Lunarian : I am once more alive in writing. I have not stopped my story and I shall not as long as there remains people who would like to read it. So here for you all to enjoy, roughly 8300 words, the fourth trial.

A Review would be exceedingly welcome, thank you.

Key
Text Narration
"Text" Dialogue
'Text' Sarcasm, Saying's, and/or so-called... quotes
Text Character Thoughts, and/or Character Tittle
Text Sound Effects

--Chapter Twelve--

- The Wise Fairy is a Nut -

The journey back to the town's Inn was a quiet and nerve full one for Tatl. Link wasn't talking and had a deeply brooding look to his face. She couldn't think of anything to say to brighten up her friend's mood so she flew along side him in an awkward silence. She didn't know what it was that happened to Link in that last trial and wasn't sure she even wanted to know, all she knew was Link was in the dumps and she had no ideas to help him out.

Time passed spent in silence. They returned to the Inn and headed straight for the room where they were staying. Link took up a position on the bed and laid down without a word, closing his eyes in contemplation.

Tatl left with nothing to do got herself a comfortable spot to catch up on her sleep with.

The night passed quickly to Tatl and before she knew it the time to get up had arrived. "Link wake up." She called to her companion with a gentle voice, not sure in how he would be this day mood wise.

Unknown to Tatl, Link had spent most of the night yesterday sorting through his thoughts and feelings from the trial. He had been able to come to terms with them finally and vowed to make sure something like that could never happen, increasing his already urgent desire to return to Hyrule.

"Good morning Tatl." Link said to her brightly, startling her. Yawning mightily he stretched and started to get out of bed. Throwing off the covers messily he hopped out of bed and asked his fairy friend. "So are you ready to take down the next challenge today?"

After recovering her composure Tatl answered Link's question, choosing to not look a gift horse in the mouth concerning his upbeat 180 in mood. "I'm ready Link, let's go." Not able to keep it to herself after all she tentatively asked him. "Are you sure you're okay Link?"

"I'm great Tatl, feeling fine and fully rested to go." Link answered with vigor as they set a pace outside the Inn and out the town's western exit.

After calling Epona with his Ocarina Link had only to wait a few moments before she came trotting up to him pushing against him affectionately. "Hey girl." Link said softly as he patted her back in greeting. "Let's take a short ride to the beach Epona."

Epona gave a short whinny that Link took as an agreeable sound prompting him to get on the saddle. "Yhaa!" He yelled as he led her off.

Heading west they ran down the slighty paved ramp down towards the sandy area where the leevers like to roam. Passing unperturbed since he was on Epona Link rode her over the gated wall with a few encouraging prompts. Entering the Great Bay Coast he had Epona leap over the few smaller walls almost like hurdles. Past Mikau's grave marker and through the passage in the mountain they went.

Stopping at the edge of the coast where the water met the beach Link hopped off his lovable horse. "Thanks for the ride Epona, you go have fun now, I'm probably going to be awhile." He said to her as he thought of what might lay ahead. He could only hope that it would not be as punishing as the last one. With a last friendly rub he sent her off to do her own thing before donning his ever handy Bunny Hood and headed onward.

Tatl who had been contenting herself with staying as her companions silent aide for the time being couldn't resist an eye roll as Link got ready. Again with the Bunny Hood, it's like his teddy bear, he is never long without it. She may have once voiced that thought aloud to Link to provoke a reaction and start up an interesting argument, but she was still shook up from the previous day. It'll pass, soon we'll be trading taunts back and forth again and all will be fine.

Having taken the path many times before Link knew what to expect so he sheathed his sword and secured his shield before pulling out his hookshot. Jumping across the square platforms rising up out of the water to get to the rocky path across the water was done with ease. All to soon he reached the last obstacle before the cave, the land masses placed strategically apart yet with a single palm tree growing on each, the perfect target for his hookshot. Within a few short springs across the water he was before the cave wherein resided the Great Fairy of Wisdom.

"Nothing to gain from standing around here." Tatl said to Link after he stood there without moving for a few minutes.

"Huh? Oh, right let's go." Link said, Tatl's words drawing him out of the indecision he was undergoing.

Inside the cave was just as expected, a copy of the other GF fountains but with a light purple shade throughout. Walking into the center of the water Link called out. "Hello? Great Fairy of Wisdom are you here? I've come to take the trial of Wisdom." Something about the Great Fairy's just brought out an urge to speak more eloquently when in their presence.

