The Legend of the Ring: The Beginning of the Fellowship

Author's Note:
*I am using actual lines and stories from the Trilogy movie The Lord of the Rings (Directed by Peter Jackson). I have seen many relations to these movies and The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess. So I will do my best to transfer these to Hyrule terms. I do not own any of the actual characters from the movie. Enjoy! ^_^ *

None now live who remember it. It began with the forging of the great rings. Three were giving to the Elves: Immortal, wisest, and fairest of all beings. Seven were given to the Goron-lords: Great miners and craftsmen of the Mountain Halls. And nine…nine rings were gifted to the race of Men…who above all, desire power.

For within these rings was bound the strength and will to govern each race. But they were all of them deceived. For another ring was made. In the Land of the Gerudo Desert in the fires of Death Mountain, the Dark Lord Ganondorf forged in secret a Master Ring…to control all others. And into this Ring, he poured his cruelty, his malice, and his will to dominate all life….One Ring to Rule them All. One by one, the Free Lands of Hyrule fell into the power of the Ring. But there were some who resisted. A Last Alliance of Men and Elves marched against the armies of The Gerudo Desert. And on the slopes of Death Mountain, they fought for the freedom of Hyrule.

Victory was near. But the power of the Ring could not be undone. Ganondorf struck down the soldiers. And it was in this moment that all hope had faded, that Isildur, son of the king, took up his father's broken sword and slashed the fingers off of Ganondorf's hand. Being separated from the Ring, Ganondorf began to disappear. Ganondorf, the enemy of the Free Peoples of Hyrule, was defeated. The Ring passed to Isildur, who had this one chance to destroy evil forever. But the hearts of Men, are easily corrupted. And the Ring of Power has a will of its own. It betrayed Isildur…to his death. And some things, that should have not been forgotten were lost. History became Legend, Legend became myth. And for Two and a half thousand years, the Ring passed out of all knowledge. Until, when chance came, it ensnared a new bearer. The Ring came to the creature Gollum, who took it deep into the tunnels of the Misty Mountains (off of Termia Bay). And there…it consumed him. The Ring brought to Gollum unnatural long life. For 500 years it poisoned his mind. And in the gloom of Gollum's cave it waited. Darkness crept back into the forests of the world. Rumor grew of a shadow in the East, whispers of a nameless fear. And the Ring of Power perceived….its time had now come. It abandoned Gollum. But something happened then that the Ring did not intend. It was picked up by the most unlikely creature imaginable. A Kokori. Plabio Ingab of the Kokori Forest. For the time will soon come when Kokoris will shape the fortune of all.

*Kokori Forest…60 years later*

Chapter 1

Seyo Ingab (Frodo Baggins) sat under the shade of an oak tree reading, and smoking his pipe, when he heard the faint singing of an elderly folk.

Down from the door where it began

I must follow if I can

Seyo leapt up and stared in the direction of the singing. He then smiled and took off.

The road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began

Now far ahead the road has gone

Seyo heard the rattling of old wagon wheels and could already tell who it was. He slid down the his on his bare feet and jumped over bushes, as he sped towards the dirt road.

And I must follow if I can...

"You're late," he said, stopping beside the cart to look down. Even though he was small he was standing on top of a tiny hill which elevated him over the cart. As it stopped to the sound of his voice, the cloaked figure in the cart looked up from under her hood

"A Twili is never late, Seyo Ingab," the woman said. "Nor is she early. She arrives precisely when she means to!"

Seyo looked at her for a short time and then started to smirk, and then laugh, and then both of them were enjoying a nice chuckle. Sayo leapt from the hill onto the cart and hugged the woman.

"It's wonderful to see you, Midna," he said. Midna was now very old but she still had some step in her. She patted the Kokori's back and sat him next to her.

"You didn't think I would miss your Uncle Plablo's birthday?"

After the battle for Twilight Midna had settled down and visited more of Hyrule before going back to the Twilight Realm.

The two rode across the wide grassy area of Kokori Forest.

"What news of the outside world?" Seyo asked. "Tell me everything. Even the Twilight Realm."

"Everything?" Midna said as she grasped the reins of her horse. "You're far to eager and curious for a Kokori. Most unnatural…"

They came to a bridge a few seconds later and after they had crossed the bumpy rocks, Midna could resume talking.

"Well, what can I tell you?" she said in that old yet friendly voice. "Life in the wide world goes on as much as it has this past Age. Full of its own comings and goings. Scarcely aware of the existence of Kokoris."

She looked at the bustling town and sighed.

"For which I am very thankful," she continued. The busy market held many Kokoris, herding sheep, selling produce. One old lady spotted the cart.

"Look," she said. "It's Midna!"

Everybody waved to the famous Twili Wizerdess. Then the two finally reached a quiet open area and took a deep breath of fresh air.

"Oh," Midna chirped up, looking to her left. "A long expected party."

She saw tents being pitched and tables being set. And then a banner was raised high on two poles. On it read, "Happy Birthday Plablo Ingab." A lady clapped at the sight of the colorful banner and the crowd sighed. Midna and Seyo continued down the road to Plablo's house.

"So how is the old rascal?" she asked. "I hear it's going to be a party of special magnificence."

"You know Plablo," Seyo said. "He's got the whole place in an uproar."

"Ah," Midna breathed. "Well now that should please him."

"Half the Kokori Forest is invited."

"Gracious me!"

"He's up to something."

