THE LAST FAIRY

"Hey!"

Nausea. Gut-wrenching spasms. Pain in his shoulder. Pain in his leg. Hovering on the edge of consciousness, Link threw up seawater.

"Hey!"

Link's eyes flew open as something hit him in the nose. Pain immediately followed as the noonday sun assaulted his throbbing head. He groaned, squinting confusedly through the brightness.

"Yay! You're not dead!" The voice again. Something bright zipped past Link's face, causing ripples of agony to resonate between his temples. Moaning, he tried locking onto the source of the voice.

"Where are you?" he said, squinting around. He found himself on a rocky beach encroached upon by a dense inland forest. A gust of ocean-wind stung a multitude of cuts and scrapes that covered Link's face and arms as the waning tide licked at his wet boots. Every movement ripped scabs that had glued his tunic to his back, and soon Link could feel the blood flowing fresh down his sides.

"Right here!" A small wisp of cloud danced before the sun, for just a moment giving Link's eyes the respite needed to open all the way. He inhaled sharply in surprise as the bright light again fluttered in front of him.

"You're a fairy!" Link said incredulously.

"Yup!" she replied brightly. "You should call me Navi! It means 'companion' in my language."

A fairy? Link's head throbbed painfully. But the fairies were all killed...he closed his eyes as the events from the Mother Isle came rushing back to him.

"What happened? Where's Kin?" The questions came pouring out like water through a floodgate. "How did we get away?"

"I teleported us!" the fairy said, clearly proud of herself. "I used up almost all of my power, but I did it!"

"You…teleported me? Here?"

"Yup! Ah...sort of. I accidentally dropped you offshore a bit," she said bashfully, her blue light taking on a pink hue. "And ten feet under water," she added after a moment.

Link blinked. "What about Kin?" he asked, glancing up and down the beach; the bard was nowhere to be seen.

"No idea!" the fairy said cheerfully.

"What do you mean you have no idea?"

"I was more worried about you! I don't know where she appeared, but I think it should be close!" Navi said, unabashed.

"How close?" Link asked

He could have sworn the little fairy shrugged. "I dunno!" she sang excitedly.

Link groaned at the fairy's chipper attitude. "Well come on, we should probably go find her," Link said. After a moment, he heaved himself to his feet, wincing at the pain in his leg. In the sand next to him lay the Master Sword, and a dozen yards down the beach he could see his bow and quiver floating in the surf. I suppose I was due for a bit of luck, Link thought, returning the sword to the sheath upon his back and venturing out after his archery equipment. Under normal circumstances, the heavy bow would have been rendered useless after being soaked so thoroughly, but Zelda had enchanted the weapon years ago – something Link had never wanted to thank her for.

"Oh, an adventure! Yay!" Navi bounced through the air beside Link as he slung his quiver and unstrung bow over his right shoulder and made his way up the beach to the dense tree line.

"Where are we?" Link asked, mostly to himself.

"Taura Island. I think. Maybe. Maybe not!" Navi mused jovially. "Who knows!" She giggled loudly.

Link groaned. Of all the places to send them, Taura Island would be the most dangerous. He just had to hope the annoying little fairy was wrong. Picking a direction at random, Link entered the forest. It instantly became darker, giving Link's eyes some much needed rest.

"This is great! Going on an adventure!" Link soon found that Navi tended to sing whilst talking when she became excited. "Oh, I'm like the fairies of legend: Tatl, Ciela, Neri!"

The names stirred something within Link. "Could you possibly not talk so loud?" he finally burst out. "I have a splitting headache."

"Hehe, you're funny! I like you."

Muttering under his breath, Link decided they were far enough into the forest. Approaching the largest tree he could find, he looked up. The nearest branch dangled ten feet above him. Too high to jump for.

Sliding the Master Sword out of its sheath, Link stabbed it into the tree – flat edge of the blade facing upward. Navi watched with curiosity as Link backed up several feet, and then leapt forward. He landed with one foot upon the Master Sword, bending it far past the point where any normal sword would have shattered, then sprung upward, using the added momentum to reach the lowest branches. Link winced as he pulled himself onto a nook in the tree he thought could carry his weight – the tough bark had rubbed the skin on his palms raw.

"What are you doing?" Navi asked, floating up to where Link was seated.

"Climbing to the top," Link replied crossly. He closed his eyes, willing the fairy to go away. A moment passed.

"Why?"

Link felt like screaming. "To see whether there is a town or a port on this goddess-forsaken piece of dirt!"

"Oh! Why didn't you say so earlier? I'll go look!" Navi zipped skyward, clearly excited to help.

