Inspiration: Unconditional love.

Author Note: This is a personal story that takes me back to when I started writing on this site in 2011.

Word Count: 4,688

Closure Part II

Chapter 1

It has been thirteen years since my last visit to Hyrule. Thirteen years of memories created from one extraordinary visit. My name is Saria and I live in the Sacred Realm. I am a sage of the forest and a protector of Hyrule. My life is very different now from what it once was. I used to live in the Kokiri Forest under the protection of the Great Deku Tree. The Deku Tree is the guardian of the forest. The Deku Tree that I knew is no longer living and has been replaced by another Deku Tree. Nevertheless, my memories of Kokiri Forest are fond and free. I was truly at peace there. One notable reason was my friendship with a very special Hylian named Link. At the time, I did not know he was Hylian, but he was my dearest friend just the same. We grew up in the forest together. We frolicked together. We played the ocarina together. We broke bread together. We did everything together. However, I soon learned he was different from me and my other kinfolk. I learned this when he left the forest. I knew then he had a greater purpose.

Link's destiny was to become the hero and save Hyrule, which he did. He came back years later to rescue me, and that was when I awakened as a sage. I knew from then on our lives would never be the same. The youthful days in the Sacred Forest Meadow were over. We had duties now. We had responsibilities now. Even so, it didn't diminish the fact that I had fallen in love with Link. He was my best friend, but I realized I felt something more for him the first time I saw him leave the forest. However, I knew it could never be. He was Hylian, I was a Kokiri. He was the hero, I was a sage. Our worlds were too far apart. I took solace in knowing I was able to help him in Hyrule's greatest time of need, but my heart never yearned for another like it did for him. As such, when the world was at peace, and many years passed, I was granted a rare privilege to visit the hero again from the Sacred Realm. I was given that request because the other guardians saw that I needed to make known my feelings to the hero, which I did. Needless to say, my actions did have consequences, one of which was my visit causing a rift in the seal. Because of this, I had to return to the Sacred Realm. However, that visit did give me the opportunity to be honest with the hero and tell him how I felt about him.

My initial visit came at a time when the world was at peace and Link had moved on substantially. The hero was married and had a son. His wife Malon was this beautiful redhead with a cheerful disposition. She was very kind to me when she met me, but she sensed there was something different about me, mainly due to how her husband was so guarded against me. Link's son, aptly named Sar, was very fond of me too. He was so much like his father with his adventurous nature. Sar was ten when I first met him, and he actually got very close to me during that visit. He was the spitting image of his father, but with his mother's bright red hair. He was a loving little boy. However, in the recent years, tragedy struck the family. Malon's body had gotten weak after her latest miscarriage and she died from hemorrhaging. Link and Sar were by her side until the very end. Malon passed away five years after my meeting her. I mourned her death with her family.

The following eight years, I watched Link raise his son on his own to the best of his ability. He never remarried, and Sar grew into a handsome young man. He was his father's young twin. Sar started courting a beautiful blonde girl named Caroline, and soon he asked for her hand in marriage. Caroline of course said yes, and a wedding was shortly to take place. I knew all of this because I still watched over them. I was still acting as their own personal guardian when I probably shouldn't have. Oh how I wanted to see the both of them again, but destiny was destiny.

I watched from afar as best I could, but the reality was I wanted to be there with them. I wanted one last opportunity to be there for the hero when he needed someone. I wanted to be that someone. I wanted to see his son get married. I wanted to talk to the hero one last time. Our access to each other had been cut off since I came to the Sacred Realm. Even when Link played my song, I could no longer telepathically talk to him. I was very sad about that, but I learned to cope with it. I heard him playing my song more these days, which signaled to me that perhaps he was thinking about me too. Perhaps I was in his thoughts the way he was in mine. I wished for the opportunity to see him once again, but my thoughts were fleeting and futile at best. However, what a happy occasion that would be to see Link and his son again… to see his son get married and share in his happiness.

