A/N: I'm not even going to try to make an apology in the short snippet up here, it would never, ever make up to you the obscene amount of time it took me to write this chapter.
Disclaimer: I own a copy of the wonderful game Skyward Sword, but not the rights to its characters, nor do I claim to have writes to the dialogue from the game used in this chapter.
Sky Child
Chapter Seven:
A New World
A fifteen-year-old Link slept peacefully in his bed. He was constantly moving in his sleep, and soon his blankets were a mess, half of them falling over the side of the small comfortable bed. Just behind the wooden screen, Fledge's soft breathing could be heard. He too was sleeping happily, as was everyone in the academy that night. It was the annual bird festival the next day, and in a preemptive celebratory act, the headmaster had generously given every guard and student the night off from his or her duties, telling them to instead get rest before the festivities began the next day.
Link had crawled into his own bed around eight o'clock. He wore just his leggings, as the weather had become too hot to wear a shirt to bed. One of his legs hung off the bed, dangling in the warm air of the room.
Link smiled in his sleep, dreaming of the fun he and Zelda would have at this year's bird festival. Since they both had now passed their FFTs, they would be allowed to participate in the flying portions of the festivities. In his dreams, Link heard the soft tapping of the Loftwings' feet on the stone of the plaza. Although the sound fit the scene playing in his mind easily enough, it didn't seem quite right to the teen. The pitter-patter was too soft, unlike the satisfying sound of the bird's talons clacking against the stone after a successful touchdown. Link rolled over once again, brow furrowing. He went to readjust his pillow and managed to knock it entirely off the bed, but he continued to sleep without trouble.
"Link…"
Link groaned softly and flipped over once more, kicking the last of his blankets off the foot of his bed.
"Come on, sleepy-head! Wake up!"
Link felt someone shaking him gently, and he rolled away from the hand, grunting in protest. But instead of giving up, two hands grabbed the foot hanging over the edge of the bed and pulled. He felt himself slowly sliding closer and closer to the end of his mattress, but still refused to fully awaken. That changed, however, when he felt himself fall onto the hard wooden floor.
"Owww…" groaned Link. He sat up slowly, rubbing his head with his hand. He blinked, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness of the room. What came into focus wasn't that surprising.
Zelda stood over her friend, her hair tied back into a messy French braid. She wore a long green nightgown, one as bright as the glowing green fruits that grew on the island. It stopped just below her knees, leaving her shins and small bare feet open to the elements. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, which Link had come to learn was never a good sign, especially if it came in the middle of the night.
"Finally, you're up! It's about time, too," Zelda whispered, smiling.
Link continued to massage the back of his head, staring sleepily at his friend. "You shudn' juss wake people up inda middle of da night, Zzelda," Link finally managed to choke out, his words badly slurred. "Bud'I forgive you. Night…" The teen yawned, laying down on the floor and closing his eyes.
"Oh no, you don't!" Zelda whispered loudly. She kicked Link hard in the side, then stood back happily watching as his eyes shot open and he grabbed his abdomen in pain. "Serves you right. Now get up!"
"Okay, okay," Link said, beginning to feel more awake. He rubbed his left side gently. Although she was slender, Zelda was stronger then she looked. He pulled himself out of the mess of sheets and stood up. "What's up?"
Zelda grinned once more once realizing Link was finally going to cooperate with her. "You won't believe what's happening!" She clasped her hands excitedly together, bouncing slightly where she stood.
"If I won't, then I think I'll just climb back into bed." Link turned back towards his bed jokingly. Almost immediately Zelda grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"Come on, stop it!" she tried to contain her laughter, not wanting to wake up Fledge.
Link looked at where she was gripping his arm, and suddenly felt very self-conscious. Although they had been friends for a long time, he had never really gotten used to being shirtless around her. He drew his arm away gently and folded his arms over his bare chest. The teen could feel the tips of his ears grow hot, a sure sign of one of his blushes. He thanked the Goddess it was dark in the room; Zelda always teased him for blushing.
"So, uh, what's happening?" Link whispered quietly, trying to get his mind off of his embarrassment.
Zelda didn't seem to pick up on his sudden signs of discomfort, but Link knew better than that. She had the distinct ability to read him, which meant it was more likely that she was just kindly ignoring his middle-of-the-night shyness. "You have to come see it for yourself," she whispered. Her eyes sparkled in the dim light filtering through the crack in Link's window.
Link looked at her wearily. "Where do I have to go to see it?"
"Not far, just outside the top door." Link raised an eyebrow, earning an exasperated sigh from his friend. "Oh, come on. You'll be back in like, two minutes. You're all for my adventures during the day, but Hylia forbid you lose any beauty sleep…"
"Hey, there's nothing wrong with liking sleep!" he protested, chuckling.
"I guess not," Zelda mused, leaning in close and examining his face. "Hmm… You know, I think you could use a little more beauty sleep, Link. You look like a squashed pumpkin," she said jokingly, pushing Link lightly on the shoulder.
Link laughed quietly, returning the playful push. "Look who's talking, bird-brain."
