Disclaimer: I sadly do not own the Zelda series in any way, shape, or form

Ok! This is my new pet project. It's kinda a cross over between the end of Ocarina of Time and Twighlight Princess and will hopefully expand past TP if I don't grow tired with it. It'll be kinda like a comic...with words and no pictures...unless someone wants to draw me fan art, which would be SUPERCOOL, ya'll.

Ahem...ANYWHOO. New Story. Read it. It's not bad. Review. It's like eating veggies.

Peace OUT

You know, it was almost pitiful what he had been demoted too. He was an accomplished young hero, the hero of time actually. He'd saved all the land and all the land knew he, the young man in green, had been their savior. Yet, when his task had been completed, the evil vanquished all memory of his valiance had been simply erased. Because the princess had thought it wise to send the young hero back in time to experience the life he should've had, the life he'd never wanted. And leaving with not even a memory to cherish or remind him of the good he had done.

Chapter 1

"Link! Wake up!" Link grumbled under his breath, assuming that his caller simply wanted his household chores done-and that was not worth the dream that had been rudely interrupted. "Link you lazy bum! I'm coming up there!"

Link sighed and sat up in his small little bed, almost hitting his head on the roof of his small little tree house. He grumbled about that too, since everything in the Kokiri forest had grown just a tad to small for him…or rather he'd grown to large for it. He pushed off the covers and on the clothes he'd made for himself, since, like his house and the forest, he'd slightly out grown his old green tunic as well.

"All right, all right, I'm up already!" He crouched slightly and climbed out of bed and stood up to stretch. Link tapped the ceiling as per usual and walked over to his small little door and crouched out. "What do you need Saria?"

The small green haired girl peered up at him from the ground, "Come down here and I'll tell you. It's straining my neck having to look up at you like this!" Saria removed her hands from her hips and beckoned him down, "Come on, we haven't all day you know!"

Link sighed and slid down the ladder, mentally preparing his self for the mind numbing tasks of pulling grass or smashing rocks. He touched base and turned to his small best friend, "You know you look as young as ever…" Saria beamed at him, "But, you still sound like an old woman!" Link laughed hardily as Saria pushed him with all her might into the ladder of his tree house.

"You re-dead..." Saria rubbed her temples and Link just continued to grin.

"So, what've you got for me today," He asked, walking up the path towards the rest of the village, stretching his arms towards the blue sky, "Nice day, isn't it?"

Saria jogged to catch up with him, pink fairy bobbing in the air behind her, "Link, stop, I've got something really important for you!" She grabbed his arm and turned him. "I've got a message for you!"

Link's grin faltered, "Um, from whom?" His insides churned unpleasantly. Internally he prayed to the goddesses that Mido hadn't learned who'd left the skullatula in his bed. If he knew…oh Link knew he'd been in for a month's work of actual labor.

"The Great Deku Tree, Link. He'd like to see you right away."

Link half expected his twisting internal organs to give a rest, but instead the turned sharply and decided to tug harshly on his heart as well, "Oh…well…then let me go change, I look like a slob. I can't go see the Great Deku Tree like this!" He turned back to his house and charged powerfully towards it, inevitably dragging Saria with him.

"Link…Link…Link! Stop! You can't avoid this any longer!" Saria attempted to dig her heels into the ground, "You need to go see him. I can't keep telling him that you're sick, or you're running errands or coming up with excuses. He needs to see you and you need to go see him!" Saria hit his back as he stopped one hand on the first rung of his ladder.

Link stared at the carving in the base of the tree house, at the little dinosaur and him fighting to the death. When he had been younger, he'd wished with all his might that the Deku Tree would send him off to fight a battle not unlike the one in his picture, but no he was older, he feared the day he would be sent away.

"Saria, do I really have to go? What if he tells me I have to leave because I'm not…you know…"

"Link, I'm sure he won't. And, if he does, he'll have a very good reason for doing so. But, this is your home and I don't think that he'll send you from it." Saria looked up at him, blinking her bright green eyes.

Link looked down into the ageless depths, knowing behind those countless years of wisdom and confidence, was his best friend, scared to death that their deepest fears were coming true.

"Link, thou hast kept me waiting for quite some time."

Link entered the sacred meadow, Saria clutching to his shirt like it was her life line. "I am deeply sorry. If you don't mind, I would like Saria present during our conversation if only to keep her peace of mind."

