Djinn
and Tonic
"In the vast, deep forest of Hyrule... Long have I served as the guardian spirit... I am known as the Deku Tree... The children of the forest, the Kokiri, live here with me. Each Kokiri has his or her own guardian fairy." — Great Deku Tree
The very beginning of the Ocarina of Time we are told that every Kokiri has a guardian fairy. And this specific plot point is what shows us that Link is in fact different from the average Kokiri. But not much information is ever given on that relationship between the Kokiri and their guardian fairy. Why do they have them? What purpose do they serve?
Obviously the Kokiri and fairy was modeled after Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. Even going so far as to have them wear similar clothes and add the never growing up aspect. But for story purposes there had to be a reason for the Kokiri to have a guardian fairy.
If you look at the Deku Tree's words he apparently appoints a fairy to each Kokiri shown when he appointed Navi to Link.
In the scene the Deku Tree calls Navi from far away and then sends her to Link to bring him back. Showing that the Deku TRee has some ability to communicate with the fairy from a distance while he cannot communicate with a Kokiri or Hylian the same way. They must be brought to the tree to speak with directly."Navi... Navi, where art thou? Come hither.... Oh, Navi the fairy... Listen to my words, the words of the Deku Tree... Dost thou sense it? The climate of evil descending upon this realm... Malevolent forces even now are mustering to attack our land of Hyrule... For so long, the Kokiri Forest, the source of life, has stood as a barrier, deterring outsiders and maintaining the order of the world... But... before this tremendous evil power, even my power is as nothing... It seems the time has come for the boy without a fairy to begin his journey... The youth whose destiny it is to lead Hyrule to the path of justice and truth... Navi...go now! Find our young friend and guide him to me... I do not have much time left. Fly, Navi, fly! The fate of the forest, nay, the world, depends upon thee!" -Deku Tree
You finally woke up!
I'm Navi the fairy!
The Great Deku Tree asked
me to be your partner from
now on! Nice to meet you!
Navi's words also suggest that the fairies are also used as a method of the Deku Tree to speak to the Kokiri. Navi immediately told Link that the Deku Tree wishes to meet with him.The Great Deku Tree has
summoned you!
Please come with me!
And this sheds a little more light on the fairy's purpose. Link was told to listen to Navi's wisdom. And throughout the game she gives Link valuable information on many different things. She is normally the first sign of warning in a dangerous situation. As well as a giver of advise when Link is lost or confused. Navi has knowledge of most of the enemies Link faces and understands how to defeat them most of the time.Then enter, brave
Link, and thou too,
Navi...
Navi the fairy...
Thou must aid Link...
And Link...When Navi
speaks, use (^) to listen well
to her words of wisdom.
Watch out Link!
Electricity is running through
this red slimy thing!
Watch for the shadows of
monsters that hang from the
ceiling.
This sheds more light on the title "Guardian Fairy." They appear to be a much more watchful eye on the innocent and ignorant Kokiri children in the Deku Tree's absence. When one Kokiri might be in danger or in a bad situation the guardian fairy would warn them. Or tell them that the situation might be bad. As the Kokiri are physically young children living in a wilderness, dangerous situations could show up at any time. So an appointed guardian would almost be necessary for their survival in some situations. When adult Link speaks to Mido he mentions that he wished he was as big and strong as Link to fight off the monsters that have invaded the forest. Showing that the Kokiri are weak against most monsters that wonder the forest and require a closer watch to keep them out of danger. The guardian fairies seem to be just that.Link, watch out!
The ceiling is falling down!
This also shows that there is some level of extra communication between the fairies and spirits. Navi could at least hear them whisper on a few separate occasions in the game. While Saria mentions hearing the spirits of the forest when in the Forest Temple. Taking what the Deku Tree has called himself, the guardian spirit of the forest, it could be possible that the fairies are much more capable of hearing and communicating with the Deku Tree than the random Kokiri.I can hear the spirits whispering
in this room...
"Look for the eye of truth..."
That's what they are saying!
So from what I gather the fairies are a more direct link to the Deku Tree, he has the ability to communicate with them while they communicate with the individual Kokiri. Sort of the Deku Tree's method of a parent giving their child a cell phone to better watch over them and speak to them. The Deku Tree as a stationary object cannot watch over the Kokiri all the time unless they are near him, so the guardian fairies watch over them in his absence. The fairies are also much more knowledgeable of the world around them while the more innocent Kokiri listen to their warnings of danger and advise in situations. Remember the Kokiri do not live in a normal village/family situation. they do not have any real paternal figures or older society to teach them lessons of the world. No parents, teachers, elders, or real leaders beyond that of Mido. The Deku Tree is their creator and guardian deity but is not a parent on a personal level like a family would have. Therefore personal guardian fairies were partnered to each Kokiri and just as the Deku Tree told Link, listen well to their words of wisdom.