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The journey ahead would be a challenging one. I was sure of it. Though the rain had long since stopped, the cliff sides were still slick with water, which made scaling the mountains practically impossible. I would have to find a way around. I had been trekking along the pathways for quite awhile before I remembered that I didn't have a map of my own. Throughout this journey, I'd relied on Link's Sheikah Slate for travel, whether it be fast travel or directions. It was a bit frightening to suddenly embark on a directionless trip, but I had no choice.

I remember seeing Akkala listed on the Sheikah Slate before. It lay somewhere behind Zora's Domain, so I supposed I'd start there. I wondered for a moment if this fountain actually existed, or if my condition would be worsened by searching for a fairytale.

My boots sunk downward into the muddy earth as I moved onwards. I scoffed and held tight to a nearby tree, trying to free myself the muck. I heard a strange noise behind me as I pulled myself free. I readied my spear and glanced about, listening closely for enemies. I figured it was just a figure of my imagination and turned around, continuing my trip. I had taken just about five steps when I heard it again. A group of bokoblins emerged from the trees around me, waving crude wooden clubs with sharpened bones tied tightly to the weapons. The ground shook a bit as the final enemy approached. A moblin stepped forward, towering over me and the three bokoblins. He wielded a weapon exactly like the smaller creatures, only much larger.

I took a step back and hoped that my aching side wouldn't cause much trouble. I lifted the spear from my back once more and readied myself to attack. The nearest bokoblin launched forward to strike me. I'd been expected this, but I hadn't thought he would move quite so quickly. I jumped back, far out of the range of his shorter club, and struck him with my spear.

Soon enough, one of the creatures was dead at my feet. Three more to go. The two remaining smaller monsters approached me from either side. Both swung their clubs, narrowly missing my body. I crouched down low and swung my spear in a circle above my head, slicing into the duo. My side screamed in protest as I moved rapidly. I was going to have to slow my actions. With a few more strikes, the tiny trio had exploded into a purplish mist, leaving behind valuable monster parts. I turned around to face my final enemy.

Though moblins were rather large and strong, they were also stupid and slow. I began to run in a half circle around the beast. He swung his club, but couldn't process my movement quick enough. His weapon hit the ground far away from me and became stuck in the muddy ground. The stupid brute stared at it for a moment, not understanding why it couldn't be lifted. I used this to my advantage. I leaped upwards and pressed a boot firmly against the trunk of a tree, propelling myself upward. I'd flown up just far enough to send my weapon through the monster's brain. I held tightly to the spear as the creature wobbled to and fro before finally tumbling to the ground in a heap. His body shimmered and dissolved into smoke as I reached for my spear.

There was something purple stuck to the end of it. I raised it up to examine it and was immediately appalled. It appeared to be an organ. It smelt atrocious and pulsated as though it were still a part of the body. I put a hand to my mouth and held back vomit as I packed it away. It may be disgusting, but it could probably fetch a fair price at a shop. I made sure to wrap it in a rag before I placed it in my pouch. I didn't want it touching anything else.

I took a step forward and became aware of the ache in my side. It'd been persistent for the past few days, but the extra activity was only agitating it further. I bit my lip and trudged onwards, determined to not let the pain get to me.

The walk to Akkala was rather long, but the landscape was gorgeous. Various foreign plants littered the path, each a shade of bright pink, purple, and various other colors. After a bit of walking I approached a towering mountainside. The sun had risen, and the rocks were somewhat dry. I could finally begin my climb.

I placed my palm onto the sleek stone that decorated the structures. It glowed a faint blue, as though there was water just behind it. This would probably be more difficult than I'd originally imagined. I pushed the thought from my mind and rubbed my hands together. I seized the stablest parts of the exposed stone and hoisted myself up, climbing the mountainside to the best of my ability.

