A/N: Okay so this is the weird idea I recently had for a twist on the ending of Skyward Sword. Truthfully I think I got the idea from an article that mentioned originally Groose was to be possessed by Demise, but the story line designers changed it. Problem is I can't find the article or even remember where I read it at, and now I'm not sure if I read the article or if I just thought I did and this came from my head. Either way I ran with the idea and this is what you get, but if someone happens to know where the article is let me know so I can credit it please. I haven't edited it as of yet because I wanted to get this up today; I'll probably go back an edit later this week.
Now it's a bit of a selfish reason that I got this up today. It's my birthday and I figured it would be a good treat to give you all a story today. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of spare time today so I can't take my time and give this the attention it needs at this moment. I hope you like this little drabble as I thought it was just kind of a fun twist. To everyone who reads this thanks for taking the time. A big thank you to any who review this or any of my stories, I read them all and I appreciate that you are taking the time to leave feed back. Oh one more thing I know the wording on this isn't completely in line with the game. I did that on purpose while still trying to keep in character. Since this is a twist on the game I twisted up the dialogue too.
Thanks again everyone and if you feel like being nice for my birthday leave a review it would be a great present.
~Later
"You're far too quick boy," Ghirahim shouted at the green clad youth. "This is an extremely complex spell that will transfer my Master's soul into the body of the delicious little girl. Thus allowing his Master to use Hylia's divine powers to transform that pathetic bag of flesh she calls a body into his true form, while having the added bonus of obliterating her own spirit. Now why don't you wait patiently for me to finish with your little friend, hmm?! Then I shall grant you the painful death I have promised you."
Link gritted his teeth while tightening his grip on the holy blade he wielded. There was no way between Skyloft and the Surface he'd let this freak of a demon obliterate Zelda's soul. Without even thinking he raised the shining blade of the True Master Sword to the heavens above imbuing it with its holy power. Quicker than an arrow could fly he sent the whirling light beam between the self-proclaimed demon lord and his best friend.
As the light flew past him the Demon Lord nimbly jumped back, away from the attack. He growled in frustration as he felt the spell slip away a little. The boy had all the intelligence and subtlety of a bokoblin. This spell was extremely delicate not to mention finicky, one wrong move and it would surely go awry. Really did the boy think he was moving around like this because he felt like it! No! Of course not, Ghirahim the incredibly fabulous and flawless Demon Lord normally wouldn't be caught dead dancing around like a demented cucco. Even that mindless robot of a sword spirit Hylia chose as her Hero's companion would be envious of his dancing, but he was getting distracted from the task at hand.
"Fine boy, if you're so eager to forfeit your life I shall indulge you." With that Ghirahim used his magic to fling the writhing unconscious girl higher into the air. The particulars of the spell were complete and now it only needed time to finish working. Time which Ghirahim would have to buy by punishing this foolish child who dared challenge such an exquisite creature such as himself.
Link looked on in horror as Ghirahim cast Zelda's body far above him, and out of reach. His anger flared hotter than the orange substance in Eldin. It had been unbearably heart wrenching listening to Zelda's screams of pain as that filthy demon performed the spell which would take Zelda from him. The only benefit to Zelda's cries of torment had been that they fueled him to move faster through the endless hordes of Ghirahim's minions.
Now he was torn between staying and fighting this foul demon, determined to finish him off for good this time, or finding a way past Ghirahim's diamond barrier to save Zelda. He was abruptly forced out of his inner debate when he felt the ground beneath his feet begin to rise unexpectedly. It was in that moment he realized Ghirahim had been rambling on once again, and he hadn't been paying the slightest bit of attention. Not that it mattered, he was going to make sure that when Ghirahim vanished this time he stayed gone.
How dare HE! I was the fabulously perfect Demon Lord Ghirahim; all should bow before me! Yet that whelp hadn't listened to even a word I had said as I explained my deliciously wonderful creation meant to end the boy in the most humiliating and painful way possible. I would be sure to teach this boy some manners before I extinguished the light from his eyes and smothered out the bit of spirit he possessed.
It took only a matter of seconds for the fight to begin in earnest. Both warriors fought with everything they had, for their everything depended on their victory. Link couldn't help but notice that Ghirahim had given up on his theatrics and chosen a style that was more straight forwarded. Ghirahim noticed that even in his purest form besides his sword form, that the Sky Child's weapon hurt far more than before and his form had improved drastically.
