Note: Hello everyone! We're nearing the end of this small arc, but I hope it wasn't too boring for you. This won't really end the same as Link's other encounters with "bosses", but that guy will be dealt with much later.

I'm so sorry it took so long, but the truth was, I was struggling with how to proceed as I realized I hit a little bit of a snag. However, I think I've found a way to work it out. This sort of applies to a lot of my main works, so I'm working them out and maybe going through some old stories I'd like to update or continue.

Also, this is a bizarre confession, but I find myself assigning voices to the characters, and many of them come from those in the Ocean Group or other voice actors from Canada. I personally know them for their work in multiple anime and shows(First dub of DBZ, Beast Wars, and many adaptations of Rumiko Takahashi's work, which is how I discovered them), but some may better remember them from being in a specific show about colorful horses that spouted messages of friendship.

This is kinda funny because I have a bizarre love/hate relationship with that show, (one two-parter kinda soured things for a while, but I can sort of like it if I pretend those two episodes don't exist), and, honestly, if the characters were somehow real and read this, they'd probably think I'm a psychopath that revels in destruction and violence. Not that that's entirely wrong.

Interestingly enough, there is something of a Zelda-based retelling of that two-parter that, while it still contains elements that frustrated me about the original (not the author's fault, it's the episode it's based on), it was a much more satisfying way of making amends and true apologies, so it's already superior than the episode it's based on. I'll link it. Ironic, considering it's based in the Linked Universe. Although, I personally would like to see something similar with Zelda.

And I don't care what the fandom says, I think it'd be interesting and hilarious to include CDI Link and the American cartoon incarnations in a Linked Universe-based story.

Anyway, I'm just saying, because, while it'll be a long time coming, I'd like to practice animation and I can experiment with lip-syncing. Although I have heard it's painfully slow.

Also, I think I've found a way to let Gris interact with Link more, although I'll have to do it in a way where too much isn't given away. Granted, I had to do some research and maybe stretch a few things, but I think it's plausible. Plus, I just want her and Link's chemistry to be good.

Still, I feel driven to learn what I can to get closer there.

Thank you all for staying with me, and I hope you enjoy it!

Let me know if there are any inconsistencies!

The Lady in the Woods

"All right, so far, so good," Navi said aloud, she and Link steadily making their way through unfamiliar territory. Well, more unfamiliar, as everything to this point was nothing but the unknown. "Keep your wits about you."

Link nodded, surveying the area carefully. On the opposite end, out of sight and reach, Rectri watched both the environment around her, as well as her red-haired charge. It was then that the pink fairy remembered something important. Something she probably should've asked her child before they both continued on.

"Do you actually know how to use that thing?"

"Of course I do!" Mido responded. "You just…" he gazed at the carved, makeshift weapon in his small hand. "You…pull this thing back," he began, stretching the band. "And…you put something in here," he continued, only to get smacked in the face the moment he let the stretchable material go. "Ow!"

"You know, maybe Link should've handed you something else, like a stick." Recti giggled.

"Hey, I'm just as good as Mr. No-Fairy with anything you hand me!" Mido argued back. "Heck, if anything, that sword should go to me!" he huffed.

"You've never used a sword in your life," Recti responded. "Let alone any sort of weapon."

"Well…it's not hard to learn! If Mr. No-Fairy can learn it, so can I!"

"You know you technically can't call him that anymore," Recti said. "Navi's with him."

The redhead was about to retort but ultimately realized that the pink fairy was right in her assessment. True, while he could technically still call Link that, it wouldn't have the same weight.

"Actually, I've been meaning to ask," Recti continued. "Why do you have it out for Link so much?"

"What do you mean?" Mido asked.

"Um, it's totally obvious," Recti said with a raised brow. "You can't stand him! Why?" she asked. "Granted, yeah, I think the kid is a little weird, but last time I checked, he hadn't done anything to you personally. So, what's the deal?"

Mido was silent for a short while, clearly struggling to find an answer. "I don't have any deal with him," he murmured. "I just don't like him. Aren't I allowed to NOT like somebody?"

"It's more than that, and you know it," Recti told him. "Is it Saria?"

"N-No!" Mido the redhead protested. "I can win her over easily!" he then puffed his chest out proudly.

"Then what is it?"

