Chapter 4: Echoes of the Past
The rays of morning poked through the window and shone on Mishcana's face. Gradually she stirred. The bed beneath her was soft and comfortable; the blankets covering her warm and cozy. Above her the ceiling rose familiarly and was made as though carved out of wood. Her hat was missing, but her tunic, she was relieved to find, was still on. She sat up and begun to wonder what had happened. When she thought of the night before she could remember little after being blindfolded and later finding herself in a box. She most certainly did not remember being freed but she was grateful for it nonetheless. "Now where am I?" she asked herself as she gazed around the room. She saw Link directly in front of her; sound asleep on the floor but wrapped in his blankets. A warm feeling crept over as she looked at him. He had found her just as he had promised, she supposed. The place seemed familiar as she looked around. Beside the bed she had slept on a young Kokiri was propped against the wall. His blanket had slipped and the cold spring air drifted into the room through the blown open window cover. She crouched down and lifted it up to his chin. She gawked at the boy's face. "Mido?" she whispered with scepticism. Peacefully she meandered out the door careful not to wake the two boys.
Outside the sun had raised full in the sky; she had slept in late and yet neither Link nor the rest of the Kokiri had awakened yet. The Kokiri forest she realized it must be. It was as green and lush and relatively unchanged from the last time she had seen it four years ago. She jumped off Link's high front porch and rolled when she landed. Fairies were absent from the sky. Quiet as a mouse she snuck to the Deku Tree's grove. A few Deku Baba's attacked her as she passed; however, they were easily dodged. Eagerly as she approached the end of the path she began to run.
Revulsion halted her steps. Gone were the green leaves and healthy Deku tree of her youth. The golden light still shone over the tree but it had been greatly reduced. The tree's bark once brown and youthful was now grey and dead. Shock flew through Mishcana and she fell to her knees with grief. Her guardian, her friend and protector of her childhood lay dead before her. Tears silently rolled over her cheeks in a torrent.
"It's awful, isn't it?" said a familiar voice behind her. In heartache she looked over her shoulder at the green haired girl. Her eyes widened as she recognized the girl and she turned her gaze away and nodded. Saria came hastily to Mishcana's side and held the girl as she cried on her shoulder. "Link. Link never told me." She said in struggled gasps between her tears. Saria stroked the back of Mishcana's head comfortingly and remained silent "He said," she rubbed her head on Saria's shoulder and continued with ragged pauses, "He said the tree had been cursed. He didn't say he died." Saria sighed and nodded. "He probably didn't want to burden you with that grief if he didn't have to; I tried to catch you before you got here, Mishcana. You shouldn't have seen this unprepared." Saria's fairy floated sadly in front of Mishcana's face and the darted around the girl's face. "But come, stand up. It doesn't look as bad over this way." With great force Saria pulled up her fallen companion and dragged the hopeless girl over to where the gold light shone. Mishcana's eyes were consumed with woe and seemed off and non-seeing. "Here." Saria said simply. "Deku tree sprout, Mishcana. Mishcana, this is the Deku Tree sprout; in many ways he is the Deku tree who raised all of us Kokiri." Mishcana stared at the little sprout in doubt. It was so small and yet somewhere deep inside it felt so similar to her fallen guardian. "Hello Twilight!" said the Deku tree elatedly. Mishcana looked puzzled as she stared at the guardian of the Kokiri, "Twilight?" she asked Saria quietly. Her tears had begun to dry and wonder filled the young Hylian girl. Saria nodded and smiled. "I'll explain when Link gets here. Now that you're back, I can finally reveal everything to both of you. Sit and wait. I told him to meet me here as soon as he woke up. I hope you don't mind me letting him sleep; he had a hard night rescuing you with Pwert and Raner. Today's the princess's birthday so he'll have a long day ahead of him too." Mishcana shook her head, "Letting him sleep in is more than all right. He deserves it." She paused and hugged Saria again tightly, "I've really missed you, Saria. The forest, Mido, everything . . ." Sniffles came from Mishcana as tears fell anew from her eyes. "It's been so long . . ." Saria nodded solemnly, "Mido and I have worried about you so long that it is a great relief to see you safe again. Link said he had tried to contact me with his ocarina but I've been so busy lately I've not had a chance to sit a listen for him. Mido was so happy he couldn't bear to leave your side. He was even nice to Link, which hasn't happened since Ganondorf kidnapped you so long ago." Her eyes now wet, Saria wiped them on the edge of her long green sleeve. "Poor Link." She said rather loudly.
From above a heavy object landed behind them. "Why poor me?" Asked Link suspiciously. Mishcana and Saria startled and jumped and spun around each with a scream. Link grinned broadly at the two unfortunate girls. "Heh, guess my Shiekah skills are getting better; Impa's lessons are really working if I can surprise you two!" he exclaimed enthusiastically. His expression changed hastily to one of seriousness. "You told me to meet you here Saria, soon as I woke up. I see my observation skills need some work; I didn't even stir when Mishcana left." Saria nodded to the latter statement and smiled at Link. "I've just been thinking. I should tell you two all I know about your origins. You must be terribly curious. And, I thought, now that Mishcana was back, the Deku tree sprout and I, the forest sage, could remove the spell the old Deku tree put on you Link." Link gazed at Saria with unblinking stare, "What spell, Saria?" She shook her head. "The one he put on you to keep you from going after Mish when she was kidnapped. He made you forget her and the curse laid upon him to keep you from doing something foolish as he was sure you would." Link sat there silent and stunned. Her eyes closed, Saria began chanting. A green glow surrounded her and the Deku Tree sprout.
