The Legend of Zelda: The Magician

15: Lost Woods

The Great Deku Sprout continues to smile at me, his eyes appearing young, yet wise. "Navi, your fateful fairy from your previous journey, is alive and well. She had to return to the forest to regain her strength and it is an extensive process. A fairy's life is far longer than a mortal and regaining her energy will take years under the care of one of the Great Fairies. In a few more years, you can come back to visit your old friend."

My heart leaps in my chest, happiness beginning to well inside of me. Navi is alive. She didn't perish from our journey. Despite all those I had lost, knowing Navi is well and safe, makes me so grateful.

"As for a new way to cleanse the temples, you've had it in you this entire time, Hero of Time." The Deku Sprout smiles, bouncing as he speaks. "Why do you think the medallions have been melding with you, instead of staying tangible to place inside your pouches?"

"What do you mean?" I ask, curious. I have always wondered why the medallions have been disappearing into my hands, unlike my last adventure.

"Each medallion holds with it the sacred power from each element," The Great Deku Sprout explains. "Everything in life is balance, Hero. Even among the elements and nature, each individual thing has its light, its dark, and its neutral. The sacred power of almost every element is inside of your left hand, now. I'm sure your magician friend can help you access it, to wield with your sword or bow, so that your weapons become ethereal to cleanse, instead of staying corporeal to kill."

My mind stops, shocked. This entire time, I've had the power to cleanse within me all along. And I can now use magic? I can feel that my thoughts want to race through me, but I'm still stupefied that I'm capable of magic now. What I've always held in awe, had always been jealous of in others who could wield it, is now in my possession. Looking at my hands, I stare at them with astonishment. It's too good to be true.

"Link?" Ghirahim's voice chimes through my thoughts and I turn to look at him, my eyes still feeling wide. And, judging by his amused face, they are. "Listening again, now, are we?"

I clear my throat, my checks starting to burn with embarrassment, and turn my gaze to the Great Deku Sprout again. He is still smiling. He must be the happiest being I've ever seen.

"From what Lord Ghirahim has told me, it won't be hard for you to access your powers," The Great Deku Sprout comments. "Magic is a lot like shapeshifting. Mind over matter. Just remember the rules of nature, so you can determine the weaknesses of your foes and use the correct cleansing element for each of them."

Nodding, I bow to the Great Deku Sprout. "Thank you for all of this information. You've truly helped me more than you know."

The Great Deku Sprout chuckles almost childishly, "Oh, I know, Courageous Hero. I can sense all that there is. And I am obliged to caution you against your own darkness. There is no harm in having a dark side, Link. But, allowing it to prevail will be your downfall, if you do not act."

I freeze in my bowing pose, my body practically unmoving. Dark Link still haunts me, it seems, despite my efforts to meld with him. Is there no end to what I must do to combat him? Will I always be fighting a never-ending battle against him? My body grows weary at the thought, my head beginning to feel fuzzy with fatigue from all the mental responsibilities I've been placed with of late. I've been dealing with far more emotional and mental trials this journey than I had before.

"Now, off you two go!" The Great Deku Sprout chimes, his tone bubbly. "The Forest Temple isn't going to wait for you, and you're so close to saving Hyrule once more! We're all counting on you two."

Straightening myself, I nod as confidently as I can in response. Then, we thank the Great Deku Sprout again before we begin walking back through the pathway cut between the hills that lead back into the village. My mind swims with opposing thoughts and emotions. I'm excited for my new abilities and I desperately want to try them out as soon as possible. But, at the same time, I now feel more pressure on me than before to not fail Hyrule and its inhabitants. During my last adventure, I never felt overwhelmed. Yes, sometimes I was stumped at a puzzle or worried over the fate of this world. But, with the heavy responsibility to defend myself against my darker self and still save Hyrule without falling to said darkness, feels like a whole new gargantuan weight has been dropped onto my shoulders. And the Great Deku Sprout's words didn't help to ease the burden.