Chapter Eleven: The Winding Journey
"You who do not fear the dead...if you ever meet my brother, I'd like you to inform him... The thousand years of raindrops summoned by my song are my tears. The thunder that strikes the earth is my anger."
—Flat the Composer
"Where are you, Link?" Midna all but growled, stalking the floor of the Sacred Grove for the umpteenth time in the past few days. A few of the Puppets chittered at her from their positions in the trees. She sent a wave of dark energy to collapse them, but it was no use. A few more of the fiends popped up where the ones she damaged fell.
Blasted constructs. They were driving her mad. They just wouldn't shut up!
Almost two full days now she'd been roaming these woods, looking for her wolf. They had to defeat Zant, and his lollygagging around wasn't helping matters any. That masked wooden moron they'd been chasing had disappeared not long after Link did. She was absolutely, completely, undeniably lost. Everything in this idiotic Light World looked the same. And that grating whistling music was more annoying than the sound of the Puppets. The sound almost made her dizzy as the trees blurred together.
She was tired, she was lonely—not that she'd admit it—and she was hurting. She missed that stupid mutt. Over time, he'd become less of a servant and more of a...friend. Not that she'd ever tell him that.
She remembered dying from the overwhelming light, feeling nothing but burning to her very soul. Then the rough feel of fur underneath her hands, the wind cooling her as he ran faster than she'd ever known him to go.
He had saved her. Him and the Princess both. Poor little mortal, trapped as a wolf. This sword was meant to save him, but he was gone. Kidnapped, or worse, dea—she refused to follow that thought any further. He was alive.
And she had to find him. It was up to her. Midna took a deep breath and resolved herself. She needed his help, but if she couldn't find him, then...
Then she would have to save the Light World on her own. There was no other way. If he could go to such selfless lengths for her, then she could too, even if it went against her nature.
It was a good thing he hadn't followed her suggestion and gone to the woods on his own. There would be no one to find him.
She growled again in frustration and blew up another Puppet for good measure, stalking her way towards an enormous fallen log to get some rest. She couldn't help him like this, not as tired as she was. It hurt, though, to make herself rest. Every minute she spent here was one more moment Zant gained power. One more moment for something to happen to Link, her traitorous mind countered.
She missed her old body. With longer legs, she could cover more ground. She missed her full power. She was useless in this form. She missed his idle woofing, the way he would follow her with his blue eyes as she moved from solid to shadow.
She bumped herself lightly on her head with a fist. She blamed her dream. She couldn't remember it, but it had such an overwhelming sense of loss it made her chest ache. Perhaps that's why she was being overly maudlin.
Clearly, Midna had sat down too long. She moved farther in the log, calling out Link's name every so often. Once in a fit of pique she'd even whistled and called, "Here, boy," just to see if the indignation would make him come to her.
It hadn't.
She walked through another fallen log and saw the weirdest thing: a bridge in the middle of nowhere. Apprehensive, she slowly made her way across the aged wood. She saw a flash of green.
Looking around, she realized the Puppets were gone. She hadn't noticed their disappearance. Standing in the middle of the bridge, all she heard was silence. No sound at all. Creepy, even for her. She'd gone too far into the forest and gotten off the tentative trail. She walked more slowly, the bridge creaking under her as she moved.
Another flash, but this time she saw the clothing of the elusive figure. It looked like Link. "Wait!" she yelled at the figure, running as fast as her short little legs would let her. She tripped and slid, falling over the edge of the bridge. A hand grasped hold of her arm and kept her from plummeting all the way down.
Midna looked up into surprised blue eyes.
Five in the morning dawned earlier than Link wanted, but with the ease of long practice, he awoke right after the toll of the fifth bell. He rolled out of his bed and dressed himself quickly. He and Kafei had gotten back fairly late the night before, but both of them had decided to leave during the lull to cut down any questions. Although the Carnival of Time lasted through all three days and nights, it generally calmed down between the hours of three and six. Five was the perfect time to leave if they wanted to remain unobserved. They'd decided with his look-alike, it would be a good idea if no one saw Link leave, so no one asked pointed questions. Although he was tired, Link was used to going with little sleep; he'd function just fine.
