Note: Finally! The end of the Lost Woods arc! We now move on to Kakariko Village!

Thank you for sticking with me for this long!

Leaving the Woods Again

This was it.

The end of the line.

Perhaps, the end of the story.

Navi dared not articulate this, yet she noticed her blonde charge steadily growing weaker the longer he continued to fight.

"C'mon, Mido! Hurry!" Recti urged the redhead, desperate to try and get him to safety.

Navi saw that the boy wished to stay and fight, if not for Saria herself, yet, unfortunately, the boy just wasn't as skilled as the blonde in regard to weapons and combat. And even then, Link still had a great deal to perfect and learn.

At this point, she had no idea of just how they were going to get out of this. Nothing without some help.

Then, the beginning of a song graced the fairy's ears. A song she soon realized was no dream or illusion, let alone any trick of the forest, the tune also being recognized by Link and Mido.

"What's she doing?" Recti questioned, gesturing toward Saria, who had seemingly, of all things, decided that now would be the best time to play some music!

Navi was about to exclaim that she herself had no idea, yet as Saria continued to play, both fairies and their charges felt a strange shift in the air.

Quite literally.

As of a sudden gale came through the forest, the notes emitting from her ocarina appeared to summon a fierce wind that nearly threatened to blow everyone off their feet and into the air!

At least, that's what Link and Mido initially believed would happen, yet found, as the wind played with their clothes and hair, their feet remained firmly on the ground. Not even their fluttering fairies or even Saria herself seemed too affected by the all-encompassing whirlwind, staying in place as if the wind only directly influenced them on the smallest of scales.

The same could not be said for the Skull Kids.

The great and powerful wind removed them from the ground, sending their airborne forms flying past the trees and ancient structures that rested in the area of this place, not even able to grab onto branches to keep themselves in place, as their only leverage seemed to easily snap from the trees themselves, leaving them with no choice but to let the wind take them.

Eventually, Saria stopped playing, the gale dying down to a gentle breeze before fading out entirely, leaving the three children and their fairies alone in this hidden section of the Lost Woods. Silence permeated the entirety of the small space, the green-haired girl turning to face both boys.

"...what was that?" Mido questioned, Link remaining silent, yet nodding in agreement with the other boy. Much to his own surprise.

"Well, for the song," Saria answered. "It's known as the Minuet of the Forest," she said. Compa reached out to try and protest, yet her charge continued. "But, as to what just happened," she said, biting her lip, eyes centered directly on Link. "Let's just say, the Great Deku Tree knew this would happen eventually, so," she paused with a sigh. "He…asked me for help."

Gerudo Desert

Whirling his head around, Kaepora Gaebora spotted the incoming fireball, jumping back as much as he could given the added weight on his left wing.

Of course, with this, a sudden burst of luck came with it.

The fire sparked upon landing, some of it catching on a nearby plant, completely dry and barren of any leaves or life. It took a few moments, yet the aged, hollow, and lifeless root served as the perfect torch, the fire quickly spreading until nearly the entire bush was engulfed.

It was a risky maneuver, the owl knew, yet, at the moment, he had little choice.

"Darn!" The temperamental one complained. "Missed!"

"Is your eyesight finally failing you?" The other of the two questioned sarcastically. "Looks like Mother was right, magic doesn't compensate for neglecting your veggies."

"Oh, like you're one to talk," the hotheaded one scoffed. "You're too skinny! No meat on you! Everyone knows that a frail figure is the first sign of age!"

"Excuse me?"

It sounded as if a fight was about to break out between the two. Good, Kaepora Gaebora thought, eyeing the now burning bush. Perhaps this distraction would be enough to allow him to thaw out his wing.

"You heard me," the argumentative twin answered back. "Ah, that's another sign," they said. "Bad hearing!"

The usually cooler of the two found their temperament beginning to boil over. "Better too little girth than too much," they snarled, eyeing the stomach of the other. "At this rate, that weight is never going to come off."

"Hey, there's a potion for that!" The other argued back. "And, even more, all I have to do is add a few drops of Lizafols blood to give it some extra potency! Their metabolisms are marvelous compared to mammals!"

"The Lord Ganondorf's forces are not for our pleasure," the second of the two reminded the other. "Yet, anyway," they added with a sly grin. "But we still need a little more help if we're going to successfully lay siege to The King of Hyrule's precious Castle and the town surrounding it."

"Where do you suppose we look then?" The other questioned.

