Fates Intertwined
Blue was nervous. Zelda felt the tension in his wings, the way he would beat them once then glide as long as possible before doing it again. He was thinking, trying to riddle this mystery out just as she was, the knot in Zelda's stomach mirroring his unease. She couldn't blame him for feeling anxious when she hadn't exactly been calm and collected.
Zelda had lingered for a while in the spring, absorbing what she'd seen in the flashback, what Hylia's memories (her memories?) had shown her. She knew now that the cloud barrier she'd lived above her whole life served two purposes. It was not only to prevent the people on Skyloft from reaching the surface; it was also to keep the existence of Skyloft hidden from the world below, allowing knowledge of it to fade into legend as the years passed. Few knew of its existence when the war ended, only the Shiekah tribe, Hylia's sworn servants who were more than human but less than spirits or gods. During the Great War, Impa, the blonde woman in the memory, had been their leader, but Zelda wasn't sure what became of her after Hylia died or where the tribe lived now.
It seemed odd to imagine a Goddess dying, but after the memory ended Zelda realized "died" wasn't the right word for it. She'd shed her immortality, dividing herself into a corporeal existence and a separate soul. As her mortal body succumbed to her injures her soul had passed through the spirit realm to the land of the Old Gods, lingering there for thousands of years, until awakening inside of Zelda at the first signs that her seal was about to give way.
That was years ago, Zelda thought, remembering back to one of the first dreams she'd had. She'd been how old? Thirteen? She'd had one dream then, but at the time it seemed simply a strange nightmare. It wasn't until now, when she recalled how frequent they'd become after she'd been named the goddess for the Wing Ceremony, that Zelda realized something had been calling out for her long before she fell.
When the shadow begins to wake, we will return. And together, put an end to the destruction the Demon King has brought to this land.
This was the vow she'd heard, the call in the air. We will return. We will return. She was not meant to do this alone; a hero should be by her side as one had been during that final battle. Zelda thought back to the memories, which now began bringing pieces of her puzzling dreams together. Before it had been flashes, a temple glowing with sunlight, the hum of energy from a shining triangular shaped object, a blond man in a red cape with an iridescent sword in his hand...
Zelda fisted her fingers in the furry down on Blue's shoulders, burying her head into his back as images from the memory flashed through her head. Her hands pressed against the base of her statue, molten gold dripping from her fingertips. Behind her the metallic clang of swords, flashes of magic, the scent of copper in the air. His blood. His sweat. All for her. The pain of being unable to help, of knowing if she abandoned the task in front of her all would be lost.
Making her choice, she - Hylia - let the battle behind her rage on and dug her arms into the soil, heaving the statue and a quarter of her temple from the from the world and throwing it into the sky, just as she'd done to the castle and village hours earlier. She watched the landmass fade, letting the remainder of her power coalesce into a bow, shining gold in her hands. The thick string slipped between her fingers, a silver tipped arrow nocked into place as Hylia then walked across the pit to fight alongside her hero.
Zelda let out a sigh of relief when the barrage of images faded, ending with Hylia at the side of the pit making plans, pouring her intentions and guidance into the spirit of the sword, traveling swiftly from one place to the next, leaving weapons, armor, tools. Anything the sword's chosen one would need to complete his task. Zelda crinkled her nose, thinking back to the Skyview Spring, where she'd stayed too long wondering if qthis Hero would ever show up.
The sun was getting lower on the horizon now, and the land underneath Blue had turned from green forests to burning hills and molten rock. Eldin, she thought, recalling Hylia walking along the burning hills to the earth spring. It was odd, these memories, all from her perspective but they still didn't belong to her. Maybe they never would. Hylia's soul inhabited her body, but she was still Zelda, wasn't she?
As Blue flew lower to the ground, Zelda couldn't help but think that while Faron had healed from its war inflicted wounds, Eldin looked raw and desolate.
"You don't need to stay," Zelda said as she climbed off her Loftwing's back. He was panting, the burning heat almost intolerable to him. She knew from the Loftwing care class she'd taken as a child that the birds preferred temperate, cooler weather. They didn't like to fly when it was blazing hot and this volcanic environment had already started to wear on him. It was wearing on Zelda if she was honest. They'd barely been there a minute and sweat already dampened the thick silk dress the old woman had given her.
"Really, Blue. I'm going to be fine. There's another temple I have to walk through, and you can't come with me in there," Zelda said kindly when she sensed her bird's hesitation to leave. "Maybe go home and... check on Link? Or my Father at least. He must be worried…"
Zelda chewed her lip as she stared at the bird, part of her wanting to do nothing more than climb on his back and return home, to leave this place and forget everything she'd seen. It was a choice, she thought. But images of the demon inside the pit, waiting to emerge and devour not only the land but the sky and everything in it, held her in place. Leaving now wasn't an option, she had seen and learned too much of the truth. Whatever else this task entailed, Zelda was determined to see it through to the end if it meant saving everyone she loved.
"The old woman said this harp was magic and I have barely tried to play it. When I reach the spring and… do whatever it is I'm supposed to do, I'll play it and maybe it'll call you back to me," she suggested, noting Blue's skeptical look. "It's worth a try."
Her Loftwing sighed, giving an acquiescing chuff before setting his beak against her head. Zelda smiled and pressed herself into his feathers. "Will you check on Link?"
Blue made a strange noise, sounding irritated about something, but she sensed his agreement in the way he curled around her. He took a breath, then stretched his wings wide, lifting off the burning ground into the sky above. Zelda watched his outline fade into the distance before looking at her surroundings, clutching the harp to her chest as she started to walk down a narrow path she hoped led towards the temple.
The path was cracked and at times Zelda was forced to jump overzealously across gaps, afraid she'd slip and stumble into the molten rock inches below her feet. She walked her past a few strange huts, and for a moment wondered if any creatures lived here. The forest ones had been helpful, if a little timid, but their presence made her feel less lonely. Here there seemed to be nothing, only fire and molten rock.
Zelda pouted, thinking back to Hylia's memories and the fact that in them she'd never been alone. Impa had been beside her, or the Hero, or the spirit of the sword. She'd had companions when creating these plans, but as of now, especially with Blue having taken to the skies, Zelda felt completely and utterly alone.