The Deku Tree chuckled, large green leaves shaking to the ground, "You speak so kind, so politely for one so young." He chuckled again, rattling the deep auburn bark of his trunk and the branches above, "Yet, I shall allow it. Please, my children be seated before me."

Link and Saria exchanged nervous glances, yet moved in front of the gargantuan tree spirit and sat in the lush grass of the meadow. Young fairies danced around, playing the branches and the air, illuminating the early morning dew drops in the flourishing plant life around. The sky's peaceful back drop of orange, yellow, and bright pink hues did nothing to soothe the unease in the old Kokiri and the young Hylian's hearts.

The Deku Tree took a deep breath of the fresh morning air and began to speak, although the mouth like curve etched into the bark did not move as one might expect. The voice, as normal, just seemed to float nobly from oblivion. "As it is known, thou are not one of my children. Thou hast come from beyond the trees of my forest, and was left in my care, to be raised as one of my children.

"Thou hast been most wonderful here. Thou hast repaid my hospitality with kindness to me, my children and my forest. Thou hast never asked for anything in return. But, it pains my soul and will pain the others, but what I have to say must be carried out by you- regardless of your apprehensions.

"It is time, young Link, for you to leave my forest."

Saria, without any reservations, began to cry loudly into Link's shirt. And Link, like the man he wanted to be, shed not a tear. He only asked, "Why?"

"Because, it is time for you to grow as a man-as your mother would have wished. It is time for you to join your people and become a man of modern society. I can no longer support you here; you outgrow us here so fast."

Link's expression hardened into that of jaded acceptance. "I understand Great Deku Tree. I will leave at once." He stood, leaving Saria sobbing uncontrollably on the ground.

"I bid thee fair well and luck on your journey. You mustn't blame my children for what has to be. If you must, blame me, I can live with your resentment. But, be not jaded. Be open to what your world has to offer. Be strong Link. We love you."

Link scoffed, "You have a funny way of loving someone. But, it is understood. Resent you I will, and one day I will possibly out grow it. Possibly." He turned sharply, "Saria, let's go." But she did not come. "Saria…" Link turned to look where she had been seated, and she was still sobbing uncontrollably, curled into a tight little green ball. She almost blended in with her surroundings, if it weren't for her shaking and heart wrenching sounds of grief. "Saria…" Link picked up her small shaking form from the ground and turned again to walk from the meadow.

"I bid thee fair well…"

Link placed Saria on her feet as they reached the exit to the forest meadow and wiped the tears from her eyes with his thumbs, "You know what Mido would do if he saw me carry you to my place. He'd go berserk!"

Saria choked out a small giggle, "Yeah, I supposed so." She shook her head, "Let's go pack your things and say goodbye to everyone." She took his hand and pulled him into the quaint little Kokiri village.

The morning sun shone brightly on the place now, illuminating the little cottages and gardens of the forest children. The children themselves were outside now, busying themselves with their daily to-do. Everyone was oblivious to Link and Saria as they walked solemnly towards his tree house, despite the fact that their demeanor was severely out of place.

"Morning!" The twins passed them by, smiling at Saria and giggling girlishly at Link.

Nadai, nodded her blonde head towards them from her seat on the bridge above the town.

Other Kokiris waved and bid their good mornings and the mournful duo passes through. And, the said mournful duo bid acknowledgement to their fellows, keeping the questions at bay.

They did not count on, however, being stopped by Mido on the path to Link's tree house- where everyone could see.

"You, why are you holding on to Saria like…like she's your…girlfriend or something!"

Saria rolled her eyes and stepped forward, "Mido, move we're on a busy schedule!" She tried to walk past him, but Mido just moved in her way.

"Nope! I'm not gonna budge till you two tell the whole town what your deal is! It'll save me the time of spreading it all over town!"

Link began to walk towards Mido, fist raised and ready to punch Mido's lights out. Saria grabbed the much larger Hylian around the waist and dug her heels into the ground, effectively stopping him this time.

"Why didn't I think of that earlier…?" She shook her head, "Link, it's not worth it. Do you really wanna leave like this?"

"Leave?!" Nadai squealed from her raised platform- the platform that put her in prime position to be heard by everyone else. And so began a chain reaction of shouts and cries of uncertainty and confusion.

