Author's Note: I'm getting these out quicker than expected, but I guess that would always be a good thing. Anyway, here is the next chapter; and although I am not content with the final interlude, I think that it will be okay enough to be posted. Nonetheless, let's get onto the reviews and whatnot.
Reviews: MiniJen: I am really glad that you liked the chapter. I really wanted Impa and Link to have a close bond, so I'm glad that I got that across well. There will be more, but not for a little bit. I'm glad that you liked that part too as well. I didn't like the constant need to test Link either, so I put it out of that chapter in particular. I hope you like her proposition.
Schniedragon88: I'm glad that you like it, and please tell me if the typos keep coming. Sorry for that, but I must not have edited it properly; and I'm glad that you like the spells too.
G01den Unicorn 11: I'm glad that you liked that, and I do think that Groose should have done that; I'm trying to get a good development, but I started too low in his development, honestly. I understand, and I may change it in the future but not right now. And I've had that typo in the last chapter as well so thank you for telling me. I wouldn't have noticed otherwise!
WolfenAmphithere: Yeah, and I'm glad that you liked them!
Favourites & Follows: No favourites or follows this time.
"Peace is a journey of a thousand miles and it must be taken one step at a time."
~Lyndon B. Johnson~
Ancient Roots
A Skyward Sword FanFiction
Chapter 26: Protector
~Zelda~
I follow Faron as she glides on ahead of me, slowing into a halt before a magnificent waterfall, one bigger than any back in Skyloft. Once I had explained what I could to the Water Dragon, she was quick to help me in whatever way she could—which brings us to what she called the Floria Waterfall. I stand a few feet away from her on a partially submerged bridge, the second part of the structure seemingly at the bottom of the plunge pool.
This little secluded area is surrounded by high walls, nature trying its best to claim the walls for their own as tree roots claw into the brick. Something at the back of my mind remembers this place, however I can't seem to pick it out from my memory quickly enough before it fades from my mind. Shaking my head, I cast my attention back to Faron, whose tail slowly dips in the water with every breath she takes.
"For hundreds of years, the Floria Waterfall has acted as a barrier to keep in the monsters that have infested the Temple behind it," she clarifies. "However the Sacred Flame that you desire is also within the Temple's depths, and so I have no choice but to send you in there to face whatever lies in wait."
Faron raises her hands and focuses deeply, causing her hands to shake with the force of whatever she is creating. With a yell that makes me jump, the waterfall falls under her control. My eyes widen in awe as the base of the waterfall begins to rise, and with it forcing the falling water skyward until it disappears over the overhang, a few streams of water tumbling over the edge before the entire waterfall becomes silent.
With the barrier of water now gone, a large fish carving can be seen on the wall before me, its gaping mouth creating the entrance to the Temple inside. Extending a hand, the Water Dragon lifts me over the gap and onto the entryway platform.
I bow my head to her, placing my hand on my heart as I do so, "Thank you, Your Excellence. Without your aid, I would have had much difficulty finding the Sacred Flames that I seek."
"I shall always aid Her Grace. I only wish that I could swat those monsters away within the Temple," she says simply, then, "I am certain that we shall cross paths again one day, but until that day comes do not lower your guard." Bidding me farewell, the Water Dragon soars into the sky before diving back down into her chambers, leaving me alone once again.
Sighing deeply, I take a brief moment to steel myself. Monsters have flourished inside this place for generations, and now I have to be the person to enter their territory and destroy them. Do they know about the Sacred Flame? Will they be purposely defending it to thwart me?
Will I be able to defeat them?
I can't think like that, I scold myself, and I know I'm right. I can't allow myself to give in to doubt and fear so quickly, not when I've already made so much progress. The first Sacred Flame is closer than ever now, and with that comes one less thing between me and finding Link again.
I can't let him down.
Descending the stairway before me, I'm surprised that the torches have stayed alight all this time—although I suppose Faron used all tactics possible to impede the creatures inside from spilling out into Faron Woods. The walls are painted with petals, but the pain seems to have faded over time. Praying that I can overcome this Temple, I brace myself for the darkness inside as I reach the bottom of the stairway.
