Undertones: Navi's Story

Yes, CanIhaveasoda (love your name, by the way), this is just a filler. Fun to write about Link, though…

Sorry about the sticky song…*walks away singing* "If I was invisible…"

Chapter Six

I know I'm not annoying. I just…talk too much. I…point things out when I'm sure they're already known…is that so wrong? Is it wrong for me to try and help you? Is it wrong for me to care that perhaps, you might not know this tidbit of information and I'm just trying to help…?

Navi sighed heavily from where she sat, perched on the edge of a table, her knees drawn up to her chest, her arms wrapped around her knees. Link was sleeping. The Shadow Temple had been particularly spooky and Navi was still having trouble sleeping after being there. Every time she tried to sleep, images of Redeads and Like Likes, Dead Hands….everywhere. She couldn't sleep, even when nestled against Link's neck. The protective watch of her Hero wouldn't even drive the images away. She wondered how long it would be until she got to go back to sleep. Sighing, she hoped the lack of sleep wouldn't affect her judgment…hopefully, she'd still be able to help Link in his adventure… He had told her before going to sleep for the night that Saria had mentioned something about the Gerudo.

Navi assumed their next stop would be Gerudo Valley. Home of…the Gerudo thief women. Great. Scoffing, Navi shook her head. Those women didn't impress her in the slightest. Even with their tremendous skill as warriors, their taste in clothing was minimal. They lived in the hot desert. Navi didn't even want to think about the heat. The Fire Temple had been hot enough! Even as nice as Link looked when he was sweaty…

Navi shook her head. He'd been working so hard he'd almost passed out with dehydration, he'd been so parched! The heat hadn't been a time to take advantage of staring at the exhausted Hero. However, the little fairy couldn't help but feel slightly guilty for how often she'd snuck glances at him. Even when he'd said little because of his sharp concentration, he'd called on her often for her help. But that had been the Fire Temple. The latest, the Shadow Temple, had been full of darkness and evil. Shadows. Things unseen. Not a lot that Navi could have helped him with. Link had escaped from that temple with minimal injuries, but only because of Navi's insistent help with the boss, Bongo Bongo.

She smiled in remembrance. What a fool that monster had been. Ganondorf's creatures sure weren't very creative…what, was he running out of ideas? A creature with one eye who played a drum. Fool.

Link's mind had even been scarred slightly from that temple. The darkness had attempted to corrupt his pure mind, and had succeeded a little, bringing a miniscule amount of fear to the Hero's heart. Now even Link had nightmares. But he was getting better: he didn't scream in his sleep anymore. Link stirred as Navi thought, and this snapped her to attention. Link was rolling over, his eyebrows creased. He was dreaming.

Navi flew over to him and found a safe crook in his neck where she was sure he wouldn't roll over on her and cuddled up snugly. "Goodnight, Hero," she whispered into his ear before closing her eyes. Sleep took her in almost instantly, as fearful as she was.

This was an experiment. Link's presence just might ward those dreams off…and it was definitely worth one more try.

--

Navi slept peacefully. In fact, where she was seemed like bliss. There was someone in the distance. She couldn't make out a face, but the figure was human. Large, cloaked in orange.

The silhouette reached for her. "Navi," he called. "Tell me, Navi…what is it you most desire?"

Navi frowned. "Who are you?" she called in return. The figure came into view. Chubby face, silly smile hiding plentiful secrets, twinkling blue eyes.

"Rauru!" she cried. She realized she was still small as she flew around him. He chuckled happily and raised a hand on which she could sit.

"Tell me, sweet little Navi. Your wish. I know you want something to happen…I also know you don't often think of yourself, so the Sages and I have decided you deserve something for your selflessness."

Navi knew what he was talking about. Her thoughts were never on herself. They were always on Link. And upon him they remained.

Rauru nodded. "I know exactly what it is you desire, but remember…this is just…a trial."

What was he talking about? Navi watched as Rauru let her fly away from his hand before he raised them to the sky. What was he doing?

She felt strange. Her stomach felt…different. She frowned and closed her eyes as pain began to spread through her figure.

