AN: A while back I tried to write this fanfic and completely gave up on it because I disappointed with my own writing and the way I was making the story go. So here I am, round two. Please remember to review!
Spirit Maiden
Chapter One: Beginnings
The clouds below were dark and gloomy. Every now and then there would be a flash of light with a resounding roar following. The wind whipped around Skyloft, forcing people to retreat inside and close their windows. It wasn't often that the rain would reach their town, what with them being so far above the clouds themselves, but it was always certain that a wind storm would occur.
Outside her room Zelda heard the frantic footsteps of the soldiers of the Knight Academy echoing through the halls. She continued to stare out the window, not caring that the wind was blowing her papers off her desk and onto the floor.
We must have done something pretty bad for the Goddess to create a storm like this, the young girl couldn't help but think.
"There's people who still haven't returned!" one of the knights yelled from outside her window, his voice becoming lost in the storm. Zelda watched two of the knights jump off the edge of the island and call to their birds.
Zelda watched their birds struggle in the violent winds, flapping their wings in desperate attempts to remain upright.
"Zelda, what are you doing?"
She turned around to see her father standing in the doorway. He was so large that his head nearly brushed the top of the frame.
He quickly walked over to her, picking her up from her spot on her desk and placing her on her bed.
"Is Hylia mad at us?" Zelda asked as her father closed the window. "Is that why she made the storm?"
Her father sighed. "Storms happen all the time, princess. That doesn't necessarily mean the goddess is angry."
"Why else would she make them?"
"Well," he started. "Without rain, the trees and flowers wouldn't be able to grow."
"But it's raining below us."
Her father smiled. "Then maybe she's watering the trees and flowers that we can't see."
Zelda went to ask him what he meant when suddenly a group of knights sprinted by her bedroom. One of them noticed the Headmaster standing next to Zelda's bed and came to a stop.
"There's two birds flying towards Skyloft, one riderless," he said quickly. "No one recognizes the birds."
Headmaster Gaepora frowned. "From a nearby island, possibly?"
"We're not sure, but if that's the case, then we should expect more," he finished before running to catch up with the others.
"Why are people coming here?" Zelda asked as her father goes to exit the room.
"I'm not sure, but we must help them as much as possible, should this be the case." He closed the door behind him.
Zelda got up from her bed, holding her ear against the door. Slowly she heard her father's footsteps fade, followed by the thud of the grand doors as they closed.
Zelda flung her door open, her slippers not making a sound and she sprinted down the stairs to the first floor.
"The woman doesn't appear as if she'll make it, but the boy looks as if he'll live," Zelda heard from around the corner. She stopped, leaning against the wall to conceal herself. "They're bringing them both as we speak."
"Bring the woman to my room, and put the boy in Instructor Horwell's room," Instructor Owlan responded.
"And if there's more?" the knight asked.
"We'll roll out cots to lie on the floor, and I'm sure many students would be willing to volunteer their rooms should more people come."
They can use my room, Zelda thought but doesn't dare say out loud, should they get her father and tell her to go back to bed.
Zelda poked her head around the corner, watching the knight go back outside with Instructor Owlan behind him. Zelda quickly ran up the door, about to go out into the storm, when suddenly the doors come flying open. She jumped back, retreating to her previous hiding spot.
In come four knights with what could only be the woman and the child that the knight was telling Instructor Owlan about. The boy looked to be about her age. His sandy hair hung over his eyes. Zelda glanced at the woman and immediately felt tears begin to pour. There was blood all over her face and in her hair.
"Zelda?"
Zelda jumped back around the corner before attempting to dash up the stairs. Her father quickly caught up to her, picking her up and cradling her in his arms.
"I told you to stay in your room," he said, rubbing circles on his daughter's back.
"The knights said she's going to die," Zelda mumbled into his shoulder, her tears dampening the fabric.
"And if she does, do you promise to help out the little boy?" he asked. "He'll be without a mother and a father. Can you be his friend?"
Zelda looked her father in the face, wiping away her tears. After a moment of thought, she nodded.
Spirit maiden… It is time.
