Trial of Keys

V2.1

By: (o'.')o

Disclaimer

Do I have to say this again? Fine Fine….Legend of Zelda Copyright of Nintendo. There, I said it. Now leave me alone.

Note from (o'.')o

Just another plea, if you like this fic, please review. If you hate this fic, please review. I wont cry if you flame me (well, maybe a little.) Just give me your opinion. If you read it, please review it. Thanks. Enjoy the fic.

By the way, to clear things up…characters from this fic may have the same names, but are NOT the same characters from the previous, or any other Zelda games. Think of the names as being 'passed-on' from generation to generation. J

Last Chapter:

Link and Zelda made it to the Sages place, only to be told that a great danger was hovering over Hyrule. Link wanted to know how he could protect those he loved. The Sage conceded that the Master Sword could help, but that it wont except Link, that Link is not pure, and to try to get the Sword of Evils Bane was death. Link of course, had other ideas, so he's off on his quest to procure the 3 keys. To Links chagrin, Zelda and Malon had the same idea.

And now, on we go.

******

Link woke up, the rays from the near noon-day sun shining in his face. Frantically, he got out of bed and looked outside. The sun was nearly hanging in the air. "Noon!" , he thought violently. "Shit! I was supposed to be up before dawn!!!" Obviously the past two days exhaustion did not do well towards him.

Link got dressed quickly. He slipped on his Green tunic, pulling it on tight. His pulled up his brown leather pants and his slightly darker heavy boots. Link usually wore colors of a Forest motif, as was the influence from his years with the Kokiri. Link smiled to himself. He may end up seeing more people in his type of clothes sooner than was thought.

Link picked up his sword from the table. The scabbard was brand new…he just got it from Malon yesterday. It was equipped to sharpen the blade whenever it was unsheathed. Link pulled out the slender sword from its glove. It was long, around 3 feet long, and slightly curve. The back of the blade was incredibly dull… it wasn't sharp enough to cut grass. But the curved part of the blade was deadly.

Link preferred this one-edged ( Japanese Style ) blade than that to the ones people used commonly in Hyrule. He found it easier to control, and almost surgical in its precision. Link was enough of a swordsman to realize that no sword was better than the other, Broad or Edged. It was all a matter of preference.

Link re-sheathed his sword roughly, put on his long green Tuke, and left his room. The hallways were completely empty. For one brief moment, he thought that maybe, by some miracle, they were still asleep. Link sighed. These were farm folks. They wake when the cuccos do.

As he suspected, Malon and Zelda were waiting in the kitchen of the ranch. Malon dressed normally, except for the leather pants and boots that she was sporting. Obviously she was planning to do some hiking. She looked over at him and smiled, holding on to her quarter-staff.

Link shook his head, trying to ignore the lovely smell of bacon and eggs. Again, Zelda surprised him by sitting down at the table for such an uncouth breakfast. She was still wearing the riding outfit that she wore yesterday, probably another first. Link knew she didn't exactly need to be able to move freely in battle, like he would. Her magic would be enough. Still, he didn't care. He didn't want them coming along.

The young elf opened his mouth to voice his opinion, but Zelda beat him to it. "You might as well sit down and have your meal. We have a long trip ahead of us." She said, before biting into some scrambled eggs.

Malon returned to her seat and resumed eating her breakfast. Link stood there like an idiot, mouth agape. Talon walked in from the stove area. "Better close your mouth, boy.", He chided. "Don't want flies making their nests there."

The disgusting imagery prompted Link to slam his mouth shut, along with prompt Zelda and Malon to cease their eating for a few minutes to recompose their stomachs. "Dad!" Malon complained.

Talon shrugged an apology, and Link rushed over to him, grabbing him by the shoulder. "You can't honestly be allowing Malon to tag along with me can you? You know what can happen?" Link pleaded with the old farm hand.

Talon shrugged again. "As much as I would like her to stay…I think she's grown enough to be able to make this decision." Link stared at him for a moment…then shook his head in defeat. Talon tried to console him. "Hey, she can take care of herself I'm sure. And besides, maybe it's about time she saw more of Hyrule."

