Sealed Shadows

by Alrynnas

On his mission to find Zelda, Link's path crosses with a mysterious woman from the land beneath the clouds. While she starts off by aiding him on his journey, Link ends up helping her as the past of her people rises to confront them. Untold ancient and evil shadows seek to be free...and will do anything to get that freedom. Light LinkxOC. Takes place DURING game.

1. The Forgotten Surface

Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Zelda or its characters.

A/N: Welcome to my Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword fic, Sealed Shadows! A couple things I need to mention before this gets started.

As the little summary says, this takes place DURING the game. It starts from the beginning and goes to the end. It won't be jumping around/skipping much, but, of course, there are still spoilers if you haven't played the game. So, read at your own risk if you haven't played/completed the game!

With it following the in-game story, this chapter will be the most similar to its counterpart. But don't worry, it'll change up some more as new elements are added.

This story is connected to my Twilight Princess fan fic that I have posted on here. If you have not read that, don't worry at all! This one would technically precede it, due to the LoZ timeline. I also plan now on rewriting that one, so some larger changes will be made anyway. But, if you have happened read it already, then you may be able to figure out some things earlier on! And, like in my Twilight Princess fic, Link will not be talking in this one. Well, so he does, but you won't know exactly what he's saying. I do this because I enjoy the challenge and I want to make it feel more like the game!

I believe that's all for now... I hope you enjoy!

---

I

The Forgotten Surface

Unnatural shadows hung over the land that had already been cast into darkness long ago, blocking what little sunlight that normally made it through the layer of clouds above. No birds in the trees sung. No soft footsteps of animals trickled across the forest floor. All was silent under the suffocating shadows.

Up from the heart of the forest rose a terrible beast formed of scaled darkness. Corruption and fear flowed off of it, tainting the land and life around the surrounding area. Its gaping maw opened and permitted an unnatural roar that shook the land. Freedom was so close and tasted so sweet. But despite the struggles, the monster remained sealed.

Not much longer now. Not much longer...

Feet fell heavily on the ground as she ran. Whether it was away or towards the resounding roar, she did not know, for the unnatural sound reverberated everywhere throughout the forest. It was not the sound itself that caused her to run, but rather how it called to her. It beckoned her towards the source of the darkness and turmoil, sounding much more enticing than she dared admit. So she ran and did not allow herself to curiously seek out the source of the darkness that began calling out much more frequently.

But no matter where she ran, the sounds were all around her. Forward felt like she was nearing it. As did backwards. Left and right also took her towards the heart of the shadows. Clutching at her head, she stopped and sunk against a tree. If she did not move, then she could not near it. Covering her ears to block out the roar, she tried to hum the only song that came to mind for comfort.

The louder she hummed, the fainter the beckoning whispers became. So she remained there, humming to keep the darkness at bay. Yet, through the song, a new voice rose. Worried it was some more enticing whispers, she hummed louder, but that only strengthened the voice to the point where she could distinguish what it was trying to say:

"Call...us..."

---

Darkness. There was nothing but darkness surrounding him. It clung to his body unnaturally, blocking out all signs of light. Nothing could survive in this oppressive darkness, and yet here he was, on the brink of falling into the darkness and never escaping from its cold grasp.

Up from the viscous shadows rose a terrible monster. The only distinguishable feature of the monster besides its scaly hide of complete darkness, waves of shadow rolling off of it like an inverted waterfall, was its large gaping mouth. Rows and rose of teeth parted, omitting a horrendous roar as it loomed high above him, ready to consume and devour the world of light beyond the reaches of its dark imprisonment.

He was drawn closer to the edge, threatening to tumble into the abyss and be swallowed up by the overpowering evil terror of the monster. A bright and shining light from above tore through the darkness, saving him from being lost in the cold shadows. Its warm rays sliced through the darkness, casting the soft, comforting light onto his body, dispelling away the shadows that clung to him. The monster yelled and writhed in pain. The shadows that cascaded off of the scaled monster receded, recoiling away back into the hide of the monster to avoid the bright light.

Unlike the monster, the light did not scare him. It welcomed him, soothing his fretful mind. Thanks to that light, he was no longer afraid in this horrid dream. What was once only filled with the coldness of despair for a cursed demise to be met was now filled with hope that the darkness may still have a chance to fade.

"Rise, Link..." called a soothing voice from the ball of light that began to coalesce high above the monster. The rays of light pulsed with the soft voice, growing warmer and brighter with each second that passed. He stared at the light that beckoned him away from the dark abyssal edge. "The time has come for you to awaken..." Link stared up at the light that held a warm violet glow. It was foreign and familiar at the same time. "You are fated to have a hand in a great destiny, and it will soon find you... The time has come for you to awaken...Link..."

The final words from the voice sounded pleading. With a resounding roar, the monster of darkness broke free from the shackles of light. Its gaping maw opening widely, those rows and rows of teeth shining eerily bright in the darkness, the monster devoured the orb of light, snuffing it out of existence. With no more light there to protect him, Link once again felt himself teetering on the edge of the abyssal darkness. He raised his arms, trying to protect himself in any way possible against the terrible beast. The last thing he saw, before he closed his eyes as tightly as possible, was the monster of shadows lunging towards him, the razor-sharp teeth bared and the gaping maw opened wide to devour anything before it.

Link waited...but no such horrid end came.

Tentatively, the young man opened his eyes. The darkness still persisted, but it no longer clung to him. A familiar cry reached his ears. Distant at first, it drew closer, soon overpowering the roar of the monster. When he turned his head to find the source of the familiar voice, the face of a large blue bird was right in front of his. He let out a cry of surprise when it cawed again...

...And tumbled onto the hard floor.

Link groaned, rubbing his sore head as he remained on the floor for a few moments. Fragmented images of his dream...nightmare flashed before his closed eyes. It was not the first time those events had plagued him during his sleep, but it had been the first appearance of that protective light. His mind swam in a sea of questions as the young man managed to open his eyes. Vision hazy, he blinked several times at the ceiling, trying to regain a hold on his senses. Frowning, he craned his head back.

Its head sticking in through his window, the bright-blue Loftwing stared down at Link, its large eyes glued firmly on his. Link frowned at the familiar bird. That would explain why it had been in his dream at the end. He blinked. The Loftwing blinked back. With a click of its beak, the Loftwing tossed something from its mouth, the light object bumping into Link's head before it settled on the ground. Crying in content, the Loftwing took its leave, the shutter dropping down with a light thud.

His mind finally having cleared, Link pushed himself up, taking a hold of the object as he did so. It was nothing but a simple letter, unmarked. Pursing his lips, he eyed the letter, wondering who it was from. He had his suspicions, thanks to who had delivered it, but there was only one way to make sure.

Hey, sleepyhead. I know how much you like to sleep in, so I'm guessing this letter will be your alarm clock this morning. Did I guess right? Rise and shine, Link! Today's the Wing Ceremony! You promised to meet me before it starts, remember? You'd better not keep me waiting.

-Zelda

Link chuckled softly under his breath. He was rather notorious for sleeping in so much, and just dozing off in general. But worrying over him sleeping in today of all days was unnecessary. As she had mentioned in the letter, it was the day of the Wing Ceremony. Such an important day would not pass by even him. Breathing in deep for the start of the glorious day, Link glanced to the clock in his room and felt his jaw drop.

Zelda had been right to worry after all. The day had already long since started. Huffing under his breath, Link hurried to his window and looked out. Sure enough, the time on his clock had not been lying. With an annoyed groan at himself, Link shoved on his boots and hurried out of his room.

The warm pre-noon light shone in through the windows of the Knight Academy. Wooden architecture adorned with the designs of his people's ancestry constructed the building where all those desiring to be knights studied. Link always welcomed the sight of the place that had essentially become his home. Those who studied alongside him had become more than his friends, they were also his family. But there was no time to enjoy the familiar halls or chat with his family as he hurried to the top floor.

A cool breeze drifted past him when he exited the academy. In Skyloft, there was always at least a hint of wind, for their town rested above the clouds themselves. Long ago, for reasons he did not quite remember (paying attention in class was not one of his strong points), their land had been sent into the sky to protect them from ancient evils. So here they remained, blessed by the goddesses, on the protected lands that hung in the vast, endless sky.

Clouds rolled by high above. Glancing up, Link welcomed the daily sight of the many Loftwings that circled around Skyloft. Already, his mind began to wander as it often did. Even with the pressing matter of the Wing Ceremony inching ever closer, he did not feel any anxiety or nervousness at all. What did matter to him, and caused him to shake his head and hurry back along, was the desire to keep his promise.

Sights set on the Statue of the Goddess, Link hurried his way through Skyloft. The wind picked up around him, as if it were preparing for the Wing Ceremony as well. Today truly was an auspicious day. As he neared the entrance to the statue's grounds, he finally slowed. A sweet melody drifted towards him on the comforting breeze. Each note was carried on the waves of air, soothing his mind even more. He made sure to walk in-pace with the music, not wanting to ruin its sweet melody. Faintly, a voice reached him, melding perfectly with the music:

Oh youth, guided by the servant of the goddess,

Unite earth and sky.

Bring light to the land...

The song came to a sudden end. Link frowned lightly. He had liked the song, and wanted to hear more. But the song would have to wait for another time, for Zelda ceased playing and turned around. She smiled at him, those comforting blue eyes of hers shining with such joy like they always did.

"Hey! Good morning, Link," she greeted warmly, erasing what little distance remained between them. She giggled lightly. "I'm glad to see my Loftwing got you out of bed. I was pretty sure you'd sleep in and forget to meet me this morning" Embarrassed, Link rubbed the back of his head and lowered his gaze. She knew him all too well. The moment was not dwelt upon for long for Zelda quickly held out what was in her hands. "But look at this instrument! And look at this outfit! They're mine to use today in the ceremony, since I'll be playing the role of the goddess.

