And now for the final chapter to the Saria arc, the group have defeated the Poe Sisters, and now it's time to confront Straw Kid, and Saria herself must confront what she truly wants to do...
Upon the victory over the Poe Sisters (and Phanny), the five heroes all came back into the center room of the Forest Temple where they had been taken from, and were all delighted to see each other again.
"Link!" Saria shouted, running at him and the others.
"Everyone, I'm glad you're all safe!" Link shouted with relief.
The five of them joined in a large group hug, Aviel in particular using her wings to hug Link and Saria. The Kokiri girl took great comfort in the hug, being with the four of them was a great feeling, especially from Link himself after what she had just gone through with Meg.
The group soon separated from the hug and discussed what they had experienced, aside from Saria who kept the details of her plight to a minimum as she didn't want to mention to them what she really went through.
"Wooow..." Aviel said with sparkling eyes, looking at the Fairy Bow now on Link's back, "What a great bow! I've never seen craftsmanship like this, the string alone looks like it could last thousands of years!"
"Yeah, when this is all over I'd like to try it out at the archery grounds back in Gerudo Town." Link said, "Maybe we can have a little competition?"
"I'd like that." grinned Aviel with a very light blush.
Saria smiled lightly seeing how well Link and Aviel got along together. She recalled how Link would tell her stories about the girl since he first moved to Gerudo Town, and it seemed the two had a truly close bond...
"Well I guess with this, all the Poes are gone." Kesuta said smugly, "Shouldn't be long before that dark power creating those plant monsters goes away."
"Yes... and that leaves one more little monster to crush to a pulp..." Korume said chuckling
It was then that the ground behind them shifted, as the center of the Forest Temple's main room started lowering, revealing it to be an elevator. The platform lowered down into a small hallway with some large cracks in the walls, where they saw at the end a familiar looking creature, holding Faete in his arm.
"Eeeheheheh... so the Poe Sisters are gone... what a pity." Straw Kid laughed, "I guess it's only a matter of time before the Deku Babas and Scrubs weaken and go away... Well no matter, everything has been going as planned, I just need one more thing..."
"Saria, Link!" shouted Faete, "Please get out of here, this guy is dangerous!"
Link and Saria instead stepped up, with Link unsheathing his sword and Saria wielding her Deku Staff, while Aviel aimed her crossbow and the mystic twins held out their elemental weapons.
"Yeah which is why we're here to take you back from him!" Link affirmed to Faete.
"Faete just hang on, we'll all save you!" Saria nodded.
"Release the fairy or you're getting an arrow through your head, you jerk!" Aviel shouted to Straw Kid.
"When I get my hands on him, I'm going to slowly and painfully rip out all of his stuffing.." Korume said coldly, holding her spear.
"Then I'll fry his remains to a crisp!" Kesuta said angerly, snapping her fire whip.
"Eeeheheheh! Don't even think about it!" Straw Kid said as he held his scythe's blade up to Faete, "Try anything and I'll turn this little one into fairy dust!"
The group paused, unsure of what to do in that moment. They didn't know what level of power this Straw Kid could use, and couldn't risk getting Faete hurt.
"Now little Kokiri, come along so we can negotiate terms with releasing your friend." Straw Kid said to Saria as he floated backwards, towards a big doorway at the end of the hall.
"Faete!" shouted Saria in a panic, rushing after Straw Kid and through the door.
"Saria wait, it might be a trap!" Link shouted, as he started following after Saria.
Before Aviel, Kesuta and Korume could start to follow the two, some strange straw-like tendrils like the ones that snatched them earlier crept out from the cracks in the walls and snared the three of them.
"Ugh, damnit!" Kesuta said in frustration, wiggling around.
The fire mystic's eyes grow a bright red and her body ignited with intense flames, which burned away the straw covering her. She then ran over and grabbed Korume's hand, the two concentrated and fused together, transforming into their other form of Dualsera, her increased strength and magic allowing her to escape from the straw tendrils easily. She quickly burned and froze away the straw strangling Aviel, and the two of them flew at the door to follow Link and Saria. However the door slammed shut just before Aviel crashed into it, and she fell to the ground. Dualsera landed down to help her up, and two stared helplessly at the door their two friends went into.
"Damnit... the door seems locked." Duelsera scowled. She walked over, ignited her leg with fire and swung at the door, but she couldn't so much as dent it, "It's tough too, I don't think we're going to be able to just force it open..."
"Link, Saria... good luck..." Aviel whispered with worry.
Link and Saria meanwhile ran into the final room of the Forest Temple, a place surrounded with ominous looking portraits. Link recalled this being the room where he once fought Phantom Ganon in the dark future, but in the center of the room instead was Straw Kid holding Faete. Link quickly pulled out his Fairy Bow and aimed an arrow at Straw Kid, holding it in place as he waited for an opening.
Unfortunately Straw Kid seemed pretty sharp, for something without normal eyes, his gaze was not wavering, and Link knew if he tried to fire an arrow it could risk in Faete getting hurt. He just had to wait for an opportunity when Straw Kid let down his guard...
"Please, I'm begging you, release Faete!" Saria shouted stepping up.
"Eeeheheheh...if you want her free so much, then submit to me!" Straw Kid cackled.
"Don't do it Saria, please leave and don't worry about me!"" Faete pleaded.
