Chosen of the Triforce

by

Maria Ruiz

***

Book One:

"Awakening"

***

Chapter Two

Just then, another Kokiri boy entered the tiny room. He walked with a self-assured strut, despite how skinny he was. His cheeks were rosy, and his eyes were bright, but his face was stern. Like the others, he was dressed in green from his shoes to his pointed hat. His hair was the color of rust.

"What's going on?" He demanded. Everyone just turned and stared at him.

"Mido," one of the boys finally replied, "he's back..."

Mido raised an eyebrow and pushed his way through the crowd. "Who...?"

Still sitting up on the small bed, Kurda stared back at the suddenly speechless Mido. He tried not to laugh, though the way Mido's mouth was moving, one might have thought he had been turned into a fish. He stood there, an expression of shock and disbelief seemingly plastered on his face. Some of the Kokiri giggled to see their normally solid leader in such a state, but not too loudly.

"Um, hi." Kurda looked from Mido to the others. "I'm Kurda. Is this the forest?"

"Yeah, we dragged you here to our village." A small Kokiri boy with blue hair answered, since Mido was still a fish-face, and the others were still wary of the stranger or in shock themselves. "I'm called Jeba, I found ya. Are you really an outsider?"

"Huh?"

"Are you a Kokiri?" Jeba chewed on his thumbnail, making it difficult to understand him.

"No, I'm a Hylian," Kurda smiled. "Thanks for taking me in, but I really need to find the Great Deku Tree. Do any of you know where I can find it?"

A hush fell over the room. Except for Jeba's chewing his thumbnail. Mido was still perfectly quiet, still doing a fish-face. A Kokiri girl looked around uncertainly. "We know where the Great Deku Tree is... But we can't just let any ol' stranger see him. We don't know who might try to harm him... The Great Deku Tree always said we should be careful of strangers."

"I'm not going to hurt the tree," Kurda pushed himself off the bed and stood up. "I just need to talk to him."

"Besides, Link's not a stranger, he's one of us!" Another Kokiri boy chided the younger girl. The girl stuck her tongue out at the boy.

Kurda looked uneasily between them. "I'm not Link, I'm Kurda..."

"But of course you're Link..." The boy said plainly. "You look like Link, you sound like Link... You even act weird like Link. I'm not going to fall for one of your tricks, I've wised up a little since you were last here...umm...when was that?" He looked down at the floor in confusion, then shrugged.

Kurda sighed. "I'm not... Look, thanks again, but I've got to be going. I'll find the Great Deku Tree myself." He nodded and walked past the Kokiri and out the door. Once out the door, he found another crowd of Kokiri standing around. They began chattering excitedly at the sight of him, but he quickly escaped before the questions could begin again.

However, before he could get far, Mido charged up behind him. "Link! Stop, we've gotta talk!" He grabbed Kurda by the arm and pulled him around.

Kurda blinked. Mido looked as if he were about to cry. "Are you okay?"

"It's just... I never thought I'd ever see you again..." Suddenly he hugged onto Kurda and began bawling his eyes out. Kurda turned a bright embarressed red. "I wasn't sure if you or Saria were dead, or, or..."

"Umm..." Kurda gingerly removed Mido and stepped to the side. "I'm sorry, but I'm not who you guys all think I am. I think I may be related to Link, but I'm not him. I'm Kurda. And I need to get to the Great Deku Tree." But Mido's attention was now on Kurda's hand.

"You got a tattoo! Cool."

Remembering the Triforce mark on his hand, Kurda slipped his hand into his pocket. "Something like that."

Mido narrowed his eyes at Kurda. "Are you sure you're not Link?"

"Of course..." Although Kurda felt something inside him suddenly hesitate at the answer, as if he were lying. "And you're Mido, right?"

"Kurda." Mido still looked skeptical. "Yeah, I'm Mido. You could say I run things around here." His shoulders slumped slightly. "So, you're not Link. Too bad. I thought maybe he and Saria were finally coming home. I'll still never get a chance to tell him how sorry I am."