She passed through another cavern, pausing for a moment to observe more of the strange huts, and a barricade of sorts when from above her the sound of a horn rang out, alerting her to the presence of monsters surrounding where she stood. Zelda turned, gripping the harp tight across her chest when she saw several bulbous nosed demons clambering down hills, shouting and pointing in her direction. The hornblower stood on top of a tall pillar, screaming instructions in a language unintelligible to her. Zelda wasn't going to wait around for someone to translate, she turned and fled, sprinting hard down the stone pathway with the monsters chasing after her, tossing rocks at her as she ran, anything to trip her up.
There were more huts ahead, and monsters that spit fire indiscriminately, injuring some but not all the demons following her. She heard shouting at one point and saw a pair of strange looking creatures disappear into the dirt but had no time to determine if they were friend or foe since the ones pursuing her clearly were the latter. One threw a hooked blade in her direction. She narrowly missed tripping over it and became so infuriated by the entire situation that she turned around sharply, instinctively digging her fingers into the rocky cliffside and pulling with all her might.
The ground trembled, and Zelda had to jump back to avoid being crushed by the cascade of rubble that fell from the mountain, scattering the monsters behind her and blocking parts of the path she'd just run down. Zelda stared at her hands, exhausted and confused at how this supposed power of hers worked. Did she have any control over it?
"Hey! You blocked our path!"
Zelda gasped and turned to see the two creatures from earlier peeking out from holes in the ground, examining her curiously. The one who's shouted seemed angry though the other looked confused.
"You dolt. We dig tunnels, we can dig right under-"
Another bellow from a horn cut him off, and Zelda watched horrified as the monsters started to crawl over the pile of rocks she'd knocked down. The creatures buried themselves back in the earth and Zelda took off towards a decorative marble archway. If she could just make it to the temple, she could lock herself inside as she had done in Faron.
A bridge appeared under the arch as she approached, triggered by her footsteps, then retracted after she'd made it across. On the opposite side of the chasm the monsters screamed in outrage, pointing and shouting various directions at one another. Zelda ignored this, continuing on the path to the temple, pausing only to press her hands against the walls of a cave, sending another shower of rock down behind her to close off the path as extra assurance that the creatures wouldn't follow.
Zelda could see the temple, sitting isolated at the top of a steep, sandy hill. She stared at the cliffside, trying to determine how best to scale it. Her dress was damp with sweat, and the delicate violet sandals she wore were not made for climbing. She found herself wishing she'd picked up one of those adventure pouches Fledge's mother sold at the bazaar. Usually only knights bought them, carrying snacks, water skins, potions, whatever they needed while flying around the sky. It seemed a waste since dropping into Skyloft was easier than carrying supplies.
She, however, was stuck on land, in nothing but a sticky silk dress, with no food, water, or even proper footwear for this type of journey. All she had was a harp.
Zelda held it in front of her, examining the shape of the instrument before turning it giving the strings a few random plucks, a haphazard combination of notes. Nothing happened. Zelda frowned and started to play the opening lines of the song she'd learned for the ceremony, the Ballad of the Goddess.
Four notes in and Zelda paused, startled by a sudden flash. A glowing golden circle on the ground, pulsing with sunlight. She stepped forward into the circle, simultaneously fascinated and afraid of the sudden pull deep in her chest. The world around her seemed to fade, the mountains and hills replaced with nothing but shimmering light…
Then Zelda was dropped gently to her feet at the top of the hill, large marble pillars and a stone pathway just feet in front of her, and the red door of the temple just footsteps away. She exhaled in relief, leaning against the stone pillar and allowing herself a moment's reprieve.
As Zelda catalogued how she felt, noting her dress was not as sticky now and her bones were less tired, though the magic had had no effect on her hunger. Or thirst. She hadn't had anything to eat or drink since the other morning with the old woman. Even without the survival courses Link had taken as part of his knight training she knew it wouldn't be long before her health was in jeopardy.
Thinking about Link brought with it instant sadness, marred with a hint of irritation. If he were the hero he'd have caught up with her by now, wouldn't he? Though Zelda hadn't exactly left a clear trail behind her. Even so, the sword had come with a guide, surely that guide would be able to lead him on the right path. She glumly wondered if he was dawdling as he often did, or perhaps he'd gotten distracted by something along the way. This world was filled with distractions and Link wasn't known for being the most focused.
It came to her again that perhaps her assumptions about Link being the chosen hero were wrong. Maybe whoever it was had been taking their time to gather instructions on how to handle the monster in the pit, or perhaps their journey was completely separate and she wouldn't meet her hero until she returned to the temple with the powers of the goddess active in her blood. It was then they would tackle destroying the evil Hylia had sealed away, and not before.
That I sealed away, Zelda reminded herself forcefully. She looked to the blue sky above her, thinking of spirit realms, the white goddess, and deities from ages past. Hylia, help me, I don't have any idea what I'm doing.
Zelda waited for an answer but received only silence in response. She closed her eyes then, hugging the harp against her chest and thinking she couldn't ask the goddess for help if the goddess lived inside her. Until the hero arrived at her side, Zelda had no one to rely on but herself.
She peered around the pillar, looking for any sign of danger before walking walked cautiously towards the temple, admiring the ornate dragons and symbols carved into the door and the temple surrounding it. She assumed there was a labyrinth of to work her way through before reaching the spring, but at least in there she'd escape the heat and hopefully find water. She knew it would be okay to go a few days without food, but water was different, especially as much as she'd run and climbed the last two days.
Zelda had just stepped onto the path, hoping she wouldn't need a key and the doorway would give way at her touch like the last one had, when three of the monsters who'd been chasing her earlier emerged and surrounded her. She gasped, backpedaling to try to avoid them, eyes wildly looking for an escape route or anything she might use to defend herself. They drew closer, screaming orders at a camp they'd set up on the left side of the temple as more of them came crawling out of huts to grab weapons.
Zelda held out her hand and tried to summon… a blast of energy, or a weapon, anything! Hylia had sculpted a bow with her bare hands and if she was inside Zelda, she could do… something ! How could she have the powers of a goddess and be completely defenseless?
I don't care if you're a girl, you never know when you're going to need to defend yourself a little.
