Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to Slywolf, happy birthday to me! ^_^

Well, well, well. Almost 5 months since I started this story. I never thought this would be anywhere near as long as it is, nor as popular. This chapter might seem a tad tedious to a few of you, but you'll like it anyway. Dark, you might as well skip this chapter, or at least the first part. It's all your idea. Thanks again! All credit for this goes to him… Sadly, I had to move Roy's escape one chapter forward. The reasons for this will become clear shortly, but basically boil down to, 'Because I could'. ; )

I own only Keller, Lycis, Enris, etc. You all know the drill. I repeat, this is only a drill!

Chapter 15: A price worth paying?

Part 29: Hope

"Ness, here's as good a spot as any to stop." Saria sighed, resigned. She was worried. The sun, such as it was, was sinking below the horizon, and night had fallen on the Harvest Moon, i.e. Oren was also sinking below the horizon. She looked around.

"Right, Saria." He sat down and pulled a military sleeping bag from a copiously large pocket. She stared open mouthed. He flushed. "Well, we need it."

"You stole that!"

"No I didn't! I… liberated it!"

"Ness, I am shocked and appalled."

"Fine. Be cold."

"Why only one?"

"Well, I will be standing watch. I figured we only need one."

Saria leaned over and kissed him. "That's sweet, Ness. But I'll stand first watch."

"But… it's not safe!"

"And you think it's safe for you? By now, I'm sure Keller will know I've run away, and I'm sure he'll do anything in his power to kill me now." The matter-of-fact tone sent a chill down Ness's side. Waving her hand, she produced a loaf of bread and some butter. They ate in silence.

* * *

After Ness had fallen asleep, Saria was alone with her thoughts. Images of Keller's mask appeared before her, laughing as he removed it, revealing Link's face, all twisted and evil. His illusionary face seemed to say, "Lord Ganon needs you dead, 'little sister.' And I want you dead." The image became that of all those dead warriors and soldiers. Yet she could still hear Keller saying, "How many more? How many more must die before you stop running, Saria? How many more must you make me kill? When will you let me kill you?" The dead stared at her with blank, accusing eyes. Saria broke down and began to weep uncontrollably.

She had sat there, sobbing, for hours before hearing a branch snap. Turning around, she fired a magical bolt in the direction the sound had come from. She heard a laugh. Her heart caught in her mouth. "Saria, is that anyway to treat an old friend?"

"Rauru?" She asked timidly. "Is that you?"

"Of course it's me! Did you really think that a vampire like Keller could kill the Sage of Light?" The old man eased himself onto a nearby tree stump. "Though, you seem different… what happened?" Starting to weep once more, Saria told him everything.

"And now he says that because the other sages are all dead, he has to kill me." A hopeful expression appeared on her face. "But, you are still alive! So I'm sure that the universe is all right… what?"

"Ah, Link has changed… no, Saria. If he was to come after me again, I would be killed. I only narrowly escaped this time. No, Saria, it is up to you."

"Oh, if only there was someplace to go where he could never reach, somewhere safe to hide forever. If Keller can't get to me, then he will have no reason to kill anymore people to get me. If only…" Saria sighed. Rauru coughed.

"Saria, there is such a place."

"There is? How do I get there?"

"By magic. My magic can send you to a place where you will be perfectly safe, for all eternity, for you will be immortal. There is a caveat, though."

"What?"

"Once there, you can never leave. You will be all alone, forever."

Saria thought about it. It seemed a horrible fate. "Is there no alternative?"

"There are several. But none of them foolproof. The enemy grows stronger by the minute. Keller is even now searching for you. He will not make the same mistake twice." He nodded towards the slumbering Ness. "He will almost certainly kill the boy either way. But if you remain here, then this boy will suffer for all eternity as a ghoul. If you are not, then Keller might be merciful." Rauru looked sad. "Saria, I know I am asking for a lot from you, but it is for the best."

Saria thought of the horror of undeath. She would not, could not, allow Ness to meet the same fate as those redead, and nor could she allow more to die to protect her. "I accept. How do I go there?"

Rauru uttered the words of a spell. Almost immediately, Saria slipped into unconsciousness.

Part 30: Love

Ness woke up, and almost instantly knew something was wrong. Saria's mind was fading. Jumping out of the sleeping bag, he ran to where he felt Saria. The closer he got, the stranger the feeling became. Eventually, he could discern eldritch and terrible words, which seemed to resonate beyond hearing. "Moritus… Sarum… Tretys! Nil Liinos!" He picked up his pace, running until he burst into a clearing. What he saw there frightened him beyond belief. Saria was lying on a stone table, her skin growing paler by the second. Standing over her was an aged Hylian dressed in a red mantle. From his fingers, bursts of darkness zapped out and encircled the young woman.

Thinking quickly, Ness levitated a rock and 'threw' it into the man's back. He jumped and turned, facing Ness. "Foolish boy, daring to interfere!" Behind him, Saria pulled herself up.

"You're not Rauru! He would never say that! Who are you?" The man paused, and began to laugh. Black smoke billowed out around him. Someone else walked out, someone clad in a simple, gray robe with the cowl pulled up so that the only part of his face visible was his smirking mouth.

"I, am Aghanim! Master of magic!" He sent a massive shock wave out at Ness. Ness stumbled onto the ground, gasping. "Emperor Ganon wants you dead."

"I thought Keller was on our case?" Saria coughed out.

"Keller has fallen out of Ganon's favor." Aghanim said mockingly. "The foolish vampire." He sent a fireball into Ness, severely scorching him. Ness countered with PK Flash, but Aghanim was untouched. "You'll have to do better than that, boy." Ness was flung into a tree. Struggle as he might, Ness couldn't move. "Why don't you watch? This should only take a few minutes." He turned back to Saria and began sending dark energy back at her…

* * *

For weeks afterwards, one of the biggest arguments between Ness and Saria was how he had done what he had. When all hope had seemed lost, Ness had somehow broken from his imprisonment, summoned up more power than he knew he had, and blasted Aghanim. The dark wizard had melted away under the onslaught.

* * *

But immediately afterwards, Ness's primary concern was Saria. Running to her side, he shook her. "Saria! Wake up!" The young elf didn't move. Lifting her up, he noticed how cold Saria was. He had to get her back to camp.

Aghanim appeared inside a small tower room. He looked around. "Strange. I hadn't planned to come here." He noticed the symbol on the wall, a red bat within the Triforce. "That's Keller's symbol! What am I doing here?"

"You are here, because I want to have a couple of words with you about demarcation." Keller walked in, sword in hand. An audible 'whum' was heard. The vampire smiled.

Well, well, well. Shadow Link, Veran, Aghanim, Onyx, Majora, and Ganon. The bad guys of the LOZ series. Somehow, though, I just can't help but think I'm forgetting someone… If anyone knows who it is that I have forgotten, send it to the usual place. Damn it, who! I'm going to spend ages thinking about that! … Anyway, next chapter, you know you've been waiting for this, well here it is, the Return of Roy!