Gemilli: cool someone likes my fic actually 3 thanks for the review!
T-bone: you've read this fic before? cool
Chapter 2:
Fall approached the Hylian lands rapidly this year. Already the nights were growing cooler than usual. Mother Nature had decided to give them an early frost. This complicated things particularly in the farmer's area, but nothing they couldn't handle. The land had flourished under the semi rule of both Zelda and her family. Several sorcerers and other evils had been driven out or destroyed by the Sages or simply the army. Everything was perfect in the civilians eyes besides the occasional farm issue or stranger coming in from the Trade. It was all very bland in Saria's opinion.
The Sage of forests sat alone on her one step porch, leaning her cheek on her left knee, one hand fiddling with the Forest Medallian hanging loosely against her chest. She sighed heavily and rubbed the palms of her hands against her eyelids, feeling the effects of a drained spirit catching up to her. The last few years had been mentally stressful in her opinion. She'd thought maybe Link would come back eventually once he'd calmed down, obviously he wasn't. His absence had sent a blow to the Sage Council, now they didn't have the Hero that had personally sworn himself to their service, also was their friend and ally. Impa had even tried to search for him using the power of Scrying but it had done so in vain. They all found it odd because it would've taken Link more than even two weeks riding one such as Epona to reach any border out of their Sight.
A shadow cast made her look up to see Ashlyn. The twin smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder, "You don't look so good. Have you been sleeping lately?"
"I'm fine." the sageling lied, "It's just my duties that tire me out sometimes."
The Kokiri nodded, "Well sorry to say it, but I just recieved news that the Sage Council is having a special meeting today in the late evening." she glanced up at the orange rays glancing through the forest limbs, "Which isn't too far away by this time."
"Thanks Ashlyn, I'd better get ready then." the sageling said goodbye and stood to enter her home. She was definately taller now, her childly looks had been left behind in her past. Her almost black green tinted hair was a little past her shoulders, her body had grown slim with a womanly hourglass figure. The sageling dressed in a close fitting full sleeved tunic lined in silver, black velvet pants and ankle boots. Saria pulled her long hair back into a tight ponytail, allowing long strands to be left hanging on either side of her face.
Spryte was sleeping on a tiny silk covered pillow that Saria had made for him. She stepped softly over to her dresser so as not to wake the sometimes- grouchy guardian. He was the type of 'person' who, if not given enough coffee in the morning, would be an unhappy camper. Saria slipped the elaborate silver chain of the Medallion back over her head. Before waking Spryte, Saria took a good look at her reflection. Even though she had only aged seven years, her turquoise green eyes said otherwise. They no longer had that innocent glitter of a child's youth. The other Kokari still had their childlike side to them. Being a Sage, Saria did many things that the others would never have to do in their simple lives.
"Spryte. Come on wake up ya sleepy head we have to go." Spryte merely kept on snoozing. Saria reached over, grabbed a corner of his pillow and yanked it out from under him. "Oof! Alright! Put em' up! Who-."
"Come on you goof ball, let's go." Spryte regained his correct senses and hurriedly flew after his mistress. Saria glanced at the slanted rays of light that filtered through the treetops. Closing her eyes, Saria felt a rush of air, then the familiar sensation of static against her fare skin. A moment later the sageling vanished in a flurry of green sparks.
When the rush of air ceased, Saria opened her eyes to find herself standing on the Forest platform in the Chamber of Sages. The Sacred realm felt like a void when you were the one alone inside. The rippling surfaces, the never ending drop around the main platform under the symbols. It made Saria wonder how Raura had endured so many years here even with the sages before them. Saria's thoughts suddenly turned away forcefully from her lonely musings.
This meeting must be about Zelda's dreams as of late. The princess had been having a foreboding reaccuring vision in the past few years. Now it was esculating to full blown nightmares of masses of darkness. Armies of hordlings and of several powers unidentifiable by even Nabooru, whom could identify almost anything so long as she could use her Soul Search abilities with hints of what she needed. And the faceless forms in Zelda's dreams should've been enough. Aparently not. The elf's tired eyes strayed to the platform in the center where Link should've been standing. Saria wished he were here now. She could really use his support and strong presence right now.
All of a sudden, out of the ceiling shadowy above fell dark purple almost black sparkles, fallowed closely by blue and gold ones. Bothe broke apart and gathered at the shadow and wisdom platform. The sparkles cleared, revealing Impa and Zelda. The Princess of Destiny smiled at Saria, who worked up enough energy to smile back briefly. Quickly after the first arrival, more Sages came. Nabooru, Darunia, Rauru and finally, sapphire sparkles descended to reveal Ruto. For a long moment there was nothing but a tense silence.
Zelda blinked slowly and shook her head as if trying to rid herself of unwanted thoughts, "Yet another darkness is drawing up to Hyrule. From exactly where or what I cannot decipher."
"We'll just drive it off like we did with the others." Ruto shrugged, "It's not like we've dealt with enough to know how to handle evil."
"Evil." Impa repeated, "This is not but the single handy man sorcerers that had tried their feeble attempts compared to Ganan's to take Hyrule over. The princess has had visions of more darkness than even one such as that bastard could summon."
