The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Pkmnacezelda

~º~

He feels like he's falling, and falling, and falling into darkness.

"Link..." He hears.

He opens his eyes.

He looks up, and the mysterious light he had seen in the nightmare he had had that morning appears. But this time, the owner of the melodic voice he'd heard was in front of him. It had a feminine figure, mostly clad in blue and purple colors. Her hands were veils, one blue and one purple. They seemed to be flowing from a strange gem on her chest.

"Who...?" His voice fails him.

"I am waiting for you." She says. As much as her voice sounded melodic, she spoke like a robot. No emotion flowing from her voice. "The time has come for you to awaken. You're vital to a mission of great importance."

Mission? Time for him to awaken...? She'd said that before. But still... he couldn't understand why she was saying that.

"What...?" He mumbles.

"Link..." She says again.

Suddenly, he feels like he's falling at a great speed. And above him was Zelda!

"Help me..." She whispers.

It's then that he realises he's not actually below the girl. Zelda was the one below him.

He extends a hand to her. She does the same, but they never seem to reach each other.

Behind her was the giant monster he'd seen in his nightmare. Its jaws were open, awaiting Zelda's arrival.

She was about to be eaten!

"No! ZELDA!" He screams.

His eyes open and he sits up, sweating and gasping. It had been just a nightmare.

"...Ah, you're awake."

Gaepora's voice makes him jump slightly. The man steps toward the bed.

"What...?" Link chokes out.

"When your Loftwing carried you back, you were limp and unconscious. I feared the worst. Fortunately, you don't appear to have any injuries, aside from the one on your knee." The man signals and Link takes off the covers. He was shirtless and only had his pants on. Only the right leg was exposed, with a bandage on his knee. He supposed it had been Instructor Horwell's doing. "For that much we can be grateful." Finishes Gaepora.

Link sighs and remembers Zelda being sucked by the tornado. His gaze couldn't hold Gaepora's anymore. He looks down at his leg again, ashamed of how weak he had been. Groose was right. He sure was a weakling.

"But, Link... Where's Zelda? She was with you, was she not?" His hands grow into fists. His eyes were watery. But he didn't want to cry. He shouldn't. "What's happened to my daughter?"

Link swallows, trying to keep calm, for himself and for Gaepora.

"Hum..." He clears his throat. "We were flying around the clouds together, after the ceremony. We were talking, and all of a sudden, a light blinded us and a black tornado stirred up out of nowhere, and dragged Zelda and Labrynna..."

Gaepora rubs the bridge of his nose. "A black tornado, you say? That was no ordinary storm."

Slowly, the man turns around. Link looks down. He needed to do something.

He swings his legs out of bed and grabs his boots, putting them on.

The man turns around, a serene expression on his features, which didn't make sense, since he just told him that Zelda had been snatched away by a tornado.

"You mustn't push yourself. You're still recovering."

Link is surprised. The man was really worried about his well-being.

They stay in an awkward silence for some time.

"Tell me," Link looks at his headmaster. "when you saw Zelda today, did anything about her seem... off?"

Link sighs, using a hand to brush his sandy blond locks.

"Yes. I noticed that something wasn't right. She talked about the surface. And... I myself have been having these... weird dreams about a great mission, or something of the sort..."

Gaepora crosses his arms. "I see. She was talking about the surface then?"

"Yes, sir."

"And you've been having dreams about a 'great mission'?" Link nods. "How interesting..." Gaepora looks at the boy and puts a hand to his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I was lost in thought there for a moment. It's all very strange, but I doubt there's much of a connection between these things. I'm concerned for Zelda, but so long as she's with her Loftwing, I'm sure she'll be fine."

Link sighs. "I hope so..."

"Me too. Either way, daybreak has yet to arrive. It would be very difficult to spot one girl and her bird in the dark of night. It would be also very dangerous."

Headmaster Gaepora heads for the door, but before touching the doorknob, he turns around.

