Link awoke to a cool breeze coming from the open window. He'd been awake few times during the night with dreams of regret and memories of old that he'd thrown away long ago.
Shaking his blond locks from his face, the lad removed himself from the cold stone floor and stretched his arms above his head. A yawn left him, and he looked about the room until his eyes fell on a certain female lying not too far from where he'd been sleeping that night.
Since it was well before dawn, the boy settled himself against the wall pondering last night's events. While it may have seemed that he was asleep, the truth of the matter was that he was very much awake. He'd heard the sobs that Kagome cried, and the words she whispered to herself hours before sleep consumed her. She was so distraught that it pained him to just sit there and listen. What could he have done? They hardly knew each other, and if he were to comfort her, no, that would not happen. Link knew he could not allow himself to get too close to these people, because if he did, then he knew he would lose them in the end. Either way, he could not let such a thing happen.
Sighing, the youth left the sanctuary of the house and crept out into the cold air. From what he could tell, a storm was brewing off in the direction where Clock Town sat. Link remembered the Great Fairy mentioning that strange storms had been transpiring in town as of late, and he remembered experiencing such an event well after meeting the strange foreigners. Turning his gaze away, Link looked about the shore and dark waters. While he had been keeping watch that night, there had been no trouble lurking about. Everything had been relatively peaceful.
While he walked across the beach, he could not get there had been no attacks from Leevers, though they may have come across them yesterday morning, on the beach was a whole other matter. The environment near shore seemed quiet enough, and though it might seem like a good sign, the truth of the matter was that it wasn't. Black acid blanketed the ocean, making it nearly impossible to swim through without having your skin peel. Something had crept into Great Bay, and now it was plaguing the Zoras. How long will it be before they too plague all of Termina?
From what he could remember, Great Bay used to be peaceful, but that was after it was saved. Before, the Zora were bothered by their lead singer, Lulu, and losing their guitarist, Mikau, whom lost his life attempting to rescue Lulu's eggs from a band of pirates whose hideout was just on the other side of the coast facing the mountains. Lulu's eggs had been taken from her room one night, and she lost her voice.
It was that Link stepped in, taking the place of the former guitarist. After sneaking into the fortress belonging to the pirates, he successfully fought and saved all of Lulu's eggs, including the ones in Pinnacle Rock. However, his task was not yet done there. Link too had gone off to the temple and after defeating the monster within and freeing a giant, the ocean cleared, and Lulu found her voice again.
But that was then, and things seemed much worse. Now, a new evil had risen, taking a form similar to the tribe's own appearance. This newfound evil, whether it's doing this on its own accord or under someone's orders, had taken to kidnapping and supposedly slaughter. To make matters different, a monarchy was established some time back, and now the tribe lives in fear. There just never seemed to be a dull day in Link's life. Well, whoever or whatever handled this, there was only one person who knew, and that was the Great Fairy of Courage.
Taking one last look at the Spider House where the others were sound asleep, he continued on, passing the fisherman's hut along the way before coming upon the formation of rocks which created a passageway leading to the other side of the beach toward Zora's Cape. Down that path, he would no doubt reach her fountain.
As he wandered along silently, he could not help but notice the same mess from yesterday morning still lying around the beach. Stepping over the shards, he looked to a cave a short distance away; it was there that the Great Fairy of Courage dwelled. In the past, she had enhanced his defense remarkably and also took the time to heal the wounds he had suffered during his quest to save humanity, but when did the Great Fairies not help him?
Link thought about paying a small visit, he wondered why the foreigners hadn't gone to see her the day they ventured to the snowy mountains, or even this one. But he supposed the reason behind this was because of their lack of knowledge. At first, the group had it in their minds that there was only 'one' Great Fairy. Link didn't blame them; he too had made the same mistake when he was naïve to the outside world long ago.
