*THIS IS A TRANSITION*
Relief hit him all at once, warm and full and intense.
Midna was alive.
Just the thought of her being okay made him want to laugh and cry and hug her and kiss her, and -
...Hold on a minute.
Kiss her?
No, scratch that last part. Link most certainly did NOT want to kiss Midna. But he was still so, so grateful that she was okay. He was so overwhelmed with relief that he didn't even realize something was wrong until on his back, Midna whispered fearfully, "N-No!"
Link looked up to find the castle, where they had been standing moments ago, fully engulfed in a large, magical barrier, and Link's heart stopped for a minute. But he couldn't help returning to a smile as Midna gripped his fur tighter in her hands.
Midna was alive.
Together, they could stop Zant. They could save the castle, and Zelda. All that mattered was that Midna was okay.
He looked up at her, and Midna's eyes were tearful with concern. Link's heart really stopped then. He'd never seen Midna cry before, and he really didn't want to now. He blinked at her happily and wagged his tail, hoping to cheer her up. She offered a weak smile and then warped him to Faron Woods.
When Link was on his feet again, he saw that he was standing in front of the Forest Temple.
Gods and goddesses: The Forest Temple! It felt like just yesterday he had raced up that pathway to rescue Colin and that monkey. Farore...it was like he could hear that monkey screeching at the top of her lungs, trying to get his attention...
Hold on a minute.
He DID hear a monkey screeching at the top of its lungs.
Link glanced to his right for the source of the sound and was completely awed to find that same monkey, dancing and screaming along a high, rocky path. She hopped down and scrambled a little ways behind Link as four creatures suddenly made their presence and attacked the poor little thing.
Link bared his teeth and raced forward, launching himself at the one closest to him. It made a hollow and wooden sound as he tackled it to the ground. He bit into it harshly and watched it crumple beneath him. Its body was made of actual...wood. Its hands were paper-thin leaves, and a creepy smile was permanently etched onto its face.
Link returned his attention to the other three. He used a spin attack, baring his teeth and clawing his way past all three at once.
They fell dead, almost too easily.
"Did...did you save me?"
Link was taken completely off guard for a moment before he remembered that he could speak to other animals.
The monkey looked up at him gratefully. "Th-Thank you," she said breathlessly. She lowered her arms and relaxed now that the danger was gone. "Listen, since you're so nice, let me tell you something. There's a really pretty wooded area of the other side of this cliff." She turned and pointed toward the rocky cliff wall she'd climbed from. "I climbed over there, but when I tried to get deeper into the woods, THOSE guys attacked me!" She thought to herself for a moment. "What's in those woods, anyway?" she inquired softly.
