Chapter Fourteen: Flight of the Koroks
 "This is a sweet ride eh Joey?" Tristan asked as he pressed a few buttons on a console. The team had gathered in the bridge of the Sea Wheeler, which was just as lavish as the hotel they had just left. The bridge was below the deck but it had many comforts. It had white carpeting and chairs with leather covers. There was a refrigerator and shelves that were stocked to the brim with food and cold drinks. In the next room was the ladder that led to the deck above. It too had white carpeting but it had a couch and a reclining chair facing a plasma screen TV and coffee table. In the last room of the lower area was the bunk beds where the group could crash. Saria opened up her laptop and plugged it into a nearby outlet. She hooked it up to the portable holo-generator and brought up a map of the Great Sea.
"We need to continue south past Fire Mountain, Eastern Triangle Island and Bomb Island. If we stay on course, we'll reach Forest Haven ahead of schedule," Saria declared. Serenity sat down next to her, cola in hand.
"Good, that'll give me time to try on the new clothes I got at the hotel gift shop," Serenity said. Teran then collapsed into a recliner.
"And I'm gonna take a nap here in the recliner," Teran added. Saria lay back on the couch.
"I could use a good nap too," Saria sighed as Rush climbed into her lap. Saria petted the dog and soon Saria was snoozing too. It would've been a peaceful nap if it wasn't for the dream she was having. She stood behind a rock tower and was confused by the setting. She saw a town around her and it was near sundown. She then heard the cries of battle. Saria looked around the tower and saw Teran dueling someone in a black tank top, white cape, designer jeans, duel disk, fine boots. He had dark brown hair and cold blue eyes. Teran had out a Black Luster Soldier but her opponent had a monster Saria had never seen except in a storybook she had. The monster wore black armor with spikes, had a red cape, crimson eyes to match, had tanned skin and reeked of dark power. Saria stared as the opponent pointed at Teran.
"Kid! This is what happens to all who oppose me! Ganondorf! Wipe out the rookie's monster and its master!" The opponent commanded. Saria stood speechless as Teran and the soldier vanished in a blast of dark purple energy.
"Teran!" Saria screamed. The killer saw her and grinned evilly.
"Get her too! Bring her Triforce Destiny Cards to me!" Saria took that as the opportunity to run. It was then that the sky turned dark and a storm began to brew. Buildings began to fall apart from lightning strikes. Saria's ears caught the faint sounds of pursuers. Saria turned to see men in black suits and dark shades chasing her. Saria faced forward again and raced for the shore. There she saw the inviting presence of the Courage IX and that of Yugi and Joey. She then realized that the ship was starting to leave. Saria poured an extra burst of speed into her run as she raced to the ship. Yugi was reaching down, hand outstretched.
"Hurry Saria! We need to leave now!" Yugi shouted. But Saria noticed that the Millennium Puzzle was glowing and Yugi's voice was deeper and more dark. Yugi seemed taller, more confident, more dark, not the timid and friendly duelist she had gotten to know. But right now, she couldn't contemplate what the feeling was. She jumped for his hand and grabbed it. With Joey's help, Saria was safely aboard. Though she was on the ship, she heard whistling. She looked back down and saw the suits firing missiles. Just before they hit, she awoke in the Sea Wheeler, sweat on her face and her legs sore. Rush was still in her lap, still sleeping but no one was around. She looked out a porthole and found it was nighttime but the ship had landed near a large forest. Saria gently lifted Rush off her and exited the ship. Everyone was outside scanning the landscape. Saria jumped ship and landed next to Yugi, startling him.
"Hey Saria, have a nice nap?" Yugi asked. Saria wearily nodded.
"Yeah," Saria replied.
If having a nightmare where your best friend dies and you're next is a nice nap. Saria thought.
"Yo Saria! You know anything about this island?" Joey asked.
"Well, this entire island is a giant forest. In the center of it all is the guardian spirit, the Great Deku Tree, a talking tree spirit that is many millennia old. This is a preservation island too."
"What's a preservation island?" Serenity wondered.
"An island that is not to be disturbed by technology. This place is rich in history and life so leaders won't allow it to be destroyed."
"And we're supposed to find a gym leader here? That's good to hear." Teran said sarcastically. Tristan was holding a printout of the map Saria's laptop had printed out.
"And judging by the size of the place, we have a lot of ground to cover," Tristan noted, comparing the map to a compass he held.
