The Hyrulian Valhalla Saga: Side Stories
By Queenie Z
Eternal
He almost couldn't believe that this would be his tenth trip to the top of the mountains and the highest point in the Heroes' realm. Pulling his cloak around his shoulders to shield himself from the frigid wind, Sky cracked a smile and continued his trek, trying to figure out exactly how long he had been doing this - eight thousand years? Nine thousand? Ten thousand, maybe? It boggled his mind to think about it, yet it also filled him with a sense of pride - after all, he had spent these long years ensuring that his kind's cycle of death and rebirth would continue without fail for all time.
When a new Hero arrived, he brought back with him the most important item in his arsenal, more vital to the destiny of their world than even the Master Sword - the Spirit of the Hero, a small yet powerful piece of his soul that had been shared by each and every Link. As the first in this long and proud line of chosen ones, it was Sky's responsibility to make sure that this piece was delivered safely back to the hands of the Goddesses, who would then use it to birth a new Hero. He would take it to the top of the highest mountain in the realm, the place where he could rendezvous with their creator gods, and leave the rest in their hands. This was Sky's final, eternal duty as the Legendary Hero, and it was a duty he was more than happy to fulfill.
He sighed, wiping his brow when he finally reached the summit, and looked down upon the rest of their heaven. It reminded him of his earthly home, the land now known as Hyrule. For a moment, he wondered what Hyrule would look like today from a loftwing's eye point of view. Perhaps he could ask one of the others when he got back - however, for now, there were more important matters to attend to, for he had to deliver the Spirit if Hyrule was to be protected from the remnants of Demise's curse.
Demise - the god of all evil, the one who was known by the other Heroes as Ganon - Sky couldn't help but think of that beast every time he made this journey. He looked to the horizon and spoke quietly to himself.
"Demise," he uttered, "I wonder if you ever grow tired of all this. All of your destruction, your bloodshed - do you ever wonder if it's all for nothing?" He smiled. "You can take on whatever name you want, but you'll always keep making the same mistakes, won't you?"
Sky held out his palm, where a small orb of bright green light manifested. He shielded his eyes from its brightness at first, but then he began to gaze upon it with affection and pride.
"You may live on forever, Demise, but so will we. Whenever you rise again, our kind will be there to stop you. Whenever your hate threatens the world we love, another Hero will be there to protect it. That's how this story has always gone, and that's how it'll go on for eternity."
He brought the orb of light close to him and shut his eyes. "I guess it's time for you to be born again, isn't it?" He then held it high into the air, offering it to the skies above and Old Ones who dwelled beyond. "May the gods take good care of you. And..."
The spirit shot into the heavens and disappeared beyond the clouds.
"...Good luck."
Satisfied with his work, he turned and began his descent down the mountain and back to his kin, and together they would await the next Hero - together they would await a new member of their family.