AN: Hey guys! WiseGirlofHyrule back again with another plot in the making. Thought of this today at work and thought: Yes. This should happen.
So here is the beginning of my second Legend of Zelda AU story.
Let me know what you think!
Spunky Zelda. :)
Edited 11.13.13 to add more details and description to things.
"No, dad, I don't want to go!"
"Sweetheart," he sighs, "this is a great opportunity! Just think about it. A private military academy on Skyloft just calling your name! You love to shoot arrows into the target you made years ago in the backyard. You also seem to be gaining some control over your magic. Just think of the possibilities, Zelda!"
"Yeah, sure," I mumble. "I'm going for a ride, dad." I run out the door before he even has a chance to respond. I hear another exasperated sigh as I turn to shut the door then head toward our stables.
Let me start from the beginning. My name is Zelda. I am fifteen years old—sixteen in one week—and am in the market for a new school. I got kicked out of the last one due to a spoiled rotten no-good witch of a girl, who will remain nameless for the time being so I don't burst into anger again, got me expelled when I did absolutely nothing wrong. Well, until the expulsion actually happened and I cast a magic curse at her. Let's just say that her overbearing voice will never be heard from again. Bummer.
My father wants me to attend the military academy in the clouds. Sky Academy. Yuck. I love my sleep and my freedom, thank you very much. None of this structured bull-roar.
Normally I am quite civil and respectable, but since getting expelled has kind of a negative vibe on everything I haven't really been happy since. Luckily, I have under one week until I have to leave for this new school. Until I head to the sky.
Don't get me wrong, I love going up there. I've visited a couple times and simply loved the breathtaking view of the clouds surrounding the island. Sometimes a cloud would simply fly into it, making everything on the island damp and visibility near impossible. Though there was something that really caught my attention the last time we visited.
The Loftwings.
What magnificent creatures. They are giant birds that are capable of carrying a person. It was basically a sky horse. Speaking of horses—
"Epona," I whisper, rubbing her nose and saddling her up for a ride. She huffs a breath of air in return. I smile. Making sure everything is secured in place then grabbing my bow and quiver, I climb up and bring her to a trot. I fly by my little excuse for a town. My dad is the mayor. There are a total of twenty residents, including my dad, myself, and my step-sister, Ilia, and probably Epona, too. I know I'm giving him a hard time with the whole school situation, but I'm right. It was unjust. Unfair. Cruel.
Letting the wind blow my loosed blonde hair behind me, bow and quiver bouncing with Epona's strides, I ride straight into the woods. I figure my dad probably knows where I am heading, and he knows not to follow me. It is my place of solitude. Where I go to think. To be myself.
The Sacred Grove.
I have been coming here since I was a little girl. I got lost in the woods one day, but suddenly a fairy appeared out of nowhere. I had twisted my ankle trying to run while finding my way out. The little, beautiful, pink ball of pure healing energy circled me once and flew slowly ahead of me, leading me to the grove. I followed willingly. I didn't fit in with my new family anyway, so they probably wouldn't have missed me.
I spent the entire day in the grove. It was beautiful. Time seemed to both accelerate and stand still there. It was confusing. I loved it.
I pull on Epona's reigns, dismount, and find a tree to tie her up. Once I finish the knot, I check my quiver to count my arrows. It was a nervous habit of mine, I had to make sure I had the same amount of arrows I had left with. Once I had done that, I made my way to the vine on a wall of ruins and started climbing. Once at the top, I walk through a little hallway to reveal a courtyard of sorts. I walk around the edge of the stone structure I had just climbed and find my usual sitting spot. Tucked out of the way enough so as no one would be able to see me unless they knew exactly where it is, yet open enough to catch the summer breeze and the remains of the sunset that is slowly being swallowed by the horizon. I lean my back against the wall and fold my arms across my chest, feet close. I sigh.
What am I going to do?
I don't want to think about school. Soon I'm going to turn sixteen and I still have no clue what to do with my life. I feel as if I am in the middle of a mass of water, unable to stay above the tides and continually pulled under with no whisper of land in sight.
I close my eyes, feeling the warmth of the setting sun, and listen to the sounds around me. The subtle wind blowing the leaves, birds singing their songs, land creatures digging holes and running along the forest floor, a bird coming in for a landing.
Wait.
Not just a bird. It sounded huge. I open my eyes and look up. My jaw drops in disbelief.
