Disclaimer: I have not yet convinced Nintendo to sell me the rights to Zelda, so I own none of the Characters from the game in this story. The OC's, however, are mine.
Author's Note: It's been forever since I updated. I'm sorry but school, College prep, and a visit to California take a lot out of your time. I haven't started on chapter nine, yet. But I can tell you that this story is only going to have ten chapters (not counting the Epilogue). So I hope you enjoy it while it lasts. Please review.
Chapter 8: Navi
Navi lay down on the smooth grass next to a fountain. She looked around at the trees in the Faerie Haven, and let out a long sigh. There were tall oaks, redwoods, and a few weeping willows within her line of sight. She listened to the steady pour of the fountain as she closed her eyes and embraced the smooth smell of apples, cherries, and earth that surrounded her. She never understood why it smelled like apples and cherries, but she just figured that the Great Faeries liked the smell. As she opened her eyes, she looked at the statue in the middle of the large, round fountain. It was the Faerie Mother in her favorite form: a young girl in a long dress, with two lower faeries (commonly used by adventurers to heal themselves) circling her head. The whole thing was stone, but the faeries were painted and magically floating around the Faerie Mother's head. She always enjoyed lounging about outside of this statue in order to think, and her thoughts today led to the same place they usually did: Link.
She missed him. She wished to see him, but she didn't know where he was. She didn't know if she would really be willing to see him. The last time she saw him it felt like a dagger was twisting in her gut. I wonder how he's doing. Is he safe? Is he alive? Does he think of me? I wonder if he's met someone yet. Navi shifted so she lay on her stomach, allowing her wings to idly flutter as she thought. Her cream sundress shifted with her, luckily, so she didn't have to move around to rearrange it. I understand why Hylians put up with clothes, but sometimes they are a nuisance. Unless the clothes are loose and comfortable like this dress, of course. Allowing her mind to wander through various thoughts on fashion, her mind wandered back to Link. He probably still wears that Kokiri outfit he grew up with. It's not that surprising, really. He looked good with it in the future timeline. Her mind never forgot a single detail of her adventure with Link. She loved and cherished every moment she spent with Link as if her memories were gold. The only ones she didn't cherish were the memories with Zelda or Malon with them. He's probably seeing one of them by now. He's about to turn about 14 now, I think. That's plenty old enough to start thinking about women. Besides, there is still all the time we spent in the future. That should make him mentally around 15 or 15 and a half. It's probably Zelda he's seeing, since he seemed to be in love with her in the future. I hope they're happy with each other.
This was not how she wished to spend her day. She didn't have any duties today: she sang to the trees, helped flowers grow, and even healed an injured Deku. This was her day of relaxation, not her day of daydreaming about Link. Why couldn't she go three days without thinking of him? Was she doomed to spend the rest of her life dreaming about him? She sighed deeply, realizing that Link was the only thing able to penetrate her mind right now. Resigning herself to that fact, her thoughts took her to the day she said good-bye.
Navi whipped between the trees, zipping around each one in a desperate attempt to get away. She had to get away from him. It hurt too much to stay nearby, knowing he couldn't hold her in his arms. She wept freely as she flew, leaving a trail of small golden specks drifting to the ground as she sped deeper into the forest. The only good thought in the sea of anguish that she had was that she held herself together long enough to get out of Link's sight. It hurt so much to fly away without so much as a good-bye, but she had to. She couldn't have left if she said anything.
Navi loved Link. There was no doubt in her mind of that. However, there was also no doubt that she could never have him. He was Hylian, and as a Hylian he was a mortal. He would grow old, whither away, and die. She couldn't bear to see that while staying exactly the same: a small, delicate Fairy. Also, as a Fairy she was small enough to fit in his palm. No man could ever truly love a woman who could fit in his palm.
As she neared the Kokiri Village, she began following the familiar path of trees she always passed on her way home. The familiarity of it calmed her, briefly, as she began to slow down. I have to move soon, she thought, or I'm just going to run into him again. She knew what she had to do as she floated into the Great Deku Tree Clearing. The Great Deku Tree still stood there, dead to the world due to Gannondorf's influence. Navi had hoped that he would be alive when she arrived, and that all of Gannondorf's influence would be removed from the world. Apparently, some things couldn't be changed back.
