Chapter nine: A terrible fate
It was very quiet and dark at the fountain. It was a circular meadow, with tall fir trees around it as if they had grown specifically to protect this sacred place. A little bit further away was hill with a cave, and in the middle of the meadow, a clear little pond with waterlilies floating around in it.
Tiny lights flied here and there. They looked like tiny little stars, emitting a sparkling sound as they raced by.
The little stars had thin, shiny little things on their back – wings.
"Oh... fairies!" whispered Zelda in excitement. "Real life fairies!"
"They truly are, dear", said a sweet, but deep voice from the pond.
With a tired morning-like moan, a tall, beautiful figure appeared in front of them. She had big wings and was beautifully clothed in a long, green dress with a tiara crowning her long-haired head.
This was the Fairy Queen.
"Welcome, travelers", she said.
Her smile was bleak, but warm. Link was fascinated by this wondrous creature. He felt so... completed... in her presence.
"I have heard what has happened in Hyrule", the Fairy Queen said. "I am sorry to hear about your father, princess.
"Thank you", replied Zelda smilelessly and bowed her head. "I take it you know why we are here, then?"
"I assume you are here for what I have waited for... questioning the one I hold as a prisoner."
"Yes", replied the princess, took out the bottle and showed it to the Fairy Queen. "But also this."
The Fairy Queen gave the hourglass a long, soft look.
"Ah, yes", she said, "the presence is familiar. So this is what was inside the hourglass..."
"You mean... you didn't know?" princess Zelda asked.
"I did not." The Fairy Queen closed her eyes. "But I assume I will need to heal her. Yes... she is in desperate need of it. This might be a bit too bright for mortal eyes. Please, shut them while I work..."
Zelda and Link shut their eyes. A "shiiinnng" sound was heard, and Link swore he could hear tingling as white took over the vision inside his eyelids.
"You may open your eyes", said the Fairy Queen. "All three of you."
Link did so. And before him, he saw the ghost girl moving. Not only that; she was reacting.
She looked at her body with frightened, surprised eyes. Apparently it was quite the shock for her to find out she now looked like this.
"Hello", princess Zelda greeted.
The ghost girl turned to her.
"Ah..." she said. "O, gallant maiden! Who is't may thee beest? Whither am i, and what hast hath happened to me?"
Zelda made a confused sound: "Um... excuse me?"
"O lief! We understandeth not each other! How unfortunate!" cried the ghost.
"No worries", said Zelda. "I'm sure that... we'll learn how to understand each other. Right?"
The ghost frowned sadly.
"Anyways, I am pleased to meet you", curtseyed Zelda. "Allow me to introduce myself; I am princess Zelda of Hyrule. This young man by my side is Link, and the god-like being to your right is the Queen of Fairies."
"Ho! Royalty! Ere mine own eyes! I am honour'd to meeteth thee!" the ghost blushed. She bowed and curtseyed repeatedly while continuing: "Mine own name is Violet, thy royal highness! How may I beest of service?"
"I'm very glad you asked", replied the princess. "You see... your spirit apparently carries memories of past times that we may need. Hyrule is in crisis, and we need to know what information is stored within you."
"Spirit? Art thee implying yond I am. . . dead?" Violet looked at her left hand in despair. "But yond cannot beest!"
"I... am afraid so", replied Zelda with a regretful face. "But please... help us with what you know."
"Ack", said Violet. "Coequal though I recall some things, much of mine own memory doth feel... hath lost."
"You mean... you can't remember?" Zelda asked. "But... why? You should..."
"Allow me to explain", said the Fairy Queen. "Strong magic has been containing this poor child's soul, which sent her into such deep slumber that she cannot grasp everything quite yet. She is afraid and confused and has pushed the memories necessary away, even if they are still within her. Thus, I am afraid she will not be of any help right at this moment..."
"Can't you draw them out?" asked Zelda. "Please! My father just died, and I fear those villains will return any time..."
"Apologies, princess, but I cannot", said the Fairy Queen. "You will simply have to wait until they reappear. However... there is another thing I can do for you while waiting."
"Of course", the princess nodded. "Your prisoner. She should know more about the hourglass. Please let me talk to her."
"Follow me", bowed the Fairy Queen, and soared towards the cave.
Zelda tailed the tall woman, just to stop after a few steps, turn around and ask:
"Link? Are you coming?"
