Bandages were applied to the cuts on the boy's neck and after a few weeks of healing Link was allowed to attend the journey being made to honor the Great Deku Tree for his gifts given long ago... the lush forests of White Tower. The Hudsons had done this service since the castle was built and reforged their pledge to protect the Kokiri Children with their lives.

"Are you sure you are alright?" Evangeline frowned, crossing her arms over her chest with eyes searching for any sign of reluctance in her son. "You did not sleep enough last night and I am sure Darion could use your hel-"

"He will be fine, Evie." Jason's voice cut into the Mother's tirade with a firm but understanding tone. "It would do him good to speak with the Great Deku Tree about this strange dream..." A careful glare at his littlest brother. "As he refuses to speak with his family about it."

Evangeline's frown deepened as she bid her family good-bye. "Stay away from the Woods, Love!"

"Of course!" Link called back and lead Spirit into a gallop as the other steeds about him did so. When they slowed down to a trot, the boy sighed and patted the handle of his sword hanging at his side.

"You should listen to your Mother, Little Link."

The boy glanced at his Father. "I need to investigate those doors... and... see where it happened." At the mention of his encounter with the wolfos, Lincoln could feel the scars on his back tug.

"No, what you need is to talk about this silly dream that scared us all so much." Jason spoke with a harshness to his voice. It was no secret that the eldest of Raven's boys had a severe distaste about not telling one's family what was wrong... especially when it came to the mind. The Heir of White Tower had discovered his grandfather's dead corpse after Lord Pembrose had allowed depression to defeat him.

It, unsurprisingly, left a deep impact on Lord Jason.

"It is a private matter." Link frowned and swatted at Navi who was buzzing, aimlessly, about his head without meaning to annoy her partner.

"You tried to kill yourself." Jason countered. "Over a dream."

"I didn't try to kill myself!"

"What are those marks?" A meaty finger was thrust at the scars about the ten year old's throat but a gloved one smacked it away.

His children staring at him, Raven spoke. "Now, now. Calm yourselves, boys." His voice was stern but not steely. "Jason, your brother is fine. Troubled but fine and if he feels the need to keep a secret from us than he is entitled. Dreams are a private matter, indeed, and even I would feel uncomfotable sharing them." A small smile worked its way onto the aging Lord's face. "Lincoln."

The boy met his Father's eyes. "Yes?"

"You may speak to the Great Deku Tree when we are finished giving our gifts but until go play with Saria but be careful." Raven laughed, suddenly. "But, first let us try to get there on time, eh?"

Many hours passed but they arrived before lunch time and soon the Kokiri greeted the Hudsons. Link, as ordered by his Father, went off to find Saria though Jason had a sneaking suspecion his brother and Navi would eventually end up in the Lost Woods. The Heir of White Tower did not have long to think upon Lincoln for soon he was thrust into the oldest job known to Man: manual labor.

"Lord Raven, old friend, I have heard news that you have a new daughter amoungst your family."

The sixty year old, nodded, with a slight smile on his face. "Yes, born to my grandson Bryan and his wife, Freya. They have named her Christa." Raven glanced at the ancient and seemingly hollow face of the Great Deku Tree with a look of concern. "And are you well? You look a little paler than I last remember."

Happiness exuded from the tree but a falseness came with it."Paler, my Lord? Your old eyes are sharp but do not fret for me, Lord of White Tower. All is well." A pause in which both seemed to understand this statment to be a blatant lie. "Today is the day of honoring my gift to you if I can recall. What have you brought with you this year?"

The man nodded and reached within a sack that Jason had lain at his feet. "There are saplings of apple trees from our orchards for the Kokiri to plant, vegtables of various kinds along with them, and...this."

The wind reacted to the gift with a uplifting breeze coursing through the grove that washed away the anticipation and left calm surprise. A seed larger than the size of Raven's head was held in leather gloved hands and the older man could not help a smile.

"A Great Deku Seed!" The branches of the ancient entity trembled with great emotion. "How did you obtain a child of my race? We do not give birth often and it has been come appallingly more apparent that I may be the last of my kind..."

Raven shifted as the tremors of sadness slithered from the roots of the Deku Tree. "I give you this, then, dearest friend. Here is an heir for you."

There was a deep, depression emotion to the Tree's voice and it seemed to suck the colors out of the grove itself. "Raven..." The spirit mumured into the air and all the life drained from the old man's face.

The Lord looked up with his grey-blue eyes and felt a pang of dread hit his heart. "You are..."

"I am dying, Old Bird." The world seemed to stop as the words spilt and echoed in the air.

For a long time, Raven stared at the face he had known since he was a boy of five and felt like he would weep. The Lord had spent his childhood in times of war and blood and loss but; when his Father brought him here to pay respects to the Great Deku Tree to thank him for the reasons Raven was there; he found freedom in the Kokiri Village. He would race along the dirt track, chasing the Triplets whom he still shared a strong bond with, much like his youngest son, and he would listen to the Deku Tree's tales with wonderment... to think that his oldest friend would perish made the world turn blurry under a curtain of tears. "You..." Raven felt himself choke up. "You cannot die."

