1-wish799: Hmm. I don't know. It seemed good to me when I wrote it, but you might be right. I guess I did kind of hurry her through the temple. Duly noted.

Henslight: I just really want to see Saria again, and I don't think her character would be ruined. The Zelda team is pretty good with characters.

TennisWriter456: No, I don't mind at all! I'm glad you like my story enough to review it that much.

LinkHammer: I'm really glad you like the story and are excited about it.

Chapter 12: The Flow of Time Is Always Cruel

The Great Deku Tree once told me that the one thing people cling onto the most is their memories. Recollections of younger days spent with close friends, the unforgettable moments that stay with us for all time. He said that memories like these were precious and worth more than any rupee. With my current situation, I agreed with what he said now more than ever. My memories were all I could really rely on as I was lying on the ground fatally wounded. I didn't want things to turn out this way. I at least thought I had a chance, but when the phantom tricked me with his copy and struck me with lightning, it was over before it began.

Once I was down, it wasted no time in striking a finishing blow. After that, the phantom knew I was done, so it went back into one of the paintings. As I lay on the ground, all I could do was regret my mistake. The phantom caught me off guard. I was not prepared for this battle. I didn't even have any weapons either. I tried to summon the energy that I used before, but it wouldn't surface. It angered me, but as much as I hated myself for failing, I didn't want to spend my last few moments regretting things. I wanted to think about the happy things in my life instead. It was then that I thought about when Link first came to the forest. Thinking about how I took him in made me happy, so I decided to think about all the times I had with him and how it shaped me as I am today.

Yes, those memories helped me now. They made me realize that my life had truly been extraordinary. It was by chance that I met Link and formed a bond with him. Through that one single moment, my life had been changed completely. I was given a once in a lifetime opportunity to raise the child of destiny. Yes…I realize now that my destiny was not to save the forest, it was to nurture the one who would save the world. I believe that now. The spirits of the forest said otherwise, but they ended up being wrong. Perhaps the spirits were Ganondorf's minions, or maybe they were the evil spirits Link and I encountered in the Lost Woods. I don't know…either way they led me to my death. Farore blessed me with a much greater destiny though.

Link would save the forest in my place, and he would stop Ganondorf. I knew this in my heart, and that was enough to make me content. With this contentment though, there was also sadness. I couldn't keep my promise to Link in the end. How I dreaded the thought of how he would react when he saw that I was gone. He would be utterly broken by losing me. If only there was a way for me to leave him a message. I couldn't do anything with my injuries. I couldn't write, I couldn't play my song to contact Link. I wondered what I could possibly do, anything at all just to show him that I want him to move on.

It took a few seconds, but an idea came to me. I weakly pulled out my Ocarina with what strength I had left and placed it upon the ground next to me. I don't know…perhaps he would take it as a symbol that I would always be with him. I didn't really know how he would react. There were so many uncertainties swirling around me as my breathing became weaker and weaker. How would Mido be? Would the other Kokiri be alright? Would Link ever be the same again? Thinking about it now, all of these worries could have been avoided had I just stayed with the other Kokiri. I wouldn't have put myself at risk if I stayed, but I was just filled with the desire to do something to help the forest. I felt that I needed to.

I acted upon an impulse, and now I am suffering the consequences. If only I had not left without saying something to the other Kokiri. Now they'll never see me again and I never even got to say goodbye. Much worse than that though is the fact that I will never see Link again. Even with how adamant I was, I couldn't keep my promise to him. Oh, if I could just go back in time to fix all of this. The reality is though that time moves forwards not backwards. Ever changing and unrelenting, it is truly is a cruel thing. Time affects all people in different ways. In one moment someone can be full of life enjoying time with their friends while someone else will be breathing their last breath.

What a cruel world we live in where life and death are just seconds apart. If only I could be truly immortal, transcending death so that I could never be separated from Link. I just want to see him again. As if hearing my thoughts, Link's voice suddenly rang out from my blood stained Ocarina. He said he was in the Forest Temple and was looking for me. Hearing this, I smiled. Now that he was here, I knew everything would be alright for the others. Link would pull through and save the forest in my stead. Link continued to speak, desperately asking me to respond. Hearing the concern and sorrow in his voice, tears started to flow down my cheeks. I tried to respond, but no words would come out of my mouth. My strength to speak was long gone.

The last thing I heard was Link telling Navi that they needed to hurry and find me. The connection cut off soon after. I am so sorry Link. Please forgive me for breaking my part of the promise we made. I'm sad that I won't see you again, and that you will have to go through being without me. Just know that I have faith that you will save the forest and this kingdom from Ganondorf. I have always believed in you, and will continue to believe in you even in the afterlife, wherever that may be. Even though I have failed to save the forest myself, I will still prove Ganondorf wrong. My love for you will be made apparent even after I depart from this world. The words that I could never say to you will be carried out on the wind and echo across the land.

Death will not erase the feelings I have for you, and I'm sure it will be the same for your feelings. They will reach me no matter where I go. I will watch over just as I have done since you were a baby. I will make a new promise to you Link, one that I will actually keep this time. I will watch over you wherever you go. My spirit will be with you. Through all the hardships you will face, I will be by your side. When you finally do defeat Ganondorf, I will celebrate along with you and everyone else who will be made free by your actions. So please, remain courageous like you always have and push forward. There is no one like you that I have ever known…you have changed my life. You will always be precious to me. You will always be my child, my friend, and my closet companion.

Darn it. My time is coming. I'm not ready to go. I want to live, but I know that I can't anymore. All I can do is just be thankful for the good life that I have lived thanks to you, Link. I am so glad to have known you. I love you Link, thank you for everything. You have given me some truly precious moments that I will never forget…

(A month later...)


In an unknown location, a masked figure sits on top of a stone casket. He stares at the body of a young girl in a tattered and bloody night gown. After a few moments, the figure looks up out at a window towards a massive stone tower in the distance.

"The promised time has arrived. The boy has experienced true suffering, just as I predicted. He's coming here to rid himself of it."

Looking away from the tower, the mysterious masked person shuts the casket containing the girl. Having finished his task, he makes his way to the exit to leave. Just before stepping out of the room, the masked man peers at a carving of his mask etched on the wall.

"This world will learn to fear me again, and that boy will help me. One so full of suffering such as him…will make a suitable new puppet."


Author's note: If any of you wanted to see a prolonged Saria and Phantom Ganon fight, I apologize. To me it was not as important as the reason Saria reminisced about her times with Link and her last thoughts. I'm just really glad all of you have enjoyed my story. Your reviews have helped me greatly in writing it. I will write more in the future. I have a lot of ideas, but what I write about and when I don't know right now. I will at least try not to go on year four year long delays like some authors. Anyway, thanks to all of you who reviewed once again. I really appreciate it. About the last part of this chapter, consider it a hint towards a future story.