I don't own the Legend of Zelda
Now that Zelda and Link had the onyx, Eldin ore and evil crystals all that was left to collect was the goddess plume and dusk relics. This could be a slight problem as goddess plumes were very hard to find and dusk relics could only be found in the silent realm. Link and Zelda met up at the plaza in Skyloft to plan their next move.
"Did you find the Eldin ore?" Link asked as soon as Zelda descended from her loftwing, not wasting time to even say hello.
"Yeah, I have it right here." Zelda returned Link's digger mitts and handed him the ore.
"Good, but I don't know where we can find a goddess plume or the dusk relics." Link looked down at his feet gloomily.
"Why don't we check the bazaar?" Zelda suggested, as she nudged him lightly in an attempt to cheer him up.
"Yeah, someone there'll know."
The bazaar was busy as usual and full of energy. Link didn't seem to notice this and the bazaar's cheerful atmosphere didn't reach him at all, which Zelda noticed straight away. He was here on a mission and nothing would distract him. So he ignored the call of the potion seller and her mysterious jars of brightly coloured concoctions and didn't react at all when Peatrice sighed heavily as he walked past her and strode over to Rupin's stall. The merchant's face lit up at the prospect of another customer and his voice had an oily tone.
"How can I help you sir? We have a special on bombs today, I'm sure that a smart young man like yourself-"
Link was quick to cut him off. "I'm not interested in buying anything."
Rupin's face fell and his voice was no longer sickeningly sweet. "Look kid if you're not going to buy anything then beat it. No window shoppers, so stop wasting my time."
Zelda frowned and opened her mouth to speak but Link beat her to it. "I'm not here to waste your time. I was wondering if you might know where I could find any goddess plumes and dusk relics?"
Rupin perked up instantly and gave Link his full attention."Why didn't you say so? I might but then again...I might not. My memory's a little hazy..." As he spoke he rubbed his fingers together.
Link nodded in understanding and placed 50 rupees on the counter, ignoring Zelda's protests. Rupin swiftly pocketed the rupees with the sly smile of a shrewd businessman. "Go to the cave by the waterfall at midnight and play your harp. Then you should find what you're looking for..."
Later that night Zelda and Link began to make their way to the waterfall, hopping over the stepping stones that led across the river. Zelda was still sceptical about Rupin's strange advice.
"Link I can't believe that you trust that man. He was obviously lying to you." She insisted as they walked.
Link stopped and looked at her."Look, Zelda I have no other choice ok. Now are you helping me or not?"
"You know that I am, I just don't want you to be disappointed if it doesn't work out."
Link attempted to smile for her. "I know, I'm sorry. I don't want to be disappointed either but I have to try."
They entered the dark cave, who's walls were damp and covered in moss. The ceiling dripped and the sound of the waterfall was muffled as they went further into the cave. Keese screeched and flew at them, their mean, little eyes bright in the gloom but Link and Zelda quickly disposed of them. In the heart of the cave Link stopped and brought out his harp.
"I think that this is far enough." He began to strum expertly on his harp. Zelda had to admire the way that he played, he'd obviously had a lot of practice since she gave him her harp.
Suddenly, something beneath their feet started to move and they both stood back as a gossip stone emerges from the ground.
"Hey there, friend. What luck you have. You've just stumbled upon me, the infamous moonlight merchant." The gossip stone said joyfully.
Link and Zelda both looked at each other in astonishment. Link cleared his throat nervously. "You're a merchant? You don't sell any goddess plumes or dusk relics do you?"
"Indeed I do."
Link's relief was clear on his face and he smiled his first genuine smile in a long time. "That's brilliant! I need 7 dusk relics and a goddess plume."
"You're in luck friend, I happen to have plenty of both. Dusk relics are 100 rupees a piece and my goddess plume will cost you 200 rupees."
"I'll take them." Link handed over the rupees with no hesitation, although Zelda gasped at the outrageous price. Money was no object to him and he would have gladly given all the rupees in the world just to see Ghirahim again.
"Anytime you need anything friend, just call." And with that the mysterious moonlight merchant disappeared as quickly as he had arrived.
