Nightmares - Skyward Sword {ZeLink}

Chapter 3 - Nostalgia

Link’s P.O.V

My mind was still yet to process the turn of events that had just occurred. The emotional pain that I, let alone Zelda, would be going through is unbearable. It took me long enough to grasp onto the idea that I, a mere boy who is still learning how to be a knight, was chosen by the Goddess herself to carry the burden of completing her mission. I couldn’t tell if what I am doing is an absolute privilege, or just a heavy burden?

 I hadn’t seen Skyloft for a long time since accepting to do this mission for Hylia herself, so I decided to clear my head for a while, see my friends. Maybe they could give me a spark of hope in my position. I mean, of course they would never know how I am feeling right now, but you never know. Something small can go along way; that is definitely something that I have learnt on my journey so far.

I flew my crimson loftwing down to a landing place in Skyloft that anyone rarely uses. I really just was not in the mood to be asked questions about this mission, or Zelda for that matter. I can’t stand thinking about her, being cloaked in crystal for Hylia knows how long. I hopped off my feathered friend, and made my way to the Knight Academy through the upstairs entrance.

 I opened the door quietly, trying to not make such noise that a student could possibly hear me. I unobtrusively walked across what seemed like the very long hallway, but then I just had to notice that Zelda’s room was directly to my right. I couldn’t help but come to an abrupt stop in my path, and to stare. It felt wrong me wanting to go into her room, but I guess that would be the closest thing that would be getting near to Zelda at all.

 I jiggled the door handle a little bit. Locked. I sighed in defeat and let my hand drop towards the floor, like it was going to disconnect from my body and just flop. I slumped downstairs towards my room, looking towards the first floor before hand to check if there were many students around, Pipit mainly.

 I finally made it to my room after what felt like years of effort. The scent of my dorm brought ease to my mind almost instantly, making me feel like I was home once again. During this time, I have felt indeed homesick. I have missed seeing the familiar faces greeting me around Skyloft, flying on my loftwing with one of the most important people to me. Oh, how I missed those days. But those days will be gone for quite a long time. I drooped onto my bed, burying my face into my pillow and moaning from a lack of sleep and from ambivalence. I had so many emotions going through me at that moment, now that there wasn’t a particular event happening.

 I tried to sleep so I could gain some sort of strength to help me carry on my duty as the “Chosen Hero”, but my mind would not allow me to do so. I tossed over, messing up my bed covers whilst trying to find the most comfortable position that existed, but it was no use. So for the first time, I gave up. Trying to sleep of course. I rotated myself so that I was looking towards the ceiling. All of a sudden it became so interesting to look at.

 Thank Hylia that I drifted to sleep without me even realising it, but I was hoping that my sleep would be much more peaceful than I intended it to be. Boy, was I wrong. I instead encountered a nightmare, but it didn’t feel like my own.

It was dark and cold. A place where no known human would ever want to be, even the bravest man alive would be petrified. I tried moving, but it felt like my arms and legs were not apart of me anymore.

 I was completely trapped, unable to move in anyway humanly way possible. I started struggling, trying to force my arms to move. It felt like I was trapped in a standing position, like a frozen figurine.

 The blackness turned to grey, which turned to white, which then revealed a slight change of colour in my surrounding environment. I tried opening my eyes; well that worked. All I could see was orange though. Why orange? Where am I anyway?

 The orange was slightly transparent, allowing me to see though the sheet of colour blocking my vision. I was apparently in a room, the walls seemed to be made of stone with some vines growing through the cracks.

 I looked straight ahead of me and I saw two doors that were open, and through those doors were what looked like one giant gear being rotated by two smaller ones. I suddenly knew exactly where I was. I was in the Temple of Hylia.

And at that exact moment I knew where I was; I was in Zelda’s position inside the crystal. I suddenly felt my breath become laboured and slightly rugged. In no way did this feel like a dream, although it was impossible since Zelda is meant to be where I am.

 A flurry of diamonds blocked my vision for a few moments. Once they cleared, a character was standing within a few metres in front of me. It moved closer towards me with two black swords in either of his hands. Ghirahim.

 The moment he took another step, my position was changed. I was suddenly in Ghirahim’s position, looking through his eyes, while Zelda was once again concealed. I suddenly realised what was happening; I was Ghirahim, I had 2 black swords in my hands, and I was walking towards Zelda. Oh no…

 I tried stopping, but I wasn’t in control of myself anymore. I was but a spectator through Ghirahim’s senses. I stopped walking, and raised a sword above me. “NO STOP WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” I yelled at myself. The sword made impact on the crystal, and what happened next made my blood boil, and my stomach churn. Zelda screamed. It echoed in the back of my mind...

over, and over, and over...

 I woke up in an instant, out of breath and sweating like mad. I was so glad that was only my imagination, or I would never forgive myself if that ever happened. I covered my eyes in disbelief of what I witnessed and sat up. I looked outside and the sun was setting; just enough time to fly before nightfall.

 I rapidly made my way outside of the Knight Academy, ignoring the students that greeted me along the way. I had one priority at the moment, and that was to save Zelda. I ran off a diving platform and whistled for my crimson loftwing. I steered him into the direction of Faron woods, towards the path where I would find my first part of the song of the hero.

Wait for me Zelda, I’m coming…