The Temple of the Forest was dark and gloomy, just as Link remembered it. He shivered as he remembered his last visit, a visit which only Link and a select few knew about. To everyone else, it had never happened. He gritted his teeth as he remembered what was hidden deep inside the temple during his last visit. That phantom had caused so much anger, to which the hero had used to successfully defeat it.

"Navi," Link suddenly said, in a soft voice. "What did your training involve?"

The fairy hovered to Link's shoulder, before coming to a rest on it.

"Advanced fairy magic..." she replied. "I always felt helpless when we were on our last adventure. If you were hurt, there was nothing I could do. I couldn't even help you fight. But now, I can use my new power to help. I even have limited healing capabilities."

Link smiled, despite the grim circumstances they were facing.

"Thank you," he began. "I appreciate it, Navi... and contrary to what you may think, you always were a great hel-- Whoa!"

The Hylian jumped back as an enemy appeared as if from thin air. Navi instantly analysed it.

"The Mad Knight..." she began. "It is a Deku Nut which has been possessed by the spirits of the forest. Use the shield to defend, and attack when it lowers its defence!"

Link sighed, drawing his sword and holding up his shield. He managed to block an attack, watching for a moment when the Mad Knight dropped his guard. Just as he found that moment and lunged at the creature, it did a back-flip and leaped over the Hylian, turning around to spit several fruits at him.

"Gah!" the boy cried out as the fruits connected with his back. They hurt like hell. Turning around, Link instantly cast Din's Flames, enveloping the possessed Deku in flames, forcing the creature to the ground. Looking away as he listened to the small creatures screams of pain, the boy clenched his teeth together, feeling guilty.

I'm sorry, little Deku... I'm so sorry.

Hearing Navi gasp, the Hylian turned around to see the Deku standing back up, looking around in clear confusion. Upon noticing Link, it gave a soft gasp and bowed in traditional Deku style, before speaking softly.

"Thank you for saving me from the evil curse-pi..." it began. "As a reward, let me tell you a bit about this temple-pi. Legends say that this temple was once home to what is now the spirits of the forest-pi. They had lived in harmony with the forest, and were able to control the actions of all plant life in the forest-pi. I wish I could tell you more, but that's all I know-pi. I must go, before I am cursed again, but before I go, may I please ask that you keep an eye out for my brothers-pi? I think they are here, and they may also be cursed-pi."

With another bow, the Deku ran out of the temple. Link stared after it, giving a soft sigh. Turning around, he began to slowly walk over to the first door. Opening it cautiously, he stepped into the corridor. Walking slowly, he made his way through, and into the main room of the temple. The boy then gave a grumble.

Damn it! The elevator has been deactivated. Looks like I'm going to have to light those torches again.

Scowling darkly, Link sheathed his sword and began walking towards where he knew would be the areas the other torches would be. Navi flew down in front of the Hylian and gave a slight smile.

"C'mon," she began. "It won't be that bad. You always were adventurous. You'll be able to get this over and done with rather quickly, even without the Power of the Sages."

At those words, Link's lips curled into a small smile. He gave a soft sigh and nodded, walking through the eastern door. Walking through the corridor and into the next room, he suddenly gasped as the door slammed shut behind him, and the familiar iron bars blocking the way. With a grunt, he touched one of the bars, only to howl in pain as a zap of electricity ran through his body. He instantly jerked his hand away.

"Gah!" he yelped. "What the hell's this?"

Hearing a sinister sounding drum-beat, Link turned around, to face an empty room. A malevolent snicker from above forced the boy to look upwards, growling out in frustration as an enemy dropped down. It was an enemy he'd known all too well.

"You again!" he hissed. "The Masked Jungle Warrior, Odolwa!"

Odolwa scowled, drawing his sword and holding his shield up. Ignoring Link's words, the monster began his attack, eyeing his foe carefully. With a scowl to rival that of the warrior, Link drew his own sword and began defending. Navi's eyes widened as she scanned Odolwa, analysing him.

"Odolwa," she began. "The Masked Jungle Warrior returned from beyond. Find a way to lower his guard."