And what I find is the opposite of my fears.
The cavernous room is filled with nothing but light and warmth, crystal clear waterfalls outlining the chamber filling up the gaps between platforms with water—strange greenery floating on top of the water's surface. Somehow the white stone that adorns the entire place has been barely dulled by time, and what seems to be even more confusing is the lack of enemies.
It isn't long before my eyes find the big statue in the centre of the room, the face of a unfamiliar figure smiling down on me. I call for Fi, who appears momentarily, and ask her who it might have been.
"From my analysis of the materials, Dominae, this structure was built around one hundred years before the outset of the Great War," Fi says, then, "During this period, various tribes lived on the surface and worshipped many Gods other than the Golden Goddesses. From this I conjecture that this was a shrine built to one of these Gods thanking them for clean water, and from my memory banks this place was once known as the Ancient Cistern."
There were other deities that were worshipped?
"I predict a high chance of the Sacred Flame being housed within this structure, Mistress, and by using these lily pads—the leaves attached to the water lily flower—you can gain access to the statue," she adds after a moment, disappearing back into the Goddess Sword once I dismiss her.
Testing my foot on the lily pad, I'm surprised at how supportive it is as it takes my entire weight without hesitation. Hopping over the water, I reach the platform with the statue on with ease. Glancing upward, I realise that the Statue of the Goddess pales in comparison to this structure—whoever was being worshipped had enough followers to create such a feat.
I push open the door before me and creep inside, the hairs on the back on my neck standing on end immediately when the door slams shut behind me. I'm plunged into near total darkness, only the light of a few torches on the wall there to guide me. The cylindrical room has a small stairway running around the edge leading both up the tower and down.
Compared to the tranquillity and stillness of the main part of the Ancient Cistern, this part is exactly what I had feared this place would be.
My hand immediately reaches for the hilt of the Goddess Sword, my gut twisting with anticipation. Before I can grasp the blade, however, I stop short when I feel my hand twitching. Bringing my hand down, I tilt my head in confusion as the muscles in my arm twitch violently.
I flex my hand until it dies down, then draw the Goddess Sword and make my way down the staircase—choosing to work from the bottom of the tower up rather than the other way around. The only sound that echoes between the walls are my footsteps and my breathing, my heart pounding against my chest as I imagine what could be waiting at the end of the steps.
And when I do, I'm immediately transported back to Skyview Temple at the sight of a mound of bones in the middle of the chamber. Six pillars outline this smaller room, four torches dotted between them evenly. I try my best to ignore the skulls dotted around the room, barely taking solace in the fact that they aren't human.
Suddenly alerted to my presence, the bones fly into the air and merge together, forming a skeletal figure that looms over me ominously. But compared to the creature Karen and I fought in Skyview Temple, this one secures a thick helmet onto its head and brings two swords out from nowhere—seemingly cursed with dark magic.
Immediately on the defence, I bring up my blade as the creature screams and leaps at me, turning my head away from its glowing pink eyes. "This is a Stalmaster, Your Grace, an elite captain of the undead soldiers plaguing the Surface," Fi clarifies for me, "When provoked, it has the ability to strike with all four of its sword-wielding arms. I recommend inflicting damage when the slight gap presents itself as it readies its swords to attack."
I swallow thickly as I barely manage to shove the monster away and dodge another angry swing, adrenaline instantly flooding into my system as I ready myself for the fight ahead. I'm so close to the first Sacred Flame that I can't back down now, and if this creature is the only thing standing in my way, then it will fall like all the other monsters I've faced before.
Of that I'm certain.
~Interlude~
Groose raced through the forest as fast as he could, caring little for how loud he was and the attention that he was attracting. The map that the priestess had given him was crumpled in his tight fist, the route repeating itself over and over again in his mind as he ran deeper into Faron Woods.
