Disclaimer: I do not own any Legend of Zelda characters

Ch 7 The Whole Truth

Right before the battle with the deity

Saria was in the middle of learning her next spell, "Aghhhh, this one is impossible!"

"Don't worry Saria, I'm sure you'll get it next time." Claire reassured

"Indeed, you are making good progress," Impa praised

"If you guys say so," Saria was feeling a bit uneasy, but she had to learn this spell for Link's sake.

"Saria," Impa said in the most sincere way she had since Saria had met her. "The connection you have to Link is the only way you can make telepathy possible. Most people can't even get close after years of study, but youre on the verge of getting it down and it's only been an hour. I believe you will master this spell in a short time." She then let out a small smile.

"OK! Let's do this." Saria was encouraged now, she hadn't expected Impa to praise her like that. She then prepared to mentally cast her spell, aiming at Link. She cast her connection ping, and she finally managed to hit her mark. "I got it!" Saria shouted. But as soon as she read Link's thoughts, she grabbed Impa's arm and started dragging her to the Kakariko Forest. "Link's in peril! If we don't get there soon, he'll-" Saria couldn't finish her sentence, it hurt her too greatly.

"Then let's go, I'll ping Dampe. He might be able to help us." Impa replied as they ran towards the graveyard.

"Dampe? But I thought he was just a grave keeper, and that telepathy needed a strong connection to work" Saria was puzzled.

"Well, Dampe is a sheikah like me. We actually trained in the academy together decades ago, I beat him at nearly everything of course, but he wiped the floor with me in spellcraft." Just then the group entered the graveyard, and began battling the deity.

. .

Dampe had just cast his spell, and was twisted into nothing but blood. As the spell made contact with the deity, he was wrapped in a wall of purple flames, as a black hand appeared and dragged him down beneath the surface. Saria, seeing the fight, the spell, Dampe's death, and Link blacked out and bleeding out, was left motionless. She had a blank stare at where the deity was floating only moments ago. "B-by the goddesses," was all Saria could utter.

Impa now stood up, with a look of pure sorrow on her face. Sure the official story was that she was the last of the sheikah, but now it was true, she had lost the last true friend she had left. But there was no time for that now, she shook her head and ran over to Link. Picking up the unconscious hylian, hoisting him over her shoulder. "Come now Saria, we must get Link to the village. I'll bring him to the inn, you go to the potion shop and grab all the blue potions they have, tell them I'll pay them back with interest after Link is in the clear." Impa ordered, but Saria was still motionless. This irritated Impa, who walked up to the girl and smacked her across the face. "Damn it, move your ass! Unless you want the one you love to die and end up like me! You wanted to see the outside didn't you, well here it is!" Saria was taken aback by Impa's rant, and shook herself to her senses. She let out a quick nod and ran ahead. Impa then looked back at where Dampe once stood, "Goodbye, dear friend." Impa then ran to the inn.

. .

After Link was given the potions and had started healing, Saria thought now was the time to ask Impa about what had happened. "Impa, I have to ask, what spell did Dampe cast? Did he. Kill that thing?"

"No, he did not. That monster is on par with the goddesses themselves. If there's a way to kill it, it's out of our reach. All he could do was seal it away, and as I've told you before, something that powerful would only be sealed away for eight years. Then it'll be back, and pissed."

"So, what you're saying is we're on borrowed time."

"Correct"

"Well then, once Link wakes up, we'll need to train."

. .

Link was now fully healed, and fully informed of everything that happened after he blacked out, which he was still ashamed about. How could he have been so weak? He knew that the way he was now, he would never be able to protect Saria. He HAD to get stronger, no matter the cost. With that in mind he set off towards Impa, who was at the graveyard.

As he entered, all he could see was himself, lying beaten near to death, with the deity standing above him. Link shook the thought off and continued towards the sheikah, who was praying in front of a fresh grave, Dampe's grave. Instead of asking Impa right away, he joined her in prayer. He owed Dampe everything for saving Saria, for saving everyone, yet all he could do was pay his respects. To Link, Dampe died due to his weakness, if he was stronger Dampe would never have had to seal away the deity, never would have had to die. As Link was on the brink of falling down that vengeful rabbit hole once again, Impa tapped him on the shoulder.

"Something on your mind Link?" Impa questioned, still bowing her head at the grave.

"I want you to train me in the ways of the blade, the sheer speed you fought with was miles above my own. If you trained me then maybe I could-"

"Sorry, I'm afraid I can't" Interrupted Impa, "I've been away from the castle far too long. I must return to the princess."

