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The Sky is a recurring location in The Legend of Zelda series.[citation needed][2] where Skyloft and many other floating islands are located in Skyward Sword, and where Link wakes up from and gains his abilities in Tears of the Kingdom. It is also where the game indirectly begins.

Features and Overview[]

Skyward Sword[]

Before the events of Skyward Sword, a large horde of monsters led by Demise appeared from beneath the ground of The Surface world, and began leading a massacre against the people of the surface. The monsters wanted only one thing, the ultimate power given to Hylia by the gods of old.[3] To prevent the great power from falling into the hands of the demonic creatures, Her Grace gathered all the remaining humans on a plot of land and brought it up skyward.[4] Centuries later, the civilization living above the clouds is living a peaceful life, with the protection of the Statue of the Goddess depicting Hylia, presiding over them. The Statue of the Goddess was built so that Hylia, could keep the Goddess Sword, Fi, and the Triforce hidden away from the mortals, and to keep them safe for the chosen hero of the goddess.[5]

The technology of the region has also greatly advanced since Skyloft was risen into the heavens, even surpassing The Surface's technology, with windmills that have the power to raise the sacred Light Tower, Beedle's flying Air Shop, and various lighting and furnishing.[6] However, the people living there are known for their way to travel around the different Islands of The Sky, on large shoebill-like birds called Loftwings.[7] Having a Loftwing is what separates children from adults in this little society.[8]

There are numerous islands in which Link is able to travel to with the help of his Loftwing, earning treasures and Heart Containers after locating the corresponding Goddess Cube from the surface. Also located in the sky is the Thunderhead, where the great spirit of the skies, Levias, resides, as well as the main location of the Isle of Songs.

Islands[]

Goddess Cubes[]

Main article: Goddess Cube

Goddess Cubes are mysterious cubes spread onto the world by the Goddess Hylia in order to assist her chosen hero.[9][10] When Link uses the Skyward Strike on these cubes, it disappears from The Surface and beams into the sky, unlocking a Goddess Cube Chest.[11][12]

Development[]

A distinctive aspect of Skyward Sword is the lack of roads connecting in-game areas. The developers designed the different areas to possess distinctive gameplay styles and mechanics, which made developing roads between different areas difficult. The developers eventually decided not to include roads, since if they could make the gameplay in each area sufficiently dense then they wouldn't have to physically join them. They initially attempted to do this using a course selection similar to that of the Super Mario Galaxy games, but they couldn't do it the exact same way and settled on the idea of a sky where Link would dive to the land below. According to the developers, after using the idea for some time in development, the pieces naturally fell together. The transportation, for instance, felt the most natural with a bird.[13]

Tears of the Kingdom[]

The Sky Islands appear in Tears of the Kingdom after The Upheaval, when the Castle is lifted into the air by Ganondorf's Gloom. Link wakes up after being saved by Rauru on the main Sky Island, and begins to attain his abilities, allowing him to gain an extra heart container and dive back down to Hyrule safely.

After the tutorial section of the game, the Sky Islands can be found located all round the Hyrule sky, many of which can either be reached by using Recall on a fallen boulder or by launching into the air via a Skyview Tower. Shrines can also be found on some of these islands, allowing for easy travel to the sky once activated.

Islands[]

Non-Canon Appearances[]

Cadence of Hyrule[]

In Cadence of Hyrule, Cadence falls from the Sky when she is teleported to Kingdom of Hyrule.

Nomenclature[]

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in other regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
LanguageNameMeaning
GermanyGermanWolkenmeer (SS)Cloud Sea
This table was generated using translation pages.
To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery[]

References

  1. "If I'm correct, Levias is the one inside the thunderhead. But...that's not the Levias that we all know. That's...a monster!" — Owlan (Skyward Sword)
  2. "I saw you fall from the sky! That landing wasn't very graceful. Are you okay?" — Trill (Cadence of Hyrule)
  3. "One dark, fateful day, the earth cracked wide and malevolent forces rushed forth from the fissure. They mounted a brutal assault upon the surface people, driving the land into deep despair... They burnt forests to ash, choked the land's sweet springs, and murdered without hesitation. They did all this in their lust to take the ultimate power protected by Her Grace, the goddess." — N/A (Skyward Sword)
  4. "To prevent this great power from falling into the hands of the evil swarming the lands... The goddess gathered the surviving humans on an outcropping of earth. She sent it skyward, beyond the reach of the demonic hordes. Beyond even the clouds." — N/A (Skyward Sword)
  5. "This is the interior area of the Statue of the Goddess. It is the location where I slept for ages within the sword you carry, Master." — Fi (Skyward Sword)
  6. "Oh youth, guided by the servant of the goddess, unite earth and sky, and bring light to the land. That's the first part, but as I recall there's a second verse to the song. Oh youth, show the two whirling sails the way to the Light Tower... and before you a path shall open, and a heavenly song you shall hear. I believe that's the whole thing. The Light Tower mentioned in the song is a real place; I'm sure you've seen the tower in the plaza. I don't know a thing about two whirling sails though... It sounds like the song is suggesting that if one shows these whirling sails the way to the tower, something will happen? But how do you go about doing that, and what does it mean? Two whirling sails. Hmm..." — Gaepora (Skyward Sword)
  7. "As you know, each of us in Skyloft is but one half of a pair. We are only made whole by our Loftwings, the guardian birds that the goddess bestows upon each of us as a symbol of her divine protection." — Gaepora (Skyward Sword)
  8. "Here in Skyloft, it's being able to ride a Loftwing that separates the kids from the adults." — Gaepora (Skyward Sword)
  9. "Master Link...This treasure-chest-like object is a relic of ancient times, left by the goddess for her chosen hero. It would appear that each chest responds to the energy released when a specific Goddess Cube is launched skyward, releasing its lock mechanism. Search for Goddess Cubes in the lands below and send them into the air. It is the only way to open these chests." — Fi (Skyward Sword)
  10. "If I remember right... Yup, this is one of the things the goddess was said to have left behind for the hero of legend. Pretty amazing, right? I even thought up a name for these things. I have been calling them Goddess Cubes! Makes sense, right?" — Gorko (Skyward Sword)
  11. "Those ancient texts say some real interesting stuff about these things. How did it go again? Let me see, uh... "Summon forth the light from a heavenly blade, and may that sword's master receive aid." So there you have it." — Gorko (Skyward Sword)
  12. "WHOOOA! Did you see that?! The cube just shot up into the sky! I think it reacted to that whirly-beam thing that shot out of your sword." — Gorko (Skyward Sword)
  13. [1] Iwata Asks: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Inspired by Course Selection in Super Mario
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