He praised himself for having the strength and endurance for the task at hand, smirking at the thought of how Link had managed to survive all the way down here on his own. The Surface was truly a beautiful place, but with the strange creatures and blood thirsty monsters, Groose asked himself again why he wasn't the supposed "Chosen One."
But none of that mattered anymore, because he had a mission and he wasn't going to fail it.
He raced down a dusty path, near immediately grabbing the attention of what the priestess had called Bokoblins—strange red creatures with more fashion sense than brains. The Skyloftian picked up his pace, managing to outrun them in less than a minute flat.
Every time he encountered a horde of those monsters, his mind always went back to the person he was searching for: his Zelda.
How she had managed to fight off all those monsters on her own was something else. Not that she didn't have any skill, but she spent more time studying and reading rather than practicing her swordplay. She always used to say something silly about the pen being mightier than the sword, and despite how much Groose hated the thought of voluntarily sitting down and reading a book, he was nonetheless still infatuated with the girl.
That infatuation kept him going.
The priestess had given him a mission of the "utmost importance." His task was to go to a Temple nearby and find Zelda. The old lady at the Sealed Temple feared for his Zelda and her wellbeing, sensing something that he couldn't. But no matter what she supposedly sensed, this was the perfect way for the boy to prove himself and his worth to his love.
I'm coming for you, Zelda...
Just her name made his head spin with overwhelming joy, so much so that he almost ran into a tree. Thinking of her reminded him of the kiss they had shared, and how he was going to change what she thought of him no matter what he had to do. He would fight horde after horde of monsters and run across the entire Surface to get her heart.
After all, Link was finally out of the picture long enough for him to make his move.
Ever since Link had disappeared—by losing control of his bird on a windy day no less—Zelda had been flying in and out of town in such a hurry, and every time she came back, she was injured in some way. His heart bled at the sight of her injuries, and her thanked the Goddess that she had made him smart enough to follow her down onto the Surface.
He would be the hero of this story, no matter what.
Groose shook his head as he carried on further, dodging another mass of trees with ease—he wasn't quite used to all of the trees everywhere yet. Unfurling his map, his heart jumped when he realised that he was getting closer to her. And once he got out of this maze of a forest, he would carry his Zelda back to Skyloft and show her his love for him.
His smile grew. He couldn't wait to see her again.
His mind constantly buzzed with thoughts of Zelda as he continued on, scared of the danger that she may have been in whilst he was running. He just hoped that the Goddess would let him swoop in at the last moment to save her in the most heroic way possible. Clutching the pouch of first aid that the priestess had given him, he hoped that he wouldn't have to use them.
Hang on, Zelda. I'm going to save you…
~Zelda~
I have no time to catch my breath before the Stalmaster is attacking again, forcing me against the wall with two of his blades and preparing his other two to strike. I don't know how long we've been fighting for, but my energy is depleting faster than ever. Trying to take a deep breath, I bring up my foot and shove the monster away, taking my chance to slice through its open spinal cord as it staggers back.
With a shrill cry, the creature is split in two and slumps onto the ground. Its helmet rolls away as the skull cracks from the impact, its two pink glowing eyes fading into nothingness.
It's over…
Fi appears once the creature is dead, "Congratulations on your victory, Dominae. I suggest you tend to—M-Mistress?"
Ignoring her presence, I let the Goddess Sword clatter against the ground and use the Unda spell to create a small fountain of water in my hands, drinking greedily. A sudden urge to drink comes over me without warning, surprising the spirit of the blade as I drink heartily before sitting against the nearby wall to catch my breath.
Fi glides over to me as I wrap my small cuts on my waist and dab another on my forehead. "Are you well, Dominae?"
"I'm fine, Fi," I breathe, "I think I've burnt myself out, is all. Once I find the Sacred Flame, I'll take a day to rest."
It's a lie and she knows it—I'm not going to rest properly until this is over—but she seems to let it slide for now.
"Very well, but please allow me to scan your nervous system for signs of illness or fatigue," she insists. I allow it, only because she'll grow worried otherwise. I close my eyes and rest my head against the wall as she does so, irritated when I feel my leg twitch. At various points in the fight, my body would twitch violently—one of them even causing the cut on my head—and I pray again to the Goddesses that it would stop.