"Yeah" Link thought menacingly. "From 6 feet under. Why can't they realize I don't want them along cause I care for them, not because I hate them!" Link sighed and took his seat. He proceeded to take his more-than-fair share of the bacon and eggs for his breakfast. He thought with what he has to go through, he deserved it.

******

It was mid afternoon, and as Link thought, the unpleasantness had begun. Already Malon and the Princess seemed to be at each others throats. Link glanced up into the sky and laughed sarcastically.

There where two horses between the 3 of them. Malon insisted Link should ride with her on Epona. Zelda didn't put up much of an argument against it, so the two of them traveled on Epona…but Epona, as strong as she was, was a young horse, and it eventually wore on her. Link had gotten off to walk a length along side the Gerudian horse.

Zelda, of course, used this opportunity to say how she was right and how Malon was full of it, ( well, not in those exact words. ). Malon didn't take to this kindly. Princess or no princess, she wouldn't be bullied by anyone into thinking she was wrong.

Even though she was.

The argument escalated. "The proof is right in front of you, woman. Are you blind?" Zelda said calmly. " You should have done as I told you. You should always do as I tell you."

Link had been decidedly neutral during the fight, but he decided to step in before it got worse. "Ok, hold on." He said, turning slowly towards the girls. "This… is my quest. Right?" The girls stared. "Right?" Link asked again, a little more forcefully.

The girls nodded finally. Link nodded and continued. "In that case, I make the rules." Before they could object, Link put a gloved finger in the air and rushed on. ", and my rule is that no one is above anyone in rank or stature. No one follows orders, just advice, or suggestions." Link put his hands on his hips and laughed. "Except me of course! I outrank both of you!!!" Link laughed gregariously.

A minute later, Link regained consciousness. He shook his head, trying to get the stars from circling his cranium to take a hike. He had no idea how he ended up on his back. When he turned, the girls were pretty far ahead of the poor elf. He got up, reminded himself to keep his mouth up, and ran to catch up.

When he did catch up, he was decidedly quiet. It was like this for a few minutes, until Zelda broke the silence. "Link, where are we going?"

Link was wondering when they were going to ask this. He was about to boast…then thought better about it. "Well, the keys are Forest Fire and Water right?" Zelda nodded. Link continued, "so I figure, the Forest one must be in some really special…or Holy forest. I guess that's going to be in the Kokiri woods."

Zelda nodded approvingly. "That's right. The Kokiri woods are considered Holy by some. If the Forest Key is anywhere, it's there." Malon looked at the both of them, and said nothing.

A few minutes later, Malon finally spoke. "Link knows the Kokiri very well. He was raised by them."

Zelda turned and looked at Link in surprise. Link shrugged. "Until they kicked me out when I was 7." He added.

Zelda looked appalled. "Why would they do that?", she asked.

Again, Link shrugged. "I wasn't one of them. They thought I was, but I kept on growing. Kokiri don't age you know." he smiled and looked ahead. He could see the outline of the dense forest just ahead.

"Will they let you back in?" Zelda inquired.

"They should. This is important for them to…" Link hesitated and peered ahead. His sharp Elven hearing caught something several meters away. A person. He gestured for the others to follow and quickstepped ahead.

Link decided that quickstep was not enough, and he broke into a solid run. He had to be sure he wasn't going nuts, that this apparition was the real thing.

Suddenly, Link stopped. His mouth opened slowly as he saw the what was in front of him. The female figure was leaning against a tree, and she slowly got up when she noticed Link. She was hardly over 5 feet, with forest green clothing, a tunic and shorts. She wore a bandanna under her hair, which was a bright green color and cropped closely around her face. Her eyes were a bright green also, and the rest of the face showed a certain maturity and only a little of the childlike that once was. The girl also had a bright light that circled around her head many times…sometimes changing color. It was quite obvious who this girl was, but still, Link couldn't believe it.

"Saria…" Link said quietly. Not quite quiet enough for her not to hear. She smiled upon hearing her name, for she was afraid he might have forgotten around her. She walked with a certain determination towards the kid elf. She reached him, Saria's head barely reaching his shoulders. Saria got up to her toes and flung her arms around him.

"Link" she whispered, burying her heard in his shoulder. Link was stunned for a second, then didn't hesitate to hug her back, quite fiercely.

In the process of hugging her, it became quite obvious to him that Saria was no child anymore.

