Disclaimer: I do not own legend of Zelda or fire emblem, only the original characters and storyline are mine
Chapter One
He closed his eyes, tilting his head back and taking in the beautiful aroma of the forest. It had been nearly seven years since he last walked this path. He still remembered the music that used to play. He led his horse to a small pond where she greedily quenched her thirst. He cupped his hands in the pool and did likewise.
"This water comes strait from Lake Hylia. It doesn't get any better than that, girl." He lay beside his horse and gently stroked her mane. "We're finally home, Epona… never realized how much I missed it."
Epona nudged his cheek; neighing softly and stood up. Link gave an exasperated sigh and stood up. "I know you're excited to get back, and I promise once we get out of Kokiri village first thing I'll do is drop you off so show a little patience." Epona walked behind link and started pushing him forward with her head. "Alright, fine!" Link said, laughing. He climbed onto Epona and they made their way out of the forest.
They emerged from the forest and strolled down the short winding trail to the village. Link hopped off Epona, leaving her instructions not to go wandering around and disturbing the undersized residents. Epona gave him a short whinny and lay down in the warm sun.
Link looked around and saw quite a large gathering of what seemed to be children in the distance; seemingly transfixed with something going on in the middle of their circle. He made his way over and quickly discovered what they thought was so interesting.
In the middle of the circle were two Kokiri boys; one of which Link didn't recognize, but the other he new to be the bully Mido. They were slowly circling each other; both ready for the other to pounce.
"Mido, I swear, I was not trying to move in and take you're spot as Saria's 'favorite'," the one boy yelled in a defensive tone, not without a hint of sarcasm however.
"I'm 'bout sick an' tired o' you getting between the two of us. I've had enough of your lies, Kilty!" Mido responded and then lunged at the other boy, but was stopped in mid-air. Link pulled Mido out of the circle and held him up to eye level by the back of his shirt.
"Been a long time, Mido. Comforting to know some things never change." Link said with a smile hinting at the corner of his mouth.
"Who the heck do you thi…" Mido didn't get to finish. He was quickly cut off by a commanding female voice.
"PUT HIM DOWN RIGHT NOW!" Link loosened his grip on Mido and let him wrestle himself free. He turned around with an innocent grin on his face; scratching his head.
"I think that might be the first time I've ever heard you yell at me." he said, while giving the girl a lopsided grin.
Saria just stood there smirking with her arms folded; her fairy standing on her shoulder in a similar fashion. "You sure know how to make a return. I haven't seen or heard anything but the occasional rumor of you; and here you are. You just stroll in and act like you never left. I bet the rest of your old friends here don't even recognize you; o great Hero of Time." Saria said, making it a point to emphasize the last bit.
A girl with hair the same color as Link's walked up to him and started circling him; looking him up and down. "You dress like us, and you do look VERY familiar, but I can't think of where we would have ever met. I've never left the forest. I've never even met a big person for that matter." She continued circling him while others joined her; trying to place it. Mido was looking at Saria when it hit him. She's got that look on her face. The one she always used to get when she was around… "LINK!" he suddenly blurted out.
The child-sized people turned to Mido with shock on their faces then turned and gawked at Link. Suddenly, as realization set in, and they began accepting the idea, Link was bombarded with a million questions at once. His salvation came when Saria shoved her way through the group, grabbed Link's hand and lead him to her house. The others started to follow, but she froze them in their place with a glare that left nothing to the imagination.
Link walked in and sat on the floor, seeing as how none of the furniture was built for people of his size. Saria sat in a chair right across from him and stared at him. They held each other's gaze for what seemed like eternity. Saria was the one to break the silence, lunging forward to give Link a huge hug.
"You have NO idea how much I've missed you! You didn't even play our song and just talk!" she said, giving Link a very accusing glare.
"Well you didn't either!" Link responded defensively.
"It only works one way you big idiot!" Saria could only hold her glare for a second more before she broke and gave Link another suffocating hug.
Link tried valiantly to pry the pint-sized girl off his neck. "Saria… I can't… breath." Saria quickly jumped off. "That's what you get for leavin us all."
"Yeah, sorry about that. So tell me; what's it like being the new forest sage? I haven't really gotten to talk to you since you awakened."
"It's… awkward." Saria said, a little hesitantly. "Even after seven years I'm still learning the ins and outs of being one of the sacred ones. Although it does have its perks, as you saw out there. Everyone listens to me and I'm rarely questioned. And, I get to spend a lot of time with mister Darunia. He's a very exciting person. Did you know he absolutely LOVES our song?!"
"Yeah, I played it for him once. He got very excited." Link said with a small chuckle at the end.
"He is easily excited. So, Hero of Time, tell me about what kind of adventures you've been on in the past seven years."
"Well, it'll take to long for me to go into detail, so I'll just give you the summed-up version." Link told Saria about his time spent in Termina; his trip over the great sea, finishing his story with a recount of the final battle that he participated in to restore the rightful heir of a land known as Crimea back to her throne. When he was done, Saria just shook her head and smiled.
"Never could stay still for one moment could you. However; what still gets me is that someone who sleeps as much as you could stay so active."
Link laughed then stood up and gave Saria a giant bear hug. "HEY! Let go of me you big lug; I'm still just a little kid remember. You're going to crush me!"
"Oops, sorry" Link said and set Saria down. "Well; I'm going to have to head out. I still have a lot of people to see; and I promised Epona that we would visit Malon."
"That's fine, Link. Just don't let it be another seven years before you come back to visit." Saria said, fixing him with a fierce glare.
"Wouldn't dream of it. Besides, I don't think I can afford to anger the great Sage of the Forest Temple." Link said, giving an overly-elegant bow.
"Get out of here you dolt. And tell Malon when you see her that Saria sends her regards."
"Will do." With a wink, he mounted Epona and shot off out of the forest.
As soon as Link and Epona crossed the bridge leading out of the forest; Link was knocked off his ride by a shining blue light. It took him a few seconds to re-orient himself; and as soon as he did, he realized that it had been a fairy that knocked him off his horse.
"So, I'm told that you've been gallivanting around with that tramp of a fairy, Tatl!" the little fairy said to Link in an injured tone before tackling him again.
"Navi?" Link said with a puzzled look on his face.
"Forgot about me already? Figures. I always did have to keep you strait. O well, its good to see you again hero. Speaking of which; I guess we'll be traveling together again" Navi said.
"Traveling again? I thought the Deku Tree had other plans for you; and me not being a true Kokiri, I just figured you wouldn't be allowed to travel with me anymore."
"Well, when the Deku Tree heard about you're return to Hyrule; he told me that I was no longer needed in the forest, so if I wanted he'd allow me to travel with you again. So I'll be joinin you from here on out; whether you like it or not," Navi said with an evil looking smile.
Link gave a large sigh before responding. "I suppose I'd be able to live with that. As long as you aren't as bossy as you were last time."
"Not a chance!" Navi said and flew into Link's hat before he could do anything
"I see you didn't get a new hat. Still has my cubby space in here too; good. Alright, Link, off we go on what I hope to be another exciting adventure. Just don't get us into too much trouble this time. You have a bad habit of attracting it."
"Me? Never," Link said and then climbed on top of Epona and took off towards Lon Lon Ranch.
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Thanks for reading, R&R please. i hope you enjoy what's to come.
