Sheik slowly unwrapped the bandages that had been around Link's head before sighing in relief once he saw that the gash that had stretched across from the hero's right temple to nearly cutting into his eye had disappeared along with the rest of his serious injuries. Thank Goddess Saria and at least a dozen Red Fairies were there to heal him. That was just the start of the horrors that Sheik saw on Link's body once they had managed to bring him inside Saria's house.
There were cuts and bruises all over Link's chest and back as if someone had just walked up and beaten him to the brink of death. The worst part was that curse Link was under had left him with internal bleeding. They were lucky that so many Red Fairies were nearby or the hero wouldn't have made it. The Sheikah knew very well that Dude had been nowhere near Link so that meant that the curse alone had done all the damage.
Sheik took a shaky breath as he covered his eyes.
Saria was certain that what had caused Link so much pain was a curse that seemed to have been there for a while but she couldn't be sure how long. Sheik was sure that the potion that he received from Dude and then stupidly gave to Link to sooth his cursed had probably created an even stronger curse. The bastard then waited until they had their guard down to activate it. The curse that flared today that nearly killed Link was much stronger than the curse that the smaller man had inflicted on him.
If Dude can create, cast and fire a curse that powerful at Link and then keep it active while he was still fighting him then by all rights…he could have easily taken them both out without breaking a sweat. Was it the old magic of the forest that kept him at bay then?
Saria stood up and the Red Fairies all started to tiredly hover out of her house. Saria walked to the corner of her house and picked up a green blanket. Sheik didn't remember seeing that blanket in her house before…
Saria strode over to Link and laid the blanket over him before tucking it around his body. She then gave Sheik a hard look before standing and walked swiftly out of her house. He knew that look didn't mean well for him…so he sighed and gave Link one last worried look before standing and following the Forest Sage out of the doorway.
"What were you thinking? Dude is not an enemy!" hissed Saria furiously once Sheik had walked outside. Sheik was stunned for a moment, not expecting the young girl to lash out at him. He hardened his gaze as he looked down at her.
"I know what I sensed Saria! The magic that had caused me so much pain in that mad chase before pushing me over a banister and making me brake my arm was the same magic I sensed within Dude!" exclaimed Sheik defensively.
"He's been coming here for ages to help us or just to visit! Even the Great Deku Tree remembered him! He's never done anything to hurt us!" exclaimed Saria angrily. Sheik sighed impatiently.
"I don't know what he's been doing over the years he's probably been coming here. But he must be up to no good!" exclaimed Sheik. Milly frantically flew in circles around the shouting pair trying to calm the negative energy.
"How can you say that? You don't even know him!" exclaimed Saria. Sheik narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, don't I? Then explain to me why he avoids Link like the plague? Or when he is near him, Link suddenly collapses in pain? Or maybe if, by some chance, that pain is not his doing then why not tell me about it? Or perhaps when Link is laying bleeding on the floor, why Dude would run away instead of helping like the person you are trying to make him out to be!" hissed Sheik angrily. Saria's eyes widened.
"He-he could have just been nervous! Maybe he knew who really attacked Link!" exclaimed Saria. The shouting pair didn't even notice that several other fairies had joined Milly in trying to calm the hostile atmosphere that was developing around them.
"You cannot be serious! There was no one else in the area close enough to cause that kind of damage to Link! And the only thing Dude was trying to do is get away from me once he realized that he couldn't push me around anymore!" exclaimed Sheik. He grinded his teeth in frustration, trying to figure out how a Sage of Legend could be fooled so easily. Suddenly he felt his anger start to slowly fade. It felt unnatural though. So, he glanced up and then noticed the dozens of fairies that were hurriedly circling around them.
"You don't know the whole story! Something could have happened! Something that didn't involve Dude! We need to get his side of the story before we make assumptions!" shouted Saria.
Sheik closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It was beginning to be difficult to stay angry but he would not let anyone control his emotions. He will have the last say in regarding his own actions, Goddess's dammit!
"I care not what any of you have to say on his behalf. But unless I see hard proof that he is the person you are making him out to be, then he'd best not come anywhere near myself or Link or I will kill him," threatened Sheik lowly. He then turned and stormed back into Saria's house.
Sheik walked up to Link and sat by his side. He gripped Link's sleeve with his right hand, mostly just to assure himself that he was still there and safe. He absentmindedly ran his other hand along the edges of the single pink swirl of the soft white carpet beneath him as he strained his hearing and heard them fighting outside about his outburst.
I know what I sensed. I will not let that man fool me.
He glanced back at Link's sleeping face. He started to tremble with anger again but then a realization suddenly hit him…
If he has fooled them all then I cannot trust them. Fear does play tricks on the mind. It will make it easy for him to control them and maybe even turn them against us. But…what are we to do if The Hooded Man controls one of the Sage's?
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"Do try and not get stabbed by the target next time, yes? Better yet, don't bring the target to our base of operations to begin with," said the Hooded Man irritatingly when he had finished healing Vivi's wounded shoulder.
"Though I do suppose the one good thing about this whole mess is the fact that I now know that my ward is not as efficient as I had thought. I'll have to research the complex layout of light wards again. Oh, you and that boy get to work though," said the Hooded Man. He then turned and strode along the sickly green carpet and headed for the center of the huge library.
Vivi glared at his retreating back and then smirked once he wasn't in eye sight anymore.
