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Rekindling Their Bonds by ViperInferno

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Rekindling Their Bonds
By Viper Inferno
Chapter 2: Link's Homecoming


“Hey Link, it’s really starting to get dark,” said Saria, “We need to be getting back before the others start to worry about me.”
 
The sun had long since set, with the sky transitioning from the reddish-violet of dusk to the bluish-violet of twilight. Link and Saria had spent all of dusk playing new songs on their ocarinas. They had gotten so engrossed in their songs and each other’s company that they weren’t paying attention to the time of day. And now that it was twilight, Saria finally noticed just how late they stayed out.
 
“Yeah, I just hope they haven’t come looking for you,” Link commented as he and Saria stood up, “Let’s go ahead and go back.”
 
Saria smiled, “It was great playing songs with you again.”
 
“Yes it was,” Link agreed as they began to make their way out of the Sacred Forest Meadow, “It was great playing my favorite ocarina with my best friend again. And I really liked sharing these songs with you.”
 
So Link and Saria easily passed through the hedge maze and left the Sacred Forest Meadow. But with twilight having fallen upon the Lost Woods, navigating through the thick woods proved difficult. Link reached into his bag and took out his lantern. And with Din’s Fire, he promptly lit it, giving light to the woods all around them. “Saria, stay close to me,” Link ordered, “I know these woods are usually quiet at night, but you never know what might be lurking.”
 
“Hey, I’ve gone to the Forest Temple at night before,” Saria shrewdly responded, “The Great Deku Sprout and the Forest Temple both help to protect us and these woods.”
 
“So there’s really nothing to be afraid of, huh,” Link concluded.
 
“Well, nothing but an occasional big animal,” said Saria, smirking at Link.
 
“Right, that’s reassuring,” Link sarcastically commented.
 
With the aid of the light from Link’s lantern, they hiked their way through the dark and gloomy Lost Woods. Other than the usual nighttime sounds of crickets chirping, frogs croaking, and occasional owls hooting, the forest remained rather quiet. And in no time at all, they arrived at the passage to Kokiri Forest.
 
“I think I’d better go first, just to let everyone know I’m okay,” said Saria, stepping out in front of Link. He nodded in reply and blew out the flame in his lantern, and then placed it back in his bag.
 
Saria casually walked through the passageway and into Kokiri Forest. And as she emerged, Mido and another Kokiri boy came running toward her, with the twins following close behind.
 
“There you are, Saria. What took you so long?” Mido wondered, with beats of sweat dotting his face, “We were about to send a search party in the Lost Woods to look for you.”
 
“Oh Mido, you know you wouldn’t make it very far into the woods,” Saria teased, “But... I’m sorry I worried all of you.”
 
“Really! Why would you be out so late anyway?” Mido questioned.
 
“Well... I sort of ran into someone in the Lost Woods, and I just lost track of time, that’s all,” Saria explained, smiling at the other Kokiri.
 
Link took that statement as his cue and walked through the passageway, then emerged from the Lost Woods. Mido’s eyes popped out and his mouth hung wide-open when he saw just who had emerged from the Lost Woods. The twins, however, were overcome with joy.
 
“Link! You’re back!” the twins shrieked as they ran up the hill and toward Link. Link held his arms out wide and let the twins collide with him and hug him. After staggering a bit from the double collision, Link hugged them back, “Hi, girls.”
 
“We missed you, Link,” said one twin.
 
“But not as much as Saria did,” said the other twin.
 
“Yeah, no one missed you as much as Saria did,” said one twin.
 
“We were wondering when you were going to come back and visit us,” said the other twin.
 
Saria blushed as the twins blurted out how much she had missed Link for all to hear. They had no idea just how much she had really missed Link. As much as she would loved to have replied to his letters, she was unsure of where Link’s journey had taken him. She wanted him to come home and visit many times, but knew that his faraway quests had prevented that. The last two years were hard on Saria, but she always did her best to remain her cheerful self. ‘You girls really have no idea what it’s like to have someone like Link as your best friend, and then not have him for over two years,’ she thought to herself.
 
Another Kokiri boy watched on from a distance as the twins smothered Link. Upon final realizing that Link had really come home, he ran off toward the bridges that led to the highest hilltop that overlooked all of Kokiri Forest. Once there, he took in a deep breath and hollered to where the whole village could hear, “Hey everyone, he’s back! Link is back! Link’s come home!”
 
Mido finally had enough of it. Everyone was so excited about Link being home after he was gone for so long. The fact that the twins were so apparently enamored over someone like Link disgusted him. So Mido stepped forward and broke up their little celebration, “Oh come on now. Okay, so he’s back... big whoop-de-do. What’s so great about it?”
 
“Mido!” Saria scorned, “He’s been gone for over two years. So of course it’s a big deal.”
 
“Yeah, he left us because his fairy left him,” Mido responded, “He couldn’t bear losing his fairy. He couldn’t bear becoming a half-breed and a freak again. And now, Mr. No-Fairy’s come crawling back... and still with no fairy.”
 
“Mido, stop being so mean to Link,” said one twin.
 
“Can’t you see that he’s come home to see us?” said the other twin.
 
“Yeah... but... he still ran away to look for his fairy. And look, he’s come back home empty-handed. Let’s see here. Nope... no fairy,” Mido proudly rebutted. He then turned back to Link,” So tell me, Mr. No-Fairy. What are you doing crawling back here? And where’s your fairy?”
 
“Right here, you moron,” Navi’s voice scornfully responded right behind Mido, startling him.
 
Mido jumped and turned around to find the floating blue ball of light hovering right in his face. She was glaring at him with her hands at her hips. “Huh? Wha... what the... you mean... I mean... What?!” Mido stuttered with his eyes bulging as he was completely dumbfounded and at a loss for words.
 