Both exchanged blows and both were thrown to the floor below at least once during the deadly dance. Now Link fought to hack away and the flimsy but large sword Ghirahim had chosen as a shield. The boy from the sky was tired of this game, all he had ever wanted throughout this whole mission was to find is friend and bring her home. Yet no matter how he tried someone always insisted on standing in his way; whether it was a temple full of monsters, a self-righteous Sheikah, or a sadistic demon with no concept of personal space. He was going to end this now!
With that thought fueling him and driving him, Link put every last ounce of strength he had into a forward thrust. His divine sword pierced through the sword/shield striking the demon in his most vulnerable point, the diamond on his chest. Link was sure that he had finally done it, seeing as he could see his sword was sticking out through the demon's back. Ghirahim was dead, Zelda was safe, and that unspeakable evil could never return…
Link's thoughts were cut short as Ghirahim started to laugh. Right out laugh manically as if whatever sanity the Demon Lord possessed was slipping away little by little.
"You fool, as if the likes of you could ever truly defeat me," Ghirahim all but screamed out. It is preposterous to think that one as divinely magnificent as myself could be driven to my knees by a mere mortal child, I shall still be the victor in this battle. This entire time I have spent toying with you my spell on that silly little Spirit Maiden has continued on. You cannot hope to stop it as my Master is already rising, ready to strip that girl of not only her flesh but her divine spiritual powers as well. Once he has devoured her he shall squash you like the insect you are, and finally he shall take the Triforce for his own so he may be the sole ruler of this pitiful world."
Link felt his heart stop as his eyes flew up to where Zelda still hung midair writhing from the spell. His mind whirled as he tried to think of some way to save her even as the ground below his feet took on an inky black color. Within less time than it takes to blink the blackness opened into what appeared to be a bottomless void, and Link's stomach bottomed out. He knew what was coming next, without thinking he propelled his legs forward in hopes of preventing the inevitable somehow. Yet, even as a dark thick mist billowed up from the yawning ground, he knew that he would never make it in time.
This time though instead of taking on the grotesque form of the Imprisoned as Link was accustomed to seeing the mist do it flew upwards towards Zelda. In that same moment, or maybe even slightly before Link wasn't entirely sure, he heard an almost animalistic cry. To the Chosen Hero's astonishment he saw none other than Groose flying through the air managing to catch Zelda in his arms as the black mist caught him full on in the back.
Ghirahim was too lost in his insane laughter to notice any of this, but even as Groose and Zelda were landing on the other side of the spiraled pit Link was running up the spiraling ramp. Link reached the duo in record time to find a very odd scene before him. Zelda was laying on the ground groaning softly, but seemed to be coming around. Groose was on his knees staring down at himself clenching and unclenching his fists.
Tentatively Link approached him speaking in a hushed voice as if he were at the bedside of a dying person. "Groose…?"
"That fool," was all Groose said at first. His voice was far deeper than Link had ever heard it before, and there was something else to it. The redhead's timbre seemed to hold a certain malevolence that sent chills down the spine of the Hero.
Before Link could say more Groose spoke again. "That fool allowed this pathetic bag of flesh to interfere, and now I am stuck in a worthless body with barely any power to speak of."
"Groose…," Link tried again as his hand instinctively moved towards his sword.
"Perhaps all is not lost though," Groose said still ignoring Link. "This body is far more physically imposing then that of the Goddess' chosen vessel. Ghirahim!" The last part was shouted after a short pause and was so loud Link thought he would be deafened from the echoes alone.
In an instant the strange white haired demon appeared before them, bowing deeply as he did so. "Master," the self-proclaimed Demon Lord said in a breathless loving voice to Groose. It seemed he was getting some type of thrill from the events that had transpired thus far.
Groose didn't question the demon's apparent and sudden subservience to him. Instead he spoke to the tall man as if he expected to be obeyed. "You have failed me Ghirahim. My orders were that I was to be returned within the body of the Goddess' Chosen Vessel so I might make use of her powers."
"Yes My King," Ghirahim said sincerely while taking a knee. "I apologize profusely for my failure. The Goddess' Chosen Hero has proven to be more of a distraction then I originally anticipated. Please allow me to make up for my shortcomings?"
It sounded very much as if Ghirahim was begging Groose for a second chance. If Link hadn't by now figured out what had happened it would have been quite comical seeing Mr. Fabulous full of himself Demon Lord Ghirahim prostrating himself before Groose of all people. As it was the blonde hero was desperately willing some idea to formulate in his brain.
