Deep Woods are not really that different from Faron Woods themselves. There are a few deep ravines in the area caused by local geological forces, but otherwise they're largely the same. Right at the entrance was another small tribe of red Bokoblins, which like their fellows were used for a bit more practice with the sword, and the chance to try a few ideas I'd had. I know it's a tradition for us all to have shields, but much like Manic I rarely actually resorted to mine for general combat. I preferred to keep one mailed fist free to punch at my opponents instead.
A lone Bokoblin a bit further on learned the lesson of not trying to fight me too close to a sheer drop, trying to block my sword while I gave a stunning blow that sent it tumbling into the abyss, screaming after me.
It didn't really achieve anything special, but little things make all the difference. And it was funny to watch it screaming and flailing on the way down.
Link had left several ropes scattered around the area already in place, the first crossing a large crack in the landscape. With a Bokoblin waiting on the other side, I paused before stepping on, using my newly acquired slingshot to shoot at it and get its attention.
It wasted no time in running toward the rope and starting to cross, trying to keep its balance. I could have shot it some more, but instead I waited until it got about half way, then started hacking at the rope. It stopped, screaming and waving its hands frantically. Then I cut through the rope.
In defiance of the natural order, the Bokoblin hung shocked in the air, staring at the dropping rope, then it too screamed after its comrade.
Me? I just leapt the gap and climbed up the wall, the way you'd expect me to. What did I need the rope for, but a little light amusement? Oddly enough, when I came back later I found the rope had been replaced – as had the Bokoblin.
I kept following the clear path as it turned into weathered but bright white stone bricks, at least until it hit another, considerably larger crevasse, guarded by an Octorok that lasted all of about ten seconds from the moment I spotted it. This gap, I was not going to be able to cross quite so easily.
So I climbed up the rock beside me, and who should I spot but good old Gorko, puzzling over a large metal cube that had intricate designs over. Designs that made a Loftwing.
"Hey, Gorko – what've you found now?" I called to him.
Gorko gave me only the briefest of glances, but in that glance recognition was clearly there.
"I tell you bud, your timing could not have been better!" he rumbled. "You see this thing here? I stumbled across it just now, and it looks just like something out of those ancient texts!"
"Don't suppose you happen to remember what they said about these things, do you?"
"Let me see now," he paused to think. "Yup, this was said to be one of the things the Goddess left behind for the Hero of Legend. Pretty amazing, right? I've even given them a name – Goddess Cubes!"
"Makes sense. I wonder if they react to a Skyward Strike too?"
"You know, I was just thinking that myself? The texts, they say, what was it now... Summon forth a light from the heavenly blade – I reckon that's that sword you got – and may that sword's master receive aid. That's it."
Somehow, and don't ask me how, Gorko managed to completely miss the implications of the fact that my Skyward Strike, which did in fact cause the cube to react, meant that I was the Hero of Legend he'd mentioned.
The cube turned from dull metal to shining light, shrunk down into a ball of even more intense light, then soared skyward. There was no immediate sign that this would give me any help as Gorko's texts suggested – but that came later.
"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I'd completely refuse to believe it!" Gorko boomed. "It shot up into the sky, and who knows what it did? Listen, Knuckles – there's said to be cubes like that all over the land. Do me a favour and hit 'em every time you see one?"
"Sure thing, Gorko. Who knows, maybe you'll figure out what they do before I do!"
"It's not who figures it out first that matters, Knuckles – it's what we figure out! You come back and tell me if you figure out anything, won't you!"
I love that Goron. He's so dedicated and passionate about his work he's almost completely oblivious to anything else, including a Hero staring him in the face.
From him it was fairly easy to jump over a comparatively smaller crack in the landscape and make my way down to the Temple side of the earlier, larger one. Another Goddess Cube was here, quickly activated, and watched by Gorko as it too reached for the skies. I had a feeling I'd find out what they did up there.
Another bird statue sat right outside the Temple – and I have to call it a Temple, because there could be no doubting that the giant, sprawling structure waiting here, even overgrown, was anything other than the first real dungeon of my adventure, the Skyview Temple.
Fi once again put in an appearance, starting to tell me what I already knew – again.
"Master Knuckles, I have detected Zelda's aura emanating from within this structure. However, I have also detected the presence of numerous monsters also within. Are you sure you wish to proceed at this time?"
"If there's nothing else I can do right now..." I answered.
