Note: Official first chapter here. Before was just a prologue.

Link WILL talk in this story, but he will not be doing it often. He's selectively mute, so while he can speak, he sometimes gets hung up on words and struggles. It's not something he "overcomes," but it's not something that's a problem all the time.

Also, while he is something of a player-insert, I do want to showcase Link's personality, both as a child and an adult (even if he's technically an older teen). True, he may be a bit of a blank slate meant to connect to the player so they can project themselves onto him, but if you look closely, each Link does have individual traits that separate them from each other.

It's been more so in recent years, but even in the NES era to before OoT, the various incarnations of Link had differences. According to official sources, Link is just ten in the original Legend of Zelda (which, given it's the Fallen Hero timeline, it's ironic Ganon was killed by a child like the one he killed). In Adventure of Link (AoL for future reference), he's sixteen, as he's the same character. In the cartoon (yes, I'm counting that), Link and Zelda are fifteen. As for Captain N, the CDI games, and Valiant Comics, I will say they all followed this trend, and the characters are around the age of mid-to-late teens.

While there was a child and adult Link (even if the child part wasn't specified before the Hyrule Historia) before OoT, their characters were different enough to where you could construct a personality. LttP and LA Link's transformation into a rabbit in the Dark World could indicate that he's a pacifist at heart. Link was just a kid in the first Zelda, no older than OoT Link, so maybe they have that same brave spirit but enough discipline to wield the Triforce. Cartoon Link is obnoxious, CDI Link is hilarious, Captain N Link had a cool-guy vibe to him (but could get jealous), and Valiant Comics Link was a combination of the games and the cartoon, but more on the tolerable side. He actually turned evil for a short time.

My point is that I want Link to be both relatable, but also have an identity of his own. I want to show him at both mellow moments and intense extremes. That's why, while its influence will definitely be seen, I think the manga adaptation of OoT is mediocre. Link is a very static character you know will win in the end. And yes, this is based on a twenty-plus-year-old game, but I didn't feel any sort of peril in the manga.

He came off as sort of a Gary Stu to me, honestly. And while he is the Hero, and this story ends with his victory, the fact that he died in one timeline shows he's not invincible. I want to explore Link's character from every angle to avoid making him seem bland or too good. And that includes his mortality. Even heroes in various religions and mythology died in one way or another. So, there should be reminders of how Link may be the One Chosen by the Gods; he's made of skin and bone.

It won't all be gloomy, as I don't want this fic to be too depressing. Zelda does have a sense of humor, after all. Even some of its darker titles (MM and TP being obvious choices) had moments of levity. Even if some of those moments had a sense of black comedy. And I also plan to give my interpretation of OoT Link a sense of humor.

The Boy Without a Fairy

His eyes shot wide open as he jolted upward, his breathing rapid and his tiny body wracked with tension and anxiety. But, as the moments passed, the blonde boy saw that he was back in his house, in his room, and there were no intimidating figures in sight. No monsters, no men riding strange creatures, nothing. He was completely safe in his bed, alone in his home. Alone with no fairy.

Link shook this thought off, along with the lingering rush he got from his nightmare. He then got out of bed and proceeded to get dressed. Slipping on his cap for last, the young boy exited his home, the sun's light momentarily blinding him. However, the air felt nice and cool. He then saw a familiar figure running toward his house.

"Well, you got up early!" Saria said, arms on her hips.

Her fairy, Compa, flew beside her head, her true form concealed by a bright green light. "An entire hour before he'd usually get up," she told her assigned Kokiri. "What's the occasion?" The fairy asked the boy.

Link just shrugged with a smile, not really able to come up with a reason. But then Saria noticed a tiny bit of sweat trickling down the blonde's forehead. "You haven't even started yet, and you're already breaking a sweat? I hope you've got enough energy for today," Link looked at the green-haired girl, puzzled. "Um, hello? You said you were going to help me harvest the radishes!"