Test me in whatever way you want and need to, Sisters, I pray. But please don't deplete this vessel. I need this body to keep going for as long as possible…
When I realise that Fi is taking longer than usual, I open to eyes with some effort. She's glancing around the tower with confusion in her eyes. "What's wrong, Fi?"
"Something is nearby and tampering with my abilities," she confesses without looking at me. "I am uncertain of who or what could be causing this, however I hypothesise—"
"He's here," I cut in without hesitation, picking myself back up and sheathing the Goddess Sword. "I don't know where, but he's probably restless about the lack of answers he's getting."
I don't know why he would be blocking Fi, unless he wants to take my attention away from something or to alert us of his presence.
I sigh deeply, wiping some sweat away from my forehead before addressing Fi, "We need to find him. Whatever he's up to, we need to stop it." She nods silently and returns to the Goddess Sword, leaving me alone as I cast my gaze up towards the very top of the tower.
What are you up to…?
With another twitch in my left arm, I begin to make my way up the thin staircase, catching my breath as I go. Knowing that he's nearby and could be anywhere sends fear through my bones, and as much as I try to stay calm, I know I can't. The last time I came face to face with him, we almost lost everything—and with so much to lose now, I can't let that happen.
It feels like forever has passed when I finally reach the top of the tower where a large green door stands before me. Unlike in Skyview Temple, the door is open without the need of a large key—something else which puts me on edge.
He has me exactly where he wants.
My leg twitches again as I push the slightly ajar door open fully, making my way up the dark staircase before me. There only source of light is from the singular torch at the top of the stairway, and even then I'm feeling around for the walls for support as a wave of dizziness washes over me.
Steeling myself, I force myself to ignore the dizziness as quickly as possible and run up the steps, taking two at a time until I reach the open doorway.
The chamber I enter seems to be the darkest of them all, a stark comparison to the main room of the Ancient Cistern that was so full of light. Nonetheless, the room is still decorated in a similar way—hundreds of large petals adorning the walls. A thick mist clings to the ground, though it isn't strong enough to obscure the large golden statue in the centre of the room as well as a familiar figure lounging atop it.
"My, my, look who we have here," Ghirahim remarks simply, "You are rather persistent, Your Grace."
"As are you," I bite back, drawing the Goddess Sword, "Why are you here?"
His lips turn into a momentary frown, "Now, now, there's no need to be so rude, Your Grace. You know exactly why I'm here."
"I won't tell you a thing," I snap, tightening my grip on my sword.
The Demon Lord merely smiles, "Not even to save your own life?" Before I can say anything in retort, he produces a small vial from out of thin air, holding it out to me with his fingertips. "You're no use to the boy if you're dead."
I blink and say nothing, so he takes the opportunity to continue.
"As important as you are to helping me find what I need and revive the Demon King, you life has little value once I know what I need," he says, "I'm sure the Demon King would simply adore to feast on your Soul when he returns to this land, but I'm sure he'll understand when I tell him of your use to me."
I grit my teeth, "Cut the dramatics, Ghirahim."
He laughs loudly for a moment, "So fiery! It'll be a spectacle to crush such fire." The Demon Lord leaps from the top of the statue and lands softly mere feet away from me, "I'm sure you've been attentive enough to spot your… decline, shall we say? Were you bestowed upon the intelligence to figure out why?"
As if on cue, my sword arm twitches, causing him to smirk.
"What have you done?"
Ghirahim saunters towards me, running his fingers along the wound he inflicted on my shoulder during our fight in Lake Floria, digging his nails in partially but enough to make me bite my tongue in pain. "I'm sure your robot will be happy to inform you now that I gave her the right to tell you."
"You interfered with her—" I start to say, only for a wave of nausea to come over me. The Demon Lord notes my weakness and effortlessly knocks the Goddess Sword from my hand, gripping my shoulders and pushing my chin up when Fi appears.
