Part One – Chapter Two

Zelda constantly fiddled with Link's hair while they waited to be called out. She kept uttering that his hair "doesn't look right" and "needs to go here". He didn't mind her touch – in fact, he rather much enjoyed it. He just wished she would stop fussing over how he looked. He was certain that his Dragon wouldn't care, and he bluntly pointed this out to Zelda.

"I don't care. You're going to be out there in front of hundreds of people and their Dragons, so I want you to look your best," she replied, pushing a few stray strands underneath his green graduate's hat.

"That doesn't exactly make me feel any less nervous, nor does this ridiculous outfit. Like seriously, who wears tunics anymore?"

"The outpost guards and several other knights do. Now hush up."

"Okay, fine, I get the tunic, but the hat? It just looks like someone rolled a giant leaf into a floppy cone." Link flicked the end of his hat to emphasize his point.

Zelda sighed and finally removed her hands from his head. "It's tradition, Link. Besides, it's said that the four heroes of legend wore the same outfits, just in different colours."

Link tried to stifle a laugh at how ridiculous it sounded, but failed, earning a light slap from Zelda.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"You'll understand when you're older." Link threw an unamused look at her. "What? You're acting like a little kid, so you deserve to be treated like one."

"Oh hardy har."

"Come on; cheer up, mister grumpy-boots."

"How can I cheer up when so many things could go wrong today?!"

Zelda placed her hands on his shoulders and gave him a reassuring smile. "Listen, I know you're going to get an amazing Soul Dragon. You have every right to. After all, you passed your test, didn't you?"

"Well, yeah, but just barely…"

"That's beside the point. Just stay calm, and choose wisely."

There was a knock at the door, signaling that the Ceremony was about to take place.

"I guess you should go and join the crowd, then," Link said as walked past her and grabbed the door knob. He had only opened the door slightly before Zelda said,

"By the way, I think you look very handsome."

The teenager clad in green blushed and smiled a thanks before leaving completely.

"Huh, small crowd…" Link said sarcastically to himself as he stared with wide eyes at the massive gathering of people and Dragons from all over the Earth Realm. He was in a straight line with his fellow classmates, the sun shining high in the sky above them. Wild Dragons soared overhead, casting quick glances at the graduates every now and then as if judging them. The platform they were on was high enough for a Dragon to swoop down to catch a bit of momentum for take-off before hitting the ground below, and a runway platform just for that purpose stood off to Link's right. The headmaster of Link's school stood at the edge of the platform, ready to give his speech. He held up his hand to silence the crowd and took a deep breath.

"Thank you everyone for coming to this momentous occasion. Today, we celebrate our latest generation of graduates and their future Soul Dragons!" The crowd cheered and clapped, making Link wish he could curl into a ball and disappear. If there was one thing he couldn't avoid, it was stage-fright. He was a naturally shy boy when it came to people he didn't know. The headmaster turned to the boys and continued. "Each of you will be called one by one to the runway to the right of me. From there, the Dragons above you shall be called down by our Dragon Whisperer and approach you with caution. They have little experience with human interaction, so please be mindful. Remember, you must choose your Dragon, but he or she must also choose you. If you decide wrong, do not panic. Simply try again with a different Dragon. You will know when you have made a connection."

Link watched as the first graduate made his way up the short flight of steps to the runway. The leader of the Earth Realm, Llilat, stepped before him and shook his hand. She then proceeded to call the wild Dragons down as planned, and it wasn't long before a female took interest in the boy. Seeing this happen so fast reassured Link a little and gave him a ray of hope to rely on. The graduate mounted his new Soul Dragon and they took off down the runway, the crowd's cheering following them as they gained altitude.

The next to choose was Pokot, the class nerd. There was no doubt he'd easily be able to pick a Dragon. Link could almost guess which he would choose. Pokot finally settled his gaze on a deep turquoise-coloured male with enticing snake-like eyes. The two instantly bonded, and they took off just like the previous graduate. Link looked down the line of boys and saw that he was number six. Two had already gone, so that left just three graduates before it was his turn. He rubbed his hands together nervously as the next boy took off with a frightening dark green female with scarlet – no, BLOOD red eyes. While Link waited for his turn, his eyes scanned the crowd for Zelda. He soon spotted her down near the front next to her menacing dad, who surprisingly smiled up at him, although Link could see the high expectations in his eyes. He would have to get an impressive-looking Dragon if he were ever to win Zelda over. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he almost missed his name being called.