"Huh?" Link tilted his head in confusion but then remembered what Saria was talking about. "Oh! Y-Yeah!"

"Yeah, bear in mind, I'm the one in charge of keeping everyone fed around here," Saria then produced a set of baskets, handing one to Link. "And the radishes look perfect, so I don't want to waste time. So, come on! Let's go!"

The green-haired girl began making her way to her home and the surrounding fertile land. "Hey! Wait!" The blonde boy followed after the Kokiri girl, not exactly thrilled about fieldwork, but crops weren't going to pick themselves. Besides, he needed something to get his mind off the dream he had the night before.

A Short Time Later

And that was the last of it! Every red cherry belle radish had been picked. Link and Saria examined their handiwork; the ripe root vegetables were sorted into woven wooden baskets. While most of the crops were grown near the treehouse of the Know-It-All Brothers, every Kokiri had a small field of their own, where they could plant anything they wanted for themselves. And it was agreed that Saria's radishes were the best, so it was always a treat whenever they were harvested.

Each Kokiri had a specific crop they'd grow out of personal preference, and at the end of each harvest, the produce would be used in a variety of means. "Oh, these are going to be awesome when they're fully pickled," Saria beamed, Compa inspecting the root vegetables with interest. No one could understand it, but it seemed that whatever Saria planted turned out to be at the perfect ripeness and give off the best flavor. Even as a forest child, she appeared to have an affinity for gardening. "Right, Link?" Saria asked her assistant, but he didn't answer her. "Link?" She saw that he was looking out at the dense collection of trees outside the Kokiri's borders.

"Gah!" The blonde boy yelped as he was brought back to reality by a slight tap on the shoulder.

Saria looked at him inquisitively. "You're definitely on edge today," the green-haired girl said. "Come on, what's wrong?" She asked. "Look, if you don't want to say what, you don't have to, but at least let me know that something is bothering you, ok?" Her usual cheery features then grew serious. "You don't have to say what it is, but at least be honest about how you feel to me."

Link nodded in response, Saria's face softening.

"Anyway, how's your broccoli looking?" The green-haired girl asked. Link then grew excited upon hearing her mention his field. "Oh, are they done?" Link waved his hand, indicating that they were halfway ready. "Well, can I still see?"

Link nodded enthusiastically and led her to the small patch of dirt beside his treehouse, presenting the growing produce to Saria. He wouldn't say it out loud, but he didn't seem to pick up agriculture as quickly as the others, especially Saria. Thus, she suggested a crop to grow that she had success with when she first started gardening. It took him a bit longer than she said, but it looked like Link's crops were halfway done after a few weeks. But upon showing them to Saria, he was puzzled upon seeing the Kokiri girl's reaction to his labor.

"Um, Link?" Saria asked. "I said I planted broccoli," she looked at the small number of white plants that rested in the center of blooming, green leaves. "The green kind."

Link was puzzled again. Wasn't this the plant she meant? She said it was a green plant that flowered and looked like a tree. Weren't these the same thing?

"This is white," Saria said, inspecting one crop closer. "You planted cauliflower."

That Afternoon

Cauliflower.

CLINK!

He had planted cauliflower.

CLINK!

Cauliflower!

CLINK! CLINK! CLINK! CLINK!

Link panted as the last of his energy was spent, a series of wooden targets hanging from a nearby tree swinging from the force of his shots. He was about to reach for more ammunition but found that the small pouch containing the hardened seeds he had been using were all gone. Great. This meant he had to go out and search for more. With an exasperated groan, the green-capped boy sat on the grassy floor underneath his boots, fresh sweat dripping down his forehead.

He tried to do one thing that would get him some sense that he wasn't the only one out of place in the community. After all, growing crops was easy. At least, that's what Link thought when he tried tilling and caring for a field of his own. But when it came time to plant the seeds, Saria suggested that he produce something easy to start with. And seeing as she was a gardening expert (according to every Kokiri Link asked), she handed him some seeds that she said were broccoli, a crop that didn't take long to grow and harvest.

