Oh my goodness, I am so sincerely sorry about the delayed update! This chapter wouldn't upload onto the website for the longest time. I'm sorry, I don't know why... Also, I undertook a major revision of the earlier chapters. Sadly, this isn't even a great chapter; it's more of a filler, and full of anguish and distrust and stuff. *sigh Well hopefully it won't be too painful to read, but I just want to apologize for this sorry work I gave you, my dear readers. Thanks for reading!

Chapter 25: Saria's Gift

Link watched in horror as his body began to dissipate into the air like ghostly blue crystals, only to turn into nothingness. The last thing to dissolve was his face that screamed in pain as he parted from this world. Link turned his face in distress as his last wails died away. After a few seconds of silence, he looked to where Haethe's body was. Nothing remained to show that Haethe once existed in this world.

Pure silence followed, not even the nature around them making a sound.

ZPOV

"We are corrupted."

That was the first sound that was made after Haethe disappeared.

I turned my gaze from the empty space where Haethe was ten long seconds ago to the speaker, who was Link, I realized in shock. I looked at him with incredulity. "What did you just say?!" I shrilled. Was it actually Link who said those words? Didn't he just snap me out of my brooding about our corruption? Was he possessed?

What the hell was going on?

"We. Are. Corrupted. Do I have to spell it out for you?" he snapped at me. I gaped at his rising temper, and felt my own heading up too. "He's right; if we actually were good people, we wouldn't have to kill like this. This is just savagery," he spat out with distaste, but I could also hear worry in his voice. Marutha, though she didn't understand the animal language, knew that something was wrong, and was looking to me worriedly.

I told Navi in an undertone, "Tell her that I am going to handle this. You and her, go talk somewhere over there. We might have to wait until the door to the Master Sword opens, and until then, just talk." Navi bobbed her head in understanding and flew over to the bewildered Twili, leading her to a different section of the grassy room. I watched them walk away, and then I turned back to the glaring wolf.

"Link," I said with worry, carefully sidestepping the borders of my own hot temper. "You were able to shake off Haethe's words at first. Why not now?" But before I even asked the question, I knew the answer. "Thou be corrupted as Ganondorf himself" were Haethe's last words, the last curse of the world around him. And I just knew Link took that to heart. He was brooding about it now, I knew; he'd never admit it, but Link really was a very lonely and brooding individual, behind those smiles and humorous words. Who wouldn't be, after all of his hardships of the struggle between light and dark?

"Because I see it now. Don't you see? He warned us now, so that we wouldn't cause more damage later. We have to stop this," he stared daggers at me. Suddenly, I realized that his eyes were a dark crimson. His pupil and iris didn't even show up in the deep red. I was dumbfounded; why were his eyes red? "We can't take the Master Sword. All it's used for is complete savagery! But if we don't take it, we don't have to perform savagery. We're doing something good for the world!"

I couldn't keep my jaws closed. My feline appearance was probably very unsightly right now. "Link, this is what Haethe wanted to do to you!" I cried, trying to get him to understand. I turned to the stone guardians, standing where they originally were. I pleaded in a strange yowl, "Guardians of the Sword of Evil's Bane, please let us through to reach the Master Sword!"

"We cannot, Princess of Light…" said one, the blue linings still glowing. His blue eyes seemed to be mournful as they observed me.

"Why not?" I screamed. "We need… the sword… We need… hope…" I trailed away. I was dropping to my feet, begging the statues to open the doorway. Link stared at me with inscrutable eyes, probably not even feeling pity in his dark state.

"We cannot let in those with darkness in their hearts…" droned the other, looking at me with something that looked like sorrow.

"And darkness is indeed inside the canine beast's heart," finished the first one, pointing his heavy cleaver at said person. "Talk your companion into his right mind, Princess…"

"And then we may let you touch the sacred sword."