Saria heard Faete's words echo in her mind, recalling herself trying to tell Link and his friends the same things a little while ago back when they were in the Lost Woods and she was hiding from Straw Kid and the Poes. She lowered her head and gripped her staff, realizing to herself how Link felt when she tried to tell him the same thing to keep him away from the danger, but despite that he still came without hesitation, she knew what she had to do.
"No... I'm not going anywhere!" shouted Saria looking up, "I'm going to save you Faete!"
"Saria..." Faete whispered.
Link meanwhile glanced down at Saria and smiled warmly, then turned his head to Straw Kid, narrowing his eyes, "Neither of us are going anywhere. Now just what is it you want from Saria?!"
"Eeeheheheh..." laughed Straw Kid coldly, "Tell me something mister, are you aware of what happens to Kokiri who get lost in the forest...?"
Link paused with a sense of unease, "I've heard those that become lost get turned into Skull Kids..."
"Correct." snickered Straw Kid, "And it's completely true, I know that first hand."
"Huh...?"
"When a Kokiri loses their way in the Lost Woods, their minds eventually grow hazy, their bodies dry out, and they turn into Skull Kids like myself. They also typically lose the memories of their past, and become little more then naive foolish pranksters..." Straw Kid explained.
Link paused at that information, his thoughts wandered to his friend Skull Kid, and just what life he lived before they met...
However Straw Kid continued, his voice growing angrier as he did, "...but for me, that never happened. My body transformed into a Skull Kid, but my memories remained intact. I remembered being a Kokiri just like the girl there, but when I tried to go back to the village to return to my old life, they all forced me out!"
Straw Kid then started speaking in a taunting and nagging voice, "No Skull Kids in our village! Get out of here you straw creep! You don't belong here you little straw kid! Straw kid! Straw kiiid!"
He then went back to his normal voice, not colder and more menacing then before, "They had forgotten me and treated me as utter garbage! I was so devastated my memories finally did start to haze, and I had forgotten my own name, so I started calling myself just what they called me, Straw Kid!"
"That's terrible..." Saria whispered, hearing about how his memories hazed bothered her on a more personal level then she could have thought, and what effect that could have on her memories of Link if she ever became lost...
"I don't know how long ago that was, but I'm certain the Kokiri I know wouldn't do something like that!" Saria then stated.
"Feh, you guys are all the same, you treat me badly because I'm different, but that won't happen any more! " Straw Kid's body shook and his head twitched, "I've learned an ancient occult ritual from my Poe friends that will allow me to transfer my soul into the body of another, and you my dear are the perfect host for my soul!"
Saria stepped back a bit, shocked at Straw Kid's plan, as she huddled next to Link closely.
"What?!" exclaimed Link, "That's what this is all about, you want to take over Saria's body as your own?!"
"Eeeheheheh... yes..." Straw Kid chuckled, "She's perfect for the role, she was already well loved by the Kokiri folk, and thanks to her hard work protecting the village from the monsters the Poe sisters sent out into the village, she's become a well acclaimed hero. When I take her body for myself, I'll be that hero! The kids who would have made fun of me will instead praise me like a god!"
"You're kidding me, that's why the monsters have been attacking the village?!" Link exclaimed.
"You... you're a monster, attacking the Kokiri so you can be a hero to them?!" Saria shouted angerly, forgetting all about any sympathy she had for Straw Kid a second ago, "We're going to stop you and leave with Faete!"
"Eeeheheheh... you call me a monster...?" Straw Kid asked as he lowered his head, his hat covering his features, as his body started to convulse and shake. Link and Saria stood in horror as they watched his body transform. His upper torso started to hunch over and grow in size, while his lower torso started to spread out into a pile of tendril-like straw that wiggled behind him. His arms stretched out incredibly long and bent at the elbows, growing incredibly long and raveled in straw, with the hands stretching out with huge hands with long pointy claws, and were used to hold up the upper part of the creature's body. His neck stretched out and became disjointed and crooked, and his jaw started to stretch out downwards, his stitched mouth opening up vertically wide. His eyes were cloaked in the darkness under his hat, but gleamed with an eerie glow. Finally, out from his back burst six new wriggling limbs with scythes attached to the ends of each one, and the creature let out a terrifying screech.
"EEEHEHEHEH! NOW YOU SEE WHAT A MONSTER I AM?" shouted the creature, the forgotten child of living straw, now known as Scare Kid. It then took Faete and inserted her into it's chest, it's straw body wrapping her tightly inside it.
"Oh man..." Link said, he swapped his bow and arrow for his sword and shield, "Saria, stay back and let me handle this thing."
"No Link, I need to do this for Faete... for you... and myself...!" Saria stated, standing by Link's side and gripping her Deku Staff, "We'll fight him together!"
Link stared down at Saria, seeing the determination in her eyes, she was far stronger now then he could had ever imagined.
The Hylian then nodded and smiled, "Okay Saria, let's do this!"
"Right Link!"
The two stood ready to battle as Scare Kid screeched out, slamming the floor with it's giant arms, as the scythes on it's back swung around in the air wildly.
Link sprinted into battle and clashing at Scare Kid with his sword, striking it's arm. Scare Kid tried to counter by swiping at Link, but he leaped into the air and swung his sword at Scare Kid's face, but the creature smacked Link away with it's other arm. Saria ran in with her staff, leaping up and swinging it, releasing Deku seeds and blasting the creature with them before she landed to the ground.