Thinking back on it, Link supposed he should've known better, given that Cypress said he had some broccoli seeds that grew faster than any other. And, to prove it, he showed him broccoli that he was growing in his soil patch. Upon hearing that his seeds would grow faster than standard broccoli, Link traded them for the ones Saria had given him. True, it was something he regretted when the seeds were taking longer than expected to grow, and he had begun to worry, but his hopes shot up when they finally began growing. And even more, his "broccoli" was a unique color!

True, he had heard of purple broccoli, but never white. Upon seeing the fruits of his labor, he couldn't wait to show Saria! But, of course, upon showing her his field, the Kokiri girl told Link the unfortunate truth. He hadn't been planting broccoli. He had been caring for cauliflower.

Even if it was of good quality, and even if Saria said she was impressed by Link's ability to grow it, for, according to her, cauliflower's growth was much slower and more challenging than that of broccoli, the blonde boy didn't care. He had made himself look like an idiot. He thought he had finally done something right. Something that would let him at least be a little like the others. And even when he managed to do something at least correct, it still turned out wrong!

Link got to his feet and ran out into the Lost Woods outside the tiny hamlet the Kokiri lived in before Saria could even try to talk to him. He wouldn't let her see the developing tears in his eyes. Thus, he came out here with his hand-crafted slingshot and a pouch full of Deku seeds. He had set up a small area in the woods where he could practice his aim. In this case, it was to relieve himself of built-up frustration.

The Lost Woods surrounded the much smaller Kokiri Forest and didn't differ much in appearance. They were both equally fertile and green areas, but the Lost Woods was a place Link was told explicitly not to go. True, there was the fact that the Kokiri were born of the forest, so if they left it, they would surely die, but the Lost Woods also belonged to the Great Deku Tree. Miles and miles of forest were under his watch and command, so why would he not be allowed to go out? As far as he knew, none of the other children were forbidden to come out here, so why was it just him?

"That's 'cause you're a Mister No-Fairy!" Mido's mocking voice echoed in the boy's mind, his blue eyes growing angry upon reciting them. "It probably doesn't help that you're too stupid to talk. No fairy would want to talk to you anyway."

Oh, there were many, many, many things Link would've loved to have said to Mido. Right to his face! Contrary to what he and everyone else believed (Link wasn't sure, but he suspected they thought the same as Mido, they just didn't say it), the boy wasn't incapable of speech. Well, most of the time. But, even if he hated to admit it, Mido was right in that he wasn't all that talkative, at least not around the other children. Saria was the only exception, the only one he was at ease with. According to her, Link was capable of being a little chatterbox when he managed to get going with a subject.

In truth, Link found that silence was golden unless it was something he needed to make clear or known. He could speak fine but found it difficult to form words at times. He knew what he wanted to say; it was just a struggle to get it out. And even when he could, it always sounded odd and unnatural, as if he were choking in his own words. Thus, he just preferred not to talk at all to avoid a problem regarding his speech.

Mido's words about the Great Deku Tree putting restrictions on him because he had no fairy came back to him, along with the familiar anger he held towards the red-haired boy. Nevertheless, Link wondered why he wasn't allowed to go into the Lost Woods out of all other Kokiri. He went anyway, but it wasn't as if he went far. Even he knew that under the Great Deku Tree's watch or not, this place was easy to get lost in, hence its name. Though, Link thought, that might've been a given.

He mostly kept to sections around the entrance to the Kokiri Forest, though he had to remind himself of which direction he had come from. While the Lost Woods were composed of several trees and other flowering plants, a peculiar feature was found in the dense woodland, situated among the particularly thick collection of branches and leaves; old trees stood with a deep hollow formed at the base of the thickened trunk. No light could be seen out the other end of the dark tunnels, for one would have to go through to get to the other side. And even then, who knew where you would turn up?

