The hero and his guide approached the giant tree guardian. Link frowned as his mind reeled from the information that he was still processing.
The enemy basically had three chains of command as far as he could tell. At the bottom was a nameless minion that seemed to be the one that was in charge of trying to oppose him personally. He was the only one that they had encountered regularly but seemed to know the hero even though he had never met anyone like him before. He still answered to the mysterious Hooded Man. Sheik had guessed that since this man was so surprised that Sheik had been brought to their base and by the way the minion had acted so bitterly toward him that the minion wasn't loyal at all to the Hooded Man.
The intimidating fact was that this mysterious figure was the connection that Dayadin had within the mortal realm. The god of creation was his main enemy and he would be lying to himself if he said he wasn't terrified of that. It wasn't like any enemy he had faced so far. He doubted any of his ancestors had faced anything like this before. He felt consumed with shame at the thought that he couldn't overcome this fear. He was the bearer of courage for Farore's sake!
I guess I will have to think of this a different way…maybe the Triforce of Courage is meant to give me the strength to try to face the fear that would normally turn others away instead of becoming incapable of feeling it in the first place.
When he stripped this fearful image down to its roots, then it presented a strange concept to the hero. The mere idea that the Three had something as simple and normal as a father was strange to him. They were always otherworldly figures that represented the very concepts that formed the world they lived in. The thought that they were basically like the very creatures that they created was phenomenal.
Link felt a kinship with the Goddess of Life now. Well, he supposed he always did, since he was the holder of her piece of the Triforce but it wasn't the same. Before, she was just part of a legend that said he was destined to be a Great Hero. Now Farore had a face and a voice. She was real and he could almost feel her asking for his aid.
He glanced down at the gauntleted hand that had the golden Triforce symbol on the top.
Don't worry…I will find a way to help you and bring down the one who is threatening our home.
"May we have the Kokiri's Emerald now? It is essential to move forward in this quest," he heard his guide say to the giant tree guardian.
Woody hummed, the sound making his long wooden body rumble and the sound to vibrate through the air.
"The three spiritual stones are sacred to those who guard them. I understand they are needed now though. You cannot simply take the stone however. You must earn it. The Hero of Time needed to prove himself and so shall his descendent," said Woody. The giant tree guardian leaned its body forward and then looked down at the Sheikah.
"The Hero of Time didn't prove himself alone however, and neither shall his descendent. So, you may go with him Sheik. Give your guidance when it is needed and provide a way to return from the other side," said Woody. The meaning of his message was not lost on Sheik. He glanced subtly at Link. The hero was peering at the top of his hand with the Triforce symbol with a pensive look donning his face.
Link looked up when hundreds of fairies and forest spirits started to gather around them. They giggled and laughed occasionally as they sang the Ballad of Heaven. The hero chuckled as several fairies zoomed around them both, their fairy dust floating gently around them. It made the air sparkle and gleam.
"A word of warning to you Sheik. You best not teleport when you enter or you will surely end up somewhere you shouldn't be again," said Woody gravely. The Sheikah nodded. Saria had explained on the way there that the new ward they had surrounded the heart of the forest with would not allow any foreign arcane force to penetrate its surface. Teleportation was among the things that it forbid. Sheik had been involved with creating it so it couldn't stop him from teleporting but it still hindered him. He would have honestly preferred if it had just stopped him but at least he knew not to do it again.
"Make haste then you two. And may the Goddesses give you the courage you need to remain who you are meant to be, Hero of Twilight," said Woody cryptically. Link blinked, slightly unnerved at that statement.
Then the giant tree guardian opened his mouth wide and soft green light shone out from within. Link bowed his head slightly and took a deep breath as he felt the energy of pure life emitting from within. It beckoned him forward, whispering in a voice like a sweet honey. His canine senses were already in overdrive as they picked up all the sounds and smells that he had associated with spring time. Like wild flowers in bloom, birds singing in the bright sunlight, ice in the north starting to melt as the warm weather pushed the chill of winter away, and the beginning of harvest season. He smiled as he could practically smell the pumpkin seeds that he and Ilia would plant at the beginning of spring.
The hero glanced over when he felt a hand on his arm. Sheik waited patiently next to him, nodding to indicate that he could take all the time he needed. Link smiled softly as his sensitive nose picked up the familiar scent of pine from the Sheikah. It was starting to become a calming element for the hero and he suddenly laughed when he felt the wolf nuzzle against the side of its cage at the warm sensation that filled his body.
Sheik tilted his head at the laugh but Link just grinned.
"Let's do this then!" exclaimed Link. The Sheikah couldn't help but chuckle as he quickly followed the hero as he went barreling toward the soft green light.
Odd how running into a giant mouth didn't seem to bother the hero but it might be because he had experienced much stranger things. Sheik was a bit unnerved but the fact that the giant mouth belonged to someone that wouldn't eat them was greatly reassuring.
The Sheikah paused when they finally reached the center chamber. The hero had a strange look on his face. Like he was trying to decide between confusion and frustration.
"Link?" asked Sheik as he reached his side. The hero turned and seemed to settle into a confused state.
"It's like the feeling and sight of this place is familiar but…there isn't any memories resurfacing. I don't understand what that means. Memories would surface because they were triggered by something that my big brother had gone through and that would fill me with the sensations that he felt when he experienced them for the first time. I've never felt the sensations without first seeing any memories before," muttered Link uncertainly. Sheik hummed as he thought about it. Saria had mentioned someone called the Great Deku Tree before…perhaps it was the original guardian of the forest?
"I think you feel that way because the Hero of Time had to prove his right to obtain the Kokiri's Emerald just like you are now but I don't think Woody is the original guardian of this forest. So, he must have done his test somewhere else. The journey is the same but the road you're traveling is not," said Sheik thoughtfully. Link nodded and then glanced up toward the top of the giant wooden tree trunk.