"Sorry for what?"

Mido just shook his head and mumbled. "Just stuff."

"Oh... Well, I'm sure he knows, wherever he is."

"Yeah, well, so you're related to him? I didn't know Link had any relatives."

Kurda glanced around the woodsy Kokiri village. "I didn't even know who he was until just a little while ago. Do I really look that much like him?"

Mido crossed his arms. "I'm still not completely convinced you aren't him..."

"Argh, don't start that again." Kurda turned about. "Could you point me towards the Great Deku Tree?"

"Well..." Mido beckoned towards the crowd. "I'd better stay and break up this mob. I'll have little Jeba take you, he knows the way." The blue haired Kokiri came running at Mido's command.

"Don't worry Mr. Mido, I'll take the outsider to see the Great Deku Tree!"

Mido nodded. "Right. Just keep your path straight and quick." A shadow passed over his features. "The woods have been strange lately..."

"Gotcha!" Practically bubbling with energy, Jeba seized Kurda by the hand and dragged him off through the village. Kurda nearly tripped trying to fall into step behind the little boy.

"Jeba, what's that light flying around?" Kurda squinted his eyes at the little light that was flying around them on what appeared to be wings of light. There were many such little lights flittering around the woods. He suspected they were some kind of fairy folk, or forest spirits, since it was common knowledge that those beings lived in the forest. But this one in particular seemed to be following them.

"That's Muggi," Jeba said, skipping ahead slightly. "He's my partner fairy. Everyone has one."

"Hello," chirped a tiny voice. "Oh, whatever will Navi think?"

Kurda blinked up at the little green fairy in surprise. "Oh, hi. Navi? ...Why does that sound familiar?" So much of this was familiar to him. From the Kokiri village, to the woods, to Mido's bad breath. The entire situation just became stranger and stranger. And there was Saria, who had appeared to him, before disappearing again. How had he known her name? And who was she anyway? No one else seemed to have noticed her strange disappearance, if they had noticed her at all. He felt strangely depressed about it. Then he remembered. "Oh, I think my Grandpa mentioned something about a fairy named Navi. She knew Link, didn't she?"

Jeba shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't know him. And Muggi talks silly a lot, don't listen to him." He eyed Kurda. "Hey, I don't see your fairy. Where's it hiding?"

"I don't have a fairy. I'm a Hylian, not a Kokiri."

"So? Everyone's got a fairy. It's how people are s'pposed to be!" Jeba shook his blue tangled hair. "If you don't got a fairy, then, well..." He looked very confused.

"I manage," Kurda smiled. "I hope the Deku Tree isn't far. I'm hoping he can give me some answers." He crossed his arms against himself. "Though I'm more than a little afraid of what they are. Afraid of who I may be asked to be..." He closed his eyes briefly and shook his head. "I shouldn't let my imagination run away with me though. I'm sure there's a simple explaination for everything. Maybe he'll be able to help me find my sister. And I'm sure anything weird I've been seeing or feeling is just the result of the shock..." He caught a glance of the back of his hand on his arm, and the Triforce symbol. "It just can't be what my Grandpa thought."

Jeba stared at him. "Y'know, you remind me of my cousin. She talks to herself a lot. Deku Tree had her put on an Odd Mushroom potion for it."

Kurda rolled his eyes off to the side. "Hey, I'm not that far gone yet."

"Neither is the Deku Tree. See?" Jeba pointed up. Overhead, large expansive branches could be seen. "Just ahead!"

"We'd better stop here then," Muggi said, flying in front of Jeba. "I think the Great Deku Tree will want to talk to Kurda alone."

"Aww..."

"It's okay, Jeba, I don't think I'll be long." Kurda waved and ran on ahead. Now that he could see the branches, it was just a matter of following them.

The further in Kurda went, the darker and quieter it seemed. He shook his hair, and gathering clouds of glowing dustballs scattered away as glowing flying wormy things. Kurda was beginning to think that the Deku Tree was farther away than it had seemed. Then he saw the light shining through the leaves.

