Saria, Hero of the Forest

by digitalSatyr23

There is a prophecy that a young boy from the forest would one day leave his home, aid a princess in her quest, and ultimately vanquish evil with the help of the Ocarina of Time and the Master Sword. But something has gone wrong. Saria, a Kokiri from Kokiri Village, must take up the mantle of hero and save Hyrule before the world is unraveled by the prophecy undone.

6. Chapter 6: Sharpening Our Blades

Saria began her training under Impa alongside the mysterious boy, Sheik. While Poppy watched from afar, Saria performed a number of strenuous tasks to help increase her strength, endurance, and agility – all without the help of the Goron's Bracelet. When questioned, Impa explained that it was important to be able to take care of yourself and not rely on your gear (the bracelet multiplied one's strength anyway so it would still prove beneficial later on). Saria had to walk tightropes with a basket of rocks on her back, hold her breath for longer and longer periods while completely submerged in the pond, as well as play "games" of stealth where she was struck with a rod anytime she was detected. There were normal exercises too, such as running laps around the village, push-ups, pull-ups, and hanging sit-ups. Of course, even ordinary exercises were pushed to their extreme.

So that's why she's so muscular, thought Saria. Impa must have done this all the time in her youth.

Every once and a while, Impa would take things up a notch and make Saria and Sheik run an obstacle course. This course ran all throughout the village, with such things as swinging metal balls, spiked fences that could be raised higher and higher with a turn-crank, trap doors disguised as normal ground that could open up at any time, and many other dangerous devices. Injury from the obstacles was punishment for failure. Impa did nothing if someone was injured during the obstacle course, at least until both Saria and Sheik had either made it across the finish line or were unable to continue. Despite the harsh nature of Impa's training, she was not completely heartless. She had a large supply of healing medicine on hand to treat any injuries sustained during training.

Impa did everything she could to push Saria to her breaking point. Saria had to become faster, stronger, more agile, and more cunning every day or learn a new lesson in pain. The training was grueling and left her body aching every day, but Saria refused to give up. There was too much at stake.

"Two minutes, fifteen seconds. You shaved off a few seconds, Saria. Good work," said Impa. The Kokiri, struggling to catch her breath, merely nodded her head. Impa continued, saying, "That will be all for today. Get some rest, you two."

Then Impa disappeared. When training concluded for the day, Saria and Sheik had the village all to themselves, since Impa had to attend to other duties. Usually Saria would bathe and rest, or sometimes step outside and hang out in Kakariko Village, but today, she decided to check on Sheik first.

"What was your time?" asked Saria. "You're always ahead of me, so it's hard to tell."

Sheik, who was sitting on the edge of a small cliff above a dirt path, said, "One minute and thirty-eight seconds," solemnly.

"Wow, that's fast!" said Poppy, joining the two. Sheik shook his head at this.

"It may be fast compared to your time, but I haven't improved for a while. I've plateaued. I'm not sure I have what it takes to become a Sheikah. That's what Impa says, anyway…"

"Oh, what does she know?! I bet it's been years since she's run this course!"

"Did she keep record of her times from her youth?" asked Saria as she sat next to Sheik.

"One minute and twenty-five seconds," said Sheik.

Thirteen seconds. It seemed like a small number at a glance, but Saria had seen Sheik traverse the obstacle course again and again throughout the week she had been training beside him. The way he slipped through barriers, hopped fences, and ran without making a sound was incredible. Each run through the course was nothing short of perfection, and yet there was still such a wide gap between mentor and student…

"It's okay. You'll make it there someday," said Saria. "You may even surpass Impa."

"How can you be so sure?"

With a smile, Saria said, "Maybe it's just intuition, but you're already this capable at such a young age. I'm certain you'll go far."

Sheik gripped his knees with his bandaged hands. "I… I don't understand."

"You don't have to," said Poppy. "Just have a little faith in yourself!"

"Faith, is it?"

Sheik and Saria looked out across the village. It was midday, though there were enough clouds in the sky to cover the village in shade. A soft, chilling wind blew through the air, making the sweat clinging to Saria feel cold. She took a drink from her waterskin then held it out towards Sheik.

"Thirsty?"

The red-eyed boy looked at the waterskin for a moment before accepting the offer, pulling the cloth covering most of his face down to drink. He was a handsome boy. Saria suspected he'd be very popular back in her village.

After Sheik gave Saria her waterskin back, Saria asked, "Have you always been training under Impa, or is this something new?"

"I've been training with Impa since I was physically able to," said Sheik. "It's been six, no, seven years I think."

"Since you were that young? But why?" asked Poppy.

"I'm to be Impa's replacement. I must be ready to defend the Royal Family with my life as other Sheikah have in the past." Sheik paused for a moment, looking in the direction of the village entrance. "You've probably wondered why Impa and I are the only ones left. I was told that before I was born, there was a great war that threatened to consume all of Hyrule. The Sheikah before me died protecting the Royal Family – including my parents. Their bodies are buried in the graveyard of Kakariko. Surely you understand why I worry so. If I can't live up to the Sheikah name after Impa retires, the clan will disappear. All their sacrifices, all their history… It'll be nothing but a memory."

Hearing this, Saria said, "Sheik… I understand why it's so important to you, but if you put too much pressure on yourself to succeed, the stress will wear you out faster than the training. You've got to relax and clear your head."

"Do we even have time to relax? Just because Impa believes we have a month doesn't make it true. Ganondorf could show up any day now with his warriors and monsters, and if he takes the castle, then what? Do I give my life to protect the Royal Family, or do I…?"

"What? What's wrong?"

Sheik stood up. "I've been thinking. Have the Sheikah always served a specific family, or is it merely the family who holds power in Hyrule? Will a day come when I have to serve Ganondorf?"

Saria stood up as well, taking Sheik by his hands. "That will never happen. Not as long as I'm around. And even if Ganondorf takes over, you don't have to follow tradition. Your life is your own."