The Lost Woods, from what little of it Link had seen, appeared to be separated into various areas, all of which could be accessed through the tree hollows. He hadn't traveled far but had noticed that the further you went into the woods, the more likely you would come across something that would be baffling and confusing. Several creatures inhabited the woods, many of which looked quite different from the Kokiri. As The Great Deku Tree gave life to everything around them, so were the trees and plants, even those that could move around and talk. And it was then that Link heard someone speak.

"So, is that him?"

Link whirled his head around but saw no one. The voice wasn't any he recognized: it was high-pitched, somewhat squeaky, comical even. But what he heard signaled to the boy that he wasn't alone. He looked around but saw no one, not a soul in sight.

"I dunno, all of those kids look alike!" Another voice answered, much like the first, albeit somewhat lower pitch. "But, even if it is, those old hags had better pay us well!"

Link tried to pinpoint where the conversation was coming from. "Shh!" A third voice hissed. "Not so loud! He'll hear us!"

Link then noticed a peculiar set of bushes a short distance away. He wasn't entirely sure, but he found they looked out of place compared to the others. True, they had the same colors and shapes, but they seemed to grow out in the middle of the small field he practiced in, very much unlike the others, which congregated near the tree hollows. He began to wonder, his blue eyes on his slingshot. Finding a Deku Seed on the ground, Link fired a shot in the direction of the bushes, the impact echoing throughout the silent field.

"OW!"

Link jumped back a short distance, unprepared to see the bushes grow tiny legs and feet, though they were shaped in a way that reminded the boy of his leather boots. They had faces that resembled wooden masks, features such as cheeks and eyes visible, but instead of a mouth, a cylinder-like protrusion took its place. The creatures' bodies were short, round, and armless, their legs serving as their only appendages. The "bush" portion served as a headdress or crown for them, the leaves being a hair replacement. Though, upon studying them more, Link's apprehension died, realizing what the creatures were.

Though this relief was short-lived as he felt a Deku Nut bounce off his forehead, the creature that shot it glowered at him with surprisingly bright, fiery eyes (for a plant).

"Hey, kid!" One of the three Deku Scrubs squeaked. "Watch where you're shooting that thing!" With that, the Scrubs hurried off, disappearing through one of the tree hollows that led deeper into the Lost Woods.

Link now felt like kicking himself for getting so worked up. Deku Scrubs, while weird looking, we're entirely harmless. They didn't inhabit the Kokiri Forest but roamed and settled in the Lost Woods. While the one that had just called Link out was a little cranky, they all had different personalities and traits, depending on what type of tree they were born from. Even if he technically wasn't supposed to come out here, from what he could tell, the Scrubs weren't overtly aggressive or hostile.

Still, they never seemed to have interest in him before, Link thought. Sure, he had seen them scurrying around among the dense foliage of the woods, but they hadn't ever tried to approach him. Watch as he practiced with his slingshot, yes, but none of them had tried to sneak up on him. And just what were they talking about? Something about being paid and some old hags? Well, whatever, Link thought. He had a pouch to refill with seeds.

Unbeknownst to him, however, the three Scrubs spying on him traveled deeper into the Lost Woods than Link had ever gone. They traveled until the trees grew so thick that not even the sun rays could pierce through. Finally, after a while, they had reached their destination, standing at the base of a great tree whose features were concealed in dense shadows. Another figure stood by him, dressed in black, and the tree awaited the arrival of the wooden creatures.

"You've returned," the tree said, voice raspy and dark, a great contrast to that of the Great Deku Tree. "Where is the way?"

"Where's the payment first?" One of the Deku Scrubs questioned.

The second figure then seemed to dig into a small pouch and took out a green, shimmering stone cut into a four-pointed diamond with silvery rims. "Now," the tree said again. "Did you see a child? One with no fairy?"

