Fan Fiction Friday: The Song on the Leaves – Chapter 1

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-The First Dawn After the Seal-

The flowing power and essence of the sages of Forest, Water, Fire, Shadow, and Spirit descended upon Death Mountain underneath the faintly twinkling stars. The sky was illuminated in a swirl of orange and light blue as the sun began to rise. The dry soil of Death Mountain crunched under Saria’s feet as she regained her corporeal form and landed on the ground. They all gazed up into the clouds.

After seven years, the sun was rising on a new world, free of the King of Evil’s tyranny. Hyrule was far from the beautiful land she had heard stories about. But it was a start. For the first time in years, Saria felt at peace. Hope and relief washed over her all at once. Before Saria awoke as a Sage, she had never been anywhere outside of the Kokiri Forest and the Lost Woods. Now, she could see the world from Death Mountain’s peak. 

She listened closely to the rustle of the tumbleweed and the lizards that darted beneath the rocks. I didn’t realize how thin the air is here, she thought, taking in a deep breath and letting the hot mountain air fill her lungs. The sky was an incredibly bright blue, and the passing clouds looked so close she felt like she could reach out and touch them. The brightness and warmth of the sun were overwhelming, but she couldn’t get enough of the way the rays kiss her pale skin. She rolled up her sleeves and extended her arms out like a flower absorbing the light. 

“Enjoying yourself?” Darunia asked.

Saria smiled, “Yes. Back home, the forest is always shrouded in a fog that protects us. We don’t see the sun, or the sky. Not like this.”

“It’s the first time we’ve seen it in a long time, too,” Darunia nodded solemnly. Saria looked up at him and reflected on what he had told her of Death Mountain’s situation while they resided in the Chamber of the Sages. She remembered the way he described the volcanic eruptions and boulders that rained down from the sky. The blue sky was replaced by the smoke and ash that blanketed the mountain so thickly that their eyes watered and their lungs were overwhelmed if they stepped outside Goron City. Her small hand clasped one of his fingers gingerly. Startled, he smiled slightly and cleared his throat, “It’s hard to believe Hyrule’s been saved, you know?”

“We fought long and hard for this,” Nabooru said. “We may have lost good friends and warriors along the way, but this peace now…it was all worth it.”

“Yes, it was…” Saria’s voice trailed off. I wonder if Link is back in Kokiri Forest now? Hopefully, Mido isn’t being too harsh on him. Maybe the Deku Sprout will make an exception and allow him to stay?

“Well, enough just standing around here! Let’s celebrate!” Darunia hollered, slamming his fist against his chest. 

Nabooru grinned, “Lead the way.” 

Darunia guided the Sages along the path to Goron City. In the heart of Death Mountain, the Gorons celebrated with food and music. Saria’s senses were overwhelmed by the drums and music echoing through the tunnels and caverns as they got closer. Inside, she was mesmerized by the city’s scale. Gorons raced together throughout the city, while others danced and enjoyed themselves. Once they saw Darunia, the Gorons shouted for joy and surrounded them. 

Saria lost track of time as they celebrated. Saria played her song on the ocarina (a melody Darunia confided in her was his favorite), Impa and Nabooru clapped along with the melody, and Darunia and Ruto danced, twirling and stomping with the beat. Part of her wished the festivities would never end. As the day wore on and the Gorons prepared the giant feast of rock steaks, she took a moment to step outside of the city.

She looked around the horizon line for a moment, eventually spotting Kokiri Forest below. It looks so close from here, she smiled. I’m almost home. Before long she was joined by the other Sages.

“It’s a shame Princess Zelda isn’t here to join us,” Ruto rested her hands on her hips.

“Princess Zelda is currently reforming the Knights of Hyrule and evacuating Hylian citizens back into the city,” Impa replied. “As much as I would love for her to be here, it simply isn’t a possibility.”

“But what will happen to us now?” Ruto retorted. “She is our leader, after all. Now that the King of Evil is gone, can we return home?”

