CHAPTER 7
Of Link Amongst the Minish and the Earth Element
The Minish village would have appeared to be a small shrub had Link been normal sized. Yet, from the eyes of the very creatures he hoped to find the village was a sight to behold. It was a sight that no or few Hylians had ever seen before. The paths, while made of dirt, were smooth and the dirt rarely flew into the air and made dust clouds. Neatly clipped hedges acted as the city walls, all of them adorned with clovers, flowers and specially cut designs.
Link and Elzo walked into the city, admiring the remarkable craftsmanship of the Minish people. Doubts that the Minish had created the Picori Blade fled Link's mind; these creatures were defiantly capable of such a feat. When they entered the central area of the village several Minish approached the companions. They spoke in gibberish, the language of the Minish was far different than that of the Hylian's, and Link could not decipher it. The Minish who had gathered examined Link from a distance, realizing he was not a threat they left him in the center of town. Some went down other paths, while others returned to their houses.
Link had no idea where to go from here. Once more, as if he could read Link's mind, Elzo spoke to him, "Oh Link, did you catch what they said?" But he knew the answer before Link needed to respond. "Ah, of course you didn't. I'm afraid I couldn't understand most of what they said either. The dialect they used is a bit different than my own. Perhaps…" Elzo seemed lost in his own thoughts. Link waited patiently for the creature to finish, "Yes of course. Link, perhaps if you find a Jabber Nut you will be able to figure out what they are saying! There should be one around here!"
With those words Elzo retreated to his quiet state, leaving Link alone once more. He had no idea where to find a Jabber Nut, and the Minish Village was quite large, or, large in his current form. With nowhere to look Link began to aimlessly wonder around the village, which began to please him more and more as time passed. The sights were all pleasing; be it the beautifully designed hedges, the might boughs of trees, or the houses, which were all hallowed our plants, mushrooms, or, just garbage.
On the north side of the village there was a large stone structure built over a "pond". A wooden bridge ran across to the entrance. Just near it was a dock which ran along the edge of the pond, the cut eastward. This area was desolate, the dock looked over more of the pond which was only visible from here; Link spent a few moments marveling in its beauty, before he returned to town.
Time was slipping away, and Link was no closer to finding a Jabber Nut. It wasn't like he could ask for help; neither Link nor Elzo understood the speech used by the Minish here. Soon Link realized he was higher up; he remembered walking upwards to reach the north side of town. He saw the tops of several "houses", and then he looked down and saw the entrance he used to come to the village. A moment later Link caught something out of the edge of his eye. A small, makeshift bridge ran over to the top of a house. The house was made out of a small barrel; Link ran over across the bridge and saw a lone Minish standing there.
A ladder lead down into the house, Link saw no problem with exploring after all. He climbed into the house and realized it wasn't a house at all. Several plants were located all over the room; it was a greenhouse of some sort. None of the Minish in the store took head to Link, or they just didn't care that he was there. If there was a Jabber Nut anywhere in this village it would be here. Link snooped around, looking for anything that resembled a nut of any kind. Towards the back of the room Link noticed a nut-like object placed atop a crate.
Slowly Link approached it and examined it. He picked it up, looking around to see if anyone saw. The nut tasted strange, Link put it in his mouth all at once and slowly chewed it. He let it slide down his throat, yet he felt no different. Was that a Jabber Nut, or something else? Link heard someone behind him and turned around; a small Minish was standing behind him.
"Oh, great you found a Jabber Nut!" he said. This took Link by surprise, the Minish continued, "We keep a bunch of those around in case we get outsiders. Well, now you can understand us I guess! See you later!"
The Minish skipped away merrily and Link laughed to himself. He found the ladder he used to enter to leave, "Now to find the Elder", he though to himself. Link's first thought told him to go to the large stone-shrine he saw earlier. He went to the north end of town and had no trouble finding. He crossed the sturdy wooden bridge and entered the building.
It was dimly light, only a small bit of natural light filled the room through thin, slit-like windows. Some other man-made blue lights were hung along the walls, giving the stones a mysterious color. There was a door in the back of the shrine, a tall, thin, elderly Minish stood in front of the door. Link approached him, as he got close he realized the man's eyes were closed.
Slowly he asked, "What is a Hylian doing here in the realm of the Minish?" Before Link could answer he continued, "Never mind how you are our size boy, nor how you understand us. I am Festari, I guard the path to the Deepwood Shrine. If you wish to go there I regret to tell you that none shall pass. Evil creatures have taken up residence in the Shrine and it is now an evil place." Link then left swiftly from the building, he had no need to be here.
Link now looked around, the town; the sun was beginning to set. He needed to find the Elder then it hit him that he could have asked Festari. To stubborn to go back into the building he decided to look around on his own some more. For a while he explored the west side of town, he saw more houses but had no idea where the Elder lived. A small Minish was walking up the road and Link approached him. He explained to the young Minish that he needed to find the Elder.
"Oh, he lives right over there!" said the Minish, pointing to a house just behind Link. It was a hallowed out Mushroom, red with yellow spots on it. It sat atop a wooden platform; a ladder ran form the ground to the top of the wooden surface. Link entered the house, dim light filled it.
An elderly Minish stood in the middle of the house, his face worn with age. He had white facial hair, and he held onto a wooden staff. "What do you need boy?" he asked in a surprisingly strong voice. Thus Link explained, has he did to Elzo, of Vaati, and the breaking of the Picori Blade. "I see, Vaati is it. I cannot repair the sword, however I know someone who can. However, repairing the sword alone will not be enough to break the curse upon Zelda, nor end Vaati's life. You will need to infuse it with the four elements, one of Earth, one of Fire, one of Water, and one of Air."
"Tell Festari I sent you, and go to Deepwood Shrine. If you can claim the Earth Element from there bring it back to me. If you see success, then I will explain to you the elements, the nature of the Picori Blade, and of a person who can fix it. Now go, be swift, even as we speak Vaati's power grows. If he can obtain the Lightforce, the consequences will be catastrophic. Claim the Earth Element and return to me, by doing so you will prove your right of being a hero."
Link nodded and bowed to the old Minish. He left the house and quickly ran to the building where Festari was. On the way Elzo explained of how Deepwood Shrine was once a holy place to the Forest Minish, and of how Vaati's evil must have made it corrupt. Link entered the building and approached Festari. He explained that he was sent to investigate the Shrine.
Festari paused and, for the first time in many years, opened his eyes. "Gentari is wise to see so much potential in one so young. Wise…or an old fool." With those words Festari stepped aside and Link left the Minish Village through the back entrance, a way nobody has used in a great deal of time.
Elzo guided Link straight to the Shrine, it was foggy outside. The air was damp and Link felt a great presence of evil, one he hadn't felt since his encounter with Vaati. They both looked down through the entrance to the Shrine, it was dark. Elzo asked Link if he was sure, and the duo entered the dark depths of Deepwood Shrine.
