The Lost Woods.

A place of confusion, intrigue, and danger boiled into a network of vile side paths that could led unwary travelers into their doom...or perhaps to the Forest's Sacred Meadow- A complete labyrinth in itself filled with monsters and mayhem.

Like the Deku Scrubs which were an odd lot who could be just as friendly as they could be cruel. They made up much of the trouble that inhabited the Lost Woods and was one reason why Saria had bestowed upon her friend, Lincoln, the Kokiri Sword.

Navi the Fae examined the blade a moment in front of the entrance to the infamous wood and settled herself, cross legged, on the blade for the youth had been ordered to hold it flat. "You hold this thing surprisingly steady."

Link quirked his jaw and felt himself go on the offensive. "So?"

"You're eight and kids like you barely know how to somersault."

The lordling frowned at the Fae. "I have been taught the basics of a blade and for your information I can do more than somersault."

"Oh, really?" Navi laughed. "Come then, let's see it."

And to her surprise, the eight year old could do a neat arieal flip though he landed slightly unsteady on his feet. "See?" He took a deep breath, winded. "Easy."

"Uh-huh." Navi giggled, knowing he was just trying to impress her. "Listen, Link... I am just worried that you might not be able to get through this thing..." She fluttered up before his face with a look he could tell meant she was second guessing herself.

"Why?" He sheathed the sword on his back then screwed his face up to hold back a sneeze but, luckily for the Faerie, he covered his mouth with his arm. "Why?" The boy murmured, once more, before he sneezed another time than sniffled. This was the third epidsode he had, had while in Navi's prescence. "Navi, I... I think I might be allergic to you."

Navi blinked for she had never seen someone who could be allergic to a Faerie before. "You...might be..." She shook her head, her short blue locks tumbling about, and placed her hands on her hips. "You're just not used to Faerie Dust. Anyways, there are monsters in there and the more I think about it the more I don't think you should go in there." Navi huffed. "Besides, you don't even have a shield."

"The shop has one for forty rupees. Wait. Right. Here!" Link grinned and quickly dashed away before his new companion could question how an eight year old had that kind of money. When he returned he shoved the item in her face and smirked. "Shield."

"Not the point." Navi rolled her eyes. "Can you even use the stupid thing?"

He shrugged and slipped around her with a wink. "One way to find out!" Shadows filled in behind the youth as he disappeared into the maze of the Lost Woods with a confident grin and a blantant bravery that shocked Navi.

"Hey! Wait up!"

The darkness filled her vision and it was not until she appeared on the otherside that it she heard it.

A light sound of festive music whispered from somewhere...but where?

"Link, do you-"

"Shh." He pressed a finger to his lips and closed his eyes... "This way." He raced into the tunnel to the right and skidded to a halt with Navi at his side. Directly across from them below the ledge they were on was a tree and on the single deformed branch of said tree was a bright orange Deku Scrub.

"You must be that Link character that Saria goes on about." It rustled and shuffled to the edge of the branch where below hung a pot painted like a target. "I heard you have good aim."

"Scrub," Link frowned. "I don't have time for this. Have you se-"

"If you can hit the center of this pot here." It banged the indicated spot. "Then I will give you something worth your time."

Navi jerked at Link's earlobe. "Deku Scrubs are tricksters, Link! Don't do it!"

"Hey, Faerie, shut your mouth and stop bossin' the kid around!"

Navi stepped closer to her friend. "I'm not bossy."

"The hell you aren't, Fae! You're Navi, right? You're the Faerie who lost her partner because you couldn't keep your mouth shut!"

Link growled and grabbed a rock. He aimed, quickly, and hurled the item at the center of and it the pot so hard it snapped from the rope it had been tied to and clanged to the bottom. "Words cut deep but I guarentee my blade will cut deeper, Scrub!"

The Scrub shrank and its colors paled. "Okay, okay, okay! Don't do anything hasty! I'm sorry, little blue girl! i didn't mean it."

Link smirked, snatched up another rock, and glanced at the creature. "I didn't hit it three times...but if you hang it up, quickly, then I will claim my prize, gladly."

It blinked at him for a moment and shifted on its wooden feet. "Tell ya what, I'll give you the prize... but, uh, don't tell anyone I did."