She didn’t know what happened to Link, but she hoped that he was okay. She watched Link being thrown through the stone at the entrance to the Kokiri village and that was the last she saw of him. Saria didn’t want to go after them because she did want to be in harm’s way. However, that did not stop her from praying for Link’s safety. There were a couple of loud booms that were not caused by the lightning. Speaking of which, the storm had calmed down. It was no longer raining, but it was still dark. The clouds continued to block the sun that had now just begun to rise.

Saria looked over to the Kokiri that were on top of the roof of the small shop the Kokiri owned. Every Kokiri was shaking and crying, they needed someone to comfort them and Saria was the only one who could. She stood up and jumped into the water. Swimming was not a strong point for her, but she still managed it. When she reached her friends and family they all greeted her with open arms. They all gathered around her and she let them embrace her. This is what she always wanted, to be needed by the Kokiri and to be respected by them. Just like Link, but to a lesser degree, she was picked on for being different. Her hair was the target of many hurtful remarks. Green hair was non-existent in the race of the Kokiri. So, when she was born, as soon as she could understand the language, she was made fun of. She didn’t really let it get to her, but at times she found herself weeping and balled up in a corner of her house. It wasn’t until Link came along that her depression went away. She had a baby to take care of she had no time to cry. She loved to take care of him and he always brought joy in her life. She had no idea what motherhood was like, but she wondered if this was it.

Tears came to her eyes, not just from what just happened to Link, but from being accepted, finally, as a Kokiri. They would never had done this if they did not trust her. They didn’t need to say that they trusted her, their actions spoke for them. Had it not been for the events that led up to this that roamed her mind, this would be the most perfect moment in her life. However, this serene setting was disrupted with noise of someone entering the forest. The Kokiri held onto Saria tighter, frightened that it might be Ganondorf. Saria couldn’t see at first, but when the person walked closer a smile stretched across her face.

“Link!” she called out.

The other Kokiris shuddered at his name, remembering what he did to Mido. Saria noticed what they were doing and said, “No everyone, Link is not going to hurt anyone. He was just confused and he didn’t mean to...kill Mido.”

Saria stood up and waited for Link to approach her. She was hoping for a thanks or at least a smile, but when he got close enough to her he reached forward and grabbed her by the throat. The other Kokiris jumped back at the sight of Link choking Saria. Link wasn’t choking her, he was just trying to get his point across.

“I just killed someone who was most likely my brother. Now, you better be telling me the truth or so help me I will kill you.”

He released her from his grip and she fell to her knees. She gasped for air and clutched her neck. She looked up at Link who had a serious expression in his eyes. Saria knew he wasn’t joking and was not going to see whether he was or not.

“Is there anything you can do to give me my old memories back?”

She stood so as not to look intimidated by him.

“I don’t know, it is a possibility though.”

Link couldn’t believe what he just heard.

“A possibility? Can you or can’t you do this for me?”

Saria did not know for sure and was not going to promise anything to him, know that if she did not fulfill the promise he would most likely do something to her.

“There is a strong possibility that I can do this. I do not believe that he permanently erased your memories. For one thing, you remember that you were married to someone, though you don’t know who they are. These small things that he overlooked could give you back your memories. Though, I don’t know if you would want your memories back. If you were to get your memories back, I don’t know if you could handle the loss of Zelda and your baby.”

He looked down and said, “That’s right, they’re dead. Did I kill them?”

“I don’t know, but do you want to know? Do you really want to remember losing your wife and your child?”

Saria didn’t know why she was telling Link this. She wanted his memory back so that he could be the real him. She needed a friend right now, and she didn’t fully trust Link at the moment.

“Well, I didn’t turn on my brother and kill him for nothing.”

His sarcasm would have to be ignored at the moment. Saria didn’t want to become angry and cause unrest at the moment.

“So you want to go through with this?”

Saria didn’t know why she asked that question, knowing full well what his response would be.

“No, I want to stay here and be happy with you.”

It was very predictable what he said, but Saria was still taken aback by it.

“Of course I want to go through with this.”

Saria now let go of her neck and said, “We have to go to the Temple of Time first. Rauru has some books of spells that I need to look at in order to find the spell that will give you your memory back. However...,” Saria knew he would not like the sound of a “however”, but she had to tell him now, “I can’t read old Hylian that well. So, it may take a while, not too long though, to find the spell.”

He grabbed Saria by the waist and said, “Lets just go and get this over with.”

The Kokiri screamed for Saria, thinking that Link was going to do something to her. Saria called back, “Don’t worry everyone, I will be back soon and I promise, everything will be back to the way it was.”

