Awaken the Forest Sage
Lightning streaked in the southern mountains on the far borders of Hyrule. A band of warriors bravely fought the elements trying to get out of the mountain pass. However lightning flashed and a spear embedded itself in the back of one of the riders. His scream was silent but the horse gave a frightened scream. The other riders looked back and found that it wasn't only raining rain but also spears. Chaos ensued causing horses to run, riders to fall, and lightning flashes in the background. Most of the riders rode out of range and started to fire arrows back. The Moblins were taken down quick and the riders breathe a sigh of relief but are soon done when they realize that one of their riders is missing. The lightning flashes again.
Zelda jerked awake as the sound of thunder shook her window. She watched the furious storm rage outside having a great view of the lightning flashing out in Hyrule Field. She felt very alone, without Impa and with her father going mad.
With a sigh she walked from the window to a wardrobe that was against the wall. Opening the door she found the Sheikah sword that Impa had left her and was training her with. She felt a lump rise in her throat as she remembered the day that Impa had approached her.
FlashbackZelda was quietly enjoying a book under the tree and the warm sun. Libby was a little way away munching on the grass in the courtyard. She didn't have a lot of time to read for leisure.
Impa, silent as ever, came up to the princess with a mischievous smile that looked oddly out of place on her face. Zelda glanced up at her guardian without so much as a look of surprise on her face.
"Well done Zelda, that is the way that the Sheikah react to something surprising by showing no emotion," Impa said, her grin changing back to impassive. "Are you ready to start training with the sword?" Impa asked, holding out the sword to Zelda.
"Really Impa? Father is letting you teach me?" Zelda asking surprised. Her father had strictly forbidden that Zelda learn swordplay.
"No, he hasn't given permission, but since your brother ran off, then you are the next in line for the throne Zelda and you will need to know how to defend yourself. I won't always be here to protect you, so you must learn," Impa said quietly. Zelda nodded and drew the blade from the sheath. The blade glittered in the sunlight and she lifted it with her right hand.
Impa moved to her side and positioned Zelda's hands into the correct form, and stepping back, she analyzed Zelda.
"Hmm, I think we are going to have to change your clothes if you are going to train, your dress will get ruined if you don't," Impa said, looking at Zelda's attire. Zelda nodded in agreement and sheathed the sword.
"I don't think it is wise to train in the light of day either," Impa mused, taking the sword from Zelda.
"We start tonight at midnight," Impa said, fading into the shadows. Zelda watched on impassively for a moment and then returned to her book. She couldn't concentrate because of the excitement running through her but she kept outwardly calm.
End of Flashback
Zelda pulled the blade from the closet and stared at her reflection in the blade. Her sapphire eyes stared back at her sadly.
'How can I wait for a hero that doesn't want to appear? Where is he and what is taking so long? Please Nayru, send him soon,' Zelda silently pleaded. She shoved the blade back into the sheath and stuffed it back in the closet.
Closing her eyes she thought back to the dream for a moment. It was no ordinary dream she was sure. It all seemed too real. How can a dream like that not be real? She hoped that the Hero wasn't in that band. Then she remembered what the soothsayer had said to her before she departed for Kakariko. The Hero and the Lady are your only hope. She wondered again who the lady was. Was she the one in the Temple of Time?
Zelda had once again sat at the window seat in her secret room and while musing this she drifted once again into the realm of slumber.
Link ran his sword through the last attacking Stalfos causing Saria to cringe. He glared at Kariah for a moment with her looking back confused.
"I thought these things were destroyed when we awoke the Shadow Sage. Link said through clenched teeth, taking a swing at the Stalchild that popped out of nowhere.
"What I said was the temple was rid of them, not all of Hyrule. These are Ganondorf's minions. They will be everywhere," Kariah said, taking a swing at another Stalchild that appeared close to Saria. Link took care of the last Stalchild and sat down hard on the ground. He was breathing hard and was covered in blood.
"Damnit, sometimes I wonder about you Kari! You are never straight up with an answer," Link said harshly his temper and stress getting the better of him. Kariah glared back at him with anger on her face.
