Saria's Revelations

Link woke again to the brisk sound of a curious melody. He wasn’t sure whether he was still dreaming or not, but the fact that he wasn’t seeing any terrorizing monsters or falling off of another cliff was a good sign. Still, the music didn’t help matters, and neither did the forest. There was a strange, warm sensation that enveloped him as he tried to get to his feet. He felt sleepy and lively at the same time. This place—whatever it was, was very magical. Though many fireflies drifted lazily about the air, there was no need for them. Gone were the mists and the shadows—the trees parted ways to such an extent that Link almost began to feel he wasn’t in a forest at all. The entire expanse of the sky was unveiled to him, and he couldn’t help but let his jaw hang as he allowed the sun’s warm light to envelop his body. Exotic flowers that he had never seen blanketed the short, green grass around him, and a gentle wind swayed the branches of the trees around him, scattering dozens of moss green leaves in every direction.
Link was just pondering what to do, when he noticed a squirrel and a rabbit skittering along a forest trail, each travelling the same direction without taking notice of the other. As he watched the pair disappear around a bush, he noticed a bird flap in the same direction, and then a mouse. It was only when Link got up to follow them that he realized they were following the sound of the music he had been hearing—a melody that seemed to embody the spirit of the forest itself. Link lumbered along, following the gathering collection of sprightly critters. It wasn’t an easy task—Link would often lose sight of the animals as he tried to crawl his way through a thick shrub or wade through a thick, murky pond. Fortunately, the enthusiastic animals never seemed to stop coming, and just as he lost sight of one, another would soon coming crawling out in the same direction, making it very difficult for him to entirely lose his way. Eventually, he arrived at another small clearing—a narrow path, where the trees parted evenly so as to cast the illusion of a long hallway. The music was becoming clearer and clearer, and Link now began to realize that its source seemed to be coming from a small instrument. A pipe, or a flute perhaps. Neither sounded right, and Link began to sprint ahead of the animals, eager to discover what was creating this mysterious sound.
At last, Link arrived at the end of the narrow path, and found himself in yet another clearing—this one much larger, and much more secluded than the rest. The trees covered more sky than before, but the sunlight beamed down through the branches in steady, vivid streams. There was a strange stonework architecture ahead, partially shrouded behind moss and leaves, and just beside that, surrounded by a large gathering of animals—Saria!
Saria seemed not to take noticed of Link as he sprinted up to her, and continued to play a hypnotic tune on a small stone instrument. Wind and leaves swirled the stump upon which she sat, and the entire forest seemed to congregate around her to listen to her enchanting composition. Unfortunately, the wood did not seem so delighted with Link’s presence, and scattered as he approached, leaving the forest still again. Saria continued playing for a moment longer, and lowered her device, which Link could now see to be an Ocarina.
“Link, you woke up—about time sleepyhead!”
Link scratched his head and tried to avoid eye contact with Saria’s beaming expression. With a giggle, she ascended from her stump and took Link’s hand.
“No matter. You’re awake now, and that’s all that matters.”
“What happened to me? Am I dreaming?”
Saria grinned, and gestured for Link to take a seat next to her atop her oaken stump.
“I think you mean “was I dreaming?”
“What was that pool?”
Saria’s smile faded. Her expression turned somber, and she glanced away from Link.
“I’m sorry Link. I should’ve known better than to take you there—it’s a dangerous place. The first time I took someone there—”
“Someone went there with you before?”
Saria looked startled for a moment, and then regathered herself, stroking her mossy green hair.
“Well…yes—once. But something terrible happened. The Great Deku Tree told me never to go near that pool again. I didn’t listen, of course. There’s something very mystical about it. I can’t help but be near it—I hoped that you would understand.”
“Understand what? What are you talking about?”
“The outside world. The bridge to Hyrule.”
Link stopped breathing, and looked Saria directly in the eye.
“Saria, what’s going on here? Why did you bring me to…what is this place?”
“The Sacred Forest Meadow.”
“The…what?”
“Long ago, before the Kokiri came to dwell in these woods, there was a temple built by the spirits of the forest to act as a barrier to the outside world. It’s a centerpoint of powerful magic, guarded by the Great Deku Tree. It’s said that when the goddesses created this world, the Kokiri Forest was the first place that lived—that was given breath. Thus, the power of life itself resonates within this forest. If its power were to ever diminish—bad things could happen.”
