The Legend of Zelda: The Regal Flame

Chapter 18: Hey, Listen!

     Link looked at the forest ahead of him. It seemed to get darker further in, and not just because it was getting late in the day. Fairy balls and random mists floated around the air. There was the occasional scuffle of leaves caused by forest animals, or dekus, or fairies, who could say, but it was unnerving.

    Lillian was right, and Link could make out the sound of a flute playing in the distance, but the sound never seemed to get closer. It was hard to get a solid grip on, but whenever he couldn't tell it's general direction, he stood still, then slowly turned in a circle until he found which direction it was loudest. It might have been more difficult if he weren't Hylian, and had such a keen sense of hearing.

    Suddenly, a shrub he was walking past started stirring, and out popped a deku scrub. Link jumped back, raising his shield in front of him.

     "Don't be so alarmed. Pi!" It said. "You humans always think we're out to get you."

     "What? You're a deku... So you don't want to hurt me? ...Or sell me something?"

     "And you people think I'm the racist one, Pi!" If the Deku had pupils, it probably would have rolled it's eyes. "Look, I just wanted to ask you something, but if you're not here to get those Kokiri and fairies back, fine. Pi! Never mind!" The scrub dropped back into the ground.

     "Wait!" Link called, getting on his hands and knees, "You know where that bat guy took those kids? That is why I came! Please help me!"

     The deku popped back up. "It's not that I want to help you... but those creeps holed your friends up in our old headquarters. They're just using them all as hostages, and maybe dinner, but we can't get anywhere near our place. Pi!"

     "Dinner?! Look, I'll help you out, if you help me out. Where are they keeping the hostages?"

     The Deku grunted. "Normally, I don't give out the location to outsiders, but.. this is necessary, pi! They took them to the Deku Tree. It's south from here. Just keep heading straight, pi! If you lose track, keep to the song. Oh, and if you run into any Skull Kids, just play that flute of yours to make friends."

     Link made several mental notes. "Thank you. Oh, and who, or what is guarding the tree?"

     "They're bulblins. Alot of them. Pi! At least thirty. They're easy to miss with all the leaves and roots to hide behind, but they're only in that area, so you don't have to have your guard up until you reach it. Pi!"

     Link nodded. "How will I know I'm there?"

     "Oh, you'll know. Pi! It's a giant, hollow tree in a big, open meadow. Hard to miss."

     Link stood up. "Okay, thank you. I'll get your tree back." Then he set off in the direction he was pointed.

     The music led him for a few minutes without distraction. It was a nice, playful tune, that almost made the walk enjoyable. But then something started disrupting it.

     The smooth sound of a flute was being overlapped by the hoarse sound of wooden pipes, similar to the sound of a trumpet. Link stopped in his tracks.

     He tried to distinguish the two sounds, but one kept getting louder, while the other's volume never changed. It didn't help that they were playing the same tune. Link was afraid that if he continued walking, he'd accidentally follow the wrong instrument.

     The musician seemed to be among him, but he stayed still. Then the pipes paused, but he didn't think it wise to continue moving.

     Something in a nearby tree shook the branches, and when he glanced up, he saw a Skull Kid sitting on the branch, playing his Deku Pipes. His eyes burned into Link's, and he didn't dance along to his tune. Link took this as a sign that the kid was seconds away from attacking him.