Chapter Twelve: Link

Professor: So this was originally going to be a chapter about just Erza, but it was about 300 words and I wasn't going to do that to you guys. So I combined two chapters for you all. Hope you enjoy it. I do not own the Legend of Zelda or Fairy Tail.

If there was a list that Erza Scarlet could make about things she hated, the top five would include Zeref (and his creations), guild wars, people who harm her friends, people who hate strawberry cake, and boredom.

Right now she was stuck with two of the five. Boredom and those who hate strawberry cake.

Apparently Gerudo women preferred spicy food and not the sweet nectar that was fresh fruit! And sweets were close to unlawful here.

Oh she was stuck in a place that was torture for her and heaven for Natsu, how did this happen?!

And worse then that, she was stuck on continuous guard rotation for an absolute pervert.

She sighed, at least his comments weren't as bad as Wakaba's had been…

Her biggest problem was that she didn't know where the rest of her team was or how to find the Hero. She had been gathering information, but none of it was particularly useful at the moment.

The only thing to do was guard and train. Guard and train. Guard and train. She was actually getting sick of training at this point, missing the interaction with her friends. The Gerudo girls were friendly most of the time, but it just wasn't the same.

She sighed to herself again, tuning out the comments that the carpenter behind her was saying.

After a few minutes, a new voice drifted down the hallway of the fortress, breaking the monotony.

"The Great Ganondorf is to be arriving in a week's time." one voice said.

"Really? So soon after his last visit?" a second voice asked.

"Yep. He must be pleased with his new plan."

'New plan?' Erza thought to herself, 'Maybe this isn't as boring as I thought…'

Something that was four times her height with a pig's face and a spear kept pacing down the very tight forest hallway. It's mean looking face had growled at everything that moved, making Wendy's heart clench in fear.

'How was she supposed to get past that?!' Wendy wished more than ever that Carla was there with her so she could just fly to the Temple.

If she had a weapon, that would be something, but she only had her nature magic, which she hadn't really practiced yet.

Oh the scolding that Erza would give her for this…

Wendy looked down the forest corridor again, watching the giant brute as he paced, weighing her options.

And then the solution practically knocked her upside the head.

She was in a forest with Nature Magic!

Sighing at her own stupidity, Wendy placed her hands on the wall beside her, pushing her magic through them and to the ground. It was a little more difficult and tiring than expected to get the plant she wanted to grow, but eventually she saw them sprouting up. Within moments, she had fully grown vines clinging to the wall, overlaying each other and providing many different hand holds.

Quickly, Wendy began to climb up them, heading for the top of the wall. As she had hoped, it was a flat landing that gave her plenty of room. And more importantly, it gave her a great view of the other walls ahead of her.

After navigating the Lost Woods, she had entered this meadow of sorts, where there was a stone maze of some kind, overgrown with moss and ivy. If she timed it right, she might be able to jump from the top of this wall of the maze to the next, skipping it and the monsters entirely. It would be well out of the reach of the pig-men and almost a direct path to the stairs at the other end, which hopefully led right up to the Temple.

She smiled. First problem out of the way.

As fast as she dared, Wendy made her way across, jumping at the narrowest gaps she could find. At one point she nearly fell but regained her balance before the creature could turn around and see her. Before she knew it, she was across, waiting for the last monster to pass so she could jump down and get to the stairs.

She did find a ladder right in the middle of the walls, where the pig-men couldn't reach it, leading down to a dark hole. It didn't seem like an entrance to the Temple, so she turned away from it, figuring that it must just be an extra feature of the game.

The monster passed by her and Wendy took the time to jump down, rolling to absorb the impact like Erza had taught her. She dashed up the stairs before it could turn around and spoil everything.

Wendy smiled to herself again, she was almost to the Temple!

She ran up the stairs into another long wooded corridor, stumbling to a halt about 10 feet in.

There was another one.

It was slightly different in how it looked, but Wendy hardly noticed. Her wide eyes were drawn to the heavy club in its hands.

Even worse?

It had most definitely seen her.

The monster snarled at her before crashing its club on the ground in her direction.

Wendy decided then and there that whatever these pig-men were, they had magic. It was the only explanation for the missile of fierce wind and dirt that shot towards her, despite how far away she was.

Wendy moved to jump out of the way when something very unexpected happened.

