Author's Note: Back again! Yay! I hope that you enjoyed the last chapter. Please keep supporting me, as I keep writing this story as I really do need it. No reviews show me that I shouldn't write more of that particular story – or any story, for that matter. Thank-you so much, though, for all of those who are helping me!
Reviews: ShadowNinja1011: I'm so happy that you love the shipping! I really liked to write that part.
Lovely girl 10: I'll try, but I'm trying to sort lots of stories for the holiday season so don't expect much after this. I feel so bad for saying it!
Vampire-Queen-Kazumi: Aw, I feel good and bad about that! Thank-you and yes, that was who the "unknown"'s perspective belonged too. I hope that it wasn't too obvious.
Favourites & Follows: Thank-you to "Red Ethel Flint" for favouriting this FanFiction. I hope you're enjoying the story.
"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from a indomitable will."
~Mahatma Gandhi~
Ancient Roots
A Skyward Sword FanFiction
Chapter 10: Shackles
~Zelda~
Everything is silent. I mean, sometimes I can hear a soft echoing of the wind in the distance when I wake up somewhere (usually in the dead of night from nightmares), but this time is completely different. I can't hear anything whatsoever, not even my breathing and to not hear that is chilling to think about. The last thing that I recall is our trek through the Eldin Province, and my vision tainted with blood and cries from my companions. Link is a part of that somewhere, but everything other than that is hazy.
And yet, I still can't get over how quiet everything is.
My eyes don't want to open at first, almost like they are tightly shut due to weakness. It takes all of my effort to force them open, and even then my vision is awash with a bleary haze. When my eyes manage to somewhat adjust to the idea of staying open for more than a few moments, I stare up at a large ceiling above me, knowing that I can't move an inch before my body screeches in protest. Ignoring the past, I focus on the present, and that is trying to figure out what is going on and assess my current situation.
Adorning the ceiling is a large set of bones, belonging to an snake like creature that used to have the length of at least three Statues of the Goddess and the width of two. Nonetheless, it's nothing but bones now that eerily hang from the ceiling above, and I would prefer for it to stay the same. On the wall just underneath the ceiling hangs numerous tribal mask like designs, their mouths open in silent chants before I briskly divert my gaze away from them; not wanting to know what tribe they appeared from nor what they symbolically represent.
Through my lingering daze, I cast my eyes down to what lies in front of me despite the strain that it pushes on my eyes. A ring of golden fences circle me, deep blue gemstones encrusting the large wheel designs of the gates. From all of the bright oranges and golds smashing into my vision, I barely notice a set of steps leading upward to my left before completely dropping off, a larger pathway underneath picking it back up, before I have to rest my eyes for a few moments.
What happened to me?
I wiggle my toes and twitch my fingers, reassuring myself that I am not paralysed due to magic but pain instead. Something has bought me back into consciousness, and it isn't long before I note how my sudden leap into consciousness after a wave of pain may be due to a shadow looming in the distance. I part my lips to question them or what happened to me, maybe even where I am, but my throat is so dry that I can't even release a rasp before the strain becomes too much for me to bear.
The figure ignores this, simply stepping closer and swerving around a small settlement of blue orbs in the centre of the platform that I lay atop. They move in closer to me, standing tall above me so quickly that a deep sense of fear builds at the base of my stomach; not that it all ready wasn't there, of course. I purse my lips, pressing my hands against the rather cool floor, knowing that I can do very little else. The figure wears a cowl over their head, their garments shrouded by nothing but black cloth. I squint in order to stay focused and attempt to decipher who this person may be, though the latter quickly fails without avail.
They kneel down before me, my breath hitching into nothingness as they do so. The silence is enough to choke on now, and I would if I had any breath left. Without much warning, they raise their tanned palm above my stomach, fingers shaking as the magic builds up around their crooked fingers. I want to speak, for the love of the Goddess I want to do anything, yet I can do nothing but lie here and hope that they are an ally. A large orb multiplies in their hand, dyed a sky blue colour that instantly reminds me of home, although that memory fades away when everything literally slams into me at once.
I lose my grip on reality as the figure releases a form of battle cry, forcing the ball of magic straight into my stomach. I scream as the magic overtakes my body, back arching upwards as pain seers my body. Before my eyes can squeeze shut through the agony that I now face, I see two things. Firstly, I see that the stomach the figure clutches with their hand is drenched in blood, the sticky substance not actually registering until this very moment. Secondly, as I finally meet the figure's crimson eyed gaze, a lock of blonde hair tumbles out from their cowl.
Memories flash through my closed eyelids without hesitation. Through my immense pain, I remember Karane, Pipit, and I scouring the Eldin Province in order to reunite with Link once more and proceed to the Earth Spring in order to complete the foundations of this Mission sent from the Goddess herself. I recall us finally finding him with Impa, whose behaviour was far different compared to her calm and composed self in Skyview Spring. Nonetheless, I remember how I had kept my eye out for her as we finally reached the Earth Temple and how everything went wrong.
"For things to astir so quickly drew me here faster." The memories of the ambush collide with my all ready fragile body and brain, the events speeding up faster and faster until I feel the ghostly pain of the sword through the gut. The blood, the pain, the fear, the sacrifice, all of that has landed me in danger with all of my friends in the same boat too. From the beauty of this place and its resemblance to the Eldin Province in general, I must be inside of the Earth Temple, my friends no where to be seen.
And the figure above me is the woman who betrayed us.
