Botw Reimagined: The Past

Chapter 16: Link's birthday

It had been a couple months since the gauntlet that Link was a part of. Link was still surprised that he was able to defeat all of the champions. He still couldn't believe that he was going to be one of the champions of hyrule. It's a big deal, he knows that, and it's a lot of responsibility. Today was Link's birthday. He is now 17, legally an adult in Hyrule (don't get why it isn't 18 but we'll go with it). Nothing special really about it other than the fact that he was an adult. After that gauntlet, Link seemed to have gained a lot of reputation around Hyrule, especially castle town. Over these past couple months, Link had visited the other champions and people definitely seemed to recognize him. Link may not have been able to get into gerudo town again, but Urbosa was at least able to meet up with Link at Kara Kara bazaar. Most of the other champions were happy to meet up with Link, though, Revali accepted only once and he was reluctant. His performance must have really amazed Daruk, because Daruk told him how he was an official brother now. Honestly, he didn't mind the idea. He is also, of course, glad that he can spend some time with Mipha, like when they were younger. During these recent visits however, he started to realize... How beautiful she was? Wait, that's odd, why would he think that? Whatever, it's probably something weird going on in his head.

Link laid on his soft bed in his room, his father usually wanted to do something for Link's birthday. Link pondered a little about what his father would want to do this time. His parents opened his door with smiles on their faces. "Morning son, happy birthday" his father said. "My boy is finally an adult, I'm so proud." His mother said. Link laughed awkwardly, he was a little embarrassed, but it wasn't bad. The morning was the same as it's always been. Later that day, Link's father wanted to talk with him. "Alright son, today what I wanted to do was take you on a trip, you can decide anywhere you'd like." His father said. Link thought for a moment, he had been to so many places around Hyrule, but there was somewhere that he was curious about. "Well, I think I know of a place that I've been curious about and wanted to visit." Link said. His father pulled out a map for Link to specify where the location was. Link pointed to a large forest that was to the left of the Eldin region, and above the Hylian army training grounds. "Hmm, the lost woods huh? Well I haven't really been inside the forest since people tend to get lost in there, that's why some call it lost woods." His father stated. Guess this could be a new experience for both of them. "What happen to the people that get lost?" Link asked. "Well, they actually find themselves back to where they started." His father answered. So nothing really happens to anyone that gets lost. Maybe that's to discourage anyone with malicious intent. Link and his father agreed to go to lost woods and find a way inside.

Link and his father took out their horses and prepared to set out for the lost woods. Link's mother said goodbye to them and they set off. They set straight for the lost woods as it wasn't too far from home. Not too long later, they passed by castle town. They didn't have any business in castle town, so they went around and through the Hyrule Forest Park. They weren't too far away from the forest now as they traversed past the park. They soon make it to the stable near the army training grounds. They boarded their horses and made their way to the lost woods.

Link and his father made it past the army training grounds and approached the lost woods. As they approach, the entrance, fog starts to form around them and their vision of their surroundings becomes dimmer. They then stumble across some debris that surrounds a 'torch' (I know it isn't a torch in game, but I'm too lazy to try and look up what it actually is). This is where they stumble across their first problem: where do they go? "Well, I can definitely see how someone can get lost in here, there isn't really anything to tell where we go. Link examined the area and noticed something: the fire from the 'torch' was being blown in a certain direction. Link looked in the direction that the flame was being blown to "Look, there's another torch over there, maybe that's where to go.". "Well you would look at that, guess you caught on to that pretty well." His father said. They made it to the next 'torch' and Link noticed that the flame blew in a different direction, leading to another one. It proceeded like this until they reached what looked like a checkpoint. There were two 'torches' with an actual torch laying on one of them. It seemed like there were no more 'torches' after this point, but they still blew in a certain direction. Link did take note of the very creepy trees with faces on them. They definitely aren't something to follow. Link noticed that the flame blew to a regular, plain tree. Maybe that was the puzzle. Link grabbed the torch and lit it for a flame. Link had his father stay close and they followed the flame. Link's thought process was correct, the tree was safe. The flame on the torch then started to blow a different direction to another plain tree. This was definitely the way to go. They kept following the flame, still not getting lost, and they eventually found regular sized trees and a passageway. "Look, I think this is the end, we actually made it to the end of the lost woods." Link said. "Well would you look at that, you really figured how to traverse here all by yourself, first try nonetheless." His father said. They made their way deeper into the forest, and the fog soon disappeared as they went further.