“That’s right. After two years of traveling faraway lands and saving some of those lands from certain turmoil, Link did find me,” Navi proudly defended. She then flew back over to Link.
 
“Humph,” Mido haughtily scoffed, crossing his arms and tapping his foot.
 
Suddenly, a mob of Kokiri boys and girls came running and climbing up the hill, some cheering as they spied Link near the passage to the Lost Woods.
 
“Link’s back!” one Kokiri boy cheered.
 
“And he’s brought Navi the fairy back too,” a Kokiri girl added.
 
“He’s a hero!” another Kokiri girl cheered.
 
“Oh my goddesses, he’s back! He’s finally back,” Fado cheered as she dashed through the crowd, her blond pigtails flying in the wind. She threw herself at Link and gave him a really big hug, “Oh Link, you’re really back after such a long journey. Now you’re really a man.”
 
After a brief hug, Link let Fado go and stepped up to the small crowd of Kokiri. “I really don’t know what to say... but... I’m home,” he said to all of them.
 
“Tell us about your great adventure,” a younger Kokiri boy yelled to Link, “Tell us about the whole big world you saw outside the forest.”
 
“Did you really go even farther than you did on your last adventure?” a Kokiri girl up front asked.
 
Link sat down, with Saria sitting by his side and the twins and Fado sitting in front of him, and answered their questions. “Yes, I traveled quite a long way. This forest alone really is more vast than any of us know, just like the Great Deku Tree used to tell us stories about. Beyond the forest lie many other great lands not unlike Hyrule. I heard many of their songs, ate their great foods, and met some amazing people. I even saw the great ocean that we’ve heard so much about in the stories. It was so vast that you needed a big boat to travel on it.”
 
“Oh they’re all nothing but a bunch of stories,” Mido disputed, “Anyone from Kokiri Forest could spout out the stories that the Great Deku Tree would tell us all the time.”
 
“He really saw them,” Saria said in Link’s defense.
 
“I did see a lot of the things that the Great Deku Tree used to tell us about,” said Link, “I’m sure the Great Deku Sprout still tells you stories about the great big world that the Golden Goddesses created. But I really did see a lot of it with my own two eyes. And Navi saw them too.”
 
“That’s amazing,” said another Kokiri boy in the crowd.
 
“Did you really learn all those songs you heard?” the Kokiri girl in front asked, “I know you play the ocarina like Saria does. So you have to have learned some songs.”
 
“Of course I did,” Link replied, “That’s why Saria gave me her old ocarina and taught me how to play it in the first place.”
 
“Please play us some songs,” Fado asked.
 
“Yeah, play us some songs,” a few other Kokiri urged on.
 
“Oh brother,” Mido mumbled to himself, “Link comes home, with his fairy, and everyone gathers around him because he can see the world when we can’t.”
 
“I’d love to, but it’s already nighttime,” said Link, politely refusing.
 
The Kokiri moaned in whined in disapproval. “Aww... come on, please?” the twins begged.
 
Link couldn’t bear to hear all the Kokiri complain. They were children, after all, as was he. So he decided to give in. “Okay,” said Link as he stood up, “Just one song, okay? I’m really tired after such a long journey. But, I’m home now, so Saria and I can both play all the new songs that I learned for you all any time.”
 
“Yay!” all the Kokiri, except Mido and his posse, cheered.
 
“Saria, would you care to join me for this song?” Link politely offered.
 
“Of course,” Saria gladly replied, standing up and pulling out her fairy ocarina, “What song are we going to play?”
 
“Ohhh... how ‘bout that really upbeat song I learned in Clock Town?” Link suggested as he too pulled his fairy ocarina out.
 
“Oh, I liked that song when you played it for me,” said Saria.
 
“Okay, I’ll play the song for a bit for everyone, and then you join in, okay?” Link instructed.
 
“Okay,” Saria replied with a smile.
 
Link then placed his fairy ocarina to his lips and began to play the song from Clock Town. All the other Kokiri, even Mido, listened to the happy and upbeat tune. After a while, Saria joined in on her own fairy ocarina and made a lovely duet out of the song.
 
The twins began clapping to the rhythm of the song, while Fado and some of the other Kokiri stood up and started dancing to the song. And for a good long moment, Link and Saria plated their new song as all the Kokiri joined in for a vibrant twilight dance.
 
The next day...
 
“Link, it’s time to wake up,” Navi’s voice announced, piercing into a wonderful dream that Link was having. Yet, despite Navi’s reveille, Link didn’t so much as twitch. Navi then flew down in front of his face.
 
“Hey Link, wake up, will ‘ya,” Navi barked as she hovered around his face. Link finally responded by swatting at the fairy in front of his face like she was a mosquito.
 
Navi quickly backed off and glared at the still sleeping boy in the bed. “Link, get up!” she yelled.
 
“No, I wanna sleep some more,” Link moaned, “Just one more hour.”
 
Navi had enough of it. She flew to his bed and quickly jerked the pillow out from underneath his head. She then tossed it aside and grabbed a hold of his sheets. Navi took a beep breath and pulled with all the strength her arms and wings had, yanking the sheets off of Link’s bed.
 
Link, still in his green and white pajamas, finally began to stir, “Okay, okay, I’m up.”
 
“Jeez, Link. So many wild adventures since we first met and you’re still just as lazy as ever,” Navi nagged.
 
“What, I can’t help it,” Link mumbled as he slowly sat up in his bed.
 
“Yeah, you were the one who stayed up and played more than just one song last night,” Navi nagged.
 
“So why are you waking me up now,” Link asked.
 
“The sun’s been up for over two hours now, and all the other Kokiri are already up and running around,” Navi replied, “Besides, the Great Deku Sprout just summoned us. So we need to go and see him posthaste.”
 
