Book 1: The Rescue of the Saviour

By JoeMoron2000

Chapter 2: The Appearance of the Stranger

Twenty Years Later…

Once again, she was back there, back atop Death Mountain with her fellow Sages. Once again, they were watching the first untainted sunrise in seven long years.

Once again, she felt the stab of loneliness as she felt the Hero of Time transported home by the magic of the Sage of Time.

It was a bittersweet dream. Saria remembered with perfect clarity everything, every little detail, of the scene, and it was haunting her. Three empty years had passed since that day, and she had spent every one of them waiting for his return.

Inside, Saria knew that her waiting was in vain; the doors to the Temple of Time had long since been locked, and Link, though valiant as he was, still had Hylian blood running through his veins. He was mortal, and had no control over anything in the Sacred Realm.

But she also knew that she could not give up hope, because giving up hope would mean accepting that the boy she fell in love with, and who she believed felt the same way about her, wouldn't return to her. It would mean that the man who overcame Ganondorf himself would be defeated by what amounted to a pair of magical doors.

Saria groaned at herself and got up. Another morning, another day as the precious Forest Sage, she thought to herself. Despite the "luxuries" of the Sacred Realm, she still felt a longing for the place she had for so long called home.

But there was something different about today. Yes, today was exactly three years after she had last seen him, but she knew that wasn't it. There was something else, a presence she felt was not supposed to be there, but she couldn't figure out what it was, as the Sacred Realm could only have the Sages. Nothing else could enter, and no one, certainly, could leave. But no matter; she would not let it detract from her routinely dull morning, afternoon, and evening.

Every day was the same; the Sages would watch over their respective parts of Hyrule, influencing, but unable to directly intervene, the many regions and their inhabitants. It was a boring job, but they all knew it was important, and everybody was secretly doing their own thing during the largely uneventful time.

This was the way it was, this was the way it always had been. For almost as long as she could remember, she had been fascinated by the Lost Woods and its intricate maze. It sat there, at the edge of the Forest taunting her and her fellow Kokiri, who were plagued with curiosity. But it wasn't until – No, Saria thought to herself. I've put it behind me; I shouldn't be worrying about that now.

Saria shook her head. She told herself that what she was doing was a selfless act of protection and discovery, but deep inside, Saria knew she was doing it for herself, and she hated it. For eight years it fascinated her, comforted her, and protected her. But then came the Darkness, the pain and suffering of all of Hyrule, and her haven was desecrated. She was forced into hiding, unable to help her friends, and then she was captured.

And so she stayed for seven years, waiting for an end to the terrible curse that had befallen her home and her life. Slowly, hope drained and was replaced with despair – terrifying despair that rescue would not come, furious despair that, had she not wasted her time in the past she would have been able to prevent the present, and saddening despair that her time in Hyrule was drawing to a close.

Then Link came back. The moment he returned she could feel it, as though something she had long ago locked away had finally reawakened. She felt a twinge of emotion she had long since forgotten had existed: love. It was faint, but it grew stronger with each passing hour. Finally, she would be reunited with the boy she grew up with. But things went wrong again, and Saria emerged as the Forest Sage, and once again she was removed from her friends. She was removed once again from the reach of Link.

The worst part was that there was nothing she could do.

"Okay, Fado, time to continue your map..." Saria said to herself as she picked up her enchanted orb. Her emerald crystal shone in Rauru's fake sunlight, but it was the light from the Forest that she longed for. Resignedly, she sighed and sat down, focusing intently on her friend. The feelings came slowly at first, but familiarity quickly sunk in, and soon she was filled with memories of her childhood friend, felt the presence of her company, saw her large, curious eyes, and heard the way she always used to tap her fingers to that same rhythm – and suddenly she was there, guiding her. It wasn't possession; it was more of a nudge, a thought in the back of Fado's mind that begged to be acted upon.

There was that feeling again; that something was wrong, out of place, and Saria lost her train of thought, her connection with Fado broken. She felt a presence, a strong presence, one she hadn't felt in quite some time -- far longer than since she last sensed Link. This one seemed...ancient.

All in all, it came as quite a surprise when she turned around and there was a complete stranger standing behind her.