The boy didn't answer. His fairy was wrong, he wasn't jealous of that blonde, stupid mute. What did he have to be jealous of? It wasn't as if Link was any smarter than him! Or stronger, or faster, or seemingly gaining strength with each passing year while the others didn't. The way that Saria would look at him…

"Mido?"

The boy wasn't paying attention, still stewing in his many reasons why he could stand the blonde mute. Yet, after a few moments, he realized that, while he could hear his fairy's voice, there was something else that had gone silent.

"What?"

"Do you hear that?"

Mido listened, ears alert for any note or small peep. "No," he answered his fairy.

Recti hugged herself. "Neither do I."


"Saria…" Link said, eyes wide with concern. "Her song…"

Indeed, Navi thought. I doubt that means anything good.

Although, before either she, Link, or even the distant Mido or Recti could think about their current situation further, a strange scent entered the air. It was subtle at first, then steadily grew stronger with time, permeating the atmosphere surrounding them. Soon, what appeared to be floating pink pollen contained in a flowing mist spread all around, coating the environment in its veil.

Then, their vision began to change. Or rather, altered, for the mist momentarily consumed their vision, blinding them in a wave of sweet-smelling pink before the world was revealed to them again.

Only now, the environments on the sides of either boy transformed again, yet, strangely enough, neither child experienced the same vision given to them by the mist. And it was only now that the shapes and colors and patterns blocked out by bright pink began to become more clear and solid.

Then, each boy's separate section appeared to "come to life."

Mido

"Hey, wait!" Recti called out, her Kokiri running blindly through another tree hollow, the redheaded child trying to get the sickly sweet and sour taste of the mist out of his mouth as soon as he could get it out of his eyes.

As he ran, he felt his left foot hit something, causing him to trip and fall over into the ground. "Ow!" He cried out, lifting himself up and trying to massage the pain from his nose. "This thing better not be broken again," he huffed, inspecting his face for any damage. So far, nothing but general soreness from a tumble.

"I hope that fall cleared your senses up," Recti said, having caught up to her charge. "It certainly cleared up your sinuses."

Mido was puzzled as to what she meant but then felt a warm, slimy substance dripping from his nostrils. "Ugh, sick!" The redhead grimaced, wiping his nose with the back of his arm and scraping what he had collected off onto the grass. Grumbling about how "gross" and "icky" that was.

That was when, as he started to calm down, he noticed something in the corner of his eye, along with the realization that the forest around him had changed once again!

And, even more, he wasn't alone.

And neither was Link.

Link

He was still very much in the Lost Woods, but the blonde was almost panicking, believing for a second that he had somehow gone backward. The same target he had set up when he came out with his slingshot to either practice or relieve stress, and the tree hollows appeared familiar as well. Had he really gone back the way he came?! This was terrible! How was he ever going to reach Saria now?!

"Hey!"

Navi's voice spooked him, yet it ultimately got his attention. Nevertheless, he gave her a small growl and an irritated look.

"As your fairy, you should be thanking me," Navi told him, arms crossed, although her form was so small and consumed by light, the boy couldn't see it. She then got closer. "Look," she told him. "In the trees."

All around him were glowing orbs of yellow, what the boy had first assumed to be fireflies. Such insects were commonly seen at an hour as late as this in either this place or the Kokiri Forest. Still, his theory of the orbs being fireflies was quickly dismantled, as the orbs didn't move or dim only to light up again. Instead, they remained static, ever shining and maintaining a consistent glow to them. It was also then that Link realized that each orb had another like it a short distance away, each of them paired into a coupling.

No, Link thought. Those weren't fireflies, nor were they just animals. But, whatever they were, they had their eyes centered on him, the rest of their shadowy forms hidden away in the shadows of the canopy above.

Mido

When he had managed to get his vision back to normal, the self-proclaimed Leader of the Kokiri's blue eyes spotted something in the distance that immediately triggered him to get out Link's slingshot. True, he nearly shot himself in the eye trying to prepare it, but he managed to get it right after a few adjustments.

Although, when he aimed to fire, the redheaded boy found himself stuck in place, arm pulled back and ready to release a Deku Seed, but the instinct to fight and defend himself steadily faded away the more he looked at what was in the distance. True, he wasn't entirely sure of what he was seeing, but, from what he could see, it didn't appear dangerous.

They didn't appear dangerous.

Link

"You there," a voice from above called out, Link's head whirling around to see where the speaker was hiding. If he could keep track of which pair of eyes was which. "Aren't you the monster?"