“Alright, let me get dressed and we’ll go,” said Link as he finally stood up from his bed.
 
“Okay, I’ll meet you there,” said Navi as she floated toward Link’s door, “Don’t forget your sword and shield. And don’t make me come back to get you.”
 
And with that last warning, Navi slipped around Link’s door curtain and out of sight.
 
‘I wonder what the Great Deku Sprout wants,” Link thought to himself. He walked over to his wardrobe and quickly pulled out his green tunic and hat, and his white undershirt and tights. He then quickly changed out of his pajamas and into his regular everyday Kokiri outfit. Once he had gotten dressed, he grabbed his sword and shield and walked out his door.
 
“Good Morning, Link,” Fado called out to him just as he had emerged from his tree house, “The Great Deku Sprout wants to see you.”
 
“I know,” Link replied as he slid down his ladder, “Navi made sure that I knew and that I hurried myself up. She wouldn’t even let me sleep some more after the songs we played last night.”
 
“Well, our guardian fairies do the same thing with us sometimes,” said Fado, “They like to be annoying little alarm clocks that won’t stop until you’re awake.”
 
“Hey, I resent that remark,” Hina, Fado’s guardian fairy, scolded, giving her a surly glare.
 
“Yeah, especially Navi,” Link commented as he began his trip toward the Great Deku Sprout’s Meadow, “See ‘ya later, Fado.”
 
Moments later, after greeting a few more Kokiri, Link arrived at the passage to the Great Deku Sprout, where Mido stood guard with a Deku stick in hand and resting on his shoulder. “Got your sword and shield?” Mido inquired, blocking Link’s path with the Deku stick.
 
“Right here,” Link replied, turning around to show Mido the sword and shield on his back.
 
Mido then raised his Deku stick and rested it back on his shoulder to grant Link passage, “Alright, go on ahead. I’m only letting you go so easily ‘cause the Great Deku Sprout will be mad at me if I don’t let you go see him. You’d better hurry up and go, or he’ll get mad at you too.”
 
“Right, thanks Mido,” said Link as she dashed into the passageway, at which Mido only grunted in reply. After braving a couple of angry Deku Babas, Link arrived at the Great Deku Sprout’s Meadow, where Navi was patiently waiting for him.
 
“Link, come hither,” the Great Deku Sprout summoned.
 
Link obediently approached the forest guardian, and immediately noticed something different about him, “Great Deku Sprout, you’ve grown. You’re like... almost my height now.”
 
“But of course, young Link. I am a young Deku Tree after all, a child of my kind much like thou art,” said the Great Deku Sprout, “And I see thou too hast grown, and not just physically either.”
 
“I know. Both Navi and Saria have said the same thing,” said Link.
 
“But thou really hast grown,” the Great Deku Sprout reiterated, “I hast watched thee grow ever since thy dying mother brought thee here before me... nay, my predecessor. I am sure thou wilt grow into a fine young man.”
 
“Thank you, Great Deku Sprout. It must be my Hylian blood,” Link commented.
 
“That it is, my boy. That it is. But Hylian or not, thou art still and wilt forever be my beloved child,” said the Great Deku Sprout, “And I see that thou hast found Navi and brought her home after such a long journey. Thou hast endured many trials and hardships on thy journey, trials that has made thee grow in more ways than one.”
 
“You can say that again,” Link commented as he sat down. However, the words of the Great Deku Sprout perplexed him, and thus raised a question, “You know about all my adventures?”
 
“Thou mean thy adventures in the lands of Holodrum and Labrynna? Of course I do,” the Great Deku Sprout replied.
 
“And you know about Holodrum and Labrynna too? But nobody in Hyrule knows about them. I didn’t even know about them until I went there,” said Link.
 
“Oh, I know much about this great land that the goddesses created,” the Great Deku Sprout replied, “Not only dost I possess the knowledge of my predecessors, I also possess a small essence of what the goddesses left behind. That is how I can tell all my children the stories of both the great world and how it came to be?”
 
“I see,” Link sheepishly replied.
 
“And thou hast had the privilege to see some of the lands that the goddesses have blessed us with,” the Great Deku Sprout continued, “It was thy destiny to travel about the world, even if thy last journey was by thy own free will. Thou set out about the world to search for thy lost friend, whom had left thee in search of her own adventure. Thou hast shown great care and compassion toward thy friend and traveled by land and sea to ensure that her travels went well. And whilst on thy journey, thou hast even come to the aid of these lands in their most desperate hour. Thou hast shown great wisdom, courage, power, and determination in thy ordeals. Thou hast not only triumphed over evil, but also righted their wrongs and returned the lands to peace and prosperity. Thou art truly worthy of thy title as ‘Hero of Time’.”
 
“Thank you, Great Deku Sprout. But as great as it all was, these quests surely weren’t easy,” Link humbly said, “I had to go through so much just to get what I needed to defeat Majora, General Onox, and Veran. Even my fight against Dark Link was the toughest I’ve ever had. I won that fight by luck alone.”
 
“But thou kept thy faith and never gave up, and thus were able to prevail. Thou hast grown so much since thou defeated the evil Queen Gohma that befell my predecessor,” said the Great Deku Sprout, “Not only hast thy fighting skills grown, but thy courage and confidence hast grown also. I must say that I am very proud of thee.”
 
“I really don’t know what to say,” Link replied, astonished and flattered by the Great Deku Sprout’s kind words, and then thought to himself, ‘I only left to search for Navi. I may have known that I would be dragged into these quests, but I only did what I had to do.’
 
