Fictober 2023: The Legend of Zelda Oneshots

A Confession to the Great Deku Tree

Sun shone through the trees onto Zelda's torn and mud-covered dress and callused feet. Her hands shook. Her hair was crusty with dirt and blood. Link's blood. Maybe a little of her own.

It was a beautiful day in the forest, but she didn't care. Not when the sky outside of it was filled with smoke and malice.

Even the koroks seemed sad. They were unusually silent, like they knew they wouldn't be seeing her again.

A korok, Zelda didn't know their name, spoke up. "Ms Princess!"

She looked at them. "Yes?"

"Everything will be okay, right?"

She bent down next to them and patted their head. "I promise. I promise everything will be okay."

She hated making promises she knew she may not be able to keep, but she had grown used to it after years of promising that she would unlock her powers. She finally had, and no one was there to see it. Except the koroks and the Great Deku tree, she supposed. And perhaps if Impa had survived—and Zelda hated not knowing whether she had or not—then she was alive to see it, too.

"I am proud of you," the Deku tree said. His voice was kind yet booming. It reminded her vaguely of a gentle version of her father's voice.

She looked around. All of the koroks were looking at her. "Me?"

He laughed. "Of course. You did it."

She wondered if he meant it, or if he was lying to make her feel better. He had never lied before, so she decided to believe it. She blinked away the tears in her eyes. "Th-thank you, Great Deku tree."

She knelt by the pedestal and held up the sword. Hands trembling, she slid the master sword into its slot.

"Your master will come for you," she told it. "When he wakes up, he may not have his memories, but I truly believe it when I say, he will find you. Alright?"

The sword gave a glow to show it (she?) understood.

*'Everyone here believes in me,' Zelda thought. For once, even she believed in herself. 'But... what if we're wrong?'

If they were wrong, there was something she needed to say. 'Just in case this doesn't work.'

The Great Deku tree spoke before she could. "If I may ask, Princess, what is it you plan on doing next?"

She stood. "I... I plan on doing what only I can do. I am going to imprison Calamity Ganon. And if Link wakes— No. When Link wakes— he and I will seal it away."

She paused, then spoke again. "I may not get another chance to say this. And it's not as good as telling Link... but please, when Link comes for the sword, will you please tell him I lo—"

"I think," the Great Deku tree cut her off, "That subjects such as these are better heard in your tone of voice. Don't you think?"

She considered this. If she failed... then she didn't want Link to be confused, knowing she loved him, without the chance to ask her about it. If they succeeded, she wanted to tell him herself.

She looked up at the Great Deku tree with hope finally beginning to grow inside her. "Yes."