Chapter Four: Finding the Stray Fairy
Several hours had already gone by, and Link had no luck finding the stray fairy. There were plenty of places to explore in this section of Clock Town, but none of it seemed to yield what he and Tatl were searching for. As Link patrolled the town square, he glanced up at Tatl. "So, why were you friends with Skull Kid? That seems like a pretty rotten thing for him to do to the Great Fairy."
"How was I supposed to know he'd go and do something like that?" Tatl shot back. "He was always a prankster, but I never thought he'd go this far, okay? Now just concentrate on finding that stray fairy!"
Link decided to let it slide for now, but he planned on having a little talk with her later about her relationship with the Skull Kid.
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Marie was still getting used to her body as she traipsed around the shopping district of West Clock Town. Or at least, it looked like a shopping district, judging by the people walking around with crude shopping bags. The signs above the stores were in a language she was unfamiliar with, but at least some of them had pictures defining their primary product. She searched all around for any sign of the stray fairy, but she was having no luck either. She had even resorted to asking a pair of dancing twin girls whether they had seen it. She was promptly blown off by them and told to quit bothering them.
Marie sighed in exasperation. This is getting nowhere, she thought. It's already been, like, three hours since we got here.
She folded her arms and tapped her foot impatiently. Where could that little thing have gotten off to?
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Edd searched high and low throughout the day around South Clock Town, but he too had failed to find the stray fairy. He had taken care to avoid the construction work going on in the center of the district during his search, but he was bothered by the fact that the moon was edging ever closer towards the city. He had happened to pick up some snippets of conversations concerning what was going on. Apparently the townsfolk were also aware of the giant chunk of rock, but some didn't believe it would fall, others didn't want to believe, and those who did were discussing when they would flee and where to.
As he was looking around, Edd suddenly noticed something he hadn't seen before. There was a set of stairs that led into a little alcove on the far corner of the district. Maybe the stray fairy's in there. Only one way to find out.
Edd hurried along up the stairs and arrived at the town's laundry pool. It was a small place, with a quaint river running past him into a grating beneath the wall. A wooden bridge led to the other side, where a door was located. A small bell was hanging on a post by the bridge, and a small bench sat off to the side. Edd slowly walked up to the water's edge and looked down upon his own reflection, gazing at the wooden face staring back at him. "This is unreal," he whispered to himself, still not wanting to believe that everything that had been happening to him today was real.
Then he saw something else, a glimmer on the water's surface. There was something above his head, and when Edd looked up, he saw the stray fairy flying about in a confused manner. "Ah! There you are!" Edd said aloud.
The fairy suddenly seemed to notice him and flew towards him. It flitted in front of his face and said, "Oh, kind young one! My form has been shattered by the masked Skull Kid! Please…take me back to the Fairy Fountain in North Clock Town!"
"That's why I'm here, madam," Edd answered her as calmly as he could. "Please, follow me."
The fairy obligingly hovered over Edd's head as he led her out of the laundry pool back out into South Clock Town. I'll look for Link first, he thought. Then we can have Tatl find Marie.
The Deku boy and the fairy made their way across the district, receiving the occasional odd glance. Walking up the stairs into East Clock Town, Edd immediately caught sight of Link. "Link!" Edd yelled, having his hand to catch Link's attention. "I found her!"
Link glanced up from the large poster he had been reading and noticed the stray fairy flitting over Edd's head. "Oh good, you found her," Link said as he caught up. "Tatl, go find Marie and tell her to meet us at the Fairy Fountain."
"Fine, whatever," Tatl droned before flying off.
After she was gone, Link turned to Edd and said, "Alright, let's take her to the fountain."
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Marie was still wandering around West Clock Town, though she had somewhat given up on actually searching for the stray fairy, when Tatl found her. Forgetting what her name was, Tatl just blurted out, "Hey, Blue-Hair!"
Marie suddenly looked up and saw the yellow fairy flying towards her. "Oh," she grunted unenthusiastically. "It's you."
"Don't look too happy to see me," Tatl answered back just as coldly. "Your germaphobe boyfriend found the stray fairy. We're meeting them at the fountain."
"Right on," Marie responded before taking off towards that destination.
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When they all met up again, it was already approaching late afternoon. As Marie and Tatl caught up with the rest of them, Link looked around and said, "Everybody here?"
"Yep," Marie surmised.
The three Deku children proceeded back into the Fairy Fountain with their charge, who upon seeing her awaiting brethren, flew over to the others gleefully. As they all approached, the fairy swarm started spinning together and condensing into a single being, until there was a flash of light that almost blinded the visitors, along with a joyous female laugh. From the center of the fountain emerged a young woman with long, flowing red hair and a patchwork of leaves taking the place of clothes. There was heavy makeup around her eyes. The Great Fairy giggled again and leaned forward in the air, gazing at them with warm, gentle eyes.
"Thank you, kind young ones," she began. "And thank you as well, Tatl. Now my form is once again fully intact. I am the Great Fairy of Magic."
"Great Fairy…" Tatl interrupted hesitantly. "How…did the Skull Kid…do this to you?"
"The same way he has been troubling all of Termina. It is the mask he wears. It grants him great and terrible power…far too great and terrible for a child to understand and control. It is a story I have not the time nor the place to tell you. The one who knows more about the Heart of Darkness is its last owner, the salesman who waits within the clock tower."
"Um, excuse me, madam," Edd interrupted timidly. "We were hoping you might know where we could find the Skull Kid."
"I'm afraid I do not hold the answer you seek. The Skull Kid's whereabouts are a mystery to me. There is another way I can help you, though."
"Really?" Marie asked hopefully.
"As the Great Fairy of Magic, I can grant all three of you the ability to practice magic."
"Wait…magic?" Edd stuttered. "That…isn't possible. There's no such thing as magic!"
"Young Eddward, you are not from this world, am I not correct?"
"Ehrm…that's right."
"It saddens me that your world has no magic. It feels like such a…dead place."
Edd and Marie couldn't help but glance at each other at the Great Fairy's words. "But fear not…that does not mean I cannot grant you magic."
The Great Fairy giggled once more and blew a kiss towards the Deku children. Suddenly a light surrounded the three of them and lifted them up into the air. They were now defying the very laws of gravity, but something about the light seemed to put Edd's mind at ease. The three of them could all feel a sense of empowerment course through their wooden bodies. Finally they slowly fell back to earth on their feet, and felt rejuvenated. Edd really couldn't explain how he felt. But it felt good. "King young Eddward, Marie, Link, and Tatl," the Great Fairy spoke again. "This is all I can do for you for now. My power has waned, and I cannot contact my sisters located throughout Termina. I fear the same fate that befell me has happened to them."
"So how will we find the Skull Kid?" Link asked.
"The astronomer in East Clock Town should be able to help you. However, the path to his home is protected by a young group of vigilantes, the Bombers Gang. You may have to speak to them about letting you in."
"Alright," Marie said, nodding her head.
The Great Fairy smiled at them again. "When battle has made you weary, feel free to see me again."
With a final laugh, the Great Fairy disappeared into the Fountain. As they turned to leave, Link said, "She said the path to the astronomer was in East Clock Town. I remember seeing a little kid standing in front of an alleyway. It looked like he was trying to keep people from entering. I think that's where we should go."
"Well then," Edd replied. "Lead the way, Link."