Zelda giggled, but quickly grew serious. "Alright, enough stalling, let's go." Grabbing Link's arm, Zelda began to pull him towards the door. He stumbled, trying to regain his balance.
Link glanced around his room quickly. "Wait!" Zelda turned around to face him, lifting an eyebrow questioningly. "I gotta put on a shirt first."
Zelda rolled her eyes before restarting her pulling. "No time," was all she said.
"No time to put on a shirt, but plenty to tease me?"
"Yup."
Link chuckled once again, following his friend quietly up the stairs. Their progress through the school was fast and silent; they had long ago memorized every creaky board and step in the building, and now navigated the hallways without having to think about it. They reached the door moments later, and Link noticed for the first time the school wasn't completely silent. There was a strange pitter-patter noise, like the one from his dream. He'd never heard anything like it.
He felt Zelda release is arm, but was too focused on the sound to care. "What is that?" he breathed, so quiet that if Zelda was standing more then a foot away she would not have heard it at all.
"This is what I wanted to show you." Link turned to his friend, who stared at him excitedly. "Promise you won't freak out."
"That's not a good sign."
"Promise!" Zelda made him look her in the eyes. Link smiled despite his apprehension.
"I promise," he said, once again becoming very aware of how shirtless he was. His embarrassment was now doubled from worry. What if a senior student, or worse, an instructor, walked out of their room and saw the two friends standing very close in the dark in the middle of the night? Not that he and Zelda liked each other in that way; they were just really good friends. But it would take some serious explaining if someone caught the two of them as they were just then.
As always, Zelda stood fearlessly in front of him, seemingly uncaring about the risks they were taking. "Good. Close your eyes."
Link complied, squeezing his eyes shut tightly. He felt Zelda move away from him and towards the door, pushing it open quickly. The drumming noise grew louder, and the air that blew in felt warm and damp. Before Link could spend too much time thinking about what could be outside, Zelda grabbed his hand and pulled him to the door, positioning him just inside the door frame. She squeezed his hand gently. "Okay, open." Link did as he was told, and gasped.
Outside the night was dark, darker then he had ever seen. He couldn't hear one creature, not one Remlit yowling in the distance. Just outside the doors, strange droplets fell from the sky above, splashing against the ground and the roof of the building. The torches just outside the door smoked slightly, their flames extinguished by whatever was happening outside. Down the path Link could make out the faint blue glow of the bird statue, slightly warped by the many drops falling on the island. Every color, usually so bright and vivid, was deeper and richer. The world outside felt alien, like something out of an old fairy-tale. It smelled strongly of grass, of rich earthy things. Link inhaled, taking in the scent. Although this was all very strange, the teen sort of liked it. It felt right.
"Wow…" Link breathed. "What is this?"
"It's called rain." Link looked at his friend. Zelda stared out into the night, smiling. "I read about it in one of Father's books. It used to fall more often in the Goddess's time, back before Skyloft existed."
"Why is it… uh… 'raining' now?" Link questioned, looking back at the strange weather.
"Look up," Zelda said softly. Up above them were dark gray clouds, thick and heavy. Link's jaw fell open. Clouds? Above him? It was so strange. Sure, he'd seen the odd cloud flying just above the island, but they had been small, barely there. These were large and powerful. "I think this is what the regular clouds do when they look like that underneath us."
Link nodded silently, gaping at the sight before him. It seemed impossible for something like this to happen, so exceptionally unlikely. 'I wonder if they'll have to cancel the festival,' Link thought offhandedly. He was so busy being lost in his own mind that he didn't realize Zelda had let go of him until he saw her twirl out into the storm.
"Zelda!" he gasped. "What are you doing?"
"Come on!" she called. "It's fun!"
Link looked at her with big eyes. Her hair was slowly growing limp, and it occurred to him that it must be water falling from the sky. What else it would have been, he didn't know. "Are you sure this is safe?"
"Trust me!" she laughed, spinning around once more. She ran down over the bridge, disappearing into the dark.
"Zelda! Wait!" Link called, taking off after her. He felt his bare feet slap against the wet stone, and felt the water pour down on him from above. When he stepped onto the grass, the mud squished up between his toes, creating a strange but not entirely uncomfortable feeling.
He discovered that Zelda hadn't run too far, as she was just by where the green fruit usually glowed brightly. Tonight though, its glow was diminished. It flickered in the rain and only provided a fraction of its normal glow. Zelda herself was currently laying on the ground, arms tucked under her head in an unsuccessful attempt to keep her golden hair from getting muddy. Her eyes were shut, and she was smiling softly, perfectly content.
Link stood above her for a moment, waiting for her to acknowledge his presence. When she never did, Link sat down beside her, hugging his shoulders tightly. Now that he was no longer running, he began to focus on the rain, it's sound was relaxing; a constant pitter-pattering beat, lulling him into a sleep haze. The rain was warm as it splashed on his bare shoulders, and Link felt himself slowly relax. Once again, his daring friend had been right; it was fun.
After a few moments of silence, Zelda sat up. Her gown was soaking wet and splattered with mud, as was her hair. Her feet were completely brown with dirt, but she didn't seem to mind. It seemed like the talkative girl wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words. Link met her eyes and gave her a small smile, letting her know that at the moment, he didn't really want to talk. She returned the smile before lying back down.
