Edward Kidnastoff
By John Little
Chp. 4: The Missing Link
*****
"I had just finished my rounds," said Saria. "The Deku Sprout was in no danger, the Kokiri and Deku Scrub peace negotiations were going splendidly, nothing was amiss in the Lost Woods, and the reconstruction of some of the more decrepit passageways in the Forest Temple was going by without a hitch now that we've finally been able to eradicate some of the Poes who have been sneaking in lately. However, as I was about to look over the Kokiri Emerald I was interrupted by Navi. She was very flustered, but still capable of alerting me to the problem at hand."
"I see," Rauru said, clearly in deep thought. "Navi, thank you for coming to this meeting. Would you please recount for us exactly what had happened on the night that Link vanished?"
Navi nervously rose from her temporary perch on Saria's head and flew to the center of the circle. She didn't know why she felt nervous. She was, to an extent, a friend to each of the seven sages individually, thanks to her near-constant involvement in Link's life. The occasional lizalfo or skulltula could still creep into temples on occasion, and while any one of the sages certainly had the power to deal with such minor inconveniences on their own, they often found it to be a pleasant excuse to invite Link over for a chat.
The seven together, however....there was a different feeling to the air. Their different personalities merged to create the distinct feeling of authority and wisdom. Even more noticeable, however, was the unspoken anxiety shared by each of the Sages. Not a bit of this was reduced by the weight of age and ceremony that was always present in the Temple of Time where the meeting was taking place. Rauru, the supposed leader of the Sages and the Sage of Light, had a much deeper furrow in his brow than ever. Saria, the Sage of the Forest, seemed more sad than worried, her perpetually childish form constantly pitted against her strong wisdom and enlightenment. Darunia, leader of the Goron City on Death Mountain and Sage of Fire, seemed to be angry (Navi assumed that he was mentally swearing vengeance on anyone or anything that harmed Link; he considered Link to be both a strong friend and an honorary brother). Ruto, Princess of the Zora race at Zora's Domain as well as the Sage of Water, looked very concerned indeed due to her slight infatuation with the hero of time who had saved her life not once but twice during the quest to defeat Ganandorf. Impa, the Sage of Shadow who had acted both as Princess Zelda's caretaker and bodyguard during her childhood, had the look of concentration often seen on a soldier who has come to terms with an inevitable battle that may very well mean great loss. Nabooru, the Sage of Spirit and the leader of the Gerudo thieves who lived at the desert's edge, seemed concerned, though her eyes demonstrated a suspicion that indicated she was willing to suspect anyone in the sudden disappearance of the Hero of Time. Finally, Princes Zelda, the Seventh Sage who had perfected the seal that trapped Ganandorf in the other realm, had an expression that seemed to mix the sadness of Saria with the anxiety of Ruto.
"Navi?" Zelda said. Navi had let her mind wander. She'd been very flustered lately. "Sorry," Navi stated. "Well, last night Link and I were heading home from Zora's Domain. We had originally been sent to Zora's Domain to deliver some books and scrolls, but we encountered a monster named Tyrtora before leaving. Tyrtora seemed to be a highly intelligent form of seaweed that was capable of controlling the minds of the simpler animals in the water and then altering their size and abilities just enough to transform them into killing machines. Link narrowly killed Tyrtora, almost losing his own life in the process, and we stayed a few extra hours for a celebratory banquet that King Zora announced on the spot. Afterwards it was very late, but other than the recent Poe problems we've actually had decent night travel, so I felt safe traveling ahead....you know, for some extra exercise. I didn't go very far away, but when I turned around I saw this big glowing rectangle right about where Link had been previously. Link wasn't around, but Epona was. The rectangle disappeared just moments before I could reach it. I looked around for a while but couldn't find Link anywhere and...."
Navi suppressed a choke. She and Link had developed an excellent relationship considering the relatively short period of time that they had known each other when compared to the other Kokiri, so she had some natural concern for him as a friend. However, acting as Link's guide and companion was also her duty appointed by the Great Deku Tree just before he died. If Link should die while she wasn't around, it would mean that she had failed in her duty just as much as she had failed as a friend. She had just admitted to seven people who were, quite possibly, the most influential beings in the local kingdoms, that she had failed. Navi quickly regained her composure and continued.
