"It's a legend that was never meant to end. The times change, but the story remains the same. Hundreds even thousands of years from now, I'm sure this legend will repeat itself once more. It's as Aryll of the past had once said:

'This legend will forever echo within the strands of time...only to be carried forth by the winds of destiny.'

(Vale)

Chapter Thirteen
"Waking the Wind"

Zelda slowly opened her eyes. She heard voices, but couldn't really make anything out. She heard Saria's voice, "She's awake!"

Then, she heard Impa, "Everyone back off, give her some room!"

Zelda slowly regained her vision and sat up slowly, he held her head and asked, "...how did I?"

Nabooru spoke up, "Saria sensed that you and Link were in trouble, and as soon as Ganondorf threw you in, she rescued you right before he sealed the gate." Zelda looked around worriedly, "Wait, where's Link?"

Saria spoke up slowly, "He...left to get you some water. He's probably on his way back by now." Zelda didn't say a word and bolted up, running for the door. Saria stood there and watched quietly as Impa put a hand on her shoulder. Impa said in a comforting tone, "Saria, don't take this too hard..."

Saria took Impa's hand off of her shoulder and walked off in the same direction Zelda had gone.

The others looked at each other.

Zelda rushed to the door, throwing the wooden doors open, smacking Link on the other side just as he reached for the door. Buckets of water spilled on the grass. Link quickly regained his balance as Zelda leapt on top of him, hugging him tightly, "Link! You're back!"

Link laughed, "Glad you noticed!"

Zelda kissed Link all over the face and looked into his eyes, "What happened back there was..."

Link interrupted her, "It's ok, the others told me everything."

Zelda nodded, "Then...what about Ganondorf? Shouldn't we go back?"

Link shook his head, "We've talked about it and eventually, we decided against it. Besides, Ganondorf sealed the sacred realm, no one can pass through anymore."

Zelda looked worried, "But what about all those people?"

Link frowned.

They stayed silent for awhile. Zelda spoke up again, "What's wrong?"

Link responded slowly, "I met the alternate you." Zelda leaned in, curious, "Oh? You did? How was she...or uhm...me?"

Link thought about this for a bit, he forced a smile and lied, "She's just like you, she's kind, beautiful and intelligent. I have a feeling that Ganondorf will run into some trouble with that Zelda around."

Zelda beamed, "I knew it!"

"Yeah..." Link said uneasily. Zelda then looked to the ground and said with a serious tone, "Listen, when you disappeared, I was so worried about you. I didn't know what I would do if you were to disappear forever. I couldn't think of losing you. I knew that I would do anything to get you back. I'd do anything to see you again. Anything."

Link froze then quickly regained himself, "...I know." He kissed her on the cheek and smiled. Perhaps...the two Zelda's weren't so different after all.

Saria was watching this from inside. She touched the window with her small hand. She didn't hear what was going on, but the sight of Link kissing Zelda made her feel worse than she already was.

She felt so alone.

She watched as Zelda and Link held hands and sat in the grass, watching the clear blue sky. She saw them begin to kiss each other deeply and had to look away. She jumped in surprise to see Nabooru and Ruto standing there.

"How long were you watching?" Saria asked in a half angry, half embarrassed sort of way.

Ruto spoke, "Not long..."

Nabooru glanced outside the window before speaking, "They both seem so happy together don't they, Saria?"

Saria nodded sadly, "I know...I just wish that...I just wish that Link felt the same way about me. I want to be the one he's with outside, not Zelda."

Ruto put a hand on her shoulder, "You did a very mature thing, Saria. You sacrificed your wants and stepped aside so that the two of them could be happy. You're growing up, Saria. I'm not surprised, though. You're the most mature member of our group."

Nabooru agreed, "Yeah, you should be happy for them."

Saria sighed, "I know. But, I want to be happy, too. Is that wrong?"

Ruto knelt down, looking Saria in the eyes, "Of course it isn't. Everyone has their needs, their wants."

Nabooru was watching the window, "Hey! I think I see some tongue action!"

Ruto glared at Nabooru and jabbed her in the arm. Nabooru winced and said, "Ow! Ok, sorry..."

Saria couldn't look Ruto in the eyes. Ruto smiled and said, "Saria, think of it this way: Link and Zelda are running on a time limit. You see, one day Zelda will be forced to marry some prince guy, regardless of whether she wants to or not. They're making the best of their time. But you, you're still a kid on the outside, and maybe you should start acting your age."

"But, I'm not really ten years old." Saria said.

Nabooru cuts in, "What Ruto's trying to say is, after you've left the forest, you're pretty much a Hylian now. You're a ten year old Hylian with the wisdom of many many years. You should take advantage of your extra time. Maybe this is your chance to meet other people. You, unlike those two lovers out there, have all the time in the world."

"I...never thought about that..." Saria said softly.

Ruto agrees, "Exactly, how about, we all head out and go around town or something? I'm sure we'll be able to find you a date or something."

"No." Saria said smiling, "...I'm still a kid you know, I have all the time in the world to do that!"

Meanwhile in the Shadowed Hyrule, Ganondorf had run the already unstable kingdom into the ground. The land was buried in darkness.

Hundred of years later, the events of that land are written in legend:

"Long ago, there existed a kingdom where a golden power lay hidden. One day, a man of great evil found this power and took it for himself, and with it at his command, he spread darkness across the kingdom.

But then...just as all hope had died, a young boy clothed in green appeared as if from nowhere. Wielding a blade that repelled evil, he sealed the dark one away and gave the land light.

This boy, who traveled through time to save the land, was known as the Hero of Time.

The boy's tale was passed down through generations until it became legend.

And then a day came when a fell wind began to blow across the kingdom, and the great evil once again crept forth from the depths of the earth. The people believed that the Hero of Time would again come to save them.

But the hero did not appear...

What became of that kingdom...?

None remain who know. The memory of the kingdom vanished, but its legend survived on the wind's breath.

On a certain island, it became customary to garb young boys in green when they come of age. Clothed in the green of fields, they aspire to find heroic blades and cast evil down. The elders wish only for the youths to know courage like the hero of legend..."

It was raining heavily on Windfall Island. Lightening tore at the sky, lighting up the swirling sea. Thunder rolled along the backdrop, it's roar forbidding anyone from sailing the seas.

A young boy clothed in green jumped over the fence, running right for the docks where a boat with the head of a lion was ported. This boat was special. It had this peculiar ability to speak. It was called the King of Red Lions.

The greened clothed boy hopped into the boat, the boat turned its head and asked, yelling over the roar of the wind, "What have you discovered, Link?"

The boy named Link yelled back, "Tetra and the other pirates are staying at the inn until morning!"

The boat nodded, "Which means we'll have just about enough time to make it back the Outset Island and meet with lord Jabun for the final pearl!"

The boat faced the seas, "We must hurry, Link!"

Link nodded pulling up the sails. Unfortunately, the wind was blowing in the completely opposite direction. The boat yelled over the thunder, "Link!"

Link nodded, "I know!" Link pulled out his conductor's baton known as the Wind Waker. He conducted the Wind's Requiem. He pointed towards his home, Outset Island. The wind swirled around him and blew in that direction, filling the sail with gusts of wind. The boated speeded forward, Link had grown more daring and courageous since the start of his journey. His eyes were full of determination as he and his boat sped towards the dangerous waves.

...towards Outset Island, his home, his friends and family...

...his destiny.

THE END