"Hm…" the second of the two pondered this inquiry. Then, a thought came to them. "Perhaps we can give Castle Town another visit." They suggested.

"Hm? What for?" The other asked. "Wasn't securing Lord Ganondorf's place enough?"

"Not if we want more than just the Gerudo assisting us," the former answered. "They may be strong, but they're still mortal."

"Then what do you suggest?"

The one brainstorming a plan was about to speak, yet found the scent of smoke meeting their nostrils. As well as the roasted bird.

Flying a little to the left, they saw a partially burning bush somewhat put out by what appeared to be a melting icicle.

"Look!"

And a shape flying off in the distance, too far to catch now.

Flying down to the bush, the figure picked up a few of the owl's feathers and then turned their eyes toward the sky.

"Should we try it?"

"…no."

"What?"

"Let him go," they answered. "Let him do what he will for now," their gnarled, aged digits then curled around the bird's feathers. "In fact, we'll let the one he treasures so much be the death of him."

Sacred Meadow

"So, what, a Mage? Like the Wind Mage from the story?"

Saria chuckled, Mido fearful that he had embarrassed himself even more in front of the green-haired girl. "No, not Mage. Sage. It means a wise or elected person," she explained. "It's what The Great Deku Tree was," she paused. "While he was still alive."

A somber silence fell in between all of them, Kokiri and fairy alike.

"So, a Sage," Navi began, Link's mouth not exactly cooperating with him, so the pale-blue winged woman spoke for the boy. "Is it something that The Great Deku Tree always was? Or was it a title he recently acquired?"

Link wasn't exactly sure what "acquired" meant, but everything else he could agree with.

"It was the reason he was born," Saria informed. "Before things were as they are now, especially outside of the forest, things were really different," she said. "He didn't tell me how different, but he said that there were creatures dwelling here before he was even a seed in the ground."

"Was that other guy around back then too?" Mido questioned. "Or those other guys?"

"If you mean the Kikwis, they've always been here," Saria told the redhead. "They were one of the few that were here since the beginning," she explained, spotting a member of their race in the trees, watching them.

The same one that had helped assist in their escape. The one who went back for Link.

They were minuscule, almost the size of a pinecone, saying nothing and listening in as the green-haired girl continued with her speech. "As for the Baga Tree, I don't know," she said. "But, if I had to guess, I'd say he's either not much older or younger than The Great Deku Tree was."

"Well, who are they?" Recti inquired. "If they've always been here, then why haven't I or anyone else seen them up until now?"

True, Navi thought. While she certainly wasn't as dismissive as the pink fairy had been, she had found it peculiar that she, one who had lived her entire known existence in the Lost Woods, had never heard nor seen a Kikwi or Baga Tree.

"The Kikwis hide from everyone," Saria informed. "And the Baga Tree was banished to the other end of the forest long ago," she said. "But that was before the Kikwis decided to run away."

"Run away?" Navi questioned.

From who, Link inwardly wondered as well. It was then, however, that Saria's eyes fell on the blonde as if the subject at hand related to him in some way.

"…from those that hunted them," she said. "From what The Great Deku Tree told me, they once were many, but when People from the Sky came down, the first being a Hero from one of The Great Deku Tree's stories," she bit her lip. Even if she had accepted it, the lingering reminders of what it was like when he was alive didn't get any easier to ignore. "…at first, they were friends. But, as time went on…" she paused. "I guess things just…changed."

Silence fell over the entire area, the tiny member of the aforementioned species getting a chill from her words. They may have not experienced such things themselves, but they heard the tales.

"Anyway, the Sky People, they began to become greedy, and took from everyone around them," Saria answered. "When there were less than a dozen left, the Kikwis came to what was left of the forest and hid away, a seed planted as an answer to their prayers for protection," she continued. "And thus, the Great Deku Tree was set forth to make sure the forest stays safe, and to keep those from the outside, out."

"Everyone?" Mido asked, remembering an event that occurred not too far back.

"That's what he intended," Saria answered. "Why?" She then asked. "Did you happen to see something?"

Mido was about to speak but ultimately stopped himself. Had he indeed seen a big person in the Lost Woods while he and Link were separated? Better yet, was that person, that woman (at least, he thought that was what the girl version of a grown-up was called) carrying something else with her?

A really small something, but she treated it as if it was her entire world.

"Mido?"

