Chapter 15

Link, Charlie and Navi exited Hyrule Castle Town and made their way towards the forest with Valerie in the lead. Link was really looking forward to it. He missed his friends Saria and Brad a lot. As soon as Link saw a large downward hill, he knew that they were getting close. Link started to run down the hill with his friends Charlie and Navi close behind. Link spotted the two dead trees that marked the entrance to the forest. Link, Charlie and Navi entered the forest. They kept going walking through the thick forest. All that could be seen were endless trees and bushes scattered everywhere. Suddenly, Valerie stopped flying ahead and turned around and addressed everyone.

"Okay, everyone! Kokiri Village is just ahead! Link, I'm surprised at you! You lived here all your life and you couldn't figure out how to get back without my help?"

Link was speechless. He never asked for her help! He was merely following her! Link just ignored it and tried to be nice to Valerie.

"Sorry, Valerie. I've been kind of busy lately. I must have forgotten."

Valerie giggled at Link. What a silly boy!

"It's ok, Link. Don't worry about it. These things happen. By the way, Link. I see there is one other human with you. I thought there were two others with you besides Navi."

Link bowed his head in sadness. He missed Max a lot. Now he was evil and there didn't seem to be any way to convince him otherwise. Link started to sigh heavily.

"Yes there was another human. His name is Max. He turned against us and almost killed me. Even though he is evil now, I miss him still."

Link stabbed at the ground angerly with his sword. Charlie ran over to Link and tried to cheer him up.

"It's okay, Link. We all miss him. Someday, we will figure out how to cleanse his body of evil. Until then, we have to try and be strong."

While Charlie was trying to calm Link down, Navi flew over to Valerie and bumped into her on purpose. Valerie turned to Navi.

"Ouch! What in the world was that for, Navi?"

"That was for mentioning Max! Link is very sad that his friend is evil! You never had to bring it up like that! You should have talked to me or Charlie first!", replied an angry Navi.

Valerie felt sad. She had no idea Max had turned evil. She made Link angry and moody! She looked at Navi sadly.

"I'm very sorry, Navi. I had no idea that Max was evil and that he tried to kill Link. Please forgive me!"

Navi was about to reply when Link sighed calmly and put his sword away. He turned to Charlie, Navi and Valerie.

"Okay, everyone. I'm better now. Let's move on."

Valerie flew over to Link.

"Link! Are you sure you're okay? I'm very sorry I mentioned your friend! I had no idea!"

Link looked at Valerie .

"It's okay. I realized Charlie was right. I can't sit here and be angry all day about what transpired! I have to be strong! Max wouldn't want me be angry and depressed."

Link held up his sword.

"Someday Max, I will find a way to get you back to normal again! I swear it on my sword! Ok, everyone! Let's head for the village!"

The four friends proceeded towards Kokiri Village.

As soon as Link walked into Kokiri Village, he sighed calmly. It was still calm as ever here! Link turned and looked up at the training grounds where he trained with Brad. He walked up the hill and Brad was in the training grounds practicing with a stave. He had his back turned to Link. Link ran into the training area and tapped Brad on the back.

"Alright, Mido! I'll get back to work! Just give me a few more minutes please!"

Brad turned around and expected to see Mido standing behind him, when he realized that it was Link! Brad laughed and gave his friend Link a hug.

"Link buddy! I haven't seen you since that idiot Mido banished you and your friends! How have you been?"

Link smiled at Brad. He fondly remembered his training sessions with him.

"I'm fine, Brad. Have you been well?"

"You know it, buddy! I've been training my butt off so I don't get out of shape! I've been trying to get some of the other kokiris to train with me, but they all think that it's a waste of time! What's worse is that shortly after you got banished, That idiot Mido got me in trouble for training you! He has been on my case ever since you were kicked out!"

Link frowned. Mido was such a tool!

"I don't know what's wrong with that idiot! He always picks on everybody! What kind of a leader does that? I think the kokiris should get a new change of leadership!"

Brad smiled at Link. He knew a plan was forming in Link's head.

"So, Link? Are you going to challenge Mido to a fight or something?"

Link looked at Brad oddly.

"Why would I do that?"

"Well, aren't you going to try and become the new leader here?", asked Brad.

Link shook his head. He wouldn't be able to be the leader here. He had a quest to complete. Link had other plans.

"As much as I hate him, I can't do that. I have a quest to complete. I think you should challenge Mido! You would make a great leader!"

Brad was taken aback. He never expected Link to say that. Before he could reply, Charlie, Valerie and Navi came up the hill. Charlie frowned at Link.

"Link, you're a good friend and all, but if you're going to rush ahead, tell us where you're going! We spent the last five minutes looking for you!"

Link shrugged his shoulders and looked at his three friends.

"Sorry, guys! I forgot. Charlie, this is my friend Brad. He trained me how to use weapons properly and he's a lot nicer than Mido. Say, do you three think that Brad here would make a better leader than Mido?"

All three agreed readily.