"I couldn't find Link anywhere. I made sure that Epona could find her own way back to the Lon Lon Ranch before heading off to the Forest Temple where I related the entire story to Saria."
"Thank you, Navi," said Rauru. Navi returned to the back of Saria's hat to hide from the eyes of the Sages as Rauru looked from one to the other.
"In my experience," Rauru began, "what we have here is probably a magical door or gateway. I would also assume that the door does not always have to be in that location."
"Why is that?" inquired Nabooru.
"Because, unless I am mistaken, the path taken by Link was one of the more frequently traveled paths. Is that correct, Navi?"
Navi made an affirmative sound from behind Saria's hat. She had been dangerously close to tears for the entire morning, and didn't want to risk it at the moment.
"Now then, Navi's story did not include, and I'm sure that she will correct me if I am wrong, the acquisition of any unusual items or tokens. Had Link gained a magical jewel from this Tyrtora creature, then I would suggest that we go to search the location where Link was lost immediately. However, I propose that this gateway, if it was a gateway, was set as a trap for Link. For a time when no witnesses were present. Navi's presence might have easily gone unnoticed as she is so small. From the stories that Link tells, Navi is generally unnoticed by monsters even when she's right in front of them."
"Wouldn't one of us have noticed a gateway like this?" asked Zelda. "Magic gateways take up more energy than simple teleportation as we all learned when we locked up Ganandorf. That much energy for more than a second or two would have definitely attracted one of the seven of us to its presence."
"Not necessarily," Darunia grunted. "Due to the increased Poe population, sensing magic, especially evil magic, has been proving more difficult. The hundreds and hundreds of those phantoms are generating their own field of evil magic. This field could easily cause enough disturbance for something as unusual as a magical gateway to be dismissed as a usual magic fluctuation. It may, perhaps, be great enough to cause the problem to remain unnoticed entirely."
Impa nodded in agreement. "The Poes themselves seem to fluctuate into Hyrule with the population jumping in leaps and bounds. Forty or fifty appear at a time without any apparent reason. The good spirits have been complaining lately."
Ruto winced. "I can't wait to see this Poe problem settle down. Three of them just floated into my study chamber in the Water Temple the other day. How can there be so many arriving with so few deaths? We've had relative peace for months with only a few accidental deaths throughout the kingdom."
"Well that's the unusual thing about Poes, Ruto," Impa responded. "Poes aren't like other ghosts. While both Poes and standard ghosts are composed of the same ethereal substances, ghosts are formed by the wandering minds of formerly dead creatures while Poes are created through concentrated hatred and anger. This creates a slight mental difference as well: most ghosts search for peace and rest from their form, while most Poes wish to cause pain and destruction to the rest of the world. Poes generally come into being artificially, really. While a dead person is capable of becoming a Poe in the afterlife, more often they are the after effects of intense anger and hatred or dark magic."
"As fascinating as that is," Nabooru muttered, "we're here to discuss Link. How shall we go about locating our missing Hero of Time?"
A desperate silence broke out throughout the chamber. No one had any true leads. After a few moments, Saria stepped forward.
"I suggest," she said, "that we search for Link as Link would have searched for Link."
Silence again broke out throughout the chamber, though more from confusion than desperation. Several moments passed before Zelda finally cleared her throat. "What?"
"Well," continued Saria, "Link may very well be the greatest treasure hunter of our time. He found the three sacred stones within an amazingly short amount of time, and they had been separated for decades, perhaps centuries! Link repeatedly searched out and destroyed the golden Skulltulas for many people who had been cursed through them! According to what he's told us of his journey to Clock Town, he searched all types of terrain to collect more masks than the Happy Mask Salesman currently has for sale in his shop in the town! And, need I remind you, he found the seven of us."
"Good point," Ruto stated. "So then, Saria, tell us: what was Link's method of treasure hunting?"
