Without a care in the world, the forest girl daintily skipped through the lost woods.

She didn't care if the outside world was in turmoil, she was safe in the forest, the sacred forest. With an empty basket in one hand and a fresh apple in the other, Saria wandered aimlessly, searching for fruit. With the recent tension of the world escaping into the forest outskirts, all the Kokiri were afraid to leave the village, and as such, afraid to go out and gather food. Saria, on the other hand, had no fear of outer trouble. If the Great Deku Tree said that outsiders could not venture into Kokiri Forest, then they couldn't! Wind blew her hair across her bare shoulders as she hummed a tune to herself.

Off in the distance, a strange noise caught Saria's ears. No doubt, it was one of the wretched explosive devices the outsiders loved to use. Why did the people from beyond the woods like to fight so much? Why did they like to draw their swords and slay each other mercilessly? Why couldn't they all just be friends, like everyone in the forest? In the stories the Great Deku Tree told, all people who came from the outer world were bloodthirsty murderers, hungry for power and glory.

"Maybe we should turn back... that blast didn't sound very far from here."

"You worry too much Mari. We're safe in the forest! Besides, we're running low on fruit back in the village, we can't return without a nice full basket."

"Something just doesn't feel safe about this stretch of woods. What if we run into an outsider?"

"They're called outsiders for a reason, they stay outside of the forest! Heehee! If you feel so scared, maybe you should go get one of the boys. Surely they aren't afraid to go out here if I'm not."

"Maybe you should be. There's a reason nobody walks in the lost woods anymore Saria."

"Eh, I bet you if ya told Mido I was out here, he'd come running head over heels. You know how he can be."

"I think I just might get him. Maybe he could convince you how dangerous it is out here."

"Be sure to let him know that I'm not afraid at all. Then he'll really go crazy!"

Saria's guardian fairy, Mari, buzzed off back towards the village. Somebody needed to talk some sense into that girl. Saria chuckled as she continued skipping along, Mari left, just like she was planning. Now she could venture unhindered, nobody to weigh her down. Taking a bite from her apple, she looked around to find a blackberry bush. Giddily, she hopped over and began plucking the ripe berries, filling her basket. She popped a few of the tart fruits in her mouth, giggling with joy. After the basket was full, she got up from her knees and strolled over to a particular rock she was familiar with. From behind it, she pulled a few crafting tools and two strangely shaped chunks of wood. She piled them into the basket with the berries, and made her way towards an old stump.

"Oh Skull Kid! It's your friend, Saria! I brought you some berries!"

From the trees above, the frazzled wooden figure of a skull child jumped down onto the stump.

"Taaasty. Did you bring the tools, friend?"

"Yup, I've got them right here."

Setting down the basket, Saria picked up a chisel and a handful of berries.

"Good. Today, maybe we can finish our music makers."

"Yeah, that would be great!"

Putting the two pieces of wood together, they formed sort of a sweet potato shape, with an extension on one side for the mouth. Looking over her soon to be instrument, Saria evaluated her craftsmanship. Over the course of three months, she had formed the body of the flute from two separate chunks of wood. She had already cut out the mouthpiece and the voicing, but she still needed to make the tone holes. With a steady breath, she played a long deep note while holding the two unjoined halves together. Skull Kid's own instrument was more thin in design, but it still possessed a protrusive mouth piece. When he played it, it emitted a high, almost falsetto like note compared to Saria's.

"Ooh, that sounds good! Have you been practicing?"

"Uh huh, I practice all the time."

Using her chisel, Saria burrowed a small hole into the wood's surface, employing force, but at the same time precision. In the background, a strange pop sound echoed off into the distance. Twisting his neck in a curious manner, Skull Kid peered after the noise's origin.

"Do you think the outside people will get inside the forest?"

"No, I think they're happy to fight with each other outside the woods. But why do they always fight? Why can't they be friends, like us?"

"Maybe the same reason your fairy doesn't want to be friends with me. I have no face, so she doesn't like me."