Sheik pulled his hands away, stepping back and turning around. "Is it, though?"

After that, Sheik walked away – likely to wash up, as he tended to after training. Saria would have to wait her turn to use the bath.

Saria collapsed onto her back, finding it difficult to stand. Poppy fluttered over in a panic, but Saria waved her away.

"I'll be fine. I just wish I could help them. They must feel so trapped."

Poppy laid on her back next to the Kokiri and said, "I can't say I blame him. Pressure like that would drive me crazy!" Poppy then turned onto her side, resting her head in her hand. "Do you think he has any friends? I've never seen him leave this place before."

"If he does, he likely uses a disguise of some kind. I get the feeling Impa wants the truth of her successor to be kept secret." Saria looked over to Poppy. "And that means we can't tell anyone about him as well."

"W-whaaaa, why are you looking at me that way? I wasn't going to say anything… Probably… Plus there aren't many kids in Kakariko, except for the boy who hangs out in the graveyard all day."

Saria chuckled at Poppy's reaction before falling silent and staring up at the sky. Grey clouds moved overhead with the promise of rain. If Impa's prediction was correct, they still had lots of time to prepare. But if Impa was wrong…

"I'll be his friend."

"What?" asked Poppy.

"If he doesn't have any, I'll be his friend. Carrying such a burden alone must be exhausting… But if we share it together, maybe it won't be so bad."

"I don't really get it, but far be it from me to tell you what to do. It's not like you've listened to me since we left the forest."

Somehow, Saria couldn't help but burst out laughing. She grabbed Poppy and hugged her to her chest.

"H-hey! What's the big idea?!"

"I'm sorry, Poppy. Even if it seems like I don't listen, I always consider your words carefully. And I'm here for you as well if you need me. We're in this together, right?"

Poppy stopped struggling and relented, like a helpless kitten in an affectionate baby's arms. "Geez… Of course we're in this together. You're all I have."

Saria smiled warmly at this. "You as well, my friend. I'm glad I met you."

The pair shared a tender moment together while waiting for their turn with the bath. Once Sheik was finished and its waters were drained, Saria filled it back up, put more wood in the fire beneath it, then soaked the pain away. In times like these, moments of respite were worth their weight in rupees.

Training continued into the next week. One day, Impa took Saria aside to speak with her.

"What is it, Impa? Am I doing something wrong?" asked Saria.

"Not exactly. Your training has been going well, I think. You've been improving steadily each day. No, this is about something that happened in Castle Town."

Saria froze stiff, her eyes slowly meeting with Impa's. "Heard about that, did you?"

"Is there a reason you think I wouldn't?"

"So much time passed since then, I had hoped so…"

Impa shook her head. "Just to be sure, why don't you tell me what happened. You've proven to be level-headed thus far, so even I was surprised when I heard about it."

Saria explained herself, telling Impa about how she and her friend were cornered and threatened, their initial escape, the discovery of the trapped fairies, and how the merchant used the guards to make things difficult for them. In the end, Saria and her friend had enough and dealt with things in their own way. After Saria was done, Impa had a subtle scowl on her face, like the way one's face scrunches up after hearing a bad joke.

"I heard rumors of that merchant, but I didn't realize he was so crooked. I suppose when you have to focus on the politics of the kingdom, little things slip past you every now and then."

"So you're not mad?"

"Of course I'm mad! It was a foolish thing to do, especially given the tense climate we're in. You attacked guards." Saria tensed up, unsure what would happen next. Impa then said, "Still, it's not like I blame you for your actions. My knowledge of fairies and what they were like was scant indeed before you came around. I suspect few others saw fairies as people."

"So what now?"

"Well you've racked up quite the fine after everything you did, and I intend you pay it back in full."

"What! But you said you didn't blame Saria for what she did!" shouted Poppy.

"It would be troublesome if Saria couldn't go back to Castle Town if I needed her to. Besides, I may not be a member of the guards, but I can't have you flagrantly ignoring laws and doing as you please in a town we should be protecting."

Saria hung her head low. "All right… What would you have me do?"

"I got a job for you on Lon Lon Ranch. When you're not training, you'll be helping the ranchers." Impa smiled at the Kokiri. "That's not a problem, right?"

Saria's eyes lit up and she shook her head. "Not at all!"

"I've also done some thinking. With that merchant's behavior, I can't allow him to keep doing business in town. There's no telling what trouble he'd get up to in the future. So if you earn enough rupees, maybe we can set up a new shop. Perhaps even a Kokiri-run shop?"

"You really mean it?" Impa nodded, and Saria hugged the Sheikah. There was an awkward silence as Saria realized what she had done, and she let go, backing away slowly. "Ha ha… Sorry."

The Sheikah sighed. "You Kokiri really are something. Alive for so many years, and you still act like children." Impa looked across the village at Sheik, who was still hard at work training. "Maybe we could learn a thing or two from you."

"So when do I start?"

"Today after training. That's not a problem, is it?"

"Not at all."

"Good. Then let's make the most of today."

Saria returned to training, feeling a sense of relief. While she suspected she'd be even more tired than usual in the coming days, knowing she'd be next to a friend gave her great comfort. But then it occurred to her that Sheik would be by himself on those days. Saria decided to broach the subject at the end of training.

"You want Sheik to join you? Why?" asked Impa.

"I thought it could be a good opportunity for… Training. After all, working on a ranch is physically taxing, isn't it?"

"And you don't want an advantage over me. Is that it?" asked Sheik.

Impa – who likely saw through Saria – shook her head. "We're training in secret for a reason. It's one thing if you go out to work on the ranch, but it's another thing entirely for Sheik to leave. However… If you were to assume a new identity when outside of this village, the work could prove beneficial for your training."

"Then Sheik can join me?" asked Saria.

"Only if Sheik wants to."

