Oh, yeah, they had stories to tell.

They told us of the ReDeads, which now inhabited the town. If you got too close, it would use its vision to freeze you for six seconds. If you were lucky, you had time to get away after your six seconds were up. If you weren't . . . they'd literally squeeze the life out of you.

We learned of the Ring of Fire surrounding Death Mountain, and the strange things happening around the graveyard in Kakariko Village. We learned of the temples, now filled with monsters. The missing Princess Zelda and her attendant, Impa. The ruins of Hyrule Castle.

Ganon lived there now. And he had done some redecorating, to say the least.

I acted as brave as I could around the other Kokiri, but secretly, I was worried. Where was Link? Where had he been these past years? Wasn't he going to save Hyrule? Save us?

I told myself there had to be a good reason.

But I still worried.

Eventually I began to get bad vibes from my secret place. It teemed with evil, and the evil was still growing. As resident Forest Freak, I figured it was my duty to check it out.

I was halfway through the woods when I realized Mido was following me again. He'd been so quiet, and I was so obsessed, I'd barely heard him. When I did, I got so annoyed I almost screamed at him. He’s done this only about a thousand times before. But something stopped me, and I decided to use his pretty obvious crush on me to my advantage. I told him that if he wanted to help, he could stay here and not let anyone through.

He agreed, and I continued.

I quickly reached the Sacred Forest Meadow.

The fence was still down. Nature had taken its toll. It was buried under various vines, bushes, and grasses.

I peered around the corner and gasped in shock. When had this happened?

Monsters roamed the natural corridors. I mean, I knew that monsters had invaded our village--especially Deku Scrubs---but, wow! Ouch. This was gonna hurt.

Why hadn't I seen this happening? I realized I couldn't remember the last time I had visited my secret place.

Perhaps a fatal mistake.

The bare outline of a plan formed in my mind.

It was insane. Really. In. Sane.

But it could be my only chance.

I timed my entrance carefully. Waited until the guard was almost around the corner---

NOW!

With a battle cry that hurt even my ears, I raced full-speed toward the guard.

He stared at me in shock. Good thing, too. If he hadn't, I'd have been Deku Scrub food, via that nice long spear of his. Very pointy, too.

He loomed before me. He was taller than I realized.

Oops.

Oh, well.

When he was just feet away, he began to pick up his spear. Ignoring it, I leaped, though not exactly in the most graceful jeté.

I was up! Up on top of his head! With absolutely no hesitation, I leaped onto the top of the maze. I raced, with even more speed, and almost fell off the edge. It was then I realized that I could have just dashed around corners and past the guards when they weren't looking.

I'm so smart I kill myself.

I hurried to the Forest Temple.

I reached it and stared, wondering how I was ever going to get up there.

Suddenly, I heard a huge, booming laugh, and I was lifted into the air by a green mist. I gave a cry of shock.

Then I gave a cry of fury.

"Hey, put me down! Knock it off! I can walk! Ouch!"

I was flown, at rapid speed, into the temple. There was a kind of big, empty area in the center of the main room. The unseen force dragged me into an elevator, and we dropped to the basement.

The laugh boomed again.

I was in a circular room with paintings, all identical, on the surrounding walls. There was a gate which I could have climbed except for the way it was designed. There were no footholds.

And before me appeared . . . Ganondorf?! I gasped. I felt like I couldn't breathe. Here I was, in the presence of my--and Link's--all of Hyrule’s--enemy. I was unarmed; helpless. My own small powers were no match for this evil man's.

I was doomed.

Wait, he was riding a horse. Maybe I could--

He laughed again, and reached at his face. His fingers scrabbled around his neck. Wait, it was almost like he was wearing--

Like he was wearing a mask.

This wasn't Ganondorf at all. It was a phantom. Way creepy, too.

He laughed again.

What was so funny? I felt my annoyance grow.

I shouted at the ceiling, at the walls, at the world, knowing Ganondorf had to be listening.

"Hey, why are you using a stupid phantom? Are you too scared to come out and fight me?" Eyes blazing, I glanced about the room. I heard the laugh again, this time from the real Ganondorf.

"Fighting you is not my plan," he replied, laughing at what must have actually been his real plan.

"Then what do you want with me? I am no threat to you. It is my friend Link you should be afraid of. He will conquer you and all of these awful creatures!"

Ganon chuckled. "Brave words, little one. I am using you as bait, so to speak. Though your friend Link poses no threat to me, he has become rather annoying. I will get rid of him, and he will not bother me again."

"You're scared of him, I know it," I sneered. "You're too proud to admit it. No one can challenge the great Ganondorf!" I added sarcastically.

"Quiet, girl. You are of no use to me, and I can find another, easier target to draw the boy here, so I have no reason to keep you alive. If you want to stay alive, I suggest you keep your irritating little mouth shut."

I saluted and rolled my eyes. "Yes . . . SIR!" Then I dropped the look and glared at the ceiling. It seemed to be magnifying his voice so that it filled the room. "Link will come," I anounced slowly, relishing each word, "and he will kill you."

He laughed AGAIN. "I doubt that. Now shut your mouth, you little brat, you're going to your cell."

"My cell--" I snorted, but before I could finish my sentence, I was suddenly within a blue, transparent crystal. The crystal floated up to the ceiling. And stopped.

I gave a gasp of surprise. I couldn't move. Could barely breathe. I had no hope of escaping.

I was trapped.

With no way out.