"Fine hero, I would like to see you do this by yourself!" Kariah snapped, moving towards him with the full intent to knock some sense in his head. Link stood up to face her and found that he was only a little taller than she was and right now she seemed very tall in her angry state.
"Kari! Just give me a straight answer and tell me what the hell is going on! You never tell me anything until it is to late. We are running out of time and you of all people should know the meaning of time! You're the freaking Go……" Kariah had been aware that Saria was watching the ordeal curiously and she couldn't risk the information Link was about to reveal. She rocked forward and pressed her lips to his. He stood stock still in shock as Kariah kissed him, however she pulled away before he could fully register it.
"And you will do to keep your mouth quiet about certain things," Kariah hissed coldly. Link stared at her dumbfounded. She had just kissed him! He stared after her in confusion and noticed that she had moved to where Saria was sitting quietly.
"Are you okay?" Kariah asked, ignoring Link, and giving attention to the shocked Kokiri girl.
"You are no better than the monsters you killed," Saria whispered. Link had come over to the girls as he took in Saria's tears.
"That is not true, we would have been killed if they had the chance," Link said softly, still emotionally confused on Kariah's part, "You must understand that those monsters were created by evil and that is where they belong, in the evil realm. Your forest is supposed to be peaceful and protected. Kari and I are like protectors and we have come to find the Sage of Forest to aid us in protecting your forest. You must lead us on to the meadow."
Saria looked up into the blood-covered faces of the goddess and the Hylian.
"Saria, do you think it wise to spend any more time with these people. They are strangers to this wood. We cannot take them to the meadow"' Saria's guardian fairy said for the first time.
Kariah frowned at the tiny specimen. Link glanced at Kariah wondering if she had a solution. He guessed that Saria would likely listen to her fairy companion more than she would them.
"HELP!" A tiny voice cried out. Link and Kariah both turned and Link found himself knocked over by a frantic blue fairy. Trailing this fairy were two Lizalfos who decided that the fairy would make a good snack.
Link removed the fairy from his chest and swiftly placing her in Kariah's hands and unsheathing the Master Sword. He made quick work of the stupid and dull-witted Lizalfos.
"Thank you Hero," the blue fairy said, fluttering in front of his face.
"Navi, they are going no farther, Saria and I have decided that they have caused enough destruction!" Saria's fairy cried out. Navi turned her blue eyes and stared into the purple eyes of Saria's fairy.
"Aliana, didn't you realize that this young man is the Hero of Time? He and Kariah have come to help the forest, not destroy it," Navi argued. Kariah was still holding Navi and she wondered how she had figured it all out. Saria glanced at Kariah with surprise.
"You're the Goddess of Time?" Saria gasped. Kariah looked at Link and then nodded.
"Why didn't you say so in the first place?" Saria asked still slightly miffed by this revelation.
"I guess there wasn't a reason to silence me Kari," Link commented wryly. She gave him a sharp look.
'You enjoyed it,' Kariah snapped in telepathy. Link chuckled at her and then turned to the fairy.
"How did you figure it out Navi is it?" Link asked the fairy. Navi glanced at Kariah's curious face before giving her answer.
"Kariah gives off an aura that I felt when you put me in her hands. Also you have the legendary Master Sword. Only the Hero of Time can wield the blade of evil's bane," Navi said pointing a tiny finger to Link's blade.
"Who taught you the wisdom of the legends Navi?" Kariah asked gently.
"The Great Deku Tree told me. I used to listen to his stories all of the time," Navi said quietly. Kariah and Link nodded in understanding.
"We must get moving, we can't stay in one place or we will be ambushed again," Link said, looking pointedly at Saria. She nodded even though she and Aliana didn't fully trust them.
They soon saw the gate and two big Moblins guarded it and the gate was locked.
"How are we going to get in?" Saria whispered.
"What are those things Kari?" Link asked.
"Those are Moblins, they are almost impossible to fall without arrows," Navi answered, fluttering above Link's head. Link looked around and then a thought came to him.