I turned back to Link, fire in my eyes. "Well, did you hear that?" I snarled at him. My temper wouldn't take it any longer. "Are you happy now? We can't reach the Master Sword thanks to the 'darkness in your heart,' and you got your wish of not taking the Master Sword because you were supposed to be 'good'! You are a complete paradox, Link!" I couldn't even make sense of my words, and I just ended up babbling a mess of utter nonsense.

If only Midna were here now. Then, Link wouldn't even be going through this confusion. But alone, I didn't know what to do to comfort him. After all, Midna knew Link even better than I did, jealous as I was.

"I'm not the wrong one here," he said dangerously. "It's those–"

"Link, a second ago, you were the one that snapped me out of my brooding. It's time you snapped out of yours!" I told him, my anger rising. I tried my best to suppress it, but it wouldn't stop flowing.

"I just… Shut up!" he yelled at me in a loud bark. I blinked in shock; Link was so gentlemanly that I couldn't remember hearing him ever say those two words. "Haethe is right. We are as corrupted as Ganondorf."

I couldn't stand it anymore. Seeing Link confused and dark like this made my emotions explode inside me, and every feeling was going to show up somehow. How could Link question the morals he had been living by his whole life? They were part of the reason I felt so strongly for him…

My brain throbbing, I bayed to the sky as if I were a wolf, letting my anger shriek out in a screechy howl. Either cats could cry or the glands that made tears still existed in me, because then I felt my eyes sting and I began to cry, the tears wetting the mass of fur on my feline face. Link looked shocked at my hysteria. "Zelda–" he started to say.

"Shut up," I began to laugh, though the tears still flowed freely and the anger was still building.

"Zelda!" he shouted.

I ignored him, thinking quickly of how to get him back to his senses while Link was preoccupied by my burst of emotions. Then, I had an idea. "If we're as corrupted as Ganondorf… why haven't we killed each other yet? Ganondorf betrays everyone and everything. Look what he did to Zant; he used him as a toy, and didn't bother to revive him when Zant died. So why haven't you attacked me? Or vice versa?" I still felt my laughter bubbling inside me, my tears pounding to be released, and my outrage that would explode any time now. Although my frenzy was good for stalling Link, I couldn't control it; the hysteria was real. The emotions were still pounding at me. But the predominant emotion was fear, the fear of losing Link to Haethe's haunting words.

"We…" he trailed off. "But…this is different. This… I… You…" I could just feel his defences starting to break, and he was starting to question himself. That was a good sign. But I had to keep talking before he found an answer.

"If I'm corrupted, I could kill you right now. And if you're corrupted, you could kill me right now. So, which one will it be?" I asked, my tone casual as if speaking conversationally about the weather.

The wolf's cerulean eyes blinked. "What… what do you mean, 'which one will it be?'" he asked cautiously.

"I'm giving you a choice, Link. We're fighting now. Attacking each other. Great Goddesses, Link, you of all people should know what that is," I shouted, my flanks heaving. Marutha and Navi stopped their conversation momentarily to watch as I screamed in the animal language at Link. I ignored them as I continued, "Will I die or you die? Do you want to start fighting me, so that fate can decide for you? Or would you rather to give up this whole damned idea of 'everything being corrupted'?" I challenged, my anger screaming at me to be released.

Link looked at me, his face haunted and wide-eyed. "I… But I…" he stuttered.

"Decide!" I barked. "Fine! I'll decide for you. You'll kill me. Kill me!" I screamed at him, my paw stomping on the ground. "By fang, claw, or tail, I don't care! To prove your 'corruption conspiracy' to be true, kill me!"

How did this get from talking about ethics to begging for death again?

"Zelda, I am not going to kill you," he said more quietly, his sentence punctuated by breaks in his voice. Breaks of anger? Or something else? "No one here is going to kill anyone. I won't allow it. After all that happened in Hyrule, after you made that sacrifice for Midna, after Midna made her sacrifice for you, do you think I'll just waste it by killing you? Absolutely not."