He glanced over at the Dragons waiting for him on the runway, then back at the crowd, then the Dragons again. He managed to keep his hands from shaking and forced his feet up the short steps. He could tell that the Dragons knew he was anxious, but he did his best to hide it anyway. Out of the corner of his eye he could pinpoint Rayan and his Wyvern hovering just above the crowd, and even from that distance Link could see the smirk on his face that said, "You're not gonna get a Dragon as cool as mine in a million years." Link turned his attention back to the ever-impatient Dragons. Many of them were gradually stepping around him, avoiding him as if he were a living disease. A couple of fierce-looking males scowled and hissed as Link looked as them, and they flew off in a huff.

"Great… So far, so good…" Link said to himself again, but quiet enough so no one but the Dragons could hear him. It was as if his sarcasm sparked an interest in a few, and they took a few more steps towards him. He could certainly go with a Dragon who understood his sense of humor. One snorted rather loudly behind him, making him swiftly turn around, hoping that it wasn't about to attack him. He knew that he was taking way longer than usual, but he was taking Zelda's advice and choosing wisely. He did however feel completely embarrassed by the quiet murmurs that lingered amongst the mass of people. Even the graduates who were still yet to go looked bored or about ready to push him off the platform. He smiled apologetically at them and gazed back at the Dragon who had snorted. It looked completely uninterested in him which Link was thankful for.

The blonde teenager suddenly felt something press against his back, making his muscles tense up as he turned around. Standing mere inches away from him stood a bright red male with an intricate green pattern covering his underbelly and wings. The top of his head and horns were black, making it look like he was wearing some kind of mask. A typical diamond shape adorned his long, whip-like tail, and his wings were a part of his forearms. He wasn't a Wyvern, since he wasn't nearly as big and he had to use his wings to walk with. Link was satisfied however, and he smiled at the sheepish Dragon whose confidence was slowly growing. He was a little on the small side and was incredibly slender with little to no muscularity at all, but Link didn't care. He raised his left hand to the Dragon's long, pointed snout, allowing him to sniff it first. The Dragon soon lightly pressed the tip of its nose into Link's hand, finally accepting him. Link grinned from ear to ear as he gently stroked his new Soul Dragon, feeling his entire being slightly tingle at the bond. The Dragon lifted his head and gestured for Link to sit upon his back. The teenager eagerly obliged and got comfortable.

"Ready when you are!" he proudly announced, and the Dragon sped off the end of the runway and took to the air with a roar of triumph. Link forgot that he could now understand everything his Dragon said, and so he cheered with him. "Woo hooooo!"

About an hour after the Ceremony, each of the graduates gathered to show off their Dragons. Link was standing off to the side, still deciding what to call his.

"Hey, Link!" a familiar voice called, and he was soon greeted by Zelda's usual death-hug. "I'm so proud of you!" she cried, finally releasing her best friend to admire his Dragon. Zelda's father stood behind her, also proud of the young graduate.

"Have you decided what to call him yet?" he asked.

"No, sir, not yet. It's a tough one."

Zelda placed one hand on her hip and the other underneath her chin. She too couldn't think of a suitable name. "Have you asked him yourself what he wants to be called?" she suggested.

"Yeah, but he said that he wants me to name him." He turned to said Dragon and gave him a small noogie. "You haven't really given much choice, have ya?" The Dragon made a noise of what was presumably a chuckle, and in return he gently nudged his Hylian companion in the chest.

"Well, whatever you name him, it has to be something noble," Zelda said, patting the reptile on the neck. Her father nodded in agreement. "Hmm… Ooh! What about- No, no, that's too feminine… Um…" Link grinned and tried to contain his blush. She was so cute like this. There was a long moment of silence before she suddenly made all three males jump. "Aha! I've got it! How does Druid sound?"

"Druid?" Link and her father asked.

"Yeah! The mythical forest creatures that were believed to exist hundreds of years ago!"

"What do you think, buddy?" Link asked the Dragon. The winged serpent gave a short yip of approval. "He said, 'Yup! Druid it is!'"

"Yay!" Zelda cried before tackling Link in another hug. She soon released him when her father cleared his throat, letting them know that he was still there.

"Well then, Link, I advise that you and Druid get a lot of flying practice in; I know how much you want to become a knight."

"Absolutely, sir!"

