A/N: All the good stuff is in the end A/N. I do not own The Legend of Zelda. Enjoy!
~Moon White Rose
Chapter 1
The sun's warmth covered my body while the coolness of the water pricked my feet and, for just a moment, I thought I had entered some sort of paradise. It was the perfect day for the "festivities," not that it mattered to me. It wasn't like a lot was going on today… unless, of course, one thought picking who played the role of Hylia in the upcoming Wing Ceremony was a big deal. If that were the case, then today was a very important day. I rolled onto my stomach and rested my chin on my arms, a sigh escaping me.
If I were to be honest however, today was a big deal to me because I secretly wanted to play the role of Hylia. Whichever girl got the part would get to wear beautiful clothes and present a gift to the winning student of the competition. Plus, they would get to spend the time between now and the Wing ceremony-about two months- learning to play a beautiful instrument that I had glimpsed in the Headmaster's office. Speaking of Headmaster Gaebora, it would probably be his daughter who got the part.
Zelda had been nominated for the role before, but since she was the prettiest girl in Skyloft, that wasn't a surprise. She had refused chances in the past, but if she got nominated this year, there was no doubt in my mind that she would kill for the part. My twin brother, Link, would be in the competition this year and, if he won, he would get to spend alone time with "Hylia." It was so obvious that's what Zelda was hoping for; her having a crush on my brother was no secret by any stretch of the imagination.
Slowly, reluctantly, I got up and dried off my feet; with even greater reluctance I got on my socks and boots. Though it was only the middle of the afternoon, I had to get ready to help make dinner. Like my brother, I lived at the Knight's Academy, but unlike Link, I had to work to earn my bed as I was not a student. I suppose I shouldn't really complain, after all I could be homeless again. Since our parents had died, Link and I had been on our own. We had both coped in our own ways and we never talked about it.
Our mother had passed away first, when we were almost ten, and then our father two years later. At the time, Link was already enrolled in the Academy. I had stayed at home, since our father said that was where I belonged; out of the public eye and right in the center of his hands. Suffice to say, I did not shed a tear when he passed; by that point I was sick and tired of his "care," as he had called it. His passing though had posed a problem. Since Link and I were only twelve when he died, we could not run the house by ourselves. Our father had willed the remainder of his money to go to Link's education and the house was his to claim after he finished school.
I was left with nothing and that had been my first brush with homelessness. I was on the streets, more or less, for two days when Headmaster Gaebora found me and said a bed at the Academy was waiting, provided I worked. At the time I had thought it was a good deal, but some days I wondered if I was better off on my own.
I couldn't think on the past right now however, even though I wanted to. "Present life beckons, so let's get to work Laela," I said under my breath. I walked over to the edge of the cliff which housed the pool that formed Skyloft's waterfall. A look down showed only the thick Cloud Barrier far below and perfect blue sky.
I jumped. Wind roared in my ears as I picked up speed; water welled in my eyes. I let myself fall for almost ten seconds, and then I quickly gave a shrill whistle. A flash of pale green swept past the corner of my eye and a second later a large, solid body that carried me up caught me out of my free fall. My Loftwing gave a happy squawk as I scratched her head and urged her to fly faster. Sometimes I wondered which of us liked being in the air more. When I was where I wanted to be, I urged her to swoop down and again the roar of the wind filled my ears.
Treasure didn't need any more directions after that; she knew exactly where I wanted to stop before heading back to the Academy. We flew along the underbelly of Skyloft until a stretch of worn wooden beams met me. At the end of them sat a platform and lopsided dwelling. My Loftwing hovered near the door to the pathetic house and I jumped off. In seconds she was gone; nothing more than a speck on the horizon.
A speck that was soon being followed by a large gray speck; at the sight of the other bird, my lips twitched into a smile and I forced myself to turn away. Hopefully, I would see him later, but for now, I had someone else to see. "Batreaux, are you home? Bats? Where are you?" I added in a singsong voice when the elderly monster didn't reply at my first call. A sound to my left caught my attention and Batreaux appeared from out of his bedroom. His wide yellow eyes lit up when he saw it was me (not that it ever would be anyone else) and his large wings fluttered. He was always happy to have company.
I couldn't blame him though; if it weren't for him, I wouldn't really have any friends who accepted me for who I am. "I was hoping you'd show up… do you have any?" he added hopefully. I rolled my eyes at his request for Gratitude Crystals; gems that he claimed would make him human if he got enough.
"Yes, but not on me; I'll bring them later tonight. I just wanted to stop by and see how you were doing. Someone has to make sure you don't do anything crazy." His smile only grew at my teasing. He offered me a chair and something to drink. When I had taken only a sip, he resumed talking.
