162 replies to this topic

[Husse]

I posted here instead, but anyway... This is my noveled version of OoT. I'm not at all finished yet, and I doubt it can be published, but it's a joy to write.

Please post comments, suggestions, etc., as I will be posting this chapter by chapter, or, if you like, tell me a specific part of OoT you want to see that I wrote. (I'm only up to Young Link on Death Mountain, though, so nothing too far yet.)

You may note, as this progresses, that I have made a decent number of changes to details in dungeons, and added a lot of exposition and character dialogue. Nothing major, though, I assure you, but this is a litereary work that needs to make sense and not be too repetitive.

Have at it, you critics, you!

EDIT: Oh, crud...um, I just noticed that, and I should've known earlier, all the " and ' turn to question marks when copied. I don't have the time to fix it currently, so please, bear with me there...

EDIT #2: After a lot of blood and pain, I got it to look right, but new chapters will probably be sloppy until I fix them, as well.

1
The Messenger
Navi

"Navi?...Navi?...Navi, where art thou? Come hither."

I flew as quickly as I could. It is not respectful to keep the Deku Tree waiting, and his manner sounded urgent indeed.

"Oh, Navi the Fairy," he groaned in the deep, throaty, wooden way he does, "Listen to my words, the words of the Deku Tree."

"I listen, and heed thy words," I replied. I am the Deku Tree's servant fairy. I can't say that I am his guardian, for why would the Great and Powerful Tree need a guardian? But it seems my role had been changed lately, for the Great Tree needed safeguarding since he had become ill. I almost felt it to be a great responsibility, the way the Kokiri eye me when I flutter in their presence. I must keep him safe, after all, or the forest itself is not safe.

"Dost thou sense it?"

"Sense what, my liege?"

"The climate of evil descending upon this realm," he said. He was always brief in his speeches, but his sentence struck a chord with my heart. He was troubled. And when the Tree worries, that is a grave thing indeed.

"I...I have noticed you have been ill of late," I replied calmly, "But beyond that, nothing."

"No," his branches quivered as he spoke sadly,
"Tis true. Even now, malevolent forces are mustering to attack our land, the broad land, of Hyrule."

"And do you know this to be true? By what source?"

"My pain...and my dreams," he sighed.

There was a pause as he eyed me 'neath his bushy brows. He inhaled, coughed, and continued,

"For so long, the Kokiri Forest, the source of life, has stood as a barrier, deterring outsiders, and maintaining the order of the world. A land of peace it is; must be, for the Kokiri."

"And it shall be..." I tried to comfort him but I was interrupted.

"But...before this tremendous evil power, even my power is as nothing...Nothing."

There was a finality in those words I could not hope to breach with comfort. I sighed, letting my butterfly wings droop in a sign of solemn acceptance.
He smiled, and it reassured me, "It seems that the time has come for the boy without a fairy to begin his journey."

"Do you mean, sir, that boy" The boy that..."

"Yes, yes, the poor little ignorant; the humblest one. The youth whose destiny it is to lead Hyrule to the path of justice and truth."

Again, something I did not know.

"Navi," he interrupted my thoughts, "Go now! Find our young friend and guide him to me. I fear... I do not have much time left."

That stopped my wings' beat. He seemed to be recovering, and I could only hope it was a slight fit of hypochondria. I didn't move.

He spoke louder now, "Fly, Navi, fly! The fate of the forest, nay, the world, depends upon thee!"

And so I flew. Past the groves of grasses surrounding my liege, down the path to the village, which was separate from the meadow of our great leader. The Deku Babas, nasty little plants that they are, like clams on long stems, snapped at me as I blew past them. Such simple creatures, they with Deku Scrubs, did not appreciate the order of the forest and snapped and squeaked as they pleased.