"Thou hath returned at last."

Kurda froze in step. That was the biggest voice he had ever heard. As his eyes adjusted with the help of the light coming through the leaves, he realized that the voice belonged to the biggest tree he had ever seen. And the only talking tree he had ever seen. Kurda gathered his wits about him.

"Y-Yes... I guess. I don't think we've ever met before. But my Grandpa told me to come see you. ...Do you know where my sister is?" As he spoke, Kurda noticed that the light he saw was actually coming from the leaves of the tree itself. There was no doubt at all that he was dealing with some powerful magic.

"Thou know me, Link. Ye hath merely forgotten."

"My name's Kurda," mumbled Kurda, wondering how a magic tree could mess up his name too. "People around here seem to get us confused a lot."

"As I hath said, ye hath forgotten. This eternal forest, however, does not. Let it not disturb ye, all shall be clear in time."

"Why do you talk funny?" Kurda asked, still waiting for the reality of a talking tree to fully kick in.

"There art no time for trivial questions. An ancient evil stirs within the heart of Hyrule as we speak, and it shall destroy us all if nothing is done. 'Tis plotting...and it wishes to destroy ye, as it has always sought revenge on your line. 'Tis would destroy ye now, whilst thou art still young, before ye hast a chance to fully awaken to your true self. If ye wish to survive, nay, if ye wish all of Hyrule and beyond as we know it to survive what is to come, ye must awaken, young Kurda. Ye must open your heart and mind to become the hero once again. Even if ye still doubt, ye must listen carefully now, for your sister's sake, if for no other."

"My sister... So Kira's alive!?"

"Yes. The vile forces at work keep her...they plan to use her as a pawn against ye. Thou must remain firm, Kurda."

"Where is she? Please, tell me how I can get her back!" Kurda pleaded.

"Thy journey shalt be long and difficult. Will thou accept thy task?"

"Yes! Anything! What do I have to do?"

"Thou art as courageous as I remember. Or perhaps ye do not fully grasp what ye say as of yet. No matter. I shalt not set ye upon such a quest yet. Thou art not ready. First, there is something I wish ye to find."

"But what about Kira? Can't you at least just tell me where she is?"

"Even if I could tell ye where she is imprisoned, 'tis would do ye no good. Thou must prepare. The evil will keep her as long as thou live. If thou art killed, so shalt thou sister be killed. Go now, Kurda. Seek out the golden cucco of Kokiri Forest. That magical fowl knows every secret in these woods. It shall lead ye to the equipment thou shalt require if ye are to proceed in thy quest."

"A golden...cucco?" Kurda blinked. "Where should I look for it? And what's the equipment?"

"Thou shalt find the answers to all thy questions thyself, Kurda. They lie within thy heart. If thy truly wish to find thy sister, and if ye truly can save Hyrule, thou will succeed."

"But...!"

"Don't worry Kurda, you'll understand why all this is necessary one day." A feminine voice like silver chimes and clear like crystal came from a glowing blue light that floated down from the Deku tree's branches. It was had delicate butterfly-like wings of pure white light. The fairy danced before Kurda's eyes. "Oh, Great Deku Tree, may I please guide him? I'm sure I could bring him around!"

"Nay, Navi," the Deku Tree creaked. "I regret the decision, but ye art not as young as ye once were, and art needed in the forest rings. Kurda faces the kind of hardships ye once braved at his side, but could not now. However, wise Navi, I shalt give the choice of his guardian unto thee."

"Huh?" Kurda watched the bright blue fairy with confusion in his eyes. "Navi?" Was this really the fairy from his Grandfather's story?

"Oh, Link," Navi whispered sadly. "I didn't want to leave you, so long ago, but you no longer needed me. You grew up, and grown ups don't need fairies. Now you're my little boy again, but it seems that now I'm the one that's too old anymore." She flew higher up in the air between Kurda and the Deku Tree, leaving a trail of glitter behind her. "Thank you, Great Deku Tree," she now spoke aloud. "If I can not watch over him, at least I can send the best fairy among my subjects to guide him." She glowed brighter than before, so much brighter, that she became like a small stars. Her wings were no longer visible.