“Just feel good about thyself for achieving such selfless deeds,” suggested the Great Deku Sprout, “But, I did not summon thee only to say how proud I am of thee, and how happy it hast made me to see thee return home safely from thy journey. Navi hast told me why she left to pursue her own adventure. It seemed that she felt it necessary for thee if thy pairing were separate whilst thou grow. And as much wisdom as Navi possesses, even she felt the need for growth on her own. And I see thy separate journeys only strengthened thy bond.”
 
“Believe me, Great Deku Sprout, when Navi first told me why she left without saying goodbye, I was sad,” Link explained, “It made me feel like I wasn’t good enough to have a guardian fairy.”
 
“Until she told thee more of her story,” the Great Deku Sprout added.
 
“Yes. It seemed that she felt the same way too,” Link somberly replied.
 
“Whether together or apart, thy growth hast done thee both much credit,” said the Great Deku Sprout, “Sometimes, even the closest of companions need to grow alone to truly appreciate their companionship. And thus brings me to the other reason for my summoning of thee.”
 
Navi and Link sat silently and listened anxiously to what the Great Deku Sprout has to say.
 
“Navi the fairy, when I sent thee to accompany Link on his first quest, I had meant it to be until the end,” the Great Deku Sprout explained, “But after he had completed his quest and restored order to Hyrule, thy partnership was meant to be neither temporary nor permanent. After all, despite the fact that thou art all my beloved children, thou also live by thy own free will. Thou knew this all in thy heart thus felt the need to leave on thy own adventure. And Link, thy compassion and concern for thy friend led thee to seek a great adventure and find the true meaning of thy companionship. Thou cared not of what trials thou might face on thy journey, and thy love for thy friends motivated thee. And when Navi heard of thy adventures in those distant lands, she felt that she and thou hast grown so much and felt that the time was right to return to thee. And now that thou hast found each other and returned home to Kokiri Forest together, I ask of thee both: Dost thou wish for thy pairing to be permanent? It is a choice that thou both must make together.”
 
Link and Navi both sat silently and thought hard about what the Great Deku Sprout had asked them. They reflected on their recent and separate journeys. Link remembered how excited that not only he, but also Saria was when Navi first came to him. Navi remembered how fond she had grown of Link through their first adventure. And after they had grown so much while apart during their recent adventures, their desire to rejoin each other made their decision an easy one. So they both stood up to announce their decision.
 
“After seeing the world for myself, I feel that I can be a great companion to the Hero of Time. I wish to remain Link’s guardian fairy,” Navi declared.
 
“And I now know what it truly means to have a guardian fairy. I wish to have Navi as my companion,” Link added.
 
“Then it is done,” said the Great Deku Sprout, “May thy pairing be a blessed one like it is for all the children of Kokiri Forest and their guardian fairies.”
 
With that, Link bowed politely to the Great Deku Sprout and then turned to leave, with Navi already leaving way ahead of him. But as Link had taken a few steps, the Great Deku Sprout called to him again, “Link, wait.”
 
Link stopped and turned back to the Great Deku Sprout, “Yes?”
 
“Although thou hast grown, thou art still free to call the Kokiri Forest home if thou choose to,” said the Great Deku Sprout.
 
“Thank you, Great Deku Sprout,” said Link, “Then I choose to stay, just like last time.”
 
“I knew thou wouldst sat that,” said the Great Deku Sprout, “Do remember, Link, thou art not only courageous, but also a wonderful friend to many. Thou art loved by all thy friends, whether they be distant or close. I know thy friends mean much to thee, so share with them thy courage... and thy love, for they are all worth protecting.”
 
“I will, Great Deku Sprout,” Link replied as he left the Great Deku Sprout’s Meadow. Link quickly slashed away at the angry Deku Babas, and then emerged from the passageway where Navi flew up to him and rejoined him.
 
“Link!” Saria’s voice suddenly called out to him. Just as she had called his name, Link found Saria running toward him rather fast. Even Spryte was having a hard time keeping up with her. And in to time at all, Saria threw herself at Link and wrapped her arms tightly around him. “Oh Link, I am so happy for you,” Saria said excitedly.

“What for?” Link asked, returning Saria’s hug, “You were already happy about me coming back home.”
 
“And I still am,” Saria replied, squeezing him affectionately for emphasis, “But Navi told me all about it. She says that you and she are now permanent partners. I’m so glad that you two chose to stay together.”
 
“Well, he didn’t come a long way looking for me for nothing, you know,” said Navi.
 
“Yes. It feels great having a guardian fairy again,” said Link, finally letting Saria go, “Just like you and all the other Kokiri.”
 
“Hey Link!” the voice of a Kokiri boy called out to him.
 
Link and Saria turned to find the younger Kokiri boy running up to them with a short piece of Deku stick in hand. “Could you teach me your famous sword moves, please?” he begged, “We’re having a fencing act for this year’s festival, and I’ll be sword-fighting with Mido, and Mido thinks I’m too small and too slow to beat him.”
 
“That Mido,” Link muttered under his breath, “Still thinks he’s better than everyone else.”
 
“Oh go on, Link. It’ll mean a lot to Kalo,” suggested Saria.
 
“Please?” Kalo begged.
 
“Okay,” Link eagerly replied, “We’ll show that Mido.”
 
So Link and Kalo ran out to the middle of the field in front of the passageway out of Kokiri Forest. There, one of the Know-It-All Brothers waited patiently, holding a shortened Deku stick of his own. “Here, I’ll trade you weapons for a bit while I practice with Kalo,” Link offered, taking his sword and sheathe and handing it to the brother.
 
“Sire,” he replied, handing Link the stick as he took Link’s sword and held onto it for safe keeping, “After so many adventures, I think you’ll turn out to be a better teacher than me.”
 
