Chapter Six

The Lost Woods are worse than Link told me. They're terrifying. But, at the same time, they're absolutely beautiful. Lush and green, with flowers growing all over the place.

We've been in here for the past three days, three long days. Link was right, Ganondorf's soldiers didn't follow us, and I don't really blame them. At night you can hear the monsters in the woods yell out and rustle around. To know they're real, and not just characters that Nintendo came up with... it's scary. But as long as I have Link with me, I'll be alright. I hope. I watched him fight off a couple of Bokoblins yesterday, he's an amazing swordsman. Just like in the game. I'd like to learn how to handle one of them.

It took me a while to actually fully process that I'm in a video game, with two characters that I grew up with. It's weird being here, walking around places in a place that was virtual to me a few days ago. But I'm also kind of geeking out. I mean, I'm in a Zelda game riding around with Link and Navi!

Over the past few days, I've also been thinking about dying. A lovely subject for a 17 year old right? If I die in this world, do I die in my world? I replay the final moments with my parents and my brother, so thankful that our parting words were "I love you". If I die here, at least I can die with the knowledge that those were our last words. Do they even know I'm gone yet? Does time work differently here, like in Narnia? I don't know the answers to any of these questions, but I'm not very sure I want to know.

Link and I have also been talking a lot. It's kind of the only thing to do, since we're isolated in the middle of the woods. He really is exactly as I imagined him. He asks me tons of questions about my world and The Legend Of Zelda series. It's obviously a weird topic for him, but he's curious. When I told him that he had his own television series for a while (after I explained what a television is) and that his catchphrase was "Well excuuuse me, Princess!" he gave me this horrified look and just shook his head. I laughed hard, and then explained the 80s to him.

I ask him a lot of questions about his world too. Turns out, he's farther than I was in the game, he's already been through three temples collecting Sacred Weapons from the goddesses. He needs all of them to be able to defeat Ganondorf and return Hyrule to peace.

He tells me about his parents, how they died, and about his older brother who lived in Castletown, and who is now Ganondorf's prisoner. I tell him about my parents and brother. It's kind of hard to talk about them. I wonder what they're doing right now.

Link's built a fire, since we've just entered the safest part of the woods, the Kokiri's forest. There are no monsters here, because of the Great Deku Tree's protection.

"So you don't know Saria?" I ask as he drags a log over for us to sit on.

"No. Who is she?"

"Your best friend in Ocarina Of Time, where you grow up as a Kokiri."

"Oh. No, as far as I know, there's no Kokiri named Saria. There's not very many of them."

"Too bad, I liked her."

He sits down and puts a pot of soup made from herbs in the forest on the fire.

"What about Sheik? He around? I mean, I don't remember him being scheduled to be in the game, but then again neither was I."

Link looks at me and grins. "Now Sheik is around. He's actually my best friend."

"Oh, really? You still think Sheik's a he?"

He looks at me confused. "Excuse me?"

"You don't know about Sheik and Zelda?"

He grins at this too. "Of course! I'm the one who introduced them to each other! One look at her, and Sheik was in love. Same with Zelda. To tell the truth I never thought they'd get so serious, but I couldn't be happier for them!"

My jaw drops open. Okay, now that is just plain weird, and definitely not in the game. "Wait, they're getting married?"

"Yeah," He frowns a little. "But now that Ganondorf's taken over Castletown, needless to say the ceremony's been postponed. Sheik's been going insane with worry for Zelda. He was at the Sheikah's village at the time of the attack, and he's been beating himself up about not being there to save her." Link studies my face. "Is something wrong?"

I laugh. "Um, yeah, a little."

"What, they don't like each other in your world?"

"Umm, that's kinda hard to explain."

"Can't be that hard."

"Well, uh, you see, Sheik is actually supposed to be Zelda in disguise. He's in Ocarina Of Time. In the game Zelda has to turn into Sheik to hide from Ganondorf. So, basically they're the same person."

Link looks shocked at this. "What?"

"Yeah,"

"Well... I can see how that may have been a little strange for you."

"Yep, just a little bit. So you've actually seen them together?"

Link laughs. "More than once. Don't worry, I'm positive that this Sheik and Zelda are two different people."

"Well that's a relief."

Link stirs the embers to make the fire bigger, and I welcome the heat. It's pretty damp and dark here, my thin sweater isn't that much protection against it.

"I've been meaning to ask you," I say. Link looks up. "How did you do that thing? With the bow and arrow. I mean, one minute it was there, the next it was gone. You do the same thing in all the games."

Link laughs. "Oh, that. When the goddesses told me that I was their chosen hero, they granted me storage access in the Sacred Realm. Whenever I find one of their Sacred Weapons, it gets stored in the Sacred Realm. All I have to do is think of it, and bam, there it is, ready for my use. It's pretty handy."

"That explains it!" I say. "I've always wondered how you did that."

Link smiles. "Well, now you know."

We sit in companionable silence for a while. After about 10 minutes, Link takes the pot off of the fire and pours it into a couple bowls. He hands one to me. I inhale deeply, it smells good.

As we eat, Navi flies groggily out from under Link's hat. "How close are we to the Kokiri's forest?"

"About a day's ride." Link answers. "Just be patient."

