Chapter 2: Ever Defeats Its Own Ends

Link moaned as he opened his eyes. He lay on a bed within the trunk of a massive tree. Shaped through the magic of fairies and friends for his benefit. As he yawned and stretched his eyes roamed around the empty chair and desk, and to the ceiling. "Still alone."

As he tried to push himself off his bed with his arms he felt a stab of pain go through them and he landed hard on his bed. "I guess a few moments more then." He muttered to the no one that surrounded him.

His arms ached from his training through most of the night before. It was a good ache. One that told him he was getting better, getting stronger. He laid in his bed. It felt so nice, just give himself a few more moments to let his arms stop tingling and he'd get up and go do his chores.

"Shoot," Link said as he pushed himself out of his bed. "The chores." Another spasm twisted his arms. "Agh, shoot!" Ignoring the pain he ran to the curtain that separated his tree home from the rest of the village. Stopping only a moment to scoup up his shoes and hat and thrust them onto his feet and head. And thankfully got each of them in the right position.

As he burst outside he saw the other Kokiri children heading toward the fields or rookeries, some toward the line of trees that marked the entrance to the forest proper. All of them heading away from the center of the village.

He scrambled down the rope ladder and started to run toward the village square.

"Good morning, Link!" Helvia said, waving, her fairy darting around her head. As she finished waving she returned to concentrating on a patch of grass before her. Green magic swirled around her fingers as the grass shrank down and spread out to cover the dark muddy ditch beside it.

"Morning Helvia, morning Deppi," he called as he ran pas them.

"Running late, Link?" shouted Vernus as Link ran past him. His hands outstretched over the pool, before him leaves and twigs rose from the water at his command and moved one by one to a pile he made beside the water.

"Morning Vernus, morning Yulyu." He said without stopping. The last of the other Kokiri were leaving the square now, leaving only Mido sitting on his rock.

"Hi, Link. Wow, we're running," came a friendly voice. A girl with green hair started jogging beside him. "Mind if I run with you?"

"Morning Saria, morning Junmi."

"Good morning," Saria's fairy said as it flew between them. "I don't know why you're running. It's already too late."

Link grunted, but couldn't think of an argument. There was only one person left waiting in the village square, and he didn't really mind making that boy wait. He slowed to a more comfortable walk. "Mido's going to make me do something gross again." The self proclaimed boss of the Kokiri sat on his usual rock waiting and grinning.

"Perhaps," the fairy said in her quiet little voice. "If you went to sleep at a normal time you'd get up early and get something better."

"Hey, there's no reason to be rude," Saria said to her fairy. "Though, yeah, you do disappear a lot, Link."

"I just- I like to go on walks. At night. It lets me think."

"Heh," the fairy said. "Think about what?"

"You don't have to answer that if you don't want to! Just, try not to wear yourself out. Ok? I worry about you sometimes."

"You don't need to worry about me," Link felt his neck grow hot. Saria was his best friend, but she didn't understand how annoying hearing that was. He hated how everyone just treated him different. "I'm tough." He said lamely, as if being tough mattered at all.

"There he is," Mido said as they finally reached him. He didn't even get up from his rock, he just leaned over it as though it were a bed. "Finally decide to get up, eh? No-Fairy?"

"Morning Dori," Link said to the green fairy twinkling above Mido's shoulder. Then he scowled and looked to Mido. "What do you need me to do?"

"Well, the only job I have left is cleaning out the cucco roost. You know how birds make a mess, everywhere. Enjoy doing that No-Fairy."

"Ugh, gross, Mido."

"Don't you have anything else for him to do?" Saria asked. "You had me doing fishing today. Why don't I switch with Link? He loves fishing."

"No! No switching jobs!" Mido seemed to think for a bit before his smile returned. "Alright, Link, if you don't want to wash out the roost how about cleaning the cesspits? I think a few of them are near full."

"Stop messing around, Mido."

