p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Setting foot in the lush green grass of Hyrule field was an intensely emotional homecoming welcome for the land's green-clad hero. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link, also known as the Hero of Time, had returned from the chaos of Termina. Link was well over a decade older, battling darkness through time travel. His perception of himself and his outlook on the world had changed drastically./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"The young Hylian initially left his home to search for his former companion, Navi, but to no avail. Instead, Link chased an old friend turned foe, accidentally stumbling into an alternate dimension. The young hero repeatedly experienced the same three tragic days until he became a God and split the moon in half. Link saved a nation of people from their demise, but his eventful travels caused him grief in a hefty tradeoff. On his way back to his roots in the forest, he contemplated resuming his search for Navi. Hours had passed since Link and Epona returned - darkness fell, and stars graced the sky. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link's sharp blue eyes beamed skyward as the weary duo traveled in the night, contrasting with the blackness. His careful gaze was set on the moon, reminding himself of outlandish scenarios. He clutched his Fierce Deity Mask and didn't let go until he arrived at the tunnel entrance of Kokiri Forest. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"—/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Unsurprisingly, all of the children were in their homes. The atmosphere was occupied and enlivened with fireflies and fairy dust - the air broke to the sounds of owls and trickling water. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link parked Epona near the ladder of his tree home and pecked her with a kiss on her cheek. He snickered at the sight of his carved drawing of a warrior fighting a monster; it brought back good memories of childlike wonder, something he felt he had partially lost. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link got situated in his home, removing his shoulder harness and placing it on a wooden table Saria helped him build. He ran his fingers through his tangled blonde hair and crept into his bed. The off-white sheets were soft, caressing his worn, sun-damaged skin like a hug./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link hadn't slept in days, nor had he felt the comfort of a bed in a long time. However, his mind was burdened with unrelenting insomnia. He stared at the tree rings in the ceiling and began to count them; it had helped him sleep before. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"He fell into an abyss of loneliness that night despite being in the world's safest place. He felt the strains of his overthinking mind roping him into eternal consciousness. He felt cursed and perpetually scarred, unable to escape his ruminations when he wasn't in active combat./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"The hero had kept a stoic face his whole life; he'd trained himself to become an unbreakable statue against any conflicts. However, his inner monologues of hurt and pressure were complex oppositions. Link had unknowingly labeled himself a victim, something he tried so hard not to be. He was always /spanem style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"the/emspan style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" hero, saving the vulnerable and the helpless. He did not accept the idea of becoming someone who needed saving. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"While Link's eyelids became heavier, his stress-inducing thoughts had gotten excessively repetitive. The same sentences and fears arose, spinning in circles, boring him to sleep./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"—/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"The harsh sounds of children screaming filled the room from Link's open window. He leaped from his bed and snatched his sword, sprinting outside. As he stood on the balcony's edge, the moon descended again. He hastily played the /spanem style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"Song of Time/emspan style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true", but nothing happened./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Unlike Termina, the forest was his home, a sanctuary he had to keep secure. It was his obligation; failing to do so, he'd have no reason to live. For several seconds, Link realized that he and everybody he loved was about to die. Hyrule witnessed time's mercilessness as the moon crashed into the earth. The people's deaths were loud yet painless. As Link watched the flames from the fallout, Ganondorf stood in the void and laughed before everything turned black./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"The emptiness of death became birds chirping and children laughing. The sun perforated through Link's curtains and window. He rubbed his eyes and dangled his legs off his bed. Part of him wished Navi would've been there to wake him up from his nightmares despite the many times he griped at her for doing so. He let out an obnoxious yawn and cleaned himself up before greeting his old friends. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link was startled to see the entire forest population at the bottom of his house's ladder. "Link! Link!" the crowd of excited and enamored children cheered at his sleepy arrival. Link awkwardly acknowledged the kids by nodding and descended carefully from the ladder. The children crowded him, eagerly asking him questions about his whereabouts. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Did you see monsters?"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Is Zelda pretty or ugly?"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Did you die?"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Where did you go for so long?"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"As the children bombarded the drowsy boy with curious questions, he tried to engage them politely, answering their questions accordingly./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"A green-haired girl appeared in the crowd after a few minutes of disorganized conversing. "Link!"