I suddenly collapse against the cold stone, my eyes flying open as I come to my realisation. Impa, it seems, understands this as she rises back onto her feet. My vision spins wildly, and I can't cope with the suddenness of everything as she stands above me once more, staring down at me with an unwavering crimson gaze. I attempt to reach out to her, but my body has been through too much, and I know it; which only compels me more to do it. However, in a swing of her cloak, Impa is gone, and I'm far too gone to notice.
I fall slack against the stone again, my hand slapping against my stomach in the process. I black out, though it feels like seconds before my eyes are open again. I don't tell myself to open my eyes, they just are open. The wave of heat smashes back into my body, however it seems far better to take on the heat and keep my conscious without need of a cloudy mind set to accompany it. The intensity of colours and light isn't nearly as bad as before, though I still feel a tingling sensation in my abdomen.
The sound of large doors creaking open greet me, and I believe that it comes from the way that Impa had appeared from before. At the thought of her, I bolt upright and groan when I force my body into motion. I search around the room, finding that no one else is here but me, and the wound embedded in my stomach is no longer bleeding. In fact, it's far from that. I would almost say that it is fully healed despite the winces that escape me when I move suddenly like I just had. I blink a few times, confused.
Why am I still alive, even if my weapons are gone? No... she wouldn't have done.
I hear a twinkling sound beneath me at the jerking action that I did, tilting my head down to discover chains wrapped around my right arm, snaking across my garments and skin tightly. I tug at them a few times, doing nothing but shaking the shackles a little. I sigh a little and allow my shoulders to slump forwards. I may be alive, somehow, but that doesn't matter if I can't leave. I don't even know where my friends are, for the sake of the Goddess. My eyes travel across the platform, finding no differences from the last time that I awoke, only for my thoughts to suddenly be halted completely.
A screech halts all of my thoughts and I snap my gaze upwards, face draining of all colour at the sudden jolt from my body and what I find. Four explosions of diamonds surround me, one above the steps to my left, two in front of me, and the other one behind me. I gulp loudly as I struggle to pry myself out of the metal bound to my arm, panicking as the Red Bokoblins materialise and lock their tiny orbs of green onto me; their cries of blood and battles sending my blood cold. Things happen too suddenly, and I can barely grab onto reality.
I cry out myself when a pair of hands from the Bokoblin behind me grab my arms. I try my best to fight them off with nothing but my hands, but the lack of freedom costs me, and luck is never on my side. The Bokoblin, as irritating as it is, overpowers me before I can struggle for too long, leaving my arms held in an extremely uncomfortable position that leaves me unable to notice the other activity surrounding me until its too late. The other creatures draw their own blades, ones that are easily the length of my arm, and ready themselves to come at me. My eyes widen in alarm and my protests increase tenfold, even if it does nothing but welcome my own demise closer as I squeeze my eyes shut and await the darkness.
The darkness, it seems, that never seems to come.
From deep inside of my core, I feel something awaken suddenly with next to no warning. As the footsteps of the other Bokoblins rush towards me, something sparks within me that I cannot control, and my eyes fly open. The creatures of darkness note this as they run, their battle cries only wavering a small amount, and a wave of power slams straight into me before washing out of my system in a burst of golden energy that sends all of the Bokoblins around me into the pillars enclosing me, defeating them near instantly to leave nothing behind but the swords that were once extended towards me.
I can't take a moment to breathe before I am hundred over, my hands and arms shaking more than they should ever do, my breath drawn out in ragged rasps. I find my eyes rolling upwards numerous times, my unclean and unkempt curtain of hair falling around my face to conceal the outside world to me. My thoughts scatter as I attempt to cling onto some, defying me at every turn. My tries soon fade away into nothingness, and I fall onto the edge unconsciousness before a hand against my arm startles me.
I elicit a scream as I force myself to look straight into the eyes of the one who touched me, a sudden wave of fear coursing through my veins. I leap away from them, my brain still not registering them as I do so. Their own eyes widen in shock at my reaction, and I finally allow myself to lock my gaze and thoughts onto who it is. "It's all right, Zelda. It's just me." Karane consolidates softly, holding her hands up in reassurance. My sharp actions quell a little, allowing my shoulders to slump forwards in shame and weakness.
When I permit myself to look up again, I notice Pipit running up a long stairway to my right in alarm, skidding into a halt when he comes to realise the situation. His eyes cast down to Karane with a glint of sorrow, though blinks a few times before extending his sword, eyes searching for any form of danger. "T-They're all gone, I think..." I mutter, my voice still dry from disuse. I hold my hands up, pushing myself to stay upright with little support against my feeble body. "I think I..." In a fraction of a second, my hands glow a little, only to revert back to their usual, dirty palms as if undisturbed.
A flood of pain comes over me, as if something has reopened any old wounds, scars, or even broken bones, sending me tumbling towards the ground again. I would have slammed harshly into the ground as well if Karane had not caught me in seconds of my descent, holding me steady with concerned eyes. "I thought that you were..." She gulps, averting her eyes away from mine for a moment. "I thought that you were stabbed. How in the name of the Goddess can you stand with such a wound?"
"Because I was healed." I say simply, grabbing the attention of my friends. I sigh, unintentionally slumping against Karane a little. "I don't remember much of it, but I remember Impa using some sort of magic that knocked me out. I thought that she was attempting to kill me faster, as she was instructed to do, but I'm healed and can't understand why she would do such a thing. I would have awoken if anyone else did the same to me after she left, so it has to be her." I sigh again. "I don't understand..."
"I don't think anyone understands." Pipit comments, eyes glinting with intrigue.