******

Malon and Zelda couldn't quite believe their eyes. Here was Link, the lowly farm-boy, in a passionate embrace with some unknown green cutie! Zelda shook her head in disdain. "Just how many women did this guy know anyway?"

Link didn't seem to notice them as they pulled up on their horses. He gently broke Saria's embrace. "Saria…" he gulped. "…how? You…you're."

"I knew I'd see you again!" Saria whispered. "It was only a matter of time…but, Goddesses, I had no idea it would be so soon." Tears were forming in her eyes.

Link brushed them away gently. "What happened to you?" he asked seriously. "This wasn't right" he thought frantically. "Saria is Kokiri. They don't grow, they're kids forever.". Still, it was obvious that the young woman in front of her had to be at least 14 years of age.

"I left…to find you." Saria explained slowly. She pointed towards the general direction of Lake Hyrule. "I came here, to Hirocco, the village beyond lake Hylia." She looked at Link again. "They took me in there, in an orphanage. I took care of the smaller kids." She took a deep breath, fearing she was going a little too fast. "I was going to save up for a horse, so I could search Hyrule for you, but this…this is…"

"Amazing." Link finished. "And wrong." He added in his mind. "Very wrong. Saria, why?" Suddenly he was aware of Zelda and Malon nearly staring holes in the back of his head. He turned, still holding Saria. "This is Saria, she's a big friend of mine." He looked at her again, still amazed at how she had grown. "We knew each other, while I was with the Kokiri." He finished.

Zelda looked down at her from her white steed. Malon disembarked Epona and walked over to Saria. "I'm Malon. Link grew up with me with my dad at the Ranch." Saria took her hand in greeting.

"You're no Kokiri." Zelda said finally. Malon looked at her, shocked at her rudeness. Link stared at the ground, eyes shut.

"Not anymore." Saria conceded. To hear those words hurt Link to no end…as he was sure it hurt Saria to say it.

"Saria, Princess Zelda of Hyrule.", he introduced.

Zelda nodded towards the ex-Kokiri. Saria returned the greeting. "What brings you out here?" she asked politely.

"We're…." Zelda huffed and glanced at Link. "He's on a journey. We have to enter to get the Forest Key." She paused, glancing at the surroundings. The thick woods were only a couple of meters away. The entrance was marked by a huge hollow log that led inside the dense foliage. "He's going to get the Master Sword."

Saria turned to Link in surprise. "Link, really?" Link half-faced her and nodded. "Maybe I can help." With that, she turned to the bright light circling around her, which , this close, everyone could see to have 4 large gossamer wings peeking out from its light.

"A fairy" Link thought. " Haven't seen one of them in a while."

"Esea," , Saria asked ", can you go inside, ask them to let us in. Tell them it's about the Master Sword."

"I know what to ask them!" The fairy huffed angrily. She circled around Saria's head once, then zoomed to the forest. Stopping briefly when she passed Link. Link could have sworn she gave him a dirty look.

Link brushed that off and took Saria by the arm. " Saria, what were you doing here?" he asked her.

"Talking to Deku." She answered promptly. "I do it every week. I take a boat across the lake and communicate with him. He likes to keep tabs on me."

Using one arm, Link pulled Saria close to him. He didn't look directly at her, but his lips nearly brushed against her ear. "Why did you do it?" he whispered urgently.

"I had to do it, Link." she answered. That was all she was going into for now. Link sighed and released her arm. Zelda and Malon seemed a bit perturbed by this exchange.

"Is there something we should know?" Zelda asked. Before Link could answer, Esea returned from the woods.

"They'll let you and Saria back in." she said, glancing at the other two girls. They opened their mouths to protest, but the fairy increased her light to make her point. "There's no discussion about it. The two of you will just have to stay put!" she huffed.

Link looked at the other two apologetically. "I'll be in and out in a hurry." He said. Zelda shrugged and Malon gave him a terse nod. Link sighed again, it'll have to be good enough. Putting a hand on Saria's back, the two of them (plus the fairy ) walked into the Entrance of the Holy Woods of the Kokiri.

