Despite knowing in the back of his mind that he was unconscious, Link felt very much awake. He was falling through darkness. A darkness that gradually brightened as a blue light came out of nowhere. High above his head, a indiscernible figure appeared, silhouetted against the light.
"Link..." The strange voice spoke. "Link, you are vital to a mission of great importance. The time has come for you to awaken to your destiny."
The figure disappeared back into the light and Link heard a cry. Zelda was falling beside him, her face pale, and her blue eyes wide with fear as a massive creature covered in blackness reared out of the darkness beneath her and opened an enormous mouth filled with sharp teeth.
He bolted upright, drenched in a cold sweat. His breath came in ragged gasps and for a few moments, he didn't know where he was. As his vision cleared, the darkness faded into the familiar surroundings of his room at the academy. He was sitting on his bed, clutching at the blankets with tight fists.
"Ah, you're awake." Zelda's father was sitting at Link's desk and poring through a thick, dusty-looking book. "When your Loftwing carried you back limp and unconscious, we all feared the worst. Fortunately, you don't seem sustain any serious injury."
It was just a dream, Link realized, and decided to mention his strange dream to Gaepora. When he had finished, the headmaster closed his book and stood. His tall figure was stooped and his eyes held no trace of their normal lively twinkle. "Where is Zelda? She was with you, was she not?" With a heavy heart, Link told him what had happened, starting with the ceremony and ending with Zelda being snatched out of the sky. "A storm of black wind?" Gaepora eased his large self back into Link's chair.
Link began to pull on his boots, which had been placed on the floor beside his bed. His sheath was strapped across his back still, and he checked to make sure the sword was there before rising to his feet. Gaepora glanced at him. "You must not push yourself."
"We cannot sit and do nothing." The knot of worry in Link's chest was growing tighter as each minute passed.
"I am concerned for Zelda as well, but as long as she's with her Loftwing, I am sure she will be fine. Either way, daybreak has yet to arrive. It would be very difficult to spot one girl and her bird in the dark of night. Not to mention dangerous."
Link fell heavily back on the bed, biting at the inside of his cheek as worry continued to eat away at him.
Gaepora rested his chin upon his chest, brooding. "Tell me, when you saw Zelda today, did anything seem...off?"
Link thought for a minute. "Not today. But lately she has mentioned again the strange feelings she's been having. About the Surface."
"I see." Gaepora looked thoughtful. "So Zelda was talking about the surface again? And you had dreams about a 'great mission'? How interesting." He stood, sliding his book somewhere within the massive folds of his robe. "I must study the ancients texts further, see what they speak about the Surface. Rest now Link. Zelda's going to be fine. She's out there alive, I know it." With a grim nod, the headmaster left the room, pulling the door shut gently behind him.
Feeling completely overwhelmed with worry for his friend, Link let out a big breath. He sat heavily on the edge of his bed, staring at his boots, but barely seeing them as his mind whirred with troublesome visions of what may have happened to Zelda.
He didn't know how much time had gone by before he heard a strange, silvery noise come from outside his room. He raised his head as the noise came again. It sounded almost like a murmur. Curious, and a bit apprehensive, Link pushed himself off of his bed and cautiously opened the door, expecting to see Gaepora, but nobody was there. By some providence, his head was turned just so, that a flicker caught his eye before he turned back into his room.
On the stairs that led to the lower floor was a figure floating slightly above the ground. She had long legs laced in black and green ribbons, and in place of arms were what looked like fluttering wings of fabric. One was purple, matching the dress she wore, and the other was a bright blue. Her hair was short and reached her chin, tapering into a soft point at the top of her head. Her skin was the same shade of blue as her hair and a tiny diamond sparkled on her forehead, set just above her expressionless eyes. She was like nothing Link had ever seen before.
He stepped forwards, and the girl moved slightly away in response. Mesmerized by the glowing light pulsating around her, Link hardly noticed his feet moving as she led him down the stairs. He hesitated, before walking down the hallway and stepping carefully past the closed doors of the rooms on either side of him. Defying everything that made sense, the girl then passed straight through the door at the end of the hallway that led outside.
Link stopped. No one in Skyloft went outside at night. The instructors strictly enforced the rule, and nobody asked any questions. A series of screams suddenly came from outside, and for the first time, Link broke the rule and hurriedly pushed open the door with one hand reaching for his sword.
The night air was cool, and it was very dark. It took a moment for his eyes adjust and to figure out what he was seeing, but when he did, he realized that the noise seemed to have come from a figure running from a small, shadowy streak of fur. Link watched as the figure dashed and awkwardly scrambled up into a nearby tree, huddling against the tree trunk on a low branch. The small creature hissed and spat and started scratching at the bark. A Remlit?
