Never Loveless

《Awakening and Meeting》

   She opened her eyes slowly.
   There was a foggy feeling in her mind, as if she had been asleep for a long time, and her body was calling her back into that state.  Strangely, there was also another feeling, apart from the lull of sleep.  The feeling of emptiness.  When she chased after that sensation, she found the reason for it.
   She could not remember anything.  Her mind was devoid of memories.  This unsettled the girl.  Again and again, she searched her mind, hoping that there would be something.  Even just one trivial thing would put her at ease.
   That was when she found it.  
   ‘What is my name?’ The girl thought.
   ’Eira,’ her mind whispered back.
   Eira.  Relief cloaking her like a quilt, she breathed a sigh of relief.  Eira then examined her surroundings.
   The walls that enclosed her were made of wood.  She was inside a tree.  
   “How will I get out?” Eira muttered to herself, her voice slightly hoarse from lack of use.  She stumbled back, her foot catching on something as she did so.  Gravity pulled her downwards, rather fast.  
   When she opened her eyes yet again, she was lying on the ground, staring up at a blue-gray sky outlined by many trees.  Fog loomed all around.  The grass was a deep gray-green, different from what her mind thought it should be.  However, memories continued to evade her, and so the thought ended there.
   “Where am I…?” She whispered, narrowing her pink-red eyes as she continued to watch the area.
   “You’re in the Lost Woods!” A high-pitched voice replied.  Eira whipped around, now rather afraid and anxious.  Then, out from behind one of the trees, a small creature emerged.  It was the size of an imp, made entirely out of wood.  A green leaf mask covered its face, and it held a stick that was decorated with berries and leaves.
   “What…are you?” She stuttered, backing up a little from the creature, even though it was already a good distance away.  The wooden imp sighed.
   “It seems the Great Deku Tree was correct.  You would forget everything, just like Link,” it said, seeming to sing with each word.  Great Deku Tree?  Link?  
   Those names were sounded familiar, and she had a sense that she knew the bearers of them very well.  
   “Let me bring you to the Great Deku Tree!  I’m sure he’ll be very pleased to know, and see, that you are finally awake, after all these years of your slumber,” the wooden imp sang, appearing rather happy from the tone of its voice.  It ran ahead, and Eira was only too delighted to follow, excited at the opportunity to leave this gloomy forest.
   ‘Then again,’ she thought, ‘it’s strange to think this, but gloomy things give me a sense of peace, as if I am not alone in this world.’
   The wooden imp showed her that the lamps led the way out of the forest, their fire blowing in the direction they were supposed to go.  Eira thought this was very interesting, and quite cool.
   “And we’re out!” The creature jumped for joy, rushing ahead.  She looked around, noticing the change in surroundings.  The grass was a lush green, and a warm light streamed through healthier looking leaves.  
   “Where are we now?” Eira asks.
   “We’re in Korok Forest!” Wooden Imp replies, waving its stick.  She follows the creature further into the forest.  As they go, she felt like she was being watched, and turned around.
   Eira saw multiple wooden imps, with their leaf masks, watching her curiously.  Despite this, she continued to follow the creature leading her to the “Great Deku Tree.”
   They eventually came to a stop at a small clearing.  A silver sword with a blue handle catches her eye.  It appeared to be stuck in the stone, just waiting for someone to free it from its home.  There were also small rock pillars surrounding the stone flooring.
   “Great Deku Tree, I come bearing great news!  Great news, indeed!” The wooden imp declares, looking up at a giant tree.  Eira looked up as well, startled to see a wooden face emerging from the tree.
   “Eira…?  Is that truly you, my child?” Great Deku Tree said gently, looking down at her.  She hesitated some before nodding in response.
   “A Hylian beautiful snow white hair and those soft, red-pink eyes, I would not think that it was not you, but these times can be deceiving,” Great Deku Tree sighs, his branches blowing slightly in the cool breeze.  
   “I…have some questions,” Eira spoke up, feeling rather timid, as if everyone in the forest was watching her.  In fact, she wouldn’t be surprised if that was true.
   Great Deku Tree hummed.  “I was sure you would.”
   Eira drew in a deep breath.  “What happened to me?  Why can’t I remember anything?”  That was surely the most important question.
   “Where do I begin…?” Great Deku Tree thought aloud.  When he finally answered his own question, he spoke.
   “100 years ago, the Great Calamity occurred.  You fought alongside a warrior named Link, who was charged with protecting Princess Zelda.  However, he became gravely wounded in battle, as did you, and you two were both sealed away in separate locations, in the hopes that one day, both of you would awaken and save Hyrule from Gannon, the one who caused the Great Calamity, while rescuing Princess Zelda, who is holding off Gannon as we speak,” he watched Eira carefully.
   She was stunned.  “Has Link awoke yet?”
   “Yes, I have received word from the Koroks that he has risen.  That was some time ago.  It appears that you took a while longer to awake than he,” Great Deku Tree watched a leaf blow by.
   “Could you please tell me about him?” She whispered.
   Great Deku Tree smiled.  “Another time.  You must be tired after your journey through the Lost Woods.”
   “Not so.  I have been asleep for 100 years, and that is plenty rest for me,” Eira said playfully.  Great Deku Tree erupted in laughter.
   When he had recovered from the spout of mirth, he replied, “You were always a tenacious and amusing one.  I’m glad to see that has not changed in the slightest.”
   That night, the wooden imps, which she discovered were called Koroks, held a banquet that consisted of mainly fruit dishes.  However, it was a joyous time, and Eira had much fun.  Afterwards, the Koroks showed her a place where she could rest for the night.  Despite her 100 year long sleep, she was tired by the end of the night, and quickly fell asleep in the comfy, herb-smelling bed the Koroks had prepared for her.