Smoke began to engulf the village as all of the children ran out to see what all the noise was about. They gasped when they saw the scene. Thick black smoke was drifting from the Forest Meadow and travelling into the village. Ruto, Zelda and Mido stood staring at the smoke and now pieces of ash tumbling everywhere. Link and Saria immerged from Link's house and were horrified by the sight. Saria looked like she was about to pass out from shock.
"The Temple!" She blurted out before diving off the balcony without even using the ladder, Link quickly followed her joining the other three. Saria grabbed Ruto's arm and began dragging her into the woods, Link ran after them not about to leave the two go in on their own. Since it was a fire Ruto would be their best bet to clear it up with her water powers. The three hurried through the now smoke filled woods dodging bits of tree that would now and again tumble to the ground.
"Why did the rain have to stop now!?" Link yelled in between coughing from the smoke going into his throat. Soon they arrived in the meadow thinking a blazing fire would await them there but the meadow was not the place that was on fire.
"This can't be happening." Saria mumbled seeing the smoke floating out of the temple itself, someone had lit the whole temple ablaze.
"Don't worry, we'll sort this out." Link softly said putting an arm on Saria's shoulder. "We need to go inside since that's where the problem seems to be." He added taking out his longshot while passing his hookshot to Saria since she knew how it worked. Ruto grabbed onto Link and the three flew up to the temple entrance closing their eyes to avoid getting ash in them.
Inside was not a pretty sight, flaming vines were falling all over the floor, the walls were turning black with the smoke and no forest spirits could be felt watching over the temple. The trio entered the main room to find a group of flame dancers spinning around casting fire spells in every direction, these seemed to be the main cause of the fire. Ruto moved in front of the other two and began to power up a water orb.
"This should take out some of them." she grinned looking behind her to the other two. Link nodded while Saria just stood there still looking quite pale. Ruto sent a blast of water showering over the fire dancers but there was no luck. Ruto jumped back wondering how the water didn't take them out. Link then remembered something.
"Ah wait, I know why water isn't working, we need to use bombs first." He dug out his bomb bag and handed each of the girls a few bombs. "Drop a few of them each side of the dancers, when the bombs explode and damage them then use any attacks you can think of." Link took some out for himself as the others positioned themselves in different places. Soon about a dozen bombs lined the room ready to explode any minute. Ruto and Link took a few steps back to make sure they didn't get hit by the explosion, unfortunately for Saria a flame dancer approached her making her fall over a fallen boulder, there was also a bomb about the explode right by her.
"Saria!" Link shouted dashing across the room dodging the other monsters who tried to attack him, The dancer near Saria was about to unleash an attack when Link dived on top of the startled Forest Sage covering her from the flames and the exploding bomb with his shield."Are you ok?" Link asked looking a little worried. Saria looked up at him smiling.
"Yeah, I'm fine thanks to you." She replied reaching a hand up and stroking his cheek, he brought up one of his own hands removing hers from his face and gently kissing it. Ruto ran over to where they were still laying.
"Um I don't want to interrupt this touching moment but we have a temple to save here!" The pair jumped up realising she was right. All of the flame dancers were now on the ground trying to recover from the blast. Ruto and Saria powered up their Sage powers while Link charged up his sword and the three finished off the flame dancers. Ruto summoned another water spell to take care of the rest of the fire. Then there was total silence. The walls were stained black, the room smelt sickening, the place had fallen apart.
"I wish I'd never been chosen to be a Sage!" Saria cried through tears as she ran out of the temple into the night. Both Link and Ruto were surprised at this reaction and Link decided to follow her, it wasn't safe for anyone to be alone in that state, especially if they went into Hyrule field.
Link made his way through the woods and out into the village. Firstly he looked in her house but only Zelda and Mido were there playing a card game."Did Saria come back here?" Link asked nearly out of breath from running. The other two looked up both shaking their heads. He took off out of the house heading towards to village exit and over the bridge.
Hyrule field was a quiet place at night, only the odd sound of an owl hoot or the sounds of the river could be heard. Saria sat on the bank of the Zora river shivering now and then from the cold night air. Link exited the forest and came into the main field area, he spotted a figure on the grass near the river and walked over.