"Aren't they beautiful? Especially this instrument! They tell me it's just like the one the goddess was said to have in the legends. It sounds gorgeous too. I asked father about it, and he says it's called a harp."

Glinting in the bright sunlight, the harp shone beautifully. Link breathed out in awe. Part of him wanted to touch it, to ask Zelda if he could try the instrument, but he did not, for it was hers and only hers for today. There would be other times when she could teach him how to use the golden instrument of legends.

"And look at these clothes!" Link blinked and looked back to Zelda. Overflowing with excitement, she twirled around, her pink dress flaring out in the process. It settled back down gently, draping off her form smoothly. It really was quite lovely, and rare to see Zelda in such clothes. "I made this wrap myself, and we get to use it in today's ceremony! Between the harp and this outfit, I'm going to make a great goddess today! I got you up early this morning because I wanted you to be the first to see me like this, Link!" Holding onto the hem of her dress, she twirled around again, this time slower, allowing him time to study the outfit further. "So...how do I look?"

For a moment, Link's mind remained blank on how he should respond. Crossing his arms, he studied her outfit for a more detailed inspection. The dress, while simple, really was quite lovely. It seemed fitting for its purpose of representing the goddess. But he still struggled with finding the right words to portray his thoughts properly. Zelda, however, took that elongated silence as a bad sign.

"Link? It is all right...isn't it?" Blinking, his train of thoughts came to and end when her question reached his ears. Link focused his sights back on his childhood friend and gulped in worry. That look of growing concern that slowly etched its way across her face. That look was never one he enjoyed seeing; he always felt responsible whenever her mood worsened, even if he was not directly or indirectly the cause. Quickly, so Zelda would not become upset further, Link praised her outfit; his simple words would have to be enough. His friend's concerned look immediately melted away. "Oh great! I'm so glad you think so too, Link!"

Link was about to ask her how long it had taken her to make the outfit when a new voice joined their conversation. "Ah, there you are, Zelda! Are you all prepared for today's ceremony?" Turning around, Link waved at the tall man that neared them.

"Oh, hello, father!" greeted Zelda warmly. She smoothed out her dress to look more presentable before bowing her head slightly.

Gaepora's large eyes widened even more when his gaze fell upon Link. "Ah, Link, you're here too. Outstanding." Gaepora smiled widely while Link dipped his head in embarrassment. Was it really such a surprise that he had woken up now? "It's encouraging to see you up so early, given your capacity for sleep." While a late morning for others, it really was rather early for him, and that was what made it so embarrassing. "No doubt today's ceremony had you too excited to close your eyes for once! If you win today's ceremonial race, you'll get to participate in the postrace ritual with Zelda, so give it your best out there."

"Yes. About that..." started Zelda before Link was able to respond with his thanks. His friend gave a heavy sigh. "Father, I don't know if he can do it! Recently Link hasn't been practicing much at all for the ceremony1" Link winced at Zelda's honest remark. While rather true, it still hurt to hear that she did not think him capable of winning. "And even when he's out riding his Loftwing, he's just lazily gliding around. Probably daydreaming! I don't know what he's thinking. He's going to have to be in perfect control of his bird to win today."

A hearty laugh came from Gaepora. Raising his hands, he motioned for Zelda to calm down. "No need to worry yourself, Zelda. Though you may have a point. Today's Wing Ceremony tests the skill of the rider as well as his bond to his bird. Victory will not come easily. And, as you pointed out, I haven't seen him practicing as hard as some of the other students. But you've known him since you were both very little. You should know better than to fret about him! You see, Link and his Loftwing share a special connection. I've never seen anything quite like it."

They all looked to the vast sky above them, the large Loftwings flying high overhead Skyloft. Link smiled to himself as Gaepora went on talking about the guardian birds the goddess had bestowed upon them. It was natural for him to tune out such discussions, and his mind drifted back to when he first met his other half, his Crimson Loftwing.

Link nervously walked towards the Statue of the Goddess. All of Skyloft was gathered around for this glorious day when the youths of their town were to meet their own guardian bird. He did not quite enjoy having all of the eyes on him, but he swallowed his nervousness away and stopped before the base of the statue. All of the other children of his year had met their Loftwings without any trouble, but now it was his turn. As Link stood there, he could not open his mind—he was still too scared.

There was tale of one man who never received a Loftwing. Though he came back to the Statue of the Goddess year after year, still no guardian bird had come. The years had continued to slip past, and the man was forever alone. Link closed his eyes tightly, unable to look up at the sky or anywhere else. What if the same thing happened to him? What if he too was not favoured by the goddess' blessing? That worry and more had kept him up all night, tossing and turning as he fretted over what would happen, or not happen, in the day.

Link kept his eyes closed, shooing off the consciousness that tickled his mind. It would not listen. The consciousness continued to pester his closed-off mind, pecking at it insistently until Link finally gave in. Opening his eyes, the young boy was staring straight at a Crimson Loftwing. The large eyes of the bird were glued to his. A wide smile broke across his face and Link lowered the defences around his mind. The Loftwing let out a joyous cry and flapped its wings once their consciousnesses met. Laughing, the young boy rushed forward and hugged the Loftwing tightly around its neck.

While he had never really thought of himself as only half a person, he could now understand why a Loftwing made its rider whole. Link buried his head into the soft feathers. He already felt as though he had known this Loftwing all his life, like an old friend that knew all his thoughts and emotions. The Loftwing let out a soft chirp in content, clicking its beak together.

Still smiling, Link looked up at his Loftwing. The brightly plumaged bird blinked at him, and immediately the young boy understood. With a firm nod, Link hefted himself up onto the bird's back. Protests arose from the people of Skyloft, more from concern than anything else. But Link did not listen to them. He only needed to listen to and trust his Loftwing. Without any instruction of guidance, Link commanded the Loftwing to return to its place among the clouds.

Skyloft drifted away as the two of them soared through the sky. Link closed his eyes in bliss, becoming lost in the sensation of flight. This was right. This was how things were supposed to be.

Link breathed out in content. The memory of that fateful moment always felt like it had happened only the day before. Gently, he opened his mind, no longer afraid like had been when he was a child, and reached out for his Loftwing. But nothing rose to respond. His Loftwing was not answering. Gasping lightly, he opened his eyes and scanned the skies for any sign of his guardian bird. None of the Loftwings above were crimson.

"Listen, Link, you'd better fly your heard out today!" called Zelda, momentarily drawing Link from his concern and confusion. "At the very least, you need to squeeze in a little practice time before the race!" Firmly, Zelda took a hold of Link's arm and began to drag him towards the edge of Skyloft. "C'mon, you'll thank me later!" Momentarily shocked, it was all he could do to keep in tow. While not physically the strongest of them, Zelda was quite capable of getting others to move when needed.

Trying to dig his heels into the ground, Link protested, but she would not listen. Even when he told her that his Loftwing was not answering, she still did not stop. Nothing he did would get her to change her mind.

"Here we are. Go on now. Jump off the edge and call your Loftwing. It's almost time for the ceremony, so try to practice seriously for once!" Hurrying around behind Link, Zelda pushed him the final few feet towards the edge when pulling ceased to work. Link tried his hardest to stay rooted to the ground, pleading with Zelda to understand why he did not want to jump off the edge right now. But, no matter how hard he tried, he was ever inched towards the sudden drop. "Hmm? Oh yeah? You can't 'sense' your bird out there?" At last, she had heard him, but she still did not listen. "Oh, I get it. You're trying to weasel out of having to practice! Nice try, but you're not fooling me. Off you go!"

Crying out in surprise, Link tumbled forward after a single push from Zelda. He tried to stop himself, but it was no use. He toppled over the edge of Skyloft and fell towards the barrier of clouds below. Zelda's command of telling him to call his Loftwing barely reached his ears as the wind enveloped him. Regaining control of his senses, Link brought his fingers to his lips and whistled as loud as he could.

Even after he called for his Loftwing, his guardian bird did not come. The sky around him remained devastatingly void of any other life. Again he whistled, and again nothing came to answer. Link closed his eyes, trying to sense for his bird, but still there was no response. He felt incomplete as he continued to fall through the sky, any hope of returning home slipping from his grasp. All he could do now was slow his rapid descent and wait to hit the cloud barrier below.

But that end did not come.

"Link! Hang in there! I got you!"

Talons grasped around him, trying to be as gentle as possible, but the talons were still a discomfort. Link looked up to see a bright-blue Loftwing carrying him, the same one that had delivered the letter to him earlier. Now that he had been caught, Zelda flew all of them back up towards Skyloft.

The Loftwing let go of Link and he tumbled onto the soft grass. Completely spent, Link stared up at the clouds in the sky, watching them dance around as his head spun madly. The idea of death had begun to feel all too close in that moment he had been falling helplessly through the sky. A flutter of wings met his ears and even the Loftwing collapsed by his side, also spent from exerting itself so much to catch him.

"Are you two all right?" asked Gaepora as he moved to check on Link while Zelda only tended to her Loftwing. Link raised a hand to his head, attempting to stop the endless spinning. It was a little harder to breathe and see than he would have liked, but that would pass in time. Thanks to Zelda, he would be all right.

"I'm sorry, friend," apologized Zelda, stroking the neck of her guardian bird before checking it for any injuries. "I didn't mean to push you so hard. You didn't sprain your wing, did you?"

"This is very odd, Link." Gaepora's expression became concerned as he looked to the sky as though searching for answers. "What could have possibly happened to your Loftwing? For a bird to ignore the call of his master... It's unheard of! And you still can't sense your bird nearby?" Link grimaced and shook his head as he rose, stumbling a little in the process. Even now, his Loftwing did not answer. "This is quite a problem, especially considering the Wing Ceremony is about to start..."