He could have told him how to fix his light ward. He could even tell him how to strengthen it. But as far as he's concerned, that fool could spend that next year researching what he could do in his sleep. The hero himself could stroll in here and he might just be persuaded to let slip a few hints on how to creak the ward surrounding this place. That's if the green wearing prat didn't piss him off.
He rolled his eyes and then turned to head toward the ruined part of the library.
Vivi fumed as he stormed toward where he saw Artemis sitting on the floor. As if they didn't have anything better to do, they had to waste time piecing back together books that probably were worthless. He paused when he noticed the sickly green carpet below him. If it wasn't that fool talking down to him like some kind of disobedient child then it was this wretched carpet mocking him with its horrid green color. It even reminded him of that heroic fool that's come back to ruin his plans, what, two times now? It was like everything was taunting him today!
Artemis looked up sharply when he heard a loud thumping noise but then rolled his eyes when he saw Vivi stomping his foot repeatedly into the sickly green carpet he was standing on.
"What did that carpet ever do to you?" asked Artemis as he went back to trying to piece together the few books that survived the violent gale earlier.
Vivi glared at the sickly green carpet before giving it one last good stomp and then strode over to where Artemis was squinting between two pages, trying to compare them.
"It exists. That's what it did to me. Now less yapping and more working! The deal was that I bust your girlfriend out of here and in return you do all the work. Yeah, I didn't forget about that," said Vivi. He leaned casually against an overturned bookshelf that had another bookshelf propped up against it.
"She's not my girlfriend! Why do you always say that Vivi!" exclaimed Artemis as he flushed and then started to wring the pages in his hands nervously. Vivi rolled his eyes and even made the extra effort to roll his head along with the movement before giving Artemis a pointed look.
"Good grief. You're such a pansy. Even the dumbest person in the world could tell that you have the hots for her. I don't know why but you must have your reasons," drawled Vivi.
He flicked his wrist to cause the wind to gather around him and then closed his fist to grab the flow of it and swiftly stepped back and spun around, thrusting his closed fist toward the bookshelf that laid on the floor. The strong gust of wind shot the bookshelf that he had been leaning on away from him while the other bookshelf that had been on top of it lifted off the ground. They both cringed as it skidded across the floor until the continuous gust of wind seemed to get underneath it and flipped it until it finally stopped to sit upside down almost twenty feet away. Then they both jumped when the bookshelf that had been suspended in the air stopped defying gravity and finally crashed to the floor.
A stunned silence settled between the two of them as they stared at the mass of pages and books that had fallen out of the upside down bookshelf to join the disaster covering the floor. Then Artemis finally turned to Vivi and gave him a weird look.
"What was the purpose for all of that?" asked Artemis. Vivi scowled at nothing in particular.
"I was tired of standing. But my attempt at creating a makeshift bench didn't go as I had planned. Though I admit…it was a bit louder than I thought it would be…" muttered Vivi.
"Ya think?" asked Artemis. Vivi spun around to glare at him but Artemis returned it with a bored expression.
"It's this blasted light ward that fool has over this place! It's messing up my power's restoration process and making it hard to control at times! So, it's not my fault!" exclaimed Vivi as he pointed a finger at Artemis.
"Is that so?" asked a voice to his right. They both swung toward the voice and saw the Hooded Man leaning causally against the upside down bookshelf Vivi had shot across the room. He was carrying two large shimmering red and blue books under his left arm while examining the fingernails of his other hand.
Artemis immediately faced the Hooded Man and bowed his head but Vivi scowled in his direction.
"What? Does your behind hurt from sitting in that soft plush chair of yours for, what, the last ten minutes or so?" drawled Vivi.
"No, it hurts because the thorn that is you seems to be forever in my side and no matter how many times I finally get rid of it, it seems to always find its way back there while somehow causing some kind of disaster along the way," said the Hooded Man calmly before pushing off the upside down bookshelf and approaching Vivi.
"Now, why pray tell, is one of my bookshelves shooting across the room like its part of a circus act? You were told to clean your mess, not make it worse," said the Hooded Man lowly.
Vivi trembled with anger as he clutched his hands into fists, looking like he'd love nothing more than to set the man in front of him ablaze with every kind of flame known to man. But he took a deep breath to calm himself. He'd learned the hard way what good exploding had done him when concerning this fool.
"I was just trying to speed the process along but obviously my attempt backfired. Hence, why I didn't do it again," Vivi lied through his clenched teeth. The Hooded Man sighed.
"And here I thought you could at least clean something without causing some kind of catastrophe but I guess I gave you a little too much credit," muttered the Hooded Man. He then turned to Artemis, who was looking up at him from his bowed position.
"And you…is this what you have to show for the amount of time you had to work? Obviously you are not taking this very seriously then. Well, if you're going to be taking a page out of his book then you can stop when this place is spotless," said the Hooded Man.
Artemis's eyes widened before he started to tremble.
"B-but sir…I haven't eaten since Wednesday," said Artemis softly.
Vivi's eye's stopped mid roll as he processed what was just said.
It's…Friday, isn't it? So, the little smartass hasn't eaten in three days? What in the world did he do to upset walrus man this time?
The Hooded Man tilted his head and looked down at Artemis before lifting his free hand to wave a finger at the boy. Vivi briefly noticed a leather glove with a golden symbol etched into the top but the hand was dropped back to hide behind the black cloak he wore before Vivi could tell what it was.