A shadow stepped into his line of vision, and Link knew without turning around that there was someone following him. With narrowed eyes, he unsheathed his sword and swiftly turned and made to strike at the follower, only to pause in mid-swing. Normally, he wouldn't have ceased his attack unless it was for a good and legitimate reason.
Staring agape and somewhat perplexed, he stood his ground as he stared upon to fallen form before his feet. "Uh, Kagome?" Her name left his mouth smoothly and somewhat softer than usual. Truth be told, he hadn't the faintest idea why she was up so early and following him.
The woman sitting on the ground merely smiled at his person, though she seemed a little frightened of the blade mere inches from her face. "Sorry if I surprised you," she apologized before taking Link's offered hand and regaining her composure. "It's just, you suddenly took off," she explained in a way that made Link blush. "I was worried."
Not sure how to respond to that, he merely scratched the back of his head in a manner of embarrassment. "I just needed some air." Really, there was no need for her to worry. In fact, this was different. Since when did she suddenly begin conversing with him with such emotion? "There's nothing to worry about…" As he stood there staring at his boots, he wondered why she hadn't gone back. The way she was staring at him made him a feel uncomfortable, and he wondered why. Normally he'd feel embarrassed, but not... uneasy.
"Link…" she muttered softly before stepping closer to his form, much to his surprise. "Aren't you cold?"
Blinking at this, he shook his head before taking a step back. "N-no," he replied, earning a frown from the girl before him. 'Why is she looking at me with so much emotion? This isn't like her…' "If you're cold," he began awkwardly. "why don't you go back?" He offered, but she remained unmoving. Before he knew what to expect, the priestess suddenly threw her arms around him, and because he hadn't expected this, he fell back with her nearly in his lap.
"But I'd rather stay here with you!" She exclaimed, only furthering his blush as her body rubbed against his intimately. "Link, what do you think of me?" she asked out of nowhere, completely catching him off guard. Her big brown eyes stared up at him, and her hands rested on his chest.
Taken aback by this, he merely stared at her hopeful expression. 'What?' Was he dreaming? Was this really happening? Such a strange girl she was. None of what was happening made sense. They were strangers from different worlds, and here she was asking what his feelings were. That wasn't the Kagome he knew. The Kagome he observed over the past few days was well reserved, or so he thought.
Noticing his hesitation, the young girl's expression saddened. "Or… could it be that you like another?" She asked as she waited for his response. Her brown eyes locked with his as she slowly began closing the distance between them both. "Why don't you just admit that you like me?"
As he stared at her long and hard, Link suddenly came up with a reasonable explanation for all of this, and it wasn't only because of the cream colored fluffy tail which had suddenly slipped out from under her skirt, but because Kagome wouldn't have acted in such a manner. "Shippo, what are you doing?" he questioned with a slight twitch under his eye, earning a gasp from the female, or the fox child.
Realizing he was caught, the child suddenly transformed. After the pink smoke cleared, he stood awkwardly while smiling timidly at the youth sitting in front of him. "Oops, guess I was caught," he faked a laugh before lowering head. Expecting to get hit or scolded, Shippo held his hands above his head. "Sorry, don't be mad!" When nothing happened, he looked up, only to see Link curiously staring at him.
"I will not hit you, Shippo," he explained, somewhat perplexed, before regaining his footing. "And what might I ask were you trying to accomplish?"
"N-nothing really… just," he scratched his cheek as he saw Link arch a brow at his hesitation. Truth be told, Shippo was thankful that Link was nothing like Inuyasha. Not once after he had met the young swordsman did he ever raised his fist or issued an insult toward him. Link was different, and that was what he liked about him.
The prank he played on Link was pretty much what he had used on Inuyasha when Kagome had fallen ill many months back. Instead of asking why he pulled such a stunt, the half demon had hit him; there were times after where even Inuyasha would steal his food. But moving back to the prank, while Shippo and his friends were on their travels in search of the fragments of the Sacred Jewel, he'd seen enough to experience how and why girls act the way they do when they're attracted to a guy.