Karane rubs her face one getting me back into an upright position, drawing out some Potion for me to drink and retain some stamina for once. I chug it down effortlessly, and the dulled pain from earlier is almost non-existent. After a few moments, I hear her mumble: "What's happened...?" She does not question me, but more so everything due to her tone of voice, and I would not blame her because I want to know as well. I smile sadly at her, all three of us on the same wavelength of fear, anxiety, and pure confusion; especially with my healing. Impa wouldn't have done that, even if she was instructed to.
She hates me more than she hates the Goddess.
"I don't know." I reply, even if her words were not directed at myself. "But that doesn't matter right now. All that matters is find Link and we manage to escape before anything else can stop us." As I speak, I feel something stir inside my heart, like this moment is fortifying my resolve and allowing me to steel my courage. My companions notice this too, though they are also distracted by Karane diverting her gaze from Pipit as he moves closer. "I-Is everything...?"
"Fine." Pipit steps in curtly, passing Karane one last look before returning his gaze to me. His glance seems pained ever so slightly, but I allow myself to ignore this for a moment; knowing that the subject has all ready been discussed and needs to be dropped. Shaking my head lightly, I force myself to endue the pressing weight of lightheadedness that comes over me when I push myself upright. Pipit stares down at my binds. "Mine weren't easy to get out of, so yours are going to..."
He halts completely all of a sudden, making me freeze up at the perplexed complexion that he holds. "What is it?" I ask quietly, cautiously. "What's wrong?" I follow his line of sight down to my binds, discovering that they have been severed by some unknown force. Karane takes them into her hands, studying them carefully. I stare intently at them as well, recalling the blast of energy that sparked from me and destroyed all of the Bokoblins. "I think... I think that I did it." They snaps their gazes up to meet mine. I shake my head, lost in thought for a moment. "Never mind." I mutter. "It's one less problem to worry about. For now, we should..."
A chuckle radiates out from behind me, cutting off all sense of words from my tongue. I pause mid sentence, straightening as Karane and Pipit's eyes grow ever so slightly wider, their hands all ready tightening around the hilt of the blades that I have only just realised is back in their possessions; their items returned to them, or maybe never taken away from them in the first place like mine have been. Being wary about the idea of sudden movements, I take my time in gingerly twisting around, the being that I come across both expected and not at the same time.
"You sound like you have so much faith that nothing would stop you from getting to him, even when you realise that being in the den of your enemies is there to snuff out the hope that is but a mere illusion." Ghirahim comments with a grin, fingers curled around the familiar black rapier; both that and his gloves stained with blood. I steel my courage, forcing myself to stay upright and intent on not being perceived as weak in any way, shape, or form. "It seems that you also forgot about me. Maybe you were smart enough to escape, but you have now only made everything easier for me..."
As he speaks, I find myself simply staring as his sword, my brain finally coherent and recalling the final moments outside the Earth Temple. "I have no time when destiny calls." I grit my teeth, faced by an onslaught of memories that hit me straight on, and I cannot hold my emotions in when I meet his orbs of death. "You bastard!" I yell, lunging forwards only for my weakness to hold me back. Taking a deep breath, I clench my hands into fists at either of my sides. Pulling such a move was cowardly, and from the amount of time that you are choosing to spend with us, your little "deal" didn't go to plan, huh?"
His eyes narrow at me, and he lowers his blade for a moment. "Running into... complications to my plans was something that I am working around, Your Grace, and it seems that you did not imagine to moment to be occurring, so I doubt that you can say much yourself, now can you?" He takes a step forwards, stimulating my friends into movement as well. They join me at my sides, knowing that going in for attack will cost us all. "However, I believe that I have the perfect solution: a proposition that I am sure you will not want to miss out on!"
Pipit, in order to stay in control of the situation, shifts himself so that he stands in front of Karane and I with his sword extended; the beautiful crafted blade gleaming in the torchlight. I reach out for his arm, though it will make no difference whatever I plan to do since I can't even stay standing for too long after being stabbed – no matter how much pain from it has been eliminated. "What do you want from us?" He asks calmly, not understanding our enemy as much as Karane and I; and even that is very little. "Just... tell us where our friend is, and we'll leave you and not dare to retaliate in the future."
Ghirahim tilts his head, eyes glowing with sudden thoughts that are unknown to me, though I know instantly are not good at all. He shifts his weight, raising his sword towards Pipit and resting the tip of the blood stained sword against his chest. "Only a friend?" He questions with a small scoff. "Not even close to a "best friend"?" I rest my hand on Pipit's arm, knowing how cruel his words are. "I thought that you two were like brothers. After all, I suppose you have always been the person to say all of the wrong things to those "close" to you, am I not correct?"
While I understand most of his remarks, the final part confuses me greatly. In a fraction of a second, Pipit's eyes wander to Karane, who avoids his sad eyes with all of the will that she can muster. As Ghirahim removes his sword from Pipit's chest, the stony silence grows in the chamber again, and I struggle to contain how uncomfortable I suddenly feel. "Fine." We all turn back to a wavering Pipit, whose eyes blink a few times before he speaks again. "If you have this proposition, then we will at least consider it. I assume that you didn't come all this way to merely attack us like this."
"I will continue to attack when I know that they will avail in harm, no matter whether it be physical or not."
Pipit chews at his lip as he lowers his sword, his knowledge on something that I do not have bugging me a little. And yet, before anyone can act upon any form of intention, Karane shoves Pipit out of the way and extends her sword towards the Demon Lord. "You talk about everything like you own it, and yet you own nothing." She growls startling me. "We have bested you before, and we'll do it again. No one goes after my friends in such a way and gets away with it." Pipit moves to steady me before returning to Karane's side, who doesn't quite meet his gaze.
