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EVERYONE: - Complete Link & the Fate of the Deku Tree (Rewrite)

Greninjaman

Greninjaman

Ninja Assassin Frog
Sobble Fan Fuecoco Fan
Joined
Feb 16, 2018
Messages
6,440
Reaction score
5,052
Pronouns
  1. He/Him
MATURE Themes
  1. No MATURE Themes Apply
TEEN Themes
  1. No TEEN Themes Apply
EVERYONE Themes
  1. No EVERYONE Themes Apply
Other Content Warnings
None aside from maybe the possibility of Arachnophobia.
5 years ago, @LightningTopaz challenged me to write a story based around one of the many dungeons that appeared in the Legend of Zelda games. This is a rewrite of that story. I am very happy with how this turned out.

Chapter 1: Missing Friend
In a forest located in the Kingdom of Hyrule, there is a group of people called the Kokiri, who share a connection with the forest. They have lived there for as long as they can remember. The Kokiri mostly keep to themselves, though they do interact with outsiders. Dangers lurk in the shadows deeper in the forest, so the Kokiri mainly stick to the village and the area around the Deku Tree, an immense tree that serves as the guardian deity of the forest. Its death would cause the forest to wither away. One day, 15-year-old Link approaches his childhood friend Saria, who is preparing to run an errand for her mother.

"So, you're finally old enough to go gather Deku Sap, huh?" Link asks with a smile.

"Yes. I'm really excited," Saria replies as she places a jar into her satchel.

"I've been around the Great Deku Tree a few times. It's crazy knowing how big it is even now," Link says.

"I did hear about there being a few Deku Babas though. I did not enjoy the last encounter," Saria says with a shudder.

"I went through the valley yesterday to make sure the path is clear. Found one, but I took care of it," Link says.

"Thanks, Link," Saria says as she swings her satchel over her shoulder before heading off to Grasslog Valley, which leads to the Deku Tree.
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30 minutes later
Link walked past several village farms on his way home. He had spent the morning helping Malon load goods into her carriage for the trip back to Lon-Lon Ranch. Near the entrance to the valley, he spotted Saria's mother, Relio.

"Hey, Relio. Is something wrong?" Link asks as he stares down the valley.

"Yes. Saria has not come back yet," Relio replies.

"That is strange. Doesn't take that long," Link says.

"Even when I take my time, I'm back within fifteen minutes. She's been gone twice that long. I did ask around thinking I simply missed her, but no one has seen her," Relio says.

After a moment of thought, Link looks at Relio. "I'll go find her," he says.

"Are you sure?" Relio asks.

"Yeah. She cared for me after I ate that mushroom and got sick," Link replies.

Glancing down the valley for a few moments, Relio sighs. "You two have been together since childhood. Please be careful. Who knows what happened."

Link nods before turning and running down the valley, stopping to make sure there were no Deku Babas as he went in case one had attacked Saria. As he enters the grove, he looks up at the Deku Tree. "Wow. No matter how many times I see it, it's amazing how big it is," he mutters. Then he notices something off about the tree. It looked paler than normal compared to earlier the same day when Link had cleared out some Deku Babas that had showed up in the grove. "Why is it so sickly looking? Is something wrong?"

As he stares, he hears the twinkling sound of a Forest Fairy approaching. Link turns and watches as a blue fairy emerges from the trees and approaches the Deku Tree. "Great Deku Tree! What's wrong? I heard your call and have come," The fairy asks as it flies up to the tree. After a moment, it turns and spots Link before fluttering down to him.

With a smile, Link extends his arm, allowing the fairy to land on his palm, feeling the gentle warmth as it touches his hand. "Navi, what happened to the tree? Does he know?" he asks.

"He doesn't know what is killing him, but he knows where it might be," Navi replies.

"The Heartroot Cavern?" Link asks.

"Yes. He thinks that something is there attacking his roots," Navi replies.

"Saria had gone in half an hour ago to get Deku Sap for her mother, but has not returned," Link says.

"Why couldn't Relio do it herself?" Navi asks.

"She wanted to let Saria have a turn. She's running low on sap. She uses it for her garden, and she stores some for cooking," Link replies.

