Chapter 7: Waking

Link noticed the strain lines forming around Gaepora's eyes as he surveyed the crowd that had formed around the two Skyloftians and the strange, ethereal woman. He held up his hands.

"Now, this is personal business, everyone," Gaepora said firmly. "It's also quite urgent, so..."

"But-what's going on here?" Orielle asked. "I've never seen anything like her." She pointed towards the floating woman.

"She mentioned a Chosen of the Goddess," Pipit said, his expression skeptical. "Hardly seems personal to me-"

"Now as Headmaster, I have to insist that-"

"As I don't attend your school, I don't see how you can insist anything of me," Parrow said, standing next to Orielle. "Your student's right. This concerns everyone."

"Yeah. Out with it," A wiry, bronzed old woman said.

"This has something to do with the surface, doesn't it?" Karane said. "That tornado? The monster flying around?"

"All right," Gaepora said, his expression pained. "I'll explain everything. But first we must go to the Goddess Statue."

Gaepora was focused on the people who had crowded in closest, but Link noticed Groose standing near the back of the crowd, his expression dark. When Groose noticed Link looking over at him, his scowl deepened and he said something, but the words were lost in the murmurings of the crowd. Link turned away. It was better not to pay too much attention to Groose. At least with the crowd around them, he was confident the larger elf wouldn't try anything.

Link had quite a few questions of his own, and was considering how he might attract the attention of Gaepora or the winged woman. To his surprise, however, the winged woman faced him as she spoke.

"My designation is Fi," she said. "Please follow me to retrieve the sword, Master." She began to move backward in the direction of the Goddess Statue. Link walked toward her briskly moving form, aware of the crowd that followed behind him and Gaepora.

When they reached the Goddess Statue, Fi turned and tapped the stone with one of her wings, causing it to fade away into a doorway. The crowd grew louder then. Link stepped in after Fi, hearing a multitude of footsteps on stone behind him.

Fi stopped abruptly, floating above a sword encased in a rectangular block of stone. "Master, it is time for you to draw forth the sword, to become the Goddess's chosen hero, the one who possesses an unbreakable spirit. It is time for you to seek out your friend-the spirit maiden, Zelda."

A hushed murmur began in the crowd at those words. Link walked up to the stone, and was preparing to draw the blade, when he was roughly pushed out of the way onto the floor. Groose walked in front of him.

"You can't be serious," Groose said, walking up to the sword. "Weakling like you probably would never even get that thing out. Here, let me help-"

"No!" Gaepora said. He tried to move towards Groose, but the crowd between him and the sword was too thick to move through.

Groose walked up to the sword and grabbed the hilt with both hands. Straining, he pulled at the sword, one boot pushing the top of the stone. And to Link's horror, pulled the sword out of the stone.

"Whoohoo! It's mine! I'm the Hero of the Goddess now!" Holding the sword with the hilt pointing in the air, he looked up at Fi. "Now tell me where Zelda is, spirit-thingy. This Hero's ready to rescue his beautiful maiden!"

Fi stared at him with unblinking eyes. "There is a 0% probability that you are my Master. Relinquish the sword so that he may take it."

"What!" Groose gave Fi a horrified look. "But—I pulled your sword from the stone! I passed the test, just like in that ancient legend!"

"Your objections are irrelevant. My sword does not work that way. Hand the blade to my master, Link, or I predict that there is a 100% chance that my lack of cooperation will force you to return it." Though her expression didn't change, Link detected an edge of menace in those last words.

Groose dropped the sword to the ground, his expression one of disgust. "Fine. Who needs a sword with a cranky spririt-thingy anyway? Go babysit Link while I do the real work." He pushed through the crowd and stormed out of the statue.

Link reached out and cautiously picked up the sword. Standing slowly, he held the sword in his left hand and brushed himself off.

"Now, raise the sword to the sky, Master," she said. Link did as instructed, and the sword glowed with a blazing blue light. The murmuring of the crowd rose in volume.

Fi surveyed the onlookers. "I ask you all to please stand back now, so none of you will be harmed."

the crowd of onlookers did as instructed, and Fi instructed Link to strike towards the stone bird in front of him. Link did so, and to his amazement, a flash of light from his sword hit it. A tablet appeared in the arms of the small Goddess statue in the room, and Link placed it where Fi instructed him to. "The attack you performed is called the Skyward Strike," Fi said. "Only the chosen Hero can use it. Just as I answer only to the chosen Hero, and to my creator."