"It seems that the brokenhearted rat has gained some courage. I would applaud you, but I think we all know that words will never be enough to best one such as myself."
I can't let this go on.
I separate my friends without warning and stand up towards Ghirahim. "Name your proposition. While I know that you will be benefiting in some way, shape, or form, I also know that we will too. State your case, and we will decide. Whatever it is, I won't let you see the dawn rise and escape before you can even attempt to part any of us again. I won't let myself be played." He laughs at my words once a few moments have passed. "Or at least tell me this: why did you order Impa to heal me? I thought that you had made sure that I wouldn't breathe again?"
He rolls his eyes. "As if I would allow myself to part with the information of my factions to the enemy..." He steps within inches of my face, my companions rushing up to my side before anything else can happen with that sword again. "You see, Your Grace, your "efforts" to defy me will end up tipping the fragile scales of fate in my favour. And, deep down, you know this too." I meet him with an angry glare. "I see that brush with death has improved your glares. I have gone from severely disappointed to moderately ashamed."
"The proposition." I press, blocking out his comments entirely.
"Indeed." He pauses for a moment, shifting away while determining a way to set out his words. "While your efforts are key to my success, I understand that the revival of your memories will only quicken this event. So, I permit you into the boy's location as long as those you dub "companions" will stay behind to protect you from whatever I choose to deploy." I raise a brow at him. "You see, I cannot even begin to think what would happen if I allowed Her Grace and the Spirited One to be reunited without something to be put in place. You did mention about me being benefited too, did you not?"
I glance at Karane and Pipit, but they are too busy watching Ghirahim with stony glares. I follow in their footsteps, something twitching at the back of my mind that I can't help but put forwards and out in the open. "And if we do manage to escape, defeating everything that you throw at us? And we will, no matter what you say, because your forces are large but weaker than a day old animal." I don't fully register my words before they are out in the open, and I feel the repercussions of them automatically.
Ghirahim surges within centimetres of me, grabbing my face and sinking his fingers deep into my skin. "Then I'll whip up another surprise like after your little Ceremony. Too many people have died because of storms in that perch of yours, haven't they?" My blood freezes, and yet he continues. "I'll make sure that he never sees the light of day again once my Master is done with him, and you'll never see the fear in his eyes as you ever so desperately try to find him across the desolate land that you don't remember anything about!" Stunned, the Demon Lord finally retracts himself from me. "Do I make myself clear, Your Grace?"
Not even the use of "Your Grace" gets to me as much as it has now. I don't think I have felt a moment when I have felt so small and desperate to huddle away from the world that the Sky Realm had coddled me from. I stare at him for the Goddess only knows how long, the idea of reckless ideas or deep planning ending in the failure of us all, something that I feel like I know all about; although I haven't felt this way in this life whatsoever, nothing on this scale anyway.
Before I can even part my lips to speak, Pipit speaks up, taking his stand.
"Take Zelda to where he is, Ghirahim, and permit Karane to follow." He bargains angrily, his knuckles white from how hard he grasps the sword. "I don't care what you have to say about it, we accept your proposition and demand that it be carried out immediately." His commands echo around the chamber until the deathly cold silence engulfs it. Karane and I look at him, shocked at his sudden claim for power and domination. And, it seems, this outcry of power has lead Pipit right into Ghirahim's hands; ready to mold this situation into what he desired for it to be in the first place.
"Hmm, I suppose you never seemed to be one to listen, am I correct?" He remarks, concerning me instantaneously. Something is wrong, very, very wrong, and I am determined to find a way out of the situation. "If you had shown an ounce of intelligence, you would have asked where he was again, to which I would reply—" He gestures towards the large structure behind him leading up a small incline. "—a place that needed no battling to get to." He chuckles. "I believe a lesson in listening skills is prophesied..."
Pipit, pale faced at his sudden loss, turns to Karane with a hard look in his eyes. "Get her to the Spring. Now." Karane takes a hesitant move forwards, unsure of what else to say or do as she does so. She is making things up as she goes along, not that I blame her all that much really, and she gulps deeply as she holds her hands up to him. He watches her back, sword resting at his side as his orbs waver ever so slightly when he remembers something that I was not a part of; something that must have occurred before we were reunited.
It doesn't take long for that wavering to fade.
"Pipit..."
His eyes harden. "Karane, don't—"
"No, I will!" She cries. "Don't you dare try and agree to something that could potentially kill us!" He is taken back by this for obvious reasons, although there is something else hinted in her tone that stings harder on Pipit than the words themselves. "You think you have it all? You think you know everything? Well, guess what: no one ever does!" As she speaks, I glance over at Ghirahim, who takes light of the situation by understanding that this was what he wanted to happen, and I hate him for it. "We can get out of this, but I don't think that you've realised just what you've done!"
"I do! I know exactly how many people are about to get hurt because of me because I'm human, now get Zelda to the Spring before I let anything else go wrong!" His sudden audacity even wipes the smirk from the Demon Lord's lips, startling us all. His face drops, knowing how close he is to Karane's face and how much he has used his volume for the wrong purposes. The tension has been rising ever since they found me, though Pipit does what many do in this form of situation and forces himself to stay in an angry mind set no matter how much he doesn't want to. "I'll do it myself."
Pipit grabs my arm and pulls me away from Karane. She propels herself forwards to try and stop him, but she knows as much as I do that it's too late. I cry out at Pipit many times for him to halt and think about this, but he isn't anywhere close to even considering it. Nonetheless, we drop onto a wide structure that Ghirahim had gestured towards before, Pipit's eyes locking onto the world ahead and not moving from that spot. I struggle and protest as much as I can, yet I know that nothing will change this.
