A Note from the Author: Well, I'm in the UK at the moment. That wouldn't be a bad thing, except all of my drafts for Cold Heart are at home in the US, and I won't be going back until mid-August. So, to compensate, I'm making use of the forest atmosphere of England to inspire a story I've been wanting to write ever since finishing Fallen Matriarch and ending the final chapter in the Dark Mind series. This is the Prequel to the Dark Mind series, taking a look at how it all began. It shouldn't be very long, more or less the size of Phantom Destiny, but all the same I hope you enjoy the prequel to Dark Mind, Fallen Ashes.

All unoriginal plot elements (c) Nintendo

Part I ~ The Encounter

I still remember it was a grim, cloudy August day. Ivy sprung from every crevice and corner, overgrown by the summer rain season. The smallest and slowest of birds had already left to spend the winter in southern Holodrum, and everywhere the remaining animals grumbled at the prospect of having to stockpile food over the course of the next month. Skull Kids were preparing for their autumn rituals, Deku leaves tinged with a faint orange, and my fellow Kokiri continued to count down the days before the rain and wind would finally let up and they could return to their games. That is exactly how I remember that day—the day the Deku Tree died.

My name is Link. By now I've traveled far from Hyrule—I've been in Labyrinna since early March—but my adventures started no farther than a few acres from my doorstep. Even though I'm a Hylian by birth, my parents were killed by Gerudo witches and I was raised instead by the Kokiri of the Lost Woods. To me, Kokiri heritage is my heritage, and though I now show signs of aging—twice, today, my voice has cracked—I'll always remember myself as a Kokiri through and through. It is within those misty trees that I belong.

But my real past was jaded and unknown to me on that dreadful day. I saw myself as an outcast, a misfit Kokiri, one constantly subjected to bullying by Mido and his gang. I had a few friends (and I emphasize the word "few"), but the majority (a very small number) were often busy, so most of my time was spent with one friend in particular. She didn't know it at the time—at least, I don't think she did—but I was madly in love with her. I never told her back then, though, because if Mido ever found out I'd be deader than a Stalfos. It took me seven years before I was brave enough to proclaim my love—but that's another story.

This is the story of the one single event that most profoundly changed my life. After that day, I'd never be the same person, I'd never live the same life, and I'd be propelled into a nightmarish seven years of constant battle. This is the story of how I killed the a god.

The night before it happened, I was consumed by profound nightmares. An olive man in black dogged a woman and girl in silky lavender. The former rode a demonic horse of black—the latter a ghostly stallion of white. Thunder boomed above our heads, rain pouring at my ankles as I watched the two women be chased out of a castle town, through the gate, and out into a giant ocean of grass. The man stopped at the drawbridge and looked down at me, laughing wickedly as if I amused him. Then he rose a hand up, and a great burst of fire launched from it and hurtled straight towards my eyes...

"AH!" I screamed, thrusting myself off my mattress and wildly flailing at my hair, dousing phantom fires. Soon I realized it was just a dream, and slumped my shoulders in exhaustion. As I sat up on my bed, quietly rolling the blankets back on top of me, I glanced a lethargic eye out the window. It was daytime, but just barely. True to August in the Lost Woods, a permanent overcast of black clouds hung ominously over the forest canopy. The rising sun, not yet fully over the treetops, was just a dim glow through the vapor. I shivered in the cold air and tried to fall back asleep.

I lay there for perhaps an hour, tossing and turning, trying as hard as I could to fall asleep. It was no use; the air was too cold, my blanket too thin, the early birds too loud. "This is just one of those days," I mumbled groggily, not bothering to raise my head from my pillow. Just as the words left my mouth, though, I finally succeeded, and lost conscious as a bird landed on my window and started chirping.

No sooner had I returned to slumberland than a loud, high cry woke me up. "Hey, wake up!" demanded a very high voice. I jumped off my mattress, mistaking the order for one of Mido's. When I saw it the self-proclaimed Kokiri chief was nowhere to be found, I felt my temper kick in.

"What's the big deal?" I growled, looking with weary eyes left and right for the culprit. "Who woke me up?"

"Look up," piped the voice.

A bit confused, I warily did as I was told, half expecting one of the Know-It-All brothers to dump a bucket of rainwater on my head (they've done it before). To my surprise, all that existed above me was a pale blue sphere of light, circling delicately around my head. Even though I had yet to reach the point in the day when my brain could function, I instantly recognized the creature. It was one that I was very familiar with.

"A fairy?" I concluded. "So there is somebody else in here!"

The fairy fluttered down to sit on my bed. She was no bigger than my pre-pubescent hand. She was too far away to see her through her own light, but my awakening eyes could make out the insectoid wings projecting out of her back.

"No, I'm the only one," the fairy corrected in a very matter-of-fact way.

"But... You must have your Kokiri somewhere in here!" I was finding the situation very difficult to comprehend. But that's because the obvious didn't strike me; and perhaps never would have, if the little girl hadn't explained me the reason for her visit.

"I do, and he's standing right in front of me," the fairy chirped.