"Yeah! No question! Mido is such a bully and a jerk to everyone", replied Valerie.

"You would make an excellent leader, Brad!", replied Navi.

"Go for it, Brad! Kick Mido's ass!", replied Charlie.

Link laughed at Charlie's response.

"I couldn't have said it better myself, Charlie. Let's go knock on Mido's door!"

Mido was sleeping in his bed. It was daytime, but he didn't care. He ordered the rest of the kokiri to get to work and then he decided to take a nap. Suddenly, he heard a knock on his door. He grumbled and got up and answered it.

"What? What is it? I was sleeping! Get back to work you slackers!"

Link, Charlie, Brad, Navi and Valerie were at his door. Mido couldn't believe his eyes! The outcasts were back! Mido pointed to Link, Charlie and Navi.

"What are you three doing back here? I banished you and told you to never return!"

Link glared at Mido.

"Well, we are back as you can plainly see. Brad is here to challenge your leadership!"

Mido laughed at Link. The idea of somebody challenging him was humorous.

"I refuse the challenge and you know what? You are all going to jail! Come here everybody!"

Shortly after Mido yelled, most of the kokiri were circling Link and his friends. Mido looked at the Kokiri pointed to Link and his friends.

"Arrest these five! Throw them in the jail!"

Just as the kokiri were about to drag Link and his friends off, Link held out his hands and tried to reason with them.

"Listen, everybody! Your friend Brad here is going to challenge Mido's leadership! We want him to be the new leader!"

The kokiris started grumbling and continued to move Link and his friends towards the jail. Link yelled at them.

"Listen to me! Mido is unfit to be your leader! He is a bully and he never helps out around here. Do you know what he was doing while all of you were working? He was in his house sleeping!"

A loud gasp came from the kokiris. They released their grip on Link and his friends. One of them pointed at Mido.

"You told me you were working on blueprints for a new building in the village! You lazy good for nothing leader!"

Suddenly, all the kokiri started to yell and complain at Mido. He held out his hands.

"They are lying! Don't listen to a word they say! I am still the leader here! Get back to work all of you!"

Link yelled over the racket.

"They get back to work while you go back to sleep! Does that seem fair? Brad for leader!"

All the kokiri began to chant "Brad for leader". Brad walked over to Mido.

"I challenge you to a fight with staves! Whoever gets knocked out first loses and the winner is the leader!"

Mido glared at Brad.

"I accept your challenge! When this is over, you are going to be very sorry you ever challenged my leadership!"

Brad dismissed Mido's comment with a wave.

"Save your words, buddy. The fight will take place in my training area! Am I going to win? Yeah I am! I won't be bullied by you anymore! There will be no death hits! This isn't going to be a fight to the death!"

Brad walked towards his training area with Link, Charlie, Navi and Valerie following behind. The kokiri were cheering and walking towards the training area with Mido being led there by his people. Mido felt nervous. What would become of him if he lost? Would he get banished himself? Mido would have to try and score a death hit and make it look like an accident. That way, he would still be leader and he would be rid of Brad once and for all!

Brad walked into his training area and grabbed two staves. He walked into the crowd of kokiri and passed one to Mido. The crowd parted and Brad looked over at Mido.

"May the best fighter win!"

Mido glared at Brad.

"You will pay dearly for this!"

The fight started in earnest. Brad tried a few simple swings at Mido. He blocked every one. At least he could block simple attacks. He decided to try more complicated attacks. He swung at his feet and then his head and then his side. Mido jumped the one aimed at his feet. He ducked the one aimed at his head, but he failed to dodge the hit at his side. Mido gasped and went down to his knees. He grabbed some dirt off the ground and threw it into Brad's eyes. Brad stumbled around trying to clear his clogged vision. The kokiris and Link and his friends booed Mido. That was a cheap trick! Mido yelled and charged at Brad with the point of the stave out. Realization of what was going on hit Link like a thunderbolt. He was trying to kill Brad! Link yelled over the melee.

"Brad! Watch out! Mido is trying to stab you!"

Brad just finished clearing his vision when he heard Link's warning and dodged Mido's attack just in the nick of time. He looked at Mido with hatred.

"You traitor! I said no death hits! If Link didn't warn me, you could've killed me!"

Mido glared at Link. That idiot warned him! He almost had him! He looked at Brad with hatred.

"I told you that you would pay dearly for challenging me! I'm not about to lose to a loser like you! I'm going to do whatever it takes to win! Killing you would make everyone fear me and nobody would dare to challenge me again!"

Brad yelled at Mido.

"I'm going to take you down you psychopath!"