“Okay…but that still doesn’t explain why you brought me here.”
Saria lowered her head, and turned her face away from Link’s.
“Link, you’re different from the other Kokiri. You’re kind, understanding, and brave. I can see that. Even Mido can.”
“If Mido can see that, he hates me for it.”
“Link, don’t be too harsh on Mido. He’s not always been this way. He’s changed…a lot.”
Saria head sunk further as she said this, and Link caught a glimpse of a tear forming at her eye. Link’s anger rose at the mention of Mido, but seeing Saria in this vulnerable state softened Link.
“Fine. He’s changed. But he’s still a jerk. It’s like he wakes up every day just to make my life miserable. Why does he hate me so much? What did I do?”
“He doesn’t hate you Link. He’s just confused.”
“About what? And why does he treat me like this?”
Saria paused for a moment, and turned back to face Link.
“Link, how do you feel?”
“Saria, that’s not—”
“Just answer the question.”
“Fine. I feel…okay…I guess?”
“Just okay? No bruises or scrapes or black eyes? Just…okay?”
It was Link’s turn to pause. He hadn’t noticed it before, but his earlier bruises by Mido seemed to have completely disappeared from his skin. Even his head felt better, and that was saying something. It wasn’t just his head though—his whole body suddenly seemed to be full of energy, as if all the aches and pains he had suffered at Mido’s hands had completely washed away, and left him feeling strong. Link was speechless.
“That’s the power of the pool. It’s not like other pools—the water there is magical, and is connected to the energy of the fairies of this forest.”
“Then why did I…”
“Fall asleep?”
Link nodded.
“I don’t know the full power of the pool, but I do know that the fairies of this wood are not the only fairies in this world. Somehow, they seem to be connected to the fairies of other realms, and sometimes, a rift opens up in between. It allows you to look through the eyes of other fairies, and see placed beyond what we Kokiri are prevented from seeing in this forest.”
“…That’s…impossible…”
“I thought so too—until I saw what it could really do. Magic isn’t something to be trifled with Link. It has incredible power. Without understanding it, it can cause truly horrible things to happen…”
Link waited patiently. Saria’s expression once again became very sad, and she began to gently stroke her ocarina.
“Mido…did not understand this. He touched the water, trying to find out why it showed us those strange images. But no matter how far he reached, he couldn’t touch the bottom of the pool. Then, he leaned in too far, and…fell in.”
Link stifled a gasp.
“What happened!?”
“…I still don’t know for sure. Mido doesn’t like talking about—to anyone. I do know that the water in the pool is extremely potent, and contains many mysterious properties. One of its powers is the ability to heal. Another power it possesses is the ability to carry.”
“Carry?”
”Move. Transport. Take something away from their original location and deposit them somewhere else entirely.”
“You mean…”
“Mido was the very first Kokiri to leave the forest.”

Reverie

Link was surprised to find that the thicket Saria had led him into was very small—no more than three or four times larger than the room in his treehouse. That is, it appeared that way, because the trees around him were so tightly squeezed together that he couldn’t see more than ten feet beyond the first circle of trunks. It was as if the forest had caved in around him, creating an impenetrable barrier, and preventing anything from entering its small hideaway—or escaping it. Already, the tunnel Link had just emerged from seemed to be fading away amongst the infinite trees, as if it had never been there in the first place. Link shivered. Saria had better know what she was doing.
Link walked over to Saria. She was kneeling in front of a small, circular pool of water, about five to sixth feet in width. The outside of the pool was outlined in stone—a rim of smooth, glistening stone, as if it had been carved by a living creature, and not of the forest itself. The water itself looked puzzling. It must have been very deep, for Link could not see the bottom of it, and it seemed to flow slowly back and forth, like a gentle wave. Saria spoke to him without turning around.
“Link, look into this pool and tell me what you see.”
Link hesitantly obliged, and took a seat by the edge of the pool. At first, he didn’t see anything. There was just one small wave after another, disturbing the pool’s otherwise tranquil balance. Then, Link began to make out two figures. Fish, he decided, swimming around in frantic motions. As he looked closer, he discovered that the ‘fish’ he had seen were not fish at all, but strange, humanoid creatures. Their heads were pointed and long, and—in place of their hair—had strange, flimsy fish tails dangling elegantly from the backs of their heads. Smooth, silver scales lined their body, giving off a reflective blue sheen in the rippling waters. They glided throughout the water quickly and gracefully, making excellent use of the long, pointed fins adorning their arms, and their long, webbed feet, shaped like flippers.