Mido was brought from her stupor by Saria's voice, the boy then shaking his head. "Oh, uh, nothing. Nothing at all," he replied. "Anyway, that explains what the bird guys were," he paused. "Sorta."

By sorta, you mean not at all, Link thought, raising a brow.

"But where'd this Baga Tree come from?" The redhead pondered aloud. "Did The Great Deku Tree ever tell you about him?"

Saria sighed. "Not much," she confessed. "Regardless, without him to keep the other in line, The Baga Tree will try to expand his territories," she said. "I don't have as much power as The Great Deku Tree," she answered. "But he trusted me in keeping this place safe," she then went quiet. "Something I failed to do," she turned her attention to Link. "I am so sorry to drag you from what The Great Deku Tree told you to do. I bet this has put an entire hamper on your journey."

Link shook his head, only relieved that the green-haired girl was safe.

"You still have it, don't you?" She asked. "The Kokiri Emerald?"

Link pondered this for a moment before reaching into the sack located underneath his shield, fruitlessly feeling around for anything that resembled what Saria described. He knew he had it, he just wasn't entirely sure where he had put it yet.

"Oh, here, let me do it!" Navi sighed with a roll of her eyes, diving into the sack retrieving the coveted treasure, and parting from the children's closest figure to a parent.

Within a few moments of searching, she found the stone in question, its green and golden surface of gemstone and metal shining brilliantly in the moonlight. Saria extended her hand and the Kokiri Emerald floated over to her palm, hovering just a few centimeters above the skin of her hand.

"This one was protected well enough until The Great Deku Tree couldn't hide it anymore."

Link looked at Navi, curious about something. Sending this, the boy's fairy articulated this for him. "So, it's no longer safe here?" She asked, Link, nodding in agreement to her statement.

"If tonight was any indication, it's not safe anywhere," Saria answered somberly, eyes still on the Emerald. Then, they centered on Link before she returned the sacred object to the boy. "There's still two left," she said. "And you're going to have to go back to get them."

"Wait, you mean Link's quest…thing, isn't done yet?" Mido questioned, clearly confused.

"Far from it," Saria confirmed. "The Door of Time won't open unless it has all three Spiritual Stones resting at the base of the entrance," she sighed. "And after that, rests the sword," she paused. "Which holds the way to the Triforce."

Triforce…

In truth, during all of this, Link hadn't even been thinking of that, something Navi would surely chide him for if she knew. Still, all that was on his mind was the fact that his friend was in trouble.

…although now, he wasn't sure if he could call her his only friend anymore.

"Where are they?" Navi asked, realizing that she was echoing Link's sentiment. "Let me think," she then gave her charge a look. "Wait, you've forgotten? Already?"

What was she talking about, he thought? She didn't remember either!

"Yeah, but I have to keep track of all of that's going on around you," the fairy said. "As well as you yourself!" She then sighed. "And one of those is a little more on the taxing side."

Link only huffed in response.

"The Goron's Ruby rests at Death Mountain, and the Zora's Sapphire lies at the heart of the Zora's home itself," Saria informed both of them. "Meaning, you'll have to convince these races to give you their treasures," she explained, although her eyes then downcast. "It won't be easy," she admitted to Link. "I won't lie, the way you look to them will be a hindrance."

The blonde boy wasn't entirely sure what "hindrance" meant, yet given the girl's tone, it didn't sound like anything good.

"But," Saria continued, seemingly growing a little more optimistic. "If The Great Deku Tree trusted you with this," the Kokiri Emerald appeared to glow on command. "Then I should trust that you'll get the rest of them too."

Link pondered something, wondering if he should articulate such himself. "W-Will…" he began, hoping his head and mouth would work in sync with each other. "Will…t-things…" Unfortunately, it didn't seem to be going the way he had hoped.

"What is it?" Navi questioned, the boy turning to her. "If you're having trouble, it's fine," she reassured him. "Just tell me."

Link tilted his head in confusion. How?

"You don't have to speak necessarily," the fairy told him. "Just…think about what you want to say."

Think? It was something he had been lectured on more than once by The Great Deku Tree and Saria whenever he used his rare moments of verbal communication to snark back at Mido, yet he truly did wish that he could speak more fluently.

If not just so he wouldn't be the only one with this evident problem.

Still, seeing as he was getting nowhere, he obeyed Navi, although he wasn't entirely sure how merely thinking of what he wished to say would do anything. It wasn't as if the fairy could-

"Oh, you're wondering that?"

