Author's Note:

Hello and welcome to Skyward Bound, an original reimagining of Skyward Sword. We all know and love the story of Skyward Sword, but what if this time Link and Zelda went together on their journey. Link and Zelda will have to struggle as the world around them tries to rip them apart the forces of evil desperate to rise once more. Skyward Bound is an epic reimagining of the core of Skyward Sword, taking what we all know and love and turning it into an epic fantasy story. I hope you'll join me on this adventure and follow along as Link and Zelda struggle to fulfill their destiny.I look forward to going on this journey with you, and I hope you enjoy. If your new readers of mine welcome, and if you are return readers from my previous work, The Jian Bird, welcome back.

As a general disclaimer: I will try to keep this story rated T; however, if I find it necessary, I will increase the rating to M. This is story is intended for slightly older audiences and not for young teens. Although I doubt that will stop any of you ;).

Now without further ado may I present Skyward Bound.

Prologue

The world was broken. Dark clouds swirled overhead, and the very ground was tainted with the presence of evil. The Temple of Hylia stood in ruins, the hallowed grounds of her once-great temple bearing the scars of her battle with Demise. The Demon King of the underworld and destroyer of everything she held dear. But that didn't matter. None of that mattered. What mattered was the young man lying in her arms. Her knight. Her champion. And the man she had come to love.

"Hylia." He breathed, his golden blond hair matted with blood.

"Link." She whispered, tears leaking down her cheeks.

Her eyes stared helplessly at the wounds she could not heal, the taint of the demon lord's blade too strong, and her powers to exhausted to cleanse. Scarlet blood stained her hands and the white silk of her dress. His blood. The blood of her precious champion. When her people had come to her for protection, he'd been the only one to stand by her side. The only person to even try and protect her. The only human brave enough to remain behind when she'd sent the others skyward. She should have done the same with him. She should have forced him to go!

But. But it was too late for that now. Too late to save him.

"Did we win?" He whispered, his voice weak as his beautiful blue eyes stared up at her.

"Yes," she said, gently caressing his cheek. "Demise has been sealed away."

"Good." His eyes gazed over her, grimacing as he saw the tainted gashes that covered her body. The wounds that the Demon King inflicted upon her just as fatal in their own way. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you," he whispered, tears trickling down his face.

She shook her head, "You did everything you could. More than anyone could ever ask from you."

"It's still not enough," he said sadly. "I failed you, Hylia. You chose me to be your champion, and I failed you. I'm sorry."

She shook her head. "I chose you because I love you."

"A goddess in love with a mortal," he chuckled, reaching up and playing with her hair. "I always did love your hair," he said absentmindedly. "It reminds me of spun gold."

"It's all dirty now," she said, feeling a blush creep up her face. But despite herself, she smiled. It was such a human emotion, something that, by all rights, she should be far above. But she couldn't help herself.

"It's still beautiful."

Suddenly he convulsed, and Link spat up blood, his labored breath scarily thin. Helplessly she clutched him to her, tears trickling down her face as she shook with racking sobs. Why did this have to happen? Why did he have to die? Desperately she dragged on the last remnants of her power, pouring healing energy into those accursed wounds. But the taint stopped her, blocking her ability to heal him, as still more of his blood pooled around them.

"Don't cry," he whispered. "You were always more beautiful when you smiled." Despite his injuries, he gave a small chuckle. "I remember when I was a boy, I came to you shortly after my father died. You let me stay with you for hours and then gave me a toy sword and reminded me to be brave," he smiled as he looked up at her. "I wonder if that sword survived all this."

"Probably not," she said, with a small smile. "It was just a toy."

Link coughed more blood spilling from his mouth, but he still managed to smile. "You're probably right."

A flash of lightning lit the sky, and she felt the first few raindrops. The rain began to make a faint tinging sound against the sword that lay discarded beside them. Link shivered as the strength began to leave his body, but feebly he reached out a trembling hand, gripping the sword that she'd made for him.

"The Goddess Sword," he whispered, "I'm sorry I couldn't live up to you. I wasn't strong enough to use you to your full potential. Forgive me, hopefully in the hands of another, you will be stronger."