Musing on this, Shippo wondered what he did wrong. "Well, I just wanted to know how you felt about Kagome is all." Recently, he'd seen how easily Link blushed whenever his surrogate mother would either start up a conversation with him, or even look his way. So Shippo automatically assumed that the green warrior had fallen for his mother. It wasn't surprising to the child. Kagome was a compassionate and well-liked individual who always took time out of her day to aid a friend or stranger or even put a smile on anyone's face. She was the type to keep personal secrets, care for her companions, and stand up against bullying and also quarreling between two idiots, namely Inuyasha and Kouga. But it wasn't just her carefree nature that men were so attracted to, but it was her loyalty and self-determination that many admired.
"I see, well the answer to that is no," he explained. That was a lie, but it was better that way. Shaking away his blush, Link nodded as the child stared up at him with a solemn expression. "I'm impressed, Shippo. Your transformations are getting better."
Shippo's tail swayed when he heard this. "Really?" A grin suddenly broke out on his face. "But how did you know it was me?" Lately he thought his transformations were doing well, but he had messed up; that wasn't unusual.
Shaking his head at the toddler, Link answered him. "Well, there are a couple of reasons. One, your tail mostly gave you away," he explained, watching the youth scold himself for messing up. "Two, make sure that the person you're transforming into matches their personality, otherwise it will be easy for someone to see the mistake." Noticing the child frown, he went on. "What's the real reason you're following me?" Link was smart enough to know that Shippo hadn't just followed him just to pull some sort of trickery.
"I couldn't sleep," he admitted. "Why are you out here so early?" It was Shippo's turn to ask. He noticed before that Link tended to either go off on his own, telling no one where he was going, or he was silently pondering to himself. Not only that, but he refused to listen to a word Inuyasha said, not that Shippo did either.
Realizing where this was going, Link turned and continued in the direction he had been following before Shippo appeared. "Scouting," he replied. That's what he did most of his life; it was a habit he could not seem to come out of.
Shippo followed. "Why? Do you think those mutant fish are around?" he asked as he glanced both ways, dreading even the possibility of one of those creatures jumping out. He sure hoped they weren't. It wasn't long before another thought came to him. "Do you think those Zoras were telling the truth? Everyone else believed them, but I don't know…"
The answer to that was obvious. "Yes."
Hearing this, Shippo went on. "But what if they're lying?"
"What reason would they have for lying, Shippo?" Link asked. "It's clear that they are distraught over the attacks and the kidnapping of their king and women. You could see the fear on their faces, especially when we showed up. Zoras are not used to seeing humans, and with our unexpected visit, I would have been surprised if they hadn't confronted us." Besides, if they had wanted to kill them, they would have already. But that just wasn't in their nature.
Thinking on this, Shippo realized he had a point, but that didn't mean he trusted them entirely. Though he swore allegiance to the Secret Society of Justice to help anyone in need, he knew he had to take responsibility and help the Zoras, even if there might be a possibility that they couldn't be trusted. Link trusted them, and so far the boy hadn't been wrong on anything. The warrior was there to warn them of the Leevers, and before he never spoke, but his actions spoke louder than words. Without him, Kagome would no doubt have fallen prey to some misfortune, but at least she was well and safe. And this was all thanks to Link.
Not long after he asked his previous question, Shippo's gaze fell on one of his hands clenched tightly at his side. "So Link, why do you always have your left hand covered?" he asked as he referred to the white wrappings covering his left hand. "Did you get hurt?" The child noticed it the moment he first set eyes on him; it was that Link had almost fallen prey to a strange-looking monster. If it hadn't been for Inuyasha, Link might not be walking beside him.
The child seemed so interested as of late. The questions he asked weren't startling, but he had thought no one would comment on his hand. But he supposed it was bound to happen, eventually. "I hide it because I do not wish to see it." That seemed like a perfect explanation, one that need not bother being answered. But Shippo would not make this easy for him.
