Chapter 4: Cracks


Using a warp gate was a new experience for Link. It was a different feeling from a skull kid's teleportation magic. His attempts at trying to use the skill always felt cold and empty, like trying to push through nothingness. Skull Kid said that was normal, so he supposed he believed it.

The warp gate, however, felt warm and inviting, like being wrapped up in a cozy blanket. And it did not even require any energy or concentration! It sounded ideal to him; too bad it only worked at a fixed point.

As the feeling faded and he opened his eyes, he found himself standing back in front of the Great Deku Tree, Skull Kid and Navi beside him.

"Well done Link… And you two as well, Navi, and young skull kid…" The Great Deku tree's words reverberated all around the trio, and they turned their heads to stare. "Thou hast verily demonstrated thy courage…"

Link grinned sheepishly at the praise, rubbing the back of his neck. He couldn't have done it without the help of Navi and Skull Kid, he was sure of that. How fortunate he was to have at least one friend in this world! Speaking of Skull Kid, the other child sprang forward with lighthearted laughter and quickly wrapped his arms around Link from behind in a big hug.

The jubilant atmosphere could not last for long, however, as the tree continued to speak with a low rumble.

"Link, now that thy task is complete, I have yet more to tell ye, wouldst thou listen…"

Link turned his attention back to the tree, tilting his head up and blinking a couple times before taking a seat in the grass. Skull Kid, curious, sat down as well.

Once they settled, the speech resumed. "Now...listen carefully...A wicked man of the desert cast this dreadful curse upon me…"


When the Great Deku Tree's story had concluded, it left an uneasy feeling in the air. He spoke of great power, great goddesses, and great evil. Of danger approaching. Of a man seeking power to destroy everything. Although Skull Kid did not seem too concerned with the implications of the story, Link couldn't help but feel like a burden had sank into his heart.

The tree still had yet more to say, however. "Thou must never allow the desert man in black armor to lay his hands on the sacred Triforce… Thou must never suffer that man, with his evil heart, to enter the Sacred Realm of legend… That evil man who cast the death curse upon me and sapped my power… Because of that curse, my end is nigh…"

There was a quiet jingling noise as Navi hopped to alertness and flew up into the air. "Wait, you can't mean…No!"

"It is so… Though your valiant efforts to break the curse were successful, I was doomed before you started… Yes, I will pass away soon… But do not grieve for me… I have been able to tell you of these important matters… This is Hyrule's final hope…"

Now Link had climbed to his feet, and even Skull Kid seemed to be paying close attention. He felt something fall on him. Looking up, he could see a few leaves turning color – to greys and dried up browns – and falling from the tree's branches. Link clenched his fists. He… He had a feeling he understood what the tree was trying to tell him.

"Link...Go now to Hyrule Castle...There, thou will surely meet the Princess of Destiny… Take this stone with you. The stone that man wanted so much, that he cast the curse on me…"

A soft glowing light appeared in front of them, similar to the magic of the warp they had used before. When it faded, an ornamental stone remained in its place before it slowly began to float down. Link reached out his hands, catching it when it came close enough.

He ran a thumb along the gem's surface It was quite large. Large enough, in fact, for him to have to use both hands to hold it. The gemstone was cut to look circular and was a brilliant green in color, sparkling in the late-afternoon sun. It was nestled within a golden piece that curved around the side, and then around to the front.

Too large for his pockets, and not having many other options, Link chose to stow it inside his hat. He would have to find some other bag to store it in at a later point. But for now, it would have to do.

"The future depends upon thee, Link… Thou art courageous…" The Deku Tree finally stated before turning his speech to address the fairy beside Link. "Navi the fairy… Help Link to carry out my will…"

"B-but-"

"I entreat ye... Navi… Good...bye…"

There was a deep, creaking noise as the tree let out his final words. His brown bark slowly turned to a dry, ashy grey. When the noise stopped, there was a moment of silence. And then a leaf fell onto Link's shoulder. He looked up, and could see more leaves turning grey and brown, and beginning to fall off the tree.

