Fairy Boy Forgotten

by Icy Cake

While out on a mission, Wendy and her teammates discover an ancient temple where they find a mysterious, injured boy. Much to their disappointment, the child suffers from severe amnesia and is devoid of any memories. It's up to Wendy and her friends to help him remember who he really is. Many thanks to The Epic Legion for the fantastic cover!

46. Trial of the Stars

Trial of the Stars

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For what felt like a while, Link was overwhelmed by the blinding light. A loud ringing deafened his ears and his whole body was tingling from the immense amount of magic that surrounded him. He was floating, seemingly suspended in mid-air, and he wasn't alone. A hand tightly gripped onto his – Wendy's assuring hold. Together, they endured, hopeful that their friends were still along for the ride.

Light became dark. The ringing ended with a loud, echoing ting, as if someone had struck a hollow crystal bell with metal.

Link's feet were back on solid ground. He opened his eyes and was greeted by a dazzling world of twinkling stars and colourful swirling galaxies within a shimmering veil of silvery mist. Various moons and planets hovered high above in the vast and endless realm of space, glowing like little orbs of light. His gasps of wonder were accompanied by others as his friends were also mesmerized by the strange, yet somewhat familiar place.

They stood upon a large platform of smooth white stone within the same magic circle as the one carved on the temple floor. Four tall pillars were situated evenly around the circle, each engraved with runes and bearing miniature, floating, crescent moons of gold with a single triangle set within the middle. Beyond the platform were stone steps leading downwards that disappeared into the thicker parts of the mist, making it appear as if they were above the endless sea of silvery clouds.

"Whoa! Look at this place!" said Natsu, his voice echoing all around as if they were in a wide open cavern. "It's like the Celestial Spirit World!"

"Really does remind me of it," said Lucy, looking at the starry sky, her voice echoing just the same. She shrugged and smiled as she glanced back at everyone. "Only difference is there aren't any Celestial Spirits to welcome us with a party. I guess we're supposed to follow these stairs? Oh hey! Where's Ultear?"

Wendy gasped and pulled her hand away from Link's in a panic. "Oh no! Did she get left behind in the temple?"

"I swear she was right next to me," said Lucy, scratching the side of her head. She pursed her lips and frowned. "I hope we won't be skipping another three months in Earthland while we're here... We should get going. Link, you ready?"

Link nodded and grinned confidently. Wendy offered a confident smile of her own and the both of them walked side-by-side as they followed Lucy and Natsu down the foggy steps.

The mist slowly parted in front of them, revealing more and more steps while the starry sky above slowly disappeared from view. As they descended, the air seemed to thicken with magical energy, making each breath they took invigorating.

It wasn't much longer when they reached the bottom. The moment Natsu's foot first touched the ground, it appeared he stepped into a pool of light as a ripple of shining white radiated outwards far and wide, making the fog rush away in the form of a tall, silent wave. What awaited behind the mist was a giant, pure white crystalline platform floating in the middle of a breath-taking galaxy.

It was entirely different from the starry world above the steps. Suns burned in the far distance, ranging in various colours to lighten the oddities floating throughout the visible cosmos; moons and planets of every shape and size with rings of light, rock, or pretty sparkling gems; enormous castles and temples either built on levitating rocks or floating through the universe on their own; and most interesting of all, colossal beasts that drifted among the stars, carrying worlds on their backs and other parts of their bodies.

Before anyone could take a second to marvel at the majestic sights, everyone's outfits suddenly flashed white. In a blink, their clothing and armour had instantly morphed to something new and different and all the same.

Robes of pale yellow replaced everyone's clothes and gear, with wide sleeves that were as long as their elbows and the bottoms reaching just above their ankles. Gorgeous, rounded buttons lined the left side of the front, each one seemingly containing a tiny, spiralling galaxy within the little domes. Edges were hemmed with silvery cloth adorned with reflective golden stars. Cinched around their waists were belts of dark blue and black that flickered with colours when viewed from different angles. Identical talismans hung around their necks on thin silver chains, an intricate multi-pointed silver star with a softly glowing pearl in the middle. Even Happy, who only had a travel pack and bandana, was now wearing the same robe and fancy necklace.

Link was in awe as he took a quick glance at himself. With his equipment gone, his body felt lighter in the new clothes that were soft as silk. Comfy sandals were in place of his armoured boots, white and trimmed with green and belted by crescent moons. He found his Celestial Spirit Keys clasped to his belt and noticed Lucy also still had hers.

"Wow, our clothes just changed!" Lucy was first to comment, her voice no longer echoing with the mist gone. She ran a hand through her loose hair that was previously tied into a ponytail. "This place really is like the Celestial Spirit World!"

"Similar, yes, but not quite the same," said a loud, booming voice that made Link and some others jump in alarm. All heads turned to find the Celestial Spirit King towering before them, bearing a wide grin and his arms spread out to welcome the group.

"Spirit King?!" Lucy exclaimed.

The King laughed joyously at their looks of surprise, the sound reverberating throughout the realm, making the crystal platform vibrate and the stars appear to quiver. Link's ears were ringing once again, but he could still hear His Highness speak; "My old friends, we meet again. It is truly remarkable to see you here in the Eternal Realm. No living mortal from Earthland has ever entered these sacred lands of Divine Celestials!"

Lucy gasped into her hands. "Divine Celestials? We're in the realm of gods?"

"What? Is that true?!" Happy cried in shock. Eyes wide, he pointed a paw at the King. "Does that mean you're a god?!"

The Spirit King exploded with more laughter, once again deafening their ears and making the realm tremble from his mighty voice, even turning a few heads of the nearest colossal beasts. The King crossed his arms as his ruby-red eyes gleamed with amusement. "A Divine Celestial I am, but I do not consider myself a god. However, mortals such as yourselves may often perceive us highly in that regard. Knowing this, do not treat me differently. I am still the Spirit King and your friend."

Link perked up. He ran towards the giant spirit, needing to crane his head skyward to meet His Highness's gaze. "Are you the 'old friend' Yorenthall said we would meet? Did you know him?"

Scratching the bottom of his chin with a finger, the King hummed loudly in thought, a thunderous rumble in his throat. "If 'Yorenthall' is another name for a wise, old three-eyed dragon in Earthland, then perhaps I did. It was long ago, way before your time. He spoke of you, Young One, and the journey that would one day lead you here."

"So you did know who Link was during the celebration in the Spirit World," Carla stated, giving the spirit a pointed look.

The King chuckled and lightly shook his head. "Not at all! I was told that a destined hero would come to me. 'Show him the light of the stars to help him find his path once more,' was all Yorenthall had said. So I gave you the gift to call upon my stars, Young One," he knelt on one knee before Link, a broad grin set upon his face and his ruby eyes twinkling; "They have served you well. Your arrival means you have rediscovered your lost path. Your true destiny awaits. I am here as your guide at Yorenthall's final request. In this part of the Eternal Realm, there is a trial solely meant for you. Lucy has prepared you well for what is to come. It is time. Be ready."

Link took a quick glance at Lucy. Seeing her assuring nod and smile filled him to the brim with confidence. Over the last two weeks at almost every waking hour, they had trained together to perfect Link's Celestial Spirit Magic to the best of his ability. He wasn't going to disappoint her. "Yes, sir."

The King stood tall once more and gestured to the side with a sharp flick of his cape. There appeared a large, arced gate of shiny silver, bearing a crescent golden moon with a central triangle on a mirror-like plate in the middle of the arc. There were no doors but a misty, wavering portal that sparkled blue and purple.

"Through this Divine Gate lies the Trial of the Fierce Moon," said the King, his voice loud and mighty as if to announce to the entire realm. "The one who resides beyond this Gate knows of your power and courage, Link. An old friend, you could say, waiting to test your fortitude. However, do not expect him to go easy on you, hahaha!"

"An old friend of Bacon's? Maybe it'll be easy!" said Happy, looking hopeful.

"But if it becomes difficult, would we be able to help?" Wendy asked, giving Link worried glances.

The King crossed his arms and shook his head. "None other can enter this Divine Gate, but Link. The trial will be difficult, yes, however, your magic energy will not be limited. It is in fact, infinite. Different forms of magic from many realms flow through here in abundance, too much for your mortal bodies and minds to withstand for long. The Celestial Pearls you wear around your necks will protect you from harm, similar to the Celestial Spirit clothes you have worn in my Spirit World."

"Wait? We have infinite magic?!" Natsu exclaimed. His excitement soon died out when he stared at his hands. "Why can't I use any of it?"

Boisterous laughter came from the King. "Because only the magic of Celestials can fully manifest in this realm. Otherwise there would be chaos! And by Celestials, that includes Celestial Spirit Magic!" He snapped his fingers, the sharp sound echoing loud and far. In a big puff of white smoke, he summoned a group of familiar faces on either side of him; the twelve Zodiac Spirits.

Link was elated to see not only Mother Pisces alongside Son Pisces, but also the Gemini twins, Taurus, and Loke, the five spirits looking happy and well.

