Hyrule Field


Darkness became sunlight—the last steps within Kokiri Forest became the first steps of a new world. Link emerged at the other side of the small mountain, appearing between cliffs embedded with large but dead trees. The lad ran through the dell, turned a corner, and approaching the opening overlooking a great field.

Link beheld the vastness, quite satisfied. He didn't notice a large silhouette atop a nearby tree...

"Hoo hoot! Link... Look up here!" An eagle-owl of enormous size was perched atop a tree, immense ear tufts serving as eyebrows. "It appears that the time has finally come for you to start your adventure!" The owl occasionally tilted his head, sometimes extending his neck.

How does he know my name? Link wasn't sure how to react so he just listened to the big bird.

"You will encounter many hardships ahead... That is your fate. Don't feel discouraged, even during the toughest times." The owl briefly cocked his feathery head. "Go straight this way and you will see Hyrule Castle. You will meet a princess there... If you are lost and don't know which was to go, look at the Map." He extended his neck and shook, a map slipping from his feathers. "The areas you have explored will be shown on the map."

Link picked up the map and unrolled it. Kokiri Forest appeared in the map, though the rest of the map was blank. In the lower right, written in large letters,

Hyrule

World Atlas

Navi hovered closer to the map. "This map must be magical in nature, updating itself as you explore the world."

The wise bird continued, "On the Map, you will also see a flashing dot showing you which way you should go next." Indeed, it was so; a glowing blue dot pulsated on the northern section of the map. "Did you get all that?"

Link nodded, pocketing the self-working document. "Yes."

"All right then, I'll see you around! Hoot hoot hoot ho!"

FLAP FLAP

Feathers fluttered as the owl took flight. Link watched him depart. Nearby was a signpost, reading,

Hyrule Castle
Lon Lon Ranch

Excited, Link ran into his freedom. The seemingly endless field stretching before Hyrule Castle was a striking contrast to the secluded Kokiri Forest!


The giant eagle-owl made a big turn, flying high above but behind Link.

Wind rustled his feathers and eyebrows as he soared. Oh-ho... It looks like the boy's adventure has finally begun. The fate of the land of Hyrule rests in the hands of one young boy. I wonder if he's up to the task? In honor of the Great Deku Tree, I will guide and protect you, Link.


An earthly noise sounded. Link turned. "What's that? A giant pumpkin?"

A huge orange bulb, topped with several giant hanging leaves, uprooted itself. Giant blade-like leaves unfurled, spinning wildly and producing propulsion. The bulb tilted, leaf-blades twirling towards Link.

Link stared, mouth agape. "A dangerous vegetable? Now I've seen more than enough!"

Navi flew over. "Peahat. Its weak point is its roots!"

Kokiri Sword unsheathed, Deku Shield grasped, Link readied himself as the killer-pineapple approached. The blades whirled loudly; Link ran away. "My shield can't block that!"

The Peahat chased Link. The longer its leaves spun, the faster it when, picking up after Link.

Link looked over his shoulder. "Ohhh, no! He's catching up to me!"

Navi flew backwards while in front of Link's face. "You gotta block with your shield!"

Link spun on his heels and knelt, bracing himself behind his shield, spinning leaves getting louder, flicking dirt as the Peahat neared. His teeth tightened as dust flowed around him, some getting into his mouth. He gripped his shield, skin crawling.

The Peahat's immense leaf slashed into his shield, bouncing off, the plant flying haphazardly and wobbling about.

Link's eyebrows raised. "I...didn't expect that..."

Navi's little head popped out from around the Deku Shield. "See, Link?! You can do it! Believe in yourself!"

Link gripped his sword harder. "You're right, Navi! If I can beat Queen Gohma, I can beat this angry vegetable, too!" Link rushed forth as the Peahat rebalanced itself. He knelt again, blocking his shield as the dancing leaves slashed, bouncing off his shield. "Hahh! Hyehh! Hyahh!" Link rolled around the killer-pineapple, blades cutting into the grass and dirt behind him.

Link stood, slashing away at the peahat's underside, sword bouncing off the lower rim of its body. "I didn't expect this dangerous vegetable was armored!"

The Peahat steadily turned, whipping leaves kicking dirt and shredded grass about. Link raised his shield; one leaf slapped across his shoulder. "Uhhih!" He staggered, the Peahat shaking mid-air from impact.

"Aim better!" Navi cried; Link withdrew his Fairy Slingshot and shot, Deku Seeds breaking apart upon hitting the Peahat's body.

"No I mean aim better with your sword! Downward overhand swings only!"

The peahat turned, blades hungrily dancing. Slingshot pocketed, Link ran in a wide arc, outmaneuvering the furious leaves. "Hohh! Hih! Hyaa!" Link chopped away.

The Peahat's root shuddered upon receiving hits. "FHIWWIHWIHWIHUH!" The angry vegetable wiggled mid-air, tottering blades hitting Link back then cutting grass, a turnip uprooted. Link sat up, regaining his senses. Noticing the turnip, he ran forth, picking it up and throwing it at the Peahat; the impact threw Peahat in an arch, where it landed sideways, blades stuck in the ground.

Link charged. "HYAAAHHH!" He Jump Attacked, nailing the root. The Peahat flipped over, tottering like an overturned turtle, blades whipping about wildly and knocking Link back. He sat up, withdrawing his slingshot and shooting into the vegetable's underside.

The Peahat shook angrily. It whirled its leaf-blades at an angle, hooking into the earth so it could flip itself upright. Landing sideways, the Peahat cartwheeled after Link like a giant overstitch wheel. Eyes wide, Link blocked; the blades rolled over his shield, lashing him into the ground.