The Scrubs gazed at the small rock in fascination, for its size was small; nothing like this existed in the forest. Nothing but the dewdrops reflecting the morning light could match this beauty. But the question asked brought one of them back to reality. "Huh? Oh, yeah! He's here!" The figure produced two more and handed them to the wooden creatures,

"Yeah, he comes out to the woods a lot, not all that talkative," Another said. "Then again, no fairy means no one to talk to.

"Why you or those old ladies want to know, I have no idea, but thanks for the shinies!"

The Scrubs went off with their prize. The figure scoffed, smirking as they went away. "Idiots." He chuckled, the ignorant fools not knowing that what he had given them was completely useless.

"They know nothing outside of these woods, so anything foreign to them is exciting," the massive tree said. "Especially anything that shimmers, no matter what it is," the tree's twisted features curled up into a smile in the shadows. "So then, we have an agreement?"

The other figure nodded, his features and general appearance concealed underneath a thick cloak of black. "You get a nicer place in these woods," he said. "And I make sure you have a place to move into."

The tree's several branches housed what appeared to be dozens of eyes of bright orange peering down from above, but they didn't belong to any Deku Scrub. "Your guardians are correct," the tree said. "There is a child among the Kokiri that does not have a fairy."

"And? What does that matter?" The cloaked figure asked. "Up until now, I would have doubted fairies even existed, so what difference does it make if one kid doesn't have one of their own?"

"The Deku Tree cares for all those that he has birthed," the tree answered. "Not one of them is left unaccounted for."

"Then why are you so concerned about the odd one out? Why do you and those hags seem all hung up on him?" The cloaked figure questioned.

The tree's smile then faltered, becoming a twisted scowl. "Because he's the one that will change everything."

A Short Time Later

He pulled at the small nuts hanging from the branches, placing handfuls of hard, dusty-brown pellets into the small pouch he had secured to his right side on his belt. Even if it sometimes took him a little longer to find on some days than others, he knew which trees to climb and pick from whenever Link ran out of bullets for his slingshot. While some were better ammunition than others, the blonde boy found that nuts and seeds were preferable to rocks or stones. When struck, a Deku Nut would create a sparkling flash that blinded anything within range, and while the Deku Seeds didn't have as violent a reaction, they were rugged and compact, making them ideal for ammunition. Not to mention Link knew that being hit with a nut wasn't as lethal as being hit with a rock, a reason he didn't feel right using them, even if they were small.

Link had calmed down from before, having exerted much of it on the handmade targets, but he still wasn't too happy about planting the wrong crop. Saria wasn't too glad that he gave away the seeds she had given him; honestly, he couldn't blame her. He didn't mean to hurt her like that; it was just that he thought the seeds he traded out for would grow even faster than expected. He just wanted to impress her, that was all. And perhaps impress everyone else, even Mido.

Or maybe not; Mido would've probably found something to complain about. Link looked around from his height, surveying the area to see if there were nearby branches he could pick from. He had only filled up half of his pouch, but he had already plucked all the nuts from the branch he currently sat on. He saw some more hanging from above and began to climb, his small body carefully ascending the towering tree. It took some trial and error when he started climbing trees, but Link found all the hard falls and accidents to be worth it in the end, for it was higher up where all the best nuts were.

But, as he climbed, Link noticed something he hadn't before: light. Light shining down through the treetops wasn't unusual, but while Link had seen them, he had never been able to get closer to them. No matter how high he climbed, he could never seem to break through the thick leaves above, never able to go past anything that composed even a part of the Great Deku Tree's dominion. But now, he didn't just feel the sun's warmth from a distance; he could feel the rays heating his cheeks directly. He could feel the wind lightly playing with his gold bangs.

And then, with one final hoist up, the boy broke through.