There wasn't even a moment to be surprised when both groups broke out in cries of joy and relief as they ran to meet each other in the middle. Lucy embraced Loke's neck in a tearful hug and Taurus quickly joined in, crushing them both in his big, burly arms. Giggling, Gemi and Mini flew in circles around them before they zoomed over to Link.

"Young Master!" they both cried as one, hovering before the boy, dancing and twirling in sync. "We're so glad to finally see you again! You've gotten so much taller!"

"Taller? Have I really?" Link questioned, looking over himself. He had started growing out of some of his old clothes and boots, though no one has commented on his height before.

"We missed all the fun you had training with Master Lucy and everyone else," said Mini, sounding sad in spite of her smile. "We're sorry! We hope we didn't disappoint you during the battle against the evil demon!"

Link frowned and reached out, cupping his hands as the twins drifted closer to dance above his palms. "I should be saying sorry! You saved my life... I wouldn't have gotten the chance to defeat him if you hadn't pushed me out of the way..."

"Yes, thank you," added Wendy, giving the twins a grateful smile. "Without you two helping Link, I can't imagine how the battle would have turned out..."

The twins beady black eyes shimmered with happiness. "Protecting the Young Master was our duty! And we'll be happy to sacrifice our life for yours again if we must!"

"Does that mean you're all better?" Link asked, glancing at Loke and Taurus. Taurus was busy apologizing for nearly breaking Lucy's and Loke's backs, who were both moaning and writhing in pain on the ground. At that moment, Mother and Son Pisces approached Link.

"We were still recovering in the Spirit World, but being here in this Eternal Realm feels as though we're back to one hundred percent," answered Mother Pisces, flexing her long slender fingers and flicking droplets of magically conjured water. She was a young woman taller than her son and with a fairer complexion. Long dark hair flowed down her back and kept out of her beautiful face by a black-finned, silver band around her forehead, identical to Son Pisces' head-piece. Although she wasn't shirtless like her son, her light blue, long sleeved and white-scaled outfit was wide open and bare in the front, exposing half her breasts and stomach.

"A temporary boost in a realm much richer in magic than ours," explained the Spirit King, waving a hand towards the many worlds all around them.

Mother Pisces bent over and cupped Link's face in her hands, her smile warm and loving. "Temporary or not, my power is now yours to wield, young Master Link. It is truly a pleasure to finally meet you. You are such an adorable little brother to my son! He has spoken so much about you that I've only been just a little envious at the time you've spent together without me!"

"We have learned much, Little Brother and I," said Son Pisces, bearing a rare and prideful smile. "No doubt he will continue to grow much stronger and skilled with you with us, Mother."

When Mother Pisces straightened and pulled away, Link stuck out his hand and said, "I'm happy to finally meet you too."

Her fingers wrapped gently around his while she placed her free hand over her breasts. Guilt suddenly flashed over her face. "Forgive me for my foolishness, Master Link. You were not there when it happened, but I had acted without command and dearly paid the price. I vow to never let my emotions get the better of me. Your word will always be my command for as long as you are my master." Her warm smile returned as she shook Link's hand. "It is truly an honour to serve you, Master Link. Thank you for taking care of my son. With us together, you have the full strength of Pisces under your command at this moment. You must be thrilled to try out our Star Suit!"

Link nodded vigorously. "Yes!"

"Mother, it may be wise not to attempt it during this trial until we've had proper training," said Son Pisces.

Mother Pisces sighed and pouted her lips. "I suppose you're right. Regardless, we won't let you down, Master Link."

From the side, Lucy limped over with an equally sore Loke and an apologetic Taurus on either side of her. Despite the pain, her expression was eager when she planted a hand on his shoulder. "Hey Link, you know what? With infinite magic, that means you can maintain your Star Suit for as long as you want!"

Link was beaming. "I can?"

"Absolutely," answered the King, grinning down at the boy and Lucy. "In this realm, neither of you are bound to the contracts and conditions of your spirits. You are free to swap Spirit Keys with one another without needing a Celestial Star Contract. Link, the Trial of the Fierce Moon will require all your skills as a Celestial Spirit Mage and I expect my spirits to do their best to help you as their master."

"Of course we'll do everything we can to help the young master," said Loke, adjusting his tinted glasses as he stepped up to Link. "Sorry I missed out on all your training, little guy, but I'm here now if you need me. You got my key so don't hesitate to use it. I know we'll get along fine smooth as butter because future-you and I made a cool and dangerous team. From the stories I was told about the future, anyway." He chuckled at the last part while giving Link a playful nudge on the shoulder.

"Link, here." Lucy unclasped her key ring and separated her silver keys and two gold copies before giving her remaining gold keys to Link. "Go ahead and take the rest of the Zodiac Spirits with you."

The boy was shocked. "Are you sure, Master Lucy? Do you think I'll need them all?"

Adjusting the cuffs of his black suit, Loke perked an eyebrow in His Majesty's direction. "This Trial of the Fierce Moon sounds like it'll be a difficult challenge. Wouldn't hurt to be prepared."

Nodding, Link accepted Lucy's eight gold keys and added them to his own set. He felt more than ready with Lucy's spirits joining him. Taking a deep breath, he stood tall and steadfast as he met the gazes of his friends and spirits and finally, the Spirit King.

"Time in this realm moves neither forward nor back, but it is still best to not keep him waiting much longer," said the King, gesturing towards the misty portal gate.

Natsu huffed in annoyance as he crossed his arms. "Sucks we can't see how it goes down, but I know you got this, kiddo. If you gotta kick this Moon-guy's ass, kick it hard!"

Lucy and some of the Celestial Spirits noticeably flinched from Natsu's remark. "Natsu!" Lucy hissed, looking at the portal warily, "Maybe we shouldn't say stuff like that out loud?! We should be respectful! This Moon-guy's a Divine Celestial!"

"And Bacon's gonna beat 'im at his own trial! Right? Right?" Natsu boasted with a cocky grin, holding the back of his arm towards Link.

Matching Natsu's grin, Link smacked the back of his fist against the Dragon Slayer's. "Yes! I can do this. You'll see!"

"Good luck, Link! Please be careful!" Wendy gave him a supportive hug. She tried her best to be brave for him, but Link could see the worry in her eyes.

"Thank you, Wendy. I'll be careful," he told her as he pulled away.

Loke stepped between them and grabbed Wendy's hand in both of his. "We'll be with him, so rest assured, my young lady," he said to Wendy, bowing forward to kiss her gently on the back of her hand.

Flustered, Wendy looked shyly away and stammered, "Oh! U-Um... Th-Thanks, Loke..."

Lucy groaned and rolled her eyes before shoving Loke away by the side of his face. "Save your sweet talk for later, Mr. Nice Guy, and focus on helping Link through this trial."

Chuckling, Loke adjusted his glasses without missing a beat and flashed a grin at Lucy. "As you wish, Master. You know, I really missed you guys."

"We've missed you too," Lucy replied, her smile fond. Her expression became bold when she turned to Link, giving him a wink. "As Natsu said, you got this! Put all our training to good use and triumph!"

"I will, Master Lucy," said Link, brimming with determination from everyone's encouragement. Seeing Wendy was no longer anxious for him, he smiled and started for the Divine Gate with his large team of Celestial Spirits following right behind him. He paused before the portal, unable to see anything beyond the swirling mist of blue and purple. With one final look at his friends and the Celestial Spirit King, Link took a deep breath and entered the gate.

It was like walking into a cold spray of early morning rain, sending chills up and down Link's spine. The colourful, sparkling fog quickly surrounded him and the voices of his cheering friends went dead silent. A familiar warmth and golden light briefly flashed from the back of his left hand and the curtain of fog was suddenly lifted.

A wide and long corridor appeared in front of him, the floor made of old, mossy cobblestone and the walls in the form of short waterfalls. Tall, rounded columns choked with ivy lined either side of the straight walkway, holding up a ceiling of a dark, cloudy sky. A pair of red eyes suddenly appeared in the dark clouds, bright and menacing, making Link stiffen. The cover of clouds parted around the eyes as if pulled aside by raking fingers, revealing a pale and grinning face that belonged to a giant moon. With mean red eyes, a large pointed nose, and a mouthful of graying teeth, it was undoubtedly the Fierce Moon.

Meeting its unblinking gaze, Link felt a twinge in his gut. He had seen the big angry moon before. In a dream? A long lost memory?

"Do you remember ever seeing a moon with a mean, ugly face?" Wendy had asked him once some time ago; "Keaton mentioned seeing something like that in a place called... Ter... Ternamo? Termono? I've forgotten the name he told me... But it was a very strange place with four red giants too! Might have been a silly fever dream, though..."

Link furrowed his brow. His answer to her was 'no' back then, but now, he wasn't too sure. "The ugly moon is real..." he tried to convince himself. But as far as he knew, it was possible the Divine Gate could have somehow transported him into a world of dreams or illusions.

He glanced around, feeling his heart skip a beat when he found himself alone. However, his and Lucy's Celestial Spirits were not truly gone. He could sense their presences in their respective keys as he swept his hand across them, making them chime. Knowing they remained by his side was enough to assure him that he was not really dreaming.

