This storm was unnatural. Everything about this place was unnatural, and the appearance of dark clouds and startling flashes of blue light only made the scene that much more unnerving. Demise called down the lightning in a similar way to Link's Skyward Strikes, as though mocking his inability to call upon the goddesses' divine light here. Link raised his shield and with a resounding clang the gargantuan sword rebounded off the surface, the electricity in the blade feeding harmlessly into the hard material. Link backed away in the few seconds while his enemy recomposed himself – and then he realized, two could play at this game. He raised his sword to the sky and the crackling energy was instantly attracted to the metal of his sword, filling it with a powerful jolt and leaving it sparkling with the flame-like plasma. Link rushed Demise with the charged weapon, hitting his mark.
His sword clanged against Ghirahim's fierce blade, and knowing that the spirit resided within sat strangely inside the hero. The crystal in the hilt seemed to flare with each strike, something Link noted only in the back of his mind. Demise hadn't been the face of evil through his long ordeal – he'd been a vague threat of impending doom on a scale so great it could hardly be fathomed. But Ghirahim… the demon had antagonized Link time and time again, actively pursuing and threatening something specifically dear to him, and so all the anger and fear and hatred he felt when he thought of the cause of all this bore Ghirahim's countenance.
He attacked with ferocity, a strange satisfaction in the clanging of their blades as Link felt the Master Sword bite into Ghirahim's sword. Still now, the fight he waged felt so much more directed at the spirit than his master – if he hadn't interfered, Demise wouldn't be breathing at all! His eyes followed the black edge, his calm concentration momentarily distracted until he recovered himself. The blade wasn't his target, the hand behind it now was. How odd it was, to still sense Ghirahim's life before him rather than being able to ignore him now that he inhabited a completely different shape.
This demon king would possibly stir little but revulsion for his terrible threats if not for the display he'd been witness to before the battle had begun. The way he'd wrenched the prideful figure of Ghirahim into submission held an inexplicable horror to Link. Perhaps it was in the terrible juxtaposition of the spirit's overwhelming personality and the servitude he'd suddenly exuded, or maybe it was because Link himself knew what it was like to be the master of a sword, and would never imagine treating Fi in that way. Regardless, the spectacle had put some of Demise's cruelty on display; the only evil of his Link had been witness to with his own eyes.
This was enough to quell some of Link's anger toward the spirit and again arouse his pity. He took his mind off of Ghirahim. There was nothing he could do now.
The demon king was beginning to weaken now, falling full on his back with Link's blows. The hero kept to his feet, splashing in the shallow water, refusing to let himself slow. There were no nerves, no hesitation, no doubt. No thoughts of destiny or saving the world distracted him. It was just this moment now. Just the fight.
One last slash sent the vile creature that was Demise back and Link acted on his opportunity without even a split second to think about it – he leapt high in the air, summoning the electric force into the Master Sword to mingle with its holy light as he thrust it into his enemy's chest.
He leapt back, knowing that even as Demise rose to his feet he was on his last breaths. The demon king's words were haunting, but Link let them glance off him for now, standing strong despite the fierce battle, staring him down with the proud eyes that reflected the depths of his spirit. The great sword vanished, to Link's surprise, seeming to fade into a nothingness that befitted an end to such a malevolent weapon, refusing to simply shatter. The now-former master soon followed, his essence captured into Link's sword, and the spell binding the dimension broke and set him free.
Link stood tall as he returned to his friends, everything seeming to fade into a calm static, a strange standstill as he tried to wrap his head around the fact that it was over, all over.
He smiled with the group, taking part in their small way of celebrating. He let himself take in the happiness, the release that relief brought. He was proud, in a way. He was stronger, holding himself in a quietly self-assured manner. He felt a measure of peace as he stood atop the statue and looked out on the world, which suddenly seemed brand new all over again.
He finally parted from Zelda, telling her he needed to be alone for a bit, to allow himself to truly think about everything that had just happened. The overwhelming relief was beginning to settle, and a questionable uneasiness spread through the hero's center.
When he closed the door to the great temple, he slowly slid to the floor and hugged his arms around his knees… and allowed himself a moment to mourn.
The Master Sword stood proud in its pedestal across the room, but Link knew the little blue spirit inside would never leapt from its hilt again. The sheath on his back felt light and empty, and it nagged at the back of his mind, like something so obvious as an arm had been detached and left behind.
Link finally dried his eyes, taking deep breaths and resting his head back against the door, listening to the silence of the stone walls.
