Chapter 49: Restricted Area (Entrance)

The light transported Link and Fletch to the outside of the Restricted Area where Wittia and Mister Penman looked surprised to see him.

"Link!" Wittia exclaimed hugging Link abruptly. "Thank goodness you're all right! Mister Penman had to close the door when some Stalfos got close and...what are you wearing?"

"Oh, this was what I wore when I first showed up in Skyloft," Link answered.

"For some reason, you remind me of something I've seen before," Wittia said thoughtfully. Then she snapped her finger. "Of course! You're the Hero!"

"What?"

"The Hero of Infinite Possibilities, to be exact," Mister Penman said confidently. "That sword and shield of yours were a dead giveaway."

"A while back, Professor Scarab showed me a picture Phosile took of the Cave Mural when it was first discovered," Wittia explained. "The figure which the Professor called the 'Hero' wore green and carried a shining sword, just like you, Link. But how did you know, Mister Penman?"

"Professor Scarab wasn't the only friend Phosile had," Mister Penman answered. "He was one of the few people who visited the Library on a regular basis, and I have a general love for knowledge and so he told me many things in exchange for secret trips to the Restricted Area so he could conduct research in spite of Ganon forcing him into silence. That was how he learned about the Cave Mural, the Time Gate, and the Fused Shadow."

"Fused Shadow?" Fletch muttered as he held his head. "Why does that sound familiar?"

Mister Penman turned to Fletch and seemed perplexed. "And you are?"

"His name's Fletch," Link replied. "He appeared right after I defeated the Watchman, with help from Agnes."

"Speaking of which, where is Agnes?" Wittia asked looking behind Link. "She's not sill in the Restricted Area, is she?"

Link shook his head. "No, she's gone to the Sacred Realm."

"The Sacred Realm? I think I've read about it before."

"It's said to be the resting place of the Triforce that the Goddesses left behind after they made the world and where the evil being known as Ganondorf was sealed into," Mister Penman said. "Also, there are legends that tell of Sages traveling there once they've awakened to wait until the Hero has gathered them all to aid him in defeating Ganondorf once and for all."

"So that means Agnes was a Sage, after all," Wittia said to herself, then she looked at Link. "Then if Link's the Hero, does that mean that Ganon was—

"The evil being? A very likely possibility, given his sudden rise to power and cruel nature," Mister Penman said. "But now that he's dead, it's hard to say."

"Then if you know about the Wind Sages, can you possibly tell me where they are?" Link asked urgently while Fletch kept rubbing his head.

"I can't say for certain," replied Mister Penman. "Since the Wind Sages have reincarnated for generations, I would have to trace their descendants to their present counterparts and that'll take at least a few days to accomplish."

"But we don't have that much time, Mister Penman!" Wittia snapped. "The moon is going to crash down on us three days from now."

"Crystal Cove, Crystal Cove," Fletch mumbled.

"What was that?" Wittia said, looking at Fletch.

"I don't know," Fletch said nervously. "My head's hurting and the name 'Crystal Cove' keeps popping up."

Mister Penman's eyes widened and then he turned to Link. "You said this boy appeared in the Watchman's place, correct?"

"Basically," answered Link.

Link and Wittia stared at Mister Penman as he circled around Fletch who seemed confused. Upon examining Fletch's back, Mister Penman lifted the shirt Link gave Fletch upward. Then after a few seconds, Mister Penman sighed deeply and motioned Link and Wittia to come over.

Seeing what Mister Penman was looking at, Wittia said, "Is that—

"Yes, Wittia, it's a Shadow Crystal," Mister Penman said, pointing to a large black crystal that was embedded into Fletch at the base of his neck. "But how can this be? As far as I knew, all the Twili had left Skyloft."

"When did this happen?" Link asked.

"Seven years ago, right after Zelda took over," Mister Penman replied. "But if this boy Fletch knows of the Fused Shadow and has a Shadow Crystal in his back, that means Zelda managed to obtain some magical items from the Twili before they left and used them to create the Watchman. This young man was one of them, but somehow the influence of the Shadow Crystal has been overtaken by some greater force that is keeping it dormant for the time-being yet his mind is still slightly warped from its power."

"Well, Fletch — I mean, Fahlcon did seem to halt as soon as he heard Agnes playing the Bolero of the Western Gale on her clarinet," Link said.

"What did this clarinet look like?" Mister Penman asked.

"It was honey-colored with golden keys," replied Link.

"Hmm, that sounds like the fabled Clarinet of the West," Mister Penman said thoughtfully. "It must've been passed down to her from a previous relative, therefore confirming her status as a Wind Sage. Now as for why Fahlcon changed to Fletch after hearing the Medley Fragment might have something to do with the fact that while Twili magic is powerful, the power of the Goddesses is greater."

"And since the Sages are the instruments for the Goddesses' power, Agnes' performance of the song caused the Shadow Crystal's influence on Fahlcon to weaken and thus he resorted to his true form which is Fletch," Wittia concluded.

"Exactly," Mister Penman nodded. "Then the reason he has 'Crystal Cove' repeating in his head indicates that Fletch was originally sent to collect all four Medley Fragments and I've heard rumors that there is one at Sunrise Bay's Crystal Cove."

"Then what's Link standing around here for?" Wittia said, and pushed Link toward the way they came earlier. "He should get to Crystal Cove before another Watchman tries to beat him to it."

"But what about you guys?" Link said looking back once Wittia stopped pushing him.

"We'll be fine," Wittia said confidently. "And I'll look after Fletch."

"If you find Karoline and the others, let me know," Fletch said.

"I will," Link nodded and made his way back to the entrance of the University Library.

To be continued…