"Patience and inquisitiveness," Saria replied. "Link simply asked everyone who could conceivably know anything about his present problems for their advice on a solution; most of the time they could give it. It didn't matter how much time he took, he always operated through the advice and suggestions of the common person. A villager here, a thief in the streets there, a recently defeated monster; it's part of the reason why he still, to this day, chooses to run errands for people when it isn't his problem: he collects favors and returned kindness."
"So," Nabooru interrupted, "we are to randomly walk up to people and say, 'excuse me, but have you seen Link the Hero of Time? He's gone missing, and we need to find him'? Do you realize what a panic that would cause? The people of the land would quickly realize that their greatest hero and champion was missing, and also that the seven people most adept at solving this type of situation are, themselves, stumped."
"Swallowing our pride may be the best option," Darunia retorted. "Yes, we are, as you put it, stumped. However, as anyone could tell you: it is more honorable to confess to a current dilemma that seems trivial than to wait to ask during a problem that is truly hopeless. As a wise person once said, 'It is better to beg for assistance in feeding a hungry monster than to beg for assistance in removing the monster's mouth from your neck.'"
"Goron proverb?"
"Yes. It doesn't translate well, I'm afraid."
"Be that as it may, our missing hero isn't a small problem, it's a huge one. Your grain of wisdom isn't applicable here. I'm more concerned about public reaction."
"Why?" asked Ruto. "You're the leader of the most notorious band of thieves in the land! Darunia is the head of all of the Goron warriors in Goron City, and the Big Goron is himself a force to be reckoned with. Zelda and I each have a royal army at our disposal. That isn't even mentioning the powers and abilities that each of us maintains independently. Keeping the peace shouldn't be a problem for us."
*****
"Saria?"
Saria looked up from the book that she was reading. It was evening in the Kokiri Forest, and she had just been about to go to bed. She looked around, and saw Navi floating in her doorway.
"Hi, Navi! What can I do for you?"
"Well," Navi began, unsure of how to continue. She had a lot on her mind. "For starters it's,....well, Link's tree gets empty when....when Link isn't there, it's really noticeable how big that place is."
"Ah, I see. Well, feel free to stay for a while and chat. Whole night if you want."
Navi fluttered a few feet in and found a suitable perch on Saria's bed. She took a few moments to compose her thoughts before beginning to unload everything on her mind. "Are meetings between the Sages always so....are they always controversial like that?"
"Well, not really. We haven't had many actual meetings, mind you. We generally meet at the Temple of Time once a month or so to discuss whatever issues we feel that the other Sages might be interested in knowing, but in general those gatherings don't take long. Sometimes we'll just talk about whatever we feel like after that, but in general the meetings aren't even necessary. Everyone was just a little on edge today. Link was an important person to all of us. He saved the entire kingdom from Ganandorf and his evil minions, and he saved the entire world when he went to Clocktown. Each of the Sages feels a certain friendship and loyalty to Link. In some ways, he has more influence than Princess Zelda."
"Really?"
"Well, think about it. He's probably got more political recognition in Hyrule than your average war hero."
"That doesn't challenge Zelda's authority."
"No, but he's considered to be a brother by Darunia, the most influential Goron for miles. He has all the rights of members of the Royal Family in Zora's Domain; you were there when they just started letting him wander in and out of Jabu-Jabu's Domain as was needed. Neither the Goron's nor the Zora are governed by Princess Zelda; so you see, his political appearance has a broader scope even if it doesn't stretch as high. And that's just on the legal side of the world; he's considered to be an honorary member of the Gerudo Thieves. No male other than Link has ever been given that honor when born outside the Gerudo society."
"Oh." This casual discussion didn't really change Navi's moods any. "Saria, are any of the sages angry at me?"
"Why should they be angry at you?"
"Well,....staying with Link is my job. I'm not a protector, but I'm a constant companion, guide, and occasional tool. If I'd been closer, I might've been able to figure out what that rectangle was! Link might've been ambushed by it, and I could've warned him in time to prevent anything from happening! Link's disappearance is my fault, and all of the Sages are angry or confused, and...."
