Disclaimer: I do not own any Zelda characters or ideas
Author's Note: Hello all! I just want to take a moment and give a little shoutout to Forest Girl Karen. She has made plenty of amazing stories, which are what inspired me to start writing in the first place. On top of that she shared her thoughts on some of the ideas I brought up to her and gave her honest opinion. If you haven't done so already, I strongly recommend viewing her stories as well.
Ch 5 The Forest Sage Unchained
Link was practicing his swordsmanship in front of the entrance to the Lost Woods, trying out new combos, different flips, and attempting to get better at dual wielding his Great Fairy Sword and Gilded Sword. Due to the great fairy sword being substantially longer than the gilded, it made it awkward, but Link was determined, he often found out that there were plenty of times in his adventures that a shield was next to worthless, and if he had a second blade it would definitely turn the tables. Just as he was going for another jumping spin attack, Claire came rushing up behind the Hylian, crashing into his back, making drop his swords. "Claire? Geez slow down a little would ya?" Link mocked the fairy, but as soon as he saw the look on her face, his heart sank. Only one thing would ever make the fairy have an expression like that, Saria was in peril, and he knew he didn't have much time. "Lead the way, quickly." Link rushed the fairy. Who only responded with a nod.
As the two ran through the woods towards the Sacred Forest Meadow, outside the Forest Temple, Link noticed something was off. The fog that was high in the trees, and on the outskirts of the Lost Woods that kept out intruders, was getting lower, and at an alarming rate. If that kept up anyone who even entered the safer parts of the Lost Woods would almost immediately become a Stalfos, an undead skeleton night that attacks anything nearby. On top of that the trees were growing darker, almost lifeless, similar to how the Great Deku Tree looked after his death, but what could be causing such a catastrophe? Link didn't want to know the answer, although he had a pretty good idea.
As they entered the Sacred Forest Meadow, Link heard the faint sound of a wolfos howling to his pack, sounding aggressive, as if he was preparing for a hunt. "That can't be a good sign, '' Link thought aloud. Although it seemed to fall on deaf ears, as Claire had no reaction, completely lost in her thoughts. 'If she is this worried…..' Link broke off the thought, not wanting to think anymore about it.
As Link and Claire reached the entrance to the Forest Temple, Link's heart stood still. Saria, his best friend, the one his heart belonged to, the one he loved, was lying motionless on the grass. "Saria!" Link screamed, running to the side of the kokiri, not knowing what to do.
"Sh-She drank this potion…" Claire began
"What potion? What was in it?" Link demanded
"Some hair, Deku baba venom, and wolfos blood." Claire said weakly
"What the fuck kind of potion were you making Claire?" Link complained, propping Saria's head on his lap. "Link" Claire began "you know I will do everything I can to-"
"I'm pretty sure you've done enough!" Link cut the fairy off, "I need to take her to get some healing. Maybe one of the Great Fairies can help."
"Don't be crazy Link! There are no Great Fairies in the Lost Woods. The quickest one you could get to is outside Hyrule Castle, but she'd die before you get anywhere close!" Claire pleaded to Link, since kokiri die if they leave the forest.
"And if I do nothing she's going to die anyway!" Link argued, but as he finished his sentence a pack of wolfos entered the clearing. "Great, perfect timing." Link complained, reaching for his swords, but they weren't there. "Today just gets better and better" Link groaned, thinking of a plan.
"Link, I'll Z-target them for you! Just give them hell!" Claire declared
Link. not needing to be told twice, prepared a spell, although he was mainly a swordsman, during his adventures he learned a trick or two. Link then thrust his arm forward, "Din's Vengeance!" As Link uttered his spell, a whirlwind of fire engulfed the clearing, wiping out all of the wolfos, minus the alpha.
"Damnit!" Link fell to his knees, using most of his magic during his training, and the rest of it in that attack. The lone wolfos eyed up Link, knowing he was now defenseless. It then jumped towards the hylian, coming in for the kill.
"Wrath of the Forest Sage!" The wolfos was then suspended in the air, as if it was on a rope, "May the goddesses forgive your sins" as Saria clenched her fist, the wolfos imploded into a red paste.
"Saria! You're okay!" Link said enthusiastically "Why did you drink a potion with such toxic ingredients? You should know better." as Link was saying this, he noticed something was off about Saria, although he couldn't place his finger on it.
"Link, I love you." Saria then wrapped herself around Link, in an embrace that he would never wish to break.
"I love you too, my Saria." Link then returned the embrace. But as he held his friend, he knew something had changed, "Saria, what did you do?"
"Well Link, I meant this as a surprise but, I ended my life as a Kokiri." Saria said nonchalantly, awaiting Link's response.
Link just stared at Saria, not quite understanding what she's saying, "I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you right, you did what?" he said, slightly pushing his friend off him.
"I am no longer a kokiri!" Saria exclaimed "You see I took this potion, because everyday you're gone outside the forest it kills me. I just wanted to be able to go on adventures with you, see the world, not be stuck in this forest for my entire life."
"So, if you're not a kokiri, what are you?" Link questioned, although all he got from Saria was a shrug. "What do you mean you don't know?"
"I didn't read that far ahead," Saria muttered, embarrassed by her negligence. Hearing this, Link face palmed at his friend.
"Honestly" Claire interjected, "Didn't either of you listen to the Great Deku Tree's stories?"
"No, we always snuck out" Link said bluntly
"Link! Shush! That was a secret!" Saria panicked, waving her arms around.
