Nil isn't really an OC. He's Dark Link, essentially; my interpretation of him, anyway. He's an opponent in several of the older games, though he does have an appearance in Twilight Princess, too. He's basically a mirror-image of Link, except, well, dark. If you google Dark Link and check out one of the wikia pages, it'll make a bit more sense. He's not in Skyward Sword, but it's fun to twist things around sometimes. He'll be a major player in the story eventually with a lot of character development on his side, as well. :)
Also, I know this is a bit of a short chapter! The next one will be considerably longer!
Link was shocked to see that when he brought his sword down against Ghirahim, the man flicked it up, out of Link's grasp, with hardly any effort. Backing away, he looked at it, studying it with a small smile.
"Quite a nice sword for a child like you," he mused, and then looked back at Link, who lifted his shield instinctively. "I bet it's aerodynamic," Ghirahim added, and lifted his arm, letting out a yell as he threw the sword straight towards Link. For a brief moment, he thought he'd be able to catch it, but that thought was dashed away quickly and he jumped out of the way instead. The sword stuck into a crack in the swords, and he looked back in a panic to see the demon lord making his way towards it again. Breaking into a run, Link snatched it out of the way, standing up against Ghirahim once again.
"Your attacks are too predictable. Surely it can't-" before he could finish speaking, Link, with a flick of the wrist, hit him. The realisation sank in quickly and he got in a few more hits before Ghirahim backed away, clearly not happy. He lifted a hand, summoning more of those blades that had pinned Zelda and Nil. Still, these ones were not only to pin Link to the wall, but to hit him, and hurt him, and make it easier for Ghirahim to dispose of him. He rose his shield, and bashed away at the array of attacks that were sent at him, the small blades flying back to his enemy, who swatted them away like they were nothing.
"You can't use your shield for everything," he snapped, and crouching down, he moved towards Link with a speed the boy didn't think was possible. His long, dark sword shot out from the side and sent Link flying to the ground with a grunt. He stood up, shaking his head groggily as he looked out, surprised to see that his opponent was no longer visible. One look at Zelda's suddenly surprised face was enough to tell him where he was, and he spun around, hitting the man squarely in his side with the sword. He hit at him again, slashing away until Ghirahim disappeared once more, appearing on the other side of the room, a hand at his head.
"Tch. You're strong, hero. I promise, if you get in my way again, I won't go so easy on you. The result will not be the same, and that spirit maiden will be mine!" he growled, looking at Zelda angrily. The blades around Nil fell to the ground, and the boy ran at Ghirahim with a yell, sword raised, quite the same way Link had done earlier.
Shakily, the demon lifted one hand up to Nil, and the boy's expression dropped, his shoulders drooping. He sheathed his sword, and then fell limp. Ghirahim tossed him over his shoulder.
"Wait- what are you doing with him!" Zelda cried out, struggling against the blades holding her against the wall.
"Making some modifications," Ghirahim said simply, and with one swing of his dark, sleek sword, him and Nil disappeared.
Link ran to Zelda then, slightly slower than before now that he had a gash on his side in the same spot where Nil had kicked him earlier. He pulled the blades out of the wall, releasing her clothes and revealing several cuts and scratches on her arms, and holes in the fabric.
"We'll have to get Karane to patch this up," Link said softly, and Zelda nodded quietly as she stood up, Link following suit. They looked at each other for a moment until Zelda finally let out a sigh.
"I can't believe that. That guy, he's the one who made that tornado," she said, walking out into the room past Link. He turned and watched her as she went, but she turned around quite quick, coming back to Link and placing a hand on his side. He took a sharp breath in, feeling pressure on not just a bruise, but now a cut.
"We have to get going to the spring. We can go back up to Skyloft after and get some more potions, but you can take mine for now," she said, handing him their last bottle of the red liquid. He cast her a grateful look before he drank it, sticking the cork stopper back in and handing it back to her. It took effect almost immediately, and although he certainly didn't feel absolutely fine, it was still a relief, and he stood up a bit straighter.
They headed for the door at the end of the room, with the Hylian crest on it, and as they got closer, it began glowing a bright blue colour. The door faded away, just like the one to the statue of the Goddess had back up in Skyloft. Taking each other's hands, they headed down the tunnel. When they came out the other side, both of their mouths dropped.