"Woah, the girls were right, that staff really is strong!" Link exclaimed.
"Yes, with this I can protect everyone," Saria smiled, "Now let's save Faete!"
The two charged at Scare Kid from opposite sides, who swiped it's large arms at them from the sides. Link rolled out of the way towards Scare Kid and smacked it with his sword while Saria grew out spiked nut boas from the staff and smacked Scare Kid across the face with it.
Scare Kid screeched and slammed its arms down, knocking them both away to the ground. The creature then started swinging around the scythes on it's back, sending blades down at the two heroes. Link blocked as much as he could with his shield while Saria spun her staff to deflect the blade attacks.
Link looked to Saria and was in awe of just how strong Saria had become over time. He felt honored to be able to fight along side her. The two then ran back into battle, Scare Kid slammed its hand down to crush Link, but he instead leaped onto it and hacked at it's arm. The monster then swung it's arm into the air to send Link flying, but he retaliated by pulling out his Fairy Bow and firing arrows down at Scare Kid.
Saria took that chance to duck down under one of Scare Kid's lanky arms and run at its chest, smacking it around with her staff to try and free Faete, but it instead lunged down and grabbed Saria, holding her up.
"Grrk!" Saria cringed as she struggled to break free. Link landed down and fired off arrows at Scare Kid's arm to try and weaken it's grip, but the monster instead swung it's arm out and smashed Saria into a wall, causing her to scream out in pain. Scare Kid then tossed Saria through the air and fired off a barrage of blades from its scythes at the girl to slash at her defenselessly in midair, as she fell to the ground at a distance.
"Saria!" Link shouted, running up to her. He checked her over and was relieved to see she was still alive, but hurt. He clenched his fist as his eyes narrowed coldly, before turning to see Scare Kid slowly coming up to them.
"Eeeheheheh... soon her body will be mine to control..." Scare Kid cackled, its arms slowly moving him up to the two to finish them off, "I'll be accepted into the Kokiri Village... and I'll be loved by everyone!"
"You bastard... Saria works hard to protect everyone she cares about..." Link muttered, he slowly turned around to confront Scare Kid, his head lowered. "You want to take her life, steal her body, take credit for her hard work... and you think I'll allow you to do that...?"
It was then that Scare Kid felt a strange sensation coming from the Hylian, it unnerved even a powerful monster such as it, "What... what is this...? This power..."
"You hurt my best friend... and for that..." Link muttered, then rose up his head, his eyes a piercing angry white, "I'LL TEAR YOUR BODY TO PIECES!" he shouted in fury.
"W-What?!" Scare Kid stammered, backing up slowly.
"L-Link...?" Saria whispered, slowly opening her eyes and looking up her friend. Her eyes widened when she saw the look he had, and her mind went back to the strange dream she had recently...
A dream where Link stood in the middle of some kind of battlefield, with numerous people lying on the ground, and his sword was stained in blood. He slowly turned his head back with piercing angry white eyes.
"What's... happening to you...?" Saria asked worriedly snapping back to reality, she took a breath and forced herself up, desperate to get through to him, she shouted out a loud, "LINK!"
Upon hearing Saria's voice, Link paused in his tracks. He closed his piercing white eyes tightly for a few seconds, and then reopened them, his eyes now back to the gentle blue they were before, he gripped his head in pain while Saria ran up to his side.
"What the hell...?" Link muttered.
"Are you okay Link?" Saria asked, putting her hand on his arm.
"Yeah, I think so... sorry about that Saria." Link said smiling lightly.
Saria was thankful to see Link was back to normal, but couldn't help but still be concerned for him after what she had just saw...
"Just what was that...?" Scare Kid muttered, still shaken by the Hylian's odd aura. Upon seeing its opponent was back to the way he was originally however, the monster felt a little less bothered by it, then slammed its hand down, "No matter, I'll crush you both!"
Link ran in to attack Scare Kid; he got a few slashes in while evading its attacks, but then the creature rose up its arm and impacted it down on Link, attempting to crush the Hylian under its hand. Saria ran in and smacked Scare Kid's arm with the spiked nut boas on her staff, causing the creature to flinch, which gave Link a chance to get up, and he and Saria took that chance to run in and smack it around its face with their sword and staff.
Scare Kid screeched out in pain, as it's arms started to convulse, and the elbow and wrist joints of the arms opened up, exposing four purple eye-like objects on them.
"Those look like targets if I've ever seen them." Link grinned, "Cover me Saria."
"Got it." Saria nodded with a smile. She went in and fired off barrages of deku seeds at Scare Kid, who tried its best to block them off, while Link brought up his Fairy Bow and aimed an arrow. As Scare Kid tried to raise its arm up to crush Saria, Link fired an arrow at the elbow of the arm, impacting into the sphere and causing it to explode with purple energy escaping the wound.
Scare Kid screeched as it's arm started to twitch around, the destroyed sphere seemingly weakening it's arm. Saria then swung her spiked boa staff at Scare Kid again to distract him, while Link fired another arrow at one of it's wrists, making another sphere explode and release more purple energy.