With that, Zelda's father departed, leaving Link and Zelda to mingle with the other students.

"Pleeease take me out flying with you, Link!" Zelda pleaded for about the fiftieth time. Her hands were clasped together and her eyes looked on the merge of tears. Link hated turning her down, but he was instructed to not let anyone fly with him until he was a certified knight.

"I really wish I could, Zel, but rules are rules," Link replied, shrugging his shoulders. Zelda sighed in defeat and let her arms hang limply by her sides. "Well, I'm gonna go flying with Druid for a little longer before I head to the knight try-outs. Wish me luck, okay?"

"…Okay…"

"Hey, I promise I'll take you out as soon as I get permission. That's a promise." Zelda smiled up at him and said her goodbyes.

Link made his way over to Druid who was patiently waiting on a branch outside. "Ready to go?" Druid nodded and lowered himself to make it easier for Link to mount him. He had recently been given a saddle too, to ensure that the teen didn't fall off the Dragon's smooth back. Once they were both comfortable, Druid leapt off the branch and freefell most of the way down. He opened his magnificent wings at the last second and sped through the air. The first time he had done this Link had almost gotten whiplash, but the young Hylian was prepared this time by keeping himself bent forward, but not enough so his chin wouldn't smack the Dragon's neck. Link's daydreams were nowhere near as good as what the real deal felt like. He finally felt free of all his troubles, as if a heavy burden had suddenly been lifted from his shoulders. He did pass the exam and Choosing Ceremony after all, and those had been pretty stressful.

Link asked Druid to take them higher so they could observe the Earth Realm in all its glory. The serpent's head tipped upwards and they gradually ascended, passing a few other Dragons and their riders along the way. One pair of which involved Pokot and his Dragon, who decided to fly alongside them.

"Hey, Link! Getting along with your Dragon so far?" the nerdy boy called out.

"You bet I am! Zelda helped me with naming him; he's called Druid."

"Man, I wish I'd thought of that! It's a pretty cool name!"

"I know, right?"

Pokot patted his Dragon's neck. "This here is Equinox. His scales sometimes look as if they change colour in certain light!"

"Huh, neat!" There was an awkward silence between the two, so Link decided to change the topic. They weren't really friends or anything – more like acquaintances. "So… How long do we have to wear these uniforms?"

"Oh, the hat and tunic? Just for today, unless you're going to appoint for a knight's position. Then you have to put it back on."

"Aww man."

"Hey, it's not that bad. When are you going to appoint, anyway?"

"Oh, today."

"WHAT?! That's crazy-talk! You know how dangerous the training program is if you haven't had at least a week's practice!"

"Relax. Druid and I have got this in the bag!" Druid gave a happy roar to show he agreed.

"If you say so, then." Pokot sighed before heading off into a different direction.

"Okay, Druid, let's get some real flying done!" Link fist-pumped the air as Druid's wings increased their pace, accelerating the speed at which they were travelling. Link instructed his Dragon to perform any trick he wanted. The young Hylian thought it was best he prepare for the unexpected and also give his Dragon the freedom of direction. Druid dipped downwards and tucked his wings tightly to his body. After a few seconds, he opened his wings ever so slightly and turned completely over, performing a corkscrew. He did this again and again, earning cries of joy from Link who was absolutely exhilarated. He soon levelled out and began flying upwards in order to complete a full loop. Link threw both of his hands in the air as the two of them hung upside down for a second before coming back down. Druid then quickened his pace towards the Entangled Forest, knowing full well what he wanted to try next. Link sensed this and egged him on, eager to enter the place of many twisted vines and foliage. The boy's hands gripped the handle of the saddle as the forest neared, getting closer and closer. His blue eyes scanned the trees for a possible opening, although Druid found one first and headed straight for it. Link ducked his head as far down as possible, and his Dragon did the same with his feet and a portion of his wings. He kept his tail straight as they plummeted through the intense greenery, weaving in and out between the protruding branches and hanging thorn vines. The two got scratched a few times, but they didn't care; they were having far too much fun. Druid constantly left a trail of fallen leaves in his wake, along with the occasional branch and twig.

They rapidly approached a large incoming tree with only one visible direction to go: up. Druid growled with determination and used his feet to catapult him off a branch to aid him in his sharp vertical ascent.

