Blood and Spirit

Upon entering the temple, an ice-cold aura of overwhelming evil floods my senses. I drop to my knees, clutching my head. When I release my hands, I look down at them to find magical black and blue diamond patterns running from my fingertips to my upper arms. A tingling sensation follows. I stare at them for a while, mesmerized and terrified of the sight. Just as quickly as the magic appears, however, it fades.

…impossible!

Fi's sudden appearance breaks my train of thought.

"Master, I have bad news."

"What's wrong, Fi?"

"The auras of many creatures reverberate throughout this temple."

"Ah. Monsters. I see."

"As a result, I can't isolate Zelda's aura. You will not be able to track her here."

"I understand."

"Given the situation, I suggest you look around to see where we should move next."

She retreats. Determined now more than ever, I set off in search of the lovely Zelda. A pathway to my right leads deeper in. I follow it and uncover a giant spider web. A bat hangs from the ceiling in front of it. I quickly kill it with my slingshot. I cut through the web with my sword, just enough to get through. Slightly further down the path are a bunch of strange, scraggly trees with pale trunks and thick grey leaves. I chop them down and continue, running past grey ferns and large, glowing teal mushrooms. If a spider web appears in my path, I slice through it with ease. Soon I find a door to my left but iron bars prevent me from opening it. I look around. Just then, I catch sight of another diamond-shaped gem. I already know exactly what to do. I fire a Deku seed at it and it activates, opening the door. I bend down on my knees and, grabbing the door by the bottom, hoist it up.

The next room has a small stairway leading up to a platform. Hovering above the door below me is a metal blue eye. It closes. When I step up onto the platform, the eye opens again. I stare at it quizzically.

"Hello," I say. The eye just stares.

Just then, I remember what to do. Raising my sword, I trace circles in the air with the tip. The eye follows the tip of my sword until it becomes dizzy and turns red. Suddenly, the whole eye drops to the ground and explodes. I watch as the bars in front of the door below rise. I hop down off the platform and lift the door up, entering the next room. Of the ones I have been in, this new room is the largest, and possibly the main room of the temple. Gnarled branches spread across the walls and ceiling. After passing through the small hallway leading further in, killing a few plant monsters along the way, I look around at my surroundings. Three paths lie ahead of me; one leading due north, one leading east, and one leading west. Before I do anything, I turn around and, spotting vines crawling up the wall behind me, kill the spiders skittering around on them. I then grasp the vines and climb toward a hole in the wall. When I reach the top, I stand inside the hole—big enough for me to do so—and slice through the wood planks in my way. I then drop back into the room I was just in.

Looking between the three rooms before me, I decide to start with the one on the left.

Might as well go clockwise.

Cold iron bars cover the door and a green bokoblin stands in front of it. I quickly kill him off.

I guess that's why the Kikwis were so afraid of me.

Pondering my next move, I realize that the way to open this door is to jump off the bridge and into the mushrooms and plants below. Underneath the bridge is another pink crystal. I grab my slingshot from my pocket and shoot it. A resounding clang echoes in the air, followed by metal bars retracting. I climb some vines on one of the pillars holding up the bridge then enter the door on the left. I climb the short flight of steps into the room and face off against a green bokoblin. After killing it, I find a ledge—or rather the stump of a chopped tree—off to my left. I step onto it. Looking out across the expanse of the room, I notice some more furled vines creating a path over the pit below. The only other way across is blocked by a giant spider sitting in its silk web. I shoot a deku seed at both vines, unraveling them. I jump, grab hold, and swing myself to the other side, avoiding the spider entirely. I move on.

The door ahead leads back into the main chamber of the temple, only this time I am up in a tree. Inside the twisted branches of the tree lies a treasure chest. I walk up to it, kneel, and open it. An all-too-familiar fanfare plays as I remove the dungeon map from the chest.

Perfect! Now I can figure out where I'm going.

Opening up the map, Fi emerges from my sword.