The three stood in silence for a long moment. Whether it be that they were stunned, or just unable to find words, it could not be sure. Finally, it was Navi that broke the silence, in a voice that cracked as she drooped in the air.

"Goodbye… Great Deku Tree…"

She continued to be silent for a moment, then, forcing herself to perk up, she gave Link a little nudge against his cheek. "Let's go to Hyrule Castle, Link."

Link hesitated for a moment, giving the husk of the tree one last look, then finally nodded before picking up his sword and turning to leave.

Skull Kid finally snapped out of his stupor as soon as he realized Link had begun to walk away. He ran the few paces to catch up. "Wait, you can't be serious, can you? You're not really leaving, are you?"

Link paused and slowly turned back to look at his friend. Skull Kid placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't you know how dangerous it is outside the forest? You've never been out there – well, as far as you can remember. I know everything sounded bad, but wouldn't it be better to just… stay here and wait things out? It might not even happen! That guy the tree was talking about needs all three of these rock things, right? And if he doesn't know where you are, how is he going to find it?"

Link considered his words for a moment staring before letting his gaze fall to the ground. Skull Kid was not totally wrong, in all honesty. He did not really want to go. The idea of leaving the forest that had shaped every memory that he could remember was, quite honestly, terrifying. But…

"I have to try," he finally responded quietly.

He felt Skull Kid's hand lift from his shoulder. When he looked back, the boy had shifted back several steps, his hands tapping together nervously. "But… but what if something happens, I… you… what if something happens to you?"

Link's gaze fell again. Navi floated down beside him. "I understand what you're saying but… shouldn't I at least tell the princess? The Deku Tree asked me to. And… it only feels right."

"But why would she believe you? I mean. You and I. People think we're monsters! She'd probably just have you killed!"

"Nonsense," Navi chimed in, but when the skull kid gave her a sharp look, she closed her mouth. Still, she refused to back down from his gaze.

"I… if the Deku Tree trusts her, then so do I," Link finally said. "I have to take the chance that the stone will be proof enough."

"YOU'RE NOT GETTING IT!" Skull Kid cried out, his tone causing Link to flinch. Silence seemed to stretch out forever, before he brought his hands up to his chest and spoke in a quiet, faltering voice.

"You, you… why do you want to leave so bad all of a sudden? D-did did I do something wrong?" skull kids could not cry, but with the sniffle and the shaky, cracked voice, Link could tell he would be if he could. The emotions were the same. His hands dropped to his side, and his head hung low. His body was shaking, giving off the slightest rattle.

Link started to reach a hand up to give his friend a comforting pat. But before he could, Skull Kid clenched one hand into a fist and smacked Link's hand away with the other.

"Fine! Just leave! Go away and don't come back!" His voice dropped and became mournful, tinged with years of bitterness. "Everybody always leaves…"

Before Link had a chance to protest, Skull Kid pushed past, rushing off at a dash. A few feet away, he jumped in the air, attempting to teleport into the darkness of the forest. But his magic was expelled, and he only made it a few feet before falling flat on his face. He did not let it stop him, however, and scrambled back up to his feet, continuing his retreat.

Link's arms dropped to his sides, and he almost let his sword slip out of his hands. If his heart had already felt burdened, now it was bursting with heartache. His friend… His best friend… He had never seen him so, upset. Downtrodden. He had never seen him more upset than acting mildly inconvenienced or annoyed, in fact.

"Link… You should go find him." Navi's voice cut into his thoughts. "He seemed really upset. And he seems like the type of kid to act really rashly when he's upset. But… I bet if you two just talked about it, he'll feel better. Maybe you can leave on a better note."

Link was not completely sure she was right. He might just need some space but… He nodded. He certainly did not want to leave the forest on a sour note like that.

He gave one last look back to the corpse of the deceased spirit, then, gripping his sword tightly, he headed back towards the Kokiri Forest.


"What did you do?"

Link failed to make it very far without an interruption.

As he'd reentered the forest, the fairy boy from before, Mido, stood in his path, blocking his way back to the lost woods.

"The Great Deku Tree… did he… die?"