"Bring it on!" Link cried confidently, keeping his eyes strained on the ray of light that they were headed for. Druid beat his green wings with all the possible force he could muster and they shot back up into the safety of the sky. The Dragon gradually flew upside down and then twirled in midair to level back out. As they gently cruised the air currents, both Dragon and Hylian found themselves panting from the excitement. They made eye contact for several seconds before whooping and roaring with joy. "That. Was. AWESOME!" Link cried, throwing his fists in the air and allowing himself to fall on his back in the saddle. "We're so doing that tomorrow!"

Druid gave a small roar of agreement and then added a few more to say, "And to think this happened all in one day…"

"Yeah. Well, I think that's enough practice for today. You ready for the knight try-outs now?" Link asked, sitting back up and stroking his Dragon's neck. Druid nodded.

"Where to?"

"You see that tall rocky spire over there?" Link pointed to somewhere off to their left. "That's where they're being held."

Druid followed Link's finger and saw what he was talking about. Just as the winged serpent was about to turn in that direction, a huge hunk of red suddenly began circling them before coming to hover in front of them, forcing Druid to stop.

"Where do you think you're going, Stink?" Rayan mused atop his Wyvern.

Link face-palmed. "You know, that nickname is really starting to get old."

"You didn't answer my question."

"That's none of your business. Now shove off, show-off."

Rayan gasped melodramatically. "How rude! You ought to learn your manners!"

"Well, look who's talking."

"Pfft, you're just jealous."

"Jealous? Of what? That pompous fire-head of yours, or your dumb Dragon?"

Rayan scowled for a split-second before returning to his trademark smirk. He smoothed back his reddish-brown hair before replying. "Are you sure you want to pick a fight with me and Ferno on that pathetic excuse for a fire-breathing lizard?"

"Oh I certainly would. It wouldn't take much to immobilize that Wyvern in the Entangled Forest and take him down that way."

"You do realize what fire plus vegetation equals, right?"

"Yeah, being kicked out of the Earth Realm for good for starting a forest fire." Link triumphantly crossed his arms; it was his turn to smirk now. Druid however didn't feel as triumphant. Ferno was over twice his size and could easily ensnare him in those gigantic talons. He really wished Link would stop his petty arguing so they could just get away from the Fire Realm Wyvern and to the training grounds where they were supposed to be. Despite the fact that Link was winning the verbal altercation between him and Rayan, Ferno however was getting the upper hand over poor Druid.

"You're pathetic. How is a Dragon like you supposed to carry Link into battle with that scrawny build of yours? I could rip your throat out in mere seconds right now if I wanted to." Druid couldn't find the roars to reply, nor did he want Link finding out that he was losing. Instead he lowered his head even more if it were possible, and couldn't hide the sheepish look that was clearly written on his face. He certainly didn't feel up for training now.

Link breathed a sigh of relief as Druid touched-down on the hard rock of the training grounds. Said Dragon hadn't growled a single word the whole trip, partly because Link wouldn't stop prattling on about how dumb and big-headed Rayan was. But mostly, the words that were exchanged between the enemies had truly knocked down Druid's confidence. Link was too excited to notice his Dragon's mood though, and he ran up to the head of the knights' training program, Gradloch, to appoint himself. The burly man and his Soul Dragon turned to look at the fresh recruit as he bounded up to them, followed by a sulking Druid.

"Hello, sir. My Dragon and I have come to appoint for a knight's position," Link stated, bowing his head for a quick second.

Gradloch looked stunned for a second as he recognized Link. "But boy, you're just one of the newest graduates, are you not? You must understand that this is no child's play."

"I do understand, but Druid and I are ready for the task."

"Ready? HA! You've only had that Dragon for not even the whole day yet! You can't just get a Dragon and then instantly have the courage and strength to become a knight. You might be ready, but what about your Dragon?"

"We've been practicing all afternoon, and Druid himself said he wanted to do this."

Gradloch glanced at Link's Soul Dragon and immediately noticed something was off. "Are you sure about that?" Link raised an eyebrow and turned to Druid, only just now seeing the glum look upon his face. He shrugged it off as nothing and nodded at Gradloch. He sighed and gave in. "Very well. Seeing as you're already in your uniform, head over and meet me at that platform over there."

Link nodded and mounted Druid once again, watching as Gradloch and his golden Dragon were already flying up to their destination. He took a deep breath in and then back out, and finally ushered the serpent onwards. Once they were met with Gradloch again, Link silently gulped at the course laid out before them.