He wasn't wearing those when we were chasing after that sneaky rapscallion…why the sudden need for leather gloves?
"You should have thought about that before you started fooling around and wasting valuable time. Your master will be notified about this as well. As for you," said the Hooded Man as he turned his head toward Vivi's glaring face, "I shall be leaving for a day or two. If this place isn't in pristine condition when I return there will be hell to pay. For the both of you. Also, you'd best think about what you plan to do about the next temple. The Hero of Twilight will be heading there soon. And no, you cannot go around proclaiming your-so-called title or any such nonsense. I have enough to deal with at the moment without your attention seeking arse continually trying to blow our cover,"
Vivi closed his mouth and growled but then stayed silent.
The Hooded Man then turned without another word and strode down the same path he came from but then turned toward his right and disappeared behind a bookshelf.
"What's the use of being powerful if no one knows who you are? Whatever. We'll see who's on top when this whole charade is over," muttered Vivi before turning around to face Artemis.
The red eyed boy was holding his head in his hands but lifted it with a shaky breath. Vivi frowned when Artemis pulled a random book to him and opened it before setting it in front of him.
"What's gotten into you? I thought you didn't care about other people's opinion of you," said Vivi nonchalantly as he walked back over to the fallen bookshelf next to him. He faced his palms toward the ground and propelled himself upward to sit on the smooth wooden back. Artemis sighed and rubbed his right temple as he dragged back the open book Vivi's small gust of wind had blown away from him.
"I don't care. I'm just getting a migraine. This always happens when I don't eat for long periods of time though…I'll be fine though. I've survived longer without food," muttered Artemis as he went back to work.
Vivi was stunned. Trying to piece together at least four to six hundred books was not something one should do with a migraine. Especially when it concerned the Hooded Man.
Why did that fool have to hear me moving that blasted block of wood? Well…actually I think something would have been wrong with him if he hadn't heard it, but still! This never would have happened if he just minded his own business and let us work! I mean him! Let him work!
"I'll be back," said Vivi shortly before storming past Artemis. The boy sighed again as he watched Vivi storm down the hallway until he finally seemed to notice the sickly green carpet beneath him. He stopped abruptly and stared down at it. Artemis was starting to worry that something was wrong until Vivi suddenly shouted out in frustration and proceeded to stomp on the sickly green carpet a few times before dispersing into nothing.
Artemis smiled softly at his shorter friends actions. He really didn't know what was going on between the Hero of Twilight and Vivi but it was amusing to watch the outcome. He winced when a wave of pain pierced through his head. He needed to get to work before it got any worse…
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Sheik refused to be moved from his spot beside Link and would snarl at anyone that tried to force him to.
It's always the same excuses! Saying I don't know the bastard or that I'm overcomplicating the issue! How is the fact that death was this close to claiming Link overcomplicating the issue?!
He glanced back at Link's face when he saw movement but it was only one of the Red Fairies that stayed behind nestling herself deeper into his dark blonde hair. His eyes traveled lower and saw that the rest of the six or so Red Fairies were sitting up and looking curiously up at him from various parts on top of the green blanket that covered Link's body. His gaze softened when he looked down at them. He knew that half the reason that they were here was to try and calm him down. Their presence also helped Link heal much faster and that was the only reason he hadn't shooed them away already.
"Sheiky!" exclaimed a sudden shrill voice at the doorway, making the Sheikah jump. He let out the breath he was holding when Abby suddenly whizzed through the room and attached herself to his nose.
"The burial's starting soon! Hurry!" said Abby as she grabbed a hold of his blonde bangs and pulled at them.
"Forgive me Abby. But I can't leave Link vulnerable. Too much is at stake," said Sheik softly. Of all the people in here…Abby would be the one he would trust the most at the moment. But who knows what will happen if he leaves? That bastard might be waiting for that to happen.
"You're worried about Linky? I'll watch over him then! I've already paid my respects to my brothers and sisters…I was helping you see. That's why I'm done when everyone else is just starting to show up," said Abby sadly.
Sheik sighed and then glanced back at Link's sleeping face. The hero still hadn't move a muscle, but he wasn't showing any signs that he was in pain either.
"I hear that you had a run in with Dude. Well, I don't think he's a bad guy but you don't have to worry, okay? I'll come and tell you if anything happens! You can count on me!" said Abby proudly and then whizzed around his head once before flying over to Link and sat on top of his hat. She waved her hands at him before chatting with the Red Fairy that was nestled in Link's hair.
Sheik frowned. He didn't want to leave…but he had to pay his own respects to the fairies. There were plenty of times he had relied on them in the past.
"Just a few minutes Abby, alright? I'll be right back," said Sheik softly before standing and stretching his legs. He then walked outside and then turned to face Saria's House.
The Sheikah closed his eyes and then raised a hand toward the house. He guided his magic until it rose to form spidery strands that climbed up the walls and reached across the top to surround the small hut and encase it with a thin sticky ward. He may no longer trust the children of the forest but he certainly didn't wish them any harm. So, this spidery ward would merely prevent anyone from entering and would alert him should anyone force their way in.
Sheik sighed before turning but suddenly froze once he noticed the environment around him.
I've never seen so many of them…
Sheik walked slowly forward and gazed at the hundreds of fairies that swarmed around the small village. Many were busying themselves with helping the children of the village but most actually seemed to just be flying in circles.