Link, both exasperated at the fairy's antics and relieved that he would not need to climb the rest of the tree, focused on getting back down to the ground. Just as his feet touched dirt—

"I found something!" Navi sang out, suddenly appearing next to Link's ear. He swatted her away.

"What?"

"A town! A town with LOTS of people!"

"Were there any ships?"

"Yes!"

Link sighed. "Was there a big windmill with a lighthouse on top?"

"Yes! Oh, this is a fun game!"

Damn, Link silently cursed. It is Taura. He thought for a moment, I'd avoid it if I could, but chances are Kin will end up at the town if she's anywhere around here. Besides, we need a ship.

"Which direction?" he asked, wrenching the Master Sword out of the tree.

"This way!" Navi said, flying off into the forest.

Link followed her, steeling himself for a day that he was sure could not end well.

It was less than an hour before Link and Navi spied the outskirts of town.

"Remember Navi, be quiet. If you're seen, we're both dead." The little fairy nodded emphatically, shaking her whole body up and down in doing so. Link knew her silence could only last so long. "Stay here, and stay hidden. I'll go check things out and be right back."

Softly working his way from tree to tree, Link approached the first line of buildings separating the town from the forest. His leg ached as he slipped into the shadows behind a small, seemingly abandoned house. The loud bustle of a vivacious port town assaulted him almost immediately: merchants calling out their wares, the chime of rupees changing hands, the shouts of sailors searching for work. There was a violent edge to all he heard though. He noticed fights breaking out in several places, the peal of clashing blades was accompanied by angry shouting, women's voices peppered the noise as they seduced the seamen out of their money, and every so often porcelain would break as some drunken fool lost hold of his rum.

Gathering himself, Link chanced a quick glance at the town from his hiding place. The poorly maintained buildings had been put up in rows that circled around the center of town (it looked as though whenever a new structure was needed, a new swath of trees would be cut down around the edge to make room) which was marked as such by an open-air marketplace and a large windmill, topped by an inactive lighthouse.

The town center bustled with activity. Scores of rather large men sauntered from bar to bar (for the majority of the buildings were taverns), each carrying some sort of sword or hunting knife. Their clothes were worn and often patched in several places, and Link could see no few scars peeking out from behind loose canvas breeches. Amazingly, Link thought he saw one man hobble past with a piece of wood in place of his lower leg.

In the distance, Link spied a half-dozen ships moored in the harbor, each flying a black flag emblazoned with a horned shark known as the Gyorg.

"Pirates," Link muttered under his breath like a curse.

"Ooh, scary!" Navi said happily, peeking out from behind Link's shoulder.

Link jumped back in surprise, knocking over an empty milk pail as he did so. The metal bucket clanged noisily against the cobblestone.

"Uh-oh," Navi said, chipper as ever. Link shot her a scathing glare.

"Hey, you back there!" a man called out, drawn over by the loud sound.

Shit, Link thought. Thinking quickly, he tore off his green cap and threw it over Navi. "Be quiet!" he muttered at her under his breath.

"Filthy sneak, what are you doing back there? Making off with some loot what don't belong to you is it?" the man shouted angrily as he neared Link's hiding place.

Thinking quickly, Link shoved his cap back onto his head, feeling Navi grasp his long blonde hair. He tried to ignore the sound of the man's cutlass scraping free of its leather sheath. Hurriedly adopting a languid pose, Link slouched against the house. Grasping his hands in front of himself as if he were relieving a full bladder, he yelled out, "Can't a man have himself a moment to wet the ground in peace?" Link was careful to slur his words as if he were laden with too much brandy – an ailment he was perhaps too familiar with.

He waited until he heard the man's cutlass return to its sheath, then, with a suggestive pull at his belt, stumbled back from behind the house and toward the center of town – it would raise too many questions if he were to return to the forest now.

"Damn drunken fool," the man said as Link wobbled by, careful that Link not stumble into him.

Link adopted a dazed smile and continued his swaying gait until the man was well out of view.

Well shit, Link thought, looking about himself with what he hoped was a dangerous expression. At least I have my sword; hopefully that'll be enough to keep from being bothered until I can figure out what to do next.

Link glanced around himself again. Kin was nowhere in sight – not that he expected her to be. I could try to rent a room at one of the inns, Link thought, immediately realizing the futility of that prospect. He had not bothered carrying any money with him up Mother Isle, and so had none with him now with which to barter for a room. And I can't beg for the money either, that would be a death sentence in a place like this.

