Chapter 7: Deep into the woods

How did it come to this? First, I was about to deliver the sword to the Royal Family only to have Epona taken away from Ilia because she was mad that I wasn't gentle with Epona. Then, came those ugly brutes and their boars that took everything away from me…well the shadow beasts did that.

I gazed at the clear water, having my reflection staring back at me. This can't be real! None of it! It must be some kind of a horrible nightmare or some kind of a cruel joke. Yes, that's it. When this is all over, I'll wake up at my treehouse waiting for Fado to call me to help with his goats.

Staring at the reflection won't help at all. Running, I dashed towards the place where I had been transformed into this cursed form. The form I really despised. And then there was Midna…the strange character who took the form of an imp but I can't really help it but to think that she was hiding something. Something big.

The next question would probably be the "ultimate" one. Well not really but it's will Midna ever stop being so cruel? I could tell that she didn't really like to be in the world of light but she didn't have to be so cruel…or annoying for the matter.

"Hey…Look…The Faron Woods that you know so well…They're now covered in twilight. You might not be able to come back here, but…Do you still want to go?"

I gave her a nod and she floated towards the wall, entering it. All of a sudden, something came out from the wall which was a hand from her. She harshly grabbed me and pulled me into the twilight wall rather carelessly.

Of course, I blacked out so it took a while for me to get back to consciousness only to find a very impatient Midna.

"About time you woke up!" she snapped. "You pass out so easily!"

Well, gee…if you did it more carefully maybe I wouldn't pass out.

She went on my back as I slowly trotted towards the path that was ahead of us. I still didn't like when she rode on my back. It was…uncomfortable. I turned my head to face her, baring my teeth at the annoyance that she gave out. I snorted when I saw her putting the shield at her face.

At least she got the sword right…

"Hmm! So these are the weapons you use in your world?"

Obviously. Another thing that I find peculiar about her was that she was in a solid form. I don't get it. When we were in the world of light, she was nothing but a shadow. And now when we are in the world of shadows, she is in a solid form.

How does that work out?

Unexpectedly, she swung the sword rather violently and had nearly cut at the tip of my ear so I had to duck down to avoid any other close calls. Geez woman!

"You really think this thing can slay the creatures of twilight?" she scoffed.

And I suppose you have something better? I glared at her hatefully. Almost carelessly, she dropped the two items. The shield was at my face while the sword had nearly stabbed my paw but it was beside it.

"…Well, I won't use these, but I'll hang on to them for you!"

I feel so fortunate!

With a snap of her fingers, the two items disappeared into the particles of twilight.

"Alright, a promise is a promise…I trust you enough to help." she leaned closer to me; her tone of voice was changed dramatically. It was dark and cold-ish. "In exchange for my help, though, I need you to gather some things for me. Look, I can't tell you all the details now, but it'll be easy, trust me…" she grinned evilly though I didn't see it.

I was too focused on the sound of what I heard just now. Where was it coming from? It sounded like it was pleading for help…

"But enough about that." she changed her tone into a normal one. "Do you hear that noise? It's the lamentation of the spirit that had its light stolen…Where in the world could it be? Eee hee! Better get going, don't you think? Don't blame me for your world's fate if you don't hurry up and find that light!" she told me, bluntly as if she didn't care…

Which she didn't.

I felt like I was too in trance to even hear her.

"Come on! Snap to it!" she snapped, making me to snap out of the trance.

Goddesses, she's so annoying and irritating.

Not wasting any moment, I dashed towards the path—the one where I had known so well until twilight took over. It looked horrible. Everything looked horrible. I don't understand how Midna could handle this…

My thoughts were interrupted when I got pen in again. Great; more shadow beasts are going to come.

Like before, the portal opened in the sky to drop three shadow beasts. They clumsily fell down before turning around to land on their feet. I growled at them though I felt Midna taking off.

"Aww…We're penned in again! Pffft! Who do they think they're dealing with? No need to take these little pests on one at a time right? You can take them all at once! So…You can handle this by yourself, can't you? Good luck! 'Bye!" she floated away, leaving me alone with these beasts.

Of course, I shouldn't expect anything from her. She really was useless. I lunged at one of the beasts to bite at its neck. I flipped off the beast's body when I saw that it wanted to attack me. Just as I was about to attack it again, something hard rammed at the side of my body.