I reached the top, exhausted and out of breath. Usually such a trip wouldn't have affected me as much, but this injury was slowing me considerably. I was unable to leap from foothold to foothold, so I had to drag myself along the smooth stone. It took a while, but I had eventually made it to the top. I looked around me. The view was breathtaking. I had arrived at what I figured was the East Reservoir Lake. Many docks composed of glowing stone lined the waters. There appeared to be one for each cardinal direction. I straightened my back and glanced about. Now that I had reached higher ground, I could get a better feel of my surroundings.

Behind me I could see the marvelous architecture of Zora's domain. The decorated tail of the fish statue still seemed to tower above the surrounding mountain range. I must've been going the right way, as Akkala was somewhere behind Zora's Domain. I figured I'd glide down to one of the surrounding docks and walk from there.

I took a step forward and my toe immediately collided with a rock. A jolt of pain ran through my leg and I proceeded to hop on one foot, yelling all the curse words I could think of. I finally stopped and took a deep breath before glancing back angrily at the rock I had kicked. Apparently, I'd sent it rolling down the hill. The small boulder had been replaced by a tiny tree creature, cowering behind a makeshift instrument.

He shuddered as I knelt down. The homemade bells in his tiny hands shook, emanating a cheery chime that didn't quite match our situation. I tilted my head and pulled back my hood. "Hello?" He squeaked and jumped back a bit. "I'm not going to hurt you. You just... surprised me is all." He raised his head as I spoke. His face was covered by some sort of leafy mask, but I could tell he was still terrified. "U-Um... Y-you found me! But you're not Hestu..."

"Hestu?" I asked. He ignored me and continued. "You can see me? But I thought your kind couldn't see children of the forest..." he spoke to himself. "Well M-Miss... could you give this to Hestu if you run into him?" He extended his tiny hand and held out a seed. He shrunk back in fright as I took it from him. "Who's Hestu?" The little guy wouldn't quite answer my question. "He's like us! You'll know when you see him. Oh! And keep looking in odd spots. Me and my friends are hidden all around!" I shook my head, knowing I wouldn't get any more info out of him and stood up. I made my way to the edge of the cliff and leapt off, using my glider to land safely near the dock.

I didn't make it all the way there, so my clothes were soaked through with lake water. I gasped and swam slowly to the nearest dock. My entire outfit had been soaked through. I took off each of my boots in turn and emptied them, hoping to make them dry enough to walk in once more.

I traveled up a short hill and stopped near a scenic pond. The frogs nearby jumped up and scattered as I sat down on a rock. I lifted up the corner of my top to check on my wound once more. I traced my fingertips over the bandages and examined them. A bit of blood had soaked through, staining the white fabric a crimson red. 'If Link isn't dead when I find him,' I thought, 'I'm going to kill him myself.'

The ground below me began to quake as I dipped my hands into the cool water. I felt myself begin to slip as something rose up from the ground. I screamed and held on tight as a giant golem of stone rose from the waters. The monstrosity was formed from various boulders making up a rough, body-like shape. The creature appeared to have no weakness, besides the minerals on its back.

I recognized the deposits that had formed on its back. They could be broken in exchange for precious jewels. The problem was that it was located behind him. I had no idea how I would reach that spot. I let go of my hold on the creature and dropped to the ground, rolling out of the way to avoid being crushed. Sharp pains ran up my side as I moved, but I paid them no mind as a fist of rock came hurtling towards me. I threw myself out of the way and bit my lip violently to avoid screaming. Fresh blood began trickling from my wounds once more. I had a fleeting moment of doubt. There was no way I could power through this.

My thoughts shifted to Link. I didn't care how hard I had to push myself, what pain I had to overcome, or what lengths I had to go to to find him. I was going to keep him safe.

I pulled the spear from my back and spun it around, readying myself to strike quickly. The brute lunged forward, slinging his remaining arm towards me. It stopped for a moment to rearm itself. I took advantage of this ceasefire to dash around it and strike the minerals on its back. It lunched backwards and almost struck me. I dodged the attack narrowly and continued my technique. I ran about, waiting for the perfect moment to attack. Eventually, the creature began to slow. I knew he would soon be dead.

