Author's Note: Okay, I'm not the proudest person in the world about this chapter, but I am happy to post this so I can get your feedback on it. I don't mind what the reviews have, as long as they are not blatant flaming and hold no constructive criticism in them; as I will either report you, block you, or both. Anyway, on a happier note, we are getting so much closer to 300 reviews. This isn't right, but amazing at the same time. I love you all so much!

Reviews: ShadowNinja1011: Thank-you! I couldn't write this story without making that reference ^-^

MiniJen: Thank-you! I really wanted the Deities to have particular personalities, and I couldn't finish that chapter without referencing the fight in the Fire Sanctuary again (but I'm so happy that it was good enough). I tried playing as Fi, but I kept losing during the Imprisoned fight so much that I did I mini rage-quit and played as Link instead. The stories you are writing are great, but I think I said it more in my most recent review in W&C!

Schniedragon88: I'll go back and change that in editing, as I completely agree. I'm glad that I'm incorporating the Arrows in well, and I hope this chapter is all right. And I didn't, but I'm totally gathering ideas for that. This is why I love reviewers like you, because I need to do this now. I am readying myself to put him in within the next three or four chapters, I think.

Daisy Bokoblin: I couldn't write the story without putting such a classic reference in. I'm getting in more references for this chapter too, so be ready! I really like what I am doing with Fi's character, so I can't wait to develop her even more!

TDDolphin: I do agree with that. Having a snow level in Skyward Sword was what it needed, but it was a great game nonetheless. I'm actually also glad too. There were scenes that I wanted to put into the chapter that I had to edit out, but that was due to where she woke up in imprisonment. I will admit that I wanted to change it, but then I would have to change up some parts that I was really proud of. Oh well, at least you still liked it :3

CupcakePride101: I'm on the ball with these, I think. I needed to keep him creepy, and that, unfortunately, was the only way to do it. I almost punched the screen when I wrote that. But I love writing Fi battle scenes so much! I was thinking of Hyrule Warriors when he said that, just because I love that game so much! And, yes, she does. The Fire Arrows are the best! ^-^

Favourites & Follows: There aren't any favourites or follows this time, but that's all right!

"If you're going through hell, keep going."

~Winston Churchill~

Ancient Roots

A Skyward Sword FanFiction

Chapter 40: Din

It takes two days to travel through the Gate of Time and towards the Eldin Province. With no way of travelling there other than on foot, I take the long and anxious journey through Faron Woods and out into the open plains of the Surface—remnants of the Great War still lingering even still.

Even without flashes to another life darting through my mind, the remains of bodies and broken weapons are still scattered across the land—no one left alive or strong enough to come and repair the damage caused by the Demon King. They serve as a constant reminder to me of what I'm fighting for—both the lives of the living and the lives of those who sacrificed themselves in Hylia's name.

In my name.

Compared to the brightness of Faron Woods, the past is filled with fragments of trauma and death. This wasteland is no longer there in the present, but if Demise fulfils his desire of consuming this world, then the deserted dark forest that I walk through now will only be the beginning of his destruction.

The forest is much denser here, arrows still wedged into tree trunks from various groups attempting to protect Skyview Temple from the darkness. I pray at each of the large gatherings of broken shields and remains of clothing left from the dead, begging that the Goddesses allow them to rest in peace after all that they sacrificed.

By the time that I had emerged from the thick woodland and onto a plain that seemed to stretch on for miles, the sun had long since passed its zenith. Following Fi's advice, I began the slow journey across this grand plain towards the frozen mountain in the far distance. As I go, ruins of homes and remainders from battles still linger, the cool breeze echoing against the back of my neck.

I set up camp rather late into the evening, hoping to rest for a few hours before continuing onward. With Fi's protection, I thankfully managed to eat in relative comfort before going to sleep, waking a few hours before dawn so I could prepare for the day ahead.

I take this time to put on the garments that Eldin gave me—a white cloak embroidered with numerous golden triangles as well as a pair of boots as well. Whoever crafted such garments had a clear eye for detail, and whoever enchanted it was very powerful, for as soon as I wrap the cloak around my shoulders, I can feel a wave of protective energy around me.

Tugging up my cloak, I begin my next day of trekking. After many hours of walking and frowning at the decay left behind from the Great War, I now stand on the outskirts of the snowy mountain, awed by how beautiful it looks. The Eldin I used to know has been completely transformed into an icy peak covered in thick snow, a stark contrast to when Faron froze the Woods over.

A few miles back, the rocky ground was soon claimed as frost began to claw across the terrain, and, as Fi soon explained, it began to snow. Now the grey clouds have merged together, seemingly full of the flakes. I reach up for the Timeshift Stone around my neck, squeezing it for comfort as I take everything in.