This tactic continued two more times until all four of the spheres were destroyed, causing Scare Kid to screech out in pain as it tried to move forward, determined to kill Link and Saria, but with all it's limbs weakened, the creature collapsed to the ground writhing. Link and Saria nodded to each other and charged in, Link slashing at it with his sword while Saria bashed at the creature with her staff rapidly. The scythes on Scare Kid's back all rose up and tried to cut them both down, but Link then delivered one final swing on its head, dealing a mortal blow.
Scare Kid rose up and screamed out horrifically in pain, it's scythe appendages limping backwards as it flailed it's broken limbs around recklessly, before the creature eventually collapsed to the ground. Scare Kid's body started to break apart, and in it's last moment it weakly looked up into the air.
"So... this is it then..." Scare Kid hissed, it glanced up to see the purple energy that left his body fly up and vanish, as very faint tears started to form from its eyes, "Eeeheheheh... thank you so much for your help, Meg, Beth, everyone... I'll be joining you soon in the world of spirits... my true friends..."
And with that, the forgotten child Straw Kid fell apart into dark flames, until there wasn't a trace of him left. From where the monster once was, the two heroes then saw Saria's fairy friend Faete laying on the ground in a daze, free from her entrapment.
"Faete!" Saria exclaimed, running up to the fairy and scooping her up.
"We did it." sighed Link, spinning his sword in his hand and sheathing it.
"Saria... you saved me..." Faete said weakly, she took a look over to Link, "You both saved me..."
"Of course we did. It's because the two of us fought together!" Saria said smiling, holding Faete close to her. Saria then quickly turned and went over to hugging her best friend around his waist, as he knelt down to hug her back, "Thank you Link..." she said softly..
"Hey, anything for my best friend." Link said, sporting a goofy grin.
After reuniting with Aviel, Kesuta and Korume; the group soon left the Forest Temple. Upon walking outside, Aviel helped Saria down to the ground from the temple's entrance with her wings, allowing the forest girl to take a deep breath of the gentle forest air, filling her with relief, and she smiled brightly.
"Everything feels so peaceful now!" Saria said.
"With the Poe sisters gone, it looks as if their evil power has vanished from the forest." Korume said.
"Looks like the fog is gone too!" Aviel said, wearing her goggles to get a look at the Lost Woods in the distance.
"Great, now things should be back to normal then." Link nodded.
"Hey friends!" piped up a voice.
The six of them were then treated to the sight of Skull Kid giggling as he was running around the Sacred forest Meadow, kicking around the head of a dead Deku Baba like a ball as Tatl and Tael were following around after him.
"Beating up these guys was fun! Wanna join us in a kickaround, everyone?" Skull Kid asked.
"Hey, quit hogging the ball!" Tatl exclaimed to her friend.
"At least as normal as a place like this can be." Kesuta said sweatdropping.
"Kukuku... he's so cute." Korume giggled.
After kicking the evil plant into a wall, destroying it, Skull Kid and his fairy companions then came up to Saria and looked to her intently.
"Ooh, I know you! I've seen you more then a few times in the woods but I never knew you were friends with Link, nice to meet you!" he said, "I really love that music you play here too!"
Saria was a little shaken at the sight of another skull kid after what the group has just gone through, but she looked up to Link and saw the reassuring look in his eyes, then after a moment, she took a breath and smiled.
"Well thank you, it's good to meet another friend of Link's!" she said nodding to Skull Kid.
Thanks to the curse over the forest being lifted, the fog was gone and the route through the Lost Woods was back to the way it was, and it wasn't long after that the group were on their way back to the exit that led into Kokiri Village.
"So the mastermind was Straw Kid?" Skull Kid asked after the group explained everything along the way, "I've seen him before, he always kinda creeped me out... reminded me too much of something I had to go through in the past..." he sighed sadly, "He even stole that mask you sold me seven years ago, Link."
"So that's where he got that from..." Link muttered to himself, reminded that Skull Kid still owed him five rupees for the rest of the mask's price.
"Well it's fine, Link and Saria took care of him, and now the forest is finally at peace." Kesuta nodded.
"Yeah, you're right." Skull Kid said relieved.
As the group approached the way out into the village though, Skull Kid stopped in his tracks, looking a little hesitant to continue with them. His normally energetic attitude quickly turned to nervousness, his legs slowly backing him up a bit.
"W-Well here we are at Kokiri Village!" Skull Kid, trying to cover for his uncertainty, "Take care everyone, we'll see you again soon!"
"Aren't you coming Skull Kid?" Link asked, turning to his friend, "You should meet everyone too."
"Um..." Skull Kid stammered, "I-I don't think they'd want me there, y-you guys go on ahead. I'm fine here with Tatl and Tael..."
Saria had turned to look at Skull Kid, thinking to herself about some things she had been told earlier, before grabbing the little guy by his arm, surprising him.
"I agree with Link, why don't you come along with us to the village?" Saria smiled pleasantly.
"Yeah, comeon Skull Kid, move it!" Tatl exclaimed, flying against and nudging the back of his head.
"O-Okay..." Skull Kid said after a moment of hesitation, as the nine of them headed into Kokiri Village.
"Hey look!" shouted a Kokiri watching from stump house, "Link's back, and he has Saria!"
"Seriously?!" shouted another Kokiri.
"Yay! Hey everyone, Saria's returned!"