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Saria embraced Link in a tight hug. "Hi, Saria." Link softly smiled. There was an abundant amount of things he wanted to tell her about, like how she became the sage of forest and how he was Hylian. He knew that information would overwhelm her, so he decided to tell her at an appropriate time./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"The crowd of energetic children dispersed - Saria held her hand out to Link: "Come, I made you some tea."/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link followed Saria into her home and sat in one of the wooden chairs. "Here you go." She placed a cup of herbal tea on the table, and Link gratefully sipped it as Saria settled in. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""How did everybody know I was here?" Link asked./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Saria snicked, "Your horse was outside, silly."/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link staggered, "Where is she?"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Don't worry, she's been with Fado all morning." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link exhaled in relief, still disturbed by his nightmare. Saria situated herself across from Link, the two children quietly drinking tea. These moments of peace accompanied by someone Link loved he felt he'd taken for granted before his adventures - Link, who'd been given a second chance at life, previously sulking in regret for years, tried his best to relinquish in the things that mattered most. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Any luck in finding Navi?" Saria cautiously asked./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""No, I don't think I'll ever find her."/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Oh, Link. I'm sorry. I can't imagine receiving a fairy and losing her so quickly afterward." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Little did the Kokiri girl know that Link and Navi had spent years together; it felt like a lifetime. Link's cataclysmic adventure of seizing the king of evil was invalidated briefly. He knew it wasn't Saria's fault but was reminded that nobody truly understood what he'd gone through, for that time never occurred yet./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Saria apologetically placed her palm on Link's shoulder, "I will always be here, Link. And I will always search for Navi."/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"~~~/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Author notes:/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"- This story will have time-skips and will primarily feature Adult Link/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"- Although this story isn't canon, I'll try my best to ensure that no material contradicts canon (I.e., a character appearing from a different game)./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"P.S. Thank you so much for reading ^_^ /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link, also known as the Hero of Time, had returned from the chaos of Termina. Link was well over a decade older, battling darkness through time travel. His perception of himself and his outlook on the world had changed drastically./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"The young Hylian initially left his home to search for his former companion, Navi, but to no avail. Instead, Link chased an old friend turned foe, accidentally stumbling into an alternate dimension. The young hero repeatedly experienced the same three tragic days until he became a God and split the moon in half. Link saved a nation of people from their demise, but his eventful travels caused him grief in a hefty tradeoff. On his way back to his roots in the forest, he contemplated resuming his search for Navi. Hours had passed since Link and Epona returned - darkness fell, and stars graced the sky. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link's sharp blue eyes beamed skyward as the weary duo traveled in the night, contrasting with the blackness. His careful gaze was set on the moon, reminding himself of outlandish scenarios. He clutched his Fierce Deity Mask and didn't let go until he arrived at the tunnel entrance of Kokiri Forest. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"—/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Unsurprisingly, all of the children were in their homes. The atmosphere was occupied and enlivened with fireflies and fairy dust - the air broke to the sounds of owls and trickling water. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link parked Epona near the ladder of his tree home and pecked her with a kiss on her cheek. He snickered at the sight of his carved drawing of a warrior fighting a monster; it brought back good memories of childlike wonder, something he felt he had partially lost. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link got situated in his home, removing his shoulder harness and placing it on a wooden table Saria helped him build. He ran his fingers through his tangled blonde hair and crept into his bed. The off-white sheets were soft, caressing his worn, sun-damaged skin like a hug./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link hadn't slept in days, nor had he felt the comfort of a bed in a long time. However, his mind was burdened with unrelenting insomnia. He stared at the tree rings in the ceiling and began to count them; it had helped him sleep before. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"He fell into an abyss of loneliness that night despite being in the world's safest place. He felt the strains of his overthinking mind roping him into eternal consciousness. He felt cursed and perpetually scarred, unable to escape his ruminations when he wasn't in active combat./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"The hero had kept a stoic face his whole life; he'd trained himself to become an unbreakable statue against any conflicts. However, his inner monologues of hurt and pressure were complex oppositions. Link had unknowingly labeled himself a victim, something he tried so hard not to be. He was always /spanem style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"the/emspan style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true" hero, saving the vulnerable and the helpless. He did not accept the idea of becoming someone who needed saving. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"While Link's eyelids became heavier, his stress-inducing thoughts had gotten excessively repetitive. The same sentences and fears arose, spinning in circles, boring him to sleep./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"—/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"The harsh sounds of children screaming filled the room from Link's open window. He leaped from his bed and snatched his sword, sprinting outside. As he stood on the balcony's edge, the moon descended again. He hastily played the /spanem style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"Song of Time/emspan style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true", but nothing happened./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Unlike Termina, the forest was his home, a sanctuary he had to keep secure. It was his obligation; failing to do so, he'd have no reason to live. For several seconds, Link realized that he and everybody he loved was about to die. Hyrule witnessed time's mercilessness as the moon crashed into the earth. The people's deaths were loud yet painless. As Link watched the flames from the fallout, Ganondorf stood in the void and laughed before everything turned black./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"The emptiness of death became birds chirping and children laughing. The sun perforated through Link's curtains and window. He rubbed his eyes and dangled his legs off his bed. Part of him wished Navi would've been there to wake him up from his nightmares despite the many times he griped at her for doing so. He let out an obnoxious yawn and cleaned himself up before greeting his old friends. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link was startled to see the entire forest population at the bottom of his house's ladder. "Link! Link!" the crowd of excited and enamored children cheered at his sleepy arrival. Link awkwardly acknowledged the kids by nodding and descended carefully from the ladder. The children crowded him, eagerly asking him questions about his whereabouts. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Did you see monsters?"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Is Zelda pretty or ugly?"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Did you die?"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Where did you go for so long?"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"As the children bombarded the drowsy boy with curious questions, he tried to engage them politely, answering their questions accordingly./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"A green-haired girl appeared in the crowd after a few minutes of disorganized conversing. "Link!"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Saria embraced Link in a tight hug. "Hi, Saria." Link softly smiled. There was an abundant amount of things he wanted to tell her about, like how she became the sage of forest and how he was Hylian. He knew that information would overwhelm her, so he decided to tell her at an appropriate time./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"The crowd of energetic children dispersed - Saria held her hand out to Link: "Come, I made you some tea."/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link followed Saria into her home and sat in one of the wooden chairs. "Here you go." She placed a cup of herbal tea on the table, and Link gratefully sipped it as Saria settled in. /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""How did everybody know I was here?" Link asked./span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Saria snicked, "Your horse was outside, silly."/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link staggered, "Where is she?"/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Don't worry, she's been with Fado all morning." /span/p
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p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Link exhaled in relief, still disturbed by his nightmare. Saria situated herself across from Link, the two children quietly drinking tea. These moments of peace accompanied by someone Link loved he felt he'd taken for granted before his adventures - Link, who'd been given a second chance at life, previously sulking in regret for years, tried his best to relinquish in the things that mattered most. /span/p
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p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Any luck in finding Navi?" Saria cautiously asked./span/p
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p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""No, I don't think I'll ever find her."/span/p
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p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true""Oh, Link. I'm sorry. I can't imagine receiving a fairy and losing her so quickly afterward." /span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Little did the Kokiri girl know that Link and Navi had spent years together; it felt like a lifetime. Link's cataclysmic adventure of seizing the king of evil was invalidated briefly. He knew it wasn't Saria's fault but was reminded that nobody truly understood what he'd gone through, for that time never occurred yet./span/p
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p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Saria apologetically placed her palm on Link's shoulder, "I will always be here, Link. And I will always search for Navi."/span/p
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p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"~~~/span/p
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p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"Author notes:/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"- This story will have time-skips and will primarily feature Adult Link/span/p
p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"- Although this story isn't canon, I'll try my best to ensure that no material contradicts canon (I.e., a character appearing from a different game)./span/p
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p style="color: #0e101a; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" data-preserver-spaces="true"P.S. Thank you so much for reading ^_^ /span/p
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