When I reached the village I startled Mido, leader of the Kokiri, (though nowhere near as powerful as the Great Deku Tree,) who was guarding the entrance to the meadow. It serves him right, I thought, he thinks he?s so high and mighty; see him frightened by a tiny fairy such as I! I called out a greeting to the Kokirish girls and boys, but they didn't answer. At first I suspected some insolence, but then I realized that I was flying too fast for them to hear me. I was more anxious than I thought.
The Kokiri look much like children. Children, that is, with bright orange hair and green tunics, to show loyalty to all things green. Of course, some Kokiri have light green hair, like fair Saria of the wood. Fairies, like myself, are little more than 2-inch balls of light. The light is all mortal eyes can see, for we fairies are very brilliant and delicate. Oh, but not only a ball, for then we'd look comical and clumsy! No, from our light come four clear gossamer wings, shaped much like those of a butterfly.

I am told, (for I am not sure myself,) that I am blue. This I find slightly insulting, for a fairy with a solid color is rare, and inferior, of which I am not. I am white, like a normal fairy, with blue edges. Yes, that's it. Most all fairies are pink, nay, white with pink edges, but I am blue because I am a royal fairy, a servant to the Deku Tree.

Ah, here it is, I thought, the tree house, dwelling of our dear boy. It was quite clever of him to build a tree-house and not a ground-house. The only one of its kind, I might add. Urgency, though, I remembered, urgency!
Unfortunately, I was a bit too urgent in my hurry and ran into a high post fence, but resilient as I was, it didn't deter me. (Well, perhaps a couple moments were spent shaking my wings and trying to see straight after the incident, but nevertheless!)

I flew into the lad's room and shouted instinctively, "Hello, Link! Time to wake up!" He had always been a late sleeper.

Yes, Link was the lad's name. He was dressed like any Kokiri boy, green tunic, pants, and cap, but his hair was a dirty blonde and his eyes a lovely blue. He was quite handsome, but to the forest-dwellers he just seemed...dull. Not as brilliant and peppy as they. I looked down at him. Still asleep; shaking, as if from a nightmare. The poor dear, I thought, I hope he won't have to face another one today. Regardless, I will be exuberant and cheerful, as fairies must be!

I tried again,"The Great Deku Tree wants to talk to you! Link, get up immediately! Hey now! Come on!" If that didn't wake him, nothing would. There was still no reaction. I concentrated and grew brighter, bouncing in his face.

I whispered, "Can Hyrule's destiny really depend on such a lazy boy?"

Link yawned and straightened, sitting up on his small bed. He smiled in his cheerful little way, but I could see beyond the mask that he showed. He was troubled by his dream, and an overly friendly visitor wasn't helping.
I sighed, "You finally woke up! My name is Navi the Fairy! The Great Deku Tree asked me to be your partner from now on! It's very nice to meet you!"

The youth was slightly shocked by my exuberance, and furthermore shocked by this news. He, unlike the other Kokiri, had never been given his own guardian fairy at birth, for certain secret reasons. He had been here for 10 years and was never quite accepted because of this, er,obscurity. Perhaps, I thought, this bit of news would cheer him if I told him right away. For some deadly serious news was coming soon.

"Well..." he said, "This is...surely wonderful news. It's...it is an honor...to, er, meet, that is, a being such as yourself. An honor, yes." I could tell he was still groggy and disoriented.

I cleared my throat and continued, "The Great Deku Tree has summoned you! We must go now!"

"The...the Deku Tree? I-I mean the Great Deku Tree? His royalty?" he yawned once more and scratched his head, "...Me?"

"Yes, you! Let's go now! Can't keep him waiting, my youthful friend! We must make haste! Immediately, follow me!"

He casually slid off his straw mat and followed me out of the dome-shaped room. How to help him, I wondered. How to make him into the hero the Great Tree was so sure he was?

[Doopliss]

It's very good .

[Husse]

NQ

Anything else?

[Husse]

Don't worry, they don't. The Deku Tree sequence is by far the most formal of all the chapters, although all the dialogue has a more placid tone rather than slang, like the game.

I'm also working on Wind Waker, which is 100% modern, slang and all.