Mido slid off his rock and stepped close to Link. He was smaller than Link, which wasn't unusual. All of the other children were a little smaller than Link. He had noticed it half a year before, and Mido seemed even smaller now. "Who's messing around? These jobs need to be done. And don't worry, Link. You can just use your magic to make the cleaning quick and easy."

"You know he can't do that, Mido," Saria said. "Why are you always so mean?"

"Well, those are the only jobs I have left for you. Maybe if you had your fairy wake you up early tomorrow… oh wait! You can't!"

"Shut up!" Link lunged at the boy. His hands found Mido's shirt and pushed him. The child stumbled back and sprawled on the rock he had been sitting on a moment before. "Shut up! Shut up!" Link's fists smashed into Mido's face.

"Link!" Saria yelled.

"Stop it!" Junmi and Dori flew around Link's eyes as he punched Mido again.

"Get him off me!" Mido screamed.

Link brought his fist back for another punch and Saria grabbed it. Junmi and Dori latched onto Link's tunic and all together they pulled him off Mido. "I hate you, Mido!" Link shouted.

The other boy got off the rock. Blood spilled out of his nose and down his chin. He grabbed at it with his hands, and tears welled up in his eyes. "Look what he did, Saria. See? This is what he is. He's not one of us. He doesn't have a fairy because they all know he's not worth it. When are you going to realize the same?"

"Just stop it, Mido." Saria wrapped her arm around Link's chest and tugged at him to move him away. But her arm was not strong. And Mido's words rang in Link's ears. He stepped forward.

"Get him away from me!" Mido shrieked and ran.

"This isn't good. This isn't good!" Dori squeaked as he circled once more around Link then sped off. But not after Mido, the fairy flew toward the Great Deku Tree.

Shoot.

"Link, I know Mido is a meanie. But you need to calm down." Saria was saying as she stepped between Link and the fleeing child.

Link turned away from Mido, and looked around the village. Everyone was staring at him. Everyone just judging him for what he did. When he met her eyes Helvia turned away and went back to focusing on fixing the grass. But Wesso and Vernus just stared.

Of course they stared. No-Fairy Link the weirdo. Now the violent weirdo.

"Link? Are you listening to me?" Saria said. "It's going to be ok."

"Ugh." Link ran past her.

"Link!"

He did not stop until he was well out of the village. Away from his family and friends. Away from their judging eyes and their fairies. He did not mean to run to his special place. He had just meant to run. Usually he was more careful to make certain no one was following him. But when he found himself in the little clearing of the trees he made his own he couldn't think of any better place for him.

The clearing was somewhat crowded. Over the years, Link had filled it with enough bags of hay to construct something in roughly the size of a man. Or so he thought. He knew men were bigger than the children of the Kokiri, but he did not know by how much. But his pride and joy he had arranged resting on a tree. A wooden shield, sword, spear, and a slingshot. All shaped by him as best he could over countless hours. He had tried to make a bow, but after his first three attempts snapped in his hand he decided the slingshot would have to do.

He picked up the sword and headed to the hay-man. He swung the wooden blade against the training dummy with a loud thwack! He swung again and again. Feeling the muscles still ache from the training he did the night before. "Stupid Mido!" He said as he smashed the sword into the dummy's face. "Stupid fairies!" He smacked it twice more times along its chest and shoulders. "Stupid… me!" He whacked it again and again. Each time with more force the last. "Aauuughhh!" He shouted as the training dummy toppled over and spilled hay everywhere.

"Link?" came a quiet voice behind him. "What are you doing back here?"

"No," Link turned to see Saria with Junmi circling above her head. Stupid! He led them right to his hideout. "You're not supposed to see this."

"Is this where you go every night?"

"Oh," Junmi said wisping to the shield and the spear before hovering over the knocked over target. "The Great Deku Tree won't like this." She sped off into the sky.

"No! Please! Don't tell him. I'll stop!"

But the fairy had already gone.

"Oh no," Saria said. "I didn't mean to-"

"Aughh!" Link turned away from her and threw his wooden sword with all his might. It smashed against a tree before bouncing off and landing among the moss. "I knew I shouldn't let anyone know about this place! You ruined it!"