"Oh really?"

"Oh all right then, keep your secrets!"

Midna chuckled.

"Before you came along, we Ingabs were very well thought of."

"Indeed," she said.

"Never had any adventures or anything unexpected."

Midna sighed.

"If you are referring to the incident with the Twilight Mirror," Midna said, referring to when she had Plablo get the hundreds of pieces of the Mirror back together. "I was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the door."

Seyo laughed and looked back at the Twili Wizerdess.

"Whatever you did, you've been officially labeled a disturber of the peace," he said.

"Oh really?" Midna said, her rose shaped pipe in her mouth. For a girl, she smoked unusually often. They passed a house. An old man was sweeping his front porch. He looked up and gave Midna the evil eye. Midna looked back at the road and puffed some smoke out.

"Midna!"

Little Kokoris started to run towards the cart.

"Midna!"

The children scrambled over fences and stopped behind the cart. Midna kept riding.

"Midna, fireworks!"

"Midna?"

Ssssssfoom! Boom boom! Pop pop!

"YAAAY!" the children cried at the fireworks that went off in the back of Midna's cart.

Seyo smiled back at the kids. Midna laughed. The old man chuckled and when his wife came out, he gave Midna the eye again. They were half way to Plablo's house, and Seyo stepped out.

"Midna?" he said. "I'm glad you're back."

"So am I dear boy," Midna replied, as the Kokori left. "So am I."

Midna reached Plablo's house and stoped her horse. He walked through the gate that had a small sign on it. "No admittance, except on party business."

Midna knocked on the door with her staff of as she now called it her walking stick.

"No thank you!" a voice came from inside. "We don't want any more visitors, well-wishers or distant relations!"

"And what about very old friends?" Midna said. The door slowly opened and a small looking man (since they were Kokoris they were naturally small) poked his head out. The door opened completely and Plablo stepped out.

"Midna?" he said, and then he waddled to hug her. "Oh, my dear, Midna!"

"Plablo Ingab," she said, squeezing him tight.

"Good to see you," she said, then she peered at the old one's face. "111 years old! Who would believe it?"

She looked puzzled at his grey hair.

"You haven't aged a day!"

Plablo laughed.

"Come on! Come in!" he said entering his house. Midna ducked her head as she entered the house.

"Welcome welcome," Plablo said. Midna's head nearly touched the ceiling!

"Oh here we are," Plablo said. He took her cloak and staff and put them in his closet.

"Tea?" he asked. "Or maybe something a little stronger. I've got a few bottles of the Old Winyard left. 1296. Very good year! Almost as old as I am!"

He headed down the hall and kept talking.
"It was laid by my father. What you say we open one, eh?"

"Just tea, thank you," Midna answered. She backed up a few steps and hit the tiny chandelier in the entrance. She turned around to steady it and turned to head into the den. But she promptly hit her head on the short ceiling first. She hear Plablo's voice in the kitchen.

"I was expecting you last week!" he said. "Not that it matters. You come and go as you please. Always have and always will! You've caught me a bit unprepared. We've only got cold chicken and a bit of pickle…"

Midna looked around the den as Plablo kept talking.

"We've got some cheese here. No that won't do…"

She saw a table cluttered with papers and maps and decided to explore it.

"We've got some raspberry jam, and an apple tart…"

Midna found one map in particular. It had a Twilight Mirror drawing next to the picture of the Chamber.

"…but not much for afterwards. Oh, wait! We're all right!"

Her eyes explored the lands of Hyrule and all beyond.

"I've got some sponge cake here…"

Plablo entered the den.

"I can make you some eggs it you'd…"

The den was empty. Midna appeared behind him in the kitchen.

"Just tea, thank you," she said.

"Oh, right," he replied. He stuffed a piece of cake in his mouth. "You don't mind it if I eat do you?"

"No, not at all," Midna said smiling. There was a knock at the door and Plablo slammed against the wall.

"Plablo? Plablo!" came a voice outside. He looked at Midna.

"I'm not at home," he said. He placed the pot on the kettle and started pacing.

"I've got to get away from these confounded relatives, hanging on the bell all day, never giving me a moment's peace! I want to see mountains again, Midna. Mountains! And then find someplace quiet where I can finish my book! Oh tea!"

"So you mean to go through with your plan?"

"Yes yes. It's all at hand," Plablo said, taking the kettle off the fireplace. "All the arrangements are made."

"Seyo suspects something," Midna said. She took a sip of her steaming tea.

"Of course he does," he replied. "He's an Ingab!"

"You will tell him won't you?"

Plablo took his finger away quickly from the kettle and licked it.

"Yes yes," he said.

"He's very fond of you," Midna pointed out.

"I know…He'd probably come with me it I asked him. I think in his hear, Seyo's still in love with Kokori Forest…the woods the fields…little rivers."

Plablo looked out the window and sighed.

"I'm old, Midna," he breathed. "I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart."

Plablo put his hand in his pocket. Midna noticed he was holding something in there. Plablo sat down slowly.

"I feel thin," he said. "Like butter, scraped over too much bread. I need a vacation. A long vacation. And I don't expect to return for a while. In fact I mean not to."

Later that evening, Midna and Plablo sat out on a hill watching the party starting to build up. They were both happily smoking their pipes.

"Old Toby," Plablo said, through his pipe. "Finest weed from Lon-lon Farm."

He took a deep breath and puffed out a smoke ring. Midna puffed slowly and it turned into a ship sailing through the ring of smoke.

