Love Lost, Then Found
Chapter 3: Start of a Journey

By: Steve Jester

Notes Disclaimers and Bullshit: Well, if you haven't guessed by now, guess who's back? Gannondorf! So, what will the future hold for our heroine (deriving from the norm, Saria is the main focus of this fic. Although there will be plenty of Link) and her friends? I know, but you'll have to read and find out! I do not own The Legend of Zelda.

An unnamed Gerudo spy entered what appeared to be a palace throne room. The room was dark except for the sunlight coming in from a high window. A person was sitting at the throne, shrouded in darkness. "Gannondorf sir, the Forest Sage, along with the Sage of Time and the Hero of Time left the Kokiri forest about an hour ago."

"Excellent," Gannondorf said rising from the throne and walking towards the spy. He placed his hand on the spy's back. Then a small amount of dark energy formed in the palm of Ganndorf's hand and he shot it into the spy's chest, "I thought I told you that they were not supposed to leave."

"The… agent was… obliterated!" the spy gasped.

"By whom?" the King of Evil asked, his eyebrow raised in curiosity.

"Saria! The Forest Sage!" the spy said, his last breath leaving him as he died.

Gannondorf kicked the corpse, making sure it was dead. "It's so hard to find good assassins these days," he said as he walked back to his secluded throne.

"Link, just where are we going again?" Zelda said as the party of Saria, Link, and Zelda walked across Hyrule Field.

"We're heading for Lon Lon Ranch," Link said, walking far ahead of his companions.

"I need to sit down," Saria said as she sat on the grass.

"What's wrong?" Link said, "You usually have a lot of energy, and you're all of a sudden tired."

"We've been walking for a few hours straight," Saria said, "I've never walked that long with out rest."

"Hey isn't that Lon Lon Ranch?" Zelda asked.

Saria looked behind her and saw a big building with a circular enclosure. "I guess I can walk the rest of the way." With that the three friends walked to the ranch.

"Sir, the kids are heading to the ranch!" a spy said in the throne room of the King of Evil.

"Good, I already have a surprise there waiting," Gannondorf said with a small, evil chuckle.

"Malon!" Link called out as the trio entered the ranch. "Talon! Ingo! Anyone?"

"I didn't find anyone in the ranch house," Zelda said.

"All the animals are in the barn, but no people," Saria said.

"Something's wrong," Link said. "I'll try the tower." Link went over to the tower and tried to pull open the door, but he found it locked. "Anyone in there?" Link yelled.

"Link! You're just in time boy! Quick get this door open!" a gruff male sounding voice said from behind the door.

"Link, we have company!" Saria yelled as three men in black appeared, eyes glowing red.

"Not good!" Link said as he drew his Kokiri Sword and entered battle with the brute closest to him.

Zelda sent shot after shot of her magic to her enemy but it wouldn't go down. She just got out of the way as a ball of dark energy sped towards her. "Nothing's working!" she yelled as she barraged he enemy with magic blasts.

Saria appeared to just be standing there, her eyes closed and her hands in front of her. At close look she was mumbling something, but it was inaudible. "Goddesses, Sages, and sprits of Hyrule, hear my plea. Shadow, Spirit, Water…"

The nearest black hooded fiend pulled out a knife and walked slowly towards his seemingly defenseless opponent.

"… Fire, Light, Time, Courage, Power, and Wisdom, lend me your strength. Together you and I can defeat any foe in our way." A huge ball of multicolored light appeared in Saria's hands. She aimed it to the three flunkies, "Link! Zelda! Move!" Link and Zelda obeyed the command as the sphere got bigger, a battle aura forming around Saria, "Forest Tranquility!" Saria said as she released the ball towards her foes, destroying them in one blow.

The door on the tower burst open from the power of Saria's attack, however it did not harm the occupants of the tower. Saria stood there when the power ball was no longer in sight. An aura still encircling her started to flicker as she powered down. Saria fell to the ground, "Saria!" Link yelled as he ran up to her. "Are you ok?"

"I'll be fine, just how did I do that?" she said as she went to sleep in Link's arms. A bright ray of sun shining on the Hero of Time and the Forest Sage.

AN: Ok, that's the end of 3, more still to come. How will Saria react to Malon and Link? Find out next chapter! Please R&R!