******

The village was just as he remembered it. Sparse tree-houses here and there, patches of bright green land. Some rolling hills that led to a wooded area, running water and the path to the Great Deku Tree, it was all as he remembered. Link brushed away some of the tatterdemalions that wondered around in the air. Memory flooded back into him…memories he was surprised and disappointed that he had forgotten.

The other Kokiri were inside their houses. He could see some of them in the windows, small children with faries circling them constantly. He smiled nervously, obviously his presence was a bit unnerving. He glanced over at Saria by his side. Link wondered how she was taking this.

A few feet into the village they stopped. A Kokiri boy was standing in their way. He was around 4 feet tall, lean and bowlegged. His face was wide and serious, except for the freckles that spotted his nose. The fairy that circled him glowed a menacing purple hue. It was obvious who this one was too.

"Mido." Link nodded in greeting.

"What are you doing here?" Mido snarled.

"He's looking for the Forest Key." Saria interjected. "You should be more polite, you know Mido."

Mido looked up at the girl sadly. "…Saria…" he muttered. He shook his head. " I don't know anything about a Forest Key."

"Maybe the Great Deku Tree would--", Link started to suggest.

"The Great Deku Tree will NOT see you." Mido said firmly. "Not if I have anything to say about it, defiler!"

Link stared at the boy, wishing he was 2 feet taller so he could pop him one in the nose. Suddenly Esea parted from her usual orbit and faced Mido dead-on.

"This might be a complete surprise to you, Mido, but you don't have a say in it!" She hissed. "If Saria wants to see him, then she'll see him, and take anyone she damn well pleases, so it'll do you well to get outta my way."

Mido's partner blazed a murderous red, and pushed towards Esea, but Mido put his hand up. He looked at Link, a gaze of complete hatred. Then he shut his eyes and walked aside. "Go." He said simply.

Link nodded his appreciation and took Saria by the hand. Together they took the path towards the Great Deku Tree.

Before long, the huge appearance of the Kokiri Demi-God rose before them. Link looked at it with a certain awe. It hadn't changed. Not one tiny bit. It simply huge, it's canopy covering the sky, making the glade in which it rested forever shaded. Its bark was old, but still smooth. It had a young looking face, like that of a 20 year old, with bushy eyes and a goatee like facial hair. Of course, this was all bark, but it took the appearance of a person.

Link was told that this tree had it's youthful look because it came after the last Deku tree, which had grown to a ripe age, but had died in the Time of Trouble. Link suddenly feared for this one. He also wondered why the Time would come again so quickly.

A voice pounded through Links skull, and he gaped in surprise. "Link…Saria…mine children." The voice called. "How happy I am to see you."

"I'm happy to see you too, Lord Deku." Link managed. He glanced at Saria, who was beaming.

"I'm very happy to see you, Great Deku Tree." She said. "I've missed you a great deal."

"As have I." The voice answered. "I am glad you are keeping yourself well." The Deku paused for a moment. "Why have you come to see me, after all this time?"

"Lord Deku, we need information about the Forest Key." Link started. He looked down at the grass beneath him and continued. "Hyrule is in trouble again, and the Master Sword needs to be called on…"

"Say no more." Deku called. "The Forest Key is located within the Lost Woods. Thread carefully, young one, and use great discretion. The Woods have become more dangerous throughout the years."

Link agreed. The woods were more and more being populated with LostKids…evil creatures that murdered indiscriminately. Now it was no longer safe for anyone to even visit the Woods.

"Thank you, Lord Deku." Saria called back.

"Saria, you will join him." Links head shot up at this. He didn't have a chance to argue. "You will need her magic, the magic of the Ocarina, to enter the deepest parts of the Woods, young Link." Deku paused again…as if thinking of something. "I put in you the trust. Protect her as she guides you through."

Link despaired in his mind. The last thing he wanted to do was bring Saria inside the Lost Woods. However, this was the will of the Deku Tree. Link nodded. "Yes sir. I will."

Deku said nothing. The conversation was over. Saria started out of the glade, then glanced back. Link was still there, staring at the Tree. "Link?" she called back.

"I'd like to speak with Lord Deku alone…." Link asked. Saria nodded and walked out of the glade alone to wait for him.

Link looked up at the mammoth plant. "Lord Deku…I request a favor…" Link started hesitantly.

"Name it." Deku boomed in his head.