"Midna, my friend," Plablo said. "This will be a night to remember."

Boom! A green flash and the fireworks went off. The Kokoris were feasting and drinking and dancing. Seyo kicked his feet on the dancing floor, and his gardener and friend, Bot, stared at the Saria, a bar tender in town. She danced like a butterfly up there. Bot took a sip of his ale and looked back into his cup. It was empty. Seyo parked himself next to Bot.

"Go on, Bot," he said. "Ask Saria for a dance!"

"Uh," Bot stammered. "I think I'll just have another ale."

"Oh no you don't," Seyo said, pushing his friend up. He fell into Sarias arms who continued to dance with him, smiling the whole time. Seyo couldn't help but laugh.

Meanwhile, Midna struck a fire rocket with her staff and it set off a silvery glow, spreading around the party. She went off to get more fireworks, chuckling in her mischievous manor. Just as she left her cart, two other Kokoris appeared. One lifted the other into the cart of fireworks.

"Which one, Tek?" the other asked.

"The big one, Mido," Tek said. Mido grabbed a dragon shaped one and scurried away. They went into the tent and lit it.

"Mido, you're supposed to stick it in the ground outside!"

BOOM! The two Kokoris fell to the ground, their faces black and their hair stuck up. The party goers cheered at the soaring tent. Then it exploded and a dragon head popped out, then the body. Then the people screamed and ran. Seyo ran to Plabbo.

"Plablo!" he said. "It's Vovagia!"

"Nonsense!" he said. "He's been dead forever!"

Then he fell down as the fire dragon flew over them and then in the distance exploded.

The crowd cheered. Tek and Mido stood up.

"That was good," Tek said.

"Let's get another one," Mido said. They both then felt a tug on their ear and cried out.

"Tekin, and Midonio," Midna said. "I might have known."

Later Tek and Mido were washing dishes and refilling Midna's mug of ale.

"Speech, Plablo!" the crowd cheered. Plablo held out his hands to hush the crowd.

"My fellow Kokoris!" he said. "Today is my 111^th birthday!"

The crowd cheered at this old age.

"But alas," he continued, "eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable Kokoris."

The crowd clapped softly.

"I..uh, have things to do."

Midna saw Plablo reach into this pocket and then take his hand behind his back with his other hand.

"I've put this off for far too long," he whispered to himself. "I regret to announce that this is the end. I'm going now. And I bid you a very fond farewell."

Then he looked at Seyo.

"Goodbye."

And he disappeared. The crowd gasped and turned their heads in confusion around the party grounds. Midna scowled and got up.

On the road to Plablos house, the gate opened by itself and the invisible Plablo giggled to himself as he entered his house. He took off the ring, flipped it in the air, and stuffed it in his pocket. He grabbed a walking stick and headed for the kitchen through the den.

"I suppose you think that was very clever," Midna said, leaning against the wall. Plablo jumped.

"Come on Midna," Plablo said. "Did you see their faces?"

"There are many magical rings in this world and NONE of them should be used lightly."

"It was just a bit of fun!" he said, gazing up at the tall Twilight Princess/ Wizerdess. "Oh you're probably right, as usual."

He went for the mantle above the fireplace for his pipe and then turned back to Midna.

"You will keep and eye on Seyo, won't you?" he asked.

"Two eyes," Midna confirmed. "As often as I can spare them."

"I'm leaving everything to him," Plablo said, reaching to grab the book he was writing.

"What about this ring of yours," Midna added. "Is that staying too?"

"Yes yes," he said, shoving the book in his knapsack. "It's in an envelope, over there on the mantelpiece."

He pointed behind him as Midna headed for the fireplace.

"Wait," he said. "It's here in my pocket."

He took the ring out and traced the edges with his wrinkly finger.

"Isn't that--? Isn't that odd, now?" Plablo said, now holding the ring with both of his hands. Then his expression turned serious. "Yet, after all, why not? Why shouldn't I keep it?"

"I think you should leave the ring behind," Midna said, feeling a sense of hostility rising in Plablo's blood. "Is that so hard?"

He suddenly turned around.

"Well no," he said, turning back to his ring. "And yes. Now it comes to it, I don't feel like parting with it. It's mine. I found it! It came to me!"

"There's no need to get angry."

"Well if I'm angry, it's your fault!"

Midna shuddered. Plablo had never acted like this. She sensed anger and selfishness rise up now.

"It's mine," he said in a sly voice. "My own. My precious."

"Precious?" Midna breathed. "It's been called that before…but not by you."

Plablo growled and turned to face Midna.

"What business is it of yours what I do with my own things?" he hissed.

"I think you've had that ring long enough," Midna advised.

"Y-you want it for yourself!" Plablo suddenly blurted out.

"Plablo Ingab!!!" Midna cried. The house creaked and became dark. Plablo pressed himself against the wall in terror. Midna's face turned dark. "Do not take me for a conjurer of cheap tricks! I am not trying to rob you!"

Her voice softened and the room lightened in the night.

"I'm trying to help you," she whispered. Plablo whimpered and then walked towards his friend. She greeted him with a comforting hug. She reached far down since Plablo was a few feet shorter than her. She bent down and looked into his eyes.

"All of your long years we've been friends," she said. "Trust me as you once did…let it go."

"You're right, Midna," he said. "The ring must go to Seyo."

He picked up his bag.

"It's late. The road is long. Yes it is time."

