Hylian Folklore: A Retelling of the Twilight Princess

Sacred Grove

Link's fragmented wolf body reformed at Ordon Springs. He was still not used to that feeling of breaking into a million peaces and appearing in another part of Hyrule. He tried to shake off the feeling, momentarily forgetting he had a passenger on his back.

"Hey!" Midna screeched in his ear, clinging to his fur.

He glanced back at the imp on his back and gave her his best wolf smile.

She gave him a little smile back as she sat up straight again. "So, why did you want to come back here?" she asked, though she knew he could not answer.

Link motioned his head towards the north west.

"Is that where you think you can get the crystal out of you?"

He gave her a quick nod.

"Then what are we waiting for, wolf boy, let's go!"

Link imminently dashed off into Faron Woods, the imp let out a surprised 'oof' as she nearly toppled over backwards from the sudden burst of speed. Why does she insist on calling those names! he thought angrily. He could feel the hatred for the imp boiling inside him. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't even be in this mess right now! He shook the thoughts out of his head. No, I will not give into this crystal. He pushed himself to run even faster. The sooner he got this thing out of his head, the better. He turned off the main road, following a small beaten path until they approached a small wooden sign.

"Sacred Grove. Travelers beware. Enter at your own risk," Midna read aloud, "Are you sure this is the right place?"

Link nodded again.

"All right," Midna said, sounding a bit worried, "I hope you know what you are doing."

Link didn't bother to answer her, and moved into the shadowy woods. He remembered Bo warning him and Ilia never to enter the Sacred Grove when they were young children. He said that there was a lonely spirit that lived in the grove. He would lure little children inside with playful music, and they would become lost in the woods forever. That is how the Sacred Grove got the nickname, The Lost Woods. The old myth worked to keep Link and Ilia from wandering into the grove, and he inwardly laughed at how gullible he was.

The first clearing they came to, presented a bit of a problem. It had divided into three, unmarked paths, and no particular path looked more traveled then the others. Link sniffed at the air. Someone had definitely been though this area recently, but their trail had come and gone though all three paths. Strange... Link thought as he picked the middle path. Again the path opened up into a clearing with three additional paths, with no discernible way of knowing which way to go. Each time he picked a direction, they would be presented with three more.

"Wait," Midna said as they enter yet another clearing with three paths, "haven't we been through this one before? I recognize that stump."

Link looked at the stump she was pointing too. Sure enough, it did look familiar to him. He felt a rage starting to build up inside of him, and he had to force himself to take a deep breath to calm down. He decided to use his sense of smell, an take a different path the he had before. But they only returned to the stump once more. Now his own scent trail was as confusing as the first, and he was beginning to wonder if they would ever find their way out. Then he heard the sound that sent chills up his spine. Music. Somewhere, in this grove, was someone playing some kind of horn. Link's first instinct was to run, but he quickly realized he didn't know where to run too. They were already lost. So he did the only thing he could do. follow the music. It didn't take long before they were back at the stump a third time, but this time their was someone sitting there with a lantern, playing a little horn. Dancing around him were four, wooden puppet toys. He was smaller then Midna, and wore a pointy hat and raggedy clothes. He looked very much like a rag doll. This is no spirit, Link sighed with a bit of relief, this is just a little Skull Kid.

For the most part, Skull Kids were harmless, though, a bit cantankerous at times. They liked to steal things that looked fun, and they liked to play tricks on unsuspecting people sometimes too. But, they mostly seem to do these things to get attention when they were lonely. They could live for a very long time, but always acted like small children, so you never knew how old they really were.

The Skull Kid stopped playing his horn, tilting his head to one side, "Hello."

Link wagged his tail slightly, still unsure if he should trust the Skull Kid or not.

"Will you play with me?" he asked, holding up his horn.

Midna huffed, "We don't have time for stup-" Link sat abruptly, causing Midna to fall to the ground, "Whaaaaa!"

Link nodded his head to the Skull Kid.

He let a happy giggle, "Yay!"

The Skull Kid started playing a happy little tune that was easy for Link to pick up. Within a few minutes, Link was howling along with the music. Midna only sat there on the ground, rolling her eyes.

When the music finished, the Skull Kid smiled warmly, "Thank you for playing with me, Mister Wolf. I can help you get out of these woods, if you promise to come play with me again some time?"

Link nodded in agreement, but lifted his paw to show him his Triforce, hoping the Skull Kid would understand.

"Hey, I used to have a friend with that same mark a long, long time ago," he jumped to his feet and grabbed his lantern, "Follow me!"

Without hesitation, Link followed the Skull Kid though the labyrinth of trails. Though their path didn't make much since to Link, the Skull Kid seemed to know where he was going. He finally stopped them at an even bigger stump.

"Another stump?" Midna complained, "We were already at a stump. What is so special about this one?"

"There is my old friend," Skull Kid said ignoring Midna and pointing to the front of the stump, "I miss him."

Upon closer inspection, Link notice a picture carved into the wood of the old tree. The picture was of six people and what appeared to be two fairies. The four in the back ground were funny shaped stick figures, The two in the middle were carved with greater detail. One was clearly Skull Kid, the other, however, was a young boy with a sword, dressed in a tunic and cap, just like the hero clothes that Link had on before.

"You are him, aren't you?" Skull Kid asked hopefully.

Link was not sure how to answer. He was the hero, but he had no memory of that life. Was he even the same person, just reincarnated over and over again? Or was he just chosen to be the next hero? He could only see the hope in Skull Kid's eyes. Impa did say that Zelda and I decided the fate of Hyrule for generations, he though to himself. He gave Skull Kid a nod, and the little guy jumped for joy.

"I knew you would come back some day, Link!"

Did he just say, Link? How does he know my name? Unless... he glanced at the picture once more, Maybe we really are the same person?

"You want to get your sword from the Temple of Time, don't you?" Skull Kid asked.

Link wagged his tail and nodded.

"Wait, you dragged us all the way out here for a sword?" Midna asked, "What is wrong with the sword you already have?"

"It is not just any sword," Skull Kid said, picking up his lantern again, "It is the Master Sword, the Sword of evil's Bane."

"The Sword of Evil's Bane," Midna said thoughtfully, "I think I understand now."

"Come on, Link, follow me!" Skull Kid said taking the lead once more.