"Link..." murmured Zelda softly. She grasped her hands together tightly. "When you said you couldn't sense your Loftwing, well... I should have believed you... I'm sorry!" She bowed her head in apology to Link. He quickly waved aside the matter, she had come to rescue him after all. "I need to tend to my own Loftwing, so I'll catch up with you later. You'd better go on ahead and see if you can find where your bird has gone!"

Bells chimed in the distance, catching all of their attentions. Link swallowed nervously when he realized what that tolling meant. What would have been a glorious occasion now only sent shivers of doubtful dread down his spine.

"My, how did it get to be so late? If I recall correctly, this year, Instructor Horwell is presiding over the ceremony. Link, you should go explain the situation to him and see if he's willing to delay the race a little so that you can find your bird."

"But, father, you're the headmaster of the academy!" pointed out Zelda. "If Link asks Instructor Horwell, he'll probably just come talk to you about it."

Gaepora blinked a couple times, glancing off towards the academy. An embarrassed laugh escaped the older man. "Ah, quite true. As usual, you make an excellent point, my dear. Very well, I'll explain the situation to him myself. Link, run along and find your bird as quickly as possible!"

Link nodded firmly, not needing to be told twice. He gave one final farewell to Zelda, who was still tending to her bird, before hurrying back to the heart of Skyloft. Every step he took, Link reached out with his mind towards his Crimson Loftwing. No matter how hard he tried, his companion would not answer. Within his chest, his heart grew heavy. The warm breeze that often engulfed Skyloft no longer could bring him comfort. As long as his bird was gone, Link was enthralled to fear. Without his Loftwing...he was no longer complete.

No one was even able to help him. Anyone he may have asked about his crimson companion only told him to check with someone else for they had no knowledge of his bird's whereabouts. It was an endless bout of running in circles with no hope in sight. It did not even really matter to him now whether he made it to the race or not. Finding his Loftwing was more important than any race. There would always be other races.

Hanging his head, Link shuffled towards the plaza of Skyloft. With all the running he had been doing, and getting no where in the process, he needed a break. Taking a moment to clear his head and think would not hurt either. At this point, it was just as good or better than aimlessly running around. About to sit on one of the benches, several voices reached his ears, the content of the words piquing his interest.

"...You know, Groose, that sure was a pain, what with all the scratching and pecking."

"Course it was. You thought a big Crimson Loftwing like that was gonna go down without a fight?"

Link bristled, his blood beginning to boil. There was only one Crimson Loftwing in all of Skyloft, and it was his. Clenching his hands tightly, Link began to march towards Groose and his cronies, Cawlin and Strich, who were unaware of the young man's approach.

"But we got him," continued Groose. "And I don't care how tough those birds are supposed to be. He's not getting out of that pen any time soon, boys." A content sigh escaped the red-haired man. Rising, he cracked some of his joints and stretched his sore muscles. When he finally turned around, Groose saw what his friends had already noticed: a very angered Link standing behind them. Groose's moment of surprise quickly shifted into an arrogant smirk, causing Link's frustration to only grow.

"What's your problem, anyway?" asked the redhead. Standing as tall as he could, Groose began to circle mockingly around Link. "Oh, wait... I got it." A loud snap from Groose's fingers filled the air. "You're here to talk about today's race. I can see it in those dopey eyes of yours. They're pleading, 'Oh, Groose, can you please find it in your heart to let me win today? Please!' " He scoffed. "You're just desperate to win so you can get some alone time with Zelda up on the Statue of the Goddess at the end of the ceremony." A cruel laugh escaped the redhead. Link remained silent, not rising to Groose's goading.

"Well, sorry, pal," snapped Groose, shoving his face right in front of Link's. It was awfully tempting to try and wipe that smug smirk off of his face, but Link managed to remain still. "Groose doesn't do charity for wimps. My advice? Work hard and wish with all your heart. You might even come in second." He sneered. "Say, come to think of it, how come I don't see your bird? Where is that scruffy pile of red feathers? I can't imagine what could've happened to him. Do you think his tiny brain got confused by all the clouds and got lost?"

His anger breaking past his limit, Link stood straighter and challenged Groose. But his few words did not have the desired effect.

Scoffing, Groose leaned back in, that smug smirk still plastered across his face. "Pffft. Sure. Only thing is, I don't know how you can even think of beating me with no bird! You gonna grow wings?" Glowering, Groose gabbed a finger right in Link's face, causing the young man to reel back. "You know, we're all getting tired of how you never let anyone forget you and Zelda go way back. You've been friends you were kids? Big deal. It doesn't change the fact that you float through life with your head in the clouds. Would you wake up, straighten up, and grow a backbone already? Dopes like you are dragging our honored academy through the mud."

"And just who might you be talking about, Groose?" countered a new voice before Link could respond on his own. A smile tugged at his lips despite the situation. He knew that voice anywhere. Turning around, he saw his blonde friend standing there, hands on her hips, ready to stand up against anything Groose had to say.

"Oh...Zelda," stammered Groose, his demeanor suddenly shifting. "Hey. Nah, it's...uh..."

Angered, Zelda marched on up, pushed Link aside, and pointed an accusing finger at Groose, much like he had done to Link moments before. "Don't even try it, Groose! You're picking on Link again, aren't you? He's a student at the academy, like all of us. Why do you insist on bullying him around so much?"

For a moment, Groose stared flabbergasted at Zelda. His mouth opened and closed several times before words managed to come out again. "Yeah... I suppose..."

"You suppose? Suppose what?"

Whatever the cause, Groose's face began to heat up. Link could only arch an eyebrow at the redhead. Such an occurrence was not a rare sight to see whenever the redhead was talking with Zelda (even if she was yelling at him). "I...suppose...you... Er..." Whatever had been on Groose's mind was now gone. It had melted away from the heat of his red face. Shaking his head, Groose quickly shot a glare at Link before glancing back to Zelda then turning away. "Pffft. Forget it. I wasn't supposing anything, okay?" With a loud huff, Groose headed off, his two cronies following after.

The group of three hurried to one of the platforms that led off of Skyloft. Rounding back to face the two friends, Groose gave a mocking wave. "Okay, we're outta here, boys. Later, Link! Hope you find your bird, or else you're gonna have to sit out on today's race!" A cold laugh came from the redhead. "That could be a major setback toward knighthood, so find that bird or get real used to the taste of failure! It's your special flavour."

Together, the three of them jumped back off the platform and into the sky below. Unlike Link's previous attempt, their Loftwing's swiftly came to their call and they all flew off into the open sky.

"I hate to say it," sighed Zelda as the three on the Loftwings faded from sight, "but I'm beginning to suspect that those blockheads had something to do with your Loftwing's disappearance." Nodding firmly, she turned back to face Link, who was still feeling rather forlorn. "Link, those guys aren't going to help us find your bird, so we'd better start searching. I'll fly around Skyloft and see if I can spot any trace of your bird." Still uncertain, Link tried to mask his frown of worry, but it was no use with his friend right there. She quickly gave him a comforting smile. "Father said he'd talk to Instructor Horwell about delaying the start of the Wing Ceremony, so don't worry! We'll find your bird in time."

Softly, Link muttered his thanks. Zelda smiled once more at her old friend before hurrying to the edge of the platform and jumping off of Skyloft. Like the other three before her, she too flew off into the distance, only she would be helping Link find his Loftwing. Now it was his turn to return to his search on foot.

---

It should have been brighter out. The time was not much past noon. Even with the ever-present ceiling of clouds, it was never this dark during the day. An unnatural shadow seeped across the land. It cast the surrounding forest into an artificial state of dusk. Animals were completely silent. Even the monsters that roamed the land were now scarce.

She was completely alone as she trekked through the woods. The darkness still called to her, and she could no longer resist. No matter where she traveled, it called out to her, drawing her towards the source. Footsteps were strained, having to force herself to not run towards the source of darkness. She would only observe. That would not be the wrong course of action. Answering the call that beckoned her would be the wrong choice. That could not happen.

Slowly, the young woman neared the source of the ancient darkness. Trees slipped away and before her she could see a temple rise up in the forest. Plants grew up the stone walls, bringing it slowly back into the embrace of nature. A grimace crossed her face when she let her gaze travel down the path that led below the tem ple. It was from there that the darkness seeped out and called to her.

The young woman cursed under her breath. She had wanted to deny it, to ignore the possibility of what the darkness could be, but there was no more turning a blind eye to the truth. However, that was all she could no longer ignore. Huffing under her breath, she turned around and set out to put as much distance between her and the darkness as possible.

This was not her fight.

---

Link stared at the cave entrance behind the side of the waterfall. Light was consumed by darkness, unable to pierce through the rock and illuminate what lay inside. But it was in that darkness that he had to delve. Somewhere beyond was his Loftwing. From here, at the edge of the cave, he could sense his crimson bird who was in great distress. It was because of his companion that he reached back to the sword he had borrowed and dashed into the dark cave.

Holes in the cave walls allowed enough light for him to see his way. As long as he moved quickly enough, the sense of dread that the place gave him was unable to settle. Even when keese flew at him, Link kept his composure. All his practice was put to use as the blade sliced through the darkness and hit its target. The sound of the sword slicing through flesh was enough to make his gut churn in discomfort. It was a good thing he could not see the corpses of the keese that had been sent to the ground.

Hurrying along, Link left behind the cave and emerged on the other side of Skyloft. Bright sunlight nearly blinded him after his sight having become adjusted to the darkness of the cave. He brought a hand up to cast a shadow over his eyes. There was no time to waste now. From here, the connection he had with his Loftwing was stronger. Still it was in distress. But still he could not find it.