Link had hardly a moment more to think to himself about that intangible quality surrounding the Great Fairies was before he found himself facing the GF of Wisdom as she rose up out of the water with a twirl. "Welcome Link, Hero of Time and savior of Termina. As you know I am the Great Fairy who has been entrusted with the task of enforcing the trial of Wisdom. I would welcome you as you have traveled far in obstacles to reach me now at this juncture in time however I'm sure you want to begin the test with utmost alacrity." She said to Link with a quickness to her words.

"Yes I-". Began Link.

The GF continued speaking over the poor boy as if he had not said a word. "Of course it is only natural that you would not want to spend long delaying your quest to return home, and after the trouble my sister forced you into so recently any same individual would be only to happy to place their ordeals behind them."

"I want to-". Started Link once more only to be spoken over once more.

"My fellow sister of Courage has always had such a wholly abominable attitude I simply don't know where she gets it from. Even when confronted with a truly courageous specimen as yourself she refused to be the slightest bit lenient and instead pushed everything at her disposal into tearing apart your psyche." Continued the GF speaking without pause.

Suffering under the rapid bombardment of the GF's endless stream of words he only understood the gist of Link tried again to interject. "But she-".

"How is one to be fully tested on a single character trait through a challenge is still the question. As courage is her domain we must trust that the methods employed are appropriate to the situation regardless of our personal feelings. As I ascertain Wisdom to be tested through patience, thoughtfulness and intelligence so must she define courage as the ways shown." Said the GF in her pause less tone.

Tatl's short patience was growing dangerously thin during the whole debacle. At first she found it amusing to watch a custodian of Wisdom talk Link's ear off and him unable to get a word in edgewise. Soon however the entertainment value was lost and her incessant grating voice began to gnaw at the little fairy's nerves. Tatl wasn't sure whether the GF was doing this on purpose to let some hints leak through or if she was really such a scatter-brained annoyance, but finally she had had enough and let everyone know it with a loud aggravated scream. "ENOUGH!"

With her scream having sufficiently derailed the wordy wonder and drawn attention to herself Tatl asked with restrained anger. "Can you please just let Link take the trial now?"

The GF blinked a few times and then acting as if nothing had happened told them both. "Well why didn't you say so in the first place?" Waving her hand a violet translucent portal shimmered into being in the center. "Just through there please and we can start."

"Thanks Tatl, I don't know how much longer I could take that." Link told his friend as he wasted no time in jumping through the portal.

You and me both. Thought Tatl to herself while following Link. That wouldn't have been the first time, it seemed to her, that Link seemed flustered with an up-front girl. Same as how he reacted to Anju that he told her about. She really needed to help him deal with those type of situations. Later though. She thought. Right now just help with this test.

Link found himself standing in the center of a large square room with four pathways in each of main directions. There was no ceiling that he could tell, it just went upwards indefinitely into darkness. Over the doorway to what seemed the northern corridor was placed a golden plaque with purple rims and the words ''Welcome he who seeks the Queen of Fairy's. Those not of a wise countenance shall never advance. Only one with patience and intelligence will persevere in the test of Wisdom. Proceed now, should you seek Wisdom's blessing'. inscribed on it.

"Strange that the courage trial didn't have one of those." Link said to Tatl with a pointed look at the warning.

Immediately getting at what Link was implying she let out a light huh sound. "It didn't?" News to me.

"Uh uh." Shaking his head he walked towards the path under the plaque. He got no further then a foot past the sign when Link was pushed back to the center of the room by an unseen force. Before he had time to utter an exclamation of surprise, a deep mysterious voice could be heard.

"Thou hast not yet proven thine wisdom. First solve the puzzles within before seeking an out." As the last word rang out three large circular pieces of stone rolled into the way, blocking them from entering that way again.

Resigned to yet another one of 'those' dungeons, that being where he is always made to jump through hoops like a trained cuckoo, Link ran off to the pathway on the left.

Following right along with Link, Tatl couldn't resist making a comment. "How much you want to bet those stones won't even budge no matter how hard you push?"

Not sure if she was really expecting an answer he didn't respond verbally except to laugh at the accuracy of her question. Of course it could never be as easy as just pushing them.

The room he walked into was an brightly lit with the torches that seemed the norm around these parts. Off to the right he could see a platform with a switch on it, set a distance from an edge. Straight ahead was a wall and to the left was a path that looked to bend around the wall.

Just as Link started off to the left Tatl spoke up from her position next to his head. "Hey what about that switch?"

"Oh, right." He spoke as he then turned direction back to the switch. It felt like a situation where he should check out the other side of the wall first, but he didn't feel like making a big deal about it with his companion so he didn't say anything.

Now standing at the edge of the path he could see below. Instead of the expected bottomless pit Link was used to, it was only a short drop down to a small pit easy to climb out of even in his regular shape.

