Falling was never a sensation that Zen relished. Even less so when he knew that the height he was falling from would spell his demise if he didn't act. So he cast the first disguise runes he could think of.
His descent abruptly stopped as his body instantly became lighter. He peeked upwards past his pinwheel in hand and grinned at Link who leaned over the edge of the pedestal far above. "Ya ha ha!"
Link flipped off the cheery Korok where he floated above one of the limbs and shook his head. "I thought for sure you were gonna break your neck and Azzy was going to kill me."
"Aren't you glad I'm more quick-witted than that?" Zen carefully blew on his pinwheel to guide himself closer to the tree trunk before he dropped the disguise and grabbed onto one of the limbs. "What in Hyrule was that thing?"
"That is a Gloom Hand, and we have to kill it before it infects us with gloom. Remember those Koroks below that look like they had the life sucked out of them? They've been infected."
"Oh, lovely," he said sarcastically while he climbed. "So, how do we kill it?"
"Target the eyes to stun them, then bombs into the middle before they come back to full awareness. If you fail to do it fast enough, then they break free of the stun and the bombs aren't nearly as effective. Don't climb over the edge immediately when you reach the top. Circle around towards my side, then wait for my signal. I want you to scale the pedestal too.
"Consider it done. I don't want to go anywhere near that thing. Damn near scared me to death– literally!" Zen let out an awkward chuckle while he neared the top. "Don't know what I would've done if I couldn't use my runes."
"I don't want to think about it either." Link cocked his head to the side then gestured for Zen to head around the side. "Hand's tucked back into the puddle of gloom it uses as a 'disguise'. Funny, it's something you seem to have in common with it."
"Hilarious." The Sheikah grunted as he reached the rim underneath the platform where his companion waited on top. "Think you can distract it long enough for me to give my hands a break so I don't slip climbing up the last bit?"
"Long as neither of us moves towards it, you should be fine to rest on that edge where you are. You're far enough away to be safe."
"Thank the Goddess," Zen breathed in relief. His hands ached as he pulled himself up to sit for a moment. "Who knew this was going to be such a venture?"
"Getting the Master Sword has never been an easy task. I could do without those stupid hands though." Link replied wryly. "I've encountered them a handful of times, and lost several weapons in one-on-one battles. But being gloomed is absolutely miserable and if I can ensure that neither of us experience it, I will."
"I appreciate that." He rubbed his aching hands together til the pain lessened. "You want me targeting the eyes so you can focus on bombs?"
"If you don't mind. I already saw your skill with a bow. I daresay you rival myself or the Princess when it comes to speed and accuracy."
"I think you're a little biased towards the Princess. But I'll take that as a high compliment– though Azzy is going to kick your ass when I tell her."
"What do you mean?" Link exclaimed in surprise. "Why would she be upset that I complimented you?"
"Because you're so quick to forget that she's got me beat with a bow. Only by a hair at times, but she's still better."
"... fair point. I guess I'll deserve that ass kicking then." Link grinned down at him. "Ready?"
"Yup." Zen carefully got up and then leaped from the edge of the tree to grab the edge of the pedestal and immediately regretted his choice. Free climbing was fine… with the proper gloves. Unfortunately, his gloves were in the pack and thus currently inaccessible. He groaned at the ache in his fingers, but it gave an incentive for him to climb faster.
Link extended a hand down when he was within reach, helping pull Zen onto the pedestal beside him. "You alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Climbing hurt my hands though." He dug through his bag for the wrap half-gloves that he typically wore, breathing a sigh of relief when they were snugly in place.
"Alright. You good?" At Zen's nod, Link pulled out his bow and set up a bomb arrow.
Zen got his bow ready with a regular arrow, quiver at hand with the other arrows he would need. Link signaled a silent countdown before dropping the bomb arrow into the center of the gloom pool.
An explosion of black smoke and purple fumes billowed from the puddle, immediately followed by the trio of ghastly hands emerging. Zen targeted the eye on the center one with deadly accuracy, then nocked the second arrow and sent it in the time it took Link to draw an arrow. Three down.
"Good, good! One more, then the fifth will bomb them all!" Link cheered beside him.
Zen landed the fourth arrow and immediately Link's bomb exploded on the stunned hands. The Sheikah grabbed a bomb arrow as well and fired it at the center hand while the Champion prepped his following blow.
The trio of bombs in rapid succession was enough to destroy whatever malevolent life the hand contained, leaving it vanishing in a puff of gray and purple haze. Only when it cleared did Link straighten. "That got it. And look, the crystal we need just has to be moved a dozen paces over to you, and it'll unlock the final seal."
"Then we face whatever is poisoning the Deku Tree from the inside. Think it's more gloom?"