Somehow or another Ghirahim's master, the evil Link had been warned about and fought against since almost the beginning of his journey, had inhabited Groose's body instead of Zelda's. While Link was thrilled that Zelda was not being possessed and used by this foul demon; he was sickened that Groose had to take her place. Link wasn't sure what he should do. If he attacked he could hurt Groose, but if he didn't this monster's evil would plague the land as it had in the legends of old. Sure there was a time when Link had envisioned taking a sword to Groose, especially his pompadour. But now Link couldn't even fathom that idea, Groose had turned over a new leaf and was his friend. He had helped Link fight The Imprisoned and find a way into the flooded woods, albeit help might not be the right word for that last one.
Still it wasn't like he could kill Groose just to stop this evil, or did that really matter? Even Zelda had said that this was war and sacrifices had to be made in war, didn't they? No! Link would not allow that. Even if it was only Groose he wouldn't allow him or anyone else to suffer or die because of these demons. No there need be no other sacrifice, save the hero himself. If everyone else was safe Link could live with that, could live with Zelda using him, but he couldn't live with others getting hurt if it was in his power to prevent it. Even if Groose was still the same person he was back in Skyloft Link couldn't have hurt him, it wasn't in his nature. As Link's mind reeled under this situation and all of the impossible solutions, Ghirahim and his master were still speaking.
"That is hardly an excuse Ghirahim, you should have already disposed of the Goddess' lap dog. However, I will give you another chance to redeem yourself. This body is far more suitable to me in many ways, but it has little magic and thanks to the seal placed on me by Hylia long ago my magic is all but drained. I have just enough power to keep the oaf whose body I inhabit at bay. You must perform another spell on the Goddess; one that will transfer her divine soul to me so I may return to my full glory."
"Yes my liege, thank you for this opportunity to redeem myself to you." Standing while still managing to maintain a slight bow. "The powers of the Goddess shall be yours shortly."
Link panicked at these words knowing he was out of time to think, but of one thing he was absolutely sure. He would not allow them to hurt Zelda, no one would hurt her as long as he could defend her. Growling slightly while pulling his sword from its sheath he took a step forward just to hear a sharp snap instantly followed by an intense pain that shot through every nerve ending in his body. He lost all control of his body in that moment thus allowing his sword to slip from his slackened grip, but the hero hardly noticed that or even the fact he was now on his knees in the dirt. Even as he drowned in the agony of the pain he recognized this as the same attack Ghirahim had used on him in the temple when he'd taken Zelda in order to bring her to the past.
"Tut, tut hero be patient, I shall be sure to keep my promise to you once I have finished tending to your little Goddess friend for my master." Ghirahim didn't even look at the fallen boy as he began examining Zelda's still prone figure.
Growling Link looked up just as a humming sound surrounded him. Ghirahim had just trapped him inside one of his diamond barriers; he couldn't reach Zelda despite the fact her pained cries could reach him. No! He had to stop this and now! With every ounce of determination and grit left in him the hero stood on his shaky feet despite the pain coursing through his body. Ghirahim stood over Zelda's body as it hovered once again; Groose was looking on with the most evil look Link had ever seen on his face, and that was saying something.
Link ground his teeth together in frustration. How was he to get beyond Ghirahim's barrier! Just as he was debating whether a Skyward Strike would have any effect Link saw the very thing that might tip the odds in his favor.
So close, he was so very close to redeeming himself in the eyes of his Master. The Demon Lord could feel the divine power of the Goddess resisting him, but she was no match for him now. At one time the great goddess was more than a match for him, and considering just how incredibly potent and powerful his magic was that was saying something. However, Hylia made the mistake of putting her power into this ghastly untrained little girl who could know nothing of true power. It would not take him long to strip her of her ess…
"No," Ghirahim screamed out eyes flashing dangerously as he felt the tendrils of the Goddess' soul slip past his magic. He had managed to transfer some of the Goddess' power, but not nearly enough. The Demon Lord glared at the objects that had forced a barrier between him and the Goddess. Three blue daggers stuck up from the ground emanating a low bluish barrier. They weren't enough to protect the little Spirit Maiden, but they were more than enough to delay him.
The Demon Lord flipped gracefully out of the way as the owner of the three blades landed where he had only just stood. If Ghirahim had been a normal man he would have cowered in fear from the red burning gaze of the Sheikah dog, but Ghirahim was no normal man. In truth he was, thankfully, far from being a normal man; no he was far more than that. He was The Demon Lord of this land, an extraordinary being who knew no equal and demanded the respect of his position. With Hylia gone there was only one who was more powerful than he, and since Ghirahim paid him his allegiance he need not worry.