“Zoras!”
Saria nodded with a smile.
“Yes, the river people. You’ve listened to the Know-It-All Brothers well. They are graceful in the waters, and more swift than any fish we’ve ever seen. When I look at them, they remind me of us—I mean, the Kokiri. We don’t get to see any outsiders here, but these look so…alive.”
Link began to speak, but Saria put a finger to her lips, beckoning him to turn his gaze back to the pool. As he did so, the air around him seemed to chill, and he soon began to discover goosebumps forming across his skin. Sounds began to fill his ears—sounds he should not be hearing. There was a loud roar of a tremendous waterfall, the sound of a harsh wind, and a strange, echoing siren—seeming to come from the fish-people themselves. As Link watched them swim about, he noticed that they seemed to be looking for something. They swam in an organized fashion, traveling together in a school, and then scattering whenever they reached a dark, expansive area of water. Was this really happening? Zoras were supposed to be bigger than this…
Link had little time to ponder this before the temperature around him began to vastly change once again. Steam began to rise out of the pool, and the sun, despite being veiled behind the thick branches of the forest, seemed to be beating down on him like a fire. The image of the pool turned a liquid red—not like blood, but rather had the appearance of a thick, syrupy texture, with a very bright glow. The image expanded, and suddenly revealed to him several large, bronze-colored statues, made of rock. As he peered closer, the statues seemed to move slightly, and curl up into large balls. Without any warning, they suddenly began to roll off in one direction, heading for an eerie red light. As the image focused, Link noticed that it wasn’t a light at all, but the mouth of a great cave—a mountain. The pool suddenly dove straight into the light, and before Link knew what was happening, he was looking at…he wasn’t sure. White earth covered the ground in every direction, and the sun loomed over him more oppressively than ever. A strong wind blew the white earth across his face—it was hot and stung, and left him feeling very dry and thirsty. He was tired, and the scalding white earth brought him no respite. He stumbled to the ground, feeling deathly weak. Suddenly the earth began to swirl around him like a whirlpool. Before he could jump out of the way, he began to sink further and further into the earth, until he was entirely submerged.
Link awoke, realizing he must have been dreaming again. He silently cursed himself for acting so weird around Saria, when suddenly he began to wonder whether Saria was with him at all. For all he knew, she had been a dream as well, and his whole excursion with Mido and the Lost Woods was all a part of his relentless phantasm. Deciding this was the case, Link began to rise to his feet—for all the good that did. All around him was pitch-black darkness. He could see nothing around him, even his own hand. He stumbled forward, trying to figure out where he was. He couldn’t be back in his treehouse, could he? The air felt too thin around him, and his footsteps made strange pattering sounds, as if he was walking on very smooth stone. He wasn’t thirsty anymore, but he was still tired, and was nearly resolved simply to lay back down and finish his sleep. Unfortunately, just as he began to settle down, a flash of golden light nearly blinded his eyes. He had little time to shield himself with his hands before the golden light focused into a solid, glaring shape.
Link stepped backwards, and felt the sickening sensation of pure air beneath his heel. To avoid another fall, he dove forward, hitting hard against a now illuminated stone floor. It was of a white color, but not like the wilderness he had dreamed of only moments before. It was pure and smooth—whiter than a cloud, and much harder than the silky earth he had wandered though. The surface of the stone was so clear, that Link could almost see his reflection in it, and the golden glow that danced across its surface seemed all too familiar. Link crept towards the edge he had almost fallen over, and peered over. This was the same tower from his nightmares—the same arches and spires, the same buttresses and stones, and the same feeling of the world around him suddenly slowing to a crawl. Rain began to fall from the skies, and a mist unfurled before him, revealing the same town he had seen in his dreams—the town ravaged with war—now a wasteland. Houses were burned to cinders and the ground itself was scorched so fatally that not even the faintest sign of life could be seen anywhere.
There was a crack of thunder, and another shadow was revealed to be looming behind Link. Except—it wasn’t thunder this time, and the shadow was much larger, and far more monstrous in appearance. Link slowly turned around, and saw two very strange and terrible things.
