The Legend of Zelda: A Hero's Legacy

Chapter 10: For Eternity

10

The goddess appeared a few metres from his body. At first she thought she was on the Isle of the goddess and that Link was sleeping against a rock. She studied the area around her and realised that she was only a few metres away from the pit she had just sealed the demon in. She approached Link slowly, her eyes filled with a great sorrow. She knelt down, gently lifting the top half of Link's body, almost too gently, as if he might fall apart in her hands.

"Link," she said, her voice a pale imitation of the great strength she so usually possessed. How was it possible that she, an omnipotent and mighty goddess should feel such anguish for a mortal? Yes he was no mere mortal. He was a hero. A legend. 

"Your imprisonment was willed by the heavens. It was meant to make you strong. Like a sword hammered and honed so that it would never break. It was necessary to transform you into one fit to wield the master sword..." The goddess raised her right hand and summoned the Master Sword to her. It hovered a few metres above them. "The sword was tempered by your spirit. You woke it... and will serve as its master for all eternity... this is because you deeply love the land of Hylia... and all its people." Tears began to form in her eyes. "As I do... but because of this, your life has been full of suffering. I have watched you... and felt your pain like a knife through my body." The goddess placed his body down and waved her hands. A white light enveloped Link and sent him into the earth.

"I will ensure that your gentle, heroic spirit will live on eternally. And I..." Yes, she was a higher being, and perhaps incapable of understanding true sacrifice, and love. But this did not have to be so. "I shall shed my divinity. The next time we meet, I wish to stand before you as a simple human." The goddess' feet left the ground, rising gracefully, like a feather, into the sky. "Whenever the land of Hylia is in danger... we shall be reborn..."

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And so thousands of years later...

"And so the goddess was never seen again..." Link began to blot out what Instructor Owlan was saying. Of course he knew the story of the ancient hero who had saved everyone and sent the island into the sky. The island's inhabitants prospered and they called it Skyloft. He started to listen. Just in case he was questioned about it. "...the lesson here being that we must be faithful to her teachings, such was the goddess's benevolence."

Yes, everyone knew. Since then, their way of life had been uneventful. A legend, perhaps a myth was all that kept them dreaming. Certainly it was so for him, but dreaming so often, meant being unsatisfied with life on the ground, the sky at your fingertips, yet always out of reach. 

 Link yawned.

"LINK!" Zelda hissed in the seat beside him. "Don't disrespect the teacher." Link smiled softly, almost dreamily at his friend. Zelda, always so fun and care-free. Except in class. There she was serious and boring.

When class was over, Link walked along the edge of the cliff that was said to be where Orin and Veran, two of the great hero's friends, leant over the edge to plea their friend to come with them. He looked down over the edge, imagining the hero was looking right up at him. How awesome it would be to be the hero and save Skyloft. Unfortunately he was stuck here. As he strolled along the cliff he started to mutter to himself.

"I wouldn't say I'm especially bored... but ever since I was little, I've always found myself looking up at the sky."

"WHY IS THAT?" A voice echoed from the clouds. Link jumped.

"Wh..." He leapt back in fear as a loftwing flew towards him from the sky. "WHAT THE...?" Link stepped back in in awe, fear sweeping through him. "THAT RED BIRD! IT'S COMING THIS WAY!" With a swoosh of its wings, the red loftwing drew to a halt a few metres in front of Link. The force of the wings sent a strong gust along the grass and Link had to steady his feet so he wouldn't fall.

"HELLO" the loftwing bellowed. Link's jaw dropped. A talking bird. Finally, something interesting!"I HAVE LONG WAITED... THIS MOMENT." Link smiled. For some reason, he thought, that's what I felt the red loftwing's eyes were saying to me.

"Allow me to guide you through this tale. It was written on the heart of a young boy, as pure as fresh parchment... a story that weaves destinies and spans eternity. Though we have been parted by time and distance, my spirit will always be with you..." Link approached the loftwing and placed his hand on its beak.

"Can we be friends?"

We shall fight together for eternity...

THE END