CHAPTER I: BEFORE THE FESTIVAL

Since the beginning of time, legend has told of an epic battle between darkness and light. When the three gods of old departed from the world that they created, they trusted their ultimate power, the Triforce, to the hands of Hylia so that she could protect it. She did just that, resulting an era of peace - until one dark and fateful day, a crack opened up in the earth and the Demon King Demise and his monstrous hoards spewed forth from the fissure. Wanting to make the world his own, the Demon King gathered an army of monsters and together launched a brutal assault on the land simply known as the Surface, murdering the people without hesitation, burning its forests and choking its springs, all in their lust to take the Triforce from Her Grace.

In order to prevent the great power from falling into the hands of Demise, Her Grace gathered the surviving humans on an outcrop of earth with the Triforce and sent them skyward, beyond the reach of evil forces wreaking havoc upon the surface world. After sending her people beyond the clouds, the goddess created a barrier to separate the people of the sky from the world below. With her chosen people safe above the clouds, the Goddess and the tribes who remained on the surface joined forces to defeat the great evil that was plaguing the land. Eventually, the Demon King Demise was sealed away, restoring peace to the land.

Until now, that is. A new evil has arisen to take the place of Demise, an evil far more dangerous than anything that has come before it. This time, the enemy is darkness itself.

Many years after the events that shaped the course of history, a young man by the name of Link was experiencing dark dreams that hinted at his destiny. Everywhere was darkness. He could feel it muffling his every movement, and it was almost as if he could feel black tendrils reaching down his throat. He tried to flee the crushing darkness, calling for help as he ran. It weighed down on him, not only with physically, but mentally as well. The shadows had become so thick that he could not move or breath, his only option to let go and end his struggle.

"Hey! Wake up sleepy head!" A familiar voice echoed throughout the darkness. He felt the pressure on his body lift, and the twisted shadows begun to shrink away.

The voice became clearer. "Link, you lazy bum! I knew I'd find you snoozing down here!" As the voice became more defined, a warm, golden light cut through the shadow. Link blinked several times to become accustomed to the light, and when his vision cleared, he found himself staring into the round crystal blue eyes of his best friend Zelda.

"No, no, this big black thing swallowed me up! I couldn't breathe, I couldn't… I dunno." Link shuddered at the odd feeling he was left with.

"Link, have you been dreaming again?" she said, smiling at him as one does a child.

"It felt so real… Ugh." Link fell back into the grass and inhaled deeply. "Zelda, do you ever wonder about other places? I mean, not other floating islands, but places with other people? Like us?"

"I can't really say… I guess so." Zelda lowered herself down next to Link and rested her head on his chest. "Can I tell you something? And can you promise not to think I'm weird?" She had a worried expression on her face.

"What is it Zelda? You know you can tell me anything." Link gently placed his hand on Zelda's long golden blonde hair.

"I think… I think… I can hear someone calling to me. From beneath the clouds."

"What are they saying?"

"Nothing. And yet, at the same time… everything. It's never a defined voice, but I know for certain I am being called there. I don't know why… but I have a feeling that something strange is going to happen." Zelda reached up and placed her hand on Link's.

"Don't worry Zelda. No matter where we go, or... what we see... I know we can always come back here. Besides, as long as I'm here you've got nothing to worry about!" replied Link, gesturing to himself proudly.

Zelda sat up again and turned to face Link. "Link… Don't ever change."

The two of them were staring into each other's eyes, both trying to read the other's thoughts. They leaned in, getting ever closer, when suddenly, a tall, lanky young man burst through the bushes, looking rather uncomfortable. Zelda screamed and spun around at light speed to face the intruder. "Fledge! What're you doing!"

"Uhhh…" he blushed, laughing awkwardly. "Hey Link, Zelda. Gaepora sent me to tell you that he needs your help in preparation for the goddess festival." Fledge looked down at his feet, and tapped them on the ground, to avoid making eye contact. "I… Uhh... I guess I'll be going now!" With those parting words, Fledge awkwardly ran off in the opposite direction.

"Poor kid. Someone should really do something about Groose. He walks around like he owns Skyloft, and he's got Fledge terrified." Link smiled to himself. She always thought of everyone else.

As the pair stood up and began to walk away, Zelda peered over her shoulder to take a glance at the clouds that masked the surface land. The voices called out to her again, and this time, Zelda swore it was a cry for help. Link noticed that Zelda had stopped following him, and he turned around to see her looking out to the sky. He snuck up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, squeezing Zelda in a tight hug.

"C'mon Zelda, let's go!" Zelda looked into his eyes, and saw that they were full of hope and happiness. It felt reassuring to be in his presence.

She smiled. "Mhm. Let's get ready! Tonight is going to be good."

"Last one there has to kiss Groose!" Shouted Link, as he took off sprinting towards the Knight's Academy.

"No fair! Why did you get a head start!" shouted Zelda, begrudgingly chasing behind him.

The sky was its usual bright self on the day of the Goddess Festival, bathing everything in the warmth of the sun. Each year the citizens of Skyloft partake in a festival in celebration of Hylia, and the day is filled with singing, dancing, food and drink. Skyloft took its place amongst the clouds so long ago that most people no longer believed that there was anything below them.