"What do you mean leave?"

"Link is leaving?"

"Who's going to mow my lawn?"

"Do you want my slingshot?"

"I need to do laundry…"

"Don't forget to stop by the store and buy supplies!"

"Midge, he's leaving! Don't try and sell him stuff! But drop by and see me, kay?"

Link's body grew limp in Saria's arms, but before she could ask him if he was alright, he tore away from her. He walked back to the center of the town and raised his arm for silence. The whole town hushed. Mido grumbled about how he should be able to do that, and Saria elbowed him in the side, effectively shutting the town idiot up.

Link coughed, and spoke loudly as to be heard by everyone, "Yes, it is true I am leaving." He kept his hand raised for silence, "It is time that I leave you all, as you know I am not one of you. The Great Deku Tree has surmised that it is time that I am with my own people. So, yes, it is true, I am leaving tonight."

As he lowered his hand, all hell broke loose. Kokiris went every which way, into houses and pantries, crying and shouting, and bent on creating a feast for their tall non-Kokiri friend.

Link crouched into his house alone, Saria having been swept away in the ruckus. He grabbed the canvas bag he'd received for his birthday from someone and began to shove all his clothes inside. Quickly finished with that task, he grabbed his slingshot and ammunition and stored that in a front pocket for easy access. He grabbed the sword that had been given to him by the Great Tree.

The Kokiri sword, he had been told it was called. It was the last piece ever made by the last Kokiri blacksmith. It was a fine piece, though it looked a little more like artwork then weaponry. Yet, Link had discovered on his one too many endeavors through the Lost Woods that the Kokiri sword was indeed a suitable weapon.

He grabbed his wooden shield that he'd learned how to carve from the Kokiri shop owner, Midge. Link dumped all of his food into a gohma skin bag which he them threw into the canvas sack- for easier access that his weapon of course.

Link walked to the door and looked around the small little house. The small little bed, his petite kitchenette, the tiny table, and his diminutive dresser were all doused in memories that would be irreplaceable. He sighed heavily and tried to walk out the door, only to bang his head on the way out. Link laughed, knowing that despite the throbbing pain in his forehead, he'd probably grow homesick for that as well.

Of course it was rude, he knew it was. But, skipping out of the feast was the only way he could think of to leave without bursting into tears. So, he slipped unnoticed through the havoc that was the Kokiris attempting to put on a banquet to wish him a fair well.

Link reached the bridge that crossed the gap between the forest and the rest of the world. He took a shaky breath. What if the Deku Tree was wrong, what if he was Kokiri and he died as soon as he took a step out side the safety of the forest? What if…

"Link? Link I knew you'd do this." Link snapped around to see Saria standing behind him with a sad smile on her face. "But we both know it better this way? Don't we?" She laughed a little and pulled her hands out from behind her back. "I want you to have this, so that you'll never forget me, ok?"

Link brought forward his hand subconsciously.

Saria dropped her ocarina into his upturned palm. "When you miss home, play the song I wrote. It's not the best remedy, but it's all I could think off." The sun glistened off the clay flute as if mocking the melancholy that was emitted by the two. "Please, be safe."

Link stuffed the ocarina into his pocket and looked down at Saria. "I…" He frowned, loosing the words in his mouth. "I…" His frown deepened, frustrated that the words refused to come out. So, he threw his arms around her and pulled her tight, hoping to relay the message that he too would miss her.

"Link, I love you, kay?" Her muffled voice punched holes in his heart.

"Ok," Was all he could muster, but he was sure she knew what he meant.

"I know you do."

"Ok."

Saria laughed, "Get out of here before the skull children come up in the fields, go find lodging for the night. I stuffed all the rupees I could find into your bag, so you should be okay on funds for a while."

"I-!"

Saria pulled away and pushed a finger to his lips, "Yes you can. Now get out of here."

Link let her go slowly. He took one final look at the forest, memorizing every tree, flower, blade of grass, the way the sun shone off her hair, the wet glisten in her eyes, her soft pale skin, and the way her voice kept him calm. Link took it all in with a deep breath, and ran out of the forest.

Okay, whatdaya think? Let me know via reviews, cause it not only lets me know, but stimulates my ego too! Which, by all accounts is actually a good thing.

SO! Lemme know!

Thank ya!