They all looked at each other. Despite their brief time knowing each other and working together as the Sages, Saria felt a strong bond with each of them. Almost as if fate had tied them all together, woven their destinies, and filled in the gaps of their history. Would they never see each other again, now that they gained peace? Would she be able to go back home and reunite with her best friend?

“My father’s health is in decline,” Ruto continued. “I’ll be expected to find a husband and take his place unless I’m expected to remain the Sage of Water.”

“What becomes of us can only be determined by Princess Zelda,” Rauru replied. “I have no doubt she will guide us.”

The path leading into Death Mountain bustled with Hylian soldiers coming from Kakariko Village and Gorons throughout the afternoon. Guards helped eliminate the last of the monsters that plagued the mountain-dwellers, brought provisions, and assisted with moving boulders off the path for safety. Among them was a Hylian knight, bearing the Royal Family crest on his armor.

“What is it, soldier?” Impa folded her arms across her chest.

“You have a letter of summons,” he replied. He quickly handed her the delicate envelope sealed with the crest of the Royal Family.

Impa ripped open the envelope and quickly skimmed the letter. “Well, we’re about to have our answer, I suspect,” she said. “Princess Zelda has summoned us.”

---

Seven years ago, when Link began his journey, he would play Saria’s Song so he could speak with her. She would sit atop the stump deep within the Lost Woods, swinging her legs and eagerly awaiting the moment her song would echo across the leaves with his stories. He told her about the sprawling Hyrule Field, the charm of the ranchers and the proud horses at Lon Lon Ranch, the quiet tranquility of Kakariko Village, and the bustle of Castle Town. 

As the Sages walked through the ruins of Castle Town and watched guards and citizens work together to remove the debris, she tried to imagine it the way he had described it to her before. She imagined water flowing out of the fountain in the center of the marketplace, the stalls filled with food and supplies, the laughter of merchants and civilians. She was interrupted from her thoughts by Rauru, who descended in front of the fountain in his owl form before shifting back into an elderly man.

“It’s good to see you,” Impa said. “How does the rest of Hyrule fare?” 

“The celebrations continue in earnest,” Rauru’s mustache curled upward with a smile. “Though I hope your own festivities weren’t interrupted, Princess Zelda wanted to speak with you in earnest.”

With that, he turned and strode toward a large cathedral standing outside of the boundaries of Castle Town. Saria wondered how long the temple had stood there, and how many centuries of violence it had towered over. The water in the temple tanks was murky, with dead tree branches and leaves floating on the service. The flowers had wilted. Saria stopped midstep and removed the Forest Medallion from her pocket. She concentrated on the trees and flowers near her. 

“What’s she doing?” Nabooru asked as the Sages stopped to watch. Slowly, the flowers perked back up, with pink blossoms emerging from the stems.

Saria quickly pocketed the medallion and replied, “Sorry, but I just…couldn’t let these flowers stay dead like that.”

Nabooru whistled and smiled, “I’m impressed. You have some pretty amazing abilities.”

“Thank you,” Saria smiled shyly. “But I’m nowhere near as powerful as you. This is basically all I can do.”

Impa tilted her head towards the temple, “I hate to interrupt the pleasantries, but we shouldn’t keep the princess waiting. Let’s go.”

Inside was a long, rich red carpet that led to a pedestal containing three shining stones. Saria recognized one of them as the Kokiri Emerald, an invaluable jewel safeguarded by the Deku Tree for thousands of years. It sparkled in the light as it slowly spun in place, almost as if it was caught in its own axis. 

While the rest of the Sages bowed in respect, Impa dropped to her knee and said, “We are here, Princess.” 

Princess Zelda turned to face them. She was dressed in a beautiful and detailed dress, with golden accents flowing through the white garbs that complemented the pink overlay. Her deep blue eyes seemed to see right through all of them.

Princess Zelda smiled, her eyes twinkling, “Welcome to the Temple of Time. Thank you all for coming.”

Saria felt small in her presence. I can sense her wisdom and compassion, and I know she’s our leader, Saria tried to reason with herself. She had to resist the temptation to dart behind Darunia and hide.