Making a small noise of bemusement he lightly jumped down onto the bottom of the pit. Ready for any sudden surprises he was left wanting when nothing happened. "Well that's odd, I almost expected some trap or something."

Somehow she had come to expect more. "Where is the challenge here Link?" Tatl asked him with her own words of confusion.

Running to the platform and jumping on it soon proved to be harder said then done. When he approached the side where he would be able to climb up on, the floor underneath fell away leaving nothing more then a dark blackness.

"Whoa." Stopping himself just before falling in he looked toward Tatl with a look that seemed to say 'You just had to ask didn't you?'.

Now safely away from the pit he took a moment to inspect the situation. There was a platform he had to get on top of, nothing unusual there. Said platform was easily climbable from directly underneath it, again no problem. No way to actually stand underneath it now that the floor fell away, problem. Thinking through his options nothing jumped out to him as a solution.

The answer was obvious to her, but like always he was looking into things too deeply instead of just taking things at face. "Hey, what about the other path?"

Feeling a bit like an ass now that he remembered about the other direction Link climbed back onto the pathway and ran around the wall. "I wanted to go this way to begin with, but someone egged me on going the other way." Looking at Tatl with an accusing eye he made it clear who that someone was even though they were alone.

Tatl had been about to tease her friend some more when he turned it around on her like that. Now properly chastised for the moment she kept her piece as a slow blush formed.

Running around the corner he stopped to look ahead. The new room was fairly anticlimactic from the first glance. It was a very long narrow hallway with a shining object at the far end. The ceiling was no more then 3 heights high.

As he ran down the length of the corridor the walls began to move. Sections of the wall floor and ceiling moved setting up a mild obstacle course. He jumped over a low section just as it began to rise, timed it out to run in between two pieces that could have crushed his body into the wall, and finished by lunging underneath a lowering tile seconds before it could squash the boy like a bug.

Close up now Link could see what the shining object was from the distance. It is a small purple sphere in an indentation of the wall.

"I can't feel anything dangerous about it Link." Tatl told him after checking for an obvious magical trap.

Link reached his hand out and placed his palm against the sphere. "Then let's see what happens." He was grateful that Tatl was taking a more active role in helping, having someone to check for magical dangers is going to be a great asset. The only method that he used to have was to prod things and wait for a reaction, not a smart move when it turns out to be a magical fireball or dangerous substance.

The color of the object slowly drained out turning it a dull pale color and the voice of the GF of Wisdom spoke from within it. "When red is green and green is red, what would you wear upon your head?"

"A riddle?" Link let out in surprise. "What do you think Tatl?" While pondering the question to himself he listened to what his friend had to say on the matter.

Tatl flitted back and forth a few times in quick thought before she saw the only answer that fit. Instead of just telling her sometimes low-witted friend she decided to help him along. "Think about it Link, if the colors are opposite of each other then..."

Oh! Link thought to himself with insight. He had been having trouble stumbling over the meaning of the colors and hadn't yet figured to take it in that way, but now he could see what Tatl meant. " So then a hat would go on the feet", he almost laughed at the picture that created, " on the head you would wear boots". On that he did laugh a little having trouble picturing it.

The color on the object brightened once more to its lush purple tone as soon as Link said the word 'boots' prompting the GF's voice to echo through the ball once more. "Well done Link, you are a third of the way there now, soon you will be almost clear and then you will have finished. You have shown your wisdom well in looking to your aide for a clue when stumped on your own. Many are the number of fools who think they are wise yet who still would refuse to accept the input from others therefore dooming themselves to a life of ignorance. It pleases me to see that you do not suffer from this deplorable negative trait."

As the GF's words were heard by Link he was glad that he and Tatl had patched things up and were on good terms. It would have been horrible if everything failed just because he couldn't swallow his pride to ask. Although that wasn't really any big deal to me, I'm always asking others if they have any help to offer and the other way around as well. I'm glad in a way, this shows that the trial really is set out long ago. For awhile he had been contemplating the possibility that these trials were not as authentic as he was told and tailored specifically to him.

Before they're eyes the wall in front of them opened up to a small compartment. Inside was a pair of boots. They didn't mean much to Tatl but to Link he recognized them immediately.

As if to reaffirm what Link already knew the GF told them. "A gift from your past Link, remember their function and use it well."

Tatl was a sight confused by this point. Link had just been shown a pair of strange looking boots and suddenly he was acting like it was his birthday come early with how happy he looked. "Link what are you doing?" She couldn't help but ask him as she watched him take off his regular boots and put on these new ones. "What's so special about these goofy looking boots?"