Navi didn't know how to continue. She hadn't cried at all, and she was proud of that, but now she had a horrible hollow feeling that she couldn't get rid of. Saria was the only Sage that she really felt comfortable discussing this with.
"Well, I don't think any of the sages are angry at you," Saria said. "I don't think any of us even considered you as being anything but helpful. You told us about the rectangle, and you told us that Link was missing much sooner than anyone else would have. The Sages just have individual styles that clash. Nabooru and Darunia, for instance, are both honest and honorable individuals, but they each have a different definition for the terms honesty and honor. He wouldn't steal to save his life, and she believes that stealing from rich people who know that she's a thief is all right. If they can't protect their wealth from self-proclaimed thieves, they don't deserve it according to her logic."
A small weight was lifted from Navi, though she still felt terrible. She wasn't ready to leave Saria just yet. "Saria,...Saria, what will I do?"
"What?"
"If Link never comes back....what will I do if Link never comes back?"
"Well, I...I don't know. I suppose that you could go spend time with other fairies. Head to those fountains and see what's going on at the moment."
"No! No, I can't!"
"Why not?"
"That's a step back. Younger fairies live in the fountains because it's dangerous to go elsewhere. For a companion fairy like me to return to a fountain....that's the lowest humiliation that I could suffer! It'd be an admission of defeat! The only thing that a fairy in a fountain can do is to vent their magic on travelers who wander through with injuries."
Saria didn't know what to say. She had never really considered just what a fairy's life was like. All she really knew were her experiences with the Kokiri fairies, the stories that Link had about other fairies like Tatl and Tael, her occasional trips to the Great Fairies....
"Say, Navi, have you considered talking to one of the Great Fairies? One of them might have something for you to do until Link can be found."
Navi sat motionless. She had, in the back of her mind, known that going to see a Great Fairy would probably be in her future. She didn't know how a meeting like that would go. The Great Fairies were always friendly and kind on her previous trips....but she had also never encountered them on situations like these. On the one hand, maybe she was over-reacting. However, she still couldn't shake the feeling that the Great Fairies wouldn't be thrilled to see her.
By John Little
Chp. 4: The Missing Link
*****
"I had just finished my rounds," said Saria. "The Deku Sprout was in no danger, the Kokiri and Deku Scrub peace negotiations were going splendidly, nothing was amiss in the Lost Woods, and the reconstruction of some of the more decrepit passageways in the Forest Temple was going by without a hitch now that we've finally been able to eradicate some of the Poes who have been sneaking in lately. However, as I was about to look over the Kokiri Emerald I was interrupted by Navi. She was very flustered, but still capable of alerting me to the problem at hand."
"I see," Rauru said, clearly in deep thought. "Navi, thank you for coming to this meeting. Would you please recount for us exactly what had happened on the night that Link vanished?"
Navi nervously rose from her temporary perch on Saria's head and flew to the center of the circle. She didn't know why she felt nervous. She was, to an extent, a friend to each of the seven sages individually, thanks to her near-constant involvement in Link's life. The occasional lizalfo or skulltula could still creep into temples on occasion, and while any one of the sages certainly had the power to deal with such minor inconveniences on their own, they often found it to be a pleasant excuse to invite Link over for a chat.
The seven together, however....there was a different feeling to the air. Their different personalities merged to create the distinct feeling of authority and wisdom. Even more noticeable, however, was the unspoken anxiety shared by each of the Sages. Not a bit of this was reduced by the weight of age and ceremony that was always present in the Temple of Time where the meeting was taking place. Rauru, the supposed leader of the Sages and the Sage of Light, had a much deeper furrow in his brow than ever. Saria, the Sage of the Forest, seemed more sad than worried, her perpetually childish form constantly pitted against her strong wisdom and enlightenment. Darunia, leader of the Goron City on Death Mountain and Sage of Fire, seemed to be angry (Navi assumed that he was mentally swearing vengeance on anyone or anything that harmed Link; he considered Link to be both a strong friend and an honorary brother). Ruto, Princess of the Zora race at Zora's Domain as well as the Sage of Water, looked very concerned indeed due to her slight infatuation with the hero of time who had saved her life not once but twice during the quest to defeat Ganandorf. Impa, the Sage of Shadow who had acted both as Princess Zelda's caretaker and bodyguard during her childhood, had the look of concentration often seen on a soldier who has come to terms with an inevitable battle that may very well mean great loss. Nabooru, the Sage of Spirit and the leader of the Gerudo thieves who lived at the desert's edge, seemed concerned, though her eyes demonstrated a suspicion that indicated she was willing to suspect anyone in the sudden disappearance of the Hero of Time. Finally, Princes Zelda, the Seventh Sage who had perfected the seal that trapped Ganandorf in the other realm, had an expression that seemed to mix the sadness of Saria with the anxiety of Ruto.
