Author's Note: Happy early birthday to me! Happy early birthday to me! Happy early birtday to me! Happy early birthday... to me! All righty, so another chapter before I go on holiday. I'll be away for 11 days, but I will be writing some stuff and getting ideas together for new stories. Still, let's get these reviews and whatnot out of the way so you can read this chapter! :3
Reviews: TDDolphin: I love the foreshadowing! I hope she does too, because Fi really is right. She really will need the help against Demise. I'm really glad that you liked it, because I wanted to hit the mark without hitting the nerves of my readers too much.
ShadowNinja1011: Thank-you, it made me sad writing it if that makes you feel any better.
MiniJen: Whew, I'm kinda glad of that. I honestly almost started crying at that part as well, so it was difficult to write. I won't say anything regarding the chapter, so you'll just have to read and see. I'm so glad that it was written well, because I wanted to hit the mark without hitting too many nerves of my readers. Hope you enjoy!
CupcakePride101: It really was! They really wouldn't, and I wish that Zelda could stop thinking of those voices too! I didn't like the ending, but I like that idea a lot. I'll remember that when I edit it again! Thank-you!
Schniedragon88: It really was, but I'm glad that it was written all right.
Daisy Bokoblin: I know! I hope that this chapter is good, though.
Favourites & Follows: Thank-you to "CupcakePride101" and "corruption9826" for favouriting this FanFiction, though no followers this time.
"Don't you fret, my dear.
It'll all be over soon.
I'll be waiting here for you."
~Kingdom Come, The Civil Wars~
Ancient Roots
A Skyward Sword FanFiction
Chapter 35: Sleepyhead
I return to the Surface in a burst of light, thankful that Fi's powers have grown enough to bring me down here so effortlessly now that my arm is broken. I gave myself the rest of the week to be with everyone in Skyloft, but by the end of the week I could feel myself starting to get antsy.
It was a sad farewell, but most of the islanders saw my trip as a way of taking my mind away from everything. The Instructors were nervous about me flying around with my arm, but I did my best to reassure them that I wouldn't push it. Despite Karane's, Pipit's, and Groose's insistence, I told them that I had to travel alone for a while.
I needed this week with everyone there to support me, but now I need at least some time alone to process everything.
And besides, I won't be alone for too long—with all three of the Sacred Flames, I'll be able to open the Gate of Time.
I can finally see you again…
As I make my way towards the Sealed Temple, I realise how small everything back in Skyloft feels down here—everything that happened truly feels worlds away from the Surface. The Sky Realm is dark and murky, but down here the wildlife still flourishes and thrives despite the darkness looming above.
The inside of the Temple is quiet, only the sound of my footsteps echoing around the old structure as I make my way towards Impaz—who prays in her usual spot. At the sound of my presence, the priestess turns her head up and smiles warmly at me.
"You have returned, my dear," she remarks, though her smile fades when she notices my response to the nickname as I kneel down before her. "What has come to pass?"
I smooth over the creases in my white dress and briefly tell her what has happened, still uncomfortable wearing it after all that has come to pass in the past week. She listens intently and squeezes my hands in comfort when I mention what happened in Skyloft.
I unsheathe the Master Sword and hold it out to her after I finish, forcing a tiny smile, "With this blade, I can finally open the Gate, can't I?"
"There can be no doubt. This blade holds a tremendous power, the same power that is spoken of in the Ballad of the Goddess," she muses. "With this sword, there can be no doubt that it will be able to awaken the Gate of Time."
Relief floods into my system, only for my stomach to drop moments later when the ground begins to quake violently.
"No," I moan. "No, please…"
A fierce roar pierces the air around us.
"The Seal has given away once again," Impaz confirms. "We must seal away that foul beast before opening the Gate of Time. It must not be allowed to reach the Temple!"
I help the priestess to her feet and rush towards the entrance of the Temple, bursting out into the Sealed Grounds. True to her assumption, The Imprisoned has broken free from its seal and rears its head from the bottom of the pit, darkness soaring into the skies above.
Goddesses, what can I do?
I only have one arm that I can use—realigning the bones and my healing spell can only speed up my recovery so much—so I have no access to the Master Sword or my bow, and my magic pales in comparison to the power that Hylia once had. Yet I managed to restore the Seal last time with my powers, so maybe I can do it again.