Memories hit him as hard and sharp as a Stalfo's blade. Visions of rolling in the meadow with Mishcana under the Deku Tree's watchful eyes danced in front of him. He saw her following him around and he chasing her through the deep caverns of the Deku Tree. Seasons changed and he and she had grown. He could hear the Deku tree's voice echoing in his head. It was time for him to go live in the forest with the other Kokiri but for the safety of both them Mishcana could not. Mishcana would stand out too much being far to adventurous compared to the other Kokiri girls. She had a demeanour that would alert even the blindest outsider to the difference. Reluctantly he had left the Deku Tree Meadow. Years passed in seconds until he saw Saria standing over him and shaking his young body. Panic was written upon her face. "Link! Wake up! A dark man has put a curse on the Deku Tree!" Link opened his eyes sleepily, "What's a curse?" he said in his young, confused voice. "The man took Mishcana!" Saria continued with escalating fear. "The Deku tree can't stop the man Link. We gotta help her. C'mon!" Link could see himself sit bolt upright. He and Saria had rushed to the edge of the forest. The man was trying to cross the bridge but Mido stood in his way. The man was Ganondorf, Link realized as he watched his memories. "Get out of my way, pathetic brat!" A gold blast of light hit Mido and sent him flying. "Link! Saria! Save her!" screamed the young Kokiri boy as he passed out. The young Mishcana, being held tightly in the evil man's grasp, shrieked as her friend hit the ground below the bridge. Young Link and Saria looked at each other and nodded. "Kokiri twin attack!" they shouted and glowed bright green. A blast of magic rushed out towards Ganondorf. He had laughed so cruelly that even now its memory stung Link like a jellyfish from Jabu Jabu's belly. He had deflected it simply and shot a black energy bolt at the two. Darkness was his memory now, and a pain he had only felt in his battle as an adult against Gannon. He could hear the pained voice of the Deku Tree telling Saria that he, Link, must forget. "We have lost one of the two children of destiny entrusted to us. The third lies safe in Hyrule castle. I am glad ye and he are not taken, child, but should he remember he would surely go after her. My mind is made up, he must forget."
The voice of the Deku tree faded and Link opened his eyes and looked at Mishcana surprise colouring his face. Her own eyes opened and looked at him. It seemed she had seen what he had. All in the Deku tree meadow was silent. Saria's eyes popped open and smiled. "You understand, don't you Link? The Deku Tree wanted to protect you. That's all." He nodded numbly and looked repentantly at Mishcana. She coughed in response, and looked skywards. Saria smiled lightly. "The Princess's party will be soon. Perhaps my story should wait for another day." Link shook his head, "That's not for hours yet, Saria. Go on." Saria smirked slightly. "No, no it's not. Listen to your belly; it ought to be rumbling. That spell took a few hours to remove, not minutes." Link and Mishcana looked skyward and gasped in unison, "You're right! The sun's so high. . . Link! We're gonna be late." Mishcana moaned worriedly. "Epona can't go that fast." Link smiled deeply and glanced at Saria, "We'll warp." Mishcana looked confused and stared at him, "You know I don't know Farore's wind yet. Don't even joke." Saria giggled with Link, but frowned after a moment's thought. "I've got my fairy Ocarina, so do you. Unless you have another one, she won't be able to do it, Link." Link sighed sadly, "And I'm not sure I can carry two in Farore's wind either. Maybe this was a bad idea after all."
A small figure tuckered into the meadow, "Hey! Mishcana! Link! Don't leave yet. I have something for her." Mido came running headlong towards them and was panting with the effort. He brought out a small bundle of royal blue cloth and handed it and her present for Zelda to Mishcana. "Here. Saria found it with you when you were a tyke, I used to play you to sleep on it." He said with a fond smile. Mishcana curiously opened the small package. Inside was a delicate tin whistle made of nickel or maybe even silver. It had a wooden mouthpiece and looked beautiful in the golden light that surrounded the Deku Tree Sprout. The holes were just the right size for her delicate fingers. She rolled it between her thumb and forefinger and peered at the back. A small inscription in ancient Hylian was written on it. Her companions shook their heads. None of them understood it either. She brought to her lips and a high pitch squeak emerged from it. Red rose to Mishcana's cheeks. Mido smiled kindly and took it back from her. "Teach me the song, Link, and I'll show her how to play." Link nodded though he was still puzzled by Mido's kindness and played the prelude of light. Mido and Saria repeated the notes with ease on their respective instruments. Mishcana and Mido went to the far corner of the tree for her to learn the fingering.
A scant hour later, Mishcana and he returned. "I did it!" she proclaimed triumphantly pumping the whistle over her head. Link smiled cheerfully, "Great. Stand with me and Saria then." Link chanted softly and all three instruments glowed bright gold. Nodding to each of them he lifted his Ocarina. In unison they played the song its notes rising to the wind. A light enveloped them and they disappeared from the meadow.
Coloured lights flashed around Mishcana when she opened her eyes. The world had turned golden and no object could she make out clearly. The echoes of the song they had just played danced around her ears still lingering there. Suddenly she realized the absence of her companions. Fright cooled her blood as she looked around. Just before she began to panic Link's soft voice echoed in her head. "Don't be afraid. We're almost there." Mishcana relaxed and breathed deeply. The world remerged around them and they arrived in the Temple of time.
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Go to the Chapter Five: A Birthday Surprise.