"Navi, can you go and see if a metal hook will latch into anything over that wall?" Link asked the fairy. She zipped away.
"Link, there is a maze on the other side of that gate and I bet there are other monsters," Saria said fearfully.
"Do you know how thick the maze walls are?" Link asked. Saria had to think about it for a moment and then she answered, " The walls are about two of your height thick."
"Good, then we can walk across the top of the maze if we are careful," Link said, watching for Navi's return.
"But how will we get to the top of the maze walls?" Saria asked. Kariah glanced at Link waiting for his answer.
"I have the hookshot. It is a handy mechanical invention," Link claimed proudly.
"Where did you get it?" Kariah asked.
"While you were sleeping when we were waiting for Impa to wake," Link said with a grin.
Flashback
Link sat on a gravestone bored out of his mind. He didn't feel like sitting there quietly. He looked around and found a way to amuse himself. He walked around the graveyard and read the epitaphs on the headstones. He was curious to find that most of them were written in a language other than Hylian. He read them curiously and found one that had a curious epitaph on it.
Herein lies the soul of the grave keeper Dampé
He cared for the dead many days ago.
He has left the living to join them there.
Not well known but a special individual
He will not be forgotten.
I VII, XV, XVIII, XXVIII,
I XVI, XXXI
Link was confused of the numbers that were at the bottom of the epitaph.
"Why would there be numbers? It looks like number eight, fifteen, eighteen, and twenty-eight and the next line has sixteen and thirty-one. Both lines have one in front of them. It doesn't make sense. Hmm, maybe it means the first line and the numbers are significant to the first line. I can't think of a reason for the number one to be in front of the other numbers without a comma separating them. Ok, what would numbers have to do with line one and two sets of numbers at that?" Link mumbled to himself, trying to figure it out.
He absentmindedly traced the numbers and stared at the epitaph hoping the answer would just appear to him. He would occasionally glance up to make sure everything was all right and then he would give his attention back to the riddle. Soon out of curiosity he started to count the letters and found that the eighth letter was an L. He continued and found that letter fifteen was an O.
'Hmm, LO I wonder,' Link mused. He continued counting and came up with another O and a K.
"LOOK," Link said, 'Look where and what am I looking for?' Link thought. He brought his attention to the last set of numbers. 'Sixteen and thirty-one,' He quickly counted the letters and found a U and P.
"Look Up?" Link frowned. What was that supposed to mean? He glanced up and found a curious symbol carved onto the wall. He left the grave and found that the symbol was a treasure chest along with the letters SE. Link frowned at the carving and then suddenly he thought of something.
It had to mean southeast. SE didn't stand for anything else that Link knew of. He turned to the southeast and he was looking straight at the small wooden hut or shack. He walked over to the shack and found that the door wasn't locked.
He walked slowly into the hut and found that a chest was sitting on the floor. He tried to open it but found that this chest was of more value than the entire hut. He looked around the room and when he looked under the bed he found a loose floorboard. Underneath the board was a small silver key and a piece of parchment.
Well-done treasure hunter. You are well deserving of my treasure.
Dampé
Link took the key and opened the chest to find the treasure. It was the hookshot. Link recognized this as one because of the description a noble had once explained to a lesser back in his thieving days. He looked at the key and decided that maybe it was also the one to the door of Dampé's house. He checked the lock and sure enough the chest and the door kept the same key.
So Link decided that he would leave a treasure for the next person to enter the house. He dropped a hundred rupee in the chest and then relocked it before going out side and locking the door to the hut. Then he made a delicate symbol of a key on the door and hid the key on the ledge under the eves.
End Flashback
"Let's hope it can carry three of us," Saria said quietly with Aliana. Navi suddenly appeared by Kariah's head.
"There is a tree that is old but I think if you hook it right you should be able to get up there, and there are other monsters in the maze. Moblins mostly and the odd Deku Baba," Navi reported. Kariah nodded at her.
"Ok, lets get going," Link said. They moved as close to the ledge as they could without loosing the cover of the forest. Link could now see the tree and the Moblins much more clearly.