What about you, Link? What will you do now?
It was easy to consider the endless options before him. They had a whole world ahead, a land that Link felt a deep love and loyalty to that he could not fully explain. This was a beautiful land worth protecting, worth exploring, worth living in.
The world was at peace, and its hero made content by it.
The rest he allowed when first returning was a long-sought relief. His young body had built itself up through the grueling trials he'd been put through, but the fatigue had gathered itself over that time, and he found himself sleeping in preposterously late for the first time in months. Just this small thing offered a sense of solace – there was, indeed, a piece of him inclined to remain mostly unchanged when given the chance. He reveled in the laziness he could finally, truly grant to himself.
The coming days brought about the beginnings of change. Talk of transitioning to the surface and plans to match were being developed, and the unaffected population of Skyloft were finally aware of the impending doom that had been prevented. Link withdrew from such discussions, and more so the questions, the odd stares of people who had once simply been his neighbors and shopkeepers; these familiar faces were now made strange by a degree of separation no conversation could hope to breach. Their lives had continued on, unaware and without fear, and now the potential changes ahead still did little to present the scope to which Link had been transformed. Where there had once been that tight-knit community feel that came with the fairly small population, Link seemed to have stepped into a realm slightly off to the side. The people didn't seem to know how to regard him; questioning, reverence, amazement, or simply indifference seemed to be the most common reactions on their faces.
There was loneliness, but there was also assuagement in their safety.
Link wished more than ever for the company of Fi. Little as she knew of emotion, she at least possessed the memories of what Link had endured, and the thought of the comfort that would bring left a small ache. He spent a lot of time with his Loftwing, taking consolation from the familiar feeling of the bond between the boy and his bird as he flew over the world he had traveled on foot, glad that the guardians would take them below the clouds now that the danger had gone.
What about you, Link…?
The academy was quiet. Link lay stretched out on his bed with an inherent patience that let time slide by without disruption. But it wasn't as easy and drowsy a patience as the boy was used to wasting time with. He still felt a tug that compelled him to action, a habit that had yet to recede from the weeks of forced momentum he'd been put through.
He opened his eyes slowly, softly flexing his fingers, his palms facing up at his sides. Was it only habit that caused this restlessness? Perhaps he should go out and do a search; confirm the presence of peace. He was sitting up and pulling on his boots before he could fully finish the thought, but abruptly he came to a halt again, sitting back on the bed with a sigh. A strange feeling crept across his heart, one of uncertainty and… something else. Dread?
He put the compulsion and the unease away again, letting it slip away like a bad dream. He stood, picking up his sword belt and heading out for a slow walk through the falling dark in Skyloft.
What will you do now…
Link continued only getting more restless. He thought the end of it all would send him right back to his old life, but it was becoming more and more clear that he was not just his old self. His muscles were trained to be a swordsman, and his feet to be a traveler, and he couldn't ignore the demands his new mental state drove him toward.
The slow process of building a life below the clouds began, a task Link left to Zelda almost fully. He did have some things he wanted to take on himself… he knew the land better than any of them possibly would, having seen a lot its beauty, resources, monsters, and other inhabitants, and that continued exploration and education was where he contributed the most. Still, the hero kept largely to himself outside of more necessary conversations.
This wasn't unusual to anyone, really – except Zelda.
A knock on the door got Link's attention, looking up from the block of wood he'd been working with. He'd looked over this morning to see the partially carved figure he'd left on his desk months ago, and it was a strange thing, to be reminded of such a simple hobby he'd had talent in before his new skill set had taken over. He'd picked up a new bit of wood, enjoying returning to yet another small piece of himself that remained unchanged.
"Yes?"
The door opened slowly, and the blonde hair of his best friend was obvious as she poked her head in. "Hey, Link. Mind if I come in?"
He smiled and gestured her to come closer.
She closed the door behind her and walked in, putting a hand on the back of his chair and smiling down at his handiwork. "It's been a long time since I've seen a new figure of yours. It looks good."
He brushed off some of the shavings and set it down. "Thanks." He turned his head to look up at her with a small smile.
She smiled back and turned to stand at the side of the desk and face him. "Some of the knights went exploring around the woods today. They said your maps were really helpful."
He nodded, his eyes bright. "The Kikwis helped me in making sure they were as accurate as possible."
"Ah, yes, the Kikwis! They're being lovely to us, aren't they?"
"They like everyone who's not trying to eat them." He leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms, rubbing his bare wrists, his gloves and bracers off to the side of the desk.