Link was blinded by the sun's light at first, closing his eyes momentarily until he adjusted, but what met his sight left him, ironically enough, completely speechless. Above him was a vast, endless horizon of blue with wispy, smooth vapors trailing over its surface, and the incredible light that provided light for every tree in the forest shone down on him. Of course, Link knew what the sky and clouds were, but he had never seen them like this. In either the Kokiri Forest or Lost Woods, the sky had always appeared clear, except when it was raining, as well as a lightning green or yellow. He had never seen a blue sky before, let alone see the sun shine this brightly. And upon seeing it, he was immediately fascinated and in awe.

With blue eyes and mouth wide open, Link looked around, seeing nothing but sky and miles of trees. True, while he felt pretty accomplished in having finally breached the treetops, how he got here also puzzled him. For one, when he set out to try and climb to the top, he went up and up until he was several feet off the ground, but he could never reach his destination. Today, however, he had only gone up just a little more than usual and broke through quickly. And he wasn't even trying to get to the top; all he wanted to do was just collect nuts for his slingshot!

Link scanned everything he could see, dense forest everywhere he looked. So, it was then that he decided to look behind him and see if anything of interest was in that direction. And it was upon turning around out of childish curiosity, he spotted something in the distance. Something incredible. Something that would change the Boy Without a Fairy's life forever.

Far off in the distance was a landscape and places Link had never seen before, and up until now, didn't even know existed! Plains of fertile, green grass lightly danced in the breeze, and a great river ran in various spaces in the great expanse of green. Towering mountains rested to the northeast, and the reddened Earth they were composed of solid and old. And, curiously enough, Link saw that the grass seemed to end at the western part of the landscape, being replaced with dry, cracked ground that led into places unknown. But none of those things compared to what lay north of this strange and new place.

Standing tall and proud with the sun's rays seemingly drawing his eye to it, Link saw a massive structure of white and blue, surrounded by a fortified border and standing out against the dark mountains in the same area. At first, Link was unsure what to make of it but was too fascinated to look away. Either it was the strangest (yet surprisingly beautiful) tree he had ever seen, or it was some sort of large house painted white and blue. That'd take quite a bit of paint, Link thought. Or maybe, it wasn't a tree at all. But, upon looking closer (as close as possible given the near-immeasurable distance between the boy and object of interest), Link saw that the structure was no tree.

What it was exactly, he didn't know, but the longer he looked at it, the stronger the draw was for Link to try and look closer.

"Link?" The boy's long ears registered that someone was calling for him. "Link? Link! Where are you?!"

That was Saria! Oh no, did the Great Deku Tree send her out to find him?! Before climbing back down, he looked at the faraway building, spotting the green-haired Kokiri below. His journey down wasn't as graceful as the one to the top. His boot slipped on some of the bark and sent him plummeting downward, landing on several branches before finally landing on the ground. The fall wasn't lethal, nearly every branch seemed to keep him from going straight down, but that didn't make the descent hurt any less!

"Oof!" Saria winced. "Are you ok?"

Link groaned as he stood up, his back and tailbone aching from the several hits they took, but he was fine. He had dealt with worse. Besides, even if he was a Kokiri, that didn't mean he couldn't be tough! He nodded to answer Saria's question.

"You sure?" Saria asked again.

Link nodded, although it was then that he felt a tiny bit of pain shoot through his back, his body not agreeing with him.

"Ok, fine. I believe you," Saria giggled. "Look, I'm not mad anymore about the seeds," she told him. "I just…sort of wish you told me."

Link bit his lip and lowered his head. "Y-Yeah. Sorry."

"I know you just wanted your plants to grow fast for me," Saria said. "Anyway, your cauliflower is pretty decent." She told him.

Link's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Yeah!" Saria answered. "Well, you can sort of tell that it's the first time you've grown it, but for a first time, it's not bad at all!"

All right, Link could take that. But, thinking it over, at least he managed to plant something right.

"Anyway, we should get back," Saria said. "The Great Deku Tree doesn't want us out here," she then looked at Link's slingshot. "You should probably hide that thing too. If Mido sees it, you know what he will do."

