had been looking at the tree, and finally asked the question on his mind. "I know this is a peaceful place, but I also know you have great knowledge. Is there a sword in or near this forest, anywhere? I… I lost mine."
"Hmm… perhaps. It is inside of me, but surely I can grant access to you, the Hero of Time. There will be a test, but it should not challenge you. The Sword of Earth will be you reward if you are successful. Will that do?" He asked.
Link nodded. The Deku Tree opened his mouth, and a wooden tongue lowered, creating a ramp up and in. Link strode forward, up and in. The mouth slammed shut behind him, and he was plunged into darkness.
A green light appeared. A sweet voice emanated from it, a voice Link knew anywhere. "You seek the Sword of Earth? It has been a long time since any have dared… I am the spirit of Saria, the sage of the forest."
"Saria?" Link asked, but it continued without listening and he realized it was a recording of sorts.
"You must prove your worth… play the song of the ancient forest temple to begin the test."
Link drew the Ocarina of Time, which Zelda never asked him to give back upon his return from Termina. He looked at it with a fresh wave of homesickness, but ignored it and began to play the upbeat "Minuet of Forest."
A chime he heard often in temples rang out. "Your test begins…"
The green light changed, floating up and increasing in brightness, illuminating the entire chamber with an eerie green light. Link drew his biggoron sword slowly. He took a tentative step forward.
SMACK! Something big hit him from the side, knocking him over. The unseen force picked him up, and tossed him to the other side of the room. He rolled to his feet, only to get smack down again. He looked all over, slowly reaching into his bag of equipment. He drew the lens of truth, jamming the red side to his eye. This was the side for allowing him to see the invisible, the blue on revealed illusions.
There was a hand floating. His first thought was Bongo Bongo, but the hand was brown like a floormaster. It was also seemed to be growing patches of grass, and had vines all over its fingers. It was slightly bigger than the average floormaster, and seemed able to float all over at will.
It flew at him suddenly. He tried to dodge, but it slapped him and the lens of truth flew across the room. Link swore, getting to his feet and drawing his sword. At least he knew what he was up against. He closed his eyes, focusing his sensitive ears.
A sound from the left. He spun and slashed out, grazing the hand. Green blood trickled out, revealing a bit of it. The problem was green blood was still hard to see in the green light, but it was a start.
He kept his sharp eyes on the floating wound, holding his sword ready. The hand charged at him suddenly, and he thrust at it. It shot above him with amazing agility, and came slamming down. He rolled forward, and spun as it charged again. Link ran and slid forward, slicing his sword in a powerful arch upwards. He sliced a finger clean off, and it fell to the ground, bursting into flame.
The hand seemed unfazed. I charged again, and Link pulled out his last trick. Din's fire caught the rest of the monster, and it flew around erratically before exploding against a wall. Link gave his sword a mighty twirl, sheathing it.
"Well done… you have defeated the forest hand. You are surely no ordinary swordsman… the Sword of Earth is yours."
A ray of light shot down from the floating orb, and hit the ground. It faded away, revealing a hole. Link stepped forward and hopped down.
He was in a smaller chamber. There was no source of light, but he could see fine. The room was empty except for a pedestal on a raised area in the centre. A sword was in the pedestal, with a brown hilt. The cross guard was shaped like a long diamond on its side, and the pommel was without a doubt the spiritual stone of the forest. Link would recognize it anywhere. The whole sword was overgrown with vines.
He stepped up to it, placing his hands on the grip. With a single tug and a brief flash of green light, it came free. The vines slid off like dead snakes. He held it up, examining it better. The blade was shiny silver, but it seemed to have a green tint when he looked at it just right. It also had the symbol of the forest sage carved into both sides of the blade, near the hilt.
He gave it three short swings, raising it up. It was definitely a good sword.
"That sword was forged within the lost woods… use it well." Saria's voice said. As soon as it finished, the room around Link faded away, and he appeared back in front of the Deku Tree.
Naito was there too. "About time… I was about to go in there after you." He said.
"Hmm. Did either of you think of a way for me to get inside?" Link asked.
"Yes. I have a simple solution. I'll get a bunch of the Koroks to carry you across." The tree explained.
Link nodded. "We will leave, but first I must teach Naito something."
Naito looked at him questioningly. Link guided him away before speaking. "As soon as I saw you I knew you had magic in you… I'm going to try and teach you how to use it… I was taught by a Great Fairy, but that's obviously not convenient. I'll have to do."
"Magic?" Naito asked.
Link nodded. "It isn't hard as long as you have it. Just close your eyes focus on everything inside you. You heartbeat, your breathing, your thoughts… everything. You will feel it, somewhere in your very soul."
Link himself did it, finding it, a concentration of energy. He opened his eyes to see Naito with his brow furrowed, trying it. Suddenly his eyes shot open. "What was that!?" he yelled.
"That was it, probably. You just have to tap into that. To practice, I'm going to teach you the spin attack." Link said, "Just hold your sword in a comfortable position, and find that energy. Will it to move down you arm, and into your sword."
He acted it out, resting his sword behind him and urging the power into his blade. It glowed bright orange. Naito mimicked him, standing for quite a while with nothing happening. Eventually a dull orange glow came off of his sword, surprising him. He spun with it, unleashing a small wave of energy.
Link nodded. "Careful, it will deplete your magic. It recharges over time. I would teach you more, but we have to go. Just remember your magic."
Naito nodded, listening intently now. They headed back to the Great Deku Tree, who got seven Koroks to guide them. They were led through a tunnel which led out to a ledge high above the ocean. The two Links looked out at the dark island in the distance.
A Korok spoke up, saying, "Alright. You, the smaller one. You have to hold the leaf above you and jump, it will carry you across. We're going to carry the big guy."
Naito looked out. At least if he fell, it was soft water. Without pausing to think, he gripped the leaf and jumped. To his surprise, it flared to a much larger size and caught the wind. He glided along at good speed. The Koroks wasted no time, flying around Link. They all grabbed something, arms, legs, torso, and lifted off. They flew forward, almost plummeting but managing to hold him up. Link sound this surprising, as they themselves weighed next to nothing.
They dropped a bit too low, but an updraft gave them the boost they needed to make it to the edge of the forest island. Link thanked them, and they flew back. Naito had been waiting for a while. Together they stood at the edge, looking at the dense forest ahead. A foul wind blew, as if foreshadowing death. The very mood of the forest was melancholy and depressed. Link gripped his sword hilt, reassuring himself, and together they strode into the unknown.
AN: I know it seems a bit rushed at the end, but I had to get all this done. Back to fun stuff next chapter I hope. PLEASE REVIEW!