Saria: Chapter Six

"Saria!" Breena shouted, "Where do you think you are going?" Saria shoved a few more things into the satchel and said defiantly, "I'm going to find Link. I think, no, I know something has happened." "But Saria, Kokiri can't leave the forest! You will die if you leave!" Breena buzzed around her friend pleading for her to stay. "I'll find another way to get to him." Saria said, with a boldness she never knew before. "I'm sorry Breena, I have to do this." Saria said as she pulled the drawstrings to seal her baggage. But when she turned to leave, there was a cry of fear from outside. Breena shook with surprise and Saria, without a moment's hesitation, rushed outside. The cry came a Kokiri girl who had a large Deku Baba nipping at her heels. Deku Baba plants were common in the forest, there were even a few harmless ones on the path to the Deku Tree, but this one was able to attack and was large enough to swallow a Kokiri whole. "What the..." Saria started then was distracted by a Deku Nut hitting the side of her house. She quickly looked around and saw an orange and red Deku Scrub disappearing into the ground under a pile of leaves. Most of the Kokiri retreated into their homes to either stay safe or to arm themselves for protection. "Saria! Get back inside!" Breena cried out, and the green-haired girl followed her instruction. Saria didn't try to leave the forest, the Kokiri needed her now more than ever, and not to mention it was too dangerous to venture into the forest. The Deku Scrubs had begun to attack anything that approached them, Moblins started to patrol certain areas, and many other creatures began to prowl at all times. In fact, it took hard work and luck that the monsters never overran the village. The Kokiri were able to fight off most, but every once in a while a stray Octorok would wind up in the river, or a Deku Baba would start growing. This became the pattern for the next seven years, the Kokiri would stay inside and only leave to help take down a few monsters, or if they truly needed to. Mido was the only one who routinely left his house and that was to make sure everyone was accounted for and safe. Saria helped guide everyone too, she became the leader she hadn't been when Link left and took care of everyone the best she could. "Saria..." Fado said as Saria slept, "You need to go to the temple... To protect the forest..." Saria's eyes fluttered open and she saw a light vanish into the wall. "Fado." Saria said, this not being the first time she was awaken by that girl's voice. Saria got out of bed the same as usual, and greeted Breena who was already fluttering about the house. "Saria..." Breena said after Saria's greeting, "Fado told me to let you know something..." "Let me know what?" Saria asked standing from her bed. Breena lowered down and sat on Saria's bedside table and said, "The monsters won't stop till you go to the Forest Temple." "But, if I go, what will happen to the Kokiri?" Saria asked, worried from the thought of leaving the Kokiri without a leader. "Fado told me..." Breena began, then a single tear dropped. Breena had been sleeping in her own bed that was on a shelf on the wall when a deep orange light appeared in the center of the room causing the little fairy to wake up with a deep yawn. "Breena..." Fado spoke using the light, "Saria is the next sage of the Forest. You must convince her to go to the Temple in the forest so she may pray and add her power. Breena looked up, still vague with sleep and asked, "What do you mean?" "The old Sage of the Forest has passed on, allowing Saria to awaken as the next to take his place. Without all six Realm sages, the portal between realms is weakened. If Saria does not fulfill her destiny, there will be no way to seal the great evil that has manifested itself in this world." "Is that why monsters have been appearing?" "Yes, when the man known as Ganondorf entered the Sacred Realm after Link opened the Door of Time, he took part of an ancient relic known as the Triforce. With its power in his hand, he sought out the sages and killed each one starting with the Sage of the Forest." Breena gasped, the protector of the forest was not the Deku Tree, it was in fact who was the Forest Sage. "By any means necessary, you must have Saria enter the Forest Temple and pray to the Goddesses. You must... Saria..." Fado's voice shifted to the sleeping girl, "You need to go to the temple... To protect the forest..." Then the light was gone. "Link is in the Sacred Realm?" Saria questioned when Breena was done explaining what Fado had told her, "But... I'm not sure. The Kokiri..." "Saria!" Breena yelled making her wings straightened out and body to bob in the air, "If what Fado said is true, then you must leave, because the monsters will go away!" A few tears began to drip from her eyes which caught her green light as they fell to the floor. Saria was taken back by her friends quick burst of boldness and looked at her as she sorted through her thoughts. "Breena. You're right. I realize now, that it is my destiny to enter that temple. I have always wanted to, and this seems to be the answer why. It has been my destiny." Saria said the last words like they were her dying breath. Her body relaxed but her eyes grew sharp, ready to take on the responsibility of being the next Forest Sage. The village was deserted again, there weren't even any monsters around for once, but still the air felt hostile. Saria quickly scaled the wall behind Mido's house and was in the Lost Woods before she knew it. The path in the woods seemed darker and more sinister than before, as if anyone, guided by a fairy or not, were doomed should they stray from the path. But other than the foreboding presence of evil, there was little in the way of monsters and Saria was making good progress without any monsters to hinder her. When she passed the old mine and entered the spot with the pond, someone called to her by saying, "Stop right there!" Saria froze for a moment then relaxed when Mido appeared from the side. "Mido..." Saria said happy to see him. "what are you doing here? The woods aren't safe you know." Mido warned. "I heading to the Forest Temple." Saria explained and Mido raised his eyebrow like he always did. "You're leaving the Kokiri?" Mido asked and Saria felt a tear drop. "I don't want to but..." Saria started but was cut off by Mido raising his hand. "Remember, a few years ago. I asked you to come to the pond with me. But we never did." Mido said, turning to the pond that was behind him. "Oh Mido..." Saria said. "You always chose him." Mido said, "And it annoyed me. It made me jealous and insulted me." "You, the most beautiful Kokiri in the forest, hung around some... weird guy, that wasn't even a full Kokiri." Mido said, "I guess what I'm trying to say is..." Mido gulped and shuffled his feet a bit, his back still to her. "I have always really liked you Saria, for as long as I can remember." Saria had always guessed that Mido had feelings, but she had always thought it silly for him to get so mad when she mentioned someone else like Link. Though, she never thought hearing him admit it affected her more than she thought it would, a few more tears began to well under her eyes. Puck fluttered about but other than that didn't say anything. "I know you prefer Link,and no matter what, you will do your best to help him." Mido walked to the next path and stood next to it. He pointed to the path and said, "I'll make sure no one follows, I promise!" Saria saw a single tear drop from his eye and in that one drop, saw all the light the forest had to give. "Good bye Mido." Saria said then ran with Breena close behind.