…read his mind?

"Um, I'm not exactly sure how to answer that." The fairy confessed.

"Answer what?" Saria questioned, curious as to what the blue-winged woman had wrenched from the boy's head.

Navi was silent for a few moments, debating on whether or not to answer. "If he gets all of the Spiritual Stones," she answered the green-haired girl. "Can things go back to how they were?"

"What do you mean?" Saria inquired. Then bit her lip. "If you mean that The Great Deku Tree will come back, then…" she averted her blue eyes. "I…I don't know," she confessed. "I mean, he's not a person, so, maybe. I mean, every tree has a seed," she said. "But, even if so, it would take a long time to grow," she went silent again. "Maybe even years."

Years? But…but that was around four harvest seasons! And he had trouble getting through just one! But still, this brand of information proved to serve to ignite a small flame of hope in the boy's heart. If he got the rest of these rocks, he thought as he focused on the green stone in his hand, then maybe things would at least eventually return to normal!

Maybe then, he could maybe come home.

If The Great Deku Tree ever forgives him when he comes back.

If he comes back.

…still, the boy had to try, if not for the Great Tree's sake.

"Link?" Saria's voice brought the boy back to reality. "Are you ok?" She asked the boy.

"Y-Yeah," Link answered. "Mm-Hm." He then presented a determined look on his face.

The green-haired girl understood what he had in mind. "Well, I appreciate your enthusiasm," she told him. "But, even if he can't come into this territory, The Baga Tree can still manipulate parts of the forest at night," she explained. "So,"

"So, what?" Mido asked.

"So, we'll probably have to wait until…" Saria stopped, seeing a faint, golden light creep over the horizon, and feeling a familiar warmth grace her skin. "…sunrise."

Once again, he found himself at the bridge that led to outside the Lost Woods. Once again, he was going to have to leave.

Yet, unlike before, he had added motivation. If getting those rocks would help bring The Great Deku Tree back, then so be it!

"How will you get back to where you were?" Saria questioned, not entirely sure of how Link managed to get here in the first place.

"We had a friend give us a lift, so to speak," Navi explained. "He said he had some business to attend to, yet he promised to return."

"Did you fly here?" Saria then asked, Link nodding in response. "Ah, the owl," she mused aloud. "If he knows you, then you should be fine. Still…" she then drew closer to the blonde boy. "I hope at least the journey back is smoother for you."

Saria embraced Link, the boy returning her affections, yet only so much as one would hold for a good friend. The way she looked at him at times…he didn't entirely understand it.

"Mido," Saria then asked, turning away from Link for a minute to focus on the redhead boy. "You have anything to say?"

The green-dressed boy crossed his arms and averted his eyes, yet ultimately obliged with Saria's non-verbal request. "…good luck, Mr. No-Fa…Link," he corrected halfway. "Travel safe."

"And?"

"…and…thanks for your help back there. And all." Mido answered, rubbing the back of his head.

Link was perplexed, barely able to believe what he was hearing, let alone from who. Still, he was receptive, nevertheless. "…you too."

Mido was now the one to be shocked, a rarity to hear the other boy's voice if it wasn't snarking back or shouting furiously at him. It was…weird, but nice.

"Anyway," Recti interjected. "If it's vital that you get these Spiritual Stones, or whatever they are, then we probably need to wrap this up, don't you think?"

Compa nodded. "You're right," she then looked at her charge. "It's time, Saria."

Link glanced at Navi. "Say goodbye, Link."

The three children and their respective fairies gazed at each other, locking eyes and presenting smiles that verged on breaking any moment. With a wave, the blonde boy bid the two others farewell as he once again entered the tunnel that would take him to the outside.

The darkness of the hollowed-out space slowly consumed him, his small shape vanishing from view.

The presence of tree clusters made Link question if he had indeed exited the Lost Woods, yet as he continued on, the tall wooden stalks grew less and less in number, soon dispersing to where he could see Hyrule Field openly.

Still, from the looks of it, it appeared that Mr. Owl was nowhere to be seen.

"Sir Kaepora Gaebora must be a bit late," Navi observed. "Let's wait by the edge where he can see us," it was then that she glanced over, noticing her charge's features falter. "Hey, what's the matter?" she asked, although it didn't take long for her to deduce what exactly. "You don't think you'll be able to get the Spiritual Stones to the Door of Time?"