I have never seen Pipit like this. And, to be frank, it scares me.
We reach the summit of the incline in no less than a minute, coming into a stop before a golden door that is very reminiscent of the one in Skyview Temple. Pipit forces me in front of him, though I can see the deep regret and guilt in his eyes. As I stumble towards the door, I spin back around to him. He takes a hesitant step forwards, my fingers brushing against the door behind me before my palm follows suit. The door behind me fades away, leaving the cool breeze of the Spring to caress my skin. "Pipit!" I plead one final time. "Let me fight with you!" He steps forwards again, and I am hemmed further towards the entrance to the Spring. "Please, you can't do this alone!"
"No." He says curtly, only for his shoulders to slump forwards moments later. "You gotta find him before he gets hurt." His volume decreases so rapidly into a whisper that it stuns me when I hear him, barely ale to catch his words. As he meets my eyes, I can see them slightly glassy from the weight of everything thrust upon his shoulders without any form of warning whatsoever. "I'm sorry, but you're important to this Mission, and we can't let you go." His hands quake, his eyebrows knitted together. "I don't want either of you to die..." He inhales and passes me one last sorrow filled look before pushing me away.
I don't know whether it is the lingering pain from the movement against my feeble body or the force from Pipit that I didn't expect, but I stagger backwards and into the Spring before I can do a thing about it. I cry out and take a flying leap towards him, meeting nothing but the cold door that returns as soon as I stand in the Spring; a barrier forming in front of the door and barring me from exiting at any time. I slam my body into the door, screaming and crying out as I push my fists into the door, soon collapsing to the floor from weakness; my attempts to open the door futile and quelled in seconds.
My hope, and everything with it, seems to have died.
I rest my head against the ground, cringing violently when a inhuman screech fills the air from the other side of the door, and I can barely muster the energy to slump my entire body against the door and force my head into my knees cuddled by my hands. You should never have done this, an inner voice sneers. Why did you think allowing two other people onto the very Surface, a land filled with more dangers than forms of salvation, was going to help you? You were tricked into doing that, letting yourself get stabbed, and then put all of them in danger. Why did you think that you were good enough to help any of them?
"Because I'm not..." I whisper, choking on the words as a single tear runs down my dirty skin.
I clutch at my knees even more, my nails digging deep into the skin as I keep my body rigid, not daring to let my body shake and shudder at the thought of crying in such a situation. You're weak. You're nothing. You're— "Who are you?" I lift my head up, alarm bells suddenly ringing. "Make yourself known." At first, I am positive that the voice belongs to none other than Link, however I soon realise that the tone sounds like duel voices intertwining; like two people saying the exact same thing together, but ever so slightly different in this case.
At least help someone, you embodiment of nothingness...
Acting upon my darkness, I untie myself from my tight position and hoist myself up onto my feet. Somehow, it seems that I haven't learnt about assessing the situation before collapsing in a blubbering heap. Shaking my head free of my inner thoughts, I permit the cool air to brush against my skin contently, taking in the situation like I should have – no matter what the situation pushed upon me.
Like in the Skyview Spring that Karane, Link, and I had traversed before, pillars lead the way on either side of me towards a large set of steps ahead; although some of the pillars here are broken. Feeling something safe about this area, something sacred, I carefully move up the steps. It takes effort, but I am more than willing and capable to do so. Before long, I stand atop the steps and drink in the sights before me. The Spring has been embedded into the core of Eldin itself, therefore there is no light filtering in compared to the open area of Skyview Spring.
In the waters, fish course their way through the crystal clear waters, stone platforms leading across to another great Statuette of the Goddess. I tilt my head at it, not fully understanding why there are so many replicas of the Statue of the Goddess in Skyloft when I have heard next to nothing about her down on the Surface like I was expecting to. Chewing at my lip, I suddenly find the bearer of the voice to be sitting in a slightly hunched over position atop the final platform. They are trying to look strong, though the slight slump of their shoulders reveals their true nature.
I recognise them instantly.
"Link!" I cry, racing across the numerous sets of stone as soon as I lay eyes upon him. His head snaps up a little to meet me, and I notice how he retracts himself a little as I run towards him. As I edge closer and closer to him, more and more wounds become apparently. From afar, I can see the tears in his tunic, though things become even worse the closer that I get towards him. He still wears his chain mail, though it is as good as useless for all anyone cares.
A large burn is strewn across his chest, many small knife cuts sprawled across his dirty skin. Sweat clings to his face and hair, the worst gash by far being the one straight across his gut. However, I also note how none of these injuries seem to by physically affecting him. If anyone else were in his situation and tried to hide it, you would still be able to see it, although it looks like they aren't even bleeding any longer no matter how much they need to be treated before they become deadly.
I fall down onto my knees, drawing him into a hug despite his injuries; scolding myself when he winces and taking more care. Though it soon becomes apparent that he did not flinch due to his thousands of gashes, but more so because of my presence. He rips himself away from me suddenly and draws the Goddess Sword strapped to his back, holding the edge of the blade against my neck with orbs of deep blue that do no recognise me nor care for the latter whatsoever.
"Who are you?" He asks sternly. "How do you know of my name, and what are your intentions?"
I hold my hands up, eyes wide at his sudden change of manner. "I-It's me, L—" I refrain from using his name again. "It's me: Zelda. We've been friends since we were little, even through the worst times..." I wince a little at the memories that sting me, but I press on nonetheless, knowing that Ghirahim must be behind this and why he wanted me to come here so badly. "Don't you remember me? Ghirahim must have done something to you..." If I could, I could hold his face. "Come back to me."