He'd had his things packed and ready to go the night before. It took only a short time for he always had his bag ready. He slipped on his sword belt for the Gilded Sword. He buckled his pouch and wallet to his side and glanced around the room for anything he had forgotten. Seeing nothing, he made his way out of the loft and down into the main body of the inn.
When he arrived downstairs, Kafei was waiting for him inside the lobby, a sword also strapped to his back. He had saddled up the inn's solitary horse, an old bay gelding named Somber. Link patted his flank affectionately and fed him a carrot.
Link had never seen Kafei carry a sword of his own around."That's new," Link commented. "I didn't know you had a sword."
"Her name is Shadowheart," is all Kafei said in response. Link wondered where he had gotten it. He'd never seen it lying around the inn. Of course, the inn didn't have an armory or anything, and Kafei and Anju weren't the type to carry swords. That made Kafei's ownership more intriguing. Where did he get it? It was pretty for a sword. The pommel shone a beautiful amaranthine in the light, and the silver accent and dark leather made it look almost regal. If the craftsmanship of the scabbard were anything to go by, the blade inside would be stunning. It was nothing on the Master Sword, nothing could be, but his hands itched to get a hold of it.
Both were quiet as they walked the short distance to the eastern gate. Link didn't know if it was the early morning or the slight cold in the air, but things felt sad. It almost felt like a permanent goodbye. The thought chilled him, and he couldn't suppress the shudder that crawled up his back, causing his skin to prickle.
Despite all their preparations, they still were caught outside the gates by a bright-eyed Pamela. She'd grown up into a lovely woman. Her hair was still cut in a bob, and her tight pink dress flattered her curves nicely. At the thought, Link cleared his throat and averted his eyes, looking at his scuffed boots instead.
"You're heading to Ikana too? Oh what wonderful news! I'd been looking to hire bodyguards for the trip back, but since you're heading the same way, I'd be willing to pay you instead. Link, I know you're far more reliable than the ones that advertize at the Milk Bar. Look at them!" Pamela shook her head. "Not even here yet, the lazy bums. It's already past five! What am I paying them for?"
"Good morning to you too, Pamela. I'd agree normally, you know I would, but we're kind of in a hurry and I don't think we have time for a wagon—" Link began.
"Nonsense. We're going the same way. And I said I'd pay," Pamela said as if that explained everything.
"Kafei?" Link asked, his voice tinged with hope.
Kafei sighed. "I don't see the harm."
"Thank you!" Pamela said fervently.
As they made their way across Termina field. Link used his arrows to attack a flock of guay. Approaching the fallen ruins, Link had to dismount as they ventured farther in. Giving Epona's lead to Kafei, Link used his shield to deflect several bombchus. Finally, they reached the rocky outskirts of the canyon.
As he remounted Epona and moved closer to his traveling companions, he caught the tail-end of Kafei and Pamela's conversation.
"So he really drove them away?" Kafei asked.
"Yup. Healed my dad too. He'd gotten a little too into his research, which was on the Gibdos at the time, and tried to go into the old well, which is where the Gibdos make their home. It wasn't his brightest idea. I did tell him! He escaped, but he got too close, and they cursed him to be one of them."
"So how is he not one now?"
"Well, Link has this little instrument, and he played this sad song, and a bright light flashed, and fshoom! No more Gibdo dad!"
"Is that right?" Kafei looked over at Link and raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. But then I didn't want him around my father and told him to go away. I was afraid Dad might try to research him too. He loves the fairy legends, and to actually see a fairy child was like a dream to him. Of course, the legends say that fairy children don't grow, so Link is not one. My dad was disappointed when he found out. But hey, it meant Link was all right to have around—"
Kafei continued to watch Link's expressions as Pamela prattled on about her father's research and what he was currently working on. While she had been talking about her father, Link had blushed, looking steadfastly ahead.
Kafei furrowed his brow. This was another piece of the puzzle of Link. The song could only have been the healing song he played for the wolf. If that was the case, he'd had it for longer than Kafei knew. Kafei wondered who he'd learned it from, who had given him the strange instrument. And here he'd thought finding out he was from a land called Hyrule was the revelation. Every time he thought he knew him, some new aspect came up and proved him wrong. Kafei idly wondered if he'd ever find out all of Link's secrets.
If Pamela only knew, he thought with a chuckle. If there were ever a person greater than the sum of their outward parts, it was Link.