"I'm so sorry," Saria said. Her voice trembled as though she were fighting back tears. "I didn't mean to."

Link picked up his slingshot, and sent a few stones and nuts into the overturned pile of hay.

"I'm sorry. I- if you want to be alone."

"No, you can stay." Link sent one more stone into the pile. The fairies would be back soon. He couldn't hide all his weapons. But the slingshot could fit under his clothes. If he wrapped his belt around it, maybe it would stay there. "I'm the one who should be sorry." He said as he turned away from Saria and tucked away his smallest toy. "I'm acting like Mido, it's not your fault you came here. Ugh, I can't believe I just led you all to my spot."

"I'm still sorry," Saria moved to his side and wrapped her hand around his side in a small hug. "I just wanted to see if you were alright."

Link held his breath, worried that she would feel the weapon under his clothes. But her hand passed right over where he had tucked it. "I'm fine. Mido didn't even touch me."

"That's not what I meant."

"I don't need you to worry about me, I said I'm fine."

From over the trees several of the fairies descended upon them. Junmi led them, but just behind her came a blue fairy that Link recognized all too well.

"I guess it's time to face my punishment."

"When this is over, I have a secret spot, too. I go there when I'm feeling sad or need quiet. I can show it to you. It won't be same, but…"

"I would like that, Saria. I really would. Thank you." He stepped away from her embrace and nodded toward the fairies. "Navi."

"Link," the blue fairy bobbed before him. "I hear you've been getting into trouble again."

"Mido was- yes."

"Well come on, the Deku Tree wishes to speak with you." The fairy flew toward the exit, and moved about indicating that Link was supposed to follow. "He's very disappointed."

"I know," Link took a last long look over all his weapons and sighed. "Well, if I delay he'll only be angrier."

"Oh Link," Navi flew up to him. "He's not angry with you. You just made him sad."

And that made Link feel even worse. To reach the Great Deku Tree they needed to walk back through the village. As soon as he entered the clearing, the other children all stopped and stared at him again.

"What did you do, Link?" Stephi asked.

"Yulyu," Vernus asked his fairy. "Is Link going to get kicked out?"

Link put his head down. Didn't they have anything better to do? Someone moved to his side and took his hand. When he looked over he saw Saria walking with him. She gave him a sad smile but didn't say anything.

You don't need to worry about me. He wanted to tell her. But, walking beside her made him feel just a little better. Together they passed Mido, back on his rock. Dori flew about his face trying to clean up the blood still wet under his nose. Link met Mido's eyes and the boy huffed and turned away.

That'll show him. He won't mess with me again anytime soon. But even as he thought it he didn't believe it. Just as likely Mido would find new ways to make Link miserable.

"Good luck, Link," Saria said as they left the village and she let go of his hand. She was a good friend, but he had been called before the Deku Tree, not her.

"Thank you, for- just. Thank you." Even if they end up taking all my weapons.

He made the last part of the walk alone, except for the fairies that flew around his head. Is this the only way I can get a fairy beside me?

The Great Deku Tree was easy to see a good distance away. It's massive trunk well visible through the thick woods that surrounded it. And if you could peer over the top of the leaves you could still see it's branches sheltering everything around it.

Link stopped before the elderly face that formed on one side of the tree. It looked carved, but Link knew that no blade ever touched the Great Deku Tree, he wouldn't have it.

"Thank you, Navi," the tree's voice boomed over Link. "But I wish to speak with Link alone. Prithee, do what I have asked of thee." The fairy whirled before the tree's eyes a few times before she flew off. "Link, thou hast been fighting."

Link didn't know what he was supposed to say. Of course he had been fighting. No point in denying it.

"And Junmi came to me terrified, thou hast learned the use of weaponry."

Link folded his arms in front of him. Just tell me my punishment and get on with it.

"My son, thou must speak."