"Why not?" I screeched. "Your conspiracy needs proof, Link. Live proof! My dead, unmoving corpse will be proof enough! Then you can go live in your 'non-corrupted' lifestyle, wasting your live while the rest of the population fights against Ganondorf for Hyrule! All it takes is one tight close of your jaws, one well-aimed swipe of your paw, however you'd like it! You've done it more than anyone in Hyrule! What are you waiting for? Kill me!"

"I'd rather have you kill me," he said fiercely, his eyes stormy.

My brain immediately stopped my screaming, and I became frozen. My hysteria went away all at once, leaving me feeling normal again. But my mind began to race at the implications. A whole bunch of reactions popped into my mind, and I tried to execute them, but I only ended up staring at him, stuttering, "You… You what?"

"I… I couldn't ever hurt you, Zelda, even if I tried." His face shone with something unfamiliar to me, and he quickly looked away. I was suspicious of why he said those words, but somehow, I knew that his words were sincere. Still not looking at me, he spoke with that strange edge, "Ever since I saw your body fade into the air when you sacrificed yourself for Midna… I always knew that I had to… to protect you. I couldn't let anything hurt such a pure, compassionate person be harmed. I… I know this sounds like I'm just… some kind of longing, creepy admirer… but I… it's the truth and…" He paused, then looked back at me, shaking his head. The strange expression was gone from his canine face. "Never mind. I never said anything. We shouldn't talk about this. Not now, at least."

"Wait, I still–" I began to say, but he had turned to the animatedly-conversing Marutha and Navi. "You two, come over here. Let's see if we can't make our way to the Master Sword," he called.

Navi fluttered over to Link, obviously liking him the most out of the three of them. As she strode toward me calmly, Marutha looked at me with a look that said, So you helped him, then.

I answered with a look that sighed, I think I did. But I'm not sure… And I wasn't. Because had I really snapped him out of his brooding? How did the topic of my death bring him to his senses?

And did Link just inadvertently tell me that he would die for me?

Marutha patted my head fondly as if I were a domestic cat, and we turned to the blue-lined statues. At that moment, one of the stone sentinels began to speak. "Beast of Twili legend, Princess of the Light, healer of the Twili, fairy of the Kokiri protectors… Your hearts are pure. You may enter the room in which the Master Sword sleeps. And we thank you sincerely for freeing us from the Poe that controlled us."

"The Sword of Evil's Bane awaits its master," the other added, looking at Link, who bowed his head.

The statues raised their axes, and their weapons glowed marine blue as the slab of stone blocking the doorway to the Master Sword slowly faded to nothing at all, leaving a clear but narrow passage into the room ahead. I felt quite anxious to watch the statues raise their axes, as my instinct was telling me to run and fight at the same time. But they let their axes come back down, and the colour from both the statues and the weapons faded as they did so. I didn't know what to expect from the room ahead, so I hesitated. Link strode forward, pride holding his head high, Navi circling him like a fly circling a fruit. Marutha sighed with relief, beckoned to me, and hurried forward to catch up. I took a breath and ran through the narrow passageway into the next room, stopping at the sight of the sword in the pedestal.

The area where the Master Sword laid dormant looked no different from the other grasses of the Sacred Grove, yet the atmosphere was unlike the serenity and calm of the rooms with ancient pines looming over you. In this room, it felt mystical and strangely tense, though other than the Master Sword nothing was special in the room.

Link and I approached the sword slowly, taking in its majestic appearance. The pedestal looked like it was made of a greyish marble, and a quarter of the magnificent blade was buried inside it. The sword itself protruded from the Pedestal of Time. The hilt of the sword was a dark purple, the guard a lighter shade of it. On the guard was a yellow gemstone embedded into it. The blade was completely flat and long, and engraved on it was the familiar symbol of the Triforce.

In its dormancy, it looked just like another sword, an ordinary blade. Yet the sword still created a magical aura.

Amazing.

The two of us beasts reached the sword. My midnight blue eyes met the cerulean ones. He turned his gaze onto the Master Sword and stood absolutely still, his feral eyes staring at the sword intensely. I, of course, had no idea what to do, so I followed Link's lead.