The Sheikah tilted his head as he looked around, now noticing just how diverse the fairy race really was. Swirling around each house were the Red Fairies as they sang a slow song that was foreign to him. As he peered closer, his eyes widened when he saw that among them their seemed to be different sizes and shapes. Goddess…even the aura connected to their magic was different!
I didn't realize the fairies were so similar to us when it came to diversity…do they all have different abilities? Or perhaps talents? Maybe their magic matches the environment they live in? Goddess, maybe the fact they live in different parts of the world is the reason there are so many kinds of them! I bet Link would love this, he probably already-
Sheik blinked through the excitement that was coursing through his mind. He then noticed how hard it was to form a solid thought before the sudden urge to jump for joy for no apparent reason would try to replace it.
He backed away, shaking his head to clear it. He jumped once several fits of giggles were heard around him. He looked up and saw dozens of fairies surrounding him, all of different origins. The Sheikah had to close his eyes and focus his train of thought and tighten his grip on his emotions as they threatened to spiral out of control.
"Is our magic hurting your head? We're sorry! Really! But we have to! Queen's order's!" exclaimed what Sheik would guess was a male fairy for once right next to his left ear. The Sheikah creaked a ruby eye open to glance toward the voice and immediately saw dark purple. The fairies hair and outfit was all shades of purple as well as the light that shone from his body.
"Hi! What's your name? Are you a dark castor? Or maybe some kind of dark Hylian? Oh! Your eyes are red! Are you a Garo? You sure have a weird aura for a Garo though. Do you-"
"Tael! Shut up! Good Goddess, he can't even think straight right now much less with you yapping his ear off!" shouted another, more feminine voice next to his right ear. Sheik creaked his other eye open and glanced at the new voice and saw yellow. Her short blonde hair and outfit was rather tomboyish as she bobbed up and down near Sheik's face.
"But-but sis! I was just trying to be friendly! He's the only one we met like him in Hyrule!" whined Tael as he flew over near his sister.
The yellow fairy rolled her eyes before facing Sheik, who was just staring at them in stunned silence.
"Now look what you did! He's totally frozen inside! Now I have to go and fix him, geez," muttered the yellow fairy before she backed up a few feet and then went whizzing forward to bump her shoulder right in between Sheik's eyes. He flinched and then shook his head.
"Right. Now that you're not in your own little world anymore, how about you tell me what you're up to, huh? I certainly didn't expect any foreigners to be at our burial," said the yellow fairy as she put her hands on her tiny hips and stared him in the eyes. Sheik blinked owlishly before shaking his head.
"Ah, I was…I was on my way to pay my own respects to your deceased kin. I owe them that much. They have helped me many times during the past," replied Sheik finally.
The yellow fairy opened her mouth to say something but suddenly Tael flew in front of her and bobbed up and down excitably right in front of his face and startled him.
"Oh! That's so cool! You're in the wrong place though, but that's ok! We can take him right sis? Right?" exclaimed Tael as he spun around and faced his sister again. He clasped his hands together in front of him before giving her his best puppy dog look. The yellow fairy sighed as she shook her head.
"Oh fine. You seem like a decent guy and you remind me of someone…anyway, my names Tatle. Nice to meet you and all that. So, let's get going," said Tatle before spinning around and whizzing away. Tael giggled as he followed. Sheik bolted after them and couldn't help but grin.
Even though each kind of fairy seems to have their own magical core, once they are all together, their magic just molds together and creates the most intoxicating feeling I've ever experienced. No wonder they are so intone with the flow of life. They are basically a mobile part of it!
Sheik had to narrow his eyes and squint to make sure he didn't lose sight of his fairy guides because of the rapidly growing number of fairies that were occupying the small village. He was so distracted that he didn't even notice the upcoming pond until he almost fell right into it. He quickly leapt in the direction he was already falling in and avoided landing in the water by rolling onto one of the small platforms that stood inside the water.
The Sheikah looked up and grinned as Tael laughed at him from near the entrance before zooming in the tunnel that lead into Woody's groove. He leapt from platform to platform before racing into the tunnel himself and was startled when he ran right through a wall of fairies.
They scattered as he passed them but he sighed relived when they all started to fly alongside him, giggling the whole way as if playing some sort of game.
He skidded to a halt once he entered Woody's groove and could only just stare at the sight before him.
It seemed the spirits of the forest were rather close to the fairies because they danced and sang along with the hundreds and thousands of fairies that took up every ounce of space to where Sheik really didn't see much of his surroundings except for Woody's face.
The giant tree guardian seemed to be humming along with whatever the fairies were singing and swayed slightly so his branches were creating an almost hypnotic motion as the light from the different kinds of fairies that sat along them swayed along with his movements.
Sheik couldn't stop the smile that spread along his face and started to listen closely to what was being sung. He tilted his head slightly when heard something among the singing voices. The sound was defiantly not someone singing yet it flowed perfectly with what was being sang.
Is it a flute…? No, I wouldn't be able to hear it if it was…but it has to be something like it…
He jumped but then chuckled as a red, green and lavender fairy all suddenly attached themselves to his blonde bangs and started to swing back and forth as they waved at him.
He looked up and the mysterious sound was forgotten when he saw the night sky glow as thousands of fairies and forest spirits danced around each other looking like stars that shone like an everlasting rainbow.