Fi appears in a spark of light, floating beside me as I make my way towards a ruined stone archway in the distance. "You now stand at the nadir of the mountain, Your Grace. After this Province was rapidly frozen over, this area became commonly known as Snowpeak," she explains, her lilac light reflecting off the snow around us. "The garments bestowed upon you from Eldin have increased your chances of survival, however with such low temperatures in this region I surmise that your visit here should be as brief as possible."

"Can you sense the Dragon, Fi?"

She nods. "I believe that they are located in the same area that Eldin was in the present, Dominae. In order to reach that area again, I recommend following a similar path that you took in the present and proceed with the utmost caution."

I nod in agreement and dismiss her, gritting my teeth as I draw the Master Sword and start to try and pick out any form of landmarks like those in the present that might be able to help me. Within seconds a large gust of wind knocks me back a step, hundreds of tiny snowflakes clinging to any bare skin they can find. Using my free hand to keep my hood over my head, I make my way towards some tiled posts in the distance.

The snow reaches my ankles with every step I take, and I soon realise how impossible it would have been to come here without Eldin's protection. My breath solidifies in the air with every pant, my knuckles white as I grip my hood and the Master Sword, though my fingertips are bright red.

I grunt as another gust of wind sends a wave of snow into my face. 'You know how much I hate the cold, Link,' I complain as I duck into a cavern for a moment, finding it similar to the one I was imprisoned it only yesterday—thankfully about to figure out where I am in the region better despite the plague of memories that come back because of it. Desperate to be positive, I joke, 'You owe me for this.'

He breathes out a laugh. 'Consider this payback for every morning you woke me up.'

'I woke you up because I enjoy your company,' I retort with a smile.

'And I enjoyed being with you, but it didn't mean that you had to jump on me or send Destiny out almost every day.'

'If I hadn't have woken you up on the morning of the Wing Ceremony, you wouldn't have competed,' I say, and he knows I'm right.

'Fine,' he relents with a smile in his voice. 'You win.'

As I force myself to leave the tunnel, another gust of wind collides with me, and I can't help but stagger back from the force of it. Despite the cloak that Eldin gave me, I still feel extremely cold, and no amount of breathing warm air into my hands will help. Biting my tongue to stop my teeth from chattering, I raise my arm up to protect me from the snow and press on.

The wind dies down for a moment, giving me a chance to focus on my goal—the beautiful, dormant volcano ahead of me. The snow against the black rock is a strange sight when I think back to how this region will be in the future, and when I spot some ruins almost completely covered with snow, I soon realise just how dangerous this place is.

It seems to be the remains of a small home, some of the walls caved in and some wooden beams completely frozen over. Someone must have lived here, I muse as I huddle behind a wall to protect myself from the cold, breathing into my hands despite the little comfort it gives me. Maybe a family, or even a race we don't even know about…

Then it hits me.

Whoever lived here is gone, and from the destruction of this place they either died in the Great War or when this region was frozen over.

They died because of the battle between the Gods… and here I am now with no knowledge of their suffering.

When I voice this to Link, he sighs deeply in empathy. 'In so many memories of the first Bearer's life, I saw people without food, homes, or loved ones—all of them desperate to survive through the War so they could rebuild on what they'd lost. So many of them were suffering, and there was nothing he could do but stop this War.'

'I suppose their lives are burdens that only we should carry.'

He hums in partial agreement. 'We were shown these things to show us how awful the past was so that it never happens again. But we can't take the burden of every life into our hands—we didn't cause them suffering, only the events of the past. Now it's up to us to prevent more people from being in that pain.'

A tiny smile tugs at my lips. 'You always had a way with words.'

'I'm not good with much else.'

I roll my eyes but say nothing, knowing that he's just joking to try and keep our spirits up. Pushing myself back onto my feet, I murmur, 'I just hope that I can fix this mess.'

'We will, Zelda. And we'll do it together.'

As I continue onward, my sense of direction in comparison with my memories of Eldin in the present are soon lost to the ages. Nonetheless, I keep moving towards the peak of the mountain, the slightly shrouded sun casting faint rays of light onto the ice around the great mountain.

A large structure appears in the distance, like some sort of tower, although its barely survived the great freeze—standing at a slant in the snow, which seems to be thicker up here. Ducking into the tower, I catch my breath and try to keep myself warm despite flurries of snow drifting in through the broken roof.

Fi appears as the wind howls in the distance. "I sense a storm quickly approaching the area, Mistress. You must find adequate shelter before it arrives."