With the shortened Deku stick in hand, Link walked ten paces down the field away from Kalo, and then turned to face him. “Alright Kalo, let’s see what you got. Come at me,” Link taunted.
 
Kalo grasped his stick with both hands and ran at Link as fast as he could. As he neared Link, he raised his stick and swung at Link as hard as he could. Link, however, casually stepped aside and slapped the boy in the back with his stick, sending the boy down and sliding on the ground.
 
Kalo recovered and dusted himself off, then turned to Link, “See what I mean?”
 
“Oh, you’re not slow at all,” said Link as he approached Kalo, “You’re plenty fast enough, judging by how fast you ran and how quickly you swung that stick. And with your smaller size, paired with your speed, you should be a tougher opponent for Mido.”
 
“But how do I beat someone bigger than me?” Kalo wondered, “Even you’re bigger than Mido now.”
 
“Oh Kalo, buddy, I’ve fought many monsters that were much bigger than me. How big your opponent is and how small you are don’t matter that much,” Link explained.
 
“Then why can’t I beat Mido,” Kalo asked.
 
“Well, your problem is not your size and speed,” Link explained, “You’re coming at me very fast. But, you’re using all your energy in that one swing. On top of that, you’re focusing it in only one direction... at me. When you do that, you leave your sides and back open. And because of that, you don’t have the energy to change direction or change your attack. That’s how I hit you in the back so easily.”
 
The Know-It-All Brother stared at Link with his mouth hanging open. ‘Wow, he’s so much different than when I first tutored him on his sword-fighting,’ he thought to himself, ‘It’s amazing, the words coming out of his mouth.’
 
“Okay Kalo, I’m going to show you some of what I’m talking about,” said Link, “Watch very carefully how I move my sword, err... stick and how I focus my energy in any direction.”
 
Kalo sat down as watched as Link readied his stick. Then, Link began swinging his stick in various directions as if it was really his sword. He was slashing, thrusting, parrying, and linking like a master swordsman. Even the knights of Hyrule would blush at Link’s display of swordplay.
 
After Link was finished, Kalo and the Know-It-All Brother both applauded his performance. “Link, you’re really great,” Kalo praised excitedly.
 
“Yeah, but you can do some of this great stuff too,” said Link, “I’m going to teach you how to do that.”
 
So Kalo stood up and took his stick in his hand. Link walked to a spot eight paces in front of him. “Okay Kalo, since you’re right-handed and I’m left-handed, I think this way is perfect,” said Link, “Now, we’re going to act like we’re in a mirror. I want you to do exactly everything that I do, okay?”
 
“Right,” Kalo replied as both readied their sticks. Link swung his stick side-to-side a few times and thrust. Kalo then did the same thing, exactly as he saw Link do. Then, Link swung downward and side-to-side in one fluid motion and finished with a lunge. Kalo then mirrored Link’s swordplay perfectly.

 
Meanwhile, as Link and Kalo were mimicking swordplay with each other, Saria and Fado watched on from the highest hilltop in all of Kokiri Forest.
 
“Wow, look at Link,” Fado commented, “He’s really taken to teaching Kalo. And he’s doing really good too.”
 
“Well, he did save all of Hyrule,” said Saria, “On top of that, we went away on a long journey and saved other lands too. So of course he’s doing good.”
 
He girls sat silently as they watched the boys mirror each other’s sword moves, each getting progressively more complex. Fado let out a contented sigh, “He really has grown, hasn’t he?”
 
“Yes he has,” Saria replied.
 
“I noticed last night when I hugged him,” Fado explained, “We used to be the same height. Now, I barely come up to his nose.”
 
“Yeah, I just barely come up to his eyebrows now,” said Saria, “But he’s also grown in more ways than one. Just look at how confident he is in himself as he’s teaching Kalo.”
 
Fado watched closely at the two boys, and particularly at Link, as they continued with their twin swordplay. “Yeah, you’re right,” she agreed, “He does seem a lot more sure of himself. He also seems wiser and more mature, kind of like you.”
 
“Mmhmm,” Saria nodded.
 
“If he continues to grow like this, I’m very sure he’ll become the leader of Kokiri Forest, and a fine one at that,” Fado commented, “I bet Mido would rue that day.”
 
“Oh, I don’t think Link wants to take the title of ‘Boss of the Kokiri’ away from Mido,” said Saria, “Link likes to travel way too much. Besides, now that he’s grown so much, I think he’ll be the one to put Mido in his place.”
 
“Like you?” Fado giggled.
 
“Yep. Looks like I won’t have to stand up for him as much anymore,” Saria commented, and then paused as her eyes drifted downward, “But... I still want to. I can’t help it. He’s my best friend, and I don’t want to see anything bad happen to him, even if it’s just Mido being mean to him. So I can’t help it if I still end up standing up for him.”
 
Fado sat silently and watched the two boys as they took a break from their swordplay. She then let out another somber sigh, “He really is different from us, isn’t he?”
 
“Uh huh,” Saria replied, “He sure is.”
 
“Yeah... he can grow, he can leave the forest and come back... I thought Kokiri don’t do that,” said Fado.
 
“Well, look t me. I’m different than you too,” said Saria, “My hair is different than yours. I can go deep into the Lost Woods where others wouldn’t even dare to go, and I can hear the spirits of the forest. So I’m different too.”
 
“Yeah, you’re right,” Fado submissively replied, and then turned to Saria, “You may be different, but everyone likes you. You’re so sweet and kind to us, you stand up for us whenever Mido is being mean to us, you play such wonderful songs on your ocarina, and you’re very pretty too.”
 
“Thank you, Fado. You really flatter me,” Saria replied as she blushed, “But... Link is different too, yet he wasn’t always everyone’s favorite, and you know it. While most of us treated him just like he was one of us, Mido and his gang always liked to tease him and pick on him. As for me, I stood up for him and even played with him a lot. He was different too, more so than me. That was part of why he and I became best friends.”
 
