"And that's when we realized that her word held at least some water."
Saria did her best to explain what the great fairy had told her and Link to Mari. After a moment to think, the fairy spoke up.
"If miss Blassoom is sealed within the harp, what reason has she to lie? As is the case with most spells, bringing the harp back together should most likely free her. Yet she wants us to keep it apart? It doesn't make sense."
"Maybe it's some sort of reverse psychology? She wants us to think she wants it apart, so that we do the opposite and put it back together?"
"Saria, if you've gotten that far, you're clearly overthinking it all. I'm still not sure I buy it though. Who's to say there isn't some other angle to this? Lady Mandgrova certainly doesn't seem the plotting type."
While Mari and Saria bickered, Link yawned. He had already made up his mind what to do. He was going with his gut.
"But that's what they would always want you to think. Sure, she looks like a helpless old lady now... but even she admits to once being incredibly powerful. Both stories share all the same consistencies. Someone was unhappy with the plurbians, and plotted to destroy them. The other sister stopped her, and the harp was destroyed. In the process, Mandgrova lost her magic power."
"There are multiple inconsistencies, though. Mandgrova said Blassoom cursed the land, but Blassoom mentions no curse whatsoever in her story. Blassoom said she destroyed the harp, Mandgrova said she did herself. And the most galling of them all, Mandgrova said she destroyed Blassoom outright. Despite that, someone claiming to be Blassoom is clearly alive within the harp. Though, perhaps Mandgrova doesn't know this?"
"So who was it? Who tried to destroy the city, and who destroyed the harp to prevent its destruction? Should we bring the harp to Lady Mandgrova? Or steer clear of her and bury this thing?"
Now that a gap had arisen in the conversation, Link prepared to interject.
"More problems could arise from returning the harp than not."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Wait, you're onto something Link. If we rebuild the harp, there's a chance we may restore Blassoom. If she really did try to destroy the city, then we don't want that. Not bringing the harp will also keep Mandgrova from returning to power... assuming she's guilty. But leaving the harp unfinished doesn't cause anything. Regardless of who did what."
"But that's where you're wrong, Saria. Leaving the harp unfinished will leave the valley in a state of disrepair. We can't leave the valley in potential ruin, can we?"
"Oh pish-posh, you are so boring! I'm waiting here you know? Possibly the only thing keeping me from the afterlife right now is you children. If we could just return you both to your mortal forms, then you could discuss this on the road and leave me be!"
Farrokh had crept up to the group without them noticing. Link and Saria had forgotten that they were still ghosts.
"Oh! How inconsiderate of us. Somehow I hadn't noticed how pale you two are. Please, by all means, turn them back."
"Oh finally! You three really like to ramble, you know that? Mostly looking at you, fairy. You two are ready, right? Rod, give us a beat!"
Link and Saria floated over to their unconscious bodies and steeled themselves. Farrokh jumped back onstage to his piano just in time for an intro. The group played the Concerto of Soul again, only with different lyrics.
"Oooh... do you feel it crawling back?
Here it comes... don't look back.
It's twisting and turning, it wants to join ye...
Now put thy mind forward, and return thy soul to thee..."
At first he couldn't feel it, then it started in his toes. A slight crackle of pain, of realism, climbing up Link's limbs. He could feel every little bruise and cut as feeling returned to his body. For a moment, he blacked out, and but seconds later, Link awoke within his body again. All that had just happened felt like a distant memory, as if it had happened weeks ago. Though he felt normal again, Link's muscles felt a bit behind. His sense felt more than normal, almost hyper aware. After much effort, he lifted his arms and pushed himself into a sitting position. Everything felt so heavy. So hard. His head throbbed with the feeling of gravity. His every pulse pounded.
"Ooh... are you two alright? You look funny."
"Uughh... spirit sickness. This is why it isn't fun to just hop between being living and a ghost."