Zelda laughed a bit and clasped her hands. "Oh, and um… some of the knights – they were also asking… if you would train them a bit? They're convinced you know much more about swords than what they learned here at the Academy."
Link rubbed the back of his head, his face falling slightly. "I… I dunno." He paused. "That's kind of strange for me to be known for, isn't it?" His lips quirked humorlessly at the corners. "And I'm still not… well, comfortable with my replacement sword, I guess."
Zelda's eyes softened with understanding. "The Master Sword is what you were born to wield. It'll be hard to find another blade you resonate with… give yourself time."
He sighed, slumping against the back of his chair.
"Hey… Link, I know it's probably not been easy trying to get back to normal life the past couple weeks… we both have a lot of adjusting to do. But… are you okay? You've been so distant…"
He chewed at the inside of his lip. "…I'm not sure. It doesn't feel real yet. Sometimes it doesn't feel like it's all over." He blinked after the words left his mouth. He hadn't been aware that was the truth of how he felt until he'd said so. "It so abruptly ended… I guess I'm still just processing." He thought again for a moment before looking up at her. "Do you ever feel… feel like revisiting some of the old places? I keep getting these urges to go back, like making sure it's all still there."
"Maybe you should." She tilted her head, regarding him kindly. "There wouldn't be any harm in giving yourself that kind of closure. What's holding you back from doing it?"
He blinked, his brow furrowing as he realized he wasn't sure what had made him convince himself out of it every time the urge had struck. "I… I don't know."
"You should go, then. Visit the temples. Visit the dragons. Visit Fi. Go see the world in the peace that you gave to it."
He nodded, and she squeezed his hand before leaving.
With evening descending, he figured he'd spend the rest of the day preparing for the journey, going through a mental checklist that had become familiar to him. He headed out toward the bazaar, but found his feet taking him all the way down the path and through the plaza until he stood on the platform directly facing the opening in the clouds leading into Faron. He stood silent and still, save for the wind rustling through his hair and his hat, lost in thought.
His eyes slowly closed, and there was a sudden rushing sensation, like he'd fallen headfirst into water. He wasn't afraid, even as inky blackness swallowed him. His eyes slowly opened, and he saw something far in the distance – a light, an undulating orange-red light, too far to make out anything else about it. Link was inexplicably drawn to it, but he couldn't move from where he was, hovered in midair. He squinted, trying to see, straining to hear. He could barely make out a strange sound, like whispering that was steadily getting louder. The louder it got the more an uneasiness spread through him, until the feeling that was drawing him in was suddenly the very thing making him struggle to get away, covering his head with his arms. Something was wrong here, something dark and insidious that he couldn't place despite a familiarity that nagged insistently at his memory.
He shouldn't go closer, but how he wanted to, like a horror-driven fascination, an urge to open Pandora's box. A laugh echoed through his head, and the scene abruptly dissipated.
His eyes leapt open and he startled as he found himself back in reality, still standing on the platform. He looked all around him to confirm the reappearance of real life, and his eyes slowly settled on the opening in the clouds again, stepping forward with his brow furrowing. Whatever he'd just seen, if he could place an origin on it, felt like it had come from there. Link stepped back slowly, and turned away.
He knew what had prevented him from acting on his urges. Every time he had one, an abrupt desire to go explore the places he had come to know so thoroughly, it was met with an equally strong feeling of uneasiness. He would shake off both, and forget it had been there.
This knowledge unsettled the boy, and he again put off his decision to make the journey. Perhaps he should just stay in Skyloft for now. He had a feeling that whatever was drawing him toward the woods was something he shouldn't wake.
He'd been to Faron woods since the end of Demise, so what could possibly have changed to cause this was beyond the hero. But he forced himself to turn a blind eye to it, an inexplicable fear of the unknown bubbling up in him. Whatever it was, he didn't want any part in it. Not again.
In the coming few days, the feeling only began to demand his attention more forcefully.
He distracted himself from it, but it pursued him like an incessant buzz, an itch he couldn't scratch, a need he couldn't meet. The shadow of it followed him into his dreams, but he woke unable to remember what he'd seen. His attention constantly drifted over toward the direction of the woods, just staring into the distance.
"Link! Did you go out exploring like we talked about?"
The boy looked up to see Zelda, realizing he'd been leaning on the fence by the bazaar, gazing off into space.
"Oh- uh- I haven't really yet, there's just been some… other things I wanted to focus on first." He even managed a small smile, hoping to avoid further questioning.
