Note: A little bit of a shorter chapter here, but we're essentially done in the Lost Woods. From here, it's back to the Ranch, then to Kakariko Village!

Here's hoping that this entertains you, and that I entice you enough to give your opinion on it, good or bad!

Thank you for reading!

To the Sacred Meadow

The scent of burning feathers alerted him that the end of his tail had been singed, yet that also raised the question of what exactly in Din's name had set his tail ablaze, and from where?

Turning his head all the way around, Kaepora Gaebora saw, to his horror, that his plumage had seemingly erupted in a small set of flames, the owl quickly ducking down and dipping the edges of the feathers in the sand, snuffing out the fire that threatened to consume his entire tail in the next few seconds. Looking back, he saw that he was not flying alone, two figures dressed in black robes with concealed faces atop what appeared to be some sort of long objects they rode the air with, defying gravity as if they were gifted with wings themselves.

"Come back, birdie!" a cackling, high-pitched voice, ancient yet almost youthfully gleeful in the chase. "We've got a score to settle, and we're in the mood for some fried owl!"

"Fried? No, no, no," the other flying figure disagreed in jest. "We should pluck him first and then freeze him up for storage!"

"Yeah! THEN we fry him!" the other responded, lifting their arm up and seemingly conjuring a ball of fire out of thin air.

"By the Goddesses," Kaepora Gaebora muttered to himself. "They have access to that sort of power."

Magic in itself was not exactly unordinary, the phenomenon in itself was a trait passed down to the creations of the Goddesses, Hylians especially, as a sign of their divine origin and link to their Three Mothers, each a parent in Her own right and leading Their children in the ways best suited to their ways and lives, so long as conflict did not arise between them. In the modern age, however, the magic that once coursed through the blood of all races, save for those that dwelt in the water, seemed to have seeped away into nothing, as if it had never existed. Ever since the Age of the Sky ended, it appeared that the Earth itself sapped away what mystical energy rested in the people that would eventually lead to the few survivors of the war there were today.

However, the owl was no fool. This energy that the two assailants harnessed, was not the same as magic that originated from the Golden Sisters Themselves. There was nothing divine or pure regarding this particular force, the fire and freezing ice crystals that were propelled in his direction. These spells were dark and old, full of choking blackness and hate. Hate for all that fell under the light of the sun, under the eyes of the Goddesses Themselves.

He never thought he would ever see such a thing, let alone in this age, or in this body, yet there was no mistaking it now.

"GAH!"

His thinking allowed for a momentary loss of focus, a searing burn assaulting his right wing, along with a slowly developing heat that pricked and licked the ends of his feathers. It didn't take long for him to realize that he had been set on fire, yet his other wing was overcome with a piercing, icy numbness.

He looked to see his feathers freezing over, crystallizing in hardened crystal.

Lost Woods

The Skull Kids aimed their blow darts, ready to fire at any given moment. And they would have unleashed everything they had on the trio of boy, fairy, and bird-like creatures, if not for another figure making themselves known at that very moment.

Albeit, they were rather minuscule in size.

In front of Link and Navi landed what appeared to be a tiny version of the Kikwi that had been transporting them away from danger, no larger than an acorn or small pinecone. If it weren't for its small eyes and equally small beak, should one view the little thing at a passing glance, they would've possibly mistaken the creature for little more than some forest foliage or debris from a tree.

"What the…?" one of the Skull Kids questioned, eyeing the small being that had made their sudden appearance.

"What's this thing supposed to be?" another asked, one responding with an unassuming shrug.

"Well, whatever," the one wearing Link's mask proclaimed. "It's a pipsqueak, so it'll be easy to crush!" he said. "Get it!"

All the others followed suit and aimed their blow darts at the tiny bird-like thing instead, although this soon proved to be just what the little creature wanted. It peeped in Link's direction, the boy uncertain of just what the bird wanted, yet Navi was there to translate.

"He says to bring up your shield!" she alerted her charge.

Bring up his shield? Why, he wondered.

"Don't question it for now!" she urged him. "Just do it!"

"Do what she says, kid!" the larger bird-like being added. "This is going to be a little hairy!"

Hairy? Last Link had heard birds had feathers. Well, whatever, he nonetheless obeyed and brought out his Deku Shield, the smaller Kikwi then got into position, its once smooth coat grew prickly and spiky, protruding outward and catching everyone off guard as it became a small ball of sharpened ends sticking out.