His thoughts turned dark. Secrets...He shook it away. He'd think about it later, and only if he had to.
"—And these strange visits by Gorons, Dekus, and Zoras. Zoras! Here in this dried up canyon! Made Dad's Ghost Radar go off like crazy! If it was a haunting, it was the weirdest one ever—"
It was close to night when they finally reached Pamela's house. "Thank you," Pamela said as she deposited a sack full of rupees into Link's hands. "I think that's the first time I haven't lost anything. We should make this a regular deal. I'll pay handsomely!"
"We'll see," Link said. "Take care, Pamela."
"Goddess watch over you," Kafei said.
"Sure thing, Link. Somber and Epona will be just fine with me! It's the least I can do for such good bodyguards. You be careful out there, Link. You too, Mr. Kafei, sir." At that, Pamela walked inside her house.
Kafei turned to Link. "So what now? The Tower?"
"Not just yet. I don't like scaling it in the dark. We'll need some help, so we have a stop to make first. I want to show you something," Link said. "Here, take this. Put it on once we get inside. It won't matter if it's dark there."
"Inside where? What is it?" Kafei looked at the back of the mask Link handed to him. Decaying linen covered it. He flipped it over and nearly dropped it in shock. The mask resembled a Gibdo. Looking at a tear in the fabric, he noticed it was made of bone. "This is suspiciously realistic. How did you come across this?"
"Ah, made it." Kafei frowned. "Well, not really made it, but it came from curing Pamela's father. The song concentrated the curse into a mask. It's safe. In mask form, the essence causes Gibdo not to harm you. The curse can't reach you, either."
Kafei pushed the mask towards Link. "This is completely disturbing."
"Well, we have to go inside the well to get a few things, ask a few favors. You can use it, or you can stay here. Either way will work, you know. I just need you to have access to the door in the tower."
Kafei's frown turned sour. "The well? Pamela just said it was cursed with Gibdos!"
"Come on, you'll be perfectly safe with the mask."
"I can't accept this. What will you do?"
"Me? It should be no problem." He pulled a squat-looking gray mask out of his bag. "See? Or rather, don't see?" He pulled it over his head and disappeared.
Kafei froze, looked around slowly. "Link?"
"Relax," he heard Link's disembodied voice say. He felt a hand touch his arm. "I'm here."
"Invisibility?" Kafei said speculatively.
"Not truly. Just an illusion. Look harder. You'll need to see me in the dungeon."
Kafei summoned his willpower and stared at the spot he knew Link to be. It was hard, harder still with the twilight basking the canyon in shadows, but eventually, he was able to force his eyes to stay on Link. "That is a nifty trick."
Link looked at the waning full moon just beginning to rise over the canyon. "We should head towards the well before the night grows too deep. Are you coming or not?"
"Yeah," Kafei replied. "I'll come."
Link walked the path to the well with ease. They descended the ladder together, but a thin sheen of sweat covered Kafei's forehead as he gazed through the eye-holes of the mask. The well beneath had walls of dark grey stone, but surprisingly no water. Four lit torches surrounded what Kafei could only describe as an anteroom. As they drew before the first door, his heart began to speed up as he saw the wrapped figure.
"The one straight ahead," Link whispered.
Kafei jumped, then he turned around to see that Link was right; there were two of them. Link slipped a small bottle in his hand. Kafei raised the bottle to eye level, and it surprised him to note blue potion filled it. Blue potions were expensive and rare was the apothecary who could craft them.
"Give it to him." When Kafei didn't move, Link pushed him a little. "Go on. He wants tribute."
He walked forward with unsteady steps.
"Leeeeave it! Leeeeave it! Leeeve me something blue that bestows health!"
Kafei shakily held out the potion.
It snatched it out of his hands. "Ah! Thisss! Thisss! I bear you no remorssse!" It drank the potion then handed the bottle back to Kafei, who looked at it with mild disgust. The Gibdo opened the door. Kafei and Link went through. Kafei gave the bottle back and took another from Link.
"Water? Really?" Kafei peered into the adjacent room. "It's right there." Link shrugged.
They dodged the spiky traps and talked to the next Gibdo who let them through easily. Kafei traded Link for another bottle filled with bugs. Kafei laughed at the Gibdo calling it creepy. Ironic, that one.