Instead of answering her Link got up and starting running back the way they came. The walls stayed still this time so nothing impeded their progress. "Just watch Tatl."

Watch what? Tatl thought to herself in irritation. She did wonder what the assured youth was planning on. While it was true she was agitated by not knowing what was going through his mind, the certainty he was displaying calmed her considerably.

That calm started to thaw when she could see there was no more floor between the edge and the platform and Link showed no signs of stopping. She was sure he was going to stop since it made no sense to just run off the side.

Unaware of his friend's anxiety Link continued on past the edge of the path and effortlessly hovered over the pit and onto the platform. Leaving a soft orange glow in his wake where he stepped.

"Link!" Tatl cried out in dismay as she saw her foolhardy friend not stop. Amazingly he didn't fall down like she was afraid to see but instead walked from one spot to the next... on nothing! "How'd you do that!" She screeched at him the moment she caught up.

Now standing before the switch Link turned to Tatl with a wide grin expecting her to share in his merriment. He didn't count on her yelling at him with an angry face. Ooops, I should have told her. He thought, chastising himself for being caught up in the moment. "These are hover boots Tatl, they let me run over the air and go further than jumping." Seeing as how that didn't change her expression any he relented with a sheepish look. "Sorry, guess I should've warned you huh?"

"No no, I enjoy having my heart jump into my throat on a regular basis." Tatl delivered with enough sarcasm that not even Link would miss it.

Wincing a bit Link apologized with a touch more sincerity. "Really Tatl I'm sorry, I didn't think you would take it that way. For a moment I forgot you had no idea how they worked." With a hopeful expression he waited in hope that it was good enough for her. It would be very bad if they got into a fight now of all times.

Tatl was appeased enough to let it drop from the first apology even if still a little sore. Now however as far as she was concerned everything was hunky-dory. At times like this he really shows his maturity. "Ok all is forgiven Link, now throw that switch and lets keep going."

Link reached out with both hands and gave the switch a strong tug, locking it into place in a new position. A loud rumbling was heard from off in the distance of the main room as the mechanism activated.

Seeing as how nothing more happened after the switch was thrown they returned to the main room and went down the pathway to the south. The new room they found themselves in was a large empty room with a sandy floor. On the floor scattered about were small rocks everywhere and at the end of the room was a door with a wooden latch barring entry.

As they passed through the room to the barred door Tatl was the first to spot something. "Hey over here", she told him. Flying up near the side of the door the glow from her magic outlined an indentation in the wall. "It looks just like with the last room except there isn't an orb inside."

"So then where is the orb?" Link puzzled as he surveyed the room from his position in front of the latch. He looked up on the ceiling, the floor and around the corners and edges for anything to indicate a clue. "All I see are rocks." Hmm could it be that easy? He thought to himself after a brief insight had him thinking it was under a rock.

Walking over to the nearest rock Link leaned down and lifted it up with an expectant face. Disappointment briefly colored his visage when nothing was found but soon determination once more took over his actions and he began to methodically walk around the room picking up rocks.

Tatl kept quiet as her friend relentlessly turned over stone after stone. I wish I could help him but the rocks are just big enough that I can't move them, and even worse they are dampening my magical senses I can't sense anything in this room. Suddenly it hit her that she could help in giving encouragement at least, her position as moral advisor and cheering section not hampered in anyway.

The amount of rocks inside the room seemed to Link to be endless. It felt like each time one was turned over two more would appear to further clutter the deceptively small area. The only reason he was sure that was not the case was Tatl had not said anything, he was sure with her watching the slightest bit of trickery would be called out. Before much longer as his enthusiasm began to dwindle his companion called out to him words of encouragement that kept him going.

"You can do it Link, you're on the right track. The rocks are blocking my senses so there must be something underneath one of them. Keep at it Link, don't give up." cheered Tatl. Her words giving her friend the moral strength needed to keep at the tireless task.

It was only a couple of minutes later when his searching paid off, as while turning over one of the last stones an object was uncovered. "Found something!" he cried out. Tatl took that as a signal to come over and join him.

"Is it another orb?", asked the fairy with excitement.

Underneath the rock was something buried in the sand, it was hard to tell with the sandy color obscuring it but it seemed to him that it was another purple orb. "It looks like it." Link said.

A problem presented itself however when he pulled it out of the sand, it was only half of an orb. "Now what?", he said with aggravation as he looked around the room holding half a sphere.

Before Tatl had a chance to form a reply for Link the floor and all the rocks on it started to react in a strange manner. The floor glowed a pale yellow as all of the rocks slowly moved back to where they started. Soon it was over and the room looked as it had when they had first entered it once more.