Monster? Before Link could ask what the figure meant, more of them began speaking, each one after the other, not allowing the blonde to get one word in. Assuming he could properly articulate his speech at this current moment.

"The monster that kidnaps the Princess?" one further inquired.

"We're monsters too!" another giggled.

"We're like you!" said the shape next to the one that had spoken.

"We're not like the other children in the forest."

Link found that, no matter where he turned, dozens of peering watching eyes looked down from above, both alerting the boy of their presence, as well as the fact he, nor his fairy, had anywhere to go.

"And yet, you're not like us either," Link heard the leaves rustle, indicating movement. "So, you're a monster of an entirely different breed."

A chorus of chuckles and chortles echoed throughout the small area. "Would you like to have a contest between us all?" one of the concealed shapes questioned mockingly. "One type of monster versus another, doesn't that sound cool?"

Link didn't answer, but he bit his lip, blue eyes darting wherever they could. He wouldn't say it in front of Navi, yet a part of him sensed she already guessed he was steadily growing afraid.

"What's the matter, oh monster from the outside?" one of them darkly chuckled. "Don't you want to fight?!"

Mido

At first, Mido wasn't entirely sure of what he was seeing, yet, as he continued to look, he realized more and more that there was indeed someone there with him. Someone that looked like him, but not entirely. Their ears were long and their skin a peachy complexion, albeit somewhat paler, and their golden hair reminded the redhead of Fado's voluminous locks, but there was one major difference separating those Mido knew from this stranger.

This stranger was at least two or three feet taller than him. And when they stood up, the Kokiri was certain that it must've been around four, or maybe even five!

The stranger had eyes of blue, yet, unlike the wide eyes of the Kokiri, theirs bore a more mature look as if she had passed the stage where a Kokiri would dwell forever, the face attached to those eyes smooth and somewhat angular, nose small but sharp, brows fashioned to curve and grow thinner at the edges, and a pair of pink spheres hanging from her ears from what appeared to be a small ring pierced through the skin of the earlobes. Their hair was tied up in a braided bun, a silver band sitting atop their head, and their body was clothed in a deep blue dress with golden trims and a pink shawl wrapped around their shoulders.

It was a person, Mido knew, but it wasn't a Kokiri. No, something, someone like this, they didn't dwell in the Lost Woods, nor anywhere near the Kokiri Forest. "This is a…?" Mido whispered, watching the figure move, realizing that the specimen was a female. A girl. No, more than that.

A woman.

And a woman always meant a man wasn't too far away either.

People, Mido thought. People from the outside. Just as in all the tales the Great Deku Tree had told them.

Link

It was only due to Navi's warning of "Watch out!" that her charge managed to avoid getting bombarded with dozens upon dozens of pellets being fired from blowguns, a nearby, rather sizable tree trunk serving as a temporary cover.

All right, Link thought. If they wanted to have a shooting contest, then he'd give them one! At least, that was his mindset before he reached for his slingshot and found himself grasping empty space. And with that came the memory of him handing the weapon to Mido.

"Looks like you're going to have to come up with another strategy," Navi alerted her charge, who proceeded to give her a knowing look. "What that is? Well…" she paused, then she dove into the sack beneath his shield. "Let's see what we've got here," the fairy said, voice a little muffled as she searched through Link's belongings. "Huh, how much stuff is IN here, anyway? You'd think this thing is somehow magic."

Truth be told, Link himself had never thought of it before, but the sack given to him DID seem to be able to hold a lot. And somehow not change size or become overly heavy.

"Aha! Here's something!" the fairy cried out, flying out with a Deku Nut in her grasp, albeit it was clear she was having some difficulty keeping airborne while carrying it at the same time. "This probably won't drive them off, but it'll at least buy you some time."

Link yelped when a pellet struck the stump's top, the projectile zooming right past the boy's ear, missing it by mere inches. Taking the nut, the boy peered over the stump just enough to see that there was an exit nearby. If he could get there, then maybe he could at least get in the clear long enough to come up with a plan.

Or at least have Navi come up with one. Hey, she WAS his fairy, wasn't she?

"Hm, strange," Navi thought aloud, although it was quiet enough to keep it to herself. "I swear, I believe I've heard of creatures like this somewhere in the woods," she reminisced. "Something that the Great Deku Tree told them…and a rumor of where they came from…" What or who they were would have to come later. For now, they had to go! Taking the nut, Link, to Navi's shock, the boy got atop the stump and held the object up high. "What are you doing?!" the fairy cried out. "You're gonna…!?"