Currently, I am in my chambers contemplating my circumstances, when suddenly, there is a knock on my door. My room was grand, as there was no place like it. It was green like jade, and glowed with a luminescence. The furniture was made of rainbow crystals, and the windows were portals to different aspects of the kingdom. Each room had its own theme for each sage: Ruto's was blue, Raru's was goldish white, Darunia's was red, Impa's was purple, and Nabooru's was yellow. The corresponding colors correlated to our powers too. I loved how beautiful the Sacred Realm was, and I relished in my duty, but I was lonely. It was a lonely life guarding the kingdom throughout the ages, and when Link passed away, it would get lonelier. I tried not to let myself get forlorn about this. So, not wanting to keep my visitor waiting, I floated across the room and went to answer the door. I appreciated the knock, but such formalities seemed trivial with the powers we all had.

"I'm coming," I reassured, then went to answer the door.

On the other side was the sage Raru. Raru was the chief sage of the Sacred Realm. He was the first to awaken as a sage and helped guide Link to free the rest of us. Second in command was Impa, due to her connections with the royal family. She was the one who allowed me to go the first time. In any such case, our seal was what was keeping Ganondorf at bay. If he escaped, it would mean darkness throughout the land again, and we would all be recaptured. My actions before nearly caused such an incident. I was not going to allow myself to be selfish again. My life was service in the Sacred Realm now, nothing more, nothing less. At seeing Raru, I bowed, giving him the respect he deserved.

"Good day to you Saria," he said.

"Good day," I replied. "What can I do for you Master Raru?"

I moved out of the way so he could enter my room. I closed the door behind him, while Raru floated over to my window. He saw that my portal was fixated on Lon Lon Ranch, per the usual. He merely grunted unsurprised.

"I see that you are watching your favorite section of the country," he bemused.

I had no rebuttal, so I didn't bother denying it.

"I just like to check up on the hero from time to time," I replied. "His son is getting married soon."

Raru nodded.

"Yes, I know. That was why I came to see you."

I was slightly taken aback at his disclosure.

"Why you came to see me?"

Raru then turned to look at me.

"I know you care for the hero Saria. It's hard for you not to, being that he was your friend when you lived in the forest."

I looked to the ground. I didn't know what he wanted me to say.

"That part of my life is over."

Raru gave me a knowing look.

"And yet you keep an eye on it conspicuously."

I had no rebuttal for that either.

"Am I supposed to just forget him forever?" I asked rhetorically. "Am I to pretend that there wasn't a history between us?"

Raru gave me a comforting stare.

"Of course not," he said, "but can you live this way and be at peace my child?"

I took in a deep sigh. Raru did have a point.

"I guess I don't hide it very well, do I?"

Raru grinned.

"No, but why should you?" he asked. "Love is hard to hide."

I felt a slight discomfiture. I was hardly expecting him to utter such a thing.

"I… I suppose that's true."

Raru then studied me.

"I don't like to see you despondent. You are a faithful sage and you do your duty well. However, it does not go unnoticed that you have been less than happy as of late."

I stared at him surprised. I didn't want him thinking I was ungrateful. To be a sage was a great honor.

"I love my duty Raru. I wouldn't change my life for anything in the world!"

Raru raised his hand to silence me. He must have wanted to quell my slight desperation. If I lost the sage-ship I would have nothing left.

"There is no need for you to be alarmed," he reassured. "I want to help you. I was speaking with Impa a few days ago, and she and I think you deserve another holiday, one that has an extended period of time."

I was stunned at hearing this news.

"An extended holiday?" I repeated in disbelief. "But what about the seal?"

Raru turned back to the window.

"It has been twenty-six years since the seal has been in place, and thirteen years since your last visit to Hyrule," he explained. "There is enough stored energy to where the seal can stay intact if one of us needed to leave the realm for a little while."

This was news to me. I had no idea.

"Are you serious?"

Raru nodded.

"Quite."

I was still skeptical.

"But for how long?" I asked.

Raru turned back around to look at me.

"For six months," he replied.

My surprise never went away.

"Six months? The seal can be intact with no disturbance for six months? That's incredible!"