Really what made this foul woman think herself worthy to even breathe the same air as him?! "Stand aside now Sheikah dog, and I promise your death shall be quick and painless." This was a lie of course, he would never let this creature leave this world without suffering, but she needn't know that. However, that lowly woman had the nerve to ignore him and speak to the supposed hero instead.
"There is little time hero. I was able to stop that demon's spell, but it is still siphoning Her Grace's powers into that monstrosity. You must do whatever it takes to drive the King of Demons from this world and entrap him within your Holy Blade before he takes her soul in full. I will protect Her Grace in the meantime, go now!"
As Impa said those final two words she flung another dagger back towards him. Instinct drove the hero to dodge away from the projectile, but it was unnecessary. The blade went no further than the diamond barrier; lodging itself within it just before the wall disintegrated.
Link gaped at the Sheikah woman even as she threw down a smoke bomb, disappearing with Zelda in mere seconds. His attention was quickly brought back to the situation at hand as two screams reverberated in the spiraled hollow. Link saw Ghirahim nearly howling, or was he laughing, in what Link could only assume was pain. While Groose was screaming in anger, well it was actually more of a roar than a scream, but the sound was still disturbing.
I couldn't believe that Goddess loving lap dog Sheikah, it was only by the grace of my strong willpower as a Demon Lord that I was not reeling off a list of profanities at this moment. How dare she attempt to steal this from me! I had worked at this for a millennia and I was not about to lose to some twig when I was this close. I pressed my fingers together, fully intent on finishing the Sheikah dog once and for all. Before I could snap my fingers though I heard my Master growl out my name lowly.
"Ghirahim, I was merciful enough to forgive your error in judgment by letting the Goddess' Chosen Hero live, but the fact that the Sheikah still breathes is unpardonable offense that I am unwilling to overlook. You have had ages to kill her, and you have yet to end her miserable existence."
"Master, please…"
"No Ghirahim! I have tolerated your excuses for far too long. You should have freed me long ago, yet I was forced to wither away in that abysmal pit for centuries. I have no use for a servant who cannot carry out orders. If you cannot provide me the full power from that girl, I shall take yours as a substitute!"
As the last word was said a dark countenance took hold of the boy his Master was inhabiting. Within seconds he began feeling the agonizing ripping in his chest as his very being was pulled inside out. The weapon that he usually guarded within him came out while his very essence was forced within the blade.
Link wasn't sure what Groose was doing to Ghirahim or even if it was painful or enjoyable for the Demon Lord, but in truth he did not care. These creatures were trying to take Zelda from him, and after everything he would not allow that. It was disconcerting to watch the whitehaired man be forced into the form of a sword, yet in truth Link hadn't been that surprised to find out Ghirahim was a sword spirit. His blood lust and nature were fitting of what Link would imagine a sword to be, if they were able to have a personality that is.
For just a moment Link's mind wandered with questions of why Fi was so cold and emotionless compared to the overly emotional Ghirahim. As such Link only heard the last part of the possessed Groose's statement, something about seeking him out if he chose to meet him in battle. Link didn't know what he said, but he wasn't about to let this creature get away with Zelda's soul being siphoned into him nor was he going to let it continue to use Groose this way.
Link didn't even bother to listen to Fi's warning, all he cared about now was saving his friends. His single-mindedness cost him thought, a fact Fi was quick to point out. He had been so determined to save his friends that he hadn't given thought to how exactly he was going to do that.
He couldn't directly strike the demon without fear of fatally injuring Groose, but if he didn't do something Zelda would lose her soul and the rest of the world would suffer under the dark rule of this thing. It wasn't until he was lying on his back in agonizing pain willing his body to stop spasming from the electric current that Fi gave him some advice.
It was with begrudging acceptance that Link admitted the lightning strike might force out the demon possessing Groose just as Fi said. Though the battle proved to still be extremely wearing even with this new found knowledge. Link was at the last of his strength as he lifted his sword to the heavens. It had to work this time, the demon had to be vanquished, because he didn't have it in him to fight any longer.
