The First Goodbye

Link was being taken over by fear. He wanted to get away. Had he really killed the Great Deku Tree?The guilt that pooled in his stomach didn't accept Navi's constant mutterings about him doing the right thing. He blindly ran out of the Kokiri tunnel entrance and wondered if anyone would even miss him. Probably not. He was a murderer now.

He stumbled on the first step of the bridge, very nearly falling over the edge. He steadied himself in his panic and looked up.

Saria.

He froze. She was smiling sweetly at him like she always did. Did she know? Would she hate him now?

"I-"

"No, Link. You didn't,"

Saria's words brought him much needed reassurance. He felt relief and gratitude wash over him as he looked at his friend. But, despite everything, something wasn't right. The bridge swayed slightly as Saria took a step towards him.

The eery silence was masked by Link's pounding heart.

"I knew you'd leave someday,"

Link felt his throat tighten. The fact that he was leaving the forest, and Saria, came crashing down on him like a brick that was always seconds away from falling.

"I've always known you were a hero, Link," she said simply. The honesty that filled her words made Link want to break down into tears right there and then. He wanted to hug Saria, telling her that he wanted to stay with her forever. They could play in the Lost Woods and tell each other scary stories about skull kids and ghosts. They could spy on Mido and laugh with childish glee when he checked his surroundings due to paranoia, while he and Saria were safely hidden in the bushes. But those days seemed like nothing but a young boy's innocent memories.

He had responsibility now, and while he couldn't accept it yet, he was a hero.

He didn't speak.

Something kept him strong and silent.

"You've got a lot of courage, Link, and I don't want you to leave this place thinking you've done wrong,"

She was right. Link took a large breath and nodded.

"I'm going to leave the right way," he stated, not sure if he truly believed his words. "With excitement, not regret,"

Saria smiled.

Link was sure he saw sadness flicker in her eyes for a moment, and it hurt him greatly.

"I want you to have this,"

Link looked at the object in Saria's hand. It was a small ocarina painted lovingly with the spiral sign of the Kokiri. She carefully placed it in his hands, pressing down as she looked into his eyes.

"Everytime you play it, I want you to think of me, okay?"

Link nodded and squeezed back. He didn't dare say another word in fear of his voice breaking. He carefully ran his thumb along the ocarina's engravings and placed it in his tunic. The small moments silence just seemed to intensify things even more. Somewhere at the edge of their vision fairies floated through the air as if in a dream. The light sun shone down on Saria and made her emerald eyes sparkle in a way that was all too familiar to Link.

"Bye, Saria," he whispered. "I'll miss you,"

Saria let out a tiny, almost unaudible chuckle.

"Me too,"

Their eyes met for a moment. The calming sounds of the forest surrounded them and Link knew he would remember this moment for the rest of his life. His best friend, the one who hadn't seen him as a lonely, outcast with no fairy. Every good thing came to an end. He straightened his back, lifted his head and tore his eyes away from Saria.

This was where his journey began.

He ran across the bridge without looking back, disappearing into the tunnel that separated the land he knew from the large, unpredictable land outside. His brain had barely caught up with him as the soft cheeping of the crickets got quieter and quieter behind him.

Back on the bridge, Saria watched Link vanish into the misty darkness and felt the first cold tear trickle down her cheek. He was gone.

I will be writing more of these drabbles, all based on the Ocarina of Time. If you want to suggest any then I'll be happy to write them, and I do have certain ideas of my own that I will definitely post.

Some will stay true to the game, while some will be made up.

:)

Please review/suggest, they really do help a lot.