She got out no more when she found her speech muffled by a hand wrapping around her entire form while the other hand threw the nut, the wooden plant opening up and releasing a bright, sparkling light that consumed the entire, small section of the Lost Woods. Link's attackers were left unprepared, the light blinding them all and dislodging some from their places, their bodies falling from the trees. Although Link didn't catch a glimpse of these few, for the moment the sparks and flares from the nut came out, he grabbed Navi and made a b-line to the nearest tree hollow. They'd follow him, of course, but at least now, he could fend them off while looking for Saria.

It was then that, to the boy's shock, a peculiar thought came to his mind.

What about Mido?

Mido

What should he do?

True, this person, this woman, she didn't belong here, but she was still bigger than him. A lot bigger. She might've not had too much muscle on her, but the redhead didn't doubt it wouldn't take much for her to overpower him. Like it or not, the bigger guy ALWAYS won in a fight. Still, what if this lady was dangerous? What if she found Saria before he did? Would she perhaps…?!

He was unsure, yet regardless, he needed some sense of protection. Bringing out Link's slingshot, MIdo steadily set it up, ready to fire if need be. Although he doubted his abilities to use this tool, he'd die before he'd let such a thing be known openly.

"Uh…" Mido began, cursing himself. Already, he looked like an idiot. Link would probably be able to aim this thing, no problem, he thought. Much to his dismay. No, he had to do this! He had to be brave! For Saria! "H-Hey!" he shouted, gathering up his courage. "This is a private forest, lady! You're not welcome here!"

The woman still had her back turned to him, silent and acting as if she hadn't even heard him.

"This place belongs to the Great Deku Tree, and I, Mido, am the Leader of his children, the Kokiri!" the boy proclaimed with pride, hoping such a title would stir some sort of reaction. "And…now that he's gone…I'm in charge of these woods!" he declared. It wasn't true, of course, as he still barely knew how to navigate a mile into the Lost Woods. Saria, on the other hand, seemed to know this place like the back of her hand. Had she maybe seen this woman before? "So…I'm going to have to ask you to leave! Besides, people from the outside don't belong here!"

The woman still didn't react.

Mido was about to raise his voice louder, yet he then noticed a detail he hadn't before. The tall outsider was holding something in her arms, and she was somewhat hunched over. For a moment, he assumed that she was sick, yet, upon further inspection, it almost seemed like she was hurt. "Uh…hey," the boy said, dropping his facade of an intimidating warrior. "Are…you ok?"

Upon receiving silence as an answer yet again, Mido decided to investigate for himself, drawing closer to her. Peering around, the boy saw that she had something in her arms: a lump of some kind hidden away in a wrapped-up cloth, the woman holding it closer to her chest as if it was her very life. Just what was it that she believed to be so important to carry with her? From Mido's standpoint, such a thing only served to weigh her down, so why was she so attached?

Out of intrigue, the boy reached forward to pull the cloth back, but a sudden rustle in the bushes alerted him, as well as the woman, that they weren't alone.

"What the…?" Mido spoke aloud. It was then that, to his shock and horror, he realized his fairy was gone. Recti was nowhere in sight.

The woman rose to her feet, allowing Mido to see, as she stood, a tear in the left side of her dress. Along with a massive gash in her skin, exposing a wound that had just healed over, blood dry and crusted. Before Mido could do anything, he, as well as the woman, heard howling in the distance.

"What…is that?" Mido questioned with a wavering voice, clutching the slingshot tightly.

Animals in the Lost Woods were nothing to fear, as the Great Deku Tree had once said, for the forest belonged to them as much as it did the Kokiri. Yet, these sounds, whatever they were, the boy couldn't link them to any animal or creature he had seen or heard before. And, these things, whatever they were, they didn't sound friendly either. They sounded predatory, savage, bloodthirsty even. Such a creature…they didn't belong here. Not in the Great Deku Tree's domain.

Then, as soon as he was beginning to process that there were potentially dangerous animals coming their way, Mido saw the woman dash through one of the tree hollows, disappearing into the darkness, carrying the clothed bundle with her.

"H-Hey, wait!" Mido called out. "Don't leave me!"