Link ran after them, letting some fairies ease his weariness a little. It felt so warm and fuzzy as they healed him, like a warm, nice-smelling bath.
They followed the Fairy Queen into the cave. Link and Zelda were asked to deactivate some traps, instructed by the Fairy Queen how to do so. They used their swords to smash crystals, avoid arrows, and jump gaps where it was necessary, all while heading further and further underground.
Violet soared after them. She looked sad and confused. She inspected the cave around her, mumbling to herself in that ancient language that Link didn't quite grasp.
"Well then", the Fairy Queen finally said. "Here we are."
She raised her hands and opened a massive door of stone.
Inside, it was really dark and quiet. The only thing Link heard was the clinking of something metally.
"Allow me", said the Fairy Queen and brought light to the cell.
Zelda's and Link's eyes widened upon looking into it. In the farthest corner sat a dirty, caped being. Only the legs were visible under a big, hooded poncho. Heavy chains kept hands and feet in place, and over the face, a mask was placed. Its expression was very empty.
"Prisoner", said the Fairy Queen with a surprisingly cold voice, "you have visitors."
The Prisoner looked up and replied quietly:
"I can see that."
"Quit being so rude", hissed the Fairy Queen. With a friendlier tone, she said to the princess: "Please, go ahead, princess Zelda. Ask her anything you want."
"Very well", said the princess and stepped inside. She gazed upon the prisoner with unsure eyes and continued with a very unstable voice:
"I have... come to ask you a few things..."
"I remember you", said the prisoner with an empty voice. "The child princess I scared... quite regrettable. I never meant to scare you. I'm very sorry. I hope you are alright."
"Uh..." Zelda said. "Well... I'm not. Anyways... listen... prisoner. My father, the king, was recently murdered by a man wearing a dark cape and hood, and I was almost kidnapped by a woman with powers of possessing other people's bodies. She was trying to steal the same object as you all those years ago... tell me, why did you do it?"
"P-possessing others?!" the prisoner stuttered.
"Yes", Zelda groaned. "Now, answer my question."
"Vesperan!" gasped the prisoner to herself. She seemed surprised and... a little bit scared, Link noticed. No... more like... terrified.
"Answer my question!" the princess demanded.
"I was instructed to", replied the prisoner nervously. "I don't know what's inside of it, honestly. But please, listen..."
"This spirit was inside of it", said Zelda and pointed at Violet. Her voice was wearing thin and she was getting slightly impatient. "What do you know of this spirit!?"
"Nothing, I assure you", said the prisoner. "I just know that the one that sent me wanted it really bad. Since he is wearing the dark cape that, I assume, reminds of the one this spirit is wearing?"
Link glanced at Violet. He hadn't realized it, but the prisoner was right. So he nodded.
"I see..." the prisoner mumbled. "So he's trying again..."
"What is he trying again?" said the princess. "Please, tell me!"
The prisoner swallowed loudly.
"I'm not too certain", she said. "All I know is that it's a bad plan. I was so close on helping him, but today, I'm glad I messed up. If I only had the good sense of never freeing him in the first place... but never mind that now. We need to defeat him. For you see... that man... is none other than the dark magician of legend. From the story of the three heroes."
Zelda and Link gasped.
"No way!" breathed Zelda. "How... how is that possible!? You pulled the sword up!?"
The prisoner nodded. "Yes. Regrettably."
"How did you even get there!?" the princess shouted. "Calata was heavily guarded!"
"I had help", the prisoner admitted. "But that is unimportant now. I fear it's completely impossible to defeat him, though... the golden sword of legends... well..." the prisoner took a deep breath. "You see... he... is the one currently holding it."
If the atmosphere had been bad before, now, it was filled with pure and utter horror. Zelda even dropped to her knees.
"He...'s... hold...ing... it..." she wheezed.
"Im afraid so", said the prisoner. "And it's all my fault. I... I can never truly tell you how sorry I am..."
"No, you most likely truly never will", said the Fairy Queen angrily. "But... things are not that impossible." She frowned as she continued: "There is the other sword... the one older than time itself..."
"O, the sword of the goddess", mumbled Violet quietly. "Yes, one of mine own most precious fairytales t is..."
"What? The sword of the goddess...?" Zelda gasped. "For real!? But... isn't that just a story!?"
The Fairy Queen looked at princess Zelda.
"Perhaps it is like that for you", she said. "Your dearest mother was supposed to tell you when you were old enough... that the sword of the goddess indeed is no tale, but truth."