"Return Saria to the way it was!" Link blurted. "Whatever she asked for before, reverse it…make her Kokiri again!"

For the longest while, Deku said nothing. Link waited, sweating in anticipation. He actually thought there was a chance he'd grant his wish…then Deku spoke.

"You know I cannot." He started. "It is her wish…it will remain her wish."

Link sunk to the ground. He clenched at the grass beneath him, eyes squeezed shut. He began communicating to Deku with his mind. "Why? Why did she do this?"

"She wanted to see the world." Deku responded. "And she wanted to see you."

"She's mortal now!" Link nearly screamed. "She'll die!! Doesn't she know this??" Link knew his fear. It wasn't in normal death that Elves experienced. Kokiri died too, but when they died, they always returned to Deku. There, they were reformed, nearly exactly as before. All of the memories of the past were wiped, and they started anew. In this way, the Kokiri were immortal. They always returned to Deku.

So now, what about Saria? When she died, would she return to Deku? If not, where would she go? The Goddesses wouldn't accept her would they? Would she go into nothingness?

This was the thought that terrified Link.

Deku hesitated. "Truly, I do not know if she realizes her mortality now, but even so, she will continue as she is." Deku sighed. "She is happy, that I sense from her. Should that not be enough."

Link gave the Tree an ugly glance. "No! Of course not! Will she return to you, when she dies? What then? Would it be worth it if she turned into nothing??!!?" Link squeezed his eyes shut again, trying to stop tears from forming. "I can't have that on my head, Lord Deku." He whispered aloud. "I'm not worth it."

Deku hesitated again…then gently spoke to the distressed elf. "Link…I fear, the Kokiri will be no more."

Link could have sworn his heart skipped a beat. He looked up at Deku, appalled at even the thought of it.

"I have foreseen it." Deku sighed. "There is a sickness. The numbers of my children become less and less. 2 have left us while you've been gone, and they have not been reformed. Some of them…" Deku hesitated again, the words clearly bring him pain. "Some of them have become LostKids. It is true. Kokiri are magical creatures, like the tatterdemalions that flutter through the sky. Magical creatures such as them can be turned into anything. They enter the Woods, and become Lostkids. They are lost to me, and to the Kokiri, forever."

Link nodded. He knew that LostKids came from Kokiri, and not Elves. But how could this mean them becoming extinct?

"There will be a time when Kokiri are as much a Legend as the Triforce." Deku said sadly. " I cannot save them, not even I can alter the course of time. All I can do, is encourage them, and care for them, and love them while they exist." Link sensed Deku was getting at something else.

"But…they can be saved, can they?" Link said quietly.

"Yes…they can." Deku responded. "If they choose to, they , like Saria, can become mortal. As one, her legacy will remain. She will not disappear. It is the most I can hope for all of them."

"So you were hoping she would ask."

Deku remained silent. Link got up to one knee, then forced himself to stand. It was almost too much to bear, the kind of news he had received. Kokiri were disappearing. The only way to save them was to allow them to grow old and die. "And then what?" Link thought. "Where would they go next?"

Deku, of course, heard his thoughts. "Worry not about the future, young one." It began. "Worry instead about the present. The present is Saria, and her help in receiving the Forest Key. You will have to protect her, I must be able to trust me."

Link nodded slowly. "Think of the present." He thought to himself. "Saria should be able to grow old and die. I have to protect her so she can live. I have to…."

He sighed. "Thank you, Lord Deku." Turning quickly, Link headed out of the glade. The Deku watched him silently, and all it could do was pray for his well-being.

******

Saria was waiting for him at the entrance to the Glade. She had a good idea what Link and the Kokiri God were discussing. As Link hurried out of the green tunnel, Saria approached him. "I hope you understand a bit more now." She said gently.

Link stared at her for a moment. "Anyone move into your place?" he asked. "We should rest a while."

Saria nodded and lead Link to the tall tree with a door at the base that had been her house. Link resigned to the fact that Saria will be joining him, at least to get the Forest Key. He had to compose himself and be ready.

Soon enough, they would enter the Lost Woods…and eventually confront the demons inside.

End.

Next Chapter: Link and Saria brave the Lost Woods for the Forest Key. Lets hope the LostKids don't dice them up Into pieces first ;)