As they passed through the next door, the room changed into a hall that was tiled and elegant. A chorus of "Link!" filled the air as they stepped into the open cavern at the end of the short hall. Kafei took a step back as Link was surrounded by a vast number of small lights. A few landed on him. Most of them were pink, but Kafei spotted a few other colors.
Astonished, Kafei realized that Link had taken him to a fairy fountain. He didn't think they actually existed. A fairy fountain, beneath the old Ikana well! No small wonder it was so well guarded. The Professor would love—No, Kafei realized, Link had shown a lot of trust in Kafei to bring him here. He couldn't betray that trust.
Just Link's knowledge of its existence was phenomenal. It struck Kafei then, and not for the first time, just how much Link had been through and how little Kafei had knew of it. Sure, he'd seen the first part of his fight against the demon imp on the Clock Tower, but Link'd been fighting to save the world from certain destruction. Link was so quiet and unassuming otherwise, and Kafei realized that this was Link's true purpose: to help people, to be something more. He hadn't ever seen him so happy or animated in Clock Town, not even when he played with Kona.
It made him a little sad to think that.
And Link had walked through the well without showing an ounce of fear.
"Welcome back!" a small voice said.
"You haven't visited us in three months," another voice whined.
"I'm sorry, my friends. I've been busy," Link said with a sheepish grin on his face. "It's Carnival season you know."
"Oh, the Carnival! It's so bright! I'm jealous."
"Were there any fireworks? I like fireworks," a voice said dreamily.
A light blue light landed on Kafei's shoulder. "Ohh, you brought someone! You've never done that before."
A pink light flew around his head slowly. "He's handsome."
He felt something small land in his hair. He heard the sound of laughter and felt a fairy tug at his hair. "He's the same color as I am!"
More voices joined as the fairies flittered about them, making a fuss. Kafei felt a little overwhelmed by the attention, and was grateful when Link began to speak again and drew away all of their attention.
Except for one, it seemed. A little gold fairy hovered behind Link's shoulder, looking at Kafei. As he glanced over towards her, she squeaked and darted behind Link, peering through her hands.
Link smiled and held out his hand. "Come on, little one." The little fairy flew to his palm slowly. Link held his hand up to Kafei's face. "Kafei, this is Orella."
"Hi," Orella said.
"Hello," Kafei said in return.
"Orella, you've never been out before. Would you like to be Kafei's fairy, at least for a short time?" Link asked.
Her aura brightened. "Really?" Then, she dimmed. "It's not against the rules, is it?"
"No, Orella, it's not. You can talk to the Great Fairy herself if you want to. We have her blessing. It's not usually done, yes, but we really need your help. Fairies make the best helpers!"
"Oh," Orella said looking down, using her toe to draw circles on Link's hand. "If it's okay with him?"
"Of course it is," Kafei said. Orella made a bell-like sound and began to flutter madly in happiness around Kafei's head before settling on his shoulder. "Link, this is nothing like the legends," Kafei said. "I thought I had to bring a gift."
"Well, there's truth in all things. Some do like gifts. They also say avoid the fairies in the swamp who try to guide you, for their bright lights might lead you astray." Link tapped his chin in thought. "That's true for some. Like all sentient beings, there are good and bad fairies."
"Have any of you seen Tatl?" Link asked.
"Of course you'd ask after her," a fairy sniffed.
"No. She's going to Tael's wedding. She wanted to bring the bride to meet Link. It seems they're—"
"Shh," said the purple fairy. "We're not supposed to tell."
"Oh," said the other fairy, disappointed. "That's a shame."
"She's not here?" Link said with such a hang-dog expression Kafei had to work to stifle his laughter.
"No," the snobbish one said. "And good riddance, if I may. She always hogs you to herself. She's so rude!"
The purple fairy piped up. "You're one to talk."
"Oh. Do you know when she'll be back?" Link asked, his face hopeful.
"Sorry, Link," the fairies chorused.
"So much for that. Would any of you other fairies like to be my companion for a short time? I need some light to scale Stone Tower." That was the wrong thing to say. The bright swirling lights of fairies twining around Link made Kafei dizzy. It was beautiful, an intricate dance he felt privileged to see.
