Link made his way back to skyloft and entered the bazaar, admiring all of the trinkets and upgrades. He grabbed some potions, and an extra shield just in case. He upgraded all of his items, and struck up a nice conversation with peatrice, acting oblivious to her flirtatious advances, but in reality simply not having the heart to spurn them. He checked his boots, his tunic, and chainmail. All in good shape. He shined up his sword to the point that it reflected his face back at him. He smiled a bit.
The face that shown back at him in the sword was now different from the face he had seen in the mirror a few days prior. But why? His face now seemed to have that edge he'd lost in the past month. A sense of duty. Gone was his lazy and completely carefree temperament from his adolescence. Now his eyes held a craving for adventure, and seemed like they almost expected a puzzle around every turn. True, he missed the simple old days back on skyloft. But he knew if he went back to that, he'd also miss adventure far too much.
He couldn't go back to skyloft when he knew that whole world was down there waiting for him. And now that vast expanse of earth, and the small floating island he and his friends called home was in peril again. He needed to save the day. His eyes bore into his own reflection in the sword, and he gave a smile. He would do just that. His partner was different this time however. Instead of having the melancholic and quiet Fi, he had traded her for the flamboyant Ghirahim. Link would prefer Fi, but beggars can't be choosers.
Ghirahim cleared his throat "Sky child.. You've been staring into the sword for the past ten minutes.. Now I know I'm gorgeous, but we need to get a move on!" Link blinked a few times, then rolled his eyes "Yeah..." He checked himself over "I think I have everything..." Ghirahim agreed "Yes. Let's head out then. We need to go to Eldin volcano first. Better to start off with the gate." Link nodded.
The familiar oppressive and sticky air filled links lungs as he landed in the Eldin province. He had become used to both the hot, moist heat of the volcano, and the dry heat of the desert. Ghirahim appeared from the sword "Ah yes. Eldin. Still unfathomably muggy and ashen here I see..." He took out the map "Now the demon gate... I haven't actually visited it. In order to visit it, I would that flaming reptiles help... or perhaps less flammability."
Link looked at him "You mean the Fire dragon?" Ghirahim nodded "Yes.. and he was less than pleased at me for infesting his volcano with my bokoblins.. and I may have also sassed him. Never the less, I did not get to see it. But I had no need to at the time." Link thought "So we have to go see the fire dragon?" Ghirahim put the map away as he answered "Yes, the way to it is in his cavern.. You're in good with the dragons, yes? Perhaps you can persuade him." Link smiled "I can try.."
He clipped on his fire shield earrings and made for the volcano summit. Once he entered the area, the heat got ever more intense. He furrowed his eyebrows together in concentration of the simple act of breathing. After he got the hang of breathing in this terrain again, he walked over across the platforms, and through the door of the Fire dragons den. Once he walked over the small drawbridge, he climbed up to the pedestal that overlooked the lava basin Eldin resided in. Ghirahim scooted behind him a bit.
He peered over the edge into the molten liquid. Eldin shot out of the lava into the air above him. "Ah! The chosen hero has returned!" Eldin settled into the air, in a regal pose "Why, though? Demise has already been defeated, no?" Link nodded "He has.. but.." Eldin looked past Link, and when he saw Ghirahim, his face took on a sour disposition "Is that the pompous demon who came waltzing in here with his monsters and overtook my volcano?" Ghirahim flipped his hair and crossed his arms "Ah yes.. nice to see you as well, rep-.. Eldin." Link sighed. At least he was making an attempt to be civil.
Eldin wrinkled his face up "Why have you returned?" Link spoke up "The demon world has been taken over by a new threat.. We need to get to the entrance to the demon world.. Ghirahim has told me you can show us?" Eldin looked them up and down "...Hero, have you teamed up with this demon?" Link nodded some "Yes... He became my sword" Link unsheathed his sword and presented it to the dragon as proof. Eldin smiled a bit "I see..." He gave a sneer at Ghirahim. Ghirahim bristled and clenched his teeth, insulted by his look, but biting his tongue.
Eldin turned his attention back to link "I can indeed show you... I have also been entrusted with the task of looking after the gate, and making sure nothing happens to it. It has been long unused. Are you sure you would like me to show you?" Link looked at Ghirahim, then nodded. "We must get to the demon realm."
Eldin nodded and closed his eyes. The ground rumbled a bit, and link stumbled. The front of the pedestal dissolved into stairs, that lead down into the lava. As the stairs appeared, the lava parted to either side, making two walls of lava seemingly held by nothing. Once the rumbling had ceased, link gathered his bearings. Eldin opened his eyes again "There you are. It's a long way down.. I'll light a few of the torches along the way. I suggest you use caution. As I said, It has been long unused…The best of luck to you!"
