Friends Forever
Link entered some sort of maze made of right angled paths within cliffs, or perhaps the cliffs were actually ruins slowly succumbing to nature?
Rustling of Deku Scrubs already echoed down the corridors, Link uneasy from the narrow space. After passing an alcove and a corner, a Deku Scrub with orange foliage appeared down the next corridor, already spitting nuts. Link readied his shield, nuts bouncing about.
"Mad Scrub
If you get close to it, it will hide in the grass..."
The Mad Scrub indeed hid in the grass when Link started swinging at it. He was forced to walk backwards, shield up and ready. Once the Mad Scrub reappeared, it spat nuts, the first bouncing off Link's shield and hitting the second spat nut, though the third deflected nut struck its owner.
The Mad Scrub squeaked aloud, jumping out its leafy burrow and oscillating about wildly. Link rushed forth and slew the creature while another Mad Scrub shot at him, a Deku Nut thudding into Link's side. "Uhhihih!" Link rolled into a nearby alcove as a flurry of nuts whizzed at him. Once the shooting stopped, he went out the alcove and crouched behind his shield, bouncing the next series of nuts back until ejecting the shooter out his hole. Link ran after the Mad Scrub and chopped him apart.
"Easier than the Wolfos," Link remarked. He continued onward, the corridor corner filled with shallow water. Not wanting to get wet, Link checked his Map and Compass, the magical items depicting his location. He also noticed that the ink in the World Map had drawn more portions of the world, which was cool.
Link walked through a short passageway where dense grass grew. The next corridor had a watery corner to the left, a Mad Scrub shooting from the right.
Link readied his shield, but this Scrub was a bit smarter, ducking every time his own projectiles bounced back to him. Things turned to a game of patience, so Link got an idea... Gripping his shield by the rim, he dodged the next flurry of spat nuts, then threw his Deku Shield. The shield whirled like a disc, smacking the Mad Scrub out of his burrow.
Link charged and Jump Attacked—the Mad Scrub scurried away, Link missing. Grunting, the boy ran after the creature, swinging wildly until cutting him down. "That'll show you..." Link picked up his shield and moved on.
The next corner had deep water. Getting a bit wet, Link swam around the corner, climbed out, and defeated the next Mad Scrub. Another Mad Scrub was farther down but Link ignored it. Set in the right cliff were two pillars carved from stone, a narrow path going through them leading to a tall stairway.
After the stairway was a path flanked by tall cliffs, guarded by two Mad Scrubs taking turns poking their heads out the ground. Expecting the same thing to happen, Link approached the first foe, deflecting the nuts spat at him. The Mad Scrub squeaked, jumping out then scurrying backwards to his buddy, who in turn shot at Link.
Link ran forth then crouched behind his shield, deflecting the nuts, though missed.
Rustling noises echoed.
Link looked up from his shield. Several Mad Scrubs leapt from the cliffs and canopies up above, shooting at Link as they landed. Link felt his shield rattle, almost dropping in amid the cascade of Deku Nuts.
The quadrupled amount of Deku Nuts flying at him complicating things—the first Mad Scrub scuttled past Link, re-entered his burrow, and shot at Link from behind! Llnk turned to block, but then the first Scrub shot at his behind!
"Nyeh! Uhh! Ah!" Deku Nuts shattered against Link's backside, the excess amount of projectiles overwhelming his little brain. Link rolled to get away, smashing his head on a cliff and fumbling.
He was bombarded by more Deku Nuts, cracked shells fluttering everywhere. Link batted down some nuts with his sword and shield, though there were just too many monsters!
Link put away sword and shield then...ran away. "Oh-whoa!" He tripped down the stairs, the ground and sky taking turns flipping over each other, his face and the steps taking turns greeting each other.
PCK! PSHK! THK! PRH!
He faceplanted, disappearing into the dense grass.
A few Mad Scrubs peeped, squeaking aloud.
...
...
... ... ...