"What if we tag along? Saria and I that is."

"Not my decision, you can ask the princess once she arrives if you wish. She should be here any minute now."

"Zelda is coming here? Why would she do something like that?"

"She had heard of the fight, and the condition you were in, so she begged his majesty until she was blue in the face, or so she wrote anyway."

"Back on topic, if she agrees, would you train me?" Link pleaded to Impa, trying, and failing at his best attempt of puppy dog eyes.

"There's not much I can teach, you're very skilled yourself, but if you insist. Although most of your training will be with spellwork. I see your magic skill is rather pitiful for being The Hero of Time."

"Gee, thanks." Link was appreciative of the training he'd receive, but did she really need to say that last part?

"Come now Impa, must you really be so cruel? He did save the world once you know." A voice came out of nowhere. Link looked up to see Zelda, along with a whole battalion of guards.

'Talk about overkill' Link thought, Zelda may be a princess but she was far from helpless, she was the Sage of Time after all, on top of that she has been training with Impa since she was old enough to understand the magic tomes Impa had thrusted upon her. "Hey Zelda, I have a question." Link began

"You want to come and train at the castle, I heard. And you and Saria are welcome to come along, I have been wanting to meet the forest sage myself anyway, two birds one stone." Zelda then let out a quick wink at Link, "Where is Saria anyway?"

"She's back at the inn, she was rather worn out after the fight." Link replied

"Of course she was worn out" Impa butted in "She was at your side the entire time you were napping. She was rather worried about you." She then let out a sly smirk "Better catch her before she comes to her senses boy."

"Oh give me a break, I'm way faster than her. Of course I can catch her." Link said full of himself. As Impa burst out in laughter. "W-what's so funny?"

"Apologies Link, I forgot you were just a boy. You'll find out what I mean once you're older." Impa said in between her chuckles. She then looked towards Zelda, "Shall we go collect our sage and set for the castle my lady?"

"We shall, but I've told you time and time again Impa, you don't need to be so formal with me." Zelda seems slightly annoyed at her bodyguard. But she shrugged it off rather easily. "I do wish to be within the walls before nightfall. I'd rather avoid my father's wrath."

"A wise decision. Let us set out then, Link go fetch Saria as we prepare."

"Understood" Link then ran out of the graveyard, and straight to the inn. He went straight up the stairs and knocked on Saria's door. "Saria, you awake?" no answer. He knockes again "Saria?" nothing again. He opened the door to see Saria asleep in her bed, and Claire above her, in a makeshift bed of pillow fluff and a sheet of cloth. Link then walked up to the sleeping girl, and his heart started racing, but why? It was just Saria, his best friend. He loved her, just like he loved the deku tree. But as he thought that he knew that wasn't quite right. But what else could love be? Impa's words then formed in his head, 'You'll find out what I mean once you're older'. 'Yeah whatever' Link thought, he then shook Saria gently, "Saria wake up, we have to go." Saria let out a slight grunt, and rolled back over. "Come on Saria get up, and you call me lazy." Link mocked, although this comment woke the sleeping girl.

"That's because you sleep in everyday, you are lazy." Saria groaned

"Whatever, anyway you need to get up. We're heading to the castle." There was then a moment of silence between the two. As Saria stared at Link with sleep filled eyes, slowly processing what he said. She then shot up, knocking over the sleeping fairy above her.

"What?! The castle? We finally get to go?" Saria shouted enthusiastically.

"Stop shouting Saria, gosh and I was having the best dream" Claire groaned, as she came out from the bed that was flipped on top of her.
"There's no time for dreams Claire, we're heading for the castle!" Saria was the most excited Link had ever seen her, even more than when she first left the forest. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Saria then rushed out of the room, running down to Impa and Zelda, who were now outside the inn.

"You must be Saria, the forest sage. I am princess Zelda, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." Saria was awestruck. Zelda, the princess of hyrule, was greeting her, and actually wanted to meet her.

"T-the pleasure is all mine miss, I'm Saria." Why did she say her name? She already knew it! Saria was embarrassed by her shyness towards the princess.

Zelda then let out a quick chuckle, "Don't be so formal Saria, we worked together in another time, so we're pretty much friends." She let out a small smile, as Link and Claire came out of the inn. "Now that everyone is here, let's embark towards the castle."

"Yes! Let's!" Saria shouted, excited to see the castle.