Shippo went on, his voice raising. "Why? Did you get hurt? Is there a scar there?" Of course, this wouldn't have come as a shock to the child. Before, when they were up in the snowy mountains, he'd seen Link's back scarred in several places, and that wasn't counting the ones he gained when he saved Kagome. There were so many on his back, chest and arms; some were old and others quite recent. Link wasn't naïve to battle; he had experienced a lot, and Shippo had been wrong to judge before.
Feeling a migraine suddenly, Link stopped and removed the bandages around his palm. Although he didn't want to show him, he knew he would keep hearing it. As the bandages fell away, he revealed to the youth the back of his hand where three golden triangles rested, forming what appeared to be an emblem.
Seeing the glowing symbol on his hand, the child gaped. "Whoa, what's that?" He was tempted to reach out and touch it, but he didn't. He thought it looked familiar, but he couldn't remember where he'd seen it before.
Looking at it with a sense of displeasure, Link's eyes darkened somewhat with his frown more apparent than before. "A sign that I have failed," he explained, before re-wrapping his hand. Just the sight of it sickened him. "It's nothing of importance," he scoffed.
Bemused by his reply, Shippo scampered after the fast-walking boy. 'A sign that he failed?' he thought. Since there was much about his comrade that he did not understand, Shippo hoped Link would open up more and express his feelings, which were continually concealed behind a mask of indifference.
Although Link remained silent after his curt response, the child could not help but be troubled. If Link had wanted to tell him, he would have, but seeing that he was still uncomfortable around the group, Shippo accepted this. Eventually, however, he knew Link had to break from his shell. There was so much the child wanted to learn from the young warrior. What was Link's life about? What was his past? Why was he here? And where was his family?
In Clock Town, Shippo remembered when he revealed his past to him and Kagome about how he had saved his land from peril long ago, back when he was only a child. At first he found it hard to believe, but after all that the child witnessed after his descent into this world, perhaps what he said was true. Shippo had never known Link to lie, yet he hardly knew anything about the boy, only that he was determined, secretive, and that he did things on his own; Link showed all of this through their travels.
After a short walk, the boys finally arrived at the shore, which overlooked the cave a small distance away. Getting there seemed challenging in Shippo's eyes, but not at all in Link's. The only way to reach the dwelling was to fly or jump from each of the small islands leading there. One wouldn't call them islands, because they weren't big enough to hold more than four people. Perhaps they were like steps leading to her fountain? Whichever it was, they had to cross these if they were going to get anywhere.
While Link searched through his satchel, there was a movement underneath his hat. Of course, he would never pay it any mind, because it was obviously his small companion. Fairies seemed to have a habit of sleeping inside their partner's hats; this had been the same for Navi, Tael, and also Serena. He didn't pay it much mind.
"Is it morning?" a small voice asked, earning Shippo's attention rather immediately.
"Almost," the child replied before canting his head suddenly. "Are you okay?" For some time now, he noticed the small fairy had been quiet, and he wondered why. Right now, she seemed out of sorts.
As she left the comfort of her partner's hair, she fluttered out and landed on the child's head tiredly. "Just tired," she replied feebly. "Feels like my energy has been sapped or something lately," she explained.
When Link found what he had been searching for, he glanced at his partner before lifting her off the child's head and into his open palm. "Serena?" Although he figured something was up with her, he didn't think it was serious. This had happened once to Navi, but not to where she could hardly fly.
"Sorry. I haven't been very useful lately, Link," she muttered softly before her wings drooped, unable to keep her upright.
Somewhat wary of her unusual behavior, he placed her into his bag carefully before bending down and picking up Shippo. Without a moment to spare, he started into the water, wincing as the acid burned his skin.
Seeing this, Shippo gasped. "What are you doing?"
Grimacing, Link reached for the small piece of land and pulled himself up onto the ledge before grunting as the pain seared in his legs and lower abdomen. "This is nothing," he muttered.