Link sat up, brain feeling like it was still spinning. He stood, wobbling, feeling for the cliff—he faceplanted the grass again. He pushed himself off the ground, taking a breath—a Deku Nut smacked his mouth, cracking against his teeth. "Nyah!" He looked down the corridor, seeing the Mad Scrub he ignored earlier.
Link frowned.
The Mad Scrub frowned back.
"Hmmff!" Link got up, dragging his clumsy feet upstairs. Still rather dazed, he wondered how to get past the Mad Scrubs...
The first Mad Scrub saw Link and started shooting, other Scrubs joining, a few more jumping from the cliffs to partake in the action. Link threw his own Deku Nuts while covering his eyes, breaking against the initial incoming projectiles until he released a wild flash. Link took his face off his arm—second and third flying nuts hit him in the gut.
Link convulsed. I hope I don't puke... He straightened up. "Oh, right! My slingshot!" While the nearest Mad Scrub were still stunned, the others closing in, Link aimed his weapon.
FWIP
FWIP
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The Scrubs were dead.
Navi hovered close. "Must have gone through your bullet bag by now..."
Link holstered his Fairy Slingshot. "Not yet! If I had my old one, I'd be out of ammo, tho."
The next tall stairway quietly awaited Link.
Up he went, the sky soon reappearing once the canopy widened. The next area was spacious, surrounded by cliffs and trees, with an octagonal stone platform in the center engraved with the Kokiri emblem. Stonework walls were atop the latter half of cliffs, going around the corners and connecting to an entrance, where vines hung over. A large dead tree stood to the left, vines hanging from its single branch reaching over the entranceway. A stairway was supposed to lead to that entranceway, held up by a single pillar, though the rest of the stairs crumbled long ago.
Link walked across the area, his heart beating faster, face getting warmer, and...
...Not even Kokirish invisibility could keep best friends hidden from each other. She was sitting on a stump, eyes closed, feet slightly waving, head and shoulders gently swaying as she played her ocarina. Her demeanor was so pleasant and peaceful; Link could just be here, feeling satisfaction from their friendship simply by enjoying her company.
Yet, something felt different. Link expected to see Saria jump from joy, leaping into his arms for a big hug, maybe even cry a little from how much she missed him. Yet, even when Link stood before her, she kept playing away. The friendship was still there, but something was...different.
Finally, Saria lowered her ocarina onto her lap. "I've been waiting for you, Link! This is the Sacred Forest Meadow. It's my secret place! I feel... This place will be very important for both of us someday. That's what I feel."
The friends' fairies kept quiet, not interrupting their children.
The green-haired girl continued, "If you play the Ocarina here, you can talk with the spirits of the forest. Would you like to play the Ocarina with me?"
Yes.
...But...you could have helped me against the Scrubs.
Don't do it.
Saria seemed to read his mind. Even when flustered, she maintained composure, though anger was in her voice. "Huh?! How boring! C'mon! Play along!"
Do I get even a little hug? I didn't even get your help coming here!
Saria contemplated, slightly frowning.
As usual, a girl never accepted a no from Link. One part of him wanted to complain about her, yet the other parts just wanted to appreciate her.
Navi seemed to sense Link's mixed feelings. She flew over. "Hello, Felicia! Nice to meet you again!"
Saria's fairy chimed, shaking Navi's hands. "Nice to see you, too, Navi! I'm glad our kids got the chance to visit again! I will admit I...was worried Link and you really, really would leave. Hah hah..."
"Nope! We are just struggling to find our place in the world." She looked back at Link.
He held his friend's gift.
"OK, try to follow along with the melody I will play. Are you ready?" She raised her ocarina...
Follow along with Saria's Song!
It was an easy scale going up, yet simplicity was its own beauty. Green magic with leafy symbols swirled as the notes sounded, the forest fae flying around the music.
Saria's fairy smiled. "You played Saria's Song."