"Rest now, Link. Zelda's going to be fine. She's out there, alive. I know it." He reassures him.

He hears out, leaving Link alone.

He wasn't convinced. Was she really fine? Was she hurt? Was she... dead? No! He refused to believe that! He wouldn't be able to live without her around, getting mad at him for sleeping in class and not taking his studies too seriously.

Life just wouldn't be the same.

He sighs. Those thoughts weren't going to get Zelda back, or help in anyway. He shakes his head. He should just head to bed and not-

"Link..." He freezes. "Link..." He looks at the door of his room. He knew that voice. It was somewhat familiar. "I am waiting for you... It is time for you to awaken..." It was the voice of that girl clad in blue and purple! The one of his dreams!

He gets up. If someone was able to help him or give him some information about Zelda, that girl would probably have the answers.

"Link..."

He takes his shirt and puts it on. He straps the practice sword to his back too, and gets out of his room, shutting his door carefully.

And he was right.

There she was, levitating over the stairs.

He walks to her and before he could reach her, she started floating backwards. He frowns. What did she want?

"Hey, I'm not gonna hurt you." Despite saying this, she continued on, and on.

They neared the door of the upper floor, the one which led outside, and she somehow vanished into it.

He opens that door and continues, seeing her as she floated up the wooden stairs that led to the Statue of the Goddess.

She floats toward a path at the right, and he follows. He jumps to a platform below, and another two after the first one.

There, curled into a ball, was Mia. She stretches, letting out a little meow. But suddendly, she turns around, her face like that of a demon and fangs shining. She jumps at Link. Out from instinct, he elvows the demonic ball of fur, earning a scratch on his forearm. As a result, she falls down from Skyloft.

He looks down.

"Oh, crap... I killed the headmaster's pet. He's gonna kill me now!" He starts to freak out, but soon, he sees a white spot on the night sky. She. Was. Back! How?!

He steps away from the edge. If he escaped on time, she wouldn't see him.

So, he resumes his chase for the mysterious girl.

She was waiting for him near a ledge protruding from the stone. He dashes and grabs it, going to the other side.

He lands safely on the floor and kills a Keese that was about to bite him.

He walks up the path and kills a Chuchu that was wating for him at the end. He looks at his right and steps back, dashing and jumping to another piece of island that was at the side.

Link sighs. The girl was still going away each time they got near. What was the problem? His only guess was that she needed to show him something.

He jumps again and grabs some vines, climbing them and reaching the base of the Statue of the Goddess.

He continues following her, until they approach the front of the base, which faced the plaza where he met Zelda that morning. He already missed her so much.

The mysterious girl fades, trespassing the wall and leaving the entrance open for him, which was covered by a flat rock had been unnoticeable before.

He enters a chamber, lit by torches.

He watches, dumbfounded.

There, on the middle, a pedestal was holding a beautiful light turquoise sword.

Link takes a step forward and the handle of the sword shines with intensity for a second. There she was. The mysterious girl.

"The one chosen by my creator. I've been waiting for you. You will play a role in a great destiny." She says.

He starts to get confused. Again with that destiny thing? When is she going to stop with that?!, he thinks.

"According to your social customs, I should provide you with my personal designation. Fi is the name I was given." He sighs in relieve. Good thing she had a name. He was tired of thinking 'mysterious girl'. "I was create for a single purpose, long before the recorded memory of your people. I must aid you in fulfilling the great destiny that is your burden to carry."

Link frowns, while Fi turns her head to look at the sword. "Come, Link. You must take up this sword. As the one chosen by my creator, it is your destiny."

Link sighs, frustrated.

"Wait right there. I've been hearing enough of that 'destiny' crap. I can't understand anything and you just want me to accept what you're saying?"