I breathed heavily as I ran forward, striking the golem one last time. It fell to the ground in a shower of precious jewels. Its body faded to mist as sapphires, rubies, and pieces of amber rained down. A single white stone emerged from the creatures body. I leaned down to collect and examine it. Another diamond. I smiled as I thought of my brief stay at Zora's Domain and tucked the jewel away with my other two diamonds.

I'd expended quite a bit of energy during that battle. My body felt numb and achey as I continued. I finally reached the top of the mountain and stared down. Below me lay green plains. Farther still was a land decorated with reddish maple trees. It was a beautiful sight for sure. The fading light of the sunset bounced off of the amber leaves, making the land below appear golden. I knew from the drastic change in scenery that I was nearing Akkala. I figured the Fairy Fountain wouldn't be found in any towns, stables, or otherwise populated areas, so I set a course for the forest. I leapt from my spot atop the mountains and glided downwards.

I was able to drift down peacefully into the forest. I was happy to have a change of scenery, but I still had no idea where I could find the fairies. I searched the forest for a bit, unsure of what I was even looking for, until I noticed a gigantic pod deep within the trees. I approached the spiny plant with caution.

It lay in a secluded clearing. Trees surrounded the shallow pond, casting shadows onto the mysterious growth. Luminescent orange mushrooms formed a sort of staircase leading up to the bulb. I was feeling rather nervous. What if this was not the fountain? Where would I go next if it wasn't? I swallowed my fear and neared the plant.

As I advanced, I caught sight of small pink lights dancing across the pond waters. Night had fallen, and the tiny creatures were illuminating the area with a soft pink glow. I had never seen a bug that looked quite like that before... With a gasp, I realized that they may be the fairies I was looking for!

I was about to move towards them, but I stopped myself. Mei told me that I was looking for a fountain, but there were none in sight. I turned back to the strange plant, determined to identify it.

I tapped my fingers against the rough exterior of the plant. A voice rumbled from within. "You..." I cried out in alarm and stepped back a bit. "Wait... Please won't you listen to my story?" I wasn't sure how to respond to the voice. I clutched at my cloak nervously. The hood had fallen over my eyes, as it often does in moments of fear. "A-Alright..."

"I am the Great Fairy Mija. This land was once a beautiful spring, but as time passed, my rupee offerings dwindled. I am nearly powerless now. Will you please help me? I only need... 100 rupees!" My hands reached for my bag. The little voice in my head worried that this may be some sort of scam, but I paid it no mind. This was my one opportunity to heal up and find the blonde hero. Luckily, I was carrying just enough to satisfy the voice within the plant. I held out the money nervously.

A giant hand shot out and seized the rupees. I couldn't see who had taken them, as their body was obscured by a purplish mist. I was knocked back a bit by the sheer force in which the rupees were taken. "Thank you! You're quite sweet." The voice continued. "Aha! The power! I can feel it returning!" The pod began to quake and release a sparkling cloud of mist. With a joyous cry, the plant was split open.

Mist pooled out over a beautiful, floral fountain. Every inch of the structure seemed to shimmer with a natural gold. The water bubbled for a bit, until a giant emerged from the pool. My eyes widened as the Great Fairy Mija broke free. "Aha!" She exclaimed. She held her pose for a bit, as though allowing me to examine her intricate outfit.

She looked rather strange, but gorgeous nonetheless. Her lightly tanned skin was adorned with rainbow scales and jewelry. Each glowed with a mystic light. Her hair was a bright purple. It fell over one of her eyes, obscuring the intricate makeup beneath. Her neck was decorated with a bright amethyst necklace. Thin golden armbands held up the lilac fabric that hung around her arms. She looked like a goddess.