Fado smiled and hugged Saria, “You really are the best kind of friend anyone could ask for, to care so much for someone as different as Link, and make him really feel at home with us. I can see why he decided to come back not once, but twice.”
 
Saria let Fado go and gave her a rather mischievous glare, trying to giggle or even crack a grin, “And what do you mean by that, huh?”
 
“Oh, nothing,” Fado smirked, “You’re his best friend, after all. Besides, he loves this forest just as much as we do. As different as he is from us, he’s also a lot like us. He’s a Kokiri, after all, and this is where all Kokiri call home.”
 
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” said Saria as she turned back to the boys, who had resumed their swordplay. And almost as quickly as hey had turned back to Link and Kalo, an idea struck Saria like lightning.
 
“Hey, I know what we can do for Link,” Saria blurted out as she stood back up.
 
“Really? Like what?” Fado wondered.
 
“Oh, something really nice for him,” Saria replied, “Can you do me a favor?”
 
“Sure. Like what?” Fado replied as she too stood up.
 
“I want you to go gather the twins and some of the other boys and girls and have them meet at my house,” Saria instructed.
 
“Okay,” Fado replied, “Should we let Mido know too?”
 
“Mido? No, absolutely not. Not that prankster,” Saria quickly replied, “He’ll just find a way to mess it up for not only Link, but everyone else too. Let’s just keep Mido in the dark for now, okay?”
 
“Sounds good to me. I’ll go get the others. See ‘ya, Saria,” said Fado. She then spun on her heel and ran across the bridge to carry out her task. Saria, however, only casually walked across the bridge as it led straight to her house. ‘Oh, Link is going to love this,’ she thought to herself, ‘He really deserves it after being gone for so long.’
 
A half-hour later...
 
Fado had done her job very well. She, Saria, the twins, one of the Know-It-All Brothers, and 12 other Kokiri boys and girls had gathered at Saria’s house and taken up just about every place there was to sit. Once everyone had gathered, Saria turned to the Know-It-All Brother, “Are you sure that your brother can keep Link away?”
 
“Are you kidding?” he replied, “He’s learning from Link’s swordplay demonstrations almost as much as Kalo is. I’m sure he can keep their practice going for a while.”
 
“So why are we all here, Saria?” a Kokiri boy asked.
 
“Yeah, what’s this really nice thing you want us to do for Link?” a Kokiri girl added.
 
“Well, I want us to throw a surprise party for him,” Saria explained, “He’s been away for over two years, we missed him so much, and now he’s come back home. I want to show him just how much we missed him and how happy we are that he’s home.”
 
“Really?! A party?!” Fado said excitedly.
 
“Oh we love parties,” the twins added with enthusiasm.
 
“So what are we going to do for this party, and how are we going to set it up? Most of all, how are we going to keep it a secret?” the Know-It-All Brother asked.
 
Just as he had asked that question, Navi flew inside through the tiny space between Saria’s door curtain and her doorframe, “You wanted to see me, Saria?”
 
“There’s one of your answers,” Saria replied, waving her hand in Navi’s direction.
 
“What? What about me?” Navi wondered.
 
“We’re going to throw a surprise party for Link,” a Kokiri boy replied.
 
“Wow, that’s great. It’s really thoughtful of all of you,” said Navi, “So when are we going to have this party?”
 
“In a couple days,” Saria replied.
 
“A couple days? Why in a couple days?” a Kokiri girl asked.
 
“Why not? The sooner, the better,” one of the twins replied.
 
“I agree with the young one. Shouldn’t we need more time to plan a party?” said Navi, doubtful of their methods.
 
“Well, it just happens to be a very special day. So I want us to have this party on that day,” Saria explained.
 
“What’s so special about that day?” Fado asked.
 
“Oh, I’m sure you know what day it is,” Saria replied, winking at Fado.
 
“Ohhh... right. Gotcha,” said Fado as she finally remembered, “I see why now. Let’s do it then.”
 
“We can make this party happen, even if we were throwing it tomorrow,” said Saria, “And since it’s soon, it’s only better for all of us.”
 
“So what are we going to do,” the other twin asked.
 
“Well, I’m thinking about having this party at the Great Deku Sprout’s Meadow,” Saria explained, “He’s definitely going to want to be in on this party. Plus, it’s a really big place where everyone in Kokiri Forest can gather and have a big party.”
 
“Is there going to be a big cake and lots of food?” one of the Kokiri boys asked.
 
“And is there going to be a lot of singing and dancing too?” another Kokiri boy added.
 
“Of course,” Saria replied, “What’s any party without a cake?”
 
“So how are we going to keep Link from finding out?” Navi asked.
 
“Well, Navi, that’s where you come in. Your task will be to take Link somewhere... anywhere but here,” Saria explained, “Since Link likes to go places now, it should be easy to keep him away from here while we get the party all set up.”
 
“I understand,” Navi replied, “I can take him to the Lon Lon Ranch to see Malon, Talon, and Epona. I can take him to the castle, to see the Gorons, to see the Zoras, or even to visit the Gerudos.”
 
“Sounds like you’ll have that taken care of,” Saria commented, “We’re all counting on you, Navi. It’s not a surprise party if Link finds out about it.”
 
“Don’t worry, Saria. I won’t let you or everyone else down,” said Navi as she turned and left Saria’s house.
 
“Okay everyone, the party will happen in two days. Go and tell your all your friends about it, and come up with something to bring to or do at the party,” Saria instructed, “However, make sure that Mido doesn’t know... at least not until tomorrow night. And definitely make sure that Link doesn’t find out.”
 