"It's not safe for such a nice looking girl like yourself to be out here this late alone you know." Link said walking up behind her. Saria stood up a little shocked to see him but also a little relieved. He didn't say anything else just held out his arms which she gladly fell into burying her face in his shoulder. Link wrapped his arms tightly around her stopping her from shivering so much.
"I've failed as a Sage, I was meant to be watching over the temple and I wasn't." She whispered still not looking up at him.
"Don't be stupid, it wasn't your fault, it could have happened to any of the temples." Link replied kissing her forehead, she looked up at him and kissed him on the nose then moved down to his lips bringing her arms around his neck, the wind picked up but neither of them noticed the cold.
Ebony glided across the dark sky giggling to herself with glee. "That showed everyone what I can really do, now I better head back to inform Saffron of my victory." With that she sped off in the direction of Death Mountain not realising that someone had seen her.
Link looked up and frowned as he saw a shadowy figure flying across the sky, he now knew who was the cause of the fire. Saria wondered what he was suddenly looking so angry about.
"What were you looking at?" She asked, Link didn't have an explanation made up convincing enough so he decided to change the subject by pulling her into another passionate kiss."What was that for?" Saria breathed as they split apart.
"Because I love you and no matter where we go as long as you're there it'll be home." Link replied taking her hand in his. "And now we should be getting back to the forest." He finished with a smile.
Ebony landed by the entrance to the cave and strolled in. Saffron was sat on the same rock nursing her bad arm, she looked up as her sister entered the cave."Ah, I knew you'd come crawling back sooner or later." She hissed standing up. Ebony walked in and flung herself on a rock not listening to Saffron's remarks.
"For your information I was out doing some proper damage." Ebony said turning away from her sister. Saffron looked quite interested in that piece of news.
"Oh and what might have that been?" Saffron questioned coming round by her sister and sitting next to her. Ebony twisted around smiling.
"The Forest Temple is no more but a heap of burnt out rooms now." Saffron looked impressed, it seemed her sister did have some talent after all. Maybe her next plan would work well now that she had her sister back.
"It's time to move in, we need to get Link's attention and what better way than to befriend Saria?" Ebony didn't understand what Saffron was talking about, how in all of Hyrule would that ever work?
"I know what you're thinking Ebony dear but you see I have this one all planned out perfectly. But first we must wait until they leave the forest." With that Saffron stopped speaking and made her way to the back of the cave leaving her sister to watch and wait for more instructions.
The sun slowly rose over the trees sending small sunbeams that danced on the surface of the pond in the village. Saria stood on the ledge near the Lost Woods over looking the whole village. It seemed so small, so safe compared to the rest of Hyrule, she was going to miss it a lot.
"Saria!" A voice shouted from below, she looked down to see Mido climbing up the vine wall and hurry over to her.
"Hi!" He said a little too enthusiastically. "Isn't it weird that we're finally leaving, we won't see each other as much anymore." He stopped there and sat on the edge of the ledge to view the village. Saria carried on standing a bit behind him then had an idea.
"I've always wanted to do this." She said quietly as she ran up to him and sent him flying off the ledge onto the one below where he landed face first. Saria jumped down after him starting to laugh as she ran off to her house followed by a grass stained Mido. There was another gold fairy waiting in her house seeming to have a message from the Deku Tree.
"The Deku Tree would like to see you both and Link as soon as possible." Saria nodded watching the fairy flutter back out into the village. The two went to collect Link who had still been in bed and headed into the Deku Tree's meadow.
"Thank you all for coming." The old Tree said as they entered the meadow. "I take it this time you know why I have called you, it is time for you to leave this village and live the lives you desire so much, Mido thou has been a trustworthy leader all of these years, you shall be greatly missed but never forgotten. Saria my unofficial leader of the village and of course the Forest Sage, you have been a pleasure to have here but I knew that thou would one day want more than the forest, just remember the temple will always need you and so will the village. And lastly Link, although not a true Kokiri by blood I can see that you are one by heart, use your courage wisely in the future and carry on watching over Hyrule as it is your destiny. Now you must go, take good care of each other all three of you and come back to visit someday, you are always welcome here." The Tree finished its long speech and bid the three farewell. Their new journey was about to begin.
A/N: Thank you for the reviews, they are always greatly appreciated.