Malon wasn't sure how long she ran, she only knew that the woods stretched around her endlessly. The music rang in her ears, and the giggles of the beaked children sounded from everywhere and nowhere. Eventually, Malon could run no longer. She fell to her knees and sobbed, wrapping her arms around herself. She had been such a fool to think she could do this. She had been a fool to think she could save anybody. She was just a fool.
"Malon?"
Malon didn't react at first. She figured the voice was only in her mind. Another hallucination in this wretched forest. There had been dozens of others. But when the voice came again, she glanced up with red eyes.
Link stood a short distance away, blinking at her as if he couldn't believe his eyes. He was cleaned up, and his arm was now wrapped in a tight sling. A kokiri girl stood behind him. She looked different from the others. Her eyes were more vibrant and her hair was a vivid green.
"Is that her?' the Kokiri asked. Link didn't answer. He rushed to Malon's side, dropping to his knees and holding her shoulder. Malon couldn't help it; she threw herself against him and started crying again. She felt his arm wrap around her, hesitantly at first, then more sure.
"Hey, it's okay," Link said. "We've got you now. We aren't going anywhere."
Malon hiccupped. "I thought you ran off, and-and I wasn't sure what to d-do, but they said you w-were in the woods with Saria-"
Link hugged her tighter. "Geez, Malon, I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye."
"I'm just glad we found her," the kokiri said. "A few more days and I'm not sure what would have been left."
Malon blinked at her in confusion. Link pulled away from her, letting his good hand rest on her knee. Malon was grateful for the contact. It made everything feel more real.
"We've been looking for you for three weeks," Link said.
"Three weeks?"
"Time moves… differently, in the lost woods. You were lucky we found you at all."
Malon sagged. "But I've only been in here a few hours. The sun hasn't even set."
Link didn't respond. He didn't need to. Malon was sure he wouldn't lie to her. Somehow, while Malon had been wandering blindly around the lost woods, weeks had passed in the outside world.
"Let's get back to the village," Link said. He stood, pulling Malon with him. "Everyone will be excited to see you're back."
"We've been sending search parties," the kokiri girl added as they began walking. "Everyone helped look, but Malo looked the most. I think he feels kind of responsible."
"Saria has been very helpful," Link added. So the green-haired kokiri was Saria. She didn't look at all like Malon expected.
The woods passed by on either side as Saria led the way back. She kept a running commentary on their surroundings. She explained about the magical song of the woods, and how she had learned to follow its tune to a secret temple deep in the woods. She said how space moved differently in the woods as well. Once she had found a path that delved into the rocky depths (to Death Mountain, Link said) and a different one that was a deep pool of water with a tunnel at the bottom (Zora's Domain, Link added). The beaked children were apparently skull kids.
"It's really sad," Saria had said. "Those kids wander into the forest and never come back out again. They lose all their memories and features until they look just like every other skull kid. They never get older, and they never leave."
"Is that what happens to adults who become stuck in the forest?"
Saria frowned. "No. Adults become something else. Stalfos. Skeleton warriors filled with hatred. I don't know how you survived this long without becoming one, but there must be something special about you."
Malon certainly didn't feel special. As they emerged from the tunnel and back into the light of the village, she felt downright foolish. No wonder the kokiri had tried to stop her from entering the lost woods. She never stood a chance.
Link let go of her hand as soon as they entered the village. Malon tried not to dwell on that fact too much. Saria turned to face them.
"I guess that means you're going on with your plan?" she asked Link.
"What plan?" Malon said. Link took a deep breath.
"The only one I've got. In the future . . . past . . . the first time I fought Ganondorf at his full strength, I needed certain things to do it. The Triforce of Courage, which I still have. My bow, which is back with my saddlebag. The Master Sword, which I think is still in the crypt. I also need Princess Zelda's magic. She had to hold him for me while I delivered the killing blow. It would be great if I had Navi again, but that can't be helped. I also needed the power of the seven sages to match Ganondorf's power."
Malon vaguely remembered hearing about the seven sages. They had been part of Link's story when he returned. He'd had medallions with each of their symbols engraved on them, but they hadn't held any magic when he returned from the future.
"I am one of the sages," Saria said. "I already promised you what help I can offer, but I still haven't awakened my powers. Not in all these years since you told me what I was."
Link looked away. "I'm sure you'll figure it out. Maybe they only appear when you really need them."
Malon could something was wrong. Link didn't believe his own words. But why would he lie to Saria? Was there some other step involved to awaken a sage's power? Something he couldn't tell her? He was still talking.
"I've already wasted enough time here. The Princess, Master Sword, and bow are all at Hyrule Castle Town. If I go through the lost woods I can be at Goron Village by tonight. Darunia might have been able to unlock his power. If not, I can at least stay there and sneak into Hyrule Castle tomorrow-"
"You can't!" Malon cried. "You're still hurt!"
"I'm also the Hero of Time. This is my purpose. I have to defeat Ganondorf, or everything will be lost."
Malon could see in his eyes that he would not be convinced otherwise. "Fine. If you're going to take on Ganondorf, I'm coming with you."