Her companions said nothing else, not knowing what else to say. They watched as she and Link left the forest, and thoughts of her safe return were on their minds.

The entire walk to the Temple of Time was not enjoyable for Saria. She didn’t like being held like a piece of luggage.

“Why do you have to hold me like this? I can walk you know.”

“I don’t want you to slow me down. I want to get this over with as quickly as possible and besides, I walk faster than you do.”

Saria wasn’t going to argue anymore with Link-it would be a losing battle. Saria dealt with his roughness for the time being so that there was no more squabbling between the two. The ground was damp and soggy, and Saria heard it with every step Link took. The wet grass made a squishing sound when his feet walked over it. The sky was still dark, but at least it wasn’t raining. There was nonetheless rumbling from the dark clouds that gave Saria an eerie feeling.

Link was thinking about who this wife and child of his could be.

“Who is my wife and child Saria?”

Finally, she thought, something to give us chance to talk.

“Your wife is Zelda, the princess of Hyrule. Your child wasn’t born yet, but it was scheduled to be born this month.”

He found it hard to believe that he had a wife and child and had no memory of it. How was it possible to be married to someone, have a child with them, and have no recollection of it? If Ganondorf really erased the memories I originally had. He still found it painful to know that Ganondorf, who was supposedly his brother, was lying to him. He even told him to his face that the sages were all right about Zelda and the baby. Something told him to believe what his brother and the sages said, but there was something in the back of his head that told said, You and Ganondorf have been brothers ever since you could remember. You are willing to believe memories that you don’t even know are really true, to the ones you have right now? It was a good point, but he had made his mind up long ago. It would be in vain if he didn’t go through with this, however.

The castle was just up ahead, and it was a sight to see. Fires engulfed every market shop and the front gate was obliterated. Saria could only guess at what happened here.

“Link, what happened here?”

She knew the answer, but wanted to hear it from him.

“Ganondorf and myself were here. We destroyed the castle as well as most of the outer area. I have no idea if anyone is left, or alive.”

His words seemed cold, like there was no remorse or feelings in what he said. Saria didn’t know if he did it purposely or if it was unintentional. Link, with Saria still under his arm, walked through the missing front gate. Saria had never been outside of the forest, unsure if the legend of a Kokiri dying if he left the forest was real or not. She had never seen the castle or anything outside of the forest for that matter. Lon Lon Ranch was bigger than she thought. The castle was also bigger than she was told, although it was probably larger than it was at the moment. Link walked around dead bodies that were killed very cruelly. Most of the bodies did not possess a head, which was very startling and disgusting to Saria. The amount of blood that covered the cobblestone ground appeared surreal. It was like walking on a red carpet, except it splashed with Link’s every step.

In front of them was the Temple of Time, not badly damaged as the other edifice. Link walked to the entrance and found that the door was torn from its hinges. He stepped over the huge splinters of wood and entered the temple. Inside, it was no longer a calming white color, but with streaks of red. Obviously some of the people of Hyrule had came in here for protection. But, the broken door told otherwise about their safety. They were killed, to say the least, by the moblins. A couple of “bodies” were found, although not much remains to positively I.D. it as a Hylian. Saria kept her eyes shut, not wanting to see the gruesome sight. She had been around, but never had she seen anything as this. If she had no self-control she would have fainted already. Link let go of her and set her down on the blood-covered floor. Eerily, the blood was still warm. Whenever this massacre took place, it couldn’t have been too long ago. She stepped out of the puddle of blood, not wanting to get it on her. Link looked towards the door that led to Rauru’s chambers and said, “There is his room, we should find his spell books in there.”

As quickly as she could, she followed Link to the door. It was bolted closed, preventing anyone from getting inside. However, with a quick and effortless slash from his sword it was open. They walked inside and immediately walked over to his bookcase that held the spell books. Link did not know what he was looking for, so he let Saria do the searching.

“Find the book we need quick. I don’t want to be waiting here forever.”

Saria ambled over to the bookshelf and began scanning the spines of the books. The inscriptions were in old Hylian. Saria could read it, but with difficultly. She was not fluent in the language and couldn’t translate certain phrases or words. Saria didn’t know if she would even recognize the book she needed, and most importantly, find the proper spell. It took some time, something Link did not have. Saria looked at about forty books before she pulled one out and began reading inside of it. Link uncrossed his arms that were around his chest and asked, with interest in his tone, “Did you find the book?”

“I don’t know, I have to read some more before I can say.”