"Ok, here is what we are going to do. Kari I want you to hang onto me and Saria I want you to hold onto Kari. The hookshot hopefully will be able to support us. The fairies can meet us at the top of the maze," Link said, positioning the hookshot and getting prepared to hold Kariah and Saria's weight. Kariah carefully wrapped her arms around Link's shoulders as Saria clung to Kariah's waist.
"Ready?" Link asked, glancing over his shoulder. Kariah nodded as she heard Saria mumble apologies in the folds of Kariah's skirt. Link let the hook fly and soon they were flying through the air as the spring recoiled.
Kariah gave a gasp of surprise and she heard a small scream from Saria. They landed shortly on the top of the maze. Saria had let go of Kariah when she saw the top of the maze and it left Kariah to fall on Link.
Whomp! Kariah had landed on Link's chest and drove all of the air out of his lungs. He gave a silent gasp as he was trying to breath. Kariah pulled herself off of Link's chest, "I'm sorry Link," she whispered.
She found Saria on her stomach peering over the edge of the maze at the monsters below. Link had finally caught his breath and slowly joined them at the edge of the maze.
"Thanks Kari," Link muttered quietly. She gave him a sharp look and he fell silent. Link looked straight ahead and through the mist he could see the archway entrance up to the temple. He took note that the Moblins were as wide as the passage width. He also noticed that when they walked they stared straight ahead and only looked around after they had come to a brief stop.
"Okay, we are going to have to jump when that Moblin is marching that way, Saria, I'm going to throw you to Kari, that way we won't risk you falling into the passage below," Link whispered to Kariah and Saria. They nodded and got ready to jump. Kariah jumped first and Link tossed Saria across before jumping across himself. They immediately laid down again to avoid being spotted.
Link analyzed the next Moblin and found that he was going in a similar way. They waited till he passed by them and then they jumped again. They continued on this way until they reached the hollowed out area with a hole in the centre. They dropped into the deep square to rest a moment. Navi and Aliana joined them there.
"Good job Hero," Navi congratulated, "There is a massive Moblin in the passage leading up to the temple Link, he has a massive club and he fills the whole passage, you are going to have to kill this one. There is no other entrance to the temple than through this passage," Navi explained. Kariah glanced at the fairy before saying,
"There is another entrance, but right now we can't use it. Link needs to learn the melody of the Sage of the Forest before he can use it," Kariah said quietly. Everyone stared at Kariah.
"As far as I know there is only one way to get into that meadow at the top of the stairs and that is through that passage," Saria said quietly. Kariah narrowed her eyes slightly.
"I would know Saria if there was another passage into the meadow. My sisters created Hyrule and I gave it time. I would know all the entrances in this world, I am one of its guardians," Kariah said quietly, standing up to peer at the Moblin in the passageway.
"Link, I have an idea, that Moblin isn't as heavily armoured as the ones in the passages. If I sit on your shoulders I will be able to take him out with arrows. It will give us enough time to get into the temple before the others come running. We are going to have to move fast though," Kariah said, voicing her plan. Link nodded and they moved into position. Link gave Kariah the bow and the quiver. She carefully climbed onto his shoulders and wrapped her long legs around his neck.
Link blushed slightly at an evil thought that entered his head but he quickly pounded it out. Kariah made herself comfortable as Link slowly stood at his full height. She steadied herself as Link stabilized the weight and Kariah took aim. She fired three arrows rapidly at the monster in the passage. He went down as one hit him in the chest, the forehead and his neck.
Kariah made sure the passage below was clear before she pulled herself off of Link and onto the top of the maze. She dropped down and waited for Link to toss Saria over.
Link looked at Saria and she came forward as he gave Saria a boast out of the hole. She jumped down into Kariah's arms and Link followed close behind.
They darted swiftly up the passage and hid in the shrubs in the meadow. The meadow was devoid of enemies so they paused for a breather. Link noticed another hexagonal platform in the centre of this meadow much like the one at the entrance to the Shadow Temple and in the Temple of Time.
This platform had the small circular symbol that looked like four crescent moons. They all arced the same way in a circle. He turned back to the girls and noted that the entrance to the temple was very high up.