The first was a golden triangle, emanating a radiant light that lit up the whole sky. Link felt powerful energy leak through the air in this strange triangle’s presence, and nearly fainted as he finally diverted his gaze from its beautiful golden aura. The second he did, he began to wish he hadn’t. A grotesque, demonic creature stood just behind the triangle, snarling and glaring at him. His eyes like torches of blood red fire, and two massive horns outlined his head. He had a snout like a boar’s, and a jaw like a wolf. His dark form towered over Link, such that even the light of the Triforce could not prevent his shadow from engulfing Link. With one talon-like hand, he suddenly raised a trident into the sky, and roared. He lurched forward on all fours, colliding with the triangle and allowing its essence to envelop his body. Before Link could scream, the beast was upon him, and his jaws snapped shut.

The Bridge

“Saria, I don’t think this is a good idea—everyone knows the Lost Woods are dangerous. They’re called the ‘Lost Woods’ for a reason!”
Despite Link’s surprisingly brilliant moment of insightful sagacity, Saria seemed not to hear him, and casually brushed through a mess of tangled vines, disappearing behind the foliage.
“Com’on Link! I think it’s this way!”
“You think? You “think” it’s this way? Saria, if we get lost, we could get attacked by Skull Kids! Or worse, we could become one! Haven’t you heard the Know-It-All Brothers’ stories? All Kokiri who become helplessly lost in the Lost Woods transform into horrific monsters, forced to wander the woods alone for all time!”
Link’s voice echoed endlessly into the trees. Wyn, Saria’s freckled, chestnut-haired fairy, floated just ahead, holding aside a curtain of vines obligingly.
“Right, right, I get it. I’m coming.”
Link forged ahead, brushing a firefly out of his face as he swept past the viney curtain and crawled into the narrow, dark tunnel after Saria. The Lost Woods were not like ordinary woods. You couldn’t just leave a marker on one tree and follow your way back home. The woods were constantly shifting and changing—moving. Any marker you left on one tree could end up sprouting on the other side of the forest in moments, as if the tree had magically replanted itself. There was no sense of direction in these woods—no sun to guide your way, no moss that grew on one a single side of each tree, and no stars at night. The only light the wood offered was the multicolored glow of the countless fireflies lazily drifting about, and even this was morphed and stretched to bizarre proportions by the thick fog penetrating the air. It didn’t even appear like a forest half the time—all over, massive trees lay fallen against the ground, their insides hollowed out into small tunnels. Earth and nature grew around these tunnels, such that it was often very difficult to see them. And though Link could usually see what lay beyond them relatively easily, every time he passed through a tunnel, it was as if he had emerged in another part of the woods entirely. There was something magical about this part of the forest—very ancient. The thought that one wrong step could quite easily lose him his life both excited and terrified him at the same time. Still, he trusted Saria. Everyone in the forest knew she had traveled these woods before, although no one dared follow her. It was as if the forest spoke to her, and welcomed her into its embrace like an old friend.
Still, Link didn’t feel as though the forest regarded him with the same warm feelings. No matter how hard he tried, he could not escape a nagging feeling that every step he took was being watched.
“Link! Are you coming?”
“Geez Saria, ever hear of patience?”
“Hurry!”
Link finally emerged at the end of the tunnel, and crawled to his feet. Saria was already a good ways ahead of him, but Wyn soon popped out of the tunnel’s opening and beckoned him forward with a whistle.
Just ahead, Saria stopped, and turned around to face Link, her expression suddenly very somber, as opposed to the cheerful fervor she had displayed only moments before. Link walked slowly up to her, and glanced ahead. There was very little mist now, and very few fireflies, but the sun shone just enough through the trees to allow Link to see everything clearly. Another hollowed tree tunnel lay just ahead, although it was considerably larger than the others, and was wound tightly into what appeared into what appeared to be a very large cliffside. He peered upward, but could not see the top. He stopped next to Saria, and looked into her eyes. Her emerald glint seemed drowned in melancholy, and her gaze kept diverting back and forth between him and the dark tunnel. When she finally spoke, her voice was so low that Link could barely hear her.
“Just beyond this tunnel lies the bridge to the outside world.”
Link gasped. The world outside the forest—it had always been a story among the Kokiri—a fable. Everyone talked about it, but no one knew what it was like, or even if it really existed. Link had wanted to see the outside world for as long as he could remember, but for him to witness it now…
“It’s almost beyond belief, isn’t it Link?”
Link nodded, unable to speak.