"Oi! Ladies, knock it off!" A red fairy appeared from somewhere, darting through the fairies and loosening the chain around Link. They all scattered, flying haphazardly in different directions.
"I'm not a lady," the purple one grumbled from his position in Kafei's hair.
"You weren't even in the circle. I wasn't talking to you. Shut it."
"Make me."
If it were possible, the red fairy turned even redder. "C'mon then, if you think you can challenge me!" When the purple fairy didn't move, the red fairy shot a thin line of fire at him, nearly singeing Kafei's hair. The purple fairy dodged idly before settling back down.
"Enough," Link said. "Who are you? I've never seen you here before."
"Oh. I'm Leaf. And I'm the one who's coming with you, so all you other little fireflies can back off."
A lot of little groans were heard. The fairy on Kafei's head didn't budge. "I suppose it means I'm in charge now?" the purple one asked.
"Yeah, yeah. Least 'til Tatl gets back. Not like you listen." The little red fairy buzzed around Link's head. "I'm here. Don't ask me how. Something weird's going on." He landed on Link's nose. "You have the spirit of the Hero. Might as well follow you. I fell in one of the holes, and it led me here. Can't find my way back to Gramps, so I might as well help out somehow. The holes are supposed to go both ways," He complained.
"I don't think I've ever seen a fairy as red as you," Link said.
"I'm one-of-a-kind. I'm a spirit fairy; that's how I was able to find you. Far as I know, there're only two others like me, Ciela and Neri. They're back with Gramps."
"What does the 'spirit of the Hero' mean?" Kafei asked. "Does this have to do with you being 'the Hero of Time?'"
"It probably does," Link said.
"And what are the holes?" Kafei continued.
"The holes. Y'know. One minute I'm flying around the Great Ocean, then I take my usual shortcut, and I'm here. I got to get back. Gramps will be worried."
"That doesn't really tell me anything," Kafei said.
"Where do you think fairies come from? Thin air? No. We navigate the dark paths among the worlds all the time. Where did you think we went when we disappeared?" Leaf said.
"I'd honestly given up thinking about it a long time ago. Is that how they escape the bottles when I need help?" Link said.
"Yeah, like a bottle could stop us. " He then flew around Link as if looking for something. "Wait, you're the Hero of 'Time?' That's Ciela's gig, not mine. Great." He huffed to himself. "Leaf, what have you gotten yourself into this time?"
"Is this going to be a problem?" Link couldn't help but ask.
"Nah, I'll get back. I just gotta figure out how. You're gonna help me. We can help each other. I'll help you in your battles, and you can help me find a way back. I mean it, something strange is going on. This is never happened before. I mean, I'm not some idilly widdly tiddlywink making their first trip. How embarrassing. "
"Thank you, Leaf. I'll be happy to help."
"It's nothing. Now don't we got a tower to get to?"
"Yeah, let's go," Link said.
The Tower climb was as long and arduous as Link remembered it. He managed it well enough, but he saw Kafei struggling to climb it, legs and arms shaking with the effort of pulling himself over the ledges. Once again Link hated the necessity of bringing him along. He'd had no other choice though, and Kafei wouldn't appreciate his hovering.
His observant eyes had picked up that Kafei looked at him occasionally with a contemplative stare. He wondered what he had been thinking. Kafei had always had a guarded face, but since he'd asked him on the trip, it'd been like stone. Link didn't know how he felt about Kafei knowing this much about him. It still scared him. He'd never had such close friends, not since Saria. He didn't know what he'd do without them. Kafei and Anju had done so much for him. But they were close enough to hurt him, and he was keeping secrets. Still, Kafei had kept his thoughts to himself so far.
He was amazed he'd agreed to come with him, honestly. It hadn't taken much pressing. Link just hoped he could keep his word and keep him safe.
The stairs had crumbled to an even more decrepit state since the last time he'd been there. They had to place each step carefully to ensure they wouldn't fall. Orella and Leaf flew before them, casting light so the two young men could see. The moon helped a only a little. Link had forgotten how the tower choked all light. The shadows were eerie. The distinct lack of enemies also made him wary.
Soon, to both Kafei and Link's relief, they made it to a door nestled in the darkest, farthest corner of the tower. Squat ugly statues surrounded it. Red eyes peered from above open sneering mouths.