And then a giant wave of light exploded from the Master Sword, blasting us off our feet.

NPOV

When the current of brightness hit me, I was screaming with enthusiasm! Oh my gosh, it was so weird! Sure, it was like an energy blast, but it didn't hurt, because it was cleansing, somehow! Wow, I wish I could feel that feeling every day, when I wake up in the morning. Oh, there aren't any words for it! Sure, it did throw me into a wall… But it was well worth it!

Okay then, now to the scene at hand. What the light did to Link and Zelda was so strange! First, the force of the wave made them do a sort of back flip, but they regained their footing. They exchanged glances, and then they tried to step towards the Master Sword. After a few steps, Link and Zelda's snouts touched the guard of the sword, at the same time. And then the transformation took place! Their fur, like, peeled away from their skin! But then the fur didn't drop to the ground! The gray, white and black fur all turned to the colour of shadows and dissipated like Haethe did! It kind of freaked me out, to be perfectly honest. But then I almost screamed in horror. Why? Because it was then when I saw that their forms were entirely black! I shut my eyes, not wanting to see those ghastly forms; after all, it looked like they'd turned evil! And when I dared open my eyes again, I saw Link and Zelda in their human forms!

And my eyes bulged at the sight of them!

Sure, Zelda had chestnut brown hair and her face was more hawk-like, but she had the same air of royalty, the same way that she held her head up proudly as the old one I knew did. And those eyes! The penetrating blue eyes were exactly the same! I guess the bloodline was determined to keep those midnight blue eyes. Of course, this Zelda and the one I knew must be related, since they both had royal blood.

And when I saw the human Link, I just knew this Link was related to the one I travelled with! After all, the eyes were the same too, the hair was dirty blond, and who couldn't recognize that classic green tunic and cap?! Zelda had called him a Hero, too. And Link from centuries ago was the Hero of Time, so they must be related! And he must've inherited Link's old clothes!

Seeing Link and Zelda made me feel like my past was coming back to haunt me, like the ghosts of the Hero and Princess from Hyrule three hundred years ago. I did notice that their names were the same, and I was even more shocked to hear what Zelda called themselves, but I had no idea that they'd remind me of them so much!

Oh, right… them. From the past. From centuries back…

Well, yeah, I know it's real weird that the Link in front of me entirely of the Link from centuries ago. But it wasn't just weird; seeing these two people, standing side-by-side again made me reminisce – and mourn – about the Hero of Time and the first Princess Zelda of the Royal Family. It made me feel nostalgic, and old, now that I think of it.

And sad too. Definitely sad.

About three centuries ago, when Saria and the Sages told me quietly that the Hero of Time had "fallen into eternal slumber", I couldn't register the information. I asked them if they meant something like the slumber of those seven years, when Link wasn't old enough to be the Hero of Time. I started to shout, asking why they would need to put him in eternal slumber; his work was already done! After all, he had sealed Ganondorf away, saved Termina from destruction! Princess Zelda interrupted my rant and shook her head. She told me with teary eyes that he was gone. Gone forever. Zelda really was crushed; she had been crying so hard… I knew that Zelda had had feelings for Link, but so did half the girls out there! Including me, a little bit. (I always had been a bit jealous about how just the presence of Zelda made Link forget I was there.) But she didn't take the news as well as the other girls did. Zelda was constantly locked inside her room, weeping her heart out. I tried to stay at Hyrule Castle to console her, but she said that I should stay with the Deku Tree and Saria. So I did, and I left Zelda alone crying. And the day I decided to go back to talk to her, a month later, she died.

Maybe I'd tell Link and Zelda about it, maybe I wouldn't. But I knew that I wouldn't be telling them now.

"Navi?" spoke a hesitant voice beside me. I nearly fell out of the air with shock; I was so immersed in my melancholic thoughts. I looked up from the ground. All three of them were looking at me worriedly, probably noticing my sudden quietness. I don't stay quiet for very long periods at a time, I'll admit. I guess they noticed the absence of my loud, enthusiastic self.