"What would I ever do without you?" I could hear the sarcasm in his voice and a smirk crawled onto my face slowly. He laughed softly for a few seconds, and then fell quiet for a moment. "So," he asked hopefully. "I must know; who got it?" My mood changed instantly, but he looked so hopeful, I couldn't find it in me to be mad at him for bringing it up, even if I wanted to pretend it didn't happen.
How was I going to tell him that I had chickened out last minute and had left? He missed out of everything since he couldn't be seen out in public. I was, quite literally, his eyes and ears to the happenings of Skyloft. My pause must have been too long; his wings drooped as his expression fell. "I'm sorry Bats," I sighed, getting up and giving him a hug, careful to avoid his wings. "I wanted to stay, but… you know how it is; how I am. I'm betting it was Zelda though since my brother will compete this year. We all know how much she likes him."
"It's all right Laela. I just wish you could get the part. You'd do a great job." He smiled and I smiled back. There was no point in trying to correct him. He and I both knew I would never be allowed to play the role of Hylia, and the reason I would never get the part was so stupid…, but what could I, one person, do about it?
I love Skyloft, but its people can be so snobbish and intolerant, that it gets seriously makes my blood boil. In the eyes of nearly everyone, there is no room for people like me and Bats. With Batreaux, it's a bit more understandable, I suppose. He's a literal monster; blue skin, yellow eyes, red claws, fangs, horns; everything. If he were to be seen, the knights would be all over him in a moment, especially since he's a wimp; he'd rather flee than fight any day.
That being said of course, he can fight, and so can I, but it does me no good. If I were to go around and get into a fight with everyone who messed with me in some way, I would be as dead as Bats. It's best to just suffer silently so I can remain here, but it really is unfair the way I get treated.
I suppose I look pretty enough. My skin is fair like my mother's was, and my hair is somewhere between my mother's blond and my father's dark brown; it goes in waves down my back, and my eyes are perfectly silver, just like my father's were. I have all of my fingers and toes, and I'm not blind, deaf, or mute. My problems stem from the large, almost star shaped birthmark that covers nearly all of the left side of my face. It looks somewhat like a very bad burn in my opinion; it's an angry reddish purple. I have a few tinier, almost miniscule marks on other parts of my body, but thankfully those are never seen since my clothes hides them.
Now, no one in Skyloft is perfect per say; but at the same time there has never been birthmarks like mine. Yes some people are overweight, a few may have a quirk to their features, and so on, but in truth, most people are very good looking. And in a society this small, beauty, strength, brains, and normal are good. Those things are good because they are safe; understood. Something like me is not normal, and not normal in our intimate, peaceful society is bad. So therefore, I must be bad; at least that is how things are seen.
I blame it on the fact that we have things a little too good; nearly flawless weather year round, crystal clear water, more than enough food; what can be seen as ugly can be swept under the rug too easily. I just wish I could change that…. I shook my head at the thought and forced a smile. "Thanks for the compliment Bats. Maybe it will happen one day." He hugged me close.
"You're welcome my friend. Don't ever let them get you down. Don't ever stop being you." Now I smiled for real as I backed to the door.
"Never, you old monster; I wouldn't dream of it. Well, better get going. See you later, hopefully."
"My door is always open for you. Tell our friend I said hello," said Bats as he joined me outside. I nodded as I scanned the sky for Treasure. She was still off in the distance flying lazily.
The gray speck was still with her. I gave a shrill whistle as I tried to avoid Batreaux's sudden, sly gaze. "By the way," he asked, "how are things going with you two?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," I muttered. His grin widened and it showed off his fangs.
"Yes, you do."
"No, I don't." With that I jumped. Wind roared in my ears; water welled in my eyes. Like always, Treasure caught me and carried me up. For a few brief moments, life was good. If only I could stay in the sky; maybe then, life wouldn't be so complicated.
A/N: I can't believe after all this time, I finally got something done! I'm so sorry this update took forever, and that work on all of my fics has come to a standstill, but college and other RL issues have kept me away from writing. I wish it were not this way, but it is what it is. Anyway, thanks to the following people for reviewing the Prologue:
PersonWhoReviews, imnotraven16, Hollow Earth, 121FantasyLife, and DuckofIndeed.
Thank-you all for your reviews, they mean so much to me.
Now, for anyone who is reading this fic, I want to point out right now; I am not, in any way, shape, or form trying to offend anyone with this story. If you find it offensive, I'm sorry; that is not my intention. If you feel you need to tell me what you hate then do it via PM, so I can respond. Also, for those who want to make suggestions, but don't wish to leave them in a review, please also feel free to PM me. Have a nice day.
~Moon White Rose
