Chapter 48: Opportunities Within Our Problems
"Navi," the familiar voice tore through the blackness of her sleep. "Navi wake up."
There was a tremor of fear in Boshi's voice that awoke her instantly. Her oldest friend was not one to be afraid. He was always solid, efficient, serious, dependable. Why even when they were children, Boshi was the one who kept his head when they both got caught in that spider web.
There was no one whose judgment Navi trusted more, except perhaps for the Great Mother herself. And if Boshi was worried, it had to be serious.
"What is it?" Navi asked as she righted herself, rising from the ground with the first flutter of her wings for the day.
"There will be more dangers coming," he said. "And we have work to do."
That took Navi aback. For there to be more dangers that meant there had to be at least one that came before. And there were no dangers while they were within the safety of the Great Mother's fountain. No one could ever get in. No one ever had before.
But-
Stop. Stop. That's not real. "Whatever task the Great Mother has for me, I will gladly do it." She smiled to him, a fake smile, all while a battle raged in her mind.
Whenever she let her guard down, whenever she took a breath for herself and tried to relax the magic of the Great Fairy would claw its way back into her mind and try to force her memories out again. Every morning brought another fight, some days she lost completely. And even when she won the morning struggle, the battle would rage throughout the day. Until she had no choice but to shut her eyes and pray that she would win again in the morning.
Boshi was not her friend, he was her prison guard. She needed to remember that. Behind all those false memories, he was there to keep watch over her and she could not show him a hint of what she was planning.
Thankfully, today something distracted him. He kept glancing toward the walls of the tunnel. "Boshi, what is it?"
"Nothing, Navi. All you need to know is that our Great Mother has directed us to strengthen the wards around the fountain." He gestured toward where he had been looking. "She wants us working for as long as we can, pour all the magic we have to strengthen our defenses."
"Boshi, that's scary. Is everything alright?"
The fairy shrugged. "The Great Mother has given you your task, get to it."
"I will do my best."
The larger fairy nodded and flew away back toward the central chamber, back toward the Great Fairy.
The Princess, it has to be the princess. Zelda had been expelled from the Great Mothers domain, but she would return. That must be what has gotten the Great Mother so rattled. Navi had not know the girl for long, but she did not seem the type to just accept that she had been beaten. And Navi needed to prepare for when Zelda made her move.
She would not be useless again.
Years ago, the Great Deku Tree taught her how to cast and strengthen the enchantments that protected Kokiri Village from all manner of creatures that lived in the forest. And when one ravenous wolf broke inside and nearly mauled poor Tweli, she had made her own advancements in the various wards. Even taught them to Mido when he asked how best to protect the family.
She knew well what magic the Great Fairy was using around her tunnels. A sprawling pattern of magic that ran over the walls like vines. Invisible to all but the most attuned of hylians. But to her, it was like reading a book. The magic was designed to twist the mind of those who entered without the Great Mother's permission. Making their eyes ignore what they were seeing, their ears unable to hear what was spoken. For most, they could walk right next to the Fairy Mound and not notice anything was wrong. For the exceptionally dull, they might not even notice actual fairies entering and exiting their home.
Those spells would not work on the princess, so those Navi strengthened. Touching them and releasing her power into them. If Boshi was nearby he would have no reason to suspect that she was not doing what she was told.
She looked down the tunnel, focusing on the shimmering lines of the various spells. There had to be thousands. Navi took a breath and went to work, renewing the lines with her power. Reading all she could. When she found a new design she was not familiar with, she took the time to understand it. If the lines of the spell spiraled out of her vision she had to make guesses to the best of her ability.
This one turned the eyes. That one masked the scent. Navi scowled as she found another that would fill a person's mind with desire to please the Great Mother. Binding their will to hers. There did not seem to be any method out of it either. It was not the most powerful spell she had seen, but if some poor weak-minded soul was ensnared by it, they would be enchanted forever.
