The final battle in Skyward Sword takes place in the most tranquil location; a space between the sky and water. Link is in the sky, yet walking on water. Although he is used to being in the clouds near the sun, this dreamy location is different. Before and after the final battle, this location is bright and warm, but it becomes dark and threatening during the fight.
The location before the battle is literally the calm before the storm, with the storm representing the battle between Demise and our green-clad hero. The brightness and warmth that appear after the battle represents making it out of the harsh storm (Demise) and onto a peaceful future: a future that Link, Zelda, and the citizens of Skyloft deserve.
This final battle location is so interesting because it takes place in an area we’ve never been to before, yet it feels so familiar. Throughout the game, we spend a lot of time flying through the clouds as well as walking on the land below. This area encompass both areas and is better described as an area between the sky and land. It’s such an interesting choice for the final battle, yet it works out so perfectly.
This fight location between Demise and Link reminds me a lot of some anime openings. The scene of the sky meeting walkable water is a popular scene in some Japanese cartoons. The trope may seem cliche at this point, but Skyward Sword definitely wasn’t a follower in that regard. While on the topic, the shades of blue and white chosen for this scene represent coolness, calmness, peace, and purity; the perfect combination for the undisturbed period before chaos.
The actual battle space is the same, yet different. The bright warm sky turns dark and foreboding, and a violent lightning storm begins to form. Soon, Link and Demise are encased in a battle surrounded by rain and lightning, with both harnessing the power of lightning in their swords to fight back. Lightning is a powerful force, yet the two channel it effortlessly. In the end, Link wins the battle and restores peace to both Skyloft and his new home under the clouds.
Skyward Sword‘s final battle location effectively represents the game’s two intrinsic undertones: its playfulness and its more serious nature. It is serene yet threatening, and a perfect metaphor for the calm before the storm and then back to the calm. Link and Zelda in Skyward Sword represent the origins of the rest of the reincarnations in the series, so I hope that their ‘calm period’ following this iconic fight lasted for as long as possible.