As she neared the area by the top of the Deku Tree's head, where the branches started growing, she heard the earth tremble. She lowered herself slightly to check the area, and she noticed a bald patch of earth in front of the Deku Tree. Why does the earth shake at that point? Navi wondered. When she got within three feet of the spot, her question was answered. The Deku Tree Sprout suddenly shot out of the earth, scaring Navi half to death. She scrambled away quickly before returning to study the little sprout. He looked exactly as she remembered him in the future, but she couldn't figure out why he arrived at this time. He's not supposed to grow for another seven years! How is he here?
Navi voiced the question after a brief greeting from both parties. The sprout looked at her for a moment before saying, "Well, seeing as the big Deku Tree couldn't be restored, I was brought into existence a bit early. The forest needs a guardian, and since there was nothing to protect it I was awakened."
"What about Saria?" Navi asked, "I know she's not here anymore because she's a Sage, but she can protect the forest, can't she?"
"No, actually," The sprout replied. "While she is a major source of power for the forest, she has no defense wards. That is what I am for. Besides, what makes you think Saria's not around?"
"Well," Navi began slowly, "Whenever the Sages were awakened, they disappeared. Since they need to be awake now because of Gannondorf's seal, I figured that they'd disappear now as well."
"I'm sorry Navi, but I have to prove you wrong right now," said a voice. As Navi and the sprout shifted to see better, they noticed Saria bound up the path towards the two creatures while being followed by a fairy and Mido.
"Mr. Deku Tree, Sir." Mido yelled while saluting the Tree. His fairy flew onto his shoulder and seemed to be saluting too. Navi couldn't tell since the Fairy was glowing too brightly. "It's good to see your back. I will make sure that Sana and I let everyone know you have been reborn."
"You do that," the Sprout replied, "And tell everyone that if they see Link, let him know that I wish to speak to him again right away. He should be around here somewhere, seeing as his Fairy is right here."
As Mido and Saria began to look around for a sign of Link, Navi spoke. "Link's not in the forest. I have decided to separate from Link now that out quest has been completed."
"Is that the only reason why?" Tink asked Navi as she flew out from under Saria's Hair and around her head. She glowed a soft yellow as she said, "It isn't everyday that a Fairy separates from her partner."
"Link and I have had our fun, but now I think that our time together is at an end." Navi responded, "I believe that it was time for us to move on. Link is a Hylian, and has to move on and experience life like a Hylian. He can't do that with me buzzing around his head. Besides, he's the Hero of Time. The King and Zelda are sure to have all sorts of rewards to give him. He's going to be so busy getting his life to some semblance of being normal that he won't even notice that I'm gone."
Sana snorted and snapped, "You really think he won't notice? Navi, anyone who has ever had a Fairy partner notices when he or she is gone. The spiritual bond we create with our partners is so great that we almost feel empty without each other. I don't know how you can stand it!"
Navi seemed to droop a bit, feeling defeated. She had noticed the emptiness, but merely placed it as heartache, not her spiritual bond with Link. However, she knew that she was doing the right thing. "I'm tired. I'm truly tired. All I want to do is to rest after that frightful ordeal with Gannon. Is that too much to ask? Maybe one day, when the timing is right, I will rejoin Link. But for now, I just want to get some rest."
They all stood silent for a moment, none knowing what to say. The Deku Tree Sprout watched Navi for a moment before turning to Mido. "Mido, You and Sana should go back and inform the village of my rebirth and transformation now."
As Mido saluted and ran off with Sana, The Deku Tree turned back to Navi. "I still remember when we spent our time together. Do you remember that?" As Navi bounced in affirmation, the Sprout continued with, "You were my fairy assistant given to me by the Faerie Mother. She gave you to me because we both knew that I was destined to give you a partner who would save the world. The goddesses knew that you would be his guide, and you pulled it off perfectly. However, I am not sure if his adventures have ended yet. Are you sure you should not go off and find him again? I trust your decision as to whether or not you should, but you must me made aware of the fact that Link will always trust and need you, regardless of whether or not his adventures have ended."
