Over the course of seven days and seven nights, the goddess's army fought valiantly against the army of the Demon King. Vast numbers of humans were slaughtered. But, few though they were, the courageous people continued to fight, their resolve unwavering.
Exhausted and seemingly alone, the Hero Link stood against the Demon King himself. The three-horned evil towered over the man as a mountain over a tree.
"What's wrong, coward?" goaded the demon. "You are nothing without your gods. Weep! Howl! Turn and flee! Cast off your armor and kneel before me, and I may grant you the honor of serving us. Or would you rather these claws rend you asunder?"
Link stood tall and proud, his sword raised high. "I'm not afraid to die, but before I do, I will defeat you!"
With an easy wave of his arm, the Demon King left a gash in the hero's side. He laughed, "Foolish worm!" Then he moved on to other prey.
The Master Sword clattered to the ground as Link fell amongst his comrades. In his dimming vision, he could only see ash and smoke.
My hometown... the beautiful air... the mountains... the rivers... reduced to this. Will this be the last thing I ever see?
He felt the wind rush around him, and talons landed in front of him. Red wings fluttered around.
"Climb atop my back."
"Th-the Loftwing?" Link looked up to see the regal bird, waiting for his reply. He felt strength flow through his veins once again. "You mean you'll take me as your rider?"
"I have kept a close eye on your battle."
The Hero pulled himself onto the back of the Loftwing, and they took off.
The Loftwing cried, "We shall fight together – for eternity!"
Link asked, "Loftwing, will you show our people to the skies? I ask your guidance."
"As long as you fly with me henceforth."
Link tightened his grip on his sword. "Yes... I swear it!"
At that moment, as though offering a blessing, three dragons appeared and circled the two. A light shone from the Master Sword. Link held it up to see three gold triangles etched on the sword blade, glowing like the sun. He wondered, "This symbol–What...?"
"The legacy of the gods dwells within the Master Sword," said one of the dragons. "Hero! Present thy sword before the goddess!"
It was then that Link saw Hylia, the goddess of his land. He threw his sword down to her, which she caught with gracefulness and ease.
"My country... my beloved people of Hylia... my humans," she said. "Live on and bear descendants – Where the hands of the wicked cannot reach you, beyond the Great Sea of Clouds, at the highest limits of the sky. And there, guard the legacy of the gods–the Triforce–from the wicked!"
With a single swing of the sword, the Goddess Hylia rent the earth. The land began to quake, and the people, rejoicing, hurried to the castle.
"We're taking to the sky!! Gather at the castle! If you tarry, you'll be left behind! Hurry!"
"Link!! The sword!" Hylia shouted. "Take it!" She hurried to defend against the Demon King, giving her people time to escape. The last remaining civilization of the surface world rose higher and higher into the sky.
"Long live the beautiful land of Hylia!"
The hero reached for the sword, knowing what he needed to do. Without hesitation, he thrust the blade into the ground under the city. A beam of light burst up, and the sword helped the land fly.
"The Master Sword has become a pillar between heaven and earth, guided by the Loftwing, it rises to the heavens..."
Link's friend shouted down to him from the city. "Link!! Jump into the light – please! What are you doing?! Hurry!!"
But Link knew he couldn't go with them. The wound in his side sapped his strength. His knees buckled, and he lay against a rock, his eyes to the sky.
"May you thrive, my comrades. I pray for your happiness with all my heart. In truth, I wanted to take to the skies with you... but my body is heavy. It feels as though I'm stuck to the ground. I can't move. Curses!
"Loftwing, I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise. But, Crimson Bird, I hope that you can somehow grant my final wish.
"Ah... It doesn't hurt anymore. My spirit–will always–be–with you..."
The Hero closed his eyes for the last time.
In the pit left behind by the city, Hylia continued her fight with the Demon King. She almost had the demon sealed away, hopefully for all eternity. That didn't stop him from claiming his power.
"Where have you hidden the golden triangles?" roared the Demon King.