“You got it, Saria,” a Kokiri boy eagerly replied.
 
And with that, all the Kokiri filed out of Saria’s house, even Saria herself. Meanwhile, Link continued to give Kalo his fencing lessons, oblivious to Saria’s and everyone else’s plans.
 
That night...
 
After having spent much of the afternoon practicing swordplay with Kalo, Link returned to his tree house. He was still ecstatic over finally receiving a guardian fairy, once and for all. And since Link was home again, seemingly for good this time, he wondered what he was going to do. Although there was always something to do even in Kokiri Forest, Link also had access to nearly all of Hyrule, and even beyond. That fact gave Link so much that he could do, that it made such decisions difficult for him.
 
But, as much as there was to do, Link found himself reflecting on all the good times he had spent in Kokiri Forest from before his first journey began. He remembered the fun times he had shared with some of the other Kokiri, the times that Mido was mean to him and played pranks on him, and most of all the fun times that he and Saria shared together.
 
“Yeah, Saria,” Link said to himself as thoughts of his best friend entered his mind. He had been away from her for over two years and missed her very much. And now that he was home again, he and she could play together again and talk about almost anything.
 
“Is something wrong, Link?” Navi wondered when she heard Link mention Saria’s name.
 
“Oh no, I was just thinking about going to see Saria,” Link replied as he stood up, “And that’s what I’, going to do.”
 
“Okay Link, don’t stay out too long,” Navi replied.
 
So Link left his house and climbed down his ladder. Then, he casually walked over to Saria’s house. Once there, he lightly rapped on her doorframe.
 
“Yes? Who is it?” Saria’s voice asked from inside.
 
“It’s me,” Link replied.
 
“Oh hi, Link. Come on in,” Saria invited.
 
Link gently moved Saria’s door curtain aside and walked inside to find Saria lying on her bed. She was still wearing her tunic with her dark green sweater underneath and was reading a book. “Hi Saria, what’cha reading?” Link asked, immediately noticing her book.
 
“Oh, just some of Hyrule’s history,” Saria replied.
 
“Really? When did you start reading about the outside world?” Link wondered.
 
“Since you left on your recent long adventure,” Saria replied, “I had the Great Deku Sprout send for some of these history books along with a few others to be brought here. And he was more than happy to oblige. Yet, he wouldn’t do it for just anyone.”
 
“It’s because you’re the Forest Sage, right?” Link asked.
 
“More like I will be the Forest Sage,” Saria replied, “Ever since you defeated Ganondorf and we sealed him away, ever since we were sent back to this time where we belong, the Sages’ powers weren’t needed anymore. That’s why you and I can live our normal lives today. I’m not the Forest Sage right now, but I will be someday.”
 
“I see,” said Link.
 
“That’s right. I’m just a normal Kokiri girl who will happen to inherit the title of ‘Forest Sage’ someday,” said Saria as she closed her book, placed it on her nightstand, and sat up in her bed, “So what’s up?”
 
As engrossed as he was in Saria’s explanation, Link remembered why he had decided to visit her. “I was just wondering, do you want to join me outside and sit under the stars?” Link sheepishly asked, “Just us.”
 
Saria gasped joyfully at his proposal, “Oh I’d love to.” She hopped up from her bed and quickly slid her boots on. She then ran past Link and over to her door. But when she turned around, she saw Link with a rather dumbfounded look on his face. “Well, what are you waiting for? Come on,” she urged.
 
But Link just continued to stand there, staring at both Saria and her surroundings. For some reason, something looked very different to him, and he just couldn’t place it. “Hey Saria, did you redecorate anytime while I was gone?” he asked.
 
“Redecorate, like how?” Saria asked, wondering where that question came from all of a sudden.
 
“I mean did you move your wall pictures around or something?” Link reiterated.
 
“No. I never move these pictures. I’ve always liked them where they are,” Saria replied, “Why do you ask?”
 
Then, Link slowly walked up to a picture that hung on the wall almost right next to Saria’s doorframe. It was an older picture of everyone in Kokiri Forest posing in front of the Great Deku Tree, with many fairies dotting the background. Right in front sat Saria and a younger Link, sitting with their shoulders snug up against each other. He always liked that picture that Saria kept of everyone, but something about the area around that picture seemed different.
 
“What is it, Link?” Saria wondered.
 
Link took a quick look at Saria, and then turned back to the picture. And to Saria’s surprise, he held his hand out level with the floor and right up against the bottom of the picture frame. He then slowly moved his hand across the bottom of the picture frame and toward Saria, eventually coming in gentle contact with her forehead. That one movement explained everything, “Oh my goddesses, Saria! You’ve grown too!”
 
“Really?” Saria gasped.
 
“Yeah, you used to come up to the bottom of this picture frame,” Link explained, “Now you’re a few centimeters above the bottom of it.”
 
“Well... you’re only the third person to notice,” said Saria, “The Great Deku Sprout and Fado are the only others who have noticed. But everyone sees me everyday. So it’s very easy to not notice.”
 
“But how?” Link wondered, “I thought that Kokiri don’t grow up.”
 
Saria only smiled at Link. “Let’s go outside and sit under the stars,” she suggested, “I even have my fairy ocarina with me. Did you bring yours?”
 
“Right here,” Link replied as he patted his bag that hung from his hip. He then walked up to Saria, and they both left her house and headed toward the open field. They found a spot on a soft grassy knoll that provided a perfect view of the star-studded sky through a large opening in the trees. There, Link sat down while Saria flopped down on her back with her arms spread wide. “Ahh... I love this spot,” Saria commented.
 
Link only sat silently and gazed up at the stars, enjoying both the marvelous view and his best friend’s company.
 
“It’s a really beautiful night,” Saria commented softly.
 