Shaking my head to clear the stars out, I noticed that it was one of the shadow beasts that had knocked me away from its friend. Ugh… I attacked the one in which I had started with and finally it collapsed to the floor, leaving me with two. The beast started to sway its head at me which I quickly dodge all of them then I jumped on it to attack its neck.

The stupid beast threw me off by grabbing me with its hand and threw me. I was flying through the air until I rolled nastily on the ground. By this time, I panted with exhaustion while looking at the two beasts. How can I defeat them? Again, I lunged at the beast that was already weak from me.

However, something terrible had happened. When the second beast died, the third beast let out a horrible shriek that made me to be paralyzed in a spot. I cringed at the awful screech and I saw that the two beasts were being revived.

Oh great.

I started to go around in circles, trying to come up with a different strategy until Midna came on my back.

"What's the holdup?" she asked annoyed.

Nice of you to join me.

"If you leave the last one alive, it's just going to use that shriek to bring the others back. (Really? I didn't know that!) Listen; let me help you out here! Just move like I tell you! I'll expand an energy field when you concentrate. Enclose all of your enemies within it and release it!"

Alright then! I walked backwards, trying to get them in a circle. When I did, I did what she told me and then like she said, the energy field got expanded which encircled the shadow beasts within it. I released it when I was ready and I attacked them all at once.

At last, they were dead, vanishing into black particles of twilight that were taken into the portal that appeared into the sky. Panting, I made my way towards the spring. I saw the light spirit but instead of being in its full form, it was in weak state of a dimly glowing orb.

I ran towards it, hearing the words.

"…Please…be careful…These woods…have changed…The dark clouds of dusk cover this land…This drape of shadows is called...twilight. In this twilight, those who live in the light…become as mere spirits…It is a place…where the dark ones and evil creatures dwell…I am…a spirit of light…" it weakly told me. "…Blue-eyed beast. Look…for my light…Retrieve the light stolen by the dark beasts…and keep it…in this vessel."

A vessel materialized in front of me. It looked like a grape-vine.

"In the shadows of twilight…the dark insects are as…invisible...as normal beings are here…Let me use the last of my power…to reveal the locations of the dark insects…that consumed the light…" the light spirit did just that. "…Find the insects of darkness…The dark insects…They are the form taken by evil…once it has latched on to our…scattered light…"

I started to search for the first insect which was at the cave that was at the left of the spring. There were two of them and something slimy greeted me as I had felt the disgusting slime slowly dripping on me.

Ew…ew ew ew ew! What is this!? I just realized that it was from the deku baba except it was the evil version of it. Ignoring it, I defeated the two insects after honing my senses on. I collected the two tears before continuing to hunt the rest. Another one appeared but before I could even attack it, it scurried away into the locked gate.

Turning to my right, I found another one which was the guy's house…the one who was selling lanterns. One of them was at the side of the house which I knocked it down by ramming myself against it. Once it was defeated, I went into the guy's house to check if there were more in this area.

The house was nearly a total wreck. By wreck I meant being completely messy. I honed on my senses only to find the guy up on a tall shelf in a scared state, whimpering and shaking with fear.

"Wh-what's with these bugs? Those things aren't normal! They're so big…So weird…So creepy…C'mon, get away, bugs…Shoo…Get out of here!" he exclaimed, frightened.

Two bugs crawled out of its hiding spot and instantly, they were dead once I killed them. They vanished into tears of light which I collected them.

"Wh-WHAAT? They just…died? Oh, boy, I have no idea what's going on around here…"

Once that was done, I got out of the house to resume my hunt for the insect of darkness. I rolled my eyes in annoyance when I had to defeat the shadow beasts whenever I got penned in again. This time though it was easier since I now had the energy field.

Sooner or later, I only had two bugs left which was at the temple of where Talo had got captured.

"Someone…Someone helped me? Boy, lucky for me…Ever since the boss went funny in the head, there've been scary monsters everywhere…Those village kids got led through the woods for some reason…"

I breathed out a sigh of relief. The kids…they were alright!

"The whole forest is so weird now…What happened?"

I collected the two tears and I felt myself being bathed into the blue light before I got transported back into Faron Spring.