"Navi, are you alright?" Zelda asked in Hylian, her voice like water running in a stream. Her voice sounded even gentler when it wasn't a purr, and already her purrs were quite mellifluous and warm-hearted.

"Are you stunned by our good looks?" Link smiled a smug grin, crossing his arms.

I stifled a gasp; exactly like the old Link, conceited and infuriating! Instead of letting out a gasp, I gave a huff. "I'm not stunned by your looks!" I shouted childishly.

But that basically was a lie.

"Whatever you say, Navi," Link laughed. Then he became serious again as he turned his gaze back at the sword. A furrow in his eyebrows, he stepped in front of the sword in the pedestal. Zelda moved back a bit to give him space. The Hero of Ti – woops! Hero Chosen by the Gods – closed both his hands over the purple hilt of the Master Sword slowly, dramatically. And as Link touched the sword, I almost shrieked when I saw the metal of the sword shiver slightly! "Did you see that?!" My words to Marutha were a cross between a shriek and a whisper. "It shivered!"

"Yes, Navi, I saw it, now hush," Marutha said, annoyance colouring her tone, her eyes still on the Master Sword.

I huffed and I focused on the sword again. Link seemed to take a deep breath before pulling. With ease, he slid the sword out of the pedestal as easily as unsheathing a sword. The Master Sword gleamed brightly as Link raised the dagger to the sky though there was no sunlight, only a dusky glow that leaked through the tree branches.

"You're just like how I left you, old friend," I heard Link murmur to the sword as he ran a hand over the cool metal of the blade. "Perfect as always." The sword seemed to catch the light again, seemingly revelling in its wielder's comment.

"With this, we should be able to face Ganondorf," Zelda said quietly, stepping to his side again, looking at the sword with admiration. "And we won't have to cower in fear when we give him the Skire."

Link's face hardened at the mention of either Ganondorf or the Skire. (Yeah, Marutha explained to me what the Skire was!) "I still have a bad feeling about that," he said in a low voice, still looking at the Master Sword. "Ganondorf isn't to be trusted. Wouldn't Midna, Zant, and Ralis be more useful to him than the Skire? What if he just takes the Skire and leaves without giving them back?"

"Of course he could," Zelda admitted, "but somehow I doubt he won't. It seems to me that this is just a game, and giving them back would make it more fun. Doesn't it seem like him?"

"I suppose so," Link almost whispered. "But I… I'm still worried that there is no hope. I always will be."

Zelda patted his shoulder. "We should go back to the camps now, Link. We have the Master Sword and the pureberry; with those two things, hope just might come to us." The two of them stayed in that position for a time, Zelda's hand on his shoulder. I saw a sort of bond between them that reminded me of the one I knew three hundred years ago. (NO, I didn't feel jealous!!)

Breaking the boredom I was in, the Twili beside me frowned. I looked at her questioningly, and I opened my mouth to talk but Marutha gave me a look that shouted, "Quiet, Navi!" The same message everyone around me kept saying. I pouted childishly and shut up, but I watched her as she closed her eyes, frowning in concentration. Link and Zelda were still staring at the ground, and Zelda's hand had not moved.

"Uh, Link? Zelda?" I asked timidly, wondering if they'd yell at me as Marutha had shushed me. But they simply jumped out of their trance and turned to me with an inquisitive look in their eyes. I gestured at the deeply concentrating Twili, who was in a trance of her own.

The two of them started. Link quickly shoved the Master Sword in an empty sheathe and jumped to Marutha's side. Zelda's deep blue eyes turned to me for a second, and for a moment it felt like I was looking into the face of Princess Zelda I, making me feel like I was back in the past. But then she looked away to observe Marutha, and once I saw the light brown locks of hair, my stomach plummeted. I shook my head in disgrace at my longing. It's time to stop living in the past, Navi!