Fi looks at him for some seconds before replying. "The strange dreams troubling your sleep. My sudden appearance. Uncertainty surrounding the fate of one you hold dear. Under the circumstances, it is only logical that you would exhibit some apprehension." He furrows his brow. "To minimize your uncertainty, allow me to share some information. My projections indicate that this information has a high probability of altering your current emotional state. The one you seek, honorable Zelda, is still alive."

As soon as he hears that, his muscles relax. He didn't even notice when he started to be tense. Not paying attention to the 'honorable' detail, he smiles.

"Wow... She's... alive..." His eyes start to tear up. He was so relieved. It had been a huge weight to carry. He had felt useless and weak. But not anymore after being really sure that Zelda was alright. He shakes his head, not letting tears fall from his eyes.

"Yes. And this spirit maiden... the one you call Zelda... is another chosen one fated to be part of the same great mission. Therefore, should you wish to meet with your friend, I highly recommend you take up this sword before you set out to search for her."

What will I have to endure if I take that sword? Will I be able to meet Zelda for real?, he hesitated.

"Would I really...?" He whispers to himself.

Seeing that the sandy blond haired boy hesitated for a moment, Fi decided to speak yet again.

"Does that information invigorate you? Are you ready to accept this sword?"

Not a doubt in his mind anymore, Link runs toward the sword. Fi floats up, surprising the boy.

"It seems that further persuasive measures will not be required. In the name of my creator, draw the sword and raise it skyward."

He takes a couple of steps further. His hands instinctively grab the handle of the weapon and grip it with strength. He pushes it up without a second thought.

It easily gives in, and soon, he stands with the sword in hand. He does as Fi said and raises the weapon skyward. Soon after, a light shines from the tip to the handle, and then, all the blade shines with a blue aura.

"Recognition complete, Master..." He hears. "Link... My master."

He looks at the sword, without what she said sinking in. It's as if the sword had cast a spell on him.

It soon breaks, though.

"Link!" He hears behind him. It was the headmaster! "I've had my suspicions, but until now I wasn't sure. Yet here we are, in the Chamber of the Sword, the very place where it was foretold the youth of legend would one day appear. It is said that this place was left to our people by the goddess herself. The very knowledge of this room's existence is a secret passed down to a select few each generation, along with a handful of words..."

Link turns around, grabbing the sword's handle with his two hands.

"When the light of the goddess's sword shine bright, the great apocalypse will wake from its long slumber." Says Gaepora. "Do not fear, for it is then that a youth, guided by my hand, shall reveal himself in a place most sacred."

Then man approaches him. "It started days ago. The sword that I've kept secret all these years... It began to give off a faint, otherworldly light. At first, I was sure I was seeing things, here alone with the sword. There was simply no other explanation." The man crosses his arms. "I never dreamed the prophecy of legend would come to pass in my lifetime."

"Prophecy, huh?" Link whispers.

The old man looks at Fi in wonder. Link turns to look at her, too.

"The words I have sworn to keep secret all this years are coming true before my very eyes."

Link lets the sword hang from his right hand.

"The youth will be guided by one born of the blade—one who is also youthful in likeness yet wise with knowledge immeasurable."

"Ah yes," Fi replies. "oral tradition, one of the least reliable methods of information retention and transmission. It appears that critical sections of the passage have been lost over the generations." Both men look at each other in confusion. Fi descends, placing herself on their eye level. "The youth who draws forth the guiding sword shall be known as the goddess's chosen hero, and it is he who possesses an unbreakable spirit. He shall be burdened with the task of abolishing the shadow of apocalypse from the land. Such is his destiny. With the spirit of the blade at his side, he shall soar over the clouds and plummet below... And united with the spirit maiden, shall bring forth a piercing light that resurrects the land."

Link gasps. That part of 'plummet below' reminded him of...

"Some of Father's old texts talk about a place called the surface. The old tales describe a whole world below, far more vast than Skyloft!"

That was what he remembered, at least. Yes. He, too, had wondered what was below the clouds. But he didn't thought he'd get to see it for himself, much less in the current situation and in this circumstances. Soon, the sword starts to feel heavy on his back.