"The Vessel of Light is full of tears, and light has returned to this area!" the vessel went into the water, automatically clearing out the darkness that was spread throughout the forest. It was shiner and "cleaner" than before. All of the colors were returned back to normal.

Midna jumped on the water though it didn't really touch her as she was back in her shadow form.

"Aww, but it was so nice here in the twilight." she replied with disappointment. "What's so great about a world of light, anyway? Eee hee hee! See you later!" with that, she spun around before disappearing. The water like before glowed, a bright one, before it revealed a golden glowing orb that came out of the water. It then got lifted up, creating a shape that was in another animal form. Its long tail was circling the body as it almost created a complete circle; the tail was just hanging down.

"My name is Faron." the light spirit introduced. "I am one of the spirits of light who dwell in Hyrule. By the order of the gods, I protect this forest. O brave youth…In the land covered in twilight, where people roam as spirits, you were transformed into a blue-eyed beast…That was a sign…It was a sign that the powers of the chosen one rest within you…and that they are awakening."

Oh…should I be honored or something?

"Look at your awakened form…"

I almost yelped at the sudden new appearance. The heck…? I was finally human! Yippee! I checked myself out and I contained a green tunic that was up to my knees, brown boots that was below my knees, brown gloves, brown belt and a floppy hat. I couldn't stop checking out the new form; I looked hawt! Oh yeah; I also had some beige slightly baggy pants.

"The green tunic that is your grab once belonged to the ancient hero chosen by the gods…His power is yours. His is the true power that slept within you. Your name is Link. You are the hero chosen by the gods."

That probably struck me hard-core. Me…? The Chosen Hero? But…I don't understand…why me? How do they know it's me? It could be anyone. I…what? But…I can't be…

"Brave Link…A dark power rests in the temple deep within these woods. It is a forbidden power. Long, long ago, I and the other spirits of light locked it away. Because of its nature, it is a power that should never be touched by any who dwell in the light."

So…what happens if someone from the world of light did?

"But this world weeps beneath a mantle of shadows, and so there is no choice…You must match the power of the king of shadows." I could tell that it was slowly fading. That was why I had saw Faron no longer transparent but his voice was still echoing as he spoke the last words.

"If you would seek the forbidden power, then proceed to the temple in the forest depths." it finally vanished into sparkles, disappearing from the sight. I of course still checked myself out until Midna came.

"Well, well…You're the chosen hero and all that, huh? So that's why you turned into that beast! What a shame…I mean, maybe you'd rather just wander as a spirit like the rest of them, totally unaware of what was happening for all eternity…right?"

"In that case, I wouldn't even meet you. I think I would be fine."

With a sneer, she continued to talk. "Eee hee hee! So…what do you want to do? Do you want to head to that temple? Well, isn't that convenient! I was about to head there myself! Hey, look…" she responded after seeing me giving her a look. "You want to help your friends, right? The way I see it, maybe they're in that temple, waiting for you to rescue them…"

She has a point you know…

"Well, good luck, Mr. Important Hero! Eee hee hee! See you later!" she started to hide into my shadow but I stopped her.

"Hold it!" I replied and she reluctantly faced me.

"What?" she snapped.

"I want some questions to be answered! Who are you? Why have you come here?"

She smirked. "Aw the little wolfie wants some answers. Eee hee! Sorry can't help you there."

"Yes you can!" I insisted. "You and Zelda know a lot more. And when did we agree that I was your servant?"

She rolled her eyes. "When we first met which was in the jail, of course. Can I go?"

"NO! I'm not your servant! I will not follow your bloody orders, seeing that I have the right to do and to say things! I will not be bossed around by some imp!"

She gave me one of her infamous sneer. "Tough luck, hero. But you seriously have no choice but to do as I say. How many times must we go through this? In order to save your world or friends or whatever, you need my help!"

I rolled my eyes. "And you also need my help for whatever you need to be gathered! Let's face it! Both of us need each other's help! We just don't want to accept it just like I don't want to accept being your servant."

"You light dwellers really are a handful." she muttered and I shot her a look.

"Kind of like you? Now if you don't mind, I would like to go and visit the Village."

