Saria and Impa made their way to a secluded spot in Kakariko Village. Once it was clear no one was around to eavesdrop, Saria explained everything that happened on Death Mountain.

"So you lost one spiritual stone but gained another – and only because Darunia was so generous," said Impa.

"I know… There are so many things I could have done better," said Saria.

"Oh come on!" said Poppy. "Most people would have struggled just to survive! You did the best you could, and that's all that matters."

Impa smirked. "Your fairy isn't wrong. Even I wouldn't have expected one of Ganondorf's minions to be so… Brazen. They may have gained one of the stones, but it came at a great cost. Not only did they lose several lizalfos in the fighting, the Gerudo woman's actions have affected Ganondorf's standing in the royal court."

"Has word traveled that fast?" asked Saria.

"Darunia and the king have always stayed in close contact. I wouldn't be surprised if the Goron sent a message as soon as he returned from those caverns. Because of that, the king wanted Ganondorf investigated for any possible involvement. But before he could be approached, the man vanished without a trace. He's probably in Gerudo Valley by now."

The implications were not lost on the Kokiri. Despite Kitoga's best efforts, she unintentionally foiled Ganondorf's plans for stealing the Ocarina of Time. Not only that, but such events would no doubt have a ripple effect, creating tensions between the Gerudo and the rest of Hyrule.

"This can't be good," said Saria. "Ganondorf always retaliates when he can't get what he wants. This could mean war."

"That may be so, but even he must know how difficult it will be to take the castle, should we be prepared. Marching a whole army out of Gerudo Valley has its own problems as well. It will take about a month to gather and prepare his forces for a full-scale assault."

"A month? How could you possibly know that?"

"I have an informant in Gerudo Valley I've been keeping in contact with. While Ganondorf has many loyal subjects, he is not beloved by all Gerudo. There's been trouble in the valley as of late that he's ignored in favor of pursuing his ambitions."

"I shouldn't be surprised. With a man like that in control, I doubt anyone can openly speak against him without fearing for their life. To think he'd ignore the plights of his own people, though… His heart must be as black as his armor. What's happening in Gerudo Valley, anyway? Is it anything that could affect the rest of us?"

Impa crossed her arms. "Gerudo have been disappearing from the valley. It's not that they're leaving the valley to escape Ganondorf's rule – I already know about the few who have tried. These Gerudo are vanishing from their own homes."

"What? And Ganondorf isn't doing anything about this?!" Saria did her best to keep her voice down, but it was a struggle. Such blatant disregard for one's people was beyond callous. Saria couldn't imagine looking the other way if something was happening in her own village. As Saria looked down and gripped the hems of her shorts, a grim thought crossed her mind. "He's not behind the disappearances… Is he?"

"My informant believes so, but there's not much to be done about it," said Impa. Her brow furrowed. "I want to help them. I do not begrudge the Gerudo just because their chosen leader is a tyrant. Unfortunately, we have more pressing matters at hand. As you've said, with a Gerudo agent openly attacking an ally of the king, it may be enough to fan the flames of war."

"Does the king think so as well?"

Impa nodded. "Ganondorf's disappearance was seen as open admission that he was connected to the attack. The king has already begun ordering arms and armor smithed while his generals put his troops through the rigors. He has no intention of being caught unprepared should Ganondorf march on the castle. We're trying to keep this all under wraps, however, since the king is worried the people may panic. We're not certain of what will happen, after all, and if too many people jump to the wrong conclusion, it will only serve to raise tensions between Hylians and Gerudo."

"Thus fanning the flames even more," Saria said with a frown. "Impa, if it's true that we have a month before Ganondorf marches, would you be willing to train me? I know you have to watch over the princess, but I could join you at the castle."

The Sheikah chuckled. "I appreciate your forwardness. Yes, I think training would do you some good. I had already planned on offering. We wouldn't be training at the castle, though."

"But what about Zelda?"

"She's being taken care of. With this looming threat on the horizon, the king is watching his daughter like a hawk."

"Then if you'll have me, I'll accept whatever training you give. Although… There is one thing I need to take care of first."

"What is it?"

"I need to check on my village. It's been a while and I need to make sure they're okay. And if it's all right with you, I feel they need to know what's going on in case conflict becomes inevitable. We Kokiri don't have a castle or a mountain to take shelter in should the worst come to pass. Our best defense against the outside world was the Great Deku Tree, and he's gone."

"I understand. I ask that you choose your words carefully, but I won't begrudge you for keeping your people informed."

"Thank you, Impa. Where should I meet you when I'm done?"

"In the back of the village. I have something I need to take care of at the castle, but I should be back before your return."

"Then until next time."

Saria and Impa said their goodbyes and parted ways. After taking a few steps, Saria looked back. Impa had disappeared without ever making a sound.

"That woman… I'm glad she's on our side."

"No kidding," said Poppy. "I'd rather fight a pack of lizalfos than tangle with her."

Saria left Kakariko Village behind and made her way to Kokiri Forest. Saria thought about the Gerudo and Kitoga's fate. Though she was her enemy, Saria couldn't help but fear for the woman's safety.

If we ever cross swords again, Saria thought, I'll be glad.

Saria crossed the bridge, returning to her homeland. Stepping into the village, one of the local Kokiri boys took notice.

"Saria, is that you?" he asked. "You're okay! Did you even leave?"

"Of course I did," Saria smiled. "Did you really think I was standing on the bridge for days?"

The young boy scratched at his bright orange hair. "You make a good point. In that case," he paused, turning to the rest of the village. "Hey guys! Saria's back!"

Hearing this, Kokiri started popping up everywhere. From the trees, from their homes, out of bushes. Many dropped what they were doing and came running, gathering around their long-lost sister.

"Saria! I can't believe you're back!"

"What happened? Is everything okay?"

"Is the outside world safe or not?"

"Calm down. I'll explain everything in time," said Saria. "Where's Mido? Is he not here with the rest of you?"

Fado stepped forward among the crowd, saying, "He's been going to the Lost Woods all by himself as of late. I've had to watch over things in his place."

"Really? But why?"

"Who knows? Maybe he's training, maybe he just wants to be alone. I didn't think to ask."

Saria's heart sank. "I see. Everyone, can you wait for me? I want everyone to hear what I have to say. It's important."

"Oh?" said one of the Kokiri girls. "All right. We'll be here until you're ready then."

At this, the Kokiri scattered, returning to what they were doing. Some were at play while others were training with deku sticks. Of course from an outsider's perspective, it merely looked like playfighting. No matter what the Kokiri did, they were children at heart, and even in serious affairs, this fact always shined through.

After Saria took a quick look around, she headed for the Lost Woods, climbing up the hills and stepping through a hollow log. I'm glad everyone is still safe, thought Saria. I just hope Mido is okay too.