Seeing Link's beige pants disintegrate, Shippo stared at his exposed flesh, which was slowly turning black, with trails of fresh blood flowing down to his boots. "Why did you do that?" he asked as he situated himself better on Link's shoulder.
Wincing again, Link stood, though the pain was quite incredible, but not enough to weigh him down. He pointed straight ahead, near a huge foundation of rocks not far away. "See that there," he asked. "The Great Fairy's fountain is just beyond that cave," he explained.
One after another, Link jumped from platform to platform. It wasn't long before he stopped and pressed his hand on his leg in order to stop the throbbing. 'If what the Zoras said was true, then how could those imposters swim in such waters? Could it be possible that they can? If that's so, then the Zoras are trapped in their own home. Though they are prepared to go out and rescue their king and women, how will they do so if the water burns your flesh away?'
Link thought back to what the fisherman said before. That man had explained in his story that one of the Zoras was found along the beach without his flesh. Maybe the reason behind that wasn't because of the imposters, but because that Zora had swam through to rescue or send for help?
With narrowed eyes, Link aimed his hook shot at the small island across from him; his target was the lone palm tree. "Hold on tight," he warned, and Shippo prepared himself as he clung to his tunic. Not a moment after the hook shot made impact with the tree, both he and Shippo were dragged into that path before landing on the small island.
"Whoa!" The word left the child's mouth. "I've been meaning to ask you a while back, but what is that?" He pointed at the golden colored object in his grasp.
"This is called a hook shot," he explained as he held it up to the child. Link ran his hand over the surface. This was the hook shot he found while invading the Pirates Fortress a few years back. Link never knew that such a small object could come in handy, but it did.
Shippo awed at it. "So, it just grabs onto anything and pulls you where you want go then?"
"Not always," Link explained. "It depends on how far you are from your target, and how rough it may be. Usually I'm only able to latch onto wood," he clarified, before aiming at another tree in the distance.
"Wait!"
Blinking at the child perched on his shoulder, Link brought his arm down. "Yes?"
"Let me fly you over! It'll be faster that way!" he explained, as if he were worried about something. His green eyes were wide and pleading.
"There's no need," Link replied questionably. "Impatient?" He inquired with an arched brow, which earned a scowl from the small boy.
Shippo indignantly crossed his arms. "I just don't get you!"
Again Link could only stare at the child and his sudden spark of fury. Had he upset him by not wanting to fly over? Link could not fathom this. "Would you rather fly?" he asked, earning a nod soon after. Sighing, Link returned his hook shot back into his satchel, being careful not to hurt Serena. "Very well…"
Upon hearing his acceptance, Shippo nearly jumped with renewed enthusiasm. Even his tail swayed from side to side because he was pleased. Maybe it was strange to his sudden change of behavior, but he did not want his new friend to worsen his injuries. But when he'd heard Link say there was no need to fly over, it upset him.
He leaped from his shoulder, and suddenly transformed. "Get on!"
Sighing, Link perched himself upon the giant pink ball. 'I suppose this works too,' he thought.
Not a moment later, both he and Shippo stood upon rough ground with their backs to the ocean. Directly in front of the boys was the cave, which Link explained belonged to the Great Fairy. However, the outside was blocked by two large boulders, the entrance seemingly impassable.
"Now what?" Shippo questioned as he looked from boulder to boulder and back to Link. "We can't get in." When he saw Link standing there with an appearance of nonchalance, he scratched his cheek.
Already knowing how to solve such a predicament, Link looked to Shippo, who was still staring up at him. "Shippo, why not use your fire crackers? One should suffice," he explained calmly as he pushed back his bangs.
Shippo's eyes brightened at this. "Alright!" He took from his shirt the very weapon needed to demolish these obstructions, and he smirked, easily amusing Link, who was standing not too far from him. "Take this!"
The object soared through the air and made impact right between the two boulders. A minor explosion took place, and as they both took cover to dodge the sailing pieces of rocks and debris, the boys found the entrance cleared.