"Looks like we are going to have to use the hookshot again," Link said, fishing it out of his bag. They proceeded the same way that they had at the beginning of the maze. They were more graceful at landing this time because the girls knew what to expect. With a deep breath, the Hylian, the Goddess, the Kokiri and two fairies entered the Forest Temple.
Zelda was sitting with her father in the dining hall. He had called upon her to attend dinner with himself and Ganondorf. She reluctantly agreed and now she was sitting in the room while the messengers filed in one by one and Ganondorf was responding by telling the king what to do and brainwashing him further.
Zelda knew that if she said anything Ganondorf would find an excuse to kill her. She desperately wished that Impa could be there. She also wished once again that the Hero and the lady would appear soon. Things were getting worse by the day. She also wondered what was taking them so long to get here.
Soon supper was over and she was released to go. She once again went to the wardrobe in the secret room and drew the Sheikah blade, willing it to give her the courage to keep going and wait for the Hero and the lady. She practice a few moves with it before once again storing it in her closet. She sat at the window seat and gazed at the moon and praying silently.
The riders that were attacked the night before had made it to the safety of Lon Lon Ranch. They hoped to make it to the shores of Lake Hylia by sundown the next day.
The first things in the temple that the group encountered were Wolfos. Link pointed to the wall of vines and Kariah and Saria dashed for it and began to climb swiftly. Kariah made it to the top of the tree first with Saria and Aliana right behind her. At the top of the tree sat a key. Kariah quickly pocketed it and watched the battle below.
Link was furiously battling with the Wolfos with advice from the wise Navi. He couldn't seem to get the sword to piece flesh. The Wolfos blocked every one of his assaults.
"Navi, I can't get a hit in!" Link said through gritted teeth. She was fluttering above the heads of the enemies.
"Wait for them to swipe at you and swiftly move out of the way, they will expose their backside and you will have a chance at an attack!" Navi called out. Link followed her advice and back flipped out of harms way instead of countering. He swiftly lunged at the Wolfos with a jump attack bring the Wolfos down and killing it.
Link immediately brought his attention to the second Wolfos that was advancing on him now that his partner had fallen. Link narrowed icy blue eyes at the glowing red ones of the Wolfos. The Wolfos lunged at Link and took a chunk out of Link's shoulder. He winced as the pain shot through his right side. With a cry of fury Link retaliated and found his mark. He brought the Wolfos down in an instant.
Kariah watched Link kneel on the ground in a trembling manor. He seemed full of rage. She wondered how Link had learned the art of swordplay so well. He was a skilled fighter. Saria had watched and now was very pale. He had slaughtered those living creatures.
"How can you travel with someone that takes pleasure out of killing creatures?" Saria whispered, hugging the goddess, "Why would you create someone like that?"
Kariah sorrowfully hugged Saria back and didn't answer. She knew what was wrong with Link, and he was not even fighting it anymore.
Link glanced up and saw Saria and Kariah perched safely on the top of the tree. He gave a wave saying that it was all right for them to come down.
"Saria, it is safe to go down now, come," Kariah said, standing up carefully and latching onto the vines. Saria follow close behind. In no time at all Kariah and Saria reached the bottom. Link's arm was still bleeding profusely.
"Link, drink this," Kariah said, handing him a bottle of red potion, "It will ease the pain until I have time to bandage it properly." Link took the bottle and chugged it down in a hurry.
"Ugh, why does it have to taste so horrible?" Link asked in disgust.
"Ask the potion maker," Kariah chuckled with a bit of a grin. Link was still feeling the anger of the battle and his body language showed it. He was irritated about something.
"Link, calm down, it's alright now, you killed them and we are safe," Kariah said gently. He looked at her with conflicting emotions. She watched quietly as Link gained control of himself. Saria had stayed behind Kariah, still slightly afraid of the monster that Link had become. To her, Link had seemed like an easygoing guy but now she saw something else in him and it scared her. Aliana picked up on Saria's fear and she fluttered close by.