“I wanted to express my gratitude for your support and sacrifice,” the princess continued. “Had it not been for you, the King of Evil may still reign on this day. It was through our combined efforts with the Hero of Time that we have achieved this peace. And now, it is up to us to protect and rebuild Hyrule.”

“So, that means…that Link was returned to his own time?” Saria’s heart sank as the truth sunk in. 

Princess Zelda averted her gaze and sighed, “Yes, Link has been returned to his own time. We cannot rely on him to save us again.”

“We’ll never see him again…?” Ruto’s eyes filled with tears.

Saria always knew that she and Link were different. She was a Kokiri and he was a Hylian, after all. She knew they couldn’t live in Kokiri Forest forever. But she had always hoped she would be able to see him again after Hyrule was saved, even if it was just a short visit to her favorite place in the Lost Woods. But even that would never be a possibility now, and it felt like the twist of a knife in her heart. Link is gone, Saria wiped her cheeks dry and reflected on the final moments she saw him when they sealed away Ganondorf.

Princess Zelda removed the three stones from the pedestal. They hovered above her hands before floating towards Darunia, Saria, and Ruto. “You have all served Hyrule valiantly,” she said. “You may return home and live out your lives in peace.”

“…But what if we’re needed again?” Saria spoke up as she clutched the Kokiri Emerald in her hands.

Princess Zelda bowed her head in thought for a moment before she spoke. “Should Hyrule ever need us again, we will reunite in the Chamber of the Sages once more. …But it is my sincere wish that such evil never returns in our lifetimes. My hope for us all is to live prosperous, long lives in peace.”

---

Saria entered the tunnel leading back into Kokiri Forest. She remembered standing on the other side of the bridge once, watching Link’s back as he disappeared into the tunnel and out of sight. The fireflies swirled all around her as if to welcome her home. As she crossed over into her home, it wasn’t long before the other Kokiri surrounded her, cheering and chattering joyously. Mido embraced her and cried into her shoulder, “Where have you been?! We thought you were never coming back!”

“I’m sorry if I worried you all,” Saria patted his back gently. “But I’m home now!”

After the initial excitement quelled and Saria visited each of the Kokiri in their homes, she found herself longing to revisit the Sacred Forest Meadow. That night, she retreated quietly into the Lost Woods, following her melody through each tunnel with ease. The Sacred Meadow was free of Wolfos that prowled the entrance or Club Moblins that patrolled the maze. As she climbed the steps, she saw a pink fairy hovering over the tree stump in front of the Forest Temple. 

“Fay?” Saria exclaimed. Her companion fairy flitted around her excitedly. “It’s so good to see you, too!” 

She held out her palms out so Fay could rest in her hands. They were separated when she was abducted and trapped deep within the Forest Temple. Looking at the entrance now, she couldn’t sense any malicious monsters or evil emanating from within it. They were truly at peace once more. 

She sat atop the stump and watched the fireflies glide around her with a smile. Fay circled around her slowly, her aura a soft and light pink that pulsed gently. It was good to be back home again. She clasped the Forest Medallion in her hands, staring at the etched engraving. It’s up to us now… Saria replayed Princess Zelda’s words in her mind. What can I do to help keep the peace? And what if…evil returns after our lifetimes? How do we protect Hyrule then? 

She ran her thumb over the symbol on the verdant medal. Maybe…maybe I should start searching for the next Sage of Forest. Someone who can take my place one day and protect Hyrule when we’re gone. Link, if you were still here…would you feel the same way?

 

Featured art: @LiKovacs

Michaela El-Ters is an Associate Editor for Zelda Dungeon. She has always been fond of Saria and her friendship with Link in Ocarina of Time (this is not her first time writing about it in some way on this site), and this story serves as a tribute to the beloved character and her legacy in the Adult timeline. Along with writing, Michaela enjoys watching shows and movies, playing video games, and hugging her dogs constantly. To read more of her content, check out her blog here.