"Probably. Or something related to it." Link leaped off the platform and rolled as he landed. The strange markings on his right hand glowed as he activated the ability to move the large crystal up to Zen.
The Sheikah took it with ease and settled it into position. The bright, crystalline aura activated, shooting a beam directly down to the lock and undoing it with an audible click of the mechanism.
"That sound will never get old," Link remarked fondly. He waited for Zen to leap down and join him, then pointed to the previously hidden trap door in the upper section of the Deku Tree's stumpy top. "Shall we?"
"After you. You're the Champion." Zen pointed out with a grin.
Link smirked back at him and opened the trap door. A long, narrow ladder ran down the north side of the opening, but only darkness greeted them as they peered inside.
"Why does this remind me of staring down into a well?"
"Well, because it does?" Link quipped, earning a light punch in the shoulder from his companion. "Sorry. Couldn't resist."
"Now I see why Azzy enjoys spending time with you. You match me in corny puns and light humor." Zen attached a brightbloom seed to an arrow and shot it straight down.
The seed dimly illuminated the tunnel until it reached the bottom, activating in a small burst of white light. In the shadows cast by it, the two young men could just make out movement of some sort.
"Here goes nothing, I guess."
Zen tucked his bow and bag back into place and descended behind Link. Regardless of what awaited them at the bottom, they would have to face it. He only hoped the potions they had would be enough. That his assistance would support Link in facing whatever monster lurked in the darkness.
Several more brightbloom seeds illuminated the majority of the hollowed out room in the base of the Deku Tree. Several pillars jutted out from the floor, giving clear places for them to climb and catch their breath. And a menacing, shadowed figure stood at the far side opposite the ladder. Zen dared to toss a brightbloom seed in that direction with one hand while drawing his Eightfold Blade with the other.
The light showed what both young men were afraid of. The darkened, entirely gloom figure was a head and a half taller than them with long, flowing locks, and had a sword every bit as long as the one in Zen's hand. He moved towards them with lightning speed, and the only thing that stopped him from landing a crippling blow on Link was Zen's blade.
The Sheikah grunted as he struggled to hold his own against the powerful foe. But the few moments he held the phantom back bought Link enough time to pull his own sword out and attack the monster himself. Zen dodged out of the way when they spun towards him.
"Don't let him touch you!" Link advised loudly. "If he does, you'll be gloomed!"
Zen took a flying leap and scaled one of the pillars in two moves. He perched on the top and got a good look at the phantom. He was taller than both of the blonds, with an appearance that reminded him of the demon king from the history texts – minus the defined features and skin. The only thing missing was the horse.
He jinxed himself. The phantom leaped onto one of the pillars behind him, and let out a roar. Out of a pool of gloom previously unnoticed by the far wall, a massive dark gloom horse arose. It galloped towards Link, and the blond wasn't going to have enough time to dodge.
On impulse, Zen cast runes at Link, sending him onto a high place on the wall, out of reach of the now-mounted Phantom Ganondorf. The Champion was now a strangely glowing frog-like creature with multiple eyes, a huge white face, and four golden, bead-like antennae on his head.
"Bubbulfrog?" Link called from his perch. "Not complaining, but warn me next time!"
"Oh, sorry. I was focusing more on saving your ass," Zen groused. He let out a yelp as he had to leap to another pedestal to avoid the oversized sword wielded by the phantom. "Can you access your bow from there?"
"Not at all, but I can avoid his attacks from up here. You good down there?"
"More or less." Zen dodged again when the horseman came back the opposite way. "Shit!"
"Coming down!" The bizarre creature leaped off the wall and landed on the pedestal Zen had been on moments before. Link straightened and drew his bow, effectively breaking the disguise runes protecting him. "We gotta unseat him and then we can fight him properly!"
Zen drew his bow as well, lining up a shot beside the Champion. Both arrows flew a second apart, striking the phantom on the head and the chest. The monstrous form toppled from the horse and the creature disappeared.
Link leaped down with his Knight's Sword in hand. He dodged to the side in the blink of an eye, then rushed forward to land a volley of blows rapidly to the phantom's shoulder and chest. Zen took the moment while it was stunned by Link's attack to send another arrow into its back.
The phantom arched backwards towards the arrow, then swung wildly forward, missing Link by only a hand's breadth. The blond let out a grunt and went in for another strike. But it was the second shot from Zen that really pissed it off, sending its gloom sword against the top of Link's left arm before leaping out of melee range..
The Champion let out a grunt of pain and rolled his shoulder, his face paling. "Watch yourself, Zen! He hit me with the gloom already."
Zen's gaze shifted from Link to the phantom. As he watched, the horse materialized out of the wall again, allowing the figure to climb back onto his mount. "Shit!" He nocked another arrow. "Horse incoming!"
