Fan Fiction Friday: The Song on the Leaves – Chapter 2

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-Two Years After the Seal-

Saria plucked at the grass next to her as she listened to the Deku Tree Sprout’s stories. Fay fluttered around her before perching on her shoulder for a short rest and resuming her orbit. The Deku Tree, before his untimely passing years ago, would regale the Kokiri with stories of Hyrule’s long and illustrious history. Saria was always drawn to his tales of heroes appearing as if out of thin air. 

But after the Deku Tree died, the Kokiri lost their guardian and for many years, Kokiri Forest was a dangerous place. Deku Babas sprouted throughout the town, baring their poisonous fangs to whoever drew too close. For many years before Saria became trapped within the Forest Temple, she and the other Kokiri stayed in her house for refuge and would only leave to seek out food.

When Saria met the Deku Tree Sprout for the first time, she felt a close bond with him immediately. She never knew for sure if he was a reincarnation of their former guardian or something like a son, but after entrusting him with the Kokiri Emerald for protection, she found herself visiting the Deku Tree Sprout more often. Despite his youth, he had gripping stories to tell.

He had told her the history of the Kokiri, the Hylian Civil War, and of Link’s mother. Saria never had the chance to meet her. She remembered how the Kokiri hid in their homes as the Deku Tree commanded. Her fear glued her to the window as she watched the horizon above the canopy ablaze in a fire. From what the Deku Tree Sprout told her about Link’s mother, it seemed to Saria that he and his mother had much in common. 

“-Saria?” the Deku Sprout ruffled his arm-like branches. The wild shaking of the leaves distracted Saria from her thoughts.

“I’m sorry, you were saying?”

The Deku Tree Sprout chuckled, “I know what you’re thinking about. Are you still looking for another Sage of Forest?”

Saria nodded, “I am, but so far…I haven’t felt a connection the same way I do with the others. I don’t really understand it, but Rauru once told me that the bonds between Sages are created instantly. If I saw my future descendant, I would know…right?” She plucked at the grass fervently and sighed, “I didn’t think it would take this long.”

“Don’t be too excited to find someone to take your place,” he frowned. “If you did, it means that the evil we worked so hard to seal away would come back. We should enjoy what we have now.”

I want to, but I don’t know how, Saria thought. I want to do my part. Link may be gone, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help protect the future of our home. She would catch herself gazing intently into the shadows of the forest, looking for any sign of malice or burgeoning evil. But her eyes played tricks on her, with shadows being nothing more than the shade of the sun, or a frog hopping across a pond of water.

“Anyway,” the Deku Tree Sprout sighed. “Today is the anniversary, isn’t it?”

Saria gazed into the light fog that shrouded the forest and replied, “Today’s the day Hyrule celebrates a brighter world.”

“Will you be joining the Kokiri to Castle Town? I think they would appreciate your leadership. I don’t think they’re completely accustomed to going.”

“Yeah, I helped Mido with the preparations yesterday.”

“Good! One more thing,” the Deku Tree Sprout lowered his voice ever so slightly. “It’s okay to reminisce about the past. But I think that life is like the leaves that fall from the trees. They grow and eventually wither and fall. Change is a lot like that, don’t you think?”

Saria was startled by his wisdom. It’s like he can see right through me, she thought. The Deku Tree Sprout grinned as his leaves swayed in the gentle breeze.

“Saria, let’s go!” Mido’s voice echoed across the meadow. 

Saria stood and brushed the grass from her shorts. “We’ll be back soon,” she said. 

---

With the power of the Deku Tree Sprout, the Kokiri are no longer bound to the forest in the same way they used to be. Saria leads them to the  But as they make their way to the Castle Town drawbridge, lugging bags of potions and firefly dust, she could feel the excitement in the air as if it was the first time they stepped outside the forest. 

“Do you think this is what our old friend saw all those years ago when he left?” Mido asked.

Saria nodded, “I’m positive it was. Amazing, isn’t it? To think that there’s a great world that exists outside of our humble forest.”

“Yeah, sure,” Mido said. “Just…promise you won’t leave Kokiri Forest for a long time again?”

Saria smiled, “You don’t have to worry. I promise I’ll stay. It’s our home, after all.”

After they entered the town and gave the guard their market license, they made their way to the center of town. They set up their humble stall next to a stall managed by a young woman with bright red hair. Saria listened to the gentle melody she was humming while filling the stall with fresh bottled milk. The Kokiri decided they would take rotations managing the stall. Saria helped display their bottled goods and stand up a humble sign with a portrait of a tree stump engraved into it.

Mido enthusiastically waved a bottle around of the firefly dust and beckoned any passerby who would listen to take a closer look, while the Know-It-All Brothers stood behind the stall. Once she was confident that she could let them manage things, Saria left the stall and ventured through Castle Town.

Saria was amazed by the resilience of the Hylians. Castle Town was completely rebuilt from the first time she had ever seen it. Everyone was joyous. It may have been two years since their victory over the King of Evil, but the energy of the townsfolk was practically contagious. People danced and socialized together. I can see why Link loved this town so much, she thought. She strolled through the streets and stalls, conversing with the townsfolk and petting stray dogs that would sniff her boots. There was a Zora standing by a stall selling freshly caught fish, and a Goron with rock steaks.