He shook away his confusion and told himself to keep going. The Fierce Moon – though intimidating as it stared down at him from the starry heavens – was seemingly beckoning him. Taking another deep, steadying breath, Link started to walk forward. Perhaps the Divine Celestial would be able to answer some questions that troubled Link's mind and heart. If given the chance.

His footsteps were muffled by the thick moss as he followed the corridor that led to only darkness up ahead. He looked all around as he walked, brushing a hand over the leaves of ivy as he passed the columns. His distorted reflection in the waterfalls followed along. He turned and approached the water, stopping half a foot away from the edge of the stone path, feeling the cool mist on his skin. He was rather fascinated by how the water soundlessly flowed from somewhere beyond his sight and into a dark, starry void down below.

The waterfall was about an arm's length away. Curious, Link was about to reach out and touch it when he noticed a streak of white light in the water's reflection. He snapped his head to the side and caught a glimpse of a tiny, flying ball of light moving further down the path before it disappeared beyond the darkness up ahead.

Link felt another, much stronger twinge in his gut upon recognizing the orb of light. He broke into a run, his keys noisily jingling.

Darkness receded with his advance. The corridor eventually opened up to a large, rounded platform surrounded by falls as high as mountains. In the middle of the platform was another large silver gate, more elaborate than the first. Several mirrored plates decorated the top arc, each depicting a different phase of the moon with the full moon shining the brightest in the centre. The gate held a similar misty, sparkling portal, this time streaked with gold amidst the blues and purples.

Panting, Link only stopped to admire the gate for a second before he started to walk around it in search of the orb of light he knew he saw. Behind the gate, there was no portal but a solid wall of silver etched with unfamiliar runes. He searched high and low, being hopeful that the light didn't fly off into the starry night high above. Twice he circled the gate, until he gave up with a disheartened sigh.

He lingered by the arch of the gate for a moment longer, eyes wandering towards the stars.

"You shouldn't keep him waiting..." a voice spoke up next to him, giving him a start.

A winged orb of light had suddenly appeared hovering over his shoulder.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you!" said the light, bobbing up and down in front of his face.

Shocked, the boy stared wide-eyed, recognizing the orb as the talking glowbug from his dreams. "Are you a fairy?" he asked tentatively.

The winged orb flinched back as if he had struck her, but she recovered in an instant. Slowly, she drifted towards him at eye-level and spoke in a softer voice, "Yes... I am. Has it really been that long that you've forgotten all about me?"

His heart wrenched, overwhelmed with sadness and guilt. "A long time, yes," he murmured, his gaze falling to the ground before his feet. "Five hundred years ago, I got hurt bad... I've forgotten most of my past. But you..." He looked at the fairy and held out a hand. She didn't hesitate to drop down and hover above his palm, the light of her body warm against his skin. It was a gesture that felt too familiar and comforting. "I've always had dreams about you. You led me to places – on adventures – and we fought monsters, big and small and ugly and strong! Were those... Did those things really happen? Were you my friend?"

The fairy tilted forward as if nodding. "We really did explore all those places and fought those monsters. We were partners and friends! We saved Hyrule together! Link, do you remember my name? I am Navi..."

"Navi..." Saying that name seemed to trigger something from the deepest part of his mind and heart. A sudden emptiness quickly filled with emotion and yearning. He had been searching... for a long time, it felt like. Searching and searching for his lost friend. Because one day, she had disappeared...

"Link? Link?" The fairy was bobbing in his blurred vision, her concern evident in the flickering of her light.

The boy blinked, feeling tears trickling down his cheeks. "Navi..." he choked out, his voice wavering, "I've been looking all over for you. I-I don't know why, but..."

"Link..." The fairy flew against his chest, pressing lightly. "I'm so sorry! I know I left so suddenly, but I had to so I could be here to help you." She fluttered backwards and stayed within arm's reach as she turned around to stare up at the ugly face of the watching moon.

"After we returned to the past in the Temple of Time, I was drawn away by a heavenly voice," she continued, oblivious to Link's utter look of confusion; "A voice that may have belonged to a goddess! She said to me, 'The life of the Hero of Time will someday be in danger in a faraway land and future... Only you can protect him... His power will be needed to defeat the great evil that will one day return...' I followed that voice, and before I realized it, I ended up in this part of the Eternal Realm."

She faced him, her light glowing bright with joyous energy. The air around her sparkled with magical glitter with every flap of her wings. "At first, I didn't know what to do, but I knew I had to save you somehow! So I wandered this world and met some of the divine entities around here, many of them kind, others... not so much. I learned many things from these great beings, transcending in power so I could help you when the time came.

"I waited for you since. When you finally activated the Eternal Gateway in the Fierce Moon Temple, I tried to hurry to you, however... the Gateway only opened partway and even then, my body was unable to pass through. All I could do was cast my magic through and prayed it was enough to protect you."

Link drew a sharp breath as he recalled what Yorenthall had said, "For five hundred years, your body and soul was preserved within the old temple, time nearly stilled upon you by the old and powerful magic that had yet to fade."

It was Navi who kept him alive for all those years in Earthland. He smiled warmly at her, deeply grateful that she had saved him. He owed her his very life.

"I'm so relieved to see you're okay, Link," said Navi, twirling up to fly in a slow circle above the boy's head. "I wish I could have been there for you when you needed me. I'm really sorry... You might not have gotten hurt and forgotten who you are if I was still your partner. But then again, you wouldn't have met those wonderful friends of yours. They seem very nice!"

"It was my fate that everything happened the way it did," was all Link could say, wiping his eyes dry.

"I know," Navi replied with a sad, heavy sigh, her wings slightly drooping, "I wish fate was kinder to you. You deserve better... But you're here now and that's all that matters. It also means that you must be ready to face the trial ahead of you."

Link followed her gaze as she turned towards the moon again.

"If you succeed, you will gain a very powerful ally," she continued, sounding rather awed.

Link gawked and pointed. "The big, ugly moon can be my friend?"

"That hideous thing? Oh no no! The one who resides within the moon. A great deity! You are the one who freed his soul in that very same moon – though it was in a different realm, I heard..."

Link's finger shifted to himself as he tilted his head. "I... did?"

Navi bobbed forward to nod before shuddering.

Link shuddered too, sensing a strange tingling that ran down the back of his neck and spine. "What was that?"

"That would be his impatience... You've lingered here long enough, you better hurry into the Divine Gate!" She zipped towards the middle of the misty portal and fluttered up and down in a beckoning manner.

Link walked over at a slower pace and stopped next to her.

"Go on," she urged when he didn't continue forward. "This will take you straight to the inner realm of the moon where the deity is waiting for you. The trial you will face will be difficult, Link, but I already know you can do it."

Link frowned. "Aren't you coming with me?"

"This is a trial for you and your powers over the Celestial Spirit Stars," she answered, dipping down to his waist to examine his keys. "Besides... you do not need me as a partner anymore. You've grown so much and now you have all these strong, new friends to take care of you!"

Link faced her and cupped his hands beneath her, gently lifting the fairy to chest-level. "But Navi, aren't you still my friend? I've been searching for you for a long time. I may not remember, but I know in my heart that I've missed you so much! You are the only one who knows my past. Please, will you stay with me? Come with me back to Earthland and meet my friends!"

"Of course I am still your friend, Link! Truly. But... As I am now, I can't follow you back into the realms of mortals," said Navi, wings drooping behind her. She suddenly perked up before Link's disappointment could set in. "Oh! But wait! With your ability to summon Celestials, it may be possible to..."

Trailing off, she fluttered out of his hands and started to circle above his head, glowing bright seemingly from excitement. Her light flickered from white to a golden yellow and a shimmering, translucent halo radiated around her body. The tips of her wings became longer and wispy, making them appear feather-like. She gained speed in her flight, her sparkling trail now a brilliant streak of light.

She changed her path to fly in small, clockwise circles in front of Link, her light trail connecting to form a golden ring. Colours danced within the circle, rippling from the centre outwards like a stone dropped in a pond. Before Link could even wonder what was happening, Navi and her magical ring gave off a blinding flash, forcing him to shield his eyes.

Once Link regained his sight, he couldn't help but stare, mesmerized at the object now floating in front of him. It was a white, crystal key about the same size as a Celestial Spirit Key, entwined with silvery wire that formed an intricate, starry pattern along the length of the shaft. The bow was in the flattened shape of Navi herself; a perfectly round crystal disk with a glowing centre and glassy fairy wings on either side.

"Take this," said Navi, hovering next to the key that glistened like gems from her heavenly light.

The moment Link touched the key, a warm, tingling sensation ran through his fingers. Magic that was similar to his. Elated, he smiled at Navi. "This key! Does that mean...?"

The fairy bobbed up and down as if nodding. "With this Divine Celestial Key, you should be able to summon me wherever you are! That's how it works, right? Although, to open my Gate, certain conditions must first be met and I'm not sure what those are. I've never done this before."

"Don't I have to sign a contract first?" Link questioned, trying to help.