"That must be it's way of telling you to do it over again." Tatl told him with the obvious. Real subtle, that, as if the GF couldn't have made it any more obvious if there was a huge freakin sign.

In a fit of anger the boy hero kicked out at the nearest rock. "Auuurgh!". Amazingly the rock didn't even move in the slightest, it felt like he had kicked a castle wall it was so unmovable. What in the holy goddess? On a hunch he leaned down and tried picking the rock up just as he has been doing all along. "Just as I thought", he said rather disgruntled when the stone was lifted with no trouble at all.

With nothing else to do but proceed the lone boy once more began turning over stone after stone.

Much time passed and Link needed several breaks before his perseverence paid off. "Got it!" He yelled while pulling another sand covered object out of the ground.

Taking the two pieces he tried putting them together. "It's not connecting." Link told Tatl in annoyance, when the parts refused to fuse into one.

Getting up into the air from her position on the ground where she was waiting her partner's search out, Tatl flew over to where Link was trying to fix the two pieces together. "Let me have a look Link."

Giving up on attaching them for the moment he held them out for Tatl to inspect them. She hovered around his outstretched arms for a bit before she started to flit back and forth from one hand to the other as if comparing something only she could see. He didn't care, as he took this opportunity to relax his mind and think nothing.

He was roused from his moment of tuning the world out when Tatl loudly proclaimed, "I got an idea Link!." Focusing his attention onto her small frame he gave her a look asking to expand on that.

Preoccupied with images of smacking herself in the head for having missed such an obvious solution, Tatl didn't notice the look but continued on anyway. "It's so simple Link, just take the pieces to that alcove by the door and they will meld together." So saying she flew over to the mentioned area and looked back at him saying impatiently, "C'mon hurry up, move it."

"Alright alright, I'm coming." Link said shortly. Pesky fairy, I don't see her lifting rocks to exhaustion all day. Walking over to Tatl he placed the pieces in the small shelf.

As soon as both parts were put within the confined space they glowed brightly and with a brilliant flash of purple became a single orb. Immediately the orb started to spin slowly as it's color filled out into a deep purple, much more pronounced then the lavender tone it had taken under the sands.

With a steady hand the sandle haired youth reached out placing his hand on the Orb. Once more the sphere's color drained out as its color took on a pale hue prompting the voice of the Great Fairy of Wisdom to speak.

"Five lengths connected to one bulge,
What protects in battle;
Long appendage further on,
Two on top to set.

It seemed the fates were going to be kind to Link for something today, as the question was being asked he was staring down in thought. As luck would have it, he was looking at his arms as they were held down, and the answer just connected to him as soon as it was done being said.

"It's a gauntlet." He spoke no louder then a whisper and with a hint of wonder, as if he couldn't believe he could get the answer so easily.

Working the words out in her head without a solid foundation to start from Tatl was distracted and didn't hear what her companion said except that of an utterance. "What was that?" She asked him. "Speak up Link, some of us don't specialize in the sub-vocal range."

Not sure what she meant by that last remark, though he had an idea of the general idea, he looked up at her and pushing his momentary annoyance away said clearly. "I said I know the answer Tatl." With a great grin he enjoyed her look of bewilderment.

As Link just kept grinning that stupid grin of his and not saying anything more she started to get angry. This riddle is even more confusing then the last one, how can he figure it out that fast? She was of the opinion that her smarts and wit were much more advanced then her friend's. How can I keep on the top with him changing the status quo like that. Finally realizing she'd never get the answer now that she was so completely sidetracked in her thoughts she demanded of him with a sarcastic edge. "Well, then what's the answer, oh'mighty hero?" She still held hope for her ego that he was wrong, mean thought it might be.

Let's see I can tease her mercilessly about knowing something she can't figure out, or I can bow and and just tell her. He thought seriously. In the end since he wanted to avoid serious harm from a direction he couldn't defend from he chose to let it go, oh but he was gonna keep this ammo in reserve.. of that there was no doubt. Finally containing his grin and speaking with a normal timbre he said to her and the orb. "The answer is a gauntlet."

As before, the moment Link said the answer... in this case gauntlet, the orb regained its full vibrant color once more and the GF's voice was heard. "Congratulatory acclimates are in order young wayfarer. You are now two thirds completed of my trial, you should feel glad. Your patience has shined through brightly as you tirelessly turned over an endless sea of rocks for your goal. Those self assured of their own cunning are often foolish as to rush without careful consideration, they lack patience and the sweat pearl of wisdom shall never be within their grasp. Once more it brings me a relievance to see you do not suffer this malediction."