Zelda's eyes blinked open. She looked outside her open window to see the sun just barely rising over the horizon. Swinging her legs out of bed, Zelda got up and took a seat at her desk.
Hey, sleepyhead, she wrote. 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! Zelda glanced toward her closet where the ceremonial garments were held. Last year the girl who had played the goddess had been a bit larger, so she had had to alter the dress to fit her smaller frame. You promised to meet me before it starts, remember? she continued. You better not keep me waiting. –Zelda
Zelda folded the letter shut, writing Link's name on the outside.
Zelda got up from her desk, opening the closet doors. The dress was beautiful. She carefully took it out, removing it from the hanger. She slipped it on and then decided to wear her white riding pants underneath. She attached the sash with the Goddess's crest displayed and then clipped on the gold chain over it.
She eyed the Sailcloth she had left on the bottom shelf. Normally it was folded and presented to the winner of the ceremony from a wooden box. But this year they had told her that she would be presenting the prize on top of the Goddess Statue. Her father had also given her a golden harp similar to that of the goddess's. Flying while carrying both the box and the harp would be practically impossible. She took the Sailcloth in her hands, attempting to tie to it around her waist. It just barely reached, but quickly came undone with even the slightest movement. She then stood in front of her mirror, tying it around her shoulders.
"That's better," she said. The crest was also visible on her back from the way she had tied it on.
Grabbing the letter and the harp, she left her room at the Knight Academy and made her way towards the Statue of the Goddess.
She stood at the base of the statue, staring up in awe. She shielded her eyes in the sun, barely able to make out the top.
Spirit maiden…
Zelda turned around. "Who's there?"
Your destiny lies below the clouds…
Zelda turned back to the statue of Hylia. "To the surface?" She knew she must be hearing things. Ever since she had started hearing the voice, she had started going through her father's old texts to see what it could possibly mean. Everything pointed towards a time before recorded history. The only reference from that time was the same story of how the goddess created Skyloft.
Snapping out of her daze, Zelda raised her fingers to her lips and whistled for her Loftwing. She then took out the harp, carefully strumming the strings. She had been practicing for over a month, but she still worried she would mess up.
Her bird arrived, landing in front of her. "Take this to Link," she said, placing the letter in its beak. The bird promptly took off, making its way over to the Knight Academy.
Spirit maiden…
Zelda turned. What was that voice?
Recollecting herself, Zelda closed her eyes, practicing the Ballad of the Goddess again. She remembered the song that went along with it. Everyone had to learn it during their first year at the Academy. Most forgot it at this point, but for her it had always stuck.
"Oh youth, guided by the servant of the goddess…" she sang. The song was sacred. It told the tale of the hero and the goddess. "Unite earth and sky, and bring light to the land." One text had told how it was prophesized that the goddess would return and, with the aid of the hero, create peace and prosperity for Skyloft. Another had said that this same prophecy foretold that the goddess would grant her spirit to another, and the hero and she would dismiss the clouds below. But both texts had been established many lifetimes after the beginnings of their land, and therefore accuracy could not be guaranteed.
She rolled her eyes at her own wandering mind. She needed to practice, not to get lost in her own thoughts. She needed to focus.
"Ah, I thought I'd find you here."
Zelda turned around at her father's voice. "Just getting in a bit more practice."
"Are you nervous?" the headmaster asked.
"A little bit," Zelda admits. "If Link wins I'm sure I'll be fine, but if Groose or one of his friends… I'm sure I'd mess something up. And Link…" hasn't practiced nearly as much as the others. But she doesn't tell her father this out loud.
Headmaster Gaepora laughs. Even from their early days at the Knight Academy, Zelda and Link had always been at odds against Groose, Cawlin, and Strich. "I'm sure you'll do perfectly fine." He glanced up at the statue. "If you need anything, let me know. I'll be back soon enough. I'm just making sure that everything is in place and prepared."
Zelda watched her father make his way out of the sacred area and down the wooden steps. He always got anxious this time of year. Being the 25th anniversary of the Knight Academy, he was especially nervous. Not to mention Groose and his buddies had a knack for causing trouble, and all three of them would be flying today. Zelda couldn't help but feel bad for Fledge, though, who was the same age as them but had failed to meet the flying requirements as determined by Instructor Owlan.
