For the third time, Link, Saria, and Mari found themselves in a hazy land surrounded by water.
Mari was the first to focus her attention on the luminous figure that was there to greet them, and she quickly threw questions at it.
"Hey! Who are you? And where are we? Is this the afterlife? Are you dead?"
"None of those questions matter... I must ask that you heed my words, fairy. And you too, children."
After hearing the commanding tone in the glowing silhouette's voice, everyone postponed their inquiries and gave her their attention.
"The more pieces of the harp that you find, the closer she gets to regaining her power."
As their dreamy surroundings slowly faded to reality, Saria cried after the goddess like woman one more time.
"Wait, but who is 'she'? Who are you?!"
Everyone found themselves no longer in the bottom of the mountain springs, but standing amidst the cave, surrounded by a group of Zora. Each was armed, and eyed the children with contempt.
"Uh... hello..."
Saria did her best to put on a friendly smile, though she obviously appeared nervous, while Link's stomach dropped and his face paled. A Zora adorned with a flowing cape walked out from the circle, and spoke in an accusational tone.
"These are the children. Search his weapon."
With others pointing spears at the boy, a single Zora pulled Link's sword from his scabbard, and observed the blade closely.
"It matches the wound, captain. And it still has some blood residue on it."
"Seize them, and take them to the baron!"
"What? Hey! Let go of me! We didn't do anything!"
Four Zora grabbed each of the children by their limbs, and hauled them through the tunnels into the throne room. On throwing them into a mess on the wet floor, a sense of déjà vu met everyone in the vicinity.
"Sire, these are the culprits! They are responsible for murdering Farrokh!"
A wave of disappointment washed over Saria when she realized what the Zoras were accusing them of, not only disappointment in Link, but disappointment in herself for believing a lie. Mari quickly rose to defend the children, but in reality, she did not know the truth.
"We didn't murder anyone! The only thing these two are responsible for killing are those ugly skeleton fish!"
"Oh really? Then how do you explain this?"
At the command of the captain, a pair of Zora carried a box into the room, and opened it. Saria couldn't bring herself to look at its contents, but Link found himself staring straight into the cold dead body's lifeless black eyes. It was that same Zora, his large front teeth and protrusive head fins were unforgettable to Link. Truly shocked by the corpse, Mari let out a shrill scream.
"Aaagh! By the leaves of the Great Deku Tree! What happened?!"
"We found his body stashed inside a barrel of fish, stinking away."
"Serves him right."
After what Link said, Mari couldn't believe her ears. The angry Zora Captain seemed all too happy to capitalize on the boy's statement.
"Hah! So he admits it! Sire, this warrior from Hyrule is a murderer. What is the verdict?"
"Hmm..."
The rotund baron mulled over his decision for what felt a lifetime in the tense room. Saria feared the worst for her friend, yet at the same time, she wondered if he really should be punished.
"They did rid our spring of those terrible fish, did they not?"
Immediately, the accusing Zora's triumphant grin left his face.
"I mean, yes, they did, but sire, murder is punishable by death!"
"Fool! Do you want a bloodbath before us? These champions were sent to us by King Hyrule, is it not an act of treason to mistreat the king's troops?"
"Have they not already done that to our own, great baron? Let us not forget this chap killed Farrokh."
"Farrokh was arrogant and reckless. Surely, if this boy killed one of our own, it was not without reason."
"If he killed? Is it not clear from the evidence before you that he is guilty? Why are you taking his side?"
"I am the Zora Baron! What I say, goes! He will not leave unpunished, but death is not my penalty to give. Both of the warriors are to be revoked of their Zora tunics, and barred entry from our spring for eternity. I shall send them back to Hyrule with a letter of dishonor, so that the king may know what they have done. It is up to him what fate they befall."
In an angry sigh, the Zora Captain agreed with his leader.
"Yes, oh wise baron."
"Fairy, may I count on you to deliver these two straight to the king?"
Mari glanced between Link, Saria, and the body uneasily, before addressing the baron in a finalizing tone.
"I will see to it that both receive due punishment, exalted one."
"Okay, what the heck Link?! Why did you kill that guy?!"
"But- I- he-"
Outside and back in the snow, Mari began to unleash her unbridled wrath upon Link, who could only manage to stutter.