The forest children and their fairies all left their tasks and homes and ran excitedly up to the group, eagerly greeting Saria, all of them relieved she was safe.
"We were so worried about you!" sobbed one of the Kokiri boys.
"We thought we had lost you!" said a girl Kokiri hugging Saria.
"T-Thank you everyone..." Saria said, putting a hand to her chest with a soft smile.
Link couldn't help but smile himself to see how happy the kids were to see Saria. It was then he saw Mido and Vekai both running up to the group.
"Saria!" shouted Mido in relief, he looked like he was about to hug her, but instead put his hands to his hips and turned his head away, grumbling. "Y-You... do you know how freaked out everyone was about you disappearing?! They were all afraid you might have gotten hurt or worse!"
"Yes, we were all concerned, as well as Mido." Vekai said with a relieved tone, adjusting her root glasses, "But we're all glad you're back... especially him."
"Shut up!" shouted Mido to his adviser.
Saria giggled, "It's okay, I'm fine now, thanks to Link and everyone."
"You... you really pulled it off didn't you...?" Mido said in a soft tone, looking up to Link, "You stayed true to your word and saved her..."
"Of course, she's my best friend." Link said nodding.
"Right..." Mido said, looking down with the faintest traces of a genuine grin.
"Well aren't you going to say 'thank you' to Link?" Aviel asked, stepping up beside the Hylian.
Mido's face flushed and turned his head away, and grumbled something under his breath.
"He thanks all of you." clarified Vekai.
"Stop stepping on my words!" Mido shouted again.
"The evil power around here seems to have completely vanished..." Korume said, waving her hand through the air.
"Yep, the deku monsters won't be attacking you guys anymore," Kesuta stated, "Your village, as well as the Lost Woods are free of the curse!"
"Wow, these Gerudo girls are so cool!" said one of the Kokiri.
"Yeah, I want to get big as strong as them!" said a girl Kokiri excitedly.
"Can you teach us to throw fireballs?"
"Or how to grow bird wings, do I have to squeeze those grapefruits again?!"
"Uh, that's not how my wings work." Aviel said sweatdropping, covering her chest protectively.
The Kokiri took to chattering wildly and excitedly about the heroes' accomplishments, all happy to finally be safe from the dangers they had faced, as well as getting their cherished friend back.
"Hey wait, who's this?" asked one Kokiri. Everyone turned to see the boy was staring at Skull Kid, who was folding his arms behind his back looking down nervously.
"Wait, isn't that a skull kid? What's he doing here?" asked one Kokiri.
"Yeah, aren't they not allowed in the village?"
Skull Kid gulped a bit, as Tatl and Tael huddled close to him.
Link looked to his friend, then smiled and knelt down, putting his hand on Skull Kid's shoulder, "This is our friend Skull Kid, he helped us out big time, and without him we wouldn't have saved Saria."
"Wait, really?" one of the kids asked, as they were all looking to him.
"Gee, original name." Vekai sarcastically quipped.
"Um..." Skull Kid stammered, looking around left and right.
"Hmph, I don't know about letting an outsider like him in the village..." grumbled Mido.
"Weeell..." Saria brought up, putting a finger to her lips and tapping it, "Link is considered part of our village as well, despite grown-ups not normally being allowed to be here." she turned to Mido and Vekai and smiled brightly, "Do you think we can make another exception?"
"Uh... um..." Mido stammered himself.
"...I think Mido approves." Vekai turned to the others and adjusted her root glasses.
"Hey!"
"Alright then!" Saria nodded, "You hear that Skull Kid? You can come here as well!"
"R-Really...?" Skull Kid asked, his body shook slightly as the kids all started to crowd around him to greet him.
"Yeah, especially for what you did for Saria!" said another Kokiri.
"Thank you so much Mr. Skull Kid!"
In that moment, Skull Kid thought about the time he was in a distant world, as he was staring up at four large beings that towered over him, and could hear a majestic song they bellowed out across the land.
It was then everyone saw faint traces of what looked like tears forming in Skull Kid's eyes. As he brought up his arm to cover them. Tatl and Tael both flew around wildly and happily at this news, as Skull Kid finally worked up the courage to speak just three words.
"T-Thank you, everyone..."
"Thanks for that Saria." Link whispered to his friend.
"Well, he's your friend too, right?" Saria asked with a nod, "Besides, I should know what loneliness and seclusion can do to you..."
Link reflected on those words himself, and looked up at the trees of Kokiri Forest, a gentle wind blowing through them.
"Yeah..."
"Well for now though, I think we need to see to our heroes' injuries." Vekai pointed out, "They may be strong, but they need to recover as well, especially Saria. I propose we allow them to spend the night here."
"Uh, right..." Mido said, rubbing the back of his head, "Well okay, I'll let you stay for a while longer, but that's it!"
"Thanks for that." Link nodded.
"Yay! A sleepover!" Aviel cheered out, then turned to the other Kokiri, "Come on guys, let me show you how to shoot an arrow! Link can help us now that he has the Fairy Bow!"
She ran forward a a few feet only to suddenly trip and fall over on her face, making some of the crowd laugh and the others to sweatdrop.
"Maybe you should wait until you rest up first, Birdbrain." Kesuta said flatly.
"Right..."