As soon as the GF started getting into her long winded speaking again Tatl just tuned her out and sat down on Link's cap to ruminate. Why dear goddesses does the Great Fairy of supposed Wisdom have to speak on and on like a freakin bubblehead? Does she just like to hear herself speak or what? Oh well, no dust off my wings, it's Link that has to listen to it. And just how did he get that riddle so easily! Agh, I must know. But if I asked him now he might rub it in, I'd best remember to ask him later when he's less alert. A small slightly deranged grin was on her face as she thought of prying the information from her partner going so far as imagining tying him down. Luckily for her no one was looking at her.

The orb suddenly blinked with a light flash so strong it temporarily blinded them. Despite their loudly voiced complaints nothing else untoward happened so they chose to stay still and wait out the blur. When the glare had died away there was an item in place of where the orb was previously. "A gift from your past Link, remember their function and use it well." Intoned the GF's voice, exactly as before.

"I'm detecting a pattern here." Tatl dryly observed.

"Yeah, deja vu." Link agreed with equal levity causing his fairy aide to giggle.

Pushing past the moment she got off his cap to take a look at what new toy the hero had gotten. At first glance it seemed to be nothing special, just a pair of hard leather gloves with golden plates on them and a diamond shaped jewel near the fingers, but when she used her magical sense to look at them she was shocked. They had power with a capital P, and lots of it. "Link, what do those do?" She asked in curiosity.

Once more Link was slightly giddy from getting back another one of his prized possessions he was almost sure he would never see again. This GF's generosity almost makes up for how she never shuts up. Recalling how it took Tatl and an aggressive stance to stop her before they even started he amended his thoughts. Yes, definitely almost.

Picking up the plated gloves he talked to her as he methodically secured them onto his person once more. "These, my fine fairy friend, are none other then the Golden Gauntlets. These grant me an unbelievable strength, with these I've been able to lift up and throw huge pieces of walls and gigantic boulders quite the distance. When I'm wearing these it could be safe to say I'm the strongest person in the land." He was feeling pretty good about himself.

All of a sudden Tatl let out her bell noise and shouted. "Link you better sit down quick!"

Totally caught off-guard the youth obeyed out of reflex and fell down heavily onto his rear kicking up dust and dirt. "Where, what's the matter?" He asked her quickly as he moved his hand to his sword.

"You had to get down below before your head hit the ceiling." She quipped to the clueless hero. She maintained her serious expression for a few seconds before she dissolved into a helpless tizzy.

Slowly as he took that in his thoughts churned until he understood she was joking at his expense again. Standing up angrily he glared at her and with clenched teeth said. "Tatl do you want to be shoved into a bottle? Keep it up, I have an empty spare."

Her laughter died on the spot, and gulping she took to the air. Maybe it wasn't as funny as I thought it was... but I didn't think he would get this mad. With a nervous look at the enraged warrior she pleaded. "Now c'mon Link let's not be too hasty here, it was just a joke, I'm sorry. I mean it, I didn't think you would take it this bad. Let's call a truce here and I promise no more teasing for the rest of the day, please?" Normally she wouldn't have went so far into asking forgiveness, but then again he never threatened to bottle her before so she was taking no chances here.

Wow my glares must be more powerful then I thought to cow Tatl of all people so fast. Such was the thoughts Link had in reaction to this unprecedented turn of events. He had no real intention of following through with his empty threat but apparently she didn't know that... and he wasn't about to disabuse her of the notion. As much fun as this was though he really would rather just continue on and get this trial over with so he let go of his fierce countenance and reluctantly agreed. "Alright Tatl, truce."

Breathing a sigh of relief she settled herself onto his hat again. After that scare her little heart was beating furiously, she needed a few minutes to calm down. "Right then, where to Link?" She asked him all business.

Looking about the room showed nothing had changed since getting the gauntlets. He knew there was something in the room he had to use the gauntlets on but what. The rocks were done with and there was nothing else except that latched do... right the door. Walking up to the door he pushed the latch up with ease until it locked in place clear of the door. He was expecting something further in the next room but was again surprised.

As the latch locked into place the door that had been there simply vanished into the rock and a loud rumbling was heard back in the main room's direction.

Link was finding himself constantly bemused in this trial, it was just so strange at points. It reminded him of a dream he once had where he had to conquer the hyrulian temples all over again except they were changed with the strangest things, even cows in places of a switch inside Jabu-Jabu.

With a shrug he yielded to the inevitable and made his way back to the main room. "Apparently the door wasn't real."

In keeping with her truce Tatl kept back some of what she could have said, only replying. "This GF really likes misdirection."