When she does appear, I instantly see the fear and anger in her eyes. "Upon analysing you, Dominae, I have found a large amount of Deku Baba poison in your bloodstream emanating from the wound in your left shoulder. I surmise that this is the reason for your muscle twitches, thirst, fever and nausea—all are symptoms of poisoning."
"There you have it!" Ghirahim declares with a cry, releasing me with so little warning that I barely manage to catch myself before I crumple to the ground. Fi takes her place beside me protectively. "Of course, I couldn't kill you instantly, not until I had at least some information from Her Grace. And besides," he adds with a chuckle, "The death of Her Grace should be witnessed for as long as possible, don't you agree?"
"You…" I feebly attempt to charge him, but I barely make it a few steps before I stumble and he catches me by the neck; though not enough to constrict my airway.
A loud thumping sound begins to vibrate through the ground beneath us, and the Demon Lord has the grace to release me. As I stagger away to reclaim my blade, my lips part as Ghirahim's magic infuses the golden statue with a strange aura. Scattered pieces of gold rise into the air to form numerous arms, all held together by a dark substance. Fi floats beside me as the statue rears up and locks its gaze onto me with a menacing glare.
I swallow thickly.
"That is Koloktos, Your Grace. This—"
"I can't let you take all the glory away from me, Fiona!" Ghirahim cuts in with a clap of his hands, and sadly enough Fi complies. "This, Your Grace, is Koloktos. It used to sit around listlessly as a supposed guard of this place, but with some help it now has power far beyond its conventional limits! And what will it be doing today, I hear you ask…"
All I can hear is the creature's fake heart pounding over and over again, almost bursting out from its golden armour.
Ghirahim and I lock gazes as he gestures towards me, "It shall be your opponent!"
Without pausing for another breath, the Demon Lord jumps high into the air and into the shadows, hiding himself from view. I have little time to react before Koloktos angrily takes a swing at me. It's rooted to the ground, giving me a chance to keep away from it as I gather up my options, but with Ghirahim watching I doubt I'll have much time before he takes matters into his own hands.
"Utilise its lack of mobility to your advantage, Dominae," Fi's voice echoes around my mind as she returns to the Goddess Sword—there's little she can do out here. "I have detected a vulnerability in it's chest core, and I am certain that it shall fall if you strike it at its heart."
With a deep breath I force my body into the fire and duck under its numerous swings, swinging my blade towards its thumping heart. Within a fraction of a second before my sword strikes true, one of Koloktos's arms dart towards me and cast me aside, sending both me and the Goddess Sword sailing across the room.
I slam into one of the pillars at an extraordinary speed, so much so that my world goes black for a moment. My back cries out in pain as I come back around, spotting my weapon on the other side of the room and far from reach. I bite back the nausea that rises in my throat and try my best to get back onto my feet.
"Do give the world a better show that this one, Your Grace!" Ghirahim cries from above. "Surely the Goddess is better than this!"
I grit my teeth, anger surging through me.
I'll give you a show…
I'm struggling to breathe now, the poison getting worse as it travels throughout my body. But there's no time, and so I stay towards the edges of the room so that Koloktos can't attack me as I make my way over to the Goddess Sword. My blade lies on the ground right beneath one of its arms, and I have no choice but to run towards it and hope for the best.
Running as fast as I can, which I realise really isn't that fast in reality, I dive towards the Goddess Sword with all of my might. Koloktos immediately spots me and plunges one of its large swords down to me. My hand finally wraps around the hilt of my beloved blade, and yet with Koloktos's speed I have no chance at defending against it.
I twist onto my back and pray for the best, holding my sword up helplessly.
"Well this won't do, will it?" The Demon Lord's voice echoes around the chamber, and Koloktos stops short before it can impale me. It retreats away, giving me a brief moment to shakily stand, only for my stomach to drop when I realise what is happening.
