"Are you sure this bridge can hold me?" Toko asked. They were standing next to the bridge at the entrance to the Kokiri Forest, Alela had already gone half way across, but the Goron hesitated. "Oh come on, already!" Alela, said impatiently. "If the bridge can take Epona, it can take you, now hurry up." She walked the rest of the way across the bridge, where she then stood, waiting for Toko. The young Goron was still standing at the other side, hesitantly placing one foot on the bridge. Alela sighed, then called out to him. "Come on! Just because you look and sleep like a rock doesn't mean you have to move like one as well!" Toko grunted. "Alright then, but if the bridge breaks, you take the blame." Alela stood with her arms crossed, and impatiently tapped her foot while the Goron slowly and carefully made his way across the bridge, the ropes holding it together creaking dangerously in protest of the rocky creature's weight.
As they entered the Kokiri village, they were stopped by a boy. He was wearing a green tunic, similar to the one Link had been wearing, along with a pointed hat. His ginger hair curled down and covered his eyes, but he didn't seem to have trouble seeing. "Halt! What is your business in our forest?" He spoke with an authority that didn't seem fit for child like him, this took Alela by surprise, and she didn't respond immediately. "Uh... I'm looking for father, Link. We were supposed to meet here." The boy tilted his head slightly and looked into Alela's eyes. She could feel his eyes locking with her own, even though she was unable to see them. "You don't look related to Link. Last time I checked, he wasn't blue and scaly." He looked to Toko. "He wasn't a rock either." He looked back to Alela. "Who are you?"
"My name is Alela. My mother is Queen Ruto of the Zoras, and my father is Link... Link of the Kokiri." She added that last part with the memory of Link's story. He was Link of the Kokiri, as he had been raised by them, and she would refer to him as such from now on. "Half Zora and half Hylian, eh? That's an odd combination." Alela blinked. "How do you..." "I am Satu, one of the four Know-It-All Brothers." The boy cut her off and followed his introduction with a bow. "It's an honor to have royalty in our humble forest, Princess Alela." Alela blushed. She didn't like being called by her title, she knew that she was the princess of the Zoras, and she acknowledged this, but she didn't want her title as royalty to be mixed up with her adventuring hobby, and therefore usually kept her title a secret when she visited other parts of the country. She silently cursed at herself for forgetting it this time. "Don't think of me as royalty. While I'm carrying this sword, I'm just an adventurer." She motioned toward the Biggoron Sword on her back. Satu nodded. "As you wish, adventurer. Now. How about I show you around?" Alela nodded. "I would love that, I've been wanting to see this place for some time now."
"It's a nice village." Alela said. Satu had been guiding her and Toko around the village, and they had enjoyed the sights. Alela was surprised to see that it was entirely populated by children, not a single adult were to be seen anywhere. Satu turned his head to look at her. "I know what you're thinking, Alela. 'Where are the adults?' Well we technically are the adults, you see, when we reach a certain age, somewhere around twelve years or so, out bodies stop aging. We essentially live forever, but if we ever leave this forest... Well..." Satu hesitated. "Let's just say I'm glad Link wasn't a real Kokiri." Alela shivered. Something in the tone of Satu's voice when he said that last part made her feel like something cold went down her back. She looked at Toko, judging by the look on his face, he'd had the same feeling. Not wanting to press the subject of leaving the forest further, she skipped to another. "Speaking of my father, where is he? This village isn't that big, and we've been pretty much everywhere in it." Satu shrugged. "I don't know. He probably went to see Saria in the woods."
Alela tilted her head. "Where would they be?" Satu pointed to the top of a hill. "Up there is the entrance to the Lost Woods, but I'll have to warn you. If you get lost in there, you risk being turned into a Stalfos." Alela gasped. "What if my father gets lost? I'll have to find him!" She ran for the hill, not hearing the voices of Toko and Satu calling her name.
Deeper inside the Lost Woods, Link was wandering, straining his ears for the sound of Saria's music. "Why isn't she playing?" Saria had told him to find her in front of the Forest Temple, and that she'd be playing her song on her ocarina. But no matter where Link turned, Saria's Song was not to be heard. "Maybe you should contact her?" Navi, Link's fairy, flew out from under his hat. Link nodded. "You're right. I should." He drew his ocarina, and played the song his friend had taught him all those years ago. But there was no answer. Normally this song allowed them to communicate telepathically, but this time Saria didn't answer. Link tried again, still no answer. "Damn. Why isn't she responding?" Link had lost his patience, he did what he should have done at the beginning, rather than running around in the woods, he played the Minuet of Forest, and warped to the temple.