"That's not true! You have a wonderful face!"

"Not compared to yours. You have a bright and happy face. Mine is dark and sad. The fairy likes you, but she doesn't like me."

For some reason, Mari always hated it when Saria hung out with Skull Kid, but she could never figure out why. Sure, he could be odd at times, but he was a nice person, even if a bit mischievous.

"I don't think that's why she doesn't like you. But listen to me, you have a great face. It's what makes you you, and I like you."

"Thanks, friend. You always know what to say. Can you hand me the pointy one please?"

"Of course."

Saria passed Skull Kid a small knife, made for whittling. With sluggish accuracy, he carved a groove around the circumference of his flute. Satisfied with his work, he dropped the blade back in the basket, and took a mouthful of berries.

"When we finish these, we will be music making buddies, right?"

"Yeah, we'll make beautiful sounds together. I'll play low, and you'll play high! Haha!"

Throughout the hour, Saria and Skull Kid conversed, worked on their instruments, and shared various thoughts with each other. Slowly, hole by hole, Saria chiseled and crafted her peculiar instrument, she was attempting to recreate an old flute from Kokiri folklore. While Skull Kid kept busy making holes in his own woodwind, he seemed more focused on detail, making engravings here and there, cutting designs across the exterior. Both poured their soul into their craft.

"Eh, those outsiders don't scare me one bit! Just let em try and sneak in the forest, and I'll show them! Nobody can take on the great Mido!"

"Are you sure? What about the weird exploding balls they like to carry around? What would you do about those?'

"Why, uh... I'd throw them back at them with my bare hands! Yeah!"

"Are you sure? They look pretty heavy."

"Well, I'll have you know I'm stronger than I look. I am the leader of the Kokiri for a reason, y'know."

"Yup, and you never let us forget that."

In the midst of Kokiri village, Mido was helping the eldest of the know it all brothers, Gimi, carry a box of apples into the shop. For some odd reason, Mido never ceased to proclaim how tough he was, especially with all the chaos going on outside of the forest. Nobody knew that Hyrule was in the midst of a civil war, but neither did they care, as long as no one entered the forest.

"Hey, if you're so strong, why can't you just carry this box by yourself?"

"Er... because! You could use the work. You just sit around all day and read dumb books."

"You know, they say knowledge is power, Mido."

"Yeah, they also say books are stupid."

While the two boys carried on with their bickering, both their fairies, Tika and Arto, chatted. They gossiped with each other about the ongoing war, rumors that people had been sneaking into the woods, and other various things. From the cliff above, Mari flew down in a hurry toward the boys, desperate to get somebody's attention.

"Hey! Hey! Mido! I need your help!"

"Wha? Oh, you're Saria's fairy. Tell her I said hi."

Completely ignoring her, Mido continued arguing with Gimi. Frustrated, Mari looked to the other two fairies for a hand. Tika was no help at all, while Arto tried his best to be useful.

"Yeah, you're gonna have to try harder than that."

"Perhaps you should elaborate a bit?"

Trying again, Mari said something she knew would get the stubborn boy's attention.

"Saria's off in the lost woods, alone."

Mido dropped the heavy box straight onto Gimi's foot, and whipped around.

"What?! Why?! Is she in trouble?!"

"Ow!"

"No, but I was hoping you could talk some sense into her, she says she isn't afraid, not one bit."

"But it's dangerous out there!"

"That's what I told her, but she didn't seem to care. You aren't afraid, are you?"

"What? Me? Aheheh... no. I'm the great Mido, after all!"

Mido fell right into Mari's little trap. That boy could never resist a chance to make himself look good, especially in front of Saria.

"Right, now why don't you come with me and talk some sense into her?"

"That's just what I'm going to do! Lead the way!"

Mido stamped off towards the lost woods, leaving Gimi alone, the box still resting atop his toes.

"Aw... come on! You could at least help me get this thing off my foot!"