Navi began to float away towards the forbidden forest. Before she left the clearing she turned back and said, "I am sure that I am doing the right thing, for now. I have decided that I am going to the Faerie Haven. I haven't ever been there before, but now is as good a time as any other. When I feel that it is time, I will find Link again."
With that said, the fairy flew through the trees and disappeared. The Deku tree and Saria stood there for a while, before the Sage sat down and the two began talking of recent problems in the Forest.
Navi didn't know how long it took her to reach the forest temple. It could have been an hour, or a day. That part of her memory was just a haze of grief and guilt for abandoning Link. Should she have stayed? Was he hurting from their bond as well? Navi doubted it. Link was a Hylian, and she doubted that Hylians were affected by the bond. Of course, she was the only Fairy to ever bond to a Hylian, so she couldn't ask anyone about it.
She made her way slowly through the temple, avoiding any monsters. She floated gently onto the elevator in the main hall, and then used her magic to activate it. Once it reached the basement, she flew forward and into the chamber when Link faced the phantom Gannon. I was so scared, but link was perfectly calm. He never once backed down or yielded in that fight. I felt so useless, since he didn't even ask for my help that day. She shook herself out of the memory and looked at the paintings on the walls. They were all of a path leading to a large, Victorian style house. Slowly, Navi began to build her magic. Suddenly, the paintings changed. They became drawings of Centaurs running, Nymphs lying by their trees, Skull Kids playing flutes, etc. but Navi wasn't interested in that. She was looking for the painting of two Faeries and the Master Sword.
Upon finding it, she quickly flew forward and touched the hilt. A white light blinded her for a moment before she found herself outside. In front of her was a long path lined by tall Oak trees. Everything else in her line of sight was long, green, meadows with foot-long grass. Navi followed the tree-lined path, idly wondering exactly what was at the end of it, for what seemed like hours. She became so bored that she began to daydream as she walked. Because of this, she didn't notice the two humans in front of her battling until she was only three feet away.
Once she noticed the humans, she backed away to a safe location until she could see who the men are. She immediately recognized them: Link and Gannon. Link was holding the Biggoron sword in his hands, moving more gracefully than Navi thought the blade should have allowed. He was currently pressing forward, slashing and swiping at Gannon, who blocked and parried with a large scimitar. The two men danced around each other like wild animals, looking for the slightest weakness to attack. Link didn't seem to notice Navi as he stepped forward and began slashing and stabbing at Gannon. Gannon blocked and dodged, narrowly avoiding the huge blade.
Navi was confused, to say the least. How is it that they're here? Navi wondered. Gannon was supposed to be sealed by the sages and Link… That was when Navi remembered. My fear. This place is showing me one of my fears. She began to shake slightly at this revelation. Why? Why is it showing me this fear? I can't handle this. Navi's shaking, unknown to her, caused a small tinkle sound to emerge. Link heard the sound and turned to face her. Unfortunately, that was his downfall.
"Navi, is that you?" Link asked. She didn't have time to respond before Gannon ran up and, while link was distracted, ran link through the stomach with his sword. Crimson blood flew as Gannon unsheathed his sword from Link, leaving a small line of blood along where he swung the blade. Gannon stepped away, smirking, as Link leaned back and slid down the base of a tree, clutching the wound in his stomach. Link screamed, flying up to Link and floating around his wound. Link looked at Navi and smiled warily and said, "I'm sorry, Navi. I failed you."
"Oh Link, I'm so sorry! I didn't help you, and you got hurt."
"Don't worry," Link panted, "it's not your fault. You did nothing wrong."
As Link began to cough, small droplets of blood flew out of his mouth. Navi screamed "You can't die, Link! You just can't! I won't let you die."
"There's nothing we can do, Navi. I'm going to die, and there is nothing we can do."