And, if you think my aim is to accurately represent the game, no, you'll be disappointed. I'm trying to accurately depict what would be the story. That means character development, heavy on the part of the supposedly silent Link, added dialogue, and a couple added characters, even. *gasp*

Two I've already added just for developing story are Collywobbles, a naive young Scrub, and Domigoron, your typical tired Goron.

No, I don't want people to agree with everything I say, but the thing is, most Zelda players aren't the buffs we have here. That's why I want you to be critical in your representation of the storyline and judge mine. Most people don't really remember the game ending, much less the storyline, but still love Zelda, and those gamers will probably be less critical, and take everything I say to heart. That's what you critics are for.

[Kwicky Koala]

Nice work, keep it up. I'll be waiting for the next instalment.

[Husse]

Wha...? CAN IT BE? SOMEONE HAS REPLIED! BLOW THE TRUMPETS! Next installment on Saturday...

[Husse]

I've decided against changing the reverence factor to the tree, because it seems that Navi and the others are submitting by their own admission, not by a king who demands it. At least, I got that impression from the game, that everyone treated him like an elder or something. I'll try to describe the forest more, though. Setting description has always been my weakest point...

Ahem...

2
Link
Link

I stepped out of my house and breathed in the fresh morning air. It was a lovely day, and my beautiful new fairy, Navi, had made it even more wonderful. She twinkled softly with an odd blue aura and I smiled. And that's when it hit me. My new fairy was blue! It was a royal fairy, servant of the Great Deku Tree! I sighed. This could only mean a temporary partnership, for the Tree needed this fairy.  
 
Fool! I should have realized it earlier. My lifelong dream of being accepted was shattered. I caressed Navi, smiling, and mulling over what would happen. The Deku Tree would acknowledge my presence, send me to do his bidding, and then...I wouldn't need a fairy anymore, and Navi would return to serve the Tree. Oh why, oh why couldn't I be accepted! Why, if I had a fairy nobody would think me out of place. My hair color could be overlooked. And Dunstar Knowitall, he was as calm and quiet as me! Even the "Great Mido" would love having me around if I could only have a fairy!
 
Why didn't I have a fairy, anyway? I was supposed to get one at my birth, when the Tree's roots brought me to life, so why didn't I? I couldn't get lost in thought, I reminded myself; I had been called for important busine-
 
"Yahoo! Hi, Link!"
 
I smiled. Saria, my best friend, was waiting at the foot of my tree. She was unorthodox and not as proper in speech as I, but that was what made her so special. I slid down the ladder and smiled sheepishly, for I knew my new guardian would be a pleasant surprise.
 
She was indeed surprised. "Wow! A fairy!"
 
"That's right," I said, feeling proud, though I had accomplished nothing yet, "She arrived just this morning."
 
"Oh, finally a fairy came to you, Link!" she hugged me and I blushed. Navi giggled.
 
"We're just friends," I whispered. Already I had embarrassed myself in front of my fairy. I wasn't really old enough to fall in love, and I had known Saria as nothing more than a friend for so long.
 
She pulled back from her embrace, and her eyes were beaming, "Wow! That's great news! I'm so happy for you! Now you're, well, you're a true Kokiri, Link!"
 
She sighed, and I paused, biting my lip.
 
"Yes, I know, at least, I hope so. You know how Mido is. But anyway, her name's Navi, and she's a royal fairy, I believe. It, uh...it gets better," I grinned.
 
She gasped in that funny way she does, "Ooh, what is it? I wanna know the secret, tell me tell me tell me!"
 
"It seems I got a summons from...his greatness, if you catch my drift"
 
"Awwwwww!" her mouth opened wide, "Is that right? The Great Deku Tree has summoned you? It's quite an honor to talk to him, you know."
 
She gave me a wry smile, and I understood. She had made the same assumption, that my new symbiote would only be temporary. I could see her own fairy behind her, giving a little bow to Navi, who almost seemed to blush.
 