Anger surges through my body at the sight of The Imprisoned—this is the creature that started all of this to begin with, the one that was fuelled by hatred and desire to destroy this land that its presence still lingers here thousands of years later.
A wave of calm suddenly comes over me.
Using my heart won't win this battle but using my head will.
I breathe deeply.
Sheathing the Master Sword, I unfurl my Sailcloth and ignore the dull pain that lingers in my nearly healed arm as I make my way to the bottom of the spiralling pit. The Imprisoned has finally torn itself free from the ground, watching me as I descend to the base of the pit.
Bearing its teeth, the same voice that greeted me last time the Seal was broken echoes through my mind, saying the same thing it said before, 'We meet again, Goddess...'
"Come to me," I say simply.
With most of The Imprisoned's strength wasted on breaking itself free from the Seal, I use some of Hylia's powers to freeze the large creature's movements and bring its head down to my level, smiling as the voice grows angry.
'You dare to control this vessel!'
"You've grown weak enough to be manipulated by the light," I say strongly. "You and your Army have killed so many innocent people in your fight to subjugate this land. I have sealed you away twice, and I shall do so again."
Hylia is struggling to keep The Imprisoned under our control even for this brief moment of time, so I take no more moments to hesitate.
Drawing the Master Sword, I take strike the Sealing Spike atop The Imprisoned's head, causing the monster to cry out in pain as it is wedged further into its skull. "Every time that you rise, I shall be here, Demon King," I spit as I hit the Sealing Spike again. "I won't stop until you cease to exist in this world!"
With one final swing, Hylia loses control of The Imprisoned. The latter rears its head back in agony and kicks one of its legs out, although I thankfully manage to dodge out of the way before I'm hit. The gigantic creature is drenched in holy light as its dragged back into its Seal, the Sealing Spike landing softly back into the ground.
Reading the Master Sword, I summon forth a Skyward Strike and unleash its power, finally returning The Imprisoned back into its Seal once more with one last cry of pain.
Letting my hand return to my side, I sigh deeply. It's over… for now…
I slowly begin to make my way back towards the Sealed Temple, the adrenaline leaving my body replaced with fatigue and a dull pain in my arm. I slip my arm back into the sling and cast a healing spell on it to reduce the pain, catching my breath as I return to the top of the spiralling pit.
The battle happened so fast that I can barely process it all. Without Hylia's presence and power there to help me and keep The Imprisoned still for so long, I can only imagine how the battle would have gone. No matter how much I want to curse her sometimes for what she caused, I need all the help she can give me.
"No words can ever show my gratitude," Impaz praises as we go back inside the Temple. I say nothing as I close the doors behind me. "I do not wish to dwell on what may have happened if you weren't here. Unfortunately, we may seal and reseal it a thousand times, but it will always shatter its bonds if we do not stop it completely."
I sigh. "And how do I do that?"
"That answer is best found on the other side of the Gate of Time," she says simply, then, "I'm sure you would rather he tell you of how to destroy this creature at its source rather than I."
I smile genuinely for the first time in a while, thinking about the moment I'll finally see him again.
And yet, just before I can activate the Gate of Time, the small doors off to the side of the Temple burst open—three familiar figures rushing inside.
"Good, we made it before you left," Pipit remarks as he closes the door behind him, Karane and Groose. My lips part as they make their way over to us.
"W-What are you doing here? Skyloft—"
"Is fine," Karane cuts in. "The Instructors agreed with us that you could use a familiar face down here."
"And with that massive thing outside the Temple, I thought I could help to build some defences," Groose adds with a grin.
I blink. "I…"
"We are grateful for your presence despite your current circumstances," says Impaz when I trail off. "Is you are sure that you are of more use here than back on your home island, then I shall welcome any help you can bring."
"Thank you, all of you. It means a lot for you to all be here," I thank before glancing over to the Gate of Time, slowly making my way towards it.
Standing on the pedestal, I raise the Master Sword high and unleash another Skyward Strike, finally reawakening the Gate of Time.
Karane and Pipit have seen the display of the dormant Gate of Time splitting apart before carefully putting itself back together, but Groose cries out in alarm from such a spectacle. I watch in awe as the pieces dance around my body before fusing together into an exact replica of the Gate of Time that Impa destroyed at the Gate of Time.