"Master, I have information for you. You have obtained a map of this area. The position of doors and their locks, as well as the position and status of treasure chests, can be confirmed on the map with marks such as X. However, be aware that you will be unable to use beacons here due to the indoor nature of this environment."

"Thank you, Fi."

With that, I backtrack. I do have to kill the spider after all. Or rather, spiders. Walking around the backside of the first one, I thrust my sword into the glowing center of its abdomen, killing it. Cutting through the web, I walk up behind the other spider and stab it the same way.

Now standing in the middle of the bridge I couldn't cross before, I notice yet another pink crystal. I already know exactly what to do. I don't notice an immediate change in the environment, but my senses indicate something is different. I re-enter the main room. Now I see…

Ah, so the room filled with water. Good thing I can swim.

Before I delve into the water, I decide to go open the east door since it's now open. This room mirrors the west side one. Once more, there are several spiders, some small, some large.

Although, I suppose all of the spiders are large considering that even the small ones are the size of my whole torso…

I walk along the bridge and kill the massive spider hanging there. I can't reach the other one. From what I can tell, there is a gap between the end of the bridge and the other side of the room. However, that gap is blocked by what appears to be either a shrine or a gravestone. I'm not quite sure which. No matter. I have more important things to do right now.

I jump down into the pit and kill the small spiders skittering on the vines on the walls. I then find a small opening and slowly crawl through. My heart squeezes in my chest and my lungs burn.

I've never been good about small spaces.

When I finally reach the other side, I find yet another pink crystal. I fire a Deku seed at it and it activates. I gaze upon it for a moment, pondering.

I wonder how many more of these pink crystals there will be.

Soon, water begins to fill the whole room. I slowly rise with it. I swim off to the side and climb some vines, retracing my steps.

Now back in the central room, I realize that the whole base of the room is filled with water. I can reach new places now. First things first, I jump onto a giant log floating in the water. Gripping it with my hand and legs so as not to fall off, I slide my way over to a cluster of vines on the wall above it and climb, making my way to the next area. I ascend a small flight of stairs and open the door at the top.

Inside this place, I immediately notice the spider hovering. I jump off the little balcony I find myself on and stab the spider in its abdomen, killing it. What lies before me now is a small opening with a chest inside. Iron bars guard the door as well as two more of those eyes from before. Holding my blood-soaked sword, I swing the tip around in a circle. Both eyes follow its movements until they turn red and explode, lifting the bars from the opening. I step forward to claim my prize. Reaching inside the chest, I pull out a small metal key.

I wonder what door this will unlock. Wait…

Suddenly it hits me. I backtrack once more. Now approaching the northernmost door in the main room, I grip the key in my hand and insert it into the metal lock. The locking mechanism spins and then breaks free from the chains, allowing me to open the door. I enter the next area. My eyes widen.

Wow… I didn't realize just how massive this temple really is.

The Skyview Temple's biggest and most ornate room has a massive, bulb-shaped structure with images of whom I believe to be Hylia adorning it. A couple of large spiders hang from webs attached to the broken ceiling which allows light to seep through. Various heart flowers—flowers that restore health—are scattered about. Immediately, my gaze rises to the all-too-familiar pink crystal embedded in the bulb. I fire a Deku seed at it and it activates, spinning apart into multiple smaller diamond-shaped crystals and turning black. Iron bars retract from the door right in front of me. I run forward and, lowering myself, lift the door upward. Upon entering, I immediately sense danger. Lying in front of me is a pile of bones. Surprisingly, they are not human bones. Iron bars slam shut behind me, locking me inside the room with the pile of bones. I step forward, sword drawn. Just then, the bones begin to shake, and soon they begin to magically assemble into a skeleton with sharp, spiky teeth, glowing pink eyes, and metal armor. The skeleton wields dual swords.

Before it can attack me, I jump into the air, swinging my sword down onto its skull. It screeches in pain but is too slow to react to my next strike, a thrust past its swords and through its chest. It stumbles back and raises its swords, but I have a plan. I thrust my shield hard against its crossed blades, knocking off the skeleton's arms. Now, it is completely exposed, so I stab and slash and hack away at it. I repeat this pattern three times until it finally dies, exploding in a puff of black smoke. I shield my eyes as a golden light appears in its place. When the light subsides, I find a chest. I kneel down and open it, the familiar fanfare playing. Reaching inside, I take out an ornate, golden mechanical beetle.