The young boy crossed his arms and closed his eyes in thought. After a few seconds, he nodded. "I'm curious what this ranch is like, as I've never visited it before. I'll join you."

Saria jumped in excitement, hugging Sheik tight. Even behind his face mask, Sheik could be seen blushing.

"H-hey! Who said you could do that?"

"Ah, sorry. Bad habit I picked up on," said Saria.

"I hope hugs aren't a problem," said Poppy, "because there'll be a lot more of that on the ranch."

"Really? Why?" asked Sheik.

"Oh you'll find out once you meet her…"

Sheik gulped, but then said, "That shouldn't be a problem. It will be a chance to practice defense against grab attacks."

Saria imagined a scenario where Malon hugged Sheik from behind, only for him to throw the girl over his shoulder and slam her into the ground.

"Ha ha… Try not to take things too seriously, okay?" said Saria.

After that, Saria and Sheik washed up. By the time they were done, Impa had prepared new clothes for them. They were overalls with undershirts and sturdy boots – dark and light green for Saria, blue and white for Sheik. Sheik was also given a straw hat. After thanking Impa, the pair slipped out of the hidden village and graveyard, through the shadowy outskirts of Kakariko Village, then across the fields to Lon Lon Ranch. After passing through the initial entrance, the pair found themselves between a pair of buildings just next to a fenced-in field and racetrack. Instead of Talon or Malon, the first person Saria saw was a total stranger. She suspected he was one of the ranch hands. He was tall, and besides a little stomach pudge, he was as scrawny as a deku stick. He had hairy arms, thick eyebrows, a mustache, wore pink and green, and had a harsh look in his eyes.

"Um… Excuse me…" said Saria, approaching the man.

"I can't believe it," the man grumbled to himself while working. "I, the great Ingo, am stuck on this dump of a ranch doing all the work myself! Talon said there would be another worker here today, but I haven't seen them! What a joke. I, the hard-working Ingo, should be in charge, not that lazy bum, Talon!" It was then that the man turned towards Saria and Sheik, nearly jumping out of his skin. "Aah! How long have you two been there?!"

"Not too long, thankfully…" Saria sighed. "If you're finished, we're actually here to help. I was hoping to talk to Talon. Have you seen him?"

"He's in his house over there," Ingo pointed. "You shouldn't have trouble finding him. He hardly moves all day…"

"Let's get this over with, then," said Sheik, walking past everyone. Saria was quick to join him, but as she walked away, Ingo spoke up.

"Say… Are you two really going to help out around here?"

"As long as you're okay with it," said Saria.

"Oh, of course, of course. It's no trouble at all. If you have any questions, be sure to come to me first."

The Kokiri smiled and said, "All right. Thank you, Ingo."

Saria joined Sheik inside the ranch home. She was immediately greeted by the sight of over a dozen cuccos running around the house. There was even a cucco on Sheik's head, flapping its wings and cawing. Despite this, Sheik remained ever the bastion of calm, his arms crossed and gaze intense. Resting on the ground with his back against a table, Talon was snoozing the day away. Saria tried to wake him, but she couldn't, so Sheik flicked the man's forehead.

"What the! Oh, Saria? Is that you? I didn't expect you by so soon! And who's this lad?"

Saria turned to Sheik who said, "My name is… Marth."

"Marth? That's an interesting name. Where are you from, Marth?"

"Kakariko Village."

"I see! When I was told I could get a new ranch hand, I didn't expect to get two for the price of one!" The man laughed out loud before saying, "I'm kidding, of course. As long as you two put in the work, you'll both be getting paid." Talon then stood up, dusted himself off, then made his way to the front door. "Let me introduce you to the others and show you what you'll be doing."

Outside, Talon gathered everyone together. Standing across from Saria and Sheik was Malon and Ingo.

"All right you two, listen up! This here is Saria – who I'm sure you already know, Malon. And this here is uh… Marth?" Sheik nodded at this, then Talon continued. "They'll be our new helpers from now on, so feel free to boss 'em around. Same duties as always, but now you can split the work however you like. And as for you two, this is my daughter, Malon. We've met a few times already, Saria, but Marth, this girl is the world to me. You be sure to treat her right."

"Of course, sir."

"Good. As for this fellow, his name is Ingo."

"We've already met," said Saria.

"What?! Then what was the point of all this?! Ah well… As long as you all know each other, things should be fine. Today we need to clean the stables, refresh the hay supplies in there, and get the cart ready for a delivery tomorrow. The demand for our milk has gone up recently, so we'll be sure to meet that demand. If nobody's got any questions, I'll show Saria and Marth around a bit."

"That's fine by me," said Ingo.

"No questions!" said Malon.

"Good! Now Saria, Marth, come with me. I'll show you to the stables."

Saria and Sheik followed the man. As they walked, Malon joined them, getting close to Sheik. Avoiding eye contact, Sheik asked, "Is something wrong?"

"Nope! I just wanted to get a better look at you," Malon smiled.

Sheik tensed up and walked past Saria. Malon giggled at this and went about her business. After that, Talon took the time to explain work duties to Saria and Sheik, what they'd be doing day in and day out, and how to best go about their duties. Talon also mentioned that he keeps a checklist of daily tasks inside the house that they can look at if they're ever unsure of what to do.

"This all seems easy enough," said Sheik. "Is there anything we should avoid doing?"

"Well let's see… Don't break my stuff? I figure anything worth worrying about is common sense. Anything you break will come out of your pay. And try to be careful with the animals. It'll take time for them to trust you, but once they get used to ya, it'll be fine."

After that, the pair helped out with the remaining tasks for the day. They cleaned the stables, refreshed the hay for the cows and horses, and after washing up, they helped load crate after crate of milk into Talon's cart so it was ready for delivery the next day. By the time Saria and Sheik were done, it was evening time. They were paid a small sum of rupees and invited to eat dinner on the ranch. Since food in the hidden village was mostly nutritious gruel, they happily accepted the offer.