Link looked to Gaepora as the portly man cleared his throat. The Headmaster had apparently managed to find his way through the crowd while Fi had been talking to Groose and Link. "Now, I will ask for silence, or I won't explain anything," Gaepora said to the crowd.

As the crowd quieted down, Gaepora spoke. "I am the Guardian of the Goddess Sword, and sworn to keep the secrets of the ages." He smiled nervously. "So I hope nothing horrible happens for breaking my vow, but I can see that none of these secrets can be kept for any longer." He shot a brief, sidelong glance towards Fi.

"My daughter was captured by that tornado, and taken to the surface. When I realized what had happened, it was then that I knew that she is none other than the mortal chosen to hold the spirit of Hylia."

Link's eyes widened in shock. What the Sheikahs had said was true? Surely it couldn't be otherwise now—he didn't think that Gaepora just happened to share the same insanity the surface dwellers were infected with.

"I am afraid for her, but this is her part to play in the destiny she shares with the chosen hero." He looked down briefly. "And I must accept that." Looking back up, his eyes scanned the crowd. "The surface is a hazardous place. I would advise all of you to avoid it. It is the destiny of Link and my daughter to travel there to restore the balance to our world. Otherwise the darkness on the surface may rise even to here, above the clouds."

"Like that creature flying around? The one with all the eyes?" A woman from the audience asked. Link recognized her as Pipit's mother.

"Yes," Gaepora said. "There are all manner of fearsome creatures on the surface. In comparison to the others I have heard of, that one is only a small menace."

The audience began murmuring again, and Gaepora looked down at Link. "Let's go get your Knight's uniform now. I'm sure they're not done with me." He gestured to the crowd. "But we need to get you ready for the surface."

Link looked back toward the doorway, with the late afternoon sunlight streaming through it. It was turning out to be a long day.

Link placed the cap of his Knight's uniform on his head and adjusted the tunic slightly. The chainmail under the tunic was a new weight that had him moving strangely, but Gaepora assured him he would get used to it in no time.

The preparations to leave the school happened quickly. Gaepora was eager for Link to start searching for Zelda. According to him, Link needed to guard her from any who tried to harm her until she completed her mission on the surface. Though Link had drawn a picture of Sparrot, and depicted what he had told Zelda and Link, Gaepora had only said that a mere fortuneteller couldn't really be expected to understand how an actual prophecy worked, and that Link shouldn't worry about what he had said.

On his way out, Link nearly bumped into Fledge.

"Sorry, Link!" the other student knight said. "I was looking for you, though! I heard all about how you're the Hero of the Goddess and everything! And, well, I thought you might be able to use this." he offered Link some sturdy pouches that could be attached to a belt. "You know, so you can hold all the equipment you'll need." Link took the pouches. He nodded, clapping Fledge on the shoulder.

"Er, glad you like it," Fledge said. "I wish I could be more helpful, but something would probably eat me in two seconds if I tried to go down there to help you. Besides, I'm such a coward. I wish I could be strong like you."

Link gave him an encouraging smile and did a few push-ups.

"Er, yeah. I guess that would be helpful. But I wasn't really talking about physical strength."

Standing back up, Link took the pad of paper and pencil he usually carried with him and drew a quick sketch, giving it to Fledge.

Fledge looked at it and gave him a small smile. "I'm not sure what that giant scaly monster that's eating you is supposed to be, but you sure made it look happy. I guess I see what you mean, though—what you're doing is dangerous for anyone. Be careful, Link. And good luck."

"So, you're back," the old Sheikah woman with the pointed hood said. She gave him a small smile. "I see we have not been properly introduced, though. My name is Tala. I am called the Guide, the one who leads the Sheikahs."

Link held out a picture of Zelda.

"Ah, yes, she told me that you don't speak. Strange, but I suppose you must have your reasons."

He did, of course, but wasn't in the mood to explain them. It always took him more effort to convey something abstract like that. At least Tala seemed unperturbed by his silence. He held out the picture again.

"Impatient, aren't you? I assure you, she is fine. She is preparing for the quest ahead. You should prepare as well, if you wish to be a proper defender for her."

At that moment, Fi jumped out of the sword. "Yes, I will train him now in some aspects of swordcraft."

The older woman examined the sword spirit, her expression calm, although several other Sheikahs gave her dark looks.

"Yes, I know you will be up to that task," Tala said. "Just—be careful with him. I hope a creature such as yourself can learn from—past mistakes."

