Chapter 25: Face in the Water

Link and Navi rambled on through the dark and caliginous forest, their path now separated from the Hermit's. As Link strode on, his respect for Uriel grew. The man had sacrificed everything for Link's cause, heading straight to the one place he had deliberately avoided for so long. But there was no time for Link to truly express his gratification for him; there was only time to say goodbye.

And now Link had been pointed in a new direction. Finally, he was to face the Phantom in a long-awaited battle. The outcome would depict the fate of the town, and perhaps the entire world. For if the Phantom succeeded in taking over the village, perhaps his grasp of influence would stretch on to a new location –one that Link knew personally.

Link felt a splash of water and saw his shoes dampen as his foot slipped into a tiny river flowing through the forest. He lifted his foot and looked ahead, seeing that the river flooded into a tiny pond within an alcove of the forest. Link and Navi went closer to the pond.

The Hero of Winds splashed the cold waters upon his disheveled face. He looked into the shimmering waters, watching his reflection. But soon his face on the moonlit pond transformed. The waters were unstirred, but soon he saw Tetra staring back at him. Her eyes were open for the first time in a while, but they were hopeless and forlorn. Tears streamed down her face, and though her hair was braided and her face angelic, there was something different about her.

The face instantly changed, and yet the waters were still unruffled, glasslike. Tetra's desperate face was replaced with one of pride and hatred. Her saddened eyes became strong and forceful, and her tears vanished. The man Link laid eyes upon smiled back, and the Hero instantly knew who it was.

What you turn your back on is always the first to surprise you, Ganondorf echoed.

Link pounded his fists into the water, and the image vanished.

"What's wrong, Link?" Navi asked, flying above him.

He shook his head. "It's nothing. Let's keep moving."

Mere minutes passed and Link and Navi continued on, and in his eyes the forest remained the same. The brown of the bark on the trees never changed, and the green of the leaves was never any different. As far as Link knew, they were merely heading in circles.

Sparks of blinding white illuminated the forest, and Link held his hands to his eyes until they cleared. He saw dozens of Fairies, flying wildly through the forest. Link stared in awe, walking closer and closer to the multitude of glowing creatures. Navi flew off, meeting up with them. When Link found her, she was in the middle of speaking with a few of them.

"What have you been doing all this time, Navi?" one of them asked.

"I've been traveling with the Hero of Winds, Zare. Together, we are going to defeat the Phantom and save the village."

Zare and the others saw Link approach them.

"There he is," Zare remarked. "The one who freed us from the witch." Link smiled. So this was where the Fairies went after he had freed them. This was their home. "Navi, you must introduce him to us. We hadn't the time to exchange pleasantries during our last encounter. That evil witch ensured that."

Zare called over the other Fairies, and one by one, Navi acquainted Link with all of them. They spent time together, and Link noticed that the Fairies were very hospitable creatures.

"All of the time we lost on the island with that witch was unfortunate," Zare said, "but now that you freed us, Link, we can resume our lives. She was intolerable, Maple was. We are eternally grateful for your assistance."

"Thank you," Link said warmly. He glanced off to his left and saw Navi, talking and laughing with a few of the other Fairies. All this time Link had been feeling guilty for what he caused the Hermit to sacrifice, but it was Navi he should have pitied the most. She had finally gained freedom after a lifetime of torment, and when she finally glimpsed salvation, she chose to leave her people. She must have longed to meet with them again, to live the life that was stripped from her.

Link walked over to Navi and the other Fairies, and they all stopped. "Navi," Link said awkwardly, "if you'd like, you can stay here. I know this is what you wanted. You've aided me thus far, and I am grateful for that. You have more than paid your dept."

Her smile faded. "No, Link. I may be enjoying myself, but I will not stop until our journey is over. I will protect you, Link. I may not be very strong, but I will not rest until I know you are safe. I will go on until I cannot anymore just to see to it that you are successful." She turned to the others. "I'm sorry, but we have stayed here too long. Link and I must continue out quest." The others nodded, and they understand.

Before leaving, Link paid one last visit to the pond. He refilled his canteen with water and washed his face once more. He saw again Tetra's face appearing.

Help me, she pleaded. Please, help me. Her voice rang like a bell.

Link was not surprised when the reflection transformed once more, and Ganondorf glared at him sternly, fixated upon his eyes.

He was not expecting, however, to hear the din of hooves clattering across the forest floor, and see a man rise from the water, shattering the reflection in flowing ripples.

"Well I'll be," the man said. The horse neighed loudly. "I recognize that garb. If it isn't the Hero of Winds." Link said nothing. The face of Ganondorf had disappeared when the waters were disrupted, but he still saw him in his mind, laughing, mocking. "What's wrong?" the man asked. "Has the gloomy forest made you taciturn, or are you always so quiet?"