"Link!" Skidding to a halt, the young man spun around. Through the air flew Zelda atop her blue Loftwing. Strong gusts of wind buffeting him from the large bird, Link backed up a few steps to give Zelda more room to land. Nimble, she jumped from her bird's back and hurried towards her friend. "I was hoping to find you here." She placed a hand over her chest and sighed in relief. "I heard you'd gone searching for your bird around the waterfall, so I thought I'd fly around and help you look. How's your search going? Any sign of your Loftwing?"

Link cast his gaze to the side. Despite sensing his bird, he still could not find it. The separation from his bird was beginning to become agonizing. Knowing that his Loftwing was somewhere nearby and yet still out of reach tore at him.

"Oh no," murmured Zelda, able to figure out what it was that had Link so concerned. "Well, let's not lose hope yet. There's a place up ahead that Groose and his gang are always hanging around. Maybe we'll find something there!" The smile she gave him brought relief to Link, a glimmer of home returning in his distressed state. But her smile did not last for long. Blinking, Zelda looked past the edge of Skyloft and to the sea of clouds below.

"Huh...?" Eyes darting, she gazed intently at the clouds. "Who...who's that?" she asked to the endless sky. "Who's calling for me?" Brow furrowing, Link stared at his friend with concern. He had heard nothing. His gaze shifted to where Zelda looked, and saw nothing but the rolling clouds. "Oh, sorry link, I got distracted for a moment. Let's go!" Sighing in concern, Link hurried after his friend as she raced down the side of Skyloft.

His moment of concern for Zelda passed as his distress for his Loftwing returned. Cries of anguish reached his ears and Link picked up his pace, pushing himself as hard as he could go. Barred behind wooden planks, his Crimson Loftwing was trapped inside a small alcove. Distress changed to momentary joy when Link neared. For a second, Link could only stare in relief at his Loftwing. It was here. It was safe.

But still trapped.

Grunting, Link tugged at the planks of wood, trying to tear them away from the rock so his bird could be freed. Even with Zelda coming to his aid, the two of them could not budge the pieces of wood. A frustrated sigh escaped him as he backed up, feeling helpless. His Loftwing cried in further anguish, not liking having his human companion walk away. Quickly Link stepped closer, showing the crimson bird that he was not going anywhere. Desperate, his eyes darted around the planks, looking for any other way to free his trapped bird.

Hope rushed through him when he saw the planks being lashed up by tight rope. Drawing forth his sword again, he used it this time to save a life. Cutting the ropes, the planks fell away, one by one, clattering against the ground.

A victorious cry escaped the Loftwing as it strode away from its prison. Feathers fluffed up in joy. Stretching its wings, the Loftwing basked in its freedom. Link could only laugh in elation. Having his bird freed brought him such joy—he was complete again.

Clicking its beak in joy, the Crimson Loftwing brushed his head against Link in gratitude. With a chuckle, the young man wrapped his arms around his companion's head, enjoying the touch of feathers under his fingers. Now that his bird was freed, he was free as well. Butting Link away, his Loftwing now content, the large bird dashed off towards the edge of Skyloft, and took to the skies. A smile making his cheeks sore with happiness, Link raced after his bird, stopping once he got to the edge since he could not join his Loftwing in the air on his own. But just standing there, able to see his bird in the sky again, was enough.

"We should hurry, Link," reminded Zelda, nearing his side by the edge of Skyloft. "Now that your Loftwing is free, you should fly to the ceremony..." The smile that had been plastered on Link's face faltered when he noticed just how sombre Zelda now looked. "But before you go, I have to ask you something. I...I heard a voice a few moments ago. Did...did you hear it too?" She gazed out with confusion and concern to the sea of clouds below. "It's been happening a lot lately. It's the strangest feeling... Almost like someone is calling out to me.

"Have you ever wondered what's beneath the clouds? Some say that it's an empty, barren place, or even that there's nothing at all down below, but I just have this feeling that they're wrong. Some of father's old texts talk about a place called the surface. The old tales describe a whole world under there, far more vast than Skyloft!" She sighed. "The thing is, no one's ever been down there to see it, and our Loftwings won't fly through the cloud barrier... But I can't help imagining the wild things that might be waiting below. Someday, I want to see it for myself." Zelda trailed off, finishing. Link stared at the clouds. He never really thought about what could be below them—his mind really was always in the clouds. "Oh, sorry, Link. We don't have time to talk! Let's get going." Laughing, she gestured to the Loftwing that continued to circle around in the sky, eager to be flying elsewhere. "Look! You're bird's waiting for you. My father and the others are probably worried about your bird, so let's go give them the good news!"

Link barely caught the end of Zelda's words before he leapt off the edge of Skyloft without any concern or hesitation. Wind rushed around him, completely enveloping his entire body and welcoming him into the sweet embrace of the open sky. As much as he enjoyed the feel of the air, that was not what had him so excited at the moment—it was how he could ride the winds that excited him.

Bringing his fingers to his mouth, Link let forth a sharp whistle. As he continued to plummet to the ground, a response reached his ears this time.

Kreeeeaaaaaawww!

The elated cry of his Crimson Loftwing filled Link with joy. A streak of red flashed in front of his eyes before a mass of soft feathers supported him from underneath and kept him from plummeting any further towards the clouds. A laugh of pure joy escaped Link, settling on his old companion properly so he would not be thrown off from the break-neck speeds that his bird could reach.

Maneuvering his Loftwing, Link enjoyed the sense of flight. No matter how the bird flew, nothing appeared wrong with it. Safe, healthy, and uninjured. Link was satisfied. His bird was completely fine. As he soared through the sky, his home of Skyloft returned to his view, and the young man gasped. The Wing Ceremony was still being put on hold for him! But it would not be indefinitely delayed. With a simple shift of weight of his body, Link turned his bird towards the town that floated in the sky.

Once it was near enough, Link jumped from the back of his Loftwing. Rolling into the landing, he remained uninjured from the longer fall than normal. Once safely on the ground, he looked up to see the blue bird of Zelda's flying towards the Academy.

"Well, well, if it isn't Link!" called a smug voice from behind. Before Link could go anywhere else, he turned to see Groose and his two goons striding towards him. Frowning, he stood his ground. With a smirk, Groose stopped and crossed his arms. "Word around the plaza is you found that dumb bird of yours. Well, that's just great," he droned sarcastically. "Because you and your dumb bird can't tell time, all the prerace warm-ups me and the guys did were for nothin'. Now I'm all stiff.

"We've been waiting forever for the race to start, and they delay it for you? I don't get it. The big flake gets special treatment?" Glowering, Groose's stance became more aggressive, slowly pacing back and forth. Concerned, Link took a step back. It would hardly be the first time Groose' bullying threatened on becoming physical. "You're almost a man, and yet you still can't seem to go anywhere without Zelda. I bet you can't even decide what to have for lunch on your own, huh? And don't think we haven't noticed the smug looks. 'Ooh. Zelda and I are BEST friends. We go everywhere together.' Ugh!" Groose spat in disgust.

"You think you're pretty suave, don't you?" Link remained silent while the redhead advanced on him. "Well? Don't you?!"

"Groose has been going on forever about how he's gonna be the one to be with Zelda," whispered Cawlin to Strich. "He's really got his pompadour in a ruffle about her!" In response, Strich raised a hand to his mouth to stifle a snigger.

"I hate to break it to you," continued Groose, not noticing the light mocking from his own cronies, "but today's the day I bust up this adorable little fantasyland you're living in." Groose's aggression began to melt away, as it often did whenever his thoughts drifted towards Link's old friend. "Zelda's playing the role of the goddess at today's ceremony, and I'm gonna be the one to claim that Sailcloth." The redhead's gaze became distant. "When I heard she made it herself, man, no way was I gonna let some scrawny clown snatch that prize from me.

"Oh yes, that Sailcloth—Zelda's Sailcloth—will be mine! Duh huh huh... Oh, man, I bet she was thinking about me when she was stitching it... Yup. I can see it now. First, I win the big race, and then Zelda and I finish the ceremony together on the statue. Just the two of us... It'll be our special moment alone. Nobody is stopping me and Zelda from having our moment. Oh, it's so real I can... I can see it... Duh huh huh... Oh yeah..."

"Groose!" hissed his cronies. So lost in his own fantasy world, the redhead still did not notice them. "Pssst, Groose! Behind you! Right behind you!"

"WHAT?!" roared Groose, rounding on Cawlin and Strich. Link was not sure which was making them shake more: the infuriated Groose, or who was now standing behind Groose. "Can't you two see I'm in the middle of—" Turning around as he spoke, the redhead came to a sudden stop. "GAH!"

Placing her hands on her hips, Zelda shot an unamused glare at the redhead. "Care to explain just what you meant by 'our special moment alone'?"

"I...uh," fumbled Groose, always becoming so flustered whenever she was around. "Nothing big, really. Just... Just..." Nervous, the redhead's eyes darted between the two friends there. "Link! Yeah, I was just telling my buddy here how glad I was he found that red bird of his. Boy, am I looking forward to a fair race!" Sighing, Link could only pinch the bridge of his nose in disbelief. Groose only ever called Link his "buddy" when around the professors or trying to act nice for Zelda. "Anyhow, later, Zelda. Look for me during the race. I'll be the one pulling off all the dangerous moves!" With a lazy wave to Zelda, Groose strode off, purposely bumping into Link's shoulder in the process. Grunting, he rubbed his arm, but otherwise tried his hardest to ignore the redhead's provoking actions. The race would begin soon, and there he would be able to show the bully.

