There is so much for Link to consider in this moment: Where he was in life at one time, where he is in life now, what he has been through, what he has accomplished, who he has fought, who he has helped, and many other such questions pour into his mind as he stands at the maw of his late father figure. The man he has become is thanks to the effort of this once-great being, this ancient guardian who gave his life for the boy without a fairy.
Littlewati, the man who created this piece (with a lot of inspiration from a special someone), has provided us with a very surreal scene that tells us so much information despite showing so little action. We see the most sacred part of the Kokiri Forest, an area Link and Navi both knew well, but the peaceful and secure sense they used to feel has been replaced with an unshakeable sadness. The Great Deku Tree, their friend and mentor, used to bring life and warmth. Now, all that’s left are his dried and decaying remnants. He is no longer surrounded by open patches of green grass and soothing winds. His only company now is the overgrown branches of younger trees and the markings of other fallen friends. It’s a grim spectacle for Link and Navi, to see what has become of the place where they used to feel the strongest sense of security.
And this grief they feel begs the question: Why are they here? If I had to guess, they probably felt compelled to pay their respects to their old mentor one last time. He had given them so much, and despite their best efforts to help him seven years prior, the damage that Ganondorf’s evil had done to him was too great. Now, he stands as a lifeless monument to his own legacy. It’s heartbreaking to see the Great Deku Tree in this state, but it’s also a reminder to the pair of how important their quest is.
What will Link and Navi make of this visit with their old friend? We know how their story ends, but from their perspective and at the time, the doubt they feel must be intense. But still, they press on. There is nothing more they can do for their protector, but thanks to him, they have the chance to prevent the forest from becoming home to any more graves.