Link's words came to mind, along with his instructions on how to punch. Put your shoulder into it, twist your fist…
One of the monsters grabbed her by the shoulder and Zelda turned, slamming her fist hard into its jaw and sending it reeling backward, spitting blood. When a second one tried to seize her, she gripped the harp in both hands and slammed it into the side of the demon's face, but a second later something blunt struck her hard on the back of the head.
Zelda yelped and fell to her knees, still clutching the harp as she looked up long enough to see the sky had turned dusky orange. The sun was setting… it would be night soon...
The back of the monster's hand came into sight and Zelda felt a throb of pain, then everything went black.
Impa couldn't look at her, the small, frail woman she was to become. Age had made her patient it seemed, so it wasn't all bad, but patience couldn't be afforded at this time. Hylia's seal was precariously holding and though the ground was still at the moment, a static lingered in the air that made her skin chilled even in the warmth of the temple.
"So, you're telling me she descended unexpectedly," Impa said, gathering food together while listening to how Hylia's plans were unfolding.
"Completely. All the signs were in place, I knew it would be soon, but then other day she fell. She did not descend, she fell," the old woman explained.
"And she was alone?"
"The hero arrived just after Her Grace left for the spring, though that was over a day ago..."
"They could be well on their way to Eldin by now. I shall start-"
"I do not believe the hero will catch up to her so easily. I suspect he has met with… interference. There are forces at work we did not anticipate."
Impa frowned. She knew Demise had his agents, she'd met them a few times on the battlefield, but she thought they would have perished without the influence of his malice. Impa couldn't be sure, but it was unwise to underestimate the lengths the Demon King would go to to seize Hylia's sacred artifact. Even now, in his state of torment and anguish, his power could be allowing him to manipulate the story from behind his seal.
Which could crack any second.
"Interference or not, if this hero is anything like the last he will not rest until he is by her side. Her Grace would not choose someone who isn't utterly devoted to his task."
The old woman hummed thoughtfully, and Impa looked up, hesitating as she loaded the last bit of food in her pack. "It is not that I doubt his devotion, but he is young. They both are."
"Young?"
"Barely a man. No older than eighteen. Same for the girl, who prefers her given name."
"Zelda."
The old woman nodded. "It will take her time to accept her identity. She was not… prepared. Even with the visions and dreams it came as a shock."
Impa exhaled slowly. When Hylia made this plan she'd questioned it, wondering if the goddess knew the consequences of her actions or if in her weakened, despairing state she'd become impulsive and reckless. Hylia may have been immortal but her heart was young, and while youth could be wise it also tended to be foolish. The Goddess admitted to Impa more than once that she was as much a fool as she was wise.
Yet at the same time, there seemed no other option than what she'd proposed. Hylia was unable to wield the sacred power and Link, who in the last moments of battle had earned the mark of the gods, was gone. She had no choice but to call him back, the unbreakable spirit of her hero, and transfer her soul and powers to a mortal, hoping between the two of them they would be able to claim the power to end Demise's malice permanently. It seemed a plan fraught with holes, but it was the only choice they had.
"Prepared or not, the two of them are in this thing now, to the salvation or ruin of us all," Impa said. "I will be off. I… am not sure if we'll meet again."
"I expect not, so I wish you luck. Did you bring enough food?" the old woman asked casually.
"I brought three days of rations. That should be more than enough to get through Eldin and Lanayru to-"
"For yourself? Or for you and the girl?"
Impa paused and the old woman smiled. "Best pack more. She is human now, and she will not survive without eating."
Link stared at the sparkling crystal in his hand. It reminded him vaguely of a star, this piece of manifest emotion. He tucked it into his surreptitiously into his pouch, smiling gently while Wyrna patted his shoulders and continued to profess her gratitude.
"... no one believed me, and I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't-"
"Wyrna, it's fine."
"If there is ever anything Jak or I can do for you, please-"
"I will, thank you, and… I don't want to be rude, but I really have to go now."
"Oh yes. You're still looking for Zelda," Wyrna said, her smile turning to a grimace. "I'll… let you be off then. Good luck."
Link nodded, so exhausted of the phrase good luck he wanted to scream. Eagus had said it, Albertos and Gaepora had said it. Pipit had said it when Link returned last night after searching all day for clues to Kukiel's whereabouts. Fi had been the one to suggest it after she sensed how upset Link was when he saw Wyrna crying, frantically walking around the island in search of her child. It irritated Link that he was the only one who offered to help. None of the other knights seemed to take the woman's concern seriously.
"She's around here somewhere. No one steals a child, and if she'd fallen over the edge someone would have been caught her," Pipit said when Link complained to him. "There hasn't been an incident in the last twenty or more years where a Knight hasn't been able to save -"
"Yes, there has," he'd snapped back, thinking first of his parents then of Zelda.
Pipit blinked. "I suppose… but that was different. They didn't fall from the island."
Link acquiescingly agreed before storming off to the Bazaar to stock up. Everyone had looked at him strangely, this... sympathetic almost pitying stare. He knew it was because most of them thought Zelda was dead, and Link - barely a squire, untrained and untested - heading off to search for her two days in a row seemed futile.
Link ignored their glances, purchasing a purple potion that offered some healing measures but also repaired his shield (so he wouldn't run into the situation where it broke again), and a red one that would revive all his strength. It took everything he had not to swallow it right away and pay for another, but he was low on rupees and technically wasn't injured, just incredibly sore.
Albertos had taken him at his word and put Link through the most intense sparring session of his life that first night, and again after he'd found Kukiel under the island with that strange demon creature. Link had wanted to talk about that, but Albertos said there'd be time to talk later. If Link wanted to train for a fight on the surface, he should focus on that.
They'd sparred for hours, with Albertos stopping short of hitting Link with anything other than the flat end of the blade, though he pointed out each potential fatal blow with a simple comment of "dead" before moving on. Link now understood why his father had specifically asked Albertos to mentor him. The man may be aging, but he remained as sharp and strong as the blade he carried. Link had gotten frustrated with himself, but by the end he'd managed to impress Albertos and Eagus not only with how quickly he improved, but with the tenacity he was suddenly putting towards learning.