Saria spoke with an ever so slight lisp as she returned to her senses. She winced as she ran her hand over her bandaged leg wound. A dead girl's scrapes have no reason to heal on their own, after all. She tried to get to her feet, but lost her balance and toppled backwards.
"Ow! ... Ooh... don't help me, don't help me, gimme just a second."
At her second attempt, Saria got to her feet, though wobbly legged. Shortly after, Link stood too, holding his arms out to keep his stance.
"It usually only lasts about half an hour... though extreme cases have been known to last a whole day."
"You really did your research, didn't you?"
"The princess had me learn all about this stuff before I traveled here. I guess you could say I'm something of an expert on time and spirits now."
Farrokh flew over to the wobbling pair with a laugh.
"Oh! You two are bloody rich! Can't barely stand on your feet! You want my advice? Get out of this place before your mortal bodies attract any more unwanted attention. You don't look the condition to fight."
"I guess we'd better run then. Thank you mister Farrokh."
"No, thank you. Now, I may ascend to the afterlife in happiness!... After I play maybe one more song."
After collecting their equipment, Link and Saria started their way out of the palace of lost souls.
"Ah, I never thought I'd see the sky again!"
The three finally exited the crypt into the moist morning field. The sun was not yet up, but the sky had begun to turn a mix of gray, purple, and orange. Still a bit wobbly legged, Link and Saria stopped at the exit of the ruin for a breather.
"Hah... I hope I never see a ghost again as long as I live."
With a chuff, Epona greeted them. Link stroked the loyal horse's mane with an unsteady hand.
"Now that we're out of that forsaken place, what's next?"
"We still haven't figured that out, have we?
Mari bobbed around the children as she thought about their options again.
"Return to Mandgrova with the harp, or steer clear of her and hide this thing somewhere..."
"Oh, I'm great at hiding things!"
Somehow, without the three noticing, someone had snuck up and lain themself atop Epona's back. That someone was a cheeky brunette.
"Goodness Martha! What in the Great Deku Tree's name are you doing out here at this hour?"
"I was here for the music. You didn't think I wouldn't figure out you were helping Fairy Royalty get back together? You literally asked me for help, Link!"
"Well, I'm afraid you missed them. They're done now. I think."
"Hey, greenie is back! You two are weird, y'know that? Separating only to came running back for each other. Weirdest couple I've ever seen. But nah, I didn't miss the music, I could hear them playing from out here. Very loud. So, what are you bunch doing here?"
Martha rolled onto her back and took a bite from an on-hand apple. Slightly irritated by Martha's flippant tone, Mari chastised her.
"I could ask you the same thing. What time even is it? It must be four hours after midnight! Shouldn't you be in bed or something?"
"You're not in bed. Why should I have to be in bed? There's too much to do to just sleep! There's no reason that you can stay up and I can't."
"Er, it's different for us! We have something really important for to do!"
"Important, sure. I hope it has something to do with that."
With her empty hand, Martha gestured to the purple harp fragment in Saria's grasp.
"Actually, yes. This thing is what we've been looking for. With it, we might be able to bring the fairies back!"
"Really? Wow! What are you waiting for, then?"
"It's not that simple, Martha. You see, there's other parts to this thing, and-"
"Oh, so you need to get those first?"
"No, we already found them. It's just... someone else has the other parts. And we're afraid if someone puts this thing back together... something bad may happen."
"I thought you said that this thing would bring the fairies back. What could possibly be bad about that? Something that powerful and you just leave it in the dirt?"
In Martha's irritation, Mari saw something the others did not. Something beyond just mild botheration. Something deeper than she had realized. With a nervous chuckle the fairy buzzed up to Martha.
"Hahahah, you'll have to forgive Saria, we don't really know what we're doing with this thing yet. But whatever it is will surely bring back the fairies, right Link? Saria is just being a bit sentimental. Heh, yeah. Sentimental. Sentiment and stuff."
Link and Saria both turned to the fairy. What had gotten into her?
