Chapter 60: A Step Behind
The illusion in her hand was near dying. The flower it shaped into existence had lost the gentleness of its petals, now it was hard as stone and shimmered from Navi's light. At least it was still small enough to carry. Though it had grown heavy. Far heavier than it had been when she plucked it from the Great Mother.
How much more of the magic could she use to sustain herself before the illusion broke completely? Then what would she do? There was no way she could carry the Emerald, and if anything the stone offered less magic than this dwindling illusion.
"Just a little bit. I didn't take any yesterday," she whispered to the flower. "You'll hold, won't you?"
She closed her eyes and pulled the magic into her. The warmth of power rushed across her arms and filled her mind. She gasped, the tension in her wings lessen. They were still sore from flying nonstop for weeks. But any little bit helped.
When she opened her eyes, she found the thin stem of the pedal had a new golden hue. At least it did not seem any heavier. Thank the Goddesses. The plateau of Zora's Domain stood almost impossibly large. She knew technically it was smaller than Death Mountain, but looking up the straight cliff and crashing waterfall made it seem insurmountable. The fastest way to the top would be to fly straight up.
If she could make it.
What would happen if she tried to fly to the top only for her wings to cramp up? Or if the illusion gave out? Or if a bird took notice of her out in the open? Or any of the thousand things that could send her plummeting to the ground.
No. No. That doesn't help. I can do this. Focus.
It would be so much easier if she was flying just after she left the fountain. When she was full of magic and strength. If only there was some other source of power nearby she could use.
Well, there was one more, but she dared not get close to it.
The banners of the Gerudo army were not far behind. Navi had never seen an army before, only heard them described by the Great Deku Tree or the other fairies. But when she came upon them three nights prior, she knew they could be nothing else. A host so large she thought their campfires were the lights of a city. When they marched it sounded like thunder, and they kicked up a trail of dust so thick it reminded her of the mists back home.
And worst of all, it had him.
Easily the greatest source of magic nearby, deep within the heart of the army. She had felt it before, twice now, when the man came to Forest and cursed the Great Deku Tree and inside Castle Town. And if she had her way, she would never get close to him again.
She gave them a wide berth, which only slowed her down more. But now she had finally gotten ahead of them. And thankfully, they would have to climb.
She stretched out her wings, took a deep breath, and rose into the air.
The waterfall crashed into the river below. If Navi flew too close to it, a few stray drops of water could wet her wings. She did her best not to think about what that would do, and instead flew to its side. Nothing but moss-stained stones before her.
A quarter of the way up the cliffside and her wings ached. Halfway and they burned. Yet still she climbed into the air, as straight as she possibly could. Near three fourths of the way and she needed to stop. Luckily, she found a gap in the rockface just large enough for her and flower.
Link would have loved this. Climbing up a waterfall? It would have been amazing seeing that with him. One more thing the Great Mother stole from me. In a moment of misplaced bravery, she peaked over the edge. Nope. She pulled her head back, trying to force the vision of her falling all the way back down from her mind. Instead focusing on what she actually saw. The Gerudo had reached the base. It would not be long now. She did not have the time to rest.
She would rest when Link was safe.
That didn't make her wings hurt less, however.
Standing up she stretched, tried to get some magic flowing back into her wings. As I told the kids, work first, rest after.
She lifted herself back into the air. Clenching her fist, hoping that would block out the pain.
It didn't.
"A little further," she said through gritted teeth as she flew steadily up. Her head craning as she focused on the top. Staring as the lip of the cliff grew closer and closer. With a final burst she flapped her wings and reached the top. A blast of salty sea air hit her face, and all she could see for miles was water. With the only exception being Zora city floating in the middle.
She had made it.
Landing on the rocks, she let her feet squish on the soft greenery. Moss and algae slick from the dampness all around. She dropped the flower pulled her wings in and fell back. She made it. As the cold wetness climbed along her back and up her hair and into her scalp, she could have cried. Just one more moment, and she would go find Link.
She rubbed at her shoulders, sat up and stretching her wings. Where to? The city was easy enough to see, set up right at the center of the lake. But is that where Lord Jabu-Jabu would be? Or where Link was?
Was he even here?
What had The Great Deku Tree had spoken of the other guardians? He had mentioned that there had once been five only for he and Lord Jabu-Jabu to still remain. He spoke of the great whale with reverence, respectful of his wisdom and understanding. But had he ever said where exactly to find him?
Footsteps and grunts took her from her thoughts. Someone was coming. She couldn't hide behind moss. She grabbed the budding flower, near as big as she. Tucked her wings against her body and pulled it over herself. Hopefully her light will just look like the sun gleaming against the dampness.
The footsteps drew close. She peaked out from beneath the flower. A Zora's webbed foot landed beside her. She held her breath.