I looked back at Marutha, who was now rubbing her eyes. "I just received a message from the Royal Council…" she murmured, her eyes opening. I bit back a gasp at her eyes; they were milky white with no hint of a pupil or iris. But they returned a second later. Link and Zelda seemed not to notice. Instead, they frowned when they heard her last two words. "From Rusl, to be exact. He claims that the Resistance has decided to make for Death Mountain instead of the Castle Town to free the Gorons, and we should warp to the area just outside of the gates of Kakariko. They will tell us more information later."

"Very well," the Princess answered. "Let's go, then, Marutha. We should meet with them as soon as–"

Her words were interrupted by a roar of cheers behind them. I spun around, startled, to find myself staring at the happy faces of the Kokiri! The green clothed children were shouting in glee at our heroics, some of them rushing up to us and squealing. All of them looked so much happier than I had seen for a long time.

But one face wasn't happy.

Well, other than Mido, who never smiled.

The face's owner was the one I expected least to not be smiling: Saria!

I had never seen Saria so solemn ever since the old Link passed away! The colour was drained from her face as she stared at Link. She looked at still as a statue; not only did she stand perfectly still, but the life wasn't present in her eyes at all! And I knew at once what she was thinking. "L-Link…" she said shakily, the words struggling to leave her mouth. "Is it really–"

Realizing what she was about to reveal, I quickly darted away from Link, Zelda, and Marutha and flew into Saria's mouth, stopping her words. Well, it didn't stop her from giving a small scream of shock. It certainly didn't stop the gasps from the audience. But then they just dismissed it and continued to cheer and shout.

I winced as the volume of her shriek reached my ears, and then pulled myself out of Saria's mouth. I almost started complaining about the saliva that dampened my wings, making it hard to fly, but then I remembered why I'd thrown myself into Saria's mouth. Before I could explain, though, the Sage of Forest asked me, appalled, "Um, Navi… Why did you fly into my mouth?"

"Saria, we can't tell them yet!" I whispered to her in the Kokiri language so that the three of them wouldn't understand. Saria looked confused at both my use of the old language that hadn't been used in decades and my melancholy. It was one of the only times that I'd shown it, after all. "This isn't the Link from our time, you have to understand that! He's a descendant!" I dared a glance over my shoulder to look at the three of them; all of the Kokiri were practically climbing their heroes like trees. I giggled, and then I turned back to Saria, my face getting serious again.

"But he… he… looks so–" Saria stuttered in the same language, trying to become coherent but didn't succeed.

"I know, I know," I murmured, glancing over at them again, "but I don't think we should tell them. We have no reason to. It would just disturb them."

"You're right," Saria whispered, staring at the ground in sadness. I felt the same as her. Then she sighed, looking at Zelda. "And the Princess seems a lot like the first one, doesn't she? In a subtle kind of way…"

"I know what you mean," I nodded. How could someone not recognize those midnight blue, soulful eyes? And who in the world wouldn't be able to see that Link looked exactly the same as the Hero of Time? I turned my gaze on the flustered Hylians and the Twili medic, observing with interest as the loud Kokiri sang their praise for them.

Saria looked at me carefully, and then watched them with me. After a moment, she spoke very softly, but she didn't take her eyes off of the… the ghosts of my – and Saria's –past. "Navi, look at you. The bubbly Navi is gone; I already saw her beginning to disappear when the first Link died. She died away when these two made you reminisce over Link and Zelda, the first ones. Travelling with them will only hurt you! Are you sure you're going to go with them?"

"I think I am," I whispered. I wasn't entirely sure if I did want to stay with them, but I knew that Saria's words were right. The bubbly me was gone, was dead. Travelling with them would hurt me. And I wasn't sure if I was going to go with them.

But I also wanted to remember, to remember the way Link's genuine smile forced me to mirror it, the lively personality of Princess Zelda, the world outsideof the Kokiri Forest (after all, it would be so different from the one from three centuries ago!). I also wanted to remember how I felt when Zelda made Link look like a lovesick fool, and how I helped Link target enemies. To remember the very prospect of travel!