Writhing vines covered the entire ceiling and they continuously twisted and turned like slithering snakes. Link thought he caught sight of something golden among the vines but then it disappeared.
"It's up there…I can feel it," muttered Link as he peered closer to the ceiling covered in vines.
Sheik peered up as well but quickly looked away at the blinding green light. He wasn't trained in aura or arcane sight so situations like this and even during the chase that eventually led him to the hidden library were foreign to him. It frustrated the Sheikah to always face a problem that he didn't know how to handle. The only reason he even knew to call such a skill 'arcane sight' was because of the ancient scrolls left from his people back home.
"Well, I guess the best way to go is up. Do you think those vines are safe to climb?" asked Link as he glanced at the writhing vines on the wall. He would be willing to bet that they weren't but he hoped that maybe Sheik would see some other way up that he hadn't noticed yet.
The Sheikah stepped closer to the wall and peered around. There wasn't any ledges or any kind of natural structure that could have helped them ascend to the top. As he glanced along the surrounding walls he didn't see anything like a ladder either but he paused when he spotted something off to the side, barely visible behind the vines near the floor.
"There, on the wall. Do you see it?" asked Sheik as he pointed toward the right of them. Link glanced that way but didn't see anything until the vines moved just enough to reveal a groove in the wall.
As they approached, they gradually could see several grooves lining up with each other that led up toward the ceiling.
"This is the way up but the vines will hinder us. It would be extremely dangerous to try and climb while slashing at them," muttered the Sheikah as he peered closer at the writhing vines. He frowned when he noticed that the grooves don't seem to even be that deep. They would have to focus all their attention in their climb or they could easily lose their grip and fall.
Sheik tapped his chin with his index finger in thought as he leaned forward slightly to inspect the grooves hidden by the vines, but they suddenly lashed out like a snake and wrapped around his wrist. He cried out in pain as he felt something sharp rip into his skin. Arms wrapped around his waist and tried to pull him away just as he noticed that the vines were growing thorns. They twisted and more thorns extended from the writhing vines and he screamed when they ripped deeper into his wrist and slithered up his arm.
He instinctively summoned a dagger into his free hand but felt the spell backfire, hindered by the chaotic primal magic in the air and caused his hand to snap back from the force of the failed spell. Link grunted as the force caused Sheik's arm to elbow him in the gut, but the Sheikah was just glad at the moment that it had been a weak spell. His other hand stung now but if the spell had been any stronger, then the force would have shattered the bones in his hand for sure.
Sheik heard a muttered curse before he was shoved to the floor and suddenly Link stepped over him and slammed his palm into the ground with a grunt. Flames appeared all around them and danced around the pair until quickly forming a dome that shot outward. Sheik was dragged away as the writhing vines immediately released him and began to spasm as if in pain.
Link dragged Sheik to the center of the chamber and then collapsed on the floor. He pulled the Sheikah close and leaned over him protectively as he watched the vines thrash against the flames but seemed to mostly avoid it. The fire died out quickly, which seemed a bit odd to him, and then the vines slowly slithered down to cover the grooves in the wall again.
The hero took a deep breath and then glanced down to see Sheik breathing rapidly through his nose with his eyes closed. His arm was held close to his chest but it looked horrible. The sleeve of his body suit was torn to shreds and he was seeing more red then white because of the blood that was soaking into the material. Deep gashes ran along his arm and almost reached his shoulder but his wrist was the worst. Link winced when he saw bone sticking out of his wound and gently laid him on the ground.
Sheik cracked a single pained red eye open and peered at the hero to try and convey his gratitude. The hero smiled gently as he hurriedly reached into his pouch and pulled a red potion out. The Sheikah would need at least three of the potions to heal his wrist enough to even move it somewhat normally again. He had only enough money left to get one before they came in though.
The Sheikah seemed to notice it and slowly reached into his suit and after searching for a few moments, he pulled out another red potion.
"I will just use this one…you might need that one later," grunted Sheik painfully. Link frowned as his guide drank the red potion he had fished out. He took the empty bottle from the Sheikah and then gently pulled his wounded arm closer, ignoring the blood that started to spill into his lap and covered his hand.
The most serious wounds were already starting to heal but his wrist didn't heal as much because the potion had to replace a lot of blood. He popped the cork off his potion and poured some over his palm. He shushed his guide when he began to protest and gently laid his hand around Sheik's injured wrist.
Sheik hissed in pain but he felt the top layer of his skin starting to seal back together. He needed several weeks of rest before his wrist could function properly again but at least it wasn't excruciatingly painful to move it now. Link paused occasionally to pour some of his potion onto his palm again until the bottle was empty. Sheik lifted his wrist and winced when it still hurt but it felt more like a severe sprain now.
He tried to glare at the hero for using so much of their resources on him but it was halfhearted and Link just smiled in return.
"Thank you Link. I dearly hope you will not need those potions though," muttered Sheik as the hero helped him to his feet.
The Sheikah reached into his suit to pull out the only thing thick and sturdy enough to wrap around his injured wrist. Link tried not to laugh at the sight of the bright pink shawl that Sheik had been forced to wear through most of the Forest Temple, instead walking up to help the Sheikah wrap it around his wound.
"If I'm going to find a way up this wall from hell, then I need to do so without any distractions. Like the fact that you would be sitting at the bottom in a puddle of your own blood and in severe pain because these damn things almost ripped your arm off," said Link with a frown. Sheik sighed and glanced up the writhing vines again.
Some were blackened and still sizzling from the fire they had snuffed out but it did give him an idea.