"A binding contract..." Navi quietly murmured, turning off to the side to ponder. "Some spirits have spoken of those, but a spirit I am not. I don't think we need a contract since we already share a bond between our souls, me being your fairy partner and all! Our bond is what allowed me to find and help you from here – Oh!" She swooped over to his left hand that held onto her key. "Your Triforce! Its power opened the Eternal Gateway in the temple, so perhaps it could also be used to open my Divine Gate along with my key."

Link frowned when he looked at the back of his hand. "But I don't know how to use the Triforce..."

"Don't worry, Link, there will come a time where you will learn. I'm sure of it! I will be waiting here until then. Now go on! You mustn't keep the great deity waiting any longer!" Navi flew behind Link and somehow managed to shove him into the portal with her tiny body.

Link stumbled into the cold mist that quickly surrounded him. Navi and the platform had disappeared in the fog when he turned around. Again, it felt like he was dreaming, but the crystal key in his hand told him otherwise. He smiled fondly, happy to know that the dreams he had of Navi were mostly real memories. He clasped the key to his ring and continued on, turning his focus back on the task at hand.

After only a few steps, the world shifted before his eyes.

A field of grassy hills and blooming wildflowers appeared, surrounded by a thick white fog in the far reaches of the realm. In the centre, there stood a large and lonely tree atop the tallest hill. Its lush, leafy branches stretched high above the foggy clouds, vanishing from view.

Warily, Link started to walk towards the tree only to jump when he heard laughter echoing from a distance. It sounded like children playing, but he saw no one else around. Every muscle was tense as Link resumed his pace, flinching and twisting his head in every direction whenever the laughter returned. Sometimes he thought he saw glimpses of children in white clothes and covered faces running between the farthest hills, appearing and vanishing like ghosts.

He grew even more cautious when he noticed a shadow of a person standing under the tree. Closer and closer, Link made his way over, one hand hovering over his keys that chimed with every step. As he climbed the tallest hill, the shadow gradually took on the form of a very tall man facing in Link's direction.

The man had his back against the trunk, arms crossed over his chest, head bowed forward as if resting. Pierced into the ground next to him was a strange, large sword seemingly made of two twisted blades; one bluish-silver and the other with a greenish hue, their outer edges sharp and gleaming.

The moment Link entered the shade of the tree, the laughter promptly died and the man started to move. Behind fringes of snow-white hair, white eyes shone through. Pupil-less and ethereal, those eyes fell on Link, making the boy freeze in his tracks.

'Very powerful' was an understatement. The instant the man's gaze met Link's, the boy knew he stood in the presence of a greater being, similar yet also different to the Celestial Spirit King. Set in a stoic expression, the man's eyes could see far and deep in a single glance, prying into Link's soul as if it was an open book.

There was neither a sense of friendliness nor hostility as the man pushed off the trunk to stand taller than any normal human Link had ever met. The giant of a man gripped the hilt of his large blade and pulled it free from the dirt to reveal its sharp, two-toned point. He took a few steps forward to stand under the few rays of light shining through the branches, his full appearance visible, drawing a sharp gasp from Link.

The man had ears long and pointed like Link's, pierced with sapphire-jewelled, hoop earrings that dazzled in the light. There were crimson markings around his eyes and a blue V-shaped mark in the middle of his forehead. He was poised and dressed like a warrior wearing silvery body armour with a breast plate adorned with the golden crescent moon and triangle, the very same symbols as seen on the ancient temple doors. Beneath the protection was a short-sleeved tunic of silver set with three oval sapphires under the collar and with the bottom hems reaching above his knees, and under that were dark blue, skin-tight garments that covered his arms and legs. Protecting his forearms were fingerless gauntlets ridged with thick, metal plates that were decorated with a crimson belt in the middle. Boots of plain brown leather covered his feet, held up to his knees by numerous belts of red with crescent moon buckles.

It was the man's face that looked so familiar – a face Link was certain he had held within his own hands as a mask that looked right back at him with empty holes for eyes. An object that possessed a strange and dark power...

The man rested his sword over his shoulder and gestured a hand towards Link, his eyes flashing before narrowing, seemingly peering into the boy's internal thoughts. Link bowed his head humbly out of respect as the man spoke, his voice resonating throughout the realm and within the boy's chest;

"Heroic One, we finally meet as we are, brought by time and fate. Your prior knowledge has been lost – fragmented – however, your will to fight continues to burn like an everlasting star, bright as I remember when we were once one.

"Your courage, your determination, your virtue, your strength; these four main pillars of your soul awakened my spirit from eternal slumber – freed me of my cursed state. Then, you were worthy of my power. Prove to me that your four pillars still stand strong and my power shall be yours to wield once again in your battle against the greatest evils."

The man shifted in his stance, bringing his sword forward to hold in both hands before plunging the tip into the ground in front of his feet. "The Trial of the South shall now commence."

Link flinched as the world around them suddenly changed. The field of grass turned a dark shade of green and black and the hills sank into pits that quickly filled with bubbling dark water that gave off noxious-looking purple fumes. A platform of stone and vines rose where the man and tree once stood, lifting them twenty feet higher, surrounded by a moat of the swampy water. A swaying, old and rotted bridge of wood appeared in front of Link, connecting to the ground and the top of the stone platform.

Darkness fell and it was now night with the Fierce Moon staring down from the stars, watching Link intently with its menacing grin. Pairs of standing braziers burst to life next to the bridge on both ends, illuminating the darkness. The light quickly attracted a swarm of brown moths that fluttered dangerously close to the flames, their beating wings collectively making the fires dance.

It happened so fast that Link was staring dumbfounded at the new environment, his mind racing to fully comprehend what the man had just said. Apparently, the trial had already begun.

The air was hot and humid and reeked of decay. Doing his best to ignore it, Link took one hesitant step on the rickety bridge and heard the wood creak under the weight of his foot. One wrong step and he could fall into the nasty water, however, knowing the danger did little to stop him.

As Link crossed the bridge one cautious step at a time, he couldn't help but wonder about the man. "A great deity! You are the one who freed his soul..." Navi had said. Freed from the confines of the mask within the realm of the Fierce Moon. It sounded like a wild tale, but Link could only believe it true.

The moment he stepped off the bridge, it completely collapsed behind him. Pieces of wood and rope noisily splashed in the water, but Link didn't dare to look when he saw someone standing in the middle of the platform.

It was another man, tall as the deity, wielding a large, curved sword and a diamond-shaped shield. Red eyes of evil shone within the slits of a painted, wooden mask decorated with three long, coloured ribbons wavering at the top and two more on the spikes on either side that resembled ears for there were sapphire crystals dangling on the ends of the points. The man had grayish-green skin painted with red and blue markings and wore only a loincloth, leather shoes, and a leather covering draped over his shoulders.

A strong sense of familiarity cut through Link like a knife. He had faced this man – this being – before. A dangerous foe that was part of the evil that cursed the swamp waters with poison; Odolwa.

The man reared his masked head towards the moon and began to holler, his yells turning into a wild chant and his body bouncing and hopping from one foot to the other in a strange dance. In that instant, the braziers suddenly went out, leaving only the light of the Fierce Moon to shine down.

Link heard something quickly approach him from the sides before he saw them. Brown and seemingly angry like wasps, the moths were swarming towards his head. His first instinct was to duck and dive into a forward roll. By the time he was back on his feet, he saw the man's red eyes and the silver gleam of his sword as he lunged at Link with an overhead swing.

The blade narrowly missed the boy as he leapt to the side. In that adrenaline-filled moment, he remembered how to defeat Odolwa. Fire for the moths and arrows to the masked face.

Link took a few more leaps to widen the gap and bravely faced his foe. "Open the Gate of The Archer!" he shouted, one hand gripping onto Sagittarius's Key.

With infinite magic at his disposal, Link barely felt the drain on summoning the Celestial Spirit by his side.

The man dressed in a horse suit was immediately standing perfectly straight and saluting the instant he appeared out of thin air. "At your command, Master Link!"

"Grant me your Royal Celestial Bow, Sagittarius!"

"At once!" the spirit replied dutifully, not at all fazed by the danger coming their way or the oddities of the realm.

Link felt his magic surge with Sagittarius's power merging with his. In a brief flash of white, his yellow robe was instantly replaced with a forest green tunic similar to his old tunic, but with a touch of elegance. His short sleeves and tapered bottom ends were trimmed with yellow and a dark green belt was wrapped around his waist adorned with Sagittarius's golden crest as the buckle. A fancy sash of brown leather held a magic quiver full of unlimited arrows on his back and upon his head was a brimmed green hat with a tall stiff point that curled back like a little vine, clipped with a feathery accessory. Draped around his neck was a dark green scarf, also embroidered with Sagittarius's golden mark on the flowing tail ends that were tasselled with yellow thread and beads. Beneath the scarf, the talisman remained around his neck, the Celestial Pearl still shining its protective light. Dark green boots protected his feet and brown leather, fingerless gauntlets covered his hands, in which he held an extravagant bow fit for royalty; the Royal Celestial Bow.

