Mercy squinted her eyes at the green in the distance. She was almost certain it was foliage. It was like finding a nugget of silver in a mountain of rocks. Except you could find silver anywhere underground. Green, living, fresh foliage though was a whole different story. She'd seen the occasional green plant growing up, but those were in pots, given care their entire lives. For people like mercy, it wasn't normal to see healthy forests and to be upset when there were dead plants somewhere. It was an everyday occurrence to see an abundance of dead trees. Those with leaves didn't carry green leaves anymore, they carried a shade of brown or orange that was clearly sickly. She didn't know anything else, and to see this grand beacon of life but a smile on her face, but only before it was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a twig snapping behind her.<br/><br/>As if by instinct, Mercy's sword was unsheathed and her head darted in the direction of the twig. It could have been a rat, for all she knew, but in this world you had to always be ready. If you weren't, you'd be dead or worse. To her surprise, her sword pointed at what couldn't have been a child a day older than twelve years old. There was plenty off when it came to the kid. People she had known or seen didn't look healthy, let alone clean like this child did. He looked like he bathed every day perhaps, and Mercy was convinced only servants of Ganondorf had that privilege. His clothing was untouched for the most part, and he was just a young kid, much younger than Mercy was when she had to start running. She didn't know for sure if he worked for Ganondorf, but two things were certain. She didn't want to be risky on this one and this child clearly wasn't on the run.<br/><br/>"Hy-Hylian!" The child exclaimed to her. There was a strange mix of excitement and fear in the Kokiri's voice. The sword that was now close to him was likely the cause of the fear, but Mercy wasn't going to take chances on this one, she inched even closer without speaking. "I-I was sent out here to come find you! I didn't think you'd be so close! You need to-" The boy spoke, Mercy prepared to scold.<br/><br/>"Who sent you?" She asked, clearly not pleased, but also not willing to yell in a place where death could be found so easily. For the most part, she expected the boy to say Ganondorf's army. It'd be odd if they were sending children, but in the moment she didn't question it. Normally she'd be pleased to have a reason to kill anyone supporting the dark lord, but this was just a kid. She didn't want to have to do anything.<br/><br/>"The Great Deku Tree." The boy responded, suddenly much more full of conviction than he previously was. "He wishes your audience. It's an honor to speak with such wisdom. You should be honored." The boy said, suddenly the sword not even seeming a threat to him. But Mercy knew better. Not that she wanted to go through with any of this.<br/><br/>"I hate to ruin your dreams, but the tree is nothing more than a myth." Mercy said, but was immediately cut off afterwards before she could speak again.<br/><br/>"<span style="font-style: italic">Don't you dare speak about the Great Deku Tree!</span>" The Kokiri scolded at her.<br/><br/>"If you weren't so young, you'd be dead by now." Mercy warned, angrily.<br/><br/>"I'm a Kokirian, I'm older than you could trace your ancestral line by far!" The kokiri said, clearly not happy with the events that had taken place.<br/><br/>The idea that the Kokiri existed wasn't that crazy. Mercy had experienced magic first hand herself. She simply choose to ignore all of these tales for the principle that they didn't matter. "Okay, fine." Mercy said, with doubt in her mind. Maybe there was an explanation for the green foliage. But she didn't like it still. She'd done nothing worthy of speaking with a divine tree, and using kids to lure people would be a genius strategy. But the dark lord was no fool, if he was using children to lure fighters out, he'd use children as young as they came, dirty, bloody, helpless. Not clean and full of fighting spirit. "Where is this Deku Tree?" She asked skeptically.<br/><br/>"The remains of the Kokiri Forest are that way." He pointed towards the foliage, where she was hoping and assumed he would. There was some credibility now. Even still, she couldn't help but shake the instinct it was a trap. If it was, she'd fight her way out if she had to. "Consider your faults forgiven if the Great Deku wants to talk to you, you must be important in some way."<br/><br/>"I wouldn't call them faults." Mercy growled back. But she managed to keep her temper under control for the moment. "Fine, you lead the way, Kokirian." She said, giving into the belief for now. In truth, she wanted to step into the green foliage. It seemed like an entire different existence. It seemed like what life should be.<br/><br/>She stayed alert, but it continued to be harder and harder as they walked deeper into the green forest. Things seemed to be more alive. There was less danger lingering in the air. Other kokiri were wander around their homes, most giving looks to Mercy. Could it be true? Was the Great Deku Tree a reality? And did it really want to see her? What had she done? She was nearly overwhelmed with this sense of life and this sense of anxiousness. Could it have been possible that things were like this all the time? And at the same time, she wasn't looking forward to the honor of speaking to the tree. What if she'd done evil?<br/><br/>"The Great Deku Tree is located in that direction, if you just take the path, I'm sure you'll find it. And please, don't meet him like you met me, show him respect!" The child, or, what she now believe was actually a Kokirian, spoke a lot more light hearted than he had before. Maybe he'd forgiven her, or maybe he was just happy to be back home.