The Great Deku Tree made an odd noise that Raven knew to be his laugh. "I have no choice in the matter..."

"Is there nothing I can do then?" The Lord of White Tower turned, desperatly, to see where Jason had gone off to and surmised that his heir was helping unload the carts. "My son, Jason, has a boy named Darion who is a very skilled Healer! He helped Lin-"

"A Healer will not help what ails me."

Helpless, a feeling that Raven had a particular hatred for after losing his first wife, Joanna, to birthing complications and his second wife, Brienne, to illness. "Then what will? There must be something!"

The wind blew across the grove and danced along the blades of grass but the soothing touch did nothing to quell the anguish Lord Raven was feeling.

"Listen, very carefully, my dearest Raven." The Deku Tree shuddered and a large groan echoed from the bark. It was in pain, Raven realized. "There is an evil inside of me...a parasite. It, it will kill me and my Children...my darling Children will be lost, afraid, and with no protection from this monster... kill this thing for me and I will rest in peace. Keep your oath, Raven, to keep them safe."

Raven nodded, solemnly, and murmured with determination. "I will." He unsheated his sword. "A monster parasite, you s-"

"You are an old man, Raven... you would be hurt and I will not have that." The Deku Tree swayed in the wind and his leaves, a dull red, came tumbling down to shower the ground. "I need someone with Coura-" Those hollow eyes seemed to grow wide and a gasp of horror, sucking all the oxygen from the grove, screeched from the Tree. "My Children!"

The Lord of White Tower's old Warrior heart beat fast as he whipped around on his heels and made a hard run through the passageway from the Grove...leading him straight into an unexpected Deku BaBa patch. The vile plants snapped their jaws at him and thrashed wildly as he tried to skirt past. Raven slammed his fist against the Babas as they lunged and slipped away unharmed...

Kokiri Forest opened before him and unleashed a picture of madness.

The Triplets were under siege by a cluster of Deku Scrubs that they were attempting to battle with rocks from their roof. Mido was hacking a Baba with a stick before it clamped down on it and snapped the makeshift weapon with ease. Fado was hurling Deku Nuts down on anything she could while she wept large tears and the Shopkeep was helping his brethren into his shop to the roof.

Jason was busy protecting some of the Children from a giant Stalchild and several of its smaller kind, one guard had been bitten by a Tektite and was being rescued by another of their guards, while the last one they had brought was shooting arrows at wolfos that was charging them.

"Get to your roofs, Children!" Raven ran forward, snatched the bitten guard's sword up, and stabbed the spider-like creature before it lunged upon the second of his men.

"Father!" Jason called, beheading one of his foe and raising his shield to defend against the claws of the giant he faced. "We cannot stay here long! The Deku Tree's protection has faltered!"

"I will come to you." The Lord knew what would happen in one hour and it was a grim thought during grim circumstances. The adults would become possessed, half-mad, with blood lust and either they would kill themselves, the Children, or they would turn into Iron Knuckles which did not help the Kokiri's chances. "We will stay as long as we ca-"

A large screech broke the noise of battle and stole the attention of the fighters good and vile alike... A creature of dark creation surged forth from the direction of the Grove. A large green eye rolled in a sea of yellow perched atop a body of scally magenta skin... pinchers thrust forward and snapped at a nearby Kokiri who dodged into her home to avoid it. The eye burned red and released its horrible screech. "The STONE!" It cried. "The STONE!" Eggs slithered out from the end of its scorpion like tail and hatched upon impact with the ground... unleashing more foe to contend with.

The babies propelled themselves forward on tiny feet and rammed straight into the archer who had just slain the wolfos. A snap meant his ribs were broken and the thought of it sickened Raven but he could not dwell on the man long... he decapitated three Stalchildren, the last of them, and watched Jason cut the giant one in half. He stabbed its skull without pause when it still came for his son. They ushered their group into a safe dwelling, and were forced to ignore the Deku Scrubs and other foes, to battle the new enemy.

Jason planted his feet to the ground and raised his sword but his green eyes widened as they turned to Raven. "Father... where is Lincoln?"

"I do not know!" Raven sliced the projectile shot at his face and smirked when it slammed into the Scrub that had shot it even if that had not been what he intended. "Saria and Navi will keep him safe."

Jason frowned and both men prepared to charge. "I am with you, Father." Together, swords raised, the two raced towards the monsterous creatures screaming about their mysterious stone. Jason felled one with a quick slice through the eye but was caught unawares by another vile baby. It slammed into his side and knocked him into the water.

Raven was upon the beast within moments and had hacked it into two. His hand reached in and gave a hard pull of Jason's breatplate. The two found each others' eyes. "Thank me later."

