Chapter 6: I Am Weary Of This Frail World's Decay
Link found himself walking toward the large building in the middle of the night. It was made of stone rather than shaped out of the trees of the forest, but it was definitely a home. Just one larger than anything Link had ever seen before. Bigger even than the Great Deku Tree.
"Hello?" He called to the building, "Is there anyone there?"
The door of the stone building opened. Wider than the trunk of most trees, it looked like a door for a giant and it didn't open like a normal door. Instead it swung down with the a cranking ratchet noise.
"Help," a voice cried. At first he thought it was Saria, but it was slightly lower. "Help," she cried again.
Link looked around him. "Where are you? I can help! Are you alright?"
The door touched the ground with a thud. From the stone building a faint white light shone, purer than the light of even the fairies. It headed toward him, racing over the massive door. Behind it a dark cloud with bright yellow eyes followed.
"Please, help me!" the white light called as dark tendril reached for it from the cloud.
"I can help!" Link called as he rushed between the dark cloud and the white light. "I can help!"
The cloud stopped chasing the white light, and instead swirled around Link. It blotted out the moon and stars, the eyes floating in the cloud grew larger and brighter and full of malice.
Link couldn't see the white light anymore, it was just him alone with the shadow. "I'm not afraid of you!" Link shouted, though his heart pounded in his chest and his legs felt as though they had turned to soup.
"Help!"
Dark fingers formed in the cloud, raising high into the air. But as all turned to dark, something bright glowed in the sky. At first Link thought it was the moon, but it was bright and gold.
Was it some kind of triangle?
"Wake up! I need your help!"
The cloud reached down for Link and the golden light was gone.
A weight pressed on Link's chest.
"I am not afraid of you!" Link screamed as the darkness enveloped him.
"Link! Wake up!"
Link's eyes opened. He was back on his bed. Above him a glowing blue light buzzed around his head. "Navi?" He stretched and yawned. "What's going on?"
"Good! Get up, there's no time to explain."
"Huh?"
"Hurry! The Great Deku Tree needs you! Hurry!"
That got him moving. He rolled off his bed and grabbed his clothes and shoes. He had never heard Navi sound actually worried before. She always had an air of unshakable authority. She was the Great Deku Tree's most dependable fairy. What could get her so worked up?
As he pulled his tunic over his head, he felt the small pouch he'd sown to store his slingshot press against his side. He hadn't removed it when he went to sleep the night before. He glanced around him to see Navi impatiently hovering over him. He couldn't just take it out now, not without revealing to Navi he kept one of his weapons.
"What are you waiting for? We need to hurry."
Link mumbled an apology and nudged at his tunic until he was certain the slingshot was placed in the position hardest to notice. Then he pulled on his shoes and hat and ran out of his home, Navi flying just over his shoulder.
Around the village the other Kokiri children were just starting to get up. Still too early for Mido to divvy up their daily chores.
"Morning Link!" Saria called from her own tree. "Hey is that Navi with you?"
"Yeah, um, morning Saria. Morning Junmi." He waved at them before he continued after Navi.
"Running again? You're not late today." Saria jogged up beside Link as they reached the village square. "Wait, is Link in trouble again?"
"No," Navi said. "Saria, please stay here. The Great Deku Tree needs Link."
"What?" came Mido's voice. "Why does the Great Deku Tree need Link?"
"Not now, Mido," Link muttered. But the short boy jumped off his rock and stood in Link's way.
Link frowned, he had been trying to make amends with the boy since he hit him. Apologized and everything, and though Mido apologized back Link didn't think he truly meant it. For the last few days they'd mostly avoided each other.
"I'm supposed to be the Great Deku Tree's helper," Mido said. "What can Link do to help him that I can't? He can't even do magic!"
"We do not have time for this Mido," Navi said as she flew to Dori. "Can you get him to move out of our way?"
"I think this is serious," Dori said to Mido.
"Then I'm going to go help, too!"
"No!" Navi said, fluttering before Mido's eyes. "This is not a task for you, now get out of our way."
For a second Mido's eyes watered and his lip trembled. "Why doesn't he-" he started, before he set his jaw and looked straight toward Link. "Fine! We can do our work without you, No-Fairy!" And without another word he went back to his rock.
Navi immediately went flying forward toward the Great Deku Tree. Link stayed back. I should say something. Offer to tell him what was going on? He didn't want things to get even worse with Mido. Even though he was being mean, he was trying to help. But when he looked back at the boy, Mido just folded his arms and hunched over the rock.
"Come on Link!" Navi called.
Link sighed, he'd figure out what was wrong and tell them all once it was over. Turning away from his friends he ran after Navi until they were well away from the village to the very trunk of the Great Deku Tree.
But it did not look like the Great Deku Tree, at least not like the one he spoke to only days before. It's bark had grown dark and leaves fell from it's branches, opening patches of sky. Something that Link had never seen happen even during the heart of autumn.
"What's wrong with him?" Link asked.
"Link?" The deep voice sounded weak and distant. "Navi hast thou brought Link? Is this the the plan thou alluded to?"
"Yes!" The blue fairy flew around the tree. "You said it yourself, our magic isn't working on it. Whatever they did to you, we can't stop it alone."
"If I had know this was thy plan, I would never have allowed thee to go."
"What's going on?" Link demanded. "Who did this to him?"
"I shall not use Link, not after how far he hast come."
"Use me for what?"
"Link," Navi said. "The outsiders that met with him cast some kind of curse on him. We have been trying to contain it with our magic all night. But it's not working. Whatever magic we try the curse just corrupts and turns back against us."
Before Link's feet another leaf fell to the ground. The branches of the tree drooped, and the bark itself seemed to groan as the strained against whatever was happening.
"You're in pain."
"It is nothing, my son." One of the branches touched Link's shoulder and tried to move him back toward the village. Last time the Great Deku Tree had moved him this way it had been firm, not hard or painful, but irresistible. Strong enough so Link knew he could not disobey. But now the branch trembled, as if the effort would cause the wood to snap. "Go back with the others. I will handle this."
"You can't," Navi said. "Great Tree, please, you will die."
"If it is my time, then so be it. I will not see my son descend back to barbarism. Especially not for my sake."
"Think!" Navi shouted. "What will happen when you're gone? Who will protect your children? What will the evil man do when he gets his hand on the emerald? We have to use Link."
While Navi spoke, Link stepped up to the tree and placed his hand on the trunk. Between his fingers the bark split into dust. "Please, I have to try. Everything you've done for me, I have to help."
"My child, thou dost not know what thou ask. A father cannot condemn their son's soul. Thou hast come so far."
"And you'll show me the rest of the way. Please, let me help. Don't you trust me?"
The Great Deku Tree paused, while Navi further elaborated an expanding list of reasons to use Link. "I trust you more than I trust the Sun to rise. Navi," the tree cut off Navi's further protestations. "Bring Link the blade."
"Thank the goddesses," the fairy flew off into the woods.
"Link," the tree said once the fairy was gone. "There is so much I wish to tell you."
"And you will, as soon as you're healthy."
"Take heed, my son, the warlock's spell has corrupted that which my magic has touched. It decays me from root to leaf. Cut away what is dead and clear away the rot. But do not seek violence. If there be danger within me, I beg thee to retreat. To stay safe."
Before Link could reply Navi returned with five other fairies carrying something between them, long and narrow and sharp.
"Is that a sword?"
"This blade is thine birthright."
The fairies lowered it into his hands, and tied a green sheath around his waist. The blade was as long as his arm. As he wrapped his fingers around its grip it felt right. Like something stolen from him had been returned. Like his arm was complete. "How?"
"When your work is done, I will reveal the mysteries of thine history." The face of the Great Deku Tree shook, for a moment Link feared he was too late and death had taken him. The unmoving mouth of the tree fell, lowering like the great door from Link's dream. "I will clear a path for you as best I can." Leaves floated around Link as the mouth finished opening revealing a twisted path of living wood that descended down low beneath the earth.
"Navi, protect my son. His safety beist thine highest duty."
"I will," the fairy said.
"Then go," the Great Deku Tree said, his weak voice trembled. "And may the goddesses guide thee whilst I cannot."
Link ran into the tree, rubbing away at the tears in his eyes. He could do this. The Great Deku Tree needed him. He had a purpose, he wasn't just some mistake that the fairies couldn't abide. Link could save their father.
There was no light within the tree, except for Navi's soft blue glow. It was not like the various homes that the Great Deku shaped from the trees around the village, with wide spaces suitable for living and playing together.
Here the walls heaved, in time with a tired heartbeat. First squeezing against Link's shoulders then expanding out, providing more room for Link to move with each step. It's changing itself, Link thought. Just to give me a chance.
But not all of the wood moved. As the path expanded a chunk of the Deku Tree glistened with purple sap. Instead of shaping to the will of the Great Deku Tree it stayed put. Latching onto what it could and pulling strips of wood with it. The blot slid down between the tree's fibers, snaking about until the strips of wood looked just like the rest of dark ichor.
"There, Link," Navi flew around the dark mess making certain not to touch it. "Cut it free."
