Link led Kamari by the hand down the hallway. "The Great Fairy is in this fountain," he said, looking back at her from the corner of his eye. "She is really nice."
Kamari kept looking every which way. "This is so cool… I'm actually going with Link to really see the Great Fairy..! To really SEE her!" Kamari practically exploded with excitement.
Link stepped casually into the fountain. Kamari tentatively put her feet in the water. She gasped. "Wow! It's cold! The water is seeping through my socks! COLD!" She giggled a little.
The Great Fairy laughed into existence before them. Her three great red ponytails swayed in the air as she took a comfortable position on her cushion of air.
"Welcome, oh hero who was once cursed! What can I do for you?"
Link beamed up at her. "My new friend wanted to see you!" He tugged lightly on Kamari's hand. She stepped forward.
The great fairy blinked. "Oh child who sees but is not seen, what do you wish of me? Have you a request for yourself, instead of for your belovéd? Speak!"
Kamari gulped. "I want… To never leave…"
The Great Fairy smiled sadly. "This, my child, I could never do. My power lies only in my own world. As every time before, you will eventually leave this place. I cannot help you…"
Kamari visibly sank. Frowning, she closed her eyes, trying to quell conflicting emotions.
The fairy changed positions. "Don't be sad! There is one thing I can do. Your heart beats for my world. So shall this small fragment of my world lie within your heart." She raised her hands. "I bestow upon you the First Tear of Light – hereafter you shall be known as Kamari no Hyrule!"
A silvery light appeared between the Great Fairy's outstretched hands. A small orb of bright pure aurora-like light swam in the space between the Great Fairy and Kamari. It then swiveled to Kamari, circled her like a healing fairy, then presently vanished in a rainbow of shimmering sparkles.
Kamari's eyes grew wide. "But-"
The Great Fairy smiled. "You didn't think the Fairy Queen did not also guard the Light, did you?"
Understanding crossed Kamari's face. She nodded, smiling. Tears streamed down her face, which had grown pink. "…Thank… You…"
The Great Fairy winked, before laughing out of sight.
Link scratched his head, confused. "Um, Kamari? What just happened?"
Kamari whipped her face. "I… just got a very special gift… That's all…"
Link shook his head. "Yeah, I got that part. What I mean is, what was the meaning of it all? Why did the Great Fairy call you 'child who sees but is not seen'? What did she mean by 'a request for yourself, instead of for your belovéd'? She made it sound like you have been here before… Like you have seen her before…"
Link thought a moment. "In fact, a lot of things have not been adding up. You knew my name without me telling you. You said you have never been here before, but you knew which direction the Great Fairy was in. Then you quoted Tingle's magic words perfectly to him."
Kamari flinched, looking a little like a child caught in a lie. Link smiled. "I've solved too many puzzles to not notice this kind of thing." He turned his head a little.
"So, what is the story? Why did you lie to me?"
Kamari looked at her feet. "I didn't lie to you… I would never lie to you…"
Link faced her. "Com'on! I know something is fishy here, and I don't see any Zoras. What is the deal?"
Kamari sighed. "I have never been here, but I have been here. It is complicated. I have been… done… seen…" She turned away from him. "…Please, don't ask me to explain now… I promise, I'll tell you everything, but please, not now…"
Link grabbed her hand, Kamari turning to face him. "Promise?" He asked.
"Promise."
"OK! Hay, it is getting late, and your feet are wet. Let's go back to the inn. Then how about I give you a tour of Termina tomorrow?"
Kamari smiled. "I'd like that!"
They walked back together, had in hand under the darkening sky.
Link woke up first, stretching his arms up. He looked over at Kamari on the bed. She was hugging a pillow, curled around it in a semicircle just enough to get the lower part of the pillow between her knees.
Link debated with himself over whether to wake her up or let her sleep.
Kamari blinked her eyes open. She put her arm over her eyes, mumbling something sleepily. It sounded like "ohiyorinkusama" all jumbled together. He dismissed it as gibberish.
Kamari sat up, scratching her head. She froze, and then meticulously combed her hair with her fingers. She didn't stop until she was sure her hair was in some sort of order. Then she slid onto the floor.
"Good-morning, Kamari!" Link said pleasantly.
"`Mornin' Link," Kamari replied. She was still half-asleep.
"Kamari, where do you want to start?"