"I think the Kokiri's Emerald is a natural avoidant to fire. If I remember the battle with Moros correctly, then what you had used against it was Din's Fire, yes?" asked Sheik as he looked to Link for confirmation. The hero nodded.
"Well, something of that magnitude should have caused more damage than this…which leads me to believe that the stone is suppressing the effects somewhat. We could use that. Link, try throwing a fireball at the wall," said Sheik as he pointed to a random part of the vine covered wall that hadn't been touched with fire. Link raised an eyebrow but stepped forward and reached a hand out.
He focused his energy and a flame appeared in his palm. He flicked his wrist in the direction he wanted it to go and the fireball went sailing toward the wall. As soon as it made contact with the vines they thrashed and immediately twisted away to avoid it. Within seconds they returned to snuff out the remaining flames. Sheik hummed as he watched the behavior.
"It seems like the vines react independently but the Spiritual Stone is able to influence them once it senses the danger…you will need to act quickly and with precise aim if you want to reach the top before the vines are influenced to overwhelm you. I have to admit though…it's a bit ridiculous that you can use magic easily while I almost hurt myself when I tried to use a weak summoning spell," said Sheik somewhat bitterly as he turned to Link. The hero shrugged and gave him an apologetic look.
The Sheikah frowned in confusion when Link started to shrug off his shield and then slipped off the Master Sword. He set them on the floor and then turned his back to Sheik and squatted in front of him.
"Hop on," said Link. Sheik blinked several times as he processed what that meant. Link glanced back at him when Sheik continued to stand there and gestured for him to hurry up.
"Ah…that would not be…I mean…I have a useless arm for Goddess's sake Link! What are you thinking? I'll just slow you down and that is the last thing that you need right now!" exclaimed Sheik finally. Link sighed and glanced back at him again.
"You're supposed to 'offer guidance when it is needed' right? How are you going to do that from way down here?" asked Link as he raised an eyebrow. Sheik scowled as he remembered what the giant tree guardian had told him. It was a bit embarrassing that the hero realized it before he did.
"Oh, fine then," muttered Sheik. He approached Link and paused as he thought of how to proceed before just leaning down against the hero's back and wrapping his good arm loosely around Link's torso.
Link gripped Sheik's uninjured arm and straightened, making Sheik tighten his hold to stay there. He swiftly pulled Sheik up a little higher as the Sheikah wrapped his legs around his waist. Sheik was grateful that Link couldn't see the fierce blush spreading across his face but then Link released his arm and rubbed his hands together.
"Huh, you're not that heavy at all. This is gonna be a breeze," said Link with a chuckle. Sheik huffed at that. Leave it to Link to make a dangerous situation seem like a child's game. He opened his mouth to reprimand him but gasped when Link suddenly leaned forward and placed a foot behind himself, like a runner in a race.
"Hold on partner!" exclaimed Link as a small flame appeared in his hand. The hero flicked his wrist and the fireball went sailing toward the writhing vines but this time Link went sprinting after it. A few Sheikah curses slipped through Sheik's lips, making the hero snicker at the strange words.
Then the fireball hit the wall and the vines thrashed again and raised higher to avoid the heat. He let loose another fireball a few feet above the grooves he aimed to climb and the surrounding vines raised even higher to avoid the flames.
Link quickly dug his hands and feet into the grooves of the wall and started to climb. He was fast, and Sheik didn't seem to slowly him down at all but the Sheikah watched nervously as the vines below them started return to snuff out the flames. He shivered as the powerful primal presence above them seemed to wash over the area and the writhing vines would immediately return to where they were meant to be.
The hero leaned back suddenly and let loose another fireball above them but he cursed as Sheik heard the sound of something ripping from below them. He glanced down and noticed that the vines had slashed the heel of the hero's boot but he was already out of their range before they could wrap his bleeding foot in their deadly embrace. The hero glanced up and swore that the ceiling looked even farther away than it did on the ground but he quickened his pace.
After the sixth fireball, Link started to get dizzy. His breathing increased and he realized that he was running out of magic. His guide noticed the slight pause in his climb so he leaned close to his ear.
"Link? Are you alright?" asked Sheik against his ear worriedly.
"Yeah, I'm almost out of magic though. Never had to use it continuously like this before," muttered Link with a strained voice. Sheik looked worriedly at the surrounding vines. They thrashed and seemed to get even more violent the closer to the ceiling they got. It got to the point where they didn't move as far away as those at the bottom and the hero hissed in pain when a vine slashed at his exposed arm.
Sheik wasn't sure what to do. He couldn't slash at the vines with only one good arm. They would knock him from Link's back for sure and he doubted his body would even reach the ground before getting ripped to pieces by the vines that would lash out when he fell near them. There wasn't a place to rest and they couldn't go back. His mind reeled as he tried to come up with a solution but suddenly a vine wrapped around the hero's out stretched arm.
Trails of blood immediately started to drip down the length of Link's arm but what startled the Sheikah was that the hero didn't make a sound. He just stiffened, and then a low growl suddenly vibrated though his body.
He reared back and ripped his arm from the grip of the thorny vine but this time his entire body glowed with a red light. Sheik flinched as the hero's blood seemed to rain across his face but then closed his eyes as he was overwhelmed from the intense and blinding presence of magic from both the wrathful wolf within the hero and the Spiritual Stone that must have been not more than a few feet ahead of them.
Then the hero's fist smashed into the wooden surface he was gripping and a sea of fire washed over the surrounding area. The few vines that survived the surge of violent and wrathful surge of magic thrashed as they avoided the flames that still continued to burn around the now visible bright green emerald.
The jewel was spherical and had pure gold outlining the sides of it but Sheik wasn't able to really appreciate the design since he couldn't even look directly at it without blinding himself.