Sheik was shaken from his daze when something rammed into his right temple. He glanced over and saw Tatle flying an inch away from his face.
"Hey! I thought you were going to pay your respects? You can sight see afterward! So, come on!" shouted Tatle. Her voice seemed like a whisper compared to the voices of song all around him. The tree guarding seemed to finally notice that Sheik was there.
"Ah, Sheik. I thought you would come. Are you taking care of him Tatle? Good, go on then. The burial site is beyond my grove. And stay with him Tatle, understand? He won't be able to withstand this raw exposure to our magic for much longer. So, make sure he makes it back to Saria's house," said Woody. He then continued to hum.
Sheik heard perhaps a few words out of that sentence before the continuous song revolving all around him began to make his head spin.
He was rapidly losing control of his emotions and he couldn't even remember why the name "Saria" was raising this feeling of anger within him.
Why was I angry? Why am I even here…? Should I be singing? I don't know the song though…
Sheik was shaken form his daze again when Tael bumped into his left temple.
"Hurry! We got to get you away from here before you go totally bonkers!" exclaimed Tael. He and his sister grabbed a hold of his blonde bangs and pulled. Sheik blinked, not understanding why such an atmosphere would be harmful in any way but followed the fairies lead.
They led him passed Woody's huge trunk and into another part of the Lost Woods. The farther they got from Woody, the more Sheiks head started to clear.
"What…? What was that? What just happened?" asked Sheik faintly as he pushed a branch aside. A tiny lavender head suddenly popped into his vision from on top of his shawl.
"You were starting to fall under the allurement our magic," said the lavender fairy as she held on to a piece of his blonde hair to hang upside down near his face. He noticed the green and red fairy from earlier chasing Tael around him while Tatle lead the way.
"Allurement? Why were you all singing anyway?" asked Sheik curiously.
I didn't think fairies could allure people…Well, at least not like in the sense I'm used to…
"Well, the Ballad of Heaven isn't meant to make people all crazy in the head. It just does that to anyone that doesn't have a close link to the cycle of life. We are singing it because we need its power to sustain us when you and the Hero of Twilight go back on your guy's journey," said the lavender fairy.
"Ballad of Heaven? And it has the power to sustain all of you while we are gone? Who in the world could have written a song of that magnitude?" asked Sheik amazed.
How can a song be strong enough to keep the majority of the fairy race alive when the Goddess Farore is dying?
"The same way the Goddess does silly! Of course her mate would be strong enough to create a song to duplicate the power of her presence. The thing is though…it will only work as long as the Goddess herself is still with us," said the lavender fairy softy.
"Her mate? The Goddess Farore has a mate? Why isn't he helping us! Surely someone of his caliber could cleanse a temple or two!" exclaimed Sheik. The lavender fairy righted herself and flew an inch away from his face and pointed a tiny finger at him.
"Because he doesn't have the time! In case you haven't noticed, the world is falling apart! My kin are not the only ones suffering you know. He's doing his part, ok? No one is slacking off," said the lavender fairy disapprovingly.
Sheik frowned. He could tell by the tone of her voice and the defensive stance she was taking that Farore's mate was someone close to her.
"Forgive me. I hadn't realized the magnitude of the situation. Is he a friend of yours?" asked Sheik.
He held up his hand, giving her an apologetic look. She looked hard at him for a moment before sighing and fluttered down to sit on his palm.
"He's a friend of a lot of people but none of us know a whole lot about him. He's been around a long time. Knows a lot but won't share unless it's to help someone or if it's just interesting," said the lavender fairy before turning to watch the red and green fairy chase Tael around Sheik.
"Is he here in the forest?" asked Sheik. During a war like this, the mate of one of the Three is definitely someone he wanted as an ally.
"Well, of course! He's the one that had to start the Ballad of Heaven. Otherwise, it wouldn't be strong enough to sustain all of us," said the lavender fairy. Sheik nodded.
It makes sense. Of course being the mate of Farore would come with perks. I wonder if Farore wrote the Ballad of Heaven for her mate? Or if arcane song writing is his own natural talent?
"What is your name?" asked Sheik.
I can't quite place it…but what I sense from her aura isn't like any fairy I've met so far…
"Just call me Fuchsia. What's yours?" asked Fuchsia.
"I am Sheik. I think your name fits you. Though I can't help but notice that you seem a little different from your kin. What kind of fairy are you?" asked Sheik. Fuchsia tilted her head and then giggled. She jumped into the air and hovered a few inches from his palm.
"Bet you haven't seen this before either," said Fuchsia mysteriously.
She started to glow before whizzing behind his head and suddenly Sheik felt a weight settle on his shoulders. He looked up into a face of a grinning child as she leaned on his head. Her bright lavender eyes shone gleefully as she giggled again at the stunned look on Sheiks face. She swiped a piece of her fuchsia hair away from her face before bringing a hand down to flick Sheik's nose.
The Sheikah jumped out of his daze, but still was having a difficult time getting passed the fact that a fairy no bigger than his pinky was now the size of a Hylian child.
"How-how did you do that?" asked Sheik. Fuchsia just laughed and patted Sheiks head before she arched her back and spread her wings.
Sheik's eyes widened at the sight of them. The wings of a fairy have always almost bug like but Fuchsia's wings weren't like what he had expected.