"Navi?" Zelda said. Navi had let her mind wander. She'd been very flustered lately. "Sorry," Navi stated. "Well, last night Link and I were heading home from Zora's Domain. We had originally been sent to Zora's Domain to deliver some books and scrolls, but we encountered a monster named Tyrtora before leaving. Tyrtora seemed to be a highly intelligent form of seaweed that was capable of controlling the minds of the simpler animals in the water and then altering their size and abilities just enough to transform them into killing machines. Link narrowly killed Tyrtora, almost losing his own life in the process, and we stayed a few extra hours for a celebratory banquet that King Zora announced on the spot. Afterwards it was very late, but other than the recent Poe problems we've actually had decent night travel, so I felt safe traveling ahead....you know, for some extra exercise. I didn't go very far away, but when I turned around I saw this big glowing rectangle right about where Link had been previously. Link wasn't around, but Epona was. The rectangle disappeared just moments before I could reach it. I looked around for a while but couldn't find Link anywhere and...."
Navi suppressed a choke. She and Link had developed an excellent relationship considering the relatively short period of time that they had known each other when compared to the other Kokiri, so she had some natural concern for him as a friend. However, acting as Link's guide and companion was also her duty appointed by the Great Deku Tree just before he died. If Link should die while she wasn't around, it would mean that she had failed in her duty just as much as she had failed as a friend. She had just admitted to seven people who were, quite possibly, the most influential beings in the local kingdoms, that she had failed. Navi quickly regained her composure and continued.
"I couldn't find Link anywhere. I made sure that Epona could find her own way back to the Lon Lon Ranch before heading off to the Forest Temple where I related the entire story to Saria."
"Thank you, Navi," said Rauru. Navi returned to the back of Saria's hat to hide from the eyes of the Sages as Rauru looked from one to the other.
"In my experience," Rauru began, "what we have here is probably a magical door or gateway. I would also assume that the door does not always have to be in that location."
"Why is that?" inquired Nabooru.
"Because, unless I am mistaken, the path taken by Link was one of the more frequently traveled paths. Is that correct, Navi?"
Navi made an affirmative sound from behind Saria's hat. She had been dangerously close to tears for the entire morning, and didn't want to risk it at the moment.
"Now then, Navi's story did not include, and I'm sure that she will correct me if I am wrong, the acquisition of any unusual items or tokens. Had Link gained a magical jewel from this Tyrtora creature, then I would suggest that we go to search the location where Link was lost immediately. However, I propose that this gateway, if it was a gateway, was set as a trap for Link. For a time when no witnesses were present. Navi's presence might have easily gone unnoticed as she is so small. From the stories that Link tells, Navi is generally unnoticed by monsters even when she's right in front of them."
"Wouldn't one of us have noticed a gateway like this?" asked Zelda. "Magic gateways take up more energy than simple teleportation as we all learned when we locked up Ganandorf. That much energy for more than a second or two would have definitely attracted one of the seven of us to its presence."
"Not necessarily," Darunia grunted. "Due to the increased Poe population, sensing magic, especially evil magic, has been proving more difficult. The hundreds and hundreds of those phantoms are generating their own field of evil magic. This field could easily cause enough disturbance for something as unusual as a magical gateway to be dismissed as a usual magic fluctuation. It may, perhaps, be great enough to cause the problem to remain unnoticed entirely."
