Chapter 27

Brad and his fairy partner Isabel or Izzy as she preferred to be called were taking a stroll around Kokiri Village. Brad really enjoyed being leader of the Kokiri clan. Over the past seven years, he trained everyone so they would be able to use a weapon effectively in case they were ever attacked. He also made the prison into a dormitory for travelers. He wanted people that come into the village to feel welcomed instead of hated. After seven years, him and his entire clan were still children. The Kokiri remained children no matter how much time passed. Suddenly, Brad saw a green glow coming from behind one of the houses. When he got closer to investigate, the grren glow faded away. He found a Black haired woman wearing kokiri clothing lying unconscious where the glowing originated. He blew on a whistle that was around his neck and three Kokiri came running. He pointed to the figure on the ground and addressed his people.

"Okay, guys. Give me a hand and let's take this woman to the dormitory."

The three Kokiri gave him a salute and lifted the woman and carried her to the dormitory with Brad in the lead. When they arrived, they carefully placed her on one of the beds. Shortly after, she woke up and raised her head and looked at the kokiri in confusion.

"Uh my head. Hi, kids. Can any of you tell me where I am?"

Brad stepped forward.

"You are in Kokiri forest, ma'am. My name is Brad and I am the leader of my clan the Kokiri. Who are you? Where did you come from?

The woman sat up on the bed.

"My name is Susan and I was trying to find my missing son. I saw a strange green glow and walked over to it's source. It was a portal of some sort. I guess I got too close because before I knew it, It pulled me in. Next thing I know, I wake up and you kids are standing over me. How do I get back to my forest?"

Brad scratched his head.

"Hmm. That's the same story Link's friends tried to tell Mido years ago. I heard it in passing. Everyone laughed at their story. Look, I don't even know where you came from. Are you from another land or something?"

Susan shrugged.

"I have no idea. I'm just as confused as you are. Have you kids ever come across my son? He's been missing for a week now."

Brad smiled. Maybe once she found her son, he might be able to figure things out.

"What is your son's name?"

"His name is Tom. His friends Charlie and Max are missing too. Have you seen them?"

The names hit Brad like a thunderbolt. Charlie and Max were Link's friends! He also remembered hearing Charlie call Link Tom before as well. He tried to answer her questions the best he could.

"I know Charlie. I met him years ago. I also heard of Max too but I also heard from a forest fairy that he was corrupted by evil. I believe my pal Link was referred to as Tom before, but I haven't seen any of them in seven years."

Susan was even more confused.

"Seven years? How is that possible? Look, kid. That can't be right. If you are talking about Tom, Charlie and Max, they have only been missing for seven days!"

Brad nodded slowly.

"I see. Then there must be a big time difference. Seven days to you has been seven years for us. I suggest you stay here in our village. We will try to figure this all out for you. I hope Link or Charlie shows up soon."

Susan brightened up when she heard those names.

"Yes it sure would be nice to see them. Thank you for letting me stay here, Brad."

Brad smiled at Susan.

"No problem at all. Make yourself at home."

He turned to the crowd of curious Kokiri behind him.

"Listen up, everyone! Treat Susan with respect okay? If I hear of anyone acting rude or violent towards her, you will be answering to me. Do I make myself clear?"

All the kokiri saluted and then went about their business. Brad smiled. He was so happy that everyone respected him and listened to him. He walked out of the dormitory leaving a still confused Susan in his wake.

Link and Charlie were making their way towards Kokiri Forest. It was still dark and they didn't want to waste any time. Suddenly, Link grunted and went to his knees. Charlie ran over to him, his face full of concern.

"Link! What's wrong?"

He grunted out a reply.

"We need to stop, pal. I just got a splitting headache all of a sudden. I need to rest for a minute."

Charlie was impatient. They were almost at Kokiri forest. He tried to convince him to wait.

"Let's rest when we get to Kokiri Forest, Link. We are almost there and we can get you looked at-"

Link interrupted him in mid sentence.

"For crying out loud, Charlie! Will you please listen to me?! We need to stop!"

Link groaned and held his head. Suddenly, he fell backward onto his back and was unconscious.