The gilded bow was large and extravagant, painted royal blue between the gold metal fittings along the length of the limbs, the bowstring held taut by a pair of golden horse heads. On either side of the grip, golden wings flared back towards the wielder, bearing Sagittarius's crest on a medallion in the centre of both. The magical, magnificent bow allowed Link to fire up to three magically enhanced arrows of his choice at once!

Normally Link would be counting down the seconds after his Star Suit transformations, however, just as Lucy had said, he could maintain the magic for as long as he desired in the Eternal Realm. Imbued with Sagittarius's power with no impact on his magic reserves, Link was grinning uncontrollably.

His grin was even wider the instant he nocked three arrows, their sharp tips bursting with flame with his and Sagittarius's combined magic. He let them loose, aiming at the angry swarm of moths. Each arrow exploded with an impressive fireball upon impact, instantly consuming the insects in a blinding flare and rush of heat.

"Excellent shot, Master!" praised Sagittarius, both him and his horse head smiling proud at the falling cinders that were once moths.

Wiping out the swarm of bugs did little to break the rhythm in Odolwa's dancing. The giant advanced by bounding from one foot to the other, swaying his head with the motion, making his long ribbons flow like water. His sword and shield were held out on either side, seemingly making himself open to attack.

Sagittarius stomped forward with his bow nocked and ready. "Here he comes! Allow me, Master Link! A blade and that shield will not stop my arrows from hitting their mark!"

"Aim for his mask! That is his weakness!" said Link.

"It shall be done! I will ignite his mask of wood!" Sparks flew when Sagittarius scraped the tips of his arrows against a piece of flint attached to his belt. A volley of fiery arrows were loosed at lightning speed from his bow, appearing as streaks of orange and red. Much to their surprise, Odolwa was a lot more agile than he appeared to be, shielding and dodging the arrows with fast reflexes and equally quick footwork.

Sagittarius and his horse hung their heads in shame. "This fiend proves me wrong! The humiliation!"

Odolwa spun in circles on one foot and chanted louder as if taunting. A ring of fire suddenly burst around Sagittarius and Link, trapping them in a wall of roaring flames.

Link knew what was coming next before he saw their enemy make a move. "He's going to strike from above!"

"Then save yourself, Master Link!" Just as Odolwa sprang upwards towards the moon, Sagittarius grabbed the back of Link's belt and shirt and heaved the boy over the fire.

Flames singed Link's clothes and licked his skin as he cleared the burning trap. He twisted in midair in time to see a red-eyed shadow and a gleam of a sword dropping down on Sagittarius. Breath held and bow nocked, time seemed to slow as Link took aim and fired moments before he would hit the ground. Three arrows of golden light stuck true, exploding in a blinding flash as they pierced into Odolwa's mask before he could hurt Sagittarius.

There was a scream of pain from the giant and the world suddenly turned white and green.

Link landed painlessly on his shoulder on soft grass instead of hard stone. Fueled by adrenaline, he rolled onto his feet, only to freeze in shock to find he was back in the open field with hills and a single tree. He was also empty-handed, his clothes had changed back to the yellow robe and Sagittarius was nowhere to be seen.

A child laughed giddily behind him. He turned and saw a boy in a white gown wearing the wooden mask of Odolwa atop the nearest hill.

"It's you!" the boy exclaimed, hopping and pointing. "You came back to play with us! Everyone will be happy to know you're here!" The boy waved and skipped out of sight down the other side of the hill before Link could respond.

Link didn't even have a second to ponder over what the masked boy had said when the voice of the deity rang throughout the realm; "Courage is your blood."

On an opposite hill, stood the large man with his twisted sword resting over his shoulder.

"Brace yourself for the Trial of the North." Skyward, the deity raised the tip of his blade and once again the world changed before Link's eyes.

Ice, snow, and rock took over the peaceful field of green and fog. The tallest hill with the tree became a snow-capped mountain under an overcast sky. A strong wind carried the thick clouds, sometimes revealing the red eyes of the Fierce Moon peering through the gaps.

His breath steaming in the wintry air, Link stood in ankle-deep snow at the mouth of a dark tunnel that had large icicles for teeth. An icy, wind howled over the mountain, whipping back his robe and hair and making him shiver uncontrollably.

Unafraid of the unwelcoming void and desperate for shelter, he trudged inside, sidling between the frozen teeth. The crunch of snow turned into the echoing smack of sandals against rock and ice. Light from the outside dimmed into darkness. Link's foot suddenly went out from under him when he stepped on a very slippery patch of ice. He fell on his back and began to slide down a steep, frozen slope. For a short, panic-filled moment, he was flailing in the dark until he saw light at the bottom. He slid to a stop, short of crashing into some snow-covered boulders in front of the tunnel exit.

Breathing a small sigh of relief, Link unsteadily climbed onto his feet on icy ground and dusted himself off. He quickly took in his surroundings, seeing the mountain was actually a volcano for the cloudy sky and spying moon were visible beyond the surrounding snowy peaks high above. He stood on a ledge as wide as a train car that rimmed the inner walls in a circular path around a deep and vast, endless pit of nothingness.

Across the yawning chasm, Link spotted something moving fast that left a trail of dust. Bulky and running on four legs, it looked like a bull with a shiny, metallic body. It was hard to tell from such a distance, but comparing its size with the nearest boulders, Link estimated the metal bull to be as large as a carriage.

The heavy stomping of its hooves grew louder by the second as it quickly rounded towards Link's position. Though he had yet to form a bond, there was one Celestial Spirit in mind who may be able to match the strength of a charging, mechanical bull.

Link held the desired key and chanted, "Open the Gate of the Golden Bull!"

Taurus appeared in a big puff of white smoke and his signature roar of "Mooooo!" The great bull was super enthused to be summoned into action, pumping his giant axe above his horned head, flicking his tail, and stomping his feet. "All right! I'm here! Let's do this! Let's uh..." He cut himself off when he took notice of the strange new area he had been summoned into. Lowering his weapon, he glanced over his broad shoulder at Link. "What exactly are we doing, kid?"

Link pointed at the oncoming cloud of dust and trampling hooves. "There's a giant metal bull coming this way. Can you stop it? You're really strong, right?"

Nostrils flared, Taurus huffed as if Link had just insulted him. He put away his axe on his back and flexed his muscular arms with an aggressive moo, visible veins popping on his forehead and huge biceps. "Hasn't Master Lucy told you that I'm her strongest spirit?! I am the mightiest of bulls with horns stronger than any other! A machine ain't gonna beat me in a competition of strength!"

Taurus scraped back one hoofed foot and charged at the metal beast that was now rounding the last bend towards them.

That same feeling of recognition cut through Link when he got a good look at the mechanical bull. Instead of an animal, the bull had the wrinkled face of an elderly man with empty black sockets for eyes. Gears noisily spun beneath thick sheets of metal plating and steam spewed from ports on its back. It appeared like a lifeless, unstoppable machine.

And just like Odolwa, Link was certain he had battled the mechanical bull in the distant past. A mountain of brimstone and flame was completely frozen over by the evil curse in the form of Goht, trapping people under ice. To defeat the great beast, Link could only remember somehow knocking it off its feet and damaging its gears...

Brute force was his assumption and there was no better Celestial Spirit than Taurus for the job. Link had never seen Taurus fight, but Lucy did tell him some stories in regards to Taurus's strengths and abilities.

The thundering clap of hooves rumbled throughout the volcano as spirit and machine charged headlong at each other, closing the distance between them within seconds. Both let out cries of might and rage – an angry moo from Taurus and a hollow, robotic moan from Goht – right before they clashed horns with a resounding bam!

Although Taurus was smaller than Goht, he didn't let the larger beast overpower him so easily. With a furious grunt, Taurus dug his hooves into the ground and grabbed both of his opponent's horns as he pushed back.

The ground noisily cracked and tore under their scraping hooves. For a few moments, it looked like they were equal in strength, but then Goht started to twist and thrash its head. Futile at first, until Taurus lost his grip on one horn and lost his balance. The spirit was thrown sideways by Goht's larger horns, his body crashing through some boulders and over the edge into the endless pit.

Link dismissed Taurus to save the spirit before throwing himself against the cavern wall to avoid getting trampled by a giant mechanical bull. Goht stormed past in a fury of hot steam and dust while letting out a loud, mechanical groan combined with a shrill, train-like whistle that deafened Link's ears.

The boy coughed and waved away the dust, hearing the pounding of hooves gradually move farther away. By the time it was clear enough to see, Goht was a quarter down the ringed path, seemingly staying on its course where it would eventually circle back around to charge at Link once more.

Frowning, Link looked at his selection of Celestial Spirit Keys. Having so many made it difficult to quickly choose who would be second-best to knock Goht off its feet. As he was sifting through Lucy's keys, an idea suddenly popped into his head when he got to Virgo. Perhaps it wasn't sheer strength he needed to overpower a large, mechanical beast, but a well-timed strategy and some tricks.

Grinning, Link held Virgo's Key and said, "Open the Gate of the Maiden!"