She touched that line of the wards. "I'm sorry," she whispered as she strengthened it. The spell would not be powerful enough to take the princess's mind. It wasn't the kind of spell she was looking for. But what if some poor villager stumbled upon it? What if she just doomed someone to eternal slavery? What would the Great Mother do to them?
Shuddering, Navi floated to the next of the wards. There were some questions that she did not want to know the answer to. She needed to get free. She needed to find Link and help him. Once that was done, then she could come back and right these wrongs.
For hours, she worked on the wards. Strengthening all the ones she knew were too weak to inconvenience Zelda. Stopping only in moments to speak to other fairies. Giving friendly smiles and making it clear to all of them that she was still the empty-headed loyal fairy that they thought she was. All the while she maneuvered herself, heading deeper into the tunnels. Until she had reached the Great Mother's pool itself.
Here the magic was at its strongest, and the most powerful. Just as Navi thought. The lines of magic were thick and pulsing with energy. She flew back, just to get a full look at some of the walls. These wards were the oldest and most powerful by far. She needed some time to make sense of them.
"Great Mother," came a voice from behind her. Three fairies flew above the pool. "We stand at your pool and ask for your guidance! We have finished, Great Mother. Is there more you wish of us?"
No, don't call her now. How could she mess with the spells if the Great Fairy was watching her? The pool condensed and exploded as the laughter of the Great Fairy filled the room.
"Wonderful my little darlings! Wonderful!"
Just the sight of her made Navi's skin prickle. But what else could she do, but wait? Te children of the Great Mother did not ignore her when she arrived. They waited on her every word like it was given to them by a Goddess. Even if she could think of an excuse to turn away, she would not be able to mess with the wards with the gargantuan woman nearby.
"Is there anything more you want from us, Great Mother?" one of the fairies repeated.
"Oh there is so much more work to do! The western wing, beneath the roots of the cherry trees. Don't want anyone uprooting the trees to make a hole. No. No. No! Then after you've finished there you should practice. Illusions, I think would be best. Oh yes. What fun we shall have when they arrive! What fun!" The Great Fairy giggled and clutched at her stomach, writhing in overabundant mirth. "Ahh-haha! Go my darlings! Go!"
As the three fairies flew down through the tunnel to the west. Navi stared at the Great Fairy. Please, go back into your pond. No need to stay here. No need to watch me.
But the Great Fairy did not return to the waters of her fountain. Instead her eyes landed on Navi, and her smile widened.
"My darling!" she said as she beckoned for Navi to come closer.
"Yes? Great Mother?" Navi squeaked.
"Come along, my darling. Don't be such a pout." She extended her long arms, that seemed to grow wider until they filled up half the grotto.
Her heart pounded, as Navi forced herself to smile and flew to her captor. "I'm sorry, Great Mother. I did not mean to sulk."
"All is forgiven, darling. Think nothing of it. But when I say come to me? What must you do?"
"I will come, Great Mother. I was just so excited to be brought to your presence."
"Of course you are, darling. Of course you are! Now, how are you feeling? Boshi has been telling me that you have had some trouble sleeping?"
"Just some foul dreams, Great Mother, nothing you need burden yourself with."
"Foul dreams? What could possibly cause foul dreams in my domain?"
Dreams of being forced to live a life that is not mine. Dreams of a crystalline cave I can never escape. Dreams of you, and your maddening voice, and this wretched place. "Oh, I can't even say, Great Mother. Just a sense of foreboding." Navi made her eyes go wide. "You don't think it is… a premonition, do you? I've heard that some fairies get them."
"Oh, my little sweetling, only the wisest and most powerful of fairies get premonitions. Me and my sisters had them on occasion. One such as you? I can't possibly imagine." Then she laughed a high pitched condescending sound. All the fairies in the room laughed with her, filling the fountain with their cackling echoes it seemed that the very walls mocked Navi as well. She tried to laugh with them, but it caught in her throat and turned into a pained wheeze. Did it at least look natural? Convincing?
"Well," Navi tried to cover her mistake with more words. "Maybe not a real premonition. But, we all are preparing for some attack, aren't we? There is some danger coming for us."
