Chapter 3: Sky Elevator

"So let me get this straight," Link said, with the Fairy Proxi translating his unspoken words. "You and Impa raised Zelda after her father was killed to keep her safe from Ganon but then seven years ago he took her away from you and she's been locked up ever since while you two left to search for the Hero of Infinite Possibilities."

"You got it," Lana said as she, Link, and Impa moved quickly across Hyrule Field as the sun rose in the East. "And we think that Hero is you."

"Just because I now look like this so-called Hero doesn't mean that I am him," Link said, looking down at his green tunic.

"That's what we're about to find out," Impa said looking back.

"So how do I get to Skyloft?" Link asked.

"With the Sky Elevator, of course," Lana said. "You'll see it in a moment."

As they crossed over a hill, Link beheld a large castle surrounded by tall walls. But what drew his eyes the most was a looming tower-like structure that went all the way up into the clouds made of metal. Once they came to the entrance, Impa and Lana put their cloaks back on as they slipped past the sleeping guards and into the Market area that was below Hyrule Castle which stood on a hill above it. Not a soul was in sight as the three crossed to the center of the Market where a glass structure covered in metal was seated at the bottom of the metallic structure. Across the gate to the structure, a wooden sign was tacked on written in Hylian.

"'The Sky Elevator is Closed till Further Notice. Sorry for the Inconvenience,'" Link read in his mind, then he turned to Lana. "What's going on?"

"We forgot to tell you that as of five years ago, the city of Skyloft seceded from the Kingdom of Hyrule," Impa said looking around cautiously. "I have friends down here who've been keeping me and Lana up to date on things since we left."

"So basically, no one is allowed to go in or out of Skyloft," Lana added as she took down the sign after Impa nodded.

"What are you—

Before Link could finish his sentence, Impa opened the gate and a door that was carved into the glass structure. Then Lana shoved Link into the glass structure and closed the door behind him.

"Good luck, Hero," Lana said though her voice sounded muffled on the other side of the glass. "May the Goddesses be with you!"

Link watched as Lana pressed a hidden button and then the glass structure went flying up into the air so fast that Link almost lost his footing. He held onto the brass bars located next to the seats that circled the interior of the glass structure. Below him, the Market grew steadily smaller along with the rest of the landscape. The clouds soon appeared and obscured the land below completely while above Link saw several structures floating in the air with the sun shining brightly over the horizon. He was so amazed that when the elevator stopped Link gave a sudden cry and fell onto the metallic floor of the glass structure.

"Get up, Link!" cried Proxi in her own voice. "We need to get out of the Sky Elevator before someone notices us."

In response, Link grumbled and got up. Outside, Link saw what looked to be the inside of an abandoned lobby of sorts. Cautiously, Link opened the glass door and then the metallic gate that was similar to the one in the Market before stepping out. He expected the dusty tiles to fall beneath his feet, but they were surprisingly steady. Looking around, Link noticed the morning light filtering in through an opening that was barricaded by wooden planks.

"Guess this'll be a good place as any to practice using this sword," Link said through Proxi as he unsheathed the Master Sword.

"Sounds like a plan to me," Proxi responded.

Remembering the practice he had with the wooden sword, Link raised the Master Sword above his head. Feeling its weight bearing down upon him, Link quickly ran towards the wooden planks and made a downward strike. This in turn caused the wooden planks to be split in half and the sun came filtering in. Beyond the opening, Link found himself standing in a circular garden that was overgrown with weeds with a scattering of trees along the rim. Above him stood three statues carved from limestone that depicted three women with long flowing dresses and hair. Each one carried a golden triangle with a different-colored stone inside ranging from red to blue to green.

"What are these?" Link wondered out loud as he gazed upon the statues.

"These are the Statues of the Goddesses."

Link turned to his left and saw a strange boy standing in the shade of a tree. He resembled a scarecrow with a straw hat, a plaid orange shirt, brown trousers and matching shoes. His eyes were bright orange and a wide grin was plastered on his face.

"Who are you?" Link asked, holding the Master Sword in a defensive position.

"I've gone by many names in my lifetime," the boy said as two Fairies circled around his head. "But my friends call me…Skull Kid."

"Is that another Fairy?" said one of the Fairies, who was purple and sounded male, noticing Proxi circling around Link.

"I didn't know they had Fairies down below," responded the other, who sounded female and was yellow. She and the other Fairy flew up to Proxi and the three circled each other for a while.

"It seems my friends have taken a liking to your Fairy," the boy known as Skull Kid said with bemusement. "The purple one is Tael and the yellow one is Tatl. Now tell me, stranger, what is your name?"

Link hesitated and then he said through Proxi, "Link, and the Fairy's name is Proxi. She's my translator."

"Translator?" Skull Kid raised an eyebrow.

"I can't speak, normally," Link said lowering the Master Sword slightly.

"So you're a mute," Skull Kid said nonchalantly. Then he eyed Proxi and said, "I don't think I've ever seen a Fairy that could translate its owner's thoughts into words. Where did you find her, or did someone give her to you?"

"I joined him of my own free will!" Proxi exclaimed flying toward Skull Kid till she was inches from his face. "Just because I'm with Link doesn't mean he owns me!"

"Okay, calm down, Fairy," Skull Kid said shooing Proxi away. "I was just curious. You should know, Link, that land-dwellers aren't allowed up here."

"I was aware of that," Link said bluntly.

"Yet you still came?" Skull Kid laughed a little. "You've got guts, kid. I like that."

"You won't tell anyone, will you?" Link asked, steadying his sword once more.

"Of course not," Skull Kid replied. "Everyone's business is their own."

"Then can you tell me where Zelda is?" Link said, sheathing the Master Sword.

Skull Kid blinked twice. "Zelda? The former Mayor's daughter?"

Reluctantly, Link nodded.

"If you're referring to her, she's locked up in the Goddess Statue," Skull Kid said turning to point somewhere behind him. "You can see it just beyond those buildings."

Link looked to where Skull Kid was pointing and saw a towering statue made of stone that resembled a woman with a peaceful face and angelic wings protruding from her back.

"The Priestess claims she's preparing for becoming the next Mayor when the current one passes away, but others say Zelda's being held there as a prisoner."

"For what crime?"

"I don't know," Skull Kid shrugged and started to walk away. "I've said too much already."

"Hold on, Skull Kid!" Tael shouted flying to catch up.

"Wait for us!" Tatl responded.

Skull Kid briefly looked over his shoulder and said, "Oh, by the way, you might want to consider a change of clothes."

Confused, Link went after Skull Kid. But upon emerging into the street on the other side of the weedy garden, Link didn't see Skull Kid anywhere.

To be continued…