"C'mon! What did he ever do to you?"
"It wasn't- but-"
"He didn't do anything to him..."
Tightly bundled in her coat, Saria stared somberly into the night sky. Mari's tone lightened up when she addressed her child, though it was still obvious she was livid.
"What was that, Saria?"
"That Zora didn't do anything to him... Link was angry because he mistreated me..."
"What?"
"Don't you get it? Those guards were mean to me, and that was enough to make mister swordsman here mad. Goddesses know what was going through his head at that moment, but he needed that key. He lashed out because of my carelessness, because I got caught."
Shocked by Saria's apparent knowledge of his act, Link couldn't help but keep his mouth open.
"Is this true, Link?"
"Kind of... how did you-"
"Oh, I've known all along, I didn't want to believe you really did it, but in the end... I was just lying to myself."
"You knew he did this?"
"Yes Mari... I can't say that I'm proud of it, but it is enlightening. What else have you done, hm? Anyone else you've killed behind my back?"
"Saria..."
"I trusted you Link! I thought you were a good boy, that you stood for what's right. But no... you kill people without a second thought. And for what? Your own personal benefit?"
"I- I..."
Unable to counter Saria's point, Link sighed and looked at his feet. He really was a bad person, it was only a matter of time before his best friend saw it.
"But Saria... you know me..."
"Do I know you? Because you certainly seem like someone other than the cute boy I grew up with. Back then... you were so innocent... but now, neither of us know who each other are. Do you know who I am, Link? Do you even know why I am here?"
Link quickly realized he was at a loss for words. He knew that she had traveled from an alternate timeline, but the details were still fuzzy.
"I'm not here simply because I want to see you again. Wouldn't that be so simple? No, I'm here for you. I'm here... because my Hyrule needs a hero... but now... I'm not so sure you're the hero we need..."
"All this time... you weren't just tagging along for fun... to be nice..."
"Oh no, it hasn't been fun at all, in fact, it's been worse than death for me. You have no idea how many painful memories of mine you've unearthed, wretched memories of heartbreak and times lost. This journey has been a living hell!"
"But... don't you care about saving this dying land?"
"Why should I? It's not like you do. You're just helping Madgrova so you can see Navi again! Go on, tell me I'm wrong!"
"Saria..."
"Tell me I'm wrong, Link!"
Knowing Saria was right, Link turned his head to the ground and breathed a long and heavy sigh.
"That's what I thought. You're no hero... you're just out for your own personal benefit. You just want to see your oh so precious fairy. Well guess what? My fairy wasn't there to help me when I was trapped by Phantom Ganon for nearly seven years! Were you?"
"Hey wait, this isn't about me!"
"Why shouldn't it be? You left me then, it's only fate that you will leave me again. Quit delaying the inevitable."
"But each guardian fairy is bound to their Kokiri-"
"Am I a Kokiri anymore? No! Your life is yours, go live it. I don't need you anymore!"
"Don't say things you don't mean Saria."
"But I do mean it! I've never been more sincere in my entire life!"
Mari's pink hue turned to a cross between purple and blue, and her wings drooped downward. From her pockets, Saria removed her hand carved ocarina, and ran her fingers over its smooth surface.
"Give me your ocarina, Link."
"Saria, you don't-"
"Shut up and give it to me!"
Nervously, the boy removed his off blue flute from his bag, and handed it to the girl. She held it close to her face and examined it.
"Ah yes... the ocarina of time... the very relic that sent me on this quest. This soul degrading, pointless quest. Who gave it to you?"
"Princess Zelda..."
"So, she gives you this thing, and you guard it with your life. Yes?"
"Of course..."
"And you've known me all your life... and what did you do to my ocarina?"
The boy stammered, but could get no words to leave his lips.
"I spend a year carving an instrument just for you, so we could play together... and you lose it? It was supposed to symbolize our friendship. And if that's really what you think of our friendship..."
Slowly, the girl turned around, and arched her arm back.
"Saria, wait, no!"
With the flick of her wrist, Saria hurled her ocarina off the mountainside, and watched as it fell into the woods below.
"There... now everything is the way it should be. I don't ever want to see your face again."
Without another word, she pulled her shield off her back, sat on it, and used it to sled down the mountain.
"Saria! Come back!"
