Link stared at the wall, feeling empty. He could sense Impa gazing at him, but he couldn't meet her eyes.

"Link," she said, "You should not be so quick to give up. All is not lost. You still have your life. You still have Skyloft."

Link glanced at the Master Sword.

"Fi," he said, "What are the odds of Skyloft remaining untouched?"

Fi materialized, ready with an answer.

"My calculations tell me the odds are less than one percent, Master," she informed him, "The sorceress' armies will overrun the Surface, then they will turn their sights to Skyloft."

"Fi," Impa said sharply, "That is not helping."

"Well, there you go," Link muttered, "The world is going to hell in a hand-basket and there's nothing I can do about it."

"There is," Impa insisted, "I can train you to fight again. You still have your left arm. All you need to do is ask."

"We both know my right arm will never heal the same again. It's a liability in battle."

"When you choose to fight, there is always the risk of injury. Zelda would not have wanted you to give up."

Link clutched the corner of the pillow, twisting it so hard that he heard it rip.

"Zelda's not around anymore," he hissed, "Because I couldn't do anything to save her, sword arm and all. I had to tell her father that his daughter was never coming back. I haven't seen him since, and after all that, you expect me to just brush it off and move on with my life?"

Impa never had the chance to answer. Lana crashed through the door, staring wild-eyed into the room.

"It's back!" she cried, "The Triforce! It's returned to the Goddess Statue!"

Link turned over, his eyes widening.

"What? Help me up."

Impa hesitated, then obliged. Lana excitedly led them back to the statue, teleporting them into the Goddess's cupped palms. Sure enough, there was the Triforce, hovering overhead. Link turned to Lana in bewilderment.

"I don't understand," he said, "How is it back?"

Lana sobered, her eyes leaving his.

"Cia wouldn't have sent it back unless she wanted to keep it out of the hands of someone she saw as a threat, but I don't believe that was the case this time. I know what this means. Cia's dead." Impa and Link exchanged a worried glance. "I knew it would happen eventually," Lana said, trying to reassure them, "I'm just glad it didn't fall to us to do it." She forced a smile. "Well," she said, addressing Link, "This is what you worked so hard for." She gestured to the Triforce. "It's all yours."

Link glanced at Impa, then drew a deep breath, closing his eyes and concentrating.

I wish that the Goddess of Time would appear to us.

He scrunched his eyes shut tighter, repeating the words over and over in his mind. Then he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Link."

It was Lana's voice. He opened his eyes, staring in awe at the golden figure standing before him. She was unnaturally tall, standing at least a foot taller than the lanky Impa. She wore a long white dress, her hair reaching down to her heels. Her face was pale, her eyes pupil-less gleaming orbs. She gazed down at the three awe-struck mortals. Impa was the first to find her voice. She stepped forward, dropping to one knee.

"Your Grace," she said, "We have need of your aid."

"I know." Hylia's voice was pure silk. "I must thank you. You have freed me from my imprisonment. I was forced to watch, powerless, as my precious time tore itself apart. Now I may finally set things to right."

"Who imprisoned you?" Lana queried.

The Goddess turned her brilliant eyes on Lana.

"Majora. Though it was my own foolishness that caused it. Majora is an ancient god, born in an era long before the gods who created this world. The Triforce is useless against him, as the sorceress Cia learned."

Lana stepped forward, her brow furrowing.

"So it was Majora that killed her. But why?"

"Your other half allied herself with the sword spirits Ghirahim and Valentina in exchange for promises made, promises to reunite them with their masters."

"Who is Valentina's master?" Link asked.

"Majora's arch nemesis, another ancient god, known as Fierce Deity. Long ago, they ruled my realm Termina with chaos and fear, until they disappeared. In their absence, I restored peace and I cared for Termina's people. Then, after many eons of quietude, Majora and Fierce Deity returned. I did not know where they had gone, but upon their arrival, I discovered that Fierce Deity had forged a mighty weapon, one nearly as formidable as himself."

"Valentina," Link concluded, "But if she was the Fierce Deity's sword spirit, how did she end up here?"

"I banished her here," the Goddess said, "I was afraid of what Majora and Fierce Deity's return would mean for my people. Their battles caused mass destruction, destruction that they saw as beauty. I begged them to cease their fighting. I offered to grant them eternal rest. Majora accepted first; I believe it was so that he would no longer have to suffer under Fierce Deity's thumb. Fierce Deity accepted soon after; he lacked purpose outside of crushing his nemesis. Valentina was the only one who protested. She said it was an atrocity for her master to be sealed away, that it was their purpose to battle Majora till the end of time. Fierce Deity subdued her, though I believe she never stopped despising me from that moment onward. I sealed the gods into their respective masks and laid Valentina to rest within her blade. I believed that was the end of the matter. Then dark interlopers invaded my land, practicing sorcery of the most vile nature. They acquired Majora's mask, awakening his power once more. Majora had free rein, and he used it to lay waste to Termina. Few survived, and I could not stand against his might alone. Yet, out of stubborness, I refused to release Fierce Deity from his slumber. I could not bring myself to willingly fall back into that horrid cycle of destruction. Meanwhile, Majora acquired Fierce Deity's sword, freeing Valentina from her sleep. Valentina at first refused his offers of employment, but I knew because of her hatred for me it was only a matter of time before she accepted. I feared for my existence, so I banished her to your realm, stripping her of her memories and her powers."

"She's pretty tough to beat for someone who has no powers," Link grumbled, "She almost killed me, you know."

Impa gave him a sharp look and he lapsed into silence.

"After my imprisonment, I was unable to maintain Valentina's restraints, but your life was never in jeopardy, young hero," Hylia said, "You are gifted with the blessing of rebirth."

"So I've been told."

"But what you do not know is that one of your reincarnations has channelled the immense power of Fierce Deity. A sword spirit is incapable of killing their master, so by extension, Valentina is incapable of killing you."

Link stared at the aureate goddess.

"Whoa."

"So...now what?" Lana asked.

"Majora must be stopped," Impa said, turning to the goddess, "But if you cannot stand against him, who will?"

"He's not the only one we have to worry about," Link pointed out.

"There is only one choice left to me now," Hylia said, "I must free Fierce Deity."

"But, Your Grace..." Impa's words died in her throat.

Link jumped in, "You can't do that. You said yourself that their fighting devastated your world. I can't let that happen to mine."

Those golden eyes turned on him.

"And what alternative would you present, young hero?"

Link tried to think of an answer, any answer, but he came up blank.

"The most we can hope for is that once Majora is beaten, the deities will hold to their original agreement," Hylia said. Her expression softened, and she placed a gentle hand on Link's shoulders. Her touch was strangely calming. "You cannot control everything, young hero," she said, "That is something I had to learn the hard way."

Her eyes held his, somehow sparking a twinge of sadness from deep within the Skyloftian. He thought of Zelda.

"All right," he said softly, "But what about Valentina and Ghirahim?"

"We will worry about them later," Impa cut in before looking to the goddess for approval.

"You misunderstand, young hero," Hylia said, "Valentina is not the one you must fear. Not yet."

"But you said you took away her memories and her powers. Something tells me she's not going to be happy to see you."

"She will answer to her master, as every sword spirit does."

Link frowned, "I hope you're right about this." He took a deep breath. "Let's do this."