Someone grabbed her, yanking her away from the attack and pulling her back into the stairwell for safety. She yelped in surprise, but it happened so quickly that she couldn't fight it.

"What were you doing?! A voice yelled at her, "Are you ok?!"

Wendy shook her head, clearing it of the fuzziness of the last few moments, and readjusting to the scene in front of her.

A man, dressing in a green tunic with a strange pointed hat that looked familiar, stood in front of her, looking very concerned. He had blue eyes and straw colored hair, his eyebrows scrunched together as he examined her for injuries.

"Umm...thanks…" she finally said, "Um, who exactly are you?"

"I think I should be asking you that." he said, sighing after realizing she was unharmed, "I know every Kokiri here and I don't know you. And besides, only Saria comes this deep into the Lost Woods."

"I'm not Saria though."

"I know that," the man folded his arms, "but then who are you? What are you doing this close to the Temple? Why are there so many monsters in the forest?"

"Umm…"

He sighed again, his expression softening, "I know, sorry. I've always asked lots of questions. But, you do have to admit, they're reasonable."

"True," she conceded.

"Great," he said, breaking into a large grin, "So what are the answers?"

She couldn't help but giggle at that, "You weren't kidding about asking a lot, were you?"

He shrugged, "Always have, always will. Now, answer the questions, pretty please?"

"Well, um...I'm Sky," she said, "I'm looking for someone and think they might be at the Temple. I think the monsters have something to do with the Deku Tree Sprout? I'm not quite sure, it was only mentioned in passing."

His brow scrunched back together, though this time in confusion, "Sky...wait, Mido mentioned you!"

"He did?"

"Yeah!" he nodded his head quite excitedly, "he mentioned you were trying to meet someone at the Temple. Even tried to say that it might be me for some reason. Wouldn't let me pass until I proved I was a friend."

Wendy wanted to sweatdrop at that. Was Mido going to tell everyone? That might scare the Hero off! Instead she shook her head, "Trust me, the one I'm looking for is a lot younger than you. How'd you get past Mido?"

"Played a song Saria taught me. She only taught it to her friends," he shrugged, suddenly very interested in not meeting her gaze.

"Are you ok?" she asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"Well, just now, when you mentioned the song, you-"

"It's personal." he snapped.

"Oh, sorry." she hung her head, looking shameful. She heard him sigh.

"Look, don't be sad, " he said, "I just don't want to talk about it, ok?"

"Ok," she agreed.

"Anyway, Mido let me through after that, told me that you were headed to the Temple. I actually caught sight of you as you climbed the wall up front, but I guess you didn't hear me calling. I tried to catch up as fast as I could, but I fell at one point and had to fight my way to the stairs. Luckily, I got here just in time. I'm Link by the way." he smiled at her, holding out his hand.

She accepted it gently, "Nice to meet you. Thanks for saving me."

'Link...like that Kokiri who...left.'

Wendy couldn't even bring herself to think the word 'dead'.

"It's no big deal. Anyone would've jumped in." he muttered, cheeks turning a little pink.

Wendy held back the urge to laugh. Link might look like the same age as her friends, but he sure didn't act like it. She liked him.

"So...do you need to get to the Temple too?"

He nodded.

"Wanna get there together?"

"Yes please, I really don't want to face that Moblin alone." he laughed.

"Is that what they're called? She tilted her head to the side, looking every bit the curious girl that she was.

Link nodded, "They're rare, so most people don't know that, but yeah."

"Got a plan?"

"Well, my hookshot kills them in one blow, but with this one we'll need a distraction to get close enough," he said.

"Leave that to me," Wendy glanced back up to where the Moblin waited, "After all, distractions, fighting, and breaking everything in sight is pretty much what Fairy Tail is known for."

And then she dashed up the stairs, leaving Link behind, before he could ask what Fairy Tail was.

But something else flashed into her vision as she ran, staying there just long enough for her to read it.

'Link has joined your party.'

'Navi has joined your party.'

"That...was…" Wendy panted out, bending over with hands on her knees to catch her breath.

"AMAZING!" Link yelled out, "That was amazing!"

Wendy laughed, "Well, that's one way to put it."

"You were great!" he said, "Those giant plants you grew were the best distractions ever!"

"Well, let's hope we don't need any more then," she huffed, "I think my magic's all out."

