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.”