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Jade was at a loss for words.
In this white void, where only large gears turned in the distance, his friend floated in front of him. He looked different, different from any other form he's ever taken. His hair took the form of wings on the sides of his head, trailing into peacock feather-like tendrils. His paws were sleeves now, long and flowing, and he clutched a spear of blue light. The circlet he usually wore had turned into horns. He looked... simply resplendent.
A god was before him.
Navi was a god, before him.
"...I understand," Navi spoke, quietly and carefully, "that this... this was your goal first. To ascend to this rank. ...Yet here I am, at the goalpost before you. In... some kind of race I didn't even know I had a stake in." He looked down at himself, extending a hand in front of him, watching how he could fold it. "...I'm not used to this. Of all my forms, I never had real hands like this."
Jade watched the robot go through his motions. His frills were low, his false wings were low. "...how does it feel?" Even his voice was low. "This form."
"It's strange. It's... probably the closest I've ever felt to being human."
"And yet you went beyond them..."
"...And yet." He took a breath, clutching his spear close. "Why now, I wonder... Do you think I did something special...?"
"Maybe. I wish I could say what you did, though. Then I'd have my own answer..." Mimicking what his friend had done, the adventurer held out his own hand, staring into the facets of his lapis claws. "You said the form feels strange, but..." He lowered his hand to look Navi in the eyes. "How do you feel? Since, y'know... usually you transform when you feel something too strongly."
Navi pondered this for a moment. "I... don't feel anything too strongly, come to think of it. I feel calm. For the most part, anyways..."
"For the most part?"
"...I dread what it is you feel." He covered part of his face with a wing. "This was your goal first, and I reached it before you. If there's anything I feel, it's dread... I'm scared you might detest me for this."
Jade's eyes widened, his frills and wings spiking as well. "Wh... What?! No, Navi, I- no!! I don't hate you for this!" Without thinking, he lunged to embrace the robot. "...I mean, I do feel a little jealous. You did get to this point first. But I don't hate you for that...! I never could! We're friends, remember?!"
"...Jade..."
"So please, don't worry...!" His voice lowered, beginning to waver from inexplicable tears. "We'll always be friends. And... if anything, I'm more motivated than ever. I'll catch up to you and become a god myself. ...I want you to see it once it happens. Promise that you'll be with me when it does?"
"...Promise."
They stayed silent for what felt like an eternity after. The gears surrounding them made no sound as they spun. In the white void, a new god was held so close to his dearest friend's heart. And the god held his friend back, confident they remained friends, shutting his eyes in content.
...He eventually felt his form change, his hands becoming paws once more. He no longer had wings or those tendrils of feathers. Birdsong and the rustling of grass filled his sensors. and he could feel the wind. They parted from the hug to find themselves in a field, strange flowers blooming near them. Orange and vaguely bird-shaped, Navi brought one closer to his view.
"These weren't here before," he mused. "I guess I have a flower like MZD...?"
"I think that's a cute one to have. But I can't say I've ever seen it..." A momentary silence. "...wait, you went back to your old self?"
"I mean, I can always go back, but... Look, hands are too weird! I'm not ready to have 'em full-time! And if we're gonna keep traveling, I don't think I want my arms to have heavy flowy bits!"
...The boys shared a laugh over this as they observed the flowers a bit further. Even if he became a god, there was peace in knowing Navi was still Navi.