It was a stark contrast from within the temple. Small stone platforms led towards a shrine for the Goddess at the end, and a couple trees grew out of the water, which was only a couple feet deep, if that. Cliffs surrounded them, deep forest at the top, and at the end of the spring were various small waterfalls, filling into the area.
"It's beautiful," Zelda said suddenly, and Link tightened his grip on her hand, prompting her to turn and look at him. He smiled, and she let out a laugh, going up on her toes and pressing her nose against his.
"I'm glad we got through that. You were amazing, Link."
"Anything for you," he replied, and she pulled away from him, letting go of his hand to jump on the platforms towards the small statue of the Goddess. Link scanned the area once more, and noticed something sparkling at one of the waterfalls. Jumping into the water, he made his way over carefully, several fish and smaller water creatures darting in and out of his way as he did so. Small pink sprites were floating in and around the water, which seemed clearer than the rest.
Pulling out an empty bottle, he herded one of the little sprites into it and watched as it flicked around inside the glass. He stared at it in awe for a moment until Fi came out of his sword.
"Master Link, you have caught a fairy. These small sprites are capable of healing you. Their powers are much stronger and more accurate than a potion's. If you die, they are also capable of reviving you," she added, and Link stared at the sprite with even more amazement than before.
"Zelda," he called, "pass me one of your bottles! …Zelda?" he turned in surprise to see her, standing on the last stone platform, apparently lost in thought. He walked forwards, but a flash of light stopped him, and he stared up in amazement as a harp appeared midair. It floated down towards her from the Goddess statue, and Zelda took it in her hands, eyes wide. She lifted a hand to her head and fell down to her knees.
Link ran towards her, clambering up onto the platform next to her and putting an arm around her shoulders.
"Hey," he said, shaking her slightly. "Are you okay?"
"I… wow…" she was breathing heavily, and her eyes fell shut as she clutched the harp tighter. "It's like… all of this information just rushed into my head. Well, not information, but… memories," she finally concluded, her eyes flicking open as she stood up. Link watched her carefully, and she shook her head.
"They're not my own memories. They're someone else's. They seem to… be from a long time ago. They're so familiar, though…" she trailed off, and Link looked at the statue of the Goddess, wondering if perhaps the same thing would happen to him. When he saw the phoenix crest, however, he suddenly remembered the one up on the Isle of the Goddess.
Drawing his sword, he lifted it to the sky and let it charge with energy before slashing it in the direction of the crest. It spun, reacting to the energy, and let out a bright light. It was now that Fi popped out of his sword, and Zelda stood up, the two of them watching her as she hovered above the water, ripples floating out from beneath her.
"Master, I have a message written in the language of the gods of old. Allow me to translate it for you." She lifted her cape then, and began skating along the top of the water, spinning occasionally as she spoke. "From the edge of time I guide you, the one chosen to carry out the Goddess' mission. The spirit maiden who descended from the clouds must travel to two sacred places to purify her body. You stand in one of these places: Skyview Spring. The other is known as the Earth Spring. This second spring is hidden deep within the scorched earth of Eldin. The spirit maiden, ever mindful of the heavy task entrusted to her, must set out for this sacred place."
As Fi spun beneath the crest, a large tablet appeared at the statue of the Goddess, and it floated down to Link in much the same way the harp had gone to Zelda. It was like the one he'd received in Skyloft, but a different shape, and with a red gem inside rather than green.
"Master, I suggest you take the tablet to the alter in Skyloft. It will likely open a new column of light, allowing for travel to Eldin, where we must escort Zelda to the spring."
It didn't take long for the two of them to travel back through the temple, now that the monsters were gone, but Link couldn't help but notice that Zelda was surprisingly quiet the whole time. He was dreadfully curious of the supposed memories she'd received; what happened in them? Who was she? Still, he didn't want to barrage her with questions, so he simply led the way until they reached the bird statue outside. He brought out his sail cloth, and Zelda, giving him a small smile, wrapped her arms around his waist and held on as tight as she could as a bright orange light shone out from the top of the bird. A gust of wind and light shot the two of them upwards, propelled by the sailcloth, and lifted them back above the clouds. Shudders ran through Link's body as he looked sideways to see Skyloft. Home. They'd made it back safely, this time.
He whistled, and with a cry of happiness the red loftwing flew down and picked up Link and Zelda, soaring up into the air as Link took hold of the reigns and Zelda kept her arms around his waist. They flew straight towards Skyloft.
