Chapter 21-Zelda in Crisis

"I am just a girl chasing her dreams and having an amazing adventure."-Madeline Stuart

Nayru materialized on the field with Skye in tow.

"Now what do we do?" Skye asked.

"Well, we technically cannot interfere directly", she pointed out. "However, like I said, Karane is the key here to at least calming Zelda down."

How we do that? Skye inquired.

Easy," Nayru said, flexing her fingers. "We sponsor and enhance life. We must find Butcha."

Zelda wait, Karane yelled, stunned at how fast Zelda was running.

I didn't listen: I just wanted away from all of it. But the landscape wasn't cooperating, with so many trees and bushes appearing in my path, seemingly out of nowhere. Suddenly, someone slammed into me, knocking me to the ground. I tried to get away, but Karane used her superior skills and weight to keep me there.

"Zelda, stop it!" she yelled at me.

"Let me go Karane, I..I WANT OUT!" I screamed.

My powers roared at my command, ready to blast Karane back to Skyloft. Suddenly they died just as rapidly: I couldn't hurt Karane, I wouldn't let anyone. Now that Link is gone, she is all I have left.

"What s the matter Zelda?"

"I can t do this! I finally screamed." I was just a clumsy girl, imbued with the spirit of a Goddess. I can t save the world.

"You aren't trying to save the world", Karane yelled back.

"Wait, what?" I said, stunned.

"You aren't trying to save the world. You re trying to save Link, remember he's the key to all of this."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes really, settle down Zelda," Karane finally said, trusting me enough to let me go. "I think we ve had enough of a day. We should go home."

"No, we ve got a mission-"

"Let's go talk to the Old Woman, perhaps she can help you more", Karane said, leading me away.

Sometime around noon, we reached the old temple. To our utter surprise, a wooden track had enclosed the pit since we had last visited. Pippit and Groose were both hard at work, splitting wood while Pippit was carving a wooden cart.

"What is this?" Karane and I asked, causing both boys to jump. Groose immediately went a dark shade of red.

Groose fixed his red pompadour, and his usual grin flooded his face. One look from Pippit though, made him immediately somber up.

"Sorry, I had an idea to made sure that beast doesn't cause any damage again", Groose said proudly.

"Half his idea", Pippit piped up. "Continue on Groose."

When this track is done, we ll be able to lob bombs -he gestured towards a large pile of blue balls- at whatever the Old Woman called him. The monster will never know what hit him.

"Done", Pippit said, pushing the newly carved cart over. "It's ready to go. We've got to test it first obviously."

"You guys go inside, the Old Woman is getting antsy to see you", Pippit said. "Comin' Groose, got to get this thing up and runnin before the monster erupts."

Karane and I walked towards the doors, stunned at the encounter.

"Is that really Groose?" I asked.

"No, it has to be an imposter", Karane giggled.

"Or Pippit being friendly with Groose, that's a new one."

"Ooh, maybe he wants a kiss from you."

"Be quiet now, or else I ll tell Groose you like him."

This last commented elicited giggles from both of us as we threw open the door to reveal the Old Woman, who blinked at the sudden increase in light.

"Why Zelda, Karane, I was wondering when you show up again, my how you've changed since we last met," the Old Woman said, genuinely glad to see us again.

She was right: I d found out that I was a Goddess, and Karane she was truly a knight.

"So what s next?" Karane asked, eager to get on with the work.

"Next up is you must use the songs."

"Songs?" Karane and I said together.

"Yes songs", the Old Woman said, limping closer to where we were standing. Hylia used song to hide the markers used to guide her emissaries through the journey she knew they would tread.

She gestured to the harp in my pack.

"That is the key to and another things."

Fi appeared out of the sword.

"My mistress, the Goddess Sword is not in it s full form."

"What?," I said, stunned.

"It needs to be purified through three sacred flames scattered throughout the land before it can truly become the Master Sword that which can reject evil", Fi informed us.

Karane and I glanced at each other with glum expressions: what else did we have to do to complete this quest.

The ground beneath our feet shook again just like last time. Karane and I knew what was happening before the Old Woman could speak. As firm as a rock, her aged yet strong voice rang out over the chaos.

"Oh my dear Hylia", she said, now greatly saddened. "I'm afraid the time for denying who you are is past. The Imprisoned has escaped yet again, despite the seal you put over it."

Rage seethed within me: it was a mixture of mine and from a source distinct from me. How dare he threaten the world I or Hylia fought so hard to protect millenia ago.

"It is more powerful than ever before, and you ll need the help of others to put it out of it s misery once more."

I can't do it ..yes you can.

I froze: it was as if another entity was speaking to me from within my mind, extending an olive branch.

I stole your innocence...for that I am sorry...

Hylia?

I am a part of you as you are now of me. Stop fighting me, we must work together.

I braced myself for the question that still kept me from welcoming Hylia's spirit or powers with open arms.

Can I still be me?

You will always be Zelda, the clumsy girl from Skyloft, friend of Link and Karane, daugther of Gaepora. Nothing will ever change that...I will be but an addition to you, a partner with powers and a title...let us truly become one. Take on the mantle of Goddess...

Let's do it.

Hylia s spirit or some white light erupted from my body, encasing all three of us ladies in white light.

What s happening? Karane asked, her hand going to the blade on her waist.

The Old Woman held her back.

"Hylia's spirit and Zelda are coming to an understanding", the Old Woman said gently. "The Spirit Maiden has become the Goddess at last."

It was like a second coat sliding into place, two halves overjoyed at finally becoming whole. I looked at a stone on the ground: it levitated at my command.

"Her Grace", the Old Woman said, bowing deeply.

No, please don t, I pleaded, feeling wholly inadequate of the respect I was being shown. I m just Zelda, okay.

"Okay", Karane said.

"Maybe not", I thought. I let some of my powers loose.

"My Knight", I said, with Hylia s authority in my voice, causing Karane to jump. "May I have your sword?"

I knew what I had to do now. Under the control of my new found powers, the rather dull practice blade brightened and changed to a full knight s sword, the same as carried by her far distant ancestor, Rosalina.

"Wow Zelda", Karane said, lifting it up and feeling how it worked. It fitted her like to a tee.

"According to my memories, that s what Rosalina's personal sword looked like", I told her. "Now, are we ready to kick some Imprisoned mettle."

"Anytime sis", Karane said, now fully like Rosalina.

The doors behind us flew open to reveal the worse scene I d ever seen in my life.