The Lost Woods, as it was commonly known, was a tangled forest that made up most of Eastern Hyrule. It was home to spirits, drifters, and even monsters. Saria had wandered those labyrinthine woods more times than she could count, befriending many unusual people along the way. Sometimes people stepped into the woods that didn't belong, disappearing without a trace. Because Saria had never left her village until recently, it was impossible to tell if these people made it out or not… Despite its dangers, Saria traversed the woods as naturally as she would her own village. After all, it was just another part of her homeland as far as she was concerned.

Saria navigated the twists and turns of the woods, searching for Mido. Despite her familiarity with the area, she couldn't seem to find him. After reaching a small clearing, she encountered a local. It was a young wooden boy with skin like bark, bright eyes, and tattered clothes sitting on a tree stump, practicing with a flute. His wide-brimmed hat occluded his features, though his bird-like beak was instantly recognizable. This was a skull kid - one of many that wandered the Lost Woods. Once the boy took notice of Saria, he sat up.

"Wait, is that who I think it is?" asked the skull kid. He sauntered over, flute in hand. Saria stopped, looking the boy over. Once he was close enough, he stopped, playing a familiar tune on his flute. It was a song Saria had heard many times. Why? Because she was the one who wrote it.

"Do you remember this song? I remember," said the skull kid. "It was a long time ago in this same clearing… I saw a girl just like you. Green hair, blue eyes, bright smile. Are you… Her?"

In Saria's experience, the skull children were always cautious. They were not immune to the dangers of the woods, nor the dangers of trespassers. Knowing this, Saria did not answer with words. She answered with song, playing her melody back to the boy. His eyes lit up, looking more like orange fireflies.

"It IS you, isn't it? You're Saria!"

"It's good to see you again, Taru," said Saria. She remembered the first time she had encountered the boy. Skull kids tended to stick together, but Taru was always something of a loner. When he looked sad, Saria played her song to help brighten his day, and afterwards they became fast friends.

"Where have you been? It feels like you've been gone forever!"

"I've been to the outside world. It's a long story, but right now I need to find my friend, Mido. Have you seen him? He's another Kokiri, dressed in green."

"And he's always making this face," said Poppy before scowling. Taru tilted his head at the fairy.

"Mido, Mido, Mido. I know this name. You say you're looking for him? I've seen this Kokiri!"

"You have?" asked Saria.

"Yes! I've seen the boy traveling between your village and the Sacred Meadow. Many times, in fact. Let me show you."

Taru took off running, his small wooden frame clicking and clacking every step of the way. Saria and Poppy followed, chasing the boy through the Lost Woods until they reached the entrance to the Sacred Meadow. Before them stood bushes, moss, grass, flowers, and other natural things, all surrounding the entrance to a maze of natural stone. Or rather, it was natural to Saria. Perhaps it had been constructed long ago, but it had become so entangled in the woods that it was part of the woods now.

"This way, this way! I saw!"

Taru ran for the entrance to the maze, but something felt off. Saria was quick to run forward, stopping Taru before he was struck by a monster. Claws the size of daggers burst from the ground as a sharp howl rang through the air. A bipedal wolf creature with glowing green eyes attacked, swiping at the Kokiri and skull kid.

"Get back, Taru!" shouted Saria. The girl drew her blades and kept the wolfos distracted while Taru moved away. Taking a few swipes at the beast, it easily blocked the blades with its thick arms. It felt like Saria was striking iron. The beast pushed Saria's weapons aside and lunged for her neck, but she rolled away, dodging the fatal blow. The wolfos didn't let up, quickly turning to strike again. The Kokiri blocked, but the force of the blow nearly knocked her over. As the wolfos tried to bite her, Saria swiped with her scimitar, the wolfos parried with its claws, and the dance continued. Neither could get a hit in, at least until a small dart hit the wolfos' neck.

The beast stopped, scratching at the small wooden dart in its hide. It growled in annoyance as it turned to face Taru, who was still holding onto his flute.

"Now, Saria!" shouted Poppy.

With the beast distracted, Saria struck the one place a wolfos was at its weakest – its tail. It lurched its head back in pain, letting out one last howl before collapsing and fading away in blue flame.

"I wish you hadn't done that," said Saria, sheathing her blade, "but thank you. Those beasts are tricky."

"I know it was dangerous, but Saria is friend! I can't let anything happen to my friend," said Taru.

The pair smiled at each other, then Saria took a look around, feeling the grass at her feet.

"It's strange… I can feel something different. The meadow, no, the whole forest is changing. Deku babas are one thing, but wolfos? Why now? I thought the Deku Tree's curse was broken."

"Many strange things have happened in the forest as of late," said Taru. "I've seen many monsters. My brethren and I must be even more cautious than before. Perhaps this Mido has been fighting the monsters. I've seen many, but they never get close to your village."

Saria put a hand to her chest. "I see… Thank you, Taru. I'll have to thank Mido as well if all this is true. I should be fine from here if you want to head back."

Taru bowed his head, stepping back towards the entrance to the meadow. "Be seeing you, then. Stay safe… For me."

Once the skull kid was gone, Saria and Poppy entered the maze.

Along the way, Saria encountered deku scrubs. They were far more violent than others of their kind, with leaves the color of autumn. This proved no trouble for the Kokiri, who struck them down as she went. It hurt to do so, however. Deku scrubs were territorial, but they only resorted to violence to keep outsiders away. This reaffirmed her worries. Something was changing in the forest, and not at all for the better.

At the end of the maze, Saria climbed an old stone stairway. This led to a small grassy plateau. It was a place Saria had visited on many occasions. In the center of the plateau was a stone platform in the shape of a hexagon. In the past, she had no idea what the symbols carved onto its top meant. But now, she realized the swirling pattern in the middle sat amidst a carving of the Triforce. Up ahead was an old moss-covered stone fortress, and at the base of this abandoned structure was a tree stump, as well as a familiar face sitting on the stump, catching his breath. Monsters slowly faded into flame at the boy's feet. It was clear a battle taken place prior to Saria's arrival.

"There you are, Mido!" said Saria. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

The boy's blue eyes lit up upon seeing Saria. He sprung up to his feet, but then stopped, slowing his pace. "Saria? What are you doing here?"

"I came to find you. Did you slay those monsters?"

"I… Uh… Yeah! I guess you could say that…"

Mido's fairy floated out of the boy's tunic, flexing his tiny muscles. "Don't be so modest, my friend. You've done well today!"

"Oh hey, Macho," groaned Poppy. "You're still around?"

"Of course!" smiled Macho. "It's my sworn duty to protect Mido no matter what!"

Saria and Poppy looked at the Kokiri boy. He had scratches and bruises from the recent fight, and while it was clear his fairy had been healing him, it seemed as if he wasn't in the best of spirits.

"Hey Macho, maybe we should leave these two alone for a little bit," said Poppy.

"Want me all to yourself?" asked the fairy.