"Oh," the Great Fairy managed to contain her gale until it was little more than a giggle. "Oh, you must be so worried about this little nonsense. It is nothing, my darling. Nothing at all to be worried about. Some outsiders are coming, and they will be repelled, have no worry. No worry at all."
"Well, perhaps," Navi stopped herself. Would pushing for more information reveal herself? Would asking more questions reveal her deception. She couldn't risk it. "No, I am sorry Great Mother I did not mean to impose."
But the Great Mother was interested in her now. "You are imposing nothing my darling child. Ask me, ask me anything at all. In fact, I command that you do."
"You are so kind, Great Mother." She thought of Link and her duty, before she spoke. "Perhaps I would feel – we would all feel - more comfortable if I knew what these people want. If I had some idea why they were attacking us. I know I am not the only fairy here who is confused."
"Oh," the Great Fairy flew back away from Navi for a moment. "Oh how silly of me. I have not told you, have I? No, no I suppose I have not. Be not afraid, my child, the outsiders are not after you. No, they will never take my children away from me."
I am not your child.
"They are after this." She waved her hand over her chest, and from the tangle of vines and budding plants she wore she plucked a small green flower and held it up.
"What is it?" Navi asked, though she well knew what that little bud truly was. She could not leave this place without it. But she needed to play the part of a fool.
"Something very precious, little darling, and very powerful. But do not worry your tiny little head," the Great Fairy let go of the bud. Instead of falling it twisted back into place among the vines. "These vile outsiders will never have it!"
"Good!" came a chorus of support from the others in the room. This time Navi matched their voices with her own. But her eyes never wavered from the small budding flower. Green with a tint of white around the edges, on her chest, but close to her right shoulder. That was the Emerald.
"Thank you, Great Mother." Navi bowed her head. "Speaking with you has relieved me greatly. Hopefully, this will be the end of my restlessness."
"Think nothing of it, darling." The Great Fairy smiled as she started to sink back into the water. "But if you remember anything more vivid in your dreams, do come talk to me. I so enjoy speaking to you. Or if not me, speak to dear Boshi. He does worry so about you, if you open up to him about these foul dreams and dark thoughts I know he will be most appreciative."
"I will, of course I will, Great Mother."
And in a gale of laughter, she disappeared beneath the waters. Leaving only Navi flying above the center of the pool, as the rest of the fairies returned to their work. "Well," she said to herself, finding the words of the Great Deku Tree coming to her. "Now return to thy duties. For there is valor in labor done with love." There was still work to do.
She flew back to the edge of the room, and gazed upon the weave of the Great Fairy's spellcraft. Her heart still racing, and the presence of the Great Fairy still lashing out against her skull. She was not there, no one was looking over her shoulder. With a deep breath to steady herself, Navi read the lines of spells.
She found it. One line, that swirled with a verdant energy that nearly crackled. This was a spell of power, and one that Navi had never seen before. Her eyes followed the line down, it snaked across the floor the headed into the fountain itself. This wasn't an illusion, or some weak enchantment designed to stave off the weak. This was a spell to bolster the Great Fairy herself, one she could call upon in a time of need.
Exactly the kind of ward she was looking for.
Navi pressed her hand against the spell and slid her fingers across it. The power severed. The swirling line shriveled up on itself, until the green streak of light disappeared completely and the spell was gone.
Had anyone seen her? Her stomach fell as Navi glanced around the wide grotto filled with fairies. That was a reckless plan, something Link would have done. She should have checked around her before she broke the spell.
But no one was looking at her. All the fairies simply continued their arts of strengthening the wards or chatting aimlessly among themselves. She let out a nervous quivering giggle. Her arm shook. But it worked, one of the major wards of protection were gone. I can do this. I can help.
She flew to the next of the wards, empowering the weak, and severing the strong. She did not know if she was terrified or excited as she brushed her fingers across the next of the most powerful spells.