"Indeed," he said. "That was why I spoke with Impa about letting you go on another holiday. I think it's important that this time around, everything that you would like to do, you should do while you are there. All that you would like to experience, you should experience in that time."

This was too good to be true. I couldn't believe my ears.

"This is all so overwhelming, but wonderful news," I said, but then added, "but what about the others? What if one of the other sages wants to go on holiday too?"

Raru was expecting the question.

"I have spoken to all the other sages. They are in agreement that they are content with their lives here, and that the person who would benefit the most from a holiday would be you."

The surprises never ceased.

"That's very kind of them, and very unselfish too. I hardly think that is fair."

Raru dismissed my concerns.

"It's fair."

I still was not convinced.

"But Master Raru-"

"We all care about you Saria," he interrupted softly, "and in light of the recent changes in the hero's life, it wouldn't be inappropriate for you to pay an old friend a visit. How could that be wrong?"

I had no answer. I couldn't believe my ears.

"I… I don't know what to say."

Raru smiled.

"Say you'll take this gift and be grateful it has been bestowed upon you."

I couldn't contain my smile. This felt surreal. I wanted to pinch myself.

"I most certainly will!" I couldn't hide my happiness. "Thank you so much!"

Raru was glad I was pleased.

"There are a few stipulations you need to be mindful of," he stated. "The first being if you need to be called back, you must come back immediately, no questions asked."

I had no issue with that.

"Of course."

The light guardian went on.

"Also, you must remember that what you do will have a lasting effect, so tread softly with your dealings with the Hylians," he warned.

I gave him an offhanded look just then.

"What do you mean?"

He was careful with his next set of words.

"Every action has a consequence Saria, just be mindful of your activities. Stay in the background as much as you can. Royalty has a way of sensing things that are not seen to the normal eye."

I understood his caution immediately.

The queen… she too is a sage…

It made me rethink my supposition.

"Do you think this is a wise course of action then?" I asked.

Raru was quiet for a moment.

"I think your happiness today is as important as your happiness was when you skipped about in the Sacred Forest Meadow."

That wasn't a direct answer, but it was very kind of him.

"I understand."

Raru crossed his arms over his chest.

"Don't let my words trouble you. Just remember that your time is short. Don't make any decisions that will exceed your time there."

Another deflection and another sobering thought. However, I realized this might be my only opportunity to see Link again. If I did not take it, I might regret it for the rest of my life.

"Yes sir."

With that, Raru smiled.

"Besides those things, I want you to enjoy yourself."

My caution was there, but the more I thought about seeing Link again, the more excited I got. This might be my only opportunity. I just had one caveat.

"Can I… can I have one request in light of all this generosity?" I asked.

Raru raised a brow, but listened to what I had to say.

"What's that?" he asked.

I bit my lower lip.

"Can I go back as a Hylian?"

Raru chuckled, and gave me a knowing look.

"Now, why would you want that?" he asked.

He knew the answer.

"Oh please!" I begged. "Going back as a Kokiri defeats the whole purpose."

The light sage chuckled again.

"I was just teasing," he said. "Of course you can go back as a Hylian. You can even use the same disguise as before."

I was ecstatic.

"Oh thank you so much!"

The light sage was pleased with my reaction, then went back to my door to exit. I followed after him.

"You are most welcome," he said. "Just remember what I told you."

I nodded.

"Of course." My excitement was getting the better of me. "This is amazing Master Raru, thank you! Even so, I don't want to seem presumptuous, but when can I go back? When can I leave?"

Raru turned to look at me.

"When would you like to go back?" he countered.

My heart skipped a beat. I couldn't believe my luck.

"Can I go now?"

Raru had no qualms.

"Do you feel you are ready now?" he asked.

I nodded without thinking.

"I am! I am so ready!"

Raru chuckled again.

"If you are sure, then close your eyes," he ordered. "But remember Saria, what you may remember of the hero may not be the man that you see when you are reacquainted. Link has been through a great deal over these last few years. Don't live in nostalgia."

My anticipation was drowning out some of his sound advice. I wanted to remember what he was saying, but my eagerness was acting as a barrier. I followed his initial command and closed my eyes. Raru then kissed my forehead before he spoke again.

