After resting for a while longer, I wake up and exit my dorm room. Over to my right, floating gently above the stairs is that mysterious woman from my dreams. A mystical flute melody begins to play as I slowly walk over to her.
"I know you."
She doesn't answer.
I follow her up the stairs and through the hallowed halls of the Knight Academy until she exits the building. I quietly push open the heavy wooden doors. Arriving outside, I realize it is night. She waits for me to catch up then continues floating around Skyloft, her gaze never leaving me. Chasing her, she leads me toward the Statue of the Goddess. Just as I'm about to enter, however, she reveals a secret hidden path leading underneath. I hurry along, when…
"Mia?" I ask, seeing the familiar cat-like creature sleeping in the middle of the path. Walking forward, I soon sense danger.
Wait a minute…
She wakes up and turns around. Suddenly, her rounded ears turn pointy, her eyes glow yellow, her fur fluffs up, and her claws and fangs are bared. I draw my sword to defend myself if she attacks. Luckily, only one light touch from the tip of my blade is enough to keep her calm. I diverge from my path for a moment to open a chest I spot. Inside is yet another red rupee. Once I place the gem in my wallet, I continue following the mysterious woman. A narrow ledge lies ahead. Jumping up, I grab hold of the skinny ledge and, with every bit of strength in my hands, I slowly make my way across. Once I reach the other side, I battle a few monsters before hopping across open sky and onto smaller floating islands. I kill a couple of slimes, then jump onto a nearby cluster of thick ivy vines and climb upward. By now, I know I am close to my final destination. Soon, I find myself at the base of the Statue of the Goddess.
Why did she take me on such a dangerous route?
Hovering in front of a false door, the mysterious woman stares at me for a moment before sinking through the veil. I follow her.
Now inside the Statue, I immediately notice the lovely sword embedded in a stone pedestal before me. With an intricate teal handle and shiny platinum blade, this weapon is truly stunning. I approach. Suddenly the woman I've been following pops out of the sword. She rises to look at me, and at last, she speaks.
"The one chosen by my creator. I have been waiting for you. You will play a role in a great destiny. According to your social customs, I should provide you with my personal designation. Fi is the name I was given." Her voice is melodious and ethereal; I can understand her perfectly despite the mysterious language she speaks. I gaze upon her in wonder.
"It's nice to finally meet you, Fi," I say.
"I was created for a single purpose, long before the recorded memory of your people. I must aid you in fulfilling the great destiny that is your burden to carry." She turns to look behind her. "Come, Adrienne. You must take up this sword. As the one chosen by my creator, it is your destiny."
I step forward.
"The strange dreams troubling your sleep. My sudden appearance. Uncertainty surrounding the fate of one you hold dear. Under the circumstances, it is only logical that you would exhibit some apprehension. To minimize your uncertainty, allow me to share some information. My projections indicate that this information has a high probability of altering your current emotional state."
"What is it, Fi?"
"The one you seek, honorable Zelda, is still alive."
Oh, thank God.
"And this spirit maiden… the one you call Zelda… is another chosen one fated to be part of the same great mission. Therefore, should you wish to meet with your friend, I highly recommend you take up this sword before you set out to search for her." She pauses. "Does that information invigorate you? Are you ready to accept this sword?"
"Yes. I am." I step forward. Fi floats higher up so she is now above me.
"It seems that further persuasive measures will not be required. In the name of my creator, draw the sword and raise it skyward."
I nod then grab the weapon's hilt with both hands. I give it a small tug and hear the click of metal against stone as the sword slides smoothly out of the pedestal. Adjusting to the weight of the weapon, I thrust the sword's point skyward; a blue glow travels along the edge, eventually illuminating the whole blade.
"Recognition complete, Master… Adrienne… My master."
I lower my sword to look at it closer. Gently running my fingers along the blade, I notice a faint ladder Damascus pattern.
It's beautiful…
"Adrienne!" a male voice calls from behind me. Startled, I jump and then turn around.
"Oh, Headmaster Gaepora. What brings you here at this hour?"
"I've had my suspicions, but until now I wasn't sure."
"About?"
"Yet here we are in the Chamber of the Sword, the very place where it was foretold the youth of legend would one day appear. It is said that this place was left to our people by the goddess herself. The very knowledge of this room's existence is a secret passed down to a select few each generation, along with a handful of words…"
"Which are?"
When the light of the goddess's sword shines bright, the great apocalypse will wake from its long slumber. Do not fear, for it is then that a youth, guided by my hand, shall reveal herself in a place most sacred.
"Fascinating."
"It started days ago. The sword that I've kept secret all these years… It began to give off a faint, otherworldly light. At first I was sure I was seeing things, here alone with the sword. There was simply no other explanation. I never dreamed the prophecy of legend would come to pass in my lifetime." He looks up at Fi in wonder. "The words I have sworn to keep secret are coming true before my very eyes."
The youth will be guided by one born of the blade—one who is also youthful in likeness yet wise with knowledge immeasurable.