Under Lucy's command, Virgo took on the form of a petite, teenage girl, but when Link was her master, Virgo appeared as a younger girl around Link's age and height, with long pink hair tied in two pigtails in a style similar to Wendy's. She also smiled more often while maintaining her calm, disciplined attitude – and strange need to be severely punished when making a simple, common mistake...

"A reflection of my Master's desires," Virgo had told him the very first time he had summoned her.

Though she had the body of a child, Virgo still possessed her incredibly strong earth magic and physical fighting capabilities.

Hands clasped together over the frilly apron of her maid outfit, Virgo took a small bow the instant she appeared before Link. "I am here, Master. What are my orders? Or is there a punishment waiting for me, which I shall gladly accept?"

"There's a big metal bull we need to stop or else I'll be the one getting punished," said Link, pointing at the moving cloud of dust across the bottomless chasm. He wasn't sure what would happen if he failed the trials and he was determined not to find out.

Virgo glared at the metal bull, a deadly look unbefitting of her child-like appearance. "Only I should be punished on your behalf, Master. Allow me to throw these boulders at that creature so it will not harm you." As easily as an oversized beach ball, she lifted the nearest boulder that was about four times her size right over her head.

Link waved at her to stop. "Wait! Not yet! We can take it down together when it's closer!"

"Together? Yes, of course." Virgo tossed the boulder aside where it landed with a mountain-shaking thud and dusted her hands. She smiled, knowing what Link wanted. With a gentle bow towards him, she said, "My power is yours, my master."

The spirit's magic surrounded Link, melding with his in a display of wispy white smoke. In a flash, his attire changed to Virgo's Star Suit.

While Lucy wore a similar maid outfit to Virgo for her Star Dress, Link had decided on an elegant, long-and-wide-sleeved black tunic with twin tapered ends down the back in a similar style to a butler's coattails. A black-trimmed white sash hung down the front of his tunic, proudly displaying Virgo's crest in golden thread, while two thinner, longer sashes draped behind him like the ends of scarves. Crisp black pants and shiny black shoes covered his lower half and a tall, pointed hood covered his face; black and embroidered white with Virgo's sign on the forehead.

With Virgo's Star Suit, Link had the power of Earth Magic concentrated in the form of a pair of black leather gauntlets with dark metal plating engraved with Virgo's sign, mostly hidden within his wide sleeves. Long flat claws extended far past the fingers, strong and sturdy and capable of digging into the hardest rock.

Link admired his sharp and shiny claws as he happily clicked them together. Earth Moving Claws was the simple name he had given them for they could manipulate all forms of earth with the slightest touch. He never knew tunneling underground could be so much fun until he tried it with Virgo.

"We throw boulders now, Master?" she asked the moment he met her waiting gaze.

He was about to say yes when another idea came to mind. "Let's block its path instead and we can ambush it from below."

Exactly how Virgo had done so easily earlier, Link picked up the nearest boulder that felt as light as a feather and tossed it into the middle of the path with a minor quake. Virgo followed suit. In a matter of seconds, numerous boulders were piled on top of each other to block the path.

They proceeded to dive underground with Virgo leading the way. Hard mountain rock broke apart and parted aside like sand with the slightest twitch of their fingers. Though they were blind under the earth, they could sense the slightest vibrations throughout the rocks that made up the mountain. They waited in the darkness, hearing and sensing the fast approach of heavy pounding metal hooves on the surface above.

The pounding suddenly stopped and was quickly followed by the grinding of metal and rock metres away from their spot. "Sounds like the creature has noticed our barricade and may be trying to turn around," noted Virgo in a quiet murmur.

"We'll attack it now," said Link, tunneling ahead. No matter how fast and easy it was to dig with his claws, he could never match the speed of Virgo's tunneling ability. She was like a fish through water as she dug towards the sound of Goht's footsteps.

The Celestial Spirit burst from the ground right under the large metal bull with a flying fist, sending rocks and dirt into its underside, followed by a powerful punch into its belly. It was either knocked down or lost its footing when Link heard the loud boom and tumbling of its falling body. He estimated where Goht's head should be and shot towards it, erupting from the ground in the same manner as Virgo. Flying rocks dented into metal and gears before Link's claws soundly scraped against Goht's head, making sparks fly. He swiped across Goht's creepy, human-like face, drawing out a mechanical scream of pain.

To Link's horror, the screaming, anguished elderly face tore away from Goht's head as if Link was pulling off a mask...

The snowy volcano became the grassy, hilly field before the boy landed on his feet.

Once again, Link was back in his robe with Virgo nowhere to be seen. Standing on a hill in front of him was another boy dressed in a white gown and wearing the horned, creepy face of Goht. He laughed in joy while hopping up and down. "You've really come back to play with us! That was fun."

Link's confusion on the identity of these children slightly diminished as he perked at the word 'fun'. He managed only a smile before the boy with the mask disappeared from view.

"Your determination is eternal," spoke the deity, perched tall on another hill. He swung his blade to point to his left. "Now face the Trial of the West."

Gone was the field and in its place was a lonely rocky cliffside surrounded by an endless ocean. Dreary gray clouds covered the sky that threatened to rain. In one particular spot, the clouds were thin to allow a watching moon to see below.

The sea was angry. Tall waves crashed against the cliffs, sending warm, salty sprays in the blowing winds.

Link stood at the very edge of the tallest point, overlooking the ocean, more lost memories stirring from somewhere deep in his mind. He knew something was lurking under the waves even if he couldn't see it. The water wasn't normal – much too warm for many people and creatures of the sea to survive for long. Another curse and another evil monster, no doubt. And another strange child wearing a mask who only wanted to play.

"Open the Gate of the Water Bearer," said Link, already knowing who to rely on in such a situation.

Aquarius appeared in an annoyed huff, levitating over the cliff in front of Link. She crossed her arms as she took a quick glance around, the end of her mermaid tail twitching irritably. "What's happening with this trial, kid? Sagittarius mentioned a dancing, moth-summoning freak, then Taurus and Virgo brought up a big metal bull. So now what? Where are we?"

"This is the Trial of the West," Link answered, to which Aquarius raised an eyebrow in response. He knelt down and peered over the edge of the cliff and into the dark, turbulent waters. "The next monster I have to defeat is underwater. I need to swim..."

Aquarius glowered at the waves below and snorted. "Really? Is it some sort of sea monster?"

Link scratched the side of his head. "I think so... Will you help me, Aquarius?"

"Isn't that why you called me here?" she snapped, shifting her scowl on him. She abruptly flicked her hair aside as she turned her gaze away, letting out an exasperated sigh. "If you have to go underwater then I suppose I'm the only one who can help you here. Hurry up! Let's get this... whatever the heck this is over with."

Even though Link was supposed to be her master, he nodded obediently without saying a word as he stood up. Lucy always said that Aquarius was so much nicer to Link, and that was somewhat true. Although she was impatient and often blunt in her remarks, Aquarius rarely raised her voice or refused a command coming from Link, unlike when Lucy was the spirit's master.

Manifesting Aquarius's Star Suit had taken many tries when they were training, but their combined efforts and perseverance eventually paid off. With only a thought shared between both, Link's robe was instantly replaced with an enchanted outfit perfectly designed for swimming and fighting underwater.

Dark blue, skin tight sleeves covered his arms and shoulders and beneath that was a silvery fish-scaled mail. Faulds and armoured boots protected his waist and lower legs, both made of thin, blue plating etched with Aquarius's symbol. Blue-plated gauntlets also shielded his forearms, webbed between the fingers to increase mobility in water, working alongside the flippers that shaped the feet of his boots. Upon his head was a half-helm of silver and gold that resembled the face of an elegant sea beast, with eyes and scales decorated with sapphire and aqua crystals and adorned with a soft, mermaid-like tail that hung down the back. A black skin-tight suit was underneath it all that covered from head to toe with the exception of his eyes, which magically kept his skin dry and allowed him to breathe and speak underwater through the mask.

His weapon of choice with Aquarius's Star Suit, were the Aqua Bladerangs; long, fin-like blades extending from his outer wrists that were silvery-blue with razor-sharp edges. Not only did they aid in swimming, they could also be thrown like boomerangs, slicing through water as easily as through air and magically returning to Link with no hassle. On land, they constantly dripped with moisture, enhancing surface attacks with the element of water.

"You'll be smashing your skull against those rocks if you just dive in," advised Aquarius a second before Link was about to do just that. A devilish smile twisted on her lips as she pulled out her magical water urn out of thin air. "Allow me to get you in the water safely, Master."

"B-But I can just–" Link failed to finish before he was swept off his feet by the humongous tide coming straight from Aquarius's urn. His screams were muffled by his mask and the sound of rushing water as he tumbled downwards. Thankfully, the fall didn't last very long when he felt his body crash through the surface into warmer waters, his body dropping slowly and drifting along with a current.