“It’s a dangerous world out there. The Great Deku Tree shields us from it for a very good reason. You know why, don’t you?”
Link nodded again.
“Within this forest, the Great Deku Tree can protect us. But beyond his borders, even his power is unable to hold off the curse that has been darkening this world since the beginning of time—death.”
Saria hung her head, and continued.
“Link, I’ve been thinking…what if the Great Deku Tree’s powers aren’t enough? He’s watched over us for years, but who watches him? What stops him from meeting the same curse as everything else outside of the forest? …I’ve been having nightmares…”
Nightmares. Saria too? She’d never had nightmares before—at least, not that anyone else knew of. She was the bravest Kokiri in the village—everyone knew that. What could possibly make her afraid? Link suddenly thought about telling her about his own nightmares, but decided against it. They were dumb anyway.
“…I don’t know how to explain it, but…I think the Great Deku Tree is in trouble. He hasn’t seen anyone in weeks, and what few glimpses I have had of him, he’s looked terribly wearied and sodden…old.”
Link trembled. What was Saria saying? Why had she brought him here?
“Link, I don’t pretend to know what power the Great Deku Tree has, or whether or not anything is happening at all. Maybe I’m just paranoid. But…I’ve seen strange things lately. The forest around us…it’s growing darker. It’s aging. Link—I think the Great Deku Tree is dying.”
So that was it. This was why Saria had brought him here. Saria never brought people with her into this part of the forest—and for good reason. Last time she did, an inexplicable tragedy occurred. It was before Link came to the woods, but he had heard talk of it from time to time. Mido had warned all the Kokiri never to bring it up, but, once every so often, someone would mention the incident, and everyone would begin talking in hushed tones, acting very somber. Link kept asking what it was that happened, but no one ever told him. When Link finally went to ask Mido himself, he just got beat up. Eventually, he just gave up trying to find out. Still, he had never managed to entirely shake loose of his curiosity, and now—more than ever—he wanted to know.
Link glanced upward. Saria was looking at him in a puzzled manner, stroking her mossy hair contemplatively. Then, she glanced behind Link, and swiftly walked past him toward another tunnel.
“Com’on Link. There’s something else I think you should see.”
Saria crawled into the hollow expanse of the tunnel, and soon disappeared from sight. Wyn was right behind her, lingered a moment to give Link a gesture, and darted into the shadows. Link glanced back towards the bridge tunnel. A roar of wind suddenly erupted from its mouth, nearly knocking Link’s hat off. He jumped back in surprise, and began running back towards Saria. He glanced behind him, and was suddenly sure of his suspicions—he was being watched.

Somewhat Late Introductions, Part Two

So, now that you all know that I'm thoroughly obsessed with Zelda, I'd like to make a few things known regarding the content of this story. First, as I desire to advance on a number of plots and elements of the Ocarina of Time that were left secret to many players, I will be incorporating story content from other games (such as Wind Waker and Twilight Princess) to give an expanded role to the legends of Hyrule. In essence, I will delve fairly heavily into pre-OoT Hyrule, using my own theories based on my (very near lifelong) research of the franchise. While I will deliberately try to keep the story (almost) as ambiguous as its original source, I would like to try to piece together several elements of Hyrulian culture that were not directly connected in the games. To be specific, items such as the Wind Waker, or characters such as Agahnim or even Vaati will have some role to play. Know that nearly every claim I make is based on some tangible level of evidence, and I would not include any content not in the original script for Ocarina of Time unless it truly makes sense for the story and actually benefits the overall plot.
