Chapter 2 - The Old and the New

  Well this was not supposed to happen, Rauru thought. Not yet anyway. Oh goodness, now what am I supposed to do? *Cough cough* Well I guess I have to tell Zelda. Oh, it is far too early.

  After the previous day's backfire, Link was feeling pretty upset. He was a nice guy, right? So why did that Kokiri start crying? Well maybe I didn't want anything to do with him either. Link was definitely having second thoughts about taking this job. But now wasn't the time to worry. From what Link had heard, this ceremony was a very big deal around here, and the Deku Tree had a special surprise in store.

 "Link, Link, hurry up!" Navi called.

  "Oh I'm coming already! Calm down!" Link called. He finished slipping on his boot and headed out the door and down the ladder.

  The Kokiri had done a fabulous job of decorating the Deku Tree's meadow for the special occasion of the naming ceremony (the celebration had to be held here of course, as there was no way the Deku Tree could move). Every Kokiri had had a job to do, and each had done it spectacularly. Flowers were everywhere Link looked, in hues of purple and red and gold and pink. Link was amazed at the detail in the elaborate costumes the Kokiri wore, not the usual green, but in all colors. Even Mido looked quite strapping in his blue tunic with red and gold embroidery on the sleeves, hem, and neckline. Link thought it quite funny that somehow the small Kokiri had managed to make a purple cloak with an elaborately embroidered silver design for the Deku Tree. Everything, from the sparkling streamers to the beautiful rugs that had lined the entrance to the meadow, looked so spectacular that Link felt slightly out of place in his boring green tunic.

 "Ah, Link, you have arrived!" the Deku Tree called. "Come take your seat here."

 Link made his way through the excited crowd of Kokiri and sat in a rather large wooden chair just to the Deku Tree's right.

 "I had no idea this was such a big deal!" Link said.

 "Well of course it is my boy. You forget, the Kokiri cannot leave the forest. They are terribly excited to meet new people. They have been preparing for this day for months."

 "Wow," was all Link could say.

 "Link, why are you not wearing your ceremonial clothes?" a small voice asked.

 Link looked down at the small Kokiri girl who stood next to him. "Well if I had any I would have worn them," he retorted.

 "Well try this on. I think it's your size," the girl said giggling.

 She handed Link the most beautiful cloak he had ever seen. It was royal blue with red and silver trim. Embroidered on the back in a shiny sort of gold thread was&ldots; the Triforce.

 "Wow," Link said again. He was absolutely stunned. He had never seen anything so beautiful in his life. "Thank you very much," he managed to spit out.

 "He he he," giggled the Kokiri girl. "Anything for our favorite Hylian!"

 "Deku Tree, this is amazing-" Link started to say.

 "Shhh my boy. You're babbling," the Deku Tree said. Link started to blush but suddenly the banging of a large drum made him snap to attention.

  Then came the ocarinas, playing "Saria's Song" in wonderful unison. The drums boomed and thundered in Link's ears. He had no idea the Kokiri were such good musicians either! He was utterly amazed.

  When the music stopped, all the Kokiri took their seats, and the Deku Tree began to speak. "Today," he thundered, "is a day of great celebration, for today we receive a wonderful gift from the goddesses. Six Kokiri children have been sent to our forest this day so we might protect them and keep them from harm."

  "Yeah!!!!" rose the mighty cheer from the Kokiri. Link had never seen them so excited.

  "Wait my children! You have not heard perhaps the best news of all," the Deku Tree interrupted. "A very honored and special guest is here to preside over this ceremony today."

  The Kokiri all began whispering among themselves. "Who can it be?" "Oh wow a surprise!" "This will be great!"

  Link cast a suspicious glance in the direction of the Deku Tree. The Tree winked at him as best a tree can and said, "Bring out the guest of honor!"

  From the back of the meadow came a stir, then gasps of amazement as the crowd parted to allow the newcomer to step up to the Deku Tree. Accompanied by four Kokiri in bright red tunics, was a small girl wearing a purple dress as lovely as Link's own cloak. He had to do a double take before he realized who stood before him.

  *Cough, cough.* "Zelda my dear," the old man gasped.

  "Oh Rauru," said the princess, "must this happen now? We are not ready, I know nothing of being a sage, oh there is so much to learn still! I-"

  "Hush girl," he coughed. "It may seem like an impossible task, but do not forget that it is your destiny. There is so much you do not yet know, so much you don't understand, but it will come in time."

 "Oh no!" Zelda cried. She crouched down next to the bed where Rauru lay. "But we will miss you. We need you!"

 "It is my time, and yours will come someday. Tell the others what I have passed to you. *Cough* But be careful of Saria *cough*. She is the weakest. She *cough* will surely be *cough* next."

  Zelda nodded in understanding and gave Rauru a huge bear hug.

 "Have faith my child *cough*. Remember all this and be careful."

  Zelda stood up and wiped away a tear as she walked over to the platform. She watched Rauru take his final breaths as she was carried off into the blue light.

  "Saria!" Link cried. He jumped up from his chair and ran to greet his old friend.

  "Link! Hello!" she called waving. He ran up to her and knelt down so she could embrace him in a friendly hug.

  "How are you?" he asked.

