The Legend of Zelda: Saria's Quest

by Violetlight

Disclaimer: The Zelda video game franchaise belongs to Nintendo, not me. I'm just borrowing their characters to write a totally non-profit story. Trust me, I won't make a dime off of this. Zair is my character, however, so please don't use him without permission.


Chapter 2: Prophecies

Flash.

The black horsemans speeding towards me! Running as fast as I can, he keeps coming, laughing wickedly, passing though trees like theyre not there. Hes going to catch me, I cant escape!

Flash.

Light all around me, a figure in green, a temple, sacred, everlasting.

Flash.

Flying! Zooming over forests, meadows, streams. Soaring on unseen wings, faster and faster!

Flash.

Giant plant, cant see clearly. Must save him, Im his only hope. A purplish glow. LINK!!

FLASH!

Saria sat up in bed, panting, her heart beating a mile a minute! "Saria, it's okay, it's okay." Zair assured her, zipping from his fairy bed to Saria's side in seconds. "It's just another nightmare, everything's all right."

"I'm sorry Zair," Saria panted, still shaking from her nightmare. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"Never mind me. That last scream probably woke up half the forest," Zair joked, trying to calm Saria down. "You must really, really miss him."

"Who?"

"Link. You screamed out his name in your sleep."

"Oh. Sorry."

"Don't be. It's okay," Zair said, fluttering softly down onto Saria's night table. "I kind of miss Navi too."

"You silly fairy, you don't really know Navi, not like I know Link." Saria sighed. She was calming down and beginning to rest again.

"Navi and I have known each other a lot longer than you think." Zair said quietly, floating down to Saria's pillow. She didn't hear him. Saria was already forgetting her nightmare and was falling back asleep. "Sweet dreams, Saria," Zair whispered, curling up next to her on her pillow, his light slowly dimming as he fell asleep as well.


Seven days had past since Link had left for Hyrule Castle and for Saria, those days had been like torture. Most of the Kokiri were mourning the Great Deku Trees death and were scared. The Great Deku Tree had always been there for the Kokiri, a father figure for the forest-children, and most didn't know what to do now that he was gone. The guardian fairies had so far been keeping things under control, helping the Kokiri get over their grief and get on with life, but many were still afraid and confused. Some were even starting to believe Mido and blame Link for the Great Tree's death. Saria had been spending the last few days defending her friend, talking to the others and trying to help them see the truth, but she was getting sick of all the arguing and lies. Waking early the next morning, when most of Kokiri Forest was still asleep, Saria and Zair snuck quietly to the Great Deku Tree's Meadow. She had been so busy helping the others that she hadn't had the time to mourn the Tree's passing herself. Saria wanted to pay her last respects to the Great Deku Tree.

Saria and Zair left their tree stump-shaped house quietly, walking softly in the pre-dawn twilight past the Twins' strange, double stump house and past the Kokiri shop, to the entrance to the Great Deku Tree's Meadow. Little did they know that they were being followed.

Walking as quietly as a cat, Saria headed down the path to the Great Deku Tree. Suddenly, she stopped. In front of her were three, deadly Deku Babas. The carnivorous plants were sleeping, their long, snake-like stems coiled around their roots, their huge, blue and purple flower-heads, full of needle-sharp teeth, rested on the ground. Saria know she better not wake them, since Deku Babas did not soak up sunlight like other plants; their favourite food was Kokiri blood. Nervously, Saria reached behind her and pulled out her only defense against the monsters, a Deku Shield she had bought at the Kokiri shop the day before. May Farore guide me, Saria thought. Holding her shield out in front of her, she began to tiptoe past the sleeping plants.

Taking one step at a time, Saria crept past the first of the Deku Babas, praying the creature would not awaken. It did not budge. A little more confident, she snuck past the second plant and her heart skipped a beat as it stirred in its sleep, but it too did not wake up so she continued on. She walked a little quicker past the third and final Deku Baba and had almost made it past when she heard a sound, like the hiss of a snake, behind her.

Saria spun around, holding her shield out in front of her, and gasped as the monster snapped its huge jaws, nearly biting a chunk out of her shield! Its head slammed against her shield and Saria flew backwards. "Ahhhhhh!" she screamed, landing flat on her back and desperately fended off the Deku Baba's snaps with her shield. "Zair, help me!"

"Saria, aim for its stem!" Zair yelled. Saria looked up past her shield and the fearsome jaws of the monster to see Zair hovering above it, glowing bright yellow. The Deku Baba reared back, snapping at the flickering fairy. "Aim for its stem!" Zair repeated.