A while later, Link yawned. His eyes were beginning to feel heavy once more, and as amazing as the rain was, the teen was ready to dry off and return to his bed. Link glanced over to his friend, who currently had her eyes closed. "Zelda," he said, shaking her gently.
She looked up at him sleepily. "Mmm?"
"I think it's time we-" Before Link could finish his sentence, there was a bright flash, which lit up the entire island. It was as bright as day, and like nothing either teen had ever seen. It only lasted for a second, and then it was gone.
Zelda scrambled to her feet, and Link followed suit. "What was th-"
BOOOOOOOOOM!
At the sound of the thunderous crash coming from above their heads both teens cried out in fear. Screaming and laughing, the two grabbed hands and ran back inside, shutting the door tightly behind them. They dripped on the clean wood floor, leaving a trail of muddy footprints behind them as they ran across the hall to the bathroom. Once inside, Link shut the door behind them quietly. He walked over to where the bathtub stood empty and leaned up against the rim of the tub. Zelda stood by the door, her body shaking with laughter.
"I… told you… this was… a bad idea!" Link choked out between gasps for air and fits of giggling.
"You said… no such thing!" Zelda laughed, pointing an accusing finger at the boy across the room.
"Shows how much you listen!" Link joked. The teen pushed himself off the tub and walked over to the shelves and grabbed two fluffy towels. He threw one at Zelda, hitting her in the head. "Dry off, you look like a wet Remlit."
"And you look like a slimy Chuchu!" Zelda laughed, pulling the towel off her head and throwing it over her shoulder. "Go back to bed, you need the beauty sleep before tomorrow," she giggled. With that, Zelda turned and left.
Link shook his head, smiling. 'The things I let her talk me into,' he thought. Rubbing his hair with the towel, Link made his way back to his room to try to catch another hour or two of sleep before breakfast.
Link felt himself pass through the wet mist of the clouds. The air was muffled around him, and he kept his eyes shut out of fear. He let himself plummet through the thick barrier, waiting for some sign to show that he had passed through to whatever world lay below him.
The sign came sooner than expected, and all at once, the air around him opened up. He could hear the roaring of the wind whipping past him. His curiosity began to overcome his fear, and he slowly opened his eyes.
What he saw was nothing he could have ever imagined. The land below him was vast, the largest landmass he had ever seen in his life. Everything was green and lush. Trees larger than houses grew thickly wherever he looked. By comparison, they made the trees he knew in Skyloft seem like bits of dying grass. The air too was changing; it was thicker, heavy with life. Link breathed it in deeply, it tasted nothing like the loose, thin air he had known in Skyloft.
Looking around as he regained what little nerve he had left after rolling off his bird, Link noticed the large clearing just below him. It was a deep pit, with a large path spiraling downward to its bottom. From his ever-shortening distance, Link could make out what seemed to be large stone ruins.
His view shrank as details sharpened. Still a good 20 feet from the ground, Link pulled out his sailcloth.
This time he was prepared for the sudden jerk as his fall was slowed. He gripped the cloth tightly until both his feet were firmly planted on the ground.
Tucking the sailcloth back into his belt, Link took a moment to properly look around.
He seemed to be at the top of the winding path. He stood on old stones, over grown and cracking with deep green grass. To his right was what seemed to be an old alter built into the ground. A few columns stood by, some crumbling, some covered with moss and vines. Just inside the old altar was a bird statue, not unlike the ones in Skyloft. This one, however, seemed worn out. It too was covered in moss, and the bands of magical rock no longer shinned. To his left was an ornate iron fence. Though it seemed stable, Link didn't trust it to hold his weight. He took a step forward, feeling the ground. It was strange. He could feel his step resonate into the ground, which felt incredibly solid. At his home, the ground had felt solid, yes, but comparably thin and fragile. This ground seemed thick and strong.
Earthy smells surrounded him, as did the sounds of creatures moving just out of sight, bugs and strange chirping noises, like baby Loftwings. 'Could there be Loftwings here?' Link strained for the sound of a grown bird, but heard nothing but the strange chirping. 'They don't sound like the Loftwings back home… Could they be a new breed? Zelda would get a kick out of that!'
Link felt an iron fist close around his heart. 'Zelda…' he thought. 'If she really did fall through the clouds… Then she…' Link studied the clouds above him sadly. The fall had been so great, and she had been tumbling without a sailcloth. With no cushion... how could she have survived?
Link's attention suddenly moved from his new surroundings to the ground, searching for signs of golden hair, or pale, unmoving bodies. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to force out the image of Zelda lying broken and bloodied on this strange, hard ground.
Link sensed an energy from his sword. Though he suspected what it was, he was still surprised to see Fi appear from the orb of light in front of him.
"Master Link, we've arrived." Her perfectly structured body and robotic voice seemed strangely out of place in the ruins of whatever used to be here, in this strange place. "This is the fabled 'Surface' that has long been part of Skyloft Legend."
Link nodded, still uneasy about speaking to her. Besides, her statement seemed fairly obvious. Fi's face continued to be expressionless, although Link was sure his face surely couldn't be giving her the friendliest vibe.