Upstairs around the dinner table sat Talon, Malon, Saria, and Sheik. The food for the evening was roast cucco, mashed potatoes, gravy, and sliced bread with butter. Ingo wasn't much for socializing with the family and ate elsewhere.

"Soooo, Marth, was it? How was your first day of ranch work?" asked Talon.

"It was fine," said Sheik. "I thought it would be harder."

"Huh! It really wasn't that bad? You must have a talent for this kind of thing! What about you, Saria? Was this your first time doing stuff like this, or did you work at all in your village?"

"Life in Kokiri Village is pretty carefree most days," said Saria. "But I'm one of the oldest there, so I looked after the others."

"Then you were like everyone's big sis!" said Malon. "You must be friends with eeeeveryone there. How many Kokiri are in your village? Are there a ton? Can I come to your village sometime?"

"Calm down, child," said Talon. "It's been a long day for them. One question at a time."

"It's fine," said Saria. "You're right. Everyone knows me in the village. It's a pretty small place. I would say no more than a dozen or so live there. As far as visiting, well… Maybe someday. If you do ever visit, I'll escort you to keep you safe. We live near a large forest called the Lost Woods. There's a kind of magic in that place. An old magic. If anyone besides a Kokiri wanders around in that place, they become lost forever."

Malon ate nervously. "So don't do what I normally do when I visit. Got it."

"Is it truly so dangerous?" asked Sheik. "I had heard of people wandering in and coming out before."

"Only after I guided them out," said Saria. "Honestly, I may need to start putting up signs one of these days. Then again, they'd probably just ignore them and walk right in anyway."

"It's almost like they can't help themselves," said Poppy, sitting on the table and eating buttered bread.

"I think we Hylians are curious by nature," said Talon. "It's why we spread out so far and tried learning so many new things. I know it's troublesome, but please forgive my countrymen."

"What about you, Marth? You said you're from Kakariko, right?" asked Malon. "I've been through the village a few times, but I don't think I've ever seen you before." With a mischievous smile on her face, she said, "Don't tell me you're that shy."

"I prefer to live in the shade. My eyes are sensitive to sunlight," said Sheik.

"Hm. I was wondering why you were still wearing your hat indoors," said Talon. "Could you pass the butter, please?"

"Of course."

As Sheik passed the butter over to Talon, the boy paused, as if listening to something. Saria heard it to. A tapping, or perhaps pecking on the rooftop.

"Huh? Is something wrong?" asked Talon.

The tapping and pecking continued increasing in intensity, to the point where even Talon and Malon could hear it. Before they could react, the windows shattered as a swarm of purple-feathered birds burst in.

"Malon, get down!" shouted Talon as he picked up his chair and swung at one of the birds. Saria pulled out her slingshot and Sheik readied throwing needles. The birds had small black eyes ringed with red and sharp orange beaks. Poppy ran across the table, using her bread as cover before flying towards Saria.

"What are so many guay doing here?!" the fairy shouted.

"I don't know, but I doubt this is ordinary," said Saria. She dodged a few of the birds that came swooping in, their beaks getting stuck in the walls like throwing knives. Malon joined in on the action, pulling out her club from before (which was hidden under her pillow) and swinging at the hostile birds. As the guay were thinned out, the sound of shouting could be heard from outside.

"That must be Ingo," said Sheik.

"I'll take care of it," said Saria. "You watch over the others."

Sheik nodded at this, then Saria dove out the broken window, rolling as she hit the ground below. Just as she thought, a swarm of guay were chasing after Ingo. While he had a pitchfork, Ingo was too scared to attack and kept on the run. Dark storm clouds rumbled up above, and it almost seemed like the guay were coming out of the clouds themselves. Saria tossed a deku nut to scatter the swarm then fired with her slingshot to thin them out.

"Get to the stables!" she shouted. "You'll be safe there!"

"Okay! Thanks!"

Ingo ran past the Kokiri and shut the stable doors behind him. The sound of frightened neighs came from the field ahead, and Saria realized that there may still be horses grazing outside. She ran to the fields, finding that even more guay were flying overhead, chasing and pecking the horses. She cut down the guay within reach and shot down the others that were too high up, doing what she could to lead the horses back to the stables as the wind picked up. With one pony left, Saria tried to calm it down and lead it away, but it proved too stubborn and wild, nearly knocking Saria down with its hooves.

"Hey, calm down! I'm trying to help you!"

The horse kept running around and making things difficult for Saria. Soon after, wind speeds reached new heights, and from the storm clouds came a giant guay, trumping even the largest horses on the ranch in size. It locked onto the wild pony and swooped down. Not wanting to let it have its way, Saria slashed the bird in its side with her scimitar, wounding it. The giant guay crashed to the ground, flailing about while snapping at the Kokiri with its oversized beak. Saria backed away, dodging the monster's attacks. It didn't let up though, eventually cornering the girl. She shoved a deku stick in its beak to lodge it open, striking the bird again and again with her weapons while it was distracted. Finally, it stopped moving. It disappeared into flame, and when the last of the monsters were defeated, the storm clouds disappeared. Much to Saria's surprise, the large guay left behind a small pile of rupees.

"What are these doing here?" she asked, picking them up.

"Maybe it liked to eat shiny things?" said Poppy.

"Saria!" shouted Malon as she came running. "Are you okay?!"

Talon and Sheik came running as well. Even Ingo poked his shaking head out of the stables.

As Saria and Malon hugged, Saria said, "I'm okay. I would have taken cover sooner, but this pony proved pretty stubborn." It was then that Saria realized that the pony was next to her, calmly nudging her leg with its head. "What the?"

"Epona?" questioned Malon, who pet the pony's mane. "Geez, you can't be doing that. You could have gotten hurt!"