Wow! How fascinating!

Fi emerges to give me her report on the mysterious beetle.

"You have acquired a new item. Analysis of this object's insect-like profile and wings indicates it can fly." She disappears without another word.

"Interesting. All right, let's try this thing out, shall we?" I say to myself.

Equipping the beetle, I attach the legs to my right arm. I point my arm in the direction of a large spider that I can see hiding in an opening in the wall above me. Using my senses to follow the beetle's path, I ram it into that same pink crystal outside, unlocking the door.

When I leave and return to the main room, I run around the side of the bulb. There I find a large wooden crate hanging from a thick spider web. I prepare my beetle and launch, its pincers snipping through the web. The crate shatters, leaving a red rupee behind. I quickly claim it.

Next, I recover my beetle and send it flying into another hole in the wall. While there are two holes next to each other, they both lead to the same destination: another pink crystal. The beetle strikes it, unlocking the new door in front of me. Before I go inside, however, I want to explore the rest of the main room. I encounter a green bokoblin and some bats, all of which I kill off within seconds. I look up and around, spotting another crate dangling in the air. Cutting it down, a cluster of rupees falls out. I collect them all. A hint of pink crosses my vision. Ejecting the beetle, I guide it into another crystal, this time opening an iron gate behind which is a piece of heart. I pick it up.

Wait… this piece… it completes my heart container!

My health increases.

I sprint back over to the door that opened and enter it. Descending the stairs, I stop at the base of a steep dropoff. I sit down and slide off the edge, landing on my feet and rolling forward to further absorb the impact. A shallow pool of water below soaks my clothes but luckily clothes dry quickly in this game. I hurry up the broken steps in front of me to the next door, my boots splashing in the water. A heavy scent of plant life fills my lungs.

Opening the next door, iron bars slam shut behind me, though I see no enemies in my path. It is only when I step forward that my senses kick in. I backflip just in time to avoid a large spider descending into the middle of the room. Swinging my sword upward, I knock the spider onto its back and deliver a killing blow to its abdomen. The bars instantly retract when it dies.

I finally take notice of my surroundings. A set of three eyes stares at me, watching, waiting. From where I'm positioned, I have no way of getting their attention all at once with my sword. I turn around and look up, noticing a platform above my head. Just as before, I climb some nearby vines growing up the wall. At the top, I find a crate, this time a metal one, hovering in the air by a spider web. I equip my beetle and send it flying toward the box, snipping through the web like nothing. The metal crate clatters to the floor. Now, I can push it over the edge and into the exact spot that I need it to be.

After positioning the box, I climb on top of it and wiggle the tip of my sword in circles, each eye watching it simultaneously. They turn red and drop to the floor, exploding. I now have access to the chest they were guarding. Opening it up, I pull out another small key. Although helpful, this isn't quite what I'm looking for.

What I really need to proceed is a golden sculpture; the boss key, as it were.

I go back to the room I was just in. Now, looking at where I came from, I can see what I couldn't see before; two broken staircases leading above my head to a new area. Before I begin to climb, I send my beetle in to investigate. A flash of pink hidden behind a spider web indicates the presence of another crystal. I can't say I know what this one will do when I strike it. My beetle flies delicately past the web and rams into the crystal. Just then, I hear a rush of water and soon find myself standing chest-deep in water. I realize that I can reach the stairs now.

I put away my beetle and swim over to the right side staircase, pulling myself up and climbing them. Avoiding the spider, I cut through the web, through some scraggly trees, and reach the end of the room. A small cluster of trees hides a tiny opening in the wall below. I'll have to crawl through. Cutting down the trees, I then drop to my knees and slowly crawl through the opening in the wall. When I reach the door, I open it and return to the room with the giant bulb inside.