Then, those sharpened ends detached and flew ahead, sending the surrounding Skull Kids scattering for cover while the larger Kikwi grabbed hold of Link and Navi and jumped up, landing back up in the branches and beginning the slow migration upward once again. While it would take some time to catch up to the others, if anything, at least he could trust the little one down below to take care of himself.

Eventually, the smaller Kikwi had run out of quills and made itself scarce, rolling and hiding underneath a sizable tree root, the Skull Kids still confused or fleeing to avoid the incoming spikes. Still, even he knew that some of them wouldn't be deterred, those few that had decided to use the trees for cover following his comrade and the cargo he possessed.

Gerudo Desert

Gravity had been both a blessing and a curse in this case, it seemed. At least, in his case, Kaepora Gaebora thought, considering his current stroke of both luck and misfortune.

On one hand, or, in his case, wing, it had proved to be a hindrance as the lack of movement in his other frozen wing essentially doomed him to fall to Earth, landing face first in the seemingly endless sand that littered the landscape. On the other (hand/wing), where he had landed provided him a considerable amount of coverage from his two pursuers, the duo still circling above him like vultures waiting for their coveted kill to finally die. Although, in this case, they planned to kill the owl themselves.

…

"Where is that blasted bird?!" the figure patrolling on the left shouted, clearly growing frustrated with having suddenly lost their target, unaware that, shielded underneath the curved structure of a boulder, the owl lay injured but alive. Still, he knew he needed to get to work on getting his wing thawed out. The only question was, how?

Concealed in the shadow of the boulder, Kapeora Gaebora watched and listened in, uncertain of just how exactly he was going to get out of this. Nonetheless, he made sure to take any secrets he happened to hear with him, should he be blessed enough to escape from this place. Still, just how was he going to unthaw his wing?

"He can't be allowed to leave!" the more hotheaded of the two bellowed. "He'll ruin everything!"

"Relax, you're getting yourself too worked up," the other consoled their twin. "Even if he leaves, he'll be sleeping with one eye open for the rest of his life," they said. "Of which I plan to cut short."

The first to have spoken was puzzled. "You sound as if you're not too concerned that he even gets out with this information, what little he heard," they said. "Doesn't Lord Ganondorf's image of the King of Hyrule mean anything to you?"

"Of course it does," the other responded. "The partnership of the two Kings is what this entire plan rests on," they answered. "In fact, it's perhaps the one thing that will allow us a way in, above all else."

"So why waste time?" the former inquired. "Why not find and turn the fat dodo into roasted poultry now?" they then brought up their hand, a small flame manifesting in the wrinkled palm. "It would be so simple."

Indeed, the owl thought. While the prospect of thinking of his own death wasn't exactly something he had in mind, preferably, this conversation was bringing up some interesting points, especially regarding this supposed conspiracy between them and the King of the Gerudo.

"We can't act too hastily," the cooler of the two answered. "Bear in mind, not everyone is aware of just what exactly is at stake."

"Hm?" the former appeared puzzled. "I thought all of our people were in agreement with the plan to go into Hyrule."

"Yes," the other responded. "Yet there is one among our numbers that concerns me," they confessed. "I'm concerned as to what role they'll play when the time comes."

"You mean Aveil?" the more riled up of the two questioned. "Oh please! Yes, she's ambitious, but she's more concerned with being our King's consort than Queen!"

"No, she's not who I mean." the other replied.

"Then who do you mean?"

They paused, Kaepora Gaebora too confused as to what exactly they were thinking. Or rather, of who they were thinking.

"...I speak of Nabooru."

Lost Woods

"You have to go back!" Saria argued with her transporter, the darkly-colored, bird-like creature still ignoring her pleas. "You don't understand! He's-"

"Oh, I know what he is!" the bird answered. "He's one of them!" they said.

"But he's also the-"

"I don't care what he is!" they said, interrupting Saria. "He's one of those that skinned and ravaged us!" they argued. "He and his kind, they have no place here!" they then turned their head away, continuing ahead. "Besides, the Head of Our Kind said not to go back for them if they got left behind. You'll just have to rely on him being able to take care of himself."

Unbeknownst to the green-haired girl, Mido was beginning to stir, slowly rising from his state of unconsciousness to see that, to his confusion, he was flying through the trees with some bird thing. Huh, must've been dreaming…?!

"Hey, I see them!"

That was Saria's voice! It began to slowly return to him just what happened, venturing into the woods, discovering Saria had been captured, and then Link…wait, Link?!

Either this was a nightmare, or this was indeed real! Then again, Mido thought, his time navigating through this place had been a general nightmare for him, yet he wasn't sure which was worse: being stuck with the blonde or having him invade the redhead's dreams!