"I know of whom you speak of, however he has been disposed of long ago when I sealed away the Demon King." I blink a few times, royally confused over Link's sudden change of heart (whether it be because of Ghirahim or somehow not) and why he acting like he lived in the age of the Great War. Averting my gaze for a few moments, my eyes land on the chains bound tightly to his arm, feeling the phantom pain of my own shredding across my skin before I was freed on them.
I nod down to them as much as I can with the Goddess Sword against my neck. "Are you in any pain?"
His eyes dull, memories overcasting his irises. "I have spent four years of my life in chains. I am used to the pain that they bring along with them." I cast my line of sight down towards the ground, reverting them back to Link when he pulls the Goddess Sword away and down to the ground. "I was once told that I was able to trust one who bore the same garments of Her Grace..." He muses, dragging his gaze up and down to take in my dishevelled clothes. "Could you be them?"
I gulp a little, watching him with speculation. "Who is Her Grace?" I ask suddenly, halting his moments completely. He returns his sight to me, and I banish the wavering of resolve that I feel as he does so. "Many have spoken about Her Grace and what her resemblance to me, but who is she? I place my trust in you to pass this information onto me." He says nothing for a long time, which worries me too much. "Please, Link..." The use of his name creates mixed emotions, though I don't stop. I drop my head. "What has changed in your Soul to take the one I care for away from me?"
"Soul?" He pushes my chin up with his finger, and I silently agree, ignoring my previous question completely. He frowns as I look away again, deep in thought. "I suppose you do resemble Her Grace, "Zelda", though your lack of knowledge is concerning. When Her Grace represented an image of one like her, she explained that War would brew when I came to pass with them. Therefore for you to know so little about the past will not bode well for Her Grace's Army." He sighs a little, forcing me to stare deep into his eyes. "So beautiful yet so young."
Then I notice something else. Deep in his irises is a ring a gold which surrounds his pupils. It is only faint and very small, though at this angle and closeness to him, I can see it as clearly as I could day in Skyloft.
Not allowing myself to falter at this time, I place my hand on his cheek with a hard gaze. "Who is Her Grace?" I press quietly, uncomfortable with how close I am to the one who I care about too much no matter how much I lack the power to express my care and passion towards him. "Who exactly are you?" He raises his hand to my own cheek, the heat of his hand calming me a little as he parts his lips to speak. However, before he can saying anything in response to my questions, a disturbance of something outside of the Spring jolts us apart.
I dart to my feet automatically, scared out of my mind about Karane and Pipit, and I push back my fear for Link to the back of my mind for the moment. I leave Link's side for just a moment, no matter how much my heart pains to do so. I skid into a stop at the summit of the pearly stone steps, I watch in both fear and hope as the door Pipit pushed me through faded away in the distance and two figures enter. My heart rate picks up rapidly all of a suddenly as the figures limp inside, and I pray to the Goddess that they aren't enemies. I don't have my sword on me, but I can easily attempt to fend off enemies who are limping. I hope so, anyway.
I gasp in alarm suddenly, realising that I won't have to do that whatsoever. "Pipit! Karane!" I exclaim in pure relief as the torch light catches their faces. I break into a harsh sprint down the steps and draw them both into an extremely tight hug despite the fact that they are hurt. I hold them close, emotions flying up at the wall as they laugh hesitantly; most likely due to the wounds that they sport. "You're all right!" I finally pull away from them, holding the two of them at arm length. "I-I thought that you weren't going to..."
"We only survived because of Impa." I freeze up completely.
"S-She's here?!" I gasp, throwing myself away from them properly with eyes wide and rush towards the door behind them. "But she could still be around. I need to—!"
Karane holds me back. "You don't need to. She's far too busy out there to even think about us." I tug against her grip for a few moments, but they slow both at her words and how weakly she holds me. I cautiously pivot back around to meet her gaze, one that is soft and calm despite what is apparently occurring outside the Spring. "The beast that Ghirahim sent after us was about to kill us, but Impa stepped in before it could and fended it away from us with some type of water magic. She told us to escape to the Spring while she took care of Scaldera, apparently, and Ghirahim after when he realised what she had done."
"But... but..."
"It didn't look like an act, I guess." Pipit cuts in before I can babble on further. "But we can't be sure. That doesn't matter. We can sort that out once we're finally together." I cast my eyes across the two of them, gulping at the amount of serious burns and gashes have scared their bodies, singing away their hair in numerous places. They're smiling, though, something that I wasn't expecting to see after how wounded they are, but it's a slight hope that I am somewhat satisfied despite how much they are concealing their pain. "Was he right?" He asks, referring to Ghirahim. "Is he here?"
I glance over my shoulder, guilt and sadness multiplying in my stomach thickly. "He is here." I say, not daring to look back and see the relief on their faces that I hear instantly. "But he's not the same." Gritting my teeth, I finally force myself to meet his gaze. "I think that because he was forced into awakening those images from the Statuette, like in Skyview Spring—" I add for Karane's benefit, for she understands more than Pipit. "—he is acting far differently, like he is lost in those images that he saw. He isn't hostile, I don't think, but I'm not sure what to do to help him."
"We can try. That's all we can do, right?" Pipit reassures with confidence that I cannot replicate.
"I hope so." I mutter, though they don't hear it (nor act on it if they did) before I have turned myself fully to the Spring ahead of me. We move forwards in unison, far more careful than I had thought we ever would before. As soon as we reach the top of the steps, Karane gasps in fright behind me; and I understand immediately. "They aren't bleeding, Karane. He isn't affected by them." She calms a little, although I don't think that she believes me enough after what she sees.