"Imagine if you'd been training like this when you were a freshman," Eagus had said in a gently scolding voice. "You'd be unstoppable now."
Link nodded, telling Albertos he'd look him up again if he returned to Skyloft without Zelda in tow. The man had nodded, then gave him a very fatherly pat on the shoulder before suggesting Link get some sleep. And sleep he did, the hardest he'd ever slept in his life. Only the screaming from his Loftwing managed to wake him the next morning, and by then the day was half spent and Link left the island in a huff of cursing over his inability to wake up with the sunrise.
The extent of his muscle soreness became more evident as he flew, arms and back muscles screaming as he held tight to his Loftwing and sailed towards the new opening in the clouds, a shining red beacon that would drop him into Eldin. Fi had added a territory to the map before they left, and Link had taken a few moments to shade in the hills and mountains, thinking once he landed that he didn't need to color it as this area was barren compared to the lush green of the forest.
Albertos had suggested carrying a water skin and Link was immediately thankful he'd listened. Eldin was not only barren, but it was hot, warmed by the super-heated molten rock that sat in pools and rivers right below the path he was walking. Link took a quick sip, remembering to pace himself, then a second later he wondered if the old woman had given Zelda anything to carry water in. The thought worried him some, so he started jogging along the path instead of walking. Link knew humans could survive three days without water, and it had been just over two since Zelda disappeared, so if the old woman hadn't given her any supplies she would be getting very-
"HEY!"
Link whipped around, sword drawn and shield up as a pair of strange creatures with elongated noses and beady eyes popped out of the ground and glared at him. They were different than the beings he'd met in the forest, long fingers with sharp claws and lanky arms covered in coarse fur, but both appeared intelligent as they spoke and carried packs of some sort. Though Ghirahim had spoken too, and that hadn't made him any less threatening so Link kept his guard up just in case.
The one creature eyed his shield and sword warily. "Y-y-you want to mess with our turf? You're gonna pay if you mess with..." the main creature said, trailing off as he looked Link over with his dark eyes. "Woah, you're not… Yo, Ledd, I don't think this is one of those red creeps."
"I think you're right," the creature's companion agreed. "No reason to scare the hair off us though!"
Link sheathed the sword and held up his hands apologetically, watching the second creature shrug at him. "Sorry 'bout that, pal. It's just these monsters showing up, messing with our turf… it's got me on edge. If they show up here again I'm gonna knock the red clean-"
"Whatever, Ledd. You can't even dig in the dark."
"Anyway," the creature named Ledd continued. "If you're looking for treasure, you should stay clear of those red guys."
The two creatures made to dig back into their holes, but Link yelped and jumped forward. "Wait! I'm not looking for treasure. I'm looking for a person."
"One of those red-"
"No, not one of the monsters. My friend, a person. She-"
"Oh, so not treasure. You're looking for a friend?" Ledd asked, watching Link nod. "So that might have been your pal who passed earlier, sprinting by without so much as a glance in our direction. Sort of-"
"You saw her? Was she all right? Did she look hurt? Was anything-"
"Well, it was sort of a blur of movement, so I didn't get a real good look," Ledd admitted. "But I know it wasn't one of those red creeps. Your pal must have gone straight up through there."
"Yeah, the one that ran through here kind of looked like you, but I don't think they were dressed in green," the other creature said.
Link wasn't going to hang around and ask what clothing the person had been wearing. Aside from the old woman, Link had yet to see another human, let alone a human in this area. It had to be Zelda. He ran down the path through a cave pulsing with molten rock and filled with burning Keese then quickly through into an enclosed chamber of sorts.
"Damn," Link muttered, walking towards what looked like an exit, but it was covered with rock. He pushed hard against the rubble, seeing if any would shift out of the way.
"Bomb flower."
Link glanced over his shoulder to see another one of the strange creatures staring at him from a hole in the dirt. When he looked confused as to what a bomb flower was, the creature rolled its eyes and gestured to the circular plant growing just beside him.
"You're joking, right? Those are them growing right over there. You pick one up, the fuse lights as soon as it's out, few seconds later," the creature gestured dramatically with both arms, "BOOM! Use one on that wall if you want to get through. There was some kind of earthquake earlier that caused a bunch of rock to fall."
Link took a few steps over, bending down to pull the strange plant from the dirt. A loud hissing sound started as soon as the round plant was free and Link instinctively turned to throw the bomb away from him.
The wall to his right exploded, knocking him off his feet and revealing the biggest Chuchu Link had ever seen inside the hole. It gurgled and began to crawl forward, flaming red compared to the bluish-green ones that lived back on Skyloft. Link unsheathed the sword, slashing wildly at the jelly-like creature until it quit dividing itself and nothing remained but a small glob he picked up and pocketed, knowing Gondo could use it for something, or Rupin would buy it off him at the very least.
"Um… yeah," the creature behind him said. "You might want to get a bag before you pick up anymore. Those plants are dangerous, and you can't carry them without a bag. You won't catch a Mogma without a bomb bag that's for sure."
"Right," Link mumbled, sitting down on a bench inside one of the strange huts. The Mogma (That's what he'd called himself) skidded forward in the dirt with a grin on its face. "Hey, welcome to my place! Just make yourself at home there."
"This is your house?"
"What? Yeah… of course it's my house."
Link looked at the barren walls, eyebrows raised while the creature frowned at him. "Ok, fine, those red creeps built it. But they split running after something so it's mine now."
"They ran off?" Link said, jumping up and looking towards the blocked exit of the cavern. He picked up another bomb flower and hurled it towards the rocks, elated when it blew them apart and opened the path. He looked back at the Mogma creature and gestured to the flowers again.
"How do I-"
"No! No way, no how. You are not getting my bag. You'll have to be satisfied blowing up stuff close to flowers, bub. You seem a little reckless with them, it's not safe for you run around with a whole bag."
With that he buried himself back in the ground, leaving Link to roll his eyes and run down the path to find where Zelda had gone. Beyond the cavern there were more bomb flowers, which became useful as Link ran across strange creatures that stayed huddled inside of rocks or caves and spit fire when he tried to pass. A well-aimed bomb took them out easily and let him move forward, eventually making his way across a precariously placed set of stones on top of the molten rock and into a cave where another one of the Mogma creatures said Zelda had gone.