"Perhaps something happened to Saria. I did see her enter the tree," Navi says.

"Let's get going," Link says. He runs along the path to the entrance into the tree, Navi following him.
 
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Chapter 2: Danger Among the Roots
Inside, Link looks around. The walls and floor are made of bark and the room is lit up by Glowshrooms. Link can feel the crunch of the floor under his feet as he walks. He spots a few birds that entered through small holes in the walls up higher near the roof. The two make their way to the tunnel that leads to the Heartroot Cavern. As he goes, there is a crack followed by a squish. Lifting his foot, he sees that the bottom of his boot is covered in tree sap that had a brownish color to it. "Yuck. Why does it look like that? Is it because of whatever's killing it?" Link asks as he shakes the sap off of his boot.

Inspecting it closely, Navi nods. "That is bad. Looks like something poisoned the tree."

"Glad I didn't trip. Would not want to get that stuff in my eyes," Link mutters.

The two continue onward down the tunnel. The path is narrow at points as it slopes in a spiral downward. As they walk, Link's face brushes against some strands of webbing. "What the?" Link asks as he swats the strands away, "What was that?" he asks.

"Something got in somehow," Navi says.

As they round the corner, they are stopped by a giant web blocking the entrance to the cavern.

"That's a problem," Link says as he pulls his sword from its sheath. He starts cutting at the web, the strands of which are tougher than they look.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Navi mutters nervously as she watches.

After clearing away the webbing, the two enter the cavern and start looking around. The cavern, located under the Deku Tree, has roots jutting out in different directions around the room from the stone walls, floor, and ceiling.

As he walks, he hits something with his foot and looks down. "What the?” He asks as he picks up the jar of Deku Sap. “She dropped this. She has to still be here,” Link says.

"Perhaps she left it behind?" Navi asks.

"No one has seen her since she came to get sap," Link replies.

Link continues walking around until he spots a human-shaped mass of webbing stuck between two roots. While most of the body was covered up, the face was visible enough for him to recognize the green-haired girl. "Saria!" Link shouts.

"I sense her life force. She's alive," Navi says.

"Thank goodness," Link says with a sigh of relief as he starts towards his friend.

Suddenly, a mass of gooey webbing lands on Link's shoulder. He reaches up to examine it, then freezes when he hears a loud screech from above. A human-sized spider drops to the ground with a thud, the impact knocking Link off his feet and dropping the jar. It lets out a screech as it moves in front of Saria.

"What is that?" Link shouts as the spider rears up to attack.

"A Gohma! But how? I thought they were long gone!" Navi shouts.

Link rolls to avoid the Gohma as it lunges. He gets up and runs for the tunnel entrance, Navi flying behind him, moving as fast as her wings can carry her. Link can hear the Gohma's screeches as he leaves.

Outside, he stops to catch his breath, relieved to be outside.

"This is a problem! I've never seen one of that size before!" Navi shouts as she frantically flutters about in a panic.

"There's no way I can fight that thing," Link says.

"What? You're leaving? It got Saria," Navi said.

"I know. I'll go find someone else," Link replies as he backs away.

"Link…" Navi says sadly.

After a moment, Navi turns and looks up at the Deku Tree before turning to Link. "Link, I must have speak with thee," Navi says as her body begins to glow with a green aura.

"What do you mean? If it’s the Deku Tree, just tell me what he said," Link says as he takes a step back.

Instead of responding, Navi starts spinning around Link at high speed. "Navi?" Link asks as his vision begins to fill with a green mist. "What?" He asks as his legs give out from under him and he collapses.
 
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Chapter 3: Visions of Courage
Link slowly opens his eyes. With a grunt, he pushes himself into a sitting position. "Was that the Deku Tree's magic?" he asks. Looking around, he notices that he is still in the meadow, but instead of trees, there is a swirling green mist that obscures everything, even the path back to the village. The grass has a strange green glow to it and felt warm to the touch.

"Link" an unfamiliar voice says.

He looks up at the tree and is shocked by what he sees: Instead of the vague face-like structure, there is an actual face on the tree. The tree has glowing emerald green eyes. The bark of the tree is the normal dark brown color with a slight glow to it.

"Hark my words," the Deku Tree says with a slight echo to his voice.