Unlike the sheer bug like wings he had always seen on other fairies, Fuchsia's wings were…light?
They're not even all purple! Good Goddess, it's like…like they're not made of anything! Just…blue, pink, red, white, violet, orange, green, and all mixed together. Wings made of pure light…
"Your wings are beautiful, but not what I expected them to be. Do all fairies have this ability to change their size?" asked Sheik.
Fuchsia grinned before hovering in front of him as he continued to follow Tatle. He turned his gaze to look at her wings as they beat to keep her airborne. He really couldn't tell if they were flapping smoothly like the wings of a bird or fast like that of an insect. It was difficult to focus on one spot.
"Nope. My aunties are the only ones able to do stuff like this. It's kinda hard to stay in my smaller form because this is actually my real size but I have to because my real size requires a lot of magic to stay stable," said Fuchsia. She tilted her head and suddenly spun around.
"Oh, we're almost there! Get ready, okay? The feel of magic is going to be way different there," said Fuchsia cautiously. She changed back to her smaller size and then flew ahead to join Tatle. Sheik quickened his pace to keep up and then noticed that Tael and the green and red fairy were huddled together near Tatle.
What am I getting ready for? Is it going to be like when I approached Woody?
Sheik frowned as he wondered what was bothering the fairies until a strong presence of depression suddenly hit him. He stumbled at the sudden sheer force of it before pushing a branch out of his way but suddenly froze.
Before him were hundreds of fairies and forest spirits but the atmosphere was nothing like it had been near Woody. They were all hovering above a huge open field chanting a song that brought such an intense depressive feeling within Sheik that he was sure if Fuchsia hadn't warned him of its upcoming presence that he probably would have started bawling the moment he felt it. Sheik was startled when Fuchsia suddenly flew in front of his face again. She smiled sadly at him.
"Stay focused now. Just because the feel of the magic is different here doesn't mean it won't affect you anymore," said Tatle as she flew up to next to Fuchsia. Then they both flew up and settled themselves on top of his head.
Sheik took a deep breath and then walked forward as Tael and the red and green fairy flew off to join a group of fairies gathered near the center of the huge open field. The feeling of sadness grew more intense the closer he got to the fairies chanting at the center.
"What are they singing now?" asked Sheik softly as he glanced around.
Tatle and Fuchsia looked at each other before Tatle sighed.
"We don't know what it's called. The one who wrote it never got the chance to name it. He was able to teach it to Farore's mate thogh. So, he left it unnamed but taught us it's meaning. It's meant to sooth the soul and allow it to pass on even during a time of great sorrow," said Tatle softly.
Sheik frowned and glanced around again at the families that were forced apart because of this disaster.
"I don't understand how this song could sooth a soul when it brings so much sadness. Such a feeling would drive a soul even deeper into despair, would it not?" asked Sheik.
Fuchsia chuckled softly before leaning down to look at him.
"Yes it would. But you see, this song doesn't get rid of the growing despair within them all. It draws it out instead. So, the spirits of the deceased can be at peace and move on. The feeling that you are fighting right now, the one that is trying to make you miserable is the feelings of despair that the song is drawing out of everyone that is here. I'll teach you the words, okay? As long as you sing along, it'll help you out too," said Fuchsia. Sheik nodded.
I haven't sang in a while but I'll take whatever I can get. Who knows…this song might be useful later…
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZ
Abby laughed as she tickled her friend from on top of Link's head. They rolled around laughing but suddenly they froze when they heard a groan. They looked at each other just when Link suddenly turned his head to the side.
Abby and her friend went tumbling down to the floor but Abby quickly flew into the air and looked down at the hero but saw he was still asleep. He was muttering in his sleep and then he turned his head away from them.
"The hero is dreaming. I wonder what of?" asked Abby's friend curiously as she flew up to hover beside her.
"I don't know, Naida," said Abby. She looked down when she saw movement and then noticed how he was clutching the materiel of the green blanket. He pulled it closer to his face while dislodging the Red Fairies that were nestled all along it.
They all flew into the air and looked curiously down at the dreaming hero.
"Well, at least he's looking much healthier now," said Naida.
"Yeah, I hope it's a pleasant dream. He sure deserves one since the Goddess's only know the nightmares that are heading his way soon…" muttered Abby.
"What should we do?" asked one of the other Red Fairies as she approached Abby and Naida.
"Yeah, I haven't paid my respects to my brethren yet," said another.
"I think we've done all we can for the hero so everyone head for the burial grounds, okay?" said Naida. The group of Red Fairies nodded and headed out of Saria's house. Naida was about to follow but noticed that Abby whizzed back down to sit on Link's chest and snuggled into the green blanket.
"Abby? You're not coming?" asked Naida when she flew over to hover near Abby. Abby shook her head.
"Nah, I paid my respects already. Besides, I promised Sheiky that I would watch over Linky. You go with our sisters, okay Naida?" said Abby.
Naida quickly wrapped herself around Abby.
"And leave you here all by your lonesome? No way! I'll wait with you. I can just go when Sheik gets back," said Naida as she hugged Abby.
Abby smiled gratefully at her friend and was about to say something when Link suddenly muttered in his sleep.
"What did he say?" asked Naida. Abby shrugged before flying into the air and hovered closer to Link's face.
Naida followed just when Link pulled the green blanket even higher and snuggled his face into it.