Everyone should know better than to approach Remlits at night, Link thought as he carefully inched up and grabbed the cat-like creature's bristly tail. Its red eyes flashed and it batted at him with its sharp claws as he pulled it off of the tree. It snarled and hissed, and Link winced, holding it away from him at arm's length as he hurried over to the bridge that led to Skyloft. He tossed the creature to the ground, jumping away. It snarled at him, then slunk off and disappeared into the shadows.
Hearing a creaking noise, he looked back just in time to witness the figure scramble awkwardly to the ground, landing hard on the packed earth beneath the tree. As the figure slowly pushed themselves up, Link saw that it was a young girl.
"Are you alright?" He asked, stepping forward. The girl winced, then looked up and froze.
Link stared back and there was a pause that lapsed into a silence. In the pale light from the waxing moon, he could see the girl was shorter than him, and he noticed she was wearing odd clothes. He didn't recognize her; was she a visitor from one of the other floating islands?
"You should get inside." He said finally. "There's a rule about being out at night in Skyloft because it can be unsafe." The blue floating figure he had momentarily forgotten about was hovering a little ways away and appeared to be waiting for him. Almost forgetting all about the young girl, Link began to advance, speeding up as he followed the strange figure.
Soft footsteps followed him over the cobblestone path.
Link stopped and turned to the young girl, who avoided his eyes for a moment, then slowly turned her gaze to him. "I was waiting here for you."
"What?" Link peered at her curiously. After a moment he chuckled, thinking he knew what was going on. The kids around Skyloft always looked up to the knights-in-training, even pretending to go on adventures with them and other such games.
"I know it sounds strange," the girl continued, "but I was sent here by...the Goddess. She...brought me here to help you."
"The Goddess." Link repeated with moderate disbelief, looking the child up and down. He was nearly convinced she was one of those kids who like to pretend they were knights, until he heard the next words out of her mouth.
"The...the Goddess has sent me dreams of the Surface." She mumbled and toying with the end of the long braid draped over her shoulder. "I...I believe I am meant to travel alongside you on your quest."
Link squinted at her warily, and she looked up at him nervously, taking in his expression. "I know it sounds rather crazy. But I do not lie."
"What is your name?" Link asked finally, unsure whether or not he should be responding in case all he did was encourage the game she might be playing. As strange as she did sound, something in him just couldn't discount her words, seeing as he had experienced strange dreams and visions himself lately.
"My name is Amelia. But I am usually called Mia."
"And did...the Goddess tell you anything else?"
"I know that the spirit maiden, Zelda, has gone missing, and... I believe I am supposed to help you find her." She replied.
Link was silent for a moment. As far as he knew, him and Gaepora were the only ones who knew about Zelda. The Headmaster wouldn't have spread the news around until it was confirmed she was really missing. He regarded the girl thoughtfully, not fully sure about what to do. She seemed just as wary, an unreadable expression in her gaze as she waited for him to say something.
"Why do you call Zelda "spirit maiden"?" He asked.
The girl cleared her throat and glanced towards the blue figure who was still floating on the path ahead. "Should we… should we not be following the sword spirit?"
They followed the blue spirit through the far side of Skyloft and up some wooden stairs that lead to a hilly section of the island. The silence was uncomfortable but Mia refrained from speaking, as she thought Link might be trying to figure out if she was completely crazy. She tagged behind him, feeling slightly crazy herself.
A massive statue in the distance seemed to grow taller as they approached. The path to the statue appeared to be inaccessible at night, a thick gate blocking the entrance in the rock wall separating the area from the rest of Skyloft. The sword spirit floated to the right of the statue, on an alternate path that sloped steeply downwards and probably wouldn't be noticeable unless someone were really looking for it. Link and Mia took this new route, still not speaking.
The nature of the path required jumping across gaps in the ground through which, at times, Mia could see the sky and stars. Glowing green bugs flew around her face and small bats with red eyes swarmed the air. Mia batted the bugs away and ran to catch up with Link. He had started climbing a patch of thick vines growing up the wall that flanked the path, and shortly made it to the top. Trying not to look over the side of the very narrow ledge she was standing on, Mia grabbed onto the rough, leafy vines. It took her awhile, but with great effort she managed to haul herself up and drop down on the other side of the wall, her arms trembling with strain.
Link had stopped in front of the massive statue, which was silhouetted against the stars and loomed high above their heads. The base of the rock seemed to be shimmering. It continued to shine a moment more before fading entirely, revealing an archway opening in the statue. The sword spirit disappeared into the structure with a flick of her arms, and Link immediately started forward. Mia followed behind him, through a short passageway and into a large chamber with a tall ceiling. A soft light came from many lit torches, their flames casting flickering shadows on the walls.