As everything finally locks into place, I can't help but shed a few tears.
I can finally see you again after so long…
I sheathe the Master Sword and turn to them all, unable to hide the raw emotion on my face. "Standing before you is a path that transcends the flow of time itself, a portal to the very place where Link now waits for you. The reunion that you have fought so hard for lies beyond that Gate."
I cast my friends a questioning glance, but, to my surprise, Groose steps forwards. "I think we should hang back here," he says. "That monster out there doesn't know when to quit, so we're better off over here preparing for the next attack. And, you know what…" Groose trails off, scratching the back of his head as he composes himself. "Never mind. We'll be waiting for you when you get back, alright?"
A small smile creeps onto my face at his response.
Karane and Pipit nod in agreement, silently encouraging me to go on. Turning back to the Gate of Time, I shakily raise my hand and press it against the Gate's smooth surface, my heart pounding against my chest as the central design disappears being replaced by a pathway of dark gears—just like the other Gate of Time in Lanayru.
I take a deep breath.
I'm almost there, sleepyhead. Hold on…
Then I leap.
As I race deeper into the Gate of Time, my world goes dark as I move through the flow of time itself, travelling further and further into it until a small light appears in the distance. Despite my earlier fatigue, I keep pushing on until I finally reach the growing light at the end, my world going white as I adjust.
I emerge in a place familiar to Hylia. This place is much like the Sealed Temple, although not nearly as dishevelled and overgrown. The gaping holes in the roof of the Sealed Temple are gone and the doors towards the back of the chamber are shut tightly just like they are in the present. It still holds the same stillness, though, and I almost don't want to make any sounds to break such silence.
Hylia stirs within me at the sight of this place, and for a moment she feels at home.
Then my eyes fall onto a familiar figure up ahead, and I force a tiny smile as I make my way towards them.
"Impa," I breathe. "It's been some time, hasn't it?"
"That it has, Your Grace," the Sheikah greets with a bow. "I've been expecting you."
"Where are we?"
"This is the Temple of Hylia, though it will come to be known as the Sealed Temple sometime in the future," she explains. "You stand in the past, ages before your own time—mere months after the end of the Great War."
The Temple of Hylia, I muse. The Goddess herself stood here mere months ago, and here I stand now.
Impa raises her hand towards the large doors behind her, to which they respond by sliding open effortlessly. "But for now, the one you risked life and blood to defend waits for you."
Link…
The Sheikah doesn't follow me as I start towards the back of the Temple, though when I glance back at her she passes me a reassuring smile. Standing at the bottom of the steps, I'm almost too scared to go on. I've fought so hard for this moment, and now that I'm here it feels too hard to believe.
Then I think back to the apparition of Link that I saw in the Trial of Wisdom.
"I'll be waiting for you…"
He's waiting for me… and he's right there…
Taking a deep breath, I run up the steps and into the room—my stomach dropping at the sight. Strange insignias and designs are carved into the walls, a small platform at the end of the room where a large orange crystal floats. A few feet before me stands a large, stone altar, and I can only imagine what it was used for before the Great War.
But he isn't here.
"L-Link?" I breathe, holding my hands over my heart. I turn around at the sound of footsteps, confusion coursing through my veins as I meet Impa's gaze. "Where is he?"
She says nothing, merely looks at something behind me.
And when I follow her line of sight, my lips part.
"N-No…" I stammer, rushing towards the crystal. "No!"
I run up the steps and collide with the crystal so harshly that I nearly tumble to my knees. Banging my fists against the glass, heat rises behind my eyes at the sight of Link encased inside—unable to break free. Nothing seems to break the glass, and with every hit my panic grows.
Is this some sort of cruel joke from the Goddesses? Did I fail them enough that when I finally managed to be reunited with Link, I wouldn't be able to hold him again? Do they just want me to suffer even more?
Why do they let me get so close to him, only to rip him away from me again?
"Why?" I mumble, submitting to my pain as tears start to roll down my cheeks. "W-Why…?"
"He merely sleeps," says Impa from behind. "He wanted to wait to see you again, but with the fragility of the Seal we had no choice…"
Then I remember what Father said in my dream, "He sleeps to protect you, just like he promised me he would."