Link rolled his eyes, suspecting that the redhead would rat him out to the Great Deku Tree. Luckily, Link had a special place he kept his handmade weapon. There was a small stump with a hole big enough to fit the slingshot by his house, but the stump was tall enough to where it wouldn't be seen.

"Ok, let's get back!" Saria said; both she and Link made their way back to the Kokiri Forest, but Saria couldn't help but notice that, despite what happened earlier, her blonde friend seemed rather chipper. "What's up with you?" She asked.

Link was debating whether to tell her, as he was now beginning to wonder if he should've seen what he did. He shook his head "Nothing." He answered.

Saria was suspicious but didn't say anything more. "Ok, fine. I guess everybody has a few secrets."

Indeed, Link thought. True, logically, it wouldn't have made sense for him to get in trouble for just spotting something unusual, but the boy wasn't sure how Saria, the Kokiri, or even the Great Deku Tree would take it if he told them what he had seen. So, for now, it would be a secret from everybody.

A Short Time Later

The Kokiri Forest

Once Link and Saria entered the small hamlet occupied by children, they heard a familiar voice greet them.

"Well, it looks like Mr. No-Fairy's come crawling back," Mido sneered, arms folded as he watched the two other children walk by. "I thought you had gotten lost in there this time." Link huffed in response, having no interest in dealing with the redhead right now. "Oh yeah, I forgot; how was that broccoli you planted?"

Link whirled around, facing the other Kokiri. While true, he wasn't as angry about the event as before, that didn't mean he would just take Mido's taunts.

"Link, no," Saria urged her friend to remain calm, then she looked at Mido. "It wasn't like it was bad cauliflower," she said. "Link did a fine job growing it."

"Hey, Cypress is the one that gave Link the seeds!" Mido countered. "After he traded the seeds you gave him. Which is something I'd never do to you, Saria."

"Am I supposed to be impressed?" The green-haired girl asked. "Besides, I have plenty of seeds. So if I want something, I can grow it myself."

"But I thought Link did grow some broccoli," Elm said, the Know-it-All Brothers carrying in the rest of their harvest, their fields providing most of the produce eaten by the Kokiri. "That's what you said it was."

It was then that Link began to piece things together, from how he got the seeds to grow them to discovering they were the wrong ones. Then, finally, a theory started to form in his mind, and it suddenly all made sense.

"You," Saria said, Link's fingers tightening into a shaking fist. "You have something to do with this, don't you?"

Mido's first instinct was to deny responsibility, but he saw neither Link nor Saria would buy it even if he tried to say anything. So instead, all the other Kokiri began to gather, the mood rife with tension. "Yeah, ok. Fine. I gave Cypress the seeds." he confessed.

Every fiber of Link's body was boiling, his anger continuing to rise as he realized what this meant. "So, you traded seeds with Cypress, then he gave them to Link…?" Saria asked, her words echoing Link's thoughts. "You set this all up from the beginning!"

"What of it? It was only a joke!" Mido countered.

Only a joke? Only a joke?! Link stepped forward, but Saria put a hand on his shoulder. She had never seen Link this angry before; he looked like he was about to explode!

"Mido, he was planting those for me!" Saria argued. "I gave him my seeds because I had no space in my patch, so he said he'd grow in his!"

"So what? I could've done that! Anyone could've!"

Flint shrugged his shoulders, indifferent about the whole thing. "Guess so." He said. He wasn't getting involved; this was Link and Mido's problem.

Cypress, Elm, and Birch set down their produce and looked at the visibly enraged Link, who was particularly trembling with fury. Fado, Phoebe, and Karya also came to see what was happening. Soon, everyone was there to witness the scene going on. "What's happening?" Phoebe asked Birch.

"I think somebody's about to get pummeled," the redheaded boy said. "Though, I'm not sure who."

"That's not the point!" Saria argued with Mido. "The point is that you tricked Link into planting the wrong seeds!"