"It's okay," said Ingo. "She was probably just-"

Epona headbutted the poor ranch hand when he got too close, knocking him over. Malon was quick to wrap her arms around the pony's neck and hold her back.

"Epona! No!"

Talon helped Ingo up while Sheik approached Saria.

"What happened out here? Did you find out where they were coming from?"

"It looked like they were coming out of a storm cloud. When the wind picked up enough, a giant one came out. The clouds dispersed as soon as I slew it."

"Strange…" The boy looked up at the sky, which was now clear and full of stars. "Is this a taste of what's to come?"

Talon had some spare windowpanes in case of storms, so after a bit of cleaning, the windows were fixed. From that day forward, whenever Saria and Sheik were at the ranch, they always kept an eye out for monsters.

Time continued to pass. Days of harsh training at the Sheikah Village and honest work at Lon Lon Ranch. Though the days were long, Saria treasured those few moments of peace and quiet she shared with her friends. She soon learned that Sheik was a master at conversational evasion, dodging every important question Malon had to throw at him. The questions he didn't dodge were answered with lies, or at least what Saria assumed were lies. Sheik's new persona steadily developed a false history, and Malon was none the wiser. When Malon wasn't talking up a storm, she was usually helping Saria and Sheik with chores, eating lunch with them, or teaching the pair new skills. Malon was excellent with animals, and any time either Saria or Sheik had trouble with them, she was there to help calm things down.

At the Sheikah Village, Impa kept intensifying the training little by little. Beyond the typical exercises and obstacles, she also introduced training dummies that moved as you struck them, which helped Saria practice her form. This later advanced to Impa teaching new fighting techniques, both with weapons and hand-to-hand (in case Saria or Sheik were disarmed). At the end of each lesson, Impa had Saria and Sheik spar to help practice their new techniques. Sheik was much faster than Saria, as well as more flexible (both literally and in terms of adaptability). He proved a difficult target to strike. Saria's experience with fighting and strategizing proved a boon here, as she would often have to bait out an opening in Sheik's defenses in order to land a hit. As the two sparred, their strengths helped even out their respective weaknesses, and even Impa was impressed with their progress.

"Well done," Impa clapped. "Keep that up and even the best of the Gerudo will be no match for you. That will be all for today. You're both dismissed."

As Impa went to leave, Saria called out to her.

"Wait, hold on."

"Yes? What is it, Saria?"

"Have you seen a giant owl flying through the sky as of late?"

"Can't say that I have. Why do you ask?"

Saria explained the nature of the owl and how she had met him several times throughout her journey. After Saria said her piece, Impa muttered to herself, "Wait… Could he be…?"

"Is something wrong?"

"It's nothing. I do find this strange, though. Why would he be gone for so long searching for the third stone? I thought it was common knowledge that it belonged to the Zora."

"What's a Zora?"

"You were saying?" said Sheik.

"Quiet, you," said Impa. She then looked to Saria and said, "The Zora are a race of people who live in the water. They control every major body of water in Hyrule, including the river, which is named after them. As for the stone, it's in good hands. Ever since they caught wind of Ganondorf attacking other settlements for their sacred stones, they're doing everything they can to defend their domain. Nothing short of the Royal Family knocking on their door would get them to open up."

"Then there's nothing to be done about it?"

"It may be for the best. We have other things to worry about right now. Besides, as long as Ganondorf is missing even one of the sacred stones, he won't be able to reach the Triforce." Before Impa finally left for the day, she ended with, "I'll ask around and see if anyone has seen Gaebora. If I learn anything at all, I'll let you know."

Saria felt a chill as Impa disappeared. She wanted to leave right away to look for the old owl, but Saria knew Impa was better suited to the search than she was. She decided to put it out of her mind and relax. There wasn't any work to be done on the ranch that day, so both Saria and Sheik stayed in the village. As usual, they took turns bathing, then ate their gruel in relative silence. Later that evening, Saria found Sheik up on one of the building's rooftops, staring out across the village.

"Is everything all right?" asked Saria.

"Hm… I was just thinking about the future. When this is all over and I've taken Impa's place, I'll be spending a lot of time with the Royal Family. The king, his court, and even the princess."

"Do you not want to serve the Royal Family?"

"It's not that, but… Will that really be my whole life? To be nothing more than another's shadow? I don't normally get to interact with others my age. Impa always tells me that the less others know about me, the better. But these days I've been training with you or working on the ranch with Malon… It's been nice. I've never really had friends before." Sheik turned to look Saria in the eye. "We are friends, are we not?"

Saria smiled warmly. "Of course we are. And I'm sure Malon would say the same thing."

Sheik smiled. "I'm glad. Do you think when I'm older, I might be able to negotiate time for myself every now and then?"

"I don't see why not. Then again, people are always curious about the princess, so watching over her might keep you busy. Especially when she's older."

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, I'm still learning about Hylian culture, but my understanding is the princess will have to marry, one day. And whoever marries her will be the next king, right?"

"I… See what you mean. I hope he is kind, like you."

Saria wasn't sure why, but hearing those words made her blush. Poppy, who had been quietly listening this whole time, grew a big grin across her face.

"Interesting…" she muttered to herself.

"Have you ever met the princess?" asked Saria.

"Only once. It was before I started my training with Impa. I was waiting inside a hidden corridor in the castle while Impa was discussing things with the king. There are all sorts of places like that throughout the castle. Hidden doors behind bookshelves, under carpets… They were built with the Sheikah in mind so we could always watch over everyone without being seen. By chance, I saw the princess after she had just been scolded for making a mess in the kitchen. She was crying back then. I wanted to say something, but… I knew I couldn't."

"Were you not allowed?"

"In a sense, yes."

"I'm sorry. I can't imagine what that must have felt like."

"It's fine. I just wonder if she'll accept me when the time comes…"

"Of course she will. You're strong, smart, and dependable. I'm sure she'd be more than happy to have you by her side."