Biting my lip, I nod and take a deep breath before rushing back out, immediately crying out from the burst of wind that slams into my body—my hood slipping off my head from the force of it. Despite the thick layers of snow, I try my best to keep a quicker speed than before as I search for any other structures that may help me.

'Do you remember anywhere that might still be around?' I ask Link.

'My memories of Eldin in the Great War aren't the best, but there should be a lot of defences left from the Army that were never taken down closer to the mountain.'

Nodding, I continue onward, spotting a bridge in the distance. The clouds are still clotted together around the mountain, so I can barely see the mountain's summit, though I keep myself focused on finding shelter—the Dragon will have to wait. The wind is beginning to creep up in intensity too, which doesn't bode well for me, making my feel unstable as the bridge opens out towards me; frost and ice covering it completely.

I step onto the bridge despite the wind, trying my best to ignore the stomach-turning drop beneath me and stare at the steps just ahead of me, making my way through another stone archway.

Then everything becomes a lot harder.

The wind roars as I enter a large open space with no walls to protect me, and before I can retreat the wind is already dragging me forward. Snow clings to my nose and lips as I struggle against the wind, snow attacking me from all sides as I try my best to search for shelter in the middle of a storm.

'Zelda, you have to go back!' Link warns.

I have to keep going, I tell myself. I can't go back… not now…

Collapsing onto my knees in exhaustion, fear leaks into my veins as I stare down at my lap which is quickly being swarmed by snow. I can't stay here, but I can't even see where I entered from, let alone some shelter that will protect me. And without any way of seeing more than a few paces ahead of me, I'm thoroughly trapped here.

I'm getting nowhere, but I must keep going.

And that's when I hear the raspy panting.

Snapping my head up, my stomach drops at a pair of glowing eyes in the distance, their body hidden from sight. The panting grows louder, and it isn't long before more eyes start to appear through the curtain of snow. I grasp the Master Sword tightly as I make myself stand up, breathing deeply.

As they grow closer, I realise what they are—wolves, something that were only stories back in Skyloft. And now here they are, surrounding me with malice in their eyes. I dread to think about the last time they ate in a volatile environment like this one.

"F-Fi!"

"Target locked: White Wolfos," she replies immediately. "These creatures generally take to icy climates, circling their foes like they were human combatants. They tend to wait until a precise moment to attack, though they will also attack in large groups—retreating when they fail to harm their foe. Be wary of their attacks and strike at the correct opportunity."

I have no opportunity to reply before one has already taken a leap towards me. I bring the Master Sword up on instinct, catching it in the side and tossing it away before it can scratch me. Wounded, it retreats. Another appears and falls to a similar fate, and I manage to kill a third one—its blood staining the snow before the storm quickly disposes of it.

Two Wolfos jump at the same time, one of them injured from an earlier attack. I manage to knock away one, but the injured one manages to sink its claws into my arm and drag me onto the ground. I scream in pain and alarm as the snow suddenly consumes my vision, and the next thing I see once it clears is a set of menacing eyes.

'Zelda!'

I have no time to say anything before the pack pounces on me, tearing away at my cloak before I can stop them. Terror fills my body as I swing the Master Sword wildly, managing to knock the one from my chest before I stab it through the chest, my entire body shivering as I rise to my knees and fight through the pain as they circle me.

Yelling, a sudden wave of adrenaline hits me and I dispose of the others in a few slashes, sinking to my knees as those who didn't die briskly retreat.

Sheathing the Master Sword, I raise my hand over my wounded arm and heal it—blood still welling up on the edges of the scars I form, but I can't do anything else in my current state.

Then I see it—my bare arm.

The cloak!

Snapping my gaze down, I panic as the adrenaline seeps out of my system as I realise that the Wolfos tore apart my cloak—leaving me completely open to the elements.

"Mistress," Fi calls out from within the Master Sword. "You are vulnerable to the elements and may perish if you do not find shelter. Upon further scans, I sense numerous non-hostile presences ahead."

Tears burn at the edges of my eyes as I stand up, the freezing temperatures slamming into me harsher than ever as I trudge on. The remnants of the cloak fall away from my shoulders from the wind, rendering me in too much trouble to think about.

Winding my arms around my middle, I hunch over and try my best to keep going despite the pain booming through me—my body desperate to rest. Link remains on the edges of my dimming awareness, urging me on to safety, knowing that there's little else that he can actually do here. As my sense of direction is lost too, the cold sets into my bones and I soon become too cold to even feel it.