"Hey, Groose!" called Cawlin.

"Wait up!" yelled Strich. The two of them hurried after Groose. Though they sometimes mocked the larger guy, they still remained around him for protection.

Shaking his head, Link let out a long sigh. At least it had not been one of the worst encounters with Groose. Not one of the better ones either, but then again, hardly any encounter with Groose could be considered "good".

"Did you hear that guy?" huffed Zelda, walking over to Link's side. She still glared off in the direction Groose and his cronies had exited. "A fair race? Yeah, the changes of that happening are just about less than zero." She scoffed and shook her own head. Even she grew tired of Groose's shenanigans rather quickly. Her mood shifted when she pushed the matter of the redhead aside and looked back towards Link. As if by second nature of her now, she smiled softly at her friend. "Either way, don't let those fools get you down, Link! Just get out there and fly the best you can! I know you've got these guys beat, and deep down I think you do too."

As Link smiled and return and gave a confident nod, the bell from the Academy tolled. A slight chill of anticipation crawled up his spine. There was only one reason for the bells to toll this day.

A loud voice called out, "The Wing Ceremony will now begin! Participating students, please assemble!"

Clapping her hands together, Zelda giggled softly. "Looks like it's race time. Good luck, Link!"

Link and other participants assembled in the plaza, the sun shining brightly down on all of them. High above, three Loftwings soared through the air. Trails of coloured smoke followed them, signaling the start of the annual ceremony as they performed spectacular maneuvers to create beautiful designs that drifted away into the sky. From the ground of Skyloft, Link eagerly watched the Loftwings race through the skies. Just a few more moments, and the race would begin. His heart already began to beat faster within his chest. Just a few more moments, and he would be racing up there, trying his hardest to become a knight.

"Your attention, please," called Instructor Owlan, his voice drawing even Link from his near daydream-like state. "At last we are ready to begin the Wing Ceremony. I was beginning to worry that we'd have to proceed without Link, but luckily that is no longer a concern." From Link's side, Groose let out a low scoff. With a sigh of his own, Link cast his eyes down and tried to ignore it. Ignoring it was all he could do, but it was not always enough to make it go away. "I'm glad you could all make it. Before we start, I'll explain the rules for today's competition."

As much as Link tried to listen to Instructor Owlan's words, the murmurings from Groose to his cronies Cawlin and Strich drew his attention. He could not pick up the details, but he was certain they were talking about him and the race. Swallowing nervously, Link looked back to the Instructor and Headmaster, making a mental note to watch out for himself and his Loftwing while in the sky. Even with watching out for the others, all his attention had to be focused on the statuette that the bright yellow Loftwing would be carrying. Catch that, and he would win.

"As you well know, today's champion will graduate to the next class, bringing him one step closer to knighthood." A light smile crossed Instructor Owlan's face. "He will also receive a gift from the young woman chosen to play the role of the goddess in this year's ritual. Today is a special day for many reasons, but it is also the 25th anniversary of our fine institution. To celebrate the occasion, today's champion shall also receive his gift high atop the Statue of the Goddess. I hear the young woman performing the role of the goddess this year has crafted the gift herself. And as you all well know, the role of the goddess this year will be performed by..."

"The lovely Zelda!" interrupted Link's friend. She laughed, that contagious bright smile of hers spread across her visage. Momentarily forgetting about Groose and the others, Link laughed with Zelda's excitement. He could win this. He would win this.

"Let's see our finest flying out there. Show me just how hard you've been practicing." Owlan's eyes became stern. "Also, I want to see good, clean flying. Anyone caught interfering with other riders will answer to me!"

"That goes double for you, Groose!" barked Headmaster Gaepora. The redhead startled.

"All right, gentlemen, line up. At my command, the competition will begin!" From his side, the yellow Loftwing took to the sky, the statuette being carried with it.

Getting into position, Link readied himself. A low laugh from Groose unsettled him. The redhead was standing a little too close for comfort. Would his trickery begin even before the race started? Frowning, Link tried his hard to simply focus on the open sky before him. Get there, and he would be fine.

"Go!"

Link dashed forward. Quick on his feet, he managed to avoid a preemptive strike from Groose, attempting to falter Link's beginning of the race. But no one could touch him. And, with a few more nimble steps, he jumped from the edge of Skyloft, and was safely in the air. Shadows from the other contestants fell over him, and he knew he was not alone in the sky. None of them were. With sharp whistles filling the air, multiple Loftwings dove towards their riders. As expected of the graceful birds, none knocked into each other as they each picked up their own rider. Only Link was picked up by the Crimson Loftwing.

Avoiding even more sabotage attempts from Groose, Link sent his Loftwing soaring high into the sky. Higher and higher they went. Closing his eyes, he completely forgot about the statuette and became lost in the clouds. Cool mist drifted past him as he pierced through the many clouds. The bright sunlight quickly warmed him back up, keeping him dry. For several moments, he lazily glided around with his Loftwing. He always enjoyed flying up in the sky—it was so free, so liberating. Up here, he had no worries.

But there was a task he had to complete. Determined, Link looked down, spotting the group of Loftwings that were chasing after the yellow bird that carried the statuette. Focused on his target, Link guided his bird into a steep dive. Wind tore at him, threatening to pry him off his Loftwing's back, but he held on tight, keeping in place as the other birds drew ever closer. They continued to near him...then slipped on behind him. Only the yellow Loftwing was before him now, the statuette right within his grasp.

A loud yell from behind caused Link's concentration to break. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Groose zooming towards the statuette. No, not the prized statuette, he was coming straight for Link. Nearly panicking, the young man veered out of the way, Groose's bird barely grazing past. A light curse escaped him, and Link urged his bird forward. He had to end this now before Groose actually managed to knock him from the sky. Coming up from underneath, Link reached out...

And took the statuette for his own.

Pure joy flowed through him. He had won. He had completed the task to become a knight of Skyloft. Raising the statuette high above his head, Link let out a victorious cheer. But he could not have done it alone. Sighing with admiration, Link stroked the red feathers of his bird. It was thanks to his companion that he had been able to win.

"Link!"

Blinking in surprise, he looked around for the source of the voice. Having been carried far on the wind, he was not quite sure where it had come from. Until he looked up. Atop from Skyloft leapt Zelda. He was not worried, for such an act was normal for the people of the sky. But she did not whistle, which was not normal. Concerned, he pushed his bird faster, just managing to reach Zelda in time to catch her. His Loftwing faltered slightly from the sudden addition of weight. It did not take long for their flight to become steady again.

"Don't worry—I'm fine!" laughed Zelda, cradling her harp in her arms. "Great flying, Link! Congratulations!" Her bright smile felt more like a proof of victory than the statuette did. "Now we'd better get on with the ceremony!" Without any instructions from him, Link's Loftwing took flight towards the Statue of the Goddess, Zelda's trailing after them.

It was perfect weather for the ceremony. Gently, they each hopped off of the Crimson Loftwing atop the giant statue. Taking wing, the two Loftwings circled in the sky above them, being the only other souls there to witness the ceremony.

"Link, hand me that Bird Statuette. I must offer it to the goddess." Holding out her hand, Zelda waited for Link to pass over the statuette. Without hesitation, Link gave his friend the statuette. Being gentle, Zelda placed the small offering in the little alcove inside the statue. When it was placed just right, the blonde took a step back, pulled out her harp, and began to play the song he had heard her practicing earlier.

The sweet melody soothed him. Closing his eyes, Link stood still and listened to the combination of notes that were plucked with precision. He did not notice the song coming to an end until he opened his eyes and saw Zelda standing there, her hand outstretched. Gulping in embarrassment, Link knelt before Zelda and took her hand in his.

"Great goddess, guiding light and protector of our people, grant us your blessing and mercy as I act in your stead during this ceremony." She took a deep breath to steady her nerves—all her practice had to make the ceremony perfect. "Valiant youth who grasped victory at the celebration of the bird folk... In accordance with the old ways, I now bestow the blessing of the goddess upon you."

Her hand slipped from his, but still he remained kneeling. The sound of shifting fabric reached his ears, followed by silence. Looking up, the white shawl that had been a part of her outfit was folded neatly in her hands, held out for him.

"The blessings of the goddess drift down from the heavens aloft a sail, which I now pass on to you." A soft smile tugged at his lips. So this was what she had crafted as the special gift for the victor—for him. Standing up, he took the Sailcloth. It felt soft and warm on his hands, and as he brought it close, it...it actually smelled quite nice too.

"You know, they say that the goddess gave the Sailcloth to her chosen hero long ago," explained Zelda. "Of course, the one you're holding isn't the same one. I've been working hard to finish making this Sailcloth in time to give it to today's champion. I'm really glad I got to give it to you, Link. Make sure you take good care of it, okay?"

Holding the Sailcloth closer to him, Link nodded firmly. Of course he would take good care of it. Any gift from Zelda was something he treasured.

"Thanks for making it up here to do this with me today like you promised, Link." She laughed after seeing his warm smile. Even if he sometimes was a bit slow, he always did keep his promises. Today was no different. "Now we really should finish up this ritual... You...do know what happens at the end, right?" Link could only stare blankly and shake his head before casting his gaze down in embarrassment. "Really? Huh. I thought you would've figured it out by now." She took a step forward, and when he looked back up, he realized just how close they were.

A playful, and almost wicked, look flashed across her face. Reaching out, she grabbed him and spun him around towards the edge of the statue. "You have to jump off!" Standing on her toes, she looked over his shoulder and pointed down towards the large circle design on the ground below. "To finish the ceremony, you need to drop down right into the center! So... Ready to jump?" Link was not given a chance to respond before she shoved him right off the edge.