"You're joking!" the princess blurted out. She looked into the honest eyes of the Fairy Queen and realized the truth: "Oh... you're not."
"Indeed I am not, princess", answered the Fairy Queen.
"But if it's true... then... it hasn't been seen for thousands of years!" Zelda exclaimed. "We don't even know where it is, or how to get there!"
"That may be true", agreed the Fairy Queen, "but I think you know how to find it. You should know the story by heart, if your mother has done her work well."
Zelda turned her head down and let out a big sigh. "Yes... I do believe so... but it's going to be a really difficult task, that is, if the story is true."
"Which it indeed is", said the Fairy Queen."
"Alright. It is. I have no other choice but to trust you on that." The princess grumbled. "But think of all the monsters that may have infested all these places over time... and as of current..."
"Bid me... how can I beest of help?" asked Violet shyly. She had been really quiet until now, barely making more sound than Link.
"Oh!" exclaimed the prisoner. She looked up at Violet, who was soaring right behind the living.
"I'm glad you're free", she said with true delight. "But I sense some dark magic is blocking your inner core."
Violet was nervous, so she just nodded. The prisoner looked away for a second.
"I can give you a gift", she said. "One that may be of help while searching what you're looking for. I will give you the ability to analyze enemies and I shall put a little darkness into your soul... one you can transform and use in any way you want. Now, hold still..."
And before anyone could even open their mouth to object, the prisoner showed her hand and aimed a bright orange ray, shooting it right into Violet's chest.
"What have you done?!" shouted the Fairy Queen. "I have forbidden you to use magic, foul one! Apologize at once!"
But the prisoner did not. She crawled into the corner and shut the door right in front of them, using her powers.
"Open up at once!" shrieked the Fairy Queen.
"I'm sorry", sounded the prisoner's voice from within. "This is everything I can do for you. Hopefully it is enough... now... I think it's wise if you leave..."
"I will not tolerate this!" shouted the Fairy Queen. "Open up at once!"
"Uh, I'm sorry", interrupted princess Zelda, "but I think we can do with the information we got. Violet, how do you feel?"
The ghost pondered for a while.
"...Empowered", she replied, finally. "The prisoner didst not forswear. I truly can analyze aught 'round me anon. That mineral... that plant... I can substract information from anything. And I doth rememb'r one thing; at which moment the prison'r mention'd a magician, t reminds of someone I wast closeth to once. . . but. . . I can't recall m're than yond. Apologies."
"Don't worry!" Zelda said. "This is quite enough for now. And this is really good news."
"...I must admit, even I am surprised that the prisoner did exactly as she had told us" the Fairy Queen said. "I also apologize for her behaviour. Unfortunately, she is always like this..."
"No need", stressed the princess. "Excuse us, but we must leave. Thank you for your help."
"I shall take you out of here", nodded the Fairy Queen, and a white light spread across the darkness, engulfing them all.
When Link could see again, they were outside the cave. Zelda immediately turned to the Fairy Queen.
"I once more want to thank you for the help you've provided", she said, "but I have one last question to ask. According to the story, the goddess made keys to the sacred place out of the essences of nature, and then hid them in their true elemental cores. Where can we find them?"
"That, I do not know", said the Fairy Queen and let out a sad sigh.
Zelda's eyes emitted a depressed look, but only for a few seconds. A light, chiming sound came from her pockets all of sudden.
"The scroll!" she breathed and took it out. Indeed, it was glowing in silvery light once again.
"I know where they are", Zelda read. "Please hold a map above this scroll."
She looked at Link. "Have you got a map?"
Link nodded. He took out the map he got from Aran and held it right over the scroll.
And, look at that! Four marks appeared on the map.
"Hidden in their true elemental cores indeed", Zelda mumbled. "The goddess must've been quite wise."
"I would say so, princess", laughed the Fairy Queen. Zelda gave her an annoyed look.
"So, we need to gather these", she said. "Well... I'd love to go... but I promised Impa I would hide... so..." she sighed. "This is not easy for me to ask of you, Link. We've just met, and this is quite a huge favour to ask. I don't know why, but I trust you. And for some reason... I truly feel... that those green clothes really represent your soul. I feel like you must be the one I have been dreaming about lately... that you are the hero Hyrule needs. I don't know why. It just... seems so right. And so, I need to ask... could I trust you to gather the essences for me?"