"In your dreams, butt chin."

After the two fairies floated off, Saria approached Mido and gave him some medicine. "Here, to help with your wounds."

"Thanks. I don't really need it though. I'm doing just fine," said Mido.

"Are you? You didn't answer my question earlier. What are you doing here?"

Mido avoided eye contact with Saria. "Would you believe I was waiting for you?"

"Mido…"

"Hey! I know you liked to come here a lot, so I thought that if you ever came back, this would be the best place to find you!" Mido stepped away from Saria. "That's what I thought at first… But then I noticed some monsters wandering around and I figured since I had this sword and shield, I might as well put it to good use. After I beat up those monsters, I checked back the next day, only to find more."

"So you have been keeping the village safe. Thank you, Mido. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it."

Mido turned away, hiding his blushing cheeks. "H-hey, it's not that big of a deal. As the boss of the Kokiri, of course I should be keeping the others safe! It's been tough without you, though. It really feels like a part of the forest disappeared when you left. I've done what I can, but you were always the better leader. I can't tell you how many times the others asked me when you were coming back. I was the last one to see you, so of course they thought I knew. To tell you the truth, I didn't think you'd ever come back."

Saria stepped closer to Mido, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Well I'm here now." The boy smiled in response, and the two took a small comfort in each other's company.

After that, the two Kokiri looked up at the stone fortress nearby. It was strange, almost like Saria's eyes were being drawn to it. She couldn't rightly tell what it was, but she could feel a presence behind those stone walls and the strange door up above. Somehow, she felt Mido could feel it too.

"Saria, do you remember what the Deku Tree told us about the Forest Temple?" asked Mido.

"I do. I've never stepped inside because of it."

"All these monsters… You don't think they're coming from in there, do you? I thought it was supposed to be a sacred place."

"It was. The forest spirits made those ruins their home. I haven't seen any on my way here, though. Perhaps they're trying to deal with whatever is going on inside?"

"Whatever is going on, all the monsters seem to be coming from this meadow - at least the ones I can find."

"Then in the future, you may need to keep the others from wandering too far through the Lost Woods. We can deal with these monsters, but the others may not be ready."

Mido beat his chest with his fist. "I can do that. Blocking entrances is one of my specialties, after all. You can count on me!"

"Speaking of the others, they're all waiting for us back in the village. There's something I need to tell all of you."

"Wait, really?" Mido crossed his arms, tapping his foot. "Hey! Is that why you came to find me? I thought you were worried about me!"

"Of course I was worried about you! That's why I wanted to include you!"

Mido stuck his nose up and said, "Hmph! I see how it is. Let's get going, then."

The Kokiri boy stomped off. Saria's shoulders sunk as she watched him go.

That boy… I can never tell what he's thinking. Saria then turned to look at the Forest Temple one last time. The tall structure cast a shadow over the Sacred Meadow, one that chilled her to the bone. Deep down, she knew she would have to go into that temple one day. But for now, she would focus on the present.

Saria held the meeting with the rest of the Kokiri in her house. Many of the boys and girls sat around anxiously, kicking their feet back and forth while Mido helped gather up any stragglers. Once everyone was present, Saria regaled the others with tales of her travels: her journey to Castle Town, showing the princess the Kokiri's Emerald, and helping others where she could until she befriended the chief of the Gorons, Darunia. Saria made sure to leave out the mission Zelda had charged her with. She also told the others, with much regret, that she lost the Kokiri's Emerald to the thief, Kitoga. Immediately, one of the boys raised his hand.

"Why didn't you go get it afterwards?" he asked. It was an understandable, albeit blunt question.

"Yeah! You beat that lady the first time!" shouted an excited girl. "I'm sure you can beat her again. You just have to find her!"

"About that," said Saria. "Hyrule is not in the best place right now. That evil sorcerer, Ganondorf, fled to his homeland, Gerudo Valley. Truth be told, he may be preparing for battle. He has Gerudo warriors and monsters on his side, so if he thinks he can take what he wants with force, he'll do it."

Another boy raised his hand. "If he's the problem, why not go beat him up too?"

Mido smacked the boy over the head. "You idiot! If it were that easy, don't you think Saria would have done so by now?"

"But what can we even do?" asked one of the girls. "If Saria is struggling, I don't think I'd be of much use. I only know how to keep the deku babas at bay."

"The fighting isn't guaranteed," said Saria, "but because it's a possibility, that's why I wanted you all to know. I'm not asking you to fight in the war, but there's no telling what will happen once the fighting starts. I have an idea, though."

"You do?" asked one of the boys.

"Of course she does!" shouted Mido as he smacked that boy as well.

"Hey! Enough of that!" shouted Saria. "If you're going to keep doing that, you can wait outside!"

Mido grumbled, crossing his arms as he sat down. "Sorry."

The Kokiri turned their attention back to Saria, their eyes full of anticipation.

"Now, do you remember the Gorons I mentioned?" Saria gestured to a chalk drawing. "I befriended their leader, Darunia, who told me he'd be willing to help us out whenever we needed. It may be early, but I think it'd be worth calling in that favor. Darunia has plenty of experience fighting, and he's already been whipping his own troops into shape. I think he could do the same for us."

"Wait, are you saying we have to leave the forest?!" asked Mido.

"Not right now, but it should be something you should all prepare to do. Set aside travel packs – anything essential that isn't too heavy so you can pick up and go should the need arise."

The Kokiri didn't look pleased at the idea. One of the girls said, "But the forest has been our home since… Forever! I don't know if I can just leave it behind like that."

"We already know it's safe to leave. Even should night fall, I can use the song I learned to keep the stalchildren at bay."

"That is true…" said one of the boys. "But what if we can't come back? What if we're stuck outside the forest forever?"

"Oh hush!" snapped Fado. "Saria already came back once. There's no reason we couldn't come back once it's safe to do so. I know change is scary, but look at how much Saria has grown in her time away!"

The Kokiri looked at Saria, who hadn't grown an inch in the days she had been gone, then looked back to Fado, who grit her teeth.

"I don't mean literally! I'm saying the new experiences helped her grow stronger and wiser. We've spent our whole lives in this forest, but if Saria can make it in the outside world, so can we." Fado then stood up. "And I'll prove it. Saria, I'm coming with you!"

"You are?" asked Saria.

"You are?!" asked Mido.

The blonde Kokiri grinned. "We can't expect Saria to do all the work, right? I can help discuss any plans or training with this Darunia once we meet so Saria can focus on other things. If I have your permission, of course."

Saria smiled at this. "You don't need my permission, Fado. You can come along."

Fado pumped her fist and said, "Then I'll start packing. See you outside!"

As she walked away, one of the boys tugged at her dress. "Are you really leaving us too?"

"Of course. How else are we going to get anything done? Don't worry so much. I'll be back before you know it!"