Ground raced towards him. Unlike the clouds, seeing solid rock nearing ever closer did not comfort him. His heart raced within his chest, partly from being unexpectedly pushed off the edge of the statue, and also from seeing the ground becoming more and more dominant in his vision. Trying to calm himself, Link angled his body so that he would land within the circular design. He did not wished to be shoved from the statue again should he fail. All too soon, the ground was threateningly close—was that the center of the circular design? He sure hoped so—and, after some fumbling, he managed to open his newly acquired Sailcloth and safely land.

His head spun from the ordeal. With an exasperated sigh, Link ran his hands through his hair. Jumping into the vast sky was certainly much less nerve-wracking than leaping towards the ground.

"That was perfect!" called out Zelda, jumping from her Loftwing's back. Giggling, she ran over to Link. With a few blinks, he looked down. Just as he had hoped, he had managed to land near enough to the center of the design. There would be no need to attempt it again. He sighed in relief. "You're amazing, Link."

Hearing that praise from her, he could not help but smile. Bashfully, Zelda clasped her hands together.

"You know, Link, seeing as how you won today... And with the weather being so nice... Maybe you'd like to, you know, go fly around the clouds together?"

There was only one answer to that question. With a firm nod, Link climbed back up onto his Loftwing and took to the sky. Laughing, Zelda quickly followed. Whenever offered a chance to be in the sky, Link took it without hesitation. That familiar sensation of the wind swooshing around him brought Link's mood to new heights. This day...it could not get any better.

"Link!" yelled Zelda over the noise of the wind. His head being pulled back from the clouds, Link looked over his shoulder to his old friend. "Today was amazing. Watching you win the race and performing the ritual together... I'll always remember this. It really was wonderful." The smile there on her face, it was one of the happiest he had ever seen from her. But then her smile faltered. Her blue orbs were cast down for a second. "You know... Link..." Still here eyes wandered. It was only after she took a deep breath could she look at him straight on again. "There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about..."

Kabang!

The sound of an unnatural explosion cut her off. Their Loftwings faltered, a strong gust of wind blowing up from nowhere.

"What is that?!" shouted Zelda over the new din. Link gasped sharply. Ahead of them rose a dark tornado. Storms were not unnatural up in the sky, but none were as unexpected as this. Their Loftwings screeched in protest, barely able to withstand the force of the torrential winds. Link reached forward and latched his hands tightly around the neck of his bird, the new force threatening to push him away. His red bird managed to slowly edge the two of them away from the unnatural tornado, but Zelda...

"Ahhh! Link!"

Going against the wishes of his bird, Link dove the two of them back towards the tornado that had sucked up Zelda and her Loftwing. He reached out, keeping his eyes peeled for any sign of his friend within the dark winds. But there was nothing. And, almost as soon as he dove in towards the tornado, it lashed at him, chewed him and his Loftwing up, and spat them both back out. They were not wanted. Only Zelda was to be consumed.

Link's mind spun so badly that darkness began to settle in. The last he saw was a streak of red coming to save him.

---

Falling.

He was falling.

Up. Down. Left, maybe even right? He really was not sure. Everything was the same here. Everything was simply nothingness. When he opened his eyes, his mind still swimming in a daze, there was nothing but darkness to greet him. And so he continued to fall, into the eternal black abyss, not knowing when this would end. It almost felt comforting, the eternal darkness, in some sick and twisted way. Here, there was nothing else to bother him. He simply drifted through undisturbed.

But somewhere, in that nothingness, a voice called out to him, "Link...?" It was distant, and yet near. The young man could not tell where the voice came from. Somehow, it reached him, from its unknown point of origin. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open. Somewhere above—below?—he could see a bright light piercing through the infinite darkness. The warm glow made its way through the darkness, caressing his tired form.

In the center of that light was a near crystalline form. That was where the light came from. I radiated off its, her, figure. She drifted through the darkness, melting it away with her warm liquid light.

"I am waiting for you." Still her voice reached him from everywhere. It began to soothe him more than the actual light. The voice was mystical and magical, sounding nothing like anything he had heard before. "The time has come for you to awaken. You are vital to a mission of great importance." He heard her words, but they did not make much sense to him. His mind still in a daze, he continued to fall. But she was there, using her warmth and soft voice for comfort, with him.

"Link..."

After he blinked, the light disappeared. Its warmth faded away, leaving nothing but the coldness of the darkness. And yet, there before him in the darkness, was Zelda. Like him, she was falling. Falling down. Now he could tell what orientation they were in as clouds rolled in and the sky locked in turmoil replaced the abyssal darkness. Wind lashed at him, stinging his exposed skin, and especially his eyes. But he had to keep them open—he had to keep focused on Zelda.

Steeling himself, he reached out for her, his arm nearly being torn from his body due to the malevolent winds. No matter how far he reached out, or how fast he enabled himself to dive through the air, he could not reach her. And so Zelda continued to fall...

...Right into the gaping maw of the shadow beast that haunted his dreams.

Her piercing scream for help rang loudly in his ears, tearing away at him more so than the wind. The gaping maw swallowed her, closing with a sickening crunch that stabbed through his entire body. She was gone. Consumed by that horrid beast. But then, before his very eyes, the beast opened its maw again, moved to devour Link who continued to fall. Nothing he did stopped his descent. Raising his arms to his face, he braced himself for the end to come...

And bolted upright in a fright.

His breathing was heavy, and his heart raced wildly. Link panted, staring down at the light blankets that hung off of his nearly shaking legs. Such a horrible dream...nightmare. And yet, what had that one single ray of hope in the darkness meant?

"Ah, you're awake," rumbled a deep, soothing voice. Link gasped, not having expected anyone else to be around him. Looking through the darkness of his room, the young man saw Headmaster Gaepora near his bed. "When your Loftwing carried you back, you were limp and unconscious. I feared the worst." A heavy sigh escaped the elder man. "Fortunately, you don't appear to have any serious injuries. For that much, we can be grateful."

At that news, Link could not smile. He might be safe and free from harm...but his friend... Remorse sank in, made worse as images from his recent dream flashed before his waking eyes.

"But, Link..." started the concerned voice of Gaepora, driving Link's regret and remorse deeper into him. "Where's Zelda? She was with you, was she not?" The wait for an answer was so long and silent that Link could not stand it. He gripped his arms, unable to look at the Headmaster at all, let alone straight in the eye. "...What's happened to my daughter?"

Link could no longer remain silent. With a heavy sigh, he softly explained to Gaepora what happened after the ceremony. The elder man was perfectly silent, not showing any reaction to anything Link said. It did not matter, for Link still could not bring himself to look at the Headmaster.

"A black tornado, you say?" grumbled Gaepora moments after Link finished his tale. "Hmm... That was no ordinary storm." Solemn, for though he hid his reactions for his daughter's disappearance, Gaepora was still silently shaken, the Headmaster made to take his leave.

Upon seeing the elder man walk towards the door, Link flung his feet over his bed. Zelda had to be found. She had to return to Skyloft. Determined, the young man began to make sure his boots were snug and secure on his feet.

"You must not push yourself," warned Gaepora, quickly moving back at the sound of Link shuffling. "You're still recovering." Link faltered, and looked up to the Headmaster's eyes. Though he cared about his daughter, he also cared for Link. And, at that moment, concern for Link was winning out. Reluctantly, the young man shifted back on his bead. Gaepora was right. If he pushed himself past his breaking point now, how much use would he be to Zelda? "Tell me, when you saw Zelda today, did anything about her seem...off?"

Blinking, Link glanced back up. Sending his thoughts back, there was only one thing that possibly stood out as "odd". Trying to remember her words and descriptions, Link told Gaepora what Zelda told him of the voice from below calling to her.

"I see," grumbled the Headmaster. "She was talking about the surface then?" His weathered eyes focused on Link. That gaze made Link shift, feeling somewhat unsettled about being judged. "And you've been having dreams about a 'great mission'? How interesting..." Gaepora ran a strong hand over his chin, stroking it pensively. That near-judging gaze left Link as the elder man continued to ponder the information shared with him. With a sigh, he dropped his hand, placed it on Link's shoulder, and gave a reassuring smile.

"I'm sorry. I was lost in thought there for a moment. It's all very strange, but I doubt there's much of a connection between these things. I'm concerned for Zelda, but so long as she's with her Loftwing, I'm sure she'll be fine. Either way, daybreak has yet to arrive. It would be very difficult to spot one girl and her bird in the dark of night. It would also be very dangerous." Gaepora's eyes bore into Link's until the younger man nodded. With a weak smile, the Headmaster dropped his hand from Link's shoulder and moved towards the door. This time, Link remained still, and no longer jumped at the chance of getting out of bed to search for his friend. "Rest now, Link," instructed Gaepora from the door. "Zelda's going to be fine. She's out there alive. I know it."

And with that, Link was left alone with his thoughts. He wanted to rest. Despite not being heavily injured, he was still rather tired. Both his body and mind were sore. Slumber would have been an easy option if not for the knowledge those nightmares waited for him. That, and concern for Zelda kept him wide awake.

But a new noise drew him from his thoughts. On the other side of his door, a gentle chime of notes reached his ears. Standing, he stared at the door. That noise... It was the same a from his dreams rather than anything native to Skyloft. The longer he stared, the longer silence pounded on his ears until another trickling chime called to him. It was a call he had to answer. He did not now if he should answer, but he knew that he had to.

Stumbling over his feet, Link hurried out his door. The soft trickling of chimes still reached his ears, drawing him through the academy. Just when he thought about pulling back, about pushing aside this nonsense of his dreams and jumping back to the safety of his room and bed, he saw it—saw the figure that radiated light and hope in that abyssal darkness.