"Kids these days" the fairy muttered, "Anyway, Kokiri are by all rights Hylians. The only difference being they were born from the forest by The Great Deku Tree's command. This of course provides them with eternal youth, and the protection of the forest, while also branding them with the curse of the Kokiri, keeping them locked in the forest at penalty of death should they leave."
"That does explain why Link looked the same as any other kokiri while being a hylian" Saria thought aloud.
"All that aside, Saria I have to ask, how do you plan to tell everyone?" Link asked. Saria looked up at the sky, the sun was about to set. She let out a sincere smile, I don't know yet, but I know they'll understand. They saw how I was without you, even Mido wanted you to come back after he saw how I felt." Saria snickered at the comment, and Link let out a light chuckle. "But I think I'll wait to tell them until the morning, no point keeping them up at night over it."
"All right" Link stood up, offering his hand to his friend, "Then shall we go back?"
"We shall" Saria took Link's hand as she got up "We should probably hurry, without your swords we'll be in trouble if something comes at us"
"Good idea" Link agreed, as the two started lightly jogging back home, with Claire flying behind them.
As the group entered the small village, Link found where he dropped his swords, and threw them on his back. Saria then looked at him and let out a slight smile, "Well goodnight Link, I'll see you in the morning."
"Yeah, goodnight Saria, goodnight Claire" Link replied, then set off for his house. He climbed the ladder and walked though his doorway, placing his swords against his headrest. As he plopped on his bed, he heard the faint sound of someone calling to him. As he searched for the source, he noticed it was coming from his kokiri bag. Grimacing, knowing who it was, Link reached in and pulled out the Fierce Deity mask. "What do you want?" Link aggressively asked.
"You know what I want, child, put me on and have all the power you need to protect Saria. I saw your dreams, I know something dark is approaching her."
"I can protect her myself"
"Like how you 'protected' her in the future timeline? Do you really want to damn her to such a terrible fate?" The mask pressured
"And what would you have me do?" Link snapped, "Put you on, lose all control? I know you were taking it easy the first time when I fought Majora. You wanted me to think you're the good guy who just wants to help, but I felt you setting your twisted roots in me. You're not having my body, as soon as I find a way to kill you, you're finished."
"Is that the way you thank those who help you?"
Link, not wanting to listen anymore threw the mask back in his bag, 'Maybe if Saria and I look in the library at the temple, just maybe I can be rid of that abomination once and for all.' Link thought. Link then drifted to sleep, not wanting to think of it any longer.
. .
As Link arose the next day, he was surprised to see Saria had already gathered all the kokiri. Link quickly put on his boots, tunic, and so on so he could be there for Saria as she made her announcement.
Link approached Saria, who gave him a smug look "You're late" she uttered "Hero of Time, who traveled to the future and back to save the world, late. The joke writes itself" She laughed
"Yeah yeah" Link sighed, "Let's just get this over with."
"Sounds good" Saria then turned toward the kokiri, and explained everything. How she couldn't stand being locked in the forest anymore, how she wanted to see the world, how she wanted to grow up, and how she wanted to do it all with Link.
As she finished, Fado spoke up, "So when will you go? And where?"
"I'm not-"
"Today. To Kakariko Village" Link interrupted. "There's someone there I want her to meet, she should be able to help teach Saria how to use her magic properly."
Saria was a little shocked to hear they were leaving today, but she was excited nonetheless. "That's right we're leaving today. I actually have to pack some provisions so if you all will excuse me." Saria then rushed to her house.
The crowd turned to Link, as one of the Know it all Brothers spoke, "Wil you guys still visit?"
"Of course, Saria still loves the forest and you all after all. She'd never abandon this place." Link replied. Knowing this the kokiri let out a sigh of relief and they all started to continue their day, except Mido. Mido then walked up to Link, and out his arm on his shoulder.
"You better keep her safe out there." Mido growled
"With my life" Link replied
"You better" Mido then began to walk away, but turned after a few steps "But I don't want you dyin out there either you hear?" Mido then continued walking away.
Link let out a slight chuckle to himself, 'I guess he does care' he thought. Link then looked up and saw Saria emerge from her house, as she darted towards him.
"Ready to go?" Saria asked excitedly
"Yeah, lets go" Link replied "Pack enough?"
"Yep!" Saria patted her own kokiri bag "Got it all in here"
"She literally packed all the food she had" Claire spoke from atop Saria's shoulder
"You never know!" Saria anxiously said "What if we run out?"
"We can always buy some at Kakariko, or hunt." Link answered "But either way let's go before it gets too late. I don't want to have to fight any stalkids today, and it takes about eight hours to get there on foot."
"Why don't we take Epona?" Saria asked
"We will next time, but since it's your first time leaving the forest I want you to have to walk and enjoy the scenery like I did." Link then smirked at Saria, whose eyes lit up thinking of the outside world.
"Well then, what are we waiting for?" Saria quickly snatched Link's hand as she rushed him towards the rope bridge. She then stopped and looked around. "This is where we said goodbye when you first left, and I gave you your ocarina." Saria said, remembering the scene.
"Yeah, I remember. A lot has changed since then." Link replied, also thinking of the past.
"Definitely." Saria started pulling on Link's arm again, "And I am extremely thankful for it." Saria let out a heartfelt smile as she gazed at Link. "Now then, here we go" Saria and Link then walked out of the forest, arm in arm, together.
Author's Note: Thank you all for reading! Be sure to leave your thoughts in the reviews and let me know what you like and don't like! This is my first time writing so I want to hear what all you have to say! :)