"It's a legitimate concern, Mari!"
"Oh but we'll figure it out, haha! There's nothing we can't figure out! Ahahah."
Martha cut an odd glance between the two. Sitting up, she stuck the rest of her apple in Epona's mouth.
"I see... you've got it all worked out, hm?"
"Y-yup. We've got to get going now, if you don't mind. Heeheh."
Why was Mari acting so... hysterical? What had she seen in the child that the others had not?
"Of course, don't let me get in your way. But before you go, would you mind if I give you a little something?"
"Oh, go right ahead! Hahaehehah."
Turning to her side, Martha dug something the others couldn't see from her pockets. Before a anyone could see her present, she swang her arm through the air in a blur, catching Mari in the process! She had caught the pink fairy in a bottle!
"Nooo! Nononono!"
"What in Hylia's name are you doing?! Let Mari go!"
"Heehee! Bet you two never saw that coming! The only way I'll hand this little thing over is if you give me the great fairy harp fragment of soul. Go on, hand it!"
"What is your problem Martha? I thought you were our friend!"
"Friend, huh? Does a friend steal a horse and let you take the fall for it?"
Saria turned to Link, who only grinned sheepishly.
"You need help, Link. Is that all this is really about?"
"Of course not! This is far more diabolical than that. My grandmother needs that harp!"
"Your grandmother? Martha, this thing is useless without the other three fragments. You can't do anything with just one piece!"
"I know, but thanks to you two and this little pipsqueak, my grandmother already has the other three!"
"Wait... your grandmother is Mandgrova?!"
"Took you long enough to figure that out. I've gotten to be her little helper this week! Making sure you two get all the harp pieces and whatnot. It was kinda fun, if I'm gonna be honest."
With one unsteady hand, Link began rifling through his bag. Something in there would have to help.
"C'mon Martha, you know me and Link are nice. Let Mari go, and we can work this out!"
"I don't care how nice you are greenie. I know your brother, boyfriend, whatever he is, Link, isn't so kind. Little thief. Got me beat up by a bunch of jerks. Not that it matters. Family first, after all. I'm getting that thing to my granny."
"Mari is my family, Martha. You should know that I'd do anything for her. Please, don't hurt her."
"I won't if you just give me the harp piece! You gave the first three pieces of the harp to us. Why should this be any different?"
In the bottom of his bag, Link fingered the shape of his hookshot.
"I'll tell you why it's different; you kidnapped Mari! You have literally given me a reason not to give it to you!"
"Ah, but I've given you an even better reason to give it; I kidnapped Mari! Haha!"
With a swift and inaccurate arm, Link whipped out his hookshot, and fired it toward Martha. He struck her in the side, ripping off a part of her dress in the process. She toppled over the side of Epona in a confused mess.
"Waugh! Hey!"
Scarcely before she hit the ground, Link dove on top of her. The two engaged in a scuffle, while a nervous Saria watched. Though Link fought with the intensity of a lizalfos, since he was still weak from returning to his body, he only had the endurance of a chuchu. Martha threw him off relatively easy, but left the fight well bruised.
"Argh! Look what you did to my dress! You ruined it! If either of you dare try something like that again, I'm gonna smash this bottle into the ground! Now gimme the harp piece!"
Martha started a crazed charge toward Saria, but the latter backed down quickly.
"Okay okay okay! Take it! Take it!"
"No Saria! Don't!"
Using all her might, Mari pounded on the glass bottle, to no avail. With a snatch, Martha relieved Saria of the harp. She hopped back onto Epona in an exasperated huff.
"I've just about had enough of the two of you. Too much fun. Heh, too much fun indeed! I doubt you'll be bothering me again though."
"Wait, what about Mari?"
"You mean the fairy? What about her? I'll be needing her to restore the harp!"
"NO!"
"So long, forest kids! I'll tell my grandma you said hi!"
On Epona's back, Martha made for the city of Plurbiocris.