After Fado walked out of the house, Saria looked to the other Kokiri. She could tell they were still worried, so she approached them and got down on her knee, hugging as many as she could.

"It'll be okay. As long as we work together, we can overcome anything the world has to throw at us. So stay strong for me while I'm away."

The other Kokiri teared up, saying, "We will!" while they all hugged. Saria then concluded the meeting, stepping outside with the others and watching them disperse. Mido left without saying a word, returning to his house. Saria decided to follow him in to make sure he was okay.

"Hey, what's wrong?" asked Saria.

"What? Nothing's wrong," said Mido, grabbing some things from his chest. "That just went by pretty fast."

"Are you sure? We still have time to talk with Fado packing."

"Oh no, it's fine. You seem to be in a hurry to get out of here anyway, so who am I to stop you?"

"Hey! It's not what you think! This is important!"

"More important than us?!"

"I'm doing this because of all of you!" Saria raised her voice more than she intended. She quieted down for a moment before saying, "Ever since I got back, I've been struggling to even move. I don't want to leave home again so soon. I've thought about home every day since I've been gone. Even so, I understand now more than ever how important it is to keep fighting. If I can't keep the village safe, there won't be a home for me to return to."

Hearing this, Mido shook his head. "I get you're worried about us and want us to be safe, but what about you? When are you gonna worry about yourself for a change?!"

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"You figure it out why don't you!" Mido then pushed past Saria, stepping out of his house. "I'm going back to the Lost Woods. I gotta do my part too, right?"

Saria watched her friend stomp off once again. She shut the door to his house, leaving it behind.

"Moody as usual," said Poppy. "I guess I shouldn't be too surprised."

"Is it really because of me, though? I know I've been gone for a while, but it hasn't been that long, right?"

Poppy looked into Saria's eyes and hummed. "Hmmm, no. I won't say. I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually."

Saria grumbled, but she didn't have much else to say. She put it out of her mind and looked for Fado. She found the girl waiting at the village exit with a Goron-sized travel pack.

"Uh, Fado? You don't need that much stuff where we're going," said Saria.

"We don't?"

"Yeah. We shouldn't be gone for more than a day."

"Fine. I'll put some stuff away, then. Just give me a sec."

With some time to kill, Saria visited one last part of the village. Standing at the top of a small slope, she looked up at the treehouse. The carving at the base of the tree and the ladder were fine, but the house felt cold and lifeless. Small bits of moss had started growing on the outer walls. It wouldn't be long until it fell into disrepair.

Fado met back up with Saria, now with a more practical travel bag. "We weren't sure what to do with it," she said while looking at the old house. "Some of us were in disbelief, even after we watched you bury him and Navi. We thought it was an elaborate prank and he'd pop out of the bushes a day later. I guess that'll never happen, huh?"

Saria rubbed her arm, looking away. She said nothing.

"What do you think we should do with it?" Fado asked.

"I don't know," said Saria. "We can figure it out later. Let's go."

As Saria left for the exit, Fado said under her breath, "Sorry…"

When Fado stepped out into the fields of Hyrule, she patted herself down.

"Is this real? Am I still alive?"

"Of course you are," said Saria, patting the girl on the back. "Now let's get going. We have a lot of ground to cover."

Fado's fairy, Lati, floated above Fado's head. "It feels like it's been forever since I've seen the outside world."

"You never went outside much?" asked Poppy.

Lati shook her head. "Was never asked to."

"Then stick with me," said Poppy with a grin. "I'll show you all the sights when we have time!"

The Kokiri and fairies made their way across the fields, with Fado running ahead, her face beaming with joy.

"Ooh, what's this? What's that?" Fado lifted up a rock. "Hey, they have the same kind of bugs in the Lost Woods!" Then she turned, noticing something big in the distance. "Hey Saria, what's that big plant over there?"

After Saria caught up, she took Fado by the arm. "I wouldn't mess with that if I were you."

"Oooh, okay. Is it dangerous?"

"Extremely," said Poppy. "It can fly, its leaves can cut down trees, and when you defeat it, the whole thing explodes!"

"That just makes me want to check it out even more!"

Saria had to drag Fado away. "None of that, now. I don't want you to get hurt while we have so far to walk."

"Aaaah. You're no fun."

Once the girls were safely away from the peahats, Saria led Fado towards Kakariko Village. As she did, a thought crossed her mind. Wait a minute, she thought. Didn't I need to do something in Castle Town?

"Hey Fado, I know we need to head up to Death Mountain, but would you be interested in taking a detour and seeing Castle Town?" asked Saria.

"Would I?! Let's go!" shouted Fado.

"Aren't we in a hurry though?" asked Poppy. "We only have so much time to prepare before Ganondorf shows up."

"Yeah, but we have a whole month, right? And we do owe that guard in Kakariko a favor…"

"Did he even do anything though?"

Saria paused, tapping her cheek. "I suppose not. But we did promise to help him, and that's good enough reason for me."

"Don't worry so much, Poppy. It won't take that long!" Fado then took Saria by the hand, running off towards the castle with Lati floating behind. All Poppy could do was watch them go.

"I can't believe it. Now there's two of them." Poppy then gave chase, doing her best to keep up with her companions until they all made it to the town gate.

Saria had to stick close to the ever-curious Fado, who was positively ecstatic about all the new sights, sounds, and smells in the market. Looking at the Kokiri girl run around excitedly from place to place made Saria feel nostalgic over her first outing to the town.

"Ooh, is this Hylian food? I wanna try!"

"Hold on," Saria grabbed Fado. "Before we get too caught up in things, I need to take care of an errand. Then we can have a little fun."

Fado's shoulders drooped. "Fiiiine. Have it your way."

Saria led the way to the strange shop in the middle of the marketplace. It was a house-sized building with a large mask fixture on top that was locked in a perpetual smile.

"Kinda creepy, don't you think?" asked Lati.

"It does make you curious though, doesn't it?" said Fado.

Saria felt tense. She moved in front and opened the door, stepping inside. It was a wide-open building with little more than a counter on the other side, though a large sign had been posted on the left side of the store that reached from floor to ceiling. It was too much to read, so she approached the store counter.

"Hello? Is anyone working right now?"

"Quite so!" said an unusual man popping up from behind the counter. He had slicked back orange hair, squinted, and had a toothy smile. A large travel pack leaned against the wall behind the counter covered in masks. "Welcome to the Happy Mask Shop, young ladies. I'm the proprietor of the store, the Happy Mask Salesman. Although… I suppose you could just call me the Salesman for short."

"Do you not have a proper name?" asked Saria. The Salesman's brow furrowed at this.

"I find it very proper, for your information. Besides, I reserve personal names for personal affairs. Now, if you are a customer, I can help you to a mask."

While Fado and the fairies looked at the tall sign, Saria looked at the shelves behind the Salesman. There wasn't much in stock, curiously enough. Pointing, she said, "Hey, is that yellow mask up there a popular item?"