Needless to say, this confusion didn't last long as, indeed, Link was seen far below, traveling with another one of the strange creatures, Mido realized that, despite all that had presumably happened while he was out of it, some of the Skull Kids STILL continued to follow them through the Lost Woods, even now!

"Geez, just what does it take to lose these guys?!" Mido cried out, unsure of just what to do.

"Get to my special place!" Saria asked her carrier.

"Where is that?" they questioned.

"Where the old temple is!"

Mido heard this and grew puzzled, unsure of just what the girl was speaking of. Yet, from the sound of it, the bird-like beings appeared to know.

"That's not close to the Kokiri Forest!" the one transporting Saria protested.

"It's fine!" the green-haired girl assured. "I have an idea!"

"And that would be?"

"No time to explain! Just trust me!"

Silence fell in between the two before, to her relief, they changed directions and went toward the mysterious place Saria had taken Link before. Mido was the only one among the two boys to hear of this "old temple."

"Saria…" he muttered to himself. "Just what is going on?"

He received no answer.

The redhead Kokiri held no idea as to whether they were even going the right way, having never been led, let alone invited to visit Saria's secret place, another privilege Link had received over him. Still, it seemed he had little choice but to allow the bird-like creature to carry him in the desired direction.

Through the trees, the three children went, the dense canopy of the Lost Woods almost impenetrable viewing from below, as if not a hint of moonlight was allowed to seep through the space in between the darkened trees. The overwhelming lack of light served to cover the few pursuers that still managed to keep up the chase, their speed and dexterity allowing them to inch closer and closer with each leap and bound through the treetops.

Eventually, through the tightly packed sea of green, the Kokiri girl spotted the sight of an ancient structure of stone in the distance. True, it was covered in vines and twisting foliage, yet it was unmistakably a structure built by those out of the forest.

"There!" Saria called out. "Get near the temple! I can take it from there!"

Her transport gave her a curious glance. "Are you certain?"

"Positive!" The girl responded. "The Great Deku Tree trusted me with things, should something like this happen."

The darkly-colored, shadowy bird said nothing, but nonetheless obeyed her request, carrying her and the two others of her kind (presumably) forward until they all reached the small spot in the Lost Woods, hidden away from the rest of the forest. Landing on the ground, much to Mido's relief, the boy practically leaned down to kiss the Earth itself, Saria raced to the center of the small square space that was allowed entry via a long stairwell, the girl had traveled up the steps many times before. Link and Mido followed behind, Navi realizing that Recti had joined them, carrying a now recovering Compa, who had just begun to regain consciousness.

"Hm?" she squinted her eyes, trying to discern what was real from the multiple, colorful shapes and patterns that swam around in her vision. "What? Where is…?" she paused, slowly realizing just where they had come back to. "This is…?!" she looked and saw her charge racing up the stairs, ahead of Navi and Recti's. "Saria!" Compa shouted, getting out of the pink fairy's arms and flying to join her Kokiri, albeit with a few stumbles as she almost fell to the stone platforms a few times in her journey to join her girl.

"Compa!" Saria exclaimed, more than happy to see her fairy had joined the waking world once again, even if, had he been alive, the Great Deku Tree would've considered all three Kokiri up far past their bedtime. "Are you ok?"

"Forget about me," the green fairy shook her head. "What about you?"

Saria nodded. "I'm fine!" she then gasped, hearing the approaching forces of the Baga Tree from behind, at least those that hadn't been driven off by the Kikwis. "But we've got to get rid of these guys!"

It was then that Compa saw her charge pull her ocarina from her clothing, having retrieved it upon being rescued from the cage prior. "Saria, no!" the fairy protested, eyeing the blonde boy dealing with the Skull Kids behind them. "The Great Deku Tree! He told you not to-"

"I know what he said!" the green-haired girl argued, immediately stricken with guilt for being short with the smaller being. Yet, ultimately, she was left with no choice. "There is no other way," she said. "Besides," she closed her eyes, holding the instrument close to her chest. "At least this is one thing that I know I can tell Link without lying to him."

Gerudo Desert

The owl raised a feathery brow, puzzled as to who exactly the two were speaking of. Especially considering that one of them was rather taken aback by this suggestion.

"Nabooru?" they asked, genuinely puzzled. "Just what does she have to do with this?" they questioned. "Aside from being our dear King's Lieutenant and most trusted confidant?"