Link didn't reply at once. This indeed was a huge task. It was so odd that he had even been dragged into this whole thing.
But he would do it. For Hyrule.
And so, he nodded.
"...Thank you", said Zelda with a really eased smile. "I'm... really grateful. Words cannot express it... thank you."
She bowed her head to Link. He bowed back, and their timings messed up a little. They laughed together and felt as good as they could in dire times like these.
Zelda was just about to close the scroll, when it lit up again. Letters quietly appeared on the surface. And they were... quite alarming. Zelda gasped and read, quietly to herself:
"While the hero is out gathering the essences, you must search for another thing, princess Zelda. Otherwise, all his efforts will be for nothing, and darkness will reign over Hyrule nontheless. I shall provide you with more information later."
Zelda closed the scroll. She suddenly felt so uneasy again, like everything still could go wrong. Oh, so very wrong.
"Uh..." she said to the others. "We have so much to do. Let's leave... good bye, Fairy Queen."
"Good bye", she replied. "Come back any time you may need it."
Both Link and Zelda were a bit stumped as they walked out of the Fairy Fountain. Violet was hiding behind Link's back and dared not to speak to anyone, in fright of not being understood.
"You don't need to worry", Zelda assured her. "We'll just wait for your memories to return. Until then, let's see if we can find this legendary sword."
"A thousand of apologies", said the ghost. "I shall doth mine own most wondrous to aid thee meanwhile. By finding this... sword."
"Good", Zelda nodded. "That's enough for now."
They exited the fountain and walked up to Sheik and Impa. The two were talking.
"Alright", said Impa. "Then, promise me, Sheik. You will do your best to protect Kakariko and the Gorons. I'm counting on you."
"Yes, lady Impa!" said Sheik, with confidence.
"Good." Impa turned to the ones who had just arrived. "Oh! Finally back. It took you quite a while.
Sheik gasped in awe: "And it would seem that the ghost has healed!"
"Yes", the princess replied shortly. "But things are not that bright. You see..."
Zelda explained the whole situation.
"By the goddesses... this is much worse than we expected", exclaimed Impa in surprised frustration. "And on top of that, the witch told us that strange, strange things have been occuring everywhere in Hyrule... civil wars have broken out in some places already. Princess Zelda, you must keep your promise to me and come with me. I have already made a deal with Sheik. He has been promoted to take care of the problem at Death Mountain."
"Yessir yes!" said Sheik and saluted. "I shall do my very best, even if it may lead to my death! Now, off you go! No time to waste! Oh, right, Link... sorry, wait, I almost forgot. Since you're going to run around all of Hyrule and all..." the soldier boy rummaged around in the pockets around his belt.
Finally he produced something out of them.
"...you may have use of this", said Sheik and handed Link a card. "It's for the weapon's shop in town... it's a stamp card. You may get things a bit cheaper if you use it. It's soldiers only, so, shh, shh! Don't tell him I gave it to you!"
Link accepted it and nodded as thanks.
"And you do your best to help Link, miss ghost!" said Sheik.
"I... shalt", said Violet carefully, seemingly not trusting Sheik that much. That, or she didn't like the nickname 'miss ghost' very much. The boy laughed it off.
"Well", Sheik said then, with a serious voice. "Time to depart. And Link... do your best. I believe in you."
As Sheik headed east, the others returned to the west. They got to the castle walls much quicker than expected.
"Here our ways part", Zelda explained. "Once again, I'm really grateful for you to do this... all of Hyrule will thank you. But please, keep quiet of what has happened... I don't want to upset or worry people more than they already are. And... Violet?"
"Yes?" asked the ghost.
"Will you accompany Link on his journeys?" Zelda showed a friendly smile. "I'm sure the journeys may be long and troublesome. And with your new abilities, you can always be of some help..."
The ghost blushed.
"I shalt doth whatev'r I can to aid thee. I'm s'rry I can't beest of m're help even but now."
"Don't worry about that", the princess waved off again. "Now, I must hurry... both of you, do your best. We are counting on you."
She curtseyed and left. The princess went directly Impa, who was waiting for her by the castle entrance stables.
"Alright then, princess Zelda", the warrioress said. "We should prepare for the journey at once. I know a place, far, far away in the desert where we can hide for now... what's that?"
The scroll chimed again in Zelda's pocket. The princess took a deep breath and prepared herself:
"Impa", she begun, "I'm sorry, but I have something really important to talk to you about."