"This looks as good a spot as any," came a voice that sounded as tired as she felt. He took one more step past her, positioning himself right at the edge of the rocks. She peaked up. He had a wide sharklike face and a blue hue to his scales. Armor gleamed in soft greens and bronze, and in his hand was a mighty looking spear. A warrior of some kind. Armed and dangerous. Navi shrank back beneath the flower until only her eyes peaked out of it.
He raised his arm, lifting the spear over the edge. He stared at it, his brow furrowed. What was he doing? Was it some kind of ritual?
After a long moment he opened his hand.
The spear fell, disappearing over the edge. Navi strained to hear how long it took for it to strike the ground beneath, but no sound came.
With a deep sigh he took off his helmet, just like the spear he let it go over the edge. Then he threw off metal around his arms and chest. Tossing each of them away. Some of which smashed against the side of the rocks, clanging as they tumbled out of sight.
He turned, taking a moment to look back at the Zora city. "I'm sorry," he placed his hand on his chest and bowed. "I did not mean to fail… everyone." Then he straightened up, turned back toward the edge, and lifted his foot over the side.
"What are you doing?" Navi shouted.
The Zora stepped back. Looking around. "What? Who? Who's there?"
Navi quietly cursed as she tucked herself back beneath the flower, hoping that he would not notice her. Could she make her light glow any less? Beneath the flower she could still see the man's feet. He paced around, nearly stepping on her once. "Is anyone there? Anyone?"
Go. Go find someone. Please just go back to the city.
But he didn't leave. "Even in this I'm nothing but a coward," he muttered. The feet took their place back to the edge.
"No!" Navi flew out from under the flower.
The Zora turned, his mouth agape. "A fairy? You're a fairy."
"Oh," Navi said. Suddenly very aware that there was nothing between her and this Zora. If he so wished he could take a swing and send her tumbling broken to the ground. And if the fairies of the world acted like the Great Mother and her children, she couldn't even blame him. Well, at least not too much. "Whatever you're trying to do, stop!" She turned and flew back to the ground, scooping up her flower and trying to fly as fast as she could away from him.
"Wait!" He called after her. "Wait, are you Navi? Do you know a Navi?"
She stopped. It had been so long since she had seen anyone except the princess that one day. She didn't know this man; she had no reason to trust him. But only one person who knew her name could have come here.
"How do you know my name?"
"A boy, Link told me."
She flew back to him, her fear gone. "Where is Link?"
"Listen, Captain," the Zora behind the barricade said. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to go back in there."
Navi peaked around Miashir's shoulder, her light as low as she could get it and hoped no one would notice her. They were so close to Lord Jabu-Jabu. All that she needed to do was get past this wall. There was enough space for her to fly over the barricade, but there would be no way to do so without flying straight past the man looking through the gap. Easiest to just let the captain bring her inside.
Or it would be if they would just let them through!
Another face nudged the first out of the way. This new Zora had flecks of paint on his cheek. "I don't mean to be disrespectful here Captain Miashir, but you weren't looking good when you left us a couple hours back. And with the Hylain gone?" He shook his head making the fins on the side of his head flop about.
"I'm telling you," Captain Miashir said. "I need to get through. I have given you the proper papers."
"You gave us papers last time, you don't have anything anymore." The first said. "Listen, tomorrow there will be new guards at this posts. Why don't you come back then? Be someone else's problem, eh?"
"You know I am a member of the Royal Guard, now let me in!"
"Are you? Where's your armor? Where's your spear? You're not wearing the symbol of the royal family."
"I was earlier!"
"Yes, back when you had some envoy from Hyrule. Which you lost. I wouldn't be surprised if the King stripped you of your position. Go home, Captain. If that's even still your title."
"What are we going to do?" Navi whispered.
"I don't know."
"We need to get that man out of the way."
"What was that?" the Zora guard said.
"You will let me in," Miashir's voice had a desperate edge. "I will not fail again."
"Leradon, make certain the door is secured."
"No!" Miashir rushed forward. Navi clutched tight onto him as he ran at the door. He struck the wood with his shoulder nearly bouncing her off. "Get ready," he hissed.
"For what?"
He smacked into the door once more, it opened an inch. Was that enough for her to get through? One of the Zora was on the other side, pushing against it. The door wavered back and forth. Slamming shut then opening again. Too fast. If it slammed down on her when she tried to fly through, that would be her end.
"Help me!" the Zora on the other side shouted.
"I'm coming!" Feet pounded into the ground from behind the barricade. The man had moved from his position.
Navi flew before Miashir even had a chance to shout "Go." Right through the hole. As fast as she could fly.
"What's that?" someone shouted.