"Are you going to see him now?" she asked.
 
"Yes, but I'd like to work on my tree carving a little before we go," I paused, "That is, if that's alright, Navi."
 
Navi consented, but seemed a little anxious, as if wanting to leave now. I shrugged, and began to carve some more into my home tree, the weeping willow. I had never been very skillful with a knife, but I was learning, and it was only a simple picture anyway.
 
"Still dreaming?" Saria sighed.
 
"Yes, I suppose so," I smirked.
 
My carving, if you can call my scrawl a carving, was of a monster: a dragonish creature like you hear about in the grandest stories, and of a knight: little more than a stick figure but valiant and handsome in my imagination, thrusting his lance to the beast.  
 
What I said before, about wanting to be accepted, it's not entirely true. I wanted to be accepted, yes, but not so I could be like everyone else. I wanted to be a somebody. I wanted to show the Kokiri, and Mido especially, that I could be different, and yet...better. Hero, I suppose, is the word for it. A hero, the most valiant Kokiri, is what I longed to be.  
 
"I don't know, Link," Saria muttered, "I'd prefer conformity to heroism."
 
"Well," I sighed, "If I have to be different one way or the other, I want people to say I [bold]was[/bold] a hero. You know, someone who made a difference by being themselves. It's better than what I have now."
 
"You've already made a difference, Link. You've contributed a lot to the village with your new ideas, and most importantly you've given me a best friend."
 
"It's too bad I have no other outstanding talents to speak of," I replied, "I'm no impressive fighter, like Mido. I'm not too terribly great with craftsmanship, like you, Saria." I gestured toward my drawing.
 
"I can't argue with that," she sighed, "But you have admirable courage, I know that. It's your greatest virtue."
 
"Which is precisely why," Navi interjected, "The Deku Tree has called you, master Link. We need to be leaving now!"
 
I grimaced, and stuck my knife into the tree. I started to leave, then glanced back at Saria.  

She giggled, "I'll wait for you here, don't worry. Get going! Go see the Great Deku Tree."
 
I ran, enthralled at my good fortune, to the meadow where The Great Deku Tree stood...

I sense a gripe...."Link talks too much and he's too darned proper!" I noticed that, too, and while his amount of speech doesn't change, I toned down the properness quite a bit in later chapters. I've yet to revise this one, but, I was thinking old English at the time, and now, I realize, Zelda just ISN'T old English...

[Husse]

Hm...I always thought it was a nice little cookie, that carving...It HAS to be a carving...What about the "I's" is repetitive?

[MikePetersSucks]

Well, it could always be a chalk drawing, but I agree. the Kokiri would have much more respect for the forest than that.

[Husse]

Hm. I was thinking the carvings in MM as compared to the carving here, being the same thing, but all right, no knives, chalk, how's that sound?

[Husse]

But don't forget, dear Skull Kid USED to be a Kokiri...just a very naughty one...

[Alphena]

It's intersting. I'll give you that. Keep up the good work. We all need a hobby. (Other than LA. You can be classified mentally insane for this being your ONLY hobby.)

[Husse]

"If a human being gets lost in the "Lost Woods," he becomes a Stalfos.

And Navi says, when meeting Skull Kid in OoT, "Is this what happens to Kokiri who get lost in the Lost Woods? Maybe we should try to talk to him..."

Voila!

Next installment tomorrow. THANKS A LOT for all the help. My mom hates/doesn't understand games, and she's the only one who helps.

[inuyashafanR]

just give it me a copy at school k husse^_^

[Husse]

Just to let you know, this thread isn't dead, I just can't find my floppy, and don't have time to convert the document as of late...

[inuyashafanR]

oh you alive? i didn't see you at school...but thats of topic...When am i going to get to read it?

[Husse]

When I have the time to print it out AND find the floppy, silly.