I wanted to remember. And that was why I had initially accepted Link's offer of joining their travels, after recovering from my shock. But in my quiet state of thoughtfulness while we went through the secret passage, I was beginning to wonder if I actually wanted to. Sure, it would be fun… but like Saria said, it would be painful…

But I needed to remember. I was beginning to forget about the Hyrule of centuries back, and I needed to trigger the memories, or else I'd lose them forever. I almost forgot what Link looked like, for the Goddesses' sake!

"I do," I told her firmly. My resolve was unwavering now; I had convinced myself that I had to remember.

"I wish I could come too," Saria whispered. I felt her depression too, and felt really bad. She always loved Link, maybe not just as a friend, and her spirits had always been diminished ever since he passed away. "I truly do. But I must stay with the Deku Tree, and keep an eye on the others. Especially Mido." I laughed, but I was still sombre. I wished dearly Saria could come, but of course, not all desires could be fulfilled. "I'll let you go, on one condition…"

"Anything to go with them," I said immediately.

"You have to revive your happy self again. I would not bear it if you were to go in your current state, Navi." Saria's normally bright blue eyes looked sad as she imagined what would happen if I was like a dead person during the journey. "And when you come back, I hope you'll be more like your old self."

"I'll try," I heard myself say to her. It would take time to become more like my old self again, though. A lot of time.

LPOV

After peeling the extremely excited, bouncy Kokiri off our bodies, we called Navi over and announced to the Kokiri children that we were leaving. Saria said, startled, "You're leaving so soon?" Her blue eyes looked unbearably miserable, and I immediately wanted to comfort her.

"Why…" Zelda started to say uncomfortably. "Why wouldn't we?"

"Well, let me just get something for you," Saria told me, her eyes lighting up. "I'll be right back!" She turned around, and with astounding speed for such a small child, she dashed away. The Kokiri, startled at seeing their unofficial leader run back to the forest, followed at the same speed.

"Wait, Saria!" I called in frustration, stepping forward with an outstretched arm. But I was too late, as Saria and the huge group of the Kokiri had already disappeared.

"I suppose we should wait for Saria to come back," Marutha said thoughtfully. "It would be rather impolite to just leave and let Saria find out we'd left already, now wouldn't it?"

"She'd better keep her promise of 'coming right back', then, or there'll be hell to pay. Not from me, from Ashei, of course," I grumbled, resigning myself to waiting.

"Look at it this way: Saria will be giving us something," Zelda patted my shoulder. "And since the Kokiri are grateful for ridding their home of the ghost of Haethe and clearing the secret passage, I doubt the gift is just an ordinary trinket." She stared at the orangey sky in something that looked like longing. I joined her. "Twilight again," she murmured, more to herself than to anyone. "The other side of the coin… Oh, how I miss Midna. Zant, I'm not sure about. I know he's a Hero and everything, but… I still don't trust him quite yet. I definitely miss Ralis; I want to hear him whine, as strange as it sounds." Marutha and Navi went to talk at the other side of the room, knowing that we should have privacy.

"Those sentences state my opinions perfectly," I replied, sighing over the loss of our friends. "But more emphasis on missing Midna… I love her like a sister, albeit a cynical, annoying sister." In my boredom, I took out the Master Sword to observe the beautiful evil-repelling sword, to distract myself.

To the side, I noticed that Zelda had turned her head away. "As do I," she whispered.

"I know," I breathed, remembering the pain I felt the moment after the Mirror had shattered. I had always guessed that she had done it out of duty, to ensure that no terror from the Twilight Realm would reach the Light World, but I had also always wondered if there was another reason she had broken the Mirror. "But sometimes I wonder why she would break the Mirror if we are such great friends. I've… never felt so hurt in my life during those years after she left us. Zelda, why do you think Midna broke the Mirror?"

"To prevent anything like that from happening again," she spoke immediately, frowning. "Haven't you figured it out yet?"