A scream roared through the air and both men turned to see the gigantic spider-parasite much closer than before. "Gods..."

"The STONE!"

A resounding crack slammed one of the hatchlings' eye, earning much attention, and the creature tumbled backwards before it disintergrated into the earth. The familiar voice of Raven's fourth son came from the direction of the Lost Woods. "You were right, Navi!"

Navi swirled down and floated above another of the creatures. "This one!" Before long, Link was beside the almost forgotten fallen archer and was dragging him toward outstreched Kokiri arms.

"Everyone!" The ten year old cried with the voice of a born leader. "Get inside or go for the eyes!"

The mother monster screamed at the boy as he raced toward her on nimble feet, past his father and brother who were shocked at his display. "The STONE!" She swept her tail down, swiftly, leaving little time for the young hero to dodge. It crashed into his side, causing him to lose his slingshot, and tossed him, hard, into one of the houses. The abomination rose a pincher... "Give Gohma the Stone!"

"LINK!" The Kokiri cried along with his father and brother.

Jason lurched to his feet but the water had weighed him down, his father had to steady him, and both knew they were not fast enough to save the boy in peril... but a voice rang out.

"Hey you!" It was Saria. The green headed lass hurled a Deku Nut at the parasite and growled. "Stay away from my friend!"

Then Mido was by her. "Yeah! Stay away from Link!" Soon all of the Deku Tree's beloved Children were calling out and throwing what items they had at their disposal to the shock of all warriors present.

The monster seemed to faltar beneath the barrage of rocks, deku nuts, and the occasional shoe but found strength again. "Give Gohma the Stone!" Gohma, so she named herself, raged and thrashed, dropping eggs and stabbing her pinchers at the Kokiri... ignoring the boy who was starting to stand up...with a sword in hand.

Raven felt his heart seize with fear. "Son, do not attack! She will kill you!"

Lincoln ignored his father and allowed the strong surge of courage to take away his pain. "Gohma!"

That vile eye whipped around to face him and was met with a hard thrown boot. Gohma hit the ground and released an agonized cry of pain, attempting to open the wounded eyeball.

"The eye!" Navi screamed, her falsetto voice breaking through the noise. "Now, Link, kill her!"

Link made his move and kicked off the ground, slipping beneath a claw aimed for his head, stabbed an attacking monster mini, and sank the Kokiri Sword to the hilt into Gohma's eye with a battlecry.

Gohma lurched up, riping the sword from the boy's hands, and staggered back with blood spewing from her wound. She lurched forward, a groaning sound coming from her stiffening limbs, and made it clear what her final intention would be: squish the boy with her last breath.

But, Lincoln had his Sheikah teacher's training and he flipped backwards, left hand guiding him back, and hit the ground as Gohma burst into smoldering ash at his feet. His cobalt eyes regarded the burning remains with an odd look upon his face before he picked up his weapon and turned to a silent crowd.

Monster free, the Village was saved, and nothing but ashes remained.

"It- She took my boot." Link frowned right before a great cry of joy exploded from his friends and family.

Raven lifted his boy up and felt pride swell. "I am astounded by you." He winked at Navi. "Both of you..." He squeezed his child and then turned his eyes to the Great Deku Tree's Grove. "Come now... all of you." Raven led the march and felt his heart drop to his stomach at a sudden realization.

It was time to say good-bye.

Weakly, the voice of the Kokiri Forest spoke as the Children and White Tower's men filed in. "Link... you have defeated it." The Great Deku Tree appeared grey, all the vivid color washed out of him, and all could feel his pain. "Ahh, and, somehow, I knew... knew... that you would." A shuddering breath. "Always so brave..."

"I... just wished I could have helped more..." The boy stared up in shock at the wise, hollow, eyes and wiped away the single tear that strayed from his blue eyes. He had not known his friend was so sick... had not dared considered the rumors he heard all day. "Why did Gohma...do this?"

"A curse was lain upon her...by a man in black armor...with fire in his eyes." The Kokiri Children were crowded around their father-figure by then with their arms wrapped around his trunk and desperate pleas for him not to leave. Not to die. "My darling Children... I love you all... but I cannot help this."

Lincoln felt a lump catch in his throat and he turned away for a moment to hid his face in his father's cloak. Jason placed a hand upon his little brother's shoulder, squeezed it, lightly, and spoke in a solemn tone. "Do you know his name...and what the monster meant by 'the stone'?"

"No name..." The Deku Tree groaned, his ancient life was draining from him. "Stone ... is ... Kokiri ... Emerald." His eyes began to lose the hidden life within them and it was apparent, dreadfully apparent, he would not last any longer. "Take it...to...Princess...she knows." The Grove withered beneath their feet and the distrubing sound of the wood groaning filled the air. "Goddesses ...be with you all."

Raven bowed his head. "And with you." And let his tears fall without shame. "My Friend." And he let vengence fester.

And so it was that The Great Deku Tree had died.