"Have a wonderful time my child."

With that, he snapped his fingers and I disappeared from the Sacred Realm. I was on my way back to Hyrule. I was on my way back to the person I loved.

~SSS~

In the twinkling of an eye, Hyrule Field

I blinked several times as I opened my eyes and warm sunlight radiated off my skin. It felt surreal. I then sat up and looked around. I was sitting near the top of a hill, where trees lined the edge of a forest. I looked at my hands and saw that they were larger. This was not Kokiri at all. My legs and body too were not of a small stature. I took in a shocked breath when I ran a hand through my now waist length green hair. Afterwards, I got to my feet and hurried over to a shallow body of water nearby. I looked at my reflection stunned. I touched my face at the beautiful woman staring back at me. Somehow, this time my disguise was even more beautiful than before. My blue eyes sparkled and my features were exquisitely etched. I looked like the same Hylian from before, but my gift seemed more pronounced. I couldn't put my finger on it, but there was something to my disguise this time around that was not prominent last time. I didn't bother wondering about it because I had things to do. I had people to see. I had a hero to reconnect with.

"Incredible," I whispered anyway.

I was dressed in standard Hylian clothes, and nearby was the same horse I rode on in the past, Maxere. She neighed at me. She was a white Gerudo stallion with beige spots on her rear. She was a sight to behold. There were provisions latched on her back, along with a saddle and a pair of reins. Raru had thought of everything. I walked over to Maxere, and she lowered her head to make it easier for me to mount her. When I embarked, it was like we had never parted. I couldn't believe how quickly she took to me again. I pet her mane, then looked in the distance and saw Lon Lon Ranch not far off. Not only did Raru make this an easy transition, he made sure to place me close by to where I wanted to be the most. I stared at the ranch in the distance for a long time, before giddying Maxere and trotting down the hill.

I hope you like surprises Link… because have I got a surprise for you…

My anticipation to see the hero was at an apex. I couldn't wait to hold him in my arms again.

"I am going to make sure this time you never forget me again," I whispered to the wind, "never again."

~SSS~

Meanwhile at Lon Lon Ranch, Link

Being a rancher was hard work, but hard work I appreciated. Malon taught me that when I settled in here twenty-six years ago. I remember the day I saw her again after not seeing her for seven years. She was so beautiful, with a smile that lit up a room and red hair that radiated in the sun. Her big blue eyes gave me hope when I felt none. I first met her when I was ten. She called me 'fairy boy' and 'grasshopper'. The aforementioned didn't do much for my self-esteem, the latter I took a liking too immediately. She was sweet and beautiful, and she and I became good friends. I lost contact with her for a time, but after battling Ganondorf, sealing that monster, and bringing peace back to the kingdom, I sought her out again.

There were grand expectations of me after I defeated the King of Evil… even from the princess. I had found out she had fallen in love with me, but I was no man for the larger political arena of the kingship. I would always protect Hyrule, but to be her king… that was a destiny I was not fit for. I wandered for a few months and found myself back to Lon Lon Ranch. Malon had blossomed from that freckled face cutie into a stunning beauty. She smiled at me when she recognized I was the same kid she met all those years ago. She knew I was the hero, but she still remembered me as 'grasshopper'. I liked being 'grasshopper'. I asked if I could work on her farm since her father passed away, she agreed, and that was when I fell in love with her. Malon was a tough lady, but she was gentle and funny. I laughed more with her than anyone in those years. She reminded me, in her own way, of Saria. Saria was a girl I loved in immemorial, but I could never be with her. She was gone… gone to a fate I had no idea was in store for her.

It was only a year after I started working on the farm when I asked Malon to marry me. She was surprised, but she promptly said yes. Our wedding was small, just the way we wanted it, and our honeymoon was a week traveling the outskirts of the Gerudo Desert. We settled back to home life and soon after we were expecting a baby. I was excited as was she. Malon said she wanted a big family since she was an only child. However, after the birth of our son, it was not to be. Malon was in labor with Sar for seventeen-hours. It was a hard labor and the doctor was not sure she was going to make it. But Malon was too tough not to. She pulled through and gave birth to our son.