A sudden burst of noise from behind him made Link turn around. Through a small gap between buildings, he heard the familiar sound of swordplay and cheering. Curious, Link made his way over to the crowd. They were all gathered around an animal pen that was empty except for two men sparring within. At one end of the enclosure, a beady little man wearing a grey striped nightcap was calling out odds and collecting bets. As Link watched, one of the men within the makeshift arena made a brilliant parry, followed by a backward slash that disarmed his opponent. The crowd broke out into a mottled assortment of noise, both cheering and hissing, as the advantaged swordsman stepped forward and, without hesitation, clubbed the disarmed man across the head with the pommel of his blade, knocking him unconscious.

The victor, breathing heavily from the fight, collected a bag of rupees from the man with the grey hat and departed for one of the closer taverns. Meanwhile, two other men stepped forward and removed the fallen man from the ring, tossing him mercilessly into a corner.

Link eyed the money thoughtfully. He could really use some coin to barter for a room, and maybe even a ride off the island once he found Kin. I'm confident that I can best whatever opponent they send my way, he thought, moving forward to volunteer for the next round.

"The rules are simple," the beady man told him as Link hopped the fence into the ring. "Win the fight, and I'll pay you forty rupees. Kill your opponent, and your winnings drop to twenty rupees on account of me having to clean up the body."

Link nodded. Good, they don't expect me to kill. Across the pen, another man detracted himself from the crowd. He was large, Link granted, but he held his blade like a meat cleaver. This should be easy.

Link drew his sword, but as he began to circle the man, a sudden, sickening thought entered his mind. Navi! He slowly began to panic. Shit, she's still in my hat! Link knew, without a doubt, that too much jostling around and the little fairy would reveal herself.

Casting his attention back to his opponent, Link wished he could speak with the fairy, but dared not risk it. He would just have to finish the fight quickly, and without moving more than was necessary. He cursed himself for forgetting such an important detail. Well, this just got a lot more interesting.

Reviewing his fighting style in his head, Link made a mental list of moves that he could still execute without much movement. Then, quickly thinking through his typical footwork, Link revised his style to better account for the handicap.

With a dangerous smile, Link planted his feet and locked his knees. His opponent continued to circle for a moment, then paused, confused at this new turn of events.

Slowly the man advanced, holding his sword out before him like a dowsing rod. Link remained as still as stone, sword ready. Suddenly, the man leapt forward, swinging his sword as he would a hammer. Link grimaced as he blocked the strike; since he could not dodge or deflect any attacks, his frame had to absorb the full force of the blow. Four more times Link was stuck, and soon his muscles began to cry out in rebellion. I need to end this soon.

Link smiled as he saw what he had been waiting for – a small crack had appeared on his opponent's blade. Normal swords aren't meant for this sort of fighting, he thought smugly, knowing that the Master Sword would never chip or crack. Nor normal people, he added after a moment. His body was nearing its limit.

As his adversary prepared himself for another blow, Link adjusted his grip on his sword, and as the large man swung, Link called forth his remaining strength and swung back. The Master Sword found its mark. Slicing through the small crack, Link cleaved his opponent's sword in two, sending a large portion of the blade whistling through the air like a Frisbee. Link wasted no time watching. Continuing his swing, he leveled his sword at the larger man's head, at the last second turning his hand so as to strike the man with the flat of his blade. His opponent crumpled.

Link quickly returned the Master Sword to its sheath before he dropped it from exhaustion, and thereafter his arms hung limp at his sides. He ignored the blend of applause and jeering that surrounded him as he walked over to collect his prize.

"That was somethin', lad!" the beady-eyed man said excitedly. "Breakin' a blade in two...that's somethin' sure to be talked about!" Link shrugged, not trusting himself to speak. Transferring his winnings to his belt pouch, he quickly made his way over to the nearest inn and paid for a room, worried that Navi might reveal herself at any moment.

As soon as his door clicked shut behind him, he whipped of his hat.

"Yay! That was exciting!" Navi zipped out of the green cap and begun circling Link's head in delight.

Link sighed.

"I've never been in a sword fight before!" Navi continued before Link could say anything. "I hope we get to do it again!"

Link collapsed onto the cot, physically and mentally exhausted. "Shh..." He interrupted Navi as she continued to speak. "Keep an eye out the window for Kin." Link yawned. "Tonight we'll sneak out search the woods."

It wasn't until after midnight that Link woke. He and Navi scoured the forest for some sign of the young bard until the morning glow forced them back to their room. Link spent most of the day in the taverns – Navi comfortable in his hat – listening to the goings on of Taura. And drinking of course. The two adventurers repeated this pattern for two nights, thoroughly searching both the inland wood and the surrounding beach until, finally, Link was forced to admit defeat.

"If Kin were anywhere on this island, we would have found her by now," he exclaimed, frustrated, as the sun crested over the eastern horizon.