Inside the second cavern, things got a bit more intense. As soon as he landed, he heard the now familiar screech of bokoblins and several came out to rush him. The new skills Al had helped him hone became useful then. He took down several of the monsters with ease, but they kept coming until he realized they were being summoned by a hornblower stationed at the top of some crates. It was only after he'd climbed on top of them and taken that bokoblin out that he was able to move forward.
The Mogma who'd seen Zelda gifted him a pair of thick gloves with long, metal claws that he called digging mitts in thanks for clearing out the cavern. "With those things you'll be able to dig up treasure and open vents that'll help you get up the mountain. Here's hopin' you find your pal soon!" The Mogma had said before burrowing back underground and leaving Link to move onward up the path. The mitts made his hands hot, but did allow him to search in the dirt for bits of ore, rupees, and little heart-shaped seedlings that helped him recover a bit of strength without using a potion.
Once Link regained his strength and filled his pouch full of useful things to sell or trade, he proceeded through the cavern, battling more fire-spitting monsters and bokoblins as he went until he reached a vent that lifted him higher onto the mountain. At the top was another Mogma who shouted in alarm at his sudden appearance.
"Woah! Now there's a green one!"
"A green one?" Link asked.
"Yeah, one of your people came through here. Dressed all in black. That a friend of yours?"
"Er…"
"See that up ahead?" the Mogma said, gesturing to an ornate arch beyond a large gap in the rock. "That's what we call a drop-dead dead end, but this character danced right over it. Seriously, jumping over a gap like that? My jaw hit the dirt. Those mountains ahead are crawling with those red troublemakers, but I got a feeling that shady so-and-so is gonna zip right on by 'em."
Link's stomach dropped. Shady so-and-so. He'd only come across one other "person" so far on the surface, someone who moved with an inhuman ability that would make jumping this gap quite easy. Link bolted past the Mogma and stared at the bridge, trying to figure out the best way to get across when a platform began to extend between the arch and the marbled pathway he was now standing on. Link ignored his burning desire to question why the bridge magically appeared and jogged forward, wanting to find Zelda before anyone else-
"You!"
The voice startled him, and Link looked up to see a person standing on top of the arch, clad in an asymmetrical black cloak and a red scarf around their waist. The person's head was shaved save for a single long braid that hung over their right shoulder. They stared at Link with an air of skepticism before speaking again.
"The goddess's chosen hero," the person went on, eyeing him suspiciously. When Link said nothing, they jerked their head towards the mountain above. "Zelda is ahead. Hurry."
Then the person leapt off the archway and ran swiftly into the distance. Link took off running, following the path through a tunnel to find a steep, sand covered hill on the other side. There were platforms positioned halfway up, patrolled by bokoblins with swords, and above them more bokoblins who held rocks, ready to throw them down at anyone attempting to climb up. At the top behind them, a gold and red temple that Link was sure led to the next sacred spring.
He exhaled slowly and pulled out his slingshot, hoping his aim was as good now as it had been as a child.
Zelda laid still, hoping if she played dead or asleep the demons would leave her alone. Her head pounded from being hit, body aching from exhaustion and weak from thirst. There was a chain around her ankle, but there was nothing she could do to break it. When they'd left her alone Zelda had clawed at and shook the heavy metal with everything she had, but nothing happened. No golden light, no sudden surge of energy. Nothing. Some goddess she was.
A single monster returned, jabbering animatedly while waving a sword. The others cheered and Zelda sat up slightly, trying to analyze what pthey were celebrating by their movements and gestures. The leader had just gestured to the path behind them when a flash of bright blue light appeared.
A person materialized, blue orbs glowing in their palms, crackling with energy. The monsters screeched and tried to rush in, but the person was too quick. They tossed the orbs forward and Zelda covered her head to protect herself from the accompanying blast. When she looked up several demons had already fallen while any remaining were being taken out in a series of quick punches and flashes of energy that surged out of the person's hands each time they moved.
When the last foe was knocked to its back, Zelda rose to her knees, staring in awe at her rescuer as the last orb they held faded away. Shaved blonde hair, a single braid down their right shoulder… the red eye painted across her forehead...
"Impa?" Zelda marveled, unable to hide her shock. The woman tilted her head curiously then regained composure and rushed to her side.
"Your Grace… Zelda," she said, placing her glowing hands on the metal chain and breaking it easily from Zelda's ankle. "I am sorry I was not here sooner. Are you hurt?"
Zelda shook her head, still in awe at what she was seeing. "No, I… how are you here? How is this-"
"I traveled through the gate, Your Grace, just as we planned."
"The Gate?"
"The Gate of Time inside your temple. It is closed now and can only be opened by your tempered sword."
"My sword?"
"Yes, currently in possession of the hero... wherever he is."
Impa helped her to her feet while Zelda continued to stare, confused because the old woman assured her the hero would be along shortly but mentioned nothing of Impa. Had this been part of the plan all along? Why would she need another guardian if the hero was coming? Was the hero even coming or… or perhaps (Zelda's heart trembled) he'd been killed somewhere on his way to rescue her?
Before she was able to ask any of these questions, Impa pulled a water skin from the pouch at her side. Zelda snatched it and greedily drank, stopping only when Impa gently pried it from her fingers.
"Not so much so quickly," she cautioned.
Zelda nodded, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry. I haven't had anything to eat or drink since… since my first night here."
Impa frowned. "Come with me. We'll go to the spring and there you can rest."
Zelda nodded, passing Impa back the water skin as they began to walk the steps she assumed led to the spring. She stayed quiet, gazing at the ornate carvings around her, curious how to talk to this person who she recognized but didn't know at all.
"Was all this built to… protect the spring?" Zelda asked, gesturing to the large dragon sculpture that rose above them.
Impa gazed at the sculpture, considering her answer it seemed. "In a way, yes. Eldin had it built it in your honor though, if you ask me, it's a bit more his taste than yours."
"Eldin?"
"The guardian dragon of this region."
"Dragon?"
Impa gave her a perplexed look then and sighed. "Can you tell me what you've remembered thus far?"