The sword pulsated with a feeble light, the brief flash soft and conciliatory.

Link looked back up at her, those clear blue eyes struggling to focus on her. He reached up a bloodied hand, gently cupping her cheek, wiping away a tear with his bloodied thumb. Sobbing, she gently nuzzled against his hand, unable to stop the tears streaming down her face.

"Don't go, Link." She sobbed, trying and failing to heal him once more.

He smiled, "I'm sorry… Could." He coughed, struggling to breathe. "Could I have one last smile?" He said weakly.

Struggling, she smiled, thinking of all the happy time they'd had together. So short, yet so pure. Oh, how she wished they could have had longer together. She would have given up everything for him, anything to live a life with him.

"I… Always did love your smile," Link said, content, his eyes closing as he relaxed into her arms.

"Link." She sobbed, gently shaking him.

"Goodbye, my love," he breathed, "May we meet again in another life."

"Link!"

With a final sigh, his body went limp, and he collapsed into her arms.

"Link…" She sobbed, clutching his body to her, "Oh, Link…."

Tears streamed down her face as she clutched the body of her champion. The rain showered down on the two of them, his blood pooling around them as it mixed with the rain. Why did it have to be this way? Why did it hurt so much? Why did such a pure soul have to die?

"Damn you, Demise," she breathed, gritting her teeth. "We could have worked together, but it wasn't enough for you. You had to have it all, didn't you." Hylia closed her eyes, "Why so envious? Why so hateful."

"Your Grace," said a voice from behind her. She looked and saw one of the Sheikha, the warrior clan that had tasked themselves with her protection and lived to serve her wishes. "The Demon King's armies have been defeated; the surface is safe once again. You did it, Your Grace."

She looked down at Link, his face calm and peaceful. She could almost believe that he was asleep, if not for all the blood. If only he was. If only she could see those pure blue eyes of his once more and hear him laugh. To share one more kiss beneath the moonlight and be herself, not the goddess that everyone expected her to be.

"Tell me, Impa," she said, gently stroking the cheek of her fallen champion. "Does victory always feel this hollow? Does it always feel like you've lost in the end?"

"Not always, Your Grace," Impa said quietly. "Sometimes you feel accomplished, like what you did was meaningful and right."

"Yes, I guess your right," Hylia said absently. "In the beginning, it felt like that, but now… I feel nothing. I saved my people, protected the surface, and kept Demise from the Triforce, but I still feel like I lost. Why did he have to die, Impa?"

"Your Grace," Impa said softly. "He died protecting you. He sacrificed himself so that you could defeat Demise and go on living. It's what he would have wanted Your Grace, that man's devotion to you was unparalleled, knowing that you will get to see the light of tomorrow and will live on is enough for him."

"We only sealed Demise, Impa," she said softly. "He was too strong even for the two of us." She looked down at Link's body and said quietly. "And I don't want to live on in a world without him in it. I've spent a millennia guarding the Triforce; I want this to be over."

"Then what is the plan, Your Grace?" Impa asked.

Hylia closed her eyes, feeling the rain and drawing upon all the wisdom she possessed. She needed something. Something that could put an end to it all, something that would put an end to the Demon King's destruction and leave this world free. Something that would make Link's sacrifice worth something. She thought quietly, listening to the sounds of the world. Vaguely she was aware of the survivors of the battle gathering around the crater that had once housed the Goddess Statue, the place where Demise was now sealed. She opened her eyes and looked at the stone spike driven into the earth, the seal's power manifesting itself through dark intersecting circles engraved upon the ground. And then it came to her. A plan. Something she could do, and yes… It would solve everything; it was perfect. It had to be.

Reaching out, she grabbed the Goddess Sword, the weapon that she'd created. A weapon for her champion, a blade to fight back the darkness. It would need to be improved, but that came later. The sacred flames would need to be kindled; they had to be ready when the time came. The sword's hilt was warm beneath her fingers, and she could sense the spirit of the sword that dwelled within.

"Wait for him," she whispered to the blade.

A beam of pure white light shot into the sky, and the blade spun and flew into the air disappearing from the surface. Gently she cradled Link's body, feeling the tears streak down her face. "I love you," she whispered, "Wait for me, Link."