I watched the green column of light shining out of the clouds. My new wood shield was heavy on my back, along with my new sword.
My Father's parting words had been simple: Stay safe. I planned to, but venturing to the unknown surface was nerve-wracking enough without having my childhood friend to save.
Taking a deep breath, I leapt from the edge of Skyloft, feeling slightly heartbroken that it might be a long time before I'd come back. Shaking off the nostalgic feeling, I whistled for my loftwing. She came easily, and then we were soaring.
I guided my bird to the column of light, and gave a start as Fi leapt from my sword.
"Now Mistress," she called to me. "Dive into the column of light. When you reach the surface, use your sailcloth to slow yourself down for the landing."
I wondered how Fi knew. I had brought extra material for a new sailcloth, but it was still rough, not quite the beautiful creation I had given Link. It made me sad to think of him, but I could see Fi's point.
I looked down at the circle in the clouds that had opened up. I could see green down there-maybe trees-but there was no defined shapes. Taking a deep breath, I leapt off my Loftwing and plummeted. Angling my fall, I found myself in the center of the light column. Straightening out and closing my eyes, I let gravity take me down. Down to the Surface. Down to Link.
It felt like I fell forever. I opened my eyes and saw trees and moss-covered stone rapidly approaching. I yanked the sailcloth from my belt and held it open. it caught and I drifted down onto a small stone circle. As I looked from left to right, Fi leapt from the Goddess Sword.
"Mistress Zelda, we have arrived. this is the fabled surface that has long been part of Skyloft Legend. By my calculations, you are positioned in a location known as the Sealed Grounds."
"Please proceed with caution, Mistress," Fi added, before returning to the blade. I took a steadying breath and forgot what I was doing right there.
The Surface smelled so different than the Sky. It smelled like rain and...like freshly tilled soil, and...so many other things I had no name for.
With a shake of my head, I returned to my senses. I was here for Link. Not for sightseeing.
I began to walk toward the ancient building I noticed on another ledge of the pit, when a huge plant came out from the ground.
"Ah!" I screamed, yanking my sword and shield free and holding them ready. "What is that thing!?"
"Target Lock: Deku Baba," Fi answered, though she had not left the sword at all; instead the hilt was flashing. "This violent plant is widespread in wooded areas. It will attempt to bite anything that approaches it."
"Like me!" I cried, dodging the mouthful of teeth. I slashed at it, but the crazed plant bounced away.
Though covered in a tough outer shell, the interior of its husk is soft. I have confirmed there are two varieties those that open their mouths vertically, and those which open them horizontally."
"Thanks!" I yelled, slicing in a line parallel to the ground, the way the Knight Commander had taught me. The Deku Baba turned black and faded into shadow as it's head fell in two neatly sliced halves. Then I noticed the one behind it. A quick up-slash finished that one.
I ran on, killing two more biting plants on the way. I then leapt down onto the threshold of the old building.
All at once, reality began to flicker. I looked around, but there was nothing on either side of me, nor behind me. Then I looked down into the pit.
It was far, but I saw it: a spike standing out of the ground. Dark wisps of smoke came from the earth around the spike. The ground trembled and the smoke flew out of the pit and blinded me. When I could see again, the world had gone red. The spike was gone, replaced by a growing pool of black. When I looked inside, I saw the face-or rather, facelessness-of the scaled monster from my dream. A sudden sharp pain pierced my forehead as I felt an ancient, malevolent presence. The creature rose from below me to standing above me, looking down with an apparent grin stretched across it's huge head, showing many sharp white teeth. Even as I drew my sword, I felt helpless. The monster lunged, as if to eat me...
And the world returned to how it should be.
"Fi?" I asked. "What happened."
She sprang from the Goddess sword at my call, ready with an answer.
"I cannot be sure, but I detect an 85% probability that you are reacting to the dark power bound to that sealing spike."
"Well then," I decided, "I'm going to go check it out."
It was a long climb, but I made it. Fi was right: just looking at the darkness seeming from beneath the spike made me nauseous. I drew my sword to make me feel safer. Then an idea struck: maybe raising the blade for a Goddess Strike would dispel some of the sick feeling.
As soon as I did, I felt so much better. Without thinking, I put the blade to my side, releasing the sacred energy. It soared, and then, hit the sealing spike dead center.
The spike-and the pattern on the ground around it-flared white. The black smoke vanished, along with my nausea. Then, the hole in the ground began blowing large currents of air. Fi appeared to give a report.
"Mistress, I have detected a change in the immediate area, a reaction to your Skyward Strike. I have also detected an aura that registers with your necklace."
For a moment, I was confused. Then I realized what she was talking about and pulled it free of my knight's uniform. A simple, wooden carving of the Goddess' symbol: a Loftwing flying towards three conjoined triangles. Link had given it to me on my last birthday, carving it himself. I had never worn it until now. Fi nodded at the necklace and continued.
"I summarize that this aura belongs to Link. I can lead you to this aura. Would you like me to?"
"Yes!" I yelled, excited again. Fi explained how she could douse, and the second she reentered my sword, I pulled it out and doused for Link. The signal was up by the old temple, so I caught a ride on one of the updrafts. When I landed, I noticed that a glowing orange eye-with-a-tear-symbol burned out. I ran over and pushed on the doors.
Slowly, they swung open and I walked in...