A crimson colored Loftwing has actually landed on the surface. And its rider. Let's just say I did a double take.
His shaggy brown-blonde hair was tucked under a hat, swooping to one side. He wore a green tunic and chain mail underneath, along with tan pants and brown boots. He had a sword and shield, looks like he was right handed, but had an heir of calm mystery about him. Turning to his Loftwing, he stroked it a couple times along the back and smiled contentedly. He was tall and built. Blinking a couple times, then shutting my mouth, I turn to burrow back into my spot hoping he wouldn't catch me spying on him, but his eyes find me instantly.
Godesses his eyes. Striking blue, like the early morning sky, light and dark blues dance around the black of his eye. He quirks an eyebrow at me and gives me a crooked smile. My breath catches. He starts making his way over to me. I am frozen in my spot. He was within five feet of me when we hear a voice.
"Zelda!"
Ilia.
He stops moving forward, looking in the direction from where my sister called from. I took the opportunity to get away as fast as possible. But did I want to run? No. Yes. I don't know. Something about him threw me seriously off balance. I make my way over to the vine in the wall and swing my legs over the ledge. As I descended, I look over to where he was. He's gone.
Maybe I imagined it.
I make it to the ground as Ilia closes in on me.
"There you are! Have you been exploring the old ruins again?"
"Obviously," I say.
"Dad's looking for you. He looks upset about something. Are you okay?" Ilia, always concerned.
"Yeah, he just wants to talk about school." I start untying Epona's reigns.
"Oh," was all she said. She knew this was a touchy subject with me, and I thanked her for her silence.
"Well? Shall we get back?" I climb up onto Epona and hold an arm out for her to climb up behind me. She takes it and swings her leg over. I bring Epona to a trot and slide back into my natural being. Easy going, not worried about school, hanging out with my sister. Perfect.
As I brought Epona into the stables and Ilia ran inside, I turn to put her in her section and saw something crimson streaking across the sky. I pause to watch it, its path of movement similar to a shooting star. Straight and fast. I think of the rider.
So that actually happened. I wasn't dreaming.
Sighing as I put Epona away, I suddenly feel tired, and definitely not up for a conversation with my father. But none the less, he is waiting for me.
"Zelda," he says as I entered the main room.
"Yes?" I ask, my eyes not leaving the floor.
"A young man came here and gave me some information for the Sky Academy. I think you should take a look at the things you will be needing."
"Great, thanks," I say sarcastically.
"Zelda," he whispered, grabbing my arm, "I know this is difficult for you. And I know it was unfair of your old school to kick you out without any means of proof, but this could be good for you. Look," he grabs the pamphlet from the table, "there's an entire program dedicated to the studies of magic. And there are clubs. Like Archery, Loftwing riding, Social hangouts, and there's an even distribution of students that are male and female. This really is promising, Zelda, I wish I could have gone here when I was younger."
"Okay, dad, no need to sell me." I laugh, probably for the first time all summer long. "I'm fine with it now. Or at least I'm going to stop automatically hating it because I loved my old school so much."
"That's my girl," standing up, he planted a kiss to the top of my head. "Now, we leave in a couple days. Make sure you have everything you need. The bigger things you can get when you're there. Remember, anything you can fit onto a Loftwing is what you can bring."
"Thanks dad," I smile and make my way toward the stairs.
"Love you, Zelda."
"Love you, too," I respond as I climb upward toward my room. I have a ton of stuff, and if I was to narrow it down, I had better start doing that now.
The wind on the island circles around me, throwing my long blonde hair all over the place. I didn't have time to put the usual ribbons in it to tie it back, but barely managed to catch the Loftwing to Skyloft.
That is the name of the island.
The Loftwing drops me right at the entrance to the academy. It is actually very impressive and exactly how I remember it being when I visited. Gates surround it, it is two stories high—with a door leading to a less well known basement—and felt homey. It is made with brick and has massive double wooden doors, laden with intricate carvings and designs. The windows are stained glass and there were torches along the sides of the building. I open the door and drag my things inside with me. I am immediately greeted with a face full of red pompadour styled hair and giant eyes that look like they belong to a cat. I jerk back startled.