"And hey, maybe if you play your cards right, you can marry her and become king," said Poppy.

Sheik narrowed his eyes at the fairy. "That will never happen."

Sheik hopped down and disappeared into his quarters. Saria said, "Geez, Poppy! Why'd you have to go and say that!"

"What? I think it would be romantic! Just think, the tall, strong, stoic type that knew the princess since she was young finally confessing his feelings for her. The thought alone makes me swoon."

"He's clearly going through a lot right now, so can you try and be a bit more sensitive?"

Saria hopped down from the roof as well to check on Sheik. Poppy just crossed her arms and grumbled. "I gotta find some way to have fun around here. Those fireflies aren't much for conversation, you know!"

The next day after training, Sheik didn't go with Saria to Lon Lon Ranch. Given what they had talked about recently, she decided it would be best to give the boy some space. Work that day was easy enough. Cleaning the stables, fixing some fences, milking the cows… The work wasn't hard at all. Yet with the worry for Gaebora and Sheik on her mind, Saria found it difficult to concentrate.

When night came, Saria and Malon sat out in the field looking up at the stars. Malon was pointing out all sorts of constellations in the sky while Saria sat in silence.

"What's wrong, Saria?" asked Malon. "You've hardly said a word. You don't have to sit out here with me if you don't want to."

"It's not that. I just have a lot on my mind right now," said Saria.

"Hmm… I don't know if it'll help you, but whenever I feel down, I like to sing!"

Malon stood up, clasped her hands together, and sang. The girl's beautiful voice echoed throughout the open field and soothed Saria, making her worries melt away. She pulled out her ocarina and played along, doing her best to memorize the notes. The two girls shared a moment of peace together, and then… The song was over.

Saria put her ocarina away. The small pony from before, Epona, was nudging Saria with her head. Petting Epona's mane, Saria smiled softly.

"Hee hee. She's really taken a liking to you!" said Malon.

"You think so? I'm glad. She was such a rowdy horse before. I guess saving her from monsters left a good impression." As Saria continued to pet Epona, she said, "The animals around here really love that song of yours. Where did you learn it?"

"From my mother, remember? She had a way of making me feel safe no matter what was going on, and when I cried, she'd sing for me to calm me down. Since she didn't leave any keepsakes behind, that song is all I have to remember her by."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay. I don't mind talking about it." Malon put her hands to her chest and closed her eyes. "Every time I sing, I like to think my mother can still hear me. Maybe that's why I do it so much. She sang for me whenever I was sad, so as long as I keep singing, she'll never be sad either."

Saria stood up and ruffled Malon's hair. "I'll bet she smiles every day because of you."

Malon held back her tears. "I hope so too."

Soon after, Talon opened the door to his house and said, "Hey kids, supper is ready! Come and get it before it gets cold!"

"Coming!" shouted Malon. The girl ran towards the house, but then she stopped and looked back. "Saria?"

"I'll just be a minute. Don't wait up on me."

The farm girl nodded and left the field behind. Now Saria was alone… Or so it seemed. The Kokiri felt a presence nearby. As the presence grew closer, Poppy said, "Wait… Sheik?"

The young Sheikah stepped forward, hand on his hip. He was wearing his normal training uniform. "I knew I'd find you out here. This is good."

"Good? What's going on, Sheik? Why aren't you in your farm clothes?"

"Because I'm not here to farm. I'm here to fight."

"What? But why?"

"I've been doing some thinking. When we sparred in the past, we always fought to learn, to grow, but never to win. If I'm to be a true Sheikah, I have to truly test myself." Sheik drew a blade. "And that's why I'm here. Draw your weapon."

Saria unsheathed her dagger. As soon as she did, Sheik charged her. Their blades clashed and slid off of each other as the pair exchanged places. Dagger at the ready, Saria watched Sheik as he circled around her.

"This is crazy, Sheik. What if you get hurt?"

"That's awfully confident of you. Shouldn't you be more worried about yourself?"

Sheik charged once more. Saria did her best to defend as Sheik attacked again and again. A slash here, a kick there; the warriors moved swiftly and gracefully across the field, their every move calculated. Yet even as Saria did her best to defend herself, Sheik found opening after opening. As the boy backflipped away and landed on his feet, Sheik held up his weapon. Blood dripped from the tip of his blade.

"You should start taking things seriously," said Sheik. "Otherwise you won't walk away from this."

"Will you stop it!" shouted Poppy. "What's the point in all this? Aren't we your friends?!"

"Friends mean little to the Sheikah. We only keep around those who are useful to us. I'm treated the same way. If my blade ever dulls, I'll become useless to the Royal Family and be discarded."

Another exchange of blows. Another wound. Sparks flew as Sheik and Saria's blades clashed. The boy stared Saria down as he pushed her back further and further.

"Is this all you can muster? How do you expect to defeat Ganondorf if you can't even beat me? You'll never get your revenge at this rate."

A biting anger took hold as Saria forced Sheik back. Rather than strike with her dagger, she punched Sheik in the face. The boy went flying, skidding across the dirt and grass. In a moment of clarity, Saria realized she was wearing her Goron's Bracelet. She rushed to Sheik's side to see if he was okay, only to have a blade pointed at her. A bloodstain had formed on Sheik's face mask around his nose.

"We're not done yet. Don't you dare take pity on me."

Sheik spun around, getting back on his feet before charging Saria. The Kokiri went back on the defensive, even more hesitant than before. Sheik continued slashing with his blade, pushing Saria further and further back.

"Enough already! If you don't fight with everything you have, I'll kill you. Is that what you want? What about your people? Your friends? What about Hyrule? Don't you care?!"

Saria shoved Sheik away. "Of course I care," she said, dropping her weapon. "And it's because I care that I can't continue." The Kokiri spread her arms wide and looked Sheik in the eye. "I don't know what madness has taken hold of you, but this ends now."