"I don't know what you're talking about...I think." Now very curious, I took one of my wooden chairs, pulled it up beside my bed, and sat backwards on it facing her. "I don't have a fairy. I've never had a fairy."

"Well," my guest smiled, "everybody has to start somewhere. My name's Navi, Link. From today until the end of time, you and I shall be bound together for life. As of today, I'm now your own personal fairy partner."

My jaw dropped. I was the runt of the Kokiri, the one everybody bullied, because I was the only Kokiri in existence who didn't have a fairy. At birth, most Kokiri are introduced to a young fairy who remains with them until the day they die. Fairies act as a sort of adult conscience for the eternally youthful Kokiri, and the partnership is one of their race's defining characteristics. I had been an outcast for so long—ten years—that the thought of having a fairy partner seemed, even then, impossible.

"There must be some mistake," I even found myself mumbling, quieter than a leaf touching the ground.

Navi shook her head. "Not at all. The Great Deku Tree sent me just now. And he has a message for you."

"A message?" I remarked. Far from neighborly, our guardian deity the Great Deku Tree normally had little to say to his forest children unless they were in need of a judiciary. The fact that I had a message from the God of Earth was shocking—as were the details that would follow.

"He requests that you give him your presence in the Meadow as soon as possible."

"We can go now," I nodded, shaking as I rose from my chair to get my tunic, hat, and boots. My mind was reeling. First I was given a fairy, and now the Great Deku Tree himself wanted to speak with me? Perhaps, I thought, this day might not be as bad as I originally thought.

As I threw my pajama pants over Navi's head and onto my bed and started putting my tunic pants on, it struck me that nobody had ever seen me naked before. "Um..." I stammered, instantly embarrassed and awkward. "S-Sorry, I... Am I supposed to, uh..."

Navi squeaked a cute little giggle. "Don't be embarrassed, Link," she reassured. "Kokiri undress in front of their fairies all the time."

Face red as a rose, I hurriedly pulled my pants up and started slipping my tunic over them. The awkwardness of the moment didn't retreat just yet. I suddenly realized that I was being a very inhospitable host. "D-Do you want something to eat?" I offered sheepishly, opening the cupboard. "I have fruit, karak (a traditional Kokiri pastry), some Deku Nuts..." Amazing that one never realizes how empty their food cabinet is until they have guests over.

"A karak would be nice, thank you," Navi chimed, fluttering gracefully on top of my head and taking one of my hand-made breads from the cupboard. Karaks were made with wheat, honey, apples, and a sprinkling of ground Deku Nut. They were really quite delicious—I fancied one myself, and munched on one while I put my boots on.

Navi was very careful while eating not to get any crumbs in my hair. "You and I must do a lot of catching up, Link," she said through a mouthful of karak goodness. "If we're to spend the rest of our lives together, it would help if I knew what you like."

"Like?" I repeated.

"Like... Food! What's your favorite food?"

I thought for a moment. I didn't really have a favorite. "Well, I've always had a liking for fish," I offered. "But I like almost any kind of food." I held onto my karak with my teeth as I reached for my hat. "Imsrynvi, buh-ou eedougehoffIead."

"What?"

I bent forward and placed my karak on my small, wooden table, freeing my mouth. "I said, 'I'm sorry, Navi, but you need to get off my head.' I have to put my hat on," I explained.

"Oh!" she squeaked. "I'm sorry!" I could hardly notice it when she was out of my blonde mess of hair, she was so light. I made the best attempt I could at securing my conical green hat on my head, but my morning hairdo made even that difficult.

"Remind me after the Deku Tree to comb my hair," I grumbled.

"Actually, it is probably best to do that now. He seemed a little upset."

"Oh," I replied with a noticeable drop in posture. "In that case, might as well look my best." I removed my hat and spent a minute combing my hair until it was decently tidy. "How's that?"

Navi perched on my shoulder and looked in the mirror. I jumped slightly when she landed. I was still getting used to having a fairy. "Hmm... I think that'll do," she concluded.

"Alright!" I exclaimed, replacing my hat. "In that case, to the Deku Tree!"

"To the Deku Tree!" Navi cheered.

With great resolution, elated to finally have a fairy of my own, I marched out of my house like I owned the whole forest. My great joy was immediately dampened, literally, when I discovered that I had been too preoccupied to notice earlier that it was raining hard outside. Clothes soaked and karak ruined, I somberly trudged back inside.

A Note from the Author: Incidentally, because the names "Fallen Ashes" and "Fallen Matriarch" are so similar, I briefly considered renaming this "Skeleton Wood." However, nothing really fit as well as "Fallen Ashes," so the name stayed. I hope you enjoyed the read, and if you'd like more of Link's adventure in Hyrule, please don't hesitate to read my Dark Mind series (Phantom Destiny, Dragon Duet, Arctic Succession, Rising Puppetmaster, and Fallen Matriarch). There are two more parts of this story coming, though, so please stick around!

And as always, reviews are heavily encouraged, appreciated, and helpful. I read and respond to every one I receive. Thanks again for reading!