Saria sat on the stump playing her song. She was in front of the temple playing her music casually. She stopped in the middle of her song and sighed.
Her fairy flew over to her. "What's wrong, Saria? Still upset about Link?"
"It's almost been two weeks…I hoped he could at least visit me…I wish I knew if he was okay…they say Hyrule field is dangerous. What if he got hurt?"
"Well…He's stronger than he looks. Remember that time you two were playing tag and you ran into a Deku Scrub and got hit by it? He clobbered it with a Deku stick like it was his sworn enemy and then, not only did he carry you on his back, but he could still run all the way back to your house."
Saria smiled at the memory. "Heh, heh. Yeah. Link was kinda worried about me huh?"
"Kinda? There's Kinda worried, and then there's running and yelling at everyone to get out of the way like you only had five minutes to live. He was terrified for you!"
Saria blushed as she remembered all the people staring at them as Link carried her away.
"Still…I can't help but worry…"
"Saria!"
The Kokiri's heart raced as a familiar voice reached her ears. She saw the very boy she was thinking of running up the stairs towards her. "Link!" Saria jumped off of her seat and ran over to him. She jumped at him, throwing her arms around him and tackling him to the ground.
"Ow."
"Heh, heh. Sorry." Sari laughed as she helped him up. "I'm just so glad to see you!"
"Yeah…me too." Link smiled giving her a big hug. Saria smiled as she hugged back, although she nearly winced from how tight Link's grip on her was. She kept hugging him for a minute, then realised it was going on for a while. And was it just her, or was her shoulder feeling damp?
"Link?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry."
As they pulled back Saria saw Link wipe his eyes with his arm. He was crying.
"Link? What's wrong?"
"N-nothing. Just happy to see you again."
Saria then noticed something. "Huh? Where's your fairy?"
That question brought a depressed look to Link's face. "I have a lot I need to tell you, Saria. I've only told this to two other people so far…But I caused you so much pain in that time, and you're the one I trust the most. Thant's why I'm going to tell you as well."
"That time? What are you talking about?" Saria asked, siting down on the stump.
Link sighed before he sat next to her and started. He explained to her how he went on a quest for the Spiritual Stones. How Ganondorf tricked him to open the way to the Triforce and seal himself away for seven years. And how she was one of the Sages he searched for. Finally, he explained how after Ganondorf's defeat he was sent back to regain his lost childhood.
Saria was utterly shocked after hearing this. "Link…"
"The first thing I did when I got back was tell Zelda of Ganondorf's plain. The problem is her father never believed her suspicions. So, she brought me to him to tell my story. He didn't believe me at first…but grew suspicious when I showed him this." Link said taking out a green gem. The Kokiri Emerald. "I showed it to him and told him how Ganondorf cursed the Great Deku Tree. I then told him how he was currently harming the Gorons and the Zoras. He had me stay in the castle while he sent knights to the Goron City and the Zora's Domain to confirm what I told him was true…You also helped prove that Ganondorf was evil."
"I did?" Saira asked pointing to herself. "How?"
Link took out the Ocarina Saria gave her before he left and played the lullaby Impa taught her. Saria smiled as she heard the tune.
"Wow…what a relaxing melody."
"This tune is a secret to the royal family. As were the many songs Zelda-or Sheik I should say, taught me for transporting to the temples. I don't have the Ocarina of Time anymore, so I wouldn't have been able to prove it if you didn't give me this. He had to believe me after I played those songs and the messengers confirmed that Ganondorf affected Lord Jabu-Jabu and the Dodongo's Cavern. Finally convinced I was telling him the truth, he had Ganondorf arrested. He assured me he will be executed."
Saria shuddered at the thought. But if what she heard was true, this man had it coming. "Wow. So that's why you were gone for so long."
"After that I went to go help Darunia and Ruto again. Only this time I didn't take the Spiritual Stones. Having them together is dangerous. The Door of Time should never be opened again. I came back home as soon as I could after and…here we are."
"Wow…you've been through so much Link." Saria said.
"Yeah. I lived as a kid and an adult."
"But wait a minute, how did you grow up? Kokiri never grow up."
Link sighed and looked down. He nearly forgot about that topic. "Saria…I learned this shortly after saving you in the future…I'm…a Hylian."
Saria gasped. "What?!"
"When we broke the curse on the Forest Temple, we awoke the Deku Tree Sprout. The Great Deku Tree's offspring. He told me that my father died in a war and my mother escaped with me to the forest. She died after leaving me there. The Great Deku Tree could somehow sense what fate had in store for me and raised me like I was one of you guys. That must have been why I never received a fairy…until he tasked Navi with supporting me."