"WHAT?! Oh no you don't!" she screeched. "I didn't give you permission to do that, Hero! As a servant, I say we head to that temple."

"Yeah? Well, in this province, everyone's equal and has their own freedom. I'm afraid whatever commands you give me aren't valid here." I replied, before walking away from her.

"LINK!" she exploded, furiously. "If you don't come back here and do as I say, I'll…" she trailed off, trying to have some kind of a horrible threat. I smirked.

"You will what?" I taunted.

She growled. "I'll feed you to the shadow beasts! LINK, come back here!" her voice seemed to be fading away the moment I got out of the spring and into the familiar Woods.

Calling Epona was useless since she wasn't responding which was odd. She always did…looks like I'm walking. It felt quite strange to be walking on two legs after being stuck in the wolf form for so long. I nearly tripped over a rock, causing Midna to stifle a laughter.

"Shut it." I growled, stomping my way to Uli. And then, she burst out laughing. Annoyed, I spoke. "Oh for the love of—"

I knocked the door, making Midna to hide into my shadow and Uli came to open the door. She gasped when I cracked a smile.

"Link! Oh my!" she gasped. "Come in!"

I did what as I was told and sat down on an empty chair while she was sitting beside Rusl.

"I thought you were captured by them! Oh by the goddesses! You didn't! My, look at you!" she threw me a hug in which I returned.

"Time flies?" I offered.

She smiled, softly. "Everything was so sudden. It was quiet until a sudden tremor came and those foul beasts raided our village. I feared it was too late to get the kids and Ilia."

"Yeah it was." I replied, bitterly.

"Link, please. It wasn't your fault."

"Yes it was, Uli." I insisted. "I should've done something! I could've got them into safety in time!"

"And then what? Your actions would probably be wasted away. They would probably be captured." she responded, sadly before gasping again. "Link…what's this? Where did you get it?" she ran her finger on a cut that was on my cheek.

"Erm…fell on something sharp." I replied, lying though it was probably from those shadow beasts.

She shook my head. "You're so careless."

I flashed her a sheepish grin before my eyes laid on the sleeping form of Rusl. "How is he?"

"He's healing slowly."

Silence.

"I better get going. You know, too alert the other people."

She nodded and we both stood so that Uli could see me off.

"Oh good." she suddenly said. I turned around and raised an eyebrow. "The sword. You got it. I thought the beasts had took it. I'm glad it's in your care."

A lump in my throat was there, making me to not swallow. "Erm yeah…good thing…" I opened the door and closed it when I was outside. How can she be okay with it when I had practically stole it from them? I rammed my fist in anger at a nearby tree, letting the loose wood from the trunk to scratch my knuckles. I didn't care. I was just angry at myself. Angry at myself for stealing. Angry at myself for hiding something so big from them for fear that they might shun me away.

Midna got impatient by the time I went into my house to eat which of course, I took my time slowly just to annoy her even further. Finally, (after Midna muttered some colorful words), we were set to locate that damn temple.

"So we were finally able to go to that temple." Midna replied, sourly.

"Yeah, that's great." I muttered.

"You're impossible."

"Kind of like you?"

With a sneer from her and a glare from me, we were out in the open that led to the Forest Temple.

"Hunh?!" the weird guy opened his eyes. "So…it's the Ordonian! You seem familiar but then your clothes seem kinda different, so I got thrown off for a second! Listen…Things have been a little rough around here lately, so you should watch your step, ok, guy? There are so many monsters now…I got kinda scared and closed off the path to the temple."

"Ah but um, I need the key." I replied.

"Oh…you need the key…" he murmured. "You sure do look geared up for it…So here you go!" he handed me the key which I took it.

"Thanks." after the talk, I unlocked the gate.

The purple fog filled the Woods. It's definitely not the way how I remembered. Since it was dark, I took out my lantern until something snatched it away. I realized that it was a monkey who swung the lantern around after putting it on a stick.

"Hey, what's this monkey's problem? You idiot!" she barked. "While you were staring off into dreamland, your lantern got stolen!"

I gasped, dramatically. "Really? I had no idea!"

She growled. "Then you would get your lantern back!"

Rolling my eyes, I looked at the monkey and saw that it wanted me to follow her since she would always wave her monkey hand at me. I ran to her as she swung the lantern in circles to drive the fog back. There were some close calls when the fog slowly came at us. I hissed, taking a step forward when I felt the poisonous fog touching my heel from my foot.