Link stepped aside, turning to drive his sword through the haunches as it passed. Between the long, deep wound on the horse, and the matching blow on the back of the phantom's head from Zen's arrow, it toppled back off the mount and landed laid out on the ground.
This time, Zen leaped down from his perch when the horse disappeared. He drew his Eightfold Blade and drove it into the phantom's spine, attempting to pin it to the floor. The creature growled and grabbed Zen's leg. A shooting, burning sensation shot up his ankle, rapidly climbing his leg. The Sheikah howled in pain as he yanked his sword back and dropped to one knee.
But Link was beside him in a flash, wildly raining down blows when the phantom went to stand up. The final blow struck the back of its neck, sending it toppling back to the ground in a heap. Zen pushed himself back up and stabbed down into the monster several times, before shoving the sword as deep into the oozing swirling 'flesh'. He used both hands to twist the blade as hard as he could while Link decapitated the monster.
With a final howl, the phantom disappeared in an ominous purple puff. Both young men sagged in relief when they were sure it was gone. Zen leaned backwards against the pillar and groaned. "That gloom stuff hurts."
"Yeah, and it'll keep eating away at your flesh til it's healed. We shouldn't linger. We gotta get back outside and find out what's going on with the Master Sword." Link stood and offered a hand to Zen. "How's the leg?"
"Manageable for now. But let's take care of this." Zen looked down at it and then noticed a gold item sparkling on the ground where the phantom had been. "What's that?"
Link turned, then bent to pick it up. But before he could touch it, the item floated up to eye level in front of Zen. It was a golden tear, small enough to fit in his palm, but glowing with a bright light.
Zen couldn't help but reach out and touch it. It flashed brightly enough to blind him and Link, and he stumbled backwards as a voice echoed off the walls.
"Zen, sweet lover of the forest, long have I awaited this day."
The Sheikah youth's mouth fell open as he stared at the wispy, ghostlike figure who materialized before him. It was a girl of about twelve, with short hair held away from her face with a headband. Her clothing was unusual, even for the current age. It appeared to be a long-sleeved shirt covered by a sleeveless tunic and shorts held up by a belt. Knee-length boots completed the look, and she held an ocarina in her right hand. And above her left shoulder fluttered a small orb with wings.
"I am Saria, Sage of the Forest, and it's truly a pleasure to meet with you in this manner. Long ago, I was friends with an incarnation of your companion, Link. I offered him guidance and assistance in the past when facing the evil demon king, Ganondorf. And now, it's my turn to offer guidance to you in completing a similar role."
Beside him, Link was every bit as dumbfounded, his mouth closing when the apparition spoke again.
"With the power of the Secret Stone, it will enhance the power you already have. A power to offer Link protection in the form of Disguise. With it, you will become the Sage of Forest, a title I hereby bequeath to you."
While she spoke, a ghostly wolf with a large stone on its forehead and irregular, large glowing markings appeared and sat obediently beside her.
"This spirit will accompany Link on his journeys, allowing him to utilize the Disguise ability whether you are physically present with him or not. These skills will help him on his journey to grow stronger and rescue Princess Zelda."
Saria outstretched her hand towards Zen and a beam of light pierced his chest, knocking him backwards from the impact. The light flooded through him, but didn't hurt. It simply rushed through his veins, then pressed itself out of him all at once, a carbon copy of himself in spirit form. The wolf beside Saria leaped forward, making impact with the ghostly Zen, then absorbing him. It barked twice, and turned to look up at him.
Zen stared down at the spirit in awe. He could see and feel, through the wolf's body and eyes. He was staring at himself, yet completely unlike looking in a mirror.
"Link, you will need to find and collect the other Secret Stones. The abilities they offer will grant you the strength you need as you continue on your journey. Peace be with you, and may the Goddess smile upon you."
In a flash, Saria was gone, but the wolf spirit beside Zen remained, as did the floating stone. He stared at it for a long moment before turning to Link. "I don't know the breadth of what this journey will bring, but if I can offer some measure of assistance while I'm on my quest to rescue Del, know that I will. I accept my role as the Sage of the Forest."
Zen reached out towards the stone. It glowed, then flew to attach itself to the hair clip keeping his bangs at bay. Immediately, he could feel the power fueling his runes surge in his veins, nearly knocking him off his feet from the sudden influx. In an attempt to dispel some of it, his hand shot into the sky, and he found it coursing through his body, then exploding into the air in a large orb above his head. The spirit form of himself then landed beside him, facing Link.
Link stared from him to the apparition beside him. "That's… whoa… I've never seen anything like it."
"Your hand!" Zen gestured to Link's Zonai hand which now faintly glowed green.
The magic within him compelled him to reach out towards him, then he grasped Link's wrist and tugged the blond towards him. As he did, the rune magic that had overwhelmed him coursed into Link's arm, intensifying the glow until it suddenly cut off, and the wolf disappeared.