"It is indeed!" said the Salesman. "People are quite fond of the Keaton character, I'd say. Would you like to borrow the mask?" he smiled.

"Borrow?"

"Yes… I don't suppose you read the rules, did you?"

"I… No, I guess I didn't. Can I not just buy it for someone?"

"Well yes, but also no. You see, I'm trying something new with my shop. Think of it like a game. You can borrow the mask as long as you'd like, but on the condition you act as a second salesman on my behalf. If you find someone who wants to buy it, you take what money they give you and bring it back. If they give you more than the mask is worth, you make a profit. If they pay less, it comes out of your pocket. By spreading my masks around, you increase the world's happiness, and I trust you a little more, so you can see more of my wares. They're very precious to me, so if you wish to play, I ask you be prompt and courteous."

Fado approached the counter. "You can just borrow them, huh? And if we can't find someone, we give back the mask when we're done?"

"Precisely," said the Salesman.

"And what happens if someone doesn't return the mask?" asked Saria. At this, the Salesman opened his eyes, revealing an intense glare.

"Then I take the mask back." The man then closed his eyes, returning a happy little smile to his face.

"Well… I am trying to get the mask for someone else, so I already have a customer in mind," said Saria.

"Great! Then take this," the Salesman passed the Keaton mask over to Saria.

"Ooh, I want one too! I don't know anybody, I just wanna wear it for a little bit," said Fado. "I'll be sure to return it before I leave town."

"Very well," the man said, passing a second mask to the girl.

With the masks acquired, the girls left the shop. Saria couldn't help but mumble, "What a strange man…" to herself.

Once outside, the girls tried on their masks. Saria was worried there might be some kind of spell on the masks, but they were entirely ordinary. She slipped hers up to rest on her head and turned to Fado.

"So why did you want one?" she asked.

"Why? Because it means we match!" Fado said with a smile.

"Just be careful, okay? That merchant gave me the creeps. I'd rather not get in trouble, so remember to return the mask when you're done."

"I promise! I'm a little surprised, though. There are much scarier things in the Lost Woods than that guy."

The girls moved on. Saria treated everyone to some food using rupees she had collected during her travels. Saria bought a whole baked cucco, some fruit, and a wedge of cheese to share. While Poppy and Lati chewed on a pear together, Saria and Fado partook of the meat and cheese. As soon as Fado ate some of the food, her face clenched up in pure delight.

"Oooh, that's really good! This is nothing like what you'd find in our village! Thanks for letting me tag along."

"You've really taken a liking to the outside world, huh?" said Saria.

"Of course! I've spent my whole life in those woods! It's always the same faces, same food, same weather, same everything! Day in, day out. It's soooo boring. It's why I like to explore the Lost Woods so much."

Saria almost felt hurt. "It's not that boring, is it? I like our home."

"Oh, I don't mean it like that. I just felt cooped up in that small village. I love our home, but isn't it exciting to finally experience so many new things?"

Saria thought back to all her experiences ever since she had left her village. The good times, the bad times, all the explosions. It had been quite an adventure so far.

"Exciting is a good word for it," said Saria. "Come to think of it, I don't recall seeing you in the Lost Woods much. How often did you wander around there? Surely you know of the danger."

"Danger makes things fun," said Fado, taking a huge bite out of an apple. "Isn't that why you always went in there yourself? There are so many strange and scary things there, it's the perfect cure for boredom. You even get to see outsiders, occasionally. Young people, old people, people looking for their friends, people trying to run away. All sorts of types. You must have seen them too, right?"

"I've seen a few lost people before. I usually try to lead them out if I can, but sometimes I can't always help them."

"It's kind of strange though, don't you think? You ever wonder why the Lost Woods does that to people?"

"What do you mean?"

Fado took her fork and stabbed it into the roasted cucco, pulling away a big chunk of meat. "Don't you know? Outsiders who get lost in those woods start to change. The young ones become skull kids, and the older ones become stalfos. Only we Kokiri are safe in those woods. Any non-Kokiri turn into monsters… I've always wondered why. It's pretty interesting, don't you think?"

A bead of sweat slipped down Saria's face. "I'd prefer not to think about that."

Fado's expression went back to normal. "Fair enough. You're the leader, so you get to make the rules. If you don't want to talk about that kind of thing, then we won't!" Fado took a big bite out of the meat on her fork, looking as peaceful as could be.

As far back as Saria could remember, Fado had always been around. She wasn't sure if Fado was older or younger than her, but Fado was most certainly older than the other Kokiri. She was also one of the few blonde-haired villagers, always wearing her hair in two big pompoms. She was loved by the Kokiri, and was quite close to Mido, sometimes playing the part of a doting sister. As for how Saria felt about her, she couldn't say. Fado was a fun and curious girl, but always the troublemaker. She was cute and affectionate, but also a little scary at times. She was like the wind – an unpredictable free spirit. If nothing else, Saria knew that she could never let Fado out of her sight for even a minute, because if she did, who knows what she would get up to?

When everyone was done eating, Saria wrapped up the leftovers with a clean cloth and stored the food in her travel pack.

"Okay, let's get out of here," said Saria.

"Already? But we just got here!" complained Fado.

"Yeah, but we have things to do." Saria tried walking away, but Fado, still sitting, wrapped her arms around Saria's waist.

"Come ooooon, there's still so much I haven't seen. Just a little longer. Please?"

Saria looked to her fairy companion, who shrugged. She sighed. "Oh, all right. Just a little longer."

"Yay!" Fado leapt up out of her chair.

With Fado leading the way, the girls spent more time in town. They went everywhere, climbing rooftops, playing with animals, and talking with strangers. They even found games to play in some of the stores. Saria won a new belt pouch at the shooting gallery, whereas Fado got some spending money at the bombchu bowling alley.

When it started to get late, Saria said, "Okay Fado, let's get going now."

"Hold on," Fado stopped, looking towards the castle. "Is that where you said you saw the princess?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks! I'm gonna go say hi to her before we go!"

Fado ran off. Saria shouted, "Hey, get back here!"

Saria gave chase, leaving the town behind. She was unaware of the man that had been watching her and her friend. From around the corner, a merchant smiled to himself. "There they go. Looks like I've found myself more fairies to catch."

The two Kokiri sprinted towards the castle, all while their fairies did their best to keep up. Fado proved nimbler than Saria, climbing the vines along the stone wall with ease while Saria lost her grip halfway through. Fado nearly reached the gate wall when Saria made it to the top. Saria continued chasing the girl, watching as she leapt from the gate and rolled across the ground, unphased by the fall. Saria followed suit, eventually cornering the girl on a path to the right with a sign that read "Dead End."

"There you are. You need to be more careful! We're not allowed to be here," said Saria.

"Are you sure? I thought you got to see the princess," said Fado.