"Deku Palace. I wanna go on the boat ride, see the monkeys, and meet the Deku King…"
Link smiled. "That sounds like fun. How do you know about all that stuff?"
"You know…" Kamari stiffened. "Link, I promise I'll explain later. Please, not now?"
Link's smile widened. "I know! I'm just playing with you!"
Kamari smiled. "Alright. So, where to?"
"Southern Swamp."
Kamari straitened. "In that case, do you know where I can buy a pair of boots? Mine won't last in a swamp!" She giggled.
Link smiled. "Actually, I have an extra pair. They are adult size, so I can't wear them myself right now. You can borrow them!"
Kamari blushed. "THANK YOU!" She hugged him.
Link got out his Adult Boots. He watched as she put them on.
"They are a little big! Good thing I like big!" She beamed. "OK! I'm ready when you are!"
Link dashed for the door. Kamari looked quizzically at him.
"What?" He asked, confused.
"Aren't we going to use the-" Kamari stopped. "Never mind! I'm right behind you!" She ran behind him as they exited the inn through its second story door.
Link jumped off the roof and rolled harmlessly to the round.
"LINK!" Kamari yelled. "I can't make the jump! Give me a minute and I'll-" She turned around to go through the door again.
A booming voice called from the ground below. "Hay! If you jump, I'll catch you!" Kamari looked down. Goron Link looked up at her, arms out.
Kamari smiled. "Oh, are you sure?" Link nodded. "Thank you!" Kamari backed up a little, then cannonballed off the roof. A small scream came out of her.
Then Link was holding her.
She sat there (tense, waiting to smack into the cobblestone below, eyes scrunched shut) for a moment or two. Then she opened one eye and gazed up into Link's now beady ones.
It only took her a second to register who he was before she hugged his neck.
"Thank you so much…" she whispered in his ear.
"Your welcome," Link replied, letting her down gently.
Kamari took his hand, and led him out the gateway to Termina Field.
Link wasn't sure how to tell Kamari that HE was the Goron. He was about to attempt when…
"Link, are you going to take the Mask off, or are we going to walk south?" Kamari asked. It wasn't slyly, or sarcastically, she was sincerely wondering if it was one or the other.
Link was taken aback. "You- You know it is me?!" He asked, pointing to himself.
Kamari nodded. "You're still wearing your green hat. Plus, your wearing gauntlets, which normal Goron's don't do."
Link stared at her, a little amazed. Kamari smiled. "I've solved too many puzzles to not notice this kind of thing."
Link laughed, taking off the Goron's Mask. "I guess it was a little obvious if you look at it that way…" He said smiling. "I'll call Epona."
Link played Epona's song. Epona whinnied and came running. Link got on, then waited for Kamari to get up.
Kamari went toward Epona, but Epona moved away. Link frowned. "That is weird. Epona shouldn't mind you…"
Kamari giggled. "I think I know how to please her…"
Kamari started to sing.
Epona
Epona
soba ni oide
Futari de ireba
sabishiku nan ka nai
Dakara
Epona
koko ni ite
Omae dake o
mamotte ageru
Koushite iru to
omoi dasu
Ano hi no yoake
Tsuki ga shizumi
taiyou to
Omae ga umareta
Epona
Epona
soba ni oide
Futari de ireba
kanashiku nan ka nai
Dakara
Epona
koko ni ite
Watashi no uta o
kiite ite ne
Koushite iru to
omoi dasu
Ano koro no koto
Omae no tame
ni kaazan ga
Tsukutta kono uta
Hmm hmm hmm…
Hmm hmm hmm…
Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm…
Futari de ireba
kanashiku nan ka nai
Hmm hmm hmm…
Hmm hmm hmm…
Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm…
Wasurenai demo
kono uta
Kono uta
As Kamari's song ended, Epona pranced over to her. Kamari laughed as Epona nuzzled her nose against Kamari's face.
"I guess I did alright, huh? I don't know if I got all the words right, but Epona seems happy." She got on.
Link was too stunned to do anything for a few moments. He sat there, mouth agape, until Epona reared and broke his reverie. He set her in the right direction.
"Kamari, where did you learn that song?" He asked, stupefied.
Kamari blushed. "Well, I… That is to say, I… Picked it up somewhere or other…"
Link shook his head, laughing. "I know, you'll explain later, right? I'm excited already!"
Kamari laughed. She wrapped her arms around Link's waist as he urged Epona faster south.