"That's ok." he said, stepping around the Moblin as it disappeared in a puff of smoke, something Link had told her would happen to all enemies they killed, "I'll take care of the next one for you."

They smiled at each other before walking forward, entering a clearing that the Moblin had been guarding.

There was a pedestal with a swirling, leafy design on it at the front, but above it stood an old stone entrance, set high into the wall so that it couldn't be reached. A tree stood to the left with a branch overhanging what remained of the stairs.

Link didn't focus on any of that. He turned to the right where a lone stump sat.

Wendy watched him, noting the somber expression on his face. She was about to speak up when someone else did.

"I...I guess she's really gone."

Wendy looked around startled. The voice was high pitched and feminine, but where had it come from?!

"Yeah...I guess so…" Link whispered back.

"Do you really think that the Temple holds any power?"

Wendy's eyes widened. Had the voice just come from Link?!

"It's our only hope." Link said.

"W-Who is that?!" Wendy asked him warily.

He turned back to her with a shocked look, as if he had forgotten she was there.

"Who was who?"

"That voice!"

"Voice?" he seemed confused for a moment until realization dawned on his face, "Oh, Navi?"

"Navi?" Wendy asked.

He nodded, "Navi, my fairy. Hey Navi, come on out."

A moment later, Wendy's astonishment grew. At his prompting, a bright ball of blue light with tissue thin wings flew out of his hat, floating in the air around Link's head.

"Hi!" it squeaked.

"Oooh!" Wendy cooed in wonder, "You're a fairy!"

"Yep! Name's Navi. Sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier. You all seemed pretty busy."

"Oh, that's ok!" Wendy smiled brightly at the ball of light.

Link chuckled, "Do you like fairies?"

Wendy nodded enthusiastically, "I love them! Always have ever since I join...er, met my friends, although not as much as Mavis-sama or Evergreen-san."

The mage breathed out a silent sigh of relief when Link didn't address her slip up. Instead he looked at her curiously and asked, "Your friends?"

She nodded again, "Yep, I'm looking for them too. Thing is, we got separated all around Hyrule and my only hint at finding them are the Temples."

"So that's why you're here?"

Wendy forced herself to remain calm and nod along to impromptu story.

He shrugged, "Ok then. So you've never seen a fairy?"

She shook her head, happy he believed her, "Nope, but I've always wanted to!"

"But….every Kokiri has a fairy." Navi said.

"Oh, well I didn't." Wendy murmured, "I had...another companion. I'm looking for her too."

Link and Navi seemed to exchange a look, seemingly very curious about what Wendy just said. She mentally crossed her fingers, hoping that they would accept that explanation too. Luck seemed to be on her side because Link just shrugged after a moment and said, "Well, weirder things have happened. I didn't always have a fairy either."

"True." Navi said. She then turned and flew in front of Wendy, "Well then, what do you think?"

Wendy gave another sigh of relief before truthfully saying, "I think you're gorgeous."

"Aww…" Navi's blue glow went a bit darker as if she was blushing.

"This might sound strange, but do you have a tail?"

"A tail?"

"Yeah," she nodded, "Fairy tails!"

Link gave a snort of laughter, but stopped when Navi flew into his face, seeming to glare at him.

"I'm sorry to say that fairies don't have tails Sky."

Wendy's face fell for a moment as she thought that over before she suddenly shrugged, "Oh well, at least I know now! Just means it's time for a new adventure!"

Both Link and Navi had to laugh at her exuberance and before she knew it, Wendy had joined in.

"Well, isn't this quaint?" a new, deeper voice broke the moment. All three of them whipped around to see a new figure entering the meadow.

He was almost as tall as Link, dressed in a tight blue outfit. He wore a mask that seemed to be made up of a long ribbon of fabric that was wrapped over and over around his head and a piece of fabric with a red eye was emblazoned proudly on his chest.

"Sheik." Link said in surprise.

"Link," the man responded, "I see you have a new traveling companion."

Link glanced at Wendy very quickly, "Sort of, we ran into each other. What are you doing here?"

"Attempting to help you," the man huffed, "But it's proving quite difficult with your constant distractions."

"They weren't distractions!" Navi screamed, "We needed a horse and Malon needed the ranch saved, you were the one who sent us to Kakariko, and Sky just wants to find her friends!"

Sheik turned an examining eye on Wendy, who felt like shrinking in on herself.