"By my calculations," she continued, "You are currently positioned in a location known as the 'Sealed Grounds.'"
As the name left Fi's lips, Link felt something burning just inside his tunic. His brow furrowed in confusion. What was in his shirt? He reached in between the layer of green fabric and chain mail, pulling out a weathered piece of parchment. On it were faded ink markings, which Link couldn't make heads or tails of. Before his eyes, something appeared in the middle of the map. It was a brightly painted aerial view of his home. He could make out the Goddess Statue, and the academy. It bounced slight, seemingly floating out of the page. Link ran his gloved fingers over it, eyes wide with amazement. It felt like normal parchment, but the picture continued to move. Link noticed movement at the bottom of the page. He looked, and part of the ink seemed to be painting itself in. Now Link could clearly see the area he was standing in, along with a small version of himself painted in. The map zoomed in, revealing a more detailed map of the area. Small floating letter appeared, labeling the close as "The Sealed Grounds."
"What is…? How…?" Link sputtered, holding the magical map out at arms length.
"It is a map of the area. As you explore new places, they shall appear on the map," Fi stated. "It was created by the Goddess to help aid the hero in his journeys. It will remain yours until we have completed the Goddess' mission."
Link shook his head, folding up the map and slipping it back inside his shirt. He had no idea how it had gotten there, but he didn't feel inclined to ask. Fi seemed to be expecting an answer, so he sputtered out a quick thank you.
"Proceed with caution, Master." There seemed to be something layered in those words, something suggesting that there was something to be extra cautious about in the area. Fi flipped back into his sword, leaving the youth alone. Link tensed his muscles and drew his sword. A quick glance behind him showed him that the only way was forward. After a quick breath, Link began to make his way down the path.
Sure enough, the blonde had only traveled few yards before a plant beast sprung from the ground. It looked like a mutant flower, it's large bud opened to reveal a slimy tongue and rows of curved, sharp teeth. It bobbed on it's stem, drooling. Although it had no eyes, it knew where Link was, and watched him hungrily.
Link slipped into a defensive stance, letting his instincts take over. He slipped his shield over his left arm, and after a moment, charged forward without warning.
The plant growled and lunged for Link's neck. Expecting something like this, Link back flipped away, easily evading the attack. He analyzed it for a moment longer before seeing its weak point. Once again, he charged forward. He sidestepped another bite, then sliced the beast's head in two straight through it's jaw. It let out a screech as its head fell onto the ground, green juice spurting from where it had been severed. Its stem began to rot away, as did its head. Within seconds, they had disappeared into the ground.
"Master Link, the creature you just fought is known as a blue Deku Baba. They reside here on the surface." Link glanced around, searching for Fi before realizing that she probably didn't need to exit the sword to speak.
"Thanks," Link said awkwardly. He wondered if he'd ever get used to talking to his sword. He hadn't had to speak to strangers since he had started school, and he had had Zelda with him then. Talking to a spirit in a sword, who had turned his entire life upside down, was incredibly difficult. In fact, Link commended himself each time he managed to do it without becoming a stuttering mess.
Link continued down the path, cutting down the Deku Babas as they sprung from the ground. Eventually, he made it to the end of the path. It dropped off sharply, and Link assumed that at one point wooden stairs must have led down. Normally, a drop from that height wouldn't have detained Link in the slightest; all he had to do was tuck and roll and he would remain unscathed. Unfortunately, he was still unused to his surroundings, so instead chose to lower himself down until he was dangling from the edge. From there, the drop was only three feet.
From the moment he turned around from the wall to survey the place behind him, Link felt his senses dull. His vision clouded, going dark for a second. Link started. He brought his hands up to his eyes and rubbed. The area came back into focus, but it seemed different. It was darker, more sinister. He felt a presence, one all too familiar. He searched for its source, glancing around. He eventually focused on the edge of a wooden overhang to his left. Link took a few steps forward, stopping just a foot from the ledge. He peered over the side, focusing on a pedestal sticking up from the ground far below. He couldn't make it out well; there was a dark fog surrounding it.
A sudden rush of wind blew a thick cloud of darkness up to him startlingly fast. Link grunted, shielding his face with his arms. The cold, dead air engulfed him for a moment. When Link brought his arms down, he found himself floating in total darkness.
Below him, a large black pit had formed where the pedestal had stood moments before. A sense of dread overcame the hero, and his breathing became more ragged. The pit grew, and from the curls of smoky black, the horrible monster from his nightmares roared. Its scaly head emerged from the pit, teeth barred.
Link felt his heart stop momentarily before skipping back into a fast-paced beat. What was the beast doing here? Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his head. His skull ached, as if a large sword pierced it. Link cried out in pain as his skull threatened to tear apart. Link gritted his teeth, squinting through the pain.
The creature, which had seemed so far below him only moments before, now rose up in front of him, larger and more powerful than it had ever been before. The pain in his head grew stronger. Link tried to reach for his sword, only to find that he didn't have the strength to pull it out of it's sheath.