As expected when he walked into the main chamber he could see that there was still one more stone circle blocking the northern path. Just to try it and not later say he should of, he walked up to the obstruction and putting all his weight into it tried to move it aside.

It worked about as well as could have been expected, the stone didn't budge even the slightest fraction, had Link been an old man his back would have been thrown out. Giving up he walked down into the last path. "I had to at least try." He said to Tatl to preempt any snide comments truce or no truce.

"Point." Was all she could deem for a suitable response.

The new room they walked into was again unlike the previous in it's appearance. It was a small square room no bigger then a Kokiri's house. There was no torches or light visible from anywhere, not even a glow from the walls or floor, yet there was a perfect visibility as if they were outside during mid day. Speaking of the walls, they were of all things grey with white polka dots.

"What is with this great Fairy?" Tatl just had to ask when seeing this new affront to common sense and decorum.

Hero of Time he may be, but even he had his limits to trying to understand things. "I just don't care anymore, let's go on"

Right in front of them was an archway with stairs leading downwards in a spiral reminiscent of a castle spire. Right next to the stairwell was a lever.

Throwing the lever up caused the room to rumble and a sound far off below was heard. Looking at each other Tatl and Link could see there was nothing that actually needed to be said, it was just standard dungeon exploration time. Setting off at a steady pace he started walking down the stairs.

He had only gotten about twenty steps down before the walls started to rumble again and the sound was heard again. Now, really wondering what the heck was going on he began to run down the stairs.

Soon he made it to the bottom, where it opened up to a hallway with a T-intersection at the end. Down one path there was a dead end and the other had another stairwell, only going up this time.

"Yrahh." Link let out a grunt of annoyance. "I'm starting to get annoyed here, just what is this GF trying to pull?" It was bad enough that all the surfaces everywhere was still that nasty gray and white circles color, but now this trial had him running down and up stair like a fool.

"The Great Fairy's need to get out more, they have too much free time." She said in agreement. Thing's like this made her glad she wasn't a great fairy, she would probably go insane if she was alone long enough to create something this convoluted.

Running up the stairs Link soon reached the top and stepped out... into a two-foot hallway with another tower.

The stressed hero's patience momentarily snapped at this point. With an inarticulate cry of rage he broke out into a full on run. Up another flight of stairs he went, and through another two more hallways and spires leading up, before he turned the corner on the last step and slammed painfully into the wall that was there.

The smack to the head helped him regain his senses. Panting heavily he leaned down against the wall as he massaged his sore brow. "What happened Tatl?" He asked his fairy pal, as the last several minutes was drawing a blank to him.

Tentatively, as he was freaking her out more then usual today, she answered him. "Well Link, you sort of went crazy and started running like a Mad Scrub. You went up a few flights of stairs before slamming into this wall here, that brought you back." Now looking at said wall she noticed a purple orb imbedded in it. Yes, thank you. Grateful at the distraction she said. "Look an orb."

I went crazy? He thought to himself in amazement. That's never happened before. It was just more evidence that he had to finish this trial soon, it was really getting to him. Reaffirmed now, he activated the orb.

The Great Fairy of Wisdom's voice was heard once more.
"I travel over all the land,
I make children laugh and tree's dance.
I tickle the hairs on your hand,
The fiercest storm I enhance."

"Yes, haha, now this is more like it." Happy that this riddle was more of a straight forward one, Tatl was sure she would solve it before Link and show him once again who was smarter.

Giving his ally a dirty look, Link worked on wrapping his mind around the twisting words. Traveling over the land... nothing comes to mind. Children laugh and tree's dance... uhm... ah I see. At first the riddle seemed daunting to him, but then he started thinking of the Kokiri again and it made sense. "I got it."

"So do I." Tatl was quick to interject having just worked it out as well.

Slightly suspicious he asked her. "Well then why didn't you say anything?"

Defensive now she replied. "Hey, I was giving you time to think."

"Sure you were, then what is it?"

"Why are you asking me if you know it?"

"I thought so, you don't know it."

"I do too, let's both say it on three."

"One...Two...Three!"

"Wind" They both said together.

Nothing happened for a few seconds, then just when they started to worry that they were wrong after all, the GF spoke from beyond the orb. "You did it, you're there, now you have reached the final third. The proof of your intelligence is before you, with having made it this far you have shown your wisdom manifest. Only one last task remains before you're done, well be you." Opening up, the orb revealed a forest green colored ball of magical energy.

"Shouldn't the Great Fairy also say-". Tatl started to say before she was interrupted by the GF's continuing voice.

"A gift from your past Link, remember their function and use it well."

"That.." She finished lamely.