I hear no other sets of footsteps when I move forwards, feeling their eyes watching mine as I settle myself down beside Link, begging that I can do something to help him; no matter what it is nor what the cost of it is. He raises his head as I sit down in front of him, hesitantly placing my hand over his. "Who were you conversing with?" He questions calmly, yet there's a hint of seriousness, coldness, that is not like him to hold.
"My companions who I was separated from momentarily." I twist myself around and nod with my head for them to come towards us, assuring them that there's very little alarm that needs to be raised just yet. "I promise you that they mean no harm whatsoever. I've spent all of my life with them." He nods in agreement, although his hand twitches to draw the Goddess Sword when Karane and Pipit stop behind me. "This is Karane—" I gesture to her with my hand, then to Pipit. "—and this is Pipit." I pause. "Do you... do you remember them at all?"
He thinks about it, then: "Not whatsoever."
I bite my tongue for a moment, blinking a few times when Karane speaks up. "Um..." She starts awkwardly, catching his attention near instantly, staring at his arm in particular. "A-Aren't you in any pain?" I notice how his hand finally relinquishes in twitching towards the blade against his back. His eyes fall onto the chains bound to him, shaking his head and laughing softly. While I could guess at why he does this, Karane is royally confused. "Are you... are you all right?"
He looks up, meeting her eyes with a small smile attaches to his face. "I have endured much worse, fair Karane. There is no need to care for one such as myself." Karane cannot help but blush at the first part of his sentence, although we all stop at the second part before I can feel any form of jealousy; Pipit too, from the look on his complexion. Whatever has taken over Link's mind, they sound somewhat alike when it comes to people feeling worried sick for the two of them.
It chills me.
Pipit walks away before anyone else can speak, and I push myself past Karane to try and speak to him. I catch his arm before he can descend the steps, and I speak to him in a low tone. "Pipit, I know this is bad, but there will be a way to fix this." He scoffs, working himself free from my grasp. I cross my arms, coming to a form of realisation when he hides his glance at Karane. "We all want Link back, you know that, but you're getting more worked up over what "he" said to Karane over anything, aren't you?"
"W-What?!" He gasps, dropping his tone when he catches the attention of Link and Karane behind me. "That's absurd, Zelda, even for you."
I shake my head, uncrossing my arms. "You can't possibly think that we don't know, Pipit. I'm only dropping it now because there's something more serious going on, like the fact that both Ghirahim and Impa are outside the Spring and Link is completely lost, but there's something wrong with the both of you." My eyes dull a little. "Whatever has been said or done can wait, right? I'll be here and listening, just... when we're all out of the looming danger, all right?" He seems somewhat satisfied with the fact that I am dropping the subject, but not with the fact that I'm not permanently letting it go.
That doesn't matter, though, as a twinkling voice calls out to me.
"Mistress..." My eyes widen in hope, and I whirl around, following the voice immediately. Leaving Pipit behind, I listen out to Fi's voice again as she calls for me, leaping into the cool water and wading through it as it laps lightly against my shins. Blocking out the perplexed looks from my companions, I kneel back down at Link's side. I open my mouth to ask whether I may hold the Goddess Sword, but Fi appears in her full form before I can.
Link jumps back in alarm, and yet he calms faster than I ever would have hoped that he would. At first, I think that it may be because the Link that we know better is waiting inside and knows who Fi is, however I am proved wrong when he whispers: "Fiona..." His apparent realisation is strange to me, although Fi speaks directly to me before I can.
"Mistress." She greets. "I am glad to become known of your safe return. After the betrayal of the Sheikah, I was left here with the Spirited One until you were to arrive, however I managed to hold onto your items before they were sealed into the Statuette present before it could be trapped inside by the Demon Forces." My shoulders slump forwards with relief, due to her presence and the news of my things, and she returns my bag over my shoulder in seconds. "However, there is a far more pressing issue to address, am I not correct, Dominae?"
I nod, glancing across to Link for a moment before returning it to her. "What's happened to him, Fi?" I ask, scolding myself straight away for sound incredibly childish and unable to fend for myself.
"After being forced into awakening more "memories" from the Statuette in this room in ways that would have a high chance of upsetting you," My breath hitches in understanding, and I avert her gaze. "I believe that this manner of this awakening has caused a shift in his Soul that has trapped him in the realm of which these memories were housed in. Without a form of magical influence, this form of imprisonment will last eternally." A cry of protest rips free, and I hold myself close in shock. My eyes fall to the ground, not daring to look at any of my companions (or once companions), even when Fi shifts closer. "However, you have a magical influence that will potentially aid him."
I slowly raise my head. "W-What?"
Thoughts of how our lives would be turned upside down at this event flow into my brain, and I barely have the will to lock onto Fi's words as she clarifies some form of hope for me. Karane pulls me towards her, and I can hear Pipit's hopeful gasp as Fi speaks. "The Harp bestowed upon you by your Father is still in your bag, and, as proved in the Faron Province, has many magical abilities that were awakened when you drew the Goddess Sword in the Chamber of the Sword. There is an almost certain chance that it will aid the Spirited One, reverting him from his current state to one of far more use to you, both physically and emotionally."
I don't even give my friends time to process this before the Harp is back in my hands. I glance up at the spirit of the sword. "Do I play the song that I had played for the Wing Ceremony back home?" She nods in agreement in seconds. Pulling away from Karane, I raise my hand and call the melody to mind, only to be stopped before my fingers can connect with the strings by Link's hand. I meet his gaze softly, realising just how confused he is.
