Beams of light glisten in the water and shine over the golden schools of fish deep in Lake Floria. Peace ripples the blue substance, unlike the monster that has overtaken the lands and tunnels that Link passed to get here. Parella swim and plants thrive. This is a sanctuary, a home, and yet there’s darkness in the air. A shadow that has left a mark.
In the center of the hidden cave, a swirling structure stands tall with a platform raised above the water like a secret shrine. And atop that, a basin holds a small dragon resting and recovering. Certainly not the one Link was expecting to find. This couldn’t be one of the three great protectors of the surface. She speaks, her powers weakened by the harm caused by that very shadow Link feared. It continues to leave a path of destruction whether it went, but not for much longer.
Dragons have been associated with water in Far Eastern Asian culture for a long time, and so it’s fitting that the first dragon Link meets in Skyward Sword is a water dragon. Faron is one of three dragons tasked by the Goddess Hylia to protect the good creatures of the surface. She is warden to the Faron Province, overseeing the forests home to the Kikwi and the lakes home to the Parella. She is introduced into the story post-encounter with Ghirahim and suffers great wounds that have weakened her powers.
At first, she threatens Link for trespassing the sacred space until she spots one of her scales in Link’s possession, something only the hero chosen by the Goddess would be able to obtain. It is however not enough for her to believe Link is the hero, and she puts him to a trial of her own device. Fortunately, her trial is a simple collection quest and does not involve going through the Silent Trials again. She asks Link to fetch fresh sacred water that will heal her wounds and revive her intimidating form.
Once healed, Faron resumes her full size, a great dragon whose form reaches as high as the cave ceiling and with powers to flood the province and destroy her enemies. The first time I saw the water dragon’s full form I was reminded of the Azure Dragon or Qinglong, the Eastern Wind and symbol of spring. Much of the Faron Province reflects the full blooming nature of spring, and also sits on the most Eastern part of the Surface’s map. This could purely be a coincidence as rainfall, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water are associated with Japanese dragons but if it was a nod to the great Azure Dragon of the East, it makes Faron’s character all that more intimidating.
Faron is well aware of her intimidating stature, at least when she’s at full strength, and her personality reflects someone who is hard to get close to. Yerbal the Kikwi describes her as persnickety about manners, alluding to a very serious and formal character. However, I believe deep inside, Faron has a great heart. The tough demeanor is merely to protect all under her care. After being attacked by Ghirahim and living through a treacherous war, I would be hesitant to trust others too. At the end of the day, the Faron province is her charge, and failing to protect it would be to fail the Goddess.
Water is calm but also chaotic. It flows, it ripples, it comes in waves. It falls from the sky and rises from the earth. It sprinkles with life yet hammers with destruction. Faron encompasses water, changing to whatever she needs to be. She is a guardian, a protector, a servant of the Goddess.