Sheik narrowed his eyes. Springing towards Saria, he shouted, "I told you not to take pity on me!"

Saria had learned many hand-to-hand techniques while training under Impa. Typically they were meant for offense, as they were all about striking the opponent before they had a chance to react. Speed, agility, and cunning. These were the things Impa was trying to instill in her students. However, among the many techniques Impa had taught, only one was meant for defense. As Sheik charged the Kokiri once more, Saria kept perfectly still until the last moment. Then her body sprung to life, catching Sheik's weapon with both hands. In an instant, Saria yanked the weapon (and wielder) to the side, throwing them to the ground. Tossing Sheik's weapon away, Saria jumped on Sheik, fighting with the boy as they rolled across the field. In the end, Saria had Sheik pinned.

"Do you yield?" asked Saria.

With a bitter tone in their voice, Sheik said, "I do."

The Kokiri got up, holding out her hand to help the Sheikah boy. He ignored this and got up on his own.

"I didn't realize there was such a large gap between us," Sheik dusted himself off. "I've learned much this day."

Just then, Malon burst out of her home.

"Saria, what's all that noise?!"

While Saria was distracted by the farm girl, the Sheikah boy slipped away, disappearing into the night. Saria picked up the boy's weapon and hid it in her overalls.

That boy… What was he thinking?

When Malon got closer, she gasped at the state Saria was in. "What happened? Was it another monster attack?"

"Yes," Saria nodded. "More guay. I got careless this time, but they're gone now."

Poppy gave Saria a knowing, worried look, saying, "It's okay, Malon. I can heal her." The fairy floated gently around the Kokiri and put her small hands on Saria's wounds, healing them. Unfortunately this magic did not extend to the state of her damaged, bloody clothes.

"Thank you, Poppy. I'm not sure I'll be good company at the dinner table in this state, though," said Saria.

"It's okay. You can borrow some of my clothes for the evening while we get yours all fixed up," Malon smiled. "Now let's get going. Talon is getting worried."

The rest of the evening passed without incident. Saria spent the night with Malon, washing and fixing her clothes so she could be ready to return to the village in the morning.

When she dreamed, she dreamed of blonde-haired boys and her failure to help them when they needed her the most…

Time passed. Training and work continued, though Sheik made himself scarce whenever Impa was gone. Saria tried to reach out to the boy several times, but he had closed himself off to her, even after she returned his blade. Saddened by this, Saria focused on other things. She finished paying off her debt to Castle Town, she checked in on her fellow Kokiri to see how their training went, she helped coordinate the construction of the new shop (of which a certain plump-faced Kokiri was happy to manage), and Saria even paid back the Happy Mask Salesman for the mask she borrowed.

"Finally decided to show your face, I see," said the Salesman.

"Sorry about the wait," said Saria. "There were some… Complications."

The Salesman shrugged. "These things do happen. I'm just glad to see you at all. I've not seen your friend since you last visited."

Saria tensed up. "Don't worry. I'll be sure to remind her the next time we meet."

The Salesman grinned, showing his teeth. "Be sure that you do." He then gestured to his shelves. "By the way, since you finally completed your first sale, I have more masks available for you to borrow."

Saria looked over to the shelf, realizing a strange skull-like mask had appeared. "Wait, when did you-"

"Don't worry about it," the man grinned. "Would you like to borrow this mask? I hear its fearsome visage keeps certain monsters at bay. Probably because of how tough and scary it makes you look."

Saria pondered this and then nodded. "I think I have a customer in mind for that one. I'll take it."

"Good," the man said, handing her the mask. "Here you go. Next time, I would appreciate it if you returned as soon as you make the sale."

"Of course." Saria held up the mask. It was like the front of a misshapen horned skull, with four blunt teeth and round eye sockets. She pocketed the mask, said her goodbyes, then went on her way.

When the chance presented itself, Saria made her way to the Lost Woods. She found Taru sitting on his stump like usual, playing his flute. The boy sat up in excitement upon seeing Saria and hopped down, approaching her.

"Saria, Saria!"

The Kokiri bowed her head and smiled. "It's good to see you, Taru. How are you getting along with the other skull children?"

"Not so good… I've been trying to practice the flute so I could play with them in their band, but they still won't accept me. It's why I prefer hanging out here instead of near where the rest of them are."

"Well that's no fair! I'll be sure to give them a stern talking to next time I see them. In the meantime, I have a present for you."

"Really? What is it?"

Saria pulled out the skull mask, handing it over to Taru. He looked it over thoroughly, his eyes lighting up.

"Quite an unusual mask you've brought me! Hee hee! I like it! I bet it'll make me look real tough!" Taru reached into his pocket and gave Saria ten rupees. "Here you go. Thank you for this!"

"Wait, but this is a gift. You don't have to pay me."

"No, no. I insist!"

Taru put the mask on and flipped through the air, landing nimbly on his tall tree stump. His eyes glowed brightly through the mask's eyeholes as he said, "So? How do I look?"

Saria clapped her hands. "You look wonderful, Taru!" At this, the skull kid lowered his head.

"Aaah… I thought I would look scary."

"You look pretty scary to me," said Poppy. "If I saw you at night, there's no way I'd get close to you."

"You really mean it?" Poppy nodded, to which Taru pumped his fist. "Yes! Thanks, you two!"

Saria said her goodbyes and returned to the Happy Mask Shop, only to learn that Taru had underpaid for the mask's value.

"Oh… Is that how it is…" said the Kokiri.

Saria paid the rest of the mask's price back out of pocket. She wasn't exactly upset, though, since she had planned to give the mask away for free. After that, she was able to borrow another mask from the Salesman. It was a frightening thing that reminded her of the masks Redeads wore.

"Where did you get this?" Saria asked.

"Where? Why, from a priest of course. I had learned that Hylians are buried with special funerary masks, so of course I had to get some for my collection!"