He opened the door and…

"Plablo," Midna said, standing up and putting her hands on her cloaked hips. "The ring is still in your pocket.

"Oh," Plablo innocently sighed. He took the ring from his pocket and stared at it for a few seconds. Slowly, hesitantly, his hand tilted sideways. The ring slid from his dry palm and landed with a "ting" on the wooden floor. Plablo then, walked out the door, Midna following him to wish him farewell. Then he stopped.

"I thought up an ending for my book," he said, turning to smile at his old friend. " 'And he lived happily ever after to the end of his days."

Midna bent down again and put her hands on his shoulders.

"And I'm sure you will, my dear friend," she said.

"Goodbye, Midna" Plablo said.

"Goodbye, dear Plablo," Midna said, smiling sweetly at the Kokori. She winked at him. He gave her one final smile and started his final journey down the road from his house.

The road goes ever on and on…

Plablo was singing all the way.

"Until our next meeting," Midna said. She sighed and went back inside out of the humid air. She entered and stared down at the ring lying on the floor. She was leaning down to pick it up. Her fingers had just brushed the gold, when an image of a fiery eye flashed in her mind. She quickly took her hand away from it.

Midna sat in front of Plablo's fireplace, smoking from her rose shaped pipe. She could hear Plablo's stinging words.

It's mine. My own. My precious.

"Riddles in the dark," she whispered to herself.

"Plablo!" came a voice outside. Seyo barged in through the door. "Plablo?"

He spotted the ring and picked it up.

"My precious," Midna repeated to herself. Seyo saw her by the fire and figured it out.

"He's gone, hasn't he?" Seyo said. "He talked for so long about leaving. I didn't think he'd really do it."
He walked over to Midna's tall figure, sitting in a rocking chair.

"Midna?" he said, noticing she hadn't reacted to anything he had said. She took the pipe from her mouth and looked down at Seyo's hand. "Plablo's ring. He's gone to stay in Hyrule with the Elves. He's left you his entire home and everything in it."

She held out an envelope, and Seyo dropped the ring in it. Midna closed it and sealed it with wax.

"The ring is yours now," she handed it back to Seyo. "Keep it somewhere out of sight."

"Where are you going?" Seyo asked, following Midna around to the entrance. She grabbed her staff and was about to head out the door.

"There are some things I must see to," she said.

"What things?" Seyo said.

"Questions," she answered. "Questions that need answering."

"But you've only just arrived." Midna stopped. "I don't understand."

Midna turned around.

"Neither do I," she said. She put a hand on his shoulder. "Keep it secret. Keep it safe."

She disappeared out of the door and into the night. Seyo looked at the envelope in his hand and sighed.

Off of the outskirts of the Gerudo Desert in the land of the Sand Fires, in the tower ofGanondorf, there came a cry of pain from within.

"Kokori Forest!"

"Ingab!"

The gates of the land opened and 9 black riders emerged. They had only one sense of where they were going and why: Kokori Forest to retrieve the Ring of Power.

Midna rode on her horse to the Sacred Library. She dismounted and headed in. She took out every scroll, every book she could find on Isildur and the Ring. She read page after page, until she came to one particular paragraph:

The year 3434 of the Second Age. Here follows the account of Isildur, High King of Eltora, and the finding of the Ring of Power.

"It has come to me. The One Ring. It shall be an heirloom of my kingdom. All those who follow in my bloodline shall be bound to its fate for I will risk no hurt to the Ring. It is precious to me, thought I buy it with great pain. The markings on the band begin to fade. The writing, which as first was as clear as red flame, as all but disappeared. A secret now that only fire can tell."

A realization struck Midna. She left the library in haste to get back to the Kokori Forest.

Somewhere in the Kokori Forest, some one was chopping firewood at night. His dog started barking at an approaching stranger. He barked and barked, and then backed into his home. A rider on a black horse approached the fence. The Kokori looked in terror at the Black Rider. The figure upon the horse uttered three words:

"Kokori Forest."

"Ingab."

"There's no Ingab here," the resident said. "There up in the woodsy area."

The horse stomped his foot.

"That way!" he said pointing east. The rider took off, letting out an ear piercing screech.

In the woodsy part of the Kokori Forest, at the bar, Seyo, Bot, Tek, and Mido said goodbye to Saria and headed home. Seyo said goodbye to Bot as he entered the gate to his house. He went in and found the den a complete mess. Papers were scattered everywhere and a chair was overturned. He looked around and then felt a hand grasp his shoulder. He turned around to Midna's face.

"Is it secret?" she asked. "Is it safe?"

Seyo opened a chest and looked through it. He found the envelope and handed it to Midna. She snatched it up and threw it in the fire.

"What are you doing?" Seyo demanded. Midna took some tongs and fished the Ring out of the ashes of the paper.

"Hold out your hand, Seyo," Midna said. Seyo gave Midna a puzzled look. "It's quite cool."

The ring fell into Seyo's hand. It was cold to touch.
"Do you see anything?" Midna asked.

"No," Seyo said. "There's nothing."

Midna sighed.

"Wait."

She turned back to Seyo.

"There are markings," he said. "It's some form of Hylian. I can't read it."

"There are few who can," Midna said. "The language is that of the Gerudo Desert, which I will not utter here."

"Gerudo Desert!" Seyo gasped.

"In common tongue is says: "One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them. One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness, bind them."