"Move out of my way," he says gruffly, then does a double take on me. I don't know why, I simply wore a dark green tee shirt and a pair of khaki pants along with brown boots. Nothing to turn heads. But he still looked at me like I was the most beautiful thing he has probably seen since himself in a mirror. Something else about me, I'm a decent profiler. I peg this guy as pompous and self absorbed from the get-go.
"Sorry," he says nicer, "didn't expect you on the other side of the door. I just saw green and—"
"Is something the matter, Groose?"
"Sir, no, sir," he responds.
"Then get to your next session, soldier."
"Sir, yes, sir," he salutes, winking at me as he walked briskly to his next session. I gape; appalled he would even wink at me. Not saying that I am better than him, but I had hoped for someone a bit more selfless. Less focused on his hair.
"Hello," the instructor says, "you must be Zelda. I am Instructor Owlan. Let me lead you to the headmaster's quarters."
I simply nod.
"Quiet type?" he asks as we walk down the hall.
"More of the observer type, actually, " I say. "If I see something worth noting, I note it."
"Noted," he emphasized with a chuckle. "As you can see, we are a bit lax on the strict guidelines you would see at a normal military academy. Other than that kid, Groose—he's a menace. That is because we don't believe that too rigid of a code helps more than genuinely being there for someone—having someone's back. We believe in the old ways."
"The old ways?" I ask.
"The ways of peace. The ways of the goddesses."
I nod again. We approach a door just as ornate as the entrance doors and he steps to the side.
"The headmaster is inside," he says. "Don't worry, he's nicer than he looks. Hope you enjoy your time here, Zelda."
He walks away down a set of stairs in a semi-circle leading to the lower level. I take a deep breath and enter. I get a good look at the Headmaster. He has white hair—at least whatever is left of it is white—a round stomach, and a friendly smile. He wears extra long robes, almost skirting the floor, and they are a striking red with gold detailing.
"Ah, Miss Harkinian, do come in."
I shut the door behind me with a solid thud and sit down in front of his desk.
"Welcome to Sky Academy. I have a packet of important information here for you to look over and return to me within the week. Just liability wavers and health information. Also, here is your key for your quarters and schedule of classes. I understand you have an affinity for magic?" he looks curiously over his glasses at me.
"Yes," I answer hesitantly.
"Great! We have many options for you, then. By the way," he stands and walks around his desk, holding out his hand. I stand in kind. "My name is Headmaster Gaepora. You can call me simply Headmaster, Professor, or Sir. If you have any questions, my office hours are posted just outside my door. Your living quarters are actually just down this hallway, the second door on your left. Is there anything I can get you right now?"
"No, sir."
"Smart lass, alright, off you go then," he kindly shoos me out of his office. I head directly to my 'quarters' and open the door with the key I had just received.
Man is it lovely.
A single twin sized bed sits to my left; a cabinet dresser sits in the corner to my right next to a window overlooking some sort of practice arena. It's a decent size room, too. Bigger than the one I have at home. I set my things down on top of my bed and dig out my schedule. Looking over it, I feel a sense of dread.
Of course I wouldn't have a break. And of course my first class would be in twenty minutes.
I quickly scramble to find clothes that would be appropriate for 'Tactical Magic 101' and settle with a white fitted tunic and black leggings with durable black boots. I look for the location of my class and see that a good majority of the classes I have are held in the arena just outside my window. I hurry down the stairs and out the door to the arena. I see someone dressed in a green loose fitting tunic and tan sweatpants. I almost stop dead in my tracks. It was him.
The guy from the Sacred Grove.
And it looked like he was leading the course. What? He was a teacher here? I couldn't think any more on the topic because he lifted his head and made eye contact with me. Recognition lit up in his face and he broke out into a smile.
"Class," he said in a surprisingly soft voice, considering his looks and muscles, "looks like the new student is joining us today. Would you like to introduce yourself to the other classmates?" He grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the front. Instantly I flex my arm muscles and feel the cold that is left when he removes his hand. I had a problem.
"My name is Zelda and I come from the surface."
I hear a chorus of greetings back at me, but my focus isn't on them. It is on my 'instructor's hand that now rests on my lower back.
"Now let's get back to business. My name is Link, by the way," he adds as he leads me to the middle of the group and takes up his position in front. He picks up a bow and arrow and knocks the arrow. I am confused at first—this is supposed to be a class about magic, not archery—until the tip of the arrow suddenly blazes with fire. My jaw drops.
"Anyone ready to learn how to use fire arrows?