I'm close. I can feel it.

Sprinting past all the monsters, I beeline toward the final locked door. Unlike the others, this door has a thin rope linking it to me. Before I even consider crossing, I reattach my beetle. Plant monsters rise from the ceiling, gnashing their teeth at me. I cut them all down with the sharp pincers of my mechanical beetle then traverse the rope bridge. At least this pit isn't bottomless. I insert my small key into the lock and then open the door. It shuts behind me, iron bars once more descending to ensure that I will not leave.

What greets me is a short hallway veering off to my left. I sense no danger just yet, so I walk down the path, admiring the bluish plants and glowing mushrooms. At the end of the path are two sets of wooden gates. I slice through them with ease, for the wood is old and rotted. A musty smell mixes with the vivid smell of soil and plant life.

Just then, my senses flare as a three-headed worm monster enters my vision. Each head wears a helmet made of bone. With one single swing, I chop through all three heads. The helmets clatter to the ground and the creature dies as quickly as I had spotted it.

Somehow, that battle was too easy. I'm sure the next one won't be.

Another door opens. Once again, this one leads to another long hallway. I hurry along, eager to see what lies beyond. I find myself out in the open and my senses flood my mind with overwhelming psychic power. I look across the horizon—desperately trying not to look down as the pits here are indeed bottomless—and spot what I've been searching for.

Ahaha! I found it!

Across the way lies a huge metal door with ornate filigree adorning it. And, in the center of it all, is a strange keyhole.

He is here. Beyond this door.

I traverse some tricky pitfalls, killing a few monsters along the way. My heart squeezes in my chest, imagining the terror of making one little mistake and falling to my death. I now stand directly across from the door. A massive ravine separates us and my eyes gaze upon the thin rope linking the two platforms. Club in hand, I lock eyes with the green bokoblin on the other side. I attach my beetle and send it out to attack.

No way I'm trying to kill that thing with my sword while suspended in midair.

Once the bokoblin dies, I drop to my hands and knees and, gripping the rope with white knuckles, begin to slide my way across the rope.

Don't look down. Don't look down. Don't look down.

Heart pounding, I repeat this phrase over and over and over until I reach the other side. Of course, I'm not finished yet. I still have to find the key, and that means navigating even more dangerous territory. I approach the door. Staring at it for a moment, I allow my mind to manipulate the image of the key to fit the hole in the door. Once I figure out the proper alignment, I save my game at the conveniently placed bird statue and begin the final stretch of the dungeon. Off to the left side of the door is another opening with a chest inside. This one houses a red rupee. I place it in my wallet. I then sprint over to the right side of the door where there is yet another opening. Inside this one is a vine path leading up the wall and some heart flowers. Luckily, I haven't taken any damage, so I have no need for them. Yet.

Now, I have reached the most dangerous part of the dungeon. At the top of the vines is a small platform. Adjacent to the platform is a tree; however, the only way to reach the tree is to swing across the endless ravine using a small rope. My hands shake at the mere thought but I must continue.

Zelda is behind that door, and if I don't make it, she could be in great danger.

With her as my motivation, I jump off the platform, stretching my arms out as far as they will go, and grasp the rope with both hands. Using all my strength, I climb slightly upward. I then move my body back and forth to create enough momentum to swing over to the tree. Once I am comfortable enough, I release my grip on the rope and land in the tree. I follow the thick branches until I come to another area. Noticing the vines, I shoot Deku seeds at them. They fall limply. I breathe in. I breathe out. And then, I jump.

Grasping the thick vines, I slowly allow my fingers to loosen slightly. I'll need to be at the very end of this first vine in order to reach the second. I swing my body back and forth, waiting for the perfect moment to release.

Steady… Steady… Now!

I let go of the vine and fly across the ravine, grabbing hold of the final vine. The chest with the boss key is in my sights. I swing one last time, leaping over the darkness and at last landing on the platform with the chest that holds the key. Unlike the other chests, this one is silver with gold accents and a glowing red gem embedded in the lid. I open the chest and, reaching inside, pull out a strange-looking gold carving. All I have to do now is insert this into the lock. Only then will I be able to reach Zelda.