"Mido," Navi answered. "It's not what it looks like. There was-"

"No, don't defend him." Mido interrupted. "I think it's exactly what it looks like. How could you let something like that happen? Or worse, how could you do something like that! It's all your fault." The boy stomped to the side, fists clenched, then stabbed a finger towards the entrance of the Lost Woods. "Get out of here, like your friend did. And don't come back!"

Link took off without looking back, eyes trained on the entrance back to the Lost Woods in the distance.

"And if you see Saria," the boy yelled after him, "don't you dare lay a finger on her! You hear me?!"


Skull Kid was not in their favorite clearing, the first place Link searched. Checking his tree stump home, as well as Skull Kid's, proved to be fruitless as well. When it came to decoration, Link's home was much sparser than the latter's, with only a few handmade trinkets and gifts here and there, sitting around or placed into caved indentations in the tree. His pride was the small table that Saria had given him, in exchange for rupees that he had found scattered and abandoned in the forest (and from raiding jars in the Kokiri houses at night, but she didn't need to know about that little secret).

Skull Kid's home, on the other hand, was much more cluttered. Several carefully polished rupees, as well as other little trinkets that he'd found or… acquired from travelers passing through the forest that Skull Kid had pranked, were scattered about. Mostly shiny things, but a few musical instruments and even a wooden mask were mixed in, too. Link was starting to suspect his friend might have a problem.

Besides the mess, his friend's most precious belongings were hidden under his bed, made of piled and pressed leaves. But the bed looked undisturbed. Skull Kid likely had not been back since he left that morning.

With a sigh, Link returned outside. Night had fallen some time ago now, and Link was starting to worry that he would not be able to find his friend before he had to leave. Crestfallen, he took a seat on a rock outside. Navi flew put behind him and perched on his shoulder.

For a moment, the duo sat in silence. Navi, of course, was the one to break it. "Has he ever reacted to something like this before?"

Link simply shook his head and pulled his knees up to his chest. He gazed out into the shadowy forest and barely moved when Navi gave him a comforting nudge.

"Don't worry, I'm sure we can find him. Is there anywhere else you two hang out?"

Cheered up slightly, Link thought back to their most common places to play. There was the valley that most of the other skull kids lived in, but he doubted his friend would go there when he was so upset; though they had much in common, the two of them were not nearly as close to the rest of their kind as they were each other, or Saria even. Then there was the pond where they liked to fish… but he doubted his friend would want to be anywhere around water after their little adventure. That left-

His thoughts were interrupted when the distant mournful sound a flute caught his ears, carried on the wind.

The sacred grove.

Immediately, he hopped up, and dashed off, leaving Navi to speed behind him in attempt to catch up.

He raced through the forest, expertly dodging this way and that at the last second. The woods may twist and turn to throw off people. But the Lost Woods were just as much his playground as his home. And he could not be thrown off by it anymore.

The flute had grown louder when he reached an overgrown clearing. The rock formations here always seemed odd to him, twisting and turning sharply like some unnatural maze. He had no time to waste on them though. Gathering up all his strength, he dashed forward and sprang, grabbed hold of a ledge, and pulled himself to the top. Once up, it was only a matter of leaping over the gaps as he approached his destination.

He slowed as he passed between the two rock walls leading to the meadow and sniffed at the air. Skull Kid was here. And so was someone else. They too, smelled of the forest. Of fallen leaves and forest dew. But there was also a hint of wildflowers and dirt beneath it all. Even though it had been weeks since he'd last seen her, he could recognize that scent anywhere.

The flute music came to an end, growing quieter until it stopped completely. Link stayed back and hid as a quiet clapping responded.

"That was lovely, Skull Kid," Saria's voice wafted from the side. "Did you make it up yourself?"

"No." Skull Kid's voice came from further in. From a higher up point from what he could tell. He still sounded as dejected as he had when he ran off. "I learned from some f- from some people a long time ago…"

Link heard Saria hum the tune for a moment. "Well, it really is beautiful, if sad. Does it have a name?"

"I… I don't know, actually."

"Maybe you can teach it to me sometime?"

"Maybe…"

Crickets chirped. In the distance, a wolfos howled. For a while, it was quiet. Then Link could make out a quiet sniffling. Then sniffles turned to sobs. When Saria spoke again, her voice was quiet, concerned.