That can't be true, I think to myself. How is this protecting me?
I reach down to where his hand is, wishing that I could hold it again. All I wanted to do was hear his voice and hold him close just to remind myself that there's someone left that has been safe for more than a day or two. All I wanted was to feel his presence with me, to not see him just in my dreams but in person, not to be split apart at the last moment.
Why do you do this to me?
I sink to my knees and rest my head against the glass, weakly hitting the glass with my good arm as if it will somehow manage to free him. My emotions bleed out of me, and I merely sit on my knees sobbing.
'Do not despair, my dear,' Hylia whispers in the back of my mind. 'You shall see him again. I promise…'
Without warning, my vision is suddenly awash in a white light. I flinch at the suddenness, closing my eyes until the light fades away. I open my eyes and rise onto my feet when I recognise the different ground beneath me, and when I look around my assumptions are right.
I stand in the courtyard beneath the Statue of the Goddess, overlooking Skyloft before it was destroyed in the attack. Loftwings glide around overhead, the sun shines down on me, and the wind doesn't carry any ash with it. My heart twists at the sight, wishing that Skyloft looked like this again, only to spin towards the Statue when I hear a voice.
"You made it."
It's you…
He stands in the middle of the circular design that I pushed him onto at the end of the Wing Ceremony so many moons ago, looking exhausted but nonetheless overjoyed to see me. Tears well up in my eyes and I rush towards him, hugging him tightly as his presence envelops me. I'm not sure where we are or what's happening, but to be held by him again in enough.
"You've come so far, Zelda," he soothes, stroking my hair gently. "I'm glad you're here." When we pull apart, he immediately notices something in my expression. Tucking some hair behind my ear, he asks, "What's happened?"
I swallow thickly. "Skyloft was attacked."
His face pales. "Is everyone…?"
"Gully, Jakamar, and Greba died in the attack," I say when he trails off. "And Father…"
I can't even bring myself to say it. Link plants a soft kiss on my forehead in understanding. I lean back into him, hugging him tightly as the memories flood back into my mind. Although I can't see him, I can feel him tensing up as he tries to process what I've told him—his hands shaking as they ball into fists.
"W-Where are we?" I say after a pregnant silence in an attempt to change the conversation, holding him at arm's length. "Why are you asleep?"
"It's a long story, but in order to understand why I have to do this, it's best to start at the beginning," he says, gesturing for me to take a seat on the ground. Confused at his vague response, I cross my legs and sit in front of him, watching him intently as he begins to explain everything.
And this is the story he tells me.
After creating the land, the three Goddesses created a supreme power known as the Triforce that gave anyone who possessed it the ability to shape reality and fulfil any desire. With the amount of incredible power that the Triforce had, this supreme power was then placed into Hylia's hands for safe protection.
In a thirst to make the world his own, the Demon King—Demise—readied an army in the Demon Realm for war. Hylia, far away from the mortal plain, foresaw such a calamity and bestowed such information on a mortal man. This man was the first Bearer, who lived with his grandmother and younger sister on the Surface—back then, the kingdom was known as Hyrule.
With such crucial information, the first Bearer heeded the vision and went to warn the Queen. However, the first Bearer was foiled in his attempts to protect his people. Lord Dagianis, a cruel man who had the favour of many nobles at the time, dubbed the first Bearer as madman out of jealousy and had the first Bearer imprisoned for such behaviour.
He suffered for four years.
Demise had sent forth many of his generals to masquerade themselves as Hylians in order to acquire more information on the enemy. One of these generals in particular was Ghirahim, who befriended Fiona mere months before the Great War began.
Upon Lord Dagianis's sudden death and the arrival of the Demon Army, the people of Hyrule freed the first Bearer—begging him to save them from the darkness. Hylia herself them appeared in order to help them win the battle against Demise and protect the Triforce, entrusting Link with the Master Sword.
Hylia promised her people that she would lead her people to safety in the heavens whilst the battle raged on around them. With Link tasked with reforging the Master Sword, him and Fiona were chosen to travel deep into the Demon Realm to find anything that could tip the scales in their favour. The first Bearer was gravely injured, though his companion managed to save his life—and with it a deep bond was formed.