Impa nodded in agreement. "The Poes themselves seem to fluctuate into Hyrule with the population jumping in leaps and bounds. Forty or fifty appear at a time without any apparent reason. The good spirits have been complaining lately."
Ruto winced. "I can't wait to see this Poe problem settle down. Three of them just floated into my study chamber in the Water Temple the other day. How can there be so many arriving with so few deaths? We've had relative peace for months with only a few accidental deaths throughout the kingdom."
"Well that's the unusual thing about Poes, Ruto," Impa responded. "Poes aren't like other ghosts. While both Poes and standard ghosts are composed of the same ethereal substances, ghosts are formed by the wandering minds of formerly dead creatures while Poes are created through concentrated hatred and anger. This creates a slight mental difference as well: most ghosts search for peace and rest from their form, while most Poes wish to cause pain and destruction to the rest of the world. Poes generally come into being artificially, really. While a dead person is capable of becoming a Poe in the afterlife, more often they are the after effects of intense anger and hatred or dark magic."
"As fascinating as that is," Nabooru muttered, "we're here to discuss Link. How shall we go about locating our missing Hero of Time?"
A desperate silence broke out throughout the chamber. No one had any true leads. After a few moments, Saria stepped forward.
"I suggest," she said, "that we search for Link as Link would have searched for Link."
Silence again broke out throughout the chamber, though more from confusion than desperation. Several moments passed before Zelda finally cleared her throat. "What?"
"Well," continued Saria, "Link may very well be the greatest treasure hunter of our time. He found the three sacred stones within an amazingly short amount of time, and they had been separated for decades, perhaps centuries! Link repeatedly searched out and destroyed the golden Skulltulas for many people who had been cursed through them! According to what he's told us of his journey to Clock Town, he searched all types of terrain to collect more masks than the Happy Mask Salesman currently has for sale in his shop in the town! And, need I remind you, he found the seven of us."
"Good point," Ruto stated. "So then, Saria, tell us: what was Link's method of treasure hunting?"
"Patience and inquisitiveness," Saria replied. "Link simply asked everyone who could conceivably know anything about his present problems for their advice on a solution; most of the time they could give it. It didn't matter how much time he took, he always operated through the advice and suggestions of the common person. A villager here, a thief in the streets there, a recently defeated monster; it's part of the reason why he still, to this day, chooses to run errands for people when it isn't his problem: he collects favors and returned kindness."
"So," Nabooru interrupted, "we are to randomly walk up to people and say, 'excuse me, but have you seen Link the Hero of Time? He's gone missing, and we need to find him'? Do you realize what a panic that would cause? The people of the land would quickly realize that their greatest hero and champion was missing, and also that the seven people most adept at solving this type of situation are, themselves, stumped."
"Swallowing our pride may be the best option," Darunia retorted. "Yes, we are, as you put it, stumped. However, as anyone could tell you: it is more honorable to confess to a current dilemma that seems trivial than to wait to ask during a problem that is truly hopeless. As a wise person once said, 'It is better to beg for assistance in feeding a hungry monster than to beg for assistance in removing the monster's mouth from your neck.'"
"Goron proverb?"
"Yes. It doesn't translate well, I'm afraid."
"Be that as it may, our missing hero isn't a small problem, it's a huge one. Your grain of wisdom isn't applicable here. I'm more concerned about public reaction."
"Why?" asked Ruto. "You're the leader of the most notorious band of thieves in the land! Darunia is the head of all of the Goron warriors in Goron City, and the Big Goron is himself a force to be reckoned with. Zelda and I each have a royal army at our disposal. That isn't even mentioning the powers and abilities that each of us maintains independently. Keeping the peace shouldn't be a problem for us."
*****
"Saria?"
Saria looked up from the book that she was reading. It was evening in the Kokiri Forest, and she had just been about to go to bed. She looked around, and saw Navi floating in her doorway.
"Hi, Navi! What can I do for you?"
"Well," Navi began, unsure of how to continue. She had a lot on her mind. "For starters it's,....well, Link's tree gets empty when....when Link isn't there, it's really noticeable how big that place is."