"Link…"
The boy then looked up at the sky. "Saria…I'm leaving again soon."
"What? Why? You don't feel like you don't belong, here do you?" Saria asked, taking Link's hands in hers. "Because this is still your home and you're still my best friend. Being Hylian doesn't change that."
Link smiled at her. "Thank you, Saria. That means a lot to me. But that's not it. After I returned to this time Navi just…left."
"Huh? Why would she do that?"
"I don't know…that's why I need to look for her. I need to talk to her."
"I see…when are you leaving?" Saria asked in a sad tone. She finally got to meet Link again, but now he had to go. She fought against her tears only for them to slip one by one.
"Tomorrow. I'm going to spend my time today here. Then I plan to stop by Hyrule Castle to thank Zelda for everything. I don't know where I'll end up going or how long I will be gone. I'm sorry Saria."
The Kokiri scooted closer to Link on the stump and hugged him. "Link…Promise me you'll come back…I've been so lonely without you."
Link hugged her back. "I promise. As soon as I find Navi, I'll come straight home."
"*sniff* Okay. Hey…you've gotten good with an Ocarina, right?"
"I'd like to think so."
"Can we play together?" Saria asked. "Just like we promised?"
Link smiled with a nod. "Sure thing. And I know just the song."
The two started playing their Ocarinas together. Saria's song rang through the forest.
It was late. Link and Saria were playing their Ocarinas for so long. Every time Link suggested they stopped, Saria objected. She wanted to spend as much time as she could with him. But as it got late, she began to tire. Link spent whole nights awake in the future, but Saria, despite her best efforts to fight against sleep, was soon taken by it's grasp and drifted off leaning against him. Link was now carrying her through the Lost Woods.
Adnim floated close by. "This reminds me of the time Saria was hurt by a Deku Scrub."
"Yeah…"
"Link…you'll probably be gone before she wakes up, right?"
"Probably."
"Huh. You waking up before her. Imagine that. But let me make one thing clear buster."
"What's that?"
"If you take too long, I will personally hunt you down, beat you to a pulp and drag said pulp back to her! Ya got that?"
Link just laughed. "Loud and clear."
"Link…"
At first the boy worried that he woke her up. But while it looked like Saria was stirring, she just smiled in her sleep. "I will always be…your friend."
Link smiled as he continued out of the Lost Woods and towards Saria's house.
Saria woke up later than usual the next day. She sat up from her bed trying to remember what happened. "Huh? How did I get here?"
Her fairy flew over to her. "You fell asleep. Link carried you home and put you in bed."
"Oh…" Saria's eyes widened once the name registered to her mind. "LINK! Is he-
"He's gone Saria. He left this morning."
Saria went silent. An emptiness filled her heart.
"But…he did drop by to check on you. He thought about waking you up, but…he decided against it…" The fairy said, flying over to Saria's desk. "Instead he left this."
Saria got out of her bed and walked over to the desk. She saw two things. The Kokiri Emerald and a note.
Saria.
I'm sorry. At first, I thought I didn't want to wake you up because we were up late last night, and you might be tired. But the more I think about it, I'm just cowering out of having to say goodbye to you again. I did it multiple times already, and it hurts more and more looking back to it. I just wanted you to know that I will be back someday. I don't know when, but I will. Until then I want you to protect the forest I met you in. Where we became friends. Without Ganondorf cursing the forest, the great Deku Tree Sprout I mentioned yesterday should come to life sooner this time. When he does, please give him the Kokiri Emerald. I guess that's everything. Goodbye Saria. And remember, no mater how far apart fate puts us we will always be friends.
After she finished a tear fell from Saria's eye. She smiled as she held the letter to her chest.
"Link…come home soon. I'll be waiting."
For those of you who don't know, allow me to elaborate. According to the Hyrule Historia, when Zelda sent Link to the past after defeating Ganondorf, it made two separate timelines. The one, Link left, which will lead into Wind Waker, and the one he landed in, where he warns Zelda and the King of Ganondorf's schemes which will lead into Majora's Mask and then Twilight Princess. It was never clear to me where (Or when, whatever you want to call it.) exactly Link ended up, but we get a shot behind him in the Master Sword's chamber and I noticed the Spiritual Stones weren't there, yet he still has his kokiri sword and whatever shield he was holding, so it had to be sometime after his adventure started. Also Zelda seems as surprised to see him when he goes to meet her as he was when they first met. I think (and yes I'm really just guessing.) That he landed around the time of their first meeting. In other words, the Deku Tree was still killed, but Link had yet to meet the Gorons or Zoras. Again, I'm not saying this is what happened, it's just my opinion.