Saria's voice whispered in Zen's mind, speaking words that rolled off his tongue. "I offer to you this vow, as the Sage of the Forest. Whenever you need my assistance, you need only call."
Only then was he able to release Link's hand, and give him back his personal space while Link's Purah Pad gave him an alert.
"The Vow of Zen, Sage of Forest," Link read aloud, murmuring the next lines to himself. He tapped a button on the pad, and for an instant, Zen felt dizzy as the wolf materialized beside Link again.
"The spirit within Zen will allow Link to use Disguise whether you are present or not. The ability to shift between man and wolf is yours to control. But if you are ever in a position where you wish to see through the creature's eyes and assist manually from afar, you need only to project that will and thought, and it'll come to pass." There was a faint titter from Saria before she added, "I'm glad you chose a wolf as your first disguise for him, and thus for his spirit companion to be modeled after. Well done, Zen!"
The Sheikah blinked and shook his head, the voice of Saria going silent once more. The two stood awkwardly for a second before Link rubbed the back of his head. "Well, that was interesting. Secret stones, and sages. That's a new one."
"Look on the bright side. At least our gloom is gone," Zen pointed out, gesturing to his uninjured leg, and to Link's unblemished left arm. "And according to Saria, that spirit can look like me or the wolf, depending on your wish."
"Definitely a blessing from the Goddess, then. But c'mon. Let's find out what's going on with the Master Sword." Link didn't wait for Zen's reply before jumping up the ladder and making his ascent, leaving him to follow at his own speed.
Soon enough Zen was standing beside Link in front of the Deku Tree's face.
A yawn erupted from the giant tree's mouth before he addressed Link with a faint sigh. "... Hmmm? I must apologize. I am still quite groggy, as though I am awakening from a bad dream. You rid me of that unpleasantness deep within me. Yes. You went to great trouble to restore me. Thank you. It's been some time since last we spoke. Have you been well? Hmmm, yes, the last time we spoke… That was when you came here with the princess to retrieve the Master Sword."
Zen closed his eyes as a memory, clearly intended for Link's mind more than his own washed over him. Recollections of Link and Princess Zelda interacting with the Great Deku Tree, and discussing the Master Sword… and the limitless potential for the blade to grow ever stronger.
It faded, and the Sheikah blinked when the tree spoke to Link again.
"But… the sword… It would seem that you no longer wield it. Where has it gone?"
"That's actually why we're here." Link sighed and quickly explained what had happened to him, as well as the disappearance of the blade.
"What is this then? You don't know where the Master Sword is? I see… Yet, I can sense it, even now. There can be no mistake. It's here…"
Link pulled up his Purah Pad when it dinged. Zen looked over his shoulder, shocked to see the map focused on the sky region.
"What?" The word tumbled from his mouth before he could stop it.
"In the sky… Yes, I feel the Master Sword's presence strongly in this area. But… What could this mean? The Master Sword seems to be moving. You may need to be resourceful to reach the sword, but you must find a way. Surely the Master Sword is awaiting you, just as you are seeking it."
The Great Deku Tree fell quiet, leaving both of the young men staring at each other in stunned silence.
"So, the sword is in the sky… moving around." Link shook his head. "I was up in the Sky Islands and those are stationary. It doesn't make any sense."
Zen looked at the map again on Link's Purah Pad. "Moving around… It's too slow to be a bird. What else flies that high?"
Link's blue eyes met Zen's wide pink stare. "The dragons. It's the only thing that makes any sense."
"So, what, you're just going to go from island to island in the sky, searching til you find the sword?" Zen asked curiously. "Even with a paraglider, that's going to be a difficult task."
"It will be, but I'm not strong enough yet." At his quizzical eyebrow, Link further explained. "I couldn't draw the Master Sword from the pedestal unless I had enough stamina and strength of heart. After what happened with Ganondorf? I'm nowhere near that point. Which means I'm going to need to work even harder. I don't have any hope of rescuing Zelda until I have the Master Sword in my hand. And she's counting on me."
Zen gave a nod. "The Secret Stones and Sages will help. Saria said I'm not the only one– merely the first. Rest assured, I'll help you in any way I can."
Link nodded and fell silent, losing himself in his thoughts.
As he did so, Zen stared up at the serene face of the Great Deku Tree at rest. He'd been granted an ability unlike anything he had ever heard of before. A Secret Stone? Sage of the Forest? He had much to learn, with little pieces of it being fed into his brain even now when he asked it of Saria. This was only the beginning. And if he had been granted this gift, how many others would soon have power beyond their wildest imagination? Would his twin sister be one of them? Who would be next to join the ranks of those assisting Link as a spirit? And how many sages would there be in total?
All he could do was wonder and wait… wait to see what would happen next.