Navi flutters over to the soup, smelling it. She suddenly looks more awake. "Yum!" She flies over to Links pouch and pulls out a small bowl and spoon, just big enough for her. She then goes over to the pot and scoops up some soup, settling down on Link's shoulder.

"So, what are we going to do once we get to the Kokiri's forest?" I ask Link once I'm done with my soup.

"We talk to the Great Deku Tree about the next temple we have to go to. He knows where they all are, but I can only ask him one location at a time. It's pretty annoying and time-consuming."

I laugh. "Yeah, well, Nintendo enjoys doing that to you."

He smiles.

I yawn. My full stomach makes me suddenly aware of how tired I am. Link notices too.

"You go to sleep. I'll keep watch."

"I thought you told me that there are no monsters here?"

"Well, just in case. You never know."

~X~

I never knew what being saddle sore was like until I got transported into this game. And, may I just say, it sucks.

I put my head on Link's shoulder and close my eyes, trying to block out the bounces. We've been riding Epona since early this morning, with the exception of a quick lunch break, and I'm more than ready to get off. I feel sad for Link, all versions of him really, as I now understand how lonely he must be on his quests. All day, riding his horse through miles of lonely, dark woods, only to be rewarded with a dungeon where he was once again alone and in constant danger. I would go insane. I'm always sad whenever I finish a Zelda game, but from now on, I'll just be happy that Link doesn't have to be alone anymore.

I never thought I'd feel so sympathetic towards a video game character.

"What do you miss most about your world?" Link suddenly asks.

"Well," I say, thankful for the conversation to break the silence. "My family mostly. I miss my bed, and my house. And music, I miss music a lot."

"What kind of music do you have?"

"All sorts. We have genres of music, which basically means each genre sounds different. I love country music, it has a lot of guitar in it. And pop is fun to dance to, has a really catchy beat."

Link nods. "I don't know what any of that means, but it sounds interesting."

"I think you'd like it."

Navi suddenly appears from underneath Link's hat. She has it easy, sleeping the whole ride on top of Link's head. "How close are we?"

"About three more hours." Navi groans loudly while I groan inwardly. I honestly don't know if I can make it that long. Oh well, at least I'll have Link to talk to.

"What about books? What's your favorite?" Link asks as Navi disappears again.

"Oh, I don't know. I like fantasy books. I feel like I'm in one right now honestly. I just read a really good book based on Beauty and the Beast." I pause. "Do you know what Beauty and the Beast is?" Link shakes his head. "Oh. Well, my favorite version is the Disney version."

"What's it about?"

"Well, um, a rude and ungrateful prince who is cursed by a witch because of his spoiled attitude. She turns him into a Beast, and turns his servants into household objects, like clocks and stuff. She leaves him with an enchanted rose and a magical mirror which allows him to see outside his castle. In order to break the curse, he has to find a woman who will love him despite his ugly appearance, and he must love her in return, before the last petal falls on the enchanted rose, which will die on his 21st birthday. If he doesn't, he'll remain a Beast for all time. It's a really beautiful story."

Link nods. "Does the Beast find someone? In the Disney version, I mean."

"Yes. Her name is Belle. My favorite Disney princess, actually."

Link is entranced with the story, like a little kid. "Wow. Do you have any other stories?"

I laugh. "Yep. I know almost every Disney story by heart."

"Can you tell me more?"

"Of course. Do you want to hear about Cinderella or The Lion King?"

We spend the next three hours with me telling Link all the Disney stories I can remember, from Bambi and Pocahontas to Aladdin and The Hunchback Of Notre Dame. He loves them. My little cousins don't even get this excited about Disney.

Just when I run out of stories, Link announces that we've reached the Great Deku Tree. Those three hours passed quickly. Although I'm still saddle sore.

Link helps he off the Epona. "Thank you for telling me all those stories, it was nice to listen to your voice instead of the wind."

I'm reminded of how lonely he must get. "I was more than happy to, Link." I smile. He smiles too.

Navi flies out of Link's hat. "Ah, home! I missed this place."

Link smiles. "I did to. It always feels peaceful here."

I take a deep breath. It smells wonderful here, like roses and lavender. The air shimmers and sparkles float through the air, with lights dancing through the trees. The Kokiri's forest has a magical quality to it. It's beautiful here, just like in the game. And in front of us is an absolutely ginormous tree. It has symbols carved into it, and the leaves on it shimmer. As we approach it, a face suddenly appears on the bark. I jump.

"Hero chosen by the goddesses, how art thou?" A loud yet gentle voice booms.

"Fine, Great Deku Tree, thank you. I've come for the next location of the next temple." Link yells up to the tree.

"Thou brings another on thy quest," The tree rumbles. "One not from this world. She shall change the course of thy fate."

Um, that doesn't sound very good. "I don't understand Great Deku Tree," Link yells. "What do you mean she'll change my fate?"

"The next temple lies in my forest," The tree continues as if Link didn't say anything. "Seek out the Kokiri, they shall lead you, Hero. Take care, the temple has long been overrun with enemies, thou must prepare thyself for the challenges this temple shall bring upon you."

"He always says that last line." Link whispers to me. "Thank you Great Deku Tree, I will. But what about what you said about Nicole changing my fate?"

"Thou shalt find out in time, Hero." The Great Deku Tree answers. "Now, go Hero, and face thy destiny." The face disappears.

"Well," Link says. "Off we go to the Kokiri."