The monkey again swung the lantern to drive the fog back. It looked like she really wanted me to be lead somewhere since she jumped up and down while waving her hand at me, indicating to follow her still. When we got to our destination, she dropped the lantern because she jumped up and down, making the lantern to rattle against the stick and it fell down. The light went out as it hit the ground.

With a squeak, she dashed into the open gate disappearing from sight. Sighing, I went and picked up my lantern which it ran out of oil. The sun was setting down already as I destroyed the two moblins.

Seeing the bird owner of the shop, I brought oil for the lantern.

However, something blocked my path that led to the temple. It was a white wolf with red eyes that didn't really look menacing. It growled, going in its fighting stance making me to draw out my sword as I narrowed my eyes.

How did this wolf come here?

Before I could attack it, the wolf leapt into the air and the next thing I knew was the blackness surrounding me.

I got up only to find that the place I was in was filled with fog and I could faintly hear the dog's panting as I walked around the new location to try to find out where I was.

However, I suddenly got tensed when I figured that the dog was behind me so I quickly turned around and I had found out to see a nearly skeletal figure that was clad in armor. He took a stance by raising his sword so I attacked him with a jump attack.

Though, the odd figure knocked me back hard with his shield.

"A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage." he told me then I got up. "You may be destined to become the hero of legend…but your current power would disgrace the proud green of the hero's tunic you wear."

Don't know how to put this but it's not my fault that I'm still accepting the fact that I am the Chosen Hero. I flashed a determined look at him.

"You must use your courage to seek power…and find it you must. Only then will you become the hero for whom this world despairs. If you do find true courage and you wish to save Hyrule from the horrors it now faces…"

I still couldn't help but wonder who this person is.

"Then you will be worthy to receive the secrets I hold! Enemies that are filled with energy will quickly recover and attack again even when stunned by a powerful strike. The ending blow is a secret technique you can use on stunned enemies to end their breath before they spring back into action. When an enemy flies collapsed on the ground, stunned, and without delay to leap high into the air and deliver a final strike."

He told me when the opportunity to end their breath is before me, I will strike them quickly.

"Now, try it on me!"

I was appalled by the sudden fierce command he had given to me. Try it on…him? Is he mad? I could tell in his eyes that he wasn't mad or joking. He was just plain serious. Well okay then…We had our swords against each other before going into our fighting position.

It took three strikes for him to collapse on the ground and seeing this chance, I delivered the final blow. He grunted when he felt (I think he felt it) the sword entering his body. For a minute, he didn't move and it was then, the peculiar skeletal figure got up.

I loosen up when he did got up.

"Hmm. That was a pinpoint strike. Never overlook your opportunity to finish them with an ending blow. The first hidden skill, the ending blow, has been passed on!"

I mimicked the actions again before doing a fancy technique such as swinging my sword in front of me then twirling it beside me and then place it back into its proper place.

"There are still six hidden skills for you to learn. Those are only for one who carries the blood of the hero…the one whose spirit is that of the sublime beast."

He may look like he was dropping off hints of who he is but I can't really figure it out just yet. Maybe in the future, I will.

"Grow powerful. Test your courage. And when you find that you need another skill to overcome the threats that face you…Search for the statues that howl with the sound of the wind. Seek the sound that calls to the spirit of the beast to awaken me again."

I nodded.

"A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage. Remember those words. Farewell!" he replied before the oddly world faded away.

Midna grew annoyed at the lack of her servant's "passing out" mode or whatever they call it. Like, couldn't he help it?

"Wake up, Link. Damnit." she muttered, impatiently. There were other important things to do then to watch me going unconsciousness 24/7.

I moaned, finally getting back to the world of living so I pushed myself up having a head rush moment.

"About time!" Midna voice's came in an angry tone. "You pass out so easily!"

"You already said that."

"Good! Because I probably need to remind you again and again! Maybe for an eternity! Now can we GO?!" she nearly screamed with frustration.

"No." I stated, plainly.

She groaned with annoyance. "You're so lazy!"

I smirked. "Good. Because I'm probably going to pass out even more throughout our little journey."