Saria grabbed a nearby stone, leaped up, and threw it as hard as she could. The monster screeched as the stone sliced through its stem, spilling green plant goo everywhere and cutting its head off. The stem whipped around for a few seconds, and then lay still. The Deku Baba was dead. Saria stood, starring in disbelief at the lifeless plant. Its head had landed at her feet and Saria kicked it, watching as it bounced towards the remaining two Deku Babas, which hissed angrily and shrunk back, not wanting to meet their companion's fate. "Yeah, you better hide!" Zair yelled back at them. He flew over to Saria and landed on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I'll live," she answered. Saria had a few small cuts and scraps from falling back, but she was otherwise not hurt. "Unlike some creatures," she added, looking at the dead Deku Baba. "I'm the last Kokiri he'll ever try to take a bite out of. How about you?"

"I'm fine, in fact, I'm better than fine. That's the first time I've ever done Z-Targeting!" Zair said excitedly.

"Z-what?"

"Z-Targeting. It's an ancient fairy battle technique," he explained. "When we hover over an enemy and turn yellow, not only is the enemy distracted but our Kokiri's accuracy with weapons greatly improves. It's supposed to be a very difficult skill. I still can't believe I did it, I mean, I didn't think about it, I just acted on instinct."

"You did great, Zair," Saria smiled. "I don't know what I'd ever do without you."

"Without me, you'd be fertilizer right now!" Zair grinned, definitely on a big ego trip.

"Hey! I did all the real work! I'm the one who sliced the head off that Deku Baba," Saria reminded him.

"Well you couldn't have without me!" Zair said, buzzing excitedly around Saria's head like an insane, overgrown firefly. "I was great! I was wonderful! I was . . ."

"You just had beginner's luck," Saria teased him.

"I did not!" Zair whined.

"Did so!"

"Did not!"

"Did so!"

"Did no . . . aw, can't we just go see the Deku Tree now?" Zair asked, getting sick of arguing.

"Sure, come on!" Saria laughed and started running down the rest of the path.

"Hey, wait up!" Zair yelled as he flew after her. Neither he nor Saria noticed when their follower walked calmly past the two, still startled, remaining Deku Babas and trailed them into the Great Deku Tree's Meadow.


As the sun slowly rose, filling Hyrule with light, Saria and Zair entered the darkest place they had ever seen. Looking up, Saria could hardly believe it. The Great Deku Tree, who had been green and full of life last time Saria had seen him, was now a gray shadow of his former self. Even though she knew what had happened, a part of her had not really believed it. Now, when the truth stood in front of her, she could no longer deny it. The Great Deku Tree was dead.

"Nayru, why?" Saria whispered. The truth was sinking in, but she could still hardly believe it. She had spent may long hours with the Great Deku Tree, learning the secrets of the forest from the wise old spirit. From him, she had learned the names of every animal and which plants had magical properties. She had even learned how to talk to the forest spirits by playing her ocarina. He was her guide, her mentor, and her friend and now, he was gone. As she gazed up at the gray, lifeless log who had been her friend, Saria began to cry. "Why did you leave us, Great Deku Tree?"

"Saria, it's okay, everything will be okay," Zair said, landing on Saria's shoulder and trying to comfort his friend, while holding back tears himself.

Saria did not hear him, she was too upset. "Why did you have to die and leave everyone?" she sobbed. "Why did you leave me all alone?"

Thou is not alone, Saria. A voice, gentle but strong, called out to her.

"What! But you're . . . you're dead!" Saria stammered, recognizing the voice of the Great Deku Tree.

Yea, I am dead, now part of the spirit world. I am using the last of my power on earth to speak to thee. The Great Tree's disembodied voice boomed. I have an important message to give to thee, one that will change thy destiny . Wouldst thou hear it?

"Uh . . . I guess so," Saria stammered, confused. She had no idea how the Great Deku Tree could be talking to her, but what he had to say must be important. He was, after all, talking to her from beyond the grave! Still, was nervous. When the Great Deku Tree has a message for you and says it will affect your future, he means it. It WILL affect you, whether you want it to or not. As Saria looked up at the Tree's lifeless trunk, she knew what she had to do. Saria held her head up high and confidently answered, "Yes, Great Deku Tree, I want to hear your message. I am ready."

Saria, Child of the Forest, the Spirit-Tree began. Thou art greater than thou can imagine. Thy destiny is intertwined with the very future of Hyrule and with the fate of the Hero of Time . . .