Here, in the academy, no such light that he had seen in his dreams came from the blue, crystalline figure. It floated there, in the air, not bound by the same restraints that kept him tied to the ground. Without saying anything, he could hear her calling out to him. Once more, he had to answer. Hurrying towards the mystical figure, it began to float away, up the stairs to the second floor of the academy. No matter how fast he ran, the figure always remained out of his reach, but always in his sight.

What shocked him most was when the figure drifted through the double doors as thought they were nothing. No mark of the figure's presence remained behind on the doors where it had been. Reaching the finely carved wood, Link reached out and touched it. He wood felt warm to the touch, warmer than usual. From beyond, he heard the chimes again, each note calling out to him.

Through the paths of Skyloft, she led him. No matter where she went, Link quickly followed. Even when she took him around the very edge of Skyloft, causing him to hang from ledges and climb thick vines, he still followed. Up and up he went, after having been led far to the bottom reaches of his home. The light from the moon lit his path, making it easy to maneuver around the rocks and vines. Only once he pulled himself up over the final ledge did he realize the blue figure had led him to the Statue of the Goddess. Gates had been closed at night, thus the need for such an interesting detour.

Link slowed, for the blue figure had finally stopped moving. Before the base of the statue hovered the floating figure. Catching his breath, Link gradually neared her. This time, she did not move until he was only a few feet away. And yet, she moved in the impossible direction: back into the very statue itself. A gasp escaped Link. Though he had seen her pass through the wooden doors before, those had been no more than a foot thick, very different from solid stone. But it was solid stone no more. After glowing brightly, a portion of the base disappeared, leaving behind a tunnel delving deep into the belly of the statue.

For a moment, he hesitated. When he did, the chimes trickled up from down below and called him onward. Just like in his dreams, his nightmares, the sound brought hope. That hope enabled him to continue. As the moon was hidden behind a mass of clouds that rolled in from the north, Link steeled himself for whatever secrets lay below, and entered the dark tunnel.

The darkness did not last forever, unlike in his nightmares. Light from the end radiated out and beckoned him onward. Stepping into the light, Link gasped when he saw what rested in the very center of the hidden chamber.

A sword.

Stationed in a pedestal, the sword glowed from a source that differed from all the surrounding torches. As Link neared, the light within sprung to life and out from the sword swirled the crystalline figure. That glow the sword had radiated had come from her. She softly landed on the ground, as nimble on her feet as she had been in the air. Slowly, she lifted her head, and for the first time, Link got a clear look at her, the one who had shone as a beacon of hope in his dreams. Her face was smooth, and her short hair consisted of that same crystalline material that made up the rest of her form. While seeing a completely blue figure was rather shocking, the most unnerving part about her was her eyes: those blue, pupilless eyes that looked no where, and yet bore right into him at the same time.

"The one chosen by my creator," said the figure, her voice sounding more like a trill of chimes rather than a normal voice. It felt...magical, just like it had in his dreams. "I have been waiting for you. You will play a role in a great destiny." Her features remained unchanging, and her voice, though a pleasant blend of what sounded almost like music, was somehow monotonous. "According to your social customs, I should provide you with my personal designation. Fi is the name I was given. I was created for a single purpose, long before the recorded memory of your people. I must aid you in fulfilling the great destiny that is your burden to carry."

With a flick of her body, the figure, Fi, leapt behind the pedestal. "Come, Link." As easily as she had put her body into motion, she became completely still. The only movement from her was that of her draping sleeves that continued to flow in the breathless wind. "You must take up this sword. As the one chosen by my creator, it is your destiny."

Link stared at her. And Fi stared right back, unblinking, unmoving. In his silence, she continued: "The strange dreams troubling your sleep. My sudden appearance. Uncertainty surrounding the fate of the one you hold dear. Under the circumstances, it is only logical that you would exhibit some apprehension." The young man felt a pang of nervousness. How had she known how he felt? "To minimize your uncertainty, allow me to share some information. My projections indicate that this information has a high probability of altering your current emotional state. The one you seek, honourable Zelda, is still alive."

A breath of disbelief escaped him. But that quickly faded away as a smile took its place. She was alive. Hearing that information did take off an unwanted weight of worry from his shoulders.

"And this spirit maiden..." continued Fi. "The one you call Zelda...is another chosen fated to be part of the same great mission. Therefore, should you wish to meet with your friend, I highly recommend you take up this sword before you set out to search for her." Link's gaze shifted from her unchanging gaze to the sword that still rested in the pedestal. "Does that information invigorate you? Are you ready to accept this sword?"

There was no hesitation. There was no need to think it over. Link rushed towards the sword. As he neared, Fi drifted upward. Still her unblinking gaze remained locked on him, those pupilless eyes staring into his very being.

"It seems that further persuasive measures will not be required. In the name of my creator, draw the sword and raise it skyward." Drifting away, she allowed Link plenty of room to complete his task.

Almost eagerly, Link wrapped his hands around the hilt. Its glow temporarily grew brighter at his touch. Gritting his teeth, he put all his strength into lifting it from the pedestal, and nearly fumbled when it turned out it slid smoothly from the rock. Metal ground against stone, but not reluctantly. The blade seemed eager to be taken from its resting place. Once freed from its resting place, Link held the blade and raised it to the sky as high as he could. Here, in its proper state, the sword began to glow with power. The light flowed down it, filling the blade with a warm, otherworldly strength. It was the same warm light that had comforted him in his dreams.

"Recognition complete, master..." stated Fi. For the first time, her voice sounded different. "Link... My master."

Still staring in amazement at the sword, Link brought the blade down before him. Taking from the sky, the sword's glow began to fade. Still it resounded with power from deep within.

"Link!" Startled, the young man spun around. At the mouth of the tunnel stood Gaepora, his eyes wide in surprise. "I've had my suspicions, but until now I wasn't sure." Slowly, the Headmaster walked forward, his gaze wandering from the blade in Link's hand to the craftings of the chamber around them. "Yet here we are in the Chamber of the Sword, the very place where it was foretold the youth of legend would one day appear. It is said that this place was left to our people by the goddess herself. The very knowledge of this room's existence is a secret passed down to a select few each generation, along with a handful of words..."

Still embarrassed to have been caught by the Headmaster when he had been told to stay in his room and rest, Link shyly dipped his head. Eyes shifted from the blade in his hands to the Headmaster.

"When the light of the goddess' sword shines bright, the great apocalypse will wake from its long slumber. Do not fear, for it is then that a youth, guided by my hand, shall reveal himself in a place most sacred." With a sigh, Gaepora came to a halt. The surprise from his eyes had vanished, and instead he stared, almost solemnly, at Link. "It started days ago. The sword that I've kept secret all these years... It began to give off a faint, otherworldly light." Raising a hand, the Headmaster pinched the bridge of his nose. "At first I was sure I was seeing things, here alone with the sword. There was simply no other explanation. I never dreamed the prophecy of legend would come to pass in my lifetime." A faint smile of amazement touched his lips as he gazed up towards Fi. "The words I have sworn to keep secret are coming true before my very eyes. The youth will be guided by one born of the blade—one who is also youthful in likeness yet wise with knowledge immeasurable."

"Ah yes, the oral tradition, one of the least reliable methods of information retention and transmission," commented Fi. "It appears that critical sections of the passage have been lost over the generations." With a flex of her body, Fi drifted down to the floor. "The youth who draws forth the guiding sword shall be known as the goddess' chosen hero, and it is he who possesses an unbreakable spirit. He shall be burdened with the task of abolishing the shadow of apocalypse from the land. Such is his destiny. With the spirit of the blade at his side, he shall soar over the clouds and plummet below... And united with the spirit maiden, shall bring forth a piercing light that resurrects the land."

Link gasped. He had heard of such a thing before. His thoughts being flung back to something Zelda had mentioned to him:

"Some of father's old texts talk about a place called the surface. The old tales describe a whole world below, far more vast than that of Skyloft!"

Could such a place truly exist?

"Master, you must embark on a great journey beneath the clouds to the vast realm of the surface. It is only through this journey that you can fulfill the mission set before you by my creator, the goddess. It is also the only method available for you to reunite with the spirit maiden, honourable Zelda."

That was enough for Link. Without any further persuasion, he knew what he needed to do: he had to find Zelda. To do so, he would have to travel to the forgotten surface beneath the clouds.

"This is no easy task, Link," warned Gaepora before the young man could even round on his heel to leave. "The world below is a forsaken place, and to reach it, you must pierce the cloud barrier below. In living memory, no one has ever done this." If that information had meant to dissuade him, it did not work. In fact, it only made him want to find Zelda faster, and help save her from whatever troubles lurked beneath the clouds.

A bright light tore him from his thoughts. From in front of Fi drifted a glowing object. It floated through the air, just like Fi had done before. Nearly fumbling with his new sword, Link sheathed it securely in his scabbard. He needed both hands to hold the weathered tablet that appeared from within the light.

"This tablet will illuminate a path through the clouds to the land below. Take it, and place it within the alter behind me." Grasping the tablet, which was much heavier than he expected, Link began to move forward, but stopped when Fi continued to speak. "Master, the first thing you must do is hit the crest sitting in this room with a Skyward Strike. These blasts are formed of pure energy that charges with your blade when you lift it skyward. Once you have charged your blade, face the crest and swing your sword to send out a powerful Skyward Strike."

The tablet nearly slipping from his hands, Link set it down on the floor for now. Holding such a hefty old thing would only get in the way of this Skyward Strike that Fi explained. He reached back and drew forth the new—or rather old—blade again. It seemed to hum in his grip, eager to fulfill its purpose. Behind the pedestal was a darkened crest, one that looked akin to a bird in flight. Licking his lips apprehensively, Link held the sword tightly and raised it to the sky.