Eventually he spoke, "What a strange coincidence this is."

"What do you mean?" Link asked.

"I've come across some people who are looking for their friends as well," Sheik explained, never taking his eyes away from Wendy's, "They never mentioned one was a child."

"Who were they?!" Wendy burst out before she could help it. Hope had blossomed in her chest at the possibility of news of her friends.

Sheik merely continued to look at her in distrust.

Link sighed, "Sheik, please? She's worried."

"Don't believe him Sky," Navi snapped, "He never explains anything. We don't even know who he really is."

Sheik turned to glare at the fairy, "I've never lied to you, bug. I'm working on taking Ganondorf down, just like you are."

"And how do we know that?! No one's mentioned you!" Navi shot back, "Not Impa or Darunia! Not Zelda! And not Rauru either!"

Sheik growled, clenching his fist, "I never said you had to trust me, but if someone offers help then you should take it without fighting."

"Please," Wendy interrupted before Navi could respond, "Who were they? If you know their names then I'll know you actually met them. That's some basis for trust, right?"

Navi huffed, but didn't respond. Sheik simply rolled his eyes at that before turning back to Wendy, "And how do I know that you're their friend? How do I know that you aren't some enemy in disguise?"

Wendy met his gaze completely this time, not shying away. It was a good question. He had a point.

But Wendy had friends to find and a mission to complete. No NPC would stop her from that.

So, she did what all Fairy Tail mages did and channeled her nakama's spirit, feeling impressed at how brave her own voice sounded.

"If I have to trust you, then you'll have to trust me. But I don't play around with my friend's lives."

Wendy couldn't be certain, but she thought that Sheik was smirking behind his mask.

"Celeste. And Ice. And I have to say, you keep some strange friends Sky."

The small girl couldn't help the laugh that burst out. Lucy and Gray were ok! They were together!

"They also said," Sheik's voice brought her back to reality, "To keep looking. That you all would find everyone soon."

Wendy nodded enthusiastically, "Thank you Sheik-san!"

"No problem." he grunted out.

"So, what are you doing here?" Link asked again, "I highly doubt it was all to meet Sky."

Sheik turned up to look at the treetops, quiet for a long while. It was when Link was about to speak up that he said something.

"The flow of time is always cruel. It's speed seems different to each person, but no one can change it. A thing that doesn't change with time is a memory of younger days."

"What does all tha-" Navi began, but Sheik kept speaking right over her.

"In order to come back here again, play the Minuet of Forest."

Sheik pulled out a harp from behind him. Link seemed to understand what was going on and pulled out an instrument of his own. An ocarina.

Wendy watched in fascination as Sheik taught Link a song and Link played it flawlessly. Before she knew it, the two were playing in perfect harmony while she and Navi watched.

The tune was both somber and playful at once, fitting the atmosphere of the forest. It made her think of her time with Grandeeney as a child, near the forest she had grown up in. Suddenly all her precious memories as a child were brought to the forefront of her mind and tears were cascading down her cheeks, the small girl unable to stop them.

The music drew to an end all too soon.

As the two put their instruments away, Sheik spoke once again, "I'll let you get back to the Temple now. Link, remember the song. I'll see you again."

As he backed up and prepared to leave, Wendy forced herself to speak up, stopping him in his tracks.

"Sheik, wait!"

"Yes?" he asked, eyebrow raised.

"Celeste and Ice. Tell them I'm fine. I'm fine, but I haven't found anyone else yet. Please."

Sheik nodded slowly, "Of course."

Then he threw something down, disappearing in a flash of light with a sharp, snapping sound.

Link and Wendy exchanged a glance before looking at the Temple in hesitation.

"You ready?" she asked.

"No, but I don't exactly have a choice."

And they began their journey.

Professor: Man this chapter did not want to find a good stopping point. I kept getting ideas for it lol. But here we are. Anyway, I know that some of you are going to be asking where Mido's fairy was. He obviously does have one, but the fairy never talks throughout the game, not ONCE. And frankly, I have enough going on here without adding in what is basically another OC. So, if you want, just pretend that Mido's fairy was asleep during his entire encounter with Wendy. Sorry, but it's the best I got. Small characters who don't talk are so easy to forget.

I also was able to get access to a computer for the upcoming week (normally I just get it on the weekends) so I will try to post at least one more chapter this week.

Hope you enjoyed this!