The wolf climbed the rest of the way in what felt like a few effortless bounds and then leaned close to the hovering green jewel. Sheik gasped as Link suddenly swayed on the spot but then quickly gripped the grooves in the wall and pulled himself closer.
"What the hell…? What happened…?" muttered the hero as he tried to catch his breath.
"The wolf came out to save you. Now take the bloody stone before the vines return to finish us off!" exclaimed Sheik hysterically. He was normally better composed then this but the powerful unstable presence of magic was destroying his self-control.
Link winced when Sheik's fingers dug into his chest, so he reached forward without a second thought and wrapped his hand around the bright green stone.
Time seemed to stop as the hero grabbed the stone but then Sheik cried out when Link suddenly went limp and fell from the wall. He panicked when the vines caught them and pulled them closer to the wall.
His first thought was to shield Link's face so he reached out to wrap his arms around the hero's head but he paused when the excruciating pain never came. The vines were smooth and simply wrapped around every inch of them to keep them from falling.
Sheik was in awe as the soft green light started to engulf the hero, making him radiate with its primal essence. He pushed the vines away from Link's face and then tilted the hero's head to face him. His cerulean eyes were open but they looked far away, like the hero's mind was elsewhere.
This frightened the Sheikah. Was this supposed to happen? The presence of magic was so strong that it would surely damage Link's mind if he allowed it to influence him.
He lightly slapped Link's cheek in an attempt to get his attention but the hero remained in a trance.
"Link? Can you hear me?" asked Sheik. The hero didn't respond, but the Sheikah forced himself to take a few calming breaths.
Maybe this was meant to happen. Maybe this was part of the test that Link had to do on his own.
Then Sheik remembered the other part of what Woody had told him…provide a way to return from the other side.
The Sheikah glanced over at Link again and studied his face. The blank expression and faraway look was so unlike him…how would he even begin to think of a way to return him from the other side? Where exactly was the other side?
His eyes widened when Link started to blink, as if confused by something. Then suddenly his expression changed and he lunged forward with a vicious snarl. Sheik flinched and panicked at such a change in behavior. It took him a moment to realize that the angry hero wasn't trying to harm him. The one that was currently ripping and biting the vines surrounding them was actually the wolf.
Whatever was happening to Link, the wolf within him felt threatened by it.
Then suddenly the hero's entire body froze before a pained animalistic yelp filled the air. The wolf angrily thrashed against the vines with renewed vigor but would yelp occasionally as if in pain. What was happening?
Sheik glanced at the stone and had to squint through the bright green light surrounding the Spiritual Stone but suddenly remembered what Dude had said. The Kokiri's Emerald influences joyful thoughts…he couldn't image too many joyful experiences coming from having a divine beast living within you. Especially when you were twisted by a foreign realm in order for it to exist in the first place.
The Sheikah tightened his hold on the thrashing wolf and spoke to it softly. He didn't know if it would even recognize him. Or if it did, he hoped it wouldn't turn its fury on him instead. It happened slowly, but eventually the wolf started to calm.
Sheik held on tightly to the hero's torso, speaking softly to the wolf as it continually glanced around nervously. Link's upper lip was still drawn up in a silent snarl but the wolf looked out through his eyes in fear. It was strange seeing the hero this way, but the wolf was frightened by what the Kokiri's Emerald was doing to Link. He had to reach Link before he was too far gone. So, he leaned close to the hero's pointed ear.
"Link? Do you hear me? Don't let the Spiritual Stone change you! It is meant to reinforce what is already in your heart, not change it into something else. Do you understand? Are you hearing me at all?" asked Sheik desperately. The wolf still glanced around nervously while the hero himself didn't seem to hear him.
Sheik gasped when the wolf suddenly yelped again and Link's body jerked once. The Sheikah shook his head in disbelief when it seemed like Link's hair was getting lighter. He was getting lost in memories that weren't his!
Sheik looked away, trying to think of a way to reach out to him but nothing came to mind. Nothing but simply speaking to him. This was a battle that the hero had to fight himself.
"Link, please. Don't let this new experience color your opinion of who you are. The wolf may have been difficult to handle but he was there for you when the Twilight tried to imprison you like everyone else in Hyrule. I know that your ancestors seem like they are out of your league but you underestimate yourself. You have proven your courageous soul is just as strong as theirs. Please…you are better than this," muttered Sheik. What was he going to say? He shouldn't have to remind the hero of how valuable and cherished he was.
The Sheikah buried his face in the side of Link's neck. He realized then…just what the hero meant to him.
"You…are loved dearly by so many. Don't you remember your hometown? Do you remember the smell? The sight? The people that treated you like one of their own? What of those around Hyrule that become like family? Even the wolf cares for you. Everything he does is centered on you, even if it doesn't seem like it. You told me Midna was hurt badly once…where would she be without him? Where would you be without him? Link…please come back. You are the hero this world needs…that I need," said Sheik softly. He turned away and took a deep breath. He didn't think he could say anything else without becoming emotional.
He gasped when the vines began to lower them to the ground. He smiled in relief when the hero's blonde hair started to darken again. He heard him! Thank Goddesses…
Link groaned and blinked owlishly just when they were set on the ground. He rubbed his eyes and glanced around.
"Wha…? Sheik? What, ah, where are you?" asked Link uncertainly. He froze when he felt a shot of warm breath against his pointed ear.
"You're lying on top of me…again," said Sheik. He chuckled when Link rolled away and looked down at him worriedly. He gestured that he was fine and stood to his feet.
The Sheikah approached Link as he peered down at the bright green emerald in his palm.
"That was…intense," muttered Link as he lifted the emerald to peer closer at it. He thought he saw sparkling writhing vines continuously moving within its depths, much like the ones that had been guarding it.