From what little Kaepora Gaebora had seen during his own trip to Castle Town, the Gerudo King had indeed gone to the castle, accompanied by two women, although they weren't the same as the two fiends currently hunting him down. One was dressed in red and dark colors while the other wore pink and lighter shades with vibrant markings upon her clothing. Both, however, possessed the same, bronze skin, muscular figures, and blood-red hair.

"Our King may be playing the one of Hyrule for a fool, yet he himself is not infallible," the cooler-headed of the two said. "Nabooru may be more disciplined than Aveil, yet she's also more unpredictable."

"How so?" the hotheaded twin inquired, the owl all the while listening in, taking in every piece of information he could absorb.

"Think of it, why does Lord Ganondorf trust her in the first place?"

"Because she's one of the few surviving individuals he knows from childhood?"

"Perhaps," the cooler admitted. "However, like him, they hold a…difference that separates them from the rest of their people, and it's more than our Lord just being the designated Man of One-Hundred Years."

The concealed bird couldn't see it, yet he swore he could sense a grin forming on the former's face.

"Something we had to do with, even if just a little," they said with a hint of mischief. "Although, I can't say the same about our dear King's friend," they ultimately confessed. "Even before she was in his command, there was something different about her."

Different? The owl pondered as to what this meant, let alone which of the two he had seen was Nabooru.

"Are you suggesting we take her out now?" the hotheaded one inquired.

"No," they answered. "However, I believe that, for the time being, they need to be monitored," they then paused. "...perhaps tested even."

"How?" The more hotheaded of the two questioned, yet then paused, seeing a shift in the shadows below. "You know what? Hold that thought," they said, conjuring up another fireball. "We can discuss this AFTER we have some sizzled bird for breakfast!"

Lost Woods

"C'mon! Hold them back!" Mido cried out, all the while trying to desperately scramble to find any ammo for Link's slingshot.

What did he think that he was trying to do?! Link sighed and dodged yet another shot from a blow dart, a couple of Skull Kids closing in on them while they tried to ascend the staircase and catch up to Saria. Easier said than done, seeing as the bird-like creatures had seemingly left, leaving the blonde and redhead to attend to the Baga Tree's forces.

Baga Tree. It wasn't until this very night that Link had even heard of such a person, er, tree. True, in theory, while The Great Deku Tree was the only tree he knew that could talk, there wasn't exactly any particular reason other trees couldn't speak as well. Still, while he sensed that the tree the Baga Tree had used as a vessel was not the real source, the projected face he presented was nothing like that of The Great Deku Tree.

Gone were any traces of parental security, a safety from the potential dangers of the Lost Woods: this creature served as the very danger. In place of an older yet still familiar enough face similar to his own, with a mustache and an elderly yet familial look in his carved eyes, Link and the rest of The Great Deku Tree's children were met with twisted, crooked features that appeared to just barely function as intended. It only just vaguely resembled a face, yet it was no face any of them wished to come across anytime again.

Still, knowing that, Link also realized that, akin to The Great Deku Tree and the Kokiri, the Baga Tree possessed his own children, the Skull Kids. Although, from the first time he saw them, the two boys had no idea of their identity at the time.

On the contrary, having first seen them in the play, they initially believed them to be the Know-It-All Brothers who had just snuck their way in as extras! Had The Great Deku Tree known that they were from outside the Kokiri Forest? And, if so, did that mean he let them sneak their way in?

He wouldn't lie in saying that was somewhat vindicating seeing them give Mido a pounding, yet the juxtaposition between then and now only served to confuse Link further. If the Skull Kids served the Baga Tree, the Great Deku Tree's enemy, then why didn't they try anything when Link was right there? And if they were watching him in the Lost Woods, why not take him out any of those times either?

Even if he was the Monster, the play was fun! Why did they have to fight each other?

It wasn't fair…

…

Finally reaching the green grass of the Sacred Meadow, Saria immediately rushed to the center of the small, closed-off space, and raised the ocarina to her lips. She heard both Link and Mido approaching, and, with them, the Skull Kids as well.

She had to act now.

Blowing lightly into the instrument, Saria began to find the right note, all the while trying to remember the correct melody.

"He's going to ask questions, you know," Compa warned her. "He's going to want to know everything."

Saria paused in her playing. "And he will," she answered. "I'm tired of keeping secrets from him," she said, sighing in frustration. "At least I can tell him this before he leaves me again."

Note: I have the outline going on, yet I find that cliffhangers are kind of a preferable way to end things in terms of pacing at times.

Let me know if there are any errors I may have missed!

Please review!

Thank you for reading!