"I know that Hylia- er, I… gave you a set of tasks to complete, and some power Hylia guar- I mean that I guarded is hidden somewhere in Skyloft," Zelda said, trying to sum up everything she'd seen so far. "I know whatever... seal I put on that monster isn't holding, and the entire reason I'm here is to stop it for good. And I know that I'm… not supposed to be alone."
"No, you are not," Impa said in a clipped tone. "But your journeys will part you. You are partners with separate tasks."
"What happened to Hylia's hero?"
Impa's expression, which had been stoic, immediately faltered. They'd reached the top of the steep walkway, Zelda noticing it was lined with the heart-shaped blossoms she saw in a few places on Skyloft. She turned back to Impa then, who was staring at the golden door in front of them with heavy eyes.
"He died."
"In battle? Or after-"
"In battle."
Zelda nodded, pressing her hand against the embossed Wingcrest when Impa gestured to it. Light flashed from her fingertips and Zelda frowned. "Will I ever learn how to use... this?"
"Your powers? You haven't yet-"
"They come at random. I was able to open all the doors in the Skyview Temple, but when I got here, and those monsters caught me? I tried to defend myself nothing happened. And when I was chained? I couldn't free myself."
Impa nodded, gesturing to the pathway into the spring. The door shut behind them, sealing itself while Zelda gazed at the beautiful scenery around her. This spring was not as open as the last though it wasn't enclosed either. The walls surrounding it were tall, sculpted from centuries of waterfalls cascading over the edges.
"Your power weakens as you do, you've always had less control over it then," Impa explained. "I expect since you are human now, you are susceptible to the things that weaken humans: exhaustion, thirst, hunger, fear. I have food, we'll rest for a bit and regain your strength before we move on."
Zelda nodded. "I'd like that, thank you."
Impa nodded, smiling gently as she began to dig through the pack. Zelda watched her, curious about the journey she'd been on to find her, the path she took and the things she'd seen. "Did you… see anyone on your way to find me?"
"For now, it's best if we focus on your journey. You must restrain yourself from all distractions. The more attention we give to this ritual, the sooner your full powers will return, and the sooner we can put an end to this horror," Impa said sagely. "When I arrived at the temple the ground was shuddering again. I fear it may be only days before that beast awakens. Only you have the power to hold it back."
Impa held out a cloth then, filled with cheese, some smoked cucco, and berries Zelda didn't recognize. "But you will be better able to process what you see and attend to your duties if you are rested and fed."
Zelda nodded, sinking onto the stone floor beside this woman who was sworn to serve her. She took the cloth and smiled shyly.
"Thank you, Impa."
Impa smiled then. "It's my honor, Your Grace."
Link's lungs were on fire from the smoldering air around him. He coughed ash and breathed smoke each time he raced up the insanely steep pathway. Ghirahim hadn't been lying when he said something about Link being charred to a crisp. When Link first saw the Demon Lord in front of the door, he'd been almost relieved because it meant he hadn't gotten to Zelda. He'd been ready for a fight against that man again, but this fight? This fight was different; chaotic, unpredictable, and unimaginably hot.
Fi finally clued him onto how to use the bombs in his bag. He could attack the thin crust of rock that shielded the fiend's soft body, opening it up like a beetle flipped it on its back. When the monster inhaled the flaming air around them, Link threw a bomb into its mouth. The plant exploded on contact and cracked through the crust, revealing the monster's single protruding eye. It was the only weak point he could reach so Link swiped at it with everything he had.
When the monster recovered, Link sprinted up the steep hill to avoid the sparks that shot from its body as it chased after him. A well-timed bomb managed to knock it away for a bit and Link was forever thankful to that Mogma named Ledd who'd given him a bomb bag without asking for anything in return.
By the time he managed to put the monster down, Link's tunic was blackened and burned clear through to the chainmail in some spots. His whole body ached even after he'd picked up another heart shaped artefacts Fi told him would increase his strength. He wasn't feeling stronger yet, but he kept pushing forward, stopping to fill up the bomb bag before walking through the door in front of him.
Another spring, this one more enclosed than the last. The path was covered completely and the spring itself was surrounded by tall walls, though it was open in the center. Link looked around, noting the broken pillars, the raised dais, and the presence of music.
Music…
He lifted his eyes. Before him on the dais stood the tall blonde person from earlier, looking spindle thin without their cape. Across from them, playing a golden harp and wearing a pristine white dress, was Zelda.
Link froze.
Zelda was here. She was safe. She was alive.
She was also brighter somehow, her sun-colored hair and the dress she wore gave off an ethereal glow.
Link couldn't think, he couldn't speak, rendered mute by the sight of her. All the things he'd planned to say - how much he missed her, how scared he'd been, everything she meant to him - became caught in his throat just like it used to when he was a child. His feet seemed as though they were made of lead, too heavy to lift and step forward. Everything that mattered stood right in front of him, but he couldn't move to grab it.
Zelda finished strumming her harp and a golden light appeared on the dais, rising into the air like liquid smoke. The person beside Zelda gestured and, to Link's horror, Zelda turned and began to walk towards the light.
Wait, Link thought, mouthing the words though no sound came out. Don't leave me!
Zelda turned, drawn by something, some choked noise he'd made perhaps. Her eyes fell on him, curious at first then widening dramatically when she gasped and pressed a hand against her chest.
"Link?"
His name was all it took for Link's feet to finally free themselves. He took two steps forward, gasping when the most breathtaking smile he'd ever seen crossed Zelda's face and she too began to run for him.
"Link!"
Link had almost reached the bottom of the steps and Zelda the top when the person across from her held up an arm between them.
He slowed, confusion replacing joy. Who was this person? How had they gotten there so quickly? Link watched Zelda, expecting to see confusion on her face as well, but instead he saw first guilt, then sorrow. Zelda's hand balled into a fist at her sternum and looked from Link to the person keeping them from being together.
"You cannot go to him, Your Grace," the person said firmly. "Remember what we discussed. Restrain yourself. Focus on the task at hand."
They emphasized the last statement with an imploring gesture, attention focused solely on Zelda, as if Link wasn't even there. As if he was... insignificant in all of this. Link moved closer to the steps, mouthing vaguely formed thoughts with no real intention behind them.