"Something about it just doesn't feel right, it's just a bit bland."

Saria looked at her freshly crafted instrument. The two halves were now sealed together, and she had drilled enough holes in it to play a good scale, but something about the flute was just too plain.

"Hm, maybe you need to carve something on it?"

"No, I want it nice and smooth so it fits in my hands good. I do feel like it could use an extra detail or something though. Something to make it look a bit... funner."

"Ooh! I think I might have something! Be right back!"

Without another word, Skull Kid bolted off into the depths of the woods. While she waited, Saria fumbled around with a few notes on her curved flute, trying to put together something that sounded good. She would find two or three notes that when put together, she liked, but nothing really seemed to fit. Scurrying back from wherever he had gone to, Skull Kid jumped up and down giddily.

"Oh boy! I found it! I found it!"

"What is it?"

"It's a rock! A shiny rock! I saw it, and it reminded me of your pretty hair. See?"

Thrusting the object into the air, it glimmered in the rays of sunlight that spilled through the treetops. The item was a beautiful emerald, pure as could be. Saria had never seen such a magnificent stone. Where could have he found one of those in the forest?

"Wow... that's amazing..."

"I found it and I thought of you. And now... since you're such a nice friend, I want you to have it."

Gently, Skull Kid placed the small emerald into Saria's palm. The girl was awestruck by the timid child's generosity.

"Thank you... it's gorgeous... I wish I had something to give to you in return."

"No, no no, I want you to have it. It's a... what is the word?"

"Gift?"

"Yes, a gift. A nice gift for a nice person with a nice face."

"You're sweet, you know that? I'll treasure it forever. This should look great on my ocarina!"

Digging through the now empty basket of blackberries, Saria pulled out a small sculpting tool, and whittled a spot for the beautiful gem. After grabbing a small bottle filled with adhesive made from tree sap, she stuck the gem into its spot, and let it dry.

"It's perfect! Now... let's play!"

"Mine is not done yet, I think it needs a few more holes, heh heh. But you can play. I can listen while I finish."

"Are you sure? I don't know if I can play this thing very well yet."

"It doesn't matter if you are good are not, just play whatever song comes from your heart."

"My heart?"

"Play a song that sounds like you."

"Hmm... a song that sounds like me, and comes from my heart..."

Those were peculiar words coming from someone like Skull Kid. Saria pondered them for a long time, while taking in her surroundings. Green trees' limbs swayed in the wind, several flowers bloomed all around them. The very forest was alive and playful, just like Saria. She closed her eyes, and pressed her lips to the mouthpiece of her ocarina. What notes flowed from the flute, she did not force or think out, she simply relayed to her fingers. The melody embodied all that Saria was, quite literally, it was jubilant and full of life, to the point that Skull Kid started dancing, it even sounded somewhat mischievous. She played and played, unsure what note was fixing come from the instrument, but managing to make each one sound like it was part of a coherent song. After the girl finished playing, she pulled the flute out of her mouth and looked it over.

"Did... did I play that?"

"Wahoo! Yeah! Play it again! Play it again! Haha!"

"I didn't know I even had that in me."

"It's your song! Saria's Song! Heehee! Play it again!"

Saria put her ocarina back in her mouth and attempted to recreate the same melody. Instead of getting what she had played the first time, a discordant mess of notes spilled from the instrument.

"No! No no no... don't play it from your head, play it from your heart!"

"From my heart?"

"You know, like the first time you played it!"

She closed her eyes and went into thought. There was no need to overcomplicate things, she just needed to reach into herself, and pull her song out of her heart again. Thinking not about the ocarina, only about the beauty of the world around her, Saria placed her mouth on the instrument once more, and put a joyous sound into the air.

"Yeah! Like that!"

Skull Kid jumped around and danced while Saria formulated the playful melody not from her mind, but from her heart. The song was like a child running happily through the woods, with naught a care in the world. The song was hers, and the song was her. It was the song of her soul, it was Saria's Song.