"No doubt!" Navi sang. Even after three days of searching without reward, she hadn't lost her cheerful demeanor, much to Link's chagrin.

"You don't have any idea where you sent her?" Link asked for what must have been the tenth time.

"Nope!"

Link mumbled under his breath for a moment, then sighed resignedly. "Well, wherever she is, she's just going to have to fend for herself. It's her own damn fault anyhow; she shouldn't have left the Zephos."

"Her own damn fault!" Navi intoned cheerfully.

Link continued to grumble. "Not my responsibility," he muttered half-heartedly. We're almost out of rupees too, Link thought to himself. He didn't like the idea of trying to fight for more coin. If they were going to leave, it needed to be soon. How though? he wondered. One thing he'd gathered during his days spent in the taverns was that none of the ships hosted passengers. The only people on board were either sailors or slaves being taken out west for sale. Link wished he had spent some time upon the Zephos learning about the ship. As it was, even the most desperate of captains wouldn't hire him as a deckhand.

Lost in thought, Link wandered back toward town, making sure that Navi returned to her customary perch beneath his hat well before they came into sight of the buildings. Making his way straight for his favorite tavern, The Busty Maid, Link traded his last few rupees for a pint of mead. Settling down at a small table in the corner, he leaned his sword and bow against the table, slung his quiver over the back of his seat, and set his mind to the problem of escaping Taura Island.

A few hours later, Link found himself gazing wistfully into his empty flagon and wishing he had enough coin for another drink.

"Seas are getting dangerous as of late." The conversation drifted to Link from the table adjacent. Uninterested, Link tried to ignore the two weathered sailors.

"Aye. You heard mention of Gorling's ship? Torn to bits by giant octorocks if the tales be true," the other man replied, taking a swig of brandy. Link envied him his alcohol. "The size of houses they been said to be."

The first man shook his head. "What I would have once scorned as fancy now starts my knees trembling. Why, not two weeks past my chief mate swore to seeing a flock of seahats three leagues south of here."

"That aren't so rare a sight," the second man replied.

"Perhaps not alone, but my mate did swear to seeing upwards of two-score of them."

"That aren't possible," was the other's astonished reply. "Them flying bastards never flock more than four or five together at a time."

"You need not remind me. It's gotten so bad that many of the men refuse to sail without a half-dozen mercenary scum aboard. I've heard that be more and more common with most of the ships 'round these waters."

Link froze. Suddenly the pirate duo's conversation was becoming interesting. Glancing over, he gathered from the cut of their slops that the two men were deckhands. Both had cutlasses in easy reach. Link hoped that he wasn't misjudging their temperament.

"Oy," he called out, leaning over toward the men and adopting a sailor's accent. "I been hearing them same tales myself."

The two men eyed him distrustfully. Link quickly continued before they could decide the conversation was over. "Here 'tis for a truth. My lady be sitting in the harbor with stowed sail 'til our green-beaked captain find himself some mercenary laggards. I aren't seeing a need to share my pay with any more useless fools."

There was a moment of tense silence. "Aye, aren't that the truth!" one of the men suddenly said, punching his flagon into the air.

"You sailing with the Biri?" the other man asked. "I heard they been moored nigh a week searching for swordsmen."

Score! Link almost smiled. "Aye, that be the one." With an uncharacteristic grunt, Link excused himself.

It took less than an hour to find the captain of the Biri – a sour old man by the name of Teas. Link couldn't help but think he looked a bit like a large beach ball; he wore a lively yellow and blue coat that strained to contain his huge figure. Unfortunately, he was also rather short, making him seem nearly as wide as he was tall.

"Oy, are you Captain Teas?" Link said as he approached the comical figure.

"I ain't got time for fools, and you look right the jester," the captain replied gruffly. "Find yerself a different man to bedevil; I ain't taking on any more deckhands."

"I'm no deckhand...sir," Link replied, barely managing to veil his contempt.

Teas eyed Link's sword thoughtfully. "A mercenary, eh?" He nodded to himself as if solving some great mystery. "Though you still look the fool."

"My appearance has no bearing on my swordsmanship," Link replied, annoyance seeping into his voice.

Teas snorted derisively. He gestured to a rather large man behind him who had thus far kept to the shadows.

Without warning, the man dashed forward, drawing his blade as he did so. Acting reflexively, Link spun under the man's swing. Drawing his sword as he spun, Link finished his maneuver behind his attacker, Master Sword leveled at the back of his neck.

Calmly, the man straightened and sheathed his sword.

"This be my chief mate, Rogir. Few can best him with a blade," Teas said, eyeing Link as he would a new toy. With a slight nod at Rogir, he strode away.

"Welcome to the Biri, fool."