"We must get going, we are running out of time as it is," Link said, glancing at the Kokiri child. "Saria, I'm sorry that I scared you, it had to be done. It was either them or me," Link said gently to the girl. She looked at him with scared emerald pools. He looked at Kariah with shameful eyes before turning to the door.
"It's not your fault Link, we have put her in a world that she has never known. The Kokiri have never seen war before. You realize that she is the future sage of the forest and she will understand when she is invoked with the wisdom of the sages," Kariah said to Link through telepathy as they followed him through the hallway. A bothersome Skulltula dropped to the ground in front of them, which Kariah in turn took care of with the bow that was still in her possession.
They made it to the great hall of the Forest Temple. It was huge and occupied by four torches with blue, purple, orange, and green fire. Saria had never seen such a thing as blue purple or green fire. They walked closer and the fire suddenly leaped out of the torches and four Poe Ghosts took its place.
"Who is so bold as to trespass in our temple?" They cackled. They didn't wait for an answer and took off into four different passages leading off the hall. Link looked at Kariah.
"I want you to find a safe place to hide until I finish dealing with these ghosts. Stay with Saria and protect her," Link instructed. Kariah had a rebellious glint in her eyes but Link froze that fire with an icily bold stare.
"At least take Navi with you Link, you might need her help. Also, take this fairy spirit with you, it will heal you should you collapse. Be careful Hero," Kariah said softly, giving him a bottle with a healing fairy in it. He nodded to her and then turned to go.
"Wait, you might need this too," Kariah said tossing the key she had found at the entrance to him. He caught it and with a salute he took off up the staircase at the other end of the room.
Kariah and Saria set up a small hiding place in the castle courtyard on top of the pillars. The only risk of an attack would be from the air.
"Kariah, what is the history behind the Forest Temple?" Saria asked the goddess.
"It is a wonderful but sad tale, do you want to hear it?" Kariah asked. Saria nodded.
"The Forest Temple was built by the Kokiri of bygone ages. They wanted to build the temple to worship the goddesses and keep some of the sacred forest treasures safe. The Great Deku Tree, the forest guardian, laid out the plans for the Kokiri and they built the Temple with the help of the seven sages. The Forest Sage at that time was a Kokiri girl by the name of Darian. She guarded the temple and the Kokiri. They lived in the Forest Temple as one happy family, but soon they were consumed by jealousy and hatred for one another. It grew so out of hand, one would declare that he was king or she was queen of the Temple. Darian sought council with the Great Deku Tree. He was growing old and had little time left. He gave her a Deku Seed and told her to go out into the forest and find a patch of suitable land and a nice sized clearing for the new Deku Tree to grow. He told her that they would move the Kokiri into the small village where there was one leader of the tribe and that certain treasure would be hidden in the village. The items such as the Kokiri Sword and the Kokiri Emerald followed the Kokiri to the new village. Other items that didn't were the Fairy Bow and the power of the Forest Sage. They stayed hidden in the temple to be found by the Hero of Time that was due to arrive in a few ages to rid the forest of the monsters that would take over the temple. What better place for monsters to flourish than in the abandoned temple? That is the history of the temple Saria. The Great Deku Tree that died in the meadow at the village was the second Deku Tree to grow in the forest. Another will follow when we rid the forest of the monsters," Kariah said.
"How come the Deku Tree never told me that story?" Saria asked.
"I'm sure he had his reasons Saria, he doesn't have to tell anyone anything if he doesn't want to," Kariah said gently. Unknown to the girls, danger lurked in the corner.
Link and Navi progressed through the temple very rapidly. Link was no longer worried for Kariah's safety and he had moved swiftly through most of the temple. He had found another bow and quiver and he had taken care of Joelle and Beth, the orange and the blue Poe sisters. He had to find the last two. He dropped down a floor and found that he was in a room of black and white tiles.
"Link! Watch out, the ceiling is falling!" Navi shouted. Link jumped back and sure enough the ceiling fell down. He noticed that there were holes in the part of the roof that fell down and he marked them in his mind where they were.
