Chapter Text
After all was said and done, Link had defeated the Calamity, and the spirit ended up moving on. Link had visited Cotera with Zelda, and the 100 year old princess was truly excited to see that the fairy fountains were still brimming with life after all those years. Link had even found his voice, to his own surprise. Cotera had been positively beaming the first time that he spoke her name aloud.
Once Zelda had left, Link told her what had happened to the wolf. Cotera sighed, and let the young hero cry to her about how much he would miss his furry friend. The Great Fairy couldn’t bring herself to tell him about the conversation that she had with the spirit. It turned out that even after hundreds of years, she still let herself get attached to mortal beings.
But all of that was expected. What wasn’t expected, however, was the next time that Link returned to the fountain. He had brought company, and she felt their magical presence from miles away, including a vaguely familiar one.
“-Cub, are you sure you’re taking us the right way?” One of the voices called as they approached. A painfully familiar voice. It was time, then.
“Cotera! I’m back!” Link called, eight travelers following behind him. Cotera burst out of her fountain, before observing the shocked faces of them all. Eventually, her eyes landed on Twilight. The Great Fairy quickly turned her focus back to Link, who had since climbed the stairs of her fountain.
“Well, it’s wonderful to see that you’re alright, little one. The princess nearly threw a fit when you disappeared like that,” Cotera giggled in her usual happy manner. Somehow, though, she felt her smile not quite reach her eyes. Link scratched his neck, embarrassed.
“Well, besides all that, I should introduce you to them,” Link announced, quickly changing the subject. “This is Time, Warriors, Wind, Four, Sky, Legend, Hyrule, and Twilight,”
Cotera noticed how Link’s voice hung over the last name, the same way her eyes had stayed over the wolf-hero before.
“It’s great to meet you all, dear heroes,” The Great Fairy said, before locking eyes with one of them. The little one was wearing a green tunic, and absolutely radiated fairy magic. “Especially this one, Hyrule-isn’t it? You’re practically leaking fairy magic, you know that right?”
Hyrule blushed, scratching the back of his neck in a gesture that seemed common for heroes. Another, this one wearing red, elbowed Hyrule with a knowing smirk on his face, making Hyrule’s face turn an even darker shade of red.
“Now, you must tell me everything that you’ve been up to Link, and I have to say, if you did anything too reckless you know that your wolf friend would be unhappy with you,” Cotera mentioned, and Link laughed nervously. Twilight gave him a glare, the same one that he gave Link when he was but a spirit.
“Actually, Miss Cotera, we were wondering if there were any fairies around that could help us out,” The eldest one put in, gesturing to the various scrapes that the heroes had.
“Oh! How could I be so inconsiderate? Of course I can help,” Cotera said, and looked towards the trees, gesturing for the hidden fairies to come out. Link laughed as one brushed past Twilight’s nose, making him sneeze. Cotera watched the kinship that Twilight displayed before play out again right before her eyes.
She even spotted a knowing glance from the eldest hero as he watched the scene unfold with a smile. Link met her eyes, and climbed the stairs to the fountain.
“If you all wouldn’t mind, may I have a word with Link?” Cotera asked, the other heroes nodding their heads as the one wearing a scarf ushered them back to the village.
“It’s surprising, isn’t it?” Link said. “They’re all so different. And Twi-”
“I know,” Cotera mentioned, and Link looked shocked.
“How?” He wondered, not quite sure what to do with his hands.
“There were a few times that he managed to change his form back then,” Cotera answered. Link looked down to the ground. “He was afraid to leave you. Not that you aren’t capable, but he knew his purpose, and after all you two went through together, he didn’t want to leave you on your own,”
“When did he tell you this?” Link asked, glancing in the directions of the other heroes. Cotera chuckled.
“Remember that time you were injured and ended up here? The poor thing was so worried that I wondered if he could have a heart attack as a ghost,” She smiled, and brought Link’s chin up to look at her.
“There was a time before that though, when he was so upset. He yelled on and on about how you’ve been through too much. He wanted to protect you so bad. And now that you’re both here, protect each other. You both deserve it, after all,” Cotera insisted, and Link smiled.
“Thanks Cotera,” He said, and stood, a new glint of determination in his eyes. Link then waved goodbye, and beamed again, running towards his newfound companions.
And for once, Cotera didn’t worry.
Because they called her a Great Fairy.
Because they called her a blessing and a gift.
Because they called her Cotera.
But most importantly, some even called her a friend.