"This is the One Ring," Midna sighed, holding her smoking pipe, "forged by the Dark Lord Ganondorf in the fires of Death Mountain. Taken by Isildur from the hand of Ganondorf himself."

Seyo clutched his cup of tea and gazed down at the Ring.

"Plablo found it," he said, "In Gollum's cave."

"Yes," Midna confirmed. "For 60 years, the Ring lay quiet in Plablo's keeping, prolonging his life, delaying old age. But no longer, Seyo. Evil is stirring in the Gerudo Desert. The Ring has awoken. It's heard it's master's call."

"But he was destroyed," added Seyo. "Ganondorf was destroyed."

There was a faint whisper from the Ring that sent a chill down Midna's and Seyo's spine. It said, "I see you." But only the trained ear could hear it.

"No, Seyo," she whispered. "The spirit of Ganondorf endured. His life force is bound to the Ring and the Ring survived."

Seyo knew the next words Midna was going to say.

"Ganondorf has returned. His monsters have multiplied. His fortress at the Gerudo Mesa is rebuilt in the Gerudo Desert. Ganondorf only needs the Ring to cover all of the lands in a second darkness. He is seeking it. Seeking it. All his thought is bent on it. The Rings yearns above all else to return to the hand of its master. They are one. The Ring, and the Dark Lord. Seyo, he must never find it."

"All right," Seyo said, picking up the Ring. "We put it away. We keep it hidden. We never speak of it again. No one knows it's hear, do they?"

Midna did not respond.

"Do they, Midna?"

"There is one other who knew that Plablo had the Ring. I looked everywhere for the creature, Gollum, but the enemy found him first. I don't know how long they've tortured him. But amidst the endless screams and inane babble, they discerned 3 words: Kokori Forest. Ingab."

"But that will lead them here!" Seyo said. He pictured servants of Ganondorf strangling him for the Ring. He held out the Ring to Midna.

"Take it, Midna!" he said. Midna backed up. "Take it!"

"No, Seyo," she breathed.

"You must take it!"

"You cannot offer me the Ring!"

"I'm giving it to you!"

"Don't," Midna shouted, "tempt me, Seyo."

Seyo lowered his arm.

"I dare not take it," she continued. "Not even to keep it safe. Understand, Seyo, I would use this Ring from a desire to do good."

Seyo thought then she should take it. But the Wizerdess continued.

"But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine."

"But it cannot stay in Kokori Forest!"

"No!" Midna agreed. "No it can't."

Seyo wrapped his hand around the ring, the cold surface felt icy and hostile.

"What must I do," he asked the princess.

Seyo reached into the closet for his cloak.

"You must leave," Midna said.

"Where?" the Kokori questioned. "Where do I go?"

"Get out of Kokori Forest. Make for Zora's Domain."

"Zora's Domain," he repeated. He walked down the hall, Midna swiftly behind him. "What about you?"

"I'll be waiting for you at the Ice and Water inn."

"And the Ring will be safe there?"

"I don't know, Seyo. I don't have any answers."

Seyo wrapped up a loaf of bread and put it in his knapsack.

"I must see the head of my order. He is both wise and powerful. Trust me, Seyo. He'll know what to do."

Seyo put the knapsack onto his back and looked back up at Midna's towering face.

"You must leave the name Ingab behind you. That name is not safe outside Kokori Forest."

"Nothing is," Seyo pointed out. Midna nodded.

"Travel only by day. And stay off the road," she cautioned.

"I can cut across country easily enough," Seyo said, taking his walking stick from Midna's hand. He stuffed the Ring in his shirt pocket.

"My dear, Seyo," Midna said. "Kokoris really are amazing creatures. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month. Then yet after 100 years they can still surprise you."

Then there was a rustle in the bushes outside the window.

"Get down," Midna ordered. Seyo dropped to the ground. She grabbed her staff and slowly stalked to the window. She thrust her staff forward and a cry of pain came out. She shoved her hand forward and forced Bot inside the house. He landed on the table with incredible force. Seyo raised an eyebrow. He never knew Midna was that strong, even in her old age.

"Confound it all, Botin Gimag! Have you been eves dropping?!" Midna demanded.

"I 'aven't been dropping no eaves, ma'am…Your Highness. Honest. I was just cutting the grass outside the window."

"A little LATE for trimming the hedges, don't you think?" Midna said, placing her fists upon her hips and scowling at the fat Kokori.

"I heard raised voices," Bot confessed.

"What did you hear?" Midna asked forcefully. "Speak!"

"N-nothing important!" Bot lied. "That is, I heard a good deal about a ring, a Dark Gerudo Lord, and something about the end of the world, but--. Please, Miss Midna, ma'am, don't hurt me. Don't turn me into anything…unnatural."

"No," Midna sighed. "I suppose not. I've thought of a better use for you."

Midna swiftly and gracefully walked across the grass with her horse, and Seyo.

"Hurry up, Botin Gimag!" she said behind her. "Keep up!"

Bot clumsily ran behind them. They came to a clearing, and Midna stopped.

"Be careful," she said. "Both of you. The enemy has many spies in his service: Birds, beasts."

Then she turned to Seyo.

"Is it safe?" she asked.

Seyo patted his shirt pocket and nodded. Midna knelt down to his height.

"Never put it on!" she commanded. "For the agents of the Dark Lord Ganondorf will be drawn to its power. Always remember, Seyo, the Ring is trying to get back to it's master. It wants to be found."

