The Goddess Trials
by Queenie Z

Chapter 1: Farore's Courage

"He who seeks the sacred flames, listen well, for I guide you from my place at the edge of time. The sacred flames are three in number. To obtain them, you must also earn relics known as the three sacred gifts. For each trial you overcome, you shall be blessed with one of the gifts... Make use of the power of these gifts, and you will find your way to the purifying sacred flames."

The will of the Goddess worked in strange ways; Link knew this fact better than anyone. Though her instructions to her chosen one were clear and precise, they were also, paradoxically, quite cryptic and vague. He knew he had to go to the heart of Faron Woods, and he knew that he needed to find a "gate" of sorts - but what he didn't know, what he found himself beginning to dread, was the meaning and nature of these "trials" that had been set forth for him.

He placed his hand on the strings of the Goddess Harp to silence the last remnants of his song; then, he gazed upon the beautiful gate of light on the ground before him. This, he had been told, would lead to his first trial... but he couldn't help but wonder what sort of trial it would be. The only "trials" he ever had to face before all of this, before he took on the burden of being the Goddess' knight, were the exams he'd been too busy sleeping to study for at the academy, but this...

"...You seem apprehensive, Master Link."

Blinking, he snapped out of his reverie and faced his companion. "Ah, yeah... Maybe a little bit..." Link placed the harp back in his pouch. "...Say, Fi, back there in the Thundercloud, you said you could hear the words of the Goddess, right?"

Fi moved her head in affirmation. "Indeed, Master. I have been given the task of relaying her messages to you."

"And... did she say anything about what these 'trials' actually involved?"

The sword spirit remained silent for a moment, as if searching for her answer within her vast banks of knowledge - or, perhaps, pondering which answer she could give him.

"...I just want to know what's on the other side of this gate," said Link, his gaze lowering once more to the magic circle in the grass.

After another short pause, Fi spoke. "Beyond the gate," she began, "is a spiritual plane which lies in the space between your world and the world of the gods. In the human tongue, it is referred to as 'the Silent Realm'. Upon arrival, you will be tested; not on your prowess with a blade, but on the strength of your character."

"A test of character?" Link's face fell in confusion. "How... how exactly will I be tested, Fi?"

"That information is unknown to me," she answered. "My apologies. The nature of the trial may depend entirely upon the contents of your heart."

Link gulped slightly in spite of himself; he had already suspected that this trial would be no easy task, but Fi made it sound so... personal. Intrusive, even, for it seemed as though the Goddess herself would reach into the depths of his soul in order to test his worth. The uncertainty of what lay ahead and the fear of his own inadequacies made him question momentarily whether finding the sacred flames would be worth it.

He clenched his eyes shut and shook his head. What was he thinking? Of course it would be worth it. If it was to stop that monstrosity in the Sealed Grounds and save Zelda, anything would be worth it.

"...Then I'll just have to find out when I get there," he said with an air of nervous resolution.

Fi nodded once more. "Understood." She turned her gaze to the gate. "Master Link, please draw your sword."

Link did so, then walked to the center of the gate.

"Once you plunge your blade into the gate," she explained, "your spirit will be separated from your body as you travel to the Silent Realm. I will remain here and ensure that no harm comes to it."

He glanced back at his companion. "You're not coming with me?"

"Correct. This is, after all, your trial. I will rejoin you upon your return."

He looked at his sword for a moment and took a deep breath. Then, he flashed a warm smile towards Fi.

"Well," he said, "I guess I'll see you later, then."

"Take care, Master Link."

Grabbing the Goddess Sword by the hilt with both hands, Link lifted it into the air; then, with a grunt, he thrust the blade into the center of the gate. Instantly, he felt himself transform into a surge of energy, forming in his chest and rising through his skin, out of body and out of consciousness.

In that moment, Link learned what it was like to plunge headfirst into the world of spirits; a world only he and the gods themselves could have ever known existed.

He felt himself reform into some semblance of a human shape as his vision slowly returned. What he beheld could have only been described as dreamlike; a familiar landscape, the heart of his own world's Faron Woods, bathed in an eerie glow of green and blue. The sounds of the forest, the chirping of small birds and the rustling of trees that Link had come to find comforting, were nowhere to be heard; in their place were the eerie echoes of... something, otherworldly and unsettling, somewhere between the sound of muted bells and the hushed breaths of phantoms. True to its name, the Silent Realm was quiet and tranquil - almost frighteningly so.

Link gaped at the world around him; then, he looked down at the palms of his hands. He had known that he would be leaving his body in the form of a spirit, but he had no idea how ethereal and frail that form would be. It seemed as though he would crumble at the slightest touch - perhaps that would be his fate if he were to fail his trial? ...No, he realized, this wasn't the time for such dreadful thinking, not when -

"Oh youth, guided by the servant of the goddess..."

His breath stopped as the reverberating echoes of a song, that song, interrupted the silence. Even in this bizarre dreamscape, he would have known that voice anywhere.

"...Unite earth and sky, and bring light to the land..."