Link nodded "Thank you.." He started down the stairs, followed closely by Ghirahim. Being so close to the lava, the heat was intense. The air was thick and heavy, yet they continued. After a bit, they came to a door, with a torch attached to the side. Link took it and lit it on the parted lava flowing beside him. He worked the door open. By the sound the door made when it reverberated, the room was very large. The room was very dark, save for a few of the torches lit by Eldin. A huge, spiral winding staircase lead down, on and on. So far down, link may as well have called it seemingly endless. But of course it had an end. Presumably the demon gate.
Ghirahim wrinkled his nose "Ugh. It's so dusty and hot in here.. and there are so many stairs. It'd probably be quicker to fall.." He looked over at Link, whose face said 'don't even think about it'. Ghirahim chuckled. They started down the stairs. Eldin's warning had been right. The stairs were dilapidated somewhat, and there were spider webs abound. Ghirahim certainly made his displeasure known, through grunts, groans, and the occasional swear. Link longed for his old silent companion.
The step under link collapsed without warning. His eyes widened, as he lost his footing and fell. He hit something hard. His eyes slowly fluttered open. He rested upon a diamond platform, not unlike the one he had fought Ghirahim on in his final form. His head was mere inches from hitting the corner of one of the steps. He'd hit the platform hard, sure. But having his skull cracked open on that edge would have surely hurt more, if not killed him.
Ghirahim appeared on the diamond ledge with him "You aren't dead.. are you?" Ghirahim knew he wasn't dead. He'd stopped him just before he'd hit his head. Just on impulse really. Link grunted and sat up. His ribs hurt, but nothing felt broken "I'm.. alright.. I just got the wind knocked out of me.." Link looked at the platform, then back up at Ghirahim. He didn't bother to ask why Ghirahim had saved him. He was just glad he did "Thank you.." Ghirahim stubbornly flipped his hair and looked to the side "Yes well..! Try to be less clumsy, you oaf… How about we just continue down my way?"
The diamond platform slowly began to descend. Link wasn't about to complain. He rubbed his arm a bit, and stretched his now aching muscles. He stood up just as the platform gently landed on the ground, and dissolved "Here we are.. the bottom." Ghirahim muttered. It was dark, so link grabbed his torch, and groped at the walls. He felt some more torches and lit them.
When the room came into view in the dim light, there was a huge door in front of them. There were vine like markings carved into its design, and a large closed eyeball in the middle. The doorframe was thick, with four empty holes. At the top of the gate, a large red ruby sat at the top, nestled into a hole the same size as the empty ones. The trim of each hole was colored differently. The one with the red gem was red. One trim was white, one was dark blue, one was brown, and the other was light green.
Ghirahim nodded to himself "Yes.. just as I read. In order to open the gate, we need to find the four gems. That's why I marked those spots on the map.. There's a white gem, which represents sky, A blue gem which represents water, A brown gem which represents earth, and a green gem which represents forest. They are placed in the spots polar opposite to each other. Then the gate should open…"
Link nodded as he admired the gate. It was ornate, and quite amazing to look at "Alright.. but will we have to come all the way down here each time, with each gem?" Ghirahim wrinkled his nose "Good point..wouldn't want you to snap a bone on the way down each time " He went around the room, and set some glowing daggers into each corner. Link watched him "What are you doing?"
Ghirahim smiled "Setting up some points so I can warp us right here, in front of the gate. Saves a lot of time and broken little boys.." Link gave him a look, but nodded "Good idea… so which gem do we start on?" Ghirahim shrugged "It doesn't really matter.. " He looked at the door frame "I say water.. then forest, earth and sky" Link agreed "Alright. Let's get a move on.. It's hard to breathe in here.." Link gave a cough. Ghirahim snapped his fingers, and in a flourish of diamonds, they were outside, in the slightly more bearable heat outside the volcano. Link breathed in the fresh air appreciatively.
Ghirahim took out his map and pointed to Lanayru "That's where we need to head next" Link was grateful to trade this heat, for the Lanayru deserts heat. He nodded, his muscles still aching from his fall "Let's rest a moment first…" Ghirahim looked to him, and sighed softly "Make it quick. We've got a schedule to keep" Link sat down on the ground, while Ghirahim planned things out. Link watched him. Though Ghirahim was a flamboyant dolt most of the time, He did just save him from serious injury. He wondered why he would have.
Perhaps he didn't want to have to deal with the threat himself. That was most likely it. What else could it possibly be?
Eeeee thank you all for reading this UwU And thanks to Sabrina for helping me with the soon to be temples! :D I appreciate all you guys reading this, and putting up with my lack of updates VuV; 3