"And almost got beat up because of it, too. Everyone is on high alert right now because of the Gerudo. If we get caught, who knows what will happen to us?"

"Then all we need to do is not get caught," Fado smiled.

Saria was starting to get irritated, but before she said anything, a faint wave of energy washed over her. A strong but subdued presence could be felt nearby, like the warmth from a fire. Saria looked past her friend, noticing a boulder at the end of the path. That's when she remembered something from back on Death Mountain.

"Hold on," said Saria, walking past Fado. "I think there's a hidden path here. I met a Great Fairy once before, and she mentioned one of her sisters was nearby Hyrule Castle."

"You think this might be where she is?" asked Fado.

"I do. The question is how we get past this boulder without alerting the guards…" Saria tested the limits of her magic bracelet, but she wasn't strong enough to lift the boulder. "Darn, I guess that won't work. Maybe if we pushed together…"

"I have an idea!" Fado reached into one of her own pouches, pulling out a bombchu.

"Hey! Where did you even get that?"

"I borrowed it? I thought that's how shops worked here."

"Fado, not all the shops run on a borrow-based exchange. I paid for the food, remember? That's a stolen bombchu!"

Fado hummed in thought before setting the bombchu on the ground. Saria was so caught off-guard, she was too slow to stop it. The bombchu raced past her, latched onto the boulder, then spun around and around before finally detonating, destroying the boulder.

"What'd you go and do that for?!" said Saria.

"Figured I might as well use it. Can't be caught for stealing if I don't have it, right?"

Already Saria could hear the sound of guards racing down the path as smoke from the explosion cleared up. A small crawlspace could be seen.

"Quick, inside!"

Saria and Fado dove through the crawlspace with their fairies, disappearing before the guards found them. After leaving the crawlspace, the girls found themselves standing before a Great Fairy's fountain.

"Woooow, what is this place?" asked Fado.

"It's a fountain where one of the Great Fairies live," Saria took a deep breath and relaxed her shoulders. "It's not quite how I imagined finding this place, but I suppose I should thank you for the help."

Fado wrapped an arm around Saria's shoulders as she said, "Of course! What are friends for?"

Grumbling, Saria pushed Fado away and said, "No more bombchus, though. We have to be on our best behavior for the Great Fairy, okay?"

"Don't worry, Saria," said Lati. "I'll make sure she doesn't misbehave anymore."

Fado rolled her eyes. "Relax. I only had the one bombchu, anyway."

Saria then stepped forward, summoning the fairy with her ocarina. As before, the Great Fairy appeared from the fountain, floating through the air. She immediately popped her back and let out a pleased wince.

"Ooh, that was nice. Been a while since I got to stretch like that." She then looked down at Saria. "Aaah, I see. So it is true. You're the new hero, right?"

Saria straightened her posture and said, "Yes, in a matter of speaking. I was told by your sister on Death Mountain to come see you. I heard you can teach me a spell?"

"I can do that," the Great Fairy smiled. "I am the Great Fairy of Magic, after all. Receive my power, little one, and rejoice!"

Extending her hands, the Great Fairy transferred a portion of her power into Saria, passing the spell on. Saria felt the magic flow through her body as before, but this time she saw a vision of a great inferno bursting from the ground.

"What is this?" asked Saria.

"That spell is called Din's Fire. Nice, isn't it?"

"It feels powerful, but also dangerous."

"Well, you're not wrong. Fire can hurt. Fire can destroy. But it can also warm the body, cook your food, and light the path ahead. Fire can be many things. It's all a matter of how you use it. So use it with care, little one."

"Ooh, I wanna learn Din's Fire too!" said Fado. Saria shoved the Kokiri girl away.

"Not happening."

The Great Fairy chuckled at the exchange and said, "It's been nice seeing some fresh new faces. If you ever need help or advice, don't hesitate to call on me. See you later, darlings!"

Then the fairy disappeared into the fountain. The girls turned away and headed for the exit.

"She's really pretty, huh?" said Fado.

"Indeed."

"Do you think you'll ever turn into that?" Fado asked of Lati.

"I'm not sure. Great Fairies are the accumulation of many fairies. I could become a part of one, but probably never be one, if that makes sense."

"Huh. I think so. What do you think, Poppy?"

"I'm already gorgeous. I don't need to be big to be pretty," the fairy grinned. Fado chuckled at this and followed after Saria. When the two Kokiri left the fountain, however, they found someone waiting for them outside.

"And that makes two," said the merchant.

"Wait, who's this guy?" asked Fado.

"I have no idea," said Saria. "I don't think he's a guard, though."

The man standing before the Kokiri was a Hylian. He had shoulder-length brown hair, blue eyes, and wore a green vest over his otherwise plain clothing. He held a glass bottle in his hand as he stared the Kokiri down.

"Okay, let's make this quick. Hand over your fairies, or else I'll shout for the guards."

"You're bluffing," said Saria. "You'll get in just as much trouble with the guards as us."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," grinned the merchant. "They'll likely just throw me out like they do with most people. But you? I've heard about you and the trouble you've caused them. Given how tight security is these days, they might just drag you off to the dungeon. So what'll it be? Your fairies or the dungeon?"

Saria was unamused by the man's threats. She said, "You can have this." She then smashed a deku nut against the ground, blinding the man. "Fado, let's get out of here!" The merchant was left in such pain he could hardly speak. The Kokiri and fairies slipped past him, sneaking into the gatehouse before climbing out and leaving the castle grounds behind.

Back in the marketplace, Saria and Fado stopped to catch their breath.

"What was that about?" asked Fado. "Why did that guy want our fairies?"

"I don't know, but I have a bad feeling about this. Let's get going. We're long overdue for Kakariko Village."

Unfortunately, night had fallen across the town. By the time the girls reached the gate, it was already closed. Saria skid to a halt. "Oh shoot! They closed the gate on us!"

"Do you know of any other way out?" asked Fado.

"I was shown a secret exit once, but you need a special key to use it that I don't have."

"Ooh, I have an idea," said Poppy. "You learned that song back in the tomb, right? If you play it, it'll be day again and we can leave!"

"That might just make them confused, but I'll give it a shot."

Saria drew her ocarina out once more and was ready to play. As she did, however, a man shouted from behind her.

"Hey!" Saria stopped and turned to face the man, realizing he was one of the guards.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"It's quiet time. No playing music."

"But-"

"I said no. People are trying to sleep, so be respectful. If you disturb the peace, I won't hesitate to throw you in jail."

Saria narrowed her eyes at the guard and put her ocarina away. "So be it… Can you at least let us out? We need to get to Kakariko Village. It's urgent."

"Are you crazy? There are way too many monsters that come out at night for me to do that. You want me to endanger the whole town? Sorry, but you'll have to wait until morning."

As the guard walked away, Fado stared daggers at the back of the man's head, popping her knuckles. Saria had to grab her before she went after him.