Link scowled and equipped his bow. With a growl, he expertly shot an arrow at the fiend, who instantly repelled it with his shield. Growling with even more frustration, Link shot another one, this time at the beast's head, the shot also being repelled. Odolwa snickered behind his shield, until he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his left leg. Looking over at Link, the fiend noticed the Hylian's smirk, a smirk which could even put Ganondorf to shame. Looking down at his leg, Odolwa suddenly fell to his knees, and that's when Link began his finishing attack.

Return to darkness!

Racing towards Odolwa, he lunged at the beast, his sword delivering a devastating blow that destroyed Odolwa in a single strike. With the foe defeated, the seal was removed from the doorway, and a treasure chest appeared, the oversized chest being the boy's reason for entering the room. With a snort, Link opened it, blinking in surprise at the contents inside.

What is this?!

Navi blinked.

"That's a... Poe Charm..." she said, confused. "This trinket allows you to summon any ghostly lifeform within the area you currently are. Although... why would you want to do that?"

Link grumbled softly, shrugging his shoulders.

I haven't the faintest idea. I just want to get out of here... and save Saria.

Navi giggled softly at Link's frustration, and motioned for him to leave the room. As Link nodded and began to walk over to the door, he was thrown from his feet, when the ground beneath him suddenly rose.

"Damn!" he screeched, rubbing his smarting rear-end. "I hate it when stuff like this happens..."

The ground suddenly stopped moving, allowing the Hylian to stand up again. He glanced warily around the room. It appeared empty, save a strange marking on the floor. The marking gave a dull glow, which piqued Link's curiosity.

I wonder what that could be?

Turning to face Navi, he suddenly noticed strange markings on the nearby wall. Approaching it, he inspected it carefully, noting inwardly that the markings appeared to be writing. Reading the inscription out loud, he earned himself a strange look from Navi, his fairy companion clearly not understanding a single word he'd said.

"Um," she mumbled. "Come again?"

Link had a thoughtful expression on his face, the boy looking down at the marking on the floor.

"It was an ancient text," he said, his voice void of all but curiosity. "'On our crest, if you should stand, charm of spirits in your hand... Turn your back to common doors, and a new way forward shall be yours.' It's ancient Hylian, I know it. It's strange, but I've always somehow been able to read it."

The little fairy shivered. Things were indeed getting strange, and she knew one thing. She didn't like strange. Link seemed a little disconcerted at his ability to read and translate an ancient language. Navi gave an inward sigh.

He's already getting things dealt harshly. I only hope he can handle having to save Hyrule again.

Link turned to Navi and forced a smile, the fairy forcing her own smile. With a slight nod, Link stepped on the crest, waiting expectantly. Nothing happened.

"Huh?" Navi muttered. "Why isn't it working?"

Staring at the writing some more, Link's ear suddenly twitched. Without warning, he grabbed his shield and held it out behind him, just in time for a sharp rock to slam into it. Turning around, the boy noticed the origin of the rock.

Another cursed Deku. Could this be one of the brothers the other Deku Nut told me about?

Thinking of his first battle with the Mad Knight at the entrance, Link instantly used Din's Flames, hoping to break the curse quickly, but was in for a shock. The possessed Deku instantly cast its own spell, protecting itself from the magic flames.

Clever Nut... This presents me with an enigma.

Navi suddenly flew in front of the boy, holding her tiny hands out towards the Mad Knight.

"Link," she cried shrilly. "Let me show you what my training has allowed me to accomplish!"

Link shook his head vigorously and moved his shield in front of the fairy, who gave a cry of protest.

"I can do this!" she insisted. "I can handle this, Link! Believe in me!"

The Mad Knight eyed the two friends suspiciously. It prepared to launch an attack. As Link watched the creature, he grit his teeth some more, and with a nod, returned the shield on his back. With a smile, Navi nodded back and flew towards the Mad Knight.

"Here goes nothing!" she said. "Let me show you my new power!"

The fairy hovered in front of the Mad Knight, the Deku giving a low hiss and attacking, but Navi dodged quickly. Clearly, she had great agility, but what about power? Would she be enough to stop this Deku and break the curse placed on it? Suddenly, she began glowing brighter.


"Kaze no Yousei!" the fairy cried out, her attack command summoning intense winds, which whipped at everything in the dimly lit room. Link was forced to close one of his eyes and hold his hat down to stop it from being blown away.

Whoa! She really is powerful. Such force...