Brad started to deliver blows faster than Mido could block. He was getting hit in the side, across the head, and in the chest. Mido gasped and went down to the ground. Perhaps it wasn't a good idea after all to try and kill Brad! He was now moving very fast! Painfully, he stood up again. Brad decided to try a spin attack. He started spinning with his stave towards Mido. Mido dodged it and Brad noticed and changed his direction. He kept dodging it until he was against a tree. He saw Brad coming. Mido started to fear for his life. Brad was serious and he was getting harder to keep up with. He let him get closer and he jumped. As he jumped, Brad swung upwards in his direction. Mido landed and looked down. He didn't dodge quick enough. He had a wide horizontal cut across his chest. Blood started to pour out the cut. Mido screamed in agony and looked at Brad as his vision faded.

"You…..If I was a little quicker I could have…."

Mido collapsed onto the ground. Brad nudged him with his stave.

"Alright, Mido. The fight's over. I won!"

Mido didn't move or reply. Link knelt down and turned him over so that he was facing up. His eyes were glazed over. He grimaced at the wide, deep bloody slash across his chest. He carefully put his ear to his chest without touching the wound. He couldn't hear a heartbeat… Link stood up and stared at Brad.

"You killed Mido. We saw the whole thing and he tried to kill you first. That was some quick thinking. Way to go, Brad!

Brad walked over to Mido's lifeless body. He looked at Link.

"I won but at the cost of a life. Nobody was supposed to die from this! This was supposed to be a fair and standard competition."

Link put a hand on Brad's shoulder.

"Look, Brad. It was either you or him. I saw what that coward was up to and I quickly warned you! If you didn't dodge that, you would be the one dead right now! You had no choice! Cheer up, buddy! You're the new leader now!"

Everybody started to cheer Brad's name. The kokiri lifted Brad up above their heads and carried their new leader around the village. All the kokiri kept congratulating Brad.

"You did well, boss! Pity you had to kill Mido! Good riddance to bad rubbish! That's what I always say!"

"Nice job slicing Mido with that spin attack! He never saw it coming!"

Brad was put down and he stood in front of his people. One of the kokiris asked Brad a question.

"Hey, boss! Any orders for us?"

Brad looked at his people.

"Yes! Take the night off, people! I will help you with the work tomorrow!"

Everyone cheered loudly. They were happy with their new leader. Brad turned to Link, Charlie and Navi.

"Thanks, guys! This would've never been possible without your help and support! You guys aren't banished anymore! Come here anytime!"

Link smiled at Brad.

"Thanks, buddy! Where was Saria during all the excitement?"

Brad scratched his chin.

"Hmm. I believe she went to the Lost Woods. She should be back by now!"

Just then, Saria came out of nowhere.

"I heard somebody mention my name."

She looked at Link.

"Link! You're back! Valerie found you! I wanted to teach you a song on your ocarina. By the way, what happened? Why is Mido lying on the floor dead?"

Brad put a hand on Saria's shoulder.

"I challenged Mido's leadership and he tried to kill me! I got him first. I hope you're not angry, Saria. I'm the new leader now."

Saria smiled at Brad.

"I'm not angry at all, Brad! That was a fitting end for Mido. He won't bully anybody anymore! Congratulations on your victory, boss!"

Brad smiled at Saria.

"Thanks, Saria. I won't be a bully like Mido was! I'm going to help everybody with their chores and we are going to train with staves! I want everybody ready in case we get attacked again!"

Everybody cheered at Brad's statement. Saria Turned to Link.

"Link, I'm glad you like my ocarina. I want to teach you my favorite song! On your ocarina, put your fingers on the bottom hole, then the left hole and then the right hole. That is my favorite song!"

Link put his fingers in the right place and played Saria's song to her. She clapped her hands with excitement.

"That was incredible, Link! You're doing better with the ocarina! I suppose you'll be going soon?"

Link nodded. "Yes. Me, Charlie and Navi better get going. I will talk to everybody later! Goodbye, brad! Good luck with your new leadership!"

Brad waved at Link, Charlie and Navi.

"Thanks, buddy. You made it possible! Come back to visit anytime!"

Link, Charlie and Navi walked out of the village and headed for the field outside of the forest.

Argus was completely lost. He never bothered to ask for directions in Kakariko Village. He walked out of the town and started to walk to the left. In the distance, he could make out trees. Perhaps Hyrule Castle was beyond them? Suddenly, he saw two figures and a fairy. HE curled up and started to roll towards the figures, hoping they were friends.

Link, Charlie and Navi were back in the field heading for Hyrule Castle Town. Suddenly, Charlie spotted somethig weird.

"Hey, link? Why is there a rock rolling towards us?"

Link looked and sure enough, there appeared to be a rock rolling in their direction. As it got closer, it stopped rolling. Suddenly, it uncurled to reveal a strange creature! This creature was brown and it looked like a rock. It spoke to the travelers.

"Greetings, brothers! My name is Argus and I am one of the species of gorons! We urgently need assistance! Our food supply is blocked off and we are starving to death! Will you help us?"

Link answered quickly.

"Of course I will. Where is your home?"

"My home is at Death Mountain! I think I know the way back! Follow me!"

Argus curled into a ball and started rolling towards Kakariko Village with Link, Charlie and Navi in his wake.

End of Chapter