Saria lowered her hands, eyes wide, smiling openly; her heartwarming chuckle echoed across the secret place. She lowered her ocarina and motioned with her other hand. "Great! Great! Please don't forget this song! Do you promise? When you want to hear my voice, play Saria's Song. You can talk with me anytime..."
Magical sparks flowed out Link's ocarina. He looked at his instrument, astonished.
"You've learned Saria's Song!" she congratulated.
At that, Saria returned to her music playing...
Link stood still for a few seconds. Saria was so peaceful he could just watch her sitting there, playing the Fairy Ocarina, and be satisfied with that alone. Yet, something inside still felt different, as if a silent force moved their friendship along.
She said nothing more.
Slowly, Link turned and went away. He saw a Gossip Stone in the corner. "Oh, never noticed that there."
As he walked down the two fleets of stairs and back into the maze, a heavy loneliness crept up on him. So, he played his ocarina, wondering if Saria heard his notes echo.
"Listen," Navi said, hovering before Link's face. "You want to talk to Saria, right?"
"Talk to Saria."
Link...?
This is Saria. Can you hear me?
The forest is connected to many places! If you can hear my song, you must be somewhere that is connected to the forest!
Link made a mental note of that.
Saria's voice continued, I don't mind talking to you using the Ocarina's magic, but I'd really like to talk to you face-to-face!
Spirits kindled, Link ran back to Saria.
He charged up the stairs, heart racing, smiling eagerly. He scurried across the sacred grounds, holding his breath.
Saria lowered her ocarina and stood. She and their fairies giggled at how obedient Link was. "You're so...doglike!"
Link skid to a halt and, tongue hanging out, nodded eagerly.
Laughing, Saria pat him on the head. "Goooood boy!"
Once her laugh finishing echoing, the friends just...stared at each other for a few seconds.
"Link," Saria said, "sorry if I came across a little mean. I am so used to walking the lost Woods alone, but... I should have guessed you would have a harder time finding me."
Link smiled. "It's OK, Saria. It just means I am willing to go any lengths to find you. Because you're my friend, and that's what friends do."
Head low, eyes shut, Saria held her ocarina against her heart. "And we'll be friends forever, won't we?"
He nodded. "Forever, I promise."
A fair wind blew.
She held her ocarina up. "Shall we?"
Link grinned.
Ocarinas raised, the best friends played music together while dancing, their spins and tapping feet attracting many forest sprites.
Their guardian fairies joined the fun for some airborne moves.
Felicia whirled Navi about, sparkles flying about. "I think you're getting better at this!"
"Just you wait, girl!"
Link and Saria had more cohesion in their dancing, their backs sometimes touching amid their performance. They weaved with their notes, at times seemingly about to walk into each other, but no interruptions came. The notes they played and their movements mirrored one another flawlessly.
Like all good things, the final moment neared. Eyes closed, the friends focused deeply in their music, the fair wind carrying the notes longer. They held their last note together, one last twirl until they faced each other.
Their eyes slowly opened, blue seeing green, their fairies also finishing up and hovering before their children.
Saria smiled. "You're better at dancing."
Link blushed. "Learned it from you."
Saria gave him a hug, which he returned. He felt her heartbeat against his, the warmth of her body, the tickling of her hair.
She whispered, "Thanks for visiting me. I want you to know that, no matter where you are, my thoughts and prayers go with you."
He let go. "See you later, Saria."
She nodded, and he took his leave, Saria watching him go...
Lost Woods
Link emerged from the darkness of a hollow log...
"Hoo hoo!
Did you learn an Ocarina song from Saria? That melody seems to have some mysterious power. There may be some other mysterious songs like this that you can learn in Hyrule. If you hold the Ocarina where a melody is necessary, a musical staff will appear in your mind. I recommend that you play a song you know. I also suggest that you play even when a score is not displayed.
Just like this:
Hoo hoo hoo hoot hoot hoot!
Do you want to hear what I said again?"
"No."