Deep in the heart of the Demon Realm, they came across an ancient spell known as Minuere; a powerful spell that would use the strength of the spell's caster in order to greatly weaken the opponent. Upon their return, the Demon Lord appeared and resolved to spend his life hunting down the first Bearer and his descendants out of hatred.
The Great War raged for seven days and seven nights, and on that final night the first Bearer finally fell at the feet of the Demon King. Before he could succumb to his injuries, the Loftwing that Hylia had first appeared on plucked him into the air, allowing him to help the Goddess to send the survivors and the Triforce into the sky on a slice of earth that she cut away from the land—taking the Master Sword with it.
That floating rock became the new home for our people, and thus, Skyloft was born.
The Goddess, weak from battle, could only manage to seal away the Demon King instead of destroying him completely. She found the first Bearer moments after death had claimed him, and in her agony and grief, she promised him that they would meet again in another life when the land was in danger once again—one where she was but a mortal.
With the Demon King imprisoned, it soon became clear to Hylia that the Seal would not hold for long against his fearsome power. And facing such threatening injuries, she knew that if he broke free again then there would be no stopping Demise from causing the total destruction of this world.
To end the Demon King once and for all, Hylia set two plans into motion. Firstly, she created Fi. With Fiona's permission, the Goddess transferred her spirit into that of the Goddess Sword—the blade having reverted back to its weakened state with the first Bearer dead.
After creating a barrier of clouds between the earth and the heavens, she put her second plan into motion by abandoning her divine form and placed her Soul into the body of a mortal; into my body.
"Why did she become a mortal?" I ask as I take everything in.
"She sacrificed her divinity so that she could make a wish upon the Triforce for Demise's death," Link clarifies. "The Triforce itself, while created by the Goddesses, could only be used by a mortal. It was her final and only hope to completely eradicate Demise."
And that's what I have to do now.
"But where is the Triforce?"
He throws me a tiny smile. "Your guess is as good as mine. Knowing that such information could fall into the wrong hands, she hid the Triforce without telling anyone where it was. I doubt she would even give you that information in case you were captured."
I nod slowly. "And Demise will keep breaking free from his Seal until he has the Triforce?"
"Yes," he confirms. "But in the form he is now, that's impossible. To obtain the Triforce, he must revert back to his original form and shatter the Seal completely." I tilt my head in a silent question. "The only way that can happen is if the Soul of a Chosen One is sacrificed."
The breath is knocked out of my system.
This is why this has all happened. This is why Ghirahim summoned the Black Tornado after the Wing Ceremony and has relentlessly hunted down Link from the very beginning—to sacrifice his Soul to Demise and reawaken his Master. I think back to when Demise first tried to free himself and what he had said to me.
'My Famulus wanted his Soul, but yours shall be satisfying enough…'
Ghirahim won't come after me because of his history with the first Bearer, and with it this entire fight to protect Link from him has started. Knowing that the Hero's Soul would be reborn over time, the Demon Lord began his plan to find Link. My Soul may have been enough, but it's hard to say in such circumstances—Ghirahim may not have even known that Hylia's Soul would be reborn, and when he found out it was too late.
I could have easily been in Link's position right now.
But now I finally know what is driving the Demon Lord to do all of this, and with it I have even more determination to stop him.
Link sighs and lies down, a small frown creasing his lips. Settling down next to him, I remark, "So this has been our destiny long before we were born…" Link hums. "To think that we knew so little about the Great War and everything before it."
We really are just children thrown into this complex game of chess without any consent given. As all the other pieces fall down around us, we have no choice but to keep going until the game is won—however long it will actually last.
And there's nothing we can do to stop it.
"Why are you asleep, Link?" I say after a while, turning my head to him.
"To ensure that the Seal holds, I've been sleeping here so that all my power can be focused onto him," he says without looking at me. "When you go back through the Gate of Time, I'll have been sleeping here for thousands of years." My lips part. Thousands of years… "I guess every time I slept in back in Skyloft was all just practise."
I smile at his attempt to lighten the mood, but it doesn't work.
Back in the present, Link will have been here for thousands of years fighting against the Demon King. The thought terrifies me at how much he's had to endure over such a long time, and I squeeze his hand tightly.
"I wish it was me," I mumble.
"What?"