He opened his eyes to the deep blue depths of the ocean, seeing the pale and shadowy forms that made up the seabed. Orienting himself with ease, he dove deeper towards the bottom to escape the strong pull of the waves at the surface. He was grinning beneath his mask, thrilled to swim so swift and free in the wide world of the ocean. Twice he had trained with Aquarius back at Fairy Tail, confined only to the guild's pool and his Star Suit lasting only mere minutes. Fun as it was then, this moment was a thousand times better.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" asked Aquarius, her voice echoing as she caught up and swam next to Link. She still wore a smug smile.

Link laughed to answer her question, his worry from before completely forgotten.

Once in calmer waters, they slowed down to take a good look around. Although dark due to the cloudy sky above, the reef below was oddly dull and lifeless.

"Uck, what's with this water?" said Aquarius, swimming slow circles around Link while eyeing the seabed. "This ocean feels... wrong. Sick. Things are dying."

"It's cursed by the sea monster," Link explained, his voice sounding muffled compared to Aquarius's.

The spirit glanced sideways at him while continuing to float around in circles. "Really? Is that what this Trial of the West is all about? Beating the monster will save this ocean?"

"Yes, that's right..." He knew because he had done it before. Ocean dwellers were getting sick or dying and he had reversed the effects to save them...

Aquarius stopped in front of him, arms crossed and brow raised. "Okay, then where is it?"

Link saw a huge shadow appear behind her, swimming fast in their direction. She noticed his wide-eyed reaction and whipped around in time to spot a giant purple fish with big green eyes, deadly pointed horns, and a gaping mouth full of sharp teeth wide enough to swallow them whole. The name 'Gyorg' flashed into Link's mind the instant he saw its full form.

The pair split up to avoid the snapping teeth and spiky fins of the whale-sized fish, only to be pulled and spun along by the powerful vortex left in its wake.

Aquarius soundly grunted and used her magic to counter the monster's natural current, making water flow around her and Link to help reorient themselves. She let out an angry growl while glaring daggers at the monster that swiftly turned back around. "That's it?! A big ugly fish? Well, it's not going to stand a chance against my wrath! Stay back, kid!"

She swam headlong towards the charging fish, emanating a terrifying rage Link had never witnessed before, which further encouraged him to follow her orders. The boy could only assume she didn't like the thought of being nearly eaten by a monstrous fish...

Link watched in amazement as Aquarius easily swerved aside to evade Gyorg's snapping mouth once again. She then swung her arm to summon her own current that knocked the fish sideways. While Gyorg was momentarily stunned, Aquarius swam in rapid circles around it. She was a streak of blue and aqua as she quickly formed a whirlpool. Larger and faster by the second, the whirlpool turned into an underwater tornado that trapped the monster and pulled in any nearby object.

Link would have joined Gyorg in the dizzying twister if he hadn't darted for the bottom to brace between some large rocks. He clung for dear life as seaweed, sand, pieces of coral, seashells, and loose rock were all sucked into Aquarius's relentless attack.

It felt like a long torturous hour before the strength of the underwater tornado began to wane. Link heard Aquarius yell, "Monster's all yours, kid!"

From the twisting cloud of murky water, Gyorg was suddenly sent tumbling out of it as if Aquarius had booted it out with her magic. The poor monster was spinning and floating helplessly like a dying fish, either too exhausted or too disoriented to recover.

Eyes locked on Gyorg, Link kicked off the rocks and shot towards it like a homing arrow. When he was close enough, he oriented his body at the right angle and swung his arms forward to throw both of his Aqua Bladerangs with accurate precision. The pair of arcing, spinning blades sliced through the water and into the monster's face on either side. And just like with Goht, the face of Gyorg was ripped right off as the creature moaned in pain.

There was suddenly no more ocean, but sky and land.

Link fell flat on his back, the air knocked right out of him. As he lay gasping, the face of Gyorg appeared above him, worn by another child in white. Silently, the child offered a hand and Link didn't hesitate to grab it. The child's hand was neither cold nor warm, nor did it feel solid. It was as if Link was brushing against the softest of feathers and when the child pulled him up with the strength of a man, it was like an invisible force had yanked him back onto his feet.

Stunned, Link didn't even realize the child had pulled away from his grip until they started to run away with a noticeable skip in their step. The child disappeared behind a hill without looking back.

"Your virtue remains true," said the deity, towering upon a hill behind Link, ethereal eyes flashing bright as they bore down on the boy, seemingly eager with anticipation. "The final trial awaits; the Trial of the East." He pointed his sword to his right and the world shifted, quite literally.

Grass turned to golden sand in a blink and ruins of tall stone structures suddenly filled the world. The ambient temperature of the air became very hot and dry. Sweating, Link found himself standing on a stone floor of what appeared to be the remains of some sort of an enormous temple. There were two walls that still stood, holding up a small section of the flat ceiling above. The Fierce Moon was staring down, sharing the blue sky with the blazing sun.

Link didn't have a second to look around when the ground started to tilt from right under him. It wasn't just the stone floor that was moving, everything was rotating together in one direction, except for him.

Sky and land were trading places and Link was unable to keep his balance. He slid and rolled across the floor and walls of the ruins. The broken ceiling quickly became the new floor and Link tumbled over the edge, heart racing and hands flailing in a desperate attempt to stop his fall. For a heart-stopping, stomach-churning moment, he saw the blue sky and grinning moon waiting below.

A strong hand grabbed his arm, stopping his plummet with a jolt. He snapped his head up and was so relieved to see Loke had saved his life.

"That was close!" exclaimed Loke, lying flat on the floor with half of his upper body hanging over the edge. Grunting with effort, he pulled Link to safety.

The boy laid on his back to catch his breath and bearings, his head still spinning.

"You okay, kiddo?" Loke gently nudged Link's shoulder.

"Yeah..." Link answered, breathing out a big sigh of relief. "Thanks, Loke."

The spirit flashed a charming grin and ran a hand through his thick mane of hair, acting quite flattered. "Only did my job, little Master! Feels good to do something after being cooped up in the Celestial Spirit World. So, uh, mind explaining what's going on? We're in a desert and it's upside-down. And there's an ugly, creepy moon staring at us from the sky below..."

"This is the Trial of the East," said Link as he got up and dusted off his robe.

"Okay... Okay..." Loke murmured while nodding slowly. He waved a hand in a slow circle to motion for Link to elaborate. "And that means...?"

"The last trial. There is an evil creature here that I must defeat."

Loke also stood up and dusted off his suit. As he straightened his tie, he glanced upwards at the burning sea of sand. "I get that. The other spirits mentioned big monsters. But why is this place... flipped like this?"

Link opened his mouth only to shut it. No true answer came to mind other than a strange feeling that an upside-down world was not new to him. "I... don't know," was all he could say.

"Gotcha. Let's just say this is one heck of a weird trial," said Loke, chuckling with amusement. His laugh was cut short when the sand began to violently rumble. And with the sand connected to the ruins they stood on, they felt it under their feet.

They both looked up and saw something large moving beneath the sand, shifting dunes and creating sinkholes. Ruins crumbled and sank in its path. With a loud, monstrous roar, the creature burst from below.

It was a giant, red centipede-like monster with three, big green eyes, massive sharp mandibles, and mouth full of spindly white teeth. It was larger than any of the ruins with an extremely long body and over a hundred pairs of short, spiky feet that wiggled like grotesque worms. On its spike-tipped tail was a yellow, veiny, bulbous spot that seemed to pulse like a heartbeat. It dove repeatedly in and out of the sand like an ugly serpent of the sea, making the upside-down earth tremble.

Loke clutched the sides of his head as he stared agape in horror. "Look at the size of that thing!"

And before he could say more, a second giant centipede emerged from the sand, identical to the first with the exception of its blue carapace.

"There are two of them?!" Loke screamed over the noise.

The blue one dove into the sand dangerously close to their location, making the temple start to topple over with the sinking sand.

Loke wrapped an arm around Link's chest to pick him up and took a leap of faith over the edge before the temple could collapse from under them. This led to them falling towards the sky.

"You're going to need Libra, Link!"

"Right! Open the Gate of the Heavenly Scales!"

Loke vanished and in his place was Libra. She had one arm looped around Link's and her other arm was extended outwards, her golden scale noisily swinging. "Master, I have you!" she cried. Their gravity suddenly shifted by her power and they switched directions in their descent. No longer was the world upside down as they slowly fell towards the sand and ruins. With another flick of her wrist, she flipped them around and altered their gravity so they would 'fall' towards a crooked pillar that still stood high above the desert.

They landed lightly sideways on the column of the pillar and hurried to a higher spot to get a better view.

The two centipedes were still moving about, emerging and diving beneath the sand seemingly in random directions with no regard to the destruction they left behind. Seeing them terrorizing the desert ruins was a familiar scene. They were evil beings who cursed a desert wasteland, causing spirits that have long since passed to forever wander the land of the living.

"They're Twinmold!" he remembered a shrill voice screaming in his ear over the rumbling noise. Another winged orb of light. A fairy that wasn't Navi. A reluctant partner, but still a friend. Battles similar to these trials – he had faced them together with her. "If you weren't so puny you could bash their unprotected head and tail!" she had pointed out when he was at a loss on what to do.