Secondly, I would like to discuss age content. While I'm not entirely certain of who is reading my blog at the moment, I have considered the fact that I may obtain a wide variety of different-aged readers, many of whom may be under watchful guidance of concerned parents, who desire to protect their children from harmful material. Please know that I am on your side. I honor and respect the role of parents to monitor and take active interest in the lives of their children, and respect that sometimes that may include preventing their children from being exposed to things the parent may deem harmful. I would like to assure you that I will avoid questionable content on this site as much as possible, but I’m also very much devoted to keep this story as true as possible to its original source material, deviating only to add literary depth and to enhance story pacing. While the Legend of Zelda has historically been rated “E for everyone” (with exception to Twilight Princess, which was rated “T for teen”), there are still concepts and themes that parents may want to be aware of, such as the themes of fantasy magic and a mild amount of violence and suggestive material. While the suggestive material never really goes much beyond the attire of some particular characters (or lack thereof) and usually makes sense for the situation:


—and similarly the violence (which was displayed at its worst in first chapter of this blog) is generally mild and always serves a point—it is necessary to be aware of it, and to use proper distinction in what you choose to allow your child to be exposed to. Magic has always played a strong role in the Zelda series, and this story won’t be any different. The Legend of Zelda takes place in a fictional land known as Hyrule, which was said to be created by three ancient, mystic goddesses. Link himself is capable of using some magic, and mystical power is used by both the forces of good and evil. While I believe that magic serves as a powerful metaphor in fantasy for real life themes and issues, the readers of this blog may disagree, and I respect their opinion. As always, it’s important to be able to distinguish between fantasy and reality, and know the consequences of blurring the line. That said, I think the Legend of Zelda is a rich, family friendly tale that provokes great thought and even striking a small tear or two. Nevertheless, just to be safe, I’m going to give this story an official rating of PG-13. That is, suitable for ages thirteen and upward. I will work very hard to keep this that way, and I encourage all my readers to post comments or send me an email if there is something they’d like to point out or discuss.
Well, I guess that gets all that out of the way. Aside from the usual “please leave me feedback!” rant that you all saw coming (but it didn’t come—so ha!), I suppose we can finally put a cork on these formalities and whatnot and get a move on with our adventure. How delightful.
See you all in the comments!

My Somewhat Late Introductions

Howdy peoples! Daniel here, and I'd like to discuss a few things regarding Ocarina of Time. Firstly, I'd like to bore you to death talk a little bit about what Zelda means to me as a franchise. Link and I go back a long ways. I think I must have been about thirteen years old when I played my first Zelda game: Link's Awakening, on Nintendo's Gameboy Color. Back then, I was rather obsessed with video games, and could hardly wait to get my hands on another acclaimed series. But there was something different about these games that I noticed right away. Unlike God of War, or Halo, or Final Fantasy or the like, I wasn't playing as a pre-written character. There wasn't anything complex about Link--he didn't have a long, tragic backstory or some extensive circle of attractive and/or powerful acquaintences, or even strange abilities that made him more powerful than the next person. At best, Link was a very vague character, and we are only briefly given an idea of how he came to be in the situation he is. For the Link of "A Link to the Past," we are introduced to a Link that is living with his Uncle, and are led to believe that his real parents have either died or have gone missing, with Link's father being a legendary Knight of Hyrule. In Link's Awakening, all we know about our Link is that he was sailing across the sea, and has suddenly shipwrecked on a strange island. In Ocarina of Time, Link was stated as nothing more than a Kokiri child, different among his peers because, unlike all the other children, he has no fairy. This said, it's very strange that one should become attached to the character of Link at all, because he practically doesn't even exist. What character development that does happen typically happens to those outside our dynamic perspective--those characters that Link meets and associates with along the way. The character of Link, if it can be called that, usually remains relatively unchanged throughout the games--any change that is perceived is perceived by the player, rather than the character. Even the name "Link" can be changed to a more desirable one (such as one's own name), should the player desire it. Why then should one care about the character of Link at all? Put in short, because we are Link. When asked about why the character of Link was given the name that he was, Miyamoto (the creator of Mario, Donkey Kong, Zelda, and many more Nintendo juggernauts) stated, very simply, that he wanted the character of Link to be the "link between the player and the game." Indeed, the very inspiration for the Legend of Zelda series was based off of Miyamoto's own childhood adventures he had in the woods and plains around him as a child. Through these games, he managed to bring not only his imagination, but also our imagination to the very forefront of the gaming experience. Although many people criticize the Zelda games for containing no voice acting, I believe what Miyamoto was trying to do was make the player imprint their own self on the character of Link, and become the person they are playing. Link is given choices throughout the game, and experiences many shocking events (both tragic and happy). To this day, one of my most fond memory of ever playing a video game was when Talon, the owner of Lon Lon Ranch, asked me if I wanted to marry his daughter, Malon (who was a very pretty lass, if I do say so myself). Of course, being a sensible lad back then, I refused, because I was clearly not at the right age to marry, and--afterall, I had Hyrule to save! But that's just it--I stopped differentiating between myself and Link. When I reasoned through choices and decisions I had to make during the game, I reasoned through them as I would, not as the character would. To this day, I have yet to find one person that has the same idea of who the character of Link really is. This is, after all, a pointless matter of discussion, because the character of Link doesn't exist--we are all "Link!"