The monster seemed to grin. It reared up above his head; its lips stretched back to reveals its rows of teeth. It paused for a moment, as if considering the young hero. Link squinted up at it, panting as his eyes watered from the pain. Suddenly, the monster lunged for him. All the hero could do was gasp and cover his face with his arms.
And then the pain in his head was gone. He opened his eyes to find that the world had been returned to normal. He stood for a moment, shaking all over. Although the presence had retreated, Link was still gasping for breath. The youth leaned out over the edge slowly, but nothing happened. All he could see was the stone and the fog, just as it had been a moment before. He stepped back, taking a breath to steady himself. That vision was by far the most vivid yet, and even more disturbing, it had happened while he was awake. That posed a new question; was the beast real, a very frightening thought, or was he going crazy?
A soft breeze blew, and Link closed his eyes and titled his head back, enjoying the feeling of the cool air on his sweaty face. He let his mind clear, letting all troubling thoughts slip away for a moment. The youth focused on the feel of the wind, the sound of the rustling leaves in the forest…
"Hero…"
The whisper had been quiet, a breathy voice in his ear, but Link was sure it was real. He opened his eyes and glanced around, searching for the source. He saw nothing and no one; he heard nothing, even the animals in the forest around him were silent. 'That's it,' Link thought, 'I am definitely going crazy.' He watched the leaves, caught up in the breeze, blow lazily past him, lost in thought. 'First visions, then voices. What am I supposed to do?' Link felt a headache coming on. He had landed himself in the strange place and was in way over his head. For a moment, he longed to return to his room in the academy, sleep past lunchtime, then maybe go for a ride on his Loftwing.
But no, he couldn't go home until he knew for sure that Zelda was safe, or that there was nothing he could do to help her. But where was he supposed to go? The area appeared to be exactly what its name implied; sealed. There was no passageway out into the forest beyond, only a path leading down to the ominous pedestal below, which Link was quite happy to avoid. A leaf brushed his cheek, and Link turned to watch its progress.
Link's eyes widened. How had he missed this? Behind him, a stone alcove had been cut into the hillside. It was easily the best-preserved part of the area, as the wall was still completely intact, though ivy was creeping up its moss-covered stones. The walls curved inward, and in the center stood a set of doors made of dark stone. They were weathered, but Link could still see the ornate patterns that covered them. On either side of the alcove stood a torch, burning steadily, seemingly unperturbed by the breeze which the blonde could still feel blowing on his back.
Link's mood brightened a bit. Torches were a good sign; someone had to be around to light them, someone he imagined was probably behind the door. Although the doors didn't seem to have any way of being opened, it was the only path he had yet to find. He doubted he could pull them open, but if he lucked out, maybe he'd be able to push them. He took a few steps forward, but stopped with a gasp as strange glowing symbols appeared on the door.
The designs glowed orange, yellow, and purple, pulsating faintly. Link took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He really shouldn't be surprised by glowing stone, what with all the statues back home. It was the strange tension in the area, he decided, that was putting him on edge. He mentally slapped himself and approached the door. Although avoiding touching it, Link examined it closely. A quick glance at the scuff marks on the rocks just under the doors proved his suspicions; someone had been here recently, and they had used this door.
Link felt his sword begin to vibrate in its sheath. Before he could investigate it, Fi appeared before him. She floated just in front of him, blocking the door. "Master, I have information to report."
"Yeah?" Link said distractedly, still focused on the door behind her.
"While these doors appear to have been opened recently, the are now sealed shut by a powerful unidentified force."
That got Link's attention. Before he could question her further, the spirit retreated back into his blade, leaving him alone with no ideas yet again.
"Thanks for the help…" Link muttered, annoyance leaking into his usually calm voice. He turned away from the door, looking around. As much as he hated the idea, the only place left to investigate was down the spiraling path he had seen earlier, down towards the strange aura.
Feeling very uneasy, Link began to walk to his right, and soon saw the remnants of the stone path, along with another torch. This one too was burning brightly and steadily. With one last glance over his shoulder, Link began to make his way down the steep path, which quickly turned to dirt. Staying well away from the edge, Link trotted down the path, taking care to avoid the small, deep holes that appeared at regular intervals. Along with the holes, the green fruits that grew on Skyloft as well as torches were scattered down the way.
A few minutes later, the ground began to level out. Link risked a glance over the edge and saw that he was now very close to the bottom, and therefore, very close to the source of the dark fog.
From above, Link had thought the pedestal itself was radiating darkness, but now he could see that it leaked from where the stone pierced the earth. Around the pedestal were symbols, which formed a perfect circle. They looked as though they had been burned permanently into the land.
Link approached the edge of the circle as the silence pressed heavily against him. It felt as though he was walking in a living nightmare. Cold fear gripped him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that whatever lay beneath the ground was watching him…
And laughing.
"…Young one…"
Link jumped violently, landing on his butt a yard from where he had been standing. The voice had been the same as the whisper on the wind, but louder. Now the source was clear: it spoke from within his mind. It continued, saying, "Child of destiny descended from the sky…"
The more it spoke, the less afraid Link became. He let the voice soothe him, and soon felt it lulling him into the same surety he felt when wielding a blade.