When she opened her eyes, the fire of pain was gone and Rauru was standing over her. "Navi, wake up, my darling fairy. It's time."
Time? For what?

Rauru extended a hand and Navi was shocked when the hand she extended looked nearly the same size.

She stood and realized she wasn't flying. Looking at her hands, she was aghast. She was almost as tall as Rauru. She was standing on her own. She couldn't see much of herself, but she knew her blinding glow was gone. Rauru's eyes twinkled. "A trial, my dear," he was saying. "This will last you 24 hours, and Link will not remember any of it. Don't do anything you'll regret in the future."

And just as quick as he'd come, Rauru was gone.

Navi stood blankly, blinking several times while looking at herself. She closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she was at Lake Hylia, on the water's edge. She didn't want to look, but her curiosity was wearing at her. Stepping up to the water, she looked at her reflection…and was not disappointed.

She was herself, only bigger. Link-size. Remembering Link as she twirled before her makeshift mirror, she realized she didn't know where he was and was startled. She was doubly startled when she noticed her wings were gone.

Rauru had said this was only temporary…

From Navi's left, she heard someone whistling and a door opening. Link was emerging from the fishing hole. He looked around, stretched, smiled and dove into the water. Minutes later, he came out of the water near the broken pieces of the warp to the Zora River. He hadn't noticed her yet. She stood by, just watching him as he took off his hat and squeezed it out, smirking to himself as he shook the water off and out of his clothing.

Link looked for the usual appearing of his fairy over his shoulder, and when he didn't see her, his smile disappeared. "Navi?" he called. Standing to his feet from where he'd been sitting, he glanced around. "Na-" He was cut off as he saw her. She stood at the water's edge, the same spot as before, her hands clasped behind her back nervously.

"I'm right here, Link," she replied. Her voice was even different.

Link frowned, approaching her. Narrowing his eyes, he studied her.

"Navi? You're…"

"Big. Yeah, I know…I'm…grown up…and…"
"My size," Link finished softly, almost…inaudibly. She couldn't tell what his reaction was.

"How did this happen?" he finally asked. Navi licked her lips. Well, Link wouldn't be remembering any of it… "Rauru granted a wish to me. He…knew I wanted to be where you were."
"But…you always were…"

Navi smiled sadly. "Yes, but…not where you really were. You know?"

Link shrugged. "What does this mean?"

Navi cast her eyes to the grass. It was now or never.

"It means…" Tears were welling in her eyes. I love you, I can't live without you…Why can't I tell you what you mean to me?

"Well, you can't hide under my hat anymore…" he joked, making a smile come to her lips, her teary eyes sparkling in the sunlight.

"Or sleep in the crook of your neck at night to ward away the nightmares," she added. Link nodded, adding a laugh. "Yeah…" He paused, frowning. "You have nightmares? Why didn't you tell me?" Instinctively, he reached for her hand. She pulled it out of his grasp. One touch could ruin it all for her…because he wouldn't know the difference tomorrow. This is what Rauru meant when he said to be careful.

"It's one less thing for you to worry about if you don't know," she said softly, sitting on the grass. Link sat next to her, frowning deeply. "Navi…that's…ridiculous. You're a huge part of this journey. I can't do a lot of things without you. You know that. If you're…not doing so well, why don't you tell me?" He was staring into her eyes the whole time. He meant this. He actually cared about her. This wasn't the love she was hoping for, but it was close.

She smiled. "I don't want to cause you pain or worry…you already suffer so much…" She couldn't resist. She reached over and touched his face to brush away a piece of hair near his eyes.

Drawing her hand back, she bit her lip. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made this wish…"
Link sighed heavily, lying down on the grass, narrowing his eyes as the sun bore down on his face. "Nav, that's just stupid. Stop blaming yourself and realize something."
Realize what?

He looked over at her. She was frowning.

"You spend all your time worrying about me, what I think, what the end result to me will be…you never think of yourself. The one time you do, you wish you hadn't. Why is that?"

Navi met his eyes. It was time.

"I want the best for you, Link."

"Why?" he asked.

"Because I love you."

--