While many games have since come to follow in the footsteps of Zelda (ie: Fable and most MMORPGS), Link set the standard for "link in between," and because of this has become one of my most cherished fictional characters of all time. It's not because he's fascinating or complex. He's not complicated. He's just me. He's the first person to make me feel like I really was in some fantastic magical land far away, and slaying all manners of evil monsters and dark lords and saving beautiful princesses along the way. In essence, the game reads like a book.
And that's what I have--have had, for many years. Unforgettable memories of exploring the mysterious Lost Woods, climbing the perilous peaks of Death Mountain, and swimming through the clear, cool waters of Lake Hylia. These are my memories of Zelda, and the world I was privileged to see back when my childly imagination was in full bloom. While my vision may (or rather, will) deviate from the visions others may have of the strange and exciting land of Hyrule, I hope that, at the very least, I can shed a little light on my own identity, and explore the rich, deep lessons all fellow adventurers of Hyrule have experienced that make the games so great. It is, if you may indulge me, possibly one of the greatest "coming of age" stories I have yet experienced. Though the adventures may seem childish at face-level, beneath its surface lies very real-world and surprisingly mature themes that I believe anyone can relate to. And it is for this reason I am happy and proud to (for the first time ever) break my "no fanfiction" policy and explore a world that is just as much my own as it is its creator's, and anyone who's ever journeyed themselves through the magical, wonderful land of Hyrule.

Mido would be Furious(er)

Link did not know what to do. Sure, Mido had done a number on him, but he wasn’t all that bad off. Would Saria think he was weak, being all…weak…like this? For crying out loud, he was being carried! What exactly was wrong with just walking to her house? Did he really need to be escorted by the royal cavalier? The more he thought about it, the more embarrassed by the whole incident he became. Saria, who seemed to somehow pick up on his discomfort, suddenly stopped and turned around.
“Irch, Linder, you can set Link down now.”
Irch and Linder looked at each other, clearly confused, and looked back at Saria.
“But…we aren’t at your house yet…”
“Yeah! It’s still a long way away!”
“I think Link and I can manage the rest of the way.”
“But…”
“Say, I think I heard something about Fado trying to gather up people to play Deku Sticks! Would any of you boys be interested in playing with her? I know she’d really appreciate it—”
“Golly Saria! You can count on us!”
“Yeah! It’s like we’re already there! Wheeee!”
Saria waved at the retreating forms of Mido’s two favorite henchmen. Take them away from Mido for half a minute, and they weren’t half as bad as they liked to pretend they were. Saria grinned to herself, and turned slyly over to Link.
“Say, Link, do you want to take a walk with me?”
Link jolted up in surprise. He was nearly so limp as he thought he was, and found himself blushing rather vividly. How did Saria keep embarrassing him like this?
“Uhh…sure. I mean, we’re going to your house anyway…right?”
“Not there silly!”
Link looked at Saria and scratched his head. There was a strange, mischievous glint in her eye.
“Wait…but I thought you said I had to—”
“Link, we both know you’re tougher than that. You’ve taken more than your fair share of beating from Mido before.”
Link couldn’t help but agree. Still, he did kind of ache.
“So, I was thinking, I found this really nice place...
Nice place? What was she talking about? Link grew redder as he thought about it.
“And I was hoping you could come see it with me!”
Link scratched his head again. He could feel his body temperature rise up about a thousand degrees.
“Umm…ok. Sure. …Where is it exactly?”
Saria paused a moment, clearly considering something, and then looked at Link straight in the eye, grinning all to wildly for Link to feel any measure of ease with what she was about to say.
“How does…the Lost Woods sound to you?”

Saria

Link knelt down beside Mido. He wasn’t moving, and his open eyes seemed to drift haphazardly about the forest, as if he didn’t know what to focus on. Good grief. All he did was punch him. Was Mido really this weak? Still, as much as he disliked him, Link didn’t want to seriously hurt Mido. He wasn’t a bully—he just wanted to be left alone.