And sure enough, that's exactly what it wanted him to do. "Raise the sword of the Goddess skyward… Take aim at the evil aura and unleash its power…"
Before he knew what he was doing. Link stood before the pedestal with his sword drawn. He raised it like he had inside the statue of the Goddess, and once again a brilliant light filled the sword. He felt the warmth of the glow travel up his arm, reassuring him. Then before he could second guess himself, he brought down the blade in a vertical slice.
The wave of purple-white light engulfed the pedestal momentarily, blowing away the dark fog surrounding it. Designs he had not seen before glowed with the light from his blade before fading into the stone once more. As the warmth from the light slowly trickled out of him, Link felt the evil presence begin to fade. But before it was completely gone, Link sensed the laughter once more.
The sounds of life in the forest returned, and no sooner had Link sheathed his sword than all around him hot air began to blow powerfully up from the holes in the ground.
Fi leapt out from Link's sword, hovering to a stop in front of him. "Master Link, I'm sensing a change in the area that was triggered by your Skyward Strike."
Link nodded. "Me too," he said.
Fi paused, apparently surprised that Link actually responded. She recovered quickly and continued. "I have also detected an aura that correlates closely to your Sailcloth. I surmise this aura belongs to Zelda."
"What? Zelda?" Fi nodded. "Where is she?" Link glanced around, half-expecting to see his friend lying on the ground somewhere, even though would've seen her already if she were there.
"I can lead you in the direction of this aura through a process known as dowsing," said Fi. Link focused on her once more. She floated a few inches above him naturally, so he had to look up to see her.
"Dowsing?" he asked.
Fi went on to explain that by using the tip of the Goddess Sword, she would be able to trace Zelda's or any aura. The closer Link got to the source of the aura, the louder the sword would ring and the more powerfully it would shake.
"Touch the tip of the sword and name the object you would like to trace to chose your dowsing target, then point in the direction you wish to search," Fi finished.
"Thanks," Link said, but Fi had already returned to the sword before he had finished the word. He sighed, rubbing his head. This was all very crazy. First talking to sword spirits, and now he had to talk to just his sword. 'Though,' he thought, 'It's not like there's anyone around who's gonna hear me.'
Link drew his sword and held it out in front of him. He looked between his bare, unprotected fingers and the sharp tip of his blade. His thoughts trailed to Zelda, somewhere nearby, or at least close enough that Fi could sense her 'aura.' Link vaguely wondered just how close an aura had to be for Fi to register its presence. He had a vision of him plowing through miles of forest, his sword held out in front of him, and as it gave a final loud ring, he tripped over her body onto the ground.
He shook his head, clearing away the horrible image. No, an aura meant she was alive.
Didn't it?
'Well, only one way to find out.' Link touched the tip of the sword, hissing as it cut his finger. A faint glow grew from where he had touched the blade. He stared at it blankly before remembering the next part of Fi's instructions.
"Oh, right, Zelda," he sputtered, hoping that would be clear enough. The light flickered and went out. Just as he was thinking that he'd have to prick his finger again, the sword began to hum. Hoping that the noise meant it was working, Link turned slowly on the spot, holding his sword out in front of him. He began to angle it slowly upward. As it pointed at the place where the door stood, it began to ring quietly.
Link looked at his sword. The door? But Fi had said it was sealed. But the sword continued to ring, so sighing, Link put it back in his sheath. His eyes traced the long path winding its way back up to the door. Although it was gone, the evil aura had taken its toll on Link's energy. The last thing he wanted to do was climb back up the steep hills. His gaze trailed to the air spouts littering the area. 'I wonder…'
Link approached one of the air spouts, studying it. He stuck his hand inside the jet of air, only to have the wind push it violently up and back. Link smiled. It was just like the small cyclones he and Zelda had seen the guards riding on for fun back in Skyloft. He pulled out his Sailcloth, winding tightly around his fists. He closed his eyes to protect them from the wind, and stepped into the air current.
He felt his feet leave the ground as he spun widely. Squinting, he leaned forward as soon as he caught sight of ground, and was immediately thrown from the current. He floated gently down to the ground, and after looking around, found himself a level higher then he had been before. Link grinned full out; the ride had been fun. Something Zelda would have liked. His smile slipped away, and he repeated the process with the nearest air spouts until he found himself a few yards to the left of the door.
Link pulled his sword out once more, grazing the tip with his finger. It sprang to life, ringing loudly. As he turned it towards the door, it began to shake. Link brought his other hand up to the hilt, trying to keep a hold on it. With difficulty, he managed to put the sword back into its sheath, where it abruptly stopped all movement and noise.
Now positive that the sword had been pointing at the locked door, Link approached it once more. The symbols still glowed as brightly as before, unchanged and unmoving. But as soon as Link stepped within a yard of the door, the symbols glowed a bright purple, before fading entirely.
Link gulped. Zelda was somewhere behind that door, and from what Fi said, in need of help. And he would give it to her. He would help her as quickly and as best as he could, and they would return to Skyloft, where the clouds were in their rightful place below them and glowing pedestals and evil auras only existed in old scrolls.