This can't be it…

I spot a light in the distance, though I'm not even sure if it's real. Forcing myself to keep going, surprised when I find myself on my knees without warning a few times. The light grows closer and closer, my vision blurs and I collapse against a pile of rocks instead of snow.

"H-Human on mountain?"

At first, I'm not sure if I even heard the voice, and when I hear it again it feels further away for some reason—the cold messing up my hearing. My vision goes dark as I'm suddenly picked up, finding myself groggily looking into a pair of yellow eyes surrounded by white fur.

Wolfos…? I shake my head. No… they can't talk…

"Why human on mountain?" The voice asks gruffly in Ancient Hylian.

"I…" The rest of my words become a slurred mess.

I let my eyes close.

"Yeta! Yeta help human!"

Something's moving—me, I realise—but all I can feel is the cold.

"Yeta!"

"Yeto, where you go, uh? Yeta worried…"

I try and open my eyes, but I can't.

"Yeto found hurt human. We help human."

I feel movement again, and in moments there's a rush of heat that makes me gasp. Taking in its heat, I realise just how harshly I'm shivering. Pulled up into an upright position, various blankets are wrapped around me, and even though I'm nowhere near wear they take the edge off.

Finally able to open my eyes, I smile up at the two figures before me, allowing Hylia to take control so I can thank them in Ancient Hylian. The torches dotted around this small cave light up my saviours, and although I want to say I recognise them through Hylia, I have no idea who they are other than large, rather imposing figures dressed in white fur and amber eyes.

"Fi," I whisper as the two figures turn back to the fire and stir whatever is in the large pot above it.

"Upon initial scans, I have concluded that these beings are commonly known as yetis, Dominae," she reports in my mind. "These creatures, once believed to be mere legend, are large hairy creatures who have inhabited this region after the great freeze—they are non-hostile, however due to their isolation they speak very little of the language."

When I assure Link that they won't be hostile, I can hear his smile as he remarks, 'Who would have thought that so many myths from the Surface turned out to be true after all?'

Before I can reply, the smaller yeti hands me a wooden bowl filled with hot vegetable soup. My stomach groans at the sight, causing them to giggle as they place it in my hands. "Eat up, human."

They don't have to tell me twice.

I dig in straight away, to which they both chuckle at me, the earthy aroma awakening my senses as the thick soup slides down my throat—the taste of pumpkin and herbs reminding me of home, but another flavour completely foreign to me.

"What's in this?"

"Pumpkin, 'erbs, cheese, vegetables," replies the larger yeti with a grin.

The smaller yeti, who I assume is female, sits next to me as the larger yeti fills up my bowl again. "Why human on mountain, uh? Yeto no see humans for while."

Swallowing a hearty mouthful, I respond, "I am here to see the Dragon."

"D-Dragon?" The larger yeti, Yeto, repeats, to which I nod.

"Dragon Ikana top of mountain," says the smaller yeti. "Yeta take you to Dragon."

I blink. "T-That's—"

But there's no stopping her. After the two make me eat one last portion of soup, Yeta pecks Yeto on the cheek and wraps her arm around me. "We go Dragon," she says simply. "Dragon nice. Dragon help human."

A smile tugs at my lips as I nod, waving to Yeto and thanking him one last time before we leave, leaning into Yeta's fur as we make our way through various tunnels and caverns. There's a cool breeze down here that makes me shudder once or twice, though Yeta is quick to hold me closer—smiling down at me warmly as we go.

Meeting these two has been no less than a miracle, not only because they saved me life, but they could have easily become hostile towards me or left me to die from the beginning, but whatever brought be to their presence was no less than divine intervention. So, as we make our way to see Ikana, I thank each Goddess individually for their protection.

Thinking more about the peculiar yetis, I ask Yeta, "How did you and Yeto meet?"

"Yeta meet Yeto when little, uh. Yeto lost parents, Yeta lost Momma. We, uh… connect." I smile and swallow thickly, and I can feel Link on the other end of our connection reacting similarly—it's the same situation that we first bonded over: loss. I frown at the memory of sitting in the Graveyard together, trying our best to take our minds away from what we'd experienced.

I wish I still had you Mother… I need your laugh and Father's embrace…

The rest of the journey is relatively quiet, Yeta guiding me through a number of caves and upwards through dimly lit tunnels. The rocky earth beneath us soon shifts, though, as icy fingers crawl across the ground. The temperature slowly decreases while the incline increases, but Yeta helps me when I falter.

Rounding one final corner, we stand before a set of metal doors decorated with silver and encrusted with ice. 'He's waiting for you, Zelda,' Link murmurs. 'Not long now, then you can rest and warm up.'