As the fairies drew closer, the diamond-like mark on the door shone, the points on the end twisted counter-clockwise. The mark graced the center of an embossed image of a wolf. The bottom end of the diamond on the wolf's snout dragged long and thin. A dot graced the center, and two tomoe, facing inwards, hugged the bottom of the image. Below the mark, flames appeared to lick the symbols. On the left side of the wolf's head, a sun appeared, similar to the ones that received the light of the mirror shield. On the right side of the door, close to the knob, a full moon.
"There's a full inscription here, written in the old language of Ikana," Kafei said.
"What does it say?" Link asked, peering down at it. The script looked familiar. Link thought he had seen it before, but where?
"Most of it has rubbed off but there's one here, on the edges of the door. This one's legible, if a little faded: 'In the dawning of end's forgotten need, two will stem the tide; the door opens when Shadow bleeds, and time's Shade stands there beside.'"
"Simple enough," Link said. "Only if you can read it of course. I hold the Ocarina of Time and you hold Shadowheart. I knew I'd need you to be here."
"How did it know? And it needs my blood. I'm not sure if this is the best idea," Kafei said.
"Honestly? What choice do we have if we want to move forward?" Link asked.
"To face my dark legacy..." Kafei said, trailing off in thought. "To awaken the ghosts of Ikana's past..."
"Kafei?"
"What if it all goes wrong? What if I unleash a horde of the dead? They won't stop here. They'll come and devour everything, leave Clock Town a smoking mess."
"What's gotten into you? What if, indeed! Are you going to let these 'What ifs' stop you? You, Kafei? The man willing to barge into Sakon's Hideout having no idea what he would face? That man who got his mask back no matter what the cost? The man brave enough to face the end of the end of the world at its heart?"
"There is so much you do not know."
"I could say the same to you. I know enough."
"Do you, really?" Kafei said, voice turning cold.
Link sighed. "I can't offer you proof of what I've seen, what I know. I can't promise this will be easy. I only know that sometimes things just have to be done, or the consequences aren't worth thinking about."
"What has to be done? You've used that demon mask; I'm sure you know all about it," he said bitterly.
"Is that what this is about? That mask?" Link asked. "Sometimes I wonder if you really trust me at all."
"You're talking to me about trust?" For a moment, Kafei couldn't even form words. He'd let the man into his home, into his life, into his heart without knowing about his past. He couldn't deny he'd been curious, of course, but he'd decided when he learned Link came from another world nothing could ever change how he felt. They were best friends. He was probably the person Kafei respected most, even over Keeta, over Viscen, over his father. Maybe not over Anju, but still.
"Tell me from your perspective: should I? You know what; you're right. I know next to nothing about you. You're so far from the person I thought you were, I just...I don't know," Kafei said in anger.
"What do you want me to say?" Link said, hands up in the air. "There are things I can't explain."
"Like being from another world? Link, I understand. I understand that thing with the fairies and why you kept it secret...Link, what other secrets could you be hiding? Know what I think? I think you're the one that doesn't trust me."
Link deflected, coming to a startling realization "You're afraid." Link said in wonderment. "No. Not just afraid, You're absolutely terrified."
Kafei shifted uncomfortably. "I'm done talking about this. Let's just move on and forget this ever happened. I'll still follow your lead." Kafei made to step forward, Shadowheart ready in his hand.
"Wait," Link held up his hand. "Not just yet. Look at the ground."
Kafei did. The floor held various colored tiles. Upon further perusal, each one shifted as soon as one of them added their weight. They held various ancient words, positioned in a pattern that made no legible sense.
"Stand clear and watch." Link tried to turn the knob. A statue to the left began breathing fire. Link dodged deftly, returning to the unmarked tiles at the edge. "Which one reads time?"
"The one to the right of the door." Link moved to it. Here, Kafei dusted a tile. "And the one next to it, right in front of the entrance says 'shadow.' I do believe we've solved it." He used the tip of his blade to cut the edge of his palm. He grabbed the door knob. A bright light flashed, and immediately the sound of shifting mechanisms signaled the successful attempt.
"This is it. Kafei, are you ready?" Link asked, not unkindly, for all they'd argued before.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Kafei replied, and he opened the door.