(Ff) Return

[R.o.D.]

(I don't think this is that good, but oh well, at least it's something, who knows it might become a comidy-thingy...I don't sigh...disappointment...Well quantity not quality.)

Prelude:

The Lost Woods stood in the silver twilight before the sun came out and awoke the woods, telling the creatures that live there that day had come. But, such a time had not come as of yet, and a thick fog that one could barely see one’s hand in front of one’s face filled the woods from east to west, north to south. It was like walking in a thick, tomato soup colored grey with food-coloring filled with the last hoots of owls and other noises that would soon depart once day broke the eeriness of the twilight. A foreshadowing of the things to come, a place where only night-sounds live.

Yet, another noise, soft at first like a marching drum fall off, but soon like when a bell rings out from a high tower it awoke the forest. Animals fleeing in fear as it echoed in the silent twilight, all hooting and other noises discontinuing as the noise came. Only the braver ones were able to catch a glimpse with there golden eyes that can pierce through the fog better than Hylian, Zora, Goron, and even the Gerudo thieves. Who were said to have the best eyes in all the peoples of Hyrule.

And, they saw the silhouette of a tall, muscular horse passing under the shadowy canopy of the large and tall trees of the woods. Another silhouette road on top of the horse—a Hylian with long sharp pointed ears and a long cape upon his bowed head…it wasn’t bowed in prayer, but instead, in sadness.

Sadness, that might even melt the bravest of men and women perhaps, but known of the beast who watch him knew that. In fact, they didn’t even know it was a "him", yet, they assumed he was because they saw no womanly feature. Even common beasts have some knowledge of such things.

Yet, they followed him through the woods, for their curiosity was too great to be ignored by their simple brains. These braver animals ran across the ground, leaping from tree, or some flow above him, just to see whom he was, what he was, and what he was doing in the Lost Woods.

Then, the sun shown through to the bottom of the wood as they entered a grassy meadow, clearing away the fog in its pure heat and wonderful brightness. All of the animals ran away in fear except a few squirrels; they were used to the bright rays of the Hylian Sun. For they had known it for all there lives and rejoiced in the warmth of its rays as it kissed them every day of their short years. Years never remember in story or song.

Yet, these unremembered creatures were the ones who watched as the sun shown his slightly tanned face to them. As he raised it to look around the meadow with sky-blue eyes, eyes that were filled with tears that he quickly wiped away with the back of his red-leather gauntlet on his right hand.

He stopped the chestnut, leaping off her back in one smooth, elegant motion and stood beside her. He patted her neck and in return, she nudged him, making him laugh. He wasn’t a man yet; in fact, he was only an adolescent who had experience much more than his fair share of trials and tribulations.

She locked eyes with him and he stopped laughing. He took out a sugar cube from a hidden pocket in his green tunic. She quickly nibbled away at it and it was gone in less then two minutes.

She nudged at him again, and he quickly folded his arms, “Don’t ask, or you’re a want-a-be, fatso horse, Epona!”

The said glared, but did nothing, and went to glaze on the long, green glass in the early morning sunlight. A small smirk was on his face as he sat down on a small long by an ancient ruined building. He knew what he was waiting for, and took out a light-blue, ovular ocarina. He closed his eyes and begain to play a song.

The song that somehow captured the wilderness; it was the song of the wood he played. A song of joy, of fun times. Where one could run freely in the meadows and dance in the bright sunlight of a new day. It told of stories of a childhood that was now past, of the memories that would hopefully never fade. Of a past innocence that was forever gone from him, like the childhood that was forever taken away from the slow movement of the river of time.

He opened his eyes and stopped playing when he realized that another person was in the clearing. The Hylian looked over to where he saw her out of the counter of his eye and saw her covering her mouth as if he had known something hilarious.

“How do you do that?”

She smiled, kindly, so innocent, perfect, so good, just the way he remembered her. She didn’t ever really change much, she was as unchangeable as his childhood memories, of times when he was innocent and carried not the burden he now had to bare. Things had changed for him, but for her they always stayed the same, she was sameness, and she was the very meaning of innocence and good to him. Something he had lost long ago, but she didn’t have to know that, her innocence was too precious to him.

