Let’s face it: Dealing with an illness is not fun. Whether it be a simple runny nose or a full-blown headache and fever, no one enjoys feeling unwell. To make matters worse, sickness is often accompanied by a slightly heightened level of self-centeredness, and typical reactions include impatience, irritability, and moodiness. While these feelings are natural, it takes a special person to maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity. This is the story of a Zelda character who came down with an expected illness, yet was able to not only maintain a positive attitude but also save me when I least expected.
Nestled between the Lost Woods and the Desert of Mystery, Kakariko Village is a relatively safe and calm oasis. Except for a few mistrusting villagers, the inhabitants are quite friendly, and most are willing to assist Link with his quest. Shops sell useful items, residents share the local gossip, and minigames provide charming distractions. Despite these pleasantries, Ganon’s influence is never too far away. Soldiers are always lurking nearby, and several villagers lament the demise of loved ones. In the midst of this quiet yet chaotic environment, a young boy became ill.
As Link explores each dwelling in Kakariko Village, we stumble upon the abode of the aforementioned child and learn two truths: The boy has a quirky affinity for bugs, and the air near Death Mountain is toxic enough to incite disease. Now bedridden and unable to pass the time chasing insects, the Bug-Catching Kid offers to loan us his bug-catching net so long as Link has a bottle.
At first glance, the Bug-Catching Net does not appear to be an important item. While the net does afford a peaceful solution for handling large swarms of bees, it mostly sat unused in my inventory during my initial playthrough. That is until I tried it in a Fairy Fountain. Curiosity got the better of me as I deviously imprisoned an innocent pixie inside a bottle.
For a considerable period of time, I was unaware of the true power of catching a fairy with the net. Each time I approached a near-death situation, I released the fairy from the bottle and chased it across the screen. It was not until I had completely forgotten about a fairy in my inventory that I gained a deep appreciation for the Bug-Catching Kid’s generosity.
Frustrated from dying to the Swamp Palace boss Aarghus, I was prepared to reset and try again to conquer the Misery Mire dungeon. Unbeknownst to me, I still had a fairy trapped inside a bottle. Just imagine my elation when the little pixie appeared on the screen and subverted my expectation by sprinkling seven hearts of life-giving dust onto the hero’s lifeless corpse. At that precise moment, I realized how priceless my friendship with the Bug-Catching Kid had become: the little tyke saved my life.
I would go on to defeat Aarghus (“first try”) and eventually conquer Ganon to reclaim the Triforce. As the credits rolled, seeing each character Link had helped along the journey made me feel like a true hero. But as the image of the recovered Bug-Catching Kid entered the scene, my emotions quickly changed. The young fellow did not recuperate as a result of my efforts. I sat there somberly with the realization that it was the Bug-Catching Kid who had saved me.