Zelda didn't look entirely convinced, but she nodded slowly. "Alright… well…"
"Hey, Zelda, we're waitin' on ya!"
She looked over at the knights waving and back to Link with a furrowed brow. "Let me know if you need anything, okay?"
He nodded, and she reluctantly started off.
Link looked down at his hands, and his vision swam, a steadily building cacophony of noise clamoring for his attention until he snapped himself out of it.
I really should go… just for a visit. He thought. But then… maybe there's something out there that wants me to.
"Zelda!"
She stopped walking with the group and turned back to Link, who faced her steadily.
"I'll train with the other knights."
Link walked between the rows of knights running drills. Eagus had joked how he was "practically out of the job" the past couple days. Given the skill of the enemies he had faced, Link didn't realize just how high his own skill was, and comparing it against the knights of the peaceful Skyloft society showed the difference clearly.
He still felt awkward with his replacement blade, and the training hadn't been quite as satisfying as he'd somehow hoped, but it was a good distraction from the pulling force in his thoughts.
He drew his sword and planted his feet. Pipit stepped forward, holding a wooden sword in hand. Link could see the nerves hidden deep in his expression, and he took a deep breath to inspire the same calm in his classmate.
"Remember, you're going to try and get around Link's blocking." Eagus explained.
"The trick is to have a good eye on both my wrist and my blade." Link added, rolling his shoulder. "An enemy with a weapon – which I am acting as - is going to watch your attack directions as well."
"Yeah." Pipit nodded.
Link was swift in his reactions, easily warding off blow after blow. Pipit only landed a few small raps, but it was clear he was tiring long before his partner.
In fact, Link only began to show slight signs of wear after a whole line of fellow knights faced him one-on-one in a variety of drills.
"You sure you're alright, son?" Eagus asked him with a furrowed brow. Link blinked, straightening out of a fighting stance. He'd gotten a bit lost to it all, his mind taking over with reaction after reaction. He'd lost track of how long it'd gone on.
"Yeah, I'm-"
Weariness finally sunk into him with unwelcome familiarity. Not at all as harrowing as the exhaustion he'd faced before, but still there, so easily buried in the face of battle.
"I'm fine."
Eagus and a few of the other knights were still looking at him a bit oddly.
"You don't have time to stop in a real battle." Link murmured, putting his sword away and turning to go, to get out of sight the awed and disturbed looks directed his way.
"He really did face down a bunch of demons, didn't he…" One of the knights whispered as he left.
The next day, Link landed in the parched land of Lanayru, heading toward the figure floating just off the edge of the cliff.
"Link! I had wondered when you would return," the booming voice of the Thunder Dragon greeted him. Link tilted his head questioningly, smiling a bit.
"I knew that surely you wouldn't get used to civilian life so easily. I still have all your battles lined up and ready for you."
Link's face fell a bit, but he didn't want to show it. That was indeed the very reason he was here. He knew there was possibly one place left to put some of his now-seemingly-useless skill set to use again.
"I…" He faltered. "I never liked the fighting, but… apparently it's what I'm good at. I just don't know how else to keep myself moving forward."
The dragon nodded sagely. "You will find that path in time, young hero. But you are wise to act on what you can understand for now. You have become a warrior, and that's a lonely position, but I have faith you will eventually find your peace again. The resolution you seek to your restlessness lies not far away."
Link's brow furrowed slightly, but he nodded.
"Who would you like to face once again?"
"Start from the very beginning." He answered, clenching his fist.
"Very well! That would be Ghirahim, that creepy guy you faced in Skyview Temple."
Link's eyes jumped wide. How could he have forgotten – Ghirahim had indeed been his very first big battle. He tried to protest, but the dragon was already continuing, and the world around Link suddenly disappeared. He blinked, and a room came into focus, dim after the brightness of the desert.
Ghirahim stood facing him in the center of the room, easily standing out in his stark white. Everything seemed to hold still for a long second, the moment frozen, until all at once it came to life. Ghirahim advanced on him, with assured, even steps, his lips curled up at the corners. Link tensed, but his battle instincts weren't kicking in, and he stood stupidly still as his enemy approached. He could only stare, a sense of surreality locking him in place.
As he got closer Link could see a certain vacancy to the demon's black eyes, missing the spark that indicated that this was little more than a copy, a fake, a creation of the dragon's magic.
Link sucked in a breath, the paralysis that had been binding him abruptly breaking. He had to move. He began to reach for his sword, but Ghirahim frowned, and struck him with the back of his hand before Link could gather his wits.