A fierce yell escaped his bloodied cracked lips as he unleashed a bolt of pure energy towards Groose. His broken and cracked ribs strained with the effort, but he ignored it still. "Master, I deduce an eighty percent chance that the demon known as Demise has lost a significant amount of the magical abilities he took from the Demon Lord Ghirahim. As such his power over this world he has created is slipping. It may be possible for you to perform the Holy Strike now and finish removing the Demon King's soul from this human otherwise known as Groose. You must act quickly though Master, before he is able to recover enough magic from the Spirit Maiden."
Link didn't hesitate as he, for what he sincerely hoped was the final time, lifted his sword upwards towards the heavens. Immediately he felt the difference between the lightning that had filled the blade in this place verses the Holy Light he had grown accustomed to. With a feral yell he flung the light at the Demon King and hopefully driving him from Groose once and for all.
As the light connected it flung the redhead's body away and back landing face up on the strange watery ground, his prolonged yell of agony filled the air in the seemly endless void. Throughout the battle Groose had change with his skin darkening and eyes seeming to glow. The longer Groose was under the influence of evil the more it changed him, the hero could only hope the change was not permanent. He nearly fainted though, when the young man rose to his knees leaning heavily on the sword that had been Ghirahim.
"Incredible human, you stand there a paragon to your race. It is unfortunate I was unable to possess your body and fill it with the girl's soul. The power I would have wielded then would have made me invincible. Yet I am not finished. Though you may have bested me in battle and my grip on his body is weakening, a part of me will continue to live on and grow within this young human. Yes I shall thrive in the hatred that still burns for you within him, and feed on it passing onto his offspring when that time comes. They will be like him weak in mind and easily malleable so that an ever growing incarnation of my hatred shall follow you from now until the end of time. As long as the blood of the Goddess lives and the Spirit of the Hero passes to yet another I too shall follow feeding his desire and hunger for that which he cannot have."
The green clad young man had listened to the demon incredulously as he cursed his very soul to this battle for all eternity. Even as he spoke the demon's power had been weakening though. A black vapor much like what had originally taken over Groose was pouring from his skin, while his dark blade was dissipating into nothingness. He didn't process Fi's next words only automatically obeyed them out of habit.
"Master, raise you sword so we may capture Demise within the blade."
Zelda knew the second Link had been successful in banishing the Demon King as her eyes flew open and she was able to draw in a startled gasp. The first thing she saw was Impa's kind reassuring smile, "Yes Your Grace, your hero has succeeded in vanquishing the evil from this land. Be assured all is well again."
Zelda beamed as she struggled to her feet, wanting to run and hug Link the second he came through the temple doors. But her anticipation turned to dread as the second both doors were open the limp bodies of both Groose and Link fell through them. Zelda gave out a strangled cry as both she and Impa rushed to the fallen men.
Zelda knew little of healing, but luckily Impa seemed to know what to do as she began barking out orders. They could find nothing wrong with Groose, other than his appearance had changed slightly, but Link was another story. Blood, dirt, and over all filth covered the hero making it hard to discern where he was injured.
The young Goddess cringed as she heard bones being snapped back into place right before the Sheikah woman bound them. "Your Grace I need you to retrieve the fairy in that corner," said Impa as she bound another of Link's injuries. "He will not live without one, and though it will not fully heal him it should do enough that he can recover with rest and time."
Numbly Zelda obeyed too scared not to; she couldn't imagine a world where Link didn't exist and she'd never be able to forgive herself if he died while fighting for her. The healing light of the fairly drifted down onto her best friend allowing him to breathe easier as his wounds sewed themselves shut and mended.
Smiling once again Impa stood back, "There he should be out of danger now and I imagine he will wake up very soon."
No sooner had those words left her mouth when a soft chiming was heard and the spirit of Link's sword flipped out in a graceful manner. "Your Grace, or perhaps you prefer Zelda, now that my Master's life no longer hangs in the balance I have information to give to you of immediate concern. The Demon King known as Demise was able to place a curse on you, my Master, and the human known as Groose just before he relinquished his grip on the Groose. I will relay it to you in full."
As Fi somersaulted back into the blade Zelda gnawed at her lip in worry. What was she going to do?! She could not remove the curse of the Demon King, she'd tried the moment Fi quit talking but to no avail. Fi then explained that because the curse was made with the demon's final breath and the last of his strength it was one that could not be lifted. She had no clue what to do even as a low moan reached her pointed ears.
Link didn't remember anything else after that moment, didn't remember seeing Groose's body collapse bonelessly to the ground or collapsing from his pain and injuries either after somehow having dragged the both of them up to the temple doors. He had no knowledge of how long he'd laid in blackness before finally awakening to the dim light of the temple.