The task… we're here. I'm here. We can do this together now. We do everything together.
Zelda turned back to Link, despair in her eyes before her expression turned resigned. She clenched her fists then turned away sharply, as though she couldn't bear to look at him a second longer.
"I… I have to go," she mumbled, glancing apologetically over her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Link."
"Wait…"
Zelda took three steps forward into the glowing pillar of light, allowing it to swallow her whole and take her away from him again. Link bleated in protest.
"Wait!" he cried, racing up the stairs. The person Zelda had been with moved to follow her, but stopped at the pool of light and gave him a sharp, accusatory glare that stopped Link halfway up the steps.
When they turned, Link realized the person was a woman, taller than any woman he'd ever seen. Strong, lean muscles rippled across her bare arms and shoulders, the armor she wore light and fluid. There was something familiar about her, and though Link couldn't place what it was, he knew she was not a person to cross.
"It took you far too long to get here," she said, examining him with a critical eye. "Looking at you, I fear the goddess is mistaken in her choice of agents. If this failure is any indication, you have no hope of defending Her Grace from those who seek to assail her."
Link scoffed, unable to hold it back. Who was she? Didn't she see what he'd been through, what he'd been going through the last two days? What he'd been going through since the moment Zelda was taken from him? Failure? He was here now; he'd moved as fast as he could and killed how many-
"Do my words anger you, boy?" she asked with short, pitiless laugh. "Do they sting?"
Link tried hard to look stoic, but he felt a blush spreading through his ears and his cheeks. The woman stared down at him, wholly unconcerned with his feelings, calling him "boy" with the same tone Ghirahim had used when he called him "sky child."
The woman scoffed. "Let them. If I had not come when I did, your Zelda would already have fallen into the hands of the enemy." Link made a noise of protest but she just shook her head. "The truth of it is you were late. You were late, and you failed to protect her."
Link gaped back at her scolding expression, feeling sick now, guilt settling like a rock in his stomach. The temple, those horrible creatures with armored arms. The bombs he'd spent so much time trying to figure out. The Mogmas. Wyrna and Kukiel. Everyone on Skyloft pulling at his attention, asking if he'd heard anything, seen anything. Wishing him good luck with empty words. Link could blame them all if he wanted, and, oh, did he want to... but the woman's last statement hit him harder than Albertos had when they sparred. This wasn't on any of them. Link could have said no to their requests, he could have ignored the creatures when they spoke to him, he could have run faster and harder up the mountain...
He could have thought more about what Zelda needed from him instead of how badly he needed her.
The woman sensed her words impacted Link in some way and she softened infinitesimally before going on. "I sent Zelda ahead to learn more of the fate in which she is destined to play a part. Listen well, chosen one," she said, waiting for Link to look up at her before continuing.
"If you wish to be of help to Her Grace, you must summon a shred of courage and face the trials laid out before you. Only when you've conquered the trials will you be of use to Zelda. No sooner. Am I understood?"
Link nodded, watching the woman continue to stare at him, her expression somewhere between disdain and sorrow before she turned and walked into the glowing portal, fading away to join Zelda wherever she had gone. Link huffed in irritation, feeling simultaneously sorry for and angry at himself.
He thought back to that night last fall, after the Harvest Festival when Zelda had tried to kiss him, and to all the times before that when he'd let her down. Zelda begging him to be on time to class, waking him up on the off-days, his pairing day when he'd overslept and missed the prayer, and her sixteenth birthday when she'd tried to go through the clouds because he hadn't been there as he promised. Zelda had always cared about what Link needed, and Link had been happy to let her just go have her close, so afraid of losing her that he never thought of how she was feeling.
Now he'd lost her before he ever found out what it was like to have her in the first place.
"Fuck," Link swore, clenching his fists together as he walked closer to the statue at the end of the pathway. He lifted the sword to the sky, wondering again if the spirit had made a mistake in choosing him. He swung the charged blade down harder than necessary, barely listening while Fi communicated the next bit of his task to him, so caught up in his thoughts that he almost missed the amber tablet when it floated in his direction.
Link looked up at the statue of Hylia, seeing Zelda in her blank smiling face. He smiled for a moment before guilt overwhelmed him again and he turned and walked quickly back out of the spring and out of the temple.
The sun had nearly set by the time he used one of the bird statues to launch himself into the sky. His Loftwing squawked in concern, seemingly admonishing him for returning so late.
"Just fly home," Link said quietly. "You know the way."
The bird quieted then, cooing softly before Link launched himself off his back and used Zelda's sailcloth to drift down to the plaza. The knights were about to change shifts and had gathered by the Light tower to discuss the flight pattern for the evening, just like they used to when Link was little and he'd sneak out to watch his father take off. A few of them looked up at his arrival. Link noticed Karane with them, standing between her father, Hawkin, and her mentor, Manu. Her eyes widened at his appearance and she rushed forward.
"Hylia, save me, Link," she gasped. "What's happened to you?"
Link looked down at himself, the burn marks on his arms and slashes in his tunic, some stained with ash and others with blood. He shook his head and started to walk away but Karane seized his arm.
"Have you seen anything of Zelda?"
"I… I saw her."
"You saw her?" Karane yelped, drawing the attention of the knights behind her. They raced forward, Heron, Hawkin, and Eagus' father Talon peppering him with questions.
"You saw Zelda?"
"Was she all right?"
"Where did you see her?"
"Why isn't she with you?" Karane interjected. "Why didn't you bring her home?"
Link grimaced at her, his stomach in knots again, desperate to get away from all of them. He hunched his shoulders and muttered unintelligibly before wrenching himself out of Heron's grasp and storming off to the dormitories. As soon as he got inside, Groose ran up and seized him roughly by the arm.
"Where's Zelda gone off too? I can't stand it anymore!" he shouted, and when Link did nothing but give him an utterly bemused look, he went on.
"It's driving me crazy. I've looked absolutely everywhere but still no Zelda. I do have one last idea, though," he said, still holding Link, waving a finger in his face. "You've seen those lights that popped out of the clouds? You can't see 'em during the day unless you look real hard, but at night… and you know, I say to myself 'Groose, that thing looks kinda fishy.' Then today it hits me! What if that's Zelda down there, and she's sending me a signal? It's a sign!"