The Mad Knight was thinking the same thing. Unfortunately for the woodland creature, it stood no chance. The Deku squealed as the wind's intensity got so great, it was picked up and spun around and around, before finally being thrown down at the ground with an "OOMPH!", causing Link to cringe.

Oh... that, had to hurt...

The wind subsided, and Navi gave a soft sigh. Link was impressed with her power.

"Impressive!" he exclaimed, before suddenly becoming solemn. "But... that Deku... the attack... do you think it survived?"

A soft gurgle was the boy's answer as the Deku stood up and blinked in confusion.

"Huh?" it pondered. "W-what is going on-pi? Last thing I remember, I was going to the Forest Shrine to get some herbs for dinner, and suddenly, I see a Hylian and a fairy-pi."

Link sweatdropped, but offered a smile. Navi hovered in front of the Deku child.

"You were cursed, and attacked us..." she said softly. "...but now you're all better."

The fairy deliberately omitted the part where she assaulted it. After all, it was only a child. The confused Deku tilted its large head to the side, blinking. It then gave a smile of sorts and bowed.

"Thank you for saving me-pi..." the creature mumbled gratefully. "But what are you doing here-pi?"

Link and Navi glanced at each other, then back at the Deku, before the Hylian spoke up again.

"Hyrule is under threat from Ganondorf again," he said, practically spitting out the Gerudo's name with hatred. "We're trying to break the curses placed on the temples and defeat him, once and for all."

The Deku nodded in honest understandment.

"Such a noble deed-pi..." the small creature said. "Let me tell you a bit about this temple-pi. There is a hidden sanctum which can be reached from this very room-pi."

Bowing once more, the Deku suddenly blinked.

"Did you see my brothers-pi?" it asked. Link and Navi hesitated for a moment, before Navi spoke up.

"We saw one of your brothers..." she said. "He was also cursed, but we broke the curse on him and he's on his way home."

The small creature nodded in acknowledgement.

"In that case, I must bid you both farewell-pi!" it said. "I need to get out of here in case I get cursed again-pi. If you see my brother in the Forest Shrine, please help him-pi. Thank you once again-pi!"

With another bow, the Deku ran off, disappearing in a flash of light. Link grumbled softly, turning back to the crest on the floor.

"On our crest, if you should stand..." he mumbled thoughtfully. "Charm of spirits in your hand... charm... of spirits?"

Suddenly, Link and Navi both realized what the text was referencing.

"The Poe Charm!" they exclaimed in unison. "It must be!"

Link held the charm in his hand and waited expectantly, but still, nothing happened. In frustration, he turned away to rub his head, when suddenly, the charm began to glow. Navi looked at the Hylian in wonder.

"I think I get it!" she gasped. "Turn your back to common doors, and a new way forward shall be yours. You weren't facing the door. It must be a decoy!"

As she said those words, the room began to dim some more before a ghostly apparition appeared before them. The spirit appeared to be sad.

"The forest is in great despair..." it said softly. "Evil power floats through the air. But with the courage that you know best, please guide us to eternal rest. With your courage, you will do fine... now, follow me into the shrine."

Closing its eyes, the spirit held out its arms and concentrated, the nearby wall suddenly fading away. Link noticed a mysterious glade. Stepping towards it, he glanced upwards and gasped, noticing that he couldn't see the sky. The spirit moved forward, beckoning for Link and Navi to follow it. The two friends glanced at one another, before nodding and continuing forward. It seemed to get a little darker as they went deeper inside, but before long, they stopped in front of what could only be the inner shrine. The spirit glanced sorrowfully at Link.

"Inside this shrine, dark power grows..." the spirit said softly. "...darkness of limits that no-one knows."

The ghost held out a hand as a strange trinket appeared in it.

"Take this charm, from friends divine..." it continued. "...and proceed deep into the shrine. Our foe lies in the darkest room, but with this charm, you will seal its doom."

Link took the trinket and examined it. Looking back at the ghost, he gasped as it slowly began to fade away.

"Young hero, with courage that will never end..." it said eerily. "Please rescue our dear forest friend."

With those words, the spirit completely disappeared, leaving Link and Navi alone at the entrance to the shrine. Glancing at his fairy companion, Link nodded, acknowledging his destiny. As Navi retreated into her hiding place, the Hylian opened the door, and stepped into the shrine.