"And what are you working on, there?" came a quiet voice behind her.
Navi spun around. "What?" she squeaked, before she forced herself into that vapid smile she had gotten so good at. She blinked as she saw who was speaking to her, it took a moment to recognize her. "Telti! It has been so long."
The pink fairy flew looked haggard, and half starved. Bags under her eyes that made her expression almost haunting. She flew right next to Navi and leaned forward with those wary eyes, until they were so close Navi had to stifle a fearful chill down her spine. Did she know what Navi had been doing?
"So," Telti said. "You know who I am."
"Of course. We've been friends for years. I-" Navi paused. What had been her relationship with Telti? What false memories did the Great Fairy implant in her? She could let down her guard, and let the flood of lies fill her mind. But, what if she could not claw her way back out in time for Zelda? No, she needed something else. "I have not seen you in some weeks. I was worried about you."
"Were you?" Telti cocked her head to the side. "I did not know you cared."
"Of course, I care about all my brothers and sisters."
"Hmm," Telti finally pulled away from her, and flew about the wall Navi had been working on. "Powerful magic you're working with."
"Yes." Navi did not know what else to say. Best to be simple, not give anything away. Is this how Telti normally acted?
"It's strange," Telti said. "So much power and magic that the Great Mother and my siblings have used to keep us safe and secure in here. And all our enemy needed was a glass bottle to get me. It was enforced by magic, I could tell. But I couldn't read it. I couldn't strengthen or weaken it at all."
"You were in a bottle? I am so sorry Telti, that sounds horrible. How did you get out?"
"I had help," Telti said. "But I was at the very top of a mountain. I had never been that far from, and knew of no source of magic to sustain me as I returned. I thought I was going to starve. I nearly did. And yet, I still cast a spell to help a dying Hylian. Tell me, Navi, why would I do that?"
"I don't know," Navi said. "I don't think the Great Mother would like you helping out Hylians."
Telti snorted. "No, I don't think she would. We'll just have to make that our little secret, won't we?"
"I-" What was she supposed to say to that? Would it be better for her to run to the Great Mother and say what Telti told her? Was this some kind of test? But what if Telti is telling the truth? She looks as if she had just struggled for her life. In the end, Navi plastered that vapid grin back on her face. "Of course, anything for a friend. I'm just glad you're back and safe."
"Thank you, Navi. It's surprising, even if I know your words don't mean anything, it's nice hearing you say that."
It had to be some kind of trick. How would someone who has no idea what she's talking about respond to this? "Why would it mean nothing? You're confusing me, Telti."
The small pink fairy took flight again and drew even closer than she had been before. Navi fluttered back, trying to get some space, but Telti pursued. Always so close that Navi could see the bloodshot lines on the corner of her eyes, more, the dark empty well that stood behind those eyes.
Just get it over with! Navi wanted to scream. Tell the Great Mother, denounce me! I don't care just do something! But the pink fairy just stared, and Navi forced her smile to remain.
"Oh," Telti finally said, and drew back. Giving Navi the space to finally breath. "And I have a message for you."
Navi gave Telti her most confused look, it was not hard. As for the first time in what felt like weeks, her expression was genuine.
"The Hylian boy, he hopes you are happy."
Link? Was Link the one Hylian she saved? Or was he involved with her escape somehow? Was he still alive? What did Telti know? Where was he now? Was he still on the Mountain? Could she get to him? All those questions raced through her mind chased by a hundred more. She needed to get out.
"I'm sorry Telti," she said with proper and practiced poise. "But I have no idea what you're talking about. You're worrying me, Telti. All this talk of Hylians is frightening. Perhaps you should go speak to the Great Mother, yourself. You sound confused."
Telti grinned and finally flew back. "Maybe I do. Thanks for your kindness, Navi. I'll leave you to your work."
Navi watched the fairy fly away, deeper into the tunnels. But she did not call the Great Mother, she did not have all the other fairies attack her. Navi had made it. Turning back to the wall, Navi pressed her hand against another ward and severed it.