Link closed the remaining distance between himself and the door. He let his fingers graze it, feeling nothing but regular stone, cool and mossy. He placed both hands on the doors, slipping his fingers in between the seam. With one good push, the doors scraped open.
Link's jaw dropped. He was inside a large building made completely of stone. Though it was covered in moss and breaking down, the young hero could tell it had once been magnificent. The ceiling was arched, with many columns on either side. Every inch of the stone was decorated with beautiful carvings, though most were faded and all were covered in the coats of lichen, moss, and dirt. At the back of the large room, Link could just make out a large platform, lit by sunshine filtering down from a hole in the ceiling.
Suddenly remembering why he was in there, Link began to glance around for golden hair or pink dresses. The room had one antechamber, which contained an empty garden, and had another set of doors to the right, which seemed to be locked. Link made his was slowly to the back of the room, searching the whole way for any signs of Zelda. As his search turned up more and more nothing, the sinking feeling in Link's stomach steadily grew.
The only place he had yet to check was up the stairs in the back of the room. He walked up slowly, and was surprised at what he saw.
His first impression was of a large, red tent. Upon closer examination, however, Link saw that it was not a tent, but a very large, pointed hat worn by a very, very old woman. She sat on the floor, her hands folded neatly in front of her. A braid swung by itself just in front of her, almost like a pendulum on a clock. Along with various pieces of jewelry, there were faded tattoos on her face, from her cheeks up into where a part of her hat blocked out her eyes.
To say Link had not been expecting to find another human down here was an understatement. He could only imagine the look of pure shock that must have been on his face at that moment. Although it probably wasn't the nicest look to meet someone with, Link was unsure as to whether or not she could actually see him, considering a part of her large hat covered her eyes.
But the woman seemed to know he was there. "Ah…" she sighed. "The traveler descended from the clouds above. I welcome you, child of fate."
"That voice…" Link muttered, unknowingly speaking out loud in his surprise. He was sure it was the voice he had heard outside, the voice that had calmed him and told him what to do. The woman looked up, and Link realized he had been speaking out loud. He felt the tips of his ears burn red, and hoped that she couldn't see them.
The woman seemed to consider him for a moment. "Tell me, what is your name?" she asked suddenly.
"Uh, Link… Ma'am," he hastily added, not wanting to be rude.
"…Link?" she parroted back. She took a moment to think over the name. "Good. Very good."
"Thank you," Link said awkwardly. How was he supposed to respond to random people in random places? He mentally kicked himself. He was so incapable of speaking to people without a friend there to guide him. What sort of chosen one was he?
'Not a chosen one at all,' he thought hastily, still refusing to believe that he truly was someone chosen by the Goddess. Hylia would never choose him, a stuttering mess, to do some important mission.
"I sense you have already gained control over the sacred power that fills you sword when pointed skyward." Her words snapped him out of his reverie. "The Skyward Strike is yours to command."
"Yeah, I mean, I think so," Link sputtered.
She seemed satisfied with this answer. "It is proof that you are fit to bear the blade you carry, the Goddess Sword."
"Really?" Link asked, glancing over his shoulder at the sword in question. Although obviously powerful, the Skyward Strike had never been difficult, or required any extra effort on his part. It just happened. He looked back at the woman, growing more and more confused by the second. Another wave of tiredness overtook him, and he rubbed his eye with the palm of his hand. "Please, ma'am," he sighed, "What's going on? Where am I? And, who are you, exactly?"
The woman studied him for a moment. "I shall answer what I can right now, but know that, in time, all your questions shall be answered."
Link nodded. "I'd appreciate anything you can tell me," he said, his politeness at last overcoming his awkwardness.
She nodded, then began."I have sat here for many years, waiting for you to arrive. All so that I could fulfill my purpose as your guide. You stand under the roof of the Sealed Temple, a place built by the Goddess an eternity ago. Your arrival here was predestined many, many years ago."
After a moment of silence during which Link realized the woman must have finished with what little she could say, he voiced yet another question. "And Zelda?"
This seemed to be what the woman was waiting for. "The spirit maiden you seek arrived here shortly before you, descending to this land in a shower of light. There's no doubting it. The gears of fate have begun to turn."
"So she's alright? Zelda's alive?" Link asked, taking a step towards the woman.
She ignored his exclamation, continuing as though he had not spoken. "Yet all is not as it should be. The spirit maiden was not meant to reach this land in the manner she did."
Link nodded, another of his questions having been answered. He had been wondering why the Goddess would have designed for Zelda to arrive by falling violently out of the sky, or welcome him with that horrible, horrible aura.
"I feel an evil power working in the shadows," the woman whispered, as if half to herself. "It moves to warp the destiny of which you two are a part." She seemed to remember something, and her attention snapped back to Link. "You are concerned for the spirit maiden and seek her whereabouts, yes?"
"She's my best friend. She's the only reason I'm here." Although he was sure that sounded incredibly cheesy, it was the truth. If Zelda had not been in danger, he would have left this mission to someone else. "I'm going to find her, and make sure she's safe."
"That is understandable, but for now you must focus on moving forward." Link was about to protest but she cut him off. "That girl has her own purpose she must pursue, as do you."