[Husse]

Here tis! This chapter really isn't all that important, but it's brief, and I didn't feel like skipping ahead without y'all's acceptance. So, please answer the question: Since it takes a full 11 CHAPTERS! (told you it was long) to reach Gohma, would you like me to skip ahead after this just a titch, at least to the Deku Tree or something? Or perhaps you'd like to see the scene with Kaepora, (which I don't think is good,) or the classic scene with Zelda ahead of time, (which I think I managed rather well.) Just tell me. Anyway...

3
A Setback
Link

I ran to the little pond near our village shop and looked out across the water. Yes, that was the entrance to the meadow, all right. I could see grumpy little Mido guarding it.

Mido was the leader of us Kokiri, a sort of right-hand man to the Tree. He was pudgy, rude, bossy, and his fists often did the talking for him. He had bright orange hair and freckles, and had never learned to speak properly. He was always slangy and short, even with his highness, the Tree, which made me very upset.

I hopped across the pond on stepping stones and tried to sneak by him and avoid a confrontation, but lazy as he is, Mido is not that much of a fool.

?Hey, you!? he shouted, ?Mr. No Fairy! What?s your business with the Great Deku Tree??

Mido was the main cause of my awkwardness in the forest. He loved to put me down for my differences and was constantly pointing out that I was fairy-less. Saria said he was only jealous, but, in my case, there wasn?t anything to be jealous of.

I ignored him and continued to walk down the path. He trotted up behind me and grabbed my shoulder.

?You know,? he sighed in a mocking tone, ?Without a fairy, you?re not even a real man, just a sorry little baby posing as a forest Kokiri. It?s a shame, really. A perfectly good hut wasted on a baby.?
At this, Navi, who had been hiding under my hat the whole time, flew out and growled in Mido?s face,  

?Why, you insolent little buffoon! If I were just a bit bigger, I?d??

?What?? Mido yelled, ?You?ve got a fairy? How??

I held Navi back and tried to calm her. ?The Great Tree sent me one, Mido. Isn?t it great? He asked me to meet him about something, that?s why I?m here.?

?Say what?? Mido screeched, ?The Great Deku Tree actually summoned you??

?Yes, sir.?

?What? That?s, well, it?s just,? he regained his composure and started thinking. He apparently did not want me going to see the Tree, and I wasn?t about to try and get past him. I would likely end up with a black eye.

?Now,? he spouted, ?Why would he summon you and not the Great Mido? This just isn?t even funny, we have some problems here.?

He tapped his foot incessantly, his hand to his forehead. Suddenly, he froze. A nasty grin spread across his face and he gave me his innocent, puppy dog eyes.

?Why, Link!? he cried, ?I don?t believe it! You aren?t even fully equipped yet!?

?I, er, I?m not sure I understand, Mido,? I replied nervously. He was thinking of something tricky, I knew it.

He sighed, ?Times have been rough for his highness, lately. This might be a very dangerous mission you?ve been dragged into. In fact I?m sure it is. So, how do you think you?re going to help the Great Deku Tree without a weapon or shield ready??

?Well, you?re guarding his meadow,? I protested, ?And you don?t have any weapons.?

?You?re right, Link. I don?t have my equipment ready. But the difference between us is that I know how to fight, and you don?t. If you want to pass through here, you should at least equip a weapon and shield, like I say. You got that??

?Yes, sir,? I mumbled.

?Good!? he yelled as he pushed me down in the dirt, ?Now go get them! Sheesh!?

Sheesh was Mido?s favorite word and no one was quite sure what it meant. He said it often when he was angry, so no one repeated it, for fear it might be some odd form of profanity. I got to my feet and trudged home, miserable.    
 
?Wait!? Navi cried, ?Is that it? Will you not get your equipment??
 
I shrugged, ?I?m not sure what to do. I don?t have any equipment, Navi. I thought I might tell Saria??
 
?Tell Saria what?? Saria asked.
 
She had seen me coming and ran to meet me. I sighed and told her the whole story.
 