"Melodies you have learned will be recorded on the back of your World Map. You should memorize those melodies." At that, the great owl flapped his mighty wings, feathers fluttering as he departed.
Link looked at the reverse side of his map. The magic ink created imagery of a scale and various other symbols and blank outlines yet to be filled. The boy smiled. "Alright! Time to go back to Death Mountain!"
He paused mid-step.
"But before we go..."
Link scurried through the various hollowed stumps, not only memorizing music. Eventually, he returned to a specific stump. "Hey, Skull Kid!"
Skull Kid played his flute, dancing away.
Link hopped atop the smaller stump. Skull Kid lowered his flute, standing idly, and listened to what Link had to say. "Ever since we defeated the Baga Tree all those years ago, I thought we were friends. But now...you seem to be ignoring me lately. I don't know why we're not friends anymore, but... I am sorry for anything I've done that made it that way."
Link raised his Fairy Ocarina, took a breath, and released his notes. Where once sadness lingered, joy flourished.
Skull Kid began dancing and playing along. The boys played along with the forest music all around, the two extra woodwinds adding greater volume that resounded the empty space.
When they finished, Skull Kid lowered his flute. "You know Saria's Song! We should be friends! Here, take this!"
Link turned around while raising a heart-shaped container.
"You got a Piece of Heart! Collect four pieces total to get another Heart Container. More containers mean more life energy!"
Link looked back at—
F
W
I
P!
Skull Kid flipped through the air, landing right on the edge of Link's stump, Link flinching. Now that he was up close, Link could see Skull Kid was taller than first time they met all those years ago.
After a few seconds, Skull Kid said, "I had been mostly ignoring you because... Since the Baga Tree... I played my flute and danced, thinking of you. And, since then...you never visited me."
Link stared blankly. Did I forget all about Skull Kid?
"Saria did. Fado and the other Fado did...but you never did."
Link blinked a few times, clearly in the wrong. "Oh, I...forgot..."
His looked down.
Skull Kid's shoulders drooped. "You...just...forgot...about me?" Like everyone else...
Link scratched his head. "Yeah, I did... It was really dumb of me. I was bullied by Mido and his pals so much I couldn't think straight, but still... Being the odd one out, I should have remembered you. So sorry about that. It's my fault, I gotta do better. I will do better, for you."
Skull Kid tilted his head side to side, body crackling, then wobbled his head. "Actually, you know what? Ever since you saved me and my buddies from the Baga Tree, I could have paid you a visit! I was so used to being under control I never thought of going beyond the Lost Woods." He leaned back, hand partly raised, and laughed aloud. "I guess that was kinda dumb of me, too."
Link chuckled. "Alright, let's just be friends again, OK?"
"OK." He opened his hand. "Promise?"
Link shook his hand. "I promise that I promise."
Their grips tightened before they let go.
"Anyways, Skull Kid...what happened to the Skull Mask that Mido gave you?"
"Hm? Oh, the mask Mido carved... Well, while playing in the treetops a few days ago, I accidentally slipped off and fell, crashing down branch to branch. I hit the ground so hard I was stunned! When I finally got back up, I realized my mask had fallen off my face. I found the curved horns which had broken off it, but couldn't find the face." Skull Kid sighed. "After looking around, I saw a strange man wearing a huge backpack covered in masks, holding the Skull Mask up in his hands. He looked like a really happy fellow, but at the same time...he looked kinda...weird. Since he was a grownup, and looked creepy, I was too scared to talk to him. He walked away with my mask."
Link's ears lowered. "Skull Kid, I'm real sorry a grownup swiped your mask. Maybe, one day, I'll get it back for you?"
Skull Kid smiled, or at least as much as his scarecrow-face allowed. "Thanks, Link. It's nice to have a real friend. I'll wait here for you, but don't feel rushed. We forest folk have plenty of time, don't we? Ha!" Arms spread apart, Skull Kid backflipped onto his stump. "I'll stay up here, forever playing and dancing to the forest spirits! See you soon, Link!"