"Where is she? You know, don't you?" Link accused, beginning to feel the anger that had become familiar over the past few days creep over him once more. "Well?" he shouted. "Where is she?"
The woman studied him before continuing coldly. "She set out for Faron Woods to discover that destiny for herself, and you must follow."
Link fought the urge to laugh bitterly. So he wasn't supposed to find Zelda, but he was supposed to follow her?
The woman thrust her hand out. "Show me your map."
Effectively surprised out of his anger, Link pulled the map out form his tunic and handed it to the old woman. She unfolded quickly, tapping the parchment and muttering as she examined it. After a moment, she shoved it back into Link's hands upside-down. He flipped it over, seeing that she had brought up the close up of the area, only now there was a red "x" on the map on a path leading to the east, with more floating letters labeling it Faron Woods.
"The "x" upon your map marks the path that will lead you to the Faron Woods," the woman explained quickly. "You will be traveling in unfamiliar land. Many monsters have settled here, and a map may not prove guidance enough for your journey. And so I will give you the power to create beacons."
Link looked up at her. "Beacons? What are they?"
"When a beacon is marked on your map, a column of light will stand at that location. It will act as your waypoint from afar. To mark it on the map, press down on the place you'd like to mark." The map, as if trying to make things even easier, zoomed in closer to the area where the "x" was. Link pushed lightly down on the "x", and when he removed his finger, a small pinpoint of light glowed on the spot he had touched.
"Though you cannot see it from where we are, a beacon stands outside to guide you. Leave the temple through the front doors, and see for yourself. When you no longer have a use for a beacon, you can remove it my pressing it again on your map. Use your beacons well, and you will never fear getting lost."
"Thank you, ma'am," Link said, slightly ashamed of his anger earlier. She wasn't the one who forced him and Zelda into this, it was Hylia.
"Go now," she said gently. "You must head into Faron Woods and chase after the spirit maiden, the one you call Zelda." She looked to her left, seeming to check for something, before turning back to the green-clad knight. "On your way out, take the contents of the treasure chest within this room. What you find there should prove useful on your journey."
Link obliged, walking down the steps and towards the right, seeing a chest he had not noticed before. He opened it, and was surprised to find a Replenishing potion, one that would have cost a decent amount of Rupees back in Skyloft. "Thank you," he said for what had to have been the millionth time that day. He looked down at his adventure pouch, opening up the larger pocket. He stuck his hand in, curious, to find that he had enough room to stick his entire arm in, and then some. Link dropped the potion inside before closing the pocket and heading back up the steps.
Once he was in front of her once more and she was sure he had properly stored her gift, the old woman looked towards the doors, and Link followed her gaze. He heard a light twinkling noise beside him, then saw the handles of the doors he saw earlier twinkle in response. He turned back towards the woman. "You are ready. Leave through the door before you, and head into the woods. I wish you safe travel."
"But what about my other questions? Is that really all you can tell me?"
"Know that all the questions you have now will be answered in time. For now, Link, go bravely!"
With those last parting words, the woman bowed her head once more, going back into a meditative state. Link looked at her, unsure of whether or not she was still listening. "Bye," he finally called before heading over to the doors.
So Zelda hadn't been in here. But, really, had he expected for it to be that easy? 'Well, I suppose some part of me really did. But I guess I wont be home for dinner.' Link looked at the door. 'Neither of us will.'
Beyond that door lay a forest of unknowns. Unknown dangers, animals, creatures, and those strange small chirps that had sounded like thousands of baby Loftwings. Trees so thick he couldn't wrap his arms around them, the strange earthy smells, and maybe even the weird rain he and Zelda had seen once.
Memories of that night came flooding back. The two of them, sitting out in the rain, in the middle of the night. Something he would have never done without her. He wondered if she had run through this door with the same excitement she'd had that night, when she'd run out just ahead of him. Well, now it was his turn to follow her, follow her once again into the unknown.
Carrying the image of her spinning out into the misty night, Link pushed open the doors and stepped into the forest.
A/N: I am so, so sorry everyone. At first I didn't write because with the last quarter of school, I actually began to have an obscene amount of homework and studying to do for finals. I've ben free for the past few days and have been trying to work on this chapter, but I had such horrible writers block with everything past the flashback at the beginning. This is a shorter chapter than usual, I know, but I always planned for this part to end here, whether or not it stretched to its usual length. I don't know where the next chapter will pick up, but it might not be where you expect.
Thank you so much for all the reviews and favorites, they mean a lot to me. If any of you are still here after such a long time, then I am the luckiest author in the world. I really don't have a lot to say for once, I'm very tired right now.
Special thanks to Tetraninja on Youtube for his walkthrough. Although I doubt very much that he even goes on this website, I feel the need to acknowledge him seeing as I sit here stalking his walkthrough for the cannon script.
Another special thanks to a new editor, another friend of mine who asked to edit this chapter for me, as she is now looking for beta work. So if anyone needs a beta, PM xXDeathIsAPromiseXx, she is a good editor.
I will be updating way more often now, I promise, you guys. Thanks and I'll see you next time!