Not quite sure what it was yet, Link decided to pick up the glowing energy ball. When he touched it, though, it absorbed itself into his body disorientating himself momentarily.

"Link what happened, what was that, are you alright?" Tatl was a little worried for her friend, having a mysterious magic attach itself to him like that, so she wanted prompt reassurance.

Regaining his balance Link answered. "I'm fine Tatl, that made me remember how to cast Farore's Wind again."

"What?" She exclaimed in surprise. "That's a secret of the fairies, how did you know it?"

He really thought that she would have been used to things by now to not have to ask. "Some fairies in Hyrule taught me it." He answered her anyway.

Of course, why not. Just because it is a secret spell the fairies have kept to themselves for ages... why shouldn't Link have been taught it. She thought to herself sarcastically. I know I've said it before, but I really have to get his full story someday.

Getting up he decided to walk back to the first room. "Keep an eye out for anything that could have made that noise from the switch Tatl, I'm betting I have to use Farore's Wind to warp from up there to down here." He told her on the way.

"I hear you..." She responded unenthusiastically. I'm not a lackwit, sheesh. Of course that's what the spell is used for. She was growing to regret that promise not to tease him, the poor sap was giving her too many delicious openings she couldn't exploit.

They both walked slowly back through the stairs both up and down. Keeping a constant eye to detail, for any clue as to where the warp point for the spell should be set. It wasn't until entering the section of the maze with the T-section that anything seemed plausible.

Now standing before the dead end of that corridor they paid closer attention to the wall. At this proximity very fine discrepancies were noticeable on the sides of the wall. Some of the patterns from the side did not line up with the wall in front.

Satisfied that the moving section was found Link smiled and said. "Look's like a fake wall to me."

"You're right, that wall is definitely not belonging there." She agreed with a nod of approval. Apparently things he used to ask her to check for him he was being able to figure out on his own.

Link concentrated on his magic for a moment and summoned up the power of Farore's Wind, creating a warp point set a few paces from the wall. A green circle of light erupted from the ground beneath him as the spell was finished casting. Satisfied that it worked as he remembered, he ran back up to the switch at the very beginning.

Tatl was content to just sit back and let things play out, she was feeling a bit fatigued suddenly and didn't want to speak much.

He threw the switch and just like earlier there was a great rumbling as something far below moved suddenly. Conscious of the time limit instilled he cast Farore's Wind again, instantly teleporting back down to the room with the fake wall. Were there was a wall before there now was two more switches, one that looked exactly like the one he had just thrown and the other was an exact replication of the switches that moved the circular stones in the main room.

A moment after approaching the switches, the door closed heavily just missing crushing him. Breathing a sigh of relief the intrepid explorer of a young man pressed on. Hitting the first lever opened up the door that had just closed, and the other brought about some more rumbling in the distance. Now set to finish this debacle he ran back up the stairs, out the path to the main room and through the now open pathway to the north.

Before him lay a purple portal, shimmering about as he expected. "Honor and veneration for you, wise Hero, you have succeeded in passing my trial of Wisdom. Advance through the portal and be given your earned bounty." Said the GF.

"Not even in this can she be shutting up." Mumbled Tatl in annoyance.

Snickering, Link shared her sentiment whole heartedly. "Think she'll let us grab her treasure and run?"

"Tempting as that sounds you had best just get it over with." Who knows, for all she knew that would make the GF mad and she could somehow detain them. Then they would be forced to listen to her prattle on and on, it would be torture.

Walking through the portal found them standing before the GF and her fountain. "Yes Link, hello anew. You seek a reward I trust, and you shall have it. Your old tools and powers that you recovered within are yours to keep once more, yet that is not all my student of the wise. I would also grant to you this." She told him in her rapid fire way. With a click of her fingers a purple ring was adrift directly in front of Link's face.

"Well go one take it now, it's yours. I have bequeathed to you the mystical Ring of Absorption, it's many powers and uses unknown. A one ability that it has however that I'm sure you will take a shining to is its power to absorb the qualities of a single mask and make it yours. Yes, champion of the astute, with this ring you will be able to use the powers of two masks at once, naturally not those of the transformative skein."

With a touch of perk in her voice Tatl said to Link. "Hey you hear that? That actually sounds like something you really like." Watching as he put the ring on his finger with an excited look she could tell he agreed.

"It has been a most welcome meeting of the minds this day young adventurer, alas I must bid you adieu now as I return to a sleep and you go on to my sister the Great Fairy of Kindness in the Ikana Canyon, farewell." Finished the Great Fairy of Wisdom, retreating back to her waters before either of her guests could get in a word edgewise.

To Be Cont'D: