Zelda Skyward Sword

"I think I want to live here. What about you, Link?" He had no need for words; a smile was all the response needed. Zelda's eyes light up and she smiled back. The heavy beats of their Loftwing's wings above pushed air gently down on the couple.

"I hear you are planning to live on Grooseland?" Link looked up from his packing to see a figure with red bobbing hair standing in his dorm room's doorway.. Groose walked forward and hung his hand loosely over the smaller boy's shoulder. "Are you going because Zelda's going?" Link's face turned slightly red and pushed the arm off him.

"Groose, I'm-" he started to say, but his friend shook his head.

"I'm just joking. Well, mostly," he added. Link frowned and turned back to his supplies. The once-was-bully leaned over his shoulder. "So, what are you bringing?" The blonde boy tried concentrating on what he was doing.

"Listen Groose; I'm really busy right now. Cawlin and Strich both have been wondering where you are; why don't you go talk to them?" he responded. The older boy didn't move.

"What? And miss time hanging with my buddy here?" Link sighed inwardly and finished gathering his things. He headed out of his room and outside. To his dismay, Groose followed. "So, what should we do with the little time we have left together? Y'know; before you and Zelda go down to the surface and never see Skyloft or me ever again?" Link paused, feeling a twinge of guilt beneath his annoyance. He had been planning to spend time with Zelda until they went to the surface, but Groose had a point. He probably wouldn't see his friend once they were gone. Groose saw Link hesitate and tilted his head, red hair bouncing slightly. "What's the matter, little buddy?" The green-clad boy turned around.

"I'm your buddy?" he asked, disbelieving.

"Of course you are!" Groose exclaimed and threw his arm over Link's shoulders again. The blonde glanced at the taller boy's face and saw that even though his body was saying friend, his golden eyes were elsewhere. Following his gaze, Link looked to the entrance of the bazaar, where a small, slight figure dressed in pink speaking with someone.

"You're just sticking around me because of Zelda, aren't you?" Groose quickly withdrew his arm and whirled on Link.

"Of course not, you dope!" he shouted at the smaller boy, who smiled.

"That's the normal Groose I know," he replied calmly. Groose turned as red as his hair.

"That's not what I meant. What I was trying to say is... you're my friend now too, y'know?" He turned his back to Link and rubbed his head. "I'll miss both of you, y'know?" They were both quiet for a moment.

"Um... thanks," the blonde boy answered. Groose shrugged and faced Link again.

"Don't take this the wrong way. It's not like I care about you or nuttin'. Zelda's still gonna be mine," he added smugly. Link smiled and, rolling his eyes, began to walk towards the bazaar, when suddenly the larger man jumped in front of him.

"Hey! I've got it!" Link relaxed. He had slid into a defensive position as soon as Groose leapt at him. Fighting for so long, he was use to things jumping out at him. He wasn't, however, use to those things being friendly. Groose didn't know it, but if Link hadn't restrained himself, he would've been smacked in the face. Link took a deep breath.

"What is it, Groose?" he sighed. Groose's gold eyes were alight with excitement.

"I'll go and live on the surface with you and Zelda!"

"You're sure you want to join us on the surface?" Zelda asked, surprised. Pipit and Karane both nodded.

"Absolutely. You and Link might get lonely down there. Besides," Pipit paused, "it can't be easy to build a house by yourself. With Karane and I there, it'll be a lot faster." The golden-haired girl nodded reluctantly. She had actually been looking forward to staying alone on the surface with the Link. How would she break the news to the blonde hero? She turned and saw him standing just outside the bazaar with Groose. The older boy seemed to be excited about something. Link, on the other hand, didn't seem so enthusiastic. They began to approach Zelda. The goddess turned back to Pipit and Karane.

"I guess I'll see you on the surface, then." They both nodded eagerly and went into the tent behind them.

"Zelda." Link spoke her name and she looked at him. "Groose has some... interesting news." He leaned to the side to reveal the redhead almost jumping up and down with excitement.

"Yes, Groose?" she asked hesitantly.

"I'm want to live with you and Link on Grooseland!" The girl narrowed her eyes, confused.

"Grooseland?"

"The surface," Link explained. Groose leapt in again.

"So? Whaddya say? Can I? Please? Please?" Zelda smiled.

"Sure, why not? And, as a plus, we'll have more help. With Pipit and Karane helping, we'll get done in no time," she added. The blonde boy looked up at her words and she met his blue eyes, begging him not to ask. They were both distracted when Groose grabbed Zelda's hands.

"Thank you so much! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" he replied quickly. He put his giant palm over the girl's fingers, drawing a twitch from the side of Link's mouth. "Thank you so much! I'll never forget this! You won't regret it, I promise!" He turned to go, and suddenly paused. "Eh, Pipit and Karane, aren't really coming... are they?"

As it turned out, Groose, Pipit, and Karane weren't the only ones who wanted to live on the surface. Several other members of Skyloft wanted to go too. They decided that it was time for a change. The ground wasn't dangerous anymore, and they could settle safely there. Start a new life. Learn about the world below.

"Well, I guess that didn't go the way we planned, huh?" Link and Zelda were riding on their Loftwings, far above the clouds. The red bird's wings flapped in time with Zelda's blue.

"Not at all," the boy replied. "Though we should have seen it coming." The girl smiled slightly. Link glanced at her. The wind was blowing her golden hair back from her shoulders, and her sky-blue eyes were thoughtful, staring into the distance. The blonde hero looked down self-consciously. She was so beautiful. He had something he needed to tell her... but he wasn't sure how. He himself didn't know exactly what it was. Come to think of it, she wanted to tell him something too; right before she was taken away in the tornado. Link's hands clenched into fists at the memory. He hadn't been strong enough to protect her then. Now he wouldn't let anything put her in danger. Never again.

"Link?" Zelda's soft voice interrupted his thoughts. He lifted his head and her eyes met his. She glanced at the clouds quickly and back at him again. "Um, you were quiet. I thought-."

"It's alright. I-," he paused, "... was just thinking." She tilted her head.

"Oh. Okay." The Loftwings glided gracefully far above cloud line. Both their masters weren't really paying attention to where they were going. "Um, Link?" Zelda asked. "Do you remember... before all this started and we were just normal kids?" Link nodded.

"Of course."

"What do you think would've happened between us if we hadn't changed? If I wasn't the goddess and you weren't the chosen hero?" The young boy opened his mouth, and then paused and swallowed, unsure of what he was going to say. He wanted desperately for that to be true; that nothing changed. That the only thing he had to worry about was if the weather was good enough to go flying the next day. But there was no point in wishing for something that would never happen again. Zelda was a goddess. She was far beyond his reach. Why did things have to change?

"I-I-," he stammered, at a loss for words. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a rock coming rapidly into view. "Look out!" His Loftwing, attuned to danger, immediately flapped harder and was lifted above the obstacle. Zelda's bird, however, didn't sense to the threat until it was too late. The blue Loftwing smashed into the side of the rock. Unprepared, Zelda slipped off her bird and back into open sky. She screamed as she sped toward the ground. Link whirled around, horrified.

"NO!" he shouted.