I smile, knowing fully well that I won't be resting for as long as he would want me to.

"Yeta wait here, uh?"

I look up to her and smile. "Yes, thank you, Yeta."

Drawing me into a motherly hug for a moment, and when we pull apart, we're both smiling. "Stay safe, uh. You nice human." My smile grows, but I say nothing, stepping away from her and making my way towards the large doors. It takes a few attempts, but I thankfully force the doors open after a few tries.

The temperature drops even more when I enter, making me shiver as the doors groan shut behind me. The Domain is an exact reflection of Eldin's Domain, although the insignias have been frozen over and the lava that will be bubbling around the main platform in the future is nothing but a sheet of incredibly thick ice now. The walls are adorned with frozen snowflakes, flurries of snow drifting in from the hole in the ceiling.

Large stalactites dangle down elegantly, some made from rock whilst others are made from ice. Ice bubbles joined together by a string of ice drape down from the ceiling too, similar to the decorations in Faron's Shrine. Drawing my bow, I nock a Fire Arrow into place and make my way up the frosty steps.

There's no sign of Ikana here, causing worry to flood into my body.

"Ikana, great Deity of this Province," I call out, my voice echoing around the small cave. "I am the Goddess Reborn and have come for the part of the Song of the Hero that my predecessor once bestowed upon you."

There's a beat of silence.

'Can you feel anything nearby, Link?'

'I…'

Before he can finish, there's a flash of light. I duck on instinct, saving myself from a blast of ice that comes in my direction. Link is quick to ask if I'm alright, irritation at his situation and inability to protect me growing the longer he spends in that crystal.

Darting onto my feet, my eyes immediately find the large shadow and relax at its familiarity. "I-Ikana…"

His crystal blue eyes instantly lock onto my prone form as I lower my hands and put away my bow, a swirl of blue magic in his hands dissipating upon the sight of me. His dark blue robe, embroidered with silver designs of Din, sways to a standstill from his sudden movement, dark scales dotted with snowflakes as he lowers his hands.

"Your Grace?" Ikana breathes. "Is that really you?"

"I am, dear Ikana," I confirm, bowing to him deeply. "I have travelled from the distant future to obtain the part of the Song of the Hero that I entrusted to you. This will be paramount in protecting this world as I vowed to do."

There's a long, pregnant silence where neither of us speak, our breaths becoming plumes of mist in front of our faces as we breathe heavily.

"You told me once that you would return one day, but I need proof that you are who you say who you are," he says after a while. "I need to know you are no impostor."

I nod firmly in understanding, drawing the Master Sword. "Here is the sacred blade of legends, the Master Sword, a blade which only few may hold. I have been through many trials to forge this blade and reach you."

He needs no other evidence.

Bowing to me, Ikana smiles warmly at me. "I am honoured to be graced with your presence once more despite the darkness still threatening to plague this land. I shall give you all that you require."

Relief courses through my veins as he swings his hand in a circular gesture, creating a light blue orb in front of him. He pushes the orb forwards with magic and allows it to hover in front of me, the magic soon disappearing and allowing a familiar parchment to drop into my palms—the ancient lyrics echoing around my mind.

"Hero, destiny,
Will guide you,
Forever more.
Darkening skies,
It's your life to live."

Two pieces, I think to myself. Only one more to go…

'You're closer than ever, Zelda,' Link says kindly. 'This is why you were chosen to do this.'

I smile, for once accepting that he's right.

As I pocket the parchment, Ikana's lips turn into a frown. "These are dark times, Your Grace. I pray that your journey is safe as you help to restore the light to this land."

"Thank you, Ikana. You have aided me immensely on this day."

"And I hope to do the same for the rest of my life, Your Grace," he replies with a smile. "You are the light that shines upon this land, and it is the duty of my brethren to serve and protect you. As a servant and a friend, I shall help you more in any way that I can."

And he does, for I ask him to return me to the Temple of Hylia so that I don't have to go anywhere near Snowpeak again. That, and to protect the yetis who saved my life. Thanking him one last time, Ikana raises his hand and my vision is filled with white—Snowpeak now nothing more than a mere memory.

I have two parts of the Song of the Hero, and soon I will have the third.

'I'm almost there, sleepyhead…'

'It's almost over,' he breathes. 'And then the past can stay where it belongs…'

Author's Note: Phew, that took a long time to put together. I apologise if the parts with Yeto and Yeta are pretty bad. Please tell me what I can do to make that better for your future reading. Speaking of which, please drop a rate and review if you haven't already. In the next one, Link and Zelda will be travelling to Lanayru to attain the third part of the Song of the Hero.

~RandomButLoved~