Infused with the Demon Lord's magic, Koloktos pushes down on the ground and generates two golden legs, not only gaining more height over me but giving me no chance to hide on the outskirts of the room now. A familiar chuckle rains down on me as I swallow thickly, begging for any help whatsoever.
In my head, I can imagine running up its arm when Koloktos strikes and damaging it that way, but in my current state I have no chance of fulfilling such a feat. I dodge whatever swings I can from the gigantic creature, however I'm getting slower with every dodge, and soon enough it comes back to bite me.
Koloktos manages to hit me with the back of its gilded glove, though before I can go flying backwards another one of its hands grabs me and pins me to the ground, one hand enough to cover my entire body and prevent it from struggling free.
My head lolls back against the ground listlessly, my vision blurring for a moment as I try my best to recover, but to no avail. A familiar figure drops onto Koloktos's arm and leans in close, his dark pupils sparkling with excitement as he raises his arm. In response, Koloktos mimics his movements and holds a large blade above me.
"I do wish you had given us a better show, Your Grace," Ghirahim remarks with a tsk. I ignore him and attempt to break free again. "Now, now," he continues, taking my face into his hand, effectively stopping me, "I finally have your attention."
Koloktos's sword drips with what I can only assume is Deku Baba poison, and my assumptions are confirmed when a single searing drop hits my should wound, causing me to cry out in agony.
I don't want to die… please…
"I can end all of this pain for you, Your Grace. All this suffering you have faced, all of the fear in your eyes, I can end it all," he coos, dangling the vial of antidote in my face, "All I need is the answer to one simple question… where is the boy?"
Tears roll down my cheeks as I try my best to hide my pain, to which he simply brushes away the tears with a smile.
"He won't suffer if you tell me. And neither will you…"
Link's bright and shining face appears in my mind's eye through the fog of the poison, his laughter ringing in my ears. The pain seems to full a bit when I think of him, only to return promptly when I think of the suffering he will endure if I give him up. I could never do that to him, not to Link. No matter what happens, I could never let that happen.
With all of my draining strength, I knock Ghirahim's hands away from my face and scream, "Go to hell!"
Something deep inside me breaks, and in a burst of light Zelda is lost on this world, leaving only Hylia left. With her unbreakable strength, she destroys the curse upon Koloktos and surges towards the Demon Lord. "You shall not win on this day, Demon child," she sneers into his face, smiling when she notices a glint of fear in his eyes. "Free this one of her suffering and leave."
But the Demon Lord merely laughs, "You are a Goddess, are you not? Can't you heal her yourself?"
"My Sisters have only permitted me to physically interfere in this world one time, and I would like to save it for when your Master arrives," she snarls.
"The Goddess herself has such little power and such faith you have in her Chosen, it's sad really…"
And with that, the Demon Lord disappears in a flurry of diamonds, and with him the antidote.
Hylia is still in control and knowing that she has little time left in my body she returns the Goddess Sword to her hand in a burst of light and runs towards the door on the other side of the room which had been obscured by Koloktos originally.
The room is incredibly dark, although Hylia immediately creates some light for her to see. Fi appears beside her, and the two share a silent nod before Hylia continues onward. Climbing up the small set of steps, Hylia raises the Goddess Sword skyward and unleashes a Skyward Strike on a crest ahead—exactly like the ones in the Springs.
The symbol of Farore on the wall glows a bright green, and a flame of the same hue is ignited on the pedestal below. "We must be quick, Your Grace," Fi says immediately, "You are running out of time."
The first Sacred Flame…
Hylia raises my sword arm and watches as Fi directs the Sacred Flame onto the Goddess Sword, tempering it with its fiery strength. Hylia ignores the sudden wave of heat that comes with the fire, panic surging through her as my body finally gives out as the Sacred Flame finishes tempering the sword, collapsing to the floor.
My world goes white, then black, and then I fall into nothingness.
~Interlude~
Groose stood in a place of tranquillity, but he didn't care—he hadn't seen any sign of Zelda and was growing more and more terrified for her safety. He needed to be the hero of this story, unlike the "Hero" that everyone was dubbing Link, but first he needed to find his Zelda. He glanced around, and it wasn't long before his eyes found the large statue in the middle with a door ahead.