Clearing her throat, she began from the beginning. "Oh youth, guided by the servant of the goddess… unite earth and sky… and bring light to the land."
Zelda heard the faintest footsteps behind her and quickly spun around.
"Hey, good morning, Link," she greeted, her heartbeat slightly increasing as he walked up the steps to her.
"Hey," he smiled back. "I got your letter."
Zelda laughed. "Were you sleeping?"
Link laughed with her, his cheeks reddening.
"I'm glad to see my letter got your out of bed," Zelda said. "I was pretty sure you'd sleep in and forget to meet me this morning."
"How could I forget?" he teased. More often than not he'd forget and she'd end up reminding him, whether it be exams, sword lessons, even meals.
"But look at this instrument! And look at this outfit!" she told him excitedly, quickly changing topics. "They're mine to use today in the ceremony, since I'll be playing the role of the Goddess. Aren't they beautiful?"
"Very," he agreed.
"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." She strummed a few of the strings. "And look at these clothes! I made this wrap myself, and we get to use it in today's ceremony!" Zelda told him, concealing the fact that it was in fact the Sailcloth he—hopefully—would be using. "Between the harp and this outfit, I'm going to make a great Goddess today!"
"I know you will," Link said sincerely.
Zelda's heart fluttered. "I got up early because I wanted you to be the first person to see me like this, Link," she admitted, her cheeks turning a rosy red. "So… how do I look?"
"You look great, Zelda," he told her.
Was his smile always that nice?
"Hah, I think so too, but it's nice to know you agree," she teased. "Thanks, Link."
Zelda spots her father returning from his rounds. "Ah, still up here, Zelda."
"Oh, hello, Father," she greeted.
"Good morning, Headmaster," Link said.
"Ah, Link, you're here too. Outstanding," Gaepora remarked. "It's encouraging to see you up so early, given your capacity for sleep. No doubt today's ceremony had you too excited to close your eyes for once!"
Zelda smirked, holding back a laugh. Link would probably still be sleeping had she not woken him up.
"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," the Headmaster continued.
"Yes. About that…" Zelda said, no longer able to conceal her worries. "Father, I don't know if he can do it! Recently Link hasn't been practicing much at all for the ceremony." She turned to Link, her voice softening. "And even when's he's out riding his Loftwing, he's just lazily gliding around. Probably daydreaming." The look on Link's face told her she was right. "I don't know what he's thinking. He's going to have to be in perfect control of his bird to win today."
"No need to worry yourself, Zelda," her father consoled her. "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!"
Zelda glanced at Link whose hand was rubbing the back of his head nervously. Her father had a point. Link always managed to pull through. Whether it be sword matches, shooting a bow, or strength tests, he always won, even with half the amount of practice time as the others. He was a complete natural. But flying was different. This wasn't just Link but also his Loftwing. This would be a test of their teamwork. Sure, Link and his bird were one of a kind, but still.
Zelda hadn't realized her father was talking until he was about finished.
"…Ah, but who can blame you? I'm sure you weren't the only one envious of the powerful bond shared by Link and his bird," her father stated. "Anyone who is part of something special is bound to catch some nasty looks sooner or later," Gaepora said, chuckling.
She sighed, and then her father's words registered in her head. "This contest is nothing to be laughing at, Father! This ceremony is part of the final test for those training to become knights of Skyloft! If Link doesn't fly fast enough during the race… What if Link messes up his big chance… What if he's not allowed to become a knight?" she asked, her voice distraught.
"Calm down, my dear. It will be fine," he said. "Honestly, it's almost as though you become a different person when you worry about Link."
Zelda hung her head. He couldn't mess this up, she wouldn't let him. This was his dream! "Listen, Link, you better fly your heart out today," she told him, determination pouring through her. "At the very least, you need to squeeze in a little practice time before the race!" She grabbed his hand. "Come one, you'll thank me later!"
AN: And there we go! Please review and tell me your thoughts! Very straightforward, not much leg room for creativity in the beginning of the game. Also, I am looking for a beta, should anyone be interested please let me know!