"...and this is my place." Link said, showing off his home to Aviel, Kesuta and Korume. After the group were healed up by the Kokiri, Link decided to take them on a tour of his hometown, one stop of course being his own house.
"Wow, so you grew up here as a kid?" Aviel asked looking around. She immediately went over to Link's bed and laid down on it, "And this is where you slept?"
"Well, I had to replace the bed with a bigger one when I came back from my journey." Link pointed out, "But yeah, I grew up here, life was so peaceful back in those times..." he added with a bit of nostalgia in his tone.
"So why did you leave a paradise like this to begin with?" Kesuta asked looking around.
"Well..." Link paused, still not sure he was ready to tell them, especially considering the effect it had on the Gerudo as a whole due to the war, "Let's just say I had an important mission to accomplish..."
"Does it have anything to do with horse racing and fishing?" asked Korume, who was staring at a note on Link's wall, displaying a list of records he placed on various activities and games he had played throughout Hyrule, "It seems like you were a busy boy."
"Ah-ha ha, that's an understatement." Link laughed.
"Hey, what's this about Gerudo horseback archery?!" Aviel asked excitedly, looking at the note herself, "We haven't had something like this in years!"
"Yeah, the only place our people ever practiced that was in Gerudo Fortress.." Kesuta said.
Link broke out into a cold sweat, mentally kicking himslelf for writing that down after he got back from his own time. He was at a loss to explain how and why he traveled seven years into the future and participated in the horseback archery game the Gerudo allowed him to play at Gerudo Fortress while he was in the dark future, "Um, I think I might have meant to write... 'Garo' instead." he quickly fibbed, "They're a tribe from another land, and I guess I got them mixed up with yours."
"Oh, I see." nodded Kesuta, and Aviel seemed to wave it off as well.
Korume on the other hand looked to Link, uncertain about his words, but figured he might have had a good reason for not wanting to say something, and put it out of her mind for the time being.
Thankfully for Link, the awkward moment was drowned out by a new voice who called out to get everyone's attention. Link came out from his home and looked down to see Saria and Faete approaching the house and the Kokiri girl waving happily to him.
"Come on, Vekai convinced Mido to have a party tonight in celebration of the monsters being gone!"
"Alright, coming!" Link said with a grin, jumping down along with his friends.
The next morning, Link, Aviel, Kesuta and Korume all stood at the exit to the Kokiri Forest, about to head off back to Gerudo Town. Standing there was everyone in the village, including Saria, Faete, Mido, Vekai, Skull Kid, Tatl and Tael.
"Well, so um..." Mido muttered, trying to force out his words, "Good work getting rid of the monsters, and... bringing back Saria and... um..."
"He's extremely grateful for all you've done." Vekai said adjusting her root glasses.
"Stop putting words in my mouth!" shouted Mido to his adviser.
"No problem, anything for you guys, and my hometown." grinned Link, he then took a look down at Saria, "Well Saria, I'm glad everything worked out."
"Yeah..." Saria said faintly, she seemed like she wanted to say something, but Link knelled down and hugged her, catching her off guard.
"I promise I'll make more time for you in the future Saria..." Link said softly.
"T-Thank you Link..." Saria said relishing in the hug, and then returning it.
The others looked on smiling at the two of them; Mido just turned his head away, while Tatl floated around giggling.
"Hee hee, they're best friends, but they look like a father and his child!" Tatl said, feeling a little nostalgic from an adventure she had with Link a time long ago...
"Alright everyone," Link said standing up, "Good bye for now, we'll see you all again soon!" and with that he, Aviel, Kesuta and Korume all left through the path through the forest towards Hyrule Field, the kids all waving and cheering for the heroes.
"Bye friend Link!" shouted Skull Kid, "Come back to see us and we'll play together again!"
Saria meanwhile stood there, watching Link and his friend go further down the path, feeling like there was still something she wanted to say, her legs seemed to be aching to move right then. She closed her eyes, thinking to herself, as she turned to Mido.
"Mido, I hate to ask you this... but I..." she stammered, unsure of how to continue.
"...you wanna go with him, huh?" Mido said after a moment of hesitation.
"Huh?" exclaimed Saria, then spoke defensively, "I... um... no, don't me silly... I could never do something like that!"
"Why not? The Great Deku Sprout already told us that whole thing about us dying if we leave the forest was a big fib the Deku Tree said to protect us, remember?" Mido pointed out, folding his arms behind his head, "The sprout decided we should be allowed to get out of here once in a while."
"Well, y-yeah... But I have to stay here, so I can watch over the village..." Saria said hesitantly, reaching behind her and gripping at her Deku Staff.
"Don't worry about it..." Mido said looking away, "You guys already took care of the monsters that attacked the village. We''ll all be fine here, just go with him."
"But..." Saria said.
"Yeah Saria, go ahead and go with friend Link to his home!" Skull Kid said, "Me, Tatl and Tael can help everyone if anything else happens!"
"Um..." Saria lowered her head.
"Yeah, go with him Saria!" shouted one of the Kokiri.
"We need to stop having to depend completely on you! We're all going to get stronger so you don't have to worry about us!" shouted another.
"Yeah, you deserve to go with Link after everything you've done, you're our hero!" exclaimed one of the forest fairies.
Saria paused, looking out at everyone cheering her on, her body trembled, and tears of happiness filled her eyes.