And at that, the Wizerdess mounted her horse and galloped away.

To be continued...

Seyo and Bot walked for a few days, stopping occasionally to rest and eat. Soon they entered a farm area. Seyo hadn’t noticed that Bot had stopped walking. Then he turned around.

“If I take one more step,” he replied, “it’ll be the farthest away from home I’ve ever been.”

“Come on, Bot,” he said. “Remember what Plablo used to say. It’s a dangerous business, Seyo…”

Going out your door. You step out onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

Midna rode though the forests and plains, day and night, until she finally reached her destination. Over the hill was the Tower of Isengard. The home of another wizard. She rode down the path and saw that he was walking down the stairs to greet her.

Smoke rises from the Mountain of Death. The hour grows late. And Twilight Princess Midna rides to Isengard. Seeking my counsel.

“Zant,” Midna said, bowing. Even though she was further up in authority, Zant was a wizard and far more powerful than she.

“Yet you did not have the wit to see it,” Zant hissed. Midna turned her face away and scowled. “Your love of the Halfling’s leaf has clearly slowed your mind.”

“But we still have time. Time enough to counter Ganondorf if we act quickly.”

“Ganondorf has regained much of his former strength. He cannot take physical form, but his spirit has lost none of its potency. Concealed within his fortress, the Lord of the Gerudo Desert sees all. His gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth, and flesh.”

“You know of what I speak, Midna,” he continued. “A Great Eye, lidless and wreathed in flame.”

“He is gathering all evil to him. Very soon, he will have summoned and army great enough for an assault on Hyrule.”

“I have seen it,” Zant said, glancing to his left. He walked to a palantir. A crystal ball used for seeing into other places.

He pulled off the veil to reveal a black sphere, darker than the night sky. It sat on a pedestal in the center of the room.

“They are not all accounted for!” Midna added. “The lost Seeing Stones! We do not know who may be watching.”

She snatched the cover and flung it over the orb. For a moment the Eye of Ganondorf flashed in her mind as she touched the covered palantir.

“The hour is later than you think,” Zant said, walking around to his seat. Ganondorf’s forces are already moving.”

“They crossed the River of Death on Midsummer’s Eve, disguised as riders in black.”

“They will find the Ring,” Zant said, in a low and sinister voice, “and kill whoever carries it.”

“Seyo!” Midna whispered. She rushed for the door. Zant glanced that way and the double doors shut in front of the Wizerdess. She tried the other 3 but was promptly stopped by them as they shut. Even the windows closed, eclipsing the sunlight.

“You did not seriously think that a Kokori could contend with the will of Ganondorf?”

“There are none who can,” he added. “Against the power of the dark forces that lurk in the Gerudo Desert, there can be no victory.”

“Tell me…friend,” Midna said, through gritted teeth. “when did Zant the Wise abandon reason for madness?”

Zant reacted by clutching his staff and forcing the Wizerdess back. She hit the wall and stuck by incredible force. Then Zant released his power and she tumbled to the floor. He slowly walked towards her. She instantly thrust out her staff and Zant fell backwards. Then Zant flipped Midna over. Her forehead was bleeding. She moaned in pain. Then she sat up and forced Zant to fly back onto the floor. Then she got up and threw him into the wall. Zant tumbled her over and over again. Midna gave an explosion of power that sent Zant through the doors and back onto the floor. The Wizard threw out his hand and Midna’s staff flew from her hand. Zant now had twice the power. Midna was thrown back onto the floor. Zant was torturing her from the inside. She tossed and turned in pain.

“I gave you a chance,” Zant said, walking towards the princess, “of aiding me willingly, but you have elected the way of pain!”

And with that, Zant raise the staffs and Midna was sent rising with exceptional speed to the ceiling.

Bot made his way through the cornfield and realized when he came to an opening that Seyo was not with him.

THUD! BUMP! Bot and Seyo were knocked over almost as soon as the words left his mouth. Bot spat some grass out of his mouth. His vision cleared.

Seyo looked down at all the cabbage and carrots and other vegetable that Mido and Tek dropped.

“What’s the meaning of this?” he asked. Tek and Mido picked up they’re produce and handed some to Bot to hold.

“You’ve been into Farmer Seteag’s crops!” he said. All four of the Kokoris turned to the sound of a dog barking. They saw a pitch fork above the corn stalks.

Mido grabbed Tek and Seyo and ran off through the stalks. Bot looked down at his loot of veggies, dropped them and ran.

“I don’t know why he’s so upset!” Tek said as they ran through the field. “It’s only a couple of carrots.”

“And some cabbages,” Mido pointed out. “And those bags of potatoes we lifted last week! A-and then the mushrooms the week before…”

“Yes, Mido!” Tek interrupted. “My point is, he’s clearly over reacting! RUN!”

Mido stopped in front of the group as he almost tumbled down a steep hill. Then Seyo and Tek ran into him, and to finish it off, Bot came charging through, knocking the poor Kokoris down the hill. They rolled and tumbled and landed in a nice little heap at the bottom. Bot spat out some grass that had been lodged into his mouth. Mido looked at the dung pile that was inches away from his nose.

“I think I’ve broken somethin’,” Tek muttered, pulling a bent carrot out from behind his back. “Oh.”

“Mushrooms!” Mido called out, spotting a patch nearby. All but Seyo scrambled to the pile and started eating. Seyo looked around him at the quiet road and felt a dark presence getting close.