Yet, she broke him out of his realm of self-hatred before he could delve too deeply, with her words. “Link, I just wanted you to know that I’m glad you came back…I thought…”

Saria began to break into tears, to lose her composure and fell against his body; he caught her in his arms and embraced her, “Don’t worry; I will never break my promises to you, no matter how hard they are to bare.”

“Promise?” Saria asked.

“Cheesiness…” Link warned. “This is cheesy enough as it is…yeah, I promise.”

(Yaaaaaaah! 1002 word-count, cheers! Anyways, Love, hate, what will happen next? Tell me this isn’t as stupid as I think it is (or as bad)…I like long comments on stuff…so have fun…next chapter is “Mido.”)

[R.o.D.]

(Back for more? Well, who knows, it might be better than last time! Ummm, word count starts at the first un-bolded word.)

Chapter 1: Mido

By R.o.D.

It was still the same bright and sunny morning that Link and Saria had again meant that greeted the forest where the Kokiri lived in peace, as they had for long beyond what time remember. In their forest, they lived as they always had throughout the long ages of Hyrule, in little tree houses that looked more like stumps with little sprouts sticking out of the top. Though, they still called them tree houses and at least a few looked more like trees, but done of these things really were tree houses yet, they didn’t care.

The Kokiri didn’t care much about anything, they were too simple to worry about things like that. The matters of the world were not to important to the Kokiri for they were, indeed, too carefree to care, and too innocent to think being that their carefree-ness was dangerous. Except for the few whom know more about the world and took cared of them. Yet, these few never made these worries known to their innocent friends thus make it a peaceful place.

Mido, being the (self-appointed) leader of the Children of the Forest, the Kokiri, was perhaps one of these. Nobody, not even Saria, knew for sure if he did or if he was just as naïve as the rest. But the way Mido laid on the ground with his blue eyes closed as the bright sun hit his face looked as carefree as the rest of his people. Though, in his mind, he had a right to enjoy the peaceful day, all perfectly made for Saria. Saria…he wanted her to like him, the way he liked her, he wanted to be Saria’s favorite…and for her to stop leaning on the past.

She had to accept that the past was gone, and that Link wasn’t coming back…as Mido had…so that he could forgive himself. But she was too blinded by years of a promise that was already broken. Saria had to accept that if Link was a Hylian, and was coming back…and even if he did, he wouldn’t be the same as he was. Link wouldn’t be the innocent boy that he once was, the innocence that Mido had helped to ruin.

Mido sighed, maybe that’s why she doesn’t like me, and maybe it’s my fault that she…doesn’t give up…maybe…

A shout—no a scream—brought him out of his shadowy run of thoughts. He sat up and looked around to see Kokiri running away from something and hiding in their houses. Yet, Mido stood up, and saw the horse and its riders.

Saria and a Hylian dressed in Kokiri like clothes, but he was definitely not a Kokiri. Only a mockery of the Kokiri…but what matter to Mido was that Saria was on a horse and she seemed to be enjoying it! Why did a horse have more of Saria’s love than himself!

“What are you doing?” Mido questioned, worry creasing a forehead that would never know the ill effects of age.

The Kokiri-mocker-of-a-Hylian stopped the horse who glared at Mido with loathing, but what matter to him most was that Saria smiled at him. Her smile filled him with joy and it matter more to him then all things…it was all for him. He was immersed in the depths of her beautiful smile…happy moment over…Saria words ruined it:

“Riding Mido…why not? It’s fun!”

So that was why she was so happy, not to see him but to be riding…without him. Why did she have to enjoy life without him, why not with him? Wasn’t he as fun to hang out with as any stupid beast? Wasn’t he the great…no, the loser Mido better than a beast? And wasn’t it dangerous to ride one…!

“But, its…its dangerous!” Mido said, getting a glare from the chestnut-furred.

She smiled, and patted the horse’s neck! Was she mad? Yet, the horse seemed to enjoy it…and even let out a happy whinny.

“Epona wouldn’t hurt a fly, Mido,” Saria said, “Why do you have to worry so much…you’re such a worrywart!”

I worry ‘cause I love you! But he didn’t say that, it would look impudent to do so. Instead, he watched as she slide off, and he ready to catch her…but was only able to break her fall, and make him fall onto his back, Saria on top of him.

“Get off!” Mido pushed Saria to her feet, “Why don’t you watch where you’re falling…you could’ve hurt yourself!”