"Ah, I see. Well, feel free to stay for a while and chat. Whole night if you want."
Navi fluttered a few feet in and found a suitable perch on Saria's bed. She took a few moments to compose her thoughts before beginning to unload everything on her mind. "Are meetings between the Sages always so....are they always controversial like that?"
"Well, not really. We haven't had many actual meetings, mind you. We generally meet at the Temple of Time once a month or so to discuss whatever issues we feel that the other Sages might be interested in knowing, but in general those gatherings don't take long. Sometimes we'll just talk about whatever we feel like after that, but in general the meetings aren't even necessary. Everyone was just a little on edge today. Link was an important person to all of us. He saved the entire kingdom from Ganandorf and his evil minions, and he saved the entire world when he went to Clocktown. Each of the Sages feels a certain friendship and loyalty to Link. In some ways, he has more influence than Princess Zelda."
"Really?"
"Well, think about it. He's probably got more political recognition in Hyrule than your average war hero."
"That doesn't challenge Zelda's authority."
"No, but he's considered to be a brother by Darunia, the most influential Goron for miles. He has all the rights of members of the Royal Family in Zora's Domain; you were there when they just started letting him wander in and out of Jabu-Jabu's Domain as was needed. Neither the Goron's nor the Zora are governed by Princess Zelda; so you see, his political appearance has a broader scope even if it doesn't stretch as high. And that's just on the legal side of the world; he's considered to be an honorary member of the Gerudo Thieves. No male other than Link has ever been given that honor when born outside the Gerudo society."
"Oh." This casual discussion didn't really change Navi's moods any. "Saria, are any of the sages angry at me?"
"Why should they be angry at you?"
"Well,....staying with Link is my job. I'm not a protector, but I'm a constant companion, guide, and occasional tool. If I'd been closer, I might've been able to figure out what that rectangle was! Link might've been ambushed by it, and I could've warned him in time to prevent anything from happening! Link's disappearance is my fault, and all of the Sages are angry or confused, and...."
Navi didn't know how to continue. She hadn't cried at all, and she was proud of that, but now she had a horrible hollow feeling that she couldn't get rid of. Saria was the only Sage that she really felt comfortable discussing this with.
"Well, I don't think any of the sages are angry at you," Saria said. "I don't think any of us even considered you as being anything but helpful. You told us about the rectangle, and you told us that Link was missing much sooner than anyone else would have. The Sages just have individual styles that clash. Nabooru and Darunia, for instance, are both honest and honorable individuals, but they each have a different definition for the terms honesty and honor. He wouldn't steal to save his life, and she believes that stealing from rich people who know that she's a thief is all right. If they can't protect their wealth from self-proclaimed thieves, they don't deserve it according to her logic."
A small weight was lifted from Navi, though she still felt terrible. She wasn't ready to leave Saria just yet. "Saria,...Saria, what will I do?"
"What?"
"If Link never comes back....what will I do if Link never comes back?"
"Well, I...I don't know. I suppose that you could go spend time with other fairies. Head to those fountains and see what's going on at the moment."
"No! No, I can't!"
"Why not?"
"That's a step back. Younger fairies live in the fountains because it's dangerous to go elsewhere. For a companion fairy like me to return to a fountain....that's the lowest humiliation that I could suffer! It'd be an admission of defeat! The only thing that a fairy in a fountain can do is to vent their magic on travelers who wander through with injuries."
Saria didn't know what to say. She had never really considered just what a fairy's life was like. All she really knew were her experiences with the Kokiri fairies, the stories that Link had about other fairies like Tatl and Tael, her occasional trips to the Great Fairies....
"Say, Navi, have you considered talking to one of the Great Fairies? One of them might have something for you to do until Link can be found."
Navi sat motionless. She had, in the back of her mind, known that going to see a Great Fairy would probably be in her future. She didn't know how a meeting like that would go. The Great Fairies were always friendly and kind on her previous trips....but she had also never encountered them on situations like these. On the one hand, maybe she was over-reacting. However, she still couldn't shake the feeling that the Great Fairies wouldn't be thrilled to see her.