Eventually, the glistening of blue spires caught her eye. She approached the pathway that led to the castle, and despite her small frame, she could see several spires rise into the sky. The guards at either side of the path stepped in front of her. 

One of them looked down at her and commanded, “State your name.”

“Oh!” Saria took a couple of steps back. “Um, my name is Saria? I…know the princess.”

The guard nodded. “Impa said you would be coming. Let her pass!”

Saria slowly walked past them towards the makeshift checkpoint a little further down the pathway. Saria sighed in relief when she saw Impa leaning against the side and ran up to her.

How are you, young one?” Impa smiled.

“I’m well. It’s good to see you,” Saria said.

“You, too. Would you like a tour?”

“Yes, please!”

Impa led them up the cobblestone path to the newly reconstructed Hyrule Castle. It’s breathtaking, Saria thought. The white marble had an otherworldly glow and the blue tiles on the spires gleamed in the sun the way water reflects light. The castle is surrounded by a moat, filled to the brim with clear blue water. Tree sprouts were planted along the periphery of the castle. With a wave of her hand, Saria encouraged the flowers to blossom and the trees to grow in earnest.

“It’s beautiful,” Saria breathed.

Impa chuckled, “It is, although it nearly wasn’t complete for the Princess– I mean, the Queen’s wedding.” 

Saria remembered the letter she had received about the ceremony and nodded, “I’m so happy for her, that must be wonderful. Are the others here, too?”

“Nearly all of us are,” Impa replied. “There’s something I want to show you all, on behalf of the Queen.”

As they walked through the large doors, a red carpet covered the pristine flooring. The two-story castle felt more massive on the inside. The crest of the Royal Family is displayed proudly on the second floor. Large, ornate windows let in natural light throughout the huge space. Paintings of Zelda and her husband hang on the walls across from the entrance. At the center of the main hall, a huge statue of the Hero of Time is carved in a shiny bronze and stands tall above them. The statue’s pose showcased the hero in his signature tunic and cap, holding his sword towards the sky with an expression of determination on his face.

“Is it an accurate likeness?” Impa asked. 

Saria looked up at the statue and cocked her head. The statue certainly captured Link’s determined spirit and courage. But it didn’t look right to Saria. After a moment, she said simply, “It’s very serious, but I guess that makes sense to portray him that way.” 

Impa shrugged, “I think the sculptor got a little carried away with the heroism myself. I remember the troublemaker who snuck into the courtyard to meet the princess.”

Saria laughed and reflected on another memory of her friend, not as the hero, but raised as a Kokiri like her. She remembered when she attempted to teach him how to play her ocarina. She remembered how they sat on the bridge, bodies between the ropes while their feet swung out below. “You can do it!” Saria encouraged him, trying her best not to laugh at the loud, shrill squeak that emerged from the ocarina and the expression of confusion on Link’s face that followed. Inpa’s right. It definitely doesn’t capture the Link I remember, she thought as she gazed up at the face of the solemn statue.

It took a moment for Saria to register that there was a staircase leading underneath the statue. “Where does that go?” she asked.

“You will see,” Impa replied as she led the way. The basement was much darker than the rest of the castle. As they walked down the stairs, Saria was greeted by the other Sages. Everyone looks well, Saria thought happily. 

They looked around at the colossal stone statues holding swords pointed to the center of the room, where a sword in a pedestal rested and was illuminated by a solitary light. Curtains cover spots on the wall around them. With a clap of Impa’s hands, the curtains suddenly dropped to the floor, revealing stained glass portraits of each of the Sages. Saria noted how each portrait captured the Sage’s essence and was adorned with their respective medallion at the bottom. Fay flew up to the Sage of Forest portrait and bounced about excitedly.

Rauru gestured, “The Queen wished to honor our story and sacrifice, and engrave them here for generations to come.”

“They’re beautiful, Rauru,” Ruto said. “I am honored that the Queen wishes to immortalize our roles like this.”

They all walked around, observing each portrait more closely. Saria stood next to Darunia who was rubbing his chin with his hand. 

Darunia laughed, “I don’t know, this portrait makes me look awfully angry, don’t you think?”

“I like it,” she said. “You look powerful and strong.”

Nabooru turned back to the center of the room and pointed, “That’s the Master Sword, isn’t it? What’s it doing down here?”

“When we were rebuilding the castle, it was decided that we would relocate the sword from the Temple of Time to here,” Impa explained. “It will ultimately be safer that way. The Queen intends to seal the basement with powerful magic, should the need ever arise, so that only the hero’s descendant may unlock it.”

“Actually…I’ve been looking for another Sage of Forest. Someone to take my place, if…you know.” Saria wrung her fingers. “So that we can do something to help the…next hero.”

“Already?!” Darunia exclaimed. “I don’t want to even think about that!” 

“Rest assured, the King of Evil won’t return anytime soon,” Nabooru said confidently.

“Well, maybe she has a point,” Ruto said. “We can’t get too comfortable.”

As the Sages began to talk amongst themselves, Saria took a couple of steps back and gazed back up at the stained glass portrait of her likeness. She noted the calm serenity of her expression. I wonder…maybe I am getting too ahead of myself, she thought.

“Well, enough about all that,” Darunia said. “Impa, give the Queen our regards. These portraits…are really something special.”

He bounded towards the stairs that led out of the basement, and hollered, “Let’s go back to town and celebrate!”

 

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.