"Hey, what gives?" said Fado. "If we take care of him, we can open the gate ourselves, right?"

Saria shook her head. "I'd rather not cause more trouble than I already have. Let's just find somewhere to rest for the night."

Fado followed after Saria, saying, "Ooh, and if we find somewhere secluded, then we can play that song."

With night fallen across the town, the girls found it a far less hospitable place. All the friendly faces had gone home, now soundly asleep. The only things still awake were the guards patrolling the town (far more than Saria expected) and all the dogs wandering the streets. A cold wind blew through the town, making Saria pull her cloak together.

"Saria… Are you all right?" asked Fado.

"I've been better. I feel like an idiot for spending all day in town. We should be in Goron City by now."

"Don't beat yourself up over it. I'm the reason we stuck around for so long. If you have to blame someone, blame me."

Saria shook her head. "You can say that, but I'm the one who took a detour in the first place. We wouldn't be in this situation if I didn't drag you along on my errand."

Fado frowned. She watched as Saria sat down with her back against the wall of a building, huddling up with her cloak. The building itself looked like a medicine shop. Fado and her fairy inspected the front of the store and found a sign.

"Hold on, what's this sign say?"

This got Saria's attention, so she stood up and read the sign as well. The sign was an advertisement, talking about the store's inventory to get new customers interested. The store sold potions, deku nuts, blue flame, and even bottled poes – a disturbing thought for Saria, having met a pair of ghosts herself. But the last item it listed was bottled fairies, which sold for fifty rupees each.

"Wait… This shop sells fairies?" scoffed Saria.

"This is outrageous!" growled Poppy. "I'm worth way more than fifty rupees!"

"Does this mean that man from earlier runs this shop?" asked Lati. "Either that or he was planning to sell us to the owner."

The girls looked at each other. With a furrowed brow, Saria said, "I think we should take a closer look before we leave town tonight."

Saria and the fairies were hiding behind the potion shop while Fado picked the lock. Apparently, Fado had found a number of unusual items abandoned by people who disappeared in the Lost Woods. Saria decided not to question it.

"Got it. Come on!" whispered Fado.

With the backdoor unlocked, everyone slipped inside. It didn't take long until the girls found the shop's storeroom. There were several bottled potions, tools used for mixing ingredients, bags of spare deku nuts, and a whole shelf's worth of bottled fairies. As soon as they noticed the Kokiri girls, they all started banging on their glass, silently shouting for help.

"Don't worry. We'll get you out," said Saria, reaching for one of the bottles.

"Not so fast!" said a familiar voice. "That's store property!"

Saria and Fado turned, realizing the merchant from earlier was standing by the backdoor with a guard in tow.

"These are the ones I told you about, sir," said the merchant. "See? They've already stolen two of my fairies!"

"These aren't your fairies, you bum!" shouted Saria. "These are our fairies! We're Kokiri!"

"What do you mean?" asked the guard.

"Kokiri and faeries have always lived side by side. They're our companions. Have you never heard of our village?"

"Yeah! We're not someone's property!" shouted Poppy.

"Wait… Hold on… I'm not sure how to handle this," said the guard.

"You're not just going to let them get away with this, are you?" asked the merchant. "They broke into my shop!"

"True. Okay, you two can come with me. I need to talk with my captain about this fairy business."

Much to their frustration, Saria and Fado followed the guard out of the shop to the gatehouse by the town's main entrance. Saria wanted to avoid trouble, but even she was losing her patience. She started questioning what was more important: doing good or following the law?

"Sorry about this," said the guard. "It'll just be a minute. Wait here."

The man stepped inside the gatehouse to talk with his fellow guards. After he shut the door, Fado crossed her arms. "How rude. I don't care much for the laws these Hylians enforce."

Saria, who was once again sitting with her back against a wall, rested her head across her arms. "Well we are on the same side. It's frustrating, but what can we do?"

At this, Fado kicked a rock away. "We are not on the same side! Fairies aren't property! If we let this go, we're condoning slavery!"

"But what if the fairies are being used to help heal people and keep them safe?"

"There's a difference between asking a fairy for help and forcing them to help you! Didn't you see how those fairies reacted when they saw us? They need our help! And if we keep letting these guards push us around, we'll never get the chance!"

Saria's eyes widened at this. "You know what… You're right. Who knows how many fairies have already been captured and sold? We can't let them get away with this!"

"You're darn right we can't!" Fado reached out a hand, helping Saria to her feet. "I think it's time we take matters into our own hands. You ready to ditch these guys?"

"I am. If they won't respect the people of the forest, there's no reason to respect them."

The girls slipped on their Keaton masks and faded into the shadows. Not long after, the guard stepped out of the gatehouse.

"Okay, so it turns out it's perfectly legal to… Huh? Where'd they go?" The guard looked around, unable to find the Kokiri. Before he could blow his whistle to alert the others, a deku nut slammed into the ground, blinding the man. Two small figures emerged from the darkness, knocking out the guard, as well as the others inside the gatehouse. Once the guards were safely tucked away in the building, the girls returned to the medicine shop.

"Huh? Who goes there?" The merchant looked around, seeing the two figures approach. "Oh, it's you two? Didn't you learn your lesson already, or," he grinned, "are you here to cut me a deal?"

"There will be no more selling of fairies," said the green-haired girl. "We've come to dispense justice."

"Kokiri justice," said the blonde-haired girl before shutting and locking the backdoor.

"Wait, you can't be serious. I'm twice your size. There's no way you could-"

The green haired girl kicked the merchant in the knee, knocking him to the ground. He pushed himself back, pleading with the girls.

"Wait, hold on! Let's make a deal! I could give you a cut of the profits! How does 50% sound? No, 70%! 80%! Come on! Answer me!"

The girls ignored his pleading and beat him to a pulp. By the time the guards found him the next day, the shop had been ransacked. All the fairies had been freed, and the owner was tied up in the corner with the word "Slaver" written on his forehead.

"By the goddesses, what happened?!" said one of the guards.

The delirious merchant mumbled, "Keatons… Don't mess with keatons…"

When the Castle Town gate was open, an old lady on a horse-drawn cart made its way out, its goods tied down with a cloth tarp. After the gate guard gave the cart a cursory inspection, he let the woman pass. She rode across the fields as she made her way to Kakariko Village. Once she reached the entrance at the foot of the mountain, she stopped.

"Okay, it's all clear," said the old lady.

Saria, Fado, and the two fairies slipped out from under the covers and climbed out of the cart.

"Thanks for the help," said Saria, handing the old lady some rupees. "Here's the rest of your payment."

"Oh, much appreciated. That was a tad surprising, though. I didn't expect the guards to be on such high alert. Did something happen recently?"

Saria shook her head. "I couldn't say."