"Your concern is unnecessary," Fi said briskly. "I am capable of processing any and all information presented to me. And-" she turned to give Link a long look. "I think he is stronger than the last one."

Ghirahim was dreaming. He could tell, because the Shard of Truth had pointed this out the moment he had entered the dream. In its own way, it spoke to him every moment he was conscious, and a dream was simply a kind of entirely internal consciousness.

This dream was familiar—he had it fairly often. It was about an event that had actually happened. He found he had had more dreams about memories ever since obtaining the Shard of Truth. This one always started with the balcony and the two demons pressed closely to one another. He watched them from a distance, at an angle that he hadn't ever seen the actual event from, as he was one of the demons he watched.

"Lord Sirin, you are messing up my hair. Do you know how long it takes to get it looking as perfect as it does?" the dream-Ghirahim chuckled and licked the neck of the other demon.

"Surely not long, for one as talented as you, my lord," Sirin said, running his fingers through Ghirahim's snow-white hair and kissing his ear.

You loved Sirin more than anyone, once, The Shard of Truth noted.

"Yes," Ghirahim said to it. "Once."

The dream-Ghirahim was making a soft purring noise. "You don't have to call me that, Silly Sirin."

"I know," Sirin whispered in his ear. "But I like to."

Ghirahim felt the perspective of the dream change, move to another day. The two of them were sitting over the table in the crystal garden, with the torches crackling in their sconces around the gate.

"Checkmate," dream-Ghirahim said.

Sirin gave him a look of mock dismay. The slender red demon leaned back in his chair. "I am defeated again!" He said dramatically, putting a hand over his forehead. "And in less than ten moves! Disgraceful! I must get better at this!"

dream-Ghirahim propped his chin on his hand, putting the pieces back on the board. "We can always try again. You'll improve."

He never did, Ghirahim thought.

"Do you love me?" dream-Ghirahim asked as he placed a pawn back on the board. He looked down. "I'm sorry. You don't have to answer that."

Sirin gave him a wide smile. "But why wouldn't I? Of course I love you. More than anyone else in the world."

Dream-Ghirahim dropped the rook he was holding. "Oh. I thought it was rude of me to ask, is all. Almost like prying into your thoughts."

"I don't mind you prying a bit," Sirin said, his eyes lidded. "Especially not about that."

Yes, secretive Sirin. Your secrets could not so easily be pried away from you.

The dining room. "I'm glad you could accept my invitation this time," Sirin said.

dream-Ghirahim sat at the table. "Me, too. Affairs of state do keep me rather preoccupied. So, this is your estate? I do like your use of glass—makes everything so much brighter. I guess your sister is out today, though?"

Sirin's brows rose. "You remembered that I have one? I admit, I sometimes forget," Sirin said. "To tell you the truth, she doesn't much like me."

Dream-Ghirahim smiled. "Then I guess it's just me and you, hmmm?"

"And my excellent cook. Oh, here he comes right now."

Ghirahim watched as the food was laid out and the glasses filled with water. Dream-Ghirahim lifted his glass to his lips, and then—paused. There was a slight scent—one of the rare mushrooms he had been studying, to improve his ability to recognize spell ingredients. This one had stood out to him when he had studied it, not only for its rarity and obscurity but also because it had to be handled carefully, even as a raw ingredient. Under no circumstances should it ever be consumed.

He noticed that Sirin had started eating, but had not touched his water. The cook had poured them both from the same pitcher. Dream-Ghirahim placed the glass back on the table.

Sirin looked up. "Are you not hungry?"

Dream-Ghirahim looked down at the table. "I just wished to ask a question."

"Of course," Sirin said. "What is it?"

"Did you know that the Marblecap mushroom you have infused this water with is a potent toxin that permanently enfeebles the mind?"

Sirin looked up, his eyes wide with shock. "I don't-" he stopped.

"Wrong answer," Ghirahim said, lunging at him.

The palace. Orynx and Laris stood at either side of Dream-Ghirahim as he lounged in the diamond-patterned throne. Two dungeon-guards dragged a considerably more bedraggled Sirin up to him.

"Oh, hello again. Ever so glad you could accept my invitation to your trial. I understand the rats keep you so busy."

"Please—I beg you for mercy."

"Mercy? But we haven't even pronounced your guilt yet. Maybe this is all just some enormous misunderstanding that you will clear up for me. Please use this time to explain whatever you wish. I am all ears."

"I know better than to lie to you," Sirin said. "I am guilty, as you say. I have always wanted the throne."

"You couldn't be bothered to share, though, I see. A common problem among nobles, it seems."