He never liked swimming, although now wasn't the time to think about that. Diving straight into the water, he shivered at its temperature before clambering back onto dry land, irritated at his wet clothes. As much as he couldn't waste time, he also didn't want to look soaked when he saw Zelda again.
Quickly squeezing his clothes dry, the Skyloftian headed inside. The structure seemed to be a strange tower, to which he had entered the halfway point between the top and the bottom. Start from the top and work your way down, he concluded, although his decision was more so based on the darkness at the bottom of the tower and how much he didn't want to go down there.
His mind kept going back to Zelda. He was worried about her now. It hadn't been long since she set out again to help Link, but with the priestess's vision he couldn't help himself. Despite his good looks and façade of not caring about anything, when it came to Zelda—and especially her wellbeing—he legitimately worried for her.
He raced up the steps of the tower, never faltering for a moment as he shoved open a large green door and headed further up the stairway. All he could think about was her, and how he wasn't going to give up on her or let her suffer whilst he was around.
Groose had to find her.
And then, after so much searching, he finally found a trace of her.
He entered a dark cavernous room which was covered in pieces of golden armour. No human would ever have armour of such a size, and he prayed that whatever the armour belonged to had gone away for good. Of course, he wanted to give Zelda a good show when he fought for her, but the sight of such armour sent shivers down his spine.
That's when he saw it.
Spots of blood was spattered all over the ground, and from experience back on Skyloft he knew that these spots were new—maybe having been split within the last few minutes, even.
No…
His body was frozen in shock for too long, and when Groose realised that he was simply standing there and doing nothing, he started forwards. Following the trail of blood towards a door on the other side of the chamber. Rushing inside, it took him a few moments to adjust to the darkness. He could barely see a thing, other than a large green flame dancing in the shadows.
His eyes drifted down what lay beneath the flame, and his heart dropped.
"Zelda!"
His shout came out as a shriek as he dashed towards her, sliding into a stop above her. She had passed out at some point, the sword in her hand slightly different to the one she had before. Her beautiful white dress was stained with her own blood, one in particular weeping from a wound on her shoulder. Groose reached into his pouch to wrap the wound, only to jump back in alarm when she began to shake.
No, shake wasn't the right word. She started to convulse, her breathing growing shallower and quicker with every inhale, as if she was struggling to breathe.
W-What happened to her?
He was panicking now, and with it his hands were shaking violently.
"What do I do?" Groose kept muttering over and over out loud to himself, "What do I do?!"
Somehow, his questions were answered.
In a shower of blinding light, a figure came into view before him. He scrambled away with a shriek, tumbling down the steps behind him. The figure of light was a woman—from what he could see through the light anyway—with flowing golden hair and brilliant blue eyes that were filled with tears. Groose was positive he was hallucinating, especially when he saw the figure's wings of light.
The figure somehow managed to take Zelda into her arms and murmured something gently into her ear before meeting Groose's gaze evenly. "I shall do all I can, however the rest is up to you…"
Before he could say anything, an explosion of light radiated out from the figure, causing him to cry out again and shuffle away.
And as quickly as the light had appeared, it had faded.
The Skyloftian crawled back over to Zelda, who had managed to stop convulsing but was still far from well. Scooping her up into his arms, Groose slipped her blade into his belt and ran, careful not to harm her any further. He wasn't sure if what had happened was true or not, but he couldn't let that consume him now—all that mattered was the safety of his Zelda, which currently hung in the balance.
But the figure's voice still rang in his mind.
"I shall do all I can, however the rest is up to you…"
Author's Note: Well, I hope that this chapter was good enough plot-wise and was just good in general. Anyway, please drop a rate and a review to tell me what you thought of it. Was the last interlude too much, or was it okay? I really want to know!
*Tethys is the Titan Goddess of fresh water sources, and the mother of the rivers, springs, streams, fountains and clouds.
~RandomButLoved~