He strode back and forth, wanting to hit something. Saria sensed his anger and began to fear any actions he might make against her. This only prompted her to read faster. Her eyes quickly analyzed any key word that might be the spell she was looking for. After skimming nearly half of the huge book she was sure she had found what she was looking for. She pointed to the page and said, “Link, I think I found it.”

He rushed over to her and looked over her shoulder at the page she indicated. He understood none of what he was looking at, and quickly asked, “What does it say?”

“If I am reading it right...it says memory loss anti-spell. It sounds like it is what we are looking for. All I need is a couple of moments to figure out the spell verses.”

Link didn’t have a couple of moments to spare, and he emphasized it.

“Look, you said you know how to read this stuff. So hurry up! You are taking your time and you need to read faster.”

“I am going as fast as I can. If you think you can do better then you do it.”

She shoved the book in his direction, knowing that he would not accept the offer.

“You know I can’t read it so-”

“-then you had better wait. I am sure that you don’t know anyone who can read old Hylian.”

The conversation ended with Saria. She felt a sense of accomplishment that she finally stood up to Link’s goading. The spell she read called for all of the sages’ power. Since she possessed all of the sages’ power, only she could do it. The words in the spell looked difficult to say. If even one word in a spell could lead to catastrophe. She had to know every word and say it without stuttering. After a minute of sounding our all of the unfamiliar words, she was ready. She put down the book and looked at Link.

“Okay, lets get this over with.”

Link faced her and awaited the spell. She raised her arms up in the air and began talking in an alien tongue. The glow that was around her shone more brightly than before. Suddenly, Link was being engulfed in a light. It was happening...Link was about to get his memories back, hopefully the right ones. In his head, memories of his life with Ganondorf appeared. He had done so much with Ganondorf, but now, he was never going to remember them. The next second, his mind went blank. He opened his eyes and saw Saria.

“Saria? Where’s Ganondorf?”

She lowered her hands and ran up to him. Saria threw her arms around him and said, “Ganondorf is dead, you killed him.”

He said, with confusion, “What? The last thing I remember was...I...”

He just remembered what he had said and done-he did something terrible. Ganondorf offered him to join his side knowing if he did he would forget about his past of Zelda and his child.

“Saria-”

“-I know, you don’t have to say it.”

“What happened; how did I get here?”

Saria told Link what had just took place. She told him that he killed all of the sages and how he finally killed Ganondorf after learning about how he gave him false memories. Link felt so ashamed of what he did. He killed his friends and didn’t even remember it.

“I know you are disappointed in me. I betrayed my family and friends. I don’t know how anyone will ever forgive me.”

Before he could sulk anymore, Saria said, “Link, what you did was to be expected of you. You had just lost your wife and child and you were about to die. Never speak of this, but I would have done the same thing. I could not bear to be left with the knowledge that I could no longer see the people that I love. I do not judge you or hate you for what you have done. You are back, you have shown regret and remorse for what you have done. I think that is enough.”

Tears began to form in his eyes, not able to hold them back any longer.

“How do I go on without Zelda and our child?”

He leaned against the wall and slid down to the ground. His face was placed inside his hands as he wept, not wanting Saria to see him like this. It was right in front of her, but she didn’t see it at first. Then, it appeared in her sight. The Triforce symbol on the back of his hand gave her an idea. She walked over to Link, grabbed his hand and said, “Link, you have a piece of the Triforce.”

“So,” he said with little enthusiasm.

“So, you can make a wish on it as Ganondorf did.”

Saria listened as his whimpering stopped. He removed his face from his hands and exposed his red and tear soaked face. Link turned over his hand to look at the Triforce symbol on it. His finger traced it as he said, “That’s right. I was thinking about it as me and Ganondorf fought, back at the castle, but when I had thought about it I was on the ground about to die. If I had tried to wish for something he would have killed me right there before I could finish it.”

“But now you can do it.”

His expression brightened some at the thought.

“What if I wish for the wrong thing and Zelda or the baby don’t come back?”

Saria placed her hand on his shoulder and said, “Just wish what your heart tells you. You can’t go wrong if you do that.”

Link had no idea what he should do-hold his hand out and just wish for something or if he had to perform a huge ceremony. He decided that simply wishing should do it.

“I...wish for everything to go back to the way it was without Ganondorf, and before he did all of this.”

His Triforce symbol surged with light. Link could feel it in his hand-the power. Link didn’t know if he did something wrong, but it was done with-he couldn’t go back and change it now. A white light engulfed Link and Saria, nearly blinding them. The light became brighter and brighter until they could no longer see. Nothing...then...

Link awoke to another morning enriched with hope and ecstasy...