Link was about to deny Navi's claim, yet ultimately didn't protest, saying nothing. Although, that wasn't all.

"Hey, what happened with The Great Deku Tree wasn't your fault," she told him. "He said so himself, he doesn't blame you. Neither does Saria," true or not, this didn't appear to alleviate Link's tension. "Look," she fluttered closer, reclining on his shoulder. "If he held you responsible, then do you think he would've trusted you with something as important as this?" she asked him.

Link pondered the fairy's words, although he couldn't give a definitive answer, mostly because he had none for himself.

"I think you already know, don't you?" she questioned, lightly moving her wings, gently scraping against the outer lining of the boy's ears. "Right? Right?"

"H-Hey!" Link protested, the tingly sensation traveling from her wings to the rest of his body, providing him with shivers and light goosebumps. Not to mention, while he wouldn't dare say it aloud, he found that those blasted things tickled. A lot.

"You know you can do it, right?" Navi continued to inquire, all the while making sure her wings made contact with the tender cartilage of his skin. "You're going to be a Hero, right? Right? The Hero of the Kokiri, right?"

"N-Na-ahaha-vi!"

"Right?"

"R-Right!"

Presenting a satisfied smile, Navi ceased her stationary fluttering, finally giving the boy some relief. Just in time too, for she then detected the sound of beating wings in the distance, Link too soon registering that a flying creature was approaching.

Lo and behold, Kapeora Gaebora made himself known, his large shape seen in the sky in the emerging dawn before he landed before the blonde boy and minuscule, flying woman.

"Mr. Owl!" Link called out, drawing closer to see that the giant bird appeared a little winded. Tilting his head in concern, the owl greeted the boy before he could say anything more.

"Ah, Link," Kapeora Gaebora began. "Hello. Or, perhaps, I should say, good morning," he said. "I see you were successful on your end," he observed. "Good," he then went quiet. "...only time will tell if I was successful on mine."

"Mr. Gaebora?" Navi questioned, noticing the owl's tension as well.

"It's nothing, my Lady," he assured Navi. "I'm sorry to keep you both waiting. Anyway," the owl then began to rise, taking Link's arms in his talons before the boy could either agree or protest. "Back to the Ranch we go!"

Link was about to speak, or at least try to, several questions on his mind, specifically why it looked like the edge of the owl's tail looked as if it had been roasted. Unfortunately, he never got the chance, for Kapeora Gaebora rose up into the air and ascended higher and higher, carrying the child with him as he allowed the fairy to ride on his feathers.

From a distance away, the Skull-Masked Skull Kid watched the blonde boy depart, watching him go and remembering that, indeed, the two had seen each other.

That day, in the Kokiri children's play.

One Year Prior

"Wait!"

The three minions ceased their assault, puzzled by their "leader's" command. Mido was too out of it to entirely comprehend what was going on, yet Link realized that he had gotten their attention.

"...what?" one of them asked. "You want to fight him yourself?"

"Uh…" Link bit his lip, pondering this offer for a moment. "Y-Yeah!" he ultimately declared. Yes, he was going to fight the Hero himself! Besides, at least things would be back on script.

"Well…we're your minions, so…" the three figures looked at each other, then back at LInk. Or rather, the Monster. "Ok, fine," the second of them said.

"Besides, it'd probably be more satisfying to see you destroy him anyway." the third added.

Then, all three leaped up in The Great Deku Tree's branches, vanishing from sight. At least, from the sight of the Kokiri.

The play continued as intended, the Hero eventually conquering the Monster and saving the Princess, yet, unlike before, the Monster appeared to be somewhat happy, even after defeat.

"That was fun," they conversed back and forth with each other, escaping into the Lost Woods after the play was over. "We should sneak in next year!"

"Hey, maybe we can send in submissions for our own plays!" another suggested.

"I wanna do one about the Monster being the Hero!" the third declared.

"No way!" the first disagreed. "The Monster and the Hero can't be the same person!"

"They can't?"

"Nope!" the second informed. "They're always different! Besides, the Hero usually looks like a man!"

Present

"Still…" the masked Skull Kid pondered aloud, continuing to watch Link's shape grow ever distant. "You're not a man…let alone a grown-up of any kind," he said. "But…if that's the case, then does that make me the Monster?"

Note: More fluff in the next chapter, as well as some ocarina practice! Plus some shipping moments with the Girls from Castle Town, wink, wink!

Please review and alert me of any errors! Thank you!