"Are you okay? I've never seen you like this…"

"I'm fine…"

Saria did not sound convinced. "I heard Mido say early this afternoon that you and Link went to see the Great Deku Tree. Did something happen?"

Link crept a little closer.

"It's not important…"

"Skull Kid, I've never seen you apart from Link since you two met. I have a feeling it's very important."

"Why does it matter to you?"

"Because I consider you my friend, Skull Kid. And I worry about my friends when they're upset."

Skull Kid was quiet for a long, long moment. Link began to creep up to see what he was doing but shot back down when he heard the other child blurt out "He's leaving me!"

Navi began to float up for a better look, but Link grabbed her and pulled her back down, bringing a finger up to his face in a shushing gesture.

Skull Kid's voice cracked as he continued. "H-e-he he s-aid he was gonna-na leave, be-be-because-" he cut off and took a long deep breath in an attempt to steady his breathing and his speech. "Because the tree told him to."

Link finally peeked from his hiding place. Skull Kid had moved, he was sitting on the ground now. Saria had moved too and was in the middle of sitting down next to the boy.

"I-I don't understand. He… I thought he cared about me, a-and he's just gonna leave me behind because a tree told him to! A-am I not important? I-I thought we were… were best friends…" The boy dropped his head into his hands. "I thought Link thought I was special? He barely even knows the Deku Tree. He doesn't know this person the Deku Tree is sending him after. Were we ever even friends to begin with after all?"

The child sniffled. Saria slowly lifted a hand, then gave him a gentle pat on the back, and he sobbed.

His head shot up into the air, as if crying out to the goddesses themselves. "What's wrong with me? WHY DOES EVERYBODY ALWAYS LEAVE!?"

Total silence. Even the bugs had ceased their noise. Saria said nothing. But she slowly reached an arm over to wrap around his side in hopes of comforting him with a hug. Skull Kid, surprisingly, accepted, leaning into her side.

"Every friend I ever had- thought I had. Everyone always leaves…"

"Oh, Skull Kid," Saria said quietly. "That's not true, you know I would never leave you, right?"

"That's what everyone says…"

Navi could not stay quiet any longer.

"H-Hey, Link doesn't want to leave though!"

Skull Kid sprang to his feet, spinning around. Saria whipped her head around but stood slowly. Link, cover blown, slowly emerged from his hiding spot. Skull Kid squeezed his hands into fists before lowering his head and averting his gaze.

"H-how long have you been there?" The boy grumbled.

"Since you quit playing your music," Navi responded, fluttering around Link for a moment before flying over to the other two. "We've been looking for you all evening Skull Kid, Link's been worried sick!"

Skull Kid tilted his head up to look at the other skull kid. Link's eyes seemed to waver in the dark. "You… have?"

"Of course we have! Why wouldn't he be worried when his friend runs off all upset?"

"Then… did you decide to stay?"

Link averted his gaze. "Well…"

"Oh."

An awkward silence stretched out. But, surprisingly, it was Link that broke the silence.

"I… didn't mean to hurt you when I said I was leaving. It's just… You know better than anyone I've always felt… connected to the Kokiri Forest. Like there's something I'm forgetting that I had to do there before… you know… And… maybe this was it."

"But," Skull Kid countered, "you don't even know the Great Deku Tree. You've known me for a long time, and you're going to choose some tree over me?"

"... I did meet him, once. That's how he knew my name."

Skull Kid's eyes tilted up to meet Links.

"It was… a little bit after we first met, I believe. I was sneaking around the Kokiri Forest at night and got my directions mixed up. I ended up in front of the tree and it started to rain, and he offered me shelter."

"I remember that," Saria piped up. "It was when we first met, too. You fell asleep among the Great Deku Tree's roots. I woke you and sent you on your way before anyone else could find you there."

Link nodded. "So when his last request-"

"Last?" Saria interjected.

"He…" Navi started. "I… I'm sorry, The Great Deku Tree is dead," When Saria opened her mouth to let out a gasp and took a step back, she added, "Sorry you had to find out this way. We were trying to save him but… it was too late."