He quickly turned towards the source of the song, and he gasped when he found it. There, at the entrance to the deeper woods, was the familiar form of Zelda, garbed in the same white gown he had last seen her in, singing the same song he had heard her sing so many times before. In his shock, he called out to her.

"Zel..." he croaked, the sound of his own voice almost deafening in this silent world, "Zelda!"

The figure of Zelda stopped her singing and turned slightly, acknowledging Link's presence with a warm smile.

Link sighed, relieved, with a smile of his own. "Zelda... is that - is that really you? You're... you're safe, you're - "

Without a single word, Zelda turned away from him; then, she took off, running gracefully down the nearby stairs, past Link, and back towards the Great Tree in the center of the woods.

"...Zelda?" Link found himself at a loss - was this really the Zelda he knew, or was it just some illusion created by the realm to trick him? He knew there was no way it could actually be her; nevertheless, he felt compelled to follow her, perhaps on the off, desperate chance that she was real.

"Zelda!" he cried once more as he took off in a mad dash, "Wait, Zelda! Please...!"

In his stupor, however, he had failed to notice the magic emanating from the gate beneath his feet, and the moment his foot left it, everything changed.

The tranquil glow of green and blue instantly turned into a blinding onslaught of red and yellow. Link stopped in his tracks, recoiling in horror at the distant screeches of unholy creatures disturbed from their slumber. He thought he felt his heart stop as the sound of clanging footsteps, growing louder and closer by the second, joined the hellish cacophony.

When he dared to turn his head, he saw them - phantoms in alien garbs and armor, carrying swords, scythes, instruments of death and torment, closing in on him at a terrifying speed.

With a horrified scream, Link began to run. He reached for his sword as he did so, only to find empty air - dammit all, he should have remembered! Of all the times for Fi to leave him on his own...!

He then spotted Zelda once again out of the corner of his eye, running daintily along, almost as though nothing was wrong. The sight unnerved Link even more than he already was - didn't she see the nightmarish ghouls that were chasing them!? However, in spite of that, in spite of how twisted and surreal and wrong this was, he knew he had to catch up to her; he knew he had to protect Zelda...!

"Z-Zelda!" he screamed once more as he ducked underneath one of the roots of the Great Tree. "Stop!"

He continued his pursuit a short distance, straining himself even when his breath began to fail him, when he caught sight of yet another obstacle in his path - a puddle of water, shimmering eerily with the reflection of the blood red sky. Before he even had a chance to process what he saw, he ran straight into it. He slipped, crying out as he landed face first the pool of water, which, bizarrely, felt completely dry. He flailed about wildly to prop himself back up, only to spot yet another group of phantoms merely a few yards ahead shoot their piercing gazes towards him.

He breath quickening and his panic rising, he looked over his shoulder - just as he'd feared, the first group of monsters was quickly ganging up on him. Goddess help him, he was trapped, cornered from both sides! With shaking arms, he again tried to find his way to his feet - he didn't know what the hell kind of test of character this was supposed to be, but he had to get out of here! He had to find Zelda and get her out of here...!

"You're far too slow, boy."

The clanging of swords and armor suddenly ceased, and all of the phantoms froze in place, their weapons pointed at the helpless hero. Link scanned his wide eyes across their blades; then, he turned towards the source of the voice that commanded their halt, standing atop the root he had previously passed through.

"...It's..." he said breathlessly, "it's you...!"

Indeed, it was the woman who had been protecting Zelda this whole time, the one she had called "Impa", her arms folded and her gaze cold and menacing.

"Just as I suspected," she said, her voice calm yet stern, laced with the same disdain she had shown him during their encounter at the Earth Temple, "your heart and mind are clouded with fear. Your fear has slowed your reflexes - your fear has made you weak. You will never be able to protect Her Grace at this rate."

Link merely stared at her, confused and dumbfounded. "I... I..." He lifted his hand in protest. "No, you're - you're wrong! I... I can protect her! I can save her! I'm - " he swallowed, his voice cracking as he cried out, " - I'm not afraid...!"

"Liar!" bellowed Impa, causing the phantoms to shove their weapons closer to Link. "You wish to take up the mantle of the Goddess' chosen knight, you wish to become the one, true Hero - yet you are nothing but a scared, helpless little boy!" A subtle edge of indignation flashed behind the woman's sharp, red eyes. "...What is it that you fear, child? Do you fear pain? Do you fear hardship? Do you fear losing yourself to the cold embrace of death?"

Left stunned by her questions and devastated by her mockery, Link could only stare, his mouth dry and his words failing him. "I... I... Ah..."

"I ask you again:" spat Impa, "What do you fear, Link?"

He closed his mouth, falling silent as he finally allowed himself to ponder her words. Did he fear? Of course he feared - he could protest to the contrary all he wanted, but that could not change the fear he knew full well was there, festering in the depths of his soul since the day he left Skyloft. However, he also knew that was not pain or hardship he feared; he had come to accept these burdens over the course of his journey. Even the thought of death, he realized, could not haunt his heart as much as the result, the consequences of dying here, now, before he could finish what he set out to do...