"Where did..." Link murmured, and then fell silent as he caught sight of a raised platform in the middle of the room, holding a slab of stone into which a sword was half-embedded. In a stream of light, the blue spirit shot out of the weapon, circling high in the air before coming to rest in front of them. Her feet floated above the stone floor, and her blue hair and skin gleamed strangely in the torchlight. The jewels on the front of her dress and the in the middle of her forehead sparkled. Mia was utterly captivated; the sword spirit's unearthly beauty was beyond anything else she had seen.
"The one chosen by my creator. I have been waiting for you. You will play a role in a great destiny. " She addressed Link, whose eyes widened slightly. "According to your social customs, I shall now provide you with my personal designation, which is Fi. I was created for a single purpose, long before the recorded memory of your people. I must aid you in fulfilling the great destiny that is your burden to carry."
Mia could barely tear her eyes away from the luminous spirit. She looked sideways at Link to gauge his reaction, but he was simply silent, staring up at Fi with an unidentifiable expression.
"Come Link." Fi continued in a soft, yet somehow emotionless voice. "You must take up this weapon which you see before you. As the one chosen by my creator, it is your destiny."
Mia breathed out a sigh, a feeling of awe passing through her at the sight of the weapon. It was amazing to see it embedded in the stone, and to know it was the key to the great hero's awakening. The sight also filled her with apprehension; once the sword was drawn and the hero awakened, would she discover the reason for her arrival here, during this crucial time?
Slowly, Link stepped up on the platform. Wrapping his fingers around the purplish, green-striped hilt, he smoothly pulled the sword from the stone. As he did, a slow flash of light shot through the blade from within, making the silver shine brightly.
"Recognition complete Master...Link." Fi said, her voice echoing through the room as Link examined the blade.
"Incredible." Another voice echoed through the room.
"Headmaster Gaepora?" Link was staring over her shoulder, and Mia turned to see the old man with the orange robes standing in the doorway. He was stared at the sword Link was holding.
"Incredible." Gaepora repeated. "Here we are in the Chamber of the Sword, the very place where it was foretold the youth of legend would appear."
"Under the circumstances, it is only logical that you would exhibit some apprehension. To minimize your uncertainty, allow me to divulge the passages from the ancient texts." Fi began to intone. "When the light of the goddess's sword shines bright, the great apocalypse will wake from its long slumber. It is then that a youth guided by my hand shall reveal himself in a place most sacred. The youth shall be joined by a fated child during their awakening to destiny, and the one born of the blade shall accompany the youth on his great journey."
"Those are indeed the exact words." Gaepora sighed deeply. "A few days ago, the sword that I've kept secret here all these years...it began to give off a faint, otherworldly light. At first, I was sure I was seeing things, here alone with the sword. I never dreamed the prophecy of legend would come to pass-"
"I am...a part of the prophecy?" Mia spoke, accidentally interrupting the headmaster. She had been pondering Fi's recited words and suddenly realized what the sword spirit had said. How could my destiny be written about in this prophecy? She wondered, as a feeling of foreboding gripped her.
"Headmaster, do you know of this girl?" Link stepped down from the pedestal in response to Gaepora's questioning gaze. "She was waiting outside of the academy, and spoke of visions from the Goddess. She has seen the Surface, and knows of Zelda. She asserts she is to travel with me."
"The prophecies indeed speak of a fated child." Gaepora stared at Mia thoughtfully.
Mia felt her face grow warm under their scrutinizing gazes. "But… it does not make sense."
"Perhaps in time the Goddess will reveal more to you." Link regarded her, his expression lacking the strong skepticism he had worn when they had spoken together in front of the academy. Mia felt a rush of relief. It seemed the hero was starting to accept she was to travel with him.
"Link, think about this for a moment. The world below is forsaken, and to reach it, you must pierce the cloud barrier below." Gaepora pointed out. "How are you going to do that?"
As if in reply, Fi held out her arms. "Master, you must embark on a great journey beneath the clouds to the vast realm of the Surface. It is only through this journey that you can fulfill the mission set before you by my creator, the goddess." A glowing square brick, not unlike the rail maps in Spirit Tracks, materialized and floated through the air towards Link. "This tablet will illuminate a path through the clouds to the land below. Take it and place it in the altar behind me." Link sheathed the goddess sword, leaving his old sword lying at the foot of the altar. The stone slab dropped into Link's outstretched hands. It looked heavy, but Link didn't seem too troubled by the weight.