Libra scoffed in disgust beside him, drawing him out of his thoughts. She scowled at the monsters. "Giant sand worms. They are your next trial?"

Link nodded and grinned at her fearless attitude. They may be mere mice compared to the gargantuan monsters, but with Libra's power of gravity, they could have the strength of giants. "They're the final trial. It'll be over once they're defeated so let's finish it together."

A hint of a smile flashed in Libra's eyes as she glanced sideways at him. "As you wish, Master."

Within a second, Link was dressed in Libra's Star Suit and wielding his enormous Golden Gravity Hammer. The weapon weighed only a pound in his hands, but he could shift its gravity to make his swings strike as fast and hard as a meteor at the last moment.

"Their heads are one of their weaknesses," said Link, walking to the top side of the pillar with gravity shifting in his favour. It took many tries and lots of painful accidents, but he had finally mastered the control of his own gravity with Libra's Star Suit, freeing the Celestial Spirit to focus her own magic elsewhere.

"Understood. Lead and I will follow," said Libra, giving him a curt nod.

The closest Twinmold was the blue one, burrowing about a few city blocks away. Link crouched low and launched off the pillar, soaring towards the sand worm in a single bound. As he neared the monster and surrounding chaos, he switched the pull of gravity onto a broken section of a wall that defied the tides of sand.

Link lightly touched down on the top of the wall with Libra right behind him. They waited while the earth shook underneath their feet. Sand swelled nearby to the size of a small mountain and the great ugly head of the blue worm erupted from beneath, green eyes big and bright and sharp mandibles loudly clicking. There was a loud grunt from Libra and the monster was suddenly lifted entirely out of the ground as if a giant had plucked it by its midsection. Rivers of sand fell off its huge, thrashing body as it helplessly floated slowly towards the sky.

"It's vulnerable! Strike now, Master!" said Libra, her voice strained. She had altered the monster's gravity.

Link nodded in thanks and leapt high into the air, allowing the strange realm to naturally make him fall skyward. Once he was far above the flailing monster, he switched his gravity to send him back towards the desert. He gripped his hammer tight as he directed his rapid descent over the Twinmold's shiny blue head.

He swung down on the monster with a yell, the head of his hammer becoming heavier than a mountain a second before impact. With a resounding crack, the head of the beast was knocked right off the main body and deep into the sand in an explosive crater. Blue flames erupted from the still thrashing body dropping from the sky. It quickly disintegrated to ash before hitting the ground.

Link was back on the stone wall next to Libra when they both heard the red Twinmold let out a horrific, grating screech. Its partner slain, the last worm was angry as it curved its long body towards the boy and his Celestial Spirit, no longer moving in random directions.

It dove under the desert, deep enough that it could not be traced by sight. However, Link could still hear it; the faintest of rumbles reverberating from the hot, wavering sand. It grew louder and louder by the second, moving in a crooked line. Following the sound, Link turned his head to his left and pointed at a pile of half-buried rubble. "I think it's going to appear somewhere over there. Let's go!"

Link bounded into the sky and, not long after, the red Twinmold emerged from a swelling mountain of sand ahead of him. Instead of lifting the great beast from the ground, Libra focused her magic solely on its head, forcing it downwards where it crashed on top of the sandy ruins. It was like an invisible hand pinned it to the ground by its head while the rest of its body fought to pull free, sending desert tides in all directions.

Situated directly above, Link dropped down like a comet, smashing his meteoric hammer atop the monster's head, shattering its shiny red armour to pieces. Beneath the shell, light escaped, blinding as the sun.

Link had to shut his eyes as the monster's cry bellowed all around while he continued to fall. There was sudden silence followed by darkness. He jolted to a stop and fell forward, landing face-first on grass, the desert heat gone.

He blinked and found himself lying in the shade of the single tree atop the tallest hill.

"Rise, Heroic One."

The deity stood before him, back resting against the trunk with arms crossed and his blade by his side, the very same pose when Link had first arrived.

Link clambered to his feet and noticed the four masked children in white standing on either side of the tree, the fourth one wearing the face of a red and blue Twinmold. The lifeless eyes of the masks were all staring at Link, which was oddly unnerving when the children were also as still as statues.

The man pushed off the trunk, sheathed his great blade upon his back, and stepped towards Link, his otherworldly gaze piercing through the boy. Intimidating in size and sheer power, Link was humbled under the deity's presence until he noticed the small smile twitch on the man's lips.

"Courage. Determination. Virtue. Strength," the deity gestured behind him to each of the masked children respectfully with each trait, all giving slight nods in response; "You have prevailed in each of the four trials and proven your worth. The four pillars that define who you are stand tall and mighty, stronger than before with the bonds you share with your companion spirits. The land from which you came, a terrible evil has made its presence known. I lend you my power for when you must battle for the fate of your future and your realm." He extended a hand in which a key appeared, hovering above his open palm.

The key levitated towards Link and he carefully grasped it in his fingers for a closer look. It was a Divine Celestial Key similar to Navi's, made of pale blue crystal that shone softly like moonlight and entwined in gold wire that formed crescent moons. The bow was a thin, blue crescent moon with a golden triangle within the centre.

Link was in awe as he held the key, feeling the man's immense power emanate from the object.

"Only divine power can open a Divine Celestial Gate in the realms of mortals. Be aware, the full moon must be present in your night sky for mine to fully open. Before that can be done, you must know my name," said the man, eyes narrowing slightly, arms crossed over his armoured chest. "Do you remember who I am?"

"I..." Link glanced from the man to each of the four masked children. The realm of the Fierce Moon was starting to feel very familiar, from the field of grass to the single, lonely tree. This was where Link first held the face of the man in the form of a mask, gifted to him by a fifth masked child who wasn't around.

And Link had worn the mask, walked in the man's boots and wielded that same twisted sword. As he looked closely at the man's face, he remembered. "You are... the Fierce Deity."

---

A/N: So so so sorry for the long delay in updates! Tears of the Kingdom has me hooked - line and sinker. Been playing since May and still haven't completed it yet... Also, the complexity of this chapter had me stumped every now and then. To boost my lazy ass back into writing, I commissioned a dear friend of mine for some fanart! Please take a look at my profile pic for a glimpse of Erza in her new Storm Dragon Empress Armour wielding her Storm Sword. Check out the full picture on my DeviantArt or, better yet, please check out lady_atropos_ on Instagram. She excels at drawing gorgeous women with amazingly beautiful hair!

Did anyone guess that the Fierce Deity would be waiting in the 'Trial of Stars'? There were some hints on the temple doors, as pointed out in this chapter! And Navi? It was never explained why she left, so I decided to make her disappearance more significant.

This chapter was stuffed with goodies for Zelda fans! Did you all recognize Link's different Star Suits?

For those who are curious, listed below are most of Link's Star Suits and weapons (that I've shown and thought of so far) with details on which games they're based on and their abilities in my story:

Libra - Desert Voe Armour (BotW/TotK) with Golden Gravity Hammer (hammer from various games). Gravity Magic.

Pisces - Zora Armour (BotW/TotK) with not-yet-named water trident (Lightscale Trident from BotW/TotK). Can't swim. On-land offensive Water Magic.

Virgo - Depths Armour (TotK) with Earth Moving Claws (Mogma Mitts from Skyward Sword). Earth Magic.

Sagittarius - Kokiri Clothes (Triforce Heroes) with Royal Celestial Bow (Royal Bow from BotW/TotK). Triple magic arrow action.

Aquarius - Zora Armour (Twilight Princess) with Aqua Bladerangs (Zora boomerang fins from Majora's Mask). Slow on land, but can swim, breathe, and fight underwater.

Taurus - Barbarian Armour (BotW/TotK) Will have a cow skull for the headpiece, cow hide patterns on the leather parts and a cow tail behind the waist. Weapon would be a giant axe with a double-edged blade that resembles a Black Boko Boss horn. Star Suit would grant super strength.

Leo - Magic Armour (Twilight Princess) The design of the Magic Armour sort of reminds me of Eclipse Leo's gold armour. Weapon not yet decided. Bombs maybe? Flash bombs and Light Magic bombs? Since Leo's Regulus magic is pretty big and flashy.

Aries - Mystic Armour (TotK) The fluffy mane would be pink and wooly and the Blupee mask would resemble a sheep's face with ram horns. Aries seems to be more defensive so Cane of Byrna (Link to the Past) the size of a shepherd's cane would be the perfect weapon to match. Barrier Magic.

Scorpio - Stealth Armour (BotW/TotK) with modified Hookshot chain gauntlet. Can fire the chain similar to Scorpion's signature attack from Mortal Kombat! Ninja agility, stealth, and Sand Magic.

Capricorn - Ember Armour (TotK) The horns of the headdress would be more like goat horns. Weapon and abilities not yet decided.

Cancer - Swordmaster Suit (Triforce Heroes) with Silver Longsword (BotW/TotK). Sword Magic such as firing sword beams.

Gemini - ?

Thanks for taking the time to read all that. I'll try to update much sooner next time. Take care!