"Awww, that's just adorable! Is that his blanky? I never took Linky as the kind of guy to have a blanky, but it's still cute," cooed Abby. Naida frowned though.
"No, Saia gave it to him. She was holding it when they came back from whatever happened with Dude. Sheik put the hero in here and Saria helped clean him up before covering him with that blanket," said Naida. Abby looked at her in surprise before looking back at Link.
"But, then it's not Saira's either right? Whose is it then?" asked Abby. Naida shrugged but then they both jumped when Link mumbled something else.
They looked at each other.
"Did he just say…abbas? What does that mean?" asked Naida.
"No idea…but it's getting kinda weird. I need to tell Sheiky," muttered Abby.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZ
Sheik knelt on the ground with his head bowed. Fuchsia hovered beside Tatle toward his right, talking softly with others who had lost their families.
He straightened and started to hum the song Fuchsia had taught him. He had to agree, whoever wrote this song knew how to bring peace to those who heard it. It was a strange feeling. Like he still felt the sadness within him but it was like the magic of the song was engulfing him with this sense of neutrality. Just letting him flow along with his emotions but would never let a single one become dominate.
Sheik was pretty sure that full on singing would be the must effective but humming was doing him just fine for now.
He nodded his head with the words he was humming within his mind but this strange need was starting to get to him. Like he really needed to be somewhere…but where? He couldn't think of a single reason why needed to leave this place until a memory flashed before him.
Sapphire eyes. Who do I know with eyes like that…?
He focused and tried remembering the face that went with those eyes. He saw green. A lot of green. Was this guy obsessed with it? But then he tensed when this faced laughed.
I know him…I…I should be with him. Why am I not there now?
Worry started to corrode his mind but suddenly it started to fade just as quickly, being replaced with that strong sense of neutrality.
Sheik sighed. Everything was alright. He needn't be worried. What could possibly be wrong? So, he just closed his eyes and continued to hum the song.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Abby zoomed into Woody's groove and rammed right into someone, making her stumble in the air before a hand caught her.
"In a hurry Abby? May I ask why?" asked a familiar voice.
Abby looked up into a pair of deep blue eyes and blinked confused for a moment. She thought that Link had somehow gotten up and beaten her to Woody's grove but the golden blonde hair immediately gave him away.
"Oh! Sorry Dude. I was looking for Sheiky because Linky was-um, actually Sheiky probably wouldn't be very happy if I told you so I'm just going to go find him. I'll talk to you later, okay?" said Abby hurriedly before whizzing passed him.
Dude tilted his head as he watched her fly up to Woody's face and asked where Sheik was before whizzing toward the burial grounds. He turned to glance at the entrance to Woody's grove.
"So, he's not there with him anymore…" muttered Dude. He swiftly walked toward the exit, smiling at everyone who waved at him but kept up his fast pace.
Abby zoomed through the Lost Woods until she finally reached the burial grounds. She quickly peered through the mass of her kin surrounding the place before finally catching sight of Sheik standing near the center.
She whizzed straight toward him and quickly attached herself to his blonde bangs.
"Sheiky! I thought you said you were going to be a few minutes!" exclaimed Abby.
Sheik tilted his head, confused.
"What do you mean? A few minutes for what?" asked Sheik emotionlessly. Abby gawked at him until she realized what he was humming.
"Hey! Stop humming that! It's not letting you feel!" exclaimed Abby. Sheik raised an eyebrow.
"I feel just fine," said Sheik. Abby huffed before flying a few inches from his face and went speeding forward to ram into his forehead, making him pause.
"You need to look after Linky!" exclaimed Abby.
Sheik had just been giving her a dull look but that name suddenly sparked something within him. Suddenly all of his recent memories surfaced.
What in the world…? How long have I been out here?
"Please take me to Link, Abby," said Sheik lowly. The Red Fairy didn't hesitate and zoomed back toward Woody's grove as Sheik went racing after her.
Fuchsia turned to watch him leave and grinned while Tatle scowled.
"Woody told me to watch over him. I better not get in trouble…" muttered Tatle. Fuchsia just laughed.
"Of course you won't, Tatle. The whole point of asking you to watch him in the first place was to make sure he made it back to Saira's house. He's heading back there now and should be fine with Abby leading him. So, don't worry about it," said Fuchsia. They both turned back to see Sheik disappear into the Lost Woods.
"I wonder if he'll get the hints and just go for what he wants instead of dragging it out like the last time?" muttered Fuchsia. Tatle gave her a confused look but the lavender fairy just giggled before racing after the Sheikah. Tatle sighed and then sped after her, muttering about how no one ever told her what was going on.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZ
Dude walked along the path leading out of Woody's grove until he reached the small pond in front of it. He glanced at Saria's house that stood not far ahead of him.
Fairies of all origins and colors swarmed around the village, covering it with their magic as they sung the Ballad of Heaven. Many circled him, giggling and asking if he needed help but he merely shook his head with a smile and said he was fine.
He approached Saria's house but then paused. He could sense the ward that seemed to hiss at his close proximity. It didn't attempt to harm him in any way though. He tried to peer inside but the glossy ward prevented a clear view.
"It's been a long time since I tried this," muttered Dude softly as he pulled out an emerald ocarina. He smiled softly down at it, admiring the gold triangle insignia carved into the side.