Link's hands trembled as he took the blade to the sap. He did not know what he expected from the first cut. But as the sword touched the wood it slid through as easily as cleaning a fish. As his sword worked the sap bubbled up, forming a gasping, biting mouth.
"What is that?" Navi hissed.
Link grunted and continued cutting. Making certain his fingers didn't get too close. It was loose from the wood, Link pulled the clotted black slime free. As the last of the sap left the tree a wisp of green magic light burst like a bubble and fell back down.
The lump in Link's hand turned dry and dark. Without the connection to the Great Deku Tree and its magic it shriveled into itself leaving only a lifeless husk.
"That's it!" Navi sang. "Good job, Link!"
"Is that all of it?" Link looked about him. It did not seem that hard. Was this small thing what was almost killing the Great Deku Tree? But as he thought the walls split open further, revealing a vast wooden chasm.
Navi's blue light barely reached into the new room. But, what Link could see answered his question. Dripping masses of the purple liquid dotted the walls and floor. There was more of them than Link could count, and probably more still that Navi's light could not reach.
"Come on!" he called as he raced to the next room. I'll save you. I can do this.
He did not know how long he worked. Without the sun, and only Navi's words of encouragement and suggestions to there was no way of knowing how late in the day it was. But halfway through clearing the section of the tree his arms were already tired. The sap ran down the sword and covered his fingers. Even when the growths died, the residue remained on him. At first he ignored it, but with each knew blot the corruption spread over him.
He wiped his hands on his tunic. And when that no longer did anything, he tried wiping it on his hat and shoes. But eventually there was nothing more to do but push through and try clear away the gunk that splashed up against his eyes. When some got in his mouth, it took all his will not to vomit.
"Come on, Link," Navi said. "We're almost there."
He tossed away another of the decaying lumps and stood up. Navi flew ahead then stopped. Her glow did not light up the ground beneath her.
"What's that?" Link said as he moved beside her.
"I don't know."
They both looked into the hole on the ground, but it wasn't the smooth shaping of the wood as the Great Deku Tree had done. Jagged divots lined the hole, leaving strips of ruined pulp all along the sides.
"Something did that," Link stuck his finger along the side of the hole. This wasn't some magic corruption, something living had burrowed through the wood.
"I think this is as far as we can go," Navi said.
"What?"
"The Great Deku Tree said not to do anything dangerous."
"Navi, if this is what's causing the problem we need to stop it. Otherwise all we've been doing is wasting our time."
"Link, something tore through solid wood. This is dangerous."
"The hole is barely big enough for me to squeeze through," Link said. "It can't be that dangerous."
Before Navi could respond, Link stuck his feet into the hole and nudged his way down. At first it was barely big enough for his shoulders to fit, but soon enough it opened up a bit wider. Enough for him to swing around and start crawling forward a bit more comfortably. Then it grew large enough for Link to stand up and walk.
"Link?" Navi sounded worried. "Link this isn't a good idea."
The tunnel opened into a large hollowed out area. Whatever the creature was digging for it seemed to have discovered as the ground no longer slanted downward. Link put his hand on the wall to steady himself as he moved forward. "Ugh," he pulled his hand away from the dark sludge that dripped from the wall. "There's more?"
Navi flew around his hand and the wall, lighting up all that she could. Every inch of the walls and the ground was covered in a thin coat of the dark sap. "Link," she said. "This is too much."
"We almost have it." He pressed forward, his feet slurping through the sap with every step. A clicking noise came from overheard. "Navi, do you hear that?"
"Unfortunately," the fairy said. "Alright, I have this. I have this. For the Great Deku." She flew up toward the noise. "For the Great Deku."
The clicking grew louder, and a low rumble descended from the ceiling. Navi stopped, her light spreading before her. At first Link saw only darkness, until the dark moved beneath the light of the fairy. An undulating shiver went over the dark ceiling, until one bulbous segment split open. Beneath the heavy lids a large yellow eye peered at Navi.
"Link!" Navi screamed. "Run!"
The massive shape dropped to the ground. As it fell, chunks of the tree fell with it, revealing something small and bright green where it had been hanging. When it struck the ground slime and splinters flew through the air.
Navi shot passed Link's shoulder. "Come on! Run!"
But Link couldn't move. The various segments of the creature rattled as it righted itself on the ground. Then it raised it's bulk up to and screeched. Spindly legs jutting from its body pushed the creature toward Link as it continued howling.
He could see the creature coming for him. He saw the legs that ended in spikes that pierced into the ground. The snapping claws that could tear him in half.
But he didn't move. He didn't flee as Navi screamed in his ear. He did nothing.