He reeled to the side, his fingertips pressing into the blooming bruise on his jaw, but even so he kept on his feet and ran far enough to the side to create some distance while he righted himself. His head spun dizzily from the attack, but he drew his sword and stood at the ready anyway as Ghirahim headed for him again, arrogantly slow and nonchalant.
Link felt his forehead break out in a cold sweat. He'd already buried this enemy and his chilling stare the moment he exited that godforsaken dimension Demise created. When he came here today he expected some battles to keep his body busy – he hadn't been looking to dredge up the anger and fear these battles with the demon had wrought within him. He hadn't been prepared by any means to ever set eyes on him again.
"What's the matter, boy? You look ill." Ghirahim spoke in a smooth voice, just as taunting as Link remembered.
Link grit his teeth and gripped his sword tighter. He moved forward and struck with his sword, his eyes widening as Ghirahim caught it. He'd mastered this before – how could he be slipping up so easily?
He yanked the blade away and swung, forcing Ghirahim to leap back. His eyes flickered to the basic academy blade in his hand and he swore internally. He didn't like having to face off even a fake Ghirahim with a blade like this; if his resistance to the Goddess Sword and the Master Sword was so high, defeating him with this would be a challenge.
Ghirahim's eyes narrowed from across the room as he started for him again, his eyes drawn seemingly magnetically to the tip of Link's blade.
Link took in deep breaths. It's just a copy, he reminded himself. But he can still hurt me. I can't fall apart now. His eyes hardened. I won't fall apart in front of him… I won't fall apart because of him.
He stood a little straighter. Apparently this was something he hadn't put to rest within himself. One more battle, then.
He found his rhythm, remembering how to feint and get around Ghirahim's ready hand. The battle waged on longer than it should have, given the simplicity of Link's sword, but he fought fiercely to make up for it. Ghirahim seemed to react to this, attacking more earnestly than Link remembered for that first battle, when Ghirahim had been so calm and aloof in "toying" with him. His fingers twitched nervously. Wasn't this place supposed to be made of his memories?
He stumbled back, a shallow gash on his leg staining his pants red. His shield arm had the beginnings of a bruise, and his back ached. He didn't let his guard down as Ghirahim stepped toward him, licking the blood from his rapier.
"I swear I will send you back to your grave…" Link growled bitterly.
"Will you now…? Are you certain you ever did in the first place?"
Link's eyes widened at the knowing smirk on Ghirahim's face. There's no way he should understand – he just meant that to him, they hadn't had their final battle yet, right? He shook slightly; angry at the way Ghirahim pushed all the wrong buttons in him.
"You're not real!" He yelled. "You're gone! Dead!"
Ghirahim's face blanked again and he prepared to attack, seemingly back to being the blank imposter he should be, ignoring the boys' distress.
As he rapidly approached, Link struck with a vicious cry and leapt back, leaving Ghirahim standing still and heaving. His skin tingled and thrummed with adrenaline – he'd done it. A gong sounded somewhere in the distance, and Link waited for the scene to fade away.
He gasped as instead Ghirahim rushed him, slamming him against the wall with a fist in the collar of his shirt, his sword clattering from his hand. Ghirahim leaned in close to his ear as he struggled against the iron grip on him.
"I'll be seeing you again… sky child."
Link's eyes leapt wide, and all at once he was standing in the bright sunshine of Lanayru again.
"Welcome back!" The dragon greeted him enthusiastically. "Although, perhaps you are a bit more rusty than you thought, that battle took quite some time." He chuckled. "Are you up for continuing?"
Link was looking around him in bewilderment, hardly listening. His heartbeat began to slow, and he rubbed at his chest, lowering his eyes to see his sword in the grass beside him. He crouched to retrieve it, exhaling slowly.
"You didn't… see any of it?"
The dragon regarded him with a quizzical look. "Was there something out of the ordinary?"
The boy blinked. How had that escaped the dragon's notice?
"…No- no." He cleared his throat. "I'm done, though."
"Well, take this, you've earned it. Here you are!" He clapped his claws and awarded Link with a red rupee.
Link drank one of his potions as he walked away to ease the weakness of his limbs, then returned to the sky, circling around the sky for a long while, pointedly avoiding going near the northern sky. His mind felt strangely blank instead of buzzing. A part of him knew he had to face whatever new fate was in store for him, but for the moment, he continued pretending he could leave all of it behind him for good.
He finally landed, going to his room and bundling himself in his blankets.