?Ohh,? she ground her teeth a couple times, ?That bum! I don?t know why he has to be so mean to everyone. What he said is true, though.?
 
I sagged a bit. Was she taking Mido?s side? Was it that serious?

?It?s just?the forest?Strange things have been happening here lately. It rains more often. Nothing is as bright as it should be. And from what I hear, our beloved Tree may be ill.?
 
?He is,? Navi interrupted, ?It?s true, he is. That?s why he sent for you, Master Link.?
 
Saria nodded, ?That?s what I mean. You need to be ready for anything. I suggest finding a good weapon, you know, for self-defense purposes. A sword sounds best, nothing else will do. You can buy a shield at the shop, but there is only one sword hidden somewhere in the forest.?  
 
?The Kokiri sword,? I mumbled, ?For use in times of emergency, I remember. I only wish I knew where it was.?
 
Saria bit her lip. She and I both knew the Tree had entrusted the secret to one person, and it was not ?The Great Mido.?
 
?Saria,? I sighed, ?This is very important. I?m your friend. You can trust me. I?ll be careful, and you know it.?
 
?All right, all right,? she said, ?It?s in the Kokiri training grounds, in a little hollow accessible by a hole. Is that good enough??
 
I smiled, ?It?s perfect. Thank you.?
 
I knew all too well I could trust Saria. Out of all the Kokiri, she had been around the longest, at one hundred and four years old. I was the newest and had been around only eleven years. Not that it made any difference. All Kokiris are the same age, relatively speaking.

Rats! I can't fix those blasted question marks this time, folks, (They're apostrophes and quotes,) I've been grounded from the computer. But, I can check stuff at school, so feel free to write!

[Husse]

Hm. I'll think about it, but nevertheless. Next chapter on the weekend, methinks.

[Lord Jabu-Jabu]

I really like it. The creative liberties you've taken are very good. Like the fairy colour heirachy. I can't wait for the rest!

[Husse]

You're going to hate me for this...I cannot eliminate question marks. READ THROUGH THEM!

But anyways. I'm hoping you all will really like this one. I do, because it really grabs what I percieve to be the character of OoT Link really well, and why Mido's so mean to him. Here you are. Also, after this is the dream chapter, which I'll DEFINITELY post, but what about dungeons. Do you all really want to hear all that? Well anyways...

4
First Kill
Link

I went to my room and dug through my money pot, a special purple jar Saria had made just for me. The cost of a small wooden shield at the shop, or Deku Shield, as they were commonly called, was 40 Rupees. It was nearly all my savings.  
 
?Just tell yourself it?s worth it, Link,? Navi beamed as I stared at the bottom of my personal bank.
 
?I think I was cheated on this shield,? I muttered, ?It?s little more than a piece of bark with a red swirl on it.?
 
?You?ll be fine, I promise,? said Navi.
 
Getting the shield was easy. But I wasn?t so sure about that sword. After all, the sword I was after was the Kokiri sword, a very valuable weapon. What if I wasn?t supposed to take it? I would be in deep trouble. But this was an emergency and I needed a weapon. A sword seemed to be the best weapon possible. I didn?t think I could defend myself with a pocketknife.
 
I hadn?t often been to the training grounds, so I wasn?t sure I would know the way. Fortunately, the training grounds are very hard to miss. To me, at least, they resemble a Kokiri playground. Low fences, high fences, rocks, bushes, and signs with rules, information on athletic techniques, and sometimes lighthearted poems, all packed onto a small plain, the only area where there are no trees.  
 
When I got there, I saw Dunston and Chunki Know-it-All jumping around in a fake duel. The training grounds were hardly ever used for training, and were more often than not, scenes for games like hide-and-seek, tag, and like the brothers, war games.
 
?Chunki,? I asked, ?Can you point out a small hole anywhere along this wall here??  
 