"Ah yes, the oral tradition, one of the least reliable methods of information retention and transmission. It appears that critical sections of the passage have been lost over the generations," Fi says.
The youth who draws forth the guiding sword shall be known as the goddess's chosen hero, and it is she who possesses an unbreakable spirit. She shall be burdened with the task of abolishing the shadow of apocalypse from the land. Such is her destiny. With the spirit of the blade at her side, she shall soar over the clouds and plummet below… And united with the spirit maiden, shall bring forth a piercing light that resurrects the land.
I let out a light gasp and a vision of Zelda crosses my eyes. Just as quickly as it comes, it fades. I shake my head slightly to clear my mind.
"Master, you must embark on a great journey beneath the clouds to the vast realm of the surface. It is only through this journey that you can fulfill the mission set before you by my creator, the goddess. It is also the only method available for you to reunite with the spirit maiden, honorable Zelda."
"This is no easy task, Adrienne. The world below is a forsaken place, and to reach it you must pierce the cloud barrier below. In living memory, no one has ever done this," Gaepora says. Fi lifts her flowy sleeves. A blinding light shines in front of her, and from it emerges a stone tablet. She sends it my way. I reach out to grab it.
"This tablet will illuminate a path through the clouds to the land below. Take it, and place it within the altar behind me."
Now claiming the tablet, I notice a green gem embedded in it.
Interesting…
"Master, the first thing you must do is hit the crest sitting in this room with a Skyward Strike. These blasts are formed of pure energy that charges within your blade when you lift it skyward. Once you have charged your blade, face the crest and swing your sword to send out a powerful Skyward Strike."
I'd been so focused on the sword that I didn't notice the Hylian crest floating in front of me. I step forward some more, then, raising my sword to the heavens, allow holy energy to flow through the metal of the blade. Once charged, I swing my sword downward. A brilliant flash of light springs from the sword and strikes the crest which begins glowing and spinning. When it stops spinning, the altar beneath it rises to reveal a rectangular hole. I grab the tablet and place it inside the hole.
"Master Adrienne, it is done. Until now, a cloud barrier created by the goddess has separated the world you know from the one below. The tablet you placed in the altar has opened a small rift in the barrier. You can use it to travel through the clouds to the realm below. I have recognized you as my master, and so it is my duty to follow you wherever you may go. I reside within your sword and will accompany you in your travels." She floats into the air and transforms into pure light before reuniting with my new weapon.
"Adrienne, listen a moment." Gaepora begins. "The nature of the great apocalypse mentioned in the old texts is a complete mystery to me. But whatever it turns out to be, it seems that both you and Zelda have big roles to play in the destiny of this land. Just think—if what Fi says is true, Zelda is alive! Alive and no doubt coming to terms with whatever it is the goddess has in store for her. Should you heed the call of destiny, I don't know what dangers you may have to face, Adrienne. Especially down there… But if you've decided to brave the unknown, please find my daughter and bring her back to me." He pauses. "What we've seen here today defies explanation, but it is only the start of your journey. Please, see it through and prove the legends true."
"It's so much…" I whisper. He puts a hand on my shoulder.
"Ah… I'm sorry, Adrienne. I know it's a heavy load to shoulder, but you're the only one who can bear its weight."
"I know." I smile at him. "I'll do it. I promise." We both look up and around us.
"Dawn is drawing near. It has been a long night for both of us, hasn't it?"
"Indeed it has."
"You have a great journey ahead of you, Adrienne, and those clothes… They don't look up to the task."
"You have something in mind?"
"The uniform you were to receive for winning the race should be ready by now. A sturdy uniform like that will prove much more suitable for a long journey. You'd better change before you go."
Let's do this.
***
Back at the Knight Academy, I strip and put on the infamous clothes of the hero of legend. I now wear a soft green tunic with dusty tan pants, fingerless gloves, brown leather boots, and a long pointed cap. My new sword sits in its holster strung across my back. A knock at my door interrupts my thoughts.
"Come in."
Headmaster Gaepora enters the room and stands across from me.
"That green uniform is what our knights will be wearing this year. To be honest, I've had my doubts about the color. But oddly enough, seeing you wear this uniform, I can't imagine a more fitting color for you. It's as though you were born to wear it."
"Thank you, sir."
"Of course, Adrienne. Take care on your journey, and be sure to stop by some of the shops at the bazaar here in town to equip yourself properly for the travels ahead. I will return to my quarters and see if I can glean more useful information from the ancient texts. You are always welcome to stop by if you have questions. You and Zelda shall be in my prayers. May the goddess watch over and guide you both."
"Thank you."
"Oh, Adrienne, I hear your sparring instructor, the Knight Commander, also knows that you will set out from Skyloft. He's concerned for you. Why don't you consider stopping by the Sparring Hall and speaking with him before you go?"
"Sure thing."
"Adrienne… be safe out there. I'm counting on you to find Zelda!"
"I'll bring her home. I promise."