"I did it!" The fox child cheered triumphantly. He was so happy to be of help, and he hoped to be more helpful to his comrades. Maybe instead of one day in the far future, he might help them out sooner than expected.
"Good job," Link commented as he brushed past the tyke and some enormous pieces of rocks lying around the entrance. 'He's improving.'
Delighted, the child bounded after Link. "Hey, wait for me!" He called before walking right alongside him. Emerald eyes gazed around the darkness warily before a bright light ahead mystified him. 'I wonder what this Great Fairy looks like,' he thought curiously.
Finally reaching the fountain, which was similar in appearance to that of the Great Fairy back in Clock Town, both Shippo and Link stood before the empty fountain with a sense of calmness washing over them. The same melody echoed in the room, yet it held sadness to it. Because it seemed to come from nowhere, it still mystified the fox demon.
Although this fountain did not contain torches that aligned the wall, it did, in fact, have the same appearance as the other. Directly in front of them was a rather large fountain of sparkling water belonging to that of this Great Fairy of Courage. The floor inside this cave was also made from white marble, though it shimmered intensely as the two torches on either side of the steps leading into the spring lit the small area. Violet and blue shimmering lights fell from the ceiling, a sight that mesmerized Shippo. Around this spring were columns and arcs, which a cherub upon the farthest arc.
Without missing a blink, Shippo finally recognized the same symbol that was engraved on the white stairs; it was the similar to what Link had on his left hand. What did the symbol mean? And why did Link say it was a sign of failure? Perhaps Shippo would ask him at a later time.
Link's satchel cover opened, and the small fairy known as Serena fluttered out weakly toward the fountain. When it seemed as if she could fly no longer, Link reached out to catch her unsteady form. The sight baffled both boys.
When the child saw her unmoving form in Link's palm, his eyes grew wide. "What's wrong with her, Link?" Shippo asked worriedly. He watched as her light dulled ever so slightly.
Concerned about her health, Link climbed the few steps leading to the rim of the fountain, and as he did, the symbol below his feet glowed. Small pink lights emanated from the emblem and encircled the boy and his fairy, though neither seemed surprised. When the light circled Link from foot to head, it slowly left his form and descended toward the center of the pond before disappearing into the water. As it did this, it caused the spring to ripple with several shades of pinks and purples. Suddenly, a figure materialized from the center of the spring in which the light had vanished.
Beauty that could not compare to any other citizen in Clock Town, this woman, although similar in appearance to the Great Fairy of Magic, possessed a charm that seem to infatuate those that looked upon her. Gentle curls of luscious indigo swept about her shoulders, though most of her hair was pulled back with pink ribbons, some of which fell knee high. Just like her sister, she too wore decorative clothing made from vines and flowers of assorted colors which fitted to her slender figure nicely. Alluring brown eyes looked upon the boys lovingly, and a smile graced her flawless face. "Welcome to my spring."
Shippo stared at the luminescent woman floating in front of him. As she greeted them with her warm voice, he could not help but lower his head. Before, the Great Fairy of Magic had told them of a prophecy, but what would this one tell them? And also, what was the reason Link wanted to come here?
"Great Fairy," Link's low voice echoed off the walls suddenly, earning the respective acknowledgment from the godly being before him. "I ask you about what might happen here in Great Bay, but first…" he held out his palm with the silent ball of light to the woman before him. "I do not know what ails her, but will you help her?" he asked.
Hearing his plea, Shippo looked at Link closely. This had been the first he'd seen or heard him solemnly speak with such earnestness. But he understood his feelings. Though he wondered what would happen to the little fairy. Although she always annoyed Inuyasha, she seemed like a caring and kindhearted follower of Link's. Whatever was the cause for her sudden weakness, it was beyond him. Shippo hoped it wasn't serious.
With open arms, the woman approached the boy before gathering the small fairy into her open palms. "Poor dear, she is worn out," she commented before closing her eyes. "It pains me to say this, but I have not the strength required to heal her as you would like, young one," she explained softly as she opened her eyes with grief. "Unfortunately, my power is weakening, and I can only do so much in my healing."