"Come on Saria, " Faete said nudging her, "Let's go with Link, I'll stay by your side no matter what!"
"...look, just get outta here before I change my mind, okay?!" Mido added in a grumpy voice.
Saria turned to Mido and smiled lightly, before giving him a big hug, startling him.
"Thank you Mido..." Saria said to the Kokiri leader, before releasing him and turning to everyone else, "And thank you everyone!" she shouted bowing her head down, "After I catch up with Link I'll be right back to get my things, and I promise I'll come back soon and see you all again!"
With that, Saria turned and ran off through the exit of Kokiri Village, with the children of the forest all cheering out for her in encouragement.
Mido just stood there, not saying a word, only to see Vekai sanding there with a small smile on her face, an unusual sight for someone as stoic like her.
"What're you looking at?" Mido asked her in annoyance.
"...you've gotten more mature then you let on Mr. Mido." Vekai said, before giving him a simple kiss on the cheek.
Mido's face flushed brightly, as he could quite clearly hear some of the kids snicker under their breath.
"Grrr... what are you all standing around for?!" shouted Mido waving his fists, "Get back to work, all of you!"
The kids all just laughed and ran off, and went about their business in the tranquil village of Kokiri Forest.
Meanwhile, Saria had ran out down the road as fast as she could, to greet Link and the Gerudo girls.
"Link!" she called out, "Link, I wanted to ask if I could-!"
But she paused, not seeing them anywhere, she called out to them again, but didn't hear so much as a noise. She then had an idea and tried playing her ocarina to contact him, but didn't so much as get an answer.
'Link... did you already leave...?' Saria thought to herself as sadness started to seep into her, 'Did... he really want to get back to his new life that quickly...?'
She was about to talk to Faete about flying ahead to catch up to them, when she realized the fairy was gone as well. She looked around nervously, not sure what had happened. It was then that she realized there was a large creeping shadow looming over her, covering the light of the sun through the trees.
Saria slowly looked up to see two hands coming down at her...
...only for the hands to gently lay on her shoulders, as Link smiled down to her brightly.
"Hey Saria, did you forget to ask me something?" he asked with a knowing and goofy grin.
Standing alongside him was Aviel, Kesuta, Korume and even Faete, all smiling as well.
Saria's eyes widened, her body trembled a bit, before she started bopping Link's body harmlessly with her fists. Link just continued to smile warmly as he held Saria's shoulders and let her work out her anger on him.
"Y-You! How could you do that to me, you jerk!" Saria shouted in a bizarre mixture of frustration and relieved happiness, before her pummeling turned to a soft hug, "I thought you already left..."
"Ah heh heh, sorry about that. Korume sensed from your Deku Staff's power that you were following us so we hid." Link chuckled, then added, "I didn't want to hide originally, but Kesuta put us up to it."
"Hey, don't throw me under the horse carriage!" Kesuta complained to her fiance.
"But it was your idea." Korume pointed out, "You even made him do it by threatening to set his hat on fire."
"Well... it was your idea to make Faete hide with us as well!" Kesuta snapped back.
"Link... can... I really go with you?" Saria asked, looking up to him from the hug.
"Of course." Link said "We may be best friends, but there's a lot more to that then just our past memories together... So let's get out there and make some new memories, okay?"
Saria stood there with wide eyes, the words Link spoke rang true in her ears, and she couldn't be happier to hear him say that.
"... Yes! Thank you so much Link!" Saria said smiling brightly, hugging him again as tightly as she could.
"That's so great..." Aviel said to herself, "Saria deserves a chance to be happy with Link."
"But are you sure about going out to Gerudo Town?" Kesuta brought up to Saria, "Life in the desert is way more harsh and brutal then the forest."
"And there's great threats we're dealing with right now, like the Ebony Sisterhood rebellion." Korume pointed out.
"I should be fine, I've gotten strong over the years," Saria nodded, "Besides, I want to do everything I can to help and support Link!"
Saria then realized what she had just said out-loud, but in that moment felt she wasn't embarrassed to admit it at all anymore.
'That's right...' Saria thought to herself, putting a hand to her chest, her thoughts drifted to the staff she wore on her back, 'I think I realize now what the Great Deku Tree gave me this magical staff for... it's not for me to watch over the Kokiri for my whole life... but to protect Link and stand by his side.'
She looked up into the trees, and saw a gentle breeze blow through the leaves.
"Thank you... Great Deku Tree..." she whispered.
Link couldn't help but blush a little at her words, he had to admire the strength and will Saria had taken on during the past years, not to mention how skilled she had become a fighter. Hearing what she had said about wanting to protect him, it was a great sensation he had spent so much of his life never feeling before, at least until he came into his new life with the Gerudo...
"Well alright, I'm just worried about a small child like you having to fight the enemies we deal with." Kesuta said with genuine concern.
"Hey! I may look like a child, but I possess the mind of a mature adult!" Saria stated defensively.
"Oh Saria, do you want some candied berries?" Aviel brought up, holding up a small sack of fruit she had purchased from Gerudo Market.
"Yaaay! Thank you, thank you!" Saria immediately squealed out with a cheer, running to get some sweets from Aviel, causing Kesuta and Korume to snicker under their breath.
"Do you think Nabooru will be alright with this though?" Korume then asked Link, "Our laws are pretty strict about outsiders, even women, with very few exceptions like you."