Luckily, I don't have to go through that whole ordeal again. I climb the vines on the wall beside me and then equip my beetle. One last pink crystal must be activated. I strike it with my metallic beetle, opening the way to leave the temple. I hop down from my perch and walk across the thin rope leading up to the final locked door. Using my magic, I raise the carving to the lock and, manipulating it in midair to fit, insert it into the lock. Suddenly, the lock glows, splits in half, and at long last, the door opens. I step forward into the darkness.

My soft footsteps echo as I enter the room. An aura of overwhelming evil floods my senses, but so far, I see nothing and no one, not even the lovely Zelda.

Just then, a blinding flash of light shines in front of me. I shield my eyes, and when the light subsides, I finally see him.

Ghirahim.

A tall, slightly muscular humanoid creature with pale gray skin, short white hair shaved on one side, a white jumpsuit with diamond cutouts, white gloves, a golden belt with a red gem attached, a crimson cloak, and crystalline blue earrings stands sideways with his face turned away from me, a thin, razor-sharp black sword in his outstretched right hand.

A singular piano note rings out in the room, though I doubt he can hear it. He grunts, then swings his sword slightly over his head. I watch as the sword fades into black, diamond-shaped magical shards. I look down at my hands for a moment. I gasp, almost imperceptibly, as that same black and blue diamond magic pattern from before travels along my hands and down my arms. It fades as quickly as it comes, and I look back up at the man before me.

"Look who it is…" he says, his voice cold and ethereal. He finally turns to face me, and my shiny blue eyes darken as I gaze into his. His devilish smirk sends a chill along my spine.

"You," I say coldly. I bare my teeth at him. He chuckles.

"I thought that tornado I stirred up would have tossed and torn you apart, yet here you are. Not in pieces." He sighs dismissively, turning away from me again. "Not that your life or death has any consequence. It's just the girl that matters now, and I can sense her here… just beyond this door. Yes, we plucked Her Majesty from her perch in the clouds, and now she's ours. Oh, but listen to me. I'm being positively uncivil. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Demon Lord who presides over this land you look down upon, this world you call the surface."

"...I know who you are."

"Is that so? Surely then, you must know that I very much prefer to be indulged with my full title: Lord Ghirahim."

I glare at him while he has his back turned and draw my sword.

"Did you really just draw your sword? Foolish girl." He turns around again, his arms out as though looking for a challenge. "By all rights the girl should have fallen into our hands already." His cruel grin suddenly twists into an expression of wrath as he draws his arms into himself, his hands squeezing with rage. His voice grows more ragged. "She was nearly ours when that loathsome servant of the goddess snatched her away. Do you have any idea how that made me feel inside?" Suddenly, he throws his hands downward as he shouts. "Furious!" He throws his arms out. "Outraged!" He hugs himself and vanishes into diamonds. "Sick with anger!"

I look around wildly, waiting for him to strike me down.

"Show yourself!"

He merely laughs.

"This turn of events has left me with a strong appetite for bloodshed."

Just then, I hear his footsteps beside me. I pale. He chuckles and grabs my right arm. Now trapped in his iron grip, he leans in close to my face. My cold blue eyes stare into his.

"Release me, demon filth."

"Still… it hardly seems fair, being of my position, to take all of my anger out on you. Which is why I promise up front not to murder you…" He grins maliciously. "No, I'll just beat you within an inch of your life!" He sticks out his long tongue which wiggles.

"Get away from me, creep!" I shout, wrenching my arm free and standing against him. My breathing quickens. He chuckles darkly, then uses his magic to make his cloak disappear.

And so the battle against Lord Ghirahim begins.

He raises his hand and a red aura surrounds it. His magic is incredibly strong, and if I'm not careful, he could very well carry out his threat. But I don't intend on losing this fight. Holding my sword, I slash away at his hand. He resists, but after a few seconds, the aura disappears and I am able to slice into him. His weak point is the red crystal on his belt, but he guards it well. I have to make an opening in order to strike him.