Link scoffed and tried to pull away, but Groose held him tight. "She's calling for me. 'Save me, Groose, you're my only hope!' The more I think about it the more sure I get. It's Zelda down there, and I gotta go rescue her!"
At this Link did wrench himself away, instantly furious. He went to gesture to the sword on his back, about to tell Groose the whole thing — the whole damn story about the spirit in the sword and everything Link had seen the last two days — but Groose grabbed him again and shook him, glowering menacingly.
"Don't you think about trying to go down there before me. I'm her hero, remember?"
Link threw Groose's giant hands from his shoulders. "Go jump."
"What did you say to me?"
"I said go jump! Fuck off!" Link shouted, furious with the whole situation, sick with grief, and guilt, and doubt in himself. Part of him wanted to take the sword and throw it at Groose because maybe he was right. The spirit was wrong and he was a hero while Link was nothing but late.
Groose looked as though he was about to punch Link, but he straightened up and scoffed instead now. "I don't even know why I'm talking to you. Looking at you just makes me feel sad again. This is all your fault. You can barely fly straight and you still… beat me. It should have been me up there! If it was me this wouldn't have happened!"
Then he stormed off, slamming the door to his room so hard the hallway seemed to shake. Link swore again and stomped to his door but Cawlin stopped him.
"So, it's true? Zelda really did fall down and vanish into the clouds?" he asked. Link nodded, eyes fixed on his door, shaking with rage. Cawlin scoffed at him.
"You were with her, weren't you? Why didn't you do something to save her? Groose is like this because you let Zelda fall. I mean… it's tough for him, sure, but now I gotta listen to him mope all the time and it's your-"
Link pushed Cawlin away and threw open his door, slamming it behind him and wrenching his cracked shield off his back. He threw it against the wall then reached over his back with the intent of throwing the sacred sword as well, but he hesitated, squeezing the scabbard so tightly his fingers ached.
"Fi?" He snapped.
A flash of blue light and she appeared, blank and cold, staring at him expectantly. "You summoned me, Master?"
He thrust the scabbard and sword in her direction, taking deep breaths to calm himself. "You picked wrong."
She continued to stare, no emotion in her expression or in her chime-like voice. Link shook the sword and gestured. "You picked wrong."
"Master, that would be impossible," she said flatly.
"Why is it impossible?"
"I was created for a single purpose, to aid my creator's chosen hero in his task. You are the chosen hero. It is your destiny to fulfil-"
"How is it me? How do you know?" he asked angrily.
"Goddess Hylia imparted her wisdom to me, enabling me to sense her aura and the aura of her chosen hero, the unbreakable spirit needed to endure the trials ahead. That spirit she tasked me to find is inside you, Master. You are the chosen one destined to complete the Goddess's mission."
Link opened his mouth to argue, but a knock on the door silenced him. Fi disappeared in another chiming flash of light just before Henya opened the door and strolled into Link's room, a plate of fried toast and sausage in her hand.
"I know you prefer pancakes, but I was never able to make them like your mother, so this will have to do," she said, gesturing to the plate. "Eat."
Link swallowed and shook his head. "I'm not hungry, thank-"
"I didn't ask if you were hungry, I said eat."
Link huffed and turned away, but Henya strolled around and took his chin in her hand, pulling him down to her height and examining him closely. "You may be nearing your father's height and have his stubborn streak, but you still favor your mother. You have since you came out."
She released his jaw and gestured to the bed behind Link, watching as he sat down and took the plate of toast onto his lap. Henya continued to eye him until Link picked up the fork and began to cut into the toast. He took a bite, wanting to moan quietly over how delicious it was. Link realized then it had been two days since he'd eaten a real meal.
"Since I came out?" he asked through a mouthful of cucco sausage.
"Yes, since you came out. I was there when you were born. I was there when half the children on this island were born," she said matter-of-factly. "Your mother was quiet fire, that's what Natala said. First time mothers usually labor for hours, sometimes days. But when you decided it was time that was it. Four hours was all it took, and for as quiet as your mother was you came into this world with a warrior's cry, screaming furiously until she started singing to you."
Link slowed his chewing, listening to Henya recall his birth, something he'd never thought to ask about while his parents were alive.
"I knew your mother most of her life. Meek little thing she was when she started school, scared of her own shadow it seemed. But when she decided to spread her wings? She flew. Your father was the knight, but mother was no less a warrior, she was just quieter about it. She had to grow into it when she was ready, same as you."
Link stared at her, watching as she gave him an approving nod then began to walk to his door. "I want that plate back in my kitchen by morning. Remlits go insane for syrup, but it makes them sick. The Headmaster's will sniff that out in two seconds and claw your door open if you leave it in here."
Link chuckled and nodded, swallowing the bit of toast stuck to his tongue. "Thank you, Henya."
Henya nodded. "When Zelda returns, she can tell you the whole story. I expect she knows it almost as well as the story of her own birth."
And with that she shut the door and left Link to the rest of his meal. There was another flash and Fi appeared again, floating quietly over the scabbard of the sacred sword. "Master, have you any more questions for me?"
Link pressed his lips together and set the plate aside. "How did you find me?"
"Goddess Hylia found you. She chose you, believing only you could be trusted with her task. Her Grace poured her intentions into me and I used that to locate you when it was time," Fi explained. "Her spirit calls for you, and your spirit for hers. You must trust yourself, and trust in the destiny you are to fulfil."
Link nodded, suddenly recalling his pairing day and the first time he thought his Loftwing was "talking" to him. There had been a few other instances where he'd gotten that he and this bird shared more than a bond, but he'd never forget those first words. You must trust me, child. You must trust yourself.
Link swallowed and stood, pulling the thick stone tablet from his adventure pouch. "Can you repeat what you told me at the spring? Where we're supposed to go next?"
Fi appeared to nod and lowered herself closer to where Link's height. "I will repeat it for you now, Master Link."
Thank you so much for the comments and feedback and for anyone who engaged with me on Tumblr (I get a lot of anons). Notes will be up sometime tomorrow depending on how this evening goes for me. I hope I have done one of the major scenes justice and that it was an enjoyable read.