The ceiling retreated to the roof and Link quickly made for a square that was safe to stay on. He made it to the door on the far side of the room and found another painting of one of the Poe sisters. The green one mocked him from within the painting.
Link shot the painting with an arrow and five blocks fell from the ceiling with her picture on it. He quickly pushed the blocks together to create the picture of the ghost.
Amy appeared with a flash of green flame. Link retreated to shoot at her from a distance, remember the pain that one of her sisters put him through. She cackled happily but then cried out in pain as Link rapidly shot arrows at her. She fell and her aura lit the torch in the room. Link went through the door and found that it lead back into the Great Hall. He found that Kariah was tied to one of the pillars and was unconscious.
"What happened! Link cried out as he leapt from the top ledge to confront the last sister. She immediately got up and became four copies of herself. Link was momentarily bewildered before he noticed that one of them had done a spin before joining the other copies. He quickly shot an arrow at the real Meg. He continued this process five times and finally defeated her. Her aura lit the last torch and the elevator that lead to the lower level appeared.
Link dropped down beside Kariah and quickly released the fairy that she had given him. It healed his most recent wounds and revived Kariah.
"Kari what happened?" Link asked with concern, "Where is Saria and Aliana?"
"Meg attacked us, we had to time to react. She took Saria and knocked me out. I don't know where she is," Kariah said quietly.
"Lets go, we have to find her," Link said, pulling Kariah to her feet. They boarded the elevator and found their way to the bottom level. They quickly solved the puzzle and Link and Kariah ran into the boss room.
"Kari, stay here," Link instructed as he and Navi entered the centre of the room. Kariah stood there as the phantom of all phantoms appeared on the scene. It appeared to Ganondorf in a phantom like form. He set off into the paintings and Link looked bewildered for a moment. He watched as Phantom Ganon approached through one of the paintings and suddenly he came straight out. Link quickly fired an arrow at the horse, which stumbled into the next portrait.
Phantom Ganon had also released Saria from the horse when Link had hit the horse in the chest with his arrow. Kariah caught Saria because the horse had stumbled into the picture behind her. She was happy to find that Saria had a strong pulse and only appeared to be unconscious.
Link had finally succeeded in getting Phantom Ganon off of his horse. Now they were locked in a battle of electricity.
"Link, the Master Sword will repel the electricity back at Phantom Ganon. Then you will have a chance to attack him!" Kariah called in telepathy. Link responded immediately by repelling the new ball of electricity back. He finally got in a hit and ran the monster through the chest with the sword.
The battle for the temple had been won. Link turned to Kariah who was holding Saria in her arms. A portal appeared in the centre of the room. Kariah lifted Saria over the spiked bars and carefully vaulted over them. They nodded at each other and they entered the portal. They landed on the hexagonal platform outside of the temple.
"Time to rid the forest of evil forever more," Kariah said bring out the Fairy Ocarina from her belt. Link brought out the Ocarina of Time. Together they played the melody of the Forest Sage. It bounced along and the forest livened. Soon they heard the monster cries. The forest was ridding itself with the ancient magic of the Forest Sage. The magic that was the legend of the forest, anything that didn't belong in the forest was banished.
Saria woke to the sound of the Minuet of Forest that was purifying her forest. She felt the restless magic awaken in her and she realized what she was to do for the Hylian and the Goddess of Time. Link and Kariah turned to Saria.
"Welcome home, Sage," Link welcomed.
"Thank you Hero of Time, the Deku Tree Sprout can now flourish and give life back to the forest. As a sage I will rewrite the legend of the forest and allow the Hylians to walk within its woods. No more will we be forgotten," Saria said boldly.
"What do you mean?" Link asked.
"What I mean is that other creature will survive here other than those who belong in this forest. Like Epona and Arden. Kariah sent them away so they wouldn't be harmed by the power awakened in the forest," Saria explained.
"I will wait for your calling in the Sacred Realm. Please accept this medallion created by the forest spirits. Use it wisely," Saria said, giving him a medallion with the same design as the symbol on the hexagonal pattern. Saria disappeared in a ray of green light to wait in the Sacred Realm with Rauru and Impa.