“I think we should get off the road,” he said. He heard a screech in his mind. “Get off the road! Quick!”
They didn’t ask questions. They just leapt under the roots of a giant tree. Everything was a frightful calm.

“Be quiet!” Tek whispered to Mido, who was rummaging through his sack of mushrooms. All of a sudden they heard the heavy footsteps of a large horse. It stopped. Seyo looked through the roots and examined one of its bloody hooves. Then they heard the clank of metal boots as the rider dismounted. It leaned over to look around and started sniffing for the Ring. Seyo felt an evil power suffuse him. He reached into his pocket and drew out the Ring. He positioned his finger to put it on. Then he felt a tight grip on his hand. Bot had thrust his arms over Tek and Mido to keep him from putting the Ring on. The Black Rider heard the stir and turned his head. Tek flung a bag full of cabbages in the opposite direction and the rider followed the sound with a wail. When they were sure it was gone they rushed through the forest. They stopped to rest in a clover patch.

“What was that!?” Tek demanded. Seyo breathed hard and looked down at the Ring. He stood up and continued on.

Night had fallen on Kokori Forest. The 4 Kokoris had nearly reached Hyrule Field. They hid behind a tree as they saw a Dark Rider canter by. As he disappeared they rushed across the road. They scrambled through trees.

“That Black Rider was looking for something,” Tek figured out. “Or someone. Seyo?”

They dropped to their bellies in surprise. Tek and Seyo peered over a bush to see a black rider in the dead of night.

“I have to leave Kokori Forest,” Seyo whispered. Tek looked at Seyo in shock. “Bot and I must get to Zora’s Domain.”

They pushed through the brush following Tek. A Black Rider popped out and cut Seyo off. Out of all the confusion, Mido managed to scream out, “Run! This way!”

Bot and Mido got to Tek, but Seyo was still weaving through, desperately trying to get to the others. He eventually faked out the horse and ran to the other side. He dashed after the other 3.

Bot, Tek, and Mido leapt over a fence. They ran onto a dock, where a small raft lay, bobbing up and down on the river’s current. They all climbed onto Tek’s ferry.

“Go!” Seyo shouted. Mido took his foot off the dock as they slowly drifted away.

“Jump!” all three of them cried. And he did. He landed face forward onto the wooden raft. The Rider skidded to a halt before it and its horse plunged into the water. It turned and left, seeing as it couldn’t catch up with the Ring that way.

As Tek rowed the raft down the river, Seyo caught his breath, Bot assured Seyo that he was fine, and Mido took out a carrot from his bag and ate.

It started raining when they got to the bridge. They tied up the raft and ran to Zora’s Domain. There was a giant ice gate and door. Seyo knocked and a slot opened in the ice above their heads. A baggy old Zora head peeked out and then closed the slot. Another slot opened at the Kokoris’ height.

“We’re heading for the Ice and Water Inn,” Seyo explained. The Zora closed the slot, and opened the door. He came out with a lantern full of fire flies.

“Kokoris,” he said, surprised, “Four Kokoris! What business brings you to Zora’s Domain?”

“All right, young sir I meant no offense,” he said, letting the four soaking wet Kokoris into the Domain. “It’s my job to ask questions after nightfall. There’s talk of strange folk abroad. Can’t be too careful.”

And he closed the door. The group of four walked through the streets of the Domain, and how huge it was to them. And there were other beings besides Zoras: Gorons, Sheikas, Elves, Men, even a few Octorocks. Seyo looked up at the Ice and Water Inn sign and they walked in. It was warm and dry ironically. A man stood at a bar counter serving the sober and already drunk folks.

“Good evening, little masters,” he said cheerfully. “If you’re seeking accommodation, we’ve got some cozy Kokori sized rooms available. Mister…?”

“We’re friends of Princess and Wizerdess Midna,” Seyo said. That seemed to clear things up for the bar tender. “Can you tell him we’ve arrived?”

“Oh, yes!” the man piped up, seeing Seyo’s disappointment. “I remember, elderly Twili.”

“Haven’t seen her for six months,” he suddenly said. That made Seyo’s stomach drop. He turned back at the group.

“But you’ve got a whole half already!” Bot said, but he was gone. He sighed and slumped back into the chair. Then he looked across the room at a dark corner.

“That fellow has been doing nothin’ but staring at you since we’ve arrived,” he said to Seyo. Seyo looked slowly to his right and sure enough, a cloaked man in the corner. He just sat there smoking his pipe. Seyo was amazed when he the fire lit up the man’s face. His eyes were a fierce and bright blue, but he saw nothing more then his eyes, under his cloaked head.

“Excuse me,” Seyo said to the bar tender that greeted him as he walked by. He bent down to hear him. “That man in the corner. Who is he?”

“E’s one of them Rangers,” he whispered to Seyo. “They’re dangerous folk, wandering the wilds. What his right name is I’ve never heard, but around here for some reason, he’s know as the Blue Eyed Beast.”

“Blue Eyed Beast,” Seyo said to himself. It sounded like a famous name that had been forgotten over time. He twirled the Ring around in his fingers. He began to feel drowsy. His eyes slowly closed, and he began to hear a whisper in his mind, like a chill of winters frozen lips.

“He’s right over there,” he continued. “Seyo Ingab. He’s my second cousin, once removed on his mother’s side, and my third cousin, twice removed…”

Seyo rushed to the bar counter. “Blue Eyed Beast” put down his pipe as he noticed the quick to react Kokori. Seyo reached Mido.