Tall, sharp, and incredibly menacing grey rocks jutted out of the ground in every which way. Unlit torches, hoops, and wooden targets were fixed to the tops of most, possibly along with the hidden traps that Link had heard so much of from eavesdropping on other knights. In the far distance, two tall posts with flags attached could be seen; Link guessed that that was either the finish or possibly just a checkpoint. Gradloch snapped Link back into reality and explained the rules.

"Alright, the goal is pretty simple: reach the two posts in one piece. However, together you must fly through EVERY hoop, light EVERY torch, and slash EVERY target. If you miss, you must return back to the start. With the help of some of the Gorons and their Dragons from the Desert Realm, the rocks have been set out in a specific path for you to follow. Ah, one more thing: if you get lost, you must also return back to the beginning."

Link hung his head and groaned. He looked back up to find a gleaming sword being held in front of him. He hesitantly took it and held it in his left hand. "Okay, you ready, Druid?" he asked gently. The Dragon nodded and took off into the rock maze.

"WHOA! WATCH OUT!" Link cried, pulling on the saddle to help Druid swerve out of the way of yet another rock. "It's a good thing we practiced in the Entangled Forest; these rocks are everywhere!" The startled Druid roared back in agreement, firing a jet of flame at an incoming torch. Link found it difficult to keep an eye out for both his Dragon and the targets he was supposed to strike with his sword. He managed to hit all of them so far though, so it wasn't looking too bad, although he couldn't say the same for the struggling reptile. He noticed that Druid was a little more sluggish than usual when it came to weaving in between the rocks. What's up with him? Link asked himself. His thoughts distracted him for too long and he missed a sword target. "UGH," he exclaimed, beckoning Druid to stop and head back for their second attempt. He had thought about cheating earlier, that is, until he had caught the shadow of Gradloch's Dragon who was flying above them to keep an honest eye on things.

Getting back to where they originally were was a little easier, considering that the torches were already lit and they had partially memorized the locations of the targets and hoops. However, not long after they reached their spot, things really started to get difficult. Druid immediately sensed the heat that they were approaching, and so ducking out of the way of the sudden jet of flame that came from nowhere was sort of easy, although it did almost make them miss a torch.

"You're doing great, Druid. Keep it up," Link encouraged, glancing around for more traps and targets. A set of spikes shot up from underneath them, almost grazing Druid's body, but thanks to the noticeable grate in the ground, it was avoidable. Link hoped it wasn't dried blood that he saw on the needle-like tips.

They continued speeding along, noticing that there were now fewer targets and more traps. Fire, spikes, and falling rocks seemed to be the most occurring, and so it made them more prepared. The fire barely scorched them and the rocks were often slow. The spikes however still almost got them several times, as the grates were now being hidden from sight.

"A hoop! Just there!" Link notified his Dragon, motioning to the circle. Druid flew straight through it and rounded a corner. The both of them cheered up as they saw that the two posts were very close indeed. "We're almost finished! Just a little longer!" The Dragon was quickly growing tired, but he pressed on nonetheless. The both of them weren't sure just how long they had been at this, but they sure would be glad to get back to the Great Tree for some dinner once they finished.

Druid's lack of stamina was starting to get to him, and he panted heavily as he thrust himself upwards to get a better aim at a torch. Link was too focused on the finish posts to notice or even be concerned about his Dragon's current predicament. Druid banked left and then right around two more corners; they now had a clear run to the finish. The Dragon picked up his pace, wanting nothing more than to just be done with this. Link began cheering and laughing with relief. There were no visible targets or traps left, so it was just the final stretch. Druid mustered up a small smile as he watched the patiently waiting flags draw closer and closer. All they had to do was pass one more large rock and they would be able to go home. Druid's smile faltered when he suddenly heard a slow and eerie clicking coming from the rock they were about to pass. By the time he opened his wings to stop, it was too late. The breath was knocked out of him as the large slab of metal swung out and practically crushed the upper part of his chest. He flipped upside down while continuing to move forwards slightly, throwing Link off his back several feet away. He growled with pain after he landed and slowly raised his head with closed eyes, clearly displaying how much that had hurt. They shot open however when a loud crack was heard, and both Dragon and young Hylian could only watch as the giant mass of rock came hurtling down towards Druid. Link's jaw dropped and his eyes widened, and before he could even shout anything, all he was left with was the cracking of rock and bone and Druid's head disappearing underneath the stone's weight.