A moment later, he jumps back and restores his magic, walking slowly toward me. I slam my blade into his hand again to knock it away, then stab at the gem on his belt. Once more, he jumps back and recomposes himself. Watching him follow my movements as he approaches, I suddenly realize just how cunning Ghirahim truly is.

We continue our dance; I swing my sword in elegant movements, dispersing his blood-red magic, and stab the metal of my blade into the crystal of his belt. After every few attacks, he jumps back. Once I've weakened him enough, he jumps back again, only this time, he hungrily licks his lips and, snapping his fingers, summons his own sword to him.

"I wondered when you'd finally draw that beautiful, demonic blade of yours," I say.

"Oh, this? Ahaha, oh, this is only the beginning," Ghirahim says. He snaps his fingers again and summons five spinning red diamonds. Just as he fires them at me, I dodge. He pauses. I wait.

He'll come, and when he does, I'll destroy him.

Just as I predict, he rushes at me, but I slide underneath him and jab my sword into the crystal. When I rise, I slash at it some more. He leaps away, then teleports. I look around, shield firmly in hand. He appears in front of me, sword raised, but I spot an opening and attack it with everything I have. He is a skilled swordsman, to be sure, but he's arrogant.

Once more, we continue our dance; he charges, I dodge and strike. He sends magic at me, I roll out of the way. He teleports, and I meet him. After an unknown period of time, I release my final strike. He stumbles back and wipes his mouth. Blood comes back on his hand. He smirks.

"Well… You put up more of a fight than I would have thought possible out of such a soft girl. But don't clap for yourself quite yet. That sword of yours is the only reason you still live. I fear I spent far too long teasing and toying with you. The girl's presence has all but faded from this place, which means there's no reason to linger here. Goodbye, Sky Child. Run and play this time. Get in my way again, though, and you're dead."

Ghirahim lets out a laugh, then swings his sword in a vertical circle and vanishes in a flash of diamond magic.

Oh, we'll meet again. And when we do, it is you who shall beg for mercy.

Light returns to the room and a large red heart adorned in filigree floats to the floor. I lift it up with both hands. My health increases.

I approach the door which fades into nonexistence when I reach it. I then proceed onward.

Rushing up the steps, I arrive at a huge fountain under open sky with a small goddess statue at the center. Little birds flit about, chirping their sacred songs. Large blue flowers rustle in the breeze. I hop across the stone steps peeking out of the water until I come face to face with a Hylian crest. I raise my blade skyward, then release the holy energy inside it. The crest glows and spins until it eventually settles in place. I smile.

Fi emerges from my sword.

"Master, I have a message written in the language of the gods of old. Allow me to translate for you."

I watch and listen as she begins to dance along the water.

From the edge of time I guide you, the one chosen to carry out the goddess's mission. The spirit maiden who descended from the clouds must travel to two sacred places to purify her body. You stand in one of these places: Skyview Spring. The other is known as the Earth Spring. This second spring is hidden away deep within the scorched earth of Eldin. The spirit maiden, ever mindful of the heavy task entrusted to her, has set out for this second sacred place.

From the hands of the goddess statue emerges a stone tablet, much like the one I used to arrive here. Only this time, a red gem is embedded in it. I catch it in my hands and look it over. When I put it away, I turn to Fi who has stopped dancing. A faint smile crosses her face. I smile back.

"Master, as I just translated, it would appear that Zelda purified herself in the waters of this spring. I calculate a 97% chance that she has already set out for Eldin, where another great spring exists. However, it is not clear what method of travel Zelda used to move from here to her next destination. My analysis suggests you should take the tablet to the altar in Skyloft. Doing so will likely open a new column of light on the surface, allowing you to descend to another area and continue your search for Zelda. Let's return to the sky once more before continuing our search. The bird statue outside can take us back up."

With those words, she retreats into my sword. I take one last long look at the fountain behind me and smile. I start to leave with only one thought on my mind.

Don't worry, Zelda. We're on our way.