Link could hardly contain his excitement. "Zelda do you know what this means? With this I'll be able to bring Ghirahim back!" Link's eyes seemed to sparkle at the prospect of reviving the demon lord.
"I know Link, but you should get some sleep first. You need it and the bazaar isn't open until tomorrow."
"Yeah you're right. You'll come with me right? When Gondo reforges him."
Zelda smiled. "Of course."
That night Link had no sleep at all, the only thing that he could think about was Ghirahim and how much he wanted to see him. As soon as the bazaar opened the next day, Link and Zelda approached Gondo's stall.
"Hey kid, what do you need today?" Gondo asked as he tinkered with his latest project.
Link laid Ghirahim's handle, the goddess plume, dusk relics, onyx and Eldin ore on the counter. "Can you repair this sword? I already have all the materials for it."
Gondo picked up the blade handle and examined it. "Hmm...I've never seen a sword like this...it's badly damaged but I should be able to do something about that."
"Thanks Gondo, you have no idea how much this means to me."
"It's fine, in fact seeing as you're a regular I'll do it for free. Just come by later and I should be finished."
"Actually could I watch you?" This was very important for Link, he wanted to see Ghirahim's rebirth with his own eyes.
Gondo was surprised but pleased."Sure thing kid, grab a seat."
Link eagerly watched Gondo as he worked, hammering the hot metal and then cooling it in water as it gave off steam before sharpening and polishing the blade. Link gripped the counter in anticipation. He pictured Ghirahim's impressive blade in his mind, a dark and powerful version of the master sword, so the sword that Gondon handed him came as a bit of a shock. Link took the blade carefully with both hands but as he looked at it his face fell and he was lost for words. Zelda grabbed Link's arm with concern and started to pull him out of the bazaar.
"You ok there kid?" Gondo asked, perplexed at Link's reaction.
"He's fine." Zelda called over her shoulder as she dragged her best friend away.
When they were out of the bazaar Zelda released Link, who was still in shock and staring at the sword in his hands. "Link" She said delicately. "You ok?"
"Is this some kind of joke?" He asked darkly through gritted teeth.
"What's wrong? Link please, you're worrying me." Zelda has never seen Link act like this before, and part of her felt scared.
Link suddenly exploded with rage, banishing the sword and ignoring the strange looks of passerbys. "What's wrong!? This...this sword is what's wrong! It's nothing like Ghirahim! Look at it." He pushed it under her nose for her inspection. He was right, the sword's blade was much shorter and straighter than Ghirahim's blade had been and it looked more like the goddess sword.
Link sat down on a step, his anger had evaporated and was instead replaced with remorse. He put his head in his hands and the sword beside him. "I've failed. He's gone and he's never coming back."
Zelda sat down next to him. "You haven't failed. You'll find a way." She looked over the sword again as an idea came to her. "Link!"
"What?" He asked miserably as he tried to stop tears from flowing.
"This sword is a bit like the goddess sword isn't it?"
"So?" He really wasn't in the mood for pointless questions. Didn't Zelda understand that it was over?
"Didn't you tell me that you upgraded the goddess sword into the master sword? Maybe you can do the same with this sword!" Zelda's voice tingled with excitement.
Link looked up. "You're right. Maybe that's what we need to do. If I take it to the springs we could turn it into Demise's sword." He jumps up off the step and grabs the sword, ready to start straight away.
Zelda stopped him. "Maybe we shouldn't go now though. You've done a lot these past few days and you need a proper break."
Link started to argue but eventually he agreed. As he went back to his room without Zelda to prepare for another journey he passed Fledge.
"Hey Link. That's a cool sword. Can I have a look?" Fledge asked timidly as he reached a hand out towards the sword.
"No." Link said a little too sharply. Realising that people were staring he quickly switched to a more friendly tone. "Sorry Fledge, this sword's just really important to me. Nothing personal, ok?"
"It's ok, I understand...I'll see you later Link." Fledge walked off with a hurt look clearly visible on his face.
Link went into his room, feeling slightly ashamed at how he reacted. "What's wrong with me? I have to stop snapping at people." He said as he made sure that everything was ready for the next day. That night he slept with the sword clasped tightly to his chest, as if he would never let it go. From then on, Link vowed to never let the sword out of his sight.