Run over by the Peahat, Link lied on the ground, tongue out, eyes spinning.

Navi flew to and fro over his face. "C'mon, Link! You have to keep moving!"

Link stood, fixing his hat, watching the Peahat rolling about. It turned around, charging Link again! Teeth gritted, Link waited until he felt the wind of the twirling leaves—he leapt sideways, shooting his slingshot mid-air as the Peahat rolling past him. Deku Seeds cracked into the Peahat's root, hurting it more.

The Peahat made angry noises. It jumped high, blades spinning wildly until it hovered quite high. Link shot skyward but kept missing the root.

Link grimaced. "I can't aim that far!"

"You gotta keep trying!" Navi encouraged.

Several small Peahats withdrew from the flying vegetable, shooting after Link.

"Peahat Larva. Defend with your shield!" Navi suggested.

Link shot at the larvae but their spinning blades parried his seeds. Slingshot pocketed, shield up, the small Peahats slashed into Link's defense, bouncing back. Link slashed back but the larvae always hit him first, ricocheting off him only to return from another direction.

Link grunted. "These little guys are harder than the big one! Wait..." He ran to the nearby tree, taking cover whenever the larvae flew after him, using the tree as an obstacle. Shield up, he bounced the Peahat Larvae into the tree and cliff side, where they shattered, but then more larvae came from the Peahat!

The boy frowned. "How many of those things are inside that thing?!" Link paused as a silhouette appeared above the Peahat... The huge eagle-owl swooped into the Peahat! Talons rammed into the angry vegetable, driving it down until it slammed into the ground, leaf-blades haplessly flopping.

The great owl aimed his beak then drove it into the Peahat, piercing its hard body open. He hooked its insides and pulled them out, seeds and fibers plucked out amid a dozen undeveloped Peahat Larvae. Talons tight, the huge owl flapped harder, raising the Peahat then kicking it over upside-down.

Link ran over, jumping upon the underside of the spinning blades then sideflipping from their inertia. "HAAAAHHH!" Link Jump Attacked, slashing his sword into the root.

"FIHWWUHWUHWIHWUHWUH!" The Peahat spattered apart like a rotten pumpkin, a bellyful of Deku Seeds and Deku Nuts spilling out.

Link breathed, a little sore.

The great owl landed, folding his wings down his sides, examining the fallen vegetable. "I would not mind a few snacks, if I do say so myself." He casually pecked at the nuts and seeds, swallowing them whole.

Link scurried over, filling his pouches with ammo. "Thanks for your help, Mr. Owl."

"Yes, thank you!" Navi agreed.

The wise bird bent his wing across his chest and bowed. "Out of respect for the Great Deku Tree." He stood upright, wings down.

Link looked up at his feathery friend. "You knew the Deku Tree?"

The bird nodded. "Hoo hoot! We sensed your importance since you were very young."

Link blinked once, twice. "When I was very young... What else do you know about me?"

"Link, you must understand that you are to learn on your own. Only then will you become a true hero."

Link nodded. "I understand, Mr. Owl."

"You are a smart child. You will persevere. When the time is right, you will gradually learn about yourself. All right, Link! I feel this parting will last much, much longer. Hoo hoot hoo!" Wings flapping heavily, he flew away.

"For an owl," Navi said, "he flies quite loud. Owls fly silently."

Link shrugged. "Well, I guess he's too big for quiet flying?" Off in the distance, Link spotted several Peahats, planted silently in their patch.

Navi flew close. "Think you can take 'em?"

Link gripped his sword. "You bet I can..."


After slaying Peahats all morning, Link decided to loosen up by running like a wild horse across the fields. The fighting and then running spent his energy, his back heated from the blazing sun.

Link fell, front down, face puffy, chin on the ground, tongue rolling out. "I'm dying of thirst..."

Navi flew up and down. "Link, look!"

Link turned his head, tongue dragging along the grass. Over yonder on a dirt road drove a carriage pulled by a horse. The carriage was filled with crates, the wagoner a plump, balding man with a full beard who somehow slept while sitting up.

Link scurried over, tongue hanging out—his face slammed into the wagon. He bounced off, landing on his back, seeing stars.

"Wuyyihh—what in tarnation?!" the wagoner shook his head, looking around.

Link jumped to his feet, coughing dryly. "Uhh... Mr. Grownup, can you help me? I'm really, really thirsty..."

The wagoner smiled; he looked like a very nice (albeit sleepy) man. "How could I say no? Come on aboard! There's plenty of milk in the back!"


BUMP

BUMP

Link sat at the back of the wagon, atop the crates of milk. As the wagon rode along, Link beheld the field just get bigger and bigger. "It's so big!" He was a bit daunted, forehead sweaty.

Navi flew backwards, panting. "It's good we ran into this carriage, isn't it, Link?"

"I was dying of thirst!"

RATTLE
RATTLE

RATTLE


"Did you say the person at the castle who we have to meet is called Princess Zelda?" Link filled his mouth with milk, cheeks rounded as his eyes turned to Navi.

GULP
GULP

Navi jingled. "Yes, we must give her the Kokiri's Emerald. Don't mess it up!"

The wagon turned his head. "Hey! We're there! The castle town!"

Link happily looked over his shoulder.

R
A
TT
L
E

The wagon noisily drove across the drawbridge.

Right after the drawbridge stood a spearman, wearing sallet, cuirass, vambraces and greaves, armor engraved with some insignia. "Welcome to Hyrule Castle Town! It's a peaceful, quiet town."

Link's mouth opened excitedly as the murmurs from the market loudened...