<br/><br/>"I got it... uh, thanks. I appreciate it." Mercy said. She was speechless for the most part. Still aware, in case it was all a trap. It felt bittersweet in a way for her. To see life all around her for the first time ever, but to still be ready to fight death in case it was lurking, just waiting for her. She walked a path, her feelings becoming mixed of the current situation. But she put on her brave face, she'd always held the weight of the world before when she had to. She'd do it again now.<br/><br/>It wasn't for a few moments that she noticed it. The Tree. It was alive. It was in the presence of two others, a man and a woman. She wanted to let out a gasp, but she didn't. She let her footsteps take on a normal volume as she approached. Socially speaking, she didn't know how to make herself known to the two, or three if you counted the tree. How had the dark lord ignored this for so long, she wondered.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">------</div><br/><br/>Mercy walked forward with great uncertainty. Surely there wasn't any chance that this was a trap anymore. It would  be a massive waste of resources to make such a tree believable. She'd have been in binds by now if this was the doing of dark forces, she knew that for sure. "Hello." She said, firm in her tone as to not be seen as inferior. She didn't know these people, but she did know it was in her best interests to make herself useful at this point.<br/><br/><span style="color: grey">Daphnes, surging with a newfound hope, heard another new voice. It was so unsure but definitely feminine, and as he turned his hope grew further. A hylian, one of his own. She looked so young and frail, but her eyes hardened and fierce. Her garb spoke of what she had been through and he imagined it was nothing pleasant. He stood staring for longer than one would think appropriate, but the great tree corrected that. <span style="font-family: Triforce;"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">"Welcome child."</span></span> He said simply, and awaited her reply. Daphnes dared not speak in his place, so he waited.</span><br/><br/>There was a part of her with a burning fire that told her to question why she was brought here, to ask what this all meant. But given the circumstances, what was happening was profound, it was important. Overall, it meant there was something out there that wasn't gone yet. Here she had audience with something she couldn't even begin to understand. She decided to follow the advice she was given and show the Great Tree some respect. "Thank you, Great Deku Tree." She said, almost numbly. She didn't know the first thing about giving respect to higher ranks, never mind higher beings. She noticed the older man and the other woman. Why were they here, she wondred. "A Kokirian sent me here." She said, trying to maintain respect. She wasn't sure how to ask for an explanation but remain kind. So she simply waited instead. Surely it was best to not ramble to a divine being.<br/><br/><span style="color: grey"><span style="font-family: Triforce;"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">"One sent for you, and a few others as well. They will come in short order."</span></span> The tree's visage moved to Daphnes now. <span style="font-family: Triforce;"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">"My friend, see to our new arrival. I will make sure the child of sand remains near."</span></span> Daphnes nodded quickly, but his gaze remained on her. The Deku tree turned back to the hylian girl and responded. <span style="font-family: Triforce;"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">"Forgive the quick introduction but time is a luxury for us all now. Daphnes before you will make sure any questions you have are answered. You would do well to heed his wisdom."</span></span></span><br/><br/>"Yes, Great Deku Tree." He obeyed, though hesitated in the process. It was obvious that things were complicated, but Mercy couldn't wrap her head around it. The Tree had said to listen to the wisdom of this man. Mercy shot him a look, people and her didn't always get along, but in this case she hoped it might be different. She didn't have an impression of him. But he was worn and carried a lot more gear than was healthy for anyone, nevermind someone his age. "Daphnes." She repeated. "My name is Mercy. What is all this? This place, and why I'm here, what does it mean?"<br/><br/><span style="color: grey">He walked towards the girl, finally a bearing on his senses. Surely this woman before him would be far more confused than he was at this moment. "You are in the last bastion of light. Why you are here though, I can't tell you. No one sent for you and yet you found your way. Perhaps fate still exists but I'll see it as luck myself." He bid her follow him to the edge of the clearing, where stood two large stumps, untouched by time as their wood still looked healthy.</span><br/><br/>She followed without a second thought. "Why is it here?" She asked, nearly on an instinct. "I mean, I get it, the forest is magical. But the dark lord isn't exactly at a loss for available man power. What's keeping him out? Seclusion? Magic?" It surely wasn't manpower, she decided. Age didn't matter when it came to the kokiri. There were only so many of them, and they weren't large enough to partake in defensive combat. "It's so green. It's so... bizzare." She admitted. "What happens now? What's the plan?"<br/><br/><span style="color: grey">Daphnes couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of what was happening. "You ask many questions with so many more about yourself unanswered." He kept his laughter in check however, knowing she might take offense. He decided to answer her biggest question first at the least. "The woods you are in now are magical yes, but magic is no stranger to the dark lord, no. Have you ever heard of the old stories? The lost woods? The magic within these sacred woods weaken him, sap his strength. He dares not set foot near the great tree, but he doesn't need to. You've seen the forest around us. It slowly withers and it too will soon be gone, the final victory for him."