"I heard the local potion shop had a bad break-in recently." The woman smiled, almost knowingly. "Seems the world isn't as safe as it used to be. You kids take care, now."

Then the old lady flicked her reins and drove her cart back over the bridge, disappearing down the road.

"Nice lady," Fado smiled. "I'll have to visit her the next time I'm in town."

"I'm not sure it's a good idea to go back right now," said Saria.

"I gotta return this mask eventually, right?"

Saria tensed up. "You still have that?!"

"Relax. I didn't have time to give it back since the shop was closed before we left. Besides, as long as I return it in the end, there's no harm, right?"

Saria sighed. "I can't believe I've become a criminal. They're all going to hate me now…"

"It's okay," said Poppy, patting Saria on the shoulder. "Should the worst come to pass, we fairies will always honor your memory."

"Hush, you."

The girls made their way up to Kakariko Village. Before Fado got distracted by all the cuccos, Saria dragged her off and walked up to the Death Mountain gate.

"Hey, long time no see, Ms. Hero!" said the friendly guard. "Did you happen to pick up that mask?"

"I did." Saria passed the Keaton mask over to the guard. He looked it over and smiled.

"Wow, this is great!" He then put it on. "My kid is gonna love this! Thanks Ms. Hero! You're the best! Here, take these."

The guard handed Saria fifteen rupees, and with the errand concluded, the girls passed through the gate and walked up the mountain trail. Unlike in the past, there were no signs of monsters. Instead, Gorons young and old could be seen all throughout the trail. Some were basking in the sun, others were playing, and many more were just rolling around for fun. It was a much livelier place than it was before. Even though Saria felt bad for breaking so many laws in Castle Town, she felt satisfied knowing she had still made a difference elsewhere.

"Big Sis!" shouted a Goron, who faceplanted into the ground. "Didn't think I'd see you again so soon."

Saria helped the Goron up, saying, "And I didn't think you'd be doing that again so soon. Haven't you learned anything?"

"Sorry, I was just excited to see you."

Fado burst out laughing at the Goron's display, saying, "This is what Gorons are like? I think I'm gonna like you guys!"

"Ooh, who's that, Big Sis?" asked the Goron.

"This is Fado. She's another Kokiri," said Saria. "Is Darunia in the city? I need to speak with him."

The Goron nodded, confirming Darunia was in Goron City. After thanking the man and saying goodbye, Saria led Fado up the rest of the trail, taking her inside the city where they found Darunia running armored Gorons through military drills.

"Saria! Glad to see ya! Who's this?" asked Darunia. Saria introduced Fado, and then the pair shook hands. "Pleasure to meet you, Fado. Any friend of Saria is a friend of mine!"

"Same!" Fado smiled.

"If you don't mind me asking, what brings you back so soon? Is something wrong?"

"It's about Ganondorf," said Saria. "He escaped to Gerudo Valley. The king thinks he might be planning an attack."

"Hmph! That slippery little thief! I thought something like that might be happening. It's why I'm training my warriors. Gotta be ready for anything!"

"Is it possible my people could train with yours? They're not used to fighting like you and me are. If Ganondorf does attack Hyrule, I want the Kokiri to be prepared."

Darunia crossed his muscular arms and nodded. "Of course. Anything for my blood sister!"

"Thank you. Fado can take over from here. She can help coordinate things between you and the other Kokiri."

"I see. So, Fado, was it? You ever been in a fight before?"

Fado smiled. "I've had to put down a few stalfos in the past, so I know a thing or two about fighting."

"Huh. Not sure what those are, but they sound dangerous. Good! I'm glad you're not as green as your tunic!" The Goron chief laughed alongside Fado while Saria stood back, utterly horrified by what Fado had said.

"She's joking… Right?" asked Saria.

"You never know with that one," said Poppy. "At least they're getting along."

Saria said her goodbyes and left the city. She had taken longer than she intended, but now that things had been settled, she could focus entirely on her training. She headed back to Kakariko Village and searched for Impa, eventually finding her waiting in the graveyard. The muscular woman was leaning against a wall of dirt, tapping her foot.

"Finally decided to show up, I see. Took you long enough," said Impa.

"I'm sorry, things got a little out of hand, but it's all taken care of now," said Saria.

"It's all right. I'm just glad you showed up at all. Your training partner is waiting for you."

"My… Training partner?"

Impa smirked. "You'll see." Then the woman turned and walked through a wall. What Saria thought was solid dirt rippled like the surface of a pond. Unsure what to make of it, Saria stuck her hand through the wall.

"It's an illusion. Interesting."

Saria then stepped through the illusion, following after Impa. The Sheikah led the girl to a hidden part of the village. The stone buildings looked much older, having a layer of moss on their walls, and the surrounding woods had grown so dense that the canopy nearly swallowed the sun. There were also several structures that seemed to serve little purpose other than for training. It was part village and part obstacle course, with a pond of water in the center where fireflies gently danced above it on the winds.

"Welcome to Sheikah Village," said Impa. "For the time being, this will be your new home."

"That answers a few questions," said Saria. "Kakariko always seemed a bit ordinary compared to what I knew about the Sheikah."

Impa chuckled at the girl's words. "There's a lot you don't know about us, and hopefully it stays that way."

Saria walked forward, taking a look around. Then, she sensed a presence coming up from behind her. She turned, weapon at the ready.

"Who goes there?"

"It's all right," said Impa. "They're your new training partner. Come on out, Sheik."

A young boy about Saria's height stepped out of the shadows. Wearing form-fitting clothes similar to Impa, but covering their whole body, their forearms, chest, and head were wrapped in bandages, and a tattered tabard was worn over their torso, displaying the symbol of the Sheikah in red. Blonde hair could be seen beneath their head wrappings, and while one eye was covered by hair, their other eye was red, looking at Saria with a subdued yet intense gaze.

"Whoa," said Poppy. "He's gonna be your training partner?"

"Nice to meet you," said Sheik in a calm, boyish voice. He extended a hand to Saria. The Kokiri accepted, shaking the boy's hand. His grip was firm, and his fingers calloused – likely due to intense training.

"Nice to meet you. You've got an interesting name," said Saria.

"Young Sheikah in training are not given names," said Impa. "Not all trainees survive their youth. Because of this, it's a tradition to give our young such a title. If they survive training, they become official Sheikah, earning their name."

"I thought you were the last of the Sheikah."

"I am, at least until Sheik earns their place," Impa smiled. "Now we don't have much time. Ganondorf may not march for a month, but there's no telling what that sorcerer will do in the meantime. We have to be ready for anything. Monsters, bandits, wizards – you name it. You two better get ready, because by the end of the month, you'll either be the toughest warriors in Hyrule, or you'll be dead. There is no middle ground."

Saria looked to Sheik and nodded. She had no idea what to expect, but she knew everyone was counting on her. Clenching her fist, she looked Impa in the eye and said, "Okay. Let's get started!"