“Steady on, Seyo!” Mido said, pushing him back. Seyo slipped on the wet floor, and the Ring fell out of his grasp. The Ranger sat up. Seyo’s finger was by mere chance were the Ring came to rest on. It slid down his index finger, and he disappeared. Bot, Tek, Mido and the Ranger all jerked awake from the humming sound of the bar. They had just seen Seyo vanish into thin air! Somewhere off in the distance, the Black Riders heard the Rings call and headed in the direction of Zora’s Domain. Seyo turned over and began to crawl. All around him was a hard wind like icy steam. He couldn’t make out anything.

Seyo gripped the Ring, furiously trying to pry it off his finger. Finally it slipped and came off. Everything became clear and he was back in the bar. He looked around and sighed. But his relief was quick, for a hand reached down and forced Seyo up. He was thrown against the wall by the “Blue Eyed Beast”.

“You draw far too much attention to yourself, ‘Mr. Underhill’,” the Ranger hissed. He forced Seyo up the stairs and into his room. Seyo fell to the ground, but got up as he heard the door close shut.

“A little more caution from you,” the Ranger replied. “That is no trinket you carry.”

“I can avoid being seen if I wish, but to disappear entirely,” he continued taking his hood off, “that is a rare gift.”

Seyo had a moment or two to study the man’s features. He had a clean shaven face, his eyes were still fiercely blue, and he had dirty-blonde, shaggy bangs that clung to his face with sweat.

He stepped closer to the small Kokori, but as quick as lighting, as he hear the door start to open, he drew his sword as 3 more Kokoris shuffled in.

“Let’em go!” Bot shouted, putting up his fists, “Or I’ll have you, Ranger!”

“You have a stout heart, little Kokori,” he said, sheathing his sword. “But that will not save you. You can no longer wait for the Twili Wizerdess, Seyo. They’re coming.”

The old Zora at the gate heard a rumble and headed for the door. He opened the slot and gasped before the horse charged into the ice, knocking it over, crushing the poor gatekeeper. Three more Black Riders followed the first and galloped into Zora’s Domain. They drew their deadly swords and entered the bar. The tender hid behind a door, mouthing a prayer to the goddesses.

The four Kokoris slept peacefully. The Riders stalked into their room as quietly as a mouse. They each took a bed, raised their swords, gave an ear piercing cry and stabbed through the sheets. Over and over again they struck the beds. And then they pulled over the sheets noticing no bloodstained comforter. Pillows were piled into the beds, feathers flying everywhere. This was the Kokori’s room, but no Kokori lay in bed.

“They were once men,” he replied, “Great Kings of Men. Then Ganondorf the Deceiver gave to then nine rings of power. Blinded by their greed, they took them without question. One by one falling into darkness.”

“They are the Nazgul. Ringwraiths, neither living nor dead. At all times they feel the presence of the Ring, drawn to the power of the One. They will never stop hunting you.”

Later that morning, the Ranger, who still had not revealed his name to them, made them leave Zora’s Domain with him.

“How do we know if this ‘Blue Eyed Beastie’ is a friend of Midna?” Tek asked Seyo.

“To Hyrule, Master Gimag,” the Ranger called from up ahead. “To the house of Daltus.”

“Do you hear that?” Bot said, excited. “Hyrule! We’re going to see the Elves!”

They group of now five trudged across the vast field and swamps of Hyrule. There were trees much bigger than in Kokori Forest. The Kokoris had never seen trees so big! The grass was so green and soft, and there were so many animals! Blue Eyed Beast walked on, but stopped when he noticed the Kokoris had stopped.

“What about elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them doesn’t he?”

Then out of the blue an apple cam flying over the hill and landed in Tek’s grasp. He smiled, gave it to Mido, patted his shoulder, and walked off. Another apple flew their way and hit Mido.

Far off I Isengard, the now evil Wizard, Zant spoke to Ganondorf through the palantir.

“The power of Isengard is at your command,” he said, “Ganondorf, Lord of Hyrule.”

Zant sat in his chair awaiting the green monsters that usually sat up on the look out platform. Three of them came in.

“What orders from the Gerudo Dessert, my lord?” he hissed. “What does the eye command?”

The monsters along with Octorocks cut down the trees that stood around the tower. They cut and tore at the bark until it fell.

High up on the flat roof of Isengard, Midna awoke from unconsciousness. She painfully got up when she heard the moaning of the murdered trees. She walked toward the edge of the roof. Looking down she saw many fires burning, axes swinging, and monsters killing. It started to rain but the fire persevered.

Down in the patch of dead dirt, where the trees used to stand, Zant walked up to his chief goblin.

Midna sat down and rested her back against one of the 4 spikes that reached out toward the heavens. She put her head into her hands and sobbed for the trees and land that Zant was destroying.

The Ranger and the 4 Kokoris continued on their journey to Hyrule. They came to a stop in front of a large hill with a ruin on top.

“This was once the great watch tower of Hyrule,” the Ranger said. He turned to the Kokoris behind him.

Seyo took off his knapsack and sat down joining Tek, Bot, and Mido. The Ranger unfolded a piece of tanned hide and tossed each Kokori a small sword.

“These are for you,” he said. “Keep them close. I’m going to have a look around.”

Seyo awoke to the smell of cooked food. He sat up to see Bot, Tek, and Mido having their own little feast.