I was searching up and down the large dirt wall that marked the edge of the grounds. This wall surrounded the entire forest as well, and the only exits beyond it were the path to the Deku Tree?s meadow, the hill that led to the Lost Woods, (where no Kokiri dared go,) and the hollow trunk of a tree with a bridge inside of it that led to the plains of Hyrule itself, where Kokiris were forbidden.
 
Dunston whipped his hair out of his eyes, (where it constantly hung), and whined, ?Chunki doesn?t know a thing about such a hole, but I do, if you?d bother to ask. It?s over there, near the rocks. Now if you?ll excuse me, I must defeat the Evil King Scrub!?
 
Chunki dodged the little stick Dunston was holding and cried, ?Oh, no you don?t, Captain Baba, I know all your tricks. Take that!?
 
I grinned. Deku Scrubs and Deku Babas were always depicted as savage beasts in our play, but were little more than savage annoyances. I went over to the rocky area and peered through the hole.
 
?Oh?? I frowned.
 
?Can you not fit, dear Link?? Navi asked.
 
?No, I can. It?s just?it?s awful dirty in there.?
 
?Dirt washes, boy! This is urgent!?
 
So that?s how I found myself packed tight in a small tunnel of dirt, crawling on hands and knees to escape and breathe blessed oxygen. When we finally made it through, I was met with a most interesting sight.
 
It was a boulder. A large, dirty boulder was rolling around in this small grove I had emerged into. It was like a maze, but only an extremely simple maze. The boulder rolled very quickly in a square pathway around and around the walls of the grove. Behind this little square, I knew, lay the sword.
 
Navi giggled, ?I suppose there was no use in guarding the sword for so long, so the builders just used a boulder as a guard.?
 
?You are overlooking one thing, Navi,? I replied.
 
?What?s that??
 
I sighed, ?I?m not sure how to get past this very simple but very dangerous guard. You see, if I follow it too closely, it will block my view, I won?t know where I?m going, and I?ll likely bump into a corner. If I try to run ahead of it, I may not be fast enough, and I?ll be squashed flat.?
 
We went with the less dangerous but more frustrating technique of following closely behind the boulder. We had to wait for the opportune moment when it passed us, and then we took off after it. All I could see was the cracked, looming, sphere rolling five inches from my face.  
I was just starting to get dizzy when Navi cried out, ?Wall!?
 
We took a hard left and ran after the boulder again. It wasn?t long before we reached a fork in the maze. I had a bad feeling about that fork. We had passed it twice before, and this made three times.
 
?Navi,? I said, ?We?re going to have to separate from the boulder. I don?t think it leads to the end of the maze.?
 
?I know,? she replied, ?We?ve been going around in circles. But when should we separate? I don?t want to get caught in a dead end with that old rock on our tails!?
 
?Yes, I see your point,? I huffed, ?This was supposed to be easy. Let?s separate at the fork up ahead. Left or right??
 
Navi mumbled, ?Left or right? Um, let?s see now, er??
 
?I need to know now, Navi!?  
 
?I think, left. No wait, right, right, RIGHT!?

We dashed to the right, and the boulder passed on. We were in a small niche where a little stump lay rooted in the ground. And stamped into the stump was none other than?
 
?The Kokiri sword!? gasped Navi, ?Pull it out, Link, pull it out!?
 
I examined it. It was very beautiful. Twisted leather strips on cold metal marked the hilt, and the base of the hilt, near the blade, held a small ruby. Fortunately, I had my own sheath, made by Saria, as most of my items were, and simply slid it in and retraced my steps to the training grounds. We had memorized both the maze and the boulder?s pattern by now, so heading back was a lot easier than getting there.
 
I got some inquisitive looks when I emerged with the sword on my back, but I simply ignored the brothers and went to confront Mido. As usual, he was lying down on the path to the meadow, smirking in a surly manner.
 
?You go right up to him, Link,? Navi growled, ?And show him you mean business.?
 
Mido snarled at the sight of me. ?I told you,? he menaced, ?If you want to pass through here, you need a weapon and a shield.?
 