"What's up Dude? Oh! Are you going to play for us again?" exclaimed Naida as she stopped from dancing with her sisters that flew around Saria's house to fly down to his level. Dude smiled softly, but shook his head.
"No. This is another song. Its…different then what you all are used to me playing but pay it no mind. It will not disrupt the magic of the Ballad of Heaven," said Dude. Naida bobbed up and down next to his head excitedly.
"Really? Play it! Play it! I want to hear this new song!" exclaimed Naida.
Naida impatiently flew around Dudes head, but missed the quick glance he shot at the spidery ward that still hissed at his close proximity.
"Naida. This song doesn't always perform the desired affect that I want and besides, your sisters need your support. If you really wish to hear it then I promise I'll play it for you later, alright?" said Dude.
Naida's wings drooped sadly but she nodded, understanding. He gestured for two other fairies and suddenly Naida was laughing again as two of her red sisters came dancing up to her before pulling her back with the rest of them.
Dude watched them leave before turning back to the spidery ward. He peered closer again and then raised a hand toward it.
He saw the Sheikah's magic spark in warning before the glossy ward quickly began to solidify, looking like a real thick spider web. Dude raised an eyebrow as he set his hand against the new material of the ward and was impressed to find that it only looked like a spider web but had the strength and texture of something much stronger.
He suddenly froze when he heard a groan. He saw movement and realized the new solid ward had formed tiny holes. He leaned against it and peered inside.
"Huh…so, that's where it went. I'm sure no one will mind a quick visit," muttered Dude. He then lifted the emerald ocarina to his lips and started to play.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZ
Sheik was racing through the Lost Woods at break neck speed, chasing the Red fairy that flew just ahead of him.
I can't believe it! Goddess dammit! I wouldn't have left if I knew the environment would affect me this much!
Even now the intoxicating magic was trying to take away the worry swarming around his mind but he kept a firm hold on it. Letting himself fall into this false peace would only make him forget what was really making him worry to begin with!
Abby finally reached Woody's grove, and Sheik paid the forest spirits no mind when they tried to calm him. She paused at the center for a moment, as if she was confused about something but she seemed to snap out of it quickly before speeding down toward the exit of Woody's groove.
Once they burst out of the entrance, Sheik felt cold when he noticed that his ward had solidified.
Someone tried to get to Link…!
He didn't even notice Abby staring confusedly at the strong spider web like covering Saria's house. He just rushed forward and threw his magic into his ward and ripped it down. He rushed inside and almost fainted from relief when he saw Link seemingly fast asleep and snuggled into that green blanket around him.
The Sheikah fell to his knees beside Link and quickly stressed his magic to make sure nothing was affecting him. He sighed, satisfied that Link was safe. He then narrowed his eyes as he glanced back toward the doorway of Saria's house and at the remains of his fallen ward.
Someone had tried to force their way in here…my ward would have just sparked a warning to anyone else. But why didn't I feel it alert me? Are these songs that they are singing so powerful they can block the flow of my own magic from reaching me? Or did it actually reach me and I just didn't feel it?
"Sheik," said a soft voice from behind him. He turned to it and did a double take when he saw Dude leaning up against the wall of Saria's house.
Was he there the whole time…? Not possible. I would have noticed him. He must have teleported when I tore down my ward!
Sheik had to pause, confused, for a moment though. Dude didn't look like he had the last time they had met. Still the same dark brown pants and green shirt, but his aura…it shone so brightly that it was almost blinding. He was sure anyone could see Dude's aura as of now.
As stunning as it was to see someone's aura come bursting out of its seams, Sheik really didn't care at the moment.
The Sheikah had his daggers out and posed before he even fully faced Dude. His opponent quickly put his hands up.
"I don't have any kind of weapon on me or any kind of curse or what not that I'm planning to use. So, no need to be rash, alright?" said Dude calmly. Sheik growled, glaring harshly at the man in front of him.
"You have some nerve saying that to me. I don't want to hear any more excuses. The only reason you're not dead already is because you had a clear shot at Link but you didn't take it. What are you planning?" asked Sheik lowly. Dude opened his mouth to reply just when Saria burst through the doorway.
She took one look at them and narrowed her eyes before raising her hands, causing vines to rise near her outside and ready to strike.
"This is not happening! Sheik you have the story all wrong, I know you do-" started Saria but Sheik just rolled his eyes, though he remained facing Dude.
"Oh, please. Save me the grief. I don't believe a word of it. Now, as for you," said Sheik as he jabbed a dagger toward Dude, "You have ten seconds to explain before you die."
Saria looked ready to explode but Dude cut her off with a sharp look.
"Would you at least agree that this is not the place to have this conversation?" asked Dude.
"Where would you have us go?" growled Sheik.
"Where ever you like. It doesn't matter to me," said Dude. He finally straightened from the wall he was leaning on and stepped forward. He paused, looking down at the sleeping hero and Sheik tensed. The Sheikah was still blocking a direct path to Link but that didn't help his nerves all that much. After all, this guy was apparently attacking a Goddess. He was sure it wouldn't be all that hard to reach Link if the guy really tried.
Sheik couldn't quite decipher the look on Dudes face before he looked up and continued to walk toward the doorway of Saria's house, staying as far from the Sheikah as he could.
"This is stupid! Dude, come on! We all know-!"
"No Saria. You of all people know what is at stake here," said Dude sternly and then turned to face Sheik again.
"We are settling this now. Once and for all."