"I… I am listening, Great Deku Tree," Link says as he stands up, his gaze never leaving the face.

"Link, Fear clouds thy heart. Let it not define thee." The Deku Tree says.

"But that Gohma," Link says.

"Remember why thou came. She lives yet." the Deku Tree says as the dream begins to fade away.

"The reason?" Link asks as everything fades into a green mist.

Link wakes with a start and looks around to see that everything is normal. He looks up at the Deku Tree to see that the face is the normal vague face-like structure. "The reason…" Link mutters as the Deku Tree's words echo in his mind.

Hearing a slight moan, he turns to see Navi slowly drifting towards the ground. Gently, he scoops her up, concerned about the small fairy. He breathes a sigh of relief as she bounces slightly in his hands and her wings begin to move again. "You ok?" He asks.

"Yeah. I just need a moment. That spell takes a lot of me," Navi replies.

Link looks up at the Deku Tree. "The reason I came... I came here to find her." He mutters. Then he remembers:

"Mido is crazy. Sometimes, I don't understand him. How could tricking someone into eating a poisonous mushroom would be funny? It could have killed you," Saria said as she mixed the medicine. She smiles at Link, who is lying on a bed of leaves. "One more of these, and you will be fine," she said.

"Thanks," Link groaned, his voice slightly strained, followed by a slight cough.

Saria smiles at her friend. "Next time, don't listen to Mido," she said.

Link nods.

"She's been there for me. It's my turn," Link says with a smile.

Then a thought comes to Link. "Hold on. How did you not know the Gohma was there? It was attacking your roots," he says as he looks up at the tree.

Navi turns and looks up at the tree. "I know of the place, but the cause itself I could not perceive. Those are the words of the Deku Tree," Navi says.

"I wonder how it got in there," Link says.

"There be many ancient tunnels beneath the forest. Many have fallen into ruin with the passing of time. That Gohma must have found a path unto the cavern," Navi replies, relaying the Deku Tree's message.

"And now that it's in the cavern, the poison…" Link mutters as his eyes widen.

"I will surely die and the forest with me," Navi replies, relaying the Deku Tree's message.

After a moment, Link closes his eyes and takes a few deep breaths. "She is counting on me. I came here…for her," He mutters several times. As he does, he can feel the stress leave his body as his muscles relax. "I know I can do it. I have to. We don't know how much time we have."

"Right. What is thy purpose, then?" Navi asks, relaying the Deku Tree's words.

Link nods with a smile. "I'm going to save Saria." He looks forward and runs back inside, Navi following behind.
 
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Chapter 4: Showdown in the Heartroot Cavern
Inside the Deku Tree, Link makes his way back down to the Heartroot Cavern. At the entrance, he stops and takes a deep breath. "Saria needs me. That is why I am here," he mutters to himself. He pulls his sword out and heads inside the room. Looking around, he eyes Saria, still in the spot he saw her before.

"Look up," Navi whispers into his ear.

Doing so, he spots it sleeping on the ceiling. "There you are, monster!" Link shouts.

The Gohma startles awake and glances around before laying its single giant eye on Link. With a screech, it drops down with a thud.

Link raises his sword. "I will protect my friend!" He shouts.

"For the Deku Tree!" Navi shouts.

The Gohma lets out a shriek, but Link is undisturbed.
"Not this time," Link mutters.

Link ducks as the Gohma swings a leg at him. Swiftly, he swings his sword and hits it, causing the Gohma to bring its leg back and screech in pain. Seeing an opening, Link runs forward and attempts to stab it in the eye, only for it to jump up to the ceiling.

Link tries to keep up with it as it scurries across the ceiling before dropping back down. Link moves forward, sidestepping as it attempts to strike him with one of its legs again. With a hiss, it charges forward, Link rolling under as it does. Seeing his chance, Link swings at its backside, only for his sword to bounce off its armored body. He swings again and it bounces off.

"Uh-oh," Link mutters.

He watches as the Gohma turns to face Link.

"I wonder…" Link mutters.

As the Gohma rears up, poised to attack, Link thrusts his sword towards the giant eye, only for the Gohma to sidestep. Before Link can react, it slams him backwards.