Saria turned her head, trying to hide the tears threating to spill over as she did her best to keep her voice steady. "I see…"

"He asked Link to take something to the princess of Hyrule. And that's what lead to now."

Saria took a seat on the ground, legs suddenly feeling weak.

"Someone really evil hurt the Great Deku Tree. That's why Link is leaving to warn the princess. Because if the bad guy wins, we could all be in danger."

Saria knit her brows together and took a deep breath. "It's… a lot to take in all at once. I, guess I'm not all that surprised. About you leaving, I mean. You've always been a little different, certainly different from myself and the Kokiri, but different from the other skull kids too. But, even when we're apart, we can still be friends, right?"

Link considered her words, then gave a nod, his mouth parting to show the smallest of smiles.

Then he turned his attention to Skull Kid, who had turned away.

"Skull Kid… I'm sorry. I didn't know how much me leaving would hurt you. But, I won't be gone forever. Hopefully, once I deliver the stone, I can come back home. And then we can go back to playing again. No matter what, I swear I'm going to come back."

Skull Kid finally looked back up. "Do you… do you promise? You have to promise that you'll come back." He held out his hand, extending a pinky.

Without hesitation, Link reached out and linked his pinky with Skull Kid's, then pulled his friend in for a big hug. They embraced for several minutes before Saria cut in.

"Sorry to bother you two, but I have something for you Link." She reached into her pockets and fished something out. It was an instrument, made of wood and similar to a potato in shape.

Link pulled away and accepted the instrument in his hands. It was suspended on a string, allowing him to place it around his neck.

"This is a Fairy Ocarina. It's carved from the wood of the Great Deku Tree. It has magical properties because of that. If you play my song, you can talk to me at any time. And if Skull Kid is with me, you can talk to him too."

Link's face lit up, and he leaned forward to give Saria a hug too. "Thank you so, so much Saria. I'll take good care of it."

Saria smiled sadly. "Why don't we get you set for your trip then, so you can leave first thing in the morning. You need a scabbard for that sword of yours. And you could really use a shield too. I can get you one from the Kokiri Shop. But then I need to start… preparing funeral arrangements I guess… It's weird. Death isn't something us Kokiri usually have to deal with."

Skull Kid sniffed, then wiped the bottom of his beak with his glove. "I think Mido has a scabbard that he isn't using. I could get it for you."

"I thought you didn't know who Mido was," Link pointed out.

"Did I say that?" Skull Kid responded, looking away in faux innocence. If he was still upset, he sure was doing a good job of hiding it.

Link laughed. He was really, really going to miss these guys.


Dawn came far earlier than Link had expected. When the three had parted ways, he had headed straight home to rest up. But he'd first spent time getting his belongings stashed away. Skull Kid could watch his house some, but he would not want some other skull kid or a wild animal stealing all his stuff or worse: moving in.

His friends were already waiting for him when he reached the bridge outside Kokiri forest. Saria held a small, wooden shield at her side, while Skull Kid was - very badly - hiding a scabbard behind his back and grinning sheepishly. He could not catch Saria's words from where he was, but she certainly looked like she was giving one heck of a lecture. He only managed to catch the last few words.

"So, as I was saying, please stay out of Mido's hair. He's a good guy once you get to know him, really."

"I'm a pretty good guy too, but you don't see me bragging."

Saria shook her head, then, noticing Link, put on a smile. "There you are! We've been waiting for you!"

Link smiled, and Navi popped out from under his cap. He approached Saria first, giving her a hug before accepting the shield and strapping it onto his back.

"Stay safe, okay?"

He nodded, then turned his attention to Skull Kid. He took the scabbard first, adjusting it so that he could sling it over his shoulder before sheathing the sword, then quickly wrapped his friend in a big snug hug.

"Ack! Link! Too tight!"

Link released his friend with a sheepish grin. "Sorry."

Skull Kid gave a satisfied nod, then leaned in to give Link a looser hug. "Remember, you promised."

Link wrapped his arms back around his friend. "You know you could come with me, if you wanted to."