I shook my head fervently, and, knowing that this might be the only time to discuss it, I began to speak more quickly. "I have always known that was one of her intentions, but I have also wondered if there were more reasons beyond that."

"What do you mean, Link?" Zelda was agape at my questioning. "Are you distrusting Midna?!"

"No, no! Nothing of the sort," I said hastily, which slightly eased the horrified expression on Zelda's face. "I just wondered if maybe she just wanted to forget about the trials she went through here. To forget Hyrule. To forget us. So that she could return to her normal life."

Zelda was silent for a few long moments. "It's a possibility… but I very much doubt it…" she mumbled.

"But haven't you ever wished that those events never happened?" I asked her urgently. "To act like the permanent Twilight had never settled on Hyrule, to go back to normal?"

Zelda lowered her eyes in shame. "Perhaps… perhaps you are right. But I never once regretted meeting Midna. And I still know that Midna is a true ally. We should set aside our suspicions; it would hurt her if she knew that we were suspicious of her intentions."

"Of course. But… one day we will resolve–" I began to say, but someone clearing her throat interrupted. I whirled around, almost thinking that it was Midna overhearing us, but it was only the small, green figure of Saria. Navi and Marutha joined us at our side, and Saria hesitated before saying, "I know this isn't much… but I… think you should have this…" She faltered again before proffering a small leather pouch to me.

I observed her face carefully, wondering why she was acting so haltingly, and took the bag from her hands. She looked up into my face. "Won't you see what's inside? I didn't just give you a pouch!" she laughed, though a nervous edge ruined the merry sound. I smiled and dipped my hand into the pouch, and my fingers met a smooth, cold surface. I frowned, and took it out of the leather. In my hands was a strange rock with holes drilled in the sides.

"Uh, thank you?" I asked in confusion, observing the thing curiously.

Saria smiled at my confusion, but it was a sad smile. "It's a Fairy Ocarina, Link," she said, her voice mysteriously breaking when she spoke my name. "Blow into the little tube sticking out of it."

I confusedly obliged, and a high-pitched whistling sound came from it. I literally jumped when I heard it, earning many giggles from my solely female audience. "Oh quiet," I grumbled. That only forced more laughter from them. I frowned at their childish behaviour. "Why did you give it to me, anyway?"

"Yes, Saria, why did you give it to him?" Navi chimed in, fluttering over to and glaring at Saria with such a furious expression I thought I was seeing things wrong. I never imahined Navi could act so menacingly! The Kokiri wasn't scared, though, but rather guilty, and looked at the ground as if ashamed.

"Hey, hey, Navi, I was just asking her," I tried to calm Navi, but it didn't seem like she listened.

"I just thought it was right," Saria mumbled to her feet. "I need to thank you with something for clearing up those monsters!" She muttered a few more words quietly, but I heard her last few words: "–belongs to you anyway…"

Belonged to me? But I'd never met Saria before... How would she have something that belonged to me? And why would it me mine, if I had never touched it?

"Okay, okay, let's go guys!" Navi shrilled, trying to get us to leave. I didn't understand why, and judging by the looks on their faces, neither did Zelda or Marutha. "Bye, Saria! I hope I see you again soon!"

"Yes," Saria said slowly, even for just one word. Then she brightened again, saying, "See you soon, too, all of you. Good luck!"

"Thank you, Saria!" Zelda said gratefully to the Kokiri leader.

As my body particles of twilight dissolved into the sky and we began to head for the rendezvous location, I heard the heartbreaking sound of a young girl crying.

Alrighty, so if you haven't already guessed, the Fairy Ocarina is extremely important to the story. But I'm pretty sure you guys all know that! And I'm sorry if Navi seemed a little out of character nearing the end; I tore my hair out trying to balance Navi's bounciness and her angst about the whole situation, and so the angst became more prominent.

Oh, and if you want to see a better chapter from me, check out the first chapter of my new Zelda story, Capricious. That's another reason this update took so long. There'll be an author's note in there for you. =)