"Forgive me Link…it was incredibly stupid of me to tell you to touch that stone without preparing you for the test it obviously had for you," said Sheik shamefully. It was his job to make sure that kind of dangerous situation doesn't happen and yet, here he was encouraging it instead.
Link frowned as he looked up to meet Sheik's ruby red gaze.
"I don't think there was anything you could have done to prepare me for what this thing did," said Link before he glanced toward the side, "I'm just glad you were there in the end. I was so lost, just spiraling down this endless hole filled with hundreds and thousands of memories that…were happy yes, but I knew they weren't mine. But the more I tried to avoid them, the more I seemed to find them. Then I heard the wolf. I think it was trying to help but when I followed the sound of its howling, I reached the memories of my time within the Twilight…they were unique only to me. But it was like reliving them again…"
Link shakily ran a hand thought his hair as he thought about the experience. It wasn't something he ever wanted to see, let alone experience again. The perpetual twilight, always reaching across the sky and twisting the souls of those that dwell in the light. Like swimming underwater and seeing the surface but never reaching it, no matter far you swam.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Sheik looking down at him. He couldn't see his face but he knew he was smiling by the warmth in his red eyes. Link smiled in return and then stood to his feet.
"When the experience of my time within the Twilight startled me, everything suddenly was outlined with green light and then the wolf felt so far away. It was strange not feeling its presence so close," said Link warily. Sheik crossed his arms and glanced own at the gleaming green stone clutched in the hero's hand. Such a little thing had caused so much chaos.
"The wolf is a part of you but also a reminder of your time within the Twilight. The painful memories are the exact opposite of what the Kokiri's Emerald naturally influences. It must have tried to bury the wolf once it sensed the tension that rose with your memories of the Twilight," said Sheik. Link sighed.
That image bothers me more than I ever thought it would…
"It was impossible to navigate through that ocean of pure chaos…but then I heard your voice. I couldn't really hear what you were saying but it kept me grounded. I followed it and then I was running into memories that I had long since forgotten. Like when Rusl brought Epona home for the first time as a foal. She was so small and shy. It took ages to get her to trust me but once she did, we were inseparable. Or when Ilia and I were little and we gathered all the radishes in town and snuck out into the woods to bury them so we wouldn't have to eat them anymore. Heh, we didn't think that one through. Turns out they grew into a giant patch that would give the town radishes for years," said Link amusingly before turning to grin at his guide, "Then I saw you. These little moments would pop up. Like when you were brushing and speaking to Maelstrom, like he was a friend and not just a mount. It was so much like the way I speak to Epona. Oh! And that time when we were playing that imaginary game! That was the first time you really relaxed around me and I don't know…It felt good. Well, obviously since it was magnified by this right?"
Link gestured toward the green jewel in his hand and then smiled shyly.
"The point I guess is…thanks. I wouldn't have found my way out of that mess if not for you," said Link softly. Then he stuffed the gleaming green stone into his pouch and nodded toward the exit.
"We should high tail it out of here though. Daylight is wasting," said Link before heading out.
Sheik paused as he thought about what just happened. He knew what he wanted now. But did he have the right? Was the hero even interested in the same?
He heard Link call out to him so he shook his head and swiftly followed Link outside.
As soon as they walked outside they were swarmed by the children of the forest. They tugged at their clothing and poked at random places, all asking several things all at once.
"Enough! All of you settle down now. They are fine and have succeeded in their quest," said Woody sternly. His entire body shook, causing leaves to drop to the ground as he gave an exasperated sigh.
"I am glad that you two have now gained the aid of both the Sage of the Forest and the Spiritual Stone of the Forest. Though to be completely honest, I would have appreciated a warning before you decided to unleash waves of fire within myself but nonetheless, good job," said Woody with a huff.
Link looked guilty up at the giant tree guardian.
"Sorry about that. That was the most effective method we found to reach our goal. Do you need me to do anything for you?" asked Link. Woody hummed in appreciation.
"You are already doing it young hero. Now make haste. The next Sage is in need of awakening," said Woody. Link nodded and turned to glance at his guide.
Sheik was peering up into the sky where the hundreds of fairies and forest spirits had gone back to devoting all their attention to singing the Ballad of Heaven. The hero frowned once he caught sight of the bright pink wrapping around Sheiks injured wrist.
He needs that fixed…it was pretty serious though. There's only so much the body can handle at a time so I don't think any more red potions are going to do any good until later.
Link noticed a green head nearby so he wove his way toward it and tapped Saria softly on top of the head. She looked up with a grin but then tilted her head worriedly when he knelt in front of her.
"Listen, Sheik got pretty hurt in there. Enough that I don't think red potion is going to do much for him right now. Can you heal a physical injury that has been somewhat sealed over already?" asked Link. Saria frowned as she glanced at the Sheikah, who seemed to notice that they were watching him. So, he started to walk toward them when Saria returned her attention to Link.
"It really depends on how serious the injury is. If he's already had a few red potions and he's still in bad shape then I would have to say that rest is the only thing that can help. Besides Dudes silver potion maybe, but he's not here and he doesn't really give it away easily anyway. He says it's really hard to make," said Saria as Sheik approached them. Link sighed he stood to his feet.
"Is there a problem?" asked Sheik. Saria reached over and gently grabbed a hold of his injured hand.
"Mind if I take a look?" asked Saria as she gestured toward the bright pink wrapping. Sheik glanced around, obviously uncomfortable with revealing it around so many people. Saria smiled before grabbing his other hand and pulled him in the direction of the pathway out of Woody's grove.
"Farewell you two. May the next time we meet be one for rejoicing once this enemy has fallen," said Woody. Link grinned and waved before following Sheik as he was practically dragged through the pathway out of the grove.