"It might take some talking, but hopefully I can get Nabooru to be okay with it..." Link said pondering.
"By the goddess Aifet, you are just too cute!" Nabooru squealed out, grabbing Saria, lifting her up and holding her tightly into her chest, causing Saria to wiggle her arms around frantically, "Can we keep her Link?" she asked excitedly to her future king.
"I was uh, actually going to ask you that." Link said sweatdropping, relieved that it worked out easier then he thought.
The group had just arrived back in Gerudo Town after Saria went back to the village to get some of her important possessions. Getting back over the border was a simple task for the group thanks to Korume carrying Saria on her broom, and they arrived back at the palace only to find not just Nabooru and Nemisa, but Togau, Sarami and Reirousa were all there to welcome Link back, and they all found themselves welcoming their newest friend Saria as well.
"Everyone... um, pleased to meet you, Link's told me so much about you all." Saria said, breaking free of Nabooru's hug and doing a polite bow, "My name is Saria, and this is my guardian fairy, Faete." she introduced her fairy friend who made a small ringing sound with her wings to greet the others, "I um... vow to work hard for you all, and... I'm glad to be here."
"Well shootfire, aren't you just a little cutie!" Togau said, kneeling down and giving her a small hug, "So yer the one that taught Link that song of his ain't cha? I'm so glad ta finally meet ya!"
"Yeah, uh..." Reirousa looked to the side and rubbed the back of her head, a little embarrassed to see someone so small and sweet like Saria, she almost wanted to try hugging the girl herself, but not about to admit it outright, "Glad to um, meet you..."
"She's so little, just like a child..." whispered Sarami with faint tears in her eyes and a soft smile, "And she's a childhood friend of yours Link?"
"Yeah, I grew up with her in the forest since I was little." Link grinned.
"That's so sweet, I would have loved to see you as small as her..." Sarami added with a giggle, before going over to hug Saria, "If you ever need help adapting to the desert climate here, you just let me know. I have all kinds of medicines and tonics to help you with that, okay sweetie?"
"Um... t-thank you..." Saria stammered, made nervous by being pressed against the kind doctor's rather large breasts.
Nemisa meanwhile looked down to Saria, as the Kokiri girl broke away from the doctor and looked up at the bodyguard and fiance of Link. Nemisa glanced to the side with a bit of embarrassment herself,
"Um.. so you're the friend Link mentioned before...?" Nemisa asked.
"Uh-huh, and you're Nemisa, Link's fiance, along with Kesuta and Korume right? I'm really happy to meet you, Link's told me so many things about you and your life!"
"Oh did he...?" Nemisa asked, looking to Link with an annoyed stare as she cracked her knuckles, causing Link to sweatdrop in nervousness.
"Uh-huh, he told me about how powerful of a warrior you are, and that you're a graceful dancer as well, I'd really love to see your dancing for myself!" Saria beamed with happiness. In reality Link had told her much more about Nemisa, like what she had gone through in her dark past, and her secret love for plush dolls, but she decided not to make a scene for the woman's sake and for Link's physical health. She had to admit after Link's little prank earlier as they had left the forest, she got a little enjoyment teasing him with this.
"O-Oh..." Nemisa said, blushing red herself at Saria's serene nature, she knelt down at smiled warmly, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder, "...very well then, I'd like to perform for you sometime myself."
"Well then, as far as I'm concerned, you're a part of our town and our family now Saria." Nabooru nodded, "We'll be counting on your support for Link and our people from this point forward."
"I'll do my best." Saria bowed, as Aviel then ran up and gave the Kokiri a bird-winged welcoming hug.
Link just smiled to see everyone get along so well with Saria, it was only fitting given how close he was to all of them that he knew they would accept her like this, and he could only hope the Gerudo could have more opportunities like this to bond with the other people of Hyrule.
Though it was hard to accept what had happened to the Gerudo during the war, seeing everyone as they were now, especially Nabooru and Saria, as well as Ruto, that Link couldn't feel more accomplished to be able to make this future the way it was now.
"Go ahead and take her to one of our better guest rooms Link, we'll modify it to make it more livable for her later." Nabooru said.
"Okay, come on Saria." Link said, reaching out and taking her hand, causing his best friend to blush lightly, as he escorted her off to one of the rooms so she could rest. That blush of Saria's didn't go unnoticed by Aviel, who smiled lightly at the two of them before going off with the others back to their business.
As Link escorted Saria to her new room at the palace, the Kokiri looked up at her best friend, and leaned against him as they walked down the hallway. Link himself felt a little embarrassed about how close Saria was to him in that moment, as his thoughts lingered on something he recalled hearing once from Mido in the dark future...
He shook off those thoughts and looked down to his friend. After being separated for so long, Link and Saria had a lot of catching up to do, and the two best friends had more time now to do that then they could have ever thought.
And with that, the arc is over. I'm glad I wound up making the choice to let Saria stay with Link in the end, I think she'll provide not just support as a fighter and be a fun character to write for, but provide more moral support for Link himself, and she'll continue to play an active role in the story as well.
Next time, Togau returns to the spotlight, and gets herself into a bizarre situation that threatens her very place in life, and comes to terms with her place in Link's own life.
Thank you all for your support, and leave a like follow or review if you'd like!