Then his arm slowly raised, and his sword came before him. All the practice he'd done over the years with wooden sticks came back to him.
The claw swung. He jumped back and watched as it went by.
"Hiyaaah!" He screamed and jumped back in stabbing and slashing with the blade as wild as he could. Some of the strikes even went true. Cutting into the dark carapace of the creature. Leaving thin slices that dripped with green blood.
The creature screamed and it's numerous legs stomped around him. Link dived away from them. Moving about as the legs crashed around him. Each movement pushing him further away from the monster.
No, this was no good. He needed to get close. If it drove him away, then he'd be at the mercy of its long legs. But with every step forward he made the a flurry of limbs forced him back.
"Link!" Navi screamed and rushed past his shoulder. One of the creature's legs appeared through the darkness falling toward his head.
Link barely had time to jump out of the way. The thick leg sent a splash of air and the sludge into Link's face when it hit the ground.
The giant insect gave a loud screech, as Link wiped the slime from his eyes and scrambled back to his feet. The creature didn't attack him. He had been open. He should have died. Why wasn't he dead?
As his vision cleared he had his answer. Navi flew around the monster's eye. Flashing it's light as bright as it could.
"Run Link!" she screamed.
One of the creatures legs batted Navi out of the air. She splatted into the ground.
"Run," she managed to whisper before the beast dived toward her.
It was going to eat her! It was too far to stab. If he tried to run toward the creature it would be over before he could do anything. What was he… Link's eyes went wide, and he reached into his tunic.
"Hey you big ugly monster!" He pulled out his slingshot and one of the small nuts he kept in the pouch. "Get away from Navi!"
The nut whistled through the air and smashed into the creature's eye. The monster reared back, and shook it's limbs in the air.
"Navi! Now!" From the sludge a tarnished blue light shot out. It zipped over Link's head.
"This way!" she screamed. Behind her the monster reared on it's legs and started bounding toward Link again.
This time Link didn't freeze, nor did he prepare to fight. He turned and ran after Navi. The creature slammed into the wall behind him. Thrashing limbs and screeching clicks followed them as they raced back into the tunnel. A moment later the great bulk of the creature smashed into the hole. One of it's claws waving after them, but too big to follow.
Link crawled up, with the angry howls of the monster ringing in his ears. Link pulled himself back out of the tunnel. He rolled over onto his back and closed his eyes, surrounded by the hard wood of the Great Deku Tree, still moving with life. Navi flew over his eyes, she was struggling. Her glossamer wings flapping harder than Link had ever heard. One of them bent at the tip, a crack running along the side.
Navi fluttered a bit to steady herself then landed on Link's nose. "Are you hurt?" she asked. "Please don't be hurt. I'm supposed to protect you."
"You did," Link said. "You saved me."
"Of course." Navi's voice cracked. "I guess- I guess that's it. We tried. But that thing is too dangerous."
Link pushed himself up, nearly sending Navi hurtling off him. "What? No."
"I gave the Great Deku Tree my word. I wouldn't let any harm come to you. We'll just have to tell him… have to say…"
"I am not going to let that thing kill him!" Link stood up, carefully held his hand out for Navi to take hold of it and hold her steady.
"We don't have any choice. I don't want it to be true either. But there's nothing more we can do."
Link moved about the room, there had to be something. The slingshot worked on the eye, but that wouldn't last once the creature got close to him. And with all those legs, once he got close he needed to dive and dodge the entire time. He couldn't just stand his ground and fight like he wanted.
"Link are you listening to me?" Navi said. "Do you think the Great Deku Tree would want you to do this?"
"He can punish me as much as he likes, so long as he's alive." Link searched the ground until he found a thick chunk of the Deku Tree that had been torn from his removal of the corruption. It looked about the right size. It had a groove he could make work.
He put his hand on the ground, letting Navi jump from him and flutter painfully to the ground beside the tunnel. Then he sat and laid the wood over his lap, took out his sword and scraped away at the piece of wood.
"I have to get you out of here," Navi hopped herself into Link's view.
The wood seemed to shape just the way Link wanted it. As if it knew what Link was trying to do and helped mold itself to Link's desire. The last time he had tried to make one it had taken hours. But now a few simple cuts, and the handle seemed to form itself.
"Link, please say something. You have to listen to me."
Link looked over his work, it didn't look all that bad. "Thank you, father," he whispered as he stood up. He gripped his new shield in his hand and shook it. It felt solid, the best work he had ever done.
"I'm going to save the Great Deku Tree," he said as he sheathed the blade. "If you're too wounded to help me, I understand. But I'm not going to let that thing win."
