Link found himself once again in the Chamber of Sages. A green light began to shine in front of Link and from the light arose Saria's figure. As the light passed, Link smiled. "Saria!" he spoke loudly and rushed forward, scopping her up into his arms.
Saria giggled. "Link, I'm so happy to see you," she spoke and wrapped her arms tight around Link. Navi would note the sight was something more like a father and daughter embracing then lovers of a time passed because of the difference in their physical age. For indeed, Saria was still just as physically young as Link had remembered, just as all of the other Kokiri had been.
Link pulled Saria away from the embrace and brought a hand up to her face. He kissed her gently, but Saria reacted differently then he expected by pushing him away quickly, tears now in her eyes. "S-Saria...what's wrong?"
"You...don't get it...do you?" Saria asked as she looked up into his eyes.
"Get what?"
"You...you've grown up...you've changed...Kokiri don't age...We are born as children by the grace of the Deku Tree and we live as children our entire lives."
"I don't understand...what are you saying?" Link asked with a rather dumbfounded look on his face.
Saria balled up her fists. "You dumby! I'm saying we can't be together!"
Link took a step back. "Wh-why?"
Tears rolled down Saria's eyes as she looked away. "Because...you're not a Kokiri...you and I, Link...we're from two different worlds..."
"But Saria-"
"No buts!" Saria shouted as she turned to Link. "Do you think I'm happy with this? That this is what I wanted? Do you?"
"No, but-"
"I love you, Link! I love you more then anything! I would give everything to be with you! But...I can't..." Saria quickly buried her face in her hands as she began to cry.
"But...I aged...surely you can..."
"Because you're not a Kokiri!" Saria shouted rather angrily. Link had only seen her like this a few times, but never with him.
Link's eyes went wide. "Wh-what?"
"It's true...You're not a Kokiri...you never have been...that's why you never had a fairy...You were brought to the forest by your mother, a Hylian woman...She went to the Deku Tree and asked for sanctuary. Two Gerudo women were chasing her, and she was badly injured. The Deku Tree...he killed the women...and then took you. Your mother was lost, because nobody can enter the Lost Woods except the Kokiri. You're mother died, but the Deku Tree kept you alive because you were the Chosen One of Farore."
"He...he did that?" Link asked as he knelt down to Saria's level.
"He did..." Saria wiped her eyes, though tears were still flowing from them. "He...he gave unto me the command to raise you, so I took you in. I loved you and raised you. I became close with you, and the Deku Tree warned me of this...I didn't listen..." Saria sniffled and wiped her eyes again but to no avail. "I loved you, Link...but I knew...I knew this would happen...I knew we could never be...but I wanted it so badly...I hoped that...if you stayed in the forest...maybe...just maybe...you would never grow up...but then you left...and now you must complete your destiny..."
Saria slowly stood to her feet and wiped her eyes once more. Her tears were slowly lessening. Link reached forward to hug her, but she pushed him away. "This is it for us...We will never be together, but we can be friends..." She sniffled and looked up at him. "Thank you, Link, for awakening me as a sage." She reached her hand out and a small medallion appeared in her hand, much like Rauru had done. "Take this and go. You must complete your destiny."
Link nodded slowly, taking the medallion. "Will you...be okay?" he asked.
Saria gave a fake smile. "Of course, dumby. I'm always...okay..." she turned away as tears threatened to pour out once more.
"Okay..." Link spoke, though he knew she was lying. He turned, stepping into the Triforce symbol in the center of the platform. Just like before, he was taken up in an instant and returned to Hyrule.