"I did," Link wanted to say. Straight and defiant and let that be the end of it. But as soon as those words came out a few more stumbled past his lips. "Mido was being mean. I didn't mean to hurt him, not really. I just… I wanted…"

"Has thy fist stopped Mido's cruelty?"

"No." Mido said the meanest thing of all after Link had hit him.

"Then what has thy wrath accomplished?"

It felt good. When he had hit Mido he felt, he didn't know how to describe it. Like his arms were doing what they were supposed to be doing. But the Great Deku Tree would not like to hear that. "Nothing."

"Thou must learn to live in peace with Mido. To teach him his folly through kindness, without resorting to thy base instincts."

"What about Mido? He's the one being mean."

"I shall speak with Mido in the proper time. Today he is bleeding and hurt. Tomorrow he will be ready to account for himself."

"Hmmph."

"About the panoply thou hast been sneaking from thy chores to use."

"No! I finish all my chores first. I promise."

"Dost thou mean to tell me, thou hast finished all so early in the morning?"

"Well, no. I haven't. Not today. Today was- I needed to go. You don't understand."

"My son, my poor son. Hast thou not listened to me? There never is need of violence. Not so long as thou dwell under my protection. Where hast thou learned the shape of sword and spear?"

"I don't want to get anyone in trouble."

"There will be no punishment for them. But I must know how it happened."

"Promise?"

"By the grace of the Three Goddesses, I promise."

"Dwemi mentioned them when he tells us stories about the outside. And I asked Frai and Deppi to describe them better when Dwemi wouldn't."

The tree trembled, its leaves shook and drooped. Not in any form of anger that Link could tell, just more disappointed. "My fairies should not speak of such things, to thee most of all. The stories are lessons on the pain of the world beyond the forest. How violence begets only war and suffering. Thou was not meant to desire to use these tools of death."

"But, don't you ever want to help them? Rescue the people who are hurting from those bullies that fight them?"

"Thou cannot solve violence with greater violence. I have sent Navi to dispose of thy toys."

"No," Link stepped toward the great tree, but stopped himself from saying or doing anything more. He knew this would happen. But somehow hearing the Great Deku Tree say it made it real. He'd lose everything he built. He wanted to lash out, to punch the trunk of the tree as he did with Mido. His fist clenched, then he released it. Anger would get him nothing, he knew. He breathed out and tried to force the rage out of his hands.

But without that anger, all that was left was sadness.

"I feel thy despair, my child. It is safe and natural to feel such things. But this is for thy own benefit. Feel your sorrow, learn to deal with it without lashing out in anger."

"Please father, don't take them all. It's the only thing I'm good at. I can't get a fairy to join themselves to me. I've tried casting even the simplest spells that others could do years ago, and none of it works. Please, don't take them away. It's the only thing I can do."

"My son, I know thou think it harsh. But when a boy grips a sword, even a toy, they see all their problems as ones their sword can solve."

"What if I just kept the spear?"

The Great Tree shimmered in almost a chuckle. "Go rest. Do no work today unless thou wishes it. Fish, speak fondly with thy friends. Dwell not on Mido but leave him be. Once I have spoken with him on the morrow, I wish thee make peace with him."

"Yes, father."

"Now go. I have much to think on."

"Is something happening?"

"A danger is coming. From the west a shadow grows strong. Outsiders will be coming soon. And they will bring with them death and war."

"They're dangerous?"

"They will not be to me. I have faced the evils from the outside many times."

Link's heart quickened. "When? Are they here?"

"They will not come today. Yes, the shadow still learns of me. It is a clever one, but full of malice."

"When they come, can I see them? Since they're no threat to you. I could hide in your branches. I won't make a sound, no one will even know I'm there."

The branches of the three dropped low enough to gently push at Link's back, nudging him toward the village. "No, my son. I do not think that would be wise. Go, rest, and leave the outsiders to me."

"Ok," Link took a few steps trying not to let his disappointment sound in his voice. "I'll be good. I promise. You'll be proud of me."

"Oh, my son. I am always proud of you."