"But I have a good idea where to find the leader already. Follow me," Saria replied and they followed her up the wooded trail. They followed her until they reached a spring and a village surrounding it.
"What is this place Tristan?" Serenity asked.
"My map says Korok Village," Tristan replied.
"That's a funny name," Yugi admitted.
"Not if you meet the creatures of the village. Come on!" Saria urged. She entered the village and shouted in a foreign tongue. The group watched as little tree-like creatures about two feet tall looked nervously at her then rushed towards her eagerly. Saria got on one knee and began speaking to them in the same foreign language. She motioned for the others to come out. The Domino students were nervous for a moment but it wasn't long before they got adjusted. Saria translated everything they said and vice versa.
"Hey Saria. What are these guys?" Yugi asked.
"Why, they are the Koroks, children of the forest and sea. I heard they used to be human but when they breathed in the sea air, they took on these forms," Saria informed.
"Hey Saria. Ask them if they know the island leader," Serenity urged. Saria nodded and repeated the question to the tallest Korok. The Korok bowed and shot leaves out of its hands. It turned out they were connected to it and they began to spin like helicopter blades. The group watched as it hovered over their heads. He began to squeak in the foreign language.
"Translation?" Joey asked.
"Follow him," Saria replied and the group followed the Korok through the forest. After a run on a winding trail, they reached a clearing lit up by thousands of green fireflies. The ground near the trail was littered with flowers of all shapes and kinds.
"This place is so beautiful," Serenity breathed as she knelt to sniff a daisy.
"Yeah, just like you," Tristan added. Tristan quickly caught himself as Serenity turned to him. All Tristan and Serenity did was blush.
"Yeah, but where's the gym leader?" Yugi wondered as he looked back to the hovering Korok. He looked around then flew over some flowers near a large oak. He began to squeak joyfully as two green haired girls wearing simple green tunics and skirts sat up. The first one looked to be about eight years old and her face was finely tanned. The other one looked just as young except her face was more aged. She wearily stood up and levitated a stick towards her. Saria ran over and gave the elder girl a hug as the younger one ran up to the duelists.
"Hi! You must be challengers. I'm Florensia, the gym leader of Forest Haven," The girl quickly said. It was then the elder girl shouted at the younger one in the ancient tongue. Florensia merely grinned.
"Uh, Saria, is there a chance that your friend can speak English?" Yugi wondered. Saria nodded and spoke to the elderly woman again and she nodded.
"Is this better?" The woman asked. She sounded very old. Yugi nodded.
"Good, because I hate to disappoint travelers, and especially you young Saria," The woman said, looking fondly at the blond teen.
"It's so good to see you again Saria," Saria said to the elderly woman.
"Hold the phone! Your name is Saria too?" Tristan asked. The woman smiled and nodded.
"Yes, my name is Saria, Sage of Forest," The elderly Saria replied.
"Sage of Forest?" Serenity wondered.
"Saria here is my namesake and a lifelong friend of the family as well as one of the last of the Kokiri tribe," young Saria explained.
"Kokiri?" Joey wondered.
"A tribe of children who can't leave the forests in Hyrule. I'm the only one who is blessed with the power to leave the forest," elderly Saria explained.
"I hate to ask but how old are you?" Teran asked. Elderly Saria laughed. "1759 this coming fall." Everyone was in shock but Saria. The two Saria's giggled.
"Told you she was a lifelong friend of the family." It was then Florensia came up to them.
"Hey Grandma, I need to take these challengers on or they may fall behind in their tournament." The sage nodded.
"I suppose then, you better decide which two of you will face my grandchild," The Sage of Forest replied. Teran went to approach Joey when he looked at Saria.
"Say Saria. Yugi tells me you're good. About we duel against Florensia first?" Joey offered. Saria eagerly nodded. The other Saria clapped her hands in anticipation.
"Wonderful! And we will duel over there!" Saria said as she pointed behind her to a large flat rock the size of a small basketball court. It stood about a foot off the ground and had at least two handmade benches sitting at the edges. The group ran over to the rock and studied it. It was perfectly flat.
"It's a perfect arena!" Elder Saria nodded, "I carved it using my magic. Took a bit out of me, but it was worth it. Now, set up so this old woman can watch her grandchild duel." The three nodded and they were soon prepped and ready on the rock, Joey and Saria on one side and Florensia on the other side.
"Are you ready? You two each have 4000 life points and I have 8000. Ready? Then..." Florensia explained.
"Lets duel!" All three declared as they drew opening hands.