"Ow," He mutters as he looks up at the Gohma. He attempts to pull himself away as the Gohma approaches, webbing being formed on its smaller arms. "Now what…" He mutters. Suddenly, his hand lands on something. Looking, he sees Saria's jar that he had dropped earlier. At that moment, he has a thought as he remembers when he first entered the tree:

"Yuck. Why does it look like that? Is it because of whatever's killing it?" Link asks as he shakes the sap off of his boot.

Inspecting it closely, Navi nods. "That is bad. Looks like something poisoned the tree."

"Glad I didn't trip. Would not want to get that stuff in my eyes," Link mutters.

Gripping the jar, he stares at the Gohma. "You got something in your eye," he mutters as he quickly unscrews the cap. The Gohma extends its stinger as it nears him. After a moment, he shakes the jar, thrusting it forward, sending bits of poisoned sap into its eye, causing it pain.

He watches as it staggers and flails back, trying to wipe the sap from its eye.

"Finish it Link!" Navi shouts from her position near Saria.

With a shout, Link runs forward and stabs the Gohma in the eye. He pulls it back as the Gohma screeches in pain. It rears up with another screech. Link raises his sword and strikes the Gohma in its soft underside, the attack, pushing it onto its back. Link watches as it flails, its movements slowing down as it dies. After a few more moments, it drops lifelessly.

After a few moments, he slowly staggers over to Saria, his body still hurting slightly. He drops to his hands and nears and looks at his friend, panting heavily. Scooting himself closer, he peels away the strands on her face. He smiles as she stirs and awakens. "I'm here for you. Your mother sent me. I managed to kill it... but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared.. Try to not move or talk," Link says softly.

Saria slowly nods, clearly still out of it. Taking out a knife, Link starts cutting away the strands, being careful not to hurt Saria. After a few minutes, Link cuts enough strands that he can pull his friend free and help her to a sitting position, propped up against one of the larger roots.

Navi flutters down and lands on Saria's hand. After a moment, she sparkles slightly as a pulse of green energy flows through Saria's body, slowly purifying her body of the Gohma's poison.

"You OK?" Link asks.

"Yeah. Thanks. I worried no one would find me in time," Saria says with a weary smile, clearly still tired.

"What happened? You had left thirty minutes ago," Link asks.

Saria shakes her head. "I… came down here to gather sap…I didn't even see that thing until it was on top of me. I tried to run but it caught me before I could get far. It lifted me up with its strands and started spinning me around, spreading its silk across my body. I tried to struggle, but dizziness and the webbing made it impossible. Then everything went black after it bit me."

"Can the tree still be saved?" Link asks, looking at Navi.

"I can slow the poison, but it will take more of us to heal it," Navi says before fluttering over to a root and sending a pulse of green energy through it.

"Can you stand?" Link asks as he looks back at Saria.

"I…think so," Saria says. Taking her hand, Link helps his friend to her feet and drapes her arm over his shoulder to help support her. They take a few steps towards the tunnel entrance only to stop.

"There's no way I can get you out of here in this condition myself," Link says as he sees just how tired she is, her legs barely able to support her.

Saria nods. "I would only slow us both down."

Seeing this, Navi approaches the two. "I shall help with that," she says as a green aura surrounds her body. As she zooms around the two, a circle of green energy appears at their feet before there is a gentle burst of green light.

Link blinks a few times to clear his vision. He looks around to see that they are outside the Deku Tree.

"You forgot to close your eyes again, didn't you?" Saria asks.

"Yeah," Link replies.

As Link helps her to the entrance to Grasslog Valley, Relio runs up to them and embraces her daughter.

"Thank goodness. I was worried," she says, tears welling up.

"A monster had gotten her, but I took care of it," Link says.

"What about the Deku Tree?" Saria asks.

"Leave that to the Forest Fairies," Navi says, "Those are the words of the Deku Tree,"

Relio picks Saria up and carries her through the valley. Link starts to follow behind only to stop and look up to the Deku Tree.

"Thanks. Without you, I don't think I would have been able to save her or you and the forest," he says. After a moment, he continues onward to the village.

The End​

I would like a review of this story please, now that this is finished.
 
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