"But I couldn't kill you!" Sirin said, his eyes wide. "That was why I used the Marblecap- because you would have still lived. Because I loved you—still love you—more than anyone else in the world."

Dream-Ghirahim could only stare at him. "You truly are a terrible, wretched creature. That you can say that, and it can be true. I can only assume your cold, dead heart does not consider my mind an essential part of me."

He gestured lazily. "I think we can get on with the sentencing now. Orynx, if you would-"

"Please! Don't—don't kill me!" Sirin said.

Dream-Ghirahim laughed. "Oh, you don't understand, Silly Sirin. I'm not going to kill you."

Sirin's face sagged in relief. "Thank you, my lord! I knew you wouldn't-"

"At least, not as you define it, apparently." Dream-Ghirahim snapped, and saw the color drain out of Sirin's face as the vial of Marblecap-infused water appeared. He handed it to Orynx. "Make sure he drinks every last drop of that."

Ghirahim woke with a feeling of immense satisfaction, yawning. He stretched lazily in his bed, smiling as his eyes looked out the darkened window at the weak light filling the pre-dawn sky. That dream used to upset him. But now, he looked on that episode in his life as a lesson he had learned, and a victory he had accomplished.

Some said that love conquered all. But it had never quite managed to conquer him.

Link woke to a voice of flutes and violins.

"Wake up, Master. It is time to travel to Skyview Temple, to assist Zelda."

Link blinked, forcing himself to rise. The bright morning light filtered through cracks in the temple door. Usually, he would never get up this early. But if Zelda needed his help, she would have it at any time of the day. As he prepared to leave the temple, Link pondered how he felt about her. He knew that it wasn't the same way that Pipit felt towards Karane. But that didn't matter. She was still the closest friend he had. While most of the people of Skyloft made an effort to accommodate his silence, she did more than that. She understood him better than anyone else. And that meant everything to him, because the one Knight of Wisdom he had met had warned him that the path would be a lonely one. Despite that, Link had chosen it, because he had seen in her eyes a great inner understanding that he had never seen in anyone else before—and that he hoped to someday have himself.

Link followed the Sheikahs to the side door. This was the door that was the safest to exit. The large double doors led to the pit, which he had been told was currently swarming with demons, although the Sheikahs had redoubled their attacks on the shield. The area around the pit was immensely dangerous, they said, because the demons could pass through the shield at will, moving outside of it to strike the Sheikahs and then retreating back behind its impenetrable surface, where neither the Sheikahs or their weapons could follow. Link wished the Sheikah had also explained why everyone was trying to kill each other, but maybe he would find out later.

Link walked cautiously through the forest as he mentally ran through the instructions Fi had given him. They seemed fairly straightforward—he felt his knight's training had prepared him quite well for handling difficult situations. He just didn't know why Fi thought the part about not killing people would be so difficult. Of course he would never do that.

He stopped suddenly as he came upon a rocky creature surrounded by five demons.

"Get lost!" the creature said, swatting at the demons.

"I think we've found ourselves an unruly civilian," one of the soldiers commented.

"What do you think we should do with him?" another one asked.

"More than we're allowed to," the third one said, poking at the creature with his spear. "Still, I say we-"

Link drew his sword and scowled at them.

Link had first used his sword to disarm his attackers, knocking their weapons from their hands with well-placed strikes. Then, he'd knocked the five demons unconscious and tied them up with vines he'd seen hanging in the trees. He had dragged them into a nearby cave.

"Thanks," the creature said, relieved. "Usually, I'm good at avoiding troublemakers like that, but I guess I wasn't paying enough attention."

"The name's Gorko, by the way," the rocky-looking person said. He extended a hand towards Link. "What's your name?"

Link took his paper and pencil out and wrote it out, handing the slip to Gorko when he finished.

"Link, then," the creature said. "I owe you one. Um, I guess you don't talk?"

Link nodded.

"Hmmm. How strange. Say, did you know that I saw a whole bunch of demons walking through the forest, earlier? They didn't seem to notice me, but were heading for the Deep Woods. Saw a couple Sheikahs heading there, too, although one of them was dressed strangely. You're dressed kind of strangely, too, I guess. Do you know her?"

Link didn't answer, but ran towards the Deep Woods, towards where Fi had told him Skyview Temple was. He didn't know what the demons planned to do, but he had a bad feeling about it. From what he had seen and heard, wherever there were both Sheikahs and demons, death soon followed. He had to make sure Zelda was safe.