And all I can say is that my life is now complete.

This thing was just so beyond anything I ever expected or wanted or would have thought of. It just topped everything.

So, we get there, and being the indecisive self-conscious introvert I am, I decide to leave my cosplay in the car after lugging it all the way to Atlanta. But then we get inside and there were actually quite a few cosplayers there! Not to mention every other person was on their 3DS. I actually got every missing pink piece on puzzle swap while I was there! But anyway, the thing was completely sold out. Not a single seat was left open.



But then I decide, about 15 minutes before the symphony was due to start, that I wanted to get my cosplay. So I ran out to the car, changed in 10 minutes(thank Farore that Link's outfit is so simple!) and ran back inside, about 2 minutes before 8:00. I had temporarily fixed my shield with hot glue. However, I decided not to bring my sword because not only was it shedding paint, but also...you don't really want to push airport security, if you get my drift.



I immediatly got a few comments and picture requests, so that made it all worth it.

Then, finally, the symphony starts. The orchestra on the stage was accompanied by images and clips from the games on the screen up top, and it was coordinated so perfectly - down to the split second. It was just...so perfect. The music fit the images and the images enhanced the music so incredibly well. However, sometimes I found the images distracting - you could get wrapped up in the clips(especially if there was text) and not really pay attention to the music, which was why I was there, after all. I found it better to sometimes watch the conductor or close my eyes and lean back and just absorb the music.
It started with an overture of The Legend of Zelda as a series. Then there were 3 small suites of different places - a medley of the dungeons, Kakariko Village from OoT(this one was on the CD that came with Skyward Sword), and a medley of the ocarina songs. Following that were 2 movements - first Ocarina of Time, then the Wind Waker(which was also on the CD). They both went through the games in a sort of chronological order, as if you were actually playing the games. It was so beautiful, my heart would not quiet down the whole time, so overcome with joy as I was.

Then we had a brief intermission. We immediately headed for the merchandise line, which was already really long. They only had this one dinky little table selling shirts and posters, and of course, everyone wanted one, so it was an incredibly long line. We were still waiting in it when the bell chimed, signaling that intermission was drawing to a close, but my mom, being the awesome mom she is, told me she'd wait in line and get me my Zelda crap. So I darted back inside the symphony hall, worrying that my mom would miss some of the symphony, but that proved unnecessary - she got back inside with my shirt and poster just as the doors were closing. They were only selling one style of shirt and poster, but they're really quite nice. The shirt is really soft and well made, and for some reason, the poster completely embodies the feeling that I got from the symphony.



So they started with a small suite of the Fairy Fountain theme, followed by another small suite for the Goddesses' theme, before getting into the final two movements. They were Twilight Princess(which was on the CD) and A Link to the Past, topped by a finale that for the life of me I cannot remember what games it was from, which really upsets me! But then came some "encores" - they were claimed to be encores, but something tells me that they we planned...I mean, they had videos and everything ready for them. They were 3 encores - 3 small suites - Link's Awakening, Gerudo Valley(this was on the CD), and Majora's Mask. I was in such a daze after the symphony was over - I just couldn't believe it. No music will ever measure up to that. I can never be satisfied with normal music ever again.

Out of all that, what really grabbed me the most was A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening, and the bits from the medleys/overture that were from Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, which is funny because those are some of the only Zelda games I have yet to beat. (Older games are just really tough, ok? No judging.) I closed my eyes near the end of the A Link to the Past movement because I had never seen the ending, so I didn't want spoilers. But the music when Link was battling Ganon was just phenomenal - I can't remember what it sounded like, but I do remember the euphoria from hearing that.

All I can say is that once the Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses end their tour, they had better release the music that didn't come on the CD that came with Skyward Sword, or I think I might just cry.