Within seconds of opening his eyes Link's vision was filled with the beautiful radiance that was Zelda. He felt a smile cross his face as he struggled to sit up despite the pain.
"No Link!" Zelda nearly screamed trying to push him back down. "You can't get up, you need to rest!"
Link just shook his head speaking softly to his friend. "It's alright Zelda I'll be fine but I had to make sure you and Groose are safe."
Zelda winced at the mention of the former bully, her eyes automatically flicking over to the still prone figure. Link's eyes followed and he sighed heavily. "What are we going to do?"
Zelda shook her head to his whispered question as tears filled her eyes. "I-I can't remove it. I tried, but Fi said something about it being a d-d-death curse so it was stronger than a normal one."
Link nodded as his eyes filled with sorrow right before filling with rage at the words of Impa. "Your Grace, there is a way to stop it. We must end his life before the demon's curse has time to fully take root. If the boy has no offspring then the curse cannot be fulfilled."
Both the sky children gaped at the Sheikah woman, but it was Link who answered her. "We are not going to kill him for something that wasn't his fault. Groose may not have been the best person in Skyloft, but he has changed. And more than that he is still a person, one of the people I fought to protect. I'm not going to sit here and let you throw him away like that!"
The Sheikah woman stared hard at the young man, her words just as cold as her tone. "Do you not fully understand what this will mean to the world if we don't end it now, hero? If you allow your emotions to win then you are sentencing every person you know and love as well as all future generations to a never ending cycle of death and pain. The demon's power will latch onto any hate in this boy's soul and grow it tenfold. So when he does resurface again his thirst for domination will be insatiable and his power will be unconquerable. You claim you wish to save lives yet you are condemning many to death with your foolishness. As Her Grace told you…This. Is. War hero. Sacrifices must be made even if they are not easy ones."
As she said this the Sheikah woman materialized a blade in her hand and stepped towards the still unconscious boy. In a flash Link was up and standing between her and Groose, eyes flashing dangerously. "Then I shall take on the responsibility of stopping him when that time comes. But I refuse to let you slaughter him in cold blood. Why not think for once instead of going for the easy solution. If we can't remove the curse then change it."
Impa growled at Link and seemed ready to argue back, but Zelda spoke up softly. "No Impa, I understand what you're saying and I know you're just doing everything to protect us, but too many have been lost already. I am to blame for all that has happened and all of the suffering of all the creatures on the surface and in the sky. It has to stop somewhere and Link is right we didn't try changing the curse."
In a begrudging manner the Sheikah woman stowed her weapon away while still glaring daggers at the blonde hero. He wasn't paying any attention to her though as he watched Zelda move over to Groose. She closed her eyes as her hands began to glow with a yellow light.
"Indeed Groose your children shall carry Demise's hate, but as Demise said it will only be the ones like you, only the males. I am sorry but you shall only father daughters from here on out. Only once every one hundred years shall your bloodline produce a male child that could inhabit the abomination that is Demise. I cannot stop his hatred from manifesting completely, but it may only be passed when the conditions are right. And Groose I am sorry, but I must change your will to protect the people. Hence forth your people shall live in the desert where there are few that could be hurt by Demise's curse. This Groose is both my blessing and curse for you."
As Zelda said these last words her hands dimmed and her eyes slowly opened. Link and Impa looked on curiously as she weakly stared down at the redhead. "Did it work," Link whispered.
"Did what work," came the mumbled reply from the large boy who had been the focus of attention.
The three others looked at each other in worry and in Impa's case venomously as Groose came to. "Uh, nothing Groose, don't worry about it. How… How are you feeling," Zelda stammered out.
"Ugh my head hurts. Did I hit it or something when I made that totally awesome save of you Zels?"
Link and Zelda looked at each other again before Link spoke. "Yeah Groose that's what happened, but you still saved the day and everything."
Groose beamed as he weakly sat up, "Ha, yeah the Groose is still the best! Now how about we get something to eat, I'm starved. No ya know what we should have a huge party for kicking evil's behind so bad it can't ever come back! Yeah that's what we'll do and the great Groose can regale all the pretty girls of Skyloft with the tales of his great heroic efforts."
Neither Link nor Zelda had the heart to tell Groose what had really happened and so they let it go. Instead they worked at saying their goodbyes to Fi and Impa, before leaving the temple in the past.