“Mido…”

“I don’t care! Why did you have to ride that stupid beast…?” Epona and the Hylian glared at him and in fear of the Hylian, and Mido backed down. I wouldn’t want to get him any madder or he…

Yet, Mido forgot his line of thought as he noticed that Saria didn’t look so well. Furthermore, she was taking on a pale color and fright sprang to her blue eyes. Fright of something neither he, nor the Hylian, who was quickly off the horse, and it caused them both to become frightened for her sake.

“Link!” She screamed and fell falling into the Hylian’s arms, unconscious, eyes closed.

Worry clouded Mido mind, “Take her home…” The Hylian did nothing but glare at him for a moment. “I don’t care how much you hate me…you love her, take her home for her sake! I don’t want anything to happen to her and I can’t do it!”

He picked her up as if she was a paper-doll, love showing in his eyes as he walked in silence to her house. Mido following the tall, strong Hylian as if he was walking through a nightmarish world.

A world where darkness ruled…falling all around them. The bright sun was quickly hid by clouds that seemed to come from no where all of the sudden. It started to rain—an instant downpour—and they ran into Saria’s tree-house

In there the Hylian laid her on her bed, leaning over, checking her temperature. He was worried too. His face didn’t have to show anything but the depth of his emotions could be seen in his blue eyes and his movements.

“Will she be okay…?” Mido questioned.

He looked at him with a blank stare, as if to say, ‘Why do you ask, do you think I know?’
Mido sighed he knew that they were both worried and that he was only looking to blame this on the Hylian, who apparently blamed it on himself. He had been foolish in asking that question. They were both in the same boat and could only wait and see, no fairy could heal her, as hers had already tried and failed. It was something else then an illness, it was something evil.

(It’s gloomy…it makes me feel gloomy…or maybe I feel gloomy and that made it gloomy...I don’t know! Alright, word count for this chapter is 1135, 2137 total words.)

[R.o.D.]

(Here ya go…)

Chapter 2: Dreams

Link watched over Saria as she slept alone. For he had told Mido to go home and to catch some sleep. Mainly because he couldn’t stand the little Kokiri muttering. Link understood how worried he was but that really wasn’t going to wake her up any sooner.

Link heard a simple cry of distress from Saria…no, it was fear, he decided, but she started to shake and Link held her against himself. Hoping against hope that the she wasn’t speaking with her, hoping against hope that what she said she would do was not coming to pass…
***
…Saria did not know where she was, it was all dark…and she could not even see her hand in front of her face when she rose to see if it was there. It freaked her out a little but she decided it was best not to wonder what was going on yet. It was probably a dream.

All of the sudden a light came on, lighting the muddy landscape with a pale whiteness, like silvery-white moonlight. Saria saw now that she was in a meadow with a pool, it looked like made of glass, reflecting everything. The silver moon and twinkling stars that was seeable through the hole in the forest canopy, and the green leafs that grow on the tall trees that lined the edges of the meadow.

It was a curious thing, and Saria, for some reason felt a need to reach out her small hand and touched. When she tapped the surface of the mirroring pool, it sent a ripple across the perfectly reflected image changing it to…something else. She stepped back from the pool but her eyes were locked onto the image that was now there, an image that really should not have been there at all. Nevertheless, Saria saw the image in the pool.

On a half-rotten log sat a woman wearing a silk dress that was so white that it almost looked silver. It was embedded with white pearls lining neckline. It was a modest gown that had a flowing feeling to it like moonlight streaming down from the heavens. But, Saria didn’t really pay attention to this, or the silvery color of her hair, only her expression.

A it was A smile was on her all too beautiful face and seemed to make it all the more beautiful…but something told Saria-who felt awfully ugly in her presence-that this was only a mockery of joy. The woman was hiding pain as best could in her sapphire eyes but they seemed to be overflowing with it.

Yet, whatever pained her Saria did not know, except that it was indeed deep, and that was what caught Saria. Nothing else matter but the pain, and she opened her mouth to say something, but the woman rose her index finger to her lips to tell Saria to be silent.