Zelda then looked towards her escort, "Well you heard her, let's go."

Everyone then set off towards Hyrule Castle, leaving the village behind.

. .

As Saria crossed the lowered drawbridge, she was in complete awe at how it worked. They had nothing like it back in Kokiri Forest. It was so simple, yet so defensive! She then entered the market, stunned by the rush of people. She had never even thought that many people could ever be in one place at one time. She ran over to the fountain in the middle of the market, pulling Link along with her. She gazed around at all the buildings, and her eyes landed on the Bombchu Bowling Alley. "Link! Come on, let's go there!"

Link smiled at his friend, "Sure, why not" he agreed, although he didn't really think it was his choice, but he wanted to see his friend have fun anyway.

"We'll meet you guys back at the castle! Link and I are going sightseeing!" Saria waved at Impa and Zelda, then rushing off to the bowling alley, once again pulling Link along.

The two then enjoyed their time at all the local stops, Saria got a perfect score at the Bombchu Bowling Alley first try, much to Link's amazement, and Link of course showed off his skills with the bow, getting a perfect score at the shooting gallery. Saria blushed when he gave her the prize, a purple rupee. Although she didn't care about it's monetary value, which was quite a bit, she loved the thought that it was from Link. She didn't quite know why though, she loved him, and the Great Deku Tree, but Link was different somehow, but now was not the time to think about that. They were having fun running around Castle Town.

They then came to a red haired man, wrapped in tight green clothes, "Sell me something with C!"

"But what's C?" Saria questioned

"Don't encourage him" Link replied

"Please. The contents of a bottle." The man continued

"A bottle huh?" Link then got a devilish look on his face and pulled out a bottle. "Here you go good sir" Link then dumped the bottle in the man's hands. The contents being three blue bugs that were now crawling all over the man.

"SPIDERS! SPIDERS!" the man shouted, waving his arms around above his head as if he had gone mad, and ran down the street.

Link and Saria then burst out in laughter, as the man screamed about spiders all across town. They then made there way towards the castle.

As they came to the gate, blocking the way to the castle, Saria spoke to the guard, "Hi, I'm Saria, Zelda is expecting us."

"Ah yes, the forest sage. Go on ahead." The guard then tapped his spear on the ground, and the gate opened.

'Last time I had permission, and I STILL needed to sneak in' thing groaned in thought.

As they approached the castle, Saria was in a state of amazement. It was so big, so elegant. Although the forest temple was rather large, it wasn't even a competition. As she gazed around, Impa came out to them. "This way, your quarters are up ahead."

"Our quarters? You mean we can sleep here?" Link asked

"Of course, how else would you train everyday?" Impa had a puzzled look on her face

"Everyday?" Link had a pit in his stomach, but it was for Saria, so he had to face it.

"What about me?" Saria asked

"You'll be training with me from now on" Zelda entered the courtyard. "Impa taught you basic spells, and how to control your spells, I'll teach you how to pour more strength into them. We have rather similar strengths when it comes to spells so it only makes sense."

Saria's jaw dropped, she only met the princess today, and now she'd be learning from her. "Thank you princess, it will be my honor"

Zelda let out a quick scowl "I said don't be formal Saria. I rather despise it, just call me Zelda."

"R-right, sorry…Zelda." Saria blushed saying her name.

"Right" Impa interrupted "Let us all get some rest, training starts bright and early." "Right" Link agreed, he had to get stronger, for Saria's sake.

As the group entered the castle, Impa showed Link and Saria their rooms, and sent them off to bed. Tomorrow would mark the start of their great training.

. .

Link was awoken by a sheikah pounding on his door, "Wake up boy, you have five minutes to be out here or I'll sling deku nuts at your shins for the next hour!"

Link then quickly strapped on his pants and boots, barely getting his shirt on and grabbed his hat before he rushed out the door, with two seconds left. "Cutting it close aren't we?" Impa mocked

"I'm just not used to this yet, give me a few days" Link replied

The two set out to the field just in front of the castle, where all the guards were patrolling. Then Impa stopped, and turned towards Link, "This should be a nice open spot. Today we shall start your training." She then drew her greatsword "Don't expect me to go easy on you, you'll learn nothing if I do."

"Nor should you," Link replied. He had to get stronger, he had to protect Saria.

Author's Note: I'm not gonna lie, I had a bit of fun writing this one. The idea about the merchant came from Forest Girl Karen, so I again recommend you go view her work if you have not done so. But other than that, thanks for reading! Be sure to review!