The hero chuckled as his guide almost stumbled into the small pool of water at the end and then disappeared into Saria's house.
Sheik was glaring at him when he finally appeared in doorway. Link raised an eyebrow.
"What's with the dirty look? I'm not the one that almost made you face plant into the water," said Link with a grin.
"I can't possibly be angry at Saria for simply wanting to help. You, however, made this seem worse than it really was! Of course this is your fault," muttered the Sheikah.
"Oh, come on. Your wrist was literally almost ripped from your body! That isn't a flesh wound Sheik. I don't think I made it as serious as it should have been," said Link with a frown. Saria sighed as she finally revealed the wound.
It had started to bruise badly, with long semi healed gash's that were starting to become scar's running up and down his arm.
"Yeah…your body probably won't be able to handle anymore red potion right now. All I can do is this," said Saria.
She raised her free hand and had it hover over his wrist. She closed her eyes and hummed softly. A soft green light, much like the energy that both boys had seen radiating from the Kokiri's Emerald shone from her hand. Strands of green energy swirled around the Sheikah's injury, and Sheik thought he saw sparkles of fairy dust swirling with them despite the fact there were no fairies in the house.
The remaining gashes sealed over to become scars and the throbbing in this wrist had lessened but didn't disappear. Several bruises were still present but he was still grateful. He could at least hold something light in that hand now.
"Thank you," said Sheik gratefully as he flexed his arm slightly. Saria nodded with a bright smile.
"Link needs his voice of reason to always have a clear head in case he tries to jump off a cliff due to that impatient nature of his," said Saria as she aimed a grin at the hero. He stuck his tongue out, making them both laugh.
"Anyway, the best way to heal that wrist is to rest. You can help speed it along if you drink red potion but any more than two a day would be a waste. Your body can only absorb so much of the potions nourishing energy. Unfortunately that is gonna be hard while traveling so…sleep when you can, ok?" said Saria sheepishly. Sheik was about to respond but suddenly a bright ball of red light suddenly zoomed into the room and attached itself to Sheik's nose.
"Sheiky! Sheiky! Sheiky! I was so worried!" exclaimed Abby as she hugged Sheik's nose tighter. The hero chuckled at the image, causing her to gasp and then suddenly zoom away and attach herself to his nose instead.
"And Linky! Oh, you both are such buttheads for making me worry like this!" exclaimed Abby. Link smiled as he scooped her up into his hands and peered down at her.
Sheik smiled softly as Abby continued to chastise Link, while he just pouted in return.
"We best be going now. Thank you again Saria," said Sheik as Abby started to fly around Link's head and giggle. He knew she wouldn't be able to withstand the hero masterful pout for long. Saria nodded and wrapped herself around him in a tight hug. The Sheikah still wasn't used to such acts of affection but he wasn't as surprised as the first time.
He rather liked having people willingly wanting to show that they were fond of him.
Link grinned as she ran over and hugged him as well. He lifted her and spun her around, making her giggle.
"Oh! Do you remember how to play my song?" asked Saria as she wrapped her arms around Link's neck.
"Ah, I'm afraid not. I've never even picked up an ocarina my entire life until I had to start using it recently. If my big brother used to play it a lot then I'm sure it will come to me. Just like all the other songs that I've developed instant skill in playing when it really mattered," said Link as he set her back on the ground.
"I would rather you know how to play it yourself…but it can't be helped if you don't know how to play the ocarina," said Saria sadly. Sheik frowned and then pulled out his lyre.
"If you can play it for me then I can try to duplicate it. I have a good memory when it comes to songs," replied Sheik. He frowned again when he tried to hold his instrument properly. Luckily, his injured hand wasn't the one that normally played the notes but it still made it difficult to hold the instrument as pain would flair in his wrist and shot up his arm.
He ignored it though, and nodded to Saria when she smiled at him. She pulled out her ocarina and held it ready. Link tilted his head when he finally saw the instrument up close. He tried to ignore the memory that flashed before his eyes, but couldn't help but feel the warmth that came with it.
She held a wooden ocarina that was stained a dark brown. It wasn't like the one that he saw in the memory, which had been a lighter brown. As he realized this, the rest of the memories influential energy rushed into his mind.
He closed his eyes at the sharp pain that briefly flared and then sighed as a few images appeared. He had seen many of them already, when he was spiraling out of control when trying to handle the primal power of the Kokiri's Emerald but it was different now.
As Saria played her song, the playful notes instantly created such an energetic energy that it made them want to dance wildly and laugh happily. The energy simply wouldn't allow any negative emotion to take hold of you.
It was the last thing that the Hero of Time had learned before having to leave the world he grew in behind.
This young girl was the most important person to you…wasn't she big brother?
Saria finished her song and laughed shyly as Sheik nodded approvingly at her. He seemed to be fond of the song as well.
"If you play it and concentrate on me, then you can talk to me anytime, ok?" said Saria before waving a finger at them, "But don't think of me if you're just going to play it for fun! I'll have to hurt you if you keep waking me up or contacting me without the need to talk!"
They both snickered, but then paused when they noticed they did so at the same time.
"That does seem like a mistake in the making when regarding you," said Sheik amusingly to Link. The hero smirked as he turned to head outside.
"Then I'll be sure to find a way to blame it on you instead," snickered Link as he darted outside. Sheik narrowed his eyes at the hero's retreating back. Saria raised an eyebrow as she noticed it, and then headed for the doorway.
"Don't take so long this time, ok? It should be painfully obvious that the feeling is mutual," said Saria with a snicker before she disappeared outside. Sheik's eyes widened in surprise but then he rushed after her. If she knew something then he had to know!