Shippo's enthusiasm fell, and his eyes landed on the unmoving fairy in the woman's hands. From what he could see, her light was dimming more so than before. "She's going to be okay, right?"
The Great Fairy lowered her eyes. "While it is sad to have our young ones go out into the world, it's even sadder when it comes time to say goodbye," her choice of words bothered both Link and Shippo. "I'm sorry, but my magic cannot fully heal her," she explained.
Link's eyes fell downcast as he realized the situation before him. Though he never thought it would happen, it did. Serena was sick, and it seemed the Great Fairy couldn't help with this.
"Do not fret, young Link," The woman leaned back as she looked at the boy before her spring. "You came here to learn of the evil plaguing Great Bay, right?"
Irritated, Shippo bounded up next to Link, his teeth clenched as he eyed the woman. "Don't change the subject! What about Serena?" There was no way she could let the fairy die and go on and change the subject. Serena was more important.
With the fairy unmoving in her hands, she sighed. "Forgive me, child. What can I do? As we speak, my magic is slowly diminishing; the same is for her, I'm sure," she explained ruefully. "Something outside my fountain is sucking the life force from me, and the same with my sisters and all the fairies spread throughout Termina. I am not long for this world, and yet I have no regrets."
Hearing this, Link looked at her and Serena. "Is there anything I can do? Is there no way to reverse this?"
At her nod, his hopes renewed. "Nothing is impossible, yet some things easily conquered than most," she replied. "I shall be brief, the evil that is plaguing this land is not here, but will soon be. What you face now is only a glimpse of what will take place."
"You mean the evil isn't really here?" Shippo asked as he scratched his head.
She nodded. "Correct. If my assumptions are correct, all those will magic will cease to exist. Right now, that very evil is growing stronger with our energy."
"Can't you stop it?" The child asked. Maybe Miroku could place some sutras around the fountain?
The woman shook her head from side to side. "Not even the strongest of barriers can stop this," she explained. She suddenly drew back and raised her palms above her head, before smiling sadly at the boys. "As I am not long for this world, I shall aid you in your last request. I shall give this fairy what remains of my magic, but it alone will not last long," she explained before closing her eyes.
The water beneath her feet rippled, and a bright light suddenly enveloped her slim figure. Her hair fell loose from the many ribbons in her hair and cascaded down her back in thick waves. With her eyes closed tight in full consternation, her palms glowed brightly, nearly blinding to both youths.
Just as it had come, the light faded away, and the boys looked at the sight before them. Flowers fell into the empty spring, and the ribbons which belonged to the Great Fairy of Courage floated toward the rim of the pond.
Looking around, Shippo could not make heads or tails where she could have gone. "Where is she?" He didn't want to believe that the woman had given up her life just like that to save Serena. Such a compassionate person existed, or once did. "She's gone…"
Holding his hand out, Link reached for the small fairy as she fluttered in his direction joyously. The moment she sailed into his grasp, Link smiled his very first and true smile.
"Link, I feel so much better!" She exclaimed enthusiastically. "What happened? All I can remember is all of us confronting those Zoras."
"That was yesterday," Shippo replied. He was glad Serena was acting like her usual perky self, yet he was still saddened by the turn of events. It was like they just came here to the woman in order to save Serena's life. That hadn't been Link's intention from the start, was it? "Link, is she…"
He nodded with darkened eyes. "Yeah…"
Noticing the sudden tension, Serena looked around the room. "The Great Fairy... is she… did she sacrifice herself to save me?"
Link lowered his head, his bangs falling over his eyes. "She was already dying… and so she gave what was left of her magic and energy to help heal you, but…"
Serena didn't need to hear more to know where this was heading. From the start, there had always been that moment when she wondered when it might happen, but it seemed as if her life was prolonged, but only for a short time. "Even that is not enough…"