For a moment, Skull Kid's eyes lit up. But he quickly shook his head. "Thanks, I'd love to go on a big adventure with you, but… I don't think they could handle the two of us. Besides, who would watch all your stuff then?" He giggled, then grew more serious. "But you better call Saria every day. I'll be waiting to hear from you!"

Link nodded slightly. "Don't worry, I will. I'll be back before you know it."

Skull Kid nodded and finally let go, taking a step back, and tapped his hands together nervously.

For a second, Link closed his eyes. He could just stay here. He wanted to stay here with his friends. But it seemed like fate did not agree. So, with one final wave to his friends, he took off, dashing through the tunnel leading out of the forest.


It felt Like Link walked through the woods for a long time after leaving his friends behind. So long, in fact, that he wondered it would ever actually end. Was the world really just one big forest? Navi had stopped flying behind after a while, and instead chosen to nestle underneath his cap.

But finally, the trees began to thin, and more and more sunlight began to filter through the gaps. Link blinked as his eyes adjusted to the brighter light. To either side, the ground began to incline steeply, leaving a narrow path to continue down, until finally, the trees came to an end.

Encouraged, Link raced forward to the end of the path, stopping short of the end to take a look around where the walls dropped out.

In front of him stretched out a field, like one of the many meadows that dotted the lost woods. But larger. Much larger. A few trees dotted the landscape here and there, but otherwise, it was grass as far as the eye could see. He could not even see the other end of it!

As he slowly made his way out to the open, he heard a heavy flutter of wings behind him. He ignored it at first. Birds were extremely common in the forest, after all.

"Hoot hoot! Link, up here!"

Link whipped around, beginning to reach for his sword. He had seen a lot of birds in his lifetime, but never any that could talk.

The bird resting in the tree in front of him was huge, more than twice his size, and far larger than any bird he had ever seen. It was some type of owl, mostly covered in dark brown feathers, excluding its creamy chest and face. Its beak, too, was the same brown color, and just above it sprouted two huge feathers, similar to eyebrows. When the bird flipped his head upside down for a moment, the darker markings below his face created a second, fake face.

"Hoo hoo, there's no need for weapons my boy, I mean you no harm."

Link looked unconvinced, but slowly let his grip on the sword loosen when the bird made no movement to swoop down on him.

Satisfied, the bird bobbed it's head up and down before beginning his speech.

"Well, well, it looks like the time has finally come for you to start your adventure!" Before Link had a chance to question how the bird would know anything about his quest, let alone why he would know something like his name, the bird continued with more cryptic statements.

"You will encounter many hardships ahead... That is your fate. Don't feel discouraged, even during the toughest times!"

Link couldn't help but gulp and honestly considered reaching for his sword again. But instead he continued to listen to the bird's advice.

Go straight this way and you will see Hyrule Castle. You will meet a princess there… As long as you head forward, you can't miss it."

"But what if we do?" Navi asked, emerging from Link's cap to speak for him.

"I hope you would have a map, but if not, there are not many places you could go as you currently are, you will find your way there in time. Did you get all that?"

Link nodded his head slowly, before opening his mouth to question the bird. But he did not get a chance as it began to flap its great wings and take to the air.

"Wait!" Navi called out. "At least give us your name!"

"You may call me Kaepora Gaebora, small one!" The owl called out behind him as he began to climb higher into the sky. "We will meet again later, do take care!" And without another word, the owl was out of range, leaving Navi and Link with more questions than answers.

For a moment, Link stood in stunned silence, trying to process exactly what happened. But Navi did not give him much time.

"Come on Link, we should hurry if we want to make it to the castle by nightfall!"

The thought of being left exposed in the dark was enough to get the skull kid moving. With a quick nod, he took off in the direction the owl had suggested. He sure hoped he had not been lying.

Next stop Hyrule Castle.


A/N: For those of you that were expecting Skull Kid to go with Link and might be disappointed that he did not, don't worry. He has a MAJOR role in the story yet, he's just taking a back burner position for a little while.

I worried a little about the pacing of this chapter a little, but even though it may look like they got things all wrapped up neatly before leaving, I can assure you that things are not all nice and neat.