“Yes it is,” Link agreed.
 
Saria then rolled over on her side, facing Link, and rested her cheek on her palm. “You know, that was a really sweet thing that you did for Kalo today, helping him with his fencing for the festival,” Saria commented.
 
“What, that? Oh, it was nothing at all,” said Link, thinking of it as just another good deed.
 
“Well, it may be second nature to you, but to Kalo, you spending much of the afternoon with him and teaching him your sword skills meant the world to him,” Saria explained, “It was very thoughtful of you.”
 
“Yeah, we’ll both get back at Mido for being so smug with us,” Link proudly boasted.
 
Saria giggled in response to Link’s enthusiasm, “Oh Link, you’re still just as mischievous as ever. But, I do hope Mido gets what’s coming to him when Kalo beats him.”
 
“I would so love to see that... for Kalo’s sake,” said Link as he too flopped back in the grass. He then gazed back up at the star-studded sky. “You know, Saria, there were many nights when I was in Holodrum, Labrynna, and even the islands where I would gaze up at the stars,” said Link.
 
“Yeah, me too,” said Saria, “I too would lay here at night, or even sneak into the Sacred Forest Meadow and gaze up at the stars. Every time I did, I would often thing about you and wonder if you too were gazing at the same stars.”
 
“I thought about you too,” said Link, “I thought about you, the forest, and even Hyrule. And I often took out my fairy ocarina and played a few tunes.”
 
“You know, Link, the night before you left, I would loved to have sat here with you... under the stars,” said Saria.
 
“I know, me too,” Link replied, “That’s why I wanted to come out here tonight. It’s because I didn’t get to sit under the stars with you before I left.”
 
“It’s really thoughtful of you,” Saria said softly as she continued to gaze up at the stars. This was the exact feeling that Saria missed over two years ago. It was very seldom that Link would sit under the stars, and even more so that he and she sat together while doing so. And every time she did get to, she cherished it. She loved spending time with Link, whether it was under the stars, when playing together, sharing music, or even just casual conversation. It was much of what made them best friends. However, as wonderful as this night was for them, Link’s last question reentered Saria’s mind, “Link, you were wondering how a normal Kokiri girl like me can grow up, right?”
 
“Don’t tell me you too are really a Hylian,” said Link.
 
“Oh no, I’m just as Kokiri as Mido, Fado, Kalo, and all the others,” Saria explained, “However, I do age just like you do now. It took me by surprise too when the Great Deku Sprout told me about it.”
 
“So how is it that you can grow up while the other Kokiri don’t?” Link wondered.
 
“Well, he told me that because I had been awakened once as the Forest Sage,” Saria explained, “It happens because the title and powers of a Sage are passed down from generation to generation, ever since the first people walked about Hyrule. And since we Kokiri do not grow, the powers of the Sage allow us to grow so that our powers may be passed down. Sages can’t be immortal like us Kokiri, you know.”
 
“I get it now,” said Link, “But you said yourself that you’re not the Forest Sage yet.”
 
“Not now,” Saria replied, “I was for a little bit in a time of great need. Now, I’m just an heiress. I have the powers, as do the other Sages, but they’re just not awakened right now.”
 
“I see. And are you alright with all of this?” Link asked, “I know the Kokiri enjoy being children forever. Yet, I and even you won’t be children forever.”
 
Saria faced Link and smiled, “Yes. I’m okay with it. I always knew that although I was Kokiri, I too was just a little bit different than everyone else. The Great Deku Sprout said that it was my destiny to be the Forest Sage. Plus, now I get to grow up with you.”
 
“That’s good,” Link commented, “But we’re all different, you know.”
 
“But, I’m only growing up half as fast as you are,” Saria continued, “So I’ll still be an older child... a teenager... once you’ve become a man.”
 
“Really? How is that?” Link asked.
 
“Simple, it’s my Kokiri blood,” Saria replied, “Even the powers of the Sages can’t make us Kokiri grow as fast as a Hylian does.”
 
Link let out a light laugh, “You have a point.”
 
Saria then took out her fairy ocarina. Link noticed and slowly turned his head to face her,” What’re you doing, Saria?”
 
“Oh, I want to play a few tunes... nice ones for a night such as this,” Saria replied as she placed her ocarina to her lips.
 
“Yes, that would be really nice,” Link softly replied, “I’ve always loved listening to your songs.”
 
Link laid back and relaxed as Saria played a warm and gentle melody, one that she used to play for Link all the time. It was also a song that Link would sometimes play on his own fairy ocarina on night that he thought about her. “So soothing,” he whispered.
 
Saria continued to play her song, remembering all the good times that they had, and thinking about the good times that they’ll share again. This surprise party for Link was going to be the first, and Saria was very excited about it.
 
And when Saria finished her song, she turned back to Link to get a song request from him. But when she did, she found Link fast asleep on his side. Saria then softly giggled, “Link, you’re still such a fast sleeper.”
 
She couldn’t help but be mesmerized by how adorable Link looked as he slept. But as she watched him, fatigue began to creep up on her too. “I guess you can’t help it, not after helping Kalo all afternoon,” she whispered, smiling as she brushed his bangs aside from his face.
 
“Good night, Link,” she whispered as she gently caressed his cheek, “Thank you so much for tonight. It really means a lot to me.”
 
And with that, Saria slowly rose and gave one last look at the sleeping boy. Then, she turned around and went to her house to join the rest of the world in slumber.
 
end of chapter 2

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Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda and its characters ain't mine, but belong to Nintendo and the various creators and directors of each of the games. So, please don't sue me. I'm just a lonely man who ain't got anything but his pride. Well, y'all enjoy this fanfic and review.

Have fun Zelda fans,
Viper Inferno
(Y2V)

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