Once he stepped outside she was gone. The Sheikah cursed in his native language as he surveyed the area for her green hair but didn't spot her. He sighed as he caught sight of Link and Mido speaking near the boy's house.
The boy stood proudly, with a finger pointed toward Link like he was declaring something vastly important. Judging by Link's expression though, Sheik would guess it's nothing they hadn't heard before.
"I want to see you back here when this all blows over you hear?! You're not parading around saying that you beat the grand champion of Yowza! Which only happened because you got lucky!" he heard Mido declare to the hero when he approached. Link snickered as he ruffled the boy's hair. Mido's eyes went wide in disbelief before latching onto his arm and tried to pull him to the ground with a cry of frustration.
Sheik chuckled as Link raised his captured arm and lifted the complaining boy off the ground.
"I will meet you on the bridge since you seem to be…occupied," said Sheik with a smirk. Link grinned as he passed by.
Sheik was almost to the huge hollowed log that led to the bridge but paused and spun around when he heard a hysterical, "Noooooooo!" that easily pierced through the loud chorus of the Ballad of Heaven.
Link was laughing as he had Mido wrapped in a tight embrace but the orange haired boy was kicking and screaming like he was being badly burned. All the children of the forest were rolling on the floor from their hysterical laughter. Even Saria was having difficulty trying to chastise Link since she would pause every few seconds to laugh.
Then the sounds died away once Sheik stepped through the hollowed log and into darkness. Now that he wasn't following a potential enemy he was able to focus on the sensation of the darkness. It wasn't like the other logs they had walked through in this forest. He stressed his magic and it seemed to keep going…and Sheik felt that if he allowed it too, then it would keep going and never meet the other side.
He had always been fascinated with the different rules and abilities portrayed by the different kinds of magic. While one could heal and restore, another could destroy and altar.
The Sheikah had taken as many scrolls or books from the royal library and begged his mother to tell as many stories from the mages of his people as he could to try and learn how to properly use his arcane skills. That can only get you so far though. Much like the royal siblings, there just wasn't anyone that had the proper skill to teach him.
When hearing about the feats his ancestors had done, he had tried to find anything that could help him learn how to do the same. The stories that told of how the fully trained warriors of his people had the power of illusion and alteration. His mother had told him once that they could bend reality and create a space that existed separately from the world that the Goddesses had created.
That was essentially creating another world! A place that, if you tried to sense where the entrance was, you would just keep feeling the slight presence of magic go on forever. Just like this!
The Sheikah wanted so badly to ran back and find out how they had learned to do this. Because he understood now why this village was unable to be found by those that didn't have extraordinary arcane skill.
It existed in a place separate from the natural world!
He had to stop himself from grinning like a loon, especially when he heard the hero finally walk through the wooden log behind him.
Sheik turned, about to say something but paused when he noticed the unsettled look on the hero's face.
"Link? What wrong?" asked Sheik as he approached the hero. Link blinked, but then smiled and gestured that he was fine.
"It's nothing really," said Link. Sheik narrowed his eyes.
"What did that little jerk say to you?" asked Sheik lowly. The hero was only being friendly so if that boy hurt his feelings…
"Well, he did say something but it's not what you think. It sort of put something into perspective for me," said Link softly. He sighed and raised an arm to wrap around his other one and laid it across his chest.
"When you were unconscious…I felt so guilty by the wolf's violent attitude toward the kids that they all crowded into Saria's house to show that there wasn't any hard feelings. We started a game called Yowsa. It's basically a dice rolling game that adds up points and apparently Mido was a champ at it. The Hero of Time was known to suck at the game but I've always had good luck with games of chance," said Link as he looked to the side but then met Sheik's eyes and the Sheikah could see that something was bothering him about that, "Eventually it was down to just Mido and I. Of course you woke up right around that time so we never got to finish the game. When I decided to say goodbye to Mido…suddenly my big brothers memories of his return to his childhood home came to me. He and Mido made up. The kid said that he couldn't tell the difference between us right away. Until I started to lose a few rounds in Yowsa. He said that was what finally made it easier to realize that I am a different person now. Apparently I growl when I lose. I'm more like an animal while the Hero of Time was not,"
Sheik frowned at that. Link has accepted the wolf. He had proven that by now so what was really bothering him?
"So you had a different experience then your ancestor. Why is that a problem? Each Great Hero is meant to have their adventure but I would bet that each one had someone important they were trying to protect. I can tell that Saria must have been a very influential figure in the Hero of Time's life and I can't image having to leave behind the only life that I knew. I see a bit of yourself in that image," said Sheik softly.
Link was silent as he turned to stare out into the majestic forest surrounding them. Sheik wasn't sure what he should do, so he reached out and placed a hand on the arm resting against the hero's chest. This broke him from his daze and he turned to smile sadly.
The Sheikah froze when the hero leaned down to rest his forehead against Sheik's.
"I feel like the wolf is the part of me that shattered when the Twilight descended onto Hyrule. But instead of staying that way, the Triforce of Courage transformed that piece of me into something that could handle the new realm. That is the point though…that shattered part of me was changed not healed. So, if the wolf is the only reason that makes me different…then that means that I'm broken and the Hero of Time was not," muttered Link softly.
Sheik had been holding his breath while the hero spoke but he released it with a sigh that seemed to drain his anxiety.
"Then maybe you should work with the wolf instead of trying to keep it caged inside you. It might be less of animal and more of a companion then," said Sheik softly. Link's cerulean gaze held him captivated suddenly as the hero chuckled and covered the hand that still rested against his arm.