With that, I leave my dorm, but not two seconds later, I run into Fledge again.
"Adrienne!"
I walk over to him.
"That green uniform looks so adventurous! You sure look like a knight now."
"Thank you."
"The headmaster said you're heading out to look for Zelda."
"Yes, that's right."
"You're really something else. I could never imagine myself doing what you're about to do." He smiles at me. My eyes glaze over, thinking about all that is to come.
Koloktos… Ghirahim… and Him.
"I put a lot of work into making this! You should take it with you." He hands me a big leather pouch. "It's an Adventure Pouch. It's for… adventures. It's neat because you can fit four things in it that you'll need on your big journey.
"It's lovely. Thank you, Fledge."
"Of course, Adrienne! You can buy all kinds of stuff at the bazaar that you can put in this pouch. You should go look! You could buy some potions and a shield. They'd fit in the pouch, and they might come in handy on an adventure. Adrienne! I just know you'll find Zelda for us."
I nod to Fledge and walk away. I nearly run into Groose's friend but decide not to talk to him. Instead, I go outside and find Instructor Horwell.
"I heard the news, Adrienne! Zelda's fallen down through the clouds and you're going to look for her. Is that right?"
"Yes."
"The headmaster told me there's land beneath the clouds… Do you know anything about that?" He pauses. "So that's the famous sword… Ah, but it won't do you much good if you don't have a shield to protect yourself with! Here—take this with you!" He hands me a circular wooden shield with a loftwing footprint on it. "The wooden shield is light and maneuverable, but it's the weakest of all the shields. Also, keep in mind that it's particularly vulnerable to fire. If it breaks, you can buy a new one at the bazaar. If you're not sure how to use a shield, Knight Commander Eagus at the Sparring Hall will happily teach you."
"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind." I hurry off to the bazaar when Fi pops out of my sword and floats in front of me.
"Master, I have an update regarding the stone tablet and the resulting column of light it created. A column of light has appeared to the south of our location, and signs indicate that it has created an opening in the cloud barrier to the land below. I must also caution you that descending to the surface armed only with a sword would result in a decreased probability of survival. If you have not already done so, I advise you to purchase a shield and potions at the bazaar in preparation for your journey."
"No worries, Fi. I have a shield. And I'm heading to the bazaar now."
"Understood."
With that, she disappears into my sword once more and I begin to make my way to the bazaar. Soon enough, I enter the giant purple tent, my eyes widening in wonder.
Whoa…
Shiny lanterns with intricate metalwork hang above my head. And all around me are vibrantly-clad vendors selling their wares: potions, arrows, bombs—you name it. I wander around the bazaar, drinking in the sights and sounds. I soon notice a dark-haired woman in a yellow dress and blue shawl clapping her hands, enticing people to come look at her colorful, sweet-smelling potions.
"Hey! You there! Yes, you! The adorable girl with the black hair!"
"Oh, um, h-hi!" I say, walking over.
"Welcome to the Potion Shop! You can drink our potions when you're injured to heal up. Hey, you're one of those knights, aren't you? Or one in training, at least, hmmm?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Let me tell you, one look at you and I can tell you'll need my potions by the cauldron full! So don't try to slink away without stocking up."
"No worries. I have plenty of money."
She smiles at me.
"Oh dear… I forgot to ask if you have an empty bottle on you," she says. I shake my head.
"I'm afraid I don't."
"Just so you know, I can't sell you a potion if you don't have an empty bottle to pour it into. For some reason, I like you, though, so I'll give you a spare empty bottle I've been keeping here in the stall!"
"Oh, um, thank you! How much?"
"Oh, it's nothing. It's my little gift. You won't hear me say this often, but you can put other things besides potions in an empty bottle, so it's a useful thing to carry around! If you ever get to the point where you can't fit any more stuff in your pouch because it's full, you can always drop items off at the Item Check."
"Ah, okay. Good to know! Um, where is that?"
"Right over there!" She points behind me. "So, what would you like to buy?"
"Let me take a quick look…" I say, wandering along her table of potions.
I end up buying a bottle of the red potion, then head outside. I race to the platform that I jumped off at the Wing Ceremony. Once I get to the edge, Fi pops out again.
"Master, the column of light is visible from here."
"I see it."
"Dive off a ledge and call your loftwing from here, where you can see the column of light. It is time for you to set out on your search for Zelda."
She returns to my sword, and I jump off the ledge. I whistle as loud as I can. My beloved loftwing rushes to meet me and together we fly off toward the green light. As we close in, Fi appears one more time.
"Master Adrienne… Observe. The green pillar before you is a column of light. It marks the point at which you can descend to the surface. It appears that you will be able to reach the surface by passing through the portal in the clouds at the column's base."
"Thank you, Fi."
With that, she vanishes once more, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I push my loftwing to descend until I have reached the middle of the hole in the sky. And then… I jump.
As I fall through the clouds, I hold my sailcloth tightly in my hands. One thought lingers in my mind…
What lies below the clouds?