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath; then, he went to his knees, his shoulders heavy from the weight of his fear.

"...I fear what will happen if I can't prove myself worthy," he said quietly. "I fear what will happen if I can't defeat my enemies. I fear letting them all down, my friends and my allies... I fear not making it to Zelda's side in time." He grimaced, hot tears forming at the corner of his eyes. "I fear... I fear failure...!"

Impa lowered her arms slightly, listening to his answer intently.

"But even so, even though I'm afraid of failing more than anything... I still have to try. If I let my fear get to me, I'll only make that fear come true. So... I can't give up." He raised his voice until he nearly screamed his words. "I won't give up! Not until I'm finished! Not until I've brought Zelda home safe and sound!"

At that, the oppressive shadow of the Silent Realm instantly dispersed; red turned to blue and yellow to green, and the phantoms withdrew their weapons as they returned to their slumber. Once he heard the shifting of their armor, Link's eyes shot open in astonishment. Had he... had he passed...?

The image of Impa changed; her gaze softened, and she seemed almost pleased. Then, she lept from her perch and approached him, offering her hand with a warm smile.

"...You fear your own failure," she began, "yet you have learned to live with that fear, to acknowledge it - and in doing so, you have also learned to master it."

Blinking in surprise, Link hesitantly took her hand, allowing her to help him to his feet.

"Link, agent of the Goddess," she said, "you have done well to pass your first trial. You have learned that the meaning of courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to do what is right in spite of that fear." She held out her palm in front of Link's chest; as he looked down to see what she was doing, he was amazed to find what appeared to be a bright, white flower emerging from his chest.

"Wh..." he stammered, "What is this...?"

"This spirit vessel represents the courage in your soul," she said. "It blooms bright as proof of your accomplishment." She lowered her hand, allowing Link a chance to hold his vessel himself. "Watch."

Suddenly, the flower folded in on itself to form a bud; then, the bud exploded into ethereal petals, and in its place appeared a charm made out of a beautiful blue scale.

Link looked upon his reward in awe. "Is this one of the sacred gifts?"

Impa nodded. "One of the scales of the Water Dragon herself," she explained, "It will grant you the ability to traverse the waters as you never could before." She turned towards the gate in the distance, which now glowed with a blue column of light. "Now step into the light; your journey is far from over, Hero."

Taking the charm tightly in his hand, Link nodded eagerly. "...Right." As he headed back from whence he came, he glanced over his shoulder. "Thanks, Impa, you - "

But the vision of Impa was nowhere to be seen. He should have guessed; she and Zelda were merely illusions after all. Still, illusion or no, he had every reason to be grateful, for he could feel himself growing just a little bit stronger as a person thanks to his ordeal.

With a small, proud smile, he stepped into the light, allowing his spiritual form to be whisked back into his body.

He opened his eyes to the sight of his knees bent low to the ground; the very same knees which, seconds later, gave out from underneath him.

"Whoa!" he cried as he let go of the hilt of his sword and toppled over sideways. He hissed as he felt pain in his legs, finding it rather difficult to get them straightened out again.

"Master Link, I am currently detecting symptoms of what is colloquially known as 'leg cramps'," chimed in Fi's voice from nearby. "I recommend gentle stretching of your calves and knees to relieve them."

Link groaned, then slowly, slowly, uncurled his legs. "Thanks, Fi," he said, sitting up and reaching for the toes of his right foot, "though I was already starting to figure that out on my own."

"I suspect that holding a kneeling position for an extended period of time put a considerable amount of strain on your lower extremities," Fi continued. "Please, take all the time you need to rest before continuing."

He turned his head to his partner as he stretched. "How long was I gone, anyway?"

Fi paused to perform a quick calculation. "Approximately ten minutes and twenty-eight-point-nine seconds."

"Only that long?" He sighed and switched to stretching his other leg. "...It sure felt longer than that."

"Time may seem distorted when the human psyche is placed under considerable duress," said Fi. "...You did well to pass the Goddess' trial under such conditions. Congratulations, Master Link."

Link grinned. "Thanks. Only two more to go, I guess." He sat up and reached into his bag; as he suspected, the Water Dragon's Scale was inside. He pulled it out. "...So what do you think I should do with this, Fi? Impa - er, sorry, I was told that I could use this to go underwater."

Though she was slightly puzzled by her master's mention of Impa, Fi paid it no mind. "That is correct. The sacred gifts are the keys to finding the sacred flames; therefore, it is logical to assume that the first flame lies near a body of water."

An idea suddenly hit Link. "You mean like that pond near the Great Tree?" He frowned pensively. "I would have suggested the lake, but that big stone door is in the way..."

"Perhaps a path to one will lead to the other," said Fi. "The pond may be a wise place to begin your search."

"Got it!" He jumped to his feet - perhaps a bit too early, he thought as he winced once more - and pulled the Goddess Sword out of the ground. As Fi returned to the blade she was bound to, Link couldn't help but wonder what his next two trials would have in store for him - he supposed he would find out soon enough.