He followed after her, hesitating for a moment as the dark void inside the hollow served to make his already frightened mind run wild with the possibility of something even nastier residing in there. Yet, upon hearing the howls again, the redhead found he had no choice and dove headfirst into the blackness, clutching the slingshot and praying that he wouldn't lose it.

Although truth be told, he was beginning to doubt it would do him any good.

Link

Even if he was free to move, that was all he could do, for, if he stopped, he'd surely be bombarded with pellets, rendering him unable to move anywhere. But still, these guys, whatever or whoever they were, just wouldn't let up! No matter where he turned, Link found he was only just one step ahead of his attackers, but only one step.

"Hurry!" Navi urged him, more than aware of this fact too. "Don't stop! They're gaining on us! They're almost here!"

Yes, yes, he KNEW that, Link thought. Ever factual and informative Navi working her magic yet again.

Spotting another stump, Link ducked behind it yet again, finding temporary relief from the bombardment of pellets, yet, to his dismay, he found himself stuck in the same position as he had before.

"Well, great. We're back where we just were a minute ago," the oh-so-wise Navi observed, Link rolling his eyes. "Hey, I can fly, you're stuck on the ground," the fairy lectured her Kokiri. "Still, this isn't exactly good."

"...you don't say."

"Oh, hush," Navi commanded, although she doubted her charge would take her words to heart. Great Deku Tree knows…well, knew, this boy could be a bit insufferable. Still, they needed to get out of this. "If only we could somehow knock these guys out of the trees, then maybe we'd have some sort of chance to see what we're up against," It was then that Navi realized her charge, while still taking cover, began to rise as if planning to make a move. "Wait," she asked. "What are you doing?"

Link didn't answer, as he suspected that she probably wouldn't agree with his chosen course of action. But, she did say that it'd be better if they could knock one of these guys out of the trees. And, so far, the boy in green saw only one way.

"Wait, stop! Don't-"

Navi's words had no power, for the boy went on, against her instruction. And, to her shock, bewilderment, and, in some way, a twisted sense of amusement, Link performed a roll that, at the right time, slammed his head against the tree before him, jostling the towering flora, as well as his ability to process the world around him, everything spinning and blocked out by glowing lights in angular shapes that resembled stars.

He didn't even notice the loud "OOOF!" that followed, as well as the sound of an impact right behind him. Nor did he notice the Skull Mask slipping out of his sack and falling to the ground.

"You…" Navi stammered, wide-eyed and unbelieving of what the blonde boy had just done. "You're crazy!" she then shouted. She then began to fly over, intending to give this clearly reckless child some well-needed common sense! "Do you have any idea what you could've done!?" she questioned. Link was just coming to, and the first thing he registered was that his fairy wasn't exactly pleased with the execution of his plan. His sight was momentarily blinded by the pale blue light of the winged woman, form concealed by the glowing hue. He then felt an ache on the top of his head, the fairy lightly knocking on his dome. "It's a miracle nothing feels broken! Do you know how dangerous head injuries can be?! You could crack your skull and suffer internal bleeding! Or get a piece of your skull lodged in your brain! Or…?!"

The boy she was lecturing wasn't even looking in her direction.

"Hey! I'm talking to…you?" Navi began but ceased midway when she too saw what her charge was seeing.

On the forest floor, holding its head and moaning in pain was a bipedal creature that was just around Link's height, yet that was the only trait this being and the boy shared. The revealed entity was clothed in a cap or hat that fanned outward but was tied up to hold it in place, making it appear almost like a wide onion, and the headpiece appeared to be composed of orange and yellow dyed leaves. The creature's attire matched their hat, a scruffy, torn tunic with green, torn pants underneath, curved shoes, and torn, fingerless gloves, as well as a belt composed of silver rings and rope. The same belt was tied around the upper half of the cap as well.

Link was about to try and ask just what or who this…thing was, yet they looked at them first, bearing the same glowing eyes that had been watching him from above. It was then that the boy realized that, no, this creature wasn't unfamiliar to him.

In fact, he had seen them before.

And yet had no idea who they were when he did.

Note: Linked Universe/MLP fic is called A Royal Castle Town Wedding on Ao3.

Even if I don't like the episodes it's based on, it's a good read. I'd recommend it, especially if you're dissatisfied with the resolution in the show.

Anyhow, thank you so much for reading! Alert me of any errors, and I shall hopefully update soon!