Poppy said, "Well that explains things…"

"Hm? Is something wrong?" asked the Salesman.

"Don't worry about it," said Saria. "Do you have any advice for who I could sell this to? I can't think of anyone off the top of my head."

"Not sure! It's not a very popular mask in town."

"I can't imagine why…"

After tapping his fingers on his counter a few times, the Salesman said, "You know, I bet this would be pretty popular with pranksters. People who like to trick and scare others for laughs."

"Doesn't the boy in Kakariko's graveyard like scary things?" asked Poppy.

"Good point. All right, I'll see if I can sell this thing. See you later!"

As Saria and Poppy made their way from Castle Town to Kakariko Village, Poppy said, "So why are we doing this again?"

"Do you want the short answer or the long answer?" asked Saria.

"Both?"

"The short answer is I need a distraction."

"Fair enough."

"And the long answer is there's something off about that merchant. He may know more than he's letting on. He could even be a spy for all we know. So I figure if I keep doing jobs for him and gain his trust, I can finally get some answers. Best case scenario, he's unrelated to everything going on and I can put my mind at ease."

"And he's right in the middle of town just next to the path leading to the Temple of Time! If he is working for Ganondorf, he couldn't have picked a better place to set up shop." Poppy grew a smug grin across her face. "Such a smart girl. I really did raise you right!"

Saria smiled at her friend and rolled her eyes. She then ran up the stairway, through the village, and into the graveyard. Sure enough, the young boy was walking around, swinging his stick to and fro. She asked him if he was interested in masks, and when he said yes, Saria pulled out the spooky mask.

"Gyaah! It's Dampé the gravekeeper's face! Oh wait a minute, that really is just a mask. I get a different fright from that mask than I do from Dampé… Can I have it?"

"Of course. Just try not to cause too much trouble with it," said Saria.

"Woo! With this mask, I'll be just like Dampé! Here's my money!" The boy gave Saria a bag of thirty rupees. He then ran off with his stick held up to the sky. "I'm gonna dig and dig! Just like Dampé!"

"What a strange boy," said Saria. "I hope he has fun, at least."

"Forget strange, where'd a little kid like him get all this money?"

"Not sure. At least we don't have to cover any of the mask's cost out of pocket this time."

Before Saria could leave the graveyard, a familiar voice called out to her. It was Impa.

"Keeping busy, I see."

"Impa! Back already?"

"Indeed. There's something I need to talk to you and Sheik about. Come with me."

Saria looked to Poppy, who nodded in understanding. The Kokiri followed Impa through the illusory wall and joined up with Sheik in the hidden village.

"You called, master?" said Sheik. "What is it?"

"Your training is almost at its end," said Impa. "I have one final test for you both. It's a test crafted by the Sheikah of old as a rite of passage. If you complete this test, you'll be recognized as true Sheikah."

"Even me?" asked Saria.

"Even you. The Sheikah do not care about bloodlines. Only results."

Sheik clenched his fists and looked Impa in the eye. "What must we do?"

Impa escorted the pair to the far end of the village. Hidden behind yet another illusory wall was a metal plate on the ground. It looked like it could be opened like a gate.

"Beyond this door is an underground maze meant to push sheiks to their very limits. The maze is filled with dozens of traps, as well as special chambers that house monsters. As time passes, the chambers will open one by one, releasing monsters into the maze. You'll have a week to find the exit before it locks for good."

"Wait, you mean you can get trapped down there with monsters?!" asked Poppy. "That's crazy!"

"It is not a test to be taken lightly. Furthermore, you will have to begin the test without any weapons or gear."

"Then we must fight the monsters barehanded?" asked Sheik.

"Approach the challenge however you like. Sneak, use the traps to your advantage, or confront the monsters. It doesn't matter to me," said Impa. "In addition, I'll be spreading all your gear throughout the maze in hidden chests. Find the chests and you can use your gear again. And it doesn't matter who it once belonged to. This is meant to test your skill and adaptability. There is no such thing as fair once you enter this maze."

"Isn't this a bit extreme?" said Saria. "One of us could die down there. Are you really okay with that?"

"If we can't pass this test, we'd fair no better at protecting Hyrule from Ganondorf," said Sheik. "I accept this challenge."

"Good," said Impa. "And what of you, Saria? You are not of the Sheikah clan, so you are not obligated to take this test. You can walk away now if you're-"

"No. I'll take the test."

"Are you sure, Saria?" asked Poppy.

"I'm sure. It's just as Sheik said. This will prove once and for all if I'm ready to take on Ganondorf and the Gerudo."

"Then it's decided," said Impa. The woman clapped her hands twice, and as if by magic, the gateway began to open. Its age became apparent as the metal creaked and groaned. Once it was fully open, it revealed a long cylindrical tunnel that led far below ground, with water at the very bottom. In many ways, it reminded Saria of the well in Kakariko Village… After Impa took Saria and Sheik's gear, she disappeared. From there, Saria looked down into the tunnel.

"There's no ladder to climb," said Saria. "How are we supposed to get down there?"

"We go for a swim," said Sheik. The boy then dove head-first into the tunnel, with the sound of a splash following shortly thereafter. Saria looked to Poppy.

"Looks like it's do or die. Come on!"

The Kokiri jumped into the tunnel, falling for what felt like forever. She hit the water hard, causing a huge splash. When she resurfaced, she was joined by Poppy, and sure enough, the entrance up above sealed shut.

Saria looked around. The walls were moldy tan bricks whereas the floor was slick grey stone. Though no source of light could be seen, the passageway was dimly lit – perhaps through magic. After climbing out of the pool of water, Saria found herself in what looked less like a maze and more like a sewer. Metal chains dangled from the ceiling, their purpose long since forgotten, and wooden support beams bordered the passage up ahead. The final test of the Sheikah was finally underway…