 "Oh I miss you terribly!" she said. Under her breath she added, "Being a sage can be so tedious!"

 Link could help but laugh at that, and together they took their seats on either side of the Deku Tree.

 "Hello Deku Tree," Saria said, smiling.

 "Hello my dear. I am so glad to see you again," he said. He turned to the Kokiri. "I am quite sure that most of you recognize Saria, fellow Kokiri and current Sage of Forest."

 The Kokiri burst into applause yet again, and they cheered and shouted for Saria, as she was greatly admired by them.

  Saria stood up slowly. "Thank you my friends," she said. "And now it is time for the real reason we are all here today, to receive a wonderful gift from the goddesses. Let the naming ceremony begin!"

  Link was not quite sure what exactly to expect, as he did not remember the day the Great Deku Tree had introduced him to the others, so he sat back to watch what surely pleasant ceremony the Kokiri had planned.

  "The first," said the Deku Tree, "is a boy."

  The Deku Tree opened his mouth, and from inside stepped a small brown-haired young lad with hazel-grey eyes, dressed in a red tunic with black embroidery. Saria walked up to the boy and, taking him by the hand, they stood in front of all the Kokiri.

  "This is Alan," Saria said. " The name means 'the handsome one'."

  With that the Kokiri broke into a mightier cheer than any Link had ever heard, and the music began to play again. Alan smiled broadly. Link laughed. He was a very bold and energetic child, and he was not afraid to show it. His grin was a mile wide and Link was sure he'd have no trouble fitting in, although his name was a little odd.

  Saria and Alan were greeted by a small fairy, Link regognized her to be Lydia, Navi's good friend. She flew up to the boy and kissed him on the cheek. His cheeks blushed a deep scarlet. " Meet your fairy, Lydia," Saria said.

  Then came the celebration part: the dancing. After each introduction the band began to play and all the Kokiri danced as Saria and Lydia led Alan around the meadow, introducing him to all the Kokiri, and to Link.

  "Alan this is Link," Saria said. "He is my best friend in the world. He lives here in the forest and, well, helps the Deku Tree look after all the Kokiri."

 "Hello there," Link said, standing up and offering Alan a firm handshake.

 "Hello Mr. Link," Alan said. "I remember, when I first came here, the Deku Tree told us about you."

 "Oh he did?" inquired Link.

 "Why yes, he said that you are very special and important to the Kokiri, but he would not say exactly why. He said you were very brave."

  Link smiled and looked at Saria. She was smiling too. "Just like him to go bragging on me," Link chuckled. "It was great to meet you, Alan."

 "You too Mr. Link. I hope I will like it here," Alan said.

 "Don't worry Alan, you'll love it here."

  And so the ceremony continued; Link and the other Kokiri were introduced to Lillian, a redheaded girl, the sandy-blonde haired and highly energetic twins Tomas and Tobias, and a painfully shy brunette named Kyrin. All took their seats in turn, next to Saria and Alan.

  Then the Deku Tree bellowed, "And the last, but most certainly not the least, is a boy." He opened his mouth and out stepped&ldots;

  No one. No one came out to be introduced. The Kokiri started to whisper amongst themselves. Link looked at Saria quizzically. She shrugged and got up to enter the Deku Tree's mouth. Not very much later, she came back out into the meadow, holding a small boy's hand.

  He looked even stranger than Link had remembered from the previous day. He wore a dark green tunic and, strangely, the leather gloves still covered his hands.

  Saria cleared her throat as though she had been socked out of her mind. She looked strangley disheveled and worried. Link wondered what could have possibly been wrong, but decided to ask later. Saria raised her voice and said, "Meet Dorian," she said. "The name means 'gift'."

  The awkward silence that followed seemed to simply hang in the air. Then the applause started, slowly at first but then it became louder. Dorian raised his head slowly. Link noticed something he hadn't before: the boy's eyes. He had the most piercing blue eyes Link had ever seen. The boy's eyes seemed omniscient, as if he could see into your very soul. Link shuddered at the thought.

  Navi flew down the center aisle and made her way up to Dorian and Saria. "Meet your fairy, Navi." Navi gave Dorian a peck on the cheek and he wiped it off, blushing. Link chuckled to himself. Well perhaps the kid's gonna be all right.

  The blue light materialized, and Zelda felt herself standing again. Darunia had his arm around Ruto, and her face was red and tear-streaked. Impa sat serenly on the steps, as usual, and Nabooru sat beside her, nervously twirling a lock of her red hair round her finger.

 Nabooru stood up hopefully. "Well?" she asked.

 All eyes in the room turned to Zelda. She lowered her head and sighed.

 "No," she gasped. "He's gone."

 Zelda stared at the ground. She heard Ruto sobbing and Darunia quietly consoling her. Nabooru cried out in anger to the gods and sank back down onto the steps, crying just a little. Impa walked over to Zelda and placed an arm around her.

 "It is all right my dear. There was nothing you could do. It was his time," Impa consoled.

 "But Impa, he said," Zelda sniffled, "he said that it was too early and, and,"

 "Shhh shh my child. Now is not a time to explain. It is okay to cry."

 Zelda threw her arms around Impa's neck and did just that.

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