Hylia answered, "They have gone to a place which you will never reach. A sacred place that evil will never violate. There to be protected by my devoted people."
"They rest in the hands of humans? Curse you, goddess... Do not think that this ends here. That absolute power will be mine. And when that day comes, the demon tribe will rule over the world as kings!"
Thus were the last words of the Demon King. Having finished the seal, Hylia flew down to the Hero's side, but she was too late. She held the hero in her arms, calling his name. "Link... Link!
"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 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... as I do."
Tears ran down the goddess's face. "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.
"I will ensure that your gentle, heroic spirit will live on eternally. And I... I shall shed my divinity. The next time we meet, I wish to stand before you as a simple human. Whenever the land of Hylia is in danger, we shall be reborn..."
∴
All around him was darkness. He was floating, feeling nothing in the void. No pain, no tears, nothing.
Nothing but a voice, calling his name.
The hero listened to Hylia's words, but he could not move or speak back. He couldn't even feel her soft hand on his face.
And then her voice was gone. Link shifted his eyes, and then they fluttered open. He wasn't in a void. He lay, staring at a soft blue sky, with a few lazy clouds drifting by. He felt his side with his hand, but it was perfectly clean. There wasn't even a tear in his green tunic or chainmail.
He sat up, examining his surroundings curiously. The land was familiar to him, but it took him several seconds to recognize the land in which he grew up. It had been so many years since he had seen the green hills of the field and the beautiful castle.
"How is this possible?"
Confused, Link stood and started walking toward town. He could see no other creatures around him, not even insects.
"Link...?"
That voice! He spun on his heel to see the goddess Hylia, staring at him with wide eyes. When she saw his face, she smiled so brightly he knew he must be dead.
"You're here!" she said.
"Where is... here?"
Hylia gestured for Link to walk with her. She was happier than he had ever seen her.
"This must be how the gods are honoring you," she explained. "When the land of Hylia needs us, we will be there. But in times of peace, we are free to be happy and safe from all evil."
"I died, Goddess. Does that mean this..."
Hylia nodded. "Yes, this is heaven. The gods and goddesses live here, but you are the first spirit honored with the pleasure."
"But, the people... and the Demon King...!"
"All is well. I sealed away the Demon King, and he should not ever return. The other demons will die out, and our people will be safe in the sky. If and when the land is cleansed, they will return to the surface world."
"So it's over, then. Our fight is over."
"For now. There is more than one evil being, and we have the rest of eternity to protect the land."
The two walked in silence for a while as Link contemplated their discussion. They had reached the town, which had no wall or gate. Maybe it really was a safe place.
Link asked, "We have eternity? ...Together?"
Hylia gave him another broad smile. "Yes."
∴
Link gazed over the mortal world, searching for trouble. After thousands of years of practice, he knew how to get around almost as easily as the gods. Today, he set his sights on the site of the sealed demon. A human had taken up residence in the temple and maintained it and the tree inside. Link shifted his gaze to the seal at the bottom of the pit.
Something stirred around the seal. Perhaps it was only a breeze, but Link examined it closely. Though he was in an entirely different dimension, he could feel evil seeping out. Smoke seemed to drift from the seal. Dread came over him, and he ran to find Hylia.
"Goddess!" he cried out to her. "Goddess! The seal on the Demon King is weakening!"
Instead of fear, Hylia reacted with a sigh. She sat at a table, playing a game with the spirits of some sages. "I knew this day would come."
"You knew?"
"Yes. This is the sign we have been waiting for. The land is in danger."
Link nodded. "Oh, of course. But... I thought you said there were other evils."
Hylia said, "Yes, there are. I'm sure you've seen them, but they did not threaten the land as a whole. The Awakening of the Demon King is a much larger threat, which we must oppose."
"I see."
The goddess stood from the table. "I'm sorry, but we must cut this game short. The hero and I need to return to the mortal world."
The spirits wished the two luck.
Then began the adventure of Skyward Sword.
But if you wish to wake the Lion, then give him fangs!