"Your home?"
Trying to push back the wave of irritation to the back of my mind at how he is unintentionally diverting the subject away from the hope that now reigns supreme, I sigh heavily. "Yes. I am from Skyloft, the part of land that the Goddess had sent into the Sky Realm during the Great War, the people of the Surface along with it. We have lived there our entire lives and—what?" I pause at the amazed look on his face. He mustn't know about this whatsoever, something that greatly concerns me. Doesn't almost everyone know about this story? "Do you not know of the story?"
"People of the Sky?" He queries quietly, almost in awe. I nod slowly, causing him to grin broadly. "They are well again. I am at peace..." I raise a brow at him, snapping him free from his peaceful daze when I shake my head lightly and pluck a single note of the melody that I must play. He grabs my hand with a sudden amount of strength that forces me to halt in my playing and stare at him in shock. "You cannot leave me. I care not for what Fiona speaks of, for I do not want to leave you or her again after my failure."
Something comes over me, and I rip myself out of his grip, startling him. "Her name isn't Fiona, and I don't know who you are!" I blurt out. "You still don't tell me of who "Her Grace" is, and nor of who you actually are. What should I feel for someone who has taken away who I truly care about and will not even accept when it is time to part?" Without warning, I feel a phantom punch to the stomach. "I-I'm sorry." My shoulders sag even more, and I avert his gaze. "I just want him back..."
A hand softly takes my cheek, forcing me to look deep into Link's slightly golden eyes. "I understand." He assures solemnly. "You are alone and confused, unsure of the future and what it holds. You have been affected by the events of the past, and it is understandable to lose what control you have valiantly taken a hold of." I pull back a little when he kisses me cheek, yet I melt into it a little moments after. "I do not know when I shall see you again, but I know that you shall bring this dying world into the light as you did before, no matter how little of it you remember..."
I smile a little when he pulls away, bowing to me as much as his chains will allow him before he straightens fully and accepts what comes to him. Gulping thickly, I ready the Harp cradled in my arms and begin to strum the song that brings back too many memories at once. I sway a little as I pluck at the numerous notes, hearing my own voice echo softly around my mind. Oh youth... My eyes fall shut for a single moment before I force them back open, taking in the sudden sight before me.
Link begins to glow a deep golden colour, causing me to unconsciously move backwards; Karane doing the same as Pipit makes his way forwards at a cautious pace. His eyes slowly close, and I pray more than I ever could. The strumming of the melody grows quieter and quieter until my hands allow the song to drift off into the distance. The light surrounding him grows in both size and intensity, near blinding the three of us as the song is overcome by silence.
Please. I can't lose you, not like this. Not at this time...
And, for the first time in a while, fate accepts my prayers with both hands.
No few moments later, the light decreases abruptly and Link tumbles forwards. With his eyes still closed tight, I catch him before he can land harshly against the ground, feeling his almost dead weight against mine. Despite his unconsciousness, I turn him over so that I can pull at his eyelid, finding that there is no gold circling his pupils like there was before, and something about his aura has shifted for the better. I sigh in pure relief, holding him close and Pipit and Karane move to my side. Tears sting at the edges of my edges stupidly. "He's fine."
They almost collapse with happiness, only for Fi to catch out attention as I ease the Goddess Sword from Link's back. "Mistress Zelda, the sun had made its full descent below the cloud barrier while you were in imprisonment." I snap my head up to her, realisation coming forth to the surface. "While your Loftwings would catch you during night time, there is an extremely low chance that you will be able to battle your way through the Sky Realm with increased monster activity, limited vision, and many injured party members. My powers will not extend to Skyloft through transportation, and the sun will rise in approximately six hours and twenty three minutes; permitting you a perfect opportunity to return to Skyloft."
Not all of my prayers have been answered, it seems.
Pipit and Karane shuffle around Link and I, and I can only look at Link's sleeping form as I speak my mind. "So, what you're saying is that we are stuck on the Surface with the one person that the darkness wants in their territory?" Fi nods solemnly. "T-T-hank-you, Fi." She parts her lips to add something else, only to hesitantly return to the Goddess Sword on the ground. Pipit and Karane share a look of hopelessness, replicating my feelings inside. I turn my attention for them for a moment. "W-We'll be fine. We'll just have to work things out step by step..."
Their eyes shine with the lack of confidence that hangs onto my tone, so I return my attention to Link beneath me. Not only do we have to sever the chains, we need to make sure that his injuries will not reopen in the future (a near impossible chance), and work out a way to break out of the Earth Temple without being caught and even more beaten than most of us all ready are. I sigh deeply, memories returning to me with full force. "I'll make sure that he never sees the light of day again once my Master is done with him, and you'll never see the fear in his eyes as you ever so desperately try to find him across the desolate land that you don't remember anything about!"
My full attention, however, is suddenly dragged straight back into reality when I watch in sheer horror as Link's hazy blue eyes meet mine for a fraction of a second before falling shut, every single wound he has received during our brief separation bursting open; blood that had been held back pouring free for all to see.
Author's Note: So, how do you feel about that chapter. I really hope that you liked it because, well, I just want you to like my work. Who doesn't, really? Still, I may not be updating for a while because I will give you all the gift of stories! Happy holidays! Please drop a rate and review if you haven't all ready, and we'll see whether our Heroes will be able to escape the Earth Temple with their lives in the next chapter. Do you think that they will? Or, as usual, will there be some complications? I think you can tell, but let me know anyway!
~RandomButLoved~