"Master" Fi calls out to him. "you must embark on a great journey beneath the clouds to the vast realm of the surface. It is only through this journey that you can fulfill the mission set before you by my creator, the goddess. It is also the only method available for you to reunite with the spirit maiden, honorable Zelda."

Both men gasp. That... Was it even possible for him to fly through the barrier in some way?

Gaepora shakes his head.

"This is no easy task, Link. The world below is a forsaken place, and to reach it, you must pierce the cloud barrier below. In living memory, no one has ever done this."

Right after hearing that, Fi extends her wavy arms ahead and a bright light emanates from the center. It goes toward Link, who takes some steps ahead.

It had the from of a rock, and once he touchs it with his hands, its glow diminishes.

"This tablet will illuminate a path through the clouds to the land below. Take ir and place it withing the altar behind me." Link secures the tablet in his hands and walks past Fi. She stops him before hitting near the altar. "Master, the first thing you must do is hit the crest sitting in this room with a Skyward Strike. These blasts are formed of pure energy that charges withing your blade when you lift it skyward. Once you have charged it, face the crest and send a powerful Skyward Strike."

Link does as she says and raises his sword skyward. It it soon charged with energy and so, he approaches the dark grey object floating in front of the pedestal.

Once he is near, he swings his sword vertically, activating the symbol, which passes from being a dark grey to a celestial blue. Sure enough, an altar goes up, leaving, indeed, a rectangular shaped hole in the middle.

He takes the stone, which was heavy, and places in the southern corner at his right, in the hole on the stone. A green gem carved into the stone glows for a moment. They hear something happening outside. After some seconds, it stops.

"Master, it is done." Fi concludes. "Until now, a cloud barrier created by the goddess has separated the world you know from the one below. The tablet you placed in the altar has opened a small rift in the barrier. You can use it to travel through the clouds to the realm below. I have recognized you as my master, and so it is my duty to follow you wherever you may go. I reside within your sword and will accompany you in your travels. Summon me whenever you require my assistance."

And with that, the sword's soul turn herself into a light blue ball of light and dissapears into the handle of the weapon.

His headmaster approaches him.

"Link, listen. The nature of the great apocalypse mentioned in the old texts is a complete mystery to me. But whatever it turns out to be, it seems that both you and Zelda have big roles to play in the destiny of this land." The old man crosses his arms and puts a hand to his chin. "Just think—if what this Fi says is true, Zelda is alive! Alive and no doubt coming to terms with whatever it is the goddess has in store for her."

"Yeah... I'm aware." Link sighs.

Gaepora nods. "Should you heed the call of destiny, I don't know what dangers you may have to face, Link. Especially down there... But if you've decided to brave the unknown, please find my daughter and bring her back to me." He pleads. "What we've seen here today defies explanation, but it is only the start of your journey. Please, see it through and prove the legends true."

"No way I'm letting you down, sir. I'm not going to let Zelda alone down there. I promise I'll find her. She's very important to me..."

The man nods in aprovement.

"I know it's a heavy load to shoulder, but I believe in you, boy." Link nods. "Dawn is drawing near. It has been a long night for the both of us, hasn't it?"

"Yes. Seems that way."

Gaepora smiles. "You have a great journey before you, Link, and those clothes... They don't look up to the task. The uniform you were to receive for winning the race should be ready by now. A sturdy uniform like that will prove much more suitable for a long journey. You'd better change before you go."

"And get my eyes to rest for a while before that... if possible..." Link scratches the back of his head.

Gaepora laughs a little.

"Yes. I knew you would say something about sleeping! If we go now, you may be able to rest for half an hour, at least."

Link nods and both of them get out of the Chamber of the Sword and head toward the academy.

Link was nervous, but he knew that even without asking, he would have accepted his destiny, nonetheless.

The only thing he really was focused on was taking Zelda back.

And he would bring her back, no matter the cost.