Mija stretched and leaned down to examine me. "Aha! So you're the one who freed me... I was expecting a man, but I suppose you'll do just as well." She seemed to mumble the last bit to herself. Mija yawned and smiled dreamily. "Thanks to you, my power has returned. I am so very grateful for your help! Perhaps I could aid you in return?" She eyed the now ragged clothing that covered my body distastefully. I surely looked like a mess. "Ah, I know! I could enhance your clothing for you. If you have the right materials, I'll repair and improve them. How does that sound, my dear?"

I could hardly respond to her question. I was still admiring her incredible jewelry. She waved a hand in front of my face. "Dear? You're staring!" Mija said with a giggle. I blinked. "I'm sorry... I would appreciate the clothing, but I had something else in mind." Mija eyed me curiously. "Oh?" I shrugged off my cloak, exposing my injured side. Much of the laceration had been torn open during this trip, allowing fresh blood to seep into my clothing. The Great Fairy gasped sadly. "My, my dear... what have you gotten yourself into?"

"There's someone I have to protect. I'm afraid that comes with consequences sometimes..." I answered solemnly. Mija tilted her head in a knowing manner. "Huh? Does this special someone happen to be a man?" My cheeks felt a bit heated as she spoke. She took that as a yes. "Well my dear, he is rather lucky." She announced with a wink. "Now, how about we get you fixed up?"

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I handed my ruined clothing off to Mija and stood by, waiting. I'd changed into nothing but some light undergarments as I worked on removing the wraps around my side. I sat down at the edge of the fountain and hissed in pain as I pulled the ruined fabric away from my wounds. They appeared to be worse than usual. "Now my dear, just lay back and relax. Allow the fairies to work their magic. I will be back in a moment with your repaired clothing." With that, Mija sunk down into the water.

I cautiously dipped my toe into the water. It seemed to be the perfect temperature. I lowered my body into the pool slowly. The waters were deeper than I imagined, so I held onto the edge of the fountain at first. As soon as I was submerged, I could feel the healing magic working. I decided to lay back and float around for a bit.

Tiny pink fairies danced about the water, releasing the pain from my wounds. I closed my eyes as my (h/c) hair fanned out around me. A small smile graced my lips as the numb, aching pain left my body. I hadn't felt so rejuvenated in a very long time.

I swam around in the water for quite a bit. I had a feeling that Mija had already finished repairing my armor. She was simply allowing me to enjoy myself. Once my pain seemed to drift away completely, I hoisted myself up and out of the pool. I didn't want to keep her waiting for too long. As soon as I'd stepped out, she emerged from the pool once more. She held out her hand to me. I gasped as I lifted up my cloak. The work she'd done on my clothing was truly incredible. Each piece was far more intricate and beautiful, yet clearly more durable. I began to dress myself, thanking her as I did so. She simply smiled and waved away my thanks.

"No, my dear, it is I who should thank you. You've restored my power. I am happy to help." I smiled brightly. I was about to put on my shirt until I looked down at my side. Most of the wound had disappeared. The blood and injured skin had been washed away and restored, though they had left some evidence behind. A red scar ran down where the injury once was. Mija stared at me. "I don't know if I can heal that up completely, but I can try." She leaned forward and took a breath before blowing a kiss. The air shone a bit as her magic flowed over my scar. When it had finished, I stared down once again. The scar had shrunken, though not completely disappeared. Instead of the typical reddish color, it glimmered a bright gold. I turned in a circle to examine the beautiful blemish. Mija mistook this for unhappiness.

"I am very sorry, my dear, but I doubt there's anything I can do..." I shook my head, smiling. "You have done more than enough. Perhaps this will remind him not to do anything stupid anymore." Mija laughed, relieved. "There is one final thing I must ask you, my dear. I have a few sisters scattered throughout Hyrule who remain without their power. If you come across them, won't you please help them out?" I nodded. "Of course." The Great Fairy beamed at me. "Well then, I wish you the best of luck. Don't let that lover of yours get into any more trouble will you?" She winked once more. "Wait no we're not--" She cut me off with a wave. "Bye bye!"