Alela ran as fast as she could, she didn't know where she was going, or where she had already been. The only thing she cared about, was finding Link. "Father!" She called out to him, but didn't get a response, this only served to worry her further. She cursed, and kept running.
Link arrived at the entrance to the temple, but Saria was nowhere to be found. "Saria!" He tired calling her name, but he got no response. "Where is she?" He looked around, hoping to find some clue of where his friend had gone. "Link! Watch out!" Link whirled around at Navi's warning, and only barely managed leap out of the way before he was hit by an incoming sword.
Alela tripped and landed on all four, completely out of breath. Normally she would be able to run for much longer, but she had been spending far too much time out of the water. A normal Zora would've started feeling weak much earlier than she did, but her Hylian blood allowed her to keep her strength a while longer. That while had passed, and her strength was gone, she could feel her consciousness starting to slip.
Link drew his sword and looked at his opponent. "You." He glared into the bright red eyes of his dark clone. The last time he'd met this foe was in the Water Temple, he'd thought it was just an illusion created either by the temple or by Ganondorf's dark magic. Neither of which should be able to affect him here, in the middle of the Lost Woods, miles away from the Water Temple, seventeen years after Ganondorf's execution. The two opponents raised their swords simultaneously, and pointed them at each other. Navi hovered by Link's ear. "Link... Be careful."
Alela forced herself to get back up. She didn't care if her body was going to fight against her, she would not stop until she'd found her father. She called his name, but didn't get a response. She started walking, she would have to catch her breath properly before she could start running again, but immediately stopped when she heard a rustling in the bushes a few feet ahead of her, followed by a deep growling.
Link charged at his foe, who did the exact same, and swung his sword in a wide curve toward his head. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the transparent, dark blade swinging in a similar curve toward his own head. He blocked the attack with his shield, and felt his own sword being blocked by his enemy's shield. He sighed in frustration, he knew this was going to be a long fight.
The white Wolfos leapt out from the bushes with a loud howl, and landed right in front of Alela, where it stood, growling. Alela, still breathing heavily, drew her sword and readied herself for the beast's charge.
Every attack Link made toward his dark clone was mirrored perfectly, even better than when he first encountered it. He was surprised by just how well it predicted his moves, and acted to mirror them. Every time it mirrored Link's attack, he was forced to either pull back or defend with his shield, which only lead to his opponent doing the same.
The Wolfos circled around Alela, looking for a weak spot to attack, and Alela did the same. The beast growled, and she could see its muscles tensing up. She thought quickly, and stepped backwards just as the beast charged for the spot she would've been on if she'd kept moving the same direction. The Wolfos whimpered as Alela's huge sword came slashing down upon it, carving a deep wound in its side. It didn't flinch, as she had hoped, but instead immediately turned and sprang at her again. She was pushed down by the weight of the beast, and cried out in pain as it started clawing and biting her.
Link leapt backwards, wanting to create some distance, but was surprised by his opponent following him this time rather than mimicking him. He only barely managed to raise his shield in time to block the sword swinging at his head, but suddenly felt all air leave his lungs as his foes shield was slammed into his stomach. He bended over, clutching his aching stomach, he looked up at the Dark Link, but his vision went black, as the clone smashed its shield against the side of his head.
The pain was unbearable, the weight of the huge beast was crushing her legs, and the sharp claws were lashing out at every part of her body they could reach. She'd dropped her sword when the Wolfos had lunged at her, and she was now laying on the ground with it on top of her, and nothing to defend herself with. Alela aimed a punch at the beast, but it was faster than her. She screamed as it's strong jaws closed around her arm, and the sharp teeth pierced her skin. In an act of panic, she tugged at her arm, but immediately stopped when she heard the sound of bones breaking, and she felt her lower arm pop out of its joint at the elbow. The Wolfos let go of her arm, and raised its head in a victorious howl, but the howl never left its throat before it was slammed into a tree. The last thing Alela saw before she lost consciousness, was Toko mercilessly punching the Wolfos until it was no longer moving.