When he opened his eyes again, he was floating around in a grey void. This happened long ago when Princess Zelda used a telepathic link. He saw a figure approach him. He expected it to be Zelda again, but it was Max instead. He smiled at Link. His eyes glowed and shortly after, Link was standing on solid ground. He created a vision of Hyrule Castle Town with his mind.

"Hello, Link good to see you again. I used Vaati's evil power to create a telepathic Link. He is unconscious as well. Ganondorf is channeling more evil power inside of my body. He knows about what Navi did to me and he is trying to make it harder for her to break through the evil. I've brought you here to warn you. Next time we meet, I might be impossible to reason with and I may try to kill you again. I want you to listen well. If you have no other choice, I want you to kill me. If I try and kill you, try not to resist fighting back. I may never be able to return to normal"

Link was shocked. He didn't want to kill his friend. He started to weep gently.

"I don't know if I can do it, Max. You're a close friend. I don't want to kill you."

Max frowned.

"So, you would rather be killed by me instead? Defend yourself, man! Shoot another fireball at me. Only this time, make it a very powerful one and finish me off so I can't hurt anybody else. If there is no other alternative, please take me out."

Link started to cry even more.

"No! I won't do it! I shot a fireball at you in self-defense. I didn't even think it was going to hit. Listen, me and Charlie are going to find a way to get you back to normal so more talk of me killing you."

Max was getting frustrated.

"Link! Will you stop crying and listen to me?! I'm getting tired of hurting people, and I want to stop. If I am going to kill you, kill me first. Being able to see all the evil stuff you are doing and not being able to do anything to stop it is no picnic. I have tried many times, but Vaati always blocks me out. You're a good friend, Link. I know this isn't easy to hear from me. My body is almost awake. I will see you later as Vaati. Remember, kill me before I kill you."

Max disappeared and the grey void around Link started to darken. Link blacked out. When he opened his eyes again, Charlie was staring into his face. He sighed with relief.

"Thank God you're alright. What happened? Your body was moving, and you were groaning a lot."

He looked sadly in Charlie's eyes.

"I saw Max. He told me to kill him if there is no other choice. I don't know if I can do it. I know Vaati is bad news, but he is also Max corrupted by evil. I guess we will deal with that later. Listen, I'm sorry I snapped at you. The headache was just so severe."

Charlie smiled.

"No need to worry. But I don't know if I could kill Vaati either That's still Max. We will find a way to get him back to normal, pal. Don't worry about it. Now, let's get moving to Kokiri Forest."

Link and Charlie walked into the forest and got lost in the many trees and bushes in the forest. Before long, they spotted a figure walking around. They confronted the figure and both Link and Charlie gasped aloud. It was Brad! Link smiled at him.

"Brad! It's good to see you, man! How are things going as leader?"

Brad looked up at the two men dressed in kokiri clothing.

"Who are you and how do you know me?"

Link forgot Brad didn't notice him or Charlie with their grown up bodies.

"Brad. Look closely. It's Link and Charlie."

Brad looked closer and he realized he was looking at his old friends. He hugged them tightly.

"Link! Charlie! It's been too long. I can hardly recognize Charlie with that hair on his face! I guess neither of you were actually true Kokiri. True Kokiri remain children forever. In fact, I celebrated my thirtieth birthday a couple weeks ago."

Both Link and Charlie gasped in disbelief. Link was dumbfounded.

"Wait. So you were twenty three when we were only ten?"

Brad nodded.

"We are young forever. We never age. I guess there really isn't any point in keeping track of how old we are. Saria is now thirty-five. Mido was forty-five seven years ago when he forced me to kill him. So, you two are now seventeen? That's cool. I like your beard, Charlie. Now, I have to introduce you two to someone. She claims that she has been looking for you two and your friend Max for seven days."

Brad lead them to the dormitory. Link was curious as to who Brad was talking about. They walked into the dormitory. Susan was sitting on a bed. When she heard footsteps, she turned around. Link and Charlie gasped in shock. Charlie turned to Link.

"Hey, Link? Isn't that your mom?"

Link walked over to her. She looked up at Link.

"Hello there. Do I know you?"

Link nodded.

"You sure do. Believe it or not, I'm your son Tom."