I simply turned around and showed him my back, where my Deku shield hung, ready.
 
?Oh,? he muttered, ?I suppose you do have a Deku shield.?
 
Then he squinted harder and his eyes widened. I smiled.
 
?What is that? Is that the Kokiri sword? The real Kokiri sword? I, well, that?s just, Good grief!?
 
I spoke calmly, not wanting to get pushed again, ?I did exactly what you told me to, Mido. Please let me pass.?  
 
He ignored me and muttered, ?Well, even with all that stuff, a wimp is still a wimp, huh??
 
I smiled. Mido just looked at me coldly.
 
?You can go, you little baby.?
 
I was excited. I was going to have a conference with the Deku Tree! It was just beginning to sink in.
 
?Wait, Link!? Mido cried, ?Come back, I need to tell you something.?
 
I sighed and turned around. Before I had time to respond, Mido grabbed me by the collar and hissed in my ear, ?You can have the sword. You can have the fairy. You can have Saria?s affections and the Tree?s favoritism, but know this, baby Link. Keep this fact wedged between your grimy little ears. I, the Great Mido, will never accept you as one of us! I?ll say it again,? he whispered, ?Never.?
 
He shoved me and I ran down the path, trying not to yell or turn around and punch him. It was no use. I should?ve known it before. I was wrong to be so hopeful. I was different, and like Mido said, that was a fact. Bottled aggression, I now know, is a dangerous thing, and I deeply regret what transpired next.
 
Along the path there were Deku Babas. Vile little plants with no society or tongue of their own that snapped wildly at the air and anything edible. Apparently one Baba thought I looked edible enough and began to snap and strike at me. He always fell a few inches short and I ignored him. But then, in one lucky strike, he hit me in the shoulder and knocked me over.  
 
I was tired of being knocked over.
 
In an outrage, I turned and drew my sword from its sheath. Navi cried out, but it was too late. I had severed the vine that was the creature?s body, and he growled and snapped his mouth shut one last time. I froze, sword still outstretched, just to the right of the stem it had cut. The other Deku Babas gurgled in an awkward tone, and turned their heads. I looked down. There it was, the long, hairy, stem and the bloated, blue-violet clam mouth. The harshness of my action struck me like a bolt of lightning.
 
It was dead. I had killed it over a simple irritation. Killed it over a conflict that was not its fault.
 
?I killed it,? I whispered.
 
Navi brightened, ?Oh, it is no big thing. They are vile creatures, you know, and hardly sentient.?
 
?Hardly,? I replied, ?But still??
 
It was then that I noticed a change in the dead Baba. His bloated mouth wrinkled, turned brown, and detached from his vine, continuing to crumble till it was no more than a shriveled leaf. The vine itself hardened and turned brownish-black, until it became a very long?
 
?A stick?? I asked.
 
?Yes,? Navi sighed, ?That is how the Babas go. It?s called a Deku Stick, Link, and it may be useful. Perhaps you should keep it.?
 
?I refuse to touch a dead Baba,? I argued, ?A Baba I killed.?
 
?Please, Link. It?s the greatest material for a torch you?ll ever find?I think you?ll need a torch, eventually.?
 
?Navi, what exactly did the Tree call me for??
 
Navi paused. She seemed to grow dim and groan a bit.
 
?I?m not for certain. All I know is that it?s urgent?very urgent. I told you that his majesty was sick, and it is true. He feels that it is part of a bigger problem, and he thinks you are destined to solve that problem.?
 
?Navi, riddles like yours make my head spin. What problem do you speak of??
 
She sighed, ?It is written in legend; a legend that the Deku Tree will surely tell you when you meet.?
 
I raised my brow. Was the Tree delirious from his illness? Was he calling me to decide if I was part of some old prophecy? I could not know for sure, but I was suddenly very nervous about this conference. I reluctantly grabbed the stick, and entered the meadow of his highness.

[The Kremling]

When's the next installment coming? It's really great so far, and want to read some mo'.