After receiving a ridiculous amount of hugs, questions about the surface, and gifts to help them with their journey, Link and Zelda finally found their way back to the Knight Academy, where they headed straight for the nurse, who gawked at all of the scratches on Link's torso. Stripped down until he was just wearing his pair of khaki pants, she dressed his wounds and made small-talk with Zelda, who sat on the other side of the room in her nightgown. It was late by the time the nurse finished with Link, clearly not impressed with the way he'd been treating himself.
"I'll be more careful next time," he assured her, holding his clothes in one arm as he headed out with Zelda. It was dark, most likely close to the middle of the night, and as they looked down the hall, they could see Pipit heading out for his regular outside guard.
"Will you stay with me tonight?" Zelda asked quietly, and Link nodded, following her up the stairs to her room. When they got in, Link placed his clothes on the chair at her desk, and gingerly moved into bed with her, being careful to keep his cuts safe.
"These memories are like nightmares," she finally said, and Link looked at her in curiosity. "There's this great beast, with these giant teeth, and he's made of black scales and… he's filled with all the evil in the world. Like he's the very source of it," she said with a shudder, bringing the blankets up over her shoulder as she turned to face Link. He thought briefly of the monster he'd seen before in his own nightmares. It had to be the same thing, but before he could say anything, she continued.
"And there's hordes of creatures. Bokoblins and monsters made of bones, giant flaming creatures and large sea creatures and… they're chasing away everyone. It's an attack. It's war. And Hylia is there."
"Hylia?" Link asked in confusion.
"The Goddess," Zelda corrected herself. "The Goddess Hylia. She was entrusted with this great power. I don't know what it is, but I think she must have used it to fight back. But… it's hidden, somewhere. I think these memories must be Hylia's memories," Zelda continued, and Link turned, staring up at the ceiling.
"If we go to the Earth Spring, like Fi said, I bet I'll get more of those memories. I'm sure they'll help us on our quest. And Fi will be able to tell us where to go next," she added. "Hey, Link… what did you think about Nil?"
"I don't know what to think about him. He looked exactly like me. When we fought, he… well, he fought the same way I did, but with a step up, you know? But then… Ghirahim… he must have created him. I don't know how he did that."
"He's a demon lord," Zelda said, but then sighed. "I don't know exactly what that entails, though."
"Me neither," Link replied, shaking his head. "He's got the physical part down about Nil. But that thing he said at the end, he said that he'd given Nil 'too much heart', remember? I think he wanted to be on our side. Ghirahim must have not expected that." "I hope he doesn't put him through too much suffering. He really did help us a lot in that temple."
"Ghirahim must have some heart, too," Link said after a moment of silence, crossing one foot over the other underneath the blankets. "I don't know how someone without heart could create someone with it. It's a shame he's so… you know. Demon, and everything," Link said with a small laugh, and Zelda nodded, turning onto her back. Link turned to face her and pushed her gently so that she was facing away from him before pressing his body against hers, one arm draped over her side and holding her close to him.
"Figures that right when I have you where I want you, this whole destiny thing happens."
"This whole destiny thing," Zelda repeated with a laugh. "Link, it's really important!"
"I know," he said with a sigh, "but I'd rather spend my days here with you."
"Than save the world?" she asked, and it was quiet for a moment.
"I just wish it wasn't our responsibility. Everyone up here is all blissful, all… happy. They don't really know what's going on. Even if we get hurt down there, they'll just be up here, safe."
"That's not true! That danger… that beast, this prophecy, it's connected to Skyloft. The repercussions to us and everyone up here would be huge if we weren't doing what we're doing. We just… don't know how, or why, yet."
"I dreamt about that beast, too," Link said suddenly, his voice muffled as he buried his face her hair. "I was going to have to fight it." Zelda was quiet then, and she reached for one of Link's hand, giving it a tight squeeze.
"I'm sure that won't happen. If it does, I'll be there."
"I wouldn't want you to be there," he muttered, his voice trailing off as he began to doze. He was falling asleep fast. "I want you to be safe."
"I know. I want you to be safe, too."
"You're more important. I'm stronger," he breathed out, his muscles relaxing as his body screamed at him for rest. "Everything I do, I do for you," he said, and Zelda's voice sounded far away when she finally spoke.
"You're crazy, Link."
He smiled for a moment before letting himself slip into a deep sleep, comfortable and unaware that Zelda spent several more hours awake, mulling over the memories that filled her mind of times from long ago.