"I can't seem to thank Nayru enough for sending you to aid me. You seem to know me better then I know myself," said Link but then his eyes traveled lower and widened as he noticed something, "Oh my Goddess…you have freckles? That's adorable,"
Sheik's red eyes widened as a fierce blush spread across his face when he realized that Link must have been close enough to peer down his shawl. Link seemed to notice so his hands shot out to grip a hold of Sheik's arms when he started to step away.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable! I just saw the top of your nose and a bit of your cheek bone then it just slipped out. I wasn't trying to sneak a peek, I swear," said Link desperately.
Damn it all…why am I such a natural ass?
"It-it is fine. As long as you are feeling better then we should be going," said Sheik stiffly. Link sighed as he released his guide and stepped back.
We were so close too-
"Linky! Sheiky! Wait for me!" exclaimed a voice from behind them. Link turned but flinched when Abby suddenly zoomed right in front of his face. Her red light illuminated his vision for a moment until she flew over toward Sheik and giggled.
"Abby…? What are you doing here? You shouldn't be this far from the rest of your kin," said Sheik as he held a hand out for her to land on. She fluttered down to sit on his palm. Link immediately stood closer, afraid that she would get sick again.
"I'm here to help of course! You're sure to get hurt a lot and your hand could use some of my magic Sheiky! It will do better than drinking a bunch of red potions every day! So, I'm gonna come with you guys!" exclaimed the red fairy happily. Link and Sheik shared a look and then returned their attention to the red fairy sitting happily in the Sheikah's palm.
"Abby…you've been a great help so far and I would love to have you travel with us but you can't. It isn't safe for you to be away from the Lost Woods right now," said Link. The red fairy stood up and stomped her foot, causing Sheik to feel a strange but warm sensation race through his hand from where she made contact with it.
"Oh, spare me the speech! Saria and Fuchsia tried to tell me the same thing but I know what I'm doing! Woody told me why I got sick in the Forest Temple so all I have to do is stay near you Linky and I will be fine!" shouted Abby.
"Abby, we are traveling to places that are vastly different then the forest home that you are used to. It would be best if you stayed here," said Sheik. Abby hovered above his palm and fluttered around irritably.
"I'm not ignorant to the world that lays outside of the forest you know!...well, I might not have ever left the forest but It doesn't matter!" shouted Abby before she zoomed to hover in front of Sheik's face, "Do you guys have the money to be buying red potions every day? Do you have any knowledge at all about the arcane structure of the different types of magic that are out there? Well?"
Sheik blinked, surprised at the last question.
"You are knowledgeable about the different magic's of the world?" asked Sheik.
"Of course! How do you think my magic's restorative power is so strong? Just because? Well, that would be fluttering but it takes a lot of hard work to get your magic to work that effectively! You can't be that good at one kind of magic without at least leaning how the others work too!" exclaimed Abby.
Sheik pursed his lips, not liking the idea of endangering her life but…having someone with them that knew the ways of magic, not to mention a fairies natural knowledge of the monsters of the world would come in handy.
"How fast would Sheik's wrist heal if you helped it along with your magic?" asked Link. Sheik looked at him in disbelief.
"Link, that can't be a reason why we would consider-"
"Of course it is. The faster your wrist heals the better off we will be," said Link. Sheik sighed impatiently as Abby squealed in delight and whizzed around Link's head. The hero raised an eyebrow.
"Unless you want to hang back when we reach the next temple?" replied Link. Sheik narrowed his eyes.
"…Excuse me?" said Sheik lowly. Link crossed his arms as Abby disappeared underneath his hat with an "eep!"
"I'm sure you can kick plenty of ass with one hand but I'm not risking that in a place that supposed to be just as if not worse than the temple we just went through. So, we got two choices. One, we can have Abby return to the Kokiri Village but then we will have to wait until your wrist is healed enough to wield a weapon," said Link and quickly raised a hand when Sheik tried to argue, "Don't bother arguing. I won't have it. Two, we have Abby come with us to help heal your wrist in half the time. So, what will it be?"
Abby poked her head out of Link's hat to look hopefully at Sheik. The Sheikah sighed as they both looked expectantly at him. At least the hero wasn't making the choice for him…then he would have to knock him down a peg.
But the obvious value of having her with them was hard to overlook.
"Alright. Here's what I will agree to. Abby, I do highly value your knowledge and your healing abilities but your life will take priority over all of that. So, if you're going to travel with us then you are to stay by Link's side at all times, even during battle. Link, not do argue because I will not have it. That is the only way this is going to work," said Sheik sternly. Abby squealed in delight again and zoomed over to hug Sheik's nose.
"Yeah! It's a deal!" she exclaimed happily, but gasped and then whizzed back to hover nervously next to Link's head, "That time away from Linky didn't count!"
She then wiggled back under his green hat and disappeared. Link grinned as Sheik just shook his head in disbelief at the entire event.
"Now we are an official adventuring party!" exclaimed Link, his grin growing even wider. Sheik couldn't help but chuckle at that.
"What were we before then?" asked Sheik.
"Friends who started as partners. Totally fine for a quest but now we are rocking with a proper team. Come on, we got a defender," said Link as he pointed to himself, "we got a rogue with amazing magic that still remains somewhat of a mystery since he hasn't shown much of it," he pointed to Sheik, who rolled his eyes, "and now we got a healer who also has impressive arcane knowledge that we can rely on!" he pointed to his hat, where a giggling Abby could be heard.
"The princess was right yet again. You really can spot the silver lining on anything can't you?" asked Sheik amusingly. Link gave him a thumbs up, making the Sheikah laugh softly. He then reached out to place a hand on Link's arm.
"Alright, we best be going then. Welcome aboard Abby. May you stay safe with us and remain uncorrupted from Link's immature and impossibly reckless nature," said Sheik with a smirk. The hero narrowed his eyes but whatever he said in return was lost to the pull of magic as Sheik teleported them away.