Knowing how chaotic and stressful preparations could be, Link and Zelda immediately made their way to Gaepora, Zelda's father, and Headmaster of the Knight's Academy, who was behind his desk patting his little remlit.

"Aww, Mia. You are so cute! Yes you are! Who's a good girl? Mew mew mewww-" Gaepora's cuddling was cut off short when his daughter opened the door to his room. "Ahem. Excuse me." He put Mia down on the ground, watching with delight as she scampered away. Link and Zelda briefly exchanged a look of wonderment before Gaepora began to speak. "As you both know, I have been planning something special for tonight's big show. There will be a performance as usual, except this time we are doing a new story that I have written. I want you two," - he pointed to Link and Zelda – "to be the stars of my big play. Zelda will play the Goddess, and you, Link, will play the Hero of Light."

As the headmaster was explaining his plans, an angry eavesdropper was listening in through a crack in the door. Jealous of Link's place beside Zelda, he began to turn a livid shade of red that matched his pompadour. "Cawlin. Come here. I need to hit something!" he snarled.

"What is it? What were they saying?" Cawlin hesitated, trying to make his 'friend' forget about the desire for hitting him.

"Zelda and Link are to be together in tonight's performance. They are going play the Goddess and her hero. Why would Link get chosen! He's puny! Not big and strong, like the great Groose!" Groose showed off his guns to himself in his reflection and smiled. Cawlin and Strich both looked at him with great admiration. "We need to do something about this. Think Groose… Think! Hmmm…"

He pressed his ear to the crack, waiting for any usable information. "I know! They're using their loftwings in the ceremony. I'll kidnap Link's, and that way Gaepora will have no choice but to pick me!"

Strich turned to face Groose. "What about Pipit?"

"He's too old. Besides, everyone has seen him flirting with that Karane girl. Old Gaepora seems pretty serious about this performance, and I don't think he'd want someone who couldn't focus himself on Zelda. C'mon guys. We got ourselves a bird to catch."

The three of them were giggling like buffoons, when Horwell, another instructor at the academy, snuck up behind the trio. "What are you fools up to? Off with you!" He said, shooing at the boys. He knocked on the door and entered the Headmaster's room. "Gaepora, everything is almost ready for the festival. I trust that you have gotten these two up to speed?"

"Indeed I do, Horwell. Link, Zelda, take these costumes and go get ready in your rooms. When you are ready, take your loftwings to the sky, and stay out of sight until you see the signal. Do you remember the signal?"

Link waved his arms above his head, looking oddly like a marionette as he did so.

"Not that signal. That's only if something goes wrong. Zelda?"

"When we see the flame alight on the statue of the goddess, we are to descend, and land together."

"Right. Make me proud." Gaepora kissed Zelda on the forehead, and patted Link on the shoulder. "Now go and get ready!" He returned to his seat and picked up a book off his desk. Link noticed that it was called 'The Lusty Argonian Maid,' and took that as a signal to leave.

"I'll see you in the sky. We better get ready soon, it's almost dark and the loftwings won't fly." Link gave Zelda a quick high-five. "See you soon buddy!"

Zelda walked off towards her room hurriedly. Link started toward his room, when he felt someone's gaze upon him. Uncertain if the hall had gotten colder or it was just his imagination, he dashed through his door, quickly closing it behind him.

Link unwrapped the costume he was given. It looked more like something a Knight of the Academy would wear, rather than the hero of legend. Then again, the academy modelled the uniform after what they knew of the outfit that was worn many years ago. Just as he pulled up the boots, and fastened the buckle, a robed figure emerged from the shadows. Link jumped to his feet, watching the intruder warily. Something about the presence set him on the edge, causing him to recall the dream he had earlier in the day. It felt like he was in the room with darkness itself. He charged at the shadow, but his fists just passed through as if there was nothing there. Link could feel something clawing its way down his throat, as if it were trying to steal his voice. He tried to shout out for help, but nothing came. The shadowy figure spoke directly to Link's mind, the voice echoing inside his head.

"This world has been connected. Tied… to the darkness... soon to be completely eclipsed. There is so very much to learn. You understand so little."

There was a screech as Link's loftwing pushed its head through his window. Whatever was in his room, the loftwing had scared it away. Link knew the festival would start soon, so he pushed the figure to the back of his mind until later. His bird screeched again, eager to take to the skies. Link jumped out the window and onto his loftwing. As he took off, he looked back to his room once more, and he swore he could hear someone laughing. Before Link could contemplate it further, Zelda called him. He looked up, and pulled his bird up so that he was gliding alongside Zelda.

"I'm really excited, Link! Nice outfit!"

Link stammered his response. "Uhh. I. Um. Wow. You look… Beautiful."

Zelda laughed, and flew off to hide her cheeks, which were now flushed with a deep red.

"Hey! Wait up!" Link soared after her, but not before noticing a scrap of cloth stuck in the crimson plume of his bird. He pulled it out, and noticed it was part of somebody's clothing. Link couldn't figure out who it belonged to.