"And the bad thing is, is that we can't find where it's going to come from. There are many unknowns to this puzzle." Nabooru finished the Sage of Shadow's sentence.
Zelda looked up, "I can tell you all one thing. And that is the Hero of Time is a great key in this up coming epic." out of the corner of her eye she saw Saria grow a little still, "I see his face both within the darkness and light. Two places at once, as well as a third."
"What do you mean by that?" Darunia asked.
Zelda thought a moment before phrasing it differently, "He's sided with the dark and the light, yet I see a piece of him severed. I don't know what that could mean."
Rauru shook his head, "Perhaps it is something that has come from his experiences and adventures in his long journey. Let us just hope that it isn't too negative. Did you perhaps feel what was in his mind princess?"
Zelda paused before slowly shaking her head, "I couldn't consintrate on just one thing. There was so many images, emotions, I just couldn't."
The Zoran Sage of Water snorted, "So what are we gonna do about it? Find Link and ask him to come home?! Ya right, he's probably happier where he is anyway."
"Shut your little gizzard your Highness before I send you out." Impa glared at the female zora. Ruto shifted uncomfortably, only noting Saria's stillness in her periphreal vision.
"Sorry." she muttered.
"Saria..." Zelda said in a soft tone, "Where exactly was Link headed? Did he just pick a random direction and keep going...or what?"
Saria fiddled with her sleeve, recalling the day that Link had left them all in the dust, "He was heading for the horizon in the far south. I've never really heard much about that way."
Rauru lifted his gaze, "Far south in the empty horizon you say? If he kept going till he was out of the Royal Family's boundries then he would have to go beyond the mountains, trecherous as they are, they are simply called the Border Mountains."
"What's beyond those mountains?" Saria asked.
"Trade towns, the ocean beyond, a different land, you could say Hyrule's other neighbor. The land is known as Herurusu dooru."
"Herurusu dooru? That's a long name. Is that where Link might be right now?" the Kokiri tried to hide the reluctant hope that had suddenly filled her.
"It's a possibility, " Nabooru stated, "But whether or not he wants to come back is his choice." she left out why he had gone. All the sages had been informed of what had happened, none had discussed it while in front of the green sageling often.
Impa spoke up in her deep creamy voice, "Then we'll just have to convince him. And if not, try and find out what he's been doing for the past fifteen years. So that we may prepare for anything."
"Are you implying that Link is or has gone evil on us while on his vacation?" Ruto crossed her arms and arched one thin brow.
The Sage of Shadow shook her head, "Niether, just that we should be prepared for anything."
"Hmph, fair enough. What do you think Saria? You up to reuniting with your life long friend?" the zora turned to Saria.
"Ruto!" Impa almost snarled. Saria raised a hand to stop the elder's attack from going any further. Why not? It would be a chance to see how Link was doing even if he didn't accept her back. That thought had always haunted her in the darkest yet most taunting part of her mind.
She nodded after a long moment, "I'm ready when all of you are." she just hoped she wouldn't regret this.
Zelda returned the gesture, "We'll leave within a few days, as soon as I get my father off my neck." Saria managed a smile at the last part of the princess' words.
I wonder... Saria thought as she walked lightly over the leafy forest floor. Did Link ever hear when I played? If either of us had played the melody of the forest we both would've heard it...yet I havn't heard an echo at all.
Twigs snapped as a few little squirls chased eachother in competition for an acorn. In the shadows a few skull kids watched the sageling with curious eyes. Saria acknowledged them only mentally, being sure not to step within their path. There was a rustle of leaves as she parted the branches of a bush and stepped into the Sacred Grove.
At her approach the wolfo's lifted their heads, ears pricked. The giant wolves had become unspoken guardians of the Forest Temple, and silent companions to the Sage. Saria scratched the largest one behind the ears when he approached, the grey wolf's head easily surpassed hers by atleast a foot. His name was Silverfang, leader of the pack.
"What do you think?" Saria asked the great beast, "Am I a bad friend?" Silverfang lolled his toungue a moment before licking her face once and turning to join his pack again.
"I'll take that as a no....hopefully." Saria sighed heavily before sitting down on the stump she normally sat on.
Spryte suddenly popped out of nowhere as fairies usually do, "Why are you being so hard on yourself Saria? That's not going to help you, or Link."
"I was the one that hurt him though. But, it's just - I just thought he was a little more understanding than that. Why would he hold a grudge that hard when I didn't mean to yell at him. I feel like there's more going on than meets the eye." she confessed.
"Perhaps your right, perhaps not." Spryte landed on her shoulder, "But that doesn't mean you should go about tearing yourself inside out about it with guilt. You're just letting the rip grow bigger."
"I suppose your right. It's just hard though." Saria settled herself and pulled out the little ocarina. Positioning her fingers over the holes, the sageling began to play her Song. The notes snaked their way through the tree's natural magic, spreading it through out the Kokiri Forest. Skull Kids popped out of their hiding place and began to play their own primitive intruments and adding to the music.
Yes, tis a short chapter. But I have to go soon and i wanted to update. originally this was a short chapter anyway. review please!