"I call forth, Rile!"

At Navi's call, Kurda noticed a particular little orangish-red light zip out of nowhere and circle around Navi. It was a little orange fairy with wings of scarlet light. The wings were like sharp versions of a dragonfly's wings, unlike the butterfly-like wings of Navi.

"Yes, Great Grandmother?" The orange fairy asked with a soft male voice. It had a tone to it that made Kurda think of wind through autumn leaves.

"Thou hast chosen your grandson?" The Deku Tree sounded doubtful. "...Well...I shall trust in thy decision, Navi. Now, Kurda, meet Rile. He is to be thy guardian fairy. He shalt guide you with his...wisdom and knowledge. Listen to him well."

Rile zipped across to face Kurda, leaving an intense line of neon orange light glittering after him. He hovered in front of Kurda's face, causing the boy to flinch and shield his eyes. "Hold on...you're making me some kid's guardian?" His wings opened and closed sharply, the red light of them reflecting crisply almost like a glaze. "No way! Grandmother Navi, you know I'm not fit to be a guardian fairy to any of those Kokiri kids! I can't stand kids!"

"Rile, you are a kid," Navi muttered. "Listen, this is no Kokiri. This is a very special child, the one of which I have told you of many times before."

"I don't follow."

"Listen!" Navi commanded. "I will not have this one entrusted to any but my own line. You will protect him and guide him to the best of your ability, do you understand me? In time, you will come to know the gravity of your assignment. Please, Rile. For me."

Kurda could hear Rile mumbling. "Look, I don't need a fairy following me around, reall--"

"Fine, Grandmother Navi, I'll do it for you." Rile interrupted. "But I don't have to like it," Kurda heard him grumble under his breath.

"Thank you, Rile," Navi glimmered sweetly. "Take care of him. And you take care of yourself, Kurda. I wish you well, and pray you come to remember yourself, and me, in time."

"And thanks to you, Navi," Kurda smiled. "You seem like a nice fairy. I wish I could remember you."

"Navi shalt always be here with me, Kurda," the Deku Tree spoke. "Thou mayst visit her any time thou pleases. But another time. Now, thou must go and begin thy quest. The world awaits."

"The world awaits...a golden cucco?" Kurda sighed as he walked back towards the Kokiri village. "This is ridiculous."

"Oh, shut up!" Rile buzzed over his head. "I'll tell you what's ridiculous! What's ridiculous is a fairy prince playing nursemaid to some lowly peasant kid! You're not even one of the Great Deku Tree's chosen childen!" He fumed, causing him to give off a glow that was more reddish than orangish.

Kurda cast an annoyed glance at the hovering orange fairy. "Hey, this wasn't my idea, you know. You take off now, and believe me, I'll never tell."

"Too late, we're stuck with each other," Rile grumbled. "Just don't expect me to save your butt if something happens."

"Oh, I won't," Kurda grumbled right back.

As they approached the trail, Jeba came running up.

"Hey, Kurda! Did you see the Deku Tree?" He skid to a stop when he saw the fairy bobbing after Kurda. "Hey! You found your fairy! Cool!"

Kurda gave an expression that clearly told that he didn't find it so cool. "Yeah, the Deku Tree gave me a fairy. Meet Rile."

"Hiya Rile!" Jeba smiled.

On Jeba's shoulder, Muggi flashed a bright green. "Rile!? The Great Deku Tree gave you Rile for a guardian fairy!?" He sounded like someone had just told him his mother was really a hippo.

"Nice to see you too, Muggi," Rile said sourly.

Muggi just mumbled something about the Great Deku Tree going senile, then disappeared inside Jeba's hat with a flurry of glitter.

"Hey, why'd ya hide, Muggi?" Jeba glanced up. "Oh well. Let's get back home, Kurda!"