"Master, the first thing you must do it hit the crest sitting in this room with a Skyward Strike. These blasts are formed of pure energy that charges within your blade when you lift it skyward." Link handed the stone tablet to Gaepora. He then drew his new sword and walked over to the far side of the room, where a strangely shaped crest was set in the floor. It looked to be made of very shiny stone. Once in front of this crest, Link lifted his sword and swung it in a wide arc in front of him. The sword shot out a blast of light, and the crest began to spin counterclockwise. As the crest continued to spin, a pillar rose up out of the ground beneath it with a rumble. In this pillar was an indented space meant for holding the tablet. Link took back the tablet fragment from Gaepora and carefully pressed it into the empty space.
"Master Link, it is done," Fi said. "Until now, a cloud barrier created by the goddess has separated the world you know from the one below. The tablet you placed in the alter has opened a small rift in the barrier. You can use it to travel through the clouds to the realm below." In parting, Fi turned into a compressed ball of light. "I reside within your sword and will accompany you in your travels." She flew down into the sword now strapped across Link's back.
"Link, listen a moment." Gaepora murmured, taking Link aside. "The nature of the great apocalypse mentioned in the old texts is a complete mystery to me, but whatever it turns out to be, it seems that both you and Zelda have large roles to play in the destiny of this land. Just think! If what Fi says is true, Zelda is alive! Alive and no doubt coming to terms with whatever it is the Goddess has in store for her." Mia shifted her weight as Gaepora turned to her, the bottom of his long, orange robe swishing on the ground. "And you, my child."
"My name is Amelia."
"Based on your recount of the visions and dreams the Goddess has sent you, we can conclude that you are obviously the fated one mentioned in the prophecy. Should you heed the call of destiny, I don't know what dangers you may have to face along with Link, Amelia. But if you've decided to brave the unknown, please help to find my daughter and bring her back to me."
"I.. I will try my best." She replied, her fingers fidgeting at her sides.
Gaepora's worried expression seemed to smooth out. "You have a great journey ahead of you, Link, and those clothes do not look up to the task." He turned and began walking towards the entrance to the chamber, Link and Mia following behind. Link glanced down at his thin shirt and patchy pants as they left the statue. The gate that led to Skyloft had been opened. Once they were all through, Gaepora locked the bars with a large key.
A large portion of the walk back to the academy was spent in silence. Mia was still thinking about the prophecy, and the title given to her. Fated child. Awakening to Destiny... She wasn't sure she liked how involved she was becoming. It was an uncomfortable feeling. It was not like this the other time. I had just...gone along with it. I had been too caught up in those adventures to worry about anything, she recalled. I didn't even spend much time wondering how I found myself a part of the story in the first place, or how I would return.
"I'm not even sure what would be ideal for travelling to an unknown land." Link was saying.
"The uniform you were to receive for winning the race should be ready by now. A sturdy uniform like that will prove much more suitable for a journey." Gaepora said, his deep voice lowering as they approached the academy. He pushed open the great doors and held them open for Link and Mia to walk through, and they padded quietly down the hallway. The carpet they were walking on was so thick and plush, it felt like Mia could bury her feet up to her ankles if she were to walk without her boots.
"Amelia, in the few hours before dawn, you may have Zelda's bed to rest." Gaepora offered, leading them both up some stairs and stopping in front of a room. He brought a key ring from somewhere within his robes and unlocked the door. "You may feel free to borrow some clothing if you wish for something more suitable as well. I feel like if she were here, Zelda would desire to aid your journey as much as possible." His voice had gone quiet, and Mia shifted uncomfortably. Although it felt a bit odd, accepting his offer to occupy Zelda's room, she felt it would have been rude to refuse. And as soft as the carpet was, she did not exactly wish to sleep out in the hallway.
"Thank you." Mia stepped into the room and hesitated in the doorway, not sure what to say in parting. It felt very odd, standing there with Gaepora and Link after all that had been revealed to them in the Statue of the Goddess. It was probably strange for them too, she thought, especially for Link who had just learned he was part of a great destiny along with a stranger he had never met.
"We should leave as soon as possible. Will you be ready in the morning?" Link asked.
"I will." She closed the door gently, feeling it was a good time to remove herself from the conversation. There were doubtless many things that Link and Gaepora wanted to talk about that night.
The room was dark, but her eyes adjusted enough to make out a desk and a bed in the small space. Without bothering to pull off her boots, Mia gingerly lowered herself to the bed, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling that had been rolling her stomach ever since she had heard the spoken prophecy.
She lay awake a while, unable to feel completely at ease in the unfamiliar room. She suddenly felt overwhelmingly alone. Her worries also kept her from sleep; she knew that once they progressed past a certain point, her knowledge of this story would be useless, and what then? How would she explain her sudden lack of knowledge to the chosen hero? The nagging worry in the back of her mind would not leave her alone, but eventually she closed her eyes and felt herself began to drift asleep. Her last thought before succumbing was wondering if she would still be in this world when she woke.