Like when he had first removed it from its resting place, the sword began to glow. Particles of light trickled down onto it, filling the blade with a mighty power. Only once the entirety of the blade was infused with the radiating light did Link strike down with all his force towards the crest. It spun upon being struck with the blade of energy that tore off from the sword. Brighter, as if having been awakened from that strike, the crest settled. After it stilled, the crest rose, bringing with it a section of stone that ground in protest to being moved after all these countless years. It was there the tablet needed to be placed.

Though Gaepora offered to help, Link declined the assistance. This was something he needed to do on his own. With more strain than he desired, Link managed to place the stone tablet in its rightful place. The single green gem that was imbedded in the tablet glowed, pulsing with a new heartbeat that Link could only hope meant that he had properly completed the task.

"Master Link, it is done," reassured Fi, drifting up behind him. "Until now, a cloud barrier created by the goddess has separated the world you know from the one below. The tablet you placed in the alter has opened a small rift in the barrier. You can use it to travel through the clouds to the realm below." Breaking her motionless state, Fie floated through the air even closer towards Link. Her unblinking gaze still bore into him, and still unsettled him. "I have recognized you as my master, and so it is my duty to follow you wherever you may go. I reside within your sword and will accompany you in your travels. Call for me whenever you require my assistance."

Before Link could ask for any further information at that moment, Fi leapt into the air, became a small ball of light, and returned to her place within the hilt of the goddess' blade. It felt...easier to carry now.

"Link, listen a moment," requested Gaepora, halting Link's departure for now. "The nature of the great apocalypse mentioned in the old texts is a complete mystery to me. But whatever it turns out to be, it seems that both you and Zelda have big roles to play in the destiny of this land. Just think—if what this Fi says is true, Zelda is alive! Alive and no doubt coming to terms with whatever it is the goddess has in store for her. Should you heed he call of destiny, I don't know what dangers you may have to face, Link. Especially down there...

"But if you've decided to brave the unknown, please find my daughter and bring her back to me." A long sigh escaped the Headmaster. "What we've seen here today defies explanation, but it is only the start of your journey. Please, see if through and prove the legends true."

Link swallowed nervously. It was a lot to ask of him. Just earlier that day his greatest fear had been of finding his Loftwing in time for the ceremony. Now, Zelda was gone from Skyloft, and he needed to brave this unknown land of the surface to find her again. And the talk of the apocalypse... He did not wish to think of such matters now. What he needed to focus on was making sure he found Zelda safe and sound. Without a doubt, he would do it.

Gaepora smiled softly before glancing up. "Dawn is drawing near. It has been a long night for the both of us, hasn't it? You have a great journey before you, Link, and those clothes..." Even the Headmaster gave a disapproving sniff as he eyed Link, making the young man feel suddenly self-conscious. "They don't look up to the task. The uniform you were to receive for winning the race should be ready by now. A sturdy uniform like that will prove much more sustainable for a long journey. You'd better change before you go."

Gripping the strap that held his scabbard close, Link gave a firm nod. The sooner he left, the better.

The uniform was much more comfortable than he had expected. Seeing the other knights wear it made him think it would feel at least a little awkward. But, as he tapped his boots to the floor, checked his gauntlets, and secured his belt, he realized how maneuverable and sturdy the uniform really was. It fit like a glove too. His new clothes really would be much better for traveling than his previous garb.

"That green uniform is what our knights will be wearing this year. To be honest, I've had my doubts about the colour," sighed Gaepora. As he glanced over Link, his eyes began to show a hint of laughter. "But oddly enough, seeing you wear this uniform, I can't imagine a more fitting colour for you. It's as though you were born to wear it." That proud smile Gaepora gave tugged at Link. Though Zelda's father, Link had often seen the Headmaster as his own parent figure, having lost his at a young age. "Take care on your journey. I will return to my quarters and see if I can glean more useful information from the ancient texts." Lifting a heavy hand, the Headmaster place it comfortingly on Link's shoulder. "You and Zelda shall be in my prayers. May the goddess watch over and guide you both."

---

Snorting herself awake, the woman rubbed her eyes, attempting to rid herself of her weary state. With a falter, she nearly fell out of the tree that she had been slumbering in. Due to the monsters appearing more often, it was by far a safer place to sleep at night than on the ground. With a sigh, she closed her eyes again, running a hand down her tired face. The silent whispers that called out to her were not as persistent now. Still present, but not as tormenting as it had been the previous day. Sighing heavily, she looked at her wrapped, calloused hands and blinked in confusion.

Dotted across her hands were specks of light that managed to trickle through the leaves above her. Such a sight...it was not common any more in these lands. Brow furrowing, she looked up, squinting as rays of morning light shone into her eyes through the leafy tree. Light. There was actual noticeable sunlight now. Grumbling under her breath, she jumped down from the thick branch and landed on the soft ground beneath her.

A deep frown pulled down the corners of her mouth as she stepped out from under the shadow of the tree. It was thanks to the endless sea of clouds that sharp shadows were never seen in this land. There was light during the day, certainly, but none so bright and direct that cast shadows could be formed. The ever-present overcast locked the land in a cloudy haze. Defined shadows were nonexistent. And yet now morning light shone through the clouds, illuminating the land in a new day.

She craned her head back and spotted the cause of it all. Up in the clouds was a massive rift. The edge of it, where the clouds began to form again, was a faint shade of green. It was through that rift that the sun shone through. So bright... So warm... Shivering, the woman tightened her cloak around her. It was not from a chill, but rather displeasure. Through the rift was not only the sunlight, but also the sky. A soft sigh escaped her.

But then her expression became harsh once again. Tearing her gaze away from that rift, from the sunlight and the sky, she sought to get away. Not only did she want to leave behind the whispers that called out to her, but she too wished to leave behind the sight of that mocking sky.

---

Link soared through the air atop his Loftwing. With a sombre glance, he looked back over his shoulder at Skyloft that continued to grow ever smaller in the distance. As much as he wanted to find Zelda quickly, leaving home had been harder than he imagined. The worst of which had been that he could not tell his friends. For all they knew, Link would merely be gone with no explanation. But it had to be done.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Link looked back towards the great pillar of light that rose from the cloud barrier to high above in the sky. It pierced through the clouds, opening a rift to the realm below. Link stared at it with amazement. The surface was so close. Steering his bird, Link soared right through the pillar. Gazing down, he saw just how massive the rift was...and the surface below.

Green.

It was so green and lush.

Link breathed in amazement, circling around the opening. Any stories of the surface were of a barren, desolate place, wrought with monsters and other horrendous things that did not have names. But, from way up in the sky, it really did not look so bad. With a final pat on his Loftwing's back, Link leapt from his bird and plummeted towards the ground.

As always whenever he fell through the sky, wind tore at him. Part of him wanted to let forth a sharp whistle, to call his Loftwing back to him and continue soaring through the sky. But he could not do that. He had to let himself fall. He had to reach the surface. As long as he held the Sailcloth, he would be fine.

Dozens upon dozens of trees began to near him as he slipped past the cloud barrier. It had been done. There was no odd feeling that had suddenly plagued him. There was no sudden sense of foreboding. Slipping beneath the barrier of clouds had been as simple as riding a Loftwing. It had been nothing like he feared. While falling through the clouds themselves could very well be a bad experience, the opened rift made for easy access.

But matters would not remain easy for long.

A chill crawled up his spine as a cold wind blew through the air. Even without his Sailcloth unfurled, it began to toss him around, sending him off-course from his original landing. Skies grew darker as the storm began to settle in. Unlike the tornado that had taken Zelda from him, this one was natural. Fierce, but natural. It grew exponentially, blowing in strong and fast, catching him, and the surface below, by surprise. Gritting his teeth, Link took out his Sailcloth and tried his hardest to ride the malevolent winds, avoiding any heavy pockets of rain that began to fall. At the very least, he held on as tightly as he could and hoped for a survivable landing.

---

His body was sore and his mind spun wildly. The last Link remembered was being tossed violently into a group of trees. There were so many trees on the surface, he had noted. Up on the floating islands in the sky, there was not a single one that held as many trees as the small area of the surface he had witnessed thus far. The surface... He was finally here. Well, almost. Blue eyes glanced down and he noticed that he had yet to actually make it onto the ground. Suspended on a tree branch, Link was temporarily stuck between the sky and the solid ground.

Though his joints, bones, and muscles protested to moving—there were going to be some rather large bruises appearing on his skin later from this landing—Link reached out and tried to grab for his Sailcloth that dangled from the branches before him. It danced softly in the light breeze of the day. The storm that had rolled in must have quickly blown itself out. Such storms were not uncommon even for the inhabitants of Skyloft.

He began to teeter precariously on the branch he draped over. Just a little more and he would have his Sailcloth. Losing it now, losing it ever, actually, was not an option. Outstretched fingers, reaching at their greatest limit, grazed a soft corner of the white fabric. Almost. Almost...

A cry of success escaped Link when he grasped the corner of the Sailcloth in his hand. But that noise of joy was short lived for he then found himself racing to meet the ground. With a loud thud, he hit the solid earth. Here he had thought his body had been sore before, but now it was even worse.

Waiting for his head to settle, Link slowly pushed himself up from the ground. He paused. Had he actually landed on the ground? It did not quite feel like solid earth beneath him. With a nervous swallow, he glanced down.

The ground was not supposed to groan in discomfort. The ground was not meant to glare back at him with a pair of jade eyes. And the ground most certainly was not capable of speaking.

"Get. Off. Now."

---

A/N: Sorry for such a long chapter! I swear they won't all be like this! I just needed to get from the start to where Link winds up on the surface. But, now we have met my main OC for this story, so let the mayhem, I mean, fun begin!