Fi nodded briefly, "It would be unwise to display overconfidence, Master. Within these walls, none can come to your aid save only me. It would not be appropriate to assume that Link will assist you within the confines of the Skyview Temple. Therefore I advise we utilize this bird statue to return to the sky and investigate the readings I have gained from the two Goddess Cubes you have activated, and also to ensure you are properly prepared. It may be wise to see about upgrading your shield, if materials allow you to do so."
"Alright. Do you know how to make these things take us up?"
"I regret I cannot impart information that is not available to me, Master," Fi apologised in her fashion. This one I was going to have to figure out for myself.
"Alright, bird statue," I told the stone in a firm tone. "I'm going to the sky, and you're going to help me with that, now."
The stone remained impassive.
I repeated what I'd said, this time emphasized with the sword itself.
The stone continued to ignore me.
"Perhaps you may require your parachute?" Fi suggested.
"Can't hurt to try," I started, taking it out. "But I don't see-"
I broke off, largely because a sudden blast of wind sent the parachute booming out above me, yanking me off my feet and soaring quickly away from the ground. Fi quickly retreated back out of sight and into the sword along the way.
It worked, at least. I could have done with a bit more of a warning, but...
In any case, the howling winds blew me over to the cloud rift and into the relatively calmer airs above, where after only a few moments my Loftwing called his greeting as he glided easily to meet me. Any concerns I had about the Temple just melted away right then. Did I mention I love to fly?
Fi appeared again, having no trouble keeping up with my Loftwing.
"I have localized the readings I obtained when you struck the Goddess Cubes, Master," she said, easily heard over the wind. I can guide you to the islands on which the resulting reactions occurred in the same manner in which I guided you to Zelda."
"We'll do them first," I shouted over the wind. "Which is closer?"
Fi just vanished, my sword again tugging approximately south of us. One of the many tiny islands in the sky that had little purpose to it, except for me to visit periodically. There were a few wild trees and plants, but what stuck out when I got there was the gleaming blue chest, shining light the same way the Goddess Cube had done after activated. Inside was another of those heart-shaped crystals, which like the first vanished when stored, and also offered no explanation.
The second one was on the island of the Lumpy Pumpkin, a bar that served meals and drinks made entirely from pumpkins – and was doing well enough that the owner had even got a custom-made, very expensive chandelier. Something he constantly reminded people of.
The chest this time was outside, and was actually just an additional pouch for the Adventure pouch, allowing me to store one more item. Or possibly more, since it too looked bigger on the inside. I managed to reach in and go all the way up to my shoulder without finding an edge – in a pouch that was smaller than my own fist!
The chandelier was unbalanced, which obviously caused some concern. Since I had no wish to incur the apparently not inconsiderable wrath of the owner of the place, and no one else was willing to get close to the damn thing, I helped rearrange the furniture so I could climb up and take off what was unbalancing it – about fifty rupees in total, and yet another heart crystal, all of which I was allowed to keep for doing what no one else wanted to do. Sometimes, being a Hero isn't all action and adventure. It's not immoral for us to do mundane things too, you know.
Once I'd stayed for a drink (Hot pumpkin soup – what else?) I carried on, knowing I did have work to do, and headed back to Skyloft itself, and the bazaar. Gondo was the only one I actually needed to see as such, taking my shield and a few of the odd little treasures and knick-knacks I'd picked up and didn't bother to tell you about – monster horns and claws and the like. Little things that were useful.
While he still lacked enough metal to make a fully metal shield, he used the various items to upgrade the simple wooden shield into a banded one, which could stand up to a lot more. And while he was working on that, I also stopped by and paid a visit to Peatrice over at the bank, and asked her about the crystals.
"Oh, those things? I know them. That green guy mentioned them to me."
"Link?" I suggested.
"Probably. Said you needed them four at a time to get any benefit from them, and he thinks they'll make you health. Something like that. I wasn't really paying attention. He wasn't a customer, so..."
"I think I might have to poke him myself and figure out what he means," I mused. "It's not as if I'm not healthy already, right?"
Peatrice just shrugged. Later on, after I'd stopped by a good deal more times, she started to take more of an interest, but early on she just looked constantly bored and didn't really do much beyond running the place.
Before I left Skyloft again I also helped an enterprising young man named Beedle, who was trying to assemble some kind of cross between a windmill, a wooden shed, a shop, and an exercise bicycle. No one else seemed willing to help him with his contraption, so I spent a bit of time helping him out before Fi patiently reminded me we did have work to do, and so I had to be on my way. The Skyview Temple awaited.