"If Mr. No-Fairy were good at growing things, he would've realized what types of seeds they were!" Mido directed his attention back to Link. "Not that it'd do much for him anyway."

Link was growing increasingly enraged; the other boy's consistent jabs and remarks made the blonde almost lose all control.

"I'd be careful with what I say if I were you," Saria warned. "You're in a lot of trouble already with me!" Saria tightened her grip on the blonde boy's shoulder. "Link, no!" She hissed, trying to keep him back. I got a feeling this isn't going to end well.

"Oh, what are ya gonna do, Mr. No-Fairy?" Mido sneered, getting up in Link's face. Link remained silent, Saria's grip the only thing keeping him from retaliating. "Yeah, I thought so." The redhead then turned away, but just as he began to walk, he felt someone grab his shoulder. "Who-"

WHOP!

Mido was sent to the ground, landing hard on his back. He looked up to see his attacker was none other than the boy he was just mocking. "Y-You!" Mido shouted, getting to his feet. "How dare you!" He then cracked his knuckles. "Fine! If that's the way you want it, bring it on!"

Link stepped forward, eyes narrowed and lips tightening with anger. "Link-" Saria protested, but Link brushed her off. Not enough to hurt her, but just enough to get her to let go.

No, she wasn't stopping him this time. Link took the first swing, Mido leaping to the side and avoiding the other boy's incoming fist. The redhead drove a fist into the blonde's gut, sending him flying back. All the other children watched on as the brawl continued, some fascinated, some horrified, and some saw this as oddly entertaining.

"Who do you think is gonna win?" Elm asked Flint.

Flint simply shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "They're both behaving like idiots."

"Oooh!" Fado winced, the twins doing likewise as Mido landed a rather hard blow to Link's chest. "That looked like it hurt."

"Can they do it again?" Birch asked. "I didn't see it!"

"Both of you, stop it!" Saria shouted, but her words didn't reach either of the brawling Kokiri. To her dismay, despite starting out strong, Link was overwhelmed by Mido's quick punches.

"C'mon, Mister No-Fairy!" Mido taunted. "You started this; now finish it!" Link struggled to get up from the ground, the pain from the other boy's blows.

But then, just as Mido got close enough, Link shot out his fist and landed a punch right into the other boy's face. At that moment, everyone heard something break or snap, but what it was, no one knew. Mido stumbled back, clutching his nose tightly, moaning in pain. Link smirked, pleased to have landed a hit on that red-haired jerk, but his satisfaction was short-lived when he saw red liquid seeping out between Mido's fingers. When he pulled his hands away, everyone, including Link, was shocked at what they saw.

Mido's nose looked like it had been twisted and swollen, blood trailing down his face. The Know-it-All brothers, twins, Fado, Flint, and even Saria looked horrified at what had just happened. But, then, all their eyes, including Saria's, focused on Link. The blonde boy was trying to speak, say something, anything! He intended to fight back, but he didn't mean to hit Mido that hard!

"You…." Mido stammered, voice nasally from the endless rivers of blood and mucus. "That's it!" The shock had quickly given way to anger, the other boy about to throw another punch in Link's direction.

Link got into a defensive stance, but then-

"ENOUGH!"

A thundering voice boomed throughout the entire section of the forest.

"LINK! MIDO!" No one needed to theorize who was talking, even if the voice sounded very unlike its regular tone. Both boys cringed, knowing that they were definitely in trouble. "Come to the meadow," the Great Deku Tree ordered. "Now."

Note: I'll admit that Mido will be a massive jerk in these first chapters, but he WILL get better eventually. Also, the two figures mentioned will play a role, albeit different from each other. One is a character I can't give away (though I'm sure you already have an idea of who it is), and the other is a minor character from a manga side story. It'll take some time before we reach that point, but the minor character will have a part to play in Link's journey, even if it's small.

That said, thank you all for reading! Let me know if you see any errors, and I hope to hear your input!