After what felt like forever of waiting, the woman spoke in a silent voice that somehow reminded Saria of moonlight and she had to strain to hear. “Greetings…Forest Sage…”

Saria looked at her in shock…when was she a sage, and a sage of the forest? This didn’t make any sense! She shook her head, “I’m not a sage of anything…I’m only Saria…”

The woman smiled, and nodded as if in agreement with someone Saria could not see or hear, but was most definitely in this conversation. “Perhaps…, it’s has not been reveal to you, yet, but soon you shall know the truth of this.”

Saria sighed knowing that it would be useless to argue…this woman reminded her of Link. Link was so stubborn at times, that he could not see the other side of an argument until he sees it with his own eyes. Which, had made for some very odd (and stupid) conversation…but, that didn’t matter now, what mattered now was to listen, she felt, not dwell on Link who was (unbeknownst to her) watching over her as she slept.

“Nevertheless,” the woman broke Saria out of her train of thought, “that does not matter what will be revealed later, I must tell you now for I have waited long enough and cannot wait on someone else’s timing. But…first things first, how well do you know the Hero of Time?”

“Who is that?”

The woman rolled her eyes, whispering, “No memory at all…,” then she realized that Saria had heard her and her cheeks slightly reddened, “Sorry, I had thought that you would know, but, never mind that. How well do you know Link?”

“I’ve known him for his whole childhood. Ever since the Deku Tree told me to look after him…eight-teen years ago,” Saria answered quickly…and wondered why she wanted to speak so quick.

“Did I ask, ‘How long have you known him?’?”

Saria shook her head, but started to feel that she didn’t like this woman that much, but she still pitied her enough that she decided that she had to help her. She was wise enough to know that how much she liked someone wasn’t always why you helped that person.

“No,” Saria answered but felt no shame at not answering this woman correctly at first but know it was better to do so.

“Good…child…, now can you not answer my true question?” The woman was smiling kindly, but Saria could care less.

I’d rather not, but…I feel I must, Saria sighed, “Alright, I will,” she said, “I know him as well as—no, better than any other one else. We were best friends in his childhood and until he left to look for his fairy, Navi.”

The woman nodded, when she noticed that Saria had stopped and the tears in Saria’s eyes, “Go on! No…I’m sorry, please continue…Sage-Saria…”

Saria glared and wanted to slap the woman but stopped herself, remembering what had happened to the water the last time she had touched it. Why was this woman so uncompassionate? Did she think her grief was so much more important than what everyone else endured? Could she not understand…Saria shook her head, remembering that she was here to help the woman, not judge her. Judging her would be just as wrong as this woman’s uncompassionate ways.

“Then, he came back, and we are still best friends…so I know him very well,” Saria said, “I know that he’s honest, compassionate…”

“No,” the woman said rising off of her the log, “if you think he knows compassion, love, or any kind of form of love; you know nothing! He is cruel and merciless…he cares for no one! He only pretends to care!”

“That’s not true! Link wouldn’t ever…”

“And what,” she said standing there, “do you know of what he has done for these last years? Do you know what he did to my people, to my children, to my family, to my friends?”

Saria said nothing, and could only look at this woman as she started to light up with a hidden, dark power that was definitely not the power of Hylians. There was nothing good about this power, only evil.

Yet, the woman seemed to see that she didn’t know the answer, “No, you don’t…but I do…he killed them…!” She sent the evil energy at Saria, entrapping her in it.

“No,” Saria said softly, tears falling from her blue eyes, “Link wouldn’t kill anyone…”

***
Link held Saria as she wept quietly in her sleep, her body shaking, but then he heard her almost inaudible words, “No, Link wouldn’t kill anyone…”

These words frightened Link more than Ganondorf or Majora ever had and in his fright, Link dropped her. He stared at his shaking hands as the moonlight feel on Saria and him, he looked at Saria’s face and sadness feeling him…and shamed.

Then he whispered, “I’m sorry, Saria…I’m sorry…I couldn’t be the perfect little boy you remember me as…I’m sorry…that I have to go, but you wouldn’t except me if I stayed.”

(Hmmm…so, what did Link do…well…you’ll have to wait awhile to find out, ummm, man! I didn’t like that last part…I just can’t get it to flow! Oh, well, I’ll fix it after this month is over, for now. See ya! Word-count for this chapter is 1340, total: 3,477…Next chapter is…I don’t know yet…ummm, wait ‘til tomorrow!)