There was a clanking of metal. The flapping of webbed feet against the stones. One of them must have been reaching for her, swatting at the air as she flew past. Another was laughing.
"It's a sunset fly," their leader shouted. "Ignore the bug, help me with the door!"
They didn't chase her. And yet she did not slow down. Hurtling through the tunnel, past artwork she barely noticed. Not stopping until she reached the beach. Landing on the damp sand, overlooking the lake. It was so far, and so deep.
All she needed to do was talk to Lord Jabu-Jabu. Show him what was happening. Get him to come to her.
A bucket sat at the edge of the beach. She fluttered to the top of it and looked inside. Dead fish filled it halfway to the top. That will do. Hopping off the bucket she placed the flower down. She did not have much energy left; she would need to concentrate. Flying back to the bucket she flew in circles, pulling the air around her. Letting the wind get stronger as it spiraled about her. Faster and faster, until the wind whistled and specks of sand rose from the ground, sucked up in the current. With a shout she flew forward, her arms shooting out, directing the gale into one direction.
The wind struck the bucket near the top. It wobbled, tilted, and plopped to the ground. The fish tumbled out, spilling into the waters.
"Lord Jabu-Jabu! Please, I beg you, answer me. Please."
The fish disappeared into the depths. Every single one of them gone.
Now what? Wasn't the guardian supposed to answer?
What if he didn't hear her?
What if he only answered Zora?
A thousand unanswerable questions clawed at her mind. Only drowned out when fears and accusations overwhelmed them. This would never have happened if she had stayed with Link. If she had been strong enough to withstand the Great Fairy. She had been too weak. And now when she was finally free, this was it. What would happen if this didn't work?
Then she felt him. Magic, almost pure power was coming toward her. A bubble rose through the water. It's bulbous shape bouncing about in the current until it reached the surface and popped. Then came another, and another.
Navi's eyes went wide, as the water rose. She flew up and away, at her size even a small wave could be dangerous. And this was no small wave.
She flew back to the Emerald Flower scooped it up and watched as a figure so impossibly large surfaced. The Protector of the Rivers, the Wisest of the Guardians, the Lord Jabu-Jabu. His shadow blocked out the sun. His aura just as overwhelming. Far greater than the Great Fairies, the only thing that had felt near his presence was the Great Deku Tree himself. They felt so alike, and yet, so different. Where the Great Deku Tree was warm as a summer sun, and sturdy as oak, Lord Jabu-Jabu felt distant and vast as the sea. His power radiating off him like waves crashing against the beach.
Navi's body tensed from her neck all the way to her feet. The gargantuan creature could crush her with a flipper or just his thought. "Hello?" Navi swallowed. She needed to be brave. For Link. "Lord Jabu-Jabu, I am Navi of the Kokiri Forest. A servant of the Great Deku Tree your fellow guardian."
The whale shifted its body, so one of its eyes focused on her.
"I am looking for the boy, Link. You have him. I am supposed to watch over him, just as you watch over the Zora."
The beast's head lifted then sunk back down. As it moved waters rushed forward and back over the sands. At first Navi didn't understand what was happening, but with each movement the shape of the sands changed. Figures formed. Mighty men and women. It was only sand, and yet as Navi looked at them they seemed near alive. Figures that looked for all the world like great warriors and scholars. And as the waves crashed against them over and over, they stood strong. They took whatever was dealt against them, and they withstood, they endured. And against the waves of evil they only seemed to grow mightier.
Then another wave came, and washed them away. In their place was a much smaller figure. A fairy clutching a flower. And as the waves came, the fairy fell. Cracking. Splitting. Losing the flower. Alone.
"I know I am weak. What does that matter?"
The whale did not respond, but he did not need to. His eyes spoke all the words he needed. She was in over her head, she was not strong enough. She was not made for adventure. Link was. Perhaps he was still too young, but he had survived without her, hadn't he? If there was ever going to be someone to fight against the wrongs of the world, it wasn't going to be her. It would always be him.
"But he still needs protecting! He still needs to be watched over."
The wave crashed once more over the sand statue. When it receded, so was most of the figure. Leaving only a head and arms, the rest of her torn apart.
"I don't care! Take me to Link. Now!" She flew toward the massive eye, before she remembered who she was yelling at. "Please. He needs me."
Lord Jabu-Jabu's mouth opened. So wide it covered everything. All she could see was the red of his flesh and the deep darkness within. He breathed out, and magic washed over her. Filled her. She could feel her wings grow strong; her mind no longer clouded with exhaustion.
Before she could thank him, he inhaled with the strength of a whirlwind. Navi rose from the ground, clutching the flower as close as she could. Wind whipped past her face. Forcing her eyes shut.
I'm coming Link. I'm coming.