</span><br/><br/>"It's, well, complicated." She admitted. "I'm not sure what good my answers would do, but if you think there's anything you need to know, I guess I owe you." She said, The vibe of the forest was one that made her a lot more willing to cooperate. "I've heard some tales, I usually consider them myths or fairytales." She admitted, but if the Deku Tree was real, it changed the playing field of her beliefs. "But he can't win." Mercy stated as though it was a fact. "People would always stand up to the occasion. Like now. Aren't you going to stop him?" She asked, as though it was their responsibility.<br/><br/><span style="color: grey">"You are very eager to throw your lot into a war child." he said sagely, perhaps a bit too condescending. It had been a long time since he had spoken to anyone beside the tree who acted older than 16. "You have fire within." He stood, and adjusted his gear on his hip. "That much is certain. And i'm sure you have been through much sorrow. Can you see past that I wonder?" He drew his sword and spun the broad blade once, twice, and a third time deftly in his hand, the shield following suit, comfortable as always in his grip. "I see your sword, well used and a tad dull. You have been through many battles. Lets have some fun eh?" a wry smile teased his weathered lips.</span><br/><br/>"This whole world is just one big war. It's either fight, die, or be a slave." She muttered. He pulled his blade out and she was dumbfounded for just a moment before she regained her wits. "I don't-" She stopped herself from denying it and drew her blade with both hands. With that shield, he certainly held a defenseive advantage in a fight. "Fine." She said dryly, but with more confidence than she should have had. She removed her sword from the sheath on her side and held it in both hands. It didn't even have a length advantage his his, but she'd gotten this far, she decided. Her gut told her not to go with her usual strategy, but she didn't listen and when for the first strike anyway, putting weight and energy into the blow.<br/><br/><span style="color: grey">The strike was met with a firm shield, and did not give more than an inch, the clang heard throughout the forest. many kokiri heard and gathered in the trees nearby to watch their protector and this newfound hylian fight. To them, it was quite a blast from the past. Daphnes put much strength into his shield arm, and shoved hard against her sword arm, giving him more distance. "You're quick, I'll give you that much. But reckless." He slowly circled around her, waiting for the next strike.</span><br/><br/>Mercy simply had no formal training when it came to battle. Everything she learned she had learned herself, she depended deeply on reflex and ending fights fast. The only times  she'd ever found herself fighting using defense was if there were enemies on multiple sides of her. Whenever a single enemy or enemies in a line were present, offense had always worked for her. She was considerably lucky she hadn't face worthy opponents such as Daphnes, as she only let out a grunt and took the bait, going in for another direct strike relying on strength over strategy.<br/><br/><span style="color: grey">Daphnes countered with the sword this time, deflecting the edge of hers to the side and following it with a kick to her back as she passed with the blow. "You fight with a wildness, you're a runner. You rely on offense, so those you've fought have never been ones for strategy." He didn't wait this time, and stepped towards her into swords reach, swinging the flat of the blade for her thigh.</span><br/><br/>She only let out a grunt at the kick, it was more of the surprise than the pain. After all the cuts and bruises she'd seen, a kick not even meant to harm her was like nothing. She quickly gained her composure again, almost in time to prove him wrong, at least that's how she'd pictured it would look, if she had dodged the blade in time. She didn't. She fell to the ground, her sword still in reach. "The whole world is like the wilderness, Daphnes! How do you expect anyone to fight besides for wildly?" She said angrily, perhaps because she was offended, or perhaps because her fight was so poor. She took her sword and pushed herself up once again, though she wasn't going to strike again. She'd lost at this point. And even he wanted to continue, she'd accepted that she wasn't going to get the jump on him.<br/><br/><span style="color: grey">"To defy him." he simply stated, and walked forward. "He has turned the once great land of Hyrule into his own shadowed land, and he expects us to act as animals." his sword being sheathed and his shield as well. He offered a hand to the girl to help her up. "We fight the wild, and the darkness Mercy. We don't have to become it."</span><br/><br/>He had a point, part of her was willing to acknowledge that. Told her to ask him to teach her. She could be a much more effective fighter with knowledge and strategy. Yet, before she thought about it, she ignored his hand. She was able to convince herself it was because she was humiliated. But none of the kokiri showed anything but respect still. "It's not about what we become. It's about what the world becomes." She said, though she wasn't sure why, it was a rash set of words only used so she had a counter point.<br/><br/><span style="color: grey">"The world will only become what we make it." He retracted his hand with no reluctance, almost as if he expected it. "We have only ourselves to guide us to the future Mercy, should there even be one for us." He once again sat on the un-weathered stump and reclined back slightly as he gazed towards the sun, breaking through the clouds for a breif moment. It's light graced the stump and the murmer of nostalgia could be fealt among the kokiri. "Did you know the hero once called this stump home? Long long ago. Ah but I shouldn't ramble. The others should be here shortly if the great tree is correct. Eat and relax for now. I can't say what the future might hold for us."</span>