"Yes there is," she insisted, "I love you too much for you to die." How can I help him? I can't let him die, especially like this. Navi pondered, unaware of Link's wide eyes and surprised look "I… I… I will heal you."
"You can't, Navi." Link said, "You don't know how to heal. I may not know much about Faeries, but I do know that you need to learn healing before attempting it. Healing can be fatal to a Fairy if you don't know how to do it, Navi. Don't risk it."
"I'll heal you, Link. I don't care if I survive, just as long as you live and remember that I love you."
"Navi, don't do it. I love you too, and it would hurt too much too see you die for me."
Navi's heart swelled when she discovered that he loved her as well, but she didn't let him distract her. She wouldn't let him die, regardless of what would happen to her. She began to fly in small circles around his wound, pouring her magic into it. Her magic came off as small drops of gold, falling and landing on his wound. Slowly, she saw the wound begin to seal itself as the magic did its work. She began to feel tired, as well as a bit dizzy at the large loss of magic, but she kept on. She began to drift as she finished healing him. When she was done, all she saw was the look of gratitude and sadness that was on Link's face before she drifted into the long abyss.
When Navi woke up, she was alive and in the Faerie Haven. She was lying in a rectangular clearing with 2-inch line grass. At one end of the clearing, there was a Dais, holding a long backed chair. The sides and back of the chair was made out of marble and designed to look like flowers and vines intertwined. There were dark purple cushions on the chair and back of the chair made of cotton. As Navi began to float towards the chair, a child appeared, floating, in front of the chair. She appeared to be about 5 or 6-years-old. Her skin and hair were a metallic purple, and her eyes were white with light grey pupils.
As she neared the strange girl, she heard her speak.
"Hello, little one." The girl began, "I am the Faerie Mother. I welcome you to the Faerie Haven. Now, whenever you leave this place and go back to your world, you need only to concentrate on your memory of this meeting to return here."
Navi said, "Thank you, my Mother. I am honored by your warm greeting. If there is anything you require of me, please just let me know."
"I require nothing more from you than I do the others. Here, we will teach you the different arts of the Faeries. The payment is that, during your stay, you take care of the plants in the Haven."
"Alright," Navi responded, "that seems fair." Navi watched the Faerie Mother, "Mother, forgive me if I seem rude, but I met you on my day of cognizance, did I not?"
"Yes you did. I was there on the day you were born and gained the ability to remember."
"I know. It just that you look different than you did back then. I remember seeing you as a tall woman with golden hair."
The Faerie Mother grinned slightly as she responded. "I have the ability to change my form outside of the Faerie Haven. It's one trick that no one has yet to manage except myself. We will teach you how to change your form here, but please do not attempt it outside of the Faerie Haven. Are there any other questions that you have?"
"Yes," she stated, "how did I survive after healing Link?"
"That was only a test. Once you began the healing you passed. You passed out when you were transported here because it drained you, and the magic in the Haven restored all the magic that you lost. That is also how the Faeries that Human travelers carry survive. Any other questions, little one?"
"No, that is all. Thank you for your answers."
The Faerie Mother clapped her hands together, "Excellent. We will now take you to begin your training."
That was almost four years ago. Four years of training and studying new abilities. Navi wished that she could show all of these powers to Link. He would enjoy seeing all that I learned. But I can't see him now. I don't think I could handle it. I love him, and I cannot sit back and watch him find happiness with other women.
Suddenly, she heard a small chime. Slowly, Navi stood up and brushed off her face and dress. Someone was attempting to enter the Faerie Haven, and she was the Fairy assigned to greet them after their introduction by the Faerie Mother.
A/N: Who is coming into the Fairy Haven? I think you know! ; ) I know some of you are wondering about Navi and how it is that she is wearing a dress (after all, she's just a ball of light). All I can tell you is that I will answer that in the next two chapters.
PS: I created Sana and Tink as the Faeries that belonged to Saria and Link just so that I can show more interaction between the Faeries. Also, I didn't use Navi while fighting Phantom Gannon so I wrote the memory like that, too.