Sar was a blessing and a joy. I couldn't believe he looked so much like me. He really was my twin with his mother's hair. Even so, when we tried to have more children, Malon couldn't carry them. She constantly miscarried. The doctor told her, her womb was weak after the long labor with Sar. Malon was devastated, but I told her it didn't make me love her any less. However, every miscarriage broke her heart. She was depressed for weeks after each one, until finally she came to terms with having only one child and being content with that. I told her Sar was the equivalent of ten children. She was tearful, but she smiled at my words. I wanted her to know I loved her, not just the children she could give me.

As the years rolled on, and Sar was fifteen, Malon got pregnant again, but this time the pregnancy winded up costing her her life. She bled profusely from the miscarriage, and it just wouldn't stop. She was bedridden, per the doctor's orders, but even that couldn't prevent the hemorrhaging. She told me she loved me one night and that she was glad to spend her life with me, then gave Sar the biggest hug I had ever seen her give him, only for me to find her dead in her bed the next morning. Malon had bled out and the mattress was soaked. My grief was inconsolable. I cried for her like I cried for my lost childhood. I loved her so. I needed her like I needed air, and she was gone. Still, I willed myself to tell her friends and what was left of her extended family to have her funeral. I kept my grief to myself. I didn't let my son see me distraught. I still had to be strong for him. However, when I was alone at night, I wept for my beloved Malon. I hoped she realized how much I loved her.

Malon's death left a hole in me, much like having to leave Saria behind. There were women who hoped and expected me to start courting again, but I never did. I had no desire to. Both of the people I loved the most were gone from my life. I focused on my son, who winded up meeting a nice girl named Caroline. She was sweet and pretty –everything I hoped my son would get– but in this life there were no guarantees. Now, at forty-three years old, I was planning my son's wedding and hoping he, and his soon to be wife, would have the happiness that I experienced with his mother. I wasn't much for details, so I left the majority of the planning to the couple, but I told my son and his fiancé that they could use the ranch for the wedding. Fortunately, Caroline seemed to take the reins of the planning. Women had that kind of finesse. Sar didn't seem to care either. He was happy with whatever Caroline was happy with, and so was I. My son is twenty-three years old now. I think he made a good decision in the woman he chose. I wanted him to be happy, as I was happy with his mother.

Currently, I was working on the ranch, shoveling hay, tying up stalks, and making sure the land didn't become over grown with foliage, when suddenly my son comes rushing across the field looking excited. It was as if he had seen a poe. I gave him a wayward look at his approach, but I also gave him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe his excitement had merit.

"With the way you were running, you would think you saw the queen," I joked.

My son didn't seem to care.

"Close enough!" my son exclaimed. "You'll never guess who just rode up right now!"

I was intrigued by his notion.

"What are you talking about? Who's here?"

Sar could barely get the words out.

"It's like an angel just reappeared on earth," he said, "but father, Miss Aria is here! She has returned."

I stared at him taken aback. At hearing that name, my disbelief became much more apparent, because I knew 'Miss Aria' was really Saria. I almost thought I heard him wrong.

Saria is here? But why?

I stopped shoveling and gave my son my full undivided attention.

"Miss Aria?" I repeated. "Are you serious? Where is she?"

Sar could hardly contain his enthusiasm.

"She's at the front gate, and she hasn't changed a bit, not one bit."

There was a slight stirring inside me when he said that, but I had to see this for myself. I had to know that the phantom he was talking about was real. I took a couple steps forward.

"Lead me to her," I said. "We'll see how accurate you are in your assessment."

Sar had no qualms.

"Right this way!"

My anticipation was littered with restraint. Something about this was odd. Why was she coming back now? What was going on? Was there a greater threat I wasn't aware of? What was going on in the Sacred Realm to make her come back here? My mind was ablaze with questions. I just hoped the answers were justifiable.

Dear Farore, what has happened now?

Thank you for reading.