Link observed Mido for a moment longer. He wasn’t particularly sure what to do in this situation. He remembered one time when Mido had gotten very angry with another Kokiri, and he resorted to hitting him on the head with a big stick. The kid fell hard to the ground, and didn’t move at all. Mido ordered another Kokiri go up and place his ear on the fallen kid’s chest, and give a ‘thumbs up’ or ‘thumbs down’ sign. Link didn’t know what that meant, but after the Kokiri had stuck his thumb up, everyone carried the knocked out kid into a hut, where he slept for several days before finally emerging again. That poor kid still hadn’t managed to look Mido in the eye since that day—nor Mido into his’.
Hesitantly, Link brought his head down, resting it against Mido’s chest. He felt a sort of bumping sound, like a thudding beat. Link began to raise his hand up in a ‘thumbs up’ fashion (as was his best guess what to do), when suddenly he felt a hard jab against the back of his head.
“GET’IM!”
Mido suddenly sprung to live, twisting Link around so that he was straight under him. Link felt punch after punch rocket against his face, and resolved then and there never to show compassion for Mido again. Before he could retaliate, however, two strong arms lock around his shoulders.
“Hold that scrub still!”
A sudden nauseous sensation rushed over him as he was lifted off of the ground and suspended in the air. It was bad enough he was the shortest of everyone in the group—why couldn’t he grow tall like they did? As far as he could tell, he hadn’t grown an inch in…how long had he been here?
Link felt a knee plunge into his stomach. A gasp forced his eyes open. Mido’s gang had circled around him, and Mido was standing right in the midst of them all, cheering everyone on. He kicked him again. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Nip, Mido’s aptly named, purple-haired fairy, trying to ignore what was going on. At least she left him alone.
Mido went on and on, spurred by the cheers and jeers of his loyal cronies. With every punch, it became harder and harder to keep his eyes open—yet Mido kept coming at him.
“Idiot scrub! You think you can be one of us? You think you can waltz around in these woods like you’re worth something? You think you’re so great, but guess what I think of you! I think you’re a stupid, brainless, slimy—”
“Mido. STOP.”
Everyone turned around. A lone figure stood against the edge of the crowd, glaring at Mido. She was short and slim, but her emerald eyes betrayed a fiery temper. Her hair, a mossy green, hung down to her neck, a small wooden headband holding it in place. Despite her genteel manner, she seemed as much a part of the forest around her as the trees themselves. Wherever she stepped, the woods seemed to unfurl and bloom, as if she were a walking painting. She was a true child of the wood—tender and caring, yet forceful and severe when angered.
“Saria…this isn’t what it looks like…”
Saria ignored Mido and pushed her way through the crowd. Whether because of dull wit or mere shock, the two Kokiri that had been holding Link upward had not managed to loosen him, and seemed to only be able stare open-jawed as the green-haired girl marched forward. As she arrived, she shot one cutting glance at Mido, and gestured for the two Kokiri boys to let Link down. They complied immediately. Saria knelt down beside Link’s limp body. Mido grew very, very red in the face.
“Saria, I didn’t really mean to do it…he just hit me, and I—”
“Be quiet Mido. You are not the victim here.”
Mido blushed as Saria lowered her head next to Link’s ear, whispering softly to him.
“You know Link, there’s one thing Mido hates to see more than anything else—a smile.
With a little effort, Link let out a smug grin, prompting Mido to turn away in a huff. Saria slowly rose to her feet, and gestured to the two standing Kokiri.
“Irch, Linder, take Link to my house. I’ll tend to him there myself. And be gentle with him.”
Mido spun around in a fit of anger, his face now turning a sort of purple hue.
“YOUR house? Link can’t go there! I’m the only—I mean, I built the place! You can’t just let him barge in and—”
“Mido. Be quiet.”
Mido and Saria stared at each other for a very long moment. Finally, after what seemed a small eternity, Mido subsided, throwing his arms up in the air and trying to pretend he didn’t care.
“Fine. It’s your house Saria. ‘Not like I care what you do with that scrub anyway. I’ve got better things to do than worry all day about some stupid outsider.”
Saria’s eyes narrowed.
“Be careful Mido, or else you may end up becoming an outsider as well.”
Mido darkened, clenching his teeth as he averted his gaze. His head hung very low. Saria looked at him a moment longer, and walked away. Irch and Linder nervously glanced at each other, then at Mido, then at Link. Finally, they picked him up, and—gently as possible—began to run after Saria.
“What does she mean, “you’ll become an outsider?”
Mido turned and angrily walked away.
“Nothing Rown. Now shut up and get back to work trimming my hedges.”