The Hyrulian Valhalla Saga
By Queenie Z

The Visitor (Part 6 of 6)

"...And you're sure you don't want me to escort you?"

The Spirit smiled and nodded. "You make this journey whenever a new Hero is needed; I couldn't possibly ask you for anything else."

"Mmm." Sky made an attempt to smile back at him, but soon enough his true feelings showed through. He looked down at his feet anxiously.

"...What's the matter?" asked the Spirit, "Do you have something to say?"

"I do," replied Sky, "but it'd just be petty of me after all you've done to make us feel better."

The Spirit tilted his head in curiosity. "It's better to be honest and a little petty than to hide your feelings," he said. "I'm listening."

"Well," Sky sighed, sulking, "it's just... I never really knew anything about you until now. I mean, I had a feeling that this whole thing was older than I was - but all this time, I'd always thought I was the first Hero." He scratched his ear bashfully. "...I guess I was just upset that I was mistaken. I was really proud of being the first, you know?"

Raising an eyebrow, the Spirit listened to his confession. Then, he began to chuckle, his shoulders shaking as he shook his head, amused.

Sky looked back up, turning red in embarrassment. "See? ...I told you it was petty."

"No, no, it isn't that," said the Spirit, "you weren't mistaken, Sky. I've always thought of you as the first true Hero, and you have every right to be proud of that."

"Huh?" Sky's eyes widened a little in bewilderment.

The old warrior stopped laughing and looked to the side. "...I was given a task by the goddess Hylia; to use the blade that heaven had bestowed upon me to stop the demon king once and for all." He lowered his eyes, an uncharacteristically sad expression creeping over his face. "And I failed to complete that task. I was wounded, and all I could do before passing away was help Her Grace send her people to the sky."

Sky stared at him. "That's - but you saved so many lives! Just because you couldn't stop Demise doesn't mean - "

The Spirit placed a strong hand on Sky's head affectionately, smiling warmly at him. "I know what I did," he said, "but you finished what I had started. You accomplished so much - you became a far greater man than I could have ever hoped to be." He looked up towards the heavens. "And that's why I owe it to you - to all of you - to keep this cycle going. In exchange for your eternal rest, the reward you all so richly deserve, I allow myself to be reborn again and again. I became the Spirit of the Hero," he lowered his hand and glanced back at Sky, "so that you wouldn't have to."

There was a long silence as Sky allowed the revelation to sink in; the revelation that this man sacrificed his eternal rest and the memory of his deeds for the sake of Hyrule - for their sake... He closed his eyes, trying desperately not to tear up, but was startled by a soft cloth being draped over his shoulders.

"You don't have to cry for me," said the Spirit as he finished wrapping his incarnate in his red mantle. "I don't regret doing this at all, and I know that you all feel the same way."

Sky grabbed the cape and looked at it, puzzled. "But, this is - "

"It suits you better, Hero."

Deciding that the Spirit didn't need his pity or his tears, Sky grinned at him. "...Thanks."

With a satisfied nod, the Spirit finally turned and began his journey towards the highest mountain in the realm, where he would surrender himself once again to the everlasting cycle of death and rebirth. Sky watched him leave, wrapping himself in the red cloth, and began to laugh.

"Should I have told him that I already have a cape like this?" he asked himself. Then, after thinking about it for a moment, he shook his head. "...Nah. This one's better, anyway."