"I wish it was me here instead of you," I say, refusing to look at him. "You've been fighting here for thousands of years all because of Hylia—because of me. People are dead because of me, people are suffering because of me, and if it was you out there I'm sure they'd all be alive right now…"
"Hey," he says softly, sitting up and bringing me with him. "No matter what has happened, this is not your fault. It's Demise who wants to destroy this land and everyone in it, not you. You can't blame yourself for what happened to Skyloft—you're doing everything you can to protect this land, and their deaths should not be on your hands."
I try and look away, but he catches my chin before I can. So many people have said the same thing to me, but they don't understand everything that's happened like Link does—of course Karane, Pipit, and Groose do, but not to the same extent. Hearing it from Link doesn't relieve all of the burden from my shoulders, but it's enough for me to feel better form it.
"Now," he adds after a few moments. "The existence of the Triforce has been lost to time, so finding it will be a task in itself. Until you find it, Demise will keep trying to break free from his Seal and claim it for himself. The Sacred Flames have created the Master Sword that you hold now, but when it's blessed like it was during the Great War will it be able to help strengthen the Seal every time he breaks free from now on."
Nodding to the sword on my side, I hold it in both of my hands in front of me and tilt my head as he lowers his head and closes his eyes. The sword begins to hum in response as Link starts to speak, glowing softly in time with his heartbeat.
"Across the ages, we have been drawn back together by the Threads of Fate," he begins, and my stomach twists at the mention of those Threads. "During our time of need, you have endured many hardships and journeyed far to reach this place. Throughout your journey you have proven your courage, wisdom, and power—and for this I shall bless your blade with the spirit of the Hero. May it give you the strength to drive back the abomination that threatens your land!"
Placing his hands onto the blade, the sword is engulfed with a golden light. The Master Sword brightens significantly, hilt extending into a pair of wings whilst the blade itself glows with a permanent blue hue. I can feel its power radiating out from it, and memories at the back of my mind call out to be remembered at such a sight.
"The Master Sword… The blade that repels evil will protect the earth and act as a pillar of support for that some ascend to heaven."
As the golden light begins to fade, Link sighs heavily and catches his breath. I reach out to touch his shoulder in concern. "I'm alright," he waves me off. "I'm just tired, that's all."
After all he's going through, I can't blame him.
He allows me to sheathe the Master Sword, turning his face away from me again. When I ask him what's wrong, he says nothing for a while. I reach out to him and cup his cheek, worry lacing my tone when I ask him again what's wrong. That's when he looks at me with a sadness in his eyes that scares me.
"Even though I'm the Chosen Hero, I want you to know that I'm… I'm still me," he says. "I'm still your best friend that would sleep in every day and would always protect you." Link forces a weak smile. "I'm still your Link."
I brush away a tear that runs down my face, kissing him softly. "And even though I might be Hylia reborn, I'm still Father's daughter and your best friend. I'm still your Zelda…"
He smiles at me. "When Demise is finally gone, there'll be no more need for the Seal that binds him, and then I'll be able to wake up." His smile grows at my expression. Link lowers his head for a moment before looking at me again. "Can I ask you a favour, Zelda?"
"Anything."
"Ever since we were kids, you'd always be the one to wake me up when I slept in," he says. "So, this time, when all of this is over, will you come and wake me up again?"
My eyes grow warm as I take his hands into mine. "I promise, Link."
His warm smile is all I see before light invades my world again, his hands fading away from mine. I reach out desperately for him, but it's too late. When the light fades, the chill of the Temple of Hylia shakes me back into reality. I'm still kneeling on the ground before the crystal, my hands resting against the cool glass, but when I look up at Link I can't help but smile.
Thank you for letting me see him again, Hylia, I think to myself.
Rising onto my feet, I glance down to the newly blessed Master Sword at my side—thankful that everything I saw was real. Turning back to Link, I place my hand on the glass near his cheek, letting a few tears fall as I rest my head near his.
"We'll find a happy ending someday, sleepyhead. I promise…"
Author's Note: So, that was a little more emotion-packed than usual; maybe as not as much as the last chapter, but I'm sure that will be good for you. Nonetheless, this will be the last update before I go on holiday. I'll be away from the 12th of August until the 23rd, so don't be keeping too much eyes out for any updates then. For now, keep the feels close to your hearts :3 Consider it a birthday present for August 18th when I won't be here! 3
~RandomButLoved~